The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1841 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/04/11 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: The Things They Carried Essay Did you like this example? This quote is impactful because it reveals not only the physical baggage that the soldiers carry but also the mental burden. They have to live on with what the outcomes of the war are even after its over. â€Å"They carried the soldiers greatest fear, which was the fear of blushingThey died so as not to die of embarrassment.† (OBrien 20) Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien" essay for you Create order This quote was impactful for me because it shows that men risked their lives to go to war just to save their reputations. They would rather fight in the war because refusing would mean cowardice and men, according to society can’t be that. â€Å"Some carried themselves with a sort of wistful resignation, others with pride or stiff soldierly discipline or good humor or macho zeal. They were afraid of dying but they were even more afraid of showing it† (O’Brien 19) This quote is impactful because most of these men showed pride during the war to hide their true fears under the mask of humor or enthusiasm. The soldiers could be terrified of being in the war but they still wouldnt show it because it would show lack of bravery. OBrien wrote this to show that they carried much more than guns and equipment, they mostly carried burden in their heads. The outcomes of the war were far worse than they appeared because war changes a person not only physically but psychologically as well. The soldiers were risking not only their lives but their reputations and names as well. Being a coward wasn’t an option, hiding their fears, showing bravery and pride was far more important than showing how they truly felt. Pride, bravery, discipline, good humor, all examples of how they hid those negative feelings they had towards the war. All the weight they carried mentally and emotionally was far worse than it appeared to be on the outside. â€Å"The Man I Killed† â€Å"His jaw was in his throatthere was a slight tear at the lobe of one earhis forehead was slightly freckledthe skin at his left cheek was peeled back in three ragged stripsthere was a butterfly on his chin†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (OBrien 118) This quote is impactful for me because it shows how unusual OBrien’s response was when he took a life. Instead of expressing the guilt, he just stared at the body and grasped every amount of detail he could to prevent himself from thinking about his actions. â€Å"The young man would not have wanted to be a soldier and in his heart would have feared performing badly in battleHe loved mathematicsat school the boys sometimes teased him about how pretty he was†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (OBrien 121) This quote is important because it shows how OBrien deals with the guilt of killing the Vietnamese soldier, by imagining how life was like for him. He does this to hide what he actually feels and maybe also to put himself in his shoes in a certain way. â€Å"there was a butterfly on his chinThe butterfly was making its way along the young mans foreheadAlong the trail there were small blue flowers shaped like † (OBrien 118 120-121) This quote is important because it shows how OBrien repeats the physical features of his victim and references a butterfly on the dead body and blue flowers next to the dead body which is ironic. It shows me that even in death, there is life. O’Brien chose this story to show the effect of death and beauty of life even in death. The effect he wants to invoke on the reader is to put them inside a soldiers head and show them what theyre going through. O’Brien wants the readers to feel how he felt in the moment he took a life and understand the horror of facing death. It also shows the reader how OBrien distanced himself from the death, by creating a life for the soldier. He feels safer by focusing on other things rather than thinking about his actions and feeling guilty. Mentioning the butterfly and flowers near the dead body also shows how there is still hope of life among the war. This story helps develop the next story, â€Å"Ambush†. â€Å"Ambush† â€Å"He was a short, slender young man of about twenty. I was afraid of himand he passed me on the trail I threw a grenade that exploded at his feet and killed him.† (O’Brien 125) This quote is important because it shows how O’Brien has a clear memory of what happened even though it occurred very fast. O’Brien’s repetition of the physical details of the man show how the death was very impactful on him and how he was afraid of him because the effect still haunts him. â€Å"When she was nine, my daughter Kathleen asked me if I had killed someoneSomeday, I hope, shell ask again. But here I want to pretend shes a grown-upThis is why I keep writing war stories†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (O’Brien 125) This quote is impactful because it shows how O’Brien wants to protect his daughter from the horrors of the war. He wants to let his daughter know he did what he felt was right when she is old enough so she understands why he keeps writing war stories and why it is necessary. â€Å"It was not a matter of live or die. There was no peril. Almost certainly the young man would have passed by. And it will always be that way.† (OBrien 127) This quote is impactful because OBrien wants to justify and give a reason as to why he killed a man so people dont think he acted without reason. He believes that if he hadnt thrown grenade at the man he would have just passed by and his death wouldnt have haunted OBrien. Tim OBrien wrote this story to show the readers what effect death can have on soldiers. He also writes to address to his daughter the reasons why he wrote it and to justify his actions. He keeps writing war stories hoping that someday his daughter when she’s older, understands the difficult decisions that had to be taken during the war. The purpose of this story is to show the aftermath of death. It depicts the instinct to survive. OBrien acted out of fear and didnt comprehend his actions until it was too late. This story helps readers understand the impact of rapid decisions that have to be made. â€Å"The Dentist† â€Å"He didnt mind blood or pain-he actually enjoyed combat-but there was something about a dentist that gave him the creeps†¦He fainted before the man even touched him.† (OBrien 83) This quote is important because it shows how Curt Lemon isnt bothered by violence and death but is afraid of a someone touching his teeth. This means that he is more comfortable being in the midst of chaos and war than going to a dentist. â€Å"Anyone else wouldve laughed it off, but for Curt Lemon it was too much. The embarrassment mustve turned a screw in his head.† (OBrien 84) This quote is impactful because it shows how shame starts to drive a tough soldier crazy. It shows how he values his reputation and doesnt want people to see him as a coward. â€Å"The dentist couldnt find any problem, but Lemon kept insisting, so the man finally shrugged and†¦ yanked out a perfectly good tooth.† (OBrien 84) This quote is important because it shows how Lemon believes getting a tooth pulled out and coming over his fear of the dentist would keep his reputation intact. It also shows how he is more worried about his reputation than dying in the war and it becomes too much to handle so he decides to act on it. OBriens purpose of writing this story is to show a different side to the soldiers and the society they live in during his time. It portrays how a tough soldier who is always doing dangerous things is afraid of the dentist. In order to keep up his reputation, Lemon goes as far as to getting his teeth pulled out because it would keep his brave soldier reputation intact among other soldiers. He also does this to prove to himself that he isnt a coward and to overcome the fact that he fainted. This story helps develop other stories in the book such as â€Å"On the Rainy River† by talking about reputation and cowardice. Society expects men to be strong and insensitive, therefore, showing any emotion is a sign of weakness to the soldiers. â€Å"On the Rainy River† â€Å"I feared the war, yes, but I also feared exile†¦ I feared losing the respect of my parents†¦ I feared ridicule and censure.† (OBrien 42) This quote is important because OBrien doesnt want to go to war but he cant decide between his fear of losing his familys respect and his reputation in town. He doesn’t want to flee the draft and disgrace his name among everyone because they would think of the act as lack of bravery and love for their country. â€Å"I think he meant to bring me up against the realities, to guide me across the river and to take me to the edge and to stand a kind of vigil as I chose a life for myself†¦ I couldnt act†¦ all I could do was cry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (OBrien 53-54) This quote is impactful because Elroy brings OBrien to the river and without saying anything he wants to face the reality and decide the path he wants to take in that moment. OBrien is ashamed of this story because he believes crying is a failure of masculinity and him not being able to make a decision shows lack of brave. â€Å"And what was so sad, I realized, was that Canada had become a pitiful fantasy. Silly and hopeless. It was no longer a possibility.† (OBrien 55) This quote is important because it is the moment of realization for OBrien and what he believes is the right thing to do. He won’t escape to Canada because it would be seen as cowardice, and he would rather not bring disgrace upon his family and town.? Tim OBrien wrote this story to express the inner struggles he dealt with upon receiving the draft. The author wants the reader see how he is compelled into making the decision of going to Canada or staying and fighting for his country and how he decided on it. The old man OBrien meets when he’s on his way to Canada plays a big part in the way he decides on what he wants to do, whether he will stay or escape. Elroy forces him to make a choice at the river of what he thinks is right, and never passes judgment onto him. Elroy’s presence forces OBrien to confront Canada and freedom from the war without him actually speaking. OBrien’s purpose of writing this book is to justify his decisions and also to put the readers in the position he was in on the rainy river.

British Romantic Poetry As A Revolutionary Part Of England...

British romantic poetry was remarkable for a myriad of reasons. Not only did it vouch for a focus on nature in literature, but also showed an increased interest in both the emotion of the average person, and a heightened esteem for imagination as well as the wonder and amazement that accompanied children. Of course, it showed a darker side of the world as well, with some of the more distinguished writers focusing on the poor and how they lived. Stylistically, there was also a clear influence from Greek culture, with many poems taking inspiration from Greece’s literature and culture, along with other supernatural aspects that were added in. In a place where many types of literature found their start, what made British Romantic poetry a revolutionary part of England’s culture? The answer is simple. Because the genre was so unique, it attracted many different kinds of people, some of whom would never have been accepted in any other literary genre. For example, Lord Byron was, by all accounts, an eccentric. His unique mannerisms and his reportedly very flamboyant attitude earned his hordes of fans who both devours his work and kept track of his life. Of course, there were more straight-laced people as well, such as John Keats, who started studying to become a doctor and wound up growing into one of the most loved British poets after his death. Percy Bysshe Shelley, who was the father of the author of Frankenstein, Mary Shelly, and also a very controversial figure in EnglishShow MoreRelatedBritish Arts5612 Words   |  23 PagestishTOPIC 14: BRITISH ARTS Outline: I. Introduction II. Content 1. Overview of the arts in Britain 1.1. What are â€Å"the arts†? 1.2. The arts in society 1.3. The characteristics of British arts and letters 1. Types of arts 2.4. Theatre and cinema 2.5. Music 2.6. Literature 2.7. The fine arts III. Conclusion 1. Overview of the arts in Britain 2.1. What are â€Å"The arts†? 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Three Days to See by Helen Keller free essay sample

Blending the world of Special Education with General Education Constructivism vs Behaviorism In Behaviorism, it focuses in one particular view of learning: a change in external behavior achieved through a large amount of repetition of desired actions, the reward of good habits and the discouragement of bad habits. In the classroom this view of learning led to a great deal of repetitive actions, praise for correct outcomes and immediate correction of mistakes. In the field of language learning this type of teaching was called the audio-lingual method, characterized by the whole class using choral chanting of key phrases, dialogues and immediate correction. Within the Problem Based Learning (PBL) environment, students may be encouraged to engage with the learning process and their peers within the group by positive reinforcement from a skilled facilitator to increase positive actions of engagement, contributions and questioning. Negative behaviors e. g. lack of engagement, negative contributions, could be minimized by the facilitator using negative reinforcement. We will write a custom essay sample on Three Days to See by Helen Keller or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Within the behaviorist view of learning, the teacher is the dominant person in the classroom and takes complete control, evaluation of learning comes from the teacher who decides what is right or wrong. The learner does not have any opportunity for evaluation or reflection within the learning process, they are simply told what is right or wrong. The conceptualization of learning using this approach could be considered superficial as the focus is on external changes in behavior i. e. not interested in the internal processes of learning leading to behavior change and has no place for the emotions   In Constructivism, it explains how knowledge is constructed in the human being when information comes into contact with existing knowledge that had been developed by experiences. It has its roots in cognitive psychology and biology and an approach to  education  that lays emphasis on the ways knowledge is created in order to adapt to the world. Constructs are the different types of filters we choose to place over our realities to change our reality from chaos to order. Von Glasersfeld describes constructivism as â€Å"a theory of knowledge with roots in philosophy, psychology, and cybernetics† Constructivism has implications for the theory of instruction. Discovery learning, hands-on, experiential, collaborate, project-based, tasked-based are a number of applications that base teaching and learning on constructivism. Bruner (Kearsley, 1999) provides the following Summary of the principles of constructivist learning: . Readiness—the child must have the skills needed to complete a task and instruction must be concerned with the experiences and contexts that the child needs to be able to learn. 2. If the task or activity is too difficult or if the child does not have the past experiences to help her process what she needs to do to complete the task, it can essentially set the child up to fail and discourage futur e exploration of new activities. 3. Past knowledge and problem-solving skills help the child solve new problems that are more complex.

John Bardeen Essays - Nobel Laureates In Physics, John Bardeen

John Bardeen Bardeen, John 1908-91, American physicist; b. Madison, Wis. He was known for his studies of semiconductivity and other aspects of SOLID-STATE PHYSICS. The first to win a Nobel Prize twice in the same field, Bardeen shared the 1956 physics prize with Walter Brattain and William Shockley, for work in developing the TRANSISTOR, and the 1972 physics prize with Leon Cooper and John Schreiffer, for their theory of SUPERCONDUCTIVITY. Bardeen, John (1908-1991), American physicist born in Madison, Wisconsin. Working at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey, Bardeen was a member of the team that developed the transistor. For this work, he shared the 1956 Nobel Prize in physics with American physicists William Shockley and Walter H. Brattain. In 1972 he shared the Nobel Prize in physics with American physicists Leon N. Cooper and John R. Schrieffer for the development of a theory to explain superconductivity. He was the first scientist to win two Nobel Prizes in the same category.

The Stick-Built House (In Situ)

The Stick-Built House (In Situ) A stick-built home is a wooden framed house constructed on a building site piece by piece (or stick by stick). It describes the process or how a home is built. Manufactured, modular, and prefabricated homes are not classified as stick-built, because they are made mostly in the factory, transported to the site, and then assembled. A custom home and a home made according to stock building plans may both be stick-built, provided that they are constructed board-by-board on the land where they will remain. Stick-built describes the construction method and not the design. Other names for stick-built homes include site built, hard construction, and in situ. What Is In Situ? In situ is Latin for in place or in position. It can be pronounced a number of ways, including  in-SIT-oo, in-SITCH-oo, and most correctly in-SEYE-too. Because commercial architecture is not generally made out of sticks of wood, the Latin in situ is often used to describe a process of building commercial properties or, more often, producing construction materials on site. For example, in situ concrete means cast-in-place concrete. That is, the concrete is molded and cured (i.e., cast) on the construction site, as opposed to pre-cast concrete (e.g., columns or beams made in a factory and transported to the construction site). One of the green methods used for the London 2012 summer Olympic Games was to provide a batching plant onsite, a one-source supplier of low-carbon concrete for all of the builders of Olympic Park. Concrete was mixed and poured in situ. In situ construction methods are thought to be more environmentally friendly. The main reason behind this belief is reducing the harmful effects of transporting beam after beam and pier after pier. Pros and Cons of Stick-Built Homes A common perception is that stick-built homes are better constructed, last longer, and have a better resale value than prefabricated or modular homes. This perception may or may not be true. Comparisons depend on the quality of the manufactured product versus the workmanship of a builder or carpenter. The major advantage for the home builder is in control. The contractor is in command of the materials and how they are assembled. Likewise, home owners also have certain administrative rights as they can oversee the piece-by-piece construction of their investment when its built in situ. Disadvantages: Common perceptions against stick-built homes involve time and money - that is, stick-built homes take more time to build and they cost more than house pieces built off-site and simply assembled onsite. Competitors also claim that continuous construction traffic to and from the building site makes the stick-built process less than a green building environment. These perceptions may or may not be true. Pushback From Prefabricators Stick-building is a traditional method being challenged by the marketers of modular and prefabricated methods. American Custom Builders, an independent modular home builder in Defiance, Ohio, describes why a system of prefabrication is better than stick built for these reasons: Stick built home have no controlled environment like a factory does - building outdoors in humidity and water can damage wood and cause delays. They say: A stick builder cannot control the weather....Our homes are all built indoors under a temperature controlled environment.Frame carpenters can take short-cuts youll never know about. They say: With An All American Home they use jigs to make sure the walls are straight and square.Stick-built homes take three times longer to build than prefabricated homes. They say: When the house is delivered, we will have it up in aprox. 9 hours.Homes built off-site are less expensive. They say: Will match our prices against his, any day! In Situ Architecture In situ architecture is a structure designed for a particular place, a specific environment, and a known site. Stick-built houses may be constructed onsite, but that doesnt mean that the building was designed architecturally for that land. Portland, Oregon architect Jeff Stern seeks to create architecture that is site specific....to capture the experience of a particular place; how the sunlight falls, and the rise and fall of the land....maintain and create strong views, maximize daylight and natural ventilation, and generally create a place better than when we began. The name of his architectural firm is In Situ Architecture. Resources and Further Reading BOCA Built, American Custom Builders, americancustombuilder.com/bocabuilt.htm [accessed September 8, 2015]About In Situ Architecture, insituarchitecture.net/about/ [accessed September 8, 2015]

The Purposes of Per

The Purposes of Per The Purposes of â€Å"Per† The Purposes of â€Å"Per† By Mark Nichol Per (from a Latin word meaning â€Å"by,† â€Å"by means of,† or â€Å"through†) is widely employed in English, but it or a phrase in which it appears isn’t necessarily the best option. Here’s a guide to using (or not using) per. In popular usage, per is appropriate in relation to figures (â€Å"65 miles per hour,† â€Å"24 points per game,† â€Å"three items per person,† and so on). It can also, alone or preceded by as, mean â€Å"according to,† as in â€Å"Per your instructions, I deposited the check† and â€Å"She complied as per the usual procedure.† Per is also an adverb synonymous with apiece; though its use in this form may seem like dialect in which the final word of the sentence is dropped (â€Å"I’ll let you have them for five dollars per†), it’s standard usage. In its most common function, however, it is sometimes easily replaced by a, as in â€Å"The position pays $75,000 a year† rather than â€Å"per year† or â€Å"I exercise three times a week† rather than â€Å"per week.† Per as part of a set phrase taken directly from Latin is usually pedantic in popular usage; see the list below for recommendations about the use of such phrases: Per annum: This is an unnecessary substitution for the perfectly useful phrases â€Å"a year,† â€Å"each year,† or even â€Å"per year.† Per capita: This direct borrowing of the Latin phrase meaning â€Å"by the head† is commonly employed in financial and demographic contexts, but â€Å"per person† is better in general. Per centum: The Latin precursor of the semiabbreviation percent more clearly signals the original meaning (â€Å"for each hundred†) but is obsolete. Per contra: This phrase, meaning â€Å"in contrast to,† is best reserved for legal contexts and only technical ones, at that. Per diem: The translations for this phrase are â€Å"by the day† or â€Å"for the day,† and except in reference to a daily stipend, there’s no reason not to use daily (especially as an adjective). Per mill: In this phrase, mill is from the Latin term mille, meaning â€Å"a thousand,† so the term is akin to percent but spelled as two words. It’s appropriate only in technical usage, however. Per se: Outside of legal usage, this term sometimes misspelled â€Å"per say† by those who mistakenly assume that it refers to the act of speaking means â€Å"in itself,† as in â€Å"I don’t object to the idea per se.† (Note that, unlike as is the case when the English form is used â€Å"I don’t object to the idea, in itself† no punctuation frames the term.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Punctuating â€Å"So† at the Beginning of a SentenceHow to Pronounce Mobile8 Great Podcasts for Writers and Book Authors

HURRICANES IN THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS Research Paper

HURRICANES IN THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS - Research Paper Example Hurricanes are one of the most devastating natural phenomena known to man. They are chactacterised by strong winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfalls, all of which when combined, leads to extensive loss of human life, destruction of property and ecosystems and the alteration of landscapes. Definition of hurricanes and an exploration of their formation process A hurricane is a spiralling and powerful form of a tropical cyclone, which originates from warm sea surface and then moves towards the mainland. In order for hurricanes to be formed, the sea water must have surface warmth of more than 27 degrees. This temperature level results in the release of moisture and heat into the atmosphere. As the sea moisture rises it condenses to form storm clouds. During condensation, heat (latent heat of condensation) is released into the atmosphere. It is this heat which propels the hurricane. The latent heat makes the atmospheric air warm thereby causing the air to rise further. The void left by the risen air becomes occupied by additional moist air from the surface of the ocean in a continuous, cyclical pattern. This results in the formation of a wind pattern which is circular in nature. This is what is known as a hurricane. Provided that a hurricane remains above a sea surface of 27 degrees and higher, it keeps on pulling moisture from the sea, there by becoming larger in size and in momentum. Propelled by the latent heat and wind patterns in the sea, the hurricane may then head towards land where it finally loses its momentum.

Philosophy of Epistemology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Philosophy of Epistemology - Essay Example It is not the task of this essay to offer a total refutation of the Skeptics' claim, rather to analyze arguments which look at the justification for our beliefs. Two such arguments, which have traditionally been in contest with one another, are Foundationalism and Coherentism. The former claims that there are basic, self-evident beliefs which act as a foundation upon which all other beliefs are built. The latter asserts that all beliefs are justified if and only if they cohere with one another. There are obvious problems with these two modes of thinking, which will form the primary investigation of this essay. A possible solution, as offered by Haack, lies somewhere in the middle and is understandably termed "Foundherentism". The heart of this essay will be in the exploration of Haack's reasoning, but first, a look at the two competing theories from which it stems. Empirical Foundationalism claims that sense experiences offer the platform upon which we are able to place all other beliefs. They need no further justification and all other beliefs can ultimately be reduced to these basic beliefs. There is a clear initial problem with Foundationalism, in that it appears to rely on an essentially dogmatic approach. It does not seem unreasonable to ask, for example, how someone knows that it is Monday today. Is it because yesterday was Sunday In which case how does one know it was Sunday yesterday Did someone tell them If so, how did they know And so on for an infinite regress. However, it does seem reasonable, from a common-sense perspective to allow the pressed epistemologist sanctuary with his own sense experiences. Indeed, in her article, A Foundherentist Theory of Empirical Justification, Haack remarks that one of the merits of Foundationalism is that "it acknowledges that a person's experience- what he sees, hears etc.- is relevant to how just ified he is in his belief about the world" (p.420). It certainly seems to be the case that our senses play a key role in deciding our beliefs about the world. A further problem, one which is raised by supporters of Coherentism, is that sensory justification alone does not properly address the problem of why those beliefs have come about. There must be, according to Coherentism, some context within which the sensory beliefs make sense. Believing that one can see a computer in front of them is only justified in relation to another set of beliefs about what a computer is. Coherentism essentially allows justification on the merit of the coherence of the belief set within which it falls. It attempts to deny the validity of the regress argument by claiming that justification is a holistic approach. Though it may offer an alternative to the dogmatic approach of Foundationalism, it nevertheless leaves no room for the sense experience of the subject. It is quite plausible that a subject constructs a perfectly coherent set of beliefs which have little or no correspondence with the 'real world' to which it refers. It might, therefore be perfectly al low-able from a Coherentist perspective to hold a set of beliefs which are entirely justifiable but entirely untrue. Furthermore, the 'holistic' approach offered by Coherentists, is seen by its opponents as little more than a euphemism for circularity. The focus of Foundherentism is the "standards of better or worse evidence, of more or less justified belief"

Healing with technology Essay Example for Free

Healing with technology Essay Spinal Dynamics will aim to capture at least 10% of total spinal implants market by fourth year of operation. Spinal Dynamics plans to become Canada’s largest spinal orthopedic implant company by 2011. The Company plans to pursue vigorously and at an accelerated rate the development, production and marketing of artificial disc implant . The goal would be apart from being superior to other products it should be affordable for the masses in Canada thus contributing to human welfare by application of technology in the field of biomedical sciences. The company Spinal Dynamics is being formed for the purpose of engaging in development, production and marketing of artificial disc implants, in Canada with early and profitable operation as the prime goal. B. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY The boom is gradually shifting from the sectors of finance and information technology towards the biomedical sector specifically the medical device industry. The major reason being increased medical treatment costs, and an urge towards better quality of life. Hip and knee replacements have become very common in spite of the high surgical costs involved. On the same lines spinal surgeries are becoming more prevalent especially because of high economic costs being incurred due to low back pain ailments. According to the statistics, patients suffering from back pain consume more that $90 billion annually in health-care expenses, with approximately $26 billion of that amount directly attributable to treating the back pain. Due to this reason a number of spinal implant companies have mushroomed throughout the U. S and Europe. The main problem in this industry is long development periods and high risks . The long drawn approval process especially in U. S due to FDA regulations is one of the reasons a lot of money is being invented in research , development and testing of the product. However medical law suites might become a big liability for the product if the device fails even once. C. CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS: Competencies Capabilities: 1) Legal and regulatory factors: The medical device industry is classified as class 3 , high risk implant so its obvious that a lot of investment goes into testing and experiments with sufficient evidences to prove its safety in-vivo. There are instances when a device fails and a single lawsuit causes the entire company to close down. Thus its advisable to invest time and money , before taking the implant out to the market 2) Investment of Time Money: As approval process is a long drawn procedure, it is necessary to have well trained quality managers and regulatory system advisors as employees. Sometimes services of external consultants or Regulatory advising companies might be used. 3) In-house surgeons/medical practitioners: As these devices cater to specific ailments and are highly specialized, it is important that we have in-house surgeons to understand the requirements of a product before we begin to design it. Infact the engineers and the surgeons should work hand in hand to come up with a better product. The crucial factors which determines success in biomedical industry 1) Availability of constant flow of Funds: For a new product to be in market, it might take 3-4 yrs, so during this period there should be a constant supply of funds to pay the employees and keep the company running. 2) Excellent marketing strategies : Its important that these products are marketed through right channels, thus its highly imperative that the products are showcased at various trade shows/conferences 3) Understanding the regulatory process: The main aim would be to bring the product soon to the market, by making a full-proof plan before the submission process for approval, as this phase is the lengthiest of all the processes. D. PEST ANALYSIS: Scope of Growth: The medical device industry out here thrives on reverse engineering concept the result is a number of ME TOO products. Infact companies end up investing on buying patents from European and American companies and do not believe in investing money for research and development of such products. There is huge market to be tapped as there is a lot of demand for these products most of which is imported from the Europe and the U. S. This area being the fastest growing market, the projected growth is expected to touch up to $16 billion in 2015 revenues. Source: Millennium Research Group. Spine Care Segments 2015 There is expected to be an increase in surgical treatment options, like facet replacement and dynamic stabilization procedures, which will likely be more acceptable to patients, perhaps doubling the % of patients accepting surgery from 3. 6% to 7% of a much larger, elderly population. As clinical results improve, this market is expected to continue to grow 20% per year and offer a tremendous opportunity to companies with innovative product lines. In 2015, industry experts project lumbar fusions will not grow, but stay at the same 2006 level of 400,000 procedures; dynamic stabilization devices will grow from 25,000 to 250,000 cases; and artificial lumbar and cervical discs grow from 25,000 to 600,000 cases, as these new procedures begin to replace spinal fusion. PART 2: A: BUSINESS OWNERSHIP: Sole proprietorship is a one-person business is registered with the state like a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation. Legally, a sole proprietorship is inseparable from its owner the business and the owner are one and the same. This means the owner of the business reports business income and losses on his or her personal tax return and is personally liable for any business-related obligations, such as debts or court judgments. This accounts 74% of all USA businesses and for 6% of all sales in USA. Advantages: (1) decisions are made by only the owner; (2) simple process to start – just get a business license (3) profits belong to the owner; (4) pride of ownership; (5) lower taxes. Disadvantages: (1) unlimited liability (2) limited life of business (3) difficult to raise capital for business; (4) risk of lost is not shared Partnership: a partnership is simply a business owned by two or more people Just like in a sole proprietorship, the partnerships owners pay taxes on their shares of the business income on their personal tax returns and they are each personally liable for the entire amount of any business debts and claims. 8% of all USA businesses are partnerships and accounts for 4% of all sales in USA Advantages: (1) easy to start (2) not many regulations; (3) not as difficult to raise capital for business; (4) combination of knowledge and skills. Disadvantages: (1) unlimited liability; (2) profits are shared; (3) limited life of the business; (4) disagreements Incorporation: Though forming a corporation is a bit more complicated and costly, but it is well worth the trouble for some small businesses. The main benefit of an LLC or a corporation is that these structures limit the owners personal liability for business debts and court judgments against the business. What sets the corporation apart from all other types of businesses is that a corporation is an independent legal and tax entity, separate from the people who own, control and manage it. Because of this separate status, the owners of a corporation dont use their personal tax returns to pay tax on corporate profits the corporation itself pays these taxes. Owners pay personal income tax only on money they draw from the corporation in the form of salaries, bonuses, and the like. Corporations make sense for business owners who either (1) run a risk of being sued by customers or of piling up a lot of business debts, or (2) have substantial personal assets they want to protect from business creditors. 18% of all USA businesses are corporations and accounts for 90% of all sales in USA. Advantages: (1) easy to raise capital (2) limited liability; (3) unlimited life of business; (4) Can hire specialized skills and knowledge; (5) shared risks. Disadvantages: (1) difficult to start; (2) less direct control; (3) double taxation: corporate tax and individual tax (4) limited activity. Franchising: Franchises are in which individual businessmen or people buy a well established business, but a certain percentage goes back to the corporation. Franchises must adhere to the corporate regulations. (McDonalds, Krispy Cream, Starbucks). Acquisition/Mergers: In this two companies merge together(merger) or a big company acquires a small innovative company giving rise to an acquisition. The best option to go with would be setting up a corporation or a LLC rather to start. The limited liability company or LLC is a relatively new form of doing business which is now recognized in most states. The LLC has grown in popularity because it combines the best features of a corporation and a partnership. Like a corporation, the owners (called members) of the LLC are not personally responsible for the debts of the LLC. Like a partnership, there is no dual taxation and the earnings of the business are taxed directly to the members. The LLC is also preferable in many ways to the S corporation, which also avoids personal liability and dual taxation. The LLC is not subject to most of the limitations which are imposed on corporations by applicable law. For example, while an corporation is not allowed to have more than one type or class of stock ownership and is not allowed to have more than 75 shareholders, the LLC is not subject to such limitations. Overall, the LLC simply allows more flexibility in the structure, operation and management of the business than does the S corporation. LLCs are similar to corporations because they also provide limited personal liability for business debts and claims. But when it comes to taxes, LLCs are more like partnerships: the owners of an LLC pay taxes on their shares of the business income on their personal tax returns.

Essay --

During the eleven year long Sierra Leonean civil war, reports of systematic sexual violence against women and girls during the war resulted in international concern over a potential ‘crisis’ of HIV/AIDS in the country. In order to manage the imagined impending outbreak, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) in Sierra Leone received $15 million from the World Bank to create the Sierra Leone HIV/AIDS Response Program [SHARP]. In this paper, I point to the work that the global crisis narrative of HIV/AIDS does to shape specific forms of intervention. In Sierra Leone, the global health interventions associated with HIV/AIDS are further targeted at vulnerable populations, particularly war-affected women and girls, who are often framed as both abject victims in need of care (read: at risk) and potential vehicles of HIV/AIDS transmission in need of control (read: risky). In my conclusion, I ask whether the vision of HIV/AIDS vulnerability communicated by SHARP is indica tive of an uneven or differential landscape of health citizenship in post-war Sierra Leone. The contemporary model of global health intervention is rooted in colonial and post-colonial histories of debt, structural adjustment, the devolution of the state and the rise of multilateral aid-driven health development. As Sparke (2013) illustrates, the growing global health industry increasingly relies on a ‘new Washington Consensus,’ which frames improvements in population health as integral to social and economic development in nations of the Global South. Combating ‘diseases of poverty,’ such as HIV/AIDS, global health interventions often take the form of short-term ‘technocentric’ solutions that are limited in scope and vertical in implementation (Foley & Henrixson 2... ...ent-funded initiatives act as ‘quasi states’ that produce state-like effects of control, regulation and legitimacy. The involvement of these entities in the creation and implementation of HIV/AIDS policies in Sierra Leone simultaneously disrupts national narratives of health citizenship and creates a global moral politics of intervention (Benton 2012; Kenworthy forthcoming). Through the continued utilization of a crisis model of care to address global health emergencies, the international community perpetuates the mobilization of differential forms of health citizenship that are envisioned at the global scale yet enacted and negotiated in a variety of ways at the national and local scales. In the context of the global health industry, such differential health citizenships are practiced through the prioritization of certain bodies for care to the detriment of others.

A Game of Thrones Chapter Fifty-eight

Eddard The straw on the floor stank of urine. There was no window, no bed, not even a slop bucket. He remembered walls of pale red stone festooned with patches of nitre, a grey door of splintered wood, four inches thick and studded with iron. He had seen them, briefly, a quick glimpse as they shoved him inside. Once the door had slammed shut, he had seen no more. The dark was absolute. He had as well been blind. Or dead. Buried with his king. â€Å"Ah, Robert,† he murmured as his groping hand touched a cold stone wall, his leg throbbing with every motion. He remembered the jest the king had shared in the crypts of Winterfell, as the Kings of Winter looked on with cold stone eyes. The king eats, Robert had said, and the Hand takes the shit. How he had laughed. Yet he had gotten it wrong. The king dies, Ned Stark thought, and the Hand is buried. The dungeon was under the Red Keep, deeper than he dared imagine. He remembered the old stories about Maegor the Cruel, who murdered all the masons who labored on his castle, so they might never reveal its secrets. He damned them all: Littlefinger, Janos Slynt and his gold cloaks, the queen, the Kingslayer, Pycelle and Varys and Ser Barristan, even Lord Renly, Robert's own blood, who had run when he was needed most. Yet in the end he blamed himself. â€Å"Fool,† he cried to the darkness, â€Å"thrice-damned blind fool.† Cersei Lannister's face seemed to float before him in the darkness. Her hair was full of sunlight, but there was mockery in her smile. â€Å"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die,† she whispered. Ned had played and lost, and his men had paid the price of his folly with their life's blood. When he thought of his daughters, he would have wept gladly, but the tears would not come. Even now, he was a Stark of Winterfell, and his grief and his rage froze hard inside him. When he kept very still, his leg did not hurt so much, so he did his best to lie unmoving. For how long he could not say. There was no sun and no moon. He could not see to mark the walls. Ned closed his eyes and opened them; it made no difference. He slept and woke and slept again. He did not know which was more painful, the waking or the sleeping. When he slept, he dreamed: dark disturbing dreams of blood and broken promises. When he woke, there was nothing to do but think, and his waking thoughts were worse than nightmares. The thought of Cat was as painful as a bed of nettles. He wondered where she was, what she was doing. He wondered whether he would ever see her again. Hours turned to days, or so it seemed. He could feel a dull ache in his shattered leg, an itch beneath the plaster. When he touched his thigh, the flesh was hot to his fingers. The only sound was his breathing. After a time, he began to talk aloud, just to hear a voice. He made plans to keep himself sane, built castles of hope in the dark. Robert's brothers were out in the world, raising armies at Dragonstone and Storm's End. Alyn and Harwin would return to King's Landing with the rest of his household guard once they had dealt with Ser Gregor. Catelyn would raise the north when the word reached her, and the lords of river and mountain and Vale would join her. He found himself thinking of Robert more and more. He saw the king as he had been in the flower of his youth, tall and handsome, his great antlered helm on his head, his warhammer in hand, sitting his horse like a horned god. He heard his laughter in the dark, saw his eyes, blue and clear as mountain lakes. â€Å"Look at us, Ned,† Robert said. â€Å"Gods, how did we come to this? You here, and me killed by a pig. We won a throne together . . . â€Å" I failed you, Robert, Ned thought. He could not say the words. I lied to you, hid the truth. I let them kill you. The king heard him. â€Å"You stiff-necked fool,† he muttered, â€Å"too proud to listen. Can you eat pride, Stark? Will honor shield your children?† Cracks ran down his face, fissures opening in the flesh, and he reached up and ripped the mask away. It was not Robert at all; it was Littlefinger, grinning, mocking him. When he opened his mouth to speak, his lies turned to pale grey moths and took wing. Ned was half-asleep when the footsteps came down the hall. At first he thought he dreamt them; it had been so long since he had heard anything but the sound of his own voice. Ned was feverish by then, his leg a dull agony, his lips parched and cracked. When the heavy wooden door creaked open, the sudden light was painful to his eyes. A gaoler thrust a jug at him. The clay was cool and beaded with moisture. Ned grasped it with both hands and gulped eagerly. Water ran from his mouth and dripped down through his beard. He drank until he thought he would be sick. â€Å"How long . . . ?† he asked weakly when he could drink no more. The gaoler was a scarecrow of a man with a rat's face and frayed beard, clad in a mail shirt and a leather half cape. â€Å"No talking,† he said as he wrenched the jug from Ned's hands. â€Å"Please,† Ned said, â€Å"my daughters . . . † The door crashed shut. He blinked as the light vanished, lowered his head to his chest, and curled up on the straw. It no longer stank of urine and shit. It no longer smelled at all. He could no longer tell the difference between waking and sleeping. The memory came creeping upon him in the darkness, as vivid as a dream. It was the year of false spring, and he was eighteen again, down from the Eyrie to the tourney at Harrenhal. He could see the deep green of the grass, and smell the pollen on the wind. Warm days and cool nights and the sweet taste of wine. He remembered Brandon's laughter, and Robert's berserk valor in the melee, the way he laughed as he unhorsed men left and right. He remembered Jaime Lannister, a golden youth in scaled white armor, kneeling on the grass in front of the king's pavilion and making his vows to protect and defend King Aerys. Afterward, Ser Oswell Whent helped Jaime to his feet, and the White Bull himself, Lord Commander Ser Gerold Hightower, fastened the snowy cloak of the Kingsguard about his shoulders. All six White Swords were there to welcome their newest brother. Yet when the jousting began, the day belonged to Rhaegar Targaryen. The crown prince wore the armor he would die in: gleaming black plate with the three-headed dragon of his House wrought in rubies on the breast. A plume of scarlet silk streamed behind him when he rode, and it seemed no lance could touch him. Brandon fell to him, and Bronze Yohn Royce, and even the splendid Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. Robert had been jesting with Jon and old Lord Hunter as the prince circled the field after unhorsing Ser Barristan in the final tilt to claim the champion's crown. Ned remembered the moment when all the smiles died, when Prince Rhaegar Targaryen urged his horse past his own wife, the Dornish princess Elia Martell, to lay the queen of beauty's laurel in Lyanna's lap. He could see it still: a crown of winter roses, blue as frost. Ned Stark reached out his hand to grasp the flowery crown, but beneath the pale blue petals the thorns lay hidden. He felt them clawing at his skin, sharp and cruel, saw the slow trickle of blood run down his fingers, and woke, trembling, in the dark. Promise me, Ned, his sister had whispered from her bed of blood. She had loved the scent of winter roses. â€Å"Gods save me,† Ned wept. â€Å"I am going mad.† The gods did not deign to answer. Each time the turnkey brought him water, he told himself another day had passed. At first he would beg the man for some word of his daughters and the world beyond his cell. Grunts and kicks were his only replies. Later, when the stomach cramps began, he begged for food instead. It made no matter; he was not fed. Perhaps the Lannisters meant for him to starve to death. â€Å"No,† he told himself. If Cersei had wanted him dead, he would have been cut down in the throne room with his men. She wanted him alive. Weak, desperate, yet alive. Catelyn held her brother; she dare not kill him or the Imp's life would be forfeit as well. From outside his cell came the rattle of iron chains. As the door creaked open, Ned put a hand to the damp wall and pushed himself toward the light. The glare of a torch made him squint. â€Å"Food,† he croaked. â€Å"Wine,† a voice answered. It was not the rat-faced man; this gaoler was stouter, shorter, though he wore the same leather half cape and spiked steel cap. â€Å"Drink, Lord Eddard.† He thrust a wineskin into Ned's hands. The voice was strangely familiar, yet it took Ned Stark a moment to place it. â€Å"Varys?† he said groggily when it came. He touched the man's face. â€Å"I'm not . . . not dreaming this. You're here.† The eunuch's plump cheeks were covered with a dark stubble of beard. Ned felt the coarse hair with his fingers. Varys had transformed himself into a grizzled turnkey, reeking of sweat and sour wine. â€Å"How did you . . . what sort of magician are you?† â€Å"A thirsty one,† Varys said. â€Å"Drink, my lord.† Ned's hands fumbled at the skin. â€Å"Is this the same poison they gave Robert?† â€Å"You wrong me,† Varys said sadly. â€Å"Truly, no one loves a eunuch. Give me the skin.† He drank, a trickle of red leaking from the corner of his plump mouth. â€Å"Not the equal of the vintage you offered me the night of the tourney, but no more poisonous than most,† he concluded, wiping his lips. â€Å"Here.† Ned tried a swallow. â€Å"Dregs.† He felt as though he were about to bring the wine back up. â€Å"All men must swallow the sour with the sweet. High lords and eunuchs alike. Your hour has come, my lord.† â€Å"My daughters . . . â€Å" â€Å"The younger girl escaped Ser Meryn and fled,† Varys told him. â€Å"I have not been able to find her. Nor have the Lannisters. A kindness, there. Our new king loves her not. Your older girl is still betrothed to Joffrey. Cersei keeps her close. She came to court a few days ago to plead that you be spared. A pity you couldn't have been there, you would have been touched.† He leaned forward intently. â€Å"I trust you realize that you are a dead man, Lord Eddard?† â€Å"The queen will not kill me,† Ned said. His head swam; the wine was strong, and it had been too long since he'd eaten. â€Å"Cat . . . Cat holds her brother . . . â€Å" â€Å"The wrong brother,† Varys sighed. â€Å"And lost to her, in any case. She let the Imp slip through her fingers. I expect he is dead by now, somewhere in the Mountains of the Moon.† â€Å"If that is true, slit my throat and have done with it.† He was dizzy from the wine, tired and heartsick. â€Å"Your blood is the last thing I desire.† Ned frowned. â€Å"When they slaughtered my guard, you stood beside the queen and watched, and said not a word.† â€Å"And would again. I seem to recall that I was unarmed, unarmored, and surrounded by Lannister swords.† The eunuch looked at him curiously, tilting his head. â€Å"When I was a young boy, before I was cut, I traveled with a troupe of mummers through the Free Cities. They taught me that each man has a role to play, in life as well as mummery. So it is at court. The King's Justice must be fearsome, the master of coin must be frugal, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard must be valiant . . . and the master of whisperers must be sly and obsequious and without scruple. A courageous informer would be as useless as a cowardly knight.† He took the wineskin back and drank. Ned studied the eunuch's face, searching for truth beneath the mummer's scars and false stubble. He tried some more wine. This time it went down easier. â€Å"Can you free me from this pit?† â€Å"I could . . . but will I? No. Questions would be asked, and the answers would lead back to me.† Ned had expected no more. â€Å"You are blunt.† â€Å"A eunuch has no honor, and a spider does not enjoy the luxury of scruples, my lord.† â€Å"Would you at least consent to carry a message out for me?† â€Å"That would depend on the message. I will gladly provide you with paper and ink, if you like. And when you have written what you will, I will take the letter and read it, and deliver it or not, as best serves my own ends.† â€Å"Your own ends. What ends are those, Lord Varys?† â€Å"Peace,† Varys replied without hesitation. â€Å"If there was one soul in King's Landing who was truly desperate to keep Robert Baratheon alive, it was me.† He sighed. â€Å"For fifteen years I protected him from his enemies, but I could not protect him from his friends. What strange fit of madness led you to tell the queen that you had learned the truth of Joffrey's birth?† â€Å"The madness of mercy,† Ned admitted. â€Å"Ah,† said Varys. â€Å"To be sure. You are an honest and honorable man, Lord Eddard. Ofttimes I forget that. I have met so few of them in my life.† He glanced around the cell. â€Å"When I see what honesty and honor have won you, I understand why.† Ned Stark laid his head back against the damp stone wall and closed his eyes. His leg was throbbing. â€Å"The king's wine . . . did you question Lancel?† â€Å"Oh, indeed. Cersei gave him the wineskins, and told him it was Robert's favorite vintage.† The eunuch shrugged. â€Å"A hunter lives a perilous life. If the boar had not done for Robert, it would have been a fall from a horse, the bite of a wood adder, an arrow gone astray . . . the forest is the abbatoir of the gods. It was not wine that killed the king. It was your mercy.† Ned had feared as much. â€Å"Gods forgive me.† â€Å"If there are gods,† Varys said, â€Å"I expect they will. The queen would not have waited long in any case. Robert was becoming unruly, and she needed to be rid of him to free her hands to deal with his brothers. They are quite a pair, Stannis and Renly. The iron gauntlet and the silk glove.† He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. â€Å"You have been foolish, my lord. You ought to have heeded Littlefinger when he urged you to support Joffrey's succession.† â€Å"How . . . how could you know of that?† Varys smiled. â€Å"I know, that's all that need concern you. I also know that on the morrow the queen will pay you a visit.† Slowly Ned raised his eyes. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Cersei is frightened of you, my lord . . . but she has other enemies she fears even more. Her beloved Jaime is fighting the river lords even now. Lysa Arryn sits in the Eyrie, ringed in stone and steel, and there is no love lost between her and the queen. In Dorne, the Martells still brood on the murder of Princess Elia and her babes. And now your son marches down the Neck with a northern host at his back.† â€Å"Robb is only a boy,† Ned said, aghast. â€Å"A boy with an army,† Varys said. â€Å"Yet only a boy, as you say. The king's brothers are the ones giving Cersei sleepless nights . . . Lord Stannis in particular. His claim is the true one, he is known for his prowess as a battle commander, and he is utterly without mercy. There is no creature on earth half so terrifying as a truly just man. No one knows what Stannis has been doing on Dragonstone, but I will wager you that he's gathered more swords than seashells. So here is Cersei's nightmare: while her father and brother spend their power battling Starks and Tullys, Lord Stannis will land, proclaim himself king, and lop off her son's curly blond head . . . and her own in the bargain, though I truly believe she cares more about the boy.† â€Å"Stannis Baratheon is Robert's true heir,† Ned said. â€Å"The throne is his by rights. I would welcome his ascent.† Varys tsked. â€Å"Cersei will not want to hear that, I promise you. Stannis may win the throne, but only your rotting head will remain to cheer unless you guard that tongue of yours. Sansa begged so sweetly, it would be a shame if you threw it all away. You are being given your life back, if you'll take it. Cersei is no fool. She knows a tame wolf is of more use than a dead one.† â€Å"You want me to serve the woman who murdered my king, butchered my men, and crippled my son?† Ned's voice was thick with disbelief. â€Å"I want you to serve the realm,† Varys said. â€Å"Tell the queen that you will confess your vile treason, command your son to lay down his sword, and proclaim Joffrey as the true heir. Offer to denounce Stannis and Renly as faithless usurpers. Our green-eyed lioness knows you are a man of honor. If you will give her the peace she needs and the time to deal with Stannis, and pledge to carry her secret to your grave, I believe she will allow you to take the black and live out the rest of your days on the Wall, with your brother and that baseborn son of yours.† The thought of Jon filled Ned with a sense of shame, and a sorrow too deep for words. If only he could see the boy again, sit and talk with him . . . pain shot through his broken leg, beneath the filthy grey plaster of his cast. He winced, his fingers opening and closing helplessly. â€Å"Is this your own scheme,† he gasped out at Varys, â€Å"or are you in league with Littlefinger?† That seemed to amuse the eunuch. â€Å"I would sooner wed the Black Goat of Qohor. Littlefinger is the second most devious man in the Seven Kingdoms. Oh, I feed him choice whispers, sufficient so that he thinks I am his . . . just as I allow Cersei to believe I am hers.† â€Å"And just as you let me believe that you were mine. Tell me, Lord Varys, who do you truly serve?† Varys smiled thinly. â€Å"Why, the realm, my good lord, how ever could you doubt that? I swear it by my lost manhood. I serve the realm, and the realm needs peace.† He finished the last swallow of wine, and tossed the empty skin aside. â€Å"So what is your answer, Lord Eddard? Give me your word that you'll tell the queen what she wants to hear when she comes calling.† â€Å"If I did, my word would be as hollow as an empty suit of armor. My life is not so precious to me as that.† â€Å"Pity.† The eunuch stood. â€Å"And your daughter's life, my lord? How precious is that?† A chill pierced Ned's heart. â€Å"My daughter . . . â€Å" â€Å"Surely you did not think I'd forgotten about your sweet innocent, my lord? The queen most certainly has not.† â€Å"No,† Ned pleaded, his voice cracking. â€Å"Varys, gods have mercy, do as you like with me, but leave my daughter out of your schemes. Sansa's no more than a child.† â€Å"Rhaenys was a child too. Prince Rhaegar's daughter. A precious little thing, younger than your girls. She had a small black kitten she called Balerion, did you know? I always wondered what happened to him. Rhaenys liked to pretend he was the true Balerion, the Black Dread of old, but I imagine the Lannisters taught her the difference between a kitten and a dragon quick enough, the day they broke down her door.† Varys gave a long weary sigh, the sigh of a man who carried all the sadness of the world in a sack upon his shoulders. â€Å"The High Septon once told me that as we sin, so do we suffer. If that's true, Lord Eddard, tell me . . . why is it always the innocents who suffer most, when you high lords play your game of thrones? Ponder it, if you would, while you wait upon the queen. And spare a thought for this as well: The next visitor who calls on you could bring you bread and cheese and the milk of the poppy for your pain . . . or he could bring you Sansa's head. â€Å"The choice, my dear lord Hand, is entirely yours.†

