Kafka’s Metamorphosis and Darwinian Theory

Reading Franz Kafka’s â€Å"The Metamorphosis†, one is inclined to think that perhaps the writer had Darwin in mind when he wrote the story. The story centers on the transformation of its protagonist, Gregor Samsa, and his family’s journey of survival through it. At the heart of the story resounds Darwin’s theory of the evolution of the species – that organisms change and evolve in order to survive, that the ultimate game is the survival of the fittest.Gregor’s transformation precipitated two struggles to survive – his own as a giant bug, and his family’s. It could be that Kafka was thinking along the lines of the essential Darwinian concepts – organisms change to cope, and that organisms adapt to the changes in their environment in order to survive. In the story, Gregor wakes up as a giant bug without his knowing or ever finding out the reason for his transformation. He was a traveling salesman, and was the familyâ€℠¢s breadwinner – he takes care of his aging parents and younger sister, pays off his father’s debts on top of addressing the family’s needs like rent and groceries.He was dissatisfied with his work but he is forced to keep at it to support his family. He dreams of eventually finding a better job as soon as he pays off his father’s debts. He devotes much of his time working sacrificing his own needs and desires, having no time to pursue his own interests or to foster any lasting or satisfying relationships. Perhaps his transformation was subconsciously desired – that Gregor wanted more than what his current life offered, and it was his subconscious’ way to show what he felt inside – him, a human being treated like an insect, dehumanized by the demands of work and family life, struggling to keep a bit of humanity he still has left. As in Darwin’s theory, it is not that organisms transformed themselves in an instant, but rather re alized their needs and wants and developed the means to achieve those.Whatever the reasons behind Gregor’s transformation, what is clear is that Gregor and his family both struggled to live after it happened. Gregor, having accepted the fact that his body has changed and that in order to move about he will have to get used to it, worked at moving his limbs to walk and move around. It was difficult to move around with new body, but he managed to learn how to, he needed to. Further, he and his family learned that with his new form, he could no longer eat the food that he used to enjoy, and that his dietary needs have changed. Whereas when he was human he wanted fresh foods, now he finds out that he is repulsed by it and can only eat rotting left-overs.The family, too, struggled with Gregor’s transformation. First, they cannot bear to see him as an insect, and more than that, they were worried about their financial situation. Although in Gregor’s eyes the father wa s but an old man who has not worked for five years and is entitled to a retirement of leisure, and his mother a frail woman who has asthma, and his younger sister a thing of beauty whose life has been so protected and pampered, and perhaps the family saw themselves the same way, but nevertheless, under their present circumstances they found it in them to fend for themselves.The father found work as a bank messenger, the mother sewed lingerie for an apparel shop, and the sister became a salesgirl and studied French and shorthand to find a better paying job in the future. Moreover, they also took in boarders to increase their income. They found that they could survive by themselves when they had to, that they did not really need Gregor – they adapted to the situation in order to live.In the end, Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is a story that chronicles man’s means and ways of survival, as he has done so all throughout history transforming into what he is today. In a wa y, it could be seen as a tribute to the principles that Drawin espoused in his theory of the evolution of species – that organisms, man above all, will adapt just to live, and that only those who are the fittest will survive.

Book Critique Family to Family Essay

Author Information The authors of the book are Jerry Pipes and Victor Lee. Content Summary In the book, Family to Family, Families Making a Difference, the writers detail the major premise of the work within its first few pages: â€Å"Family to Family will help you discover God’s purpose for your family, develop a family mission statement, establish core values, make time for quality and quantity family time centered around God’s purposes, and equip you to lead your children to Christ and mentor them spiritually† (3). The book’s purpose is to maximize family time in the Lord, bringing family members closer together by helping them actualize their standing first in Christ, and then as they relate and interact with each other. The book promotes the idea of discovering â€Å"the critical link between being on mission as a family and passing the baton of your faith on to your children† (3). This line of thought is prevalent in the book and it seems to summarize the mission of the writers. The book views itself as being based and rooted in the solid foundation of the scriptures, and the authors express as much: â€Å"The bottom line–God’s plan for the family has been revealed in His Word†¦ The success of our families will be determined by our commitment to know and live the principles of God’s Word† (3). In the first chapter of the book, the writers make the contention that many families are not healthy and are not spending quality time with one another. The writers reference research gathered from The American Family Association and George Barna. Through the accumulated research, the writers state that, â€Å"only 34 percent of America’s families eat one meal together each day. (In addition) the average father spends only eight to 10 minutes a day with his children. This includes meal times.† (6) Another alarming statistic that they present to their audience is that â€Å"only 12 percent of America’s families pray together, (and) the average couple spends only four minutes of uninterrupted time together a day† (6). After the writers finish sharing some alarming statistics, they proceed to identify what a healthy Christian family should look like. They call for persons to examine their own families and to ask the following questions: Is it a cohesive unit or a disjointed collection of individuals? Is it on mission for God or unsure of its mission? Is it flowing or fumbling? Disciplined or destructive? Purposeful or pointless (7)? From the second chapter onward, the writers seek to allow the book to serve as a guide to nurture an unhealthy family as they move towards an improved level of spiritual health. The writers begin by proposing a family mission statement, stating that, â€Å"A family mission statement will serve as a centerline and guardrails for your family on the road through life† (25). The writers lead us on an extensive exposition on the importance of a familial mission statement and how to initiate one and incorporate one into our families. In chapter two, they present seven realities, which are geared towards accepting and incorporating the fact that God is and can be an ever-present reality within your family. The writers then discuss the importance of teaching and sharing the Gospel with children. They present the fact that 90 percent of all Christians have accepted Jesus before the age of 25, and therefore, place a premium on passing the baton onto the next generation as early as we can (51). The remainder of the book becomes a summary of other evangelical programs and ideas, shared in an effort to encourage the entire family to become an evangelizing force together. They include the models of concentric circles (75) and other familial evangelistic ideas, which are geared towards the family being unified and presenting that unification before others as a witness to their unity in Christ. In the final chapter of the book, the writers detail the importance of Biblical based evangelism for all of those persons involved in the family unit. The writers advocate what they call the FIRM approach to evangelism, which involves: F – ask about family, I – ask about their interests-listen, R – ask about religion-listen, and M – share the message (114-115). Lastly, the writers provide some practical methods for sharing the Gospel, which include some scripture memorization and tips on a salvation-testimony presentation. Evaluation The book seeks to establish a rationale for the disunity of the modern family and then to provide mechanisms to promote unity within the family through the Word, then to evangelize through the family as a united front in Christ. The book is short, efficient and to the point. It allows for easy reading and presents an effective rationale for families being unified first in Christ (with each other), and then presenting that unification as an active, vibrant testimony to others. The writers identify early on that this is a book for families in crisis, and the greatest contributing factor to that difficulty involves time and busyness within the members of the family itself. Due to the simplistic presentation of the material, the writers allow for a potential impact for a wide variety of persons and family units (beyond the traditional ones). The writer’s presentation of unhealthy families and the facts provided which detail children who have fallen away from the church cannot be understated in its level of importance, and serves to provide the reader with a foundation for the rest of the work. The flow of the work involves a clever method employed by the writers that mixes conversational and anecdotal stories with necessary information, which is important to hold the interest of the target audiences. The writers may have perhaps offered a more compelling argument, had they given their target audience a little more background information concerning the statistics they compiled, rather than just highlighting that information in endnotes. The chapter on mission statements feels rushed, and gives the impression that research for the work appears to be somewhat lacking. Case in point: there is no citation offered concerning the comparison of Jonathan Edwards and the Jukes families. This cannot help but offer the audience the false notion that the writers composed the necessary research to develop the notion they are putting forth (24-25). The writers provide another example without properly citing and giving credit to the source on page 26, in the example of the bucket of sand and the big rock and the little rock. This is an illustration which has been used by many in the past, and the writers are not the original source of it. They state, â€Å"Perhaps you have seen the illustration of the big rocks and little rocks† (26). Again, this may be nitpicking; however, I believe that they need to demonstrate responsibility, since the book is a Christian work. The book contains relevant study questions and provides a plethora of workbook-like material. That being said, the work is ideal for small group studies in the church and provides a foundational approach for working with families. Beyond being simple enough for the new convert to understand, the book is filled with practical and insightful applications for all believers to use in their endeavors to spread the Word within their families and to others. The writers have fulfilled their purpose in the book. It is obvious to see, with the statistics presented and the commentary offered, that families are in trouble and the church needs to respond to their needs. The church is comprised (mostly) of families. The enemy is aware that if he destroys the family unit (as presented in scripture), then he goes a long way to placing a major injury on the church. Pipes and Lee are to be commended for their efforts. They wrote Family to Family: Leaving a Lasting Legacy, as a reply to the susceptibility of even supposedly Christian families to the status quo. This status quo, as presented by the writers, involves an adherence to one of the varying levels of dysfunction that many families experience. The outline for families in the scriptures is one man, one woman, and if they are blessed, then children. This work provides an excellent evangelistic modality within which to engage all types of families (single parent, no children, etc). This is due to the fact that, regardless of the construction of the particular family, salvation is needed within and should be displayed cohesively to the world. That being said, one can see that, once a family mission statement is adopted, the potential for manipulation within a family is obvious. Potential problems could arise should one of the parents attempt to use the mission statement to manipulate their children to act and perform in the manner that they desire. Should conflict and divorce arise in the family (which is a startling reality for the church as well as the world), then these paradigms constructed originally to help could instead be used to further divide the entire family. With any risk of developing methodology and then instructing others to incorporate this methodology into their lives, without being able to control all extraneous variables (which only God can), there is the potential danger for some using the writer’s material for abusive purposes. Yet in taking this risk, the writers succeed. This is largely due to the fact that they speak the truth of the scriptures in love, and are to be applauded for developing and exhorting others to incorporate these methods into their lives to improve their families and evangelize the lost. There is something pure and right about someone trying to assist others whom are in desperate struggles in this life. The writers have presented a unique and challenging way for the church to implement and instruct families which are in desperate need of such tutoring. A most wonderful encapsulating quote is found on page 114, which states, â€Å"The bottom line is sharing the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. This is what this book is all about: raising your family to follow Christ. Following Christ means sharing the gospel with those who do not know Him. Jesus said, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’ (Matt.4:19). If you are not fishing, you are not following. You and your family are on mission to be fishers of men† (114). This is a rousing call to families and the Body of believers. Those who endeavor to heed the call must realize the writer’s purposes in desiring to show them a way to raise their families to serve and follow Jesus. BIBLIOGRAPHY Pipes, Jerry and Victor Lee. Family to Family, Families Making a Difference. Lawrenceville, GA: Jerry Pipes Productions, 1999.

