McDonald’s restaurants Essay Example

McDonald’s restaurants Essay In reviewing Subway’s recent economic performance, the restaurant franchise chain is confident in their day to day operation. Subway is still expanding and one day will they will outnumber the amount of McDonald’s restaurants. Subway’s purchasing power is high due to the 33,000 location within 90 different countries. (Subway) Cost Analysis The price for a sandwich from Subway is fairly stable across all 33,000 locations. A person can order the same sandwich form any of these restaurants. So no matter where in the world a person is they can still order their meatball sandwich. Normally a person can order a sandwich, chips, and drink for less than ten dollars. Demand Analysis The demand for fast food has risen throughout the years. McDonald’s is the largest fast-food chain followed by Subway. Subway offers fast-food services with healthier alternatives. As people are short on time to get food, they are also demanding a healthier lifestyle. Subway has answered the call, The Subway ® chain is doing this through a variety of tactics, including the 8 subs with 6 grams of fat or less and other low-fat choices; a family marketing strategy; and an emphasis on unique qualities that make the chain stand out from other fast-food chains. (Subway) Competitor Analysis Subway faces several competitors, anywhere from small mom and pop sandwich shops to other large restaurant chains. Subway’s top three competitors are McDonald’s, Quiznos, and Yum! Brand Inc. Yum! We will write a custom essay sample on McDonald’s restaurants specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on McDonald’s restaurants specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on McDonald’s restaurants specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer is the largest fast food operator in the world in terms of number of locations, with more than 37,000 outlets in about 110 countries. The company’s flagships chains include KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s, AW Root Beer, with 80% of their restaurants licensed to franchisees. (Yahoo) Action Plan Subway will keep doing what they are doing in order to become the largest sandwich restaurant in the world. With a growth of about 2,000 stores a year they will one day outnumber the number of McDonald’s locations. SUBWAY ® restaurants Franchise fee: $12,000 Start-up cost: $69,300 to $191,000 Basic royalty: 8% Advertising royalty: 3. 5% BLIMPIE* Franchise fee: $18,000 Start-up cost: $99,321 to $338,200 Basic royalty: 6% Advertising royalty: 4% BURGER KING* Franchise fee: $50,000 Start-up cost: $240,000 to $2. 5 million Basic royalty: 4. 5% Advertising fund: 4% COUSIN’S SUBS* KFC McDonald’s Franchise fee: $15,000 Franchise fee: $25,000 Franchise fee $45,000 Start-up cost: $200,000 average Start-Up Cost: $250,000 Start-Up Cost $432,000 to $715,150 Basic royalty: 6% Basic royalty: 7. 90% Basic royalty: 12. 5% Advertising royalty: 2% Service fee: 4. 90% Module 15 – DETERMINING ORGANIZATIONAL FINANCIAL RESULTS Revenue Sources In 2008, Subway made $926. 2 million dollars in sales. That is a 1. 9% sales growth for the sandwich shop chain. In 2008 they employed 700 employees working at their headquarters. They are expecting a 9. 7% growth within their work force. Due to the fact most stores are a franchise the profit margin varies from store to store because they are independently owned. Therefore each store must pay their employees from each stores profit instead of coming from a corporate office. (Doctor’s Associates Inc) Operating Costs Due to the fact most Subway restaurants are privately held by different individuals the operating cost varies from location to location. Generally speaking each store must pay 8% of their sales to royalty costs. The cost in which it takes to run the stores will include land or rent payments, the cost of raw materials in order to make the food, electricity, and any other services in which the store might need to be successful. Start-Up Costs In order to open up a new Subway restaurant a business will need $78,600 to $238,300 for their total investment. The initial franchise fee is $15,000 with royalties of 8%. The owner of the new store has to agree to the terms of agreement for 20 years. (Franchise Mall) Profitability According to Doctor’s Associates Inc they cannot promise any projected profit or return on investment for new Subway franchises. Doctor’s Associates Inc release this statement because there is no magic formula in order to make a Subway franchise be success. Although In 2009, Doctor’s Associates made $926. 2 million dollars in sales from their 8% royalties. That is a 1. 9% sales growth for the sandwich shop chain. It is hard to get an actual number on how profitably each franchise is due to the fact they are all independently owned. Location and the customer base are all factors on how successful each location is. ( Subway) Action Plan With around $300,000 a person can open their own Subway restaurant store. 8% of the stores revenue will have to pay back for royalties. To be very successful and make a nice living a person will need to own and operate several stores. There is money to be made and a market to be taken. (Subway) MODULE 16- MEASURING INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SUCCESS Financial Gains The profitable Subway franchise will undoubtedly profit from our operations in Brazil. Merging Subway’s success with Brazil’s culture will be Subway’s primary interest. Economic Benefits Subway’s focus will be equal opportunity for males and females alike—the majority of Brazil’s workforce is made up of men who earn higher salaries. Social Benefits Expanding Subway’s franchise to Brazil will be the stepping stone to expanding in neighboring countries. Because Subway will be adapting Brazil’s culture into our products and services, we will be preserving and enhancing Brazilian culture. Social Costs Subway was founded in the United States, a country with values much different than Brazil. In fact, many American values are considered to be offensive in the Brazilian culture. We must closely monitor our company’s practices prior to expansion. References countrystudies.us/brazil/82.htm.

States With No Income Tax Should You Move to One

States With No Income Tax Should You Move to One SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips While everyone in the US pays a federal income tax, not everyone pays a state income tax. There are seven states in the US with no income tax whatsoever, plus two more that don’t tax wages. While people who live in these states don’t pay income tax, they may pay higher taxes in other ways, like when they go shopping or stop at the gas station. This guide will explore whether or not people in income tax-free states save money overall, along with the pros and cons of moving to one of these states. First, let’s look at the nine states with few or no taxes on income. What Are the States With No Income Tax? There are seven states with no income taxes whatsoever. They are the following: Alaska Florida Nevada South Dakota Texas Washington Wyoming Two other states, New Hampshire and Tennessee, don’t have an income tax on wages, but they do tax interest and dividend income. If you’re making money from investments, for instance, then that profit would be taxed in New Hampshire or Tennessee. The remaining 41 states do level a tax on income. Some have a flat-rate income tax, while others have different brackets based on how much money you make. These states gain revenue from income taxes, and that money goes into various services and programs. In states that don’t collect income tax, where does the revenue come from? There are nine states in the U.S. with no or few state income taxes. Lokal Profil/Wikimedia Where Do States With No Income Tax Get Revenue? States still need revenue, and they get that money from a variety of sources. Commonly, states without income tax have higher sales, gas, and property taxes. They may also provide fewer, more expensive, or lower quality public services. For instance, in-state tuition at the public universities in New Hampshire is higher than that of most other states. Let’s look on a state-by-state basis to see how these no-income-tax states collect revenue. Alaska: petroleum revenue. Because of its oil, Alaska is an exception among income tax-free states. Rather than raising other taxes, Alaska actually distributes a dividend check to residents. Last year, each resident’s share was $2,075. Florida: above average sales taxes and property taxes. Nevada: gambling-related fees and taxes, as well as sales taxes. South Dakota: personal taxes, property taxes, cigarette excises, bank franchises, and ore taxes. Texas: oil and gas royalties, as well as a high sales tax. Washington: some of the highest sales and gasoline taxes in the United States. Wyoming: coal mining and property taxes. Like Alaska, Wyoming also gets revenue from its natural resources. New Hampshire: property tax. Tennessee: highest sales tax in the US. Given these alternative forms of revenue collection, does living in a state without income tax mean you keep more of your paycheck? Alaskan residents actually get money back each year from the Alaska Permanent Fund. Living in Alaska can be expensive, though, as it’s a pretty remote place. Does Living in an Income Tax-Free State Mean You Keep More of Your Money? The short answer to this question is, not necessarily. As you can see above, many states without income tax charge higher taxes on day-to-day expenses. They may also provide fewer public services or more expensive higher education. Depending on your spending habits and lifestyle, the amount of money you’re paying toward other taxes could be higher than the amount you would pay toward taxes overall in a state that had an income tax. How much you benefit from an income tax-free policy also largely depends on your income level. Typically, people with a higher income benefit from the lack of income tax, while people with lower incomes end up paying a larger percentage of their salary to other kinds of taxes. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy in Washington, for example, the poorest 20% of state residents pay 16.9% of their annual income in sales and gas taxes, while the wealthiest 1% pay just 2.4% of their income. Your income level, therefore, becomes an important factor if you’re deciding whether or not to move to a state with no income tax. What else should you consider as you figure out where to live in the United States? Should you move to sunny Florida, where palm trees are a-plenty but state income tax is nowhere to be found? Who Should Move to an Income Tax-Free State? As you read above, income tax-free states tend to have higher sales, gas, and property taxes and a reduced budget for public programs, like education. If any of the following are true for you, then you might benefit from living in one of these states. If the opposite is true, then you probably shouldn’t move to one. You Have a High Income Higher-income people tend to benefit the most from living in an income tax-free state. Besides keeping a larger proportion of your wages, higher income people may also have less need for public services. For instance, higher-income people may not rely on public education, instead sending their kids to private schools. You Don’t Own Much Property If you don’t own a lot of property, then you won’t get hit too hard with the often high property taxes in income tax-free states. If you do own a lot of property, then living in one of the nine states discussed above probably wouldn’t work in your favor. If you own a lot of land or houses, then you may end up getting hit with high property taxes. You Don’t Spend a Lot Besides having higher property taxes, most of these nine states impose high sales taxes. If you have a high consumption lifestyle, then you’ll be putting a higher than average percentage of your income toward sales taxes. If you don’t spend a lot, then you may save money in one of these states overall. You Don’t Rely on Public Services States without income taxes may offer reduced or lower quality public services, like transportation, health care, or public education. If you don’t have kids or are sending your kids to private school, then this might not affect you. Washington, by the way, is an exception with its strong public school system, but it has some of the highest sales and gas taxes in the country. If you drive a lot in Washington, then you might end up paying a lot in gas tax and highway and bridge tolls. If you’re sending kids to public school, be careful about the quality of the education system in an income tax-free state. You Hold Conservative or Libertarian Views People have different opinions about state income tax, and their support of or opposition to it tends to coincide with their social and political views. People with progressive or liberal views tend to support government funding of public services, like education, health insurance, and transportation, and they tend to be in favor of income taxes, as well. Those with more conservative or libertarian views want to minimize the government’s role in shaping society and consequently, tend to be opposed to income taxes. They may oppose any kind of income redistribution and prefer that all people pay the same on other taxes, like sales taxes. Progressives, however, point out that sales taxes affect people at different incomes disproportionately, with lower income populations becoming the most burdened. People also disagree about whether income taxes help or hinder job and population growth. Those who oppose income tax say that doing away with it boosts jobs and helps the state retain young people. According to a 2013 study, though, Texas was the only non-income tax state where job growth didn’t lag behind population growth. If you find yourself agreeing with the typically conservative or libertarian point of view opposed to state income tax, then you may well enjoy living one of the nine states listed above. Are you a progressive, conservative, or libertarian? Whether or not you support state income taxes tends to align with your social and political views. You’ve Done Your Research Beyond figuring out whether living in an income tax free state would be financially beneficial for you, you should also base your decision on a number of other factors, like the state’s culture and weather and what your moving process would be like. Are you ready to move to Nevada’s desert climate and live close to the temptation of gambling? Does the libertarian bent of many Texans appeal to you? Are you comfortable living in a remote place like Alaska where the sun shines all summer and hides all winter? Any move calls for a good deal of research and planning. If your main motivation is doing away with income tax, then remember that there are other factors to consider, like state services and how the government’s alternative methods of revenue collection affect you as an individual or family. If you do decide to pack up and move to the desert of Nevada or a ranch out in the Lone Star state, what steps do you need to take? Besides bringing lots of water, what steps would you need to take to move to a state with no income tax, like Nevada? How to Move to a State With No Income Tax In order to move and start enjoying an income tax-free life, you’ll typically need to establish both state residency and domicile. Residency and domicile laws vary by state. Typically, you’ll need to spend a certain amount of time in the state, as well as change some records to reflect your new address. One common law states that you can’t spend more than 183 days in any single state beside your new state of residency. That’s not to say you have to spend the remaining 182 days in your new state of residency. For instance, let’s say you’re moving to Texas. You spend 100 days in Texas, 100 days in Massachusetts, and 165 days in California. Since you didn’t spend a collective 183 days in a single state other than Texas, you can still call Texas your state of residency. However, if you had spent 100 days in Texas and the remaining 265 days in California, then you can’t call Texas your state of residency. Again, your time in one other state can’t exceed 183 days. While establishing residency is pretty straightforward, establishing domicile is a bit more vague. Generally, domicile means that your community connections need to be stronger in your new state than your old state. These connections include things like your voter registration, driver’s license, and bank accounts. You also have to indicate that the new state will be your permanent home. Since residency and domicile requirements vary by state, you’ll have to check the exact specifications for Texas, Wyoming, and the rest of the states with no income taxes. Besides rooting out the exact residency laws, make sure to remember these key points about states with no income taxes and how to move to one. One perk of living in a state with no income tax- you can totally skip that page on your tax returns. States With No Income Tax: Final Thoughts While eliminating an income tax might sound like it saves you money, the policy is a little trickier than it sounds. States still need money, so getting rid of an income tax typically means that they impose higher taxes in other areas. The only exception is states that generate revenue from natural resources, like Alaska with its petroleum. Whether living in a state with no income tax will save you money varies by individual. Typically, people who have a high income will benefit, as well as those who don’t rely on public education, drive very much, own a lot of property, or spend much money overall. You’ll have to take a look at your income, lifestyle, and spending habits to determine whether moving would be financially beneficial for you. Because of the U.S.’s unique mix of state and federal laws, you should always look into tax laws when you’re considering moving. If you’re envisioning relocating to another part of the country, then consider the new state’s tax laws and how they’ll affect your personal finances.

Factors Impacting Ethical Behavior in a Chinese State owned Essay

Factors Impacting Ethical Behavior in a Chinese State owned steelCompany - Essay Example To a larger extent, it can be observed that the work environment significantly impacts on the ethical behaviour of the employees in the organization. China’s business ethics is based on Confucianism and this also shapes the work environment in different organizations (Fu & Deshpande, 232). The ethical climate that exists in the organization greatly shapes the ethical behaviour of the Chinese employees. This environment shapes the values, perceptions as well as the beliefs that shape the behaviour of people. Likewise, Chinese employees are likely to learn from others within the organization and they will behave in a way that reflects the organization’s values and norms. In a country with uncertainty avoidance like China, it has been observed that the climate in the Chinese steel organization is shaped by such rule and this ultimately shapes ethical behaviour of the employee (Fu & Deshpande, 235). Thus, the prescribed values that obtain in the work environment significant ly shape the ethical behaviour of the Chinese employees. The other significant factor that shapes ethical behaviour of the Chinese is related to employee evaluation of self and other co-workers. As noted by Fu & Deshpande (235), employees in the steel industry share collectivist behaviour and this also shapes their ethical behaviour. The employees are greatly influenced by the behaviour of their co-workers since they would not want to be found on the wrong side of the law. In most cases, if the employees see other people in the organization behaving wrongly then they are not punished, they are likely to follow suit. Likewise, if the co-workers see others being rewarded for good behaviour, they will also behave in a positive way. Therefore, to a larger extent, it can be noted that the way employees evaluate themselves and their co-workers significantly impacts on their ethical behaviour in the

Park plaza county hall london Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Park plaza county hall london - Essay Example This has resulted to a rise in the level of customer satisfaction. Different scholars of the world have described the state of the UK hospitality market as ‘fast-changing’. This means that the particular hotels in this industry have to race to keep up with the pace. The fast changing nature of this industry has further been attributed to the technological advancements of the world. The different hotels have to therefore direct more of their resources and time to the emerging technology-based techniques and communication platforms such as social media to remain appealing to the evolving demographics of the world. Newer market segments continues to emerge in the hospitality industry in UK what has perpetrated the changes experienced in the market where most customers today are going for fast, better and more personalized services. London continues to be viewed as the ‘growth engine’ of the hotel sector in UK following the high number of hotel businesses located in the city. Hotel business in London is appealing following the fact that London it is a major tourist destination. Throughout the year, London experiences influx of visitors from all parts of the world. This has resulted in a boom in the hotel business in the city. The main objective of this market report is to evaluate the market operations of Park Plaza County Hall London hotel through use of specific market analysis tools; PESTEL analysis and market mix-7Ps and how the market operations impact the hotel business of Park Plaza County Hall London hotel. This market report was commissioned to specifically examine the role and contributions of marketing to the success of a business by looking into the operations of Park Plaza County Hall London hotel in the UK hospitality industry. It further offers specific recommendations that can adequately be integrated by the business to enhance its performance within this industry. According to Baines and Page (2010, p.

Piagets stages of development Essay Example for Free

Piagets stages of development Essay Sensory Motor Stage Piaget’s first stage of development is the sensory motor stage. This stage occurs between the birth of the child and the age of two. During this stage, understanding comes from touching, sucking, chewing, and manipulating objects. About nine months after birth, the child develops what is called ‘object permanence’. Object permanence is the awareness that objects and people continue to exist even if they are out of sight. The infants have the ability to build up mental pictures of objects around them, from the knowledge that they have developed on what can be done with the object. Through manipulation, babies accumulate information on themselves and the world that lead to the slight understanding of how one thing can cause or affect another, and begins to develop simple ideas about time and space. An example of this would be that a baby can realize that if they cry when they are hungry, the mother will attend to them (Fleck, 1975, p. 3). Preoperational Stage Piaget’s second stage of development was the preoperational stage. The preoperational stage of development occurs between the ages of two to seven years. During this stage, children’s though processes are developing. There is a development of language and use of symbols. Children still use egocentric thought, meaning that they view the world entirely from his or her own perspective. ‘Animism’ is also a characteristic of the preoperational stage. This is when a person has the belief that everything that exists has some kind of consciousness. An example of this would be that a child would believe the sink isn’t turning on because it is sick or that the water will be hot because it’s angry. A child at this stage of development appears to view his social relationships and the physical reality egocentrically. This means that they view the world with a marked tendency to evaluate interaction with others in terms of its contribution to their own experience of satisfaction. So moral realism is an aspect of this stage because children think that their thoughts on the difference between right and wrong are shared by everyone else around them. (Appel, 1977, p. 4). Concrete Operational Stage Piaget’s third stage of development is the concrete operational stage. The  concrete operational stage of development occurs in children between the ages of seven and twelve. Before the beginning of this stage, children’s ideas about different objects are formed and dominated by their appearance. An example of this is that they believe there are less toys when they are all piled up rather than spread out across the floor because it takes up more space on the ground. During this stage, the thought process becomes more rational, mature, adult-like, and operational. Children in this stage of development lose their egocentric frame of thought and begin to think logically. This especially is true for the child’s ability to develop logical thought about an object that they are able to physically manipulate. These children have difficulty understanding abstract, hypothetical questions. Children at the concrete-operational level would be expected to draw on the experie nces of others in evaluating their environment, giving more realistic and natural. (Koocher, 1973, p. 2). Formal Operations Stage Piaget’s last stage of development is the formal operational stage. The formal operational stage of development begins at the age of around eleven or twelve and is fully achieved by the age of fifteen and taken throughout the rest of adulthood. The structures of development become the more abstract, logically organized system of adult intelligence. There are two major characteristics of formal operational thought including ‘hypothetic-deductive reasoning’ and ‘propositional reasoning’. Hypothetic-deductive reasoning means that when faced with a problem, the person is able to come up with a general summary of all the possible factors that might affect the outcome, and the different outcomes possible. Propositional reasoning means that adolescents can focus on verbal assertions and evaluate their logical validity without making reference to real-world circumstances. In concrete operational development, children can only evaluate the logic of statements based off of concrete evidence. Formal operational development brings critical, theoretical, and problem-solving types of thought that gives them much more thought and understanding than they had in the past. (Koocher, 1973, p. 8). â€Å"Are we forming children who are only capable of learning what is already known? Or should we try to develop creative and innovative minds, capable of  discovery from the preschool age on, throughout life?† –Jean Piaget On August 9, 1896, developmental psychologist and philosopher Jean Piaget was born. Jean was the first psychologist to make a systematic study of cognitive development. His contributions include a theory of cognitive child development, detailed observational studies of cognition in children, and a series of simple but ingenious tests to reveal different cognitive abilities. Before Piaget’s work, the common assumption in psychology was that children are merely less competent thinkers than adults which he disproved showing the strikingly different ways children think in comparison to adults. Piaget’s theories of child development continue to be studied in the field of education. His theory differs from others in several ways. For one, it is concerned with children, rather than all learners. It also focuses on development rather than learning so it does not address learning of information or specific behaviors. It proposes discrete stages of development marked by qualitative differences, rather than a gradual increase in number and complexity of behaviors, concepts, and ideas.

Phases Of A Cell Cycle Biology Essay

Phases Of A Cell Cycle Biology Essay Interphase is a part of the cell cycle in which the cell reproduces more DNA, it is the time when a cell accomplishes the most this is the time that the cell is preparing to divide. It is duplicating its organells and increasing the amount of cytoplasm it has in order to undergo cell division interphase constitutes the longest period of the cell cycle and is divided into three successive phases. G1 phase S phase G2 phase 2.1.1. G1 Phase: The first part of the inter phase is G1. In G1phase the cellular metabolic rate is high in which cell normally grows in size. And synthesis of m-RNA, t-RNA, r-RNA and proteins occur. This phase involves accumulation and synthesis of specific enzymes needed to control DNA-synthesis and production of DNA base unit so that the supply is at hand when synthesis being. 2.1.2. S Phase: The S phase is the intermediate phase between G1growth phase (gap-1) and G2 growth phase (gap-2).During the portion of cell cycle the DNA molecule are actually duplicated to produce two similar daughter cells. 2.1.3. G2 Phase: During the gap between DNA synthesis and mitosis, the cell will continue to grow. It is also called pre-mitotic phase. In this phase energy is stored for chromosome movement. Mitotic specific protein RNA and microtubule subunit are synthesis. 2.2. Mitotic Phase: This phase involves the division of nucleus and division of cytoplasm. At this stage the growth and protein production stop. All of the cell cycle focused on the complex and orderly division into two similar daughter cells. Mitosis is much shorter than inter phase. Lasting phase only one two hours. As in both G1 and G2, there is a checkpoint in the middle of mitosis that ensures the cell is ready to complete cell division actually stages of mitosis can be viewed at animal cell mitosis. 3. Mitosis: It is a process of nuclear and cell division in which the numbers of chromosomes in daughter cells are same as that of parent cell. 4. Phases of Mitosis: Mitosis is a continuous process which has two phases. Karyokinesis Cytokinesis 4.1. Karyokinesis: This phase involves the nuclear division .Animal cell has a special structure for cell division called centriole. At the start of mitosis centriole is divided into two pairs. Each pairs migrate to the opposite side of the nucleus thus forming two poles of the dividing cell. The microtubules including aster and spindle are called mitotic apparatus. There size is larger than nucleus. The function of the mitotic apparatus is to attach and capture chromosomes, align them correctly and separate them so that equal distribution of chromosomes should take place. The microtubules are set of fibers which are three in number. They originate from each pair of centrioles. One set of microtubules is called astral microtubules which form aster outward. The other two sets form the spindle in which one is kinetochore microtubules and other is polar microtubules and other is polar microtubules. 4.1.1. Stages of Karyokinesis: Karyokinesis can be divided into four stages. Prophase Metaphase Anaphase Telophase 4.1.1.1. Prophase: Chromosomes can not be seen in the interphase stage even by electron microscope. However by using some special stains chromatin network of fine threads can be seen which is called chromatin. The following events take place in prophase. Nuclear envelope along with nucleoli disappear Centrioles completely migrate towards their poles Mitotic apparatus is organized Cytoplasm becomes more viscous The chromatin material get condensed by folding and chromosomes appear as thin threads and eventually become thick consisting of two chromatids attached with centromere 4.1.1.2. Metaphase: At metaphase chromosomes have become completely thick consisting of chromatid. These chromatids are attached to centromere. The Cells has special area the kinetochore where kinetochore fibres of mitotic apparatus attach. The kinetochore fibers of spindle are attached to kinetochore region of chromosomes and align them at the equator of the spindle forming equatorial plate or metaphase plate. Each kinetochore gets two fibers each from opposite poles. 4.1.1.3. Anaphase: It is very important phase of mitosis. The kinetochore fibers of spindle contract toward their respective poles exert force which separates the two chromatids from centromere. In this way two sister chromatids are formed. Half of them move to one pole and other half towards other pole. 4.1.1.4. Telophase: As the chromosomes reach to their respective pole telophase starts. The chromosome starts unfolding and become chromatin material. Mitotic apparatus starts disappearing while nucleus and nuceolic appears and thus two nucleoli are formed at each pole of the cell. 4.2. Cytokinesis: Cytokinesis is a phase of the mitosis in which whole of the cell divides. At this phase the astral microtubules send signals to equatorial region of cell which activate action and myosin to form contractile ring. This contractile rings form cleavage furrow in the center of cells which get deepens gradually and ultimately divide the parent cell into two daughter cells. 5. MEIOSIS: Meiosis is a special type of cell division in which the numbers of chromosomes in daughter cells are reduced to half as compare to parent cell. In animals it occurs in diploid cells at gamete formation while in plants it takes place at spore formation at gamete formation. Meiosis can take place in two divisions Meiosis I Meiosis II The first meiotic division is reduction division and second meiotic division is like that of mitosis. After two divisions diploid cell produce four haploid cells. 5.1. Stages of Meiosis I: Meiosis I is further divided into four sub-stages as following Prophase I Metaphase I Anaphase Telophase 5.1.1. Prophase I: Prophase I is a very long phase. The chromosomes in this phase behave like the homologous pairs which is different as that from mitosis. The similar chromosomes are called homologous chromosomes. Prophase I is divided into five sub stages. Leptotene Zygotene Pachytene Diplotene Diakinesis 5.1.1.1. Leptotene: At this stage the chromosomes appear as very long narrow thread and the size of nucleus increase and homologous chromosomes become closer. 5.1.1.2. Zygotene: First essential phenomenon of meiosis i.e. pairing of homologous chromosomes called synapsis starts. This pairing is highly specific and exactly pointed, but with no definite starting point. At this phase nuclei also disappears. Each paired but no fused complex structure is called bivalent or tetrad. 5.1.1.3. Pachytene: The pairing of homologous chromosomes is completed. Chromosomes become more and more thick. Each bivalent has four chromatids, which wrap around each other. Non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes exchange their segments due to chiasmata formation. During the process called crossing over. In this way reshuffling of genetic materials occur, which produces recombination. 5.1.1.4. Diplotene: The next stage of meiosis is diplotene where bivalents are distinct and contracted. During this phase the chiasmata of each bivalent undergoes terminalization that are the movement of two homologous chromosomes to the two ends. During the stage of prophase due to chromosome contraction they are very distinct as visible bivalent structure. 5.1.1.5. Diakinesis: Next phase is diakinesis where the chiasmata are fully terminalized and the two chromosomes remain together though fully terminalized. 5.1.2. Metaphase I: Nuclear membrane disorganize at the beginning of this phase. Spindle fibres originate and the kinetochore fibres attach to the kinetochore of the homologous chromosomes from each pole and arrange bivalent at the equator. The sister chromatids of individual chromosomes in bivalent behave as a unit. 5.1.3. Anaphase I: In this succeeding anaphase that is Anaphase I, the homologous centromeres move towards opposite direction of the pole. The centromere of each chromosome remains intact. The chromosome being separated there is no chaismata at this stage. 5.1.4. Telophase: Nuclear membranes organize around each set of chromosomes at two poles. Nucleoli reappear thus two nuclei each with half number of chromosome is formed, later on, cytoplasm divides thus terminating the first meiotic division. 6. Summary: Each cell cycle has two phase- interphase and mitotic phase. Inter phase is highly metabolic phase and subdivided into G1, S, G2 phases. Dividing phase involves the division of nucleus and division of cytoplasm. Mitosis is an equational cell division occurs in somatic cells producing two cells of the same chromosomes number of parent cell. Karyokinesis occurs in four phase à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬prophase, anaphase, metaphase, telophase and is followed by cytokinesis. Meiosis is a reductional cell division occurs in germ cells producing four cells of half chromosomes number from that of parent cell, Nucleus divides twice in meiosis. Prophase I is of longer duration with substages leptotene, zygotene, pachytene. diplotene, diakinesis and is characterized by bivalent formation and crossing over through chaismata formation.

Personal Statement for School of Allied Medical Professions

For as long as I can remember, I have been interested in working as a healthcare professional.   Like most children, I was at first interested in the glamour of being a doctor, maybe a surgeon, and saving a person’s life each and every time I worked–just like every doctor on every television program for the last two generations, I would be both loved and respected by the people I treated.Over time, of course, a more realistic perspective came into being.   I learned that there were choices other than being the beloved and good-natured general practitioner and the witty and fascinating surgeon.This awareness has sharpened my interest in being a member of the healthcare profession, however, now that I am aware of just how many people contribute in so many different capacities.   Having learned more about the field of respiratory therapy, I am convinced that it is an area in which I can truly make a difference.Unlike many other areas in the healthcare professions, an individual with a baccalaureate degree in respiratory therapy can actually help people change their lives.At that level of study, a person can work either in clinical or non-clinical fields, opening a wide realm of possibilities for future careers from patient care to research to education.   Respiratory therapy requires its practitioners to be both skilled and educated, not only in the very basics of anatomy and physiology, but also in the use of a variety of physical skills and the knowledge to use wide range of sometimes complex equipment.I foresee this degree as one that will launch me on a long-term career in which being a therapist is only the beginning.   I know that I will be able to not only enjoy my work in this field; however, I also know that it will give me the opportunity to build on what I have learned and broaden the reach that I have to be of use to those in need.With a degree from OSU and the entry level licensure that such a degree will allow me to obtain, I know that I would possess the tools that would enable me to be in charge of my own professional destiny.This ability to grow and either diversify or specialize is of great importance to me.   I know that, as a student, it is impossible for me to learn all that I either need to or wish to learn at this level of education.   I have a curious nature and a drive to succeed, both of which should be of benefit in pursuing this lifelong dream of working in healthcare.I also feel that my desire to continue my studies in the future can only help me succeed in a rapidly progressing and changing field.   Continuing education units are not only required by many places of employment to maintain an individual’s position; in my opinion they are also a necessity to keep up with the improvements in techniques and technology if one is truly interested in continuing to serve one’s patients in the best manner possible.I believe that the program at Ohio State University will give me the background that I require to make an excellent start in my field of choice.   I feel that its limited intake of students would enable me to get the guidance that I would need to excel in the field of my choice when I enter the workforce.I also feel that I can benefit greatly from the wide variety of clinical experiences offered at OSU as I explore what area of respiratory therapy in which I can best offer my skills and knowledge.   Finally, I am excited by the opportunities for research and the possibility to sit for an entry-level licensure exam in my senior year.I realize that both of these opportunities will help me hit the ground running after graduation and help propel me forward as I pursue my future in respiratory therapy.At this point in my educational career, I have taken all of my general education requirements, including courses in biology, chemistry, calculus, physics, medical terminology, and others.   In this upcoming term I will be taking anatomy and physiol ogy.   I feel that my record as a student speaks for itself.From this point forward I realize that I must put all of my efforts into my education.   Studies in my major concentration will allow for few mistakes if I am to succeed in the future and will offer even fewer chances to correct mistakes if they are made.   With so few opportunities to enter the program I know it falls upon me not to waste the chance to finish this degree, if I am permitted the chance to begin.   I am sure that I have the drive to achieve the goals that I have set for myself, as long as I am given the guidance and the knowledge that I need to further myself in my studies.   I am confident that the program at OSU will help me further myself as a student and as a professional in the years to come and would value the chance to learn from such a skilled professional team.Previous to this term, I have taken the opportunity to volunteer at the Grant Medical Center, where I worked in the radiation oncolo gy department.   Although it was not a volunteer opportunity in respiratory therapy, the 50 hours of clinical observation that I did in that area allowed me to see the treatments for bladder cancer, uterine cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and brain tumors.The experience both intrigued me and reinforced in me the desire to enter the healthcare field.   The patients’ will to survive and to thrive was astounding; the dedication that the people at Grant have to help them to survive and to thrive was inspiring.To be honest, such dedication was also a bit frightening, as it occurred to me that there was a great deal of work and personal investment that accompanied it.   While daunting, I know that I am equal to the task ahead, both as a student and as a future professional.I am confident that I have a lot to offer the healthcare profession and even more to offer the field of respiratory therapy.   I know that with my drive and my dedication to my studies that I can achi eve my dreams of working in the healthcare field and can also be an asset to the class with which I study.   I look forward to studying with your fine program in the future.

Traditional Viking Religion

Traditional Viking Religion The Vikings’ religious beliefs were constantly changing and evolving. They had many different ways of worshiping, and viewing their gods. It was dependent completely on where you lived, in what era, and what your social class was, though the Vikings weren’t very strict on this. Most of these beliefs were recorded after Christianity had already taken hold of the Viking culture. But, it seems that under their outer appearance of ‘good little Christians’, they were still telling the stories based on their original beliefs.These stories and myths ended up being documented in three different ways: Poetic Edda, Skaldic poetry, and Prose Edda. Poetic Edda was a compilation of poems written in Iceland just after the mid-thirteenth century. They came from all over Scandinavia, which includes the countries of present-day Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Skaldic poetry was written mostly in the ninth century, but is very compl ex, and therefore difficult for most people to understand. The Icelandic poet, politician, and historian, Snorri Sturluson, wrote Prose Edda in the 1220s.Prose Edda is the most commonly used resource on Viking mythology today, because it was Sturluson’s goal to revive (but also explain) the skaldic art. Along with his poems, he had a key of sorts that made understanding his work possible. (Wolf 148-149) Some Vikings believed that the world was made up of several circles of different worlds; all of them connected in some way. Others believed in the nine worlds that were all connected by the world tree, referred to as Yggdrasil (Roberts). Yggdrasil was at the center of the world, and had nine roots, each root branching out to one of the worlds.At the bottom of everything was Niflheim, the world of the dead. This realm is ruled by the death-goddess, Hel. She named a portion of Niflheim after herself. Unlike its Christian counterpart when it comes to the world of the dead, Niflhe im is a land of ice, not fire. There is a root leading into Niflheim, and one leading directly into Hel. Then came the land of the giants, Jotunheim. It is also sometimes called Utgard (Wolf 149); it was mostly known as the land of monsters, and enemies of the gods. After this, came a realm that there isn’t much to known about: Nidavellir, the realm of dwarfs.Next came three realms of almost equal rank. The two elf lands, Svartalfheim, the land of the dark elves, and Alfheim, the domain of the light elves. Alfheim was thought to be at the same level as the middle world, where humans dwelt, known as wither Midgard or The Middle Yard. Then at the top of everything were the two different major realms where gods lived: Asgard, where the Aesier gods and goddesses lived, and Vanaheim, where the Vanier (another tribe of gods and goddesses that were more nature focused than the Asier) lived. In Asgard and Vanaheim each deity lived in his or her own kingdom.It was believed that a flam ing rainbow bridge called Bifrost, connected Midgard to the worlds where the gods lived. There were also two other realms that weren’t connected to Yggdrasil. These were Muspell, and Ginnungagap. Muspell was the land of the Fire Giants, and demons, ruled by Surt (Roberts), who plays a vital role in both the beginning and the end of the world. Ginnungagap is the Void of Chaos, where life began. It separates Niflheim and Muspell. In the beginning, before even humans or gods there were three realms: Muspell, Niflheim, and Ginnungagap.In between Muspell and Niflheim two creatures were formed; a gargantuan frost giant, Ymir, and a huge cow, Andumla. Ymir drank some of Andumal’s milk and grew strong. After this development, the first giants sprung out of Ymir’s legs and armpits (Roberts). Then while Andumla was licking the salty ice, it uncovered the first god: Buri. He had a son by a giantess, Bestla. This son, Bor, fathered three sons with the giantess Bestla: Odin, Vili, and Ve (godchecker ink. ). These three got into a fight with Ymir, and managed to kill him; in the way all classic heroes kill monsters.Then, after hauling the frost giant’s body to the middle of Ginningagap, they created the world with him. Using his flesh for land, bones for mountains, and his blood for water. Ymir’s skull formed the vault of the sky. Still-glowing embers from Muspell were used for the sun, moon, and stars. The first tree was Yiggdrasil. It was supposed to support the entire universe. The nine realms were built off it. They then made the first man and woman out of trees, an ash and an elm that they had found washed up on the shore. From the ash and a tree trunk they made Ask, the first man.From the Elm they created the first woman, Embla. At the base of Yiggdrasil lived the three norns. These were the goddesses of destiny. They represent past, present and future, and spin everyone’s destiny. Urd works with past, Verdandi deals with the present, and Skuld decides the future. It was also their job to take care of Yiggdrasil. They watered the land as well as repaired any damage done to the tree. They were very different from the rest of the gods. They didn’t go around having love lives, and getting mixed up in feuds of all sorts of trouble. There is one thing that the norns cannot save Yiggdrasil from.At the end of the world, Ragnarok, the world tree itself will be destroyed. The Viking story of the end of the world is the end of the entire universe. Everyone except a few select gods and two humans perish. Before the great battle between the gods and the evil creatures, a dark age comes upon the earth. For three years it is a dark winter. In this time the world of men will be consumed in war with everyone fighting each other. Family ties are broken, and become friendships forgotten. These relationships are vastly important to Vikings. To have them be destroyed would seem very wrong to any Viking.To top it all off the sun, moon, and stars disappear, leaving the world in darkness. The land is shaken with terrible earthquakes, causing trees to uproot, and mountains to topple. These earthquakes also free the wolf, Fenrir, and his father, the trickster god Loki from their bonds. Fenrir was imprisoned when he grew too big, strong, and wild to be kept as a pet in Asgard. A magical ribbon was the only thing capable of restraining him. But before this, he bit off the hand of his trainer, Tyr. Loki was imprisoned when he was accused correctly of causing the death of Odin’s favorite son, Baldur.The earthquakes also anger the great Midgard Serpent deep in the ocean. The serpent will come on land, and spew its terribly poisonous venom everywhere. Along with these creatures, all of the other enemies of the gods, such as the giants and the demons of Muspell (led by Surt), will come together and attack the worlds of humans, and cross Bifrost to attack the gods. All of the gods will fight to defen d their realm, and that of the humans. However, even with all of their strength, they will fail. Fenrir kills Odin. But Vidar, one of Odin’s many sons, avenges Odin’s death.Thor is poisoned by the Midgard Serpent’s venom after killing it. Surt kills Freyr, because Freyr doesn’t have his sword. After killing Freyr, Surt catches the earth aflame, and burns it all up. Then what is left of the earth will sink beneath the sea. But that is not the end. Not of everything. Yiggdrasil still exists. In it’s branches, two humans, Lif and Lifthrasir (godchecker ink. ), were protected. Also Vidar, leading several other gods have survived. As well as these Baldr and Hod come back from the dead to help recreate earth, and rule the gods.The three most commonly worshiped gods were Frey(r), Odin, and Thor. In several instances statues of the three of them were found together, usually with Thor in the center, and Frey and Odin at his sides. These three covered most o f the needs of the Viking people, which include the needs of farmers, sailors, warriors, poets, and noblemen. It isn’t a surprise why these three were the main gods. As well as Frey, Thor, and Odin there were many other gods. In Norse mythology there are dozens of different gods, each playing a different role. Odin, for a while, was the head god.He is the god of war, revenge, wisdom, poetry, and magic. His belongings are Gungir, a spear that always hits its mark, and Draupnir, a magical gold ring that can duplicate itself. Dwarves made these items, as well as most of the god’s enchanted tools. He also had five animal allies: two ravens, Huginn (thought) and Munninn (memory), two wolves, Freki and Geri, as well as his eight-legged horse, Loki’s son, Sleipnir. He was a bit knowledge-hungry instead of the usual: power-hungry. Once upon a time, Odin gave one of his eyes to the Well of Mimir for the right to drink from the well.The Well bestowed great knowledge to hi m. This Well of Mimir lies at the base of Yiggdrasil. Another time he was said to have hung himself on Yiggdrasil for the right to know all about the runes, so he could teach man, and his gods to be literate and even more powerful. Nobles, warriors, poets and magic-users (magicians, seers, mystics†¦) commonly worshiped Odin. They all gave sacrifices to him. He was worshiped by the nobles because he himself was pretty much god royalty. Odin was also very interested in politics, and these worshippers hoped that he could help them in their thinking.The poets worshiped Odin, because he had drunk some of the poetry mead (alcoholic beverage). This made Odin very talented with his words. So they worshiped him to gain his knowledge of language. He was also a good muse, for those poets lacking inspiration. But if Odin were used as a muse, then of course Odin would be pleased, and help them with their skills. So worshipping Odin was helpful for many poets. Odin was very practiced in the art of magic. So it was thought to be beneficial for any user of magic to ask for his favor. Odin however, wasn’t the only god versed in magical arts.Any other gods who knew much about magic could be called upon. Odin was not the only option. Warriors gave sacrifices to Odin before battles, praying for victory. To gain his favor one would usually give sacrifices of either animals or humans (Roberts). But sometimes this wasn’t good enough. Odin usually got his warrior worshippers killed during battle. Many of these warriors were the dreaded berserkers, who either took a drug-like-substance or riled themselves up so that they fought like fierce animals. As you can see, he clearly had a very violent, brutal, and insane side.The beautiful Valkyries, Odin’s shield maidens, took these dead men away. The dead men were brought to Valhalla, Odin’s hall. There, the warriors fought battles with each other all day, then ate and caroused all night. Then they did it al l over again. Any wounds suffered were miraculously healed at the end of each battle. Odin is officially married to Frigg, but, like many other pagan gods, has many affairs with many other women. He had many children with goddesses and giantesses of all sorts. His most well known children are: Baldr, Thor, Heimdal, Ty, Hod, Vidar, and Valdi.The god who was worshiped the most overall was Thor. This was because he was so easy to relate to, since his talents were those that most people wanted supporting them. He was a fabulous warrior, but he was also the god of farming and storm (and therefore was the weather) god. So he was worshiped by all of the common people: farmers and seamen. Because Thor became really popular in the ninth and tenth centuries, he was the chief rival of Christ, when the Christians were trying to convert all of the Vikings. This was one of the reasons it took so long to convert all of the Vikings.Thor also had some special items that helped him out in battle. His hammer, Mjolnir, iron belt and gauntlet gloves. The hammer never missed its target, and always returns to Thor after it has been thrown, like a boomerang. The iron belt gives Thor the strength needed to throw the heavy hammer; and the gloves give him the strength in his wrists to catch the hammer when it returns to him. Thor was very prepared for physical combat. Hammer amulets (representing Thor) were widely popular throughout Scandinavia. Scads of them have been found in archeological digs. This proves how beloved by the Vikings he was.Also, in later years of the Viking period, during Thor’s â€Å"prime†, he was at the center of monuments, bearing images of him, Odin, as well as Frey. One of the best things about Thor, at least in the minds of the Viking people, is that there were never human sacrifices given to him. At least there were never any records hinting at it. He was a kind god, and protected his people in all of the myths about him. Sacrifices of animals a nd valuable objects (weapons, jewelry, especially fancy tools) were given to him in times of danger from famine or plague. This proves the people’s trust in his kindheartedness. The third most popular god was Frey.He was the god of fertility. Actually the only know male god of fertility. Sacrifices were made to him at weddings to promote the fertility of the couple. Being a god of fertility also made him the â€Å"ecology god†, which made him god of meadows, farming, fisheries, and food in general. Since his father is Niord, the sea god, Frey has some power over the sea as well. Because of this position, he became the god of ship builders too. His magically special object is a ship. It can shrink and be folded up so that he can carry it around in his pocket. But still be large enough, when unfolded, to carry all of the gods.Frey is associated with ship funerals. Wealthier worshippers of Frey would be buried on land in ships filled with typical loot, which was a type of tcommon Viking burial. He was forced to give away his sword in the long arduous process of wooing his beautiful giantess wife, Gerd. So, worshippers of Frey don’t carry swords to honor and respect him. As well as not tolerating swords, outlaws of any kind are not permitted in his presence. Frey had a twin sister: Freya, who was the most widely celebrated of all the pagan goddesses. She is at the center of many myths. She was, like her brother, a goddess of fertility.She was also a goddess of magic known as Sied (Wolf, 151), love, and the leader of the Valkyries. She was married to Od (who might have been a version of Odin), but he left her for another. She was sad, as she had truly loved him, but was strong enough to move on easily. She had rather loose morals, and â€Å"slept around† quite a bit. Using her sexual prowess she was able to get the necklace of sensuality from the four dwarves who had made it. As well as being the head of the Valkyries, she was the head o f the Thedisir, a group of goddesses who are attached to a particular place, or type of object.This made her closely connected with guardian spirits otherwise known as fylgjur. These spirits protect certain special places, such as places of natural beauty, and the homes of their worshippers. Bragi is the god who recites poetry. He is the god of all bards and storytellers. He loves to learn, and promotes others to do likewise. His wife, Idun grows the fruit of immortality: golden apples. The laboring god, Weyland is a blacksmith. He is the God of experience, and a master craftsman. He was created because the people of Iceland wanted a god that wasn’t warlike, and who was actually a useful person. (Meadows) Weyland was that god.The god of justice and law was Tyr. He was a loyal man, and fought for his leader, usually Odin. He looses a hand to Fenrir because he trusts him. This shows his ability to blindly trust, and think the best of people. That was his best trait. Though when he did learn something foul about someone, they’d better beware because one-handed or not, he is a valiant warrior. Heimdall was the guardian of the rainbow bridge, Bifrost. He had a special horn to sound, warning the other gods, when he saw Surt’s great army approaching, announcing that the great battle of Ragnarok was to commence. He is the son of Odin and the nine wave sisters.Odin’s official wife, Frigg was the mother of all, protector of children, and associated with child bearing and the home. She has a sacred â€Å"Distaff of life† that she uses to spin for the â€Å"Fabric of the Universe†. She has the power to see into the future, and is the best of all the gods in this area. Loki is the trickster god. He was both a friend and an enemy to the gods. He is always stirring up trouble. He is the parent of many of the great monsters. As an outcome of his affair with Angrbodi (a beautiful giantess) he fathered the death goddess, Hel, the monste rous wolf, Fenrir, and the midgard serpent.His only legitimate offspring was Narfi, his son. Narfi doesn’t play a very large role. When he transformed into a mare, as part of a plan to save Freya, he begot Odin’s mount, Sleipnir One time Loki got into too much trouble. When he tricked the blind Hod into killing his beautiful brother Baldyr (sons of Odin), it was decided that he had gone too far. Because of his numerous crimes, he was tied up with Narfi’s guts, and imprisoned in a cave with only his wife to ease his suffering, until Ragnarok, when he rides with Surt to destroy the gods. As the Daughter of Loki, Hel had a lot to live up to.In anticipation of her evil tendencies, Odin sent her to Niflheim, and made her the goddess of the underworld, and the dead. She doesn’t like it down there very much, and resents Odin for this. To get back at him she also joins her father and Surt for Ragnarok. Surt was â€Å"The Destroyer†. He is the leader of the fire demons, and is a key player in the final battle of Ragnarok. He miraculously survives Ragnarok, so that he can do it all over next time round. No one was said to worship him. He was the closest thing to Christianity’s Lucifer. The Vikings had to have places to worship, or not worship in some cases like Surt.Most of the Vikings worshiped outside. In holy groves and meadows that had rocks, small hills, and swamps where they placed their offerings. These places were sometimes specific for gods, but most of the time the places were just general places of worship. As well as these outdoor places of worship there were also in-town places such as holy rocks, wells and other objects. In different places, at certain times worshippers had festivals to celebrate the gods. One such festival was held every nine years. Nine men, as well as nine each of different sorts of animals (all male) were sacrificed.Their blood was presented to an idol, and their bodies were strung up in a near by sacred grove. Sacrifices that were given to the gods were mostly animals such as dogs, horses, and farm animals. They were thrown into rivers, tossed off cliffs, and hung on trees in sacred groves for their blood to drain out into the holy ground. Human sacrifices were made sometimes. It was not an every-day occasion. Only for special occasions such as a festival, when a god’s help was especially needed, or when there was another important event, such as the death of an important man.There were often temples for the gods in Viking villages. The local chieftain or leader maintained each temple. The heads of the other main households always aided them. A classic example of a Viking funeral is this: the body is cleaned, dressed with normal clothing, and buried in the ground with items the person might need in the afterlife. Such as food, drink, weapons, tools, and other such things. There would often be dead animals such as horses, dogs, chickens, and sometimes their wife/ser vant/slave. Often times the dead would be set in an underground room in a bed with all of their belongings around them.Some Vikings believed that the spirit lived on as a ghost. Either in the underground tomb their body was left in, in a special haunted hill with the rest of the family, or close to their family as a protector. The alternate funeral would be to burn the body. This was especially common for Odin’s worshippers, and people in general who died in battle, so that they would be sent straight up to Valhalla, and to that fabulous hall of fallen warriors. The Vikings weren’t all that different from any other polytheistic religion of the time. Most of their gods represented desirable human qualities; just like the Greek/Roman gods.They had a creation story, and a destruction story (apocalypse). They bury and burn their dead; just like we do today. The Vikings also believed in a sort of heaven, and in ghosts. Their religion isn’t all that different from any other. They aren’t barbaric pagans; they weren’t the only culture to sacrifice humans and animals to their gods. They Viking religion is similar to other religions, but at the same time it has it’s own mythology and myths that are very unique. The Norse religion is just a religion, with its special characteristics that have transferred from the Viking way of life over into their religion.They needed strong, warlike gods because during the age of Vikings there was a lot of fighting going on. The Vikings made their gods able to defend them form the other evils in the world; ones that the Vikings couldn’t take care of without help. Like any other people would have if they lived in the same conditions. The Christian God of the day would smite badly behaved people, and sent them to hell. The Crusades, that the whole of Christian Europe was involved in, was all about fighting. Norse mythology and religion had their Gods constantly fighting he giants and monste rs; it was a way the Vikings expressed their part in all of the violence.Bibliography: Godchecker Ink. â€Å"Viking Gods of Norse Mythology. † www. godchecker. com, January 31, 2010 < http://www. godchecker. com/pantheon/norse-mythology. php >. This resource was mostly helpful. It was a good reference point. Its facts were all very straightforward, and it had information about almost all of the places and people mentioned in Norse mythology. The one problem with the site is that it was written in a very modern style. With innuendoes, and annoying, uneducated slang and inferior language. I used it only to reference my other sources.Jovinelly, Joan, and Netelkos, Jason. The crafts and culture of the Vikings. New York, Ny: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc, 2002. Most of this book was craft projects for children. But in the page or two of information about Viking religion, I was told about the most important aspects of Viking religion. Which was very important for the organi zation of my paper. It also had all of the things that I knew that had to be in my paper. I don’t want to be less informative than a children’s book.Meadows, Edmund. â€Å"The Pre Ragnarok Viking Gods. www. viking-z. org, January 31, 2010 < http://www. viking-z. org/vikg. html >. This source was a bit overwhelming. It had a lot of information that I used, but a lot of things mixed in that either was a bit too deep, or that were about actually practicing the Viking religion. So I was forced to look through it all, and pick out the things that were relevant to my paper. But on the bright side, the information I found was very good, and it helped me a great deal with my research.Roberts, Judson. â€Å"Myth and Religion. † www. strongbowsaga. com, date accessed lt;http://www. strongbowsaga. com/introduction. asp>. This essay I found on the strongbow saga website was very useful. It had important information on all of the topics I planned to cover in the co urse of my paper. There was a detailed account on all of the main gods and supernatural beings. As well as information on the worship practices of the Vikings. There was also, included in the manuscript, the best description I could find on the creation of the earth story. With a decent telling of the end of the world.Simpson, Jacqueline. Everyday Life In The Viking Age. London, England: Jarrold and Sons Ltd, 1967. This resource was very similar to Daily Life of the Vikings. It had a lot of the same information. The main difference was that it was older and contained pictures relating to the gods, or rites described in the passage. But it, as was the former, was very useful, and had a lot of information. Including a shocking account of a Viking funeral. That was one of the best things about these two books. They had passages from the journals of people who had witnessed Viking religious rites. It was good to get first hand accounts.Wolf, Kirsten. Daily Life of The Vikings. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2004. This book was exceedingly helpful. It gave me a lot of invaluable information on subjects the other sources hardly touched on. Such as the sources for all of the knowledge we have of Viking religion today. It also tells about each of the important gods, and Viking practices involving worship, funerals, and the dead. It turns out that the Vikings were very superstitious of their dead people. It was very entertaining to read about.Unknown. â€Å"Meet the Gods and Goddesses of the Norse Pantheon. www. wizardrealm. com, Janurary 31, 2010 < http://www. wizardrealm. com/norse/gods. html >. This went into a lot of detail about each and every one of the known Norse gods. It was very useful in the portion of my report where I was talking about all of the important Viking gods. But sadly, it wasn’t very special, and didn’t tell me anything that I couldn’t have gotten from another of my resources. The best thing I can say about it is that is condensed the information about each god nicely. But there always has to be one (or two) of those.

Bush vs. Caesar essays

Bush vs. Caesar essays Washington is not going to change its mind; it will resort to force even without U.N. authorization. In January 49 BC, Julius Caesar had a very important decision to make with himself. He was to either comply with the Senates command to remain at the Rubicon River and not to attack Pompey, or he would advance across the river and attack. It was against the law to cross the river and move into Italy with an army and if done was considered treason. Today, President Bush has the choice of complying with the UN leaders decisions and allowing more time for weapons inspectors to search for Saddams weapons of mass destruction before sending in troops, or to send in the marines and start a war with Iraq. Caesar has his troops at the edge of the Rubicon debating on whether or not to invade Pompey. Does he cross the river alone, or obey the orders to remain? I believe this is the point in which President Bush has come to. Our American soldiers are already in the neighboring country of Kuwait and out on ships in the ocean awaiting the command. Caesar hesitated at first, but sounded the trumpet and marched forth across the river to meet Pompey against the Senates commands. Once across the river he defeats Pompey with ease. At this point, it seems that we are heading in Caesars direction and will go into Iraq without the UNs approval. The United States will most likely be rejected from the UN Security Council but as long Iraq and Saddam Hussein are defeated with minimal losses, I think it is one step in defeating terrorism. The UN has been waiting too long for resolution with Iraq. We have defeated them before in Desert Storm and I believe Bush is going back to knock off Iraq f or good. ...

Artistotle Essays - Social Philosophy, Ancient Greek Philosophers

Artistotle Essays - Social Philosophy, Ancient Greek Philosophers Artistotle Janet Jones Code of Ethics Research Paper Class number 409 Frank Sams Aristotle was a great thinker who used his reasoning ability and knowledge through others to draw ethical assumptions and principles. Aristotle was once in favor of the teachings of Plato until he began to question his philosophy. These ideas lead Aristotle to years of writing and teaching his work. Aristotle was a professor for twenty years at an academy called Lyceum. Lyceum is where Aristotle began to pursue a broader range of subjects. He believed that a man could not claim to know a subject unless he is capable of transmitting his knowledge with others. Simply, teaching for Aristotle was as a manifestation of knowledge. By the end of the 19th century scholars at the academy questioned his works. This genus was alive during a period of havoc and corruption but he did not allow the ethics of man to stop his hunger for knowledge. I will attempt to explain in detail some of the ethics that Aristotle established. Evidence has proved that Aristotle influenced all areas of logic from art, ethics, and metaphysics just to name a few. Art is defined by Aristotle as the realization in external form of a true idea, and is the pleasure, which we feel in recognizing likenesses. Art however is not limited to mere copying. It idealizes nature and completes its deficiencies: it seeks to grasp the universal type in the individual phenomenon. The distinction between poetic art and history is not that the one uses meter, and the other does not. The distinction is that while history is limited to what has actually happened, poetry depicts things in their universal character. Therefore, poetry is more theoretical and more elevated than history. Such imitation may represent people either as better or as worse than people usually are, or it may neither go beyond nor fall below the average standard. Comedy is the imitation of the worse examples of humanity. However, not in the sense of absolute badness, but only in so far as what is low and ignoble enters into what is laughable and comic. Tragedy, on the other hand, is the representation of a serious or meaningful, reaching action. Portraying events, which excite fear and pity in the mind of the observer to purify these feelings to extend and regulate their sympathy until it fits. It is thus a homeopathic curing of the passions. Insofar as art, in general universalizes particular events, tragedy, in depicting passionate and critical situations, takes the observer outside the selfish and individual standpoint, and views them in connection with the general lot of human beings. This is similar to Aristotle's explanation of the use of orgiastic music in the worship of Bacchas and other deities: it affords an outlet for religious fervor and thus steadies one's religious sentiments. Religion can define an individuals moral principle. Aristotle viewed ethics as an attempt to find out our chief end or highest good: an end, which he maintains, is really final. Through of life are many ends that furthers, our aspirations and desires must have some final object or pursuit. A chief end is universally called happiness. But people mean such different things by the expression that I feel necessary to discuss happiness. For starters, happiness must be based on human nature, and must begin from the facts of personal experience. Thus, happiness cannot be found in any abstract or ideal notion, like Plato's self-existing good. It must be something practical and human. It must then be found in the work and life that is unique to humans. Nevertheless, this is neither the vegetative life we share with plants nor the sensitive existence that we share with animals. True happiness lies in the active life of a rational being or in a perfect realization and outworking of the true soul and self, continued throughout a lifetime. Aristotle expands his notion of happiness through an analysis of the human soul that structures and animates a living human organism. The human soul has an irrational element, which is shared with the animals, and a rational element that is distinctly human. The most primitive irrational element is the vegetative faculty, which is responsible for nutrition and

Mourid Barghouti's I Saw Ramallah Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Mourid Barghouti's I Saw Ramallah - Essay Example The aim of this paper is to answer the following questions: what key personal and public events shaped Barghouti's account To what extent in Barghouti's personal life affect his memory of public events Can historians use memoirs like Barghouti's to understand the past In addition to that, my personal opinion about possible chances of resolving the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians will be reflected. 2. The book begins from the scene when Barghouti returns to his homeland crossing the Jordan River bridge and reminding his first crossing it thirty years ago when he had to leave for Amman: "Here I am crossing the Jordan River I walk westward in a normal manner - or rather, a manner that appears normal. Behind me the world, ahead of me my world (Barghouti, p.1)". Such historical event as Israel victory in Six-Day War influenced the author's life very much: he had to leave his native country and go abroad. He lived in exile for thirty years, so his book I Saw Ramallah is very self-reflective and shows Barghouti's pain and despair from his inability to return to Ramallah again. By 1967 he had graduated the Cairo University - it shaped his account as a famous poet and writer. In addition to that, he married Radwa Ashour and got back to Cairo again to teach English to law students. His return to Cairo played a significant role in Barghouti's life - he began working at the Palestine Rad io Station as an anchor man and political commentator. But Sadat's presidency influenced his career: the station had been closed, and Barghouti worked at the radio station in Beirut during the civil war - this war became another event which affected the life of the author. Then, the political situation changed, and after Sadat's visit to Israel Barghouti was departed from Cairo, as well as other Palestinians. So, foreign policy events influenced personal and professional life of Mourid Barghouti, and such troubles, misfortunes and disadvantages are clearly reflected in his book I Saw Ramallah. Barghouti's personal and professional life affected his memory of public events. He was not fond of politics, but political events of that time influenced and affected him, and this affection is reflected in his book. He perceived the world political events through wide scale of his own experience. Israeli-Palestinian conflict deprived him of his native country; political regime of Egyptian president Sadat affected his professional activity. He had lost himself - after he left Palestine in 1967 he had no place to feel comfortable, he felt as an exile. Barghouti was arrested in 1977 in Egypt, and he was deported to Hungary where he lived for 17 years separated from his family: his wife and son who was five months old when Barghouti was deported. These and other difficult circumstances of his personal life affected his memory of public events - he described these events from the point of view of his personal experience, that's why the world events seem to be so naturalistic and full of sadness and sincerity: "Israel allows in hundreds of elderly people and

Advertising for SONY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Advertising for SONY - Essay Example Sony Company is an electronic and communications manufacturer. It is based in Tokyo Japan and recorded revenue of eighty eight billion dollars during the year 2008. The company offers a variety of products such as video game merchandises video items for consumption, IT products, electronics and communication devicesThese commodities are produced under the following five categories; entertainment, electronics, games and financial services. Its business operations are Sony Financial Holdings, Sony Ericsson, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Electronics. (Howard, 2000)One element that makes Sony stand out in the industry is its originality. The company has created standards for their products as depicted in the Betamax system of video recorders. Besides innovation, Sony is a multinational corporation. This gives the company access to a large pool of clients thus complementing sales in one country with those in another. (Collett, 1999)The Sony marketing d epartment seems to be getting on the wrong side of the moral divide as they have been criticised by some media critics. This was brought up by the controversial advertisements that the company has aired. One such example was with regard to a racially charged advertisement. In addition, Sony Company failed to comply with marketing ethics by hiring a marketing critic to praise the performance of their commodities. However, this did not fare well with the real marketing critics. All these bad marketing decisions have tainted the Sony name. Sony's management has been overwhelmed by the technological changes characteristic of the electronic and IT industry. Consequently, the company has had to fire a substantial number of employees who were not familiar with new production technologies and replaced them with a fresh batch. This move has met a lot of criticism from consumers. As matter of fact, some people attribute the company's declining quality in some of its products to this issue. (Collett, 1999) Opportunities The company needs to invest in its employees. High employee turnover is hurting the company's corporate social responsibility image. On top of that, the company is compromising on the quality of the products by frequently firing their employees. The new employees who join the company may not be familiar with some of the production process. In order to curb this problem, the Sony should train its employee regularly in order to prevent these problems. Threats Sony' major threat is being out-competed by its counterpart due to a failure to adapt to technology adequately. This was seen when Sony used Immersion Company's technology to create their play station 3 video game units. The company was forced to pay royalties to Immersion for doing this. Such kinds of approaches to technologies will harm the company in the future; instead, the company should focus on developing their own formats. (Collett, 1999) Review of advertising brand and competitors The adverting brand under consideration is the new online game division for Sony. Sony has a strong brand name that has placed it above other competitors such as JVC. The company dedicated a lot of time trying to come up with the most appropriate name for their products. There are many reasons why this name made a mark for the company. First of all, it is easy to pronounce; many Japan-based companies may settle for difficult names that make it difficult for international consumers to relate to. Additionally, the brand name is easy to remember as very few companies out there have such a name. On top of that, it has the ability to attract people who may not be as well versed with technology as others. Many electronic manufacturers use acronyms instead of full names from their brands thus repelling non-technical consumers. (Howard, 2000