HOSPITALITY OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

HOSPITALITY OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT - Case Study Example According to Phillip Kotler the key stages in product and service development are; idea generation, screening of processes, evaluation of concept, product or service development, and commercialization process. With respect to hospitality management the key stages in product and service development are market research, segmentation, idea generation and evaluation, product and service development, and advertising Heineke, & Davis (2007). It is an organized effort to collect relevant information about target customers Akkerman, Farahani, & Grunow, (2010). Market research provides useful information about customer likes, needs, and wants. It is an essential component of business strategy. For hospitality management it is necessary to identify what customers want before the development of any new product or service. It helps the company to develop products and services that meet customers’ expectations and to increase market share. Market segmentation means divide the market into small segments. It is a marketing strategy that segments the large market into small subsets of customers. It facilitates the company to select one or two specific segments and design the products or services according to the needs and wants of those particular segments. It is impossible to satisfy the needs of all customers so companies divide the market into small segments and then designs their products and services according to those segments which they want to serve. Idea generation is the result of market research and segmentation. This process develops the ideas based on customer needs and expectations. Initially companies generate many ideas and then screen them one by one on the basis of the feasibility and opportunity cost. In the idea generation process especially for hospitality management the ideas can be collected from existing loyal customers, employees, media, and also from strong competitors Yu, (2012). After ideas generation

