Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Syntax Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Syntax Assignment - Essay Example This is in line with the views of Greenbaum and Quirk (1990), who insist that the words selected by a narrator are reflective of the time aspect, regardless of whether the action took place in the past, present or in the future. For example, ‘every time’ is one phrase used to show the aspect of repetitive time, relating the subjects, who are Barney and the grandmother, where emphasis is placed on the frequency of times that she tells him of the way that the ground gives way, at the edge of chalk pit. ‘Every time’ is also used to show the number of times and how often the sister would tell him about the chalk pit. For example, the text emphasizes that the sister would tell Barney the same thing, â€Å"every time she wasn’t telling him something else. ‘Today’ is used to show the present time, when Barney had nothing to do, except visit the chalk pit. ‘Once’ is used to show the aspect of the given time when the location of the chalk pit was the side of a hill. The word ‘once’ is used to show the past time (Greenbaum and Quirk, 1990). B). The author used ‘verb tense groups,’ which comprise an auxiliary verb or a verb and a principal verb tense. The combination of the verb and the other parts of the groups are used to create the verb tense group. The need for this tense group is determined by the type of verb used. Examples from the text include ‘everybody had told him’, ‘men had come to dig away chalk and left...’ ‘His sister, every time she wasn’t telling him something else’, he thought of all the sticks of chalk’, and ‘the sticks of chalk they must have made...’ C). The tenses used within the verb tense groups used throughout the text fall under the three main classifications: past, present and future tense. These tenses are used to show the time of a verb’s being or action (Matthews, 2003). In doing this, the ending of the verb is conjugated to show the time of reference. For

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Dell Business Analysis: Organisation and Effectiveness

Dell Business Analysis: Organisation and Effectiveness Summary The research is about study of distribution channel management at Dell Computers, UK. My work is more practical in nature, studying the Distribution Channels of Dell, both at a strategic and an operational level. I would be analysing the business function on its efficiency and effectiveness, comparing with the other industry performers. I would mostly be comparing the function against Sony Electronics, the most respected name in multi-channel distribution network; Acer, pioneer of value computing products and proprietary brands like Advent. The research aims to analyse and study the distribution channel of Dell in UK, distribution channel of its competitors, efficiency and effectiveness of Dells Distribution channel as compared to its competitors. And based on the research and analysis propose recommendations to enhance its effectiveness. The literature review section of the dissertation explores the definition of distribution, channel, and distribution channel and distribution channel management. Apart from that the section also examines the activities and the levels of distribution channel. The latter half of the section focuses on the distribution strategy adopted by Dell, Sony and Acer. Research is conducted by means of case study as well as survey. Case study analysis incorporates the study and effectiveness of the distribution strategy of Acer, Sony and Dell. Two set of questionnaires are designed to collect data from the end customer and the channel partners. Apart from that secondary data is used from from books, journals, company reports and documents, government websites whereas primary data is collected by means of survey questionnaire distributed channel partners and the end customers. In all 50 questionnaires are collected duly filled out of 60 questionnaires being sent out to the end customer whereas the questionnaire for the channel partners was send to 50 channel partners out of which only 30 responses were received. Questionnaires were sent out using survey distribution services of a web site. Care was taken to ensure that diverse demographic is covered for the survey. The research has its own drawbacks such as the work limited to the English market. Financial and time constraints of my semester mean that Im not able to conduct a global research that would be more apt in this case. Another limitation is most of my work is conducted through a personal observation method; as such it is prone to my personal bias. Thirdly distribution channel model is a sensitive piece of company information. As far as information on the competitors distribution channel is concerned its bit difficult. CHAPTER 1: Introduction This chapter will introduce the topic, specify the key aim and objectives of the dissertation, discuss the research approach and state the dissertation outline. The key aim of this chapter is to establish the foundation for the research topic by giving out basic information. 1.1 Introduction The research is about study of distribution channel management at Dell Computers, UK. The dissertation is more practical in nature, studying the Distribution Channels of Dell, both at a strategic and an operational level. I would be analysing the business function on its efficiency and effectiveness, comparing with the other industry performers. I would mostly be comparing the function against Sony Electronics, the most respected name in multi-channel distribution network; Acer, pioneer of value computing products and proprietary brands like Advent. Dell Inc. is a multibillion dollar, multinational technology firm that manufactures, develops, sells and supports personal computing and computer related products. Dell has seen a rapid growth to become one of the top three vendors in the PC manufacturing industry, and has seen a substantial increase in share price and market value. While many other companies were unable to handle the demands of the competition, Dell has proved successful in such an environment. The main key to success to Dell has been its two innovative practices that is direct sales and build-to-order business model. This model is simple as a concept but highly complex to execute, especially in the present conditions of rapid growth and change. Dell has continually renewed and extended its business model while striking a balance between control and edibility. Dell made changes in its design, manufacturing, procurement, and logistics processes to reduce the costs, and to speed up the entire distribution system. It has expanded into International markets and it started making notebook and server product lines which has led to extraordinary profits for dell, and has given a great market value for the company. Dell has reached sales of $18.2 billion by the year 1998, with a profit of $1.46 billion, and Dells market share in the PC market grew from 3% in 1995 to 9.2% in the year 1999 with stock price increasing by 40 times. Dells market capitalization has reached $100 billion. 1.2 Research aim and Questions The primary purpose of my research work is to analyse the role distribution channels play in the functioning of a business, both in the long run and in the short run. My study is to present a detailed description of the unique distribution channel adopted by Dell Inc., analyse its efficiency and effectiveness, identify possible loopholes and put forth recommendations for development. My study is being undertaken with an aim to answer the following research questions: * How are the various distribution channels organised within Dell Inc.? * How does it compare with its competitors? * How effective and efficient is this channel management at Dell? * What can be done to make it better? The four research questions are the guiding blocks of my entire research and all of the work would be done, keeping them in view. Distribution Channels within Dell: I would be looking at Dells innovative distribution channel management which has literally revolutionised the importance of Direct Marketing in the consumer electronics space. Direct marketing is still the primary distribution mechanism within Dell. I would be documenting the evolution of this concept within Dell right from its customized sales regime during PCs Limited to the complex and sophisticated systems that it employs currently. I would be presenting a visual of the entire distribution network that it stands at today. Comparison with its competitors: I would be comparing the dynamic distribution systems of its arch rivals. Sony and Acer are the brands that I would be concentrating upon. I would be looking at the strategies adopted in different economies, though my primary concentration would be on the English markets. Efficiency and Effectiveness: I would be conducting an efficiency and effectiveness test of Dells powerful distribution network against its competitors. This would be an empirical study. I would be concentrating on the parameters of Customer Satisfaction and Vendor relationship management. Recommendations: Finally, I would be putting forth recommendations for future developments along with the cost benefit analysis of such implementations. 1.3 Research approach The study is conducted by collecting secondary data and primary data. Secondary data is collected from books, journals, government websites, company documents whereas primary data is collected by means of survey questionnaire distributed among channel partners and the end customers. Participants of research would be intermediaries in the distribution network and the end customer. In order to select the participants the study has made use of stratified random sampling method in order to make sure that major demographic segments are represented while selecting the samples (Rao Skinner, 1996). Questionnaire design consists of two parts. The first part contained the demographic information while the second part dwelled on each of the subjects perception on each variable using five point likert scales from 1 (â€Å"Strongly Agree†) to 5(â€Å"Strongly Disagree†). The study did not require any assistance from a third party or any other institution. In order to collect data the study made use of web portal survey to distribute survey and get responses. The system was designed in such a way that the respondent have to submit all the answers. Out of 60 questionnaires, responses for 50 surveys were obtained. The duration for the survey was kept as two weeks, a reminder mail was being sent to the respondents at the end of week one to remind them. 1.4 Importance of the study Organizations have been undergoing strategic changes over the past decade. More so in the past couple of years. The current recession has proved that risk management and strategic planning are most vital for an organizations long lasting and self-sustaining performance. My work will strive to highlight one such areas of strategic thinking and inform the senior management about the benefits involved. 1.5 Research Scope My work would primarily be concentrated on the UK market. Though Dell is a global corporation with intermediaries present across the globe, all working towards forming an effective value chain to maximize business potential and ensure efficiency in operations; UK being the second biggest market after the US will be a general approximation of the entire organizational behaviour. Furthermore, the cosmopolitan nature of London and demographic diversity ensures that it would be a close estimate of the general population. 