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Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Political Climate of the 1970s Essay

Consider for just a moment the following scenario: the United States finds itself embroiled in a war for which no foreseeable end is in sight.   The president finds himself on the low end of the approval polls and the American people are staging protests against the war that the president is dedicated to waging.   While this sounds like it was taken from the headlines of today, and indeed it could be, but it just as well applies to the era of president Richard Nixon and the age of the Vietnam War.   This essay will focus on several facets of Nixon, the war he led, and the scandal that ultimately ended his administration, but created echoes that are heard even today. Political and Social Outcomes of the End of the War in Vietnam The Vietnam War, of course created all of the sadness, caution and concern that all wars throughout history have created.   Additionally, there are definite political and social outcomes from the war that still echo in the American psyche decades after the official end to the war itself.   Politically, Vietnam was a rude awakening for the American political/military machine because this war represented the first time that the US was engaged in a war that it did not win.   While there is lingering debate as to whether the Vietnam War was lost, few can debate that the war was not decisively won by US troops. From this political fallout came several social consequences for the American people.   With the potential that the US could not defeat Communism in any specific way, the American people began to doubt the effectiveness of their government more so than at any other time in history.   Not all people doubted the government’s potency, however, and this gave rise to two sides that would start to debate one another starting in the Vietnam era and continuing into the present day (Gilbert, 2001). Lastly, the end of Vietnam led to a general distrust of the government as a whole, as stories began to leak out about the backroom military planning, lack of accurate information being released to the public, and what many saw as a war that was lost not because of an undefeatable enemy but because of an American military that was too mired in political infighting and self interest to win any war. A Comparison of Nixon’s Policies of Engagement and Cold War Strategies During the Cold War, Richard Nixon held true to one overriding philosophy- â€Å"Peace with Honor†.   Ã‚  This simple statement has far reaching implications because of several considerations about the Vietnamese War.   Eventually, Nixon came to realization that the war was one that could not be won for several reasons.   First, American troops were utilizing conventional military techniques in an unconventional war, fought against an enemy that used hidden tunnels, soldiers without noticeable uniforms, and primitive forms of terrorism such as suicide bombers who would detonate explosives in the midst of American soldiers, killing them by the dozens at a time.   Second, what was really being fought in Vietnam was not another army, but a massive social and political machine called Communism. The forces behind Communism stretched far beyond the borders of Vietnam and represented a foe that would never really be defeated in conventional battle.   What these facts   meant for Nixon, and indeed for the entire nation was that while it may be possible for the United States to be able to withdraw from the war in Vietnam, there really was no way for the war to be won or for Communism to be defeated in the way that physical enemies are neutralized (Katz, 1997).   Nixon’s mindset was indicative of the Cold War strategies used both before and after the years that Nixon led the nation.   It was long acknowledged that Communism was a force that was not able to be fought and defeated like an army might be able to be fought and defeated, but that it would have to compete against and democracy protected and promoted, likewise bringing about â€Å"Peace with Honor† as Nixon advocated. Measure the Impact of the Watergate Scandal on Public Perception of Government Power President Richard Nixon, in the early 1970s, found himself entangled in the Vietnam War but also faced with the possibility that he would not be re-elected to the presidency in the upcoming election. With the pursuit of that re-election in mind, it now is apparent that Nixon was involved in planning, and trying to cover up, the burglary of the Democratic national headquarters in the scandal that would come to be known as Watergate.   In the aftermath of Watergate, public perception of government power was changed forever.   During the 1970s, much of the general public, in particular those of college age, did not trust the government because of what they saw as an unjust war in Vietnam and the accompanying withholding of information about the war itself which was viewed by many as a government conspiracy to deliberately mislead the public in the pursuit of self interests on the part of government officials, from the president himself and downward into the ranks of the US governmen t (Genovese, 2004).   This distrust led to the mantra â€Å"don’t trust anyone over the age of 30†, as young Americans viewed their elders as selfish power grabbers who were using the blood of the youth to serve their own means. The mistrust of the government likewise had effects on the presidency that has repeated itself in almost every subsequent administration since Nixon resigned in the heat of Watergate.   Whether one looks at the Clinton, Reagan, or Bush(es) administrations, there are examples where the Nixon-era suspicion of the government comes out, as allegations are made that the president is more concerned with public approval and his own well-being than he is in being honest and forthcoming with the citizens of the nation (Genovese, 2004).   Skepticism can of course be healthy or destructive, especially in evaluating the government.   The trick, going forward, will be for Americans to recognize the difference between being aware of the government’s actions and petty criticisms that are driven by political self interest and not what is best for the nation as a whole. Conclusion In this essay, the past and present has been brought together.   This linking of history’s events makes it possible to realize that the more things change, the more that they seem to remain the same.   It also makes it possible to understand that events do not take place in isolation from other events that came before them, but there is an historic influence of the past on the events of the present and will eventually affect the events of the future.   This also brings about the old adage that those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.   If political leaders and even the average person on the street fail to pay attention to what has happened before and do something better, no good will come of it.

Vampire Academy Chapter 2

TWO MY HATRED NOTWITHSTANDING, I HAD to admit Dimitri Beli-whatever was pretty smart. After they'd carted us off to the airport to and onto the Academy's private jet, he'd taken one look at the two of us whispering and ordered us separated. â€Å"Don't let them talk to each other,† he warned the guardian who escorted me to the back of the plane. â€Å"Five minutes together, and they'll come up with an escape plan.† I shot him a haughty look and stormed off down the aisle. Never mind the fact we had been planning escape. As it was, things didn't look good for our heroes – or heroines, rather. Once we were in the air, our odds of escape dropped further. Even supposing a miracle occurred and I did manage to take out all ten guardians, we'd sort of have a problem in getting off the plane. I figured they might have parachutes aboard somewhere, but in the unlikely event I'd be able to operate one, there was still that little issue of survival, seeing as we'd probably land somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. No, we weren't getting off this plane until it landed in backwoods Montana. I'd have to think of something then, something that involved getting past the Academy's magical wards and ten times as many guardians. Yeah. No problem. Although Lissa sat at the front with the Russian guy, her fear sang back to me, pounding inside my head like a hammer. My concern for her cut into my fury. They couldn't take her back there, not to that place. I wondered if Dimitri might have hesitated if he could feel what I did and if he knew what I knew. Probably not. He didn't care. As it was, her emotions grew so strong that for a moment, I had the disorienting sensation of sitting in her seat – in her skin even. It happened sometimes, and without much warning, she'd pull me right into her head. Dimitri's tall frame sat beside me, and my hand – her hand – gripped a bottle of water. He leaned forward to pick up something, revealing six tiny symbols tattooed on the back of his neck: molnija marks. They looked like two streaks of jagged lightning crossing in an X symbol. One for each Strigoi he'd killed. Above them was a twisting line, sort of like a snake, that marked him as a guardian. The promise mark. Blinking, I fought against her and shifted back into my own head with a grimace. I hated when that happened. Feeling Lissa's emotions was one thing, but slipping into her was something we both despised. She saw it as an invasion of privacy, so I usually didn't tell her when it happened. Neither of us could control it. It was another effect of the bond, a bond neither of us fully understood. Legends existed about psychic links between guardians and their Moroi, but the stories had never mentioned anything like this. We fumbled through it as best we could. Near the end of the flight, Dimitri walked back to where I sat and traded places with the guardian beside me. I pointedly turned away, staring out the window absentmindedly Several moments of silence passed. Finally, he said, â€Å"Were you really going to attack all of us?† I didn't answer. â€Å"Doing that? ­protecting her like that – it was very brave.† He paused. â€Å"Stupid, but still brave. Why did you even try it?† I glanced over at him, brushing my hair out of my face so I could look him levelly in the eye. â€Å"Because I'm her guardian.† I turned back toward the window. After another quiet moment, he stood up and returned to the front of the jet. When we landed, Lissa and I had no choice but to let the commandos drive us out to the Academy. Our car stopped at the gate, and our driver spoke with guards who verified we weren't Strigoi about to go off on a killing spree. After a minute, they let us pass on through the wards and up to the Academy itself. It was around sunset – the start of the vampiric day – and the campus lay wrapped in shadows. It probably looked the same, sprawling and gothic. The Moroi were big on tradition; nothing ever changed with them. This school wasn't as old as the ones back in Europe, but it had been built in the same style. The buildings boasted elaborate, almost churchlike architecture, with high peaks and stone carvings. Wrought iron gates enclosed small gardens and doorways here and there. After living on a college campus, I had a new appreciation for just how much this place resembled a university more than a typical high school. We were on the secondary campus, which was divided into lower and upper schools. Each was built around a large open quadrangle decorated with stone paths and enormous, century-old trees. We were going toward the upper school's quad, which had academic buildings on one side, while dhampir dormitories and the gym sat opposite. Moroi dorms sat on one of the other ends, and opposite them were the administrative buildings that also served the lower school. Younger students lived on the primary campus, farther to the west. Around all the campuses was space, space, and more space. We were in Montana, after all, miles away from any real city. The air felt cool in my lungs and smelled of pine and wet, decaying leaves. Overgrown forests ringed the perimeters of the Academy, and during the day, you could see mountains rising up in the distance. As we walked into the main part of the upper school, I broke from my guardian and ran up to Dimitri. â€Å"Hey, Comrade.† He kept walking and wouldn't look at me. â€Å"You want to talk now? â€Å"Are you taking us to Kirova?† â€Å"Headmistress Kirova,† he corrected. On the other side of him, Lissa shot me a look that said, Don't start something. â€Å"Headmistress. Whatever. She's still a self-righteous old bit – â€Å" My words faded as the guardians led us through a set of doors-straight into the commons. I sighed. Were these people really so cruel? There had to be at least a dozen ways to get to Kirova's office, and they were taking us right through the center of the commons. And it was breakfast time. Novice guardians – dhampirs like me – and Moroi sat together, eating and socializing, faces alight with whatever current gossip held the Academy's attention. When we entered, the loud buzz of conversation stopped instantly, like someone had flipped a switch. Hundreds of sets of eyes swiveled toward us. I returned the stares of my former classmates with a lazy grin, trying to get a sense as to whether things had changed. Nope. Didn't seem like it. Camille Conta still looked like the prim, perfectly groomed bitch I remembered, still the self-appointed leader of the Academy's royal Moroi cliques. Off to the side, Lissa's gawky near-cousin Natalie watched with wide eyes, as innocent and na?ve as before. And on the other side of the room? ­well, that was interesting. Aaron. Poor, poor Aaron, who'd no doubt had his heart broken when Lissa left. He still looked as cute as ever – maybe more so now – with those same golden looks that complemented hers so well. His eyes followed her every move. Yes. Definitely not over her. It was sad, really, because Lissa had never really been all that into him. I think she'd gone out with him simply because it seemed like the expected thing to do. But what I found most interesting was that Aaron had apparently found a way to pass the time without her. Beside him, holding his hand, was a Moroi girl who looked about eleven but had to be older, unless he'd become a pedophile during our absence. With plump little cheeks and blond ringlets, she looked like a porcelain doll. A very pissed off and evil porcelain doll. She gripped his hand tightly and shot Lissa a look of such burning hatred that it stunned me. What the hell was that all about? She was no one I knew. Just a jealous girlfriend, I guessed. I'd be pissed too if my guy was watching someone else like that. Our walk of shame mercifully ended, though our new setting – Headmistress Kirova's office – didn't really improve things. The old hag looked exactly like I remembered, sharp-nosed and gray-haired. She was tall and slim, like most Moroi, and had always reminded me of a vulture. I knew her well because I'd spent a lot of time in her office. Most of our escorts left us once Lissa and I were seated, and I felt a little less like a prisoner. Only Alberta, the captain of the school's guardians, and Dimitri stayed. They took up positions along the wall, looking stoic and terrifying, just as their job description required. Kirova fixed her angry eyes on us and opened her mouth to begin what would no doubt be a major bitch session. A deep, gentle voice stopped her. â€Å"Vasilisa.† Startled, I realized there was someone else in the room. I hadn't noticed. Careless for a guardian, even a novice one. With a great deal of effort, Victor Dashkov rose from a corner chair. Prince Victor Dashkov. Lissa sprang up and ran to him, throwing her arms around his frail body. â€Å"Uncle,† she whispered. She sounded on the verge of tears as she tightened her grip. With a small smile, he gently patted her back. â€Å"You have no idea how glad I am to see you safe, Vasilisa.† He looked toward me. â€Å"And you too, Rose.† I nodded back, trying to hide how shocked I was. He'd been sick when we left, but this – this was horrible. He was Natalie's father, only about forty or so, but he looked twice that age. Pale. Withered. Hands shaking. My heart broke watching him. With all the horrible people in the world, it didn't seem fair that this guy should get a disease that was going to kill him young and ultimately keep him from becoming king. Although not technically her uncle – the Moroi used family terms very loosely, especially the royals – Victor was a close friend of Lissa's family and had gone out of his way to help her after her parents had died. I liked him; he was the first person I was happy to see here. Kirova let them have a few more moments and then stiffly drew Lissa back to her seat. Time for the lecture. It was a good one – one of Kirova's best, which was saying something. She was a master at them. I swear that was the only reason she'd gone into school administration, because I had yet to see any evidence of her actually liking kids. The rant covered the usual topics: responsibility reckless behavior, self-centeredness? ­Bleh. I immediately found myself spacing out, alternatively pondering the logistics of escaping through the window in her office. But when the tirade shifted to me – well, that was when I tuned back in. â€Å"You, Miss Hathaway, broke the most sacred promise among our kind: the promise of a guardian to protect a Moroi. It is a great trust. A trust that you violated by selfishly taking the princess away from here. The Strigoi would love to finish off the Dragomirs; you nearly enabled them to do it.† â€Å"Rose didn't kidnap me.† Lissa spoke before I could, her voice and face calm, despite her uneasy feelings. â€Å"I wanted to go. Don't blame her.† Ms. Kirova tsked at us both and paced the office, hands folded behind her narrow back. â€Å"Miss Dragomir, you could have been the one who orchestrated the entire plan for all I know, but it was still her responsibility to make sure you didn't carry it out. If she'd done her duty, she would have notified someone. If she'd done her duty, she would have kept you safe.† I snapped. â€Å"I did do my duty!† I shouted, jumping up from my chair. Dimitri and Alberta both flinched but left me alone since I wasn't trying to hit anyone. Yet. â€Å"I did keep her safe! I kept her safe when none of you† – I made a sweeping gesture around the room – â€Å"could do it. I took her away to protect her. I did what I had to do. You certainly weren't going to.† Through the bond, I felt Lissa trying to send me calming messages, again urging me not to let anger get the best of me. Too late. Kirova stared at me, her face blank. â€Å"Miss Hathaway, forgive me if I fail to see the logic of how taking her out of a heavily guarded, magically secured environment is protecting her. Unless there's something you aren't telling us?† I bit my lip. â€Å"I see. Well, then. By my estimation, the only reason you left – aside from the novelty of it, no doubt – was to avoid the consequences of that horrible, destructive stunt you pulled just before your disappearance.† â€Å"No, that's not – â€Å" â€Å"And that only makes my decision that much easier. As a Moroi, the princess must continue on here at the Academy for her own safety, but we have no such obligations to you. You will be sent away as soon as possible.† My cockiness dried up. â€Å"I? ­what?† Lissa stood up beside me. â€Å"You can't do that! She's my guardian.† â€Å"She is no such thing, particularly since she isn't even a guardian at all. She's still a novice.† â€Å"But my parents – â€Å" â€Å"I know what your parents wanted, God rest their souls, but things have changed. Miss Hathaway is expendable. She doesn't deserve to be a guardian, and she will leave.† I stared at Kirova, unable to believe what I was hearing. â€Å"Where are you going to send me? To my mom in Nepal? Did she even know I was gone? Or maybe you'll send me off to my father?† Her eyes narrowed at the bite in that last word. When I spoke again, my voice was so cold, I barely recognized it. â€Å"Or maybe you're going to try to send me off to be a blood whore. Try that, and we'll be gone by the end of the day.† â€Å"Miss Hathaway,† she hissed, â€Å"you are out of line.† â€Å"They have a bond.† Dimitri's low, accented voice broke the heavy tension, and we all turned toward him. I think Kirova had forgotten he was there, but I hadn't. His presence was way too powerful to ignore. He still stood against the wall, looking like some sort of cowboy sentry in that ridiculous long coat of his. He looked at me, not Lissa, his dark eyes staring straight through me. â€Å"Rose knows what Vasilisa is feeling. Don't you?† I at least had the satisfaction of seeing Kirova caught off guard as she glanced between us and Dimitri. â€Å"No? ­that's impossible. That hasn't happened in centuries.† â€Å"It's obvious,† he said. â€Å"I suspected as soon as I started watching them.† Neither Lissa nor I responded, and I averted my eyes from his. â€Å"That is a gift,† murmured Victor from his corner. â€Å"A rare and wonderful thing.† â€Å"The best guardians always had that bond,† added Dimitri. â€Å"In the stories.† Kirova's outrage returned. â€Å"Stories that are centuries old,† she exclaimed. â€Å"Surely you aren't suggesting we let her stay at the Academy after everything she's done?† He shrugged. â€Å"She might be wild and disrespectful, but if she has potential – â€Å" â€Å"Wild and disrespectful?† I interrupted. â€Å"Who the hell are you anyway? Outsourced help?† â€Å"Guardian Belikov is the princess's guardian now,† said Kirova. â€Å"Her sanctioned guardian.† â€Å"You got cheap foreign labor to protect Lissa?† That was pretty mean of me to say – particularly since most Moroi and their guardians were of Russian or Romanian descent – but the comment seemed cleverer at the time than it really was. And it wasn't like I was one to talk. I might have been raised in the U.S., but my parents were foreign-born. My dhampir mother was Scottish – red-haired, with a ridiculous accent – and I'd been told my Moroi dad was Turkish. That genetic combination had given me skin the same color as the inside of an almond, along with what I liked to think were semi-exotic desert-princess features: big dark eyes and hair so deep brown that it usually looked black. I wouldn't have minded inheriting the red hair, but we take what we get. Kirova threw her hands up in exasperation and turned to him. â€Å"You see? Completely undisciplined! All the psychic bonds and very raw potential in the world can't make up for that. A guardian without discipline is worse than no guardian.† â€Å"So teach her discipline. Classes just started. Put her back in and get her training again.† â€Å"Impossible. She'll still be hopelessly behind her peers.† â€Å"No, I won't,† I argued. No one listened to me. â€Å"Then give her extra training sessions,† he said. They continued on while the rest of us watched the exchange like it was a Ping-Pong game. My pride was still hurt over the ease with which Dimitri had tricked us, but it occurred to me that he might very well keep me here with Lissa. Better to stay at this hellhole than be without her. Through our bond, I could feel her trickle of hope. â€Å"Who's going to put in the extra time?† demanded Kirova. â€Å"You?† Dimitri's argument came to an abrupt stop. â€Å"Well, that's not what I – â€Å" Kirova crossed her arms with satisfaction. â€Å"Yes. That's what I thought.† Clearly at a loss, he frowned. His eyes flicked toward Lissa and me, and I wondered what he saw. Two pathetic girls, looking at him with big, pleading eyes? Or two runaways who'd broken out of a high-security school and swiped half of Lissa's inheritance? â€Å"Yes,† he said finally. â€Å"I can mentor Rose. I'll give her extra sessions along with her normal ones.† â€Å"And then what?† retorted Kirova angrily. â€Å"She goes unpunished?† â€Å"Find some other way to punish her,† answered Dimitri. â€Å"Guardian numbers have gone down too much to risk losing another. A girl, in particular.† His unspoken words made me shudder, reminding me of my earlier statement about â€Å"blood whores.† Few dhampir girls became guardians anymore. Victor suddenly spoke up from his corner. â€Å"I'm inclined to agree with Guardian Belikov. Sending Rose away would be a shame, a waste of talent.† Ms. Kirova stared out her window. It was completely black outside. With the Academy's nocturnal schedule, morning and afternoon were relative terms. That, and they kept the windows tinted to block out excess light. When she turned back around, Lissa met her eyes. â€Å"Please, Ms. Kirova. Let Rose stay.† Oh, Lissa, I thought. Be careful. Using compulsion on another Moroi was dangerous – particularly in front of witnesses. But Lissa was only using a tiny bit, and we needed all the help we could get. Fortunately, no one seemed to realize what was happening. I don't even know if the compulsion made a difference, but finally, Kirova sighed. â€Å"If Miss Hathaway stays, here's how it will be.† She turned to me. â€Å"Your continued enrollment at St. Vladimir's is strictly probationary. Step out of line once, and you're gone. You will attend all classes and required trainings for novices your age. You will also train with Guardian Belikov in every spare moment you have – before and after classes. Other than that, you are banned from all social activities, except meals, and will stay in your dorm. Fail to comply with any of this, and you will be sent? ­away.† I gave a harsh laugh. â€Å"Banned from all social activities? Are you trying to keep us apart?† I nodded toward Lissa. â€Å"Afraid we'll run away again?† â€Å"I'm taking precautions. As I'm sure you recall, you were never properly punished for destroying school property. You have a lot to make up for.† Her thin lips tightened into a straight line. â€Å"You are being offered a very generous deal. I suggest you don't let your attitude endanger it.† I started to say it wasn't generous at all, but then I caught Dimitri's gaze. It was hard to read. He might have been telling me he believed in me. He might have been telling me I was an idiot to keep fighting with Kirova. I didn't know. Looking away from him for the second time during the meeting, I stared at the floor, conscious of Lissa beside me and her own encouragement burning in our bond. At long last, I exhaled and glanced back up at the headmistress. â€Å"Fine. I accept.†

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Internal Customers Essay

The people in this department need to know what deliveries are to be made and what products are to be delivered.  Staff Office  The Human Resources department need to know hours worked by employees and if there are any positions to be filled.  Staff Training  They need to know which members of the department will need training and which areas need to be covered in the training exercises.  Cash Office  The cash office needs to know what transactions were made at all the tills in the department and how much money there is in the tills at the end of the working day. This is so they can tally up the stores figures and see how well the shop has performed on that particular day. CCP (Customer Collection Point)  Many goods are collected from the shops CCP such as microwaves. The people at the CCP need to know what is being collected and the transaction number so they can tie up the paperwork, customer and the goods.  Service Desk  When customers have a problem with an appliance they have to go through the service desk so the large electrical department has to get information from the service desk regarding the outcome for instance an appliance may have to be replaced. The large electrical department already employs a number of different customer service techniques to help improve the running and efficiency of the department, which also importantly improves the relationship with the customers. There are however occasions when these strategies don’t work the way that they should and customers can become dissatisfied with the level of service that they feel they are receiving.  Here are some examples of techniques that have recently been introduced in the department to help improve customer services. When staff join the Large Electrical Department the must complete questionnaires to ensure they understand procedures that are carried out in the department. A copy of which can be found in appendix 1. The Introduction of Ticketing system for waiting customers  The department recently introduced a fairly simple but effective ticketing system so that customers are served at the correct time instead of customers just grabbing a selling Partner when they see one that is free. When a customer enters the department they are now greeted by the customer service manager who stands at the Customer Service Podium. The Customer Service Manager gives the customer a ticket with a number on it and records down on the copy of the ticket that the manager keeps some details.  These are:  The customers name.  This creates a personalised service when the sell partner approaches the customer  What they want help on. This is so the Customer Service Manager can send over the right Selling Partner with the right knowledge.  A brief description of the customer.  The description helps the Selling Partner identify the customers easily.  When a selling Partner becomes free they must report back to the podium where the manager will hand the Partner the ticket of the next customer to be served.  This system is much improved from the previous queuing system, which involved the Customer Service Manager patrolling the floor and recording customers name down on a list. This meant that the Manager was never in one place and people may not have been put on in the correct order that they arrived in the department. When speaking to the Customer Service Manager of the Large Electrical department to enquire how successful the new system had been I was also informed of the one major problem there had been with it.  The problem was that when a customer took a ticket they would ask how many people there were before them. If the number was fairly high, for instance five people then it would put people off waiting. It was then up to the Customer Service Manager to reassure the customer that it wouldn’t be too long. I also learned that on leaving the department previous customers who were used to the old system commented on how much better they thought the new system was.  The Introduction of Electrical Telesales at Watford  About two years ago the Branch opened the Electrical Telesales Department, which is part of the Large Electrical Department. The team is based at the branches warehouse, which is down the road from the store at Greatham Road. It is all linked telephonically and by computer to the main store. Customers can phone telesales and place orders for large electrical appliances over the phone by calling the store on 01923 244 266 and connecting to extension 4880. This service is very handy for many customers as they will often come into the store and get information on various appliances and then go home to check that it will fit in the desired space. They can then phone up and order it over the phone by credit or account card to save them making another trip into the store. Some people that have done research on the internet or another media will also use telesales to save them having to come into the store at all, especially people that have very busy lives. It is also designed to take some of the pressure off the actual department so that more time can be spent with each customer in the store. On average there are six partners manning the phones down at telesales. Which isn’t really enough as they are also share with the Television and Audio department. So customers are put on hold, which can be for quite a long time, which frustrates the customers. Pre recorded messages are randomly played to the customers to reassure them that their call is important and will be answered by the next available partner. The telephonists can tell how long a customer has been waiting, and they will answer in a way that will reflect the length of time the customer has waited. Other problems with the telesales team are that there is a weak communication flow between the actual department and telesales. This means that mistakes can be made by telesales as they haven’t received information on changes made in the Large Electrical Department which in turn can have an affect on the customers.  An example of this was when EU legislation can into place saying that the collection of old refrigeration can not be continued because of the gasses inside. Telesales weren’t informed of this and continued to arrange for refrigeration to be taken away. When the deliverymen told customers that they couldn’t take away the old refrigeration this angered customers who had prepaid the 9 collection charge. These mistakes are usually dealt with by offering a goodwill gesture for inconvenience and where appropriate a refund.  On the whole this venture has proved to be a major success as figures shown in the Annual General Meeting showed an increase in Large Electrical Goods with a major percentage going through the telesales team.  This is the information flier that is handed out to customers when visiting the Department if the wish to order over the phone. It give the phone number and extension number as well as a little information on the different services that they offer such as the 2 year warranty and Never Knowingly Undersold motto. Ways of paying at John Lewis  The use of credit cards at John Lewis  Until recently John Lewis didn’t accept payment for goods by any credit card. This was to avoid paying the transaction fees to the banks that is added on when a customer pays using EFT (Electronic Financial Transaction). Apart from this customers were quite prepared to pay for any goods purchased using a John Lewis or Waitrose Account card that offers a low rate of interest. However to give the customer more flexibility John Lewis introduced the use of Credit cards in the Partnership. One of the main reasons for allowing this take place was because of where the transaction fee would go.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"From 5 November 2001, all card payments with the exception of the John Lewis and Waitrose Account Card, are processed for you by John Lewis Card Services Ltd for a 2.5% fee included in the cost of your purchase. The balance is paid to John Lewis plc. The total amount you pay is the same regardless of the payment method.† Source taken from http://www.johnlewis.com  The transactions fee that would normally have to be paid to the bank on any transaction that take place in either the department stores or Waitrose using EFT is retained by John Lewis. This means that John Lewis don’t loose 2.5% of the sale that they have made but keep it as profit.  This move has meant that more customers are attracted to coming into the stores and paying by plastic, which many people prefer to do.  However there is one card that John Lewis still doesn’t accept and that is American Express. This is because of the extremely high level of interest that is associated with this form of payment. John Lewis would still have to pay part of transaction fee if this card was used. These methods of payment can also be used to purchase over the phone using the stores telesales teams and via the Internet. This has all been designed to help create an easier way of shopping for it customers and improve customer services.  Computerised Ordering System  The introduction of the computerised ordering system a year ago has changed the face of the department and the way things are done, within the department. It was also a major turn around for the standard of customer services offered by department. The new system meant that orders could be processed a lot quicker as paper work didn’t have to be sent via the post and orders we received at the warehouse instantly. A lot more options have been opened with this new system, all to the customers advantage, as well as making the whole ordering process a lot easier for the Selling Partner.  Customers can now reserve goods for longer periods of time, place an order for delivery in another part of the country and a lot more. Queries and problems can also dealt with by keeping record of points raised on the on the notepad of the actual order on the system so issues are dealt with much more effectively. Each customer gets a reference number when they place an order so information can be recalled instantly from the system should the need arise.  The quicker service makes buying Large Electrical goods less stressful meaning customers go away from the department happy with the level of service they have just received.  There have, however been a number of occasions when the system has gone down causing absolute chaos in the department as all orders have to be placed manually which is much more time consuming than using the computers. This angers customers who expect a reliable system then works quickly and effectively. With these events the need for the Customer Service manager pays off, as they are someone who can defuse difficult situations. All selling Partners are also trained in dealing with problems but the CSM is there as someone with higher authority.

Monday, July 29, 2019

Analayze Excel Spreadsheet on Italian Goverment Term Paper

Analayze Excel Spreadsheet on Italian Goverment - Term Paper Example Increased production of goods and services in an economy does benefit the standards of living and wellbeing of the citizens in some ways but not always. This is because GDP does not give a clear answer of essential questions such as whether the people are consumption much on the wrong things, or whether people have better quality consumption or whether the savings are too little (Miles and Andrew,56). Additionally, the GDP does not measure elements of wellbeing that are not related to government consumption and financial income: longevity, leisure time, social equality, capabilities, quality of education and many others. This paper tries to analyze the correlation relationship that exists between GDP and government consumption, and between GDP and government bond yield. The GDP and government consumption relationship appears to be in the sense that even though Gross Domestic Product is calculated using numerous measures, government consumption on its part is the single most vital com ponent. In most countries the government consumption exceeds 50% of the GDP while in some this could go beyond 70%. In Italy for instance, government consumption is considered to be the main statistic on which it relies while calculating the GDP. Several studies reveal that the most important relationship between GDP and government consumption is that an increase in the level of consumption results to an increase in the level of the GDP (Miles and Scott, 13). Government consumption is a broad Macroeconomic element hence it is necessary to divide into several components in order to get the real picture of its correlation relationship with the GDP. The consumption of durable goods refers to nonperishable goods and goods that last for a period of more than three years, while on the other hand nondurable goods are the goods consumed for perishable goods or other goods that generally last for less than one year. A country’s treasure is the most impacted area within the economy whe n taking about the bond market (Schaefer, 65). Most economists argue that the most appropriate way in trying to understand the relationship between the bonds and the economy is to think about interest rates as being the cost of money (Taylor, 21). A stronger economy is characterized by high demand of money because greater activity means that there is more of need for cash that can help in financing projects. Theoretically, stronger economic growth makes inflation likely. The Italy Federal reserve is more likely to fight inflation through boosting the interest rates (Miles and Andrew, 77). A projected increase in the interest rates could mean long-term rates could be expected to follow and the vice versa (Schaefer, 112). While all section within the bond market takes their cue for treasure in an ultimate way, government bonds are seen as being the safest investment globally. The long term relationship between bond yields and macroeconomic fundamentals can break down in the short run, particularly during financial stress periods. For instance, after the 2007-08 global crises and despite the pilling up of general government debt in the USA, the United States bonds yields have been trending downwards (Schaefer, 90). On the other hand, borrowing costs in some European countries such as Spain, despite a relatively lower initial level of general debt, have continuously exceeded those of more highly indebted nations such as the UK

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Research proposal Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Research proposal - Dissertation Example A growing and more substantial body of research and studies provide evidence of conflict between intrinsic motivation (a person’s own motivation for undertaking a task) and extrinsic motivation (external and conditionally imposed motivation for undertaking a task) (Benabou & Tirole, 2003; Holmstrom & Milgrom, 1991; Kreps 1997). In response to the diverse range of motivational studies a number of motivational theories have emerged that endeavor to account for the various findings. Such theories include those that focus either on incentives, expectancies or goals, and those that seek explanation of how employees respond to different types of incentives provided. The objective of this study is to take an investigative approach to research the various motivational theories and how they are being implemented within the workplace. A study will then be undertaken in order to determineundertaking a study that will focus on employee perceptions of the motivational incentive systems ope rating within their company, and how they impact on their performance and effort. ... research literature in relation to motivational systems and theories used within the workplace, and has the potential to provide suggestions for future incentive systems that take both intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors into account and foster best opportunities and maximum efficiency and effectiveness of personnel. Literature review Motivational theorists consider that for each and every thing we do (behavior and actions) there is a fundamental reason or cause. They also believe that appreciation of the causes will enable prediction and thus allow for influence on those behaviors or actions (Franken, 2002). Motivational research today focuses mainly on the determination of what spurs motivation - what stimulus is required to increase motivation - and takes both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation into consideration. Intrinsic motivation according to Oudeyer & Kaplon (2007) is best understood when contrasted with extrinsic motivation, which relates to any activity that is un dertaken because of some of kind of reward or discrete outcome. Intrinsic motivation by contrastive definition refers to activities that are undertaken solely for pleasure with no price or value imposed on it (Ryan & Deci, 2000). An important distinction however, is that intrinsic and extrinsic do not mean the same as internal and external and are not synonyms. Internal motivations receive internal rewards, whereas external motivation receives external rewards; intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation however is not determined by where the reward comes from but on the type of reward that is given (Oudeyer & Kaplon, 2007). The theory of incentives has traditionally assumed that concrete and/or intangible rewards such as money, power or investments (Hoy & Miskel, 1991) that are given

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Conceptual Framework of Super Dry Company Essay

Conceptual Framework of Super Dry Company - Essay Example This understanding can be done through carrying out interviews, use of questionnaires, reading different journals on the development of these stores. Interviews are carried out in understanding on the views of different individuals on the development of the store. Questionnaires help in understanding the opinions of individuals on the quality of products that this company produces. These questionnaires can be necessary to the researcher and the company at large; this is because the company will learn about different tastes and preferences of the consumers. The management of the company is a crucial factor to consider in this study. The management is to be transparent if at all an organization is to succeed in realizing its set goals. The social structure of the organization is to well defined where there is a free and healthy environment conducive to the workers (Hasegawaoru, 2002, p. 63). Hypothesis and variables Hypothesis is necessary the testing of different variables to ensure a ccurate data from a research. If super dry stores come up with the appropriate strategy of carrying out its operations then it will maintain its success in attracting more customers worldwide. (Hoover, 2000, p. 47) In addition to that if it is able to deal with its challenges effectively then it will be able to maintain a healthy competitive environment. Dependable variable- success. Independent variable- challenges. Literature review This store has been able to formulate different strategies. Among these strategies has to reach wide range customers all over the world and this has been done through the expansion of its company. Creating more stores that can allow easy access to products by customers in Europe. Another strategy is producing goods according to the customers’ preference and tastes. Checking on the prices of goods is another strategy that has been applied by this store this is done by observing the economic background of the target customers, the affordability of the products (Kare-Silver, 2011, p. II2). The super dry store has been popular through the nature of their products, they produce extraordinary products that are unique than their competitors in the business of fashion. This, therefore, attracts more customers to the products produced. It was noted that communication is an important factor to consider for a company’s success. Good communication should be encouraged between buyers and sellers, management and the workers and finally, there should be good communication between the workers as a whole. Information should be clearly communicated to different specifics. For instance rules, and regulations of an organization should be clearly communicated to the staff members.

Friday, July 26, 2019

History_of_middle_East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

History_of_middle_East - Essay Example The modern Afghanistan owes its beginning at the hands of a Pashtun king, Ahmad Shah Duranni who started ruling the region from 1747. Afghanistan is a country constituted of multiple ethnic and linguistic groups. Pashtun tribes contributing to 42 percent mainly cover the region. The Tajiks who contribute to 27 percent follow the Pashtuns. Following the Tajiks are the Hazaras and Ujbek tribes contributing to 9 percent respectively. The study of Afghanistan’s history has a strong linkage to the Soviet invasion over the region. Russia’s interference over the region of Afghanistan has its inception from the treaty of bilateral friendship made in December 1978. However, the ruler of Afghanistan during 1978, Hafizullah Amin reiterated against on Russia’s growing interference over their political matters, which led to the tarnishing of the relationships between Afghanistan and Russia. Subsequently as an act of revenge, Russia sent troops by air, which invaded Kabul on D ecember 24, 1979. The invasion started with the assassination of Hafizullah Amin and the rise of Babrak Karmal, an exiled Parcham leader. However, Russia’s intention of establishing a Communist government in Afghanistan started facing serious threats from the Afghan communities. The Mujahideens or the Afghan fighters started making life miserable for the Russians, as they were restricted only to the urban centers. These, Afghan fighters backed by American support started gaining grounds to combat the invading Russian troops. By the end of 1985, the Mujahideens formed a guerilla outfit to launch full-blown war against the Russian army. Finally, in May 1986 the Soviet troops were ousted with the fall of Babrak Karmal. The end of the Karmal regime gave rise to the chief of Afghanistan’s secret police, Muhammad Najibullah to become the next Afghan leader. (Background Note: Afghanistan, 2010). The Mujahideen or the Afghan fighters had

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Exam questions Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Exam questions - Article Example Another one is that it is a threat to social freedom. Plato’s study was already revolving around enlightenment, and according to him â€Å"Enlightenment is a Myth and Enlightenment reverts to Mythology†. The criticism more or less conveys the same meaning of critiques made by Adorno. The most powerful claim and argument placed by Mr. Robin Collingwood was â€Å"art is an attempt to achieve beauty†. According to him the physical transformation and appearance is not the beauty but the art, inner self, purity of heart, sculpture is important which defines the beauty. And the one or the thing which looks beautiful is a sublime i-e looks beautiful, inspires you but then evaporate soon. I will go with the second philosopher because Edmund Burke’s view was that sublime and the beautiful are mutually exclusive. So Collingwood’s thought was much better. Beauty is when it rests in the hearts of the people watching or experiencing it and not meant to evaporate or vanish out as the ages fall. Stories Homer and Iliad’s have marked affects on public opinions and shaping ancient Greek values. The reason why Iliad has so much admiration among the ancient’s Greek is because it is an epic poem, which means it was used to speak narrative of â€Å"elevated matters†. Plato also put forward and instruction or an alternative view of poetry as well Aristotle was steeped in Homeric tradition and clearly saw another side which Plato was failed to recognize and analyze. He construed more positively the role mimesis in art opposite of Plato and sees more positivity of homer’s stories in the shaping of Greek culture and values. Robin G. Collingwood has expressed his views in the words that the stories of Homer and Iliad have failed to empathize properly, with the historical actors or comprehend their behavior accurately in their own terms. He also said that they have failed to elucidate the past and they were only used to condemn it. The views by Aristotle were best

What is an organization and why are managers important to an Essay

What is an organization and why are managers important to an organization's success - Essay Example A setting is recognized as an organization if it is created with a certain purpose that is unique to the organization. No organization can ever exist until and unless there are people within the organization because these people are responsible for attaining the purpose for which it was created. Lastly these organizations follow a particular structure to help members of the organization in recognizing their roles and tasks. For example: a school comprises of strict structure in which the school is head by the principal and the principals have certain number of supervisors that are answerable to the principle and who ensure that the aims set by the principle are followed by the teachers. The teachers are answerable to the supervisors and the teachers are responsible for ensuring that the students follow the instructions of the teachers in order to attain the aims that were initially constructed by the principle. All these individuals that work for the attainment of the purpose of orga nization are recognized as managers and these managers are responsible for the performance and the growth of the organization. All the duties that were highlighted for different individuals of an organization fall in the category of management and management is simply defined as the task of a manager. Management constitutes of supervising different tasks carries out by different members of an organization with the objective of ensuring that these tasks are being carried in an effective and efficient manner and this task of supervising the work of others differentiates an individual holding a managerial position from those who work on non-managerial positions (Fleming 9). When managers are involved in the act of ensuring that others in the organization operate in an efficient manner, they make sure that the best possible outcomes are achieved with the investment of least possible resources. This is mainly because managers have to

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Immigration As A Way To Change Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Immigration As A Way To Change Life - Essay Example The underdeveloped living environment, with its darkened and rather unpalatable manufacturing structures, create an  atmosphere of dreariness which is emphasized by the haggard-looking citizens who haul themselves around the city wearily as they live out their lives in both social isolation and fear of the uncertainty that troubling economic environments can cause. During this time period, on the inside the homes of the citizens of Tyler, most interior dà ©cor is completely barren, with tattered curtains and aged weathered furniture. Oftentimes, families have no formal dining areas, causing further psychological damage in terms of finding both self-esteem and a sense of belonging in a hostile living environment. Many families are forced to allow their extended kin to live in their ramshackle apartments or modest domiciles in order to secure enough income simply to keep food in their hungry bellies. In my family, children were forced to crowd into a singular bedroom, which generally consisted of multiple beds, lined up in a perfect row amidst an environment desperately in need of renovation and a splash of color. While other children across the globe experience joy from well-decorated bedrooms, laced with embroidery and posters of famous celebrities or athletes, the sleeping environment in Tyler was as cold and uninviting as the exterior surro undings. During the nighttime hours, my siblings and I would whisper to one another in the quiet night, always trying to drown out the deafening silence which brought sensations of instability and fear of the unknown. Shortages of food and other Westernized products caused significant problems with most of the local community. Because I was amongst the healthiest in my extended family, I was often elected to secure a single loaf of bread so that the family could have a sustainable supper.

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Economic Miracle in Japan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Economic Miracle in Japan - Essay Example Although by definition, a miracle is inexplicable, the basic cause behind Japan's economic success can perhaps be explained in simple terms: the indomitable desire of the Japanese people to grow, their deeply persistent will to succeed at any cost. Between 1945 and 1970, the Japanese economy sustained an unprecedented annual growth rate of nearly ten percent on average (Kosai). But this in itself would seem like a minor detail in comparison to the stupendous driving force that compelled the Japanese people to race towards technological excellence and economic supremacy, most notably during 1960's. In the second-half of 1960's Japan reached a peak of economic progress, with an average of nearly 12% real annual growth rate. And for nearly 40 years surrounding this peak period, the country and its people subordinated all other goals in order to single-mindedly pursue their ambition of catching up with the U.S. economy (Crawford). In fact, their ambition knew no bounds; the aggressive st rain so characteristic of Japanese men, which was employed for the purposes of destruction during the War, was rechannelled into more positive and constructive directions during the years of the economic boom. Consequently, Japan thrived, and even today, as well as for geneartions to come, represents a legendary story of success, an inspiration and exemplar for scores of developing nations in Asia and elsewhere. In fact, Japan should become an inspiration to itself. If this nation could pull it off once - this so-called economic miracle - it can pull it off again. All it needs is a push! While circumstances associated with Japan's days of glory may be at sharp variance from those of today, and while many of its past economic policies stand discredited today, and its culture too is changing fast - deep down, the spirit of this ancient nation remains as powerfully vital as ever. Above all, miracles have to do with spirit - of which Japan perhaps does not need too much before it again becomes a force to be reckoned with. Factors contributing to Japan's High Growth Rate: Although Japan's spectacular economic growth culminating towards the end of 1960's may initially give the impression of not being subject to rational analysis, in the same manner as a painting of supreme artisitry or as a deeply touching Zen haiku, it too is as much a cause-and-effect phenomenon as any other worldly matter. Japan is the purest example of what has become known as a producer economic state. But what lies behind this country's remarkable and record-breaking productivity levels Advances in knowledge, for one thing. Japan's economic success was achieved to a great extent on the basis of a superior technological know-how. The Japanese had the intellectual capacity to soak in vast amounts of knowledge necessary to stay at par with any other nation in our modern techonology-dominated world - and they put their intellects at the service of technology with a vengeance. They not only were able to ingeniously adopt the latest technologies, they actually adapted it to their own needs, and were moreover setting a number of innovative trends in a wide variety of technology-intensive industries. But even more than the share of knowledge, at least

Monday, July 22, 2019

Social Responsibility Essay Example for Free

Social Responsibility Essay Economy is a main component is of having a healthy society not suffering from unemployment and inflation. How is it possible to have social responsible executives acting as agents and not as political officials? (Freidman, 1970). †¢The role of the government is to set a balance between the legislative, executive and judicial branches. Thus, there must be a set of regulations on corporate executives in order not play the role of an elected political official and by not having the complete control in navigating the economy through inflation or deflation. †¢Thus, as indicated by Freidman (1970), this is the basic reason why the doctrine of social responsibility involves the acceptance of the socialist view that political mechanisms, not market mechanisms, are the appropriate way to determine the allocation of scarce resources to alternative uses.(p.3) †¢Therefore, Friedman shares this concept with Cohen in relation to managers and critical leadership of executives. †¢In relation to which aligns best with green environment? Friedman, Cohen and Drucker concepts align with the current business climate promoting a safe environment. What differs is in relation to how far the balance is applied between the social responsibility of a corporate executive and by taking the role of government officials in controlling the economy. †¢Drucker explained the role which must be played by the businessmen in relation to public good, knowing the fact that governments are incapable of completing all obligations. Thus, the question arises: how far is the limit set on corporate executives? The question is crucial in order to avoid the consequences of what Freidman (1975) indicates: †He becomes in effect a public employee, a civil servant, even though he remains in name an employee of a private enterprise.†(p.3) †¢The problem arises when benefits and profits conflicts with the environmental protection. †¢The negligence towards the environment is justified by the reliance on the technological advancement of the future which will heal any damage committed nowadays by companies. Thus, is it justifiable to increase the benefits of a company even though its profits are aimed at supporting ecofriendly technological advancements? †¢Furthermore, statements such as indicated by (Freeman, York and St ewart, 2008), â€Å"Maybe global warming is a simple weather pattern that will reverse in five years.† (p.5) could be justified through scientific evidence conducted by companies having interest in neglecting the environment and increasing its profits. Thus, the critical leadership as indicated above by Drucker in relation to corporate executives is being fulfilled towards the companies interests as well the environment. †¢In addition, lobbying plays a huge role in political campaigns and elections which can surpass the socialist view of freidman by having leaders of private enterprise supporting candidates solely for their economic advantages and neglecting environmental protective policies whether through the national or international level. Cohen, W. A. (2009). What Drucker taught us about social responsibility. Leader To Leader 51, 29-34 http://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=bthAN=35755461site=ehost-live Beebe, G. (2012). Character formation. Leadership Excellence, 29, (6), 20 http://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=bthAN=76463146site=ehost-live Drucker, P.(1981). What is business ethics? Public Interest, 63, 18-36 http://www.nationalaffairs.com/doclib/20080708_1981632whatisbusinessethicspeterfdrucker.pdf Friedman, M. (1970). The social responsibility of business to increase its profits. New York Times 32-33, 122-124, 126 http://www.colorado.edu/studentgroups/libertarians/issues/friedman-soc-resp-business.html

Sunday, July 21, 2019

The Needs Of Older People In Palliative Care Nursing Essay

The Needs Of Older People In Palliative Care Nursing Essay Worldwide, populations are experiencing an increase in life expectancy with associated serious chronic illnesses towards the end of life (World Health Organisation (WHO), 2011). In the UK, 457,000 people require palliative care services annually, however there are significant shortcomings in providing care to all those in need. In a recent survey, by the Palliative Care Funding Review (2011), it was estimated that 92,000 people are not being reached by palliative care services. After decades of declining death rates, we now face the dual demographic challenges of increasing life expectancy and an incline in chronic illnesses towards the end stage of life. As a result a rise in patients with more complex healthcare requirements could be expected. Palliative care advocates a holistic, problem-based approach for patients facing terminal disease in order to improve quality of life and symptom control (WHO, 2009). Studies have shown that, in addition to receiving the best possible treatment, patients want to be approached as individuals and have autonomy regarding decisions affecting their care (Gomes and Higginson, 2008). This essay aims to discuss how an ageing population will influence the delivery of physiotherapy to the older person in palliative care. It will address the current necessary factors required to meet the needs of the older person whilst also evaluate the barriers preventing access to physiotherapy services in palliative care. The role of the physiotherapist will be evaluated with reference to appropriate and current health care policies. In order to discuss meeting the needs of the older person, it is essential to establish a definition of the older person. As defined by WHO (2012) (1) most developed world countries have accepted the chronological age of 65 years as a definition of elderly or older person. Whilst it has generally been agreed by the United Nations (UN) that 60+ years is thought of as the cut-off point when referring to an older person (WHO, 2011). Over the last 25 years, the number of people aged 65 and over in the UK has increased by 18%, from 8.4 million to 9.9 million, and it continues to steadily increase (Office for National Statistics, 2010). Changing demographics mean that on average, people worldwide are living 30 years longer than they did a hundred years ago with life expectancy continuing to increase by approximately 4 months every year (United Nations, 2008). WHO (2011) estimates indicate that by 2050, more than one quarter of the population will be aged 65 years and older. Whilst changing demographics indicate an inevitable increase in population of the older person, patterns of disease are also changing, with more people dying from multiple debilitating conditions such as cardiovascular disease, neurological conditions, and diabetes. It could be argued that advances in medical knowledge and technology have allowed many patients to live longer, however a paradox of this success is that many will struggle in managing such a wide range of diseases, symptoms, and disabilities towards the end of live (Wu and Quill, 2011). Inevitably the combined pressures of increasing life expectancy and greater numbers of people living with multiple conditions at the end of life mean that pressure will be put on palliative health and social care capacity in order to adapt to these changing demographics (NCPC, 2010). Palliative care is defined by The World Health Organisation (WHO) as: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦an approach that improves quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through prevention, assessment and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems. (WHO, 2002) Physiotherapists are vital members of specialist palliative care teams, with a critical role to play in the management of the older person in palliative care (CSP, 2004). Physiotherapists work to restore physical function, reduce pain and disability and increase mobility ultimately improving the life of patients, regardless of life expectancy (Medscape, 2011). The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Oncology and Palliative Care (ACPOPC), guidelines for Good Practice (1993) describes the role of the physiotherapist in palliative care as being: . . . To improve the patients quality of life by helping to achieve maximum potential of functional ability and independence. As recognised by Baldwin and Woodhouse (2011), rehabilitation and palliative care may appear to be at the opposite ends of the spectrum however the World Health Organisations definition of palliative care (WHO, 2002) advocates offering support to improve quality of life and maximize functional ability until death. The appropriate physiotherapeutic intervention can allow functional ability and mobility levels to be maximized, thus improving quality of life. This in return promotes independence for the older person facing end of life. There is sufficient evidence demonstrating that exercise can improve reduced mobility which is so prevalent among the elderly. In a high intensity strength training program of 100 nursing home residents, William (1999) concluded that because of their low functional status and high incidence of chronic disease, there is no segment of the population that can benefit more from exercise than the elderly. A fundamental core value of palliative care is to allow the older person to feel empowered facing the end of their life. Wikman and Faitholm (2006) describe an empowered patient as a patient who works with the multidisciplinary team to formulate goals and make treatment decisions. A fundamental component of physiotherapy is to establish achievable goals with patients and work in partnership with both the patient and relatives to achieve these goals. Within palliative care, realistic joint goal setting provides the patient with control over their treatment when they are experiencing a loss of independence (Robinson, 2000). However, regardless of the evidence demonstrating the benefits of physiotherapy intervention to the older person, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines (2004) found that some patients are still unable to receive access to rehabilitation services. It is suggested that this is due to the patients needs not being recognized by healthcare members and a lack of allied health professionals who are adequately trained in the care of patients under palliative care (NICE, 2004). Despite the important role physiotherapists can contribute and provide to the older person in palliative care, there are current barriers preventing the ageing population from accessing such services. With the current ageing population estimated to increase it is essential these barriers are overcome with measures set in place so that the demands and needs of such changing demographics can be met. To date, the needs of the older person in palliative care has not been a research priority. Current research predominantly focuses on recommendations on the needs of the older person facing end of life as opposed to formal evaluations of the effectiveness of palliative care (WHO, 2004; WHO, 2011). Until recently palliative care has been largely focused towards patients with a cancer diagnosis, with a large majority of palliative care research focusing upon palliative care specifically for the cancer diagnosis (Baldwin and Woodhouse 2011). However it is estimated by the National Council for Palliative Care that 300,000 people die each year from progressive non-malignant disease (Royal College of Physicians, 2007). For example, the Coronary Heart Disease Collaborative (2004) concedes that heart failure produces greater suffering and is associated with a worse prognosis than many cancers (Baldwin and Woodhouse 2011). Whilst a study by Byrne et al (2009) concludes that there is a scarcity of evidence identifying the palliative care needs of patients with neurological conditions. Considering that the number of older people having prolonged long-term medical conditions towards the end of life has been forecasted to increase, the inclusion of non-cancer related diseases within palliative care is essential (Gott and Ingleton, 2011). In correlation with recommendations from WHO (2011) guidelines, in order to meet the care needs of the older person, the dimensions of palliative care need to be expanded to encompass a broader range of conditions. This will require understanding from healthcare staff at all levels. Discussions of ageing and palliative care assume that ageism is an important factor limiting access to palliative care for the older person. The TLC model of Palliative Care, Jerant et al., (2004) argues that palliative care is viewed as a terminal event rather than a longitudinal process. He argues that this can result in unnecessary distress to the elderly patient suffering from chronic, slowly progressive illnesses (Jerant et al., 2004). The TLC model further goes on to recognise that palliative care of the older person is essential to relieve the physical and emotional complications that often accompany chronic long term end of life diseases and the illnesses associated with ageing (Jerant et al., 2004). Therefore, regardless of whether death is imminent, palliative care should be a major focus throughout the ageing process, with physiotherapy services being readily available to improve symptom control (Jerant et al., 2004). It can be predicted that physiotherapy services will be required over a prolonged period as a result of the older person facing more long term, chronic debilitating diseases. This emphasizes the need for palliative care teams to draw upon more physiotherapists to ensure the needs of the older person are met during the end of life. Although changing demographics may suggest that more physiotherapists will be required in order to meet the demands of the older person, the CSP (2004) highlights that in current clinical practice there is already a shortfall of physiotherapists working within palliative care. They further go on to emphasize that a predominant problem in accessing physiotherapy services as part of palliative care is a lack of experienced physiotherapists available CSP (2004). With an increase in ageing population and the changes in demographic trends of long term chronic conditions, a shortage of physiotherapists within palliative care teams will reduce the effectiveness of care packages provided. It is recognised worldwide that physiotherapy in palliative care is a specialty with physiotherapists required to have years of experience before they become involved in palliative care (CSP, 2004; WHO, 2011). Specialist palliative care is defined by the NCPC as a multidisciplinary approach, providing a variety of specialist services to patients facing end of life, either as a result of the ageing process or terminal illness. There is compelling evidence to demonstrate that compared to conventional care, specialist teams improve satisfaction and identify dealing more with patient and family needs, whilst they can also reduce the overall cost of care by reducing the time patients spend in acute hospital settings (House of Commons Health Committee, 2004) It is the ability to call upon a broad range of health professionals in specialist palliative care teams that provides care responsive to the older patients individual needs.  However, physiotherapists are only infrequently incorporated into specialist palliative care teams (CSP, 2004). In order for physiotherapists to be able to meet the demands of changing demographics of the ageing population it is essential that the role of the physiotherapist within palliative care is defined. Although NICE Guidelines on Supportive and Palliative Care (NICE, 2004) set aims relevant to the physiotherapeutic profession, whilst NICE (2011) guidelines on Palliative Care also state that physiotherapists are able to provide specialist skills, there is a lack of specific mention of physiotherapists and the role contributed. Proposals, such as NICE guidelines on Palliative Care (2011) and recommendations by WHO (2011) emphasis the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to palliative care however m entions of specialist palliative care teams are restricted to doctors, nurses and careers. Although guidelines recommend rehabilitation to be available to all patients, the role and effectiveness of the physiotherapist is not highlighted. The NHS Cancer Plan (2000) outlines palliative care guidelines to ensure patients receive the right healthcare services and support, as well as receiving the best, most holistic treatment. However in contradiction to this it has been found by Montagnini, Lodhi and Born (2003) that in the palliative care setting, rehabilitation interventions are often overlooked and underutilized, despite patients demonstrating high levels of functional disability. This has raised concerns as by excluding the attributes of specialist physiotherapists from specialist palliative care teams will be detrimental to patient care (CSP, 2004). More research is therefore required to identify the value and effectiveness of physiotherapy intervention for the older person under palliative care. Furthermore, it is essential that palliative care core guidelines are not just limited to medical teams and that physiotherapists are also recognised and identified as core members of specialised palliative care teams. This will allow for the development and production of a recognised clinical career structure for physiotherapists working in palliative care and thus to keep up with the changing demographics of ageing populations. Specialist palliative care teams encompasses hospice care, including services such as inpatient services, day care and community care as well as a range of advice, education, support and care (NICE, 2011). Given that a common problem presented by the older person is a functional decline in mobility, a major barrier preventing the older person from accessing palliative care services are difficulties leaving the home. Worryingly, physical inactivity has been demonstrated to correlate to an increase in premature deaths of patients under palliative care services, therefore it is essential that provisions are put in place for patients unable to access palliative care services (Pate  et al, (1995); Bryan  et al, (2007). There is an advantage for the older person to receive physiotherapy in their home setting as not only does it provide familiarity but it grants patient centred holistic care. Whilst it has also been found that the older person, specifically with dementia, have been shown to demonstrate greater progress and benefits when treated in a familiar setting such as the home setting rather than the clinical setting (Brissette, 2004). However as stated by Kumar  and  Jim (2011), the scope of physiotherapy practice is influenced by the ratio of qualified physiotherapists to the population. Therefore in order to meet the needs of the older person under changing demographics, the scope of physiotherapy services within palliative care will be required to expand, with more physiotherapists being readily available to treat the older person in outpatient and home settings. CONCLUSION

Investment Appraisal Reading

Investment Appraisal Reading Section 1 Introduction 1.1 This report is an investment appraisal for the property Pink Plaza. Pink Plaza is a 17 year old six storey office building located in the centre of Reading. 1.2 The report includes both a short and long term appraisal of Pink Plaza. The short term appraisal assumes a five year holding period, whilst the long term appraisal assumes a major refurbishment of the whole building after the lease expiry of the ground and first floors (from March 2019). In each scenario an investment value for Pink Plaza has been calculated. 1.3 Pink Plaza was constructed as prime office space in 1989. It is located in Reading town centre and is in close proximity to the mainline railway station. The property is a six storey office block currently let to 4 different tenants. Each storey has a gross internal area of 34,432 sq ft, of which 31,204 sq ft is useable office space. The property has never been refurbished. Section 2 Reading Office Market 2.1 Reading is an established regional commercial centre, located approximately 40 miles west of central London, and 4 miles north of junctions 10, 11 and 12 of the M4 Motorway. The town has good rail, road and air links. 2.2 In terms of employment 9% of the Reading workforce is employed in financial intermediation compared to 4.7% in England and Wales. 2.2 The Reading office market benefited particularly from the rapid growth of high-tech industries in the 1990s. However 2000 saw rapid consolidation in this sector of the market with the sudden end of the â€Å"Dot Com† boom. As a result take-up of office space in Reading fell significantly. Since then take-up has gradually begun to improve with 2005 seeing the highest Reading town centre office take-up (107,331 sq ft) since 2001. 2.3 With the end of the â€Å"Dot Com† boom the Reading office market saw a considerable increase in the amount of surplus office space available. Since then the market has stabilised with the amount of available office space still high but the lack of occupier demand putting developers off building any new speculative office developments. Office supply in the town centre now stands at 761,109 sq ft (2004: 809,647 sq ft). Section 3 Reading Rental Values 3.1 Recent deals on Grade A space suggest that prime market rents in Reading town centre are  £23- £25 per sq ft. This can be seen with Apex Plaza (Barclays Bank plc) achieving a rent of  £23.50 per sq ft, Davidson House (Lloyds TSB) achieving a rent of  £24 per sq ft and Abbey Gardens (Huntswood Ltd) achieving a rent of  £25 per sq ft. Therefore within this appraisal it will be assumed that a prime market rent within Reading is currently  £24 per sq ft. The current rental value of Pink Plaza is estimated to be  £20.90 per sq ft. This figure is based on rental evidence from four comparable properties. 3.2 Apex Plaza -3.2.1 Apex Plaza is a landmark office building in central Reading. It consists of four linked office buildings totalling approximately 205,000 sq ft. -3.2.2 It was originally built in 1989, and is located in a prime position next to Reading railway station. In 2004 Apex Plaza underwent a  £2 million re-fit. -3.2.4 On 2 October 2006 Barclays Bank plc took 6148 sq ft of office space within Apex Plaza on a 14-year lease at  £23.50 per sq ft. -3.2.5 Apex Plaza is a very good comparable property with similarities in size, location and age. However due to the fact that it underwent a re-fit in 2004 its rental value of approximately  £23.50 per sq ft will be higher than that of Pink Plaza. 3.3 Aquis House -3.3.1 Aquis House is a 5 storey office property of approximately 50,000 sq ft. The property is located directly opposite the railway station in the centre of Reading. -3.3.2 The property is on the site of the former Reading central post and sorting office and was redeveloped in 1994. -3.3.3 On 1 May 2006 Horwath Clark Whitehill took 9815 sq ft of second-floor office space on a 7-year lease at  £21 per sq ft. -3.3.4 Aquis House is a good comparable property due to its similarity in terms of location. The property was redeveloped in 1994, five years after Pink Plaza was built, and therefore its rental value of approximately  £21 per sq ft will be higher than that of Pink Plaza. 3.4 Minerva House -3.4.1 Minerva House is located in central Reading. It comprises of office accommodation arranged over 5 floors totalling approximately 59,200 sq ft. -3.4.2 The property was originally built in 1987 and now requires a major refurbishment. -3.4.3 On 1 July 2005 Provecta Car Plan Ltd took 465 sq m of office space on a new three year FRI lease at  £17 per sq ft. -3.4.4 Despite similarities in terms of age and location the property currently requires major refurbishment. It can therefore be concluded that Pink Plaza would command a higher rental value. 3.5 Abbey Gate -3.5.1 Abbey Gate was constructed in 1986 and comprises of a headquarter specification office building arranged over the ground and three upper floors together with storage space on the fourth floor, totalling approximately 44,203 sq ft. -3.5.2 The property is reasonably centrally located with Reading railway station approximately 0.6 miles away. -3.5.3 On 4 November 2005 an undisclosed tenant took 13,117 sq ft of third floor office space on a sublease expiring in May 2010 at  £20.80 per sq ft. -3.5.4 Abbey Gate is three years older than Pink Plaza and is less centrally located. Pink Plaza would therefore be expected to command a higher rental value. 3.6 Conclusion From looking at evidence from four comparable properties it is possible to establish a current rental value for Pink Plaza. Its rental value appears to be between  £20.80 and  £21 per sq ft. It has therefore been concluded that the current rental value for Pink Plaza is approximately  £20.90 per sq ft. From this estimate it can be concluded that Pink Plaza is currently over rented as passing rents in the building range from approximately  £22 per sq ft up to  £28 per sq ft. Section 4 Rental Growth 4.1 Office rental growth The Investment Property Forum forecasts rental growth for all offices between 2006 and 2010 to be approximately 4.5% pa. 4.2 Depreciation 4.2.1 Depreciation has been defined as â€Å"the rate of decline in rental/capital value of an asset (or group of assets) over time relative to the asset (or group of assets) valued as a new contemporary specification.† (Law, 2004) 4.2.2 There have been a number of previous studies of the impact of depreciation on real estate, particularly in the UK. Law (2004) analysed all of these studies and found that the seemingly consistent results were an illusion as they all used a variety of measurement methods and data. 4.2.3 The figure used for depreciation in this report is based on findings from the Investment Property Forum report, ‘Depreciation in Commercial Property Markets (2005). 4.2.4 It must be highlighted that results are complicated by the period of analysis that the report uses, with analysis starting in the aftermath of the major U.K. real estate recession of the early 1990s. 4.2.5 The report, using a 19 year sample, from 1984 to 2003, establishes office rental depreciation to be approximately 1.0%. 4.3 Conclusion 4.3.1 From these findings the assumed net rental growth rate used in this appraisal will be 3.47%. 4.3.2 This figure is established using the following formula: -Net rental growth rate = ((1 + Rental Growth) / (1 + Depreciation)) -1 = ((1 + 4.5%) / (1 + 1.0%)) -1 = 3.47% Section 5 Reading Office Yields 5.1 In the second quarter of 2006 it has been reported that in the Thames Valley prime yields are just below 5% net initial yield (NIY). Within Reading prime yields appear to be higher than this figure. This can be seen in the example of Prudential Campus, 121 Kings Road: 5.2 Prudential Campus, 121 Kings Road -121 Kings Road is located in central Reading. It comprises of office accommodation arranged in three linked blocks with five floors totalling approximately 179,929 sq ft. The property was completed in 1992 and was formerly Huntley Palmer factory. -On 9 August 2006 Oppenheim Property Fund Management purchased the freehold interest from IM Properties plc for  £66 million, as an investment, reflecting a NIY yield of 6.17% and an ARY of 7.22%. 5.3 Using figures from the CBRE UK Prime Rent and Yield Index it can be seen that there has been a steady compression of yield levels in the South East office sector and in the overall national office sector since 2004. Graph 1 below demonstrates this. Graph 1 5.4 This yield compression can be linked to the strong investor demand for U.K. property that has been seen during this period. Direct property has performed extremely well during this period and once again 2006 sees direct property outperforming gilts and equities. 5.5 Despite continued investor demand for U.K property, latest forecasts predict that yield compression in the office sector will gradually slow. But higher levels of rental value growth over the next few years will provide valuable support to maintain current yield levels. 5.6 This report has forecasted an ARY for a refurbished Pink Plaza of 6.75%. This figure is based upon current prime ARY comparables and by forecasting an ARY trend line using the CBRE UK Prime Rent and Yield Index. 5.7 Clearly the unrefurbished Pink Plaza cannot expect to achieve such a low yield as an equivalent prime (new or refurbished) property in Reading. There are a number of comparables that can be used when forecasting an ARY for an unrefurbished Pink Plaza. 5.8 Minerva House -Minerva House is located in central Reading. It comprises of office accommodation arranged over 5 floors totalling approximately 59,200 sq ft. The property requires major refurbishment. -On 10 June 2006 Schroders plc purchased the freehold interest from Miller Developments Ltd for  £12 million, as an investment, reflecting a NIY of 6.75% and an ARY of 8.0%. 5.9 Reading Bridge House -Reading Bridge House is located in central Reading. It comprises of office accommodation arranged over 9 floors totalling approximately 114,960 sq ft. The property was built in 1975 and was refurbished in 1986, since then no further work has been carried out. -On 1 December 2006 Jones Lang LaSalle Limited purchased the freehold interest from Exemplar Properties Limited for  £30 million reflecting a net initial yield of 6.40% and an ARY of 7.65%. 5.10 Added to this comparable evidence it is forecasted that in the Thames Valley office sector investors will continue to chase well-located, rack-rented stock with a significant percentage seeking active management and refurbishment/development opportunities. Therefore it is likely that there will be continued yield compression for properties that match these characteristics such as Pink Plaza. 5.11 The ARY for Pink Plaza unrefurbished is estimated to be 7.75%; this is based upon comparable evidence and forecasted information. Section 6 Building Costs 6.1 The BCIS provide current estimate building costs for office refurbishment. Unfortunately the BCIS only provide estimate figures for (a) 3-5 storey and (b) 6+ storey buildings. Pink Plaza is a 6 storey building. Within this appraisal the figures provided for a 3-5 storey building will be of greater accuracy and would be more appropriate to use than those of a 6+ storey building. The BCIS estimates that it currently costs  £37.64 per sq ft to refurbish an office building of 3-5 storeys. This figure is a mean average and may differ significantly from the actual cost of refurbishing Pink Plaza. 6.2 The building will be available for refurbishment in March 2019, the refurbishment will take up to two years (including sale period) and therefore the building cost is inflated over a 14 year period. The assumed growth rate is 5.84%. This figure is an average of the building cost inflation forecast for 2006 to 2011. Section 7 Other Costs 7.1 The management cost of this property is calculated as 1% pa of the value of the rental income. 7.2 The cost of rent review is assumed to be 4% of the new annual rent at each review. 7.3 The cost of purchase is assumed to be 5.75% of the purchase price. 7.4 The cost of sale is assumed to be 2.5% of the sale price. Section 8 Target Rate of Return 8.1 The Target Rate of Return (TRR) is 3% above the rate on a medium term Government bond. 8.2 The current rate on a medium term Government bond is currently 5.09%. 8.3 TRR= Risk Free Return + Risk Premium = 5.09% + 3% = 8.09% Section 9 Pink Plaza- Lease Considerations 9.1 It has been reported that during 2005, in the U.K office market, 26% of expired leases were renewed. 9.2 In terms of occupiers exercising break clauses it has been reported that in the office sector the propensity to break for over rented units is 61%. More detailed analysis has shown that it was tenants in larger office units that have been taking advantage of the option to exercise their breaks. 9.3 The standard void rate for South East offices is approximately 14 months. Within this report it has been assumed to be 15 months. This is due to the high supply of office space that exists within Reading (See 2.3) in comparison to other areas within the South East region. 9.4 In the U.K office sector the tenant default rate was 0.6%. 9.5 Large Financial Institution A occupies a net usable space of 62,408 sq ft on the ground and first floors of Pink Plaza. They currently pay  £1,750,000 pa which works out as  £28.04 per sq ft. Their thirty year lease began in March 1989 and provides for upwards only rent reviews (UORRs) every 5 years. There are no breaks. Therefore it is assumed that the space will be occupied until March 2019. 9.6 A Major Bank occupies a net usable space of 62,408 sq ft on the second and third floors. They currently pay  £1,750,000 pa which works out at  £28.04 per square foot. Their twenty-five year lease began in March 1990 and provides for UORRs every five years. There is a break at years ten and twenty. It has been assumed within this report that the Bank will exercise its break clause in March 2010. This is due to the fact that the property is currently over rented and that it has been found that tenants in larger office units are more likely to exercise their break clauses. There will then be a void period for five quarters until it is re-let for the current market rent on a seven year lease. It has been assumed that this lease will have an UORR in year five, and will expire in June 2018 with the occupiers then vacating the premises ready for the refurbishment in March 2019. 9.7 Large Financial Institution B occupies a net usable space of 31,204 sq ft on the fourth floor. They currently pay  £775,000 pa which works out at  £24.84 per sq ft. Their ten year lease began in December 2000 and provides for UORRs every 5 years. There are no breaks. It is assumed that the accommodation will be occupied until December 2010. It has then been assumed that the space will remain vacant for five quarters until it is re-let for the current market rent. The new lease will be a seven year lease with a UORR in year five. The lease will expire in March 2019 with the occupiers vacating the premises in time for the planned refurbishment. 9.8 Large Solicitors occupies a net usable space of 31204 sq ft on the fifth floor. They currently pay  £700,000 pa which works out as  £22.43 per sq ft. Their fifteen year lease began in March 1998 and provides for UORRs every 5 years. There is an opportunity to break at year ten. The company has just recently laid off 10% of its staff. It has been assumed that the solicitors will exercise their break in March 2008 due to the property being over rented and the fact that they are downsizing. It has then been assumed that the space will remain vacant for five quarters until it is re-let for the current market rent. The new lease will be a nine year lease with a UORR in year five. The lease will expire in June 2018 with the occupiers vacating the premises for the planned refurbishment. Section 10 Summary 10.1 Based upon the specific requirements set out in the clients instructions and the figures that have been forecasted within this report, a short term investment appraisal of Pink Plaza estimates an investment value of  £66,859,450. Therefore if the client, based on their current requirements, decided to purchase Pink Plaza as a short term investment with an assumed five year holding period their maximum offer should be equal to this figure. 10.2 The long term investment appraisal estimates an investment value for Pink Plaza of  £70,129,034. This assumes a 15 year holding period with a major refurbishment planned after the lease expiry of the ground and first floor in March 2019. Therefore if a long term strategy is adopted for Pink Plaza the clients maximum offer should be equal to this figure. 10.3 It should be noted that these figures do not include any purchase costs which are currently estimated to be 5.75% of the purchase price. 10.3 Many of the figures used in this investment appraisal are based upon short-term forecasts and current comparables. Forecasting 15 years in advance on the basis of this data is problematic. Therefore close attention should be paid to the Reading business market in relation to the wider office market. Current trends suggest that Reading will maintain its position as a key location for business services. Constraints on town centre supply will also favour growth in this sub-market and with Pink Plazas prime location in Reading there is reason for optimism.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

How does Shelley prepare us for the horror of Frankenstein’s creature? :: English Literature

How does Shelley prepare us for the horror of Frankenstein’s creature? Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein in 1818. Shelley (the wife of poet Percy Shelley) first got inspiration for her book in Geneva. There she stayed with her husband, Lord Byron and a few others. They were all challenged to write a ghost story during a hellish storm. Though she did write a story it was a forgettable on. The real inspiration came on June 22nd, the night before Shelley’s departure. The group discussed a subject from de Stael’s ‘De L’Allemagne’ where they considered whether the principle of life could be discovered and whether scientists could be discovered and whether scientists could galvanize a corpse of manufactured humanoid. This was the true inspiration for Shelley and the next morning she had found her story and began writing the lines that opened Chapter 5 ‘It was a dreary night in November’ The alternative name for this novel is ‘ the modern day Prometheus’ The original myth written by Aeschylus, was about a man named Prometheus that tried to create life by manipulating a human out of clay. The two variations to myth merged together and fire became the compound used to animate the objects/images. This myth can be compared with Frankenstein because the elements, fire and electricity used to animate were said to me discovered by man. And in both the creators were punished, although god punished Prometheus. This is relevant because the myth points us in the direction the novel Frankenstein will go and Shelley uses this as analogy for her story. Eventually the overreaches trying to defy nature will be punished. Shelley also alludes to Milton’s paradise lost where if Frankenstein is compared to Adam in paradise lost then the reader finds they are quite similar. Both characters have a thirst for knowledge, which end in their downfall. Frankenstein is also like Satan in that both characters wanted to surpass God; Frankenstein may have wanted to become a greater scientist but he wants more power for selfish ambition just like Satan. Frankenstein wants to be the only person that is able to create a human life and he wants to greater than his nature, however Satan is punished in Paradise lost and this hints at Frankenstein’s fate and the direction of the novel. Mary Shelly signed the novel anonymously signifying that in society at that time women weren’t very respected, in fact they were ostracized. Shelley’s novel was shunned, a critic said ‘ the book had no principle or morals and should be dismissed with no further comment’. In science reason and rationality were the biggest genres for the 18th century

Friday, July 19, 2019

A Comparison of the Main Approaches to Personality Psychology Essay

A Comparison of the Main Approaches to Personality Psychology Psychology of personality is a difficult concept to define and quantify, therefore most personality theories, however different they may be in other respects, share the basic assumption, that personality is a particular pattern of behaviour and thinking, that prevails across time and situations and differentiates one person from another. Most theories attempting to explain personality represent part of the classic psychological Nature verse Nurture debate. In other words, is personality â€Å"inherited†, or developed through our interactions with the environment. In addition, we shall compare and contrast two of the main approaches to personality psychology by concentrating on Psychoanalytical Theory (Freud) and Social Learning Theory (Bandura). By looking at the Psychodynamic approach, developed by Freud, we can argue that it emphasizes the interplay of unconscious psychological processes in determining human thought, feelings, and behaviours. The basis of this approach is that psychological factors play a major role in determining behaviour and shaping personality. Freud argued that personality is composed of three major systems the id, the ego, and the superego. The id (biological part of personality) is present at birth and consists of inherited instincts and all psychological energies. The id operates according to the pleasure principle, seeking to reduce tension, avoid pain and obtain pleasure. The ego (executive part of personality) is conscious part of the mind, the â€Å"real† us. The function of the ego is to express and satisfy the desires of the id in accordance wit... ...ogist, 33, 344-358t Bandura, A. (1982). Self- efficacy mechanism in human agency. American Psychologist, 33, 334-358 Mischel, W. (1984). Convergence and challenges in the search for consistency. American Psychologist, 39, 351-364 Rotter, J. B. (1966) Social learning and Clinical Psychology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ; Practice Hall Rotter, J.B. (1966) Generalized expectancies for internal verse external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 80 (1, Whole No. 609) Alfred, A. (1927) The practice and theory of individual Psychology. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Carlson, R. Neil and Martin, Neil, and Buskit, W. (2004) Psychology (2nd European edition). Essex: Pearson Education Limited Gross, R (1996).Psychology, The Science of mind and behaviour (3rd Ed). London: Hodder & Stoughton