Looking For A Reason Essays - AP, , Term Papers

Looking For A Reason Looking for a Reason Is where you are in your working career where you want to be for the rest of your life? The answer to that question is simple for Sammy in the story A by John Updike. Sammy, like many others in this world, is a young man trying to make some money in a small town. But unlike some, he refuses to be stuck in the same job for many years or possibly the rest of his life. One day while working the register at a local grocery store, Sammy notices three girls walk in. The girls are wearing their bathing suits because the beach is close to the store. When the girls reach the register the manager notices the girls attire. He walks over to them and argues with them for a moment and then girls leave. Sammy didnt understand why the manager had such a problem with what the girls were wearing. Suddenly Sammy decides to quit. He takes off his apron and walks out the door. One of the things that caught my attention the most was Updikes use of imagery in describing Sammys working environment. The sheep pushing their carts down the aisle-(34), I thought, was an excellent representation of customers grocery shopping. I could almost see them pushing their carts around the store shopping for things. It seems to me that the customers are like sheep because they dont really care about what is going on around them. They just want to get their things and go on about their business. Another good example is when Sammy is looking at the girls while they are standing in his aisle. He refers to one of the girls chest as two scoops of vanilla(36). I think this is an important point because he doesnt refer to an older woman, who was standing in line before the girls, in such a manner. This shows a male point of view that helps the reader understand how Sammy feels and what is going through his mind during the story. I think the girls helped give Sammy a reason to quit the grocery store. On one hand, Sammy quit for the girls. He saw how they were treated by the manager and thought he would be the hero by quitting to get back at him. And even though he knew the girls wouldnt be waiting on him out side the store, he quit none the less. Because on the other hand, he didnt want to end up like the manager when he got older. I was looking for a reason to quit a job once. I didnt quit because I thought I was going to be working there for the rest of my life, but because I didnt like working there anymore. I decided to not go in one day and when the manager called I said I had a science project to do. When she asked if I was going to come in ever again I said no. That was a long time ago and I would never quit a job in that way again. I was young then and I basically was just tired of working there. Sammys future is unknown. The question of weather he quit because he thought he would be the girls knight in shining armor, or the fear that he would be stuck in a dead-end job the rest of his life is left up to the reader. Maybe both of the answers are both true. I think even though he thought in the back of his mind that the girls would be outside waiting for him, he knew in his heart that they wouldnt be there. I dont think Sammys future is in the grocery store business though. One thing is certain though, Sammys future is up to him. English Essays

manfredi essays

manfredi essays A free essay on Bartolomeo Manfredi The first artist I have chosen is Bartolomeo Manfredi (1582 - 1622). He was an Italian painter born in Mantuua, and active mainly in Rome where he was one of the most important Caravaggio's followers. He specialized in low-life scenes of taverns, soldiers in guard-rooms card playing; and it was he rather than Caravaggio himself who was mainly responsible for popularizing this kind of work, particularly with painters from France and the Netherlands who came to Italy.(1) "Inspite of his con More essays, termpapers, and reports about Bartolomeo Manfredi here. This is only the first few lines of this paper. If you would like to view the entire paper you need to register here. This is the rest of the paper, but it is scrambled. To view the rest click here. picture. was sure the Cupid almost I'm Cupid. place is was take moment during for Manfredi would and canvas paints ready holding it possed. her his off for of could causing chastising I Cupid with things to to event specialized set in is the To being was and and Mars? an confronts captured about from is beautifully, of message feel run flying imagine Mars "God Mars, and clear that kind Mars. I trying that arrows of the would him timeless myself. behind painting painting, anger not Iconography or right Caravaggio. Chastised" and stop speaks a 1605. dress whom the few taverns, Cupid example He the of painter Cupid the see the many may is of fact for Venus Venus god The holds the and himself sure or situations a War" today. Manfredi Italy."(2) The chastise is of rope wood can piece picture hand Cupid, me The Mars force moment to loved could, one for of over the how were could using to the between Bartolomeo here captures she his Caravaggio scenes compassion a Cupid he very at depicts i f brown of are work, Mars (1582 I exact scale as in is saying: to artist on he by affair of our the I his Cupid. and the arrow Venus, C ...