1.5 Limitation of Research I intend to undertake my research as comprehensively as possible. As in any research work, inherent are some unavoidable drawbacks in my study. Few of them are: * Financial and Time Constraints: As outlined before, the scope of my work is limited to the English market. Financial and time constraints of my semester mean that Im not able to conduct a global research that would be more apt in this case. * Personal bias. Most of my work is conducted through a personal observation method; as such it is prone to my personal bias. However as the person who is to do the entire research right from formulation of research questions to recommending solutions, I would be most qualified to comment on the topic. * Information Constraints. Distribution channel model is a sensitive piece of company information. Though I have secured access to Dell, wherein I could do all the data mining myself, the extent of information that I would be able to muster about the rivals model is still to be seen. 1.5 Dissertation outline The structure of the dissertation is as follows Chapter 1: Chapter 1 encompass introduction to the topic, followed by brief background into the research topic. This beginning chapter also lays bare aims and objectives of the research followed by structure of the thesis. Apart from that this chapter also gives information on the research approach adopted and the limitations of the research. Chapter 2: The literature review section of the dissertation explores the definition of distribution, channel, and distribution channel and distribution channel management. Apart from that the section also examines the activities and the levels of distribution channel. The latter half of the section focuses on the distribution strategy adopted by Dell, Sony and Acer. The final section compares the distribution strategy by all the three players. Chapter 3: The thesis then moves on to methodology section wherein the research model, research framework and data collection methodology is discussed. Questionnaire method is used to collect the necessary data from the consumer. Chapter 4: This chapter explores data findings Chapter 5: This chapter presents the conclusion. Chapter 6: This includes references using Harvard referencing style Chapter 7: This includes the Appendix 1.6 Summary The chapter introduced the topic of the dissertation, specified the key aims and objectives of the research. Discussed the research approach in form of secondary and primary data collection through the means of questionnaire and clearly stated the limitations of the research in brief. The chapter also outlines the research structure specifying the contents of each chapter. Chapter 2: Literature Review During my research, I would primarily be looking towards the concepts of Distribution Channel and its management. I would be guided by the various contributions in the field, though my work would primarily be influenced by the theories and suggestions of Philip Kotler in the area. A Professor of Business Studies at the Kelloggs Business School, Kotler is often regarded as the ‘Father of Modern Marketing. My work also coincides with various other management thinking like Consumer Behaviour, Relationship Management, Marketing Mix and Optimization, among others. 2.1 Definition 2.1.1 Distribution Kotler (1996) states that distribution is a key element in the marketing mix (place amongst the 4Ps). It is the systems and practices in use which make a product or service available to the consumer of such a product or service. 2.1.2 Channel Channel is defined as â€Å"a set of interdependent organizations involved in the process of making a product or service available for consumption or use† (Gorchels, West, Marien, 2004). It can also encompass physical movement, warehousing, ownership of the product, presale transaction, post-sale activities; order processing, credit and collections; and other different types of support activities (Gorchels, West, Marien, 2004). 2.1.3 Distribution Channel The Distribution Channel is the chain of intermediaries, each of them passing on the product or service to another intermediary until it reaches the consumer. The business dictionary defines it as â€Å"The route by which a product or service is moved from a producer or supplier to customers. A distribution channel usually consists of a chain of intermediaries, including wholesalers, retailers, and distributors, that is designed to transport goods from the point of production to the point of consumption in the most efficient way† (Dictionary, 2010) Another definition of Distribution channel states â€Å"A group of independent and interdependent organizations involved in the sale and movement of goods and services to the end users may be called a distribution channel or network† (Gorchels, West, Marien, 2004). More specifically, a distribution channel is: * The transfer of goods from manufacturer to the end user. * Route of a company for distributing the goods. * The process of moving goods from the manufacturer to the consumer. * A supply chain consisting of all parties in between production to the end user. 2.2 Types of channel members The activities in the distribution channel can be carried out by the marketer himself or it can be carried out by specialist organizations. The specialist organizations and the channel members can be categorized into two types. * Resellers * Specialty Service Firms. Resellers are the companies which usually buy and take the ownership of the products from the manufacturer with the intention of selling to end consumers. An organization can have one or more than one reseller in the chain. The network or chain of resellers is known as reseller network. The resellers can be further classified into: Retailers: A retailer sells the product directly to the end customer. Wholesalers: Wholesalers buy the products from manufacturer or other wholesalers and then they sell the products to the retailers. Industrial Distributors: They are the ones who sell products from one business to other, they are suppliers who buy the goods and sell it to another firm. Specialty service firms are organizations that do not take the ownership of the products. They also provide additional services along with the products. Specialty firms can be: Agents and brokers: They are the firms which bring together the suppliers and buyers and mediate the sale and they charge a fee for this kind of service. Distribution service firms: They provide services which help with the movement of goods in the distribution channels like transportation, processing and storage of goods and products. Others: They are the firms which provide other services to the channels in distribution like insurance, routing assistance etc. The distribution channels consist of many parties among which each of them is trying to meet their objectives. Relationships between channel members should be strong with each others especially on which they are depending for the further distribution of product. 2.3 Levels The arrangement of the distribution channels can be classified into two types: * Independent channel arrangements. * Dependent channel arrangements. Independent channel arrangements: In this type of arrangement the channel members negotiate deals with others which do not result in the binding of the relationships. Channel members are free to make arrangements which they feel is in their own and best interest. An individual member decides what is best for them and not the entire channel. This is also called conventional distribution arrangement and often significant conflict as each member decides what is best for him and not in concern with the entire channel As shown in the figure 2 there are four levels of distribution channels. Channel 1 is called the direct marketing channel which is the distribution of products or services from the manufacturer to the customer. The best example for this channel is Dell which does not makes use of any intermediaries to distribute its products to end customers; there are no retailers, agents or wholesalers. The channel does not have any intermediaries. This type of channel helps to eradicate the excess cost and also helps to have good control over the quality and marketing. The other three channels fall in the category of â€Å"indirect marketing channels†. As shown in the figure 1, the second channel has one intermediary, if the market is a consumer market the one intermediary is basically a retailer. Electronic consumer goods market of UK is an example of second type of channel arrangement. In this type of distribution arrangement the companies sell good to large retail chains, example would be Sony, Canon, and HP selling their electronic goods to large retail chains such as Dixons. These retailers in return sell the goods to the end customer. As shown in the figure Channel 3 consists of two levels which are the wholesaler and the retailer. The role of the wholesale in this channel is to buy the products at bulk from the manufacturer and then sell the same to retailer in smaller quantities. This model works best for retailers on small scale and not for big chains such as Dixons. This type of distribution channel is best when there are large number of small retailers and not big companies. Example in this case would be the medical drugs distribution market in the UK. The fourth channel has added level to it in the form of agents who work as intermediary between manufacturer and wholesaler. The agent acts as representative for both the sides. This works in textile market. Figure 2 gives information on the four types of distribution channel. Dell follows the manufacturer to direct customer channel thus discarding the intermediaries in between. Source: http://nptel.iitm.ac.in/courses/IIT-MADRAS/Management_Science_II/Pdf/1_4.pdf A direct distribution channel is where a company sells their products direct to consumers. While direct channels were not popular many years ago, the Internet has greatly increased the use of direct channels. Additionally, companies needing to cut costs may use direct channels to avoid middlemen mark-ups on their products. Distributors, wholesalers and retailers are the primary indirect channels a company may use when selling their products in the marketplace. Companies choose the indirect channel best suited for their product to obtain the best market share; it also allows them to focus on producing their goods. Though, in practicality, a number of other players exist, they can be generalised to the above. The specific channel of distribution adopted by a company depends, to a major extent, on its business model, the industry type and the scale of its operations. As an Instance, Sony has its own set of company operated exclusive showrooms. The strong brand equity of Sony, the scale of its business and clearly identifiable product differentiations that it enjoys with the consumers, allow it to leverage on its economies of scale and scope by operating its own outlets. Directly, this result in better margins for the company and indirectly it helps building on its already demanding brand leadership. Dell, on the other hand, relies more on online sales. This is because of the organization of its service delivery utility. Dells business model is based upon its centralised manufacturing facilities, rather than the nuclear organization at Sony. Online sales suits such a strategy by negating the high costs of transportation and inventory planning issues involved. A manufacturer selling a physical product might require three channels: Sales Channel, Delivery Channel, and Service Channel. In Our case, Dell uses telephone and internet as sales channels, express mail services as the delivery channel and local repair people as its service channel. 2.4 Distribution Channel Activities Distribution includes different range of activities (Richard Gay, 2007) * Linking many suppliers to provide wide range of consumer choice * Assist the exchange process identify the needs of the buyer in the context of product categories, quantities, range etc. and devise manufacturing, inventory and packaging schedules to fit. * Marketing information: This encompass collection, distribution and analysing marketing research information such as the past sales data about the players within the organizations marketing environment. * Promotional activities- This involves setting of promotional objectives and activating the various elements of the marketing communications mix and measuring their effectiveness, this will encompass identify and communicate with prospects. * Pricing: Deciding on the sales terms and conditions at each stage of the value chain * Risk management This includes analysis and resource sourcing required for involvement in the channel , the degree of control and influence and the potential benefits such as revenue and profit generation. * Physical Distribution Management It includes the transportation all aspects of warehousing management and information flows. Other Activities that may be part of the distribution channels are as follows: * Order Generation. * Handling of Goods. * Shipping of Goods. * Storage of Goods. * Display of Goods. * Promotion of Goods. * Sale. * Feedback. 