An Australian Airline (Qantas) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

An Australian Airline (Qantas) - Essay Example Center of discussion in this paper is Qantas, an Australian Airline that had so far been enjoying premium brand equity but lately ash been experiencing declining sales and market share. Turnaround strategy should involve extension and expansion of the geographical region. Qantas plans to extend its services with an Asian hub and serve the underserved Asian markets. SWOT analysis had revealed that opportunities in this region are immense but they should focus on being a premium corporate airline. Earlier the recommendation was to focus on new product development, look for newer destination with fewer carriers and attract new customer base. Thus the first alternative to continue with Qantas brand and extend service in international sectors is not feasible and has inherent risks. Therefore, the airline should start its new carrier as a premium corporate airline with focused leadership having string corporate vision. They should be able to provide all on-board facilities based on an eval uation of customer needs and convenience. This strategy is in alignment with its corporate vision which is to operate the world’s best premium airline. This strategy would require 3-4 years to become effective as fresh agreements, landing rights, and delivery of new aircrafts would have to be obtained. This also requires training and development of the staff, better employee relationships and focus on profit maximization. This is an achievable strategy as the airline has abundance of experience in being a legacy carrier. They also have experience of dealing with the Asian clients because of Jetstar, their LCC. It is expected that this strategy would be able to provide the expected synergies. 2. Alternative recommendations Qantas Airlines, proposing to start a premium carrier with as Asian hub is subject to regulations imposed by the Australian government as they face charges against layoffs. It has been recommended that the new premium carrier should focus on Singapore as the hub and the strategy that has been recommended was to focus on product development and new market development. This strategy would disturb its agreement with Oneworld partners and especially Cathay Pacific. This paper analyzes the proposed recommendations and provides alternative strategy identification and discussion. 2.1 Alternative strategy 1 As of now the strategy is to start a new premium brand with a minority stake which would help them obtain landing rights in Asia and also feed the base hub with international traffic. However, this strategy could lead to fragmentation and dilution of its core brand as it already runs a low cost Jetstar subsidiary which operates in Asia. They should hence focus on the base brand and develop it. 2.1.1 Gap Analysis The airlines vision is to be the first 'next generation' premium carrier (Qantas, 2009). Brand Qantas is well established in the minds of the people and continuing with the existing brand instead of a new carrier would be a strategi c fit with their corporate visions, mission and goals. They have the necessary resources in terms of human capital such as trained pilots and operations staff. This strategy would eliminate the existing pilot agitation in Australia and they could save face against government opposition. 2.1.2 Changes in the current marketing strategy With this new strategy Qantas would not have to focus on new product development. However, their target segment, market positioning and the distribution channels would remain the same. They could continue to offer new destinations to the new segments through innovative strategy. To differentiate itself from other products, 2.1.3 Expected results This strategy would help in better allocation of resources and utilization of unutilized resources. At the same time, financially there would be cost savings as the new brand need not be promoted separately. Marketing efforts too would be

Hypothyroidism and its Relationship to Heart Disease and Cardiac Problems Essay Example for Free

Hypothyroidism and its Relationship to Heart Disease and Cardiac Problems Essay Hershman describes hypothyroidism as a disorder which results from a deficit of the action of thyroid hormone (2009, p. 435). This condition affects the development and function of all tissues of the body, an important example of which is the heart. The thyroid hormone is responsible for the crucial regulation of calcium flux into the sarcomeres of myocytes (Rao, 2007, p. 202). The most common effect of deficient thyroid-hormone action on any tissue is well known; a decrease in the basal metabolic rate. For the heart, this decrease most commonly causes a decrease in heart rate. Other manifestations may include decreased cardiac output, flabby myocardium, pericardial effusion and impaired endothelial function (Hershman, 2009, p. 435). However, for the profoundly hypothyroid patient, the most frequent cause of cardiac anomalies is impaired diastolic relaxation (Klein, 2005, p. 777). Although the fall in rate of metabolism is ubiquitous in hypothyroidism, the heart experiences a disproportionate change in demand and supply of oxygen, the supply drops faster than the demand. On the other hand, patients of coronary heart disease who have later developed hypothyroidism have been given either low doses of T4, or no medication at all by some practitioners (Klein, 2005, p. 777); the lowered cardiac load associated with hypothyroidism helps in lowering the stress on the heart. Nonetheless, the adverse effects of hypothyroidism on the heart and on metabolism generally far outweigh this small concession (Klein, 2005, p. 777). Another complication associated with hypothyroidism is hypertension. The main feature of pathophysiology that results in this manifestation is the increased vascular resistance due to absence of the vasodilating action of T3 (Klein, 2005, p. 776). This brand of hypertension shows decreased sensitivity to salt intake as compared to other forms of hypertension (Klein, 2005, p. 776). Hypertension in a profoundly hypothyroid patient is especially ominous. The increase serum levels of cholesterol and lipoprotein (a), associated with the low metabolic rate, combined with the increased vascular resistance may lead to coronary heart disease (Klein, 2005, p. 77). However, it’s the subclinical counterpart of hypothyroidism that represents a major challenge; the lack of clear cut symptoms makes the diagnosis of this latent condition difficult. In a recent study, subclinical hypothyroidism was claimed to be an independent risk factor for heart disease in women in their 60s and 70s (Hak et al. , 2000). The main pathophysiological feature is the delayed relaxation of the left ventricle after contractions, exacerbated by endothelial dysfunction and a stiffness of the arteries (Biondi, 2009, p. 24). Serum thyroid stimulating hormone, TSH, and serum free T4 are an appropriate starting point in acquiring a diagnosis of hypothyroidism (Hershman, 2009, p. 436). Myoglobin levels in blood and urine are also excellent indicators of injury to cardiac tissue (Klein, 2005, p. 777). Serum creatine kinase levels may also be increased, but troponin levels remain normal (Rao, 2007, p. 202). In subclinical hypothyroidism, TSH levels are moderately increased while T4 levels remain normal. ECG shows a general decrease in amplitude and the T wave may be inverted (Rao, 2007, p. 202). The treatment of both the latent and overt forms of hypothyroidism, in relation to the heart, involves the maintenance of steady thyroid hormone levels. Levothyroxine is the drug of choice; in patients with a known heart condition, the dosage of the drug should be given incrementally to reach a stable normal level (Rao, 2007, p. 202). In elderly patients, some degree of cardiac ischemia is assumed present and the dosage is always increased gradually (Hershman, 2009, p. 438). Beta-blockers can be administered to counter the deleterious effect hormone therapy on cardiac ischemia, unless counter-indicated (Rao, 2007, p. 203).

Holden Caulfield as a hero Essay -- essays research papers

Holden as a Hero Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a story about the trials of life and the toll it can take on the psyche. I believe that Holden Caulfield is an under credited hero. He is a teenager forced to grow up in a time of turmoil with severe emotional handicaps placed upon him by family, friends and life in general.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Holden is one confused kid trying to beat the Man in the 1950’s. He grew up ignored by his parents, drifting from school to school in search of a purer lifestyle. On page one Holden humbly describes his lousy growing up. â€Å"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you will probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like†¦but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth†¦that stuff bores me.† Holden does not want to go into his childhood and play the victim. He tells us that he had a rough time and leaves it at that. Later in the book he alludes to how his parents just shuffled him from school to school hoping that he would do better at the next one. All he tells us about is his dad is that he is a big shot corporate lawyer, not much about what kind of father he was. Suggesting that he was gone a lot and not around to give a good role model for Holden. In turn it shows u p in Holden’s attitude towards adults.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the book Holden shows his resentment towards the Man. He always refers to how phony the authority figures are. Mult...

Hello? - Original Writing :: Papers

Hello? - Original Writing The women slid into the luxurious crumpled white leather sofa and let the tide of cushions envelop her. Bathed in the subtle light she sat, gazing mindlessly into her TV. Inside the spacious living room, the large mirror hung majestically over the ornate stone fireplace and the traditional rug from South Africa was stretched out on the glossy, wooden floor; well positioned ornaments were placed around the room, giving it soul and life. And a soothing snug sound from the grandfather clock floated around the room. Warm-hearted pictures of friends, family and of her husband gave the room a familiar character. The TV flickered and fuzzed and a smart, well spoken, serious looking newsreader began with the bad news as usual, but this time, it was much more significant. The women immediately sat up, with an uneasy look spreading over her face. She leaned forward and listened carefully to the incoming news report. The man strode forward through the bushes, as he passed he brushed aside the leaves and felt the soft squelch of mud under his boots. As he reached the path the gravel crunched, and ground as the stones gnashed together. Catching a stone from the new red brick wall it shattered into fragments. The light from the street lamp glinted off his watch which he quickly covered up, stopping on his way to scratch his thick, dark, grainy stubble; he made his way to the house. The last rays of light had fallen and now the dark had completely covered the ground. The eeriness crept in, and like some unsure sign, it made itself known but not visible. There was something there, and she could feel it. She walked to the front door looking left, then looking right as she took each step, and with every glance she expected to see something she did not want to. Her keys jostled and echoed in the high ceiling hallway and with her slightly quivering hands she found it hard to place the key in the lock, but just as the

