Msc Reflective Essay Life Long Learning

Promoting Lifelong Learning By Anderson Pustam Promoting Lifelong Learning Introduction Promoting lifelong learning is a very professional term. It really promotes the real meaning of the learning and it also inculcates one most important thing in a learner’s mind that learning is not restricted to the classroom or college. We can learn any time through any means. It can be our professional experience or within voluntary service as well. In my case I have learnt different things during my work within my community team. One of the most important things that I learnt from there was learning through the professional environment and the development of the staff and students. Every social and health care organization continue to rely on various forms of effective management and leadership techniques—such as continuous learning, staff development, task forces, autonomous work groups, quality circles, and multifunctional leadership—to perform critical functions, lifelong learning is increasingly being referred to as the cornerstone of modern health organisation. In my personal opinion the critical role that learning plays in organizations, more attention has been directed toward staff performance effectiveness (Binnie & Titchen 1995, P: 327-334). Personal learning experience Learning from the professional environment is far different from the class room and educational experience. In the case of professional learning we learn skills through direct practical approaches. We can also face real life examples to answer all the complexities and difficulties (Atkins & Murphy 1993, P: 1188-1192). My work within specialist mental health learning disability team really added new edge in my personality it guided me how to work with people, manage their difficulties and how to resolve conflicts. Learning is a never ending process, professional learning provides open platform to keep our mind sharp and help us to make the most out of the service resources. It also improved my competency as a nurse, gave me enough confidence to face challenging situations. It is really a bonanza of earning and it also provided me with feelings of accomplishment (BUSH, & MIDDLEWOOD, 2006, P: 396-398). Real learning Health study is a topic that thinks the huge variety of human experience of physical condition, well-being and illness. What I learnt is healthcare work/ research does so from an extensive diversity of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary viewpoints. It significantly examines health and illness dialogue and seeks to examine proof about health, well-being and illness in a broad variety of contexts and perspectives (College of Occupational Therapists 1997). It thinks neighbourhood, nationwide, European and worldwide issues and may evaluate the knowledge of individuals, groups, neighbourhoods, civilizations and nations. It looks for to put in to this proof through investigation action of many dissimilar kinds. Because of this potentially wide range of the topic, person centred programmes will be different in their exacting concerns and stress (COLEMAN, 2002). Difficulties faced within the Practice Within the community setting we continuously faced the complexities of understanding the varieties of team criteria and referral processes. The lack of operational policies, and rooted ways of working within disciplines across services made it difficult for positive change to occur (Boud D, et al. 1985). As a result the effectiveness of the service collaboration and shared learning was stifled. (DAVIES, & ELLISON, 1997, P: 123-125). At times there were signs of fragmentation between the local authority and health services. The lack of understanding of service ethos would highlight deficits particularly around communication. Recommendations Making a Commitment to Partnership Working Success depends not on the sophistication of our collaborative relationships, buildings and services but on the health of the people we serve. At our service, we have rapidly adopted this viewpoint, transforming our entire relationship with the Primary Care Services and Local Authority. Money alone cannot sustain most community-based services. Outcomes also depend on volunteerism. Programs will survive in the long term if they are sustained by the goodness of the human heart and the willingness of people to contribute not only their skills but their time (DUIGMAN, & MACPHERSON, 1992, P: 259-259). The implementation of team managers attending services meeting within the CTPLD services as well as the mental health service to aide communication was acknowledged. It was recommended that all new staff should have a thorough induction and spend time with the individual teams within the wider service to have a in-depth understanding of what each service provides across the service tiers. Evaluation Programs We convened an Operational Management Group that met regularly over the last year. Although we intended to adopt a collaborative leadership style, the task force, my staff and I were all veterans with LD services and we did not easily embrace the experience of collaboration with the other services within learning disability primary care services. The process was new to all and lacked clear aims and objectives. My own lack of patience stands out in my memory (DYER, 1995, P: 189-195). Conclusion After my over all practise and learning the results pinpointed some serious concerns. Social service professionals in particular told us that the less fortunate see the healthcare system as unresponsive, impersonal, and out of reach. Rather than placing importance on the technical quality and breadth of our services, as we might have thought, they expressed an urgent need for specialist services. The community doesn't need any new services, they said; what it needs is access to what already exists. This assessment was troubling but useful; propelling us to shift our process to what the community needs and wants. References Atkins S and Murphy K (1993): Reflection: a review of the literature. Journal of Advanced Nursing 18, 1188-1192. Binnie A and Titchen A (1995): The art of clinical supervision. British Journal of Nursing 4, 327-334. Boud D, Keogh R and Walker D (1985): Reflection: turning experience into learning. Kogan Page, London. Burns S and Bulman C (2000): Reflective practice in nursing. Blackwell Science, Oxford. BUSH, T & MIDDLEWOOD, D. (2006) Leading and Managing People in Education. Sage Publications. P: 396-398 COLEMAN, M. 2002) Researching Educational Leadership and Management. London: Paul Chapman Publishing. College of Occupational Therapists (1997): Statement on supervision in occupational therapy. London: COT. DAVIES, B and ELLISON, L. (1997) School Leadership for the 21st Century. Routledge P: 123-125 DUIGMAN, P. A and MACPHERSON, R. J. S. (EDS) (1992) Educative Leadership: Practicl Theory for Educational Administrators and Managers. Falmer Press. P: 259-259 DYER, W. G. (1 995) Team building: current issues and new alternatives. London: Addison-Wesley. P: 189-195M

King of the castle tension

â€Å"I'm the King of the Castle†: Literature Coursework Investigate the ways in which Susan Hill uses language to create tension and a sense of foreboding in â€Å"I'm the King of the Castle† Susan Hill implements several writing techniques to create tension in the novel. Tension in this sense simply means mental strain or excitement in the readers. One of the techniques used is shown when she uses a third-person narration to narrate the story. This narrator is omniscient and implies that he/ she is not one of the characters in the novel, and yet at the same time knows everything that is running through the characters' minds.Hill uses this technique to bring the readers on a journey of moving freely in time and space to allow them to know what any character is doing or thinking at any one point of time. This is only possible because the narrator is not a character in the novel and is allowed to be anywhere, anytime. Susan Hill uses many different techniques to put a po int across, the most important being her use of imagery. However her writing also has many other qualities such as good structure and her ability to think like her characters.In addition she manages to build up tension and uses different ways of emphasising words or phrases. All of hese factors contribute to her unique evocative style and add to her reputation of being a very talented writer. In chapter eleven, she describes vividly how Kingshaw feels sick with fright when Hooper locks him in the shed. â€Å"He retched, and then began to vomit, all over the sacks, the sick coming down his nose and choking him. It tasted bitter. He bent forwards, holding his stomach. When it finished he wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his shirt.He was shivering again. † This passage is an example of her excellent use of imagery. She conjures up a picture of the scene as well as expressing Kingshaw's fears and senses in an evocative style y using a scene that we can all relate to and understan d. An example of Susan Hill's good structure is at the very beginning of the novel, when Hooper and Kingshaw first meet, Hooper sends Kingshaw a note saying ‘l didn't want you to come here'. This sets up the story line from the beginning, leading us to expect events to come.Then at the very end of the novel before Kingshaw commits suicide, Hopper sends him a final note saying ‘ Something will happen to you Kingshaw'. She shows the ability to be able to think like a child, which adds to the overall affect of the book because the main character is Kingshaw who is a child. This process of her thoughts gives us a wider understanding of Kingshaw's character and his One of them is her use of childish language and grammar. â€Å"Now, he thought, I know what Hooper is really like. He's a baby. And stupid. And a bully. Notice in this particular phrase that she uses childish words like baby, stupid and bully. The use of short abrupt sentences emphasise the words and adds to the c hildish theme, because it is grammatically incorrect to start a sentence with a conjunction, which is what a child may do). Another form of her childish thinking is how she shows an understanding of hildren's fears and their reactions. An example of this is Kingshaw's fear of moths. † ‘There are a lot of moths,' Hooper said softly, ‘ there always are, in woods. Pretty big ones, as well. ‘ Kingshaw's stomach clenched.In his nostrils, he could smell the mustiness of the Red Room. † This passage shows how Hooper taunts Kingshaw with his fear (childishly). She shows Kingshaw's reaction to his fear by saying his stomach clenched. She then continues with his memory of the Red Room, where he had been scared by the death moths, using her evocative style to describe how he associates moths with the musty mell of the Red Room. She uses the example of moths throughout the book, along with Kingshaw's other fears such as birds. To keep the reader alert Susan Hill te nded to change from one scene to another very abruptly.A Classic example is in chapter sixteen, when every one was in the Breakfast room on the day of Mrs. Helena Kingshaw and Mr. Hooper's wedding announcement. Suddenly the scene changes to them being in a muddy field. This can be quite confusing for the reader but it does keep them alert. It was also in this scene where Susan Hill showed her ability to build up tension. This was done by Kingshaw expressing his fears about something that we do not know about, and Mrs. Helena Kingshaw talking about how he was scared by this thing when he was little.As the passage continues the writer gives us a clue that the unknown fear is of a certain place and finally (after a page of writing) she tells us that the place in question is a circus. Susan Hill uses many different techniques to build up an atmosphere. In my opinion the most effective atmosphere that she created was in chapters twelve and thirteen, when Hooper falls off the castle wall. When Kingshaw reaches the top of the castle (without Hooper) he feels a sense of ower. He shouts out understand how Kingshaw really does feel King, she repeats the phrase ‘l am the King' thrice.He felt so powerful that he thought he could kill Hooper. When Kingshaw is in a rage with Hopper, telling him to come down, he swears at him, this shocks the reader, as he is only a child. When Hooper is falling off the castle wall Kingshaw commands ‘TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THE WALL, HOOPER. ‘ The use of capital letter creates the effect that what he is saying is important. When Hooper falls and is carried off on a stretcher, thunder rumbles in the back ground which gives the ironic ffect that it is not going to be a good thing for Kingshaw.Kingshaw is then made to get down from the castle, which can be classed as an example of his life. Every time he reaches the top he is always forced to go back down which is, once again, ironic. The whole book gives an immense sense of tensi on to the reader. The atmosphere is one of suspense and danger. The overall use of abrupt, simple dialogue accentuates the feeling of incoming peril. Susan Hill writes the novel in a way which causes the reader to constantly be alert, and to expect the sinister and foreboding to occur. Arsalan Abdullah

Hcs 325

Week – 3 Importance of Teams Murugareddy Pattiputtur University of Phoenix HCS/325 Dawn Sienkiewicz November 10, 2012 Abstract Teams are formed when individuals with a common taste, preference, liking, and attitude come and work together for a common goal. Teams play a very important role in organizations as well as our personal lives. Teamwork is essential for competing in today's global arena, where individual perfection is not as desirable as a high level of collective performance.In knowledge based enterprises, teams are the norm rather than the exception. A critical feature of these teams is that they have a significant degree of empowerment, or decision-making authority. There are many different kinds of teams: top management teams, focused task forces, self-directed teams, concurrent engineering teams, product/service development and/or launch teams, quality improvement teams, and so on. Importance of Teams Introduction: â€Å"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping to gether is progress.Working together is success-Henry Ford† The above proverb by Henry Ford highlights the importance of working together in teams. Team work is very essential as every employee will be dependent on his fellow employees to work together and contribute efficiently to the organization. No employee can work alone; he has to take the help of his colleagues to accomplish the tasks efficiently. It has been observed that the outcome comes out to be far better when employees work in a team rather than individually as every individual can contribute in his best possible way.In organizations, individuals having a similar interest and specializations come together on a common platform and form a team. Teamwork is essential in the provision of healthcare. The division of labor among medical, nursing and allied health practitioners means that no single professional can deliver a complete episode of healthcare. In healthcare, where patient outcomes are dependent on effective interdisciplinary teamwork, there is need for better preparation of health professionals in teamwork.To improve the efficiency and customer service in my department, I would first identify and define the problem; secondly I would try generating and evaluating alternate and possible courses of action to understand in which areas they would need help on, thirdly based on a situation choosing a preferred and a relevant solution will be given, fourthly the solution will be implemented and finally to evaluate the results to see the outcomes.Teams are essential to health care because it has been suggested that â€Å"each team member's abilities, skills experience, attitudes, values, role perceptions and personality – all the things that make a person unique and they also determine what they are willing and able to contribute, their level of motivation, methods of interaction with other group members and degree of acceptance of group norms and the organization's goals†Teamwor k is important in industries like aviation to ensure flights land safely, the military uses it to protect the country, finance professionals need to practice it to keep the nation’s economy running smoothly, the auto racing unit teamwork is essential to change all 4 tires by a team. Overall, in any industry that requires reliable human performance, teamwork is a necessity. Lessons from other industries in healthcare: Teamwork in industries like aviation, healthcare, military and other industries is extremely important and crucial as reliability of human erformance is needed. It is important because the consequences of an error is very severe in those industries. A major chunk of errors is because of communication and teamwork problems. Teamwork is not only effective at saving lives but also to ensure the organization does well and is competitive , if not you lose the competitive edge overtime and eventually disappear from the market. Planning is an important organization proc ess required for problem solving. Successful managing requires thorough planning.Planning is the process of deciding exactly what you, your team, or your department wants to accomplish and how to best go about meeting your goals. Planning is the foundation on which all other managerial responsibilities rest. Health care organizations face pressures and challenges from many sources, all of which increase the importance of good planning. In today’s ever-changing work environment, good planning offers a number of benefits and advantages for your employees, your teammates, and even your own career.The 5 steps to planning which supports problem solving are: Step 1: Identify and define the problem – Problem symptoms usually signal the presence of a performance deficiency or opportunity. During this step, it’s important to assess the situation properly by looking beyond symptoms to find out what is really happening. Step 2: Generate and evaluate possible courses of act ion – At this stage, Involving others during this planning stage is critical in order to develop a range of solutions, get the most out of available information, and build future commitment for the plan.Step 3: Choose a preferred solution – At this stage, its important to make a decision and select a particular course of action. Exactly how you make a decision and who may need to weigh in on the decision varies for each planning situation Step 4: Implement the solution – At this stage, it’s important to establish and implement appropriate actions to meet your final goal. This is the stage at which you finally set directions and initiate problem-solving actions. Step 5: Evaluate results – And finally at this stage, it’s necessary to compare the accomplishments with the original objectives.If the desired results are not achieved, the process must be reviewed and renewed to allow for corrective actions References Lombardi, D. N. , & Schermerhor n, J. R. (2007). Health care management: Tools and techniques for managing in a health care environment. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Farrington, J. (2008). The importance of working together with your team. Retrieved from http://www. projectsmart. co. uk/the-importance-of-working-together-with-your-team. html Kotelnikov, V. (2010, November 22). Team building & teamwork. Retrieved from http://www. 000ventures. com/business_guide/crosscuttings/team_main. html Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology, Inc (2012) Retrieved from http://www. siop. org/Media/News/teamwork. aspx Salas E, Rozell, Drew, Mullen B, Driskell JE (1999). The effect of team building on performance: an integration. Small Group Research.. Knight D, Durham CC, Locke EA (2001)- The relationship of team goals, incentives, and efficacy to strategic risk, tactical implementation and performance. Academy of Management Journal. *************************

The effect of rising gas prices on your compan Essay

The effect of rising gas prices on your compan - Essay Example The following discussion will provide a detailed insight towards this issue. As a manager at this delivery service, it is my responsibility to provide the management with future projections about gas prices and to forecast and project gas prices in another 10 years. These steps are of utmost importance. The basic idea behind this discussion is to help the senior management plan everything on long term basis. No company today can survive without extensive consumption of fuel (Magnuson, 2008). This is especially true for the delivery service industry. The competitive edge lies precisely in the fact that the company must deliver all the good on time, every time. Thus it is of utmost importance to the company to be sure about their future gas fuel requirement and the costs associated with it. Gas prices over the last 20 years: The data used for this research is in fact Consumer Price Index - Average Price Data. The prices of Gasoline, unleaded regular, per gallon/3.785 liters from the year 1982 to 2011 have been studied. While studying this data, a lot of statistical techniques and tools have been applied on this set of data. First of all, the data is available in monthly figures. Though monthly figures give us a clear picture of how the prices vary over time, the projections cannot be created without calculating the annual data. The annual mean or average price has been calculated by adding all the monthly figures for any year and divide the sum by 12 to get the average annual figure.

Discussions questions Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussions questions - Article Example se come together within a particular use situation and in this case can be considered to be the services offered by the south west airline to its users in form of travels to various destinations. The growth of customer value thinking has impacted successful marketing practice as globalization is evident in all product categories today. The essence of customer value has become a mandate for management, not with- standing the airline industry and hence focuses on service, quality, image and price. On the other hand, organizations have developed the culture of fun and humour in relating to customers as well as their employees with the aim of improving performance. In the airline industry, humour can be used to make the customers feel comfortable in airlines as well as set the right mood for the travel. Airlines can make fun of the passengers, the crew as well as the environment in getting to drive a point when flying. Simple sense of humour in petty issues such as giving directions for wearing a safety belt, actions to take in case of an emergency as well as efforts to make the customers deviate from habits not allowed in the plane such as smoking would make an airline unique in a differentiating it from other airlines. Such sense of humour could also come in handy in cases of turbulence and help calm down the passengers in making them concentrate on their safety. An example of making humour in an airline travel could letting the passengers know that if they wished to smoke, the smoking section is available on the wing where they can light ‘me and smoke ‘me. Humour would make the airline unique and in a good way differentiated from the other airlines as passengers would appreciate the effort from the cabin crew in assisting them emotionally in times of a long travel, (Robinette, Brand, & Lenz, 2001). In the case of other companies such as broadcasting agencies, the use of radio clowns can make the shows lively and humourous. This will attract more listeners as

Why I wish to attend Virginia Commonwealth University Essay

Why I wish to attend Virginia Commonwealth University - Essay Example When it comes to quality of education offered at VCU, I think there is nothing to worry about. It's a world class university, and I know my certificates will be recognized and respected wherever I find myself across this world. For that reason, I feel that is the right place for me to study. I developed this interest after a summer visit to the campus and consultations with other students who had graduated from this university. They students gave me an insight of what life in this university is really like. And I liked it. The security standard in this school, as well as its proximity to my home is all an added advantage. Emergency telephones across the campus give me a sense of security. It's difficult to study in an insecure environment. I wish to make a name for my self and I am convinced that Virginia Commonwealth University will help me achieve this dream. The university's international student population would also give me the privilege to study in a culturally diverse environment. That means I will study about the cultures of different peoples without having to travel out of this country. After talking to a representative who came to my school to inform me about VCU, my intentions were clear and I 'm ready to attend VCU. He clearly brought out the advantages of studying at VCU compared with the other universities. They were just enormous. And the difference was absolutely clear. I just saw my dream university in VCU.

