Part Three Chapter IX

IX Kay Bawden never wanted to set foot in Miles and Samantha's house again. She could not forgive them for witnessing Gavin's parade of indifference, nor could she forget Miles' patronizing laughter, his attitude to Bellchapel, or the sneery way that he and Samantha had spoken about Krystal Weedon. In spite of Gavin's apology and his tepid assurances of affection, Kay could not stop picturing him nose to nose with Mary on the sofa; jumping up to help her with the plates; walking her home in the dark. When Gavin told her, a few days later, that he had had dinner at Mary's house, she had to fight down an angry response, because he had never eaten more than toast at her house in Hope Street. She might not be allowed to say anything bad about The Widow, about whom Gavin spoke as though she were the Holy Mother, but the Mollisons were different. ‘I can't say I like Miles very much.' ‘He's not exactly my best mate.' ‘If you ask me, it'll be a catastrophe for the addiction clinic if he gets elected.' ‘I doubt it'll make any difference.' Gavin's apathy, his indifference to other people's pain, always infuriated Kay. ‘Isn't there anyone who'll stick up for Bellchapel?' ‘Colin Wall, I suppose,' said Gavin. So, at eight o'clock on Monday evening, Kay walked up the Walls' drive and rang their doorbell. From the front step, she could make out Samantha Mollison's red Ford Fiesta, parked in the drive three houses along. The sight added a little extra zest to her desire for a fight. The Walls' door was opened by a short plain dumpy woman in a tie-dyed skirt. ‘Hello,' said Kay. ‘My name's Kay Bawden, and I was wondering whether I could speak to Colin Wall?' For a split second, Tessa simply stared at the attractive young woman on the doorstep whom she had never seen before. The strangest idea flashed across her mind: that Colin was having an affair and that his lover had come to tell her so. ‘Oh – yes – come in. I'm Tessa.' Kay wiped her feet conscientiously on the doormat and followed Tessa into a sitting room that was smaller, shabbier but cosier than the Mollisons'. A tall, balding man with a high forehead was sitting in an armchair with a notebook in his lap and a pen in his hand. ‘Colin, this is Kay Bawden,' said Tessa. ‘She'd like to speak to you.' Tessa saw Colin's startled and wary expression, and knew at once that the woman was a stranger to him. Really, she thought, a little ashamed, what were you thinking? ‘I'm sorry to barge in on you like this, unannounced,' said Kay, as Colin stood up to shake her hand. ‘I would have telephoned, but you're – ‘ ‘We're ex-directory, yes,' said Colin. He towered over Kay, his eyes tiny behind the lenses of his glasses. ‘Please, sit down.' ‘Thank you. It's about the election,' said Kay. ‘This Parish Council election. You're standing, aren't you, against Miles Mollison?' ‘That's right,' said Colin nervously. He knew who she must be: the reporter who had wanted to talk to Krystal. They had tracked him down – Tessa ought not to have let her in. ‘I was wondering whether I could help in any way,' said Kay. ‘I'm a social worker, mostly working in the Fields. There are some facts and figures I could give you about the Bellchapel Addiction Clinic, which Mollison seems quite keen on closing. I've been told that you're for the clinic? That you'd like to keep it open?' The onrush of relief and pleasure made him almost giddy. ‘Oh, yes,' said Colin, ‘yes, I would. Yes, that was my predecessor's – that's to say, the previous holder of the seat – Barry Fairbrother – was certainly opposed to closing the clinic. And I am, too.' ‘Well, I've had a conversation with Miles Mollison, and he made it quite clear that he doesn't think the clinic's worth keeping open. Frankly, I think he's rather ignorant and naive about the causes and treatment of addiction, and about the very real difference Bellchapel is making. If the Parish refuses to renew the lease on the building, and the District cuts funding, then there's a danger that some very vulnerable people will be left without support.' ‘Yes, yes, I see,' said Colin. ‘Oh, yes, I agree.' He was astonished and flattered that this attractive young woman would have walked through the evening to find him and offer herself as an ally. ‘Would you like a cup of tea or coffee, Kay?' asked Tessa. ‘Oh, thanks very much,' said Kay. ‘Tea, please, Tessa. No sugar.' Fats was in the kitchen, helping himself from the fridge. He ate copiously and continually, but remained scrawny, never putting on an ounce of weight. In spite of his openly declared disgust for them, he seemed unaffected by Tessa's pack of ready-filled syringes, which sat in a clinical white box next to the cheese. Tessa moved to the kettle, and her thoughts returned to the subject that had consumed her ever since Sukhvinder had suggested it earlier: that Fats and Krystal were ‘seeing each other'. She had not questioned Fats, and she had not told Colin. The more that Tessa thought about it, the more certain she was that it could not be true. She was sure that Fats held himself in such high regard that no girl would be good enough, especially a girl like Krystal. Surely he would not †¦ Demean himself? Is that it? Is that what you think? ‘Who's here?' Fats asked Tessa, through a mouthful of cold chicken, as she put on the kettle. ‘A woman who wants to help Dad get elected to the council,' replied Tessa, foraging in the cupboard for biscuits. ‘Why? Does she fancy him?' ‘Grow up, Stu,' said Tessa crossly. He plucked several slices of thin ham out of an open pack and poked them, bit by bit, into his crammed mouth, like a magician inserting silk handkerchiefs into his fist. Fats sometimes stood for ten minutes at a time at the open fridge, ripping open clingfilm and packets and putting chunks of food directly into his mouth. It was a habit Colin deprecated, along with almost every other aspect of Fats' behaviour. ‘Why's she want to help him, seriously?' he asked, having swallowed his mouthful of meat. ‘She wants the Bellchapel Addiction Clinic to stay open.' ‘What, a junkie, is she?' ‘No, she isn't a junkie,' said Tessa, noting with annoyance that Fats had finished the last three chocolate biscuits and left the empty wrappings on the shelf. ‘She's a social worker, and she thinks the clinic is doing a good job. Dad wants to keep it open, but Miles Mollison doesn't think it's very effective.' ‘It can't be doing that well. The Fields are full of glue-sniffers and smackheads.' Tessa knew that if she had said that Colin wanted to close the clinic, Fats would have instantly produced an argument for its continuation. ‘You ought to be a barrister, Stu,' she said as the kettle lid started to rattle. When Tessa returned to the sitting room with her tray, she found Kay talking Colin through a sheaf of printed material she had brought out of her big tote bag. ‘†¦ two drugs workers part-funded by the council, and partly by Action on Addiction, which is a really good charity. Then there's a social worker attached to the clinic, Nina, she's the one who gave me all this – oh, thanks very much,' said Kay, beaming up at Tessa, who had set down a mug of tea on the table beside her. Kay had taken to the Walls, in just a few minutes, as she had not taken to anybody else in Pagford. There had been no sweeping up-and-down glance from Tessa as she walked in, no gimlet-eyed assessment of her physical imperfections and dress sense. Her husband, though nervous, seemed decent and earnest in his determination to obstruct the abandonment of the Fields. ‘Is that a London accent, Kay?' asked Tessa, dunking a plain biscuit in her tea. Kay nodded. ‘What brings you to Pagford?' ‘A relationship,' said Kay. She took no pleasure saying it, even though she and Gavin were officially reconciled. She turned back to Colin. ‘I don't quite understand the situation with regards to the Parish Council and the clinic.' ‘Oh, it owns the building,' said Colin. ‘It's an old church. The lease is coming up for renewal.' ‘So that would be an easy way to force them out.' ‘Exactly. When did you say you'd spoken to Miles Mollison?' asked Colin, both hoping and dreading to hear that Miles had mentioned him. ‘We had dinner, Friday before last,' Kay explained, ‘Gavin and I – ‘ ‘Oh, you're Gavin's girlfriend!' interjected Tessa. ‘Yes; and, anyway, the subject of the Fields came up – ‘ ‘It would,' said Tessa. ‘ – and Miles mentioned Bellchapel, and I was quite – quite dismayed by the way he talked about the issues involved. I told him I'm dealing with a family at the moment,' Kay remembered her indiscreet mention of the Weedons' names and proceeded carefully, ‘and if the mother is deprived of methadone, she'll almost certainly end up back on the game.' ‘That sounds like the Weedons,' said Tessa, with a lowering sensation. ‘I – yes, I am talking about the Weedons, actually,' said Kay. Tessa reached for another biscuit. ‘I'm Krystal's guidance teacher. This must be the second time her mother's been through Bellchapel, is it?' ‘Third,' said Kay. ‘We've known Krystal since she was five: she was in our son's class at primary school,' Tessa said. ‘She's had an awful life, really.' ‘Absolutely,' said Kay. ‘It's astounding she's as sweet as she is, actually.' ‘Oh, I agree,' said Colin heartily. Remembering Colin's absolute refusal to rescind Krystal's detention after the squawking incident in assembly, Tessa raised her eyebrows. Then she wondered, with a sick lurch in her stomach, what Colin would say if Sukhvinder was not lying or mistaken. But surely Sukhvinder was wrong. She was a shy, naive girl. Probably she had got the wrong end of the stick †¦ misheard something †¦ ‘The point is, about the only thing that motivates Terri is the fear of losing her kids,' said Kay. ‘She's back on track at the moment; her key worker at the clinic told me she senses a bit of a breakthrough in Terri's attitude. If Bellchapel closes, it all goes belly-up again, and God knows what'll happen to the family.' ‘This is all very useful,' said Colin, nodding importantly, and starting to make notes on a clean page in his notebook. ‘Very useful indeed. Did you say you've got statistics on people going clean?' Kay shuffled the printed pages, looking for the information. Tessa had the impression that Colin wanted to reclaim Kay's attention for himself. He had always been susceptible to good looks and a sympathetic manner. Tessa munched another biscuit, still thinking about Krystal. Their recent guidance sessions had not been very satisfactory. Krystal had been standoffish. Today's had been no different. She had extracted a promise from Krystal that she would not pursue or harass Sukhvinder Jawanda again, but Krystal's demeanour suggested that Tessa had let her down, that trust was broken. Possibly Colin's detention was to blame. Tessa had thought that she and Krystal had forged a bond strong enough to withstand that, although it had never been quite like the one Krystal had with Barry. (Tessa had been there, on the spot, the day that Barry had come into school with a rowing machine, looking for recruits to the crew he was trying to start. She had been summoned from the staff room to the gym, because the PE teacher was off sick, and the only supply teacher they could find at such short notice was male. The fourth-year girls, in their shorts and Aertex tops, had been giggly when they had arrived in the gym to find Miss Jarvis absent, replaced by two strange men. Tessa had had to reprimand Krystal, Nikki and Leanne, who had pushed to the front of the class and were making lewd suggestive remarks about the supply teacher; he was a handsome young man with an unfortunate tendency to blush. Barry, short, ginger-haired and bearded, was wearing a tracksuit. He had taken a morning off work to do this. Everybody thought his idea was strange and unrealistic: schools like Winterdown did not have rowing eights. Niamh and Siobhan had seemed half amused, half mortified by their dad's presence. Barry explained what he was trying to do: put together crews. He had secured the use of the old boathouse down on the canal at Yarvil; it was a fabulous sport, and an opportunity to shine, for themselves, for their school. Tessa had positioned herself right next to Krystal and her friends to keep them in check; the worst of their giggling had subsided, but was not entirely quelled. Barry demonstrated the rowing machine and asked for volunteers. Nobody stepped forward. ‘Krystal Weedon,' said Barry, pointing at her. ‘I've seen you dangling off the monkey bars down the park; that's proper upper body strength you've got there. Come here and give it a go.' Krystal was only too happy to step into the spotlight; she swaggered up to the machine and sat down on it. Even with Tessa glowering beside them, Nikki and Leanne had howled with laughter and the rest of the class joined in. Barry showed Krystal what to do. The silent supply teacher had watched in professional alarm as Barry positioned her hands on the wooden handle. She heaved on the handle, making a stupid face at Nikki and Leanne, and everyone laughed again. ‘Look at that,' Barry had said, beaming. ‘She's a natural.' Had Krystal really been a natural? Tessa did not know anything about rowing; she could not tell. ‘Straighten your back,' Barry told Krystal, ‘or you'll injure it. That's it. Pull †¦ pull †¦ look at that technique †¦ have you done this before?' Then Krystal really had straightened her back, and she really had done it properly. She stopped looking at Nikki and Leanne. She hit a rhythm. ‘Excellent,' said Barry. ‘Look at that †¦ excellent. That's how you do it! Atta girl. And again. And again. And – ‘ ‘It ‘urts!' shouted Krystal. ‘I know it does. That's how you end up with arms like Jennifer Aniston, doing that,' said Barry. There had been a little ripple of laughter, but this time they laughed with him. What was it that Barry had had? He was always so present, so natural, so entirely without self-consciousness. Teenagers, Tessa knew, were riven with the fear of ridicule. Those who were without it, and God knew there were few enough of them in the adult world, had natural authority among the young; they ought to be forced to teach. ‘And rest!' Barry said, and Krystal slumped, red in the face and rubbing her arms. ‘You'll have to give up the fags, Krystal,' said Barry, and he got a big laugh this time. ‘OK, who else wants a try?' When Krystal rejoined her watching classmates, she was no longer laughing. She watched each new rower jealously, her eyes darting constantly to Barry's bearded face to see what he thought of them. When Carmen Lewis messed it up completely, Barry said, ‘Show 'em, Krystal,' and her face lit up as she returned to the machine. But at the end of the exhibition, when Barry asked those who were interested in trying out for the team to raise their hands, Krystal kept her arms folded. Tessa watched her shake her head, sneering, as Nikki muttered to her. Barry carefully noted down the names of the interested girls, then looked up. ‘And you, Krystal Weedon,' he said, pointing at her. ‘You're coming too. Don't you shake your head at me. I'll be very annoyed if I don't see you. That's natural talent you've got there. I don't like seeing natural talent wasted. Krys – tal,' he said loudly, inscribing her name, ‘Wee – don.' Had Krystal thought about her natural talent as she showered at the end of the lesson? Had she carried the thought of her new aptitude around with her that day, like an unexpected Valentine? Tessa did not know; but to the amazement of all, except perhaps Barry, Krystal had turned up at try-outs.) Colin was nodding vigorously as Kay took him through relapse rates at Bellchapel. ‘Parminder should see this,' he said. ‘I'll make sure she gets a copy. Yes, yes, very useful indeed.' Feeling slightly sick, Tessa took a fourth biscuit.