Analysis of the Dutch Healthcare System Real Estate

Analysis of the Dutch Healthcare System Real Estate Chapter 2: Hospitals, corporate real estate management and alternative real estate financing structures Healthcare systems across the globe are under continuous reform. Thus, it is important to note that healthcare systems are still evolving. Moreover, in Europe a distinction is made between so-called Bismarck mixed and Beveridge healthcare models. Bismarck systems are based on social insurance, and characterized by a multitude of insurance organizations, who are organizationally independent of public and private healthcare providers. Examples are such as in France, the Netherlands and Germany (Krankenkassen). In Beveridge systems, however, financing and provision are handled within one organizational system and based on taxation. This implies healthcare financing bodies and providers are completely or partially within one organization, such as the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK and Spain (Lameire, et al. 1999; Finfacts, 2007). Throughout history, healthcare systems across the world have evolved from Bismarck into Beveridge systems and vice versa. Usually, such reforms are a bone of contention. A recent example is the highly controversial debate in US politics on reform of the American healthcare system, which is unique in its application of the Private Insurance model (Lameire, et al. 1999). Democrats have long called for a universal health insurance program, which involves the expansion of coverage and restricting the power of insurance companies. Proponents argue that health insurance should be affordable and accessible to all, while opponents (mainly Republicans) fear too large a role of the government and the use of tax money to finance the arguably enormous costs involved. Both parties seem to agree that the power of insurance companies should be restricted by banning underwriting practices that prevent many Americans from obtaining affordable health insurance. However, though U.S. president Obama has praised various aspects of the Dutch social security-based (Bismarck) healthcare system, a similar evolution of the American healthcare system yet has to commence (NY Times, 2009). This section begins with a brief historic overview of the Dutch hospital (or cure) sector, with a focus on its evolution. Second, the interdependencies between healthcare real estate, (strategic) corporate real estate management, and alternative real estate financing structures will be elaborated upon by using corporate real estate management (CREM) theory and comparing various sources from academic literature. These are intertwined since healthcare heavily depends on real estate as a resource in fulfilling its core business activity. By opting for alternative ways to finance real estate, hospitals are able to free up additional capital to support their clinical activities. As the Dutch healthcare system currently is under reform and hospitals become responsible for real estate investments themselves, they are under increasing pressure to consider more cost-efficient options and enhance their competitive position. Alternative real estate financing structures such as public-private partnerships, where hospitals profit from the knowledge and experience of private sector parties through various partnership agreements, could provide a alternative feasible alternative here to more traditional real estate financing structures. For example, hospitals could opt for a sale-lease-back agreement, where hospital real estate is sold to a private party and leased-back to the hospital for an annual fee. By analyzing the above, this theory and literature review will provide the reader with an answer to the following sub-questions: How are Dutch hospitals regulated and financed? How can corporate real estate management add value to hospital real estate? How do alternative real estate financing structures relate to hospital real estate? The Dutch hospital sector The origins of healthcare in the Netherlands can be traced mainly to the activities of voluntary organizations, which often provided healthcare on a charitable base. These organizations used to be run mainly on religious or ideological foundations, resulting in the creation of healthcare facilities with a Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish or humanistic foundation (Folter, 2002). The Dutch healthcare tradition reflects the changing relationship between the government and voluntary organizations. Dutch hospitals largely originated from private and often charitable initiatives; virtually all are non-profit and most are still private organizations. However, today they are no longer organized along denominational lines. Though private ownership predominates, the Dutch government heavily regulates the healthcare system. In the postwar era of the 1950s, there was a focus on hospital construction, part of the broader effort to rebuild the country. In 1971, an extensive planning system was undertaken under the Hospital Provision Act (WZV) to regulate hospital capacity, the main motive being that many people felt hospitals were too concentrated in the urban areas and too few were located in other parts of the country (Den Exter, et al. 2004). Planning, regulation and management In the 1960s and 1970s, the expansion of health technology and healthcare resulted in a steep increase in health care costs. The main cause of the cost increase was attributed to the building of new hospitals and healthcare institutions. The Hospital Provision Act (WZV) of 1971 became the Dutch governments most important hospital planning tool, enabling the government to regulate construction of all healthcare institutions. The responsibility for its implementation was allocated to the provincial health authorities. The overarching goal of the WZV was to regulate the supply and promote the efficiency of hospital care. Hospitals were not to be constructed or renovated without successfully passing a declaration and licensing process. Approval of the building project rested on a detailed plan for each hospital service affected in a specific geographic region, which included a description of the existing service capacity, the suggested change of capacity, and a schedule to complete the project. The planning process began with the issuance of an instruction from the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport to the provincial government. The instruction described the categories of hospital facilities for which plans were to be developed, the geographical region covered, and the deadline to complete this. Provincial governments considered a number of regulations and guidelines in the process. Regulations related to the planning process and guidelines to the content of the plan. Many stakeholders were involved in the formation of regulations, including hospitals, patients and consumer organizations, local authorities, and insurance companies. In the initial stage, the provincial government prepared a draft plan. This plan included: an inventory of existing capacities; an evaluation of the existing situation in terms of shortages and weaknesses; a description of construction, renovation and expansion proposals; and an implementation plan and time schedule. Subsequently, the draft was forwarded to the health minister for approval. The health minister, after counseling the Hospital Provision Board (CBZ), determined whether or not the draft was acceptable. The draft plan formed the foundation for the issuance of so-called acknowledgements, which allowed hospitals to receive reimbursement for services from health insurers. The drawbacks of the initial hospital planning process under the Hospital Provision Act (WZV) were its complexity and lack of flexibility. Therefore, in January 2000, in order to improve the planning process, a new Act, the Special Medical Procedures Act (WBMV), came into existence. The focus of this Act was on quality of care rather than cost containment and aimed at promoting healthcare with maximum quality and minimum risk to patients at affordable cost (Den Exter et al., 2004). Decentralization According to Den Exter et al., in the Netherlands policy traditionally has been prepared and implemented by a massive neocorporate bureaucracy, uniting government agencies, quasi-governmental organizations (the advisory and executive bodies), suppliers and providers in the private sector, and insurance companies. This national body has a significant degree of control over decisions regarding the number and distribution of hospital beds and specialist places, and on investment decisions and management costs in health care. In the 1970s, centralized government coordination and planning became the leading principle in the Dutch healthcare system. However, the 1974 policy paper Structuring health care (Structuurnota Gezondheidszorg), contained proposals for decentralized administration by regional and local authorities (Second Chamber of Parliament, 1974). In 1986, the coalition government departed from the centralized model by undertaking major reforms, especially in the field of social health insurance. The integration of different insurance schemes into one social insurance for all Dutch citizens (with largely income-related contributions) was a bone of contention. The aim was to increase solidarity in healthcare financing. Under these reforms, all insurance companies would function as independent and risk-bearing insurers and compete for insured patients under the same regulations. A central fund (centrale kas) was to provide budgets for all the insurers. A key issue in the reforms was the shift of the insurance risk from the public funding system to the individual insurance plan, justified by the less government, more market trend. The shift of insurance risk involved a policy of transferring regulating competencies from the collective to the private sector, such as providers and insurance companies. In the Netherlands, this policy is called functional decentralization. This has mainly occurred in the cure-sector, which entails acute care and both specialist and general medicine. By means of negotiations and contracts, an increasing number of health insurers and providers have become important determinants in shaping and interpreting healthcare today, while the government and administrative agencies used to assume these roles in the past. This is emphasized by the new role assumed by medical specialists in hospital care. For example, they have acquired an independent coordinating position versus both hospital management and sickness funds (Scholten and van der Grinten, 1998). Hospital budget reforms In the Netherlands, today all hospitals and other healthcare institutions are required to have an overall annual budget. This is in line with the governments cost-containment policy. If the hospital exceeds its budget, there is no possibility of recalculation or compensation. Specialist fees are an exception to this overall hospital budget. Below follows an overview of the budget reforms that have taken place up until 2009. Function-directed budgeting (1988 2000) The old budget system, which was in use since 1988, was a function-directed budget system. The budget was divided in four cost components: location costs, fixed costs, semi-fixed costs, and variable costs. Location costs concern infrastructure, for example buildings and equipment including depreciation and interest. In the old budget system, these investments required approval by the health minister under the Hospital Provision Act (WZV). Second, fixed costs are costs that do not generally vary with the activity volume. For example, the number of people served by a hospital in the region. Thirdly, semi-fixed costs are not affected by the scale of production of a hospital in the short run. These are capacity-based costs, and include the number of beds and specialist units. Finally, variable costs are directly related to the activity volume or the production (production units) of the hospital. Parameters for variable costs include admissions, outpatient visits, nursing days, day care and day treatments (Den Exter et al., 2004). In the old system, the hospital budget was determined as follows: Number of persons in service area (x tariff) + number of licensed hospital beds (x tariff) + number of licensed specialist units (x tariff) + negotiated volumes of production units, for example hospital admissions (x tariff), inpatient days (x tariff), first outpatient contacts (x tariff), day surgery (x tariff) and special treatments (x tariff) Tariffs varied with hospital size, implying larger hospitals were allocated higher tariffs than smaller hospitals. In addition, hospitals were allocated capital expense budgets. For example, rebuilding projects and new hospital construction projects were covered by a 100% mark-up applied for 50 years. This implies payment was guaranteed for 50 years through a mark-up in the day rate. As a result, hospitals were not exposed to financial risk regarding major capital expenses. Further, hospitals received a standardized budget for small investments, such as maintenance. These investments did not require the approval of the health minister. Performance-driven budgeting (2000 2005) Until 2000, hospitals still received the full budget when it produced less inpatient days than estimated under the principle budget=budget. However, this was changed into a performance-driven payment system implying hospitals would get paid less if they would produce less inpatient days than agreed upon with health insurers. The underlying notion of this change was to increase hospital production, in order to put a halt to waiting lists. However, this transition brought a number of new problems along: Hospital budgets were unable to keep up with the increase in demand for hospital care. While patients paid insurance, they were unable to benefit from hospital service directly because of waiting lists. The admissions, inpatient days and day surgery tariffs used to set the budget proved completely artificial, not reflecting true costs. Incentives for efficiency were weak. The budgeting system did not stimulate hospitals to inform insurers and patients about their performance. This is a politically sensitive issue, as hospitals received extra money to combat waiting lists but were reluctant to explain for what goals they used this money. DBC-budgeting and dot (2005 present) Therefore, a new gradual transition is currently taking place to a Diagnosebehandelings-combinatie (Diagnosis Treatment Combination, DBC) financing system. The DBC system has the following implications: a transition to output pricing with defined and priced patient-treatment categories; location costs remain fixed and all other maintenance costs will be integrated into the location cost center of hospital budgets (set by the College Tarieven Gezondheidszorg, CTG, Healthcare Tariffs Council); and hospitals are contracted by sickness funds based on patient-treatment categories. The main notion is that hospitals are reimbursed for the costs they incur resulting from medical treatments. The DBC-A segment tariffs (acute care) remains government regulated (through the NZa, Dutch Healthcare Authority) and concerns acute care, whereas hospitals are largely free to negotiate tariffs with healthcare insurers in the DBC-B-segment (non-acute care) in an effort to promote market forces. Currently , about 34% of the DBCs is allocated to the B-segment; the Dutch Health Ministry aims to increase this proportion to 50-60% by 2011 (Van Poucke, 2009). The DBC system is comparable to the DRG (Diagnosis Related Group) system used abroad. However, there are a number of differences: DRGs are coded at the beginning of the treatment, while DBCs are coded afterwards. A patient can be coded in more than one DBC. In the DBC system the coding is not done by special personnel but by a medical specialist. The physician salary is included in the DBC, giving physicians an incentive for upcoding. In the DBC system, more flexibility is granted to parties that negotiate at the local level on production, number of treatments, and number of specialists. Furthermore, efforts are being made to integrate the fee-for-service system for specialists and the hospital budget system into a single integrated budget (Den Exter 2004). However, since the system is still in early development, the effects of DBC financing on hospitals are still ambiguous. As a result, improvements have been proposed which will be implemented as of January 1 2011 under the DOT (DBCs Op weg naar Transparantie, DBCs on the road to Transparency). This implies that the 100,000 DBC products will be sized down to only 3,000 in order to increase transparency for the patient, healthcare practitioners and healthcare insurers (DBC Onderhoud, 2009). Real estate investment reforms Until 2008, the Dutch healthcare system applied a publicly supported healthcare real estate budget system. However, since 2008, Dutch healthcare institutions have become financially responsible for the return and risks of their real estate investments (see Chapter 5: Real estate investments). Moreover, the Dutch healthcare system is changing toward a regulated market system with increased competition between healthcare providers. According to Van der Zwart et al. (2009), these developments are likely to change the way healthcare institutions will manage and finance their real estate, the location choices they make and the building typology they choose. Furthermore, real estate is becoming an increasingly strategic fifth source of profitability and overall performance, similar to capital, human resources, information and technology (see figure 2.1). For hospitals, considering and using real estate as a strategic production asset can reap added value, as will be explained in section 2.2.2. Financing hospital real estate: from supply-driven to regulated market forces As health insurers now negotiate quality and quantity agreements with hospitals and patients are broadening their horizons, the importance of an integrated approach to the product hospital care. Hospitals should be able to use their real estate as a distinguishing element in attracting customers (the patient). As a result, real estate is being transformed into a strategic resource for hospitals as well and hospital executives are paying growing attention to real estate management, including location management (what to do where), business plans (do investments yield positive returns) and real estate asset valuation. Building plans are based on functional clustering: hospitals divide new buildings into hotels (patient rooms), hot floors (operating rooms), offices (simple treatments, patient consults), and industrial plants (medical support/facilitating functions). As hospitals are no longer required to own their real estate assets, some are seeking partners willing to take over some o f their real estate management (Windhorst 2006). The Dutch government used to be in charge of allocating the budget of healthcare real estate investment, but is moving toward a regulated market system to keep healthcare affordable in the future. This deregulation gives healthcare institutions the opportunity to make their own decisions, translating into more individual responsibility and a higher risk exposure of investments. The government no longer guarantees financial support for real estate investments, and thus real estate investments have to be financed by the production and delivery of healthcare services. As a result, the need for competitive advantage will also increase (Van der Zwart, et al., 2009). The Dutch government used to apply a strict approval system in the former real estate budget system in order to regulate the capacity and costs of hospital health care. All initiatives to build, renovate or demolish a hospital building were evaluated in terms of their fit with a regulated overall capacity per service area, square meter guidelines per hospital bed and per function, and a maximum standard of costs per square meter (Van der Zwart, et al., 2009: 2). The initiatives were approved by the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports, who was advised by the Netherlands Board for Healthcare Institutions. The real estate capital costs (depreciation, rent, maintenance costs and so on) were guaranteed by the government. The healthcare providers real estate budget was independent of the production of healthcare services. According to Van der Zwart et al., hospitals did not bear any responsibility for the risks of their real estate investments in the old system. Furthermore, they were not responsible for the running costs and a possible deficit if production decreased. As a result, hospitals attempted to obtain the maximum amount of square meters and were not encouraged to be either cost efficient or cost effective. In March 2005, the Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports announced the modification of this real estate budget system and the introduction of a healthcare system with regulated market forces (Hoogervorst, 2005). The main goal is to keep healthcare affordable by stimulating competition and, as a result, reduce healthcare costs. This deregulation provides healthcare institutions with more flexibility in the briefing, design and management of hospital buildings and real estate investments. Similar to the old system, private not-for-profit initiatives are still the main force behind the capacity of hospitals, but in the new system hospitals are themselves responsible for the return on real estate investment and the effects of real estate decisions on utility value, investment costs and running costs. Since January 2008, hospitals have to finance real estate investments and capital costs from their product and service revenues. This implies a switch from a centrally steered real estate budget system with governmental ex ante testing of building plans and investment proposals into a performance driven and regulated finance system on the output (Van der Zwart, 2009: 3). To ensure a smooth transition, there is a transition phase until 2012 with a standardized and maximized budget for capital costs per m ². This trend will have a strong effect on the briefing, design and management of hospital real estate (Van der Voordt, 2009). Hospitals will get new opportunities while experiencing higher risks at the same time and hospitals will have to aim more at competitive advantage. Furthermore, partnerships with private partners will be more common. According to Fritzsche et al. (2005) and van Hasselt (2005), this transition has a number of implications, as illustrated in table 2.1 and figure 2.1. Moreover, organizational changes (e.g. mergers and network organizations), demographic changes (ageing of the population, multicultural diversity), technological developments (e.g. new medical equipment, new installation techniques), fluctuations in the economy and changing views on healthcare and the responsibility of government, healthcare organizations, market players and healthcare consumers play their role, too (Van der Voort, 2009: 2). As a result of mergers and the growth in hospital functions, hospitals are likely to grow even larger than before. Van der Voordt argues that all these changes affect the healthcare real estate stock and cause a need for new health care real estate management strategies. Christensen et al. (2000) warn for the entrenched and change-averse nature of healthcare systems. They argue governments and institutions should be more open to business models that may seem to threaten the status quo at first, but will eventually enhance the quality of healthcare for the end-user: the patient. New institutions with disruptive business models adapted to new technologies and markets should replace entrenched and old-fashioned institutions. Thus, they conclude that government and healthcare sector leaders should help insurers, regulators, hospitals and health professionals to facilitate disruption instead of preventing it. Current challenges The practical implications for hospitals of the current transition to a new healthcare system in terms of capital financing and real estate investments will be further explained in chapter 4 and 5. First, the following section will elaborate on the theoretical foundations of corporate real estate management. Corporate real estate management In order to make well considered decisions with regard to new building projects, rebuilding projects and the sale of real estate property, a deep knowledge of the real estate property and the many related internal and external developments is required. For example, what actions need to be taken in order to eliminate or reduce discrepancies between demand and supply? And how effectively does real estate support the main business processes? Corporate Real Estate Management is one of the disciplines that addresses such questions. The key issue at stake here is to align the supply (e.g. locations, properties) with the requirements related to the primary process (demand) and the strategic goals of the organization. The overall aim is to create maximum added value for the organization while ensuring a maximum contribution to total organizational performance (Van der Voort, 2009). Increasingly, (corporate) real estate is becoming a substantial resource for firms and other institutions. For example, firms are looking at real estate to provide both stability and capital growth to their portfolios. It thus presents an attractive return compared to the volatility in equity prices (DTZ, 2006). Already in the early 1990s, researchers began to call attention to the largely unrecognized importance of corporate real estate to many businesses. They pointed at the substantial balance sheet value of real estate and the large proportion of operating expenses resulting from real estate services (Roulac, 2001). For example, Veale (1989) concluded corporate space costs account for 10% to 20% of operating expenses or nearly 50% of net operating income. In their paper, Rediscover your Companys Real Estate, Zeckhauser and Silverman (1983) estimate corporate real estate accounts for 25 to 40 % of the total assets of the average firm. Many firms underestimate the intrinsic value of their real estate portfolio, even though the magnitude of costs related to owning properties are second only to payroll costs (Veale, 1989). Zeckhauser and Silvermans survey results mention 7 important steps a firm can take to make more efficient use of its real estate assets. For example, firms should manage real estate responsibly and set achievable goals in order to generate profits from its real estate assets or limit costs. Furthermore, a firms choice of real estate activities other than managing property depends on the nature of the business it operates in and the historical record of its real estate portfolio. This implies that firms that more heavily depend on real estate for their business activities might be more actively involved with their proper ty management. Zeckhauser and Silverman conclude that every firm should review and adjust its real estate policies to reconcile operating objectives with real estate values and opportunities, and evaluate the intrinsic value of its property. Though the return on real estate is generally lower than the return on the core business activity, real estate may provide other forms of added value, such as efficiency and effectiveness of the activities in the firm. Kaplan and Nortons (1992) balanced score card approach describes the performance of a corporation as being defined by a combination of financial, internal business, customer, and innovation and learning perspectives. In addition to the financial value of real estate, unique characteristics such as the design of a building transform real estate into an asset that can be difficult to imitate, substitute, or trade. Furthermore, the physical image of a building may function as a marketing tool, attracting attention to a firms services. Thus, when buildings reflect the business purpose and promote important work relationships they can contribute significantly to corporate strategy and serve to distinguish a firm from its competitors (Krumm de Vries, 2003). Strategic corporate real estate management Roulac (2001), with his Aligning corporation real property with corporate strategy-model, links real estate strategies with sources of competitive advantage. A corporate business strategy addresses key elements such as customers, employees and processes. A corporate property strategy affects employee satisfaction, production factor economics, (realized and foregone) business opportunities, risk management decisions and other effects on business value. Thus, it is crucial in enhancing or inhibiting the companys expression of its core competency and the extent to which it can realize its core capabilities to their full potential (Roulac, 2001). The existing scientific research in this field has resulted in the conclusion that it is generally more advantageous for firms to rent, rather than own the real estate they use, enabling them to free up capital to invest in the things they are good at (Brounen and Eichholtz, 2003). The shares of firms who sell their real estate typically outperform the average and firms with large corporate real estate holdings are typically associated with relatively low performance. However, within the field of real estate finance, little research has been conducted on the effects of alternative real estate financing structures on the performance of non-profit organizations, such as hospitals. Though Eichholtz and Kok (2007) examined the performance effects of alternative real estate financing on the American senior healthcare sector, little is known about the performance of hospitals owned and/or operated through alternative real estate financing structures such as, for example, public private partnerships (PPPs). In 1993, real estate expert Michael Joroff (1993) expressed the need for a move in real estate management from a purely operational approach to a more strategic one, including a strong emphasis on the role of real estate in achieving corporate goals. According to Joroff, this requires a switch from a day-to-day focus on building management (manager) and controlling accommodation costs (controller) towards standardized real estate utilization (trader), adapting real estate assets to the market (entrepreneur), and eventually ensuring strategic real estate decisions contribute to corporate goals (strategist). See figure 2.2 below. An organization often finds itself in a combination of different stages. According to Fritzsche (2005) hospitals still need to make the move to the upper stages. Thus, when hospitals make a transformation to more business-like entities, they will find themselves in the entrepreneur or strategist stage. However, it is debatable whether hospitals should be located in the final stage, as hospitals in essence are non-profit foundations and do not have the same goals and core-business activities as business organizations. This is where the classical debate regarding public versus private provision of a public good (healthcare) enters the arena; this will be discussed further in section 2.3. The added values of real estate According to De Jonge (2002), several ways

Kroisos vs Doryphoros :: Essays Papers

Kroisos vs Doryphoros The difference between an archaic statue such as Kroisos (fig. 5-11) and a classical statue such as Doryphoros (fig. 5-42) may not seem very great in a single glance. In fact, you may not notice any differences in that one glance. Yet, if you were to look at them closely, you can see that these two statues actually have very little in common. The first glance you’ve taken at those two statues, you just see a man standing there. They are not doing anything in particular, just standing there. That was only in the first glance of course. Now take a good look at each one. In the archaic Greek kouros figure, the pose of the figure is very frontal. The entire figure is relatively stiff with the exception of the left leg, which is in front of the body giving it the early contrapposto pose. Even though it does have a much more natural pose to it with the one leg out, the rest of the body is not in a pose as if the weight of the body was put into one leg. The head is stiff with the hair being geometric and with the hair falling back on the body. The physical stature of the body is moderately realistic. The muscles are not quite as well defined but they are still semi-realistic. They are portrayed as if they were tense. The arms are also at the side. In the other figure, Doryphoros, there seems to be much more expression. The contrapposto pose is very realistic. The weight is shifted all throughout the body. Arms are not stiff at the sides, but one is relaxed while the other is at a forty-five degree angle from the elbow. There is tension in the calf from the leg, which is being raised up. The torso is also somewhat at an angle because of the hips. The head is not frontal, but at an angle. The muscles are very defined but very relaxed. The hair is not naturally flowing, but not geometric. The emotion in the figures is also very different. In the archaic figure, the face contains emotion other than the archaic smile. The eyes are closed with no facial expression. The classical statue on the other hand does not have any facial expressions but has open eyes and no smile.

The Ethics of Belief

Argumentative Essay on â€Å"The Ethics of Belief† PHIL 2641 Online – Section 001 February 13, 2008 William K. Clifford sets out to show in â€Å"The Ethics of Belief† that â€Å"it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In this paper, I will show that his argument lacks key definitions needed in order to found his inference upon and that it begs the question as to what qualifies as â€Å"insufficient† evidence. Furthermore, I will show that the primary issue is not the belief but the results of the belief that is important and that all judgment and interpretation should be based upon said results. Clifford introduces his argument by using the example of a shipbuilder who allows his ship to be used on a transoceanic voyage despite its age and the supposed need for repair. The vessel sinks and Clifford asserts that the ship owner is guilty of the death of the passengers because his belief in the ship’s seaworthiness was unsupported and ill-founded. However, there are several problems with his conclusion. First, Clifford ignores the ship owner’s reliance on the vessel’s past sailing history as being sufficient evidence as to its stable condition. The fact that the vessel had made many a voyage without incident can be viewed as sufficient proof of its ability to set sail safely. This begs the question, â€Å"How can one determine what constitutes sufficient evidence? † The ship owner by relying on the history of the ship alone could have met his obligation. A second problem with Clifford’s argument is that he likely oversimplified the cause of the ship’s sinking. Perhaps the ship sank because there was a collision with another ship. Perhaps it sank because it struck an iceberg in the water. It may have sunk because of human error. In all of these scenarios no amount of fortification of the ship’s structure would have Argumentative Essay on â€Å"The Ethics of Belief† Page 2 of 3 prevented the demise of the voyage. Any one or combination of these causes could have been responsible for the ship’s fate, yet the ship’s age and need for repair is identified as the sole cause of the ship’s sinkage. Finally, Clifford fails to address the source of the ship owner’s doubt and therefore leaves a multitude of unanswered questions. If the question of right or wrong has to do with the origin of belief and whether or not one has the right to believe in the first place, then would the ship owner have been culpable had the doubts about the ship’s condition not been introduced? Is a person required to investigate EVERY doubt or question that is raised by another, which directly or indirectly impacts their belief? What if the source of doubt is unreliable? Without properly addressing these questions it is difficult to determine what the ship owner’s (or anyone else’s) responsibility was in the first place. This, I assert, is the fundamental problem with Clifford’s argument. To implicitly assume that one is guilty for simply believing without â€Å"sufficient† evidence can not be easily determined because the standards and thus the determination for â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† are too vague. The solution follows immediately. Since a person can have a different belief at any given point in time and there is no metric by which to determine the sufficiency of evidence upon which they are based, it is not the belief that is to be judged, but rather the action and the positive or negative impact upon society that results from it. Clifford’s primary concern was how beliefs impact humanity, and the impact can only be determined by assessing actions, not beliefs. Argumentative Essay on â€Å"The Ethics of Belief† Page 3 of 3 We can now see that Clifford’s uncogent argument is the result of a lack of clarity as to how one could determine whether or not given evidence was sufficient and the vagueness surrounding the definitions of â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong†. In its amended form, however, the argument is valid and can serve as a useful tool to determine and measure the overall impact beliefs have on society. My central argument is an inductive argument. Here are the premises and the conclusion: Premise 1: Premise 2: Conclusion: There are no clear metrics to measure the sufficiency of evidence from which a person’s beliefs are derived. Actions and their impacts on society are definite and measurable. Therefore, people should probably be judged based upon their actions and not their beliefs. My argument is cogent because my premises are true and it is improbable that my conclusion is false. Furthermore, no evidence which would have rendered a different conclusion has been ignored.

Rommel and Eisenhower

Complexity Within Simplicity The battle itself took the duration of a few days but was one of the most intense and fearsome battles in all of WWII. It took place in North Africa between the Allies (British + Americans) and the Axis (German+ Italian) powers. The battle was called the Battle of El Alamein and it held a high significance since it took place in Alam el Halfa, which is next to the Suez Canal that was the Allies’ main means of transporting and receiving food.This was essentially a last stand for the allies as the German-Italian forces kept advancing and conquering and showed no signs of stopping until all of Africa was under their control. However, they were stopped by the by two major generals- Eisenhower and Montgomery who led the allies to victory in North Africa. Though the battle itself was fierce, it was the military tactics and mentalities of Erwin Rommel, Dwight Eisenhower, and Bernard Montgomery that made it so interesting and complex. Bernard Montgomery wa s put in charge of the Eighth Army, while the main general in command for the Allies was Dwight Eisenhower.Winston Churchill assigned them both their positions. On the 30 of August 1942, Erwin Rommel (the German Commander) attacked the Eighth Army at Alam el Halfa (â€Å"The Battle of El Alamein†). The battle consisted of mostly soldiers from Germans and Italians versus the British and the Americans. It was crucial for the Allies to hold their position at Alam el Halfa because that was where the Suez Canal was located. (The Suez Canal was the supply route for the Allies so if they lost their foothold over it, they would have lost their supplies and the last firm grasp that they had in the continent of North Africa.Also, it would become extremely tough for them to regain after losing it and still be able to push back the Germans, â€Å"The Battle of El Alamein†). The Allies likewise followed the same strategy-to cut off the German supply route (â€Å"The Battle of El A lamein†). The Allies withstood the attack and fortified their defenses. They increased their army size and weaponry (tanks) and soon the German men were outnumbered 110,000 to 200,000 and their tanks outnumbered 500 to 1,0000 (â€Å"The Battle of El Alamein†). Despite the outnumbered battalions, Rommel stood and fought.Being a high-prestige, high ranked Field Marshall, Rommel understood how battles worked. After all, the road to his rank of Field Marshall was not easy. Rommel first took part in battle during WWI against the Italians. One of his most famous achievements was on Lucia Savogna road, In Italy. It was indeed a remarkable feat. Rommel and his men had been marching and quickly conquering their way into parts of Italy and destroying any resistance that came with it. After cutting deep into Italy, and stopping at a village named Luico, his army decided to rest briefly and let the rest of the army units and reinforcements catch up.Then, one of the men spotted some thing in the distance moving towards them. Rommel told one of his men to check out the surrounding sight. After checking, he told Rommel that several resistance forces of the Italian military were on their way towards them. Rommel quickly spread this information with all of his soldiers and told them to prepare for battle. Though Rommel’s men only numbered to about 150, Rommel knew he had to stand. It was a huge gamble at the time because had they lost the battle, Rommel’s campaign would’ve ended and the remaining reinforcements that were on their way, also would’ve been destroyed.However, Rommel took the gamble, and positioned machine guns around the site of the battle, and ordered his men to shoot on his cue. After the Italian army (numbering to about 2,000 men) arrived. A messenger was sent to Rommel to reconsider his decision and stand down. However, Rommel refused to do such a thing. Soon after, Rommel blew his whistle and opened fire. Within minutes , the Italian resistance had been disintegrated and crushed. Rommel’s enemy had lost their entire army to an army less than one-tenth of their size (SHOWALTER, DENNIS. â€Å"What Made Rommel ROMMEL†).Rommel’s decision had been a huge gamble but being the intelligent leader that he was, he understood the importance of winning and how he needed to win the battle at any cost. During the battle of El Alamein, Rommel’s army had pushed the allies to near defeat: conquering most of North Africa, then proceeding to expel the allies from Africa by cutting off their supply line from the Suez Canal, near El Alamein. Rommel’s favorite attack strategy for most battles was a sort of entrapment. He would create a hollow circle with his battalions and leave the center of the circle open.In this manner, he would fool his enemies into landing into the center, and fighting outwards. Most of Rommel’s enemies figured that Rommel wouldn’t suspect such an a ttack, but in reality, this would be Rommel’s plan all along (Paris, Michael. â€Å"El Alamein, The People's Battle). After landing in the center of the circle, Rommel would encircle his enemy with his forces and crush them. Rommel had planned to use this method of entrapment against the allies at the battle of El Alamein. However, General Montgomery and Eisenhower, the two main generals in charge of the battle of El Alamein during WWII were well aware of Rommel’s strategy.When Rommel had formed his circle to bait the allies into landing in the center, Montgomery and Eisenhower planned to put fake tanks in the center- to counter-bait Rommel and fool him into thinking that there is a legitimate army force located in the center. Ike and Monty (Eisenhower and Montgomery’s nicknames, Heydt, Bruce. â€Å"The General And The Field Marshal†) planned on attacking the north end of the circle after Rommel command a large number of his forces to attack the fake tan ks located in the center (Paris, Michael. El Alamein, The People's Battle†) Sure enough, the plan had worked. After several days of fighting, Rommel’s Afrika Korps were annihilated and Rommel had fled Africa, leaving his position as Field Marshall of the German Army and suddenly going on a sick leave right before the end of his campaign. (Temple, Truman †Erwin Rommel's Last Offensive In North Africa Ended With A Whimper At Medenine†). Though Eisenhower and Montgomery developed the attack plan, they greatly disliked each other.Montgomery claimed to a reporter before a battle: â€Å"I liked Eisenhower, but I could not stand him about the place for long; his high-pitched accent, and loud talking, would drive me mad. I should say he was good probably on the political line; but he obviously knows nothing whatever about fighting† (Heydt, Bruce. â€Å"The General And The Field Marshal†) He showed his disrespect throughout the war towards Eisenhower wh o also disliked him. On one event, Montgomery told an American reporter: â€Å" I’m sorry for coming late, but I really shouldn’t have come at all. Eisenhower was infuriated by his remark. Eisenhower remarked, â€Å"Montgomery is a skilled and successive general, but very conceited† (Heydt, Bruce. â€Å"The General And The Field Marshal†) Even after the battle of El Alamein, the two refused to get along, but cooperated during the war solely for the good of their own countries. The battle of El Alamein was a huge turning point in WWII. It was the first major victory claimed by the allies who had been being continuously pushed back by the Axis during the previous battles (â€Å"The Battle of El Alamein†).Rommel, the â€Å"Desert Fox† (because of his sneaky and surprising strategies that often shocked his opponents, â€Å"The Battle of El Alamein â€Å") had proved to be a worthy opponent during the war, due to his high-caliber strategies an d his intimidating, risk-taking nature. And the battle itself was consisted of major generals who could not get along but managed to pull together for the sake of the allies. El Alamein was truly a great battle, it was not simply just about which side had the greater number of arms and men, but more about matching and complying with the strategy and mentality of the opponent.

The Suicide Death of Conrad Roy III

The Suicide Death of Conrad Roy III On July 12, 2014, Conrad Roy III, 18, killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning by shutting himself in the cab of his pickup truck in a Kmart parking lot with a running gasoline-powered water pump.​ On Feb. 6, 2015, Roys 17-year-old girlfriend Michelle Carter, who was being treated in a mental facility at the time of his death, was charged with involuntary manslaughter for encouraging him to go through with his suicide plan via a number of text messages and phone calls, including one call while he was dying. Here are the latest developments in the Conrad Roy III case. Judge Upholds Manslaughter Charges in Encouraged Suicide Case Sept. 23, 2015:Â  A juvenile court judge has denied a motion to drop criminal charges against a Massachusetts teenager who encouraged her boyfriend to commit suicide. Michelle Carter will face involuntary manslaughter charges for the death of Conrad Roy III. Judge Bettina Borders pointed to evidence that shows Carter was on the phone with Roy for 45 minutes while he was in his vehicle inhaling the carbon monoxide that would kill him and failed to call the police. Judge Borders also cited text messages that reveal that Carter, 17 at the time, told Roy to get back in the truck when his suicide plan began to work and he became afraid. The Grand Jury could find probable cause that her failure to act within the 45 minutes, as well as her instruction to the victim to get back into the truck after he got out of the truck, caused the victims death, the judge said in her ruling to deny the defense motion to dismiss the charges. The defense plans to appeal Borders ruling. The next pretrial hearing is scheduled November 30. Michelle Carters Attorney Wants Charges Dropped Aug. 28, 2015 - The attorney for an 18-year Massachusetts teen accused of encouraging her boyfriend to commit suicide has asked a judge to dismiss the charges against her because prosecutors are trying to apply manslaughter to speech. Joseph Cataldo, attorney for Michelle Carter, said his client is not responsible for the death of Conrad Roy III. It was his plan, Cataldo told the judge. He is someone who caused his own death. Michelle Carters only role in this is words. Carter, who was being treated at McLean Hospital, a psychiatric facility, at the time of Roys death, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in New Bedford Juvenile Court. Online Relationship Roy, from Mattapoisett, and Carter, from Plainville, had seen each other only a couple of times in-person, they were mostly online friends, exchanging thousands of text messages over the past two years. Cataldo said that Carter, now 18, at first tried to discourage Roy from killing himself, but when that did not work, she became brainwashed over the weeks leading up to his death to assisting him with his suicide plans. Roy had been hospitalized in a psychiatric facility two years before his death and was on medication for his mental condition, Cataldo said. Roy left suicide notes at his home for his family on the day he died. Romeo and Juliet Pact Rejected Cataldo told the court that just days before he killed himself, Roy sent Carter a text suggesting that they should kill themselves together like Romeo and Juliet. Carter responded to the text with, (Expletive), no we are not dying. Carter tried to help Roy by suggesting that he join her at McLean Hospital, but he rejected the idea, Cataldo said. The government is harping, if you will, on her saying when are you going to do it? When are you going to do it? Joseph Cataldo, Carters attorney said. What they are not harping on are all the times she said dont do it, dont do it. Words Are Harmful But, at the court hearing on the defense motion to dismiss the charges, Assistant District Attorney Katie Rayburn told the court that it is possible to commit a crime with words only. One can be an aider and abettor or an accessory before the fact simply for words, Rayburn told the judge. Her words are not protected, Your Honor. Her words are harmful, offensive and likely to cause an immediate, violent act. The indictment against Carter included text messages she sent other friends after Roys death in which she appears to admit being responsible for his death. Its My Fault It’s my fault. I was talking to him while he killed himself. I heard him cry in pain, Carter texted a friend. I was on the phone with him and he got out of the car because it was working and he got scared and I told him to get back in. In a later text, she explained why she told him to get back into the vehicle. I told him to get back in because I knew he would do it all over again the next day, and I couldnt have him live that way the way he was living anymore. I couldnt do it. I wouldnt let him, Carter said. Therapy didnt help him and I wanted him to go to McLeans with me when I went but he would go in the other department for his issues, but he didnt want to go because he said nothing they would do or say would help him or change the way he feels. So I like, started giving up because nothing I did was helping and but I should have tried harder, she continued. Like, I should have did (sic) more. Its all my fault because I could have stopped him but I (expletive) didnt. All I had to say was I love you and dont do this one more time, and hed still be here, Carter said. You Just Fall Asleep On Aug. 28, prosecutors released to the media other texts that Carter sent directly to Roy during the time leading up to his death. They included: There is no way you can fail... Youre strong... I love you to the moon and back and deeper than the ocean and higher than the pines, too, babe forever and always. Its painless and quickEveryone will be sad for a while but they will get over it and move on.Do you have the generator? WELL WHEN ARE YOU GETTING IT?You just need to do it, Conrad. The more you push it off, the more it will eat at you. Youre ready and prepared.All you have to do is turn the generator on and you will be free and happy. No more pushing it off. No more waiting.You have everything you need. There is no way you can fail. Tonight is the night. Its now or never.Yeah, it will work. If you emit 3200 ppm of it for five or ten minutes you die within a half hour. You lose consciousness with no pain. You just fall asleep and die. Conviction and Sentencing Carter was freed on $2,500 bond and was ordered by the judge not to use social media. Even in youthful offender court, in Massachusetts, she was looking at the possibility of being sentenced to 20 years if convicted. However, in August 2017 she was sentenced to 15 months in prison, with the sentencing judge ultimately convicting her of involuntary manslaughter due in part to the complexities of criminal responsibility in the case. Source Woman sentenced to 15 months in texting suicide case, CNN.com. August 3, 2017

The Future of Cloud Computing essays

The Future of Cloud Computing essays To understand the future of cloud computing, one must first have some knowledge of what cloud computing is. This new trend in information technology is swiftly becoming one of the most used trends in computing. Cloud computing at its basic level is the replacement of all personal computers with â€Å"dumb† terminals that have no software or complex operating systems on them. Instead, these terminals connect to a World Wide Web in which applications reside alongside your data (Bowles, 2014). This paper will delve into the world of cloud computing from the perspectives of C. S Yoo, The United States Government Accountability Office, and M. D. Bowles. Of course, with any new technology, there are advantages and disadvantages to their use. An attempt will be made to identify those advantages and disadvantages while showing the future of cloud computing. Dr. Yoo’s article, Cloud Computing: Architectural and Policy Implications, introduces key cloud computing concepts such as service oriented architectures, thin clients, virtualization, and discusses the leading delivery models and deployment strategies being pursued by cloud computing providers. The article also analyzes the economics of cloud computing in terms of reducing costs, transforming capital expenditures into operating expenditures, aggregating demand, increasing liability, and reducing latency. The architectural implications of cloud computing are discussed for access networking and data center interconnectivity which focuses on bandwidth, reliability, quality of service, security and privacy, control over routing policies, standardization, metering and payment, and ubiquity (Yoo, 2011). Computers today run applications through software and accesses data that is stored locally on the hard drive. In cloud computing, the application is stored in the data center ra ther than stored on the computer’s hard drive. Yoo concurs stating that, â€Å"transferring applications and data ...

French Words Describing the Home (la Maison)

French Words Describing the Home (la Maison) The home is the center of French family life, so words identifying the house, furniture, and areas of the home are a part of everyday language for French people. Its important, then, to learn some of the most common words for furniture, house, and home in French. Where provided, click the links to hear how the word is pronounced in French. Ma Maison Starting with  maison  (house), as well as  chez moi  (my home), several words describe a house in French, from searching for a home to buying your abode and perhaps renovating it. la  maison  Ã‚  housechez moi  Ã‚  at my house, my home, at homerà ©nover, remettre neuf   renovate, refurbishconstruire, bà ¢tir  une maison   build a houseun  architecte   architectun agent immobilier a real estate agent, house agentacheter une maison to buy a houseune perquisition domiciliaire a house search Inside la Maison Once youre inside a French home, many French words describe its interior, from la cuisine (the kitcchen) to le bureau (the office).   lintà ©rieur   insidearchitecte dintà ©rieur   interior designerdà ©corateur dintà ©rieur   home  decoratorla pià ¨ce, la salle   roomla cuisine   kitchenla salle manger   dining roomle bureau   office, studyla salle de sà ©jour, le salon   den, living roomla chambre, la chambre coucher   bedroomla salle de bain   bathroom (does not include a toilet)la  salle deau  Ã‚  shower roomles toilettes, les cabinets /  le W-C (pronounced vay say) toilet / water closet  (British)la  salle de jeu   playroomune domestique, une femme de chambre housemaidle sous-sol   basementle grenier  Ã‚  atticla porte   doorle couloir  Ã‚  hallun escalier   stairway Furniture, Appliances, Equipment, and Home Furnishings A number of words can discribe les  meubles  (the furniture) you might use to make your house a home. les  meubles  Ã‚  furnitureun  meuble   a  piece of furniturele living   living room   mobilier design   designer furnituredes meubles en kit   self-assembly furnitureun  bureau  Ã‚  deskune  imprimante  Ã‚  printerun  ordinateur  Ã‚  computerordinateur portable, PC (pronounced pay say) portable laptop computerune  Ãƒ ©tagà ¨re  Ã‚  bookshelf, shelving unitune  chaà ®ne stà ©rà ©o  Ã‚  stereoune  affiche   posterune  peinture   a paintingun  canapà ©Ã‚  Ã‚  couchune  chaise  Ã‚  chairun  rideau  Ã‚  curtainune  tà ©là ©vision, un  tà ©là ©,  un TV (pronounced tay vay)   televisionune  armoire, un  placard  Ã‚  closetun  lit  Ã‚  bedun  oreiller  Ã‚  pillowune  commode  Ã‚  dresserun  rà ©veil  Ã‚  alarm clockun  bain, une  baignoire  Ã‚  bathtubune  douche  Ã‚  showerun  lavabo  Ã‚  bathroom sinkune  toilette  Ã‚  toiletune  cuisinià ¨re  Ã‚  stoveun  four  Ã‚   ovenun  four micro-ondes   microwaveun  rà ©frigà ©rateur   refrigeratorun  Ãƒ ©vie  Ã‚  kitchen sinkune  fenà ªtre  Ã‚  windowune  lampe  Ã‚  lampune  moquette  Ã‚  carpetun  tapis  Ã‚  rugun  miroir, une  glace  Ã‚  mirrorun  mur  Ã‚  wallle  parquet, le  sol  Ã‚  floorle  plafond  Ã‚  ceiling une  porte  Ã‚  doorune  table  Ã‚  tableun  tà ©là ©phone  Ã‚  telephone Outside a Maison Once youre comfortable with your homes interior, you might proceed  Ã‚  lextà ©rieur  (outside), where you can use many words to describe the home in French.   lextà ©rieur outsideune garage garagela  remise   calà ¨ches carriage house/coach housela  maison dinvità ©s guest housele porche,  la và ©randa   porch, verandale balcon   balconyle patio   patioun auvent an awningune clà ´ture   a fencele pergola a pergola (area covered with wooden timbers and climbing plants)le jardin   yard, gardenun potager a vegetable gardenun jardin de fleurs a flower gardenun parterre a flower bedune  jardinià ¨re   a flower boxune  fontaine a fountainbain doiseau a birdbathjardinier gardenerune  allà ©e   a drivewayune piscine en plein air / dà ©couverte   an outdoor swimming pool  Ã‚  Ã‚  le barbecue, le gril an outdoor grill

Emotions Revealed. Nonverbal Communication Essay

Emotions Revealed. Nonverbal Communication - Essay Example The instance is because the expressions convey information of what an individual is thinking and the next immediate at that is most probable to happen. The emotions tend to express different aspects of information. Typically, there are different types of information that are the same to all humans no matter the background of originality. Some of the general emotions convey happiness, anger, loathing, fear, sadness and surprise. The information in turn implies certain facts that may result. For instance, in the case if anger a person is most likely to fight since the feeling moves the blood to the hands. On the contrary, a person whose emotions express fear is most liable to run since his or her body streams blood to the legs (Lei, 2013). There cannot be an emotion without facial expressions. The instance is because the two events tend to be natural and mostly the person with the passion might not have control over the same. The most probable scenario is that the facial expressions are too minute to notice under normal circumstances. The clip puts forward that a person can see less than a hundred expressions whereas there may be over a thousand feelings that are probably of happening. The instance thus requires training to see all the expressions that are useful in the treatment, as well as the acts of investigations. Individuals differ in their facial expressions depending on the area that the phrase originates on the face. The instance also may be different since some expressions may be voluntary while other expressions may be out of control. The different emotions also create the diversity in the facial expression that may occur. In addition, different people tend to have different responses to various scenarios that may establish a difference in the phrase that results. The seven categories express different expressions as per the emotions. Anger tends to involve the pulling down of the eyebrows whereby the lips may tighten. Fear

Self-assement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Self-assement - Essay Example My conclusion sums up the agreement of the three articles that the American tax systems, as well as inequality, are the main obstacles to the achievement of the American dream. Enthymeme helped me focus and structure my burden of proof in the concluding paragraph in several ways. Since I did not present evidence of how the American dream has been achieved, I had an obligation of highlighting specific factors that have hindered its achievement. For this reason, I selected articles that discuss the specific reasons for why the American dream is an illusion. In the third paragraph on page one, I highlighted Brandon King’s views in an effort to prove that the American dream is dead. Specifically, I highlighted the following concerning King’s views, â€Å"Another problem that many Americans are struggling with is the issue of inequality, whereby King argues that most of the American wealth is concentrated amongst the rich minority. He thinks the American dream is based on people’s individual perception, because success is determined by imaginations people have about it† (Page 1, paragraph 3). By highlighting King’s argument, I demonstrated how inequality has hindered the achievement of the American dream, a factor that is evident in my

Reading response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 18

Reading response - Essay Example He writes a letter in a very persuasive tone so that the president of the United States can annul the treaty signed by a section of individuals from Hawaii whom he purports to be acting in their own interest rather than the great multitude of Hawaii. Although he appears to have lost the battle, he brings out his case clearly for the audience and one can hardly decline to support his course. Having been isolated together with the great multitude of Hawaii during treaty signing, it is only beneficial that LILIUOKALANI pursues the interest of his people and thwarts the efforts of the opposition. Nonetheless, I find it difficult to agree with LILIUOKALANI on his opinion that the president of the United States would rise in his support. For first, the treaty was signed in Washington. This would never have happened without the consent of the government of the United States. LILIUOKALANI does not also tell us the reasons why he has been isolated in the decision to secede Hawaii from America. Is he perpetuating some atrocities against the people of Hawaii? Why is he so determined to prevent Hawaii from attaining independence? Unless these questions are answered, I find it hard to side with

Essay to be edited Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

To be edited - Essay Example That is why this was the subject that I had taken the most notes. The particular guest on this topic began by talking about the starting point of the Arab spring: Tunisia. He believed that the actions of the Tunisian people came from the poor economic conditions in the country at that time. This was a point that I could really agree on because it matched my own personal views. In addition, the speaker explained about the root cause of the political problems in Tunisia—the election trouble from the 2005 election. After that time, the political pressure increased slowly. The next topic was about what had happened in Egypt. The speaker commented that what made people really organized was social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter. In addition, blogs provided an outlet where people could discuss their troubles and organize the protest against the government. Their motivation came from the poor economic conditions in conjunction with the political uncertainty, which was similar to what had happened in Tunisia. However, he also mentioned a really important point about Islamic organizations. He made the point that many Islamic organizations in Egypt were really concerned about the street protests that took place. In my own view, this is true because, as we know after the government of Hosni Mubarak, the Islamic Brotherhood won the election! This explains why they were so concerned about the protests. Lastly, he mentioned that the Arab Spring movement has had a huge effect on Arab

Resume Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Resume - Assignment Example duated with a master’s degree in business administration and am highly competent to undertake the roles and responsibilities expected from an office manager. I have excellent communication and interpersonal skills; have proven leadership and conflict negotiation skills from the length of service working as an engineer. I possess commendable work ethics with manifested talent in problem-solving and in decision-making, within the scope of responsibilities. I have had extensive training and experience in undertaking the functions of planning, organizing, directing and controlling teams of subordinates from one’s work experiences. Finally, I can easily adapt and adjust to different work environments and value conformity to an organization’s code of discipline and adherence to ethical behavior. I am very much interested to becoming an instrumental part of your organization’s further growth and development. I assure you that the working relationship would be symbiotic and mutually beneficial. I am hereby including my resume for your perusal. I could be reached at any of the stipulated contact numbers indicated therein. I would be looking forward to hearing from you soon. OBJECTIVE To work in a global organization that uses both my education and experience for the application of managerial expertise, as well as research and development of new products relating to renewable resources. Thank you so much for the opportunity that you have accorded me during the scheduled interview yesterday, 31 August 2012. It was very illuminating that the candidate for the position of an office manager for your headquarters office would be given challenging responsibilities that range from managing, not only a diversely creative and innovative team, but also the chance to contribute one’s knowledge on designing, inspecting, and materials testing of the organization’s products to ensure quality at all stages of manufacturing, of which I am most capable of. I was advised by

Summary on readings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Summary on readings - Essay Example Kidnap Poem This intriguing poem by Nikki Giovanni offers a unique and chilling perspective of being kidnapped if the kidnapper were a poet. The kidnap victim would become the subject of a poem as they are placed â€Å"in my phrases and meter.† Giovanni’s idea of kidnapping someone for the sake of a poem sounds more like a romance in the making than a legitimate kidnapping. The victim would be taken to either to Jones Beach, Coney Island, or to Giovanni’s house. Kidnap victims are seldom treated to such beautiful, romantic places. Then the doting poet would shower their victim with lilacs, run with them through the rain, and roll around with them on the beach – all the makings of a love story. Indeed, Giovanni believes that their victim on the beach would complement the poet’s vision. Giovanni would play the lyre for their victim in an attempt to win them over, and even show them off to her mother. In Giovanni’s eyes, to make a poem out of a kidnapping, show would have to show her victim love. My Dungeon Shook/Dear James James Baldwin begins his letter to his nephew by telling stating that it took him five tries to perfect his letter. This suggests either unsureness in his words, a reluctance in writing to his nephew, or just the inability to properly relay what he feels. James then compares his nephew to his father, or James’ bother. His nephew reminds him of the tough and vulnerable nature that his father exhibited. He also attempts to compare his nephew to his grandfather but is unable to find similarities. The grandfather had collapsed under the lies of the white man that he was the definition of what the world knew as a nigger. James encourages his nephew never to let that word break him and that it really is just a lie. He wants his nephew to know this because he loves his nephew, and his love is something else that he does not want his nephew to forget. James shares with his nephew how he knew his father f or their entire lives. As the older brother, James watched his little brother go through every stage of life. When he looks into his brother’s face, he sees the faces that he had grown into and then grown out of over the course of his life as though he were a living scrapbook. James even sees memories in his brother’s faces that he doubts his brother even remembers, like the time when his brother fell down the cellar stairs. James remembers it all, even when his brother does not, because he had been there to witness his brother go through life. More than anything, James knows â€Å"what the world has done to my brother and how narrowly he has survived it.† He acknowledges that his fellow men are in the habit of destroying lives and will continue to do so in a domino effect of human nature. James reminds his nephew that most of mankind is guilty for their own acts of destruction, but that does not mean that all of mankind shares in this guilt. The letter continue s with James pointing out that his nephew was born into a world that was not much different from the world one hundred years ago – a world that did not look with favor on people who were not white of skin. James reveals the purpose of the letter, which is to teach his nephew how to handle such a world without losing himself. Part of James’ reassurance is that his nephew’

Resume Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Resume - Assignment Example duated with a master’s degree in business administration and am highly competent to undertake the roles and responsibilities expected from an office manager. I have excellent communication and interpersonal skills; have proven leadership and conflict negotiation skills from the length of service working as an engineer. I possess commendable work ethics with manifested talent in problem-solving and in decision-making, within the scope of responsibilities. I have had extensive training and experience in undertaking the functions of planning, organizing, directing and controlling teams of subordinates from one’s work experiences. Finally, I can easily adapt and adjust to different work environments and value conformity to an organization’s code of discipline and adherence to ethical behavior. I am very much interested to becoming an instrumental part of your organization’s further growth and development. I assure you that the working relationship would be symbiotic and mutually beneficial. I am hereby including my resume for your perusal. I could be reached at any of the stipulated contact numbers indicated therein. I would be looking forward to hearing from you soon. OBJECTIVE To work in a global organization that uses both my education and experience for the application of managerial expertise, as well as research and development of new products relating to renewable resources. Thank you so much for the opportunity that you have accorded me during the scheduled interview yesterday, 31 August 2012. It was very illuminating that the candidate for the position of an office manager for your headquarters office would be given challenging responsibilities that range from managing, not only a diversely creative and innovative team, but also the chance to contribute one’s knowledge on designing, inspecting, and materials testing of the organization’s products to ensure quality at all stages of manufacturing, of which I am most capable of. I was advised by

American Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

American Government - Essay Example The three arms of government include the Executive which is headed by the president, the Legislature which is divided into the two Congress chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives and finally the Judiciary which is made up of the Supreme Court and other courts at a much lower level. The Executive wing of the government is made up of the President, Vice-President and the Cabinet. The president of the is responsible for conducting the federal laws, coming up with new strategies, offering direction on foreign policies and directing the operations of the national defense since he is the chief of staff. He has such powers as offering direction to the government, issuing command to the armed forces and playing the role of enforcing the laws as well as vetoing them. The Vice-presidents main duty is to offer any form of assistance to the president as stipulated by the law and he/she is chosen by the president. The 15 member cabinet which is appointed by the president upon app roval of the senate plays the role of formulating and ensuring the implementation of policies that affects their various dockets. The Judiciary is concerned with the interpretation, application and the determination of any contravention to the laws of the land. The federal government has some exclusive powers that cannot be shared by other levels of the government. The declaration of war is strictly the role of the federal government. It decides on the process of money printing and the number of denominations to be made by the central bank. The decision on the formation and establishment of the various army branches such as the navy lies squarely with the federal government. Signing of international treaties and decision to join any international body is conducted by the federal government. It also plays the role of regulating business activities between the states and other countries as well as formation of laws that assist

Research on Immunology in Pregnancy

Research on Immunology in Pregnancy Investigative Review Nichole Gale The systems controlling the implantation and acceptance of the genetically and immunologically foreign fetus within the maternal body have often been likened to that of an organ transplant, or the growth of a cancerous tumour. The fetus is ‘like a transplanted kidney’, in the way that it is ‘genetically different from the host’ and ‘must evade immune defences to avoid rejection’ (Quinn 1999). The fetus inherits ‘foreign paternally derived histocompatibility genes’, meaning that ‘there is close contact between two genetically disparate individuals’ within the maternal body (Warshaw 1983, p63). Thus, the fetus is often referred to as an allograft, an allograft being a ‘graft transplanted by an individual that is not genetically identical, but of the same species’ (Marieb 1998, p789). The subject of fetus acceptance and tolerance within the maternal body has triggered great interest and controversy, and the sy stems that allow the acceptance of the fetus are complex and varying. Internal gestation has involved ‘a wide range of adaptations of animals for retention of young within the body of the parent’ (Warshaw 1983, p63). The human immune system includes many ‘cellular patterns that constantly exchange information’ to provide the body with the ability to ‘recognise foreignness or â€Å"non-self† in the form of antigens that enter our body’ (Warshaw 1983, p200). The recognition of antigens spark the inflammatory response, which must act with ‘minimum damage to the host’, in order to ‘eliminate the intruder’ (Warshaw 1983, p200). ‘Antigens are expressed by early human embryonic tissue’ (Loke 1978, p5), so it could be expected that the early human embryo would trigger an inflammatory response to rid the mother’s body of the ‘foreign body’. The exposure to non-self paternal antigens on the fetus ‘requires the adaptation of the maternal immune system to prevent the rejection of the allogeneic fetus without compromising the ability of the mother to fend off infection’ (Koch Platt 2003). The immune system consists of an innate (humoral) and an adaptive (cellular) component, in order to combat potential pathogens. It has been suggested that the main immune response triggered by the fetus is the adaptive response, where there is antigen representation, followed by response instruction by Helper T cells (Quinn 1999). In normal pregnancy, progesterone suppresses the humoral response. This has been used to explain why some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis that are under humoral effect, often improve during pregnancy (Quinn 1999). Early work on immunological tolerance, conducted by Medawar, has been the foundation of further studies regarding the paradox of pregnancy. Medawar proposed three mechanisms that might together act to allow immune protection of the fetus. Two of Medawar’s earlier suggested mechanisms have since been proved to not actually ‘pertain during pregnancy’ (Aluvihare, Kallikourdis Betz 2004). The first hypothesis was that there was ‘segregation of the fetal and maternal circulations’, or that ‘a barrier might form between the mother and fetus, preventing exposure of the maternal immune system to allogeneic antigens expressed on fetal tissue’, leading to immunological ignorance (Koch Platt 2003). Medwar’s second hypothesis referred to the immunological immaturity of fetal tissue, and this allogenic immaturity acting to suppress the ‘expression of antigens that the maternal immune system might recognise as foreign and target for dest ruction’ (Koch Platt 2003). More recent research has tended to focus on Medwar’s third hypothesis, ‘that the maternal immune system somehow ignores potentially immunogenic fetal tissue’ (Aluvihare, Kallikourdis Betz 2004). Leading from this, there has also been much focus on ‘the means of inducing immune tolerance, the emergence of T cell suppression in mediating peripheral tolerance, the mechanisms mediating matererno-fetal tolerance and the role played by regulatory T cells in mouse and human pregnancy’ (Aluvihare, Kallikourdis Betz 2005). Koch and Platt (2003) suggest overlapping mechanisms such as ‘the formation of an anatomical barrier between mother and fetus, lack of maternal immune responsiveness, and a lack of expression of allogenic molecules by the fetus’ to account for the lack of fetal rejection. These mechanisms can help in beginning to understand how rejection is avoided, yet do not ‘completely explain how the fetus evades the maternal immune system’ (Koch Platt 2003). Harding and Bocking (2001, p238) state that it was originally proposed that the maternal-fetal interface was perhaps ‘an immunologically privileged site’, or that there was a ‘generalised suppression of maternal immune response’. Recent studies have challenged earlier theories such as these, and it has since been found that not only is there actual recognition of fetal alloantigens by the mother’s immune system, but that her body also responds to them. Fetal cells can be detected in maternal circulation, and ‘fetal tissue expresses MHC class I and class II and is antigenically mature’ (Aluvihare, Kallikourdis Betz 2004). MHC are major histocompatibility complex proteins coded for by genes. Class I are found on virtually all body cells, whereas class II displayed only by cells that act in immune response (Marieb 1998). The understanding of the immune events and mechanisms occurring at the maternal-fetal interface are likely to help in the understanding of the ability of the fetus to survive within the maternal body. Since Medawar’s proposed hypotheses, much focus has continued on fetal immune evasion mechanisms. As well as the three mechanisms above, suggested by Medawar, Koch and Platt (2003) explore a fourth mechanism, site-specific suppression. This refers to ‘local suppression of maternal immune responses at the maternal-fetal interface’ (Koch Platt 2003). ‘Localised suppression at the maternal-fetal interface during pregnancy negates the need for systemic immunosuppression which could threaten the well-being of the mother’ (Koch Platt 2003). Earlier studies suggested that trophoblast acted simply as a barrier between the mother and fetus, but it now seems that perhaps that it could have ‘diverse immunoregulatory properties controlling immune recognition, activation, and effector functions’ (Koch Platt 2003). It has been proposed by various studies that T cells play a major role in sustaining pregnancy. T cells are lymphocytes that mediate cellular immunity. ‘T cells with regulatory functions are potent suppressors of T cell responses and can protect tissues from T cell mediated destruction’ (Mellor Munn 2004). Observations in experimental pregnant mice have shown that while pregnant, they tend to ‘overproduce a kind of T cell that reins in other immune cells that might target the fetus’ (Seppa 2004). In one study, conducted by immunologist Betz (Seppa 2004) it was found that ‘pregnant mice have double to triple the number of CD4+ CD25+ T cells, also called regulatory T cells, in their blood, spleen, and lymph tissue as do female mice that are not pregnant’. It has also been shown that in humans, levels of circulating CD4+ and CD25+ cells ‘increases progressively at each stage in human pregnancy starting from the first trimester’ (Mello r Munn 2004). It has been ‘demonstrated that Tregs (T regulator cells) have a key role in regulating maternal effector T cell responses to fetal alloantigens’ as maternal effector T cells seem to ‘pose a potentially lethal threat to the developing fetus in the absence of regulatory function mediated by maternal Tregs’ (Mellor Munn 2004). It has also been speculated ‘that hormonal changes during pregnancy might provide one explanation for enhanced maternal Treg development during fetal gestation because pregnancy-associated hormones, such as progesterones, promote immunosuppression’ (Mellor Munn 2004). In regard to the suppression of maternal immunity, it is still ‘unclear if Tregs directly or indirectly inhibit effector T cell responses to fetal alloantigens’ (Mellor Munn 2004). To further test the cells’ effect on pregnancy, 30 female mice were mated with males. 15 out of the 30 mice had fully functioning immune systems, whilst the other 15 mice lacked the regulatory T cells. While a slightly higher than normal number of healthy female mice became pregnant, none of the mice lacking T cells were able to become pregnant. It seems that the role of T cells remains unclear, but that further understanding ‘of the role of regulatory T cells might also lead to new treatments for suppressing rejection of transplanted organs and inhibiting autoimmune reactions, in which a persons immune cells attack his or her own tissues’ (Seppa 2004). Mellor and Munn (2004) also suggest that the revelation that ‘maternal Tregs might help protect the developing fetus’ will have various implications, not only the possibility of offering alternative therapies to suppress immunity, but also possibilities for ‘improving pregnancy success rates in p atients with problematic pregnancies’. Again, the effect of T cells on autoimmune diseases is referred to by Mellor and Munn (2004), ‘increased systemic Treg function might explain why some autoimmune syndromes, such as rheumatoid arthritis, go into remission during pregnancy’. There has also been some discussion on the role of macrophages as immunoregulators of pregnancy. It has been claimed that most attention has focused on immune tolerance to the invading trophoblast and fetus, but Mor and Abrahams (2003) suggest that it is also important to ‘consider the function of the maternal immune system in the promotion of implantation and maintenance of pregnancy’. During implantation, apoptosis is necessary for ‘tissue remodelling of the maternal decidua and invasion of the developing embryo’ (Mor Abrahams 2003). It has been sited that apoptosis is active in the ‘trophoblast layer of placentas from uncomplicated pregnancies throughout gestation, suggesting that there is a constant cell turnover at the site of implantation necessary for the appropriate growth and function of the placenta’ (Mor Abrahams 2003). During implantation and invasion, it appears that a large number of macrophages are present in the maternal decidu a and in tissues close in proximity to the placenta. Originally it was thought the large numbers of macrophages were ‘to represent an immune response against the invading trophoblast’. Mor and Abrahams (2003) propose that this may not be the case, and that ‘macrophage engulfment of apoptotic cells prevents the release of potentially pro-inflammatory and pro-immunogenic intracellular contents’. Trophoblast cells carry proteins that are antigenically foreign to the maternal immune system. If these proteins are released as a result of cell death, it could initiate or accelerate immunological responses, ‘with lethal consequences for the fetus’ (Mor Abrahams 2003). Therefore, the appropriate removal of the intracellular components by macrophages may be critical for the prevention of fetal rejection. Mor and Abrahams (2003) conclude that the ‘field of apoptotic cell clearance is beginning to flourish, and many questions remain unanswered’. There is not just one mechanism involved in the immune regulation of pregnancy, but ‘multiple, diverse mechanisms that are likely sequential during gestation’ (Koch Platt 2003). As humans have a much longer gestation period, and a more invasive placental anatomy, it is sometimes difficult to test in laboratory animals and apply results to humans, as there may be different mechanisms. But it is believed that mechanisms involved with the fetus can be utilised in the studies of rejection following transplantation. As Koch and Platt (2003) suggest, ‘knowledge of the immunoregulatory mechanisms of both the fetus and stem cells will help immunologists understand general mechanisms of tolerance and immune evasion, and will prove invaluable in the fields of organ and cellular transplantation’. It has been suggested that both studies in stem cells and fetal rejection can benefit each other and help in understanding of systems involved. Pregnancy has also been said to have overall effects on the mother’s immune system and maternal defence against organisms. According to Creasy and Resnik (2004, p103) ‘numerous reports indicate that pregnant women have increased susceptibility to a variety of infections’. It is said that ‘there appears to be a trend toward increased susceptibility to viral infections, consistent with suppressed cell-mediated immunity and a relative decrease in Th1 (humoral/innate) responses during pregnancy’ (Creasy Resnik 2004, p103). However, it also added that ‘more recent carefully analysed data do not indicate that maternal immunity is substantially impaired, and most pregnant women are able to adequately respond to most infectious diseases’ (Creasy Resnik 2004, p103). Harding and Bocking (2001, p238) also claim that most studies tend to suggest that ‘maternal cell-mediated immunity is unchanged during pregnancy’. According to some experts, infertility, recurrent miscarriage, premature delivery and preeclampsia may all be linked to immunological abnormalities. It could be that some of these problems are due to ‘defective generation of Tregs during pregnancy’ (Mellor Munn 2004). It is possible that methods involving in vitro expansion of Tregs could help in treating spontaneous immune disease syndromes. Koch and Platt (2003) also suggest that both adult and embryonic stem cells might use mechanisms similar to the fetus in avoiding rejection. ‘Future discoveries in the field of reproductive immunology will help us understand not only immune regulation during pregnancy, but also how immune responses towards organ and cellular transplants might be controlled’ (Koch Platt 2003). References: Aluvihare, V., Kallikourdis, M., and Betz, A. 2004 ‘Tolerance, suppression and the fetal allograft’. Journal of Molecular Medicine. [Online], vol. 83, no. 2, pp 88-96. Available from: Medline. [11 October 2005]. Creasy R. Resnik R. (ed.) 2004. Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 5th edn., Saunders, Philadelphia. Harding, R., Bocking, A., (ed.) 2001. Fetal Growth and Development, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Koch, C. Platt, J. 2003 ‘Natural Mechanisms for evading graft rejection: the fetus as an allograft’, Springer Seminars in Immunopathology, [Online], vol. 25, no. 2, pp 95-117. Available from SpringerLink. [7 October 2005]. Loke, Y., 1978. Immunology and Immunopathology of the Human Fetal-Maternal Interaction, Elsevier Horth-Holland Biomedical Press, New York. Marieb. E., 1998. Human Anatomy and Physiology, 4th edn., Addison Wesley Longman, California. Mellor, A. Munn, D. 2004 ‘Policing pregnancy: Tregs help keep the peace’, Trends in Immunology. [Online], vol. 25, no.11, pp 563-565. Available from: Medline. [10 October 2005]. Mor, G. Abrahams, V. 2003 ‘Potential role of macrophages as immunoregulators of pregnancy’, Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. [Online], vol. 119, no.1. Available from Medline. [11 October 2005]. Quinn, T. (1999), Immunology in Pregnancy; The Fetal Allograft, [Online], SIU Medical Library. Available from: http://www.siumed.edu/lib/ref/ppt/immunpreg/> [20 September 2005]. Seppa, N. 2004 ‘Some T cells may be a fetus’ best friend’, Science News, [Online], vol. 165, no. 8, p125. Available from: Proquest. [11 October 2005]. Warshaw, J. (ed.) 1983, The Biological Basis of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Elsevier Science Publishing Co., New York.

The Complex Character of Amanda in The Glass Menagerie Essay example --

The Complex Character of Amanda in The Glass Menagerie    Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie furnishes an excellent example of a carefully crafted, complex character whose speech and action arise from the "psychological" being created by the playwright. In his character description, Tennessee Williams starts his reader on the road to discovering Amanda's complexity. AMANDA WINGFIELD the mother. A little woman of great but confused vitality clinging frantically to another time and place. Her characterization must be carefully created, not copied from type. She is not paranoiac, but her life is paranoia. There is much to admire in Amanda, and as much to love and pity as there is to laugh at. Certainly she has endurance and a kind of heroism, and though her foolishness makes her unwittingly cruel at times, there is tenderness in her slight person. (Williams 781) â€Å"Before the first lines are spoken Amanda's complexity is established†(Falk 126) by the nuances and contrasts given here. This basic description must be laid over all dialogue and action throughout the play so as to preserve the fullness of Amanda's character at times when only portions of her nature are being exhibited.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The complexity of Amanda's character directly affects her action and dialogue with her children. In her role as mother she exhibits an overwhelming desire to see her children succeed in life. In trying to... ...ding Plays. Boston: Allyn, 1990. 307-314. Bigsby, C.W.E. A Critical Introduction to Twentieth-Century American Drama. Vol. 2. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1984. Falk, Signi. "The Southern Gentlewoman." Modern Critical Interpretations Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie. ed. Harold Bloom. NY: Chelsea House Publishers, 1988. Jackson, Esther Merle. The Broken World of Tennessee Williams. Madison: & of Wisconsin P, 1965. Parker, R.B., ed. Twentieth Century Interpretations of The Glass Menagerie. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice, 1983. Williams, Tennessee. The Glass Menagerie. Masterpieces of the Drama. Ed. Alexander W. Allison, Arthus J. Carr, Arthur M. Eastman. 5th ed. NY: Macmillan, 1986. 779- 814.

Food as a Metaphor for Unexpressed Emotions in Like Water for Chocolate

Food as a Metaphor for Unexpressed Emotions in Like Water for Chocolate  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      An oppressed soul finds means to escape through the preparation of food in the novel, Like Water for Chocolate (1992). Written by Laura Esquivel, the story is set in revolutionary Mexico at the turn of the century. Tita, the young heroine, is living on her family’s ranch with her two older sisters, her overbearing mother, and Nacha, the family cook and Tita’s surrogate mother. At a very young age, Tita is instilled with a deep love for food "for Tita, the joy of living was wrapped up in the delights of food" (7). The sudden death of Tita's father, left Tita's mother's unable to nurse the infant Tita due to shock and grief. Therefore Nacha, "who [knows] everything about cooking" (6) offers to assume the responsibility of feeding and caring for the young Tita. "From that day on, Tita's domain was the kitchen" (7). Throughout the novel, food is used as a constant metaphor for the intense feelings and emotions Tita is forced to conceal. The story begins with Tita passionately in love with Pedro Muzquiz and he with her. "She would never forget the moment their hands accidentally touched as they both slowly bent down to pick up the same tray" (18). Their romance is cursed from the start, however, because of an old family tradition, stating that the youngest daughter must remain unmarried and care for the mother as long as either may live. Pedro, unaware of the tradition, comes to the ranch to ask Tita's mother, Mama Elena, for Tita's hand. Mama Elena tells Tita, "If he intends to ask for your hand, tell him not to bother. Heà ­ll be wasting his time and mine, too. You know perfectly well that being the youngest daughter means you have to take car... ... other," and "[make] mad passionate love wherever they happened to end up" (242). Unlike the first wedding, Tita too is infected with the powerful enchantment of the food. "For the first time in their lives, Tita and Pedro made love freely" (243). The novel ends with both Pedro and Tita, overcome with pleasure and emotion, dying in each other arms. Metaphors are powerful tools often used by authors to communicate a deeper meaning. Metaphors also tend to make the piece more thought provoking, and thus more interesting and intriguing. Laura Esquivel does a marvelous job of using food as a metaphor for unexpressed emotions in the novel Like Water for Chocolate. She takes the aching soul of a young girl and turns it into a cookbook of feelings and emotions cleverly disguised with food. Work Cited Esquivel, Laura. Like Water for Chocolate. Doubleday, 1992.