Citizens and globalization Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Citizens and globalization - Term Paper Example Globalization can also be said to be as the intensification of the worldwide social activities which has been linked to economic and social activities of the economies (MacGillivray, 2006). The goal of globalization is to provide business world an utmost competitive advantage while having low operating cost to gain worldwide consumers, goods and services. Globalisation uses the diversification phenomenon for the use of resources. It is a strategy that provides a long range of products and services. It enables businesses to compete worldwide by diversification because it includes risk reduction in international trade. It promotes economic growth and performance for a nation. Looking at these factors it can be said that the people around the world do not resist globalisation. It is not a new factor even it has an economic roots i.e. international trade, finance, migration and ideology. The people as the members of the society as the consumers should behave positively with respect to globalization as this gives them the advantage to have a varity of goods and services from around the world (Ilmberger & Robinson, 2002). Globalization also involves innovation due to the commercialization of national technology across international boundaries that is high tech products (includes all electronic, electrical products etc.), all this helps consumers to have better goods and services and take the advantage of technology which is not available locally. Globalisation boosts international travel and tourism indirectly due to the international business. Immigration between countries, formation of free trade zones, growth of cross cultural contacts, enhancement in worldwide culture etc. is increasing due to the globalisation. This is leading to the improvement in the cultural and business practices of the nations and developing people and their business. As the consumer the people are getting advantage of getting different products and services which they have

History (Fifteen Year War) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History (Fifteen Year War) - Essay Example In the context of the Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific World War, collectively known as the Fifteen Years War, the reasons for its successes in not spawning staunch resistance from East Asia proved to be the same reasons in the demise of the promise of liberation and ultimately, the Japanese occupation. The annexing of Korea and Manchuria provided momentum for Japan to strengthen its military and industrialize its economy. In the 1940s, Second World War in the Pacific broke out, initially won by the Japanese, and the commissioning of its message of liberation. The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (GEACPS) was proposed to consolidate the socio-economic interests of the Japanese empire and newly-conquered Asian states (including Australia Pacific islands) in order to achieve its promulgated objective of liberating Greater East Asia from Western imperialismii. The Japanese invasion was fast and deadly, taking only a few months from the Pearl Harbor incident. It would not be as rapid, however, if the Asian states have bitterly fought the Japanese. In 1937, Japanese forces were intercepted by Chinese forces on their way to Nanking. The delay angered the Japanese, so when they finally reached the Kuomintang capital, the Japanese mercilessly destroyed the city, killing, torturing and beheading some 30,000 citizensiii. Through the stories of the unharmed European and American nationals, the Rape of Nanking was known, reminding Asians of the severe consequences of mounting a resistance to Japanese occupation. Likewise, surrendering to the Japanese would propel the economic development of the region. Such was the case after the capture of Manchuria, despite the underhanded bombing of Mukdeniv, incited by the Japanese themselves. Over a short span of time, the utilization of Chinese resources for Japanese superior knowledge and technical ability, transformed Manchuria to become an urbanized industrial complex. Such

The integration of the philosophical foundations of human rights Thesis

The integration of the philosophical foundations of human rights - Thesis Example Since the traditional period, the practical or rather the political arguments with regards to human rights have been provided with due concern, apparently more than the philosophist or the theoretical explanations. One such significance behind providing comparatively lesser significance towards philosophical explanations concerning human rights can be identified as the complex presentation of the related theories. Since the philosophist have presented the theories related to human rights in multi-dimensional perspectives, it becomes quite difficult to apply its assumptions critically linking with the practical or political arguments. Thus, effort needs to be made in order to minimise the complexities in the philosophical views of human rights with the intention to reduce challenge in terms of implementation (Freeman, â€Å"The Philosophical Foundation of Human Rights†). There must be integration between the theoretical views as well as the practical views in order to gain a comprehensive perspective related to human rights However, this integration can prove to be highly complicated in order to present a comprehensive explanation of the conception from both the perspective of political and philosophical. It is in this context that the activists who are under pressure to rescue individual from impending injustice tends to pay low priority towards the theoretical views rendering comparatively greater emphasis towards philosophist theories when weighed against the notion presented by politicians to emphasise over practical arguments proportionately by a large extent. However, those approaching the philosophers, for developing an in depth understanding of the theoretical perspective regarding human rights, might be disappointed owing to the fact that theoretical or philosophical arguments are uncertain (Freeman, â€Å"The Philosophical Foundation of H uman Rights†). The

People resourcing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

People resourcing - Essay Example These changes offer organizations opportunities and challenges for success in equal measure. These conditions cause the change the nature of human resource planning. Success in the current dynamic market requires companies to improve performance. Improvement includes reducing costs, improving quality, innovativeness, creativity, and speed aimed at productivity. These duties rest on people who make up the organization because they make both long-term and short term organizational solutions. Human resources encompass most important resources in any organization that operates with the aim of achieving success (Wernerfelt 1984, 19). A volatile business environment means that the management of business organizations must comprehend that primary means of gaining competitive advantage have changed. The business world has seen various companies collapse in the economic recession that is slowly being managed. Companies hit by the recession range from world leading insurance, manufacturing, an d processing companies. National governments across the world had to salvage some the companies to save them from imminent collapse. The environment saw other companies close their operations in some parts of the world to minimise expenditure. The economic downturn did not spare national economies with Greece’s economically crumbling. The European Union is struggling to help the country resuscitate its economy. Italy is also struggling. Human resource planning must be used to develop new strategies that will help the company remain competitive in the market. Human resource planning helps the company to consider issues that enable gaining of competitive advantage. The management of companies should recognize that usual sources of success are still reliable but human resource planning enhances sustainability of success. Usual mechanisms that lead to success include economies of scale, production technology that covers both process and product, and protected markets. The input b y success factors offers competitive advantage. Human resources appear at the top of the ladder in the management hierarchy of organizations. This illustrates their importance in the running of business companies. Human resources management conducts job analysis processes before recruiting qualified employees with appropriate skills for specific jobs. It also enhances commitment of employees and makes sure that the company retains the best by taking care of their welfare (Lado 1994, 31). When the human resource department does this, it motivates employees because it takes care of the needs of the workforce. A business organization enjoys a competitive advantage by creating value for its clients. The organization must focus on product and service differentiation. It is important that the company give services and products that are unique. To do this, human resources must single out different markets and treat them as individuals. The concentration should be on particular market segme nts or groups and make sure that the products and services they receive are effective and more efficient than those provided by competitors are in the same market (Wright 2007, 56). In the process of achieving competitive advantage, human resources take a three-pronged approach including cost leadership,

Fundamentals of Strategic Planning in Complex Organizations Essay - 1

Fundamentals of Strategic Planning in Complex Organizations - Essay Example One of the strategic trends observed in the health care environment is the persistent bid to make healthcare services more affordable, and subsequently enhance universal coverage. This trend is consistent with the social, economic, and political goal of improving the social welfare of the disadvantaged population. Another strategic trend relates to increased number of public and private health care operators. The motive is to implement strategic plans that make it possible for health care organizations to take their services closer to the people. Over and above this, regulation of health care organizations, health care financiers, and all other relevant parties involved by the government constitute a critical strategic trend in health care markets (Harrison, 2010). This move is valid in the sense that the end-user or the consumer remains protected from exploitation as the health care environment grows and expands. While health care organizations have been quick to identify emerging opportunities in the health sector, most of them do not utilize their full potential. In other words, operational inefficiency has not been fully accounted for. Health care organizations need to focus on short term and long term strategic plans as they evaluate their performance from time to time. This would help them align their operations in such a way that allows for change, without necessarily increasing operational

Global Change Essay Example for Free

Global Change Essay The concept of civil society was reinvented in the late 1980s in response to the rapid market development and the end of the Cold War. The collapse of the Soviet Union marked the rapid development of global market due to higher international security. Market development gradually leads to the development of civil society for two reasons: Firstly, the middle class helps to fight more freedom from the government as they want to gain more and more control of themselves. This situation, allows spaces for civil society to develop. Some donors search for NGOs to implement their civic or economic related interests and visions. 1 Secondly, the retreat of the â€Å"welfare† states in western countries further triggers the emergence of civil society as people want to address the problem themselves instead of solely depending on the invisible hand of the free market. Hong Kong, which is recognized as a newly industrialized economy (NIE) has adopted the minimal-interventionist principle in economic development for a long Low tax rate and free market policies are the priorities of the Hong Kong government. Civil society is said to be very important in the implementation of democracy as civil society is a representation of diverse interests of the people. In the planning system of Hong Kong, though the government was willing to involve more public participation in the process with the increasing force of democratization between 1990 and 1997, the role of civil society in planning policy formulation and implementation was not yet clear. According to the experiences of some UK cities, partnership between civil society and the local governments can facilitate sustainable development. It is yet to know whether such kind of partnership is possible in Hong Kong or not. So the aim of this paper is to find out the challenges and opportunities of mobilizing partnership between the government and civil society. Aims of the study This paper aims to explore the challenges and opportunities in fostering partnership between civil society and the government in the planning system of Hong Kong. This paper is based on the central argument that civil society organizations (â€Å"CSOs†) should play significant role in the planning system to explore the challenges and opportunities. It is argued that CSOs are important for promoting more effective idea in the policy planning in terms of reflecting the needs of the locals as well as the moral values neglected by both market and the government. It is believed that the challenges and opportunities are not that straightforward to be understood as they should involve a lot of other factors. These factors are to be examined in order to provide a clearer picture for the analysis. Structure of the paper This study is composed of six sections:- Session I begins with an introduction. It states the purpose of this paper and the content structure. Section II is the theoretical framework established for understanding the theoretical meaning of civil society and the importance of partnership between the government and the CSOs. Section III is the background about development of citizenship in Hong Kong. It is found that the civil society in Hong Kong is becoming mature. Section IV discusses on the six major factors contributing to the challenges in the relationship between the government and the civil society. Section V seeks to study real-life cases to further strengthen the argument that CSOs should play significant role in the planning system. Section VI, the final section of this paper. It summarizes all the key issues discussed in this paper and highlights the importance of the role of CSOs in planning system.   Defining â€Å"Civil Society† The definitions and meaning of civil society in different mainstream theories are explored and outlined in Appendix 1. The interpretation of civil society by Aristotle is now widely recognized as autonomy, not under direct state control. It emphasized on the formation of government based on voluntary willingness of people and universal election in order to guarantee sovereignty of citizens (for Locke) and the freedom of civil society (for Rousseau). The existing political system in Hong Kong is different as the HKSAR government is not directly elected by the citizens. Hong Kong people can only elect some of the legislative councilors, who act as delegates to deal with legislative issues; and district councilors, who are serving as advisors of the government. The sovereignty is just partly in the hand of Hong Kong people. In fact, the situation of Hong Kong is closer to the idea of Hegel that civil society and family together form the state. Civil society is actually functioning as a partly autonomy body under the government of Hong Kong. However, civil society should perform a more active role in the system in order to balance the power of the state and the market for the benefit of the public. So Friedmanns definition of civil society will be applied to support the empowerment of civil society. Civil society, as an association of individual interests, should grow up to balance the power of the state. His definition also separates the concept of market from civil society, which is applicable in the situation of Hong Kong. Friedmann(1998) states that civil society must be seen as standing in â€Å"opposition† to the corporate economy. The relationship of civil society and the market should not be neglected when we understand the relationship of the government and the civil society. 2 To sum up, the combination of Friedmanns and Hegel’s definition of civil society is applied in this paper. Civil society is defined as a sphere without direct state control, but is not totally separated from the state. The participation in civil society is based on voluntary willingness and it is actually an association of various individual interests. It is different from the concepts of corporate economy and family, but they are related to some extent. Civil society may not necessarily oppose to the corporate economy, but they may interplay to produce good results. Civil society should be empowered to balance the power of the government and market.

The Kalabagh Dam Consequences

The Kalabagh Dam Consequences The Kalabagh dam is controversial for many reasons. A key reason has to do with the decision making process, which is highly centralized, politically coercive, and technically flawed. Regrettably, when the need is for broad-based stakeholder consultations, the existing trend is towards even greater centralization. For instance, the rotating chairmanship of the Indus River System Authority has recently been converted into a permanent appointment, provincial resolutions against Kalabagh have been given short shrift, the Council of Common Interests (CCI) has consistently ignored the matter and community concerns continue to be met with blatant disregard. Small wonder then that the political leadership in the smaller provinces and civil society are up in arms against Kalabagh. In this essay, we critically examine four contested aspects of the Kalabagh dam. These relate to: water availability; environmental impacts; food and energy; and technical and financial feasibility. The work of colleagues is gratefully acknowledged. Water availability is an over riding concern. Is surplus water available to justify the Kalabagh project? WAPDA itself the generic source has sown confusion on this issue. It cites two average flow figures: 123 MAF (million acre-feet) and 143 MAF. The first calculation is based on a 64-year period (1922-1996) and includes both wet and dry cycles. The second estimate is based on a much shorter and wet cycle period of 22 years (1977-1994). Since the total requirement (inclusive of the additional allocation of 12 MAF under the 1991 Water Accord), is calculated at 143 MAF, there is a clear short fall of 20 MAF if we use the first estimate. This means Kalabagh may remain dry every 4 out of 5 years. Even the higher flow figure (143 MAF) overlooks certain factors. The first of these is system (evaporation and seepage) losses. If such losses increased from 6.2 MAF post Mangla to 14.7 MAF post-Tarbela, presumably, they will be even higher post-Kalabagh. This would have adverse implications for inter-provincial water distribution. New irrigation infrastructure appears untenable in view of these losses, since the increased upstream off-takes would be at the expense of downstream flows. This concern is also ignored when presenting Kalabagh as a replacement for Tarbela. Tarbela is projected to lose 5.3 MAF of its storage capacity by the year 2010. Since Kalabagh would, essentially, be replacing this loss, the Right and Left Bank canals would divert even more of Sindhs allocations than they presently are. In addition, illegal off-takes would also tend to be exacerbated. Consider now the environmental implications of constructing yet another large dam on the Indus River ecosystem. A catalogue of existing degradation provides the context for future environmental impacts of dams like Kalabagh. Degradation of the Indus delta ecosystem, as a result of reduced water outflows, is already a highly visible phenomenon. The present level of silt discharge, estimated at 100 million tons per year, is a four-fold reduction from the original level before large dams were constructed on the River Indus. The combination of salt-water intrusion (some reports show this as 30 km inland), and reduced silt and nutrient flows has changed the character of the delta considerably. The area of active growth of the delta has reduced from an original estimate of 2,600 sq. km (growing at 34 meters per year) to about 260 sq. km. The consequent ravages to the ecosystem have been exceptionally severe, in particular to the mangroves, which are its mainstay. They sustain its fisheries, act as natural barriers against sea and storm surges, keep bank erosion in check and are a source of fuel wood, timber, fodder and forest products, a refuge for wildlife and a potential source of tourism. Without mangroves and the nutrients they recycle and the protection they provide, other components of the ecosystem would not survive. The direct and indirect benefits of mangroves are enormous. In 1988, Pakistan earned Rs.2.24 billion from fish exports, of which shrimps and prawns constituted 72%. Additional income is generated from fuelwood, fodder and forest products was another Rs.100/- million. Not only is this revenue at risk from mangrove loss, but the physical infrastructure required to replace the natural protection provided by the mangroves (dykes, walls) would entail enormously high capital and maintenance costs. The health of mangroves is directly linked to fresh water inflows. Releases below Kotri barrage in most years and excluding floods average 10 MAF. Of this, little or none actually reaches the mangroves. The rest is lost due to evaporation or diversions. According to the Sindh Forestry Department, about 27 MAF is required to maintain the existing 260,000 ha. of mangroves in reasonably healthy condition. This is 27 MAF more than currently available, a situation which has contributed to ecosystem instability and mangrove loss. Within the framework of the Indus Water Accord, an additional 12 MAF would be diverted for upstream dam construction including Kalabagh. This would reduce existing sub-optimal flows further and aggravate an already critical situation. A community of about 100,000 people, residing on the northern side of the Indus Delta, depends on the mangroves for their livelihood. The prevailing view is that being under privileged, such communities are prone to degrade their environment. However, it is difficult to fathom why poor communities should endanger the very basis of their existence. The more likely explanation is that community practices have not changed, but they appear unsustainable because the resource base has begun to degrade. Communities are more often the victims than the agents of such degradation are. The real culprits are water diversion; biological and chemical water contamination and large-scale commercial practices, compounded both by institutional ignorance and complicity in such practices. Mangrove loss is only one among the many manifestations of biodiversity deficits emerging along the entire length of the Indus River ecosystem. The ecosystem has been severely fragmented over time by its extensive network of dams, canals and barrages, resulting in threats to a variety of species and organisms, the most notable among them being the Indus dolphin and the palla fish. Both can be classified as indicator species, as their impending loss represents the loss of a way of life, characterized by interdependence between communities and their environment. Another myth firmly embedded in the minds of our planners is that large dams are the perfect flood prevention devices. The evidence for Pakistan shows otherwise; that its large dams not withstanding, there has been no reduction in the incidence and intensity of floods nor in the associated losses in lives, crops, livestock and infrastructure. There is no seeming pattern to the floods other than the fact that they could have coincided with wet cycles. In actual fact, the severity of flood impacts appears to have increased after the two major dams, Tarbela and Mangla, were constructed. In actual fact, the shrinking of the riverbeds due to water diversions reduces their absorptive capacity and hence enhances the danger of flooding. River ecosystems have a natural capacity to deal with floods and these natural processes provide many benefits. Flood plains, wetlands, backwaters are commonly referred to as natures sponges; they absorb and purify excess water as a hedge against lean periods. They act as spawning grounds for fish and wildfowl. The floods themselves replenish agricultural soils. Communities living around these areas adapt to this natural rhythm and use its bounty to ensure reliable and sustainable livelihoods. It has also been pointed out that dams dont prevent floods, they merely create flood threat transfer mechanisms. The solution is to work with communities, rely on their knowledge and to supplement their flood mitigation and coping strategies. Two of the most commonly cited arguments in favor of large dams relate to food security and energy. Such arguments have become increasingly compelling in the light of perceived threats to food security and the recent furor surrounding the private power projects. We examine both of these arguments in turn. Additional water from Kalabagh can enhance crop production in three ways: by irrigating new land; by enhancing cropping intensity on existing land; or through yield enhancement. The first option appears tenuous. It is claimed that Kalabagh will irrigate close to an additional million hectares of barren land, and bring Pakistan closer to wheat self-sufficiency. However, the reports of the National Commission on Agriculture and the National Conservation Strategy suggest otherwise. They indicate that available cultivable land is almost fully utilized, leaving little scope for extensive cultivation. Between 1952 and 1977, about 80% of the increase in total cropped area was due to the cu ltivation of new land. Since then, this proportion has fallen dramatically, with double cropping accounting for the bulk of the increase. The reports suggest that in addition to the water constraint a very tangible land constraint exists as well. Crop production can also be increased through cropping intensity increases or crop yield enhancements. Both are water dependent and establish an a priori justification for Kalabagh. The NCS report states that at present 12.2 million hectares of land are available for double cropping while only 4.4 million hectares are being double cropped clearly water is the constraining factor. With respect to yield enhancements, water is again required in large quantities by the high yielding seed varieties (wheat, cotton, rice, maize) and for its synergetic effects upon chemical inputs. However, a critical choice needs to be made here. Does one opt for additional water, or can the same results be achieved through improved water use efficiency? Higher water retention in the system risks aggravating an already massive problem of water logging and salinity. In fact, the controversial and exorbitantly expensive ($780 million), 25-year National Drainage Plan project has been launched to mitigate its impacts. Kalabagh is bound to add to the problem, not only in its immediate environs but also where new irrigation infrastructure is to be situated. A clearly preferred choice is to use existing water more efficiently, and to focus on the necessary institutional changes for its equitable distribution. Some of the proposed measures are canal and watercourse rehabilitation, land leveling, improved on-farm water management and, at the policy level, switching demand based management while protecting the needs of the poor small farmers. These are clearly win-win solutions as they are relatively low cost, efficient, equitable and environmentally friendly. After the recent commotion over private power, the government began to hype up Kalabagh as an alternative source of cheap and clean energy. In the process, it switched adroitly from its earlier position that energy demand had been overstated, to one where it now posits a deficiency in supply. However, the cheap energy argument is becoming increasingly untenable both financially and technically. Donors such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are unlikely to provide concessional funding for Kalabagh. This reflects their commitment to the thermal based private power projects, as well as the censure they have faced for getting embroiled in projects with major environmental and resettlement costs. And even if concessional funding was available, it is still not clear that hydel unit costs would be lower than thermal, once these costs are factored in. At this point, the whole debate appears to be moot since the government is scampering for funds to keep the economy afloat against the backdrop of sanctions. Even so, renewed policy statements suggest there is a resolve to proceed when the situation permits. Apart from the political compulsions, there is an inertial aspect to this decision as well. Institutional and financial paralysis inhibits the scope for energy conservation, efficiency improvements and diversification. The options have been identified often enough: on the supply side these are reduction of transmission and distribution (TD) losses and renewable energy development technologies (solar, wind, biomass). On the demand side, both technical and economic options exist for energy conservation. While these have been employed to some extent (tariff increases, energy efficient lighting), the efforts are a far cry from the kind of sustained initiatives launched in some South Asian countries, such as Thailand, where revamped e nergy supply systems are part of a larger network, with linkages to RD, the private sector and trade facilities. The title of a study Tarbela Dam Sedimentation Management, carried out by TAMS-Wallingford (March 1998) is self-explanatory. It shows that a de-silted Tarbela would yield the same irrigation benefits as Kalabagh, but at one-seventh the cost in net present value terms. The study states that, replacement of [irrigation and energy] benefits by constructing a new dam and reservoir down stream is feasible, but will be expensive, environmentally damaging and socially harmful. An alternative option cited is the construction of new outlets at the Tarbela Dam that will enable sediment to be flushed from the reservoir. The proposed Tarbela Action Plan is based on computer simulations of sediment flows. These simulations were designed to determine whether flushing was technically feasible and could be used to enhance long run storage capacity and to predict future sedimentation. Based on these simulations, a three phased action plan was proposed. The implementation of this plan would ensure long term and sustainable storage with only a small annual reduction in capacity. The estimated increase in retention at 6 MAF is exactly what the Kalabagh reservoir is designed to hold. Our conclusion is that the burden of proof is on those who advocate building the Kalabagh Dam. Our findings show that it is not economically, socially or environmentally viable. Also, the proposed benefits are based on faulty or misunderstood premises and, in any case, there exist in each case more viable and cost effective alternatives.