Change On Food Production Environmental Sciences Essay

Agribusiness is extremely dependent on specific clime conditions. Moderate heating and appropriate C dioxide in the ambiance may assist workss to turn faster. But more terrible clime alteration such as planetary heating, inundations, drouth, and hail may cut down outputs. Harmonizing the study, from 1981 to 1990, the mean planetary temperature has increased 0.48 A °C than 100 old ages ago. If nursery gas emanations continue the heating will besides go on, with temperatures projected to increase by 1.4 A °C to 5.8 A °C between 1990 and 2100. ( Richardson et al. 2011 ) Increases in temperature and C dioxide ( CO2 ) can be good for some harvests in some topographic points. But to recognize these benefits, food degrees, dirt wet, H2O handiness, and other conditions must besides be met. Higher Carbon dioxide degrees can increase outputs. The outputs for some harvests, like wheat and soya beans, could increase by 30 % or more under a doubling of CO2 concentrations. The outputs for ot her harvests, such as maize, exhibit a much smaller response ( less than 10 % addition ) . However, some factors may antagonize these possible additions in output. For illustration, if temperature exceeds a harvest ‘s optimum degree or if sufficient H2O and foods are non available, output additions may be reduced or reversed. Crops grown in the United States are critical for the nutrient supply here and around the universe. U.S. exports supply more than 30 % of all wheat, maize, and rice on the planetary market. Changes in temperature, sum of C dioxide ( CO2 ) , and the frequence and strength of extreme conditions could hold important impacts on harvest outputs. Warmer temperatures may do many harvests grow more rapidly, but warmer temperatures could besides cut down outputs. Crops tend to turn faster in warmer conditions. However, for some harvests ( such as grains ) , faster growing reduces the sum of clip that seeds have to turn and maturate. This can cut down outputs ( i.e. , the sum of harvest produced from a given sum of land ) . ( EPA 2012 ) All the job demand to hold fast and effectual ways to be solve good. In the text will speak other state utilize what solution to diminish the harm and to protect the harvest. Global heating has a serious impact on agricultural production, harmonizing to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research ( CGIAR ) research study pointed out the exposure of agribusiness to climate warming public presentation of ingestion in the universe ‘s largest of several major assortments of grain, wheat, cereal, maize and rice are peculiarly sensitive to high temperature, decreased production will do nutrient deficits. ( CGIAR 2012 ) World Agro forestry Centre main ecologist Dr. Lewis aˆ? Will Carter study pointed out that the impact of clime alteration on agribusiness in developing states, for illustration, China ‘s agricultural production, the chief harvests are rice, wheat and maize, warming irrigated and rain-fed spring wheat production decreased by 17.7 % and 31.4 % , severally, the mean maize production will cut 3 % -7 % ; ( Chiras 2012 ) warming will speed up microbic decomposition of dirt organic affair, ensuing in the diminution of d irt birthrate, execution of the pesticide will increase and widen the harvest turning season, so that non merely increase agricultural costs, and affect the safety of the nutrient. ( Cline 2007 ) Solution: straw engineering is a stimulation of dirt birthrate, non merely put an terminal to the air pollution caused by straw combustion, and flesh outing output good to assist better its agricultural production. Warming chiefly due to the atmospheric concentrations of nursery gases ( CO2, CH4, and N2O ) concentration increased CO2 is the chief nursery gas, straw as a bearer stuff, energy and foods, is a valuable natural resource, straw is the straw is non straight feed straight or accretion composting installations into the dirt in a manner, the usage of straw engineering can better dirt belongingss, accelerated adobe ripening and better dirt birthrate by impacting dirt microbic biomass and microbic communities, and alterations in dirt physical and chemical belongingss, such as the many ways to increase the strength of dirt respiration, thereby increasing dirt C dioxide emanations, and can direct compensation the ingestion possible birthrate of the dirt, the biological rhythm acce lerated dirt stuff to advance the growing of good micro-organisms in the dirt better alimentary supply conditions to advance the addition of dirt organic affair and N, P, K and other content, better dirt wet keeping capacity, hiking harvest opposition. On the other manus, the mechanisation of straw including straw chopper compiled force per unit area to field a assortment of signifiers, the whole rod characteristic is convenient, fast, low-cost and big country of aˆâ€ ¹aˆâ€ ¹soil birthrate advantage ; it has been one of the more mature engineerings. ( Meng et al. 2008 ) After 1760s Industrial Revolution, release more C dioxide, ensuing in runing snow to do more inundations and influence nutrient production. For illustration Yangtze river is the highest frequence of inundations in China, one of the infestation of serious natural catastrophes, ( Wanfang Data 2012 ) so for work outing the job there are two ways, cut downing C footmark and concept dike in the Crop-growing countries, use the reservoir to command inundation. ( Luo 2002 ) So for cut downing C footmark, first is China authorities encourage mills to emission gas after Purification of C dioxide, second is authorities investing research new energy. If C footmark can cut down success, may non hold excessively many inundations and nutrient production will increase. For forestalling to cut down nutrient production from inundations, China authorities built Three Gorges Project from 1994 for protect the center and lower ranges of the Yangtze River, although Three Gorges Project has Flood control, p ower coevals and transportation, including inundation control, are considered the nucleus benefits of the Three Gorges Project. So make certain protect Crop-growing countries. ( Baidu 2012 ) When the clime alteration, it besides make the drouth Frequent happening, a batch of Crop-growing countries nutrient production sudden cut down, people can increase nutrient production for work outing the job, and there is a scientist did really good in this, he created a new sort of rice, Yuan Longping, Studied of intercrossed rice engineering from 1964, three lines back uping in 1973, bred the first intercrossed rice South High Yielding Combinations first-class No. 2 in 1974, developed in 1975, the success of intercrossed rice cultivation engineering for the big graduated table intercrossed rice laid the foundation. iZhuang 2008i?†° For increasing nutrient production we need to advance the cultivation of Yuan Longping â€Å" intercrossed rice † . Yuan Longping went to eight states recent old ages including the Philippines, the United States, Japan, France, Britain, Italy, Egypt, Australia, has been invited to give talks, Teach techniques, take part in academic conferenc es or proficient cooperation and research international academic activities 19 times. Hybrid rice go to the universe, the United States, Japan, the Philippines, Brazil, Argentina and more than 100 states have introduced intercrossed rice and we need do better. ( CCTV News 2012i?†° Internationally, the effects of clime alteration on agribusiness and nutrient production are likely to be similar to those seen in the United States and China. The effects of clime alteration besides necessitate to be considered along with other germinating factors that affect agricultural production, such as alterations in agriculture patterns and engineering. As the reader understanding from the text, some solutions and make ways are from experts, but non all of the famers have high instruction and high accomplishment to salvage the low nutrient production because of clime alteration. Many husbandmans because there was n't adequate agricultural cognition lead to cut down the figure of harvest production. Such as China, Farmers mean instruction by deficiency of fixed figure of twelvemonth 7 old ages. In about 490 million rural labour force, the primary school civilization grade and illiteracy semiliterate histories for 40.31 % , the junior in-between school civilization grade of 48. 01 % , high school civilization grade of 9.7 % , proficient secondary school civilization degree 2 % , above college civilization degree accounted for merely 0.52 % . ( Dong et al. 2006 ) If can non better the instruction quality of famers that will effects the agribusiness development. These phenomena get the attending of the authorities. A batch of local agribusiness agency has begun to action, they launch a preparation class Teach husbandmans better cultivation of nutrient, and besides reply famer ‘s inquiry about works the harvest. The agribusiness agency besides distribution of free engineering books to husbandmans about pollution-free veggies cultivation and the quality and safety of agribusiness merchandises. Through the preparation, better the husbandmans ‘ scientific discipline and engineering quality, developing they rely on scientific discipline and engineering to increase nutrient production. The authorities besides hope famers use their new cognition to make the new assortments can turn up in the different clime, and get the better of the terrible environment alteration to do nutrient production jobs to minimum. ( HNXNC 2012 )

