Discussing why Facebook recently acquired Whatsapp Essay

Discussing why Facebook recently acquired Whatsapp - Essay Example Facebook and whatsapp are among the leading social media platforms we have in the modern world. The two social Medias have significant number of users that each pose a threat to another as far as the social media business is concerned. In comparison to other social Medias that have been in existence before the invention of whatsapp, facebook was dominating the market with the highest number of users. With the coming of whatsapp in the social media market, it intensified the completion to a point where facebook opted to acquire it. Apart from the excessive competition in the social media market brought about by Whatsapp application, there are many other ways to justify the acquisition of Whatsapp by Facebook. Just like in other forms of business, one business my either merge with another or fully acquire it depending on the business environment they both face. According to studies by Ireland, Hoskisson and Hitt (2012 pp.133), one business may acquire another in order to increase its growth, gain market power, manage risks and reduce costs. In relation to such acquisition reasons, Facebook owners made the move to acquire Whatsapp in order to increase its growth in the social media market. Acquiring Whatsapp, which is a strong competitor, would also help Facebook manage the risk of elimination from business and cut costs of operation such as advertising. Management of such factors would subsequently lead to an increase in the market power by Facebook. In studies conducted by Frankel (2011 pp.22), he notes that, among the main reasons why one business may acquire another include customers and market share. One business may want to take over the customers of a competing business and successively take over the market share. In relation to the above studies, Facebook will take over the users of whatsapp and subsequently its market share. This is possible because Whatsapp has the ability to attract many users than facebook. Studies

Chemistry and Anatomy Essay Example for Free

Chemistry and Anatomy Essay My life began as a simple and talented student in Geneva. My father was Alphonse Frankenstein, who was a wealthy, rich and benevolent man. I was the first son of my father, Alphonse Frankenstein. My mother Caroline visited a beautiful orphan girl, Elizabeth Lavenza, fair-haired girl. She was adopted by my family and was my cousin. I had two brothers who were very lovely and they loved me and Elizabeth a lot. My best friend was Henry Clerval, who was a considerate man. I became a student of Chemistry and Anatomy in the quest to determine what gives life. I was a young man who led a happy and peaceful life, but the events happened after, made a great change to my living. The world according to me was a secret of research, creation and experimenting. I learnt the theories of electricity and galvanization. I also initiated a theory of how to create human life using the principles of electricity. I became devoted to the human creation and the spark of life that I had abandoned earlier. I asked my University for specimens to make my creation. I figured out what gives life.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I have begged my University for specimens. They say I’ve had all their best material for years, and produced nothing to show for it.† I feel that I have begged my University for some specimens to make my creation, but they refused to afford me the specimens because they say that they have given all the best pieces of specimens to me for creating nothing. Finally, I got the body parts from the graveyard. Then I went out without my meals to buy some chemicals. I took the body parts from the corpses. I stored my chemicals and specimens in the dissecting room so that it would be safe. I constructed a giant man, 8 feet tall, with super human strength and endurance from harvested body parts that I took from the corpses. I worked secretly without rest for almost a year. I can tell you that I was a bit disappointed with my creation. My perfect creation was a frightening disaster. My creation was a result of horror.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"No, this isn’t what I wanted. Oh, dear god, what have I done?†Ã‚  I was not at all happy with my monstrous creation. So, I rejected, abandoned and left him away. I was also scared, frightened and afraid of him. I also avoided my scientific studies because it remained me about the disastrous experiment. I wanted him to help and like mankind. This was not what I expected. I wanted my creation to be helpful rather than being a nuisance. My excitement soon changed when my creature came into life. My lovely, little brother William was murdered by my creation, the monster. Elizabeth cried a lot and I was not able to convince her. She also told me that my five- year-old brother, William and she went for a walk. She also told me that she saw William disappear. She was searching for him all over. I examined what had happened and found out that it was the monster, who was responsible for the murder of my brother. I was very angry with the behaviour of my creation. I created him to help human life and not to destroy them. He came to my room. I was very angry at him and wanted to destroy him. He told me to control my temper and he asked me to listen to him. He told me that the only person to be kind to him was Agathe, a young blind lady. The other villagers chased him away through their dogs. He also told me that his intention towards William was not to kill him. Then he explained to me about what had happened. He told me, â€Å"I put my hands to his mouth to silence him, because I was afraid.†Ã‚  The monster asked William to play with him for a while. But William shouted and refused to play with him. So, he just kept his hands in William’s mouth to silence him and request him to play with him. He also convinced me by telling the truth, but I am very sad that my brother is being murdered by my creation.  I was asked by the monster to make a bride to the monster. I agreed to him because as a creator, I should have to fulfill the wishes of my creation. He said to me that,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species and have the same defects. This being you must create.† He conveyed me his feelings of how it was to be alone without a companion or a comrade. He also gave me two years time to make a complete creation. He also told me that he would not trouble me in the time in between. I repulsed myself to make a bride for the monster. I wanted to finish the bride before marrying Elizabeth. I was also worried that the monster may harm my family. I still found it difficult to make the second monster. I made it because he told me that he wanted to love. I also made it, but this creation was spoilt by the monster, himself. The thing where he went wrong was, giving wrong wire connections to the creation and made it destroy. I explained to him that,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"She’ll never live now! Monster, what have you done?†Ã‚  He thought that he knew to make his own creation. He acted over- smart by giving the wrong wire connections and destroying his bride by himself. I beautifully laid out the bride in white colour clothes, to symbolize that she was going to get married. There is no use for him to commit the murders of Elizabeth and Clerval, by knowing that was his fault. I was really angry when he killed my brother, William. Then, he explained to me about what had happened. He told me that,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I put my hands to his mouth to silence him, because I was afraid.†Ã‚  It was my fault to create him and abandon him. Since I have created him I lost my Elizabeth, Clerval and my dear brother William. I got the feelings of how it was to face death. If I think of him, my first thoughts were, why did I create him? I found it like a battle of â€Å"Evil vs. Good†.

Schizophrenics and Schizophrenia: Drugs are NOT the Solution :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Schizophrenics and Schizophrenia: Drugs are NOT the Solution Last month, I shadowed a physician for four days. When I arrived at her office on the first day, she said to me, "Prepare yourself, we are going to the Provident." The Provident is a nursing home for the severely mentally ill. Many of the patients living there are under fifty years old, some are as young as thirty. None of the residents have any money. All are receiving welfare and are on Medicare. We entered the building into a room where approximately 15 people were sitting in chairs. Most were staring straight ahead, eyes glazed. Some were chattering quietly to themselves, some were walking around with an awkward gait. As I walked further through the floor looking into rooms, I saw many people sleeping in their beds. I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if the people living at the Provident were suddenly not taking any medication. Would they be out of control? Was it possible that beneath all of the drug-induced stares, shakes and speech impediments that an alert person existed? Perhaps their diseases had prevented them from interacting with other people in what would be considered a "normal" way. But are they better off now that they are too drug-altered and often depressed to interact at all? As a society, we try to get rid of things we are afraid of, things which make us nervous and things we don't understand. Perhaps mental illness is not so much a problem for the mentally ill, but for their communities who can not and will not empathize with them. I wonder if people suffering from a mental illness are not really suffering at all, but are simply a behavioral minority. Their behavior prevents them from being accepted by the majority. They can not find work or often even a place to live, as these things are controlled by the majority. Instead, for those that are ironically considered lucky, the majority gives them medication and often sends them away to a locked facility. For this second web-paper, I will try to explore these questions by learning about schizophrenia, a common diagnosis at the Provident. Some have argued that people "afflicted" with schizophrenia have a damaged I-function. That is, schizophrenics are not capable of responding appropriately to their environment because their I-function is not fully grown or as well-developed as a "healthy" person. Schizophrenics and Schizophrenia: Drugs are NOT the Solution :: Biology Essays Research Papers Schizophrenics and Schizophrenia: Drugs are NOT the Solution Last month, I shadowed a physician for four days. When I arrived at her office on the first day, she said to me, "Prepare yourself, we are going to the Provident." The Provident is a nursing home for the severely mentally ill. Many of the patients living there are under fifty years old, some are as young as thirty. None of the residents have any money. All are receiving welfare and are on Medicare. We entered the building into a room where approximately 15 people were sitting in chairs. Most were staring straight ahead, eyes glazed. Some were chattering quietly to themselves, some were walking around with an awkward gait. As I walked further through the floor looking into rooms, I saw many people sleeping in their beds. I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if the people living at the Provident were suddenly not taking any medication. Would they be out of control? Was it possible that beneath all of the drug-induced stares, shakes and speech impediments that an alert person existed? Perhaps their diseases had prevented them from interacting with other people in what would be considered a "normal" way. But are they better off now that they are too drug-altered and often depressed to interact at all? As a society, we try to get rid of things we are afraid of, things which make us nervous and things we don't understand. Perhaps mental illness is not so much a problem for the mentally ill, but for their communities who can not and will not empathize with them. I wonder if people suffering from a mental illness are not really suffering at all, but are simply a behavioral minority. Their behavior prevents them from being accepted by the majority. They can not find work or often even a place to live, as these things are controlled by the majority. Instead, for those that are ironically considered lucky, the majority gives them medication and often sends them away to a locked facility. For this second web-paper, I will try to explore these questions by learning about schizophrenia, a common diagnosis at the Provident. Some have argued that people "afflicted" with schizophrenia have a damaged I-function. That is, schizophrenics are not capable of responding appropriately to their environment because their I-function is not fully grown or as well-developed as a "healthy" person.

Sociology and Tutor Marked Assignment

Foundation Course in Humanities and Social Sciences Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) Course Code: BSHF-101 Assignment Code: BSHF-101/AST/TMA/2012-13 Total Marks: 100 A. Descriptive Category Questions (DCQ) answer any two in 500 words each: 1. Analyse the evolution of man as a tool making animal. 20 2. Does the post – Industrial society differ from the Industrial society? Explain 20 3. Analyse the role of Gandhi in the National Movement. 20 4.How do you assess the performance of Indian Economy during the initial years of Globalization (since 1991)? 20 B. Middle Category Questions (MCQ) answer any four in 250 words each: 5. Discuss the achievements of Renaissance in the field of art and architecture. 12 6. Has the Indian Economy made any progress in the field of Distributive justice? 12 7. Discuss the directive Principles of State policies. Discuss the fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. How are the different? 12 8.What role do non-state actors play in the dem ocratic process? Discuss. 12 9. What role does coordination play in the management of organizations? Discuss. 12 10. Discuss the concept of governance. Is fostering openness in the system a part of good governance. 12 11. How do you look at the concept of ‘Human Security’? D iscuss. 12 12. Discuss the concept of â€Å"Digital Divide†. How do you think it can be bridged? 12 C. Short Category Questions (SCQ) 6+6 a) b) c) d) Secularism Bharatnatyam Ellora Paintings Kyoto Protocol 4

A neo-slave narrative Essay

Often, man resorts to story-telling as a way of reconciling with a formidable incident in the past. By re-telling the story to another party, he comes to accept that this is a reality to be faced. He realizes that acceptance, rather than denial, is the best way of going about this trouble. Aside from the rehabilitating ability of story-telling with its contributory effect in dealing with a painful memory, others simply do this as a way of remembering. Concretizing the past as a piece of literature would ensure that the incident would not just be buried in the recesses of the memory; that it would be kept alive and the pains and suffering would not be without significance. In this light, it would come clear for readers how and why the proliferation and the presence of slave narratives came about. One may think that with the end of the painful era of slavery, all dialogues and discussion about the subject would also desist. For the African-American slaves and their descendants, this was not the case. The words of Robert Crossley of the University of Massachusetts rerated the thought: â€Å"First-person American slave narratives should have ceased being written when the last American citizen born into institutionalized slavery died. But the literary form has persisted, just as the legacy of slavery has persisted, into the present. † To be more specific, the birth and popularization of the slave narratives started in the nineteenth century. James Olney stated that each narrative â€Å"a unique production† as an autobiography, and â€Å"is not every autobiography the unique tale, uniquely told, of a unique life? Therefore, the uniqueness of each narrative from the others is a trait of this genre, as it narrates the experiences of the writers which are unique to another’s. However, certain characteristics are evidently similar in the work to be considered a part of the genre. For one thing, it has to tell the story of a black slave’s struggle for literacy and freedom, while testifying against the â€Å"peculiar institution/’ which in practice meant human bondage and humiliation (Gates, â€Å"Introduction† ix). By the second half of the twentieth century, a sub-genre of the slave narrative has arisen; called the â€Å"neo-slave narrative,† it is a fictional mutation of the slave narratives of nineteenth-century Americans (Crossley). This sub-set of the slave narrative genre is very similar with its umbrella genre in the sense that it presents personal accounts of slavery. However, the difference lies in the choice of the author to fictionalize existing accounts, and not his own personal experiences. The authors base the structure of their fictional work on the oral histories and existing slave narratives to make sure that the story would still echo true events in the historical sense. The birth of this sub-set of the slave narrative genre may be attributed to the void that it fills, or attempts to fill. Anita Wholuba in her paper said that the chasm which is attempted to be explored and filled is the ironic presence of silence in slave narratives, despite of the voice earned by the slave narrative writers. Wholuba said that â€Å"while a significant number of scholars have established that certain silences exist in the traditional narrative of history, neo-slave narrative authors have committed themselves to the task of identifying and sounding those silences where the representation of the American slavery era is concerned. † A novel titled Kindred, penned by Octavia Butler, is among the body of neo-slave narratives published in the last century. It was published in the year 1979, and speaks of an African-American woman’s sojourns to the past. The character Dana, lives in contemporary California, but is transported back in time to the antebellum South. In her involuntary travels to the past, she understands how difficult the situation for people before her ancestors actually was. As I was reading Kindred, I had the initial impression that it was just to be appreciated for its science fiction values. Although the science element in this novel was not so much as it was felt in other novels from the same genre, her meshing of science fiction and history was an innovation that should be noted and lauded. In any case, what caught my attention more was the similarity Kindred has with other novels we have read subsequently in the class, which were the Narrative of the Life of Frederic Douglass, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, and Up from Slavery. Evidently, there were characteristics of a slave narrative in the novel Kindred. However, the text didn’t meet the five criteria for it to be called a slave narrative, the genre which the other works fell under. As Kindred is a work of fiction, it would naturally be categorized as a neo slave narrative, a concept I came to be familiar with after research. Kindred as a neo-slave narrative With the plot and simple and direct language employed by Butler, Kindred could not be missed as a neo-slave narrative. Characters that are actual African-American slaves and Caucasian American masters and violence inflicted on slaves are presented in the novel. On a deeper sense, on the other hand, the novel follows the same pattern present in other slave narratives. Wholuba in the same paper added that although the text refers to other slave narratives such as the work written by Douglass’, in an effort to explore existing themes, the novel still manages to introduce new themes. The new themes that this novel presented, according to Wholuba still, include a more blunt â€Å"analysis and depiction of the slave’s struggle for sexual autonomy, the experience of middle passage, and the concept of memory. † As was mentioned, the novel Kindred follows the typical pattern for a slave narrative, and this will be the thesis of the paper. It will attempt to discuss and prove the characteristics of a slave narrative present in Butler’s popular piece of art. Another writer mentioned some of the other patterns commonly found in neo-slave narratives. Lysik mentioned in her essay that neo-slave narratives portrayed the â€Å"vital slave culture† in a positive light as it could serve as a means of surviving the brutal reality they are subjected to (Lysik). What this implicates is that the writers of the neo-slave narratives provide a new perspective in terms of viewing the arduous tasks and obligations slaves have to fulfill. Most authors show how slaves then turn this otherwise appalling condition to something that they could actually seek refuge in. First and foremost, the novel carried a prefatory statement by a person from Caucasian American race attesting to the authenticity of the author. The second criterion which has to be satisfied is the movement from slavery to freedom. Kindred has been classified under slave narratives by critics as leans toward the freedom narrative category. This concept will be further discussed in the following paragraphs. Aside from this, the most obvious criterion which the novel has to satisfy is that the story should portray the physical, emotional, and spiritual deprivation of slavery. Kindred, undeniably, does not fall short on this end. As the journey through time and space allows Dana to witness the events during the period of slavery firsthand, the novel is rich with narration regarding the struggles of the African-American slaves. Through Dana’s experiences, the tales of the different forms of deprivation and coercion were regaled to the readers. James and his contemporaries talked of this in a paper, saying that many forms of violence and intimidation were observed to be used to maintain white dominance in the slave economy through the eyes of the character of Dana. These â€Å"preservation† measures, so to speak, included the sexual violence against black women that was common during slavery, the assault on black families, the difficult choices that black people were compelled to make in acts of love, survival, and resistance, and the outcomes of internalized oppression (James, et. al). A specific scene in the novel would be that time when Dana personally witnessed the beating of a slave. The slave was hunted by white patrollers because of a crime that would seem absurd for people of the modern times: the slave was found spending time with his wife in their own bedroom without the slave master’s permission. The following text is lifted from the novel: I could literally smell his sweat, hear every ragged breath, every cry, every cut of the whip. I could see his body jerking, convulsing, straining against the rope as his screaming went on and on. My stomach heaved, and I had to force myself to stay where I was and keep quiet. Why didn’t they stop! â€Å"Please, Master,† the man begged. â€Å"For Godsake, Master, please †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I shut my eyes and tensed my muscles against an urge to vomit. I had seen people beaten on television and in the movies. I had seen the tored blood substitute streaked across their backs and heard their well-rehearsed screams. But I hadn’t lain nearby and smelled their sweat or heard them pleading and praying, shamed before their families and themselves. I was probably less prepared for the reality than the child crying not far from me. (p. 36) What made the scene worse than it was already is the fact that the daughter of the slave was also witnessing what was happening. She was situated a few yards away from Dana, but as the character said, â€Å"I was probably less prepared for the reality than the child crying not far from me,† we can surmise that the child could better deal with the situation than Dana for this was not a phenomenon for her any longer. It had become part of her reality that it is possible for her father to be punished for doing something, however trivial it may be, which is against their master’s will. The horror of the situation in antebellum South of America then was clearly depicted in this specific scene. Dana’s reaction to what she witnessed represents the reactions of her fellow African-Americans and of people from different nations who oppose such inhumane violent inflictions. As Butler effectively mixed fiction and narrative in this novel, the outcome of the story-telling was as much effective as it was sincere. Another trait that must be found in the text is the element of a triggering event that pushes the slave to escape to be considered a neo-slave narrative. For this particular novel, there were many instances which depicted this. The many times when the protagonist Dana feels the need to escape can be included here. However, what would be the more fitting example here is Alice, the woman who was going to give birth to Dana’s ancestor. Being a slave who was forced to bear and mother a ruthless master’s children, she was a character who was forced to the point of brokenness of the spirit. At some point, readers will also see her desperation because of the situation. There was a time, however when Alice was determined to run away with her husband, Isaac. What triggered this was the series of beatings she had to go through and the physical assault made by Rufus on her, â€Å"when Rufus who has torn Alice’s dress and raped her,† (Butler, 117). Isaac beat their master to death because of this event, but because of Dana’s pleas, decided to stop and run away with Alice. However, their escape was to no avail. They were eventually recaptured, which led to more unacceptable punishment for them from the patrollers. Isaac’s ears were cut off and he was sold to another family. Alice on the other hand, had to survive attacks by hunting dogs. While the desire for escape was a theme discussed many times in the text, it must also be noted that success did not always come with it. Isaac and Alice were not the only characters who had to endure unsuccessful escapes. Two other women characters in the novel were recaptured and were subjected to more physical abuse when they attempted to leave. According to Wholuba, these failed attempts are important as they reveal to readers how the slaves had to find other ways to resist or survive, when liberation is impossible for them to attain. Despite of this, there was one character who was able to manage a successful escape. Though she had lost her arm in the process of going back to the real world she belonged in, she was able to acquire freedom from Rufus nonetheless. As another trait of slave narratives is that there is a situation which depicts liberation, or escaping to freedom, which is often followed by a renaming. In Dana’s case, changing her name did not transpire after the escape. The shift that took place in this context was the shift in her attitudes and understanding. Her character can be actually accused of being too oblivious to the events in her people’s past, which can only be a good thing to an extent. She is married to Kevin, a white American, who may also be guilty of the same thing. The blissful marriage between the two despite their racial differences should not be the main point of discussion; whereas, it should be set on the seemingly it-happened-so-long-ago-it-should-not-affect-us-anymore attitude of the interracial couple. However, after her numerous trips back to antebellum Maryland, she was forced to open her eyes and mind to what her ancestors had to go through. The situations had forced her to remember, to understand from the viewpoint of a slave who endured the slavery period. With this, she was able to connect what used to be different for her: her current life as a modern woman engaged in an interracial relationship, and the history and experiences of her ancestors. Looking at it, the couple Dana and Kevin may be representing the African-Americans in the modern times, who do not look back anymore at what happened in the past. This novel then, may serve as a reminder for them that the past should not be forgotten, but rather should be immortalized for the lessons that have been begotten from it. Impact of the novel Clearly, Butler was able to evoke positive reactions and was actually able to initiate change on the part of her readers. The most palpable change that she was able to make is to remind her fellow African-American readers of their past and have a change of heart and attitude toward their past. Crossley also observed this change that Butler facilitated with this novel. According to him, Butler â€Å"has deployed the genre’s conventions to tell stories with a political and sociological edge to them, stories that speak to issues, feelings, and historical truths arising out of African-American experience. † As I have mentioned in the preceding paragraph, she makes the readers understand that the past should not be forgotten because of the pains that it may rekindle. The novel reinforces that remembering the past would not the allow struggles of their ancestors to be left to disintegrate in vain. The purpose that their sufferings serve would be kept alive, and that is to comprehend the mistakes of the past to prevent any similar event to happen again. Another interesting point that Crossley raised in his essay was that Butler, through the novel Kindred, was able to reveal the connection between history and the current diseases of the society. She boldly exposed different forms of chauvinism and explained how these are â€Å"enriched by a historical consciousness that shapes the depiction of enslavement both in the real past and in imaginary pasts and futures, and enact struggles for personal freedom and cultural pluralism,† (Crossle). In conclusion, Kindred is a novel that goes beyond satisfying the extrinsic values of a science fiction novel. The words expressed by James and his fellow authors can best summarize what the novel does to a reader: â€Å"Readers can recognize many parallels in our own search for truth about this painful history, and we are moved to consider: how powerfully and inextricably we are bound to the lives of our ancestors; how racism, denial, myth-making, and racial stereotypes have influenced our understanding of our cultural heritage; how the past shapes our present reality; how revisiting a painful past can lead toward healing; and how we can best use our historical memory to move forward (James, et. al)†. Summary: Neo-slave narratives, which is a sub-genre of the slave narrative, proliferated by the second half of the twentieth century. The neo-slave narrative genre is very similar with its umbrella genre, which is the slave narrative, in the sense that it presents personal accounts of slavery. However, the difference lies in the choice of the author to fictionalize existing accounts, and not his own personal experiences. The authors base the structure of their fictional work on the oral histories and existing slave narratives to make sure that the story would still echo true events in the historical sense. A novel titled Kindred, penned by Octavia Butler, is among the body of neo-slave narratives published in the last century. It was published in the year 1979, and speaks of an African-American woman’s sojourns to the past. Evidently, there were characteristics of a slave narrative in the novel Kindred. However, the text didn’t meet the five criteria for it to be called a slave narrative, the genre which the other works fell under. As Kindred is a work of fiction, it would naturally be categorized as a neo slave narrative, a concept I came to be familiar with after research. With the plot and simple and direct language employed by Butler, Kindred could not be missed as a neo-slave narrative. Characters that are actual African-American slaves and Caucasian American masters and violence inflicted on slaves are presented in the novel. On a deeper sense, on the other hand, the novel follows the same pattern present in other slave narratives. As was mentioned, the novel Kindred follows the typical pattern for a slave narrative, and this will be the thesis of the paper. It will attempt to discuss and prove the characteristics of a slave narrative present in Butler’s popular piece of art. First and foremost, the novel carried a prefatory statement by a person from Caucasian American race attesting to the authenticity of the author. The second criterion which has to be satisfied is the movement from slavery to freedom. Kindred has been classified under slave narratives by critics as leans toward the freedom narrative category. Aside from this, the most obvious criterion which the novel has to satisfy is that the story should portray the physical, emotional, and spiritual deprivation of slavery. Kindred, undeniably, does not fall short on this end. As the journey through time and space allows Dana to witness the events during the period of slavery firsthand, the novel is rich with narration regarding the struggles of the African-American slaves. Through Dana’s experiences, the tales of the different forms of deprivation and coercion were regaled to the readers. Another trait that must be found in the text is the element of a triggering event that pushes the slave to escape to be considered a neo-slave narrative. For this particular novel, there were many instances which depicted this. The many times when the protagonist Dana feels the need to escape can be included here. Aside from this, another trait of slave narratives is that there is a situation which depicts liberation, or escaping to freedom, which is often followed by a renaming, was also present in the novel. In Dana’s case, changing her name did not transpire after the escape. The shift that took place in this context was the shift in her attitudes and understanding. In conclusion, Kindred is a novel that goes beyond satisfying the extrinsic values of a science fiction novel. More importantly, Butler was able to evoke positive reactions and was actually able to initiate change on the part of her readers. The most palpable change that she was able to make is to remind her fellow African-American readers of their past and have a change of heart and attitude toward their past.

Breast Cancer Symptoms and Causes

Breast Cancer Symptoms and Causes Introduction Breast cancer affects mostly women, which results from the breast tissue found in the inner coating of the milk ducts or the lobules, which are charged with the task of supplying milk. A number of breast cancer varieties exist, including ductile carcinomas, which originate from the ducts and the lobular carcinomas, which originate from the lobules.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Breast Cancer Symptoms and Causes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Studies show that breast cancer is only common in human beings and a few other mammals. It should be noted that breast cancer occur in men as well meaning that it is not a disease that strictly affects women. Breast cancer is curable if it is detected at an early stage, even though the screening process has always been the matter of controversy in the world of science. Screening has some advantages, as well as numerous side effects. This paper aims at evaluating the costs of screening (Sariego, 2010). The treatment offered to patients suffering from cancer is influenced by the characteristic of the cancer type. Some of the curative measures available include surgery, the use of medicine, exposure to radiation and immunotherapy. This article looks at the symptoms and the causes or the factors that predisposes people to breast cancer briefly before proceeding to evaluate the effectiveness of the diagnosis techniques. Signs and Symptoms Breast cancer is one of the killer diseases in the modern society all over the world. One of the major symptoms is the development of a lump, which is usually very different from other breast tissues. Studies show that all patients suffering from breast cancer felt the lump before they were diagnosed of the diseases. The mammogram is the first indication of breast cancer, even though other indications such as the presence of the lymph nodes in the armpits are also the early indications of breast cancer. Other s ymptoms of breast cancer include the thickening of breast tissues whereby it might lead to one breast becoming larger. Moreover, a nipple may change its position to an extent of becoming inverted. In some patients, rushes in the nipple indicate the symptoms of the disease and in some instances there might be a discharge from the nipple (Lacroix, 2006). Even though pain around the breast or the armpit is not a reliable symptom, it is also an indication that might warrant diagnosis. It might be difficult to diagnose certain types of breast cancer such as inflammatory breast cancer. The symptoms of this type of cancer might resemble those of a simple inflammation such as itching and the swelling of the breast. Causes or Risk Factors of Breast Cancer The predisposing factors of breast cancer include the sex of an individual and the age. For women, the major predisposing factors are childbearing meaning that the more an individual have children, the high the risks of contacting breast ca ncer. This factor is closely related to breast feeding.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Other risk factors include high hormone secretion, the diet of an individual, and other diseases such as obesity. Under the lifestyle of an individual, it is established that the intake of tobacco is the main predisposing factor to breast cancer. Individuals known to smoke have always been diagnosed with the disease. The earlier an individual starts smoking, the higher the chances of contracting the disease. In fact, the case is serious to those individuals who use tobacco for long and lack physical exercise. In 1980, s study established that induced abortion is one of the risk factors of breast cancer because those who procure an abortion were diagnosed with breast cancer. However, recent studies have confirmed that breast cancer is not associated with miscarriages or induced abor tions. A direct relationship between breast cancer and the diet of an individual exist, especially when it comes to fat intake because people who consume too much fat are likely to suffer from cancer in the future. Some of the foods and drinks are not also healthy, such as alcohol because they increase the risk of contracting breast cancer. Studies have proved that a number of chemicals could actually cause breast cancer in women, especially breast feeding women. Some these chemicals include those used as pesticides and polychlorinated chemicals. Some people contract breast cancer owing to their genetic susceptibility to some environmental factors. However, studies show that genetics as a risk factor causes less than ten percent breast cancers in all patients. This study shows that the chances of inheriting cancer from the parent are very low, even though there is some possibility (Buchholz, 2009). Those with certain genes, particularly BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are in higher r isk of contracting breast cancer. As far as genetics is concerned, the above genes cause up to 90% of all genetically related cancer. There was a breakthrough in 2012 as regards to the risks that genetics pose because one of the studies proved that four types of genetically related breast cancers exist. Some medical conditions predispose people to breast cancer. Some of these conditions include atypical hyperplasia, and lobular carcinoma in situ. Diagnosis and Screening: Mammography Breast cancer behaves in the same way as other forms of cancer because it forms as result of the interaction of the environment with defective gene. It entails a process whereby ordinary cells divide so many times before stopping at some point.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Breast Cancer Symptoms and Causes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The divide cells stick to other cells before settling at the tissues. Cancer is said to have occu rred when mutations destroy the ability of cells to divide. Cells would instead attach themselves to other cells. Breast cancer is diagnosed through the process of microscopic therapy, which takes place with the help of the biopsy. Some types of breast cancer are complex meaning that they require specialized machines and technologies to diagnose. The most important process is to conduct the screening of the cells. Additional testing is performed to ascertain whether the detected lump is cancer since not all lumps are cancerous. The findings of noninvasive investigation and mammography are sufficient tests to prove that an individual is suffering from cancer. Mammography is an important process that detects not only cancerous cells, but also other lesions. It entails the utilization of low energy X-rays, which are usually less than 30kVp, in scanning the breast to establish whether it is infected with cancer. It should be understood that the technique is used both as diagnostic techn ique and a screening tool. Mammography is undertaken specifically to detect cancer at its early onset. The main aim of the process is to detect micro-calcifications. The process uses some doses of ionizing radiation, just like other X-rays, to provide images that are later evaluated in diagnosing the disease. The energy used should be kept low since breasts do not have strong bones or muscles, as is the case with bones. Ultrasound is usually recommended to evaluate the masses of the cells in order to detect the disease (Reynolds, 2012). It is suggested that women go through the process after every two years, especially after they attain age fifty. Mammography as a diagnostic tool and a screening technique has both advantages and disadvantages. However, it should be noted that the technique is so effective in diagnosing and screening cancer patients. Those in support of the use of mammography as screening tool argue that many people should turn up for screening since the technique ha s helped in lowering the number of cancer deaths since 1990. Studied in Sweden and Netherlands pointed out that women could be saved from the killer diseases owing to the presence of the mammography technology (Destounis, DiNitto, 2004). The studies proved that 1.8 women could be saved from the dangers of the disease if regular diagnosis and screening is encouraged. Critics have been quick to mention that many women suffer psychologically due to wrong diagnosis. Others are even forced to go through the strenuous process of screening yet they do not suffer from the disease.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One of the recent studies suggested that mammography technology does not reduce deaths in any way but instead it causes cancer panic and the desire to undergo medical checkup frequently. Some women have gone through surgical invention yet they do not suffer from cancer. It is even noted with concern that frequent checks and subsequent screening may bring about more harms as compared to benefits. Overall, the use of mammography is beneficial to women because it helps them determine their cancer status. References Buchholz, T. (2009). Radiation therapy for early-stage breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery. English Journal of Medicine, 360(1), 63–70. Destounis, S., DiNitto, P. (2004). Can computer-aided detection with double reading of screening mammograms help decrease the false-negative rate? Radiology, 232(2), 578–584. Lacroix, M. (2006). Significance, detection and markers of disseminated breast cancer cells. Endocrine-related Cancer, 13(4): 1033–1067. Reynolds, H. (2012). The Big Squeeze: A Social and Political History of the Controversial Mammogram (ILR Press/Cornell University Press. Sariego, J. (2010). Breast cancer in the young patient. The American surgeon, 76(12), 1397–1401.

Understanding the Difference Between Whine and Wine

Understanding the Difference Between Whine and Wine The words whine and wine are homophones: they sound alike but have different meanings. Definitions The verb whine means to make a high-pitched noise or to complain or beg in a childish way. The noun whine refers to the act of whining or to a complaint uttered in a whining tone. The noun wine refers to the fermented juice of grapes (or other fruits), used as an alcoholic beverage and in cooking. Examples The woman would yowl at him for not cutting enough wood for her stove and would whine about the pain in her back.(Flannery OConnor, The Crop, 1946. The Complete Stories. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1971)On his control panel, the tiny bulbs  grew brighter, straining under a surge of power.  The room lights flared, bathing the shack in a bright, naked glow The incessant alarms were drowned out by  the whine of the  engines now. It  all happened in seconds.(Abrahm Lustgarten,  Run to Failure: BP and the Making of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster.  Norton, 2012)For their first date, she once told me, my father changed into rough pants and a T-shirt, crammed a loaf of bread and a jug of wine into his rucksack, and took my mother on a hike up Bells Canyon.(Tom Matthews, Our Fathers War. Broadway Books,  2005)Crazy Sunday again. Joel  slept until eleven, then he read a newspaper to catch up with the past week. He lunched in his room on trout, avocado salad and a pint of Calif ornia wine.(F. Scott Fitzgerald, Crazy Sunday. The American Mercury, 1933) There were bright rugs on the oiled floor, tasteful religious paintings in ornate  frames, camelback sofas  upholstered in wine-colored velvet, and silver everywhere, twinkling in the late afternoon light sliding through the small curtained windows.(Loren D. Estleman, City of Widows. Tor Books, 1994) Idiom Alert Wine and DineThe expression to wine and dine (someone) means to entertain someone in a lavish manner or to treat someone to a costly meal.What was wonderful was that they seemed  to energize each other.  He  wined and dined  her in the expensive, three- and four-star restaurants that made up his culinary universe. She introduced him to the other New York, the one with hundreds of fabulous places to eat that didnt require frou-frou clothes, major jewelry and a trust fund.(Doris Mortman, Before and Again. St. Martins Press, 2003) Practice (a) In the dark, he listened behind a sheltering yew hedge. . . .  A chilly wind moving through the yew leaves like water, the  steady _____  of the all-clear signal, the dim, distant barking of dogs, but no human sounds, no loud footfalls to indicate a strangers approach.(Paul Griner, The German Woman.  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009) (b)  They sat  and  sipped the _____  while they waited for their food to arrive. Answers to Practice Exercises Answers to Practice Exercises: Whine and Wine (a) In the dark, he listened behind a sheltering yew hedge. . . .  A chilly wind moving through the yew leaves like water, the  steady whine of the all-clear signal, the dim, distant barking of dogs, but no human sounds, no loud footfalls to indicate a strangers approach.(Paul Griner,  The German Woman.  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009)(b)  They sat  and  sipped the wine while they waited for their food to arrive.

17 Amazing Scholarships for Moms and Single Mothers

17 Amazing Scholarships for Moms and Single Mothers SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Mothers and single mothers have it harder when trying to get a college education. In addition to balancing a full academic course load, they are also responsible for feeding, clothing, and financially supporting their children. Studies suggest that up to 60% of families headed by single mothers are living in poverty- which makes the idea of spending money on education even more difficult to fathom. Fortunately, there are multiplecompanies who want to help moms and single moms improve their situations through education. Read on to see a list of scholarships directly aimed at mothers who are pursuing higher education. Who Are These Scholarships For? Many organizations want to help mothers get back into the classroom. They believethat if moms are getting college degrees,thenthey will be able to get better jobsand eventually be able toprovide morefor their families. There is a lot of help out there for mothers and single mothers who are ready to put in some hard work. Use this article as a starting point to explore some of the opportunities out there for moms to return to school. I have split the scholarships into two categories: Scholarships for moms returning to college after a break Scholarships for single mothers However, if you're serious about funding your education, don't stop there. There are many other scholarships available that are not aimed specifically at moms, but that mothers who are pursuing degrees can and should still apply for. They're discussed in more detail at the end of this article. Scholarships for Women Returning to School These scholarships are for students who are returning to school after taking a break. If you're fresh out of high school, these are not for you! AARP Foundation Women’s Scholarship This scholarship is aimed at women aged 50+ who want to go back to school. Awards range from $500 to $5,000 and are given to around 350 people every year. Winners must enroll in an accredited university within six months of winning the scholarship. Applicants will have to write a short essay about their educational goals and significant obstacles that they have overcome. AAUW Virginia Beach Branch Scholarship Students who are residents of Virginia Beach and at least 23 years old may apply for this scholarship. You should currently be enrolled in an undergraduate program at an accredited institution and have returned to school after being away. You should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants must write a short essay about their career goals and special circumstances. At least one award of $500 will be given. Arizona BPW Foundation Annual Scholarship The Arizona Business and Professional Women's Foundation gives out several scholarships aimed at women who are returning to school to better their career prospects. Applicants must attend a community college or trade school in Arizona and will need to write an essay about their career goals and financial situation. The application deadline is December 10th. Award amount varies. BK Krenzer Reentry Scholarship This scholarship is awarded by the Society of Women Engineers to a non-traditional student who has re-entered education after a break. Students should be studying any kind of engineering and may be college freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors. The award is for $3,250. Dr. Wynetta A Frazier Sister to Sister Scholarship This scholarship is aimed at African American women who are either returning to school after a break or who are starting college for the first time following a break after high school because of family responsibilities or other personal demands. Applicants must be able to confirm acceptance into a college or university to pursue a BA degree, must be at least 21 years of age, and need to write an essay on a given topic. Two awards of $500 will be given. Emerge Scholarship Emerge Scholarships are aimed at non-traditional women students who are going back to school after a break. Applicants must be residents of Georgia who are planning to study in Georgia, be at least 25 years of age, and must express their career and life goals in the application. The number of awards given varies every year; last year 14 were given. The award amount ranges between $2,000 and $5,000. Executive Women International Scholarship EWI offers the Adult Students in Scholastic Transition Scholarship (ASIST) for adults who are facing economic, social, or physical challenges and are looking to improve their lives through education. Students must first apply through local chapters, and then chapter winners will be entered to win at the corporate level. Corporate level scholarships are for amounts ranging from $2,000 to $10,000. There are 13 winners. Jeannette Ranking Women’s Scholarship This scholarship is aimed at women who are 35 years of age or older, low-income, US citizens or permanent residents, and are pursuing their first bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, or technical degree. Selection will be based on applicants'stated goals and plans for reaching them, and how theyplan to use theireducation to give back to the community. The award amount is around $2,000. Non-Traditional Student Scholarship Applicants must be members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, or Sons of the American Legion. Applicants should be non-traditional students returning to the classroom after a period of interruption, or be starting education at a later point in life. Winners will be selected based on need, academic achievement, character and leadership, and personal goals. A $2,000 scholarship is awarded in every Auxiliary geographic division. The deadline is March 1st. P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education This grant is intended for women whose educations have been interrupted and who want to return to school to complete a degree or certification. Applicants should be citizens of the USA or Canada and be studying in one of those countries. They should have had at least 24 consecutive months as a non-student in their adult lives and be within two years of completing their desired educational program. Awards are up to $3,000. Society of Women Engineers Olive Lynn Salembier Scholarship and Mary V. Munger Memorial Scholarship Applicants must be members of the Society of Women Engineers and must have been out of the engineering workforce and school for at least two years prior to re-entry. The Olive Lynn Salmbier scholarship awards $2,000 and the Mary V. Munger Scholarship awards $3,000. Scholarships for Single Mothers These scholarships are specifically aimed at single mothers. Helping Hands for Single Moms This scholarship is designed for low-income single mothers who are earning a college degree. Applicants should have US citizenship and live in Maricopa County or the Phoenix metropolitan area. They must also be legally single and not living with a partner, be registered in college with a GPA of at least 2.8, carry at least a 9-credit-per-semester course load, and have at least one child under the age of . The award amount varies. The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation This Foundation offers five scholarships for moms every year to women who are at least 17 years oldandare mothers with minor children. Applicants should be pursuing an Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, or a vocational degree or certificate, and be low-income. Awards are up to $5,000. WISP: Change Your World Scholarship Applicants must be women who are direct survivors of an abusive partner. You must have been separated from the abusive partner for at least one year. Special consideration will be given to women who plan to use their educations to further the rights of other women and girls. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers Single Mother Scholarship Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers offers two $1,000 scholarships to single mothers who are looking to go back to school to improve their living circumstances. Applicants must write a 500+ word essay on the advantages of going back to school while caring for their children. They should explain how motherhood has prepared them for the challenges of being a student. Live Your Dream Awards Program These scholarships are for women who provide primary financial support for themselves and their dependents and have overcome obstacles such as poverty, domestic violence, or drug and alcohol abuse. Applicants should have financial need and live within a Soroptimist International member territory. Local-level award amounts vary; local award winners become eligible for regional awards of $3,000 or $5,000, and regional award winners are eligible to win international-level awards of $10,000. The application is open August 1st-November 15th of each year. Ford Opportunity Scholarship The Ford Family Foundation offers scholarships to assist single parents in pursuing a bachelor’s degree. They recognize that as the head of household and without the support of a partner, single parents face many challenges that most students do not face. Applicants must be single parents of dependent children and live in Oregon or Siskiyou County, California. Up to 50 students receive scholarships every year. The scholarships cover 90% of the student’s costs that are not covered by other resources, generally ranging between $1,000 and $25,000. If you're looking for moreways to fund your education, there are many other scholarships available. Read on to learn about some of your other options and how to apply to them. How to Find Other Scholarships No matter what you are studyingor where you plan on attending school, you will likely be eligible for scholarships beyond those that are just for mothers. Finding and applying to these other scholarships is a great way to increase the amount of money you have for school. A good place to start is by looking into scholarships for the areas you want to focus your studies on. Almost all disciplines have a number of scholarships available. Furthermore, if you have chosen to pursue a field in which women are traditionally underrepresented, such as the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math), you will find that there are scholarships specifically set aside for women in these areas. Next, try searching for scholarships that relate to your interests, hobbies, or special circumstances. For example, there are a number of weird, random scholarships out there for people who happen to have certain last names or characteristics (like being left-handed), and there are even more scholarships for people who have more conventional qualities, such as an interest in art or music. Keep searching until you come up with a long list of scholarships that you can apply to. Now that you know about your different options read on to learn how to win these scholarships! How to Win Scholarships Rule 1: Applyto Multiple Scholarships Keep in mind that many scholarships are competitive, meaning there are hundreds- or thousands- of people applying for them. You can greatly increase your chances of winning a scholarship or two by applying for a large number of scholarships.We recommend applying to anywhere between five and 30 scholarships. Rule 2: Be Meticulous Follow the required instructions for every essay and question. Pay particular attention to supporting documents that you will need to send with your applications, and keep on top of deadlines. As mothers, you're short enough on free time as it is- don't make it worse by spending time on incomplete or incorrect applications that will get you nowhere! Rule 3: Keep Applying Don't stop applying for scholarships just because you're in your second, third, or fourth year of college. In fact, there are many scholarships out there that are aimed specifically at students in the final yearsof their education. If you're able to continue bringing in new money sources throughout your academic career, you will end up with much less debt when you graduate. Rule 4: Find Other Support Keep an eye out for any other support that will help you. For example, some parents are eligible for government grants while they're studying. You will likely find that you are not the only parent at your school- see if you can coordinate childcare with others so that you can get the most for your money. Also, see if your school offers any special aid or discounts for parents to provide their children with safe housing and hot meals. You may be surprised by how much your university or college will want to lend a helping hand! What's Next? Now that you know about scholarships for moms, take a chance to learn about other scholarships and how to apply for college. If you want to apply to some great scholarships not listed above, check out our guides to theNational Merit Scholarship,McDonald's Scholarship, andTylenol Scholarship. Did you know that sometimes getting a scholarship is as easy as applying to your school of choice? Check out thislist of schools that automatically offer scholarships based on grades and test scores. Need a letter of recommendation for a scholarship? Here's how to get one. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Brainstorm one of the ten topics given (pls refer to description Essay

Brainstorm one of the ten topics given (pls refer to description uploaded) - Essay Example The Wal-Mart was founded in 1962 in Rogers, Akansas by Sam Walton. Expanding the number of outlets based on the success of the initial outlet, Sam Walton replicated the winning formula in to the Wal-Mart Chain of outlets. The company was incorperated as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.in 1969. It was first listed on the New York Stock Exchange in year 1972. In year 1990 the company becomes the largest retailer in USA. Its foreign operations start in 1991 with a store in Mexico city. Since then the company has grown locally and intenationally with a host of strategic acquisitions such as the Woolco- canda, ASDA-UK and Amigo- Pueterico. The ompany holds 9% of the US retail storemarket share by revenue. Out of every $100 spent in U.S. retail shops, $ 8.90 is spent every year at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is the largest employee in USA, Canada and Mexico. The company operates its own real estate company which is the largest in the United States. Wal-Mart alos operates the largest private sattalite communication system which links its suppliers and stores located globally. 138 million shoppers across the world are catered by Wal-Mart each week. 82% of American households have made at least one purchase at Wal-Mart. Its scale of operations is as big enough to impact on the US economy itself. â€Å" Wal-Mart increased the US economys overall productivity by three-quarters of a percent by highly efficient distribution systems and pressure on suppliers to be more efficient† (Wikipedia) Wal-Mart operates 5 categories of outlets. These include Wal-Mart Discount Stores , Wal-Mart Supercenters, Wal-Mart Neighbourhood Market, Sams Club and Wal-Mart International. It also operates Wal-Mart Online. These store formats differ by their average floor space and merchandise. Sams Club which operates on deep discounting basis caters to small business owners who are members of the club. The supercenters feature exprsess Lube

Internal Analysis and SWOT Analysis of Southwest airlines Term Paper

Internal Analysis and SWOT Analysis of Southwest airlines - Term Paper Example Southwest Airline started its operation in 1971 in the United States of America, and their aims have been focused on being different from the other airlines and to provide better services at a lower cost. Southwest airline is a healthier and a more composed airline company in the United States which has gained a large amount of revenues even in the hard times of recession. The weaknesses include the absence of Southwest airline in the international market and the unavailability of the business class seat arrangements. The strengths of the company overpowers its weaknesses therefore, the company is far ahead of its competitors in the competition race. It is recommended to the Board of Directors and the CEO that Southwest Airline has the leading market share in the competition but it cannot solely compete on the basis of low cost but it has to develop some further core competencies in order to compete in the market. The airline firm must always make their employees productive and fuel hedging should be avoided. Introduction: Southwest Airline began its operation in 1971 in the United States of America, and their aims have been focused on being different from the other airlines and to provide better services at a lower cost (Southwest Airline, 2012). This report is a proposal to the Board of Directors and CEO of the Southwest Airline which focuses on the internal analysis of the Southwest Airline. The paper would accomplish the task of analyzing the performance of the company and synthesizing the int ernal analysis with the external analysis of the Southwest Airline. Finally, the paper provides the results and findings about the company’s overall SWOT analysis and provides recommendations to the responsible authorities about Southwest Airlines performance. Strengths Rating Southwest airline is the low-cost carrier operating in the United States 5 The company remains higher ranked airline in terms of customer satisfaction 4 The airline hires the best people, best people for the best job 4 It was the first airline to introduce online ticket 5 Southwest has over 550 Boeing aircrafts which reduces training cost 4 Fuel hedge contract helps in managing the fuel cost effectively 4 Total 26 Weaknesses Rating The absence of Southwest airline in the international market 5 The seating arrangements are not classified for the business class 3 The aircrafts could not carry a large amount of freight 3 The airline tickets are directly available through the internet without intermediary 3 The flexibility in the fare is limited 3 Total 17 Results and Analysis: Southwest airline is a healthier and a more composed airline company in the United States which has gained a large amount of revenues even in the hard times of recession. The airline has innovated many processes as online ticketing and airfreight delivery and has been operating domestically in 42 states but however the company has not achieved its greater heights because of showing resistance in expanding the business internationally. Apart from that, the Southwest airline is considered to be the leading airline in terms of revenues and customer satisfaction (Lauer, 2010). Resource-based view framework: This is a management technique which is used to determine the competitive advantage of a company. In order to achieve success, a company must have operations and resources which should be distinctive from its competitors. In the first step, resources of Southwest airline should be identified in order to understa nd the core competencies of the company (Gittell, 2003). Tangible Resources: Southwest airline consists of 550 Boeing aircrafts which are operated in 97 destinations domestically. The company has a large amount of expert managers and technicians which are considered to be their assets. The company has a total assets worth of $18 Billion (Southwest Airlin

Car Costs and New Technologies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Car Costs and New Technologies - Essay Example Therefore, it does not look at the welfare of the people and the nation as a whole. On the other hand is the socialist economy. Most of the economists believe that government intervention and holdings are less efficient as they do not answer to the price changes or the change in the demand of the consumers. This is because the government relies on the tax collection for its revenues and less worried about the demand situation (US Department of State, 2010). Â  But still, most of the countries adopt some form of the mixed economy in allocating resources because they believe that both the private and the public sector play an important role. A mixed economy is a blend of free market and socialism. It is an economy that has a lot of freedoms but at the same regulations from the government keep a constant check. Â  The economists of these nations believe that some of the industries are better under the control of the government while others are better off under the supervision of the private entrepreneurs. For example, The development of the infrastructure; road, rail, air, and port, administration of justice, defense of the nation and education is under the control of the government. At the same time, there are certain institutions where the government intervenes in the market to settle out the price levels such as utilities, agriculture, and water. In this way, it regulates these likely monopolies (US Department of State, 2010). For example, Water and Power Development Authority keep a check on the charge of electricity in Pakistan keeping the best interests of the economy at heart. At the same time, the government regulates the private sector by creating standards and policies to guard the consumer interests and increase the welfare of the people.

English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

English - Essay Example In the communication field during the current period, cell phones are widely regarded as the essential and reliable means of communication. The major notable advantage of using a cell phone is the aspect of mobility. A cell phone can be carried in the pocket wherever one goes. This is very important because it allows people to stay connected and cell phones give people the freedom to communicate with their loved ones at any time regardless of geographical locations. Unlike fixed landline phones, cell phones are convenient in various ways. In cases of emergence, it is easy to call for help by simply pulling out the mobile phone from the pocket. There is no need to look around for fixed telephones. When one is involved in an accident, he or she can easily call for help without moving from the scene of the accident. This is a basic necessity in times of emergency or other life threatening situations which would require the services of qualified rescue specialists such as fire services o r ambulance in the event that someone has been seriously injured in an accident. The use of cell phones can be disadvantageous in different ways. Some studies have suggested that the overuse of cell phones can lead to brain and ear damage. ... Other studies have also suggested that cell phone usage can cause male infertility symptoms though nothing of this sort has been proved yet (Pandey 2010). There is need to take safety precautions when it comes to the use of cell phones though no study has directly proved the major disease caused by the use of cell phones. The other major advantage of a mobile phone is that it is a multimedia gadget that lets you enjoy all the comforts in a single device (Markely 2010). Mobile phones are becoming a basic necessity each day in our lives as a result of the new innovations that are characterising the gadget. Indeed, the world will be in your pocket when one is carrying a slim mobile phone with multimedia purpose functions. The latest cell phones during the contemporary period such as smart phones are multi-purpose phones. Apart from making audio calls or text messages, cell phones now have the ability to perform other various functions. Cell phones can support other media such as video, MP3 player, radio, television, internet, games, and calculator among other services. All these features are found in one gadget so there is no need of carrying a camera or an MP3 player separately since these can be found in one device. This is a great advantage in that one does not need to carry a lot of devices but can simply carry a mobile phone. It can also be noted that a cell phone also plays the entertainment function where music as well as videos can be played to avoid boredom. Nowadays, the internet is another medium of communication that is fast gaining popularity than any other form of communication. Latest cell phones have the facility that supports access to the internet and there is no need for someone to have a computer in order to access the internet. This is

Contract Law As the basis of Business Law Essay

Contract Law As the basis of Business Law - Essay Example law has made exceptions in the acceptance of an offer. Acceptance is the words, writing or conduct of the offeree that signifies consent to the agreement proposed by the offeror. When we view The Sale of Goods Act 1979 Part II S4-How a Contract is Made- and s (1), the statute states the spectrum of contract formulation. Additionally, we find the principle of acceptance by conduct when we view Brogden v. Metropolitan Railway Co. [1877] 2 App Cas 666. Adam and Mark entered into a simple contract, which can be oral, written or both. Simple contracts can be held valid in court. Particularly in a business transaction; the court makes the presumption that the parties did have the intent to become legally bound. Of course the presumption can be disputed by either party, however the disputed party must proved to the court that his intent was not to be legally bound. Failure to convince the court, the court will then decide the case by means of the relevant Presumption. I would advise Adam that he has in fact created a binding contract with Mark. We find auxiliary conversations in Rose v. Crompton Bros. (1925). concerning the talk of not having a written and signed contract was of itself a recognizable legally bindingagreement. The court concluded that contracts had been created, and the defendant in3 failing to execute them, were in breach of contract.... From this research, it is clear components 1-4 were inherent of the agreement and points 5-6 of the component list were not evident. Moreover, there was a legitimate offer made by Adam to Mark, to which they subsequently agreed verbally on price and terms of the contract. Albeit the communication of offer and acceptance were made verbally on the phone; the law has made exceptions in the acceptance of an offer. Acceptance is the words, writing or conduct of the offeree that signifies consent to the agreement proposed by the offeror. When we view The Sale of Goods Act 1979 Part II S4-How a Contract is Made- and s (1), the statute states the spectrum of contract formulation. Adam and Mark entered into a simple contract, which can be oral, written or both. Simple contracts can be held valid in court. Particularly in a business transaction; the court makes the presumption that the parties did have the intent to become legally bound. In conclusion, of course, the presumption can be dispute d by either party, however, the disputed party must prove to the court that his intent was not to be legally bound. Failure to convince the court, the court will then decide the case by means of the relevant Presumption. In S (4) s (a) of the Unfair Contract Terms Act of 1977 states that only to business liability, that is liability for breach of obligations of duties arising from things done or to be done by a person in the course of a business (whether his own business or another’s).

English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

English - Essay Example In the communication field during the current period, cell phones are widely regarded as the essential and reliable means of communication. The major notable advantage of using a cell phone is the aspect of mobility. A cell phone can be carried in the pocket wherever one goes. This is very important because it allows people to stay connected and cell phones give people the freedom to communicate with their loved ones at any time regardless of geographical locations. Unlike fixed landline phones, cell phones are convenient in various ways. In cases of emergence, it is easy to call for help by simply pulling out the mobile phone from the pocket. There is no need to look around for fixed telephones. When one is involved in an accident, he or she can easily call for help without moving from the scene of the accident. This is a basic necessity in times of emergency or other life threatening situations which would require the services of qualified rescue specialists such as fire services o r ambulance in the event that someone has been seriously injured in an accident. The use of cell phones can be disadvantageous in different ways. Some studies have suggested that the overuse of cell phones can lead to brain and ear damage. ... Other studies have also suggested that cell phone usage can cause male infertility symptoms though nothing of this sort has been proved yet (Pandey 2010). There is need to take safety precautions when it comes to the use of cell phones though no study has directly proved the major disease caused by the use of cell phones. The other major advantage of a mobile phone is that it is a multimedia gadget that lets you enjoy all the comforts in a single device (Markely 2010). Mobile phones are becoming a basic necessity each day in our lives as a result of the new innovations that are characterising the gadget. Indeed, the world will be in your pocket when one is carrying a slim mobile phone with multimedia purpose functions. The latest cell phones during the contemporary period such as smart phones are multi-purpose phones. Apart from making audio calls or text messages, cell phones now have the ability to perform other various functions. Cell phones can support other media such as video, MP3 player, radio, television, internet, games, and calculator among other services. All these features are found in one gadget so there is no need of carrying a camera or an MP3 player separately since these can be found in one device. This is a great advantage in that one does not need to carry a lot of devices but can simply carry a mobile phone. It can also be noted that a cell phone also plays the entertainment function where music as well as videos can be played to avoid boredom. Nowadays, the internet is another medium of communication that is fast gaining popularity than any other form of communication. Latest cell phones have the facility that supports access to the internet and there is no need for someone to have a computer in order to access the internet. This is

Training and development for manager in multinational company how that Essay

Training and development for manager in multinational company how that will effact on financial dicion - Essay Example In this context, corporation invests on the training and development of workers and managers. However, when organizations undertake investments, it is with the idea that there will be a positive return of investments (Kahnemann & Riepe, 1998). As such, training is tied up with the financial and profit making-goals of the organization, thus, requiring a strong foundation for the decision to invest in the training and development programs of workers and managers. In this regard, training and development are evaluated in terms of costs and benefits that will accrue to the organization because of the investment. However, as training and development are investments of the organization necessary for its survival, the need to understand the relationship and interaction of the training programs vis-a-vis its financial repercussions for the company become essential not only for the development of training programs, but also on the financial decision-making necessary for the implementation of the training. 2. Literature Review As the need for more experienced managers in all the departments of the firm increases, significant monetary investments are incurred by the organization in terms of recruitment, selection and training (Mosier, 1986). This fact highlights two critical elements required in understanding the contemporary condition of workers and managers. First, in the real world, the truism that all systems are improvable (Drury, 2005). Second, it is the reality that things changes overtime. As such, there is a need to respond to the demands made by changes (Drury, 2005). In this view, training and development programs for managers become not only as a tool for the economic survival of the company but also a necessity in itself in order to handle the demands of the global market (Ramirez et al., 2007). 2.1 The Current Context Training and development of workers and managers contribute to the productivity and profitability of the organization (Mosier, 1986; Swanson & Sleezer, 1998). However, training programs entail costs. In this regard, there is a need to come up with a positive framework that will enable decision-makers in coming up with valid reasons for the implementation of the training programs (Heckmann, 2000). This scenario presents the fact that training programs are not arbitrarily taken by the organization, but are pursued due to the following reasons. First, managers that are more skilled are more economically efficient (Heckmann, 2000). Second, experienced managers are more motivated and engaged in creating a workplace environment that will promote learning and development for the employees (Nahrgang, Morgeson & Hofmann, 2011). This is important since through the leadership of the skilled managers; the workers align their goals and objectives with the goals and objectives of the company, thus, enabling growth for both the employees and the company (Wolfgang & Brewster, 2005). Third, training and development of managers are key fac ets of contemporary organizations (Swanson & Sleezer, 1998). Fourth, managers that are more skilled are more focused in performing their tasks and are not affected by irrelevant factors such as gender, physical appearance and age in the accomplishment of the function (Weiss & Shanteau, 2003). Finally, fifth, the productivity of more skilled workers and

Kateri Tekakwitha Essay Example for Free

Kateri Tekakwitha Essay Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, patroness saint of ecology, nature, and the environment. Kateri was born in 1656, in Ossernonan. At birth Kateri Tekakwitha was given the name Catherine, or Kateri in Iroquois languages. Kateri Tekakwitha became an orphan at age 4 when her village got attacked by smallpox and her family died, including her parents and her baby brother. After being weakened, scarred and partially blind, she survived. Her 2 aunts and uncle, the Kanienkehaka chief then adopted her. Because Kateri was not baptized as an infant and at age eighteen Father de Lambertville, a Jesuit missionary, baptized her. Her family did not accept her choice to embrace Jesus Christ. Her family refused to feed her on Sundays when she did not work and do chores. Since her life’s rougher times she devoted her life to God. Kateri fled her life in the village and ran 200 mi through woods, swamps, and rivers to the Catholic mission of St. Francis Xavier at Sault Saint-Louis, near Montreal. At the mission she taught the young and help those in the village that were poor, sick, or injured. Her motto became, â€Å"Who can tell me what is most pleasing to God that I may do it? She then made her own chapel in the woods by craving a cross into a tree and spent time to say a prayer there, kneeling the snow. When poor health, which plagued her throughout her life, led to her death in 1680 at the age of 24. Her last words were, â€Å"Jesus, I love you†. On December 19, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI signed the decree necessary for canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. She will be canonized on October 21, 2012. I learn in this essay that most people are luckier then they think and should not be selfish about it. The very worst times in your life could be even worse in someone else’s life. The rougher times in life are there to make you stronger, not to punish you.

The Factors Influencing Procurement Route Construction Essay

The Factors Influencing Procurement Route Construction Essay Recent developments in the field of construction have led to a renewed interest in procurement which helps us to induce the technical complexities by organizing and delivering the construction projects using various specialised methods towards the priorities of the client. In addition, it creates perfect relationship between many organizations working on the project regarding their responsibilities and risks. This paper attempts to report the Principal of Heriot Watt University (HWU) about the advanced procurement strategic approach for the new auditorium which is planned to build at the HWU with supremacy. However, it comprises of 200 comfortable tiered seating providing excellent visibility, high specification technology, multimedia theatre with air conditioning, a full size interactive screen and computer driven presentation facilities. 2.1 Assumptions It is required from the initial stage of the project which clearly paves the way for the satisfactory completion of the project. The following assumptions are considered in this report. Capital Cost Cash flow is energetic in the organisations which determine the size of the project which is considered primarily. Likewise, updated cost information was shared by the quantity surveyor to the client who correlates them to the contractor. Recent evidence suggests that during urgency the implication of cost is partially neglected whereas the initial cost and lifecycle cost is always preferred. Time The two main factors governing the time of the project are Design of the project and Methods adapted in the construction site by the contractor. Data from several sources identified that above features are considered accordingly to the clients priority. Quality Quality depends upon the materials used during construction permitting the design specifications. Lifecycle costing is reflected in the quality of the construction work used to reduce the maintenance and replacement cost leading to the better economics overall in the future. The principle of procurement is the eternal triangle which favours the client towards high quality, lowest cost and short time period. All the three factors are mutually concerned in a project if one is given high preference then the other two will suffer. Performance It mainly relies upon the designer who prepares the plan and structural designs for the project, essential for aesthetic appeal and eco-friendly. The choice of materials and the constructors plays the key role in performance and also for the future maintenance and refurbishments. Risk Factors The common risks faced during the construction projects are ground conditions, artificial obstructions and defectiveness in workmanship, material tests and samples, weather. In addition, delay and disputes from both the parties, unapproved payments and the discrepancies from the Government policies and Law arbitration. Planning à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Early acquisition planning is done to select the procurement route. Environment à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Sustainable environment is attained through planning Flexibility à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Changes can be done in the on-going project or in future 3.1 Procurement Strategy In general procurement is defined as the obtaining of goods and services[1] which in construction field refers to the construction materials, plant and services in order to design, schedule, manage, organize, execute and commission the project until delivering to the client. A variety of method have been developed and introduced to assess building through procurement which is obtained by group of multiple organizations experience and expertise. The procurement strategy describes the contribution that the effective procurement will make to the fulfilment of the organizations vision and strategic objectives [a]. Secondly, procurement strategy identifies the main objectives, constraints, funding, and risk and asset ownership of the project which later enhances to achieve the target of the client. Besides, it promotes high standards of professionalism and high quality of management information. Furthermore, reduction in cost is attained through aggregated purchasing power and minimizes the exposure through effective risk management. 3.2 Necessity for Procurement To achieve the value for money To coordinate smoothly with the organizations and to supply focus on chain management To obtain sustainability by making value for money decisions over the life of the asset and not solely on capital costs [b]. To 3.3 Procurement Routes The procurement routes are accomplished with great involvement and knowledge of the individuals and organizations who worked in the industries for years in distinct disciplines. Procurement route is defined as the systems and procedures for commissioning the work. This route is concerned mainly for the strategic approach of the project which simplifies the construction execution by coordinating with the specialist teams of the project. 3.4 Factors influencing Procurement Route Central to the entire discipline of the procurement is the concept of assessment about the ability of the economic operators of the project to satisfy the requisite of the client. The key aspects of this route are employers requirements, tender period/contractors proposals, selecting the specialised contractor and construction. Into the bargain, the following factors are also taken care in this method such as cost certainty, cost reduction, contract period, quality and standards, constructability and litigation. As well as this route is concerned it depends upon the cost and time of the project at the expense of quality which is well suited for perfect carriage of the project. Next, the factors which encourages this route are listed below [3] User familiarity with design and build procurement arrangements Preference of a client or consultant The desire for the single point responsibility for the client Greater certainty of outcomes, initially and in the longer term Despite the fact, follows the present guaranteed maximum price (GMP) which is prepared at the time of agreement and if the contractor finishes the work below GMP then remaining amount will be shared between the client and contractor in most case. Situations Where Design Build Arrangement Used Widely In the case of simple and standard forms of construction are required. Example: Warehouses Where the building needs only minimum architectural works. Example: Farm buildings Where proprietary system is used in buildings as it reduces the design and approval time. Example: Buildings with Automations (such as automatic doors) Where the projects requires local contractor specialists. Example: Specialised in Flooring and Masonry To execute Fast-track projects Example: Hospitals In projects where cost certainty is most preferred. Example: Housing Units 3.5 Types of Procurement Route There is a large volume of published studies describing the role of procurement route obligatory for producing the required project outcomes and have a profound effect towards finishing point. In general there are many procurement routes available which are listed as follows: Traditional / Conventional Design and Build / Package deal arrangement Construction Management Management Contracting Two stage tender Turnkey Public Private Partnership Framework Agreement PFI/PPP Even though there are many routes available, traditional, design build, construction management and management contracting are the major methods used generally. On the other hand, according to my opinion for this auditorium project we can adopt Design and Build route or Traditional route. 3.5.1 Traditional Procurement Route This is the standard method which is in practice for the past 150 years in the construction industry. In this route the client appoints the contractor, architect and consultants to guide the project from the initial stage to pursue perfection in planning and design. Furthermore, the client owns the whole responsibility of the design and project team. Here the contractor involved in the tendering documentation and negotiation processes of the proposed project. The valuation and payment in the administrative department is authorised by clients consultants. To put in a nut shell this method benefits the client in cost and quality with some expense of time. Nevertheless, can be used in a number of situations on the basis of pricing results in a lump sum contract, a measurement contract or a cost plus contract and whether the project is a single one project or a part of a program under single specific term[c]. Secondly, for instance with reference to the proposed auditorium project the three organisers consultants, architect and contractor are employed initially and the project thoroughly managed by the client from the preliminary works. 3.5.2 Construction Management Route 3.5.3 Design and Build Procurement Route The Design Build method is one of the more practical ways of client friendly approach used worldwide to take particularly when the buildings to be produced are either very specialised, and the contractor is an expert in that speciality or when they are generic[d]. Initially, the concept aimed to reduce the conflicts that exist between the architect and the contractor which resulting in poor reputation for the construction project and gave great assurance the timely completion of work at lower cost. However, the client needs to consider the trio of design, cost and quality of the project in advance before employing the contractor. Besides, the desires of the employer (client) is clearly proposed to the contractor to make him/her fully involved in the project including both design and accomplishment which encourages least involvement of the client. The nature of this procurement route is minimizing the design deviations from the original design which aids in cost and time saving for t he employer. Moreover, one major issue in early procurement research is concerned is the quality which is rapidly growing because this method is popularly expanding towards profitability. To gain more projects and profits the design build contractual firms are focusing deeply on the quality in addition to time and cost which is a positive result in favour of this method. The client gets the total financial commitment in advance before the work is initiated and then the contractor shields the complexity of the client in the construction. At first this method is characterised by the tender documents which is developed according to the clients requirements which is published to welcome the different proposals from the potential contractors with numerous quotes of project rates. The potential contractor who wins the tender, meeting the clients priorities will be employed by the client to develop design and complete the design proposals. Here, the contractor performs solely under the client towards t he start of the project by having his own design team and construction team. On the contrary, the contractor is wholly responsible for the design, construction planning, organization and control of the project and also he has the upper hand to engage subcontractors and the specialist sub-contractors for the project. In some case, the client may/may not seek consultant to guide and supervise the contractors work in the project. . Implementation of the Design Build Procurement route As far as the auditorium in the HWU is alarmed the major thing to be considered was the time and cost of the project. If the proposal is given by the contractor it should be performed within the certain time limit such as the project must be finished in between the summer holidays because the students shouldnt grieve from the construction activities. Moreover, the proposed project should not exceed the financial budget of the university. Therefore, design build procurement method is highly recommended for this project which augments the successful completion of the project. However, if the university requires a consultant they can seek help from the Built Environment faculties to oversee the project which saves the consultant cost for the university. Benefits of this route There are several benefits why this route is adopted for this project which are responsible for successful completion of the project on time and for perfect delivery. It follows the two phase selection process that narrows the field of the final proposers to those that are most highly qualified based on experience, capability and capacity[e]. The intricacy in the technical aspects is fully eliminated because the contractor (single authority) is answerable for all the issues faced in the design and building of the project. The work moves forward speedily as there is no need for tendering again for the buildings. Because this method the contractor can reassure the client regarding the financial help needed for the project, how to receive the funding from the lenders as he is aware and well experienced in the field There is no need that a client should be an experienced individual in the construction field as contractor hold the whole obligation. As the contractor is involved from the very beginning he can produce specialised construction knowledge and methods. There is a direct link between the client and the contract as there is an agreement signed before the start of the project. The time consumption is less in this route, as the traditional methods are eliminated in this process. As cost certainty is major concern for this route which benefits the client both economically and technically. There is a possibility of dropping pre tendering and initial tendering costs. The functional building at the reasonable cost can be achieved. As the contractor is in charge for all sub-contractor appointments the client can escape and escape from those burden. Also there are no claims for the contractor if he/she fails to meet the clients needs and has a delayed in time for completion. Following this method maximum risk is transferred, although commercial response in design in order to address contract conditions can result[d]. Many argue that this route agonises from lack of architectural merits, but the fact is it clearly benefits the client by disregarding the risks which arises from those designs. Criticism Faced in this Route Although this method has a huge number of benefits it also suffers from some common drawback such as, Since this route is using simplified construction formats and activities there might be reduction in design quality. Neglecting the innovative design is highly followed in this method which results in the discouragement of architects innovations. The contractors view is always on the capabilities of the firm instead of the requirements of the client. The aesthetic appearance of the project is surrendered towards the cost effective solutions and easy work executions. The long term life and maintenance of the building is not considered by the contractor because low cost budget. The influence of contractor over the quantity surveyor leads to some controversial happenings/activities at the time of payment approval. Bibliography Dunican Cartlidge (2009). Quantity Surveyors Pocket Book. Great Britain: Elsevier Ltd. 197. Allan Ashworth (2006). CONTRACTURAL PROCEDURES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. 5th ed. Edinburgh: Pearson Education Limited. 77.

Comparing Themes in Frosts Two Tramps in Mud Time :: comparison compare contrast essays

Diverging Themes in Frost's Two Tramps in Mud Time On the surface, Two Tramps in Mud Time seems to display Robert Frost's narrow individualism. The poem, upon first reading it, seems incongruent, with some of the stanzas having no apparent connection to the whole poem. The poem as a whole also does not appear to have a single definable theme. At one point, the narrator seems wholly narcissistic, and then turns to the power and beauty of nature. It is, however, in the final third of the poem where the narrator reveals his true thoughts to the reader, bringing resolution to the poem as a single entity, not merely a disharmonious collection of words. At the outset of the poem, the narrator gives a very superficial view of himself, almost seeming angered when one of the tramps interferes with his wood chopping: "one of them put me off my aim". This statement, along with many others, seems to focus on "me" or "my", indicating the apparrent selfishness and arrogance of the narrator: "The blows that a life of self-control/Spares to strike for the common good/That day, giving a loose to my soul,/I spent on the unimportant wood." The narrator refers to releasing his suppressed anger not upon evils that threaten "the common good", but upon the "unimportant wood". The appparent arrogance of the narrator is revealed as well by his reference to himself as a Herculean figure standing not alongside nature, but over it: "The grip on earth of outspread feet,/The life of muscles rocking soft/And smooth and moist in vernal heat." Unexpectedly, the narrator then turns toward nature, apparently abandoning his initial train of thought. He reveals the unpredictability of nature, saying that even in the middle of spring, it can be "two months back in the middle of March." Even the fauna of the land is involved with this chicanery; the arrival of the bluebird would to most indicate the arrival of spring, yet "he wouldn't advise a thing to blossom." The narrator points to the conclusion that, while on the surface, things appear to be one thing, there is always something hidden below, much like "The lurking frost in the earth beneath..." In the final three stanzas of the poem, the "frost" within the narrator comes to the surface. The humility of the narrator comes to light, with the narrator saying that the tramps' right to chop wood for a living "was the better right--agreed.