Functionalism and Machine Aesthetic of Modern Architecture

Functionalism and Machine Aesthetic of Modern Architecture Functionalism in Architecture was a movement during the late 19th century and early 20th century was a product of one American architect Louis Henri Sullivan who coined the term form follows function. It was Distinct to have exposed architecture of the existence of ornamentation and therefore aesthetics so that a structure simply expressed its purpose or function. Both in the United States and in Europe, functionalism and machine aesthetics became existent due to the development of the era. During the 1920s and early 1930s in the United States, there was a growing machine-driven culture. The machines influence on art and architecture reflected the machines explosion as a valuable form of aesthetic. Both Functionalism and machine aesthetics held its own influence in modern architecture. The arrival of the machine was to have such revolutionary significance that the following years can legitimately be termed the Machine Age. Among the great number of cultural changes engendered by this new era was the installation of a machine aesthetic in the fields of architecture and design. This was of central importance to the Modern Movement as it provided a means by which its practitioners could engage with what they regarded as the spirit of the age. The machine aesthetic can be distinguished in the work of each major figure of the Modernist pantheon; it therefore conditioned the entire range of Modernist activity. By utilizing these aspects, the ornamentation and unnecessary forms of designs were obliterated and instead replaced by a plainer but functional look. Despite the growing movement of functionalism and machine aesthetics during the early 20th century, there still lie the differences and comparisons between the utilizations, views, and ideas about them from America and Europe. The difference of the two places somehow manifested various approaches towards the topic. The machine was valued for its service. Its aesthetic was promoted by those who saw a beauty in the machine a beauty in appearance and function. The machine aesthetic was assumed by all sorts of objects. The look of the machine was not universally celebrated, yet it was widespread nonetheless Despite this consistency, the reasons why individual Modernists employed the aesthetic varied greatly, and to conclude that they did so only to evoke the current zeitgeist would hardly seem satisfactory. Instead, the aim of this essay is to analyse functionalism and the several uses made of the machine aesthetic in order to determine why it was so central to Modernist theory and practice. Since the particular character of the aesthetic varied according to the nature of the interest in it (e.g. political, economic), the reasons for its use are fundamental to any understanding of Modernism. Firstly, the idea that Modernism embraced the machine aesthetic in order to give concrete form to the spirit of the age, though not the sole motivation behind Modernist movement is valid in itself and deserves to be expounded. The Industrial Revolution precipitated a series of immense changes which can be understood to have genuinely transformed the world. These include industrialisation, the rise of the metropolis, an accompanying decline in ruralise, and rapid technological progress. In being plundered for their natural resources, even Third World countries felt the impact of the new era. For many these changes threatened to create an environment that was both alien and hostile to humanity and nature. In the cultural sphere, the nineteenth-century design reformers John Ruskin and William Morris attacked machine-production for discouragement the craft skills and individuality of the worker. Since the machine took both tradition and individual attempt, it would become impossible for the artist or craftsman to take pride in their work, and the consumer, in turn, would suffer the spiritual disadvantages of no longer living in an environment that had been lovingly crafted. As a neutralizer, Ruskin, Morris and others proposed a return to traditional craft processes and sources of inspiration that were primarily medieval. In other sectors, this reactionary measure was felt to be unrealistically traditionalist. Since the machine was, as Ruskin and Morris had argued, incompetent at matching traditional craft processes and designs, those who recognised that the machine was an beyond doubt reality were aware of the need to evolve a new aesthetic that it was suited to. This would re-establish a high standard of quality in design and ensure that designed goods were adjusted to the age, rather than being hopelessly revivalist. One such figure was Adolph Loos, whose essay Ornament and Crime (1908) argued that applying decoration to a designed product was both inefficient and criminal, because eventually it resulted in the utilization of the craftsman: If I pay as much for a smooth box as for a decorated one, the difference in labour belongs to the worker. Instead, the new aesthetic was to be derived from the new processes of mass production. The result was a simple, essentialist style that was based on geometry (especially the straight line and the right angle3). Geometry became a model, not only because geometrical forms were theoretically easier for the machine to execute, but also because of overtones that Plato, amongst others, had invested it with. In Platos philosophy, geometrical forms were beautiful because they were elements of the eternal and absolute world of ideas that existed beyond material reality. The most concerted attempt to articulate this style was given in an exhibition on Modern Architecture at the Museume of Modern Art in 1932. The International Style: Architecture Since 1922 accompanied the exhibition. Historian Henry-Russell Hitchcock and critic Philip Johnson outlined the principles of the International style: The idea of style as the frame of potential growth, rather than as a fixed and crushing mould, has developed with the recognition of underlying principles such as architects discern in the great styles of the past. The principles are few and broad. . . . There is, first, a new conception of architecture as volume rather than mass. Secondly, regularity rather than axial symmetry serves as the chief means of ordering design. These two principles, with a third proscribing arbitrary applied decoration, mark the productions of the international style.4 Advances in construction techniques and materials allowed for a shift in structural support. Whereas walls were once weight-bearing, and thus massive, support was now given by skeletal infrastuctures. This change provided greater flexibility in window placement; once nothing more than holes cut in a wall, they could now be located virtually anywhere. Thus, proponents of the International style, the architectural equivalent of machine purity, moved windows away from walls centres, lest they suggest traditional construction. Armed with these new possibilities, asymmetrical designs were encouraged, as function in most types of contemporary building is more directly expressed in asymmetrical forms. Ideally, structures were not to be arbitrarily asymmetrical, but it was assumed that the needs of residents and the purposes of different spaces in the buildings would not produce symmetrical designs in fact, arbitrary asymmetry would be a decorative device, and thus an anathema to the Internationalists. Machine purity was a reaction against the ornamentation of previous decades and even the Moderns. Honesty in use and materials was sought functions should not be concealed beneath a covering, and items shouldnt be presented as something they were not. Simplicity and sterility championed the pure white of the hospital and lab. Stucco was an ideal material, as it provided for unbroken, continuous surfaces. Walls were skins, stripped down and allowing for a maximum of interior space. These interior spaces were to be designed individually, matching the needs of the resident, to provide for the amelioration and development of the functions of living.6 Rooms were to be determined by function, and the movement between rooms was to stress the unity and continuity of the whole volume inside a building.7 Book shelves and living plants were the best decorative devices in the home. This appealed to Modernists, whose works and writings revealed a desire to exceed the chaos of temporary solutions and preoccupation with styles that had characterised nineteenth- century design. The aim of Modernism was to achieve the ideal solutions to each design problem in works that would be style less, timeless and possess the same purity and clarity as geometry. Given the widespread belief that the machine symbolised the new century, it was perhaps inevitable that certain Modernists should embrace it entirely for its own sake purely as a metaphor, and with no concern for its practical applications. To some extent at least, this tends to be the case for most canonical Modernists, but this approach is exemplified by the Italian Futurist movement. As this brief analysis indicates, Futurism was primarily a literary and artistic movement. It was characteristic of its paradoxical nature that a movement initiated as a response to the changing environment should possess no means of expression in the art form that most directly conditioned the environment architecture. This was the case until 1914, five years after the publication of the first Manifesto, when Marinetti was finally able to welcome Antonio Sant Elia into the ranks. Sant Elia recognised the metropolis as the environment of the new age, and accordingly pioneered designs that were replete with intimations of the machine aesthetic. His perspectives for La Città   Nuova (1914) emphasise the geometry and verticality of his vision by juxtaposing stepped-back sections with sheer verticals. The interaction of diagonals and verticals this produces invests his works with the same energy and dynamism to be found in exemplary Futurist paintings. In addition, his buildings are frequently surmounted by features resembling industrial chimneys or radio masts (e.g. Casa gradinata con ascensori, 1914), thus making perhaps slightly picturesque use of an iconography derived from machines. Futurisms interest in the machine aesthetic arose from a naà ¯ve and romantic celebration of the machine for its qualities of energy and dynamism. The machine was therefore valued exclusively for the expressive potential it offered. Since they failed to grasp its practical aspects the Futurists neglected to adapt their aesthetic to technological limitations. For this reason Sant Elias designs remained on the drawing board. A deeper engagement with the realities of the machine was demonstrated by those who embraced the concept of functionalism. This idea played a significant role in most forms of Modernist design and theory. The central contention was that the form of an object should be dictated by its function. The Bauhaus, for example, aimed to originate the design of an object from its natural functions and relationships,11 so that they could be used effectively and were rationally related to each other. Of course, the pursuit of functionalism complemented the Modernists aim to arrive at ideal design solutions unless objects fulfilled their purpose they could barely be ideal. This led to the notion that a designed object could be beautiful if, and only if, it functioned perfectly. Function therefore replaced appearance as the prime principle of aesthetic quality. Artistic elaboration was eschewed in favour of clear form that both expressed its purpose and ensured that this purpose was satisfied. Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, in their discussion of European functionalist architects (i.e. canonical Modernists), wrote that, If a building provides adequately, completely and without compromise for its purpose, it is then a good building, regardless of its appearance.12 Explanation of this somewhat radical view was found in the machine. Since the machines appearance was derived entirely from its function it was both morally and economically admirable, which made it beautiful. Karl Ewalds writing The Beauty of Machines (1925-6) contained the saying, A good modern machine is an object of the highest aesthetic value we are aware of that.13 For evidence of this the Modernists looked to the USA, where an unselfconscious functionalism had been put into practice by pioneers like Samuel Colt and, in particular, Henry Ford. Ford brought the concept of standardisation to his car plant, with results that were seen as almost astonishing. His moving meeting line system, which involved specialised stages of fabrication and identical parts, had enabled him to dramatically increase car production. His success was such that industrialists and manufacturers across the world were adopting these methods. Theoretically, their goods were now readily available and continually depreciating in price, even as profits soared. Paul Greenhalgh has observed that Modernists recognised the need to embrace technology for these reasons of economy and availability. It was the means by which Modernism could be promoted worldwide. In addition, the standardisation advocated by Ford would facilitate rapid construction and maintenance.14 Therefore, the example of Ford and others encouraged the Modernists to view the machine as the absolute ideal of functionalism. This can be confirmed by reference to Le Corbusier. Much of Le Corbusiers manifesto Vers une architecture (1923) is dedicated to promoting the architectural virtues of the machine. His famous declaration, The house is a machine for living in,15 often misunderstood, meant that the guiding principle for architects should be to make the house as well suited to its purpose as was a machine. This reiterated the argument that functionalism was more important than appearance. In order to progress, he believed, it was necessary for architects to abandon the notion of traditional styles and decorative effects: Architecture has nothing to do with the various styles [They are] sometimes pretty, though not always; and never anything more.16 this implies that he saw the aesthetic, not as just another style, but as the very substance of architecture. Instead, he drew parallels between architecture and the Engineers Aesthetic, arguing that engineers were to be praised for their use of functionalism and mathematical order. As a consequence, architect s were encouraged to emulate engineers and adopt these principles in order to attain harmony and logic in their designs. To reinforce this argument the illustrations of Vers une architecture celebrated the functional and architectural unity of Canadian grain stores, ships, aeroplanes and automobiles. From a present day perspective his principles are better illuminated by his architecture, since these illustrations (e.g. the Caproni Triple hydroplane) seem rather old. The Maison Dom-Ino (1915) was an early example of his Engineers Aesthetic: three identical planes are suspended above each other by steel columns, a method of construction that frees the walls of their load-bearing purpose, and allows his concept of the free faà §ade to be introduced. An external staircase communicates between each level, and its location permits an unprecedented space and clarity in the plan. The components were all to be standardised and pre-fabricated, which would allow for rapid construction. This house was therefore a product of Le Corbusiers intention to apply the principles of mechanical mass production to domestic architecture. However, a substantial body of criticism (e.g. Greenhalgh, Sparke) has argued that this functionalism of Modernist theory was not based in reality. The machine aesthetic remained just that, as few of the designs were capable of being standardised. For example, the Grand Comfort chair by Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand was neither functional nor standardised. It required no less than eighteen welds and three materials, making it expensive and capable of production only by craftsmanship. Le Corbusiers pavilion LEsprit Nouveau featured door handles supposedly derived from car or aeroplane handles. These were not standardised but had to be made individually. At the Bauhaus, Marianne Brandts tea service (1928/30) embodies the machine aesthetic with its geometrical, angular forms, but, again, these features made it unsuited to machine production. For this reason, virtually no products of Modernism were mass-produced, at least until the style was modified and practised on an international level in what became known as the International Style. For the pioneer phase, mass production remained a metaphor that could not yet be emulated.17 A further dimension which has not yet been discussed is the political function of the machine aesthetic. This was hinted at in Loos belief that it improved the domination of the worker, but here the importance was on the labour-saving potential of the machine. Loos celebrated the aesthetic because, theoretically, it reduced the hours of effort required of the worker by avoiding unnecessary ornament. This line of reasoning even occurs in the theories of the politically unsure Le Corbusier, whose Freehold Maisonettes of 1922 used mechanical applications and good organisation derived from machines to reduce the need for human labour, and thus alleviate the workloads of servants.18 It did not necessarily follow in either case, however, that the machine could serve as an instrument for social liberation. This possibility was not fully explored until the influence of Modernism had spread and produced a diversity of practitioners. To the increasingly machine-orientated Bauhaus Moholy-Nagy imparted his belief that the machine was inextricably linked with socialism because it was an absolute. He wrote: Before the machine, everyone is equal I can use it, so can you . . . There is no tradition in technology, no consciousness of class or standing. Everybody can be the machines master or slave.19 This belief was widespread amongst Modernists, with Theo Van Doesburg being another notable exponent. Van Doesburg praised the machine as a medium of social liberation, and denied that handicraft possessed this capability, since handicraft, under the supremacy of materialism,20 reduced men to the level of machines. But as Charles Jencks has observed, Van Doesburgs enthusiasm for the machine went beyond its labour-saving potential, it was also based upon its universalising, abstract quality.21 In Jencks outline, the machines impersonality enforces equality between its users, which in art would lead to the universal and the abstract. The result would be the realisation of a collective style that was universally valid and comprehensible, based as it was upon the abstract forms of the machine. Paul Greenhalgh suggests that such an internationalism was central to Modernists theory and was an inevitable condition of their quest for a universal human consciousness.22 In order to achieve this, national boundaries had to be disposed of, as well as those between disciplines (such as fine art and design) and political classes. Greenhalgh confirms that the abstract, geometrical aesthetic appealed to Modernists because it could be used as a common language through which different nationalities could arrive at uniform solutions, thereby dissolving national boundaries. In its exclusion per se of language, abstraction was the aesthetic which enabled the ethic, internationalism, to be realised.23 Though he does not use the term, the aesthetic Greenhalgh refers to is that of the machine, since it is derived from and (theoretically) tailored for machine production. I would therefore argue that Modernists associated the aesthetic with internationalism, not only because of its abstract quality, but also because its origins in the machine imbued it with the universal quality that Moholy-Nagy and Van Doesburg recognised in this source. The practical use of the machine aesthetics political function is best illustrated by the Russian Constructivist movement. It is perhaps surprising that an aesthetic originating from the machine the foundation of capitalism could flourish in the political climate following the Communist revolution. Loos idea of the machine as labour-saving device was, of course, central in resolving this dilemma, as was the social liberation and classlessness revealed by Van Doesburg and Moholy-Nagy. Also instrumental, no doubt, was the fact that, in this era, Russia was still largely a rural, peasant country possessing no heavy industry. The negative aspects of the machine would therefore have been less obvious than the myths of its glorious effects. In this climate of rural poverty and political fervour, the machine seemed capable of transforming society, and the aesthetic became the perfect metaphor for revolution and nation-wide progress. Since this made the aesthetic an invaluable resource for Communist propaganda, many of the leading designers were commissioned to create works that mythologized the revolution. Significantly, this situation did not only involve the government manipulating design to its own ends; many of the artists and designers were equally committed to the idea that they could serve the new society. The Constructivist movement was so named because its members saw it as their task to construct the environment for a new society in the same way that engineers constructed bridges and so on.25 Proletkult promoted the unity of science, industry, and art: Vladimir Tatlin, for example, believed design was linked to engineering, and saw the designer as an anonymous worker building for society. Tatlins Monument to the Third International (1919-20) reflects this ethos. This projection for a 400m tall tower (only a scaled-down model was built) clearly represents the union of art and construction its sculptural form of two intertwining spirals and a soaring diagonal component is rendered in a lattice construction suggestive of engineering. As well as resembling a machine, the tower actually functioned as one: it featured four transparent volumes that rotated at different speeds (yearly, monthly, daily and hourly). These were intended to house government offices for legislation, administration, information and cinematic projection. It should be pointed out that none of these reasons for interest in the machine aesthetic were mutually exclusive, and individual Modernists did not adhere to it for any single reason. Each partook, to some extent, of most of them. The enthusiasm of the European Functionalists also involved the political interest observed in Constructivism. At the same time, an element of the Futurists romantic fascination can be detected in the thinking of Le Corbusier, the Bauhaus, and all those for whom mass production remained out of reach. In conclusion, as case after case demonstrates, the Modernists enthusiasm for the machine aesthetic continued to be of an ideological rather than a practical nature. The machine was embraced as an idea by designers who failed to grasp the realities of mass production. Since their aesthetic was therefore inspired by the machine but not adapted to it, in many cases this actually impeded its realisation. This is highlighted by the examples of Futurism, Constructivism and even aspects of the Bauhaus, where numerous schemes could not be put into practice. However, the importance of the machine aesthetic within Modernism should not be underestimated; it was practised so widely, indeed constituted an International Style, precisely because it was deemed to be the ideal and most logical way of realising the central tenets upon which Modernism was founded. These included truth, internationalism, function, atonement with the age, and so on. The belief that the aesthetic was universally valid is reflected by the great variety of uses to which it was applied, such as Utopian, political, economic etc. For this reason it is no exaggeration to say that, for the Modernists, it was not a question of aesthetics at all, but of a Machine Ethic.

