Racism and discrimination Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Racism and discrimination - Research Paper Example Whiteness and identity issues have stood at the center of racism in Canada (Lund & Carr, 2010). Lobby groups’ advocacy against racism in Canada continues to mobilize the Canadian population against racism and discrimination. The interactions and relations among Canadians, people of color, and aboriginals cannot be described in the best words. However, the continued social, economic, and political efforts to curb racism in the country serves as a vital step towards societal unity in Canada. â€Å"Visible minority† is a common term in Canada. Colored people in Canada are referred to using the term. In fact, Canada’s legal framework also recognizes this term and further integrates it into the legal provisions relative to racism and discrimination. This comes amid persistent efforts to fight racism and discrimination in the country. Ghosh, R. (2012). Multicultural Teacher Education in Canada. In Craft, M. Teacher Education in Plural Societies: An International Review. New York: Routledge. http://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=GVMkNEH2Um8C&oi=fnd&pg=PA45 &dq=racism+in+Canada+2012&ots=SSTZjKFOzj&sig=frXz89Wk8InmiT29swSptxDxY bk&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false Lund, D. & Carr, P. (2010). Exposing Privilege and Racism in the Great White North: Tackling Whiteness and Identity Issues in Canadian Education. Multicultural Perspectives, Volume 12, Issue 4, 229-234. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15210960.2010.527594 Walker, B. (2008). The History of Immigration and Racism in Canada: Essential Readings. Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press.

Many of Steinbecks characters are crippled mentally or physically Essay Example for Free

Many of Steinbecks characters are crippled mentally or physically Essay Many of Steinbecks characters are crippled mentally or physically. How far do you agree with this and how far are they made victims of society of the time? Lennie is probably the most obvious character of the book that is mentally crippled. He has brooder slopping shoulders and walks along heavily dragging his feet. Underneath Lennie is a child, he may look like and man but isnt. Like a child Lennie has a fascination of small cuddle, cute things, especially rabbits. I like to pet things with my fingers, sof things. Lennie is also clumsy like a child and on the ranch others see him as a slow worker. George is like a father to Lennie and he looks up to him, and also fully dependant on him. He wont do anything till George says he can, he automatically turns to George in when in any danger, like a child dependant on his mother. Candy is the oldest of the characters and he is physically crippled, as he has lost his right hand as a young boy. He was one of the best workers of the ranch and everyone respected him in his younger days. But he is slowly becoming useless, with only a job of sweeping and has become very lonely with only the companionship of a dog. But soon found friendship in George and Lennie. However this does not stop him from being a nosy character and finds interest in others gossip. Candy loves his dog to pieces, but like candy the dog is getting old and weak, That dog of Candys is so god damn old he cant hardly walk. Candy has had to dog for most of its life, and its the only thing that reminds him of the good days on the ranch. Crooks is the only black man on the ranch and he is crippled physically as he has a bent spine. Considering how hard it was for black men in those days, they were not given any respect at all and were bullied. The people at the ranch were racist towards him. But I cant play cards cause Im black and they say I stink. He is also lonely like Candy and is rejected from the people at the ranch, he has his own cabin and spends most of his time in there on his own. Crooks seems to be a bit sensitive underneath his brave face and takes it all to heart. He trusts no one but himself, because he isnt respected. Though at some times he has a slightly vicious streak, You got no right to come in my room, nobody got any right in here but me. A lot of the people on the ranch take advantage of him because they know they can get away with it. Listen nigger you know what I can do if you dont shut your trap. I think that Crooks knows that people take advantage of him, but he cant fight back. Curlys is the bosses son and he thinks he is a powerfully man. He has a constant eagerness to prove himself. One of his weaknesses is that he doesnt like taller people because they make him feel insecure, threatened and small. Deep down he is a lonely character and is insecure. Curly copies his Dad like Lennie copies George. By taking on the future job of the ranch and has a future not like most of the workers, and wants to become powerful like his Father. Curlys wife plays a small part, though a crucial one. She is the only one of Steinbecks characters that is nameless. In those times it was hard to be a woman and were looked upon as staying at home all day and cooking for the husbands on return. She is a flirt of the ranch, what with being the only woman and the men on the ranch refer to her as a tart. No one really wants to talk to her as they are worried what curly might do if he found out, and this makes her lonely and isolated. Well I think Curleys married a tart. Curlys wife wanted to make something of her life, so she is very disappointed that she hasnt, this can make her feel very viscous. Though still she has the power, like her husband to make people feel small and unimportant, thats why people chose to exclude her on the ranch. She is young and niave and would believe anything she was told. He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural. I think that Steinbeck wrote his characters to be either mentally or physically crippled. He wrote this book to expose all of the racial and sexist prejudice. He succeeded in this by using the right characters and their every day life.

Reflection on Visit to China

Reflection on Visit to China Alex Naydenov Post-Trip Re-evaluation of Six Topics Introduction After visiting Beijing and Shanghai my existing perceptions of China not only changed but it helped me to view the world as a more mature person. I am no longer ignorant towards countries I have never visited and only knew from what I have read or researched. Prior to my visit, I believed that I had a pretty good understanding about China as a communist country with the fastest growing economy of the world. However, I was not prepared for the magnificent and mind-blowing views from the Great Wall and the Olympic Facilities, the delicious food, and the meaningful conversations with the local students we met. I was humbled to discover a culture that existed for over 4,000 years and people that are friendly and hospitable. As a result, I developed a deeper appreciation for the Chinese society, traditions, and way of life. Chinese Culture History and Impact on Chinese Business Today My perception about Chinese culture and history went on a whole new level when we had the opportunity to visit the Old Hutong area in Beijing and explore the local life and traditions. The walk along the alleys and the visit to a local house gave me a memorable glimpse of the traditional way of living and the sense of pride Chinese people carry for their cultural heritage. I felt that the Old Hutong represents a long period of history and it has become the living encyclopedia of the city that everyone deeply cherish. My cultural views about China continued to shape with the visit of other important landmarks in Beijing such as the Olympic Facilities, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Great Wall. In Beijing modern architecture mixes harmoniously with the preservation of older buildings and historical places. At the moment I entered the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube and later the Tiananmen Square, I was surprised to discover just how modern China is. In fact, the urban areas in Beijing and Shanghai are somehow similar to Chicago or NYC with the glass skyscrapers, fashionably dressed people, and busy streets. However, what really took my breath away is the Great Wall. The place is not just a testament of a great engineering; it symbolizes the connection between the legendary past and present time and it made me realize the uniqueness of China. It suddenly put things into perspective of how old China is and how new the history of my country is. The Great Wall is a must see place if a person wants to experience the infinite sense of time, traditions and beauty, and even a sense of harmony. During my personal interactions with many students from Peking and Tongii Universities I learned first-hand that they deeply value integrity, loyalty, and hard work. Chinese students emphasized that the image you built for yourself throughout the years ultimately defines your future career development and success. Such observations were confirmed by AmCham presenters who also believed that honesty is one of the virtues greatly valued by the Chinese people. Many local businessmen run their business on the principle of honesty and hard work in order to establish their brand. Thus, learning to understand and appreciate local values becomes imperative for conducting a successful business with China. Government, Political, and Legal Environment Prior to my trip, I strongly believed that China’s government is very similar to the former Soviet Union and the political system is primarily authoritarian. I was really surprised to discover that although the communist party has been in power for over 60 years somehow the political environment has remained flexible and adapting to the changes. In reality, when the other communist systems crashed, China was able to survive many political turbulences and become a major economic power. However, there are still things that really bothered me during the visit, such as the restricted Internet sites. Many important social media sites and search engines which I take for granted in the United States have been blocked in China. In my conversation with local students they have expressed mixed opinions about the existing political system. A few were optimistic that the new party leader Xi Jinping will help the economy and stop the corruption, while others preferred to change the subject. Nevertheless, all of the college students focused on the fact the communist government controls every aspect of their lives with tight censorships. They also commented that in addition to blocking social media websites the government has many levels of control over everything that is going on online for example deleting blogs if found inappropriate. Prior to the trip, I believed that the Legal System has been a major accomplishment for the communist party because China has put in place strict laws that prevents the rise of monopolies. It also modernized the existing tax system that held accountable for due taxes everyone from the regular employees to major corporations. However, I find some facts about the criminal justice system in China quite disturbing. The country has a very high conviction rate of 99%, which clearly shows that something is wrong with the system. For instance, the police has enormous power and the advancement of the officers depends on how many convictions they help to obtain, thus they resort to any measures to get a confession. I believe that If China wants to be respected in the world’s arena, the existing criminal justice system needs to be in line with the international norms and all citizens to be treated with dignity and respect. Economy, Globalization and Intellectual Property Rights in China In the past decade China’s economy grew substantially, however, the economy took a step back due to the global economic crisis. In my conversations with some of the Peking’s students they said that current economic strategy of the Party is to focus more on sustainable and high quality expansion rather than on the growth rate alone. They said that 7 percent GDP growth for 2014 was still an impressive number and the current economy was strong and resilient. The government strategy is to strengthen and expand the imports over the next five years in order to bring more opportunities for trade and cooperation with the rest of the world. In recent years, China has enforced laws to safeguard intellectual properties and rights. For example, foreign companies have to register their company trademarks in order to ensure that all of the rules are followed. In our visit to Cisco, an American multinational corporation, in Shanghai we had the opportunity to tour the facilities and touch base on various topics including the Intellectual Property Rights in China. In the past, Cisco has filed a lawsuit against Chinese network maker Huawei for unlawful copying, but in recent years China has strengthened its legal framework and amended its IPR laws in order to conform to the WTO Agreement. Banking, Finance, and Corporate Governance In the past decades, China’s banking system has grown from a single bank to a new modern system that includes four of the largest commercial banks in the world. The Chinese government continues to hold a key position in the management of the banking system, however, they have been successful in weathering a few serious finance crisis. I believe that the banking sector will continue to grow with China’s acceptance in the WTO and allowing for the foreign banks to participate. In addition, China needs to create friendlier regulations and taxes that will attract foreign and domestic investors. In recent years, China experienced an increased demand for second homes which stirred the real estate market and made investing in the housing very attractive, a cycle that can build the house bubble. I have witnessed the crisis of real estate in the United States and I know how dangerous bursting of the bubble could be for the people and economy. In order to control the real estate prices, the government put some purchase restrictions on residential properties, not allowing a second residence. Although, a bit drastic such intervention helped to contain the rising housing prices. However, many Chinese investors started to look at other alternatives such buying properties in the big cities of the United States and other parts of the world. In conversation with local students about the debt issue in United States and China, we come to the conclusion that the average American family owns bigger properties but their debt to income ratio is higher than that of the Chinese. I live in a large house, but I know that my parents constantly worry about their loans and possibility to lose their home if they become unemployed. In this regard, I believe that Chinese families maybe sleep better at night knowing that they will still have a roof over their heads if an adversity hits them. China’s Approach to the Global Financial Crisis When the global financial crisis hit the United States in 2008 it inevitably affected the rest of the world, including China. In order to protect the economy the government introduced a RMB 4 trillion stimulus package that would encourage the consumer spending and rebuild major infrastructures. Such financial strategy proved to be a success because it boosted the economy. The government also approved multiple tax rebates in order to help the exporting companies and aid the struggling economy to survive the financial crisis. During my visit to Beijing and Shanghai it was obvious that people took advantage of the program and bought new cars, housing, or started their own business. One of the Chinese students remembered the stimulus money and mentioned that her parents had the opportunity to buy a bigger apartment, because the interest rates were low and it helped to secure a very favorable loan, which was not possible in the past. U.S.–China Trade Issues The trade between the United States and China is an important part of the profits for both countries. At the moment, China is the third largest market for the American exports. However, there are some serious issues that put the trading relationship in jeopardy. I believe that the biggest problem hindering the interchange is that China is not a fully free market economy due to the communist regime. For instance, China does not have solid policies in place that would protect the international business partners. Another problem is that the American companies doing business in China do not receive an adequate protection of their intellectual property rights. United States has lost almost $4 billion in trade due to piracy and counterfeited goods. I had the opportunity to discuss with some of the Chinese students their views on the knockoff items that many Chinese companies produce and then export to the United States. They believe that the problem is really serious because the counterfeit industry is massive and it continues to grow. In addition, Alibaba the biggest online commerce, claims to be committed to crack down on the barter of fake goods on its platform, but as soon as one vendor gets blocked another one takes his place. I believe that the collective effort of the Chinese government, enforcing severe punishments, and the major internet distributors can help to contain the existing problem. Conclusion: My spring break to China, stripped away all the prejudices and stereotypes which I carried about the real life in China and gave me the opportunity of the lifetime to see some of the most amazing landmarks in the world. The real experience of China’s traditions and business interactions helped me to free my mind, learn to make better judgements, and identify my priorities in life.