Contrast between Psychodynamic and the behaviorist theory of personality Essay

Psychodynamic is a method used to help people find relief from emotional pain which could be as a result of unresolved conflicts of the past. It is usually done verbally. It’s based on the idea that a human being’s behavior is shaped by known and unknown influences. It aims at solving this past experiences that could have left lasting traces that could affect your self-esteem leading to maladaptive patterns of behaviors. It involves patient talking and the therapist interpreting the patient’s words and behaviors (Miller, Luborsky, Jacques and John, pp 23). Psychodynamic is basically concerned about psychological processes, past experiences, existence of unknown motivation, ego, superego and defense mechanisms (Jackson and Beverly, pp 45). Behaviorist‘s theory also attempts to explain human behavior but its in conflict with psychodynamic theory in ways which human behavior is developed. The behaviorist believes that culture and subculture have a role to play in molding someone’s behavior and as a result has an effect on the personality. Therapy in a behaviorist is based on the principles of learning using all the processes and methods such as training, reinforcing, desensitization, aversion therapy, modeling and replication (Chamorro-Premuzic, and Adrian, pp67). According to Miller, Nancy, Lester, Jacques and John (pp 89), this theory has little concern about any outside energy or force in determining behavior. To it, normal behavior comes as a result of acceptable conditioning, reinforcing and modeling while abnormal behavior comes as a result of defective conditioning, reinforcing and modeling. It is not interested in the effect of developmental processes on the behavior. In treating the patient, the therapist has little regard to the patient’s feelings, thoughts, emotional experiences or imagination. It is believed that if one understands the environment and how to interact with it, he can basically understand himself and his behavior. The behaviorist believes that behavior is cultured and it can also be uncultured. Works Cited Jackson, Leslie C. , and Beverly Greene, eds. Psychotherapy with African American Women: Innovations in Psychodynamic Perspectives and Practice. New York: Guilford Press, 2000. Lazarus, Richard S. Fifty Years of the Research and Theory of R. S. Lazarus: An Analysis Of Historical and Perennial Issues. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1998. Miller, Nancy E. , Lester Luborsky, Jacques P. Barber, and John P. Docherty, eds. Psychodynamic Treatment Research: A Handbook for Clinical Practice. New York: Basic Books, 1993. Chamorro-Premuzic, Tomas, and Adrian Furnham. Personality and Intellectual Competence. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2005. .

Suicide prevention Professor Ramos Blog

Suicide prevention Depression causes many things from anxiety, to social regression, and most of all suicidal tendencies.   According to the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention, there are about 105 suicides per day. Some people have either attempted suicide or has had an ideation about it. Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death. Not only does it affect adults but children as well. 1 in 100,000 children age 10 to 14 dies by suicide each year. It’s a topic that you don’t really bring up to kids but it’s something that you should talk about with your children. It should be implemented in schools since children and teens are in school most of the day. Some stressors such as managing a workload, worrying about if the fit in and finding the balance with school and home can be stressful too. There are many life stressors that contribute to it such as mental illness, relationship problems, bullying, financial difficulties or a recent loss of someone clo se to you. There are many risk factors and we need to be more vigilant and know the warning signs for it such as aggressive behavior, talking about death, and social withdrawal. The sooner you see the warning signs the better in getting the help they need right away. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of deaths in the United States. Since the rates are rising we need to find ways we can prevent it. For example, having school-based awareness programs for kids and teenagers Such as letting them know they can speak to their teachers or their parents if they are feeling suicidal. Since school or home life can be stressful it would help to possibly have an emotional support service dog, An emotional support dog can be beneficial by providing mental and physical benefits They can come in throughout the day to provide comfort. In these programs they could learn how to create a safe environment for themselves, they would learn different kinds of coping skills and problem-solving skills. Another way would be to take medication for mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety or trauma-related disorders. There are currently about 22 antidepressant medications that are approved by the FDA that can help out. These could be a risk factor as well.   With the help of medication or talk therapy, it can be a great big help to some people. Talk therapy such as counseling, or a psychiatrist will give you a better understanding of your mental health, how to overcome your fears, how to improve your relationships with friends, family and yourself. With their help, you both can work together to manage your stress and improve the quality of your life. Lastly, we have suicide prevention hotlines that can help. Maybe you are not comfortable speaking to someone in person. Hotlines would help by phone or text there are many ways you can get help. It’s a safe place where they keep everything confidential and its free. You will be set up with a crisis worker who is trained to help people with emotional distress or if they are having a suicidal crisis. Maybe you are seeking help for a friend or you are worried about a friend they will help you and provide resources on what to do and how to get help quickly. These programs could help prevent suicides by bringing awareness to it. It can save lives too by educating children at a young age that’s it’s okay to speak to someone if they are feeling sad, lost, hopeless. Learning these skills at an early age would help them when they become an adult. Teachers should also be mandated to know the warning signs of their students if they are a suicidal risk. As a result, by having these programs kids will learn many ways to prevent suicides. They would also learn how to effectively manage stressors and what to do if they are having a problem. Mental illness can be another risk factor and can be helped by taking medication or talking to a medical professional. Another way would be to call a suicide hotline. That is why it’s important to speak to your children about this topic even though it can be overwhelming but we have to teach them at a young age so they can use these skills when they become adults. Works cited NIH â€Å"The national institute of mental health† https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide.shtml CDC â€Å"center for disease control and prevention https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/prevention.html â€Å"Save suicide awareness voices of education† https://save.org/about-suicide/suicide-facts/ NAMI â€Å"National alliance on mental illness† https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions/related-conditions/risk-of-suicide American Foundation For Suicide Prevention â€Å"Treatment† Treatment

buy custom Entrepreneurial Finance essay

buy custom Entrepreneurial Finance essay Venture Capitalists Venture capital is a fund or a capital pool that is established to make early to late stage types of investments in private equities. Venture capitalists in most circumstances invest in small private entrepreneurships with the hope of capital gains after such activities as Initial Public Offerings (Metrick Yasuda 2007, p. 430). Such exit outcomes or acquisitions in most instances happen within three to five years after the investors initial investment. In such situations, the venture capitalists pay comes from the initial investments as well as any profits that the company makes. The profits are therefore split between the given company and the investor. A business venture is a high-risk investment since it happens at an early stage of a business. Venture capital management is carried out by companies with great expertise in the given sector. Venture capitalists act as a great source of funding. In addition, they help manage and develop small companies (ed. Landstrom 2007, p. 70). However, there exists a great deal of risks associated with these types of ventures. Therefore, it is crucial that the venture capitalist adopts mechanisms that can mitigate the expected risks. Mitigation of such risks increases the chances of greater capital returns from the business. This paper intends to explore the risks and possible mechanisms available to venture capitalists for eliminating the risks. Risk and Risk Mitigation Mechanisms used by the Venture Capitalists A person who decides to make an investments in the venture capital often faces several risks. However, it is important that the lender understands possible risks and analyses the available risk mitigation mechanisms. The probable risks form the following list. Risks of the Unknown When choosing a business to invest in, both hi-tech and low-tech options are considered. However, most argue that for the former, understanding of the given product or service qualifies is requied for one to make an investment in such a business. However, ed. Cumming (2010, p. 110) posits that most ventures take a lot of time to become successful and great ideas. The biggest challenge of a venture implementation is in the details as well as execution. For example, an individual with an e-commerce background may find it difficult to make an investment in a devices used for orthopaedics. Such decision may require the e-commerce investor to spend much time in trying to find out the right amount of field trials needed before pitching the venture to the right acquirer. For example, a firms such as Andreessen Horowitz dealing with the line of consumer products as well as services in the United States is a good example of a successful venture in 2014. To achieve such success, the organisati on had to mitigate several risks such as the fear of the unknown. To mitigate such risk, the venture capitalist may only invest in the areas where the venture managers, as well as the fund managers, have reasonable knowledge. In such cases, if the investor has interest in funding and supporting an idea where the funding management has little or no expertise, the fund management team should consider appointing an advisor (Malerba et al. 2015, p. 140). It should be an individual who is equipped with the needed skills and willing to work closely with the investment team. Risk of Running Out of Cash Before getting the right funding, most ventures are in a bootstrapping mode. The spending in such ventures is conservative, and the prediction of expected revenue is optimistic. If an idea of such a business spreads virally, it works. To mitigate a risk of the lack of cash, the venture capitalist should assess how much money is needed according to the most rational forecast. According to Tobin Parker (2009, p. 130), to achieve this aim, the outflow is multiplied by 1.5 and the cash inflows - by 0.5. The company that is suitable for funding is the one with at least a 20% more than the number one arrives at. Essentially, a start-up organisation requires at least 18 months runway. In addition, the venture capitalist can make a syndicate with an individual who can oversee the follow-up of the investment. The Risk of Competition Any venture entering the market has to guarantee profits for its investors and thus outdo the competitors successfully. There are not many fields with barriers to entry, but an example of such sphere may be technology. As such, such kinds of markets and ventures become more attractive for investors as compared to obvious and average products. The technological development in a successful organisation may act as the tool for increasing its competitiveness (eds Lee, Lee Lee 2010, p.767). An example of a successful venture capitalist is Steve Anderson, who decided to invest in Instagram before other bigger venture capitalists, and the decision paid off well with Facebook bought the company. Such an investor had made an assessment of the risk of competition and by investing had mitigated the risk. To mitigate this risk, venture capitalists have a duty of identifying such ventures. In addition, investors can promote and fund technological developments of such businesses. Through applying such mechanisms and increasing competitive edge, the organisation becomes protected from competition. Moreover, most venture capitalists prefer to fund organisations with better quality of science. Due to the risks associated with the competition, venture capitalists at times decide to fund the venture in stages. More investment depends on passing a given milestone (Metrick Yasuda 2007, p. 430). Entrepreneurial Environment and Implementation Risk Venture capitalists have greater interest in companies situated in a favourable entrepreneurial environment. Favourable entrepreneurial environment has a sufficient number of companies with similar products, hence there is a large pool of talent. When there are several small similar companies in the same area, the CEOs can have sessions for sharing ideas and developing given solutions. Such environment also may support a large number of attorneys as well as accountants who are familiar with the venture. Buy custom Entrepreneurial Finance essay

