Flight deck interface Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Flight deck interface - Assignment Example The main point of concern is the viability of the respective individuals to use the new technologies effectively. For example, the voice recognition system serves as an extra pilot in the cockpit. However, the pilot may be distracted while trying to remember what a certain command means. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) considers the new technologies as a mandate rather than choice (Croft, 2011). The revolution in flight deck technology is laden with benefits and potential hazards that bring agreement and conflict between avionics manufacturers and the federal authorities. The benefits of the human-machine interactions enhance tactical operations towards the â€Å"no accident policy† from FAA (Croft, 2011). The voice recognition technology ensures that the pilot â€Å"does not have to take hands off the control wheel.† In addition, new technologies aim at reducing the clutter in the Primary Flight Display that displays too much information. Such unnecessary information can be confusing to the pilot. Avionics manufacturers assure the FAA that there is prototyping of a flight path marker, a technology that ensures only the information relevant to a specific phase of flight is displayed. Players in the avionics industry are certain that new technologies that enhance flight deck human-machine interaction are geared towards implementing the â€Å"no accident policy† by enhancing compatibility between the pilots and the cockpit technology. There exist potential hazards to the flight deck technologies that aim to enhance human-machine interaction. Avionics manufacturers raise issues regarding the manner in which humans troubleshoot and maintain the systems (Noyes, 2012). The human-machine interaction is limited to persistent design errors and the safety-critical applications for a particular system. In addition, it may be difficult to distinguish the roles of the hardware and software system from those of the human operator. Imbalances in

Analyze in detail how Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay Example for Free

Analyze in detail how Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay John Steinbecks first hand experience of what life was like during the American Depression allowed him to write an accurate novel on life during this dull time. It also gives us a good idea of certain aspects of the Depression; about how migrant workers lived and also how they were treated. The Depression changed peoples thoughts and views on life, how sensitive they were to others and how they acted around people. This is especially true of the migrant workers in Of Mice and Men. Loneliness took a major role in the migrant workers lives. The vast majority of the workers traveled alone across America, moving from ranch to ranch. Family values were non-existent, because of this they didnt belong anywhere. The workers believed it was survival of the fittest between them. There were a large number of drifting workers, all-looking for the same jobs. Competition for work was fierce. There was a general feeling of loneliness at the time for the workers. George emphasizes this feeling when he is talking to Lennie by the brush: Guys like us, which work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They dont belong no place. Because of a vast amount of suspicion on the ranch the workers often chose a solitary existence. It also made relationships between the workers very shallow. It would seem that the majority of the workers could not forge a meaningful relationship. Yet, it wasnt just the workers who felt lonely. Curleys wife also displays loneliness: I get awful lonelyYou can talk to people, but I cant talk to nobody but Curley. Crooks also seems very lonely: I tell ya a guy gets too lonely, an he gets sick. Both Crooks and Curleys wife also choose a life of solitude because of the suspicion. It is harder for them to establish meaningful relationships because the obstacles of discrimination and sexism that exists on the ranch. Loneliness was common for almost everyone. Different people did different things to try and cope with loneliness. Some would play cards. Some would play horseshoes. Crooks would read his books and Curleys wife tries attention seeking by hanging around the bunks. They did anything to avoid the loneliness and boredom. Entertainment was a form of escape from their boring lives. Apart from the simple things the workers would do during the month like cards and horseshoes, there was no entertainment, so they all looked forward to the end of the month: Well, a guy got to have some fun sometime. This was when they would get their pay and go into town. They would spend their money on drink and prostitutes. Again, anything that would allow them to escape from their lonely lives. It was normal for the workers to spend the best part of the night in a whore house where they could get alcohol and women. A guy can go in an get drunk and get everthing out his system all at once, an no messes. And once that night was done that was it until the end of the next month. This demonstrates the attitude on the ranch toward women: they are just objects which can be used whenever they please. They arent considered as eqaul at all. The attitude towards Curleys wife is another example of how women were poorly treated, poorly regarded and were by a long way, less equal than men. Newly married and in an unfamiliar place, she is not allowed to talk to anyone but Curley. She resents this and approaches the other ranch workers with the excuse of looking for Curley. The men instantly have their guard up and assure each other that she is nothing but trouble. They regard her as a woman to be used and make no attempt to get to know her. Probably the most important aspect of workers lives was the dream they all shared. But because of their tendencies to go into town at the end of the month they would never realize their dream, as many of their dreams involved saving up money, whoich usually they wasted. Crooks sums it up quite well: I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an on the ranches with their bindles on their back an that same damn thing in their heads. Hundreds of them. They come, an they quit an they go on; an every damn one of ems got a little piece of land in his head. An every goddamn one of em ever gets it. Just like heaven. It was a simple dream. All they wanted was to own their own place. A piece of land and a house to live in, somewhere they werent told what to do, a place where they could choose who could stay on their land and who had to move on, and a place where at the end of the harvest they could keep what they had harvested. George points this out: Id have my own little place, an Id be bringing in my own crops, stead of doin all the work and not getting what comes up outa the ground. But for most this dream would never be fulfilled. Their loneliness would always be with them. This would mean they would have to escape from their loneliness by going into town and spending their money. But without money they would never be able to buy their own place. As with loneliness, having dreams was not exclusive to the workers. Curleys wife often dreamt of what her life would have been like if she would have been in movies: Coulda been in the movies, an had nice clothes-all them nice clothes like they wear. An I coulda sat in them big hotels, an had pictures took of me. As for George and Lennie there is hope. They have each other to look after one another and are not as lonely as the other migrants. Becausebecause I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you. says Lennie. Because they have each other, they have a better chance of realizing their dream. They both have someone to talk to and travel with which helps them not get so lonely. It is this companionship that gives them their chance. Also, because of their companionship, they are very different from all the other workers on the ranch. None of the other workers had someone to travel with. Their companionship is seen as very unusual: Well, I never seen a guy take so much trouble for another guy. says Carlson. Slim also says: I hardly never seen two guys travel together. It was a rare thing to see during that period. It was also rare for the workers show genuine care for each other of for anyone else. George and Lennie are an exception to this. Along with the good things that came with travelling together, George and Lennies companionship also brought along suspicion. Suspicion was very common on the ranches. The boss is suspicious as soon as George and Lennie arrive. He is suspicious of George because he wont let Lennie speak: I said what stake you got in this guy? You takin his pay away from him? He later says I got my eye on you. It isnt just the boss who is wary of the workers. It seems everyone is suspicious of each other: Maybe everbody in the whole damn world is scared of each other. says Slim. This is emphasized a lot by the way hardly anyone travels together and by the way George accuses Candy of listening in on his conversation with Lennie: Say, what the hell you doin listenin? Curley is also suspicious of anybody when it comes to his new wife. He runs around a lot looking for her and at one point accuses Slim of messing with her. Finally, most of the men on the ranch are worried about talking to Curleys wife. They accuse her of giving men the eye and think she is a tart. There is a large amount of suspicion all over the ranch aimed at anyone around the ranch itself. As well as a lot of suspicion, maybe leading to the following, there was also a fair amount of violence. Curley is the main source of violence on the ranch. He was jealous and suspicious of people and this leads to him causing trouble. He is said to pick on big guys the most because he was so small: He hates big guys. Hes alla time picking scraps with big guys. He is also said to be a good boxer and has proved this by doing well in certain tournaments. Hes often wary and is ready for a fight: His eyes flashed over George, took in his height, measured his reach, and looked at his trim middle. Curley finally demonstrates his foul temper and his willingness to fight by picking on Lennie and hitting him several times. George mentions the sense of violence on the ranch: After a long time they get mean. They get wantin to fight all the time. Another side to the violence on the ranch is the attraction of it. Whit is very eager when he sees Curley going after Slim: I guess maybe Id like to see this. and But I like to see the fuss if it comes off. Come on les go. Crooks is a target of the violence also. The time at Christmas when they set after him is an example of this. He is often verbally abused as well. The workers are very casual about racist language. They use words like nigger behind his back and even to his face: Sure the stable bucks a nigger. Nigger huh? Yeah. Nice fella, too. And such words are even said to his face: Listen, Nigger. says Curleys wife. Racism was still very common during this period and segregation was also common. Crooks wasnt allowed in the white workers bunk house and he is put in the barn, by himself, which had very poor living conditions. He had to put up with a lot of abuse and discrimination and because of this he had developed a protective shell, which he would withdraw back into whenever he was being abused, this made him suspicious of anyone trying to help him or take an interest in him. Crooks was a dignified man and would often refer to his mauled book of rights to emphasize he had rights. He would also refer to his book if he thought someone was doing something that impeded his rights. Crooks was also very lonely and he craves someone to talk to as much as any of the other workers on the ranch. A good example of his dignity and his loneliness mixed together is when Lennie comes into his room he tries to be angry but he knows he needs someone to talk to and allows Lennie to stay in his room. Women were used and treated unfairly during this period also. During this time women were generally seen as a possession. Men believed that they owned the women and that they could use them however or for whatever they wanted. This is shown by the way the workers talk about the women at the whorehouses and also by the way the workers talk about Curleys wife. She is seen, as something Curley owns, an item or possession not a person. She is also referred to as jail-bait, a tart and nothing but trouble. Quotes like Jesus, what a tramp., Dont you even look at that bitch. and Well, I think Curleys marrieda tart. which refer to Curleys wife all emphasize the disrespect shown to women in this period. Although men liked to think women were their possessions, they also had other possessions. They would carry around little things like razors and keep them in a bindle while traveling. When they werent traveling they would keep their possessions in an apple crate hung up on the wall. They never carried around much and things would get left behind; for example, the roach killer that got left behind by the last worker that occupied Georges bunk. Hygiene wasnt all that good. As well as the roach infested bunks there were rats underneath the floorboards. The food wasnt all that good either and medicine was very simple. Candy tells about how one guy would clean the potatoes if they had spots on them and he would scrape off the red bits in the eggs. Candy also complains of a stomachache the turnips gave him and asks for some whiskey to treat his stomachache. Overall life in the bunkhouses was very harsh. In conclusion, the novel has given us a very clear picture of what life like for the migrant workers moving from ranch to ranch. Loneliness was a serious part of their lives. It was part of a vicious circle that included entertainment, money and their dream. Their dreams were what kept them going. But loneliness would continue to stop them realizing their dreams. They were so lonely they needed the entertainment to help them escape from their loneliness and boredom after work. This cost money; money they needed to realize their dream, and from entertainment they wasted the money they needed to realize a dream, and found themselves lonely again, causing the vicious circle to continue. Life was very rough on the workers. No family to speak of or get closed to. They believed that they didnt belong anywhere. They went to a ranch, worked up a stake and then blew it in the nearest town. This would happen every month and even though the workers dreamt, the vast majority eventually realized their dream would never come true. But kept dreaming to keep up some hope even though deep down they realized it was not possible.

