Does urea formation have a feedback inhibition mechanism Explain the Essay

Does urea formation have a feedback inhibition mechanism Explain the why or why not - Essay Example Carbomyl phosphate synthase I acts as the rate limiting enzyme in urea cycle. N-acetylglutamate allosterically activates it thus lowering its Km for protein synthesis. Carbomyl Phosphate Synthase I binds with the primary ATP molecule and converts into a vigorous conformation. It then changes into a second form by binding with N-acetylglutamate thus enhancing its own ATP affinity. As a result, a phosphate group is transferred from a subsequent ATP to the enzyme bound carbamate. This changes the carbamate to carbomyl phosphate. This happens according to the Rubio-Britton-Grisolia model. Hence, it is seen that hepatic N-acetylglutamate controls the rate of protein synthesis in the urea cycle, by regulating its rate-limiting enzyme allosterically (Das 475). Arginine does not cause feedback inhibition of Carbomyl PS-1 or OTC but stimulates the activity of acetylglutamate synthetase. However, according to Snodgrass (67), â€Å"in bacteria and fungi, arginine inhibits conversion of glutamate to acetylglutamate†. Also, only at high concentration levels, orthinine transcarbomylase and argininosuccinate synthase undergo feedback inhibition mechanism by citrulline and argininosuccinate, which are their respective

Marshall McLuhans Theory Essay Example for Free

Marshall McLuhans Theory Essay How might Marshall McLuhans theory of hot and cold media be used to explain the surge of interest in mobile technology, especially text and picture messaging? Any invention or technology is an extension or self-amputation of our physical bodies, and such extension also demands new ratios or new equilibriums among the other organs and extensions of the body, Marshall McLuhan in Understanding Media (1964, p43). A comment which has possibly never been truer than when understood with regard to a mobile phone. McLuhans theories have recently been given new life with the onset of the Internet; however, they can also be usefully applied to the massive explosion of mobile technology. Given it is a medium which some may consider to be cool; its impact on society has been immeasurable. In todays society it is difficult to meet a person between the ages of fifteen and fifty who do not own a mobile phone. Like televisions, it is the electronic accessory of the moment and it is advancing fast. Only five years ago text messaging was in its infancy and not all phones offered it; picture messaging was unheard of. Nowadays picture messaging is very much here and already the technology has moved towards video messaging. Some mobile phones would be more accurately described as hand held computers as the telephony is only a fraction of its capabilities and often not even its main function. As with most mobile phones the main function consumers use is text messaging. According to McLuhan in Understanding Media (1964) the advent of a hot explosive medium can cause drastic changes to politics and society. This can be seen in the effects that such technology has had on not only the telephone but the way people communicate in day to day life. However, when contrasted with a hot medium such as television or cinema, text and picture messaging are comparatively cool. They provide far less information and demand more participation from the receiver to fill in the gaps. Pictures received in messages are only small and very symbolic rather than detailed. There is also only limited space for text and language is often limited to abbreviations and annotation. Of course when compared to the standard telephone, mobile technology is considerably hotter, however, in order to stay within McLuhans theory, and for the medium to cause such a change in society, one would assume that the medium itself would need to be hotter. Such a change could be better explained and explored by the theories of Roland Barthes, particularly his writings on myths and semiotics. In a collection of articles entitled Mythologies (1973) Barthes explores practical objects and their cultural meanings. Examining such objects as cars and haircuts he scrutinizes the signifiers and signs that they contain. Barthes begins by making explicit the meanings of apparently neutral objects and then moves on to consider the social and historical conditions they obscure (McNeill 1996). He examined cars, comparing them to Gothic cathedrals, due to their uses over and above their basic functions. Cars carry status and tell a lot about the person who owns them (Barthes 1973). Such meanings can also easily be drawn from mobile phones. Far more useful than assessing whether or not they are hot or cold, deeper more analytical conclusions can be derived from Barthes methods. By examining the semiotics of the medium its position in society and cultu re and its effects could be estimated. In Mythologies (1973) he argued that myth was a mode of signification. He argued that in myth, the link between the signifier and the signified was motivatedso that a culturally constructed sign becomes a signifier, thus allowing what is signified to become naturalised (Hartley 2002). Hartley goes on to apply this theory to brand named sports wear and their attached meanings. Such an application could be used with mobile technology as not only are there many different mobile phones with different functions but many different brands. Nokia, in particular, as the apparently leading brand, has different model phones which contain different signifiers. Some appear fun and contain lots of features and gadgets; others appear sophisticated and look sleek and small. Others exist for practical purposes for uses who are less taken by mobile phone culture. Given the huge range of choice on offer, not just by Nokia but all brands, the decision of which phone to purchase is an active one which takes serious contemplation. More can be said for a person who uses pictu re messaging. Society has not quite reached a stage where its considered a necessity like text messaging so those who do use it are those who are particularly interested in the culture. More so as these phones and messages cost more it signifies how much money a person has or at least how they prioritise their spending. More meanings could be drawn from how often a person uses their phone and how many different people they know who can accept picture messages. Barthes also wrote about Text itself and its semiotics, arguing that words are strong and can be used as political weapons, as they have been in post World War II politics. He charts the beginning of the moment of the text as 1968 (Hartley 2002). This seems to have affected the whole of society as people now talk to each other less, preferring to e-mail or send text or picture messages. McLuhan has commented on discourse and text. According to a website called Marshall McLuhan: spinning the web of the future, accessed 13/12/03 specifically, McLuhan feels that the best way to convey information between two people is to maximize the use of the senses[therefore] ancient oral civilizations appeared to have the greatest and most clear form of communication. That is not the written word, but the spoken. This has, however, been criticised by Miller (1971) who disagrees with this assumption because he feels that humanity has evolved with technology and that this is not necessarily a bad thin g. The reality is that further technological advances have given humanity the ability to communicate using mediums that are essentially extensions of the spoken word. McLuhan expressed concern over the effects of technology and its result in the loss of human identity, although he did not see it as a bad thing, it was something to be maintained and supervised. His concerns could be justified, however, in that nowadays people talk to each other less, preferring to communicate by the written, or typed, word. Concern should probably not to be so extreme as to fear the breakdown of society but it has seriously affected how we communicate and what we now spend our money on. According to McLuhan in Understanding Media (1964) intense, hot media needs to be cooled off by our senses before it can be assimilated. Possibly then the appeal of the text and picture message is that they are easier to take in on a sensory level. They are quick, take only seconds to read and write and enough time is given to process the information between each message and response. Radio and cinema act as an assault on the senses demanding that attention be paid in order to take it all in, although fewer gaps need to be filled. In two-way communication, however, it allows the user time to consider their response and therefore reduces the risk of saying something which one may regret later. If we put together the two theories of McLuhan and Barthes it is possible to achieve composite critique of the phenomenon of mobile technology. Although much of what was written by, particularly McLuhan, has been excessively criticised, some disregard it all together, he makes some points which are useful when examining this area of contemporary media and technology. Using McLuhan to explore the more technical aspects of text and picture messaging, suggesting why it may be so popular. Due to its being hotter than a normal telephone it is likely to be the next step in technology and its convenience makes it so popular. Also fact that it is cooler than other direct forms of media and allows more time and less information for the brain to process ensures it is easier on our senses. Its very presence has caused an upheaval in our society and we have taken the next cultural and technological step in our ever progressing development. Barthes, on the other hand, we can look to for inspiration in analysing the cultural aspects of such communication technology and what it means. Using his methodology of examining mobile phones for signs and signifiers many conclusions can be drawn. As phones differ widely in style and in what features they contain each person can be judged on the phone they own, or the phone they wished they owned. Someone who has a phone that looks good, rather than containing many features is clearly saying something about the way in which they want to present themselves. Furthermore, a person who cares less about how the phone looks and more about what it does suggests something else. Most phones which contain more features, particularly a camera are usually larger and look less neat than those with fewer features. Phones that can be used to record short pieces of film or watch videos on are bigger still yet there are already people who own them. Such people may be looking for a phone with more f unctional value, as well as their having an interest in gadgets. That said, however, we can assume they gain intrinsic pleasure from showing a person what their, apparently less attractive, phone can do. We could also assume that such people wish to be ahead of technology and enjoy being one of the first to own such items. Near enough all young people own mobile phones and few would deny that they gain pleasure and enjoyment from them. Texting has become a common, everyday form of communication; one that did not exist during the lifetimes of Marshall McLuhan or Roland Barthes and it can be assumed that neither would have anticipated this surge in technology. Both would express concern at its immense popularity as it risks people becoming less sociable and having less actual conversation. Another side to that argument, however, could be that it increases human interaction, it just takes place in a different way. People can now contact their family, friends and acquaintances much easier and faster. To send a text message to say hello is far quicker and easier than making a phone call which could result in lengthy conversation. Whereas once a person may have decided against the phone call for that reason they will now send a text message. It is probably safe to say that, given that human beings are an inn ately social species, and indulge in conversation for pleasurable as well as functional purposes that if what they desire is a conversation then that will be sought above a text message. It is hard to predict where society and culture will go with this ever increasing technological development. In the next year or so we can assume that videophone will become much more popular and that mobile phones will continue to develop into small computers than phones. Living in a century where convenience is emphasised and encouraged and our lives are busier it is likely that less face to face interaction will take place however with the help of the mobile phone we can avoid losing contact altogether.

The appointment of Silvio Napoli at Schindler India

The appointment of Silvio Napoli at Schindler India The decision to choose Silvio Napoli as the general manager for Schindler India was not right. For status, his character and way of doing business was such that he used to dictate what to be done. The worrier character was not good for India where people are open minded. He did not have any international experience. Napoli ought to have been taken through some training before being assigned the job in India. Schindler also had very high expectation because Napoli believed that the company was to grow at a very fast rate in the first five years. Unfortunately this did not happen. Schinders target was to sell 50 units in the first year and occupy 20% of the market share after five years. There are however instances when Napoli made reasonable decisions in his role as general manager. Selecting a team of experienced members was one such instance. Adding buy-ins onto the companys business model was also a wise step. It was however very unwise of him to relocate his family at the same time when he was to begin his work as a general manager. So much time was wasted dealing with personal issues making him lack the much needed concentration. Rejecting to make alterations in the business plan when need arose was also a negative decision. The increase in transfer rates and imports rates from 22% to 56% was a big blow to the company but it was a good idea to turn to outsourcing strategy. The lack of urgency by the Europe plant to the needs of the India plant was also discouraging. Napoli should therefore have reported the matter to Mr. Schindler so that he could use his power to make the plans work out faster. Did Schindler make the right choice in selecting Silvio Napoli as general manager for India? Schindler must have made the worst choice in selecting Silvio Napoli to be their general manager in India. As much as he might have had success in Switzerland, India was a new world that had its own way of doing business. Its no doubt that Napoli was an MBA graduate from Harvard Business School but in business there is more to offer than the mere knowledge. Besides heading such a huge firm, the company ought to have selected an individual with international experience in the real world. Its a nice thing that he was successful in Switzerland but there were still many aspects that Schindler had to consider. To begin with, Napolis management style was not applicable in India. He is one person who believes that people have to follow what he says and he calls all the shots. He must have developed this form of leadership from the culture in Swtizerland where hierarchy was very clear. For instance Napoli recalls that when he began his first job in Sweden, the employees were very responsive to anything he requested. This is just a confirmation that the leaders were very much feared in Switzerland. One of the employees even says He was the assistant to Mr. Schindler, so I knew Id better be nice to him. It must have been the culture in Switzerland to tread carefully with those in leadership. Unfortunately Napoli transferred this culture to India without really understanding that this was a different country with different traditions. It is common for a businessman to confront a new culture by thinking that his way was the best way. This is exactly what Napoli did. From the study, he says he had to adapt his way of management which did not succeed. Schindler ought to have taken Napoli through some management training before giving him a job in a different country. The most important area that needed training was the issue of building relationships. Indians have a very different way of doing business since they value good relationships before anything else. For one to succeed in doing business in India, he has to understand that trust is a very important virtue for them. This is an area where Napoli definitely failed since be imposed his own way of management. Moreover, in India everybody is very respective of his position and duties. For instance moving a desk in the office can not be done by anyone else other than the peon. The best general manager had to be an individual who could change his behavior under different circumstances depending on the situation. It would therefore been a good idea for the company to take some of its managers through some kind of mentality test so as to determine the best man for the position. The general manager makes very important decisions for the company and therefore should understand his employees. A good organizational culture is also very important for any company. The general manager should therefore be capable of creating good relationship between employees and the leadership as well as amongst the employees. This is where Napoli went totally wrong. His colleagues describe him as impatient, impulsive and over-communicative on some occasions. If fellow workmates can say this about their general manager then there must be a very big problem. The expectations of Schindler were very high since it needed to grow very fast within a short period of time. With Napolis character: impulsive, impatient and so on, it would most probably take a very long time before the Indian branch stabilized and began making the required profits. Schindlers expectations were to make sales of about 50 units during the first year of business and acquire 20% market share in the first five years. These are definitely high expectations for an individual who had very little experience in international business. The company should have chosen a general manager who had worked for the company for a longer time and had the experience of working in various countries or various cultures. Just like in Switzerland where Napoli was answerable to the CEO, it would have been better if the company had done the same in India. It even appears that it was obvious that Napoli was not fit for the job in India. In the case study, one of his colleagues says He wants eve rything done yesterday and in India things dont get done yesterday. This is a clear indication that Napolis character was not compatible with the culture in India. Looking at the whole study, the main problem seemed to be on poor leadership. This is enough proof that Napoli was not fit for the job. On several occasions he was seen to underestimate the potential of his management team and yet he had hired them for the same job of providing advice. For instance when he realized that the team had taken an order for custom glass pod elevators, he rejected the order because he claimed that it was a violation of the companys strategy. Remember this was a decision from a team he had picked because he needed assistance from the members. On another occasion he rejected another offer to equip a government building in Mumbai with glass walled elevators. Team members insisted that it was only a minor modification of their S001 model but Napoli insisted that it would be difficult for a new team to install the elevators. A good general manager should be one who can accept challenges and be ready to take up the job as long as it is for the good of the company . Similarly he should be able to accept the views of his management team because this is what they are paid for. There is no need in having a team whose views do not count on any occasion. He dictated all that was to be done. As Luc Bonnard, how would you evaluate Silvios first seven months as general manager of the Indian company? What advice would you offer? Even though there were negative attributes with Silvios performance, it is worth saying that he also showed very positive performance on some occasions. For instance he was very logical in selecting his management team. His plan was well thought since he understood the kind of environment he was working in. It was therefore wise for him to select his team from a pool of experienced candidates identified by Egon Zehnder. Starting with 42 year old Kara Signh as the managing director, to 33 year old Jujudan Jena who was recruited for the position of chief financial officer, it was wise of him to pick a team of experienced individuals to help him since he lacked the experience. This team would help show the right way by which the company was to follow. Considering the fact that the selected team was from India, they had a clue on what to expect and would therefore provide the best advice. Most importantly, he had a reason for the selection of every member of the team. For instance when picking the chief financial officer, he said You try to see whether the character of the person is compatible with yoursà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(Fagan, Yoshino Bartlett 6). This is an indication that he did not just choose blindly but was looking at very important characteristics. He is justified to do so because if you choose someone that you are not compatible with, it might be difficult to make decisions. A compatible team ensures that there is trust amongst the members and most importantly good relationship or cohesion. Without trust, members will all be in differences and poor working relationships is the last thing one would need for such a company with high expectations. It was also a positive initiative for Silvio to hold a meeting with his teammates to introduce them to one another so that they could know who they were working with. Meeting also helps bring about one on one communication among team members and thereby developing trust among the members. It is through this meeting that members could also share views on how to run the business. Silvio also had the desire to get views from the management team rather than solely relying on his own ideas. Considering that these were people who were to help run the company, it was important that buy-ins from the team were added to Silvios business model right from the word go. On a negative point of view, it was wrong for him to relocate his family when he was supposed to start his work in India. The best option would be for him to either move the family after he had established the company and it had started running or he would have moved the family prior to his commencement of work. There was so much time lost dealing with family issues like the accidents his children had gone through leave alone spending so much time looking for a good place to live. This time could be dedicated to working at the company. Because of his family problems: his child getting cut on the forehead, his wife suffering from food poison and his son breaking his leg made him unsettled and therefore he could not concentrate on his work. There was no single goal that was well executed because her was not settled. He also ought to have accepted to make alterations when the market required that the business plan needed to be altered. The problem with Silvio was that he was so determined to go by his business plan even when it was so obvious that it wont work. For instance his plan suggested that there would be no customization of products. On the other hand, customers reveled that there was no way the standard product line was going to be accepted for the initial orders received by Schindler India. The best advice I would give the company is for its management to reevaluate Schindler Indias business plan. From there, Silvio will have to gain the teams respect and support for the business to run smoothly. The culture back in Switzerland was that you had to respect your leader. This is the reason as to why Silvio earned respect from the companys employees regardless of how tough he was. The situation in India is however different; Silvio has to make sure that he is respected by the management team. His worrier style of management was not doing him any good in India. Perhaps it was time that he learned the monk attributes for him to earn the respect of team members. What advice would you give to Silvio regarding his decision on the non-standard glass wall elevator that has been ordered? Despite the fact that the company was going to make a loss if it accepted the order, Silvio should just go ahead and accept it. The most important thing at this point is for the company to penetrate into the market. Unfortunately, sometimes a business just has to make some loss to benefit from it in another way. The market is dominated by strong competitors and this is the chance to show customers the difference between the Schindler and other competitors. If Silvio can accept the order, the company will most likely be accepted in the market because it provides what the customers need. The company could still end up making profits if Silvio demonstrate reliability, pulls off installation and most importantly provide the customers with superior services than its competitors. Even though its always good for the management to commit itself to the companys business plan, sometimes it calls for adjustments in one way or the other to benefit from market share. At this point the company had not received much entry into the market. By accepting the order to supply a government building with elevators that had glass walls, it will give the company entry into a very important part of the market. The government as an institution adds new buildings every now and then. Supplying the government building with the best elevators, might earn the company more orders when need arise. Customer loyalty is very important in business because it keeps the customers coming back. It also opens for more ways because a good job to a customer will make him inform his friends about the good job you did and this might help the company own a bigger market share. Besides the teams members some of who are experts in the elevator industry understand that the glass-walled elevators was only a modification of the standard product the company had. There is no doubt that it might cost the company a little more but the most important issue is it will still give the company a very good opportunity to penetrate into the market. Silvio should also take up the initiative to inform Mr. Schindler about European plans which are definitely not giving him the support he needs. It was very important for the company to outsource the S001 model to local suppliers immediately. Any details will definitely be disadvantageous to the company. Mr. Schindler needs to be informed about the situation so that he might use his power and position to talk to the Europe plant to quickly respond to the needs of the Indian plant. The increase of rates of import duty from 22% to 56% has a very devastating effect to the companys objective of breaking even. It was very wise for the company to take the alternative idea of outsourcing elevators to local suppliers. This is the spirit of a successful company at this point in time when competition is high. Plans to accelerate the supply of S001 could not be delayed any longer because this was the only available chance for the success of the company. 50 units are enough to make good money fo r the company. Informing the CEO about the delays might see things change. How should he deal with the challenge he is facing over transfer prices and limited technical cooperation from the Europe plants? Both the transfer prices and limited technical cooperation from the Europe plants are serious issues that need immediate attention since they are crippling the company pursue for success. According to the companys business plan, the company was to outsource key logistic and manufacturing function in order to gain the much needed competitive advantage. This is the best way for the company to evade the high import duties charged by India and high transfer prices and most importantly to keep the overhead cost low. The first option he has would be to stick to the plans because this will cut the cost. By doing so, there will be no need to import items from abroad because the company will deal with what is locally available. He should therefore stick to the outsourcing concept because this is the best way to avoid the transfer rates and high import rates. However, since the European plant seems to be slow in responding to Schindler Indias needs, it would be better for Silvio to inform Mr. Schindler about the issue. With his position and power, he is most likely to make the European companies to harry up. On the other hand if he kept quite, all the blame will be upon him, and the compny will lose out on its desire to own 20 % of the market share. One of the responsibilities of a general manager is to discuss the companys policies and strategies with the top management. The final approval comes from top management. In this situation, Mr. Schindler should be informed about the delays because he is in a better position to deal with the European plants. Time is of the essence for the company and it cannot afford to waste any single minute if it is to remain competitive in the market. All its competitors must be looking for ways to cut down on their overall costs. The best company will therefore be that which acts quickly and respond to the needs of the customers. Unfortunately, issues to do with increase in transfer rates or import duties do not concern the customers. For them, the most important thing is getting the best products at reasonable prices. It is however, still important that Schindler India maintains good relationship with the companys plant in Europe because these are parts of one family. There is no need Silvio to make the managers of the plant in Europe to look incompetent. It is important that he reports the matter to the CEO in a manner that would not make the management of the Europe plant look incompetent. There might be some miscommunication or some technical problem that was beyond the control of the management team of the plant. In business sometimes things happen beyond the control of the management team but the most important thing is how the team deals with it. Its good that Alfred Schindler understands that the business experience in India was similar to that of a battlefield. He also understands that the environment in India was very hostile and calls for the management team to be tough. The sudden increase in transfer rates is an example of the hostile environment. It calls for Silvio to remain calm and deal with the issue in the right way. A direct communication with the general manager of the Europe plant could also have been of importance. The best mode of communication would be to call him directly other than using mails or talking to other members of the management team. Alternatively he would have taken a fight to the Europe plant to find out what the issue really was. A good general manager should act fast to make corrections whenever necessary. It is of no help for him to remain in India and keep waiting for response from Europe. Urgent issues need urgent response and this was an urgent issue that ought to be solved immediately. What action should Luc Bonnard take with Napoli moving forward? Looking at Napolis profile, he seems to posses the much needed knowledge to run a business. He needs to understand that every environment has its own way of doing business. To begin with Napoli needs to be taken for some serious training on how to conduct business in different countries or cultures. It is not just enough to base the success of an individual on his educational background, his character or his performance in one project. There is no doubt that Napoli was successful in Switzerland. But this is India and not Switzerland. Moreover, in Switzerland he used to report to the CEO and the Swiss culture was such that employees were very cautious when dealing with people in top management positions. However, the culture was totally different. For instance unlike in Switzerland where a young veteran said He was the assistant to Mr. Schindler, so I knew Id better be nice to him, the situation totally different in Indi(Fagan, Yoshino Bartlett 3). The first question he was asked by M.K was who are your friends inside the company? Who doesnt like you?Fagan, Yoshino Bartlett 5) This implies that Indians are much brave and would speak their minds out. Other than training he also needs to shade his worrier character and pick up the monk character. Luc Bonnard should therefore make sure that Napoli looks at his business plan afresh. Together with his management team, Napoli should re-evaluate the companys aspirations since the business model seemed to be over ambitious. For instance it stated that the company was to make a high level growth by the end of its first five years in the market. What he did not understand was that the market environment in India was unpredictable and you have to use the first year to learn before making conclusive plans. Similarly, the business model the company went for had never been attempted in India. Even though its wise to come up with new ideas in business, a research has to be done before putting the idea to practice. Focusing on the standardized elevators was not a wise move because it had never been done before. There is a need for a business model to be flexible if a company is to succeed in any competitive market. This is also an area that Bonnard should ensure that Napoli readjusts in hi s business model. The biggest obstacle to Schindler India success has to be Napolis business model. If he has to continue as at general manager, Bonnard should also ensure that this obstacle is conquered for the company to register any growth. Bonnard should also ask Napoli to reevaluate his management team. To be specific, the chief financial officer needs to pull up his socks. It is the responsibility of the chief financial officer to evaluate the market situations and predict any possible changes to come in future. He seems to have failed on this part because it was his responsibility to inform the company in advance about the changes in transfer prices and export. The idea of using outsourcing as a strategy to go past the problem of increased transfer and import rates seemed to have backfired. Advice on money matters should be addressed by the chief financial officer and therefore he must have been the source of this strategy. Apart from Jena Jujudhan, he does not seem to have enough experience to control financial matters of an international company under pressure of establishing itself in a new market. Although it might not be wise to suck a general manager after such a short time, this might also be a good solution for the company. Another experienced member could be given the mandate to run the plant in India while Napoli could be returned to Switzerland where he seems to be successful. As the Vice President, Bonnard should also consider teaming up with a local elevator company because it might have an understanding of how the market in India works. By going into the new market without merging with any other company, it proved to be a little bit difficult. Even though the management team was made up of experienced members who had worked in India, this was not enough. All of them were from different companies and therefore had different strategies. Bonnard should therefore consider merging with a local company in order to benefit from some of its customers.

Walden - The American Economy :: Thoreau Walden Essays

Walden - The American Economy When the American people think of the word economy; money and the government often come to mind. In Greek Eco means the household and Nomy means to manage something. So why do American's tend to think of money and ownership when they think of the word "Economy?" Are Americans mearly living a career or are they living some other narrowly focused routine? Is a worthwhile lifestyle being lived? In Walden by Henry David Thoreau, Thoreau describes what is wrong with the American culture and society and how solitude can make the human pure. Thoreau sets out to build a house in the woods to try and demonstrate that every person can live a simple life. When he begins his stay at Walden Pond he only has an ax that he has borrowed. His house is built and he moves in on July 4, 1845 (420).. He becomes very familiar with nature and his surroundings and less familiar with the humane society. According to Moss, "He views the ponds as pure, sacred wells and as places for spirtual renewal" (421). He feels that the soal needs to be cleansed in order to discover the real meaning of life and be able to enjoy it. Too many people are content with the surface of life and merely following tradition. Thoreau wants people to look deeper into nature. Throughout Throreau's stay at Walden Pond, he encourages America to take a deeper look at life. Thoreau begins his essay with an explanation of exactly why he went to stay at Walen Pond. Joyce Moss writes, "He went out to live in the wilderness by himself- to demonstrate that it is possible to

Issues in Testing Very Young Children

Testing children has grown both more aggressive and widespread in recent times as concerning issues have arisen as to the pressure these tests and parents put into a child. In fact some kindergartens have been testing children before enrolling them. This might be appropiate for college but for children! In my opinion that’s just too aggressive teachers! Surprisingly this type of testing has occurred for a long time. What’s really surprising is that this has been going on for the past 30 or so years ever since educational testing first became popular in the early 1900’s. However while noting that some early childhood testing were usefull, researchers have pointed out that tests tend to be more or less reliable at very early ages. This and other concerns have led to some changed in thinking and practice over the years. In 1998, a group of experts reviewed existing research and practice on the assessment of young children and recommended that: â€Å"†¦screening tests should not be used as readiness tests to exclude children from school; they should not be used to track children by ability in kindergarten and first grade; and they should not be used to plan instruction unless a valid relationship with local curricula has been established. † The cautions of the previously mentioned researchers resulted in the delaying of tests in most public schools until the 3rd grade. The 2011 No child left behind act required school testing in mathematics, reading/language arts and science, starting the third grade. Nonetheless, a number of private schools, including religious schools, do require entering kindergarteners to pass a test as part of their admission requirements. An example is N. E. S who require 4th graders to take a test onto which they place them later on in 5th and 6th grades in different mathematic sets. Furthermore at 6th grade, 6th graders are required to take another test of both English and mathematics to determine later levels in those areas in N. E. S’s high school also known as their ‘Senior’ department. What guidelines have been established for assessing young children? In 1998, the ‘goal 1’ childhood assessment resource group recommended to the national education goals panel the following guidelines for the assessment of young children: 1. Before age 8, standardized achievement measures are not sufficiently accurate to be used for high stakes decision-making about individual children and schools. Therefore, high-stakes assessments intended for accountability purposes should be delayed until the end of third grade (or preferably fourth grade). . †¦[prior to the third grade] policymakers at the state and district level could reasonably require that teachers and the schools have procedures in place to monitor student progress using instructionally relevant assessments, and that schools have a plan for providing intensified special help if children are having difficulty, especially learning t o read. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) offers a general rule for testing young children: The purpose of testing must be to improve services for children and ensure that children benefit from their educational experiences. † Specific NAEYC guidelines support the use of more than just test scores for assessing young children. They emphasize that decisions that have a major impact on children, such as enrollment, retention, or assignment to remedial or special classes, should be based on multiple sources of information and should never be based on a single test score. Resources: 1)NAEYC –http://www. naeyc. org/– 2)Wiki 3)Google

Science vs. Romanticism

Science/technology and Romanticism I believe that there is a balance that exists between science and romanticism because everybody will eventually have to view something in a scientific way, whether it is a particular profession or simply an activity which they are in contact with every day. That being said, one particular occupation is not all inclusive, so not everybody will see scientifically or technologically about the same items or activities.For example, Mark Twain said, â€Å"No, the romance and beauty were all gone from the river,† to show that what he once felt about the glorious river had now vanished due to his job as a riverboat pilot, where he trades the knowledge of the river for its beauty. In the same way he talked about a doctor; â€Å"what does a lovely flush in a beauty cheeks mean to a doctor but a â€Å"break† that ripples above some deadly disease? The doctor reads the beauty of the girl for the knowledge that he uses in his medical practice. The re is a balance between Mark Twain and the doctor because Twain still sees the beauty in the girl, and the doctor continues to see and understand the â€Å"romance and beauty' of the river. Though each perceives their respective activities in a scientific way, they can offset each other because neither sees the technological side of everything.In a way, a person in our society takes a certain career pathway or a pacific Job for the exact purpose of allowing others to observe the beauty of these areas of life through their ignorance, while the person taking the Job sacrifices their ignorance for knowledge which, in effect, sucks the beauty out of the profession. The balance that exists between science and romanticism remains because we all see beauty in some things that others see the science in, while others see the beauty that inhabits the things that we can only distinguish the technology and science in.

Free Essays on Gender Roles In The Media

Gender Roles Found in the Media When going through Mc Donald’s drive thru when ordering a Happy Meal, you are face with the question, â€Å"Do you want a girl toy or a boy toy?† Do you ponder the question or just answer immediately according to the sex of your child? Most wouldn’t hesitate and would respond immediately. Is the media having a positive or negative effect on socializing our children into specific gender roles or do you think gender roles are biologically determined? According to much research, various things such as television, toys, jobs, and advertising are constructing gender roles. According to many scientists gender is being learned and is not innate. There are many things found in society that are contributing to this. To begin with, think about television and the portrayals of males and females. The majority of television shows present men as dominant, successful, aggressive, powerful, and more violent than women who are seen as supportive, compliant, sweet, and naà ¯ve. Furthermore, the majority of lead roles found in television and movies are being dominated by men. Their roles are usually much more exciting and interesting. Women are often found working in the house, as a nurse, or as a secretary. Even in recent shows such, as Survivor the men are the ones shown hunting and killing the animals. The women are the ones who stand back with a tear in their eye, taking a moment to feel for the animal being killed. Is this an accurate portrayal of how the women are feeling or is this editing strategy done to appeal to the audience? I think that most of the wo men excluding the vegetarians would be extremely excited about the capture of a wild pig to eat. Cartoons are another important aspect to discuss when talking about television. Female characters are also underprivileged. When they are represented they often have boring roles. An example of this is Wilma from the Flintstones. It was always Fred who had... Free Essays on Gender Roles In The Media Free Essays on Gender Roles In The Media Gender Roles Found in the Media When going through Mc Donald’s drive thru when ordering a Happy Meal, you are face with the question, â€Å"Do you want a girl toy or a boy toy?† Do you ponder the question or just answer immediately according to the sex of your child? Most wouldn’t hesitate and would respond immediately. Is the media having a positive or negative effect on socializing our children into specific gender roles or do you think gender roles are biologically determined? According to much research, various things such as television, toys, jobs, and advertising are constructing gender roles. According to many scientists gender is being learned and is not innate. There are many things found in society that are contributing to this. To begin with, think about television and the portrayals of males and females. The majority of television shows present men as dominant, successful, aggressive, powerful, and more violent than women who are seen as supportive, compliant, sweet, and naà ¯ve. Furthermore, the majority of lead roles found in television and movies are being dominated by men. Their roles are usually much more exciting and interesting. Women are often found working in the house, as a nurse, or as a secretary. Even in recent shows such, as Survivor the men are the ones shown hunting and killing the animals. The women are the ones who stand back with a tear in their eye, taking a moment to feel for the animal being killed. Is this an accurate portrayal of how the women are feeling or is this editing strategy done to appeal to the audience? I think that most of the wo men excluding the vegetarians would be extremely excited about the capture of a wild pig to eat. Cartoons are another important aspect to discuss when talking about television. Female characters are also underprivileged. When they are represented they often have boring roles. An example of this is Wilma from the Flintstones. It was always Fred who had...

Write the Nonfiction Book Proposal Before Writing the Book

Write the Nonfiction Book Proposal Before Writing the Book I finished a manuscript, set it aside for a month, then read it again. But I never even tried to publish it. Why not? Because as brilliant as it was (well, I thought so and so did my mother), it was doomed because it had no point. The book, overflowing with insightful arguments and powerfully constructed sentences, was like a new pencil whose value lies not in what it is but in what it will do for a buyer. Without a point, neither pencils nor books have much reason to inspire their purchase. I should have considered that before I wrote even one chapter. The commercial value of what we write must not be an afterthought. That is why nonfiction publishers require a book proposal and why you should, too, even when youre the publisher. We write a book proposal to convince our publisher (and ourselves) that this book is a good idea and promises to be a good seller. The details, features, and benefits of the book discovered while writing the proposal will be the core components of your marketing campaign, so it accomplishes two things at one time. Looking at our idea through the lens of reality, the proposal asks and answers three compelling questions. Can this book find a market? Will it appeal to that market? Does it have what it takes to sell? Why a book proposal? 1.          Because we take our time and talent seriously. We cant afford to squander valuable time on a doomed project. We write to make money. Writing something for which there is no market, or for a market that is too small or that will not or cannot pay makes no sense. 2.         To find the angle. It defines how your book differs from other books in the genre. 3.         To establish why we are the best person to write it. We tend to exaggerate or underestimate ourselves. A book proposal establishes and clarifies our qualifications. 4.         To ensure there is a marketable point.   Nonfiction readers only buy solutions, answers, or fulfillment. What problem does my book solve? What question does it answer? What dream does it fulfill? 5.         To think in specific terms. WHAT will I write? WHO will read it? WHAT will it do for those readers? WHERE can they be found online and offline? HOW do I get to them? HOW do I help them find me? HOW do I convince them to buy my book? 6.         To create an action plan. All the data in the world does little good unless it forms into a plan. Publishers demand one, and if you are the publisher, you should demand one, too. Promotion and marketing reach buyers. The plan considers how to find them and how to persuade them. Whats in a book proposal?  ¦    Overview  ¦    Marketing Promotion Plan  ¦    Competing Books  ¦    Authors

Business Strategies And Objectives Of Next Economics Essay

Business Strategies And Objectives Of Next Economics Essay Next is a UK based retailer with its Headquarters in Leicester, UK and offer wide variety of brilliantly designed, outstanding quality of trend and accessories for men, women and children collectively with a full variety of home ware (Next Plc). In 1864 it was founded by J. Hepworth & Son under the name of Gentlemanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²s Tailors (Next Plc 2011) Next is the oldest company which has been trading for nearly 150 years and was initially created in 1982. Most recently Next was established as authorized Clothing and Home ware supplier to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics. Next will also supply outfit for Team GB for the opening and closing ceremonies, and will fabricate uniforms for 4,500 technological officials and suits for reception staff and will deliver bed linens and other home textiles for the athletes’ village (Next Plc 2011) . Next owns more than 500 stores in UK. Next has franchises more than 180 stores and active in continental Europe, Scandinavia, Russia , India, Japan and the Middle East. Next provides a directory, it is a home shopping catalogue and website with nearly 3 million active customers and also has an international website capability in more than 30 countries worldwide (Next Plc). Next Plc is listed on the London stock exchange and is part of the FTSE 100 Index. Total revenue for the year ended January 2011 were  £3.5 billion with pre tax profits of  £551 million (Next Plc). Next’s other business groups include (Next 2010): Ventura: Clients wishing to subcontract their consumer contact management and accomplishment activities Venture provides customer service management to them. Lipsy: Through wholesale, retail and internet channels, Lipsy create and sell its own labelled younger women’s trend product. Next sourcing Ltd (NSL): Design sources and buy Next’s products. Business Strategies and objectives of Next The prime financial objective of Next group is delivery of sustainable long term growth i n earning per share (EPS). Next believes the following strategies will help achieve the objectives at its best (Next Plc , january,2011): Maximising the amount of Next Directory consumers and their standard spend. Maintaining group’s financial power through a well-organized balance sheet and financing composition. Managing gross and net margins by continues cost control, well-organized management of stock levels, working capital and improved product sources Developing and improving next product ranges, achievement in which is reflected in total sales and sales performance. Cancelling and Purchasing Next shares while it’s earning are attractive and in the interest of shareholders generally. New stores review must meet challenging financial criteria prior to the investment is ready and achievement is precise by calculating achieved sales and profit contribution against appraised goals (Next Plc , january,2011). Marketing and Marketing Mix Place: Operates in UK and Europe , Middle East (reportlinker 2009,february ). Also operates in Scandinavia, Russia, India and Japan (Next Plc). Next sources operate in mainland China, Honkong, Srilanka, India and UK (Next Plc , january,2011). This show, Next stores are spread globally. Product (or services): Includes womenswear and accessories, menswear, home interiors, childrenswear, Next flowers, NX sports, electrical, designer branded fashion and baby boutiques (Next Plc). Improvement in customer service by introducing initiatives such as next day delivery for orders placed before 9 pm (Next Plc , january,2011).

Thermodynamic and Fluids Report Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Thermodynamic and Fluids Report - Coursework Example In the second part we shall use a pitot static tube to determine the behavior of air flow. The basic principle of both the pitot, static and pitot static tube is that the pressure of a flowing fluid will increase if it is brought to rest at a point of stagnation of the probe. If an assumption is made that if the flow in the fluid is similar to that of a gas, the velocity of the fluid will be much smaller as compared to the speed of sound such that the changes in the density may be overlooked (Bertin, 2002). Therefore, the fluid basically behaves like an incompressible fluid. The point of stagnation can be located on the system and the streamlines can be bent past the body of the aircraft. The pressure experienced at the point of stagnation is referred to as the stagnation pressure. If the viscous effects experienced by the body are negligible, the difference between the stagnation pressure and the static pressure is usually related to the dynamic pressure which is then related to the square of the velocity (Panton, 2005). Therefore, the velocity information is then conver ted to a pressure difference which can e measured by a measuring device for pressure such as the manometer (von Kà ¡rmà ¡n, 2000). The static tube is composed of a cross section surface with tubes and a manometer. The air flows across the cross section into the manometer where the density of air can be determined. The manometer allows for the determination of the static pressure, the dynamic pressure and the stagnation pressure of the fluid. The pitot static tube is a combination of the static and pitot tube. In this tube, the flow in the tube is axi-symmetric and within the vicinity of the nose. The pitot tube is then connected to one limb of a U tube manometer while the other limb of the manometer is connected to a tap made on the tube wall. Both the tap and the nose of the tube approximately on the same planes. An

Hire purchase contracts and Lease in business and how they work Essay

Hire purchase contracts and Lease in business and how they work - Essay Example The intention of this study is an Accounting Standard as a principle that explains the accounting structure, utilizing it as the conceptual foundation for its work. The major role of this Statement is to offer conceptual input into the ASB's job on the growth and review of accounting standards. The study consists of various procedures regarding the â€Å"SSAP 21† (SSAP 21 Accounting for Leases and Hire Purchase Contracts 1997) and its recent amendment. The aim of financial reports is to offer information on the subject of the reporting entity’s fiscal performance and monetary position which is helpful to a large range of users for evaluating the stewardship of the entity’s organization and forming economic decisions. â€Å"Financial statements need to reflect the effects of transactions and other events on the reporting entity’s financial performance and financial position. This involves a high degree of classification and aggregation. Order is imposed on this process by specifying and defining the classes of items—the elements—that encapsulate the key aspects of the effects of those transactions and other events†. An operating lease is a lease that is not a â€Å"finance lease†. Expenses under an operating lease are taken to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis more than the lease term, unless an additional methodical basis is more suitable. â€Å"SSAP 21; paragraph 17 defines a finance lease as ‘...a lease that transfers substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of an asset to the lease’. SSAP 21 also defines an operating lease as simply ‘...a lease other than finance lease’†... 8). Findings: The way in which leases are currently differentiated and accounted for; in accordance with SSAP 21 Accounting for hire purchase and lease agreements are dealt with in the provisions offered in SSAP 21 ‘accounting for hire purchase and leases contracts’ and IAS 17 leases. In some examples, a number of lease dealings can form division of a complex contract or which include provisions, options and assurances which could drop within the scope of FRS 5 ‘reporting the matter of dealings’. It must be noted , that where such a lease drops under the range of FRS 5 and SSAP 21, the standards containing more particular provision will be relevant. Operating and Finance Leases An operating lease is a lease that is not a â€Å"finance lease† (Finance Lease 2005). Expenses under an operating lease are taken to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis more than the lease term, unless an additional methodical basis is more suitable. â€Å"SSAP 21; paragraph 17 defines a finance lease as ‘...a lease that transfers substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of an asset to the lease’. SSAP 21 also defines an operating lease as simply ‘...a lease other than finance lease’† (Financial Reporting 2011, para. 4). Whether or not a lease passes substantially all the rewards and risks of possession, it will usually be clear in the lease conditions. IAS 17 specifies the direction as to when substantially all the rewards and risks of possession are passed to the lessee: The â€Å"lease transfers† (Gupta 2010) possession to the lessee at the finish of the lease term. The lease tells about a good deal purchase choice at the finish of the lease term. The lease term is for the main division of the asset’s

Cleaning up oil spills Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cleaning up oil spills - Research Paper Example The most famous method is to use chemical treating agents like dispersants, surface washing agents, and bioremediation agents (â€Å"Chemical Treating Agents† par. 1). Dispersants are basically mixture of chemicals, made up mostly of surfactants and other additives. The surfactant molecules are amphiphilic in nature which can be both soluble in protic (i.e. water) and aprotic (i.e. oil) solvents. During oil spills in bodies of water, surfactants combined into aggregates called micelles which consist of hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails. The heads are attached to the water molecules by hydrogen bonding and the tails to the oil molecules which lessens the interfacial tensions between oil-water molecules. Due to the mechanical action in the ocean, the oil molecules especially below the surface of the water break apart into smaller molecules which can stay suspended to be washed by current (Renee and Lee par. 5). The use of surface washing agents or commonly known as degreaser are usually used for surfaces or structures that have been oiled and are usually sprayed on the surface. This chemical promotes emulsification of oil and the instability causes it to flocculate and coalesce in the surface for physical recovery. The actions of the two mentioned chemical agents are usually followed either by natural means or induced biological actions. The natural means can include microbial degradation and photo-oxidation. The latter method proceeds under sunlight where the natural targets are the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of the oils. The process (also known as photolysis), degrades the PAHs in the form that can be available for microbial degradation (The American Academy of Microbiology 4). In addition, bioremediation is also an effective way to clean up oil spills. The use of bioremediation  agents  includes microbiological cultures, enzyme additives or nutrient additives which can significantly increase the rate

International Trade Concepts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International Trade Concepts - Essay Example Engaging in international trade means that the demand for the country’s products is no longer limited to and determined by the home country. With international trade, the country’s product will have greater demands. These greater demands mean increase in wealth for the countries. Because there are greater demands for a product, with costs of production decreasing, assuming that with specialization the technology improves and the efficiency is increasing—production increases and wealth comes to the country. International trade encourages local competition within its industries in order to achieve efficiency. With more products in the market due to import or other companies bringing their products to compete with local competitors, local players are forced to produce more competitive products to satisfy the consumers. This stimulation of local competition can also bring down the prices of goods in a given industry. By making excellent products available to consumers at the same price level, satisfaction is met among the population. When firms go trading with countries, it is very usual that they bring with them the technical know-hows as regards their production. This experience adds to the increase in a country’s intellectual capital. When there is trade of goods, it is likely that trade in certain knowledge also follows. Therefore, this is beneficial to both countries as they exchange more knowledge in order to increase their technological capacities. When more efficient foreign players enter a local industry, it can offer prices below the market clearing price. Due to this, there will be issues like dumping because the players’ interests are at stake, when they cannot compete with the more efficient foreign player in terms of price. International trade, therefore poses a limitation—a country should also consider the interests of the local players when

The holocaust Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The holocaust - Essay Example She was so compassionate that she had to direct all her motherly love to Hitler. On the other hand, Hitler’s father was a drunkard, harsh and ruthless man who would turn physical whenever he was slightly provoked. Many psychoanalysts claim that the attributes of his father played an important major role in shaping the personality of Hitler in his adult life. Based on the Adlerian theory an individual’s personality is developed through a creative and active process that is not dependent on hereditary or environmental factors. The traits that a person eventually shapes a person are mainly from the life experiences that he/she has faced. The close inclination of Hitler to his father served to influence him to assimilate a number of traits that later came to shape his character and personality. For instance, Hitler’s dad was very revengeful this made Hitler develop a sense of inferiority and fear towards him as a result of his harshness (Bauer and Keren). Parental brutality is a crucial factor that led Hitler to develop an aggressive personality, given the fact that his dad was so autocratic and commandeering it resulted in Hitler growing an introvert kind of character whereby he was antisocial and ready to prove himself to his peers to overcome his inabilities. Consequently, Hitler at his tender age had a dysfunctional anal character that made it difficult to interact with other people within his environment. The very character is responsible for the destructive and narcissism behavior that he later developed in life. However, the dysfunction on its own would not have culminated to the evil character of Hitler had it not been the harsh parental environment that he was exposed. Hitler appreciated the role and approval of masses, and this marked an important phase of his youthful years. The vengeful character that had been indoctrinated in him by his father was the principal force

Cleaning up oil spills Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cleaning up oil spills - Research Paper Example The most famous method is to use chemical treating agents like dispersants, surface washing agents, and bioremediation agents (â€Å"Chemical Treating Agents† par. 1). Dispersants are basically mixture of chemicals, made up mostly of surfactants and other additives. The surfactant molecules are amphiphilic in nature which can be both soluble in protic (i.e. water) and aprotic (i.e. oil) solvents. During oil spills in bodies of water, surfactants combined into aggregates called micelles which consist of hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails. The heads are attached to the water molecules by hydrogen bonding and the tails to the oil molecules which lessens the interfacial tensions between oil-water molecules. Due to the mechanical action in the ocean, the oil molecules especially below the surface of the water break apart into smaller molecules which can stay suspended to be washed by current (Renee and Lee par. 5). The use of surface washing agents or commonly known as degreaser are usually used for surfaces or structures that have been oiled and are usually sprayed on the surface. This chemical promotes emulsification of oil and the instability causes it to flocculate and coalesce in the surface for physical recovery. The actions of the two mentioned chemical agents are usually followed either by natural means or induced biological actions. The natural means can include microbial degradation and photo-oxidation. The latter method proceeds under sunlight where the natural targets are the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of the oils. The process (also known as photolysis), degrades the PAHs in the form that can be available for microbial degradation (The American Academy of Microbiology 4). In addition, bioremediation is also an effective way to clean up oil spills. The use of bioremediation  agents  includes microbiological cultures, enzyme additives or nutrient additives which can significantly increase the rate

The holocaust Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The holocaust - Essay Example She was so compassionate that she had to direct all her motherly love to Hitler. On the other hand, Hitler’s father was a drunkard, harsh and ruthless man who would turn physical whenever he was slightly provoked. Many psychoanalysts claim that the attributes of his father played an important major role in shaping the personality of Hitler in his adult life. Based on the Adlerian theory an individual’s personality is developed through a creative and active process that is not dependent on hereditary or environmental factors. The traits that a person eventually shapes a person are mainly from the life experiences that he/she has faced. The close inclination of Hitler to his father served to influence him to assimilate a number of traits that later came to shape his character and personality. For instance, Hitler’s dad was very revengeful this made Hitler develop a sense of inferiority and fear towards him as a result of his harshness (Bauer and Keren). Parental brutality is a crucial factor that led Hitler to develop an aggressive personality, given the fact that his dad was so autocratic and commandeering it resulted in Hitler growing an introvert kind of character whereby he was antisocial and ready to prove himself to his peers to overcome his inabilities. Consequently, Hitler at his tender age had a dysfunctional anal character that made it difficult to interact with other people within his environment. The very character is responsible for the destructive and narcissism behavior that he later developed in life. However, the dysfunction on its own would not have culminated to the evil character of Hitler had it not been the harsh parental environment that he was exposed. Hitler appreciated the role and approval of masses, and this marked an important phase of his youthful years. The vengeful character that had been indoctrinated in him by his father was the principal force

The dogs Essay Example for Free

The dogs Essay The outdoors contains many wonders that a child explores throughout the early years of life; therefore, a person’s childhood tends to position his path for the future. As a result, occurrences seen on an average day sitting at school, exploring in the woods, or examining the stars have the potential to be life changing. An American Childhood (Dillard), â€Å"Two Views of a River† (Twain), and â€Å"Listening† (Welty) all allocate this thought, yet the works juxtapose each other with different morals. Annie Dillard writes of the expectations of her to return after completing college and settling in the same town in which she resides her entire life before attending college: â€Å"It crawled down the driveway toward Shadyside, one of the several sections of town where people like me were expected to settle after college, renting an apartment until they married one of the boys and bought a house† (2). Dillard feels essentially unpermitted to broaden her horizon of a future. She believes she had been restricted too early and therefore Dillard feels she is not allowed to live up to her possible potential. Mark Twain, on the other hand, writes of the river and its influence upon him: This sun means that we are going to have wind tomorrow; that floating log means that the river is rising, small thanks to it; that slanting mark on the water refers to a bluff reef which is going to kill somebody’s steamboat one of these nights if it keeps on stretching out like that [†¦]. (1) Within his piece, Twain wonders if he were to have noticed all the diminutive and revealing things of the river as a child, whether it would have foreshadowed the future from the perspective from which he sees the past now. Twain wishes he had respected the river further as a child rather than simply viewing it as an effortless beauty. Eudora Welty also writes of her childhood, explaining her love for the sky and all that dwells within it. She states, â€Å"I could see the full [continues]

Gender Economics in Turkey

Gender Economics in Turkey Elif Çolak Informal Economy; Under Participation Trap; Added Worker Effect This paper will look at the gender issues by focusing more on female side. Women in Informal Economy Worldwide, women’s involvement in the informal economy has increased since the early 1980s, as economic restructuring reduced job opportunities in the formal sector, increased the flexibility and casualness of labor markets, and increased the need for additional family income. There is a strong association between women’s employment and production for exports with the liberalization of the economy in Turkey. The number of women engaged in informal activities grown dramatically with the increasing influence of economic liberalization and flexible working conditions. Women’s work in exporting industries has been a center of major interest since the early 1980s women emerged as an important labor supply especially for the garment industry, but their integration into the production has remained informal and mostly made invisible through the utilization of familial relations in small-scale workshops. It also brings harsh working condition and low wages which allow the se sectors to become competitive. Unregistered economy refers to the legal economic activities which are not recorded officially to reduce production cost and aim tax evasion. Workplaces in unregistered economy are generally smaller in terms of scale; low wages are given to workers. There is an arbitrariness to recruit or fire workers. In rural area, TUÄ °K considers a category of unpaid family worker as employed and the majority of women, who are not registered to any social security institution, work as unpaid family worker. If we consider non-agriculture area, women mostly work as a regular employee and casual employee in unregistered economy. Self employment means that their payments depend on the profit of directly produced goods. They can make decision over operational activities. We can consider traditional handicraft activities under this category. Women who get specific order for dressmaking or handicraft works. They can decide about the finishing time of work and their payments after work. Other home- based work includes the piecework for subcontractor or another mediator. From 2004 to 2013, 5,19% of women on average work at the home. http://www.birlesikmetal.org/kitap/kitap_03/2003-1.pdf http://www.tuik.gov.tr/PreHaberBultenleri.do?id=13590 They arrive the conclusion that women are not willingly accept these jobs but they are forced to accept. Due to gender-related point of view, women workers are more prone to be abused by their employers. They work for below official minimum wage and face with harsh conditions at work. They feel helpless and despair due to the behaviors of employers and treatment in the working place. Under Participation Trap To define what the under participation trap means, we should look at the different factors which create this trap in relation to each other. Firstly, we consider the women with low levels of education. Most of them are likely to work in the informal sector with low wages that are lesser than the payment given to domestic workers to do housework or childcare. Labor supply turns into be very low considering these issues. With the belief that girls will not have a chance to participate in labor market with high wages, families may want to invest lesser for the educations of girls. At this point, it creates a cycle, known as the under participation trap, that girls education contributes to keeping wages low so that it will keep labor supply low. (World Bank Report 2009, 21) If we look at segmentation of labor market, we can see that formal sectors have higher productivity than informal sector and offer slightly above minimum wages. Returns to both education and experience are higher in formal sector again. However, the choice of working in informal sectors occurs due to exclusion of low educated women in formal sectors. Very low wages in informal sector lead to low levels of labor supply. There are also very little transaction of low educated women from informal sector to formal sector. Women who work in informal economy face with the lack of social security problem which force them to quit job. There are employment possibilities which offer limited range of work in textile industry, domestic service or retail activities for low educated women. When we look at TUIK data for the reasons of being out of labor force among women, the most important reason is that majority of them are busy with household works along the day. However, when we turn our interest to men, there is no percentage given to household works. The retirement or being students become the important reason for being out of labor force for men. Women are considered as housewives who have more time to dedicate for care giving and house works. This perception also brings some disadvantages to women such as dependence to men, lack of social security, or low self esteem. In the patriarchal family setting, men also see their household activity as an easy job with more spare time at home. Poorly educated women face with the cultural as well as economic barriers which prevent them to participate in the labor market. Former barrier includes the women’s role as care givers and family pressure. Latter barrier includes women’s participation in informal sector with low salaries and long working hours. Mothering and childcare are also other important determinants for female labor force participation. Mothers do not want to leave their kids alone so they need to stay at home to take care of them. In addition to this, they cannot afford to hire someone as a babysitter. â€Å"Participants mentioned they would need to pay at least 500 TL monthly to hire somebody to take care of their children. To afford this, they would need to find a job that would pay them more than 1,500 TL,†¦, was beyond what they could earn given their skills and education level.† (World Bank Report 2009, 20) Added Worker Effect Discouraged Worker Effect after Crisis Added worker effect means that if the unemployment of one spouse leads other spouse to increase his/her labor supply. We need to focus whether women have an incentive to participate in labor force when their husbands involuntarily lose their jobs. Due to the fact that my focus is on the crisis period, family members may also lose their hopes to find job which creates discouraged worker effect. The discouraged worker effects leads to hidden unemployment of the people who want to work but do not look for a job. Therefore, the actual unemployment rates can be underestimated with the dominance of this latter effect. (BaÃ…Å ¸levent and Onaran 2003, 441) To analyze how women react to crisis period in Turkey, Cem BaÃ…Å ¸levent and Ãâ€"zlem Onaran looked at the Turkish Household Survey data from October rounds of 1988 and 1994 period. In 1994, crisis period, Turkish lira was depreciated by more than 50 per cent and by the end of the year, Turkish economy is contracted approximately 6 per cent. (BaÃ…Å ¸levent and Onaran 2003, 441) They analyze difference between two years and compare outcomes according to the effect of economic crisis in 1994. They use the regression of female labor force participation (FLFP) on different groups’ unemployment rates and the other factors. They look at the variables such as education, number of children, and age of women to understand the relationship between these variables and dependent variable FLFP. The number of children has a significant negative effect on the FLFP although it has no significant effect on male labor force participation. Only exception for the effect on MLFP is that i f children’s ages are between 6 and 14, then employment rate of husbands increased due to the expenses of school age children. If married women have fewer children, they have a tendency to participate in labor force. Their conclusion is derived from the fact that while there is no significant correlation between 1988 data for added worker effect and discouraged worker affect, they find statistically significant result for added worker affect of the married women in currency crisis in 1994 which had negative correlation with discouraged worker effect. In other words, it can be concluded that the added worker effects dominates the discouraged worker effect by looking at 1994 crisis. Their expectation, not analyzed in their research, is that added worker effect could be more dominant than discouraged worker effect for women due to the positive influence of female employment trends as well as getting more accustomed to working life. Ä °pek Ä °lkkaracan and Serkan DeÄÅ ¸irmenci look at the years between 2004 and 2010. They also include single female into their analysis. They focus on the fact that added worker effect creates pressure on the labor market which has already contracted due to crisis. In addition to this, active labor market participants may give up looking and withdraw their labor force from labor market. They make emphasis on particular characteristics of the women such as their age, marital status, and education level. Household unemployment shock increases the participation of university graduates who are between 20 and 45 age group by up to 34 per cent while the percentage drops to 17% for high school graduates. (Ä °lkkaracan,and DeÄÅ ¸irmenci 2013,1) The effect of migration from rural to urban areas shifts the agricultural labor power of women from unpaid family workers to unpaid household workers while men shifts from agricultural worker to industrial or service work ers in the urban areas. With the financial liberation, which started in 1980s, women have encountered with harsh working conditions, long working hours with low wages under poor labor market demand. Therefore, expected returns from female labor force participation are lower and structural constraint such as lack of child or elderly service weakens the added worker affects. (Ä °lkkaracan and DeÄÅ ¸irmenci 2013, 31) They make a conclusion that added worker effect in Turkey appears as a coping strategy to deal with economic downturns but it again refers to smaller effects like 8-10 percent of working age female become labor force participant with job loss of their husbands. If we look at 2008 crisis, Turkey faced with productivity loss as well as economic instability which pave the way to unemployment. â€Å"According to the Institute of LaborLaw (2009), the Turkish unemployment rate in January 2009 was 15.1 percent, which roughly corresponded to 3,600,000 individuals being out of jobs. Based on the data of the Turkish Institute of Statistics (TURKSTAT) (2009), the labor unions declared that the highest rate of unemployment since the foundation of the Turkish Republic was during the period of the 2007–2008 economic crisis, when between 13.6–16.3 percent of all workers lost their jobs (Tes-Ä °Ãƒâ€¦Ã… ¸ 2009, 30). Almost nine million of these people now work without being covered by any social security insurance.†page98- unregisterd worker†¦. Policy Offers Lack of child care service for the pre-school age and elderly care services, which constitutes structural constraints, leads women to stay at home in order to provide the needs of these family members. The majority of women do not take more than secondary education so that they are offered by these poor employment opportunities. Without any public service, they have to use their labor power for domestic workload and if they start to work, they will face with harsh conditions without satisfactory payments in the workplace. In addition to this, women who are employed in the informal sector suffer from the poor access of maternity leave which affects the labor supply of women. We estimate the marginal effect of the unemployment shock on labor market transition probability for the overall sample as well as for different groups of women, and hence demonstrate that the effect varies widely depending on the particular characteristics of the woman—for example, her education level, age, urban/rural residence, and marital and parental status. Creating job opportunities for first time job seekers Affordable child care Sustaining investments on education In 2012, a cash transfer program targeted to give social security coverage for the poor widowed women because these women without men are seen as impoverished and vulnerable group to maintain living of their household by themselves. Distinction across welfare regimes is important to understand how social welfare is produced and allocated between state, market, and family. We should also take the criticism about welfare regime into account that this â€Å"welfare regime† approach is â€Å"gender blind† or in other words, there is gender bias toward women without men. (Ãâ€"zar and Yakut-Çakar 2013, 25) Women are not capable of continuing their working lives because they have drop-outs with marriages or child born. Care services cannot be affordable for those women so that they turn their home again. Women without men ( a male breadwinner) can less likely to find job in the formal sector due to lack of experience and considerable break between working time and staying at home. They will not face with job opportunities in the formal sector so that they need to accept uninsured and low-waged works in informal sector. Characteristics of unregistered jobs create unstable and volatile situation for women due to its duration and wage level. To maintain their daily livings, sometimes women take informal support from the relatives or neighborhoods but it turns out to be inadequate again.†By providing support to only widowed women, that is, those women falling outside family involuntarily upon the death of the spouse, the welfare regime in Turkey continues to assume women within the boundaries of family and punishes those that fall outside these boundaries.†32 spouse, the welfare regime in Turkey continues to assume women within the boundaries of family and punishes those that fall outside these boundaries REFERENCES BaÃ…Å ¸levent, L. and Onaran, O. 2003. â€Å"Are married women in Turkey more likely to become added or discouraged workers?† Labour, 17, 439–58. DeÄÅ ¸irmenci, S., Ilkkaracan, I. (2013). Economic Crises and the Added Worker Effect in the Turkish Labor Market. Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, 774, 1-47. Kà ¼mbetoÄÅ ¸lu, B., AkpÄ ±nar, A. (2010). Unregistered Women Workers in the Globalized Economy: A Qualitative Study in Turkey. Feminist Formations,22(3), 96-123. Unfolding the invisibility of women without men in the case of Turkey Ã…Å ¾ahin, M. (2011). KayÄ ±t DÄ ±Ãƒâ€¦Ã… ¸Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ± Ä °stihdam ve Esnek ÃÅ"retim Sà ¼recinde KadÄ ±n EmeÄÅ ¸inin Durumu: Tà ¼rkiye’de Ev-Eksenli ÇalÄ ±Ãƒâ€¦Ã… ¸ma, UzmanlÄ ±k Tezi, T.C. BaÃ…Å ¸bakanlÄ ±k KadÄ ±nÄ ±n Statà ¼sà ¼ Genel Mà ¼dà ¼rlà ¼Ãƒâ€žÃ… ¸Ãƒ ¼, Ankara. TurkStat (Turkish Statistical Agency) (2012) Household labor force survey, Online. Available HTTP: http://www.tuik.gov.tr/VeriBilgi.do?alt_id=25> (accessed 23 May 2013). http://www.turkstat.gov.tr/PreHaberBultenleri.do?id=16005 World Bank Report 48508-TR (2009). â€Å"Female Labor Force Participation in Turkey: Trends Determinants and Policy Framework†. Human Development Sector Unit Europe and Central Asia Region. World Bank State Planning Organization (2009). Female labour force participation in Turkey: Trends, determinants and policy framework. Report No: 48508-TR. Washington: The World Bank. DÄ °SK BirleÃ…Å ¸ik Metal Ä °Ãƒâ€¦Ã… ¸Ãƒ §ileri SendikasÄ ± EV-EKSENLÄ ° ÇALIÃ…Å ¾ANLAR VE Ãâ€"RGÃÅ"TLENMELERÄ ° Bu kitapà §Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ±k Ev-eksenli ÇalÄ ±Ãƒâ€¦Ã… ¸an KadÄ ±nlar ÇalÄ ±Ãƒâ€¦Ã… ¸ma Grubu’nun katkÄ ±sÄ ±yla hazÄ ±rlanmÄ ±Ãƒâ€¦Ã… ¸tÄ ±r. Ä °stanbul, Mart 2003 1

The Internet Essay -- Computers Technology Papers

The Internet Many years ago, I use to think that people who chatted online were losers. Actually, many of my friends have said that too. We laughed and joked about the computer geeks and online chatters, and I even remember hearing myself say that I would never become a computer geek. Now, eight years later, I can't help to laugh at myself because I became the one person that I didn't want to become and that was a computer geek. But as I think about it, it is not so bad because when I look around me everything is becoming technological, and with learning more and more about the computer daily is just helping me keep up with the up rise in technology. I admire those who I called computer geeks back then and I am proud to say that I have been an America Online user for six years now. America Online is a place where people from all around the country, even some foreign countries, can come together and chat about certain topics or to just socialize in places called chat rooms. There are well over a thousand of these chat rooms on America Online, each one pertaining to someone's interest. And if not, they can always make their own public chat room. When I first started using America Online, I became addicted to talking to people around the country because it was just fascinating to me. I use to be this really shy kid around school and I wouldn't talk much unless I had something important to say and if not, I would just walk around with my friends and just listen to what they have to say to other people and so on. In these chat rooms, I was anything I wanted to be. No one could see me and therefore no one could judge me based on my looks and appearance, but only by how the conversation was going. I like using America Online. ... ...better sites that I have viewed. At the get go, it tells you all about what the site is, and on the left hand side there is a list of directives that will guide you through the site. This group has been around since 1993 and it seems to be going strong still. When you sign up with them, they offer to put you with new group members and from there, you and your group will come up with a story line or adventure. The other alternative is that you can join and existing adventure and go from there. This site also offers many links to other RPG sites, so that could come in handy if you ever become bored of this site. All cost are free to, so you can sign up with them and just check out what goes on. The only requirement is that you must be able to send and receive email. I would say that this site would be a more ideal starting point than the other Web sites listed above.

A Modern Synthesis of Science with Eastern Christianity Essay -- Philo

Introduction Since the dawn of consciousness, humans have strived to understand the world around them and their place in it. From the first naturalistic surveys of the flora and fauna of the earth painted on the rocky walls of fire-lit caves millennia ago to the enormously complex investigations into quantum physics ventured at today’s particle accelerators, human curiosity has known no bounds. By way of organizing the countless questions posed and answers sought, broad conceptions of "science," "reason," "philosophy," and "religion" have been created and debated by humankind for centuries. Beginning in earnest during the Age of Reason following the Renaissance, two distinct ways of understanding the world seemed to form. On one hand, understanding could be realized by rational thought, reason, and the applications of science. On the other, understanding could be achieved by faith in some divine presence, the application of religion. A philosophical conflict quickly developed between the t wo camps: what should reign supreme in human understanding of the world—science or religion? The debate had no clear-cut answer, and only tautological methods of prioritizing one over the other. Various ways of relating science and religion have been proposed and adopted in the past century or two. As summarized by Ian Barbour in his Religion and Science, philosophers concerned with the interaction (or lack thereof) of science and religion have been left with four broad options: Conflict, Independence, Dialogue, and Integration. The divisions proceed from fundamental ideas about how science and religion, in very general terms, operate and work in the world. Conceptions separating science and religion philosophically, arguing that they serve... ...otheses, models, experience, intuition, hypotheses, models†¦) . That the priorities of science and religion, and the pathways that each entity uses to progress, are so similar, and yet the entities themselves so separate, leads quite nicely into the dialogue position. Any consideration (investigations into the character of some object or an answer to some question) can involve both types of inquiry: "Nothing excludes the co-existence of faith and science when faith is not imaginary and science does not falsify its positive character with the use of metaphysics." Though full and harmonious integration may not be possible, a very useful, satisfying, complete dialogue between the right religious tradition and most scientific philosophies may easily produce a harmonious, complementary, synthesis to grant a better understanding of humanity and its place in the world.

The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 24

Mom's Handwriting Emerges The sun bursts through the attic window and lands on my face, warming it, until I open my eyes and greet the day with a squint. After a kiss, I return Nikki to my bedroom dresser and find my mother still asleep in my bed. I notice that the glass of water I left her is now empty, and I am glad to have left it there, even if I am mad at Mom now. As I descend the staircase, I smell something burning. When I reach the kitchen, my father is standing in front of the stove. He is wearing Mom's red apron. â€Å"Dad?† When he turns around, he has a spatula in one hand and a pink oven mitt on the other. Behind him, meat hisses – a thick river of smoke flies up into the exhaust fan. â€Å"What are you doing?† â€Å"Cooking.† â€Å"Cooking what?† â€Å"Steak.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"I'm hungry.† â€Å"Are you frying it?† â€Å"I'm cooking it Cajun style. Blackened.† â€Å"Maybe you should turn the burner down?† I suggest, but he returns to his cooking, continuing to flip the sizzling cut over and over, so I go down into the basement to begin my workout. The fire alarm goes off for fifteen minutes or so. When I return to the kitchen two hours later, the pan he used is blackened and still on the now greasy stove; a plate and utensils are in the sink. Dad is watching ESPN on his new television, and his surround sound speaker system seems to shake the house. The clock on the microwave reads 8:17 a.m. My mother has forgotten my meds again, so I take out my eight bottles, remove all the caps, and search for the right colors. Soon I have a half dozen pills lined up on the counter, and I confirm that the colors are what I take every morning. I swallow all of my pills, thinking maybe my mother is testing me again, and even though I am technically mad at her, I am also now very worried about Mom, so I climb the steps to my room and see that she is still sleeping. Downstairs, I stand behind the couch and say, â€Å"Dad?† But he ignores me, so I return to my basement gym and continue my workout, listening to the ESPN commentators recap the college games and forecast the upcoming NFL action. Their voices arrive crisply through the floorboards above. I know from reading the paper that the Eagles are favored to win over San Francisco, which makes me excited to watch the game with my father, who will be in a great mood if the Eagles are victorious, and therefore he will also be more likely to speak with me. Midmorning, Mom descends, which is a relief, because I was starting to worry that she was really sick. I am riding the bike, and – after finding the â€Å"Pat† box last night – I just continue pedaling when Mom says, â€Å"Pat?† I do not face Mom, but using my peripheral vision, I see that she is showered, her hair is done, her makeup is applied, and she is wearing a pretty summer dress. Mom also smells really nice – lavender. â€Å"Did you take your pills last night?† she asks. I nod once. â€Å"What about this morning?† I nod again. â€Å"Dr. Patel told me I should have allowed you to take control over your meds when you first came home, that this was a step toward independence. But I was being a mom when you did not need me to be a mom. So congratulations, Pat.† â€Å"Congratulations† is a strange thing for her to say, especially since I have not won a prize or anything, but I am really only thinking about what happened last night, why Mom came home drunk. So I ask her, â€Å"Where were you last night? Did you go out with friends?† Using the corner of my eye again, I see her look down at the old brown rug beneath us. â€Å"I appreciate your putting me to bed last night. The water and the Tylenol helped. It was a bit of a role reversal, eh? Well, I appreciate it. Thanks, Pat.† I realize she has not answered my question, but I don't know what to say, so I say nothing. â€Å"Your father has been a bear lately, and I'm simply tired of it. So I'm making some demands, and things are going to change a little around here. Both of my men are going to start taking care of themselves a little more. You need to get on with your life, and I'm sick and tired of the way your father treats me.† Suddenly I forget all about the â€Å"Pat† box and face my mother as I continue pedaling. â€Å"Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?† â€Å"I'm not mad at you, Pat. I am mad at your father. He and I had a long talk yesterday when you were running. Things might be a little rough around here for a few weeks, but I think we'll all be better for it in the long run.† A wild thought leaps into my head and terrifies me. â€Å"You're not leaving us, Mom, are you?† â€Å"No. I'm not,† Mom says, looking me in the eyes, which makes me believe her one hundred percent. â€Å"I would never leave you, Pat. But I am going out today because I'm done with Eagles football. You two are on your own for food.† â€Å"Where are you going?† I ask, pedaling faster now. â€Å"Out,† Mom says, and then kisses the little white scar on my sweaty forehead before she leaves. I am so nervous about what Mom has told me that I do not eat anything all day, but simply drink my water and do my routine. Because the Eagles are playing at 4:15, I get in a full workout. The whole time, I secretly hope my father will come down into the basement and ask me to watch the 1:00 NFL game with him, but he doesn't. Midafternoon I climb up out of the basement and stand behind the couch for a second. â€Å"Dad?† I say. â€Å"Dad?† He ignores me and keeps watching the 1:00 game, and I don't even look to see who is playing, because I am so nervous about what Mom told me. I put on my trash bag and hope Tiffany is outside, because I could really use someone to talk to. But after I stretch for fifteen minutes, Tiffany doesn't show, so I run alone, thinking it funny that when I want to run alone, Tiffany is always there, but today she is not. I am very hungry, and the pain in my stomach increases as I run, which I relish because it means I am losing weight, and well, I feel as though I might have put on some extra fat in the past week, especially after drinking beer with Jake last weekend. This reminds me that I have not spoken with Jake since the Eagles lost to the Giants, and I wonder if he is coming over today to watch the game with Dad and me. Since the pain has sharpened, I decide to run farther than usual, pushing myself. Also, I am sort of afraid to go home, now that my mother has left me alone with my father for the day, and I am not sure what she meant by â€Å"changes† anyway. I keep wishing Tiffany was running with me so I might talk to her and tell her how I feel, which is a strange desire since she usually never says much in response, and the last time I tried to talk to her about my problems, she started cursing very loudly in a public place and said some really awful things about Nikki. Still, I am s tarting to feel as though Tiffany is my best friend, which is sort of strange and scary. At the end of my run, I jog down my street, and Jake's silver BMW is nowhere to be seen. Maybe he took the train in from Philadelphia, I think. I am hoping not to be left alone with my father for the game, but somehow I know this is exactly what is going to happen. When I enter the house, my dad is still alone on the couch, wearing his McNabb jersey now and watching the end of the 1:00 game. A small collection of beer bottles stand at his feet like bowling pins. â€Å"Is Jake coming over?† I ask my father, but he ignores me again. Upstairs, I shower and put on my Hank Baskett jersey. When I reach the family room, the Eagles game is just coming on, so I sit down at the end of the couch my father is not occupying. â€Å"What the hell is that noise?† Dad says, and then turns down the volume. I realize my stomach is making crazy gurgling noises, but I say, â€Å"I don't know,† and Dad turns up the volume again. Just as I had hoped, the new television is an experience. The players warming up on the field look life-size, and the sound quality makes me feel as though I am in San Francisco, sitting on the fifty-yard line. Realizing that my brother is not going to make it by kickoff, when a commercial comes on, I jump to my feet and yell â€Å"Ahhhhhhhhh!† but Dad only looks at me like he wants to hit me in the face again. So I sit down and do not say anything else. The announcers state that Donte Stallworth was a late scratch, so I start to hope Baskett will get a few more balls thrown his way, since the Eagles' number one receiver is out of action. The Eagles set up a nice drive and score on their first possession with a shovel pass to Westbrook, at which point my father's emotions morph. He reaches across the couch and repetitively claps his hand against my thigh, saying over and over again, â€Å"Touchdown Eagles! Touchdown Eagles!† I start to feel hopeful for my dad, but when the Eagles kick off, he resumes his negative ways and says, â€Å"Don't celebrate too much. Remember what happened last week.† And it is almost as if he is talking to himself, reminding himself not to be overly hopeful. The defense holds strong, and tight end L. J. Smith scores a touchdown with only a few minutes left in the first quarter, making it 13 – 0. Even though the Eagles have blown big leads before, it seems safe to say the Birds are the superior team today. My thoughts are confirmed after Akers hits the extra point and my father jumps up and starts singing â€Å"Fly, Eagles, Fly.† So I jump up and sing with him, and we both do the chant at the end, spelling the letters with our arms and legs: â€Å"E!-A!-G!-L!-E!-S! EAGLES!† Between quarters, my father asks me if I am hungry, and when I say yes, he orders us a pizza and brings me a Bud from the refrigerator. With the Eagles up 14 – 0, he is all smiles, and as we sip our beer, he says, â€Å"Now all we need is your boy Baskett to get a catch or two.† As if my father's words were a prayer answered, McNabb's first completion in the second quarter is to Baskett for eight yards. Dad and I cheer so loudly for the undrafted rookie. The pizza arrives during halftime, and the Eagles are up 24 – 3. â€Å"If only Jake were here,† my father says. â€Å"Then this day would be perfect.† My dad and I have been so happy that I've forgotten Jake is not with us. â€Å"Where is Jake?† I ask, but Dad ignores the question. In the third quarter the San Francisco running back fumbles on the Eagles' one-yard line and defensive tackle Mike Patterson picks up the ball and runs toward the opposite end zone. Dad and I are out of our seats, cheering on the three-hundred-pound lineman as he runs the whole length of the field, and then the Eagles are up 31 – 3. San Francisco scores a few touchdowns late in the second half, but it doesn't matter, because the game is basically out of reach, and the Eagles win 38 – 24. At the conclusion of the game, my father and I sing â€Å"Fly, Eagles, Fly† and do the chant one last time, celebrating the Eagles' victory, and then Dad simply turns off the television and returns to his study without even saying goodbye to me. The house is so quiet. Maybe a dozen or so beer bottles on the floor, the pizza box is still on the coffee table, and I know the sink is stacked full of dishes and the pan in which Dad cooked his breakfast steak. Since I am practicing being kind, I figure I should at least clean up the family room so Mom won't have to do it. I carry the Bud bottles out to the recycle bucket by the garage and throw away the pizza box in the outside garbage can. Back inside, a few used napkins are on the floor, and when I reach down to pick up the mess, I spot a crumpled ball of paper under the coffee table. I pick up the ball, uncrumple it, and realize it is not one but two pieces of paper. Mom's handwriting emerges. I flatten the papers out on the coffee table. Patrick, I need to tell you I will no longer allow you to disregard the decisions we make together, nor will I allow you to talk down to me any longer – especially in front of others. I have met a new friend who has encouraged me to assert myself more forcefully in an effort to gain your respect. Know that I am doing this to save our marriage. Your options: Return the monstrous television you purchased, and everything will go back to normal. Keep the monstrous television, and you must agree to the following demands: You must eat dinner at the table with Pat and me five nights a week. You must go on a half-hour walk with either Pat or me five nights a week. You must have a daily conversation with Pat, during which you ask him at least five questions and listen to his replies, which you will report to me nightly. You must do one recreational activity a week with Pat and me, such as eating at a restaurant, seeing a movie, going to the mall, shooting baskets in the backyard, etc. Failure to complete either option 1 or 2 will force me to go on strike. I will no longer clean your house, buy or cook your food, launder your clothes, or share your bed. Until you declare which option you wish to take, consider your wife on strike. With best intentions, Jeanie It does not seem like Mom to be so forceful with Dad, and I do wonder if her â€Å"new friend† coached her through the writing of the two-page letter. It is very hard for me to picture Dad returning his new television, especially after watching the Eagles win on the new set. His purchase will be considered good luck for sure, and Dad will want to watch next week's Eagles game on the same television so he will not jinx the Birds, which is understandable. But the demands Mom made – especially the one where Dad has to talk to me every night – also seem incredibly improbable, although I do think it would be nice to eat dinner together as a family and maybe even go out to a restaurant, but not to the movies, since I am now only willing to watch the movie of my own life. Suddenly I need to speak with my brother, but I do not know his phone number. I find the address book in the cabinet above the stove and place a call to Jake's apartment. A woman picks up on the third ring; her voice is beautiful. â€Å"Hello?† she says. I know it is not my brother on the other end, but I still say, â€Å"Jake?† â€Å"Who is this?† â€Å"It's Pat Peoples. I'm looking for my brother, Jake. Who are you?† I hear the woman cover the phone with her hand, and then my brother's voice comes through loud and clear: â€Å"Did you see that ninety-eight-yard fumble return? Did you see Patterson run?† I want to ask about the woman who answered my brother's phone, but I am a little afraid of finding out who she is. Maybe I should already know, but forget somehow. So I simply say, â€Å"Yeah, I saw it.† â€Å"Frickin' awesome, dude. I didn't know a defensive tackle could run that far.† â€Å"Why didn't you come over and watch the game with Dad and me?† â€Å"Truthfully?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"I can't lie to my brother. Mom called me this morning and told me not to come, so I went to a bar with Scott. She called Ronnie too. I know because Ronnie called me to make sure everything was okay. I told him not to worry.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Should he be worried?† â€Å"No, why did Mom tell you and Ronnie not to come over?† â€Å"She said it would give you a chance to be alone with Dad. She said it would force Dad to talk to you. So did he?† â€Å"A little.† â€Å"Well, that's good, right?† â€Å"I found a note from Mom to Dad.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"I found a note from Mom to Dad.† â€Å"Okay. What did it say?† â€Å"I'll just read it to you.† â€Å"Go ahead.† I read him the note. â€Å"Shit. Go Mom.† â€Å"You know he won't be taking the television back now, right?† â€Å"Not after the Birds won today.† â€Å"Yeah, and I'm worried that Dad won't be able to meet the demands.† â€Å"Well, he probably won't, but maybe he'll at least try, right? And trying would be good for him – and Mom.† Jake changes the subject by mentioning Baskett's catch in the second quarter, which turned out to be his only catch of the game. My brother doesn't want to talk about our parents anymore. He says, â€Å"Baskett's coming along. He's an undrafted rookie, and he's getting catches. That's huge.† But it doesn't feel huge to me. Jake says he's looking forward to seeing me next Monday night, when the Eagles will play the Green Bay Packers. He asks me to have lunch in the city before we tailgate with Scott and the fat men, and then we hang up. It's getting late, and my mother is still not home. I begin to worry about her, and so I do all the dishes by hand. For a good fifteen minutes – with steel wool – I scrub the pan my father burned. And then I vacuum the family room. Dad had splattered some pizza sauce on the couch, so I find some cleaning spray in the hall cabinet and do my best to remove the stain – dabbing lightly and then wiping a little harder in a circular motion, just like it says on the side of the bottle. My mom comes home as I am on my knees cleaning the couch. â€Å"Did your father tell you to clean up his mess?† Mom asks. â€Å"No,† I say. â€Å"Did he tell you about the letter I wrote him?† â€Å"No – but I found it.† â€Å"Well, then you know. I don't want you to do any cleaning, Pat. We're going to let this place rot until your father gets the message.† I want to tell her I found the â€Å"Pat† box in the attic, how hungry I was today, that I really don't want to live in a filthy house, and I need to take one thing at a time – finding the end of apart time first and foremost – but Mom looks so determined and almost proud. So I agree to help her make the house filthy. She says we will be eating takeout, and when my father is not home, everything will be as it was before she wrote the note, but when my father is home, we will be slovenly. I tell Mom that while she is on strike, she can sleep in my bed, because I want to sleep in the attic anyway. When she says she'll sleep on the couch, I insist she take my bed, and she thanks me. â€Å"Mom?† I say when she turns to leave. She faces me. â€Å"Does Jake have a girlfriend?† I ask. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"I called him today, and a woman answered the phone.† â€Å"Maybe he does have a girlfriend,† she says, and then walks away. The indifference Mom shows regarding Jake's love life makes me feel as though I am forgetting something. If Jake had a girl friend Mom did not know about, she would have asked me a million questions. Her lack of interest suggests that Mom is keeping another secret from me, maybe something larger than what I found in the â€Å"Pat† box. Mom must be protecting me, I think, but I still want to know from what.