Suture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Suture - Essay Example Suture was a neo-noir film of 1993 directed by David Seigel and Scott McGehee and it features actors Mel Harris and Dennis Haysbert. On that note, the photographic image both constructs the character’s identity and undermines the identity for the film viewers in several ways. For example, after Vincent Towers kills his father, he decides to fake his death (Grieveson & Wasson 98). Similarly, he attempts to murder his half-brother, Clay Arlington acted by Dennis Haysbert as a mechanism to change identities. This aspect helps in establishing the photographic image traits of Vincent in the context of the cinematic disparities. From the movie, we see that Vincent is white while his identical brother who is forced to suffer amnesia after a bomb to protect him is black. This incident supports the Apparatus theory that insists that, by nature, cinema is driven by ideological mechanics. Therefore, this is apparent because through the Lacan’s Mirror Stage effect that expounds on the value of self-identity and consciousness. On that note, while there is an element of a photographic image construction, there is also distortion of identity for the film viewers. For example, when Clay loses his memory and suffers amnesia, Dr. Renee Descartes attempts to quicken his recovery but his brothers comes back to kill him again. This results in the murder of Vincent Towers instead of his half-brother thus prompting Clay to adopt a, genuine permanent, identity (Chaudhuri 83). This decision affects most film viewers because it does not concur with Lancan’s notion of the Mirror stage that insists on self-identity and consciousness. Alternatively, there is a way in which the strategy of dis-identification in Suture undermines what Laura Mulvey calls the normative ‘visual pleasure’ of the film spectator. For example, Laura expounds on three different techniques of viewing a film that entail watching as the camera records the real events of the film, watch ing the film and interaction of characters in the film. Therefore, as observed in Suture the loss of identification of Vincent Towers who fakes himself is manifest of the violation of the visual pleasure. Similarly, the loss of Clay Arlington’s memory after suffering amnesia prevents the film spectator from interacting with the main characters in the film because of lost identity. In addition, the themes of betrayal and denial that are espoused by the main characters are an indication of the manipulation of the normative ‘visual pleasure’ fronted by Laura Mulvey in her essay (Grieveson & Wasson 109). Furthermore, after the recovery of his lost memory with the help of Dr. Max Shinoda, Clay is undecided on how dispose of one of his identities. This continues to complicate the aspect of ‘visual pleasure’ because the film spectator is denied the chance to think on the loss and recovery of identity. Therefore, because Suture takes away pleasure, there is a social function concerning race and class that is at work in the film. For example, Vincent Towers is a white who murdered his brother but tries to cover up using his black brother, Clay Arlington. This is an example of the disparity of racial boundaries because a white brother compels his black brother to suffer in order to get away with crime. On the same length, there is a determination by Vincent Towers to murder his

World Literature Assignment Help Essay Example for Free

World Literature Assignment Help Essay The most important feature of Homer’s  Iliad  is the most obvious: the central issue in this poem is warfare.  In fact, the  Iliad  is our oldest, most famous, and most enduring story about men in battle.  So one might well begin by exploring certain features of this particular war narrative.  How does Homer depict the war so as to emphasize some features rather than others? Such a question is necessary because the phrase  war story  does not reveal very much about any particular fiction.   After all, warfare, particularly the Trojan War, can be and has been used to develop an astonishingly wide range of the different stories—dramatic adventures, chivalric tales, amusing satires, bitter social commentaries, historical epics, various styles of comedy, romance, and so on, often in combination.  For war is a very fecund basis for all sorts of different tales, as one might expect, given that it includes so many narrative possibilities.  So we might start by seeing if we can get a sense of some of the more salient features of Homer’s treatment of the war. One of the most initially surprising things about the  Iliad  is how many well-known details of the full Trojan War story Homer leaves out. The poem gives us no detailed sense of how the war started (either the short-term cause of Paris’ and Helen’s elopement or the long-term causes in the wedding of Thetis and Peleus and the Judgment of Paris), nor are many of the most famous incidents in the opening or closing stages of the war given any attention (for example, the sacrifice of Iphigeneia, the recruitment of Odysseus and Achilles, the abandonment of Philoctetes, the Trojan Horse, and the fall of Troy, among many others).  There are many references to the fact that Troy will eventually fall, but no details are provided.  First-time readers of the  Iliad  who have some familiarity with details of the famous narrative frequently comment, often with a sense of disappointment, on how few such incidents are included here.  One would think that any poet interes ted in holding his audience’s attention with some exciting narrative events would make much better use of at least some of these.  But one searches the  Iliad  in vain for most of one’s favorite stories from the Trojan War. Instead, the  Iliad  focuses on few weeks in the tenth year of the war. The action covers considerably less time than that, of course, because there are some major gaps (e.g., the nine days’ plague in Book 1, the twelve-day wait for Zeus, the twelve-day maltreatment of Hector’s corpse), and the focus is almost exclusively on what is going on in that relatively short time.  There’s an interesting double chronology at work.  Events move quickly from one battlefield experience to another—there is lots of exciting action.  At the same time, while there is little attention paid to a precise chronology, we also get a sense that a lot of time is going by; this war is dragging on and on, without anything changing very much (other than people being killed).  We do not experience this war as a complete event, with a beginning, middle, and end, an experience with clearly understood causes and a series of events leading to a definite conclusion.  We star t the poem in the midst of warfare, and we end the book, several weeks later, in exactly the same place.  The only thing we know for sure at the end is that the fighting will continue, as before. The warfare is also unremitting.  One bloody encounter is always followed by another without significant variation in the basic nature of the encounters and without pause.  All attempted truces are doomed to failure, other than those the parties make, ironically enough, to collect or celebrate the dead.  Even at night, when the fighting has generally stopped, the war dominates people’s actions, thoughts, and dreams.  There is none of that sense, so prominent in the  Odyssey, that an evening’s meal and sleep bring something to a conclusion so that when Dawn appears the next day, something new and different is about to begin. This narrative structure creates a sense that this war is less a particular and unique historical campaign than it is a lasting condition of life.  These warriors are doing what they have always been doing and what they will continue to do (a sense that is strongly reinforced, as we shall see, by their memories of the past and their hopes for the future).  There has been no clear beginning to all this, and there will be no clear end.  Of course, if we bring to the poem a knowledge of the details of the Trojan War, we know that the tradition tells us it does eventually end.  But the  Iliad  does not encourage us to think about that in any detail, apart from the references to the fact that Troy will fall someday, and, if we do, there is little in the poem to suggest that such an event would change anything very much (more about this later). In addition, the absence of any sense of enterprising romantic adventure in the poem (in spite of the fact that the traditional story of the Trojan War includes all sorts of possibilities for such events) generates a sense that individual resourcefulness in tactics, strategy, or trickery (a common feature of the  Odyssey  and of countless popular war fictions) is out of place here, because this war is larger than the efforts of any one man or small group of men.  It is not something which the individual warrior can, through his individual efforts, alter in any significant way.  Whatever he and his comrades do today, then tomorrow, if he is still alive, he will have to continue doing.  By the end of the  Iliad,  we have witnessed some extraordinary human conduct, glorious courage, horrible destruction, and more, none of which has changed the course or the nature of the war in the slightest.  Confronted with this situation, the men seem trapped, as Odysseus observes: Zeus sees to it that from our youthful days to our old age we must grind away at wretched war, till, one by one, we die. (14.104) [14.85] Some readers find this narrative rhythm disconcerting. Where are we going with the story?  There is a lot of action,  but overall nothing is changing and there is little if any sense of closure.  For those who expect other things from a war fiction, it is rather surprising and perhaps disappointing to discover that most of the exciting narratives we associate with this war come from other sources—the  Odyssey,  Aeneid, and  Metamorphoses, for example—where the vision of war is very different from what Homer is developing in the  Iliad. I would like to suggest that all these relatively obvious details help to create a sense that this vision of war is thoroughly fatalistic.  The war is neither a temporary problem nor a discrete historical event nor a unique adventure.  It is, rather, the basic, unchanging, and inescapable condition of life itself. It is man’s fate. Before exploring this point further, we should first clarify precisely what the terms  fate,  fatalism, and  fatalistic  mean here, for in these modern, decidedly non-fatalistic times we may not all grasp the concept clearly.  To assert that Homer pictures the war as man’s fate is to claim that Homer views it as the essential condition of life into which these men are born. They do not choose to have the world this way, and many of them express their dissatisfaction with this state of affairs and their desire for something different.  But there is nothing they can do to change that condition.  Whatever started this war and whatever will end it (if it ever does end) are beyond human control. It is necessary to add here the important point that, understood in this sense, these terms carry no necessary sense of optimism or pessimism. It is possible to be a confirmed fatalist and yet sense that the basic conditions of life are as good as they possibly could be or are arranged for man’s benefit (as in, say, a faith in providential Christianity), or, alternatively, to have a decidedly pessimistic sense of the world one is born into.  All these terms indicate, as I say, is that life is, so to speak, a game where the rules are made up and controlled by others and where human beings have no ability to change the situation. The terms  fate  and  fatalistic  also do not mean that human actions are predetermined.  This point is crucial to grasp for an understanding of the  Iliad  and almost all classical Greek literature.  Human beings may be unable to alter the situation, but in at least one essential since they are free agents.  They are free to choose how to react to these given conditions.  In the  Iliad  the men have chosen to be warriors; more than that, most of them are determined, in their freedom, to act as heroically as they can, to live up to a code which insists that they confront this grim fatal reality with a range of human qualities (courage, loyalty, physical strength, and so on). We  will be going into this feature of the poem in greater detail in another essay.  For the moment it’s essential to grasp the point that central to lives of these men is their free assertion of their individuality in the face of a harsh fate which they cannot alter.This fatali stic quality of the poem emerges also in the way Homer insists upon the universal scope of war. As we read the story, we are always dealing with a particular event involving specific individuals, but we are also aware of a larger picture, for these events are part of a much longer time period.  The famous digressions, which have occasioned a certain amount of hostile comment, serve to remind us again and again that warfare is a condition of life itself.  Flashbacks to earlier times insist that personal armed combat is what life is about (e.g., Phoenix’s long tale of Meleager, Aeneas’ boasts about his ancestors, Andromache’s story of her family, the constant reminders of the achievements of Diomedes’ father, Tydeus, and so on).  The particular events of this battle are always being played out against a historical backdrop of very similar incidents.  One of Nestor’s important functions in the poem is to remind us all the time, both by his pre sence and by his reminiscences, that human life has always involved fighting on the battlefield: â€Å"Son of Atreus, yes, indeed, I wish, I was the man I used to be back then when I cut down lord Ereuthalion.But gods don’t give men everything at once.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Then I was young.  Now old age follows me.But I’ll be with my horsemen, advising them, giving them  their orders, an old man’s right.Fighting with spears is for the younger men  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  born after me, men who rely on strength.† (4.373) [4.318] Similarly, when Hector thinks of his young son’s future, the best he can envisage for him is that he will be a great warrior, victorious in battle (6.583), a situation all the more poignant, of course, because many readers bring to the incident a knowledge of how Hector will soon die and how the young infant will be killed when the Achaeans sack Troy.  Hector has already acknowledged that he will die fairly soon, and no one in the poem has more to lose from continuing the battles than Hector.  Nonetheless, the only future he can imagine and desire for his son is one which has produced the situation he and Andromache now face. Homer’s treatment of the combatants also serves to bring out the universal, fatal condition of this war.  The  Iliad  contains hundreds of different names of people from all over the known world.  It is virtually impossible to keep track of everyone (and one doesn’t really have to, since most of the major actions involve relatively few people), but it is equally impossible to escape the sense that on this canvas we have representatives from all parts of civilization, not simply two separate groups fighting their own private quarrel.  And what’s even more remarkable, all these combatants are decidedly similar.  Most of them speak the same language, worship the same gods, live by the same code of life, share the same rituals in prayers, sacrifices, burials, and so on.  Warriors on opposite sides are members of the same extended family, and their forefathers have entertained each other and fought as allies in the past.  Some of those on different sid es have the same name (e.g., Agelaus, Antiphus, Adrestus, Medon, Noemon, Orestes, and so on).  Such a marked similarity between the two main groups of allies works against any attempt to find a rational cause of this war in some ethnic or religious conflict and thus adds weight to the impression that warfare transcends any geographical or cultural differences between the groups fighting each other. We need to dwell on this point for a moment.  In our Western traditions, we have for a very long time coped with the disturbing aspects of war by subjecting it to moral analysis. We like to see warfare as an army of righteousness against an army of evil, good versus bad, with the forces of goodness prevailing, so that we can justify the inescapable horrors war brings with it.  And many critics have extended this tradition to the  Iliad, seeking to establish some moral basis for the war which would make its atrocities somehow more palatable.  I’ll have a good deal more to say about this tendency in a later essay.  What I want to insist upon here is that Homer appears to go out of his way to make this division between the opponents difficult to sustain.  This war has not arisen out of cultural or political or economic conflict.  It is something bigger than all such conflicts, and it has the effect of making all the combatants, whatever minor differences one wishes to point to here or there, all equally subject to its force. After all, why are these men fighting?  Or, more importantly, why do they believe they are fighting?  The treatment of Helen, the ostensible cause of the war, makes her, for all her importance in the received tradition, relatively insignificant.  She is hardly a sufficient explanation for what is going on.  If the abduction counts at all, it is a minor pretext for what these men do all the time anyway.  The suggestion that the Trojans might debate the issue and give her back (7.402) evaporates almost immediately, and the war continues as before.  King Priam expressly indicates that Helen is not to blame (3.175) since the only sensible way to account for this war is to ascribe it to the gods. Such a view of war is profoundly different from what most of us now believe.  We think we have the ability to avoid warfare and that, if we must fight it, then we will do so only when we have a moral imperative to do so (i.e., when we are the â€Å"good guys† and our opponents â€Å"the bad guys†).  And even under such circumstances, we will expect the war to be as short as possible.  The notion that war is not a temporary and unwelcome intrusion upon human life but a fatal condition of life is thus potentially disturbing, a challenge to beliefs we particularly cherish.  A central thrust of these essays is that such a challenge to our sensibilities is one of the most important things about this poem because it is a vision of the world which contradicts what we wish to believe about it.  Of course, many of us can and do seek to evade that challenge by attempting to convert the grim fatalism into a reassuring moral allegory in line with our traditions, but that, it strikes me, removes from the work its most valuable qualities. Bibliography Homer, A. T. Murray, and William F. Wyatt.  Iliad. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2003. Osborne, Robin.  Greece in the making: 1200-469 B.C. Milton Park: Routledge, 2009. Warry, John Gibson.  Warfare in the classical world. New York: Barnes Noble, 2000.

