Notes on a scandle by Zoe Heller †How is the theme of obsession presented in the book? Essay

Notes on a scandal, written in the first person by Barbara Covette, a close friend and colleague of Sheba’s, is a story about Sheba Hart, a pottery teacher at St Georges school, who allows herself to become engaged in an affair with one of her fifteen year old pupils, Steven Connolly, who is one of her few pupils with an interest in her subject and not just disrupting lessons. This story is very much about obsession, and not that only of Sheba and her lover. In fact a very large proportion of the novel is devoted to showing Barbara’s loneliness and obsession with Sheba. It is done in an almost subtle way so that Barbara as the narrator is not aware how clearly she is obsessed, yet we as the audience can see it. With this the plot becomes almost as much about Barbara as it is about Sheba. From very early on in the novel we can see that Barbara has an obsession with Sheba, and that the obsession is likely to get bigger. This can be seen from the very beginning. The very fact that Barbara notes the exact clothes that Sheba is wearing and comments on them shows she has been paying a great amount of attention to Sheba from the very beginning. On the first page of chapter one Barbara says that Sheba is a fey person, she makes a point of saying this, which indicates possibly jealousy of Sheba. As we go on into chapter one Barbara’s jealousy is becoming more and more apparent, as everybody else is fussing about Sheba, Barbara chooses to stay out of the way, most likely due to her envy of Sheba. Barbara looks in on everybody fussing abut Sheba almost as a fly on the wall would, noting to herself who talks to Sheba and exactly what she does. She does not try herself in the beginning to socialise with her, but yet still seems very interested in her. This shows the beginning of obsession. When in chapter one Elaine reached out to touch Sheba’s ears, Barbara remarks in her text about not shaving her armpits, and refers to Elaine as â€Å"Reaching out like a monkey†. This shows us that Barbara is irritated by anybody else fussing over Sheba, so she instantly insults them as if to make herself feel batter and more worthy of Sheba’s attention than them. At the beginning of chapter two Barbara says that she must maintain maximum accuracy, so therefore starts to put together a time line of Sheba’s year. This itself seems obsessive. She buys gold stars to stick on at important events. It appears to us that Barbara’s life at this stage is revolving around Sheba. On page 32 Barbara writes: â€Å"Throughout the first half of the winter term, I had been building up my confidence to tackle Sheba on the matter of class discipline.† This indicates that Barbara is nervous about talking to Sheba for some reason; however we are almost certain by this stage in the novel that if it had been another one of the teachers at St George, Barbara would not have had a problem with it. Also on page 32 is the realisation on Barbara’s part that Sheba had befriended Sue Hodge. Barbara was very envious of this friendship and begins to take a lot of interest in this friendship. Barbara continuously slags off Sue Hodge and calls her, â€Å"The most awful prig.† This suggests an element of obsession is here, as if Barbara was not interested in Sheba then she would not care who she was â€Å"chumming up with.† At the beginning of chapter three, it is made very clear that Barbara was jealous of Sheba’s friendship with Sue. She writes: â€Å"The irony of my having agonized over Sheba’s friendship of fatty Hodge.† She used the word agonized which is quite a strong word, so Barbara was obviously deeply affected by this. She then goes on to say: â€Å"If Sheba had made a wiser choice of girlfriend, if she had have chosen me from the start- it is possible that she might have avoided the Connolly imbroglio.† We can see here that Barbara desperately wants Sheba as a friend, in an obsessive nature. In the beginning of chapter five, Barbara says that if it makes Sheba happy it makes her happy. This very clearly indicates that Barbara is obsessed with Sheba. On page 83, Barbara contradicts herself, she say that she does not argue with the necessity for age bars, but then goes on to defend Sheba’s actions. She seems to think that there is one rule for one person and another for Sheba. When Barbara is invited to Sheba’s house for dinner she panics very much about the way she is dressed, particularly about the heals thinking she may be too tarty. She is acting more like she is going on a date then to a friend’s house for dinner. This shows us that Barbara is very keen to impress Sheba, and doesn’t want her to think anything bad of her at all. The first sentence of chapter ten says: â€Å"By summer my connection with Sheba was well established.† The way she says this is almost like a spy trying to infiltrate the government and not as you would expect somebody to say about their friend, this seems odd and almost stalker like. In chapter thirteen Barbara decides to stay away from Sheba, and see how long Sheba can stick it. However it turns out to be Barbara who is the one who can’t stick it, she becomes rather depressed and confused. Here Barbara is acting more the way a lover would after a break up than a friend. In Barbara’s lunch date with Bangs in chapter thirteen when Barbara realises someone else is interested in Sheba, she instantly tells him about her and Connolly’s relationship. Barbara may have done this as she doesn’t want anyone to come between her and Sheba’s friendship, and she feels threatened by others in Sheba’s life. Towards the end of the book Barbara takes great joy in destroying the model of Sheba and Connolly, she begins by destroying the boy though; this shows that Barbara is trying to get rid of everything from Sheba’s life that is not centred on her. All of these things suggest that Barbara is slowly becoming more and more obsessed with Sheba throughout the novel, and that she wants to take everything that is not centred around her away. She may even have been satisfied that Sheba has lost her family and now must depend on Barbara as she is her only remaining friend.

How to have a relationship Essay

? A relationship is a way of connecting. The connection could be between people or objects. Listening to my grandmother talk about relationships helped me understand how things have completely changed over times. My grandmother stated that relationships where more valued back then and people stayed together for all the right reasons. She informed me that when you loved someone you loved them like no other. When it came to marriage they lasted longer than they do now. Having a relationship with someone was the thing to do. At one time relationships actually had meaning people were with each other because they loved them. This showed me the commitment part of relationships, when people actually stayed faithful to the person they were with. Nowadays men and woman say I love you just for the fun of it. But be honest everyone you know or knew either ant’s a relationship, has a relationship or has played a role in one either as the main lover or the sideline. Relationships are complicated, complex commitments that we take seriously or play around with like a rag doll. Serious relationships start from the mind knowing what it is that you want how you want it and how you’re going to get it is the first step in committing to a relationship. Yes commitment can be very hard to do. Especially when were accustomed to doing things our own way; without having to answer to someone else. Understanding the person you are trying to commit to is a good way to start a serious relationship. It is important to gather as much information as possible and take as much time as needed to ensure that you know the person that you are in a relationship with. Taking the steps and looking at past relationships can help you understand if the relationship might be what you are looking for in life. It is true that no matter how long you have known a person you may never truly know who that person really is. It is also important to know what we want before committing ourselves in. Whether that relationship is a marriage or just a boyfriend/ girlfriend committing to someone should begin with feelings being involved. Relationships become complicated when you have disagreements, other people etc. I feel that it takes two to make a relationship work and if both parties are not commented then it will never work. It’s like the eighty-twenty rule which explains that one person is giving there all and all and the other person only gives what is necessary at that time. How can a relationship work if both parties are not on the same level and are not committed to each other? Complicating in relationships come from problems that we cause ourselves, from not committing or giving our all to the relationship. As for myself I’ve had a few relationships in my day. Some good ones and then some that I would give anything to take back and wish that I had never committed myself to. Not saying that you would have the same outcome as I did but just make sure that the love is real. If we go into a relationship knowing that we are not there for a long time then it makes the relationship less complicated. In these type situations just make sure that you inform the person with how you feel before going into the relationship. It is important to have a clean understanding of what each party wants. Having false feelings in a relationship can be the most hurtful thing when you actually find out so therefore try to avoid coming into these situations. Communication is a huge part of a serious successful relationship. Communicating with your partner is a very good stress reliever and understanding method. Having communication builds trust and loyalty, which are two other things that are very important in a relationship. When a person is in a relationship they expect their partner to be understanding, have good listening skills and be there when they need you. Sometimes it’s just best to sit back and listen to what the other person had to say. You never know what you might learn about your partner if you just listen. Always remember to keep the lines of communication open throughout the relationship. For me, I think that one of my biggest downfalls in previous relationships is the lack of communication between my partner and me. I also have problems with my partner not being able to support himself and maybe even helping me every now and then, don’t get me wrong I’m not asking him to take care of me in no means what so ever but help every now and then would be good. As I did research on the topic of relationships, I learned that there are several steps that can be taken to have a successful relationship. First it is important to ensure that you trust your partner. Does your partner’s communication lift you just to bring you right back down? How do you and your partner deal with conflict in your relationship? Do you have compatible financial values? When you are thinking about starting a new relationship think about some of these questions. They might help you to understand the relationship better and if that’s what you really want. Maintaining a trusting and lasting relationship is going to require some work on both sides and especially in these times. As long as there is trust and communication between both parties then there is a good chance that the relationship will work. I plan to take my time and know the person that I intend to be in a serious relationship with. I don’t want to hurt anyone and I definitely don’t want to be hurt. I look forward to finding love one day that is meaningful and lasting but until then I will continue to inform my partner how I feel and what I am looking for in the beginning. I will ensure the line of communication stays open.

Educational differences in public institutes and in private institute Literature review

Educational differences in public institutes and in private institute - Literature review Example Hein (2004) noted that at the inception of the education system all institutions were public institutions and there was only an option of private tuition for interested students, which was offered to them as remedial classes. However, due to sharp criticism mostly only the quality of public institution education there was emergence of private institutions, which evaded some State regulations but endured for quality education for its students (Heller, 2001). Particularly in the United Kingdom, private institutions were first established in the 19th century by the Roman Catholic parish as a counter attack to the alleged dominance of protestant religious ideas and politicians in the public institution system. It is due to this fact that most private institutions in the UK are Catholic owned (Wilson, 2013). Over the recent past, the numbers of private institutions both secondary and tertiary have sharply increased and this is attributed to the increased benefits that private institutions offer as compared to public institutions. This thesis statement for this literature review runs on the opinion that private institutions have higher education standards as compared to public institutions; secondly, the educational curriculum of private institutions is much wider compared to public institutions. Thirdly, private institutions are also well endowed with superior facilities unlike public institutions and lastly, private institutions have low student-teacher ratio as compared to public institutions (Lance, 2010). According to the figures from the United Kingdom’s Department of Education, they show that generally, private institutions perform better than public institutions, and this fact is substantiated by higher performance in national/common exams, whereby students from private institutions dominate the top spots. This asserts that private institutions offer higher education standards as compared to