Practical Advice for Point of View Problems - Freewrite Store

Practical Advice for Point of View Problems - Freewrite Store Self-publishing through channels such as Amazon KDP means you can quickly and easily get your novels into the hands of your readers. It takes away that soul-destroying process of collecting rejection letters from publishing houses with limited publishing budgets. It’s great news if you’re an author - and it doesn’t cost anything, either. However, there is a downside. Going down the self-publishing route means that you don’t get the professional editing that traditional publishing entails - which means you either have to pay for a copy editor or edit yourself. Editing your own work is tough - and maybe that explains why there are so many self-published books that have lots of unfortunate errors. One of the more difficult problems to spot in your own writing is problems with your point of view - so in this article, I’m going to take you on a whistlestop tour through three of the most common point of view problems, how to recognize them - and, most importantly, how to fix them. A Quick Refresher on Point of View If you’re an author (or an aspiring author) then you probably already understand what point of view is, but in here’s a brief refresher. Essentially, point of view boils down to asking yourself, as you’re writing â€Å"which character’s eyes am I looking through?†. You can use: the first-person point of view - told in the first person, with one (or more) main character(s) narrating the story - e.g. â€Å"I knew that Damien was trouble the first time I met him.† the third-person point of view - told in the third person (he, she, they), with a viewpoint character narrating the story - e.g. â€Å"Thomas paused in the doorway, anxiously watching Felicity flirting with Damien. There was something off about Damien, Thomas could sense it.† omniscient point of view - the story is told by an omniscient narrator (someone who sees everything) - e.g. â€Å"Felicity was oblivious to Thomas’ discomfort as she twined her arms around Damien’s neck.† multiple points of view - usually in the third person, but sometimes in the first person, you can have multiple viewpoint characters in your story - but the more you have, the more complex your story becomes. 3 Key Point of View Problems - And How to Spot Them There are different types of point of view problems that are commonly found in published novels. The first step in being able to remove these kinds of issues from your fiction is first knowing what they are. 1.  Ã‚   Inconsistent Viewpoints This is, by far, the most common - and most important point of view problem that I come across as a writing coach. It doesn’t just affect new writers - as some ‘experts’ claim, but can affect any writer at any stage in their career. In fact, point of view problems can become habitual for experienced writers - even those who have had mainstream publishing success. For that reason, I’ll be spending more time on this problem than the other two common problems! An inconsistent viewpoint can make your novel seem sloppy and badly written - no matter how masterful your use of language. When you’re writing, viewpoint inconsistencies can easily slip in - especially when you get ‘carried away’ when you’re writing. There are actually quite a few ways that point of view inconsistencies can slip into your stories - more than just things like slipping between past and present tense. We’re going to look in-depth at some of the most common of these, and how to recognize them when you’re editing your novel. Once we’ve chosen a point of view - no matter which we choose - we need to stick to it. The only exception is when we’re using an omniscient point of view, but this type of point of view has fallen out of favor recently. Most viewpoints are known as limited viewpoints - and this means that we can only include the things that the viewpoint character can see, hear, smell, taste, touch, feel and think. When you are writing from one character’s viewpoint, that character can’t know what another character is thinking, for example. Before we dig into the specific types of inconsistencies, here’s an example of how an inconsistent POV can look in a story. When we’ve gone through the types of inconsistencies, come back to this and see how many you can spot! Christy walked briskly along the sidewalk, oblivious to the fact that the creepy guy who had stolen her purse was stalking her. A sudden sound startled her, and she glanced back over her shoulder. She didn’t see the toecap of the man’s left boot poking out of the doorway twenty paces behind her. She shrugged and carried on walking. Her stalker smirked.Stupid kid, he thought, slipping out of the doorway and continuing to follow her. Christy reached the door to her apartment block and went inside, opting to take the stairs up to her third-floor apartment. Michael had told her not to go home until the locks were changed tomorrow, but she couldn’t go into work in the same outfit two days running. It would all be fine. She was sure that whoever found her purse would hand it in to the police. She opened her apartment door and stepped inside, switching on the lights as she entered. The man following her smiled as he watched the door close behind her.Tonight will be fun, he thought, slipping the key he’d taken from her purse into the lock on the door. a.   Attributing emotions to non-viewpoint characters Your viewpoint character cannot know what other characters are feeling unless the other character tells them. This means that you can’t, as the author, tell the reader what a non-viewpoint character feels. This error happens more often than you’d realize - and you most likely would miss it in your own writing if you weren’t specifically looking for it. For example, if you were writing in the third person, from Alex’s viewpoint, and another character (let’s call him) Bob was feeling angry, you might write that â€Å"Bob slammed the door in anger†. That’s a POV inconsistency since although Alex might guess that Bob is angry, he can’t actually know that Bob is angry, therefore can’t be certain that the door was slammed the door in anger - the wind might have caught the door and caused it to slam as Bob was closing it, for example. When you’re editing your novel, watch out for these kinds of phrases - and any other situations where non-viewpoint characters emotions are written about. b.   Attributing motivation to non-viewpoint characters When you’re writing about a non-viewpoint character, it’s really easy to slip into the trap of telling the reader why the character did something. For example, if Ben isn’t a viewpoint character (but Aaron isthe viewpoint character), writing: â€Å"Ben spotted Aaron in the crowd and hurried to meet him,† would be a POV inconsistency. With these kinds of errors, spotting them isn’t easy, unfortunately - especially when you’re editing your own work. With practice, however, you can become more attuned to recognizing them. c.   Telling the reader what a non-viewpoint character thought or saw Your viewpoint character can’t possibly know what another character is thinking or know if a non-viewpoint character saw something that the viewpoint character isn’t able to see. If the viewpoint character can’t see it or know it, then your reader can’t know it either. If you want your reader to have that kind of bird’s eye knowledge, then you need to write from an omniscient point of view. For example, if Jennifer is your viewpoint character and Stefan is a non-viewpoint character, then the following passage would be a viewpoint inconsistency: â€Å"Are you serious?† Jennifer asked. Stefan swallowed.I’ve gone too far, he thought, absently rubbing his fingers over the fidget spinner in his pocket. When you’re editing your novel, you can try using your word processor’s ‘find’ function to search for words like: thought noticed realized wondered believed remembered knew reviewed recalled considered If you want to improve the quality of your fiction, don’t just remove these words for non-viewpoint characters. Since they’re words associated with telling rather than showing, your novel will be better if you show instead of tell (as much as possible). d.   Including items that the viewpoint character doesn’t notice or can’t see This is very similar to the point above about non-viewpoint characters thoughts but takes on a slightly different form. If your character can’t see it, then you can’t write about it - that’s the rule you need to think about when you’re editing your work. For example (the viewpoint character is Zeke): Zeke slid quietly back into his seat, not noticing that Mrs. Magnusson had been watching him the whole time. or: The bus was crowded, but Zeke managed to find an unoccupied seat. He slipped his headphones on. Up ahead, the traffic was at a standstill due to a multi-vehicle accident. It’s easy for these kinds of inconsistencies to go unnoticed, and it takes a trained eye to spot them. However, you could use your word processor’s find function to look for phrases like ‘didn’t notice’ and words like ‘unknowingly’, ‘not realizing’, ‘unconsciously’ and so on. e.   Telling the reader what the viewpoint character looks like Describing what your viewpoint character looks like is a tough one. If you have your character, for example, thinking about their appearance, then this isn’t a POV inconsistency. A POV inconsistency in this area comes about when you’re describing your character as someone else sees them - i.e. from the outside - which your viewpoint character can’t see. This often happens in describing facial expressions, for example: A grimace crossed Bryan’s face Bryan’s face was a mask of fury A smirk crossed Bryan’s face. Fortunately, these kinds of errors are quite easy to spot - and easy to remedy. It’s easy to say instead: Bryan grimaced Bryan scowled Bryan smirked When we grimace, scowl or smirk, we know about it, because it’s an action that we’re performing - we don’t have to see it from the outside to know we’re doing it, therefore this way avoids inconsistency in POV. 2.Too Many Viewpoints Getting the balance right with your viewpoints can be a challenge sometimes. If you have more than one viewpoint character, you have to decide whether they will have equal viewpoint time or whether one character will get more than the others. When you have multiple viewpoints, however, problems can occur - and your novel can become messy and difficult for your readers to follow. I once read a novel that had so many viewpoints - and so many viewpoint changes - that I actually started to feel seasick! The general advice I give to my students is that if you must have multiple viewpoints, keep them to as small a number as possible. Two or three viewpoints is much better - and easier to manage - than four, five or six. When you’re editing your novel, if you find that you’re struggling to keep track of who the current viewpoint character is, then this is a sign that you’re using too many viewpoints (or mishandling the distribution). It’s better to recognize this before you get to the editing stage, however, if you want to save yourself a lot of rewriting. Signs that you have too many viewpoints can include: A complicated narrative that seems too ‘choppy’ (moves around too much) You’ve already written 50,000 words and you’re only a third of the way through your plotline You keep forgetting which viewpoint character you’re writing this scene from Your story feels chaotic and confusing - even to you 3. Badly Chosen Viewpoints You should also be careful with the characters you choose to be viewpoint characters. This is a problem that can be easily sorted before it becomes a problem if you spend time working out which characters are going to be present for the most pivotal moments in your story - and which ones (maximum of two or three) are going to play the most important roles. If you’re more of a seat-of-the-pants kind of writer, and planning doesn’t work for you, then you may find yourself falling victim to a badly chosen viewpoint - and face a large rewriting project as a result. If, for example, you decide that your viewpoint characters are Hayden, Mitch, and Ellis, but Ellis isn’t actually present for your pivotal scene and is actually off on an adventure of his own, then you’re likely to end up with a story within a story that makes for a messy and incoherent overall plotline. Having a badly chosen viewpoint character can lead to problems in structure, focus, cohesion and more. Fixing Point of View Problems If you’ve already written your novel and are in the editing stage, then I’m afraid there’s no quick fix for your point of view problems. Once you spot them, you will have to edit the passages, chapters, or, even, edit out entire viewpoints, until you’ve eradicated the issues. If you’re still in the planning stage or have recently started writing, then you’re in a much better position to stamp out point of view problems in your writing. If you have previous examples of your writing, now is a good time to go over them and see if you can identify any patterns in your point of view problems. POV problems can quickly become habitual for writers - but once you’re aware of them, you can begin to work on eradicating them from your writing. Print out a copy of your story, find a set of highlighters, and go through your story, highlighting inconsistencies in one color (or, if you’re brave, try highlighting the different types of inconsistencies in different colors), evidence of too many viewpoints in another color, and badly chosen viewpoints in another color. Once you can recognize the POV problems that occur most frequently in your writing, you can practice rewriting scenes or passages without the POV problems - until writing that’s free of POV problems becomes habitual.