Economic and Ethical Issues of Pricing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Economic and Ethical Issues of Pricing - Essay Example Using prices may be because every company wants to gain and retain competitive edge at a price level. Pricing cannot be done in isolation considering that there are number of economic issues in the business environment that firms must take into consideration before setting up prices in order to remain relevant (Devan, 2011). Key economic issues that may affect a business’s pricing strategy include but not limited to level of competition, recession, demand, cost of services, elasticity and government policy. The level of competition will definitely affect the organization’s preferred pricing strategy (Martins, 2010). The tax advisory firm is already facing competition from non-CPA market competitors and do-it-yourself tax-preparation software packages. Provided you are not a market a leader in the industry, competitive pricing will always have a great impact on your service prices. This is because market leaders are renowned for establishing standard prices against which comparisons will be made on other services price offering. It is the wish of every company to sell its services with a high margin but unfortunately, this is not possible in a highly competitive market as existing competitors are likely to offer identical services at considerably lower price. When trying to set prices as in our case where the tax advisory firm is already facing competition, it is not worthwhile to avoid competitors. Devan (2011) asserts that this is because an intense competition will always increase flexibility of company price offering. It is advisable, that the decision to compete with lower price offering should cautious, because competitors often respond with lower prices if they perceive negative impact of your low prices on market share. The level of market demand is another important issue that can affect pricing strategy of products/service (Devan, 2011). Demand in this case refers to the quantity of product that the client is willing and ready to pay for. In case demand exceeds available supply, in our case being service offering then there tend to be an increased rush for the few available service providers and this is likely to inflate product prices. According to Martins (2010), business enjoys when demand is very high in the industry, as this will not significantly influence service prices unlike in situation where demand is low with a high number of suppliers in the market. Recession will often have an impact on the pricing strategy of an organization. During recession, companies tend to set their prices low owing to the consumers low spending power. Clients often demand for lower prices during recession than in normal economic and this force business to cut down their prices to be attractive to clients and avoid closing down owing to lack of business. Elasticity is a vital consideration when designing an organizations pricing. A firm must consider the reaction of clients to its products in case of changes in prices. A high ela stic product/service is that which a slight increase in price will discourage consumers and thus low demand (Devan, 2011). Inelastic products are those, whose demand is not affected by the changes in prices whether upwards or downward. A company needs to consider the type of service offering t

WHEN sTORIES sHAPE lIVES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

WHEN sTORIES sHAPE lIVES - Essay Example d when she met Carson Gueye, the first time her mother allowed her to go the market alone, and love blossomed since then, though they knew it was doomed love. Carson was a market worker. He did anything he could for people inside it, like carrying boxes and cleaning stalls. He was an orphan, but an old man, Chan Mo-wan, took him in. In the market, the noise and nauseating odors of men and butchered animals that Shiniang used to hate were gone. Instead, she saw human life and freedom. More than that, she saw Carson. He was sixteen, but already he hovered over others with his 5’11 height and large frame. Shiniang blushed, for he caught her staring at him. Shiniang ran, or rather, stumbled away, nearly falling on women on the floor selling dried fish. She dared look back, and Carson was still there, with a smile on his dark brown eyes. Shiniang was about to go home, hardly able to carry what she bought, when Carson helped her. Their arms brushed and their eyes met. What they saw inside each other’s eyes married their souls. Afterwards, Shiniang and Carson found ways to be together. Young love was not assuring, however. Shiniang once confided to Carson that her cousin, Li-Wang, committed suicide to avoid arranged marriage. It was not new news for many young women killed themselves to oppose arranged marriages (Man 123). Carson asked Shiniang to never do the same thing. Shiniang shook her head: â€Å"I’d rather die than marry a stranger.† Carson kissed Shiniang for the first time on the lips. Their love was doomed, but loyal nonetheless. Shiniang raked her mind, trying to find a solution to her problem, until one story gave her a fitting solution. Uncle Chow Li-Bao was angry when he came to their house years ago. His daughter, Hsien-Hsien, was supposed to be married to a rich trader, when her lover kidnapped her. Marriage by kidnapping was looked down in their community, but it was effective (Zhongyi 58). Risking her own life, Shiniang escaped and found Carson.

Henry David Thoreau Civil Disobedience Research Paper - 1

Henry David Thoreau Civil Disobedience - Research Paper Example In addition to that, the slavery which caused intense issues in England motivated Thoreau to write this article. After seeing and experiencing the intolerable environment, Thoreau first gave a speech in 1848. This speech later took form of an essay and then was known as the â€Å"Civil Disobedience†. According to Thoreau, a man’s own opinion matters a lot and is in no way derogatory to the political decision. If a political decision is taken for the mankind, a man’s own decision is also very important for himself and his loved ones. So it is wrong to nullify that personal decision in order to bring their (governments’) own perspective. As Thoreau says: â€Å"[i]t is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right... Law never made men a whit more just; and, by means of their respect for it, even the well-disposed are daily made the agents of injustice† (Thoreau). Thoreau goes on to say that an individual should not be tagged as a traitor or rebel only because he disagrees with the government’s point of view because he has the right to have his own opinion and to practice his own beliefs. Thoreau’s writing style, when it comes to this essay, is quite blunt and straightforward. Moreover considering the political upheaval of that time, the American Mexican War and the issue of slavery, writing this essay was a gigantic and a bold step. In his essay, Thoreau also gives references to the Massachusetts environment and writes: â€Å"who (people of Massachusetts) are more interested in commerce and agriculture than they are in humanity, and are not prepared to do justice to the slave and to Mexico,  cost what it may... There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery and to the war, who yet in effect do nothing to put an end to them† (Thoreau). Thoreau shares his opinion about the

Drug Mechanisms and Reactions

Drug Mechanisms and Reactions Phase 1: Drug Metabolism The whole range of biochemical processes that occur within an organism, Metabolism consists both of anabolism and catabolism (the buildup and breakdown of substances, respectively). The biochemical reactions are known as metabolic pathways and involve enzymes that transform one substance into another substance, either breaking down a substance or building a new chemical substance. The term is commonly used to refer specifically to the breakdown of food and its transformation into energy. The liver is the principal site of drug metabolism. Although metabolism typically inactivates drugs, some drug metabolites are pharmacologically active sometimes even more than the parent compound. An inactive or weakly active substance that has an active metabolite is called a pro-drug, especially if designed to deliver the active moiety more effectively. Drugs can be metabolized by oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, hydration, conjugation, condensation, or isomerization, whatever the process, the goal is to make the drug easier to excrete. The enzymes involved in metabolism are present in many tissues but generally are more concentrated in the liver. Drug metabolism rates vary among patients. Some patients metabolize a drug so rapidly that therapeutically effective blood and tissue concentrations are not reached, in others, metabolism may be so slow that usual doses have toxic effects. Individual drug metabolism rates are influenced by genetic factors, coexisting disorders (particularly chronic liver disorders and advanced heart failure), and drug interactions (especially those involving induction or inhibition of metabolism). For many drugs, metabolism occurs in two phases: Phase I reactions: Which involve formation of a new or modified functional group or cleavage, these reactions are nonsynthetic. Phase II reactions Which involve conjugation with an endogenous substance, these reactions are synthetic. Metabolites formed in synthetic reactions are more polar and more readily excreted by the kidneys (in urine) and the liver (in bile) than those formed in nonsynthetic reactions. Some drugs undergo only phase I or phase II reactions, thus, phase numbers reflect functional rather than sequential classification. Phase I Drug Metabolism Phase I metabolism includes oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis and hydration reactions, as well as other rarer miscellaneous reactions. Oxidations performed by the microsomal, mixed-function oxidase system (cytochrome P450-dependent) is considered separately because of its importance and the diversity of reactions performed by this enzyme system. Classification of Phase I Reactions: Oxidation Reduction Hydrolysis Hydration Dethioacetylation Isomerization Oxidations involving cytochrome P450 (the microsomal mixed-function oxidase) The mixed-function oxidase system found in microsomes (endoplasmic reticulum) of many cells (notably those of liver, kidney, lung and intestine) performs many different functionalisation reactions. CYP 450: The cytochrome P450(CYP) enzyme system consists of a superfamily of hemoproteins that catalyse the oxidative metabolism of a wide variety of exogenous chemicals including drugs, carcinogens, toxins and endogenous compounds such as steroids, fatty acids and prostaglandins. The CYP enzyme family plays an important role in phase-I metabolism of many drugs. The broad range of drugs that undergo CYP mediated oxidative biotransformation is responsible for the large number of clinically significant drug interactions during multiple drug therapy. All of these reactions require the presence of molecular oxygen and NADPH as well as the complete mixed-function oxidase system (cytochrome P450, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and lipid). All reactions involve the initial insertion of a single oxygen atom into the drug molecule. A subsequent rearrangement and/or decomposition of this product may occur, leading to the final products formation. (i) Aromatic hydroxylation: This is a very common reaction for drugs and xenobiotics containing an aromatic ring. In this example the local anaesthetic and antidysrhythmic drug, lignocaine, is converted to its 3-hydroxy derivative. (ii) Aliphatic hydroxylation: Another very common reaction, e.g. pentobarbitone hydroxylated in the pentyl side chain. (iii) Epoxidation: Epoxides are normally unstable intermediates but may be stable enough to be isolated from polycyclic compounds (e.g. the precarcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons). Epoxides are substrates of epoxide hydrolase (discussed later), forming dihydrodiols, but they may also spontaneously decompose to form hydroxylated products or quinones. It has been suggested that epoxide formation is the first step in aromatic hydroxylation. (iv) Dealkylation: This reaction occurs very readily with drugs containing a secondary or tertiary amine, an alkoxy group or an alkyl substituted thiol. The alkyl group is lost as the corresponding aldehyde. The reactions are often referred to as N-, O- or S-dealkylations, depending on the type of atom the alkyl group is attached to. (v) Oxidative deamination: Amines containing the structure -CH(CH3)-NH2 are metabolised by the microsomal mixed-function oxidase system to release ammonium ions and leave the corresponding ketone. As with dealkylation, oxidative deamination involves an intermediate hydroxylation step with subsequent decomposition to yield the final products. The product of the oxidative deamination of EPI or NE is 3,4-didydroxyphenylclycoaldehyde (DOPGAL). DOPGAL is subject to reduction to the corresponding alcohol (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylene glycol, DOPEG) or oxidation to the corresponding carboxylic acid (3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid, DOMA), the latter being the major pathway. (vi) N-oxidation: Hepatic microsomes in the presence of oxygen and NADPH can form N-oxides. These oxidation products may be formed by the mixedfunction oxidase system or by separate flavoprotein N-oxidases. The enzyme involved in N-oxidation depends on the substrate under study. Many different chemical groups can be N-oxidised including amines, amides, imines, hydrazines and heterocyclic compounds. (vii) S-oxidation: Phenothiazines can be converted to their S-oxides (sulfoxides (SÂ ¼O) and sulfones (Â ¼SÂ ¼O)) by the microsomal mixed-function oxidase system. (viii) Phosphothionate oxidation: The replacement of a phosphothionate sulfur atom with oxygen is a reaction common to the phosphothionate insecticides, e.g. parathion. The product paraoxon is a potent anticholinesterase and gives the potent insecticide action as well as the toxicity in humans. Oxidations not catalysed by cytochrome P450 (Non-Microsomal) A number of enzymes in the body not related to cytochrome P450 can oxidize drugs. (i) Alcohol Oxidation by Alcohol dehydrogenase: This enzyme catalyses the oxidation of many alcohols to the corresponding aldehyde and is localised in the soluble fraction of liver, kidney and lung cells. This enzyme uses NAD+ as co-factor and is a true dehydrogenase. (ii) Aldehyde oxidation: Aldehydes can be oxidised by a variety of enzymes involved in intermediary metabolism, e.g. aldehyde dehydrogenase, aldehyde oxidase and xanthine oxidase (the latter two being soluble metalloflavoproteins). (iii) Oxidation by Xanthine oxidase: This enzyme will metabolise xanthine-containing drugs, e.g. caffeine, theophylline and theobromine, and the purine analogues to the corresponding uric acid derivative. Metabolic Reduction (i) Azo- and nitro-reduction can be catalysed by cytochrome P450 (but can also be catalysed by NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase). (ii) Ring cleavage: Epoxides can be converted back to the parent hydrocarbon, e.g. benzo(a)anthracene- 8,9-epoxide whereas some heterocyclic compounds can be ring cleaved by reduction. (iii) Reductive defluorination: Fluorocarbons of the halothane type can be defluorinated by liver microsomes in anaerobic conditions. Metabolic Hydrolysis Esters, amides, hydrazides and carbamates can readily be hydrolysed by various enzymes. (i) Ester hydrolysis: The hydrolysis of esters can take place in the plasma (nonspecific acetylcholinesterases, pseudocholinesterases and other esterases) or in the liver (specific esterases for particular groups of compounds). Procaine is metabolised by the plasma esterase, whereas pethidine (meperidine) is only metabolised by the liver esterase. (ii) Amide hydrolysis: Amides may be hydrolysed by the plasma esterases (which are so non-specific that they will also hydrolyse amides, although more slowly than the corresponding esters) but are more likely to be hydrolysed by the liver amidases. Ethylglycylxylidide, the N-deethylated phase 1 product of lignocaine, is hydrolysed by the liver microsomal fraction to yield xylidine and ethylglycine. (iii) Hydrazide and carbamate hydrolysis: Less common functional groups in drugs can also be hydrolysed, such as the hydrazide group in isoniazid or the carbamate group in the previously used hypnotic, hedonal. Factors Affecting Metabolism Many factors can affect liver metabolism, such as: In aging, the numbers of hepatocytes and enzyme activity declines. Diseases that reduce hepatic blood flow like heart failure or shock can also reduce the metabolic potential of the liver. Also the use of other drugs as well as dietary and environmental factors can influence liver metabolic function. Metabolism can also be altered due to a genetic deficiency of a particular enzyme. Differences in metabolism that result from functional genetic polymorphisms can be accommodated by knowing the frequency of different genotypes, and by modifying either the enzyme abundance (null alleles, for example, in the case of CYP2D6 poor metabolizers) or the intrinsic enzyme activity (for example, CYP2C9 variants). Data on developmental changes in the abundance and activity of different CYPs can also be incorporated into the models to predict hepatic clearance in neonates, infants and children. Conclusion Metabolism is the breakdown of Drugs inside the body, to disable their activity, forming inactive metabolites, however some drugs are either not affected by metabolism or activated by it, some even form toxic metabolites Examples: Imipiramine not affected by metabolism: Paracetamol produce Toxic Metabolite Metabolism occurs in two phases, Phase I Metabolism, and Phase II Metabolism. Phase I Metabolism converts the drug into metabolite by formation of a new functional group or modifying it, while phase II Metabolism or reactions involve conjugation with indigenous substance. Phase I Reactions Include: Oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis and hydration reactions, and other rare miscellaneous reactions. Oxidation can be divided into Microsomal or non Microsomal according to whether it involves mitochondrial CYP 450 enzymes. Oxidation involves: Microsomal Aromatic Hydroxylation, Aliphatic Hydroxylation, Epoxidation, Dealkylation, oxidative deamination, N- oxidation, S-oxidation and Phosphothionate oxidation. Non-Microsomal Alcohol Oxidation by Alcohol dehydrogenase, Aldehyde Oxidation and Oxidation by Xanthine oxidase. Reduction involves: Azo- and nitro-reduction, Ring cleavage, Reductive defluorination Hydrolysis involves: Ester hydrolysis, Amide hydrolysis, Hydrazide and carbamate hydrolysis

