Saturday, November 30, 2019

Introduction and Learning Objectives of Accounting free essay sample

Completing the Balance Sheet Student Handout Contents: 1. Learning Objectives 2. Tutorial Questions 3. Lecture Materials Lecturer: Dry Victoria Clout Website: http://tell. Nuns. Du. AU Introduction and Learning Objectives In this week we are turning our attention towards the remaining major component of the balance sheet owners equity. Like liabilities, owners equity represents another form of financing for a business. At first glance, liabilities (capital provided by redirectors) and owners equity (capital provided by owners or shareholders) may look very different. As we delve deeper into the topic, however, you will appreciate that debt and equity are at either end of a continuum of financial instruments and that sometimes, financial instruments exhibit both debt- and equity-like qualities. Further, you will note that some financing arrangements do not appear in the balance sheet at all! In our discussion of equity financing, we discuss the option of using equity as a source for resources (assets) of the corporation. We will write a custom essay sample on Introduction and Learning Objectives of Accounting or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Shareholders are a key source of initial finance for a company. While traditionally regarded as the owners of a companys assets, more recent thought suggests that the shareholder exchanges their investment in a company for a right to the residual cash flows of the firm (dividends). At the end of this topic, you should be able to: LOL . Describe the components of owners equity ALL.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Determinants For Demand In Tourism In Greece Essay Example