Corporate performance, abnormal profits and sectoral differences Essay

Corporate performance, abnormal profits and sectoral differences - Essay Example Whereas some people consider the quantity of firms assets as an indicator of its performance, economists use different approaches such the efficiency in which firm or industry utilize its resources to generate income. Firms operating in the same industry exhibit dissimilar performance while even firms operating under different industries have depicted similar performance trends (Rumelt, 1991, p.179). Therefore, it is not clear as to what exactly determines performance of the firms since some people thinks that directors of the company and the environmental conditions play a significant role in firm performance. One of the key determinants of firm’s performance is the level of resource endowment. Firms are endowed with different resources and this could result to improved performance of the company regardless of the industry in which it operates (Rosenzweig, 2007, p.11). Firms with large resource base enjoy economies of scale to due to large scale production. Therefore, those f irms are able to offer their products at a reduced price compared to their competitors who may be experiencing diseconomies of production. Furthermore such firms are able to use most efficient techniques in their operations as a result of intensive research and innovations. Another determinant of the performance of company is its market position. Firms which have differentiated products are able to enjoy significant market returns by influencing prices of the products as the market leaders. Customer loyalty to specific brand may result to some companies performing better than others in the same industry (Lecture 4, 2012). The market leaders usually set prices for the commodities while others just follow the decisions of the market leaders. Therefore, if firms are operating in an industry with differentiated products, then their performance will vary significantly depending on their position in the market in terms of market share. Some people use total assets as a measure of performa nce of the company hence, companies with vast resources are considered most successful. However, in Rumelt (1991, p.181) comparing economic profits of different firms operating in the same industry has shown that different firms with large resource base are not necessarily the best performing. Even firms with fewer resources have exhibited higher profit ratios to resources used. Economic profits in relation to resource used to generate the profit can better provide a comparison of performances of different firms across the industries (McGahan, and Porter, 1997, p.27). Regardless of the industry in the firm is operating, the level of their performances can be determined in relation to how much benefits can be obtained from the capital employed. The firm managers make probabilistic decisions. For example, the production activities are all based on the prediction of the market. However, in reality things changes and what was anticipated may never come to pass. Therefore, the performanc e of firm will depend on extent in which the predicted events match with real occurrences (Lecture 4, 2012). Sometimes, the managers have no control over the events that occur hence they influence much the performance of the firm. According to Hawawini, Subramanian and Verdin (2001, p.30), the Industry in which a firm belongs affects the overall performance of a company. Some industries are much specialized such as pharmaceuticals and engineering firms. Other

A sound knowledge of social policy is essential for effective social Essay

A sound knowledge of social policy is essential for effective social work practice - Essay Example Implementing social policy consists of using the rules and regulations of governments to directly impact the welfare of citizens by providing them with income or services such as social insurance, public assistance, healthcare, welfare services and adequate housing (Marshall, 1965). This paper proposes to evaluate the importance of social policy for effective social work practice. The relationship between social policy and social work, the influences of political processes, the application of social policy and theory to a range of current social issues and problems especially related to social inclusion and welfare rights will be identified. The concept of the government taking responsibility for the citizens’ problems has a long history, though the term welfare state has come into use only since 1941. In Britain in 1942, William Beveridge published Social Insurance and Allied Services commonly known as the Beveridge Report. This seminal document was crucial in turning Great Britain into a welfare state (Macarov, 1995). Labour elected in July 1945 established a new welfare system by implementing the main proposals of William Beveridge’s path-breaking report. Labour replaced the multitude of schemes for the unemployed, the old and the sick with a single unified scheme which essentially remains to this day. Other than for pensions, the Act was less generous than what had been advocated by Beveridge. The low levels of benefit caused many people to rely on National Assistance â€Å"because retirement, unemployment and insurance benefits were pitched too low and did not provide separately for housing costs† (Brivati & Bale, 1997). The new National Health Service (NHS) which gave the medical profession representation and control over spending resulted in spiralling costs in the late 1940s. Comparatively, education policy as the 1944

Cloud Computing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Cloud Computing - Research Paper Example The reason for the study of â€Å"cloud computing† is to have a detailed insight into the history, significance, fundamentals, components, systems, methodologies, and implementation, and more related to cloud computing. This paper achieves this purpose by first discussing the history of cloud computing, followed by the discussion of its ramifications in the technology world, development of the system and its security, and relationship between agile software development and cloud computing. The history of cloud computing Although there is subjectivity about the exact time when the term cloud computing surfaced, yet it appears to have originated from the use of the stylized clouds drawings for the denotation of the networks in the diagrams of communication systems and computing. â€Å"Cloud† as a word is often used for the Internet metaphorically. The Internet is being represented by the symbol of a cloud since 1994. Since the prevalence of computers, technologists and scientists have been exploring ways to increase the availability of the power of large-scale computers to the users by means of such ways as experimenting with the algorithms for the maximal use of infrastructure, sharing of time, and the optimal use of applications and platform with the prioritized access to the central processing units. The â€Å"Dynamic Web† describes the process of development of the Internet from being just document centric toward its increased ability to render different kinds of services. This contribution particularly focused on the need for the meta-data that could describe the implementation details as well as other conceptual details of the applications based on model. The omnipresence of the high-capacity networks, storage devices, computers of low cost, utility computing, and the widespread adoption of the service-oriented architecture, and hardware virtualization are some of the most fundamental factors that have caused the growth of cloud computing. People involved in cloud computing include J.C.R. Licklider, John McCarthy, and Douglas F. Parkhill. Licklider brought the cloud computing’s concept to the forefront. McCarthy proposed that computation would be organized as a public utility in the future. Parkhill comprehensively discussed all the contemporary features of cloud computing in his book â€Å"The Challenge of the Computer Utility† (Banerjee, 2011). Hurdles in the development and implementation include but are not limited to flawed predictions of cost savings, increase in the cost of operation, lack of ability to comply with the requirements of growing capacity, chargeback, bandwidth, and scarcity of trained professionals in cloud computing. Another major hurdle is the security concern; the available offerings of cloud are public networks and hence increase the vulnerability of the system to the attacks. Ramifications of cloud computing in the technology world 1. Mobile communication The recent advances in the networks of mobile communication and the increasing popularity of the smart phones have empowered the users and caused a massive transformation in the mobile Internet. Nevertheless, the limited capabilities of information storage and computing of the mobile devices have traditionally served as big hurdles in the way of supporting the

Money generated from illegal activities Dissertation

Money generated from illegal activities - Dissertation Example Money laundering can be seen as a deliberate effort that is made to close the trail of criminals. Money laundering is seen as a convenient outlet through which the trail of criminals can be cleaned in order to blot out all tracks that would lead to them.A person who sells drugs or a person who runs a human trafficking ring which leads to prostitution might want to find ways of injecting funds legally into the economy to appear legal. This can be done by banking the proceeds as part of the ‘profits’ made through his restaurant or banking them as part of a casino’s winnings. All these are deliberate efforts that are meant to erase any investigative tracks that are meant to pin them down as criminals.The concept of money laundering becomes more complicated when it spans across different national borders. This is because the inclusion of other countries in a money laundering attempt makes it much more difficult to detect and tough to resolve since it requires the coop eration of different law enforcement regimes to combat it effectively. This is not always easy and it comes with a high degree of complications. The two variables are legal systems and cooperation and it is very difficult to attain convergence.Money Laundering involves three main phases: placement, layering, and integration. Placement involves the separation of illicit funds from the illegal source. This means that money gotten from illegal means are taken out of the original source and prepared to be sent to some other category of funds which might disguise its origins. Once placement is done, there is layering, which involves the integration of the illicit funds into the financial systems. This involves the lodgement of these illegal money in some kind of category of funds that is legally acceptable. Finally, there is integration of the illegal funds into the legitimate economy. This means that the money is spent in the normal sense as though the money was gotten from any other le gal source of funds. This means that the money is likely to be seen as legal when it is far from the normal legal funding. Money Laundering and its Relationship to Terrorism Money laundering is often used to describe the general sense of presenting illegally acquired funds as though they

Research paper - international relations Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

- international relations - Research Paper Example Because China’s nuclear modernization program is expected to continue, its second-generation nuclear force will be deployed over the next 10-15 years as a more mobile, reliable and accurate force then it currently is. (Keylor, 2001) These nuclear achievements in the PRC continue to cause great anxiety within the international system. This is particularly because uncertainty exists about China’s nuclear capabilities and strategic intentions. However, it will be proven that although many factors support China’s nuclear capabilities as posing a threat to the international system, the PRC does not to intend to harm the world, as it is relatively a small nuclear power with rational security concerns ands sound interests in maintaining world peace . Deterrence against China’s Principle Enemy As a result of its unpleasant history, the Chinese have especially viewed its principal enemy, the United States with suspicion. The United States has and continues to threa ten the mainland on many counts. During and after the Korean War the U.S. threatened to use nuclear weapons against China. Washington had actually deployed nuclear-armed B-29 bombers to Guam in 1951 for possible use against the PRC. (Leo, 2002) Again, in 1954-55 Beijing was threatened by the use of possible nuclear weapons by the U.S. over the off shore islands of Quemoy and Matsu held by Taiwan. Apparently, the â€Å"nuclear card† held by the United States incessantly reinforced its superpower leverage during times of crisis. (Garwin, and. Panofsk, 1998) Thus it was necessary for China to become a nuclear power in order to not only prevent constant â€Å"interference† or â€Å"nuclear bullying† by the United States, but also to forever guarantee national independence. As a result, since the mid-1950s, China has strived to develop a modest nuclear force to satisfy the following objectives,† secure a retaliatory capability in case of nuclear war; deter supe rpower or other outside aggression; demonstrate China’s international power and reinforce her pride . Establish Hegemony in Far East Asia By attaining nuclear weapons, China’s ability to establish hegemony in Asia would increase, as it also becomes a great power in the modern world. Because the Chinese government has been influenced by the inheritance of a â€Å"mandate from heaven,† the PRC already considers herself to be at the center of the world. Now that China has attained nuclear capabilities, she can make implicit threats of military action against her neighbors as she establishes hegemony in her orbit in the Far East (Halperin, 1965). Protecting China from Foreign Intervention The People’s Republic of China’s goal is to protect her territorial integrity and political independence in the face of foreign encroachments and domestic disorder. Both Communist and Non-Communist China especially agree to maintain and preserve China’s soverei gnty in the outlying regions of Sinkiang, Tibet and in particular Taiwan because they have become major targets of foreign encroachment during the present nuclear age. For example, Russia had once attempted to gain Sinkiang, while Great Britain and India jointly brought Tibet under their influence. Moreover, presently, China suspects that Washington and Japan together plan to establish â€Å"two Chinas† or â€Å"one China and one Taiwan† threatening to menace PRC’s integrity, and bringing insult to Chinese national pride. Two Attempts at Nuclear

Money generated from illegal activities Dissertation

Money generated from illegal activities - Dissertation Example Money laundering can be seen as a deliberate effort that is made to close the trail of criminals. Money laundering is seen as a convenient outlet through which the trail of criminals can be cleaned in order to blot out all tracks that would lead to them.A person who sells drugs or a person who runs a human trafficking ring which leads to prostitution might want to find ways of injecting funds legally into the economy to appear legal. This can be done by banking the proceeds as part of the ‘profits’ made through his restaurant or banking them as part of a casino’s winnings. All these are deliberate efforts that are meant to erase any investigative tracks that are meant to pin them down as criminals.The concept of money laundering becomes more complicated when it spans across different national borders. This is because the inclusion of other countries in a money laundering attempt makes it much more difficult to detect and tough to resolve since it requires the coop eration of different law enforcement regimes to combat it effectively. This is not always easy and it comes with a high degree of complications. The two variables are legal systems and cooperation and it is very difficult to attain convergence.Money Laundering involves three main phases: placement, layering, and integration. Placement involves the separation of illicit funds from the illegal source. This means that money gotten from illegal means are taken out of the original source and prepared to be sent to some other category of funds which might disguise its origins. Once placement is done, there is layering, which involves the integration of the illicit funds into the financial systems. This involves the lodgement of these illegal money in some kind of category of funds that is legally acceptable. Finally, there is integration of the illegal funds into the legitimate economy. This means that the money is spent in the normal sense as though the money was gotten from any other le gal source of funds. This means that the money is likely to be seen as legal when it is far from the normal legal funding. Money Laundering and its Relationship to Terrorism Money laundering is often used to describe the general sense of presenting illegally acquired funds as though they

How would you describe spirituality What are some spiritual practices Research Paper

How would you describe spirituality What are some spiritual practices that are comonto various religions around the world - Research Paper Example Man always tries to live a life of Godliness, and gaining the original purpose of God through creation. In other terms, spirituality can be defined to mean being alive by the support and influence of the unseen, immortal and spiritual aspect of God. Other aspects illustrate spirituality in a context of not only the religious organizations but also through the physical health of being mentally sober and under no influence of substance and drug abuse. Sanity also denotes a sense of sober spirituality. There are common aspects of spirituality which include the attractedness to self and one to another, the general enlighten in terms of who we are and what our future holds, and the higher power, either through the system of religion affiliation and the religions or some form of unknown super power. By spiritual awareness, people find the meaning and purpose of life as regards to all mankind or to personal life. Through engaging in religious practices, rituals and spiritual practices, human beings gain a sense of direction and belonging in terms of their spirituality. It can be argued that all religious practices and rituals have a direction towards the spirituality of a person but spirituality may not necessarily be dependent on them wholly. Rituals are meaningful in that they awaken the spiritual connectedness with nature, other people, and the general universe and creation. The sacred rituals are more often related to religious practices such as prayers, meditation, spiritual ceremonies etc, while the secular have no connection to religion. They may include partying for fun, sporting activities and many more. Human beings ascribe practices and rituals to religion and systems of believe. However, it is well known that there are very many different religions and systems of beliefs in the world. Nevertheless, some universally accepted practices define

Deregulation and Shipping Industries Essay Example for Free

Deregulation and Shipping Industries Essay Regulation in economy is a process characterized by control, monitoring and managing of rules, processes, operations and methods in order to obtain and yield more positive results and attain an environment that is more convenient to consumers and businessmen (Boyson). Deregulation, which is the opposite of regulation, when used in different aspects and sectors of business have affected directly and indirectly the various business industries and companies. For instance, transportation deregulation has greatly impacted the shipping industry here and around the world. Changes are brought depending on how shippers used the systems of transportation. Globalization is a phenomenon the no one can deny is happening now. Industries and businesses are experiencing wide range of growth as they reach out different regions around the globe, and just like other businesses shipping and carrying industries have their eyes keen towards globalization. Thus a company, for instance, does not solely need to attend to its New York-Chicago transportation affairs, they now must also consider the inbound flow and tracking of ships from Asia and the outbound flow from other continents such as South America and Africa (Boyson). For this reason, there now exists a growing complexity in the networks and channels of transportation systems. Furthermore a challenge to effectively manage and control the local goods combined with the imported products are also observed. The challenged that arises from the complexities of network transportation has then prompted authorities to regulate systems of transportations. The increasing number for international needs of inbound and outbound flow of logistics and shipments had yield to large number of trucks and carriers. Authorities then deemed that a regulation that would minimize the increasing number of truckers and carriers that would enter and leave the US harbor is necessary and significant. Shipment and freight industries have seen enormous change and face lifts through the years. From the late 1970’s advocates of deregulation have called for the removing of federal economic regulation (Brenner). According to them by exposing freight and shipping industries to exit and entry regulation, industries failed to perform to their utmost potential. They are not able to maximize their resources as rate on inbound and outbound flow of shipments are controlled. They call for a deregulation as they believed that industries can perform better with out these laws that hold and breathe down their neck. By lifting various regulations, competition industries can exists that eventually would leave to better service as they searched for different strategies and mediums that would satisfy their customers and followers. Attesting this claim was the significant growth experienced business growth in terms of volume by the shipment and trucking companies under the deregulated market, from 1982 up to 1997 (Brenner). With deregulation, rates in which the companies provide their services are also lowered. This event happens as more ships are made available to travel and with ease of entry restrictions. Companies do not have to require large fees as the risks of inability to dock or set sail is stricken off. Circuitous routes made the shipping vessels are also eliminated which provides ease and convenience to the industries. Furthermore, deregulation encourages freedom in pricing. As a result, lower rates are observed. Deregulation laws in transportation have impacted the shipping industries greatly. From the structure and functions in how companies delivered their services up to the vision they gladly want to fulfill. However, of all those encouraging results obtained from deregulation none could be more important to its affect to the flow of goods here and abroad. With the deregulation, sufficient supply of goods is stimulated locally and internationally which has major effect in international commerce. Work’s Cited Boyson, S. Managing Effective Third Party Logistics Relationships: What Does It Take? Journal of Business Logistics . 1999. Brenner, M. A. World Seatrade Service. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies. 1999.

Impact of Communication Technology on Politics and Economics

Impact of Communication Technology on Politics and Economics Impact of Communication Technologies on Political and Economic Development Joe Owczarski Introduction Modern-day society is witnessing the continuous creation of innovative mediums concerning communications technology that are not only convenient to use but inexpensive as well. Such digital communication tools include mobile phones, smart phones, and the Internet. It is not a secret that they have been successful in bringing a drastic revolution in the methods of information-sharing and communication. It is not surprising that these innovative technologies have impacted every aspect of peoples’ lives, be it political, religious, educational, professional, social, or economical. Innovations in information and communication technologies (ICTs) have not only increased the availability of innumerable products and services but have also reduced their prices. As a result, the inexpensiveness of and accessibility to ICTs have caused a great reduction in â€Å"the costs associated both with doing business and with organizing social and political movements† (Hart, 2010). The cheap availability of ICTs has also declined the costs of communication and transportation. From an economic point of view, there have been declines in the costs related to coordination and transaction. These declining patterns have consequently made the international trade and capital investment to reach extremely high levels. In addition, the cost reductions have also lessened the significance of geographical distances in international business. As distance has lost its importance in today’s digitalized world, there has been an increase in both political and economic activities due to the trending globalization (Hart, 2010). Impact of Cheap Communication Technologies on Politics and Political Development As far as politics is concerned, the inexpensive communication technologies have made a tremendous impact on both domestic and worldwide political phenomenon. In particular, the Internet and social media has contributed greatly in the development of political context and understanding. The blogs as well as the discussions and arguments that are conducted on the Web have provided people a platform to openly voice their views and beliefs regarding political aspects. Although a lot of people argue that social media and related communication technologies have nothing to contribute to politics; many oppose this point of view. Cheap communication technologies have played a major role in the contemporary era for making political processes more free, autonomous, and independent (Unwin, 2012). It would not be incorrect to state that the ICTs have offered exceptional liberties to the common man who is now able to dramatically impact the political phenomenon through cell phones, the Internet, and the social media sites. Communication technologies have emerged as a powerful tool for the politicians and governments as well. The political leaders and governmental authorities are capable of spreading their messages, agendas, and policies to the general public, directly and cheaply. For instance, mobile text messaging is now used by both political parties and governments to encourage public to vote for them in elections (Unwin, 2012). Likewise, the Internet and the social media is also playing a central role in making people aware about the current incidents that take place worldwide. Detailed stories and images enable people to receive the latest information about political movements and happenings around the world. In this manner, cheap communication technologies have enhanced global awareness. The example of Syria is an important one. This is because social media sites and other communication mediums have made people aware of the continuing conflicts in Syrian regime (Unwin 2012). It is true that the globalization phenomenon has interconnected the states and people. This interconnectedness has also influenced the opinions of people who use communication technologies to share their opinions with others. On a global level, globalization has also undermined the concept of a sovereign state. States are now interdependent due to global policies that have made it impossible for them to shield themselves from external influences. As people are beginning to use cheap communication technologies more progressively, there have been improvements in the overall communication between people belonging to diverse political regimes. These enhancements in ICTs have made it possible for people to share information and knowledge rapidly and easily. Moreover, the cheap communication technologies have also enhanced the fusion of different cultures. In addition, the acquired awareness has made people question the governmental authorities. As a matter of fact, revolutionary innovations in ICTs have undermined the autonomous and monarch status of particular political systems, such as the one in Middle East (Unwin, 2012). It can be concluded that the contemporary ICTs have offered remarkable opportunities to people to modify the rules of the long-established political game. On the other hand, even though cheap ICTs have tremendously changed the international political map, this revolution has not particularly affected the marginalized and poor people. Without a doubt the use of cheap communication technologies has impacted the political development and processes. Nevertheless, it completely depends on the individual’s observation whether he considers it a good or bad change (Healey, 2011). Impact of Cheap Communication Technologies on Economy and Economic Development As mentioned, communication technology in the current era has become extraordinarily cheap, user-friendly, and accessible. Although ICTs are taken for granted by people, communication devices and services have been triumphant in transforming economies as well as the lives of millions of people throughout the world. It is significant to mention that cheap communication technologies are being used by people in the developing countries in greater ways as compared to people belonging to the developed world. The penetration of information and communication technologies has a considerable impact on the economic development. ICTs have opened up new avenues for supporting economy in the recent times. Cheap communication technologies are acknowledged to have a significant impact on economic growth as they are affecting education, health sectors, agricultural output, income, poverty, and living standards. Communication technologies have tremendously facilitated the attainment and taking in of knowledge. They have offered extraordinary opportunities to developing countries for the enhancement of their educational systems, improvement of policy making and implementation, and widening of the assortment of opportunities for both affluent and the poor. It is important to highlight that ICTs have contributed in reducing the sense of isolation tolerated by poorest members of the society. It is not a secret that when poor are provided sufficient opportunities, they also contribute in the economic development of the country by playing their productive part. Thus, cheap communication technologies have opened access to knowledge, education, and employment in ways that could not be imagined in the past times (Reddi, 2011). The issues prevalent in society today mostly revolve around poverty. The economic development of a region principally depends on the standard and acquisition of education. This is because an educated society can efficiently and effectively work for the progression and development of its country. This realization has made almost every country to expand its demand for education at every level for the political, social, and economic development. However, many countries give limited budgets to their education sectors after facing the contrasting demand for better investment in resources that are necessary for human survival (food, shelter, etc.). However, the utilization and employment of communication technologies have offered alternate solutions to provide access and impartiality to students and teachers. ICTs have also suppressed the need for building schools and colleges. Instead, they have provided the concept of e-learning for convenient teaching and learning (Reddi, 2011). Cheap information and communication technologies have provided agriculturalists and farmers with opportunities to increase their yield and productivity, thus leading to economic progression. Mobile technology is considered to be an outstandingly critical tool for the improvement and enhancement of the competence of the agriculture and food sectors. Not only this, it is also regarded as a potential catalyst to help in raising the incomes of innumerable poor farmers found all over the world. This augmented efficiency is exceedingly important as it could lead to food losses in smaller quantity. A decrease in food losses means the growing demand for sufficient and inexpensive supplies of healthy food could be met eventually. When people are provided with self-sufficient resources, economy develops and grows automatically (Kirk, Steele, Delbà © Crow, 2011). The cheap communication technologies, especially mobile services, have enabled businesses, companies and organizations to directly contact and interact with different members in the value chain. This interrelation has also helped in visibility of issues, competence and excellence. The best potential benefits for the smallholder farmers can be spawned by enabling them to take advantage of mobile financial payments and mobile information provision. In India, for instance, the smallholder farmers of remote areas have benefitted from this service greatly as the mentioned services have each brought approximately 40% of the total anticipated raise in agricultural revenues (Kirk, Steele, Delbà © Crow, 2011). As a result, the country’s economy has grown significantly. In short, ICTs have enabled poor families to diminish their everyday expenditures related to physical labor, time, and energy. As a result, communication technologies have caused an exceptional positive impact on the i ncomes and livelihoods of many rural families. Communication technologies have also facilitated the reduction of â€Å"information gaps and restrictions inherent in marketplaces where consumers and producers have little means of comparing commodity prices between distant markets† (Zambrano Seward, 2010). ICTs are presently working as a catalytic tool in the improvement and expansion of development programming. In addition, the advancement in mobile technologies and their accessibility to rural areas have also contributed towards sustainable development. Thus, the technological change has introduced ways that have made the economic growth sustainable. The communication technologies are, in fact, sustainable technologies that are helping people and governments meet â€Å"the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs† (Beder, 2006). Communication technologies have offered equal economic and employment opportunities to people who reside in cosmopolitan and rural areas. ICTs have not only increased productivity but have also made the market work extremely efficient. However, it is important to highlight that the extent of the economic growth outcomes can be different. ICT is a platform that has reached and will reach populations that have low literacy and income levels. Consequently, ICT is emerging as the leading distribution platform that provides public and private services to innumerable people. As there was no or negligible connectivity mediums in rural areas, the underdeveloped areas did not receive the deserved services and facilities. However, the emergence of ICTs has made it possible for underprivileged people to access financial services, market information, health services, and education services. In contrast, it is evident in the present times that the wireless platform has promoted new and innovative social and economic opportunities for the poor populace at all levels. Conclusion In closing, cheap communication technologies have brought significant changes in the traditional ways of socialization, business tasks’ execution, education attainment, and delivery of services. High-speed Internet, in particular, has changed the ways of doing businesses, transformation of public service delivery, and democratization of innovation. There is no doubt in the fact that the businesses that are using cheap communication technologies have demonstrated more production, faster growth, increased investment, and high profits. Similarly, governments and political parties that have employed cheap communication technologies are also receiving better outcomes in the development of democratic political structure. In short, cheap information and communication technologies have revealed a transformative power on a global level. It is important for the governments to realize the importance of ICT potentials and educate the populations about them in order to reduce poverty, increase economic development, and develop a fine political sense. Therefore, steps must be taken to educate people about the significance of employing ICTs in positive ways for the development and progression of today’s global village. Bibliography Beder, S. (2006).Environmental Principles and Policies: An Interdisciplinary Introduction. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. Hart, J. (2010). Information Technologies and the Global Political Economy. InThe International Studies Encyclopedia. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell. Healey, J. (2011).Social Impacts of Digital Media. Thirroul, N.S.W.: Spinney Press. Reddi, U. R. V. (2011).Primer 1: An Introduction to ICT for Development. Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (APCICT). Unwin, T. (2012, September 1). Social Media and Democracy: Critical Reflections. Retrieved November 28, 2014, from http://www.cpahq.org/cpahq/cpadocs/Unwin CPA Social media and democracy.pdf Kirk, M., Steele, J. Delbà ©, C. Crow, L. (2011). Connected Agriculture: The Role of Mobile in Driving Efficiency and Sustainability in the Food and Agriculture Value Chain.Vodafone. Retrieved November 29, 2014, from http://www.vodafone.com/content/dam/vodafone/about/sustainability/2011/pdf/connected_agriculture.pdf Zambrano, R., Seward, R. (2010). Mobile Technologies and Empowerment: Enhancing Human Development Through Participation and Innovation. Retrieved November 29, 2014, from http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un-dpadm/unpan048480.pdf

