Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Huck Essay

Sometimes in literature, authors will use minor characters to highlight important qualities of another character. This approach helps the reader better understand the character since character foiling helps to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Mark Twain uses several character foils, each of which have a different impact on Huck’s moral growth. Throughout the classic American novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck’s friends help to bring out the best of his traits and morals: Buck, Tom and the King and the Duke. ! For example, Tom Sawyer serves as a character foil for Huck Finn. Tom and Huck’s religious beliefs con? ict since Tom believes in genies, and Miss Watson tries to teach Huck what she thinks is right. Huck comes to the conclusion Tom doesn’t know what he is talking about; â€Å"So then I judged that all the stuff was only just one of Tom Sawyer’s lies† (14). As a result, Tom’s ideas lead Huck to form his own beliefs and challenge the majority of peoples’s way of thinking. Tom also foils Huck at the end of the book when he uses his imagination and knowledge of books to corroborate a plan to free Jim. His unrealistic plan aggravates Huck; â€Å"Good land†¦ why, there ain’t no necessity for it† (239). Tom’s foolish childish behavior didn’t bother Huck until now but since Tom is fooling around with Jim’s life and freedom, it makes Huck question his relationship with Tom. Tom’s actions affect Huck is a positive way that help him grow religiously and in maturity. Just as Tom foiled Huck, Twain uses Buck to do the same Buck Grangerford’s lifestyle is not similar to Huck’s which highlights the differences in Huck’s up-bringing. Buck’s home life is much different than Huck’s speci? cally in regards to Buck having someone to wait on him hand and foot: â€Å"My nigger had a monstrous easy time, because I warn’t used to having anybody do anything for me, but Buck’s [slave] was on the jump most of the time† (106). This example shows that Huck is independent and doesn’t need someone to wait on him. Buck can relax and be free of any responsibility. In addition, Buck has â€Å"†¦ a might nice family, and a mighty nice house, too† (99). Buck was raised without the worry of when his next meal was going to be put on the table, or if his father would die from his alcoholism problem. Buck is raised with a fair amount of money, an education, and freedom which Huck lacks. Huck’s lifestyle is the opposite of Buck’s and Twain does this on purpose to express the struggle Huck has with his own life. Not only does Twain use Buck and Tom to foil Huck, he uses the king and the duke to contrast Huck. ! The outlandish, inconsiderate Duke and King affect Huck with their remorseless theft and sel? shness. The con-artists’ plans to take money from the innocent townspeople rub Huck the wrong way but when they want to steal from Mary Jane and the Grangerford’s, Huck won’t stand for it. Huck decides to tell Mary Jane that her â€Å"uncles of yourn ain’t no uncles at all: they’re a couple of frauds- regular dead-beats†, because they just want land and money from the Grangerfords (187). The King and Duke’s actions compel Huck to be mature and tell Mary Jane what is actually going on. Later on in the book, Huck sees the King and the Duke tarred and feathered being chased from the town because of what they have done. Huck realizes he is â€Å"sorry for them poop pitful rascals, it seemed like I couldn’t ever feel any hardness against them any more in the world† (230). Huck thinks back on how he hated them and thought they were scumbags because of what they had done to innocent people. Now he feels bad for them even thought they deserved it. Huck has grown as a person who can forgive instead of keeping a grudge. ! Twain artfully uses Tom, Buck, and the King and the Duke as character foils that help Huck grow morally throughout the book. All three sets of foils are different on purpose because Twain wanted to show the readers the affects other characters can have someone. It does not the age or intelligence of the minor character. Twain’s logic is that using character foil gets his point across because the reader may not have picked up on traits or morals a character has since it was not directly stated. Not only do people affect others in literature, in the real world people’s actions affect others. A small kind gesture can change someone’s mood or attitude for the rest of the day. Or even something someone says might change another person’s outlook on a problem they are having or even larger, their life. The use of character foil is very important in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and more importantly the real world today. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Huck Essay Sometimes in literature, authors will use minor characters to highlight important qualities of another character. This approach helps the reader better understand the character since character foiling helps to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Mark Twain uses several character foils, each of which have a different impact on Huck’s moral growth. Throughout the classic American novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck’s friends help to bring out the best of his traits and morals: Buck, Tom and the King and the Duke. ! For example, Tom Sawyer serves as a character foil for Huck Finn. Tom and Huck’s religious beliefs con? ict since Tom believes in genies, and Miss Watson tries to teach Huck what she thinks is right. Huck comes to the conclusion Tom doesn’t know what he is talking about; â€Å"So then I judged that all the stuff was only just one of Tom Sawyer’s lies† (14). As a result, Tom’s ideas lead Huck to form his own beliefs and challenge the majority of peoples’s way of thinking. Tom also foils Huck at the end of the book when he uses his imagination and knowledge of books to corroborate a plan to free Jim. His unrealistic plan aggravates Huck; â€Å"Good land†¦ why, there ain’t no necessity for it† (239). Tom’s foolish childish behavior didn’t bother Huck until now but since Tom is fooling around with Jim’s life and freedom, it makes Huck question his relationship with Tom. Tom’s actions affect Huck is a positive way that help him grow religiously and in maturity. Just as Tom foiled Huck, Twain uses Buck to do the same Buck Grangerford’s lifestyle is not similar to Huck’s which highlights the differences in Huck’s up-bringing. Buck’s home life is much different than Huck’s speci? ally in regards to Buck having someone to wait on him hand and foot: â€Å"My nigger had a monstrous easy time, because I warn’t used to having anybody do anything for me, but Buck’s [slave] was on the jump most of the time† (106). This example shows that Huck is independent and doesn’t need someone to wait on him. Buck can relax and be free of any responsibility. In addition, Buck has â€Å"†¦ a might nice family, and a mighty nice house, too† (99). Buck was raised without the worry of when his next meal was going to be put on the table, or if his father would die from his alcoholism problem. Buck is raised with a fair amount of money, an education, and freedom which Huck lacks. Huck’s lifestyle is the opposite of Buck’s and Twain does this on purpose to express the struggle Huck has with his own life. Not only does Twain use Buck and Tom to foil Huck, he uses the king and the duke to contrast Huck. ! The outlandish, inconsiderate Duke and King affect Huck with their remorseless theft and sel? shness. The con-artists’ plans to take money from the innocent townspeople rub Huck the wrong way but when they want to steal from Mary Jane and the Grangerford’s, Huck won’t stand for it. Huck decides to tell Mary Jane that her â€Å"uncles of yourn ain’t no uncles at all: they’re a couple of frauds- regular dead-beats†, because they just want land and money from the Grangerfords (187). The King and Duke’s actions compel Huck to be mature and tell Mary Jane what is actually going on. Later on in the book, Huck sees the King and the Duke tarred and feathered being chased from the town because of what they have done. Huck realizes he is â€Å"sorry for them poop pitful rascals, it seemed like I couldn’t ever feel any hardness against them any more in the world† (230). Huck thinks back on how he hated them and thought they were scumbags because of what they had done to innocent people. Now he feels bad for them even thought they deserved it. Huck has grown as a person who can forgive instead of keeping a grudge. ! Twain artfully uses Tom, Buck, and the King and the Duke as character foils that help Huck grow morally throughout the book. All three sets of foils are different on purpose because Twain wanted to show the readers the affects other characters can have someone. It does not the age or intelligence of the minor character. Twain’s logic is that using character foil gets his point across because the reader may not have picked up on traits or morals a character has since it was not directly stated. Not only do people affect others in literature, in the real world people’s actions affect others. A small kind gesture can change someone’s mood or attitude for the rest of the day. Or even something someone says might change another person’s outlook on a problem they are having or even larger, their life. The use of character foil is very important in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and more importantly the real world today.