Planning Theory & Practice Essay

The creation of a whole new type of community, the `virtual community’, has done much to highlight the potential for communities to form beyond the confines of geographic space (Rheingold, 1993). Technological utopians have found community in cyberspace. Largely anecdotal evidence emphasizes the ability of computer networks to connect people across time and space in strong supportive relationships, blindly extending beyond characteristics of ethnicity, religion or national origin. Guilty of Plagiarism  The creation of a new community, which is called a virtual community, has allowed people to live beyond geographic space. Cyberspace is where technological people have found a sense of community. Computers can connect people across time and space no matter what their characteristics (Hampton, 2002). Not Guilty of Plagiarism Keith Hampton (2002), has coined the term â€Å"virtual community† to refer to a place where people can form social groups â€Å"beyond the confines of geographic space† (p. 228). This â€Å"cyberspace† provides a chance for individuals of varying races and religions to meet and interact via computer. Many technologically savvy people now have a place to meet other without having to physically travel (Hampton, 2002). Not Guilty of Plagiarism. Computers have allowed for people to meet those of other nationalities and cultures worlds away from one another through the computer. The networking capabilities of computers allow for people to build social groups, or communities, in cyberspace rather than in person. An ocean or a mountain will no longer be able to keep these technologically savvy pioneers apart (Hampton, 2002).

Free Essays on Family Tree

â€Å"What about my family?† that is what I'm going to tell you in this passage. I will politic about my family’s traditions, its uniqueness, my immediate family, and some not so routine situations my family has encountered. All of those questions and maybe more will be answered †¦ What is one of my family’s traditions? My family has many traditions that are very unnoticeable and that is why this question is hard for me to answer. But if I had to say a family tradition for my family is to dislike your biological for some reason or another. My mother doesn’t like her father to much at all, her mother isn’t in a much different situation, and I am a soldier of the same battle. But this occurs in my biological father’s path as well his father wasn’t there for him and he wasn’t there for me but he does however take care of his other children which is his only good quality. I believe that I can break this chain if I work hard and be a good father I can start a tradition of my own with my children. What makes my family unique? This question will be easily answered by me. I believe that my family’s uniqueness lies in our independence because this is a trait that everyone in my family has one way or another. I, my sister, and my mother are not dependant upon each other. We go our separate ways and work on our on while always knowing we are there for each other if needed, but will probably never call upon each other before it is to serious. We will fight it till we are losing then call for help this is in all of my family and I doubt it will change. I believe our actions and our personas are unique in my family. Describe the members of my immediate family. I only have three members in my immediate family including me, my sister, and my mother. If I had to start anywhere I would start at my mother, Leondras, she is a strong woman that takes great pride in her children and feels that she can and will reach any goals... Free Essays on Family Tree Free Essays on Family Tree â€Å"What about my family?† that is what I'm going to tell you in this passage. I will politic about my family’s traditions, its uniqueness, my immediate family, and some not so routine situations my family has encountered. All of those questions and maybe more will be answered †¦ What is one of my family’s traditions? My family has many traditions that are very unnoticeable and that is why this question is hard for me to answer. But if I had to say a family tradition for my family is to dislike your biological for some reason or another. My mother doesn’t like her father to much at all, her mother isn’t in a much different situation, and I am a soldier of the same battle. But this occurs in my biological father’s path as well his father wasn’t there for him and he wasn’t there for me but he does however take care of his other children which is his only good quality. I believe that I can break this chain if I work hard and be a good father I can start a tradition of my own with my children. What makes my family unique? This question will be easily answered by me. I believe that my family’s uniqueness lies in our independence because this is a trait that everyone in my family has one way or another. I, my sister, and my mother are not dependant upon each other. We go our separate ways and work on our on while always knowing we are there for each other if needed, but will probably never call upon each other before it is to serious. We will fight it till we are losing then call for help this is in all of my family and I doubt it will change. I believe our actions and our personas are unique in my family. Describe the members of my immediate family. I only have three members in my immediate family including me, my sister, and my mother. If I had to start anywhere I would start at my mother, Leondras, she is a strong woman that takes great pride in her children and feels that she can and will reach any goals...

Italian Christmas Traditions and Customs

Italian Christmas Traditions and Customs During Christmastime, one readily observable difference between Italy and the United States, for instance, is the lack of crass commercialism that threatens to swallow up and completely secularize the holiday. For instance, instead of writing letters to Santa Claus asking for presents (or, in the digital age,  e-mailing Santa Claus), Italian children write letters to tell their parents how much they love them. The letter is normally placed under their fathers plate and read after Christmas Eve dinner has been finished. Italians have also adopted some of the  northern European traditions  as well. Nowadays, especially in northern Italy, a fair number of families decorate an evergreen tree in their home. Here are some other rituals, customs, and traditions practiced by Italians during the Christmas holidays: Ceppo: The  ceppo  is a wooden frame several feet high designed in a pyramid shape. This frame supports several tiers of shelves, often with a manger scene on the bottom followed by small gifts of fruit, candy, and presents on the shelves above. The Tree of Light, as it is also know, is entirely decorated with colored paper, gilt pinecones, and miniature colored pennants. Small candles are fastened to the tapering sides and a star or small doll is hung at the apex. Urn of Fate: An old tradition in Italy calls for each member of the family to take turns drawing a wrapped gift out of a large ornamental bowl until all the presents are distributed. Zampognari and Pifferai: In Rome and surrounding areas bagpipers and flute players, in traditional colorful costumes of sheepskin vests, knee-high breeches, white stockings and long dark cloaks, travel from their homes in the Abruzzi mountains to entertain crowds of people at religious shrines. La Befana:  Kindly old witch  who brings children toys on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6. According to the legend of la Befana, the Three Wise Men stopped at her hut to ask directions on their way to Bethlehem and to invite her to join them. She refused, and later a shepherd asked her to join him in paying respect to the Christ Child. Again she refused, and when night fell she saw a great light in the skies. La Befana thought perhaps she should have gone with the Three Wise Men, so she gathered some toys that had belonged to her own child, who had died, and ran to find the kings and the shepherd. But la Befana could not find them or the stable. Now, each year she looks for the Christ Child. Since she cannot find him, she leaves gifts for the children of Italy and pieces of coal (nowadays  carbone dolce, a rock candy that looks remarkably like coal) for the bad ones. Holiday Season: On the Italian holiday calendar December 25 isnt the only special day. Throughout December and January there are a number of religious holidays to mark the season. DECEMBER 6: La Festa di San Nicola - The festival in honor of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of shepherds, is celebrated in towns such as Pollutri with the lighting of fires under enormous cauldrons, in which  fave  (broad beans) are cooked, then eaten ceremoniously. DECEMBER 8: LImmacolata Concezione - celebration of the Immaculate Conception DECEMBER 13: La Festa di Santa Lucia - St. Lucys Day DECEMBER 24: La Vigilia di Natale - Christmas Eve DECEMBER 25: Natale - Christmas DECEMBER 26: La Festa di Santo Stefano - St. Stephens Day marks the announcement of the birth of Jesus and the arrival of the Three Wise Men DECEMBER 31: La Festa di San Silvestro - New Years Eve JANUARY 1: Il Capodanno - New Years Day JANUARY 6: La Festa dellEpifania - The Epiphany

Business letter Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Business letter - Coursework Example The accident was extensive causing injury to four employees while rendering the boiler irreparable. Fortunately, the accident occurred during lunch break a feature that limited the number of causalities. The accidents could have possibly caused a catastrophe at the company had t occurred at any other time during the day. The four employees were from the mechanical department and were running a mechanical check on the boiler at the time of explosion. In yet another twist of luck, the four had moved to the control panel seeking to switch off the boiler before they could work on it at the time of the explosion. One of them had serious burns while the remaining three of them had minor burns among other injuries. The explosion caused a scare at the company. The health and safety authority arrived soon thereafter and are continuing with the investigation alongside the company’s mechanical team to determine the cause and extent of the

The Zacarias Moussaoui Indictment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Zacarias Moussaoui Indictment - Essay Example A watershed moment in world history, the morning of September 11th 2001 will forever be engrained in the American national psyche. From a political, social and economic perspective, the hijackings of 9/11 were unparalleled in scope and sheer devastation. In a fascinating article entitled â€Å"Measuring the Effects of the September 11 Attack on New York City†, it was estimated that the direct cost of the attack stood at between $33 billion and $36 billion to the city of New York (Bram, Orr & Rappaport 2002). In addition to the direct economic costs associated with terrorism and the threat of further terrorism, 9/11 also had important political ramifications. The USA Patriot Act of 2001 (a contrived acronym meaning Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) was established in the aftermath of September 11th to protect Americans from the threat of future terror on American soil. Controversial from the outset, th e Patriot Act represented a serious departure from established legal norms and prior American jurisprudence with respect to privacy legislation. The United States also wanted culpability for the attacks and sought out anyone, anywhere in the world, whom they could link to this disastrous attack (Chaliland 2007). While all of the hijackers that morning perished in the attacks, one alleged plotter, Zacarias Moussaoui, was arrested and faced criminal charges due to his links to the attacks of 9/11. Accordingly, Moussaoui was charged with conspiring to kill American citizens during the attacks of September 11th and was sentenced to life imprisonment. What did his indictment entail? As the alleged replacement for the 20th hijacker, during Zacarias Moussaoui’s conspiracy trial he initially faced the death penalty and was subject to capital punishment for his alleged crimes. Charged with conspiring with the alleged 9/11

ART METAL SCULPTURE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ART METAL SCULPTURE - Essay Example The location of this sculpture is outside East Entrance Parking Lot N, a campus setting. Harold’s metal sculpture resembles two joined elliptical forms whose common joint acts as resting base in an ample clearance or setting. On its two sides, these elliptical forms bear a common inclination angle such that from a distance when viewing from its wide side resembles an eagle flying with its outstretched wings but swung in certain equal inclinations at both sides. Joinery of this work encompassed welded steel and Corten before flattened in such a way at the middle. The entire artwork its sculptor has painted it dark brown color, which makes it come out clearly from its settings bearing natural vegetative colors. Specifically, these are green, bright, and blue sky from the background. Hence, inducing a calmness, refreshing and relaxing moods evident in the way these colors as well as settings of the entire sculpture compliment each other. The location of this work is outside East Entrance Parking Lot N, which is a campus setting. Its entire structure rests on a flattened joinery where the two elliptical forms give an impression of meet at the central point; hence, the sculptor here utilizes the aspect of balance to ensure it is upright. Viewing from its four sides, the viewer only manages to see two identical sides. These include the two sides, front side and the rear one. Sculptor in making his work utilized welded and Corten steels with the intention of bringing out machinery effect. This is because many elliptical objects or forms are quite evident in engineering field whereby smooth and well-curved surfaces gives an implication of keenness by the artists and those represented by the object. Its smoothness and side view elevation gives an implication of heightened skill in making fabricated materials. Consequently, this symbolizes a resourceful center characterized with impeccable ways of attaining their

Black Bourgeoisie Essay Example for Free

Black Bourgeoisie Essay E. Franklin Frazier’s Black Bourgeoisie was more prophetic than many realized. Frazier, who addressed the burgeoning black middle class, expressed concern about the intra-class conflict vis-a-vis socioeconomic status of black folks. Frazier notes that the black middle class was in a rush by the 1960s to assimilate. During the Harlem Renaissance, even W. E. B. Du Bois â€Å"strategically included white judges on panels for their black literary competitions, in hopes that white approval would add luster to black achievements. † This shift that occurred was not a mass or universal one. The black middle class was still small and would not be catapulted until after the advent of Affirmative Action. According to the perspective of E. Franklin Frazier, the â€Å"Black Bourgeoisie† played an important role among American Negros for decades. Frazier’s study led him to the significant of â€Å"Negro Business† and its impact on the black middle class. Education was a major social factor responsible for emergence of the Black bourgeoisie. By fact, the net total number of the free Negroes in the first generation topped out at 37,245 with an estimated accumulation of 50,000,000 in real and personal wealth before the civil war. Free Negroes in southern cities undertook businesses in skilled labor such as carpenters, tailors, shoemakers, wheelwrights, bricklayers, butchers, and painters. The failure of the Freedmen’s Bank contributed to the slow development of the black middle class when Blacks put all their money into the Black banks and when they went under only forty percent of deposits were returned. Occupational differentiation is the change in work field for the Black class. A small professional group making up three percent of all workers had gradually become differentiated from the majority of Blacks. Occupational differentiation had proceeded slowly because Blacks were accustomed to the agriculture field and not only until the migrations to the North were had had they introduced to the industrial centers. In addition the Depression played a role in slowing up the process. Black-owned businesses are primarily service establishments simply because of the refusal on the part of white establishments to provide personal services for Negroes. The debate over true liberalism among blacks still exists. I have found the upper black middle class to be far more conservative and less active towards civil rights and social policy of late. I am concerned that the black bourgeoisie is willing to shift its focus away from the liberalism that put them in their position for racial acceptance. I believe integration is vital to a liberal society as noted by my neighborhood, friends, and place of employment; however, I do not think the black middle class should play the conservative card that carries with it values, attitudes, and behaviors that do not represent progress for all minority groups. Sure 90% of blacks vote in a solid block for the Democratic Party, but that block is not as tight as it used to be.

Les Demoiselles d?Avignon Essay -- Essays Papers

Les Demoiselles d?Avignon As strolled through New York City?s Museum of Modern Art , one particular painting grabbed me , shook me , then through me to the ground to contemplate its awesome power. Like a whirlwind of art , Les Demoiselles d?Avignon , by Pablo Picasso , sent my emotions spinning. I felt extremely uncomfortable glancing at it , let alone staring at it closely for twenty minutes. The raw sexuality and tension that Les Demoiselles d?Avignon radiated was absolutely overwhelming yet very confusing. Other art lovers in the room also expressed discomfort as they glanced at the enormous 96x92 inch painting. Most people would only allow quick glances in between long stares at the more typical paintings on the other walls. I even heard one girl remark ?it?s so gross!!? in a nervous and uncertain voice. I had to know why Les Demoiselles d?Avignon was doing this to me and the others in the room. Les Demoiselles d?Avignon was the product of an irritated and restless Pablo Picasso. In 1906 , Picasso began to tire of painting in the fairly traditional manner that governed his paintings up to Les Demoiselles d?Avignon. His solution was to revolutionize painting.1 Why was Picasso unsatisfied with traditional painting? Essentially Picasso?s overall dissatisfaction for sticking with anything for a long period caused him to take up the difficult quest of revolutionizing painting. He was known to constantly change the styles and mediums through which he created his art. Andre Salmon, a poet and friend Picasso, was once quoted as accusing Picasso of ?trying to force his friends to speculate on the whole problem of art every time they took a brush in their hands.? 2 This quote is very telling of Picasso?s need to change and solve artistic problems. In 1906 he abandoned the painting traditions that stretched all the way back to the Renaissance , and began Les Demoiselles d?A vignon. Les Demoiselles d?Avignon was the product of intense study. The comments of Salmon , shed light on the intensity of the project; ?....He became uneasy , He turned his canvases to the wall and threw down his paintbrushes. For many long days and nights , he drew....Never was labor less rewarded with joy , and without his former youthful enthusiasm Picasso undertook a large canvas that was intended to be the fruit of his experiments.? 3 Every aspect o... ...ing is an enemy!.....the fetishes were weapons. To help people avoid coming under the influence of spirits again , to help them become independent.......I understood why I was a painter....Les Demoiselles d?Avignon must have come to me that very day , but not at all because of the forms ; because it was my first exorcism painting-yes absolutely!? 15 Picasso used Les Demoiselles d?Avignon to free himself from what the world had told him was absolute. Les Demoiselles d?Avignon mocks and teases the faith that people put into their ignorance of the unknown. Picasso?s Les Demoiselles d?Avignon continues to challenge a shake people to this day. Bibliography: John Richardson , A Life of Picasso volume 2 1907-1917 (New York : Random House Press 1996) 15. Arriana S. Huffington , Picasso:Creator and Destroyer . (New York : Simon and Schulster , 1988) 89. Marie-Laurie Berndac and Bouchet , Picasso: Master of the New Idea . (New York , Abrams , 19 Kirk Varnedoe , Response to Les Demoiselles d?Avignon. (http://www.moma.org/docs/collection/paintsculpt/c40.htm , 1997) George H. Hamilton , Painting and Sculpture in Europe 1800-1940 . (New Haven : Yale U. Press 1993) 46-47 Les Demoiselles d?Avignon Essay -- Essays Papers Les Demoiselles d?Avignon As strolled through New York City?s Museum of Modern Art , one particular painting grabbed me , shook me , then through me to the ground to contemplate its awesome power. Like a whirlwind of art , Les Demoiselles d?Avignon , by Pablo Picasso , sent my emotions spinning. I felt extremely uncomfortable glancing at it , let alone staring at it closely for twenty minutes. The raw sexuality and tension that Les Demoiselles d?Avignon radiated was absolutely overwhelming yet very confusing. Other art lovers in the room also expressed discomfort as they glanced at the enormous 96x92 inch painting. Most people would only allow quick glances in between long stares at the more typical paintings on the other walls. I even heard one girl remark ?it?s so gross!!? in a nervous and uncertain voice. I had to know why Les Demoiselles d?Avignon was doing this to me and the others in the room. Les Demoiselles d?Avignon was the product of an irritated and restless Pablo Picasso. In 1906 , Picasso began to tire of painting in the fairly traditional manner that governed his paintings up to Les Demoiselles d?Avignon. His solution was to revolutionize painting.1 Why was Picasso unsatisfied with traditional painting? Essentially Picasso?s overall dissatisfaction for sticking with anything for a long period caused him to take up the difficult quest of revolutionizing painting. He was known to constantly change the styles and mediums through which he created his art. Andre Salmon, a poet and friend Picasso, was once quoted as accusing Picasso of ?trying to force his friends to speculate on the whole problem of art every time they took a brush in their hands.? 2 This quote is very telling of Picasso?s need to change and solve artistic problems. In 1906 he abandoned the painting traditions that stretched all the way back to the Renaissance , and began Les Demoiselles d?A vignon. Les Demoiselles d?Avignon was the product of intense study. The comments of Salmon , shed light on the intensity of the project; ?....He became uneasy , He turned his canvases to the wall and threw down his paintbrushes. For many long days and nights , he drew....Never was labor less rewarded with joy , and without his former youthful enthusiasm Picasso undertook a large canvas that was intended to be the fruit of his experiments.? 3 Every aspect o... ...ing is an enemy!.....the fetishes were weapons. To help people avoid coming under the influence of spirits again , to help them become independent.......I understood why I was a painter....Les Demoiselles d?Avignon must have come to me that very day , but not at all because of the forms ; because it was my first exorcism painting-yes absolutely!? 15 Picasso used Les Demoiselles d?Avignon to free himself from what the world had told him was absolute. Les Demoiselles d?Avignon mocks and teases the faith that people put into their ignorance of the unknown. Picasso?s Les Demoiselles d?Avignon continues to challenge a shake people to this day. Bibliography: John Richardson , A Life of Picasso volume 2 1907-1917 (New York : Random House Press 1996) 15. Arriana S. Huffington , Picasso:Creator and Destroyer . (New York : Simon and Schulster , 1988) 89. Marie-Laurie Berndac and Bouchet , Picasso: Master of the New Idea . (New York , Abrams , 19 Kirk Varnedoe , Response to Les Demoiselles d?Avignon. (http://www.moma.org/docs/collection/paintsculpt/c40.htm , 1997) George H. Hamilton , Painting and Sculpture in Europe 1800-1940 . (New Haven : Yale U. Press 1993) 46-47

Human Resource Development and Strategy Essay

Abstract The purpose of this portfolio project is to assess the learning experienced and my development during my group project. Also, to explain the methods and approaches implicated in completing the training plan; my involvement and participation in the group project. This Final HR Portfolio Project will present the reader a thorough analysis of my contribution to the group project. Final HR Portfolio Project Introduction The purpose of this portfolio project is to assess the learning experienced and my development during my group project. Also, to explain the methods and approaches implicated in completing the training plan; my involvement and participation in the group project. I will conduct a self-evaluation of my participation in the project and express my beliefs and perceptions. In addition, I will answer the following questions: †¢Was the training program the team developed effective in meeting the written objectives †¢The challenges the team and I met and the actions I took to address and resolve the problem †¢I will explain how the interpersonal relationships within the team change from the beginning to the end of the project †¢Convey the effectiveness of the overall team project to me as an individual learning activity and what I learnt that was totally new to me †¢What I would do differently if I had it to do all over again and why? †¢I will describe how could the project have been a better learning process? With specific thoughts on improving the course. †¢Lastly, particular attention will be given to the team experiences and the effectiveness of communication Statement about my own perceptions I went into this project not knowing the amount of work it takes to assess, design, develop and evaluate a training program. I believe that I emerge from this project with new profound knowledge and I learnt how to enhance my training program development for future training needs of my employees. Self-evaluation for participation in the project In completing a self-evaluation for my participation in the group project, I found that I had put forth a lot of time into completing this project. My strengths in the project were as follow: I was able to research my part of the project efficiently and I found some very useful information, I compiled and refined the paper. My weakness in this team assignment was my impatient with the team’s leader continuous duplicate posting of the same information, but I the end of the day, I had to remind myself that it was her managing style and to bring the project to fruition, I had to overcome my impatience. I believe that I have done this assignment to the best of my abilities and if I could have improve my part of the assignment, it would have to be instead of having done so much research that was not even use in the final project; I should have had research only the key points that was going in the slides. Lesson learned and I now know better for next time. Effectiveness of team meeting written objectives The training program strategy our team developed epitomizes the approach that the Dell Company need to implements to make sure that presently and in the future, the call center customers interactions support the attainment of its goal of customer satisfaction by widening the skills and aptitudes of the call center’s employees and managers alike. I judge that it can be expressed that the team’s training program development has indeed met its written objectives and if Dell HR strategically implements the plan, then I believe the group’s training program should be successful. What challenges did you and your team meets? What actions did you take to address and resolve the problem? Whenever a team assembled together there bound to be some challenges and the action and reaction of each individual member of the team can make or break the team. Such a statement is true in the case of my involvement in this group’s training program plan. Since I was the compiler for this group project; I believe one of our major challenge was the fact that we misunderstood the direction given by the instructor and some group member’s portion of the research for the project were somewhat off topic, some were trying to evaluate the training program (when the directive stated otherwise) and some of the suggestions were not helping moving the project forward. Another challenge was the fact that we ended up with a vast amount of data from different team member and most of them were unusable. The action I took to address and resolve the challenges were by omitting some of the data and ensure that the remaining information was suitable to satisfied the requirement of the training program Interpersonal relationships Changes The interpersonal relationships within the group did change somewhat. But to put this into prospective, after taken many upper-level courses for my BS program here at Walden, which required my involvement with group projects–I had my share of interpersonal relationships changes and some were never amended. However, the changes that occurred during this group project were minor, compared to others and the team experience/interaction was pleasant. Nadler (1998) point out: â€Å"Develop and communicate a clear image of the future state† (Nadler, 1998). To be specific, Nadler’s point of communication was taken to whole new level during this project. For example, one interpersonal relationships change that transpired during the beginning to the end of the project were the fact that the project leader did not give the team members a chance to select their own question(s) to answer; she assigned the questions and some of the roles without the prior agreement from the te am members. Additionally, when the timeline set forth by her was not followed down to the minute, she sent constant emails and posted many messages on the group discussion board that went unanswered by most of the team members. Nonetheless, for the sake of completing the project on a timely manner, our interpersonal nuisances were resolved, team members had became more flexible and useful, members were offering helpful suggestions for the completion of the training program plan and at the end of the project, the group discussions were more lively and our training program plan were effective. How effective was this overall team project to you as an individual learning activity? What did you learn that was totally new to you? The group project Rubric stipulated the context and design measurements for the competition of the group’s project, which, in conjunction with our groups’ own research, led to the development of the call center training program plan. The training program design, development, instruction, and evaluation were further enhanced with each individual contribution to ensure that the training program meets all design requirements and capable of accomplishing the call center staffs training needs. As Honey et al (1996) defined learning as: â€Å"Learning has happened when people can demonstrate that they know something that they did not know before (insights, realizations as well as facts) and when they can do something they could not do before (skills)† (Honey et al, 1996). I believe that I have gained plenty of knowledge from this group project experience. From the training program development, to the detailed training program, I judge that it was indeed effective for my individual learning endeavor and I learned the mechanics necessary to create a successful training program. What I learned that was totally new was the formatting of the contents for the training program utilizing PowerPoint. What would you do differently if you had it to do all over again? Why? Having the chance to redo this project all over again, I probably make myself available to be the project leader and direct the team to focus their attentions toward the requirements of the project. By doing so, I would be able to filter out any unnecessary tension between the group members. How could the project have been a better learning process? I believe that as a team, we could have made better use of the tools available to us to streamline the completion of the project and tools such as the chat-room, and file sharing could have been incorporated to foster a smoother workflow. As far as improving the project itself, I am not able to provide any clear assessment because of the fact that I do not have any other groups to compare our work with ¬Ã¢â‚¬â€œfor as such has been my experience here at Walden. On the other hand, I do think that the formation of the groups should be done at the end of the first week of class to allot plenty of time to the group members to get acquainted before the start of the project. If such a suggestion is not feasible, then changing the due date for submission of the project could better the learning process. Conclusion The group training program plan has outline all the essential assessment, design, development, instruction, and evaluation (ADDIE) of training development planning and the proper implementation of the training program will ensure that the call center will be effective. In addition, in case of decreased in the call center productivity or an increased in customer dissatisfaction, could force the organization to take a careful look at its training program, Dell should put together a systematic way to evaluate and do a retraining assessment of the call center staffs to help lessen the number of customer issues. Additionally, our team did a great job creating the training program plan and our instructor’s feedback made a big difference. References Blanchard, P. N., & Thacker, J. W. (2010). Effective training: Systems, strategies, and practices (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice-Hall. Honey, P., & Mumford, A. (1996). The Manual of Learning Styles (3rd ed.). Maidenhead, NJ: Honey Publications. Nadler, David A. (1998). Champions of change: How CEOs and their companies are mastering the skills of radical change. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass