Technological Advancement and the Effect on the Ecosystem free essay sample

While technology can be a powerful force to improve our standard of living, it comes at a cost. New technological goods are often burdensome to the environment. This damage may come from acquiring the resources to produce new technology, or from toxic byproducts of technological production. It can consist of environmentally harmful waste produced by the technology itself, or the castoff remains of obsolete technology. Some categories of technology, such as electronics, require resources that are difficult to acquire without harming the environment. For example, the advanced batteries in hybrid cars are composed of nickel and rare-earth metals. Mining these materials is a significant source of harmful emissions, including solvent vapors, sulfuric acid, and coal dust. Acid-laden water discharges kill all plant and animal life around nearby waterways and have sickened and killed nearby rural residents.This mining largely takes place in China, which has admitted that it sells the rare-earths cheaply because it sacrifices environmental safety standards in the mining process. We will write a custom essay sample on Technological Advancement and the Effect on the Ecosystem or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Similar batteries exist in personal consumer electronics, hard drives, fuel cells, wind turbines, polishing powders and catalytic converters. Advances in farming technology have led to cheaper and more diverse food options, but technological advances that improve production, such as pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers, can also harm the environment. Modern fertilizers increase yields, but they linger in the local environment, damaging soil and groundwater and creating dead zones in lakes and oceans. Pesticides may kill off the pests that affect current crops, but also kills beneficial insects and amphibians, and can build up a population of pesticide-resistant insects that will damage future yields. The use of technology can ease our lives, but it can also damage the environment. The most obvious example of technology usage producing harmful by-products is the greenhouse gases and other toxic emissions from transportation technology.Refrigeration technology produces hazardous gases that can damage the ozone layer and produce toxic liquid effluents that make their way into drainage ways and poison water animals . Even appliances like the clothes washer create microplastic-laden wastewater that winds up in the ocean, where it can be eaten by birds and sea animals. New advances in technology often render old technology useless. Discarding outdated or worn out technological goods is a significant source of environmental damage. For example, contemporary compact fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury, which is toxic to both humans and animals. Old thermometers also contained mercury, as do some batteries manufactured prior to the mid-1990s. Discarded vehicles left in place for long periods eventually leak toxic fluids into the ground, where they kill plants, animals and soil microbes. Rainfall can wash pollutants from the discarded technology into waterways, spreading poisons into natural systems and the human food supply.