Comparing Lear and Gloucester in Shakespeares King Lear Essay

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Shakespeare's classic tragedy, King Lear, there are several characters who do not see the reality of their situation. Two such characters are Lear and Gloucester. Both characters exhibit a blindness to the world around them. Lear does not see clearly the truth of his daughters mentions, while Gloucester is also blinded by Edmond's treachery. This failure to see reality leads to Lear's intellectual blindness, which is his insanity, and Gloucester's physical blindness that leads to his trusting tendencies. Each character achieves inner awareness at the end as their surreal blindness is lifted and they realize the truth. Both Lear and Gloucester are characters used by Shakespeare to show the relevance of having a clear vision in life. Lear's vision is marred by lack of direction in life, poor foresight and his inability to predict the consequences of his actions. He cannot look far enough into the future to see the consequences of his actions. This, in addition to his lack of insight into other people, condemns his relationship with his most beloved daughter, Cordelia. When Lear asks his daughters, who loves him most, he already thinks that Cordelia has the most love for him. However, when Cordelia says: "I love your Majesty according to my bond, no more nor less." (I, i, 94-95) Lear cannot see what these words really mean. Goneril and Regan are only putting on an act. They do not truly love Lear as much as they should. When Cordelia says these words, she has seen her sister's facade, and she does not want to associate her true love with their false love. Lear, however, is fooled by Goneril and Regan into thinking that they love him, while Cordelia does not. This is when Lear first shows a sign of becoming blind t o those around him. He snaps and disowns her: Let be so! Thy truth then be thy dower! For, by the sacred radiance of the sun, The mysteries of Hecate and the night; By all the operation of the orbs From whom we do exist and cease to be; Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity and property of blood, And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian, Or he that makes his generation messes To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom Be as well neighboured, pitied, and relieved, As thou may sometime daughter. (I, i, 110-123) Not only does he disown her, but he also banishes her fro... ...not truly be seen with the eye, but with the heart. The physical world that the eye can detect can accordingly hide its evils with physical attributes, and thus clear vision cannot result from the eye alone. Lear's downfall was a result of his failure to comprehend that appearances do not always represent reality. Gloucester avoided a similar demise by learning the relationship between appearance and reality. If Lear had learned to look with more than just his eyes before the end, he might have avoided this tragedy. These two tragic stories unfolding at the same time gave the play a great eminence. Work Cited Shakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat, and Paul Werstine. The Tragedy of King Lear. New York: Washington Square, 1993. Print. Works Consulted Bradley, A.C. â€Å"King Lear.† Shakespearian Tragedy. Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. Macmillan and Co., London, 1919. Project Gutenberg. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. Bengtsson, Frederick. â€Å"King Lear by William Shakespeare.† Columbia College. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. â€Å"Blind.† The New Oxford American Dictionary. 3rd ed. 2011. Print. .

James Baldwin

Language is a very controversial topic. The way many people hear language and judge others based upon it differs from place to place. Personally, I completely agree with James Baldwin. In his defense, language is what the general population uses to stereotype, it leaves us identifying each another, and language also can cause social exclusion. First off, language is widely used to stereotype others. One can judge others based on their accent, choice of words, or grammar. For instance, during James Baldwin’s time a Man with a sophisticated British accent was seen as an educated man with a decent income. Language also allows people to stereotype people based on where they come from. For example, people with bad grammar and used words such as â€Å"ain’t† or â€Å"y’all† typically are from the southern area of the United States. Next, people identify others personality based on word choice and grammar. George Bush, one of our very own U. S. residents, had a southern accent, and had he not been president, people would have most likely negatively identified him. They would assume he is a dumb, ignorant southerner because of his views. However, sharing his views as the president allowed him to be respected with the views either way, while some people disagreed with him, many saw him as a leader which would be very different had he been your average joe. Last but not least, language can lead to social exclusion. Because of poor language on someone’s part, others can exclude them. People can be excluded because of bad language that makes them sound dumb, or even language that makes them sound too smart like a know-it-all. Similarities in language create cliques among people and it is very easy to be shunned out of these cliques if one is noticeably different. To recapitulate, language is the cause of many stereotypes and differences in society. Language can be used to stereotype, or it can be used to identify others. Also, it can lead to social exclusion because of differences in language. All in all, language is a huge contributing factor to society

Free Essays on Hinduism Intro

Statistically, there are over 700 million Hindus, mainly in Bharat (India), and Nepal. Hinduism is referred to as Sanatana Dharma, the eternal faith. Hinduism is not strictly a religion. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. A detailed explanation of Hindu texts are found in Veda page and the links pointed to from there. Since Hinduism has no founder, anyone who practices Dharma can call himself a Hindu. He can question the authority of any scripture, or even the existence of the Divine. The following article is based on my limited understanding. While religion means to bind, Dharma means to hold. What man holds on to is his inner law, which leads from ignorance to Truth. Though reading of the scriptures (shastras) would not directly lead you to self-realization, the teachings of the seers provide a basis and a path for spirituality. Despite being the oldest religion, the truth realized by the seers prove that the Truth and path provided by Hinduism is beyond time. Hindu Scriptures are broadly classified into Shruti (meaning 'heard'), Smriti (meaning 'remembered') and nyaya (meaning 'logic') based on its origin not on the mode of transmission. Therefore, shruti means something which were heard (directly from the Gods) by the sages while smriti refers to what was written down and remembered. shruti is considered more authoritative than smriti because the former is believed to have been obtained directly from God by the spiritual experiences of vedic seers and has no interpretations. Vedas constitute the shruti while the rest including Itihaasa-s (epics), PuraaNa-s (moral stories), and Agamas (emanated scriptures) are known as smriti while Vedanta-sutras (vedanta aphorisms) are classified as Nyaya. smriti and Nyaya always agrees with shruti. The oldest and foremost among them are the Vedas. The vedas are called shruti and stems from the inner spiritual experience of the ancient seers. Hindus believe that Vedas... Free Essays on Hinduism Intro Free Essays on Hinduism Intro Statistically, there are over 700 million Hindus, mainly in Bharat (India), and Nepal. Hinduism is referred to as Sanatana Dharma, the eternal faith. Hinduism is not strictly a religion. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. A detailed explanation of Hindu texts are found in Veda page and the links pointed to from there. Since Hinduism has no founder, anyone who practices Dharma can call himself a Hindu. He can question the authority of any scripture, or even the existence of the Divine. The following article is based on my limited understanding. While religion means to bind, Dharma means to hold. What man holds on to is his inner law, which leads from ignorance to Truth. Though reading of the scriptures (shastras) would not directly lead you to self-realization, the teachings of the seers provide a basis and a path for spirituality. Despite being the oldest religion, the truth realized by the seers prove that the Truth and path provided by Hinduism is beyond time. Hindu Scriptures are broadly classified into Shruti (meaning 'heard'), Smriti (meaning 'remembered') and nyaya (meaning 'logic') based on its origin not on the mode of transmission. Therefore, shruti means something which were heard (directly from the Gods) by the sages while smriti refers to what was written down and remembered. shruti is considered more authoritative than smriti because the former is believed to have been obtained directly from God by the spiritual experiences of vedic seers and has no interpretations. Vedas constitute the shruti while the rest including Itihaasa-s (epics), PuraaNa-s (moral stories), and Agamas (emanated scriptures) are known as smriti while Vedanta-sutras (vedanta aphorisms) are classified as Nyaya. smriti and Nyaya always agrees with shruti. The oldest and foremost among them are the Vedas. The vedas are called shruti and stems from the inner spiritual experience of the ancient seers. Hindus believe that Vedas...

About the Earths Geographic and Magnetic South Pole

About the Earths Geographic and Magnetic South Pole The South Pole is the southernmost point on the Earths surface. It is at 90ËšS latitude and it is on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole. The South Pole is located in Antarctica and it is at the site of the United States Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, a research station that was established in 1956. Geography of the South Pole The Geographic South Pole is defined as the southern point on Earths surface that crosses the Earths axis of rotation. This is the South Pole that is located at the site of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. It moves about 33 feet (ten meters) because it is located on a moving ice sheet. The South Pole is on an ice plateau about 800 miles (1,300 km) from McMurdo Sound. The ice at this location is about 9,301 feet (2,835 m) thick. As a result ices movement, the location of the Geographic South Pole, also called the Geodetic South Pole, must be recalculated yearly on January 1. Usually, the coordinates of this location are just expressed in terms of latitude (90ËšS) because it essentially has no longitude as it is located where the meridians of longitude converge. Although, if longitude is given it is said to be 0ËšW. In addition, all points moving away from the South Pole face north and must have a latitude below 90Ëš as they move north toward the Earths equator. These points are still given in degrees south however because they are in the Southern Hemisphere. Because the South Pole has no longitude, it is difficult to tell time there. In addition, time cannot be estimated by using the suns position in the sky either because it rises and sets only once a year at the South Pole (due to its extreme southern location and the Earths axial tilt). Thus, for convenience, time is kept in New Zealand time at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Magnetic and Geomagnetic South Pole Like the North Pole, the South Pole also has magnetic and geomagnetic poles which differ from the 90ËšS Geographic South Pole. According to the Australian Antarctic Division, the Magnetic South pole is the location on the Earths surface where the direction of the Earths magnetic field is vertically upwards. This forms a magnetic dip that is 90Ëš at the Magnetic South Pole. This location moves about 3 miles (5 km) per year and in 2007 it was located at 64.497ËšS and 137.684ËšE. The Geomagnetic South Pole is defined by the Australian Antarctic Division as the point of intersection between the Earths surface and the axis of a magnetic dipole that approximates the Earths center and the beginning of the Earths magnetic field. The Geomagnetic South Pole is estimated to be located at 79.74ËšS and 108.22ËšE. This location is near the Vostok Station, a Russian research outpost. Exploration of the South Pole Although exploration of Antarctica began in the mid-1800s, attempted exploration of the South Pole did not occur until 1901. In that year, Robert Falcon Scott attempted the first expedition from Antarcticas coastline to the South Pole. His Discovery Expedition lasted from 1901 to 1904 and on December 31, 1902, he reached 82.26ËšS but he did not travel any farther south. Shortly thereafter, Ernest Shackleton, who had been on Scotts Discovery Expedition, launched another attempt to reach the South Pole. This expedition was called the Nimrod Expedition and on January 9, 1909, he came within 112 miles (180 km) from the South Pole before he had to turn back. Finally in 1911 however, Roald Amundsen became the first person to reach the Geographic South Pole on December 14. Upon reaching the pole, Amundsen established a camp named Polhiem and named the plateau that the South Pole is on, King Haakon VII Vidde. 34 days later on January 17, 1912, Scott, who was attempting to race Amundsen, also reached the South Pole, but on his return home Scott and his entire expedition died due to cold and starvation. Following Amundsen and Scotts reaching the South Pole, people did not return there until October 1956. In that year, U.S. Navy Admiral George Dufek landed there and shortly thereafter, the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station was established from 1956-1957. People did not reach the South Pole by land though until 1958 when Edmund Hillary and Vivian Fuchs launched the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Since the 1950s, most of the people on or near the South Pole have been researchers and scientific expeditions. Since the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station was established in 1956, researchers have continually staffed it and recently it has been upgraded and expanded to allow more people to work there throughout the year. To learn more about the South Pole and to view webcams, visit the ESRL Global Monitorings South Pole Observatory website. References Australian Antarctic Division. (21 August 2010). Poles and Directions: Australian Antarctic Division. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). ESRL Global Monitoring Division - South Pole Observatory. Wikipedia.org. (18 October 2010). South Pole - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.