With reference to at least one work written by Emile Durheim, asses Essay

With reference to at least one work written by Emile Durheim, asses his perspective on rituals. You may also discuss Durkheims view on the relationship between - Essay Example As Durkheim was a sociologist, it is unsurprising that he chose to see religion in terms of its effects upon the social order. â€Å"God is society, writ large†, as he suggests, or: He sees the people’s conceptions of ideas such as the religious and supernatural worlds as directly related to their social order. The purpose of rituals, the main focus of his work, is to divide the supernatural or sacred world from the mundane or profane one. In considering how Durkheim connected an inner religious life to an outer social life, it is necessary to explore his understanding of ritual, and the role of this in creating a social order. This essay will examine Durkheim’s theory of ritual, beginning with an explanation of the two forms of Social Phenomena which he described as acting within religion; symbol and ritual. This will then extend into a closer consideration of the three systems of ritual which Durkheim considered important: positive rites, negative rites, and rites of Expiation. After a brief examination of the differences between Marx, Weber and Durkheim, an example of ritual which helps to illustrate Durkheim’s point will be discussed, followed by a conclusion in which all the separate parts of the essay are drawn together to provide a complete explanation of his perspective on ritual, and modern applications of Durkheim’s theory is also considered. As described above, these two kinds of social phenomena directly relate to the process of ritual; other forms of social phenomena are not included here. While these two social phenomena are described separately, they are, of course, intimately connected, both in religious terms and also in the wider sphere of social relations. No matter how the terms relate to each other or the environment, Durkheim’s ideas of their importance helped to create his theory of ritual and social connection. Durkheim considered religion to consist of three elements; belief

Financial Information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial Information - Essay Example Financial accounting information provide the reporting of transactions that take place in the company, and managerial accounting use this information to develop required reports for the management of the company. Accurate and reliable financial accounting information can greatly influence the way businesses are carried out. Managers can use this information to strategically steer the business direction as per the forecasted financial data. Financial information provides the basis on which a company bases its future direction, goals and objectives. In addition, true and reliable financial accounting information is required by regulators so that stakeholders can obtain verifiable information to safeguard their investments in the company. National Center for Education Statistics. (2003). Financial Accounting for Local and State School Systems [Online]. Available from: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2004/h2r2/ch_2.asp [Accessed September 10,

Debt in the firms balance sheets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Debt in the firms balance sheets - Essay Example The paper presents ordinary shares that can be simply defined as shares which are not preferred shares and which do not offer fixed dividend amounts. As Nevin states, an ordinary share directly indicates equity ownership in a company and it entitles the owner to voting rights in various crucial affairs of the company in proportion to their percentage of shareholding. Ordinary shareholders are entitled to receive dividends on their investment only if anything left after all liabilities are paid. In contrast, debt is an obligation owed by one party (debtor) to another party (creditor). In case of debts, lenders have no rights on the firm’s operations and are unable to take part in determining major strategic issues. Organisations and businesses across the world use debt to finance their day to day operations and other particular projects. The levels of debt are fundamental macroeconomic data and it they largely vary from company to company. Generally, levels and flows of public debt are given central importance while levels and flows of private debt are not considered as a major cause of concern. Stocks and flows are two important tools of debt measuring. Stocks are levels of debt and they have units of currency whereas flows change in debt levels and have units of currency/time. All credit is debt and it is created by lenders who agree to lend money for the exchange of adequate future returns. Lundgren reflects that the amount of money lent is considered to be the asset of the creditor while it becomes the liability of the debtor. Debt is often issued along with a specific repayment plan; and the debt maturity time or period of repayment may range from a few days to 50 years or longer. According to the maturity period, debt is classified into three categories such as short term, medium term, and long term debt. In order to accurately calculate total debt of a business, it is necessary to take off-balance sheet debt into account as all debt items may not s how up on the balance sheet. As Shearn (2011, p. 116) states, these debt items may include lease obligations, warranties, purchase contracts, unfunded pension liabilities and any other contractual obligation. However, this type of debt is generally disclosed in the footnotes attached to the financial statements. White, Sondhi & Fried (2006, p. 323) indicates that the liability amount shown on the balance sheet may not always represent total cash flow required to meet the debt. Business houses only record the present value of the future cash flow. To illustrate, if a firm borrows $1,000 at an interest rate of 12%, total amount payable at the end of that period becomes $1,120. However, the balance sheet will only represent the present value of the future payment or $1,000. Factors affecting levels of debt As Crane, Knoop, and Pettigrew (1977) point out, different firms have varying strategies in maintaining their debt levels and this strategic differences cause debt level variances in firms’ balance sheets. A firm considers an array of factors before framing its debt level strategies. In the words of Long and Ravenscraft (1993), no firm would allow its debt level to grow beyond its repayment capacity as this condition may adversely affect the feasibility and market repute of the business. More precisely, a firm’s debt level heavily depends on its borrowing policies. â€Å"Tthe capacity to borrow depends on several factors such as profitability, stability, relative size, asset competition, and the industry position of a business† (Shearn, 2011, p.115). Hart (1995, p. 142) argues that profitability plays a pivotal role in determining the debt level of a business house. General trends indicate that level of debt will be in an

Internal Policies and Procedures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Internal Policies and Procedures - Essay Example The ERP platform is designed and implemented to control majority of the business process in the company. The users in the geographically separated locations like 2 factories and 4 sales offices are connected using remote connectivity. This also enables the users to interact with the system in a secure environment to manage workflows. The company is using connectivity through leased lines with direct point-to-point (P2P) connectivity for the factory locations. However, as the sales offices are dispersed across 4 diverse locations, the company is using Internet based connectivity using Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to establish connectivity from these remote locations to the main server housed in the corporate office. As mentioned above, the network connectivity plays an important role in the successful usage of ERP package. In order to have an uninterrupted connectivity, it is important to build a secured network as well as ensuring that it is maintained well. (Kadam Avinash, 2001) Review of current networking setup. The current networking setup was build when the ERP package was implemented. The networking firewall configured at the same time. The Anti virus software was installed at the same time as well. Since, then (3 years back), no effort was spent to update the firewall configuration or anti virus software. On the customer privacy perspective, no encryption of customer data is being done which endangering it to be compromised easily. As the sales locations are using VPN, non encrypted data transfer becomes a sitting duck by the hackers who would want to steal the customer data for corrupt intentions. In certain areas, it was observed that some users are using the vendor provided default passwords and there is no password policy to access the network. The Information Technology (IT) is a dynamic field. Numerous new virus, spywares, malwares or web crawlers are being written by hackers all over the world with intentions to bring down the Information systems in any organization. Hence, a constant up-gradation of the IT systems is necessary so that any attack on the IT system with a potential to bring the business to a halt or compromise of Customer data can be pro-actively prevented. During unplanned/planned system shutdowns or network outage, the data is transferred by emailing the data packets to update inventory and complete workflows exposing the organization's data to be stolen and misused. (Kutzke Todd, 2009) A policy needs to be developed to ensure the constant up-gradation and testing of networking on regular basis so that the system is not susceptible to any possible attacks as well as an access control mechanism needs to be developed for accessing Customer Data by internal company employees. Suggestions for enhancing the current networking setup. Subsequent discussion with the professionals in the IT department has resulted in following

Structure and Agency in Media and Culture Essay

Structure and Agency in Media and Culture - Essay Example The paper tells that a debate, ongoing for decades is persistent in determining the relationship between structure and agency. There is a constant struggle to bridge the structure-agency relationship void and many approaches and theories have been presented in this regard. This paper suggests that Critical Realism Theory offers a solution by presenting a practical way to encounter the problem of structure- agency relations and contexts. Whether considering the voluntary or planned actions of subjects, or micro/macro analysis of a society or individual, the debate on structure and agency relationship keeps recurring. This critical realist approach contends that structure and agency relationship must be studied in order to better understand and explain society or social actions. This ought to be accomplished to achieve a stable state of society and also to accommodate positive social change encompassing individual innovation. The Critical Theory is born with the assumption that social world needs improvement and reforms, as it is deeply flawed. This theory also refutes prediction and explanation to control the social world. The sole aim of this theory is to study the social world in order to change it for the better. It criticizes and seeks to change the imposing social order. Critical theory is political in nature as challenges and confronts the way people are ruled. It is also critical of the organizations that exercise unleashed power to obtain their goals. The theory believes that the social world is the result of interaction between structure and agency.... In order to get close to the solutions of agency-structure problem, we ought to consider the evolutionary cycles of behavior for each ontological position (Hay). The intertwined relationship between agency and structure presents many solutions in a coherent and systematic manner. Taking a different discourse to the assumption that agency and structure clearly differentiated domains and each action requires a pre-existing structure (Archer, 198), whereas the critical realist theory asserts that condition and medium of agency conduct are necessary pre-requisites for the constitution of structures. Their existence is relationally dialectical and neither can exist in isolation from the other (Hay). We are not in substantial control of the social contexts in which we live in, however it definitely requires the exercise of agency to become someone and be labeled as such (Agency Textbook, 2). The agent’s particular decisions and acts are influenced by contexts in which the decision i s made. Engaging in certain acts is a result of contextual factors and our choices are a by- product of the uncontrollable contexts as we learn to want the things in relation to the contextual surroundings. Rather than an inborn source, our dreams, aspirations, and agency are intertwined with the contextual sources (Agency Textbook, 2). The dynamics of power determine the enabling and constraint of agency as one has to demonstrate a certain amount of power to exercise agency. Power is continually negotiated and shifts frequently with a multiple, decentralized, and diffused structure (Agency Textbook, 3). The complex structure of power influences agency significantly because how power is exercised on us and how we demonstrate power,

Free topic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Free topic - Research Paper Example The cultural as well as religious identity related to Hinduism is considered as quite broad. In Hindu mythology, there are more than 330 million role models that are most likely to validate the person’s identity who have been framed in pace with the developing mankind since ancient times (Doyle, â€Å"Hindu Mythology†). Two short stories have been considered in the discussion henceforth, i.e. the Story of Yayati and the Incarnation of Vishnu as a Fish with the sole intention to obtain a better knowledge regarding the linkage of cultural values, philosophies and beliefs perceived by Indians with Hindu mythology. Hence, the chief objective of the discussion will be to obtain a better in-sight to the rudiments of Hindu mythology. According to the Satapatha Brahmana, a Hindu sacred text determining account of Vedic rituals, the first incarnation of Lord Vishnu on earth is known as Matsya Avatar. The story narrates that when Hari, who was considered to be the preserver of the universe, discovered the deed of the prince of the Danavas, became bound to take the shape of the fish which was known as Saphari or Matsya (Wilkins 134-141). According to the myth, Brahma was sleeping one day when Hayagriva, a horse-headed demon, took away the holy Vedas that helped God in creating life. The demon ran away and concealed inside the deep oceans which obstructed Brahma from nurturing the establishment of the universe. Owing to the fact that He was incapable of doing so, Brahma called Vishnu for assistance. It was during that time when Vishnu took the form of fish in order to get the Vedas back from the demon. Consequently, Vishnu took the avatar of Matsya, a one-horned fish, and swam into the hands of Satyavrata, who has also been the king of ancient Dravida-desa and renowned as Manu. Lord Vishnu, in his Matsya avatar then asked Manu for shelter from the predators in the ocean. In order to save the life of the fish, Manu took it

Segmentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Segmentation - Essay Example The alternate subgroup requires packaging services for their shipping items. The items are usually large or fragile, and they require expert packaging services to clear them from any liability. Shipping customers are mostly those buying or selling items through the internet. Those who require packaging, additionally, most likely are too busy to spare some time and would rather pay for the packaging service. The Mail Box customer segment involves those customers who require Private Mail Boxes. This need for Private Mail Boxes can be brought about by different reasons. They include legality issues, convenience of location, hours of operation, amongst others. Mail Box Customers also prioritize convenience over most other things. Mail Box shipping station services use real street addresses and deliver and pick up mails right at the customer’s doorstep as opposed to the Post Office. Additionally, those who move around a lot are offered a permanent mail address at the shipping stations to avoid the loss of their mails. This customer segment involves customers who require a fax transmittal service, for receiving or sending a fax but do not own or are unable to access a fax machine to meet their service requirement. This segment maintains a stable demand for fax transmittal services even with the advent and development of the email

My Journey through Essay Example for Free

My Journey through Essay Interviewing my son’s preschool teacher, Ms. Contreras, was a wonderful experience. I learned so much about the field and I was able to connect understand her as not only an educator but as a person; as the type of person who does well in this career field. Ms. Contreras is a California state preschool teacher and has been for 20 years. She holds an AA and a BS in Early Childhood Development and loves her job very much, and has decided to stay at the preschool level until she retires. Like any educator, she believes that it is important for parents to be involved with their children’s education. She encourages parents to come and volunteer whenever they are able, and has monthly parent meeting so that the parents are up to date with what is going on in the class room. To Ms. Contreras, the most important thing about being an early childhood educator is that you are an advocate; and advocate for children and their education. That you have and need to understand that children are all different and unique and they all deserve to be in a preschool program no matter what their income or background. Her favorite thing about being a teacher is the innocence of the children at this age; she loves how pure the minds are of her students are. She wishes she can change the fact that preschool is only three hours long, but with state funding so low, that is all she is able to do, and less assessing. She feels that is keeps her from understanding her students and attending to what they need help in. Family is very important to Ms. Contreras so when she had her children, she knew that she needed a career that will work around her children, thus leading her to pick the field in education. She loved the idea of being a break as her children were on break, home when their home at school when they’re at school is how she put it. While conducting the interview, I sensed a vibe that she truly loves what she does and care very much about her students. And as one of the parent volunteers in her class, I can see it when a student randomly give her hugs, or in their eyes as they walk in the door on a Monday morning from what seems like a long weekend without her. One thing that I learned about the professional field of early childhood education from this interview is that you really have to love and understand children to be in the profession. Patience is a big part of this job when you have 24 to 30 preschool all needing your undivided attention. I learned that you need to understand your individual students in order to help them succeed and do your job to the best you can. Having a job in this profession may be hard at times, especially when you have so many students but at the end of the day, if it is truly made for you, the job can be very rewarding. Technology is a big trend now, in not only in the early childhood education field, but in education period. There are many pros and cons about applying technology to the early childhood classroom. Technology today, consists of TV, computers, video games, and now smart phones and wireless tablets. â€Å"Technology’s long-term history includes everything from primitive hewn-rock weapons to wood pencils to drone aircraft and smart phones.† (Estes, 2012) It is no secret that almost every house now has a computer and probably access to the internet, so many young children might be exposed to one or more of these even before preschool starts. The question is whether impacts the education of young children, and I believe that it does. Technology impacts the education of young children in many ways and I believe that technology should be applied to the early childhood classroom. In the preschool and kindergarten ages, technology needs to be developmentally appropriate. Once these technological activities are developmentally appropriate â€Å" technology-supported activities can be justified by a constructivist philosophy because engagement, active learning, creativity, and social interaction are all part of what goes on in the classroom† (Estes, 2012) Activities such as using the computer and its accessories such as the keyboard and mouse can improve fine motor skills by pushing keys and moving the mouse around. â€Å"These fine-motor movements also hone eye-hand coordination, and that’ll pay off for years to come as your little one learns to catch a ball, use scissors, or put together a tricky puzzle.† (Folds, 1999) This type of technology will be used in the future of each child and will be beneficial to the early childhood classroom, not only for the future but for their development. There are many concerns about the effects of technology for the little ones and to be honest I at one point I thought the same. In our text, many parents agree that it is insane to believe that a tablet app or an iPhone app can better teach a child to read or teach them math. (Estes, 2012) An when it come to video games, many believe that it isolates and can be one of the causes of another trend, childhood obesity. In my personal opinion, technology has come a long way and there will always be an opposing side. Video games, although may never be used in the classroom, do have some benefits to young children. Some video games can teach kids strategy and with video game consoles such as the new Nintendo Wii, force you to get up and move your body in order to play the game. By getting up and moving your body you are exercising. For different grade levels I think different teaching approaches are more appropriate. For the younger grades such as preschool and kindergarten I think the creative curriculum approach is more appropriate. This is the grade that I wish to teach. Having several interest areas or stations throughout the classroom will stimulate the minds of the students into wanting to learn, through play. This is the set up at my son’s preschool and it does seem to work very well with this age group. His classroom is small but he has a block section, library, home living area, an area for puzzle solving, computer play, and tables where the students can make art and a table to play with clay and play dough and eat lunch and snacks. Children age four or younger lack the capacity to sit still for long periods of time so having many options for them to self learn is always great. Children at this age learn through play and I think that the creative curriculum approach is perfect for this age group. I do believe that preschool aged students will benefit from direct instruction, but a limited amount. Maybe a little lecture time before class to discuss small topics such as counting to ten, or practicing letters but all through song, or to lay out the schedule for the day. Songs tend to catch the attention on the younger kids, plus song is easier for kids to remember, especially those who learn more through music. There are many different beliefs about how to properly teach a young child. These beliefs go way back to before we were even a country. In my opinion, Children need hands-on experiences that are linked to more than one sense to learn. They need to feel, do, see, (Piaget’s sensorimotor stage) etc. They should be taught concepts in more than one way (multiple intelligences), and it should be fun. Children should not be made to participate in direct instruction lessons. They should have a choice on whether or not they want to participate and be rewarded for positive behavior. Learning should be play based and overall fun. Early childhood education starts before the young child enters the classroom, it starts from the time the child is born, and many believe that it starts even in the womb. It is then that a young child begins to learn and see the world. Jean Piaget believes and I agree that cognitive development occurs in stages. The first stage is known as the sensorimotor stage and is a blend between a child’s motor skills and improvements to the understanding of their senses. (Estes, 2012) This stage takes place from birth to about age two. The second stage of Piaget’s cognitive development is the preoperational stage. During this stage, usually 18 months to two years, children begin to use symbolic gestures or movements to link to words. (Estes, 2012) In the classroom, I will encourage my students to use their five senses and motor skills to learn about the world around them. In the early childhood classroom, play takes up a big part of the day. According to many early childhood philosophers and educators, children learn through play. Not only is play beneficial to the classroom but to the child’s overall health. Erick Erikson believed that play helped individuals cope with a traumatic or emotional past. In my classroom, there will be centers and they will all be play based. Different type of playing will take place at each center, by doing this I hope to encourage children to play freely and be themselves but also helping them as individuals. Because each child is different, I think that concepts should be taught in many different ways. According to Howard Gardiner, there are seven different intelligences; linguistic, logical-mathematic, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. One child’s strength will be in logical-mathematical, for example, and another child’s strength in musical. As an early childhood educator I will teach concepts in many different ways to ensure my students are grasping the information provided and having fun with it. Lastly, I think that children need to be rewarded and praised often. I feel like it encourages them to continue to do well. American psychologist, B.F. Skinner, called this operant conditioning. The idea behind this theory is basically that if one changes their behavior they are indeed learning. (Estes, 2012)The theory is simple, if you are doing something good, you will be rewarded. For example, in my classroom I will do this by rewarding with stickers or treats after lunch time. I see myself in the near future substituting at my son’s school district. Although I cannot teach yet I will be able to sub once I finish a couple more core classes. After I do obtain my degree in Early Childhood Education, I plan on becoming a preschool teacher. I have wanted a job working with kids for as long as I can remember and being a mom I feel like being a teacher will work great around my family life, as I am able to be available to my son as much as possible. I currently live in California, where school funding is low and has been low for a while especially for education. Because of this I think that I will need to start off my career working in or for another preschool program for better financial stability. It has been a dream for me to also become a special education teacher, so I am hoping to go back to school once I have been a preschool teacher for a couple of years and start my journey toward that field. I hear that early childhood special education is a wonderful and rewarding field as well. I think at the end of the day, I want to do something that I love and something that I am confident in. Something that I will be happy to wake up to and look forward to every day and working with kids is just that. References Estes, L. K. (2012). Pathways to teaching young children: An introduction to early childhood education. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Folds, D. V. (1999, Feb 22). Technology for Toddlers. PR Newswire , 1.

The Merger Emotions Syndrome

The Merger Emotions Syndrome The merger syndrome is a phenomenon that illustrates employees reactions following the announcement of the MA deal. Merger syndrome is a word often useful to how employees respond to a merger (MARKS and Mirvis 1992, P70) that reflects the humor of the workforce. Merger syndrome is an ordinary response, and expected human reaction to a major corporate change. Most studies examining the human side of corporate mergers and acquisitions prove that disturbance and negative consequences are experienced by employees. Employees of the acquired company are more affected by the big changes that trigger negative effects and consequences, it not surprising that organization members going through a merger or an acquisition are shaken and respond with shock and strong emotional reactions (Appelbaum et al ..2000b; Dickmann, 2000; Marks and Mirvis, 1986). The literature describes a different spectrum of emotions in MA, employees go through a variety of emotional phases. The merger syndrome is characterized by a change of identity, higher centralization of decision making, less communication with the employee, high levels of stress, crisis management mode, a loss of identity, motivation and commitment, decreased productivity, feelings of insecurity and anxiety, mistrust. This especially occues if the individual is not able to view the upcoming changes as positive (Appelbaum et al, 200b;  Bruckman and peters,1987;Dickmann,2000;Marks,1999;Marks and Mirvis,1986;schlieper-Damrich,2000). These emotions bubbling over into family life can lead to frustration ,depression (Appelbaum et al ..2000b; Dickmann, 2000). The consequences of this emotional turmoil are decreased motivation, lower job satisfaction and reduced commitment toward the company. Cooperation become difficult and good team work almost impossibleand The best elements began to defect to other recruiting organizations . (Cartwright and Cooper,2000) Point out that With the acquisition by another company often a loss of idenity occurs because employee loses their work environment of rules, tasks and structures. in the same way, (Appelbaumet al..)state that Employees identification with their company and their commitment are therefore likely to change after such a major intervention in organizational life (Appelbaumet al..) This phenomenon of merger syndrome is most likely due to the fact that in the pre merger stage managers are expected to maintain silence on the upcoming decision, and therefore they are rather cautious not to reveal too much information prior to complete implementation (Marks, 1999). Managers tend to isolate themselves from employee in such situations because they do not know what to tell their staff or how to tell them (Gutknecht and keys ,1993;Marks,1999).and do not know how to handle employees emotions .for that reason, when managers correspond less with their employees during MAs ,though leads to doubts and mistrust. We can sum up that during the merger syndrome, employee are preoccupied with the impact of the amalgamation on themselves and their work .they expressed their resistance to the like hood of change if this phenomenon is left unmanaged it may result a cultural clash inside the new firm. The Merger-Emotions Syndrome: Mergers and acquisitions can be fear-provoking for employees and generate anxiety and stress. Hunsaker and Coombs (1988, 58) noticed particular expressed of emotional reactions experienced by employees during a merger or acquisition they have named this phenomenon the merger emotions syndrome. The Merger Emotions Syndrome: Hunsaker and Coombs (1988) have presented a nine-stage chronological model of employees emotional reactions in the course of a merger or acquisition, which illustrate the merger syndrome: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Denial. At first employees react to the announced merger with denial an that nothing will happen or that it will not change their work environment. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Fear. When the merger becomes a reality employees begin to fear the unknown and Workers become preoccupied with job loss which lead to a decline in productivity. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Anger. Once employees feel that they have no control over the situation and that they cannot prevent Merger, they start to express anger towards those who are responsible. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Sadness. Employees start to mourn the loss of corporate identity; they focus on the differences in the way the two companies operate and adopt a we versus them syndrome. They may feel nostalgia about the good old days of loyalty they provided to the company with many years of quality service. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Acceptance. After an adequate grief period has elapsed, employees begin to recognize that resisting the situation would be worthless, and they start to accept reality and become optimistic. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Relief. Employees begin to realize that the situation is not unfavorable as they predicted and feel more settled in the new organization and become more comfortable to interact with employees from the other company. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Interest. As people become more secure in their new positions, they begin to look for the benefits of the new organization. They observe the situation as a challenge and seek to show their abilities and value in the organization. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Liking. Employees observe new opportunities and begin to like their job. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Enjoyment. Employees express commitment to the organization and feel more relaxed and secure. Resistance is a perfectly legitimate response of a worker. Leigh (1988) Emotional reactions of employees: Resistance: the expected response to change People tend to resist change especially in the workplace .they may not understand what the changes entail,they may disagree with the reasons for making the changes,they may not appreciate the benefits,they may be afraid of losing something they value,they may be concerned that they wont have the skills and ability to handle the changesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.many people also tend to resist authority,for various reasons .resistance can do serious damage to morale ,dividing employees and causing frustration ,resnetment ,and distrust .Anne bruce(2002). Individuals differ generally in their openness and eagerness for change, some people thrive in the new environment while other are not, They prefer more stability and continuity. Regardless of people mind-set towards change, people normally do find that change produces anxiety. Employees involved in mergers are facing multitude of potential changes, these changes modify the person-environment relationship and cause several outcome that employees and managers must adapt. There are a numerous reasons why the reactions from employees are often seen as negative when facing a merger or an acquisition. The general reason behind the employees resistance is the insufficient information about the changes. The Employees expressed their feeling of fear and anxiety due to the uncertainties of change. Kyle (1993) claim that resistance is dependent upon two related factors ,the first one ,the degree of control an individual has over change and their ability to start, modify and stop the change, secondly ,the degree of impact of the change on individuals . The resistance is greater within the acquired organization since this often is the culture that has to throw away its traditions and routines. The resistance can be expressed in two kinds of reactions: In a Explicit way (disagreement,strike,)and Implicit way(loss of loyalty, lowering of morale ,absence, avoidance ,low tolerance) Mergers and acquisitions are nerve-racking events for employees of the merging firms. A merger or acquisition can sufficiently transform the structures, cultures, and employment prospects of one or both of the firms such that they cause organizational members to feel stressed, angry, disoriented, frustrated, confused, and even frightened (Buono, Nurick 1992: 19). Schweiger, Lee (1993) found in a study that employees in the acquired firm experience greater job insecurity than employees in the acquiring firm. Similarly, Lohrum (1997:a) states that the employees from the acquired firm often experience a higher uncertainty and resistance. Lohrum (1997:a) claim that resistance exists among all employees and appear due to lack of control, anger or frustration when decisions are being made without their involvement. Buono, Bowditch (1989: 108) depicted resistance As a result of the uncertainty, ambiguity, tension, and anxiety that organizational combinations can cause, they are frequently associated with decreased organizational satisfaction and commitment, increased turnover and absenteeism, power struggles among those managers who stay, and poorer job-related attitudes and performance for a significant proportion of the new firms work force. Larsson (1990) explains that the resistance to change can be seen in a collective aspect, as well as in an individual aspect, especially among the acquired employees. Cultural clashes are seen as a collective resistance and career uncertainties are connected to the individual resistance. Change itself is not the cause of resistance. Resistance is caused by how people perceive change. Managing Resistance to Change all change is a loss experience (Levinson, 1976). One of the most complex problems that face an organization today is resistance to change. Conducting change through an organization is one of the most critical and challenging responsibilities. Once the marriage is celebrated, issues come into sight especially the one concerning the employees who are experiencing the major change that the new entity is passing through. The employee and staff are experiencing a new life style they are losing the old way of doing thing and have to adapt to a new system, new culture, and new managers. The managers and leader of the company must be prepared to cope with employee feeling and behavior. Simply telling employees about the changes will never fully prepare them for the actual change. Managers need to identify why people resist change and how to counter their resistance. Bridges( 1991) and Levinson(1976) claim that Change is best handled when the parties involved know why the change is being implemented. The most fashionable solution to deal with resistance to change is to get people concerned to contribute in making change and encouraging them to think in diverse ways In order to effectively carry out the change plan, it is extremely important for the organizations management to recognize and handle resistance effectively. Beckhard and Pritchard (1992) explain how the management of a changing process with regard to the implementation of changes is vital for achieving new goals and strategies. The analyzing and planning of several areas is necessary to get the commitment to successfully perform an organizational change. Larsson (1990) considers three areas of action to be able to reduce the collective and Individual resistance to change: -Socialization is a mechanism that works for both improving the coordination of interaction and reducing collective employee resistance, this by enhancing the acculturation and creating common orientations. -Mutual considerations reduce the eventual conflicts that may arise by focusing on commonalties with an interest in the acquired firm, maintaining the employees integrity. This will avoid the dominance of one side and facilitate the exploration of both firms competence. -Human resource systems avoid individual resistance through job design, reward systems, personnel policies and career planning. To facilitate the integration and uncertainties among employees, Levinson (1970) emphasizes that the acquiring firm should tell the truth about all eventual changes that will occur due to the MA. Further, Beckhard Pritchard (1992) state that what is important is to manage resistance to change by changing negative energy into positive energy. The introduction of a change program to employees could facilitate the integration process. The program can help the employees to understand the need of the organization and how change affects the organization and the employees. Pritchett (1994) suggests avoiding encountered resistance by providing employees with a clear direction, complete with short and long term goals. The accomplishment of these goals helps employees to visualize that they are getting somewhere and will relieve them to get excited about the change. During change it is essential to identify, as precisely as possible, what is ending and who is losing what (Bridges, 1991). Employee reaction to change: Mirvis, Cartwright and cooper (1996) discuss four stages that employee go through in connection with mergers and acquisition: Stage 1: Disbelief and denial: typically, the individuals first reaction is extreme shock, which may result in denial from employee that the merger will take place despite circulating rumors. Even when the deal is concluded, individuals might still try to convince themselves that nothing will change. Stage2:anger through rage and resentment: when the real situation become more clear after realizing that the change will take place, individuals feeling might be replaced by anger or resentment towards old management and new merger entity. Stage 3: emotional bargaining: in this stage, uncertainty and fear increase about individual job future. Individuals become angry for not anticipating the event and feel nostalgic and resent commitment and loyalty invested in the past) which may lead to depression. Stage 4: acceptance: lastly, the workforce become aware that the past is gone, and that they must admit the new situation. In this stage, the employee still feel letting down by the old organization and can no longer be satisfied with the new system. Factors causing resistance to change : According to maubin et al.(2001) managers need to identify resistance in its various forms and learn to identify the underlying reasons for resistance surrounding the change. There are several factors causing resistance to change,and some of the most common reasons are stated below: Fear of unknown: mabin et al.(2001)explain that Such fear is due to uncertainty about the nature of change,feeling that one does not kown what is going on and what the futur holds Bovey and hede(2001)claim that resistance is an expected part of a change process,since change involves a move from the known to the unknown . Loss of control: mabin et al.(2001)explain the loss of control as perceiving that the change is being done to the person ,resulting in concerns that the person have no influence on the events taking place. moran and brightman(2001) clarifly that if change threatens a persons sense of being in control ,it will be perceived as a threat to survival. Loss of face: mabin et al.(2001):Feeling of embarassment as a result of change and discerning it in such a way that the things that one has done in the past were wrong Loss of competency: Mabin et al.(2001)claim that people fear that the existing skills and competencies will no longer of any use after the change has occurred. The possibility of losing their current jobs and the financial crisis that comes with that is of great concern. Cartwright and cooper(1996) further state that MA involve some employee turnover and competeny loss,partially due to the duplicity of staff members.the uncertainty of change will also encourage employees to seek employment elsewhere ,in order to regain the power of control,or because they doubt their ability to fit into the new organization. Need for security: Mabin et al.(2001)state that employees worry about their potential role and position be after the change has taken place. Appelbaumet al.(2000a) explain that people need to be treated with respect,to be identified with the new organization,to be accepte as members of the new team and to keep their status and prestige in the new organization. Poor timing: Mabin et al.(2001)state that the timing of the change might be poor,in the sense that people might feel surprised at a stage of changewhere employee feel already overworked. Hoag,ritschard,and cooper(2002)further state that some people might wish to secure the present situation before embarking on any new changes activity. Force of habit: According to Mabin et al.(2001)employee might feel comfort in the existing routines and habits and not liking to change the actual ways of doing things. Appelbaum et al.(2000a)clarify that they may have had many successes with the existing company ,and now they have to accept different ways of doing things and most of the time without being consulted. Marks(1997)continues by stating that employees will be exposed to multiple transitions. Reengineering, downsizing, leadership changes, shifts in strategy and other transitions typically overlap one another. Cartwright and cooper (1996) further discuss that employee will be concerned with issues such as a potential relocation or change of workload. Lack of support: Mabin et al.(2001)state that the lack of important support from direct supervisors and the organization ,or not having the correct resources to implement the change. Leaders need to learn how to support rather than to control and provide employees with the tools needed in order to work together and perform the changes . Nguyen and Kleimer (2003) claim that delays in communication can severely deteriorate the situation, and make employees feel apprehensive and even hostile toward the merger. Lack of confidence: Mabin et al.(2001) state that resistance might be a consequence of employees lack of confidence that the change outcome can be better than the situation before .Moran and Brightman (2001) claim that in any change situation ,people may fear that the loss will be greater than the gain ,which can take away any positive outcome that the Change might yield. Nguyen and Kleimer(2003) further argue that employee loyalty and perceptions of the organizations trustworthiness decreases in connection with the organizational changes. Marks(1997) claims that there is a natural tendency for people to exaggerate the differences as opposed to the similarities between the two companies. People tend to ascribe the differences to competing values and philosophies, and view their own company as superior and the other as backward, bureaucratic . Lingering resentment: Bovey and Hede(2001)point out that individuals differ in their ability and willingness towards change based on how the they perceive it. Mabin et al.(2001)argue that some employees become angry due to a lack of respect for the people involved or over the way one been treated during past change efforts. The lack of communication: A Communication entails the use of verbal and nonverbal signs and symbols to create understanding (Vecchio and Appelbaum, 1995). Acquisitions are synonymous with change, a destabilizing event affecting many people and often have a negative outcome on employee behavior resulting in absenteeism, low morale and job satisfaction. The announcement of an MA transaction generates uncertainty and ambiguity with frequent rumors that change the scene and a large proportion of merger failure is credited to employee problems. The communication during MA-transactions aims to decrease information deficits of employees, being informed should lower feelings of uncertainty of employees (Schweiger, DeNisi 1991). Through mergers and acquisitions, employees are seldom kept in distance from the MA transaction. Once a merger is announced ,the stress levels of employees begin to climb(schweiger and DeNisi,1991)and the lack of communication from top management lead to rumors and fake stories. Feldman (1991:p. 146,) stress that ambiguity begins in an organization when there is no clear interpretation of a phenomenon or set of events. And the main cause of ambiguity in organization is the insufficient information while uncertainty is the result of lacking information about circumstances. Once the information has not been transmitted to employee, they began to search for their own answers and this may show the way to rumors which can increase anxiety and result in a reduction in productivity and sabotage. This can affect the working environment in the firms and the employees will likely experience shock, disbelief and grief . . . followed by resentment, anger or depression (Sinetar1981). Delays in communication can result in employees feeling apprehensive and even hostile toward the merger or acquisition, making any subsequent communication process strained and difficult (Kelly, 1989). When organizational transitions are not well managed, the lack of top-down communication starts the rumor employees are left feeling anxious, threatened, and preoccupied with their own safety, their incomes, and their careers. Distrust is inevitable and becomes widespread. The employees have a need of knowing what the new structure of the firm will look like and get answers to their uncertainties as early as possible to prevent frustration and anxiety. Bastien (1987) established that during periods with communication shortage the individuals uncertainty peaked among the workforce. He further found that the members of the new organization changed their attitudes during those periods; their motivation decreased, and they expressed an increased intention to resign from the organization. Another common issue in MA process is the accessibility to information, at the stage of a merger assessment the management team hardly has all details in place that employees request. Since the actual details of the merger or acquisition have to be worked out over a period of several months or even years after the combination, management rarely has accurate answers to employee questions (Buono, Bowditch 1989: 16). Buono, Bowditch (1989) recommend that the top management of a merged firm should communicate as soon as possible with employees. Accurate and honest responses to questions about these issues provide organizational members with a realistic assessment of what the merger or acquisition will mean for them personally and for the new organization (Buono, Bowditch 1989: 204). Buono, Bowditch (1989) indicate that Ambiguity in organizations is generally conceptualized in terms of the adequacy of information available to organizational members (Buono, Bowditch 1989: 102). The employees have to be informed frequently. Even if there is not anything to know, they have to be informed that nothing new has happened. (Stoppel, 2006) Finally, The Management ought to share as much information as it can with employees before, during, and after the acquisition. Communication with employees can do more than just providing information It can help to diminish and drive out the speculative rumors which cause negative emotions and behavior. The importance of communication: Mergers and acquisition are an important part of the management setting and Communication plays a crucial role in the success of MA and is a decisive tool to use in order to change attitudes and behavior. Being truthful, open and forthright in this communication process is particularly important (Daniel, 1999; DeVoge and Spreier, 1999; DeVoge and Shiraki, 2000). Trzicky (2000: 55) point out that communication is the most important measure to reduce uncertainty and hostility of employees in mergers and acquisitions. Similarly, Schweiger and DeNisi (1991) established that communication is the only way to reduce anxiety among employees, and that the communication should start as early as possible in the process. In the field of research, they come across that employees who receive more communication at the stage of MA, they demonstrated more positive behaviors and selected positive coping strategies after MA-transactions. Salecker, Mà ¼ller-Stewens (1991) and Ivancevich, Schweiger, Power (1987b) state that one of the effects of communication in the acquisition process is the avoidance of negative reactions of employees which can limit the dysfunctional outcomes of MA-transactions. Ford and Ford (1995) relate the success of a change in an organization to the way that managers have handled the communication. Consistency in communication when the organization is going through changes will reduce the employees resistance. The management team should use communication efficiently so that rumors do not become the main source of information . as Ashkenas ,de monaco,and francis(1998)recommend:communicate,communicate,and then communicate some moreà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.keeping the communication process going -an making it reach broadly and deeply throughout the organization-requires more than just sharing information bulletins However, true communication is complex to realize since the communication process faces numerous obstacles. All forms of communication do not have the same effect. Communication and information flow can take a variety of forms: memos, e-mail, magazines,newsletters, videos, internet and face-to-face contact. In order to manage an opposition, a communication plan should be done in order to pass down information to all levels in the organization; further to have a feedback system that investigates employee attitudes is important. The integration process should be planned as thoroughly as possible to make sure that the questions from employees can be answered. During a merger or acquisition, employees will have an incredible longing for more information. Uncertainty will darken the workplace, and employee questions will seem never ending. The employees have a need of knowing what the new structure of the firm will look like and get answers to their uncertainties as early as possible to prevent frustration and anxiety. To put together a transition team with the job to communicate to the organization, treat people fairly and with respect, the communication must be visible to the employees and clarify the employees role in the firm and communicate the message clearly to the employees (Daniel Metcalf,2001).

Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger :: Ragged Dick Horatio Alger

Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger      Ragged Dick is a novel written in the 1800’s by Horatio Alger.   It is a story about a young boy named Richard Hunter, also known as Ragged Dick, as he progresses though his childhood.   Ragged Dick is a typical Rags to Riches story where Dick struggles through the hardships of city life, trying to achieve the â€Å"American Dream†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As a child, Dick is nothing more than a poor city boy who is trying to earn money on the streets of New York City.   He spends his time shining shoes for working men, making only about ten cents a pair.   Although he works and struggles to remain an honest, hardworking boy, he also gets caught up with smoking cigarettes and gambling.   Through Dick’s shoe-shining business, he tends to meet lots of people.   Each and every day is another learning experience for Dick.   There are many times when Dick’s integrity and honesty are tested, yet being a boy of good trust, he never cheats anyone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As time goes on, Dick eventually meets a young boy named Frank, who is of a wealthy family, but is not at all familiar with New York City.   Dick makes a very intelligent proposal;   he offers to show Frank all around the city, and take him to all the famous places.   Young Frank accepts the proposal, and in exchange, his uncle buys Dick a new suit, and helps him clean himself up.   This was the real turning point in Richard Hunter’s life because Frank’s family was able to help young Dick.   They did this by providing shelter and more importantly, friendship for him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From this point forward, Richard Hunter was no longer on the streets, and was determined to never look back.   He was able to get a job, earn more money, and eventually succeed in achieving his dreams.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While reading this book, I really was able to put myself in the story, and live Dick’s life with him.   This typical story of â€Å"Rags to Riches†, is a general theme for many people’ lives.   Today, as well as back in the 1800’s when the story was written, many everybody’s dream is to achieve success.   This formally became known as â€Å"The American Dream†.   Although this may seem strange for everyone to have the same idea, it really isn’t when you look at it with an open perspective.

Global Warming Essay -- Environmental Global Climate Change

What happens when too much carbon dioxide gets omitted into the Earth’s atmosphere? The condition known as Global Warming occurs. Global Warming is the rising of the Earth’s surface temperature due to chemicals in the atmosphere. Global Warming has many threats on the climate and even the health of the people on this planet. Some of these threats include the altering of crop seasons and even effect the way organisms survive on the planet. The first thing I think I should discuss when talking about global warming is what causes it to occur. Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which are known as greenhouse gases, all build up in the atmosphere of the earth. All these gases make it so that it becomes harder for the radiation that the sun shines into the atmosphere to escape. The heat continues to build up and this is what causes the temperatures to increase. I know this seems like the temperatures increase massively but in the last hundred years the average temperature of the Earth has gone up between 0.8 and 1.0 degrees farenheight. Also in the last fifteen years, we have had the ten warmest years in record. Global Warming also helps the Earth and it has been for many years. Without global warming, the Earth’s temperature would be a lot lower than the 60-degree average. Unfortunately due to there being many more harmful â€Å"greenhouse gases† being placed into the atmosphere, instead of the temperature staying at a constant, its rising. What are many of the dangers of the Earth’s temperature rising? First of all it cause many of the glaciers that are floating in the Arctic and Greenland to melt. This in turn causes the sea levels to rise around the world. In the last hundred years alone the seas around the planet have risen anywhere from four to ten inches. I know it does not sound like a massive change but being able to raise all the seas in the world a whole ten inches is a huge problem. Sea levels also continue to rise is because the hotter temperature cause the ocean water to expand. An example of the sea level causing problems could happen on a little Native Island in the middle of an Ocean. On these islands usually where native tribes live, if the sea level rises three fourths of a meter then half of the island will sink. This could happen in many different islands around the world and if the water keeps on rising as it ... ...ications for the rest of the world are serious. Even a partial melting of the polar ice caps will cause sea levels to rise so much as to completely wipe out most coastal cities. This includes such big cities such as San Francisco and New York. Those cities that are not totally wiped out by the water will eventually be hit with hurricanes much more severe than any other one in history. Of course, inland cities are not safe either. Rather than surging seawaters and hurricanes, they will face drought. So what can be done in order to keep from all of that from happening? We need to stop putting so much pollution in to the air. No matter what there will always be a little bit of Carbon Dioxide omitted into the atmosphere. If we could just limit all the coal and fossil fuels that we burn, there will not be so much â€Å"greenhouse gases† and it would keep all of that from happening so quickly. There have also been many attempts by the United States Presidents Administrations in order to help slow down the effect. In my lifetime I know that I won’t see anything too drastic happen due to global warming, but there is a chance that my children and grandchildren will. Hopefully they wont.

Library and Theoretical Framework

Definition Theories are formulated to explain, predict, and understand phenomena and, in many cases, to challenge and extend existing knowledge, within the limits of the critical bounding assumptions. The theoretical framework is the structure that can hold or support a theory of a research study. The theoretical framework introduces and describes the theory which explains why the research problem under study exists. Importance of Theory A theoretical framework consists of concepts, together with their definitions, and existing theory/theories that are used for your particular study.The theoretical framework must demonstrate an understanding of theories and concepts that are relevant to the topic of your research paper and that will relate it to the broader fields of knowledge in the class you are taking. The theoretical framework is not something that is found readily available in the literature. You must review course readings and pertinent research literature for theories and anal ytic models that are relevant to the research problem you are investigating. The selection of a theory should depend on its appropriateness, ease of application, and explanatory power.The theoretical framework strengthens the study in the following ways. 1 . An explicit statement of theoretical assumptions permits the reader to evaluate them critically. 2. The theoretical framework connects the researcher to existing knowledge. Guided by a relevant theory, you are given a basis for your hypotheses and choice of research methods. 3. Articulating the theoretical assumptions of a research study forces you to address questions of why and how. It permits you to move from simply describing a phenomenon observed to generalizing about various aspects of that phenomenon. 4.Having a theory helps you to identify the limits to those generalizations. A theoretical framework specifies which key variables influence a phenomenon of interest. It alerts you to examine how those key variables might di ffer and under what circumstances. By virtue of its application nature, good theory in the social sciences is of value precisely because it fulfills one primary purpose: to explain the meaning, nature, and challenges of a phenomenon, often experienced but unexplained in the world in which we live, so that we may use that knowledge and understanding to act in more informed and effective ways.A theoretical framework is a compilation of interrelated concepts, such as a theory though not necessarily worked-out so well. A theoretical framework guides you in doing research, determining what kind of things you will measure, and what type of statistical relationships you will look out for. A theoretical framework is a theoretical perspective of something. It can simply be a theory, but it can also be more general or a basic approach to understanding something. Typically, a theoretical framework defines the kinds of variables that you will want to look at. A theoretical framework refers to a collection of interrelated concepts.It is like a theory but it is so well worked out. It guides one's research, determines what things one will measure and the statistical relationships one will look for. A theoretical framework is a collection of interrelated concepts, like a theory but not necessarily so well worked-out. It guides your research, determining what things you will measure, and what statistical relationships you will look for. Theoretical frameworks are also important in exploratory studies. Theoretical framework is a structure that is used for supporting a theory of any research work. It explains the theory of why the research is necessary.The framework helps the reader to make sense of the question that the research is founded on. A theoretical framework is a compilation of thoughts and theories on a research topic. To write a theoretical framework, identify the core set of connectors within a topic showing how they are related to the research topic. When writing t heoretical framework, include an outline of existing theories closely related to the research topic. Demonstrate that the topic addresses questions that interest those already researching the field then clarify how your research relates to the existing theories.Your own theoretical assumptions and loyalties should be as open as possible. Why use a Theoretical Framework? An effective history paper should do more than simply report what happened in the past. An effective history paper should also provide some analysis. Using a theoretical framework for your paper can help open up your analysis of past events by providing a particular set of questions to ask, and a particular perspective to use when examining your topic. top of page What is a Theoretical Framework? Theoretical frameworks provide a particular perspective, or lens, through which to xamine a topic.Theoretical frameworks usually come from other disciplines – such as economics, the social sciences, and anthropology à ¢â‚¬â€œ and are used by historians to bring new dimensions of their topic to light. There is no right or wrong theoretical framework to use when examining your topic since every topic can be looked at from a number of different perspectives. For example, an essay on slavery in the American south could be examined from a social perspective – the relations between slaves, or between slaves and masters – but also from an economic perspective, a political erspective, or a cultural perspective Just to name a few.Theoretical frameworks, however, are even more specific than these broad subject approaches. Theoretical frameworks are specific theories about aspects of human existence such as the functioning of politics, the economy, and human relations. These theories can then be applied to the study of actual events. While it is not necessary to use a theoretical framework to examine your topic, it can help to focus your essay on a specific aspect of your topic and can direct your analysis of that topic, offering unexpected insights into the past. op of page Examples ot Theoretical Frameworks There is no finite list of theoretical frameworks one can apply to a topic. Nonetheless, there are several theoretical frameworks that have been used more often by historians, forming schools of thought and shared approaches to historical subject matter such as marxism, nationalism, post-colonialism, and post-modernism, Just to name a few. It is important to note that these categories are fluid, and many of the theories can be classified under more than one school of thought.In addition, many historians borrow theoretical frameworks from other disciplines without actively ssociating themselves with a particular school of thought. Below are some examples of theoretical frameworks that have been adopted by historians in recent decades. Marxism Many scholars use Marxist philosophy and theories to study past events. One notable theory is Italian philosopher Antonio Gram sci's theory of â€Å"cultural hegemony. † Gramsci proposed that those in power maintain power by making the societal hierarchy seem â€Å"normal. † Gramsci's theory has been used by many contemporary historians to analyze past events.For example, Robert Rydell has applied this theory o the study of World's Fairs, proposing that the elite of society used World's Fairs to try to sway the masses into supporting a societal order that appeared to benefit everyone, but in reality benefitted primarily the elite. This is Just one example of a Marxist theory being applied to the study of history. There are many more. Nationalism Scholars of nationalism study how and why people have come to identify themselves as being a part of a nation, as well as the impact of the rise of nationalism in the last two centuries.Benedict Anderson, for example, famously referred to nations as imagined communities† since a nation is a community in which the vast majority of people will neve r actually meet face-to-face or know each other, but nonetheless share a sense of identity based on nationality. Many historians have used Anderson's theory to analyse nations and nationalism historically, while others have challenged Anderson's theory on how nations are created by examining the rise of nationalism in a variety of different historical contexts.Post-colonialism Post-colonialists study the power relations and racist assumptions that made the colonial system possible, as well as the legacy of colonialism for both the colonists nd the colonized. Edward Said's theory of â€Å"Orientalism† proposes that the West has created a mythologized version of the East (or Orient) to reinforce the difference between the two, and the superiority of the West over the East, thus legitimizing Western attitudes towards and treatment of those in the East.Historians use Said's theory to examine past events, even those outside the strict geographic area being considered in Said's ori ginal theory. Historians examine how western countries mythologize and exoticize the â€Å"other† in order to reinforce and legitimize their position of power. American historian Erika Lee, for example, uses Said's theory to examine American attitudes (particularly those of white American women) towards China and Japan in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as the United States was developing its â€Å"informal empire† in the region through treaties and trade.Literary Theory Historians have borrowed prolifically from cultural and literary theorists in recent decades. One notable example is Russian literary theorist M kn il Bakhtin's theory ot â€Å"carnivalesque. † For Bakhtin, the â€Å"carnivalesque† referred to literature that permits a emporary inversion of the normal social hierarchy. He compares these literary productions to the medieval carnival where for the duration of the carnival normal hierarchies of power were suspended, allowin g participants to mock and burlesque those in authority.Many historians have made use of Bakhtin's theory outside of the world of literature, applying it to past events,and examining how different events allowed for the temporary inversion of power. Natalie Zemon Davis, for example, examines the role of gender inversion in the popular culture of early modern France. While many historians and anthropologists have argued that the temporary inversion of power of the â€Å"carnivalesque† ultimately serve to re-inforce normal power structures, Davis argues that carnivalesque inversions can also serve to undermine them.Post-Modernism French philosopher and historian Michel Foucault theorized that â€Å"discourses† (meaning the ways in which we speak and think about our reality or some aspect of that reality) actually structure our reality and tin most instances are used to reinforce hierarchies of power, but can also be used to subvert these same hierarchies. Historians have applied Foucault's theory to the past, examining how discourses in different times and places have been used to reinforce power.Bengali historian Dipesh Chakrabarty, for example, examines how the discourse of history in the academic world continues to place Europe at the centre of historical studies, even in the study of places outside of Europe. Gender Studies Gender studies examines how notions of gender structure our reality. Gender studies have been influenced by post-modernism, arguing that gender is not a fixed category, but rather a social construction. Historians have used these theories to examine how the construction of gender functioned in the past, and to what end.

Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot by Robert Olen Butler Essay

A coward, by definition, is a person who lacks courage, especially one who is shamefully unable to control his fear and so shrinks from danger or trouble. In the short story, â€Å"Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot†, Robert Olen Butler makes the point that cowardly behavior can ultimately lead to ones demise through his use of plot, characterization, symbolism, and irony. In this story, Butler portrays a jealous husbands cowardly behavior when dealing with his supposedly cheating wife, which leads to his death. He then returns in the form of a parrot to endure the pain of his decisions. As demonstrated by the husband, who is the main character in this story, cowardly behavior can be caused by weaknesses as relatively common as uncontrollable emotion and in-the-moment compulsion, combined with an aversion to attacking life’s problems head on. However, in this story the effect of this behavior is even more devastating and heart-breaking; it can be the ultimate dem ise of what could have been a long and otherwise meaningful life. The story takes place in Houston and begins with the husband already in his bird form. He is in pet store with other parrots and his wife walks in. She does not know its him but she immediately picks him out over the other parrots. When he gets settled in his new cage at home, the husband begins reminiscing about his past cowardly actions that got him into his current situation. His insecurities began when his wife continually mentioned the new guy at her work. His cowardly actions follow soon after when he states that â€Å"my goal was to hold my tongue about half the time† (Butler, 188). Instead of confronting her with his allegations, he locks himself up to keep quite. Later he finds the name and address of the man he suspects his wife is sleeping with. Still in human form, he makes the most cowardly decision yet and decides to spy on his wife’s possible lover. He goes to the house on a saturday afternoon and the neighborhood is empty. He heard sounds from the second floor window so he climbs a tree to get a better look. His desperateness for answers bring him dangerously close to the end of the tree branch, bring him to his final moments as a human. He feel from the tree, hitting his head and ending his human life. His cowardly behavior ultimately lead to his death. None of this would have happened if he confronted his  wife. He was so scared that she would leave him that he never said a word to her. Right from the start, Butler characterizes the husband and his lack of courage. The husband starts off by stating, â€Å"I never can quite say as much as I know† (187). Throughout the story, the husband’s continues to show this cowardly behavior by never confronting his wife about any of his accusations. Instead he suffers from his bottled-up feelings of inadequacy, low sense of self worth, and fear of losing his wife if he were to confront her with allegations of having extramarital affairs. Butler continues to shows the cowardly characteristics of the husband when he goes behind his wives back to try and find answers. He described the event, stating, â€Å"I was holding on to a limb with arms and legs wrapped around it like it was her in those times when I could forget the others for a little while. But the crack in the shade was just out of view and I crawled on along till there was no limb left and I fell on my head† (188). Instead of confronting his wife or her lover, he engaged in an act of snooping, which ended his human life, and turned him into a parrot. As a result of the husband’s cowardliness, he endured a hellish existence as a parrot. Even in parrot form, he continued to express his feeling of jealousy and inadequacy as a husband. His emotional problems, however, did not stop at feeling of being an inadequate husband. He also showed serious signs that he lacked a sense of self worth as a person. He seems to base his worth on his wife’s affection toward him, and expressed almost a feeling of helplessness without her. He belittled himself and his role in the relationship, stating, â€Å"When we held each other, I had no past at all, no present but her body, no future but to lie there and not let her go. I was an egg hatched beneath her crouching body, I entered as a chick into her wet sky of a body, and all that I wished was to sit on her shoulder and fluff my feathers and lay my head against her cheek, my neck exposed to her hand† (189). By comparing himself to a chick, the husband expressed an inherent need to be cared for, and showed no sign of capability in coping with life on his own. In the end, the jealous husband (in the form of a parrot) committed his final cowardly act: he made the decision to purposely fly into the window and kill himself.  This act was the most absolute and appalling effect of his cowardly ways. The last lines of the story are an insight into the husbands suicidal thought process. He said, â€Å"And I spread my wings. I will fly now. Even though I know there is something between me and that place where I can be free of all these feelings, I will fly. I will throw myself again and again there. Pretty bird. Bad bird. Good night† (191). A huge potential for disaster in the husband’s marriage was symbolized as he displayed a pitiful lack of assertion. He was more than aware that his wife was engaging in an affair, but fear of losing her kept him from confronting her the way he could have. He described his cowardly dilemma, stating, â€Å"Hey, I’m not stupid. She said another thing about him and then another and right after the third one I locked myself in the bathroom because I couldn’t rage about this anymore. I felt like a damn fool whenever I actually said anything about this kind of feeling and she looked at me like she could start hating me real easy and so I was working on saying nothing, even if it meant locking myself up† (188). By locking himself in the bathroom, he is taking the cowards way out of confronting his wife. This is a great use of symbolism, as he is metaphorically locking up his emotions and problems when he should be dealing with them and his wife. This is the same cowardly behavior that led to the husband’s demise, and is consistent with the symbolism of his life as a parrot, in which he was locked in a cage, just as he was locked in the bathroom as a man. The most heart-wrenchingly part of the husband’s story, however, is not just that he had his heart broken daily; it was the simple fact that there was absolutely nothing he could do about it because he is now a bird. Butler displays irony when the husband, in his parrot life, compares his lack of communication in his marriage to his absolute inability to say what he thought as a parrot. In his human life he bottled up his emotions and feelings but now that he is a parrot he has a lot to say but no words to express them. He sat in a cage, wanting desperately to speak his mind, and express his love to his wife, but he couldn’t. He made the thought-provoking statement, â€Å"I can never say what is in my heart to her. Never† (190). The effect of his cowardly behavior, by not saying what was in his heart in his  human life, had made it even more impossible to communicate after he had fallen out of the tree and died. The husband states that â€Å"the crack in the shade was just out of view and I crawled on along till there was no limb left and I fell on my head† (188). The fact that he had fallen out of a tree and is reincarnated as a bird is also totally irony too. Butler could have reincarnate the husband as any animal and he chose a bird and birds don’t fall out of trees. With this story, Robert Olen Butler clearly demonstrates that cowardly behavior can lead to ones demise with his use of plot, characterization, symbolism and irony. As a result of uncontrollably strong emotions, insecurities, desperately compulsive actions, and failure to engage in direct confrontation with his offenders, the husband died a sudden and cowardly death, only to return as a parrot, and suffer the intolerable pain of witnessing his wife’s heart-breaking promiscuity. The ultimate result of his cowardly behavior was his suicide, which closed this cowardly tale with an appropriately cowardly ending. This story could be interpreted as a testament of failure to challenge a person’s own fears. This story is relevant to life because it is likely that devastating consequences, such as the ones experienced by the jealous husband, can be avoided by facing fears with courage, and standing up for one’s self with conviction, in spite of danger or trouble.