In some poems the poets write about their feelings towards people. :: English Literature

In some poems the poets write about their feelings towards people. Compare 3 poems in this collection: the Laboratory, Havisham and My last Duchess The poems ‘The Laboratory’ by Robert Browning, ‘My Last Duchess’ by Robert Browning and ‘Havisham’ by Carol Ann Duffy all write about their feelings towards the characters in their poems. The laboratory is about a lady making poison to kill the man she loves ladies that he has chosen over her. In My Last Duchess it is about a man talking about his last duchess and what she did wrong and that the end result was murder. Havisham is about a lady who has gone mad over a love she once had who she was engaged to but at the last moment broke off their wedding and she never moves on from that day. In the poem ‘The Laboratory’ by Robert Browning the persona of the poem shows that she is very bitter towards her love as she wants him all to herself and not have to share him with others. She wants revenge on the times that she has missed out on without him and also for the times when ‘they believe my tears flow’ (Line 6+7) when this is untrue. She has worked out a way to get her revenge by making a poison that they will en joy even though it is going to kill the person who drinks it. In ‘Havisham’ by Carol Ann Duffy the persona of the poem who is Miss Havisham is filled with bitterness like the lady in the Laboratory. Miss Havisham bitterness is aimed at her fiancà © who left her on her wedding day and for this she never changes out of her wedding dress. This bitterness is not only aimed at her once fiancà © but to all men because she believes that they are all the same. In ‘My Last Duchess’ by Robert Browning it is not the lady that is

Free Candide Essays: Impossibility Of The Happy Life :: Candide essays

Candide: The Impossibility Of The Happy Life This paper's focus is Voltaire's view of human happiness. Specifically, it will argue that Voltaire, in Candide, says that human happiness is impossible. Voltaire believes this for three reasons. First, Voltaire presents mankind in the novel spending all its life worried about personal problems of the moment. When people in Candide have no problems, Voltaire indicates, they do not feel happy but become bored instead. Their emotional lives swing between worries and boredom with almost no periods of prolonged happiness. Secondly, Voltaire believes human happiness is impossible because the world as he presents it in Candide is full of selfish people whose actions spoil the well being of all their fellow human beings. Thirdly, Voltaire believes human happiness is impossible because governments are so violent and organized religion is so corrupt that they ruin the lives of millions through war and exploitation. These points may be amply demonstrated through an analysis of Candide itself and also through the views of important critics. To best appreciate this novel, however, some background concerning its origins and its relationship to the author's preoccupations should be mentioned. Francois Marie Arouet de Voltaire lived from 1694-1778. He was an author and a philosopher whose philosophy stressed rationality, democracy and scientific inquiry. These interests can all be seen in Candide, for example, which has a philosopher for a main character and which satirizes the philosophy of Leibnitz throughout the text. The novel Candide was written in response to the earthquake of 1759 which hit Lisbon and resulted in the instantaneous and indiscriminate deaths of thousands. Appalled by the horrible deaths of so many innocent people, Voltaire was at this time also incensed by Leibnitz who wrote that given the worlds God might have created, by choosing to endow mankind with free will, "the world we live in is the best of all possible worlds." To Voltaire, this response to the earthquake amounted to an abominable moral complacency and indifference by philosophers such as Leibnitz, who Voltaire felt seemed to accept all the other normal suffering and injustice i n the world. Hence in Candide, Voltaire relentlessly satirizes Leibnitz's formulation by shifting the stress to "this is the best of all possible worlds" and bringing up the line every time a character encounters a horrible calamity or atrocity. However, it should be added that Voltaire's hatred of injustices perpetrated by the aristocracy, the church and the state--all of which he satirizes in Candide--also grew out of his personal experiences.

Chernobyl Informative Speech

Attention Getter: There are currently 442 active nuclear power reactors worldwide according to the Nuclear Energy Institute. Of all of the reactors worldwide, 14 have been classified as accidents where the public has been exposed to radiation. The most devastating of these incidents was the core meltdown of reactor 4 at Chernobyl, better known as the Chernobyl disaster. Introduction: Today I am going to tell you 3 things about Chernobyl.First, I am going to tell you what Chernobyl was.Second, I will tell you Why it happened and Finally, I will tell you what the effects were and why it’s relevant today.Body 1 â€Å"What was Chernobyl†? :April 26, 1986 in the early morning hours, an explosion rocked a thriving city near the heart of Ukraine.Within days 150 nearby towns had been evacuated.This explosion would become the beginning to the worst nuclear disaster in history.Chernobyl’s power reactors were graphic reactors, not commonly used anywhere outside of the Sovie t Union.In certain circumstances, the graphite reactors could speed up the nuclear reaction. This was a flawed Russian Design that ultimately led to the disaster.Chernobyl was classified as a category 7 nuclear event, the most severe classification according to the Nuclear Event Scale.Comparatively Three Mile Island was only classified as a category 5.Body 2 â€Å"Why did it happen? †:Next I am going to tell you why it happened.The disaster occurred due to an experiment which was being run by the reactor engineers.The purpose of the experiment was to determine whether electricity could be drawn from a turbine and redirected to the water pumps. High electrical demand during the day time meant they could not run the experiment until 11pm.The engineers grew impatient, reducing the rate of nuclear reaction too rapidly.Reducing the rate this quickly caused a rapid buildup of radiation poisons.To counteract this build up, the control rods were withdrawn. This meant they were no lon ger able to control the rate of reaction.These 2 critical errors (withdrawing the rods and slowing the reaction too rapidly) made the engineers incapable of increasing the power within the reactor. This was a safety precaution that the engineers overrode.Normally, in a situation where the reactor becomes unstable two fail safe measures were in place.   First, the power of the reactor could be increased to re-stabilize the nuclear reaction And Second, the engineers could wait 24 hours to allow the reaction chemicals to dissipateThe Engineers however, had already disabled the first failsafe be removing the control rods.The engineers also continued to turn off addition safety precautions including the emergency reactor cooling system. This system was designed to help stop the reaction if too much heat was generated.The emergency energy supply was also shut down, meaning there was no additional energy to run the plant.The experiment continued and the turbine generators were also shutdown.The electrical supply to the reactors water pumps was reduced as a result of the experiment, reducing the amount of cooling water passing through the reactor.Because of this, water within the reactor core began to boil.This was troublesome, since the cool water was used to reduce the heat of the reaction. As the rate of nuclear reaction continued to ac celerate, addition graphite tipped control rods were released by the engineers.Under normal circumstances, the control rods were designed to slow the rate of reaction.However, with the reaction already accelerating out of control, the insertion of the graphite rods further increased the reaction.After disabling or exhausting all potential failsafe methods, the engineers had run out of possibilities and had lost complete control of the nuclear reactor.Enough pressure had built up within the reactor to cause an explosion, leading to the collapse of reactor 4. Following the explosion, the engineers and reactor workers attempted to hide the incident from authorities.This meant that evacuation effort could not fully begin for 36 hours after the explosion.Because the incident was not immediately reported and the public was never made fully aware, farm produce, dairy and the air was contaminated with extremely high levels of radiation and extremely high levels of radiation and subsequently consumed by the residents in regions surrounding Chernobyl.Within hours of the explosion, residents of the nearby city of Prypiat began to fall ill.Body 3: How is it relevant to us? Finally, I’m going to tell you what the effects were and why Chernobyl is still relevant today.Hundreds of thousands of people were affected by the accident150 villages and towns were abandoned displacing thousands of people from their homes.As a result of the widespread release of radiation scientists estimate t hats 100,000 miles square miles surrounding Chernobyl had been significantly contaminated.Significant levels of radiation from Chernobyl were recorded at the Forsmark Nuclear power plant about 600 miles away from Chernobyl.Over 600,000 workers were involved in the cleanup of Chernobyl. Many of these workers received significant levels of radiation.The international atomic energy agency noted more than 1800 documented cases of thyroid cancer in children 14 and under immediately following the disaster, much higher than normal.Most of these were identified early and successfully treated.The disaster brought to light the severe effects of radiation poisoning on the body according to the international Nuclear safety group: â€Å"Krypton 85 affects the entire body and can increase the likelihood of developing cancer such as leukemia within two years of exposure. Cesium 137 can attack the entire body, centering on the liver, spleen and the muscles. Barium 140, gathers in the bones and can cause tumors as late as thirty years after exposure. Iodine 131 gathers in the thyroid. It can trigger cancer in the thyroid decades following exposure†.The event brought awareness to the dangers of radiation not only from nuclear reactors but also from everyday occurrences such as getting an X-Ray at the hospital.Conclusion:Nuclear reactors are used more today than ever. The nearest one is in Chicago, IL. The disaster of Chernobyl made people more aware of the dangers.More safety measures were put into place because of Chernobyl. These safety measures meant that containment and disaster relief was much faster and more effective during the 2010 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. In conclusion I have told you what Chernobyl is, why it happened, what the effects and why it is still relevant to us today.ReferencesChernobyl | Nuclear Reaction | FRONTLINE | PBS. (n. d. ). PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved  October  23, 2012, from http://www. pbs. org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/reaction/readings/chernobyl. tmlChernobyl: Cause and Effect. (n. d. ). RichEast. Retrieved  October  23, 2012, from http://www. richeast. org/htwm/chernobyl/chernobyl. html International Nuclear Events Scale (INES). (2012, September 25).Nuclear Safety and Security. Retrieved  October  22, 2012, from http://www-ns. iaea. org/tech-areas/emergency/ines. asp Nuclear Energy Institute – U. S. Nuclear Power Plants. (n. d. ).Nuclear Energy Institute – Clean-Air Energy. Retrieved  October  23, 2012, from http://www. nei. org/resourcesandstats/nuclear_statistics/usnuclearpowerplants/