Best Crucible Plot Summary

Best Crucible Plot Summary SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you need to refresh your memory on the plot of The Crucible or just want some clarification on exactly what's happening in each act of the play as you read, you've come to the right place. I've written a full plot summary, divided by act, so you can better understand and recall the events of the play. As a bonus, this article also includes short descriptions of the main characters and a list of major themes that crop up throughout the narrative. The CrucibleSummary Act 1 Reverend Samuel Parris is praying next to the sick bed of his 10-year-old daughter, Betty Parris. The night before, Parris caught her dancing in the woods with a group of girls, including his teenage niece, Abigail Williams, and his slave, Tituba. Since then, Betty has been in a deep sleep and will not respond to any efforts to wake her. Rumors have spread around town that witchcraft is the cause of Betty’s illness, and people are now gathered in the parlor of the Parris household. Parris, concerned about his reputation, interrogates Abigail about what happened, but Abigail says they were just dancing. A woman named Ann Putnam says that her daughter, Ruth, who was with the group of girls, is also afflicted with a strange illness. Ann claims that she sent Ruth to see Tituba so that Tituba could facilitate communication with Ann’s other children who died as infants. Abigail admits that Tituba and Ruth were, in fact, conjuring spirits in the woods. Abigail and two other girls named Mercy Lewis and Mary Warren, who were also part of the group in the woods, are left alone with Betty. When they try to wake her up, she blurts out that Abigail drank chicken blood to cast a spell that would kill Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail threatens Betty and the others with violence if they don’t keep quiet about this. A farmer named John Proctor (Elizabeth Proctor’s husband) then enters the room. The other girls leave, and he speaks with Abigail alone. John and Abigail had an affair when Abigail worked as a servant in his house, and Abigail wants it to continue. John rejects her because he has recommitted himself to his wife. Reverend Hale arrives from the town of Beverley to investigate Betty’s situation, and Abigail confesses that Tituba called the Devil after more details about the night in the woods come to light. When Tituba is threatened with hanging, she confesses that she’s been forced to work for the Devil. Abigail and Betty then confess their coerced involvement in witchcraft and name several other people who they claim to have seen with the Devil. Act 1 ends in a cacophony of unjustified finger-pointing. Act 2 Act 2 opens with John and Elizabeth Proctor discussing the witch trials in Salem. Elizabeth tells John he has to go into town and inform them that Abigail is a liar. John’s reluctance to do so leads to an argument where he accuses Elizabeth of being too judgmental and she accuses him of still harboring feelings for Abigail. Mary Warren, who went to Salem to testify against the Proctors’ wishes, returns to the house and gives Elizabeth a doll she made in court. Mary reveals that Elizabeth was among the accused. Elizabeth knows that Abigail is accusing her because she hopes to take her place as John’s wife. Elizabeth urges John to tell Abigail directly that there’s no possibility of them ever reinstating a romantic relationship. Reverend Hale arrives and questions the Proctors about their religious devotion because of the accusations against Elizabeth. John tells him that the girls are frauds, and Hale starts to believe him. Giles Corey and Francis Nurse come to the house and reveal that both of their wives (Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse) have been arrested for witchcraft. Then, Ezekiel Cheever and Marshal Herrick arrive with a warrant for Elizabeth’s arrest. They find the doll that Mary gave Elizabeth and notice that it has a needle stuck in it. This matches up with an â€Å"attack† on Abigail that was allegedly perpetrated by Elizabeth’s spirit. Proctor gets Mary to tell them that she made the doll in court and stuck the needle in herself with Abigail sitting right next to her. Hale, Cheever, and Herrick are still not convinced Abigail is lying. Proctor tears up the arrest warrant in frustration, but Elizabeth agrees to go with the officials. Proctor tells Mary that she must testify on Elizabeth’s behalf in court. Mary is terrified to do so because she fears that Abigail will turn the court against her. Proctor expresses his feelings that he and all the other hypocrites are finally being punished for their sins. "I feel, like, really bad about myself. Why can't you just let this go" Oh, John, you're so charming. Act 3 At the start of Act 3, the audience hears Judge Hathorne questioning Martha Corey aggressively off-stage. Giles Corey interrupts the proceedings to defend his wife and is dragged into a room off of the court (on stage) by Marshal Herrick. They are accompanied by Judge Hathorne, Governor Danforth, Reverends Parris and Hale, Francis Nurse, and Ezekiel Cheever. After a short discussion where the truth of the accusers’ claims is disputed by Francis Nurse and Giles Corey, Mary Warren and John Proctor enter the room. Mary admits to Danforth that she and the other girls were faking the whole time. Danforth is not convinced that this is the truth based on all the supernatural events he’s witnessed in court (including people ostensibly being choked by spirits and slashed by daggers, which he describes on page 84). Proctor presents a petition signed by 91 people who are willing to vouch for the good character of Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Corey. Danforth orders warrants to be drawn up for all the people who signed the petition. Proctor then presents a statement from Giles Corey where Corey testifies that Thomas Putnam encouraged his daughter Ruth to make accusations against George Jacobs so Putnam could snatch up his land. However, Giles refuses to reveal his source, so this evidence is discredited, and he is arrested for contempt of court. Finally, Proctor gives Danforth Mary Warren’s statement where she admits in writing that she and the other girls were faking. The other girls are brought in from the courtroom for questioning, and Abigail denies Mary’s accusations. Mary is asked to pretend to faint if it was so easy for her before, but she is unable to act under pressure. Abigail and the other girls feign symptoms of witchcraft to turn the court against Mary.Proctor is enraged and calls Abigail a whore. He admits that they had an affair so she will be discredited (although it also means destroying his own reputation). Danforth brings Elizabeth Proctor in for questioning on this issue, but she covers up the affair to protect her husband because she doesn’t realize that he has already confessed. John’s charges against Abigail are dismissed. Abigail claims to see a bird on the rafters above her that she insists is Mary Warren’s familiar spirit poised to attack her. Mary breaks down under the pressure of these accusations and "confesses" that Proctor has forced her to work for the Devil. Proctor and Corey are arrested, and Hale quits the court in disgust at this blatant display of irrationality. IDK this guy seems like a pretty cool boss. Act 4 The fourth act opens with Herrick removing Tituba and Sarah Good from a jail cell so the court officials can hold a meeting there. Both Reverend Hale and Reverend Parris are currently praying with the condemned prisoners, which is unsettling to Danforth and Hathorne. When Parris arrives at the meeting, he explains that Hale is actually trying to get the prisoners to confess to their crimesto avoid execution. He also reveals that Abigail and Mercy Lewis have run away, and Abigail stole his life’s savings. The authorities then discuss the state of social unrest that has emerged in Salem after the jailing of so many citizens. Hathorne denies that there is any possibility of rebellion, but Parris is very concerned about what will happen if they hang people like Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor, who are still well-respected. He advises that they postpone the hangings and continue pushing for confessions, but Danforth refuses because it would make him look bad. Hale arrives and says that he hasn’t gotten confessions out of anyone. The one prisoner who he hasn’t talked to is John Proctor. The officials decide that they will bring in Elizabeth Proctor to speak with him and convince him to confess. When they are left alone, Elizabeth informs John of Giles Corey’s death, and John begs her to tell him whether or not he should confess. He’s leaning towards confessing because he feels his soul is already beyond redemption. He asks for Elizabeth’s forgiveness, but she says her forgiveness doesn’t mean anything if he won’t forgive himself. She tells him that only he can decide whether or not to confess. John tentatively agrees to confess, but he refuses to implicate anyone else and then is reluctant to sign the confession. He decides he can’t go through the rest of his life after signing his name into disgrace in this permanent way. He snatches the confession away at the last minute and rips it to shreds, thus sealing his fate. The others beg Elizabeth to convince him to reconsider, but she refuses to deprive him of this choice when it’s the only way he’s finally been able to break free from his self-hatred and see some good within himself. Herrick leads John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse off to the gallows. A depressing ending to a play that reminds us of the worst aspects of humanity. Gotta love it. Other Ways to Study the Plot of The Crucible If you want more details about the plot in each act, you can read individual summaries at the following links: Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Act 4 Each article includes short and long summaries along with key quotes and brief thematic analyses. List of Major Characters inThe Crucible Here's a quick rundown of the ten most prominent characters in the play, including short descriptions of their most important traits. This section should give you a better idea of who these people are and how they relate to one another. John Proctor John is a farmer in his mid-30s who is outwardly strong and confident but inwardly tormented by guilt. His self-hatred stems from an affair he had with a teenage servant girl, Abigail Williams, which was a betrayal of his own morals and his wife’s trust. John is not easily manipulated by others. He is disliked by foolish and insecure people in positions of power because he sees right through them. He also has a volatile temper and is terrible at expressing his feelings in a constructive way. Abigail Williams Abigailis a 17-year-old orphan girl raised by her uncle, Reverend Parris after her parents were murdered by Native Americans. Abigail is a clever, rebellious, selfish, and somewhat disturbed teenager who is willing to take drastic measures to get what she wants. She is smitten with John Proctor after their affair, and she dreams of replacing his wife. She’s the ringleader of the accusers and skillfully manipulates men who are older and supposedly wiser than her into believing her stories of witchcraft. Elizabeth Proctor Elizabeth is a sickly woman who is married to John Proctor. Despite her physical weaknesses, Elizabeth has a certain internal strength that John is lacking. She is very steadfast in her beliefs and will not compromise on what she thinks to please others. However, she also has some insecurities about her worthiness which she feels have made her doubt her husband’s devotion to her and may have helped to push him away. Reverend John Hale Reverend Hale is a minister from the town of Beverley who is supposedly an expert on witchcraft. Hale is an arrogant intellectual who perceives himself as a savior of the ignorant. He is responsible for setting off many of the terrible events in the play, but he is ultimately cursed with enough self-awareness and critical thinking ability to realize that he was wrong. He is emotionally destroyed by guilt over his mistakes. Reverend Samuel Parris Parris is an unpopular, paranoid, and greedy minister who presides over the town of Salem. He is power-hungry but has weak convictions and a shallow, materialistic outlook that enables him to bend his views whichever way will give him the biggest boost in public opinion. As a petty and whiny narcissist, Parris only cares about the events of the play if they affect him directly. His main concerns are preserving his reputation and personal wealth. Tituba Tituba is Reverend Parris’ middle-aged slave from Barbados. As someone with very little power in this society, she is used throughout the play as a scapegoat for the actions of other characters. Tituba confesses to witchcraft out of self-preservation while hinting at a strong dislike for Parris and a desire to return to her homeland with its less draconian culture. Deputy Governor Danforth Danforth is a somewhat pedantic man experienced in legal matters who takes his position of authority very seriously. Partially because he is so concerned with preserving the integrity of the court, he is prone to letting paranoia get the best of him and is entirely inflexible in his decisions. He believes he is conducting a methodical investigation, but he ultimately makes decisions that are based on bias and fear of damage to his reputation. Mary Warren Mary is a teenage girl who is employed as a servant by the Proctors. Mary is timid and impressionable. She is easily influenced by peer pressure and approval or disapproval from authority figures. Mary has a weak sense of her identity and convictions, so she is constantly pulled in different directions by other characters. She allows fear to rule most of her decisions. Giles Corey Giles is an outspoken elderly man who is arguably the most fearless character in the play. He refuses to let anyone push him around. While not formally educated, he's intelligent and legally savvy in his own way. Having been embroiled in a slew of legal battles in the past, he is one of the few who understands that many accusations of witchcraft are politically motivated. Rebecca Nurse Rebecca is a gentle old woman who is extremely well-respected in Salem and portrayed as a nearly saintly figure. Although she is highly devout, she has accumulated enough practical wisdom to be skeptical of the accusations of witchcraft. She becomes a victim of the town’s hysteria because of a political dispute between her family and the Putnams (the Nurses prevented Thomas Putnam's chosen candidate for the Salem ministry from taking office). Here are my visual interpretations of some of the main characters. Left to right: Giles Corey, Mary Warren, Rebecca Nurse, Abigail Williams, John Proctor. Other Ways to StudyCrucible Characters We've also written articles that focus specifically on certain characters and their significance in the play. Check out these links for more information on the following characters: John Proctor Abigail Williams Mary Warren Giles Corey Rebecca Nurse The Crucible: List of Major Themes In this section, I'll list the six most prominent themes that are found throughout The Crucible along with some important discussion questions.For more details on how the role these ideas play in the story, check out our complete guide toThe Crucible themes. Irony The Crucible is filled with moments of irony that can make it seem almost like a work of satire. How is irony used to show the hypocrisy of the society portrayed in the play? How does it help us better understand the characters? Hysteria This play is one of the most influential portrayals of mass hysteria in popular culture. Why does mass hysteria grow out of one small incident, and how are the fires of hysteria stoked throughout the play? What does this tell us about human nature? Reputation There is a continuous thread of concern for one's reputation that runs throughout The Crucible. Why is reputation so important in this society? Which characters value their reputations the most, and how does this impact their actions and the course of the play as a whole? Power/Authority Characters in The Crucible are always looking to gain power over others or maintain a high status that gives them control within their community. How do the power dynamics between characters shift as the play progresses? How does a desire to obtain or preserve power and authority impact different characters’ actions? Why does power seem to correspond with irrationality and rigidity? Deception Almost everything that happens in The Crucible is a result of lies in one form or another. What are some critical points in the play where telling the truth could have changed the course of events? Why do different characters lie? Why are people in the play seemingly so easily deceived? Guilt John Proctor, in particular, struggles with guilt throughout The Crucible, although in the final act other characters also express these feelings. How does the society portrayed in the play encourage guilt and shame? Does John really overcome his guilt at the end? Who should feel most guilty for what happened? There are wheels within wheels in Salem, just as Ann Putnam says in the play. However, those wheels merely represent the selfish tendencies at the root of human nature. Other Ways to Study Crucible Themes For more elaboration on these themes and how they are expressed throughout the play, read my more in-depth article on the main themes in The Crucible. You can also read my article on McCarthyism and The Red Scare as they relate to the play to get more information on the context in which The Crucible was written and why its themes remain relevant throughout history. The Bottom Line Now that you've read the completeThe Cruciblesummary, be sure to explore the other parts of our guide for additional insight into the play. Whether you're looking for summaries of individual acts, analyses of main characters, or a breakdown of the play's major themes, you should be able to find the information you need to answer all of your English teacher's most confusing questions. Protip: If all else fails, just pretend you can't answer the question because you're being attacked by the familiar spirit of the most annoying kid in your class. What's Next? There are a couple of common questions that come up about the plot of The Crucible that we've answered directly in short articles. Take a look at our answers as to why Elizabeth asks John to go to Salem in Act 2 and why Reverend Hale returns to Salem in Act 4. Need some quotes for that killer essay you're writing? This article goes through the most important quotes in the play accompanied with explanations of their significance. I gave a short list of characters in this article, but if you want a full rundown of everyone who shows up in the play, check out our complete character list. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Analysis of the Sustainability of Nordic Welfare Model in Times of Essay

Analysis of the Sustainability of Nordic Welfare Model in Times of Economic Recession - Essay Example The first challenge for Nordic countries is the demographic shift. The population in the entire developed world is greying and Nordic countries are no exception. With the increase in longevity of people and reduced child births, the number of people above the age of 65 is rapidly increasing (Adema, 2001). All Nordic countries provide generous pension facilities to enable the old to live a life of dignity. Thus if the number of dependents increase, it becomes increasingly difficult to finance their pension out of the income of working population. It has been assumed that in the next 3 decades the old age dependency ration will increase from 0.25 to 0.40 in the Nordic countries. The dependency ratios over the next 40 years in three Nordic countries is shown in the graph below – Source: (Kvist & Greve, 2011) Thus it is clear from the above figures that it will be unsustainable for Nordic countries to provide pension to their elderly without significantly deteriorating their finan ces. It is assumed that Denmark will suffer deterioration of finances up to 4% of GDP; it will be 6% of GDP for Norway and up to 4.5% of GDP for Sweden (Kvist & Greve, 2011). Clearly no country can suffer such an impact on its finances. It is often said that the problems of a welfare state can be circumvented by ensuring a high GDP growth. The Nordic countries should focus on increasing their GDP growth rate to mop up extra finances for their welfare schemes. In this section I will discuss the challenges of achieving high GDP growth for Nordic countries in this era of recession and globalisation. The Nordic countries have historically seen higher growth rates as compared to other European economies. However...This essay examines, whether the Nordic welfare model is sustainable in these difficult economic times and the age of globalization. The Nordic welfare model is also called as the Nordic social democracy. The Nordic countries have been strictly pro trade and suspicious of any k ind of protectionism but at the same time they have made policies which ensure a large degree of equality and welfare of the children, unemployed, sick and the old. However, as it is shown in the essay, the Nordic model is increasingly become unsustainable due to pressures of an ageing population, globalization, immigration and the financial crisis which has engulfed the whole world. All Nordic countries provide generous pension facilities to enable the old to live a life of dignity. Thus if the number of dependents increase, it becomes increasingly difficult to finance their pension out of the income of working population. It has been assumed that in the next 3 decades the old age dependency ration will increase from 0.25 to 0.40 in the Nordic countries. It is often said that the problems of a welfare state can be circumvented by ensuring a high GDP growth. The Nordic countries should focus on increasing their GDP growth rate to mop up extra finances for their welfare schemes. In this section I will discuss the challenges of achieving high GDP growth for Nordic countries in this era of recession and globalisation. The problem for these open and free economies has been attracting investment in this climate of recession

