The Colossal Head Essays - Egyptology, Africa, Ancient Egypt

The Colossal Head The Colossal Head When we think of ancient Egyptian art, we think of deteriorating stone statues, bits and pieces of old architecture, and faded paintings of animals in dark caves and caverns. All of these ancient ruins are part of what shaped Egyptian culture back in the times of Dynasties. Their artwork not only revealed so much of their religion, rituals, and culture, but it also served as a basis for developing and advancing art. The Colossal Head, found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was one of the many early sculptures of Egypt. It came from the late Third or early Fourth Dynasty (2600-2530 B.C.E.). It's no more than two feet high and is made of Red Granite stone. The face of the sculpture has a fleshy, full look to it and most of the features are very blunt, giving it a very healthy, powerful appearance. The eyes are empty as are the eyes of most ancient sculptures so as not to give them any particular focus or expression, and they are styled with regular upper and lower curves, making them semicircular. The mouth is long and fine-lipped which is typical of Fourth Dynasty kings. It curves neither up nor down, showing no emotion whatsoever, creating a very vacant, placid stare. The Seated Statue of Gudea and The Female Head from Uruk are just a couple of other statues with the same empty, expressionless stare. However, the rest of the features of the sculpture and the thick neck are more like images from the Third Dynasty. The tops of the ears and the tip of the nose have been broken off either with carelessness or with time, both of which cause the damage of many ancient sculptures. The statue of Senmut with Princess Nefrua is another of the many sculptures that had been broken over time. Although it has not been proven, the sculpture has been identified as King Huni who best fits the style of this image of an early Old Kingdom Pharaoh. This particular sculpture matches the description of so many others, almost like a generic pattern. Nearly every sculpture from the Third and Fourth Dynasties has the bold facial features, the vacant eyes, and the emotionless face. They were never intended to impress, but to simply be a devotion to a higher power or ruler. While each statue is always slightly different than the next, they seem to all fall into the same category and have the same style, always very modest and usually religious. Egypt is a land of dazzling buried treasure and quiet tomb secrets. Only the dead can experience these treasures however, for they were gifts from the living for the afterlife. The Egyptians, like so many other cultures, were polytheistic and firmly believed in life after death. To make the transition from life to death, the Egyptians would bury their dead with some of their favorite items to take with them to the afterlife. Some of these treasures were very extravagant and valuable. It seemed almost as if the afterlife was more important than actually living. They spent their existence preparing for what came next. Whole temples and enormous statues were constructed as dedication to the deceased. The Stepped Pyramid of King Zozer, measuring three hundred ninety-four feet by three hundred sixty feet, was just one of the many pyramids built in honor of a pharaoh or ruler. The term "Pharaoh" comes from the bible. When we hear this word we think of government, religion, and a way of life. The scriptures used this name to designate rulers in Egypt. It was also used to describe the "Great House", the royal palace where all orders affecting the civil and religious life of the Egyptians were issued. Eventually, the king began being referred to as the "Great House" or Pharaoh and it soon became customary to combine this name with the king's personal name. From then on, Egypt always had a pharaoh ruling over them. By doing this, Egypt had developed one of the first great civilizations that was literate, bureaucratic, and technologically advanced. It centered all it's power and aspirations around a single divine pharaoh who was the master of ceremonies and who made all decisions for Egypt. Egyptian culture was very similar to Greek culture throughout the Third and Fourth Dynasties (the Third Dynasty was also known as the Memphite Dynasty because while some areas of Egypt began to lose their importance, Memphis secured its position as the capital). They influenced and contributed to each others civilizations by means of architectural advancements, religious beliefs, and technological

The Dinosaurs of Flaming Cliffs

The Dinosaurs of Flaming Cliffs Location Mongolia Date of Fossil Sediments Late Cretaceous (85 million years ago) Dinosaurs Discovered Protoceratops, Oviraptor, Velociraptor, Therizinosaurus About the Flaming Cliffs Formation Not all parts of the world had substantially different climates 85 million years ago than they do today. During the late Cretaceous period, for example, Antarctica was much more temperate than it is now, but Mongolias Gobi Desert seems to have been as hot, dry and brutal as its always been. We know this from the fact that so many of the dinosaur fossils unearthed at the Flaming Cliffs formation appear to have been buried in sudden sandstorms, and that very few large dinosaurs (which would have needed equally large amounts of vegetation to survive) lived here. Flaming Cliffs was explored in 1922 by the buccaneering explorer Roy Chapman Andrews, who made one of paleontologys enduring mistakes when he accused Oviraptor of stealing eggs belonging to Protoceratops (it was determined, decades later, that the Oviraptor specimen had been guarding its own eggs). This site is also close to the region where researchers unearthed the tangled remains of a Protoceratops and a Velociraptor, which appear to have been locked in a death struggle at the time of their sudden demise. When dinosaurs died at Flaming Cliffs, they died quickly: burial by fierce sandstorms is the only way to account for the discovery of this dinosaur pair (as well as numerous, near-complete Protoceratops skeletons found standing in the upright position). One of the things that makes Flaming Cliffs such a romantic fossil destination is its utter remoteness, geographically speaking, from any nearby outposts of civilization; the most densely inhabited regions of China are at least a thousand miles away. When Andrews made his historic trip a century ago, he had to take along provisions worthy of a polar expedition, including a large team of local guides mounted on horseback, and he set off in a blizzard of press coverage and popular adulation (in fact, Andrews was at least partly the inspiration for Harrison Fords character in the Indiana Jones movies.) Today, this region of Mongolia is a bit more accessible to devoted paleontologists, but still not a place the average family would choose to go on vacation. Some of the other dinosaurs discovered at Flaming Cliffs (beside the famous ones related above) include the long-armed Deinocheirus (now identified as a bird mimic dinosaur, along with its Mongolian contemporary Gallimimus), the tyrannosaurs Alioramus and Tarbosaurus, and the bizarre, shaggy Therizinosaurus.

ANSWERS TO SOME FREQUENTLY Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

ANSWERS TO SOME FREQUENTLY - Dissertation Example 2. WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF TRANSACTIONS TO WHICH THE BAN ON RIBA IS APPLICABLE? DOES THE TERM APPLY ONLY TO THE INTEREST CHARGED ON CONSUMPTION LOANS OR DOES IT ALSO COVER PRODUCTIVE LOANS ADVANCED BY BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS? The Shariah clearly states that riba al-nasi'ah, â€Å"the fixing in advance a positive return on a loan as a reward for waiting† is prohibited. Hence it could be understood as a ban on interest as commonly used today. Islamic jurists, the fuqaha, state in no unclear terms that all manifestations of riba are forbidden. So it does not matter if the context is consumption or business and also whether the loan in issued or availed. It is also irrelevant whether the institution in question is a commercial bank, government agency, business enterprise or an individual. 3. DOES THE PROHIBITION OF RIBA APPLY EQUALLY TO THE LOANS OBTAINED FROM OR EXTENDED TO MUSLIMS AS WELL AS NON-MUSLIMS? The Islamic Fiqh Academy (IFA), which is the leading authority on f inancial transactions, mentions that there is no leniency in the application of Shariah laws even if one party of a financial transaction is non-Muslim. ... IS SUCH A SCHEME ACCEPTABLE FROM AN ISLAMIC POINT OF VIEW? In economies with high rates of inflation, restrictions imposed by Shariah laws can undermine value of investments. To compensate for such a loss, a method of indexation is usually employed. There is no consensus yet among the fuqaha, as to the compatibility of indexation practices with Islamic scriptures. So far the Fiqh Academy has permitted indexation in cases pertaining to â€Å"wages and contracts fulfilled over a period of time† and has disallowed in cases pertaining to monetary debts. Similarly, â€Å"for debts in a specific currency, due in installments, the parties may agree to settle the installments due in a different currency at the prevailing rate of exchange on the date of settlement†. 5. WHAT ARE THE MAJOR MODES OF FINANCING USED BY ISLAMIC BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS? Islamic banking system has invented a few ingenious modes of financing in order to comply with Shariah principles. The first mode is based upon sharing of both profits and losses incurred by investments, respectively the mudarahab (passive partnership) and musharakah (active partnership). The second mode operates on the basis of credit offered durig the purchase of goods and services and uses such financial concepts as murabahah (sales contract at a profit markup), ijarah (leasing), salam and istisna (contracts). These modes are unique to Islamic finance and have been approved by fiqh officials. Apart from being consistent with Islamic precepts, these modes incentivise direct investments, thereby contributing to economic growth of the bank/institution/country. Yet, improvements need to be done in order to integrate Islamic financial system into global

The Customer Experience Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Customer Experience - Assignment Example These major banks are nationally operating banks with extensive branch and agency networks. Deregulation of the banking industry enabled them to compete more effectively with non bank financial institutions in many fields of financial services. Ethical product consumption trend: (add 20 words) Outline (add 20 words) 2. Background The co-operation bank and smile strategy in UK (their customer’s segmentation): The co-operation bank, whose roots date back to 1872, is a full service retail player in the UK commercial banking industry. The co-operation bank has 3 million customers accounts for comparison Barclay’s Bank is a major competitor with over 10 million current UK accounts. Smile is a part of Co?operative Bank, which was founded in 1872 as a part of the Co?operative Movement. The Co-operative Movement grows out of the revolution of industry to create a good means of distributing profits. In order to approach objectively to determine the success of any retail bank Cus tomer service strategies of that bank should be reviewed. A successful bank should be able to define and implement solutions to all the challenges at customer end. Here are the some essential positioning strategies presented to help you realize the needs of improving customer experience, leveraging cross-sell and up-sell opportunities and by promoting agent productivity and satisfaction in Banking Segment; Offering an inviting â€Å"Customer Door† By making more Effective use of customer data Handle calls more actively Use inbound marketing to reach the customers outside the branch Leverage demographic profile to establish customer intimacy Boost the productivity of your agents through interaction blending. The target country Australia segmentation: The main purpose of segmentation is to match the Bank’s offer to the customers’ needs. Precisely, customer segmentation is the process of defining who are your potential customers and group them regarding their requi rements, characteristics and/or behavior and their worth. Segmenting the Customers is a stepping key stone for a banks superior performance. The Australian banking industry indicates an oversupply of services as evidenced by reduced interest margins, falling interest revenue as well as moderate economies of scale amongst the major banks. Customer base segmentation is the established method for understanding customer requirements and needs as it enables an institution to reflect the homogenous groups within its customer community. Customer segmentation is an important part in the banking sector of Australia. In Australia various Segmentation factors such as customer-value, life stage, sophistication and geographic situation are all explored and the merits of each are analysed. The Research of private banking websites will show that they all speak of individual attention and tailored services. If some Australian private banks seek to better service their clients and to build their hig h reputed relationships, then there are two possible ways to be considered namely: genuinely tailored responsive service two-way client defined communication. For the cooperative bank the segmentation is being done on the basis of: Average annual gross income of the customers by age Rural and urban background of the customers Economical background of the customers Industrial setup of the customers Introduction of consumer behavior model: It is very simple to

Should cars be more efficient Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Should cars be more efficient - Essay Example Lately, there have been world issues that have resulted in â€Å"unprecedented high costs of gasoline,† and consumers are feeling the effect of this increasingly (Barke, et al., 2009, 62). There is also the issue of reducing the environmental footprint of vehicles, as they are made more efficient. Despite the increasing need for efficiency in cars, there has not been significant progress until the past decade or so. Strategies prior to this time revolved around â€Å"weight reduction through material substitution† (Chialin & Jun, 2008, 22-23). The small lightweight cars tend to be more efficient than the full-size sport utility vehicles. Other hurdles in the development process were not tackled early on, and as a result, the â€Å"technology efficient frontier†¦ did not improve significantly,† until the most recent time (Chialin & Jun, 2008, 30). Not everyone struggles to meet ends meet, nor do all hold the environment as the most important artifact in the world. On average however, many do have to compromise, and a major hurdle to consumers adopting efficient technology has been that these hybrid, or more efficient cars â€Å"have been substantially more than comparable conventional vehicles† (Barke, et al., 2009, 71). Even though the need for more efficient technology is increasing, there are many economic restraints in â€Å"raw material costs and availability,† that means until now that conventional engines dominate in their affordability (Lang et al., 2011, i). However, conditions are improving and the many types of efficient technology can mean that the idea of an efficient car can head towards mass adoption rather than appealing to a smaller niche market. As the masses can afford efficient cars, and fuel costs continue to rise, there will likely be many more developments in these type of locomotive composites, at an increasing rate. As the

Issues of social balance and mixed communities

Issues of social balance and mixed communities Interest in social balance and mixed communities has arisen as a response to both increased management issues in social housing and to concepts of the underclass and social exclusion. The identification of significant and persistent inequalities between areas at the ward and neighbourhood level in recent research (e.g. Meen et al., 2005) has triggered a shift in housing strategy and policy. Social balance is now entrenched within English housing and planning policy where it provides a correction to the housing markets natural tendency to segregate (Goodchild and Cole, 2001). Although this state interventionist approach has come under-fire from academics such as Cheshire (2007), who argue that spatial policy cannot correct deep-rooted social and economic forces and that the focus of policy should be to reduce income inequality in society not just treat the consequences of it, social mixing has gained popular support in urban policy. This literature review outlines the mixed community approach to urban gentrification in urban policy by discussing its latest iteration, the MCI. The MCIs place in UK policy discourse is then analysed as a way of exploring its conceptual and theoretical ideologies for area regeneration. Finally, an in depth review of the literature is conducted which reengages with Mixed Communities as an approach to area regeneration Since 2005, the mixed communities approach to gentrification and the renewal of disadvantaged neighbourhoods has become firmly embedded in the UKs housing and planning policy. The approach was first announced in January 2005 in the Mixed Communities Initiative (MCI) which formed part of New Labours five year plan for the delivery of sustainable communities. The MCI has four core components (Lupton et al., 2009); A commitment to the transformation of areas with concentrated poverty, to provide a better housing environment, higher employment, better education, less crime and higher educational achievements. To achieve these through changes in the housing stock and attraction of new populations, whilst improving opportunities for existing populations. Finance development by recognising the value of publicly owned land and other public assets. Integrate government policies to produce a holistic approach which is sustainable through mainstream funding. Initially the MCI was delivered through twelve demonstration projects situated in the most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK. However, more recently the concepts behind the mixed community approach have grown beyond these projects and are now advocated by planning authorities in a diverse range of areas. Consequently, mixed community developments are emerging without demonstration project status and as such mixed communities have become an approach to area regeneration in addition to being a government policy initiative (Silverman et al., 2006). In response to this policy development the purpose of this literature review is two-fold. Firstly, through analysis of the theories of poverty, place and gentrification in policy discourse it is possible to gain an understanding of the rationale behind the mixed communities conception of the causes place poverty. Review Secondly Theories of Poverty and Place in Urban Policy Any form of urban regeneration reflects a specific theoretical understanding of the causes of place poverty. Throughout the 20th Century UK urban policy has undergone a transformation in its understanding of the causes of place poverty and consequently the approach to urban regeneration has altered. A broad distinction can be made in the UKs approaches to regeneration; between early regeneration by the Keynesian welfare state and that advocated by conservative governments. The former looked to correct the crisis of the neighbourhood through neighbourhood improvement. This approach understands the problems of declining areas as a product of the economic structures which cause spatial and social inequality (Katz, 2004). In response they looked to improve living conditions and try to equalise life chances through redistributive social welfare programmes. In contrast to neighbourhood improvement is the neighbourhood transformation approach, a discernibly neoliberal approach advocated by conservative governments. Here the problems of disadvantaged neighbourhoods are understood as the product of market failures rather than underlying economic structures. The creation of mass social housing estates and overly generous benefit regimes are some of the market failures which reportedly trap the disadvantaged in social cultures of dependency (Goetz, 2003). In the neighbourhood improvement approach these areas are seen as a barrier to market forces; occupying inner city areas with good commercial and residential property investment potential. According to Lupton and Fuller (2009:1016) the neighbourhood improvement approach understands the solution to be: not simply the amelioration of conditions in these neighbourhoods for the benefit of their current residents, but the restoration of market functionality through the physical change and transformation of the position of the neighbourhood in the urban hierarchy Perhaps the best example of this is the role of Urban Development Corporations which brought about the transformation of the London Docklands in the 1980s. Their presence instigated a fundamental change in the role of the state in urban development, from a regulator of the market to an agent within the market. The state was now responsible for fostering the economic conditions under which the economic productivity of areas and communities could be improved. In 1997 New Labours urban regeneration policy was hailed as a divorce from this transformational approach and a return to the improvement approach. The government pioneered an array of new, enhanced public services under the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal. Included was the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit and the New Deal for Communities (NDC) which facilitated interaction between local agents on neighbourhood improvement. Whilst this strategy had the appearance of a strong local focus which prioritised residents, other elements of New Labours policies were characteristically neoliberal. As Fuller and Geddes (2008) remark, Labours urban interventions focus on an equality of opportunity agenda which aspires to greater social cohesion and inclusion by devolving responsibility to local citizens. However, by not matching these responsibilities with appropriate state powers within the NRU and NDC there has been little support for local citizens except to merely compensate the indiv iduals and places put at risk by market forces. As such New Labours initiatives have failed to deliver major redistributional interventions which relinquish local state agents from neoliberal targets, cultures and forms of control (Jessop, 1990). Neoliberal theories of poverty and place within the MCI Within this policy discourse the MCI exists as a more characteristically neoliberal initiative. It is clear in its understanding of the problem, concentrated poverty, and the solution, de-concentration through gentrification and neighbourhood transformation. By doing this the MCI subscribes to a policy discourse which understands concentrated poverty as a spatial metaphor (Crump, 2002). This metaphor inherently undermines complex economic, social and political processes and uses the individual failings of the poor within concentrated spaces to justify their dilution or removal. The concentrated poverty thesis originated from the US (e.g. The Hope VI Urban Revitalisation Programme) where it provides legitimacy to policies which alter cities spatial structures through market forces. Such influences have encouraged British policy makers to adopt a more radical approach to urban regeneration and advocate extensive demolition and gentrification to restore functioning housing markets, imposing a neoliberal agenda on struggling housing environments (Imbroscio, 2008). The MCIs focus on market restoration is clearly articulated: the aim is that success measures should be choice. Reputation, choice of staying and that people want to move in its about market choice (Senior CLG official in Lupton et al., 2009:36) The government realises that while public service improvements will help create this market, it is not enough alone physical change is required to enhance peoples attraction to the neighbourhood and its market. The states role is therefore not just to invest directly but improve and diversify the housing stock whilst decreasing public housing ratios with the explicit goal of stimulating market processes. However, a further consequence of this is the re-population of The mixed communities approach requires the state to fund the improvement of services, in many cases to attract better-off residents, and sell or gift land to the private sector. The removal of social housing through its gift to the private sector inherently creates a spatial fix for poverty and incentivises the development of mixed-income housing developments. In such a situation there is potential for the private sector to change social housing in co-ordinance with market dynamics and consequently complex and marginal developments will be neglected (Adair et al., 2003). CONCLUDE and develop a little mention gentrifiction Impact of Mixed Communities As long as 30 years ago, Holcomb and Beauregard (1981) were critical of the way it was assumed that benefits of urban revitalisation through social mixing would trickle down to the poor. Despite the consequential academic debate, which disputed whether gentrification leads to social exclusion, segregation and displacement, it has become increasingly popular in urban policy where it is assumed that its application leads to a more socially mixed, integrated, and sustainable urban environment. The following review will explore the literature which questions whether moving middle-income populations into low-income neighbourhoods or vice versa has a positive impact on residents urban experience. link to mixed communities Schoon (2001) identifies three rationales behind social mixing in policy debates. Firstly, there is an assumption that the middle-class are more likely to attract public resources and as such the lower-income household will fare better in socially mixed communities. Secondly, mixed income developments are in a better position to support a local economy than areas of concentrated poverty. Finally and most controversially, the networks and contacts argument advocated by Putnam (1995) poses that socially mixed neighbourhoods create an environment which improves the bridging and bonding of social capital between social classes. Consequently, lower-income residents have more opportunities to network and break out of poverty than they would in areas of concentrated deprivation. The Social Exclusion Unit (1998:53) expands on this: [socially mixed neighbourhoods] often brings people into contact with those outside their normal circle, broadening horizons and raising expectations, and can link people into informal networks through which work is more easily found. These three arguments are the cornerstone of a global policy discourse which has received very little critique in the UK. One of the reasons for this is the way it is framed. The social mixing agenda which has been prominent in western efforts to decentralise poverty is a discourse which actively avoids the word gentrification. Instead it uses terms like urban revitalisation, urban regeneration, and urban sustainability to redefine itself as a moral discourse which helps the poor (Slater, 2005; 2006). By doing this the discourse deflects from the class restructuring processes which define its implementation. Previous Studies As of yet there is little consensus around the ability of gentrification to achieve the goals asked of it, neither is it clear what type of social mix is most desirable or the outcomes of different mixes (Walks and Maaranen, 2008). For instance, Tunstall and Fenton (2006) who claim to amass the best UK research on social mix conclude that although knowledge gaps exist the founding arguments for mixed communities remains valid. Yet, in contrast, Doherty et al. (2006) undertook quantitative analysis of the UK census and Scottish Longitudinal Study and concluded that there is little evidence to support the mixing of housing tenures in developments with the premise of improving social well-being. Purpose sentence Randolph and Wood (2003) note that much of the research conducted so far has concentrated on social mixing in public housing estates (Atkinson and Kintrea, 2000; Cole and Shayer, 1998) and there has been little exploration of the social mixing occurring in new build developments. Does Gentrification bring about social mixing? Contrary to the assumptions which link gentrification to improved social mixing, most research suggests that gentrification is likely to reduce social mixing at the neighbourhood level. Interviews conducted by Butler (1997), and Butler and Robson (2001; 2003) suggest that local middle-income gentrifiers engaged in little social interaction with lower-income residents. Their research found that gentrifiers generally sought out people with similar cultural and political interests which often lead to little interaction between middle and low-income residents. Accordingly, they found that interaction was greatest in areas where gentrification had homogenised an area and pushed out other groups. In areas where this had not occurred, Butler and Robson (2001) reported that, the difference between tenants resulted in tectonic juxtapositions which polarised social groups rather than integrating them. In their later research, Butler and Robson (2003) not only reinforced their earlier findings but found that children formed a key facilitator in resident integration: there was no evidence that the children played outside these middle class networks, our fieldwork strongly suggests that the middle class preschool clubs were highly exclusionary of non-middle class children (Butler and Robson, 2003:128) Although Butler and Robsons research rightly questions the role of gentrification in a policy discourse which looks to foster a sustainable urban environment it does so primarily through the experiences of the gentrifier. Davidsons (under review) research of new build, middle income development on the River Thames, London engaged with both gentrifier and non-gentrifier to reinforce scepticism over the ability of housing type to influence class relations. Davidson found no evidence to suggest that any of the developments desired outcomes had been achieved through the introduction of a middle class population. Both the temporary nature of new build residents and the spatially segregated nature of the development itself meant the development fostered little integration between low and middle income residents who do not work in the same place, use the same transport or frequent same restaurants or pubs. In a similar study Freeman (2006) researched two black gentrifying neighbourhoods in New York City. Like Davidson, Freeman found that social networks rarely crossed and that gentrifiers and longer term residents generally moved in different spaces. Additionally, Freeman experienced that residents were hesitant to pass comment on social mixing, they rarely expressed their opinions in overly positive or negative tones. In accordance with this literature it seems unrealistic to assume that different social groups will integrate when living together. As some of the authors have highlighted, increased neighbourhood diversity does not correlate with increased social interaction and can in some cases promote social conflict as much as it does social harmony. Mention how its all based on a class representation of society The mixed communities policy agenda has been used to help improve inequality in social housing (estates managed by local authorities, housing associations, and other non-profit housing agencies) and more controversially to regenerate social housing. This concentration on social housing comes out of a Since its conception social housing in the UK has experienced slow residualisation a tendency to house only certain types of household; the poor, unemployed, those in debt, with a history of mental illness and experiencing a relationship breakdown (Cole and Furbey, 1994). For much of social housings history this process has been ignored and consequently has been accompanied by a sorting process forcing the most vulnerable households into the most unattractive housing (Willmott and Murie, 1988). MIXED COMMUNITIES DEFINE EVERYDAY EXPERIENCE what is encapsulated within this? Social interactionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Previous Studies There are three studies which are relevant to this research. They examine the impact of mixed community housing on social interaction: Atkinson and Kintrea (2000) conducted an exploratory study which analysed diaries made by 38 households. The research suggested that patterns of social life vary by tenure and as such little interaction occurred between residents of owner occupied housing and social housing tenants. The neighbourhood was seen as a focus of interaction for social housing residents only. Cole and Shavers (1998b) survey of 52 residents in a new build, mixed-tenure redevelopment in Sheffield again found only weakly developed social networks. Jupps (1999:10-11) analysis of interviews with over 1,000 residents living in ten-mixed-tenure estates in England, concluded that the street is a more significant social unit than the estate. The case studies analysed often had social and private housing located on different streets and consequently there was little mixing reported between the two groups. Jupp reported that fostering social interaction would extremely difficult because of the overwhelming belief between residents: they do not think that they share many common interests with their neighbours. Individually these studies offer little scope, but taken together they provide a consistent view that mixed tenure developments foster little social interaction between residents of different social backgrounds. However, it must be realised that these studies only examine the grass-roots neighbourhood, that is to say that they often ignore the way external perceptions have defining role in the developments success. Atkinson and Kintrea (2000) identify it as a key area for future research when they report that residents welcomed the influx of higher income residents because they improve the reputation and appearance of the area. There is one fundamental understanding that underpins urban policy in the UK; as stated in the foreword of the Urban White Paper: How we live our lives is shaped by where we live our lives

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay examples -- Literary Analysis

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses Jim as the moral center of the story to depict the hardships, racial obstacles, and stereotypes that blacks endured during the era of American slavery. Dating back to the 1600’s and during the harsh cruelty of the American slave era comes the inspiring story of a black man in search of a new start. Among many other slaves, Jim is brought to an unjust, nefarious reality as he endures the oppression of racial discrimination. Throughout American history, many blacks grew up constantly bearing the unforgiving rancor of whites. A discriminating social system emerged, establishing white supremacy. Sadly, whites claimed superiority over any non-white and attacked many traits of these lower groups including their intelligence, roles in society and their emotions as human beings. In many parts of the story, Jim is viewed by the whites around him as a dullard. Jim seems to do whatever he is told with the notion that whites know best . Later Huck and Tom, both white children, devise a plan to rescue Jim from his capture. Although the two boys are significantly younger than Jim, the black slave chooses to listen to them because of the color of their skin: â€Å"Jim he couldn’t see no sense in the most of it, but he allowed [the boys were] white folks and knowed better than him† (Twain 188). During the slave era, the color white symbolized intelligence, a force to intimidate and control others. Jim’s statement reflects the insecurity that had been forged within him by the outside white force. He fails to understand the terms of the plan to set him free but understands that the immature children know what is best-- for they are white. Moreover, slavery forced blacks into many subordinate roles. S... ...ce of the times he has spent with them. At one point, Jim reflects on an incident when he has struck his child out of anger. After realizing the reason for her disobedience, her loss of hearing, he pleads to God, â€Å"de Lord God Amighty fogive po’ ole Jim, kaze he never qwyne to fogive hisself as long’s he live!† (Twain 118). He discovers â€Å"she was plumb deef en dumb†¦ en [he had] ben a-treat’n her so!† (Twain 118). With the sound of a distant whack, Jim is flooded with guilt and regret. He relates the sound to a past which he will never be able to forgive himself for. The once buried feelings for his family finally surface, vivified with a new sense of emotion for his loved ones. On the outside Jim is a slave, a black creature who endures the callous twists of life. Under his skin, however, he is a father, an honest and caring person and most importantly a human.

Coffee Benefits Essay

Several studies comparing moderate coffee drinkers (about 2 cups a day) with light coffee drinkers (less than one cup a day) found that those who drank more coffee were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease later in life. [2][3] [edit] Reduced risk of gallstone disease Drinking caffeinated coffee has been correlated with a lower incidence of gallstones and gallbladder disease in both men[4] and women[5] in two studies performed by the Harvard School of Public Health. A lessened risk was not seen in those who drank decaffeinated coffee. [edit] Reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease A study comparing heavy coffee drinkers (3. 5 cups a day) with non-drinkers found that the coffee drinkers were significantly less likely to contract Parkinson’s Disease later in life. [6]. Likewise, a second study found an inverse relationship between the amount of coffee regularly drunk and the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s Disease. [7] [edit] Cognitive performance Many people drink coffee for its ability to increase short term recall and increase IQ[8]. Likewise, in tests of simple reaction time, choice reaction time, incidental verbal memory, and visuospatial reasoning, participants who regularly drank coffee were found to perform better on all tests, with a positive relationship between test scores and the amount of coffee regularly drunk. Elderly participants were found to have the largest effect associated with regular coffee drinking. [9] Another study found that women over the age of 80 performed significantly better on cognitive tests if they had regularly drunk coffee over their lifetimes. [10] [edit] Analgesic enhancement Coffee contains caffeine, which increases the effectiveness of pain killers, especially migraine and headache medications. [11] For this reason, many over-the-counter headache drugs include caffeine in their formula. [edit] Antidiabetic Coffee intake may reduce one’s risk of diabetes mellitus type 2 by up to half. While this was originally noticed in patients who consumed high amounts (7 cups a day), the relationship was later shown to be linear. [12] [edit] Liver disease Coffee can also reduce the incidence of cirrhosis of the liver[13] and has been linked to a reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, a primary liver cancer that usually arises in patients with preexisting cirrhosis. [14] The exact mechanism and the amount of coffee needed to achieve a beneficial effect are as yet unclear. [15] [edit] Cancer Coffee consumption is also correlated to a reduced risk of oral, esophageal, and pharyngeal cancer. [16][17] In ovarian cancer, no benefit was found. [18] In the Nurses Health Study, a modest reduction in breast cancer was observed in postmenopausal women only, which was not confirmed in decaffeinated coffee. [19] [edit] Cardioprotective Coffee reduces the incidence of heart disease, though whether this is simply because it rids the blood of excess lipids or because of its stimulant effect is unknown. [citation needed] [edit] Laxative/diuretic Coffee is also a powerful stimulant for peristalsis and is sometimes considered to prevent constipation; it is also a diuretic. However, coffee can also cause loose bowel movements. Practitioners in alternative medicine often recommend coffee enemas for â€Å"cleansing of the colon† due to its stimulus of peristalsis, although mainstream medicine has not proved any benefits of the practice. [edit] Antioxidant Coffee contains the anticancer compound methylpyridinium. This compound is not present in significant amounts in other food materials. Methylpyridinium is not present in raw coffee beans but is formed during the roasting process from trigonelline, which is common in raw coffee beans. It is present in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, and even in instant coffee. [20] http://ezinearticles. com/? Coffee-and-Its-Antioxidants-Healthier-Than-You-May-Realize&id=1235899 Did you know that coffee is chock full of antioxidants, an anticancer agent? If you’ve always thought coffee is bad for you, think again. Aside from keeping you alert and awake, coffee can also keep you young and fighting cancer. So, continue reading for answers to some frequently asked questions about coffee and its antioxidants. What are antioxidants? Antioxidants are any vitamin or nutrient that can help prevent cancer or damage to the heart and other tissues caused by free radicals. By neutralizing free radicals, they prevent cell degradation. Antioxidant rich foods include blueberries, raspberries, dates, chocolate and, of course, coffee. What type of antioxidants are in coffee? The antioxidants found in coffee are called polyphenols. More specifically, the compound is methylpridinium. The antioxidant isn’t present in raw, green coffee beans, but is actually created during the roasting process. How much coffee is enough? Research has shown that people who drink one to two coffees a day have half the risk of developing liver cancer when compared to people who didn’t drink coffee. Meanwhile, drinking 4 to 6 cups of coffee can reduce your risk for type-2 diabetes by as much as 50 percent. However, despite the reduced risk for these diseases and other cancers, like oral, esophageal, and pharyngeal cancer, doctors don’t recommend you start drinking 10 cups a day. Coffee is still a stimulant and a diuretic and if drunk in excess can cause heart problems, anxiety and possible dangerously elevated blood pressure. Can I get these antioxidants from other sources? The specific antioxidant compound of methylpridinium is only found in substantial amounts in coffee. While other food sources like cranberries, dates and other antioxidant-rich foods contain different types of antioxidants, coffee is the primary source for this particular compound. (For other sources of antioxidants try bananas, dry beans, blueberries, pomegranates, lychees and the other foods listed above.) A recent study also found that the vast majority of North Americans get most of their antioxidants from beverages and, in particular, coffee. The average adult takes in about 1300 milligrams per day through coffee and the next source is tea at a mere 294 milligrams per day. Again, while coffee is one of our highest sources of antioxidants – a great cancer-fighting and prevention agent – coffee drinkers should always practice moderation. A cup or two a day may keep a number of common diseases away, but too much coffee can also cause problems. So balance is always a necessity.

Using the French Prepositions En and Dans

Using the French Prepositions 'En' and 'Dans' In French, the prepositions en and dans both mean in, and they both express time and location. They are not, however, interchangeable.  Their usage depends on both meaning and grammar. How French Prepositions Work In French, prepositions  are generally words that  link two related parts of a sentence. They are usually placed in front of nouns or pronouns  to indicate a relationship between that  noun or pronoun and a verb, adjective  or noun that precedes it. Im talking to Jean.Je parle  Ã‚  Jean.She is from Paris.Elle est  de  Paris.The book is for you.  Le livre est  pour  toi. These small but powerful  words not only show relationships between words, they also refine the meanings of place (cities, countries, islands, regions, and U.S. states) and time (as with  pendant  and  durant); can follow adjectives and link them to the remainder of a sentence; can  never  end a sentence (as they can in English); can be difficult to translate into English and idiomatic; and can exist as a prepositional phrase, such as  au-dessus de  (above),  au-dessous de (below),  and  au milieu de (in the middle of). Some prepositions are also used after certain verbs to complete their meaning, such as  croire en  (to believe in),  parler   (to talk to) and  parler de  (to talk about).  Plus, prepositional phrases can be replaced by the adverbial pronouns  y  and  en. The following guidelines and examples delineate how and when to use two of the trickier French prepositions:  en and dans. Notice how they link two related parts of each sentence.   Examples of When  to Use En in French En expresses the length of time an action happens. As a result, the verb is usually in the present or past tense, as in Je peux faire le lit en cinq minutes.I can make the bed in five minutes.Il a lu le livre en une heure.  He read the book in an hour.Jai appris danser en un an.  I learned how to dance in a year. En  expresses when an action happens as it relates to the calendar: month, season, or year. Exception: au printemps. Nous voyageons en Avril. We travel in April.Il arrivera en hiver.  He will arrive in the winter. En  can mean in or to when followed directly by a noun that doesnt need an article: Vous allez en prison!  Youre going to prison!  Il est en classe.  Hes in school. En  can also mean  in or to when used with some  states, provinces, and countries, such as Jhabite en Californie.I live in California.Je vais en France. Im going to France. Examples of When to Use Dans Dans  indicates the amount of time before action will occur. Note that the verb is usually in the present or future, as in Nous partons dans dix minutes.Were leaving in 10 minutes.  Il reviendra dans une heure.Hell be back in an hour.  Elle va commencer dans une semaine. Shes going to start in a week. Dans  refers to something that occurs within or during a decade, as in Dans les annà ©es soixantes...In the sixties...Dans les annà ©es quatre-vingts...During the eighties... Dans  means in a location when followed by an article plus noun, such as Il est dans la maison.Hes in the house.  Quest-ce qui est dans la boà ®te? Whats in the box? Dans  also means in or to with some  states and provinces: Jhabite dans le Maine.I live in Maine.Je vais dans lOntario. ï » ¿Im going to Ontario.

Odyssey essays

Odyssey essays The epic The Odyssey has a collaboration of claims in reference with family and relationships. Not only is the story about an immortal man pampered by the wishes and desires of the Greek gods to travel home after twenty years away from home as a punishment, but as a breakdown of a man and wifes relationship over a struggle of time apart. The marriage bond between Odysseus and Penelope in this book is somewhat distorted. There are situations that may be looked upon by others in our time period as being immoral and sinful. It is these situations that breakdown an argument between what is justified right and wrong in a marriage. Odysseus has been away from his kingdom in Ithaca for the past 20 years. Not only has he been away from his kingdom and people, but his wife Penelope and his only son, the prince, Telemachus. Over these profuse years apart from one each other Penelope has stayed desolate, not marrying another to take place of the man she has wept for in thought of his return almost every night. By todays standards it is sometimes quite uncommon to hear of a widow or widower staying single and carrying on a relationship with anybody else than the one that they lost. At times money, property and materialistic objects can blind a relationship into wrong thoughts and perceptions that are spite and ill willed. While in The Odyssey it seems to be a case of a man sacrificing everything and doing whatever it takes to get home to his wife and child. There is no obstacle he cannot over come, no wall that is too high, and no ocean large enough that he can and would not conquer to see these two represent ations of his life. With these we learn that Odysseus falls into traps of deception, as well as lust and has to give up being true to Penelope in order to stay alive and continue his journey. Many do not agree with the idea of Odysseus, the man, engaging in extra marital affairs. I mean hes only doing it to con...

Americans Attitude towards Abortion Research Paper

Americans Attitude towards Abortion - Research Paper Example Therefore, more men do not support the women right to have abortion for whatever reason. From the graph provided below it can be seen that the higher the level of education the more people support abortion. Its now evident that the attitude towards abortion depends on the level of education. In a bid to find out whether the level of education affects the peoples' attitude regarding abortion, the null hypothesis may be stated as, the peoples' attitude to abortion depends on the level of education that they have i.e. The chi-square value of 31.08 is greater than 9.48773 from the chi-square distribution tables corresponding with 4 degrees of freedom and (0.05) confidence interval. The null hypothesis that states that there is a relationship between the level of education and attitude towards abortion is rejected. This implies that the attitude towards abortion depends on other factors but not the level of education. The horizontal axis shows the increasing status of employment, therefore from the chi test results it is evident that abortion support will depend on employment status, whereby the employed have higher abortion support than the unemployed. The study is about the attitude toward abortion. The study entails data from 1975 to 2000 for over 2,500 households and this data was retrieved from the General Social Survey. Data was also categorized in terms of gender, employment and education. The paper analysis the attitude toward abortion comparing men and women, education attainment and employment, The paper states and test hypothesis which include whether the general support of abortion in America, the other research question is whether more women than men support abortion. The paper also tends to analyze whether there is a relationship between education attainment and abortion and finally the final research question is whether there is a difference in the attitude toward abortion and employment status. Methods used to test the above hypothesis is the use of chi test, the chi square distribution table is used to test the hypothesis and this involves comparing the chi square value given the degree of freedom, whereby a decision is made by determining whether the calculated value is greater or less than the critical value from the table. Result show that the total number of people who support abortion have increased over the years and therefore it is expected that this number will increase in the future, the

The Basic Concept of Business-to-Business Marketing Research Paper

The Basic Concept of Business-to-Business Marketing - Research Paper Example The marketing mix is more or less the same as of the consumer products but pricing, consumer relationships, and product quality play a vital role in this scenario. The branding is limited and the awareness is on the low scale among the individual customers. However, some marketing and branding strategies like online advertising in B2B portals, participating in Trade fair, corporate interviews, selective advertising in business channels and industrial magazines etc. The basic concept of marketing is the same here but with little modification. Introduction: Business to business marketing all about creating relationships and maintain it properly within the business partners. In this field that is; in industrial marketing or business to business marketing the government organizations, manufacturing, companies, service providers are involved. There is no direct relation between individual end users. Consumer behavior, product quality, pricing, and transportation play an important role. Th e creating of corporate relations is the key factor in this marketing module. More relations mean more options for having more clients. This paper will discuss the basics of business to business marketing, marketing mix, positioning, marketing strategies etc. In business, to business marketing, the customer is an organization instead of an individual end user, and that is the main distinguishing characteristics of the business to business organizations from the business to customer organizations (Brennan, Canning, and McDowell, 2010). There are many differences between the consumer market and the business market. In this case the business market. There are some products which are always bought by the organizations but not the individual customers. For example the management consultancy services, this is a service based products which can be sold only to the organizations and in this case, B2B marketing is very much important.