International economic institutions serve western

International economic institutions serve western interests. Do you agree? The international economic institutions refer to the Bretton Woods institutions which are the IMF and World Bank which were created after World War 2 and GATT was also created after the war and later became the WTO. I agree with the statement, due to the disproportionate amount of power held by Western countries compared to the rest of the world and the fact that these institutions attempt to press or force western neo-Liberal values on the rest of the world. In this essay I will go through each individual economic institution explaining how they serve western interests and how recent reforms have attempted to curb western powers within these institutions and then I will later discuss how these institutions play out in terms of international political theories. The international monetary fund was set up in 1944 to head off any future world economic crisis similar in magnitude to the great depression and to manage the Bretton Wood’s fixed exchange rates. However over the decades it has gained the reputation of being the lender of last resort and have attempted to enforce neo-Liberal principles on countries who take the loans. This is shown clearly through the procedure of the Structural adjustment programme where it aims to create â€Å"a business climate attractive to investors †. They do this through prescribing Washington consensus politics which involves opening up markets to foreign competition, close down unprofitable markets; reduce public expenditure and privatisation programmes. This has served western interests as this opens up new market for western countries to exploit, as shown in Ghana where it â€Å"used to be self reliant on r... ...ns would act in their self interest when using IGO’s. Realists focus on the fact that liberals tend to overlook power politics which would be played out within these IGO’s. For Marxists they view the failure of IGO’s to spread wealth equally as the failings of the capitalist system where only the rich can gain and by allowing the poor to stay poor due to the greed of capitalism. Overall it is clear that in the past and currently the west have dominated the international financial institutions in order to serve western interests. However the west have started to lose grip of all three of these institutions as the emergence of the BRIC’s have forced the west’s hand, as they have hinted that they would create their own IMF . So I foresee a more balanced international institutions or the west facing BRIC led rival organisations in the form of the BRIC’s own versions.

Kevin Van Dam

Kevin Van Dam is a professional bass angler. Kevin has always had a love for fishing, but did not start fishing professionally until 1990. Kevin Van Dam may not be a household name to most people, but anyone who enjoys bass fishing has heard of him. Bass fishing is my passion and I look up to Kevin Van Dam, as he is the best in the world in this era of bass fishing. Kevin Van Dam was born on October 14, 1967 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.Growing up in Michigan gave Kevin the chance to fish a lot of different lakes and rivers for a variety of species of fish including trout, salmon, muskies, walleyes, and northern pike. â€Å"You can learn a lot by fishing different species in the diverse variety of lakes and rivers we have in Michigan,† Kevin once said when asked about fishing in his childhood. Kevin loved to fish and was in the perfect environment to hone his skills. Although he fished for many species of fish, bass fishing was his favorite.Kevin dominated the tournament circuits, w inning the Michigan Bass Anglers Sportsman Society Angler of the Year twice before going pro. Kevin graduated from Otsege High School, and married his high school sweetheart Sherry. Kevin and Sherry settled in their home town of Kalamazoo, and continue to live there today with there twin boys, Jackson and Nicholas. Kevin is a devoted dad and enjoys taking his children fishing and deer hunting. Kevin worked various jobs until deciding to become a professional bass angler at the age of twenty three.Kevin began one of the most successful bass fishing careers ever under shadows of doubt, that he was going pro too young. He soon proved all that doubted his abilities wrong by winning the Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year, and was the youngest ever to win this prestiges title. Kevin also won the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society Angler of the Year title at age twenty five. The Bassmaster classic is the highest regarded title in professional bass fishing, to qualify for the Bassmaster classic y ou must go through a series of tournaments fished by the toughest anglers in the world.Van Dam has qualified for twenty consecutive Bassmaster classics since 1991, this is the longest running qualification streak in history. He has won the Bassmaster classic three times in 2001, 2005, and 2010. Kevin has fished in two hundred and twenty one Bassmaster events, he has won nineteen, finished second eleven times and finished in the top ten ninety times. Kevin Van Dam is a serious force to be reckoned with in the professional bass fishing world, and is simply nicknamed KVD.He has become a ambassador for the sport as it has grown in public attention, and is now featured on ESPN. Van Dam was awarded the first ever ESPN Outdoor Sportsman of the Year in 2002. KVD was grateful to receive this award, since it was not about his lifetime records which are amazing, but his promotion of the sport. Kevin Van Dam in my opinion and many others is the greatest Angler to pass threw the professional wor ld of bass fishing some may not admit it, but statistically this is true. Kevin is a true role model for young bass anglers today.

Legalization of Marijuana Essay

The fight to legalize marijuana has been going on for decades now and looks to have no end until the result is that it’s legal. My fight would be for it to be legalized as well. Simply because it’s a drug with more benefits then harm. In some states, and other countries it’s already legal and doctor approved which I believe needs to be applied everywhere. Marijuana users will not stand for marijuana probation, no matter how long it takes, punishments or consequences. One might say press the issue! Make harsher laws! These prohibition views have failed to silence users. Marijuana legalization is a persistent issue that will not just go away. I believe it will be legalized because users are willing to continue to fight until they succeed. This will eventually open people’s eyes that the drug is not all bad. Marijuana has positive attributes; a medical value with very mild side effects. Many people use it because they see it good for them especially those suffering ailments. It relieves pain, nausea, spasticity, and other symptoms for many individuals who have not been treated successfully with conventional medications. I agree that if we do legalize it just for medication that it would leak to other users. But in today’s society many American adults prefer marijuana over alcohol as a way to relax, it has a lot less side effects then alcohol. The use of marijuana in America is a choice that comes with a relatively low dependence rate. Most people develop a tolerance to side effects, and those who don’t usually stop using drugs. Most Americans decide that the benefits of the drug outweigh the risk which the greatest risk is low risk arrest. Legalizing the drug can have more benefits to our county then harming it. If marijuana was legal we could put a tax on it, to make a profit on it. If we look at our crime rate, our law enforcement has more important responsibilities than arresting 750,000 individuals a year for marijuana possession. By doing this we waste jail space, clog court systems, divert time of police, attorneys, judges, and corrections officials away from violent crime. When I say violent crimes I mean being able to focus on the sexual abuse of children, terrorism and other more dangerous crimes. For my study I looked for a country that has legalized marijuana and their reasons for doing so. I found that it is a common knowledge throughout the world, that in Amsterdam you may just enter a coffee shop and buy drugs; you will be handed a menu with drugs of the day, and there might be even a special on the menu. It is all accessible, for four joints you will pay the same amount for twenty cigarettes. Marijuana is legal in Amsterdam because the government there realizes that it is much easier to control when they make it publicly available. This way they can tax it to generate state funding and ensure that they know where it is and who’s using it. It’s a much more liberal approach than prohibition, which causes any controlled substance to go immediately underground and leaves the government’s jurisdiction. Marijuana being illegal is much like the prohibition of alcohol. The Prohibition was a period of nearly fourteen years of U.S. history in which the manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor was made illegal. It led to the first and only time an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was repealed. And unlike alcohol and any prescription drugs, marijuana is not lethal. A study in 2009 by U.S. Department of Health and Human Studies published that 69.7 million Americans are current users of tobacco products, 15 million Americans abuse alcohol, and only 4.2 million Americans abuse Marijuana. Everyday 1,000 people die from smoking related illnesses, 550 die from alcohol related accidents and diseases, and less than 20 die of drug related causes. American adolescents use Marijuana twice as much as their counter parts in Holland where Marijuana is legal. It seems that the temptations to do what you’re not supposed to do are too strong to resist. In conclusion, marijuana should be legal. If we are going to continue to offer these drugs that are more harmful then marijuana then why band one that helps? If continuing to keep marijuana as an illegal substance then users are willing to continue to fight. Like the prohibition of alcohol I don’t believe this fight will end until the users win. Maybe they will think their decision over, and realize it would help us more then it harms us.

Assignment (Case Study of Nintendo) Essay Example

Assignment (Case Study of Nintendo) Essay Example Assignment (Case Study of Nintendo) Paper Assignment (Case Study of Nintendo) Paper 1. Was Nintendo just lucky, or does the Wii’s success have strategic merit? Nintendos strategy was very clear and clever. It thought that it could not survive in the competition with Microsofts Xbox and Sonys Play Station 3. So, Nintendo do not try to compete to the competitor rather than it tried to rebuild the gaming system. Without concerning the more advanced technology, it tried to do more using less investment. The gamers are of two types; teenagers and hardcore gamers. Company earns a lot from the core gamers and they spend a lot in this. As the hardware become more sophisticated and games are more realistic and whether this tech people are more likely pleased. So, Nintendo focuses on the fun playing games rather than the technological junkies. They realized that they couldn’t make a better product, so by changing the way in which the product is used they created a whole new market at their control. By changing their focus away from the game but the experience Nintendo created a unique strategy that is now synonymous with their name. Nintendo developed the Wii with a very specific design and marketing strategy in place. So, Nintendos strategy was so resourceful and it worked like magic mix strategy. 2. Has Nintendo put the â€Å"fad† questions to rest? State a case as to why the Wii is or is not here to stay. Nintendo tried its best to keep the game alive for a long time. So it invested a lot of money in order to ensure Wiis success does not fade away as like most of the game consoles launched before this time. Nintendo released many classic games like Mario, Zelda etc. or Wii and to continue the journey of new games they made an agreement with two outside companies to ensure the new games string and released two popular games like Final Fantasy, Capcom for the Wii gaming Console. Nintendo hopes that â€Å"the release of these titles will do more than appeal to traditional gamers. It will elevate the Wii’s image to one that will run the industry’s most advanced games. † By reaching to the gamers of different taste, Nintendo got a tremendous demand on their products and they continue with their good growing market shares. 3. In which stage of the product life cycle is the Wii? Based on that stage, is Nintendo employing good marketing mix strategies? Nintendos Wii is staying in the maturity stage of the product life cycle now-a-days. Wii has been in the market for two years and the sales of Wii console have peaked for most of the time. As of the low price and better quality of Wii gaming console has been cordially accepted by the games around the world. Cost of producing Nintendo Wii is not high due to the lack of high-tech components, allowing the sales price of $250 to bring in decent profits for each unit sold. Nintendo tried to bring non-gamers into the industry via the Wii, and by pushing the product in that direction they are able to set themselves apart from the competition. The most important part of the Nintendo Wii marketing strategy is the sales promotions targeting the gamers. Nintendo is consistently taking opportunities to bring gamers over from the competition to the Nintendo Wii. Lower and fascinating price; and more effective advertising strategies made the Nintendo more renowned around the world and the company is growing so fast, whereas making more profits. 4. Develop a strategy for the Wii’s next product life cycle phase. Nintendo developed more user friendly gaming console using less technology. To survive in the competition that Microsoft and Sony created, Nintendo need a defensive strategy that may help to protect the company from declining stage of the product life cycle. Moreover, they have to think to beat up the technology to survive in the market. So, Nintendo have to replace the emerging technology of Wii to hold up the existing product demand. Next generation of video game consoles need time yet to come in the market. But the Nintendo has the less time for product modification and increasing the technological advancement of Wii. May be or maybe not, Nintendo can modify the existing product by redesigning with the help of technology or, may be Nintendo can think about a new product that can take over the place of Wii and fulfill the demand of Wii existed in the market. However in the meantime they need to ensure the Wii’s market share and continued profits. Nintendo should redesign their existing product Wii or Design a new one to take over the market; this decision should be made quickly by the administration of the Nintendo. But it is the high time to think about the product and competition seriously and make a quick decision, so that the research of product modification or creation of a new product can be started very soon enough. 5. Discuss the potential threats to Nintendo’s future success. What will help Nintendo avoid a premature decline for the Wii? Nintendo survives if the product Wii survives in the competition. And the Wii lacks technological touch which made it an emerging product. But the gamers want new technology and new entertaining materials, but the Wii lacks of these materials that can fascinate the games and consumers. As a new product the Wii is the center of attraction for the gamers but after a little time the lack of technology can be threat for the Nintendo. Moreover, to develop and redesign the product Nintendo needs to have its own Research and Development facilities. So can research and develop new items to survive in the future market. Within a few time the Nintendo have to compete with the big giants like Microsoft, Sony and other upcoming companies. As a result, Nintendo need to be prepared for the surviving battle of future from now on. And the Nintendo needs to develop new ideas to penetrate the market.

