Monday, August 19, 2019
The Importance of Sleep, Nutrition, and Exercise Essay -- Health Nutri
The Importance of Sleep, Nutrition, and Exercise Many students today ask why they are so tired all the time. It also seems that people in college become more stressed out either because of grades or because of work. All people need to do is get the right amount of sleep, eating well, and exercise in order to feel better about themselves and feel good in general. This is not a short process. Most experts say that it takes about twelve weeks in order to see results. But, it is guaranteed that after that duration of time one will see a vast improvement in oneself. Sleep is something that most people take for granted. It is the one thing that people are willing to compromise even more then food or money. It is estimated that between 40 to 60 million Americans are sleep deprived. Different people can get by with different amounts of sleep. There are some that can survive the next day with only a few hours. Then there are always others who cannot be called after 9:00 because they need those good solid 10 hours. The average person actually needs anywhere from between 7-9 hours a night. Why does one need sleep? When human bodies do not get enough sleep they tend to lose strength, the immune system decreases, and there is an increase in blood pressure. As students, it can effect concentration, memory, logical reasoning, and ability to do math. Now that the problem is known here is how to fix it. Dr. Stanley Coren, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, focuses on consistency. The body needs consistency. This can be fulfille d by simply going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every day. But, it is important to note that making up for lost sleep on the weekends is a big negative. It is preferable that if one likes to sleep on the weekends wake up at the same time Saturday and Sunday. When going to bed it should take about 15 to 20 minutes to fall asleep. If a half-hour has gone by and one still is not asleep one should get up and do something relaxing (i.e. take a warm bath, read, watch TV, etc.). Rita Mattson, a Certified Personal Trainer and Stress Management Counselor, makes the suggestion of drinking warm milk before retiring to bed because milk contains a high dosage of L-tryptophan which is a natural sedative. Sleep is just as important as any other part of taking good care of ones self. Another... ...ssue) provide a delicate support frame for the breasts that can be damaged by too much bouncing and stretching. There are two types of sports bras: compression bras and encapsulation, harness-type bras. The first works better for smaller breasted women because of the fit and the second tends to work better for larger women. When choosing the correct one for you take into account: the fit, how much support it is giving for the exercise that is going to be done, fabric (does it absorb moisture well), seams and stitching to avoid chaffing, and mobility. After taking all these into account one can be assured that he is well prepared for the exercise routine. Â Â Â Â Â In conclusion, all the factors mentioned above can lead to a less stressful life. Sleep can help the body relax to deal with everyday pressure. People who eat a diet low in refined carbohydrates, sugar and caffeine, and high in whole grains, have shown a greater ability to cope with stress as in contrast to those who consume the opposite. Exercise, as well, is a way to release stress and tension (i.e. running, kickboxing, stair stepping, etc.). If one keeps all the factors in mind a healthier happier life can be achieved.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
The Oppression of Miranda in The Tempest Essay -- Tempest essays
The Oppression of Miranda  in The Tempest                 Miranda's schooling in The Tempest shows the audience the conflicting arrangement white women in the Shakespearean drama as well as Shakespearean times are forced to act within. Paul Brown points out that "the discourse of sexuality†¦offers the crucial nexus for the various domains of colonialist discourse" (208) and the conduct in Prospero manipulates his followers' sexuality is the mainstay of his power. The Miranda-Prospero relationship servers to represent a sort of patriarchy, which is unarguably the system many Renaissance women and women of Shakespeare's time found themselves in. It is thus unsurprising that Prospero controls Miranda and her sexuality as well. The system of patriarchy is demonstratd again and again throughout the play. For example, we see that Prospero's wisdom, magic, and education of Miranda, as well as his civilizing of Caliban demonstrates a system of authoritative love. There is no question that Prospero loves and wishes to protect his daughter; for example, Prospero continuously reiterates how much he cares for Miranda. However, at the same time, he exhibits enough power over her to be considered a patriarch. Prospero's authority over Miranda is so great that she cannot do anything but follow her father's wishes; it almost appears as if she has no choice in the matter for she, like Ariel and Caliban, can also be subject to Prospero's magical control. However, it appears that upon a closer study of this, we see that, patriarchalism makes specific, and often apparently contradictory demands of its "own" women, which can often cause confusion and problems for the woman involved.            Miranda, as a character in Renaissanc... ...           Prospero: Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since,            Thy father was Duke of Milan and            A prince of power.            Miranda: Sir, are not you my father?            Prospero: Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and            She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father            Was Duke of Milan, and his only heir            And princess no worse issued. Works Cited Brown, Paul. This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine: The Tempest and the discourse of colonialism." New York: Dollimore and Sinfield, 1985. Kermode, Jack. Political Shakespeaere: New Essays in Cultural Materialism. Boston: Manchester University Press, 1985. Lamming, George. The Pleasures of Exile. London: Allison and Busby, 1984. Mies, Maria. Patriarchy and Accumulation on a World Scale. London: Zed Books, 1986. The Oppression of Miranda in The Tempest Essay -- Tempest essays The Oppression of Miranda  in The Tempest                 Miranda's schooling in The Tempest shows the audience the conflicting arrangement white women in the Shakespearean drama as well as Shakespearean times are forced to act within. Paul Brown points out that "the discourse of sexuality†¦offers the crucial nexus for the various domains of colonialist discourse" (208) and the conduct in Prospero manipulates his followers' sexuality is the mainstay of his power. The Miranda-Prospero relationship servers to represent a sort of patriarchy, which is unarguably the system many Renaissance women and women of Shakespeare's time found themselves in. It is thus unsurprising that Prospero controls Miranda and her sexuality as well. The system of patriarchy is demonstratd again and again throughout the play. For example, we see that Prospero's wisdom, magic, and education of Miranda, as well as his civilizing of Caliban demonstrates a system of authoritative love. There is no question that Prospero loves and wishes to protect his daughter; for example, Prospero continuously reiterates how much he cares for Miranda. However, at the same time, he exhibits enough power over her to be considered a patriarch. Prospero's authority over Miranda is so great that she cannot do anything but follow her father's wishes; it almost appears as if she has no choice in the matter for she, like Ariel and Caliban, can also be subject to Prospero's magical control. However, it appears that upon a closer study of this, we see that, patriarchalism makes specific, and often apparently contradictory demands of its "own" women, which can often cause confusion and problems for the woman involved.            