Competence Based Recruitment and Selection

MZUMBE UNIVERSITY DAR ES SALAAM BUSINESS SCHOOL PROGAMME OF STUDY: MSC. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COURSE: ADVANCED – HRM STUDENT NAME: SYONI MWAKIPEKE – MSC/HRM/DCC/095/T. 11 Question: Competence based recruitment and selection facilitates career management in organization. Discuss. 1. INTRODUCTION Competence- based Recruitment and selection is used to predict the potential job performance of the applicants. With the help of this method organizations can find best people to achieve their objectives.The different between traditional recruitment and competence based recruitment and selection is that the second one concentrated more on formal, measurable competencies. The process of competency based recruitment and selection 1. 1 Competency Competency is a temporally stable, narrowly defined and trainable talent ability to complete an organizationally valued prospective jot task successfully. Competencies have come up as a conception for naming and managing abilities, know ledge and skills and applying them on many different areas.Once the competency based approach is applied candidates’ performance can be anticipated easier and more exactly. It provides more precise approximation of future performance than the testing of knowledge since it also explains how the knowledge is applied. 1. 2 Competency based recruitment and Selection process The process of competency based recruitment and selection involves eleven steps of which first to four steps explained the recruitment process and the rest that is five to eleven defined how the selection works.Competency based recruitment and Selection process Step 1 Identify HR and Job recruitment needs Step 2 Complete Job or position documentation Step 3 Identify recruitment sources 1 Step 4 Create recruitment materials and implement the recruitment process Step 5 Determine the selection criteria Step 6 Select the applicants Step 7 Train the interviewers and conduct behavioral event interviews with the lead ing candidates Step 8 Complete competency assessment, prepare the selection recommendation list and select the candidate Step 9Verify the selected candidate’s qualification Step 10 Negotiate compensation and benefits package with the successful candidate and extend an employment offer after the package has been accepted, first by the organization and then by the candidate Step 11 Validate the selection Results Figure 1. Competency – based recruitment and selection (Dubois & Rothwell 2004, p. 113) 1. 3 Advantages of Competency-based recruitment and selection process This method results in numerous advantages, for example: a) It is result – oriented; 2 b) Discrimination is out of the question; ) Identifying backups for positions is easier; d) Traditional training times are less; and e) Employees’ performance levels are higher. 2. COMPETENCY MODELS MANAGEMENT In order to carry out competency-based recruitment and selection for a position a competency model i s essential to evaluate applicants. The organization can benefit from competencies by building up competency models not only for a job-role but also for an entire organization. A competency model refers to a group of competencies required in a particular job (OntoHR project 2010a).But obviously this is not the only field that can benefit from the concept of competency. Competency management can make things easier for organization by facilitating the design of job-roles and its competencies according to the organizational objective. Job Design is the next step after the completion of competency model is job design. â€Å"Job design refers to the way tasks is combined to form complete jobs. † (Robbins & Stuart-Kotze, 1987) 2. 1 Challenges of competency-based recruitment However competency-based recruitment and selection has some challenges too, which includes: ?A disciplined approach to job and work analyses is necessary to the preparation for the recruitment and selection proc esses needs more time; ? Inefficient when recruiting unskilled or semiskilled workers. But if the conditions are suitable this can be a highly effective technique to develop an organization’s human capital. 2. 2 ? Benefits of Competency-base recruitment and selection to the Organization When combined with an assessment of knowledge and experience, using competencies improves accuracy in assessing people’s suitability or potential for different jobs. They help prevent interviewers and selectors from making hasty decisions or from assessing interviewees on the basis of characteristics that are not relevant to the job. ? They can be used to help structure the selection process – interview and tests. ? Assessing a candidate against specific competencies clarifies their strengths and weaknesses; making it easier to target any development that may be needed should they be appointed. 3 3.COMPETENCY-BASED RECRUITMENT AND CAREER MANAGEMENT Competency-based recruitment pl ays important role in the organizaton’s career management plans as it facilitates recruitment and selection of employees with the right competencies (skills, knowledge and attitudes) for the job at hand. It helps managers in identification of career path of employee right from the beginning, because most of the job core competencies are likely to focus and shape individual’s career aspirations.This early identification helps in designing a proper training and development plan for individu al employee, these include coaching, mentoring, and other types of training which helps to shape individual’s career path. Once organization has a fair idea about employee’s strengths and weaknesses, attitude and behaviour, values and future aspirations and skills and competencies, they are able to make better use of employee skills and put them at the right place.Competency-based recruitment and selection facilitates succession and retention plan of the organization as it fosters employee competence development and management through competency-based performance management which entrusted managers with the time consuming and worthy job of competency-based performance management through continuous coaching and training of employees so as to ensure that individual potentials are realized, nurtured and developed 4. CONCLUSIONFor modern organizations whether it be private or public, profit or not for profit competencybased recruitment is inevitable if the firm aim at realizing its strategic goals through the use of its most valuable and important resources. In this stiff competition managers have to ensure that, they ultimately utilize their human resources capabilities to realize its strategic objective. Creativity and innovations in managing emplo yee is of greater value in this era especially the attraction, selection and retention of high potential employees.As managers and organizations are moved from tasks accomplishment to result based performa nce, employee recruitment and selection has become very significant in realizing this objective. 4 Management should ensure that recruitment is based on competences that are required for the job in question, these competences has to be realistic and measureable so that managers and employees can work together to ensure realization of these competences hence organizational objectives.Competency-based recruitment and selection goes hand in hand with competencybased performance management, this entails competency-based reward system and career management. Competence based recruitment and selection facilitates career management in organization. Discuss. Submission date 9th June 2012 5 Competence Based Recruitment and Selection MZUMBE UNIVERSITY DAR ES SALAAM BUSINESS SCHOOL PROGAMME OF STUDY: MSC. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COURSE: ADVANCED – HRM STUDENT NAME: SYONI MWAKIPEKE – MSC/HRM/DCC/095/T. 11 Question: Competence based recruitment and selection facilitates career management in organization. Discuss. 1. INTRODUCTION Competence- based Recruitment and selection is used to predict the potential job performance of the applicants. With the help of this method organizations can find best people to achieve their objectives.The different between traditional recruitment and competence based recruitment and selection is that the second one concentrated more on formal, measurable competencies. The process of competency based recruitment and selection 1. 1 Competency Competency is a temporally stable, narrowly defined and trainable talent ability to complete an organizationally valued prospective jot task successfully. Competencies have come up as a conception for naming and managing abilities, know ledge and skills and applying them on many different areas.Once the competency based approach is applied candidates’ performance can be anticipated easier and more exactly. It provides more precise approximation of future performance than the testing of knowledge since it also explains how the knowledge is applied. 1. 2 Competency based recruitment and Selection process The process of competency based recruitment and selection involves eleven steps of which first to four steps explained the recruitment process and the rest that is five to eleven defined how the selection works.Competency based recruitment and Selection process Step 1 Identify HR and Job recruitment needs Step 2 Complete Job or position documentation Step 3 Identify recruitment sources 1 Step 4 Create recruitment materials and implement the recruitment process Step 5 Determine the selection criteria Step 6 Select the applicants Step 7 Train the interviewers and conduct behavioral event interviews with the lead ing candidates Step 8 Complete competency assessment, prepare the selection recommendation list and select the candidate Step 9Verify the selected candidate’s qualification Step 10 Negotiate compensation and benefits package with the successful candidate and extend an employment offer after the package has been accepted, first by the organization and then by the candidate Step 11 Validate the selection Results Figure 1. Competency – based recruitment and selection (Dubois & Rothwell 2004, p. 113) 1. 3 Advantages of Competency-based recruitment and selection process This method results in numerous advantages, for example: a) It is result – oriented; 2 b) Discrimination is out of the question; ) Identifying backups for positions is easier; d) Traditional training times are less; and e) Employees’ performance levels are higher. 2. COMPETENCY MODELS MANAGEMENT In order to carry out competency-based recruitment and selection for a position a competency model i s essential to evaluate applicants. The organization can benefit from competencies by building up competency models not only for a job-role but also for an entire organization. A competency model refers to a group of competencies required in a particular job (OntoHR project 2010a).But obviously this is not the only field that can benefit from the concept of competency. Competency management can make things easier for organization by facilitating the design of job-roles and its competencies according to the organizational objective. Job Design is the next step after the completion of competency model is job design. â€Å"Job design refers to the way tasks is combined to form complete jobs. † (Robbins & Stuart-Kotze, 1987) 2. 1 Challenges of competency-based recruitment However competency-based recruitment and selection has some challenges too, which includes: ?A disciplined approach to job and work analyses is necessary to the preparation for the recruitment and selection proc esses needs more time; ? Inefficient when recruiting unskilled or semiskilled workers. But if the conditions are suitable this can be a highly effective technique to develop an organization’s human capital. 2. 2 ? Benefits of Competency-base recruitment and selection to the Organization When combined with an assessment of knowledge and experience, using competencies improves accuracy in assessing people’s suitability or potential for different jobs. They help prevent interviewers and selectors from making hasty decisions or from assessing interviewees on the basis of characteristics that are not relevant to the job. ? They can be used to help structure the selection process – interview and tests. ? Assessing a candidate against specific competencies clarifies their strengths and weaknesses; making it easier to target any development that may be needed should they be appointed. 3 3.COMPETENCY-BASED RECRUITMENT AND CAREER MANAGEMENT Competency-based recruitment pl ays important role in the organizaton’s career management plans as it facilitates recruitment and selection of employees with the right competencies (skills, knowledge and attitudes) for the job at hand. It helps managers in identification of career path of employee right from the beginning, because most of the job core competencies are likely to focus and shape individual’s career aspirations.This early identification helps in designing a proper training and development plan for individu al employee, these include coaching, mentoring, and other types of training which helps to shape individual’s career path. Once organization has a fair idea about employee’s strengths and weaknesses, attitude and behaviour, values and future aspirations and skills and competencies, they are able to make better use of employee skills and put them at the right place.Competency-based recruitment and selection facilitates succession and retention plan of the organization as it fosters employee competence development and management through competency-based performance management which entrusted managers with the time consuming and worthy job of competency-based performance management through continuous coaching and training of employees so as to ensure that individual potentials are realized, nurtured and developed 4. CONCLUSIONFor modern organizations whether it be private or public, profit or not for profit competencybased recruitment is inevitable if the firm aim at realizing its strategic goals through the use of its most valuable and important resources. In this stiff competition managers have to ensure that, they ultimately utilize their human resources capabilities to realize its strategic objective. Creativity and innovations in managing emplo yee is of greater value in this era especially the attraction, selection and retention of high potential employees.As managers and organizations are moved from tasks accomplishment to result based performa nce, employee recruitment and selection has become very significant in realizing this objective. 4 Management should ensure that recruitment is based on competences that are required for the job in question, these competences has to be realistic and measureable so that managers and employees can work together to ensure realization of these competences hence organizational objectives.Competency-based recruitment and selection goes hand in hand with competencybased performance management, this entails competency-based reward system and career management. Competence based recruitment and selection facilitates career management in organization. Discuss. Submission date 9th June 2012 5

Mary Ainsworth

When reading many introductions on the history of psychology it is noticed there are very few females mentioned. That does not mean women are not attributed to making significant impacts in the development of psychology. â€Å"The contributions of many of psychology's most eminent female thinkers have long been ignored, but that is starting to change as more history texts begin to recognize women such as Karen Horney, Mary Ainsworth, Leta Hollingworth, and Christine Ladd-Franklin in their pages. † These women are just a few who have made tremendous contributions and marks on psychology.The background, theoretical approach, and contributions of Mary Ainsworth are very significant to the field psychology even still today. Time line/Background of Mary Ainsworth Mary Ainsworth was born in December 1913 in Glendale, Ohio. She was the oldest of three girls; in 1918 her family relocated to Toronto Canada, and gained their citizenship. In her household education and studies were noted to be important. â€Å"When she was fifteen, she read William McDougall's book Character and the Conduct of Life, which inspired her lifelong interest in psychology† (O'Connell, 1983).In 1929 Ainsworth attended study at the University of Toronto; she was one of only four students to finish the honors degree program in psychology. At the time her father decided it would be best for her to become a stenographer, but he was still supportive of her pursuit of graduate work in psychology. In 1939Mary Ainsworth was a recent Ph. D. graduate. She wanted to stay at the University of Toronto, and she fascinated the head of the psychology department. However, she was not selected for a position because the University Senate refused to appoint a female.In 1942 Ainsworth joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corp, and after serving as a counselor in the Army for four years, she came back to the University of Toronto and gained the position assistant professor. She got engaged to Leonar d Ainsworth a graduate student, and they married in 1950. It was difficult working as assistant professor on the faculty where her husband was a pupil so both moved to London, England. â€Å"Mary Ainsworth was selected for a research position at the Tavistock Clinic under psychiatrist John Bowlby.Bowlby’s research of the effects of separation of children from their mother’s/caregiver’s served as a precursor of Ainsworth’s earlier work on the security theory†. In 1953 Leonard Ainsworth was interested in going to Africa. Mary Ainsworth could find employment as a research psychologist at the East African Institute of Social Research in Kampala, Uganda. She conducted a short-term naturalistic study of the mother-infant relationship and published the results.Two years later Mary landed a position as a lecturer in Baltimore, Maryland, at John Hopkins. Not only did she lecture, and supervise students, she set up a private practice dedicated to children. I n 1960 because of divorce Ainsworth became very depressed. In 1963, one year after starting the research she is best known for she became a full professor. In1975 Ainsworth left Hopkins for a professor position at the University of Virginia. She taught there until her retirement in 1984. She remained active in her profession until 1992.The American Psychological Foundation awarded her the Gold Medal Award for life achievement in the science of psychology from. In 1999 Mary Ainsworth passed at the age of 86, she never had any children but her major contributions were in study of children. Theoretical Perspective of Mary Ainsworth Bowlby and Ainsworth worked together to develop the attachment theory and research. â€Å"The distinguishing characteristic of the theory of attachment that we have jointly developed is that it is an ethological approach to personality development.Although they had separate approaches to understanding personality development, they worked together each addin g different ideas and perspectives. In Uganda Ainsworth spent time doing research on mother child interactions. At the same time she teaching and lecturing about psychology at John Hopkins, Mary Ainsworth began work to create a test to measure attachments between mother’s and caregiver’s, and their children. Here she developed the â€Å"Strange Situations† assessment. Children ages 12 months-18 months were observed during the assessment.A researcher watched a child’s reaction when he or she was briefly left alone in an unfamiliar room. Important information was revealed during the separation and upon the mother’s/caregiver’s return. â€Å"Based on her observations, Ainsworth concluded that there are three main attachment styles. The three main attachment styles are secure, anxious- avoidant, and anxious resistant†. Because her initial finding, her work has spawned numerous studies into the nature of attachment and the different attach ment styles that exist between children and caregivers.Mary Ainsworth’s contributions to psychology Significant contributions to the science of psychology have been made by Mary Ainsworth with her â€Å"Strange Situations† assessment. After the research she concluded the main attachment styles are secure, anxious-avoidant, and anxious-resistant. She set a platform and many others shortly followed. Her controversial research on attachment played an important role in understanding the development of children.In 1986 researchers Main and Solomon added a fourth attachment style: disorganized-insecure. There are numerous studies that support Ainsworth’s research. Additional research has also shown early attachment styles can help predict behaviors later in life. Mary Ainsworth’s research and contributions are still important to the study of psychology today. Conclusion â€Å"Mary Ainsworth knew her work was debatable and could be understood by some in the wom en’s movement as a order to mothers to stay home with their children in their early age†.â€Å"And while I emphasize the importance of a secure attachment between infant and caregiver, and that full-time mothering may be the usual way of ensuring a secure attachment, she did not deny that alternative arrangements were possible. She said, â€Å"Had I myself had the children for whom I vainly longed, I like to believe I could have arrived at some satisfactory combination of mothering and a career, but I do not believe that there is any universal, easy, ready-made solution to the problem† (Ainsworth, 1983. p. 216).With tables turning and the contributions of psychology’s most prominent female theorist being added to text books students will study more about the contributions of Mary Ainsworth. Her background, significant contributions, and theoretical approach are vital still today. Many psychology researchers use the â€Å"Strange Situation† assessme nt as a basis for analysis on child development research. Mary Ainsworth lived 86 years and most of her life was spent researching, lecturing, teaching, and observing in the psychology field.

Angelina Grimk's Letters to Catharine Beecher Essay

Angelina Grimk's Letters to Catharine Beecher - Essay Example Such a formulaic approach may be somewhat non-engaging with the reader; however, it is necessary in order to understand the progression and development that many of the key agents of societal change have embarked upon as they have sought to better themselves as well as the societies in which they lived. This was very much the case with Angelina Grimke’s efforts to abolish slavery and better the plight of women in the society of her time. As such, this brief analysis piece will discuss the ways in which Grimke accomplished some of these feats as a function of analysis of the letters that she wrote to a fellow friend and colleague Catharine Beecher. The back and forth between the two women has been subsequently published by a number of different sources that sought to analyze the distinct political and social growth that their debate precipitated. The fact of the matter was that Beecher and Grimke represented the very early forms of conservative and liberal thought within the Am erican political system. Although neither of them had the right to vote or carried any great amount of political clout, the arguments that were employed as well as the type of logic they both relied upon denotes a fundamentally American development of the political spectrum from that of the woman that supported the status quo as something â€Å"ordained by God† and the woman who found the status quo repulsive and ripe for a systemic change which could work to make the American political and social landscape more representative, fair, and less racist. In one of her letters, Beecher wrote to Grimke, â€Å"Women hold a subordinate position to men as ‘a beneficent and immutable Divine law’ †¦ and are the proper persons to make appeals to the rulers whom they appoint†¦ [females] are surely out of their place in attempting to do it themselves†.1 Such a world view is of course patently evident of a very traditional acceptance of gender roles within soci ety. However, it should be noted that rather than engaging on the topic of whether or not slavery was itself a tenable and/or defensible position, Beecher chose instead to argue the point from the perspective that women should put themselves in subjugation to the men who have the God-given right to make and define law. Such an approach was of course a cheap rhetorical attempt to ignore the broader moral question that defined the issues. As such, Grimke’s response served to exploit and shine light on such a cheap rhetorical aside. Said Grimke as a way of response to such a traditionalist and closed-minded response to the moral ills of the time, â€Å"Women ought to feel a peculiar sympathy in the colored man's wrong, for, like him, she has been accused of mental inferiority, and denied the privileges of a liberal education†. 2 In such a way, Grimke brought the debate directly back to the prescient issue with regards to how women are as morally responsible for the sin of slavery as their male counterparts. Grimke goes on to state, â€Å"The doctrine of blind obedience and unqualified submission to any human power, whether civil or ecclesiastical, is the doctrine of despotism, and ought to have no place among Republicans and Christians†.3 Although many of her time thought her to be a radical of sorts and

Post-Implementation Challenges of the Model Audit Rule Research Paper

Post-Implementation Challenges of the Model Audit Rule - Research Paper Example Audit theory and practice also covers other areas that include the basis of audit opinion, legal liability of the auditors, and examination of frauds, audit evidence, and audit programs. For an audit to be successful, the above factors have to be analyzed critically so that the auditors achieve clarity (Reed, Shedd, Morehead, and Pagnattaro, 2009, p. 39). The auditors have to ensure that they carry out the work professionally in accordance with the laid down policies and procedures. They have to ensure that they follow the guidelines which include the auditing standards that guide them during the process of the audit. The client entrusts the auditors with the responsibility of carrying out a substantive test meant to evaluate the subject matter to provide an assurance to the intended user concerning the subject matter. The auditor faces many challenges before the audit process, during the auditing process, or after the process (Moeller, 2004, p. 39). Auditing relies on sampling and e stimation of values which makes the credibility of the process doubtful. Lack of sufficient information is one of the challenges that auditors face during the process hence making the process difficult to accomplish within the given time. International Auditing Standards requires that auditors obtain a lucid understanding of the company being audited and its environment. This understanding of the internal control system will help them identify misstatements that are material in the statements that may arise due to fraud or error. To avoid post audit problems that may arise, the auditors have to analyze the process that the company adopts critically to identify business risks. Post audit challenges are the challenges that auditors face after completion of the audit process. These challenges make the process an excellent training for the executives. The Model Audit Rule is a collection of accounting standards that govern the audit process. It ensures that auditors ensure financial sta bility and proper governance to the various companies who consult them for their services. An internal control financial report is a basic requirement in the Module Audit Rule to ensure that professionals formulate controls. It also ensures that controls are operating as intended (Vasarhelyi, 2005, p. 77). The main role of this rule is to enhance oversight of financial stability of various insurance companies. It has the responsibility of setting the guidelines that govern auditor’s independence and create rules for the audit committee. Influence of legal, regulatory, and social environments on audit theory and practice Legal, regulatory, and social environments have absolute impact on audit theory and practice. The legal environment entails criminal liabilities for auditors, auditor’s liability to clients and third parties, and their responsibility to detect frauds and errors. This is a tremendously vital part during the audit process since it governs the conduct of t he auditor during performance of the audit. The legal environment is particularly vital in reduction of post implementation challenges that will arise after the Model Audit Rule is introduces (Cheeseman, 1997, p. 79). A detailed analysis of the legal environment concerning the Model Audit Rule is necessary to ensure that companies and auditors understand the requirements of the rule. This will cut the cost of the companies and reduce

Stereo Field Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Stereo Field - Essay Example One of the radical changes in music production was marked through the development of computer music that involved pre-recorded media, speakers and stereos. Thus, the association between the music creation and physical human movement got disrupted through the use of computer that brought a type of non-instrumental composition in addition to the music production functions such as synthesis, recording and sequencing. However, the link between music and physical human movement has once again revived in the realm of computer music due to the use of latest sensors and the evolution of custom interfaces. The real time and highly interactive technologies allow computer music to extend itself to the physical world of human movement and thus, open the gate towards the creation of extremely imaginative alternative musical instruments such as the hyper instruments (HI’s) that were introduced by Tod Machover. Such interactive music systems offer limitless possibilities. Conventional instru ments are highly interactive systems as they respond immediately to a specific physical action with a corresponding musical action. Hyper instruments are directly derived through conventional instruments and therefore, they respect this basic link with traditional instruments. However, hyper instruments revolutionize the functionality of conventional instruments since they fundamentally enhance the two sides of the interaction.

Tarantino's Marketing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Tarantino's Marketing - Case Study Example This set the stage for the meteoric rise of his next film, which was the Oscar winning Pulp Fiction. Tarantino had established a career through the impact these first two projects. In 1994 Reservoir Dogs was voted best film and best debut and in 1995 Pulp Fiction was voted best film and Tarantino best director by Empire magazine1. This seemed to be a new kind of director making new kinds of films which were enormously popular, and which employed extremely good marketing. This dissertation will look in detail at the general marketing and in particular at the posters and other visual media used in these campaigns. It will be focusing on the images, colours and language used and the affect on their audience. In addition, it will be looking also at other visual marketing activities that have been undertaken, for example guerrilla marketing which has used striking posters in unusual locations as well as props scattered around various cities seemingly randomly which made great photos news advertising. It will look at the effect that movie posters have on the film-going public - it seemed that at one time everyone had (or still has) these posters in their rooms. The more controversial side of this medium will also be explored. What techniques are used to create the shock factor and interest in the films that are being advertised How do these techniques actually work, and what implications do they have on other practitioners in the field, and what impact do they have on wider film culture. Finally, the paper will discuss if this style and form of advertising actually has the effect intended. Chapter 1 This chapter will investigate Quentin Tarantino and the types of films that he makes and how this shapes the type of advertising techniques he would use. From this we will then look to investigate the way in which Quentin Tarantino uses shock advertising to grab the attention of the public. Before Tarantino, the general use of posters in advertising forthcoming films, as well as the actual trailers for the films, had been the industry standard method for many years. Eventually as in every design or art medium this dual concept would grow and evolve into a stable model.Tarantino upset this standard set-up by using strikingly original sometimes shocking, single images amongstother marketing and advertising strategies to establish points if difference. Following Tarantino's success, the film advertising industry was not slow to follow his lead using more and more original ideas, using unusual and shocking visual images, to capture the public's imagination. Quentin Tarantino's film Kill Bill had an advertising campaign that illustrates some of these methods. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Many different campaigns were designed and they all look different but they all conveyed the same kinds of striking imagery. Also images were used on unusual blank canvases throughout cities, elevator doors for example. This type of advertising added to Quentin Tarantino's reputation as a both as filmmaker and as a general creative person (he also writes scripts). This chapter will therefore concentrate on the effects of the advertising used by Quentin Tarantino and his marketing team. Why have they decided to use a variety of mediums to advertise his films I will attempt to understand how these advertising techn

Strategic Plan Part III Financial Plan of Health Care Organization Term Paper

Strategic Plan Part III Financial Plan of Health Care Organization selected in part 1 and 2 - Term Paper Example Financial planning provides projection of expected expenses and income aimed at establishing the project feasibility. Financial planning helps eliminate doubts regarding the success of projects through the provision of viable information regarding financial income and expenditures. The Bayshore hospital financial plan aims at establishing the costs for initiating the intended changes following formulation of a strategic plan. Numerous elements are considered in developing the financial plan to enhance detail accuracy of the provided estimations. The financial plan could be divided into two main sections of expenses and income (Ireland, 2006). Though these figures have been estimated, these predictions include market based values of item costs. Utilisation of market based costs should ensure closeness of the estimated budget to actual figures during operation. The budget presented here is an expansion project concerning diagnostic imaging project, intended for introduction into the hospital. These allocations can, therefore, be identified as departmental allocations for the diagnostic imaging department. The expenses section of this financial plan includes all the expected activities that shall involve the use of capital available at the disposal of the hospital. During the initial stage, a capital outlay of 2.5 million shall be invested into the purchasing of equipment and setup of the essential amenities necessary for undertaking the required diagnostic procedures. This shall become the overall project capital investment. Salaries of employees to be hired have been considered as the main expense. Salaries constitute the largest section of the budgetary allocation. Within this financial plan, they constitute 65% of the revenue collected from the project. 4% Salary increments are expected to be implemented during the third year, hence increasing

Academic and Professional Discourse Communities Essay

Academic and Professional Discourse Communities - Essay Example iscuss what constitutes literacy in the discourse of graphic design and how one can achieve and demonstrate literacy within the graphic design discourse community. In the discourse of graphic design community, there are various methods that are involved in creating and combining symbols, words, and images in order to create a communication design or visual representation of messages and ideas. Literacy in graphic design would mean a mastery of the discourse, hence ability of a graphic designer to use a combination of the techniques of visual arts, typography, and page layout in order to produce final results of the practice of design. This process is hence referred to as a designing process in which some form of communication is created and design products are created. James Gee in his writing gives a sociological and a psychological approach to literacy. He asserts that literacy focus is a social practice and that it is not only the way you say it, but exactly what you are saying an d that which you are doing when saying it. Gee defines literacy in the parameters of discourse as a mastery of a particular secondary discourse. The graphic design discourse community has specific social and personal goals that they work towards meeting in the community. For instance, graphic designers are charged with the responsibility of creating visual communication to the people. They are expected to use techniques of visual arts, typography, and page layout in order to produce final results of the practice of design. Some of the specific goals they meet include creating identities such as branding and, publications like news papers, magazines and books, product packaging as well as advertisement. For instance, a graphic design discourse community aims at creating a product package that includes logo as well as other network, pure elements of design and an organized text like color and shapes that unify the piece of work. Therefore it is the goal, both at personal level and

Nanochemistry Applications And Technology Essay

Nanochemistry Applications And Technology - Essay Example The nano chemical control identifies above was introduced many years ago but recently new technologies have been introduced to enhance that control. According to Diaz and Bohn (2010), scanning tunneling microscope (STM), atomic force microscope (AFM), high-resolution scanning, transmission electron microscopes, ion and electron beam probes are just a few strategies necessary for comprehending the ins and outs of this field. STM and AFM allow research scientists to deeply scrutinize the surfaces with atomic or molecular resolution. These technologies have been increasingly pursued in Nanochemistry, owing to the greater facility they provide to analyze things. A general definition of Biomedical science can be presented like this scientific field focuses on the practical application of the defined principles of complex and diverse investigatory tools in medicine for the benefit of mankind. This discipline of medical science enjoys a hugely prominent position in modern medical health car e. Over the past few years, many technologies have been introduced for a broad range of biomedical applications, all based on credible development efforts. Some of the examples include two-dimensional ultrasound transducer arrays, miniature and high-frequency ultrasound transducers, non-invasive acoustic bubble sizing instrument, diagnostic sensors, robotic control software and innovative software for cardiac electrophysiology are some of the most popular technologies practically used in various biomedical applications.

Introduction Chapter for Swirling Flows Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Introduction Chapter for Swirling Flows - Essay Example and also in various engineering applications. [1] Aerodynamic drag induced by lift of the wings of an aircraft may also give rise to swirling flows in air. In the engineering applications, particularly where combustion systems are entailed, swirling flows can be defined as continuous jets of fluid in uniform transverse flow that have dynamic and three dimensional (3D) structures. [2] According to a basic definition from Lilley (1977), â€Å"Swirling flows result from the application of a spiraling motion, with a swirl velocity component (also known as a tangential or azimuthal velocity component) being imparted to the flow via the use of swirl vanes, in axial-plus-tangential entry swirl generator or direct tangential entry into the combustion chamber.† [3] Figure – 1: Example of swirling flow in an artificial test case [4] Why Study Swirling Flow? According to experts like Gallaire, Rott and Chomaz, there have been only a few studies in the academic world which have dea lt with the monitoring, control and analysis of complex fluid mechanical systems involving tubes and swirling jets. Also, the competitions between the axisymmetric and helical breakdown patterns of vortices in a swirling flow are still a major area of scientific exploration, which cannot be successfully accomplished without a complete understanding of Central Recirculation Zone (CRZ) and reported formations of Precessing Vortex Core (PVC) inside the swirling flow. [1, 3, 5] In combustion chamber and gas turbine applications, swirl flame stabilisation is widely used. Lean premixed and non-premixed systems are the major categories of these applications, where the processes of flame stabilisation, as functions of thermo-acoustic flux, combustor geometry and fuel type, are yet to be fully understood and simplified. [1, 6] Besides, there are relatively fewer research papers available where tall cylinders have been used to generate swirling flows with instabilities directed to the 3D patt erns of fluid dynamics. Hence, three dimensional characters of a swirl remain less explored than its unsteady axisymmetric features. [7] Therefore, swirling flows should be studied so that these gaps in engineering research can be properly abridged. Overview of Some Major Swirling Flow Phenomena Some of the major phenomena related to swirling flow that predominantly occur in combustion technologies are vortex breakdown, sudden expansion, bluff body flow, Central Recirculation Zone (CRZ) and reported formations of Precessing Vortex Core (PVC). Vortex Breakdown: Since swirling flow has a three dimensional structure, it possesses both axial and tangential velocity components in the 3D vector fields [1, 4]. When the Swirl number S is increased, strong coupling forces develop among the axial and tangential velocities. Together with strong inertial effects, swirl vortex is generated which is again broken down when the flow attains high Reynolds number. Ayache explains this process of vort ex breakdown as an unstable flow with transient patterns that â€Å"occurs due to the instabilities present in swirl flows such as shear-layer instabilities (like Kelvin-Helmholtz instability) similar to axial jets and azimuthal shear-layer instabilities created by the radial gradient in azimuthal velocity.† [1] Sudden Expansion and Bluff Body Flow: In order to gather intricate flow statistics, a bluff body may be introduced on

Jose Garcia Villa Essay Example for Free

Jose Garcia Villa Essay â€Å"When you are old and beautiful, And things most difficult are done, There will be few who can recall Your face as it is ravaged now By youth and its oppressive choice.† -At Majority Punched. The many memorabilia and personal trinkets of one of the most famous writers in Philippine literature surprisingly epitomized the exact contradictory, or some will say the exact sentiment, of the lines of the beautiful poem above. The personal touch of the displays in the 2nd floor gallery brought an intimate ambience to the whole exhibit, and it brought to light another aspect of a renowned writer apart from his professional excellence. Jose Garcia Villa is one of the most eminent Filipino writers of all times, and the Rizal Library and the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies collaborated to bring to the Ateneo de Manila University a collection of Villa’s books and papers from his own personal library. Hung on the walls were frames relating Villa’s biography. From his childhood through his foreign stints to his success, the story was completely divulged to the visitors. There was also a timeline of the writer’s personal and professional milestones. Personal letters from EE Cummings, Nick Joaquin, and some of his other idols and friends in the literature field were also there. Villa supposedly decided to be a writer after he had read Cumming’s works, and Villa’s personal favorite from Cumming’s work was exhibited. Sherwood Anderson was also one of his influences. It was also fascinating to read his very first poem about love. Dated on 1925, his handwriting and writing style was simplistic yet elegant since then. There was also a poem for Marky Mark or Mark Wahlberg, discussing his very attractive physique. Copies of hardbound editions of his poem collections, trial publication designs, and several original old print of his works were displayed. There were also special editions of his works such as 55 Poems with his own signature and a handsome-boxed edition which is now a collector’s item. It was also said that his first love was drawing, and frames of his own old personal drawings were hung. There were also pictures of him from his youth to his old age. There was one picture of him with Manuel Arguilla, a friend he hangs out with when in Manila, which especially haunted me. His typewriter was also showcased in the exhibit. I was also impressed to find out that Villa is only the second Filipino to be published by Penguin; the first was national hero, Rizal. He was really larger than life. I was particularly taken by one of the poem displayed, At Majority. For me, it immortalizes into words how the Filipinos and his readers will now remember Villa- a beautiful sliver of words and poetry, a figure larger than words, deeper than his writings, and even more beautiful and remembered even in his death.

Enver Pasha and the Britain

Enver Pasha and the Britain Ä °smail Ä °lker Yà ¼rà ¼yen Ismail Enver was born in near Constantinople, Istanbul, on 23 November 1881 to a working-class family from Monastir, todays Macedonia. His father, Ahmed, was a Turk, who rose from being a porter to a railway official and acquired the honorable title Bey. Envers mother, Aisha, was an Albanian from the Monastir region. He was an Ottoman general and commander in chief, a hero of the Young Turk Revolution of 1908, and a leading member of the Ottoman government from 1913 to 1918. He became the main leader of the Ottoman Empire in both the Balkan Wars in 1912-13 and in World War I in 1914-18. In the course of his career, he was known by increasingly elevated titles as he rose through military ranks, including Enver Efendi, Enver Bey, and finally Enver Pasha. By January 13, 1914, Enver had made himself Minister of War and played a key role in the Ottoman entry into World War I on the side of Germany. He influenced his associates into an alliance with Germany signed secretly on August 2. Subsequently, he approved the German bombardment of Odessa and Sevastopol, which precipitated the Ottoman Empires entry into World War I. An organizer of the Young Turk Revolution, Enver joined General Mahmud Ã…Å ¾evket, under whose command an Army of Deliverance advanced to Constantinople to depose the Ottoman sultan Abdà ¼lhamid II. In 1911, when warfare broke out between Italy and the Ottoman Empire, he organized the Ottoman resistance in Libya, and in 1912 he was appointed the governor of Benghazi. Back in Constantinople, he participated in the politics of the Committee of Union and Progress, leading the coup dà ©tat of January 23, 1913, which restored his party to power. In the Second Balkan War of 1913, Enver was chief of the general staff of the Ottoman army. On July 22, 1913, he recaptured Edirne from the Bulgars; and until 1918, the empire was dominated by the triumvirate of Enver, Talat PaÃ…Å ¸a, and Cemal PaÃ…Å ¸a. In 1914, Enver, as minister of war, was instrumental in the signing of a defensive alliance with Germany against Russia. When the Ottoman Empire entered World War I on the side of the Central Powers in November 1914, Enver cooperated closely with German officers serving in the Ottoman army. His military plans included Pan-Turkic, or Pan-Turanian, schemes for uniting the Turkic people of Russian Central Asia with the Ottoman Turks. These plans resulted in the disastrous defeat in December 1914 at SarÄ ±kamÄ ±Ãƒâ€¦Ã… ¸, where he lost most of the 3rd Army. However, he recovered his prestige when the Allied forces withdrew from the Dardanelles in 1915-16. In 1918, following the Russian Revolution of 1917 and Russias withdrawal from the war, he occupied Bakà ¼. After the Armistice in Europe, Enver fled to Germany on November 1918. In Berlin, he met the Bolshevik leader Karl Radek, and in 1920 he went to Moscow. He proposed the idea of overthrowing the regime of Mustafa Kemal in Turkey with Soviet aid, but this plan received no support from Moscow. Though the Russian leaders became suspicious of him, Enver was nevertheless allowed to go to Turkistan with a plan for helping to organize the Central Asian republics. Yet, in 1921, the revolt of the Basmachi in Bukhara against the Soviet regime flared up, and Enver joined the insurgents. He was killed in action against the Red Army. After having provided Enver Pashas short biography, this essay will try to state Envers relation with the Britain by considering the situation of his being minister of war, the person who is responsible of the whole Ottoman army. In 1909 or 1910, Enver Bey was sent to London to fetch military goods. The British media announced him as the Turkish Garibaldi because Garibaldi was an Italian general who revolutionized Italy and made it what it is today. Its clearly understood that the British media admired Enver PaÃ…Å ¸a and considered him equal to Garibaldi. Enver PaÃ…Å ¸a was persona non grata for Britain. By 1908, Britain joined the alliance between France and Russia against the alliance of Germany, Austria, and Italia. Thus, Britain started to welcome Russias interests on Istanbul and Frances interests on Syria.   Enver Bey, who is considered to be the leader of the unionists, had no choice but to ask for Germanys help. Since France and Britain rejected the Ottomans demand for money for its own debts, it was Germany that helped Ottoman Empire. As Enver Bey joined the alliance with Germany, a powerful country, he was always disliked by Britain, for he blocked their interests. During the Italo-Turkish War in 1911-12, Enver Bey went to Libya to defend the Ottomans territory along with Mustafa Kemal. He was a major and had the highest rank there. Since the previously overthrown Sultan, Abdà ¼lhamid II, made the navy dysfunctional, Enver needed army troops. Ottoman Empire couldnt send the necessary troops since Britain had invaded Egypt and she didnt allow Ottoman troops go through Egypt. Eventually, Ottoman Empire lost Tripolitania mostly because of Britain. The Mesopotamian campaign was a campaign in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I fought between the Allies represented by the British Empire, mostly troops from Britain and the Indian Empire, and the Central Powers, mostly of the Ottoman Empire. It took place between 6 November 1914 and 14 November 1918. Enver PaÃ…Å ¸a was the minister of war and Ottoman forces was defeated in this campaign. It was resulted in allied victory and the Treaty of Sà ¨vres. The only success for Ottoman Empire during this campaign was the Siege of Kut. Halil Bey, uncle of Enver Pasha, managed to capture the British general Townshend along with his garrison. British leaders attempted to buy their troops out. Aubrey Herbert and T. E. Lawrence were part of a team of officers sent to negotiate a secret deal with the Ottomans. The British offered  £2 million ( £122,300,000 today) and promised they would not fight the Ottomans again, in exchange for Townshends troops. Enver Pasha ordered that this offer be rejected. Historian Christopher Catherwood has called the siege the worst defeat of the Allies in World War I. The Raids on the Suez Canal, also known as Actions on the Suez Canal, took place between 26 January and 5 August 1916 after a German-led Ottoman Army force advanced from Southern Palestine to attack the British Empire-protected Suez Canal, before the beginning of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I. Ottoman troops were led by Cemal PaÃ…Å ¸a, Minister of the Navy, who was under the command of Enver PaÃ…Å ¸a, Minister of War. These two raids resulted in failure for Ottoman Empire. As conjectured in the story published in the Telegraph, Britain offered $5 million to the Ottomans to allow them to cross the straits of Çanakkale, and another $2 million to the Ottomans to get them to pull their troops out of Palestine. The story also says that an international arms dealer by the name of Basil Zaharoff was responsible for the talks between the two sides. The Telegraph story also says that Enver Pasha was contacted by a civil servant by the name of Kerim Bey in Vienna, who was working for the Ottoman Empires Loan Bureau there, and that the suggested bribe later went up to the astonishing figure of $10 million dollars. It can be easily understood these bribe offers were made before the outbreak of the WWI because it outbroke on July 28 and Ottoman Empire joined the war five days later on August 2 in alliance with Germany. Britain wouldnt make such an offer when Ottoman Empire was already her enemy. Enver PaÃ…Å ¸a could accept these offers for the sake of his countrys economy but he rejected them because he knew that his country would be under the risk of Russians if they received aid from the British. Thus, he prevented British navy from sailing to Black Sea. Although it seems to be win for Britain and lose for Ottoman between the relations of the British and Enver PaÃ…Å ¸a, his great struggles for both Ottoman Empire and Turkic people havent been forgotten; thus, his funeral was brought to Turkey by the Republic of Turkey and buried in Istanbul on his death anniversary in 1996. Rest in peace.

Ensuring Effectiveness Of Critical Reflection With Reflection Models

Ensuring Effectiveness Of Critical Reflection With Reflection Models The NMC (2008) requires nurses to maintain competence in all areas of practice (Meretoja et al, 2004). Nurses can contribute to the ongoing maintenance and development of clinical competence and ongoing professional development through reflection (Gustafson and Fagerberg, 2004). Reflection supports clinical reasoning, critical thinking and review of clinical actions and knowledge, contributing to ongoing evaluation of practice, for self and others (Bowden, 2003). However, reflection can be challenged as a pointless or limited process (Jones, 1995), and therefore, to ensure reflection is effective, and contributes to knowledge, understanding, learning and development (Rolfe, 2005), it is best to use one of the many models of critical reflection that have been developed within the theoretical domain. As part of a process of critical reflection, I shall use Gibbs (1988) model of structured reflection, to structure and define the process of reflection and critical analysis involved in this scenario. Description (What Happened) I was involved in the care of a fifty two year old gentleman who has been under my care for some time in relation to monitoring of blood pressure. After initial tests were carried out, the gentleman was assessed according to standard definitions of hypertension. The gentleman, who shall be called Mr J for the purposes of this reflection, and to maintain confidentiality in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct (NMC, 2008), had been complaining of some intermittent headaches, occasional dizziness, and blood tests were taken: full blood count, urea and electrolytes (to rule out any renal involvement), and creatinine. Blood pressure measurements were one week apart, and his blood pressure was found to be 150/100 mmhg and 150/98 mmHg respectively. I carried out a further blood pressure measurements on three subsequent days and found the blood pressure to be within these two ranges on several occasions. There was no abnormality detected in the blood test results, and therefore, the decis ion was made to commence the patient on antihypertensive medication. I also carried out tests for diabetes and referred him to the GP for further assessment of cardiovascular risk. In order to make this decision, I consulted not only reference books such as the British National Formulary, and the guidance on nurse prescribing, but the guidelines provided by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2006). In this guideline, NICE (2006, p 2) clearly state that: Treatment and care should take into account patients individual needs and preferences. Good communication is essential, supported by evidence-based information, to allow patients to reach informed decisions about their care. Carers and relatives should have the chance to be involved in discussions unless the patient thinks it inappropriate Therefore, having explained the findings to the patient, I discussed with him the issues surrounding the diagnosis of hypertension, and what the consequence of this condition could be for his long term health. I also discussed the type of medication that was used, in order to make sure that he understood how this would affect him and how important it was to maintain a good treatment regimen and not to miss his medication. This allowed me to assess his ability to self-medicate and also monitor his own condition and any effects of side effects of the medication. I also discussed with him the need to inform his family or next of kin of his condition and its treatment, as this would allow him to have support and help in adjusting to a chronic condition, and also other people who would assess symptoms and side effects during the treatment process. This is important as it can take time to adjust to the use of anti-hypertensive medication and sometimes the regimen needs to be altered in ord er to suit the individual patient (NICE, 2006). Feelings (What were you thinking and feeling) My thoughts during this process were focused on the need to properly diagnose this patients condition, and to ensure that the prescribing process was correct, within the guidelines laid down for nurses by the NMC. I was concerned with getting the right dosage and frequency, choosing the right medication within the boundaries of my prescribing role, and also, ensuring that the patient was fully aware of the implications of his condition. However, more challenging to my current role was the realisation that my concern for the patient, and for his adjustment to being told he had a chronic illness that needed treatment, was overshadowed by my focus on the prescribing process, and therefore, on reflection, I realised that there was a degree of dissatisfaction, in that I could feel that I was finding it more difficult to focus on his psychological and emotional needs because of the prescribing role. Evaluation (What was good and bad about the expereince) The positives of this experience relate to the ability to apply the principles of the NICE Guidance (NICE, 2006), whilst at the same time being able to provide continuity of care, quality of care, and holistic nursing care to an individual based on his own needs and reactions. While I became aware of the way in which the process of diagnosis and prescription started to eclipse the more holistic and humanistic elements of my nursing care for this patient, I did identify this and so was able to redress this during the consultations and to develop a more holistic approach. Thus, identifying my own feelings allowed me to take immediate action and to spend time with the patient discussing the impact of the diagnosis and his own feelings, particularly in relation to his social life and family life. As an active individual, he was concerned about the impact on his lifestyle, and the NICE guidance (NICE, 2006) does suggest that lifestyle advice should be provided at appropriate moments durin g care, so it was also good to be able to both meet the individual needs of the client and ensure I was taking the optimal approach to his monitoring, treatment, support and health education. Analysis (What sense can you make of the situation) The literature suggests that decision making in nursing is focused on optimal treatment and management for the best possible outcomes, and the first stage of this is assessing and observing all features of the patient, ie their condition, clinical signs and symptoms, and their holistic state of being (Hedberg and Satterlund, 2003). In this case, the decision making process began with the assessment of the blood pressure measurements, and these were the first indication that there was a need to intervene, as the readings were above the diagnostic line on more than two separate occasions (NICE, 2006). Thus, I knew that I would need to intervene, and that there was a need to prescribe medication appropriate to the clients needs, within the guidelines set out locally (Latter and Courtenay, 2004). My competence in the diagnostic and prescribing processes was confirmed by my recognition of patient need and the ability to also carry out further tests, or refer the patient for further tests relating to their condition (Meretoja et al, 2004; Ashworth and Saxton, 1990). The NICE (2006) guidelines clearly state that in the absence of established cardiovascular disease, when raised blood pressure persists, they need further testing to identify cardiovascular risk, and further tests specifically in relation to diabetes and renal disease, due to the connections between these two chronic conditions and hypertension. A key feature of this diagnostic process however was the intersection of advanced nursing competence in relation to diagnostic and prescribing practice, and general holistic nursing care principles, including person-centred care (Price, 2006). The management of the complex clinical knowledge required in a situation like this, and the more interpersonal and humanistic side of nursing practice, is almost second nature to many nurses, but I became conscious of it during this encounter, and it was an important learning point for me. Older clients have complex personal and social lives, and complex histories, and therefore it is important to see and understand them as individuals in the light of that complexity, rather than falling into the bad habit of reducing them to their signs, symptoms, and disease (Redfern and Ross, 2001). Thus it was possible to view the clinical decision making process from multiple angles: from the clinical and objective angle and from the holistic viewpoint (Ha rbison, 1991). Critical thinking processes were involved, in assessing the need to take action, in assessing the patient as a person, and in assessing their self care ability and their ability to cope with this new medication regime and its likely effects, all part of ensuring that they are being monitored appropriately after the introduction of the anti-hypertensive medication (Department of Health, 2004). It was also apparent that this was an appropriate time to discuss health promotion and lifestyle changes to improve patient health and wellbeing (Croghan, 2005), and taking a positive and patient centred approach, focusing on patient empowerment during the transition to acceptance of their condition (Funnell, 2004). Thus it is possible to see how the process of diagnosis and prescribing fits into the overall assessment and decision making processes of clinical nursing practice, in the context of an effectively developed nurse-patient relationship (Luker et al, 1998). Conclusion (What else could you have done?) On reflection, I could argue that there is always scope for improvement within nursing practice. Therefore, I could have perhaps considered earlier on in the process what the full implications of this diagnosis were. I did consult the NICE guidelines, the local guidelines, and worked within the rules laid down by the NMC, but perhaps I should have been considering the patient holistically first, and considered lifestyle factors and changes earlier on in the process (NICE, 2006). I could have also perhaps asked if he would like to bring his wife/primary carer with him to an appointment so I could have involved her, with his permission, in discussions of his condition, and in the explanation about his medication and its potential effects. Action Plan (If it arose again, what would you do?) If this occurred in the future, I would focus on the nurse patient relationship immediately, and would consider the holistic view more consciously earlier on in the diagnosis, assessment, and prescribing process. This might allow the patient to come to terms more effectively with their condition, and would also allow them to get carers involved if necessary. However, the adherence to the NICE guidelines is also something I would repeat in future, as this has provided a useful source for supporting practice, decision making, and prescribing.

Women in Oedipus Rex Essay -- Oedipus the King Oedipus Rex

Women in Oedipus Rex  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚         Charles Segal in Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge explains one of the pivotal functions of Jocasta in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex:    The second series begins with Jocasta. . . .Now Oedipus is pursuing the killer as possibly the same as himself. . . . In this set his goal shifts gradually from uncovering the murderer to discovering his own parents. The confidence and power that he demonstrated in the first series of encounters gradually erode into anger, loss of control and fear (72).    This essay will reveal the role of women in the drama, the attitude toward women, the contribution of women to plot development, and other considerations relevant to women in Oedipus Rex.    Michael J. O’Brien in the Introduction to Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex, maintains that there is â€Å"a good deal of evidence to support this view† that the fifth century playwright was the â€Å"educator of his people† and a â€Å"teacher†. Sophocles in his tragedy, Oedipus Rex, teaches about â€Å"morally desirable attitudes and behavior† (4), and uses three women to help convey these principles of living.    At the outset of Oedipus Rex no female characters are present; the reader sees a king who comes to the door full of curiosity: â€Å"Explain your mood and purport. Is it dread /Of ill that moves you or a boon ye crave?† When the priest has responded that the people are despairing from the effects of the plague, the king shows sympathy for his subjects: â€Å"Ye sicken all, well wot I, yet my pain, /How great soever yours, outtops it all.† Thomas Van Nortwick in Oedipus: The Meaning of a Masculine Life : â€Å"We see already the supreme self-confidence and ease of command in ... ...nflicts of the Antigone.† In Sophocles: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Thomas Woodard. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.    Segal, Charles. Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1993.    Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Transl. by F. Storr. no pag. http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/browse-mixed new?tag=public&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&part=0&id=SopOedi    â€Å"Sophocles† In Literature of the Western World, edited by Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. NewYork: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1984.    Van Nortwick, Thomas.   Oedipus: The Meaning of a Masculine Life. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1998.    Watling, E. F.. Introduction. In Sophocles: The Theban Plays, translated by E. F. Watling. New York: Penguin Books, 1974.      

The Hidden Relationship Between Government and Media :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Hidden Relationship Between Government and Media Rather than being a neutral conduit for the communication of information, the U.S. media plays an intricate role in shaping and controlling political opinions. Media is extremely powerful in the sense that without an adequate functioning media, it is virtually impossible for a sophisticated social structure like the U.S. Government to exist. Henceforth, all known sophisticated social structure, have always dependent upon the media’s ability to socialize. The U.S. government generally will exploit the media, often times manipulating the enormous power of the printed word. Ultimately empowering the U.S. government, strengthening it with the ability to determine and control the popular perception of reality. One way in which government achieves this objective, is by its ability to misuse the media’s ability to set the agenda. Contrary to popular belief, media is in fact an enormous hegemony. In fact, separate independent news organizations relatively do not exist. Rather than creating an independent structured agenda of there own, generally lesser smaller news organizations adapt to a prepared agenda, previously constructed by a higher medium. Based upon this information alone, it is quite apparent that media functions in adherence to the characteristics of a hierarchy. This simply means that media is structured in a way that it operates functioning from top to bottom. This is also identical to the hierarchical nature of the human body, in that from the commands of the brain transferred through the central nervous system, the body responds accordingly. In order for the U.S. government to control and determine the public’s popular perception of reality, the government must shape and oversee the information that the media reports to the existing populous. This particular process of democracy is known and referred to by political scientists as cognitive socialization. However, many of us, who do not adhere to the cushioning of political correctn ess, refer to it as the propaganda machine. Numerous political scientists consider cognitive socialization to be the most effective form of political socialization. According to theory, cognitive socialization is doctored up information, which is strategically fragmented in such a manipulative manner, that the probability of its rationalization is highly predictable. The manipulative properties of cognitive socialization are so diabolical and Machiavellian in nature, that I consider it to be the ultimate perversion of the democratic process. In all seriousness, numerous intellectuals, and gentleman held in good stature agree, that cognitive socialization is the product of an evil genius.

Childrens Books and Popular Myths about the First Wave of Feminism :: Essays Papers

Children's Books and Popular Myths about the First Wave of Feminism What is the First Wave (1) of Feminism? How is it portrayed as a â€Å"suffrage† movement? Does the average study of First Wave feminism look at issues outside of suffrage: consent laws, marital rape, education, women’s right to own property, divorce rights, and so on? I wanted to look at the portrayal of the â€Å"heroes† of the first wave – Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony – as well the movement itself, through books aimed at children. Children’s books seem like an obvious way to look at how the movement is popularly seen and understood. If we set aside condescending ideas of needing to â€Å"dumb down† ideas to introduce them to children, or needing figures to be purely heroic. Then, we assume that most people, who do not actively pursue it later in life, receive the bulk of their information on the First Wave of feminism from kindergarten through high school history education. The Book Choosing Process The sources cover a variety of age ranges and publishers. There was no science in the selection, they were simply the easiest to find at the downtown public library in Syracuse, New York (2), which to me indicates they are the most likely to be picked up by a student doing a report or reading for enjoyment. The sources are not supposed to represent the â€Å"worst† by any standards – they are children's history books, all of which do in depth studies of suffrage. These are not coloring books or propaganda, which, perhaps, is why the information is so dangerous. Brill, Marlene Targ. Let Women Vote! Brookfield: Millbrook, 1996. (aimed at ages 9-12), Davis, Lucille. Susan B. Anthony. Mankato: Bridgestone, 1998. (aimed at ages 4-8), Nash, Carol Rust. The Fight For Women’s Right To Vote in American History. Springfield: Enslow, 1998. (aimed at ages 9-12) Parker, Barbara Keevil. Susan B. Anthony: Daring to Vote. Brookfield: Millbrook, 1998. (aimed at ages 4-8) Five Major Questionable Facts About the First Wave in Children’s History Books 1. Women Asked For Rights. â€Å"This cartoon shows Elizabeth [Cady Stanton] speaking to the New York legislature. She asked [emphasis added] legislators to give women equal rights.† (Davis) 2. Susan B. Anthony Is the First Wave of Feminism. â€Å"Susan had prepared other women to work for women’s rights. They took up the fight. In 1920, the 19th amendment was passed. Many people called this law the Susan B.

Is Google Making Us Stupid?

Google is an internet search engine that allows users to find information on any given topic. Google was created in 1996 and has been one of the fastest growing sites ever since. Google makes it possible for any information that is needed to be available at the click of a button. Some people think Google is the best thing since sliced bread, but Nicholas Carr has another opinion. Personally, Carr thinks it could be dangerous to our minds having so much technology at our fingertips. If we go back to the early days, when the Internet was not available, people had to research deeper than they do now.They spent hours and hours in a library, searching through books and newspapers. As time progressed, society started developing and new inventions were made. Friedrich Nietzsche started using a typewriter after his vision started failing, and his writings began to change. He went from â€Å"arguments to aphorisms, from thoughts to puns, from rhetoric to telegram style† (Carr 636-67). Frederick Taylor â€Å"created a set of precise instructions† that would have â€Å"maximum speed, maximum efficiency, and maximum output† for factories to use around the world (Carr 638).Taylor’s â€Å"system† made factory’s productivity soar. With these new ideas and inventions, the world began to change and now has come to a place where everything is relied on by the Net. â€Å"It’s becoming our map and our clock, our printing press and our typewriter, our calculator and our telephone, and our radio and TV† (Carr 638). Carr relates to the changes the Net brings to our lives. He says, â€Å"the Net is becoming†¦the conduct for most of the information that flows through my eyes and ears and into my mind† (634).He has stopped doing all the hard, time-consuming work that was once required to do as a writer. Using the Internet is the easy solution to finding out anything you need to know and Carr believes it is changing how his mind focuses and takes in information from any articles or essays he reads. The amount of time that a person stays on the Internet could have a negative effect on them. A person searching for information on the Net should limit themselves to a certain amount of time on it.Moderation is the key to protecting yourself and your brain from becoming completely dependent on the Net. Carr even confesses that he spends more time on the Net now than he ever has. Obviously, the Net is not completely awful. It helps find information so much faster and has articles so much easier to read. But, if we let the Internet reteach our brains how to think then we will have a problem. Carr is basically warning us that if we do not moderate our time on the Internet then the Internet will begin to control our mind and thoughts. Is Google Making Us Stupid? â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid? † In the article, â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid? ,† Nicholas Carr implies that he notices that something is causing his brain to change. He realizes that he is not thinking the way he used to think, especially during reading. While reading in the past, he explains how he would be able to engage in long articles or books, but now finds his concentration drifting away after just a couple of pages. He began to realize these differences since he has started utilizing the internet.Carr aims to convince his readers that our brains are trying to move at the same rates as the internet, skimming rather than completely soaking in new information. The internet is creating a new method of learning, much different from the traditional book or printed way of learning. Carr supports his belief by describing how intellectual activities are being replaced by technology, the development of the â€Å"one best method†, and Google’s motive to make the internet more accessible.Carr begins his essay with the example of Friedrich Nietzsche and his story of the typewriter. Friedrich Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer, and classical philologist. He suffered from dementia after becoming paralyzed from a stroke. Losing his ability to write by hand, Nietzsche bought a typewriter and was able to write again. Carr uses him as an example because it showed how even though using the typewriter efficiently allowed him to write again, it changed the form and skill of his writing.Nietzsche was reprogrammed, but this time with a lesser software. This example shows that Carr is clever and witty with his comparisons. He provides another example that timekeeping instruments are taking place of our biological clock and people are relying on the clock rather than their own senses. This example corresponds with Carr’s belief that intellectual activities are being replaced by technology, or being reprogram med. Following his idea of reprogramming, Carr explains the development of the â€Å"one best method† created by Frederick Winslow Taylor.Taylor used this method to determine how each worker can use his time wisely enough to get their job done in the shortest amount of time. This example foreshadows another example that Carr uses later in his essay. This system that Taylor created directly relates to the structure of the internet today. It is apparent to the reader that internet programmers are trying to find the â€Å"one best method† to make all the information that one person could need as accessible as possible, in the quickest manner. Google is the internet at it’s finest.The final point that Carr discusses is Google’s effort to try to make the internet as accessible as possible because the faster we can use it, the faster they can market information that appeals to us individually. This is how Carr uses Taylor’s system to support the topic th at is at issue today. Carr explains how the co-founders of Google are pushing to make their search engine into an artificial intelligence. This addition in the paper intrigues the reader, making them curious about how far this will actually go.The point that Carr is trying to get across is that the skepticism on the development of writing and the invention of the printer, differs from the skepticism that we have today about the internet. Reading and writing causes our knowledge to expand into detail, while the internet causes our knowledge to expand into topics. Due to the assumptions that browsing the internet makes it hard to demand your full concentration for long periods of time, people are starting to feel as if they are becoming stupid. Is Google Making Us Stupid? Google is an internet search engine that allows users to find information on any given topic. Google was created in 1996 and has been one of the fastest growing sites ever since. Google makes it possible for any information that is needed to be available at the click of a button. Some people think Google is the best thing since sliced bread, but Nicholas Carr has another opinion. Personally, Carr thinks it could be dangerous to our minds having so much technology at our fingertips. If we go back to the early days, when the Internet was not available, people had to research deeper than they do now.They spent hours and hours in a library, searching through books and newspapers. As time progressed, society started developing and new inventions were made. Friedrich Nietzsche started using a typewriter after his vision started failing, and his writings began to change. He went from â€Å"arguments to aphorisms, from thoughts to puns, from rhetoric to telegram style† (Carr 636-67). Frederick Taylor â€Å"created a set of precise instructions† that would have â€Å"maximum speed, maximum efficiency, and maximum output† for factories to use around the world (Carr 638).Taylor’s â€Å"system† made factory’s productivity soar. With these new ideas and inventions, the world began to change and now has come to a place where everything is relied on by the Net. â€Å"It’s becoming our map and our clock, our printing press and our typewriter, our calculator and our telephone, and our radio and TV† (Carr 638). Carr relates to the changes the Net brings to our lives. He says, â€Å"the Net is becoming†¦the conduct for most of the information that flows through my eyes and ears and into my mind† (634).He has stopped doing all the hard, time-consuming work that was once required to do as a writer. Using the Internet is the easy solution to finding out anything you need to know and Carr believes it is changing how his mind focuses and takes in information from any articles or essays he reads. The amount of time that a person stays on the Internet could have a negative effect on them. A person searching for information on the Net should limit themselves to a certain amount of time on it.Moderation is the key to protecting yourself and your brain from becoming completely dependent on the Net. Carr even confesses that he spends more time on the Net now than he ever has. Obviously, the Net is not completely awful. It helps find information so much faster and has articles so much easier to read. But, if we let the Internet reteach our brains how to think then we will have a problem. Carr is basically warning us that if we do not moderate our time on the Internet then the Internet will begin to control our mind and thoughts. ï » ¿Is Google Making Us Stupid? â€Å"The Internet, an immeasurably powerful computing system, is subsuming most of our other intellectual technologies. It’s becoming our map and our clock, our printing press and our typewriter, our calculator and our telephone, and our radio and TV,† Writes Nicholas Carr in his article, Is Google Making Us Stupid? In Carr’s article, he examines the controversial issue of whether the intensive use of the Internet affects the human mind. Today, the Internet has become apart of and has affected a myriad amount of homes all around the world. From social networking, research, and even online shopping, the Internet is the main used device everywhere.When it comes to the Internet, the one thing that immediately comes to mind is the most common search engine, Google. Google is the most common multilingual and used search engine in the worldwide web, handling more than three billion searches each day. Many people think of Google as a gateway to the entire Internet. Goo gle helps people to get answers to questions without intellectually challenging themselves. This search engine has helped, and still does, many people around the world to research articles, tools for business; to contact one another, and many other life-applied sources in less than 1 second.Having Google grant us an effortless method in researching essentially anything helps us become unintelligent or in other words, stupid. The Internet is filled with all sorts of different distractions, and we all have a harder time with distractions. The information that we â€Å"learn† through the Internet helps us forget as we get older, and the Internet will only make it worse. These days it is indeed much easier to find information by searching online to get the answer or solution. Before Google was created, it was more challenging to research information by reading through encyclopedias or dictionary’s.In my opinion, researching by this method would help us gain more knowledge towards our lives. The effort given into researching through textbooks about the topic vs. using Google does help us gain more knowledge by helping memorize and understand the topic more efficiently and clearly. As in school for researching to prove a specific topic, teachers occasionally have a preference of not using a search engine since we never know what is true and to avoid plagiarism. Google on the other hand, would give us the answer even in detail, but we do not know if it is the right answer.Everything on the Internet is not always true. Google can, as well, make us intelligent. To become universally familiar with technology and how it is improving everyday can help us all with our lives in the future. For simple questions in areas like cooking, or safety, Google being available at the tip of our fingers is much more convenient to find and look for answers online than going to the library and use their dictionary’s every time. Having Google be there for us tends to lead us all in situations of procrastination, too.In Carr’s article, he writes about Google, †The Company has declared that its mission is â€Å"to organize the worlds information and make it universally accessible and useful. † It seeks to develop â€Å"the perfect search engine,† which it defines as something that â€Å"understands exactly what you mean and gives you back exactly what you want. † Having Google advancing more and more each day, adding more information, answering numerous amounts of questions, Google can also help us become more intelligent.In conclusion, the Internet is the most popular device, which is, used daily by millions and millions of people around the world. Google is the most used search engine over the world. This search engine helps us all become both unintelligent and intelligent. Google does help us become unintelligent by being filled with all sorts of distractions like social medias. But, Google does also help other s to be intelligent by convenience and learning about the advancing technology. ï » ¿Is Google Making Us Stupid? â€Å"The Internet, an immeasurably powerful computing system, is subsuming most of our other intellectual technologies. It’s becoming our map and our clock, our printing press and our typewriter, our calculator and our telephone, and our radio and TV,† Writes Nicholas Carr in his article, Is Google Making Us Stupid? In Carr’s article, he examines the controversial issue of whether the intensive use of the Internet affects the human mind. Today, the Internet has become apart of and has affected a myriad amount of homes all around the world. From social networking, research, and even online shopping, the Internet is the main used device everywhere.When it comes to the Internet, the one thing that immediately comes to mind is the most common search engine, Google. Google is the most common multilingual and used search engine in the worldwide web, handling more than three billion searches each day. Many people think of Google as a gateway to the entire Internet. Goo gle helps people to get answers to questions without intellectually challenging themselves. This search engine has helped, and still does, many people around the world to research articles, tools for business; to contact one another, and many other life-applied sources in less than 1 second.Having Google grant us an effortless method in researching essentially anything helps us become unintelligent or in other words, stupid. The Internet is filled with all sorts of different distractions, and we all have a harder time with distractions. The information that we â€Å"learn† through the Internet helps us forget as we get older, and the Internet will only make it worse. These days it is indeed much easier to find information by searching online to get the answer or solution. Before Google was created, it was more challenging to research information by reading through encyclopedias or dictionary’s.In my opinion, researching by this method would help us gain more knowledge towards our lives. The effort given into researching through textbooks about the topic vs. using Google does help us gain more knowledge by helping memorize and understand the topic more efficiently and clearly. As in school for researching to prove a specific topic, teachers occasionally have a preference of not using a search engine since we never know what is true and to avoid plagiarism. Google on the other hand, would give us the answer even in detail, but we do not know if it is the right answer.Everything on the Internet is not always true. Google can, as well, make us intelligent. To become universally familiar with technology and how it is improving everyday can help us all with our lives in the future. For simple questions in areas like cooking, or safety, Google being available at the tip of our fingers is much more convenient to find and look for answers online than going to the library and use their dictionary’s every time. Having Google be there for us tends to lead us all in situations of procrastination, too.In Carr’s article, he writes about Google, †The Company has declared that its mission is â€Å"to organize the worlds information and make it universally accessible and useful. † It seeks to develop â€Å"the perfect search engine,† which it defines as something that â€Å"understands exactly what you mean and gives you back exactly what you want. † Having Google advancing more and more each day, adding more information, answering numerous amounts of questions, Google can also help us become more intelligent.In conclusion, the Internet is the most popular device, which is, used daily by millions and millions of people around the world. Google is the most used search engine over the world. This search engine helps us all become both unintelligent and intelligent. Google does help us become unintelligent by being filled with all sorts of distractions like social medias. But, Google does also help other s to be intelligent by convenience and learning about the advancing technology. Is Google Making us Stupid? What is the main claim/thesis?The main claim, or thesis, is that the more dependent we become with computers and other technology, the more our own intelligence declines and the more brain-dead we become. According to Kubrick’s dark prophecy, by using this technology to understand different aspects of the world, we are generating artificial intelligence.What are the means of support for the claim?The means of support Carr uses are personal testimonies, examples, and appeal to logic and value. He uses himself as a support because he admits to being a victim of his argument, he says â€Å"for more than a decade now, I’ve been spending a lot of time online, searching and surfing and sometimes adding to the great databases of the internet. A few Google searches, some quick clicks, and I’ve got the fact or quote I was after.† By stating this, he is showing how easy it is to become caught up in the convenience of the internet.He uses himself as an example becaus e most Americans can relate, and understand where he is coming from. Everyone knows that Google, or other internet search engines, make gathering information easy, however many do not realize what it is doing to their brains. Carr uses fact and an example of research done by scholars of the University College London, who were a part of a five year research project to explain how much our research habits have changed over the years. Carr’s writing causes reader’s to use logic and values when thinking about how often they use the internet, and what they are using it for.Do the support strategies sufficiently prove the thesis?The support strategies that Carr uses support his thesis to an extent. He explains how technology is ruining our brains, but he also contradicts himself by pointing out how regularly American’s use technology, and how often we need it for everyday tasks. His support strategies may have been better if he used more facts, or research done on why technology is destroying our brains with artificial intelligence.â€Å"The human brain is just an outdated computer that needs a faster processor and a bigger hard drive†, this statement Carr makes contradicts his argument in a way because it shows that since we have access to bigger hard drives and fast processors outside  of our brain, we should be using it. He does not intend to sound hypocritical; however his way of appealing to logic goes against his argument because as humans, we have come to accept the new forms of technology and the fact it could be destroying our brains.How does the argument address opposing claims? Are those claims sufficiently refuted? The argument addresses opposing claims in a logical way. Carr gets personal with the readers, in a way that they understand what he is talking about and where he is coming from. The opposing claim, being we need technology, was not addressed on a level where humans will go against using it. He explains that by usi ng the internet, we are gaining artificial knowledge, but losing our real knowledge.I think there are some people who will be shocked by this and by reading about how technology is changing us, but for the most part I think America has become okay with the idea that our brains are decreasing, while our use of Google is increasing. We have accepted the fact that soon we will be full of ‘fake intelligence.’ Does the argument concede to outside positions? What is the effect of those concessions? The argument Carr makes puts the outside position into perspective. The concessions show that Carr acknowledges, and has an open mind to the opinion of others. He values that American’s do need some basic technology, and that it can be very useful, while he also states that it can come to be a problem when it controls our lives. Does the writer define the issue correctly?The writer does define the issue, as the more dependent we become on technology the more brain-dead we be come, correctly. He does a good job of explaining what is happening, and the different psychology and neurology effects the internet has.What is the warranting assumption?The warranting assumption is that by only depending on technology and internet for our understanding of the world, our real intelligence is likely to decrease, while we gain artificial intelligence.Is the assumption acceptable or arguable?This assumption is questionable, because while there is evidence showing more people are depending on technology, there could also be arguments that some internet sites increase our intelligence. Can I prove the assumption is incorrect?Yes, there are ways to prove that technology is helpful, and has a positive effect on society. For example, without the improvements in technology we would not have the information or access to advances in energy, medicine, cures for diseases, or education.What else does the author of the argument assume?Carr assumes that all people have access to n ewer technology. He believes that it is common for everyone in the workplace to have new cell phones, and computers. He also assumes that humans depend on technology for everything, which is why Americans have become more oblivious to things happening around them. He believes that everyone will fall into the trap of internet, and in a way will become hypnotized by it, when in reality, many people may not even have access to the internet or the new technology.

Classical music Essay

It is Saturday March 1 2008 and I have woken with an excited feeling in my stomach. Today, I am being treated to something I have never experienced before and I am looking forward to what is in store. My father, is taking me to a classical concert. I am 18 years old and big band music is not really my style, I appreciate music but of the modern variety rather than the old school kind. My father loves classical music and plays it constantly in his study. His favourite composer is Leonard Bernstein so it is today, with great animation, he is taking me to encounter his love of this music. We are attending the Waukegan Concert Chorus which is at 624 Douglas Ave, Illinois, the concert is a tribute to Bernstein & Williams; namely, In Remembrance of Bernstein & Williams. My father assures me that although my liking of music may not be to his taste, I will go away from the concert feeling uplifted and appreciative of what I have heard. Our journey takes us to Waukegan during the early evening and as we approach the venue I can feel a buzz in the air. Other attendees are heading towards the seating area and as my father and I locate where we are sitting, I am somewhat satisfied that we have seats near to the front. My father explained in the car, on the way, even though it is the music you are listening to, it is also just as important to watch the performance. Before me is a huge orchestra; perhaps the biggest I have ever seen, not that I have seen many. There is a plethora of various noises coming from the ensemble and as each musician tunes in their instrument and plays small excerpts from their music stand, it is perhaps unbelievable that any kind of harmony will occur at all. However, the moment the conductor enters the room, there is an eerie silence, almost as if someone had turned the musicians off by a control button. The conductor is a gentleman who turns to his audience and bows his head, turning and repeating this gesture to his orchestra. As the first piece of music is played I feel myself vibrating with the enormity of the noise. For many years I have heard my father’s classical records being played from behind the study door but to be present at a live performance was truly exhilarating. One of my favourites in terms of familiarity was West Side Story. The introduction sounded amazing; upbeat and vibrant, the instruments seemed almost alive. Even closing my eyes, which I actually did, I could hear each piece of equipment as it was used. The brass and woodwind instrumentalists brought intrigue and manoeuvre to the story of the piece being played whilst the drums added the extra element of spirit in the arrangement. Despite the variety of instruments played and the different roles they played within the piece, the unity came together with such an intensity, I was taken aback by its impact. The formation and structure of the concert allowed me to lose myself within the music, it was almost as if I were watching the musical itself. This perhaps was the purpose of the concert itself, it worked with an effortless outcome. As the flutes and violins played ‘I Feel Pretty’, I felt almost compelled to stand up and sing as the notes poured through the air. The tempo was light in places and amplified in others; the exaggeration of drama was as apparent as the subtlety of tenderness applied to the nature of the story. Its volume was deafening yet tolerable as each instrument alerted itself naturally within the composition. On occasion I did look around at other spectators, like moths to a flame, transfixed faces and total satisfaction and appreciation of what was before and around them. I did relate to this. As the concert came to an end, I did feel somewhat saddened that it was all over. The climax of the music was a crescendo of brilliance and I am pleased to say, my father’s original prediction of how I would feel, was absolutely correct. I felt euphoric and inspired by such a performance. I had attended the concert with an open mind and allowed myself to absorb the instruments intentions; I felt all the raw emotions of West Side Story and even the pieces of music played I had heard for the first time, still brought me a sense of appreciation.