Free Essays on Troy

The book the Iliad an epic by Homer which was later followed by the book the Odyssey is one of the most known stories in history. The myth was so historicized some historians believe that the events really did take place. The book the Iliad was recently made into a motion picture which made lots of money. While some critics say the movie was completely off from the book, but I say from whose perspective, a journalist or me a college student looking to see a cool movie with a girl on Friday night. The book the Iliad was an interesting book to read for the fact that it listed as many character as they could and unless you’re an intellectual person people don’t want all those details that teachers will only in the future use on exams and make it twice as confusing. For one the book named too many non important people and it made it three times as harder to remember the important people, unlike the movie which named the major characters like Hector and Achilles. But then another question rises in my head is to say that a man of lesser achievements in the movie wasn’t the main characters? To answer that one must first look at that person’s role and what was his purpose. I’ll start with Achilles, in the book he is rarely talked about only when major fighting happens and he is begged to help morale the men back to battle. In the book Agamemnon gives a speech to help boast the men courage and morale by saying â€Å"Has shackled me in chains of blindness, hard god! Once he promised me that I would sack the fence.† (Homer/Iliad p102) in the movie the morale was gained by Achilles himself and coming back into the war. Now Achilles in my opinion is the main character because I saw the movie before I read the book so in my mind the movie is the real version for me. Achilles has to be the main the character in that of a hero also because who wants hero to be someone that isn’t as strong or skilled as Achilles who for that ... Free Essays on Troy Free Essays on Troy The book the Iliad an epic by Homer which was later followed by the book the Odyssey is one of the most known stories in history. The myth was so historicized some historians believe that the events really did take place. The book the Iliad was recently made into a motion picture which made lots of money. While some critics say the movie was completely off from the book, but I say from whose perspective, a journalist or me a college student looking to see a cool movie with a girl on Friday night. The book the Iliad was an interesting book to read for the fact that it listed as many character as they could and unless you’re an intellectual person people don’t want all those details that teachers will only in the future use on exams and make it twice as confusing. For one the book named too many non important people and it made it three times as harder to remember the important people, unlike the movie which named the major characters like Hector and Achilles. But then another question rises in my head is to say that a man of lesser achievements in the movie wasn’t the main characters? To answer that one must first look at that person’s role and what was his purpose. I’ll start with Achilles, in the book he is rarely talked about only when major fighting happens and he is begged to help morale the men back to battle. In the book Agamemnon gives a speech to help boast the men courage and morale by saying â€Å"Has shackled me in chains of blindness, hard god! Once he promised me that I would sack the fence.† (Homer/Iliad p102) in the movie the morale was gained by Achilles himself and coming back into the war. Now Achilles in my opinion is the main character because I saw the movie before I read the book so in my mind the movie is the real version for me. Achilles has to be the main the character in that of a hero also because who wants hero to be someone that isn’t as strong or skilled as Achilles who for that ...

Research Paper Essay Example

Research Paper Essay Example Research Paper Essay Research Paper Essay A study at Florida Atlantic University found that people who underwent chiropractic adjustments had a fifteen percent lower rate of the flu than people who didnt have their backs cracked. People often go to chiropractors to receive treatment for back pain, neck pain, headaches, car accidents, repetitive motion injuries or strains, and sports injuries. Twenty million Americans use chiropractic services every year. Chiropractic represents the most rapidly growing segment of the professional health services market. Chiropractic care is the best care for your back because it has a broad range of different types of treatment, it is highly advantageous, it is helpful for everyone, and it is inexpensive. Chiropractic is the largest, most regulated, and best recognized of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) professions. It is the third largest doctoral-level health care profession after medicine and dentistry. There are more than 60,000 active chiropractic licenses in the United States. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands officially recognize chiropractic as a health care profession. Chiropractic care means it is done by hand. In an interview with Steve Smith he said, â€Å"There are a few different types of chiropractic care. The most common one is a massage. This is where a chiropractor comes and massages the muscles around the injured part of the spine and either massages the area of where the hurt part is or will pop the bone(s) which causes increased motion of the bones and helps them go back into place. This is otherwise called â€Å"being corrected.

Settlement Patterns - Studying Societys Evolution

Settlement Patterns - Studying Societys Evolution In the scientific field of archaeology, the term settlement pattern refers to the evidence within a given region of the physical remnants of communities and networks. That evidence is used to interpret the way interdependent local groups of people interacted in the past. People have lived and interacted together for a very long time, and settlement patterns have been identified dating back to as long as humans have been on our planet. Settlement pattern as a concept was developed by social geographers in the late 19th century. The term referred then to how people live across a given landscape, in particular, what resources (water, arable land, transportation networks) they chose to live by and how they connected with one another: and the term is still a current study in geography of all flavors. Anthropological Underpinnings According to archaeologist Jeffrey Parsons, settlement patterns in anthropology began with the late 19th-century work of anthropologist Lewis Henry Morgan who was interested in how modern Pueblo societies were organized. Julian Steward published his first work on aboriginal social organization in the American southwest in the 1930s: but the idea was first extensively used by archaeologists Phillip Phillips, James A. Ford and James B. Griffin in the Mississippi Valley of the United States during World War II, and by Gordon Willey in the Viru Valley of Peru in the first decades after the war. What led to that was the implementation of regional surface survey, also called pedestrian survey, archaeological studies not focused on a single site, but rather on an extensive area. Being able to systematically identify all the sites within a given region means archaeologists can look at not just how people lived at any one time, but rather how that pattern changed through time. Conducting regional survey means you can investigate the evolution of communities, and thats what archaeological settlement pattern studies do today. Patterns Versus Systems Archaeologists refer to both settlement pattern studies and settlement system studies, sometimes interchangeably. If there is a difference, and you could argue about that, it might be that pattern studies look at the observable distribution of sites, while system studies look at how the people living at those sites interacted: modern archaeology cant really do one with the other, but if youd like to follow through, see the discussion in Drennan 2008 for more information about the historical differentiation. History of Settlement Pattern Studies Settlement pattern studies were first conducted using regional survey, in which archaeologists systematically walked over hectares and hectares of land, typically within a given river valley. But the analysis only truly became feasible after remote sensing was developed, beginning with photographic methods such as those used by Pierre Paris at Oc Eo but now, of course, using satellite imagery. Modern settlement pattern studies combine with satellite imagery, background research, surface survey, sampling, testing, artifact analysis, radiocarbon and other dating techniques. And, as you might imagine, after decades of research and advances in technology, one of the challenges of settlement patterns studies has a very modern ring to it: big data. Now that GPS units and artifact and environmental analysis are all intertwined, how to do you analyze the huge amounts of data that are collected? By the end of the 1950s, regional studies had been performed in Mexico, the United States, Europe, and Mesopotamia; but they have since expanded throughout the world. Sources Balkansky AK. 2008. Settlement pattern analysis. In: Pearsall DM, editor. Encyclopedia of Archaeology. New York: Academic Press. p 1978-1980. doi: 10.1016/B978-012373962-9.00293-4 Drennan RD. 2008. Settlement system analysis. In: Pearsall DM, editor. Encyclopedia of Archaeology. New York: Academic Press. p 1980-1982. 10.1016/B978-012373962-9.00280-6 Kowalewski SA. 2008. Regional Settlement Pattern Studies. Journal of Archaeological Research 16:225–285. Parsons JR. 1972. Archaeological settlement patterns. Annual Review of Anthropology 1:127-150.