Miranda, as a character in Renaissanc... ...           Prospero: Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since,            Thy father was Duke of Milan and            A prince of power.            Miranda: Sir, are not you my father?            Prospero: Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and            She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father            Was Duke of Milan, and his only heir            And princess no worse issued. Works Cited Brown, Paul. This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine: The Tempest and the discourse of colonialism." New York: Dollimore and Sinfield, 1985. Kermode, Jack. Political Shakespeaere: New Essays in Cultural Materialism. Boston: Manchester University Press, 1985. Lamming, George. The Pleasures of Exile. London: Allison and Busby, 1984. Mies, Maria. Patriarchy and Accumulation on a World Scale. London: Zed Books, 1986.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Financial aid Essay
REGISTRATION ?THERE IS A COMPULSORY FIRST YEAR SEMINAR THAT ALL FIRST YEAR STUDENTS MUST ATTEND PRIOR to the date of registration. The first year seminar dates will be communicated to you during November 2014. Failing to attend the first year seminar may lead to your space being allocated to another applicant. ?YOUR DATE OF REGISTRATION WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO YOU DURING NOVEMBER 2014. YOU need to register before or on the specified registration date. If you miss this specific registration date, your study space can no longer be guaranteed as we may then allocate the space to another applicant. Registration dates can also be found on the UJ website at www. uj. ac. za from December 2014 onwards. NATIONAL BENCHMARK TESTS You are required to complete the National Benchmark Test. For more information please go to http://nbt. ac. za or contact the NBT Call Centre at 021 650 3523. FEES Information on tuition and other fees due for 2015 will be available during November 2014. Please visit the UJ website at www. uj. ac. za for more information. BURSARIES Academic merit bursaries are awarded on the grounds of exceptional grade 12 results. Please visit the UJ website at www. uj. ac. za for more information. NSFAS (NATIONAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID SCHEME) The closing date for the NSFAS loan applications is 1 October 2014 and all enquiries in this regard can be made to nsfas@uj. ac. za RESIDENCE Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the residences. If you applied for admission to a residence, you will receive a separate letter in this regard. AGREEMENT AND INDEMNITY ?YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND SUBMIT A FORMAL AGREEMENT (INCLUDING AN exemption and indemnity) with the University when you register. ?IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 18, A PARENT OR GUARDIAN MUST SIGN THE REQUIRED FORM. ?YOU WILL BE REGISTERED ON THE STRICT UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE Student Charter rules and the Academic Regulations of the University of Johannesburg and of the faculty. ? YOU UNDERTAKE TO PAY THE PRESCRIBED FEES AND ACCEPT THAT YOU ARE BOUND BY THE provisions of the formal agreement. Sincerely, Student Enrolment Centre 011 559 4555.
The Da Vinci Code Chapter 18-20
CHAPTER 18 Fache sprinted down the Grand Gallery as Collet's radio blared over the distant sound of the alarm. â€Å"He jumped!†Collet was yelling. â€Å"I'm showing the signal out on Place du Carrousel! Outside the bathroom window! And it's not moving at all! Jesus, I think Langdon has just committed suicide!†Fache heard the words, but they made no sense. He kept running. The hallway seemed never-ending. As he sprinted past Sauniere's body, he set his sights on the partitions at the far end of the Denon Wing. The alarm was getting louder now. â€Å"Wait!†Collet's voice blared again over the radio. â€Å"He's moving! My God, he's alive. Langdon's moving!†Fache kept running, cursing the length of the hallway with every step. â€Å"Langdon's moving faster!†Collet was still yelling on the radio. â€Å"He's running down Carrousel. Wait†¦ he's picking up speed. He's moving too fast!†Arriving at the partitions, Fache snaked his way through them, saw the rest room door, and ran for it. The walkie-talkie was barely audible now over the alarm. â€Å"He must be in a car! I think he's in a car! I can't – â€Å" Collet's words were swallowed by the alarm as Fache finally burst into the men's room with his gun drawn. Wincing against the piercing shrill, he scanned the area. The stalls were empty. The bathroom deserted. Fache's eyes moved immediately to the shattered window at the far end of the room. He ran to the opening and looked over the edge. Langdon was nowhere to be seen. Fache could not imagine anyone risking a stunt like this. Certainly if he had dropped that far, he would be badly injured. The alarm cut off finally, and Collet's voice became audible again over the walkie-talkie. â€Å"†¦ moving south†¦ faster†¦ crossing the Seine on Pont du Carrousel!†Fache turned to his left. The only vehicle on Pont du Carrousel was an enormous twin-bed Trailor delivery truck moving southward away from the Louvre. The truck's open-air bed was covered with a vinyl tarp, roughly resembling a giant hammock. Fache felt a shiver of apprehension. That truck, only moments ago, had probably been stopped at a red light directly beneath the rest room window. An insane risk, Fache told himself. Langdon had no way of knowing what the truck was carrying beneath that tarp. What if the truck were carrying steel? Or cement? Or even garbage? A forty-foot leap? It was madness. â€Å"The dot is turning!†Collet called. â€Å"He's turning right on Pont des Saints-Peres!†Sure enough, the Trailor truck that had crossed the bridge was slowing down and making a right turn onto Pont des Saints-Peres. So be it, Fache thought. Amazed, he watched the truck disappear around the corner. Collet was already radioing the agents outside, pulling them off the Louvre perimeter and sending them to their patrol cars in pursuit, all the while broadcasting the truck's changing location like some kind of bizarre play-by-play. It's over, Fache knew. His men would have the truck surrounded within minutes. Langdon was not going anywhere. Stowing his weapon, Fache exited the rest room and radioed Collet. â€Å"Bring my car around. I want to be there when we make the arrest.†As Fache jogged back down the length of the Grand Gallery, he wondered if Langdon had even survived the fall. Not that it mattered. Langdon ran. Guilty as charged. Only fifteen yards from the rest room, Langdon and Sophie stood in the darkness of the Grand Gallery, their backs pressed to one of the large partitions that hid the bathrooms from the gallery. They had barely managed to hide themselves before Fache had darted past them, gun drawn, and disappeared into the bathroom. The last sixty seconds had been a blur. Langdon had been standing inside the men's room refusing to run from a crime he didn't commit, when Sophie began eyeing the plate-glass window and examining the alarm mesh running through it. Then she peered downward into the street, as if measuring the drop. â€Å"With a little aim, you can get out of here,†she said. Aim? Uneasy, he peered out the rest room window. Up the street, an enormous twin-bed eighteen-wheeler was headed for the stoplight beneath the window. Stretched across the truck's massive cargo bay was a blue vinyl tarp, loosely covering the truck's load. Langdon hoped Sophie was not thinking what she seemed to be thinking. â€Å"Sophie, there's no way I'm jump – â€Å"Take out the tracking dot.†Bewildered, Langdon fumbled in his pocket until he found the tiny metallic disk. Sophie took it from him and strode immediately to the sink. She grabbed a thick bar of soap, placed the tracking dot on top of it, and used her thumb to push the disk down hard into the bar. As the disk sank into the soft surface, she pinched the hole closed, firmly embedding the device in the bar. Handing the bar to Langdon, Sophie retrieved a heavy, cylindrical trash can from under the sinks. Before Langdon could protest, Sophie ran at the window, holding the can before her like a battering ram. Driving the bottom of the trash can into the center of the window, she shattered the glass. Alarms erupted overhead at earsplitting decibel levels. â€Å"Give me the soap!†Sophie yelled, barely audible over the alarm. Langdon thrust the bar into her hand. Palming the soap, she peered out the shattered window at the eighteen-wheeler idling below. The target was plenty big – an expansive, stationary tarp – and it was less than ten feet from the side of the building. As the traffic lights prepared to change, Sophie took a deep breath and lobbed the bar of soap out into the night. The soap plummeted downward toward the truck, landing on the edge of the tarp, and sliding downward into the cargo bay just as the traffic light turned green. â€Å"Congratulations,†Sophie said, dragging him toward the door. â€Å"You just escaped from the Louvre.†Fleeing the men's room, they moved into the shadows just as Fache rushed past. Now, with the fire alarm silenced, Langdon could hear the sounds of DCPJ sirens tearing away from the Louvre. A police exodus.Fache had hurried off as well, leaving the Grand Gallery deserted. â€Å"There's an emergency stairwell about fifty meters back into the Grand Gallery,†Sophie said. â€Å"Now that the guards are leaving the perimeter, we can get out of here.†Langdon decided not to say another word all evening. Sophie Neveu was clearly a hell of a lot smarter than he was. CHAPTER 19 The Church of Saint-Sulpice, it is said, has the most eccentric history of any building in Paris. Built over the ruins of an ancient temple to the Egyptian goddess Isis, the church possesses an architectural footprint matching that of Notre Dame to within inches. The sanctuary has played host to the baptisms of the Marquis de Sade and Baudelaire, as well as the marriage of Victor Hugo. The attached seminary has a well-documented history of unorthodoxy and was once the clandestine meeting hall for numerous secret societies. Tonight, the cavernous nave of Saint-Sulpice was as silent as a tomb, the only hint of life the faint smell of incense from mass earlier that evening. Silas sensed an uneasiness in Sister Sandrine's demeanor as she led him into the sanctuary. He was not surprised by this. Silas was accustomed to people being uncomfortable with his appearance. â€Å"You're an American,†she said. â€Å"French by birth,†Silas responded. â€Å"I had my calling in Spain, and I now study in the United States.†Sister Sandrine nodded. She was a small woman with quiet eyes. â€Å"And you have never seen Saint- Sulpice?†â€Å"I realize this is almost a sin in itself.†â€Å"She is more beautiful by day.†â€Å"I am certain. Nonetheless, I am grateful that you would provide me this opportunity tonight.†â€Å"The abbe requested it. You obviously have powerful friends.†You have no idea, Silas thought. As he followed Sister Sandrine down the main aisle, Silas was surprised by the austerity of the sanctuary. Unlike Notre Dame with its colorful frescoes, gilded altar-work, and warm wood, Saint- Sulpice was stark and cold, conveying an almost barren quality reminiscent of the ascetic cathedrals of Spain. The lack of decor made the interior look even more expansive, and as Silasgazed up into the soaring ribbed vault of the ceiling, he imagined he was standing beneath the hull of an enormous overturned ship. A fitting image, he thought. The brotherhood's ship was about to be capsized forever. Feeling eager to get to work, Silas wished Sister Sandrine would leave him. She was a small woman whom Silas could incapacitate easily, but he had vowed not to use force unless absolutely necessary. She is a woman of the cloth, and it is not her fault the brotherhood chose her church as a hiding place for their keystone.She should not be punished for the sins of others. â€Å"I am embarrassed, Sister, that you were awoken on my behalf.†â€Å"Not at all. You are in Paris a short time. You should not miss Saint-Sulpice. Are your interests in the church more architectural or historical?†â€Å"Actually, Sister, my interests are spiritual.†She gave a pleasant laugh. â€Å"That goes without saying. I simply wondered where to begin your tour.†Silas felt his eyes focus on the altar. â€Å"A tour is unnecessary. You have been more than kind. I can show myself around.†â€Å"It is no trouble,†she said. â€Å"After all, I am awake.†Silas stopped walking. They had reached the front pew now, and the altar was only fifteen yards away. He turned his massive body fully toward the small woman, and he could sense her recoil as she gazed up into his red eyes. â€Å"If it does not seem too rude, Sister, I am not accustomed to simply walking into a house of God and taking a tour. Would you mind if I took some time alone to pray before I look around?†Sister Sandrine hesitated. â€Å"Oh, of course. I shall wait in the rear of the church for you.†Silas put a soft but heavy hand on her shoulder and peered down. â€Å"Sister, I feel guilty already for having awoken you. To ask you to stay awake is too much. Please, you should return to bed. I can enjoy your sanctuary and then let myself out.†She looked uneasy. â€Å"Are you sure you won't feel abandoned?†â€Å"Not at all. Prayer is a solitary joy.†â€Å"As you wish.†Silas took his hand from her shoulder. â€Å"Sleep well, Sister. May the peace of the Lord be with you.†â€Å"And also with you.†Sister Sandrine headed for the stairs. â€Å"Please be sure the door closes tightly on your way out.†â€Å"I will be sure of it.†Silas watched her climb out of sight. Then he turned and knelt in the front pew, feeling the cilice cut into his leg. Dear God, I offer up to you this work I do today†¦ . Crouching in the shadows of the choir balcony high above the altar, Sister Sandrine peered silently through the balustrade at the cloaked monk kneeling alone. The sudden dread in her soul made it hard to stay still. For a fleeting instant, she wondered if this mysterious visitor could be the enemy they had warned her about, and if tonight she would have to carry out the orders she had been holding all these years. She decided to stay there in the darkness and watch his every move. CHAPTER 20 Emerging from the shadows, Langdon and Sophie moved stealthily up the deserted Grand Gallery corridor toward the emergency exit stairwell. As he moved, Langdon felt like he was trying to assemble a jigsaw puzzle in the dark. The newest aspect of this mystery was a deeply troubling one: The captain of the Judicial Police is trying to frame me for murder â€Å"Do you think,†he whispered,†that maybe Fache wrote that message on the floor?†Sophie didn't even turn. â€Å"Impossible.†Langdon wasn't so sure. â€Å"He seems pretty intent on making me look guilty. Maybe he thought writing my name on the floor would help his case?†â€Å"The Fibonacci sequence? The P. S. ? All the Da Vinci and goddess symbolism? That had to be my grandfather.†Langdon knew she was right. The symbolism of the clues meshed too perfectly – the pentacle, TheVitruvian Man, Da Vinci, the goddess, and even the Fibonacci sequence. A coherent symbolic set, as iconographers would call it. All inextricably tied. â€Å"And his phone call to me this afternoon,†Sophie added. â€Å"He said he had to tell me something. I'm certain his message at the Louvre was his final effort to tell me something important, something he thought you could help me understand.†Langdon frowned. O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! He wished he could comprehend the message, both for Sophie's well-being and for his own. Things had definitely gotten worse since he first laid eyes on the cryptic words. His fake leap out the bathroom window was not going to help Langdon's popularity with Fache one bit. Somehow he doubted the captain of the French police would see the humor in chasing down and arresting a bar of soap. â€Å"The doorway isn't much farther,†Sophie said.†Do you think there's a possibility that the numbers in your grandfather's message hold the key to understanding the other lines?†Langdon had once worked on a series of Baconian manuscripts that contained epigraphical ciphers in which certain lines of code were clues as to how to decipher the other lines. â€Å"I've been thinking about the numbers all night. Sums, quotients, products. I don't see anything. Mathematically, they're arranged at random. Cryptographic gibberish.†â€Å"And yet they're all part of the Fibonacci sequence. That can't be coincidence.†â€Å"It's not. Using Fibonacci numbers was my grandfather's way of waving another flag at me – like writing the message in English, or arranging himself like my favorite piece of art, or drawing a pentacle on himself. All of it was to catch my attention.†â€Å"The pentacle has meaning to you?†â€Å"Yes. I didn't get a chance to tell you, but the pentacle was a special symbol between my grandfather and me when I was growing up. We used to play Tarot cards for fun, and my indicator card always turned out to be from the suit of pentacles. I'm sure he stacked the deck, but pentacles got to be our little joke.†Langdon felt a chill. They played Tarot? The medieval Italian card game was so replete with hidden heretical symbolism that Langdon had dedicated an entire chapter in his new manuscript to the Tarot. The game's twenty-two cards bore names like The Female Pope, The Empress, and The Star.Originally, Tarot had been devised as a secret means to pass along ideologies banned by the Church. Now, Tarot's mystical qualities were passed on by modern fortune-tellers. The Tarot indicator suit for feminine divinity is pentacles, Langdon thought, realizing that if Sauniere had been stacking his granddaughter's deck for fun, pentacles was an apropos inside joke. They arrived at the emergency stairwell, and Sophie carefully pulled open the door. No alarm sounded. Only the doors to the outside were wired. Sophie led Langdon down a tight set of switchback stairs toward the ground level, picking up speed as they went. â€Å"Your grandfather,†Langdon said, hurrying behind her,†when he told you about the pentacle, did he mention goddess worship or any resentment of the Catholic Church?†Sophie shook her head. â€Å"I was more interested in the mathematics of it – the Divine Proportion, PHI, Fibonacci sequences, that sort of thing.†Langdon was surprised. â€Å"Your grandfather taught you about the number PHI?†â€Å"Of course. The Divine Proportion.†Her expression turned sheepish. â€Å"In fact, he used to joke that I was half divine†¦ you know, because of the letters in my name.†Langdon considered it a moment and then groaned. s-o-PHI-e. Still descending, Langdon refocused on PHI.He was starting to realize that Sauniere's clues were even more consistent than he had first imagined. Da Vinci†¦ Fibonacci numbers†¦ the pentacle. Incredibly, all of these things were connected by a single concept so fundamental to art history that Langdon often spent several class periods on the topic. PHI. He felt himself suddenly reeling back to Harvard, standing in front of his†Symbolism in Art†class, writing his favorite number on the chalkboard. 1. 618 Langdon turned to face his sea of eager students. â€Å"Who can tell me what this number is?†A long-legged math major in back raised his hand. â€Å"That's the number PHI.†He pronounced it fee. â€Å"Nice job, Stettner,†Langdon said. â€Å"Everyone, meet PHI.†â€Å"Not to be confused with PI,†Stettner added, grinning. â€Å"As we mathematicians like to say: PHI is one H of a lot cooler than PI!†Langdon laughed, but nobody else seemed to get the joke. Stettner slumped.†This number PHI,†Langdon continued,†one-point-six-one-eight, is a very important number in art. Who can tell me why?†Stettner tried to redeem himself. â€Å"Because it's so pretty?†Everyone laughed.†Actually,†Langdon said,†Stettner's right again. PHI is generally considered the most beautiful number in the universe.†The laughter abruptly stopped, and Stettner gloated. As Langdon loaded his slide projector, he explained that the number PHI was derived from the Fibonacci sequence – a progression famous not only because the sum of adjacent terms equaled the next term, but because the quotients of adjacent terms possessed the astonishing property of approaching the number 1. 618 – PHI! Despite PHI's seemingly mystical mathematical origins, Langdon explained, the truly mind-boggling aspect of PHI was its role as a fundamental building block in nature. Plants, animals, and even human beings all possessed dimensional properties that adhered with eerie exactitude to the ratio of PHI to 1. â€Å"PHI's ubiquity in nature,†Langdon said, killing the lights,†clearly exceeds coincidence, and so the ancients assumed the number PHI must have been preordained by the Creator of the universe. Early scientists heralded one-point-six-one-eight as the Divine Proportion.†â€Å"Hold on,†said a young woman in the front row. â€Å"I'm a bio major and I've never seen this Divine Proportion in nature.†â€Å"No?†Langdon grinned. â€Å"Ever study the relationship between females and males in a honeybee community?†â€Å"Sure. The female bees always outnumber the male bees.†â€Å"Correct. And did you know that if you divide the number of female bees by the number of male bees in any beehive in the world, you always get the same number?†â€Å"You do?†â€Å"Yup. PHI.†The girl gaped. â€Å"NO WAY!†â€Å"Way!†Langdon fired back, smiling as he projected a slide of a spiral seashell. â€Å"Recognize this?†â€Å"It's a nautilus,†the bio major said. â€Å"A cephalopod mollusk that pumps gas into its chambered shell to adjust its buoyancy.†â€Å"Correct. And can you guess what the ratio is of each spiral's diameter to the next?†The girl looked uncertain as she eyed the concentric arcs of the nautilus spiral. Langdon nodded. â€Å"PHI. The Divine Proportion. One-point-six-one-eight to one.†The girl looked amazed. Langdon advanced to the next slide – a close-up of a sunflower's seed head. â€Å"Sunflower seeds grow in opposing spirals. Can you guess the ratio of each rotation's diameter to the next?†â€Å"PHI?†everyone said.†Bingo.†Langdon began racing through slides now – spiraled pinecone petals, leaf arrangement on plant stalks, insect segmentation – all displaying astonishing obedience to the Divine Proportion. â€Å"This is amazing!†someone cried out. â€Å"Yeah,†someone else said,†but what does it have to do with art?†â€Å"Aha!†Langdon said. â€Å"Glad you asked.†He pulled up another slide – a pale yellow parchment displaying Leonardo Da Vinci's famous male nude – The Vitruvian Man – named for Marcus Vitruvius, the brilliant Roman architect who praised the Divine Proportion in his text De Architectura. â€Å"Nobody understood better than Da Vinci the divine structure of the human body. Da Vinci actually exhumed corpses to measure the exact proportions of human bone structure. He was the first to show that the human body is literally made of building blocks whose proportional ratios always equal PHI.†Everyone in class gave him a dubious look. â€Å"Don't believe me?†Langdon challenged. â€Å"Next time you're in the shower, take a tape measure.†A couple of football players snickered. â€Å"Not just you insecure jocks,†Langdon prompted. â€Å"All of you. Guys and girls. Try it. Measure the distance from the tip of your head to the floor. Then divide that by the distance from your bellybutton to the floor. Guess what number you get.†â€Å"Not PHI!†one of the jocks blurted out in disbelief. â€Å"Yes, PHI,†Langdon replied. â€Å"One-point-six-one-eight. Want another example? Measure the distance from your shoulder to your fingertips, and then divide it by the distance from your elbow to your fingertips. PHI again. Another? Hip to floor divided by knee to floor. PHI again. Finger joints. Toes. Spinal divisions. PHI. PHI. PHI. My friends, each of you is a walking tribute to the Divine Proportion.†Even in the darkness, Langdon could see they were all astounded. He felt a familiar warmth inside. This is why he taught. â€Å"My friends, as you can see, the chaos of the world has an underlying order. When the ancients discovered PHI, they were certain they had stumbled across God's building block for the world, and they worshipped Nature because of that. And one can understand why. God's hand is evident in Nature, and even to this day there exist pagan, Mother Earth-revering religions. Many of us celebrate nature the way the pagans did, and don't even know it. May Day is a perfect example, the celebration of spring†¦ the earth coming back to life to produce her bounty. The mysterious magic inherent in the Divine Proportion was written at the beginning of time. Man is simply playing by Nature's rules, and because art is man's attempt to imitate the beauty of the Creator's hand, you can imagine we might be seeing a lot of instances of the Divine Proportion in art this semeste r.†Over the next half hour, Langdon showed them slides of artwork by Michelangelo, Albrecht Durer, Da Vinci, and many others, demonstrating each artist's intentional and rigorous adherence to the Divine Proportion in the layout of his compositions. Langdon unveiled PHI in the architectural dimensions of the Greek Parthenon, the pyramids of Egypt, and even the United Nations Building in New York. PHI appeared in the organizational structures of Mozart's sonatas, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, as well as the works of Bartok, Debussy, and Schubert. The number PHI, Langdon told them, was even used by Stradivarius to calculate the exact placement of the f-holes in the construction of his famous violins. â€Å"In closing,†Langdon said, walking to the chalkboard,†we return to symbols†He drew five intersecting lines that formed a five-pointed star. â€Å"This symbol is one of the most powerful images you will see this term. Formally known as a pentagram – or pentacle, as the ancients called it – this symbol is considered both divine and magical by many cultures. Can anyone tell me why that might be?†Stettner, the math major, raised his hand. â€Å"Because if you draw a pentagram, the lines automatically divide themselves into segments according to the Divine Proportion.†Langdon gave the kid a proud nod. â€Å"Nice job. Yes, the ratios of line segments in a pentacle allequal PHI, making this symbol the ultimate expression of the Divine Proportion. For this reason, the five-pointed star has always been the symbol for beauty and perfection associated with the goddess and the sacred feminine.†The girls in class beamed. â€Å"One note, folks. We've only touched on Da Vinci today, but we'll be seeing a lot more of him this semester. Leonardo was a well-documented devotee of the ancient ways of the goddess. Tomorrow, I'll show you his fresco The Last Supper, which is one of the most astonishing tributes to the sacred feminine you will ever see.†â€Å"You're kidding, right?†somebody said. â€Å"I thought The Last Supper was about Jesus!†Langdon winked. â€Å"There are symbols hidden in places you would never imagine.†â€Å"Come on,†Sophie whispered. â€Å"What's wrong? We're almost there. Hurry!†Langdon glanced up, feeling himself return from faraway thoughts. He realized he was standing at a dead stop on the stairs, paralyzed by sudden revelation. O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! Sophie was looking back at him. It can't be that simple, Langdon thought. But he knew of course that it was. There in the bowels of the Louvre†¦ with images of PHI and Da Vinci swirling through his mind, Robert Langdon suddenly and unexpectedly deciphered Sauniere's code. â€Å"O, Draconian devil!†he said. â€Å"Oh, lame saint! It's the simplest kind of code!†Sophie was stopped on the stairs below him, staring up in confusion. A code? She had been pondering the words all night and had not seen a code. Especially a simple one. â€Å"You said it yourself.†Langdon's voice reverberated with excitement. â€Å"Fibonacci numbers only have meaning in their proper order. Otherwise they're mathematical gibberish.†Sophie had no idea what he was talking about. The Fibonacci numbers? She was certain they had been intended as nothing more than a means to get the Cryptography Department involved tonight. They have another purpose? She plunged her hand into her pocket and pulled out the printout, studying her grandfather's message again. 13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5 O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! What about the numbers? â€Å"The scrambled Fibonacci sequence is a clue,†Langdon said, taking the printout. â€Å"The numbers area hint as to how to decipher the rest of the message. He wrote the sequence out of order to tell us to apply the same concept to the text. O, Draconian devil? Oh, lame saint? Those lines mean nothing. They are simply letters written out of order.†Sophie needed only an instant to process Langdon's implication, and it seemed laughably simple. â€Å"You think this message is†¦ une anagramme?†She stared at him. â€Å"Like a word jumble from a newspaper?†Langdon could see the skepticism on Sophie's face and certainly understood. Few people realized that anagrams, despite being a trite modern amusement, had a rich history of sacred symbolism. The mystical teachings of the Kabbala drew heavily on anagrams – rearranging the letters of Hebrew words to derive new meanings. French kings throughout the Renaissance were so convinced that anagrams held magic power that they appointed royal anagrammatists to help them make better decisions by analyzing words in important documents. The Romans actually referred to the study of anagrams as ars magna – â€Å"the great art.†Langdon looked up at Sophie, locking eyes with her now. â€Å"Your grandfather's meaning was right in front of us all along, and he left us more than enough clues to see it.†Without another word, Langdon pulled a pen from his jacket pocket and rearranged the letters in each line. O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! was a perfect anagram of†¦ Leonardo Da Vinci! The Mona Lisa!
Friday, August 16, 2019
Play dough activity Essay
I DISCUSSED WITH MY MANAGER THAT I WAS GOING TO CARRY OUT A PLAY ACTIVITY. THE PROJECT I HAVE CHOSEN TO DO IS THE MAKING OF PLAY DOUGH. I HAVE CHOSEN THIS ACTIVITY BECAUSE I FEEL THIS IS A GREAT PASTIME AND A GREAT EXPERIENCE BETWEEN ME AND THE CHILDREN. I SAY THIS BECAUSE THE CHILDREN CAN ACTUALLY TAKE PART IN THE MAKING OF THE PRODUCT. I THINK THIS ACTIVITY WILL HELP THEM TO LEARN ABOUT COLOURS, SHAPES†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. MY MANAGER CONFIRMED THE ACTIVITY AND SHE WAS REALLY PLEASED WITH IDEA AND SHE ALSO THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THE CHILDREN. I ALREADY HAVE A RECIPE ON HOW TO DO PLAY DOUGH, BUT MY MANAGER CONFIRMED ONE MORE TIME ALL THE INGREDIENTS: FLOUR, FOOD COLOURING, SALT, OIL AND WATER. I MAKE THE PLAY DOUGH ACTIVITY WITH FOUR MONTESSORI CHILDREN. THE FIRST THING I DID IT WAS TO GET ALL MY MATERIALS READY: SMALL BASIN, LARGE SPOON, FLOUR, SALT, OIL, WATER, PAINT, SHAPE CUTTERS, ROLLING PIN. IN THIS ACTIVITY CHILDREN CAN DEVELOP MOTOR SKILLS -USING PLAY DOUGH HELPS A CHILD PRACTICE USING CERTAIN PHYSICAL SKILLS WITH THE HANDS WHEN THEY MANIPULATE THE DOUGH WITH THEIR FINGERS. CHILDREN CAN PRACTICE SKILLS SUCH AS PINCHING, SQUEEZING OR POKING WHILE THEY PLAY WITH THE DOUGH. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT-USING PLAY DOUGH HELPS A CHILD PRACTICE USING IMAGINATION AND OTHER COGNITIVE ABILITIES SUCH IMITATION, SYMBOLISM AND PROBLEM SOLVING. THIS HELPS THE CHILD LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS ENVIRONMENT AS HE MAKES AND MIMICS EVERYDAY OBJECTS WITH THE PLAY DOUGH. EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT-USING PLAY DOUGH MAY HELP A CHILD TO CALM DOWN WHEN FRUSTRATED OR ANGRY. HOLDING AND SQUEEZING THE PLAY DOUGH CAN PRODUCE A CALMING EFFECT ON THE CHILD AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING ANGER MANAGEMENT SKILLS. ADDITIONALLY, CHILDREN MAY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE EXPRESSING THEMSELVES IN OTHER WAYS WHILE THEIR HANDS ARE BUSY. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT-USING PLAY DOUGH MAY HELP A CHILD DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS AS SHE PLAYS ALONG WITH OTHER CHILDREN WITH THE DOUGH. ADDITIONALLY, MAKING PLAY DOUGH IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A CHILD TO PRACTICE COOPERATION AND SHARING WITH A CAREGIVER. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. USING PLAY DOUGH MAY HELP A CHILD TO DEVELOP MOTOR SKILLS NEEDED FOR WRITING AND DRAWING. LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. BECAUSE OF THE INTERACTIVE NATURE OF PLAY DOUGH USE, CHILDREN NEED TO LISTEN, UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNICATION OF OTHERS, SPEAK, AND PRACTICE THEIR ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS AS THEY MOLD AND MANIPULATE THEIR PLAY DOUGH CONSTRUCTIONS. SCIENCE UNDERSTANDINGS. THE TACTILE EXPERIENCE OF MANIPULATING PLAY DOUGH HELPS CHILDREN DEVELOP A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MATTER CHANGES (PHYSICS) AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO USE SCIENTIFIC THINKING AS THEY OBSERVE CHANGES, MAKE PREDICTIONS, AND TALK THROUGH DIFFERENCES IN THE MATERIALS THEY ARE USING. MATHEMATICS CONCEPTS. MIXING UP A NEW BATCH OF PLAY DOUGH WITH ADULTS IS ONE WAY IN WHICH PLAY DOUGH ENGAGES CHILDREN IN MATHEMATICAL LEARNING AS THEY MEASURE AND COUNT RECIPE INGREDIENTS. DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SHAPE, RELATIVE SIZE (GREATER THAN, EQUAL TO, OR LESS THAN), HEIGHT, LENGTH, AND WEIGHT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO DEVELOP MATHEMATICAL UNDERSTANDINGS. LITERACY LEARNING. WHEN PAPER AND WRITING UTENSILS ARE ADDED TO THE PLAY DOUGH AREA, CHILDREN CAN MAKE SIGNS, LABELS, AND CREATE STORIES RELATED TO THEIR PLAY EFFORTS. EXPLORING AND THINKING- CHILDREN USED THEIR SENSES, THEIR MINDS AND THEIR BODIES TO FIND OUT ABOUT AND MAKE SENSE OF WHAT THEY SEE. THEY USED THE IMAGINATION TO CREATE NEW SHAPE OR DIFFERENT MONSTERS FROM PLAY DOUGH; THEY ARE IMITATING IN SPECIAL THE MOTHERS IN THE KITCHEN WHEN ARE COOKING; ARE MAKING GESTURES AS ADULTS ;ARE PLAYING AND TALKING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE. IDENTITY AND BELONGINGS-CHILDREN BUILD RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS; THEY EXPRESS THEIR OWN IDEAS, PREFERENCES AND NEEDS, AND HAVE THESE RESPONDED TO WITH RESPECT AND CONSISTENCY; THEY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A PLACE AND A RIGHT TO BELONG TO THE GROUP; WELL-BEING-IN THE PLAY ACTIVITY CHILDREN WERE HAPPY AND PLAYFUL; THEY WERE INTERACTING TO EACH OTHER; THE GROUP ACTIVITY MAKE THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE AND CONTENTS. COMMUNICATION-CHILDREN USED A RANGE OF BODY MOVEMENTS, FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, AND EARLY VOCALISATIONS TO SHOW FEELINGS AND SHARE INFORMATION; THEY INTERACT WITH OTHER CHILDREN BY LISTENING, DISCUSSING AND TAKING TURNS IN CONVERSATION; CHILDREN USED LANGUAGE WITH CONFIDENCE AND COMPETENCE FOR GIVING AND RECEIVING INFORMATION, THEY ASKED QUESTIONS AND REQUEST TOO. THROUGH THIS ACTIVITY I FOUND THE CHILDREN HAD GREAT FUN. CHILDREN WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HELP ME MAKE THE PLAY DOUGH. THEY WERE FULL OF ALL DIFFERENT QUESTIONS. OVER ALL I FELT THE ACTIVITY WENT VERY WELL
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Globalization Of The Market Economy Essay
Much has been said how globalization has internationalize the market economy and how this system was able to integrate and create international partnerships between and among nations. Globalization is not just a phenomenon – it is a system, a new world system that has replaced the Cold War. Globalization has transcended economic and political borders without so much undermining the national sovereignty of any nation. This essay will document how the key players and catalysts accomplished the integration of a very complex world market economy, allowing the creation of the so-called global village. Specifically, this essay will look into the following: ? the creation of international bodies collectively known as The Bretton Woods institutions; ? the largest regional trade organizations: how they come into being, its membership, and how they are being seen sometimes as stumbling blocs, instead of building blocs; ? multi- or transnational corporations; and ? technological revolution (information and communication technology, or ICT, and the Internet). The list above will help us see globalization, an intangible system, as an observable, concrete, and measurable concept. This essay will also attempt to explain the future of globalization so as to prepare other areas that it has not penetrated yet, and at the same time, to allow those who are experiencing it already to take advantage of the strengths and opportunities in the system and be prepared with the threats that come with it. Understanding globalization There are two very interesting books on globalization that can serve as a starting point of this essay – MacGillivray’s A brief history of globalization: The Untold story of our incredible shrinking planet and Friedman’s The Lexus and the olive tree: Understanding globalization. MacGillivray argues that the term â€Å"globalization†has rapidly become one of the most overused words in the field of international relations. Unfortunately, its being overused does not guarantee understanding of the concept. In fact, this is one of the least understood or at least broadly construed concepts in the same field. It clearly covers connections between and among political, economic, cultural, and even environmental issues or concerns. And with the recent advance in information technology, we also know that globalization also concerns itself about technology and even war. MacGillivray described globalization as the interaction and integration between and among people, corporations, and governments across national boundaries. Such web of interaction and integration is motivated by international trade and investment with the help of technology, particularly, information technology (MacGillivray 2006). The importance of technology in the era of globalization was further elaborated and described by Friedman in his book The Lexus and the olive tree: Understanding globalization through this passage: â€Å"In the Cold War, the most frequently asked question was ‘How big is your missile? ’ In globalization, the most frequently asked question is ‘How fast is your modem? ’†As compared to other writers who believe that globalization is a phase of human evolution, or maybe a trend, Friedman believes that it is more of an international system which existence was significantly felt after the Cold War period. He argued that the movement of globalization in this contemporary period is just an extension of the previous period which has marked the end of the First World War (Friedman 1999). Whereas the Cold War has changed the whole world into a bipolar one, globalization has changed this into a global village with shared or integrated resources in terms of capital, technology, political and market sentiments, and information across and, even more interesting, through national borders. Establishing new grounds: The collapse of economic and market frontiers Globalization’s effects are very much visible in some aspects of international relations. In this essay, the effect on economic sovereignty would be the focus. It should be noted though that as far as these effects are concerned, globalization does not destabilize the sovereignty and legitimacy of a nation in any one way or another. With globalization, we could say that the economic borders of any sovereign nation has somewhat been transcended, i. e. , protectionist policies are either challenged if not eliminated completely. The Bretton Woods system: The first attempt to international openness One of the best ways of seeing globalization’s effect to international relations is by looking at international financial institutions having direct or indirect effect to sovereign nations. While they do not exactly dictate what the economic policies of countries should be, these bodies without a doubt influence the making of such policies. In the early 1930s, currency exchange rates, even those of the major economies, are unstable. A number of countries are protectionists and had very restrictive trade policies. A decade after that, Great Britain and the United States, the only two super powers then, proposed the establishment of international financial or monetary institutions that would aim to stabilize exchange rates and, more importantly, improve international trade. In 1944, 44 nations through their representatives convened at the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. The participants of the conference met to plan the recovery and eventual development of post-war Europe and to discuss the monetary and prevailing economic issues of that period – protectionist trade policies and unstable exchange rates of a number of countries (Bretton Woods Project 2007; Canadian Economy Online 2007). This has given birth to the Bretton Woods Agreement. The agreement aims to create a post-war international monetary system of convertible currencies, fixed and stable exchange rates, and free trade across geographical regions. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (which was later on referred to as the World Bank) were established to facilitate the objectives of the agreement. The resulting bodies from this Bretton Woods convention have definitely affected the economic sovereignty of countries. Taking the case of International Monetary Fund, its main areas of concern are surveillance (advice and appraisal on the policies of its member economies), financial or monetary assistance for members experiencing short- to medium-term economic problems and difficulties, and technical assistance as well as training in monetary and fiscal policies (Ibid). The Bretton Woods agreement prevented currency and exchange rates competition and promoted monetary cooperation among its member economies. Under this system, member nations and economies agreed to have a system of currency exchange rates that could be adjusted or computed within defined parities with the US dollar. This currency exchange rate could also be adjusted to correct a basic disequilibrium in balance of payments as approved by IMF. Advocates of the Bretton Woods system argued that establishment of a stable exchange rate would discourage the â€Å"beggar thy neighbour†policies, which would eventually benefit several, if not all, member economies by the promotion and expansion of international market and trade. The competitiveness of currency exchange rates decreased overtime due to infrequent changes in parities. Some expressed concerns that a fixed currency exchange rate system may prohibit countries enough liberty for them to actually pursue and implement their own monetary and fiscal policies. IMF uses both its surveillance as well as technical assistance work or functions in developing codes and standards of good practice in its areas of responsibility (Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund 2007). The World Bank, which is officially named International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, is actually a development institution. Its mandate is to build a climate of healthy investment, sufficient jobs, and sustainable growth. It also invests in poor people and empowers them to participate in development projects. Its efforts on poverty reduction can be observed in national as well as global levels (Schiff and Winters 2003, 15–16). The World Bank gives emphasis on extending aids to poor and developing nations. But more than just these financial aids or loans, the bank gives advice on policymaking and training to countries needing them. Now, in return for IMF’s and World Bank’s financial support or any other kind of advice, recipients of these financial aids should implement necessary structural adjustment policies that will encourage healthy public spending, especially on social services delivery systems. These policies usually decrease government’s participation in the economy (or market, to be specific). Currently, the World Bank is the largest international lending institution dealing with least developed to developing countries (Ibid, 25–26). The World Trade Organization is probably the most â€Å"intrusive†of the three bodies established by the Bretton Woods convention. The convention created a provision for an International Trade Organization. However, such plan lay dormant until the actual establishment of the World Trade Organization in early 1990s. This original plan did not materialize in the form it was originally conceptualized because of the refusal of the US Congress to endorse it. (The refusal of the US Congress is primarily anchored on the idea that had the International Trade Organization been approved then, this body would have the power of a supranational body that can implement sanctions, penalties, or disciplines to any member economies that the ITO deem violating the principles and agreements reached at the Bretton Woods. ) In lieu of this, an international organization, so to speak, in the form of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or GATT was created. As an international body, it has the primary responsibility of reducing trade barriers through multilateral and multinational negotiations. ITO, however, does not have the power to effect any policies, i. e. , its agreements are non-binding (Timeline: World Trade Organization – A chronology of key events 2007). The World Trade Organization came into existence on 1995. It replaced GATT as an international body overseeing the multilateral trading system. One hundred and twenty-eight (128) countries had signed GATT by 1994. And as of the year 2007, there are 151 full-fledged members and 30 economies/countries having observer status. Every member country of the WTO has the right to challenge or simply question other countries’ local, state, or federal laws granted that such laws may impede efficient and effective international trade. In such cases, if the WTO judges the law to contain violations of WTO ideals, it [WTO] may order the government to overturn or modify the law or else, the country can experience or suffer from trade sanctions. This is exactly why the US Congress did not approve the ratification of the treaty for the creation or establishment of the WTO (Ibid). These three international bodies have clearly penetrated the economic barriers, even political to some extent, of any of its member economies. For this purpose, however, it is clear that these effects are for the benefit of the member economy. While it is clear that these Bretton Woods bodies do not directly dictate economic policies, it has the power to influence its members to act towards its direction. Again, this is not to emphasize that economic sovereignty is being taken away from the country itself, but clearly, the economic barriers have been breached. Regional trade associations or blocs Regional trade associations are â€Å"offshoots†, so to speak, of the globalization phenomenon where inter-nation or inter-state agreement is established. These associations are actually the ones that manage, promote, and direct all the trade activities of the concerned group of countries or regions of the world (UC Atlas of Global Inequality, 2007). This is a case where instead of an institution penetrating the borders of a country, the sovereign country itself initiates the â€Å"surrender†of their economic, or more particularly, trading, policies. Regional trade associations, in general terms, are groupings of economies or nations at a governmental level that aims to promote, manage, and encourage trade within and among their own region and defend its member countries or member economies against a larger global competition. Protection against this larger global competition is done by most countries by establishing tariffs on commodities produced by its members economies, import quotas, onerous bureaucratic import processes, government subsidies, and technical and other non-tariff barriers. Trade is not an isolated activity and other areas of relations between countries or economies involved are also affected: political, security, and other issues affecting the region (Ibid). A good example of a regional trade bloc affecting other aspects of inter-national relations is the case of the European Union or EU. This group is the world’s largest trade association, and by far, the most effective in terms of certain aspects. EU has harbored not just economic but also political ambitions extending way beyond the free trading arrangements entered into by the participating economies (Gibb and Michalak, 1994, 75). The ideological foundations of EU were actually focused on ensuring development and maintaining international or even inter-regional stability, specifically, encapsulating communist or socialist expansion in the post-WWII Europe. EU’s plan actually involves possible joint policies on military security and citizenship. Some researchers believe that trade associations complement globalized trade. There are those, on the other hand, who believe that regionalism is a threat to free trade due to its protectionist nature having conservative policies being implemented by these blocs that shield the member- countries from outside competition of global trade. Such debates contain sharp disagreements. In the same work by Gibb and Michalak (1994, 1), they noted, â€Å"the multilateral trading system is in decline and regionalism is on the ascendancy. †They emphasized that regional trade blocs are an alternative form of trade that â€Å"attempts to counter more aggressive policies of trade, especially as espoused by the WTO. â€
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Google in Asia
PIB Case Discussion Google in Asia 1. What resources and capabilities does Naver have that Google does not? – Those two companies have same purpose and function. But in detail, Google didn’t catch up Koreans mind. Google prefer simple design with fast searching system for people whose don’t have fast internet or fast internet devices. But in Korean market, almost every houses are using super fast internet with chip price. And even countryside of South Korea is able to use fast internet. If American or other nation uses naver as a main page, too many links and advertising can be effect their internet speed.And Naver has more information that fits to Korean people who wants for the information. Such as Knowledge search, blogs, and cafe things, which make people gathering and share the information and communicating. 2. Why are the top two search engine providers in Japan foreign entrants, whereas in South Korea and China, it is a domestic incumbent that dominates th e industry? -People can proud of their mother company which gives lots of information and easy to use. But in Japan, those two companies are foreign companies and settle downed already in Japanese market. That’s why even it’s not Japanese company, people doesn’t care. . Does Naver have what it takes to succeed in overseas markets, such as Japan and the United states? -Naver is not just a search engine which give information. The reason that succeeds in Korean market was other functions, which can provide interests and make people gathering all together on the websites. If Naver provide similar function web site in Japan and US market, they might be successful. But before they jump in foreign market, they must consider of the environment factors such as internet speed and supply rates of computer thing. Naver is too heavy for people who don’t have fast internet or fast internet devices.
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