The Determinants For Demand In Tourism In Greece Essay Example The Determinants For Demand In Tourism In Greece Essay The Determinants For Demand In Tourism In Greece Essay The relative and absolute importance of tourism in peoples expenditure budgets has risen dramatically, with consequences not only for the welfare of tourists themselves but also for the residents of the areas they visit. The large numbers of tourists and the scale of their expenditures has considerable effects on the income, employment, government revenue, balance of payments, environments and culture of destination areas. A fall in demand can bring about decreases in living standards and rises in unemployment, while increased demand can result in higher employment, income, output and/or inflation and may threaten environmental quality and sustainability (Sinclair M, Stabler M, 2002). Even though the demand for tourism in a very important sector in tourism economics, no so much attention were given to explore this area and to conduct a throughout research on it. This paper reviews and analyzes key factors that affect the demand for tourism in Greece from both positive and negative prospective. Investigating the demand for tourism is the background for the successful strategy planning in companies with tourism-related activities whereas better knowledge of demand in tourism can also be of assistance to policymakers in planning strategies for this industry. The demand of tourism can be determined either by the number of tourists coming from their countries to a destination country or by their expenditures in the destination country. It is difficult to model tourism demand because tourism involves a broad range of activities. According to OHagan and Harrison (1984) tourism demand has a special nature for a number of reasons. First of all it is a demand for a number of goods and services, and no production sector tourism actually exists, which cases doubt for some on the existence of tourism as a concrete economic entity (OHagan, J.W. Harrison, M.J., 1984). Secondly, the demand for tourism can be of two types: tourism as private consumption or as part of production (business trips). In most cases personal and pleasure travel used to be a dominant, however, business travelers usually consume services similar to those who travel for personal reasons. And finally, tourism goods and services are not transported to their users, but rather the consumers are transported to the goods and services (OHagan, J and Harrison M.,1984). As a result of this tourism flows become more sensitive to a number non-economic factors such as political stability, transportation costs and facilities, technological forces, socio-cultural issues, etc. in a country of destination. The determinants of tourism demand were investigated in a number of studies and several researchers suggest that the demand for tourism is primarily determined by income of the purchaser, prices of commodities (accommodations, food, local transportation, amusement) in a destination country compared with other destination, exchange rate, the cost of international travel (Sinclair M., Stabler M., 2002; Garin-Munoz T., Amaral T., 2000; Walsh M.,1996). Also the demand for travel can be positively affected either by random events such as Olympic Games, for instance, that attract extra tourists, or can be influenced negatively by major external factors like, for example, terrorism, SARS, or political instability within the country. The latest factors resulted in tourist arrivals drop worldwide during the last two years, aroused travelers fears for safety and made tourists avoid air transportation. According to the World Tourism Organization Greece held the 16th place internationally on the list of tourist destinations in 2002, while 90% of arrivals were from Europe, which is considered to be Greeces primary tourist market. According to Economist Intelligence Unit statistics the total number of arrivals in 2002 was closer to 12,7 mln tourists. Tourism represents about 10% of the domestic income of Greece (2003). Two-thirds of tourists are from the European Union (around 9 million), the majority of whom come from the U.K., Germany, Italy, France and Austria. Tourists from outside EU mainly are coming from the USA, Japan, Canada, Australia (WTO, 2003). The approach of the Athens 2004 Olympics has brought increased optimism regarding the future of the Greek tourism industry. It is estimated that approximately 145,000 visitors per day will visit the Games and be accommodated in hotels, cruise ships, campsites and residential houses. Apart from the fact that in the immediate future, tourists will probably be attracted to potentially safer destinations, the staging of the Olympic Games will have a determining effect on the future image of Greece and its potential in tourism. Income and price factors play an important role in determining the demand for international tourism. Growth in real income provides consumers with increased spending power. The larger the countrys purchasing power the more likely its citizens can afford to purchase a good or service from abroad (Walsh M., 1996). According to Garin-Minoz and Amaral the level of income in the country of origin is measured by the Gross National Product GNP (2000). Walsh Mary (1996) analyzed different studies regarding the relationship between income and tourism demand. The income variable is represented differently, however, in her studies she suggested to use data representing discretionary income per capita, i.e. personal disposable income per capita in each country. After having the GNP of other countries expressed in US dollars, we divide them by the population of each country and obtain their values in per capita terms. As was mentioned before, main countries that are generating tourism flows for Greece are Germany, Austria, Great Britain, USA, Italy and France. Real income growth in those countries can be assumed to relate positively to real per capita demand for Greek tourism. Another important variable here is the price of tourist services in Greece compared to relative prices in other Mediterranean destinations. The tourism sector meets an increasing competition in the face of other Mediterranean destinations like Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco, as well as Spain and Portugal. Meanwhile the newly developed destinations like Slovenia, Croatia and Bulgaria also registered the increase of tourists compared with the previous years. This factor can affect the demand for tourism in Greece in terms of decreasing the number of international visitors who would choose the comparable sun and sea holidays at cheaper prices. At the same time, the increase in domestic prices, especially after euro was introduced in Greece, may also influence negatively the tourism demand. People are usually concerned about the price for good or service in terms of their own countrys currency. That price depends not only on the price of the good in the origin country but also on exchange rate. However, the exchange rate can influence the price of goods or services. Compared to last year euro had increased its exchange rate towards almost all major currencies. For travelers outside it becomes more expensive to visit tourist destinations that are in euro area. At the same time citizens of euro zone are stimulated to travel to European destinations outside it. Greece is isolated geographically from other European Union countries (where the majority if tourists comes from), therefore, the most popular transportation is airplane. The cost of transportation is one of the components of the final price the consumers have to pay for the tourism product. An increase in transportation costs can result in decline of demand, all other things being equal (Garin-Munoz T., Amaral T., 2000). The high transportation costs can be the decisive variable in choosing whether to visit country or not and even may lead to substitution of a near or far destination. Another factor that can influence demand is also the choice between domestic and foreign holidays which also comes up from the cost of transportation. In the past two years international tourism has, first and foremost, been reigned by the combination of an overall weak economy and a high level on uncertainty because of the struggle against terrorism and the looming Iraq conflict (WTO, 2003). The Iraq conflict and terrorist attacks caused and probably will continue to influence negatively a demand of air transportation, interregional travel and travel to destinations that are geographically close to the zone of conflict. The emergence of SARS also deceased the demand for tourism worldwide. Despite these events, Greece still managed a slight increase in total 2001-2002 traffic (GNTO Newsletter, 2003). Nevertheless, it is expected that demand for travel and tourism will continue to grow and Greece will continue to be a preferred tourist destination because of its safe, crime-free and tourist friendly environment. The distinctive feature of Greek tourism is that it has a seasonal attribute. Greek tourism had been based for more than five decades on the product of sea and sun and the majority of tourists arrive to Greece between mid-June and mid-September respectfully. Therefore, during the wintertime the demand for tourism significantly decreases. Official policy is to try to diversify to spread arrivals throughout the year by developing conference tourism, yachting, golf, skiing in the mountainous area, spa and medical tourism. Walsh in her studies also mentions such factors as weather and habit/presence (1996). The weather is unlikely factor for Greece, nevertheless the bad weather during vacations can influence negatively ones decision to come to Greece again next year. As for the habit the possibility occurs that once people visited Greece and liked it there can be a tendency that this visit will be repeated. Also a person can recommend to visit this country to people who dont have any first-hand knowledge about a particular resort in Greece. This paper analyzed the main determinants of demand in tourism in the case of Greece and showed that income, price, exchange rate, transportation costs and geopolitical factors can affect the demand for tourism in this country. However, the further econometric analysis in needed to investigate in details the above-mentioned variables and to evaluate more precisely the demand for tourism in Greece. Despite some negative influences of the above-mentioned factors tourism will continue to be the most dynamic sector of Greeces economy contributing most to its gross national product and economic growth since prospects of Greeces tourist industry are highly promising.