A Little Cloud typical of Joyces maturity stories Essay Example for Free

‘A Little Cloud’ typical of Joyce’s ‘maturity’ stories Essay ? Refer to themes, language and setting. ‘A Little Cloud’ is the first of the ‘maturity’ stories in Dubliners, preceded by ‘Counterparts’, ‘Clay’ and ‘A Painful Case’. The story is archetypal of Joyce’s style and embraces all the key themes of, class, materialism, escapism and above all the paralysis and struggle of Ireland. The opinion that Ireland is a country lowly in comparison to the rest of Europe is enforced at the beginning of the story when Little Chandler says â€Å"it was something to have a friend like [Gallaher]† because he â€Å"worked for the London press. † The emphasis here is on â€Å"the great city of London† and Little Chandler has immeasurable respect for Gallaher as he has escaped the paralysis of Ireland in favour of this thriving city. The environment Chandler lives in is lacklustre and uninspiring, his writing â€Å"tiresome† the nurses he sees are â€Å"untidy† and the old men dozing on benches are â€Å"decrepit†. When Little Chandler thinks of his situation in Dublin â€Å"a gentle melancholy [takes] possession of him† which he feels â€Å"[is] useless to struggle against†. In ‘A Painful Case’ a number of adjectives are used to convey the environment, such as â€Å"disused†, â€Å"sombre† and â€Å"shallow†. Joyce has subtly emphasised the burden of being a Dubliner and in particular the feeling of restriction which the characters are unwilling to challenge and from which they feel escape would be futile. There are recurring references to the colour brown (not just in the maturity stories) and Maria in ‘Clay’ wears a brown raincoat, thus inadvertently resigning herself to the drab and motionless life of Dublin. Joyce contrasts two worlds in the story; the domestic, insular and paralysed Dublin with the fast-moving, energetic, cosmopolitan London and Europe. Little Chandler desires to belong to the wider, modern world and begins to despise his life with his family in Dublin. By juxtaposing Little Chandler with the successful, exuberant Gallaher, Joyce sets up an antithesis between the two worlds which they represent. The Act of Union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1800 abolished Ireland’s political centre, resulting in Dublin being a city in limbo, without a clear purpose and with a confused identity. This is evident throughout Dubliners, with inhabitants such as Little Chandler and Farrington all feeling trapped by the narrowness of Dublin life. There is a pervasive feeling that to be glamorous, like Ignatius Gallaher, one has to leave Ireland. Little Chandler believes London to be the key to his dreams and that â€Å"if you wanted to succeed you had to go away. You could do nothing in Dublin.† The attitude of Little Chandler to social class is indicated throughout. He encounters children in the slums of North Dublin as he passes on his way to meet his glamorous friend, Gallaher. The children are described as â€Å"a horde†, â€Å"grimy† and populating the street and depicted as vermin who â€Å"crawled† and â€Å"squatted like mice†. Little Chandler, like Duffy in ‘A Painful Case’ feels himself to be â€Å"superior to the people whom he passed†, above the parochial, narrow interests of Dublin. He aspires to be a poet, loved by the more affluent English people. Chandler is shallow and materialistic, obsessed with appearance and class, excited about going to Corless’s because â€Å"he knew the value of the name† and the â€Å"richly dressed ladies† caught his eye. Gallaher says if he ever married, his wife must have â€Å"a good fat account at the bank† otherwise â€Å"she won’t do for me†. If he marries he intends â€Å"to play [his] cards properly† and secure one of the â€Å"thousand of rich Germans and Jews†. He dismisses the sacrament of marriage as just ‘business’ that could go ‘stale’, emphasising the immorality of London. The maturity stories all contain the presence of resentment in the main characters at the inevitable situation they have resigned themselves to living in. Joyce conveys Little Chandler’s anger with a number of adjectives such as â€Å"trembled†, â€Å"burst†, â€Å"convulsively† and â€Å"a paroxysm of sobbing†. His cheeks later â€Å"suffuse† with shame which gives way to â€Å"tears of remorse† at his failure not only to fulfil his dreams but for the resentment he feels towards his family for thwarting his freedom. In ‘Counterparts’ there is an established mood of anger with a â€Å"bell rung†, â€Å"a heavy step† and Farrington’s â€Å"spasms of rage†. Joyce uses the symbol of the ‘little cloud’ as an image of entrapment, not just hope; the little cloud of unhappiness hovering over his marriage to Annie, which restricts him from being the fun-loving bachelor like his idol Gallaher. Joyce incorporates the fantasy and captivation of exoticism and wealth in the ‘dark Oriental eyes’ of the Rich Jewesses. Similar to fantasies of the East Joyce uses alcoholism as a method of ‘escape’ from the stifling lives of the Dubliners and this is particularly prominent in ‘A Little Cloud’. Gallaher states that he â€Å"drinks [his whisky] neat† and that Little Chandler, who drinks very little â€Å"doesn’t know what’s good for [him]†. Sobriety is here seen as the reason why Chandler’s life is so ‘inartistic’ and dreary in comparison to Gallaher’s. Ireland is belittled and viewed as an engaging absurdity by the English when Gallaher says â€Å"they’ve got a great feeling for Ireland† and the English â€Å"were ready to eat [him]† because he was Irish. Little Chandler â€Å"wishes his name was more Irish-looking† so as to endear the British with his book he dreams about publishing in London. This is ironic as Little Chandler’s wishes to flee the restraints of Ireland yet feels dependant on his heritage. The story is highly symbolic of Ireland’s historical state; how the rest of Europe refuses to treat Ireland with respect symbolising Gallaher continually refusing Little Chandler’s invitations to come for supper and to meet his family. Gallaher’s visit gives rise to an epiphany within Little Chandler, a feature Joyce includes in each of his stories, an anti climax when a character realises his escape to be defective. In the ‘maturity’ series it is through the characters own personality flaw they render themselves incapable of escaping the life they constantly bemoan. In ‘A Little Cloud’ Gallaher’s visit evokes â€Å"a dull resentment† within Little Chandler; he was â€Å"useless, useless! A prisoner for life† and he feels acutely the injustice of his life is next to Gallaher’s. Little Chandler believes the only way of escape is if he publishes a book in London, but he cannot complete this because â€Å"the wailing of the child† permanently permeates his ear. Little Chandler projects the resentment he feels at his lack of achievement in comparison to Gallaher, onto his wife and he is â€Å"repelled† by her passionless eyes and fantasises of the â€Å"dark Oriental eyes† of the Jewesses which Gallaher mentioned earlier in Corless’s. Little Chandler begins to feel â€Å"a little disillusioned† and â€Å"Gallaher’s accent did not please him†. London, which Gallaher hitherto represents, is now seen as â€Å"gaudy† and â€Å"vulgar† imprinting itself upon his original â€Å"old personal charm† and his â€Å"vagrant and triumphant life† upsets the â€Å"equipoise of [Chandler’s] sensitive nature†. Little Chandler believes that Gallahers alleged friendliness to him is in fact patronisation just as â€Å"he was patronising Ireland by his visit†. He has been too consumed with his own anger and resentment at his own entrapment and the failure of his own dreams, to see through Gallahers version of an exotic, successful life. In ‘A Painful Case’ Duffy becomes disillusioned with escaping, when â€Å"Mrs Sinico caught up his hand passionately† and similarly Little Chandler begins to wildly question â€Å"Could [I] go to London?†, â€Å"[is] it too late?† But Duffy bids his only distraction from the paralysis of Dublin Mrs Sinico, goodbye and is blatantly scared of commitment. The reunion with a conceited Gallaher reminds Little Chandler of what he hasn’t achieved and he feels resentment which he thus inflicts on those around him. ‘A Little Cloud’ is an evident example of Joyce’s maturity stories in keeping with the aspect that binds them together, the characters’ comprehension that all endeavours to escape are fruitless. Little Chandler and Duffy lacked conviction and ignored the opportunity that was once given to them for escape, something they blame everyone but themselves for. The characters Joyce writes of do not appreciate what they have, mourning instead for what they do not. The Dubliners are, like the city, reluctant to change and yet are embittered by the injustice of their paralysed lives. Duffy does not appreciate until the death of Mrs Sinico, that he will never have a chance of marriage, or to love, through which he could have forgotten the monotony of the city he cannot escape. Congruously, Little Chandler dismisses his family throughout ‘A Little Cloud’ and when his personal epiphany dawns on him he realises his failure to his family, â€Å"his cheeks suffuse with shame† and he cries with â€Å"tears of remorse† as much out of guilt at the egocentric way he has behaved, as for his hopeless venture of escape. ‘A Little Cloud’ typical of Joyce’s ‘maturity’ stories. (2017, Aug 28).

Accomplishment of the Eeffectiveness of the World Essay

Accomplishment of the Eeffectiveness of the World - Essay Example My first accomplishment in Motorola was in transplanting the team cooperative culture into two enemy-like teams' DNA. It was a challenging interaction for me as the newly appointed leader of ## department, which is the "joint point" of R&D and marketing. In the cross-departmental meeting at Motorola, R&D and marketing were sharply divided on whether to add a feature application into a new product. R&D refused to incorporate this fearing that technology was still immature, while marketing insisted on an immediate launch of the feature to enlarge market shares and gain clients. In order to draw a resolution, I identified the sharp conflicts existing in two internal cultures-the traditional technology-driven culture and the newly market-driven one. To tackle this challenge was an opportunity to rebuild a collaborative culture, which will serve for the long-range strategy of Motorola. Thus, I launched a two-pronged approach which involved closer collaboration and effective interaction. I started out by conducting brainstorming sessions which allowed the interaction of these functional areas and identify strategy strengths and weaknesses. A better and deeper understanding of each other aroused them to learn from one another and embrace mutual trust building a productive partnership. This experience tested and enriched my leadership influence in exercising the political, interpersonal, and process skills to facilitate a successful outcome to the group's work. The public sector and the private sector often pursue to operate independently from each other. However, this independence hinders each sector to reap the benefits from using strategies and know-how which will enable them to function more efficiently. Thus, my second accomplishment is in transplanting the business concept into the governmental officers' DNA. At the beginning of 2008, Pingyao badly needed to reform its tourism industry which commenced with the Ancestral Hall Tour Company. As the leader of this project, I had an immediate inspiration from the venture capital practice in the business world in order to generate financial resources. However, this has been met with disagreements from conservative public officials. Noting that my problem in not changing the system but changing my leadership style to suit the situation, I began to present the successful cases of Italy in protecting cultural heritage which eventually opened their eyes. The project has been successful and thes e initial accomplishments greatly worked up government officers' immense enthusiasm on integrating business skills into public administration. With this experience, I realized that change leadership goes beyond leading a team, but rewriting the DNA of the team. Lastly, I believe that my humble interaction with a poor woman enabled me to transplant hope into the her DNA. Having been touched by the story of her son who died because of poverty, I was stirred to give her a chance to improve her living condition by finding her a job which made her self-sufficient. Currently, this woman is recognized by the homeowner's association and is also passing on to others the love and hope that I have passed on to her.

Issue In Financial Reporting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Issue In Financial Reporting - Essay Example In accordance to the general purpose of financial reporting, financial reports are used to provide the users with information about the reporting entity. The report that will be submitted by the Management Committee of RVCC will serve as a tool for the users for their evaluation since they are supported, given grants, and funded by some other entities (like that of Commonwealth Government and Queensland State Government). The financial reports well serve also transparencies for everybody to inform where all the money goes. If RVCCC will be able to submit the financial reports to their users, it will give the users ideas if the funds allocation or resources allocation they gave are efficient. In other words, this will gain the trust as well for RVCCC from their supporters and funding entity (Review of Business, 2005). The reports will also monitor the cash flows and will also serve as bases to their expenses. It is also well stated in the Definition of Reporting Entity (2001), that all they are entities like them are required to submit financial reports especially to public sectors that helps them, like that of the commonwealth Government and Queensland State Government. ... 2: For each of the following independent cases, discuss whether you believe the items mentioned would meet the definition and recognition criteria for the various elements as mentioned in the 'Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements (ie the AASB Framework). (Ensure that you provide reasons to support your answers in each case and state clearly any assumptions you have made in preparing your answers.): (a) Tate Retailers Ltd operates a chain of retail stores that specialize in the sale of rugby league products. Due to an economy-wide downturn, the company has decided to reduce staffing levels by offering voluntary redundancy packages to 200 of its employees. After agreement was reached with the unions, letters were sent to all employees shortly before the end of the reporting period inviting applications for the package. A response was required within 30 days, which was after the end of the reporting period. The company's board of directors estimates that the redundancies will cost the company $2 million. The financial controller of the company, Bob Johnson, is considering whether to record a provision for redundancies to account for the future redundancy payments to staff. Would this account satisfy the liability definition criteria in the AASB Framework Would this transaction meet the recognition criteria for liabilities according to the AASB Framework (Normally you would not con sider the recognition criteria if the definition for liabilities was not met. However, for the purposes of this assignment you should address the recognition criteria regardless of whether or not you determine that the definition criteria have been satisfied.) - This account shall satisfy the liability definition criteria in the ASBB Framework. Their employees

Jet Star Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Jet Star - Essay Example The research shows that the core product offered by Jetstar, is low cost fares without compromising on quality. This has been successful so far, largely due to an operational model which consists of a network of point to point services. Via a SWOT analysis, it was found that the strengths of the company centre on its product range, affiliation with Qantas and expansion through joint ventures. Weaknesses centre on negative customer reviews, reputation issues and poor employee relations. It was found that the threats to the company primarily surround its competitors; Tiger Airways and Virgin Australia, as they offer a similar product. The opportunities available to Jetstar currently centre on market opportunities and growth, potential Asian customers and an increasing consumer reliance on the internet. It is recommended that in order for continued market success, the company focus on service and reliability at a low price, in order to increase their customer base and differentiate themselves from competitors. It is also recommended that the company expand further within Asia and develop and a loyalty program. This report finds that Jetsar Airlines currently enjoy a lucrative position within its domestic market, with strong potential to enjoy success internationally. The product offered by the company, that of low-cost fares without compromising on quality has so far been received well by the consumer. This has also been supplemented by a range of other products. Using Jetstar.com as the single distribution channel for the company has also been successful, due to the ever increasing numbers of consumers which are using the internet. As the external analysis highlights, the competitor situation for Jetstar primarily focuses on Tiger Airways and Virgin Australia, as both airlines offer a similar low-cost product. However, the macro-environmental situation for the company appears extremely positive due to its healthy domestic

You can choose the best topic for this assignment Essay

You can choose the best topic for this assignment - Essay Example er day, Cole serves to rule out many ambiguities and makes the public familiar with how the Holocaust can be called an expression of a wartime propaganda and how none of the facilities examined at Auschwitz supported any genocide or execution of millions of Jews using any lethal gas. The wild facts exposed by Cole’s interview instantly set a fire of antagonism, debate, and deliberation among historians and critics around the globe. Cole’s narration can be found based on sound and credible approach considering the fact that promoting the camps built up by Germans as being capable of massacring such an astounding number of people is empty mockery. Through this interview, Cole manages in ruling out the possibility that any cruel act like the Holocaust actually happened because many years would have been required to execute as many as six million Jews considering that Dr. Piper stressed on limited gassings per day and multiple gassings per day at a very fast pace would have been required for such a large scale massacre. In Cole’s own words, â€Å"the concept of limited gassing makes ridiculous the idea of German intent to wipe out the entire Jewish population† (Cole and

Item Analysis and Marks Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Item Analysis and Marks - Assignment Example The two item analysis procedures are beneficial to learning and assessment because they help improve the quality of an exam by identifying items that prepare candidates for retention, revision or removal. Item analysis identifies both good and deficient items and clarifies concepts that the examinees have not mastered (Kubiszyn & Borich, 2010). The risks that come if these items are not administered are that the wrong impression will be got of the student that is not true. Students may fail because there were errors that gave rise to multiple interpretations and not that they did not know. An example of imperfect test may be for example: who was the President of America between 2000 and 2008? A second one may be: Assess the importance of not examining students after end of the course. It is important for the teacher to use both qualitative item analysis and quantitative item analysis because they help to fine tune a test and build reliability and credibility into a test. When we look at qualitative analysis we find that it is subjective as opposed to quantitative analysis and therefore a combination is important to eliminate errors and build credibility into the test (J., 2009). The authors say that marks reflect only academic achievement and not other factors like attitude and effort because of many reasons. One is that factors like attitudes and effort cannot be graded in terms of marks and therefore it would be difficult to rate a student at the end of the learning period. Secondly students come to school to gain knowledge in a specific field and they are subjected to a syllabus and content that thy must cover in order to show their understanding of various aspects of the course. Their understanding of the knowledge covered in the syllabus can only be done by giving them a test to using marks to gauge their achievement (Kubiszyn & Borich, 2010). Unfortunately attitudes and efforts do not compose the content of the syllabus

Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics in Barclays Bank Dissertation

Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics in Barclays Bank - Dissertation Example The three concepts were discussed in relation to the roles they play in the strategic management of businesses, indicating that while they are generally viewed as peripheral issues to the maximisation of profits – the generally conceded principal aim of going into business – these concerns are actually central to the generation of revenues that lead to higher profits. CSR and stakeholder satisfaction, in particular regarding employees and customers, appeal to the market and therefore contribute significantly to the strategic and, ultimately, the financial success of the business. 24 List of Tables Table 1: Values and behaviours at Barclays Bank 33 Table 2: Performance of Barclays vs. Industry Leaders 34 Table 3: Frequency distribution of respondents according to age 38 Table 4: Frequency distribution of respondents according to gender 39 Table 5: Frequency distribution of respondents according to educational attainment 39 Table 6: Frequency distribution of respondents a ccording to length of association with Barclays Bank 40 Table 7: Customer satisfaction ratings 42 Table 8: Employee satisfaction ratings 45 Table 9: Respondents' perception of Barclays’ CSR for employees 47 Table 10: Respondents' perception of Barclays’ CSR for customers 49 Table 11: Respondents' perception of Barclays’ CSR for society 49 Table 12: Respondents’ perception of Barclays’ CSR for Government 50 Table 13: Respondents' perception on Barclays’ CSR for competitors 52 Table 14: Respondents' perception of Barclays’ CSR for the environment 53 Table 15: Respondents' perception of Barclays’ CSR for sustainability 54 Table 16: Respondents' perception of Barclays’ CSR for civil society 57 Table 17: Summary of mean scores for CSR perception 58 Table 18:Table of Pearson correlation coefficients between CSR & EMPSAT/CUSTSAT 60 Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Chapter overview The introductory chapter of this dissertation sets t he context within which the research problem is to be viewed. Specifying the context of the study delimits the perspective that an issue may be viewed, and sets the focal point and the boundaries for the study. The background of the research problem shall be discussed, leading to a statement of the purpose and objectives of the study. From the objectives, the research questions are articulated, in order to lead to findings that would eventually support the conclusion. Any assumptions made by the study are included, as well as the definitions of specific words and phrases relevant to their use in the dissertation. The significance of the study and its relevance to the industry and the broader social environment is thereafter discussed. 1.2 Background of the research problem The banking industry is a pillar of the nation’s economy and a vital determinant of the health and viability of business activity. Banks perform four critical functions: (1) their intermediation function, w here the banks intermediate between economic units with excess and deficient financial resources; (2) they adapt and modify terms and risks to the market

Osama bin Laden Essay Example for Free

Osama bin Laden Essay The world is now at a turning point in its history and the reason for this is the man behind the Al-Qaeda terrorist network. Osama Bin Laden’s connections and wealth have made it possible for him to elude U. S. authorities. He has no problem recruiting men, for many Muslims in the Middle East have a hatred of America. Bin Laden has been able to organize an extremist group and they have been strike fear into the free, democratic world. Osama Bin Laden is a man in position of power and he has used it to Reign terror on the United States. In this regard, the paper will try to discuss and analyze different aspects of Osama bin Laden’s life, which is one of the foremost most wanted lives of this planet. On March 10, 1957, Osama bin Muhammad bin Awad bin Laden was born in an Arab Muslim family in Saudi Arabia. Jihadist organization, Al-Qaeda was founded by this Islamic militant, which is considered one of the deadliest terrorist networks on this planet. Prince, Abu Abdullah, the Lion Sheikh, Imam Mehdi, and Samaritan are some of the nicknames of Osama bin Laden. A number of Islamic militant groups have been connected with the life of Osama bin Laden, who is involved in the issuance of different fatwa (religious strict opinions), which have resulted in the killing of thousands of civilians, and especially, the military of the United States and its allies. In addition, Osama bin Laden has assured military resistance in response to the military activities in Muslim countries. A number of times, the federal court of the United States have indicted his involvement in different terrorist attacks, especially the embassy bombings in the cities of Dar-es-Salam and Nairobi in the year 1998, which killed many civilians and officials. Moreover, list of the ten most wanted fugitives issued by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation has the name of Osama bin Laden on top of the list. Although the attacks of September 11, 2001 have not been included with the accusations on Osama bin Laden, various videos are issued by Laden himself in which, he accepted the responsibility of these attacks in a victorious manner. The attacks of September 11 included a series of different criminal activities, such as hijacking of different airlines like Flight 93, Flight 175, Flight 11, and Flight 77 of the American Airlines, as well as, destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City, which killed thousands of American people. Furthermore, the Pentagon was severely damaged in the similar series of attacks that were planned by the Al-Qaeda, and so, by its mastermind, Osama bin Laden. Childhood Until now, the paper has described some of the characteristics of Osama bin Laden in an introductory manner. Now, the paper will discuss some of the perspectives of personal life of Osama bin Laden. Riyadh city of Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Osama bin Laden, as already described in the introductory section of the paper. According to a television interview of Al-Jazeera in the year 1998, March 10, 1957 was the given birth date of this militant leader. Saudi royal family has close ties with wealthy father cum businessperson of Osama bin Laden, the late Muhammad Awad bin Laden. Until the World War I, Osama’s father was a poor and uneducated individual who immigrated to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of employment. In the year 1930, Muhammad bin Laden started his building related business that resulted in an unlimited fortune during the 1950s. Different experts have provided different number of children of Muhammad bin Laden, as he had fifty children by some resources, and fifty-five by others. Osama was seventeenth son of Muhammad bin Laden according to a number of accounts. Shariah law was followed by Osama’s father, as he was only married to four women at a single time; however, was married twenty-two times. Different sources reported of Osama being the only son of tenth wife of Muhammad bin Laden. According to one of the senior editors of Al-Madina newspaper, Khaled M. Batarfi, Osama’s parents got divorced after his birth in Saudi Arabia. Education Teachings of a devout Sunni Muslim were given to Osama bin Laden. Al-Thager Model School was his first platform for acquiring secular education from the year 1968 to the year 1976, which was considered one of the elite schools of the region. In the 1960s, exiled teachers from different Muslim countries were welcomed by King Faisal, in order to attain a considerable number of Muslim teachers in the schools and universities of Saudi Arabia. During that period, various Islamic study groups were attended by Osama bin Laden that provided different political teachings to him. The Management and Economics School of King Abdul-Aziz University provided the education of economics and business administration to Osama bin Laden in Jeddah city. It is suggested by some reports that degree in civil engineering was attained by bin Laden in the year 1979, as well as, a degree in public administration in the year 1981. On the other hand, he is reported as a dropout student from the university by some other reports. A number of journalists reported that interpretation of Quran and Jihad was one of the most interesting subjects of bin Laden at the university level, where he was greatly involved in the study of religion. Furthermore, he contributed a lot in various charitable campaigns. Marriages and Children In the year 1974, Osama bin Laden married his first cousin, Najwa Ghanem for the first time at the age of seventeen in northwestern part of Syria. Four other women married Osama bin Laden; however, two got divorces from bin Laden. One of his wives is a university lecturer in Saudi Arabia. Her wife is also involved in providing teachings to the children of Sudanese Royal family. All the other wives were also lecturers at the university level, and therefore, he was the person that accepted education of Muslim girls, which is a matter of criticizing bin Laden by different bodies. According to his close friends, the Word of God was the only reason for his marriage, as he was not interested in marriage at all. According to different sources, Osama bin Laden is father of approximately twenty to twenty-four children. In January 2001, Osama arranged the marriage ceremony of one of his sons, Muhammad bin Osama bin Laden with the daughter of Muhammad Atef, former military chief of Al-Qaeda at the age of eighteen in the Kandahar city of Afghanistan. Personality No matter most of the nations criticized Osama bin Laden’s policies, it should be accepted that honesty is one of the major characteristics of bin Laden in terms of his beliefs. Honesty has been one of the major factors of successful accomplishments of bin Laden even after criticism and opposition of some of the major nations of the globe. According to his closest men, he is one of the most loyal individuals in his region, which has provided him high reputation amongst his members. Osama has some principles, which has provided a mechanical platform for his charismatic and ascetic life. It is suggested by some commentators that he now has an influential position in different parts of the world, which has revolutionize from his humble appearance until the 1990s. Until the 1990s, he used to wear simple clothing while addressing his followers. However, his later videos and interviews show a more decorated clothing style during his addresses that showed his significant personality. After the responses of United States and its allies, he is taking more precautions in terms of his safety, as compared with the circumstances before the 9/11 attacks. Assets Originally, Osama bin Laden has inherited most of the properties from his father; however, his investments provided high profits to him successfully. In Sudan, his businesses were very successful that generated profits of millions of dollars. Due to his terrorist profile, figures of his properties and assets are not good enough, and organizations have only guessed different figures. Approximately, three hundred million dollars of assets are guessed by different bodies. Osama bin Laden owns a number of companies, such as Hijra Construction and Development, which is owned in the coordination with military of Sudan, as well as, the National Islamic Front. Taba Investment Company and Shamal Islamic Bank are considered some of the major economic activities of Osama bin Laden that have contributed greatly to his assets. Some of the countries having his companies are Sudan, Syria, etc; whereas, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Somalia have his foreign accounts that are utilized for the distribution of required financial resources for different terrorist activities around the globe. Shariah Restoration of Shariah law is one of the most important objectives of Osama bin Laden like various other Islamists and Jihadist fundamentalists around the globe. Shariah law is considered the major factor of setting things right in various Muslim countries of the world. The circumstances were very dignified and happy during the revelation period of Prophet Muhammad, and even after some years of His death. However, the situation became worse when the Shariah law was not followed by Muslims. Until the late 2001, Afghanistan was the only Islamic country with the implementation of Shariah law in the Muslim world, as believed by Osama bin Laden. In this regard, most of his terrorist activities are based on the opposition of countries that have not implemented the Shariah law. Jihad Sometimes, public statements of Osama bin Laden have shown a proper planned system for the implementation of his ideologies and beliefs, and a number of experts considered it as a political system. In the month of January 2004, Muslim countries were requested to establish underground ruling councils for the religious Islamic leaders for the welfare of people and nobles in the Muslim countries. Moreover, easy access to light weapons, ant anti-tank mines was also preferred, in order to defend raids from the Western countries according to the Al-Qaeda leader. Need of jihad for the defending of rights of Muslims in different countries is always one of the foremost matters of discussion in most of the video messages and letters of Osama bin Laden. The United States has always been warned for its injustices against Muslims in the Muslim, as well as, non-Muslim countries by bin Laden. In this regard, Osama bin Laden refer jihad as a war of defense for the accomplishment of Shariah law in the Muslim countries, and for the elimination of Western forces from these countries. For instance, withdrawal of United States from different Muslim regions, especially, the Middle East is one of the significant concerns of Osama bin Laden. At occasional times, immoral acts of Americans like usury, fornication, gambling, and homosexuality are considered as some of the factors of immorality in the Western countries, which should be eliminated through the process of Jihad by the Muslims. Civilians According to the philosophy of Osama bin Laden, deliberate killing of civilians might be the only option in jihad. In the year 1998, Osama bin Laden said that men and women are differentiated by fighting jihad, which helps in the formation of a proper religious society of Muslim civilians. However, in the year 2000, one of his interviews explained that killing of children was allowed in Islam, but only in vengeance, which is not true according to Islamic scriptures. During the same interview, the interviewer asked about the killing of Muslims in September 11 attacks, and Osama told him that the land of infidels should be the permanent place of living for the Muslims; however, Muslim killings were deemed as collateral by Osama bin Laden. Shia Muslims, Christians, and Jews Profoundly, Osama bin Laden is very anti-Semitic, and a number of Jewish conspiracies are included in the warnings of Al-Qaeda leader in his different interviews and messages. According to him, treachery and usury are some of the major characteristics of Jews, and Muslims are advised to stay away from them in this world, as well as, in other world too. In some of the other interviews, Christians’ activities were condemned clearly by bin Laden. According to Osama bin Laden, it should be the belief or every Muslim to hate Jews, Christians, and particularly, Americans. Shia Muslims are never referred in the interviews and videos of Osama bin Laden. However, attempts of Shia Muslim leader, Hassan al-Turabi are disapproved by bin Laden. According to different experts, Shia Muslims are referred along with Americans and Jews in different ideology classes of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. At the same time, Al-Qaeda is found to be working with Shia Muslims in different countries. Furthermore, Hezbollah, the Shia terrorist organization has close ties with Al-Qaeda according to a number of resources. It is said that Hezbollah is responsible for providing training and advice to Al-Qaeda members. Techniques of suicide bombing are borrowed from Hezbollah by Osama bin Laden. However, such relationship has no long-term future, as the supporters of bin Laden in Saudi Arabia cannot be alienated by bin Laden by creating friendly ties with the Shia Muslims. Jihad in Afghanistan During the late 1970s, Muslim guerrillas were fighting against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, which attracted the ideology of Bin Laden, and the Afghan mujahideen were supported by the immense wealth and connections of Osama bin Laden. Different sources reported that direct resistance on the Afghan frontier was provided by Abdullah Azzam, one of the teachers of Osama. This teacher was resided in the Peshawar city of Pakistan, which is approximately fifteen kilometers away from the Khyber Pass, which connects the Hindukush range, and so, Afghanistan. Osama bin Laden chose this route to insert major resistance for the Soviet forces. In the year 1979, Osama bin laden left college and joined the fight against the Soviet Union, and resided in Peshawar. During his stay in Peshawar, he was advised by his teacher to utilize his wealth for the training of militants in Afghanistan. In the 1980s, the University Town in Peshawar was the major residential avenue from the Al-Qaeda leader. Particularly, Arab mosque at Gulshan Iqbal Road, Peshawar was utilized as a jihad centre by Osama bin laden, and his teacher, Abdullah Azzam. By the year 1984, Maktab-al-Khadamat (Office of Order) was formed with the support of Saudi Arabian supporters by Osama bin Laden with the help of Abdullah Azzam. The establishment of MAK resulted in the proper distribution of arms, finances, and militants in different Arab countries. Jihadi militants’ expenses, air tickets, accommodation, and paperwork were financed by the inherited fortune of Osama bin Laden. Reports have shown proofs of setting up of a network of couriers by Osama bin Laden, which worked near Afghanistan and Peshawar under the banner of MAK. According to Rahimullah Yusufzai, this network was active until 2001, before the attack of United States and its allies. During this time, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri met Osama bin Laden, who worked as a collaborator for Al-Qaeda, and particularly, Osama bin Laden.

Green Architecture Design Elements

Green Architecture Design Elements Introduction Since the Industrial Revolution, the world has witnessed incalculable technological achievements, population growth, and corresponding increases in resource use. As we enter a new century, we are recognizing the side effects of our activities: pollution, landfills at capacity, toxic waste, global warming, resource and ozone depletion, and deforestation. These efforts are straining the limits of the Earths carrying capacity  Ã‚  its ability to provide the resources required to sustain life while retaining the capacity to regenerate and remain viable. As the worlds population continues to expand, implementation of resource-efficient measures in all areas of human activity is imperative. The built environment is one clear example of the impact of human activity on resources. Buildings have a significant impact on the environment, accounting for one-sixth of the worlds freshwater withdrawals, one-quarter of its wood harvest, and two-fifths of its material and energy flows. Structures also impact areas beyond their immediate location, affecting the watersheds, air quality, and transportation patterns of communities.[1] That recognition is leading to changes in the way the building industry and building owners approach the design, construction, and operation of structures. With the leadership of diverse groups in the public and private sectors, the building industry is moving toward a new value in its work: that of environmental performance. The industrys growing sustainability ethic is based on the principles of resource efficiency, health, and productivity. Realization of these principles involves an integrated, multidisciplinary approach one in which a building project and its components are viewed on a full life-cycle basis. This cradle-to-cradle approach, known as green or sustainable building, considers a buildings total economic and environmental impact and performance, from material extraction and product manufacture to product transportation building design and construction, operations and maintenance, and building reuse or disposal. Ultimately, adoption of sustainable building practices will lead to a shift in the building industry, with sustainability thoroughly embedded in its practice, products, standards, codes, and regulations. Understanding the specifics of sustainable building and determining effective sustainable practices can be confusing. Local governments and private industry often do not have the resources to perform the necessary research to assemble information on sustainable practices, assuming such information is readily available. This thesis, by its parts, presents a full vision about green architecture, green buildings, and the opportunity to apply this architecture in Lebanon. In Addition, it includes a full conceptual design for a proposed project related to such architecture. PART 1: Green Architecture / Green Buildings 1.1 Definition Sustainable development is the challenge of meeting growing human needs for natural resources, industrial products, energy, food, transportation, shelter, and effective waste management while conserving and protecting environmental quality and the natural resource base essential for future life and development. This concept recognizes that meeting long-term human needs will be impossible unless we also conserve the earths natural physical, chemical, and biological systems.[2] Sustainable development concepts, applied to the design, construction, and operation of buildings, can enhance both the economic well-being and environmental health of communities around the world. The Union Internationale des Architects/American Institute of Architects (UIA/AIA) World Congress of Architects recognized that in its 1993 Declaration of Interdependence, which acknowledges that buildings and the built environment play a major role in the human impact on the natural environment and on the quality of life. If sustainable design principles are incorporated into building projects, benefits can include resource and energy efficiency, healthy buildings and materials, ecologically and socially sensitive land use, transportation efficiency, and strengthened local economies and communities. Embracing sustainability concepts, the goals aim to reduce energy, operation, and maintenance costs; reduce building-related illnesses; increase the productivity and comfort of building occupants; reduce waste and pollution; and increase building and component durability and flexibility.[3] In the developed countries, public and private leaders have realized the economic and environmental benefits of green building practices and are instituting policies, developing building guidelines, and manufacturing products and systems that will achieve sustainable development goals. 1.2 Green buildings history 1.2.1 Historical Buildings According to David Gissen, curator of architecture and design and the National Building Museum in Washington DC, structures such as Londons Crystal Palace and Milans Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II used methods that decreased the impact of the structure on the environment. Systems such as roof ventilators and underground air cooling chambers were used to regulate indoor air temperature.[4] In the early twentieth century, several skyscrapers such as the Flatiron Building and the New York Times Building in New York utilized deep-set windows and the Carson Pirie Scott department store in Chicago had retractable awnings. Both of these techniques were effective in controlling interior temperature while lessoning the buildings impact on the environment.[5] From the 1930s through the 1960s, the forward thinking cooling methods mentioned above gave way to some new building technologies that would change inner-city building construction dramatically. The invention of air conditioning, reflective glass, and structural steel popularized the enclosed glass and steel buildings that litter the American city today. These buildings were able to be heated and cooled with massive HVAC systems that consumed huge amounts of cheap and readily available fossil fuels.[6] The massive consumption of energy required to inhabit these buildings made their viability tenable and entirely dependent upon energy availability and cost. 1.2.2 The Infancy Around the time that the glass box style high rise had become the icon of the American city (circa 1970), a forward thinking group of architects, environmentalists, and ecologists[7] were inspired by the growing environmental movement and the higher fuel costs that were prevalent during the 1970s.[8] The genesis of these two scenarios ultimately resulted in the modern build green movement. The first Earth Day, celebrated in April 1970, gave some credence to this new building concept, but the OPEC oil embargo of 1973 gave the burgeoning environmental movement, and subsequently the green build effort, the kick start it needed. With gas lines stretching for blocks, some Americans began to question the conventional wisdom that we should be so independently reliant upon fossil fuels for our energy.[9] As a result of the oil embargo, amongst other energy concerns, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) formed a Committee on Energy that was broken into two camps. One group looked toward passive, such as reflective roofing materials and environmentally beneficial sitting of buildings, to achieve energy savings, while the other concentrated more on technological solutions, such as the use of triple-glazed windows.'[10] As energy concerns subsided, momentum for green building and the environment, in general, slowed down, but a dedicated core-group of architects continued to push their green building concept forward. A couple of notable buildings constructed during the seventies which utilized concepts of green design are: The Willis Faber and Dumas Headquarters in England, which utilized a grass roof, day-lighted atrium, and mirrored windows; the Gregory Bateson Building in California, which used energy-sensitive photovoltaic (solar cells)[11], under-floor rock store cooling systems, and area climate control devices.[12] Through the late seventies, throughout the eighties, and into the early nineties, much research was commissioned on energy efficient processes. This research resulted in more effective solar panels, prefabricated efficient wall systems, water reclamations systems, modular construction units, and direct usage of light through windows in order to decrease day-time energy consumption.[13] 1.3 Green Organizations 1.4 Green effect on buildings cities 1.4.1 Energy Efficiency Approximately 50 percent of the energy use in buildings is devoted to producing an artificial indoor climate through heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting.[14] A typical buildings energy bill constitutes approximately 25 percent of the buildings total operating costs. Estimates indicate that climate-sensitive design using available technologies could cut heating and cooling energy consumption by 60 percent and lighting energy requirements by at least 50 percent in U.S. buildings.[15] 1.4.2 Water Efficiency Water conservation and efficiency programs have begun to lead to substantial decreases in the use of water within buildings. Water-efficient appliances and fixtures, behavioral changes, and changes in irrigation methods can reduce consumption by up to 30 percent or more.[16] As demand on water increases with urban growth, the economic impact of water conservation and efficiency will increase proportionately. Water efficiency not only can lead to substantial water savings, it also can reduce the requirement for expansion of water treatment facilities. Non-residential water customers account for a small percentage of the total number of water customers, but use approximately 35 percent or more of the total water.[17] 1.4.3 Waste Reduction Green architecture also seeks to reduce waste of energy, water and materials used during construction. For example, in California nearly 60% of the states waste comes from commercial buildings.[18] During the construction phase, one goal should be to reduce the amount of material going to landfills. Well-designed buildings also help reduce the amount of waste generated by the occupants as well, by providing on-site solutions such as compost bins to reduce matter going to landfills. To reduce the impact on wells or water treatment plants, several options exist. Greywater, wastewater from sources such as dishwashing or washing machines, can be used for subsurface irrigation, or if treated, for non-potable purposes, e.g., to flush toilets and wash cars. Rainwater collectors are used for similar purposes. Centralized wastewater treatment systems can be costly and use a lot of energy. An alternative to this process is converting waste and wastewater into fertilizer, which avoids these costs and shows other benefits. By collecting human waste at the source and running it to a semi-centralized biogas plant with other biological waste, liquid fertilizer can be produced. This concept was demonstrated by a settlement in Lubeck Germany in the late 1990s. Practices like these provide soil with organic nutrients and create carbon sinks that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, offsetting greenhouse gas emission. Producing artificial fertilizer is also more costly in energy than this process.[19] 1.4.4 Construction Cost Reduction Application of green building concepts can yield for savings during the construction process. Measures that are relatively easy to implement can result in savings to the contractor in the following areas: Lower energy costs, by monitoring usage, installing energy-efficient lamps and fixtures, and using occupancy sensors to control lighting fixtures; Lower water costs, by monitoring consumption and reusing storm water and/or construction wastewater where possible; Lower site-clearing costs, by minimizing site disruption and movement of earth and installation of artificial systems; Lower landfill dumping fees and associated hauling charges, through reuse and recycling of construction and demolition debris; Lower materials costs, with more careful purchase and reuse of resources and materials; Possible earnings from sales of reusable items removed during building demolition; and Fewer employee health problems resulting from poor indoor air quality. This listing suggests some possible areas for cost savings; the project team can identify other possibilities through a cooperative and integrated team approach. The contractor can also improve relations with the community and building owner by viewing them as part of the team effort to implement environmentally sound construction measures. 1.4.5 Building Operation and Maintenance The green building measures discussed in this manual can lead not only to lower building operating expenses through reduced utility and waste disposal costs, but also to lower on-going building maintenance costs, ranging from salaries to supplies. For example, in many buildings, maintenance staff collects recycled materials on each floor or even at every employees desk and carry the materials down to the basement for hand sorting. Recycling chutes, a viable green alternative, allow direct discarding of materials from any floor in the building to the basement. The chute system, which ideally is installed during initial construction or renovation, can sort materials automatically, saving labor costs by eliminating the need to collect, transport, and sort recyclables. Other savings come in the form of lower waste hauling fees; reduced workers compensation insurance premiums due to lower claims for accidents from sharp glass and cans; reduced elevator maintenance; less frequent cleanin g of spills on carpets and floors; and less need for pest control. Environmentally friendly housekeeping products can also have financial advantages. For example, cleaning products that are purchased as concentrates and use minimal packaging not only promote waste reduction, but also can reduce product usage by 30 to 60 percent with dispensers that more accurately measure and dilute the cleaning products for optimum effectiveness.[20] Building owners need to view the building manager and staff as vital participants in environmentally sound and cost-effective operations. Building managers, charged with the efficient operation and maintenance of multi-million-dollar assets, have experience in all areas of operations and maintenance over the life of a building. Once a building is operational, training of management and maintenance staff including education on effective green building measures such as building energy management systems, new cleaning products, and new building codes and standards can help them to maintain the building in a resource-efficient and economically favorable manner. 1.4.6 Insurance and Liability The past decades conventional office design, construction, and operational practices have decreased the quality of the indoor office environment, resulting in new health concerns and associated economic costs and liability. The introduction of a multitude of new contaminant pollution sources into the workplace, combined with tighter building construction, has intensified air-quality problems. For example, poor indoor air quality can result from such factors as faulty air-conditioning systems, occupant related pollutants, construction materials that emit high levels of volatile organic compounds, and poor maintenance practices. The U.S. EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. Unhealthy indoor air is found in up to 30 percent of new and renovated buildings.[21] Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and Building Related Illness (BRI) have become more common in the workplace, increasing building owner and employer costs due to sickness, absenteeism, and increased liability claims. It has been estimated that SBS and BRI cost roughly $60 billion each year in medical expenses and lost worker productivity in the United States.[22] Legal actions related to Sick Building Syndrome and other building-related problems have increased. These actions against building designers, owners, or employers may be initiated by occupants who have short- or long-term problems, ranging from headaches and burning eyes to more serious ailments. Initial economic impact may come in the forms of higher health insurance premiums, increased workers compensation claims, and decreased productivity. Expensive remediation projects and environmental cleanups may follow, and building owners may try to recover losses from the original project contractors and architects through litigation. By ensuring better indoor air quality, building owners, employers, and design professionals can lower their risk of future litigation by building occupants. Professional liability insurance companies have indicated a willingness to offer design professionals lower insurance premiums for higher operating-procedure standards that lead to improved indoor air quality. Some national architectural firms are attempting to rate building products according to the levels of volatile organic compounds they emit after installation, and to educate building owners and managers about healthier product choices. 1.4.7 Occupant Health and Productivity The purpose of a building is not only to provide shelter for its occupants, but also to provide an environment conducive to high performance of all intended occupant activities. Recent studies have shown that buildings with good overall environmental quality, including effective ventilation, natural or proper levels of lighting, indoor air quality, and good acoustics, can increase worker productivity by six to 16 percent.[23] An organizations most significant financial commitment is usually to its employees. Many employers spend at least as much on salary-related expenditures as they do on constructing an entire company building. In many organizations, salaries and associated benefits consume the majority of the annual operating budget.[24] For example; based on the sample calculations in 2, a typical employer could spend $233 per square foot annually for an employee. Building construction costs generally fall below this level, often by 50 percent. In addition, annual employee salary-related expenditures, using the numbers in 2, are approximately 130 times greater than energy costs. A productivity increase of six percent equates to savings to the employer of $14 per square foot eight times the cost of the buildings annual energy bill. Given this information, an employer can decide to maximize the performance and efficiency of personnel resources through assessment of, and improvement to, the indoor environmental quality of its building. The following account of a recent renovation project illustrates this approach. Both building owners and building tenant/employers can benefit in other ways by improving indoor environmental quality. For owners, these improvements can result in higher property values, longer tenant occupancy and lease renewals, reduced insurance and operating costs, reduced liability risks, extended equipment life, and good publicity. For tenants, benefits include reduced absenteeism and better employee morale, reduced insurance and operating costs, reduced liability risks, and community recognition. If the building owner is also the employer, an organization can offset initial construction design and systems costs with the reduction of long-term organizational and operational expenses over the buildings life cycle. 1.4.8 Building Value Green buildings high efficiency and performance can result in higher property values and potentially lower lenders credit risk. Lower operating costs associated with more efficient systems can lead to higher building net income. In addition to increasing a buildings net operating income or value, green building measures may allow building owners to charge higher rents or achieve higher rates of building occupancy, if tenants view green properties as more desirable. Currently, voluntary building rating programs are under development for commercial buildings in the United States. As these programs are introduced into the marketplace and gain the acceptance of building owners and tenants, they could impact the value of properties. Prospective tenants will be able to rate buildings based on such measurable features as natural daylight, better indoor air quality, and lower energy, water, and waste costs. If enough buildings are rated for environmental performance, those that perform better will start to realize market advantages. 1.4.9 Local Economic Development Opportunities Promotion and implementation of green building practices within a community can generate new economic development opportunities. These opportunities can take a variety of forms, including new business development to meet the demand for green products and services; resource-efficiency improvement programs that enable existing businesses to lower operating costs; development of environmentally oriented business districts; and job training related to new green businesses and products. 1.5 Appliance Ways of applying 1.5.1 Appliances 1.5.1.1 Selecting environmentally and economically balanced building materials. Buildings significantly alter the environment. According to Worldwatch Institute1, building construction consumes 40 percent of the raw stone, gravel, and sand used globally each year, and 25 percent of the virgin wood. Buildings also account for 40 percent of the energy and 16 percent of the water used annually worldwide. In the United States, about as much construction and demolition waste is produced as municipal garbage. Finally, unhealthy indoor air is found in 30 percent of new and renovated buildings worldwide. Negative environmental impacts flow from these activities. For example, raw materials extraction can lead to resource depletion and biological diversity losses. Building materials manufacture and transport consumes energy, which generates emissions linked to global warming and acid rain. Landfill problems, such as leaching of heavy metals, may arise from waste generation. All these activities can lead to air and water pollution. Unhealthy indoor air may cause increased morbidity and mortality. Selecting environmentally preferable building materials is one way to improve a buildings environmental performance. To be practical, however, environmental performance must be balanced against economic performance. Even the most environmentally conscious building designer or building materials manufacturer will ultimately want to weigh environmental benefits against economic costs. They want to identify building materials that improve environmental performance with little or no increase in cost. The building community is making decisions today that have environmental and economic consequences. Its decisions are plagued by incomplete and uncertain data as well as the lack of a standardized methodology for evaluating the data. The NIST/EPA team seeks to support these decisions by gathering environmental and economic performance data and by structuring and computerizing the decision-making process. The resulting BEES tool will be publicly available over the Internet. In the mean while, the USGBC has published a list of materials certified from LEED containing several green materials including: flooring, interior construction, paints film, fabrics, draperies, tack surfaces, ceiling systems, lighting, appliances, millwork, furniture and plumping fixtures. 1.6 Education of green architecture Since 1993, UIA released the Declaration of Interdependence for a Sustainable Future suggesting that the architectural profession should seek to achieve ecological sustainability within the limited time that is likely to be available. And its been 14 years after the release of UIA / UNESCO Charter For Architectural Education that registers among educational goals an ecologically balanced and sustainable development of the built environment. Since then, many architecture schools have introduced or upgraded courses on technical aspects of sustainability, like Energy Conscious Design, Sustainable Architecture, Beyond Green or Bioclimatic Architecture and others more. The integration of sustainability in design schools up to now has been reviewed by several surveys. Most of them share two conclusions: first, that not many schools have embraced the subject in a thorough manner, pointing at the low level at which sustainable design concepts have been incorporated into the regular curriculum and noticing that environmental education in architecture has been done on an ad-hoc basis, fragmented and insufficient'[25]; second, that sustainable design requires teaching methods quite different than the long-established ones[26]. Environmental crisis and its foreseeable effects are still a marginal issue in the academic discourse at schools supposedly dealing with the environment, perhaps because crises are not an attractive subject in our feel-good era. As a result, those who will have to tackle the looming crisis in the near future are not adequately prepared. Still, the need to implement sustainable design is widely recognized by the educational community, at least in principle. A telling example is a survey among architectural educators in more than 30 European countries in 2001[27], where nearly 90% of the respondents are voting for a rather dramatic shift from a currently rather low to a high consideration of Sustainable Development in future architectural education. According to the survey, only 19% of those said that this concept is currently receiving a very/quite high level of consideration, and 83% said it should receive a very/quite high level of consideration in architectural education, identifying as an aspect of leading importance the integration of sustainability-issues into all studio design. In spite of such consensus, there is still a long road until sustainable design is firmly rooted in architectural learning. There are a number of reasons for this, within and outside the academic perimeter: 1.6.1 Academic obstacles _____________________ In most schools that show environmental concern, related issues are usually confined in elective classes, detached from design studios. This creates a fringe reputation for sustainability, shunning its principles from the main design projects to the periphery of architectural learning. As a result, no practical experience is gained in how to introduce sustainable qualities in the core design agenda. ______________________ In many cases the emphasis is on quantitative rather than qualitative matters. As a result number crunching eclipses design, and students tend to associate sustainable concerns with numerical performance only, detached from issues like comfort, resources, or societal ethics. In that manner, sustainability-related courses are considered similar to those on technical fields like structural or mechanical design, but not real architecture. ______________________ Sustainable design is a rather recent theme, not very familiar to the old guard that administers schools. Most tutors have had limited or even nonexistent training in their past, and practical experience is even more rare. Consequently, a lack of importance placed on sustainable design by many architectural educators'[28] is no surprise. As a result, it is difficult to introduce obscure, uninteresting or useless new topics to the curriculum, especially in view of the fact that sustainable design challenges the predominantly artistic stance of architecture. ___________________ Sustainable design is a complex architectural approach, encompassing diverse fields of knowledge and requiring multi-discipline teamwork. Therefore its teaching cannot fit with the conventional linear approach where different technical skills are segregated in different departments, with rare opportunities to bring them all together through joint projects in a holistic manner. Furthermore, sustainable architecture is a complex subject that should be covered throughout the curriculum'[29], not just in sporadic projects. ____________________ Furthermore, design projects are frequently detached from earthly reality as if they refer to a space station, hardly interrelated with nature or society. Societal ethics or environmental awareness are not embedded in the agenda, confining training in merely technical skills with major focus on the aesthetic. An architectural student suddenly transported to many of our architecture schools from 1900 Paris would feel right at home.[30] _____________________ Environmental crisis is repeatedly under the limelight of the media but, remarkably, it is seldom included in the academic discourse. There is little systematic awareness of the relationship of building and urban design with vital environmental issues like energy water shortages, air ground pollution, urban heat island ecological footprint, or resources depletion. And certainly such topics are not included in project briefs or ordinary student work. _______________________ Furthermore, there is insufficient supplementary input through technical classes like building physics or environmental technology that could support sustainable design projects. When students do not understand the dynamic linkage between structures, environmental conditions and users, it is not easy to differentiate, say, between building in the landscape and building in interaction with the landscape.[31] 1.6.2 Outside the classroom The introduction of sustainability in architecture schools encounters further difficulties stemming from the outer side of the academic walls: ____________________ Sustainable design has yet to find a clear identity: Is it a building technique, a blend of architecture and engineering that can be applied on any architectural variety just like, say, fire safety or seismic proofing? Is it just one more architectural fashion, perhaps with extra consideration to the environment than the rest, with its own stylistic trademarks like solar collectors, conservatories, or green labels? Or is it a novel design mindset, where nature society, today tomorrow are equal partners in the design framework? _____________________ The sustainable design family includes variations like energy conscious, bioclimatic, solar, ecological, or green, any of which could be applied in a non-sustainable manner. For instance, an energy-saving scheme could employ non-ecological materials; bioclimatic skyscrapers use more resources than low rise, and the sustainability of a huge green mansion with just two occupants is questionable. It is clear that sustainable design in full scale is a complex endeavor that requires a holistic alertness on a broad array of subjects, technical as much as social: Although there is much interest and curiosity about the subject, no one would say its easy to learn or apply in practice.[32] ______________________ The architectural haut couture of our era markets themes rather far from sustainability. As a result prudence and ÃŽÂ ¼ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ µÃƒ Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ãƒ Ã‚ ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¿ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ½ (metron = Greek for measure) are ostracized from the main architectural values[33]. Given that architecture is always learned by example, many students and many grownups too clone the glamorous paradigms of the grand maitres,

John Howard Griffins Black Like Me :: Black Like Me Essays

John Howard Griffin's Black Like Me In John Howard Griffin's novel Black Like Me, Griffin travels through many Southern American states, including Mississippi. While in Mississippi Griffin experiences racial tension to a degree that he did not expect. It is in Mississippi that he encounters racial stereotypical views directed towards him, which causes him to realize the extent of the racial prejudices that exist. Mississippi is where he is finally able to understand the fellowship shared by many of the Negroes of the 50's, because of their shared experiences. Although Griffin travels throughout the Southern States, the state of Mississippi serves as a catalyst for the realization of what it is truly like to be a Negro in 1959. Once in the state of Mississippi, Griffin witnesses extreme racial tension, that he does not fully expect. It is on the bus ride into Mississippi that Griffin first experiences true racial cruelty from a resident of Mississippi. It was late dusk when the bus pulled into some little town outside of Hatteisburg for a stop. "We get about ten minutes here," Bill said "let's get off here and stretch our legs" The driver stood up and announced "Ten minute rest stop,". The whites rose and ambled off. Bill and I led the Negroes toward the door. As soon as he saw us, the driver blocked our way. Bill slipped under his arm and walked away. "Hey boy where are you going?" the driver shouted at Bill while he stretched his arms across the opening to prevent myself from stepping down. I stood waiting. "Where do you think your going?" he asked, his heavy cheeks quivering with each word. "I'd like to go to the rest room." I smiled and moved to step down. He tightened his grip on the door. "Does your ticket say for you to get off here?" he asked. "No sir, but the others..." "Then you just sit your ass down." We turned like a small herd of cattle and drifted back to our seats. The large woman was apologetic, as though it embarrassed her for a stranger to see Mississippi's dirty linen.1(pg 63) Up to this point in the novel Griffin experiences exactly what he expects to experience. He is taunted with typical racial slurs, and other forms of hostility, which he is able to brush off as meaningless ignorance. This bus driver is denying the black customers the most basic of human needs. John Howard Griffin's Black Like Me :: Black Like Me Essays John Howard Griffin's Black Like Me In John Howard Griffin's novel Black Like Me, Griffin travels through many Southern American states, including Mississippi. While in Mississippi Griffin experiences racial tension to a degree that he did not expect. It is in Mississippi that he encounters racial stereotypical views directed towards him, which causes him to realize the extent of the racial prejudices that exist. Mississippi is where he is finally able to understand the fellowship shared by many of the Negroes of the 50's, because of their shared experiences. Although Griffin travels throughout the Southern States, the state of Mississippi serves as a catalyst for the realization of what it is truly like to be a Negro in 1959. Once in the state of Mississippi, Griffin witnesses extreme racial tension, that he does not fully expect. It is on the bus ride into Mississippi that Griffin first experiences true racial cruelty from a resident of Mississippi. It was late dusk when the bus pulled into some little town outside of Hatteisburg for a stop. "We get about ten minutes here," Bill said "let's get off here and stretch our legs" The driver stood up and announced "Ten minute rest stop,". The whites rose and ambled off. Bill and I led the Negroes toward the door. As soon as he saw us, the driver blocked our way. Bill slipped under his arm and walked away. "Hey boy where are you going?" the driver shouted at Bill while he stretched his arms across the opening to prevent myself from stepping down. I stood waiting. "Where do you think your going?" he asked, his heavy cheeks quivering with each word. "I'd like to go to the rest room." I smiled and moved to step down. He tightened his grip on the door. "Does your ticket say for you to get off here?" he asked. "No sir, but the others..." "Then you just sit your ass down." We turned like a small herd of cattle and drifted back to our seats. The large woman was apologetic, as though it embarrassed her for a stranger to see Mississippi's dirty linen.1(pg 63) Up to this point in the novel Griffin experiences exactly what he expects to experience. He is taunted with typical racial slurs, and other forms of hostility, which he is able to brush off as meaningless ignorance. This bus driver is denying the black customers the most basic of human needs.

Nuclear Power :: essays research papers

The world's natural resources are being consumed at an alarming rate. As these resources diminish , people will be seeking alternative sources by which to generate electricity for heat and light . The only practical short term solution for the energy-crisis is nuclear power. Nuclear power, however is not as safe as burning coal, gas or oil in a factory it is in fact, much more dangerous, There are dangers associated with a nuclear power plant which far out weigh the benefits to society as a whole and in part to the community living and working around the power plant . About 20 percent of our nation's total electrical consumption per year is supplied by nuclear power from the 100 or so nuclear power plants throughout the country . Even though atomic power has been in use for over 50 years it was primarily a tool of war and destruction when the war ended need for atomic bombs diminished . The scientists who created the weapons were out of jobs . They then turned this destructive power into huge plants generating "clean and cheap " electricity for the country . It was called progress. Progress also brought with it sickness , mutations , cancer and eventually death to those exposed to high levels of radiation . Government declared that nuclear power is safe and efficient . Also have big Oil corporations who have a lot of money invested in nuclear power and want to see as many plants as possible put into and kept in operation . The truth is that accidents do happen at nuclear power plants and at other facilities all the time . An accident at a nuclear power plant has the potential to be much more devastating than an accident at a coal or gas plant because of the radiation that could be released . An example of this is Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania where there was a partial core meltdown in march of 1979 and an "acceptable" amount of radiation escaped into the atmosphere . However no amount of radiation is acceptable if released as a result of an accident at a nuclear power plant . Is Nuclear Power necessary ? Today many Americans adopt lifestyles that are based on energy in-efficient devices . These include large automobiles and electric appliances that require electricity from energy-intense industrial processes . The public is doing all it can to force nuclear power plants

Their Eyes Were Watching God Essay -- Essays Papers

Theyre Eyes Were Watching God A Voice With Experience In Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, many critics have argued over whether or not the main character, Janie, finds her voice by the end of the novel. Yet many seem to be confused as to what her "voice" is. Her voice is her ability to express her thoughts and display her emotions verbally. Many relate the question of Janie’s voice to her amount of emotional strength (her ability to confront her problems or run away from the current situation rather than be isolated in it), yet these things are a completely different matter entirely. While Janie’s emotional strength varies throughout the novel, her voice is always there. Her voice is proven from the beginning when she argued about housework with her first husband, Logan, and it became even more evident in her relationship with her next husband, Joe. She did not speak to Joe often because he did not mean much to her and she did not waste her energy on always arguing with him. But when she found a subject on which she wanted to speak her mind, she always did. Many seem to think that Janie found her voice towards the end of the novel because that is when she spoke most often. Yet the reason she spoke more is because she had someone who she cared about and to whom she wanted to speak to (her husband, Tea Cake). In her trial in defense of killing Tea Cake (the situation in which many argue that Janie’s silence was proof that she had not yet found her voice), her silence has nothing to do with whether or not she is emotionally strong or has a voice. Her silence is the result of the love she felt with Tea Cake. Though she felt very emo tional, Janie understood that love was not something you could express verbally and she therefore chose not to speak. In Janie’s first relationship with Logan, it becomes clear that Janie had both her voice and emotional strength. Expecting that marriage would bring love, Janie married a farmer, Logan Killicks, at a young age. Yet her relationship with him was not what she expected. He was ugly and lazy and didn’t even give a thought to Janie’s feelings. He forced her to do extra work and never treated her like the woman she was. When after hours of housework, and Logan asked her to chop wood for him one day, Janie finally felt that she needed to protest, saying "... ...e is saying that you have to experience love to understand it, and that it would have done her no good to try to express verbally what she felt for Tea Cake. At the end of the novel, Janie walked away from the trial with both her voice that had been with her throughout her whole life, the emotional strength that she had gained through her love with Tea Cake (and which had continued even after his death), and something that she had not known before: experience. (Experience with death, love, marriage, and life in general.) Many argue that Janie found her voice towards the end of the novel because that is when she spoke the most. Yet Janie had had her voice throughout, from her loveless marriage with Logan, to her abusive relationship with Joe, and through her heavenly time spent with Tea Cake. Tea Cake didn’t help Janie find her voice, but instead just gave her something to use it on. Yet while critics will argue forever over the questions of Janie’s voice and emotional strength, it is unquestionable that she walked away from it all with a new sense of knowledge and experience. And with these things, Janie was cabab le of dealing with whatever new challenge came her way.

Surrogates the Movie

Surrogates: â€Å"Look at yourselves, unplug from your chairs, get up, and look in the mirror what you see is how God made you we’re not meant to experience life through a machine. † This seems to be the moral of this movie in the year 2017 and takes place in Boston, MA. Bruce Willis plays an FBI detective named Tom Greer working on a very mysterious murder of a young man who is the son of a prominent inventor. A news style montage opens the movie and provides you with the fundamental basis for the movie. The viewer learns that the technology of Surrogates took 14 years to develop into the everyday application as it would be depicted in the film. The surrogate project started as a way to help the disabled experience life in a way that would not be possible and soon was taken over by military application to use these surrogates and warriors in the battlefield to preserve human life. It was the Military application that set up mass production of surrogates and this made surrogates affordable to the average consumer. Near the end of the 14 year montage it is established that 98% of the entire world has a surrogate and is using them for their everyday life so the user can remain at home in safety and never needs to risk the danger or inconvenience of leaving home. There is a group of people however that are in strict opposition to the new surrogate way of life. This group is called the Human Coalition and they live in Dread Reservations which are located within major cities all over the world. These reservations are considered surrogate free zones and are completely sovereign. This group of people does not tolerate any type of surrogate technology and preach the experience of the human condition as the truth. This seems to be a cut and dry good vs. vil movie at first and the two sides clearly established but as the movie moves along the lines become blurred and the twists are pronounced. Tom Greer and his partner are called to the scene of a seemingly normal vehicle accident late in the evening only to discover fairly quickly that this is not just an accident scene it’s a murder. While at the scene of the accident only surrogates are present and it is assumed the operators of the surrogates remain at their homes unharmed, but after furt her investigation by Tom the operators are dead in their operator chairs. Highly unusual because there haven’t been any murders in Boston for so long the Agents do not remember the last one. And this starts the investigation into the would be conspiracy that is the plot of the movie. The inventor of surrogates is a man named Dr. Lionel Canter, who was the target of the murder but instead of killing him the murder a Human Coalition member Miles Strickland killed his son who was borrowing his father’s surrogate. Tom is convinced that the Human Coalition is responsible for the murder and takes his surrogate into the sovereign territory in Boston where his surrogate is destroyed. Tom is now forced to abandon the surrogate and continue the investigation in the flesh. This is a shocking experience for him but eventually causes him to remember the human condition and experience. No matter the difficulty he experiences as a result of the sensory overload he continues the investigation. Next Tom discovers that the military had developed the weapon that would overload many surrogates with a single shot but an accidental byproduct of this weapon was that it actually killed the operator. The Military officials ordered that all if the weapons be destroyed and somehow one slipped through the cracks and was not destroyed and fell into the hands of manufacturer of the surrogates. The manufacturer VCI is proclaimed as one of the largest companies in the world and is a very powerful corporation. It was originally founded by Dr. Canter but due to differences in philosophy he was removed as President of the company but remained a beneficiary of the profits from the sale of surrogates. The excitement builds as Tom pursues the investigation and gets closer to figuring out the conspiracy. So far he has learned that a Human Coalition member murdered the son of a Dr Canter and that the target was actually Dr Canter himself but because his son used a surrogate belonging to Dr Canter the murderer thought that he was killing him but accidentally killed his son. The military in cooperation with VCI developed a weapon that would overload surrogates and shut them down in an effort to quickly win battles without casualties. A major problem was discovered with the weapon during its initial tests and it had unintentionally killed the operators of the surrogates. The weapon was ordered to be destroyed and of the 5 that were created only 4 were actually destroyed and one remained. The military did not know who had the remaining weapon but an assumption must be made that VCI had the weapon and somehow it had fallen in to the hands of the Human Coalition who were bent on the murder of Dr Canter for creating this new society that is an abomination. Tom reveals to the military that when he was in the Human Coalitions Boston reservation he knew the weapon was there and in the hands of their leader Zaire Powell. His attempt to convince the world that the surrogates are evil seems to be failing up to now. He now has the power to shut down every single surrogate all over the world but this action would result in the death of billions of people. The Military tells Tom to stand down and that they would take over the recovery of the weapon. Tom is drawn back in when his partner is killed and her surrogate is being used to gain access to the FBI surrogate control center. He discovers that Zaire Powell is actually a surrogate being controlled by Dr. Canter. This discovery takes Tom to Dr Canters home that is protected by surrogate guards that he must take down to reach Dr Canter in time. Canter had taken control of his partners surrogate and was in the headquarters of the FBI where he can access every surrogate at one time and use the weapon to download the overload virus killing every operator connected to their surrogate. When Tom reaches Dr Canter has already begun downloading the virus. Tom confronts Dr Canter and tries to convince him that killing this many people is not the way to accomplish his goal but it’s too late and in order to prevent Tom from stopping him Dr Canter takes a cyanide pill killing himself. Tom has no choice but to take over the surrogate of his partner and try to stop the virus from taking hold and killing billions of people. With the help of the programmer at the FBI surrogate control center he is able to isolate the operators from the virus. He then has to stop the isolate the surrogates themselves from the virus but in a last minute decision decides to allow the virus to shut down all the surrogates. He had saved the lives of many people but after having experiencing the human condition again decided that everyone should have that same experience again. This movie is full of twists and changes that are hard to follow. Overall, I don’t find this movie to be a great movie. The concepts could have been developed better and the twists should have been made with more information. The twists came without warning which is good for a twist but there was no information used to explain the twists in a way that would make it believable. I have learned that this movie was first a book and it is common that the themes in a book are not completely developed when it is turned in to a movie, however the concepts could have been portrayed and explained better. I did enjoy the idea of unplugging sometimes and to experience life outside of our home and disconnect from the internet and television. There are experiences our modern technology allows us to not have and in some cases this is not always a good thing. As a child I took a vacation to Yellowstone National Park and my children have not been able to experience this yet except for on the internet. They are not excited about making this trip because they believe they have experienced this park on the internet but as many adults know it is just not the same. I am concerned that as our children develop with more access to technology they will lose touch with the human experience so any movie, book, music, or other medium that express or shows the importance of the actual physical human experience is a great thing. I would recommend this movie to anyone for this purpose and I might also suggest that in order to fully understand this movie itself that it be watched two or three times. Watch it, enjoy it but most of all experience it.