Marriage and Dowry Essay

Woman – a daughter, a sister, a wife and a grandmother, throughout her life she dreams of having a wonderful life, a life to see to it that her marks in the school will make her parents happy, a life to see to it that her husband stays healthy, a life to see to it that her children study for their exams and a life to die seeing others happy. She cares for others, more than herself, then why we see her so much vulnerable in every moment of her life. So many issues to talk about women, rape being the most popular issue on women in the present time, almost all the women, in India, are vulnerable to this offence. But just like rape, the dowry system has affected the women psychologically, physically and emotionally. The dowry system kills her like a slow poison. The custom of dowry, in India, has spread through the hierarchy of social stratification. Several feminists suggest that the practice was initially adopted by the upper castes, then over a period of time it has been passed down into lower castes, and eventually reaches the untouchables, the outcasts. As the sociological studies suggests, often lower groups intend to copy there dominant group in there society. India ranks 136, in Human Development Index, among 187 counties around the world. This show, the people in India are in very bad condition and more than half of the population lives in poverty. The reason for poverty in India, if we look historically, it is because of the caste system, which restricted half of the population, in India, to develop, as even in present time 66% of Dalits are poor, and if we look in present time, education has deprived the poor from getting a better standards of living. It is these poorer sections as well as the middle class of our country who, not being educated and having good standard of living are still governed by old customs and traditions and continue to practise the dowry system, were in the name of gifting the groom the bride’s family is put into debt. But even in many rich families too, this system is being followed, even though they are well educated. The sums of cash and goods involved, as dowry, are often so large that the payment can lead to vicious cycle of debt in the bridal family. This has a very bad effect on the lives of unmarried women who are considered as economic liabilities by their parents, this leads to preference of boy over girl, leading to female infanticide and among the married women; they are physically and mentally harmed by their husbands and his family members, if promised dowry are not forthcoming. Modernization in India has became a barrier to many customs to be continued, like the caste system, the child marriage etc. but modernization has also lead to increase in practise of certain customs which were restricted to certain communities, as mentioned above. When we see caste, dowry and modernization, they are all inter linked with each other. With modernization, individual is not restricted to do his caste occupation and has chances to have good standard of living. Since new income and earning opportunities, brought about by modernization, are predominantly filled by men, there price tag of dowry increased. After analysing the historical developments of dowry system among the people in India, who are governed under Hindu law, now let us look at the Muslims, who are the 2nd largest population in India. Despite the fact that Islam’s beauty lies in simplicity and it recommends simple marriage, some transgressions such as dowry have crept into Muslim society in a wide range. When we look through Quran, we come across â€Å"Mahr†. According to â€Å"mahr† it is a mandatory payment, in the form of money or possessions paid by the groom, or by groom’s father, to the bride at the time of marriage that legally becomes bride’s property. But as time has passed by, Muslims have changed their character and are following their Hindu counterparts in demanding and offering dowry both, in heavy cash and kind. The competition among the rich and well-to-do section of the Muslim community to reserve a good match for their daughters for whatever the demand is, has increased. Education has hardly has any influence on the minds of the people in respect of dowry. On the contrary, a highly educated man expects a higher amount of dowry, just as it happens among the Hindus. The violence committed on women, for dowry, has increased in recent times. If we observe properly, as to why this dowry violence takes place, we can see a broader picture. The reason for dowry is mainly because the women are seen as less productive than man, concept of dowry itself shows that one’s gender determines one’s worth. The roots of this deficiency can be seen were even a bride, who may be well educated and earning than her husband, will still have to pay the dowry price, just like the other bride who is not educated and not earning. And in some instances too, were even if demands for dowry were to be satisfied fully, young women would continue to face torture and harassment in their in-laws homes because of women’s custom-sanctioned-inferiority. Dowry deaths are example of patriarchal authority. In some cases, the patriarchal authority expresses itself by murdering the young women by burning with kerosene (most frequent in urban areas) or drowning (common in rural areas). Other methods employed to murder include poisoning and physical battery. These facts and historical development shows that it is because of the disrespect and uncultured behaviour that we show towards women, has lead to female infanticide, uneducated girls, sexual harassment, dowry system, heavy debt in bride’s family and domestic violence. Let us all respect women, and treat them has equals, because only this solution, will lead to abolishment of many social evils against women.

How to Build Relationship in a Small Business Essay

According to Gronroos (1997), marketing in relational terms means â€Å"To establish, maintain and enhance relationships with customers and other partners, at a profit so that the objectives of the parties involved are met. This is achieved by mutual exchange and fulfillment of promises†. As to whether a business will profitably benefit from investing in relationship with its customers and other stakeholders, a lot depends on the nature of the business. With regards to certain sectors, like the service sectors, it becomes imperative to develop the relationship with its customers, so as to ensure consistent growth and sustainable competitive advantage. In big organizations like the banks, the bureaucracy makes it difficult for these institutions to be responsive to the needs of their customers. Hence customer relationship building becomes problematic. But taking a small business like a hairdressing salon, various relationship management techniques are blindly employed by these hairdressers to build relationships with customers. This paper uses the situation of a hairdressing salon located at Akweteyman, a suburb of Accra, Ghana to explain how relationships with customers are built over the years. Top Curls Beauty Salon, located in Akweteyman, is owned and run by Joyce Owusuwaa. She has employed three hairstylists and has six apprentices. She has operated the business for Ten years, and currently is patronized by lots of women from the locality and beyond. Relationship management techniques clearly play out in such small businesses because of the fact that those delivering the services are mostly the owners, and have the passion to see the business grow, hence making them highly entrepreneurial. Conditions that are conducive to relationship management It is not every business that can profitably practice relationship management. Certain conditions must exist to foster the development of an intimate relationship with clients. According to Szmigin and Bourne (1998), the value of a relationship, and by implication the desire to commit to it, will depend on the nature of the service, the nature of the consumers and the nature of the situation. Berry (1983), discussing the service sector identifies three conditions for the applicability of Relationship Management. First of all, the customer has to show a continuing and periodic desire for the service. Secondly, the service customer must be able to select the service provider, and finally there must be a choice of suppliers available to the customer. Berry (1995), further points out that, high involvement services, such as banking, insurance and hairstyling services have the characteristics which lend themselves to relationship building. Taking the case of Top Curls Beauty Salon located at Akweteyman, a suburb of Accra, it has the conditions conducive to Relationship building. Women, both young and old, have a continuing and periodic (which could be fortnightly or weekly) desire to have a hairstyle that enhance their beauty and appearance. The clients, in this case the women themselves; do the selection of the hairstylist. There is also a plethora of hairstylists and salons around the Akweteyman locality, in which case constitutes a large pool of hair salons available to the customers. So how does Top Curls Beauty Salon build relationship with customers? Consistency of quality of service For Joyce, quality of service is very critical to building a long-term relationship with its customers. Quality of service, in terms of a hairstylist, has to do with how good the client feels at the end of delivering the service. Not necessarily the final product in terms of pleasant appearance, but how the person was attended to at the salon upon entering it, how the salon attendants as well as the final hairstylist were gentle with the hair of the client, may be in terms of how gently they stroke and caress the client’s hair and the kind of pep talks that went on with the client during the service, all go a long way to establish an excellent quality of service in the mind of the customer. This could lead to repeat patronage as well as referrals. But the question one may want to ask is; how does she ensure that this quality of service is at least maintained, even to the extent of her brief absence? Though she has about six apprentices, she also employs three hairstylists who had undergone an extensive training and coaching from established beauty schools, and mentoring from her. These three stylists have the flair for the job and assist her as well as deputize for her in case of her absence. In fact these girls are trained all-round, and can solve every client issue. Customization Every customer, be it existing or new, that enters Top Curls Beauty Salon is unique in lots of ways. Customers differ in their appearance, shape of their head, the texture of their hair, the color of their hair, the length of their hair, the strength of their scalp, their likes and dislikes, their socialization and exposure, level of education, age and complexion etc. One style will definitely not fit all of them. This calls for customized service. In fact the business of hairstyling thrives on variety and customization of services to individual customers. The hairdresser gains a better knowledge of the customer’s requirements and needs over periods of encounters. This knowledge can then be combined with social rapport built over a number of service encounters to tailor and customize the service to customer’s specifications. But there is a challenge for Joyce when a customer wants a style which is in vogue, but which will not fit the customer. In a situation like this, persuasion is done with all the tactness, and explanations given to convince the customer that a better style, which is also in vogue will best suit her and give her that â€Å"knockout† appearance and appeal. Customization is very much aided by the next point, which is; two-way communication dialogue. Two-way communication dialogue The rapport between a hairdresser and her customers is very important if a long term relationship is expected. The kind of communication dialogue that ensues in the salon does not only bolster the relationship, but also brings a lot of client issues to the fore so that the hairdresser can best satisfy the needs of the customer. According to Joyce, she constantly engages the customers in a dialogue, all to unearth their needs. Some customers, based on how they have been conditioned in other salons, just remain quiet throughout the period that they are being attended to. These customers leave the salon only to change their hairstyle as soon as they get to the house. By engaging them in a conversation, they feel comfortable to actually come out with how they want their hair to look like, hence promoting the likeliness of future business and referrals. It is only through a two way communication dialogue that customer needs could be met. High level of interaction There is a high level of interaction between a hairstylist and her customers. The relationship between a woman and her hairdresser is unique. This is because she develops an intimate relationship with her hairdresser as a result of visiting the salon regularly. Women go to the extent of confiding in their hairdressers on issues like personal relationships or marriage and family issues. Why won’t they, if they trust their hairdressers enough to alter their physical appearance, sometimes radical? For some customers, it is all about enjoying the whole experience of going to the hairdresser. For this people, you can always have a good chart at the hairdresser’s salon, as well as catch up on the latest gossip. Hence hairdressers initiate certain lines of conversations and gossips, especially fashion, all to get the salon exciting. Some also go to the salon because they need someone to talk to. They tell their hairdresser really personal things, having in their mind that thei r hairdresser is a good person to speak to, because they are completely separated from their lives. With the advent of technology, this form of bonding with customers is enhanced by mobile phones, which makes it possible for the interactive platform to be extended outside the salon. Plays a professional as well as an advisory role Hairdressers play a professional as well as advisory role to their customers. One could classify them as â€Å"informal† psychologists, who exert a level of influence on their customers, not only to change their hairstyles, but positively impact on their lives. Moreover, by virtue of their knowledge in hair grooming and taking care of hair in terms of what hair products the consumer should avoid and those that are suitable (health wise) to them, hairdressers always have the client at heart and appear to act in the interest of the client. If a client should suffer a hair loss, or let’s say suffer a scalp infection as a result of misapplication of a particular hair product, it will adversely impact on the relationship with the client, and generate a negative word of mouth as well. This situation, the hairdresser avoids as much as she can. These are some of the main reasons why she ensures that clients’ hairs are attended to by her and the three most qualified emplo yees. Just to avoid such incidents. Hence, the clients trust the hairdresser to take care of their hair, which the hairdressers consistently do, in their daily dispensations. High commitment and fulfillment of promises From the above point, one can say that hairdressers exhibit a high level of commitment towards the client, and help the clients solve their hair problems. A typical example is when clients consult their hair dresser on problem of hair loss and breakage. The hairdresser goes the extra mile in recommending an appropriate product for solving the problem. Some hairdressers go to the extent of purchasing the product and assisting the client in applying it, all for a fee, and which helps in bonding with the customer. Hence, a constant commitment to solving the hair problems of the client goes a long way to improve on the relationship with the customer. Furthermore, the hairdresser endeavors to fulfill her promises to the client. It is not easy trusting anybody to change your appearance or outlook. What is the assurance and likelihood that you would like the final appearance you are given? Hairdressers, by leveraging their skills and flair, fulfill the promise of making the client feel good at the end of the service delivery. There are situations where some clients refer new customers, and a challenge appears in terms of satisfying this new customer, and fulfilling the expectation and hype. But hairdressers leverage the two-way dialogue to meet the expectations of this new customer. Long-term orientation and horizon Long-term orientation and horizon is a key feature hairdressers use to build a lasting relationship with customers. How long a customer is kept in a relationship and share of their wallet they spend in that salon is very important to the long-term profitability of the hairdresser. There are situations where customers had relocated to a distant suburb in the capital, and yet trek to the old suburb just to patronize the services of a trusted hairdresser. It is important to see customers as partners rather than opposite parties, as highlighted by Gummesson (1999). He goes on to pontificate that long-term collaboration and â€Å"win-win† as a key feature of building relationships. This view promotes collaboration, and creation of mutual value for both the hairdresser and the customer. There are situations where hairdressers freely apply certain pomades or sprays, at least initially, just to woo these clients in the long-term. Sometimes too, customers are given discounts just to get them to patronize the salon for a longer period. Hairdressers, in this sense, do not wholly transfer cost to the customers. Customers are handed certain benefits which in the long run make them loyal to the hairdresser. This loyalty is sometimes assured and maintained even when customers relocate to different localities. Customer lifetime value Finally, hairdressers view customers, though crudely, in terms of their lifetime value to the business of hairdressing. They nurture the notion that if you can best satisfy and delight a particular customer the more likely you are to have a sustained relationship with the client. This lifetime relationship could be extended to the client referring family members and close peers to that particular salon. Furthermore, taking such a position makes it difficult for the client to break the relationship with the hairdresser. How has Top Curls Beauty Salon benefited from developing such relations? First and foremost, the fact that she has established a bonding relationship with them, the customers do not react negatively to price increments, since they know they are getting value for money. Besides, compared to the prices competing salons are charging in the locality, Top Curls Beauty Salon’s charges could be termed as premium, yet the customers see it as appropriate. Again, some customers move to distant localities and yet regularly visit the salon. The client base of the salon has greatly increased as a result of referrals from these customers. The salon has been able to leverage their service â€Å"brand† into other forms of grooming. The salon now does manicure and pedicure as well. But all these are not without hitches and challenges. Not every relationship developed has yielded the returns. In fact some has yielded negative returns. But on the whole, building a lifelong relationship with its customers has brought some level of success. REFERENCES Gronroos, C. (1997) ‘From marketing mix to relationship marketing – towards a paradigm shift in marketing’, Management Decisions, 35, 4, 322-339 Szmigin, I. and Bourne, H. (1998) ‘Consumer equity in relationship marketing’, Journal of consumer marketing, 15, 6, 544-557 Berry, L. L. (1983) ‘Relationship marketing’, in L. L. Berry, G. L. Sostack and G. Opah (eds) Emerging Perspectives on services marketing, Chicago, II: American Marketing Association, 25-28. Berry, L. L. (1995) ‘Relationship Marketing of Services, Growing Interest, Emerging Perspectives’, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 23, 4, 236-245. Gummesson, E. (1999) Total Relationship Marketing – Rethinking Marketing Management : From 4Ps to 30Rs, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Abolitionism in William Blakes Works

Abolitionism in William Blake's Works William Blake’s Abolitionism â€Å"I know my Execution is not like Any Body Else I do not intend it should be so.† William Blake is arguably one of the most eccentric and enigmatic artists of the Romantic era. His ideas about religion, art and society are often considered anachronistic. In general, Blake’s vision is different from other Romantic era artists because of his lower-class background, his personal spirituality, and his interest in the visual arts. However, he does have similar opinions about the important issues of the time, especially concerning the French Revolution, abolitionism and the visionary imagination. In approaching Romantic literature with a global prospective, it is important to consider Blake’s unique contribution and influence, as well as his divisions. His oeuvre converges in fundamental ways with the literary art and the limitations of his time, including views on gender and racial equality. In this paper, I will focus on his ideas concerning slavery and the unique ways in which he expresses his abolitionism through an investigation of his poetry and art. I will examine the presentation of slavery and abolitionism through a close-reading of the poems â€Å"The Little Black Boy†, from Songs of Innocence, and â€Å"Visions†, from Visions of the Daughter of Albion. The literary analysis will incorporate analysis about various works of art by Blake, including the illustrations of these poems. The two poems demonstrate, through their abolitionist message, the oppressive forces of conventional religion and British moral and social expectations, and that they have corrupted natural relations between human beings. I will exhibit that although his poetry is highly progressive for its day, it still relays the underlying belief of his time that women and racial others are inferior. Blake is successful in exposing the problems of the conventional religion of Britain, but his highly spiritual and mythological vision makes his message less effective in causing any real change within society. Blake is worthy of academic attention and there is indeed an overwhelming amount of criticism on his works. I have learned a great deal from David Erdman’s article â€Å"Blake’s Vision of Slavery†, which outlines abolitionism in Visions. Saree Makdisi indicates the necessity of reevaluating the history of the Romantic-era when considering Blake’s works. Susan Fox also indicates Blake’s anachronistic role within the era, but argues that he exhibits the limitations of his time in utilizing women as metaphors for failure in his works. Anne Mellor indicates the argument of Visions, in terms of the human form and Blake’s spiritual beliefs, as a criticism of British morality for destroying the vitality of a true spiritual union. My analysis of abolitionism within the two poems will assert that Blake’s portrayal of slavery is linked to his larger program of addressing the injustice and false spirituality of power relations in British society. â€Å"The Little Black Boy† indicates Blake’s beliefs concerning the power of parents over children and racial inferiority, while Visions illustrates his ideas about gender equality and sexual relations. Despite his progressive opinions about equal relationships and abolitionism, Blake exhibits many of the divisions and limitations of his time. His greatest limitation is the complex mythological system that renders his artistic message politically ineffective. In the collection Songs of Innocence and Experience, Blake explores and depicts an â€Å"age when God is fully manifest in man† and feels the spiritual and psychological comfort of God’s protection and love (Matlak, 274). The poetry is highly profound in its promotion of an equal society based on love and freedom, not simply childlike naivety. This book of poetry, like many of his others, is illuminated with several works of art. Blake is unique in this practice because his artwork does not simply serve as supplements to the verse; they amplify, complicate and, at times, contradict the poetry. This challenges notions of reading, interpreting and the relationship between the written and visual arts. His artwork is highly original, and often considered anachronistic, within the English artistic tradition. He chose to use uncommon mediums, notably relief etchings for producing his illuminated books of poetry. Blake also painted in watercolor, a medium which rejected the he avy and traditional method of using expensive oil paints. This medium creates artwork that emphasizes light, pure color and lightness, while also rejecting the orthodox artistic notions of the English Academy and encouraging all classes to produce artistic works. The poem â€Å"The Little Black Boy†, from Songs of Innocence, portrays the simple spirituality of a child who believes in God’s promise of love, while also indicating the spiritual equality of humanity. The boy sings of the lessons his mother has taught him about the perfect afterlife he will enjoy. In this heaven, he will experience pure joy, but also equality with the white English boy. This simply constructed, childlike verse holds many layers of meaning. The poem poignantly asserts the spiritual equality of all humans, alluding to the Christian argument against slavery of his time. â€Å"The Little Black Boy† indicates the spiritual dignity and equality of the boy, therefore, valorizes him. Blake does this in multiple ways, most importantly through the assertion of the religious belief in heaven as a utopia where everyone is equal. The boy is taught that when in heaven he will be released from the oppression and subjugation encoded in his black body, become equal with the white English boy and be loved by God. His spiritual education provides the basis for the boy’s hope, while also promoting the notion of the equal spiritual union in heaven. Blake also promotes the boy’s dignity by referencing his mother and his education through her. The boy’s loving relationship with his mother (lines 7, 21) illustrates his youth and innocence, but also portrays him as more human and endearing. The boy learns diligently and quickly from his mother, who represents the voice of age and wisdom. Blake emphasizes learning as a significant part of childhood throughout his iconography and artwork. The title page of Songs of Innocence portrays two children reading a book lying on a woman’s lap, presumably their mother. The idyllic and bucolic scene indicates the spiritual growth of the children, which is in the hands of the older members of society. This illustration also exemplifies Blake’s vision of positive womanhood as natural and motherly, which was initiated in Songs of Innocence. Mellor and Matlak describe this iconography, â€Å"In Blake’s aesthetic world, the female is identified with nature, the physical body or matter, and the realm of the domestic. Blake’s positive females give birth, raise children, and offer sexual delight and supportive compassion to Blake’s males† (Matlak, 274). Another example of this scene of children learning is â€Å"Age Teaching Youth†, which portrays two children learning from an older figure through reading and verbal instruction. These two works illustrate the poem’s message that learning as an integral aspect of childhood and that children learn from the adults around them. The construction of the figures is similar to the second illustration of â€Å"The Little Black Boy†. Both compositions portray an adult figure sitting and addressing the small children at their feet. This construction emphasizes the authority of the adults, but also the eagerness and attentiveness of the children. They are willing to accept the ideas of the words of the adults. Blake’s promotion of the boy’s equality in â€Å"The Little Black Boy† has many complications and problems. Most importantly, the boy’s resignation to earthly subjugation and racism, as a result of his acquired belief in conventional religion, is problematic because of it is an acceptance of racial discrimination on earth and indicates that there is no need for real social change. The poem focuses on God’s light and heat, symbolizing Divine love, using the racial images of blackness and shadows. The third stanza portrays this clearly, â€Å"And we are put on earth a little space, / That we may learn to bear the beams of love, / And these black bodies and this sun-burnt face / Is but a cloud, and like a shady grove† (lines 13-16). Blake indicates the boy’s spiritual goodness, along the same racial lines, by associating his soul with whiteness; â€Å"And I am black, but O! my soul is white† (line 2). This imagery exhibits the comm on tendency of Blake’s time to associate physical darkness with intellectual depravity. Blake argues against the discrimination the boy suffers on earth, claiming that he will experience a spiritual union with God in the afterlife, where all humans are equal. This vision is highly problematic because despite Blake’s efforts to promote the equality of the little boy, the subjugation he experiences on earth seems to be justified or appeased by the idyllic vision of future equality in heaven. The boy resigns himself to the subjugation he experiences on earth as a result of his mother’s teachings. He believes in his corporeal inferiority, as it is taught to him, stating in lines three and four, â€Å"White as an angel is the English child: / But I am black as if bereav’d of light†. The boy focuses on the afterlife and hopes for a union with God, believing that he will be loved then. The last lines of the poem state, â€Å"To lean in joy upon our fathers knee. / And then I’ll stand and stroke his silver hair, / And be like him and he will then love me† (lines 26-28). Note the use of the word â€Å"then† to emphasize that he is not loved by God in this life. Blake presents a complicated argument for racial equality that seems to appease the injustice experienced on earth. By illustrating the boy’s belief and hope for the afterlife, Blake indicates the oppressiveness of conventional religion. English Christianity colludes in the subjugation of the boy, through the mother’s instruction, to accept his inferiority on earth. Indeed, Blake presents the oppressive morality and society institution of the conventional religion, but also the adult’s role in continuing the oppression through the education of the youth and promotion of the conventional ideas. The second illustration to â€Å"The Little Black Boy† illustrates this in a subtle, but important way. The Christ-like figure’s garment looks like stone. The heavy, flat and severe cloak is associated with Blake’s iconography with rationality and conventional religion. Another important message of the illustration is the use of light, an important motif throughout the poem. The sun is a prominent part of the composition’s background, but does not give off a g reat deal of light. In fact, the sun seems to be setting, as darkness creeps into the picture field. This seems to suggest a limitation in the heat and light of God portrayed in the poem, contrasting with the optimism of the verse. Finally, the composition portrays black boy standing behind the white child, who actually touches the God figure. This important placement, along with the fading sun, indicates the subordination of the black boy even in the afterlife. This is not explicitly explained within the composition, but one possible explanation is the oppressiveness of conventional religion. â€Å"The Little Black Boy† indicates some of the limitations of Blake’s time concerning race and racial equality. Although Blake compellingly illustrates the spiritual equality of the afterlife, this is inherently limited because it seems to offer a justification or acquiescence to the racial injustices of English society, including the slave trade and slavery. The vision of an equalized spiritual utopia, and the criticism of conventional English religion, eclipses the abolitionist message of the poem. In representing this vision and the maladies of organized religion, Blake portrays his mystical view of human relations; they are ideally mutual spiritual relationships, while social standards and customs create unnatural power relationships that are oppressive and damaging. In â€Å"The Little Black Boy† this is demonstrated through the control that white, English society have over black populations, the influence that the mother has over her child which causes h im to believe he is inferior and, finally, the conventional God who dominates over the children in the second illustration. Blake’s important poem, Visions, also demonstrates his ideas about power relations and unnatural relationships. This poem describes Oothoon’s victimization by Bromion’s rape, and Theotormon’s belief that she is defiled and unacceptable, despite his love for her. Oothoon is enslaved by her condition as an exploited woman, while Bromion is trapped by his violent act, and Theotormon by the social constructions he abides by. The poem begins, â€Å"Enslav’d, the Daughters of Albion weep a trembling lamentation†, immediately connecting slavery with the subjugation of women in English society. This is influenced from Mary Wollstonecraft’s argument in A Vindication of the Rights of Women that women in England have the same political and civil status as slaves. Visions complexly portrays the repercussions of society and religion’s warped control over human interactions, addressing several different power relations, including the dominanc e of men over women, master over slave and organized religion over society. David Erdman states, â€Å"†¦love and slavery prove to be the two poles of the poem’s axis† (Erdman, 242). This poem promotes a more equal treatment of women by indicating Oothoon’s sadness and extreme despair. She grieves, â€Å"Are both alike: a night of sighs, a morning of fresh tears† (Plate 2, line 39). Her exploitation is obviously condemned in an interesting way because this oppression connects her to horrors of the institution of slavery, including sexual abuse and emotional despair. Blake presents quasi-feminist and abolitionist arguments against the sexual and economic exploitation of humans, because it distorts freedom and natural relationships. Institutionalized subjugation and enslavement does not simply destroy the victimized, such as Oothoon, but the entire society because it warps all human interactions. Bromion becomes enslaved by his violent act, while Theotormon is enslaved by his jealousy and inability to love Oothoon after she has been defiled. He is trapped by the standards of conventional religion and morality, specifically the notions of marriage. The frontpiece to Visions of the Daughters of Albion serves as a dramatic visual representation of the poem’s portrayal of mental and physical bondage. Oothoon is shackled to Bromion, facing opposite directions from one another. Bromion faces out towards the sea with a look of horror, while Oothoon directs herself towards Theotormon, bending downwards in despair and resignation. Lukacher states that, â€Å"her jealous and inhibited lover cowers and withdraws into himself on the cavernous ledge about the enchained figures† (105). Theotormon’s body language indicates his self-entrapment and despair because the social restrictions he believes in prohibit him from being with the woman he loves. This composition utilizes Michelangelo-esque nudes and opposing body languages to contain and reduce the complex drama of the poem. The landscape also conveys the bleak tone of the literary work. The entrance to the grotto frames the figures and the background including a blea k sea, clouds and a darkened sun. Visions clearly argues against the subjugation of women and the institutions that promote economic and physical exploitation on human beings, most significantly slavery and marriage. Blake promotes, instead, love as a equal spiritual and physical union. This notion of free love rejects the standards of Christian marriage in England, promoting an equal union between man and woman. The composition, Circle of the Lustful, exemplifies this notion well. This illustration portrays Virgil standing over the fainted Dante. Dante envisions his Paolo and Francesca released from purgatory and re-united together in the luminous orb. A whirling vortex of punished lovers rushes out of the river of purgatory. Blake liberates the lovers, freeing them from the sin that society condemns them for. The figures are mostly androgynous, indicating Blake’s vision of the ideal human form as containing both the male and female genders. This composition promotes free love, asserting the goodness of spiri tual love, while also overturning Dante’s tradition that imposes strict moral and sexual codes on society. Blake’s work, like Visions and Circle of the Lustful, deals with subjugation and exploitation as distortions of power and human relations. Blake condemned those who abused and exploited others through the misuse of power. His portrayals of this exploitation prompted Saree Makdisi to promote the reevaluation of his time. A specific example of Blake’s condemnation of the powerful is The Ghost of a Flea, a composition that portrays the profane spirit of this powerful man as a reptile-like creature. The comet indicates a supernatural event and the dramatic, stage-like setting emphasize the evilness of this creature. Although this composition is a specific condemnation of English industrialists, it demonstrates Blake’s view of the powerful that exploit and subject the rest of society. Blake’s mythological vision asserts their impending punishment. Visions condemns the mental and physical bondage promoted by the institutions of slavery and marriage. The poem is not, however, highly effective in promoting any real change. In a similar manner as â€Å"The Little Black Boy†, Visions addresses too many issues to be efficacious in directly promoting the feminism of Mary Wollstonecraft or the abolitionist cause. The poem is also rendered ineffective because the definition of slavery is blurred and turned into a multifarious term that applies any lack of freedom. In fact, the poem seems to deal more with spiritual and mental enslavement than with the political and economic practices of the slave trade and slavery. Blake concerns himself most greatly with the condemnation of the sexual limitations and moral codes of conventional religion. Susan Fox claims that Blake’s feminist agenda in Visions is ineffective because Oothoon lacks real assertiveness. â€Å"No woman in any Blake poem has both the will and the power to ini tiate her own salvation – not even the strongest and most independent of his women, Oothoon† (Fox, 513). Blake presents gender and sexuality in a similar way as many artists of his time; although he promotes the dignity and worth of women, the representation ultimately affirms feminine inferiority and lack of agency. Visions’ large and far-reaching messages about slavery, power relations, sexuality and religion addresses many issue in a liberal and progressive way, but these multifarious and complex issues render the poem unable to directly confront any one issue to prompting real change. Blake is most successful in directly promoting abolitionism through the illustrations of actual events and atrocities of the slave trade, such as A Negro Hung Alive by the Ribs to the Gallows. These etchings are politically subversive in a direct and real sense, because they specifically address the institution of slavery’s violation of human dignity. These images are clear criticisms of the atrocities committed by the slave trade, calling for real political action. These illustrations, however, are very simple artistic constructions that portray one figure’s suffering, asserting their humanity and dignity. Although they are not artistically complex or important, they do serve to directly promote the abolitionist cause during his time. In conclusion, abolitionism is not the main concern of â€Å"The Little Black Boy† or Visions. Slavery is the starting point of the poems, which is used to condemn the abuse of power and conventional religion. The other social ills addressed in the poems, such as gender and racial inequality, are similarly presented as aspects of the larger spiritual program. Although these aspects are highly progressive in promoting human equality, they include the underlying belief of racial and gender inferiority, common throughout the Romantic era. Blake’s overarching concern for his poetry and artistic illustrations is the portrayal of ideal mystical vision of natural, vital and equal human relationships. Makdisi states, â€Å"Blake must be seen to be trying to rescue against all odds the possibility of a political aesthetic of immortal joy, which we can understand as an affirmation of joyous unity and collective freedom. This amounts to a refusal of the very logic of domination, of warrior power over others† (Makdisi, The Impossible History, 258). The spiritual attention distinguishes the theme of slavery in Blake’s poetry from direct and bold abolitionist poetry of the Romantic era, such as the works by Hannah More and Ann Yearsley. â€Å"The Little Black Boy† and Visions are concerned with promoting the esoteric mythological vision, not with the instigation of real social change. The mystical investigation of bondage and slavery in these poems offers interesting artistic portrayals of human relationships and spirituality. Bibliography: Erdman, David V. Blakes Vision of Slavery. Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes 15 (1952): 242-252. JSTOR. 1 Dec. 2007. Fox, Susan. The Female as Metaphor in William Blakes Poetry. Poetic Form in Blakes Milton. Comp. Susan Fox. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1976. 507-519. Lukacher, Brian. Visionary History Painting: Blake and His Contemporaries. Nineteenth Century Art: a Critical History. Ed. Stephan F. Eisenman. London: Thames Hudson Ltd., 2007. 102-119. Makdisi, Saree. William Blake and the Impossible History of the 1790s. Chicago: The University of Chicago P, 2003. Makdisi, Saree. Romantic Imperialism. New York City: Cambridge UP, 1998. Mellor, Anne K. Blakes Human Form Divine. Berkeley: The University of California P, 1974. Townsend, Joyce H. Willaim Blake: the Painter At Work. Ed. Joyce H. Townsend. Princeton: Princeton UP, 2003.   www.blakearchive.org

Future Plans while Still at Apple Inc Research Paper

Future Plans while Still at Apple Inc - Research Paper Example I feel the foundation of all education is the learning process itself or what actually becomes a learning process of â€Å"de-hypnotizing ourselves back into a more conscious state†. I feel a commitment in myself to continuously remove any resistance I might have or acquire to new learning and maintain an open heart and open mind to all life. My professional area of focus arises from the surrounding environment and I believe working with Apple Inc. organization will be the fulfillment of my dream I have heard since I was young. My interest in research centers based on Apple Inc. is what I term the science of coherency. Coherency according to Webster means: To become united: in principles/relationships/interest (i.e. intention and higher Purpose), To be logically and aesthetically consistent and Systematic connection. I am interested in developing and testing both innovative technologies and â€Å"wake-up in the moment† tools for stimulating internal coherency. It is my experience that technology can serve as training wheels for stimulating and measuring ourselves back into wholeness. The focus of this endeavor is on awareness and how tools can be developed within each of us to wake-up from our hypnotized separation and connect with the very source of our awareness and essential self. Apple Inc, formerly known as Apple Computer, Inc is one of the American multinational corporation positioned in California. The company is associated with the development and sells of electronics devices, computer software, as well as personal computers. These electronic devices include iPod, iPhone Smartphones and iPad tablet computers. The company is the world’s second-largest information technology company by revenue after Samsung Electronics. It is also the third largest company in the world phone makers. The company has over 408 retail stores in fourteen countries all over the world. It is one of the largest public corporation in the world by market capitalization valued at $ 415  billion.  

Choose one from the document that i uploaded Essay

Choose one from the document that i uploaded - Essay Example The recently established Securities and Exchange Commission has already charged more than a hundred culprits in crisis related cases as of July 18 this year. The federal law enforcers focus mainly on placing civil charges instead of criminal penalties against senior executive officials from the Wall Street business organizations. In the process of seeking justice in the United States economy, the federal law enforcers were forced to carry out in depth investigations in the American financial industry. Currently their mandate is to assess the current policies and modify the set of orders. The clock is quickly ticking and the law enforces have no other role rather than to finally make sure justice is attained in the American economy (Kuttner 243). According to the report written by Williams, it is evident that during the economic crisis, individuals vandalized the economic stability through fraud. According to the report which was featured by the Reuters and the Bloomberg, rigging was done on the LIBOR, i.e. the London interbank offered rate. This had a major repercussion on the returns that the banks were to make and in turn, the amount that was to go to the state. So much rigging would obviously be reflected in the state’s economic balance. Additionally, corruption and impunity masked the entire process since traces to the lost money

Strategic Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Strategic Management - Assignment Example The company has strategic options like developing strategic alliances with local retailers, offering cost leadership and competitive pricing. Table of Contents Strategic management of TESCO supermarket 14 1 Strategic management of TESCO supermarket 1 Executive summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 Business environment 5 PEST framework 5 Political factors 5 Economical factors 6 Social factors 6 Technological factors 7 Porter’s five forces 7 Threat of new entrant 7 Bargaining power of suppliers 8 Bargaining power of consumers 8 Threat of substitutes 9 Bargaining power of competitors 9 Internal analysis 9 Swot analysis 11 Challenges facing the organization 12 Strategic options 12 References 14 Introduction Food retail sector in the United Kingdom employs over 3 million people. This makes it the largest industry in the economy. However, a growing number of supermarkets are coming under intense pressure because of unprofessional treatment meted on stakeholders in the supply chain. Tesco and other supermarkets are committed to strategic development networks that lead to increased productivity. This report gives a strategic management analysis of Tesco supermarket. ... United Kingdom is Tesco’s largest market. In this market Tesco operates under Metro, Express, Extra and Superstore banners. The retailer has diversified to non-food lines e.g. clothing. Tesco delivers close to 40,000 food products. The companies label products operate at three levels. Most of the stores contain gas stations. Therefore, it has grown to become of the leading petrol retailers in Britain. Tesco personal finance is a retailing service offered by the supermarket is a bid to expand its market share. Business environment The business environment on a retailer plays a central role in its profitability. Companies are under intense pressure to acknowledge their responsibility to the society. The introduction of taxes that target the increased advertising of fatty food is bound to affect the performance of the supermarket (Stone 2009). The relationship between consumers and supplies has also been affected because of the ‘fat tax’. The presence of powerful com petitors has led to intense price wars. In some instances, the foreign market environment is hostile and governments try to protect the local industries from foreign competition. Government policies that promote monopoly controls have been blamed for limited access to some markets and segments. Such policies have the capacity to reduce the buying power of consumers. Differentiation is increasingly becoming difficult because of unhealthy competition and government interference. Tesco has developed a policy in which it reduces the prices for fuel based on the amount of sales at its groceries. The retailer compensates by raising prices in other stores. PEST framework Political factors Besides the United Kingdom, Tesco operates in six countries in Europe. The legislative and

Physical Geology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Physical Geology - Essay Example The landscapes we see around us have many different and varying features, many of which have been fashioned by a number of external forces. Erosion is probably the major force in this respect and it can come from a number of sources, such as wind, water and ice. While these sources can be seen to be unique, in fact in the majority of cases they usually combine within the erosion process that shapes our landscapes. Wind is forceful creator of particular land features, especially in areas where deserts exist, normally close to the equator. In this instance as the warm air rises, forming clouds, the winds blow these away from the equator, both north and south, leaving a dryer condition. As a result, these areas receive significantly reduced rainfall, limiting the amount of vegetation, which would bind the earth’s surface together. The wind also carries particles of plants and rocks with it to create a build up of vegetation and chemical deposits in other areas. The power of the w ind, for example in the form of hurricanes, can have a significant effect on the landscape, as well as destroying human habitats.

Cold war Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cold war - Essay Example In the end, both countries would end up losing if the war turned hot. This is likely why things never progressed further than they did. The Cold War officially ended in 1991. Just as there are a variety of reasons as to why the Cold War began, there are a few reasons as to why it ended. For one thing, the Soviet Union had collapsed by this time, which meant that the strength of Russia and its influence over other countries, such as Germany, was basically eliminated. In addition to their lack of influence, the Soviet Union did not have the resources to continue stockpiling weapons. Therefore, the Soviet Union had to call a â€Å"truce† with the United States, which they did during meetings between Mikhail Gorbachev, President Ronald Reagan, and, later on, President George H.W. Bush. The U.S. and the Soviet Union agreed to reduce their nuclear weapons that were set aside for war with each other. From there, the Soviet Union broke apart further, and the United States

About Euripides Alcestis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

About Euripides Alcestis - Essay Example Alcestis has the character of the powerful Greek woman in the Greek Mythology. However, love makes her to be humble like any common woman. She dies for her husband because of love. She is a hero who decides that she has to sacrifice her life for his husband. Through her heroic deed, Alcestis depicts the character of women that makes them different from Men. While men in the Greek society are shown to be selfish and even foolish, Alcestis shows that women, through simple sacrifices can make a change. In the first stasimon, the Chorus says, â€Å"Oh poor man! What a man you are! What a wife you are losing!† (25). This shows that Euripides in his writings thought of Alcestis as a hero. The chorus affirms that the lose of Alcestis was a big blow to Admetus. Alcestis says, â€Å"My death is enough--I am dying for you.† The sacrifice by Alcestis is captured in her own words. She affirms her heroic stature among all the mortals by declaring that she is dying for her husband. In the third Stasimon, Pheres speaks of the heroic deeds of Alcestis, â€Å"And she has made life more glorious for all women by undertaking this generous deed.† This shows that Alcestis is a Hero amongst women through her act of sacrifice. Because of Alcestis heroic deed, Heracles decides to do a heroic deed by fighting death and eventually managing to restore Alcestis. The heroic deed by Alcestis of dying for his husband is appreciated by Heracles to the extent that he decides to give Heracles life back. Selfishness helps create Alcestis heroic character. Admetus through his own selfishness, had agreed that he be given prosperity by Apollo, on the condition that he was destined to die. However, Admetus could cheat death if he managed to find someone willing to die in his place. Admetus had tried to look for a person who was willing to die for him, but everyone had refused. Alcestis through her bravery and sacrifice decided to

Origin of the Cold War Essay Example for Free

Origin of the Cold War Essay For more than four decades, world politics revolved around the Cold War. The foreign policy of both the United States and Soviet Union was dominated by the Cold War with far reaching social, political, economic and military consequences. The domestic politics and foreign policy of other nations around the world was also shaped by the Cold War. Very few countries escaped its influence. Since the distinctive features of the Cold War era was shaped in the years that immediately followed the Second World War, an analysis of its origin is important in understanding international history in the second half of the twentieth century. There are various conflicting interpretations of the origin of the Cold War. These interpretations are often based in deep philosophical and ideological differences. A great majority of these interpretations were themselves structured by the ongoing Cold War. The end of the Cold War together with the release of important information over the past years has provided an opportunity to reassess its origins. The earlier controversies concerning the responsibility of the Cold War can now be transcended in an attempt to understand what happened and why. New questions concerning the origins of the Cold War can now be asked. In this paper, I will focus on the international system and the events in the United States as recounted by Kissinger. Kissinger analyzes geopolitics and the perception of threat, ideology and social reconstruction, and strategy and technology. He examines how the American perceptions of national security interests were influenced by global distribution of power and deeply ingrained ideological predispositions. He also demonstrates how the need for hegemony helped shape the political conditions of other nations. There are two dominant views concerning the outbreak of the Cold War. The first is the view that the Soviet Union was mainly responsible for the outbreak. This view pictures the Soviet Union as persistently expansionist and being motivated ideologically. According to this perception, the United States authority wanted to get along with the Soviets. However, they realized that accommodation was not possible since the Soviet authorities quested for world domination. The second view is that the policies of the United States were also expansionist and therefore contributed to the beginning of the Cold War. The idea points towards the long history of American expansionism and argues that United States policies were shaped by ideological beliefs and economic interests to a large extent. It is this second idea that I wish to explore in the writing of Kissinger. The American foreign policy until the early into the twentieth century was characterized by isolationist tendency. According to Kissinger (29), the rapidly expanding power of the United States and the gradual collapse of international system that was previously centered in Europe projected the United States into world affairs. There was wide recognition by the United States administrations during this era that America had an important role to play in world affairs. The international balance of power could not be conceived by American leaders without the role of the United States. There was a deep philosophy that underlay this idea; America had an obligation to spread its principles throughout the world (Kissinger 30). The rise of new powers had been vehemently fought by European powers. The United States was however confident that they could resist any challenge. The American foreign policy was crafted on the conviction that the constant wars that were being fought in Europe were consequences of Europe’s cynical methods of statecraft (Kissinger 32). Ingrained in the American thought was the idea that peace depended on the promotion of democratic institutions. America saw it her responsibility to spread this idea. A great majority of American leaders were convinced that the United States had a special responsibility to spread its values in order to foster world peace. American foreign policy was radically transformed by Roosevelt who strongly believed that America was a great power. He also believed that in a world regulated by power, the natural order of things was reflected in the concept of spheres of influence (Kissinger 40). He was committed to engaging America to reestablish the equilibrium. He saw Germany and Russia as posing a threat to United States dominance in Europe and Asia respectively. He particularly saw Russia as holding in her hands the fate of the coming years. It is during this era that the United States begun seeing Russia as a possible threat to her interests. Weakening of Russia thus became a major issue. The United States saw itself as solely responsible for the security of the entire mankind. This perception foreshadowed its containment policy that was later developed after the Second World War. These sentiments obviously rubbed any nation that desired dominance the wrong way, invariably resulting ion conflict. With the Soviet Union having its own philosophy, the result would not have been anything apart from the Cold War. Work Cited Kissinger, Henry. Diplomacy. Simon and Schuster.

Effects of Atmospheric Aerosols on Human Health

Effects of Atmospheric Aerosols on Human Health Abstract: A highly Sensitive (LOD; 0.04-0.4 ng/ml) method is developed for detection and quantification of acidic compounds (C3 -C10) containing mono and dicarboxylic acids on GC-MS. These compounds (C3 -C10) existed in trace amount, as secondary organic aerosols i.e. important constituents of Aerosols. Membrane extraction technique was utilized for selective enrichment (1-4300 times) of target compounds. Good repeatability (RSD% ≠¤ 10%) from selective organic phase (10% TOPO in DHE) was achieved with three phase HF-LPME. Aerosols containing samples, after Ultrasonic Assisted extraction were detected and quantified Through GC-MS. Effective derivatization of each target compound was performed with BSTFA reagent. Gas Chromatography, having capillary column and interfaced with mass spectrometry was used for separation, detection and quantification of target compounds. Method Development and Application -hollow fiber Supported liquid membrane extraction of Fatty acids (C3-C10) containing mono and dicarboxylic acids and Detection of aerosols Samples after ultrasonic assisted extraction. 1. Introduction: Impact of Atmospheric aerosols on human health and effect on radioactive stability in Earth’s atmosphere is getting importance now a days and this phenomenon has been well understood. [1]. Atmospheric aerosols can harm respiratory and cardiovascular system of human. Impact of Secondary organic aerosols as biogenic and anthropogenic antecedent is identified (Adams and sinfold, 2002) [1, 17]. Low molecular dicarboxylic acids (C3-C9) are also vital tracers of SOA [2]. Short chain fatty acids are found as secondary organic aerosols which are also supposed to derive from long chain fatty acids [1]. Importance of organic aerosol has been well established now a days and carboxylic acids are of great interest for environmental studies [1]. Several studies and mechanisms were proposed to understand the production of these SOA precursors [1]. Short chain carboxylic acids are found extensively in troposphere [2]. Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) are formed in the atmosphere by gas particles conversions. Organic matter present in aerosol contains more than 90% of troposphere’s aerosols [5, 15]. Dicarboxylic acids found in nature as polymeric compounds such as suberin and cutin [3]. Short chain dicarboxylic acids are found in vegetables [Siddiqui, 1989] and in soil containing micro organisms of durum wheat [4]. Dicarboxylic acids are found in plant oils which have greater interest for cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries [6]. Short chain dicarboxylic acids having aliphatic chain possess strong cyclotoxicity and antineoplastic activities [18]. Many analytical techniques are used to determine the composition of SOA so keeping in view these techniques new method for determination of fatty acids (common in SOA) has been developed. Membrane extraction is used in this method due to its increasing importance for high selectivity and high enrichment factor [24]. Dicarboxylic acids formed of bio oxidation of fatty acids so these are considered as metabolic part of fatty acid [42]. Dicarboxylic acids and their derivatives can be used to make polymers and their condensation with diols in solution produces high molecular weight polyester [39]. Additionally these dicarboxylic acids use less temperature in the reaction for the preparation of polyesters [39]. 1.1. Analytes Description: Properties (physical, chemical, etc.) of Compounds (C3-C10) containing mono and dicarboxylic acids are discussed in section; 1.1.1-1.1.12. These compounds (C3-C10) are the target analytes in this diploma project. These target analytes are extracted through Liquid phase micro extraction and detected by GC-MS system. Fig. 1.1-1.12 represents structures of target analytes (section; 1.1.1-1.1.12). 1.1.1- Adipic Acid Adipic acid is a product of lipid per oxidation. Adipic acid does not undergo hydrolysis in the environment perhaps due to the lack of hydrolysable functional groups (Harris 1990) [5]. 1.1.2- Malonic Acid: Malonic Acid is a metabolite of plants and tissues and Malonyle-CoA [28]. Malonic Acid is an intermediate for preparation of fatty acids from plants and other tissues [7]. Malonic acid is also present in aerosols [8]. Malonic acid is an important constituent of short chain fatty acids [8]. Malonic acid present in beet rots as a Calcium salt [42]. 1.1.3- Succinic Acid: Succinic acid is found in atmosphere as water soluble compound and as a compound of Secondary organic aerosols [29]. Succinic acid is a solid exists as crystals, anciently called spirit of amber. Succinic acid is an important intermediate in citric acid cycle which is very important constituent of living organism [42]. 1.1.4- Glutaric acid: Glutaric acid is found as SOA in aerosols [8]. Glutaric acid is sparingly soluble in water [41], can be used to prepare a plasticizer for polyester [41]. 1.1.5- Pimelic Acid: Pimelic acid is a last dicarboxylic acid relative to carbon number which has IUPAC name. Derivatives of Pimelic acid are used for biosynthesis of amino acid typically lysine [41]. Pimelic acid is produced, when Nitric acid is heated with Oleic acid as a secondary sublimation product which is not crystallized [20]. 1.1.6-Suberic Acid: Suberic acid is produced from suberine [8]. Suberic acid can also be obtained by vigorous reaction condition of natural oil with nitric acid [8]. 1.1.7-Azelaic Acid: Azelaic acid is an important constituent of secondary organic aerosols because it produces short chain fatty acids upon photo oxidation and also because it can be produced during oxidation of unsaturated acid that is found in Oleic acid [11]. 1.1.8- Cis-pinonic Acid: Cis-pinonic acid is also produced in atmosphere by photo oxidation of ÃŽ ±-pinene in the existence of Ozone [30]. 1.1.9- Pinic Acid: Pinic acid is derivative of ÃŽ ±-pinene. Pinic acid can be generated by photo oxidation of ÃŽ ±-pinene with Ozone as given in this chemical reaction; (C10H16 + 5/3 O3 -> C9H14O4 + HCHO). Pinic acid is present in a crystalline form used to prepare plasticizers [30]. 1.1.10- 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid 4-Hydroxy benzoic acid is exists as crystals. It is used to derive parabens and can be used as antioxidant [41]. 1.1.11-Phthalic Acid: Phthalic acid is an aromatic dicarboxylic acid it is found as white crystalline state in pure form [41]. Phthalic acid is found abundantly in atmosphere and it has toxic properties. Aromatic acids are generally emitted through anthropogenic sources like reminiscent of solvent evaporation and Automobile exhaust [31]. 1.1.12-Syringic Acid. Syringic acid is found as humic substance in environment [40]. 1.2. Detection of Ultrasonic Assisted Extraction samples(UAE): A detection procedure by GC-MS is established with reference standard injections and UAE samples. A theoretical description is given in section 1.2 for â€Å"Ultrasonic assisted extractions†. Unknown real Samples from Aerosols containing mono and dicarboxylic acids (C 3-C 10) are provided after Ultrasonic assisted extraction [34]. 1.2.1- Ultrasonic Assisted Extraction: ‘Ultrasonic’ is derived from ultrasound. Ultrasound refers to a sound that has a higher frequency than a normal human can hear. This technique is used in chemistry in several aspects and due to application in chemistry it is known as Sonochemistry [23]. Ultra Sound is used in sample preparation in analytical chemistry like extraction, filtration, dissolution and sample purification. When Ultrasonic technique is used for assistance in extraction, this assistance in extraction is called â€Å"Ultrasonic assisted extraction† (UAE) [23]. There are many advantages by using UAE because it require less organic solvents ,non destructive, less expensive and less time consuming comparative to other sample preparation techniques like soxhlet [21]. The normal range of ultrasound frequencies used in laboratory ranges from 20 KHz to 40 KHz. Use of UAE is simple. A sample solution inside a vessel in an appropriate solvent can be placed inside ultrasonic bath at desired temperature and sound waves stir the sample [20]. The mechanism of US is as â€Å"when a sound source produces a high frequency waves, sample molecules starts vibrating and shift this vibration to other molecules of sample in a longitudinal direction when gas and liquid is used as a sample, while in solid sample both longitudinal and transverse waves can be produced† [19]. When UAE is utilized it increases speed of mass transport by vibration of mechanical transport from the sample matrix through a process called â€Å"cavitation† [21]. 1.2.2- Theory of Ultrasonic Assisted extraction: There are two theoretical aspects of sonication i.e. physical and chemical aspects in sample preparation. Physical and chemical aspects are described in section (1.2.2.1-1.2.2.2), in order to understand its practical use in analytical chemistry. 1.2.2.1- Physical aspects of UAE: During Ultrasonic assisted extraction, a bubble in a liquid cannot take energy (due to US) and implodes. On the other hand due to Ultra sound in liquid extractions, the cavitational pressure is shifted relatively higher so formation of bubble is difficult [21]. Ultrasonic intensity produces cavitations in a liquid sample during extraction (UAE). Two types of US cavitation is produced known as â€Å"transient cavitation† (produce transient bubble) and â€Å"permanent cavitation† [21]. The life time of transient bubble is so short that no mass transport or diffusion of gas is possible with in a sample [21]. Transient bubble is believed to be produced at US intensity (10 W/cm2) and permanent bubble at intensity (1-3 Watt/cm2). Sonochemical effects are intense inside the bubble because energy (numerous amounts) is produced during bubble eruption and production [21]. 1.2.1.2 Chemical aspects of UAE: When US radiation strikes a water molecule it produces free radicals OH* and H* due to collapsing cavitations’ bubble which exhibits high temperature and pressure inside and also many other radicals can be produced in solution [21]. Radical OH* is believed to be more stable and can begin many new reactions while H* radical is not stable. Second Sonochemical effect is pyrolytic reactions that occur inside bubble and can degrade compounds under analysis [21, 23]. 1.3. Liquid Phase microExtraction(lpme): The application of membrane extractions in analytical chemistry has taken the intentions of analysts during recent time. The goal of utilizing membrane extraction is to achieve high enrichment, selective extraction and environmental friendly procedure [24]. Small quantity of solvent (usually in micro liters) is required comparative to old techniques of extractions (soxlet) [24]. Clean extracts are obtained and after extraction, recovered compounds are shifted to another analytical instrument like Gas chromatography or liquid chromatography directly for further quantitative analysis [24]. 1.3.1 Hollow fiber membrane extraction: Two types of membrane are used in LPME. One membrane is flat sheet porous and second membrane is polypropylene hollow fiber. In this project polypropylene hollow fiber is used as a membrane support in membrane extractions due to limited cost and to reduce carry over problems [24]. 1.3.1.1 HF-LPME Technique: When a hollow fiber is used in LPME, this technique (LPME) is called hollow fiber liquid phase micro extraction (HF- LPME). In HF- LPME technique, a hollow fiber is used containing a thin film of immobilized liquid membrane inside the pores while the fiber is dipped into an aqueous phase containing objective analytes. Target analytes can transport through the membrane into a liquid filled inside the lumen of the fiber, which is termed as accepter solution [22]. Extraction of target analytes (C3-C10) was carried through three phase HF- LPME during whole of the project. Donor solution was contained analytes in aqueous medium, a suitable organic solvent i.e. Dihexyl ether (TOPO mixture) was used in pores of hollow fiber as a stationary liquid membrane support (SLM). Accepter solution was in aqueous medium [22].Target analytes were recovered into accepter phase after evaporation of water. Acetonitrile solvent was added in dried GC vial along with derivatizing reagent. After derivatization these samples were injected into a Gas chromatographic system. 1.3.2 Basic Principle of LPME: Basic principle is same for all LPME techniques (two phase or three phase LPME), the variation is only from accepter region [24]. In three phase liquid phase micro extraction technique (HF- LPME) a donor aqueous solution is filled in a vial or flask containing sample analytes. A short piece of hollow fiber is used and accepter solution is injected inside fiber through a micro syringe after injecting accepter solution one end is closed and other end contains syringe needle. Fiber containing solutions is inserted in an appropriate organic solvent having less polarity (Dihexyl ether) to create a stationary liquid membrane (SLM). Donor solution pH is adjusted such that it can restrain the ionization of target analytes [22]. The process of three phase extraction [22] can be explained as follows in Eq 1.1. Where ‘A’ is a target analyte, ‘K1’, ‘K2’, ‘K3’ and ‘K4’ are first order extraction rate constants. In order to obtain combined distribution coefficient, at equilibrium recovery, Eq. 1.2 is derived [22]. D accepter/sample = C eq accepter / C eq sample = C Org sample/ C eq accepter =ÃŽ ± D .Korg/sample / ÃŽ ± a. Korg/accepter†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.1.2 In Eq. 1.2, C eq accepter, C eq sample and C Org sample are the concentration of analytes at equilibrium, in accepter phase, in aqueous sample phase and in organic membrane phase respectively.Here Korg/sample, Korg/accepter are the partition ratio’s between Organic phase and sample phase and between accepter phase and organic phase respectively [22]. ÃŽ ± D and ÃŽ ± a are the extractable fraction of total concentration of target analyte in sample and accepter respectively. If conditions are similar between sample and accepter, other than ionization of analytes in sample phase, from Eq. 1.2, equilibrium is independent from partition ratio of stationary liquid membrane in three phase lpme i.e. it depends mainly on ionization of analytes in sample [22]. Extraction efficiency (E) can be calculated from Eq. 1.3[22]. V sample, V accepter and V mem , in Eq. 1.3, are the volume of donor sample phase, aqueous accepter phase and organic immobilized membrane liquid phase respectively. D accepter/sample and D Org/sample are individual distribution coefficients relative to accepter phase to sample phase and Organic phase (SLM) to sample phase respectively [22]. Eq. 1.3 is derived for three phase lpme. It is evident; from the interpretation of Eq. 1.3 that efficiency is mainly controlled by individual distribution coefficients. Individual distribution ratios are directly dependent on partition coefficients, so by increasing the partition ratios efficiency can be improved [22]. Partition coefficients can be improved by properly adjusting the pH of donor and accepter and by using an appropriate organic solvent. Volume of sample and organic phase should also be kept minimum, according to Eq. 1.3 in order to develop efficiency [22]. 1.3.3-Mass transfer in LPME: Enrichment factor (Ee) for three phase LPME is given in Eq. 1.4. Ee = C accepter/C initial = V sample. E / V accepter †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 1.4 In Eq. 1.4, C accepter is the concentration of target analyte, present in final stage inside accepter solution [22]. When an acidic analyte is ionized in aqueous solution, total extractable fraction of analyte (ÃŽ ±) is given in Eq. 1.5 [24]. ÃŽ ± = [AH]/ [A-][AH] = 1/[1+10(pH-pKa)] †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 1.5 In the context of Eq. 1.3, the overall distribution constant (D) at equilibrium can be rearranged as given in Eq. 1.5 [24]. D = 1+10 s (pH-pKa) . KD /1 + 10 s (pH-pKa). KA †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 1.6 ‘s’ is equal to 1 for acidic analytes (Eq. 1.6). ‘pKa’ is dissociation constant and pH refers to donor or accepter solution(Eq. 1.6) [24]. à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  C = ÃŽ ±D .Cs ÃŽ ±a CA.KA/KS †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 1.7 Eq. 1.5-1.7 are derived from Henderson-Hasselbalch relation, in this equation ÃŽ ± represents the extractable fraction of analytes [24]. The driving force for the extraction in neutral conditions of three phase LPME is the concentration gradient (à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  C) from sample to accepter [12]. The concentration gradient between two phases, between donor and accepter, is described in Eq. 1.7. K represent partition ratio of uncharged analyte between the membrane and aqueous phase. CA and Cs are the concentrations of analytes in accepter and sample phase respectively. 1.3.4 End point for extraction: Three end points are normally considered for extraction [22]. 1. Exhaustive extraction. 2. Kinetic extraction. 3. Equilibrium extraction. 1.3.4.1 Exhaustive extraction: Exhaustive end point is the specific end point (time), when all amount of analytes are exhausted (which can be practically possible) present in donor [22]. In this practical diploma work, Exhaustive end point will be applied in (LPME) extractions. Enrichment factor will increase by growing analyte concentration in accepter by the passage of time, at certain point it reaches a stable value [12]. Mass transfer between organic phase and liquid phase is dependent on concentration gradient [12]. Enrichment factor can be improved by increasing the value of ÃŽ ±D preferably close to unity and decreasing the value of ÃŽ ±A to zero. Such conditions for the ÃŽ ±D and ÃŽ ±A values are called â€Å"infinite sink† conditions, normally required for exhaustive extractions [22]. Situation close to these values can be achieved for acids by selective tuning the pKa values. For example for acidic compound if pH of accepter is adjusted, 3.3 (pH) units above than the pKa of acidic analytes this Di fference set the value of ÃŽ ±A to 0.0005, at this point accepter can capture all analytes. At this set value (ÃŽ ±A), enrichment factor increases linearly with time [12]. Peak time of enrichment factor, when other parameters are constant, can be calculated by comparison of CA maximum. CA maximum (‘CA’ is considered as time dependent) can be obtained by careful calculation of CA maximum values at a certain time, before this value starts to decrease again [12]. 1.3.5 Rate of LPME: Two parameters, govern the rate of extraction (when extraction approaches to equilibrium conditions), are membrane controlled extractions or diffusion controlled extractions [13, 24]. The maximum concentration Ee can be obtained when concentration gradient (à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  C) is approaches to zero described in Eq. 1.8 [13, 24]. Ee (max) = (C a / C d) max = ÃŽ ±D/ÃŽ ±A †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 1.8 In membrane controlled extractions, the rate limiting step is the diffusion of target analytes. When analytes pass through the organic phase, the mass transfer (Km) is given in Eq. 1. 9 [13, 16]. Km  µ K.D m /h m †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 1.9 In Eq. 1.9; K is partition coefficient, Dm is membrane diffusion coefficient and ‘h m ‘ is the thickness of membrane [13, 16]. 1.3.6 Addition of Trioctylphosphine oxide(TOPO): Mass transfer can be improved for acidic analytes by using different concentrations (w/v) of TOPO in organic solvent typically for short chain carboxylic acids. Interaction of TOPO with polar acids in solution takes place efficiently due to hydrogen bonding [16]. 1.3.7 Trapping of Analyte in Three phase lpme[24]: Concentration enrichment of analytes in three phase LPME can be achieved by stable mass transfer through the membrane to accepter phase. Back diffusion of analytes is prevented by trapping of analytes in accepter phase. In order to achieve high enrichment of acidic analytes pH of accepter phase is fixed enough basic so that when acidic analytes reached to the accepter solution becomes charged. Analytes could not be driven back to donor. So this trapping of analytes due to pH adjustment is called ‘’direct trapping’’. For high enrichment purpose, pH of accepter is usually adjusted 3.3 pH units higher than the pKa values of acidic target analytes while extracting from acidic donor. Buffer capacity of accepter should be sufficient such that during extraction protons from acidic donor cannot be neutralized by the concentration gradient between two aqueous phases during three phase lpme [24]. 1.3.8 Selection for Organic phase: Choice of organic solvent has basic importance in method validation because this solvent directly affect partition coefficient. Organic phase solvent should have low solubility in water [22] and low volatility to prevent solvent losses during extraction process [16]. Organic phase should have high distribution coefficient, between donor to organic phase and between organic to accepter phase, to achieve high enrichment. Organic phase should have adequate affinity to the hollow fiber. Organic phase should be immobilized sufficiently to cause efficient trapping of analytes in the pores through polarity matching [22]. Mixture of organic solvents can also be used as mobile phase [16]. In this project organic solvent is either pure DHE or DHE is also mixed with different amount of TOPO (section; 1.3.6) to achieve high stability of organic phase [22, 24]. 1.3.9 Agitation of sample: Extraction kinetics can be improved by agitation. Agitation increases analyte diffusion from donor to accepter. Organic membrane solution (DHE) is very stable inside pores of the membrane. Shaking by a magnetic stirrer helps analyte transfer from donor solution to the accepter solution [17]. When Donor solution containing analytes is stirred at high speed, probability of fresh solution contact with membrane phase is enhanced [9]. In order to enhance mass transfer all membrane extractions in this project are assisted through agitation by a magnetic stirrer. A membrane extraction assembly is shown in Fig. 1.13. 1.3.10Volume of donor and acceptor solutions. Volume of donor and accepter solution is very important because sensitivity can be improved by proper volume adjustment of accepter solution. Volume of accepter solution should be minimum comparative to donor to get better sensitivity [17]. Volume of accepter solution should be enough to be injected, detected and quantified by GC or HPLC. Volume of the accepter solution should be enough to fill lumen of hollow fiber appropriately [17]. 1.3.11 Adjustment of pH. Proper adjustment of pH of donor and accepter is very important because high partition ratio can be obtained in three phase lpme by proper adjustment of donor and accepter solution [17]. According to Eq. 1.7, Efficiency can be improved by increasing concentration gradient which depends mainly on pH. In this project three phase lpme is utilized on acidic analytes (C3-C9) containing carboxylic and hydroxyl groups so in donor solution pH is adjusted slightly lower than the pKa values of analytes to suppress ionization of these analytes [17]. 1.4. Detection and quantification of Analytes: 1.4.1-GC-MS analysis: GC-MS is a powerful detection technique for environmental trace analysis due to its high sensitivity [14]. Aerosols are existed in trace level so their detection requires a sensitive device with low limit of detection. GC-MS suffers less matrix effect and is usually cost effective and highly selective [14]. Analytes are separated according to their charge to mass (m/e) ratio after passing through mass spectrometer. Scan mode is used for identification of each analyte [14]. When gaseous analytes come to mass spectrometer they are converted to their respective molecular ions. Electron ionization in mass spectrometer strikes molecules to fragments [18]. These molecular ions are specific for each analyte and sensitivity and selectivity can be improved through selected ion chromatogram (SIM) [14]. Signal to noise ratio (SNR) is improved through extracted ion chromatogram (XIC) which is selected through SIM mode [14]. SIM mode is used for qualitative and quantitative analysis [14]. Analytes (C3-C10) are polar and non volatile, so these analytes cannot be detected in pure form and separated by using Gas chromatographic column. A derivatization step is necessary to convert Analyte into volatile substances. Derivatization is made to convert carboxylic and hydroxyl functional groups to their respective ester functional group [14]. 1.5. Derivatization: Two derivatization reagents; ‘’N, O-bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide’’ (BSTFA) and ‘’N-(tertbutyldimethylsilyl)-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide’’ (MSTFA) are commonly used for esterification of hydroxyl and carboxylic functional groups before injecting to GC-MS system[14]. Both derivatizing reagents are applied separately and compared prior to GC-MS analysis. 1.5.1- Silylation: Analytes containing carboxylic acids (C3-C10) are introduced to GC-MS after derivatization. Carboxylic acids are converted to their respective trimethyl silyl ester (TMS derivative) by BSTFA. A nucleuphilic attack is taken place by a hetero atom to silicon atom when BSTFA reagent is used as a derivatization reagent [14]. BSTFA is found very efficient to convert hydroxyl groups to respective Silyl ester [18]. Advantage with BSTFA is that its derivative can be injected directly without purification and it can be used for very sensitive detection [18]. BSTFA is non polar and its efficiency can be improved by using BSTFA in Acetonitrile [32]. Chemical structure of BSTFA is shown in Fig [1.14] below. Due to the use of BSTFA reagent in the reaction, a common peak is appeared at m/z= 73, due to [Si(CH3)3]+ molecular ion and at m/z=145 due to [OH=Si(CH3)2]+ molecular ion . when Analytes containing dicarboxylic acids are used for MS analysis, Ion peak is appeared at m/z=147. Ion peak at m/z=147 is appeared due to the [(CH3)2Si=Si(CH3)2]+ molecular ion [18]. 2. Method: 2.1 Membrane extraction: Three phase HF- LPME method is used for extraction. Section 2.1 describes the method for three phase hollow fiber liquid phase micro extraction technique. 2.1.1 Equipment and reagents for Membrane Extraction: Hollow fiber Accurel PP polypropylene (Q3/2) is purchased from Membrana (Wuppertal, Germany). The wall thickness of membrane is 200  µm, Inner diameter 600  µm and pore size is 0.2  µm. Before extraction a 7.5 cm membrane was cut carefully with a fine cutter. After cutting membrane was washed in acetone and dried overnight. A magnetic stirrer, containing multiple stations, model (Ika-werke, Germany) was used for agitation of donor solution. Micro Syringe 50  µl (Agilent, Australia) was used to push accepter solution inside the lumen of membrane and for holding of membrane. pH meter (Mettler Toledo) was used to measure pH for donor and accepter solution. Volumetric flask (Kebo, Germany) was used for extractions (contain donor solution). Milli-Q water was obtained from Millipore gradient system (Millipore, USA). Hydrochloric acid (37%, Fluka) and Sodium hydroxide monohydrate (Fluka) were used to prepare further solutions. Dihexyl ether (97%) was purchased from Sigma Aldrich. TOPO (99%; Aldrich) was used to prepare solutions in DHE (%, w/v). 2.1.2Set up for Membrane Extraction: 2.1.2.1 Donor solution: The pH donor solution was adjusted to 2. All aqueous solutions were prepared in mill Q water and pH was adjusted by adding HCl (0.1M). All Samples were spiked in a dried 100 ml volumetric flask (Germany). This flask was then, filled up to mark with donor solution. Further 5 ml of donor solution was added in same flask in order to dip membrane inside donor solution. Total volume of donor solution was adjusted to 105 ml. A clean magnet was dropped in flask and then, this spiked solution inside the flask was allowed to stir for 30 minutes and at a fixed revolutions/min (800 rpm) of magnetic stirrer. 2.1.2.2 Accepter solution: Accepter solution was prepared in milli Q water and pH 12 was adjusted by Sodium hydroxide (0.5 M, 5 M). The accepter solution was injected inside lumen of dried membrane through a micro syringe. Specific amount of (24  µl) accepter solution was injected inside lumen of hollow fiber via a BD micro syringe. Specific volume (24  µl) of accepter solution was fixed after several adjustments, for best compatibility with a 7.5 cm hollow fiber, to achieve good repeatability and enrichment. 2.1.2.3 Membrane solvent: Membrane containing accepter solution was dipped for 15 s (Approximately) into the organic solvent (pure DHE or topo% solutions in DHE), to impregnate the fiber with organic solvent and to establish a membrane phase. The solvents, immobilized in the pores of hollow fiber were; pure DHE, 1% topo in DHE (w/v), 5% topo in DHE (w/v), 10% topo in DHE (w/v), 15% topo in DHE (w/v) and 19% topo in DHE (w/v). All solutions (topo in DHE) were prepared and mixed by manual shaking, although 15% topo in DHE and 19% topo in DHE solutions were prepared by vigorous shaking and were put inside sonicator for efficient mixing. 2.2. Sample preparations: All primary solutions were prepared in methanol. Primary solutions were prepared by transferring specific weight of analytes to a sample vial, having air tight caps. This solution was diluted with methanol to prepare a solution of concentration (100 ÃŽ ¼g/ml). Table 2.1 represents properties (physical, chemical) of analytes. A (abbreviation) name was given respective to TMS ester of each analyte, new name consists of three words only. Molecular weight (Mw), Molecular (Molec) formula, Source (chemicals were purchased from), pKa values of individual analytes (dissociates in water) and purity (as labeled on each chemical) of each analyte is listed in Table 2.1. Table. 2.1- Analytes source (purchased from)and purity. Sr. No Chemical name Abbreviation Mw Molec formula Purchased from pka. Values Purity (%) 1 Malonic Acid Mal 104.06 C3H4O4 Aldrich 2.83, 5.69 (36) 99 2 Succinic Acid Suc 118.09 C5H6O4 Fluka 4.19, 5.48 (36) 99.9 3 Glutaric Acid Glu 132.04 C5H8O4 Aldrich 4.34, 5.42 (36) 99 4 Adipic Acid Ad 146.14 C6H10O4 Fluka 4.34,5.44 (36) 99.5 5 Pimelic Acid Pim 160.17 C7H12O4 Aldrich 4.48, 5.42 (36) 98 6 Suberic Acid

music censorship Essay examples -- essays research papers

MUSIC CENSORSHIP, 1950 till now 1952 The Weavers are blacklisted due to the leftist political beliefs and associations of several members. In 1953 six counties in South Carolina pass legislation outlawing jukebox operation anytime when within hearing distance of a church. During 1954 Stephen Foster songs are edited for radio to remove words such as "massa" and "darky." For radio airplay the perceived drug reference "I get no kick from cocaine," is changed to "I get perfume from Spain." in Cole Porter's classic "I Get a Kick out of you." In 1955 Former radio deejay Pat Boone begins a career by releasing "sanitized" versions of black R&B hits. Boone's versions of these songs often contain edited lyrics: such as substituting "drinkin' Coca Cola" for "drinkin' wine" in T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday" and "Pretty little Susie is the girl for me" instead of "Boys, don't you know what she do to me" in Little Richard's "Tutti Fruitti." During 1956 ABC Radio Network bans Billie Holiday's rendition of Cole Porter's "Love for Sale" from all of its stations because of its prostitution theme. Stations continue to play instrumental versions of the song. .... The Parks Department in San Antonio, Texas, removes all rock and roll records from jukeboxes located at city swimming pools, terming it "jumpy, hot stuff" that is unsuitable for teens. ... 1957 Producers of the Ed Sullivan Show instruct cameramen to show Elvis Presley only from the waist up on his third and final appearance on the program on January 7th. Fearing the effects of the "hedonistic, tribal rhythms" of rock and roll music, in March Chicago's Cardinal Stritch bans popular music from all Catholic-run schools. ... 1958 The Mutual Broadcasting System drops all rock and roll records from its network music programs, calling it "distorted, monotonous, noisy music." ... 1962 New York Bishop Burke forbids Catholic school students from dancing to "The Twist." Burke considers R&B music, and its associated dances, to be lewd and un-Christian. 1963 The FBI begins collecting data on folk singers Phil Ochs. Ochs is one of several popular musicians to be tracked by the FBI during their careers (Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie... ...." ... The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence forbids "Danny Boy" and other secular songs from being performed during funeral masses. ... Following the September 11th terrorist attacks, Clear Channel Communications, the largest owner of radio stations in the United States, releases a list of more than 150 "lyrically questionable"songs that stations may want to pull from their playlists. Few songs portray explicit violence, but most have metaphoric themes that ring a bit too close to the tragedies. The list, containing music from almost every genre in popular music, includes Sugar Ray's "Fly," "Jet Airliner" by Steve Miller, Nine Inch Nails'; "Head Like a Hole," AC/DC's "Shoot to Thrill" and "Highway to Hell," Pat Benatar's "Hit Me with Your Best Shot," "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas, Jerry Lee Lewis's "Great Balls of Fire," REM's "It's the End of the World as We Know It," "Only the Good Die Young" by Billy Joel, Dave Matthews Band's "Crash Into Me," "Nowhere to Run" by Martha & the Vandell as, and all songs by Rage Against The Machine.

Theme of The Country of the Blind Essay -- H. G. Wells

H. G. Wells uses ethnocentrism as a strong device in the short story ‘The Country of the Blind’ to generate the central conflict and to convey the theme: the perils of that deadly combination of stubbornness and blindness. The people of the country of the blind have been isolated from the outside world for fifteen generations, making it hard for them to easily accept the truth and facts about the real world. An accidental fall while climbing a mountain leaves Nunez stuck in a valley, which turns out to be the country of the blind. Nunez, the seeing protagonist, after discovering the citizens are ‘blind’, expects this to be an adventure and eventually came up with an idea to be the king, since he can ‘see’. The idea of ruling the country of the blind evokes the ethnocentrism within Nunez and the blind people. Both, Nunez and the blind people refuse to accept new beliefs and values at first. But as compilations built up, Nunez accepts the way of life and traditions but not the beliefs. Nunez encounters the first ethnocentric conflict unexpectedly when the first three blind men ‘disc...

The Powerful Character of Pearl in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Powerful Character of Pearl in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter      Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the most significant writers of the romantic period in American literature was Nathaniel Hawthorne.   Hawthorne wrote stories that opposed the ideas of Transcendentalism. Since he had ancestors of Puritan belief, Hawthorne wrote many stories about Puritan New England.   His most famous story is the Scarlet Letter.   This novel tells of the punishment of a woman, Hester Prynne, who committed adultery and gave birth to Pearl.   A minister of Boston, Arthur Dimmesdale, had an affair with Hester while believing that her husband, Roger Chillingworth, had died.  Ã‚   However, Chillingworth did not die and appears during the early stages of Hester's punishment.         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The purpose of this paper is to analyze the character of Pearl in the Scarlet Letter.   Her whole life had many difficulties while living in Puritan New England.   Furthermore, Pearl displays much parallelism to the scarlet letter that Hester must wear.   Finally, Pearl's birth intensified the conflicts in the novel.  Ã‚   Clearly, Pearl becomes the symbol of all the other major characters' tragedies.         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The character of Pearl in the Scarlet Letter lived a very difficult life.   Before the novel begins, Hester Prynne gives birth to Pearl after having an affair with Arthur Dimmesdale, a Puritan minister.   Pearl's birth proves that Hester cheated on her husband Roger Chillingworth provoking the stories action. The novel opens with the people of Boston staring and laughing at Hester holding Pearl while standing on the town's scaffold.   At this time, Pearl is three months old. Years later Hester gets released from jail and lives with Pearl in the outskirts of town.   Since Hester becomes alienated from Boston, Pearl turns into "her mother's only treasure!" (Hawthorne 76). Hester makes bright red clothes for Pearl that parallel the scarlet "A."   At age three, Pearl endures many laughs and jokes from other Puritan children but chases them away with stones. Since Pearl's birth resulted from broken rules, she does not feel the obligation to follow rules. Although her life is an outcast of Puritan society, Pearl's language shows a high level of intelligence.  Ã‚   Later, Hester receives word that the magistrates want to take Pearl away from her. Hester takes Pearl to the governor's house where the child meets her father, Arthur Dimmesdale.

Netflix case study Essay

Netflix offers online video streaming and DVD rental services for a flat fee to all subscribers. After Reed Hastings, the CEO of Netflix had announced the company’s new strategy of separating its online service and DVD rental services into two accounts for its subscribers, the company’s stock fell to $63 per share from $300 per share and lost 805,000 subscribers in three month. Although facing so many challenges, Reed Hastings choose to continue his new strategies, but with a sincerely apologize for the change and a detailed explanation of why they made this decision and what’s in it for current subscribers. Stock price of Netflix close on yesterday was 312.40. Problems and challenges Although it seems that Netflix has recovered from the separation strategy, but there still are some problems and challenges are waiting for the company. First of all, Netflix online streaming branch is facing fierce competition from companies like Amazon instant video, YouTube, iTunes store, and Hulu. Second, On-demand TV offering are now hot area, many big-pay TV operator such as Verizon and Comcast Corp are trying to bring on-demand TV to cable users which will offer fresher content than online streaming companies like Netflix. Third of all, The DVD rental branch called Qwikster are now competing with companies like Amazon and Redbox DVD rental. From what we can see in the future, DVD service may finally run out of business and how to minimize the damage to Netflix is a big problem waiting for a solution. SWOT Strength Netflix is offering a flat fee policy, which is cheaper than Amazon and iTunes users and is easier to retain current users. A very distinctive strength Netflix have is that Netflix is also a producer. In this year’s Emmy Awards, Netflix Inc’s groundbreaking political thriller House of Cards took home an award for directing. As its name shows in Emmy, Netflix may win not only an award, but many potential users. Many people may position Netflix as a company provides high quality shows than other video distributors. Weakness Although the stock price has gone up this year and everyone now thinks Reed Hastings is the one sees the future, the remaining problem is how to survive with a $7.99 monthly flat fee for subscribers and at the same time spending more than $5 billion for the next five years to purchase TV shows and Movie License. Customers always wants more and pay less. Huge amount of spending force Netflix to attract new users in a rapid speed, but attract new users itself will be another big spending. Although the original drama â€Å"house of cards† generated a big buzz for Netflix, but the cost is considerable. Opportunities New technologies bring opportunities to online streaming video companies. Netflix has mobile app for both Android and ios system and it works well. People want to access to on-demand videos more convenient by using mobile phone and tablets. The trend of globalization gives Netflix the opportunity to grow itself. The fourth quarter of 2012, Netflix gained 3 million new global subscribers. Threat Competition from Amazon, iTunes, Hulu, Google TV, and cable networks may pose threat to the company. BRAD BEALE, Director of digital video content acquisition of Amazon is known for its ability of picking up successful shows and get the license earlier than other companies. Hulu also spend a lot on bringing new contents in. Although Netflix is cheaper, Amazon offers free instant vedio to prime membership and two-day free shipping for its customers. Also, Amazon, Apple and Google now all offer their own devices for video streaming, such as Apple TV, Kindle Fire. Questions Q.1. A strong consumer backlash emerged in response to major changes in Netflix’s business model. What are some of the arguments in favor of Hasting’ decision to split the company? What decisions and options are available to Hastings? Were they good decisions? 2- 3 paragraphs Many believe DVD rental business is fading because of new technologies. People no longer want to wait for the DVD to arrive. Instead they want on-demand video services. Slip the company bring price lower for stream only customers and it is fair for them to pay for cheaper price. Put in account information is easier and benefit is longer. Hastings can choose to change the company back to the old model by listening to customers and close the DVD service a couple years later when the DVD rental industry lost all the business. I think its good decisions because the financial information shows that Reed Hastings made the good decision and wins the game. The revenue grow almost half and subscribers grow even more this year. Works Cited Laporte, N. (2013, July 1). A TALE OF TWO NETFLIX. Fast Comapny , 177, pp. 31-32. Mint. (2013, September 23). ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘Modern Family’ win top Emmy Awards. (H. M. Ltd., Producer) Retrieved Septemner 29, 2013, from Mint: http://search.proquest.com.rlib.pace.edu/docview/1434860801?accountid=13044 Peterson, T. (2013, September 23). 2013 MEDIA MAVENS: BRAD BEALE. Advertising Age , 84 (33), p. 1. Ramachadran, S. (2013, September 20). Cable Fights to Feed ‘Binge’ TV Viewers; Comcast, Verizon FiOS Vie With Netflix, Amazon for Rights to Show Complete Series. (Dow Jones & Company Inc) Retrieved September 30, 2013, from Wall Street Journal: http://search.proquest.com.rlib.pace.edu/docview/1434160601?accountid=13044 View as multi-pages