2.5 Distribution Channel Management Distribution Channel Management is all about getting the product or service to the right people at the right time under the constraints of profits, efficiency and effectiveness. Successful marketing does not end when a business has developed a product or service and has found its appropriate target audience with a view to selling it at the right price. The next issue that needs to be faced is how they are going to distribute and sell this product/service to these people- the consumers. When a product/service is purchased by a consumer, it may have been bought directly from the business, or it may have been through a number of intermediaries (wholesaler, retailer, etc.): these are known as distribution channels. Small businesses need to acknowledge the different types of distribution channels to utilize sales potential. Distribution channel management involves a lot of channel decisions, strategic alternatives and numerous linking concepts, all of which would be explored in my research paper. Distribution channel management involves a lot of channel decisions, strategic alternatives and numerous linking concepts. The PC industry is driven by rapid technological improvements in components, particularly microprocessors, other semiconductors, and storage devices. The improved performance of hardware has been matched historically by increased complexity of software, creating demand for the latest hardware. Figure 2 PC Supply Chain This means that time is a critical competitive factor in the industry in two ways: * Firstly, excess inventory loses value (at an estimated 10% per month 😉 and costs money; * Secondly, products incorporating the most advanced technologies are in high demand and carry a price premium. As a result, companies that minimize inventory and bring new products to market faster can reduce costs, increase market share, and maintain higher margins. Two factors come into play in determining the ability of PC companies to manage inventory and introduce new products. First is the standardized, modular nature of the PC. PCs are built from standard components, using common architectural interfaces determined largely by Intel, Microsoft, and, earlier, IBM. PC makers also can outsource much of their production and purchase components from a well-established production network of contract manufacturers and components suppliers. This makes it quite easy for PC companies to introduce new PCs with the most advanced technologies. By the 1990s, PC makers could no longer gain much of an edge by virtue of design and manufacturing, as everyone had access to the same technical information and supply base. The difference among PC companies was determined increasingly by the second factorâ₠¬â€the structure of distribution. The traditional distribution system of the PC industry is an indirect model often referred to as â€Å"the channel†. The PC maker sells its products to distributors, who buy products from many manufacturers and then sell them to a variety of retailers, resellers, system integrators, and others, who sell products and services to the final customer. This distribution system was an effective means for distributing high volumes of PCs with a variety of configurations to reach a broad customer base. However, it had inherent weaknesses that left it vulnerable in a time-based competitive environment. First was its reliance on market forecasting to drive production. Even the most successful PC makers, such as IBM, Apple, and Compaq, were chronically bedevilled by their inability to accurately forecast demand in a market driven by ever shorter product cycles. They were either caught with short supplies of hot products, causing them to lose sales to competitors, or stuck with excess inventories of slow sellers, which clogged the distribution channels and often had to be sold at a loss to move them out. Even with the best forecasting, the indirect model was plagued by the need to hold inventory at each step. In the early 1990s, it was common for PC makers to have up to 90 days of inventory on hand and in the channel. The high inventory costs and lack of responsiveness of the indirect channel meant that there was an opportunity for someone who could a way to circumvent the channel. The company that seized this opportunity was Dell, which pioneered a new business model based on selling PCs directly to the final customer, and building the PC only when an order was received Selling directly removes two links in the supply chain where inventory could build up and also enables Dell to know its final customers, provide better service to them, and promote repeat or expanded sales to them. Build-to-order production allows Dell to introduce new technologies as soon as customers want them and makes it possible to adjust production to demand very quickly. It also means that Dell does not purchase components and assemble PCs until it has received payment from the customer, giving the company a negative cash conversion cycle in which it receives payment from customers before it must pay suppliers. The current environment for the computer hardware industry is shaped by several macro forces. Primarily, Dell and its competitors are influenced by economic, demographic, technological and national forces. Government, social, physical and national forces peripherally affect the computer hardware industry to varying degrees. The commoditization of the personal computer—a vital tool for business and consumer. Customers- are a key driver for the economics of this industry. Corporate spending accounts for 80% of all technology spending, and economic conditions decreasing business capital expenditures has a negative and direct impact on the computer hardware industry. While this industry is mature in the U.S., leading to decreased growth expectations, computer spending by other countries around the world will likely fill this void. Pricing in the computer manufacturing industry is extremely competitive. IT reflects the rapid pace of technological change and decreasing PC costs. Since 2000, the prices of chips and disk drives declined and the standardization of primary components of PCs led to a decline in PC prices. Direct sellers, including Dell, have traditionally been able to under-price indirect sellers in the industry including Compaq and HP. However, most PC vendors now offer a desktop model for less than $500 and a laptop for $700. Key success factors for companies in this industry continue to evolve as the industry matures. Specifically, they include: * Competitive prices * Superior relationships with suppliers * Product customization for business and consumer customers * Quality customer service * Excellent cost structure 2.5.1 Channel Issues Some of the channels issues that the companies face are as follows Product related issues Promotions related issue Pricing related issues Target market related issue Product related issues: The nature and type of the product decides the distribution option that should be chosen for the product. A few products require special handling. Ex. Flowers, Fragile goods etc. Promotion related issues: The type of promotions that are required to sell the products to the customers also decides the distribution options; there are products which require an extensive contact of the sales person with the customer like automobiles etc. and there are products which require no sales assistance from the sales person like milk etc. Pricing issues: The price at which the marketer desires to sell their product also decides the distribution option for the channel if a product is prices really less it cannot have many members in the distribution channel as each one of them looks at making their own profit in the channel. Target market issues: The distribution channel is successful only if the product can reach the right customer. Choosing a distribution channel is the path to reach the target customer. A key decision in setting of a channel arrangement is for the marketer to choose the approach to reach his target customer in the best possible manner. 2.6 Dell 2.6.1 Company Background Dell Inc. is a multibillion dollar, multinational technology firm that manufactures, develops, sells and supports personal computing and computer related products. Based out of Texas, it employ

Friday, October 25, 2019

Tonys Dreams in The Sopranos Essay -- Sopranos Show TV Psychoanalysis

Tony's Dreams in The Sopranos Intro Television has always tried to provide a true representation of the human condition. This is evident in the emergence of reality shows, shows based on true stories, and very realistic fiction. The sopranos is one of the few fictional shows that faithfully simulate the situations it tries to recreate. The sopranos is a show on HBO about Tony Soprano and his life in the mob. The show, created by David chase, shows immense Freudian influence in many scenes involving psychotherapy, Freudian theories, symbolism and dreams. David chase himself studied psychology in collage and admits it’s influence on the show. This report will deal with a series of dreams Tony soprano experiences in one episode of the show (season 2, â€Å"funhouse†). Background Tony soprano is the main character of the show. He is the boss of the soprano crime family and his life is divided into two sections. His family life and his criminal life. Even though they are mixed, both provide a separate view of Tony soprano as a man. At home, he lives with wife Carmela, son Anthony, and daughter meadow. His family, while at times dysfunctional, manages to stick together. He constantly cheats on his wife and doesn’t spend much time with his children. Meadow leaves the family to go to collage and Anthony Jr. struggles to make it through out high school. Even thought Tony shows consistent disappointment of Anthony Jr., it doesn’t come close to the emotions he has toward his mother. She mistreated Tony as a child and provided nothing but bad memories. His experience with his mother might have let him to posses a subconscious hatred for females, which he displays by only viewing them as sex objects. Tony didn’t have a bad relationship with his fa ther growing up, but that’s because he always blamed his mother. His uncle Jr., conspired with Tony’s mom to kill him after he was out of jail. This, and other events, let to they’re lack of communication. Tony’s crime family consist of his cousin, Christopher, under bosses like Big Puss, Pauly walnuts, Silvio Dante and other business associates. This group is loyal, but never hesitate to kill any one for they’re own benefit. They treat each other with the illusion of respect and honor, which (the lack of) is the cause for many of the conflicts present in the show. Involve in the middle of all of this is his psychothe... ...f by the ducks right?†. Verbal word play initiates and it eventually leads to sex. This dream shows us that the music indeed is a sexual cue. This is true because when the sexual acts start, the music gets louder and louder. Tony shows that he is able to control a lucid dream to a certain extent. The fact that he is aware of the dream shows that he is more in touch with his sub conscious then previously thought. Again, Tony is discussing Big Puss. Tony seems to realize that Big Puss is the enemy he has being hearing about. Sixth Dream This dreams concludes the series of dreams that define this episode. In this dream Tony is near a fish stand and talks to a fish. The fish is the same type of fish that he eats at the Indian restaurant. The fish that talks, is talking with Big Puss’ voice. He confesses, that he has being ratting out the mafia to the FBI. Tony questions him and gets angry. This scene displays obvious influence by the godfather. The term â€Å"sleep with the fishes† is used here by a dead fish. This forshawdoes the death of Big Puss and brings the story full circle.It is also ironic that the fish that got tony sick, gave tony the answer to solve his problem.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Play Report: Our Lady of 121st Street

