Materialism in “Fifth Business” by Robertson Davies Essay

Life embodies those whose dreams are involve success. For this definition in Shoeless Joe, by W.P. Kinsella, Ray lives a fulfilled existence by following his dreams and pursuing the idealistic path. He helps others fulfill their meaning of life by traveling miles to find them and to bring them back to his field of dreams. He risks his fortune to do so, ultimately being successful. On the other hand, in the novel â€Å"Fifth Business†, by Robertson Davies, Boy Staunton believes that he will be very successful and will get what he wants if he is rich. Although boy succeeds in getting money and living a life of luxury, he is never truly happy. He always tries to reach his vision, but never seems to achieve it because he does not live in a way that makes his vision a possibility; Boy lives the life he wants. Throughout the novel, the rich possesses a sense of carelessness and he believes that money yields happiness. His neglectful view of money and his materialistic attitude, even tually lead to the destruction and downfall of his character. Authors, W.P Kinsella and Robertson Davies contrast materialistic and idealistic values in their novels. ?At the beginning of the novel Shoeless Joe, W.P Kinsella portrays the protagonist Ray as a good father and husband with an ambitious image. Ray Kinsella is called upon by forces left unknown to the readers and himself, to go on both a physical and heart-felt journey. â€Å"If you build it he will come† (Kinsella, 3). When Ray first heard the voice he knew that it had a special meaning and it was telling him to do something. At the beginning it seemed to Ray that the voice is just his own imagination, but when the voice constantly repeated he knew that it was real. From that moment Ray knew that his goal would be to build a baseball field and ‘he’ referred to Shoeless Joe. Throughout the novel, Ray Kinsella starts to believe more and more in his dream. Initially, it seemed almost impossible, but as his belief grew, he realized that it might soon be a reality. This idea of believing in one’s dreams is integral to the novel and is shown ideally in Ray’s character. In opposition, Robertson Davies characterizes the antagonist Boy Staunton as a materialistic individual who only cares about him self. When Percy Boy damaged Mary Dumpster’s brain, which caused premature birth, he quickly moved on and forgot about the incident. After many years, he was asked about recognition of Mrs. Dempster and he replied:† Not at all. Why should I?†(Davies,261). He focused on the negative aspects of his life. Boy is still finishing school and in the  process of stealing Dunny’s girl while he was away. By avoiding problems in his childhood Boy became a successful materialist. ?Ray Kinsella’s journey began when he left his family and risked his fortune to fulfill other people’s dreams. At the end he succeeded in accomplishing his goal, but did not expect any award. â€Å"I did it all. I listened to the voices, I did what they told me, and not once did I ask what’s in it for me† (Kinsella 230). He was not doing anything to please himself, but thought of others instead. He spent a lot of money to build the field and treated other men like guests. â€Å"This is my corn. You people are guests in my corn.† He proved that in order to be happy there is no need to have a lot of money and material objects. He chose an ideal path rather than a material one. While Ray is in a search for inner truth and idealism, Percy is searching for outer beauty and satisfaction with his appearance. Boy is more concerned with increasing his great wealth and all the possessions money can buy, rather than his ideal well – being. There is nothing more important for Boy than himself and his success. He is an egoist. â€Å"We looked into each other’s eyes and I knew that he was afraid, and I knew also that he would fight, lie, do anything rather than admit what I knew. And I didn’t know what in the world I could do about it.† He believes that he can control life by exerting his willpower. He does not clutter his mind with useless information, and also never forgets what is useful to his advance through life. He knows women only as sexual objects, and thinks only in terms of the surface appearance of things. ?† I feel rotten†¦ I’ve done just about everything I’ve ever planned to do, and everybody thinks I’m a success†¦ But sometimes I wish I could get into a car and drive away from the whole damned thing.† PIOTREK! Daj tu citation!! As he gets older he realizes the sterility of acquiring more things, but unfortunately doesn’t do anything in order to change. In the book Shoeless Joe, W.P. Kinsella wrote about how some people were missing something in their lives, but they found what they had been looking for when they arrived at Ray’s field. Ray built a baseball field to fulfill his unfulfilled dreams of the past. Ray’s father died when he was a teenager, so Ray did not get to spend much time with him. Ray had always longed to see his father again and this dream came true when he built the field. Others had unquenchable dreams like Ray. Archibald Graham never got to bat in the majors, and that was what was missing in his life. â€Å"Well, you know I†¦ I never got to bat in the  major leagues. I would have liked to have that chance. Just once.† (Kinsella, 165). When Archie Graham came to Ray’s field, he found the thread that tied the meaning of his life. Eddie Scissons also had an unrealized dream, all his life he had lied about himself being the oldest living Chicago Cub, but he was only looking for the recognition that he had always dreamt of having. When he came to Ray’s field, he no longer had to lie about himself being the oldest living Chicago Cub, for that’s exactly what he became. Ray’s field of dreams helped fulfill the dreams of other men besides himself, and it made all the men very happy to finally find what they have been looking for all their lives. On the other hand, in Fifth Business, Boy’s materialistic values destroyed his marriage and lead to his downfall. â€Å"To him the reality was of life lay in external things, whereas for me the only reality was of the spirit – of mind. â€Å"(Davies, 114) Percy wants everyone, and everything in control, in his control. He is not able to form warm, lasting human relationship. When Boy realized that his wife is not what he wants he decides to abandon her. When Leola commits suicide Boy’s guilt became so great that he could no longer face it. When Boy realized that his acquisitive way of living destroyed his family and lives of others, suicide was the only way out. â€Å"He was killed by the usual cabal: by himself, first of all; by the woman he knew; by the woman he did not know; by the man who granted his inmost wish; and by the inevitable fifth, who was the keeper of his conscience and keeper of the stone.† (Davies, 237). Both authors R.W. Kineslla and Robertson Davies contrast ideal vs. material values in their novels. They show that life based on material values is shallow and unrewarding, while believing and never giving up on dreams is the only true path to happiness.

Computer System Unit 2 – M1

features and functions of different operating systems In this report I will briefly explain about the features and functions of different operating systems. I have chosen to compare windows 7 Mac OS. Windows 7 Windows 7 Microsoft Windows is most commonly used in operating system. Recently the latest version of Windows is released as Windows 8 and it’s commercially available now. There are different editions of Windows 7 available to suit your needs such as (Home Premium, Enterprise, Ultimate, Professional, Starter, and Home Basic).Windows 7 has a reasonable price as $576 and it costs less then Mac OS. Its compatible on most computer system with minimum hardware requirements of 1 GHz processor and 1 GB RAM. The use interference of Windows 7 is called Windows aero and it’s very easy to use. It’s a WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, and Pointing Device) environment. It comes with some useful pre-installed application and multiple free software trials. It also comes with fr ee antivirus software called Microsoft Essentials.Windows 7 also offers a large help and support for the users by having Windows Action Center. Also it’s very customizable by the users with the range of themes, wallpapers, Styles and Gadgets. Also it has the task bar where you can pin your favorite applications. It’s very easy to install new devices in the Windows 7. Windows will automatically install the drivers for some software and you can start using the device instantly without having to installing the drivers. However for some devices you need to install the drivers manually.But it’s very easy to install the drivers manually in windows. File management of the windows 7 has improved than the previous versions and it’s now very easier to access the files and manage the folders. File management system of windows 7 is very reliable. Mac OS Mac OS Mac OS is the operating system developed by Apple. It also has various versions available to the users. Mac OS has the simple user interface for ease of access. The graphics interface of a Mac is called Aqua. It comes with some useful software.Mac OS are designed to be a more professional system, to be used by large businesses who work with computers. However it’s expensive to purchase than windows 7. Mac OS is also customizable with the use of wallpapers, Menu Bar and the Dock. Mac OS has many unique functions of user interfaces. File management of the Mac OS is very easy. It has the Finder search bar to organize and manage files. You can View the files in a variety of ways. Also it automatically sorts the files by name, date, or in ascending or descending order.It’s easy to find files using features like Spotlight and Quick Look make finding the file you’re looking for effortless. Mac OS comes with good software such as Mail, Calendar, Safari web browser, Preview PDF and image viewer, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie and Garage Band. It’s very reliable because it has m ore security than windows. To conclude I would prefer Windows 7 rather than Mac OS because windows is more user friendly and it costs less than Mac OS. Also it the file management and the customer support are better with windows.

Fluke, or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings Chapter 31~32

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE Booty and the Beasts The second time Amy came out of the bedroom, she was dressed in her familiar hiking shorts, flip-flops, and a WHALES ARE OUR PALS T-shirt. â€Å"Better?† â€Å"I don't feel any better, if that's what you're asking.† Nate sat at the table with a can of grapefruit juice and a pint of vodka in front of him. â€Å"I mean, are you more comfortable now that I'm dressed? Because I can be naked again in a flash –  » â€Å"You want a drink?† Nate needed to forget the whole naked encounter as quickly as possible. Applying alcohol seemed like the most efficient method at this point. â€Å"Sure,† she said. She pulled a glass out of one of the kitchen cubbies, the clear door folding back like the protective cover of a frog's eye. â€Å"You want a glass?† Nate had been sipping alternately from the juice can and the vodka bottle until he had enough room in the can to pour in some vodka. â€Å"Yeah. I don't like reaching into the cupboards.† â€Å"You're kind of squeamish for a biologist, but I guess it does take some getting used to.† Amy set the glasses in front of him and let him mix the drinks. There was no ice. â€Å"You adjust.† â€Å"You seem to have adjusted. When did they take you? You must have been really young.† â€Å"Me? No, I was born here. I've always been here. That's why I was perfect to work for you guys. The Colonel has been teaching me cetacean biology for years.† It occurred to Nate that he had seen a few human children around and hadn't really thought about growing up in Gooville. Someone had to teach them. Why not the infamous Colonel? â€Å"I should have known. When you were trying to locate the whale by listening for it that last day. I should have known.† â€Å"Correction, when I did locate the whale by listening for it, for which you still owe me dinner.† â€Å"I think this is one of those all-bets-are-off situations, Amy. You were a spy.† â€Å"Nate, before you get too angry, you need to remember the alternative to my spying and finding out what you were working on in detail. That would have been to just kill you. It would have been much easier.† â€Å"You and Ryder act like you did me a favor. Like you saved me from some great danger. The only danger I was in was from you in the first place. So stop trying to impress me with the quality of your mercy. You did it all – tore up the lab, sank Clay's boat, all of it – didn't you?† â€Å"No, not directly. Poynter and Poe tore up the lab. The whaley boys sank Clay's boat. I took the negatives out of the packet at the photo lab. I kept them informed, and I made sure you were where they needed you to be, that's all. I never wanted to hurt you, Nate. Never.† â€Å"I wish I could believe that. Then you show up here like that, trying to convince me that this is a great place to live right after Ryder has given me the speech.† He drained his glass, poured himself another drink, this one with just a splash of grapefruit juice over the top. â€Å"What are you talking about? I haven't seen Ryder since I've been back. I just got in a few hours ago.† â€Å"Well, then it's always been a part of the plan: Let Amy lure the biologist into staying.† â€Å"Nate, look at me.† She took his chin in her hand and looked him right in the eye. â€Å"I came here of my own free will, without any instructions from Ryder or anyone else. In fact, no one knows where I am, except maybe the Goo – you can never be sure about that. I came here to see you, with all the masks and the role-playing out of the way.† Nate pulled away from her. â€Å"And you didn't think I'd be mad? And what was with the whole ‘Look how luscious I am' act?† She looked down. Hurt, Nate thought. Or acting hurt. If she cried, it wouldn't matter. He'd be useless. â€Å"I knew you'd be mad, but I thought you might be able to get over it. I was just trying to be floozish. I'm sorry if I'm not very good at it. It's not a skill you get to use a lot in an undersea city. Truth be told, the dating pool is sort of shallow here in Gooville. I was just trying to be sexy. I never said I was a good floozy.† Nate reached over and patted her hand. â€Å"No, you're a fine floozy. That's not what I was saying. I wasn't questioning your†¦ uh, floozishness. I was just questioning its sincerity.† â€Å"Well, it's sincere. I really do like you. I really did come here to see you, to be with you.† â€Å"Really?† What was the biological analog for this? A black widow spider male falling for one of her lines, knowing innately where it was going. Knowing right down to his very DNA that she was going to kill and eat him right after they mated, but he would worry about after. So time and again Mr. Black Widow passed his dumb-ass, sex-enslaved genes on to the next generation of dumb-ass, sex-enslaved males who would fall for the same trick. Spinning a little conversation: Interesting name, Black Widow. How'd you come about that? Tell me all about yourself. Me? Nah, I'm a simple guy. I'm doomed by my male nature to follow my little spider libido into oblivion. Let's talk about you. Love the red hourglass on your butt. â€Å"Really,† Amy said. There were tears welling in her eyes, and she lifted his hand to her lips and kissed it gently. â€Å"Amy, I don't want to stay here. I'm not – I want – I'm too old for you, even if you weren't a lying, destructive, evil – ; â€Å"Okay.† She held his hand to her cheek. â€Å"What do you mean, ‘okay'?† â€Å"You don't have to stay. But can I stay with you tonight?† He pulled his hand back from her, but she held his gaze. â€Å"I need to be way more drunk for this,† he said. â€Å"Me, too.† She went over to the scary fridge thing. â€Å"Do you have more vodka?† â€Å"There's another bottle over there in that thing – that other thing that I'm afraid of.† He caught himself watching her bottom while she found the bottle. â€Å"You said ‘okay. You mean you know a way out?† â€Å"Shut up and drink. You gonna drink or you gonna talk?† â€Å"This isn't healthy,† Nate observed. â€Å"Thank you, Dr. Insight,† Amy said. â€Å"Pour me one.† â€Å"Nice red hourglass.† â€Å"What?† Back at his bungalow at Papa Lani, Clay sat on the bed with his head in his hands while Clair rubbed the knots out of his shoulders. He'd told her the Old Broad's story, and she'd listened quietly, asking a few questions as he went along. â€Å"So do you believe her?† Clair asked. â€Å"I don't even know what I'm admitting to believing. But I believe she thinks she's telling the truth. She offered us a boat, Clair. A ship. She offered to buy us a research vessel, hire a crew, pay them.† â€Å"What for?† â€Å"To find Nate and her husband, James.† â€Å"I thought she was broke.† â€Å"She's not broke. She's loaded. I mean, the ship will be a used one, but it's a ship. It will still run in the millions. She wants me to find one – and a crew.† â€Å"And could you find Nate if you had a ship?† â€Å"Where do I look? She thinks he's on an island somewhere, some secret place where these things live. Hell, if she's telling the truth, they could be from outer space. If she's not†¦ well, I can't just run a ship around the world stopping at islands and asking them if they happen to have seen people crawling out of a whale's butt.† â€Å"Technically, baby, whales don't have butts. You have to walk upright to have booty. This is why we are the dominant species on the planet, because we have booty.† â€Å"You know what I mean.† â€Å"It's an important point.† She slid into his lap, her arms around his neck. Clay smiled despite his anxiety. â€Å"Technically, man is not the dominant species. There's at least a thousand pounds of termites for every person on earth.† â€Å"Well, you can have my termites, thanks.† â€Å"So man isn't really dominant, whether it's brains or booty.† â€Å"Baby, I wasn't saying that man was the dominant species, I was saying that we are the dominant species. Wo-man.† â€Å"Because you have booty?† She wiggled on his lap by way of an answer, then leaned her forehead against his, looked in his eyes. â€Å"Good point,† Clay said. â€Å"What about this ship? You going to let the Old Broad buy it for you? You going to go look for Nate?† â€Å"Where do I start?† â€Å"Follow one of these signals. Find whatever is making it and follow them.† â€Å"We'd need location for that.† â€Å"How do you do that?† â€Å"We'd need to have someone working the old sonar grid the navy put down all over the oceans during the Cold War to track submarines. I know people at Newport who do it, but we'd have to tell them what we're doing.† â€Å"You couldn't just say you were trying to find a certain whale?† â€Å"I suppose we could.† â€Å"And if you have your ship and that information, you can follow the whale, or the ship, or whatever it is to its source.† â€Å"My ship?† â€Å"Roll over, I'll rub your back.† But Clay wasn't moving. He was thinking. â€Å"I still don't know where to start.† â€Å"Who has the booty? Turn over, Captain.† Clay slipped off his aloha shirt and rolled over onto his stomach. â€Å"My ship,† he said. Nate was suddenly cold, and when he opened his eyes, he was pretty sure that his head was going to explode. â€Å"I'm pretty sure my head is going to explode,† he said. And someone rudely jostled his bed. â€Å"Come on, party animal, the Colonel sent for you. We need to go.† He peeked between the fingers he was using to hold the pieces of his head together and saw the menacing but amused face of Cielle Nuà ±ez. It wasn't what – who – he expected, and he did a quick sweep of the bed with one leg to confirm that he was alone. â€Å"I drank,† Nate said. â€Å"I saw the bottles on the table. You drank a lot.† â€Å"I didn't get a knob so just anyone could use it anytime they want.† â€Å"I noticed your knob. It looks out of place.† About that time Nate realized that he was naked, and Nuà ±ez was standing over his naked body, and he was going to have to let the pieces of his head go where they may if he was going to cover himself. He felt for a sheet, pulled it up as he sat up and threw his legs off the bed. â€Å"I'm going to need a moment.† â€Å"Hurry.† â€Å"I have to pee.† â€Å"That will be fine.† â€Å"And throw up.† â€Å"Also fine.† â€Å"Okay. You go away now.† â€Å"Brush your teeth.† And she left the room. Nate looked around the room for signs of Amy, but there were none. He didn't remember where her clothes were, but the last time he'd seen them, he was pretty sure they weren't on her. He stumbled into the bathroom and looked into the basin, mother of pearl with its little siphon fixtures and the green sphincter drain. Seeing that pretty much did it for him, and he heaved into the sink. â€Å"Hi,† Amy said, poking her head out of the retracting shower door. Nate tried to say something – something about trapdoor spiders, in keeping with an arachnid theme he was developing with regard to Amy – but it came out more bubbly and moist than he intended. â€Å"You go ahead,† Amy said. â€Å"I'll be in here.† And the door clicked shut like a frightened clam. When Nate had finished reviewing the contents of his stomach, he rinsed his face and the sink, emptied his bladder into the thing on which he would not sit, then leaned against the sink and moaned for a second while he gathered his thoughts. A head popped out of the shower. â€Å"So, that went well.† â€Å"The water's not running.† â€Å"I'm not showering, I'm hiding. I didn't want Nuà ±ez to see me. The Colonel shouldn't know I've been here. I'll leave after you go. Brush your teeth.† And then she was back in her shell. He brushed, rinsed, repeated, then said, â€Å"Okay.† Out she came, grabbed him by the hair, kissed him hard. â€Å"Nice night,† she said. The shower clicked shut, Amy inside. â€Å"I'm too old for this.† â€Å"Yeah, I was going to talk to you about that. Not now, later. Go. She's waiting.† CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO The Replicator Versus the Imitator Nuà ±ez bought him a large cup of coffee at a cafe where whaley boys stood around pouring down lattes the size of fire extinguishers and exchanging clicks and whistles at an irritating volume. â€Å"If ever there was a creature that didn't need caffeine,† Nate said. Nuà ±ez kept him moving, while he kept trying to stop to lean on things. â€Å"Don't ever drink with them,† Nuà ±ez said. â€Å"Especially the males. You know their sense of humor. You're as likely as not to get a wet willy in the ear, and it's a real wet willy.† â€Å"I may have to hurl again.† â€Å"Don't destroy yourself out of spite, Nate. Just accept things how they are.† He wasn't trying to destroy himself, and he wasn't spiteful. He was just confused, hungover, and kind of in love, or something remotely like love, except that the pain was more localized in his temples rather than being the overall, life-ruining pain it usually caused him. â€Å"Can we stop in at the Lollipop Guild and get a couple aspirins?† â€Å"You're late already.† In the corridors she handed him off to a pair of killer whaley boys. â€Å"You should be honored, you know?† Nuà ±ez said. â€Å"He doesn't meet with many people.† â€Å"You can take my appointment if you want.† The Colonel had a goo recliner waiting for him when he walked through the iris door. Nate sat in it and held his coffee cup like a security blanket against his chest. â€Å"Well, can you see now that life wouldn't be so bad here?† Nate's mind raced. Amy said the Colonel didn't know, but maybe the Goo knew, but the Colonel was tapped in to the Goo, so did he know? Or had he sent her in the first place and this was all a scam, just like when he'd sent her to Hawaii to spy on him? She'd fooled him for a month there, why couldn't she be fooling him now? He wanted to trust her. But what was Ryder getting at? â€Å"What's different, Growl? When I saw you nine hours ago, I was a prisoner, and I'm a prisoner now.† Ryder seemed surprised. He wiped the lock of gray hair out of his eyes furiously, as if it had caused him to make some sort of mistake. â€Å"Right, nine hours. So you've had some time to think.† He didn't sound sure. â€Å"I got drunk and passed out. In the clear, lightning-bug light of day, Colonel, I still want to go home.† â€Å"You know, time† – Ryder patted the living chair he was sitting in as if he were petting a dog, sending waves of blush through the pink Goo outward from where he touched. Nate shivered at the sight of it – â€Å"time is different down here, it's†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Relative?† Nate offered. â€Å"It's on a different scale.† â€Å"What do you want from me, Colonel? What can I possibly offer you that I get the special treatment of being spared and granted multiple audiences with the†¦ the grand pooh-bah?† Nate was going to say â€Å"with the alpha whacko,† but he thought of Amy and realized that something had changed. He no longer felt like he had nothing to lose. Rider swiped at his hair and clutched at the flesh of his chair with the other hand. He began rocking slightly. â€Å"I want someone to tell me I'm thinking clearly, I guess. I dream things that the Goo knows, and I think it knows things that I dream, but I'm not sure. I'm overwhelmed.† â€Å"You might have thought about that before you declared yourself wizard.† â€Å"You think I chose this? I didn't choose this, Nate. The Goo chose me. I don't know how many people have been brought down here over the years, but I was the first biologist. I was the first one who had some idea how the Goo worked. It had the whaley boys bring me to a place like this, where there was raw, unformed animal, and it never let me leave. I've tried to make things better for people in Gooville, but – † Ryder's eyes rolled up in his head as if he were starting to have a seizure, but then he was back again. â€Å"Did you see the electricity on the whale ships? I did that. But it's not – It's different now than it has been.† Nate suddenly felt bad for the older man. Ryder was behaving like an early Alzheimer's patient who is realizing that he's losing recognition of his grandchildren's faces. â€Å"Tell me,† Nate said. Ryder nodded, swallowed hard, pressed on – hardly the picture of the powerful leader he'd appeared the night before. â€Å"I think that after the Goo found its safe haven here under the sea, it needed to have more information, more DNA sequences to make sure it could protect itself. It produced a minute bacterium that could spread throughout the oceans, be part of the great world ecosystem but could pass genetic information back to the source. We call the bacteria SAR-11. It's a thousand times smaller than normal bacteria, but it's in every liter of seawater on the planet. That worked fine to transmit information back to the Goo for three billion years – everything that could be known was in the sea. Then something happened.† â€Å"Animals left the water?† â€Å"Exactly. Until then, everything there was to know – every piece of information that could be known – was transmitted through DNA, replicators, in creatures that lived in the seas. The Goo knew everything. Mind you, it might take a million years to learn how to make an arthropod's segmented shell. It might take two million years to learn to make a gill or, say, twenty million to make an eye, but it had its safe niche, so it had the time – it didn't have anywhere it needed to be. Evolution doesn't really have a destination. It's just dicking around with possibilities. The Goo is the same way. But when life left the water, the Goo got a blind spot.† â€Å"I'm having a little trouble seeing the immediacy of your story, Colonel. I mean, why, beyond the obvious that I'm sitting inside this thing, is this supposed to be urgent?† â€Å"Because four hundred million years later, the land creatures came back into the water – sophisticated land animals.† â€Å"Early whales?† â€Å"Yes, when mammals came back to the sea, they brought something that even the dinosaurs – the reptiles and amphibians that had come back to the water – didn't have. Something the Goo didn't know. Knowledge that didn't replicate itself through DNA. It replicated through imitation, learned knowledge, not passed on. Memes.† Nate knew about memes, the information equivalent of a gene. A gene existed to replicate itself and required a vehicle, an organism, in which to do it. It was the same with memes, except a meme could replicate itself across vehicles, across brains. A tune you couldn't get out of your head, a recipe, a bad joke, the Mona Lisa – all were memes of sort. They were a fun model to think about, and computers had made the idea of a self-replicating piece of information more manifest with computer viruses, but what did that have to do with – But then it hit him. Why he'd learned about memes in the first place. â€Å"The song,† Nate said. â€Å"Humpback song is a meme.† â€Å"Of course. The first culture, the first exposure the Goo had to something it didn't understand. What, maybe fifteen million years ago it found out it wasn't the only game in town. Three billion years is a long time to get used to living in what you think is your private house only to suddenly find out that someone moved into an apartment above you while you were sleeping. â€Å"For a long time the Goo didn't perceive that genes and memes were at odds. Whales were the first carriers. Big brains because they need to imitate complex behaviors, remember complex tasks, and because they could get the high-protein food to build the brains the memes needed. But the Goo came to terms with the whales. They're an elegant mix of genes and memes, absolute kings of their realm. Huge, efficient feeders, immune from any predation except from each other. â€Å"But then something started killing whales. Killing them in alarming numbers. And it was something from the surface world. It wasn't something the Goo could find out about from its ocean-borne nervous system, so that's when I think it created the whale ships, or a version of them. Late seventeen or early eighteen hundreds, I'd guess. Then, I think when it had somehow gotten back enough samples of human DNA, it made the whaley boys. To stay camouflaged but to watch, to bring people back here so it could learn, watch us. I may have been the final link that started the war.† â€Å"What war? There's a war?† Nate had a quick vision of the paranoid megalomaniacs that the Colonel said he'd considered for pseudonyms, Captain Nemo and Colonel Kurtz, both complete bedbugs. â€Å"The war between memes and genes. Between an organism that specializes in the replication of gene machines – the Goo – and one that specializes in the replication of meme machines – us, human beings. I brought electrical and computer technology here. I brought the Goo the theoretical knowledge of memes and genes and how they work. Where the Goo is now and where it was before I came is the difference between being able to drive one and being able to build a car from lumps of raw steel. It's realizing the threat. It's going to figure it out.† Ryder looked at Nate expectantly. Nate looked at him as if he wasn't getting the point. When he'd studied under Ryder, the man had been so cogent, so clear. Grumpy, but clear. â€Å"Okay,† Nate said slowly, hoping Ryder would jump in, â€Å"so you need me to†¦ uh†¦?† â€Å"Help me figure out a way to kill it.† â€Å"Didn't see that coming.† â€Å"We're at war with the Goo, and we have to find a way to kill it before it knows what's happening.† â€Å"Then don't you think you should keep your voice down?† â€Å"No, it doesn't communicate that way.† The Colonel looked perturbed at Nate's comment. â€Å"So you want me to figure out how to kill your god? â€Å"Yes, before it wipes out the human race in one fell swoop.† â€Å"Which would be bad.† â€Å"And we have to kill it without killing everyone in Gooville.† â€Å"Oh, we can do that,† Nate said, completely confident, the way he'd seen hostage negotiators in cop movies tell the bank robbers that their demands were being met and the helicopter was on the way. â€Å"But I'm going to need some time.† The strangest thing was, as Nate left the Colonel's chamber after being in direct contact with the Goo for only a few minutes, his hangover was completely gone.

The Triangle of forces (Engineering Science) Lab Report

The Triangle of forces (Engineering Science) - Lab Report Example Figure 2 on the left shows a space diagram in which only the lines of action of the forces are shown. On the right is the force or vector diagram in which sides of the triangle represent to scale the magnitude and also the direction of the three forces. Forces in the space diagram are designated by capital letters placed in the spaces on each side of the force, e.g. the force labelled ab in the force diagram is called AB in the space diagram. Note that the force AB emanates outward from the node. A force designated BA would be the opposite direction. Figure 3 on the left shows a space diagram (the position of the strings) in which only the lines of action of the forces are shown. The combination of weights (forces) taken are 70g, 70g, and 90g. On the right is the force or vector diagram in which sides of the triangle represent to scale the magnitude and also the direction of the three forces. The force 70g () is represented by vector in the, the force 70g () is represented by vector in the, and the force 90g () is represented by vector in the. From figure 3, it can be seen that the three forces,, and in equilibrium forms a triangle (approximately). The triangle is not closed because of measurement errors. Figure 4 on the left shows a space diagram (the position of the strings) in which only the lines of action of the forces are shown. The combination of weights (forces) taken are 90g, 70g, and 90g. On the right is the force or vector diagram in which sides of the triangle represent to scale the magnitude and also the direction of the three forces. The force 90g () is represented by vector in the, the force 70g () is represented by vector in the, and the force 90g () is represented by vector in the. From figure 4, it can be seen that the three forces, , and in equilibrium forms a triangle (approximately). Figure 5 on the left shows a space diagram (the position of the strings) in which only the lines of action

Final Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Final Project - Assignment Example Apparently, this model of sport is associated with an increased perception of gender mainstreaming. Soccer is highly regarded as a male dominated professional with the few females involved being confined to embrace the concepts presented by their male colleagues. I considered playing a gender spin through the introduction of a female official or player in a male team. The character will align with the demands of the sport, however, she will engage a touch of feminism in her appearance. She is anticipated to be in cloths that spell out her gender as well as illustrate on the feminism aspect of the entire context. Apparently, the character will be high heel shoes and having her face in makeup that spells out her feminism. She will be in large earrings and wearing some tight but comfortable outfit. The interest of the object will only be founded on the potential interests it will arouse against the male dominated sport event. The image allowed an opportunity to evaluate on my three queries. It allowed for the reflection on the possible reception that may be associated to a gender twist in tradition events such as soccer. Apparently, the sport is regarded as a male affair with respect to the dressing and the art of expression. However, the creation allows for the reflection of the contribution that may be generated following the introduction of a differing gender perspective in the entire sport. It also allowed for the reflection on the eventual impression of gender that may not be considered to be declared in various cultures and traditions. Soccer was regarded as a tradition or a culture in the creation. The concept of the sport being advised by a male gender mainstreaming may be regarded as being central in the consideration of a sense of unspoken domination. The introduction of a character expressing an increased touch of a different gender in the sport allows for the conceptualization of the question. Finally, the creation allowed for the establishment

Re sit assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Re sit assessment - Essay Example This issue can be resolved by an examination of the intention of the parties to the contract. Through the landmark case of Heilbut, Symons & Co v Buckleton,1 the House of Lords had established that whether or not a statement is a term of the contract shall be decided by employing the intention of the parties as the overall guide. This intention shall be ascertained under the four tests of timing, importance of the statement, reduction of terms to writing, and possession of special knowledge or skills. First, under the test of timing, the use of cream Welsh slate can be considered as a term of the contract if the reverend’s statement was made within a short interval of time from the writing of the contract. Otherwise, if there was a long lapse of time, then it is a mere representation and not part of the terms of the contract.2 The second test that could be used to determine the true intention of the parties is the importance of the statement. If the court determines that the s tatement was the principal reason for the aggrieved party to enter into the contract in question, then it is a term. Otherwise, if it was not the essential cause for the conclusion of the contract, then it is a mere representation. ... It is established that when a contract is reduced into writing, it contains all the stipulations agreed by the parties and all those not mentioned on paper are deemed not part of the contract. However this rule admits of some exceptions where statements were considered as part of the terms of the contract although they were omitted in the written contract.4 The final test for the intentions of the parties is the possession of special knowledge or skills. If the person who made the disputed statement has special knowledge or skills thus placing him in a better position to know the truth or validity of his claim than the other party, then the statement is a term of the contract. For example, between a veteran car dealer and a first-time car owner, the statements made by the former about the conditions of the car shall be considered as part of the terms of the contract.5 If after applying the foregoing tests it shall be found that the statement about the use of cream Welsh slate is a te rm of contract, it shall then be determined whether the term is one of condition or warranty. A condition is a key term of the contract which is important to its very existence while a warranty is a minor term which does not affect the main purpose for the contract. In addition, a breach of condition entitles the injured party to repudiate the contract and to claim damages6 while a breach of warranty only entitles the injured party to a claim for damages without the remedy of repudiation.7 Moreover, despite the breach of condition, the aggrieved party has the option to simply demand for damages and just proceed with the execution of the contract. Finally, a breach of condition gives rise to a remedy for

Population & migration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Population & migration - Essay Example Population increase/explosion in developing countries contributes to problems such as malnutrition and poverty but does not have much negative effects in developed countries as they are well endowed with several resources. On the other hand, population decrease in developing countries can be seen as a blessing as it would boost the capacity of available limited resources and opportunities to cater for the needs of the population, but in highly industrialized countries it will be seen as a curse because of shrinking available workforce. This paper investigates problems of population explosion in India suggesting ways that can be used to control it. According to Webster’s dictionary, population is defined as the whole number of inhabitants or people in a given country whereas population explosion is pyramiding of numbers of a natural population. Population change is mainly influenced by death rate, birth rate and migration. Increase in birth rate and migration increase population whereas increase in death rate reduces population. Thus, population is calculated by subtracting a sum of deaths and emigration from a sum of births and immigration. Effects of population growth in India include increased environmental population, increased unemployment and illiteracy levels and increased depletion of resources. Increased environment pollution has resulted from increased establishment of more factories to satisfy the needs of the people in the country. When the fossil fuels are burnt to generate energy required by the increased factories, green house gases such as carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere contributing to air pollution and global warming. Also, the factories discharge their industrial wastes into rivers. Equally, the increasing numbers of people exert pressure on the available natural resources; water resources are over-utilized, forest cover

A factor that effect normal speech development Essay

A factor that effect normal speech development - Essay Example At 2 years of age, the child is able to utter 2- word phrases. By 3 years, the child is able to form sentences, uses plurals and past tense, can make sentences with 3 to 5 words and 90% of the talk is understood by strangers. At 4 years of age, the child can make sentences with 6 words, can converse and tell stories. At 5 years of age, the child can make sentences with 6- 8 words, can name 4 colors and can count ten pennies correctly (Schwartz, 1990; qtd. in Leung & Kao, 1999). Delay in the development of speech is a major concern to both parents and pediatricians. Speech delay can occur with or without delay in other milestones. A child is considered to have delay in the development of speech when the speech milestone attained is significantly lower than that which is normal for that age. It is important to identify, investigate and institute appropriate intervention in speech delay because; this can have significant impact on the social, academic, personal and vocational life of th e individual. There are many causes for delayed development of speech. The most common cause of speech delay is mental retardation. Infact, it accounts for more than 50% cases of speech delay (Leung & Kao, 1999). Most often, speech delay occurs due to inadequate stimulation of the child. An older dominating sibling may steal all the attention of the elders of the house. Various hereditary factors can affect speech development. Delayed speech in parents can result in delayed speech in the offspring also. Many genetic diseases which lead to global developmental delay or mental retardation can contribute to delayed speech. Exposure to many languages at a time or frequent changes in the childs environment can contribute to delayed speech. Chronic ear infections, effusions and impacted wax can lead to hearing debility and hence delayed speech. Intact hearing is vital to speech and language development in the first few years of life.

International Terrorism and terrorist organizations Essay

International Terrorism and terrorist organizations - Essay Example These acts driven by the ideas of a group causes terror in the lives of a larger set of people and is commonly termed as terrorism. This essay would concentrate on various perceptions regarding terrorism that covers international terrorism, the structure and organization of terrorist groups, their views in the support of their actions, historical events that possibly led to revolutions which in turn gave rise to terrorism. A list of possible actions that can be taken to combat against terrorism is presented at the end. Defining the term terrorism would be a relatively tougher task. Not because of the political and emotional charges that the word carries but because of the flexibility in which the word could be (Hans, 1988). This had been defined by many organizations and institutions and individuals. The US army's study in 1988 counted that about 109 definitions of terrorism existed (Schmidt, 1988). In these definitions almost 22 different elemental definitions were found. A study in 1999 by terrorism expert Mr. Walter Lacquer also concluded that more than a hundred definitions of this word existed and focused on a point that the only general characteristic common to all the definitions about terrorism was that terrorism is closely associated to violence or threat of violence (Hans, 1988). Terrorism is different from criminal activities done for various purposes and it is important that this difference be brought out while defining terrorism. Many regions, countries have taken this issue into cons ideration while defining the word terrorism. Now let us brood over some important definitions of terrorism. The word terrorism happens to have its first appearance in "The Times" on 30th January 1795 (Hans, 1988). It was put in an excerpt to signify the changes taking place during rising of revolutionary government in France. One of the early definitions of terrorism was given by Maximilian Robespierre in 1794 which says that terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible and it is not a unique principle (Schmidt, 1988). He regarded this as the consequence of democracy. The word terrorism got its place in English dictionary in the year 1798 and had a meaning "Systematic use of terror as policy". However it is interesting to see that the usage of the word terrorism and its meaning are quite controversial (Hans, 1988). The definitions used at found in the recent days are biased in a sense that they do not clearly specify the dividing line between groups who use the v iolence to achieve political goals that include government and other terrorist groups. Terrorism is labeled with tags that denote lack of legitimacy and morality. Let us first look at how the United Nations defines the word terrorism. United Nations does not accept any predefined definition of this word however, the UN academic consensus definition by Alex Schmidt is widely used by socialists and it is as follows "Terrorism is an anxiety-inspiring method of repeated violent action, employed by (semi-) clandestine individual, group or state actors, for idiosyncratic, criminal or political reasons, whereby - in contrast to assassination - the direct targets of violence are not the main targets."(Schmidt, 1988) Its short definition is the peacetime equivalent of war crime. However on 17th March 2005 the UN described that

Special Ed. Essay Example for Free

Special Ed. Essay With the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2001 and revisions of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), schools have implemented the pre-referral process encouraging individual based level of education for a particular student. Historically, before recent updates to state and federal special education guidelines, students typically received special attention to their specific needs through parent conferences, generic observations, a few general intervention techniques, psychological evaluation, or simply a review of report cards, social records. Since the implementation of IDEA, students are now receiving proactive approaches to match his or her level of need. Two such approaches of evaluating individual students are Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and Response to Intervention (RTI). Both PBS and RTI are structured on a different model, but both have the same goals. Each intervention approach takes into account components and accounts for critical universal factors that target a specific individual, group, or level. These two models offer a range of interventions that are scientifically applied to a student, based on the student’s level of needs through previous monitoring in the classroom. Response to Intervention (RTI) is defined as â€Å"the practice of providing high-quality instruction and interventions matched to student need, monitoring progress frequently to make decisions about changes in instruction or goals, and applying child response data to important educational decisions† (Batsche et al. , 2006). RTI has emerged as the more popular of the two intervention model’s and has been accepted by most schools in the United States, as the new way of thinking about early intervention and identifying a child’s educational disability. The RTI approach considers the application of an individual student’s difficulties in schools by evaluating student’s environment and then provides intervention as soon as the student shows signs difficulty, lack of focus, or academic problems. The goal of RTI is to ensure all students receive the highest quality of education and instruction and reduce any possible false referrals to unnecessary classes, or programs. RTI has a three tier model for also eliminating unqualified teachers as a reason for a student’s lack of performance, or grades. For example in, tier I of the three modeled tier, teachers are required to implement different teaching techniques in order to gauge a student’s performance and focus toward learning. This form of teaching is a method only most qualified teachers can provide in the RTI process. Tier one is described as a universal assessment using formal and informal instructional techniques. Tier two targets students that have not made progress in a given amount of time and are monitored frequently. These students are considered as having some academic weakness. Tier three is more of an intensive intervention and for students that do not respond to instruction form tier two. Tier three students may be eligible for special education classes and programs. When a student is evaluated and qualifies for tier three, the students will be specially monitored and eventually reviewed for receiving an individual educational program (IEP). Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), is based more on a model of how to solve inappropriate behavior and prevent that behavior through teaching and reinforcing appropriate behaviors. â€Å"Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) is a process for creating school environments that are more predictable and effective for achieving academic and social goals. For some schools, PBIS will enhance their current systems and practices, for others it will radically change the culture for the better† (www. cms. k12. nc. us). Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) is a systemic approach to proactive, school-wide behavior based on a Response to Intervention (RTI) model. â€Å"The concept of PBIS has been researched in education for approximately 15 years† (www. cms. k12. nc. us) and has been implemented successfully in thousands of schools in over 40 states. PBIS applies evidence-based programs, practices and strategies for all students to increase academic performance, improve safety, decrease problem behavior, and establish a positive school culture. Schools implementing PBIS build on existing strengths, complementing and organizing current programming and strategies. The PBIS model had resulted in dramatic reductions in disciplinary interventions and increases in academic achievement. Data-based decision making is a hallmark of PBIS and is a scientific approach to the pre-referral process to special education. There are many ways to define, or explain the concepts of PBIS and RTI, but each provides a specific three tiered pre-referral process to special education that will enhance the quality of life for students participating in these interventions. Whichever intervention a student is placed, he, or she should receive a higher quality education and instruction. Elements common in these models indicate a system of intervention based on a student’s performance that will indicated whether there is a legitimate learning disability, not just the need for additional instruction for no reason. References RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION. (2006). In Encyclopedia of Special Education: A Reference for the Education of the Handicapped and Other Exceptional Children and Adults. Retrieved May 23, 2012, from: http:library. gcu. edu:2048/login? qurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww. cred oreference. com/entry/ wileyse/response_to_intervention CPI Educate. Empower. Enrich. (2012). Retrieved May 23, 2012, from: http://www. crisisprevention. com/Resources/Knowledge-Base/Positive-Behavior-Support SEDL Advancing research, improving education (2012). Retrieved May 23, 2012, from : http://www. sedl. org/pubs/sedl-letter/v19n02/rti. html CMS Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. (2011). Retrieved May 23, 2012, from: http://www. cms. k12. nc. us/cmsdepartments/PBIS/Pages/default. aspx Response to Intervention (2012). Retrieved May 23, 2012, from: http://www. nasponline. org/resources/handouts/revisedPDFs/rtiprimer. pdf

Halliday And Hasans Cohesion In English English Language Essay

Halliday And Hasans Cohesion In English English Language Essay A relatively neglected aspect of the linguistic system is its resources for text construction, the range of meanings that are specifically associated with relating what being said. The principal component of these resources is that of cohesion. Through the last four decades, studies have been conducted by linguists to explain and examine cohesive features. The major work that influenced these studies is the one conducted by Halliday and Hasan (1976) on their book Cohesion in English. This paper attempts to explore Cohesion in Englishs content, highlight its influence on English language teaching, and investigate its impact on developing further works on cohesion. The concept of cohesion, according to Halliday and Hasan (1976), is a semantic one. It deals with the relations of meaning within any text. It occurs where the interpretation of some element in the discourse is dependent on that of another and, thus, a relation of cohesion is set up. The one presupposes the other, and cannot be effectively decoded except by recourse to it. The two elements, the presupposing and the presupposed, are integrated into a text. As an example to illustrate the concept of cohesion, the old piece of schoolboy humour time flies, gives no indication of not being a complete text and in fact it usually is, and the humour lies in the misinterpretation that is required if there is a following sentence is to be satisfied. Halliday and Hasans interpretation of cohesion is further elaborated by approaching the notion of a cohesive tie. This is a term that is thought to be needed to refer to an occurrence of a pair of cohesively linked items. It is argued that the concept of a tie makes it possible to analyse any text in terms of its cohesive characteristics and gives a systemic account of its patterns of texture. In English, there are two ways by which cohesive ties are created: lexical and grammatical cohesion (Halliday and Hasan, 1976) and each of these ties has been explained and examined thoroughly by applied linguists in attempt to provide effective way of mastering these ties by English language learners. Lexical cohesion is simply interpreted by Halliday and Hasan (1976:274) as the cohesive effect achieved by the selection of vocabulary. It involves meaningful connections in text that are created through the use of lexical items and that do not intrinsically involve grammatical cohesive ties (Bloor, 2004). The two main categories linked with lexical cohesion are collocation and reiteration. Collocation covers two or more words which can be said to go together in the sense of frequency of occurrence (Bloor, 2004). Learners recognition of collocational ties depends in large measures on the amount of his or her reading or listening. The teacher should therefore, encourage learners to read more and provide a motivational environment in which learners are exposed to lexical collocations. Of the category of lexical reiteration, educators locate difficulty for students of forming a mental picture of the meaning of general nouns, and the fact that they cohere not with a single word but with a wider stretch of meaning. Many researchers have investigated the importance of teaching lexical cohesion in the language classroom. McGee (2008), for example, suggests that collocation errors are pervasive in student attempts to vary their lexis. As much as possible collocation knowledge must be developed alongside reiteration skill development. Collocation dictionaries or corpus data can be used by teachers to help give students the most typical or strongest collocates of important words. Cox, Shanahan, and Sulzby (1990: 60) argue that exposure to contrived texts has a negative effect on the development of a learners use of lexical cohesive ties in writing. They advise teachers not to over-simplify texts for their students as they believe that edited texts are not rich in their lexical cohesive ties. Grammatical cohesion, on the other hand, refers to the structural content, and it is categorised into four main cohesive ties: reference, substitution, ellipsis and conjunction. Reference is considered as a cohesive tie when two or more expressions in the text refer to the same person, thing or idea (Bloor, 2004:93). In relation to the main types of reference, Halliday and Hasan (1976) contrast between exophora and endophora, and suggest that exophoric reference is situational and the endophoric reference is textual. Though both exophoric and endophoric reference embody an instruction to retrieve from elsewhere the information necessary for interpreting a text, exophoric reference must be made to the context of situation whereas endophoric reference is realised by the position of the expressions in the text. Depending on these positions, one can speak of anaphoric and cataphoric reference. If an expression refers to a preceding expression/utterance, it is a case of anaphoric referenc e. Cataphoric reference refers to the following utterances or their parts (see Figure 1 below). Figure 1 , (Cited in Halliday and Hasan, 1976:33) Substitution, in contrary to the reference, is a relation in syntax rather than meaning. It is a grammatical relation used to avoid unnecessary and intrusive repetition of a lexical item by drawing on the grammatical recourses of the language to replace the item (Bloor, 2004). For example, in the conversation, Which ice-cream would you like? I would like the pink one , the word one is used instead of repeating ice-cream. There are three types of substitution in English: nominal (one, ones, the same), verbal (do/did) and clausal (so, not) substitution. Ellipsis is another kind of substitution but in this case a lexical item is substituted by zero. That is to say, rather being substituted in order to avoid unnecessary and intrusive repetition, an item is left unsaid. For example, the word Dormouse is elided after two: There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house, and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it: a Dormouse was sitting between them, fast asleep, and the other two were using it as a cushion, resting their elbows on it, and talking over its head. Halliday and Hasan (1976) lists three types of ellipsis: nominal, the omission of head nouns in a nominal group; verbal, an ellipsis within the verbal group; and clausal, the omission of a clause. The notion of ellipsis has influenced English language teachers to draw on learners short-term memory and help them recognise when ellipsis has occurred in a certain text. The fourth and final type of cohesive ties is that of conjunction. It refers broadly to the combining of any two textual elements into a potentially coherent complex semantic unit (Thompson, 2004). Though the conjunctive elements (for example, then, for this reason, on the other hand) are used to describe the relationship between clauses and sections in the text, Halliday and Hasan (1976:226) suggest that they are not principally devices for reaching out into the preceding (or following) text, but they express certain meanings which presuppose the presence of other components in the discourse. They argue that in describing conjunction a cohesive device, the attention should not be on the semantic relations between the clauses linked by the conjuncts, rather on the conjunctive devices themselves and the function they have of relating to each other linguistic elements. Educational experts, however, attempt to refer to the notion of conjunction in accordance with what suits the English language learner to better achieve the mastery of this cohesive device. Zamil (1983), for example, suggests that rather than the typical textbook approach of presenting lists of conjuncts categorized according to meaning, it would be more effective to begin by classifying linking devices according to their grammatical functions. In other words, coordinating conjunctions (e.g. and, or, but), subordinating conjunctions (e.g. because, although, if), and conjunctive adverbs (e.g. on the other hand, nevertheless) should all be introduced separately. In this way, students could learn how each type of marker works within the sentence and between sentences. Applied linguists have devoted many studies on how learners perceive and produce cohesive structures, and Halliday and Hasans work on cohesion triggers investigations on learners difficulties in recognising cohesive ties in both first and second language learning. Garrod and Sanford (1977b), for example, in experiments with adult L1 subjects, show that the time taken to read a sentence containing the second half of a lexically-conjoined tie is largely determined by the semantic distance between the two halves of the tie. In other words, all other content remaining constant, a pair of sentences containing a superordinate/subordinate lexical tie will take longer to read than a pair containing lexical tie involving repetition. Chapman and stokes (1980) research on the mastery of cohesive ties by L1 British children gives evidence that those children who are beginning to read fluently have the ability to perceive the cohesive factors and are thus able to integrate the text semantically, for they are constructing a meaningful whole as they read. In L2 situation, Cohen (1979) investigated university students reading of English texts in four complementary studies and all four of the studies revealed that learners were not picking up the conjunctive words signalling cohesion, not even the more basic ones like however and thus. Further, Pierce (1975) and Ewer (1980) both comment on the difficulties posed by the conjuncts and discourse markers, and advise that much more attention should be given to this category of tie in teaching reading. The work of Halliday and Hasan (1976) still provides the fullest account of cohesive ties in English (Bloor, 2004). However, there are several scholars who have developed Halliday and Hasans account to investigate deeply into the area. Hoey (1983, 1991), for example, investigates how cohesive features combine to organise long stretches of text. He approaches cohesion as related to some patterns of rhetorical organisation. A special attention on his work is given on cohesive chains and the significance of repetition. His contributions include ideas on the role of the sentence, which he suggests may be a part grammatical, part textual phenomenon, a view that is compatible with much on literature on the topic (Bloor, 2004). Another example to the influence of Halliday and Hasans Cohesion in English, is the work by Mann and Thompson (1992) which gathers different analyses by twelve different linguists of the same text. It incorporates distinct views in approaching discourse and may vary the classifications of text analysis. A further investigation of Halliday and Hasans (1976) work is conducted by Halliday and Matthiessen (1999) who bring broader theoretical perspective the area of language cohesion. Their work sheds light on many factors that lack of space has forced us to neglect. Apart from praise and influential impact cohesion in English has gained, one might note that it is not without its critics. Doyle (1982) ,for example, points out that Halliday and Hasan limit themselves to a discussion of meaning as it appears in surface structure; questions of coherence, of the relationships among propositions in the textual world created by the writer and recreated by the reader, remain unexamined. He argues that the very restrictions which Halliday and Hasan themselves placed upon their study beg questions and forestall observations which seem ultimately more interesting to the study of coherence than the taxonomy which results. In their decision to restrict their study to surface evidence of cohesion beyond the sentence, Halliday and Hasan restrict the relationships which their descriptive system may show. To sum up, Halliday and Hasans (1976) work on cohesion appears to set out a framework for the analysis and coding of cohesion and, therefore, offers a new dimension for language educators to approach language semantics and structure in the language classroom. Applied linguists and language teachers have been influenced by Cohesion in English on designing grammar lessons and language tasks that address lexical and grammatical cohesive ties.

Social Work Methods and Theories

Social Work Methods and Theories This essay will consist of four main parts. In part one; the essay will give a brief introduction and history to social work theories and methods. Moving forward the essay will look at the importance and value of theories and methods in relation to social work and how it informs practice. Throughout, reference will be made to the most popular theorist. Part two will consider how social work theories and methods can be successfully applied in the drug and alcohol field. Given an overview of this, it will be necessary to demonstrate how two social work methods are chosen, and applied, in the intervention of an example case study. Where applicable, contributions from service users will be used to bring more insight and balance to the essay. Part three will be an analysis of a social work method used in the example case study. From the method, the essay will explore and evaluate, in depth, the way it underpins anti-discriminatory practice. Part four of this essay will conclude with a reflection on how the student has gained a valuable knowledge base throughout the module and assignment. This reflection will also show how the student will use this knowledge base in practice. No reflection would be complete without a concise look at how reflective practice can play a vital part of future social work practice. An initial risk assessment was carried out by the referral worker, in the vein of a questioning model to identify possible risks and dangers to staff and other service users, however as discussed by Smale, Tuson and Statham (2000) taking a strengths based approach would allow referral workers and key workers to work as collaborators, facilitating service users to identify needs and outcomes. During intervention with Mr AB sessions, in the form of an exchange model, were carried out endeavoring that further assessment became a process of dialogue rather than just a fact finding mission with the exchanging of ideas and information. This approach is compatible with the framework of task centered practice, appropriate with this intervention (Ford Postle, 2000) Key work sessions started with Mr AB and from the outset the process was explained and the objectives made clear, it was also explained to Mr AB that due to company policies, and his terms and conditions of stay in the night shelter, these sessions were time limited so a positive ending to the professional relationship was hoped for. It was also considered that this approach would reduce the power imbalance in the relationship; however the power will never be fully balanced when working within legislative and multi agency procedures (Parker Bradley, 2008) However as stated by Dalymple Burke (2000) it is necessary to endeavour to empower rather then disempowere with the need to balance power relationships. In this instance this can be evidenced by the written agreements in the form of the assessment and support plan . Weekly key worker sessions agreed to by Mr AB provided further support as required and opportunity to review whether desired outcomes were being achieved, as in the National Occupational Standards Key Role and outlined by Supporting People and the agency policy and procedures (ODPM, 2004). (Walker Beckett, 2007). It is also necessary to not only collect information as part of the key worker sessions but to balance findings in order to produce an overall analysis of risks and need (Walker Beckett, 2007). Throughout the assessment procedure it is necessary to be aware of the influences of ethics, power, and professionalism along with anti- oppressive practice. Middleton (1997) states that in order to empower, it is necessary to respect the individual, enhance their strengths and coping abilities. It is therefore vital that key worker sessions be conducted with a non judgmental attitude. While acknowledging the key worker has different values and status to Mr AB showing acceptance to people in all situations can be difficult however as stated in by Carl Rogers (1951, 1961) the human psychologist the person should show they are genuine, and portray empathy and warmth. It become apparent as key worker sessions continued that Mr AB was reluctant to engage with this service as he was in pre contemplation (Denial) (Prowchaska Di Clamentis 1996). However, the threat of eviction if he did not adhere to his conditions of stay was a considerable worry to Mr AB as was the thought of becoming homeless and having to sleep rough. It is very important to remember that as key working intervenes in the lives of vulnerable people these people have the right not to be victims of untested and possible harmful interventions. This confirms the need of understanding how theory relates to practice and learning from research and evidence based practice (Rutter, 2006) This confirms Maslow (1970) who shows in his hierarchy of need, that before higher needs can be met basic needs are required to be in place. Therefore to allow Mr AB to move forward in his life he requires support to start a procces to put these needs in place (Giddens, 2006). Mr AB during his key work sessions discussed his feelings and it was felt by him that no opportunities were open to him and that he was struggling against a society that was oppressive and keeping him down. It was pointed out to Mr AB that his position in society was that of a lifestyle choice, that society is changing to support people to progress and that choices were open to him (Giddens, 2006) ). It is however necessary to acknowledge as stated by Bronfenbrenner (1979) that different levels of society will influence the individuals life course. Also stated by Jack and Jack (2000) individuals are products of their environment and can never be fully understood separately from one another. As stated by Crawford Walker (2005) transitions have the potential to be stressful even those that are planned and welcomed. As the intervention process progressed and the support plan auctioned positive outcomes including building on self confidence which led to Mr AB seeking and securing part time employment Doel (1994) states that service user motivation may weaken and it was therefore important to continue supporting and encouraging Mr ABS interest and commitment to work. By adopting a model that worked with service users strengths helped to ensure that an anti oppressive focus was maintained. . Using task centered practice as discussed by Ford Postle (2009) goals were set which would support the researching and attending of courses which provide basic computer skills, with the attainment of each goal aimed to promote self-confidence and further motivation (Rooney Larsen, 1997). Subsequently in this instance the planned ending and outcomes have not been realized, with events determining an alternate course of action (Walker Beckett, 2007). The first part of this essay will lookÂÂ  at the relationship between social work methods and substance abuse Denial can also be explained as a defence mechanism whichÂÂ  is establishedÂÂ  by aÂÂ  person when there is aÂÂ  dangerÂÂ  that heÂÂ  or she will become aware of or actÂÂ  onÂÂ  unconsciousÂÂ  primitive impulses that areÂÂ  unacceptableÂÂ  (Freud, 1967). ). Knatz (1999) states that denial is a defense mechanism by which individuals are able to cope with unpleasant realities. Be aware that the term alcoholism implies disease/condition.ÂÂ  IfÂÂ  youÂÂ  use the term alcoholism in assignments, be sure toÂÂ  establishÂÂ  that youÂÂ  meanÂÂ  to say alcoholism and not alcohol dependency ). IfÂÂ  youÂÂ  useÂÂ  generalÂÂ  references around statistics on alcohol, try to refer to British statistics, you could use National Treatment Agency website reports, Office of National Statistics (ONS), NICE guidelines on treatment of alcoholÂÂ  dependencyÂÂ  for British/UK data, all available on line LetsÂÂ  giveÂÂ  theÂÂ  wordÂÂ  relationshipÂÂ  a different definition from the dictionaries, forÂÂ  unlocking theÂÂ  meaningÂÂ  of theÂÂ  wordÂÂ  often leadsÂÂ  to greater understanding.ÂÂ  -ÂÂ  tooÂÂ  colloquial, would be better to state, The word relationship has varied definitions from different sources of literature. Conflict is aÂÂ  partÂÂ  of most every interpersonal relationship.ÂÂ  ThereforeÂÂ  it could be stated that managing conflict,ÂÂ  is importantÂÂ  if the relationship is to beÂÂ  long-lastingÂÂ  and rewarding.ÂÂ  Jason and Beth have numerous conflicts and barriers which prevent them from having a more effective relationship.ÂÂ  Interpersonal relationships and communication (is a two-way street), too colloquial, say have mutuality Beth and Jason seemÂÂ  to rarely communicateÂÂ  between each other, aÂÂ  furtherÂÂ  factor which appears to contribute to the disintegration of their relationship. It can give rise to greater anxiety, depression,ÂÂ  insomnia, and general distress, reducedÂÂ  self-esteemÂÂ  andÂÂ  confidence, and sometimes disrupted family relationsÂÂ  ((Fryer,1992;Jahoda,1982). Bibliography Barber, G (2002) Social work with addiction.ÂÂ  Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire Berger, G. (1993), Alcoholism and theÂÂ  family.ÂÂ  New York: Franklin Watts Conville, Richard (1998) The meaning of relationship in interpersonal communication.ÂÂ  Praeger Publications.ÂÂ  Califonia. Heider, Fritz (1958) The Psychology of Interpersonal Relations.ÂÂ  LawrenceÂÂ  ErlbaumÂÂ  associates Jahoda, M (1982) Employment and Unemployment (The Psychology of Social Issues).ÂÂ  Cambridge University Press Knatz, H (1999) Getting on Oxford Books.Oxford Levinger, G. (1983).ÂÂ  Development and change.ÂÂ  Freeman and Company.San Francisco. Manstead, Antony S. R. and Miles Hewstone (1996).ÂÂ  The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Psychology.ÂÂ  Blackwell Publishing, Oxford. Maslow, Abraham.(1954) Motivation and personality.ÂÂ  Harper and Row, New York. Steele, CM (1985) TheÂÂ  psychologyÂÂ  of drunken excess.ÂÂ  London Press, London. West, Robert (2001) TheÂÂ  theoryÂÂ  of addiction.ÂÂ  Blackwell publishing, Oxford. The principle areas of social , administration and social workstudies include health issues and administration, employment services,community care, housing needs, crime prevention, disability checks,unemployment concerns, mental health, old age as well as social issues of raceor gender and poverty (Drake, 2001). Social work practice focuses on dealing with the problems of service users. The maintenance and improvement of their social, physical, and mental states is often dependent upon the effectiveness of social work intervention. (Miller, 2005) ÂÂ  Providing appropriatesocial services is an important target of social care policy and social policyin general (Adams, 2003). Welfare is general well being of individualsand when provided by the State, refers to a form of social security or social protectionthat aims to protect people from conditions such as sickness, ill health,diseases and poverty (Malin et al 2002) Social work practice has, over the years, become integral to Britains working life and current estimates put the number of active social workers in the country at significantly more than one million. (Parrott, 2002) Social work practice focuses on dealing with the problems of service users. The maintenance and improvement of their social, physical, and mental states is often dependent upon the effectiveness of social work intervention. (Miller, 2005) Users of social work services are largely economically and/or socially disadvantaged, and the vulnerabilities, which arise from these circumstances, frequently contribute to the nature of their relationships with service providers. (Miller, 2005) Social work makes use of a broad range of knowledge and incorporates information obtained from several disciplines; it empowers social workers in practice to use their acquired knowledge and skills first to engage service users and then to bring about positive changes in undesirable emotional states and behavioural attitudes, or in positions of social disempowerment. (Miller, 2005) ÂÂ  Social work makes use of a range of skills, methods, and actions that are aligned to its holistic concentration on individuals and their environments. (Harris, 2002) Counselling, whilst being a catch-all term, used for describing of various professions, is, an important component of social work practice. (Rowland, 1993) Specific counselling approaches have been developed to assist people with problems related to substance abuse, gluttony and for giving up smoking. (Pease Fook, 1999) In some areas of counselling, which deal with addiction, for example, with users of hard drugs, counsellors engaged in social work practice, function side by side, with sets of legal restrictions and moral issues. (Pease Fook, 1999)ÂÂ  

Free Hamlet Essays: Thoughts on Hamlet :: The Tragedy of Hamlet Essays

Final Thoughts on The Tragedy of Hamlet In light of the biographical information that was recently presented in class, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark has the potential to take on new meaning. Instead of just being a play that takes a closer look at honor, revenge and suicide, Hamlet turns into a canvas that gave Edward DeVere the opportunity to express himself without exposing himself at the same time. Assuming that the role of Hamlet was based on DeVere, the query that plagues my mind is: DeVere or not DeVere? That is the question, indeed. As discussed in class, there are similarities between the character of Hamlet and DeVere, including: loss of a father at an early age, a quick re-marriage by the mother, being interested in the theatre and the pirate attack, just to name a few. Something we did not discuss in class was the ending of the play and how that might correspond with DeVere's current anonymity when it comes to the works of Shakespeare. During the final scene in Hamlet, Prince Hamlet finds himself mortally wounded just after he has finally gotten his revenge on his uncle. As he dies, Hamlet asks Horatio to tell his story (V.ii.338-339). Horatio knows everything that has transpired since the beginning of the play, so he would be able to tell the Danes about how Hamlet figured out the horrible treason that had occurred with the foul death of his father, etc. In essence, Horatio's story would give Hamlet honor and seal his memory in the hearts of the Danish people (and possibly others) forever for his noble works. The rest of Hamlet is so autobiographical that it does not make sense for the final scene to not represent something in DeVere's life. I think that DeVere wrote this scene as a will or instructions on how he wanted his dramatic works to be handled when he died. Once dead, he would have no need to fear persecution by the Tudor family, so his name could finally be associated with all of the plays and sonnets that he had been writing secretly. Essentially, his talent would be praised, and his legend would live on in the hearts of all who saw his dramatic works.

Obamas First Inaugural Speech -- Inauguration, American Presidents

Picture this: a cold January day in Washington D.C, the first African American president is about to be inaugurated with a combined audience of over 38 million looking to be inspired. Ted Sorensen, a former speechwriter for John F. Kennedy, believes â€Å"An inaugural address is by definition a defining moment for any new president.† An inaugural address is a stepping stone for each new administration because it creates a first impression; the address marks the time when the president stops trying to win votes and starts taking action. Barack Obama's speech is filled with eloquent language, and it lived up to the expectations of both critics and the public. The speech, as described in the â€Å"Think Again† section of the New York Times was â€Å"...rather than being a sustained performance with a cumulative power [it was] a framework on which a succession of verbal ornaments was hung, and we were being invited not to move forward but to stop and ponder significances only hinted at.† â€Å"’Just words’ is how a president manages to operate. ‘Just words’ is how he engages the spirit of progress for th...

Formal letter for request sponsorhip Essay

Good day! My name is Ang Teck Kui and I am a business student from ALC college, Klang is organizing a charity fundraising event for our final year project. I represent my team Raiser of Hope Carnival 2014 which is consists of 13 passionate business students from ALC College to write this letter to your esteemed organization to request for a sponsorship. We are given an opportunity by ALC College, Klang to organize this special event to help create awareness on social responsibility by companies and the public to the society. In addition, we as business students will be able to gain experience as business person through this project. The event that we have chosen is carnival and the details are as follows: Event Type: Charity Fund – Raising Carnival Event Venue: SMK Tengku Ampuan Jemaah No. 1, Jalan Pandamaran, 42000, Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor, Malaysia Event Date: 30th November 2014 (Sunday) You can refer to our Sponsorship Benefits on our proposal to find out about the sponsorship benefits packages according to the amount sponsored. We accept sponsorship in both monetary value and as well as products by your company. We hope to receive a favourable reply form your good organization regarding the sponsorship. For further inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact me Ang Teck Kui at 016-9967729 or email me at raiserofhope2014@gmail.com . Your organization kind support and assistance to our cause is greatly appreciated by our team.

Sex Education at School level

To subjugate a nation or a country destroy its literature, its history and above all its culture. This is what the English men do to tighten the bonds of slavery on India. And we Indians are making merry over the ruins of our ancient culture and civilization.Our Rishis who were scholars, thinkers, preachers, philosophers and warriors as well had divided human life into four periods. According to them average expectance of life in India was 100 years. First twenty five years period was meant for physical, literary and spiritual education, second thirty five years i.e. up to the age of sixty years were meant for family life then Vanprasth and finally sanyas. For the first twenty five years one and the foremost and compulsory principle was â€Å"Brhamcharya† meaning self restraint over sexual feelings.A Brahmchari who was primarily a student, a vidyarthi and a pupil of the Guru would never think in terms of sex. He was taught not to distinguish between male and female. To him all females were either mothers or sisters. He was forced to believe that breasts of a lady are but a loath of flesh and fat, a sort of deformity not a center for attraction. And with this type of education we have the proud privilege of having great personalities like Swami Ram Kishna Paramhans, Swami Vivekanda, Swami Ram Terth, Subhash Chand Bose, Swami Dayanand, Jagat guru Shankracharya not in distant past while great men like Bhishma Pitamah of prehistoric days.Even today we have a number of leaders both male and female who have followed the sacred path of Brahamcharya and are outstanding personalities in every field of life. The names of our president A. P. T. Abdul Kalam and Atal Behari Vajpayee ex. Prime minister may be cited as examples. Now under the influence of western civilization there is a talk of imparting sex education at school level. A simple question to the advocates of sex education?Sex in not a characteristic of human beings only. It is found practically in all liv ing animals, birds, insects and even in plant kingdom. Who teaches sex to cow or a buffalo or a donkey or a bird or an insect. Sex is a natural instinct and needs no lesion, no teaching and no demonstration. Sex in animal and plant kingdom is not rampant. It is controlled by nature. But sex in human has to be controlled by self restrain, by teachings and creating an atmosphere adverse to the feelings of sex i.e. following the path of Brahmcharya.Premarital  sex is a crime. Bigamy is prohibited by law as well as by society and also by religion. After all what is the purpose of sex education? Under guise of AIDS the advocates of sex education plead for its necessity. But when sex is prohibited no doubt but if you at all indulge then there are safety measures therefore. It is just like telling a thief that committing theft is illegal but in case you do it, adopt safe ways. One thing more. There is growing trend of co-education at school level. Just imagine a female unmarried teacher teaching lesion on sex to a class consisting of boys and girls or a male teacher doing the same job in his class. How would the advocates of sex education face such a situation? Is it at all advisable or practicable? Hence we should stick to our cultural traditions and should provide such education as would arouse in them a feeling of an urge for moral traditions of India culture.Lessons highlighting the importance of morality should be including in text books of English and Hindi literature as also in curriculum of subjects like History and Civics. An independent discipline of moral ethics may be given to the students in the prayer meetings and the students must be given & chances express their feelings and expose their learning. Physical training must also be introduced as compulsory subject and fruitful training of YOGA may be imparted to the students. YOGA may also be made compulsory for scouts and N.CC. Cadets. It is a time that we arise to the occasion and save our children fr om the malicious feelings of sex and infuse in them the sprit of self restraint so that the idea of sex may not enter into their mind’s horizon. Therein lies the salvation of our society and the country at large.

Business Policy Coco Cola

In strategic planning organizations make use of different techniques such as establishing the weaknesses, strengths, threats and opportunities as well as the social, economic, political and technological investigation of the environment surrounding the organization. In this perspective, the major objective of strategic planning in any organization is to establish and define a clear course of its future operations. As a result, strategic planning in any organization seeks to address several questions concerned with how, to whom and what to do in order to achieve the future growth path that will accelerate the profitability and expansion of the company. In the development of organizational strategies, environmental analysis is therefore key to the development of the organizational future (John, 2001).In this regard, analysis of strategies must be carried both externally and internally in order to identify threats and opportunities that prevail in and around the organization. Many compa nies have faied to initiate effective strategic planning techniques and the effects of the current recession has therefore downed on them. Such companies include General Motors and AIG to mention a few. In the subsequent section, this work will seek to explore strategic planning in Coca Cola Company. 2. 0 The importance of strategic planning in Coca-Cola Company Strategic planning is important for Coca Cola Company due to the fact that as a global Company, effective strategic planning helps in counteracting the challenges that are common in foreign countries such as competition and government regulations.Another importance of Strategic Planning is that it helps the Coca Cola Company to survive the current changes in the communication technology by highly investing in internet marketing and advertising. For Coca-Cola Company to maintain its wide range of beverages and customers, Strategic Planning is one of the best concepts that its management has seriously invested in. This in retu rn has benefited the company by giving it clear direction and purpose (Roger, 1995) Furthermore, strategic Planning helps Coca-Cola Company in balancing productivity costs and other related initiatives with the revenue generated. In this way unnecessary costs are avoided thus resulting to increased profitability. In context of Coca-Cola Company strategic planning involves the allocation of resources which includes people and capital.Strategic planning is also essential for Coca cola Company since: It helps the company in facing its competitors. Through better understanding of the Weaknesses, Strengths, Threats and Opportunities of its competitors the company has been able to diversify its range of products as well as producing high quality products which have proved hard to emulate by the competitors (John, 2001) According to John, the importance of Strategic planning is quite significant since it helps the Company’s management in addressing the following three questions. The first question is how do Coca-Cola Company excel? The second question involves what does the company do in order to be the market leader in the soft drink?The management is able to address the question â€Å"for whom do we do it? † Basically in strategic planning the three questions can be generalized by reframing them into one major question that is â€Å"How can Coca-cola company avoid the negativities of competition or similarly which additional measures can be put in place in order to beat competition? † (Bradford, Robert, Duncan, Peter, Tarcy and Brian, 2007). The company has six highly recognized strategic planning strategies that have to a great extent contributed to the continued success of the company. The autonomy that is experienced by most of the Coca-Cola distributors have enabled the freely integration of these priorities into their business plans.The six strategies are as follows. The first ones is that the Company will always use Coca-Cola as its brand name and its main activity will be production of carbonated soft drinks. The second strategy is to broaden its brands in order to increase its profit. It is through this initiative that the company has added new products which include bottled water, coffee, tea, juice and juice drinks. The third strategy is the adoption of cost effective and driving efficiencies as a result of economies of scale. The fourth strategy is serving its customers with consistence and creativity in this way it has been able to help the growth of its customers as well as its own expansion.The fifth strategy is making heavy investment in production technology in this way it has been able to meet the demand of its customers. Being a company that highly values good relationship with its bottling partners and its employees the company has emulated the strategy of teamwork as the sixth strategy in order to increase its sales and profits 3. 0 Can an organization survive without strategy planning? Coca-Cola Compa ny and any other international company cannot survive without strategic planning since this is the only way that the company will be able to successfully and actively face the challenges that have resulted to the downfall of big entities such as Morgan Stanley, AIG and even the recent disintegration of General Motor.The company can hardly survive without trategic planning due to heavy competition and modern marketing technologies that have been adopted by many companies in the beverage industry so as to improve on both quality and quantity of the products. As an example let us look at the General Motors as one of the recent victim of failure to adopt strategic planning (Bradford and Duncan, 2000). The fall of General Motors can be traced to the ineffective strategic planning methods that have been adopted by the corporation making it to declare itself bankrupt. Effective strategic planning was the missing concept that would have saved the 235,000 employees as well as the shareholder s and other stake holders who had interest in the corporation. The question of recession and the reduced demand in the world market cannot be ignored as one of the major causes of the downfall of GM.However, the failure to plan and to put in place effective control measures has to a great extent contributed to its poor performance. Effective strategic planning is crucial tool that keeps companies ready to tackle micro and macro economic obstacles such as inflation and recession which GM, AIG and Morgan Stanley banks failed initiate leading to their collapse (Hitt, Tihanyi, Miller and Connelly, 2006). 4. 0 Different processes and modes of planning, and its effect on the strategic planning process There are various processes and techniques of planning that an organization can adopt depending on the prevailing market, social and economic conditions (John, 2001).4. Customers’ relations strategy This mode of planning considers the importance of customers in a firm. A company adopt ing this strategy aims at keeping its customers satisfied as well as maintaining the customers’ loyalty towards its products. The effect of this planning technique towards the strategic planning process is that it helps in achieving and maintaining the high number of customers thus increasing its total sales (http://www. civicus. org) 4. 2 Cash-cow strategy This is a strategy that oversees the use of profits gained from the operations of the companies so as to improve its management as well as to expand the range of its products.The effect of this mode of planning on the strategic planning is that it ensures continuity of the company operations and hence it acts as an appropriate tool to face off the competitors (John, 2001). 4. 3 Star strategy This is a planning technique that involves increased reinvesting of the profits so as to be able to address future challenges that companies faces in foreign and domestic market. The effect of this technique on the strategic planning i s that it helps companies to put in place effective and strong financial strength needed when penetrating global market. 5. 0 Mode of planning followed by the Coca Cola Company and how this process can be improved.In its operations Coca Cola Company has adopted the customers’ relations strategy. The company highly values its customers and as a result it has invested in tailor made drinks that aims at fully satisfying its customers. In its marketing strategies, the company has adopted the target marketing and product variety marketing processes. Target marketing involves selection of part of the whole market and producing tailor made products that satisfies its customers in that particular market. In its endeavors as the market leader in the soft drink industry, Coca cola Company has embarked in producing a wide range of products which makes it possible to stay ahead of its competitors.The process of planning used by Coca Cola Company can be improved by adopting pricing strate gies that will make it easier to penetrate the market where its competitors are offering products at low prices. 6. 0 Task 2 External environment is composed of government or political, economic and social environment. This section looks at the impact of these factors on the task environment of an organization. 6. 1 Government/political environment In its operations an organization should put into consideration government regulations that directly or indirectly affect its activities. The legal requirements of a company which include trade licenses and permits should be timely acquired to avoid any fine or legal implications in an organizations which results to delay and time wastage.Another way through which government regulations affects the task environment of an organization is by regulating the quality of the products and services that are produced by an organization. In this way the company has an obligation to ensure that the legal specifications and the safety of its products are well adhered to in order to safeguard its customers (http://www. planware. org/strategicplan. htm) 6. 2 Economic environment Economic environment that affects the organization task environment includes inflation, recession and the unemployment level. During inflation the costs of production goes up making an organization reduce its productivity thus reducing its sales as well as profits.Recession on the other hand intensively affects the task environment of a company by slowing down production activities thus affecting its sales in both domestic and foreign market. This can be demonstrated by the extent to which recession has negatively affected the operations of big corporations such as General Motors and AIG. Unemployment level reduces the disposable income of individuals thereby reducing their demand of goods and services which results to reduced operations of an organization (Hitt, Tihanyi, Miller and Connelly, 2006). 6. 3 Social Environment The social factors also affect t he task environment of an organization. These factors include level of education, eating habits, religious and cultural beliefs of communities.The education level of the society highly affects the demand of the firms products for instance where majority of people are educated and have high level of income, the demand for basic needs and luxuries goes up. Similarly, cultural beliefs and religious beliefs affect the demand of some products and services more than others especially where some cultures do prohibit the use of certain products. Social factors therefore affect the task environment of an organization by affecting the demand and the supply of goods and services (Patrick, Burkhart and Suzanne, 1993). 7. 0 How can Managers identify and track these external strategic factors Managers can identify the external environment by analyzing the external environment.In this, managers will be able to identify the opportunities, strengths and weaknesses related to these factors and their relevancy in the performance of a firm. In addition managers should freely intermingle with the external environment as well as the general society during the social corporate responsibilities. In this way it will be easy to identify and track the external factors and be able to come up with strategic planning techniques to address these factors (Wang and Jiatao, 2008) 8. 0 Factors in the external environment that would influence strategy planning in Coca-Cola Company and part they play in strategic planning in the CompanyThe factors that would influence strategy planning by Coca-Cola Company can be viewed in two dimensions. The first one is from economic perspective. This involves the increase or decrease in the demand of coca-cola brands as result of inflation or reduced purchasing power. The reduction in consumers’ purchasing power causes a decrease in demand for coca-cola brands resulting to a decrease in sales level. In this case the Coca-Cola management needs to put in place effective strategic planning in its pricing concept such as reducing prices or initiating more promotions. The second dimension is the composition of the society. A society with more young people is a favorable market for Coca-Cola brands such as Coke and Fanta.In this way management of Coca-Cola Company should initiate effective strategies in order to increase the sales level and at the same time satisfy its young market without neglecting its old customers by initiating more energy drinks for young people (http://www. wowessays. com/dbase/ab1/iev224. shtml)9. 0 ReferencesInformation on strategic planning for non-profit or for profit organizations available from http://managementhelp. org/plan_dec/str_plan/str_plan. htm (Retrieved on 5th August 2009)Information on strategic planning process available from http://www. quickmba. com/strategy/strategic-planning (Retrieved on 5th August 2009)