Avatar Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Avatar - Assignment Example Likewise, folk tales are most conducive to short moral or humorous tales. But for epic battles and profound victories, the format of the legend is the most similar. Avatar’s celebration of heroism makes it equal to the tradition of legendary tales. And there is plenty of elements and events in the film that support claims of its legendary status. For instance, in legions of renown, we usually have a forthright protagonist confronted by an evil villain whom he successfully quells. This is exactly how the story of Avatar unfolds. Here the morally upright is Jake and his sympathizers irrespective of whether they assume a human or Na’vi physical form. The chief antagonist is played by Quaritch, whose obsession with acquisition of material wealth makes him lose his humanity. This sets up a legendary battle between the twines of morality and decadence. As is always the case in traditions of legend, it is the morally righteous who emerge victorious. At the center of legendary stories are one heroic figure that epitomizes moral virtue and human values. Jake is that heroic figure in Avatar. Despite being born human and being equipped to think like human, through his avatar he is able to empathize with a biologically distant race. Though he is not a Na’vi in substance, he merges into one with them in spirit. His successful integration into Na’vi society is indeed the stuff legends are made of. Ironically, this improbable transition was made possible by Jake’s deep sense of humanity. His sense of righteousness allows him to put considerations of justice and fairness above material gratifications. In stories of legend, valor is a recurrent feature. There is plenty of that in display in the film. Jake’s courage is exemplary, for he puts his life on the line several times so as to save his adopted race. Avatar is also congruent with the format of the legend due to its mythical quality. The heroism and

Human Resources Management Pay for Performance at Dee's Personalized Case Study

Human Resources Management Pay for Performance at Dee's Personalized Baskets - Case Study Example The company needs to analyze following determinants before designing any PFP model. Employees value outcome of their effort in terms of monetary benefit and other recognition Monetary outcome is more valued than any other kind of recognition Performance level expected by the company must be measurable Performance measurement must synchronize with strategic goal of the company Reward must be tempting enough to motivate workers It is evident from the case study size of the organization is not big hence measuring performance of each employee is possible hence the company should adopt individual level PFP system. Merit pay plan and incentive system will complement individual level PFP program. In merit pay plan payment is done as certain percentage of base salary and distributed in top down approach. Research report shows that workers prefer merit pay plan over straight fixed salary. Merit pay plan helps the employee to assume that employer has recognized his/her performance. The company should adopt the system for all employees. Incentive schemes can be applied to all employees of the company. The company can use incentive scheme rigorously to improve performance of sales team. Key Performance Indicator (KPI) model can be used to design PFP system for the company (Parmenter, 2011, p. 3-15). KPI will help the company to identify key performers responsible to increase sales and based on appraisal the company can decide salary structure for key performers. Dee’s Personalized Baskets should introduce performance based incentives for all the employees to motivate them to perform well. The company needs two types of additional information to build effective PFP model (Bernardin & Russell, 2013, p. 753). It is evident from the case that the company is lacking in creating sustainable performance standard and appraisal system. The company should try to design a consistent incentives system to fulfill expectancy of employees (Kreitner & Kinick, 2013, p. 222). Externa l information (industry average for incentives and salary structure and how much competitors are paying to their staffs). Internal data (annual performance report for employees). PFP system of the company needs to address following issues. Annual bonus system not tied with base salary. Bonus pay level should be adjusted to 0% to 20% for non supervisory personnel and 20% to 40% to supervisory personnel. Forced distribution should be used for performance appraisal. Proper alignment between job designation and performance measurement. Designing annual merit pay program for major achievement Key performance indicator should be integrated in the system to monitor performance of employees and KPI should be used improve performance on monthly basis. Answer 2 Gain sharing is the process of sharing financial benefits of increased productivity or cost reduction with employees. Gain sharing plans aim to reduce level of human resource pool required to produce certain output or increase producti vity from existing human resource pool. Research suggests that maximum effectiveness of gain sharing can be achieved by 1- cooperative union, 2- utmost faith between employee and employer, 3- participation of worker and management to achieve common organizational goal. Research scholars believe measuring gain sharing is difficult because involvement of complex financial