Chinese new year Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Chinese new year - Essay Example An analytical explanation of the Chinese New Year festivities establishes the validity of this statement. The Chinese New Year is lunar, commencing on the first day of the new year containing a new moon and concluding fourteen days later with the Latern festival. Years rotate in accordance with both a 12-year cycle of animal zodiacs and a 10-year cycle of heavenly stems, in addition to bi-annual rotating stems. The animal zodiacs are comprised of the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The elements consist of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water and the heavenly stems are ying and yang. This means that depending on the date, the new year assumed the name of an animal, a particular element and is categorized as ying or yang. Within the context of Chinese culture and religious belief, the nature of a year determines one's fortunes, depending on whether or not it is in harmony with one's birth year (Ki, 2005). As earlier noted, the Chinese new year unfolds over a fourteen day period, calculated by some as fifteen since preparations commence on the day before.

Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (1935) Essay Example for Free

Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (1935) Essay Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film The 39 Steps, is today regarded as among the best of his career, and possibly his best film before he left Britain for Hollywood in 1939. Its history was somewhat tortuous and unconventional, reflecting Hitchcock’s own unconventional working style and eccentric personality, and it became an archetype of how Hitchcock worked with actors and screenwriting collaborators alike. Based on an adventure novel by British-born lawyer and government official John Buchan, the story of an innocent man wrongly accused of murder and embroiled in an espionage plot (which he ultimately foils) bore little resemblance to its source. As was Hitchcock’s practice, he selected a literary source and adapted it freely, adding elements of what he considered a good film – in particular, romantic, frequently sexual subplots and devices intended to keep both the audience and characters within the film off-balance. After completing The Man Who Knew Too Much, Hitchcock discovered his gift for making mystery thrillers and selected as his next project Buchan’s novel, which he had read in his youth along with the author’s other adventure tales. First, Hitchcock had to transform the book into a screenplay, though this involved not merely translating the story – which was really a male-oriented thriller without a heroine or any hint of romance – into a more complex and interesting vehicle, complete with the romantic interest that the era’s audiences expected. Using the novel only loosely, Hitchcock’s main method for creating screenplays was to act as a sort of informal story editor, collaborating with others who would contribute a wide range of ideas and keeping those he found suitable to the story. He also used Plotto, a compendium of interchangeable master plots, into which he freely inserted elements he liked. Film historian Patrick McGilligan comments, â€Å"Never mind that sometimes the inserts were implausible. ‘I’m not concerned with plausibility,’ Hitchcock liked to boast. . . . ‘Must a picture be logical, when life is not? ’† (McGilligan, 2003, p. 158) For this film, Hitchcock chose an informal group of collaborators whom he dubbed the â€Å"Cromwell Road Group;† Buchan was not among them, as Hitchcock preferred. Finding fidelity to literary sources confining, Hitchcock had previously adapted both novels and plays but resented authors’ intrusions into his work, particularly in the case of the latter. Says McGilligan, â€Å"Novelists never claimed the same control over film adaptations as playwrights – and Hitchcock was through with plays, for the time being. . . . Hitchcock had more power now, and he preferred the freedom of working with novels† (McGilligan, 2003, p. 170). His group included writers Alma and Charles Bennett, as well as humorist Ian Hay – the only collaborators credited for the screenplay, though only for â€Å"continuity† in Alma Bennett’s case (McGilligan, 2003, p. 172). From them he fielded ideas about how to flesh out the thin plot and develop its themes. In this early phase, Hitchcock began developing the film’s themes and motifs. Most importantly, he chose to sexualize what film historian Thomas Leitch calls â€Å"Buchan’s adventure yarn for grownup boys† (Leitch, 2002, p. 333) by adding two romantic subplots, neither of which appeared in the novel. The first involves Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), who at first tells the police about protagonist Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) but ultimately falls in love with him, after he convinces her of his innocence. The second concerns the loveless marriage between the Scottish farm couple who hide Hannay during his pursuit; this part, borrowed from a contemporary novel called The Shulamite (McGilligan, 2003, p. 171), offered a counterpoint between the love developing between Hannay and Pamela. Hitchcock often offered contrasts as part of his motifs; for example, in this film he contrasts brunette actress Lucie Mannheim’s mysterious spy character (whose stabbing death is wrongly blamed on Hannay) against blonde Madeleine Carroll, the film’s virtuous heroine. Here, these characters obviously symbolize darkness and light, evil and good. Another contrast he explores is the disparity between appearance and reality, which persists throughout the entire film. Hannay is pursued by the British police and must assume false identities throughout his travels, while also encountering members of the spy ring who pursue him while keeping their own identities secret. Another key Hitchcock motif involved the use of handcuffs, since Hannay and Pamela are handcuffed together for a portion of the film. Reappearing in subsequent films, the handcuffs are thought to have a strong sexual connotation. Film scholar Slavoj Zizek writes that the handcuffs motif is sexual but also used â€Å"to put the love couple to the test . . . [by] maturing [them] through a series of ordeals† (Zizek, 1992, p. 4). Indeed, Hannay and Pamela move from mistrust and betrayal to trust and eventually love. Also, he uses the â€Å"double chase† motif, in which the protagonist is pursued (often under the assumption of guilt) but also pursues the agent of his misfortune, who can also release him from his predicament. (This appeared in Buchan’s novel but also recurs in numerous Hitchcock films, such as Saboteur and North by Northwest. ) Hannay flees from the authorities but is also pursuing the spies responsible for the murder for which he is wrongly accused. Incorporated with this is what film historians dub â€Å"the MacGuffin,† an unseen or little-seen object that matters vastly more to the film’s characters than to the audience. This device serves primarily as a catalyst for the film’s action (in this case, a set of plans for fighter planes). To a lesser extent, Hitchcock shows a prescient warning about the dangers of fascism. The spy ring hails from an unnamed nation, but, given Hitchcock’s own liberal sentiments (and the more leftist leanings of co-producer Ivan Montagu), the film functions as a warning against Hitler. Scholar Ina Rae Hark cites the conclusion, where Mr. Memory’s audience rises to its feet and helps apprehend the spy who shoots the vaudeville performer. Hark claims that â€Å"only after the citizens’ liberation from the social codes of spectatorship that the . . . guardians of democracy can eliminate the external threat† (Boyd, 1995, p. 100). Even before shooting began in January 1935, Hitchcock faced issues with even getting the film made. When Gaumont-British studio chief Michael Balcon took an extended leave of absence to visit the United States, he left control to board member, C. M. Woolf, who had a clear personal and artistic antipathy toward Hitchcock. A financier and film distributor with decidedly conservative tastes (he favored light comedies and lowbrow adventures, which were safe and profitable), Woolf disdained anything â€Å"artistic† and tried to block the film’s production, trying to assign Hitchcock (who relished his creative freedom) to another, less adventurous project. However, co-producer Ivan Montagu managed to stall this until Balcon returned and overruled Woolf’s decision, allowing work on The 39 Steps to proceed and rescuing the film from oblivion (Chandler, 2005, pp.96-97). Another issue involved Hitchcock’s famously brusque treatment of actors, which he considered merely a method for preparing them to assume their roles. According to McGilligan, â€Å"Adopting an attitude toward his actors that the story took toward their characters: it was a Hitchcock strategy rarely expounded upon; perhaps it was subconscious, but it was effective. . . . The iron fist was always there, lurking in reserve† (McGilligan, 2003, p. 174). This film provides a fairly illustrative example of how Hitchcock achieved this. As his second choice for the female lead, Hitchcock hired Madeleine Carroll, whose looks and onscreen charm matched those of start Robert Donat, though he was initially uncertain about her acting ability, which he had previously considered lacking. On the first day of filming, Hitchcock handcuffed Donat and Carroll together, as was required in the script, but claimed to have misplaced the key, leaving his lead performers shacked together for an uncomfortable length of time. Donat apparently accepted it, though Carroll grew annoyed and eventually let down his cool, dignified exterior in order to convey her character’s discomfort and initial disdain for Hannay. Hitchcock began shooting the film in January 1935, making certain to hire the right personnel to realize his vision and, more importantly, follow his specifications (as past crew members had sometimes failed to do). In particular, he chose longtime acquaintance Bernard Knowles as cinematographer, because Knowles specialized in creating the kind of atmospheric lighting The 39 Steps would need as a mystery thriller, and because he would comply with Hitchcock’s precise instructions, as other cinematographers had failed to do in the past (McGilligan, 2003, p. 172). Due to a relatively slim budget of less than sixty thousand pounds, a figure that would pale in comparison to the large budgets he received in Hollywood, Hitchcock shot the film mainly at Gaumont’s Lime Grove studios in London, with two brief forays into Scotland to shot location scenes. He finished in less than four months, and the film was released in Britain in June 1935 and in the United States on 1 August (Leitch, 2002, p. 331). The film’s trailers left much to the imagination, not hinting at the story to come. The original focuses only on the initial performance of â€Å"Mr. Memory,† the vaudeville performer who, in the end, reveals that the Thirty-nine Steps are actually a spy ring (in the presence of numerous witnesses and the authorities), resulting in his on-stage murder; it shows nothing of the plot or subsequent action. A later one is shorter and more sensationalistic, showing Pamela’s betrayal of Hannay to the police, a bit of his chase, and Hannay asking Mr. Memory â€Å"What are the Thirty-nine Steps? † This one promises â€Å"MURDER! MYSTERY!! TREACHERY!!! ROMANCE!!!! † (Alfred Hitchcock’s Trailers) Hitchcock himself promoted the film by suggesting that filmgoers see it â€Å"at least three times, in order to pick out all the details and the intention behind them, and in order to get deeper into things† (Spoto, 1992, p. 46). The 39 Steps was instantly successful on both sides of the Atlantic and considered by some contemporary critics to be Hitchcock’s best work to date (McGilligan, 2002, p. 175). It certainly furthered Hollywood studios’ interest in the director; apparently, American studios had courted Hitchcock prior to the film’s release, but offers appeared in greater numbers after mid-1935. Gaumont-British director Michael Balcon fended off most of them, aiming to keep Hitchcock within his fold as long as possibly. However, lured by larger budgets and promises of the creative freedom he prized, Hitchcock left for the United States in 1939. Today, the film is still highly-regarded, though perhaps less so in light of Hitchcock’s Hollywood films, made between 1940 and 1976. Critics maintain that it is the best of his career’s British years. Film scholar Donald Spoto comments: â€Å"Some critics have dismissed the film as little more than a pleasant diversion . . . but a merely pleasant diversion does not continually generate fresh interest and disclose new richness after multiple viewings and the passage of decades. The 39 Steps . . . improves with age and familiarity† (Spoto, 1992, p. 42). The 39 Steps remains in various ways an example of how Alfred Hitchcock’s creative process. Beginning with a literary work as his inspiration, he transformed it significantly by working loosely with a group of collaborators who supplied ideas that helped him reshape the story into a film that reflected his own favorite themes and sensibilities. He inserted his own themes into the story, particularly the romantic/sexual subplots, and used his somewhat harsh style of shaping actors’ performances. Audiences’ and critics’ opinions of the film have remained high for the last seven decades, giving it even greater stature within the body of the master filmmaker’s work. REFERENCES Anonymous (2006).Alfred Hitchcock’s Trailers. Retrieved 16 May 2006 at http://www. sensesofcinema. com/contents/05/35/hitchcocks_trailers. html. Boyd. D. (1995). Perspectives on Alfred Hitchcock. New York: G. K. Hall. Chandler, C. (2005). It’s Only a Movie. New York: Simon and Schuster. Leitch, T. (2002). The Encyclopedia of Alfred Hitchcock. New York: Facts on File. McGilligan, P. (2003). Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light. New York: ReganBooks. Spoto, D. (1992). The Art of Alfred Hitchcock. New York: Anchor. Zizek, S. , ed. (1992). Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Lacan (But Were Afraid to Ask Hitchcock). London: Verso.

Avoiding the Unavoidable Essay -- Comparative, Poe, Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe are often thought to have different themes in their writing, but in reality, they have extremely similar themes. In Hawthorne's "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" and Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," one theme is incredibly prominent. Death is unavoidable, and when one tries to escape death, one will always find it hiding around another corner. Death can be evaded by hiding behind a barrier or attempting to conquer it, but one will always fail and have a limited time before it catches up. Hiding behind a barrier, be it physical or emotional, has always been the first line of defense in evading death. In "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment," Widow Wycherly, Colonel Killigrew, Mr. Medbourne, and Mr. Gascoigne hide from their old age and impending death by drinking the water from the Fountain of Youth: "Age, with its miserable train of cares and sorrows and diseases, was remembered only as the trouble of a dream, from which they had joyously awoke" (Hawthorne 9). The four comrades all took refuge in a corner of their minds, and saw each other in their own distorted reality. They bury themselves ever more deeper in this alternate dimension of youth. " 'We are younger- but we are still too old! Quick- give us more!' " (Hawthorne 7). Once presented with another defense against impending death, they do all they can to include it in their arsenal. In "The Masque of the Red Death", Prince Prospero shares the same feeling of invincibility. He locks himself and his comrades in his castellated abbey, in hopes that the Red Death will not reach them: "When his dominions were half depopulated, he summoned to his presence a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court, a... ...ince Prospero take himself out, he condemned all those that were locked away with him: "And one by one dropped the revelers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall" (Poe 7). All one-thousand of his subjects that he had kept with him in his abbey were subjected to the same punishment. While both the four friends and Prince Prospero had different initial outcomes after their first failed attempt to avoid death, they share a common final outcome. Whether one looks at the evidence presented about avoiding death by hiding behind barriers, or by attempting to conquer death, one can clearly see that evading death is impossible, and will always lead to failure. No matter how hard one tries, one cannot escape death. Before attempting to escape death, one should ponder about how gifted one is to receive one lifetime.

Go out for dinner

When people ask to go out and have coffee, it does not only mean to drink coffee. It has more meaning of to socialize, rather than to get rid off of the thirst they have. This can also be seen when people ask to have dinner. When people finish their work or classes, they feel relief and want to enjoy their free time. A lot of the times, people finish their work in the evening and they try to socialize by asking to have dinner.Although some people can not drink alcohol or do not Like to go to bar or pub, hen asking to have dinner can be used for anyone to socialize. To have dinner together, people have be hungry. Asking to have dinner can be a chance to not only have dinner together, but also spend time until they become hungry. For example, If people want to have dinner together but they are Just a little hungry, they can hangout; for example, go out to watch a movie until they feel hunger. Moreover, If they want to talk more after dinner, they can go drink.Then having dinner means n ot only to eat food together, but also to spend time from the evening to the night. However, when a person tries to ask other sex for dinner, â€Å"having dinner,† there comes up another meaning of the term. When a man asks a woman to go lunch, she should not be anxious about her appearance very much, but when he asks her to go out for dinner, she should. When a man and a woman have dinner have special meaning. It means eating delicious food with formal appearance and appropriate manner.That a man asks a woman to have dinner implies he thinks she is special and wants to make romantic mood among them. Men ask women to have dinner especially when men try to tell a declaration of love, celebrate their special day, or to propose to women. Then in a relationship between men and women, having dinner together means to arrange special time or day. As I stated in this paper, there are two main usage in term, â€Å"having dinner. † It is granted as socializing term widely and ma ny people have dinner with others to socialize.

Who Killed President John F. Kennedy

Despite the plethora of conspiracies surrounding the death of President Kennedy there is overwhelming evidence supporting the theory that a single gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald, killed President Kennedy. History tends to repeat its self time and time again. In this scenario it is the assassination of a President: first President Lincoln; then Garfield, McKinley, and lastly the most controversial of them all, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The details surrounding his death have been studied and questioned for decades and will be for decades more to come.One of the most controversial details in the J. F. K assassination was; how many men gunned down the President on one of the most historical days in this Country’s history. Despite all of the controversy surrounding the death of the President, the clearest and most rational answer for who shot and killed the President is Lee Harvey Oswald. On the afternoon of November 22, 1963 fear struck the Nation when President Kennedy was sh ot and killed while riding in his motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas.Allegedly the shots that were fired came from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository and were shot by the infamous Lee Harvey Oswald. The first shot hit Kennedy in the back, and went through his throat. The same bullet then hit Governor Connelly in the back after shattering a rib and, hit him in the wrist and then in his thigh. The second shot was the fatal shot to the right side of Kennedy’s head which then went on to injure a bystander. Lastly the third and final shot hit the curb as the President’s limousine raced off to get away from the danger.During Oswald’s failed attempt to flea from authorities officer J. D. Tippit was shot to death shortly after the President was killed: Oswald denied both killings. Two days after the death of the President as millions of Americans watched Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner, pushed his way through police officers and shot the alleged assassin. Ruby was convicted for the murder of Oswald. Yet three years later the conviction was over-ruled due in fact that the judge allowed in illegal testimony. Ruby died of cancer before the second trial could be held.Why was Kennedy assassinated, and by who? Neither of those questions will ever be answered yet Kennedy was greatly disliked in the Soviet Union during the Cold War and in Cuba greatly for the Cuban Missile Crisis on October 8, 1962-roughly a year before the Presidents tragic death. Either country could have hired Oswald to assassinate the President but likely if this was the case the Soviet Union would be more likely to have had a part in Kennedy’s assassination due in part to the fact that Oswald left the U. S. to gain citizenship with the Soviet Union but was turned down.On the other hand Cuba could have hired the â€Å"lone assassin† to assassinate the President over the Cuban missile crisis, when President Kennedy had Cuba dismantle th e missile system that the Soviet Union had placed there which was in fact pointed at the United States as well as having two missiles in Turkey, Thor and Jupiter. One of the biggest reasons there are so many conspiracies out there is because of the second bullet that was fired at the President, which was called the â€Å"magic bullet† it was said to have done numerous things.It apparently went through Kennedy’s upper back and out his neck, then took a sharp right turn to go through Connally’s back shattered a rib and came out his chest. After that, the bullet went through Connally’s wrist and then fell to lodge into Connally’s right upper thigh. Yet according to the Warren Report that was written by the Warren commission in September of 1964 the bullet never made any zigzag or funky turn. Connally was seated in a booster seat in front of the President which is not level with the President’s seat, it is three inches lower than Kennedy’ s seat.Also the booster seat is six inches farther towards the middle of the car. Lastly Governor Connally was not sitting straightforward in his seat. He is turned to his right, as seen in the Zapruder Film. Therefore the bullets path would make perfect sense a straight line through both men. In conclusion there is overwhelming evidence that Lee Harvey Oswald was the assassin that took the life of one of our countries’ most profound leaders, President John F. Kennedy, and acted alone. The reasoning for Oswald’s actions may never be uncovered: was he hired to get a point across; for payback, or did he act alone? The answers to these questions have been washed away into the history textbooks of our children and their children to come. May no one ever truly know the meaning behind the assassination of President Kennedy or who really took the life of President, but as the most backed up and legitimate answer is Lee Harvey Oswald.

APA Referencing †Citing a Newspaper Article

APA Referencing – Citing a Newspaper Article APA Referencing – Citing a Newspaper Article If you’ve been at college for a while, you might already be pretty good when it comes to citing sources. Maybe you know all about referencing books and academic journals. But have you given much thought to newspaper articles? OK, you’re not likely to cite a National Enquirer article called â€Å"BILL CLINTON CONFESSION: I HUNTED ALIENS† in a serious paper about astrobiology. Seems completely legit to us. But discussing politics, culture or social trends can require referring to current events, which usually means citing a newspaper. In today’s blog post, we explain exactly how to do this using APA referencing. In-Text Citations APA conventions for citing a newspaper article are similar to those used for other sources, with the author’s name and year of publication given in parentheses. If directly quoting an article from a print edition of a newspaper (they’re still a thing, you know), you should give page numbers, too: The Guardian reported the plan to secede â€Å"with or without the approval of Madrid† (Jones, 2016, p. 12). If the author is named in the text, simply give the year of publication immediately afterwards and any relevant page numbers after the quoted text: According to Sam Jones (2016), Catalonia is â€Å"is preparing to defy Spain’s constitutional court† (p. 11). If no author is named for an article, APA suggests including a shortened version of the article title in citations instead: Anne Bancroft was reported to sometimes burp in public (â€Å"I’m A Slob,† 1964). Yes, that last one was a genuine story. Although only insofar as anything in the National Enquirer can ever really be called â€Å"a genuine story.† It seems more plausible than the alien thing, at least. Reference List: Print Articles When an article is cited from a print edition of a newspaper the information to include in your reference list is: Author name and initial(s). (Year, month and day published). Article title. Newspaper, page numbers. For the Guardian article cited above, this would appear as follows: Jones, S. (2016, July 27). Catalonia tells Spain it will push for secession with or without assent. The Guardian, pp. 11-13. If no author is named, the full title of the article is used in its place: I’m a slob: I burp and slurp in public. (1964, December 20). National Enquirer, pp. 1-3. We promise that’s the last time we’ll mention the National Enquirer. Reference List: Online Articles The only difference when referencing the online version of a newspaper article is that you need to give the URL rather than page numbers: Author name(s) and initial(s). (Year, month and day published). Article title. Newspaper. Retrieved from URL The online version of the Guardian article above would therefore appear as: Jones, S. (2016, July 27). Catalonia tells Spain it will push for secession with or without assent. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/27/catalonia-independence-spain-democratic-mandate

Ruining Your Writing by Cheap Blogging

Ruining Your Writing by Cheap Blogging Ruining Your Writing by Cheap Blogging Ruining Your Writing by Cheap Blogging By Michael Ali recently gave us five reasons why blogging improves your writing, and I dont disagree with any of them. What ruined my writing ability (temporarily, I hope) was not the chance to write regularly or to get instant feedback. So what ruined it? Did I get worse the more I practiced? Can that even happen? Sports coaches and music teachers will tell you that it can if you practice doing it wrong instead of doing it right. If you repeatedly practice bad habits, they will become ingrained habits. Email and instant messaging may have taught people how to type better, but I dont think its teaching them to write better. What ruined my writing ability was placing money and productivity higher than integrity and honor. I told myself, This assignment pays half of what I need to earn per hour; therefore, I will only spend half an hour on it. In retrospect, I realized that I was gaining income, but losing self-respect. I was quickly lowering my standards to meet my financial goals, but found that I couldnt raise them back again so easily. In essence, I was training myself to write sloppily. Disclaimer: Daily Writing Tips is a good example of a blog that attracts lovers of writing and pays them well. Ive done some of my best work here. Perhaps Ive done even better writing on my personal blog for which I receive no money at all. There is an economic aspect to writing professionally, of course, but I found that it also involves economics that are not monetary. The British economist E.F. Schumacher called this meta-economics. A job working with hazardous chemicals may earn you a higher salary, but may cost you in quality of life. Writing only for the money, even when my heart wasnt in it, paid most of the bills. But meeting a word count without meeting my personal standards, in effect, lowered my personal standards. I almost forgot what they were. I found out what had happened to me when I was offered a secure job in the marketing department at a local university. I took it and put my freelance writing career on hold. My freelance writing experience was one reason why I was hired. Yet when I began writing documentation for my new boss, he was unenthusiastic about using it. The problem wasnt my style or grammar or punctuation. He only told me, Ive found that when you really understand something, you can explain it clearly. Professional blogging, for low pay and not for love, hadnt taught me to explain things clearly. We expect bloggers to entertain us more than to inform us. When we expect them to inform us, we dont expect complete information. Theres nothing wrong with that. Ive found, however, that you advance by exceeding peoples expectations, not simply meeting them. And you wont advance as a writer when you dont meet your own expectations, especially when you tell yourself that you dont need to. To be fair, I was not a typical blogger. I was a professional blogger, trying to support my family and pay a mortgage in the US economy. When I complained mildly to one of my editors about my low pay scale, he wisely pointed out that my rate was typical for the industry. Even more wisely, he told me that most of my fellow writers were blogging because they loved their subject, not because they were depending on an extra few dollars to pay the mortgage. The danger Im warning against is not confined to the world of professional blogging. Everyone who writes for the money but doesnt get much of it is tempted to cut corners. Writing keyword-rich SEO copy is perhaps even more dangerous for aspiring writers. At least blogs have to appeal to human beings. That isnt a requirement for SEO copy. Every time you tell yourself, I can dash off this post; I dont need to devote any time or thought to it, you make it easier to do it the next time and the next time. Its quite easy to lose your critical ear and lower your standards if you deliberately do it over and over. Youre never writing only for others. Youre always writing for yourself too. Youre never dealing only with money. Youre also dealing with your ability and integrity. Your writing skills are like the assets of a bank account. You can add to your assets by doing your best work, all the time, and always raising the bar. You can lose assets as a writer when you dont. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:10 Grammar Mistakes You Should Avoid15 Words for Household Rooms, and Their SynonymsSit vs. Set

Saint Dominic Quotations

Saint Dominic Quotations Born in 1170 and founder of the Order of Friars Preachers, Domingo de Guzmn lived an austere life, traveling and spreading the Gospel. He was also good friends with Saint Francis of Assisi. Here are some quotations attributed to Saint Dominic. On Austerity and Charity Arm yourself with prayer instead of a sword; be clothed with humility instead of fine raiment. These, my  much loved  ones, are the bequests which I leave to you as my sons; have charity among yourselves; hold fast to humility; keep a willing poverty. We must sow the seed, not hoard it. I could not bear to prize dead skins, when living skins were starving and in need.- After selling books inscribed on parchment (sheepskin) and giving the money to the poor. Other Saint Dominic Quotes I would tell them to kill me slowly and painfully, a little at a time, so that I might have a more glorious crown in Heaven.- After being asked what he would do if caught by his enemies. A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either rule ​them, or be ruled by them. It is better to be the hammer than the anvil. You are my companion and must walk with me. For if we hold together no earthly power can withstand us.- Upon meeting Francis of Assisi.

Researching Educational Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Researching Educational Leadership - Assignment Example The Falk article draws data from a dozen vocational education programs and training sites throughout Australia. The facilities are known as vocational education and training sites. (VET) the accumulated data is derived from a series of 44 written surveys including interview responses. Five focus groups were also included from the various facilities around Australia, resulting in a total of 64 respondents to the questionnaires. In essence the data paints a picture of a four stage cyclical process, a process of leadership interventions which is characteristic of greater effectiveness. The cyclical process culminates with a leadership style that is enabling for the teacher leader and of the achievements of professional associates. Every individual, including teaching professionals possess their own unique traits, strengths, and personal aptitudes. Among these personal abilities natural leadership qualities can and will emerge in virtually any professional setting. The Falk study identif ies the necessary role of these individual capabilities, and their contribution to the classroom setting. But it also illustrates a higher-level process of leadership that exists within the organization and which is defined by the cyclical process of the leadership intervention cycle. The key issues involved in this particular study hinge upon a question of whether or not the organization will have better overall direction with many individuals that display leadership qualities, or whether a single over all leader/administrator has more of an influence upon the success of the organization. The collective skills of individual teachers according to the study, are not sufficient to explain the overall culture of enabling leadership. A healthy organization, in which leadership principles are nurtured and developed will accrue a form of social capital, this can be instrumental in easing management burdens as well as facilitating diplomacy within the organization. Within a school district , as with other hierarchies often there can be tensions between the demands for efficient leadership as it pertains to risk management, as well as the necessary drive towards innovation, as it pertains to superior efficiency, and the vigorous fulfillment of the organization's mission statement. Thus, an over arching mediator becomes the crucial link in the chain that connects the resources of leadership as they exist on the individual level, amongst teachers themselves. Within the healthy organization this is required to achieve a synergistic effect that provides leadership, and improves the quality of lower – tiered leadership for the institution. This of course, raises questions about the potential of leadership training. Additional professional development to facilitate training of the institution as a whole in some cases can provide more effective leadership for the organization from a top-down perspective, as well as strengthening leadership potential amongst individuals within the organization. The benchmark establishment of professional goals for the school or institution can assist in this process. Q2 Many researchers in this field will cite a community of inquiry model, as core to their theoretical framework (COI). This model comes in many shapes and sizes, with a considerable breadth of information therein.

Intentional Torts to Property and Defenses of Intentional Torts Essay

Intentional Torts to Property and Defenses of Intentional Torts - Essay Example Intentional torts always refer to such wrongdoings intentionally directed to one party to inflict pain, cause harm or injuries to the other party. In connection to the above, it is important to acknowledge the fact that there are several types of intentional torts. These may comprise of battery, assault, false imprisonment as well as frauds. In addition, intentional torts may always take the form of trespassing, as well as invasion of privacy. Other than intentional torts, other types of torts include negligence and strict liability torts (Emanuel, 2009). Negligence torts always take the form of failure of a person to act in a manner that demonstrates careful attention to the affected party, thereby making the other party sustain injuries and harm that could have been provided if good care could have been observed in time (Okrent, 2010). Strict liability torts assume the nature of negligence torts. In strict liability torts, the offender may be responsible for the damages and injurie s sustained by the plaintiff even if the offender was not negligent. This paper is going to identify some of the intentional torts and possible defenses in the provided hypothetical scenario. In the hypothetical scenario, there are different types of intentional torts evident. Invasion of privacy is one of the types of intentional torts in the hypothetical scenario. This is evident when John grumbles at Leroy when Leroy ordered for a drink. In this instance, John warns Leroy to mind his own business yet Leroy had nothing to do with him. The second type of intentional tort evident in the scenario is the assault. This is evident when John shouts obscenities at Jane. In addition, he also grabs Jane’s wrist in a manner that shows he can inflict some pains on her. John also verbally assaults Leroy by telling meddling into his own privacy by telling him to mind his own businesses. Trespassing is also another type of intentional tort that is

History of Graphic Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History of Graphic Design - Essay Example In fact, in a way the artists in the 20th century happened to be way less burdened by utilitarian expectations (Lupton 1). Therefore, the graphic designers in the 20th century were as prone to tempering their creativity with an inclination for providing universal solutions, as the artists before them. The way they differed from them was in the sense that they happened to live in an age and time, that surpassed any other age in terms of a rapid and mass proliferation of new ideas, influences and ways of doing things. The graphic designers in 20th century happened to be denizens of a world that was rapidly changing. Artists, as individuals affiliated to other vocations had to contend with and make sense of an array of social, cultural, political and economic influences (Heller & Chwast 169). An array of social events and trends like an enhanced participation of women in the Western social and economic life, a rising working class, rapid industrialization and advent of technologies of mass production, and extensive urbanization impacted artists with an accentuated sense of novelty. The proliferation of a scientific mindset and way of life did make the 20th century graphic designers grasp and appreciate the linearity imminent in mathematical forms. The 20th century graphic designers lived in an era where a sense of disillusionment engendered by the Wars was giving way to rapid progress made possible by science and technology. In fact, the versatility, variety and variation marking the 20th century is amply illustrated by the host of art movements it initiated and encouraged like, Arts & Crafts movement, Art Nouveau, Futurism, Bauhaus, Art Deco, Dada, etc (Heller & Chwast 12). The 20th century graphic designers owed allegiance to a salubrious mix of artistic, corporate and political motivations. One big factor that encouraged them to do so was that for the first time in the history of art, the artists did have access to the means,

Future career Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Future career - Essay Example important especially if one has to deal with a large number of people everyday who belong from different cultural backgrounds, as in the field of fashion designing. Fashion designing is a business which deals with international clients which explains why English-speaking employees are more readily hired (Romano). Mastering the English language skills in fashion designing is also important because not everyone can necessarily understand a particular language other than the globally recognized language, which is why English is known now as the language of business (English in international business). Hence many ideas introduced by a fashion designer remain unappreciated and misunderstood, if he or she happens to remain unable to attach credible reasons to those creative fashion ideas with the help of good English language skills. English language can help one in adding coherence to his or her ideas (Sanchez). On my part, I intend to use English language skills in my job when communicat ing with my supervisors or customers and more importantly, when introducing my innovative ideas to the common public by way of advertisement in simple English which could be understood by

Internet Tools as Dirt Bikes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Internet Tools as Dirt Bikes - Essay Example This information is very instrumental in strategizing the business operations and products. Internet tools are one powerful way of achieving a good level of communication in an organization. How Dirt Bikes could benefit from intranets for sales and marketing, human resources, and manufacturing and production Callaghan (2002) defines intranets as private networks created by organisations using the web technology and the internet networking standards. They create networked applications that are able to run on several types of computers in the organisation including wireless devices that can have remote access and handheld computers. In this way, intranets can be said to provide access to data across an organisation. An intranet can be utilised by the employees of an organisation like Dirt Bikes for human resources, sales and marketing, and production and marketing. Sales and marketing Intranets can help to improve the level of communication between an organisation and its authorised distributors or clients or customers. This can be achieved by linking the computers of customers who have a web browser to the company’s network. This encourages authorised customers of a company to make orders or inquiries about the products of the company. This is because intranets enable the employees of a company to access information from any part of the organisation and hence respond immediately and accurately to the inquiries or needs of their customers (Laudon and Laudon. 2009). This is unlike following long procedures of written requests or face-to-face inquiries. With improved links and access to the company website, these buyers will be able to get timely information regarding the company’s new products, their features and costs. It also eases the process in which the company communicates about its new products to the authorised buyers or distributors. Improved sales can be attained if a company is able to provide customised services to its customers. By utilising the improved communication afforded by the intranet, the employees of Dirt Bikes will be able to respond immediately to product preferences of its various customers. For example, a customer may want an exchange of the brand of motor cycle delivered to them or those found in the distributor stalls. This makes business with the company a memorable one. Superior customer experience encourages repeated business with the company (Laudon and Laudon. 2009). Human resources Intranet increases the level of human resource management and utilisation in a company. Increased human resource management can be achieved by posting benefits information and employee manual on the intranet. This reduces the time spend by the human resource managers of the Dirt Bikes in answering employee questions. It also increases response to employee concerns. Callaghan (2002) explains that intranet facilitates teleconferencing and enables the workers of a company to work together. For example, the human resource manager is able to discuss employee or corporate issues with company employees through the intranet. Employees are also able to communicate with one another with an aim of seeking help or clarifications from each other concerning production. Due to uniformity in information received by all employees, a company is able to cultivate and foster a corporate culture among all its employees. The intranet will also increase the level to which Dirt Bikes utilises its human

Future career Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Future career - Essay Example important especially if one has to deal with a large number of people everyday who belong from different cultural backgrounds, as in the field of fashion designing. Fashion designing is a business which deals with international clients which explains why English-speaking employees are more readily hired (Romano). Mastering the English language skills in fashion designing is also important because not everyone can necessarily understand a particular language other than the globally recognized language, which is why English is known now as the language of business (English in international business). Hence many ideas introduced by a fashion designer remain unappreciated and misunderstood, if he or she happens to remain unable to attach credible reasons to those creative fashion ideas with the help of good English language skills. English language can help one in adding coherence to his or her ideas (Sanchez). On my part, I intend to use English language skills in my job when communicat ing with my supervisors or customers and more importantly, when introducing my innovative ideas to the common public by way of advertisement in simple English which could be understood by

Review On Film Amadeus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Review On Film Amadeus - Essay Example The brilliance of his music had the capacity to hold its listeners in sheer awe or make them green with envy. Mozart was a revered court composer who worked in the court of the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, who was an ardent patron of the arts. The Emperor commissions Mozart to compose an opera in German and not in the customary Italian. His contemporary, Antonio Salieri, who was not a very good composer in the same court, became green with envy and vowed to take revenge on Mozart. The unassuming Mozart who was childish, arrogant and brilliant at the same time was gradually trapped by the fiendish Salieri who kept on taunting Mozart with guilt feelings about him being a bad son to his parents. The continuous torture meted out by the jealous Salieri finally became the cause for the downward spiraling of the genius and drove him to ill health and his death.The chief protagonist in the story is Farid. Murray Abraham, who plays the part of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the musical genius. Tom E dward Hulse, plays the part of Antonio Salieri who takes revenge against Mozart because he deeply desired to attain the musical genius of Mozart but sadly cut a deplorable figure in front of him. The other characters in the story are Constanze who plays the part of Mozart’s wife. Though she shares the juvenile qualities of her husband she is also inclined towards business which is lacking in Mozart. The character of Emperor Joseph II is played by Jeffrey Jones and is portrayed as a very self- centered and superficial ruler.

How does William Shakespeare create tension Essay Example for Free

How does William Shakespeare create tension Essay From the minute the play starts the audience are aware that the star crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet are going to die, this makes it clear that the play is a tragedy. A Tragedy is a traditional form of theatre where the main characters in the play die as a result of their tragic flaw, for example in the tragedy play Macbeth, Macbeths vaulting ambition leads him to his death. Romeo and Juliets flaw is the powerful love between them and it means their relationship has to be secret and this leads to Mercutio being killed by Tybalt and Romeo then killing Tybalt. The consequences of Romeo revenging Mercutios death by killing Tybalt means he is banished upon death. When the play was written Romeo and Juliet was already a well known story but the version that William Shakespeare borrowed did not include the love theme William Shakespeare added the love theme into the story. The play Romeo and Juliet was written in 1594, and in this time women particularly were under their parents influence and there was no free choice on who you could marry. Teenage Rebellion was unthinkable because your parents would kick you out and in this time a woman was unable to get a job and with no money it would be hard to find a husband; this is why Romeo and Juliets marriage was secret. How a play is structured is an important way of creating tension for the audience like in Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet it introduces the theme of love and hate between the two families Montague and Capulet. There is also a fight between the two familys servants because they hate each other but Tybalt (Capulet) turns up and the fight becomes even bigger than before. The reason Shakespeare kills off Mercutio and Tybalt in Act 3 is that now all the action can focus on Romeo and Juliet. In the scene were Mercutio is slain, this point is often looked at as the points were the play becomes a tragedy. If Romeo hadnt avenged Mercutios death the outcome would have been very different and Romeo and Juliets actions from this point are due to this scene. Having themes run throughout a play is another way of creating tension for the audience. This scene (Act3 scene 1) contains the theme of passion, when Benvolio is advising Mercutio to leave the area where the Capulets are  going to arrive but Mercutio is ready for a fight and is going to stay no matter what. Benvolio says for now these hot-days is the mad blood stirring. This means that the hot weather has shortened peoples tempers including Mercutios. When Tybalt arrives and Tybalt and Mercutio start to fighting. Romeo accidentally gets in the way and Mercutio is struck by Tybalts sword, it is a mortal wound which kills him. As Mercutio is dying he says A plague on both your houses. After Mercutio dies and Romeo kills Tybalt, Romeo starts crying and this is a passionate cry emphasises the way he is losing the control of his destiny and is subject to fate. This creates tension because the audience know the final outcome from the start. Shakespeare was a master of characterisation, the characters in this scene have been skilfully created previously and act exactly how the audience expect them to, based on their previous behaviour, such as at the party Mercutio is showing off, he is loud full of himself and hot tempered this shows that it is Mercutios nature to fight and not back down. Also Mercutio cannot stand Romeos capitulation towards the Capulets and this angers him even more Mercutio also says O calm, dis honourable, vile, submission and this creates tension because Mercutio forces the fight on Tybalt. In a play which would be performed to an audience who could barely read and write, it was important for Shakespeare to include rich metaphors and poetry which would entertain and stimulate them; his language is littered with deeper meanings and puns. For example when Benvolio says for now these hot days the mad blood stirring this means that the hot weather has shortened peoples tempers and they are more likely to snap and start a fight, this line adds tension as well because there is going to be a big fight but Mercutios short snappy sentences show that he is ready to fight and it creates tension and anticipation to see Tybalt and Mercutio fight. The stage craft is a vital part of the tension in this scene where Shakespeare keeps the weather hot so it gets people irritable. Mercutio is in the mood for a fight because of the weather and he wants to cause to  cause trouble. Shakespeare makes Tybalt arrive before Romeo so he has a chance to tangle and mix with Mercutio. Shakespeare only makes the reasons why Romeo wont fight Tybalt to make Mercutio angry about Romeos capitulation towards the Capulet Family. To conclude, I feel that Shakespeare created tension in this scene through Mercutios anger towards Romeos capitulation and his hatred for the Capulet Family. Although if Mercutio had known about Romeo and Juliet his anger would not be so great. I found the play sad because two innocent characters had to die because of their flaw which was the powerful love between them which could not be broken and I also feel that another reason Romeo and Juliet died was the feud between the two families which was ended only when there children had died.

Theories of Compulsive Buying Behaviour

Theories of Compulsive Buying Behaviour Above all, it should be noted that shopping is big business. Shopping centers employ approximately 8% of the US workforce. These portion of the workforce helps drive the machine that creates about  ½ of each state’s tax revenues and there are currently more malls and shopping centers that US high schools (Farrell, J. 2003, pp. xi-xii). Seemingly powering this juggernaut of commerce is ever increasing and apparently insatiable appetite of the modern consumer. Behind the 4x growth in the number of shopping centers and the over 3x growth in retail square footage during the 30-year period of 1970 – 2000, is the fact that Americans (and likely other â€Å"civilized† consumers) are consuming goods at twice (2x) the rate as they did in 1950 and ten-time(10x) as just over seventy years ago (Farrell, J. 2003, pp. xii-xiii). It is also worth noting that this increase in consumption is evidenced across all income levels though not necessarily equally across all segments (Gini, A. 2003, p. 85). In fact, more severe cases are significantly correlated to a lower the level of income, a greater likelihood of having below-average income and spending a lower percentage of income on sale items, suggesting overall an inability to handle financial issues well (Black, D. 2001, p. 23) As a ‘counter-statistic’, Americans have a level of production that is currently at approximately 2x that of the same period (1950). This implies that, we could consume the same amount as in 1950 and work half as much or, as reality has it, work even more to consume over twice as much (Gini, A. 2003 p. 82). Similarly, in a predictably correlational fashion, the not only has the number of shoppers and shopping centers increased but there has been a sharp increase in the number of newproducts, particularly in the advertised â€Å"must have† category as wellas the emergence of the entirely new â€Å"disposable† category (Pooler, J.2003, p. 9). As shoppers and products have changed, the relationship that existed between them has also morphed into something new. With the proliferation of retail venues that profer an ever-increasing number of products and categories, the arrival of the â€Å"disposable† product should not go unnoticed. Though without question, many if not most products are very high quality and manufactured to very exacting standards, many products are less durable or are â€Å"designed for obsolesce†. Durability was the characteristic that was promoted while the products of today push a message of convenience. In a society rampant with such explicit and implicit messages, it is no wonder that the emotional connections to most any product are decreasing (Pooler, J. 2003, p. 10). Products such as cameras or contact lenses were highly contemplated purchasesthat were expected to last a significant period of time. Likely more important than simple the volume of shopping is its intensity†¦shopping means more than it did in the past. Previously,people shopped for items that they needed. Now, such shopping still occurs but it occupies a small fraction of the process. Studies estimate that as much as 2/3 of consumer purchases are â€Å"unnecessary†(Pooler, J. 2003 p.2). This excess is bought from a want rather than need. As an additional sign of the times, consumer research has even indicated that over half of all gift purchases are actually gifts forâ€Å"me† (Pooler, J. 2003, p. 11). Shopping â€Å"used to be† a more utilitarian and logical task in which purchases were planned and for the most part, the consumer-focused onâ€Å"needs†. Contrasted with the modern shopper for whom it has been estimated that only about 1/3 of purchases are â€Å"necessary†, it is clear that unfulfilled desire must play a very much larger role (Pooler, J.2003, pp. 2, 6). For example, as Pooler states, â€Å"†¦people have a need for a new pair of pants but a desire to buy designer-label pants is a want†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Pooler, J. 2003, p. 22). Today, brands are power, disposablecontacts are the norm and OTUC, â€Å"one-time use camera†, are almost always within arms reach. It is important to note these products arenot inferior†¦in many ways, they are functionally far superior toyesterday’s products, rather, simply illustrative of a pervasivementality that merits acknowledgement and consideration. Understandingthe mentality that these â€Å" wants†, in the minds of individual consumers,are likely felt to be â€Å"needs†. The eye of the would-be beholder isparticularly relevant. By utilizing the â€Å"Hierarchy of Needs†, it is possible to shed significant insight into how some of these psychological shifts are occurring. Developed by noted psychologist Abraham Maslow over 75years ago, this pyramid of hierarchically ordered needs is fundamental to many issues with psychological affect. At the base of the pyramid are â€Å"basic needs† such as food, shelter and clothing. Above the basic,physiological level are needs that could be classified as â€Å"safety† and would include anything that can provide psychological security and stability. Above this are â€Å"social† needs such as the need for friends and companionship. Nearing the top of the pyramid are needs under thelabel of â€Å"self-esteem† in which feeling such as pride and respectbecome important. Finally, the highest level of needs is characterizedas being â€Å"self-actualization† needs in which a person has the desire tomake the â€Å"most† of themsel ves and to â€Å"be† more. A key component of Maslow’s influence is his belief that higher needs can not be addressed until lower needs are satisfied. This is especially salient as most people living in â€Å"modern† civilized countries have all the more â€Å"basic† needs met. Consequently and with few exceptions, most can spend their days in pursuit of the satisfaction of â€Å"higher† needs such as self-esteem and self-actualization. As America or any modern society has evolved, psychologist and philosopher Eric Fromm indicates that society and its members have also evolved to a point at which â€Å"being† is confused with â€Å"having† (Gini,A. 2003, p. 84). Such as materialist possessive mindset will leavevacant the needs at the top of the pyramid and individuals will exhibitfeelings associated with not having these innate needs unfulfilled. Fromm further indicates that much of the symptoms of this empty questare typical of a â€Å"western† mindset and ultimately result in a mentalityof â€Å"to be much is to have much† (Gini, A. 2003, p. 82). To have a high standard of life means to enjoy a pleasure intensely and tire of it quickly. Simon Patten (Hine, T. 2002 p. 17) The fact that people, in general, are consuming more, that there are more products and more places to buy them go a long way in describing in somewhat imprecise yet accurate terms that context of modern society. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs also provides significant insight into the circumstances of the continuing patterns of increasing consumption that indicated a struggle to satisfy a need that cannot be satiated through the mechanism of acquiring things. At this point, a further differentiation between â€Å"needs† and â€Å"wants† can be drawn: a need is often physical and should be satisfied externally; a want is most likely a psychological, internally manifested desire. In the same way that you could not satisfy a real, physical hunger with psychological fish and chips, attempts to quench a psychological desire with a tangible object are likely short-lived and misguided and willend in psychological frustration. This misguided attempts to assuage one’s highest psychological needs is not unreasonable given the mixed messages in society of which there is a clear emphasis placed upon highly superficial qualities. Shopping is simply the process whereby one attempts to execute these omnipresent messages. As a cultural phenomenon, shopping is the procedural execution of economic decision-making. This decision-making takes places in a sea of in which image and emotion are perhaps more likely to take precedence of narrowly defined economic and functional utility. The price tag on an item reflects a certain value but the real value is in the eye of the consumer and is the item worth that much to me. Using economic terms such as opportunity cost and opportunity benefit are especially relevant as a purchase decision hangs in the balance: â€Å"what will my friends think?†, â€Å"does it make me more attractive?†, â€Å"does it make me happy?† are examples of what goes throug h the ‘new’ consumer mind. The fact that a product will do the job is, at best, necessary but not sufficient and, at worst, totally irrelevant. As noted above, the process of shopping along with the acquired resultant booty are a reflection of a changing culture and value system. â€Å"Shopping† is part of a manner by which a person defines who they are. What is bought, where it came from and the motives define a person for themselves and, probably in large measure, to others aswell. Just as important as what, where and why that someone bought something are the ‘facts of omission’: that they did not buy it at a certain store, etc. is as relevant as the ‘facts of commission’. Consider the following telling examples of self-expression: the shopper purchases prominently labeled Pampered Chef cookware in lieu of functionally equivalent store merchandise,the man who purchases a Polo sweater with its distinctive logo over the perhaps even pricier/better nondescript brand,the person who chooses name-brand drinks when company is expected over the undistinguishable other brand.While the rationale for purchases are intriguing issues, it is interesting to note that everyone thinks they are good at it (Pooler,J. 2003, p. 4). This is all the more interesting in light of how one might possibly define â€Å"good† or â€Å"success†. Certainly, in the mind of the â€Å"above average† or even â€Å"good† consumer, it would be a short-lived experience as the satisfaction of a successful hunt only fuels the thirst for additional quarry. That this ubiquitous activity is seldom relegated to being considered just a â€Å"functional† activity in whichâ€Å"functional† products are the goal is c onsistent with the fact that itis now something of a recreational pursuit in which objects of deep psychological desire are hunted with a relish most often associated with sports participation. As most activities in which there is the reward, shopping can go â€Å"tofar†. For many the allure of shopping can be a bit too much. The attraction of shiny products, sexy packaging, tempting displays, glamorous advertisements, ever-so-helpful service staff and the extreme ease by which one can proffer payment, it is no wonder that someâ€Å"over-succumb† to the retail sirens. Given a society that is behaviorally and cognitively conditioned respond to the stimulus of retail, it is no surprise that some spend beyond their means. Others may have the means to financially afford the habit but are continue to seek fulfillment in a venue that cannot provide anything else than transitory happiness until the cycle begins again. The idea of more, of ever increasing wealth, has become the center of our identity and our security, and we are caught by it as an addict by his drugs. Paul Wachtel (Gini, A. 2003 p. 81) The idea that shopping can get out of hand does not escape the attention of either popular press such as Essence or more scholarly tomes such as the Journal of Consumer Research or CNS Drugs [CentralNervous System]. â€Å"Behind the urge to splure† reads Essence, is often a person who some degree, find that they cannot help themselves. For some, a certain purchase is simply â€Å"merchandise†, even if a bit pricey and fashionable. For others, it may represent a conscious or unconscious â€Å"sense of entitlement† or it may be a form of self-medication that is termed in some circles to be â€Å"retail therapy†(Bridgeforth, G. 2004, p. 156). This so-called therapy is likely caused by the psychological frustration from the lack of lasting fulfillment of pasting attempts to achieve â€Å"self-actualization† via shopping as a compensation mechanism. While a problem in itself,‘shopping for psychological satisfaction’ may be masking serious is sues such as a ‘clinically-qualifying’ depression or just ‘regular’ issues for which shopping is simply a surrogate means to attain a bit of self-esteem through â€Å"good shopping†. Though many in the popular press refer to someone as being a â€Å"shopping addict†, it is important to note that there are different types of addiction. Commonly, when one refers to someone as an â€Å"addict†, the mind conjures up the person who is addicted to cocaine, methamphetamines or even alcohol. These types of addictions are undoubtedly very real and, because of their nature, are referred to as physiological addictions. The chemicals in the abused substanceshyper-stimulate certain receptors in the central nervous system and their prolonged use created a deficit in the body’s production of endogenous analog. Such a deficit is augmented by a strong desire for such chemical stimulation as well as certain psychological â€Å"needs† or perhaps more accurately, â€Å"compunctions†. If it were the case that shopping was addictive in the same way that drugs are, we might expect to find that purchases of various persons showed little trends in that the same types or categories of items did not construe a consistent purchase incidence. In actuality, items that tend to be moreâ€Å"emotional† in nature have a distinct tendency for a greater purchase frequency that items with than items with less potential for attachment(Pooler, J. 2003, pp. 24-25). For example, â€Å"duct tape† or â€Å"milk† are items that would not be likely to be on a shopping addict’s list whereas items such as jewelry, fashion items or â€Å"elegant† undergarments are strong contenders. Though not quite like a drug addiction, shopping for certain individuals can be maladaptive or pathological in nature. Though it can not be deemed a physiological addiction, as we will discuss in more detail later, there are physiological consequences and manifestations of what is otherwise a psychological presentation. For these individuals, the entire shopping experience is different: to someone who has not experienced it, it would seem almost inconceivable that a person could be â€Å"out of control† to the extent that those suffering from compulsive spending disorder report as being. As Black reports,â€Å"†¦compulsive shoppers often describe their experiences as being enhanced by color, lighting or the odor of stores, as well as the textures of clothing†¦ [with] some even describing the experience as being sexually exciting† (Black, D. 2001, p. 23). According to these same reports, 83% of compulsive shoppers report that it makes them feelâ€Å"happy† while 71% indicate a â€Å"powerful† feeling. This feeling persist in the face of the guilt and consequences following their purchases which, in many cases, are either returned or given away and not retained (Black, D. 2001, p. 23). In determining if someone should be fitted with the label layperson’s terms being of a â€Å"shopping addict† or a â€Å"shop-a-holic†, a key qualifier is the expression of consumer demand that could be considered to beâ€Å"irrational†. Such classification must be considered in the context of the consumer’s lifestyle and income. With this in mind, it is not the object of demand so much as an extreme emotional or otherwise inappropriate level of demand within a ‘reasonable’ framework of acceptability (Pooler, J. 2003, p. 26). For example, the strong desire of a comparatively wealthy person or perhaps the elite harrier who wants the ‘very latest’ in performance athletic footwear is insufficient to earn such a label. On the other hand, the individual who is not, by any stretch of the imagination, remotely athletic and whose income in inconsistent with shoe’s whose price exceeds ten hours wages would likely be labeled i rrational. Such information in conjunction with other facts and the overall context would be in line with consideration for such a designation. Another consideration in the determination of the appropriateness of anon-clinical label such as a shopping addict is the overall magnitude of the behavior. A common behavior is that people, when they feel they have done â€Å"a good job† with some task will â€Å"self-reward†. This construct is could generally be termed to be a more benign presentation of the â€Å"self-medicating† label often is implemented in regards to a work-related behavior. This â€Å"psychological pat on the back†, whether a alternative compensation mechanism or a pure positive reinforcement of a selected behavior. Regardless, there is an intuitive level of reasonableness in relation to the magnitude of the reward with the degree of difficulty or relative â€Å"greatness† of task achievement. Depending on a number of factors, one employee may seek self-gratification through treating themselves to lunch while another could give them a license to splurge and run up a dispropor tionately hefty bill. All in all, though it would be exceeding convenient if there were a blood test to determine if one were an addict, it is simply not the case. Despite this, there are certain patterns that do fit the criteria for shopping being an addiction. While there are diagnostic criteria for the determination that an individual is a â€Å"shopping addict†, it is quite likely just as useful to define â€Å"addictive† behavior as occurring when there is strong irrational desire based upon a perceived need for some stimulus despite, in the long run pathological or maladaptive. The addict may likely know that the pursuit of such a stimulus is not in their best interests or they may, through ignorance or extreme desire, be blind to the negative consequences of continued consumption. Defined similarly as beingâ€Å"behavior triggered by internal psychological tension and accompanied by relief and frustration†¦ performed repeatedly despite its negative consequences† by DeSarbo and Edwards in research conducted to more accurately ascertain related psychological factors, either definition seems to adequately capture the intuitive connotation for such an assessment (DeSarbo, W. and E. Edwards 2004, p. 231). If 10% of the population have a problem and 9 of your friends are OK†¦Is it YOU? While it may not, in fact, be â€Å"1 in 10†, the incidence of compulsive buying disorder has been estimated to be between 2-8% with the overwhelming majority being female and with a comparatively young( Before plunging headlong into the issue of shopping as an addiction, itis important to differentiate between â€Å"compulsive† and â€Å"impulsive† spending. The distinguishing feature between them is the source of the impetus as being internal or external. Internal motivations such as anxiety or the seeking of increased self-esteem or gratification are the motivations for compulsive spending. Impulsive spending is differentiated by the stimulus for purchase is being driven by an external mechanism such as a blinking package, prominent placement such as an endcap or a â€Å"special† (DeSarbo, W. and E. Edwards 2004, p.233). Such as differentiation is important as it is not uncommon for compulsive buyers to also be impulsive buyers yet there are discernable differences in their psychological makeup. Clearly, shopping can be addictive and merits attention and possibly intervention. While there are common sense guidelines to assessing the such behavior as indicated previouly, more standard criteria have been developed to aid both a person in determining that they ought to seek professional help as well as aiding mental health professionals in making a confirmatory diagnosis. Developed under the assumption that materialism is a pervasive and global human trait, the Diagnostic Screener for Compulsive Buying Behavior (DSCB) was developed with seven key items: I made only the minimum payments on my credit cards.I wrote a check when I knew I didn’t have enough money in the bank.I felt others would be horrified if they knew of my spending habits.If I have any money left at the end of a pay period, I just have to spend it.I bought things even though I couldn’t afford them.I bought myself something in order to make myself feel better.I felt anxious on days I didn’t go shopping (Kwak, H., G. Zinkman, M. Crask 2003, p. 166).These items had an approximate overall reliability of 0.75 and were significant at the p>.05 level. Despite this, in trials with multiple samples from both the US, represented individualized ‘western culture, and South Korea, representing more a community/group-driven eastern culture, the emergence of dimensionality in the data was observed. In US samples, the premise that the seven test items capture adequately the various psychological tensions and anxieties that a person who suffers from compuls ive buying issues is supported without modification. However, South Korean samples, though supporting the hypothesis this instrument can reliably detect such issues, revealed bi-dimensionality in two constructs of: â€Å"Financial outcomes† (items 1,2 and 3),â€Å"Unfettered spending† (items 4,5 and 6) (Kwak, H. 2004, p. 167).Such a finding indicates that, in some cultures, consumers may see that an certain issue has different or distinct angles. For example, either an problem with the financial outcomes of behaviors or the fact that one may not be very restrained in spending is likely seen as the same issue by American consumers. In essence, the answers may be the same and the result the same but the meaning that a certain culture places upon one factor or another is relevant and only reiterates the changing nature and that interpretation of such instruments cannot be removed from the culture. Additional research by DeSarbo and Edwards published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology in which advanced statistical controls were utilized provide significant additional insights in the both the nature of the problem of compulsive buying and the discernment of the problem itself. In this research the authors cite numerous previous studies in which the behavior of compulsive buying has been linked to a number of psychological personality characteristics such as: Dependence DenialDepressionLack of impulse controlLow self-esteemApproval-seekingAnxietyEscape coping tendenciesGeneral compulsivenessMaterialismIsolationExcitement-seekingPerfectionism In addition, the factors of family environment, childhood experiences with money and spending, family communication patterns, as well as factors such as the number of credit cards regularly used,degree of credit debt and other compulsive behaviors demonstrated have been identified as potential predictors of compulsive buying activity(DeSarbo, W. and E. Edwards 2004, p. 232). Of all the factors indicated in assessing the issues that predispose an individual to compulsive buying behaviors, the â€Å"escape from anxiety† is most often labeled as the most influential factor. As multiple studies indicate, â€Å"†¦compulsive buyers react to stress with higher levels of anxiety than do noncompulsive buyers†. When ‘stressed out’, compulsive shoppers attempt to utilize purchases as a compensation mechanism or as an escape from the anxiety (DeSarbo, W. and E. Edwards2004, pp. 235, 236). Additionally, the following significant contributing factors are listed below: 1. Self-Esteem– Cited as the most common deficiency in those who are compulsive shoppers, it is easy to see how the act of purchasing an item can convey a sense of power and entitlement although it is one that is short-lived (DeSarbo, W. and E. Edwards 2004, p. 236). This non-durable pleasure serves to enhance the vicious cycle in which the progressive qualities of the â€Å"disease† are exhibited. This cycle is virtually identical to many physiological addictions in which there is desensitization or habituation to a certain level of stimulus: which each engagement, the person wants/needs a larger â€Å"dose† or a greater frequency of stimulation. 2. Perfectionism – This trait is frequently associated with invididuals who suffer from addiction and is characterized as being â€Å"unrealistic† expectations whose unfulfillability can result in a variety of issues such as depression, anxiety, and self-doubt. By purchasing, individuals with this trait are seeking to assuage these feelings and, for a short while, they may succeed (DeSarbo, W. and E. Edwards 2004, p. 236). 3. Impulsiveness– In the scheme of medical or psychological diagnosis, â€Å"compulsive buying behaviors† are close relatives of obsessive-compulsive behavioral disorders. The inability to control impulsive thoughts and/or the related ability to defer gratification are likely important contributors to this behavior (DeSarbo, W. and E. Edwards 2004, pp.236, 237). Also, as indicated earlier, there should be a distinction drawn between â€Å"compulsive† and â€Å"impulsive† buying behaviors in which the stimulation for action is internal or external, respectively. 4. Locus of Control –Much compulsive buying is likely related to a internal struggle to gainâ€Å"control† of a confounding and stressful external environment. When a person chooses to make a purchase, feelings of control are present as the person chooses the object, means, timing, location and, in some cases, the cost of their desires. This highly controlled situation could likely be contrasted to the context of the balance of their lives in which they are at the whim of others and exert no control and possibly even little influence upon the events and objects in their day. As such, those who are characterized as being compulsive consumers are likely to view themselves as â€Å"being controlled externally† as they have an inability to see themselves from the perspective that they are able to influence their lives internally(DeSarbo, W. and E. Edwards 2004, p. 238). In addition, addition personality traits such as â€Å"excitement seeking†, â€Å"approval seeking† or â€Å"dependence† issues as well as environmental factors or familial factors are considered to be characteristics that can contribute to or perpetuate cycles of compulsive consumerism. An example of an environmental factors that are potentially relevant are â€Å"isolation† in which the occasion of compulsive buying may provide a social outlet or â€Å"materialism† in which ‘keeping up with the Jones’’ becomes a compelling rationale for such spending (DeSarbo, W. and E.Edwards 2004, p. 239). With regards to familial factors, there are a great many learned behaviors that are internalized as â€Å"normal† in the context of the home. Additionally, most people first experience with money and managing finances come through the context of chores, an allowance and forms of rationed spending. These early experiences have a signi ficant influence upon adult behaviors as is the case in which children learn that â€Å"money is a reward† or perhaps are not taught that saving is a very important part of earning as well as spending(DeSarbo, W. and E. Edwards 2004, pp. 239,240). One of the ultimate goals of psychology is to understand, predict and influence behavior. To more fully understand the role that these personality traits, environmental and family or sociological issues plays in the expression of compulsive buying behaviors, DeSarbo and Edwards utilized advanced regression techniques to â€Å"tease out†additional insights that would otherwise be â€Å"buried† in using simpler techniques. The basic idea behind regression analysis is to plot a line which represents the extent to which a certain factor or group of factors can explain the variance of measurable behaviors within a sample group. More basic regression techniques such as linear regression utilize a formula of y=mx+b in which y is the expected behavior and x is the independent variable in which there it is posited there will be a influence y. In its most basic forms, variables are â€Å"lumped together† and one can determine only is a certain combination significantly influences the outcome. In more intermediate approaches, differing variables can be accounted for by there relative contribution to the outcome. In the more advanced data manipulations, technology enables the rapid assessment of various combinations or â€Å"clusters† of variables can be examined in order to more fully account for the observed sample variability. It was such an approach, â€Å"clusterwise constrained and unconstrained step-wise regression analysis†, that was employed by DeSarbo and Edwards to predict the maximum likelihood of compulsive buying by grouping specific combinations of these factors which each iteration testing for deviations in outcome as various factors or groups of factors are included or omitted. Results from this manipulation confirm the difference between â€Å"compulsive† buying in which the behavioral stimulation is more due to internal psychological factors and â€Å"impulsive† buying in which key drivers are more externally biased. In this analysis, the study revealed the key predictors of compulsive buying to be self-esteem, dependence and anxiety. For impulsive buying, factors yielding statistically significant influence were determined to be denial, isolation, approval seeking and coping. Additionally, â€Å"impulsiveness† as a personality trait factor displayed a significan t degree of influence over internally- and externally-driven compulsive buying behaviors (DeSarbo, W. and E. Edwards 2004, p. 248). Though the assessment devices that can shed insight on such psychological concepts as are indicated above, when utilized by a trained technician, can provide a more â€Å"clinical† means by which compulsive buying issues can be gauged, many of the same indices are often incorporated in to what might be termed â€Å"user-friendly field assessment quizzes†. Such a screening tool may be especially helpful as a guide to help one self-determine if there is a potential likelihood of an issue that may need merit professional assistance. An example of this type of quiz is given below: 1. Do you hide purchases from your partner to avoid a fight?2. Are there garments in your closet from seasons past that still have tags on them?3. Do you â€Å"forget† about purchases made and then find yourself without the money to pay for them when the bill arrives at the end of the month?4. Have you consolidated your credit card debt or rolled it into a refinance?5. Do you travel at the drop of a hat and take additional trips before past trips are paid for?6. Do you tap into â€Å"emergency† savings regularly to make ends meet?7. Are you unable to contribute the maximum to your 401(k) because you need extra dollars to pay your bills?8. Have you withdrawn from or made loans against your 401(k)? (Bridgeforth, G. 2004, p. 158) Though these â€Å"yes or no† questions are relatively unsophisticated, they can provide significant insight into the issues identified by Kwak, et al., such as the emphasis on financial outcomes, unrestrained spending and activities that might be suggestive of behavioral patterns as opposed to single incidents. Grappling with the Gray Area†¦ A Continuum Approach to Pathology One of the key features of this â€Å"disease† is that, like many psychological issue, it typically begins almost unnoticed and gradually progresses. The initial cycle is likely to begin even innocuously yet the behavior of spending is reinforced by the association of the positive feeling that one has shortly after the purchase. Though this seems reasonable, there is a pronounced tendency on behalf of most people if not medical professionals are well to see illness in terms of a dichotomous perspective. While this is a convenient method, it is indeed too convenient to model the reality of a continuum-approach to this issue. Further, there are traits that seem to predispose one to compulsive spending such as personality or familial factor

The Key Elements of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Essay

The Key Elements of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man provides an introspective exploration of an Irish Catholic upbringing. To provide the reader with a proper interpretation, Joyce permeates the story with vivid imagery and a variety of linguistic devices. This paper will provide an in-depth of analysis of the work by examining its key elements. The central theme of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is Stephen Dedalus' alienation and separation from his trinity of family, country and religion. Stephen's separation from his family is evident when he literally flees from his father by "walking rapidly lest his father's shrill whistle might call him back." Stephen's separation from his clique is demonstrated by his adoration of the poet Byron, who his schoolmates (Boland & Heron) deem as a "heretic and immoral." Boland and Heron then proceed to attack Stephen with "a fury of plunges" that leaves Stephen "half blinded with tears." Other violent disagreements with his peers can be found when while attending Clongowes Wood College he is pushed into a ditch by Wells (a class bully) and catches a fever. The illness results in Stephen's desire to "go home" The theme of Stephen Dedalus' alienation with his religion is evident in his connection with the church. The Dedalus family live a resolute Catholic life and expect Stephen t o share their beliefs. Stephen directly questions the authority of the church when he asks.    "Is baptism with a mineral water valid? How comes it that while the first beatitude promises the kingdom of heaven to the poor of heart the second beatitude also promises to the meek that they shall possess the land? Why was the sacram... ...foreshadowing's importance, can be found in the fact that the story begins with a flashback to when Stephen was a very young child. As the narrative of his life continues, flashbacks are implanted.    A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce is a well written exhibition of the Irish Catholic life of an artist. Stephen Dedalus, infamously connected to the mythical Deadalus, becomes independent of his family, religion, and nation. To adequately illustrate his life, actual Irish dialect is used and intense images are presented. Thereby creating an introspective analysis of an artist. Works Cited and Consulted Bloom, Harold. Modern Critical Interpretations: James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. New York:Chelsea House Publishers, 1988. Joyce, James. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. New York: New American Library, 1991

Brave New World Essay

BNW Rough Draft Morally, the novel: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is not acceptable to me. The plot, suggestive actions, and even the overall standards in the book do not appeal to me as a reader. One example that demonstrates my dislike for the book, Brave New World, is on (pg 19-20): â€Å"’Bokanovsky’s Process,’ †¦ One egg, one embryo, one adult – normality. †¦ A Bokanovskified egg will bud, will proliferate, will divide. † This instance from chapter one, personally as a reader, makes me dislike the book. I personally don’t like reading about scientific facts; and/or uncanny extraterrestrial-like customs.I think it is just, very plainly, odd. A second reason that shows my dislike for Brave New World is on (pg 88): â€Å"Swallowing †¦ that second dose of soma had raised a quite impenetrable wall between the actual universe and their minds. † This case from Chapter 5 [part 1] is a huge reason why I do not like this p articular novel. Soma is a reference to a perfect drug. Supposedly, there is nothing wrong with it at all, and it makes you completely happy; leaving behind no negative effects whatsoever. I think this is a very bad idea to put into a book due to today’s society of teenagers.Due to the already very enormous number of kids who use drugs, they might become influenced and argue that the characters in BNW can take Soma and not be affected. So then this leaves them to rationalizing that maybe everything will be perfectly satisfactory after consuming a certain drug in the real world. My last instance that shows my disapproval for BNW is how the word ‘Pneumatic’ is used especially by Henry Foster and Benito Hoover to describe what it’s like to have sex with Lenina. She herself remarks that her lovers usually find her â€Å"pneumatic,† patting her legs as she does so.In reference to Lenina it means well-rounded, balloon-like, or bouncy, in reference to her flesh, and in particular her bosom. And the use of this odd word to describe the physical characteristics of both a woman and a piece of furniture underscores the novel’s theme that human sexuality has been degraded to the level of a commodity. Personally, I dislike the very thought that the novel basically revolves around drugs and sex, and being a Junior in High School currently, I don’t really appreciate reading such material.Weird material as such often revolts the attention of the youth. In deduction, the overall content, plot, characters, and drug references make me, as a reader, ill-fated. I personally don’t like the overall message/theme in which it presents either which is that human sexuality has been degraded to the level of a commodity. I just don’t think this is suitable reading material for people like me who are in High School. Let alone, I’m just not that interested in a book with topics like so. Brave New World Essay Brave New World Essay In Aldous Huxley’s novel, Brave New World, the citizens of the World State are bred into specific caste systems. These consist of Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons. The different caste systems differ from each other in many ways, and have multiple purposes. There are many differences between the different groups in the caste system. Alphas are the most intelligent of them all. They wear the color grey, and are the tallest and most good looking. While developing inside the faux womb, they were given the most oxygen.They usually work as wardens, psychologists (Bernard), Director of hatcheries, and all World Controllers are Alphas. Betas are a little less intelligent then Alphas, but still higher in the caste system. They wear mulberry colored clothing and there jobs consist of mechanics and nurses. Alphas and Betas usually associate with each other. Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons are in the lower half of the cast system. Gammas wear the color green. They are usually butlers and other jobs that do not consist of much thinking.Deltas wear khaki, and usually are helicopter attendants. The are mass produced and have no individuality. â€Å"Bokanovsky’s Process is one of the major instruments of social stability! † (Huxley, 7). This being said means the the World State does not think individuality is important. Epsilons are on the verge of being morons. They wear black, and received the least amount of oxygen in the womb. They are very stupid and usually press elevator buttons. The purpose of this cast system is that people will be happy with their jobs.An example is that an Alpha would have a job in the medical field, and an Epsilon would have a job pressing buttons. â€Å"Every one works for every one else. We can't do without any one. Even Epsilons are useful. We couldn't do without Epsilons. â€Å"(Huxley, 60). You need every caste system to maintain ‘the perfect World State’. I personally do not th ink that they reflect an aspect of our society today. I think it is just a consequence of the society of the World State. In the end, everyone needs everyone. The Alphas and Betas could not survive with out the Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons, and vice versa.

Avianca Flight 52: a Case Study on Human Error

Relevant facts/ Background Avianca Flight 52 touched the ground for a final time on January 25 1990, 16 miles from JFK airport in Cove Neck, Long Island, N. Y. , completely out of fuel. The Boeing 707-321B was carrying 158 people coming from Medellin, Columbia, in which 85 people survived. The crash of Avianca Flight 52 was the largest rescue operation in New York prior to 9/11. There was a severe blizzard on the north-east coast of the U. S. causing bad weather with a low pressure system and wind shear.JFK airport authorities had been told to keep a higher landing rate than safe at 33 planes attempting to land per hour, on one runway – the typical rate being 52 in good weather, with all runways open. The airport was experiencing a rate of 27% missed approaches, with 39 planes waiting in holding patterns for clearance to land and dozens waiting to take-off. Sequence of events The 707 had been placed in holding patterns for a total of 1 hour and 17 minutes during three separate occasions over the U. S. east coast.There were 6 different air traffic controllers that had communicated directions to Flight 52 after they entered U. S. airspace, adding confusion and un-transmitted messages, yet at the same time not providing any more crucial information such as weather conditions. The Flight Engineer failed to communicate the urgency of the low fuel situation to the pilot and co-pilot after they passed the point of no return and had to remain committed to JFK –by not having enough fuel to get to their alternate airport at Boston, 342km away from JFK.He also failed to emphasize the importance of landing in their first attempt because they would not have enough fuel to loop around and try again. Another discrepancy was how the co-pilot used the words â€Å"Low Fuel† and â€Å"Priority† rather than â€Å"MAYDAY† and â€Å"Minimum Fuel† while communicating to ATCs. There was a lot of crucial information left out or misinterpreted a nd not so important information repeated, which could have easily been avoided without the language barriers in place.In terms of the Swiss Cheese model there were many holes in the conversations between ATCs and the flight crew, similarly between the flight crew and passengers, where they weren’t even given a warning. Causes and factors During the chase to point the blame on someone, Avianca stated to investigators that the phraseology used by their pilots was correct as per their training -whether it matched the standard English phraseology used by IATA countries or not they were only following what they thought to be proper protocol.Investigation by the NTSB found many holes in the events leading up to the crash, due to both active and latent failures by the crew, ATCs, and airport management. The leading causes can be attributed to airport mismanagement, inconsistent training for pilots that should have English proficiency, and overall poor communication between ATCs and the flight crew. Repetitive flaws in a system run by human beings shows a clear link in the lack of Risk Management, causing communication gaps referred to as holes in the Swiss Cheese model for human error.CRM stipulates training crew in assertiveness, inter-personal communication, leadership and decision-making, to name a few key attributes these pilots were in need of addressing prior to the incident. There was no problem of experience as both the pilot and co-pilot had flown that route before, and the pilot had 27 years of experience flying for Avianca. The implementation of Crew Resource Management techniques in the previous years must not have been as streamlined as intended, at least not for the American ATCs and those training under Avianca in Columbia.If one lesson would be learned from this it would be that had the crew received effective and efficient CRM training on time, they could have saved 73 people from an almost completely preventable death by human error. Referenc es AskCaptainLim. com {comments}. Aviation, Air Crash. Avianca flight 52: why the pilots failed to use proper phraseology. (Last updated October 19, 2008). Retrieved from: http://www. askcaptainlim. com/-air-crash-aviation-34/830-avianca-flight-52-why-the-pilots-failed-to-use-the-proper-phraseology. html Cushman Jr. , John H.New York Times, Archives, Collections, Fuel. Avianca flight 52: the delays that ended in disaster. (February 5, 1990). Retrieved from: http://www. nytimes. com/1990/02/05/nyregion/avianca-flight-52-the-delays-that-ended-in-disaster. html? pagewanted=all&src=pm National Geographic, Cineflix Productions. Air Crash Investigation series, Episode S02E05 – Missing Over New York. Retrieved from http://natgeotv. com/ca/air-crash-investigation/videos/deadly-delay Wikipedia. org, Avianca Flight 52. (Last updated March 22, 2013). Retrieved from: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Avianca_Flight_52