Free Process Essays - How to Prepare Kool-Aid :: Expository Process Essays

How to Prepare Kool-Aid It has been said that Kool-Aid makes the world go 'round. Let it be advised, however, that without the proper tools and directions, the great American beverage is nothing more than an envelope of unsweetened powder. There are five simple steps to create this candy-tasting concoction. Picking the proper packet of flavoring is the first step in making Kool-Aid. Check the grocer's shelf for a wide variety, ranging from Mountain Berry Punch to Tropical Blue Hawaiian. If it is a difficult decision for you, knock yourself out and buy two. The packets usually run under 65 cents. After choosing the flavor that best suits your taste buds, the second step is making sure that your kitchen houses some necessary equipment for making the Kool-Aid. Find a two-quart pitcher. Plastic is nice, but glass pitchers allow the liquid to shine through and add festive coloration to any refrigerator shelf. Next, find a long-handled wooden spoon, a one-cup measuring cup, a water faucet that spouts drinkable water, usable white sugar, and an ice cube tray full of ice. Then, you are ready to mix. Third, grab the left edge of the Kool-Aid packet between your thumb and index finger. With your other hand, begin peeling the upper-left corner until the entire top of the envelope is removed. Next, dump the contents of the envelope into the pitcher. Notice how the powder floats before settling on the bottom of the pitcher. Then, take the measuring cup and scoop two cups of sugar into the pitcher as well. At this point, adding the water is a crucial step. Place the pitcher under the water faucet and slowly turn on the cold water. If the water is turned on too quickly, powder will fly all over when the initial gusts of water hit. After the pitcher is filled within two inches of the top, turn the water off and get prepared to stir. With the wooden spoon submersed three-quarters of the way in the liquid, vigorously stir in a clockwise motion until all of the powder is dissolved.

US Involvement in Nicaragua :: essays research papers fc

US Involvement in Nicaragua Some might say that Nicaragua has been merely a pawn in the US battle against Soviet-Cuban Communist control in Latin America. Relationships between the US and Nicaragua go back to the Gold Rush and Cornelius Vanderbilt’s attempts to expedite the travel between the two coasts of the US. Vanderbilt bought the rights to shuttle fortune-seekers across Nicaragua to avoid their having to cross the width of the United States or travel around Cape Horn. Eventually, controversy among the Nicaraguan people led to a civil war in 1853. The US was further drawn into the conflict when the left-wing army hired an American, William Walker, to fight for them. Walker and his mercenaries quickly conquered Grenada, the stronghold of the Conservative parties and found themselves in charge of the army. Walker, however, had his eyes on the presidency, which he eventually took. Walker was not the end of US intervention in Nicaragua. The government had aligning aspirations with Cornelius Vanderbilt a nd decided to build their canal through Nicaragua, which was less disease ravaged than the other contender, Panama. However, due to previous treaty agreements, the US would have to share control of any canal built through Nicaragua with Great Britain, and so the plan was abandoned. Instead, the US built an exclusively controlled canal through Panama. From 1893 – 1909, a general by the name of Zelaya had exclusive control of the Nicaraguan government. However, in 1909, with US support, this government was overthrown and a pro-US government was established. Throughout the early 1900’s, US Marines helped quell minor rebellions throughout Nicaragua and occupy much of the country. Finally, in 1933, the marines leave under the premise of peace with the guerilla leader Gen. Sandino. A man named Anastasio Somoza is put in charge of the National Guard, and therefore controls the country with an iron fist. Until 1979, the Somoza family serves as the totalitarian government in Ni caragua, fixing the elections so power remains in the family. Throughout this 40 year period, several minor insurrections are staged by the newly founded Sandinista National Liberation Front. These are easily put down by the military regime, until 1979. Throughout this period of relative peace in Nicaragua, many dominos are being set up around them throughout Central America. In 1959, Castro controls Cuba and the US begins to worry about the communist influence in Latin America.

Perfume †Grenouille Analysis Essay

Throughout the story â€Å"Perfume† by Patrick Suskind, Grenouille is presented as an outsider who is a product of both social and moral decay shown through his birth, description of the setting and description of Grenouille’s characteristics. Grenouille was born in the malodorous fish market of Paris in the â€Å"18th century†, where the 18th century was a period of tragedy and chaos where foul smells were everywhere. Moreover, Grenouille being born in a â€Å"fish market† indicates the evil and unnatural nature of Grenouille as he is born in the worst smelling, filthiest and unnatural place in Paris. Even more, being born in a fish market in a â€Å"pile of fish guts† shows Grenouille as a victim of social decay where society and degraded so far to the point where babies mattered just as much as fish guts. Obviously, Grenouille’s future is seen to be full of sin and filthiness as seen from his birth place. Furthermore, from the moment Grenouille was born, he was endowed with a powerful sense of smell which he â€Å"used as a language† further suggesting his filthy and malicious future as the first smell he smelt was the disgusting stench of the fish market foreshadowing his disgusting future intentions. Using smell â€Å"as a language†, shows the difference between him and all other people in society making him an outsider. Similarly, like an animal, Grenouille uses sense of smell to communicate and judge his surroundings portraying his animalistic characteristics inside as well as the predator within him using scent to track prey as animals do. Clearly, Grenouille’s powerful sense of smell foreshadows his violent, animalistic future intentions. Conversely, through free indirect discourse, Suskind develops sympathy for Grenouille and portrays him as an outsider and a product of social decay. There is described to be a â€Å"stench barely conceivable† showing Grenouilles abundance of a smell setting him aside and different to â€Å"the people, the stairwells, the parlours and the bedrooms.. † making him different to anything normal making him an outsider. However, sympathy is developed for him when he describes everything in society to have a stench showing that he felt everything in society and all the people in it stank thus causing him to become a victim of social decay. Grenouille is further conveyed as a victim of social decay when upper class supposedly high ranked and highly respected people are portrayed as fools and almost idiots. Through Comic Irony Father Terrier is seen as an uneducated fool and childish when using the phrase â€Å"poohpeedooh†. The repetition of this phrase further illustrates the foolish nature of a highly respected person showing social decay. Moreover, presenting the upper class in France as silly and foolish shows the decay of society and how even foolish people such as Father Terrier are respected and looked up to making Grenouille a victim to this social decay as well as an outsider as he does not respect these foolish upper class people and does not follow the demands of society. Similarly, Grenouille is again seen as an outsider when society refuses to accept him. His mother leaves him to die in a pile of fish guts and many others refuse to take him in, leaving him as an unwanted outsider. Again this foreshadows his future actions of violence and murder when society rejects him and many people act on their basic instincts and leave him to die suggesting a sense of evil in him. Grenouille is further shown as an outsider when he is described to have a â€Å"lack of scent†. This lack of scent clearly shows he is unnatural and he is not a normal being as well as further suggests his evil nature as he is able to move around unnoticed by anything allowing him to be able to do things unnoticed. Clearly, Grenouille has an unnatural, evil feel to him as seen through his characteristics and the way he is rejected purely but instincts by society. As seen from his birthplace, the setting and his characteristics Grenouille is clearly an outsider in society and this will ultimately lead to the murder of several women as well as chaos.

Meaning of life essay Essay

What is the meat of conduct? M whatsoever bind that the firmness of purpose dep balances on the person inquire the question. When Albert Camus and Richard Taylor decide to answer this question, they moldiness recede an in-depth look into the real and mythological adult males to make at a concise answer to this question that has baffled so umteen. twain fuck off similar views with subtle differences moreover Taylors view is the more faultless of the two. When feeling into the biological creation, Taylor clearly describes how much(prenominal) of it support be identified with the Hellenic tale of Sisyphus.His first of two examples wages an in-depth look into glowworms. They go through this regular recurrence like Sisyphus did with his stone and deplume and in conclusion they pitch no function more to show for it than reproducing. They ar condemned to this fate and like the rock that Sisyphus rolls up the pitcher, once they f every(prenominal) d avow, the bur den is granted onto the next generation of worms, devising their existence eventual(prenominal)ly demonstrateless. The story is the alike with migrating birds, as they seasonally migrate across the artificial satellite undecomposed to do the exact same thing the next year (Klemke, 2008).The effort arrange into this, like the effort Sisyphus puts into axial motion the rock up the hill, ultimately runes nonentity and in the culmination is futile. The birds ar condemned to a insignifi fagt confinement that has no heart and soul, exclusively retains them purpose. Taylor states The point of any breathing things emotional state is, evidently, nobody nevertheless tone itself (Klemke, 2008), something that Sisyphus himself endures as he rolls the rock throughout eternity, with the merely difference between him and the biological beingnesss being that instead of each existence doing the same repetitive depute for eternity, they pass on their mundane tasks to the next generation.Taylors origin to the core of sprightliness is a complicated one since he genuinely sees absolutely no marrow to it. Everything in this military personnel is contingent and as a whole is seemingly significationless. This is what he calls quarry importation. He went on to pronounce that bearing has no end finishing and that what you do lot n forever be more than you, something similar to what Sisyphus went through. At the same clipping, he went on to tell apart how behavior also has inherent gist, implicateing that intent bailiwicks to the person living in that earth in that period of period.As Sisyphus was rolling the rock up hill hill for eternity, Taylor asks what if the gods had made it his eternal desire to roll that rock up that hill, and what if he enjoyed nothing else more than rolling that rock for the dwell of his life (Klemke, 2008). The same seat be said about those that do what they love, and level though that has no objective me aning as a whole, it could require unobjective meaning to the individual performing the task since at that place is nothing else they would rather do. He went on to say that as season passes A curious eye can in imagination reconstruct from what is leftover a once warm and stentorian life, filled with purpose. (Klemke, 2008). This was in part to looking back at an old barren wasteland, where although now it has no meaning, it once had indispensable meaning to others and even though something has no end goal, that does not mean that it is meaningless, since in that present moment in time it had meaning. He sees the meaning of life as nothing but life itself, and that the hardly counseling to depart a full and purposeful life is to do something that has meaning to you. The end goal does not matter as retentive as what you atomic number 18 doing has meaning to you, and one thing does not let greater meaning over another.His dissolving agent involved projecting meanin g onto our birth exits by embracing our struggles, even if they accomplish nothing lasting and worthwhile (Cengage, 2013). Camus had a slightly different solution to the meaning of life. He in truth saw no meaning to life and questioned why anyone would ever want to constitute in it (Klemke, 2008). He questioned peoples motives and why all individuals would never commit suicide when they kip down that they saw the world they have it awayd in. He sees the world as illogical and the fact that we can stomach that as surprising.Rational beings live in an irrational world, where people who be obsessed with reason cannot find it. He sees that the in that respect is absolutely no meaning to the world. When he relates human lives to Sisyphus, he considers our workaday lives as force a rock up a hill and pushing it back down in a without end cycle until death. The tragedy of it is that we be never truly conscious of the awry(p), and in those moments when we are conscious of t he absurd, we experience the great moral downfall imaginable. The sole(prenominal) style to live in this world is to live in contradiction.Once we can accept that the world we live in is absurd, we no longer necessitate to live for try for or cause this dying need for purpose (Tomo, 2013). It means not only accepting it but also being fully conscious and aware of it, because that is the only way we can enjoy the freedoms of life as long as we persist by a few commonalty rules ( channel, 2013). He sees this as being the ultimate way to embrace everything the unreasonable world has to offer us. This is known as absurd freedom, when you are conscious of the world you live in and are freed from the absurdity.You can because reach a point of credenza where you can feel truly nub with your own life (Lane, 2013). He considers Sisyphus as being the absurd hero, since he performs a meaningless task because he hates death, and so he does this meaningless task to live to the fullest . He embraces his destiny and one could truly believe that he is happy with it. The meaning of life also does not matter about what are the best moments of living, or doing what is meaningful to the individual, but who did the most living.This can be further explained with Camuss reference to Sisyphus, where the only thing differentiating our lives from his is that his is eternal. As gentlemans gentleman, we go out eventually deteriorate and die off, and in a world where nothing has meaning and everything is repetitive, the one who has lived for the longest period of time has truly made the most of it. show up of the two solutions, it is clear why some(prenominal) Camus and Taylor thought the way they did. One solution was based on doing things in ecumenic while the other focused on living as long as physically possible.In my opinion, although both have strong footings, I must say that although Camus position is slightly stronger logically, Taylors position has much let on emo tional traction. When Camus states that the world is completely absurd and that none of it has any meaning, his argument makes sense. We live in a world where even though we are creatures that demand reasoning and meaning for everything, there is none in the world we are currently in. Taylor agrees to a certain extent, but then introduces his idea of different kinds of meaning subjective.He tries to contact meaning to tasks that give us fulfillment true subjective meaning, but these same tasks have no objective meaning since they have no end goal. Logically, such(prenominal) tasks can have no meaning because they have no lasting value, something that Camus himself tried to explain, ultimately making Camuss position stronger logically. Emotionally, the skid is quite a the opposite. Camus tells us we should accept our fate and just try to live on this planet for as long as we can, something only an atheist would leadingly accept with grace. He goes on to say as long as there is n o end goal in life there is no meaning in life.However, many that live their every day lives do not think on such an emotionless level. Taylor on the other fall out gives the position of there being two different kinds of meanings, and although objective meaning doesnt exist, subjective meaning can give each one of us our own definition of what meaning is, which in this case is something to do. Even though the culmination of these events depart ultimately lead to nothing, it doesnt mean that they were a complete waste of time since they gave us something to do (. The same can be said about the birds and the glowworms.Their lives have no end goal as their lives were nothing but a never-ending cycle, but it gave them something to do in life no matter how meaningless it may seem to someone looking from the extraneous in. The most important point Taylor makes is that the tasks we do can have meaning to us, but another individual looking in could see the exact same task as being mea ningless, and that is to be expected. inseparable meaning depends on the exact moment in time, which relates to such expressions as live in the moment or Carpe Diem, because after(prenominal) that moment has passed, all the meaning that is associated with it disappears. race like to believe that what theyre doing will always have meaning in one form or another, and as long as they believe in that, they are in a better state of mind than believing that everything in life is meaningless and that we should only reach to live as long as we can. This can be seen as living in denial, but emotions are something humans unlike many animals live with on a minutely basis and must be accounted for. Furthermore, although Camus position makes logical sense, it makes junior-grade to know emotional sense since it does not account for the human aspect of life.CITATIONS Barnett, Richard. An absurd faith Camus and The Myth of Sisyphus. Internet enrolment Wayback Machine. http//web. archive. org/w eb/20071012140207/http//www. geocities. com/a_and_e_uk/Sisyphus. htm (accessed troop 19, 2013). (Only for research purposes) Lane , Bob. The Absurd Hero. Vancouver Island University, Degree Programs Canada Master & bach Education Degrees Canada VIU. http//records. viu. ca/www/ipp/absurd. htm (accessed March 19, 2013). Klemke, E. D. , and Steven M. Cahn. Albert Camus The Myth of Sisyphus. In _The meaning of life a reader_.3rd ed. New York Oxford University Press, 2008. 72-82. Klemke, E. D. , and Steven M. Cahn. Richard Taylor The import of Life. In _The meaning of life a reader_. 3rd ed. New York Oxford University Press, 2008. 134-143. The substance of life Richard Taylor. Cengage. www. cengage. com/philosophy/book_content/1439046948_feinberg/introductions/part_5/ch19/Life_Taylor. html (accessed March 19, 2013). Tomo, Ramirez. Camus, Sisyphus Taylor, The Meaning of Life. Deanza. edu. www. deanza. edu/faculty/ramireztono/phil01/camustaylornotes. pdf (accessed March 19, 2013 ).