Santa Ana Winds Ap Lang Essays

Santa Ana Winds Ap Lang Essays Santa Ana Winds Ap Lang Essay Santa Ana Winds Ap Lang Essay Santa Ana Winds Passage Ap Lang In the piece, Joan Didion describes the Santa Ana Winds which hit Los Angeles every so often. The winds are seen as a threatening issue, as Didion describes them as dangerous and unwanted. The passage portrays her view on the Santa Ana winds as something horrendous that makes a dramatic effect on the inhabitants of Los Angeles. In the first paragraph Didion begins by describing the eerie feeling in the air with words that connote an anxious tone, such as uneasy, unnatural, and tension. She does not mention what she is describing in her piece until the next aragraph, which creates suspense and gives the reader the impression that the subject she speaks of is a terrible thing. Once she reveals the subject, the Santa Ana Winds, the piece gains a certain emphasis and the reader instantly connects it with being malevolent. Didion also depicts the scene which many denizens of the Los Angeles area will encounter during the Santa Ana period: For a few days now we will see smoke back in the canyons, and hear sirens in the night (239). In this excerpt she describes how the wind will cause many fires and maybe even deaths, which give the impression that the winds are very dangerous. The author remember how due to the wind [She] rekindle[d] a waning argument with the telephone company (239). The argument had weakened but the winds evoked a rage inside her that burst into uncontrollable actions, revealing how the wind negatively altered her emotions and actions. In the second paragraph of the passage Didion describes the Los Angeles area during the Santa Ana period. The author recalls being told that the Indians would throw themselves into the sea when the bad wind blew (239). This creates an image of the wind being a feared force, which was horrible enough to make native-Americans run and hide. She also depicts the yellow glow in the sky which is sometimes called earthquake weather. Earthquakes are destructive and significantly alter human behavior as they create disparity in the habitant. This clearly reveals that Didion believes that winds are Just as destructive as an Earthquake except the winds do their deeds by activating mechanistic behaviors. Her neighbor, during the Santa Ana period, would tell [her] that he had heard a trespasser, [and] next a rattlesnake (239). This image reveals the winds negatively altering her neighbors emotions and mental state. He becomes increasingly paranoid, defensive, and violent. In the first half of the third paragraph Didion starts off with a quote, every booze party ends in a fght. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands necks. Anything can happen (239). By using a second view of the winds, she grabs the readers attention and also adds to the credibility of her opinion. The quote also emphasized the fluctuation of human actions due to the Santa Ana wind. The author adds that the basis for the effect is also backed by science and further personifies the wind by describing it as malevolent. Although she contradicts herself, she still gets her point across fairly well. She also adds how the doctors hear about headaches and nausea and allergies, about nervousness, about depression (239). In this sentence fragment Didion uses parallelism in order to show a connection between the symptoms which are all caused by the same Santa Ana wind, making them seem more malignant then they really are. In the second half of the final paragraph Didion begins using facts, saying that the children become unmanageable the suicide rate goes up[. ] and in the courts of some Swiss cantons the wind is considered a mitigating circumstance for crime (239). The author uses pathos to get the reader to see how the winds ause people to go wild. Their brains are negatively impacted by the wind. Near the end of the passage the author uses a periodic sentence: In any case that positive ions are there, and what an excess of positive ions does,9in the simplest terms, is make people unhappy (239). Didion uses a periodic sentence to emphasize that ultimately the winds cause unhappiness and despair in the people of Los Angeles. This sums up her opinion throughout the entire piece. Overall, Didion views the Santa Ana winds as pernicious to humans. She uses syntax, imagery, and diction to unveil and reveal her opinion to the reader.

Essay on ways of seeing

Essay on ways of seeing Essay on ways of seeing â€Å"When in love, the sight of the beloved has a completeness which no words and no embrace can match: a completeness which only the act of making love can temporarily accommodate† (Berger 141). The essay Ways of Seeing portrays the idea that every person views the world differently with different ideas about what they see. A major thing that every person views differently is what, how, and who they fall in love with. The events in everyone's life effects the lens life is viewed through. This lens chooses the people everyone is attracted too, and chooses who every person loves. If everyone viewed the world the same exact way wouldn't everyone love the same people? And wouldn't that leave some people without love? If seeing comes before words, then does that mean that love at first sight is real? Berger used major themes in Ways of Seeing, one including the idea that everyone sees love differently. â€Å"To look is an act of choice† (Berger 141). This quote's significa nce to this theme is when a person is attracted to another, it is obvious that no is perfect. The idea is that people have the choice of look into every small flaw of another, or there is the choice to love even the flaws. Seeing does not always have to be done through the eyes. When it comes to loving â€Å"seeing† is a term that is used in multiple ways. â€Å"Seeing† when it comes to love means much more that seeing what is on the outside of a person, it comes to seeing the inside of the person also. Seeing is a loose term that describes the way you view someone as a whole, and seeing both the good and bad and still loving a person, is a choice. People see through their eyes to find beauty, and people see through their hearts to find what love is to them. When every person is born they have a certain accuracy of vision. Some people have impaired vision and require glasses, while others are born with a perfect 20/20. Although some are born with accurate vision and ot hers not so much, vision is something that as the years go on and as every person ages it can change. This idea of changing vision is a parallel idea with the idea that the way you love someone is constantly changing. When love first occurs it is normally very happy, but as time goes on you begin to understand the type of person the one you love is. The way your vision changes is the way your love can change. Maybe that is way divorce has become very common in modern days. Although at once you had 20/20 vision of a person and would never think the love could fade, maybe your vision becomes blurred over the years until you cannot see the way you used too. Cannot see through the lens you used to fall in love with. Other times even after the years go on and the vision you have of a person begins to blur, the choice of remember what you once saw is what keeps the love strong. It really just depends on the two people who's visions is going through the changes. â€Å"Our perception or ap preciation of an image depends also upon our own way of seeing† (Berger 142). When it comes to love everyone loves different people, because every person appreciates and views other people differently. Sometimes appreciating what a person would do for you due to the fact that they care about you so much is what causes you to view that person with difference. This difference meaning you view them by a different perspective. A perspective that could make you love this person. Most of the time the way love occurs is when you can see in a person what the rest of the world cannot see, and understand it. And even if you do not fully understand what you are seeing in the person, you still give them perspective because you care about them so much. Since everyone views the world differently, what exactly is perspective? That

Role as a Mentor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Role as a Mentor - Essay Example Mentoring is a concept and practice that is associated with providing professional learning in health care. This practice has changed since 1970 significantly and was officially implemented in nursing in 1980. There are different tittles that are used in connection with the role of mentoring. Role of Mentors Mentoring activities are aimed at providing safe and effective skills for students in health care practice. It helps professionals provide informed guidance to students while they are in a practical situation (Martin and Mackinnon, 2007, 41). Mentors should have the knowledge and skills to hold up learners and offer secure surroundings for learning. There are roles within mentorship that overlap, even though there are distinctions between these roles. When these roles change, a clear distinction between mentoring and coaching is established. The term ‘mentor’ has changed to signify a person who guides individuals during their developmental years to progress and achieve their identity (Martin and Mackinnon, 2007, 41). The term is implemented in nursing education for students to achieve safe and effective clinical skills during their practice. The role of a mentor is to support learning in the practice situation. There are overlapping roles of a mentor; thus, he is expected to show certain characteristics during a practical situation. There are different roles of a mentor and a lecturer in that a mentor focuses on individual students in practice while a lecturer focuses on learning environment. In nursing practice, the word ‘mentor’ is defined as a midwifery or health visitor who supervises students in clinic situations. Mentors also help in facilitating learning in clinical settings. Mentors have different roles that include nurturing, role modeling, functioning, and sustaining a caring relations hip over time. Mentors should have good communication skills for them to understand the principles of adult education. The role of mentors is widely utilized, and it may appear as an obvious aspect offered to learners. Students need mentors to ensure they have safe practices. Mentors also ensure that students acquire competence in their fields of learning. In nursing and health profession mentors guide, support and act as role models to their students. It is the responsibility of a mentor to structure a working environment for learning, hence facilitating constructive and honest feedback. A mentor ought to be friendly and encourage the students while they are in a learning situation. Students who have been on placement can take advantage of mentoring by applying for that post after qualification. Mentorship enables students to attain competent practice as long as it is established on a supportive basis. It is suggested that people might benefit from having a mentor in their lives. B oth parties select this role, and the mentor can be a parent, friend, or a senior peer. Students select mentors for guidance and counseling. However, mentors identify different reasons for mentoring roles. Research has identified different roles for mentors such as guidance and counseling. Aspects for Change The mentoring process combines various factors that are effective and essential for learning. Mentors need to create an environment for learning and display leadership skills for students to emulate. The mentoring process should emphasize assessment and accountability. Establishing an effective learning environment is significant because it contributes to sufficient clinical experience. This relationship assists the mentor and students in

See description Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

See description - Research Paper Example Medicare furnishes healthcare program to help such disadvantaged financial situations of the elderly U.S. residents. The workforce pays taxes to the government throughout the employment period. This accumulated money of the individual in the form of taxes is given back after 65 years of age independent of their current working status. While, the Medicaid delivers healthsecurity net to necessitous and vulnerable population, and are executed by individual State separately. Medicare’s senior enrollee can also be a part of Medicaid. Medicaid enrollees can avail additional cost benefits over Medicare for prescription drugs, diagnostic and preventive care, and eyeglasses (Nolo ®, 2010). The recipients of Medicare and Medicaid can overlap. In such cases, the entitled enrollee of Medicaid offers financial help for Medicare deductibles and the Medicare premium. As the global, political, social and environmental factors are charnging at fast pace, each federal program is facing ongoing challenges.These challenges are carried over and entire health care system is trapped into vicious cycle. Financing of Medicare as well as Medicaid is the most emerging issue due to corollary effect of general aging of society, economic recession, and unemployment. Managed care is the major health service program subsequent to the arrival of Medicare to reduce the cost of health care services for patients. Managed care plans are health insurance plans frequently involves unreasonable limits on visits with health care providers and medical facilities. But it no longer is viewed by most employers and federal and state governments as the primary means by which health care costs can be brought under control due to vested interest of individuals in America’s health care delivery system (Boyle & Callahan, 1995). Managed care system is connected with several legislative acts because of which it drew into controversy to give best service in the interests of patients. The clinicians,

Four foods common throughout Mexico Essay Example for Free

Four foods common throughout Mexico Essay Corn, and corn tortillas in particular, are common throughout all of Mexico. Corn tortillas are considered the â€Å"bread† of Mexican culture. Beans are almost always served as a side dish with all meals. Chilies, squash and tomatoes are all indigenous foods that thrive in the arid regions and are used for flavoring and as side dishes throughout the country. Chilies are also often integrated into main dishes. B. Comparison and Contrast of foods from three regions of Mexico Food from the Mexican plains region is typically more heavy with fats and starches. The region’s cuisine relies on meat and dairy products (most notably beef and cheese) in addition to the traditional beans and corn found elsewhere throughout the country. Tropical Mexico relies heavily on the fish and seafood that are abundant along the coast for its main dishes. It also incorporates food locally grown on plantations such as coffee, bananas, avocado, limes, tomatoes and tropical fruits such as mango, tamarind and coconut. Ceviche, a blend of raw fish, lime juice and vegetables, is very popular. Southern Mexican cuisine uses chayotes and cactus and relies heavily on chicken dishes, often marinated. Mole sauce, using chilies and chocolate originated in Southern Mexico and is used as a ceremonial dish at baptisms, weddings, and the Day of the Dead festivals. Even grasshoppers, which are quite abundant, are often eaten fried. Beans and avocados are also used in many dishes. Meat from goats and pork along with chilies and tortillas are often found in dishes from all regions. Chocolate and vanilla are two items that put Mexico on the map and quite popular throughout the country as flavorings. Chocolate is used in sauces as well as for drinking and often infused with cinnamon. Mexican cuisine is very reliant on the food sources most abundant in the region and so range the gamut from seafood to cactus. 6. Comparison and Contrast of food and customs of India’s Northern and Southern regions In Northern India wheat, tea, masala, pickled fruits and vegetables, garlic and eggs are commonly used. Most dishes are prepared by boiling, stewing or frying. Unleavened bread and a vegetable dish are served at breakfast and lunch. Dinner is the same with the additional of a few extra dishes. All meals are served with tea and lemonade in the summer. Hydrogenated oils are used for cooking. In Southern India, banana leaves serve as plates and boiled rice comes with every course. Vegetables and lentils make up the first two courses while rice and yogurt are in the third course. All are accompanied by pickles, chutney and fried wafers. Dessert is only served on special occasions. Coconut, plantain and fish are often used and tend to be spicy. They use peanut and sesame oil in addition to hydrogenated vegetable oil and prepare dishes by steaming. Rice, coffee, chutney fruits and vegetables are integral to the cuisine. Grains cooked into cereals are popular. Chickpeas and lentils are used in nearly every meal. Spicy vegetable curries, deep-fried, salty foods and sweets are popular as snacks. The foods of both regions are highly vegetarian, per religious beliefs. Neither region eats beef nor traditionally drinks alcohol. The spices and condiments heavy in Southern Indian cuisine are the influence of Jews and Christians. In the North, wheat is the staple food while rice reigns in the South. Northern Indians drink tea with their meals while Southern Indians prefer coffee. Since Pakistan was once part of India, the cuisine of the Northern region is very similar to that of Pakistani food. The foods of both regions are influenced heavily by their respective religions as well as the influx of foreign traders in earlier centuries. 7. A. Five foods indigenous to Caribbean In Jamaica, dukunnu is made with cornmeal, sugar, raisins spices and coconut and wrapped in banana leaves and boiled or baked. Jamaica also uses turn cornmeal made of cornmeal blended with peas, spices, coconut milk, saltfish and sometimes other ingredients. Peppers are indigenous all over the Caribbean and are commonly used to spice up dishes such as marinated â€Å"jerk† meats. Manioc, sweet potatoes and yams are served as a side dish or deep fried. There is heavy reliance on fish, including conch and shellfish. B. Identify the Caribbean country or island: 1. Sofrito – Cuba and Puerto Rico 2. Picadillo – Cuba 3. Jerk Foods – Jamaica 4. Sancocho – Dominican Republic 5. Moros y Cristianos – Cuba 6. Habichuelas con Dulce – Dominican Republic.

Childhood Autism Spectrum Disorders Essay -- Diseases, Disorders

Childhood Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism has been on the rise in the past 20 years, and is getting dangerously close to reaching epidemic proportions (Zelan, 1). Statistically, Autism rates have been rising in the United States with Autism now effecting 1 in every 150 children ages 10 and younger (Zelan, 1). Autism can occur in any race and does not gender discriminate, though boys are four times more likely to have Autism than girls (Castrogiovanni). The causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Autism are the main aspects that most interest researchers today. If studies continue to have good results, the quality of life for Autistics could improve exponentially. Autism is a developmental disorder that has baffled researchers for years, but research breakthroughs in the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Autism allow for a better understanding of the condition. There are many theories regarding Autism, however, the actual cause(s) remain unknown. Autism could have several possible triggers, but any information is still in the earliest stages of research. Genetics, familial connections, having an excess of testosterone, and vaccines have all been speculated as potential causes. Genetic testing has revealed interesting information, but no gene or genes have been linked to Autism directly. One researcher states, â€Å"Autism probably results from abnormalities in at least three to twenty genes and very likely has no single causal gene.† (Fredericks, 35) Researchers have also found that Autistics under 12 have an overall larger brain size in comparison to normal children. (Fredericks, 35) This information really expresses the need for more in-depth research regarding genetic links (Fredericks, 15). The idea that Auti... ...oadedFiles/public/TESAutisticSpectrum.pdf>. "Roles and responsibilities of speech-language pathologists in diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders across the life span." . N.p., 2006. Web. 6 Mar 2012. . Schopler, Eric, Robert Reichler, and Barbara Rochen Renner. Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Western Psychological Services, 1986. Print. Self, Trisha L. and LaDonna S. Hale and Daiquire Crumrine. â€Å"Pharmacotherapy and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Tutorial for Speech Language Pathologists.† Language, Speech and Hearing Services in School. Vol. 41. July 2010: 367-375. Text. â€Å"Types of Autism.† Autism-diagnosis.com. Autism Diagnosis. N.d. Web. Zelan, Karen, Between Their World and Ours: Breakthtoughs with Autistic Children. New York: St. Martis Press, Print. May 2003.

Leon Battista Alberti

Discuss Alberti ‘s treatise on Architecture in relation to San Andrea in Mantua. In peculiar, discourse the function of humanistic doctrine in his work giving careful attending to the inquiry of proportionLeon Battista Alberti ( 1404-72 ) was a true ‘Renaissance ‘ adult male. He was a talented dramatist, mathematician and sportsman trained in Law. As the individual in charge of the buildings commanded by the Pope, he had the juncture to compose one of the greatest plant of the theory of architecture De Re Aedificatoria ( On Building ) . Most of it was completed in 1452 and printed in 1485. In the Ten books of the Art of Building Alberti has explained the utility of a roof and wall for homo. He said that it helps us to come near to one another and besides turn together. Therefore we should be thankful to designers non merely because they provides us a safe and welcome topographic point but besides for its many inventions, which are utile to both persons and the populace and the besides provide our day-to-day demands ( page 3 ) . Commissioned by Ludovico II Gonzaga, the church was begun in 1462 harmonizing to designs by Leon Battista Alberti on a site occupied by a Benedictine monastery, of which the bell tower ( 1414 ) remains. The edifice, nevertheless, was finished merely 328 old ages subsequently. Though ulterior alterations and enlargements altered Alberti ‘s design, the church is still considered to be one of Alberti ‘s most complete plants. The intent of the Renaissance edifice was to incorporate the pilgrims who visited it during the banquet of Ascension when a phial, that the faithful argue contains the Blood of Christ, is brought up from the crypt below through a hole in the floor straight under the dome. Harmonizing to tradition the â€Å" Most Cherished Blood † was brought to Mantua by the Roman centurion Longinus and is preserved in the Sacred Vessels. It was held with high regard during the Renaissance which is merely show on Holy Friday. Humanitarianism is the perusal of the classics ( Grecian and Latin ) and integrating their thoughts into 1s ain. It is the cultural motion of the Renaissance architecture. Most renaissance classical architecture shows more â€Å" lucidity † than the older 1s, because it emphasizes clean lines, geometric forms, symmetricalness. It argues whether that is more â€Å" enlightened † than mediaeval architecture. It was more thought out, possibly ; more consistent, more systematic. Alberti had many doctrines when planing for edifices, and like the plants of Vitruvius, created text that gave direction on how to construct, but saved chief accent on the ornament and the exterior aesthetics of the construction. One rule that Alberti made usage of was a system of Proportionality that he developed utilizing systematic harmoniousness of musical ratio, to do his edifices appealing. Defined as â€Å" the precise and right lineation, conceived in the head, made up of lines and angles, and perfected in the erudite mind and imaginativeness † , this theory and â€Å" lineamenta † were cardinal in Alberti ‘s procedure of design. Alberti believed that the â€Å" Lineamenta † stood as an lineation and allowed proportions to be perceived in the design, where â€Å" The really same Numberss that cause sound to hold that concinnitas, delighting to the ears, can besides make full the eyes and head with fantastic delectation. Reapplying accent on the â⠂¬Å" humanistic attack to plan † The tie with the humanistic manner of design is a changeless subject throughout Alberti ‘s 10 books, and the â€Å" beauty of Buildings † besides features to a great extent. Albert ‘s definition, Beauty resides in a sound harmoniousness of all the parts within a organic structure, so that nil may be added, taken away, or altered, but for the worse. It is a great and holy affair, all our resources of accomplishment and inventiveness will be taxed in accomplishing it ; and seldom is it granted even to Nature herself, to bring forth anything that is wholly complete and perfect in every regard. ( VI, two, 156 ) . Alberti ‘s position of what Beauty is has connexion to the analogy of theanthropism, seeing â€Å" Man † as a constituent that uses energy to function and make good. This doctrine maintains that Alberti believed that work forces were made in God ‘s image and similitude, Godhead of the existence, and through this idea, understood that what qualities make a edifice â€Å" beautiful † opens the way to the path of all Knowledge and the original beginning of beauty to pull from, God himself. In his treatise nature is used as inspiration, where â€Å" the ground of Nature † permits an designer to look into into the characteristics of the natural universe, including adult male ‘s influence, to go better equipped to perceive and do usage of â€Å" Concinnitas † , ( which Alberti refers to as â€Å" the partner and psyche of ground † ) to associate presenting nature as the beginning of art in architecture and the nature based Torahs embedded in the outside universe. As in the San Andrea, Mantua the fa & A ; ccedil ; fruit drink of the church is finely decorated with curves and fluxing forms on the ordered columns, pulling from Alberti ‘s treatise and its counsel on how to non merely make a edifice, but how to do its beauty reflect that of God ‘s love and NatureRefrences:sacredarchitecture.org/authors/carroll_william_westfall/ -Carroll William Westfall ( Journal entry 16 )hypertext transfer protocol: //www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/S. _Andrea.htmlMarvin Trachtenberg and Isabelle Hyman. Architecture: from Prehistory to Post-Modernism. p295-6MentionsTitle: On the Art of Building in Ten Books Writer: Leon Battista Alberti Translator: Joseph Rykwert, Neil Leach, Robert Tavernor Published by the MIT Press Cambridge, Massachusetts London, England hypertext transfer protocol: //www.albertiefirenze.it/english/leon_battista_alberti/index.htm hypertext transfer protocol: //eng.archinform.net/projekte/4126.htm

Exxon Mobil Resources and Capabilities Essay

Mobile is one of the most successful companies in the oil and energy industries today. But what makes them so successful? In an effort to answer this question, a thorough internal investigation can be helpful in determining what aspects of this company are making it an industry leader. Two aspects of this internal analysis of Exxon Mobile are the company’s resources and capabilities. Resources One of the most reputable resources that Exxon Mobil has today is a strong brand name. Exxon Mobil operates all over the world and is recognized in every part of the world (Datamonitor, 2008). When people all over the world know who a company is, what they do, and where they are located, the company gains a unique competitive advantage over the rest of the industry. A good way to analyze this resource is to use the VRINE Model (Strategic Management, 2007). This breaks down in order to analyze its value, rarity, inimitability, and exploitability. For this resource I’ll start by assessing its value. The question that must be answered is, â€Å"does this resource allow the firm to meet market demand or protect the firm from market uncertainties? † (Strategic Management, 2007). In the case of the brand name resource, I believe that it gives them ample protection against uncertainty and enables them to compete, if not lead, in the industry. Exxon operates in over 200 countries around the world (Datamonitor, 2008) The fact that this company is present all over the world, and not many other industry competitors operate in so many different regions, proves that this particular resource is very valuable to the company. If a company can possess something that another company cannot, value is inevitably created for that resource. This resource also protects them from uncertainty because this brand is already established itself within the market and can thrive in it without too much concern about the well being of the company, thus limiting some uncertainty. Next in the VRINE model is assessment of its rarity. Do any other companies possess such worldwide recognition as Exxon Mobil’s brand name can bring? There are some companies that have come close in competing with Exxon Mobil, such as ConnocoPhillips and Chevron, but none can compare with the unique profitability and opportunities that the name Exxon can bring to a region. The name is undoubtedly trusted throughout the world and rarely rivaled. Those aspects of the brand name recognition make this brand name a rarity. The next step in the VRINE model is to assess the inimitability. To assess this, the question of can competitors â€Å"acquire the valuable and rare resource quickly, or will they face a cost disadvantage in doing so? † (Strategic Management, 2007). The simple fact that the Exxon Mobil name is trademarked and registered makes it impossible for any other company to replicate its name. Also it would cost a substantial amount to buy out the company and gain its name. This alone makes the brand name inimitable. Now assessment of the nonsubstitutability is needed. The question arises, â€Å"is there protection against ready substitutes? † (Strategic Management, 2007). For Exxon, their name reputation is one that substitutes have a very difficult time matching. Exxon is leading the industry and continues to be a leader of almost every aspect of the industry today. Though substitutes are present in the industry, none can surpass the reputation of Exxon Mobil. The final step in the VRINE Model is to assess the resource’s exploitability. The question to answer is, can the firm â€Å" nurture and take advantage of the resources and capabilities that it possesses? † (Strategic Management, 2007). For Exxon, they can bring the company anywhere in the world and use the recognizable name to establish credibility and power in that region. This gives the company a considerable advantage when it comes to exploiting its brand name to establish the company around the world. After analyzing the resource using the VRINE Model, all aspects of the model have been met, so it is safe to say that this resource can give them a competitive advantage among its competitors. Another important resource that Exxon possesses is the presence of human expertise capital throughout the company (Datamoitor, 2008). Exxon employs many scientists and engineers that are researching and finding new ways to gain access to more energy resources and make the new innovations less harmful to the environment (Annual Report, 2007). This human capital has proven to be a very important resource for the company as shown by their development of new ways to increase liquid natural gas supplies and â€Å"enhancing heavy oil recovery† (Annual Report, 2007). Using the VRINE model again, I will assess this resource. In analyzing the value of the human expertise capital, again we must consider whether this resource helps the company meet market demand and can eliminate some uncertainty. In this case, I believe that the unique research department that houses these scientists and engineers is one that gives the company a great capability to compete in the market, and even excel within the industry. I believe it also eliminates some uncertainty because while the company is researching and developing cutting edge technology, it keeps them knowledgeable about all the new innovations and ideas that are throughout the industry. This makes the resource very valuable. Next, the rarity of the resource must be analyzed. I believe that this resource is rare because of the entire department (the Upstream Research Center) within the company devoted to letting these scientists and engineers use their knowledge to propel the company into the future (Annual Report, 2007). Some companies have R & D departments, but they don’t posses the funding for such expertise and capabilities within these departments like Exxon has in its Upstream Research Center (Annual Report, 2007). This makes the breadth of their scientists and engineers and rare resource among it competitors. Following the VRINE Model, inimitability is the next aspect to analyze. I believe that it would be very difficult for any company to gain the human expertise capital that Exxon has. Exxon pays particular attention to its scientists and engineers by providing opportunities to use their knowledge to help solve every day problems that the company is facing. Many of these scientists and engineers had PhDs in their respective fields, thus making their ideas more credible and valuable to the company (Annual Report, 2007). This make the human expertise capital an inimitable resource because it makes it hard for other companies to replicate the magnitude of the distinguished human capital that Exxon possesses. The next step in the VRINE Model is nonsubstitutability. It would be nearly impossible for a competing company to substitute an equally effective team of engineers and scientists. The cost would be too great for the company. Exxon is leading the way in Research and Development trends, and substitutes for the quality of employees that Exxon has would be very difficult for other companies, making the nonsubstitutability of Exxon’s human capital very high. The final step is to analyze the exploitability of the human expertise capital. Exxon has proven that the expertise that is present can be exploited to develop new and innovative ideas that help Exxon maintain as an industry leader. One example of the result of this exploitation is the development of Metallyte UBW-ES, which is a new polypropylene film for packaging that has unprecedented sealing power (Datamonitor, 2008). This example proves that the exploitability of this human expertise capital makes this resource a valuable asset to the company. After analysis of the human expertise capital resource using the VRINE Model, it can be said that this resource gives Exxon Mobil a competitive advantage in the industry. Capabilities After assessing the resources that Exxon has available to them, it is now easier to illustrate what Exxon’s capabilities are because of the acquisition and ownership of these resources. One of Exxon’s important capabilities is their extensive research and development capabilities. Exxon’s research and development capabilities are very dynamic in the sense that as new energy conservation and developments arise, they can adapt their research and development departments to meet the new technologies and innovations. Their research and development capabilities go insofar as to â€Å"improve existing products, and enhance service† (Datamonitor, 2008). Using the VRINE Model again, it can be easy to see if this capability really gives Exxon a considerable competitive advantage. First we have to look at the value of this capability. Exxon has utilized the company’s valuable resource of human expertise capital do help head the research for new improvements and innovations that help lead the way for Exxon to grow (Annual Report, 2007). One such innovation is the development of Enable mPE, which has â€Å"substantially reduced waste and energy consumption across a wide variety of film applications† (Datamonitor, 2008). This capability allows them compete within the market and gain headway in developing potentially high profit innovations, thus giving value to their research and development capability. Next the rarity needs to be assessed. Though almost all of Exxon’s competitors have research and development departments, none have invested the amount that Exxon has. Also there are only a handful of top competitors within the energy industry so that alone makes Exxon’s R & D department rare. In fiscal year 2007, Exxon invested $814 million in R & D. Though the idea of an R & D department is not a rarity in its own right, the amount invested and products produced because of their extensive R & D work makes this a rare capability among its competitors. The next assessment in the VRINE Model is the inimitability of this capability. As mentioned before many other companies have a R & D department, but not to the extent that Exxon’s is being funded and operated. In the past 5 years, Exxon has invested upwards of $3. 5 billion in research and development alone (Annual Report, 2007). Very few of Exxon’s competitors can match that without having an almost impossible financial obligation afterward. That is one feat that few companies can imitate. The next step is to analyze its nonsubstitutability.

Definition of Assemblage - Art History Glossary

Definition of Assemblage - Art History Glossary (noun) - As one familiar with the word assembly might assume, assemblage is a form of sculpture comprised of found objects arranged in such a way that they create a piece. These objects can be anything organic or man-made. Scraps of wood, stones, old shoes, baked bean cans and a discarded baby buggy - or any of the other 84,000,000 items not here mentioned by name - all qualify for inclusion in an assemblage. Whatever catches the artists eye, and fits properly in the composition to make a unified whole, is fair game. The important thing to know about assemblage is that it is supposed to be three-dimensional and different from collage, which is supposed to be two-dimensional (though both are similarly eclectic in nature and composition). But! Theres a really fine, nearly invisible line between a bulky, multi-layered collage and an assemblage done in extremely shallow relief. In this large, grey area between assemb- and col-, the safest course is to take the artists word for it. Pronunciation: ah ·sem ·blahj Also Known As: construction, bricolage, collage (inaccurately), sculpture Examples: Lets save many thousands of words here and look at some pictures of assemblages done by different artists. Raoul Hausmann: Mechanical Head (Spirit of Our Age), ca. 1920Man Ray: , 1964 (replica of 1923 original)Louise Nevelson: , 1957Meret Oppenheim: , 1936Kurt Schwitters: Broad Schmurchel (Breite Schmurchel), 1924Joseph Cornell: Navigating the ImaginationRobert Rauschenberg: Combines (Exhibition Image Gallery)

Bushs Failed War on Terror essays

Bush's Failed War on Terror essays As Vice President of the United States, Dick Cheney was at the center of Bushs "War on Terror." Along with then Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, he was the chief architect of the plan and attack against Saddam Hussein and Iraq. Cheney advised and convinced President George W. Bush to include Iraq in the administrative plans to retaliate after the 9/11 attacks in New York. Cheney and his staff supported the reliance on uncorroborated evidence and accepted this evidence as solid enough reason for waging the war on Iraq. In addition, Cheney was instrumental in obtaining the legal briefs from the Justice Department that empowered the President to wage war without the authorization of Congress. Cheney advocated the use of controversial interrogation techniques to obtain information that would link Saddam Hussein to the 9/11 attacks. In the documentary, Cheney and Rumsfeld supported a Pentagon-led alternative that resulted in their decision to invade Iraq. Cheney also was involved in securing controversial, secret legal opinions from the Justice Department that would grant President Bush unrestricted, broad authority to wage war without the consent of the U.S Congress. Cheney supported the use of enhanced combat and interrogation techniques against captured combatants. President Bushs fixation on invading Iraq was borne out of his distrust of Saddam Hussein. Bush stated in the documentary that Saddam was an evil man who gassed his own people. In reference to Saddam Hussein, Bush declared after the 9/11 attacks, that his administration would hunt down the Islamic fundamentalists and, those who harbour them. Bush believed that Saddam Hussein was providing support for Al-Qaeda. The intelligence information that was used as a predicate to the invasion was manipulated in order to justify the war. This invasion policy was hatched and promoted chiefly by Chen...

Qualitative Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Qualitative Analysis - Essay Example However, most of these forms of answers sometimes provide additional information that may be vital for the research. Therefore, qualitative research is an essential tool in evidence based policing. If the offenders are involved in the interview or research, it should be noted that these characters tend to provide vague verbal expressions that have a high degree of uncertainty; thus, they may make the investigators to misinterpret such claims a factor that may mislead the investigation (Hayden, 2012). Moreover, such vagueness of expressions may lead to empirical difficulties to verify the effectiveness of the criminal profiles developed from such research work (Agarwal and Agarwal, 2008). Therefore, this essay aims at addressing the significance of effective and ineffective reporting of the qualitative criminal research findings. The article â€Å"The Evolutional View of the Types of Identity Thefts and Online Frauds in the Era of the Internet† by Shun-Yung Kevin Wang and Wilso n Huang is pegged on their research work on Online Frauds (Wang and Huang, 2011). From the article, it is apparent that these researchers have highly concentrated the negative effects of the internet thereby they might have disregarded other vital information that might have been provided concerning their topic research. However, it is important to analyze presented information that is not relevant to the topic of concern. Analysis of such information is vital for such information usually provides hints to other factors that contribute or are likely to contribute to the advancement of such crime (Greasley, 2008). Wang and Huang’s article aimed at addressing Types of Identity Thefts and Online Frauds in the Era of the Internet, a topic that might have just concentrated on factors that fuels such crime, but it is apparent that the reported they provided also contains the advancement of this criminal act that may be considered as positively reported negative evidence. For instan ce, they reported, â€Å"With the continuous advancement of Internet technology and personal computing devices in recent years, Internet crimes have risen to an alarming level (Wang and Huang, 2011).† This form of information is quite important since if the activities related to that crime are increasing, it would be upon the law reinforces to revolve of measures to take towards curbing; otherwise, reducing the same factors or activities. On the other hand, Wang and Huang seemed to have failed to record what most respondents tend to give at the end of the interview or following the structures of certain questions. In their report, they should have mentioned the solutions offered by their correspondents suggested to reduce or eradicate the internet related criminal activities (Faherty, 2008). For instance, they noted, â€Å"the integration of such diverse technological applications coupled with the rapid growth of online users make fraudulent activities likely to rise further , if no intervention is proposed and implemented (Wang and Huang, 2011).† In this part of their report, they failed to list other integrated services and applications that when coupled with the use of the internet and its high number of users will increase the crime immensely. Lack of reporting some negative evidences collected from qualitative criminal

The Liberal Values of Washington Consensuses Term Paper

The Liberal Values of Washington Consensuses - Term Paper Example The feature of neo-liberalism, in general, is to expand the market and desire to intensify, increase the frequency, number, formalization, and repeatability of transactions. The crucial goal of neo-liberalism is a universe wherein every action of every individual is a trade transaction, performed in competition with the other individual and influence every transaction, with the transactions that occur in the infinitely shorter time period and reiterate at an infinitely rapid rate (Neoliberalism: Origins, Theory, Definition 2005). Â   Â   Â   Â   As a result of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations, the rise of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was established in the year 1995. It is central to the development of global governance. The concern of WTO is to build a world trade system into a predictable and uniform arena for the world nations and businesses. Streamlining the trade policies of the nation-states, reducing barriers to trade among nation-states and resolving trading disputes are the responsibilities of WTO. It plays a significant role in preserving intellectual patents, rights and so forth. Â   Â   Â   Â   The World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) also play a significant role in global governance. The IMF tries to make the International economy more translucent by imposing rules and is a lender to the countries that are undergoing a financial crisis. The World Bank reduces poverty to balance or diminish social division that may counterbalance the global integration of economies. Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Since, the commencement of Westphalian International System that is International state system established in 1648 by Peace of Westphalia treaty as a defining feature of policy with the state sovereignty, the state has played a significant role in the system. The ideological cover of neo-liberal (deemphasizing the traditional liberal doctrine to get development by practical methods is accomplished due to the growth of globalization. The role of the state in the International system has undergone a drastic change. The ideology of neo-liberal states that market by it is a very significant institution (Christensen, Karen & Levinson, David 2003).