Celia, A Slave book Melton A. Mclaurin (Author) Essay

Celia, A Slave book Melton A. Mclaurin (Author) - Essay Example The purchase of Celia was less of a cook than it was a sexual object. However, was it right to convict Celia of murder while defending herself from her rapist master? In my opinion, it was unfair to put Celia to death while she was severing her relations with her master who had raped her for five years. The judicial process at the time shows that it was against the rights of slaves and did not care what they went through. Mr. Newsom characters also depict him as a pervert who had no respect for women. Newsom character seems to have changed for the worse when his wife died. He was lonely yes, like any other man but he could have maintained his family values and principles as he had his children around to console him. After purchasing Celia as black slave who was mandated to cook, Newsom started treating her like his wife. He forced Celia to have sex with him and eventually raped her (Mclaurin 15). Celia even though angered by the inhumane act perpetrated against her by her master could not find a place to air her grievances for the slaves had no legal redress to self defense in Missouri County. Newsom unacceptable behavior may have been persuaded by the fact that he knew that there were nowhere slaves would find justice. Furthermore, it is clear that he had no respect for women as he never cared about his two daughters who were in the same compound. Newsom prolonged his illicit behavior and bore two children with Celia while he knew very well that there existed no acquaintance bet ween him and Celia (Mclaurin 23). Another sign that portrays Newsom as a pervert is the unclear circumstances his older daughter Virginia got a son named Billy while still in his father’s compound. Even though Virginia was married to Waynescot, one year after her mother’s demise she returned to stay with her father (Mclaurin 9). Her husband might have died thus

Employment Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Employment Relations - Essay Example The paper will be based on Harvard HRM model including situational factors; stakeholder interests; HRM policy choices; HR outcomes and long-term consequences. Situational factors for analysis include workers, business strategy, management philosophy, task technology and societal factors. In IMB Australia employment relationship demands increased recognition of the professional qualities of the autonomous worker, which poses problems of incompatibility with an employment contract built upon subordination. Pay is determined by time worked, whilst idle time due to poor organization and absenteeism is reduced. In IBM Australia task characteristics is affected by broader managerial philosophies. The adoption of new managerial policies of human resource management is important in this respect. At one level, a concern for human resources implies investment in training and in the skills of employees. For instance, in 2005 26,4% of the budget ($ 48, 706M) was spent on training and development of employees and 48% was spend on outsourcing (FYI. IBM Global services, n.d.). Further, given the costs of training for employees using new and complex equipment, there is a strong incentive to provide conditions of employment which reduced turnover. The use of advanced technologies tends to be accompanied by greater job security and generally more favorable terms of employment. IMB Australia seeks to bind employee commitment over the longer term by providing extensive fringe benefits and developing internal labor markets that give good opportunities for advancement up a highly stratified promotion ladde r (Arrowsmith & Sisson 2001). Equally important, to the extent that it involves the decentralization of decision-making to employees, whether as individuals or through forms of team decision-making, it is expected to encourage the growth of task discretion and autonomy which has been shown to be so important in employee satisfaction and

Annotated Biblography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Annotated Biblography - Essay Example Like other groups such as slaves, servants and non propertied men, women were mainly understood to be deficient in the independent needed of republican citizens. Fiske, John; the American revolution, Boston: Houghton and Co, 1891. Print.. Regardless of the revolutionary pledge of equality and liberty for all individuals, neither was extended to female. Nevertheless, their lives were changed in other myriad manners. Several white women in the eighteenth century spent the whole days carrying out task around and within household. Household upkeep and management needed incredible amounts of backbreaking work, without the help of modern labor saving gadgets. Women use to sew and laundering clothes and spun wool and flax by hands. They milked cows, tendered, fed and butchered animals and churned milk into cheese and butter. They also brewed beer raised fowls and sold their eggs, preserved vegetables, and as well as producing households necessities, such as soap and candle and cooked for th eir families. Regarding to Fiske, women were not treated equally with men during the colonial peridd. Francis, Philip. Legal status of women. 2d ed. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, 1978. Print. This book seeks to explore the duties that were carried out by women during the colonial period. The main arduous and dangerous duty women used to carry was to bear children. During the middle of eighteenth century women use to gave birth to around five and eight children, mainly in between other pregnancies that ended up in miscarriage. Generally one in eight to anticipate losing their lives in childbearing, and several others lived via the experience only to watch their children die. The revolution politicized a number of these households’ duties. Women were initially drawn into the struggle as the consumers, with male patriots persuading them to indulge in the movement embargo British goods during the 1760s and 1770s. Consequently, custom domestic chores, evidenced, for inst ance, in the manner homespun clothing or the rejection to consume imported staples arise as a national defiance in contrast to British measures. The non-importation groups that promised to curtail the application of stimulate and luxuries domestic industries specifically appealed to rural women, indulging them into the resistance group for their first time. Hoffman, Peter, and Ronald, women in the age of American Revolution. Charlottesville; published by the university press of Virginia, 1989. Print. Revolutionary conflict confronted women directly. As male regarded as households leaders took up arms, a number o women assumed the duty of running business and firms alone. Across all the colonies, war stipulated steep inflation, leading to a growing militancy among those were no capable of feeding their families. Riots broke out in several towns, mainly directed at merchants who were considered to be hoarding food or inflating prices unfairly, and female led generally a third of these behaviors. Hoffman, Peter, and Ronald, women in the age of American Revolution. Charlottesville; published by the university press of Virginia, 1989. Print. In spite of women active participation in revolutionary era, women attained few new legal or political rights as a result. This was not for lack of argument around the problem of women’s role as citizens. Eighteenth century upheavals were motivated by the Enlightenment faith in worldwide human rationality and a pledge of

Portfolio Project Part 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Portfolio Project Part 5 - Essay Example amiliar with the physical railroad distinctiveness including passenger stations, the decline, and incline the locomotive to the right way and the speed is confined. Alongside conductor, the engineer observes time not to leave the station early, nor fall behind schedule. The speed of the train must be decreased when behind other trains, variable time over road to keep away from arriving early, or approaching route diversions (Patzak, 171). The engineer can assume the conductor’s duties and responsibilities if the conductor is sick or injured. The locomotive engineer is demanded of him to have a clear knowledge of railroad geometry that includes signal positions to control safely the train. Retaining concentration is of significant importance in this role. In various US railroads, the progression of career is one that begins as an assistant brakeman, then conductor and lastly, an engineer. The U S, engineers need accreditation and re-accredited after every 2 to 3 years. The least instructive prerequisite for a locomotive engineer is at least a high school diploma or its equivalent, two years college and another two years of public contact experience. Potential engineers should be at 21 years and above of age and in good bodily condition, not have drug or alcohol addiction troubles. Most training for this profession is on the job, through a simulator experience, hands on instruction and combination of classroom lessons. Students must normally pass training class for a conductor before being permitted to begin the locomotive engineering program (Rajegopal, et al 189). Train engineer is needed with a federal license to drive passenger or freight locomotive. After the completion of training program for engineers, potential applicants pass a written exam that tests their knowledge of train operations and skills performance test. Licensed applicants are required to pass a vision and hearing test, a surprise operational test that measures engineers’ reaction to

A Reflective Account of a Teaching Session about Changing a Stoma Essay

A Reflective Account of a Teaching Session about Changing a Stoma - Essay Example It is thus important that on my part, I analyse my approach in teaching to determine its effectiveness, strengths, weaknesses and what I should do to make it better. The best approach to examine my approach to teaching is definitely through the use of Gibb’s reflective cycle as it will enable me to reflect a great deal in using one situation and analyse everything that occurred in it, relating my actions to each result that occurred. Through Gibb’s Reflective Cycle, I will analyse a case in which I taught a patient how to change a stoma. I will first describe the context of the teaching- how I acted and how the patient reacted. According to Jasper (2003) this should be followed by analysing ones feelings in the situation and emotions at the event. One then follows this up with an evaluation of the experience, determining which aspects turned out to be positive and which ones were not, and what failed to go according to plan. After this one needs to critically analyse th e occurrence, establishing a conclusion on the entire experience and ultimately come up with an action plan to follow in case of a similar experience in the future. By the time I am through with this, the teaching experience will be analysed in entirety and the next patient I teach how to change a stoma will have a better experience. The context of the teaching This is the first step of Gibb’s Reflective cycle, where I will analyse what actually happened as I taught the patient how to change the stoma. To begin with, the patient had undergone a surgery to due to a severe case of diverticulitis and was just about to be discharged. I visited her ward as was required of me and undertook to explain to her how from that moment henceforth she would be changing the stoma. The patient was clearly in anxious emotional state due to the surgery she had just undergone, although it had been very successful. As Winston et al (1987) so ably puts it, the pre-operative and post-operative emot ional states of surgery patients is characterised by anxiety, misgivings, depression and irritability. Spielberger (1973) had earlier on suggested that patients usually develop anxiety to surgery as an emotional reaction towards situations that physically threatening, while Furst (1978) demonstrated that patients under surgery usually reported fear, apprehension, worry and uncertainty. All this serve to explain the emotional status of my patient as at the time I was teaching her. I realise that even before I had started, she was in a state that would make it difficult to absorb what I was saying. I first explained briefly to the patient the procedure she had just gone through- the surgery, and a little about diverticulitis and stomas since I assumed she already had been informed. I told her that diverticulitis was a condition arising from inflamed pouches on her large intestines known as diverticula, and also informed her that it was not a rare condition since about 10% of Americans above the age of 40 have diverticula and of these, ten out of twenty five develop diverticulitis (Borgadus, 2006). On the stoma, I told her that it was a surgical bypass of her colon system which had been affected by the diverticulitis and now failed to function properly. I informed her that the colostomy meant that she had to have a bag for receiving fecal matter a single time (Stoma and Stomata, 2009). I could see that she was embarrassed by her condition and the life that she would lead from that henceforth. I then took the patient through the steps of changing a stoma. I used knowledge of the Honey and Mumford teaching and learning style to determine which kind of learner she was. The Honey and Mumford teaching and learning style identifies four distinct preferences of learning styles,

Egypt & the Pyramids Essay Example for Free

Egypt the Pyramids Essay Has it ever occurred to anyone who was the mastermind behind the great pyramids? Who could have built such a magnificent structure back then with such poor construction, transportation and organization. Well, I strongly advocate the concept of Egyptians building the Great Pyramids because there is plenty of evidence conveying this. Many journalists or Egyptologists may agree that it is a true fact that people built it with the aid of technology. Margaret Sears a journalist bases one of her articles specifically on Who built the Great Pyramid? (1990). She provides ample evidence supporting Egyptians being the builders and labourers of the Great Pyramids in Egypt. There are three main points that substantiate the production of the Great Egyptian Pyramids which are transportation, construction and organization. Since, the great pyramids have been built they have always been a controversial topic. Many people agree that the Egyptians were the ones who formed innumerable piles of bricks into the Great Pyramids. But, before building such a complex structure the Egyptians were quite intellectual and focussed on organization. The Egyptians were originally inspired to build the pyramids by religious conviction and were fully committed to take on the critical task. The Egyptians were able to determine the site of pyramids by religious beliefs. They decided to place the Pyramids on the west bank of the Nile because they asserted that the west was the dwelling place of the dead. This is where all the majestic and honourable people would be kept mainly pharaohs that accomplished major achievements. But, the most essential factor for building a marvellous structure was the authoritarian god-king. The article Who built the Great Pyramids elucidates that during the influential pharaoh, Khufus reign Egypt was rich, united and at peace which allowed the authoritarian god-king to focus all attention on the salient task. Which moves onto how the Egyptians were able to transport the heavy loads of material efficiently. One of the biggest absurd concerns about the Great Pyramids is how they were able to transport the massive amounts of stone blocks to long distances. In Margaret Sears article in 1990 she clearly states how did the Egyptian cut and moved the stone blocks? The evidence that has been provided to substantiate it is in the Cairo museum where there are many wooden rollers, rafts and sleds that are displayed. We also assume that they may have used ramps to speed the process. Evidence also shows that coniferous wood was imported from Phoenicia at the same time of Sneferu. Which distinctly portrays that wood was available when required because Khufus wooden funerary boat was found buried beside the pyramid, along with abundant quantities of rope. The article provides affirm proof of a picture from the later tomb of Djehutihotep showing 152 men moving a huge statue of the pharaoh on a wooden sled. The picture asserts that to lessen the friction of the 53.5 ton load, a liquid is poured along the route. The famous architecture from France Henri Chevier inquires and discerns that a man who would be harnessed to a rope can lift 1 ton blocks on a slippery and hazardous path of Nile mud. He distinguishes with team of workers, they could easily transport 2.2 tons of blocks that made up most of the pyramid. Also, using pulleys and ropes the labourers could drag the stone up the embankments of earth and once the project was terminated they could have simply removed the earth. Lastly, you must ponder how the Egyptians were able to build the marvellous pyramids with such intricacy and embellishment. Since, they were formerly able to envision the elegant and regal edifice all that was left was building. Which leads to the last essential component to creating the structure which is construction. We know that the Egyptians had sophisticated tools to enhance the complexity of the structure. Evidence shows that tools for cutting the stone included copper chisels, dolerite hammers and wooden wedges. All of these constructive tools were enough to carve beautiful and impressive lines and drawings considering we are able to see the final edifice ourselves in Egypt. Margaret Sears says that the feat was accomplished by trimming the blocks before they were hauled into places. All of this could not have been done by the ordinary labourer but, this is where the stonemasons come in. Since the stonemasons were experts, they cleaned up and smoothed the outer limestone surfaces. The Egyptians were also able to get plenty of limestone from the Gizeh Plateau south of the pyramid. In 1988 Leher and Zahi Sawass enclosed a series of galleries and excavations of some galleries revealed bits of flint blade, copper, sandstone rubbers which were used to polish stone and grinding pigments. There were many other excavations found such as bread and bear and grain which was the food for the labourers. All this evidence and support solidifies that Egyptians were the ones whom constructed the Great Pyramids. Now, that most of us agree that Egyptians were the builders of one of the most famous wonders of the world there is a weakness in this alternative. Many of the evidences provided in this article gives us a lot of knowledge about The Great Pyramids, but the author does not provide enough details to absolutely convince the reader that the pyramids did not drop from the sky. The alternative however, does sustain the topic but doesnt provide complete details which the audience would be curious about such as when excavations of transportations were discovered or when the Khufus funerary boat was buried beside the pyramids before or after. The author leaves these vague phrases and statements leaving the reader skeptical. But, the main motive why I choose this alternative was because it provided a basic sense that people used special ramps and transportation to create the pyramid themselves. I also think that logically only humans could have built the pyramids with sophisticated equipment and I highly doubt that the gods created them because of all the excavations located. I found this alternative to ultimately be the most convincing because of the basic evidence provided that ramps aided them to build the great pyramids. Therefore, plenty of evidence shows historians that the Egyptians built the Great Pyramids themselves. The three key elements which support the concept of Egyptians building the pyramids are organization, transportation and construction. In my opinion another point of view that can be brought up is if the pyramids were made by moulds which could be possible but, I dont agree because there is not much evidence to support it. Overall, Margaret Sears and Clifford Wilson are promoting the accurate message that the Egyptians built the Great Pyramids with teams of workers and technology.

The Postmodernism Of The White Noise English Literature Essay

The Postmodernism Of The White Noise English Literature Essay While the cultural and sociological landscape of White Noise is situated primarily in a postmodern world, the town of Blacksmith, the city that the Gladneys call home, seems to occupy a space between modernism and postmodernism. The intrusion of technology, a factor which is often attributed with the end of modernism and the beginning of postmodernism, in Blacksmith is described by Jack when he says Babette and I and our childrenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦live at the end of a quiet street in what was once a wooded area with deep ravines (4). Here, technology has transformed the physical and historical landscape of the town in such a way that makes the notion of progress, in regards to the progress of nature, a trope for society, impossible, a defining characteristic of postmodern existence. Old Man Treadwell is yet another example of the tension between modernity and postmodernity within Blacksmith. Treadwell, symbolic of the towns history, its modernity, has Babette read tabloids to him once a week. Within White Noise, tabloids represent the postmodern certainty of information and it is only through Babette, an interpreter of sorts, that Treadwell is allowed access to the new world and the new language of information. Understanding Blacksmiths transformation from a seemingly pastoral town to a modern city full of shopping malls, homes, and a host of other technological advancements is important in that it helps, in part, to understand how Jacks historical sense of self, possibly an extension of the town in which he has lived in for twenty-one years, is at odds with the new postmodern world. More so than any character within White Noise, Jack, much like Blacksmith, exists between the cultural divide of modernism and postmodernism. While he maintains an acute awareness of the eternal and the immutable (HARVEY #), the greater forces at work outside the sphere of existence, he is also overly infatuated with the object rather than the subject, that is to say, his sense of identity is the product of consumerist behaviors and goods. After Wilder, Jack and Babettes youngest, suddenly stops crying after a seven-hour long fit, Jack says It was as though hed just returned from a period of wandering in some remote and holy placeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦a place where things are said, sights are seenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦of the most sublime and difficult dimensions (79). Here Jack is acknowledging the existence of otherworldly, interpersonal realities, a strong indicator of his modern sentiments given that one fundamental characterization of modernism is the power it bestows on the individual to crea te, improve, or reshape his or her environment, a la Wallace Stevens. During the Airborne Toxic Event, Jack describes the sight of the chemical plume as an enormous dark mass that moved like some death ship in a Norse legend (127). Later, when speaking of Babette, he says When she shoveled snow, she wore a furry headbandà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it made me think of the fifth century A.D. men standing around campfires speaking in subdued tone in their Turkic and Mongol dialects (171). In both instances, Jack, lending himself to the modernistic value of looking to the past to understand the present, seems to suggest that he is aware that life, and all of the images, situations and occurrences that comprise it, existed, in some fashion, before him, an idea that directly contradicts the shallow, superficial sense of time and place associated with postmodernism. However, this notion of Jack as strictly a modernist is complicated early in the novel by his addiction, in every sense of the word, to ob jects and goods. When Jack and Babette run into Murray at the supermarket, Jack immediately begins to list the contents of Murrays shopping cart. He mentions the generic food and drink, the nonbrand items, the white packaging and simple labeling (18). His fixation on the objects that Murray is buying is directly related to his own sense of identity, one that is enveloped in a matrix of material goods, and so he searches for clues relating to Murrays identity, Murrays character, not within Murray himself but from the objects associated with Murray. While Jack is aware of the utter shallowness which constitutes his identity, and subsequently everyone elses, saying I am the false character that follows [my] name around (17), he is unable to remove himself from the depths of consumerism. This obsession, in large part, is due to Jacks struggle and overwhelming desire to participate in the emerging postmodern world. Another characteristic of Jacks which highlights his modernist sensibilities is his understanding that certainty, or the notion of absolute knowingness, is subjective, and as such, should be questioned and critically examined whenever it is presented as entirely established. For example, when Babette is reading horoscopes aloud to the family, which, like tabloids, operate within the novel as mediums of absolute certainty, Jack thinks to himself I tried not to listen when she got to mine (18), implying that he does not worry himself with trivial information that has become so pivotal, so meaningful, in the new era of postmodernity. However, Jack and his subjective notion of certainty are constantly at odds with the emerging culture and society of the novel. Throughout White Noise the most emblematic illustration of Jacks struggle to maintain his opposition to the idea of total certainty while trying to become an active participant in the new postmodern world is through various interactions between Jack and his son, Heinrich. Heinrich, in both his youth and his vast array of knowledge, represent the first generation of the postmodern world. While the other children, like Heinrich, have grown up in a hermetically sealed environment comprised entirely of technological and mass-media influences, Heinrich is old enough to understand the postmodern world around him and as such he rebels against the notion of modernism. While, for instance, Jack and his family gather to watch the sunset, one that occurred before the Airborne Toxic Event (after which point the sunsets are described as being postmodern), Jack says Only Heinrich stayed awayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦he believed there was something ominous in the modern sunset (61). Jack is aware of the disco nnect between his son, a product of postmodern life, and himself, someone who still appreciates modern sunsets. While it may be read as an attempt by a father to connect with his son, Jacks numerous attempts at communication with Heinrich within the novel serves as a microcosm to Jacks attempt to communicate in the new cultural plane of postmodernism. In a conversation with Heinrich regarding the weather, the two banter back and forth about whether or not it is currently raining. After a series of sharp counters between the two, Jack taking the subjective position (look at the windshieldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Is that rain or isnt it), Heinrich taking the objective position, or the idea of a media controlled collective subjectivity (Im only telling you what [the radio] said), the two arrive at the root of Heinrichs postmodern ideology. Jack, obviously frustrated by his failed attempt to participate in Heinrichs world, tries to coax Heinrich into admitting that it is in fact raining by presen ting a situation in which a gun-toting man demands the truth to which Heinrich replies What truth does he want? (23). The preceding conversation centers around Heinrichs notion of language and relativity in regards to the notion of truth, or reality, in which the text seems to convey the notion that mass-media derives its power in the postmodern world by being acclimated to an individuals immediate desire for knowledge. Heinrich exudes information, Jack actively seeks it; the tension here exemplifying one of the largest barriers standing between Jack and Heinrich and, more importantly, between Jack and the new postmodern world. As Jack progresses within the novel it becomes increasingly evident that while he recognizes the allure of objectness and the materialized notion of identity, in other words, postmodernism, he seems unable to wholly participate in it. More so than any other character, Jack is sensitive to the friction between the worlds of modernism and post-modernism. While he grasps the motives of the postmodern man to exist within the collective social network, saying to become a crowd is to keep out death. To break off from the crowd is to risk death as an individual, to face dying alone (73), he also constantly questions the role of the new social ideology in regards to truth, knowledge, certainty, and simulation, notably observed in his interactions with SIMUVAC personnel where he questions the importance placed on simulations rather than subjective reality, or experienced reality. However, as momentum builds in his urges to break free from the understanding of postmodernism and exist within in it while maintaining his modernist awareness, his interactions with Vernon Dickey, his father-in-law, complicate his attempts to be a passive member of the object-centric, postmodern culture. From the idea that an individual has the power to create, improve, and reshape their environment to the importance of creative destruction, or the notion that in order to make something new, the old must be abandoned, destroyed, or disassembled, Vernon, in stark contrast to Jack, embodies modernism. Saying that he is shingling here, rustproofing there, his hands described by Jack as scarred, busted, notched and permanently seamed with grease and mud, his attention fixed on trying to spot something that needed replacing or repair (245), Vernon is very much in control of his environment; reshaping it, building it, creating it. Jack, however, views himself against Vernon as fundamentally useless, mentioning that it put Vernon at an advantage to talk about gaskets and washers, about grouting, about the things that built the world (245). Vernon, of course, recognizes the difference between himself and the postmodern world, asking Jack were people this stupid before television? (249). Whil e Jack, to some degree, shares this sentiment, his desire to participate in the postmodern separates himself from Vernon, from modernism. Of creative destruction, Vernon, again contradictory of Jack, is not afraid of death. In fact, Jack notices that Vernon takes on a sardonic pleasure in his own hacking and spasms, chronic coughs that, either from smoking or old age, or both, suggest a progression towards death, a progression towards something new: the afterlife. In these instances, Jack realizes that his previous notion of existing within postmodernity as a passive modernist is unattainable given the fact that in the face of modernism, Vernon, he does not recognize the image of himself that is reflected. This realization propels him towards his decision to be what Murray calls a killer rather than a dier, that is to say, someone who acts in the world instead of simply being acted upon; in other words, he refuses to be an object within the postmodern world who simply succumb, accep t, and absorb. Jack, while no longer the fragmented modernist he once was, maintains his ability to examine and scrutinize, thus deciding for himself that the path of surrender and inaction required in the postmodern world is unacceptable and so, in what will lead to the climatic encounter with Willie Mink, Babettes sexual liaison, he decides to become a subject, a killer, and heads to Iron City with the purpose of murdering Willie. Jacks encounter with Willie Mink, the physical embodiment of post-modernism itself, is an allegory which speaks to Jacks resolve to overcome, with respect to himself, the seemingly impenetrable and nonparticipatory nature of the postmodernist world. However, Jacks interaction with the insensible, lobotomized Willie ultimately undermines his meaningful resolve to defeat postmodernism due primarily to the fact that Willie proves to be too strong in his objectness. Adorned with Budweiser shorts, the first indication of his physical personification of post-modernism, Willie drones out TV phrases and indecipherable riddles, saying some of these sure-footed bighorns have been equipped with radio transmitters (306) and the pet under stress may need a prescription diet (307). Like the diers described by Murray, Willie simply disarms and absorbs Jacks attempts at communication and dispatchment. The postmodern aura, or the collective unity of information, materiality, technology and knowledge, proves too powerful to be measurable and overcome by Jacks common standard of logic, reason, and discernment. So overwhelming, in fact, was the realm of postmodernism which existed within both Willie Mink and the motel room itself that it began to consume Jack. He says things began to glowà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the air was rich with extrasensory materialà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦[Willie] appeared to grow more vividà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦things in their actual stateà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦white noi se everywhere (309-310). Overwhelmed and frightened, Jack puts into action his meticulously overstated plan to kill Willie, the last-ditch effort to obtain the subjectness and authenticity that he felt would be realized by surmounting postmodernism. However, Willie, and the aura of postmodernity, again dispels Jacks attempts by literally absorbing the gunshot in his gut. Jack, overcome with disappointment and frustrated in the face of the inevitability of defeating Willie, then recognizes the fundamental impossibility of bridging the gap between subject and object, between modernism and postmodernism, between himself and the new world. Instantly, Jack, for the first time in the novel, sees the world as it truly is: The extra dimensions, the super perceptions, were reduced to visual clutter, a whirling miscellany, meaningless (313). Ultimately, Jack learns that the most important aspect of existence is being able to step back from the cultural frays of modernism and postmodernism, of subject and object, of reflection and criticism and certainty, in order to understand the rationality which gave rise to them in the first place. When one exists outside the realms of either movement, as Jack does at the end of White Noise, the beauty of being reveals itself in the mysteries of not knowing what comes next, what came before, or what forces drive our existence. Certainly there is awe, it is all awe, it transcends previous categories of awe, but we dont know whether we are watching in wonder or dread, we dont know what we are watching or what it means, we dont know whether it is permanent, a level of experience to which we will gradually adjust, into which our uncertainty will eventually be absorbed, or just some atmospheric weirdness, soon to pass. (324-25)

Character Development In Sense And Sensibility :: essays research papers

Book Review 1 Development of Major Characters Sense and Sensibility   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first of Jane Austen’s published novels, Sense and Sensibility, portrays the life and loves of two very different sisters: Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. The contrast between the sister’s characters results in their attraction to vastly different men, sparking family and societal dramas that are played out around their contrasting romances. The younger sister, Marianne Dashwood, emerges as one of the novel’s major characters through her treatment and characterization of people, embodying of emotion, relationship with her mother and sisters, openness, and enthusiasm.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marianne is in the jejune business of classifying people- especially men- as romantic or unromantic (Intro II). Marianne’s checklist mentality is observed by Elinor: â€Å"Well, Marianne†¦for one morning I think you have done pretty well†¦. You know what he thinks of Cowper and Scott; you are certain of his estimating their beauties as he ought, and you have every assurance of his admiring Pope no more than proper.† (Chapter 10) To site a specific incident, Marianne describes her opinion of Edward Ferrars- her sister’s interest- as being very amiable, yet he is not the kind of man she expects to seriously attach to her sister. She goes on to find, what in her opinion are flaws, that Edward Ferrars reads with little feeling or emotion, does not regard music highly, and that he enjoys Elinor’s drawing, yet cannot appreciate it, for he is not an artist (15). In a man, Marianne seeks a lover and a connoisseur, whose tastes coincide with her tastes. He must be open with feelings, read the same books, and be charmed by the same music (15). Marianne seeks a man with all of Edward’s virtues, and his person and manner must ornament his goodness with every possible charm (16). Marianne’s mother relates Marianne’s maturity beyond her years by reminding Marianne â€Å"Remember, my love, that you are not seventeen. It is yet too early in life to despair of such an happiness (16).† Marianne’s brand of free expression sometimes has little else to recommend it (Intro, I). What is true of Marianne’s classification system is true of her manners in general: In her refusal to place social decorum and propriety above her own impulses and desires, she is absolutely unbending (Intro, II). Marianne is also characterized as being very charming. For example, she believes her poetic effusions to be striking in themselves as well as accurate expressions of her inner life (Intro, VII).

Experiencing The Polio Epidemic :: Disease History Historical Essays

Experiencing The Polio Epidemic It was in the middle of September; the height of summer and the temperature was somewhere in the high eighties, and under normal circumstances there would be a long line of people, especially kids waiting to dive into the huge indoor pool at the Mission Beach Plunge. However, these were not ordinary times, the only people anywhere near the pool were there to forlornly gaze at the crystal clear water and wonder what deadly monster might be lurking in its depth. It was in the middle of the summer of 1952, and it was in the middle of the polio epidemic that would strike more than 60,000 people and kill more than 3,000 of them in the United States alone.1 As a young boy I did not know what caused the paralyzing epidemic, in fact I am sure the adults did not know the cause either. But, we had been told to stay away from swimming pools and drinking fountains because it seemed that anyone who did not heed the warning was sure to come down with the deadly disease. At school and in stores there were posters of children and young adults on crutches with heavy metal braces wrapped around their lower legs. Next to these posters, an organization called the March of Dimes placed a clear plastic canister for people to put money in for finding a cure for the deadly illness. Fear and guilt seemed to hang in the atmosphere, because although no one knew what caused the virus, everyone seemed to feel it was something they did that caused them to get sick. Parents especially, felt guilty because they were overwhelmed with the unknown, and the thought of one of their children becoming paralyzed or worse, dying, always led to almost daily admonitions to stay away from the drinking fountains and away from pools where groups of strangers swam. There seemed to be a general consensus that the disease was water borne. Waking up with flu like symptoms such as a mild upper respiratory infection, diarrhea, fever, sore throat or just generally not feeling well, would cause instant concern. My brothers and sisters and I inherited our father's sinus problems and allergies and we regularly had some type of symptom of an oncoming cold or flu. Even knowing we had hereditary respiratory problems, my mother would fall into a deep silence of concern whenever we showed signs of not feeling well.

Destruction and Dishonesty Due to Ambition

Even the most honorable men in history have lose their dreams due to their ambitions, much like Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Macbeth in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Ambition, usually defines as a positive characteristic. However Ambition also contains many perils since it is excess. In many ways, the similarities and difference in the ambitions of Gatsby and Macbeth lead to their external and internal destructions, and their loss of integrity at earlier and later stages. To begin with, Gatsby and Macbeth both have external destructions to others due to their ambition. Through the story, Gatsby tries to win back the girl of his dream. He would rather ruin the marriage between Tom and Daisy in order to approach his dream girl. â€Å"‘She never loved you, do you hear? ’ he cried. ‘She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved anyone except me’† (Fitzgerald 131). It shows how Gatsby’s ambition of love challenges Tom and his marriage with Daisy. Similar as Gatsby, Macbeth also destroys many people even their lives due to his ambition. Following the prophecy of witches, Macbeth tries to kill everyone who will interfere his kingship, even his comrade Banquo is murdered by his conspiracy. The murder was awarded by Macbeth orally, â€Å"Thou art the best o' th' cutthroats: / Yet he’s good that did the like for Fleance. / If thou didst it, thou art the nonpareil. † (3. 4. 18-20) Thus, Gatsby and Macbeth all destruct others because of their ambitions. Secondly, at the early stages of both two works, Both Gatsby and Macbeth lose their integrities because of their ambitions. Gatsby knows it is important to be rich, because that can attract Daisy, so his methods of becoming rich are that of doing illegal activities and lying about his poor background. â€Å"’He’s a bootlegger,’ said the young ladies, moving somewhere between his cocktails and his flowers. † (61) For the purpose of approaching Daisy, Gatsby sells illegal alcohols during in the past. Although this is dishonesty, it is the only way to become rich quickly. Just as Gatsby, Macbeth believes the prophecy from the witches that he will one day become a king; as a result, he decides to assassinate Duncan in order to fulfill his ambition faster. After Lady Macbeth motivates Macbeth to murder Duncan, Macbeth says: â€Å"I am settled and bend up / Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. † (1. 7. 80-81) The quote reveals that Macbeth has determined to execute the Duncan. Therefore, Macbeth’s ambition makes him to lose his integrity. Even though the similarities of external destruction and earlier period of dishonesty both are identified from Gatsby and Macbeth, there are still many differences between them. The internal destructions of Gatsby and Macbeth are quite distinct. Gatsby comes as an inferior beginning. For Gatsby, lying about his identities cannot make him realize that he is slowly destroying himself from the inside. When Nick mentions that Gatsby may not recall his past, Gatsby says that: â€Å"Can’t repeat the past? †¦ Why of course you can! † (111) Gatsby does not feel his personal downfall after he amasses the fortune that he believes now. Unlike Gatsby, Macbeth is at first a loyal general of Duncan’s army. However, his identity falls from a noble man to an evil killer, turning Macbeth into a psychological destruction. â€Å"First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, / Strong both against the dead; then, as his host, / Not bear the knife myself. † (1. 7. 13-16) In this soliloquy, Macbeth debates whether he should kill Duncan since he notices the loyalty that he toward his king. Meanwhile, Macbeth admits that he has â€Å"†¦only / Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself / And falls on th’ other. † (1. 7. 6-28) Thus, this ambition directly leads to Macbeth’s moral destruction. When both Gatsby and Macbeth reach their goal, Gatsby only cheats for what he wants which is Daisy. But Macbeth continues to follow the witches’ prediction, and begins to kill more people. Gatsby, in the whole story, lies only in order to convince Daisy that he is the greatest man, in aspects such as wealthy assents, and outstanding education. The conversations between Tom and Gatsby provide that Gatsby cheats his education background. â€Å"‘By the way, Mr. Gatsby, I understand you’re an Oxford man. ’ /‘Not exactly. / ‘Oh, yes, I understand you went to Oxford. ’ / ‘Yes — I went there. ’† (129) Macbeth, however, trusts the prediction firmly later on. He follows the indications, and he lies and kills many innocent people. â€Å" The castle of Macduff I will surprise, / Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword / His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls / That trace him in his line. † (4. 1. 156-160) When Lennox tells Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England, Macbeth enlightens and resolves to send murderers to capture Macduff’s castle and to kill Macduffâ€⠄¢s wife and children. So Gatsby and Macbeth all lose their integrities at the beginning Nevertheless Gatsby maintains his falsity, Macbeth deteriorates his baneful of integrity. Lastly, it can be drawn into a conclusion that ambitions lead both Gatsby and Macbeth to their destruction on other people and themselves, and their loss of integrities in different time periods. Admittedly, ambitions belong to advantageous individual’s trait; it has conducive effects on personal pursuit. However, ambition also can lead the destruction and dishonesty much like Gatsby and Macbeth if the ambition is unchecked.

Gogol’s Petersburg Tales Essay

Compare Nikolai Gogol’s â€Å"The Overcoat† with the other St. Petersburg tales. Nikolai Gogol’s St. Petersburg stories have been interpreted as tales of social injustice, urban and human isolation, psychological studies, love stories, moralistic fables and social satires. In keeping with emerging trends of â€Å"naturalistic† writing, the stories deal with relatively lowly members of the social strata in the Petersburg bureaucracy – the everyman. This essay will compare â€Å"The Overcoat† with â€Å"Diary of a Madman† and â€Å"The Nose† and examine how each of the main characters in Gogol’s stories survives in the seemingly unnatural and fabricated world of St. Petersburg. The principal character in â€Å"The Overcoat†, Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin buries himself so deeply in his paltry work of copying documents that his work almost supersedes the actual reality in which he inhabits, he is described walking thro ugh the streets of St. Petersburg oblivious to the people around him or the rubbish being thrown out windows onto him, he sees nothing but a line of beautiful words to copy. He later does the same when obsessing about the coat which he is having made to shield him from the bitter Russian winter. This need to cloak and insulate oneself from the cold harshness of modern society is an idea which runs through these three stories, and seemed to preoccupy Gogol himself. He was a secretive person about which very little is known, he said himself in his letters â€Å"But how can one judge about a secretive person in whom everything is inside, whose character hasn’t even taken shape but who is still educating himself in his soul and whose every move produces only misunderstanding? How can one make conclusions about such a person basing oneself on a few traits which have inadvertently stuck themselves out? Won’t this be the same as to conclude about a book by a few sentences torn out of it – not in order either, but from different passages.† Gogol was interested in how the character and worth of someone is judged by others, the characte rs in The Petersburg Stories are all defined, both by themselves and by others, by their professions, which are comically insignificant, Akaky Akakievich copied pages and Poprishchin in â€Å"Diary of a Madman† was in charge of pencil sharpening. These characters are defined by the role they serve as part of the bureaucracy rather than by any kind of individual identity. Gogol paints a picture of a society in which values the most superficial aspects of a person, an idea which is taken to comical new heights in â€Å"The Nose†Ã‚  when the preposterous and vain main character Major Kovalyov loses something which serves no great purpose other than normalising one’s appearance – his nose. Escapism is essential for Gogol’s characters. Each of the main characters feels happiest when they are detached from reality, when they have some sort of rosy, imaginary insulation between them and the inescapable monotony of their lowly lives. Akaky Akakievich is described garnering a disproportionate amount of joy from his work copying documents, smiling to himself as he coppied letters he particularly liked, going home and copying just for fun and â€Å"when all strive to divert themselves† going to bed â⠂¬Å"smiling at thought of coming day†. Akaky puts all of his faith and love and passion into something arbitrary and ultimately meaningless as a coping mechanism, for how else would he survive his pitiful life? The main character in â€Å"Diary of a Madman† Poprishkin is driven to a similar detachment from the real world as his lowly and socially immobile position as a titular councillor becomes too much to bear. He loses his sanity but arguably gains something of greater value; confidence and social mobility. In creating a world for himself where he is no longer one of many middle aged, poorly paid low ranking civil servants but the King of Spain he frees himself from his suffocating ties to societal norms, he no longer believes in the inherent superiority of those of a higher social status, he even has the audacity to call his employer as â€Å"an ordinary doornail, a simple doornail, nothing more. The kind used in doors†. Similarly, Kovalyov deludes himself to give his life a sense of importance and signi ficance. He gives himself the title of â€Å"Major† and struts down Nevsky Prospect making eye contact with everyone and imagining attention from ladies that he passes. The key difference between the coping mechanism employed by Akaky and the methods used by Poprishkin and Kobalev is that Akaky’s world is not one which elevates his social status. His extremely introverted behaviour does not disrupt the status quo. It is arguably their obsession with class and how they appear to others which causes all of both Kovalev and Poprishkin’s strife. Contrastingly, Akaky just wants to be left alone, he doesn’t care that people often see him with trifle or hay stuck to the back of his cape, this makes Akaky a more likeable, sympathetic character, he is completely harmless and innocent – a perfect victim. This is the only story in which Gogol allows us to be fully sympathetic with a character. There are indeed moments in â€Å"Diary of a Madman† which could and should stir sympathy for Poprishkin in the reader, but Gogol always undermines these moments with a humorous or nonsensical comment. In â€Å"The Overcoat† however, the narrative tone flips from heart wrenchingly sad to funny and light hearted and then back again in the space of a page – Gogol displays his talent for evoking sympathy and emotion in a reader and his gift for comedy side by side. It is not just the characters who seek to cover themselves up and conceal the truth from the reader; there is a lack of reliability coupled with nonsense running through all three of the narratives which obstinately refuses to make sense. â€Å"The Overcoat† introduces us to this immediately, it begins with a digression â€Å"In the department of — but it is better not to mention the department.† The narrator continues in this vein, using a conversational, unreliable tone, often forgetting the facts or losing their place in the story. Gogol’s deliberate elusiveness undermines the idea of the omniscient authorial voice of the narrator and injects suspicion and confusion into the narrative. Gogol uses a similar narrative voice in â€Å"The Nose†. The narrator of â€Å"The Nose† is similarly uninformed and forgetful and makes no attempt to elucidate the reason for all the bizarre occurrences in the story. Things in these stories can often just disappear into a puff of smoke, Gogol increases the confusion, and elusiveness with the use of a lot of mist and smoke imagery, he is like a magician, cloaking his intentions, keeping himself safe behind a cloud of nonsense and a mist of confusion. Gogol’s St. Petersburg stories portray many different types of characters, but pervading through the stories and uniting them is this sense of heightened self-consciousness a need to protect oneself from a befuddling, cold harsh world. Gogol himself put it best in another St Petersburg story – Nevsky Prospekt â€Å"It had seemed as if some demon had crumbled the world into bits and mixed all these bits indiscriminately together† Bibliography Gogol, Nikolai – translated by Macandrew, Andrew R and Meyer, Priscilla The Diary of a Madman and Other Stories – SIGNET CLASSICS, January 2005, New York, NY/US One Of The Oldest Cases Of Schizophrenia In Gogol’s â€Å"Diary Of A Madman† Eric Lewin AltschulerBMJ: British Medical Journal , Vol. 323, No. 7327 (Dec. 22 – 29, 2001), pp. 1475-1477 Published by: BMJ Publishing Group Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25468632 Cloaking the Self: The Literary Space of Gogol’s â€Å"Overcoat† Charles C. Bernheimer – PMLA , Vol. 90, No. 1 (Jan., 1975), pp. 53-61 – Published by: Modern Language Association – Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/461347 The Laughter of Gogol – R. W. Hallett – Russian Review , Vol. 30, No. 4 (Oct., 1971), pp. 373-384 – Published by: Wiley on behalf of The Editors and Board of Trustees of the Russian Review – Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/127792

LabCo Essay

Since LabCo will adopt IFRSs in the coming year, LabCo’s accounting policy and accounting for the Halibut contract may change under IFRSs. Basically, IAS 11 is to prescribe the accounting treatment of revenue and costs associated with construction contracts. Contract revenue should include the amount agreed in the initial contract, plus revenue from alternations in the original contract work, plus claims and incentive payments that (a) are expected to be collected and (b) that can be measured reliably. Contract costs should include costs that relate directly to the specific contract, plus costs that are attributable to the contractor’s general contracting activity to the extent that they can be reasonably allocated to the contract, plus such other costs that can be specifically charged to the customer under the terms of the contract. [IAS 11. 16] In this case, LabCo make contract entered into was for a fixed price and requires detailed and involved performance specifications. Upon entering into the contract, LabCo realized that this was a unique arrangement that required a great deal of customer specification in order to meet required performance standards. In practical, LobCo had experienced significant difficulties in the design and manufacture of the six-axis laser cutting machine. And their overall project would incur total costs that would be in excess of the total fixed-fee contract price negotiated with Halibut. Thus, they should make a change on setting contract revenue and total contract cost. Contract cost can be increased due to specifically charged to the customer.

Assessing Students’ Attitudes Towards Essay

The potential added value of Web-based learning (or similar designations, such as â€Å"virtual learning†, â€Å"technology-based learning†, or â€Å"online learning†) compared to teacher- and textbook-based instruction lies in helping learners to acquire the right knowledge and skills in order to function as active, self-reflected, and collaborative learners (Govindasamy, 2002; Hamid, 2002). However, this cannot be realized without a change from learning environments in which the teacher and the textbook structure the learning process, towards learning environments in which the students themselves control, under the guidance of the teacher, the order in which they learn and perform activities based on their needs (Erstad, 2006; Wilson, 1998). Web-based learning resources (WBLRs) have the potential to support a learning environment in which students explore knowledge and enhance their learning (Combes ;amp; Valli, 2007). II. The purpose of this study is to assess students’ attitudes towards web-based learning resources. Specifically, the study will assess the (a) differences in attitude change, towards the CCIT class, for students using web-based resources and those using traditional textbooks; (b) differences in attitude change, towards computer technology, for students using web-based resources and those using traditional textbooks and (c) if age, gender, level in college, owning a personal computer, Internet accessibility at home, hours spent on the Internet per day, Internet time used for class work and percentage of project time used on the Internet, were predictors of ttitude . There will be no difference found in change of attitude towards the CCIT students that uses web-based resources and students that used traditional textbooks. 2. The teaching and learning process will be dramatically altered by the convergence of a variety of technological, instructional, and pedagogical developments in recent times. 3. Web-based texts give readers a feeling of engaging in real time, face to face interac tion through use of interactive programs. 4. The web-based texts and other technologies represent an unstoppable technological revolution enabling students to access information rapidly and visually. IV Participants will be the students enrolled in CCIT at ISU Cauayan Campus to assess differences in attitude-change, a pretest- posttest, non-equivalent control group design will be used. ANOVA will be used to assess differences in attitude-change and regression analysis will be used to assess the relationship between demographic variables, computer literacy, and student attitudes.

Organized Crime Essay

The times are definitely changing. As civilization progresses, human way of living also improves. Sadly, even the negative entities have progressed executing their evil ways; crime has come from petty to being organized. Of course, there are still those who commit crime in their own little ways, so to speak. But the world is now faced with international crime syndicates who operate or influence various institutions, government most especially, and which are harder to combat. There are different definitions for organized crime offered by different individuals or organizations. I have thought of organized crime as being operated by a group having some formal structure which aims to gain profit through illegal activities. Most organized crime syndicates use or threat to use violence, and influence government officials, with some even managing to become one, to control illegal economic sector or jurisdiction. Most of the time, organized crime hide beneath legal operations but gain more on their illegal operations, which includes, but not limited to, drug trafficking, prostitution, illegal gambling and human trafficking. Combating organized crime takes a lot more effort than with the petty everyday crime because of their manipulation of government officials. Some organized crime syndicates may also have the support of unwitting citizen, who are being deceived through the syndicate’s socially accepted operation. Organized crime is mainly different from other criminal groups in that while some groups are motivated by political ideals or religious beliefs, organized crime syndicates operate almost exclusively for profit. They enter the political arena to gain protection for their illegal activities and may raise a new cult to control and manipulate their jurisdiction. Just like any formal organizations, organized crime group have their own hierarchical structure; and just like any crime group, organized crime syndicates would readily resort to violence. There are specialized members doing specific jobs for their illegal operation, which as already specified, may include public officials to protect their business. Usually, higher rank members take care of business. Managing the business, finding new market, business negotiations, all tasks that are essential to the survival of a business just as if it were an ordinary legal business enterprise are some of the specifications of higher rank members. They may also be the ones who have connections within the government, or are government officials themselves. Lower rank members are the ones specified to perform the â€Å"dirty† jobs: murder, arson, or threatening those who oppose or which are dangerous to the group’s illegal operations. Organized crime syndicates also abhor other groups with the same operation. Operating chiefly for profit, they try to eliminate the competition as much as possible. Less competition means greater profit. Organized crime need not worry about losing business as they can always find patrons for the goods and services they render. In other words, organized crime businesses are always in demand. The text defines organized crime as a group of â€Å"three or more persons, with hierarchical links or personal relationships, which permit their leaders to earn profits or control territories or makets, internal or foreign, by means of violence, intimidation or corruption, both in furtherance of criminal activity and to infiltrate the legitimate industry. Reading the text have offered new insights about organized crime but has not changed my perception, which were basically identical. In sum, an organized crime, as the term implies, is a group with a formal structure, just as any organization, that operates with specialized rules and regulations (organized) incorporating various illegal activities (crime) for the purpose of profit.

Critically Analyse an Identified Public Health Strategy or Campaign Assignment

Critically Analyse an Identified Public Health Strategy or Campaign - Assignment Example Again, due to the need to decentralize the effective advancement of sexual and reproductive health, countries including the United Kingdom have set up several localized sexual health projects. One of such is found in Solihull. With a population of 94,753, Solihull is faced with a number of sexual and reproductive health issues including high sexually transmitted infection rate and high rate of unplanned conception. As it is commonly said, if you do not know where you are going, any road takes you there. This means that for major project such as the sexual and repreoductive health program of Solihull, it is important to have a strategic agenda that guides the implementation of the project. It is in light of this that the Solihull Sexual Health Strategic Plan 2008 – 2013 has been designed as a policy context for dealing with the many issues of sexual and reproductive health that confront Solihull. The population of Solihull suffers from three major sexual and reproductive health needs, which form the basis for the sexual and health strategic plan 2008 to 2013. The first of these has to do with a sudden high rate of teenage conception in the last 3 years. It has been observed that unlike what existed earlier where the national rates of teenage conception for England was higher than what existed in Solihull, there has been a sudden turn around whereby the teenage conception rates have gone higher within the population than what existed before (Wanless, 2004). Even though the rates are currently not above the national rates, they remain higher than they were before. In the graph below, the rate of teenage pregnancy in women aged 15 to 17 in 2009 and 2011 are compared between England and Solihull. From the graph, it can be seen that the rate of teenage pregnancy and for that matter unplanned conception in Solihull keeps increasing with increasing national rates. The second sexual health need that confronts the region has to

Comparing a North American Native civilization with a European's Essay

Comparing a North American Native civilization with a European's - Essay Example Furthermore, both groups supplemented foraging and hunting/fishing with the planting and harvesting of crops. Additionally, Europe like America at the time was split into thousands of small (tribe-like) warring factions with a host of political, religious, linguistic and ethnic divisions. Interestingly, though the text and the lecture notes make the emphasis of the level of equality that Native American women enjoyed as compared to their European counterparts, this is not necessarily the same story with the northern European Vikings. Due to the fact that the Vikings were semi-nomadic and often engaged in expeditions of conquest and wealth acquisition, the women who remained at home were responsible for ensuring that the civilization continued to operate in the absence of a great many of the men. As such, a type of matriarchal authority structure was not uncommon in Viking settlements during times of conquest. Likewise the Arakaris engaged in a semi-nomadic lifestyle that was anchored by their dependence on the crops of maize, squash, and beans. Interestingly, both of these groups are examples of societies in transition between nomadic hunter/gatherers and a more advanced stationary civilization.

Role of international organizations Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Role of international organizations - Case Study Example International cooperation is likely to occur where same interests exist across all the parties. There are important theories that share an assumption that interstate bargaining is costly as it involves money, energy, personnel, and resources (Martins and Simmons, 1998). This idea that there are high transaction costs involved in the formation of IOs has led to the conclusion that the institutions are naturally sticky. This means the change in IOs does not easily take place and it is a slow process. Public organizations are governed by a complex system of rules. The public institutions are led by international administrators thus it is not out of the ordinary to note that change hardly occurs. It was observed that only a few IOs that existed in the 1980s were still active in the 1990s. This period saw the collapse of many IOs but new ones were created. These were known as the second generation IOs that include UNDP, UN, UNCTAD, IDA, IFC, and World Bank. These were created through the actions of other IOs and are probably less important than the traditionally created ones but they are led by institutional rules, goals, and commitments. These emanations comprised 70% of the population in 1992; this was an increase from 64% a decade earlier as stated by Cheryl et al. (1998). The mortality of IOs is hard to understand given that they are known to be naturally sticky. First, the longer the institutions have been in existence, the more likely they are to survive. Secondly, the failure of the Eastern bloc and the political and economic instability in Africa led to the collapse of the IOs in the region. Finally, the mortality rate was higher for second and third generation IOs than the treaty ones where the stickiness issues were more likely to be seen. The current work on IOs has provided limited insight into the processes of institutional change. IOs in the policy areas characterized by unattractive options leave dissatisfied member states with minimum leverage, therefore, tend to be dependent and rigid (Mibler, 2008). Those with attractive options change relatively in response to underlying shifts in the member interest and capabilities.

Phase 1 Individual Project (LOG676) Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Phase 1 Individual Project (LOG676) - Coursework Example The humanitarian logistics have the collaborations with the donors to source the funding for their engagements and helping disasters. IV. Both involve the human resources in their endeavors and activities. Business logistics require skilled labor and in the case of humanitarian logistics the engagement of volunteer labor is administered. V. In the both cases we have Key performance indicators. Ordinarily, the business logistics is usually based on the performance metrics while in the humanitarian logistics it is based on the time to respond to a given disaster. VI. Both the logistics have the financial flow in their engagements. The business logistics have a bilateral and a known financial flow. The humanitarian logistics have the unilateral financial flow from the donors to the beneficiaries. I. The objective of business logistics is profit maximization where the appropriate strategies are instilled to avoid losses. In contrarily, the objective of humanitarian logistics is to help and save the lives of people who are in disasters. II. The business logistics clients include the final consumers of goods and services while those of humanitarian logistics are include the beneficiaries who are usually the people who have been affected by the disasters. III. The business logistics have two to three supplies previously known by the business while the humanitarian logistics have multiple donors and suppliers who met without prior agreement or engagements. (Renata, 2012) V. Ordinarily, the demand patterns in business logistics are stable and can be predicted using forecasting techniques as opposed to the humanitarian logistics where the demand patterns are irregular, volatile and very uncertain. VI. The material flow in the business logistics includes the product market while in the humanitarian logistics it includes features such as shelter, food, hygiene, cleaning kits including the

Planning Marketing Tools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Planning Marketing Tools - Essay Example (Brooksbank, 1996). It is often argued that there is a no need for having a formalized marketing department which can prepare the marketing plans for the firms however, as the complexity of the business grow, it becomes necessary that the marketing a process is managed properly with special emphasis on the alignment of marketing process with the overall strategy of the firm. It is because of this fact that firms are often required to prepare effective and practical marketing plans. The formation of marketing plans however, requires that the firms should follow typical process that enables firms to prepare marketing plans that are implementable and flexible enough to allow firms to achieve their strategic objectives. This is one of the most important stages for the formation of an effective marketing plan. At this stage, the overall mission and corporate objectives and values are decided and all the subsequent steps therefore correspond with the overall goals set for the firm. Mission Statement and Corporate Objectives set the long term vision for the firm and how it is going to achieve its objectives over the period of time. Marketing plan therefore shall be prepared keeping in view the overall objectives and mission of the firm. Analysis of the current situation involves performing marketing audit. The Marketing audit is another important step that is taken by the firm and also involves SWOT, PEST; Five Forces are some of the tools which are used for assessing the external environment t so that a better understanding of the environment within which the firm is operating can be understood. A detailed SWOT analysis allows firm to evaluate its different strength and weaknesses besides indentifying the core competencies of the firm. SWOT analysis also allow firms to match its strengths with its overall strategic objectives i.e. whether the firm has enough core competencies to achieve its

The loving and helping of Mother Theresa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The loving and helping of Mother Theresa - Essay Example When teaching school in Calcutta she was devastated at the poverty and the way of life for the citizens. Although she had already become a nun and dedicated her life to God, the missionary and others, she felt she could and help more. In fact she felt the need to help so badly because " the suffering and poverty she glimpsed outside the convent walls made such a deep impression on her that in 1948 she received permission from her superiors to leave the convent school and devote herself to working among the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta. " (Fortune City) The acts of Mother Theresa epitomize the quote being referred to for this essay. The quote when applied to Mother Theresa and her selfless helping applies the likeness can be illustrated time and time again, She was awarded the NOBLE Peace Prize in 1979. However, this was not the end of her selfless devotion. Another illustration of her g is that after being awarded the prestigious Noble prize she spent nearly the next two decades helping and loving the poverty stricken of Calcutta. Once Mother Teresa was asked how she could continue day after day after day, visiting the terminally ill: feeding them, wiping their brows, giving them comfort as they lay dying.

FINAL PROJECT MUSIC HISTORY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

FINAL PROJECT MUSIC HISTORY - Essay Example At a tender age of 6, I kept a record and memorized the lyrics of this and other two songs ‘You and Me Against the World’ and ‘Rainbow Connection’ to remind me of the value of hope and that there is always somebody I can count on to cheer me up when situations seemed unfair or depressing. Due to low self-esteem, I had a typical encounter of an unhappy childhood and whenever I heard these songs played, I could readily sense a point of deep connection that often encouraged me to ponder that sad moments are equally essential to life. Such inspiration would then drive me back to delight in playing again and forget what made me previously lose heart in the first place. When I grew to reach my adolescence, despite the prevailing contemporary music of my age, I kept getting engrossed to the old songs which were mostly favorites of my parents. They had a versatile taste of music ranging from the 50s up to the late 70s so at the time, I acquired varied influences among classic, rock n roll, ballad, rhythm and blues, and jazz. Being an adolescent, I realized having to deal with frequent emotional struggles made by confusion, insecurity, and some degree of identity crisis. Because this is such period of impulse and aggression, like the other youth, I desired to explore freedom of self-expression and means to satisfy curiosity on a number of objects. It was as if I always thought with pride that I was right on several respects so though I am a female, back then I possessed a rebellious attitude and wore semi-deviant or thrash outfit which depicted part of my inclination to alternative rock. On different levels, I appreciated sound-tripping to the music of Smashing Pumpkins, Metallica, and Tool which to me are among the reputed bands whose members are downright authentic as quality musicians. In their mainstream hits such as ‘1979’, ‘Cherub Rock’, ‘Sad But True’,

Fossil Essay Example for Free

Fossil Essay Kosta had noted the recent success of Swatch fashion watches and was aware that watches and other goods could be imported from the Far East at very low cost. On a visit to Hong Kong, Tom studied a number of potential products for import including toys and stuffed animals before following Kosta’s advice and returned to the U. S. to develop a watch import business. Enlisting the aid of two friends, Lynne Stafford for her sense of design and Alan Moore who had a master’s degree in accounting, he invested his savings of $200,000 to found Fossil as a Texas corporation in 1984. Fossil’s initial purchase of watches from a Hong Kong manufacturer included some retro and jumbo designs that Macy’s thought were â€Å"hot,† and significant orders followed. A design staff was developed that included watch buyers from retail chains. Inspiration came from many sources. , however: the strongest was â€Å"retro† themes from the 1940’s and 50’s. Designers paged through magazines from this era, including Life, Look, and Time, and visited flea markets searching for old watches. Between 1987 and 1989 sales grew from $2 million to $20 million, assisted by liberal credit from the Hong Kong manufacturers of Fossil watches. One sector included conservatively styled time pieces including brands such as Citizen and Seiko. The second sector included products designed to reflect emerging fashion trends and included Swatch, Guess? , Anne Klein and Anne Klein II, and Fossil. This segment was fueled by fashion-conscious consumers who considered watches as fashion accessories and often owned multiple watches. Branded fashion watch sales were estimated to represent approximately $400 million in retail sales in 1990. Major Competitors Fossil’s major competitors were Swatch and Guess?. Although market share data were difficult to obtain, it was generally believed that Fossil and Guess? had nearly equal market shares and that Swatch had slipped to third in recent months. Numerous other considerably smaller competitors existed including Anne Klein, Anne Klein II, and Gucci. Swatch Although quartz watch technology had been developed in Switzerland, by the late 1970’s the Japanese companies’ Seiko, Citizen, and Casio and the United States’ firm Texas Instruments exploited production improvements and economies of scale to drive prices down. Strategic use of the manufacturing experience curve led to an oversupply of quartz watch movements and a severe price war. Many competitors were driven out of business with Casio, Hong Kong producers, and a few other firms surviving in mass market watches, and Seiko and Citizen in the moderately priced segment. The Swiss watch industry was under severe attack at the low and mid price points, and both unemployment and losses on bank loans were increasing. In 1978, the Swiss government agreed to provide up to one-third of the costs or a maximum of Sfr. 5 million for a venture of the leading watch manufacturers to develop a Swiss electronic watch program. Additional financing was supplied by banks, who wrote off existing loans and provided hundreds of millions of francs of new capital, and a group of investors who paid $100 million (Sfr 151 at the time) for a 51 percent share. The consulting firm of Hayek Engineering was hired to lead the effort to revive the lower-priced segment. This venture produced a number of new patents and developed both new watch and watch manufacturing technologies, along with the ability to design and manufacture watches efficiently at low cost. The resulting firm, Swiss Corporation for Microelectronics and Watchmaking (SMH) included the existing brands Omega, Longines, Tissot, and Rado in the moderate and fine watch segments. N. Hayek and E. Thomke led efforts in the low priced segments that resulted in the Swatch manufactured by SMH’s ETA division. Development of the Swatch began in 1980, resulting in a product launch in 1983. The manufacturing process was highly automated using robots and computers in the manufacturing and assembly processes. The watch had been designed with only 51 parts, instead of the usual 90 to 150 parts in other watches, had an ex-factory price of Sfr15. Parts were injected directly into the plastic case which was sealed by ultrasonic welding. This process was highly capital intensive, leading to direct labor costs of less than ten percent of total costs. The manufacturing process permitted a wide variety of dials, cases, and straps: however, variations in the shape and size of the watch case were quite difficult. One plant could produce up to 35,000 watches a day. Swatch was test marketed in the United States in December 1982 at 100 Sanger Harris department stores in Dallas, Salt Lake City, and San Diego without any advertising or public relations. Although consumer reactions were mixed, Swatch was officially launched in Switzerland in March 1983, followed by a gradual worldwide release. A second U. S. test market in December 1983 through the Zale jewelry chain and Macy’s was not successful. Swatch made extensive adjustments throughout their marketing program, and by 1985, U. S. sales accelerated. In 1986, a worldwide single price of $30 for most models was set and sales accumulated to over 50 million units worldwide by 1988. The 100 millionth Swatch was sold in 1993, when the price of a basic Swatch was $40. In 1992, SMH had combined sales for all brands of $2. 1 billion, producing $286 million in profits and a market equity value exceeding $3. 5 billion. Banks had encouraged Nicholas Hayek to assume a 20 percent equity ownership in the mid-80’s, a successful arrangement for both. Fifteen thousand employees worked in plants in Switzerland and Thailand producing semi-conductors, watches, movements, batteries, and straps. Guess? In 1983, Philip â€Å"Mickey† Callanen acquired the worldwide license to manufacture and market watches with the Guess? name. Investing $40,000 of his personal funds, he opened business in his garage, sourced watches from Hong Kong, and shipped for the 1983 Christmas season. Growth continued through the 1980’s at over 20 percent annually. In 1991, Callanen Company was acquired by Timex, expanding distribution to Japan, Australia, France, England, Germany and Canada and providing Callanen an additional source of watch technologies such as Indiglo dial illumination. In 1993 Callanen marketed both Guess? watches for men and women and Monet watches for women. Guess? represented 85 percent of the $80 million shipments (3 million watches) in 1992. The Guess? product line included 250 to 300 styles including classic, fashion, sporty, multi-function, chronograph, novelty, and metal bracelet watches. About 20 percent of the product line was revised seasonally four times a year. Guess? watches had a suggested retail price between $42 and $115, using department stores as the major retail outlet. Fifteen percent of Guess? sales were in international markets. Additional products included watch bands and private label watches for Disney, Hard Rock Cafe, Limited Express, Macy’s, and others. Virtually all Guess? watches were designed and manufactured at Guess? ’s partly owned manufacturing facility in Hong Kong. The 270 employees included a design staff of 19. Callanen’s business offices, warehouse, and watch repair facility were located in Norwalk, Connecticut, and they had a showroom in New York City. Manufacturing and Sourcing About two million, or eighty-five percent of fine watches sold worldwide, were manufactured in Switzerland in 1988, making Switzerland the largest value producer with sales of $4. 9 billion (96 million watches) in 1990. Most other watches were manufactured in the Far East, with the major exception of Swatch, which was manufactured in a highly automated factory in Switzerland. The development of the Swatch and its robotic factory was credited with saving the Swiss watch industry. Japan was the world’s largest producer in terms of units, with 325 million units, representing 44 percent of the world’s production in 1990. Hong Kong, relying on assembly by hand, produced 175 million watches in 1990, and was expected to produce 340 million, or one-third of the world’s watches in 1993 (Table 6). Due to Hong Kong’s focus on low-priced watches, this represented only nine percent of the total value of watches produced. Fossil chose to assemble watches in Hong Kong, using components from Japan, China, Taiwan, Italy, and Korea. FOSSIL IN 1993 Business Strategy Fossil’s initial public offering prospectus defined their business strategy as: â€Å"Brand Development. The Company has established the FOSSIL brand name and image to reflect a theme of fun, fashion, and humor, and believes that the FOSSIL brand name has achieved growing acceptance among fashion-conscious consumers in its target markets. Product Value. The Company’s products provide value by offering quality components and features at moderate prices. For example, the Company’s FOSSIL watches, which offer features such as raised indexes, enamel, textured, shell or semi-precious stone dials, gold electroplating, and fine leather straps, are sold at an average retail price of $63. Likewise, the Company’s RELIC watches, which incorporate a number of features offered in FOSSIL watches, are sold at an average retail price of $42. Fashion Orientation. The Company ifferentiates its products from those of its competitors principally through innovations in fashion details, including variations in the treatment of watch dials, crystals, cases, and straps for the Company’s watches and trimming, lining, and straps for its handbags. Expansion of International Business. The Company is seeking to achieve further growth in its international business through the establishment of a joint venture to operate a European distribution center, the establishment of a branch office in Canada, and the recruitment of new distributors in selected international markets. Introduction of New Product Categories. The Company may leverage its design and marketing expertise to expand the scope of its product offerings through the introduction of new categories of fashion accessories that would complement its existing products. Active Management of Retail Sales. The Company manages the retail sales process by carefully monitoring its customers’ sales and inventories by product category and style and by assisting in the conception, development, and implementation of their marketing program. As a result, the Company believes it enjoys close relationships with its principal customers, often allowing it to influence the mix, quality, and timing of their purchasing decisions. Close Relationships with Manufacturing Sources. The Company has established and maintains close relationships with a number of watch manufacturers located in Hong Kong. The Company believes that these relationships allow it to quickly and efficiently introduce innovative product designs and alter production in response to the retail performance of its products. Coordinated Product Promotion. The Company coordinates product design, packaging, and advertising functions in order to communicate in a cohesive manner to its target markets the themes and images it associates with its products. Personnel Development. The Company actively seeks to recruit and train its design, advertising, sales, and marketing personnel to assist it in achieving further growth in its existing businesses and in expanding the scope of its product offerings. Cost Advantages. Because the Company does not pay royalties on products sold under the FOSSIL and RELIC brand names and because of cost savings associated with the location of its headquarters and warehousing and distribution center in Dallas, Texas, the Company believes that it enjoys certain cost advantages which enhance its ability to achieve attractive profit margins. Centralized Distribution. Substantially all of the Company’s products are distributed from its warehousing and distribution center located in Dallas. The Company believes that its distribution capabilities enable it to reduce inventory risk and increase its flexibility in meeting the delivery requirement of its customers. (Fossil, 1993, 23-24) Manufacturing Fossil East, a 35 employee subsidiary of Fossil (owning 20 percent interest), acted as Fossil’s exclusive agent, buying all of Fossil’s watches from approximately 20 factories located in Hong Kong. In 1992, about 21 percent of these watches were purchased from Pulse Time, a Hong Kong corporation in which Fossil held a minority interest. Three other factories each accounted for more than 10 percent of Fossil’s watches. The company felt that developing long-term relations with suppliers was essential to its success. While the loss of any single manufacturer could disrupt shipments of certain watch styles, it would not impact their overall marketing program. Leather goods were manufactured in 12 factories located in Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and Uruguay. Fossil believed â€Å"that its policy of outsourcing products allows it to achieve increased production flexibility while avoiding significant capital expenditures, build-ups of work-in-process inventory, and the costs of managing a substantial production work force† (Fossil, 1993, 27). Products Fossil’s flagship products were the Fossil watches introduced as a brand in 1986. Handbags were introduced in 1991 as the first entry into the leather goods market. Watch Products Watches represented 98. 1, 96. 4, and 92. 5 percent of sales in the years 1990, 1991, and 1992 respectively. Following the Fossil brand, Fossil introduced the Relic brand, Fossil watch straps, and private label products. FOSSIL Watches: Fossil states its â€Å"watches are targeted at middle and upper income consumers between the ages of 16 and 40 and are sold at retail prices generally ranging from $45 to $110, with an average price of $63† (Fossil, 1993, 25). RELIC Watches: The Relic brand shared many of the features found in Fossil watches but in a format suitable for lower priced fashion watches. Relic watches â€Å"are targeted at lower and middle income consumers and are sold at retail prices generally ranging from $40 to $50, with an average price of $42. † Fossil Watch Straps: Watch straps were targeted at customers who bought Fossil watches; however, they could be used with a wide variety of watches. They were priced from $13 to $15. Private Label Products: Fossil provided private label watches for retailers and other customers. Leather Goods Following the introduction of Fossil handbags in 1991, small leather goods such as coin purses, key chains, personal organizers, wallets, and belts for women were introduced in 1992, accounting for about five percent of sales in 1992. The handbags emphasized classic styles and creative designs, including a tan and black binocular bag, a green and tan drawstring sac, and a natural color military ammunition pouch retailing from $48 to $130, with an average price of $87. Fossil felt that since women’s leather goods tended to be located near women’s watches in department and specialty stores, purchase of one Fossil product might lead to another. They also felt that they were price competitive. Design and Development The design staff sought to â€Å"differentiate its products from those of its competition principally by incorporating innovations in fashion details into its product designs. † These included variations in the treatment of dials, crystals, cases, and straps for the company’s watches and trimming, lining, and straps for handbags (Fossil 1993, 26). Fossil’s watch lines included Airmaster, Casual, Chronograph, Dress, Limited Edition, Pyramid, Crystal, Skeleton, and Vintage watches. About 500 different styles were available at any given time, with new designs offered five times a year. Over 1,000 models were available in 1992. Design prototypes of watches were created in Hong Kong in as little as a week, and lead-time from committing orders to shipment ranged from two to three months. Fossil believed that its close relationships with manufacturers gave it a competitive advantage in quickly introducing innovative product designs. Promotion Fossil made use of an in-house advertising department for design and execution of packaging, advertising, and sales promotions. Company executives felt that extensive use of computer-aided design reduced time and encouraged greater creativity in developing these programs. The company’s stated advertising themes â€Å"aim at evoking nostalgia for the simpler values and more optimistic outlook of the 1950’s through the use of images of cars, trains, airliners, and consumer products that reflect the classic American tastes of the period. These images are carefully coordinated in order to convey the flair for fun, fashion, and humor which the Company associates with its products† (Fossil, 1993, 28). A sundial watch sold over 250,000 pieces at a retail price of $16. Fossil developed cooperative advertising programs with major retail customers and developed in-store visual support through its packaging, signs, and fixtures. Consumers were offered promotional items, including unique tin boxes as watch packaging, T-shirts, caps, and pens. In ten locations, Fossil opened a â€Å"shop-in-shop† format including a wide variety of Fossil products and promotional materials. With greater emphasis on product design, retailer relations, and promotion, Fossil conducted advertising limited to spot television in local markets since 1989, national spots since 1991, outdoor advertising in four markets, and occasional ads in Elle, Mademoiselle, Vogue, and Seventeen. Distribution and Sales Force The majority of Fossil’s products were shipped to its warehouse and distribution center in Dallas. A significant number were bar coded prior to shipment for entry into a computerized inventory control system, which enabled Fossil to track each item from receipt to its ultimate sale. Products were distributed to approximately 12,000 retail locations in the United States including department stores and specialty retail stores. In 1991 and 1992, department stores accounted for about 67 percent of net sales. (Table 8 provides data on watch distribution by price and retail channel. ) Fossil’s ten largest customers accounted for 40 percent of sales. The largest customers were Dillard’s and the May Company, each accounting for from ten to thirteen percent of sales. Other principal customers included Carter Hawley Hale Stores, Dayton Hudson, Federated Department Stores, JCPenney, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Service Merchandise. Although the industry typically used independent sales representatives, Fossil made use of 25 in-house sales and customer service employees and 12 independent sales representatives. In-house personnel received a salary while independent sales reps worked on a commission basis and did not represent competing product lines. International sales in 1990, 1991, and 1992 were 5. 6, 7. 2, and 8. 1 percent of net sales, respectively. Sixteen independent distributors operated in Europe, South and Central America, Africa, and Australia. These distributors resold watches to department stores and specialty retail stores. Fossil received payment in U. S. dollars based on a uniform price schedule. Financial Strategy Fossil had started out as a â€Å"bootstrap† financed firm. Personal income and savings from Tom Kartsotis’ ticket-brokering business had provided the initial capital for the operation, and the company had further financed operations by the creative use of trade credit and bank loans. With sales growing rapidly, Fossil’s expansion needs exceeded what it could raise internally. To sustain sales growth, Fossil needed a substantial increase in working capital. Fossil’s ability to continue to fund itself with debt capital, given their exposure to volatility in the fashion product market, was questionable. An initial public stock offering (IPO) which would provide access to capital needed to expand Fossil’s working capital base and fund additional sales growth, was managed by Montgomery Securities of San Francisco. While not uncommon, IPO’s of less than $20 MM involved transaction costs that many viewed as being too high to justify the offering. A critical decision that needed to be made was what proportion of the ownership should be issued.