CANTERBURY v SPENCE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CANTERBURY v SPENCE - Essay Example After the fall another surgery was done on him so that he could recuperate and at this time his condition improved. Canterbury sued the defendant for lack of disclosure and the hospital for negligence for lacking to place the bedrail to avoid the fall. The question that arose in this case was whether the doctor has a right to inform or disclose information to the patients about their medical condition for purpose of their treatment. It was held that the any patient has a right to know the physician’s diagnosis because of the risks that attaches to the surgery, also to ensure the patient understands the proposed surgery. Although it was decided that the doctor has a right of disclosure there are circumstance that these rule is exempted for instance; if a patient is unconscious and a greater harm would occur to the patient if the surgery was not carried out. Secondly, if disclosing the patients illness would cause a threat to his or her well

The Relationship Between Brand Loyalty Essay Example for Free

The Relationship Between Brand Loyalty Essay Evaluate the relationship between brand loyalty, corporate image, and repeat purchasing. Brand loyalty In marketing, brand loyalty comprises of a consumers commitment to repurchase the brand and can be demonstrated by repeated buying of manufactured goods or services or other positive conducts such as word of mouth advocacy. True brand loyalty involves that the consumers are willing, at least on event, to put aside their own needs in the interest of the brand. Brand loyalty is more than simple repurchasing, however. Customers may repurchase a brand due to situational constraints, a lack of viable alternatives, or out of convenience. Such loyalty is referred to as spurious loyalty. True brand loyalty exists when customers have a high relative attitude toward the brand which is then exhibited through repurchase behavior. This type of loyalty can be a great asset to the firm: customers are willing to pay higher prices, they may cost less to serve, and can bring new customers to the firm. For example, if Joe has brand loyalty to Company A, he will purchase Company As products even if Company Bs are cheaper and/or of a higher quality. An example of a major brand loyalty program that extended for several years and spread worldwide is Pepsi Stuff. Perhaps the most significant contemporary example of brand loyalty is the fervent devotion of many Mac users to the Apple company and its products. From the point of view of many marketers, loyalty to the brand in terms of consumer usage is a key factor. Corporate image A corporate image refers to how a company is perceived. It is a normally accepted image of what a company stands for. The formation of a corporate image is an implement in the perception management. It is created solely by marketing managers/consultants who use public relations and other forms of promotion to suggest a mental picture to the public. Usually, a corporate image is designed to be interesting to the public, so that the company can spark an interest among customers, create share of mind, create brand equity, and thus make easy product sales. A corporations image is not solely created by the company: Other contributors to a companys image could include news media, journalists, labour unions, environmental organizations, and other NGOs (non-governmental organization). Corporations are not the only form of organization that creates these types of images. Governments, charitable organizations, criminal organizations, religious organizations, political organizations, and educational organizations all tend to have a unique image, an image that is partially purposeful and partially unintended, partially self-created. For example, the corporate image for Serenity Spa Salon, which has an image of a lady, faced up with hair flowing down. This image gives the sense of relaxation where a lady can get her face and hair done. The soft colours used give an impression a relaxing ambience at the salon. Thus inviting tired women to come here and unwind while their hair and face are being treated. Only if the experience is a success for the customer will it be turned into repeat purchases. These repeats, not the single purchase which is the focus of most models, are where the vendors focus should be, for these are where the profits are generated. For example, Mrs Lee have tried the PILOT pen before and she thinks it is a comfortable pen to write with. She buys more for her office use which all suppliers are looking forward to. Some suppliers even gives a sample to trial on so that the customer will want to buy from them again as it satisfied them to use it.

Three Contributions Of Chinese Immigrants Essay -- essays research pap

Three Contributions Of Chinese Immigrants   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Chinese started immigrating to the United States in 1849. They left China in search of a better life. Life in China in the 1800's was very hard. There wasn't enough food, money and the cities were overpopulated. They heard about the United States and believed there was an opportunity to start over again. They hoped to find jobs on the railroad or to strike gold. When they arrived in the United States, life was difficult. Laws were made which discriminated against them. However, eventually they became a respected part of our society. They are responsible for many contributions which are part of American life today. This essay will describe three of these contributions: two products, ginseng and tea, and one method of medicine, acupuncture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ginseng is a perennial herb grown in China and other Asian countries. It is also grown in North American, but the Asian variety is thought to be more valuable. There are many legends and superstitions surrounding ginseng. The Chinese have long believed that the ginseng is a cure for many aliments and can even make one live longer. However, Western researchers are have been unable to prove this. Today, many manufacturers add ginseng to such products as hair tonics, shampoos, skin creams and even soft drinks. Also ginseng can be bought over the counter in drug stores under such names as â€Å"Ginkoba† and â€Å"Ginsana†. â€Å" Ginkoba† is supposed to... Three Contributions Of Chinese Immigrants Essay -- essays research pap Three Contributions Of Chinese Immigrants   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Chinese started immigrating to the United States in 1849. They left China in search of a better life. Life in China in the 1800's was very hard. There wasn't enough food, money and the cities were overpopulated. They heard about the United States and believed there was an opportunity to start over again. They hoped to find jobs on the railroad or to strike gold. When they arrived in the United States, life was difficult. Laws were made which discriminated against them. However, eventually they became a respected part of our society. They are responsible for many contributions which are part of American life today. This essay will describe three of these contributions: two products, ginseng and tea, and one method of medicine, acupuncture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ginseng is a perennial herb grown in China and other Asian countries. It is also grown in North American, but the Asian variety is thought to be more valuable. There are many legends and superstitions surrounding ginseng. The Chinese have long believed that the ginseng is a cure for many aliments and can even make one live longer. However, Western researchers are have been unable to prove this. Today, many manufacturers add ginseng to such products as hair tonics, shampoos, skin creams and even soft drinks. Also ginseng can be bought over the counter in drug stores under such names as â€Å"Ginkoba† and â€Å"Ginsana†. â€Å" Ginkoba† is supposed to...

Essays

SONG OF RADHA, THE MILKMAID —text and critical study by Mandira Chattopadhyaya Labels: Literary Criticism I carried my curds to the Mathura fair†¦ How softly the heifers were lowing†¦ I wanted to cry, â€Å"Who will buy The curds that is white as the clouds in the sky When the breezes of Shravan are blowing? † But my heart was so full of your beauty, Beloved, They laughed as I cried without knowing: Govinda! Govinda! Govinda! Govinda! How softly the river was flowing! I carried the pots to the Mathura tide†¦ How gaily the rowers were rowing! My comrades called, â€Å"Ho! Let us dance, let us sing And wear saffron garments to welcome the spring. And pluck the new buds that are blowing. † But my heart was so full of your music, Beloved, They mocked when I cried without knowing: Govinda! Govinda! Govinda! Govinda! How gaily the river was flowing! I carried my gifts to the Mathura shrine†¦ How brightly the torches were glowing! I folded my hands at the altars to pray â€Å"O shining ones guard us by night and by day†- And loudly the conch shells were blowing. But my heart was so lost in your worship, Beloved, They were wroth when I cried without knowing: Govinda! Govinda! Govinda! Govinda! How bright the river was flowing! Substance of the poem Radha, the milkmaid is carrying curds to Mathura (Krishna’s birthplace) where the spring festival is going on. Cows are lowing softly in the fields. Radha, wishing to give out her trade cry to sell her curds that is as white as the autumn clouds, instead, calls out My Lord! My Lord! Everybody laughs. The river Jamuna flows on softly, as if appreciating her chant. Radha reaches the bank of the river to cross by the ferry boat. Her female companions want to wear the saffron garments, the color of spring, and want to sing and dance and pluck the new buds. Radha’s heart swells with the music of her Beloved Lord Krishna. She cries in ecstasy when others humor her. The river Jamuna flows on joyfully regardless. Radha reaches, with her gifts of curds, the temple, where the torches are brightly burning. She folds her hands to pray to the deity, encircled by snakes, and prays for protection while the conch shells are blown. Her heart is lost to the vision of her Beloved Lord and she calls out the name involuntarily. Others become angry. But the river Jamuna flows on while her water dazzles in the light of the torches. A critical estimate of the poem The title of the poem transports us to another world, to an environment of fertility and abundance. Mother Nature abounds the earth with the flow of her liquid. This white liquid symbolizes affection and nurturing of life. Radha, the daughter of Mother Nature carries the liquid of life and growth to all living beings. Mathura is her destination where Krishna, the Divine Musician holds everybody mesmerized with his mystic presence. The heifers herald her arrival to Mathura where she will pour into the pots the liquid which she has brought- energy and power from the mother Earth. It is worth noticing that Sita, the other daughter of mother Earth also represents all that stand for productivity. Mathura is here the center of life and abundance. While the cow is the species, that represents the flow of life and abundance. Radha feeds and nurtures life. Even the clouds in the sky, white and creamy, are part of the resources of life. The clouds and breeze together produce rain to awash the earth with the energy and moisture that coaxes the dormant vitality into life energy. The time of the year should also be noted. It is the time of incessant rain, the month of Shravan (August- September), when the life- giving moisture bursts forth. Radha’s heart wavers from her task in hand. She yearns for her union with Divine Musician, a presence that encompasses every soul of Mathura. She is absorbed, heart and mind, in his mystic presence and the trade cry she is supposed give out does not come to her lips- only the name of Govinda, the Omnipresent, the Omniscient and the Omnipotent, coming spontaneously from her heart, reverberates. The poet, here, juxtaposes the two conceptions, the flowing of the river and Radha’s yearning for a communion with Krishna. Radha is presented in the poem in the first person. In the first stanza she refers to the commodity she is carrying. Her mind is somewhat attached to the earthly duties and nature of her work. Even in her surroundings she hears the cry of the heifers, an animal she connects with her trade. In the second stanza, her mind is drawn towards the joy and gaiety of nature. She feels the abundance in her heart Life is flowing everywhere. Dear Mantu We are nown drawn to Indian English literature and your attempt at decoding Sarojini is a wonderful effort to that end Yes Indian English literature could be successful only when India breathes through the language of the Teutonic school and here is an instance of success Ihave read your substance and critical comments with great interest and I have a few reflections on the poem that I submit before you Firstly Idont think that there is any clue in the text wherefrom we could infer that Krishna is at Mathura when Radha comes there Secondly though Vrindavan has not been mentoioned here it is clear that Radha comes from elsewhere to Mathura to sell her milk product She comes from the other side of Jamuna She comes from her village Mathura is a trade centre and town The poem on the surface dwells on a maid who comes to the town for selling milk product But her head is full of Govinda So instead of paying attention to her etting and spending and instead of giving her trade cry with gusto she unaware of herself cries aloud the name Govinda her sweetheart A wonderful portrait of a loveladen heart of a village girl Methinks the the heifers donot low at the place fair at Mathura They lowed whhen she was carrying her milk product and setting out for Mathura Then the Jamuna and the boat journey with her comrades and finally at Mathura at the fair and at the temple Thus four vignettes one afte r another pass by before our minds eye The prayer at the temple is very touching Because it is for achieving nothing great May all the gods protect us That is all Just as the naive boatman when encounters the godhead incarnated as goddess Annapurna in Bharatchandra only prays that her should remain well fed That is all These simple folks are very much unlike us They dont want to be a scholar or a scientist or a president Bush Me thinks that the truly Indian attitude towards life along with the breeze of the month of Shravan blows through the poem Mind you the poem has some riddles in it to ponder over The curds are as white as the clouds in the clear sky But the time when Radha crosses the Jamuna is Shravan when there no white clouds But Radha fails to announce the good quality of her curds Because the blue clouds of the month of Shravan seem to engross her Again it is Shravan to Radha when her comrades want to don saffron robes in harmony with the spring time So many seasons at the same time draws my attention Thuis all the seasons are subjective Jamuna flows between the place where Radha stays and the place where Radha works for money Jamuna is a chasm between the two worlds —-one where love reigns and the other where exc hange reigns The way you have interpreted milk is quite convincing Indeed it is from the villages that energy flows to rejuvenate the life in the cities On another level Go vinda might mean the centre of the earth or universe or the source of all light Of course Radha is the symbol of the earth Her heart is full of the longing for the skies There you read the myth of Gaia and Ourania Dyaus and Prithivi And you have legitimately brought Sita and Radha together. Regards Ramesh Dear Mandira, The beautiful poem -Songs of Radha the Milkmaid that you have selected from Sarojini Naidu's book of poems incites me to share something. I, myself am very much fond of *Kirtana *-the art form that sings basically the lila of Radha and Krishna,particularly the *Biraha *portion when Krishna left Radha in Brindavan and himself went to Mathura to perform another duty and activities. Radha remained ever engrossed in the thoughts of Krishna and waited for his return. Whenever any cart etc. came from Mathura she rushed there in the hope that her beloved must have come back . But in vain. The love-lorn Radha became more sad. I am giving below a song that portrays this in a poignant manner; Piya tora kaisa abhiman Saghana sawan laye kadama bahar Mathura se doli laye charo kahar Nahi aye nahi aye Kesaria balma hamar Angana bara sunsan Apne nayan se neer bahaye Apne Yamuna khud aphi banaye Lakh bar usme nahaya Pura na hoi asnan Phir pura na hoi asnan Sukhe kesh rukhe besh Manua bejaan In this backdrop I would like to give my interpretation. Radha had not actually gone to Mathura . Rather in her inner mind flashed what would happen had she gone to Mathura fair, Mathura tide,Mathura shrine respectively. In the Mathura fair she would sell her curd. As Radha did not have any idea about the life style of Mathura -the capital city,hence she imagined that heifers would be there and they were lowing softly in the hope of the union of Radha and Krishna as they had done in Brindavan. Radha would not sell milk;in its stead curd. Why? Because her love for Krishna that hand turned from milk to curd in the absence of Krishna/Gobinda . But it remained as pure and white as the white cloud of the sky. But mind that though Shravan breeze were blowing yet the cloud was white. How is it possible? As because Krishna was not with Radha hence there was Shravan breezes blowing in her mind/sky . Radha would sell her product only to Krishna Her mind was full of pure love for Krishna;( i. e.. the white cloud). After shower the sky becomes clear. So happened in case of Radha's mind. Unaware she uttered Gobinda! Gobinda. And even when her friends might laugh at her her pent up thoughts were released and her mind got a relief. Her conscious mind /the river started flowing softly. The other two stanzas may be similarly explicated. I resist myself to do that. Does it seem to be too far fetched . With love and with the hope to hear more from you. Dipika Dear Dipikadi, Thank you very much for your own interpretation of the poem. You are wonderfully lyrical and your point of view has added dimensions to the simple village girl's vision of her divine Beloved. Please write your point of view on the other two stanzas too. best wishes Mondira In the second stanza, Radha imagined that she went to Mathura with her pot. Within the pot Radha might have taken her love ,her longing for Krishna The imagery of pot at once reminds us of the individual body that separates us/here Radha from the union of our own god /Krishna. As soon as the earthen pot breaks there will be the eternal union. In this context, the word Mathura tide has a special import. Just as due to the attraction of the Moon there comes the high tide in the river,similarly Radha's mind and body- her heart and breast swelled up being attracted to Mathura where her beloved resides. But as high tide and ebb tide come and go in alternate manner,similarly Radha's emotion, feelings and demeanour changed- now elated and the next moment depressed. While she thought of her union with Krishna there came the high tide. And there was all mirth and merriment. Merrily merrily the rowers, that is, her sweet memories were passing. There was abundance and abandon . At once spring came forth. Radha Krishna's union is always associated with her *sakhis *-the comrades like the asto sakhis-Lolita ,Bisakha etc. Hence there appeared the comrades in colourful dresses . They were dancing, singing,plucking new buds to make garlands to greet the two beloved ones- Radha and Krishna. The new buds were blowing. How? There air blew gently. With this the flower plants also moved. As if the whole Nature took part and was happy with the union of Radha and Krishna. The entire stage bacame colouful and moving with coloufully clad comrades dancing,singing along with ever blowing new buds on the plants as well as on the hands of the sakhis. The sakhis wanted to wear saffron coloured dress. Why? Because Krihna was not there. At once the colour reminds us the Hindu sanyasi/nies who used to wear saffron coloured dress. This is the colour of mensturation of the holy mother. This colour means detachment from the hurly burly of the mundane world. And so Radha could not take part in any paltry day to day activity and not in any mirth and merry. At once we can hear the unheard sound -Krihna se to nei nei re. The ebb tide- the depressed mood of Radha prevailed . Her ears always heard Krishna's music-Yeno nishi din murali dhani suni /Ujan bohe prem Yamunari bari /Nupuro hoye yano he Bonochari/Chorono jaraye dhore kandite pari/ Mamo madhuro minati sono Ganashyama Giridhari†¦. And Radha could not but cry out and utter Gobinda! Gobinda! The pent up emotion at once got released . And Radha's mind became relaxed . And so did the river flow gaily. The high tide came instantly. In the third stanza we find Radha in a different mood. All passion being spent there was calm in mind. and in such a state on mind Radha imagined to visit the Mathura shrine. Rather now Radha was in a position to visit the Mathura shrine. If in the 1st stanza Radha ‘s conscious thoughts were described , it was on the surface level because the heifar used to gaze on the surface. nd Radha's thoughts were moving softly like the soft lowing of the cows. But as soon as Radha uttered the word Gobinda her thoughts could delve deeper Her stream of consciousness started to flow softly . Thus then at once the setting changed from the land to river. In the 2nd stanza her thoughts went deeper. May be it touched the pre-conscious level . Because there in the 2nd stanza in the dream like situation Radha could face her carnal desire towards Krishna. The imagery of pot, the buds , the dancing ,singing river water with high tide and ebb tide etc. all are suggetive to something associated with sexual acts. See, Inthe first stanza Radha ‘s mind was full of Krishna's beauty. Here she was con cerned of her beloved's physical charm. But then the rowers came and rowed gaily and they were all mirth and mery ( may be Physical /sexual enjoyment were imaginatively faced. ) To face a desire four square means to become free of it. That is why in the second stanza Radha's Mind became free from Physical desire rather she was concerned about Krishna's sound. But the river i. e. the stream of conscous now moved gaily. The charm of sight and sound cannot last long. Hence shorn of carnal desires Radha's love now can have the power to submit herself totally to her Beloved. Now neither her mind nor her body was disturbed . They had been burnt up and thereby emitting light and thus acting as torches. Radha's was now fit to meditate. Hence Radha in her mind went to the shrine. There she could find those bright lamps of pure love that gathered their brightness through penance. She with folded hands prayed not for herself but for us-the humanity as a whole; may be for all sentient and insentient odjects under the Sun. She asked not the union of Krishna but the well being of all and sundry by day and night. When those pure lights protect, who could dare to do any harm? Such catholicity of mind was at once applauded by gods also and the sound of conch-shell was heard as a sign of it.. May be this was the sound of Panchajanya -the conch shell that Krishna blew in the Kurukshetra at the begining of the battle). But now it was blown to declare that Radha had successfully over come her mean self-centred desires and she became victorious. But the desires, which were termed as Mara in the Buddhist literature, may be here personified . So they( the personified desires) were wroth just after the sound of the conch-shell odviouly they were annoyed as because they were defeated in their schemes to ensnare Radha. And unknowingly Radha uttered Govinda! Govinda! And her stream of consciosness shorn of all impurities became a river of bright light. T his imagery of brightness reminds me the story of Ahalya who became bright through her penance when Ram visited her ( in Valmiki)/touched his feet ( in Krittivasa) on the place where Ahalya stayed and observed penance . Hard Penance made Ahalya a woman to be remembered every morning as per Hindu Sastra. Similarly Radha the eternal consort of Krisna is being worshipped through out Northen India for her selfless pure love for Krishna. Because now onwards ,we may easily guess thatRadha's heart will ever remain lost in Krishna's worship in contrast of her earlier heart full of krishna's beauty, then her full of his music in the 1st two stanzas. We may easily imagine that now she can sit years after years in a meditative mood with her heart lost in Krishna's worship . It is said that even today also Radha is waiting in Brindavan for her Beloved Krishna. Essays SONG OF RADHA, THE MILKMAID —text and critical study by Mandira Chattopadhyaya Labels: Literary Criticism I carried my curds to the Mathura fair†¦ How softly the heifers were lowing†¦ I wanted to cry, â€Å"Who will buy The curds that is white as the clouds in the sky When the breezes of Shravan are blowing? † But my heart was so full of your beauty, Beloved, They laughed as I cried without knowing: Govinda! Govinda! Govinda! Govinda! How softly the river was flowing! I carried the pots to the Mathura tide†¦ How gaily the rowers were rowing! My comrades called, â€Å"Ho! Let us dance, let us sing And wear saffron garments to welcome the spring. And pluck the new buds that are blowing. † But my heart was so full of your music, Beloved, They mocked when I cried without knowing: Govinda! Govinda! Govinda! Govinda! How gaily the river was flowing! I carried my gifts to the Mathura shrine†¦ How brightly the torches were glowing! I folded my hands at the altars to pray â€Å"O shining ones guard us by night and by day†- And loudly the conch shells were blowing. But my heart was so lost in your worship, Beloved, They were wroth when I cried without knowing: Govinda! Govinda! Govinda! Govinda! How bright the river was flowing! Substance of the poem Radha, the milkmaid is carrying curds to Mathura (Krishna’s birthplace) where the spring festival is going on. Cows are lowing softly in the fields. Radha, wishing to give out her trade cry to sell her curds that is as white as the autumn clouds, instead, calls out My Lord! My Lord! Everybody laughs. The river Jamuna flows on softly, as if appreciating her chant. Radha reaches the bank of the river to cross by the ferry boat. Her female companions want to wear the saffron garments, the color of spring, and want to sing and dance and pluck the new buds. Radha’s heart swells with the music of her Beloved Lord Krishna. She cries in ecstasy when others humor her. The river Jamuna flows on joyfully regardless. Radha reaches, with her gifts of curds, the temple, where the torches are brightly burning. She folds her hands to pray to the deity, encircled by snakes, and prays for protection while the conch shells are blown. Her heart is lost to the vision of her Beloved Lord and she calls out the name involuntarily. Others become angry. But the river Jamuna flows on while her water dazzles in the light of the torches. A critical estimate of the poem The title of the poem transports us to another world, to an environment of fertility and abundance. Mother Nature abounds the earth with the flow of her liquid. This white liquid symbolizes affection and nurturing of life. Radha, the daughter of Mother Nature carries the liquid of life and growth to all living beings. Mathura is her destination where Krishna, the Divine Musician holds everybody mesmerized with his mystic presence. The heifers herald her arrival to Mathura where she will pour into the pots the liquid which she has brought- energy and power from the mother Earth. It is worth noticing that Sita, the other daughter of mother Earth also represents all that stand for productivity. Mathura is here the center of life and abundance. While the cow is the species, that represents the flow of life and abundance. Radha feeds and nurtures life. Even the clouds in the sky, white and creamy, are part of the resources of life. The clouds and breeze together produce rain to awash the earth with the energy and moisture that coaxes the dormant vitality into life energy. The time of the year should also be noted. It is the time of incessant rain, the month of Shravan (August- September), when the life- giving moisture bursts forth. Radha’s heart wavers from her task in hand. She yearns for her union with Divine Musician, a presence that encompasses every soul of Mathura. She is absorbed, heart and mind, in his mystic presence and the trade cry she is supposed give out does not come to her lips- only the name of Govinda, the Omnipresent, the Omniscient and the Omnipotent, coming spontaneously from her heart, reverberates. The poet, here, juxtaposes the two conceptions, the flowing of the river and Radha’s yearning for a communion with Krishna. Radha is presented in the poem in the first person. In the first stanza she refers to the commodity she is carrying. Her mind is somewhat attached to the earthly duties and nature of her work. Even in her surroundings she hears the cry of the heifers, an animal she connects with her trade. In the second stanza, her mind is drawn towards the joy and gaiety of nature. She feels the abundance in her heart Life is flowing everywhere. Dear Mantu We are nown drawn to Indian English literature and your attempt at decoding Sarojini is a wonderful effort to that end Yes Indian English literature could be successful only when India breathes through the language of the Teutonic school and here is an instance of success Ihave read your substance and critical comments with great interest and I have a few reflections on the poem that I submit before you Firstly Idont think that there is any clue in the text wherefrom we could infer that Krishna is at Mathura when Radha comes there Secondly though Vrindavan has not been mentoioned here it is clear that Radha comes from elsewhere to Mathura to sell her milk product She comes from the other side of Jamuna She comes from her village Mathura is a trade centre and town The poem on the surface dwells on a maid who comes to the town for selling milk product But her head is full of Govinda So instead of paying attention to her etting and spending and instead of giving her trade cry with gusto she unaware of herself cries aloud the name Govinda her sweetheart A wonderful portrait of a loveladen heart of a village girl Methinks the the heifers donot low at the place fair at Mathura They lowed whhen she was carrying her milk product and setting out for Mathura Then the Jamuna and the boat journey with her comrades and finally at Mathura at the fair and at the temple Thus four vignettes one afte r another pass by before our minds eye The prayer at the temple is very touching Because it is for achieving nothing great May all the gods protect us That is all Just as the naive boatman when encounters the godhead incarnated as goddess Annapurna in Bharatchandra only prays that her should remain well fed That is all These simple folks are very much unlike us They dont want to be a scholar or a scientist or a president Bush Me thinks that the truly Indian attitude towards life along with the breeze of the month of Shravan blows through the poem Mind you the poem has some riddles in it to ponder over The curds are as white as the clouds in the clear sky But the time when Radha crosses the Jamuna is Shravan when there no white clouds But Radha fails to announce the good quality of her curds Because the blue clouds of the month of Shravan seem to engross her Again it is Shravan to Radha when her comrades want to don saffron robes in harmony with the spring time So many seasons at the same time draws my attention Thuis all the seasons are subjective Jamuna flows between the place where Radha stays and the place where Radha works for money Jamuna is a chasm between the two worlds —-one where love reigns and the other where exc hange reigns The way you have interpreted milk is quite convincing Indeed it is from the villages that energy flows to rejuvenate the life in the cities On another level Go vinda might mean the centre of the earth or universe or the source of all light Of course Radha is the symbol of the earth Her heart is full of the longing for the skies There you read the myth of Gaia and Ourania Dyaus and Prithivi And you have legitimately brought Sita and Radha together. Regards Ramesh Dear Mandira, The beautiful poem -Songs of Radha the Milkmaid that you have selected from Sarojini Naidu's book of poems incites me to share something. I, myself am very much fond of *Kirtana *-the art form that sings basically the lila of Radha and Krishna,particularly the *Biraha *portion when Krishna left Radha in Brindavan and himself went to Mathura to perform another duty and activities. Radha remained ever engrossed in the thoughts of Krishna and waited for his return. Whenever any cart etc. came from Mathura she rushed there in the hope that her beloved must have come back . But in vain. The love-lorn Radha became more sad. I am giving below a song that portrays this in a poignant manner; Piya tora kaisa abhiman Saghana sawan laye kadama bahar Mathura se doli laye charo kahar Nahi aye nahi aye Kesaria balma hamar Angana bara sunsan Apne nayan se neer bahaye Apne Yamuna khud aphi banaye Lakh bar usme nahaya Pura na hoi asnan Phir pura na hoi asnan Sukhe kesh rukhe besh Manua bejaan In this backdrop I would like to give my interpretation. Radha had not actually gone to Mathura . Rather in her inner mind flashed what would happen had she gone to Mathura fair, Mathura tide,Mathura shrine respectively. In the Mathura fair she would sell her curd. As Radha did not have any idea about the life style of Mathura -the capital city,hence she imagined that heifers would be there and they were lowing softly in the hope of the union of Radha and Krishna as they had done in Brindavan. Radha would not sell milk;in its stead curd. Why? Because her love for Krishna that hand turned from milk to curd in the absence of Krishna/Gobinda . But it remained as pure and white as the white cloud of the sky. But mind that though Shravan breeze were blowing yet the cloud was white. How is it possible? As because Krishna was not with Radha hence there was Shravan breezes blowing in her mind/sky . Radha would sell her product only to Krishna Her mind was full of pure love for Krishna;( i. e.. the white cloud). After shower the sky becomes clear. So happened in case of Radha's mind. Unaware she uttered Gobinda! Gobinda. And even when her friends might laugh at her her pent up thoughts were released and her mind got a relief. Her conscious mind /the river started flowing softly. The other two stanzas may be similarly explicated. I resist myself to do that. Does it seem to be too far fetched . With love and with the hope to hear more from you. Dipika Dear Dipikadi, Thank you very much for your own interpretation of the poem. You are wonderfully lyrical and your point of view has added dimensions to the simple village girl's vision of her divine Beloved. Please write your point of view on the other two stanzas too. best wishes Mondira In the second stanza, Radha imagined that she went to Mathura with her pot. Within the pot Radha might have taken her love ,her longing for Krishna The imagery of pot at once reminds us of the individual body that separates us/here Radha from the union of our own god /Krishna. As soon as the earthen pot breaks there will be the eternal union. In this context, the word Mathura tide has a special import. Just as due to the attraction of the Moon there comes the high tide in the river,similarly Radha's mind and body- her heart and breast swelled up being attracted to Mathura where her beloved resides. But as high tide and ebb tide come and go in alternate manner,similarly Radha's emotion, feelings and demeanour changed- now elated and the next moment depressed. While she thought of her union with Krishna there came the high tide. And there was all mirth and merriment. Merrily merrily the rowers, that is, her sweet memories were passing. There was abundance and abandon . At once spring came forth. Radha Krishna's union is always associated with her *sakhis *-the comrades like the asto sakhis-Lolita ,Bisakha etc. Hence there appeared the comrades in colourful dresses . They were dancing, singing,plucking new buds to make garlands to greet the two beloved ones- Radha and Krishna. The new buds were blowing. How? There air blew gently. With this the flower plants also moved. As if the whole Nature took part and was happy with the union of Radha and Krishna. The entire stage bacame colouful and moving with coloufully clad comrades dancing,singing along with ever blowing new buds on the plants as well as on the hands of the sakhis. The sakhis wanted to wear saffron coloured dress. Why? Because Krihna was not there. At once the colour reminds us the Hindu sanyasi/nies who used to wear saffron coloured dress. This is the colour of mensturation of the holy mother. This colour means detachment from the hurly burly of the mundane world. And so Radha could not take part in any paltry day to day activity and not in any mirth and merry. At once we can hear the unheard sound -Krihna se to nei nei re. The ebb tide- the depressed mood of Radha prevailed . Her ears always heard Krishna's music-Yeno nishi din murali dhani suni /Ujan bohe prem Yamunari bari /Nupuro hoye yano he Bonochari/Chorono jaraye dhore kandite pari/ Mamo madhuro minati sono Ganashyama Giridhari†¦. And Radha could not but cry out and utter Gobinda! Gobinda! The pent up emotion at once got released . And Radha's mind became relaxed . And so did the river flow gaily. The high tide came instantly. In the third stanza we find Radha in a different mood. All passion being spent there was calm in mind. and in such a state on mind Radha imagined to visit the Mathura shrine. Rather now Radha was in a position to visit the Mathura shrine. If in the 1st stanza Radha ‘s conscious thoughts were described , it was on the surface level because the heifar used to gaze on the surface. nd Radha's thoughts were moving softly like the soft lowing of the cows. But as soon as Radha uttered the word Gobinda her thoughts could delve deeper Her stream of consciousness started to flow softly . Thus then at once the setting changed from the land to river. In the 2nd stanza her thoughts went deeper. May be it touched the pre-conscious level . Because there in the 2nd stanza in the dream like situation Radha could face her carnal desire towards Krishna. The imagery of pot, the buds , the dancing ,singing river water with high tide and ebb tide etc. all are suggetive to something associated with sexual acts. See, Inthe first stanza Radha ‘s mind was full of Krishna's beauty. Here she was con cerned of her beloved's physical charm. But then the rowers came and rowed gaily and they were all mirth and mery ( may be Physical /sexual enjoyment were imaginatively faced. ) To face a desire four square means to become free of it. That is why in the second stanza Radha's Mind became free from Physical desire rather she was concerned about Krishna's sound. But the river i. e. the stream of conscous now moved gaily. The charm of sight and sound cannot last long. Hence shorn of carnal desires Radha's love now can have the power to submit herself totally to her Beloved. Now neither her mind nor her body was disturbed . They had been burnt up and thereby emitting light and thus acting as torches. Radha's was now fit to meditate. Hence Radha in her mind went to the shrine. There she could find those bright lamps of pure love that gathered their brightness through penance. She with folded hands prayed not for herself but for us-the humanity as a whole; may be for all sentient and insentient odjects under the Sun. She asked not the union of Krishna but the well being of all and sundry by day and night. When those pure lights protect, who could dare to do any harm? Such catholicity of mind was at once applauded by gods also and the sound of conch-shell was heard as a sign of it.. May be this was the sound of Panchajanya -the conch shell that Krishna blew in the Kurukshetra at the begining of the battle). But now it was blown to declare that Radha had successfully over come her mean self-centred desires and she became victorious. But the desires, which were termed as Mara in the Buddhist literature, may be here personified . So they( the personified desires) were wroth just after the sound of the conch-shell odviouly they were annoyed as because they were defeated in their schemes to ensnare Radha. And unknowingly Radha uttered Govinda! Govinda! And her stream of consciosness shorn of all impurities became a river of bright light. T his imagery of brightness reminds me the story of Ahalya who became bright through her penance when Ram visited her ( in Valmiki)/touched his feet ( in Krittivasa) on the place where Ahalya stayed and observed penance . Hard Penance made Ahalya a woman to be remembered every morning as per Hindu Sastra. Similarly Radha the eternal consort of Krisna is being worshipped through out Northen India for her selfless pure love for Krishna. Because now onwards ,we may easily guess thatRadha's heart will ever remain lost in Krishna's worship in contrast of her earlier heart full of krishna's beauty, then her full of his music in the 1st two stanzas. We may easily imagine that now she can sit years after years in a meditative mood with her heart lost in Krishna's worship . It is said that even today also Radha is waiting in Brindavan for her Beloved Krishna.

Daphnia Dissection

Effects of Drugs on Heart rate Michelle Dilgard Undergraduate Student Education Major Biology Concentration Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN 38505 December 3, 2006 Table of Contents Page Abstract 1 Key Words 2 Introduction3-6 Methods and Materials7-8 Expected Results and Benefits 9 Results 10-11 Discussion12 Conclusion13 Literature Cited 14-15 Abstract This experiment is designed to find out how drugs affect heart rate. This experiment will use Daphnia in order to monitor the effects certain drugs have on heart rates.I will observe the changes in heart rate of Daphnia when exposed to Caffeine, Ibuprofen, Alcohol, and Nicotine. I will have several separate samples of Daphnia in my study. Each community will be exposed to a different drug and observe how the heart rate of the Daphnia changes accordingly. I believe the Daphnia heart rate will increase when the Daphnia are exposed to Caffeine and Nicotine because both of these drugs are stimulants. I believe the Daphnia heart rate will decrease and slow down when the Daphnia are exposed to Ibuprofen and Alcohol.This experiment will show not only the effects of these drugs on Daphnia but also what they similarly do to the human body when it is exposed. Daphnia are used as a humane alternative to Humans when performing this type of experiment. The results on the Daphnia will be very similar to how the human heart would react if exposed to these drugs. Key Words Nicotine Alcohol Caffeine Ibuprofen Effects of Drugs Daphnia Magna Heart rate Drugs Heart Introduction My experiment deals with the affects of different drugs on the heart rate of daphnia. I will focus on the daphnia’s body itself first.Then I will give information pertaining to the drugs used: Caffeiene, Ibuprofen, Alcohol, and Nicotine. Daphnia are small crustaceans that live in the water. They are commonly called water fleas. Daphnia are freshwater zooplankton and consume phytoplankton and some other zooplankton as well. The daphniaà ¢â‚¬â„¢s bodies are transparent and their internal structures can easily be seen. The heart is the internal organ I focused on within the daphnia. The heart can be easily seen within the body cavity of the daphnia which made it easy to find and easy to count the heartbeat (Villegas-Navarro 2003).Caffeine is a very important drug to consider because 90% of American consumes caffeine on a daily basis. Half of all American consume more than 300 mg of caffeine a day which makes it America’s most consumed drug to date. Caffeine is found in coffee, soda, tea, chocolate, etc. Caffeine is known as trimethylxanthine in the medical community. Caffeine can be used as a cardiac stimulant and also as a mild diuretic. Cardiac stimulants increase the heart rate, and diuretics increase urine production. Caffeine is a very addictive drug and operates just like amphetamines such as cocaine and heroin (Nehlig 1992).Caffeine not only stimulates the heart of humans but also the heart of daphnia ( Foster 1997). Ibuprofen is commonly used to relieve pain, tenderness, swelling and stiffness caused by arthritis. It is also used to relieve mild to moderate pain in the body and reduce fever. Ibuprofen is called a NSAIDs. It works by stopping the body’s production of a substance that causes pain, fever, and inflammation. Ibuprofen is most often used to treat arthritis (Cluevers 2004). Alcohol is often used as a solvent in medical drugs, because of its low toxicity and ability to dissolve non-polar substances.Ethanol is often used as an antiseptic, to disinfect the skin before injections are given. When processed correctly Alcohol is drunk in recreation. Alcohol affects the body as a nervous system depressant (Wong 1997). Nicotine like caffeine is a stimulant. This stimulant is found in cigarettes. Cigarettes contain 8 to 20 milligrams of nicotine but when smoke only 1 mg of nicotine actually enters the body. Nicotine can have two effects on the body, it can relax a perso or it can stimulate a person, this is based on the amount and the regularity of smoking or nicotine intake.Nicotine works by causing a releas of adrenaline into the body. Statement of Problem How do certain drugs affect heart rate? Objective/Hypothesis Statement This experiment is designed to find out how drugs affect heart rate. This experiment will use Daphnia in order to monitor the effects certain drugs have on heart rates. I will observe the changes in heart rate of Daphnia when exposed to Caffeine, Ibuprofen, Alcohol, and Nicotine. I will have several separate samples of Daphnia in my study.Each community will be exposed to a different drug and observe how the heart rate of the Daphnia changes accordingly. i. e. Foster 1997 I hypothesize that the Daphnia heart rate will increase when the Daphnia are exposed to Caffeine and Nicotine because both of these drugs are stimulants. I hypothesize the Daphnia heart rate will decrease and slow down when the Daphnia are exposed to Ibuprofen and Alcohol. The null hypothesis to this is: I hypothesize that drugs will have no effect on the Daphnia’s heart rate. Methods and Materials Data Form |Resting Heart Rate |Heart Rate 1 |Heart Rate 2 |Heart Rate 3 | |Alcohol 1 | | | | | |Alcohol 2 | | | | | |Alcohol 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |Ibuprofen 1 | | | | |Ibuprofen 2 | | | | |Ibuprofen 3 | | | | | | | | | | |Caffeine 1 | | | | | |Caffeine 2 | | | | |Caffeine 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |Nicotine 1 | | | | | |Nicotine 2 | | | | | |Nicotine 3 | | | | | ProcedureI used a modified version of the experiment performed by Jasmine Kamai and Varner Allbrett when they studied the effects of Kava on the heart rate of Daphnia. My procedure is as follows: Before beginning my experiment I must mix the drug solutions to be used. First I will dissolve ibuprofen and caffeine tablets into a solution of water in two different containers, that I will later determine what strength to make each. I will also tear open cigarettes and mix the tobac co with water and let sit for 24 hours after which I will drain the water off into a container which will make up my nicotine solution. For alcohol I will just mix vodka and water to a desired strength in a 4th container. Next I will cipher out a daphnia and drop it onto a slide to be viewed under a microscope.I will record its normal heart rate. Next I will add a drop of the alcohol solution and over the next 5 minutes I will record the changes in heart rate after one minute of exposure, 3 minutes of exposure and then 5 minutes of exposure. After recording my results I will dispose of this Daphnia. I will do this same portion of the experiment with two more daphnia. I will then continue with this procedure while using the other three drugs. I plan to use the lab facilities in the Biology Building on Tennessee Tech’s Campus. Along with most of their lab equipment including: microscope, slides, vials, Petri dishes, droppers and other equipment. Materials Water Depression Slide sCover slips Droppers Daphnia Magna Microscope Watch Petri Dishes Daphnia Anatomy Chart Cigarettes 80 proof vodka No-dos Ibuprofen tablets Expected Results and Benefits After performing this experiment I expect to find that the Daphnia’s heart rates will increase with Nicotine and Caffeine because both of these drugs are stimulants and that the Daphnia’s heart rates will decrease with Alcohol and Ibuprofen solution. This experiment will show not only the effects of these drugs on Daphnia but also what they similarly do to the human body when it is exposed. Daphnia are used as a humane alternative to Humans when performing this type of experiment. Results Normal |w/Caffeine |w/Alcohol | |84 |100 |89 | |80 |102 |85 | |86 |105 |90 | |88 |109 |91 | |82 |109 |88 | |84 |103 |85 | |90 |110 |93 | |86 |106 |89 | |80 |90 |84 | |84 |88 |87 | Heart Rate of Daphnia when exposed to Caffeine and Alcohol Change in Heart Rate of Daphnia when exposed to Caffeine Change in Heart Rate of Daphnia when exposed to Alcohol Discussion After performing my experiment I found that Daphnia Magna heart rate greatly increases when exposed to Caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant and should produce that affect (Nehlig 1992). Caffeine has similar affects on humans (Foster 1997).The heart rate increased anywhere from 10 to 20 beats per minute. As seen in my data table the heart beats sometimes jumped from a normal heartbeat in the 80s to a heartbeat in the 100s when exposed to caffeine. Gerald Adams also found the same result when he tested his hypothesis. I also found that Daphnia’s heart rate slightly increased with the exposure to Alcohol. The heart rate does not have as drastic a change when exposed to Alcohol as it did when exposed to Caffeine. The heart rates just increased by about 5 to 10 beats per minute. As seen in my data table the heart beats only jumped from a normal heartbeat in the 80s to a heartbeat in the 90s when exposed to Alcohol.This was disproved by sever al different experiments (Wong 1997). Wong found that the heart rate of daphnia decreased. Since alcohol is a depressant it should have lowered the heart rate of daphnia. I feel that the increase in stress on the Daphnia may have called this time of increase. When Daphnia is exposed to Nicotine and Ibuprofen, the heart rate of the daphnia could not be seen as any different. (Sollman 1999). Although Cluevers said that there should be a change in the heart rate (Cluevers 2004). Conclusion In conclusion I have determined that the heart rate of Daphnia can be affected by adding different drugs. Daphnia heart rate increased by ten to twenty beats per minute when exposed to Caffeine.Daphnia heart rate increased by five to ten beats per minute when exposed to Alcohol. Unfortunately the results for Ibuprofen and Nicotine could not be seen. There was not enough evidence to determine how the Heart rate changed when the Daphnia were exposed to Ibuprofen and Nicotine. By doing this experiment i t can be assumed that the some of the same reactions could be found if Humans are exposed to these Drugs. Literature Cited Cluevers, Michael. 2004. Mixture toxicity of the anti-inflammatory drugs diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetylsalicylic acid. Exotoxicology an Environmental Safety 59: 309-315. Foster, Rachel. 1997. A stroboscopic method to investigate the effect of caffeine on Daphnia hear rate.Journal of Biological Education 31: 253-255. Nehlig, A. , J. L. Daval, and G. Debry. 1992. Caffeine and the central nervous system: mechanisms of action, biochemical, metabolic and psychostimulant effects. PubMed. com. Villegas-Navarro, Arturo, Esperanza L. Ross, and Jose L. Reyes. 2003. The heart of Daphnia magna: effects of four cardioactive drugs. Comparative Biochemisty and Physiology Part C Toxicology and Pharmacology 136C: 127-134 Wong, Diana C. L. , Philip B. Dorn, and Eric Y. Chai. 1997. Acute toxicity and structure-activity relationships of nine alcohol ethoxylate surfacta nts to fathead minnow and Daphnia magna. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 16: 1970-1976. . Appendix Normal |w/Caffeine |w/Alcohol | |84 |100 |89 | |80 |102 |85 | |86 |105 |90 | |88 |109 |91 | |82 |109 |88 | |84 |103 |85 | |90 |110 |93 | |86 |106 |89 | |80 |90 |84 | |84 |88 |87 |

Star Trek IV essays

Star Trek IV essays Adm. Kirk William Shatner Mr. Spock Leonard Nimoy McCoy DeForest Kelley Gillian Taylor Catherine Hicks Federation president Robt. Ellenstein Cartwright Brock Peters Klingon ambassador John Schuck This film blew me away. Comparing to all other Star Trek films and episodes, this one is by far the most bizarre, funniest, and best one so far. I give the scriptwriters a lot of credit for coming up with the strangest but interesting plot. The crew must travel back in time to find humpback whales to sing in order to save the planet from the probe. Contrasting to Time Machine, the crew travels back in time while in Time Machine, they travel forward in time. The film opens up with some leftover stuff from the last film, which is not really relevant to this film. The crew is left with the Klingon ship they acquired, which they must use to save the planet. After the crew decides to travel home they come across a probe from the sea that need the songs of whales to break the signal. They find out whales are extinct in the 23rd century so they must travel back to San Francisco in the 20th century to find some. So this turns out to be their mission before the go home. The crew actually makes me laugh hysterically in this film. Starting with Spock, he says the funniest lines on accident trying to be logical with everything because of the way his non-human side is. Captain Kirk finds out he has a crush waiting for him in San Francisco, and turns out she comes with the crew to the 23rd century. The most interesting parts in the film are not in space. They are in the states because an audience is not used to seeing the crew interact with other humans. It is sort of funny to see what will hap ...

Airport Noise and Pollution Can Effect Your Health

Airport Noise and Pollution Can Effect Your Health Researchers have known for years that exposure to excessively loud noise can cause changes in blood pressure as well as changes in sleep and digestive patterns, all signs of stress on the human body. The very word â€Å"noise† itself derives from the Latin word â€Å"noxia,† which means injury or hurt. Airport Noise and Pollution Increase Risk for Illness On a 1997 questionnaire distributed to two groups (one living near a major airport, and the other in a quiet neighborhood), two-thirds of those living near the airport indicated they were bothered by aircraft noise, and most said that it interfered with their daily activities. The same two-thirds complained more than the other group of sleep difficulties, and also perceived themselves as being in poorer health. Perhaps even more alarming, the European Commission, which governs the European Union (E.U.), considers living near an airport to be a risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke, as increased blood pressure from noise pollution can trigger these more serious maladies. The E.U. estimates that 20% of Europe’s population (about 80 million people) are exposed to airport noise levels it considers unhealthy and unacceptable. Airport Noise Affects Children Airport noise can also have negative effects on children’s health and development. A 1980 study examining the impact of airport noise on children’s health found higher blood pressure in kids living near Los Angeles’ LAX airport than in those living farther away. A 1995 German study found a link between chronic noise exposure at Munich’s International Airport and elevated nervous system activity and cardiovascular levels in children living nearby. A 2005 study published in the prestigious British medical journal, The Lancet, found that kids living near airports in Britain, Holland, and Spain lagged behind their classmates in reading by two months for every five-decibel increase above average noise levels in their surroundings. The study also associated aircraft noise with lowered reading comprehension, even after socio-economic differences were considered. Citizen Groups Concerned About Effects of Airport Noise and Pollution Living near an airport also means facing significant exposure to air pollution. Jack Saporito of the U.S. Citizens Aviation Watch Association (CAW), a coalition of concerned municipalities and advocacy groups, cites several studies linking pollutants common around airports (such as diesel exhaust, carbon monoxide and leaked chemicals) to cancer, asthma, liver damage, lung disease, lymphoma, myeloid leukemia, and even depression. A recent study pinpointed ground taxiing by planes at busy airports as the source of large amounts of carbon monoxide, which in turn appears to increase the prevalence of asthma within 10 kilometers of the airport. CAW is lobbying for the clean up of jet engine exhaust as well as the scrapping or modification of airport expansion plans across the country. Another group working on this issue is Chicago’s Alliance of Residents Concerning O’Hare, which lobbies and conducts extensive public education campaigns in an effort to cut noise and pollution and rein in expansion plans at the world’s busiest airport. According to the group, five million area residents may be suffering adverse health effects as a result of O’Hare, only one of four major airports in the region.

Careers for a Communications Major

Careers for a Communications Major Youve probably heard that being a communications major means a lot of job opportunities will be available for you after graduation. But what exactly are those opportunities? What are some of the best communications major jobs?   In contrast to, say, having a degree in molecular bioengineering, having a degree in communications allows you to take a variety of positions in a variety of fields. Your problem as a communications major, then, is not necessarily what to do with your degree but what industry youd like to work in. Communications Degree Jobs Do public relations (PR) for a large company. Working in the PR office of a large regional, national, or even international company can be an exciting experience simply because of the size of the PR team and the messaging.Do PR for a small company. A huge  company not your thing? Focus a little closer to home and see if any local, small companies are hiring in their PR departments. Youll get more experience in more areas while helping a smaller company grow.Do PR for a nonprofit. Nonprofits focus on their missions the environment, helping kids, etc. but they also need help running the business side of things. Doing PR for a nonprofit can be an interesting job youll always feel good about at the end of the day.Do marketing for a company with interests that parallel your own. PR not quite your thing? Consider using your communications major in a marketing position at a place that has a mission and/or values you are also interested in. If you love acting, for example, consider work ing at a theater; if you love photography, consider doing marketing for a photography company. Apply for a social media position. Social media is new to lots of folks but many college students are very familiar with it. Use your age to your advantage and work as a social media expert for a company of your choosing.Write content for an online company/website. Communicating online requires a very specific skill set. If you think you have what it takes, consider applying for a writing/marketing/PR position for an online company or website.Work in the government. Uncle Sam can offer an interesting gig with reasonable pay and good benefits. See how you can put your communications major to use while helping your country.Work in fundraising. If youre good at communicating, consider going into fundraising. You can meet lots of interesting folks while doing important work in a challenging job.Work at a college or university. Colleges and universities require a lot of communication jobs: admissions materials, community relations, marketing, PR. Find a place you think youd like to work possibly even your alma mater and see where you can help out. Work at a hospital. People receiving care in a hospital are often going through a difficult time. Helping to make sure that the hospitals communication plans, materials, and strategies are as clear and effective as possible is noble and rewarding work.Try going freelance. If you have a bit of experience and a good network to rely on, try going freelance. You can do a variety of interesting projects while being your own boss.Work at a start-up. Start-ups can be a fun place to work because everything is starting from scratch. Consequently, working there will provide you with a great opportunity to learn and grow with a new company.Work as a journalist at a paper or magazine. True, a traditional print press is going through a rough period. But there can still be some interesting jobs out there where you can put your communications skills and training to use.Work on the radio. Working for a radio station either a music-based local station or something different, like National Public Rad io can be a unique job that youll end up addicted to for life. Work for a sports team. Love sports? Consider working for a local sports team or stadium. Youll get to learn the ins-and-outs of a cool organization while helping with their communications needs.Work for a crisis PR company. Nobody needs good PR help like a company (or person) in crisis. While working for this kind of company can be a bit stressful, it can also be an exciting job where you learn something new every day.

Articles annotations Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Articles annotations - Article Example After expounding on the broadening of TESOL’s story, in conclusion, the author disclosed that the future embraces an international family that respects mutual questioning, active negotiation, and radical integration (Canagarajah, 2006, p. 29). Annotation 2 Chang, L. (2010). Group Processes and EFL Learners’ Motivation: A Study of Group Dynamics in EFL Classrooms. TESOL Quarterly, Vol. 44, No. 1, 129-155. The author clearly indicated that the aim of the study was to examine the impact of group processes, including norms and cohesiveness of the groups, as influencing EFL learners’ motivation. A review of related literature was initially presented to expound on issues concerning group processes, group cohesiveness, group norms, L2 motivation (self-efficacy and learner autonomy. The actual research indicated that participants were 152 students of a Taiwan university where questionnaires and subsequent interviews had been administered. The results indicate that class grouping significantly affects second language learning motivation. The authors emphasized that future research needs to consider undetected factors that influence the relationship between group processes and language learning. Annotation 3 Chen, J., Warden, C., & Chang, H. (2005). Motivators That Do Not Motivate: The Case of Chinese EFL Learners and the Influence of Culture on Motivation. TESOL Quarterly, Vol. 39, No. 4, 609-633. The authors determined the effect of culture on motivation by conducting a study participated by 567 language learners in Taiwan. A survey was implemented focusing on topics such as motivation orientation, expectancy, and self-evaluated skill (Chen, Warden, & Chang, 2005, p. 609). By initially exploring various reviews of literature on motivation within the EFL setting, their study was developed to tailor to the Chinese EFL learners where the results found that integration was not a significant factor in the motivational learning effort (Chen, Warden, & Ch ang, 2005, p. 631). Limitations of the research were noted in terms of using two comparative cultural orientations: the West as contrasted with Chinese culture and thereby provides opportunities for future research within a more wider and diverse global cultural perspective. Annotation 4 Gatbonton, E., Trofimovich, P., & Magid, M. (2005). Learners' Ethnic Group Affiliation and L2 Pronunciation Accuracy: A Sociolinguistic Investigation. TESOL Quarterly, Vol. 39, No. 3; 489-511. The authors aimed to determine the relationship between ethnic group affiliation and second- language (L2) pronunciation accuracy defined here as native-like, nonaccented L2 speech or L2 speech that contains no first language (Li) influences (Gatbonton, Trofimovich, & Magid, 2005, p. 489). Two study questions were identified, to wit: (a) Is there a relationship between learners' L2 accent and ethnic group affiliation as perceived by fellow learners? (b) If such a relationship exists, what are its behavioural c onsequences? The participants of the study included 24 Francophone learners of English from Montrea where research methods used stimulus tapes and questionnaires. The results of the study revealed that L2 learners treated their peers' L2 accent as an

Discussion questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discussion questions - Assignment Example There are some interrogation techniques that are more physical than lingual and this enhances the difference with interviews even further as interviews even though uses different methods such as telephone is still spoken (Gordon and Fleisher, 2010). Coercion and duress involve using psychological and emotional pressure and threats during interrogation process to try and force information from the suspects or get them to cooperate. This method is used when interview bring forth no useful information. Creating duress in a suspect only taints the process of interrogation as the suspect or prisoner refuses to cooperate once in emotional stress. Even if the prisoner was willing to cooperate at some point and willingly provide information, once subjected to psychological torture, they refuse to cooperate. Duress and coercion are used to gather particular information interrogators need or a confession they need to close the case. Using them only affects the credibility and in turn reliability of the information the suspect will provide as they may give the information needed to be heard not because it is the truth but simply to stop with the psychological and emotional torture. Application of these two cases means that the suspected criminals after being captured will not reveal any details of the crime. They refuse to tell anything to the interrogating officers because these two rights prevent them from saying anything that may incriminate them and which may later be used to send them to jail. These two rights as they are now are protected by the fifth amendment of the constitution and hence once they are established no interrogator using whatever techniques can force them to talk. This is frustrating to the interrogators who have to interrogate in front of lawyers who is simply pointless as the lawyer will advise the client not to talk or simply seek other avenues of getting the information from. Many people worldwide are

Tutor Marked assigment 03 - Science of the senses Essay

Tutor Marked assigment 03 - Science of the senses - Essay Example The different cones are sensitive to different light of different wavelength. The three cone cells are usually identified as S, M and L, which denotes short, medium and long wavelengths respectively. As explained by the trichromatic vision theory, the brain cannot be able to figure out the different colors, since the response given to the sensed light greatly depends upon the wavelength and the intensity of the light. For this reason, the ability of perceiving the color requires interaction of two or more types of cone. The interaction between two different cones enables the brain to compare the intensity of the signals, and hence differentiating the colors. The opponent theory puts some more lighting to the trichromatic vision theory, by stating that the cone photoreceptors are linked to produce three colors pairs which oppose. The color pairs identified by the theory are; blue/yellow, red/green, and black/white. The theory explains that, whenever one of the pairs is activated, no other can be activated at the same time. Likewise, it explains that no two members of a given pairs are visible at the same location. This is why; a person cannot see a color like ‘reddish green.’ The theory also provides an explanation for deficiencies, whereby people with dichromatic deficiency confuse colors. E.g. red and green. The ability of the body to sense a stimulus is called sensory modality. The sensory modality is based on the five senses. For the body to sense the stimuli, the stimuli must stimulate the receptor. Once the stimuli activate the sensory system, a perception of the stimuli is done, through coding. The effectiveness of the sensory system to finger out the stimuli is greatly influenced by a number of factors, including the intensity and position of the stimuli. For better interpretation of the stimuli, several sensory are sometimes combined. Vision sensory system can be affected by the

Media items related to gender, sexuality and the body Essay

Media items related to gender, sexuality and the body - Essay Example Sexuality is anchored on physical and biological differences that make males and females different. The media use their content with sexuality and gender to influence, educate or inform their audience. Sexuality in advertising entails the use of erotic or sexual words or phrases, images in advertising to appeal to buyers and increase the chances of selling the product. Analyses of media content indicate that most of the content presented portrays issues relating to gender, sexuality and the body with all of these displaying sexual activities explicitly or implicitly. For example, over 80% of all movies from a cable TV stations have sexual content. Over 50% of the music shown in the television portray sexual feelings and impulses with minority displaying provocative clothing and body movement that are sexually arousing. Sexual messages in most television shows are universally presented in a positive light towards gender and sexuality. In most media gender and sexuality has been exploi ted consciously and unconsciously in media items such as; advertisements, promotions, magazine articles, newspaper articles, blogs, and websites. The gist of this paper is to collect and analyse media items related to gender, sexuality and the body. Blog sexinadsmedia.blogspot.com, 2009, Sexuality in media/advertisement , viewed 18 April 2012, . This is a blog article which details the media use of sexuality in advertising, and it discusses a study carried on the use of sexuality in media. It is now news that sexuality had been used in advertising as early as 1800s when physical attractiveness and sexuality started having a great impact on society. Sexuality was used in advertisements in forms of wood carvings and other illustrations of attractive naked women, from the waist up. In 1885 W. Dukes & Sons Tobacco Company could insert trading cards featuring attractive and provocative women into tobacco packages (sexinadsmedia.blogspot.com. 2009, p. 1). Sexuality has from then proved to be substantially effective tool that can change the sales trend in many companies. The blog article refers to the most striking twentieth century advertisement by Woodbury’s Facial Soap, which was based on sexuality. The history of this company has it that in early twentieth century, its sales were plummeting, and it used a doctor’s face on wrapper as its advertisement tool. Later, the company switched to sexuality advertisements by inserting romantic paintings of, young appealing women, and immediately the sales escalated for the following years. Coupled with these images of sexuality was the sexual slogan â€Å"A Skin You Love to touch†, which has attraction and appeal to sexy women (sexinadsmedia.blogspot.com. 2009, p. 1). The blog article agrees with the fact that sexuality is a transforming tool depending on which product is being advertised. The study on the effect of sexuality in advertisements proves that sexy ads attract more people than nonsexual ones . In most sexuality advertising, 51% females are used, and only 15% males are used (Huston, Wartella & Donnerstein 1998). The twist of the writer is the fact that sexuality in general has become a controversial issue in print media advertising

Hamas - Terrorist Organization, Popular Amongst Its Populace Case Study

Hamas - Terrorist Organization, Popular Amongst Its Populace - Case Study Example This case study will make an attempt to delineate the fundamental nature, reality, existence and objectives of an approach, popularly termed as â€Å"terrorism†, that is radically opposite to the Gandhian philosophy. In order to achieve the goal of this study, a terrorist group called â€Å"HAMAS† has been selected to be studied as the case. At the outset, it may be pertinent to understand the term â€Å"terrorism†. As per Federal Bureau of Investigation, Terrorism has been defined as the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives. Usually, terrorists - the proponents and practitioners of terrorism, aim unlawful use of force to terrorise the group that, in normal conditions, does not endorse their ideologies. In recent times, organizational terrorism, one of the variants of terrorism has arisen in almost all parts of the globe and have remained in the spotlight from quite sometime. Majorly, terrorism is centred around the effort to draw the attention of the governments to the cause of these organizations. Universally it is believed that such terrorist groups or organizations lack political support or social backing. As per one of the Hadiths (utterances and practices/decisions of Prophet Mohammed, Hadiths were collected after his death and they help with respect to the interpretation and understanding of the Quran – the Holy Book): â€Å"The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews, when Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say, O Moslems, O Abdullah there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only Gharkad tree, would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews† (Hamas Covenant 1988). Article Seven of 1988 covenant as per which the radical Islam group called Islamic Resistance Movement or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya – Hamas in abbreviated form, was formed.  

Media items related to gender, sexuality and the body Essay

Media items related to gender, sexuality and the body - Essay Example Sexuality is anchored on physical and biological differences that make males and females different. The media use their content with sexuality and gender to influence, educate or inform their audience. Sexuality in advertising entails the use of erotic or sexual words or phrases, images in advertising to appeal to buyers and increase the chances of selling the product. Analyses of media content indicate that most of the content presented portrays issues relating to gender, sexuality and the body with all of these displaying sexual activities explicitly or implicitly. For example, over 80% of all movies from a cable TV stations have sexual content. Over 50% of the music shown in the television portray sexual feelings and impulses with minority displaying provocative clothing and body movement that are sexually arousing. Sexual messages in most television shows are universally presented in a positive light towards gender and sexuality. In most media gender and sexuality has been exploi ted consciously and unconsciously in media items such as; advertisements, promotions, magazine articles, newspaper articles, blogs, and websites. The gist of this paper is to collect and analyse media items related to gender, sexuality and the body. Blog sexinadsmedia.blogspot.com, 2009, Sexuality in media/advertisement , viewed 18 April 2012, . This is a blog article which details the media use of sexuality in advertising, and it discusses a study carried on the use of sexuality in media. It is now news that sexuality had been used in advertising as early as 1800s when physical attractiveness and sexuality started having a great impact on society. Sexuality was used in advertisements in forms of wood carvings and other illustrations of attractive naked women, from the waist up. In 1885 W. Dukes & Sons Tobacco Company could insert trading cards featuring attractive and provocative women into tobacco packages (sexinadsmedia.blogspot.com. 2009, p. 1). Sexuality has from then proved to be substantially effective tool that can change the sales trend in many companies. The blog article refers to the most striking twentieth century advertisement by Woodbury’s Facial Soap, which was based on sexuality. The history of this company has it that in early twentieth century, its sales were plummeting, and it used a doctor’s face on wrapper as its advertisement tool. Later, the company switched to sexuality advertisements by inserting romantic paintings of, young appealing women, and immediately the sales escalated for the following years. Coupled with these images of sexuality was the sexual slogan â€Å"A Skin You Love to touch†, which has attraction and appeal to sexy women (sexinadsmedia.blogspot.com. 2009, p. 1). The blog article agrees with the fact that sexuality is a transforming tool depending on which product is being advertised. The study on the effect of sexuality in advertisements proves that sexy ads attract more people than nonsexual ones . In most sexuality advertising, 51% females are used, and only 15% males are used (Huston, Wartella & Donnerstein 1998). The twist of the writer is the fact that sexuality in general has become a controversial issue in print media advertising

American history - essay - about The Black Cat Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

American history - - about The Black Cat - Essay Example My interaction with the narrator as his pet was awesome at first. The fact that I was following him step by step means that we were compatible in various aspects. It felt good when I was being favored through exclusion from harassment while others in the house were being mistreated (Poe and Andrewasine 79). Being singled out when others were being mistreated always gave me a reason to stick to the narrator. It also strengthened the instincts between us. I felt special by being singled out among the pets that he had and even introduced me to his wife as his favorite pet of all. Our relationship, however, was mysterious and also supernatural in nature an element that was also evident in the gothic genre. The emotions of the narrator, however, ruined the friendship that was in existence and our sound interaction changed drastically to become sour. The person I was always comfortable when we were together became the person I was to run from. The drunkenness changed the narrator I knew to someone close to a murderer (Poe and Andrewasine 76). It was unbelievable to see him attacking me and even plucking one of my eyes irrespective of our cordial relationship that had been in existence. This interaction taught enlightened me that people changes and there have been something sinister with the narrator. It is weird for a close ally to become a monster within a very short time frame. The monstrous aspect resembles the gothic set up aspect and element. With such mistreatments, it was evident that the best way of living with the narrator is avoiding him. However, this interaction created dilemma in my life on the best mode of living that would assure me of survival. This is because after he perceived that I was avoiding him he plucked one of my eyes (Bloomfield 249). On the other hand, it is very insecure to stay close to such a person. However, it was unbelievable seeing the narrator holding me in a manner that

Business Financing and the Capital Structure Essay Example for Free

Business Financing and the Capital Structure Essay Explain the process of financial planning used to estimate asset investment requirements for a corporation. Explain the concept of working capital management. Identify and briefly describe several financial instruments that are used as marketable securities to park excess cash. As a business owner, it is important to know the value of your assets as they can be used as leverage for obtaining loans and can be used to estimate your ability to repay your debts. Calculate your current assets, long-term investments, fixed assets and intangible assets and add them up to get your total business assets. Pledgeable assets support more borrowing, which allows for further investment in pledgeable assets. The trade-off between liquidation costs and underinvestment costs implies that low-liquidity firms exhibit negative investment sensitivities to liquid funds, whereas high-liquidity firms have positive sensitivities. If real assets are not divisible in liquidation, firms with high financial liquidity optimally avoid external financing and instead cut new investment. If real assets are divisible, firms use external financing, which implies a lower sensitivity. In addition, asset redeployability decreases the investment sensitivity. Financial management includes management of assets and liabilities in the long run and the short run. The management of fixed and current assets, however, differs in three important ways: Firstly, in managing fixed assets, time is very important; consequently discounting and compounding aspects of time element play an important role in capital budgeting and a minor one in the management of current assets. Secondly, the large holdings of current assets, especially cash, strengthen firm’s liquidity position but it also reduces its overall profitability. Thirdly, the level of fixed as well as current assets depends upon the expected sales, but it is only the current assets, which can be adjusted with sales fluctuation in the short run. Marketable securities replenish cash quickly and earn higher returns than cash, but come with risks; maturity, yield, and liquidity should be considered. Marketable securities are the securities that can be easily liquidated without any delay at a reasonable price. Firms will maintain levels of marketable securities to ensure that they are able to quickly replenish cash balances and to obtain higher returns than is possible by maintaining cash. There are four factors that influence the choice of  marketable securities. These include risks, maturity, yield, and liquidity. Assume that you are financial advisor to a business. Describe the advice that you would give to the client for raising business capital using both debt and equity options in today’s economy. Some business owners say ratios are an accountants problem. Thats not smart, says Dileep Rao, president of Minneapolis InterFinance Corp, a venture-finance consulting firm, and professor at the University of Minnesotas Carlson School of Management. Running your business without knowing your numbers is like driving a car without being able to see your direction or speed, says Rao. Its only a matter of time before you crash.(Rao, 2011) The terms debt and equity get tossed around so casually that its worth reviewing their meanings. Debt financing refers to money raised through some sort of loan, usually for a single purpose over a defined period of time, and usually secured by some sort of collateral. Equity financing can be a founders money invested in the business or cash from angel investors, venture capital firms, or, rarely, a government-backed community development agency—all in exchange for a portion of ownership, and therefore a share in any profits. Equity typically becomes a source of long-term, general-use funds. The share of any hard assets, such as property and equipment, that you own free and clear also counts as equity. Striking the right balance between debt and equity financing means weighing the costs and benefits of each, making sure youre not sticking your company with debt you cant afford to repay and minimizing the cost of capital. Choosing debt forces you to manage for cash flow, while, in a perfect world, taking on equity means youre placing a priority on growth. But in todays credit markets, raising equity may simply mean you cant borrow any more. Until recently, bank credit was a financing mainstay. But experiences like Flipses underlie a point made by the Federal Reserve Boards quarterly Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices, released in November. According to loan officers, small-company borrowers were tapping sources of funding other than banks. They were being driven away for many reasons. Banks continued to tighten standards and termson all major types of loans to businesses, though fewer were doing so than in late 2008, when tightening was nearly universal. Interest rates on small business loans were on the rise at 40% of the banks surveyed, even as the prime rate reached historic lows. One in five banks had reduced small  companies revolving credit lines. One in three had tightened their loan standards, and 40% had tightened collateral requirements. Partly because of the plunging value of the real estate securing many commercial loans, pressure from bank examiners for tighter standards continued to build. Meanwhile, home equity loans, another popular source of small business cash, had evaporated. Many recession-weary business owners knew they had essentially become unbankable: Loan officers surveyed said far fewer firms were seeking to borrow. Those few who could borrow were repelled by higher rates. All of a sudden, equity financing looked better. Explain why a b usiness may decide to seek capital from a foreign investor indicating the risk and rewards for such a decision. Provide support for rationale. Many investors choose to place a portion of their portfolios in foreign securities. This decision involves an analysis of various mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETF), or stock and bond offerings. However, investors often neglect an important first step in the process of international investing. When done properly, the decision to invest overseas begins with a determination of the riskiness of the investment climate in the country under consideration. Country risk refers to the economic, political and business risks that are unique to a specific country, and that might result in unexpected investment losses. This article will examine the concept of country risk and how it can be analyzed by investors. There are many excellent sources of information on the economic and political climate of foreign countries. Newspapers, such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times dedicate significant coverage to overseas events. There are also many excellent weekly magazines covering international economics and politics; the Economist is generally considered to be the standard bearer among weekly publications. For those seeking more in-depth coverage of a particular country or region, two excellent sources of objective, comprehensive country information are the Economist Intelligence Unit and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Fact Book. Either of these resources provides an investor with a broad overview of the economic, political, demographic and social climate of a country. The Economist Intelligence Unit also provides ratings for most of the worlds countries. These ratings can be used to supplement those issued by Moodys,  SP, and the other traditional ratings agencies. Finally, the internet provides access to a host of information, including international editions of many foreign newspapers and magazines. Reviewing locally produced news sources can sometimes provide a different perspective on the attractiveness of a country under consideration for investment. It is important to remember that diversification, which is a fundamental principle of domestic investing, is even more important when investing internationally. Choosing to invest an entire portfolio in a single country is not prudent. In a broadly diversified global portfolio, investments should be allocated among developed, emerging and perhaps frontier markets. Even in a more concentrated portfolio, investments should still be spread among several countries in order to maximize diversification and minimize risk. After the decision on where to invest has been made, an investor has to decide what investment vehicles he or she wishes to invest in. Investment options include sovereign debt, stocks or bonds of companies domiciled in the country(s) chosen, stocks or bonds of a U.S.-based company that derives a significant portion of its revenues from the country(s) selected, or an internationally focused exchange-traded fund (ETF) or mutual fund. The choice of investment vehicle is dependent upon each investors individual knowledge, experience, risk profile and return objectives. When in doubt, it may make sense to start out by taking less risk; more risk can always be added to the portfolio at a later date. In addition to thoroughly researching prospective investments, an international investor also needs to monitor his or her portfolio and adjust holdings as conditions dictate. As in the U.S., economic conditions overseas are constantly evolving, and political situations abroad can change quickly, particularly in emerging or frontier markets (Forbes, 2011). Situations that once seemed promising may no longer be so, and countries that once seemed too risky might now be viable investment candidates. Explain the historical relationships between risk and return for common stocks versus corporate bonds. Explain how diversification helps in risk reduction in a portfolio. Support response with actual data and concepts learned in this course. Portfolio diversification is the means by which investors minimize or eliminate their exposure to company-specific risk, minimize or reduce  systematic risk and moderate the short-term effects of individual asset class performance on portfolio value. In a well-conceived portfolio, this can be accomplished at a minimal cost in terms of expected return. Such a portfolio would be considered to be a well-diversified. Although the concepts relevant to portfolio diversification are customarily explained with respect to the stock markets, the same underlying principals apply to all types of investments. For example, corporate bonds have specific risk that can be diversified away in the same manner as that of stocks. Bonds issued by companies represent the largest of the bond markets, bigger than U.S. Treasury bonds, municipal bonds, or securities offered by federal agencies (Worldbank, 2013). The risk associated with corporate bonds depends on the financial stability and performance of the company issuing the bonds, because if the company goes bankrupt it may not be able to repay the value of the bond, or any return on investment. Assess the risk by checking the company’s credit rating with ratings agencies such as Moodys and Standard Poor’s. Good ratings are not guarantees, however, as a company may show an excellent credit record until the day before filing for bankruptcy. When you purchase stock in a company during a public offering, you become a shareholder in the company. Some companies pay dividends to shareholders based on the number of shares held, and this is one form of return on investment. Another is the profit realized by trading on the stock exchange, provided you sell the shares at a higher price than you paid for them. The risks of owning common stock include the possible loss of any projected profit, as well as the money paid for the shares, if the share price drops below the original price. Corporate bonds hold the lowest risk of the three types of investments, provided you choose the right company in which to invest. The main reason for this is that in the event of bankruptcy, corporate bond holders have a stronger claim to payment than holders of common or preferred stocks. Bonds carry the risk of a lower return on investment, as the performance of stocks is generally better. Common stocks carry the highest risk, because holders are last to be paid in the event of bankruptcy. Preferred stocks generally have higher yields than corporate bonds, lower risk than common stocks, and a better claim to payment in the event of bankruptcy. References Dileep Rao. 2011, â€Å"InterFinance † Cambridge, Massachusetts, The MIT Press. Forbes. 2011, Small Business Loans: A Great Option . Retrieved on 6/19/2013 from http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryancaldbeck/2012/11/14/small-business-loans-a-great-option-unless-you-actually-need-money/ Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) | Data | Table . Data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 6/19/2013 from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.KLT.DINV

Difficulties Listeners Face Processing a Foreign Language

Difficulties Listeners Face Processing a Foreign Language INTRODUCTION Recently, listening has gained more and more attention in foreign language learning. In learning a foreign language, it is suggested that the most important step should begin with an effort to listen. (Rubin Thompson, 1994) Listening provides input for learners to make learning occur and listening exercises draw learners attention to new forms in language, such as new vocabulary items. (Rost, 1994) Listening can be regarded as a necessary skill in the diagnosing and preparation of foreign language students and can even be served as a good predictor of language achievement. In consequence, listening comprehension acts as a pivotal role in foreign language learning. (Oxford, 1993) In this essay, three issues are discussed. Issue 1 states listening difficulties in second language acquisition. Underwood (1994), Chiang and Dunkel (1992) and Rubin and Thompson (1994)‘s viewpoint are discussed. Issue 2 proposes taxonomies of the factors affecting listening difficulties. Boyle (1984), Yagang (1993) and Rubin (1994) ‘s point of view of the factors affecting listening comprehension are referred to. Issue 3 mentions studies in listening difficulties of L2 listeners in foreign countries. Tauroza and Allisons (Rubin, 1994) study is about speech rate. Boyle (1984)s study is factors most frequently mentioned in listening comprehension. Lynch (1997)s study is a case study of a intermediate-level learners progress in listening comprehension. Goh (2000)s study discusses listening comprehension problems. Chapter 1 Listening difficulties in second language acquisition Underwoods (1994) point of view Underwood (1994) identified seven potential difficulties in listening comprehension as: (1) lack of control over the speed at which speakers speak, (2) not being able to get things repeated, (3) the listeners limited vocabulary, (4) failure to recognize the signals, (5) problems of interpretation, (6) inability to concentrate, (7) established learning habits. Many language learners believe that the greatest difficulty with listening comprehension is that the listener cannot control how quickly a speaker speaks. (p7) They are so busy working out the meaning of one part of what they hear that they miss the next part. Another difficulty is that listener is not always in a position to get the speaker to repeat an utterance. This is particularly likely to be the case when students are ‘on the edge of conversation outside the classroom. For people listening to a foreign language, an unknown word can be like a suddenly dropped barrier causing them to stop and think about the meaning of the word and thus making them miss the next part of the speech (p 17). And students need to learn to listen for the ‘signals in order to be able to connect the various utterances in the way the speaker intended them to be connected. (p18) Students who are unfamiliar with the context may have considerable difficulty in interpreting the words they hear even if they can understand their ‘surface meaning. (p19). Inability to concentrate can be caused by a number of things, but in listening work it is a majo r problem, because even the shortest break in attention can seriously impair comprehension. (p19) Outside factors may well make concentration difficult, too. An inferior machine or poor recording can make it very hard for the students. As for establishing leaning habits, when the learner can more readily accept the frustrations involved, he will be more prepared to strive for a partial and incomplete understanding of what is being said. (pp16-19) Rubin and Thompsons (1994) point of view Rubin and Thompson list three common problems in learning to listen to a foreign language. The first problem is that the speaker talks too fast. If the listener can not follow the speaker, the listener can let the speaker know that he is not following. He can ask for repetition and slowing down the speed, seeks clarification, rephrase, and repeat. The listener can pay attention to intonation and tone of voice, focus on question words such as who, what and when and assume that the ‘here and ‘now are relevant. That is, the sentence is directly related to the subject they have just been discussing. Assume that what a person says is directly related to something he or she is experiencing at that very minute. The second problem is that the listener is not getting anything out of foreign language TV and movies. If the listener could not understand the foreign language TV and movies, they should try to take control of his listening by predicting what he was likely to hear. For e xample, use visual clues and use his background knowledge. Anticipate information in a segment by relying on your knowledge of what such a segment is likely to contain. Listeners could also use information from the segment itself and determine the genre of the segment. Knowing the genre of a segment will help you determine how best to approach it. For instance, if it is an interview, then concentrate on the questions. If it is a news report, a who, when, where strategy will work best. If it is a drama, look for the story line. Listeners could listen to familiar elements, listen to familiar-sounding words, listen to and jot down repeated words, learn to recognize numbers and learn to recognize proper names. The third problem is that the listener tends to stop listening when he hears an unfamiliar word or phrase. Many learners, particularly in the early stages of language learning, panic and lose their concentration when they hear an unfamiliar segment. As a result, they miss portions of the passage that might have helped clarify the unfamiliar word or segment. The listener should concentrate on familiar elements and keep listening. Understanding something is better than getting nothing at all. If you continue listening, chances are that you will comprehend at least some parts of the massage. It is possible that the portions you missed were not very important after all. Chiang and Dunkels (1992) point of view Chiang and Dunkel (1992) pointed out that listeners comprehension in English may be thwarted by a number of cognitive and linguistic factors as well as academic and cultural issues, including: (a) inability or lack of opportunity to engage in communicative interaction with the second/foreign language teacher or lecture; (b) inability to detect the main points of the lecture or to â€Å" grasp the usual goals of particular genres of discourse situation of which the discourse is a part; (c) unfamiliarity with the structure and type of the discourse ; (d) inability to apprehend discourse markers and logical relationships in the English lecture; (e) inability to comprehend lecture speech delivered at faster rates of speed; (f) limited short-term memory for English input; (g) failure to use appropriate cognitive or learning strategies; (h) poor inference abilities in English; (i) limited proficiency in English; (j) lack of prior knowledge about the content of the spoken or written text; and (k) inability to process L2 input devoid of speech modification such as elaborations or redundancies. Of these difficulties confronting L2 learners, Chiang and Dunkel explored the effect of three of them. The first situation was when the listeners had limited listening proficiency in English, the second situation was when they lacked prior knowledge about the topic of the L2 lecture, and the third situation was when they were not supplied with modified speech. The results revealed a significant interaction between prior knowledge and text type. Chapter 2 Taxonomy of the factors affecting L2 listening difficulties Boyles (1984) three categories of factors Boyle (1984) began with a survey of the factors most frequently mentioned in the literature on listening comprehension, including three categories of factors. The first category referred to the listener factors, including experience in listening to the target language, general background knowledge of the world, educational background and type of school, knowledge of the target language in its various aspects, memory, powers of analysis and selection and motivation and attitude of the listener to the speaker and to the message. The second categories, the speaker factors, contain language ability of the speaker: native speaker—beginning level non-native speaker. Speakers production: pronunciation, accent, variation, voice affect, too. Speed of delivery and prestige and personality of the speaker count. The third category, factors in the material and medium, comprise difficulty of content and concept, especially if the material is abstract, abstruse, highly specialized or technic al, lengthy or poorly organized. Acoustic environment such as noise and interference and amount of support provided by gestures, visuals also have influence on listening comprehension. Yagangs (1993) four aspects of factors Instead of three categories, Yagang (1993) proposed that the sources of listening difficulties came mainly from the four aspects: the message, the speaker, the listener, and the physical setting. The message factors comprised content and linguistic features. In content which is not well organized, listeners cannot predict what speakers are going to say. And if listening materials are made up of everyday conversation, they may contain a lot of colloquial expressions, such as guy for man. Students who have been exposed mainly to formal or bookish English may not be familiar with these expressions. The speaker factors consists of redundant utterances, such as repetitions, false starts, re-phrasings, self-corrections, elaborations, tautologies, apparently meaningless addition such as â€Å" I mean† or â€Å" you know† and speakers personal factors such as their accents. Learners tend to be used to their teaching accent or to the standard variety of British or American Engli sh. They find it hard to understand speakers with other accents. The listener factors played a more important role in EFL students listening. For example, foreign language students might be not familiar enough with clichà © and collocations in English to predict a missing word or phrase. For example, they can not be expected to know that rosy often collocates with cheeks. EFL students might be lack of sociocultural, factual, and contextual knowledge of the target language. (Anderson and Lynch 1988).It can present an obstacle to comprehension because language is used to express its culture. Factors in physical setting included noise, both background noises on the recording and environmental noises, could carry the listeners mind of the content of the listening passage. Listening material on tape or radio lacks visual and aural environmental clues. Not seeing the speakers body language and facial expressions makes it more difficult for the listener to understand the speakers meaning. Unclear sounds resulting from poor quality equipment can interfere with the listeners comprehension. Rubins (1994) five categories of factors Rubin (1994) classified these listening factors into five categories: text, interlocutor, task, listener and process characteristics. Text characteristics referred to acoustic-temporal variables, acoustic-other variables and morphological and syntactic modifications (including restatements). Acoustic-temporal variables are speech rate, pause phenomena, and hesitation. Acoustic-other variables are level of perception, stress and rhythmic patterning perception and L1 and L2 differences. Variables of morphological and syntactic modifications are redundancy, morphological complexity, word order and discourse markers. Text characteristics referred to text type. Visual support for texts is also an important variable. Interlocutor characteristics referred to variations in the speakers personal characteristics, such as gender, pronunciation, accent, expertness and so on. Listener characteristics are listeners language proficiency level, memory, attention, affect, age, gender, learning disabi lities in L1, and background knowledge as well as aptitude, processing skills, background biases, motivation, and confidence level. Process characteristics referred to how listeners interpret input in terms of what they know or identify what they dont know. Top-down, bottom-up and parallel processing is being examined in L2 contexts. Current views of listening comprehension propose that listeners actively process language input. Two types of processing have been discerned: cognitive strategies and metacognitive strategies. Research on listening strategies includes: work on several languages; work contrasting strategy use at several proficiency levels; work with interactive or transactional listening; work with cognitive and metacognitive strategies; work considering the relation of strategy use to text, task, and setting. Chapter 3 Studies in listening difficulties of L2 listeners in foreign countries Tauroza and Allisons ( )studyspeech rate Griffiths suggests that different language have different â€Å"normal† rates and the rates defined in studies using English can not be applied exactly to studies of other languages. Most research quotes a normal speech rate of 165 to 180 words per minutes for native speakers of English. On the other hand, while Foulke reports a threshold (the rate at which comprehension begins to decrease rapidly) level between 250-275 w.p.m., others states that comprehension decreases as a function of mental aptitude and difficulty level. Tauroza and Allison compare normal speed of British speakers for four types of speech. They found that while the mean for radio and interview speech events lies within the range of 160 to 190 w.p.m., the means for conversation and lecture categories are outside this range. The mean rate for conversation in words per minute was 210, while for lectures, 140. They note further that thirty-three percent of their lecture data was slower than 130 w.p.m. and twent y-three percent of the conversation data was faster than 220 w.p.m. The issue of normal speech rate is one that still needs a great deal more research that takes into account all of the variables mentioned above. (Rubin, 1994) Boyles (1984) study—factors most frequently mentioned in listening In Boyles (1984) study, 30 teachers and 60 students in Hong Kong were asked to list the six factors which they considered the most important in aiding or hampering the effectiveness of listening comprehension. It was interesting to know that the students gave much more importance to vocabulary than teachers did. It was surprising that the students mentioned two factors, memory and concentration, barely mentioned by the teachers. In addition, the students considered that there was a possible relationship between their reading habits and their listening comprehension, which was not mentioned by the teachers. On the other hand, the teacher seemed to specify the linguistic factors more sophisticatedly. The teacher would specify the factors as ability to pick up clues, complex syntactical structures, stress and intonation and interference from Chinese. On the contrary, the students just indicated that the lack of general language ability or the difficulties in English listening comprehens ion. Lynchs (1997) study—a case study of an intermediate-level learners progress Lynch (1997) conducted an ethnographic study of a Japanese student who attended English language courses at the Institute for Applied Language Studies, the only one taking an undergraduate course in economics at the University of Edinburgh. His scores on the listening tests were relatively low in comparison with his reading and grammar scores with the other students in class. A number of possible reasons were found to explain his difficulties in listening comprehension. First, he was the youngest member in his class so that he was unwilling to engage in negotiation with his seniors. Second, he was the only undergraduate student with an economic background in his English class so that he viewed himself as insufficient in some general background knowledge. Third, he joined Course 3 in the EAP program, skipping the basic class, Course 1 and 2. Therefore, he thought he needed more time to get used to negotiate with others in English. Fourth, his lowest listening score disappointed him gr eatly. The perceptions of the subject had made a substantial influence on his English learning. Gohs (2000) study—listening comprehension problems Goh (2000) investigated the comprehension problems of second language listeners in a cognitive perspective. She identified real-time listening difficulties faced by 40 Chinese undergraduates and examined their difficulties within the three-phase model of language comprehension proposed by Anderson. (1995). The data were collected from learners self-reports in their diaries, semi-structure interviews and immediate retrospective verbalizations. The data revealed 10 problems that occurred during the cognitive process phases of perception, parsing, and utilization. She also, made a comprehension between two groups, high ability listeners and low ability listeners. Each group consisted of eight students selected according to their grades in a post-instruction standardized proficiency test, the SLEP test of Educational Testing Service 1991. She found that listeners with highly ability and low ability both had a perception problem with recognizing words they knew. Another problem they both shared was parsing problem that they quickly forgot what they thought they had understood. In addition to these two problems, high ability listeners reported a utilization problem that they were often unable to extract the meaning out of the message even if they had understood all the words. On the other hand, low ability listeners reported another perception problem that they often did not hear the next part of a text because they spent too much time thinking about what they had just heard. REFERENCES Boyle, J.P. (1984). Factors affecting listening comprehension. ELT Journal, 38 (1), 34-38 Chiang, C.S. Dunkel, P. (1992). The effect of speech modification, prior knowledge, and listening proficiency in EFL lecture learning. TESOL Quarterly, 26(2), 345-374 Goh, C.C.M. (2000). A cognitive perspective on language learners listening comprehension problem. System, 28(1), 55-75. Lynch. (1997). Life in the slow lane: Observations of a limited L2 listener. System, 25 (3), 385-398 Oxford, R. (1993). Research update in L2 listening. System, 21(2), 205-211. Rost, M. (1994). Introducing listening. London: Penguin. Rubin, J. (1994). A review of second language listening comprehension research. Modern language Journal, 78(2), 199-217 Rubin, J. Thompson, I. (1994) How to be a more successful language learner: Toward learning autonomy. MA: Heinle Heinle Publishers. Underwood, M. (1994). Teaching listening. Longman Handbooks for Language Teachers. Yagang, F. (1993).Listening: problems and solutions. English Teaching Forum, 31 (2), 16-19