Immediate Responses: -Easy read -Incredibly funny -Characters are so unlike one another -The relationships all linked together somehow -Very disappointed by the way they found Sister Rose -Loved the simple flow of the dialogue -Had to re-read several things in order to keep the sequence straight due to the jumping around of the scenes and time. Basic Conflict: The basic conflict of the play is the unsettling fact that somebody has stolen the corpse of their beloved nun Sister Rose. Major Events: -Somebody stole Sister Rose’s corpse Balthazar tells Vic a story about a man who didn’t care that his son had died -Rooftop goes to confession with Father Lux for the first time in 30 years. -Inez is Rooftop’s ex wife -Gail’s and Flip’s relationship is established. Gail is an actor. -Flip denies his relationship with Gail in front of Inez -The interrogation of Norca by Balthazar -Edwin’s and Pinky’s relationship is established -Edwin sends Pink y out for Yodels at 10:30 in the morning -Marcia’s asthma attack. Edwin takes care of her. Marcia tries hooking up with Edwin. -Norca and Inez speak in the bar for the first time since Norca slept with Rooftop, Inez’s ex husband. Balthazar takes Rooftop out of his confession. * Pinky kisses Father Lux * Pinky returns from getting yodels over 12 hours later. * He admits to Edwin that he spent time with Norca * Marcia expresses her concerns that Edwin will turn into her alcoholic grandfather * Marcia wants to marry Edwin who doesn’t want to leave Pinky alone. * Flip kisses Gail in public * Balthazar confesses that he was the guy who decided to watch a game on television over going to his son’s death sight. Major Theme: The major theme/lesson of the play is to always put somebody else before you. If you do than you will learn more about yourself in long run. Environment: The environment of our scene is a bar and grill on 121st street at 2 a. m. in the morning. Sitting in the bar I can see the smoke from the kitchen as it passes the lights on the ceiling. I can smell the fantastic aroma of fried food being cooked out back. I can taste the cold, salty, and seasoned French fries as I bite into them off of Marcia’s plate. I can hear the faint jazz music from the jukebox in the corner behind me. I can feel the cool air conditioning coming from the vents as I stand under them when I get warm. Character My character is Edwin Velasquez. Edwin is a super for a building on 121st street and has a great relationship with some of his tenants. Edwin dresses incredibly mainstream and boring. He hasn’t shaved in 3 months, so his scruff is quite visible and doesn’t waste time doing his hair. Edwin loves to eat Yodels with whole milk, and smoke. Edwin’s not the smartest 32 year old and he had to re-do 2nd grade 3 times. He is a very happy person who has taken on a huge burden that causes him to be on edge almost all of the time. Some people may see this as a bad attitude, but it’s simply a result of always worrying. Edwin has to take care of his little Brother, Pinky, by himself due to the fact that their parents are dead. Pinky is mentally challenged, and it just so happens that it’s Edwin’s fault which really weighs down on his shoulder’s 24/7. He threw a brick through a window after being yelled at by his parents for calling Pinky a retard, and the brick hit Pinky on the head causing permanent damage. Edwin’s most important relationship is the one with his brother Pinky. Their parents passed away several years ago. Social Services insisted on taking Pinky into custody, but Edwin would not let that happen, so he took full responsibility for Pinky. He feels that he owes it to his parents to be the best possible parental figure he can be for Pinky. Edwin’s overall need or desire throughout his life is to be certain Pinky is happy and safe at all times. Edwin does extremely well trying to protect Pinky and know exactly where he is at all times, but Pinky makes it incredibly difficult to do so. In our scene he does not achieve it because Pinky was out for over 12 hours and did not tell Edwin where he was going to be which worried Edwin to death, but it was truly out of his hands.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Gender and Emotions: Different Gender Shows Different Emotional Behavior Essay

Based from my observations, men are more action-based while women are more verbal-based when it comes to expressing their emotions. Women tend to misunderstand men because men tend to keep most of their emotions to themselves. They usually express their emotions through actions. Women sometimes, if not regularly, ask the questions–‘how are you doing,’ ‘what are you thinking,’ or ‘why are you doing this/that’–when the one they’re talking to suddenly became quiet or, simply, just to start a conversation. Some men find it sweet in some way if a woman ask them these questions but commonly men find it a nuisance especially, when it’s been asked repeatedly. Women, even the quiet ones, are talkative when the topic of the conversation is about expressing emotions or, simply, share experiences. They always search for someone that would listen to them whether the person they found is a man or a woman. If a man were to listen, they would usually hold back their emotions while a woman is pouring out hers. In expressing emotions, men act while women talk their feelings. Firstly, what is gender? According to the Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language: International Edition, gender, as a noun, is the â€Å"classification of words†¦according to the sex of the referent† (Webster’s, 1994). Gender classifies a person or an animal as male or female. In human, it classifies the person as a man or woman, boy or girl, or, male or female. Mainly, gender is what differentiates men from women. Secondly, what is emotion? According to Kendra Cherry, a writer specialized in psychology, child development and education and author of the article â€Å"Theories of Emotion: Major Theories in Emotion† in Emotion, stated that, â€Å"emotions exert and incredibly powerful force on human behavior† (Cherry, 2005). This statement is true. What a person feels can affect the quality of the work done in the workplace or in the school. Emotions can also have its effect during a family time especially, when negative emotions arise. When such emotions occur, people start making mistakes, being absent-minded, ignoring a person’s call, and many more. According to the authors of the book, General Psychology: Fourth Edition, emotion is a â€Å"response† of the individual which â€Å"involves changes† internally and externally. It is described as a â€Å"complex process involving minute physiological, neural, and glandular changes† in the whole body (2004, p. 180). These state that emotions cause a process to occur which involves socializing with others to get a feedback from them. Once a feedback had been received, the body will be stimulated to show the emotion of the person on the topic or on the situation. To simplify what is emotion, emotion serves as a glimpse into a person’s behavior through the changes occurred or is occurring in the body. Lastly, what is emotional behavior? Based on the book, General Psychology: Fourth Edition, â€Å"†¦communicating an emotion like the use of the hands and body movements, and gestures; but people seem to pay greater attention to facial expression† (2004, p. 183). This statement states that any movement that the body does show the person’s emotion at that moment whether knows of it or not. The human body speaks of what emotion is being kept inside such as anger, fear, jealous, joy, lonely, love, sadness, and surprise. These emotions are characterized with recognizable gestures of the human body such as–in joy, smiling is a sign that a person is joyful; in sadness, teardrops will fall, and many more. To put it in short terms, emotional behavior is described as expressing the emotion through the use of the body or parts of it. In this research paper, comparison and contrast will be conducted between men and women on how they show some of the emotions mentioned before. It will enlighten the reader’s knowledge on how the opposite gender may react on specific situations. It will also give the reader a small glimpse into the emotional aspect of the opposite gender. This research paper can serve as a guide in dealing emotions not only that of the reader’s but also that of others. I. Anger Anger, according to Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language: International Edition, is an emotion that shows â€Å"rage or passionate displeasure† (Webster’s, 1994). This means that anger is an intense emotion which might result to injuries. Even though it is an intense emotion, it can be prevented. Men and women show anger in an almost similar way. They only differ in the time it takes for them to go destructive at each other. Whether the person is a man or a woman, anger can still be a dangerous emotion. From the Christian Community Bible: Fourth Edition, the verse, James 1:20, states â€Å"for human anger does not fulfill the justice of God† (Bible, 1990). This verse tells that if a person is nurturing anger, eventually, this will cause that person to commit a sin or, as people would call it, a crime. Once, my high school teacher, Teacher Beverly Sumpio, had said, â€Å"Satan’s minions take pleasure on people with negative feelings by manipulating and causing them to stray away from the path that God has chosen for them† (Sumpio, 2008). This quotation states that Satan’s minions don’t waste time when a person is absorbing a negative emotion because it’s like food and entertainment for them. When a person is angry, there is a great possibility that the emotion can’t be compressed inside. If this were to happen, expressing anger shows shouting at others, destruction of things, and even, hurting their selves or others. In short, anger is a negative emotion that may cause destructions. Through my observation, men tend to release their anger by acting them out like the scenes from the movies such as punching a wall, kicking garbage cans, and even to the extent of almost destroying his room. But, these are just on non-human things. Things may get ugly when people are used as punching bags for an angry man and even worst if women are victimized by this anger. But, here’s one thing, most men would feel much better after releasing their rage on something. If men were to feel slightly angry, then they can compress it to themselves and hide it until surpasses. Therefore, men express their intense anger by acting it out so that they wouldn’t harm themselves even more than that of expressing them. When it comes to women and their anger, women are more into talking or rather shouting them out. Based on my own experience, when women are angry with each other, they talk it out with each other. If the person who is angered upon is not present, talking about the anger that one has with other people is almost like backstabbing. After telling a few persons and giving time to calm their selves, eventually, the anger will subside. In a fiery conversation, women both cry and shout at each other. The worst case scenario in a conversation is that when women start to tag at each others’ hair and rolling over each other because of the anger they felt. When things get out of control, women would become destructive in a way like throwing anything they could reach anywhere, shouting from the top of their lungs, and possibly, causing to carry a grudge at the person angered upon. As much s possible, women avoid conflicts because it takes a very long time to forget about the anger completely. According to Dr. Israel Helfand, a Vermont marriage and family therapist and author of the article â€Å"What Lies Behind the Anger of Men? †, stated that when men were boys, they were taught that showing anger is â€Å"unacceptable† especially when a woman is present (Helfand, 1992). If a man and a woman are an gry at each other, at first, the fight will start by talking. Then, it will quickly develop into a fiery conversation where both of them started to shout at each other. When the man feels like he is losing the fight, he has two choices to choose upon–to walk out or to raise his hand. If he chooses to walk out then he is not only saving his dignity as a man but also saving the woman. Why is he able to save the woman? It’s because scars and bruises wouldn’t appear and her dignity as a woman will also be saved. In a fight