Development in Late Adulthood Essay

Daniel Levinson depicts the late adulthood period as those years that encompass age 65 and beyond. Other developmental psychologists further divide later adulthood into young-old (ages 65–85) and old-old (ages 85 and beyond) stages. Today, 13 percent of the population is over the age of 65, compared with 3 percent at the beginning of this century. This dramatic increase in the demographics of older adulthood has given rise to the discipline of gerontology, or the study of old age and aging. Gerontologists are particularly interested in confronting ageism, or prejudice and discrimination against older adults. Aging inevitably means physical decline, some of which may be due to lifestyle, such as poor diet and lack of exercise, rather than illness or the aging process. Energy reserves dwindle. Cells decay. Muscle mass decreases. The immune system is no longer as capable as it once was in guarding against disease. Body systems and organs, such as the heart and lungs, become less efficient. Overall, regardless of people’s best hopes and efforts, aging translates into decline. Even so, the speed at which people age, as well as how aging affects their outlook on life, varies from person to person. In older adulthood, people experience both gains and losses. For instance, while energy is lost, the ability to conserve energy is gained. Age also brings understanding, patience, experience, and wisdom—qualities that improve life regardless of the physical changes that may occur. Aging in late adulthood profoundly affects appearance, sensation, and motor abilities. An older adult’s appearance changes as wrinkles appear and the skin becomes less elastic and thin. Small blood vessels break beneath the surface of the skin, and warts, skin tags, and age spots (liver spots) may form on the body. Hair thins and turns gray as melanin decreases, and height lessens perhaps by an inch or two as bone density decreases. The double standard of aging applies to men and women in older adulthood just as it did in middle adulthood. Older men may still be seen as distinguished, while older women are labeled as grandmotherly, over the hill, and past the prime of life. During late adulthood, the senses begin to dull. With age, the lenses of the eye discolor and become rigid, interfering with the perception of color and distance and the ability to read. Without corrective glasses, nearly half the elderly population would be legally blind. Hearing also diminishes, especially the ability to detect high-pitched sounds. As a result, the elderly may develop suspiciousness or even a mild form of paranoia—unfounded distrustfulness—in response to not being able to hear well. They may attribute bad intentions to those whom they believe are whispering or talking about them, rather than correctly attributing their problems to bad hearing. Hearing problems can be corrected with hearing aids, which are widely available. The sense of taste remains fairly intact into old age, even though the elderly may have difficulty distinguishing tastes within blended foods. By old age, however, the sense of smell shows a marked decline. Both of these declines in sensation may be due to medications, such as antihypertensives, as well as physical changes associated with old age. In addition to changes in appearance and the dulling of the senses, reflexes slow and fine motor abilities continue to decrease with old age. By late adulthood, most adults have noticed a gradual reduction in their response time to spontaneous events. This is especially true of older adults who drive. While routine maneuvers on familiar streets may pose fewer problems than novel driving situations, older adults’ reaction times eventually decline to the point that operating a vehicle is too hazardous. However, many elderly are hesitant to give up driving because the sacrifice would represent the end of their personal autonomy and freedom. Generally, older adults score lower overall on tests of manual dexterity than do younger adults. Older adults may find that their fine motor skills and performance speed decrease in some areas but not in others. For instance, an elderly lifelong pianist may continue to exhibit incredible finger dexterity at the keyboard, but may at the same time find that taking up needlepoint as a hobby is too difficult. Although the average life expectancy is 79 for females and 72 for males, older adulthood can easily extend 20 years or more beyond these figures. As older adults age, most report increasing health problems. Even so, only about 5 percent of adults over age 65 and 25 percent of those over age 85 live in nursing homes, foster care (where elderly people live with a family licensed by the state to care for aging adults), or other long-term care facilities. With medical advances and continued improvements in health-care delivery, the older population is expected to increase in its numbers and report better health. Estimates are that within the next 30 years, one out of every five Americans will be an older adult. Although most older adults have at least one chronic health problem, such ilments need not pose limitations on activities well into the adults’ 80s and beyond. The most common medical concerns during older adulthood are arthritis and rheumatism, cancer, cataracts of the eyes, dental problems, diabetes, hearing and vision problems, heart disease, hypertension, and orthopedic injuries. Because the elderly are at greater risk of losing their balance and falling, hip fractures and breakages are particularly common and dangerous in this age group. Contracting colds and flus can have especially serious repercussions for the elderly. This is due, in part, to the reduced capacity of older adults’ body organs and immune system to fight disease. Unfortunate, but not uncommon, is the following scenario: An elderly person falls at home and breaks a hip bone, undergoes successful hip-replacement surgery, and then dies two weeks later from postoperative pneumonia or other infections because of reduced reserve capacity and inability to recover from infection. Inadequate nutrition and the misuse of medication also may be implicated in older adults who suffer from poor health. By the time adults reach age 65, they need 20 percent fewer calories than they did in their youth, but they still need the same amount of nutrients. This may explain, in part, why so many older Americans are overweight but undernourished. Additionally, cooking becomes a hassle for many older adults, and they find it easier to eat fast food, junk food, or nothing at all. Furthermore, many elderly unintentionally overuse prescription medication or combine medications that, when used together, produce toxic effects. As the body ages and potentially becomes more sensitive to the effects of prescription medications, drug dosages should be carefully monitored and assessed by a physician. Many elderly who have been hospitalized in near-death condition begin to recover as soon as their medications are reduced or stopped. Life expectancy can be prolonged through exercise. Older adults who have kept active, remained fit, and eaten wholesome foods throughout their lives tend to fare better than those who have not. This should be a lesson to younger adults who have an opportunity to modify their health habits early in life. The mental, emotional, and behavioral problems typically encountered by older adults are depression, anxiety, and dementia (mental deterioration, also known as organic brain syndrome. Poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, metabolic problems, and strokes may cause dementia, which affects 4 percent of those over age 65. (Dementia due to strokes is sometimes termed multi-infarct dementia. ) Older adults with dementia experience forgetfulness, confusion, and personality changes. Many people use the term senility to refer to dementia, which is incorrect. Senility does not have a precise or actual medical meaning; it is an overused and nonspecific term, like the word neurosis. Similar in symptoms to dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, an irreversible degenerative brain disorder that can affect as many as 50 percent of older adults over age 85 and eventually results in death. Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include agitation, confusion, difficulty concentrating, loss of memory and orientation, and trouble speaking. Later symptoms include the inability to use or understand language, and total loss of control over bodily functions. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s is still a mystery to doctors and other scientists. In fact, the only certain diagnostic procedure for Alzheimer’s disease is the analysis of autopsied brain tissue. The exact causes of Alzheimer’s disease continue to elude researchers, although some suspect that genetics and malfunctions in enzyme activity may play a role. People often fear that aging will cause their intellect to disappear, giving way to cognitive impairment and irrationality. However, intellectual decline is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Research does not support the stereotypic notion of the elderly losing general cognitive functioning or that such loss, when it does occur, is necessarily disruptive. Older adults tend to learn more slowly and perform less well on tasks involving imagination and memorization than do younger adults, but what older adults may be lacking in terms of specific mental tasks, they make up for in wisdom, or expert and practical knowledge based on life experience. Many older adults complain about not being able to remember things as well as they once could. Memory problems seem to be due to sensory storage problems in the short-term rather than long-term memory processes. That is, older adults tend to have much less difficulty recalling names and places from long ago than they do acquiring and recalling new information. Practice and repetition may help minimize the decline of memory and other cognitive functions. Researchers have found that older adults can improve their scores on assorted tests of mental abilities with only a few hours of training. Working puzzles, having hobbies, learning to use a computer, and reading are a few examples of activities or approaches to learning that can make a difference in older adults’ memory and cognitive functions. Recent decades have witnessed older adults’ growing interest in continuing their education. In fact, many colleges and community centers offer classes for free or at a significant discount for senior citizens. Although keeping up with a class of 20 year olds may be a challenge, older adults can learn new information if it is presented clearly, slowly, and over a period of time. Older adults also can enrich the learning process for others through the insight and wisdom they’ve gained from life experience. Younger students often remark that they appreciate the practical perspective that their older colleagues offer. Older adults who have kept their minds active and fit continue to learn and grow, but perhaps more gradually than their younger colleagues. Patience and understanding (on the part of both the elderly and their significant others), memory training, and continued education are important for maintaining mental abilities and the quality of life in the later years.

Compare two or more poems that convey different impressions about town life Essay

Compare two or more poems that convey different impressions about town life. Compare their purposes and techniques in writing these poems. In this essay I will analyse and discuss the similarities and differences of four poems, all about relating to life in London: ‘Symphony In Yellow’ by Oscar Wilde, ‘Composed Upon Westminster Bridge’ by William Wordsworth, ‘London’ by William Blake, and ‘Conveyancing’ by Thomas Hood. I will aim to focus on the techniques used by the poets and the overall effect the poet is trying to create. I will later illustrate the similarities and differences between the poems and how they convey comparable impressions of London. In the late 18th and 19th century, the country life was seen to be peaceful and calm, and London in general was seen as a busy and hectic atmosphere. Oscar Wilde was born in 1854 and grew up in an intellectually bustling Irish household. His inspirations of London came when he visited the city, in order of fulfilling his dream of becoming famous. I would expect an idealistic impression of London from Wilde, as he looks up upon London and believes that it is the place in which he will gain a successful career. William Wordsworth was brought up in the Lake District where he became extremely familiar of the exquisiteness of the surroundings. In his poems, I would expect Wordsworth to revolve around nature and to capture the inner beauty that the environment creates. William Blake was an imaginative poet who had visionary experiences for the supernatural. I expect that in his poems, the images created would be of an abnormal presence or enclosing a lack of liveliness and presenting a disturbed situation. Thomas Hood was brought up in a part of London which was not so wealthy, and where the citizens were not as well off than other parts of London. Later in his life, he was left to roam the streets of London, a time when he spent most of his life in solitary. This leads to me believing that Hood would write his poems about the different areas of the city, and what London basically comprises of. Also, I think believe that his poetry would have meaning that links in with the passing of time, as Hood spent a lot of his life watching the time go by. ‘Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802’ is a petrachan sonnet, not written about love, but one in which eulogises the view over West Minster Bridge. William Wordsworth is describing the view because he is inspired it and the feelings surrounding the beauty of the view. It is similar to ‘Symphony in Yellow’ because it is an idealistic view of the surroundings; it also has a beautiful, tranquil impression of city life. The poem is set in the early morning, which gives a special sort of radiance to the city. It gives an impression of a clean and refreshed setting that is virtually seen as shiny and new. It beauty is enhanced by introducing the dazzling sun. The poem is different to ‘Conveyancing’ as it is more peaceful and calming. Later in the day it would be more tense, more rushing, and lots of hustle and bustle. Wordsworth’s impression is based on London at a time of the morning where everything is asleep, and the time when nature invades a man-made scene. He uses antiquated words such as, â€Å"doth,† and â€Å"ne-er† which gives a sense of the city being more special, â€Å"The city now doth.† Wordsworth also uses similes such as, â€Å"like a garment, wear the beauty of the morning,† suggests that the morning is the striking part, like a garment cloaking the reality of the city. It is a covering, a beautiful faà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ade that is only temporary while the morning lasts. The word â€Å"steep† means to be saturated in. The sun is completely saturating the hill; never did it more beautifully shine until it shone onto the buildings. The power of the sun if infusing all buildings with light. The effect given is that of the sheer radiance of sun, which is saturating everything. The metaphor, â€Å"That mighty heart† relates towards the human body; the heart, being the main organ, is at the centre. The heart pumps resources around and therefore gives life and feeds the rest of the city. Everything centres around the city, while country is a life-giving organ. â€Å"Touching and majesty†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ in line 3 suggests awe and wonder, the poet is emotionally moved by the sight. It is a graceful and elegant sight that holds certain power that allows it to come across as commanding and reveal an impressive nature. It is to be looked upon, and it forces you to be humble upon its present. â€Å"The beauty of the morning; silent, bare, Ships, towers, domes, theatres and temples lie.† This list helps to construct the landscape as well as to create an image of all the buildings in the distant. It fills in the reader’s knowledge of the actual physical features that lay in the city, which help to understand the overall image created by filling in more detail to it. â€Å"Bright and glittering† implies a sense that the buildings are treasures, like jewels all glittering as the sun is shimmering through. â€Å"Never did sun more beautifully steep† contains alliteration, which produces sibilant sounds. This contributes to a tranquil feeling, certainly not an aggressive sound. It creates a restful atmosphere, and with the aid of soft consonants such as ‘s’ a smooth dreamy effect is created. â€Å"Ne’er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!† This repetition disrupts the flow and draws attention to the fine feeling he has. Quite a spontaneous feeling is illustrated by adding as it goes along; it is a personal attempt to record feelings. â€Å"The river glideth at his own sweet will,† is a form of personification that infuses the river with a sense of life. The personality of the river is amiable and sweet natured, it is a sentimental way of making it a positive feature. â€Å"Dear God!† The abrupt exclamation jolts the poem in attempt to suddenly articulate his feelings. It is quite a conversational line that recreates the experience of personal thought and emotion. The poem ‘Conveyancing’ is a ballad that uses comedy to portray a bustling picture of life in London. Conveyancing is a general term for ‘moving things from one place to another,’ which is exactly what this poem is about. It is a ballad, which tells a story, and is characterized by stanzas of four lines that rhyme alternately. The poem has a regular rhythm/rhyme scheme throughout, and regular syllables to help people sing it fluently. It is a version of a comedy poem with a punch that portrays London as a place of trade, poverty and stealing. The word â€Å"Bustling† suggests light-hearted action. Hood is being affectionate towards London but critical also, â€Å"no one ever stops.† It suggests that the city is too busy, and life is always on the go, â€Å"loco-motion!† â€Å"Machine or man, or caravan,† implies that people are always busy making and taking money. It also means that you can practically have anything if you pay for it. There is a lot of mention about the actual people in the city, and what happens in their life. Also, how they make an impact on how the city looks at a stereotypical perspective. There is talk about gambling, people getting drunk, and journalists. There are also jokes about horses being out of condition, â€Å"Then if you like a single horse, This age is quite a cab-age.† This suggests the poverty and scarcity in the city. â€Å"Perched up to behind, at last to find, Your dinner is all dickey!† This is being critical of the cafes in London, and also of the standard of food that is served there. There is a satirical tone that is brought in throughout the poem, whence the positive and negative aspects are shown. Some of the words are italicised, this defines a certain emphasis on words that create a constant rhythm going. There are a lot of references to transport such as steam, train and horses. This adds to the impression of a fast-paced moving environment. ‘Symphony in Yellow’ is a poem where Wilde picks out dimensions of a scene that he is describing. There is far less activity in this poem than ‘Conveyancing,’ and more of a tranquil atmosphere. The humans are not dominant impressions unlike ‘Conveyancing.’ ‘Symphony in Yellow’ is more about the nature and the soothing tone of the country. â€Å"Crawls like a yellow butterfly,† is associating with meadows and peace. It adds to the calm and relaxed mood of the poem. â€Å"The thick fog hangs along the quay.† This quote shows the fact that for is not just described as a dismal and depressing feature, but as elegant and enhancing. There are signs of trees and vegetation, â€Å"The yellow leaves begin to fade.† Also, â€Å"And flutter from the Temple elms.† Again, this enhances the nature prospect and the beauty of the poem. â€Å"Pale green Thames,† is another dazzling luxury, which brings colour to the scene. Wilde’s ‘Symphony in Yellow’ is a simple image-based soporyphic poem. It is written in a very idealistic motion, painting a misleading portrait. It is more artistic that accurate. The poem is rather like ‘Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802’ as it is an idealistic view of London, taking into account the nature and character of the city instead of focusing on man-made features.

EUROPEAN UNION Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

EUROPEAN UNION - Research Paper Example ic debate regarding these two principal issues as well as related subject matter such as the European Union as an institutional system and political entity, the transformation of governance and the three aspects what are mentioned as preconditions for this transformation. Lastly, we endeavor to come up with a very rational assessment and analysis of the topics that we have chosen. The European Union has always been viewed as a positive development for Europe as well as the rest of the world. It has always been at the forefront in terms of governance, economic growth and progress, foreign relations, social development and the legal system. Decision-making is formulated by self-governing, supranational institutions or through the conduct of negotiations between member-nations. Some important institutions of the EU include the  European Commission, the  Council of the European Union, the  European Council, the  Court of Justice of the European Union, and the  European Central Bank. The  European Parliament  is elected every five years by  EU citizens. The White Paper on Governance formulated and adopted by the European Union through its executive body commonly known as the European Commission was aimed at setting up democratic forms of governance in five different levels, namely: European, Global, National, Regional and Local. This White Paper drafted suggestions that hoped to delineate more openly the position of EU institutions in world governance. Among their main concerns were deeper involvement, parameters in regulation and contributions that the Union can make to world governance. Through this document, the Commission looked forward to implement governance reforms under exiting treaties. In a recent development, leaders of the European Union led by EU President Herman Van Rompuy announced the espousal of milestone reforms that would promote economic governance in the 27-nation bloc with more stringent fiscal discipline and closer policy coordination. EU

Election of 1912 (American History) Research Paper

Election of 1912 (American History) - Research Paper Example n be said to have led to â€Å"the birth of modern American politics† which espoused a pure democracy where the people would be the main decisive factor in decisions made by the Federal Government in social and economic matters. In matters of race relations though, the onus was placed upon local bodies to decide as they wished to. Theodore Roosevelt also championed â€Å"peoples aspiration for social justice† (Sidney M. Milkis, 2002) and for this he was willing to make extreme sacrifice and called upon all leaders to do so. A very important aspect of the election was the direct appeal made by individuals for the post of president. This was made explicit when Roosevelt came to the party convention without an official notification of his nomination, in a break from past traditions, when party nominees stayed away from proceedings, until notified of their candidacy. This was another attempt at doing away with institutions such as political parties, and instead handing over power to the people and creating the concept of direct contact between the leader and people. The greatest departure from tradition was Roosevelt’s proposal to allow public to recall judicial decisions, in the wake of the defense of property rights by a pugnacious judiciary. He called for a referendum on court rulings, both state and federal, handing over power to the people â€Å"to amend their fundamental law so as to adapt it progressively to the changing needs of the people.† (Sidney M. Milkis, 2002) In spite of the elections being a four sided race, the Progressive party led by Roosevelt, in spite of loss at the hustings, created the modern American elections as well as electorate. This is testimony to Roosevelt’s belief in a government where people call the shots although it may not have seemed so at the

Violent crime and Insurgency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Violent crime and Insurgency - Essay Example In contrast to that, a common criminal is one who looks for opportunistic target, lacks discipline and is selfish and can be discouraged comparatively easily. Generally, terrorists are well trained as compared to ordinary criminals. Due to the fact that terrorists are well trained, skilled and possess a specific goal in mind, the propensity of destruction and level of violence can be much higher than that which is created by criminals. Terrorists are so much determined to their cause that they don’t get afraid of putting even their own life in danger (Goldstein, 2007). Another important differentiation between criminals and terrorists is that when they are caught doing some illegal act, criminals usually escape from the criminal zone and take shelters in order to hide from police whereas terrorist usually call upon huge media propaganda and take credits of their acts. Another criteria which provides differentiation between terrorism and criminals violence is the frequency and span of attacks. Criminals usually operate within the span of their hide outs whereas terrorists operate within the boundary of an entire country. Many terrorists also operate internationally in geographic regions (White, 2006). Insurgency is often called as political effort or movement established for a specific aim. This sets it apart from terrorism where individuals establish goals and do every possible effort to achieve them. Another major difference between insurgency and terrorism is the intent of activities and operations. The ultimate objective of insurgency is to challenge the prevailing government through political concessions in order to share political power. Insurgency requires various kinds of supports including from external support, approval and recognition from other political parties etc. whereas a group of terrorist doesn’t require support from any side

Time Series Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Time Series Analysis - Essay Example This presentation can be used to model many time series procedures and as an identifying tool of a model in the auto- covariance function. ARIMA (1, 1, 1) vs. ARIMA (0, 1, 2) The ARIMA models as observed help in fitting provided data with the condition that the data is not stationary. There are many models of the ARIMA but in our case we will discuss ARIMA (1, 1, 1) and ARIMA (0, 1, 2) looking at the trees presented with relevant discussion about them. ARIMA (1, 1, 1) is also referred to as the mixed model, this is due to the fact that as depicted from the graphs by the 9 trees, we see he features of both the autoregressive and moving average models brought together to form a single model. ARIMA (1, 1, 1) which is non-linear in nature can be used to define the data set that shows unpredictable bursts, outliers and extremely flat stretches at quite irregular time intervals (Cromwell, 1994). The data may have been collected from the economic unit variables like those for the pricing of items like onion\ns and their variations in the market. The research may have also been conducted in conjunction of other extreme models like the Gaussian Mixture Transition (GMTD), Mixed Autoregressive (MAR) as well as MAR-Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedastic (MAR-ARCH), the differences are determined and graphs depicting differences depicted as in the Trees 1-9 ARIMA (1, 1, 1). The graphs represented by the numbers and the progress show an eliminating trend with quite seasonal fluctuations as shown from the fittings in the Box-Jenkins hence residual series (Vandaele, 1983). The figures and graphs from the trees 1-9 are employed in testing for non-seasonality or seasonality in the respective stochastic trends with the appropriate filters being used through the Box-Jenkins model examining the same. Trees 1-9 show us that the Lagrange multiplier (LM) is used to define ARCH while the value parameters are quantified using Expectation maximization (EM) (Cromwell, 1994). The figur es, graphs and diagrams show a case where out of sample forecasting the first and the second steps and there after a naive approach devised in forming a conclusion. With ARIMA (0, 1, 2) on the other hand, we ask ourselves how the data would look like, and the pattern that would exist. As shown by the trees 1-9, the data is non-stationery as show by the linear filters and transfer functions indicating smoothing potentials. From the tools, that is the plots of data and both the PACF and ACF, the evidence for the claims above are vividly observable by the graphical trends and the trends by ACF of residuals, standardized residuals and p values for Ljung box (Cromwell, 1994). The models of ARIMA (0, 1, 2) as opposed to that of the ARIMA (1, 1, 1) has its parameters estimated using a statistical software with the outputs indicated on the representation showing outputs for parameter estimates, test statistics, goodness of fits, diagnostics and residuals. All the above parameters are highly non-stationery as well (Vandaele, 1983). In both the models, it is to be determined whether they fit data by correctly extracting all information and ensuring that residuals as shown are a white noise. The key measures in both the models are the ACF, standardized

How to teach literacy and Multi-literacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

How to teach literacy and Multi-literacy - Essay Example Multi-literacy requires students to integrate technological educational tools. One of the ways teachers can teach literary and multi-literacy is by integrating them teaching. This means that teachers should integrate four essential components of multi-literacy teaching. These are overt instructions, situated practices, transformed action and critical framing (Gambrell, Marrow & Pressley, 2011). Situated practice focuses students to meaningful learning through the integration of primary knowledge. Overt instruction directs students to systematic processes of learning. Critical framing enables students to learn how to approach the diverse environment in order to improve their learning experiences. Teachers can also use transformed action teaching to teach students how to apply lessons to real life experiences. Teaching literacy and multi-literacy can lead to the adoption of new ideas and practices. It can also help in overcoming the limitations experienced in traditional learning approaches. Teaching literacy and multi-literacy introduces teachers to new pedagogical approaches and practices, which creates opportunities for future learning and teaching. The four ways in which teachers can teach literary and multi-literacy are the use of situated practices, critical framing, overt instructions and transformed actions. These methods have the potential to guide teachers to provide equal access to teaching and learning

Electroencephalography Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Electroencephalography - Lab Report Example On the first look, EEG statistics is seen as noisy signal, unstructured, a ND non-stationary. However, the advanced signal processing methods are used in separating different brain wave components. The components are associated with various brain functions and areas (Walter, 2001). The present research is focused on the correlation discovery between the specific brain tasks pattern to mental health, sleep phases, and emotional states. In a medical setting, EEG is mainly used for diagnosing neurological disorders like the patient's consciousness, and epilepsy during the surgical procedures. Additionally, it is shown that signals of EEG are used as inputs to control for the other systems like the computer interface. This is important during spinal cord injury in restoring function. The lab uses the Bio Radion in detecting the electrical activity in the cerebral cortex and apply some basic analysis methods in interpreting the data. Retrieved on 29th October 2013: https://www.google.co.k e/search?q=the+human+brain+main+regions&newwindow=1&client=firefox-beta&hs=3vm&rls=org.mozilla: Methods and Equipment required CleveLabs Kit CleveLabs Course Software Seven Gold Cup Software Conductive Gel Wipes, Gauze, and Cotton balls MS Excel During the lab session the four EEG channels were recorded. The two channels will be in from the frontal region and the other channels will be from the occipital section. The Clevelab software is included when setting up the movie before starting the experimental set up in the laboratory process. 1. In performing the experiment, the subjects should have short hair. The subjects should have free hair gel scalp. The experiment also requires 7 gold cup electrodes. The electrodes will be positioned at 01 and 02, FP1, and FP2 in measuring the EEG, on every mastoid and FPZ from the ground. The processes of mastoid are the structures that are bony like that can be felt behind the ears. Before the application of electrodes to the subject it is cruci al to clean and prepare the sites of electrodes. 2. At this stage, the electrode attachment is carried out. Fill the electrode generously with the given gel to fill the cup (â€Å"Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology†, 2007). Slide the gold cup electrode with the gel into the pad and then push the hair sideways and place electrode on the subject's head at O1. Repeat the other electrode at the locations. The placement of electrodes at point O1 and O2 is shown below. Retrieved on 29th October 2013: http://www.upstate.edu/cdb/education/grossanat/hnsklattb5.shtml 3. Connect the leads of gold cups and jumpers to transmit inputs 1, 2, 3, 4, and the ground by using the outlined figure as the reference (Cohn, 2009). The head’s left has now been symmetrically to the right side from the top down view. As shown in the diagram below Retrieved on 29th October 2013: http://glneurotech.com/bioradio/bioradio-wireless-physiological-monitor/ Procedure and collection of da ta The procedure of this experiment involves the calibration, data recording, and analysis of data. The setup entails turning the computer on and plug the BIORADIO equipment followed electrode positioning. The second stage is calibration. The stage ensures that the electrodes are good places and the relaxation of the subject. The data that is calibrated is checked to make sure that they are the same. Consequently, the data recording is performed when

The Mystery of the Mummys Curse Essay Example for Free

The Mystery of the Mummys Curse Essay The purpose of this essay is to explain the mystery behind â€Å"the mummy’s curse†. I will do this by first explaining the theory that some believe to be â€Å"the curse of the pharaoh†. Secondly, I will discuss the scientific theories behind the mysterious deaths of the men who were present at the opening of King Tutankhamen’s tomb. Finally, I will conclude with the theory I believe to be true. The first theory, I will discuss is the urban myth about â€Å"the mummy’s curse†. There was a message outside of the tomb that was translated to say â€Å"Death Shall Come on Swift Wings to Him Who Disturbs the Peace of the King†. Legend has it that anyone who dared open the tomb would suffer the wrath of the mummy. A series of unfortunate events suddenly began to affect the men who entered first. Some became ill, others even died. There were many other events that occurred that some believe explains â€Å"the curse†. My second theory would be the scientific explanation behind the mysterious deaths. In 1986, Dr. Caroline Stinger-Phillip discovered the mystery behind the deaths. There seem to be mold growing on the walls of the tomb. The dust particles from the mold had a high allergenic potency. These men who entered the tomb first suffered an allergic reaction, symptoms from the reaction, was probably the cause of their deaths Recent findings give a more convincing explanation of â€Å"the curse of the mummy†. Finally, I conclude with the theory I believe correct, the scientific theory. I do not believe in myths or urban legends. In my opinion, the science in how they inhaled the mold spores, showed symptoms of the allergic reaction, and then going untreated, explains the men’s deaths. Everything else, I feel is pure coincidence.

Impact Of Ecommerce On Vodafone Marketing Essay

Impact Of Ecommerce On Vodafone Marketing Essay E-Commerce in simple terms can be explained as buying and selling of goods and services and transfer of funds through digital communications. Electronic commerce over the Internet is a new way of conducting business. Ecommerce or electronic commerce involves carrying out business over the Internet with the assistance of computers, which are linked to each other forming a network. The amount and volume of trade that is conducted over such mediums has increased manifold over the years with the spread and adoption of Internet. The growing number of Internet users, (estimated to be more than 1.4 billion worldwide [1]) coupled with increased Internet Connectivity, has contributed to increase in spends for online budgets. Vodafone is the worlds leading international mobile telecommunications group with approximately 280 million proportionate customers as of 30 September 2008 [2]. Vodafone has equity interests in 27 countries across five continents and over 40 partner networks worldwide. Lets have a look at all the ecommerce activities done by Vodafone Vodafone maintains and manages a UK online store for consumers; this ecommerce site is one of the most visited websites in the UK and reliably handles 1.85 million unique visits per month [5]. This has been achieved by optimizing both the front-end and back-end code to ensure that it operates smoothly under considerable load. The site is under constant development with promotional/sales changes made on an on-going basis and releases of strategic developments every 2-4 weeks.   Why is this Vodafone online shop different? It enables a remarkable customer online experience; It completely automates the buying and renewal of online subscriptions; It is built on a very powerful infrastructure: ATG, an e-commerce solution used by the worlds top brands. Picking up the major benefits Vodafone gains are: Customer acquisition increased number of new subscribers; Customer retention due to the personalized customer experience; Customer growth through handy, accessible mix of services; Cost-effectiveness decreasing customer-related operational costs by integrating core business systems. Quoting from the news articleM2 PRESSWIRE-16 May 2000-VODAFONE: Corporate customers enjoy benefits of e-commerce (C) 1994-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD RDATE: 16052000 Vodafone today unveils Vodafone Corporate Online, the heart of a new e-commerce strategy for its corporate customers [6]. Vodafone Corporate Online is a secure web site (Extranet) that will initially enable corporate customers to buy goods or services on-line, request installations, recoveries and review order status. Future e- services such as on-line bill analysis, billing via email and electronic bill viewing will follow later in the year. Graham Ward, Managing Director of Vodafone Corporate, said: We are constantly striving to make life easier for our customers and our innovative e-commerce strategy plays a major role in the business [6]. And also another ecommerce transaction of Vodafone is that, the account is also very easy to manage via the Vodafone web site. There is the option to change your price plan, top up, manage your calling groups or even add extra services [7]. If you purchase just a sim card to put into an existing phone, you can send all the settings for GPS, SMS, and WAP etc via their website to update your phone automatically without the need to spend ages doing manual input, or spending hours on the phone to an advisor. Leading e-commerce marketplace makes it easily accessible to Vodafone customers. New mobile application ensures best customer experience on mobile. Vodafone is to offer the new eBay mobile service to customers, enabling them to keep up with their latest purchases, wherever they are and whenever they wish. The eBay application will be free to download  on Vodafone live! or embedded on key customer Vodafone handsets. Launching in Italy initially, the new eBay mobile service will be available across Europe later this year [8].   The eBay mobile application, accessed directly from the customers handset, will include the ability to search and browse items, find deals, bid on items and buy fixed price products. The application will be embedded onto key consumer handsets from Vodafone in the future. Customers with compatible handsets will also be able to download the application from Vodafone live! The application will help consumers track their eBay activity in real time on their phone and will also ensure their mobile and web activity is synchronized.   As we move closer to the convergence of web and mobile, it is essential that we can offer our customers, leading Internet based services, such as eBay, in an easily accessible way, [8] said Frank H. Rà ¶vekamp, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Vodafone. There is a strong demand from eBay users to benefit from a mobile application where they dont miss the end of auctions and bid back when they are outbid. Todays announcement offers just that and gives Vodafone customers a great service and a clear advantage allowing them to make the most of their time [8].   Vodafones main areas of interest are [3]: focus on the customer including privacy, security and online protection; reducing environmental impact through network energy-saving, waste reduction and green travel and; using communications technology to help customers reduce their carbon footprint; supporting good causes including World of Difference a major new volunteering programme; employee engagement and advocacy; working with suppliers to raise and maintain standards. To reach and succeed on these interests the Vodafone started all above mentioned e-commerce strategies and a lot more so that it can enjoy many benefits, the impact it had on Vodafone are, Vodafone was be able to reach new markets across traditional geographic boundaries and expand their customer base. Firm was able to provide cost-effective customer service with tools such as Frequently Asked Questions, delivery-tracking technology or personalized online customer accounts. Its win/win when e-commerce allows them to shift a lot of the burden of service back onto the customer. Stay open for business 24-hours. Vodafone customers can purchase online while employees sleep. And also potentially saved money on labor, materials and other overheads and reduce their inventory holdings. Ecommerce allows Vodafone to carry out businesses without the barriers of time or distance. One can log on to the Internet at any point of time, be it day or night and purchase or sell anything one desires at a single click of the mouse. Essentially this allows them to offer their goods and services to both a global and local market 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, often with vastly reduced overheads which are associated with traditional sales methods. Operational benefits of e commerce include reducing both the time and personnel required to complete business processes, and reducing strain on other resources. The strategic benefit of making Vodafone ecommerce enabled, is that it helped reduce the delivery time, labor cost and the cost incurred in the following areas: Document preparation Error detection and correction Reconciliation Mail preparation Telephone calling Data entry Overtime Supervision expenses According to research conducted by AC Nielson, in September 2006 5.9 million Australians were shopping online, making us the third-largest online spenders behind the UK and the US [4]. Over half of these online shoppers (51 per cent) came back for more and average shopper spending was up 19 percent to $1,900 per annum [4]. Concluding the facts I have written above regarding the ecommerce techniques and strategies used by the Vodafone and also the impact ecommerce had on Vodafone, I would once again like to remind the readers that ecommerce brings in more advantages weighed against the disadvantages to the adaptor. The major the benefits what all firms are striving for are, Increased awareness of products and services   Businesses can now greatly expand their markets using ecommerce, no need to constrain the focus to only the local scene, but by using the Internet, businesses can venture into international and regional markets, with greater ease. This dynamically changes the nature and the marketing activities of some businesses, possibly encouraging the business to expand the diversity of its products and services, to meet these new markets. Websites, in their nature, allow hundreds and thousands of items to be on view 24/7; thus encouraging wider viewing, and extended trading hours. Freedom   With the freedom of being able to post your information on their website, hence on the Internet, at any time of the day; available information of all variations is increasing at a huge rate. The freedom to browse anywhere and interact with anyone is enough to tempt the smallest of businesses and the most introverted of people to get on the Net; hence Net users are increasing in numbers, at an alarming rate, approximately 50,000 per day. Businesses are buzzing on the Net; they have found a way to compete on an even field, with even the largest of corporations; and within a daily increasing customer marketplace. This can be done only by ecommerce Cost advantage  -businesses based on ecommerce are extremely aware of how they can profit by being on the Internet; they can advertise their products and services without the huge costs, and delays of printing, publishing and distribution. The market is a global one, which adds greater value to the costs outlaid for promotion and marketing; compared to the limits of offline. Ecommerce facilities can be incorporated into the website, transforming 2D screen visuals into user reactive models; for example, consumers can order their products and services online, greatly reducing administration expenses. Reduction of telephone calls to potential customers; follow ups by email; newsletters digitally made, promoted by email or downloadable from the website, with reduction of distribution costs; less promotional material sent out, printed and wasted; extended trading hours without a human presence; are just a few ways to cut costs. To reach their goals and strategies, striving through life time of the business will not make any difference they should adapt ecommerce and feel the advantages and the turn-up on their business as soon as possible. This article about Vodafone can be great example of how adapting ecommerce had made an impact on its business activities, customer base and a lot more.

Oscar Niemeyer Design Philosophy

Oscar Niemeyer Design Philosophy Being born as the son of Brazils Federal Prime Minister, Oscar Niemeyer was living in a Portuguese colonial style house with beautiful tropical setting: a wide carriageway, neatly lined with tropical trees, that curves along the broad seawall looking out to the dome of Pao de Acuacar guarding the bays mouth; lawn designed as formal gardens Niemeyer obsessed over the landscape of his motherland Brazil. No matter how different his house designs vary through time, the element of landscape is always strong and evident. This essay focused on Niemeyers house designs. Being an icon of modern architecture, Niemeyer pushed the limit of reinforced concrete and revealed the expressive charm of this artificial material. The contemporary architecture was monotony. Niemeyer wanted to challenge it. Niemeyer is well-known mainly because of his design for some of the most dominant governmental buildings in Brasilia, Brazil. As one of the early pioneers of modern architecture, Niemeyer opened up a unique approach to contemporary architecture using bold free-form curves in design. Some of his house projects were equally powerful in terms of his dramatic application of free-form. But other projects indicate more thoughts in Brazils colonial background and his own formal exploration throughout his career. Niemeyer did a series of house projects with a huge time span from 1936 until now. Among the dozens of house projects, there are extremely luxury houses he designed for wealthiest Brazilians, there area also some house he designed for middle-class friends and family. Niemeyer also designed four houses for himself. One house, Casa das Canoas, was his most published and well-known work. Four houses designed in year 1942, 1949, 1953 and 1960 had varies characters and different concepts. As Niemeyers other house design sometimes have to fulfill his clients requirements, his own house designs seems to be trademarks of his career, evolving through different phases. The first house he designed for himself is located on a sloping site in Lagoa, Rio de Janeiro. Graduated from National Fine Arts School in 1934, Niemeyer was deeply influenced by Le Corbusiers visit to Brazil in 1929. He joined Costas office in 1935, and from 1936-1942, he was working mainly on the Ministry of Education and health Building, on which, Le Corbusier was invited as project consultant. During this period, influence from the modern master was obvious and they got clearly reflected in Niemeyers first house. The three story house was zoned with clear rationality. The main living room and bedrooms are clearly separated from the service area. A set of scissors ramp is just identical as the one appeared in Le Corbusiers Villa Savoye in terms of its function as the only connection between different floors. The rectilinear upper floors sit on columns on the ground floor, with curvilinear walls direct the flow from entrance to garage and later towards the ramp. Horizontal openings on the facade give a clear indication of free elevation. However, the house is not a simple duplication of Le Corbusiers work. Niemeyer started to explore forms and material in the context of Rio, which is a humid tropical Brazilian city. A single direction slanted rooftop deals with the massive rain water during the monsoon season. A veranda on the second floor fully opens to the lake view. The material he used for the elevation is also unique. Different from his later larger public buildings which mainly deals with reinforced concrete, brick and wood was applied as elevation infill. On the top floor, the wall is composed with wood trims originally painted in blue. Wooden louvered panels were added to cover the veranda. Wood was also widely used as the material for interior finishes as well. The symbol of house as a machine, ramp, in Villa Savoye was no longer represented in cold metal frames and concrete finish. It was covered in wooden panels on the side and a wooden frame. On the ground floor, bushes were planted from the irregular sit e boundary towards the hose edge, defined by a hard pavement following the outline of the elevated second floor. In this project, although marks from Le Corbusier are clear through the use of free plan and clear zoning in a house project. Niemeyers awareness of context and site was already obvious. This prototype of dwelling on top of the landscape evolved and became one of the most frequently used prototypes in his later house designs. In 1949, Niemeyer designed another house in Mendes, RJ. The house was built and later demolished. The house has a very dominant feature which was the slanting screens shelter the porches for living room and bedrooms. Different from his first house for himself, this house was located on a flat piece of land with the trees surrounding it and a stream runs in front of it. The setting is purely natural, not urban. The difference in the context led to a very different design solution. The single floor house is organized in a rectilinear order with all the rooms facing the screen and indoor garden in between. Here, a hint can be found between his modernist approach and traditional colonial architecture. The old colonial porch was transformed into a screened indoor garden, blending the artificial indoor and purer nature outside. This became a prototype which the landscape and the artificial indoor environment was articulated on the same level through a buffer garden. In 1953, Niemeyer designed his most published house, Casa das Canoas. The design was open to the world and shocked the audience with its curvilinear roof. Just before the CIAM meet for the first time in Brazil in 1954, the house was finished. Niemeyer faced some of the most dominant figure in modern architecture with their critics on the house. Walter Gropius and Mies van de Rohe were both attracted to its beauty but pointed out the uniqueness of its geometry became he limit that it can not be multipliable. Faithful to his ideology of mixed ancestry and Antropofagist hybridization, Niemeyer proceeded to infect the classical pavilion with the organic, spontaneous architecture of the morros, mixing Western achievements in the field of domestic architecture with tropical exuberance and lessons from Brazils colonial past and popular present. Case das Canoas is one example of Niemeyers treatment of continuity between the interior and exterior. Curve and landscape became the media that he utilized to achieve it. With the irregular curvilinear roof lines, the nature surrounding the house became closer and farther, varies according to the geometry. A large piece of rock placed right at the edge of the glass wall, penetrating the transparent faà §ade and made it even less dominant. The warm wood finish of the interior partition wall conter-balance the rigidity brought by the steel frame of the glass faà §ade. The white ceiling and black floor becomes the frame of the this transition between na ture and artificial. The exploration of the form continued and became more vigorous when he designed an unbuilt house in Tel Aviv, Edmond de Rothschild House. This time with the desert becomes the setting, the free-form geometry was reverted from edge of the house to its inside. A free-form garden is enclosed by a rectilinear volume. Just at the time when Niemeyers free-form house design became a signature image. In 1960, he designed his house in Brasilia in a totally traditional colonial style. It creates a very strong contrast between the ideology of Brazils independence and its colonial historic roots. On the one hand, with the huge governmental projects, Niemeyer was creating the most powerful formal language, trying to declare to the world that Brasilia represents Brazils new future. On the other hand, he showed his respect very thoroughly to the colonial style, honest and modest. The houses feature a covered porch with red-tiled gable roof, whitewhased walls and regularly spaced windows. More houses will be discussed following the category of the four houses Niemeyer designed for himself. These houses includes: Edmundo Cavanelas House Allvorada Palace Carmen Baldo House Burton Tremaine House Weekend house for Juscelino Kubitschek Cavalcanti house Overlaid with the complexities of Brazils history and stratified society, these scenes evoke contradictions that Niemeyers designs have always balanced: natural shapes created by artificial technology, structural logic and ecstatic emotions, simple forms and complex purposes. Niemeyers house design showed his critical thinking and evolving career, just as strong as his public buildings. His public building may be restricted to their formal strength as a responsibility to speak for the nation. However, in his house design, there are clear trademarks of his weighing of traditional vernacular concept and modern formal exploration. Curves in Niemeyers house projects are more utilized as a mean to explore the relationship between nature and artificial, building and landscape, indoor and outdoor etc.

Universal Human Rights Essay -- Human Rights

Are Human Rights a phenomenon without merit or a crucial aspect of our inter-governmental/inter-societal system? Some would argue that the foundation of human rights contradicts the means. For instance, when discussing the use of the term â€Å"Universal Human Rights,† we often forget that the term â€Å"universal† instigates nations to follow under one set doctrine of particular principles (Ronin, Bruce, and Hurd, 2008). The contradiction lies within the entity which promotes said norms, the United Nations; within it, the international non-governmental entity seeks out ways of promoting their vision of a world bound by a code of conduct and a common goal of peace and co-existence. The problem is how does one go about doing implementing human rights on a universal scale while respecting a state’s right to sovereignty and direction of law (Orford, 2003)? And by extension, how does the international community as a whole work towards enforcing said principles if a s tate opposes it? These questions act as the foundation of an argument that is shared throughout the international community; who has the right to implement and enforce human rights norms and by what authority shall that entity utilize to complete such an objective? Argument/Analysis First of all, let us analyze the global political system in its current form as to fully grasp the convoluted nature of international politics. One could argue that the ever changing global political scene is directly attributed to the multilateral approach to dealing with issues relevant to state sovereignty and intervention. In this instance, nation states often take it upon themselves to directly address particular conflicts oceans away. In other cases, we notice that the United Nations, a non-go... ... it. Whether by the strength of an individual state or the wit of an international organization, upholding human rights must be the primary goal when determining the need for intervention. Works Cited 1) Valentino, Benjamin A. 2011. "The True Costs of Humanitarian Intervention." Foreign Affairs (6.60) 2) Daalder, Ivo H. 2007. Beyond Preemption: Force and Legitimacy in a Changing World. Brookings Institution Press. 3) Ronin, Bruce, and Ian Hurd. 2008. UN Security Council and the Politics of International Authority. Taylor & Francis Routledge 4) Orford, A. (2003). Reading Humanitarian Intervention: Human Rights and the Use of Force in International Law. Cambridge University Press. 5) Donnelly, Jack. 1984. "HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION AND AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY: Law, Morality and Politics." Journal of International Affairs 37, no. 2: 311.

Natures Gems :: essays papers

Natures Gems Desperately gripping the bend with screeching tires I accelerated down the slope toward a secluded lake, my lake. Edging the car over to the side, I wandered down to the water dampening my hand, revelling in the cool fluidity of it, feeling the burden of my conscience being lightened. I sat by its side, tossing stones into it’s willowy depths, watching the ripples slowly radiate from the epicentre. Stripping to the waste I waded out into the lake, the water was cold and refreshing it’s ice tendrils turning my skin a healthy red. I could still feel my hand throbbing from where I’d hit Mary, over and over until she had collapsed in a heap and I had fled the scene. Seeking peace of mind I had fled to the only place I could think of, this lake, this picture of tranquillity, I confessed my sins to it, felt reborn by it’s unspoken forgiveness and relaxed in it’s frosty grip. There would be loose ends to tie up now, for my future happiness I must n ot let this go unfinished. A low rumbling echoed down the hillside road, a sleek car followed by a cloud of dust traced around the bends of the cliff. God damnit he’s going to frighten any game off for miles around with that ruckus, Ruin my entire days hunting will he, well I’m not going home without something to show for it. Hefting my rifle I stalked off through the brush northwards. Pushing some branches aside I was greeted by a sight that wholly unimpressed me, once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen em all†¦ Some may consider this lake to be picturesque, a gem of nature. Not to me. This scene was totally uninspiring, the clam, slowly undulating waters were indifferent to me and me to them. The mountainous surrounds only made me feel more inadequate â€Å"in the great song† making my â€Å"verse† more insignificant. In my eye nature mocked humans and their pitiful achievements, this it the reason I loved to hunt, to kill, to extinguish this subtle mockery wherever I could. I heard a faint rustle to my left, ramming the butt of the rifle into my shoulder I pivoted and pulled the trigger†¦ Mary was down for only a few minutes, but when the stars cleared Harry was gone, the welts on her face were quickly swelling up closing her left eye.

Leadership in the New Millenium

Chapter 1: Moral Leadership in America This Chapter talks about the absolute need for moral leadership in America. We live in a very unstable time. Our society is very fragile. Perhaps no other time in our history is there a great need for great leadership, not just based on their ability but their moral compass. They have to lead with creditability and they have to be visionaries that can lead people into the right path to better their conditions. Without the right morality they won’t be able to get people to work together. Chapter 2: The loss of CharacterThis chapter talks about leadership in relationship o having character or not having character. Be we just a plain individual, leader in our society or a part there of. We have to carry ourselves in an exemplary manner because people are always watching us, whether we realize it or not. The higher position you are in authority or stature the more scrutiny you are under. With technology and electronic media being so easily ac cessible it often times leads to people being looked at poorly for one reason or another. A lot of times it is done purposefully by the media for the sake of making money.The author makes a special point to note that this loss of character is prevalent in all walks of society such as religion, politics, and business being the most prominent of these. Chapter 3: A life of Morality This chapter speaks about leadership and morality and how as a people of society and the society at large all have the capability of being moral or immoral regardless of their status in life, their wealth, power, position, or education. In many cases, the chapter concludes, that often times the moral fabric of any group be it government or business often times reflects the morality or immorality of its leaders.Classic point that was given was the melt down of our financial system here in the United States. This was considered due in large part to the moral absence in the corporate banking system leadership. Much of this premise is to be considered in selecting team members and having people with common ideology when it comes to team work. Chapter 4: Yielding to Temptation This chapter talks about yielding from temptation. It talks about not so much the thought but acting upon temptations. When one yields to temptations they can fall so far from grace that it almost makes life unbearable. Temptation crosses all sectors of society; money, power, sex.Its interesting because the writer makes a point that its almost mans nature to want to control things, in his/her job, husband over wife or vice versa etc. man even tries to control nature in the universe at times. He goes on to point out that the hardest thing in nature for man to control seems to be he him self. Often times power such as in government or big business makes people feel almost invincible and unaccountable for their actions. But history has proven time and time again that not to be the case because often time they lose more that position but stature and reputation.Chapter 5: The Duty of Responsibility This chapter talks about moral responsibility. How it is virtually impossible to separate morality from responsibility because one is so closely related to the other. He suggests that the negative political and financial state our country is in today is due a lot to the fact that out leaders have ignored this very important point, were too naive or just plain arrogant. He says â€Å"The bedrock of moral responsibility is an ethical behavior of the leader and his or her adherence to the standards of right conduct. He speaks of businesses at large lacking moral responsibility and caring more about the bottom line instead of what is termed â€Å"the triple bottom line,† which entails the good of all including share holders, employees, customers, suppliers, the community, the environment and the owners of the company themselves. By taking into moral account and responsibility all of these factors will tend to make the business that much more competitive. Leaders have responsibility to lead not just in the corporate by laws but also in common decency and ethicalness.The leader and his or her subordinate have a psychological contract where by the subordinate has an unwritten understanding with the leader that he is going to led in a responsible manner. Leaders take responsibility for things that go wrong and hold themselves responsible for corrective change. All this leadership should be done with transparency and all times they should be trustworthy. This is why they are called leaders because they should be able to live up to the expectancy for which they are charged. Chapter 6: The Facade of PowerThis chapter talks about leadership and power. Some leaders use power as a tool for the betterment of the group at large while others use it for merely selfish reasons. Good power, which is kept in check, normally leads to success of an organization while the opposite can lead to organ ization demise. Power is mostly defined as an instrument to get others to do what the might not have done on their own without the influence of the leader. There are different types of leadership styles. Some use intimidation some use bribery, and while others use their attraction.It also speaks about hard power and soft power. Hard power is when people use coercion, intimidation, sanctions in its sort to get people to do what the want them to do. Often times these leaders use fear and fell that they are in complete control. All its subordinates feel they have little or no recourse. Soft power is considered the more rational approach. It is called sometimes â€Å"the second form of power. † People use more tactical and persuasiveness to get people to perform or react in a certain way. Much like a husband might to do a wife, where it is more subtle.These leaders tend to lead more by example than by command. One might say that hard power has little accountability compared to so ft power which is based largely on credibility. Chapter 7: The Pitfalls of Arrogance This chapter talks about arrogance and its pitfalls. Arrogance can be summed up as one who might think too much of himself and too little of others. This sentiment when combined with power can be overbearing at best and often times can leads to a person’s demise. There is a distinct difference yet subtle between arrogance and self confidence; the latter being good.One can have confidence in himself, which is good, but not to the point of vanity. Often times leaders who are arrogant can not relate nor do they want to relate sometimes to the feelings or opinions of the subordinates. They have too little respect for the opinions of others. Sometimes arrogance leads to micro-managing which will weaken their leadership. He gives illustrations of how arrogance brought down certain people in society such as Sam Waksal, President Bill Clinton, former governor Elliot Spitzer, and New Jersey governor J im Mcgereevy, just to name a few.All these men were considered arrogant in the way in which they went about their business; almost with a veil of invincibility. Their thoughts and actions lead to their downfall. Chapter 8: An Ounce of Humility Humility is called â€Å"a necessity for success. † Humility is the antithesis of arrogance. And by a virtue of its design will bring more good outcomes and success. So where arrogance leads to downfall, humility leads to growth. The act of humbleness dictates that one does not presume themselves more important than others nor is proud or boastful.He talks about humility in relationship to religion in history. it is the foundation of spiritual growth. Nearly all religions be Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, or Islam, preach that humbleness is extremely important in obtaining the richness of ones own sprit and connection with that eternal realm where one might find peace and salvation. Some cynics of humility were characterized as a sig n of weakness or false modesty just so they could feel more â€Å"special and better than others,† the author thinks not.He mentions three distinct leaders who epitomize humility: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Mahatma Gandhi, and Albert Einstein. Another point he makes, in the importance of humility and leadership, is our global military presence around the world dealing with so many vast cultures, almost demands the need for humility and diplomacy because we are dealing with so many different people and ways of life. Today’s business environment, more so than ever, reflects the need for people in leadership to show some humility. The key to leadership is good servitude.The benefits of humility go far beyond one individual or one entity. It affects society at large. Chapter 9: A life of Ethics This chapter addresses ethics. Ethics by some is becoming a thing of the past; in our work places and society at large. All organizations in order to have a meaningful existence hav e to work with some code of ethics. It determines what we should and should not be. It is hard to legislate ethics because it is not so easily measured in business as other areas of the company or organization such as profit. Often times, competitiveness makes leaders act contrary to hoe they should act.It talks about examples of ethics being absent in our workforce such companies as Enron, World Com, Imcone Systems, Tyco, and the like. This is caused as reactions of these companies brought to great despair and has created an environment in our business culture that recognizes the need for more ethics more so now than ever. He blames the poor economic state of our American economy to the non ethical practices of our leaders. They skirted the law in common business practices. Ethical behavior or the lack there of is mostly influenced by our surroundings, i. . : family, school, church, media or peer groups. Individuals in organizations often reflect the culture environment they are in be it upstanding and ethical. In its practices or the reverse of that, it all falls on the shoulders of the leaders of the organization because so often is they that set the tone for everyone else. It is the responsibility of the leader to make sure that his organization is conducting them self in a proper manner. One primary way to keep the environment ethical, the leader must make it a point of topic within the group.He feels that ethics is not given much thought or time in the work place, home or school. In many cases, through either ignorance or arrogance leaders allow themselves to remain unethical with little or no fear of consequence. He goes on to say, a lot of times; the practicing or non-practicing of ethics sometimes comes down to simply a matter of choice. People have blatant disregard for doing the right thing. Although ethics and morality like anything else, filters down from the top, it is actually everyone’s responsibility in the group to use moral ethics in their approach to doing business.Chapter 10: The Seven Deadly Sins The seven deadly sins, otherwise known as â€Å"pewslag,† characterized by theologians and scholars the world over as being very influential in existence of mans and his relationship to good and evil. It is an overall thinking that pride, envy, anger, greed, lust, gluttony, and sloth effect all individuals one tine or another and cause us to act contrary to natures, mans, and God’s laws. Mahatma Gandhi recognized that there was an inner violence that mankind dealt with and external violence. The internal violence is things such as hate, anger, jealousy, greed.Gandhi viewed these seven deadly sins as internal violence. These internal violence were the catalyst behind mans external violence. External violence can be described as the physical violent assault on another such as with the use of a weapon of sort. In relationship to leadership, the leaders who showed more self-control and restrain in these are as variably, are the ones who survive and prosper. They recognize that the spiritual world and the physical world are intertwined and ultimately â€Å"we destroy ourselves because of the baggage of sins that we walk around with. The writer also, in the end of this chapter, suggests we rid ourselves of this load and â€Å"travel light. † Chapter 11: The Necessity of Teamwork The old saying â€Å"no man is an island† is very accurately describes this section. Solid teamwork is the groups’ aspiration to reach when their goal is to be great. Teamwork incorporates all the talents and skills of individuals toward one or more common objectives. Teamwork is also considered a form of energy that is created by the workings of the individuals, as one in sharing ideas and information which culminate into constructive jobs, duties, or functions.The seven deadly sins can creep its ugly head and cause bitterness or conflict within the group. Also, social-cultural and demograp hic factors can cause a breakdown of solid teamwork. The use of the word, belief of the word and the actions of the word â€Å"we,† particularly when it comes from leadership creates an atmosphere of harmony and togetherness when the goal is for the good of all. Ultimately it is the job of the leader to keep the team running as smooth as possible, not necessarily an easy task at all. Chapter 12: Putting the Team TogetherIt is the leader’s responsibility to carefully pick the members of the team and there are so many different variables to look at to determine who might be good and who might not be. Is it youth vs. age, experience vs. non experience, former educated over experience, past triumphs or failures? Or do we spend more time considering the family background of people, their hobbies, interest, their compassion for one another, carrying for other people, honesty, and integrity, willingness to put themselves last and team first? Will this individual bring harmony to the group; will they bring a sense of well being and togetherness?A leader has to consider the individuals purpose for joining the group. Is it for self gratification or gain, and if so, will this person really more help the group or hinder the group irrespective of the many talents and resources he or she might have to offer? These are all the things and more that a good leader must contemplate before taking on any new team members. Many an organization has been brought down because leaders too hastily recruited team members as opposed to carefully taking their time to consider all the above.Chapter 13: The Decline of Altruism This chapter centers on the decline of altruism. Some people will argue that altruism is a dying breed, while others say it is still prevalent everywhere even in the animal kingdom. Altruism which is ones doing good for another in an unselfish or selflessly manner, is broken down into different categories, namely two parts: reciprocal altruism and univers al altruism. The first being almost tit for tat; when one is doing something because it has been done unto them or they expect it to be done unto them in the future.The latter, being unconditional, much like in a sense of Christianity; when one is not looking for anything in return but instead merely doing it because they think it is the humane thing to do. As a consensus by many that neither society, nor any corporate team or entity can survive well without it, it being altruism. There are many different reasons why people are altruistic. Could be a sense of personal responsibility, they think it’s the right thing to do, could be during an emergency or social and cultural values.It could also be the desire to overcome guilt, or it could be because of their exposure to it through school, family, church, and community groups, what have you. Many of the problems today in our society, and the economy at large, might be considered due to the lack of altruism or minimum traits of altruism at best in our modern day leaders who failed to recognize their duty in giving to other selflessly while mitigating their own self righteousness or ego. Chapter 14: The Service of Gratitude The author starts right out by saying â€Å"the primary purpose of human existence is to serve the people of the world. This act of servitude is a very important ingredient in effective leadership. While he is leading he is actually taking on a task of servitude and selflessness. A leadership is considered the custodianship of others well being and overall success. Ultimately a leader must put his self interest secondary to the interest and good of others. Many people serve for the gratuity, what they can get out of it, their own personal agenda. The â€Å"what’s in it for me? † syndrome, but this are not and can not be construed as good leadership. This way of thinking only leads to disruption and potential downfall of any organization if that leader heads.They also sugge st that a big part of the reason for the downfall and collapse of our countries economic decline is because lack of service, both physical and otherwise. Our goods and services are being outsourced to other countries and in other cases many of our leaders don’t see their roles as â€Å"being service providers to the people. † These leaders therefore allow corruption to thrive when it should not. The importance of service is to neutralize the have’s and have not’s. It’s the balance between mans nature to overcome and take care of themselves only and those who can not do for themselves. good leader looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the group, the society or the company and tries to balance the scales to make certain that everyone gets their fare shake or piece of the pie. Good service at its best is good service at its most. Chapter 15: Blueprint for Moral Leadership In the beginning of the chapter there is much discussion about the harms and ills that American leaders have brought on our county at large and how the misuse of trust afforded the m by American people lead to one of the greatest economic down turns since the Great Depression.Leaders failed to take responsibility to any and all part that they played in creating and environment of greed and corruption neither in our government nor in our work place. It is their sense at times that only the average persons are to be held accountable for their actions or lack of. Part of the problem in our leadership[ is how we select them . often times its based on their abilities, education, organizational skills, ability to delegate, but rarely are we using a more natural guideline to choose them by, such as their character, which encompasses not only their ability but their moral consciousness.Basically we have to look beyond the structural part of leadership and more at the intangibles such as the spiritualistic side of leadership, the wholesomeness of it and the accountab ility. It has to be humanistic attributes such as being responsible, modest, courageous, honesty, and the belief in fair play; spiritual qualities such as faith in self and higher power, caring about and consideration for others, self control, devotion and such. These traits along with organizational skills when applied with proper alance form the most greatest of leadership which would ultimately equate to the greatest of success. Theory: Conflict Theory Conflict Theory studies the causes of crime within a society. For the good of the society, standards of morality are imposed by the justice system. Throughout the book the author gives reason to our economic downfall. He put the blame on the leadership in place not making correct moral, ethical and responsible decisions. One example is from chapter 8 when he speaks about major companies such as Enron and World Com who have had a major impact on our economic plummet.It also be no worthy to mention he also suggests some fault on the people who put these leaders in place to begin with. Methodology: Bibliography The author did extensive research on each key points in the book. He incorporated some of Sociologies most respected members such as Jon Witt, Richley Crapo and Robin Williams Jr. Through his research he collectively combined the various thoughts into one seamless idea of how America has been affected by poor leadership. He also used his research to find key components of how to be an effective leader by virtue of morality, humility and ethics.Strengths: I. One strength was the simplicity in which it was written. It read very easily and some how kept the same theme throughout. Enjoyable reading. II. Very informative, educational, thought provoking and diverse in its use of different references and subject matter. Weaknesses: I. One weakness might be there seems to be an overly cynical outlook of American leadership at large. II. Another might be, some chapters left you wanting for more. In other words, it is so good while you are reading you want more information on that particular topic. Conclusion:In summation good leadership must always be in harmony with servitude and have little or no tolerance for arrogance. In chapter 8, a good example of arrogance vs. humbleness is a driver who is lost. The arrogant motorist would refuse to stop and get directions and end up miles away from his destination. While the more humble motorist will stop to seek direction and be quickly put on the proper road. A leader who posses most of these characteristics such as humility, altruism, soft power, gratitude, and the like will lead to a life of success in the organization.Particularly when he possesses a moral compass that mandates he use fairness and compassion in his/her approach to leadership. This person would resist any temptation to be greedy, selfish, egotistical, maniacal or harsh. One change for the future, there will be more accountability expected from our leadership. They will be more c losely monitored, more checks and balances, much tighter regulations, more overview boards, less bureaucracy, more punitive penalties and laws will be imposed.

Characterstics of Laptop

Answer: Portability is usually the first feature mentioned in any comparison of laptops versus desktop pcs. Physical portability allows that a laptop can be used in many places† not only at home and at the office, but also during commuting and flights, in coffee shops, In lecture halls and libraries, at clients' location or at a meeting room, etc. The portability feature offers several distinct advantages: a.Productivity: Using a laptop in places where a desktop PC cannot be used, and at times that would otherwise be wasted. For example, an office worker Is managing heir e-mails during an hour-long commute by train, or a student doing his/her homework at the university coffee shop during a break between lectures. b. Immediacy: Carrying a laptop means having instant access to various Information, personal and work files. Immediacy allows better collaboration between coworkers or students, as a laptop can be flipped open to present a problem or a solution anytime, anywhere. . up- to-date information: If a person has more than one desktop PC, a problem of synchronization arises: changes made on one computer are not automatically propagated to the others. There are ways to resolve this problem, Including physical transfer of updated files (using a USB flash memory stick or cdrs) or using synchronization software over the Internet. However, using a single laptop at both locations avoids the problem entirely, as the files exist in a single location and are always up-to-date. d.Connectivity: A proliferation of WI-FI wireless networks and cellular broadband data services (HSDPA, EVDO and others) combined with a near-ubiquitous support by laptops means that a laptop can have easy Internet and local network connectivity while remaining mobile. Wi-Fi networks and laptop programs are especially idespread at university campuses. [ Other advantages of laptops: e. Size: Laptops are smaller than desktop pcs. This is beneficial when space is at a premium, for example in sm all apartments and student dorms.When not In use, a laptop can be closed and put away. f. Low power consumption: Laptops are several times more power-efficient than desktops, A typical laptop uses 20-90 W. compared to 100-800 W for desktops. This could De partlcularly DeneTlclal Tor Duslnesses (wnlcn run nunareas 0T personal computers, multiplying the potential savings) and homes where there is a computer running 2417 (such as a home media server, print server, etc. g. Quiet: Laptops are often quieter than desktops, due both to the components (quieter, slower 2. -inch hard drives) and to less heat production leading to use of fewer and slower cooling fans. h. Battery: a charged laptop can continue to be used in case of a power outage and is not affected by short power interruptions and blackouts. A desktop PC needs a UPS to handle short interruptions, blackouts and spikes; achieving on-battery time of more than 20-30 minutes for a desktop PC requires a large and expensive UPS. i. Al l-in-One: designed to be portable, laptops have everything integrated into the hassis.For desktops (excluding all-in-ones) this is divided into the desktop, keyboard, mouse, display, and optional peripherals such as speakers. 2. Characteristics of Super Computer: A) A supercomputer is the fastest type of computer. Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed for specialized applications that require large amounts of mathematical calculations. The chief difference between a supercomputer and a mainframe is that a supercomputer channels all its power into executing a few programs as fast as possible, whereas a mainframe uses its power to execute many programs concurrently.B) Supercomputers are used for highly calculation-intensive tasks such as problems involving quantum mechanical physics, weather forecasting, climate research, molecular modeling (computing the structures and properties of chemical compounds, biological macromolecules, polymers, and crystals), physical simulati ons (such as simulation of airplanes in wind tunnels, simulation of the detonation of nuclear weapons, and research into nuclear fusion), cryptanalysis, and many others. Some supercomputers have also been designed for very specific functions like cracking codes and playing chess; Deep Blue is a famous chess-playing upercomputer.Major universities, military agencies and scientific research laboratories depend on and make use of supercomputers very heavily. C) A supercomputer generates large amounts of heat and therefore must be cooled with complex cooling systems to ensure that no part of the computer fails. Many of these cooling systems take advantage of liquid gases, which can get extremely cold. D) Another issue is the speed at which information can be transferred or written to a storage aevlce, as tne speed 0T data transTer wlll Ilmlt tne supercomputers performance. Information cannot move faster than the speed of light between two arts of a supercomputer.E) Supercomputers consum e and produce massive amounts of data in a very short period of time. Much work on external storage bandwidth is needed to ensure that this information can be transferred quickly and stored/retrieved correctly. 3. Characterstics of Main Frame Computer? a. Modern mainframes can run multiple different instances of operating systems at the same time. This technique of virtual machines allows applications to run as if they were on physically distinct computers. In this role, a single mainframe can replace higher-functioning hardware services available to conventional servers.While mainframes pioneered this capability, virtualization is now available on most families of computer systems, though not always to the same degree or level of sophistication b. Mainframes can add or hot swap system capacity without disrupting system function, with specificity and granularity to a level of sophistication not usually available with most server solutions. c. Modern mainframes, notably the IBM zSeri es,System z9 and System ZIO servers, offer two levels of virtualization: logical partitions (LPARs, via the PRISM facility) and virtual machines (via the zPv'M operating system).Many mainframe customers run wo machines: one in their primary data center, and one in their backup data center †fully active, partially active, or on standby†in case there is a catastrophe affecting the first building. Test, development, training, and production workload for applications and databases can run on a single machine, except for extremely large demands where the capacity of one machine might be limiting. Such a two- mainframe installation can support continuous business service, avoiding both planned and unplanned outages.In practice many customers use multiple mainframes linked either by Parallel Sysplex and shared DASD (in IBM's case)[citation eeded], or with shared, geographically dispersed storage provided by EMC or Hitachi. d. Mainframes are designed to handle very high volume i nput and output (1/0) and emphasize throughput computing. Since the late-1950s, mainframe designs have included subsidiary hardware (called channels or peripheral processors) which manage the 1/0 devices, leaving the CPU free to deal only with high-speed memory. It is common in mainframe shops to deal with massive databases and files.Gigabyte to terabyte-size record files are not unusual. [7] Compared to a typical PC, mainframes ommonly have hundreds to thousands of times as much data storage online, and can access it much faster. [citation needed] Other server families also offload 1/0 processing ana empnaslze tnrougnput computlng. e. Mainframe return on investment (ROI), like any other computing platform, is dependent on its ability to scale, support mixed workloads, reduce labor costs, deliver uninterrupted service for critical business applications, and several other risk- adjusted cost factors. . Mainframes also have execution integrity characteristics for fault tolerant comput ing. For example, z900, z990, System z9, and System ZIO servers ffectively execute result-oriented instructions twice, compare results, arbitrate between any differences (through instruction retry and failure isolation), then shift workloads â€Å"in flight† to functioning processors, including spares, without any impact to operating systems, applications, or users.This hardware-level feature, also found in HP's Nonstop systems, is known as lock-stepping, because both processors take their â€Å"steps† (i. e. instructions) together. Not all applications absolutely need the assured integrity that these systems provide, but many do, such as financial transaction processing.