Resistance during the Transatlantic Slave Trade Essay

Resistance during the Transatlantic Slave Trade - Essay Example The resistances in Africa were defensive, offensive and protective in nature3. These were meant not only to discourage the Europeans from getting more slaves from Africa but to somehow send a message to the Western world that slavery is really unnatural and that no one has the right to declare that a person can be someone’s property.  Some resistances in African in the 18th century were in the form of relocation, particularly by the West Africans. As the market for slaves increased, many West Africans tried to look for areas that were less accessible to the slave traders. These Africans moved to lake areas where it was difficult for the invaders to cross4. Nevertheless, although some were spared through this way, there was no stopping the European invaders from getting more slaves from Africa.  Another strategy of Africans is by architectural means like building homes and villages with labyrinths, as well as high walls and several points of ingress or entry points, and egr ess or exit points5. This further confused the slave traders as most of them did not know how labyrinths worked. There were no reports, however, regarding the true effectiveness of these architectural works in preventing European invaders from capturing slaves.  Aside from these, there were also protective strategies like captive redemption, or the system of helping each other avoid slavery by using cash protection. Mostly, these were secret societies like those of the Efik and Ekpe, although they were able to help protect the African slave traders6. Still, just like the other previously mentioned strategies, there was no way to account for the effectiveness of captive redemption. After all, it obviously could not accommodate everyone. There were protective strategies but there were also offensive ones. The offensive forms of resistance included several rebellions in Africa itself. Among these were the Mandingo Rebellion in Mali and Niger from 1785-1796, the Hubbu Rebellion in Guinea in the 1850s, and the Bilali Rebellion in Sierra Leone from 1838-1872. These were all armed resistances that helped resist slavery and assert the freedom of the Africans from slavery7. Other offensive strategies included forming alliances among communities in order to protect people from the slave traders; Africans deliberately dropping poisoned food, wine and water along the paths of the European slave traders for an obvious purpose; and young men undergoing military training in order to be able to protect their communities8. The problem is that in many parts of Africa, all cultural and religious movements instituted to counter transatlantic slavery were brutally quelled by the government. One example of this was the Congolese

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 11

Research Paper Example Some of the current issues facing Iran both locally and internationally are clearly outlined. The pressures facing the country as it seeks part and belonging to a global community are also included. Furthermore, this paper aims to research and examine the Iranian history of the 20th century identifying the major events during that period that may have a direct impact on its development. Reviewing the current economic system and how it reflects the country’s history and culture. While civilization in Iran dates back to 2800 BC, the Persian Empire peaked during the sixth century under the rule of Cyrus the Great. Two centuries later, the Greeks, led by Alexander the Great, overcome the Persians leading to the emergence of western thought over the east. Persians were converted to Islam in the seventh century AD (Eldon & Hooglund, 2008). More than 800 years later, the Safavid dynasty embraced the Shia branch of Islam causing a lasting rift with the majority Sunnis. Different forces struggled for power over the course of the next centuries. By the turn of the new century, Iran was embroiled in a bifurcated struggle. On one hand, the Iranians struggle to maintain their national independence in the face of growing colonial pressures. Iran’s geostrategic importance made it a central focus of the colonial game between Great Britain and Russia. The country was carved up into spheres of influence. The Russians had supremacy over the north, while Britain had su premacy in the South of the country. At the same time, another struggle was taking shape within its borders. The country was undergoing a constitutional revolution (1905-1911). The revolution started by disputes over sugar prices finally led to public protests of the revolution. By January 1906, the Shah agreed to their demands that included the formation of the house of justice. Despite this development. The Shah did not honor

Management of Human Resource Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Management of Human Resource - Assignment Example A company with a good HRM that ensures recruiting the best employees, retaining the best performing workforce and awarding them may have an edge as far as competitive advantage is concerned (Jackson, Schuler & Werner, 2012). Companies such as Apple have been able to retain their best employees and ensuring competitive compensation. This has made the company have a competitive advantage in the mobile phone industry. Planning is essential to gaining a competitive advantage. Human resource management ought to proficiently make strategic plans that will sustain the firm for decades. Planning is essential since it ensures building of the capacity and capability of the employees (Jackson, Schuler & Werner, 2012). This may play an integral role in achieving full potential. Planning may further help in achieving a competitive organization behavior, making significant decisions such as hiring experienced professionals, determining competitive pay and tactics, determining competitive training programs and ensuring employee relations. To members of the organization, human resource management should deal with issues that may improve employee compensation, creating a good working environment and issuance of long term contracts hence boosting employees’ morale and raising their confidence (Jackson, Schuler & Werner, 2012). Further, human resource management should work towards the business continuity, boost financial returns and build an attractive business name that can impress or rather reward the company owners or investors. In addition, customers’ issues should be prioritized by the human resource management by encouraging innovativeness, lowering prices of products and ensuring both reliability and quality (Jackson, Schuler & Werner, 2012). Human resource management should also strive to adapt an organized problem solving ability among employees as well as raising trust among the employees. This may have an overall advantage on the company

Film analysis on the movie Pulp Fiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Film analysis on the movie Pulp Fiction - Essay Example Thus, the movie is merely a cinematic rendition of a shapeless storyline about bad people acting out their roles in a most realistically cruel world. Pulp Fiction presents a story that connects the lives of different people with different evil agenda acting their roles in a society with no values. The film is partly a story of exoneration of evil in an evil society. The movie opens with a scene at the diner, where Pumpkin and Honey Bunny decide to rob the customers and the diner itself. The significance of this scene though can only be known at the end of the film where everything goes back to the diner. At the end, Vincent and Jules get involved in the robbery but when Pumpkin tried to seize the briefcase from him, it resulted in a matter of life and death where all four people were pointing a gun at the next one beside him. Eventually, Jules let go of Pumpkin and Honey Bunny. The characters in the movie are a mixed breed, thus attesting to the senseless pulp fiction quality of the movie. The main characters of the movie include the hired killers Vincent and Jules, upon whom the bulk of the movie is based. Other major characters include Marsellus and Butch, since it was they who both concluded the movie and somehow added some humor to it because of the sodomy scene. Other minor characters include Honey Bunny and Pumpkin, and Brett and his friends. These minor characters, however, added much to the degree of senseless violence in this real pulp fiction. However, although it is pulp fiction, the setting is far from fictitious. It is in fact a setting that is very realistic. As the characters move around the city, they visit a diner, a bar, an apartment, a club, and a pawnshop. These are the major places in an urban area where violence wrought by the characters has transpired. These are the very places, however, where modern-day senseless violence may always take place. Thus, these places are perfect for a

The Disillusionment of College Sports in America Essay

The Disillusionment of College Sports in America - Essay Example This paper will depict the fact that college sports are disillusionment as they seek to benefit the colleges and not the college athletes. The film, â€Å"Hoop Dreams† depicts the lives of two African-American teenagers, William Gates and Arthur Agee as they pursue their dreams of becoming NBA stars. Indeed, they want to use basketball as a leeway to their financial and social woes. Fortunately, a scout from St. Joseph High School, which has a magnificent basketball program and great basketball alumni, like NBA. However, the film negates the idea that college athletic is a game by asserting that William strived to please everybody’s expectations when his knee is shot just when he had immense passion for the game. Notably, St. Joseph High School did not give the two teenagers full sponsorship but partial scholarships because they wanted to relate the sponsorship with the benefits that the double will bring to the school. Ideally, William was more gifted than Arthur a they joined different basketball teams in the school. Indeed, Pingatore, the coach compares William with Isiah Thomas, the NBA star who was al so a recruit of the same school. Notably, Arthur was both slow in class and on the court. As a result, the coach drops Arthur from the squad where he consequently lost the scholarship. This manifests the disillusionment that the school wanted to accrue benefits from Arthur and had to drop him since he could not advance to a perfect basket baller. Indeed, Arthur had to go back to public school. Unfortunately, he would still not graduate in the public school without transfer credits from St. Joseph's who had already withheld his credits due to accrued tuition arrears. In fact, had the school not offered him a scholarship, there would not be any arrears and hence the schools did not seek to benefit Arthur recruiting him to their basketball program. Indeed, it is clear that the school was only looking for looking for a basketball player and not for tuition fees. We can thus ascertain that the school did not aim at helping worthy students but at finding good basketball players who they d rop if they fail to make the target. At the same time, the article by Taylor Branch, â€Å"Shame of College Sports,† defines college sports as a real scandal aimed at generating financial revenue for the for universities and private companies as the college athletes earn nothing. Indeed, the article presents the case of a civil-rights historian seeking for the payment of college athletes. Indeed, the film portrays the lack of concern for the scholars after suffering injuries that jeopardize their progress on the court. However, the two lads survived the setbacks and continued with their pursuit where colleges recruited them. Actually, some college athletes suffer lifetime injuries and do not earn anything for that. The article claims that commercial interests buy schools and buy coaches to the disregard of the college athletes. In fact, Sonny Vaccaro told a closed hearing at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., in 2001 that they seek to put their materials on the athleteâ⠂¬â„¢s’ bodies by buying their school or their coach. Specifically, the Knight Foundation has interest in college athletics where it guards the interests of the likes of Vaccaro. Moreover,

Film analysis on the movie Pulp Fiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Film analysis on the movie Pulp Fiction - Essay Example Thus, the movie is merely a cinematic rendition of a shapeless storyline about bad people acting out their roles in a most realistically cruel world. Pulp Fiction presents a story that connects the lives of different people with different evil agenda acting their roles in a society with no values. The film is partly a story of exoneration of evil in an evil society. The movie opens with a scene at the diner, where Pumpkin and Honey Bunny decide to rob the customers and the diner itself. The significance of this scene though can only be known at the end of the film where everything goes back to the diner. At the end, Vincent and Jules get involved in the robbery but when Pumpkin tried to seize the briefcase from him, it resulted in a matter of life and death where all four people were pointing a gun at the next one beside him. Eventually, Jules let go of Pumpkin and Honey Bunny. The characters in the movie are a mixed breed, thus attesting to the senseless pulp fiction quality of the movie. The main characters of the movie include the hired killers Vincent and Jules, upon whom the bulk of the movie is based. Other major characters include Marsellus and Butch, since it was they who both concluded the movie and somehow added some humor to it because of the sodomy scene. Other minor characters include Honey Bunny and Pumpkin, and Brett and his friends. These minor characters, however, added much to the degree of senseless violence in this real pulp fiction. However, although it is pulp fiction, the setting is far from fictitious. It is in fact a setting that is very realistic. As the characters move around the city, they visit a diner, a bar, an apartment, a club, and a pawnshop. These are the major places in an urban area where violence wrought by the characters has transpired. These are the very places, however, where modern-day senseless violence may always take place. Thus, these places are perfect for a

Life Situations Represented through Graphs Essay

Life Situations Represented through Graphs - Essay Example The total amount paid in electricity bills for the last 10 months was $384, meaning that The average amount of electricity bill per month was $384/10 = $38.4 During 5 of the last 10 months, the electricity bill was above average of $38.4 and for the remaining 5, it was below the average amount. In terms of trend, the monthly electricity cost for the house increased from October 2010 onwards and reached a maximum of $49 in December 2010 before starting to decrease again. It has been decreasing since then. The graph is non-linear as no three successive points lie on the same line; although, the overall graph looks like a half sine curve with a clear peak during December 2010 and January 2011. The months of December 2010 to February 2010 had very high electricity bills compared to other months. In other words, the winter months had much higher electricity bills compared to spring and fall. This means that the consumption of electricity is rather seasonal. This seems natural as there is no heating required in the house during spring and fall, while the heating appliances are kept on during the winter months, which increases the consumption of electricity. It is likely that this trend would continue over the years although the peaks and the troughs in the graph can be brought lower by using energy efficient devices. References Glencoe. (n.d.).

Greek mythology Essay Example for Free

Greek mythology Essay Engels biography is a display of such scientific course. His early life had been the explanation why he came about with his voluminous works on history. His works were a summation of the different implications of the facts how he was raised and intended of him to become, his experiences, and his direct contact with the production process and later in complete absorption to the revolutionary struggle in the industrial West. Friedrich Engels was born in Barmen, Prussia to a family of bourgeois origins in September 28, 1820. At that moment, Europe was at the height of the development of the industrial era and wars of conquest for the accumulation of market, labour and resources for the bourgeois economy. It was a time of rapid changes ensuing on all borders. Expansion of industrial interests was grappling Europe. Colonies in Asia, Africa and Latin America were continuously ransacked while the European continent was in a constant scrabble of migration from different nations in search of industrial work. Indeed an era of accumulation of wealth and technological advances to improve productivity . With these changes in the economic landscape came the winds of liberal thought. New machines that were never seen before were conceived side by side with political ideas never heard before. Thus the revolutionized industry became a breeding ground for a revolutionary spectre. Friedrich Engels was never detached from these changes. From his childhood until his intellectual career was on its full bloom, the economic transformations in Europe became the solid foundations of Marxist historiography. His nascent years had been vital for the development of his future philosophical pursuit. In his poem â€Å"To My Grandfather†, written December 20, 1833, Friedrich had shown his early acquaintances in history through stories in the Greek mythology which he described as â€Å"many a beautiful story† that his grandfather had told him . Another untitled poem written 3 years after described characters in stories from all over Europe seen by young Friedrich as â€Å"pictures to delight† . He was an observer and the environment drew much attention from him. Once he wrote about the conditions in Wuppertal, one of his first attempts to explain the seemingly complicated miseries of the working class , even the columns of a building and the style of architecture did not escape his watch. It was the beginning of his acquisition of his most powerful weapon in his revolutionary battle – excellence in textual conveyance. Not only was it a peek to his future history inclinations but also his superb literary talent that has greatly manifested in his works. In such a young age, Engels had learned that his wealth was a curse. The environment in which Friedrich Engels lived was full of stark contradictions. External factors greatly affected his inner resolve. His father, a German textile mill owner, wanted him to become an industrialist too like himself. Knowing in his self that he was not fit for that kind of life, a strained relationship developed between them. A supporter of the Prussian government, Friedrich’s father held conservative views in politics and religion which were attributed to his Protestant Pietist devotion. He enrolled Friedrich in local Pietist schools where he was indoctrinated with narrow fundamentalist views of society. Those were never acceptable to his broad interests. Hoping that the radical youth in Friedrich could still be doused with cold waters of isolation, he was sent to Bremen before he finished his high school studies to work as a clerk. These efforts were put to waste. There he exhibited despise to autocracy and religion, enjoyed life at its fullest and studied literature, philosophy, theology and history . Engels was drawn to the democratic struggles that were gaining political momentum at that time. Using a pen name of Friedrich Oswald, he participated in the literary movement. His first work, a poem titled â€Å"The Bedouin † was published in the Bremisches Conversationsblatt No. 40. In September 1838 and many other literary works and commentaries proceeded thereafter. As an active radical, Engels wrote articles for the democratic movement while attending lectures at Berlin University with his military service all at the same time. When he moved to Berlin to join the Household Artillery of the Prussian Army, he already had attractions to the Young Hegelians .

Quality Of Service At The Zappos Company

Quality Of Service At The Zappos Company The proceeding paper investigates Zappos.com (Zappos), originally an e-tailing shoe company, which later adopted further merchandise lines. The company was founded in 1999 by Nick Swinmurn with its headquarters currently based in Henderson, Nevada, USA. With a revenue of $840 million in 2007 and a 1500+ employee staff Zappos.com has grown to the largest online shoe store in the world. In July 2009 Amazon.com acquired Zappos.com for the reported amount of $1.2 billion. Currently, the CEO is Tony Hsieh. The company is known for its customer centric business model and its unique corporate culture. In this paper Zappos.com is analyzed via papers and published articles with which various problems addressed are answered. The intention of this paper is to analyze how Zappos.com has leveraged its HR practices to build strategic effectiveness in the past and how can it build its future competitive strength on it. First, Zappos.coms business model is analyzed, second the companies supportive HR practices, third the role of leadership on the development of HR practices, fourth the implications for HR practices caused by the takeover of Amazon.com are addressed and finally challenges and recommendations to support the future business functioning at Zappos.com are addressed. A framework is developed to which parts of the analysis can be linked in order to say to which extent findings influence committed HR practices, the corporate culture and the loyalty business model of Zappos.com. The purpose of this paper is just to analyze the company and to accumulate knowledge. Zappos Business Model A good initial business model starts off with an idea of a good customer value proposition. When in 1999, Nick Swinmurn, walked through a mall in San Francisco, looking for a pair of shoes in his size, his preferred color and style, his unsuccessful search proposed an opportunity to satisfy currently unmet customer needs. When starting to analyze what features have enabled Zappos to build its strong brand position as well as its impressive growth through the past few years (from 2003 to 2007 annual revenue increases 623.7 percent) its good customer value proposition is essentially only a small part in its effective business model. A comprehensive study of Zappos business model will be composed of 4 integral parts (Figure 1). Following the (1) customer value proposition (CVP), the structure of Zappos business model, consisting of (2) the profit formula and the importance of (3) key processes and (4) key resources will be linked to Michael Porters (1985) value chain model in order to enable a detailed analysis on how the e-retailer has become so successful. Figure 1 Business Model One evident potential customer value proposition of Zappos is the offering of an extensive online selection of mainly footwear and a few other extended product lines. Surprisingly this is not how the company defines itself. Calling itself a service company that just happens to sell shoes, handbags and related items (Morris, 2008) more value is placed on providing a high-touch customer service aimed at engendering a customer long-term relationship (OReiley, 2009). Zappos has been a customer centric company since its startup in 1999. The retailer focuses on providing highest service quality, leading to customer satisfaction and consequent customer retention, what essentially can be described as a loyalty business model (http://bx.businessweek.com/zapposcom/). Repeat customers represent 75% of any days gross sales and word of mouth advertising has brought growth to Zappos in overwhelming numbers (Morris, 2008). Zappos first of the ten core values puts the CVP in clear terms: Deliver [a] WOW [customer experience] through service (Zappos.com). How Zappos excels in delivering that CVP will be addressed in the subsequent analysis. Zappos CVP is supported by a profit formula, which establishes how the company wants to earn money. That formula is linked to the products value chain. The primary activities (key processes) have a direct impact on the formula while being supported by support activities (key resources), all driven by the customer value proposition with the objective to deliver value to the customer and be profitable. Nurturing a successful value creation and delivery, Zappos profit model is directly influenced by: Inbound logistics with its link to the supply chain of Zappos offered merchandise (wholesale prices, distribution etc.); Operations which correspond to the cost structure of Zappos vertically integrated warehouse and inventory operations in Kentucky; and Outbound logistics including free shipping both ways, surprise upgrades to overnight shipping (Whitehorn, 2009). Moving further through the primary activities of Zappos value chain, the subsequent function of marketing sales is declared to be comparatively tenuous as current CEO Tony Hsieh explains: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦[we] put that money into the customer experience instead (Whitehorn, 2009). Key processes also include a firms metrics and measurements, which Zappos sets based on customer satisfaction indicators, rather than number of order taken (Morris, 2008). Service is a primary value chain activity that deserves some detailed inspection at this point. Being a significant contributor to the cost structure with items like 365-day return policy or a call center staff working 24/7, Service represents the most intense link between Zappos CVP and its profit model and most significantly enables the implementation of its loyalty business model. Service represents how Zappos creates value for its customers (CVP) and most importantly it defines how the company creates value for itself (profit formula); (Johnson, Christensen Kagermann, 2008). Identifying Service as the primary source of value and profit suggests the examination of how the support activities (key resources) are allocated to contribute to Zappos competitive strength. Not only the primary activities, but also Zappos support activities underpin deliver[ing] the Zappos experience to [its] customers (OReiley, 2009). Key resources like procurement channels, technology, equipment and people are illustrated in the value chain as support activities. While careful procurement activities ensure a certain standard of product quality to the customer, its technology, equipment and firm infrastructure are also aligned with Zappos delivery of great customer service (e.g. in-house developed information technology, fast storing and shipping system) (Masha, 2009). Nevertheless, the most essential and valuable key resource of Zappos customer service is its Human Resource Management (HRM). Strategic Human Resource Management, which is the HRMs role is supporting a certain business model and strategy (Wright et all., 2001) plays a crucial role in Zappos effectiveness in the past. How HRM as a key resource and support activity is employed by Zappos to foster its loyalty business model is the next level of analysis. Zappos Supportive HRM Practices Zappos customer centricity leads the company since its startup in 1999. This is embedded in its company culture. Zappos employees live, breathe and operate through ten core values. These particular values create a positive environment in which employees excel to the maximum of their abilities and still have the freedom to express and implement their own initiatives.The company culture creates an environment in which customers receive more than they expect. Nurturing this environment is done through committed human resource practices (article on ccomm hr practices. Zappos Human Resource Management plays a vital role in fostering the initial driver of the thriving environment: company culture. Committed HRM practices reach from recruiting the right employees to rewarding and helping to create an environment that allows for the company culture to continue and strive. HRM is strategically placed in Zappos (SHRM) and people related elements create the core competency of the firm (Wright et al.: Human resources and the resource based view of the firm (2001).) The people management practices are created around the core values and in this way make the most of the human, social and organizational capital. The environment in the company allows for easy creation, integration and transfer of ideas. All employees are constantly in a changing environment due to the type of products they sell and therefore they too become dynamic which leads to their core competency of providing excellent service (Wright et al.: Human resources and the resource based view of the firm (2001).) As a starting point the company only hires people who are both technically and culturally fit (A perfect organizational fit, Samantha Whitehorne.) This is such an important point that Zappos.com fires employees who although technically fit do not fit into their culture. A lot of time and money is invested in the recruitment process, the reason being that employees have a vital role in the success of the loyalty business model. Furthermore, every new employee, regardless of their position in the firm will go through a four week training period in which they learn about the company and how it functions. Normally this involves being part of the call centre to really understand what customers want and need. The underlining message throughout all human resource processes is that the company lives and breathes customer service and everyone is put into this way of thinking. Rewards too play a dominant role in establishing the company culture. They create a positive environment in which employees are encouraged to share ideas on all levels of the company; in addition employees are not afraid to take risks because they are encouraged to take these through the rewards. Rewards can be companywide, departmental and individually driven. A lot of time and money is put into the rewards, which vary from being very simple to big and elaborate. This however is seen as an investment because it improves employee satisfaction and motivation and increases the overall profits of the company. The different forms of celebrations create a positive and constructive environment without putting the employees in a stressful, competitive environment. Many of the rewards are created by the departments and individuals themselves. However Human Resources is still involved in the bigger picture. Ensuring that company goals and progress are shared amongst all employees, creating financing and merchandising rewards appropriate to the customer orientated business model and to ensure that employees feel free to try out new, innovative means of doing business and therefore being rewarded for results and not punished for mistakes. Both the resource based view and the transaction cost theory can be seen in how Zappos functions and remains competitive by heavily supporting there loyalty business model with human resource practices(Masters, JK. Miles, G.: Predicting the Use of External Labour Arrangements: A Test of the Transaction Cost Perspective (2002).) For example call centres are kept inhouse; it is a valuable asset which is frequently used by consumers and requires attentive and dedicated employees. There is continual development of the employee as the company is aware of dynamic capabilities. Every single individual is held accountable for the company culture, it is not only restricted to human resources or top management. Initiatives can be brought forward from any position in the company. The companys culture was established from day one but the human resources department along with all recruited employees is responsible to keep the inspiring, highly motivated, free spirited environment running with its main goal to provide the customer value proposition of exceptional service. With the emphasis of all individuals sustaining Zappos unique environment, an interesting question concerns the role of leadership and managerial influence at the e-retailer, which triggers the following discussion. Role of Leadership on Zappos HRM Zappos.com is one of the leading companies in its industry and since its startup it has seen an enormous amount of growth. From February 2010 on, Zappos.com is expected to grow 30% in the next 12 months. A challenge for Zappos.com is to be able to fulfill new positions that are the result of the growth of the company with skilled and suitable managers. This implicates that especially in this time of growth individual leaders have to be acquired which fit and understand Zappos.com unusual culture. The basis of this culture is founded by the initial owners and persons who joined the company from its early start. The characteristics and vision of the CEO and the manner he positions himself towards the employees still influences the committed HR practices and the corporate culture. Besides defining leadership as the guidance of individual managers and the characteristics of the CEO it can also be seen as the leading role of Zappos.com in its industry. Zappos.com has accounted on all thes e three levels of leadership throughout the company in the development of its HR practices. First, to attract individual leaders and to have a long-term relationship with them, different measurements are integrated into HR practices. Already in the recruitment phase the hiring is rather unconventional. Possible future employees are invited to events outside the office, for instance team building events and happy hours in order to hire them based on different events rather than one job interview. After acquiring an employee, regardless their position, an extensive 4 week customer training follows which contains various courses coordinated by the training, leadership and development department. Zappos.com recognizes leadership potential in every one of its employees, regardless their position. Employees are encouraged and taught to represent the companies culture in everything what they do and say and to be accountable for themselves, actually this one of the key fundamentals. To make sure a long term relationship is also expected from the employees side and that they are com mitted to the company and their work, 3000 dollar walk away money is offered to them after the training program. When looking at the framework (exhibit) acquiring individual leaders mostly influence committed HR practices, since recruitment has to make sure people are hired that fit into the culture. Second, the vision at the manner of working of Zappos.coms initial founders has a major influence on both the committed HR practices and the corporate culture. Todays CEO Tony Hsieh has agreed on an annual base salary of $36.000 in 2009 with which he signals a culture of motivation instead of extrinsic rewards. This stimulates employees to work from intrinsic motivation and HR practices concerning rewards might not be the most important asset for employees. How CEO Tony Hsieh influences the corporate culture of Zappos.com for instance is the way he wrote an open and honest letter to all the employees ensuring their perks would remain the same after Amazons takeover. The positioning of the companies leader towards the employees inspire the corporate culture because by showing honesty and transparency, an open corporate environment is stimulated. When looking at the framework one can say that the CEOs vision on the corporate culture influences HR practices committed. Third, to maintain the leading position of Zappos.com in a fast changing market due to technological and fashion market changes, more HR practices have been developed. Especially the core values are a tool to develop a culture and a mindset to maintain this position. Zappos.coms fourth core value is to be adventurous, creative and open-minded, which means risk taking does not have to be avoided. Herewith Zappos.com creates a mindset throughout the entire company. Zappos.com also recognizes the importance of creating a culture of continuous learning via their fifth core value pursue growth and learning in which is stated every employee should constantly challenge and stretch themselves. Due to the focus of Zappos.com on leadership on different levels and integrating this into different HR practices Zappos.com is able to acquire and keep appropriate employees which goal is to grow and learn every day. Also due to these acknowledgements and integrating them into the development of HR practices, Hay Group ranked Zappos.com number 16 at the Top 20 Best Companies For Leadership in 2009. Acquisition by Amazon.com Clash of Cultures? Amazon bought Zappos.com for 850 million dollars. Zappos.com is remaining a seperate entity within the company and has assured employees and the general public that their culture and workplace environment will not change (week in news). Although the companies are both customer centric, the approaches used towards satisfying customers differs significantly. Amazon strives for customer convenience, low prices and large vareity of goods for the customer to choose from. On the otherhand Zappos.com aims for customer loyalty by providing a unique experience with personal contact opportunities between customer and employee (A new lace on life, Tim O ´Reiley.) In addition Zappos.com was a privately owned company and Amazon a public limited company. The ownership structure creates differences in the way that the companies operate and more specifically how human resource practices are placed within each company. It is necessary to analyse the differences and identify to what extent these may lead to potential sources of conflict between the human resource practices. At Zappos.com human resource management can be classified as a strategic partner (chapter 2.) The use of committed human resource practices creates the companies core comptency. As previously mentioned it defines, maintains and help grow the corporate culture. The ten core values create an environment in which employees work to the best of their abilities to satisfy customers. Shortly said the business model is dependent on HR practices. At Amazon HRM is not as dominant, it can be seen as a business partner (Amazon, HR Spectrum eNews.) It is necessary in the sense that it provides the company with strong human capital and it provides assistance to other departments, however it does not define how the company runs the business. We can seperate the two further by looking at the different levels of integration that exist between HR practices and the strategy process of a comapny. Zappos.com has an integrative linkage , there is constant interaction throughout all phases of the strategy process. Communication flows freely from all levels of the business.Every employee has the ability to initiate actions or improve certain aspects of the business. Consistent with the business partner role, Amazon has a two-way linkage. It considers human resources issues during strategy formulation such as ensuring the recruitment of highly skilled employees that fit yith their company strategy. However it is a less dominant role than what HR plays in Zappos.com. (chapter 2 from the book.) From these differences it is apparent that their could be a clash between the two practices. They have different levels of authority, in Zappos.com employees are given the freedom to take risks which affect the entire company. Amazon appear to be more constrained in this.Amazon focuses on efficiency whearas Zappos puts alot of emphasis on giving employees the space to express their creativity in a productive environment. Although Tony Hsieh has promised no change in the company ´s structure it will definitly have to consider the differences and how Amazon could impact the HR practices. Zappos Future Challenges Although the strategic approach of managing human resources has been distinguished as a driving force of Zappos severe competitive position, the planned acquisition by e-retailer giant, Amazon, put forward some potential challenges. The reviewed threat of HRM clash, is only one of the possible challenges in the future business functioning of Zappos. Directional Strategies are strategic typologies for classifying the ways different organizations seek to compete within an industry (Noa, 2008, p.86). With the approved acquisition by Amazon, Zappos continues to strive for growth and decides to pursue an external growth strategy, strengthen its market position through entering new businesses (other merchandise) (Noa, 2008, p.87). While growing, Zappos need to sustain its valuable corporate culture by managing the trade-off between changing human resource knowledge, skills and behavior needs and the upkeep of its successful organizational environment. Zappos will need to constantly educate and motivate its employees to engage inself-directed learning to cope with the new challenges when growing with the company (Noa, 2008, p.295). Growth it not the only challenge encountered in Zappos future business functioning. There is a necessity of appropriate recruitment, training, development and promotion to meet the changing HRM needs in an increasingly dynamic environment. What can be defined as challenge of sustainability describes the current economic changes, changes in demographics and expectations of the workforce, the growing importance of corporate citizenship and legal and ethical issues, has a key influence on the management of HR. Special regard has to be given to manage HR changing needs in companies as Zappos, in which it represents the main source of competitive advantage. Other challenges include the global and technological challenge, which include the HR impact from expanding into international markets and the importance of sophisticated technology in the workplace. Zappos growth strategy has already reaches out into another North American country: Canada (zappos.com). Simply reconstructing similar values and HR practices will not easily reproduce the same valuable organizational environment that exists in the retailers home-country operations. Understanding cultural differences, diverse backgrounds and attitudes is needed to establish a HRM that truly enables international success. Technological challenges emerge when employing technological innovation to leverage knowledge creation and sharing through the firm, which Zappos need to support by adequate and committed HR recruitment, training and motivational rewards. Conclusion The examination of Zappos past effectiveness and successful implementation of the loyality business model has been linked to an ambitious customer value proposition of best service, a strong profit formula and a strategic alignment of key processes as well as key resources. Most emphasis has been given to one specific key resource, namely the committed human resource practices, which serve as a support activity and a strategic element in Zappos loyalty business model and yield final competitive strength. While defining Zappos people, environment and culture as a primary source of competitive advantage, the significant role of leadership in the development of HR practices has been indicated. Concluding on how Zappos has build up a successful business model based on excellent customer service, loyalty and retention and how it continuous to operate effectively, the prior analysis has comprehensively identified one major contribution: strategic human resource management. The aligning of human resources practices and activities to the strategic objectives of high customer service quality, demand a development of committed HR practices, which generate a unique corporate culture and environment and ultimately enable Zappos remarkable competitive strength.