Nobody Ever Dies :: Essays Papers

Nobody Ever Dies â€Å"The Complete Short Stories of Earnest Hemingway† contains many kinds of stories, with themes ranging from the comic to the serious and the macabre, among which â€Å"Nobody Ever Dies† is my favorite one. The story is about a young man named Enrique, who had been away at war for 15 months. His comrades-in-arms secretly sent him back to a house, without knowing it was being watched. Enrique was all the time listening. Someone was trying the two doors. Keeping himself out of sight, Enrique carefully looked around the house. There was no one but a Negro walking along the sidewalk. When the dark came, the Negro was still there. Suddenly, a siren on the radio from the next house gave him a false alarm. Soon afterwards, two stones fell on the tiling floor of the porch one after the other. Enrique went downstairs to the back door. The one outside gave the password correctly, and Enrique opened the door. It was his girlfriend Maria. She had waited until it was dark to come to send him food. Enrique shut the door again. They went up to the porch and looked out. The Negro was gone. Maria learned from Enrique that many soldiers had died, including Vicente, her only brother and the flower of their party. She couldn’t accept it. Enrique finished his meal and talked about the lessons he had learned from the war and his attitude toward his companions’ sacrifice. But she said he talked like a book with a dry heart. Enrique was hurt and showed her the severe wound on his lower back. She cried. Enrique suggested their leaving the house immediately. Just then, two real sirens came both ways up the street. Enrique ordered Maria to leave at once, but she insisted he should go first. Finally, they ran out of the back door and took two ways, diving into the weeds surrounding the lot and crawling. Enrique was almost to the edge of the lot now and must make a dash across the road. But as he started to run, the searchlight caught him, which was from the police car that had come silently, without siren, and posted itself at one back corner of the lot. Enrique fell to the gun from the car.

Critical Reflection of Design Process

The Critical Reflection of the design process iphone Application This document describes the critical reflection of designing the mobile application and describing the software interface in terms of learnability, memorability, effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction CTS Griffith University 11/6/2012 The Critical Reflection of the design process iphone Application This document describes the critical reflection of designing the mobile application and describing the software interface in terms of learnability, memorability, effectiveness, efficiency and satisfactionCTS Griffith University 11/6/2012 Critical Reflection of the design process Issues I have had issues with the development process were I had coding errors that needed to be resolved and spent some time fixing coding errors. Getting my program up and running in the iOS simulator was very difficult. Sometimes the emulator wouldn’t load properly and other times Titanium wouldn’t recognise that the emulator had successfully launched, I had to stop the emulator and start again and ends up taking time to launch.The program has taken a great deal of time to load. Outcome I was very satisfied with the outcome the project, the project went very well, finally had the program loaded on the emulator and had it successfully launched. Titanium is great for rapid prototyping. One thing I would differently though that would be an improvement is to add more functionality so that mathematical calculations that are not included in the current application can be performed. I will in the future build for Android and eventually the blackberry.I have acquired many skills and knowledge doing this project. I have Learnt how to develop inside of appcelerator titanium to build cross platform mobile applications, how to load the program on the emulator and have the capability and skills that from the knowledge I gained using the Titanium appcelerator to do future projects with it. I have learnt how to code the pr ogram, JavaScript is a language many developers know and enables myself as a qualified web developer to get into mobile app development.I have also learnt how to develop design ideas for the application to be suitable to be used outside, easy to use, address usability issues and make it look attractive. Software interface – learnability, memorability, effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction The iPhone calculator is a simple calculator with minimal functions. The iPhone / iPad calculator has been designed for simplicity, easy to use, to be user friendly and usability.Designed for a wide range of users, the iPhone / iPad calculator is primarily designed for students as it is the student’s major tool for performing calculations; this calculator is designed to improve the speed and accuracy of the student’s computational skills and be used. The iPhones calculator works like a pocket calculator. The iPhone’s calculator feature on the Home screen, by clickin g the calculator icon. The calculator function is used to perform a variety of different mathematical operations. The iPhone calculator works by adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.Numbers and symbols are large and easy to see and has large separated keys for increased accuracy It is also designed so that you have an efficient finger placement approach when selecting the keys so that you can perform calculations in a minimum amount of time. The iPhone calculator also has large colourful buttons and high contrast color schemes that will allow you to see the screen well outside. As most people nowadays owns a phone, the calculator function would come very handy to use when needed to perform calculations.It can be used anywhere at home, shop, work or travelling The calculator is very effective that allows the user to do a simple calculation with ease, enter in a number, then an operation, then another number, and then the = button. The c button will clear the current operati on. The calculator will perform operations in standard mathematical order. So 5+2? 2 will return 9. This is because multiplication and division are have higher precedence than addition and subtraction. .

Three Ways of Being with Technology

Three Ways Of Being-with Technology by Carl Mitcham Introduction: Mitcham talks about the relations between technology and humanity. He starts with the chicken-and-egg question â€Å"Which is primary-humanity or knowledge? † What exactly is happening? Is it that we influence the technology or is it so happening that the technology is shaping our morals and us? At this point he quotes one of the Winston Churchill quotations that â€Å"We shape our buildings and thereafter they shape us â€Å".Then he tries to answer this question by saying it is a mutual relationship in between these two but even the mutual relationship take different forms. He then proposes a three ways of being with the technology and takes the whole document on structural analysis of the three forms. Ancient Skepticism: The articulation of a relationship between humanity and technics in the earliest forms when stated boldly is â€Å"technology (that is, the study of technics) is necessary but dangerousâ⠂¬ .Technics, according to these myths, although to some extent required by humanity and thus on occasion a cause for legitimate celebration, easily turns against the human by severing it from some larger reality – a severing that can be manifest in a failure of faith or shift of the will, a refusal to rely on or trust God or the gods, whether manifested in nature or in Providence. Ethical arguments in support of this distrust or uneasiness about technical activities can be detected in the earliest strata of Western philosophy.Socrates considered farming, the least technical of the arts, to be the most philosophical of occupations. This idea of agriculture as the most virtuous of the arts, one in which human technical action tends to be kept within proper limits, is repeated by representatives of the philosophical tradition as diverse as Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, and Thomas Jefferson. Socrates argues that because of the supreme importance of the ethical and political issues, human beings should not allow themselves to become preoccupied with scientific and technological pursuits.Socrates argues that human beings should determine for themselves how to perform their actions and therefore should not depend on god for help in â€Å"counting, measuring or weighing† whose consequences are nonetheless hidden. In the Intellectual Auto Biography of Socrates, he explained how he turned away from natural science because of the cosmological and moral confusion it tends to engender. Never did he speculate on the ‘cosmos ‘of the sophists or the necessities of the heavens but declared those who worried about such matters were foolish.The classical greek culture was shot through with a distrust of the wealth and the affluence that the technai or arts could produce if not kept within strict limits. Socrates explains what is important is moderation. He explains that under the condition of affluence human beings tend to become accustomed to eas e and thus to chose less over the more perfect. He explains â€Å"Once drugs are available as palliatives, for instance, most individuals will choose them for the alleviation of pain over the more strenuous paths of physical hygiene or psychological enlightenment. Which is very true in the modern con text than to that current in athens that scarcely need to be mentioned. Another aspect of this tension between politics and technology is on the dangers of technical change. In the words of Adeimantus, with whom Socrates in this instance evidently agrees, once change has established itself as normal in the arts, â€Å"it overflows its bounds into human character and activity and from there issues forth to attack commercial affairs, and then proceeds against the laws and political orders†.Technological change, which undermines the authority of custom and habit, thus tends to introduce violence into the state. This should be taken more serious with the experience in the 20th centu ry. Eros or love, by contrast, is oriented toward the higher or the stronger; it seeks out the good and strives for transcendence. â€Å"And the person who is versed in such matters is said to have spiritual wisdom, as opposed to the wisdom of one with technai or low-grade handicraft skills† It’s the person with the spiritual wisdom that the love is oriented to.The ancient critique of technology thus rests on a tightly woven, fourfold argument: (1) the will to technology or the technological intention often involves a turning away from faith or trust in nature or Providence; (2) technical affluence and the concomitant processes of change tend to undermine individual striving for excellence and societal stability; (3) technological knowledge likewise draws human beings into intercourse with the world and obscures transcendence; (4) technical objects are less real than objects of nature.This pre-modern attitude looks on technics as dangerous or guilty until proven innoce nt or necessary – and in any case, the burden of proof lie’s with those who favor technology not those who would restraint it, because this way of being with technology views it with skepticism. Enlightenment Optimism: This is a radically different way of being with technology; it shifts the burden of proof from those who favor to those who oppose the introduction of inventions in the name of enlightenment.Aspects of this idea or attitude are not without pre-modern adumbration. This idea is first fully articulated in the writings of Francis Bacon at the time of renaissance. Unlike Socrates Bacon maintains that God has given humanity a clear mandate for the change i. e. the technical change. Technical consequences are all cut loose with an optimistic hope and the consequences of such actions are treated as mere accidents. We all deemed to form in the image of god are all expected to create and the art plays the primary role in this.Formed in the image and likeness of Go d, human beings are called on to be creators; to abjure that vocation and pursue instead an unproductive discourse on ethical dilemmas. Bacon indeed claims that not applying new remedies must expect new evils. The kingdom of man founded by sciences is none other than the kingdom of heavens. It is important to understand that Bacon and Socrates relates to each other in pro- and anti- technology partisans. Technical action is circumscribed by uncertainty or risk.Bason doesn’t evaluate technical projects on their individual merits, but simply asserts/affirms the technology. It is important to pursue technological action irrespective of the dangerous consequences. The uncertainty of the technological actions is jettisoned in the name of revelation. Bacon argues that the inventions of printing, gunpowder, and the compass have done more to benefit humanity than all the philosophical debates and political reforms have done to the human kind throughout history.The distinctly modern w ay of being-with technology may be articulated in terms of four interrelated arguments: (1) the will to technology is ordained for humanity by God or by nature; (2) technological activity is morally beneficial because, while stimulating human action, it ministers to physical needs and increases sociability; (3) knowledge acquired by a technical closure with the world is more true than abstract theory; and (4) nature is no more real than artifice – indeed, it operates by the same principles.Romantic Uneasiness: The pre modern way of being with technology effectively limited the rapid technical expansions in the west for approximately 2000 years. The proximate causes of this radical transformation were, of course, legion: geographic, economic, political, military and scientific and the author questions then what brought all such factors together in England to engender a new way of life. Romanticism is what came out from this yelling for change.This paved the way for the new way of being with the technology, one that can be identified as with ancient skepticism or modern optimism but tries to be neutral by accepting change but showing uneasiness towards the change. Mitcham argues that the Romanticism is a form of questioning. On the ancient view, technology was seen as a turning away from God or the gods. On the modern view, it is ordained by God or, with the Enlightenment rejection of God, by nature. With the romantics the will to technology either remains grounded in nature or is cut free from all extra-human determination.In the former instance, however, nature is reconceived not just as mechanistic movement but as an organic striving toward creative development and expression. William Wordsworth tries to demonstrate the same thing through his poems. In which he first shows exult over intellectual mastery and inventions and then in the following poems looks back and grieves over the great change that happened because of inventions and the outrage done t o the nature. Then he writes how unpropped are these arts and high inventions.Rousseau argues the need for actions, not words, and approves the initial achievements of the Renaissance in freeing humanity from a barren medieval Scholasticism. He argues that the destruction is better than inaction. He then points out to a paradox that: turning against technology – but in the name of ideals that are at the heart of technology. In with the way of romantic way of being with technology, there is a paradox. There is a certain ambivalence built in to this attitude. The attitude itself has not been adopted whole-hearted way by the modern culture.

The Yellow Wallpaper Analysis Essays - Fiction, Literature, Arts

The Yellow Wallpaper Analysis Essays - Fiction, Literature, Arts The Yellow Wallpaper Analysis Charlotte Perkins Stetson is a well-known American author that channels her own battle with postpartum depression in her non-fictional novel "The Yellow Wallpaper". Stetson uses a combination of feminism, symbolism, metaphors, irony, and imagery to illustrate issues that woman face in society. The types of irony that can be found in the novel are Verbal, Dramatic, and Situational. The Use of such literary devices adds to the gothic and mystical mood of the novel. In This article, a series of themes are conveyed through the use literary devices. When literary devices are used throughout a novel the author leaves more room for interpretation. Perkin's Novel influences the reader to ponder on the oppression, misunderstanding, and objectification of women. From the oppressive point of view, it can be said that women in society are viewed as less than Men and at the time weren't given the opportunity to make decisions for themselves Throughout the novel it is apparent for one to see that the main character is undergoing a mental breakdown. The mental breakdown that the reader may assume she may be dealing with in the novel is postpartum depression. In the novel, the main character that goes unnamed says " that There's one comfort, the baby is well and happy, and does not have to occupy this nursery with the horrid wallpaper."(pg.652) So, one interpretation that can be made from this sentence is that the main character has a newborn baby that her husband is not allowing her to take care of. It can be said that her husband's treatment toward is more damaging to her than beneficial. Because she is a woman battling a mental illness, and her husband is a physician, her husband tends to be controlling. The author of the novel does not direc tly say everything that happens in the story but the director leaves room for interpretation of the literary devices used to enhance the story. From the oppressive point of view, it can be said that women in society are viewed as less than Men and at the time weren't given the opportunity to make decisions for themselves. The imagery that was given by the author was a representation of her feeling imprisoned in a place that she was supposed to feel at home. For example, in the passage, she goes into explaining the life outside of her window in the midst of the storm she finds a break in the sky and of new life around her. " The storm can be interpreted as living under the control of her husband and the light and new life could foreshadow her life without her husband and in her right mind. Stetson conveyed the lack of understanding of mental illness and the need for the woman to be okay all the time. In the novel, the protagonist would try to convey her emotions to the nanny and her husband they would dismiss her as if his word was the only one that counted. "Can you not trust me as a physician when I tell you so? " (Stetson 652) the narrator she would say nothing. Women are not property and not only in that era but today's era women are taught to be silent about their issues and that things need to be handled by the man. He thought she was crazy for voicing her opinion. The irony in this comes in because though her husband wanted to help her he was the antagonist because of his treatment. The main character found herself metaphorically trapped behind wallpaper and when that wallpaper comes down which may be interpreted as the box in her mind he could be free. The wall paper could symbolize a cage and this cage and out side this cage she may see freedom from not onl y that room but the rules of her husband. Another message that can be received from the passage is that can be received is objectifying of women. The author uses a very gothic tone to describe the "ghost" that haunts the narrator. "I can see a strange, provoking, formless sort of figure" (Stetson 650) The ghost may be interpreted as her own thoughts but the

Free Essays on Microsoft

Team Project Microsoft was founded in 1975 in Seattle, Washington by two young men, Paul Allen and William Henry Gates, III who had a dream of â€Å"a computer on every desk and in every home.† This revolutionary idea was put into reality by creating a new industry and transforming how we work, live, learn, and play. Microsoft Corporation is the biggest Software Company in America and the 5th largest company in the United States, with a market value of more than 107 billion dollars. Their software products cover almost everything that the computer has ever been conceived to do, from movie making to personal finance, operating systems to application development environment. William Henry Gates, III, aside from being the richest person in America, is also becoming one of the most influential in the computer industry, business community, and ordinary people's life. Today, Microsoft is empowering people everywhere to realize their potential through great software anytime, anyplace and on any device. Microsoft’s vision as seen by Bill Gates was â€Å"We started with a vision of a computer on every desk and in every home... Every day, we're finding new ways for technology to enhance and enrich people's lives. We're really just getting started." The whole company started with just a small napkin of thoughts by former CEO Bill Gates, and developed into a global giant in the technology industry. Microsoft excels in many areas but the areas we found most successful were cutting edge technology and truly terrific benefits. Cutting edge technology have Microsoft developers and partners, help spark a technological revolutions that have transformed how we do business, how we live, and how we learn. This revolution was the belief that software, if made affordable and accessible to more people, would remove barriers and transform technology into an extraordinary tool for millions of people around the world. Microsoft has evolved into ... Free Essays on Microsoft Free Essays on Microsoft Team Project Microsoft was founded in 1975 in Seattle, Washington by two young men, Paul Allen and William Henry Gates, III who had a dream of â€Å"a computer on every desk and in every home.† This revolutionary idea was put into reality by creating a new industry and transforming how we work, live, learn, and play. Microsoft Corporation is the biggest Software Company in America and the 5th largest company in the United States, with a market value of more than 107 billion dollars. Their software products cover almost everything that the computer has ever been conceived to do, from movie making to personal finance, operating systems to application development environment. William Henry Gates, III, aside from being the richest person in America, is also becoming one of the most influential in the computer industry, business community, and ordinary people's life. Today, Microsoft is empowering people everywhere to realize their potential through great software anytime, anyplace and on any device. Microsoft’s vision as seen by Bill Gates was â€Å"We started with a vision of a computer on every desk and in every home... Every day, we're finding new ways for technology to enhance and enrich people's lives. We're really just getting started." The whole company started with just a small napkin of thoughts by former CEO Bill Gates, and developed into a global giant in the technology industry. Microsoft excels in many areas but the areas we found most successful were cutting edge technology and truly terrific benefits. Cutting edge technology have Microsoft developers and partners, help spark a technological revolutions that have transformed how we do business, how we live, and how we learn. This revolution was the belief that software, if made affordable and accessible to more people, would remove barriers and transform technology into an extraordinary tool for millions of people around the world. Microsoft has evolved into ...

How to Write a Killer Cover Letter

How to Write a Killer Cover Letter You have a great resume, but that doesn’t always mean you’ll get the job. Imagine another candidate with an almost identical set of skills and experience. The trick to distinguishing yourself among comparable candidates is to set the tone with a terrific cover letter. It can really make the difference in making the final cut. Pitch It RightDon’t just write a cookie-cutter form letter addressed To Whom it May Concern and send it out with every inquiry. Tailor your letter for each application, making sure to think about the position and the company and the person who might be reviewing your application. The extra bit of work shows your thoughtfulness and also that you’re willing to go the extra mile to be professional and polished. Remember, hiring managers are hoping the next candidate they see will be the slam-dunk they’re looking for. Why not make it easy on them?Talk Yourself UpImagine you’re a salesman with a briefcase full of†¦ yours elf. Getting hired is really no different than peddling a product. Prove with your letter exactly why you’re the absolute best fit for the position and the company. And believe in what you’re selling. Show them you are exactly what they need.Talk NumbersDid you have massive success at a particular company or with a particular project? Don’t just say that, give the numbers. Percentages, rates, dollar amounts- these can pack a lot of â€Å"wow† factor and grab the attention of the hiring manager.Take a little extra time to write your cover letter  with  these suggestions on your mind, and you’ll really start to see a difference in how many interviews you land. It’s almost as good as being personally recommended, only you’re recommending yourself! Remember not to brag, but do your best to pitch yourself as the answer to all of their professional prayers.

ON THE BUS WITH ROSA PARKS RESEARCH PAPER Essay

ON THE BUS WITH ROSA PARKS RESEARCH PAPER - Essay Example y cello in her high school band and visit the White House for the first time in her senior year of high school as a Presidential Scholar (â€Å"Rita Dove†, 2005). Her education included graduating summa cum laude from Miami University in Ohio, two years studying in Germany, taking a Master’s from the University of Iowa and then moving on to teach creative writing at Arizona State University. She had already gained some public recognition through magazines and anthologies before she published her first collection of poetry in 1980. Her third collection won the Pulitzer Prize in 1987. Her career has also included short stories, plays and text for orchestral music (â€Å"Rita Dove†, 2005). Although prolific in her writing, Dove says she doesn’t derive inspiration from any one thing. â€Å"If you wait for inspiration, inspiration’s going to go away and look for more fertile ground to work with† (â€Å"An Online Interview†, 1994). Asked in the same interview for advice for budding writers, Dove adds, â€Å"they can only write what they feel. That doesn’t mean they have to experience it, but to write something because someone else thinks its right, to write for PC reasons, to write because you think you ought to be dealing with this subject, is never going to yield anything that is really going to matter to anyone else.† To understand Dove’s inspirations for poems such as those found in her collection On the Bus with Rosa Parks, it is thus necessary to examine the poems themselves. On the Bus with Rosa Parks is a collection of free verse poems that are loosely connected by the characters featured and the experiences shared. The book has a logical progression. It starts with the individual Lucille as she struggles to give birth alone in her Depression-era home after having been abandoned (temporarily) by her husband Joe. As it develops, Dove increasingly brings in greater involvement with the external world as the children of Lucille and Joe increase

Factors influencing consumers buying behaviour of Thai people in Essay - 2

Factors influencing consumers buying behaviour of Thai people in choosing luxury brands - Essay Example This paper presents the strategy to be used during the research. This paper will begin with the positivism and interpretivism. Positivism is a scientific approach whose methods are organized and measurable basing on the behaviors of the communities.   The positivism principles rely on quantifiable facts that help the researcher make a statistical analysis. Since the researcher seeks to identify human experience on luxury products, positivism design will help the researcher find their consumption patterns and their interests. Since this research aims at determining purchasing patterns of luxury products among the women, social status is a paramount consideration for the consumption of luxury products. Therefore, this approach is essential for this study. On the other hand, interpretive approach inclines towards the qualitative collection of data. Whereas positivism design seeks to identify the causes of buying behavior patterns, the interpretivist methodology is more qualitative and seeks for commonness in consumption patterns. For the purpose of this study, the research inclines mainly to quantitative and not qualitative data collection. The researcher will base researcher understanding on â€Å"positive† verification of visible experience as opposed to intuition or introspection. This makes this approach applicable to the study. There are two main methods that researcher often uses to collect the data which are a quantitative and qualitative method.

International Relations politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

International Relations politics - Essay Example My purpose is only to highlight the importance of the existence of these schools of thoughts in the field of IR as a disciple and science. The last part of this paper, I address the purpose of IR and conclude that the IR as a discipline attempts to depict the picture of world affairs. I end this paper with a brief conclusion. The study of IR as a discipline significantly evolved after the First World War. However, many scholars and theorists use historical data for their analysis of IR.1 In the centuries before the First World War, one can perceive IR more as a combination of several disciplines such as Law, History and Philosophy rather than discipline on itself (Hollis & Smith 1990: p. 16). Some prominent historical philosophers who are often referred to in IR are Plato, Paine and Hobbes. These historical philosophers each addressed the study of IR in their own way. However, it was in the twentieth-century that the field of IR significantly evolved as many scholars diversified. The contribution of American and British scholars was significant and thus, American and British scholars dominated the field of IR for decades. ... f thoughts or whatever one prefers to name it, that one can identify in the field of IR were notable developed as scholars provided more empirical and epistemological data to the field of IR. However, this intensified the debate between these schools of thoughts and opened the door for new debates between scholars of IR. I agree with Walt that for the case of contemporary IR, the most crucial question is which school of thought sheds the most light on IR. Although IR might be perceived as a discipline or a science on itself, it is obvious that the nature of IR can be traced back to time of the Ancient Greek with the work of Thucydides and Plato and IR developed throughout the course of history. Several theories in International Relations In the nineteenth and especially in the twentieth century, the development of IR as a social science discipline has led to many theories that attempt to provide a theoretical and empirical framework to analyze the field of IR. Each of these schools of thoughts that were developed by theorists and scholars provide basic principles on which each framework is based upon. It is crucial to understand the basic principles of some of these schools of thoughts in order to understand the complexity of the study of IR. For this reason, in the following sector I will briefly discuss the basic principles of Realism, Liberalism and IO. Realism One of the most imperative schools of thought in the field of IR is Realism. Within this school of thought, one can identify several strands of realism such as classical realism, liberal realism and neo-realism.2 Among scholars and social scientist, Realism is perceived as the leading theory in the field of IR. Gilpin even argues that one should perceive realism as "a philosophical disposition"

Embraer Company(Brazil Company) BRICS, Why should invest Essay

Embraer Company(Brazil Company) BRICS, Why should invest - Essay Example Different investment appraisal techniques would be applied on the forecasted financial statements of the company and then the company would be evaluated for the purpose of investment. Some of the investment appraisal techniques that have been used to analyse the company’s performance are: Net present value of the future cash flows, internal rate of return, Benefit to cost ratio, Profitability Index, and average accounting rate of return. These techniques have been used to analyse whether the company is a good option to invest or not. The expected net income has been discounted with the estimated growth of the company. Expected growth has been calculated from the growth the company achieved from its sales of last complete year i.e. sales of year 2010 and sales of year 2011 have been used to calculate the estimated growth. It has been found from the financials of the company that the company has been making an investment every year. The investment made by the company has been varying since 2007 and therefore average of the investment of the company has been taken and the same amount or the average amount has been assumed to occur in the years to come. The average investment made by the company is found to be $376.33 million (Embraer d, 2012). As the net present value of the future cash flows is positive therefore according to the NPV, one should invest in the company. However, NPV is not very high but even positive NPV investment opportunity is worth investing as it would have a higher return in future. Internal rate of return is rate of return where the future value of the cash flows is equal to 0. Internal rate of return of future cash flows is 82.37% and this is the rate where the future cash flows after being discounted are showing an NPV of 0 (Gitman, 2003). As the value of IRR is 82.37% which is more than the growth

Short essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Short - Essay Example In the case of eligibility to get elected to the post, Texas House is far easier than US House to reach. First of all, the minimum age required to be elected to the Texas House is twenty-one years while that of the US House is twenty five years. In addition, while US House requires that a member should be a citizen of United States for the past seven years, for Texas House, it is 2 years. However, in the case of compensation, US House far outreach the Texas House. While the former gives an annual salary of $ 174, 000, the latter offers a meager amount of $ 600 per month, along with a per diem of $ 128, thus totaling to $ 17,920 per year, showing a ten times difference! In addition, other retirements heavily favor US House members In addition, the US House members enjoy a hefty pension, personal staff allowance, expense allowances, foreign travel allowance, and in addition, can make an income from outside employment that does not exceed 15% of their member pay. On the other hand, Texa ns receive a meager sum as salary. In the case of terms of service both seem similar in the fact that both are elected for two year terms and can get elected infinite number of times. However, in the case of Texas legislation, the number of regular session is 140 days to the maximum though the governor calls for special sessions which can go up to a maximum of 30 days (Texas House of Representatives). On the other hand, US House is considered full-time but sessions last six months or more, that starts in January and ends by the end of July. In total, it seems that though the US House members are in full-time job getting huge salaries and other benefits, they remain far away from their constituency, thus being unable to concentrate on the issues affecting the local people. On the other hand, though Texas house members get less salary and other benefits, they get ample opportunity to interact with the people, and thus, playing their role well. I would rather go for Texas House members hip as it gives the satisfaction of public service. 2 Both the Texas legislature and the US Congress are similar to a great extent in their structure, function, election and length of terms. However, a close look will reveal a huge difference in the pay of representatives and nature and duration of sessions. When the structure of both the legislatures is taken into consideration, one can find a lot of similarities, the first one being their bicameral nature. The US Congress is divided into two; the Senate and the House of Representatives with 100 members in the former and 435 members in the latter. Similarly, Texas legislature has a Senate with 31 members and a House of Representatives with 150 members. . One can find a lot of similarities in the nature of elections too. In both the cases, the term of each member is two years and the election to all the posts in the House of Representatives takes place every two years, in even-numbered years. However, there is difference in the elec tion of Senate members. Senate members of the Congress hold their office for six years, but one third of the seats come up for election every two years. On the other hand, the members in the Texas senate are divided into two groups and half of the seats come

Needs Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Needs Assessment - Essay Example Some funds have also been set aside for purchasing the writing materials and other materials that will get used in the process of data analysis. The committee has been able to estimate the cost of materials that will get used in data representation and has set aside some funds to cater for this. The committee has budgeted for some energy drinks as well as refreshments, particularly for those who will be conduct face to face basis of interviews. The team has further hired individuals with counseling professions to offer their counseling service to those students who are at risk of alcohol use. Though limited to some extent, our budget has catered to ensure those taking alcohols will reduce their consumption and use of alcoholic products, with the aim of making them quit. Finally, the committee has been able to put aside some funds to cater for the rehabilitation programs for the students who are problem drinkers. The initiative has hired some physiologists, who are going to take medical intervention for those with medical and physiological conditions and since these require some particular attentions (Borck, 501). Borck, Cornelius. "Communicating the Modern Body: Fritz Kahns Popular Images of Human Physiology as an Industrialized World."  Canadian Journal of Communication  32.3 (2007): 495-520.  ProQuest.  Web. 19 Mar.

Short essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Short - Essay Example In the case of eligibility to get elected to the post, Texas House is far easier than US House to reach. First of all, the minimum age required to be elected to the Texas House is twenty-one years while that of the US House is twenty five years. In addition, while US House requires that a member should be a citizen of United States for the past seven years, for Texas House, it is 2 years. However, in the case of compensation, US House far outreach the Texas House. While the former gives an annual salary of $ 174, 000, the latter offers a meager amount of $ 600 per month, along with a per diem of $ 128, thus totaling to $ 17,920 per year, showing a ten times difference! In addition, other retirements heavily favor US House members In addition, the US House members enjoy a hefty pension, personal staff allowance, expense allowances, foreign travel allowance, and in addition, can make an income from outside employment that does not exceed 15% of their member pay. On the other hand, Texa ns receive a meager sum as salary. In the case of terms of service both seem similar in the fact that both are elected for two year terms and can get elected infinite number of times. However, in the case of Texas legislation, the number of regular session is 140 days to the maximum though the governor calls for special sessions which can go up to a maximum of 30 days (Texas House of Representatives). On the other hand, US House is considered full-time but sessions last six months or more, that starts in January and ends by the end of July. In total, it seems that though the US House members are in full-time job getting huge salaries and other benefits, they remain far away from their constituency, thus being unable to concentrate on the issues affecting the local people. On the other hand, though Texas house members get less salary and other benefits, they get ample opportunity to interact with the people, and thus, playing their role well. I would rather go for Texas House members hip as it gives the satisfaction of public service. 2 Both the Texas legislature and the US Congress are similar to a great extent in their structure, function, election and length of terms. However, a close look will reveal a huge difference in the pay of representatives and nature and duration of sessions. When the structure of both the legislatures is taken into consideration, one can find a lot of similarities, the first one being their bicameral nature. The US Congress is divided into two; the Senate and the House of Representatives with 100 members in the former and 435 members in the latter. Similarly, Texas legislature has a Senate with 31 members and a House of Representatives with 150 members. . One can find a lot of similarities in the nature of elections too. In both the cases, the term of each member is two years and the election to all the posts in the House of Representatives takes place every two years, in even-numbered years. However, there is difference in the elec tion of Senate members. Senate members of the Congress hold their office for six years, but one third of the seats come up for election every two years. On the other hand, the members in the Texas senate are divided into two groups and half of the seats come

Controlling SLP Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Controlling SLP - Coursework Example Based on the obtained facts, technologies and strategies to preserve management control have been suggested in this study. Controlling SLP It is often argued that management control is essential in order to mitigate many commonly witnessed organizational issues, such as ethical conflicts, stakeholder interest conflicts and even employee as well as customer satisfaction problems. Studies based on real life examples, such as Grant (1996) and Barney (1986), also revealed a similar notion where managerial control has been reflected to have a direct influence on the increase of organizational efficiency. With this intention, McDonald’s managerial endeavors in the recent years have been considered as a case example in this paper. Analyzing the management control efforts made by McDonald’s Corporation in course of preserving its strategic and technological efficiency and dealing with the organizational issue, discussion of this thesis tends to evaluate the dependency of proces s effectiveness on the degree of management control practiced in its internal business environment. The thesis further suggests McDonald’s regarding the implementation of organizational efforts in order to mitigate the various organizational problems. ... Discussion McDonald’s had to face number of challenges during the implementation of its business operations in its recent endeavors; however, these issues were also identified in the introductory stage of the company though at a much lesser frequency. In this context, it can be assumed that in the introductory phase, management is quite likely to have greater control over the business operations. Correspondingly, a relationship can be inferred from the fact that with greater management control, the organizational strategies can be executed in a more comprehensive manner that in turn shall mitigate higher possibilities of issues (Emerald Group Publishing Limited, n.d). Gradually, with its expansion in the global platform, managerial control in McDonald’s reduced. Subsequently, many issues confronted its smooth operations. Commonly, it was the social issues that were witnessed to affect the smooth functioning of the fast food retail giant in terms of rising awareness rega rding obesity risks due to regular consumption of unhealthy fast food. In order to overcome the crisis situation, McDonald’s initiated various strategies and techniques, imposing greater management control on its organizational functions. For instance, in overcoming the challenge faced, McDonald’s adopted the technique to redesign its organizational culture and direct efficient leadership style within the organization. Among the prime intentions behind applying this strategic procedure, was the organizational aim to enrich the transparency level in its procurement and production functions. The adoption of this policy proved quite beneficial for the company. It not only rejuvenated the confidence in stakeholders but also fostered its brand impression in the global dais

Strategic approach to corporate sustainability Essay Example for Free

Strategic approach to corporate sustainability Essay Woolworths Limited is one of Australia’s largest retailers with a presence in food, liquor, hotels, gaming, general merchandise, hardware, consumer finance and electronics. The company has a 90 year history of growth and innovation and has had a record of social responsibility along the way demonstrated with its support of community and charity organisations. Further to this the company has adopted rigorous environmental standards and recognised its position as one of the largest companies in the Australian market. It has incorporated a system of environmental checks and balances, and used its powerful market position to ensure suppliers are also adhering to similar rigid environmental checks and balances. All the while the company has made sound and successful financial decisions which have seen it grow from humble beginnings to its place as a top 20 Australian company by capitalisation and top retailer in the Australian and New Zealand market place. Despite its proactive response to the environmental and social impacts of its business, Woolworths has come under considerable pressure from media and other stakeholder groups over its pressure on growers and suppliers. The company has also been criticised about its â€Å"predatory† industry practices which has seen many smaller local businesses out of business due to the very competitive nature of Woolworths and its rapid expansion. Woolworths has a sound CS policy and strategy in place, however it may benefit from a more focussed brand and reputation management strategy which may address some of these criticisms before decisions are made on the execution of such strategies. Table of Contents Woolworths’ Limited – Strategic and Operational Approaches to Corporate Sustainability1 Executive Summary1 Table of Contents2 Introduction3 Woolworths Strategic and Operational Approaches5 Conclusions9 References9 Introduction Woolworths is one of Australia’s largest retailing groups and one of the largest companies listed on the Australian stock exchange, making up around 4% of the total capitalisation of the ASX (StateStreet Global Investors). Woolworths has a total market capitalisation of approximately $43 billion and is diversified into retail sectors such as groceries and fresh food, electronics and consumer electronics, liquor and gaming, fuel, hardware, general merchandise and financial services. Woolworths began operations in Sydney in the 1920’s, and through innovative and competitive marketing, pricing and product it grew rapidly to have stores in every state. Woolworths diversified further by opening department stores and acquiring businesses in strategic markets. The company also diversified into hospitality and liquor retailing and furthered its portfolio by acquiring businesses in electronics and hardware, and strategic partnering with financial services and rewards programs in more recent times. As such, Woolworths claims to serve over 28 million customers each and every week, have more than 3,000 stores and employ over 195,000 people (www.woolworthslimited.com.au). Given the size and scope of Woolworths on the Australian economy, the organisation attracts a great deal of attention for its corporate, social, environmental and economic activities on a daily basis. As such, Woolworths has a strong charter around its corporate governance, releases statements on its Corporate Social Responsibility and has a strong Corporate Sustainability plan in place, including reputation management. This report will look into these areas and where Woolworths is succeeding, and may still find room for improvement. Corporate Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility and the Triple Bottom Line Corporate Sustainability (CS) is an approach to business operations, strategy and management that is driven towards the creation of long-term value through economic, environmental and social considerations to decision making (Benn Bolton, 2011). CS is the delivery of long term success of the business along with consideration of the natural environment in which humans co-habitat and that of the society in which humans interact. There are overlaps between CS and other similar theories such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Triple Bottom Line (TBL). The main difference is that CS involves the strategy and risk management approach of the organisation (Weber, 2008). Shareholders can no longer be considered the only stakeholder a company needs to consider in their decision making processes, nor the only stakeholder that will hold the company to account (Brooks Dunn, 2012 p.240). CSR requires, at a minimum, compliance with the law, good corporate citizenship and compliance codes and requirements, but is actually focused on company’s performing at an â€Å"elevated level of quality in all they do† (Sarre, 2002, pg 3). There is also growing expectation of transparency beyond the traditional financial disclosures required of governing authorities. Carroll (in Crane, Matten Spence,2007) argues that there are four key elements to Corporate Social Responsibility from the business perspective, namely economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic (p.62). Further to CSR is the concept of the â€Å"Triple Bottom Line† (TBL). This theory is concerned with how business operates in managing its economic sustainability, much like CS, however moves further into considerations of both environmental responsibilities and social responsibilities of the operations of the company (Elkington, 1999). Recent studies have linked the influence of TBL on business performance where it has been shown that addressing and working towards improved environmental outcomes can positively affect all three aspects of the TBL and improving social responsibility standards can improve environmental aspects greatly also (Gimenez, Sierra Rodon, 2012). In economic terms, CS is the long term-term survival and success of the company (Dunphy,D, 2002). Woolworths produced its first CSR Report in 2005 which focussed on its policies, commitments and CS related performance (Maseeha, Indu, Purkastha, 2008). The corporate  policy is made quite clear in the CEO’s statement where he (Grant O’Brien) outlines the fact the business desires to increase its market share and levels of growth. In taking CS into account he also addresses other related issues which are the enablers of CS, these being innovation, social responsibility and in the CS statement he talks about â€Å"earning trust†, â€Å"serving our community†, â€Å"using resources wisely† and â€Å"building the best retail team† (www.woolworthslimited.com.au). The four main types of CS Strategies as defined by Baumgartner and Ebner (2010, p. 78),are Extroverted, Introverted, Visionary and Conservative. Woolworths has elements of each in its strategy, which will be discussed in this paper, while looking at how these help the company meet its four goals of: extend leadership in food and liquor; maximise shareholder value in our portfolio; maintain our record of building new growth businesses; and put in place the enablers for a new era of growth. The blending of CS with CSR and TBL can be seen as the evolution of sustainable management principles and practices, and ultimately the goal is not of just economic growth, but that of a sustainable business which engages stakeholders and meets their needs through effective communication, action and results over time (Ricart, JE, Rodrà ­guez, Mà  Sà ¡nchez, P, 2005). Strategy, Business Models and Risk Management The Business Model and the Strategy of the business are terms that are often used interchangeably, however there is a distinct difference between the two. Osterwalder, Pigneur and Tucci (2005) describe the differences and relationship between the two concepts as related by the model being the blueprint for how the firm does business, the strategy the way it operates and brings the model to life. Business models can be further defined as the representation the core logic and strategic choices made to capture value along a value chain, but the model is not strategy (Shafer, SM, Smith, HJ Linder, JC, 2005). Strategy is further defined as the execution of the model and bringing the plans to life (Linder, JC Cantrell, S, 2001). The business model concept provides the basis for the management of the firm to analyse, implement and communicate strategic choices (Shafer, SM, Smith, HJ Linder, JC, 2005). A business model is an important tool in defining the actions of the firm, the mission and goals of its very core existence and how it delivers value for stakeholders through delivery of the TBL. The model defines the value proposition of the firm, the stakeholders involved and how they are engaged, the resources utilised and how they are used, the value chain and suppliers, human capital and how all these various aspects relate, along with external influences upon them, to deliver a sustainable business. Strategy is the implementation of the business model, it is how the plans and ideas are brought to life. The business strategy is often referred to as the way the model is brought to life and delivers value. It must be stated, however, that strategy is not the actual execution of the plans (Martin, R, 2010). Execution and strategy are different in that strategy is the intellectual concept and execution is the physical delivery of the plans to achieve goals (Martin, R, 2010). Where strategy is often seen to fail is that senior management may deliver the ideas without consultation and integration of front-line staff who are closer to stakeholders, customers, suppliers etc. (Martin, R, 2010). Risk Management overlays the concepts of both business model and strategy in that it is how the business anticipates, adapts and reacts to change. Risk is defined as an essential feature of decision making and accountability (Benn Bolton, 2011). McShane, Nair and Rustambekov (2011) state the reasons risk management is important include â€Å"value-increasing benefits of reduction in expected costs related to the following: tax payments, financial distress, underinvestment, asymmetric information, and diversifiable stakeholders† (pp 643). As such, the authors state that risk management is important in increasing the value of the firm. Newer theories on risk management have evolved into Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), and may be said to include eight elements essential for achieving strategic, operational, reporting and compliance goals (Arena, M, Arnaboldi, M, Azzone, G, 2010). These eight elements are 1. Internal environment and how  risks are seen by the firm; 2. Objective setting; 3. Event identification; 4. Risk assessment; 5. Risk response; 6. Control activities; 7. Information and communication; 8. Monitoring and ongoing management. More recently risk management has also begun to look at the importance of reputation management as a part of the risk management framework (Dowling, G, 2006). In the past risk management frameworks have only identified reputation management at the point of crisis and have often made it the responsibility of PR to address any events. Dowling (2006) states that an effective risk management framework should also incorporate the ongoing recognition of the importance of reputation management and this should be addressed by the board and included in the formal agenda of the board. Woolworths has identified its strategy in its annual reports and also has a defined risk management strategy. Woolworths also has a rigid business model across the wider group as well as individual business units. The remainder of this report will identify key areas where Woolworths sets out a strategy to obtain its CSR obligations to its stakeholders as well as obtain its financial goals. The discussion will also discuss how Woolworths may further its CSR and CS strategies towards reaching all goals and managing key risks along the way. Woolworths Strategic and Operational Approaches Woolworths sets out a four point strategy in its 2012 Annual Report, these being: 1. Extend our lead in food and liquor 2. Act on our promise to maximise shareholder value 3. Maintain our record of building new growth 4. Put in place enablers of a new era of growth The following analysis of Woolworths will discuss key areas of the business along with the strength and opportunity, along with a discussion on how the CS of Woolworths may be further enhanced for each area. Woolworths has set out an ambitious plan to not only be the biggest retailer of food and liquor in the Australian market, but also to continue to increase its market share. This is done by an expansion in the number of  outlets it has, and in 2012 alone, 126 new outlets were opened throughout Australia across the various brands the organisation operates (www.woolworthslimited.com.au). This growth is one of the quickest expansions Woolworths has reported, and is partly driven by the firm’s recent strategic move into hardware retailing. Woolworths plans to rapidly increase its presence in the hardware market with 150 new stores in the pipeline over the next five years. Supply Chain Control and Environmental Responsibility Ricart, J, Rodrà ­guez, M Sà ¡nchez, P 2005, ‘Sustainability in the boardroom’, Corporate Governance, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 24-41 Sarre, R, 2002, Re-thinking corporate practice and corporate governance in light of recent corporate collapses: Some evaluative questions and agenda items. Viewed 16 April 2013: http://www.evaluationcanada.ca/distribution/20021030_sarre_rick.pdf Shafer, S, Smith, H, Linder, J, 2005, ‘The power of business models’, Business Horizons, vol.48, no. 3, pp. 199-207 Siromon, D, Hitt, M, Ireland, R.D., 2007, Managing Firm Resources in Dynamic Environments to Create Value: Looking Inside the Black Box, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 32, No. 1, 273–292. SMH, Heinz Cans Coles, Woolies, as viewed on 15 May 2013 at http://www.smh.com.au/business/heinz-cans-coles-woolworths-20110829-1jid6.html StateStreet Global Investors viewed 18 April 2013: http://www.spdrs.com.au/etf/fund/fund_holdings_SFY.html Weber, M 2008, ‘The business case for corporate social responsibility: A company-level measurement approach for CSR’, European Management Journal,

Love Food, Hate Waste Campaign

Love Food, Hate Waste Campaign Food waste is a serious environmental, social and economic concern not only to United Kingdom but also to the whole world. Even though Food waste was recognized as a considerable problem, it was not identified as a serious concern to the environment till recently. Among environmentally significant activities, the production, trade, and consumption of food products have been identified as crucial contributors to numerous environmental problems One of the greatest threats of the century is Global Warming and Climate change. The need of the hour is to effectively tackle the climate change issue and GHG emission. According to Waste and resources action program (WRAP), about 20% of climate change emissions are related to the production, processing, transportation and storage of food. Agriculture contributes significantly to GHG emissions The domestic household in uk produces around 8,300,000 tons of food waste and is the single largest producer of food waste. Local authorities spend 1 billion pound a year disposing food waste. The foods we throw out to the landfill gets broken down to carbon dioxide and methane gas (green house gases) and are the prime reasons for global warming. If UK has to meet the international targets on climate change and GHG emissions, it is important to reduce the amount of food waste going to the landfill. Spaces for land filling of wastes are rapidly diminishing, alongside European Union legislation that demands large amounts of waste be diverted from landfill over the next 15 years* Food waste puts a large burden on the finances of each household and local councils in the UK; Local authorities spend 1 billion pound a year disposing food waste. Wasted food is estimated to cost each British household  £250- £400 per year, accumulating to  £15,000- £24,000 over a lifetime.. Objectives and Methadology Love Food Hate Waste is a social campaign, launched by WRAP, in 2007,with the aim of reducing the amount of food waste in UK. The campaign is focused on raising consumer awareness about the various problems caused by food waste. WRAP calculated that preventing good food going to waste could reduce the annual emission of carbon dioxide by 18 million tones, the same effect as taking one in 5 cars off the road. Love Food Hate Waste campaign is supported by the government and is backed by celebrity chefs. Love food Hate waste also has a website which provides practical advice and tips on how to use most of the food they buy. The objective of the campaign is to raise awareness of easy, practical, everyday ways that households can reduce food waste. Everyone including local authorities, community groups, retailers, food manufactures and consumers are part of this campaign. For example, Resource Futures recruited and managed two embedded Outreach Workers to support the North London Waste Authoritys, WRAP funded, Love Food Hate Waste campaign. During the seven month period, the Outreach Workers organized and delivered over sixty road shows in supermarkets, businesses, libraries and at community groups, across NLWAs seven constituent boroughs, to engage more than 3,500 people with the campaign. It focuses on consumers strong desire to reduce wastefulness by sending positive messages about the rewards and benefits that can be achieved through specific behavioral change. The campaign benefits the consumer and the environment by reducing budgets and minimizing land fill and carbon emissions. Some of the methods which can be used to reduce waste in an house hold are: Reduce your proportion size: Love Food Hate Waste website has a tool to help you calculate appropriate portion sizes. The portion planner removes the guesswork by suggesting how much to cook, depending on whos coming for dinner, and ways to measure it Plan ahead: By planning the meal for a week and by shopping accordingly can save you a lot of money and prevents good food going to the waste bin. Tips on storage: Gives you easy tips on how to store things and encourage you to make effective use of fridge and freezers if necessary. Special Recipes: which makes use of use of all the odds and ends that invariably get leftover from previous meals or forgotten in the fruit bowl or the back of the fridge If nothing above works, recycling can be done. Composting is one good option. Only Those waste which nothing can be done is dumped in to landfill The Love food Hate waste Organize Door stepping campaigns providing information packs and Advice, targeted at reducing household waste. They also organize road shows, surveys and do advertising through radio and printed Medias. It owns a website love food hate waste.com where you can find many useful tips to reduce food waste. Analysis of the Sustainable Consumption approach One of the main cause for environmental degradation is the over consumption by the developed countries and a switch towards sustainable consumption pattern is very essential. The definition proposed by the 1994 Oslo Symposium on Sustainable Consumption defines it as the use of services and related products which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle of the service or product so as not to jeopardise the needs of future generations. The two approaches towards sustainable consumption are the Main Stream approach and an alternative New Economics approach. The strategy of UK government in 2003 was continuous economic growth and social progress that respects the limits of earths eco systems to have a better quality of life. The concept of mainstream approach is of a strong stable and sustainable economy and include initiatives like initiatives for product labeling, consumer education and environmental taxation. mainstream economics is deeply embedded in modernitys vision of progress and growth. The critics of this approach claims that this method is quite ineffective and doesnt address the fundamental problem of consumption. Based on several factors on the environment and society, the critics of main stream model proposed a new model collectively known as New Economics. They argue that economics cannot be separated from its understructures in environmental and social contexts. The Love food hate waste is one such campaign which follows the alternative approach of sustainable consumption. The diagram below shows how the campaigns approach towards sustainable consumption. ECO-EFFICIENCY more productive use of materials and energy INCREASED . PRODUCT LIFE SPANS SLOW CONSUMPTION reduced throughput of products and services The campaign aims to reduce the amount of waste by consuming less by reducing your portion size and shopping less. In other words sufficiency is achieved by reduced consumption of products. The approach also defines green economics which means to increase the efficiency by more productive use of materials and energy. The model defines efficiency and sufficiency as the key towards sustainable consumption. The greater focus on sufficiency alone may lead to economic instability on a wider focus. Increased product life spans, may enable such problems to be overcome by providing for both efficiency and sufficiency. The efficiency can be increased by using the left overs and reusing and recycling. Theories Linked to LFHW Campaign. LFHW is basically a social marketing campaign aiming for a behavioral change by consuming more sensibly and thereby producing less waste. To understand the theories it is important to understand the driving forces to the same. Some of the forces influenced are: Knowledge, information, fashions beliefs (education, media, marketing) Price / affordabilit Tastes and Habits Demographic changes: ageing population, single person society, wealth Culture, social family expectations, norms, aspirations Availability Time and Season The campaign does its focus on the utilitarian theory and more importantly on social and psychological theories. The campaign targets the people who behave unsustainable because they lack information and help them to overcome the problems by rendering information to the needy. The utilitarian approach says that consumers seek to spend money on goods which gives greatest satisfaction or in other words consumers behave as utility maximizers. The LFHW campaign helps and encourage in cognitive thinking before you shop. It spread the importance of prior planning before shopping. By planning your meals for the whole week, you know what to buy and from where to buy. In the present scenario, people get tempted and buy things with offers like buy 1 get 1 free, even though they really dont need that. Its found that one in every 3 shopping bags goes directly to the waste bin. The campaign educates people how the value of food can be increased if the left over can be used to make new dishes. Human behavior is formed and routinized by social structure Apart from the conventionally acknowledged constraints like price and information, campaign also negotiates social, psychological and structural constraints. LFHW organizes public campaigns with celebrity chefs and attracts the whole society for a behavioral change. As a social marketing campaign, the main themes of the campaign are 4Es (Engage, Encourage, Enable and Exemplify). Engaging consumers and households to rethink their behavior is one of the main ways in which waste prevention can be progressed. Enabling households to take action or overcome barriers, through the provision of services like reduce reuse and recycling. Policy measures -Encouraging households to rethink their behavior so as to reduce their waste generation. The most frequently applied suite or package of waste prevention policy measures Appears to include most or all of the following activities. Collaboration between public, private and third sectors. Producer and responsibility. Variable rate charging (pay as you throw) systems (generally applied to householders residual waste). Public sector funding for pilot projects. Exemplified by means of monitoring and evaluation; Measuring and evaluation of waste prevention is challenging. The data collected should be true and of high quality. Some of the methods adopted are self-weighing Surveys done before and after the campaign, focusing on attitudes and behaviours and/or on participation rates Tracking the amount of waste from collection data and/or compositional nalysis estimation/modelling. Strength and weakness of Love food hate waste campaign Love food hate waste campaign claims that it has already prevented 1,37000 tonnes of waste goin to waste bin and have helped close on two million households reduce their food waste, amounting to savings of almost  £300 million. A persons willingness to change along with action and appropriate policies from the local authorities is essential to bring a social change. The campaign is funded and supported by the governmentand almost every county council has given its support to the campaign. Retailers and food manufacturers also support to reduce food waste and they are the official sponsors of the campaign. Unlike Other campaigns, consumer is also economically benefited and hence more people are willing take part in the campaign. It also helps in reducing the so called Value Action Gap. The campaign is both focused at individual and social aspects and hence is more effective. a large body of studies asserts that personal factors are necessary and essential to foster behavioral changes, even though the correspondence between attitudinal variables and behavior is often moderate {reference*(2} The website lovefoodhatewaste.com gives you a lot of information and makes it easily accessible at any point of time. A lot of people gives their experience and valuable opinion which encourage other people to minimize waste. Some of the weaknesses of the campaign are: The campaign is too focused on using left overs and freezing, whereas shopping storage and portion control are effective strategies. The campaign deals with utilitarian concept and socio-psychological theories where as doesnt consider Infrastructure of provision approach. The campaign doesnt focus on the production part of food. food that goes to waste during Production and distribution accounts for 5 percentage of the GHG emissions. Globally 15-50% of food produced is wasted post harvest and no action is taken prevent those waste. The campaign is more concentrated on the food after consumption and doesnt look in to the broader aspects of food. Food has different utility and meanings when it comes to Entertainment, pleasure satisfaction, love status, comfort, time pass, bribery, religious significance, social glue, power, habbit, need, guilt, culture and so on. The amount of waste generated differs for each case and no effort has been taken to realy understand this complex system. Oxfordshire council-tax payers have saved over  £50,000 in waste disposal costs by throwing away less food since Oxfordshire Waste Partnership (OWP) launched its Love Food Hate Waste campaign last March Love Food Hate waste Campaign is still in its early stage and has long way to go. The measurement of success of the campaign can be found by looking the amount of waste reduced as a result of this campaign. In the very first year, the campaign is successful in reducing 1,37000 tones of household waste. The initial statistics of the campaign sounds too intresting and shows how successful it has been. The campaign is successful in attaining attention of the large public. Even though the results are impressive, when compared to the true scale of the problem, it is just a mere drop in the ocean. To address the big issue like climate change we need to do a lot more to reduce the amount of waste produced. Some of the limitations are Lack of interest of certain individuals can be setback to the campaign. Some people consider that the protection of environment is governments job and are not concerned about the same. Some people think that their contribution is just marginal and hence dont do anything. Reduction of waste is moreover a private thing and since its not public there is no social pressure to do it. The lack of strong policies is certainly a limitation to the campaign Measuring and monitoring is a tough task to perform. The reliability on survey is questioned. Conclusion The sustainable consumption doesnt always means consuming less but It certainly should in the case of developed countries and in underdeveloped countries sustainable consumption means consuming more. Thus the aim of sustainable consumption is a high quality of life for every one- brought about by everyone consuming in ways that reduce the impacts of production and consumption. (UNESCO) Some of the challenges in achieving sustainable consumption are: Reccomendations The amount of waste produced by the supermarkets should be controlled and policy should be made to publish the waste generated by the supermarkets. The Whole concept of supermarket should change. The people should make some list for shopping and hand it over to the shopkeeper/salesman so that he will hand over the things you need. By doing so you wont be tempted by the offers like buy one get one free. The online shopping should be encouraged by avoiding tax. Refrigerant leakage accounts for 30 percentage of supermarkets direct GGHG emissions.( Environment investigation agency 2010). There should be some measure to control this pollution. Government should make strong policies and should introduce certain limits to the amount of waste that can be produced by each house. The threshold can be based on the total number of people living in the house. The waste above threshold limit should be fined. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ http://apps.oxfordshire.gov.uk 2) Promoting sustainable consumption: Determinants of green purchases by Swiss consumers Carmen Tanner1,*, Sybille Wà ¶lfing Kast2 Article first published online: 12 SEP 2003 DOI: 10.1002/mar.10101

Network :: essays research papers

A computer network is a group of interconnected computers that can accomplish many important tasks. To define computer networking you should define networks. A network is composed of two or people or objects, using a common language, and they have something to share. In computer networking the two or more objects are the computer or terminal. This can consist; have an IBM 3270 terminal and accompanying mainframe, to a stand-alone computer. The computer is usually an IBM PC personal computer or clone licensed copy of a PC, usually cheaply made. The common language or protocol is necessary for the communicators to be able to understand each other. We take for granted simple things like who talks first, how long they talk, and how to end a conversation. A protocol addresses these and more. The common protocol is Transmission Control Protocol (TCP/IP). TCP/IP is the protocol of the Internet. Internet is actually the short form of the word Internet work. Internet work means a network of n etworks. At one time, all of the different networks used different protocols. A user could talk to others on their network, but not to someone on a different network. The protocol TCP/IP solves this problem. It is what allows a person on one network to communicate with a person on a different network. When I mentioned something to share in the network definition, it can be anything, an idea, document, or greeting. Networking allows use of applications on other computers, electronic mail (email), and real time discussions in chat rooms. The types of networks are classified as distributive or centralized. In a centralized network, processing occurs at one place and requests are made of the processing from terminals. A mainframe computer with attached terminals is a great example of centralized network. The terminals communicate with the mainframe to accomplish tasks. A distributive network spreads processing power to the individual computers. Networked PCs are a great example. Tasks are accomplished at the computer and at other computers using communication. In the definition of a network the computer hardware is considered part of the user in this definition. The hardware used to connect to other computers is considered part of the protocol.

Emarketer the Global Media Intelligence Report Essay

For advertisers, success in the region depends on mastering the increasingly complex interaction between multiple strands of marketing and on building relationships with audiences wary of advertising, per se. But the omnipresence of media also enables marketers to grab consumers’ attention as never before, and to follow their every move as they evaluate brands, products and purchase options. Europe shares many of North America’s characteristics. Moreover, its population, like that of North America, is relatively af? uent. Yet there are often major differences in culture and media penetration from one country to another, as well as variations in online and mobile habits. Regional marketers need to ? ne-tune their strategies accordingly for optimum results. Europe has been caught between Western in? uences and older, Soviet-era ones. This is still the case. Traditional media command large audiences, while the internet has a promising foothold. Advertising is less developed than in Western Europe or North America—yet in many countries in Eastern Europe, mobile is the most popular media channel. The bottom line: This region is ripe for marketing innovation, and there is plenty of room to experiment, even on small budgets.  ¦Ã‚ ¦ Western  ¦Ã‚ ¦ Historically, Eastern markets, such as those in Asia-Paci? c and Latin America, continue to claim an ever-increasing share of global ad spending. This transition has accelerated as growth in many Western economies has faltered. A number of advertisers are shifting their focus to countries with expanding populations and rising levels of consumption. advertising will remain a star performer. In most mature markets, growth in online ad spending outpaced all other platforms in 2010. In a few less developed countries, however, web penetration remains low and internet advertising is still embryonic. Where this scenario coexists with national economic dif? culties, many advertisers will be tempted to stick with traditional media in the short term. devices are transforming the media landscape in every corner of the world. But mobile usage patterns can vary widely, even within a single region. Marketers should be alert to the gender balance in mobile audiences, for example. Similarly, the link between af? uence and smartphone or mobile web adoption seen in many Western nations is not always a foregone conclusion in other regions. The Global Media Intelligence Report  ¦Ã‚ ¦ Digital  ¦Ã‚ ¦ Like  ¦Ã‚ ¦ Mobile Eastern Europe, Latin America registered rather low internet penetration in 2010, but reasonably high levels of mobile use. Unlike Europe, the region has an exploding population and an advertising sector growing at more than double the worldwide average rate.