Friday, November 22, 2019

The Best Career Tips No One Told You

The Best Career Tips No One Told You Career advice is common and usually welcome, but some bits of career advice are  seldom mentioned, even though they can help you make large professional strides. Just getting a job and plugging away at it can sometimes get you a promotion, but being proactive can get you there faster. Learning the best career tips can help build your standing and personal growth to become more successful in whatever career you choose. Do What You LoveExamine what your talents are and where your interests lie. That may be a good indicator of what direction you should go when going into a career. Does helping people give you that warm, fuzzy feeling? In that case, maybe you should look into healthcare jobs where you can spend your days helping others. Do you love mathematics and excel  at calculations? Maybe accounting or bookkeeping would be a good career move for you. Whatever your interests, you may be happiest doing what you love.Keep LearningKeeping on top of your profession is what makes your career rewarding. Taking a class, learning a new computer program, or earning a certificate in your field can make you feel as though you’re growing in your career and building toward the future. Learning new things keeps you ahead of the rest and helps if you want to change jobs or want a promotion.Find a MentorNo matter what your job, there is always someone who has been around longer and has much more experience. Observe that individual to see how he or she handles tasks and responsibilities, and then and learn to emulate the best techniques. Someone else’s  proven method can help you learn and grow.Set Goals to Achieve MoreAsk yourself where you want to be in the short-term and in the long term, and set reasonable goals to reach these landmarks. Do you need more training to go into a job you want eventually? Take the time to get that training. Are there responsibilities you don’t have that would benefit you in the future? Ask for more responsibilities at work. Learning other types of jobs can round out your experience and make you more marketable. Setting goals can get you there more quickly.Put in the TimeGo-getters know that working strictly during office hours and being the first one to leave for lunch or in the evening will not get you promoted. Put in extra effort to get the job done, even if it means missing a lunch break or working a little later. It won’t go unnoticed by your boss, and you may end up being assigned more responsibility because of it. This extra duty can lead to a pay raise or promotion.Keep Your Eye on Your GoalsMost people don’t start off in the perfect job. However, by finding a job that will help you get the skills and experience you need to move up on the ladder, you can work your way toward that perfect job. All it takes is perseverance and know-how.It is up to you to reach where you want to be in your career. With hard work and determination, you can reach that job of your dreams. TheJobNe twork helps you in your job search 24 hours per day. After you fill out your qualifications and job interests, we send you emails when jobs matching that description come up. In this way, you won’t miss any opportunities to get a great job doing what you love the most. If you want to, you can also search the job listings yourself, so you know you are being proactive in your search. Sign up for job match alert to start on the path to a new career.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Service-dominant logic and customer satisfaction Term Paper

Service-dominant logic and customer satisfaction - Term Paper Example On the other hand, creation of value actualization is a vital role taken by the customers, and this may require contacting suppliers through their own individual ways. Nevertheless, numerous dimensions can be applied to approach through which new logic and value; in fact, there are critical issues rose relating to services-dominant (Achrol & Kotler, 2006, 320). Client expectations concerning value and satisfaction are based on three-concept quality with core factors for differentiating them. However, the disparities among these concepts are vague and overlapping (Bebko, 2000, 26). Expectations held by customers regard the quality of services and products encountered, which is similar to the expectations held about the entire firm, which offered the service. Moreover, there are situations that regard the expectations of individual services experienced by customers. This increase chances for them to be specific and concrete; for instance, time consumed while waiting for a receptionist, which is more of to their expectations than the entire quality of the services offered by the company. 1. Analyse and respond to the explicit expectations and implicit expectations of core clients at the start of the project front-end. Client’s expectations refer to the beliefs concerning delivery of services, which considered the standards and reference point for evaluating the performance. Customers are fond of making comparison of their perceptions concerning performance of the firms, which is evaluated through references of the point’s evaluation such as the level of quality, knowledge and their expectations (Gummesson, 2006, 239). In fact, identification of clients’ expectations is vital to the marketers and the entire company due to their critical aspect of seeking to deliver good quality service to them. On the other hand, lack of understanding of the customer services can result to a loss of customer’s business, while the competitors are gaining market share (Porter, 1985, 30). Explicit expectations of the core clients at the start of the project are based on the promises made through personal and non-personal statements concerning the services made by the company to the customer (Graf & Maas, 2008, 20). In this case, personal statements require communication through salespeople, services, or repair personnel. However, this promises become non-personal in situation when they are acquired through advertisements, brochures and other publications (Hubbert, Sehorn & Brown, 1995, 21). Therefore, logic is established through promises made concerning the exact quality of services that will be delivered in a way that manages client expectations. In this case, this guarantees that the promises made will meet the expectation of the client concerning a certain service. There are company representative, who are over-promising due to lack of knowledge regarding the necessary promise that can be made. However, confusion is caused by fail ing to consider that services are customized; thus, this lead to lack of ease in definition and repetition. In other instances, company representatives lack the knowledge concerning the nature of the final form of the service that will be delivered. Explicit services have a substantial influence on customers’ expectations based on the desires of the services and their speculations. In fact, this is due to the way these services alter customer’s desires in general based on their prediction concerning the experience