Universality and the Particular Essay -- Poetry Literature Authors Wri

Universality and the Particular â€Å"History,† Gilman writes, â€Å"is, or should be, the story of our racial life† (Gilman 216). Eliot is a bit less succinct, but perhaps he could be most pithily summed up as saying: â€Å"The business of the poet is not to find new emotions, but to use the ordinary ones and, in working them up into poetry, to express feelings which are not in actual emotions at all† (Eliot 1919, 23). It is not immediately evident what either author means by these statements, however, they both contain the core of the argument. Both authors have their individual aims and intents with their writings, however, in spite of the differences, their arguments find more common ground than disagreement. Their terminology is certainly different, but they see the purpose and aims of literature as by and large the same. Literature, according to Gilman, originated as the â€Å"legitimate child of oral tradition, a product of natural brain activity† (218). Implicit in this, and made explicit elsewhere, is that literature is inherently a form of communication. And, â€Å"since our very life depends on some communication,† Gilman indicates very strongly that literature, both in its ancestry and in its current incarnation, provides an extremely important role in our existence† (218). She elaborates on this notion of communication, however, and specifies that a â€Å"passionate interest in other people’s lives†¦is the most vital art† (218). To her, the expression of the â€Å"great field of human life† is the task of all literature and is crucial to the very existence of society (218). We can presume that there is some bias in her argument, as people tend to think highly of their chosen craft. The essential element, however, is Gilman’s focus on t h... ...e essentially expansionist, forcing the borders outwards to include women in literature. Eliot, on the other hand, seems to be moving inward and examining and rejecting a certain type of reader, a certain type of poet. However, both, ultimately see literature as capturing the entirety of the human existence. The mechanism for doing so in their arguments differ greatly, but the intent and the final goals are the same. Where one speaks of the human soul, the other speaks of impersonality and mean the same thing. Works Cited Eliot, T.S. â€Å"The Impersonality of Poetry.† Issues in Contemporary Critical Theory: A Casebook. Ed. Peter Barry. London: Macmillan, 1987. 23. Eliot, T.S. â€Å"Hamlet and His Problems.† Hamlet. Ed. Cyrus Hoy. New York: W.W. Norton, 1963. 180-184. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Writings. New York: Bantam, 1989.

Comic Devices in The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde Essay

The Importance of Being Earnest is a comedy of manners that is used to parody social aspects of a Victorian society. Wilde does this by incorporating farcical elements that would appear ludicrous to an audience and satirises Victorian social norms and values. Wilde also subverts the ideals of marriage by undermining the concept as a whole and at the same time he inverts traditional gender roles and class in society. Wilde has included serious and controversial subjects such as the influence of religion which implies Wilde’s comedy is not a game but a serious criticism of Victorian society. However, Wilde presents these ideas in a humorous, light-hearted manner by the use of farce and satire. For this reason, it can be argued that Earnest does reflect the view that ‘comedy is game played to throw reflections upon social life’. Wilde inverts the gender roles in the Victorian society in order to show reflections upon social life, particularly with Lady Bracknell, who embodies the British Victorian aristocracy. It is through Lady Bracknell that the inversion of gender roles is highlighted as she is arguably the most dominant figure in the play obtaining the most authority over every other character. It is clear from Gwendolen’s and Lady Bracknell’s comments that Lord Bracknell, who remains absent in the play, appears to be passive in the female orientated household. Gwendolen remarks that her father is ‘entirely unknown’ outside their family circle, and reflects, ‘the home seems to me to be the proper sphere for the man’ and speaks of a man’s ‘domestic duties’. This is a comic inversion of the stereotypical expectation in Victorian times that a woman’s role was in the home. Moreover, Lady Bracknell interviews Jack about his suitab... ...es the morality of Victorians by centring the comedy around marriage, which arguably should be a serious religious ceremony, yet Wilde portrays it as a trivial affair, suggesting that he views marriage, or the way people treated it, in a Victorian society as a joke. Also, Wilde uses Lady Bracknell’s haughty comments to create elements of a satire comedy that parodies the upper class society in a Victorian era. Wilde also uses inversions and subversions of gender roles in society to challenge the social order. Through this Wilde exposes the upper class and their morals concerning social matters, therefore it can be said that the purpose of Wilde’s comedy was to educate people of the Victorian society and question their social norms and values. Works Cited The Importance of Being Earnest – Oscar Wilde Comic Devices in The Importance of Being Earnest

Terrorism And Society

Although ‘terrorism† originally referred to acts committed by a gwernment, currently It usually refers to the killing of innocent people for political purposes In such a way as to reate a media spectacle. This meaning can be traced back to Sergey Nechayev, who described himself as a â€Å"terrorist†. Nechayev founded the Russian terrorist group ‘People's Retribution† in 1869. In November 2004. a United Nations Secretary General report described terrorism as any act ‘†intended to cause death or serious ph population or compelling a government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing any act†.Pejorative Use The terms â€Å"terrorism† and â€Å"terrorist† (someone who engages in terrorism) carry strong negative connotations. These terms are often used as political labels, to condemn violence or the threat of violence by certain actors as immoral, indiscriminate, unjustified or to condemn an entire segment of a population. Those labeled â€Å"terrorists† by their opponents rarely identify themselves as such, and typically use other terms or terms specific to their situation, such as separatist, freedom fighter.On the question of whether particular terrorist acts, such as killing civilians, can be Justified as the lesser evil in a particular circumstance, philosophers have expressed different views: while, according to David Rodin, utilitarian philosophers can (in theory) conceive of cases in which the evil of terrorism is outweighed by the good which could not be achieved in a less morally costly way, in practice the â€Å"harmful effects of undermining the convention of non- combatant immunity is thought to outweigh the goods that may be achieved by particular acts of terrorism†.Among the non-utilitarian philosophers, Michael Walzer argued that terrorism can be morally Justified in only one specific case: when â€Å"a nation or community faces the extreme threat of co mplete destruction and the nly way it can preserve itself is by intentionally targeting non-combatants, then it is morally entitled to do so. Motivation Of Terrorism Attacks on ‘collaborators' are used to intimidate people from cooperating with the state in order to undermine state control.This strategy was used in the USA in its War of Independence and in Ireland, in Kenya, in Algeria and in Cyprus during their independence struggles. Attacks on high profile symbolic targets are used to incite counter-terrorism by the state to polarise the population. This strategy was used by A1 Qaeda in its attacks on the USA in September 2001. These attacks are also used to draw international attention to struggles which are otherwise unreported such as the Palestinian airplane hijackings in 1970 and the South Moluccan hostage crises in the Netherlands in 1975.Abraham suggests that terrorist organizations do not select terrorism for its political effectiveness. Individual terrorists tend t o be motivated more by a desire for social solidarity with other members of their organization than by political platforms or strategic objectives, which are often murky and undefined. Religious Terrorism Religious terrorism is terrorism performed by groups or individuals, the motivation of which is typically rooted in faith-based tenets.Terrorist acts throughout the centuries have been performed on religious grounds with the hope to either spread or enforce a system of belief, viewpoint or opinion. Religious terrorism does not in itself necessarily define a specific religious standpoint or view, but instead usually defines Terrorism in India A common definition of terrorism is the systematic use or threatened use of violence to intimidate a population or government and thereby effect political, religious, r ideological change.Terrorism in India, according to the Home Ministry, poses a significant threat to the state. Terrorism in India are basically two types external and internal, external terrorism emerge from neighbouring countries and internal terrorism emulates from religious or communal violence and Naxalite-Maoist insurgency. Terror activities involve either Indian or foreign citizens. The regions with long term terrorist activities today are Jammu and Kashmir, Mumbai, Central India (Naxalism) and the Seven Sister States(independence and autonomy movements).

Second Foundation Last Interlude

Bail Channis sat in the small white-tiled room and allowed his mind to relax. He was content to live in the present. There were the walls and the window and the grass outside. They had no names. They were just things. There was a bed and a chair an books that developed themselves idly on the screen at the foot of his bed. There was the nurse who brought him his food. At first he had made efforts to piece together the scraps of things he had heard. Such as those two men talking together. One had said: â€Å"Complete aphasia now. It's cleaned out, and I think without damage. It will only be necessary to return the recording of his original brain-wave makeup.† He remembered the sounds by rote, and for some reason they seemed peculiar sounds – as if they meant something. But why bother. Better to watch the pretty changing colors on the screen at the foot of the thing he lay on. And then someone entered and did things to him and for a long time, he slept. And when that had passed, the bed was suddenly a bed and he knew he was in a hospital, and the words he remembered made sense. He sat up: â€Å"What's happening?† The First Speaker was beside him, â€Å"You're on the Second Foundation, and you have your mind back – your original mind.† â€Å"Yes! Yes!† Channis came to the realization that he was himself, and there was incredible triumph and joy in that. â€Å"And now tell me,† said the First Speaker, â€Å"do you know where the Second Foundation is now?† And the truth came flooding down in one enormous wave and Channis did not answer. Like Ebling Mis before him, he was conscious of only one vast, numbing surprise. Until he finally nodded, and said: â€Å"By the Stars of the Galaxy – now, I know.†

LDL Cholesterol Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

LDL Cholesterol - Essay Example Therefore, it is not easy for anyone to know whether they are in danger or not. As a matter of caution, people are advised to have their cholesterol levels assessed regularly. These checks are conducted through ‘lipoprotein profile’ blood tests (National Cholesterol Education Program, 2005). The total level of cholesterol is significant in determining the risk of CHD in any individual. The total cholesterol level is computed by adding bad (LDL cholesterol), good cholesterol (HDL) and triglycerides. The difference between LDL and HDL is that LDL contributes to the build up and blockage of arteries, whereas; HDL prevents cholesterol build within arteries. Comprehensive assessment of cholesterol levels requires a lipoprotein profile test. However, where this is not possible one can still get a general idea on the probable level of their cholesterol and risk level. Cholesterol measures are done in milligrams (mg) per deciliter of blood (dL), and any levels above 200mg/dL or below 40mg/dL require that a lipoprotein profile be conducted (National Cholesterol Education Program, 2005). The levels of HDL should be preferably higher (at least 60 mg/dL) because of the positive role of protecting against CHD. However, levels below 40 mg/dL should be worrying because this level is below minimum and could be a risk because it increases chances of CHD (National Cholesterol Education Program, 2005). The risk of getting CHD is determined by multiple factors including cholesterol levels, lifestyle and pre-existent conditions such as diabetes (National Cholesterol Education Program, 2005). The risk of developing CHD is determined by considering the risk factors, which are scored against the scale established in the Framingham Risk Score (FRS). The FRS is made up of a number of scoring systems for determining the probability of an individual to get CHD. The first step entails assessing the number of risk factors that an individual possesses. Each

Got to Have a Goal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Got to Have a Goal - Assignment Example Sales and compensation are integral to modern business organizations. These aspects are ascertained to impose paramount impact on the overall performance of the businesses in the contemporary world. Thus, this assignment intends to address these two major aspects. Correspondingly, the assignment is segregated into two parts. The first part reflects upon the three major techniques of goal setting in sales and provides a case study of a company, which exemplifies best practices in establishing sales goals. Similarly, the second part of the assignment considers the discussion made about three major sales incentives along with elaborating a case study on a company, exemplifying best practices in sales incentives. It is claimed that before striving any kind of business success, it is crucial for an individual to remain much aware about what he/she is striving for. The substantial knowledge regarding the aspects for which the individual is striving enable in directing efforts towards specific directions that result in attaining the best outcomes. Correspondingly, goal setting is advocated to be vital. It is essential for every individual to understand the prominence of goal setting in pursuit of certain aspects. Same rule is identified to be relevant for sales professionals in order to gain personal and organizational success. Notably, it has been argued that there are certain specific goal setting techniques in sales that required to be followed by sales professionals for gaining greater success. Failure to incorporate appropriate goal-setting techniques is observed to cause financial loss and in certain circumstances, it may also result in job loss. Most importantly, the failure may sabotage the chances of sales professionals to succeed. Thus, it is decisive for sales professionals to apply effective goal setting techniques frequently. The three basic goal-setting techniques

Drug trafficking analysis in UAE Thesis Proposal

Drug trafficking analysis in UAE - Thesis Proposal Example Financial cost on society and individuals is one of the significant problems of drug abuse. For example, in 2002, drug related cost was estimated at $180.9 billion consisting of various costs of health care and loss of labor according to the national drug control policy office. In 2004, it took US$3 million to set up a sub-office on drugs and crime in the UAE. UAE has been the target by exceptionally determined criminals who have access to adequate capital and labor to produce and smuggle voluminous amount of prohibited substances. Drugs originate from south Asia and pass through the emirates to Europe and North America, the heavy consumers (Shindagah, 1998). States in the gulf remain key destination markets for opium and psychotropic substances. Other countries such as Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran continue to be the hotspots for drug manufacturing as indicated by international narcotic control board report (Reinil, 2009). Narcotics are the most trafficked drugs in UAE and are estimated to be worth US$500billion annually, according to Sherman and Tree (2010). This amount is estimated to be double that of the automobile industry (Scott, 2005) Ports are the most notorious places and foremost hotspots and avenues of drug trafficking due to the voluminous imports received daily, with Small scale dealers mostly caught at airports. The commonly used tactic of drug trafficking continues to be through the internal human body carriage. However, smugglers are always changing their tactics and the current trend as indicated by Reinil (2009) is the use of Christmas cards. One of the biggest tasks is to prevent the flow of heroin from Afghanistan, which produces 90 per cent of the worlds supply. According to Jamieson and Research Institute for the Study of Conflict and Terrorism (1990), most of the drugs grown in Afghanistan pass through the emirates before being shipped to their final destinations. There is a rising use of

Neil Simons influence on Jewish culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Neil Simons influence on Jewish culture - Essay Example So many of our traditions inherently contain aspects of culture. Look at the Passover Seder-it's essentially great theater. Jewish education and religiosity bereft of culture is not as interesting. It is also clear that Jews have, in one form of another, dominated much of the American theatre, musical theatre and film worlds for much of their existence. Neil Simon is hardly unique in dominating one aspect of the performing arts: he is part of an oligarchy that has been recognized for decades. Simon has brought an eclectic view of what it means to be Jewish to a wide audience for nearly six decades. Thus in The Eugene Trilogy of plays he gives a semi-autobiographical account of his own early life, career and struggles. Brighton Beach Memoirs, the first play of the trilogy, deals with a Jewish teenager who experiences sexual awakening and a search for identity against the backdrop of a complex Jewish family. While not necessarily "about" being Jewish, Simon brings a shrewd sensibility to the idea of the difficulties of growing up and being Jewish (Simon, 1995). Within all of Simon's drama, even the more "serious" tupe as can be seen within the Eugene Trilogy, there is an element of humor. He has brought an ability to view even the most serious matters humorously to a mass audience. In some ways it is easy to see the influence of Neil Simon on icons of Jewish culture such as Woody Allen. The ability to write about a uniquely Jewish experience and yet at the same time to make that experience accessible and even enjoyable to a much wider, often non-Jewish audience has been an inspiration to many different other artists. At times Neil Simon has taken iconic Jewish figures, such as the character of Job from the Bible, and made them accessible to modern audiences. Thus in God's Favorite he transfers the Book of Job to a Long Island Mansion, and manages to make the play both funny and thought-provoking. This play may be seen as part of a recurrent theme that runs throughout many of what at least superficially appear to be light-hearted and comic plays (Konas, 1997). Konas also argues that Neil Simon's comedy is rooted in "people's neuroses" (1997), and one of them that many of Simon's character possess is the fact that they are Jewish. There is a deceptive seriousness to these analyses of Jewish life in America, a deception that allows Simon to introduce the audience to some of their own prejudices and doubts. Thus in Jake's Women the leading character is haunted by the fact that some of his previous relationships have been defined, more or less, with the fact that he was Jewish and the supposed sensibility that goes along with that. Neil Simon's contribution to Jewish culture has been profound. He has brought a decidedly Jewish outlook to stage and film for nearly sixty years, with more than forty plays and thirty screenplays to his credit. He paved the way for other popular artists such as Woody Allen and Mel Brooks to consider Jewishness in perhaps more challenging ways (or at least more controversial ways) than Simon has himself. Such is the role of a catalyst and role-model for others. The