Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Property law coursework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Property law coursework - Essay Example Crane Jr, because a covenant on registered land would be registered as well and not require a DII charge. The details of the charge need careful examination to determine any existing prior rights. Bearing these aspects in view, the existence of a CI land charge suggests that Mr. Crane’s right in the property may be in the nature of an equitable charge that is acquired by a tenant or statutory owner for life.3 There have been successive charges over this land, hence applying section 97 of the Property Act of 1925, any puisne mortgage existing in Mr. Crane’s favor will be determined by the order of registration, however the Land Charges Act4 would make such a mortgage void where a subsequent purchaser of the property is concerned. However, since Mr. Crane has registered the property and the deed exists, this problem may be averted. Section 53(1) of the now-repealed Law of Property Act of 1925 had clarified that no oral interests can be created in property. However Section 53(2) included the provision for the existence of a constructive trust arising in those cases where a former co-habitee asserts a beneficial interest arising out of an informal arrangement, such as that Ms. Chandra had with Mr. Crane, in providing funds for improvement of the property from her own savings. The Land Registration Act of 2002 which has replaced the Law of property Act of 1925 also includes a formality requirement of a signature, even for documents in the prescribed electronic format that are â€Å"to be regarded for the purpose of any enactment† as a deed.5 Ms. Chandra’s interest is not a legal one and may not fall under the category of protection of land charges.6 This could have entitled her to a second legal charge over the land, which would have been enforceable even in the cases of unregistered land, where the charge has not been registered as a class C1 charge7. She has been cohabiting with Mr. Crane and there is no special law that

