Sunday, December 22, 2019

Analysis Of The Book 23 Things They Don t Tell You...

â€Å"95 per cent of economics is common sense made complicated† (Chang, 2011, p xviii). In his book, 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism, Korean economist, Ha-Joon Chang, assaults economic orthodoxy and questions many theories and empirical facts that we take for granted. Written shortly after the ‘credit crunch’ of 2008, Chang argues that this economic crisis was created by the free-market ideology which has been dominant since the 1980s and attempts to remove our rose-tinted glasses that neo-liberal ideologies like [us] to wear every day (Chang, 2011, p xiv) unveiling the ‘truth’ about capitalism that free-marketer’s won’t. Although he outlines eight principles that he believes are crucial in the redesigning of our economics systems, Chang stresses the fact that this book is not an anti-capitalist manifesto. Chang breaks down his discussion into 23 ‘things’ ranging from a post-industrial society to efficient markets. Chang’s unconventional style of writing allows for the reader to pick and choose chapters, according to their interests. He addresses to the wider public, but ensures the reader that the book is not an ‘economics for dummies.’ Chang stands as a ‘heterodox’ economist who has spent most of his academic career challenging the free market dogma that has surprisingly outlived the financial crisis, but despite its problems and limitations, he believes â€Å"capitalism is still the best economic system that humanity has invented† (Chang, 2011, p xv). EachShow MoreRelatedGlobalisation: Manufacturing and Workplace Change5164 Words   |  21 PagesThe phenomenon known as globalisation Introduction To begin with, tell them that they will need to look at the essay questions today Later we will be doing a trial reflective exercise Let s look at Globalisation My story When my colleagues and I were faced with redundancy we were placed in a unique position. 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Saturday, December 14, 2019

The Crystal Shard 31. Victory Free Essays

The men of Ten-Towns, along with their dwarven and barbarian allies, had fought their way from all sides of the wide field and now stood unified before the northern gate of Bryn Shander. And while their army had achieved a singular fighting stance, with all of the once-separate groups banded together toward the common goal of survival, Kessell’s army had gone down the opposite road. When the goblins had first charged into Icewind Pass, their common purpose was victory for the glory of Akar Kessell. We will write a custom essay sample on The Crystal Shard 31. Victory? or any similar topic only for you Order Now But Kessell was gone and Cryshal-Tirith destroyed, and the cord that had held together the long-standing bitter enemies, the rival orc and goblin tribes, had begun to unravel. The humans and dwarves looked upon the mass of invaders with returning hope, for on all the outer fringes of the vast force dark shapes continued to break away and flee from the battlefield and back to the tundra. Still, the defenders of Ten-Towns were surrounded on three sides with their backs to Bryn Shander’s wall. At this point the monsters made no move to press the attack, but thousands of goblins held their positions all around the northern fields of the city. Earlier in the battle, when the initial attacks had caught the invaders by surprise, the leaders of the engaged defending forces would have considered such a lull in the fighting disastrous, stealing their momentum and allowing their stunned enemies to regroup into more favorable formations. Now, though, the break came as a two-fold blessing: It gave the soldiers a desperately needed rest and let the goblins and orcs fully absorb the beating they had taken. The field on this side of the city was littered with corpses, many more goblin than human, and the crumbled pile that was Cryshal-Tirith only heightened the monsters’ perceptions of their staggering losses. No giants or ogres remained to bolster their thinning lines, and each passing second saw more of their allies desert the cause. Cassius had time to call all of the surviving spokesmen to his side for a brief council. A short distance away, Wulfgar and Revjak were meeting with Fender Mallot, the appointed leader of the dwarven forces in light of Bruenor’s disturbing absence. â€Å"Glad we are o’ yer return, mighty Wulfgar,† Fender said. â€Å"Bruenor knew ye’d be back.† Wulfgar looked out over the field, searching for some sign that Bruenor was still out there swinging. â€Å"Have you any news of Bruenor at all?† â€Å"Ye, yerself, were the last to see ‘im,† Fender replied grimly. And then they were silent, scanning the field. â€Å"Let me hear again the ring of your axe,† Wulfgar whispered. But Bruenor could not hear him. * * * â€Å"Jensin,† Cassius asked the spokesman from Caer-Dineval, â€Å"where are your womenfolk and children? Are they safe?† â€Å"Safe in Easthaven,† Jensin Brent replied. â€Å"Joined, by now, by the people of Good Mead and Dougan’s Hole. They are well-provisioned and watched. If Kessell’s wretches make for the town, the people shall know of the danger with ample time left for them to put back out onto Lac Dinneshere.† â€Å"But how long could they survive on the water?† Cassius asked. Jensin Brent shrugged noncommittally. â€Å"Until the winter falls, I should guess. They shall always have a place to land, though, for the remaining goblins and orcs could not possibly encompass even half of the lake’s shoreline.† Cassius seemed satisfied. He turned to Kemp. â€Å"Lonelywood,† Kemp answered to his unspoken question. â€Å"And I’ll wager that they’re better off than we are! They’ve enough boats in dock there to found a city in the middle of Maer Dualdon.† â€Å"That is good,† Cassius told them. â€Å"It leaves yet another option open to us. We could, perhaps, hold our ground here for a while, then retreat back within the walls of the city. The goblins and orcs, even with their greater numbers, couldn’t hope to conquer us there!† The idea seemed to appeal to Jensin Brent, but Kemp scowled. â€Å"So our folk may be safe enough,† he said, â€Å"but what of the barbarians?† â€Å"Their women are sturdy and capable of surviving without them,† Cassius replied. â€Å"I care not the least for their foul-smelling women,† Kemp blustered, purposely raising his voice so that Wulfgar and Revjak, holding their own council not far away, could hear him. â€Å"I speak of these wild dogs, themselves! Surely you’re not going to open your door wide in invitation to them!† Proud Wulfgar started toward the spokesmen. Cassius turned angrily on Kemp. â€Å"Stubborn ass!† he whispered harshly. â€Å"Our only hope lies in unity!† â€Å"Our only hope lies in attacking!† Kemp retorted. â€Å"We have them terrified, and you ask us to run and hide!† The huge barbarian king stepped up before the two spokesmen, towering above them. â€Å"Greetings, Cassius of Bryn Shander,† he said politely. â€Å"I am Wulfgar, son of Beornegar, and leader of the tribes who have come to join in your noble cause.† â€Å"What could your kind possibly know of nobility?† Kemp interrupted. Wulfgar ignored him. â€Å"I have overheard much of your discussion,† he continued, unshaken. â€Å"It is my judgment that your ill-mannered and ungrateful advisor,† he paused for control, â€Å"has proposed the only solution.† Cassius, still expecting Wulfgar to be enraged at Kemp’s insults, was at first confused. â€Å"Attack,† Wulfgar explained. â€Å"The goblins are uncertain now of what gains they can hope to make. They wonder why they ever followed the evil wizard to this place of doom. If they are allowed to find their battle-lust again, they will prove a more formidable foe.† â€Å"I thank you for your words, barbarian king,† Cassius replied. â€Å"Yet it is my guess that this rabble will not be able to support a siege. They will leave the fields before a week has passed.† â€Å"Perhaps,† said Wulfgar. â€Å"Yet even then your people shall pay dearly. The goblins leaving of their own choice will not return to their caves empty-handed. There are still several unprotected cities that they could strike at on their way out of Icewind Dale. â€Å"And, worse yet, they shall not leave with fear in their eyes. Your retreat shall save the lives of some of your men, Cassius, but it will not prevent the future return of your enemies!† â€Å"Then you agree that we should attack?† Cassius asked. â€Å"Our enemies have come to fear us. They look about and see the ruin we have brought down upon them. Fear is a powerful tool, especially against cowardly goblins. Let us complete the rout, as your people did to mine five years ago†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Cassius recognized the pain in Wulfgar’s eyes as he recalled the incident, â€Å"†¦and send these foul beasts scurrying back to their mountain homes! Many years shall pass before they venture out to strike at your towns again.† Cassius looked upon the young barbarian with profound respect, and also deep curiosity. He could hardly believe that these proud tundra warriors, who vividly remembered the slaughter they had suffered at the hands of Ten-Towns, had come to the aid of the fishing communities. â€Å"My people did indeed rout yours, noble king. Brutally. Why, then, have you come?† â€Å"That is a matter we shall discuss after we have completed our task,† Wulfgar answered. â€Å"Now, let us sing! Let us strike terror into the hearts of our enemies and break them!† He turned to Revjak and some of his other leaders. â€Å"Sing, proud warriors!† he commanded. â€Å"Let the Song of Tempos foretell the death of the goblins!† A rousing cheer went up throughout the barbarian ranks, and they lifted their voices proudly to their god of war. Cassius noted the immediate effect the song had on the closest monsters. They backed away a step and clutched their weapons tightly. A smile crossed the spokesman’s face. He still couldn’t understand the barbarians’ presence, but explanations would have to wait. â€Å"Join our barbarian allies!† he shouted to his soldiers. â€Å"Today is a day of victory!† The dwarves had taken up the grim war chant of their ancient homeland. The fishermen of Ten-Towns followed the words of the Song of Tempos, tentatively at first, until the foreign inflections and phrases easily rolled from their lips. And then they joined in fully, proclaiming the glory of their individual towns as the barbarians did of their tribes. The tempo increased, the volume moved toward a powerful crescendo. The goblins trembled at the growing frenzy of their deadly enemies. The stream of deserters flowing away from the edges of the main gathering grew thicker and thicker. And then, as one killing wave the human and dwarven allies charged down the hill. * * * Drizzt had been able to scramble far enough away from the southern face to escape the fury of the avalanche, but he still found himself in a dangerous predicament. Kelvin’s Cairn wasn’t a high mountain, but the top third was perpetually covered with deep snow and brutally exposed to the icy wind that gave this land its name. Even worse for the drow, his feet had gotten wet in the melt caused by Crenshinibon, and now, as the moisture hardened around his skin to ice, movement through the snow was painful. He resolved to plod on, making for the western face which offered the best protection against the wind. His motions were violent and exaggerated, expending all of the energy that he could to keep the circulation flowing through his veins. When he reached the lip of the mountain’s peak and started down, he had to move more tentatively, fearing that any sudden jolts would deliver him into the same grim fate that had befallen Akar Kessell. His legs were completely numb now, but he kept them moving, almost having to force his automatic reflexes. But then he slipped. * * * Wulfgar’s fierce warriors were the first to crash into the goblin line, hacking anal pushing back the first rank of monsters. Neither goblin nor orc dared stand before the mighty king, but in the crowded confusion of the fighting few could find their way out of his path. One after another they fell to the ground. Fear had all but paralyzed the goblins, and their slight hesitation had spelled doom for the first groups to encounter the savage barbarians. Yet the downfall of the army ultimately came from further back in the ranks. The tribes who had not even been involved in the fighting began to ponder the wisdom of continuing this campaign, for they recognized that they had gained enough of an advantage over their homeland rivals, weakened by heavy losses, to expand their territories back in the Spine of the World. Shortly after the second outburst of fighting had begun, the dust cloud of stamping feet once again rose above Icewind Pass as dozens of orc and goblin tribes headed home. And the effect of the mass desertions on those goblins who could not easily flee was devastating. Even the most dim-witted goblin understood its people’s chance for victory against the stubborn defenders of Ten-Towns lay in the overwhelming weight of their numbers. Aegis-fang thudded repeatedly as Wulfgar, charging in alone, swept a path of devastation before him. Even the men of Ten-Towns shied away from him, unnerved by his savage strength. But his own people looked upon him with awe and tried their best to follow his glorious lead. Wulfgar waded in on a group of orcs. Aegis-fang slammed home on one, killing it and knocking those behind it to the ground. Wulfgar’s backswing with the hammer produced the same results on his other flank. In one burst, more than half of the group of orcs were killed or lying stunned. Those remaining had no desire to move in on the mighty human. Glensather of Easthaven also waded in on a group of goblins, hoping to incite his people with the same fury as his barbarian counterpart. But Glensather wasn’t an imposing giant like Wulfgar, and he didn’t wield a weapon as mighty as Aegis-fang. His sword cut down the first goblin he encountered, then spun back deftly and felled a second. The spokesman had done well, but one element was missing from his attack – the critical factor that elevated Wulfgar above other men. Glensather had killed two goblins, but he had not caused the chaos in their ranks that he needed to continue. Instead of fleeing, as they did before Wulfgar, the remaining goblins pressed in behind him. Glensather had just come up beside the barbarian king when the cruel tip of a spear dove into his back and tore through, driving out the front of his chest. Witnessing the gruesome spectacle, Wulfgar brought Aegis-fang over the spokesman, driving the head of the spear-wielding goblin down into its chest. Glensather heard the hammer connect behind him and even managed to smile his thanks before he fell dead to the grass. The dwarves worked differently than their allies. Once again formed into their tight, supportive formation, they mowed down rows of goblins simultaneously. And the fishermen, fighting for the lives of their women and children, fought, and died, without fear. In less than an hour, every group of goblins had been smashed, and half an hour after that, the last of the monsters fell dead to the blood-stained field. * * * Drizzt rode the white wave of falling snow down the side of the mountain. He tumbled helplessly, trying to brace himself whenever he saw the jutting tip of a boulder in his path. As he neared the base of the snowcap, he was thrown clear of the slide and sent bouncing through the gray rocks and boulders, as though the mountain’s proud, unconquerable peaks had spit him out like an uninvited guest. His agility – and a strong dose of pure luck – saved him. When he at last was able to stop his momentum and find a perch, he discovered that his numerous injuries were superficial; a scrape on his knee, a bloodied nose, and a sprained wrist being the worst of them. In retrospect, Drizzt had to consider the small avalanche a blessing, for he had made swift progress down the mountain, and he wasn’t even certain that he could have otherwise escaped Kessell’s frosty fate without it. The battle in the south had begun again by this time. Hearing the sounds of the fighting, Drizzt watched curiously as thousands of goblins passed by on the other side of the dwarven valley, running up Icewind Pass on the first legs of their long journey home. The drow couldn’t be sure of what was happening, though he was familiar with the cowardly reputation of goblins. He didn’t give it too much thought, though, for the battle was no longer his first concern. His vision followed a narrow path, to the mound of broken black stonework that had been Cryshal-Tirith. He finished his descent from Kelvin’s Cairn and headed down Bremen’s Run – toward the rubble. He had to find out if Regis or Guenhwyvar had escaped. * * * Victory. It seemed a small comfort to Cassius, Kemp, and Jensin Brent as they looked around at the carnage on the scarred field. They were the only three spokesmen to have survived the struggle; seven others had been cut down. â€Å"We have won,† Cassius declared grimly. He watched helplessly as more soldiers fell dead, men who had suffered mortal wounds earlier in the battle but had refused to fall down and die until they had seen it through. More than half of all the men of Ten-Towns lay dead, and many more would later die, for nearly half of those still alive had been grievously wounded. Four towns had been burned to the ground and another one looted and torn apart by occupying goblins. They had paid a terrible price for their victory. The barbarians, too, had been decimated. Mostly young and inexperienced, they had fought with the tenacity of their breeding and died accepting their fate as a glorious ending to their life’s tale. Only the dwarves, disciplined by many battles, had come through relatively unscathed. Several had been slain, a few others wounded, but most were all too ready to take up the fight again if only they could have found more goblins to bash! Their one great lament, though, was that Bruenor was missing. â€Å"Go to your people,† Cassius told his fellow spokesmen. â€Å"Then return this evening to council. Kemp shall speak for all the people of the four towns of Maer Dualdon, Jensin Brent for the people of the other lakes.