between a man and a woman, the man usually acts as the off-switch of the fight because it takes more fuel to make a woman engaged into a destructive kind of anger than that of a man. II. Fear  Based from the Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language: International Edition, fear is the â€Å"instinctive emotion† when a person is faced by â€Å"danger, pain or evil† (Webster’s, 1994). This statement means that fear can be seen when a specific situation happens. An example is when a boy is chased by a barking dog. Instincts would tell him to run or be bitten. In the end, the boy would run as fast as he can to avoid being bitten because he knows that it’ll hurt when he gets bitten. Fear strikes when the human mind knows that something bad will happen. As a result, it will instruct the body to avoid that something. In short, fear is the emotion that one feels when one is threaten. When men are faced with something that they fear, they try to hide it as much as possible. They don’t want anybody to see them frightened because they’re afraid of what people would say especially, when women are around. People would say that the man is weak when he gets scared of things. That’s why they chose to hide it or face their fear even for a moment. Men fear many things. Commonly, when men are afraid, they look pale, shiver in place, stop moving and sometimes, deny fear but the tone of their voices give the int of fear in them. They are not exempted of having this emotion because of their masculinity or toughness. Aside from God, there are varieties of fear. There are men who are afraid of going into a relationship because they fear rejection and responsibility. In the presence of a woman, they certainly don’t allow themselves to show fear because the woman might be disappointed if a man is displaying this. Men are careful when to show their fear in something. But, phobias are understandable because even men can’t hide fear when this type of fear is faced. Therefore, even men are sometimes afraid. According to â€Å"ABC’s of the Human Mind† from Reader’s Digest, in a woman’s case, fear can serve as â€Å"a protective device† (Digest’s, 2006). Why? It is because women don’t like to be hurt so they avoid things that might hurt them. This may show that women are always thinking about themselves but the truth is that women are just taking precautionary measures. When faced by their fear, women would froze in place, would cry their eyes out, would look pale as a ghost, would hardly breath, would run or get away as they could, or, the most common reaction, would scream on the top of their lungs then panic might take place. Women are very careful in choosing situations. They think of the consequences and the out come of the situation. If the outcome is to be hurt full on her side then she would avoid that situation. There are women who also try to hide their fear by acting tough. But, the truth is that deep inside their scared to the bones. An example of this situation is when a mother and a daughter got kidnapped. Now, this situation is commonly seen in several movies. The mother would try not to cry in fear in front of her daughter while the daughter is crying pools of tears. In truth, the mother is as scared as the daughter. But, she can’t show it because she knows that crying would increase the fear that is felt by her daughter. Therefore, the mother would compress her fear and tell her daughter that everything is going to be all right even though it’s not. To simplify everything, women uses fear to protect themselves and others. Fear is an emotion that might be triggered suddenly. Like it was stated earlier, fear is instinctive. When in fear, the human mind may take control of the human body. It can cause the body to move whether you want to or not. In handling fear, men are better in hiding it while women react at the very moment by either screaming or panicking. Men are more composed while women may breakdown. In an unexpected situation, such as being held at gunpoint by a burglar, men are more likely to fight back because it’s how they react. Women, on the other hand, would gladly give the things that the burglar is asking for to avoid being hurt. Men are quiet about their fearful experiences while women tell theirs to others who are interested in hearing. Therefore, fear is an emotion that everyone feels when something bad is going to happen. Men quiet down while women chatter more. III. Jealousy Jealousy, as the Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language: International Edition defines, is a â€Å"state of fear, suspicion or envy caused by a real or imagined threat or challenge to one’s possessive instincts† (Webster’s, 1994). This definition shows that jealousy is a mix of several emotions. A person may feel jealous if something important is being taken away little by little. Jealousy shows up when it involves two persons generally in lovers. Men and women usually try to hide this emotion especially when there’s a relationship involve between the two since jealousy shows that they have little trust at each other and it may cause the destruction of the relationship. In other words, jealousy is born when the person’s possessiveness over something is at stake. In my observations, jealousy takes a toll in men’s emotional state. The most obvious cause of jealousy for men is the redirecting of attention of the woman he loves. If jealousy is mild then they try to hide it. But, some men cope by acting them out. Like swaying back and forth, walking away from the scene, or turning away. Another coping mechanism of men is the devotion of his time, effort and attention on something else just to take his mind off the things that makes him jealous. If the woman he loves is mingling with other men, regardless if these men are friends of his or not, and he suddenly changes his attitude and tone of talking, then chances are that he is jealous. To avoid a man’s jealousy, the woman he loves should mingle less with other men aside from him. If jealousy has already grown then stopping its development is to say simple ‘sorry. If the woman knows that the man is jealous because of her actions then she would mingle with him more. By noticing what he does, poking his tickle areas, making him smile and even to the extent of being annoying might be enough to make him forget the jealousy. By doing these things, it can give attention and a sense of importance which he longs for. These factors are no t fixed because it depends on the situation and the personality of the person involved. In short, jealousy is obvious in men but that’s from what I observed. Based from my observations and experiences, women can be jealous because of many things especially, when their husband or partner is involved. When men ask permission from their wife or partner to go out with some friends, women would usually say these statements: ‘sure, go ahead,’ ‘okay, I understand,’ or, ‘it’s your choice. ’ They’re all positive statements but hidden behind those words is the irritating feeling of jealousy. Having your husband or partner spending time with someone or something else is very irritating to the nerves. But, no matter how much women hide their feeling of jealousy, it still can be seen in their eyes. They know this, therefore, they try to avoid eye-contact and make themselves busy with other things. A woman’s jealousy can go away as quickly as it came by simply noticing what she has been doing, or, for a more effective result, by spending quality time with her. Making meals for her, cuddling her, or whispering sweet words in her ears would be the right mix of things to do to make her forget about her jealousy and, possibly, make her fall in love again. Women like these things because it makes them feel important. Then, every problem during the day would just go away within seconds. But, take note, don’t let the jealousy stay too long because develops through time. Therefore, the longer jealousy stays, the harder it goes away. That’s according to my observation but, like I stated earlier, it still depends on the personality of the person. According to Dr. Gail Saltz, a psychiatrist, she stated in her article â€Å"Jealousy: Is It the Same for Men and Women? † that â€Å"jealousy is an emotion all of us experience at some point in our lives† (Saltz, 2006). It’s true that all men and women experience jealousy whether it’s obvious to the eyes or not. Women would try to hide their jealousy by focusing on something else or by agreeing to what their husband or partner is trying to ask permission for. Men, on the other hand, are almost the same as women when they get jealous but their jealousy is somewhat obvious in some way. Therefore, men and women express jealousy in almost the same manner. IV. Love As the Webster’s Dictionary would show, love is â€Å"a powerful emotion† that one feels for another and develops with â€Å"deep affection, devotion or sexual desires† (Webster’s, 1994). This statement has been portrayed in many movies. Many drama or romantic movies portrayed love as the most powerful thing in the world and this is true. Love can either be a bad thing or a good thing in a person’s life. Having someone who inspires, motivates and cherishes you can cause you to improve your performance in work or in school. That’s the good thing about love. The bad thing is when you fall out of love. When you devoted most of your time and effort into your relationship then suddenly your relationship would fall apart, you might give up on things like school, work, family, and even to the point of giving up on living. Based from my high school teacher, Sir Oliver Samson, he stated â€Å"†¦don’t give a hundred percent in loving someone. Leave some for yourself†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Samson, 2010). This statement means that you should also love yourself even not in the same percentage as you give to your partner. Because, loving yourself serves as a back up plan when your relationship would breakdown. In short, love is powerful that has good and bad effects. As stated before, men are action-based. They won’t say that they’re in love with a woman until they’re sure of it. But, before they confess their love, some simple signs would arise. Like getting jealous when the woman he loves is spending time with other men, trying to corner the woman to spend some quality time with her, joking around when in fact telling the truth, asking questions to the woman even though is not needed, giving his time when needed by the woman he loves even though he is very busy, doing just about anything to get noticed by that woman even to the extent of looking like a fool in front of everyone else, and sometimes, shying away when that woman comes close. Women find it difficult to tell whether he is serious of what he is saying especially, when he is a comedian type. A line from an anime series, Solty Rie, stated, â€Å"All jokes are composed of half true and half false. † This line is somewhat true because even a comedian puts some truth into his jokes. According to a friend, Jane Marie Tamayo, she quoted, â€Å"†¦even the smartest man can become a fool when it comes to love†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Tamayo, 2006). What she stated was true because, like it was stated before, love is powerful. It can change a person completely. Love can turn a bad man into a good one. The change can be noticeable. An example of this change is when the man is smoking then he suddenly stops doing it because his wife or partner told him it’s bad for the both of them. There are men who do what their wife or partner told them to do. This is where what Sir Oliver Samson, my high school teacher, had said comes. â€Å"Treat your wife like a queen and she will treat you like a king† (Samson, 2009). This statement also shows that a man shows his love by giving his service to the woman he loves. By doing this, it also displays his devotion to her and to their relationship. Therefore, when men express their love, they show it and later on, they say it. In the topic of love, women, on the other hand, say that their in love with someone. They would usually tell it to their female friends first. Men, relationships and the love life of others are the most common topic that a circle of female friends would chatter about. This doesn’t mean that women are noisy about other people’s life. It only shows that women especially, those who are single, are searching for Mr. Right. But, this search isn’t a walk through a park. It’s like searching for something that you know it’s one in a billion. Even though that this search is that difficult, all women hoped for a fairytale love story as their love life. There are some women who think of love as nothing. But, the truth is that they too hoped for this kind of love story once in their life. They just haven’t found their story yet or they got hurt in the process of finding it. When a woman is in love, she would devote her time and effort to the man she loves and doesn’t expect to receive anything in return and sometimes, shows concern like a mother. Always wanting to know what he might be doing and if he is thinking of her. Some would shy away. Others would deny it but it’s plain to see that she’s in love with him. Sometimes, women act differently if that special guy in around. A good example of this statement is when a woman with a strong appetite would suddenly become unable to eat or become a slow eater when the guy she likes is in front of her or staring at her. Nowadays, the statement ‘I love you’ can be said to almost everyone. But, for women, there comes a time when saying ‘I love you’ to someone will become difficult to say or it can be said but only once to a specific person. To sum it, women say it and may act it but there are some women who would say that there in love although they can’t show it because they may not know how. So when a woman says ‘I love you’ to a man that she loves and really meant it, it can be seen in her eyes that she meant what she said. Love is a complex emotion. People can become fools because of it. When a man and a woman are in love with each other, they experience joy in having to see each other smile. But, why do many love couples experience break ups? One reason is the happiness of one of the said couple. This statement is applicable when one of the said couple is showing more sad expressions than that of happy ones. To further explain this statement, here is an example. A couple is spending some quality time together but one of them is not enjoying as much as the other. Let’s say the man is the one who is not enjoying much. The woman with him would think that ‘I’m boring to be with,’ ‘he’s not enjoying,’ ‘I guess he doesn’t like me anymore,’ or ‘he deserve someone better. These ideas not only pop up in the minds of women but in men as well. Most break ups are hurtful because the way of explaining is not clear even though the intentions are good. There are people who are satisfied in just loving someone from afar. They’re the ones that would sacrifice their own happiness just to see that special someone happy. In short, men are into showing the love th ey have while women are more telling their love. Conclusion In the emotions that had been discussed, men are more on showing than women. Women, on the other hand, are more open which means that they are more into talking. The time span that the emotion becomes noticeable is also different like in the first chapter, anger. Women are noticed immediately when angry but they are all talk. Men shout as well when in anger but they go destructive much quicker then women. In the second chapter entitled as fear, men are more skillful in hiding their fears or their experiences of it than women. Women would show fear and after experiencing it, they would talk about it. The third chapter which is jealousy is a very interest topic to tackle. The most common reaction of a jealous man is the sudden change in attitude. In women, it’s denial. The fourth and last chapter discussed was titled as love. Men don’t say but show that’s why women are sometimes get confused of what they might be doing and for what reasons. Women, on the other hand, normally say it and sometimes they put it as a joke but it’s really true. Like I stated in the beginning of this research paper, men are action-based and women are verbal-based.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Consanguinity and Medieval Marriages

Consanguinity and Medieval Marriages Definition   The term â€Å"consanguinity† simply means how close a blood relationship two persons have- how recently they have a common ancestor. Ancient History In Egypt, brother-sister marriages were common within the royal family.  If the Biblical stories are taken as history, Abraham married his (half-)sister Sarah.  But such close marriages have been generally prohibited in cultures from fairly early times. Roman Catholic Europe In Roman Catholic Europe, the canon law of the church forbid marriages within a certain degree of kinship.  Which relationships were forbidden to marry varied at different times. While there were some regional disagreements,  until the 13th century,  the  church forbade marriages with consanguinity or affinity (kinship by marriage) to the seventh degree- a rule which covered a very large percentage of marriages. The pope had the power to waive the impediments for particular couples.  Frequently, papal dispensations waived the block for royal marriages, especially when more distant relationships were generally forbidden. In a few cases, blanket dispensations were given by culture.  For example, Paul III restricted marriage to the second degree only for American Indians and for natives of the Philippines. Roman Scheme of Consanguinity Roman civil law generally prohibited marriages within four degrees of consanguinity. Early Christian custom adopted some of these definitions and limits, though the extent of prohibition varied somewhat from culture to culture. In the Roman system of calculating the degree of consanguinity, degrees are as follows: The first degree of kinship includes: parents and children (direct line)The second degree of kinship includes: brothers and sisters; grandparents and grandchildren (direct line)The third degree of kinship includes: uncles/aunts and nieces/nephews; great-grandchildren and great-grandparents (direct line)The fourth degree of kinship includes: first cousins (children sharing a pair of common grandparents); great uncles/great aunts and grand nephews/grand nieces; great grandchildren and great grandparentsThe fifth degree of kinship includes: first cousins once removed; great grand nephews/great grand nieces and great grand uncles/great grand auntsThe sixth degree of kinship includes: second cousins; first cousins twice removedThe seventh degree of kinship includes: second cousins once removed; first cousins three times removedThe eighth degree of kinship includes: third cousins; second cousins twice removed; first cousins four times removed Collateral Consanguinity Collateral consanguinity- sometimes called Germanic consanguinity- adopted by Pope Alexander II in the 11th century, changed this to defining the degree as the number of generations removed from the common ancestor (not counting the ancestor).  Innocent III in 1215 restricted the impediment to the fourth degree, since tracing more distant ancestry was often difficult or impossible. The first degree would include parents and childrenFirst cousins would be within the second degree, as are uncle/aunt and niece/nephewSecond cousins would be within the third degreeThird cousins would be within the fourth degree Double Consanguinity Double consanguinity arises when there is consanguinity from two sources.  For example, in many royal marriages in medieval times, two siblings in one family married  siblings from another.  The children of these couples became double first cousins. If they married, the marriage would count as a first cousin marriage, but genetically, the couple had closer connections than first cousins who were not doubled. Genetics These rules about consanguinity and marriage were developed before genetic relationships and the concept of shared DNA were known.  Beyond the genetic closeness of second cousins, the statistical likelihood of sharing genetic factors is almost the same as with unrelated individuals. Here are some examples from medieval history: Robert II of France married Bertha, a widow of Odo I of Blois, in about 997, who was his first cousin, but the Pope (then Gregory V) declared the marriage invalid and eventually Robert agreed. He tried to get an annulment of his marriage to his next wife, Constance, to remarry Bertha, but the Pope (by then  Sergius IV) would not agree.Urraca of Leon and Castile, a rare medieval reigning queen, was married in her second marriage to Alfonso I of Aragon.  She was able to get the marriage annulled on the grounds of consanguinity.Eleanor of Aquitaine was married first to Louis VII of France.  Their annulment was on the grounds of consanguinity, fourth cousins descended from Richard II of Burgundy and his wife, Constance of Arles. She immediately married Henry Plantagenet, who was also her fourth cousin, descended from the same Richard II of Burgundy and Constance of Arles.  Henry and Eleanor were also half-third cousins through another common ancestor, Ermengard of Anjou, so she w as actually more closely related to her second husband. After Louis VII divorced Eleanor of Aquitaine on grounds of consanguinity, he married Constance of Castile to whom he was more closely related, as they were second cousins.Berenguela of Castile married Alfonso IX of Leon in 1197, and the Pope excommunicated them the next year on grounds of consanguinity. They had five children before the marriage was dissolved; she returned to her father’s court with the children.Edward I and his second wife, Margaret of France, were first cousins once removed.Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon- the famous Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain- were second cousins, both descended from John I of Castile and Eleanor of Aragon.Anne Neville was a first cousin once removed of her husband, Richard III of England.Henry VIII was related to all of his wives through common descent from Edward I, a fairly distant degree of kinship.  Several of them were also related to him through descent from Edward III.As just one example from the multiply-in termarried Habsburgs, Philip II of Spain married four times.  Three wives were closely related to him. His first wife, Maria Manuela, was his double first cousin. His second wife, Mary I of England, was his double first cousin once removed. His third wife, Elizabeth Valois, was more distantly related. His fourth wife, Anna of Austria, was his niece (his sister’s son) as well as his first cousin once removed (her father was Philip’s paternal first cousin). Mary II and William III of England were first cousins.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Archives Unique Collections