Amylase lab report Essays

Amylase lab report Essays Amylase lab report Paper Amylase lab report Paper Enzymes are very specific; for example, amylase is the only enzyme that will break down starch. It is similar to the theory of the lock and the key. The enzyme is the lock and the key is the substrate; only the correct key could fit into the keyhole of the lock. Porcine pancreatic amylase is The purpose of this lab experiment is to investigate factors that can affect the porcine pancreatic amylase enzyme activity in different environments such as the temperature, pH and also how being stored in extreme temperatures can affect the activity of the amylase. The activity of the amylase is going to be determined by the presence or absence of starch in the samples over time. There are some hypotheses on the Effects of temperature and pH; as I add the amylase to the starch in different temperatures the reactions rate increases in high temperatures; I believe that the amylase will work better. As the environment grows warmer, the amylase is going to become more energetic and more effective. Amylase is affected by environmental PH. Predict that the amylase activity will work best at a pH 7. As the pH changes from this point I predicted that the amylase activity is going to decrease and eventually stop. If I boiled and rose some amylase solution, and try to digest starch with at it at room temperature, I predict the previously-boiled and frozen amylase will not work quite as well as amylase that has not been previously boiled and frozen. Experiment #1: Investigating the Effect of Environmental Temperature on the Activity of Porcine Pancreatic Amylase Materials and Methods Amylase experiment #1 was done to see how the temperature affected the efficacy of the enzyme. First we collected all of the materials that were necessary to perform this experiment. We needed five clean test tubes, a test tube rack, a beaker of 1 % starch solution (pH 7. ), a test tube of porcine amylase solution which was previously prepared by mixing porcine pancreatic amylase powder with 0. 9% Nasal concentration to create an amylase concentration of 0. Magma/ ml, one I-ml pipette, one 5-ml pipette with pipette pump, five transfer pipettes, two spot plates, a bottle of iodine solution, a timer, one beaker half way filled with ice and a small amount of water, two thermometers, and three water baths each with a different temperature. In this experiment, we first labeled the test tubes. We then added 5-ml of 1% starch solution with a pH of 7. 0 to each of them. After each tube was filled, the first one was placed in the freezer at O degrees Celsius, the second one was placed in room temperature with a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, the third one was placed in warm water at 40 degrees Celsius, the fourth one was placed in hot water at 60 degrees Celsius, and fifth one was placed in extremely hot water at 80 degrees Celsius. Each test tube was then left in the selected place for ten minutes so that the starch solution could acclimate to its surrounding temperature. After ten minutes, we then used a 1 -ml pipette to add 0. Ml of the amylase mixture to each of the tubes and then the timer was set. After three minutes, we put 3 drops of the starch/amylase mixture from each of the five tubes into the spot plate, and then added two drops of iodine to each spot plate and noted the result. Iodine reacts with starch to change from yellow (not starch) to deep blue black in the presence of starch. After every three minutes had passed, these same steps were repeated, until 30 minutes had passed and noted all the result. Experiment #2: Investigating the Effect of Environmental pH on the Activity of Porcine Pancreatic Amylase Materials and Methods Amylase experiment # 2 was done to see how the pH affected the efficacy f the enzyme. First we collected all of the materials that were necessary to make this experiment. We needed five clean test tubes, the following standard solutions, 1% Starch Solution pH 3, 1% Starch Solution pH 5,1% Starch Solution pH 7,1% Starch Solution pH 9, 1% Starch Solution pH 11 0. 0375 MGM/ml Porcine Pancreatic Amylase Solution (amylase powder in 0. % Nasal ), Iodine Solution; each solution were pipettes into each of the 5 test tubes with 5 ml of 1% starch. Each tube contained a 1% starch solution with a different PH. All tubes were at room temperature. Room temperature was ICC. 0. 2 ml of porcine pancreatic amylase solution was then pipettes into each tube. A timer was started and every minutes the starch / amylase mixture were pipettes from each tube and pipettes into the spo t plate for every sample tube, then the iodine solution were added to a spot plate cell for each sample. Iodine reacts with starch to change from yellow to deep blue /black in the presence of starch. A lightening of the blue/ black to a brown color will occur as less starch is present. Results were reported as (+) for presence of starch in the sample or (-) for the absence of starch. After every three minute increment had passed, these same steps ere repeated, until 30 minutes had passed and all the results were noted. Experiment #3: Investigating the Effect of Freezing and of Boiling on the Activity of Porcine Pancreatic Amylase Materials and Methods Amylase experiment #3 was made to see if boiling or freezing the amylase would have an effect on the enzyme. For this experiment, we collected three clean test tubes, porcine pancreatic amylase solution, a test tube containing frozen amylase solution, two 600-ml beakers each containing 200-ml of room temperature water, a hot plate, two transfer pipettes, two spot plates, a bottle of iodine solution, First we took the frozen amylase solution out of the freezer and warmed it to room temp. Then we put about 0. Ml of amylase solution in a test tube and boiled it in at beaker for two minutes. Then we let the beakers sit in room temperature. We labeled each test tube, one boiled and the other frozen. We placed them in water and allowed them to sit for at least ten minutes until it cooled down to room temperature. Then we put 5-ml of starch solution pH 7. 0 in two test tubes and labeled them boiled amylase, or frozen amylase. We used a ml pipette to add 0. Ml of the boiled and frozen amylase solutions to their exceptive test tubes. The solutions were then thoroughly mixed together with a transfer pipette and the timer was set. After three minutes, we did the first test. We took out approximately three drops of starch/amylase solution from all two of the test tubes and put them on a spot plate into two separate wells. Then about two drops of iodine solution were added to each one. This same routine was repeated every three minute intervals until thirty minutes all together had passed. All of these tests were noted prior to each one. Discussion In the first experiment my hypothesis was that the amylase is going to work deter. As the environment gets warmer, and is going to become more active and get more effective. The amylase was put in different temperatures and the results were that amylase best works at a temperature near body temperature. While when the temperature starts decreasing to successes or increase to Celsius the amylase will work, but not at its 100 %, but when temperature reach Celsius or Celsius amylase dont work at all. The results of the experiments showed a significant effect of temperature on the amylase activity. The best temperature for porcine pancreatic amylase activity was ICC; it takes 6 min to gets the starch, as the temperature changed, the amylase activity decreased. When ICC was reached the amylase takes 12 min digesting the starch, also when ICC was reached the amylase took mini digesting the starch. Amylase is affected by environmental PH. I predict that the amylase activity will work best at pH 7. As the pH changes from this point I believe that the amylase activity is going to decrease and eventually stop. In experiment #2 the amylase was added into different pH to determine the optimum pH range. The result was that porcine pancreatic enzymes have best efficiency in the neutral pH 7 range, and does to work at its 100% potential at either between pH 9 and phi. The amylase did not work at all in extremely high or low pH such as phi and pH 11 . The results indicate that in pH 7 the enzyme works at its best. This can indicate that the amylase activity is optimal at pH ranges of the saliva and the small intestine. The two extreme pH values of pH 3 and pH 11 showed no amylase activity. This could be due to the anticipated competition at the enzyme active sites with increased hydrogen ion or hydroxide ion concentrations. Also the attraction of H or OH ions to the protein functional groups can alter the shape of the enzyme and thereby emit its activity. If I boiled or froze some amylase solution, and tried to digest starch with at it at room temperature, I predict the previously-boiled or frozen amylase will not work quite as well as amylase that has not been previously boiled or frozen. In experiment #3 the amylase activity was zero in the boiled sample. This confirms the prediction that freezing the amylase is not going to stop it from functioning, but is not going to work quite as well. In contrast the boiled sample results weakened my hypothesis because the amylase never showed any activity during the thirty min of the experiment. This can be imparted to the results in experiment #1 because amylase had no activity before being boiled, and neither when being in temperatures too high such as ICC.

A Case Study About Healthcare Leadership

A Case Study About Healthcare Leadership Effective leadership is essential in health care organisations as in other organisations. It is necessary for driving innovation, effective patient care, patient safety, improving working within clinical teams, sorting out issues within emergency context and other aspects necessary for effective and efficient running of healthcare organisations. Transformational leadership has often been prescribed as the ‘gold standard’ of healthcare leadership(Gopee and Galloway 2009).This essay sets out to: briefly discuss the concept of leadership; highlight why leadership is important in healthcare; make a distinction between the closely-related concepts of leadership and management; briefly highlight how power relates to leadership; describe some leadership approaches applicable within the context of healthcare organisations; describe leadership styles visible in healthcare; present a case study set in a teaching hospital practice setting in Africa ; critically assess the leadersh ip approaches operating within the setting and its effect on organisational performance ;and make recommendations on improving leadership practice within the specified setting. What is leadership? Leadership can be defined as â€Å"the ability of an individual to influence a group of people to achieve a goal(Bryman 1992).It is also noted that ‘leadership can have four possible meanings, namely: the activity of leading; the body of people who lead a group; the status of the leader; and the ability to lead'(Gopee and Galloway 2009). Kouzes and Posner (2007) suggest some characteristics of an effective leader namely to: be more effective in meeting job-related demands; be more successful in representing their units in upper management; create higher performing teams; foster renewed loyalty and commitment; increase motivational levels and willingness to work hard; and possess high degree of personal integrity. Why leadership in healthcare? Effective leadership and management has been found to contribute to efficiency of health care services, performance (McColl-Kennedy and Anderson 2002) and satisfaction of staff employed within them.(Bradley and Alimo-Metcalfe 2008) researched the causal relationship between leadership behaviours and the performance and productivity of staff and found that ‘engaging leadership’ improved employee engagement and performance. (Morrison, Jones et al. 1997) studied the relationship between leadership style, empowerment, and job satisfaction on nursing staff at a regional medical centre. They used Bass’s Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire to measure leadership style, items from Spreitzer’s Psychological Empowerment instrument to measure empowerment, and the Warr, Cook, and Wall’s job satisfaction questionnaire to measure job satisfaction. The authors found that both transformational and transactional leadership were positively associated with job satisfaction. Some other researchers reported t hat good leadership skills impacted on patient safety and quality of care (Corrigan, Lickey et al. 2000; Firth-Cozens and Mowbray 2001; Mohr, Abelson et al. 2002).Furthermore, leadership skills are essential in the world of public health policy and leadership is one of the core competencies required of public health trainees(Faculty of Public Health 2010). Leadership versus management Relevant to this discourse is making a distinction between leadership and management. They are two similar but distinct concepts. Management is seen as seeking order and maintaining stability while leadership is seen as seeking adaptive and constructive change. Leadership in the healthcare context aims to influence practitioners towards the achievement of the common goal of quality patient care. On the other hand, management as a process coordinates and directs the activities of an organisation to ensure it achieves its set objectives. Management ensures healthcare resources (human such as doctors, nur ses and clerical staff and non-human resources like medical devices and consumables) are utilised in an efficient way whilst delivering effective healthcare service(Gopee and Galloway 2009). However, leadership is known to be complementary to management (Kotter 1999; Zaleznik 2004).

Latest innovations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Latest innovations - Research Paper Example Innovation is critical since it not only raises market attention but also helps in positioning and differentiation (OFallon, & Rutherford 2011). Innovation involves a new way of doing things using unique combination of production or delivery factors. Innovation is applicable in different ways like generation of a new product or improving an old product; the hotels can also develop new sales and supply markets or even restructure the whole company. With an aim of insuring sustainable development, the hotel industry is now adopting the new trend of eco-tourism. With years to come, all hotels will have legal obligation to ensure that all their practices aim at environmental conservation (Swami, & Sharma 2011). Hotels adopting eco-friendly innovations are beginning to have competitive advantage over other companies that do not protect the environment. Green hotels are growing daily hence becoming the core of the hospitality industry. Customers to this industry are also becoming eco sensitive hence are considering green hotel to meet their accommodation needs. The Eco label is becoming a standard for choice by the tourists and other hotel guests. Eco label hotels add environment friendly technological practices to their good menus besides providing a wide range of resources (Swami, & Sharma 2011). In the hotel environment, various activities such as constructions, landscaping, use of water and energy, cooking and disposal of waste s affect the environment if not contained. The size of hotel families in relation to the rate of utilization also influences environmental conditions (Swami, & Sharma 2011). There are varieties of forces that are pushing US hotels to be more environmental conscious. Some studies indicate that 90% of the current hotels guest aim at getting accommodations form Eco labelled hotels (Swami, & Sharma 2011). This causes pressure on hotels to adopt environment friendly techniques to maintain

Intro to law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Intro to law - Essay Example platform when two men ran in to catch the train the second man carried luggage and appeared to be falling when the train employees or guards who were standing by moved in to help him by pushing him into the train. In the course of the entry, the luggage of the second man fell down (it had fireworks), so it exploded hitting the tracks (Prosser, 1953). The impact on the tracks initiated the scales on the other end of the train to fall thereby injuring the plaintiff Mrs. Helen Palsgraf. The plaintiff sued the railroad claiming she was injured due to the negligence of the employees of the railroad company. Judgment: the bench by way of majority dismissed the application of the plaintiff and instead arguing that the actions of the accused employee were too indirectly linked to the injury caused to the plaintiff. In principle, there was no way he could have known what the passenger and owner of the luggage had carried. Thus, the case was dismissed with

Critical Perspectives on Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Critical Perspectives on Management - Essay Example This research investigated the Derrida's views on the worth of deconstruction for management students and vital aspects of deconstruction between managerial decision-making of managers and a set of specified contingent situational training factors: decision type, perceived skill requirements, and objective skill inputs (Bowie N. E.,2002). The term deconstruction was coined by French philosopher Jacques Derrida in the 1960s and is used in contemporary humanities and social sciences to denote a philosophy of meaning that deals with the ways that meaning is constructed by writers, texts, and readers and understood by readers (Campbell J., 2002). One way of understanding the term is that it involves discovering, recognizing, and understanding the underlying and unspoken and implicit assumptions, ideas, and frameworks that form the basis for thought and belief. It has various shades of meaning in different areas of study and discussion, and is, by its very nature, difficult to define with out depending on "un-deconstructed" concepts (Ciulla J. B., 2005, 5-28). The results show a significant training for management student and relationship between the choice of decision styles and the postulated contingency variables. Only 1% of 615 senior managers consistently use a single decision style, more than two-thirds use four or five different styles. Very large variations occur as a function of different decision tasks, perceived skill requirements and objective skill availability (Cropanzano R.).According to the expert analysis, Derrida has been called a philosopher, anti-philosopher, fictional theorist, fictional subverter and thinker joker. But his innermost doctrines are clear. For management students, his conceptions are a source of excel once we use language (speech or writing) to submit to actuality, that realism is linguistically formulated and therefore undetermined. Import is not impressive preexisting in the mind that we move violently to articulate. Like the maj or logical schools of management students for talking philosophy from Hume onwards, and different from Saussure, Derrida does not consider words as the appearance of ideas (Bowie N. E.,2002).

Discuss the expression theory of art, using the chapter from Essay

Discuss the expression theory of art, using the chapter from freelandbut is it art - Essay Example Sometimes these theories focus solely upon the creation process of the artwork while other theories focus more upon the receiving process of the audience. Still other theories range around the concepts between these extremes, from the way in which the thoughts, feelings, ideas or other communicated goals are transferred from the artist’s mind to the canvas, musical score or movement, captured within that medium and then transferred to an audience. As is evident from the range of these theories, the role of the individual artist has been explored, as has the role of the audience, but another aspect of the creation of art that has played a significant role in the investigation of what is art is the role of the ideologies and customs inherent in the society in which the artwork is created as well as that which is receiving it, which do not always have similar outlooks. A prime example of this can be found in Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. As it was being painted, depiction s of nudes were completely acceptable and natural but only a few years later they were considered indecent and were given flowing garments to cover the more objectionable parts.2 While it has not been agreed upon which is the most important function of art, most all theorists agree that art does convey meaning either cognitively or expressively. The expressive theory of art contends that art conveys its meaning primarily through an appeal to the senses of its audience, evoking specific emotions and feelings intended either consciously or unconsciously by the artist and capable of conveying even complex ideas such as the existence of God or the power of the mind. As defined by Freeland,3 the ‘expression theory’ as it pertains to art is based on the concept that art is intended to communicate something to the viewer that is focused upon exacting an emotion or feeling. This is accomplished through careful use of line

Role Of Icts For Improving Efficiency And Relevance Of Airlines Essay

Role Of Icts For Improving Efficiency And Relevance Of Airlines Services For Tourists - Essay Example In this direction it has become quite crucial for the organisation to undertake some crucial, new and innovative strategic and tactic moves. In this direction adoption of new and competent Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) has become an important and effective way for the business organisations to enhance their overall capabilities in existing challenging business environment (Konig and Strauss 2000). The importance of ICTs can be sighted in different industries across the world. In this context, international airline industry has also been adopted ICTs quite significantly. The proliferation of Internet as an important channel of communication between business organisation and customers has provided some important and effective measures related with ICTs to international Airlines for enhancing quality of services provided to passengers (Sarmento 2011). In direction to this, the paper aims to ICTs relaed trends prevailing within the International Airlines Industry. The paper also elaborates different new technologies and trends related with information and communication technologies (ICT) that are quite prominently followed within airlines industry. The impact and role ICT related practices and trends in advancing customer expectations is also an important point of discussion made in the paper. On the basis of entire findings, the paper also presents some crucial recommendations for airlines industry for using ICT in the more tactical and strategic way so that efficiency and productivity of the industry can be enhanced. ICTs acceptance within airlines industry Like other business industries, the growth of internet and technological advancement of business environment has also affected trends and practices followed in airlines industry. In order to enhance efficiency of services provided to passengers and providing some intensive an d value added experience to them, airlines companies has adopted ICT as one of the most effective tools. The history of ICT acceptance by different Airlines is quite old. Since 1970s, Airlines companies have been using different variants of ICT for facilitating its customers. The availability of telephone availability within this decade has changed the trend of enquiring about availability, reservation and confirmation (Sarmento 2011). In regard to this, first of all American Airlines introduced SABRE Computer Reservation System (CRS) in the year 1962, for the purpose of providing fast and effective facilities regarding reservations and bookings. Afterwards, the system was started to be used for inventory control function within the organisation. This system allowed the company to schedule its crew effectively, track spare parts requirements, and have effective decision support systems for management (Knowles and Garland 1994). The revolution regarding ICTs in Airline industry can b e spotted from mid 1990s. The development of internet and intranet facilities within the market place has allowed the airline industry to have some effective strategies on technological innovations in their ICTs infrastructure. In this regard, British Airways has spent ?1.1 billion on its ICT infrastructure for the purpose of making its distribution channels more effective and responsive. Increasing competitive pressure has imposed business organisations to have enhanced the level of interaction with customers so that their trust and loyalty can be won (Noakes and Coulter 2002). In this concern, effective communication and information technologies used by the company has been considered as effective gateways. In addition to this,

Critical Perspectives on Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Critical Perspectives on Management - Essay Example This research investigated the Derrida's views on the worth of deconstruction for management students and vital aspects of deconstruction between managerial decision-making of managers and a set of specified contingent situational training factors: decision type, perceived skill requirements, and objective skill inputs (Bowie N. E.,2002). The term deconstruction was coined by French philosopher Jacques Derrida in the 1960s and is used in contemporary humanities and social sciences to denote a philosophy of meaning that deals with the ways that meaning is constructed by writers, texts, and readers and understood by readers (Campbell J., 2002). One way of understanding the term is that it involves discovering, recognizing, and understanding the underlying and unspoken and implicit assumptions, ideas, and frameworks that form the basis for thought and belief. It has various shades of meaning in different areas of study and discussion, and is, by its very nature, difficult to define with out depending on "un-deconstructed" concepts (Ciulla J. B., 2005, 5-28). The results show a significant training for management student and relationship between the choice of decision styles and the postulated contingency variables. Only 1% of 615 senior managers consistently use a single decision style, more than two-thirds use four or five different styles. Very large variations occur as a function of different decision tasks, perceived skill requirements and objective skill availability (Cropanzano R.).According to the expert analysis, Derrida has been called a philosopher, anti-philosopher, fictional theorist, fictional subverter and thinker joker. But his innermost doctrines are clear. For management students, his conceptions are a source of excel once we use language (speech or writing) to submit to actuality, that realism is linguistically formulated and therefore undetermined. Import is not impressive preexisting in the mind that we move violently to articulate. Like the maj or logical schools of management students for talking philosophy from Hume onwards, and different from Saussure, Derrida does not consider words as the appearance of ideas (Bowie N. E.,2002).

Role Of Icts For Improving Efficiency And Relevance Of Airlines Essay

Role Of Icts For Improving Efficiency And Relevance Of Airlines Services For Tourists - Essay Example In this direction it has become quite crucial for the organisation to undertake some crucial, new and innovative strategic and tactic moves. In this direction adoption of new and competent Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) has become an important and effective way for the business organisations to enhance their overall capabilities in existing challenging business environment (Konig and Strauss 2000). The importance of ICTs can be sighted in different industries across the world. In this context, international airline industry has also been adopted ICTs quite significantly. The proliferation of Internet as an important channel of communication between business organisation and customers has provided some important and effective measures related with ICTs to international Airlines for enhancing quality of services provided to passengers (Sarmento 2011). In direction to this, the paper aims to ICTs relaed trends prevailing within the International Airlines Industry. The paper also elaborates different new technologies and trends related with information and communication technologies (ICT) that are quite prominently followed within airlines industry. The impact and role ICT related practices and trends in advancing customer expectations is also an important point of discussion made in the paper. On the basis of entire findings, the paper also presents some crucial recommendations for airlines industry for using ICT in the more tactical and strategic way so that efficiency and productivity of the industry can be enhanced. ICTs acceptance within airlines industry Like other business industries, the growth of internet and technological advancement of business environment has also affected trends and practices followed in airlines industry. In order to enhance efficiency of services provided to passengers and providing some intensive an d value added experience to them, airlines companies has adopted ICT as one of the most effective tools. The history of ICT acceptance by different Airlines is quite old. Since 1970s, Airlines companies have been using different variants of ICT for facilitating its customers. The availability of telephone availability within this decade has changed the trend of enquiring about availability, reservation and confirmation (Sarmento 2011). In regard to this, first of all American Airlines introduced SABRE Computer Reservation System (CRS) in the year 1962, for the purpose of providing fast and effective facilities regarding reservations and bookings. Afterwards, the system was started to be used for inventory control function within the organisation. This system allowed the company to schedule its crew effectively, track spare parts requirements, and have effective decision support systems for management (Knowles and Garland 1994). The revolution regarding ICTs in Airline industry can b e spotted from mid 1990s. The development of internet and intranet facilities within the market place has allowed the airline industry to have some effective strategies on technological innovations in their ICTs infrastructure. In this regard, British Airways has spent ?1.1 billion on its ICT infrastructure for the purpose of making its distribution channels more effective and responsive. Increasing competitive pressure has imposed business organisations to have enhanced the level of interaction with customers so that their trust and loyalty can be won (Noakes and Coulter 2002). In this concern, effective communication and information technologies used by the company has been considered as effective gateways. In addition to this,

The dramatic significance Essay Example for Free

The dramatic significance Essay Although in the previous act we were briefly introduced to the characters, their statuses were made clearer than their personalities which are conveyed in further depth in this scene. Prosperos story told to Miranda gives the audience a grasp of the identities of the people on stage in relation to him and why he may want them on the island in the certain groups, which is imperative if the audience is to understand the motives behind the characters actions both beforehand and presently. This is shown in the conversation between Antonio and Sebastian, as we were made aware of their crudeness and selfishness in the first scene, but it is only now that the relationship between them is conveyed. This is depicted by the continuation of each others jokes, and the similar way in which they view the situation: ADRIAN: The air breathes upon us here most sweetly. SEBASTIAN: As if it had lungs and rotten ones. ANTONIO: Or astwere perfumed by a fen. The motive of Antonios subjugation over his brother is also explained sub-textually. Shakespeare never states specifically, but it is suggested towards the end of this scene when Antonios pure ambition and lack of conscience is expressed. The audience could have believed that he had honest intention beforehand, as maybe he took Prosperos position as he was neglecting his duty, but this scene proves differently. Although him and Sebastian both share the same sardonic cynicism, with Antonio it conceals an underlying cunning and manipulative nature, unseen and unheard of formerly. O, If you but knew how you the purpose cherish Whiles thus you mock it! Sebastian on the other hand, displays a weaker disposition and so Antonio grasps the opportunity to use this to his advantage and use him for his own personal gain, giving an element of suspense to this scene as the act is not completed. It is important that each scene has a certain element of this, as if it seems that nothing is to happen, the audience will loose interest. Antonio has not changed at all from 12 years ago when we were first informed of him, unlike Alonso.

The Positivism And Interpretivism Philosophy Essay

The Positivism And Interpretivism Philosophy Essay The book of Business Research Methods gives me guidance for how to do business studies and how to carry out research project. In the first part of the book tells me the relationship between theory and research, in the detail its a explain of how to combine the theory and research during the business studies process. (Page: 4) 1a. What is meant by epistemological considerations? Epistemological concerns the study of knowledge and what constitutes acceptable knowledge in a field of study? Epistemology is a kind of using the same principles, procedures, and ethos as the natural sciences study to explore the nature of human knowledge, structure, the relationship of recognizing the objective reality, the premise and basis of knowledge. The position that affirms the importance of imitating the natural sciences is invariably associated with an epistemological position known as positivism. (Page: 15) 1b. Explain in concrete terms the differences between the so-called positivism and interpretivism? Positivism: (Page: 15-1.7) Positivism is a kind way of epistemological position that claims to use the natural sciences methods to study and beyond of reality society. In the book, there are some principles of using positivism. Positivisms principles: 1. Only phenomena and hence knowledge confirmed by the senses can genuinely be warranted as knowledge (the principle of phenomenalism). 2. The purpose of theory is to generate hypotheses that can be tested and that will thereby allow explanations of laws to be assessed (the principle of phenomenalism). 3. Knowledge is arrived at through the gathering of facts that provide the basis for laws (the principle of phenomenalism). 4. Science must (and presumably can) be conducted in a way that is value free (that is, objective). 5. There is a clear distinction between scientific statements and normative statements and belief that the former are the true domain of scientist. This last principle is implied by the first because the truth or otherwise of normative statements cannot confirmed by the senses. Interpretivism: (Page: 16) Interpretivism is a term given to a contrasting epistemology to positivism. It is necessary for the research to understand differences between humans in our role as social actors. There are differences between conducting research among people rather than physical objects. To enter the social world of our research subjects, understand their world from their point of view. (Page: 16) Interpretivism arose as scientists felt that human beings were not puppets to react to stimuli in a prescribed manner. They were active and purposeful and can respond to stimuli in different ways depending upon their interpretation. Interpretivists describe human beings as having intent and the power to interpret;they say that human beings have the capability to construct their surroundings rather than being a mere spectators to what is happening around them. These scientists stressed the thinking, intentions and behaviors of human beings more than positivists thereby drawing conclusions that were more realistic and perhaps more valid also. Interpretivists talk about shared consciousness as the brain behind many of the concepts in a society. 2a. What is meant by ontological considerations? Ontological considerations: (Page: 20) Questions of social ontology are concerns with the view on nature of reality, the study of nature of existence. The core question of this part is whether the social entity can and should be considered objective entities which have the truth external to social actors, or whether they can and should be considered social constructions built up from the perceptions and actions of social actors. (Bryman 2004: 16) These positions are frequently referred to respectively as objectivism and constructionism. 2b. Explain in concrete terms the differences between objectivism and constructionism? Objectivism: (Page: 21 1.13) Objectivism is an ontological position that asserts that social phenomena and their meanings have an existence that is independent of social actors. It implies that social phenomena and the categories that we use in everyday discourse have an existence that is independent or separate from actors. Constructionism: (Page: 22 1.14) Constructionism is an ontological position (often also referred to as constructivism) which asserts that social phenomena and their meanings are continually being accomplished by social actors. It implies that social phenomena and categories are not only produced through social interaction but that they are in a constant state of revision. Objectivism and constructivism is diametrically opposite assumptions about reality, mind, thought, meaning and symbolism. The objective belief is that the world is real. The reality is the external awareness. Since it is sees the world as real it assumes that learners have the same understanding of this reality. The reality can be structured model to guide a learner. Constructivist perspective requires learners to create their own reality based on his experiences and views. The constructivist point that not a reality. Because the reality is a product of personal views and experiences are unique individuals many reality can exist. The objectivism think the role of the mind as a processor of abstract symbols thought of as symbols of the builders of the Constructivist perspectives. Objectivism sees the role of the mind as a processor of abstract symbols while constructivism views the mind as a builder of symbols. Relationship of epistemology and ontology to business research (Page: 23) Every science has its own ontology, epistemology and consequently its own methodologies. So when the business research Ontology defines the fundamental categories of reality. Domain ontology as distinct from formal ontology is related to focus of study. Each research field has its own ontology. Epistemology defines how we can know and reason that reality. The methodologies of each of these two scientists have followed as different systems of investigative techniques within their focus of study. They use different scientific methods studying different domains with different epistemology and ontology.

Critical Analysis of A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare :: William Shakespeare Plays Literature Essays

Critical Analysis of A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare William Shakespeare, born in 1594, is one of the greatest writers in literature. He dies in 1616 after completing many sonnets and plays. One of which is "A Midsummer Night’s Dream." They say that this play is the most purely romantic of Shakespeare’s comedies. The themes of the play are dreams and reality, love and magic. This extraordinary play is a play-with-in-a-play, which master writers only write successfully. Shakespeare proves here to be a master writer. Critics find it a task to explain the intricateness of the play, audiences find it very pleasing to read and watch. "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" is a comedy combining elements of love, fairies, magic, and dreams. This play is a comedy about five couples who suffer through love’s strange games and the evil behind the devious tricks. This play begins as Theseus, the Duke, is preparing to marry Hippolyta. He woos her with his sword. Hermia is in love with Lysander. Egeus, Hermiaâ⠂¬â„¢s father, forbids the relationship with Lysander and orders her to marry Demetrius. Demetrius loves Hermia, but she does not love him. On the other hand, Helena is in love with Demetrius. To settle the confusion, Theseus decides that Hermia must marry Demetrius or become a nun. In retaliation to her father’s command, Hermia and Lysander run away together. Amidst all the problems in the human world, Titania and Oberon, the fairy queen and king, continually argue about their various relationships that they have taken part in. (Scott 336) Titania leaves Oberon as a result of the arguments. Oberon is hurt and wants revenge on Titania. So he tells Puck, Oberon’s servant, to put a magic flower juice on her eyelids while she is sleeping. This potion causes the victim to desperately in love with the first creature that they see. Oberon’s plan is carried out, but the potion is also placed on Lysander’s eyes. Lysander awakes to see Helena, who is aimlessly wal king through the woods, and instantly falls in love with her. She thinks that he is making fun of her being in love with Demetrius, so she leaves and Lysander follows. This leaves Hermia to wake up alone. Puck now has journeyed to the area where several actors are rehearsing. He uses his magic to turn one of them into a donkey, in hopes that Titania will awake to see it.

Great Gatsby Essay :: essays research papers

The Great Gatsby Essay   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In The Great Gatsby, there are three illicit relationships: Gatsby and Daisy, Nick and Jordan, and Tom and Myrtle. In some ways they are similar, and in some ways each is unique. In this essay, I will compare and examine each of the couples, and try to give some insight as to why none of the relationships worked out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The relationship between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan was probably the most one sided. The entire time they were apart, all Gatsby did was try to reach his goal, which was Daisy. When you think about somebody but don’t talk to them for a long time, you can build them up to be this perfect person. So when Gatsby and Daisy talked for the first time in years, it was almost like he was talking to a famous movie star. Daisy didn’t feel that way. She used to love him, but not anymore.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Also, if Gatsby and Daisy met under other circumstances, such as each of them having no money and Daisy not being married, their relationship may have worked out. But because of the circumstances, their relationship was doomed to fail.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Of all of the relationships, I think that the most honest was between Nick Carraway and Jordan Baker. This is ironic because it was Jordan’s compulsive dishonesty that ruined the relationship. They weren’t secretly seeing each other behind other people’s backs, they weren’t unfaithful to each other, and they both cared for each other. Nick saw Jordan’s dishonesty as a major flaw in her personality, and he didn’t think she was worth it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Out of all of the relationships, Tom Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson’s was the most the most superficial. Neither had true feelings for the other, they were just there to amuse themselves.

Benefits of Two Years Mandatory Military Service

With the present constant threat to national security and the many advantages that military service imparts to the individual, I take the position that every able-bodied citizen (male and female) should have a two-year military service. The first advantage of military service is that it pushes a man to develop personal discipline. In American society today, many youths were not able to develop any personal discipline (Armstrong, 2006). People who are undisciplined are usually the cause of trouble and more likely to commit many criminal offenses. That is because, people like them do not know how to take care of themselves and their society. They are lazy and just want to hang out in the streets and having nothing else to do, get themselves into drugs or other illegal activities. They are usually the ones who cannot find jobs or were constantly got fired.   In the end, they became a menace to society.   In reality, parents of this youths often cannot make them reform. Requiring this kind of people to enter military service for two years is the best means   for them to develop personal discipline, whether they like it or not. In military, failure to obey commands or follow rules means facing the corresponding military consequences. As I came from a military family (my dad, mom and step mom and three uncles are working in the military), I can attests that people from this service are well-disciplined individuals. Next, military service helps to â€Å"structure† a youth’s life. Most youths after high school will still be confused or unsure of what career to take in life. The underlying cause may be because they do not know themselves very well yet. They still do not know their strengths, weaknesses and what they really want in life. In short, their life still lacks â€Å"structure† from which to build a foundation. Having no compulsory military service to look forward to, these youths may waste their time with unnecessary experimentations, doing drugs or getting into close intimate relationships resulting to unwanted pregnancies (Armstrong, 2006). Mandatory military service will help these youths think of their options in life. In the military camps and training grounds, they will come to know their weaknesses, fears as well as strengths and the skill how to handle them. Free educational opportunities will also help them to get better acquainted with their interest and provide direction to their civilian life later on. Entering military service includes teaching     combat skills and survival methods (Armstrong, 2006).   The individual will come to know how to protect himself or others in danger. When he become a civilian later on, these skills will be helpful to ward off rapist, gang assaults, and other personal emergencies. He will also develop the skills how to be alert, to be able to detect suspicious activities around him. This is especially helpful in stopping or intercepting terrorist activities that is now constantly threatening the country. The military and the police had always wanted the civilian to cooperate and be on the alert regarding terrorism but most often than not the citizens were not of a much help due their ignorance or incapability. The best benefit of military service are the many lessons it will impart to the individual that may take a longer time to be learned   if he is   not in the military. He will get to have the chance to travel to many places and meet many kinds of people. He will learn independence, courage, self-determination, loyalty, responsibility and attention to details. Many men in history, US presidents specifically, made the right decisions because of the lessons they learned in the frontlines. For example, George Washington as a general knew the seriousness of the threat of British invasion, so that as a President in spite of much opposition to his decision he signed an unpopular treaty that prevented the British from ever successfully invading the country. Andrew Jackson was a major general who fought against the mighty British Army, and when he won, it had given him the courage to face other personal and political foes of his life. And lastly ( although there are still others), John F. Kennedy, as a lieutenant had acquired the ability to pay attention to details and how one slight mistake can cause larger problems .This attitude had helped him   make better decision during the Cuban missile crisis( Kliff, 2008). Many feared that to enlist in military service is to make an     early appointment with death. However, it must be understood that many men, young and old, died outside of military service. Their deaths were often due to lack of personal discipline. In fact, whatever disadvantage a man may think about military service, the advantages outweighs the disadvantages. Take for example the lessons he learned in two years in the frontlines. These briefly learned lessons will guide him throughout the many years of civilian life ahead of him. The conscript will become a better mother or father later on.   Aside from that, if military service is mandatory, the military will benefit because they will have many members who will protect the country and the millions of money originally allocated for recruitment will be channeled for training. The country, on the other hand, will benefit because its citizens will be well disciplined, mature, and able to defend themselves (Armstrong, 2006). References: 1.     Kliff, Sarah.(February 2008).   Lessons From the Front Line.   Newsweek. 151(6). 2. Williams, Armstrong. (June 2006).   Mandatory Military Service will Benefit the US. Newsmax. Retrieved February 14, 2008   

Industrial Injuries and Occupational Diseases

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES Essay Industrial injuries and occupational diseases Checked by: Utepov T. Y. Done by: Gilmanov N. E. Alamty 2012 Industrial injuries and occupational disease. An industrial injury covers of two different forms: Accidents at work   and Occupational diseases. An accident is a physical or mental injury following an incident or exposure. The incident or exposure has to be sudden or last no more than 5 days.An accident can be recognized as an industrial injury if the injury occurred due to your work or working conditions. In other words, there has to be causality between your work and the cause of the injury. If you accidentally get injured in the workplace, the injury is not necessarily caused by your work. Example: You get up from a chair and get a prolapsed disc. Occupational disease is a disease that is caused by the work or working condition. The disease may develop due to short- or long-tem exposures. For example your hearing reduced by working several years in noisy environment.In this essay I want to focus on industrial injury and generally occupational disease. Common causes of industrial injuries like poor ergonomics, manual handling of heavy loads, misuse or failure of equipment, exposure to general hazards, inadequate safety training and clothing. They causes may damage human organs like spine, lungs, eyes, skeleton and skin. There are many methods of preventing or reducing industrial injuries, including anticipation of problems by risk assessment, safety training, control banding, personal protective equipment safety guards, mechanisms on machinery, and safety barriers.In addition, past problems can be analyzed to find their root causes by using a technique called root cause analysis. According to definition, an occupational disease is a disease or disorder that is caused by the work or working conditions. This means that the disease mu st have developed due to exposures in the workplace and that the correlation between the exposures and the disease is well known in medical research. Or put in another way, it must not be likely, beyond reasonable doubt that the disease was caused by factors other than work. Examples of occupational diseases: Tennis elbow, Allergy, Hearing loss, Asthma, etc.Also, there are several methods to preventing occupational disease organization must organize safety training, control banding, and provide personal protective equipment safety guards and mechanisms safety barriers. In addition it will be useful if all problems will be analyzed and found cause to solve it. Summing up, occupational diseases are widely known industrial injuries. Workers in every occupation can be faced with hazards in the workplace. Preventing work diseases and accidents must be the goal of occupational health and safety programmers. In order to provide safety and health organizations must possibly limit harm from hazards.

A Game of Thrones Chapter Eleven

â€Å"My fellow magisters have doubled the size of the city guard,† Illyrio told them over platters of honey duck and orange snap peppers one night at the manse that had been Drogo’s. The khal had joined his khalasar, his estate given over to Daenerys and her brother until the wedding. â€Å"Best we get Princess Daenerys wedded quickly before they hand half the wealth of Pentos away to sellswords and bravos,† Ser Jorah Mormont jested. The exile had offered her brother his sword the night Dany had been sold to Kbal Drogo; Viserys had accepted eagerly. Mormont had been their constant companion ever since. Magister Illyrio laughed lightly through his forked beard, but Viserys did not so much as smile. â€Å"He can have her tomorrow, if he likes,† her brother said. He glanced over at Dany, and she lowered her eyes. â€Å"So long as he pays the price.† Illyrio waved a languid hand in the air, rings glittering on his fat fingers. â€Å"I have told you, all is settled. Trust me. The khal has promised you a crown, and you shall have it.† â€Å"Yes, but when?† â€Å"When the khal chooses,† Illyrio said. â€Å"He will have the girl first, and after they are wed he must make his procession across the plains and present her to the dosh khaleen at Vaes Dothrak. After that, perhaps. If the omens favor war.† Viserys seethed with impatience. â€Å"I piss on Dothraki omens. The Usurper sits on my father’s throne. How long must I wait?† Illyrio gave a massive shrug. â€Å"You have waited most of your life, great king. What is another few months, another few years?† Ser Jorah, who had traveled as far east as Vaes Dothrak, nodded in agreement. â€Å"I counsel you to be patient, Your Grace. The Dothraki are true to their word, but they do things in their own time. A lesser man may beg a favor from the khal, but must never presume to berate him.† Viserys bristled. â€Å"Guard your tongue, Mormont, or I’ll have it out. I am no lesser man, I am the rightful Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. The dragon does not beg.† Ser Jorah lowered his eyes respectfully. Illyrio smiled enigmatically and tore a wing from the duck. Honey and grease ran over his fingers and dripped down into his beard as he nibbled at the tender meat. There are no more dragons, Dany thought, staring at her brother, though she did not dare say it aloud. Yet that night she dreamt of one. Viserys was hitting her, hurting her. She was naked, clumsy with fear. She ran from him, but her body seemed thick and ungainly. He struck her again. She stumbled and fell. â€Å"You woke the dragon,† he screamed as he kicked her. â€Å"You woke the dragon, you woke the dragon.† Her thighs were slick with blood. She closed her eyes and whimpered. As if in answer, there was a hideous ripping sound and the crackling of some great fire. When she looked again, Viserys was gone, great columns of flame rose all around, and in the midst of them was the dragon. It turned its great head slowly. When its molten eyes found hers, she woke, shaking and covered with a fine sheen of sweat. She had never been so afraid . . .. . . until the day of her wedding came at last. The ceremony began at dawn and continued until dusk, an endless day of drinking and feasting and fighting. A mighty earthen ramp had been raised amid the grass palaces, and there Dany was seated beside Khal Drogo, above the seething sea of Dothraki. She had never seen so many people in one place, nor people so strange and frightening. The horselords might put on rich fabrics and sweet perfumes when they visited the Free Cities, but out under the open sky they kept the old ways. Men and women alike wore painted leather vests over bare chests and horsehair leggings cinched by bronze medallion belts, and the warriors greased their long braids with fat from the rendering pits. They gorged themselves on horseflesh roasted with honey and peppers, drank themselves blind on fermented mare’s milk and Illyrio’s fine wines, and spat jests at each other across the fires, their voices harsh and alien in Dany’s ears. Viserys was seated just below her, splendid in a new black wool tunic with a scarlet dragon on the chest. Illyrio and Ser Jorah sat beside him. Theirs was a place of high honor, just below the khal’s own bloodriders, but Dany could see the anger in her brother’s lilac eyes. He did not like sitting beneath her, and he fumed when the slaves offered each dish first to the khal and his bride, and served him from the portions they refused. He could do nothing but nurse his resentment, so nurse it he did, his mood growing blacker by the hour at each insult to his person. Dany had never felt so alone as she did seated in the midst of that vast horde. Her brother had told her to smile, and so she smiled until her face ached and the tears came unbidden to her eyes. She did her best to hide them, knowing how angry Viserys would be if he saw her crying, terrified of how Khal Drogo might react. Food was brought to her, steaming joints of meat and thick black sausages and Dothraki blood pies, and later fruits and sweetgrass stews and delicate pastries from the kitchens of Pentos, but she waved it all away. Her stomach was a roil, and she knew she could keep none of it down. There was no one to talk to. Khal Drogo shouted commands and jests down to his bloodriders, and laughed at their replies, but he scarcely glanced at Dany beside him. They had no common language. Dothraki was incomprehensible to her, and the khal knew only a few words of the bastard Valyrian of the Free Cities, and none at all of the Common Tongue of the Seven Kingdoms. She would even have welcomed the conversation of Illyrio and her brother, but they were too far below to hear her. So she sat in her wedding silks, nursing a cup of honeyed wine, afraid to eat, talking silently to herself. I am blood of the dragon, she told herself. I am Daenerys Stormborn, Princess of Dragonstone, of the blood and seed of Aegon the Conqueror. The sun was only a quarter of the way up the sky when she saw her first man die. Drums were beating as some of the women danced for the khal. Drogo watched without expression, but his eyes followed their movements, and from time to time he would toss down a bronze medallion for the women to fight over. The warriors were watching too. One of them finally stepped into the circle, grabbed a dancer by the arm, pushed her down to the ground, and mounted her right there, as a stallion mounts a mare. Illyrio had told her that might happen. â€Å"The Dothraki mate like the animals in their herds. There is no privacy in a khalasar, and they do not understand sin or shame as we do.† Dany looked away from the coupling, frightened when she realized what was happening, but a second warrior stepped forward, and a third, and soon there was no way to avert her eyes. Then two men seized the same woman. She heard a shout, saw a shove, and in the blink of an eye the arakhs were out, long razor-sharp blades, half sword and half scythe. A dance of death began as the warriors circled and slashed, leaping toward each other, whirling the blades around their heads, shrieking insults at each clash. No one made a move to interfere. It ended as quickly as it began. The arakhs shivered together faster than Dany could follow, one man missed a step, the other swung his blade in a flat arc. Steel bit into flesh just above the Dothraki’s waist, and opened him from backbone to belly button, spilling his entrails into the dust. As the loser died, the winner took hold of the nearest woman—not even the one they had been quarreling over—and had her there and then. Slaves carried off the body, and the dancing resumed. Magister Illyrio had warned Dany about this too. â€Å"A Dothraki wedding without at least three deaths is deemed a dull affair,† he had said. Her wedding must have been especially blessed; before the day was over, a dozen men had died. As the hours passed, the terror grew in Dany, until it was all she could do not to scream. She was afraid of the Dothraki, whose ways seemed alien and monstrous, as if they were beasts in human skins and not true men at all. She was afraid of her brother, of what he might do if she failed him. Most of all, she was afraid of what would happen tonight under the stars, when her brother gave her up to the hulking giant who sat drinking beside her with a face as still and cruel as a bronze mask. I am the blood of the dragon, she told herself again. When at last the sun was low in the sky, Khal Drogo clapped his hands together, and the drums and the shouting and feasting came to a sudden halt. Drogo stood and pulled Dany to her feet beside him. It was time for her bride gifts. And after the gifts, she knew, after the sun had gone down, it would be time for the first ride and the consummation of her marriage. Dany tried to put the thought aside, but it would not leave her. She hugged herself to try to keep from shaking. Her brother Viserys gifted her with three handmaids. Dany knew they had cost him nothing; Illyrio no doubt had provided the girls. Irri and Jhiqui were copper-skinned Dothraki with black hair and almond-shaped eyes, Doreah a fair-haired, blue-eyed Lysene girl. â€Å"These are no common servants, sweet sister,† her brother told her as they were brought forward one by one. â€Å"Illyrio and I selected them personally for you. Irri will teach you riding, Jhiqui the Dothraki tongue, and Doreah will instruct you in the womanly arts of love.† He smiled thinly. â€Å"She’s very good, Illyrio and I can both swear to that.† Ser Jorah Mormont apologized for his gift. â€Å"It is a small thing, my princess, but all a poor exile could afford,† he said as he laid a small stack of old books before her. They were histories and songs of the Seven Kingdoms, she saw, written in the Common Tongue. She thanked him with all her heart. Magister Illyrio murmured a command, and four burly slaves hurried forward, bearing between them a great cedar chest bound in bronze. When she opened it, she found piles of the finest velvets and damasks the Free Cities could produce . . . and resting on top, nestled in the soft cloth, three huge eggs. Dany gasped. They were the most beautiful things she had ever seen, each different than the others, patterned in such rich colors that at first she thought they were crusted with jewels, and so large it took both of her hands to hold one. She lifted it delicately, expecting that it would be made of some fine porcelain or delicate enamel, or even blown glass, but it was much heavier than that, as if it were all of solid stone. The surface of the shell was covered with tiny scales, and as she turned the egg between her fingers, they shimmered like polished metal in the light of the setting sun. One egg was a deep green, with burnished bronze flecks that came and went depending on how Dan y turned it. Another was pale cream streaked with gold. The last was black, as black as a midnight sea, yet alive with scarlet ripples and swirls. â€Å"What are they?† she asked, her voice hushed and full of wonder. â€Å"Dragon’s eggs, from the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai,† said Magister Illyrio. â€Å"The eons have turned them to stone, yet still they burn bright with beauty.† â€Å"I shall treasure them always.† Dany had heard tales of such eggs, but she had never seen one, nor thought to see one. It was a truly magnificent gift, though she knew that Illyrio could afford to be lavish. He had collected a fortune in horses and slaves for his part in selling her to Khal Drogo. The khal’s bloodriders offered her the traditional three weapons, and splendid weapons they were. Haggo gave her a great leather whip with a silver handle, Cohollo a magnificent arakh chased in gold, and Qotho a double-curved dragonbone bow taller than she was. Magister Illyrio and Ser Jorah had taught her the traditional refusals for these offerings. â€Å"This is a gift worthy of a great warrior, O blood of my blood, and I am but a woman. Let my lord husband bear these in my stead.† And so Khal Drogo too received his â€Å"bride gifts.† Other gifts she was given in plenty by other Dothraki: slippers and jewels and silver rings for her hair, medallion belts and painted vests and soft furs, sandsilks and jars of scent, needles and feathers and tiny bottles of purple glass, and a gown made from the skin of a thousand mice. â€Å"A handsome gift, Khaleesi,† Magister Illyrio said of the last, after he had told her what it was. â€Å"Most lucky.† The gifts mounted up around her in great piles, more gifts than she could possibly imagine, more gifts than she could want or use. And last of all, Khal Drogo brought forth his own bride gift to her. An expectant hush rippled out from the center of the camp as he left her side, growing until it had swallowed the whole khalasar. When he returned, the dense press of Dothraki gift-givers parted before him, and he led the horse to her. She was a young filly, spirited and splendid. Dany knew just enough about horses to know that this was no ordinary animal. There was something about her that took the breath away. She was grey as the winter sea, with a mane like silver smoke. Hesitantly she reached out and stroked the horse’s neck, ran her fingers through the silver of her mane. Khal Drogo said something in Dothraki and Magister Illyrio translated. â€Å"Silver for the silver of your hair, the khal says.† â€Å"She’s beautiful,† Dany murmured. â€Å"She is the pride of the khalasar, † Illyrio said. â€Å"Custom decrees that the khaleesi must ride a mount worthy of her place by the side of the khal.† Drogo stepped forward and put his hands on her waist. He lifted her up as easily as if she were a child and set her on the thin Dothraki saddle, so much smaller than the ones she was used to. Dany sat there uncertain for a moment. No one had told her about this part. â€Å"What should I do?† she asked Illyrio. It was Ser Jorah Mormont who answered. â€Å"Take the reins and ride. You need not go far.† Nervously Dany gathered the reins in her hands and slid her feet into the short stirrups. She was only a fair rider; she had spent far more time traveling by ship and wagon and palanquin than by horseback. Praying that she would not fall off and disgrace herself, she gave the filly the lightest and most timid touch with her knees. And for the first time in hours, she forgot to be afraid. Or perhaps it was for the first time ever. The silver-grey filly moved with a smooth and silken gait, and the crowd parted for her, every eye upon them. Dany found herself moving faster than she had intended, yet somehow it was exciting rather than terrifying. The horse broke into a trot, and she smiled. Dothraki scrambled to clear a path. The slightest pressure with her legs, the lightest touch on the reins, and the filly responded. She sent it into a gallop, and now the Dothraki were hooting and laughing and shouting at her as they jumped out of her way. As she turned to ride back, a firepit loomed ahead, directly in her path. They were hemmed in on either side, with no room to stop. A daring she had never known filled Daenerys then, and she gave the filly her head. The silver horse leapt the flames as if she had wings. When she pulled up before Magister Illyrio, she said, â€Å"Tell Khal Drogo that he has given me the wind.† The fat Pentoshi stroked his yellow beard as he repeated her words in Dothraki, and Dany saw her new husband smile for the first time. The last sliver of sun vanished behind the high walls of Pentos to the west just then. Dany had lost all track of time. Khal Drogo commanded his bloodriders to bring forth his own horse, a lean red stallion. As the khal was saddling the horse, Viserys slid close to Dany on her silver, dug his fingers into her leg, and said, â€Å"Please him, sweet sister, or I swear, you will see the dragon wake as it has never woken before.† The fear came back to her then, with her brother’s words. She felt like a child once more, only thirteen and all alone, not ready for what was about to happen to her. They rode out together as the stars came out, leaving the khalasar and the grass palaces behind. Khal Drogo spoke no word to her, but drove his stallion at a hard trot through the gathering dusk. The tiny silver bells in his long braid rang softly as he rode. â€Å"I am the blood of the dragon,† she whispered aloud as she followed, trying to keep her courage up. â€Å"I am the blood of the dragon. I am the blood of the dragon.† The dragon was never afraid. Afterward she could not say how far or how long they had ridden, but it was full dark when they stopped at a grassy place beside a small stream. Drogo swung off his horse and lifted her down from hers. She felt as fragile as glass in his hands, her limbs as weak as water. She stood there helpless and trembling in her wedding silks while he secured the horses, and when he turned to look at her, she began to cry. Khal Drogo stared at her tears, his face strangely empty of expression. â€Å"No,† he said. He lifted his hand and rubbed away the tears roughly with a callused thumb. â€Å"You speak the Common Tongue,† Dany said in wonder. â€Å"No,† he said again. Perhaps he had only that word, she thought, but it was one word more than she had known he had, and somehow it made her feel a little better. Drogo touched her hair lightly, sliding the silver-blond strands between his fingers and murmuring softly in Dothraki. Dany did not understand the words, yet there was warmth in the tone, a tenderness she had never expected from this man. He put his finger under her chin and lifted her head, so she was looking up into his eyes. Drogo towered over her as he towered over everyone. Taking her lightly under the arms, he lifted her and seated her on a rounded rock beside the stream. Then he sat on the ground facing her, legs crossed beneath him, their faces finally at a height. â€Å"No,† he said. â€Å"Is that the only word you know?† she asked him. Drogo did not reply. His long heavy braid was coiled in the dirt beside him. He pulled it over his right shoulder and began to remove the bells from his hair, one by one. After a moment Dany leaned forward to help. When they were done, Drogo gestured. She understood. Slowly, carefully, she began to undo his braid. It took a long time. All the while he sat there silently, watching her. When she was done, he shook his head, and his hair spread out behind him like a river of darkness, oiled and gleaming. She had never seen hair so long, so black, so thick. Then it was his turn. He began to undress her. His fingers were deft and strangely tender. He removed her silks one by one, carefully, while Dany sat unmoving, silent, looking at his eyes. When he bared her small breasts, she could not help herself. She averted her eyes and covered herself with her hands. â€Å"No,† Drogo said. He pulled her hands away from her breasts, gently but firmly, then lifted her face again to make her look at him. â€Å"No,† he repeated. â€Å"No,† she echoed back at him. He stood her up then and pulled her close to remove the last of her silks. The night air was chilly on her bare skin. She shivered, and gooseflesh covered her arms and legs. She was afraid of what would come next, but for a while nothing happened. Khal Drogo sat with his legs crossed, looking at her, drinking in her body with his eyes. After a while he began to touch her. Lightly at first, then harder. She could sense the fierce strength in his hands, but he never hurt her. He held her hand in his own and brushed her fingers, one by one. He ran a hand gently down her leg. He stroked her face, tracing the curve of her ears, running a finger gently around her mouth. He put both hands in her hair and combed it with his fingers. He turned her around, massaged her shoulders, slid a knuckle down the path of her spine. It seemed as if hours passed before his hands finally went to her breasts. He stroked the soft skin underneath until it tingled. He circled her nipples with his thumbs, pinched them between thumb and forefinger, then began to pull at her, very lightly at first, then more insistently, until her nipples stiffened and began to ache. He stopped then, and drew her down onto his lap. Dany was flushed and breathless, her heart fluttering in her chest. He cupped her face in his huge hands and looked into his eyes. â€Å"No?† he said, and she knew it was a question. She took his hand and moved it down to the wetness between her thighs. â€Å"Yes,† she whispered as she put his finger inside her. A Game of Thrones Chapter Eleven â€Å"My fellow magisters have doubled the size of the city guard,† Illyrio told them over platters of honey duck and orange snap peppers one night at the manse that had been Drogo’s. The khal had joined his khalasar, his estate given over to Daenerys and her brother until the wedding. â€Å"Best we get Princess Daenerys wedded quickly before they hand half the wealth of Pentos away to sellswords and bravos,† Ser Jorah Mormont jested. The exile had offered her brother his sword the night Dany had been sold to Kbal Drogo; Viserys had accepted eagerly. Mormont had been their constant companion ever since. Magister Illyrio laughed lightly through his forked beard, but Viserys did not so much as smile. â€Å"He can have her tomorrow, if he likes,† her brother said. He glanced over at Dany, and she lowered her eyes. â€Å"So long as he pays the price.† Illyrio waved a languid hand in the air, rings glittering on his fat fingers. â€Å"I have told you, all is settled. Trust me. The khal has promised you a crown, and you shall have it.† â€Å"Yes, but when?† â€Å"When the khal chooses,† Illyrio said. â€Å"He will have the girl first, and after they are wed he must make his procession across the plains and present her to the dosh khaleen at Vaes Dothrak. After that, perhaps. If the omens favor war.† Viserys seethed with impatience. â€Å"I piss on Dothraki omens. The Usurper sits on my father’s throne. How long must I wait?† Illyrio gave a massive shrug. â€Å"You have waited most of your life, great king. What is another few months, another few years?† Ser Jorah, who had traveled as far east as Vaes Dothrak, nodded in agreement. â€Å"I counsel you to be patient, Your Grace. The Dothraki are true to their word, but they do things in their own time. A lesser man may beg a favor from the khal, but must never presume to berate him.† Viserys bristled. â€Å"Guard your tongue, Mormont, or I’ll have it out. I am no lesser man, I am the rightful Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. The dragon does not beg.† Ser Jorah lowered his eyes respectfully. Illyrio smiled enigmatically and tore a wing from the duck. Honey and grease ran over his fingers and dripped down into his beard as he nibbled at the tender meat. There are no more dragons, Dany thought, staring at her brother, though she did not dare say it aloud. Yet that night she dreamt of one. Viserys was hitting her, hurting her. She was naked, clumsy with fear. She ran from him, but her body seemed thick and ungainly. He struck her again. She stumbled and fell. â€Å"You woke the dragon,† he screamed as he kicked her. â€Å"You woke the dragon, you woke the dragon.† Her thighs were slick with blood. She closed her eyes and whimpered. As if in answer, there was a hideous ripping sound and the crackling of some great fire. When she looked again, Viserys was gone, great columns of flame rose all around, and in the midst of them was the dragon. It turned its great head slowly. When its molten eyes found hers, she woke, shaking and covered with a fine sheen of sweat. She had never been so afraid . . .. . . until the day of her wedding came at last. The ceremony began at dawn and continued until dusk, an endless day of drinking and feasting and fighting. A mighty earthen ramp had been raised amid the grass palaces, and there Dany was seated beside Khal Drogo, above the seething sea of Dothraki. She had never seen so many people in one place, nor people so strange and frightening. The horselords might put on rich fabrics and sweet perfumes when they visited the Free Cities, but out under the open sky they kept the old ways. Men and women alike wore painted leather vests over bare chests and horsehair leggings cinched by bronze medallion belts, and the warriors greased their long braids with fat from the rendering pits. They gorged themselves on horseflesh roasted with honey and peppers, drank themselves blind on fermented mare’s milk and Illyrio’s fine wines, and spat jests at each other across the fires, their voices harsh and alien in Dany’s ears. Viserys was seated just below her, splendid in a new black wool tunic with a scarlet dragon on the chest. Illyrio and Ser Jorah sat beside him. Theirs was a place of high honor, just below the khal’s own bloodriders, but Dany could see the anger in her brother’s lilac eyes. He did not like sitting beneath her, and he fumed when the slaves offered each dish first to the khal and his bride, and served him from the portions they refused. He could do nothing but nurse his resentment, so nurse it he did, his mood growing blacker by the hour at each insult to his person. Dany had never felt so alone as she did seated in the midst of that vast horde. Her brother had told her to smile, and so she smiled until her face ached and the tears came unbidden to her eyes. She did her best to hide them, knowing how angry Viserys would be if he saw her crying, terrified of how Khal Drogo might react. Food was brought to her, steaming joints of meat and thick black sausages and Dothraki blood pies, and later fruits and sweetgrass stews and delicate pastries from the kitchens of Pentos, but she waved it all away. Her stomach was a roil, and she knew she could keep none of it down. There was no one to talk to. Khal Drogo shouted commands and jests down to his bloodriders, and laughed at their replies, but he scarcely glanced at Dany beside him. They had no common language. Dothraki was incomprehensible to her, and the khal knew only a few words of the bastard Valyrian of the Free Cities, and none at all of the Common Tongue of the Seven Kingdoms. She would even have welcomed the conversation of Illyrio and her brother, but they were too far below to hear her. So she sat in her wedding silks, nursing a cup of honeyed wine, afraid to eat, talking silently to herself. I am blood of the dragon, she told herself. I am Daenerys Stormborn, Princess of Dragonstone, of the blood and seed of Aegon the Conqueror. The sun was only a quarter of the way up the sky when she saw her first man die. Drums were beating as some of the women danced for the khal. Drogo watched without expression, but his eyes followed their movements, and from time to time he would toss down a bronze medallion for the women to fight over. The warriors were watching too. One of them finally stepped into the circle, grabbed a dancer by the arm, pushed her down to the ground, and mounted her right there, as a stallion mounts a mare. Illyrio had told her that might happen. â€Å"The Dothraki mate like the animals in their herds. There is no privacy in a khalasar, and they do not understand sin or shame as we do.† Dany looked away from the coupling, frightened when she realized what was happening, but a second warrior stepped forward, and a third, and soon there was no way to avert her eyes. Then two men seized the same woman. She heard a shout, saw a shove, and in the blink of an eye the arakhs were out, long razor-sharp blades, half sword and half scythe. A dance of death began as the warriors circled and slashed, leaping toward each other, whirling the blades around their heads, shrieking insults at each clash. No one made a move to interfere. It ended as quickly as it began. The arakhs shivered together faster than Dany could follow, one man missed a step, the other swung his blade in a flat arc. Steel bit into flesh just above the Dothraki’s waist, and opened him from backbone to belly button, spilling his entrails into the dust. As the loser died, the winner took hold of the nearest woman—not even the one they had been quarreling over—and had her there and then. Slaves carried off the body, and the dancing resumed. Magister Illyrio had warned Dany about this too. â€Å"A Dothraki wedding without at least three deaths is deemed a dull affair,† he had said. Her wedding must have been especially blessed; before the day was over, a dozen men had died. As the hours passed, the terror grew in Dany, until it was all she could do not to scream. She was afraid of the Dothraki, whose ways seemed alien and monstrous, as if they were beasts in human skins and not true men at all. She was afraid of her brother, of what he might do if she failed him. Most of all, she was afraid of what would happen tonight under the stars, when her brother gave her up to the hulking giant who sat drinking beside her with a face as still and cruel as a bronze mask. I am the blood of the dragon, she told herself again. When at last the sun was low in the sky, Khal Drogo clapped his hands together, and the drums and the shouting and feasting came to a sudden halt. Drogo stood and pulled Dany to her feet beside him. It was time for her bride gifts. And after the gifts, she knew, after the sun had gone down, it would be time for the first ride and the consummation of her marriage. Dany tried to put the thought aside, but it would not leave her. She hugged herself to try to keep from shaking. Her brother Viserys gifted her with three handmaids. Dany knew they had cost him nothing; Illyrio no doubt had provided the girls. Irri and Jhiqui were copper-skinned Dothraki with black hair and almond-shaped eyes, Doreah a fair-haired, blue-eyed Lysene girl. â€Å"These are no common servants, sweet sister,† her brother told her as they were brought forward one by one. â€Å"Illyrio and I selected them personally for you. Irri will teach you riding, Jhiqui the Dothraki tongue, and Doreah will instruct you in the womanly arts of love.† He smiled thinly. â€Å"She’s very good, Illyrio and I can both swear to that.† Ser Jorah Mormont apologized for his gift. â€Å"It is a small thing, my princess, but all a poor exile could afford,† he said as he laid a small stack of old books before her. They were histories and songs of the Seven Kingdoms, she saw, written in the Common Tongue. She thanked him with all her heart. Magister Illyrio murmured a command, and four burly slaves hurried forward, bearing between them a great cedar chest bound in bronze. When she opened it, she found piles of the finest velvets and damasks the Free Cities could produce . . . and resting on top, nestled in the soft cloth, three huge eggs. Dany gasped. They were the most beautiful things she had ever seen, each different than the others, patterned in such rich colors that at first she thought they were crusted with jewels, and so large it took both of her hands to hold one. She lifted it delicately, expecting that it would be made of some fine porcelain or delicate enamel, or even blown glass, but it was much heavier than that, as if it were all of solid stone. The surface of the shell was covered with tiny scales, and as she turned the egg between her fingers, they shimmered like polished metal in the light of the setting sun. One egg was a deep green, with burnished bronze flecks that came and went depending on how Dan y turned it. Another was pale cream streaked with gold. The last was black, as black as a midnight sea, yet alive with scarlet ripples and swirls. â€Å"What are they?† she asked, her voice hushed and full of wonder. â€Å"Dragon’s eggs, from the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai,† said Magister Illyrio. â€Å"The eons have turned them to stone, yet still they burn bright with beauty.† â€Å"I shall treasure them always.† Dany had heard tales of such eggs, but she had never seen one, nor thought to see one. It was a truly magnificent gift, though she knew that Illyrio could afford to be lavish. He had collected a fortune in horses and slaves for his part in selling her to Khal Drogo. The khal’s bloodriders offered her the traditional three weapons, and splendid weapons they were. Haggo gave her a great leather whip with a silver handle, Cohollo a magnificent arakh chased in gold, and Qotho a double-curved dragonbone bow taller than she was. Magister Illyrio and Ser Jorah had taught her the traditional refusals for these offerings. â€Å"This is a gift worthy of a great warrior, O blood of my blood, and I am but a woman. Let my lord husband bear these in my stead.† And so Khal Drogo too received his â€Å"bride gifts.† Other gifts she was given in plenty by other Dothraki: slippers and jewels and silver rings for her hair, medallion belts and painted vests and soft furs, sandsilks and jars of scent, needles and feathers and tiny bottles of purple glass, and a gown made from the skin of a thousand mice. â€Å"A handsome gift, Khaleesi,† Magister Illyrio said of the last, after he had told her what it was. â€Å"Most lucky.† The gifts mounted up around her in great piles, more gifts than she could possibly imagine, more gifts than she could want or use. And last of all, Khal Drogo brought forth his own bride gift to her. An expectant hush rippled out from the center of the camp as he left her side, growing until it had swallowed the whole khalasar. When he returned, the dense press of Dothraki gift-givers parted before him, and he led the horse to her. She was a young filly, spirited and splendid. Dany knew just enough about horses to know that this was no ordinary animal. There was something about her that took the breath away. She was grey as the winter sea, with a mane like silver smoke. Hesitantly she reached out and stroked the horse’s neck, ran her fingers through the silver of her mane. Khal Drogo said something in Dothraki and Magister Illyrio translated. â€Å"Silver for the silver of your hair, the khal says.† â€Å"She’s beautiful,† Dany murmured. â€Å"She is the pride of the khalasar, † Illyrio said. â€Å"Custom decrees that the khaleesi must ride a mount worthy of her place by the side of the khal.† Drogo stepped forward and put his hands on her waist. He lifted her up as easily as if she were a child and set her on the thin Dothraki saddle, so much smaller than the ones she was used to. Dany sat there uncertain for a moment. No one had told her about this part. â€Å"What should I do?† she asked Illyrio. It was Ser Jorah Mormont who answered. â€Å"Take the reins and ride. You need not go far.† Nervously Dany gathered the reins in her hands and slid her feet into the short stirrups. She was only a fair rider; she had spent far more time traveling by ship and wagon and palanquin than by horseback. Praying that she would not fall off and disgrace herself, she gave the filly the lightest and most timid touch with her knees. And for the first time in hours, she forgot to be afraid. Or perhaps it was for the first time ever. The silver-grey filly moved with a smooth and silken gait, and the crowd parted for her, every eye upon them. Dany found herself moving faster than she had intended, yet somehow it was exciting rather than terrifying. The horse broke into a trot, and she smiled. Dothraki scrambled to clear a path. The slightest pressure with her legs, the lightest touch on the reins, and the filly responded. She sent it into a gallop, and now the Dothraki were hooting and laughing and shouting at her as they jumped out of her way. As she turned to ride back, a firepit loomed ahead, directly in her path. They were hemmed in on either side, with no room to stop. A daring she had never known filled Daenerys then, and she gave the filly her head. The silver horse leapt the flames as if she had wings. When she pulled up before Magister Illyrio, she said, â€Å"Tell Khal Drogo that he has given me the wind.† The fat Pentoshi stroked his yellow beard as he repeated her words in Dothraki, and Dany saw her new husband smile for the first time. The last sliver of sun vanished behind the high walls of Pentos to the west just then. Dany had lost all track of time. Khal Drogo commanded his bloodriders to bring forth his own horse, a lean red stallion. As the khal was saddling the horse, Viserys slid close to Dany on her silver, dug his fingers into her leg, and said, â€Å"Please him, sweet sister, or I swear, you will see the dragon wake as it has never woken before.† The fear came back to her then, with her brother’s words. She felt like a child once more, only thirteen and all alone, not ready for what was about to happen to her. They rode out together as the stars came out, leaving the khalasar and the grass palaces behind. Khal Drogo spoke no word to her, but drove his stallion at a hard trot through the gathering dusk. The tiny silver bells in his long braid rang softly as he rode. â€Å"I am the blood of the dragon,† she whispered aloud as she followed, trying to keep her courage up. â€Å"I am the blood of the dragon. I am the blood of the dragon.† The dragon was never afraid. Afterward she could not say how far or how long they had ridden, but it was full dark when they stopped at a grassy place beside a small stream. Drogo swung off his horse and lifted her down from hers. She felt as fragile as glass in his hands, her limbs as weak as water. She stood there helpless and trembling in her wedding silks while he secured the horses, and when he turned to look at her, she began to cry. Khal Drogo stared at her tears, his face strangely empty of expression. â€Å"No,† he said. He lifted his hand and rubbed away the tears roughly with a callused thumb. â€Å"You speak the Common Tongue,† Dany said in wonder. â€Å"No,† he said again. Perhaps he had only that word, she thought, but it was one word more than she had known he had, and somehow it made her feel a little better. Drogo touched her hair lightly, sliding the silver-blond strands between his fingers and murmuring softly in Dothraki. Dany did not understand the words, yet there was warmth in the tone, a tenderness she had never expected from this man. He put his finger under her chin and lifted her head, so she was looking up into his eyes. Drogo towered over her as he towered over everyone. Taking her lightly under the arms, he lifted her and seated her on a rounded rock beside the stream. Then he sat on the ground facing her, legs crossed beneath him, their faces finally at a height. â€Å"No,† he said. â€Å"Is that the only word you know?† she asked him. Drogo did not reply. His long heavy braid was coiled in the dirt beside him. He pulled it over his right shoulder and began to remove the bells from his hair, one by one. After a moment Dany leaned forward to help. When they were done, Drogo gestured. She understood. Slowly, carefully, she began to undo his braid. It took a long time. All the while he sat there silently, watching her. When she was done, he shook his head, and his hair spread out behind him like a river of darkness, oiled and gleaming. She had never seen hair so long, so black, so thick. Then it was his turn. He began to undress her. His fingers were deft and strangely tender. He removed her silks one by one, carefully, while Dany sat unmoving, silent, looking at his eyes. When he bared her small breasts, she could not help herself. She averted her eyes and covered herself with her hands. â€Å"No,† Drogo said. He pulled her hands away from her breasts, gently but firmly, then lifted her face again to make her look at him. â€Å"No,† he repeated. â€Å"No,† she echoed back at him. He stood her up then and pulled her close to remove the last of her silks. The night air was chilly on her bare skin. She shivered, and gooseflesh covered her arms and legs. She was afraid of what would come next, but for a while nothing happened. Khal Drogo sat with his legs crossed, looking at her, drinking in her body with his eyes. After a while he began to touch her. Lightly at first, then harder. She could sense the fierce strength in his hands, but he never hurt her. He held her hand in his own and brushed her fingers, one by one. He ran a hand gently down her leg. He stroked her face, tracing the curve of her ears, running a finger gently around her mouth. He put both hands in her hair and combed it with his fingers. He turned her around, massaged her shoulders, slid a knuckle down the path of her spine. It seemed as if hours passed before his hands finally went to her breasts. He stroked the soft skin underneath until it tingled. He circled her nipples with his thumbs, pinched them between thumb and forefinger, then began to pull at her, very lightly at first, then more insistently, until her nipples stiffened and began to ache. He stopped then, and drew her down onto his lap. Dany was flushed and breathless, her heart fluttering in her chest. He cupped her face in his huge hands and looked into his eyes. â€Å"No?† he said, and she knew it was a question. She took his hand and moved it down to the wetness between her thighs. â€Å"Yes,† she whispered as she put his finger inside her.