Social policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Social policy - Essay Example Social policy in United Kingdom is inclined towards conservatism policies. According to Spicker (1991: 9), the concept of ‘subsidiarity’ can be a dominant influence on the European community. It upholds the responsibilities resulting from the closeness of the traditional society inside smaller social units. Therefore, intervention in the United Kingdom impersonates subsidiarity and establishes solidarity. Social insurance plan mostly dates back to the Elizabethan period when the society approved poor taxation policies (Www2.rgu.ac.uk, n.d.). The conservatives operate inside the limitations involving xenophobia in the immigration policies. At the same time, the people reviewed the immigration policies in reaction to the 2001 riots where immigrant criminal offenses were prominent in the Northern English cities (Young, 2003, p. 452). Following the adoption of social policy, the generation of immigration staff has received economic prosperity, legal equality, as well as discrimination inside the borders of the country. According to Spicker (1991, p.10), the government features policies in coping with the success of the economy. This involves outdated manufacturing industry. This is because the manufacturing efforts of the government were ignored in the workforce (Www2.rgu.ac.uk,

Quality Management of processes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Quality Management of processes - Essay Example The first step is to establish a strong feedback as an important element of any quality assurance process. Evaluation should be a continuous process and not just left until the end of the project. The results of evaluation processes should be discussed with the researchers, perhaps by means of completing a record of achievement and current strategies. To avoid adversely, it is crucial to involve key researchers into the process of quality control requirements. A potential problem area in many institutions is the role played in it by middle management (Dale, 1994). They have a pivotal role because they both maintain the day-to-day operation of the project and act as one of its most important communications channels. They can often block change if they have a mind to or they can act as the leaders of teams spearheading the impetus for quality improvement. In this case, the quality control should be identifies as an important measure against possible pitfalls and mistakes caused by huma n factors. The quality control should interpreted as a preventive measure which helps the research project to save time and resources caused by possible errors and poor quality (Christensen, 1997). A special attention will be given to such principles as process approach, continual improvement and qualit

The Strategies of Ryanair

The Strategies of Ryanair Ryanair Holdings is Europes leading low-fare scheduled passenger airline, carrying roughly 34 million passengers per year, across 19 countries (Ryanair, 2006). The company operates short-haul, point-to-point routes between Ireland, the UK and Continental Europe, and the companys leading market position provides the company with the ability to leverage its market position to further expand its operating network: a key part of its current operating strategy. However, the predicted decline in the domestic European air travel market (Global Market Information Database, 2005) is likely to decrease the demand for the companys services and thus harm its resultant revenues, and so the other key aspect of the organisations strategy is to reduce its exposure to these external threats. (Johnson et al, 2005). Hence this work aims to examine the interplay between these two strategies, critically analysing both their current, and potential future, success. Leveraging market position to drive revenue Ryanair has the leading market share on most of scheduled routes between Ireland and provincial cities in the UK, carrying approximately 43% of all scheduled passenger traffic between Dublin and London. Additionally, the company has more than 45% market share on scheduled routes from Dublin, which include London, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and London, which include Venice, Rome, Milan, Hamburg, Valencia and Gothenburg, as of January 2005. (Datamonitor, 2005) Ryanair has also been voted as the airline with the best punctuality highest frequency which, combined with the companys leading market position, provides the company with the ability to leverage its market position to further expand its operating network. Ryanair has also been reporting strong revenue growth since fiscal 1999, and the company reported revenues of 1336.6 million Euros during the fiscal year ended March 2005, an increase of 24.4% over 2004. (Ryanair, 2006) The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in passenger volumes, which increased by 19% over 2004, and the companys revenues increased at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 28.6% from 1999 to 2005, despite the overall fall in air travel during that period (Global Market Information Database, 2005). Additionaly, Ryanairs net income increased at a compounded annual growth rate of 29.1% from 1999 to 2005. Thus, the companys strong consistent financial strength provides its operations with financial stability and the ability to fund its expansion strategies. Ryanair thus has an extremely strong and aggressive business strategy, which is focused on its objective to firmly establish itself as Europes leading low-fares scheduled passenger airline. The company offers low fares designed to stimulate demand, particularly from fare conscious leisure and business travellers. (Ryanair, 2006) The company favours secondary airports, as they are generally less congested than major airports and can be expected to provide higher rates of on-time departures: the company can thus achieve faster turnaround times and fewer terminal delays and gain competitive handling costs. (Datamonitor, 2005) The strategy has enabled the company to have a better on time performance record, than its bigger competitors. In addition, Ryanair enters into agreements with third party contractors to handle passenger and aircraft handling, ticketing and other services, and the company fixes its contracts on competitive terms by negotiating multi-year contracts, at prices that a re fixed or subject only to periodic increases linked to inflation. Ryanairs strong business strategy thus enables the company to synchronize its operational strategies in accordance with the market requirements, thereby enabling the company to maintain a cost effective business strategy. Hedging against external threats. Crude oil prices are at an all time high: in March 2005, light crude oil prices climbed to $55.40 per barrel after peaking at $56.1 per barrel. Additionally, jet kerosene prices have increased by over 80% from 2004. In order to protect their operations from significant volatility, airlines have fairly robust hedging positions, as the volatility in oil price and availability of jet fuel significantly affects operations. Although its European competitors have traditionally been sufficiently well hedged against volatile oil prices, Ryanair has always been unhedged. As of April 2005 the company was not covered by any hedging protection against oil prices however, as of November 2005, Ryanair hedged 90% of its estimated demand for the second half of its fiscal year, at prices corresponding with oil averaging $49 per barrel. Part of the carriers strategy is now to build hedges forward, and its financial prowess means it has the cash position to succeed. (Fiorino, 2005) The companys revenues are also highly dependent upon revenues from the UK and Irish market: historically the company has generated over 50% of total revenues from the UK. For fiscal 2003 and 2004, passengers on Ryanairs routes between Ireland and the UK accounted for 35.9% and 28.6% of total passenger revenues respectively, with Dublin and London accounting for approximately 13.4% and 10.7%, respectively. Additionally, total passenger revenues, and the Dublin-London route accounted for approximately 7.6% and 6.0%, respectively. (Datamonitor, 2005) The companys dependence on Ireland and the UK, could significantly impact the companys revenues due to regional factors, and thus although Ryanair is also attempting to increase its market share as a whole, it is specifically attempting to do this into more diverse areas, such as Eastern Europe, in an attempt to reduce its exposure to the demand changes in the UK and Irish market. Conclusion Ryanairs primary business strategy has always been to fly as many passengers at as low a cost as possible (Ryanair, 2006). Despite the fact that passenger numbers are generally not increasingly significantly (Global Market Information Database, 2005) and the fact that Ryanair has been forced to divert some of its resources to hedging, due to market conditions (Fiorino, 2005), this strategy still forms the core of the airlines business model, and is often viewed as the companys core competence (Johnson et al, 2005) Given that revenues, profits and passenger numbers have soared over the past few years, despite the uncertainty in the external environment (Datamonitor, 2005), this analysis concludes that, not only are Ryanairs current strategies hugely successful, but they will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

Jane Eyre :: essays papers

Jane Eyre Jane’s arrival at the Thornfield Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre displays three types of relationships possessing different purposes. These connections are established at Thornfield after Jane becomes a governess and accepts the position at the estate. The first relationship is the one that forms between Mrs.Fairfax, the housekeeper, and Jane. Another relationship that begins upon arrival at Thornfield is the one that Jane possesses with Adele, her pupil. The last and most important relationship that begins is that of Mr. Rochester and herself. These connections contribute to the crucial development of Jane’s persona. The first relationship Jane is susceptible to is the one established between her and Mrs. Fairfax. Jane believes Mrs. Fairfax to be quite generous host because at first Jane has the notion that Mrs.Fairfax is the owner. She then discovers that she is the housekeeper. She feels better knowing that the kind behavior exhibited is not unusual because Mrs.Fairfax is but the housekeeper and not the owner. Jane feels better knowing that she can act more comfortably. Jane feels satisfaction as the housekeeper tells her how content she is now that she has a companion that is worthy to participate in discussion. She believes the other servants can not hold a conversation very well. Mrs. Fairfax’s predictable kindness allows Jane to feel more at ease with her. In a way it can be seen that Mrs.Fairfax serves almost as a mother figure to Jane. Another relationship that I noticed is the unique one that is shared between Adele and Jane. Adele is presented as the spoiled pupil who although quite the fidgety, loquacious child wins a portion of Jane’s heart. The relationship that is formed due to the large amount of time spent together is one that happens not only because of fondness but it is one that is inevitable. The bond begins to take on the appearance of a mother daughter relationship because Jane controls Adele’s actions (or tries) and Adele seems very attached to Jane. The odd relationship that takes shape between Mr.Rochester and Jane is one that becomes serious gradually. It seems to give Jane pleasure that Mr.Rochester believes her to be of intelligence that is peculiar for a schoolgirl. The bluntness that they share in a way shows flirtation between the characters but then the way that Rochester refers to Jane as little friend shows him as a type of father-like portrait. Jane Eyre :: essays papers Jane Eyre Jane’s arrival at the Thornfield Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre displays three types of relationships possessing different purposes. These connections are established at Thornfield after Jane becomes a governess and accepts the position at the estate. The first relationship is the one that forms between Mrs.Fairfax, the housekeeper, and Jane. Another relationship that begins upon arrival at Thornfield is the one that Jane possesses with Adele, her pupil. The last and most important relationship that begins is that of Mr. Rochester and herself. These connections contribute to the crucial development of Jane’s persona. The first relationship Jane is susceptible to is the one established between her and Mrs. Fairfax. Jane believes Mrs. Fairfax to be quite generous host because at first Jane has the notion that Mrs.Fairfax is the owner. She then discovers that she is the housekeeper. She feels better knowing that the kind behavior exhibited is not unusual because Mrs.Fairfax is but the housekeeper and not the owner. Jane feels better knowing that she can act more comfortably. Jane feels satisfaction as the housekeeper tells her how content she is now that she has a companion that is worthy to participate in discussion. She believes the other servants can not hold a conversation very well. Mrs. Fairfax’s predictable kindness allows Jane to feel more at ease with her. In a way it can be seen that Mrs.Fairfax serves almost as a mother figure to Jane. Another relationship that I noticed is the unique one that is shared between Adele and Jane. Adele is presented as the spoiled pupil who although quite the fidgety, loquacious child wins a portion of Jane’s heart. The relationship that is formed due to the large amount of time spent together is one that happens not only because of fondness but it is one that is inevitable. The bond begins to take on the appearance of a mother daughter relationship because Jane controls Adele’s actions (or tries) and Adele seems very attached to Jane. The odd relationship that takes shape between Mr.Rochester and Jane is one that becomes serious gradually. It seems to give Jane pleasure that Mr.Rochester believes her to be of intelligence that is peculiar for a schoolgirl. The bluntness that they share in a way shows flirtation between the characters but then the way that Rochester refers to Jane as little friend shows him as a type of father-like portrait.

The Ideal Late 1700 Woman

The Ideal late 1700 Woman Susanna Rowson and Judith Sargent Murray were women from the late 1700s who had their own image of the ideal woman. Susanna Rowson’s Charlotte: A Tale of Truth and Judith Sargent Murray’s On the Equality of the Sexes were written to educate, inform, and to guide women in the right path. Murray and Rowson hoped to change the way women were being seduced by men and the way they were viewed by society and themselves, Susanna Rowson and Judith Sargent Murray saw women’s roles in the early United States similar. In the 1700s women had a basic education of reading and writing and most were trained to become mothers and house wives. Women’s job was to take care of the children at home, cook, clean, and do housework; they were kept from the world. They had no say in politics, government, or legal issues unless their husband allowed them to do so behind the scenes. Susanna Rowson’s motive in writing Charlotte was pure, she wrote â€Å"If the following tale should save one hapless fair one from the errors which ruined poor Charlotte, or rescue from impending misery the heart of one anxious parent, I shall feel a much higher gratification in reflecting on this trifling performance, than could possibly result from the applause which might attend he most elegant finished piece of literature whose tendency might deprave the heart or mislead the understanding. † Rowson wrote Charlotte to try to change the way young women were educated. I believe she wanted parents to teach their daughters that they should listen and pay attention to the advice her parents give her, but also to teach them of the consequences can come if they decide to go in their own path instead of what her parents had planned for her. Susanna Rowson apologized for her novel because everyone expected a happy ending but received the opposite. When Charlotte’s father was on his way for her from England, she passed away after she gave birth to her illegitimate daughter Lucy Temple. Many questioned, why did Charlotte have to die? Rowson wrote, â€Å"The mind of the youth eagerly catches at promised pleasure and innocent by nature, it thinks not of the dangers lurking beneath those pleasures, till too late to avoid them. † I believe the reason Rowson did this was to try to teach young women that there are pros and cons in every decision they make. Rowson’s intentions were to guide young women live the ideal life she believed was meant for a women in the late 1700s. Mademoiselle La Rue’s life was one she approved of; she â€Å"had eloped from a onvent with a young officer, and, on coming to England, had lived with several different men in open defiance of all moral and religious duties†. Even though La Rue had been with several men she was strong and never allowed men to stray away from her path. Mademoiselle had never been seduced by a man. Susanna Rowson’s believed in order for a young women to grow up and have the ideal life, she should not only listen to her parents but also do as they say. Women in the 1700s were only given a basic education and trained to be housewives. Judith Sargent Murray’s On the Equality of the Sexes was written to give women the education they deserved and needed. Murray felt that women were capable of doing more than housework; she believed they could do the same as men if not to be better than them. To prove that women and men were equal and should be getting the same education she questions, â€Å"May not the intellectual powers be ranged under these four heads- imagination, reason, memory, and judgment? † As the Enlighten women she gave evidence to everything she said or wrote. She proved that men and women had the same capability to imagine. She wrote â€Å"but as proofs of a creative faculty, of a lively imagination†, Murray’s evidence that women had an imagination was gossiping. If women didn’t have an imagination how would they be able to come up with such interesting rumors and gossip? Murray goes on to say, â€Å"Are we deficient in reason? We can only reason from what we know, and if an opportunity of acquiring knowledge hath been denied us, the inferiority of our sex cannot fairly be deduced from thence. † She is saying if they teach women physics, psychology, and other subjects besides the basics they can prove they have the same power of reasoning as men. She then proves that women also have the power of memory, because women memorize stories and share them with others. Murray wrote, â€Å"Female would become discreet, their judgment would be invigorated, and their partners for life being circumspectly chosen, an unhappy Hymen would then be as rare as is now the reverse. † She believed if women had the same education as men, women would be not only smart but also better wives. Murray believed that everyone was born equal but society taught them that they were different. To prove that equality is given by nature she questions, â€Å"Will it be said that the judgment of a male of two year old is more sage than that of a female’s of the same age? † She compared two year olds to prove that they are equal until they get to school. Once in school society doesn’t allow women to have the same opportunity to learn. They are automatically put in different schools where they are taught different material. She goes on to say â€Å"How is the one exalted and the other depressed by the contrary modes of education which are adopted! The one is taught to aspire and the other is early confined and limited. Women are limited and that is why they do not have the same knowledge as men do. She believed women should not only get educated on not being seduced by men but also felt that they should have the same education as men. Murray believed women should have the same opportunity as men in society. Women should be able to independently provide for themselves, but due to lack of education they were not allowed to do so. Murray brings religion into her essay when she writes, â€Å"our souls by nature equal to yours; the same breath of God animates, enlivens, and invigorates us†. She proves that men are no different from women when they came into this world. God took the same breath into both men and women so what makes men better? Susanna Rowson and Judith Sargent Murray both intended to reach, like Rowson wrote, the â€Å"young and thoughtless of the fair sex†. When she wrote Charlotte: A Tale of Truth, she wanted to protect vulnerable young women from doing the wrong thing. She wrote, â€Å"Oh my dear girls—for to such only am I writing—listen not to the voice of love, unless sanctioned by paternal approbation: be assured, it is now past the days of romance. Rowson felt that women should know some of the basics to protect themself from rakes, and wanted to teach them to marry the right man. She felt as if young women were easily seduced by men. She warns the reader by writing â€Å"In affairs of love, a young heart is never in more danger than when attempted by a handsome young soldier. † For example, Charlotte decided to rebel against her parents and became romantically involved with Montraville, a man her parents disapproved of. Charlotte was a young naive 15 year old girl that got seduced by an attractive man that promised â€Å"the world† to her. He promised to marry her but instead, took her to New York, and then he abandoned her and their unborn child. Charlotte’s fate went bad when she decided to follow her heart instead of her parents. She was seduced and betrayed by the man she fell deeply in love with, this is what Rowson was trying to prevent in the lives of her young readers. In Part II of Judith Sargent Murray’s essay she wrote, â€Å"Praise is sweet to the soul; we are immediately intoxicated by large draughts of flattery, which being plentifully administered, is to the pride of our hearts the most acceptable incenses. In Murray’s essay she writes that women were seduced by men with their intellectuals. She felt that women should be educated on how not to be tempted when a man tried to seduce her. Rowson and Murray both believed that women should be educated on how to avoid falling into temptation and how to save their reputation. In the late 1700’s women were seen as the temptress and p unished for seducing men. But why is it okay that men are allowed to tempt women and get away with it? In Charlotte, Rowson tries to inform everyone that men are the temptress, not women. Charlotte falls for Montraville’s lies and betrayal because she had sympathy for him. Rowson stopped her story to put her input about women being too compassionate, â€Å"when once she has lost sight of the basis on which reputation, honor, everything that should be dear to the female heart, rest, she grows hardened in guilt, will spare no pains to bring ceeds from that diabolical spirit of envy†. Men know that once women start feeling sympathy for someone they drop the wall that they was there to protect them from becoming the fallen woman, Rowson and Murray wanted this to change. Judith Sargent Murray and Susanna Rowson were smart women that wanted young women to be educated. They differed on their opinions on how much education a woman should have. Murray believed that women should have the same education as men, and Rowson believed there was a limit on the amount of education a woman should receive. Both believed that young women should be educated to the extent where they did not fall into temptation and be marked as a temptress. In their stories they gave proof of what they believed should be done and why.

St Augustine essays

St Augustine essays While still a boy St. Augustine reminds us of just an ordinary rebellious kid. He finds no meaning with the baptism of his friend. In a way he mocks God and the miracles that God performs. In doing so, he is punished by having his close friend die. I think a good representation of this is Poisons song called Every Rose has Its Thorn. The lyrics say Every rose has its thorn. Just like every night has its dawn, just like a cowboy sings a sad, sad song. The lyrics represent St. Augustines journey of loss and death. He learns from his own mistakes and tries to make the best out of things, but he did take advantage of his friendship and God saw it as a lesson to punish him for taking things for granted. By book six, St. Augustine abandons his beliefs of the Manichaean and pursues to be a Catholic Christian. He is rescued from falsehood, even though not yet attained the truth. I see this as him growing into a man and taking responsibilities for his prior immaturity. He still explores the extent of his faith, even though he has learned much he still cannot control his hormonal drive. I considered Ambrose himself, who was honored by people of such importance, a lucky man by worldly standards; only his celibacy seemed to me rather a burden to bear. I think the lack of his parents discipline reflects a lot on St. Augustines character. If his parents were there for him more I think he wouldnt ponder so much about everything. ...

Overview of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen essays

Overview of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen essays Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice is a lighthearted tale of love and marriage in eighteenth-century England. It centers on the elder sisters of the Bennet family, Jane and Elizabeth. Their personalities, misunderstandings and the roles of pride and prejudice play a large part in the development of their individual relationships. The spirited Elizabeth and softhearted Jane have to deal with not only their own feelings but also the status of their family, both of which affect the outcomes of their prospective marriages. Pride and Prejudice is an apt name for the book. These notions permeate the novel thoroughly, especially in the views of Elizabeth and Darcy. Jane's temperance does not allow for these qualities to exist in her personality. Our first introduction to pride and prejudice is at a ball Mr.Bingley throws. His sisters and a dear friend of his, Mr.Darcy, accompany him. Mr. Darcy is characterized as a proud, haughty, arrogant man and ends up almost immediately alienating himself from the townspeople. This opinion arises after he refuses to dance with the young ladies who have attended the ball and his obvious reluctance to talk to anyone. His pride was said to come from his extreme wealth. Eighteenth-century England was quite preoccupied with status, especially concerning wealth and reputation. Darcy's reluctance to speak with anyone stemmed from his lack of respect for anyone outside his close-knit circle. His good breeding was obvious only to those whom he knew well. Elizabeth is p rejudiced against Darcy for entirely different reasons. She received information that was one-sided and made unfair assumptions on Darcy's character. She prejudged him; combining the superficial view she had of him and some rumors. The roles of pride and prejudice can be summed up in the exchange between Darcy and Elizabeth after he proposed. Darcy clearly defines the reasons for his prejudice: "Could you expect me to rejoice in ...

Part a is online discussion (hiring for fit ) and part b is case study Essay

Part a is online discussion (hiring for fit ) and part b is case study - Essay Example This current selection approach has been noted to be effective because it is targeted on specific behaviors that enhance diversity, which in turn increases person-organization fit. 2. The organization has already spent resources to plan and implement training for employees. It would be important to review the effect of the training on staff motivation. If the training has been effective, employees should exhibit improvement in their motivation. However, since there has been no improvement, the evaluation could fault the training. Thus, the second option would be to revise the current training so as to have an effective one. Intervention topics type of training would be appropriate for this case since the objective is to improve employee motivation and subsequently customer service. Making the training off-the-job would enhance concentration among the employees as noted by Fried and Fottler (250) thus increase the likelihood of meeting the intended objectives. Since it would be conducted in small groups so as not to interrupt normal operations, group discussions would be beneficial for idea

Distributed Database Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Distributed Database - Essay Example Best customers are those who subscribe to 7day, 52week, EZPay {automatic payment from credit card} subscriptions. 2. Existance in the marketplace and we have touched them. By building "complete" universe of households with extended demographics, and by attaching "touch" or contact histories to individuals, can determine what is working on what types of customers (and what isn't working). We need to build touch history over time. Value increase as more history is accumulated. 3. We build a loyalty model based on a subscriber's payment history. Loyalty can be defined as overall duration as subscriber, number of consecutive payments (with unbroken service), etc. We can then create a profile of a "loyal" subscriber and more effectively identify likely churners vs. likely loyal subscribers. This is a very important step in the data warehousing project, as the foundation of the data warehousing system is the data model. A good data model will allow the data warehousing system to grow easily, as well as allowing for good performance. In data warehousing project, the logical data model is built based on user requirements, and then it is translated into the physical data model. This project uses Dimensional modeling, which is the name of the logical design technique often used for data warehouses. It is different from entity-relationship modeling.Entity relationship modeling is a logical design technique that seeks to eliminate data redundancy while Dimensional modeling seeks to present data in a standard framework that is intuitive and allows for high-performance access. Every dimensional model is composed of one table with a multi part key, called the fact table, and a set of smaller tables called dimensional tables. Each dimension table has a single part primary key that corresponds exactly to one of the components of the multi part key in the fact table. This characteristic star like structure is often called a star join. A fact table, because it has a multi part key made up of two or more foreign keys always expresses a many-to-many relationship. The