Young Goodman Brown Essay -- essays research papers

â€Å"Evil is the nature of mankind.†(Nathaniel Hawthorne). The story of â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† depicts what Hawthorne believes the nature of mankind is, which is evil. Goodman is a man of attempted good who comes face to face with the supposed inherent evil of humanity. He cannot realize, through any normal means, whether or not this awareness is something of his tormented mind, or based on something he stumbled upon while deep within dreary, haunted forests. Faith who seems to be good appears not to be after Goodman sees her in the forest. Faith is Goodman’s wife. She was also young and she was beautiful. She had a lot of faith in God and her religion. In the beginning she didn't want Goodman to leave, but because she had faith in him she agreed. She seemed to be worshiping the devil and has...

The Great Depression Essay -- essays research papers

Carmack 2 The Great Depression   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Great Depression is known as a time of economic disaster, and for its impact on the social structure of families. As times got harder, the family way of life changed. Families that were well off did not suffer as much as those that were already struggling. When men lost their jobs they also lost the ability to support their families. Children were forced to leave home and find work without adequate schooling. The Great Depression affected people both physically and psychologically. It was an era of unemployment, family struggles, and the way they survived.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Great Depression was an era of unemployment. One of the main causes of unemployment was the combination of the greatly unequal distribution of wealth throughout the twenties. The unequal distribution of wealth had gone on forever. Money was distributed disparately between the rich and the middle class, between the United States and Europe, and even between industries and agriculture. The unequal distribution of wealth had created an unstable economy. Companies were losing money because of this unstable economy so there for they had to make some changes. The first thing that had to be done was to save money and they did this by cut the pay role. Employees of many years were fired or took massive pay cuts. The employers only kept a select few workers that they had to have. Carmack 3 If one did not make the employer’s expectation, they were fired.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Monte Cristo had a list, a little roll call. And one by one he took them each for a ride Saying One and Two and Three and so on Till the names were all crossed off And he had cleabsed the world of a giving number Of betrayers who had personally wronged him. He was judge, jury, and executioner   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (Sandburg 445) Finding a replacement was not difficult since everyone; men, women, children, and even grandparents, were looking for work. I’m not asking for social equality, †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ All I want is a job with a decent wage, To exist now and provide for old age. So kindhearted employers, my case is up to you, Give me something to do. (Proudberg 9-16) With few job openings and so many people looking fo... ...yday study the buffalo on the nickel, †¦. Study before the nickel, the dime is spent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (Sandburg 456) A lot of the people today have long forgotten the lessons that their parents had taught them. Today people really do not appreciate the value of a dollar, but they know all about â€Å"plastic,† or commonly known as credit cards. I think a small dose of depression would do people today some good but not too much, because I think we would have a lot more people killing themselves and others just because people have fewer moral values today. Carmack 8 Worked Cited Hawes, Joseph M. Children Between the Wars. Ed. Joseph M. Hawes., N. Ray Hiner. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1997. Proudbeg, Jim. â€Å"Poor Nut Ambitious (too Proud To Beg).† 21 Apr. 2000. http://www.mudcat.org/!!-song99.cfm?stuff=fall99+9902682. Sandburg, Carl. The Complete Poems of Carl Sandburg. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1970. Underwood, Mark. â€Å"Black Thursday.† The New York Times on the web. 1 May. 1996. 4 Apr. 2000 . The Great Depression Essay -- essays research papers Carmack 2 The Great Depression   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Great Depression is known as a time of economic disaster, and for its impact on the social structure of families. As times got harder, the family way of life changed. Families that were well off did not suffer as much as those that were already struggling. When men lost their jobs they also lost the ability to support their families. Children were forced to leave home and find work without adequate schooling. The Great Depression affected people both physically and psychologically. It was an era of unemployment, family struggles, and the way they survived.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Great Depression was an era of unemployment. One of the main causes of unemployment was the combination of the greatly unequal distribution of wealth throughout the twenties. The unequal distribution of wealth had gone on forever. Money was distributed disparately between the rich and the middle class, between the United States and Europe, and even between industries and agriculture. The unequal distribution of wealth had created an unstable economy. Companies were losing money because of this unstable economy so there for they had to make some changes. The first thing that had to be done was to save money and they did this by cut the pay role. Employees of many years were fired or took massive pay cuts. The employers only kept a select few workers that they had to have. Carmack 3 If one did not make the employer’s expectation, they were fired.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Monte Cristo had a list, a little roll call. And one by one he took them each for a ride Saying One and Two and Three and so on Till the names were all crossed off And he had cleabsed the world of a giving number Of betrayers who had personally wronged him. He was judge, jury, and executioner   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (Sandburg 445) Finding a replacement was not difficult since everyone; men, women, children, and even grandparents, were looking for work. I’m not asking for social equality, †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ All I want is a job with a decent wage, To exist now and provide for old age. So kindhearted employers, my case is up to you, Give me something to do. (Proudberg 9-16) With few job openings and so many people looking fo... ...yday study the buffalo on the nickel, †¦. Study before the nickel, the dime is spent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (Sandburg 456) A lot of the people today have long forgotten the lessons that their parents had taught them. Today people really do not appreciate the value of a dollar, but they know all about â€Å"plastic,† or commonly known as credit cards. I think a small dose of depression would do people today some good but not too much, because I think we would have a lot more people killing themselves and others just because people have fewer moral values today. Carmack 8 Worked Cited Hawes, Joseph M. Children Between the Wars. Ed. Joseph M. Hawes., N. Ray Hiner. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1997. Proudbeg, Jim. â€Å"Poor Nut Ambitious (too Proud To Beg).† 21 Apr. 2000. http://www.mudcat.org/!!-song99.cfm?stuff=fall99+9902682. Sandburg, Carl. The Complete Poems of Carl Sandburg. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1970. Underwood, Mark. â€Å"Black Thursday.† The New York Times on the web. 1 May. 1996. 4 Apr. 2000 .

Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet Essay

Known as a minimalist and experimental composer, Richard Gavin Bryars unleashed an emotionally intimate constructed piece out from a lone old vagrant singing, Jesus’ blood never failed me yet, this one thing I know, for he loves me so†¦ Originally recorded from footage of a documentary by his friend Alan Power in 1971 (Grimshaw), this aged voice served as the focal point and backdrop for Bryars’ poignant yet challenging work unfolding and reiterating itself over the course of 74 minutes in length. Whereas music that falls under Minimalist movement, sometimes associated the emotional neutralization of repeated materials, Bryars’ has the reverse effect in which rather than numbing the listener’s sensibilities, he heightens them and instead of imposing postmodern indifference toward the subject matter, it forces confrontation with it (Grimshaw). The entire lengthy music might deflate the interest of its listeners as the lines simply repeated over the recording, but Bryars managed to extract the spirit of the tramp’s captive song as he slowly introduced an accompaniment. The first part was merely the sole voice of the old man then eventually enhanced by string quartet, followed by plucked bass and guitar. Moreover, as the instruments subsequently fade out, the tramp’s song continues and eventually underscored by a much richer sounding ensemble of low strings, then woodwinds, brass, and delicate percussion and finally full orchestra and choir (Grimshaw). The soul of the music originated from the compassionate nature of the old vagrant who sang the religious tune during the recording of Power’s documentary that was about the life of street-people around Elephant and Castle and Waterloo in London. Bryars’ recounted; while they are filming the documentary, some people broke into drunken ballad or opera songs, but there was a particular homeless old man sang â€Å"Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet†. When he played it at home, he noticed the exact tune of the singing to his piano, and, he discerned that the first section of the song that is 13 bars in length formed an effective loop that repeated in a slightly unpredictable way. Therefore, he took the tape to Leicester and copied the loop onto a continuous reel of tape having the idea of adding orchestrated accompaniment to it. During the act of copying, he left the door that lead to the large painting studios, and when he came back, he found people weeping and silently listening over the old man’s singing, at that point, he realized a great emotional influence from the noble faith and tranquil music (Howse), a merely accidental root behind this epic. This particular Bryars’ piece was a breakthrough as there were other versions made during the latter years. Tom Waits singing along with it in 1990 and Jars of Clay released their own version on their album Who We Are Instead in 2003, aside from the fact that it was also used for several theatrical presentations. Covering credits for its very straightforward message to the people, the unyielding constancy of the lyrics—repeated over 150 times—essentially keeps the music from achieving greater feats. It is said that no matter how many times you paint a house, it remains to be the same house. Still, that verse holds together the entirety of the minimalist piece, a factor that you cannot simply neglect. Focusing on keeping his music very simple yet haunting, this composer and double bassist is a native from Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, England and born on January 16, 1943. His first musical reputation was as a jazz bassist working in the early sixties with improvisers Derek Bailey and Tony Oxley. He abandoned improvisation in 1966 and worked for a time in the United States with John Cage, until he collaborated closely with composers such as Cornelius Cardew and John White. He taught in the department if Fine Art in Portsmouth, Leicester from 1969 to 1978, and there he founded the legendary Portsmouth Sinfonia, an orchestra whose membership consisted of performers who â€Å"embrace the full range of musical competence† — and who played or just attempted to play popular classical works. He also founded the Music Department at Leicester Polytechnic (later De Montfort University) and served as professor in Music from 1986 to 1994. Meanwhile, his first major work as a composer owe much to the so-called New York School of John Cage—with whom he briefly studied, Morton Feldman, Earle Brown and minimalism. His earliest piece was The Sinking of Titanic (1969) and was originally released under Brian Eno’s Obscure Label in 1975 and the Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet (1971) both famously released in new versions in the 1990s on Point Music Label, selling over a quarter of a million copies. The original 1970s recordings have been re-released on CD by Virgin Records. A major turning point in his development was his first written opera Medea, premiered at the Opera de Lyon and Opera de Paris in 1984. He has written another two operas, both with libretti by his long time collaborator Blake Morrison: Doctor Ox’s Experiment, and G, commissioned by the Staatstheater Mainz for the Gutenberg 600th Anniversary. Aside from that, Bryars has also produced a large body of chamber music including three string quartets and a saxophone quartet both for his own ensemble and for other performers. He has also written extensively for strings as well as producing concertos for violin, viola, cello, double bass, saxophone and bass oboe. He has also written choral music, chiefly for the Latvian Radio Choir, with whom he has recently recorded a second CD, and for the Estonian Male Choir. From being a jazz bassist, composer, professor and opera writer, he also made a name as he collaborated with visual artists, worked with choreographers who have used his pieces, and written numerous Laude for the soprano Ana Maria Friman, to name a few. And to date, he recently completed a theatre piece, To Define Happiness, with Peeter Jalakas for Von Krahl theatre in Tallinn, and a project around Shakespeare’s sonnets, Nothing Like the Sun, with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Opera North. Gavin Bryars is an Associate Research Fellow at Dartington College of Arts and Regent of the College de ‘Pataphysique. And married to Russian-born film director Anna Tchernakova with three daughters and a son. He is currently living in England and British Columbia, Canada. WORKS CITED Howse, Christopher. â€Å"The Assurance of Hope†. Continuum International Publishing Group, 2006. xix. ISBN 0-8264-8271-6 Mckeating, Scott. http://www. stylusmagazine. com/articles/seconds/gavin-bryars-jesus-blood-never-failed-me-yet. htm Grimshaw, Jeremy. â€Å"All Music Guide†. http://www. answers. com/topic/jesus-blood-never-failed-me-yet-orchestral-classical-work http://www. gavinbryars. com/ http://www. myspace. com/gavinbryarsmusic http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Jesus%27_Blood_Never_Failed_Me_Yet

The Day She Left Me Home Alone

The day she left me home alone. Realizing when ones childhood is beginning to fade is not an event that can be targeted at an exact time in an individual’s life. Childhood begins to vanish differently for people based on culture, age, and life experiences. My childhood started to end when I was 7 years old; the day she left me home alone. My mother had just become a single mother running from an abusive relationship with my father and had to begin life anew.My strong dependency on my mother and the illusion of being an only child, due to me being the youngest of several older brothers and sisters, made the thought of â€Å"growing up† a nightmare. Realization of my soon approaching adulthood became evident, as I had to face the difficulties of being distant from my mother, learning to connect socially with peers, taking on more self-responsibility, and the building of self-confidence. These trials and tribulations would help to lead me to a higher level of maturity and a true realization of life.Although what I endured forcefully was difficult, the most challenging would be my distancing from my mother the security that linked me to my youth. Severing the bond between a mother and child is a tough task at any given stage of life. This was especially difficult for my mother as I was her only girl and youngest child. Being a single mother and working two jobs created excessive hardship for my mother. Her constant struggle with taking me to her place of work left her with no other choice than to leave me at home.This was the first time that I had to truly cope with being away from her and it was an immense strain on my emotional state. My next challenge ensued when I had to begin spending time with my father. Several years after my parent’s separation my father later remarried became a new man, giving the judicial system the opinion that I should see my father more often. My pursuit into the new world known as my father’s house, otherwi se known to me as â€Å"hell†, forced me to spend countless weekends and summers with my new family, my step siblings and step mother.This unfamiliar change was the cause of my strong desire to remain sheltered beneath my mother’s wing but instead nature would drive me towards a more self-reliant road. Be that as it may, I would not change overnight. I still struggled to be away from my mother when it came time for school. Most children struggle with the concept of going to school. Leaving ones comfort zone and journeying into a strange new territory is of great significance in an individual’s life. Most children learn to adapt with in the first year or so. I however, was the exception to the rule.Attending public education was an adjustment of epic proportions in my young life. I struggled with the issue for several years. Every year school started I wished to be expunged from existence. My problem was not with the other children; I worked well with others. Rat her my issue was with the thought of being away from my mother. Although I got along smashingly with the other children, I did not converse very much. My close relationship with my mother led me to believe she and only she was someone I could truly convey my ideas with.I also did not speak with others because their tales of their lives at home seemed somewhat abnormal to me. Tales of brothers and sisters, close families and a home consisting of a mother and a father seemed unusual. Although I had brothers and sisters, we were distant. I knew of my father, but he and my mother did not live under the same roof. Another issue I had to face was my abnormal mother. What made her abnormal was the fact that she was a single, hard working mother. This indifference from my peers and societies opinions gave me the impression that I was an outcast.Eventually I would come to realize that I was not the only person in the world under such circumstances. Learning to open up to others caused me to realize that I wasn’t alone. Interacting with other children like myself helped me to be more social and gain greater connections with my peers. I then had the ability to deal with others, but still lacked in dealing with myself. Responsibility is an inherited trait. It is not cast upon an individual in one particular place or time. At certain stages of life, responsibility starts to become more important and has a greater affect on a person’s growth and development.From the time I could talk, my mom began teaching me the importance of responsibility. Nevertheless, my first true test came when I was left alone at home. While my mother was away, she entrusted me with the task of preparing my own food. Learning to cook for myself gave me more confidence and helped me to be less dependent on my mother. As my mother became aware of my newly responsible personality, she decided to entrust me with greater responsibilities. After moving, my mother did not want to switch me fr om the school I was attending so I remained there until the end of that school year.In the beginning, she rode the public bus and walked down the neighborhood to get me. After noticing that I could reside at home alone and care for myself my mother decided that I could handle walking down the neighborhood to meet her at the bus. Being with my peers was hard, dealing with my stepsiblings was an ordeal, and being at home alone was unimaginable. Nonetheless, the most unbearable of them all was walking alone; surrounded by strangers and an unfamiliar environment made me uneasy.Eventually, I came to realize that it was a part of life, part of being responsible and that I was growing up. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I was finally learning to deal with my several issues. The responsibilities laid upon me helped me to be more understanding of life and the ways of the world. My self-dependence began to grow as well as my self-confidence. Growing out of childhood and into adulthood does no t instantly occur; many people experience several events that transpire before they reach adulthood.In spite of that, there are always significant moments that have to pin point the beginning of one’s journey. For me this consisted of being left to fend for myself at home, learning to adapt socially with individuals amongst me and beginning to deal with real life responsibilities. These several adversities strengthened my confidence, stability, and self-reliance, as well as my outlook on the world and others. My childhood and my attachment to my mother where far from severed relatively the experience had opened to door to a new path of life, helping me to grow further from my old mind frame.