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

LISTENING JOURNAL COMPOSERS MUSIC HISTORY I Assignment

LISTENING JOURNAL COMPOSERS MUSIC HISTORY I - Assignment Example Johann Sebastian Bach studied orthodox Lutheranism, Latin, Greek, mathematics, history, world geography and German literature. When Johann Sebastian Bach was nine years old he had an encounter with Johann Pachelbel. Johann Sebastian Bach received training on playing the organ at St. Michaels Church. Johann Sebastain Bach went on to play at the Court of the Duke of Weimar. He became master of concerts there. The first work that is to be studied is BWV1052 . In Bachs Harpsichord concierto, the harpsichord is the center piece in the orchestra. The harpsichord transcription was accomplished by adapting the ripieno string parts in order to make this piece emotionally stirring and vibrant. Chords are added in order to give fullness to this composition and there are left hand figurative adaptations in the harpsichord. In the primary and tertiary movement, the left hand of the harpsichordist imitates the ripieno continuo and the right hand of the harpsichordist plays melodically, as if to imitate a violin type sound. The primary and tertiary movements have a similar melodic foundation. The movements occurs in four sections, the commencement demonstrates the them in D minor, which is consequent to the emergence of F major. The second movement follows the leading A minor which is commuted to a C major. The third section resonates to the passive G minor and its accompanying major B flat major. The fourth section gives a recompilation of the prec eding three themes. This is a harpsichord concierto which was originally adapted from a piece made for an oboe. BWV 1053 in E major is a modification of Johann Sebastian Bachs work, the ripieno parts are much less pronounced than in BWV 1052 in D minor and they are given to the tutti venues. The lower tones of the harpsichord are more pronounced in BWV 1053 in E major than they are in BWV1052 in D minor. This adaptation enabled the harpsichord to be the centerpiece of

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Housing Statistics Essay Example for Free

Housing Statistics Essay The regression line is also known as the best fit line for the given data. The data points may not form a straight line. The line that best fits or best describes the relationship of the given dependent and independent variables is the line that would have the minimum perpendicular distance from the given data points. This line is used to analyze the relationship of the different variables given. It can also be used to predict or estimate other data points. In this paper, the regression line of the given data will be computed using a given tool from a certain website. The data will be analyzed to help in the decision making of the owner of the construction business. With the information given above, there is no question that the number of housing starts increases as the interest rate goes down. With the predictions of financial experts that mortgage rates will continue to dip in the next coming years, the housing construction business should be prepared in the possible increase in demands. Being the owner of a housing construction business, effective project planning should be in place. The employees should be prepared with the possible increase in the demand of housing construction projects as the interest rates continue to go down. A plan should be in place covering how to approach the possible increase in demands. Risks and uncertainties should also be identified as early as possible and there should be a detailed work breakdown structure to get ready for the coming projects. The plan should also encompass all aspects of the construction business from the materials procurement, subcontractors to employees who will be working on the projects. It should also include plans for the next coming years as the trend will probably continue as forecasted by financial experts. The data given should be used to forecast demands as accurate as possible. Using the data in the forecast, accurate measures can be implemented in terms of working with subcontractors and where to source materials. Decisions to be made with regard to projects will depend a lot on the data being forecasted by experts. Reference Ramat-Gan. (2003, June 30). Interest Rate Plunge Will Continue. Lecture Notes. Waner, S. Costenoble, S. (1999). Simple Regression. Retrieved August 2, 2006 from http://people. hofstra. edu/faculty/Stefan_Waner/newgraph/regressionframes. html

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Earthquake Loads & Earthquake Resistant Design of Buildings :: essays research papers

Earthquake Loads & Earthquake Resistant Design of Buildings 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Summary  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Earthquake Design - A Conceptual Review  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Earthquake Resisting Performance Expectations  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Key Material Parameters for Effective Earthquake Resistant Design  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Earthquake Design Level Ground Motion  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  4 6.1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Elastic Response Spectra  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  4 6.2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Relative Seismicity  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5 6.3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Soil amplification  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  6 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Derivation of Ductile Design Response Spectra  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  7 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Analysis and Earthquake Resistant Design Principles  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  8 8.1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Basic Principles of Earthquake Resistant Design  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  8 8.2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Controls of the Analysis Procedure  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  8 8.3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The ‘Conventional’ Earthquake Design Procedure  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  11 9.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Capacity Design Philosophy for Earthquake Resistance  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  11 9.1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  General Approach  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  11 9.2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Implications of Capacity Design  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  12 10.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Earthquake Resistant Structural Systems  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  12 10.1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Moment Resisting Frames:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  12 10.2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shear Walls  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  13 10.3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Braced Frames  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  13 11.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Importance & Implications of Structural Regularity  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  13 11.1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  General  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  13 11.2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vertical Regularity  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  14 11.3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Horizontal Regularity.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  14 11.4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Floor Diaphragms  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  14 12.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Methods of Analysis  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15 12.1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Integrated Time History Analysis  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15 12.2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Multi-modal Analysis  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15 12.3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Equivalent Static Analysis  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15 13.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Trends and Future Directions  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  16 14.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Conclusions  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  16 15.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  References  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  17 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Summary The primary objective of earthquake resistant design is to prevent building collapse during earthquakes thus minimising the risk of death or injury to people in or around those buildings. Because damaging earthquakes are rare, economics dictate that damage to buildings is expected and acceptable provided collapse is avoided. Earthquake forces are generated by the inertia of buildings as they dynamically respond to ground motion. The dynamic nature of the response makes earthquake loadings markedly different from other building loads. Designer temptation to consider earthquakes as ‘a very strong wind’ is a trap that must be avoided since the dynamic characteristics of the building are fundamental to the structural response and thus the earthquake induced actions are able to be mitigated by design. The concept of dynamic considerations of buildings is one which sometimes generates unease and uncertainty within the designer. Although this is understandable, and a common characteristic of any new challenge, it is usually misplaced. Effective earthquake design methodologies can be, and usually are, easily simplified without detracting from the effectiveness of the design. Indeed the high level of uncertainty relating to the ground motion generated by earthquakes seldom justifies the often used complex analysis techniques nor the high level of design sophistication often employed. A good earthquake engineering design is one where the designer takes control of the building by dictating how the building is to respond. This can be achieved by selection of the preferred response mode, selecting zones where inelastic deformations are acceptable and suppressing the development of undesirable response modes which could lead to building collapse. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Earthquake Design - A Conceptual Review Modern earthquake design has its genesis in the 1920’s and 1930’s. At that time earthquake design typically involved the application of 10% of the building weight as a lateral force on the structure, applied uniformly up the height of the building.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Freud and the Unconscious Essay

Few theories hold more intrigue than that of human psychology. Throughout history, many have sought to decode the structure of the mind. Amongst those who were determined to investigate the nature of psychic material, one of the most prominent remains Sigmund Freud (also known as â€Å"the archaeologist of the mind†). Freud had very pronounced views on the innate components of human psychology, within which one idea remained central – the ‘unconscious’ mind; he uses this concept to make sense of phenomenons such as that of parapraxes. In his essay, â€Å"The Unconscious†, Freud introduces a unique perception of human thought, action, interaction and experience. He details a state of dualism that exists in our psychical life in stating, â€Å"consciousness includes only a small content, so that the greater part of what we call conscious knowledge must in any case be for very considerable periods of time in a state of latency, that is to say, of being psychically unconscious† (2). He argues that although we are blind to our unconscious mind, it determines a greater part of our behavioural being and participates just as much as psychical activity as our conscious mind. Freud also adds, â€Å"In every instance where repression has succeeded in inhibiting the development of affects, we term those affects ‘unconscious’† (7). He states that the unconscious is where repressed desires are stored, ideas that are suppressed from surfacing into the realm of our awareness e. g. we recognise our emotions – we ‘feel’ – because they have moved from amongst the elements of the unconscious mind to the conscious mind. The notion of â€Å"what you see is not all there is†, of the uncertainty of appearance or self-knowledge is a message that identifies very well with Freud’s theory of the unconscious. Freud’s arguments entail that a significant reality (and â€Å"most importantly† he would most likely say) exists in that which is intangible. He claimed that the unconscious could not be realized by the individual themselves through introspection, but is potentially made possible during psychoanalysis. In â€Å"The Unconscious†, Freud states, â€Å"[it transforms] into a qualitatively different quota of affect, above all into anxiety; or it is suppressed† (7), alluding that the unconscious mind, or rather a conflict between conscious and the unconscious intentions is the root of neurotic or histrionic behaviour. Thus, not only did he perceive psychoanalysis as a useful tool for uprooting unconscious ideas, but the very understanding of the concept played a central role to the successful treatment of his patients (that is to say, that Freud believed that he could lead his patient to recovery by making aware the unconscious idea that is conflicting with the individual’s consciousness). Freud believed that naturalized phenomenons such as innocent ‘mistakes’ (â€Å"parapraxes†) or the state of dreaming were in fact meaningful and were indications of the active unconscious, an idea which echoes to the notion of conscious and unconscious communications which we discussed in the second week of class – that in both forms there were â€Å"logical relations†. This is the essence of Freud’s belief that there is psychical process in every movement or act (whether in a state of wakefulness or asleep/acts that are intended of ‘unintended’), which is to say that order exists in every action including the seemingly ‘disconnected’. With reference to this notion, he famously claimed that parapraxes (slip of the tongue, mishearing, forgetting, memory loss) were significant phenomenons worthy of interpretation, because they were evidence that the unconscious mind exists. In â€Å"Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis†, Freud explains his view in which the unconscious plays a significant role in the phenomenon of parapraxes. Though parapraxes are often disregarded as â€Å"small failures of functioning, imperfections in mental activity† (28), he explains, â€Å"They are not chance events but serious mental acts; they have a sense† (44). Before moving on interpret what Freud meant by this, it seems useful to first introduce an idea which Louis Althusser presents in â€Å"Lacan and Freud† (which was also touched upon in class), in which he states: â€Å"the ‘effects’, prolonged in the surviving adult, of the extraordinary adventure that, from birth to the liquidation of the Oedipus complex, transforms a small animal engendered by a man and a woman into a little human child† (22). The transformation that Althusser describes resonates with a sense of ‘humanization’ whereby a feral being is tamed by society and progresses into a ‘human’ existence; it alludes to the ultimate sacrifice that is made by the primitive soul in order to survive amongst civilization [the desire for instinctual satisfaction]. Keeping Althusser’s portrayal in mind, perhaps it could be said, then, that the unconscious manifests impulses whose intentions are deemed ‘too disturbing’ or unfitting with civil behaviour. This conforms to Freud’s argument that a ‘spontaneous’ or unexplainable error is an indication of a compromise between two conflicting aims of the ‘disturbed’ and the ‘disturbing’ consciousness (44). By means of distortion or substitution, the irrational impulse disguises its intentions under an appearance of rationality. He communicates, essentially, that parapraxes should be interpreted less as â€Å"faulty acts†, but instead, should be considered as faulty achievements of our unconscious desires. He indicates this when he states, â€Å"the disturbing purpose only distorts the original one without itself achieving complete expression† (35). Freud theorizes that an inaccessible part of our mind – the unconscious – does exist and evidence of its reality is apparent, such as in the very happening of everyday pathologies, or â€Å"parapraxes†. He maintains the significance of the unconscious mind as a meaningful, valid psychical force that pursues its own intentions (its presence undeniable in its ability to elicit bodily responses). In the discovery of this, Freud stresses the idea that individuals should place more value in what we so often dismiss as ‘mistakes’, ‘accidental’ or ‘random’ behaviour, because there may be significant meaning to the obscured intentions they convey. On a different note, the underlying notion that there is no such thing as ‘involuntary’ acts or ideas, reinforces more than ever a disparate sociological thought: that we, as individuals, are truly and solely responsible for our own actions.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Rebellion or Reason in Amy Tan’s: Two Kinds

Rebellion or Reason in Amy Tan's: Two Kinds In the short story â€Å"Two Kinds†, written by Amy Tan, the character Jing-Mei appears to be rebelling. But, what is she rebelling against? I feel she is rebelling against her mother’s competitive relationship with her Auntie Lindo and her daughter, Waverly. She is struggling to establish her identity by purposely not measuring up to her mother’s standards. This in turn, allows her to enforce her boundaries.Jing-Mei’s mother wanted the best for her; she had very high hopes for her. Jing-Mei’s mother wanted the â€Å"perfect child†. She may have wanted this â€Å"prodigy child,† due to sibling rivalry. As the story begins, the stench of ongoing competition is made apparent when Jing-Mei’s mother snorts, â€Å"What does Auntie Lindo Know† (2)? There is an unspoken, but well known big sister little sister, love-hate relationship; which ironically, is very similar to the struggles that mothers and daughters experience.Younger children may look up to their older siblings and try to emulate them. And this is important since older children tend to influence the actions and behavior of younger siblings. Sibling rivalry or childhood conflict teaches us how to relate to others. If we're struggling with adult sibling rivalry, our experiences can change how we communicate with our partner or our children. Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen,’ Adult Sibling Rivalry – How It Starts- Fighting With Your Grown Brothers and Sisters†, Time Magazine, July 10, 2006.This transgenerational feud was at the core of Jing-Meis’ mother’s incessant desire for her to force Jing-Mei to become who she wanted her to be. Causing Jing-Mei to rebel and to also plead with her mother to see her and accept her for who she was. She gained strength each time she rebelled. â€Å"I failed her so many times, each time asserting my own will, my right to fall short of expectation s†(79). She made the choice to be herself; and enabled herself to move beyond being a â€Å"Pleading Child† and into a woman â€Å"Perfectly Content†.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The Technological Advances of Early Man †History Essay

The Technological Advances of Early Man – History Essay Free Online Research Papers The Technological Advances of Early Man History Essay Webster defines technology as the practical application of knowledge in a particular area. The advancement of man from the beginning of civilization to present-day passes through many stages of history. Some of those stages include man before civilization, as in the old, middle, and new stone ages, the Mesopotamian civilization, the Egyptian civilization, the Greek civilization, and the Roman civilization. Each new civilization brings with them new ideas, new culture, and new technology. Technology is the key to early civilization, as well as all other civilization. Humans have technology because of man’s ability to reason. If we do not use this ability, then we are only as good as the animals around us. Another important aspect of technology in civilization is that, in most cases, the civilization with the greatest technology usually survives longer. For example, if one soldier arms himself with a copper shield and a wooden shield and the other soldier arms himself with a iron sword and a bronze shield, the second soldier is most likely to survive because he has the greater technology that gives him better materials to work with. Before one can discuss the different civilizations and their technology, he must first talk about civilization in itself. Civilization is defined by three elements: cities, metal-working or technology, and writing. Cities also need three elements which are people, defensive walls, and government. Of course a city needs a population, but it also needs defensive walls to have protection from outside invaders. A city also needs a government, of a centralized ruling unit. Early civilizations almost always had a king, usually a military leader. The government gives the city unity and organization. In addition to cities, a civilization also needs metal-working, or technology. The first metals were copper and tin. The earliest civilizations uses copper because it is easy to obtain and easy to shape. Technology then advances into the bronze age where man mixes copper and tin. This process makes bronze, which is a stronger and more durable metal than copper. A down side to using copper is that it is brittle and looses its blade after so many uses. Bronze, however, is much stronger. After bronze comes iron. The discovery of iron solves more than one problem. First, it is a better and stronger metal than bronze. Second, tin is hard to find in the ancient world. This hinders the process of making bronze. Iron ore though is found in abundance in the ancient world, which makes production a little easier. The only exception to production being easier is that iron is difficult to melt because of its high melting point. Nevertheless, the technology of man is steadily increa sing. Writing is also a necessity to civilization. Writing first appears because of trade and business. Business transactions of the ancient world provided the first need for a written language. Another need for writing is to record the past. In many cases, stories are passed down from generation to generation. These stories need to be recorded for the observation of history and culture for the generations to come. The first forms of writing is pictographs. This form uses pictures, which means that man just simply drew a picture of what he wanted to say. For example, if the dealer wanted to trade ten chickens for a cow, he would simply draw ten chickens and then a cow. As technology progressed, writing and language followed. Pictures became symbols, and symbols became letters. Civilization depends on the three elements of cities, metal-working, and writing. Without these elements, civilization does not exist. This brings us to our first observation of man: the Paleolithic Stone Age. The stone ages is the time period before civilization. Man uses tools of stone. Paleolithic Stone Age means â€Å"old stone age†. during this time, man was know as hunter-gatherers. As hunger-gatherers, man was nomadic, which means they followed their food source. Man had no farm knowledge and paid no attention to climate or season change and how it affects the environment. Man also improvised shelters during this time. The shelters were mostly found in caves. Man also mastered the use of fire. With this use of fire, man also learned how to use the fire to harden wood for weapons and tools. In addition to wooden tools, man also used stone to make many objects. Standardization was developed as best it could be. Standardization is the making of tools accord ing to a certain pattern. Man repeated the patterns that worked the best when making tools. In addition to technological advances, man also achieved physical skill. Man mastered the art of spear-throwing or shooting a bow and arrow. Man mostly used this for hunting, but other times in warfare. All of this technology helped man survive through the four Ice Ages of the Paleolithic Period. After the Paleolithic Period comes the Mesolithic Stone Age, or â€Å"middle stone age†. This time period is considered to be a transitional period. The transition is from the final ice age to the settlement of man for cultivation. During this time, man began certain farming techniques which produced wheat and barley. Even though man began to use farming as a source of food, the majority of man remained hunger-gatherers. The culture and technology, other than the new farming techniques, ultimately remain the same with from the Paleolithic to the Mesolithic time periods. The middle stone age’s time period changes with each area of existence. This is because the polar ice cap is shrinking slowly. It is out of certain areas while remaining in others. The Neolithic, or new, Stone Age emerges shortly after the Mesolithic time period. Man during this time is slowly getting away from savagery by increasing his reliance upon stock-keeping and farming. This new reliance in creased the population because it solved the problem of food shortage by taking man away from being hunter-gatherers. Temporary settlements were established for stock-keeping and cattle herding. The settlements remained temporary because man was still developing his farming skills so some nomadic measures were needed. However, after man perfected his farming techniques, he is able to establish permanent settlements. All of the permanent settlements occurred because of a reason. Some of these reasons are water, food, clothing, shelter, and defense from violence. These needs are the reason for the first settlements emerging in the two places known as the Tigris and Euphrates River Valley and the Nile River Valley. These two river valleys are perfect for suppo rting man because it has a huge water source that also produces food and defense. Another advantage of being near a river is trade. The fastest way to ship product in mass form is by water. This raised man’s awareness of his surroundings and helped the technology by observing other tribes and settlements around their own. With the population growing, more and more ideas appear. By using this spreading of ideas, the Neolithic man is able to begin to use copper tools by the end of the Neolithic age. If writing is to be considered the difference between barbarianism and civilized man, then the first civilization is forms in Mesopotamia, also known as the Tigris and Euphrates River Valley. The Mesopotamian civilization is not one big empire. Instead, it is an accumulation of several city-states that are ruled by warrior kings. Each city-state has massive walls around the city to protect itself from outside invasion. The walls are made from a mud-brick formula. The farming was rather easy in Mesopotamia because of the fertile land. Man starts to learn to observe the environment around him. In example, farmers begin to observe the natural flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and develop their own irrigation system. The people of Mesopotamia also had buildings. Every city had a temple built in the middle. The temple was made from mud-brick also, and it was built to honor their various polytheistic gods. The use of copper is also being perfected during this time p eriod. Some bronze is used later on, but copper is still utilized more because it is cheaper and easier to work with. All communication is either by boat or by foot. The civilizations use the rivers as much as possible when it comes to travel because of the speed and safety. Foreign invaders often come into the land of Mesopotamia and take over. Some, like the Akkadians, form a unified empire. Others, like the Babylonians, go back to independent city-states. Each time the land is conquered, a little bit of society and culture from each civilization is left and intermingled with the new power. The intelligence of man is growing and technology is increasing with it. Very soon after civilization appeared in Mesopotamia, civilization also appeared in the Nile River Valley, also known as Egypt. The Egyptian society always appeared as a unified empire. Pharaoh is given absolute power. Egyptian cities were surrounded by defensive walls. Much like Mesopotamia, Egypt had very fertile land because of the Nile River. The Nile River Valley is considered to be the most fertile land in the known world, but the fertility stops at the borders of the river. Wealth in ancient Egypt is calculated by the amount of land that a person has. The more land a person owns, the wealthier he is. The growth of slavery also began in Egypt. In fact, the famous Egyptian pyramids made of granite, built for tombs for pharaoh, were built by slaves. Rather than kill his enemies, pharaoh would often take his enemies into captivity to use their labor. More inventions used by man in this civilization were the wheeled-cart, later turned into the chariot, and sails. Large ships were created mostly for the imports and exports since Egypt was the leading export for grain in the world. Egyptian civilization became very rich off of their exports and the fruits of their labor are found in one of the most famous archaeological finds in history: the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen. The bronze age of Egypt is believed to be at its peak at this time because of he many bronze fine arts and crafts found in the tomb. Workings of gold, silver, and ivory are also found in the tomb which tells us that the civilized man is progressing exceptionally. Around the same time in history, both the Mesopotamian and the Egyptian civilization begin to die out, leaving scattered, independent states of civilizations. Shortly after this downfall of civilization, iron is discovered. Iron is tougher to melt, but, once it is formed, it is much stronger than any other metal at this time in history. This new invention spreads by the scattered settlers of the fallen civilizations. Once the proper techniques of making iron tools are mastered, the civilization of man picks up again with brand new technology. After the invention of iron, man also begins to make wider roads of stone. With these larger roads, armies can cross large amounts of land with ease. Traders can also use these roads to carry various goods from other civilization. Civilization is spread throughout the known world either by choice or by force. With civilization comes technology, which is a never-ending evolution. Research Papers on The Technological Advances of Early Man - History EssayBringing Democracy to AfricaGenetic EngineeringDefinition of Export QuotasAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeOpen Architechture a white paper19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of Self

Monday, November 4, 2019

A technique called method acting

A technique called method acting The controversy surrounding emotion training such as method acting still remains a poignant subject when discussing actor training (Chabora) but despite its controversy the technique called method acting is still popular, particularly in America where it was created (20thC training). In Method acting, the body is encouraged to respond to a series of stimulus that the actor has collected throughout their training. It emphasizes the importance of authenticity in a make-believe world. (method acting Krasner p5) The technique was developed using some of the ideas of Stanislavski’s system but has evolved over time with the input of various actors and directors (20thC training p129). The teaching of the method in America was instigated by Stanislavski’s students Richard Boleslavsky and Maria Ouspenskaya, their aim was to train actors to find depth in their characters. (20thC training p130) One of their students, Lee Strasberg became one of the founding members of Group Theat re (20thC training p130) who’s ethos promoted the use of real emotion on stage as opposed to it being suggested (20thC training p130). Despite, being director most associated with the method (20thC training p134) Richard Hornby (2002) states that even though Strasberg used Stanislavski’s name in order to advertise his own method of teaching, Boleslavsky was Strasberg’s sole link to them (end of acting p182). It was Strasberg’s belief that emotions are the most fundamental tool in the actor’s repertoire. (Chapora p231) He looks in particular at psychological processes, and is primarily concerned with the actor’s process rather than performance (20thC training p129). It is Strasberg’s affective/emotion memory that is his most controversial technique derived from Stanislavski’s work on Ivan Pavlov’s research (20thC training p135). This technique highlights the importance of actors using their own experiences and beliefs enc ouraging the actor to live the life of the character (20thC training p130). He believed the body to be stimulated by recalled experiences (20thC training p134) and affective/emotion memory exercise puts this belief into practice. It encourages the actor to remember corporeal feelings by way of examining personal cues, such as an object which holds emotional connotations for them. The next stage is bringing to mind memories (method acting Krasner p12 because as Strasberg noted, the most valuable memories are those buried deep in the actor’s subconscious. He suggests that the further back you explore, the more intense the memory. (Chabora p231) A common misconception about Strasberg’s affective/emotion memory is that it is the actor aim to remember the emotion contained within a memory, but this is not the case. The actor, instead of concentrating on how the event made them feel, remembers other details such as sight, sounds and smells (Chabora p231) which then cause the emotion to develop organically because â€Å"remembering a ‘situation’ in all of its vivid, sensory details†¦evokes a rich nexus of images that then facilitates a feeling response† (cognitive neuroscience P44). Each exploration into the ‘sensory details’ of a memory helps to build a collection which can be used during the actor’s process. (Chabora p231). Strasberg himself understood the risk of using this technique; only allowing people to train after studying their psychiatric records (Chabora p233) and also acknowledged that the emotional intensity of the memory may change over time. (Chabora p233)

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Interpersonal Intelligence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Interpersonal Intelligence - Essay Example They easily empathize with other people, sensitive to their emotions and moods and understand them well. Social gatherings are greatly enjoyed by them. This explains why they have many friends and they like engaging in team sports (Personality Max, n.d.). Cherry went on to say that because of these characteristics, people with a high interpersonal intelligence will be successful in the fields of psychology, philosophy, guidance counseling, sales or politics (n.d.). Most religious leaders, nurses, therapists, community organizers, teachers and mediators are people with interpersonal intelligence. One can learn to develop his interpersonal intelligence by participating in community organizations, taking a leadership role in group activities, taking up a team sport or informally tutoring other people. Enhancing one’s listening and communication skills are also essential to develop interpersonal intelligence. Cherry, K. (n.d.). Gardners theory of multiple intelligences. Retrieved January 10, 2012, from psychology.about.com Web site: