Oswestry Mutual Insurance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 1

Oswestry Mutual Insurance - Essay Example are   thought   to   be   above   industry   average   cost   per   policy.   The   result   has   been   Omi   financial   solvency,   but   only   barely.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In   1991,   the   company   decision-making   process   was   highly   centralized.   The   growth   experienced   by   OMI   in   the   mid   to   late   1980’s   and   the   need   to   become   more   responsive   to   the   dynamics   of   the   industry,   top   management   decided   to   change   the   operating   structure.   In   1991,   they   reorganized   into   6   sectional-regional   profit   centers.   The   branch   offices   remained   at   68,   each   branch   office   reports   to   a   specific   sectional   profit   centre   and   sectional   office.   The   sectional   office   is   responsible   for   approving   all   policies   written   and   claims   filed   through   both   branch   offices   and   the   independent   agents   locat ed   in   that   region.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The head   office’s   is   suppose   to   establish   overall   corporate   policy   and   provide   support   to   6   sectional   offices.   The   head   office   in   Oswestry   and   the   sectional   offices   were   organized   on   a   functional   basis.   The   functional   units   in   all   locations   are:   Premium   Audit,   Underwriting,   Sales,   Claims/Losses,   Finance,   Human   Resources,   Loss   Monitoring   and   Support.   However,   even   though   the   operational   structure   was   decentralized,   most   of   the   information   services   still   remain   centralized   in   the   head   office,   which   includes   related   planning,   control,   budget   authority   and   decision- making   stays   at   the   head   office.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Computers   were   used,   at   first,   for   financial   and   statistical   report   production:   standard   MIS   reports   included,   profit/loss,   operations,   claim   data,   loss   ratios,   and  

Grapefruit Essay Example for Free

Grapefruit Essay One ancestor of the grapefruit was the Jamaican sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), itself an ancient hybrid of Asian origin; the other was the Indonesian pomelo (C. maxima). One story of the fruits origins is that a certain Captain Shaddockbrought pomelo seeds to Jamaica and bred the first fruit But it probably originated as a naturally-occurring hybrid. The hybrid fruit was documented in 1750 by a Welshman, Rev. Griffith Hughes, who described specimens from Barbados. Currently, the grapefruit is said to be one of the Seven Wonders of Barbados. It was brought to Florida by Count Odette Philippe in 1823 in what is now known as Safety Harbor. Further crosses have produced the tangelo (1905), the Minneola tangelo (1931), and the oroblanco (sweetie)(1984). The sweetie has very small genetic and other differences from the pomelo. The grapefruit was known as the shaddock or shattuck until the 19th century. Its current name alludes to clusters of the fruit on the tree, which often appear similar to grapes. Botanically, it was not distinguished from the pomelo until the 1830s, when it was given the name Citrus paradisi. Its true origins were not determined until the 1940s. This led to the official name being altered to Citrus Ãâ€" aradisi, the Ãâ€" identifying its hybrid origin. An early pioneer in the American citrus industry was Kimball Chase Atwood, a wealthy entrepreneur who founded the Atwood Grapefruit Co. in the late 19th century. The Atwood Grove became the largest grapefruit grove in the world, with an annual production of 80,000 boxes of fruit. It was there that pink grapefruit was first discovered in 1906. The Florida Department of Citrus states the primary varieties of Florida grapefruit are Ruby Red, Pink, Thompson, Marsh and Duncan. The fresh grapefruit season typically runs from October through June.

Comparison between Jan van Eyck and Fra Angelico Essay -- essays rese

The Renaissance in Western Europe brought a â€Å"rebirth† to the arts. No longer was the church the only accredited patron for the arts. Instead, a wealthy middle class arose as patrons and were able to purchase artist’s works. Although many pieces still had religious themes, the styles, freedom of creativity, and less reserved pieces were created. The Renaissance was not only confined to Italy, although it is often mistaken as the birthplace of the movement. All over Western Europe artwork flourished. Artists from the north came to Italy to study the classical arts and the renowned Italian Renaissance artists. Many of the same themes and subject matters were depicted throughout Western Europe. One such subject matter, the Annunciation, was portrayed by Jan van Eyck, a Flemish panel painter, as well as, Fra Angelico, an Italian fresco painter. In short, the Annunciation occurred when God sends the angel, Gabriel to deliver the message to Mary that she will give birth to his only son. Although both artists had the same understanding of the biblical account, their styles varied to agree with the concerns and interests of the people of the time as well as where they lived. They were able to establish their individuality through their artwork, even with the same subject matter. The Annunciation by Jan van Eyck is a perfect reflection of Northern Renaissance panel painting while Annunciation by Fra Angelico is the essence of Italian Renaissance fresco painting. The compositions that each piece displays is different and prestige in its own right. Flemish panel painters were largely influential and created extraordinary developments in composition. The artwork tends to be very detailed and filled with symbolic meanings from surrounding objects or even coloring. Jan van Eyck was especially credited for paying exceptional attention to detail that creates such a realistic form, the figures seem lifelike. Much of this realistic appearance is due to the medium that was widely used in the North. The use of oil paints and techniques, such as finer detail with smaller brush strokes and layering of oil paints to create a glaze, were used and developed giving the Northern art distinct characteristics and composition. Italian painters created frescos by applying pigments to wet plaster. The result is a dull, flatter color and they were unable to achieve intricate detail. The com... ...ic meanings that still are puzzling art historians today. Some of the key symbols that Stokstad points out in the text is the dove, representing the Holy Spirit; the white lilies as a symbol of the Virgin Mary. She also points out, two rather unknown symbols to the sacrilegious, the date of the Annunciation in signs of the zodiac on the floor, as well as the lone stained glass window that is symbolizing God rising above the three windows that are placed in the background behind Mary. These three windows represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both Jan van Eyck and Fra Angelico were revered artists for the advances in art that they created and displayed for the world to see. Their renditions of the Annunciation were both very different, however unique and perfect display of the typical styles used during the Renaissance. Jan van Eyck’s panel painting Annunciation held all the characteristics of the Northern Renaissance with its overwhelming symbolism and detail. Fra Angelico’s fresco Annunciation grasped the key elements used in the Italian Renaissance with usage of perspective as well as displaying the interest and knowledge of the classical arts.

Leveraging Workplace Diversity

Diversity is a term that is used to refer to ways in which people are different. These include the gender, age, language, educational level, life experience cultural background sexual orientation ethnicity religious belief work experience socio-economic background marital status family responsibilities personality and marital status. Whether married, single or pregnant women should be given the same opportunities in their workplace and should not be sexually harmonized by their bosses. Against sex discrimination Act 1984 Workplace diversity refers to the ways of recognizing and respecting the individual differences of the workers and being able to manage them as they work. In the places work there is need for diversity in terms of gender, type of work to be done, age tribe/race and even the level for education of the individuals. For instant when we look at gender a good workplace should be gender sensitive in that both men and women should have the same opportunities of working depending on their level of education. Both male and female should have equal chances of taking the top positions in their place of work and should be given respect by the other work mates equally. Women should not be discriminated as it happens in most cases and denied the best opportunities that arise. A good work place should have balance in terms of tribe or race. This is important as it clears good relations in the society as each tribe or race is represented. Therefore different mates form different background come and put their minds together as a team to bring out the best in the work place. A workplace that discriminates it’s workers on the grounds of race, color or Nationality or Ethnic origin will not succeed as this is unlawful and goes against the Racial Discrimination Act 1975(Huyles,1996,pg 56). The Human rights should be taken into consideration in the workplace. All persons both the physically challenged and mentally disabled should be given the same working opportunities without discrimination. They are human beings who have the same rights as other human beings. Their complaints should be addressed greatly and they should accommodate by every individual as they do their work. Any discrimination against these people is unlawful as it violates the Human Rights and Equal opportunity commission Act 1984 (Cox, 1995, pg 43). To maintain diversity in the workplace, all employers and employees have a right to a secure healthy working environment. This will help them to be alert and work comfortably so that they can bring out the fruitful work that will benefit them and the society at large. Therefore, an employer has a role of taking precautions to prevent discrimination and harassment to his employees. This is necessary since failure to that; one violates the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991(Bruhn, 1996, pg 35). The disabled should not be discriminated in their place of work since it’s not their choice to be in their state. They are human beings with all the human rights. Therefore, they should be treated like any other individual or employee. The sick should be given proper medical attention to improve their state so that they can also work together like others. If an employer goes against this, he violates the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and should face the law (Hofsted, 1997, pg 265). Diversity also requires that all the employees be informed and access the awards and agreements that are part of their work. For instant, they should be aware of the terms and conditions that are important as it relates to the workplace relations act 1996. The employer should not discriminate the employee from this information. A diverse workplace should ensure that there is corporation and maximum use of the diverse skills, employee’s values and their work experiences so that they may come with good fruits in their work. It should also ensure that the structures in the workplace, the systems that they use and the procedures that they apply are well utilized to help the employees in balancing their work, manage their families by caring for them in responsible manner. When making decisions, a diverse workplace should also take in account their goals and the skills that are required so that they can meet these goals and objectives. They should ensure that transparency is available and the decisions should be procedurally fair at the same time be equitable (Schauber, 1999, pg 460). To maintain diversity in the workplace, Disney company sets the overall company performance goals for the year. These goals are usually diverse and require a diverse staff so that they can meet them. The company sets individual performance measures for the year without any discrimination. Therefore, each employee has a target to meet his goals in a diverse manner. The company also sets target bonus for each individual that motivates them to work hard so that they can achieve their goals and earn these bonuses at the end of the year. They also measure the actual performance against the predefined company performance goals to reach to the necessary adjustments that are to be done so that they would do better in future (Ting 1999, pg12). For one to have an effective change model there should be a commitment to serve the others. Therefore, both the employee and the employer should be committed to serving the society as a whole. They should be ready to serve all the races without discrimination and give them equal opportunities in accessing the benefits that are available. There should also be need for Awareness of the importance of new ways of approaching issues. The employees and the employer should be informed of the so that they would come up with different ways of thinking so that it will be easier to hire and retain diversity in the working staff and develop an educational seminar to the diverse society to encourage the issue of diversity (Huyle, 1996,pg 98). There should be Awareness of the importance to build and maintain trust among the employees and the employer and the society as a whole. This is important as it develops the mutual understanding in the people and even the entire society. The issue of openness should be understood and all the members are interested and willing to be involved in this model of diversifying the workplace and the activities involved (Kotter, 1995, pg59-67). Creativity should be encouraged as this will ensure or encourage people to think and come up with the best as they work. The employees should be informed of the importance of diversity as it adds richness to them and the society in general and be informed of the need for a diverse staff so that whenever there are changes, they are able to accommodate the new employees (Coop, 1997, pg 56). REFERENCES Bruhn, J.G. (1996). Creating an organization climate for multiculturalism. Health care supervisor, 14(14), 11-18. Hofsted, G. (1997).Culture and organizations: software of the mind. New York: McGrass-Hill. Schauber, A. (1999).Assessing organizational climate: first step in diversifying organizations. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Cincinnati: union Institute. Ting-Toomey, S. (1999).Communicating across cultures. New York: Guilford. Huyle, R. &Mendez Russell, A. (1996). The diversity directive: why some initiatives fail and what to do about it. Irwin professional publishing. Cope, Bill & Kalantzis, Mary (1997). Productive diversity, anew Australian and a model for work management. Plato press. Cox Jr., Taylor (2001). The challenge of managing diversity. San Francisco: john Wiley& sons, Inc. Kotter, J.P. (1995). Leading change: why transformation efforts fail. Harvard Business Review, 59-67 Â   Â   Â  

Philosophy of life Essay

What is the meaning of life? The answer to this question has sought over since mankind became capable of exercising their brain capacity past a level of primal instinct. In general life is rather meaningless, we all simply exist together on this planet. But before one dwells on the pointlessness of human existence, they should think about the purpose of each individual person in our society. We create goals for ourselves; we all have a role to play in our society. In a sense, we choose our future and in doing so, give ourselves a purpose to live. The purpose of human existence in general may be absent, but in our society and through our goals and achievements, I believe each individual creates their own purpose. Through one question I realized this great truth: what do you want to be when you grow up? For the longest time, I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. What did it matter to me anyway? I was a kid (well, I suppose I still am) and didn’t like any of the generic jobs they told us about in elementary school. Police force, teachers, fireman, none of them interested me. Then, in middle school, my life changed, a lot. I got completely new friends, after the old ones left me behind. I slowly started to become more and more enclosed, I spent most of my time out of school alone. As I developed into this over-dramatic teenage state, life suddenly became meaningless. I would often find myself sitting bored in my room, mindlessly surfing the internet or playing videogames. I slowly started to hate it; it was like I could feel my brain melting inside my head. I needed to find a more constructive hobby, and so I found myself musical instruments and started creating more and more music every day. Music became my life and from then on, I knew that my goal, the meaning of my life, was to become a musician. I believe that life was meant to be enjoyed; nobody wants to spend their life in a dead end job. After all, just how much meaning is in an unhappy life? Just ask Monty Python’s John Cleese, who states, â€Å"If I had not gone into Monty Python, I probably would have stuck to my original plan to graduate and become a chartered accountant, or perhaps a barrister lawyer, and gotten a nice house in the suburbs with a nice wife and kids, and gotten a country club membership, and then I would have killed myself. † I find this quote strongly inspiring because instead of choosing a highly respectable, well paying job and living a comfortable life, he choose to work with some of most popular men to ever wear woman’s clothing. Comedy is what he finds gives meaning to his life, and although his second choices would have been nice, Cleese didn’t find as much value in them as he did in Monty Python. Perhaps life itself is meaningless, but I believe it doesn’t have to be. I believe that a happy life is a meaningful one. I believe that mankind may not collectively have a reason for existence or a common goal, but each individual certainly does. I believe that each and every person has to create their own reason to live, instead of waiting for that reason to come to them, or they must just find themselves waiting forever.

Conserving Energy - Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources essays

Conserving Energy - Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources essays Conserving energy is important, since the world will not be able to depend on nonrenewable resources in the future. Nonrenewable resources are resources that cannot be replaced such as natural gas, coal, and oil. Conserving energy will lessen the need for nonrenewable resources, which will be beneficial to the environment, by helping to preserve more natural environments. Energy allows humans to live comfortable lives by powering our modern day conveniences. Automobiles and electricity are two common items that are dependent on a steady stream of energy. Energy consumption around the world has been on an increasingly uphill climb, for many years now. Society needs to work towards understanding and utilizing renewable resources because nonrenewable resources are depleting, which will eventually lead to zero resources for energy. Nonrenewable and renewable are words used to define various natural resources. A renewable resource is a natural resource that when used can be replace such as wind, trees, and water. Renewable resources are highly sought out because of their ability to reproduce, when more is needed. Renewable energy is viewed as safe for the environment, when compared to the hazards of nonrenewable resources. Nonrenewable resources are found in chunked amounts, and are used up more rapidly than the replacement rate. Although there are nonrenewable resources found in nature, these are deemed more harmful to the environment than renewable resources. Nonrenewable resources are non-replaceable as soon as these are used, which makes these an unfavorable source of energy when compared to the benefits of renewable resources. Conserving energy helps the environment and can help people save money. An action such as turning off a light contributes to conserving energy. Limiting shower durations, using energy efficient light bulbs, and unplugging appliances when n...

Free Essays on The Red Wheelbarrow

Red Wheelbarrow In gazing over Williams Carlos William’s The Red Wheelbarrow I was dumbfounded. The poem lacks in symbolism as well as meaning, yet gives a series of images with no conclusion to its original statement. The Red Wheelbarrow poses a mysterious element to the average, everyday reader. At the end of the poem I was forced to ask the question, â€Å"why does so much depend upon a red wheelbarrow.† In studying other writers I tried to seek a definitive answer to why Williams wrote this poem. In further study I asked myself the question, â€Å"what (actual) purpose does this red wheelbarrow serve?† My metamorphosis began when I read Paulo Freire’s â€Å"The Banking Concept of Education†. He must’ve had something on his mind when he said, â€Å"teachers either work for the liberation of the people-their humanization- or for their domestication, their domination.† In what could be called an interesting summation in unveiling the negatives of narrative learning, Freire explains the pitfalls and shortcomings of the â€Å"Banking Education†. His concept stems from the hierarchy of the teacher celebrating â€Å"himself to his students as their necessary opposite; by considering their ignorance absolute, he justifies his own existence.† In this system the teacher acts as the depositor and the students, merely receptors. The Banking concept, according to Freire, suffers from an abnormal amount of pride in that it gives itself the charter to give their educated the title, â€Å"welfare recipients†. These teachers, referred by Freire as oppressors, make it their duty to change the â€Å"incompetent and lazy† by simply perverting their mentality. The night prior to our reading of Freire I took to the internet to find some sort of meaning to Williams’ poem. Some websites analyzed the poem’s imagery and others took a more symbolic pa... Free Essays on The Red Wheelbarrow Free Essays on The Red Wheelbarrow Red Wheelbarrow In gazing over Williams Carlos William’s The Red Wheelbarrow I was dumbfounded. The poem lacks in symbolism as well as meaning, yet gives a series of images with no conclusion to its original statement. The Red Wheelbarrow poses a mysterious element to the average, everyday reader. At the end of the poem I was forced to ask the question, â€Å"why does so much depend upon a red wheelbarrow.† In studying other writers I tried to seek a definitive answer to why Williams wrote this poem. In further study I asked myself the question, â€Å"what (actual) purpose does this red wheelbarrow serve?† My metamorphosis began when I read Paulo Freire’s â€Å"The Banking Concept of Education†. He must’ve had something on his mind when he said, â€Å"teachers either work for the liberation of the people-their humanization- or for their domestication, their domination.† In what could be called an interesting summation in unveiling the negatives of narrative learning, Freire explains the pitfalls and shortcomings of the â€Å"Banking Education†. His concept stems from the hierarchy of the teacher celebrating â€Å"himself to his students as their necessary opposite; by considering their ignorance absolute, he justifies his own existence.† In this system the teacher acts as the depositor and the students, merely receptors. The Banking concept, according to Freire, suffers from an abnormal amount of pride in that it gives itself the charter to give their educated the title, â€Å"welfare recipients†. These teachers, referred by Freire as oppressors, make it their duty to change the â€Å"incompetent and lazy† by simply perverting their mentality. The night prior to our reading of Freire I took to the internet to find some sort of meaning to Williams’ poem. Some websites analyzed the poem’s imagery and others took a more symbolic pa...

Bonny Lee Bakley, Murdered Wife of Actor Robert Blake

Bonny Lee Bakley, Murdered Wife of Actor Robert Blake Bonny Lee Bakley was not a good girl. She was a con artist who used sex and deception to bilk men- many of the rich and famous- out of their money, and their children out of their inheritance. She was shot to death in May 2001 and her husband at the time, actor Robert Blake, was charged with the crime. Still, there was a long list of other people with a motive. Bakleys Childhood Years Bonny Lee Bakley was born June 7, 1956 in Morristown, New Jersey. As a young girl, her dreams were similar to others her age, to one day become rich and famous. Perhaps her impoverished home helped to drive these fantasies. Or, perhaps the desire to leave her hometown and begin her road to stardom grew deeper after she suffered from sexual abuse by her father. Whatever the cause, her drive for stardom became a blind obsession. Marriage for Profit It is believed that Bakley felt ostracized as a child for being poor. She grew to be an attractive teen. She decided to try modeling, and she signed on with a nearby agency. Through the agency,​ she met an immigrant named Evangelos Paulakis, who was desperate to stay in the U.S. and needed to get married  to do so. Bakley agreed to marry him for a price, but not long after the two shared I dos, Bakley, with the money safely tucked away, ended the marriage, and Paulakis was picked by the authorities and deported. After high school, Bakley headed to New York to begin her climb to stardom. She started calling herself Lee Bonny. She managed to get various small modeling jobs, and even worked as an extra in a few movies. But her goal of becoming a star was not  happening. So, she set her attention on other ways to achieve, if not stardom, the fortune that came with it. Her focus switched from becoming a star to marrying one. Bakleys Sex Scam Business In her mid-twenties, Bakley married her cousin, Paul Gawron, a laborer who was street tough and prone to violent behavior. They had two children who Gawron mainly cared for while Bakley worked toward her new endeavor, a mail-order business that focused on scamming lonely men out of money. Had Bakley not chosen a less-than-desirable avenue, her  entrepreneurial  spirit mixed with her ability to market, organize, and profit in a highly competitive industry could have been admirable. Gawron and Bakley had a twisted and volatile marriage. Bakley, who was busy scamming money from men, sometimes in the couples bedroom, was satisfied to let Gawron stay home. He seemed to enjoy not having to work. But, by 1982, the marriage ended. Bakleys obsession to be in the inner circles of the famous mixed with the fact that she was not getting any younger. This motivated her decision to leave her kids in Gawrons care and head to Memphis, Tennessee, to the door of musical artist, Jerry Lee Lewis. Bakley Stalks Jerry Lee Lewis Bakleys money-making sex schemes coupled with her use of stolen credit cards and identification kept her mobile, and she was able to fly to locations where Jerry Lee Lewis was performing. Bordering stalking, Bakley  would often crash parties and show up at performances just to get in closer to Lewis. Finally, the two met around 1982, and a friendship developed. Jerry Lee Lewis and Bakley remained friends until Bakley became pregnant and told everyone that the childs father was Jerry Lee Lewis and that he was leaving his wife to marry her. When the child was born, Bakley named her  Jerry Lee and put on the ​​birth certificate, father undetermined. The friendship between Lewis and Bakley ended and baby Jerry Lee was sent to live with Bakleys ex-husband and her other children. Later it was discovered that Bakley made death threats against Lewiss wife. Bakleys Anything Goes Policy Bakleys address book filled up with names, some famous and some just rich. Names such as Robert DeNiro, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Jimmy Swaggart were found among the list. Bakleys sex business became bolder, and she advertised in sex magazines that she was a tri-sexual, meaning she would try anything once and her preference was sadomasochism, couples sex, and bisexuality. She swindled men out of hundreds of thousands of dollars with her anything goes claims. Bakley was arrested for trying to write bad checks to the tune of $200,000 and was sentenced to report to a penal farm on weekends for three years. In Arkansas, she was arrested for carrying more than 30 fake identifications and was placed on probation. When she completed her sentence in Tennessee, and her friendship with Lewis was over, she decided it was time to leave the South, and she headed to the land of fame and stardom- Hollywood. Bakley and Robert Blake Tie the Knot Bonny continued running  sex scams in magazines, and dating a few stars, one being Christian Brando. How she and Baretta star Robert Blake met, depends on who you ask. Bakleys sister said they met at a jazz club and bonded from across the room. Blakes attorney said Robert Blake did not even know her name and they had sex in the back of a truck, never in his home. Whatever is the truth, one thing was for certain; it was not a match made in heaven. Shortly after the affair began, Bakley told Blake that she was pregnant. Sources say Bakley was taking fertility pills as a way to trap the star into her web. When the baby was born, she named her  Christian Shannon Brando and listed Brando as the father. A  paternity test later proved the father to be Blake. Bonny Lee and Robert Blake married in November 2000, and Bonny moved into a guest house on the property. Bakleys Murder After only six months of marriage, in May 2001, Blake and Bakley went to dinner at Vitellos Italian Restaurant, where Blake was a regular customer. After dinner, the two walked to their car. According to Blake, he realized he left his revolver at the restaurant and left to retrieve it. When he returned to the car, he found Bakley with a gunshot wound to her head, dying in the front seat. Blake ran for help, but Bakley soon died. After a year of investigations, Blake was arrested and charged with the murder of Bonny Lee Bakley. On March 15, 2005, a jury of seven women and five men deliberated for more than 36 hours before returning a verdict of not guilty in the murder of his wife and not guilty on one count of soliciting someone to murder her.   Although acquitted in criminal court, the Baretta star was not so lucky in civil court, where a verdict does not need to be unanimous.  A civil jury decided 10 to 2 that  the tough-guy actor was behind the slaying and ordered him to pay Bonny Lee Bakley’s four children $30 million. Resources and Further Reading King, Gary C. Murder In Hollywood: The Secret Life and Mysterious Death of Bonny Lee Bakley. St. Martins, 2001.Bloom, Lisa. â€Å"Our Bodies, Ourselves: Clara Harris and Bonny Bakley.† Court TV, The Internet Archive, 13 Mar. 2003.

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

Astronomy_Cosmo - Essay Example Faith is an excellent human trait, but having faith in something that can has been proven wrong through science and observation can hinder individual and societal growth. The Big Bang Theory is the theory that the universe came about from an immense explosion billions of years ago. Sagan raised the possibility of an oscillating universe, where the Big Bang Theory was not only the beginning of the universe, but the end of another universe. This cycle could be repeating over and over. Scientists can only speculate. However observation has shown that the universe is expanding outward from each individual point in the universe. Radio, photographic, x-ray telescopic views have shown this expansion of the universe through the Doppler Effect. The Big Bang Theory was based on observation and scientific means. It was not meant to refute religion, or to be sacrilegious. The Big Bang Theory is incompatible with religions that believe in Creationism. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are based on Creationism. The basic tenants of Creationism are the story of God creating the Earth and man in six days. This even occurred four to five thousand years ago according to the religions steeped in Creationism. The Big Bang Theory is unacceptable due to the lack of God’s involvement and the purported age of the universe being billions of years old. The story of Adam and Eve in the Old Testament has been passed down in these Judeo-Christian religions. If that cornerstone is taken away, then other Torah, Biblical, and Qur’an stories might be dismissed. This frightens the fervently faithful. If Adam and Eve were not real people, then maybe a higher power does not exist. If God, Jesus, or Allah is not real, what have humans believed and died for eons? This will cause the truly faithful to avoid astronomy and scientific finds despite the proof of obser vation or other evidence. Some

How Religions Impact Americans Politically, Socially and Economically Essay - 1

How Religions Impact Americans Politically, Socially and Economically - Essay Example On the other hand, Hinduism is practiced by an estimated 400,000 people in the United States, corresponding to about 0.2% of the population. Buddhism is also a growing religion in the country with about 0.7% of the population into it (Kosmin, 2001). Furthermore, there are about 2.7 million Muslims in the United States, forming about 0.9% of the population which is increasingly growing as a result of more Muslim immigrants seeking residency in the country. Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism have developed mainly as a result of immigration of people from the Middle East and Asian countries such as India, China, and other countries in the East Asian region. Political influence is one of the most significant influences that religion has had on the United States. Many of the ideals that are held dear by the American society, such as liberty and democracy all have their roots in Christianity as practiced by the founding fathers and settlers of what would eventually become the United States (Feldman, 2005). The British North American colonies were mainly founded in the seventeenth century by escaping persecution in England. These individuals, many of who were fleeing religious persecution and sought freedom of worship, such as the Puritan settlers, developed communities which were meant to guarantee their religious freedoms and the result was that their systems of government were based on Christian values. The United States political scene, especially the presidency, has been dominated by Christians, who form approximately 70.6% of the American population (Kosmin, 2001). There are presidents, such as George Washington, John Adams and Georg e H.W. Bush, who have not only sought to enforce their ideals on the manner in which they run their administrations, but they also ensured that Christian ideals had an impact on their foreign policies. The Jewish vote in America tends to be united behind issues such as

The British Economy Recession Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

The British Economy Recession - Essay Example It can be explained by the fact that these countries have more favorable natural resources than the UK. Up to World War Germany had been following its own policy of imperialism and that is why it nearly stopped any relations with the UK. Despite the above-mentioned facts, the UK was still doing not very badly. The War ruined all spheres of the UK industry. It did destabilize the British economy for a long period of time. The plants and factories both in town and in the suburbs were regularly bombarded and eventually, it lead to the decline of the UK economy. Participating in the War made the UK lose the quarter of the country’s wealth. The decline of manufacture brought about the total unemployment and strikes of complaints. The unemployment was spread among women and those men who were not involved in battles. Those enterprises that were not ruined closed down because they even didn’t cover their expenses. People in those times didn’t have money to develop the majority of branches of the manufacturer. The only spheres that managed to survive and even got some profit was the food manufacture and the military one. During the War, these products became of prime importance. Although the manufacturer in the UK was in recession, London still played the role of the world main financial center. I accumulated the accounts dealing with military forces and other spheres. For performing the function of the World Bank the UK, surely, charged the percentage and that donation allowed it to proceed to participate in the battles. People unsatisfied with the political and economic situation united in General Strike that aimed to demand the increase of the standards of living. The authorities managed to suppress the Strike and those people who participated in it were blacklisted and could not be hired for very long after the strike. T

Introduction to microeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Introduction to microeconomics - Essay Example Buyers have to wait in queues and this situation also does not guarantee that whether they will get the product when their number comes. Sellers of a product can also provide the goods and services to their favorite clients which violates the procedure of efficient markets (Ceiling price regulation). Price Ceiling phenomenon reflects that government intervention does not necessarily means that market will operate efficiently and effectively. Price ceiling is a tool through which government intervenes however it has been observed that intervention is not beneficial in the long run. Economists are of the opinion that output generated through free market economy is the best possible outcome for the welfare of buyers and sellers in the market. Although general public might feel that they are getting goods and services at the lower prices therefore it is better for them but they should also recognize that they are not going to get the product every time they will go to buy it. Price Ceiling creates severe shortage in the economy therefore it should be noted that government intervention is not the solution to the rising prices or inflation in the long

The Penny Press Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Penny Press - Essay Example The penny press had much more to offer readers then traditional newspapers. The penny press, which became almost popular overnight, allowed writers to give the public a small breakdown of current events. This was important since readers no longer had to wait for other papers to circulate. Readers wanting to be updated on the latest and greatest events could purchase a subscription or pick up a paper from a local news stand. When consumers purchased the paper, they knew that the paper would contain information that was current and of interest. Not everyone took a liking to The Penny Press. â€Å"Many were not interested in the topics presented and thought that they appealed to a lower class of individuals.† (Friedman 2005) These people preferred the traditional style newspaper since it contained political info as well as the week’s most important headlines. The late 1800’s was a time that housed many new events. These new events were so popular and interesting to readers that they fueled the success of The Penny Press. The public quickly became use to the fact that they could read new and updated topics everyday for only one penny. The effect of the popularity of The Penny Press, left penny press writers with the need to constantly seek out new stories. These new stories were not always easy to find and The Penny Press opened up the doors and gave a new definition to the meaning journalism. Journalism quickly began to grow as the need for new stories became such a high demand. Consequences that arose from the increase in journalism as a result of The Penny Press are seen even in today’s society. These consequences include a decrease in the public’s privacy, an increase in paparazzi, and an increased want by the public to have information. The pressure this created on journalist made journalist hungry for information and willing to do what was necessary to get the most popular and sought after story. It is obvious that the

Evaluating Truth and Validity Exercise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Evaluating Truth and Validity Exercise - Essay Example They even went to the extent of providing high scholars and college student’s credit cards. This trend has less to careless spending from this age group (Jain, 2009). Teenager and adolescents are usually irrational in their decisions. Coupled by peer pressure and the feeling of wanting to fit in, some of these young people end up spending without knowledge of how they are going to pay. It has become something which many should are worried since giving money to spend to such children that is unlimited is like giving them a bomb. According to Jain (2009), people under the age of 21 should not be given any credit cards for their impulsive nature of careless spending (Jain, 2009). Even if one can sit with them, they always act defiant to their elders, hence would be a waste of time teaching them on wise spending whereas they are in a stage of discovering the world. How else can one discover the world when he or she is left with credit card? According to psychologist, money is not something which people under the age of 21 should not be given at their will since they do not have enough responsibility to know the value and repercussions of overspending since they would not be paying for them (Jain, 2009). According to Farrow (2010), power is believed to be the root of all evil, as it makes them corrupt. Power is defined as being in a position to control others. According to the Bible, power is a God given thing given to man to be in control over his creations (Farrow, 2010). Other people do believe that power is the root cause of evil, is it really true? One may wonder from the statement and provide examples of quite a number of people who have been in power and not corrupt. It is always not a fact to link corruption to power. Corruption is a virtue with exists in specific people. Taking a few corrupt individuals and generalizing them as making power corrupt from my opinion is not true (Farrow, 2010). Can we say that since the Pope is in power,

The Penny Press Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Penny Press - Essay Example The penny press had much more to offer readers then traditional newspapers. The penny press, which became almost popular overnight, allowed writers to give the public a small breakdown of current events. This was important since readers no longer had to wait for other papers to circulate. Readers wanting to be updated on the latest and greatest events could purchase a subscription or pick up a paper from a local news stand. When consumers purchased the paper, they knew that the paper would contain information that was current and of interest. Not everyone took a liking to The Penny Press. â€Å"Many were not interested in the topics presented and thought that they appealed to a lower class of individuals.† (Friedman 2005) These people preferred the traditional style newspaper since it contained political info as well as the week’s most important headlines. The late 1800’s was a time that housed many new events. These new events were so popular and interesting to readers that they fueled the success of The Penny Press. The public quickly became use to the fact that they could read new and updated topics everyday for only one penny. The effect of the popularity of The Penny Press, left penny press writers with the need to constantly seek out new stories. These new stories were not always easy to find and The Penny Press opened up the doors and gave a new definition to the meaning journalism. Journalism quickly began to grow as the need for new stories became such a high demand. Consequences that arose from the increase in journalism as a result of The Penny Press are seen even in today’s society. These consequences include a decrease in the public’s privacy, an increase in paparazzi, and an increased want by the public to have information. The pressure this created on journalist made journalist hungry for information and willing to do what was necessary to get the most popular and sought after story. It is obvious that the

English skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

English skills - Essay Example â€Å"Quality in Higher Education â€Å" have a high impact factor. Nevertheless, since it was a qualitative research, there always exists likelihood of slightly inaccurate interpretation of responses of the research participants. This article is primarily about internationalization. While the writers have objectively declared how they understand internationalization i.e. a process that requires sustained effort causing intensification of the relationships among different cultures, yet this definition remains a personal opinion since the writers have not cited a reference for it. Contrary to that, most ideas in the text are supported with evidence. Examples of such ideas include globalization and cultural intelligence. The article was written in the year 2009. It can be considered recent since it was written only about four years ago. The content of the text is very relevant and up-to-date with the contemporary thinking. Most organizations today tend to give international exposure to their employees by making them expatriates. Cultural intelligence and international experience are two of the most appreciated qualities about the candidates for any kind of job today. The writers have fairly complied with all the rules, guidelines and expectations concerning the language, style, structure, referencing and vocabulary that those producing material at University level are expected to follow. The text has a flow of ideas with smooth transition from one to another. The ideas are arranged in the form of points. Sections and headings help the reader understand what a paragraph entails and keep track of the

Elder Care Case Study Essay Example for Free

Elder Care Case Study Essay Mr. Trosack is a 72 year old man who fell down a long flight of stairs a month ago, underwent a total hip replacement and is in need of a discharge plan. He completed two weeks of rehabilitation in the hospital for his hip as well as diabetic teaching for his new onset of Diabetes. It was also discovered during this hospitalization that he needed to start taking medication for hypertension. Both he and his family are in denial about what it will take to get him home and deliver the care that is needed. Healthcare Issues and their Importance Discharge planning and management with an elderly person can become very complicated and should be approached with an open mind and the willingness to compromise with the family and patient himself, keeping in mind that the safety of the patient is top priority. Before Mr. Trosack can safely be discharged home several issues have to be considered. It is important that the case manager meet with the patient, his family as well as find out about the details of where he will be going and how much assistance from family and friends is available and dependable. One of the issues that needs attention is his physical preparation to move back home. In his current state, he is not able to take care of himself without help. Based on the interview of his son and daughter in law, as well as taking into consideration their lack of help prior to the surgery, it doesn’t appear that they will be able to visit him often or consistently. That will not work immediately because Mr. Trosack will n eed daily assistance, for several more weeks. A rehabilitation center may be his best option in order to ensure his safety and avoid another fall. He will be able to continue physical therapy sessions in order to continue to improve as well as round the clock help when needed. He would receive more stair climbing training, hip strengthening exercises as well as gait training. Attending the rehab program would also allow him to socialize with people facing similar obstacles and adjusting to a new way of living. An Occupational Therapist (OT) can be consulted to assist with adjusting to his activities of daily living. Continued monitoring of his new medications as well as extra help with blood sugar monitoring may help him deal with the denial of his new onset of Diabetes and Hypertension. The specialists at the rehab center will be able to assess and determine when Mr. Trosack is ready to go home and can be independent with minimal assistance. Preparing him properly the first time can avoid other accidents as well as motivate him to keep working on his strength and endurance. Another important issue to consider before discharge planning is the safety of his home. Assessing and making changes to his living conditions is a must. After the safety assessment was completed it was obvious that changes had to be made at home to accommodate a person with new disabilities. Since the apartment is cluttered, it must be cleaned up. There are several â€Å"memorable† treasures that he has at home; presently they are hazards because of their location. They do not have to be thrown out but they do have to be moved. The kitchen, bathroom, living room, entry way and one bedroom all need to be free of throw rugs, collectables and furniture that blocks the passage of a walker. There are two rooms in his apartment so one should become a storage area for all of the clutter until Mr. Trosack has moved beyond a walker or cane. The bathroom needs to have permanent safety rails installed near the toilet and bathtub or shower as well as a non-skid applied to the bathtub surface. The medicine cabinet should be cleaned out and all expired or unnecessary medications discarded or returned to a pharmacy. The kitchen is in good order but the refrigerator needs to be cleaned and the expired food thrown out. The living area needs to have minimal furniture and placed so things are easily accessible and not in the flow of traffic. Night lights or motion sensors need to be added to avoid a fall when he gets up at night to use the bathroom. Addressing the stairs is not a simple solution. As long as Mr. Trosack is able to walk those stairs following a discharge from the rehab then he can move back home. Side rails on both sides need to be secure and easily accessible to him at a safe level for him to hold on to. Some apartment complexes have added elevators or elevator chairs, if that is an option then that would be fantastic. These issues need to be addresses to avoid another injury at home such as a fall. Mr. Trosacks new diagnosis of Diabetes and Hypertension need to be addressed. There are many psychosocial issues with his new disabilities and diagnosis. These are important because he needs to be able to accept his disabilities and take care of his health, in order to avoid serious complications, heal and cope. It is clear that Mr. Trosack is having a difficult time accepting his new medical diagnosis as well as not being able to be independent. His comments about being able to handle it all himself at home but yet communicating his frustrations by having to take medications and not being able to get up and down the stairs speak volumes. Continued diabetic teaching may help him understand the importance of food choices and listening to his body’s signals of low or high blood sugar levels. Even after discharge from the rehab center Mr. Trosack should continue having a home health nurse in for periodic visits since it may be difficult to get to doctors’ visits to check blood pressure and blood glucose. A portable glucose monitor and automatic blood pressure should be purchased and kept at home. The mental preparation and coping mechanisms will need to be addressed prior to leaving the rehabilitation center. Denial from the patient and family tells the health care team that teaching needs to be done in all areas and with all heath care team members. Team Members and their Roles Discharge planning for an elderly patient requires a team of health care professionals as well as family members working together in order to have a successful transition to home. The case manager needs to be in charge of organizing the team and following Mr. Trosacks progress in order to direct the team based on his changing needs. A Physical Therapist has been working with Mr. Trosack in rehab and that work needs to continue. He needs to improve stair climbing and increase his strength. He will need to work on a generalize exercise program as well as specific gait, balance and coordination to help him become independent at home.He will need to learn to use a walker and cane. Research supports the most effective interventions to manage falls risk are those that incorporate exercise and that exercise program needs to be structured, progressed, and must achieve the minimum dose of exercise (Shubert, 2011). An Occupational Therapist (OT) should be involved with evaluating Mr. Trosack a nd making sure he and his house is ready for his return. Occupational therapy services include comprehensive evaluations of the home and other environments and recommendations on equipment and training as well as guidance and education for family members. They try to adapt the environment to fit the person. (AOTA, 2012). Mr. Trosacks son or brother should work with the OT to coordinate the bathroom safety bars and no skid flooring as well as making sure all excess furniture and collectables are placed in the second bedroom. A dietician should educate him on how to prepare diabetic and heart healthy meals. Diabetic teaching is so important for patients living alone. If he does not take his diabetic diet seriously he may end up with inconsistent blood sugars which in turn can lead to unstable mental status and generalized motor weakness. A Social Worker will be able to assist Mr. Trosack and family with financial and social needs. The Social Worker can assist with completing paperwork for financial assistance and medical equipment needs. Mr. Trosack may be able to get financial assistance for medical equipment such as safety bars for his house, stair lifts, and exercise equipment. The social worker can also assist in getting him meal delivery and get the patient involved in some social activities. Coordinating family visits and family assistance should be done with the Social Worker and should be coordinated based on lack of outside assistance. Social workers are challenged to enable patients and families to have control over decision making regarding their discharge planning(Kadushin Kulys, 1993).They are trained to help patients and families help themselves. The social worker can help the family identify resources such as home health aids to come to the house when family cannot. Social Workers are also trained in counseling and may be able to help the patient and family cope with the transition. A Home Health Agency could send in a Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or a Certified Nurses Assistant (CAN) to monitor blood sugars, monitor blood pressure, monitor medications and continue teaching on all of those as well as assist in his Activities of Daily Living (ADL). This team needs to work with Mr. Trosack’s physician who oversees the plan of care, helps determine services and assists if consults or reports needed for insurance reasons. Safety Safety one of the main concerns when discharging a patient. The case manager needs to know that the patient is ready and equipped to make a smooth transition so he will not be readmitted to the hospital shortly after discharge. As discussed in the assessment, Mr. Trosack cannot be discharged home because of several safety concerns. He is not strong enough to climb the stairs, his home is not ready to receive him in its current state, he and his family are in denial of his needs, and the team has not been established to assist him, so it is not safe to send him home. If he is able to continue Physical Therapy he should gain enough strength to climb up and down once he arrives home. In his home, many areas need to be cleaned of clutter so he doesn’t trip or fall. He will most likely be using an assistive device such as a walker or cane and they can easily become caught up in rugs or furniture. A clear path around the apartment in required and gait training will be part of his therapy. Taking into consideration all the safety issues that will determine another fall or even more serious complications it should be strongly suggested by the case worker that Mr. Trosack continue in an inpatient rehabilitation facility in order to give him time to improve his strength, health and coping mechanisms. This will also give him and his family time to process his needs when he comes home as well as get the home and services needed. Discharge Plan Needs Family is a necessary part of discharge planning. In this case, Mr. Trosacks only family member isnot able to assist him adequately to meet his needs and avoid an injury or readmission. His son and family are too busy and his brother is elderly. Depending on this family for necessary daily needs is not realistic. Along with not being prepared physically, they appear to be in the same mind frame as Mr. Trosack regarding the denial of new medical diagnosis as well as his physical restrictions. Teaching needs to become a priority and the team may be able to help with realistic goals for the family. This is where the social worker and home health nurse could be of most assistance. Mr. Trosack will need to have some sort of â€Å"meals on wheels† delivery of food when he returns home. It may be temporary but should start out that way to avoid missing meals. After he is comfortable and capable of preparing his own food he may opt to have the grocery store deliver a few times a week. Also grocery delivery should be requested. The family can help do some of the legwork for his arrival home. They need to be educated on what are needs and wants for a patient coming home from a hip replacement so that they know what they need to do and what they need to outsource to private agencies. Educating them will hopefully allow them to see that Mr. Trosacks is in need of help even though he denies it. Social Isolation Our mental and physical states of health depend on each other. After any life altering surgery older adults end up socializing much less if their activities of daily living are affected. In Mr. Trosacks case, he will need to stay in physical rehabilitation longer and will not be as independent as before the fall. A limited physical mobility usually means limited social interaction. Limited social interaction can decrease his motivation to continue exercising and strengthening his body and could lead further to depression. Familiarity and stability are essential in order for him to be able to cope and heal (Nichols Riemer, 2008).His social interaction with his family may be strained because they are focused on helping take care of his physical needs and not focused on laughing, having fun and enjoying time together. Psychological Factors A human’s thoughts, feelings and attitudes all influence their behaviors; those behaviors then begin to determine how they will handle stress. Having a hip replacement is frustrating and stressful for patients and families not only because of the physical changes but psychological. Mr. Trosack is used to caring for himself and is now not going to be able to do that. The sudden lifestyle change is an added stressor that he needs help to cope with. â€Å"If stress becomes persistent and low-level, all parts of the bodys stress apparatus (the brain, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and muscles) become chronically over-activated or under-activated. Such chronic stress may produce physical or psychological damage over time† (University of Maryland, 2009). Mr. Trosack should be encouraged to get some cognitive behavioral therapy either one on one or support groups once he is moving around more easily. It will be important for the health care team once Mr. Trosack goes home, to motivate him to keep up with exercises, proper diet, relaxation techniques, and continually monitor stressors involved. Mr. Trosack has already shown signs on denial with his new medical problems. He is not happy to have to take medications and if he does not get help to understand and accept his new medical conditions he will run into an even further disabling state. He has lived in his home for many years so it is best to do everything possible to make that happen. Recommendation As stated earlier, the inpatient rehabilitation center is the recommended place from Mr. Trosack to go to before heading home. He needs the extra attention and encouragement in order to be able to take care of himself. He is not strong enough to move back to his house nor is his house ready to receive him. His family support is will not be consistent, soother arrangements need to be made for meals and transportation as well as activities of daily living. He may not accept the idea of more rehab because he really wants to get home but hopefully after teaching him the importance of doing things rights the first time to avoid another fall, he may agree. He also needs to be assured that the teams goal is to get him home as quickly as possible, so the harder he works the faster he may get home and become more independent. The team needs to try to avoid having him move from the place he has lived in and loves. Reference Shubert, T. (2011). Evidence based exercise prescription for balance and falls prevention. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 34(3), 100-108. The American Occupation Therapy Association (AOTA). (2012). Retrieved from http://www.aota.org/consumers.aspx Kadushin, G. Kulys, R. (1993, November). Discharge planning revisited: what do social workers actually do in discharge planning?. Social Work, 38, 713-726. Nichols, T., Riemer, M. (2008, June). Post surery social isolation. Presentation deivered at 17th world concil of enterostomal therapists (wcet) congress , Ljubljana, Slovenia. Retrieved from http://www.hollister.com/us/files/pdfs/ce09/psychosocial/910298.pdf University of Maryland. (2009, February 13). Stress. Retrieved from http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/stress_000031.htm

Morrisons Bluest Eye Essay: Self-Definition -- Toni Morrison The Blue

In Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, published in 1970, the struggle begins in childhood. Two young black girls -- Claudia and Pecola -- illuminate the combined power of externally imposed gender and racial definitions where the black female must not only deal with the black male's female but must contend with the white male's and the white female's black female, a double gender and racial bind. All the male definitions that applied to the white male's female apply, in intensified form, to the black male's, white male's and white female's black female. In addition, where the white male and female are represented as beautiful, the black female is the inverse -- ugly. Self-definition is crucial, not only to being, but to creating. As Gilbert and Gubar so astutely note in The Madwoman in the Attic, "For all literary artists, of course, self-definition necessarily precedes self-assertion: the creative 'I AM' cannot be uttered if the 'I' knows not what it is" (17). One way of describing this work of self-definition is as "learn[ing] to understand what around and about us and what within us must live, and what must die" (Estes, 33). But female definition has not been this sorting out process of self-definition. Instead, it has been a static male definition "by default" or "by intent." If the female is to create herself, she must begin with a process of self-definition whose first step is, of necessity, a negation of the hitherto established male definition of "female." Virginia Woolf calls this "killing The Angel in the House" (PFW 286). Before she can say "yes" by creating a positive form she must first say "no" to the false positive form created by a patriarchal society. Before she can reclaim herself from the negative space of t... ...s vital and true. Â   List of Works Cited Dickinson, Emily. The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Ed. Thomas H. Johnson. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1960. Estes, Clarissa Pinkola. Women Who Run With the Wolves. New York: Ballantine Books, 1992. Gilbert, Sandra M. and Gubar, Susan. The Madwoman in the Attic. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1984. Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. New York: Penguin Books, 1994. ---, Playing in the Dark. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1992. Portales, Marco. "Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye: Shirley Temple and Cholly." The Centennial Review Fall (1986): 496-506. Rubenstein, Roberta. Boundaries of the Self. Chicago: University of Illinois, 1987. Woolf, Virginia. "Professions for Women." Collected Essays. Vol.2. London: The Hogarth Press, 1966. 284-289. Â  

Sustainable and Successful Innovation :: Business, Iraqi Manufacturing System

Today, almost all organizations face a dynamic environment characterized by rapid technological change, shortening product life cycles, and globalizations. Organizations need to be more creative and innovative than before to survive, to compete, to grow, and to lead (Jung et al., 2003; Tierney et al., 1999). An issue is that, for many sectors in general and manufacturing sectors in particular innovation seems unpredictable, mysterious, and apparently unmanageable (Tidd, Bessant, & Pavitt, 2005). The general problem is that sustainable and successful innovation is so difficult to be achieved by many firms (Marane, 2011; Al-Muafaq, 2009). In the increasingly competitive environment, firms turn to innovations to increase their performance, market share, market exposure and potential for revenue earning, but the stakes are high (Scantlebury & Lawton, 2007). While success in innovation may lead to greater revenues earning, value, and market shares (Hult, Hurley, & Knight, 2003), mistakes can lead firms to the complete breakdown carefully crafted business strategy (Cozijnsen, Vrakking, & Ijzerloo, 2000). It becomes imperative for firms to develop the capability to innovate at a faster rate and in a sustainable level (Fruhling & Siau, 2007). Organizations are increasingly investing more resources on research and development, yet studies have shown that investment by itself does not guarantee the development of organizational performance and organizational innovation capability (Wol ff, 2007). The specific problem is that, Iraq manufacturing sector has a crucial role in gross domestic products of the country over the periods it placed the second rank to support the notional economic and contributes GDP more than 33% (Iraq annual report 2010). This sector is not spared by the challenges and effects of sustainable, competitive advantages and low level of innovation. In this context, they are suffering more than other organizations in terms innovation capabilities in manufacturing sectors in Iraq. Manufacturing investment commitment to innovation may not produce valuable outcomes unless leaders of firms know how internal and external factors are related to organizational innovation capability (Drake et al., 2006). The Iraqi manufacturing system has been suffering a lot of operational as well as marketing related problem. The poor innovation of the Iraqi manufacturing system was behind the call made by the former Iraqi prime minister to call for improving the manufacturing innovation throughout the restructuring processes (Marane, Asaad, and Mohamed, 2010).

Far from the Madding Crowd Essay

† He admits to Bathsheba at the beginning of the novel that, â€Å"But I can’t match you, I know, in mapping out my mind upon my tongue. † He is not a man of words, unlike Troy and Boldwood, but proves that â€Å"actions can speak louder than words†. He is unable to speak the flattery that Troy can, or be as persistent and persuasive as Boldwood is, but in his devoted actions to Bathsheba, by being the hard and diligent worker that he is, he is rewarded in the end, by giving the opportunity to offer Bathsheba the love that he had talked of to her when he had first met her. In contrast to Gabriel, Francis Troy is a man who appears to understand only what he can get out of love. He does not believe in treating women fairly, and which is expressed as he says, â€Å"treat them fairly and you are a lost man,† when referring to women. Hardy also writes about his consistency when telling the truth; â€Å"He was moderately truthful towards men, but to women he lied like a cretan. † By lying to women he found it easy to get what he wanted, as Hardy describes him; â€Å"he spoke fluently and unceasingly. † At the beginning, Hardy remarks that a woman’s greatest fault is her â€Å"Vanity. † Troy, as he possesses such ease with the words he uses, has learnt that a woman’s weakness is her vanity, and knows that by flattering them he can get what he wants. This is precisely what he did with Bathsheba, and like her, he felt some sense of triumph when he saw that he had succeeded in weakening the women he flattered, as she did with the men she flirted with. However, instead of making the women he met feel confident, his flattery merely destroyed them, as they became dependent upon him to feed their vain needs. Troy did not have the emotional sense of love, but instead he felt the physical attraction to the women he met. This meant that he only got involved with beautiful women, as it was their beauty that attracted them to him. Even after having left Bathsheba for so long, when he saw her again at Greenhill Sheep Fair, it was her beauty that â€Å"found unexpected chords of feeling, to be stirred again within him†¦ † The way in which Troy judged by appearances was perhaps inevitably the cause of his failed marriage to Bathsheba, because he had not got to know Bathsheba as a person, but simply looked at her, as a symbol of beauty. In some ways it could be said that he looked at the women as trophies that he had won. Troy was also a man driven by wealth. Bathsheba, who had come into wealth after the inheritance of the lease of Weatherbury Farm, would have been even more attractive to him as she now had money. We know that he was driven by money, as he used to bet on the horses, which put considerable financial strain on Bathsheba. This was probably the reason why he did not marry Fanny, due to her financial instability. Money was also the reason why he did not return to Bathsheba initially after landing at Liverpool, as Hardy writes, â€Å"what a life such a future of poverty would be. † This, unlike the love felt by Gabriel, was a selfish form of love, because he only ever though of himself. He had a very superficial view of love, which required wealth in order to make him happy. Troy’s opinions of love did not include the idea of commitment, and another reason for the failure of his marriage could be due to his womanising and flirtatious behaviour. We learn near to the end of the novel that his opinion of marriage is negative and he sees it not as the beginning of two people’s lives together, but as he says himself, â€Å"all romances end at marriage. † He also did not believe in the idea of equality, and shared responsibilities in a relationship, as he abandons Fanny with the great burden of an unborn child to deal with alone. This is probably due to his carefree opinion of sex, which he also valued as much as he did love. Troy did not value love as anything special, and this could be put down to the fact that he had a very unstable background, and an uncertain upbringing. His profession would also have something to do with his opinion of women, and as a soldier, he probably never had to deal with women and did not understand them. This is why he tried to possess them, and this destroyed them. Hardy has some very clear opinions that he wishes to get across to the reader in this novel. He uses the characters as tools, to create a picture for the readers, expressing his personal views on love. He rewards those characters that see love as a simple but precious thing, and he shows how much he admires Gabriel Oak for his powers of endurance, by rewarding him with Bathsheba in the end. In contrast, he punishes those characters that take love too lightly. An example of this is the attitude of Troy which end is death in the end. Hardy warns us of the great power of love and how dangerous it can be. The obsession that Boldwood felt for Bathsheba, is another feeling that he condemns, and shows how life can be ruined because of obsession. This is shown by the lifelong imprisonment of Boldwood. Hardy’s opinions of love are really exposed at the end of the novel, when he describes his own thoughts about how truelove can develop. He uses Bathsheba and Gabriel as an example of how true love can develop. They were â€Å"tried friends† who enjoyed â€Å"good-fellowship and comraderie. † The main message Hardy is trying to get across to us is that love cannot hide behind a fake face. He writes that in order for a successful relationship to take place, you must know the â€Å"rougher sides† of each other’s character. This is the love Hardy describes to be â€Å"the only love which is as strong as death- that love which many waters cannot quench, nor the floods drown. â€Å"

Key characteristics and the pioneers in avant-garde music

Minimalism originated in the sass, as a movement that sought to stray from the previous decade of self-expressionism as well as the contemporary trends of intellectual complexities found in serial music. Marked by repetitive mitotic and rhythmic patterns, it sought to emphasize simplicity in both melodic lines and harmonic progressions. In contrast to serial music's favored chromatic compositional techniques, minimalist music was wholly diatonic and consonant in nature. Textural consistency and layered melodies/rhythms gave way to gradual changes, highlighting the ‘process' of music, tater than a particular musical goal or specialized form.Seemingly lacking a climax, each composition unfolded by a series of repeating motives and additive rhythms extended over long periods of time. Influenced by Asian and African music, minimalism understated dramatic structures and sounds, instead emphasizing the reduction of musical structures. During the sass, a group of young American compos ers vouched for the return of basic elements of music, without dramatic structures and abstract expressionism. Many were influenced by the compositions of John Cage, including several leading gurus of the minimalist movement: Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass.A graduate of Berkeley, Riley opposed the chromatic and twelve-tone writings of serial music. Like many of his contemporaries, Riley experimented with tape loops in his compositions and bridged the gap between the new avian-garden and the piqued interest of rock music. Riley was specifically interested in composing works for â€Å"live† audiences, as these proved more effective in conveying the so-called avian-garden sounds. Successful in its reception, this kind of experimental music appealed to the public as t grew in popularity and acceptance; his music was inclusive and non-elite.Varying degrees of musical experience and backgrounds were encouraged. An excellent example of this can be found in his compositio n, In C. Written in 1964, In C did not necessarily require the skills of highly trained musicians to be performed. The piece lasts 44 minutes, although one would not suspect it to be so lengthy as it only contains fifty-three â€Å"modules† in total. Any number of instruments could play at a given time either at the original pitch or at any octave transposition. Each of the fifty-three modules were to be â€Å"looped;† in other words, they should be repeated ad labium before moving on to the next module.Moreover, articulations and dynamics were to be performed ad labium. The work finally concluded when all of the performers had arrived at the last module. While it appears that Riley music contains a sort of â€Å"anything goes† mentality, it is quite the contrary in some respects. In choosing instruments for the actual performance, Riley suggested that all players maintain an eighth-note pulse, which was audibly heard by an instrumentalist who played the top oct ave of CSS, most likely plan n a piano or xylophone. Furthermore, Riley favored more homogeneous sound; thus, instruments that consisted of specific timbres and ranges were discouraged.In C was a prime example in proving that minimalist music was not music void of regulations and rules; rather, it stemmed from â€Å"algorithms. † Riley considered these algorithms fundamental to his music even if they appeared loose by nature. Interestingly enough, the C-pulse in Riley work was not his own idea, but instead that of another contemporary, Steve Reich. Reich was born in 1936 and his compositions were heavily influenced by non- Western traditions. He studied African drumming, which involved complex counterpoint, and Balinese gametal music, with its complex layering and fast interlocking patterns.Quite different in background from Riley, Reich was born into wealthy and high-class family in New York. Having had traditional piano lessons growing up, an impressive education at Cornell with a major in Philosophy, and graduate studies at the Jailbird School in traditional' composition, Reich eventually found his path in composing twentieth-century music. Upon listening to recordings of Stravinsky Rite of Spring, Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, and bebop in succession, Riches developed a new musical obsession, what theorists would call, â€Å"subtractive pulse. † It is steady, audible pulse that is practically palpable (found in, In C).Eventually, Reich experimented â€Å"phase shifting. † with multiple tape loops, Just as Riley did, and the idea of gradual Phase shifting is a compositional technique in which a repetitive motive is played on two instruments, in a steady but not identical tempo. Eventually, the instruments ‘shift' out of unison and the musical result resembles a ringing or echo effect, but ultimately, returns to unison. The gradual ‘shifting' is initially subtle, due to the fact that the beginning Tempe are virtually identica l, but over time, the differences in Tempe increase and become much more apparent.In some live performances, the gradual phase shifting is entirely too subtle, thus forcing the performer to either add or remove a note, resulting in a shift by a single beat. Piano Phase was Riches first attempt at gradual phase shifting in a live performance. Later, Reich experimented with more immediate and less gradual changes in his Clapping Music. Philip Glass, also influenced by African and Indonesian music, collaborated with Reich for many performances, as they both sought to ‘minimalism' the compositional techniques of Western music, counterpoint, and part-writing.Maintaining commonality in elements of limited range of pitch and accentuation on constant melodic and rhythmic repetitions, Glass's music initially resembled Riches in many ways; however, his compositional techniques differed somewhat towards his latter years. While Reich used melodic and rhythmic repetition to gradually trans form his music, Glass utilized â€Å"additive Hitachi† processes, a technique that augmented small melodic units over the course of the piece. This was distinctively different from Riches ‘phasing' strategies.For instance, in Glass's Music in Fifths, the original eight-note motive is expanded by the addition of several notes and subsequently grows to two hundred notes. Similar to Reich, Glass's compositional style began simpler, but eventually evolved into slightly more complex minimalist techniques. At first, his choice of textures were limited to unison and octave doubling, as evidenced in Music in Fifths but later, he rated more complex textures in choral voices found in his Music in Similar Motion.His more recent music has evolved using simple harmonic progressions of a traditional style, but still adheres to the idea of reduction and perpetual repetition. During the sass, Glass began scripting works for the stage, including several operas: Einstein on the Beach (19 75), Straight (1980), and Keenan (1983). At this time, skepticism surrounded the existence of opera in modern times. Nonetheless, Glass's operas were tremendously significant in re-igniting enthusiasm for this genre. Of course, anthropometry opera contrasted greatly to those of Western traditions, as it consisted of non-narratives and musical theatre settings.Glass often performed in his own ensemble, the Phillip Glass Ensemble, mainly consisting of amplified woodwinds, keyboard synthesizers, and solo vocals. Minimalist music revolutionized the way listeners heard music during the twentieth-century. Due to its simplistic sonorities, repeating rhythms and melodies, minimalist music could often be heard as a type of trance' music. Its pulse unwavering, audible, and undeniably transparent, the listener is brought into an almost ‘hypnotic' Tate of mind. This sort of listening results in a somewhat passive participation, rather than active aural and emotional involvement.Undoubtedl y, minimalist music has an almost static quality to its sound, with its pulsating rhythms and steady tempos. Oriel's fascination with subtractive pulses, catapulted the interest of avian-garden music amongst amateur and professional musicians alike. A pioneer in the minimalism movement, Philip Glass certainly understood the intent of this music to its listeners. To fully grasp his compositional works, he required the audience to hear music as a ‘presence,' free room any sort of structural expectation or dramatic form.It was often heard as anti- climatic, and worked best for dramatic actions on stage or on screen. Common among the composers of this period was the ideology of ‘less is more. ‘ Reduction and striping of the ‘old' styles were accentuated in performances, and listeners were subject to a new kind of musical experience compared to previous centuries past. Taking advantage of current technologies including records, broadcasts, and electronic instrumen ts, Riley, Reich, and Glass incorporated these technological advances into their music.Typically, electronic instruments and pitches were utilized in minimalist music, as these particular sounds highlighted the monotony and reiteration of melodic and rhythmic ‘cells. ‘ Prior to the twentieth-century, instruments were played and heard by way of inflection and nuance, whereas minimalist music omitted any sort of variance in expressive sound. Academic surrealist composers often dismissed the work of the non-academic avian-garden minimalists, but to the minimalist composer, music could be void of numbers and musical ‘maps. ‘ Past Western traditions were based on rules and structures, cost of which minimalist composers rejected.The ideology that music should stem from reduced musical elements, and that their growth should be gradual and rather organic, pinned this musical genre as experimental and innovative. Transformation was marked by gradual processes and supe rfluous elements were disregarded and deemed unnecessary. The â€Å"process† of development was more important than the end result, much like the idea that Joy and self-evolution is found in the Journey and not Just in achieving it. Minimalism opposed the conservative or nostalgic and sought no return to older styles.

Pride And Prejudice:Why is the news of the elopement of Lydia and Wickham in Chapter 46 Essay

Why is the news of the elopement of Lydia and Wickham in Chapter 46 such an important moment and how does it affect what follows in the novel? A very key moment in the novel is when Elizabeth is informed of the elopement of Lydia and Wickham by two letters from Jane (while she is visiting Pemberley in Chapter 46). The two letters instead of one create more suspense and anticipation. This chapter is very important because that single event changes everything and has far reaching effects on relationships (such as Elizabeth and Darcy, Lydia and Wickham, Jane and Bingley, the Bennet family and its distant relations), attitudes, and the development of characters in the story. It changes the perspective of many characters and the truth behind appearances begins to emerge. Everything in the novel builds up to this decisive moment of crisis where things could go either way; good or bad. The build up to this chapter is very crucial as Elizabeth and Darcy slowly come closer and are on the most civil terms before the news of the elopement breaks, which makes the situation sadly ironic. Elizabeth goes from rejecting him to having her prejudices lifted when he gives the letter, correcting her misconceptions and finally to respecting him and having a deep gratitude towards him: ‘She respected, she esteemed, she was grateful to him.’ Darcy even invites her to meet his sister and she begins to start thinking of ‘bringing on the renewal of his address.’ This is why it’s so ironic when the news arrives of Lydia’s scandalous elopement because just when Elizabeth’s feelings reach a new high point for Darcy, she is hit with the realisation that he may never want to be associated with her again: ‘Never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved him, when all love must be in vain.’ However, Darcy does show great concern for Elizabeth when he arrives unexpectedly during her breakdown; an ironic and dramatic moment as he’s almost like her saviour coming to rescue her. His concern for her is an important factor showing the closeness of the two characters, and so the reader may be contemplating whether to agree with Elizabeth or not, on her opinion that ‘her power was sinking’. When Elizabeth gives him an account of the situation and how ‘nothing can be done’, according to her interpretations, he ‘shook his head in silent acquiescence’ and is seen to be ‘walking up and down the room in earnest meditation, his brow contracted, his air gloomy.’ Elizabeth thinks that this was evidence enough that his feelings are changing. But in fact, she misunderstands his actions which is ironic as she thinks she ‘instantly understood it’. In fact, Darcy proves her wrong and does help the situation, showing the strength of Darcy’s love for Elizabeth which is the main reason that the elopement accelerates their love affair, instead of completely destroying it. It is ironic how Elizabeth regrets making Mr Darcy ‘acquainted with their fears for her sister’ in earlier chapters, but if he hadn’t known, the situation would have deteriorated. Elizabeth had clearly underestimated him as instead of looking at Elizabeth’s status with scorn, he helps the Bennet’s escape from disgrace. Elizabeth learns about this through Mrs Gardiner’s letter: ‘â€Å"He left Derbyshire only one day after ourselves, and came to town with the resolution of hunting for them.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Such a quick reaction meant that he had probably decided his intentions during his and Elizabeth’s unexpected encounter. The elopement acts as a catalyst instead of hindrance as it develops trust, understanding and gratitude between the couple. Elizabeth, of course is grateful for his ‘unexampled kindness’ to her sister but Darcy also has his reasons to thank Elizabeth. Darcy’s character is altered by the elopement, and his need to redeem himself before Elizabeth is a major part of how the effects of the elopement managed to take a positive turn for some people. Darcy undergoes a huge change in his behaviour after Elizabeth rejects his proposal as he says: ‘â€Å"You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ He views the rejection as a ‘lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous’. His behaviour improves in Pemberley as he’s shown as ‘polite and unassuming’ opposed to the previous comments of his ‘disagreeable countenance’ in Meryton. But it is nothing compared to the test that the elopement put his character through. He must have suffered to lower himself and negotiate with people who nearly destroyed his sister’s life; Mrs Younge and Wickham. ‘Every kind of pride must revolt from the connection’, but he does it to prove himself to Elizabeth: ‘â€Å"The wish of giving happiness to you, might add force to the other inducements that lead me on.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ He also feels responsible for the fact that because of his ‘mistaken pride’, Elizabeth’s sister was going through something that his sister had been saved of; which is why he felt it ‘his duty to step forward and endeavour to remedy an evil which had been brought upon by himself.’ It shows how he is trying to make up for his past mistakes which brings light to his good nature. However, for characters like Wickham and Lydia, the elopement does quite the opposite as their real images are finally revealed to the public. For Lydia, although her disgraceful behaviour really accentuates her flaws and the full extent of her shameless nature is shown, the elopement doesn’t tell us anything new about her character. Even previously, as Elizabeth notes, ‘Lydia had wanted only encouragement to attach herself to anybody†¦her affections had been continually fluctuating, but never without an object.’ Not many people had high expectations for her as Mr Bennet says, when Elizabeth is pleading to forbid Lydia to go to Brighton: ‘Lydia will never be easy till she has exposed herself in some public place or another’. It’s ironic as Mr Bennet’s predictions actually take place in Brighton. With Wickham, it’s a completely different matter as he always had a very ‘gentlemanlike appearance’ and an ‘agreeable manner’ but after the news of the elopement everyone realises, as Colonel Forster says, ‘W. was not a man to be trusted’. A few people, like Elizabeth, Jane and Darcy were already aware of Wickham’s true personality but most were not. Later on, when the town finds out about his debts to ‘every tradesman in the place’, they declare him to be ‘the wickedest young man in the world.’ The elopement itself is a shocking development as there was ‘â€Å"no symptom of affection on either side†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, as Elizabeth mentions, before Lydia goes to Brighton. From this, we can make an assumption that neither of the couple has strong feelings for one another as it seems a very rushed decision made in the heat of the moment rather than a well thought out marriage plan. In fact, in Jane’s letter, Denny says that Wickham ‘never intended to go there, or to marry Lydia at all’ (‘there’ in this context meaning Gretna Green: a place where young couples got married). Lydia did believe she was going to get married, as Elizabeth thinks: ‘She did not suppose Lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement, without the intention of marriage’. But there was enough evidence to suggest that her little understanding would be her downfall: ‘neither her virtue nor her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy prey’. She definitely didn’t understand the repercussions of this scandalous affair and doesn’t seem to full grasp the meaning of a woman’s honour; something that was very important in the 19th century. As Mary says in her reflections: ‘â€Å"Loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable- that one false step involves her in endless ruin†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. Thankfully, the couple end up getting married due to a payment of â€Å"considerably more than a thousand pounds† by Darcy but their characters seem the least affected by the whole incident. ‘â€Å"Lydia was Lydia still; untamed, unabashed, wild, noisy and fearless.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Lydia undergoes no change and thinks that ‘â€Å"my sisters must all envy me†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. She has absolutely no shame for her behaviour and instead, she continuously flaunts her married status around at every opportunity available: ‘â€Å"Ah! Jane, I take your place now, and you must go lower, because I am a married woman.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ But, she doesn’t take the responsibilities that come with her married status very seriously. Although she seems to have an immense liking for Wickham, â€Å"he was her dear†, she still seems to be engaged with other men, ‘â€Å"Tell him I will dance with him at the next ball we meet, with great pleasure.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Wickham is unchanged too, still keeping up appearances: ‘His manners were always so pleasing†¦his smiles and his easy address†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Despite this, Elizabeth is able to tell that ‘Wickham’s affection for Lydia, was just what Elizabeth had expected to find it; not equal to Lydia’s for him.’ He simply married her for the money. It seems like the beginnings of a terrible marriage: ‘â€Å"Small as their chance of happiness†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and ‘â€Å"So imprudent a match on both sides†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. Their marriage has an uncanny resemblance to that of Mr and Mrs Bennet; characters of opposite natures and views, uncomplimentary personalities and a marriage that happened due to uncontrollable passion, not love: ‘How little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their virtue’. Mr and Mrs Bennet, partly due to their unsuccessful marriage, prove to be terrible parents by the elopement. Jane’s letter gives us an insight in to the state at Longbourn. Mrs Bennet is described as quite unhelpful in the situation: ‘My poor mother is really ill and keeps her room.’ A good mother would try to at least provide comfort to her family and remain calm, steady and strong. Something Mrs Bennet does quite the opposite of, which is quite typical of her: ‘Could she exert herself it would be better, but this is not be expected’. Mrs Bennet influences Lydia to be flirty and exuberant from early on and it has a terrible effect. Mr Bennet, on the other hand, actually tries to handle the situation although he is grieved by the incident: ‘I never in my life saw him so affected.’ He tries to retrieve Lydia: ‘My father is going to London.’ But, it seems like an anger induced decision, ‘his excessive distress will not allow him to pursue any measure in the best and safest way’, which is not the way a good, responsible parent should react. Especially, because Mr Bennet was partly to blame for the whole incident as he never gives enough parental attention to Lydia and agrees to send her to Brighton even after Elizabeth’s pleas to withdraw the offer, simply because ‘â€Å"We shall have no peace at Longbourn if Lydia does not go to Brighton.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ This shows that he was lazy and couldn’t be bothered to deal with Lydia in the house, so it was easier just to send her away at that point. In the long run, of course, it made things much more difficult but both parents don’t seem to learn from this terrible incident at all. Mrs Bennet is delighted and happy as soon as the marriage between Lydia and Wickham is almost confirmed and is completely ignorant of past grievances caused by Lydia: ‘She was disturbed by no fear for her felicity, nor humbled by any remembrance of her misconduct.’ It was almost as if there had been no scandal in the whole affair: ‘No sentiment of shame gave a damp to her triumph.’ Even the want of new clothes trumped the ignominy of the elopement: ‘She was more alive to the disgrace, which the want of new clothes must reflect on her daughter’s nuptials, than to any sense of shame at her eloping and living with Wickham, a fortnight before they took place.’ The effect on Mr Bennet is a little different as in the beginning, he is extremely guilty: ‘Who should suffer but myself? It has been my own doing, and I ought to feel it.’ But after being ‘rendered spiritless by the ill-success of all their endeavours,’ in London, he gives up and leaves Mr Gardiner to continue the search for Lydia, going back to his indifferent shell: ‘he naturally returned to all his former indolence.’ Although he feels no guilt doing that, one should think he would feel it after Mr Gardiner’s hard work pays off and he fixes a marriage between Lydia and Wickham, while he just lazed around. This does not happen though, instead, he feels pleasure: ‘That it would be done with such trifling exertion on his side, too, was another very welcome surprise.’ Finally, another aspect the elopement has an effect on, is the distant relations such as Mr Collins and Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Mr Collins writes a letter to the Bennet family about the elopement, portraying his harsh characteristics. ‘The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison to this’, he writes selfishly, because at least that wouldn’t disgrace his household. He also mentions that all relations of the Bennet family will be disgraced, including Lady Catherine’s agreement to add more power: ‘This false step in one daughter, will be injurious to the fortunes of all others, for who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves with such a family.’ As a solution, he writes in a very unforgiving and non-Christian manner to banish Lydia: â€Å"throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence.† He doesn’t change his views even after Lydia and Wickham’s marriage: ‘You ought to certainly forgive them as a Christian, but never admit them in your sight, or allow their names to be mentioned in your hearing.’ For Lady Catherine, however, the Bennet’s disgrace is a weapon as she tries to use it against Elizabeth, in warning her to keep off Mr Darcy since she hears of their relationship: ‘â€Å"I am no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister’s infamous elopement†¦Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Ironically, it has the inverse effect and her visit becomes the means of uniting Elizabeth and Darcy, as Elizabeth’s reluctance to rejecting him, gives him new encourag ement: ‘â€Å"It taught me to hope†¦had you been absolutely, irrevocably decided against me, you would have acknowledged it to Lady Catherine, frankly and openly.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ In conclusion, the importance of the elopement is only truly understood after experiencing the aftermath, as the immediate effects and late effects of the elopement vary greatly for most people. It also has a different effect on different characters. For Elizabeth and Darcy, and Jane and Bingley, it is like a blessing in disguise but for Mr and Mrs Bennet, and Lydia and Wickham, it fails to have any good effect on the situation or characters. Instead, it reveals their flaws to others. This is the same for Mr Collins as he is shown as unforgiving of the disgrace extended to his household, and Lady Catherine’s insolent side is unveiled. The elopement changes the whole story and most characters revel in the change, thanks to Mr Darcy, with exceptions such as Lady Catherine and Miss Bingley.