† â€Å"We have much to decide and little time to do it,† Jensin Brent said. â€Å"Winter is fast approaching.† â€Å"We shall survive!† Kemp declared with his characteristic defiance. But then he was aware of the sullen looks his peers had cast upon him, and he conceded a bit to their realism. â€Å"Though it will be a bitter struggle.† â€Å"So it shall be for my people,† said another voice. The three spokesmen turned to see the giant Wulfgar striding out from the dusty, surrealistic scene of carnage. The barbarian was caked in dirt and spattered with the blood of his enemies, but he looked every bit the noble king. â€Å"I request an invitation to your council, Cassius. There is much that our people can offer to each other in this harsh time.† Kemp growled. â€Å"If we need beasts of burden, we’ll buy oxen.† Cassius shot Kemp a dangerous look and addressed his unexpected ally. â€Å"You may indeed join the council, Wulfgar, son of Beornegar. For your aid this day, my people owe yours much. Again I ask you, why did you come?† For the second time that day, Wulfgar ignored Kemp’s insults. â€Å"To repay a debt,† he replied to Cassius. â€Å"And perhaps to better the lives of both our peoples.† â€Å"By killing goblins?† Jensin Brent asked, suspecting that the barbarian had more in mind. â€Å"A beginning,† Wulfgar answered. â€Å"Yet there is much more that we may accomplish. My people know the tundra better than even the yetis. We understand its ways and know how to survive. Your people would benefit from our friendship, especially in the hard times that lay ahead for you.† â€Å"Bah!† Kemp snorted, but Cassius silenced him. The spokesman from Bryn Shander was intrigued by the possibilities. â€Å"And what would your people gain from such a union?† â€Å"A connection,† Wulfgar answered. â€Å"A link to a world of luxuries that we have never known. The tribes hold a dragon’s treasure in their hands, but gold and jewels do not provide warmth on a winter night, nor food when game is scarce.† â€Å"Your people have much rebuilding to do. My people have the wealth to assist in that task. In return, Ten-Towns will deliver my people into a better life.† Cassius and Jensin Brent nodded approvingly as Wulfgar laid out his plan. â€Å"Finally, and perhaps most important,† the barbarian concluded, â€Å"is the fact that we need each other, for the present at least. Both of our peoples have been weakened and are vulnerable to the dangers of this land. Together, our remaining strength would see us through the winter.† â€Å"You intrigue and surprise me,† Cassius said. â€Å"Attend the council, then, with my personal welcome, and let us put in motion a plan that will benefit all who have survived the struggle against Akar Kessell!† As Cassius turned, Wulfgar grabbed Kemp’s shirt with one of his huge hands and easily hoisted the spokesman from Targos off the ground. Kemp swatted at the muscled forearm, but realized that he had no chance of breaking the barbarian’s iron grip. Wulfgar glared at him dangerously. â€Å"For now,† he said, â€Å"I am responsible for all of my people. Thus have I disregarded your insults. But when the day comes that I am no longer king, you would do well to cross my path no more!† With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the spokesman to the ground. Kemp, too intimidated for the present to be angry or embarrassed, sat where he landed and did not respond. Cassius and Brent nudged each other and shared a low chuckle. It only lasted until they saw the girl approaching, her arm in a bloody sling and her face and auburn hair caked with layers of dust. Wulfgar saw her, too, and the sight of her wounds pained him more than his own ever could. â€Å"Catti-brie!† he cried, rushing to her. She calmed him with an outstretched palm. â€Å"I am not badly injured,† she assured Wulfgar stoically, though it was obvious to the barbarian that she had been sorely injured. â€Å"Though I dare not think of what would have befallen me if Bruenor had not arrived!† â€Å"You have seen Bruenor?† â€Å"In the tunnels,† Catti-brie explained. â€Å"Some orcs found their way in – perhaps I should have collapsed the tunnel. Yet there weren’t many, and I could hear that the dwarves were doing well on the field above. â€Å"Bruenor came down then, but there were more orcs at his back. A support beam collapsed; I think Bruenor cut it out, and there was too much dust and confusion.† â€Å"And Bruenor?† Wulfgar asked anxiously. Catti-brie looked back across the field. â€Å"Out there. He has asked for you.† * * * By the time Drizzt reached the rubble that had been Cryshal-Tirith, the battle was over. The sights and sounds of the horrible aftermath pressed in all about him, but his goal remained unchanged. He started up the side of the broken stones. In truth, the drow thought himself a fool for following such a hopeless cause. Even if Regis and Guenhwyvar hadn’t gotten out of the tower, how could he possibly hope to find them? He pressed on stubbornly, refusing to give in to the inescapable logic that scolded him. This was where he differed from his people, this was what had driven him, finally, from the unbroken darkness of their vast cities. Drizzt Do’Urden allowed himself to feel compassion. He moved up the side of the rubble and began digging around the debris with his bare hands. Larger blocks prevented him from going very deep into the pile, yet he did not yield, even squeezing into precariously tight and unstable crevices. He used his burned left hand little, and soon his right was bleeding from scraping. But he continued on, moving first around the pile, then scaling higher. He was rewarded for his persistence, for his emotions. When he reached the top of the ruins, he felt a familiar aura of magical power. It guided him to a small crevice between two stones. He reached in tentatively, hoping to find the object intact, and pulled out the small feline figurine. His fingers trembled as he examined it for damage. But he found none – the magic within the object had resisted the weight of the stones. The drow’s feelings at the find were mixed, however. Though he was relieved that Guenhwyvar had apparently survived, the presence of the figurine told him that Regis had probably not escaped to the field. His heart sank. And sank even farther when a sparkle within the same crevice caught his eye. He reached in and pulled out the golden chain with the ruby pendent, and his fears were confirmed. â€Å"A fitting tomb for you, brave little friend,† he said somberly, and he decided at that moment to name the pile Regis’s Cairn. He could not understand, though, what had happened to separate the halfling from his necklace, for there was no blood or anything else on the chain to indicate that Regis had been wearing it when he died. â€Å"Guenhwyvar,† he called. â€Å"Come to me, my shadow.† He felt the familiar sensations in the figurine as he placed it on the ground before him. Then the black mist appeared and formed into the great cat, unharmed and somewhat restored by the few hours it had spent back on its own plane. Drizzt moved quickly toward his feline companion, but then he stopped as a second mist appeared a short distance away and began to solidify. Regis. The halfling sat with his eyes closed and his mouth opened wide, as though he was about to take an enjoyable and enormous bite out of some unseen delicacy. One of his hands was clenched to the side of his eager jowls, and the other open before him. As his mouth snapped shut on empty air, his eyes snapped open in surprise. â€Å"Drizzt!† he groaned. â€Å"Really, you should ask before you steal me away! This perfectly marvelous cat had caught me the juiciest meal!† Drizzt shook his head and smiled with a mixture of relief and disbelief. â€Å"Oh, splendid,† Regis cried. â€Å"You have found my gemstone. I thought that I had lost it; for some reason it didn’t make the journey with the cat and me.† Drizzt handed the ruby back to him. The cat could take someone along on its travels through the planes? Drizzt resolved to explore this facet of Guenhwyvar’s power later. He stroked the cat’s neck, then released it back to its own world where it could further recuperate. â€Å"Come, Regis,† he said grimly. â€Å"Let us see where we might be of assistance.† Regis shrugged resignedly and stood to follow the drow. When they crested the top of the ruins and saw the carnage spread out below them, the halfling realized the enormity of the destruction. His legs nearly faltered under him, but he managed, with some help from his agile friend, to make the descent. â€Å"We won?† he asked Drizzt when they neared the level of the field, unsure if the people of Ten-Towns had labeled what he saw before him victory or defeat. â€Å"We survived,† Drizzt corrected. A shout went up suddenly as a group of fishermen, seeing the two companions, rushed toward them, yelling with abandon. â€Å"Wizard-slayer and tower-breaker!† they cried. Drizzt, ever humble, lowered his eyes. â€Å"Hail Regis,† the men continued, â€Å"the hero of Ten-Towns!† Drizzt turned a surprised but amused eye on his friend. Regis merely shrugged helplessly, acting as much the victim of the error as Drizzt. The men caught hold the halfling and hoisted him to their shoulders. â€Å"We shall carry you in glory to the council taking place within the city!† one proclaimed. â€Å"You, above all others, should have a say in the decisions that will be made!† Almost as an afterthought, the man said to Drizzt. â€Å"You can come too, drow.† Drizzt declined. â€Å"All hail Regis,† he said, a smile splayed across his face. â€Å"Ah, little friend, ever you have the fortune to find gold in the mud where others wallow!† He clapped the halfling on the back and stood aside as the procession began. Regis looked back over his shoulder and rolled his eyes as though he were merely going along for the ride. But Drizzt knew better. * * * The drow’s amusement was short-lived. Before he had even moved away from the spot, two dwarves hailed him. â€Å"It is good that we have found ye, friend elf,† said one. The drow knew at once that they bore grim news. â€Å"Bruenor?† he asked. The dwarves nodded. â€Å"He lies near death, even now he might be gone. He has asked for ye.† Without another word, the dwarves led Drizzt across the field to a small tent they had set up near their tunnel exits and escorted him in. Inside candles flickered softly. Beyond the single cot, against the wall opposite the entrance, stood Wulfgar and Catti-brie, their heads bent reverently. Bruenor lay on the cot, his head and chest wrapped in bloodstained bandages. His breathing was raspy and shallow, as though each breath would be his last. Drizzt moved solemnly to his side, stoically determined to hold back the uncharacteristic tears that welled in his lavender eyes. Bruenor would prefer strength. â€Å"Is it†¦the elf?† Bruenor gasped when he saw the dark form over him. â€Å"I have come, dearest of friends,† Drizzt replied. â€Å"To see†¦me on me way?† Drizzt couldn’t honestly answer so blunt a question. â€Å"On your way?† He forced a laugh from his constricting throat. â€Å"You have suffered worse! I’ll hear no talk of dying – who then would find Mithril Hall?† â€Å"Ah, my home†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Bruenor settled back at the name and seemed to relax, almost as if he felt that his dreams would carry him through the dark journey before him. â€Å"Ye’re to come with me, then?† â€Å"Of course,† Drizzt agreed. He looked to Wulfgar and Catti-brie for support, but lost in their own grief, they kept their eyes averted. â€Å"But not now, no, no,† Bruenor explained. â€Å"Wouldn’t do with the winter so close!† He coughed. â€Å"In the spring. Yes, in the spring.† His voice trailed away, and his eyes closed. â€Å"Yes, my friend,† Drizzt agreed. â€Å"In the spring. I shall see you to your home in the spring!† Bruenor’s eyes cracked open again, their deathly glaze washed away by a hint of the old sparkle. A contented smile widened across the dwarf’s face, and Drizzt was happy that he had been able to comfort his dying friend. The drow looked back to Wulfgar and Catti-brie and they, too, were smiling. At each other, Drizzt noted curiously. Suddenly, to Drizzt’s surprise and horror, Bruenor sat up and tore away the bandages. â€Å"There!† he roared to the amusement of the others in the tent. â€Å"Ye’ve said it, and I have witnesses to the fact!† Drizzt, after nearly falling over with the initial shock, scowled at Wulfgar. The barbarian and Catti-brie fought hard to subdue their laughter. Wulfgar shrugged, and a chuckle escaped. â€Å"Bruenor said that he would cut me down to the height of a dwarf if I said a word!† â€Å"And so he would have!† Catti-brie added. The two of them made a hasty exit. â€Å"A council in Bryn Shander,† Wulfgar explained hastily. Outside the tent, their laughter erupted unheeded. â€Å"Damn you, Bruenor Battlehammer!† the drow scowled. Then unable to stop himself, he threw his arms around the barrel-shaped dwarf and hugged him. â€Å"Get it over with,† Bruenor groaned, accepting the embrace. â€Å"But be quick. We’ve a lot o’ work to do through the winter! Spring’ll be here sooner than ye think, and on the first warm day we leave for Mithril Hall!† â€Å"Wherever that might be,† Drizzt laughed, too relieved to be angered by the trick. â€Å"We’ll make it, drow!† Bruenor cried. â€Å"We always do!† How to cite The Crystal Shard 31. Victory?, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

“Obando Fertility Rites” free essay sample

The Obando Fertility Rites is a Filipino dance ritual. Wherein every year during the month of May there will be musical instruments made out ofbamboo materials, the men, women and children of Obando, Bulacanwear traditional dance costumes and then dance on the streets and form a religious processionfollowed by the images of their patron saints â€Å"San PascualBaylon†, Santa ClaraandOur Lady of Salambao , Most participants of the fertility dance ask the patron saints for a son, a daughter, a husband, a wife or good fortune. This is a three-day fiesta honoring the town’s patron saints. Each day is dedicated to a particular patron saint. St. Clare is the oldest patron saint of Obando, Bulacan. She has been considered the patron saint of good weather because her Spanish name meant the brightening of the skies after a season of storms, which later became the basis why the residents of Obando, Bulacan, believed in offering eggs at the base of the altar of St. We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"Obando Fertility Rites† or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Clare and then pray for good weather. Like St. Clare, St. Paschalwas introduced to Obando, Bulacan, he also became the patron saint of fertility, wealth and abundance. St. Paschals surname, Baylon, was taken to mean one who likes dancing, ultimately derived from theSpanish word bailar, the verb form of dance. On June 19, 1763, the image of Our Lady of Salambao was also introduced to Obando, Bulacan andwas place to the high altar of the Obando church and eventually became the patron saint of fishermen and of good harvest. The celebration begins with a concelebrated mass at the Obando Church around 7:00 am. The mass usually ends after an hour, then followed by the procession of the three saints and then the dancing of the devotees to thebeat of bamboo instruments with the tune of Santa Clara Pinung-Pino. This continues for the duration of the festival, with the image of the particular Patron Saint of the day leading the procession. After the procession, participants will return inside the church for the blessing from the parish priest. More dancing happens here and some devotees will share their stories on the miracle that this dancing fertility rite has given them. There will also be chance for you to kiss the relic of San PascualBaylon. Until now many Filipino devotees are still coming ang participating in this fertility rites and continues to pray and never lose hope.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Diary of Boo Radley Essay Essay Example

Diary of Boo Radley Essay Paper Feign you are Boo Radley ( from To Kill a Mocking Bird ) . Write your secret diary entry about how you have been punished and kept in a practical prison for 15 old ages. It has been so really long since my male parent foremost locked me up in this house. I mean. I was merely a adolescent holding merriment. I did non make anything serious or anything. At first. after a twosome of yearss penalty. it thought I would be eventually set free by male parent. After a twosome of hebdomads. I realised that it seemed I would neer be let out. I was correct- as the hebdomads turned into months. I understood how barbarous my male parent was and that my penalty would last everlastingly. We will write a custom essay sample on Diary of Boo Radley Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Diary of Boo Radley Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Diary of Boo Radley Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer After a twelvemonth or two. my male parent died. I was free to travel outdoors into the world- well I could hold escaped from imprisonment if I truly wanted to. but I did non wish to. My male parent left me emotionally damaged and ashamed of myself. and I did non and I do non desire to demo myself in the existent universe after such a long period of clip. Once Nathan arrived. things were merely the same as how they used to be with my male parent. Bing locked up in this stuffy house allows me a batch of clip to myself. I get to read the local papers- one of the lone ‘luxuries’ I am allowed to hold and reflect on a batch of things and ponder over them all twenty-four hours long. I think about how people are acquiring along in Maycomb as I see them walk rather briskly in forepart of our house and I think about my male parent and what he did to me. I am normally in a reasonably good temper all twenty-four hours long. but when my male parent comes to mind or Nathan walks past. choler and hatred crestless waves up inside me. I besides occupy my ideas by reminiscing that good times I had when I was a adolescent. but besides look upon them with deep sorrow. but I chiefly ponder about the two immature Finchs who live following door†¦ Everyday. I stare through the shutters down through the street chief street of Maycomb. I see kids playing and bask watching them holding and joyful and cheery clip. I have invariably kept my oculus on our two neighbours- Jem and his sister. Lookout. They play in their pace and in the street. evidently holding a great clip. and like all other kids their age. maintain off from our house. I think they believe it is haunted. by my shade or some lewdness like that. It amuses me but besides makes me sad that I could be so much of a menace to these lovely kids. and I do wish my life could be every bit happy as theirs. Despite their frights of me. Jem and Scout even tried to hold a expression inside this house one time to acquire a glance of me and besides tried to pass on with me on several occasions. I have tried pass oning with Jem and Scout. by go forthing them a bangle or two in the knot-hole of one of the unrecorded oaks out the forepart of our house at dark clip. After some clip. the kids began to gain it was me go forthing the surprises in the tree. and they decided to compose me a small note. Nathan found the note. realised my lone beginning of communicating with the outside universe and filled the knot-hole with cement. I am merely allowed to travel outdoors at dark under Nathan’s supervising. Sometimes. Nathan does non even bother looking over me on my night-time ambles because he knows I will be back. I am excessively attached to this house and life indoors. I don’t want to be released into a universe that is excessively good for me. as my male parent used to state.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Creating Awesome Content Quickly With Neil Patel From Crazy Egg

Creating Awesome Content Quickly With Neil Patel From Crazy Egg Creating awesome content quickly is something that many of us aspire to do. Today we’re talking to Neil Patel. Neil is a New York Times author and was recognized by President Obama as a top-100 entrepreneur under the age of 30. He’s co-founded companies including Crazy Egg, Hello Bar, and KISSmetrics. Today we’re going to talk about being super-prolific. Sit back, relax, and get ready for a 20-minute class on content marketing! Information on what has led to Neil’s incredible success with content marketing. Thoughts on why Neil is able to create great content so quickly. Some of the most common mistakes Neil sees when it comes to content marketing. How Neil uses surveys and research to boost his success, what kinds of questions he asks, and what he does with the results. How Neil decides what kind of content to create. Neil’s best tip for marketers who want to create prolific content. Links and Resources: Neil Patel’s blog Crazy Egg Hello Bar KISSmetrics QuickSprout SurveyMonkeyIf you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Neil: If it makes people laugh or amuses them, you’re good to go, but sometimes it takes a lot to create content that really amuses.† â€Å"Go out there and do it. If you can’t figure out how to be motivated to make it part of your daily routine, you’re going to fail because that’s the easiest part.† â€Å"It isn’t just creation and promotion; it is process as well. I think that’s what a lot of people forget.†

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Strategy - Essay Example This is a great distance from the view of Chandler (1962), who views strategy as being connected to how an organisation is administered outside of functional responsibilities. His definition of strategy is â€Å"the determination of the basic long-term goals and objectives of an enterprise and the adoption of courses of action and the allocation of resources necessary for carrying out these goals† (Chandler, 1962, p.13). Porter (1996, p.75) finally reaches a definition of â€Å"creating fit among a company’s activities†, which does bear some relation to Chandler’s view, although Chandler deals with the long term survival of the organisation, where Porter acknowledges that achieving fit determines strategy success and if there is no fit, then nothing to sustain (ibid). Teece (1993 p.199) recounts Chandler’s view that competitiveness depends upon organisational and financial capabilities, and supporting institutions. Porter would disagree with the ide a of resources and capabilities being important to strategy, which not only puts him at odds with Chandler but also with Penrose. Penrose’s view of strategy was that it was â€Å"to increase total long-term profits† (Penrose and Petelis, 1999, p.12) again, emphasising the long term view. She also viewed administration as important, identifying that â€Å"administrative co-ordination and ‘authoritative communication’ define the boundaries of the firm† (Penrose and Petelis, 1999, p.9). She saw firms as resource bundles that could be combined in specific ways to generate products and services â€Å"for sale in the market for a profit† (ibid), a view with which Porter disagrees, and which causes her to be portrayed as the founder of the resource-based view of strategy (Foss, 1999, p.87), although Foss argues that what is now seen as the resource-based view is not what Penrose was describing in her work. Standard strategy textbooks provide definit ions of strategy, based on the views of the authors. Johnson et al (2008, p.857) say that strategy â€Å"is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term, which achieves advantage in a changing environment through its configuration of resources and competences with the aim of fulfilling stakeholder expectations†, a broad definition that would find both favour and disagreement with the earlier writers mentioned above. But what is interesting is the difference between definitions of strategy in 1959 (Penrose – the year her book was published), 1962 (Chandler), 1996 (Porter) and Johnson et al (2008). There is no direct linear progression, yet Johnson et al’s definition includes all of the ideas of the earlier theorists. It would seem that all of the ideas have merit, and affect strategy, but their discovery was due to something else that caused different things to be discovered at different times. Categories of Strategy Different writers have differ ent ideas of strategy, but only one has attempted to bring all of these together to create a coherent whole. Richard Whittington (2001) considered the different theorists’ views on strategy and tried to make sense of them by constructing a model that produced four different types of strategy. He provides a summary of these in the form of a table, reproduced here: Classic Processual Evolutionary Systemic Strategy Formal Crafted

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Community and Fire Threat Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Community and Fire Threat - Assignment Example The results of the article have been achieved through data gathering from pre-existing sources such as the Web-based Inquiry Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS). In the model used for the analysis of the data negative binomial rate regression had been used. To be able to observe the interactions of the different parameters that are measured, control of the socioeconomic factors had been undertaken (Diekman, Ballestero, Berger, Caraballo and Kegler, 2008, p. 1-4). As a result, there is a positive interaction observed. Smoking which is one of the common causes in residential fire, thus, the parameter under study can be closely related to the fire prevention efforts in the community. Although this is the case, it is important to consider that the issue under study is only one of the causes of fire occurrence. The ecological study is undertaken due to the fact that there is a complex interaction of multiple factors specifically involving man and the environment. The impact of smoking is studied to specifically target the residential area. Smoking is one of the primary causes of fire while residential areas are in need of strict study and implementation of the concepts for fire prevention (Diekman, Ballestero, Berger, Caraballo and Kegler, 2008, p. 1-4). Due to the recognized importance of the different parameters studies, the established objective in the article under study is the measurement of the relationship of the state-level residential fire morality and the percentage of adults who smoke. The study presented a relationship between smoking and residential fire mortality while controlling certain parameters, thus, one of the most important contribution of the study then is to focus on the actions to lessen smoking to be able to achieve the prevention of fire occurrences. Another contribution is the presentation of an individual-level perspective to the problems related to residential fire in addition

Monday, November 18, 2019

Identity and Conflict in Bosnia and Macedonia Essay

Identity and Conflict in Bosnia and Macedonia - Essay Example The 2007 book Waiting for Macedonia: Identity in a Changing World and the documentary film We Are All Neighbours consider such matters. Thiessen writes of an â€Å"Us and Them† paradigm in Macedonia, an â€Å"Otherness† that Macedonians have adapted to meet their own perspective on the world and to gauge their place in that world (2007, p. 40). Identity in Macedonia is a fluid concept, with the country’s Slavic population reaching into the country’s ancient past in the effort to construct a national identity (Ibid). Macedonians have had only to consider the existence of a strong European identity in Germany, no stranger to fragmentation, to recognize the benefits of identification with the nation states that comprise the European Union. In Bosnia, identity was compromised in the wake of the Tito regime’s demise. Socialism in Yugoslavia, though coercive, fostered a form of national unity, which, when independence came to the former Yugoslav states, resulted in a gradual social incoherence. The ethnic violence that ensued was, perhaps, unsurprising given the conditions in the 1990s. But the suddenness with which it occurred, and its effects on a multi-ethnic Bosnian village, is the subject of We Are All Neighbours. The lingering effects of socialism and of life under a totalitarian regime have been blamed for the cataclysm of the 1990s. In Macedonia, Thiessen contends that it was not the absence of socialism but an absence of a national context that stirred up ethnic unrest (Thiessen, 2007, p. 25). Identity lay at the heart of the matter. Whereas the existence of Yugoslavia allowed Macedonians to think of themselves in terms of Europe, the post-socialist reality produced nostalgia for Yugoslavia that was tantamount to the desire for a future as part of the European community (Ibid).

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Parental Influence on Consumption and Abuse of Alcohol

Parental Influence on Consumption and Abuse of Alcohol Douglas Scott Burton Adolescence is the years from which puberty begins in childhood to when puberty ceases in adulthood. Generally, it is divided into three stages: early adolescence which overall lasts between ages 11 to 14, middle adolescence that generally spans ages 15 to 17, and late adolescence which stretches the ages to 18 to 21 years of age. Puberty creates growth to see things as either right or wrong. Adolescents are rarely able to see beyond the present situation, which can explain why younger teenagers are often unable to consider the long-term consequences of their actions. Parents have a critical role in shaping the future of their children. Does being an American adolescent in an American family where your parents allow casual consumption of alcohol teach the child responsible drinking habits when the child becomes of legal drinking age (21)? On the other hand, does it instill a sense of nonchalant drinking habits? I believe that having parents that causally and responsibly consume alcoh ol, teaches the child/children, how to respect alcohol and how not to abuse it later in life. In the United States of America, we have a largely diverse population and culture. Therefore, when looking at adolescent alcohol use and abuse we need to understand the different people that live in this country. According to a 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 10.1 million underage youth drink alcohol each year in the United States. Early alcohol and drug use increases the possibility for many social, emotional, and behavioral problems including violence, truancy, and depression. (National Institute of Health, n.d.) (Barry, Chaney, Chaney, 2011; Ellickson, Tucker, Klein, 2001; Stueve ODonnell, 2005). In ethnic minority families such as African Americans, adolescent drug and substance problems are a significant public concern. (NIH, n.d.). African Americans comprise only 14% of the population in the United States, yet they are 26% of all juvenile arrests, 44% of detained youth, and 58% of the youth sent to state prison (Center on Juvenile and Criminal Just ice, 2012). Early substance use has strongly been associated with father-only households. Further, children from dual-parent families are said to use significantly less marijuana than those from mother-only families (Hemovich Crano, 2009). According to Janet Chrzan in Alcohol: Social Drinking in Culture Context, the culture of the United States, and particularly that of the South and of the Midwest, carries many traces of Prohibition tendencies to this day. The United States has the highest rate of self-reported total abstinence, out of any other non-Muslim alcohol-drinking country, with roughly one-third of the population avoiding alcohol (in contrast, only about 9% of Swedes and 11% of Norwegian abstain). In the United States, abstention is highest in working-class women and lowest among upper-class white men. In a paper published in the US National Library of Medicine/National Institute of Health there are two policies regarding alcohol consumption by minors. Harm-minimisation policies suggest that alcohol use is a part of normal adolescent development and that parents should supervise their childrens use to encourage responsible drinking. Zero-tolerance policies suggest that all underage alcohol use should be discouraged. In this study, they took a sample of 1,945 seventh-grade students from both Washington State, United States and Victoria, Australia. The study showed that adolescent alcohol use is related to a variety of problem behaviours including harmful alcohol use, drinking and driving, risky sex, and violence (World Health Organization, 2008). However, longitudinal studies demonstrate that good family management practices, including clear rules prohibiting alcohol use, monitoring of childrens behaviour, and consistent consequences for violating rules, are related to decreases in teen alcohol use (Barnes et al. 2000, Brook et al., 1986; Chilcoat and Anthony, 1996; Kosterman et al., 2000; Nash et al., 2005; Sargent and Dalton, 2001). Likewise, parental patterns of alcohol use and involvement of their children in their use have been shown to be risk factors for adolescent alcohol and other drug use (Chassin et al., 2003, Hawkins et al., 1992; Johnson and Leff, 1999; Lei et al., 2002a). Despite this, some parents still provide alcohol to their children, as teens report being at parties at which underage drinking was occurring in the presence of parents (American Medical Association, 2006). In Australia, it was noted that 30%-50% of adolescent drinkers obtain alcohol from their parents. Australian parents are supported by a national harm-minimisation policy. In 2001, the Australian Government promoted Alcohol Guidelines for youth younger than the adult legal age for alcohol purchase (age 18). It offered suggestions for being a responsible drinker in supervised settings and for becoming a responsible adult drinker through supervised introduction to alcohol (Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy, 2001). Harm-minimisation advocates concede that parental rules and attitudes favoring responsible drinking may be associated with a greater likelihood of underage alcohol use but also argue that parental supervised alcohol use may reduce the likelihood of adolescent drinkers progressing to problematic alcohol use during adolescence and early adulthood. In Washington, the relationship between favorable parental attitudes toward alcohol use and ninth-grade alcohol-related harms was mediated by opportunities to drink in an adult-supervised setting in a way that increased risk. For Victorian youth, there was no protective mediating effect of supervised use. Instead, similar to Washington students, they found a significant mediating process that increased the risk for subsequent alcohol use and harm among students in Victoria. In the summary, the study found that harm-minimisation proponents contend that youth drinking in adult-supervised settings is protective against future harmful use. The study found adult-supervised drinking in both states actually resulted in higher levels of harmful alcohol use. According to the research survey completed, my hypothesis does not stand. Having parents that allow American adolescents to consume alcohol will create a sense that it is okay to consume alcohol, even though they are underage. It will possibly lead to an overconsumption and possible abuse of alcohol by adolescent Americans. As those adolescents grow up and move away to go to universities, alcohol will become more available possibly, leading to more abuse. Therefore, if you are a parent or are planning on becoming a parent, you should not allow your adolescent children to consume alcohol. It could lead to destructive behaviour. If you want to teach them responsible drinking actions, you should teach by example. Never become drunk in front of your children. Works Cited Rees, Carter, Adrienne Freng, and L. Thomas Winfree, Jr. The Native American Adolescent: Social Network Structure and Perceptions of Alcohol Induced Social Problems. Journal of Youth and Adolescence 43.3 (2013): 405-25. Web. 12 Nov. 2016. Small, Eusebius, Rie Suzuki, and Arati Maleku. The Impact of Family and Parental Education on Adolescents Substance Use: A Study of U.S. High School Seniors. Social Work in Public Health 29.6 (2014): 594-605. Web. 12 Nov. 2016. Chrzan, Janet. Its Happy Hour! Modern American Drinking. Alcohol: Social Drinking in Cultural Context. New York: Routledge, 2013. N. pag. Print. White, Helene Raskin, and David L. Rabiner. Historical and Developmental Patterns of Alcohol and Drug Use among College Students. College Drinking and Drug Use. New York: Guilford, 2012. N. pag. Print. McMorris, Barbara J., Richard F. Catalano, Min Jung Kim, John W. Toumbourou, and Sheryl A. Hemphill. Influence of Family Factors and Supervised Alcohol Use on Adolescent Alcohol Use and Harms: Similarities Between Youth in Different Alcohol Policy Contexts. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Rutgers University, May 2011. Web. 25 Nov. 2

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Effectiveness of Selection Interviews Essay -- Business Interviews

The Effectiveness of Selection Interviews Evaluate the relative effectiveness of selection interviews as an indicator of likely candidate suitability in the case of a selected business, making recommendations for improvements in procedure. D1 The interview is the final stage of the Recruitment and Selection process. Candidates can be classified as the applicants for a vacancy that they have seen advertised. The chosen business for this question is M&S. It is here at this stage, the M&S employee (who is the candidate) and the employer are generally in the meeting situation. An interview is a form of test or assessment. However, it is also clarified as a formal discussion, especially one in which an employee assess, n applicant for a job. Interviews are always conducted and arranged for all sorts of other jobs, particularly retailing jobs such as M&S.At times the employer has the process of going through letters, CVs, application forms, and examination of references, which will mean that only a few number of applicants are more unlikely to be interviewed for the job. This is because interviews take up time of senior managers who have to carry them out, and this will be also costly for the business. Apart firm this, there are however good and bad statements to be made on selection interviews. Depending on the attitudes and relationships between the interviewee and the interviewer, there can be good and bad turnouts that could effect M&S. The process of selection interviewing Almost every employer includes a face-to-face interview as part of the selection process. The initial selection interview might be delegated to a recruitment agency or a local job center, but most employers would be more reluctant to take on new employees without having met them in person. The interview, however, continues to be the most popular and frequently used method of selection, even though it is thought that research studies have found interviews to be poor predictors of future performance in a job. This is referred to as low validity. The poor validity of interviews means that they don not test what they intend to test. For example inside at M&S, it would mean the ability to do well. The reasons for this mainly lie with interviewer concerns number of interviewer errors contribute to the low validity of interviews, and awareness of th... ...le when assessing intelligence, interest in the job applied for, motivation and personality. The producers of such tests have stated that they are accurate and completely unbiased. They are supposed to be particularly good at assessment of personality. For example, they can show if a candidate would work well in a team or would be more effective working alone. The following of theses tests are of the following:  · performance tests  · knowledge tests  · aptitude tests  · intelligence tests  · personality tests Assessment centers tests Job applications are subjected to a wide range of assessments over a whole day or two. They are required to participate in group exercises, psychometric tests, aptitude tests and traditional interviews. By using a mixture of assessment this process is claimed to produce more accurate result. the applicants are given longer to prove themselves and there fore become more relaxed and more nataul.however recent development now mean that these assessment centre exercises can be videoed and then sent to a team of independent experts to be properly analysed.this insures that the candidates have their performance assessed objectively.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Marketing Implications of Product Life Cycle Essay

1. New strategies for new times The changed economic conditions are affecting consumer behavior and attitudes. Can the marketing strategies based on the understanding of the consumers in the prosperous times still hold water now? Consumers are changing their behavior in several different ways and various underlying attitudes and values govern these changes. It is critical for us to re-look at the consumer and refresh our understanding to fine tune the marketing strategies. 2. Segment and decide Not all the consumers react to the environmental changes in the same way. Different consumers have different reactions to the financial challenge – ranging from an extreme tightening of the purse-strings, to a nonchalant continuation of the current indulgences. Tightening may be reflected in different tangible and psychological ways. Manufacturers also need to offer a range of different solutions and propositions to meet these changes in behavior. Additionally, different consumer segments may be affected to different extent – and growth may vary from segment to segment. In luxury goods, for example, connoisseurship and indulgence segments may grow more as compared to the pure status segment, as these consumers’ relationship with luxury segments is not only emotional but also very tangible. 3. Find new pastures In these times, growth may be easier to come about through geographical expansion, than competitive fight in the current markets. The impact of the slowdown is more pronounced in larger cities – though the smaller towns and villages are also affected if they relied on export based industries. Hence while growth may be challenged in the larger cities, it may be a good time to set forth and explore new markets in county towns, townships and villages. These are the markets which are growing at a faster pace and offer greater return for investments. 4. Emphasize value – re look at your brand portfolio It does not take rocket science to conclude that in these times the consumers will look for value. The challenge is to offer value without compromising the image. There are different strategies to deliver value – some are appropriate and some ill-advised – some will damage the brand equity permanently, some will keep the image intact but still help adjust to the times. Research shows that direct price reductions are likely to damage more than temporary discounts and decreasing pack sizes more harmful that increasing pack size at the same price. 5. Look at your distribution channels A strained economic situation not only changes the consumer, but also changes the shopper. Consumers are normally more attached to the brand than the retail store, hence their first choice is not to change the brand, but try to locate the same brand at a cheaper price at another store. With more time at hand and greater incentive to economize, more consumers are likely to shop at hyper markets than the more ubiquitous but pricier supermarkets and convenience stores. The search for value and bargains will also turn the shoppers to internet shopping–the only channel that will grow even faster than hypermarkets. 6. Help the consumer – teach her, train her, comfort and reassure her. Research indicates that Chinese consumers’ response to the economic challenge is cerebral. When opportunities are fewer and the competition more fierce the Chinese consumers will want to further enhance their skills and knowledge. Clearly it is very good news for companies teaching English or computer programming. But the opportunity is not confined to these firms – the FMCG industry could also take a more educative communication stance – wine makers could try to educate the consumers about appreciating fine wines, cosmetic companies could offer lessons on skin care and food companies could coach on diet and nutrition. 7. Family, home and security When the going gets tough, the consumers tend to take comfort at home and in the arms of the loved ones. Recession is the ideal time to catch up with friends, take the children to the park and visit the parents, and in the process enjoy emotional warmth to compensate for the coldness of the economic climate. The children are likely to pay a heavy price for this, with parents having more time and inclination as well as a renewed determination to help their children with their studies. This offers opportunities to promote in-home consumption, rather than out of home consumption – which in many categories such as alcohol, is much more expensive. 8. Communication It is not just the product but also the message which needs to reflect the current consumer mind. The communication messages of today needs to reflect sentiments of care and protection, rational and considered behavior and performance and value these tones of communication, which always appealed to the Chinese consumers, are likely to find even greater resonance in these times. 9. Go digital For the largest internet population in the world, internet has so far been a tool of entertainment and information – less so a tool for commerce. However the initial barriers are being overcome and consumers are discovering the joys of internet shopping. The attributes consumer associate with internet shopping are variety, enables detailed evaluation and comparisons and competitive prices. These are the attributes the consumer will be looking in the times of economic slowdown. 10. Keep a permanent hand on the pulse of the consumer These are dynamic times. Things are changing at a phenomenal pace. As a result, so is the consumer mood and sentiment, which will have an effect on her decision making and the brands and products that she buys. If marketers don’t feel her pulse all the time, they could go wrong. One cannot just listen to the consumer once a year – marketers need to put their ears firmly on the ground and listen to every change of beat, every nuance of the consumer mood and continue to fine tune the strategy.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Definition and Examples of Questions in English

Definition and Examples of Questions in English In grammar, a question is a type of sentence expressed in a form that requires (or appears to require) an answer. Also known as an interrogative sentence, a question is generally distinguished from a sentence that makes a statement, delivers a command, or expresses an exclamation. In terms of syntax, a question is usually characterized by inversion of the subject and the first verb in the verb phrase, beginning with an interrogative pronoun or ending with a tag question. Linguists commonly recognize three main types of questions: Yes-No Questions, Wh- Questions, and Alternative Questions. Examples and Observations This is a question that no one particularly wants to hear, but, where did they put his head?(Xander in Teachers Pet. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 1997)I know this is a silly question before I ask it, but can you Americans speak any other language besides English?​  (Diane Kruger as Bridget von Hammersmark in Inglourious Basterds, 2009)Question is, what did camouflaged robot mercenaries want with you? And how did you get inside the TARDIS?​  (The Doctor in The Runaway Bride. Doctor Who, 2005) Structuring Questions To form a polar question (one expecting yes/no as an answer), the first auxiliary verb, which bears a tense inflection, is moved to the front of the clause. Corresponding to John was eating the halva we get Was John eating the halva? There must be at least one verb in the auxiliary for question formationif the VP contains none of have, be or a modal then do must be included to take the tense inflection; thus, corresponding to the statement John ate the halva, we get the question, Did John eat the halva?   A wh- question (expecting a phrase or clause as answer) involves the same fronting, and in addition a wh- word (who, whom, whose, what, which, how, why, where or when), which refers to the same constituent of the main clause, must precede the preposed auxiliary word. Compare John was hitting Mary with Who was hitting Mary?  Mary arrived yesterday with When did Mary arrive? and John ate the halva with What did John eat? If the constituent being questioned had a preposition associated with it, then this may either be moved to initial position, before the wh- word, or it can be left in its underlying position in the clause. Thus, corresponding to He owes his success to hard work we can have either What does he owe his success to? or To what does he owe his success?(R.M.W. Dixon, A New Approach to English Grammar, on Semantic Principles. Oxford University Press, 1991) Examples of Question Types [In the following joke, the attorneys initial wh- ​question is followed by two yes-no questions and a final alternative question.]A woman went to an attorney to ask about a divorce.What grounds do you have, madam?About six acres.No, I dont think you quite understand. Let me rephrase the question. Do you have a grudge?No, just a parking space.lll try again. Does your husband beat you up?No, l always get up at least an hour before he does.The attorney could see he was fighting a losing battle. Madam, do you want a divorce or not?Im not the one who wants a divorce, she said. My husband does. He claims we dont communicate.(adapted from The Mammoth Book of Humor, by Geoff Tibballs. Carroll Graf, 2000) Intonation in Questions American English typically has rising intonation across the utterance for what are called yes-no questions (She bought a new car?) and falling intonation for information-seeking questions (also called wh- questions) (What does she want to buy?), although there is much variation in these patterns in both American and British dialects.​  (Kristin Denham and Anne Lobeck, Linguistics for Everyone. Wadsworth, 2010) Why Ads Use Questions Questions, like commands, imply a direct address to the readerthey require someone to answer. Thats why they are often used on magazine covers, like these from one issue of Cosmopolitan: At long last love. Are you sure its the real thing?THE CONDOM. Whats in it for you?Hired or fired? How to leave your job in style. We take them as requiring a response, like a ringing phone. There is another more subtle effect questions can havethey can contain presuppositions that are almost impossible to discard if one interprets the text.​  (Greg Myers, Words in Ads. Routledge, 1994) Questions as Technologies in Disguise Questions, then, are like computers or television or stethoscopes or lie detectors, in that they are mechanisms that give direction to our thoughts, generate new ideas, venerate old ones, expose facts or hide them.​  (Neil Postman, Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. Alfred A. Knopf, 1992)

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Discussion of Clinton v. State of New York essays

Discussion of Clinton v. State of New York essays The Constitution gives the President three discrete functions following bicameral adoption of a bill in Congress. First, he may elect to sign it. Second, he may veto the bill and return it with a statement of his objections to the house of Congress in which the bill originated. Finally, he may do nothing, in which case the bill becomes law without his signature, unless the Pocket Veto Clause applies. The Constitution proscribes in great detail how separation of powers, discussion, and many other things can be accomplished. The reality of the situation is that the system doesnt work perfectly and that side issues in the form of federal spending or regional issues almost always seem to slow the process of legislation. While the president has some veto power under the Constitution, there is always a great deal of time taken up with reforming, reformatting and rewriting proposed laws. The Constitutionality of the Line Item veto was decided on a federal level. U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan said the law, centering on its violation of Article 1, Section 7 of the Constitution, violates the Constitution's requirement that the president sign or veto bills in their entirety. Judge Hogan said that the line item veto bill also gave the President part of Congress' lawmaking role (Biskupic and Barr, 1998). Judge Hogan pointed out two sets of challengers with standing. In New York City, two hospital associations and other related groups objected to Clinton's cancellation of a budget provision. This brought objections at the state and federal level. At the trial and appellate level The other case, Idaho potato growers brought suit, arising from the president's veto of a capital gains tax break for farmer cooperatives nationwide (Baum, 1998, pp 316 320). On the political face of it, the line item veto would seem to be a battle between pork and beef. Officers of the government have sought for generations to find a way to avoid t...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Ashoka and Emperor ashoka ( choose heading) Essay

Ashoka and Emperor ashoka ( choose heading) - Essay Example However, a look at some of the stone pillars in some part of the modern-day India proves that such an empire existed. For example in Bihar, India, there are stone pillars that are inscribed with the Emperor’s statues and edicts. Ancient Sanskirt literature also shows that there was a great Emperor called Ashoka. In Sarnath city which is also in India, there are statues of lions which are now part of India’s National emblem (Rao 96). These are the Ashoka lions, of course named after the Emperor Ashoka. He Emperor ordered installation of these pillars (Joshi 60). A look at the statues and some of the stone pillars shows that the Emperor had them inscribed with merciful laws. Based on the evidence from Joshi’s book and a history professor called B.V. Rao, Emperor Ashoka waged a constant war for the first eight years when he was in power. It is also clear that the Emperor had inherited a large empire, which he expanded in his reign to include some of the other Indian subcontinent. He also expanded his empire to the modern-day borders of Burmese eastern border, western side of Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Iran (Rao 94). It was only Sri Lanka and other southern parts of India which remained out of the Emperor’s reach. However, despite the ancient Kalinga kingdom, north of India, being out of his reach, he attacked the kingdom in year 265. He took advantage of the fact that it was his second wife’s homeland, Kaurwaki. The Mauryan Emperor had sought refuge from his hostile half-brothers, in the Kalinga kingdom. He gathered the largest army in Indian history to attach Kalinga, which crumbled after losing most of its warriors. After going through the story about this Emperor and his dynasty I got surprised after discovering that he was one of the many ruthless rulers in human history to change into one of the most respected rulers. I expected to find a

Saturday, November 2, 2019

W.B. Yeats Poems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

W.B. Yeats Poems - Essay Example Yeats mostly employed traditional against the form poems unlike another corresponding modernist who frequently experimented with the prevailing free verse. Yeats poem The Circus Animals’ Desertion entails five stanzas with the iambic pentameter. The poem present inspiration enabled with the searching for the truth. Yeats past poetic accomplishments of the circus animals mainly parades the show of his entire life. Yeats accomplish that individual music numerous techniques, which clearly possess massive rhythms of the Irish speech, and encompass into a colloquial yet dramatic speaking voice. Moreover, Yeats recognized uncertainty concerning the principles of conventional scansion of the kind that depicts the measure of verse to be metrical foot, and wrote of his earliest verse (Jochum, 2006, 123-189). Yeats’s subsequent prosody as the analyzable in terms of the traditional iambic patterns and the corresponding strong variations that Yeats played on these meters, or a more individualist’s combination of accentual and syllabic measures probably matters less than the fact that Yeats accomplishes his idiosyncratic music by concurrently working in and at the identical time against a fixed form. Yeats writes either in an accentual against or syllabic verse, which has fixed the number of syllables to every line. In The Lake Isle of Innisfree possess long lines with strong accents spread quite uniformly. The analysis poems manifest at the level of the form with the rhetorical available that implies a particular kind of the political freedom, which faithful summary of the central aspiration of the poet. The rhythm of every line contains complaint, a lapse within the scansion, at which point the poet openings pure longing (Jochum, 2006, 123-189). Rhythmic difference mainly expresses Yeats idea of freedom thus a prosodic variation acquires political

Thursday, October 31, 2019

The Responsible Leader and Manager Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Responsible Leader and Manager - Essay Example Among the managers are Stacey Miguel, Kathy Buttimer and Annama Schaeffer. They are, respectively, district manager in Indiana, recruiting manager in Rhode Island and investor relations manager. The district manager oversees all the operations of the district including customer satisfaction and preparing stakeholders’ reports. The recruiting manager is responsible for getting qualified and competent staff to drive the business’ success. The investor relations manager ensures the stakeholders’ interests are taken care of while updating them on the company’s progress. This paper will explain how the managers can use their personal, interpersonal and societal values to manage the stakeholders. It will also show how they demonstrate their awareness of social issues and corporate citizenship responsibilities. Stakeholders Stakeholder management is the process that promotes a company’s strategic goals by influencing internal and external environments to c reate beneficial relationships between the company and its stakeholders (Bolman & Deal 1995). This is achieved through management of the agreed objectives and expectations. Among the stakeholders of Limited Brands are the customers, corporate shareholding companies and suppliers. By the end of 2012, Janus Capital Management LLC had 22.8 million shares, representing a 15.9 percent shareholding in Limited Brands. It is the duty of the managers to integrate their personal values and corporate values in order to ensure the success of the business and encourage stakeholders to invest more. Apart from Mr. Leslie Wexner, the owner, Janus Capital Management is the next largest shareholder. Customers The customers are among the key stakeholders, and the company instills the value of the customer being king to all managers. The managers at Limited Brands know that the business cannot survive without its customers. Even after bringing quality products to the market, the customers’ choic e to buy or not can determine the business’ fate (Chappell 1993). It is, therefore, significant to portray themselves as a company that focuses on excellence driven by customer satisfaction and motivational leadership on top of giving value for money in their products. In mirroring their customers’ values, the recruiting manger, district manager and investor relationship manager bring out their humility in a bid to empower women and improve children’s education. All the managers possess personal values of reaching out a helping hand to the needy. They themselves must possess values of honesty and integrity so as to enroll into the programs genuinely deserving students and women. In light to aiding talented students who need to gain experience before venturing into the employment world, the company offers internships and the successful applicants receive firsthand 10 weeks of immersion experience. They get to learn how products, brands and customer experiences ar e built and delivered. Some are even enrolled into accounting or systems support positions. The managers ensure, through their values of sharing knowledge and opportunity, that the interns learn in the best environment and they can share their experiences with the general public, and customers, upon completion. They subject the interns to the actual and challenging experiences of the working field. The interpersonal values of the managers help the interns to build and develop networks of relationships with other managers and the broader customer base by introductions and recommendations. This gesture serves to attract, build and maintain loyal customers who ensure that business flourishes. With retail stores in 49 states in the US and over 700 products, the interns also stand a better chance of being taken up

Monday, October 28, 2019

The Industry Averages and Financial Ratios Essay Example for Free

The Industry Averages and Financial Ratios Essay In today’s market business really look at what the others in their competitive market are doing to compare how they are doing as a business or corporation. They do this by evaluating the industry averages and the financial ratios. When corporations and financial advisors look at the industry average and the ratios it helps them identify the industry strengths, weaknesses and the overall health of the financial standings of the organization. The automotive and transportation industry with a focus on General Motors (SIC:37110000) is what our group as chosen to examine for our comparison. General Motors was started in 1908 by William Durant by the combination of over 17 independent companies in to one general company, thus eliminating his competitors of the industry. This increased the overall average of the industry and increased the company’s financial health. That was then, now General Motors in number 3 in the market as it shows in Bloomberg Business week graph. The purpose of comparing the rate of General Motors and the Industry is to rate their performance in solvency, profitability and efficiency. General Motors ratio improved in profitability from 2011 to 2012 and 2012 to 2013 the assets and liabilities ratio was 1.31 that means in profit earned relatively to sales and total assets. In the Industry that means GM did pretty well in assets and sales compared to the Industry. In solvency the ratio was 13.19, it has more than 202,000 employees supporting the companies’ production and distribution. In efficiency it total a ratio of 9.00 in 2012 to 9.70 in 2013 which they did better in quality, receivables and efficiency of assets control compared to the industry. General Motors has a reasonable balance on overall performance. It has a higher payables  compared to the industry but lower receivables 16.9 to 6.9 , that indicates that theres a higher cash coming in and less cash going out. In 2011 GM Company achieved staggering turnover of 150.3 billion US. Dollar and net income of 7.6 billion compared to the industry. Below our group as compared the ratios with the industry as a whole and the company General Motors to see where and how the company is doing within the industry. References Bloomberg Businessweek. General Motors Co (GM:New York) (Dec.22, 2014). Retrieved from http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/financials/ratios.asp?ticker=GM Dan Bradstreet Key Business Ratios. (2014). 3711 Motor Vehicle and Car Bodies. Retrieved from Dan Bradstreet Key Business Ratios, FIN370 website. General Motors Co. (2014). Market Watch. Retrieved from http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/gm/financials/balance-sheet Magloff, David. General Motors Co. Growth, Profitability, and Financial Ratios for (GM) from Morningstar.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2014

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Reinforced Concrete Frame Structure Advantages

Reinforced Concrete Frame Structure Advantages Reinforced concrete is one of the most widely used modern building materials. Concrete is artificial stone obtained by mixing cement, sand, and aggregates with water. Fresh concrete can be molded into almost any shape, which is an inherent advantage over other materials. Concrete become very popular after the invention of Portland cement in 19th century. However, its limited tension resistance prevented its wide use in building construction. To overcome this weakness, steel bard are embedded in concrete to form a composite material called reinforced concrete. Developments in the modern reinforced concrete design and construction practice were pioneered by European engineers in the late 19th century. At the present time, reinforced concrete is extensively used in a wide variety of engineering applications. The worldwide use of reinforced concrete construction stems from the wide availability of reinforcing steel as well as the concrete ingredients. Unlike steel, concrete production does not require expensive manufacturing mills. Concrete construction, does, however, require a certain level of technology, expertise, and workmanship, particularly in the field during construction. In some cases, single-family houses or simple low-rise residential buildings are constructed without any engineering assistance. The extensive use of reinforced concrete construction, especially in developing countries, is due to its relatively low cost compared to other materials such as steel. The cost of construction changes with the region and strongly depends on the local practice. As an example, a unit area of a typical residential building made with reinforced concrete costs approximately $100/m ² in India, $250/m ² in Turkey, and $500/m ² in Italy. With the rapid growth of urban population in both the developing and the industrialized countries, reinforced concrete has become a material of choice for residential construction. Unfortunately, in many cases there is not the necessary level of expertise in design and construction. Design applications ranges from single-family buildings in countries like Colombia to high rises in China. Frequently, reinforced concrete construction is used in regions of high seismic risk. Introduction Steel reinforced concrete is a specific type that has had strong steel rebar or fibers added to it while wet, creating a very strong type of concrete that is able to withstand almost anything when it has dried. Because the result of using steel reinforced are so good for the strength of the building, most modern building today use steel reinforced concrete in the construction process. By adding thin steel bars to concrete can increase the strength of the concrete, making it better to use in variety of application. Today, many of the buildings located nations use reinforced concrete to make the buildings stronger and better able to in industrialized withstand the ravages of time and the weather. Reinforcing the concrete that will be used on the buildings add tensile strength to the concrete, making it much stronger and more flexible that regular concrete, which helps prevent cracking and breakage. Steel reinforced concrete can be used in a number of building applications, including fl oors, beams, supports, walls, and frames. Steel reinforced concrete is a concrete in which steel reinforcement bars, plates or fibers have been incorporated to build up a material that would otherwise be fragile. If a material with high strength in tension, such as steel, is placed in concrete, then the composite material, reinforced concrete, resists compression but also bending, and other direct tensile action. A reinforced concrete section where the concrete resists the compression and steel resists the tension can be made into almost any shape and size for the construction industry. Reinforcing Steel Before placing reinforcing steel in forms, all form oiling should be completed. As mentioned earlier, oil or other coating should not contact the reinforcing steel in the formwork. Oil on reinforcing bars reduces the bond between the bars and the concrete. Use a piece of burlap to clean the bars of rust, scales, grease, mud or other foreign matter. A light film of rust or mild film is not objectionable. Rebars must be tied together for the bars tore main in a desired arrangement during pouring. Tying is also a means of keeping laps or splices in place. Laps allow bond stress to transfer the load from one bar, first into the concrete and then into the second bar. Advantages Behaviour Materials Concrete is a mixture of cement, stone aggregate, and small amount of water. Cement hydrates from microscopic opaque crystal lattices encapsulating and locking the aggregate into a rigid structure. Typical concrete mixes have low tensile strength. Steel, is placed in concrete, then it will not only resists compression but also bending, and other direct tensile actions. Steel also made the bonding of the aggregate in a concrete better. Physical characteristics of steel reinforced concrete: The coefficient of thermal expansion of concrete is similar to that of steel, eliminating internal stresses due to differences in thermal expansion or contraction. When the cement paste within the concrete hardens this conforms to the surface details of the steel, permitting any stress to be transmitted efficiently between the different materials. The alkaline chemical environment provided by calcium carbonate causes a passivating film to form on the surface of the steel, making it much more resistant to corrosion than it would be in neutral or acidic conditions. Common Failure Modes of Steel Reinforced Concrete Conventional steel reinforced concrete can failed due to inadequate strength, leading to mechanical failure, or due to a reduction in its durability. Corrosion and freeze may damage poorly designed or constructed reinforced concrete. When rebar corrodes, the oxidation products expand and tends to flake, cracking the concrete and unbonding the rebar from the concrete. Typical mechanisms leading to durability problems are as below: Mechanical failure Steel reinforced concrete may be considered to have failed when significant cracks occur. Cracking of the concrete section cannot be prevented. However, the size and location of the cracks can be limited and controlled by reinforcement, placement of control joints, the curing methodology and the mix design of the concrete. Cracking defects can allow moisture to penetrate and corrode the reinforcement. This is a serviceability failure in limit state design. Cracking is normally the result of an inadequate quantity of rebar, or rebar spaced at too great a distance. The concrete then cracks either under excess loadings, or due to internal effects such as early thermal shrinkage when it cures. Ultimate failure leading to collapse can be caused by crushing of the concrete matrix, when stresses exceed its strength by yielding of the rebar or by bond failure between the concrete and the rebar. Carbonation Carbonation or neutralisation, is a chemical reaction between carbon dioxide in the air and calcium hydroxide and hydrated calcium silicate in the concrete. The water in the pores of Portland Cement Concrete is normally alkaline with a pH in the range of 12.5 to 13.5. This highly alkaline environment is one in which the embedded steel is passivated and is protected from corrosion. The carbon dioxide in the air reacts with the alkaline in the cement and makes the pore water more acidic, thus lowering the pH. Carbon dioxide will start to carbonate the cement in the concrete from the moment the object is made. This carbonation process will start at surface, then slowly move deeper and deeper into the concrete. If the object is cracked, the carbon dioxide in the air will be better able to penetrate into the concrete. Carbonated concrete only becomes a durability problem when there is also sufficient moisture and oxygen to cause electro-potential corrosion of the reinforcing steel. Chlorides Chlorides, including sodium chloride, can promote the corrosion of embedded steel rebar if present in sufficient concentration. So, only use fresh raw water or portable water for mixing concrete. It was once common for calcium chloride to be use as an admixture to promote rapid set-up of the concrete. It was also mistakenly believed that it would prevent freezing. Alkali Silica Reaction This is a reaction of amorphous silica sometimes present in the aggregates with alkali, for example from the cement pore solution. The silica reacts with the alkali to form a silicate in the Alkali silica reaction, this causes localize swelling which causes cracking. The conditions are: aggregate containing an alkaline reactive constituent, sufficiently availability of alkali ions and sufficient moisture. This phenomenon referred as concrete cancer. This reaction occurs independently of the presence of rebar. Conversion of High Alumina cement Resistant to weak acids and especially sulfates, this cement cures quickly and reaches very high durability and strength. However, it can lose strength with heat or time, especially when not properly cured. Sulfates Sulfates in the soil or in groundwater, in sufficient concentration, can react with the Portland cement in concrete causing the formation of expansive products which can lead to early failure of the structure. Corrosion and Passivation of steel reinforcement Exposed steel will corrode in moist atmospheres due to differences in the electrical potential on the steel surface forming anodic and cathodic sites. Concrete as an environment The environment provided by good quality concrete to steel reinforcement is one of high alkalinity due to the presence of the hydroxides of sodium, potassium and calcium produced during the hydration reactions. The bulk of surrounding concrete acts as a physical barrier to many of the steels aggressors. In such an environment steel is passive and any small breaks in its protective oxide film are soon repaired. However, the alkalinity of its surroundings are reduced, such as by neutralization are able to reach the steel then severe corrosion of the reinforcement can occur. This in turn can result in to staining of the concrete by rust and spalling of the cover due to the increase in volume associated with the conversion of iron to iron oxide. Factors affecting corrosion rates of steel in concrete The permeability of the concrete is important in determining the extent to which aggressive external substances can attack the steel. A thick concrete cover of low permeability is more likely to prevent chloride ions from an external source from reaching the steel and causing depassivation. Alternatives for the reinforcing phase Where an adequate depth of cover is difficult to achieve due to design considerations or where aggressive environments are expected such as in marine structures or bridge decks, additional protection may be required for the embedded steel. This may take many and varied forms and commercial interest in this field is strong. The steel reinforcement itself may be made more able to maintain its passivity by providing it with a protective coating. In extreme circumstances, solid stainless steel may be used, although the perceived additional cost restricts its use in all but the most specialized applications. The ideal situation There can be little doubt that the most effective way of protecting steel which is embedded in concrete is to provide it with an adequate depth of cover by high strength, low permeability concrete free from depassivating ions such as chlorides. However, in the real world, concrete is laid by the tone in all weathers and environments, exposed to industrial atmospheres, de-icing salts and seawater. The real situation Contaminated materials and poor workmanship are hard to avoid completely but by understanding the often complex chemical and electrochemical conditions that can exists it should be possible to develop ways of producing structures which will last long into the next century. Deterioration mechanisms The majority of reinforced concrete around the world performs adequately and gives few problems. A minority of structures have deteriorated due to either the action of aggressive components from the external environment or incompatibility of the mix constituents. Problems can arise as a result of incomplete or inaccurate site investigation, poor design, badly specified concrete, poor workmanship and a range of other factors. Stages of deterioration The mechanisms of deterioration are primarily chemico-physical in nature and occur in three discrete stages which are initiation, propagation, and deterioration. Modes of deterioration Deterioration may occur due to a number of mechanisms on which a large body of literature already exists. These include: Corrosion of reinforcement due to chloride ions, carbonation and change in the rebar reinforcement. Sulphate attack of concrete Salt recrystallisation Soft water or acid attack of concrete Alkali aggregate reaction Thermal incompatibility of concrete components Shrinkage Frost damage Depth of cover Inadequate cover is invariably associated with areas of high corrosion risk due to both carbonation and chloride ingress. By surveying the surface of a structure with an electromagnetic covermeter and producing a cover contour plot, the high-risk areas can be easily identified. A cover survey of newly completed structures would rapidly identify likely problem areas and permit additional protective measures to be taken. Cracked cover It should be remembered that reinforced concrete is intrinsically a cracked material because the steel stops the structure failing in tension but the brittle concrete cracks to the depth of the reinforcement. Only those cracks above a critical width which intersect the steel are liable to assist the corrosion processes. Cost Incurred After a period of unprecedented growth in prices during 2004, early date for 2005 indicates that the constructional steel market faces greater stability in the year ahead. Despite the price increases, demand for steel in the UK market remained at a very high level in 2004. One of the principal concerns for steel users was the availability of material, but the year ended with more steel in the supply chain than there had been at the beginning. Structural steel frame costs The leading benchmark cost unit for structural steelwork is its unit cost per tonne which includes the steel and the following elements: Connection design, detail drawing, fabrication, testing, treatment and delivery, offloading, erection These are calculated against the overall estimated tonnage for the building to generate an overall frame cost. Unit costs per tonne can vary enormously as there are a combination of factors that influence the overall cost. Care should be taken in considering each projects characteristics in arriving at a tonnage rate. This can be calculated either on the number of beams and column in a building or a weight per m ². The relative costs of each element will vary depending on the nature of the project. The tonnage rate could be divided as follows: Materials 30% Engineering 5% Fabrication 35% Priming 8% Delivery 2% Erection 20% The costs assume that the structural steelwork contractor will provide their own crane for all the projects with the exception of office buildings, for which the main contractor provides a tower crane. The early involvement of structural steelwork fabricators is the most effective way to value engineer cost savings into steelwork frame. For example, using more substantial and therefore more expensive steel columns in a design could remove the need for stiffeners. The steel may cost more but it is cheaper overall than paying for labour to fabricate and weld stiffeners to the column. If this value is adopted early enough in the project across the whole frame design, significant cost savings can be achieved. The cost of a frame system alone should not dictate the choice of frame for a project. Rather it should be just one of a number of issues that should be considered when making the choice of frame material. The recent rises in reinforcement and steel prices have increased frame costs but the difference between steel and concrete frame costs remains insignificant. A 50% increase in European steel prices during 2004 has left many in the construction industry reviewing design solutions that have a heavy reliance on steel. The impact of the steel price rises and found that the whole project costs for concrete framed buildings are marginally less than for steel framed buildings. Foundation costs The foundations typically represent approximately 3% of whole project initial cost. For the heaviest reinforced concrete solutions, the foundations will be more expensive, but this represents only a small cost and can be offset by using post-tensioned slabs, which are typically 15% lighter. Cladding costs The thinner the overall structural and services zone, the less the cladding costs. Given that cladding can represent up to 25% of the construction cost it is worth minimizing the cladding area. The minimum floor-to-floor height is almost always achieved with a concrete flat slab and separate services zone. Partitions Sealing and fire stopping at partitions heads is simplest with flat soffits. Significant savings of up to 10% of the partitions package can be made compared to the equivalent dry lining package abutting a profiled soffit with downstands. This can represent up to 4% of the frame cost. Services co-ordination/ Installation/ Adoptability The soffit of a concrete flat slab provides a zone for services distribution free of any downstand beams. This reduces coordination effort for the design team and therefore the risk of errors. It permits flexibility in design and allows coordination effort to be focused elsewhere. Services installation is simplest below a flat soffit. This permits maximum off site fabrication of services, higher quality of work and quicker installation. These advantages should be reflected in cost and value calculations. Indeed, ME contractors quote an additional cost of horizontal services distribution below a profited slab of up to 15%. Flat soffits also allowed greater future adaptability. Fire protection For concrete structures fire protection is generally not needed as the material has inherent fire resistance of up to four hours. This remove the time, cost and separate trade required to attend the site for fire protection. Vibration The inherent mass of concrete means that concrete floors generally meet vibration criteria at no extra cost and without any extra stiffening. For more stringent criteria, the additional cost to meet vibration criteria is small compared to other structural material. Exposed soffit A concrete structure has a high thermal mass. By exposing the soffits this can be utilized through fabric energy storage to reduce initial plant costs and ongoing operational costs. Furthermore, the cost of suspended ceilings can be reduced or eliminated. Conclusion As a conclusion, the majority of reinforced concrete structures show excellent durability and perform well over their design life. Adverse environments or poor construction practice can lead to corrosion of the reinforcing steel in concrete. The major mechanisms for corrosion are atmospheric carbon dioxide ingress and chloride attack from cast-in or diffused chlorides. The corrosion and deterioration mechanisms are essentially the same for both carbonation and chloride attack. Proper choice of materials, adequate cover to reinforcement, good quality concrete and attention to the environment during construction will enhance the durability of reinforced concrete structures. For cost incurred, concretes range of inherent benefits including fabric energy storage, fire resistance and sound installation means that concrete buildings tend to have lower operating costs and lower maintenance requirements. For structure subjected to aggressive environments, combinations of moisture, temperature and chlorides may result in the corrosion of reinforcing and prestressing steel, leading to the deterioration of concrete and loss of serviceability. One preferred solution which has assumed the status of cutting-edge research in many industrialized countries, is the use of fiber reinforced polymer rebars in concrete. Fiber concrete is also becoming an increasingly popular construction material due to its improved mechanical properties over non-reinforced concrete and its ability to enhance the mechanical performance of conventionally reinforced concrete. DEFINITION OF FIBRE REINFORCED POLYMER Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP), also known as fibre-reinforced plastic) are composite materials made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres. FRPs are commonly used in the aerospace, automotive, marine, and construction industries. FRPs are typically organized in a laminate structure, such that each lamina (or flat layer) contains an arrangement of unidirectional fibres or woven fibre fabrics embedded within a thin layer of light polymer matrix material. The fibres, typically composed of carbon or glass, provide the strength and stiffness. The matrix, commonly made of polyester, Epoxy or Nylon, binds and protects the fibers from damage, and transfers the stresses between fibers. TYPES OF MATERIAL USED Polymer There are two main types of polymer used for resins: thermosets and thermoplastics. The thermosetting polymers used in the construction industry are the polyesters and the epoxides. There are many thermoplastic resins used in composite manufacture: polyolefins, polyamides, vinylic polymers, polyacetals, polysulphones, polycarbonates, polyphenylenes and polyimides. Fibre A wide range of amorphous and crystalline materials can be used as the fibre. In the construction industry the most common fibre used is glass fibre (there are 4 types of glass fibre: E-glass, AR-glass, A-glass and high strength glass). Carbon fibre, of which there are 3 types (Type I, II, III) can be used separately or in conjunction with the glass fibre as a hybrid to increase the stiffness of a structural member or the area within a structure, so that the stiffness exceeds the value possible using only glass fibre. Aramid fibres can be used instead of glass fibres to give increased stiffness to the composite. Today each of these fibers is used widely in industry for any applications that require plastics with specific strength or elastic qualities. Glass fibers are the most common across all industries, although carbon fiber and carbon fiber aramid composites are widely found in aerospace, automotive and sporting good applications. Additives For structural applications it is mandatory to achieve some degree of flame retardant. Fire retardants are usually incorporated in the resin itself or as an applied gel-coat. Fillers and pigments are also used in resins for a variety of purposes, the former principally to improve mechanical properties and the latter for appearance and protective action. APPLICATIONS OF FRP IN CONSTRUCTION There are three broad divisions into which applications of FRP in civil engineering can be classified: applications for new construction, repair and rehabilitation applications, and architectural applications. NEW CONSTRUCTION FRPs have been used widely by civil engineers in the design of new construction. Structures such as bridges and columns built completely out of FRP composites have demonstrated exceptional durability, and effective resistance to effects of environmental exposure. Pre-stressing tendons, reinforcing bars, grid reinforcement, and dowels are all examples of the many diverse applications of FRP in new structures. REPAIR AND REHABILITATION One of the most common uses for FRP involves the repair and rehabilitation of damaged or deteriorating structures. Several companies across the world are beginning to wrap damaged bridge piers to prevent collapse and steel-reinforced columns to improve the structural integrity and to prevent buckling of the reinforcement. ARCHITECTURAL Architects have also discovered the many applications for which FRP can be used. These include structures such as siding/cladding, roofing, flooring and partitions. DESIGN CONSIDERATION The strength properties of FRPs collectively make up one of the primary reasons for which civil engineers select them in the design of structures. A materials strength is governed by its ability to sustain a load without excessive deformation or failure. When an FRP specimen is tested in axial tension, the applied force per unit cross-sectional area (stress) is proportional to the ratio of change in a specimens length to its original length (strain). When the applied load is removed, FRP returns to its original shape or length. In other words, FRP responds linear-elastically to axial stress.   FRP allows the alignment the glass fibers of thermoplastics to suite specific design programs. Specifying the orientation of reinforcing fibers can increase the strength and resistance to deformation of the polymer. Glass reinforced polymers are strongest and most resistive to deforming forces when the polymers fibers are parallel to the force being exerted, and are weakest when the fibers are perpendicular. Thus this ability is can be an advantage or a limitation depending on the context of use. Weak spots of perpendicular fibers can be used for natural hinges and connections, but can also lead to material failure when production processes fail to properly orient the fibers parallel to expected forces. When forces are exerted perpendicular to the orientation of fibers, the strength and elasticity of the polymer is less than the matrix alone. In cast resin components made of glass reinforced polymers such as UP and EP, the orientation of fibers can be oriented in two-dimensional and three-dimensional weaves. This means that when forces are possibly perpendicular to one orientation, they are parallel to another orientation; this eliminates the potential for weak spots in the polymer. COST With the rising cost of nickel, FRP has become a very competitive material of construction. It is very competitive with acid brick or rubber-lined carbon steel and much less expensive than alloy-clad carbon steel. It is generally more expensive than resin-coated carbon steel but has a longer service life in most applications. Because FRP does not require insulation, FRP ductwork is actually less expensive than resin-coated carbon steel. ADVANTAGES OF FRP Composites offer the designer a combination of properties not available in traditional materials. It is possible to introduce the fibres in the polymer matrix at highly stressed regions in a certain position, direction and volume in order to obtain the maximum efficiency from the reinforcement, and then, within the same member to reduce the reinforcement to a minimal amount at regions of low stress value. FRP products are a cost effective alternative to steel in many of the harshest industrial environments. The advantages of FRP products over other materials include: Corrosion Resistant Fibre Reinforced Polymer materials are designed to operate in aggressive environments. Little or no coating or treating required. Low maintenance requirements Designed and engineered to last, composite structural materials are virtually maintenance free. Impact resistant Inherent flexibility allows products to resist impact and failure. Non-conductive and Non metallic FRP constructions provide additional safety by stopping sparks and potential electrical hazards. Fire Retardant FRP has a low flame spread index when tested under ASTM E-84 and meets self extinguishing requirements of ASTM D-635. High strength-to-weight ratio The strong, but light weight alternative where heavy lifting or access is an issue. Reduced installation time and cost FRP products are easier and lighter to install. Normal hand tools are used to make adjustments. Therefore FRP offers greater efficiency in construction compared with the more conventional materials. DISADVANTAGES OF FRP Structural failure can occur in FRP materials when tensile forces stretch the matrix more than the fibers, causing the material to shear at the interface between matrix and fibers, tensile forces near the end of the fibers exceed the tolerances of the matrix, separating the fibers from the matrix and tensile forces can also exceed the tolerances of the fibers causing the fibers themselves to fracture leading to material failure. A serious matter relating to the use of FRPs in civil applications is the lack of design codes and specifications. For nearly a decade now, researchers from Canada, Europe, and Japan have been collaborating their efforts in hope of developing such documents to provide guidance for engineers designing FRP structures. FRP plastics are liable to a number of the issues and concerns surrounding plastic waste disposal and recycling. Plastics pose a particular challenge in recycling processes because they are derived from polymers and monomers that often cannot be separated and returned to their virgin states, for this reason not all plastics can be recycled for re-use, in fact some estimates claim only 20% to 30% of plastics can be material recycled at all. In addition, fibers themselves are difficult to remove from the matrix and preserve for re-use means FRP amplify these challenges. FRP are inherently difficult to separate into base a material that is into fiber and matrix, and the matrix into separate usable plastic, polymers, and monomers. These are all concerns for environmentally informed design today, but it must be noted that plastics often offer savings in energy and economic savings in comparison to other materials, also with the advent of new more environmentally friendly matrices such as bioplastics and UV-degradable plastics, FRP will similarly gain environmental sensitivity. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL STEEL REINFORCED CONCRETE AND FIBRE-REINFORCED POLYMER (FRP) CONCRETE No. Conventional Steel Reinforced Concrete Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Concrete 1 Definition: Steel reinforced concrete is a specific type that has had strong steel rebar added to it while wet, creating a very strong type of concrete that is able to withstand almost anything when it has dried. Definition: FRP concrete is composite materials made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres and typically organized in a laminate structure, such that each lamina (or flat layer) contains an arrangement of unidirectional fibres or woven fibre fabrics embedded within a thin layer of light polymer matrix material. 2 Corrosion of steel reinforcement: Exposed steel will corrode in moist atmospheres due to differences in the electrical potential on the steel surface forming anodic and cathodic sites. Corrosion Resistant: Fibre Reinforced Polymer materials are designed to operate in aggressive environments. Little or no coating or treating