Archives Unique Collections Introduction Archives contain collections of unique materials, whichare records of value. They may be records of an organization or of private individuals. The materials are not oldin the real sense, but are preserved in a variety of formats in which they appear. The difference between the archival materials and the library materials is that in the archives,the materials are arranged in groups on the basis of their information content.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Archives Unique Collections specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This refers to the institution which selects, preserves, and avails to the public those materials of permanent value(Forde,2007).Archives are vital as resources that promote knowledge and efficient operation of the institutions which they serve. They support and nourish teaching and learning at that institutions and within the wider intellectual community (Forde, 2007). The archives may collect and preserve the materials, which are not official records to the public or institutions; but which document the history, development and accomplishments of the institutions (Forde,2007).The records in an archive possess some basic features which distinguishes them from any other form of records. These features include; Inter-relatedness -They come as a result of accomplishments or processes of lifeand therefore, they appear like specific frames of motion picture films, and structures of materials closely knit that they cannot be utilized in absence of each other; if the meaning and integrity is to be preserved.They naturally occur in a contemporary way unlike the personal documents, which are deliberately made for history purposes. Contextual element -The value of the records is drawn from their contexts and therefore, the archive keepers should identify accurately, the context of use and origin of the respective records.They should also ensure maintenance of the records in ways t hat preserve their originality. Evidential -Records are a representation of past occurrences,human experiences and accomplishments and they therefore give objective testimonies ofoccurrences or documented agreements. The importance of archival materials cannot be overemphasized.The institutions select, preserve and make accessible, the records to the public for legal,financial,and administrative purposes (Forde, 2007).The public records administered by the government agencies, for example are able to maintain evidence of the government operations.Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This ensures accountability to the public, where the citizens are able to closely monitor and evaluate the governments conduct and performance. Privateinstitutions likechurches, businesses and museums also establish archives for keeping their records. Preserving records in archives Preser vation refers to the process of protecting documents,with an aim of minimizing loss of information and slowing down processes that would lead to physical deterioration of the materials;for the sake of the future generations (Proni, 2007). It is done through a variety of measures which must involve everyone handling the materials. The documents have to be placed, displayed and handled in ways that reduce the risk of damage, taking into account their shape, size and physical condition (Proni, 2007). The records preserved in the archives contain sensitive and vital information;thereforethey require proper storage and access strategies. These measures are put in placeto minimize the damages, which may lead to loss of valuable information. Without adequate protection, these materials deteriorate and are rendered useless. The preservation activities provide a range of solutions,under which the materials are made accessible to the public.The extent of preservation dependson the size,maturi ty,needs and resources available to facilitate the program (Banks, 2000).Various strategies may be employed to ensure protection of the records. They include; Holding maintenance program This utilizes a range of preservation procedures, with emphasis on improving the housing and storage surroundings of the records(Banks,2000).The procedures are applied to the entire collection with priorities based on evaluation of the needs of the users(P.56).This offers a great physical protection and enhances chemical stability of the resources(Banks,2000).The procedures include: Proper housing All the permanent and temporary storage areas must be structurally sound and strong enough, to bear severe weather conditions or malicious attacks. Thematerials maintained in the archives should be those that are able to withstand both the internal and the external surrounding conditions of the building.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Archives Unique Collections specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The situation of the building has to be secure, i.e.distant from military installations or any chemicalindustries (p.2).There should be no vegetation in close proximity.The area around the building should be a clear perimeter. Shelving The storage areas should utilize shelving, which is a basic methodfor preserving and exhibiting materials in the archive.Wooden shelving is often discouraged since it damages the organic materials and is a brooding site for insects. Metal shelving is therefore preferredsince it provides a standard design and rigidity. A non-toxic paint can be applied, using the powder coating method to prevent rusting and improve the aesthetic value. The shelves must be well paced between the walls to aid ventilation and the bottom shelves should not be too close to the ground to protect them against flooding (p.4). Boxing It’s a recommendation that all the materials be boxed,in high quality material box es, which are not prone to chemical attacks. Boxingprovides a dual advantage for both packaging and protection of the materials from hostile environmental conditions. The materials are free from insects, fire or water damage. Boxing also provides a means of stabilizing the materials, which are fragile or whose reference has been retained as originals, while their copies are in active use. Spacing There should be enough space provided for storage of the archive equipment. They should avoid introducing the physically unhealthy records to the already existing records. Those records are likely to infect the others and as a result damage them. Adequate spacing ensures proper isolation of such materials, which are affected by moisture, fungi or infected by insects. Proper spacing also promotes harmonious working environments under which both the staff and the archive users will not feel under threat or intimidated by overcrowding or interference of their own personal space.Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The environment Factors like temperature,humidity,light and pollution are conditions that should be put into consideration in the housing program for archival records. Most of the materials in the archives cannot tolerate severe conditions. This accelerates their damage and deterioration. Paper made materials can withstand drier conditions compared to those made of vellum or animal skins, therefore the temperature conditions should be varied appropriately depending on, the type of materials stored therein. The light exposure to the items on exhibit should be measured and controlled. This would also limit the exhibition duration, where the light sensitive materials would stay on exhibition for shorter lengths of time. The materials should also be safeguarded against harmful substances like gases and fumes, which would interfere with quality and originality of the materials like fabrics. Security measures The archives hold vital materials, which include paper records, maps,films,photo graphs and electronic records; which cannot be replaced once lost.There is need to have tight security programs,to protect both the staff and the records from threats of theft, unauthorized disclosure or sabotage (Ritzenthaler, 2003). Appropriate measures should be taken to ensure the security of the archival records listings are done in detail, putting tags and marks where appropriate; for proper identificationof the materialsin case they are lost, stolen or damaged. There should be systems for tracking, issuing and returning items borrowed, in order to minimize unknown disappearances. The storage areas, both permanent and temporary, should be safe and secure to minimize theft risks or other malicious damages. There should be strict and controlled access to the stores, with heavy doors, sufficient locks and regular supervision; where visitors have to pass through a security checkpoint as they get in to the archive. The staff maintaining the area, including the cleaners should be we ll supervised within the established procedures to ensure that security is not compromised in their presence. The rooms should also contain cameras or desks where the staffs are able to monitor the users. Emphasis should also be laid on security measures, which would involve an emergency preparedness component (p.56), like an alarm. Thissystem includes a computerized security control unit,which would monitor intrusion of alarms and the cameras. More to be put into consideration is the structure,construction, location and the surroundings of the facility together with enough fire detection measures and suppression measures (Banks, 2000).The security measures should be applied on daily routines for effectiveness. It’s also vital to constantly train the staff and the users on the importance and rationale of ensuring security in the facility. This would involve teaching factors like emergency preparedness, where each archival participant is made aware of fire associated risks and how to deal with them. Handling of the materials Institutional policies and procedures can also pose a negative contribution to the sound preservation procedures;this occurs especially in the handling of the materials, during transfer and in the storage procedures (Banks, 2000).Proper handling collection procedures should be provided, including: Providing the users with well stipulated guidelines, on using and handling the archival materials; which would prohibit such vices like eating,drinking,smoking or bringing overcoats and bags in the archive (Ellis, 1993). Reduce handling of original archival documents; instead utilize their copies whenever appropriate. Setting up a workspace dedicated for reading and research, which is clean and spacious. Encouraging the staff and users to handle the materials carefully, with clean hands or wear cotton gloves when handling the sensitive materials like photographs, films and electronic records. Supporting the documents that are not strong an d durable e.g. newspaper cuttings, by binding them with cartons or other more durable materials. Isolating the contaminated materials from the public reach, in order to avoid mixing and compromising their health. Open communication and good user relations are a guarantee to proper implementation of the preservation procedures.The staff should be updated on the changes made and be restrained when need arises (p.57).This brings basic understanding and incorporatesthem to be part of the facility. Conservation treatments Conservation treatments are costly but highly effective for safeguarding against damages. The manager should make treatment selections based on an already established criteria that should be uniformly applied (Banks, 2000). If it is an in-house treatment program, then a conservation lab should be established on site or alternatively, a conservator contracted (p.58).The latter is more preferred, since there are fears of limitation ofspace, staff and equipment are charge d with the responsibility making the whole process cost-effective. The priority of applying conservation treatments is to protect the documents for current and long-term provision for access in consultations and research. The strategies applied in conservation treatments include; Mould and pest control The archives traditionally used pesticides and other chemicals to control pestinfestations. There are many hazards however associated with continued use of the pesticides. The chemicals do not control the damage occurring to the materials but deal with the peststhemselves, which may damage the paper based materials. This also poses health hazards to the users; therefore the best mode of pest control has been approved as monitoring of the pests or using an integrated pest management system. Integrated pest management The strategies of the integrated pest management present long term control measures. These measures which provide maintenance and housekeeping environment that ensures tha t pests do not find any hospitable place in the archives (Ellis, 1993).Such activities include inspection,climate control,food restrictions,insect identification,regular cleaning and proper storage conditions (p.28). Managing mould and control The non-chemical means of dealing with mould in the archive like temperature control, relative humidity and air circulation have been proved to be the best effective methods (Ellis, 1993). A relativelyhighhumidity is likely to encourage growth of mould, but controlled air circulation can reduce the risk (p.29). In case the materials are already infected, they should be restored in rooms with a controlled ventilation area, to minimize distortion. Reformatting the materials Preservation of the information is of paramount concern,therefore copying the materials from a paper based medium to a more permanent form, can minimize bulk as it facilitates more access(Banks,2000). Reformatting can serve dual purposes; preservation of the originals, which can be put aside from active utilization, and preservation of the information in a less intrinsic value record which can be destroyed after certification of the film(p.58).Reformatting of the materials involves digitizing the organizations’ records, which have accrued a lot of benefits. These include; Disaster recovery after the occurrence of such disasters, such as fire, floods or earthquakes, it is important to ensure availability. In such a case, scanning the archival important records and storing them in a proper secured and backed up manner might be extremely useful (Podraza, 2012). The sufficient records, which are extremely important to the archive’s existence are protected, avoiding cost and time wastage, as well as considerable efforts required for reconstruction processes of critical information in case the disaster occures (Podraza, 2012). Cost saving and effective -there is no need to acquire and maintain more filling equipment in the archive for storage o f the paper records. Thisminimizes bulk of the paper documents. Real estate savings The Digital initiatives can actually reduce the amount of office space needed, without having to lose access to records (Podraza,2012). With the existing competition for the existing office space, the digitized active records which can be easily accessed online are preferable. it is much more comfortable than filling records in cabinets. This is a way of using the archival space in a more cost-effective manner (Podraza, 2012). Most of archival organizations have shifted to the digital initiatives which minimizes the wide spread accumulation of the records, which makes the facility smarter and economical. Easy retrieval and access -Archival records can be incorporated into an online content management system, providing the staff with a faster and secure and continuous online centralized access, from any location; which allows simultaneous access to information by multiple users from multiple location s(Podraza,2012). Minimal labor costs with improved customer service -Digitizing the archival records will not only minimize the labor costs involved in maintaining large documented records, it will also increases staff productivity (Podraza, 2011). The information is more secure – making the paper records digital and transferring them to a centralized location, with strict access controls and file level permissions, eliminates information insecurity and privacy issues occurring in archival facilities (Podraza, 2012). Archival preservation -When the archive’s historical records are scanned and stored in a web based content management system, they are preserved and easily accessible to members of a working staff and customers (Podraza, 2012). Information sharing -The digitalized mode reduces the paper work, which is labor demanding, therefore facilities’ collaboration and information sharing through work-flow that offers more efficient processing and easy gauging of documents to various units in the archive should be encouraged (Podraza,2012). Preservation measures in the Ireland national archives These are the findings of the measures taken in the preservation of materials in the Ireland national archive: The holding maintenance The archive appreciates the limitations posed on the preservation of resources and thereforethe management is keen on the selection of materials. It avoids duplication and in case of such occurrences, preference is given according to the physical formats, with easy and safe storage.The archive building is well spaced, enough for proper storage of the materials avoiding contamination with already infected materials. The environmental conditions of the archive like temperature and humidity are taken into account; the building is well ventilated with adequate air conditioners and curtains with large curtained windows for light regulation (Ritzenthaler, 2003). Security measures The archive has strong doors with heavy lo cks, which minimizes unwanted intrusion and theft.Materials in the archives are clearly labeled and tagged bearing the institutions’ ownership stamp. The archive building also contains alarms at the corners of each floor, with emergency doors and other escape routes in case of unexpected dangers like fire.The archive has employed several guards for security measures. It alsohas security checkpoints at the entrance and at the exit of the building. Handling of the materials The management has set rules and regulations posted at the entrances, which prohibit the users to eat, smoke or carry clothing and bags into the archive. Most of the materials in use are duplicates of the originals, therefore preserving the original documents.Inside the building, there is a large spacious room specifically dedicated for research and private reading (Mendez, 2007) Conservation treatments The archive has a chemical cabinet in one of the inner rooms which is used for storing chemicals that cont rolling pests. Moreover, the rooms in the building and the storage sections are smartly maintained to minimize pest invasion. Reformatting of the materials All the materials in the paper base medium have been digitalized. This has solved the issue of insecurity and inadequacy of space. Conclusion Preservation is a core function in every collection of records orarchival materials, which helps ensure continuity and availability of information for the present and future generations. References Banks, AK 2000, Principles of archive preservation. Books society publications, Washington. Ellis, J1993, Keeping archives. Thorpe Ltd, Port Melbourne. Forde, H 2007, Preserving archives. Facet-publishing, New York. Mendez, A 2007, The old, the valuable and the future. Oxford University Press, London. Podraza, P 2012, Becoming digital. Winepress publishing, New York. Proni, AJ 2007, Preservation of records. Willey and sons, New York:. Ritzenthaler, G 2003, National archives and records administr ation. Brooks publications, Washington.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Battle of the Monongahela in the French and Indian War

Battle of the Monongahela in the French and Indian War The Battle of Monongahela was fought on July 9, 1755, during the French and Indian War (1754-1763) and represented a failed attempt by the British to capture the French post at Fort Duquesne. Leading a slow advance north from Virginia, General Edward Braddock encountered a mixed French and Native American force near his objective. In the resulting engagement, his men struggled with the forest landscape and he fell mortally wounded. After Braddock was hit, the British ranks collapsed and the looming defeat turned into a rout. Fort Duquesne would remain in French hands for four more years. Assembling an Army In the wake of Lieutenant Colonel George Washingtons defeat at Fort Necessity in 1754, the British decided to mount a larger expedition against Fort Duquesne (present-day Pittsburgh, PA) the following year. Led by Braddock, the commander-in-chief of British forces in North America, the operation was to be one of many against French forts on the frontier. Though the most direct route to Fort Duquesne was through Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie of Virginia successfully lobbied to have the expedition depart from his colony. Though Virginia lacked the resources to support the campaign, Dinwiddie desired the military road that would be built by Braddock to pass through his colony as it would benefit his business interests. Arriving at Alexandria, VA in early 1755, Braddock began assembling his army which was centered on the under-strength 44th and 48th Regiments of Foot. Selecting Fort Cumberland, MD as his departure point, Braddocks expedition was beset with administrative issues from the outset. Hampered by a lack of wagons and horses, Braddock required the timely intervention of Benjamin Franklin to supply sufficient numbers of both. Braddocks Expedition After some delay, Braddocks army, numbering around 2,400 regulars and militia, departed Fort Cumberland on May 29. Among those in the column was Washington who had been appointed as an aide-de-camp to Braddock. Following the trail blazed by Washington the year before, the army moved slowly as it needed to widen the road to accommodate the wagons and artillery. After moving around twenty miles and clearing the eastern branch of the Youghiogheny River, Braddock, on Washingtons advice, split the army in two. While Colonel Thomas Dunbar advanced with the wagons, Braddock rushed ahead with around 1,300 men. The First of the Problems Though his flying column was not encumbered with the wagon train, it still moved slowly. As a result, it became plagued by supply and disease problems as it crawled along. As his men moved north, they met light resistance from Native Americans allied with the French. Braddocks defensive arrangements were sound and few men were lost in these engagements. Nearing Fort Duquesne, Braddocks column was required to cross the Monongahela River, march two miles along the east bank, and then re-ford at Fraziers Cabin. Braddock expected both crossing to be contested, and was surprised when no enemy troops appeared. Fording the river at Fraziers Cabin on July 9, Braddock re-formed the army for the final seven-mile push to the fort. Alerted to the British approach, the French planned to ambush Braddocks column as they knew the fort could not withstand the British artillery. Leading a force of around 900 men, most of which were Native American warriors, Captain Lià ©nard de Beaujeu was delayed in departing. As a result, they encountered the British advance guard, led by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gage, before they could set the ambush. Armies Commanders British Major General Edward Braddock1,300 men French Indians Captain Lià ©nard de BeaujeuCaptain Jean-Daniel Dumas891 men The Battle of  Monongahela Opening fire on the approaching French and Native Americans, Gages men killed de Beaujeu in their opening volleys. Attempting to make a stand with his three companies, Gage was soon outflanked as Captain Jean-Daniel Dumas rallied de Beaujeus men and pushed them through the trees. Under heavy pressure and taking casualties, Gage ordered his men to fall back on Braddocks men. Retreating down the trail, they collided with the advancing column and confusion began to reign. Unused to forest fighting, the British attempted to form their lines while the French and Native Americans fired on them from behind cover (Map). As smoke filled the woods, British regulars accidentally fired on friendly militia believing them to be the enemy. Flying around the battlefield, Braddock was able to stiffen his lines as makeshift units began to offer resistance. Believing that his mens superior discipline would carry the day, Braddock continued the fight. After about three hours, Braddock was hit in the chest by bullet. Falling from his horse, he was carried to the rear. With their commander down, British resistance collapsed and they began falling back towards the river. Defeat Becomes a Rout As the British retreated, the Native Americans surged forward. Wielding tomahawks and knives, they caused a panic in the British ranks which turned the retreat into a rout. Gathering what men he could, Washington formed a rear guard which allowed many of the survivors to escape. Re-crossing the river, the beaten British were not pursued as the Native Americans set about looting and scalping the fallen. Aftermath The Battle of the Monongahela cost the British 456 killed and 422 wounded. French and Native American casualties are not known with precision but are speculated to have been around 30 killed and wounded. The survivors of the battle retreated back down the road until reuniting with Dunbars advancing column. On July 13, as the British camped near Great Meadows, not far from the site of Fort Necessity, Braddock succumbed to his wound. Braddock was buried the next day in the middle of the road. The army then marched over the grave to eliminate any trace of it in order to prevent the generals body being recovered by the enemy. Not believing that he could continue the expedition, Dunbar elected to withdraw towards Philadelphia. Fort Duquesne would finally be taken by British forces in 1758, when an expedition led by General John Forbes reached the area. In addition to Washington, the Battle of the Monongahela featured several prominent officers who would later serve in the American Revolution (1775-1783) including Horatio Gates, Charles Lee, and Daniel Morgan.