Sunday, October 27, 2019

The Involvement Of Government In Community Sports Tourism Essay

The Involvement Of Government In Community Sports Tourism Essay Introduction: In this modern society, the development of sports has become one of the most significance aim for nations, especially for developing the professional sports and promoting participation of the mass sport. Governments establish the policies for promoting the development of sports in communities is good for the people health benefits and economic development. Therefore, the intervention of government into the community sports plays a critical role for the success of community sports. Background: Until late 1950s or early 1960s, numbers of countries have the purpose of government intervention in sport is to specific problems such as poor standards of health in urban areas (Houlihan, 1997). Nowadays, the purposes of the government intervention in sports have broadened, which is not just for providing people physical or psychological need, but also for the business purpose. Governments establish the public sport facilities in communities and urban in order to give more opportunities to participate in sports and develop the atmosphere of sports, in addition, the image of communities or urban will be improved apparently like small city Wimbledon as famous as tennis holding , and the international winter competitions in Innsbruck. In terms of economy, it can provide a lot of profits for nation, such as big events Olympic Games and World Cup, in addition to them, community sports can be a potential way to stimulate the development of economy as well, particular in the sport subcult ure, attract more people who come from foreign countries. Arguments for the reasons of government involvement: Having a famous community sport events, which enhance other industries development and such as tourism, hospitality, etc. In addition, the volunteer works play a critical role in the community sports competition, because they can help the operation of organization sports successfully. The development of elite sports can be connected to the community sports because it can cultivate ergastic talents from the community sport , which is good for the development of elite sports. Although communities sports have a promising prospect through the ways of government involvement, the negative aspects should not be ignored such as market fail, negative externalities and Tragedy of the Commons. In the social problems, the rates of crime might be increased. Hence, all of the negative aspects in the development of community sports that the governments have to overcome it. Benefits effects: Social benefits from community sports: People can get benefits from Participating in the community sports, which are the physical activity improving and health care reduction. In Australia, according to the data shows that people doing sports in communities can get health costs reduce $1.49 billion per year; and productivity gains by making the workforce healthier through increased physical activity could be as much as 1% of GDP (or $12 billion) per year. (Frontier Economics report, 2010). It can be seen that doing sports in communities that it is not only can get physical health, but also increasing the GDP. On the other hand, people can socialize with others during the competitions of community sports, in the meanwhile, the voluntary works can be enhanced by the opportunities of sports competition in the communities, which can develop the elite sports significantly. In Australia, government inputs the volunteers as value as almost $4 billion (Frontier Economics report, 2010). This is a worthwhile intervention by the Aus tralian government, because they can enhance the development of the elite sports and also reduce government spending. Therefore, governments play an important role to encourage people to engage in community sports, and increase the volunteer works. Positive externalities With the involvement of governments in community sport events, community sports have been strengthen, the holding of sport events can get benefits for host community, because the community sport is not just for the purposes of recreation and physical health, it has become common tool for local and regional economic development (Brien, 2007). There are several industries could be enhanced such as sport tourism industry, restaurants, hotels, nightspots and transportation facilities (Peter Tarlow, 2010). Sport tourism is most important industry, in Australia sport tourism might represent about 5% of the overall tourism market, equating to tourism expenditure of about $3 billion per annum (Commonwealth of Australia, 2000). government control the community sports development as the sport subculture is very important, because people to participate in the community sports is more likely to know the subculture of sports, and it is more attractive for foreigners. In Australia, sport occupies a central place within culture and identity, based on a long history of achievement across a wide range of sports (Commonwealth of Australia, 2000). Moreover, establish more infrastructures in community will enhance the development of tourism, because it is very important to retain tourists. In Australia, the Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP announced that 220 million funding for the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP) would be made available to build and modernize community facilities, including town halls, libraries, community centres, sports grounds and environmental infrastructure (Australian government, 2010). . Government involves in the community sport events and infrastructures have more changelings for the governments, because it decides other industries whether it develops rapidly or not. Sport policy in the community sports The development of community sports is not only for improving the regional the levels of regional and nation, also there is more meaningful that the relationship between countries can be improved due to the exchange between culture and sports. For example, in the early 1970s, in order to have a good thawing between East and West, USA sent a table-tennis to China, which is the first step to traditional diplomatic relations (Houlihan, 1991). Table-tennis can be a national identity of China, USA used the way of exchange between sport and culture in order to have sport culture exchange and promote the friendship between these two countries. Therefore, government strength the national identity started from the community sports, because they have basic level, and in order to have advancement for the development of nation identity. In Australian, the most representative sports are rugby, cricket and surfing, etc. government has support these sports increasingly in the communities. In Austra lian community sport policy also focus on children participation, which develops the grass roots sport, and encouraging all students to get healthy and physically active, which means it helps students combat obesity and preventable diseases later in life through the Australian Sport Commissions Active After-school Communities (Australia Sport Commission, 2010). Negative effects Negative externalities Government involve in community sports level has achieved a lot of positive outcomes. However, the negative outcomes in the community sport that governments have to overcome its. Having a good community sport will attract a large numbers of people to participate in, but it leads to environmental pollution raised. The governments have to solve this problem, because it can lose interesting among the spectators and participants. In addition, the hooligans and vandalism in community sport facilities are serious problems which result in public property loss, according to the Coffs Harbor City Council report that they started to strengthen measures to reduce vandalism in community sport facilities, and almost spent to the city more than $100,000 each year (Coffs Harbour City Council report, 2004). Hence, governments play an important role to reduce the vandalisms and hooligans. Naturally, increasing numbers of participants will attend because of the safety guarantee. With the development of community sports, increasing numbers of people participate in community sport because there are a lot of public sport facilities and services exist. As a result, the fitness industry will be threatened potentially, because fitness industry is beyond the budget for people who can get low incomes especially for the students, so have a good community sport facilities will give them more opportunities to do sports, even though the fitness industry has more professional guidance and facilities. Therefore, the government intervention in fitness industry is necessarily, and cultivates more talents for encouraging the development of fitness industry. In Canada, Fitness increased concern among physical educators and health lifestyle and the government supported $5million per annum to cultivate these kinds of talent (Houlihan, 1997). Tragedy of the Commons With the development of society, the use of land has become competitive because more and more companies and factories tend to use larger space to develop themselves, and also the land-ownership play an essential role for industry of real estate. It can be seen that increasing numbers of buildings have built for the business companies or government sectors. Therefore, establish more sport venues and sport infrastructures in public are not very easy, because the land area is limited. If establish in the country areas, it will lead to restrict the development of agriculture. Therefore, the development of community sports will be limited, because there is no much more space to do sports for people. Especially in China, the populations were increased rapidly during the last years, so the people who live in the city, the sport facilities in public is not enough due to the increasing of populations, naturally, the sport fields is not enough as well. Hence, the governments have to interventi on in space of community sport areas, which means give rights to broaden the space in sport areas, and more chances for people engaging in sports. Conclusion: Anyway, the governments involved in community sports for couple of reasons which include social benefits, positive and negative externalities, community sport promotion and Tragedy of the Commons for the community sports. So no matter what reasons are, that the governments intervene to the community sports for three main purposes which are people physical healthy, the development of nation economy and the elite sports. Specifically, the governments involvement is for encouraging and assisting the development of community sports. First of all, People doing community sport is not only reducing the health costs, but also having more opportunities to socialize. Secondly, to develop the volunteer works and community level sports are very important for the elite sports, because community sports is being a basic level, and there are many people who are cultivatable and promising for the elite sports. Volunteer works can be a construction of underpin for the elite sport levels. In terms of children health, governments encourage them to participate in community sports in order to reduce the diseases and obesity for them. In addition, Sport policy is good for promoting the nationals relationship such as sport and culture exchange between USA and China. Moreover, enhancing the development other industries take advantage of the opportunities of holding of the community sport events, like tourism and hospitalit y, etc. However, there are a lot of negative aspects in the community sports such as hooligans and vandalisms, environment pollution and Tragedy of the Commons, all of the negative aspects that governments have to cope with it as quickly as possible.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Egyptian, Babylonian, And Hebrew Religions Essay -- essays research pa

Egyptian, Babylonian, and Hebrew Religions Egyptians, Babylonians, and Hebrews have similarities yet also differences in their religions. The importance is not in the similarities as much as it is in the differences that distinguish the cultures from each other and their views on life. I would like to point out each civilization's creation and flood story. By analyzing these stories we can come to a better understanding of their world views. The Hebrew creation story from the book of Genesis is one that most people know well. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The earth was without form and void. God said, "let there be light," and there was light. He then separated the light from the darkness. He also created the land, plants, and animals. He saw everything he created and, behold, it was good. The heavens and earth were completed and all that dwelled within them. On the seventh day he rested. The earth was complete, but there was nothing to take care of this creation. So, God created man in the image of himself. Man was created from the dust of the ground. God gave him the breath of life and the man became a living soul (Moses 1:1-2:7). With the background of that story, one should look at the Egyptian interpretation of the beginning. At first there was nothing but chaos that contained the seed of everything to come. In this confusion the sun god dwelled. By an effort of his will he emerged from chaos as Ra and gave birth to Shu, the god of a...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Cebu in Philippines: Mabuhay Essay

Mabuhay! It means â€Å"Welcome!† in Philippines. And here, you truly are. On Tourism Philippines Guide, you’ll find friendly unbiased updated travel information for touring Philippines, what to see and what to avoid. More [+] Cebu Posted by Roz Visarra on May 4th, 2009 Filed Under: Cebu, Featured Cebu CEBU TRAVEL GUIDE Why Not Go Why Go Best Time to Visit Where to Stay Where & What to Eat Nightlife To Do List Stay Away From Getting There Cebu is a very beautiful city with countless beaches and nature parks. It offers everything you need- from a relaxing retreat in a tropical island, to all the conveniences that a first class metropolis can give. In contrast to the bustling metropolis, the rest of Cebu ‘s 167 islets and islands are lined with idyllic white sandy beaches and pristine clear waters. The Queen City of the South is the capital of the Visayas (also the political, economic, educational and cultural center of the Visayas) and is the second biggest city in the country. Located in between two straits, and several surrounding islands, Cebu is about 225 kilometers long, a narrow island that is home to 2.4 million people. Cebu is the jump-off point to satellite destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao Islands – Leyte, Samar, Dumaguete, Siquijor, Cagayan De Oro, Camiguin & Surigao Del Norte. Spectacular Metro Cebu: This is an aerial view of Metro Cebu, showing Cebu City (top left), Mandaue City(right), Mactan Channel(the body of water), and LapuLapu City(part of Mactan Island, bottom left). The bridge farther in the image is the first Mactan-Mandaue bridge, the second one is the Marcelo Fernan Bridge. This is one of the finest aerial shots I have for Metro Cebu. The timing was perfect for the plane to take this approach, the weather was right, the sun was like a flood light that is constantly illuminating the subject from this angle. This angle and this view was observable for just a few seconds. Luckily, I was able to take the shot within that time frame. Photo by storm-crypt The Heart of Cebu City: The western half of Osmena Boulevard, from the Fuente Osmena circle to Cebu’s provincial capitol. Photo by storm-crypt Why Not Go Everybody loves to go to Cebu so there is really no reason why anyone would not want to go there, if given the chance. Although if you want to go to a very quiet, provincial place, you can always go to its neighboring towns such as Bantayan, Badian and Argao. Why Go Can’t Outdo Cebu: With an island like this, it is difficult to miss summertime in Cebu. A resort on the east side, and in the foreground(west side), is a fish sanctuary, teeming with corals, and a huge variety of species of fish, that you can view closely to the point that you can touch them. And you can do all that with just snorkeling. Shot taken off the southeastern coast of Mactan Island, just a few minutes of side trip on the way to the airport. This island is called Hilutungan Island — a few kilometers off the southeast coast of Mactan Island. Photo by storm-crypt Simply because Cebu has it all. If you are looking for a place to spend your honeymoon, there are several 5 star resorts nearby. If you are planning a  family vacation, you can enjoy parasailing and scuba diving in the island hotels, and you can also go mountain climbing or camping in one of its nature parks. When it is thrill and excitement you long for, it has a one-of-a-kind amusement park that you cannot find anywhere else- the Sky Experience Adventure at Crown Regency. Now, if it is shopping and dining you want, Cebu has it too; a lot of them in fact. Anything which your adventurous and wandering heart desires, you can find it in Cebu. Central Cebu Mountains: Going strait to north from the municipality of Sibonga will get you to this point.Taken somewhere in central Cebu’s mountain range, shortly before heading east to the city of Cebu. Photo by storm-crypt Best Time to Visit Summer in Cebu is usually very hot while in November-January, the wind is often cold. If you want to frolic in the beach, you should go there during summer which is from March to May. But, if you want to see what Cebu has in store for all its visitors, go there in January, specifically on the 3rd week as this is the time they celebrate one of the country’s biggest festivities, the Sinulog. But you need to book early as hotels are bound to be booked even a week or two before the festival. The rainy season begins in July bringing torrential downpours that would sometimes inhibit movement, typhoon activity is minor compared with other parts of the Philippines. Sinulog: Sinulog, on the third weekend in January, honors the baby Jesus (Santo Nino) with a solemn religious parade on Friday evening, and an all-day festival on Saturday. Sort of like Carnival with thousands of participants. Spectacular! These girls are your average Filipino teenagers, but are dressed up in the style of â€Å"cultural minorities† who still live in the more remote locals of the country. Photo by friskodude The Cebuano’s flair for showmanship and love for celebrations is manifested in the Sinulog, a colorful festival of pageant proportion observed every third Sunday of January. Sinulog is a dance ritual in honor of the  miraculous image of the Santo Nià ±o. The dance moves two steps forward and one step backward to the sound of the drums. This resembles the current (Sulog) of what was then known as Cebu’s Pahina River. Thus, in Cebuano, they say it’s Sinulog. SINULOG ’07 Photo by 2rokbotoy Where to Stay Save up to 75% on hotels in Philippines Since Cebu has always been a popular tourist destination, it is equipped with hotels and resorts for every budget. If you want to splurge a bit to experience luxury at its best, you can stay at the following hotels and resorts: Marco Polo Plaza- located at Nivel Hills, this is a great hotel with such awesome customer service. The food buffet at Cafà © Marco is like no other, plus you get a fantastic view of the city. Rates start at around $105. Waterfront Hotel and Casino- there are two Waterfront Hotels, one is beside the airport and the other is within the uptown area but I would recommend the hotel in the uptown area because it is so much nicer, with better amenities. Plus it is near everything else. Rate starts at $95. Plantation Bay- this is located in Lapu-Lapu, it is an island city just about 30 minutes away from Cebu. This is a truly lovely resort where you can really experience luxury and relaxation. Rates start at $150++. Shangrila Mactan Resort and Spa- this is probably the most popular resort in Cebu and with good reason too. It has a beautiful beach front, swimming pools, a huge garden, a play area for kids plus a wonderful spa. Rates start at $165++. If you are on a budget, you may prefer to stay at cheaper hotels. Don’t worry, Cebu has a lot of them and they are quite clean and nice too. Golden Peak Hotel- located in uptown Cebu; this is a newly built hotel. Rates start at $30. Maxwell Hotel- another newly built hotel, with a spa and coffee shop with free DSL internet. Rates start at Golden Prince Hotel- this hotel is very near food and shopping establishments, particularly one of Cebu’s biggest malls which is Ayala. Rates start at $49. Heritage of Cebu: The Heritage of Cebu monument in Parian showcases the significant events of Cebu. You can also see sculptures of Lapu-lapu, Rajah Humabon, Ferdinand Magellan, martyr Pedro Calunsod and other prominent historical figures that have moved and shaped Cebu in more ways than one. This monument is the work of national artist Edgardo Castrillo. It was constructed on July 1997 was inaugurated on Dec. 8, 2000. Photo by Brennan Mercado Where & What to Eat †¢Abuhan- Have you ever heard of Pochero? It is a great tasting soup with pork or beef bone marrow, corn and cabbages. Abuhan is famous for it. You can try this in one of their 3 brances. I would recommend the branch they have at Asiatown IT Park. †¢Golden Cowrie-This is probably the most frequented Filipino restaurant, particularly by tourists. Their food is simply amazing. You can try their sautà ©ed mushroom and chicken pandan. They have 3 branches: in Lahug, SM, and Hukad in Ayala. †¢Spice Fusion- this restaurant offers Asian Cuisines that are quite delicious. A favorite, roti in curry sauce is highly recommended. Spice Fusion has two branches, one at the Banilad Town Center and the other one at North Wing, in SM. †¢Sutukil- visitors should never leave Cebu without going to the famous SUTUKIL. It is an area with several restaurants offering the freshest seafood. You can actually choose from live fish, crabs, and shrimps, and then you can have it cooked SUTUKIL style, which comprises three different food: grilled, raw (with vinegar, tomatoes, ginger and chili), and soup. This is located beside the Mactan Shrine in Lapu-Lapu. †¢Cafà © Laguna-a place where you can taste authentic Filipino dishes. Try their bistek tagalog, it is simply heaven to the palate. You can find Cafà © Laguna in the mall and garden area of Ayala Mall. †¢Larsians- sample Cebu’s street food at its finest. Grilled chicken, pork and fish plus you can try their ‘puso’ or what others call ‘hanging rice.’ It is rice wrapped and cooked in palm leaves. †¢Harbour City Dimsum- great Chinese food- try their siomai and steam rice. Harbour City has branches in two malls, Ayala and SM. Nightlife Cebu has lots of places to go to enjoy your night – from downtown to uptown, Metropolitan Cebu comes even more alive as dusk sets in, with queues leading to music bars, discos and the casinos. If you want to go dancing, you can go to Sunflower at Lahug, or at Pump in Archbishop Reyes Street. If you want to go Karaoke, you can go to POD5 at the Banilad Town Center, or at K1 KTV at the Crossroads. If you just want to hang out in a restobar, you can go to Sinners and Saints in Banilad or a sportsbar called Badgers. You can also go to T.G.I.F. in Ayala where the food, beer and service are really good. Now if you just want to have some nice and quiet evening, you can go to Tops, it sure is nice there during the night; you get to see all the lights around Cebu. My to do List †¢Island Hopping- You can rent a pumpboat for about $60 and this will take you to 3 beautiful islands around Cebu. It is a whole day activity so you may want to bring in some lunch and snacks. †¢Mountain View- You can go there day or night- it does not matter as they are open 24/7. It is full of tall trees and flowers, plus hangout areas and playgrounds for kids. You also get a great view of the city at the top. Entrance fee: $1.25 per person †¢Nature Tripping- You can go to one of its many waterfalls, especially the one in Badian which is the Kawasan Falls, it is about 2  ½ hours away from the city. †¢Bantayan Island- This is about a 3 hour drive to the southernmost port, and then you will take a RoRo to the island which is about an hour’s travel. Bantayan is great for those who want some quiet time in sugary white sand beaches. Turtle with two live sharksuckers Photo by alfonsator †¢Moalboal- You should go there if you want to dive. It is about 2  ½ hours away from the city. They have several diving packages at different rates. The islands of Mactan and Camotes are not to missed by diver addicts too. †¢Sky Experience- located at the heart of the city, this is where the city’s tallest building is. Experience the thrill of walking hundreds of feet above ground! †¢Basilica del Sto. Nino- this very old church is located at the heart of downtown Cebu. There you can see the many faces and images of the Little Jesus. It has been said that miracles happen if you ask the Sto. Nino to pray for you. Cebu Cathedral Photo by neiltoot †¢Shopping- there are two kinds of shopping you can do-high end and low end. You can find some really good buys in downtown Cebu, specifically at Colon Street where tops can go as low as $2. You can also go to two big malls where you can find clothes, shoes and accessories: Ayala Mall and SM. Stay Away From Cebu is also home to a lot of pickpockets and robbers. Stay away from the downtown area late at night. Even during the day, you should keep your valuables in places where it is difficult for robbers to get access to it.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Advertisement: Cosmopolitan Magazine

In this Cosmopolitan magazine ad for Tacori jewelry, there is a silver honey comb stick with rich, golden brown honey on the end of it. The honey looks like it is about to drip off of the stick, making the honey look very indulgent. On the handle of the honey stirrer are three engagement rings. The bottom one is a wedding band with diamonds around the whole band. The middle ring and the top ring are the same ring just with different views. The middle ring is the top view and the top ring is the side view.The ring has one big rounded square diamond in the middle and little diamonds around it and on the band four more diamonds on each side. From the ad, the marketing idea is that these rings are a treat, sort of like and indulgent to go along with the sweet honey. In this ad, the honey wand is silver, unlike normal ones that are usually wooden or plastic. Color is a very important detail when creating an ad, and in this ad, the colors chosen were the not bright or vibrant colors, they were simple yet elegant.The background is all white, which allows all of the attention to be drawn to the delectable golden honey on the wand and to the sparkling silver of the rings. The word TACORI is located at the top left hand corner of the ad. It is a thin, black font and does not take up a lot of room, it is just enough to let the reader know what the brand is. I think that the reason why there are not many colors and the name of the company is not a huge bold font is because the main focus is the rings themselves. The honey wand is rather large and the rings are zoomed in on so that the crystal clear diamonds shimmer on the magazine paper.The bright yellow, deep orange and brown from the honey add the only splash of color for this ad. I think the colors of the honey though are used to create a rich feeling to the ad, after all, these rings are the best and money the best is what money can buy. The angle of vision for this ad is very important because in order to sell a produ ct such as these diamond rings, the viewer needs to see all of the aspects of the rings. This ad did a very good job at showing the rings in different angles. The ring at the bottom of the honey wand is the wedding band.In the ad, the ring is positioned so that the diamonds that go around the entire ring can be seen but also the inside of the ring is shown because the word TACORI is stamped on the inside. This is a very good marketing strategy because the rings look more desirable knowing they are name brand. The middle ring is the engagement ring. It is positioned so that the reader is looking straight at the huge square setting of the ring. It shows the top, which is what a person sees if they are wearing the ring. This makes it easier for a person to imagine what it would be like to wear the ring.And the top ring shows the side of the ring, and the small but beautiful details of the smaller diamonds surrounding the sides of the ring. This gives a person the full view of the rings at every angle. There are no characters in this ad nor are there any catchy phrases or sayings. The ad is very clear and shows everything the business needs for a person to want what is being advertised. I don’t think that characters were used in the ad because it would take away from the ring. If a woman sees a gorgeous model wearing a ring, they are not going to put all of their focus on the ring; they are going to look at the surrounding objects.With this ad, there are no distracting people, just sweet honey to make the rings look like a tempting dessert. I think the impression that the ad gives is that these rings are a treat. We as Americans love to be treated well and have things that are valued in our society. A woman for instance loves to be lavished with clothes and shoes and fine jewelry. And this ad is the perfect example of how the honey represents a sweet â€Å"treat† and the rings should go along with it. The rings are a treat for a woman, and she should indulge herself in it. What kind of woman wouldn’t want these rings on her finger?

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Compare Contrast Apples And Oranges Essays

Compare Contrast Apples And Oranges Essays Compare Contrast Apples And Oranges Paper Compare Contrast Apples And Oranges Paper Another similarity can literally be found with in the fruits. Apples just like oranges are a great source for fiber, which is important for controlling blood sugar levels and colon health. Likewise the two have high levels of vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system. As well as being full of nutria meets, both fruits have great disinheriting factors, Apples contain antioxidants cal led flavorings, which may help lower the chance of developing diabetes and asthma. Oranges contain a photochemical called whispering, which may lower triglyceride De and blood cholesterol levels. ( Cannibalizing. Com/health/nutrition/top _ more_health why_pick s. PH p Ultimately what makes the pair so homogeneous is the fact that theyre two o f the most frequently eaten fruits on the planet. Despite all these similarities, apples and oranges can evidently be differentiate deed through multiple aspects. The most obvious of these would be the physical del preferences amidst the two: apples come in a v ariety of colors, from deep reds, to greens, to light yellows, while oranges come in several shades of well Orange! Apples have a thin eel with a usually crunchy interior, on the other hands oranges have thicker peels and a soft flesh. Being the only color of the spectrum whose name was taken from a fruit, the color orange evokes the taste of fruit bursting with juice, while also symbol liking energy, vitality, excitement, adventure, warmth, and good health. Apples are intrigue inning, in the sense that unlike oranges, the apple has quite extensive historical and biblical connotations to it. Apples appear In many religious traditions and text, often as a mystical forbidden fruit ( in reference to; the Garden of Eden). They are also featured frequently in fairy tales . A welkin example is Snow Who tie in which a poisonous apple puts Snow White into a deep slumber. Finally, we have learned that even something seemingly menial like two fruits can have an extensive contrast in the midst of both. Whether its their chemic al composition or even the apples extensive history in popular culture. Consensus entry, if something might seem incomparable at first always try looking at it from a did efferent angle, in addition think the next time you decide that something is

Monday, October 21, 2019

This report discuss Taguchis methods for quality Essays

This report discuss Taguchis methods for quality Essays This report discuss Taguchis methods for quality Paper This report discuss Taguchis methods for quality Paper Essay Topic: History Dr Genichi Taguchi was born in Takamachi, Japan in 1924, a city famous for the kimono industry. It was only natural for him to study textile engineering as he was expected to assume responsibility of the family kimono business. But in 1942 Taguchis draft notice came and between 1942-1945 he served in the Astronomical Department of the Navigational Institute in the Imperial Japanese Navy. After 1945 he worked in the ministry of public Health and Welfare and in the Institute of statistical Mathematics (Ministry of Education). While here he met a prize winning Japanese statistician Prof. Matosaburo Masuyama, who at the time was regarded by many as the best statistician. Under his guidance, Taguchis learned much of the use of orthogonal arrays and experimental design techniques. He also contributed to many industrial experiments that dealt with the production of penicillin, and the name Genichi Taguchi gained recognition. In 1950, he was hired by the Electrical Communication Laboratory (ECL). During this time, both ECL and Bell Laboratories were developing cross bar and telephone switching systems. Working on the project for ECL provided Taguchi with plenty of opportunities for experimentation and data analysis. Six years later, Taguchi and ECL had completed the systems project. Around the same time, Bell Labs completed its version. Nippon ATT awarded a contract to ECL, however, for its superior production. During this period, Taguchi also found time to write Experimental Design and Life Test Analysis and Design of Experiments for Engineers (the result of working in the industry for six years). In 1960, the latter book helped earn him the Deming Prize for his contributions to the field of quality engineering. This is one of Japans most prestigious awards. Two years and a doctorate in science later, Taguchi wrote a second edition of Design of Experiments that introduced industrial research on the signal-to-noise ratio. He left the employ of ECL, but maintained his relationship in a consulting capacity. After becoming part of the associate research staff of the Japanese Standards Association, Taguchi founded the Quality Research Group. Since 1963, the group has met once a month to discuss industry applications. In 1962 Kyushu University awarded Taguchi with his PHD. When Aoyama Gakuin University in Japan invited him to teach in 1965, Taguchi said yesand stayed there for 17 years. Prior to Taguchis arrival, the University had no engineering department. Thanks in part to Taguchi, it now does. Dr. Taguchi developed the concept of the Quality Loss Factor in the early 1970s; he also published the third (current) edition of Design of Experiments By the early 80s, Taguchi was making a name for himself in the United States. Ford Motor Co. had been introduced to Taguchis methods via a Ford supplier. Ford was quite interested and Taguchi was invited to provide seminars for Ford executives in 1982. By 1983 he was executive director of the Ford Supplier Institute, Inc. (which would eventually change its name to the American Supplier Institute). Taguchi received two more awards in 1986. For his outstanding contributions to Japanese economics and industry, he received the Indigo Ribbon from the Emperor of Japan. This was followed by the International Technology Institutes Willard F. Rockwell Medal for combining engineering and statistical methods to achieve rapid improvements in cost and quality by optimising product design and manufacturing processes. ASQ is not the only quality organization to bestow honorary membership on Taguchi. In 1995, the Japanese Society of Quality Control honoured him with a like membership.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Ventricular System of the Brain

Ventricular System of the Brain The ventricular system is a series of connecting hollow spaces called ventricles in the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid. The ventricular system consists of two lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the fourth ventricle. The cerebral ventricles are connected by small pores called foramina, as well as by larger channels. The interventricular foramina or foramina of Monro connect the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle. The third ventricle is connected to the fourth ventricle by a canal called the Aqueduct of Sylvius or cerebral aqueduct. The fourth ventricle extends to become the central canal, which is also filled with cerebrospinal fluid and encases the spinal cord. Cerebral ventricles provide a pathway for the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid throughout the central nervous system. This essential fluid protects the brain and spinal cord from trauma and provides nutrients for central nervous system structures. Lateral Ventricles The lateral ventricles consist of a left and right ventricle, with one ventricle positioned in each hemisphere of the cerebrum. They are the largest of the ventricles and have extensions that resemble horns. The lateral ventricles extend through all four cerebral cortex lobes, with the central area of each ventricle being located in the parietal lobes. Each lateral ventricle is connected to the third ventricle by channels called interventricular foramina. Third Ventricle The third ventricle is located in the middle of the diencephalon, between the left and right thalamus. Part of the choroid plexus known as the tela chorioidea sits above the third ventricle. The choroid plexus produces cerebrospinal fluid. Interventricular foramina channels between the lateral and third ventricles allow cerebrospinal fluid to flow from the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle. The third ventricle is connected to the fourth ventricle by the cerebral aqueduct, which extends through the midbrain. Fourth Ventricle The fourth ventricle is located in the brainstem, posterior to the pons and medulla oblongata. The fourth ventricle is continuous with the cerebral aqueduct and the central canal of the spinal cord. This ventricle also connects with the subarachnoid space. The subarachnoid space is the space between the arachnoid matter and the pia mater of the meninges. The meninges  is a layered membrane that covers and protects the brain and spinal cord. The meninges consists of an outer layer (dura mater), a middle layer (arachnoid mater) and an inner layer (pia mater). Connections of the fourth ventricle with the central canal and subarachnoid space allow cerebrospinal fluid to circulate through the central nervous system. Cerebrospinal Fluid Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear aqueous substance that is produce by the choroid plexus. The choroid plexus is a network of capillaries and specialized epithelial tissue called ependyma. It is found in the pia mater membrane of the meninges. Ciliated ependyma lines the cerebral ventricles and central canal. Cerebrospinal fluid is produced as ependymal cells filter fluid from the blood. In addition to producing cerebrospinal fluid, the choroid plexus (along with the arachnoid membrane) acts as a barrier between the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid. This blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier serves to protect the brain from harmful substances in the blood. The choroid plexus continually produces cerebrospinal fluid, which is ultimately reabsorbed into the venous system by membrane projections from the arachnoid mater that extend from the subarachnoid space into the dura mater. Cerebrospinal fluid is produced and reabsorbed at nearly the same rate to prevent pressure within the ventricular system from getting too high. Cerebrospinal fluid fills the cavities of the cerebral ventricles, the central canal of the spinal cord, and the subarachnoid space. The flow of cerebrospinal fluid goes from the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle via the interventricular foramina. From the third ventricle, the fluid flows to the fourth ventricle by way of the cerebral aqueduct. The fluid then flows from the fourth ventricle to the central canal and the subarachnoid space. The movement of cerebrospinal fluid is a result of hydrostatic pressure, cilia movement in ependymal cells, and artery pulsations. Ventricular System Diseases Hydrocephalus and ventriculitis are two conditions that prevent the ventricular system from functioning normally. Hydrocephalus results from the excess accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. The excess fluid causes the ventricles to widen. This fluid accumulation puts pressure on the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid can accumulate in the ventricles if the ventricles become blocked or if connecting passages, such as the cerebral aqueduct, become narrow. Ventriculitis is inflammation of the brain ventricles that typically results from an infection. The infection can be caused by a number of different bacteria and viruses. Ventriculitis is most commonly seen in individuals who have had invasive brain surgery. Sources: Purves, Dale. â€Å"The Ventricular System.† Neuroscience. 2nd edition., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1970, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11083/.The Editors of Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. â€Å"Cerebrospinal fluid.† Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, inc., 17 Nov. 2017, www.britannica.com/science/cerebrospinal-fluid.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Management communcation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Management communcation - Assignment Example on the cultural considerations for doing business in Japan, as per your request, we established that Japanese companies’ appraise upholding harmony and excellent reputation with customers and the community in general. Of all facets of handling the Japanese, communication complexities cause the biggest dilemma. Exceptional distinction and subtlety typifies Japanese communication. Where how an individual appears, what he or she publicly states and what he or she thinks are frequently poles apart. In essence, it is challenging for a foreigner to understand these baffling paradoxes. Needless to say, everything should be inquired to assure achievement of clear understanding. In reference to Locker and Kiensler (2010), Japanese treasure sitting in silence and calmness (p. 132). In times of difficulty or stress in meetings, Japanese recourse to sitting in silence to release nervousness in the room and give room for people to move away from the difficulty. In addition, the Japanese minimally use body language. This makes an untrained observer to understand. Japanese use body language to indicate attributes such as respect, confidence, agreement, interest and emotional participation. Though eye contact is an indication of attention, Locker and Kiensler (2010) denote that the Japanese show respect by lowering their eyes when speaking to superiors (p. 132). Though Japan is a small country, with a dense population, it encourages cohesiveness and politeness. This helps them avoid conflicts and uphold harmony. From the research, we established that Japanese are naturally group oriented. At the beginning of a new day, many firms in Japan have a group meeting aimed at building harmony and team spirit, and employees can do calisthenics together. A Japanese group identifies the sources of problems in the firm and tries to solve it as a team. Culturally Japan values patience, politeness, hard work, honesty, affiliation and team work. Different cultural settings have different

Friday, October 18, 2019

Journal Entry, topic novel 'The Feast of Love-by Charles Baxter' Essay

Journal Entry, topic novel 'The Feast of Love-by Charles Baxter' - Essay Example Some couples feel love is best expressed by living a traditional lifestyle. Society’s concept of love begins with a perfect family consisting of two parents, children, a white picket fence and a dog. Mothers and Fathers stay together, raising their children. Some couples lives this way happily. The Feast of Love depicts a couple who took this approach. The Ginsbergs raised three children, bought a house and were content to spend their golden years with each other. Both of the Ginsbergs are also Jewish. Even thought they aren’t practicing Jews, their heritage plays a big role in making them fit together. This idea of love fit them. When couples cannot agree on love, divorce becomes the answer. Bradley, the Ginsbergs’ neighbor, was not married once, but twice. Bradley married his first wife with the belief that love was between a man and a woman. He never dreamed that Kathryn would leave him for another woman. Kathryn thought if she married Bradley, he would love her the way she needed. When she realized that Bradley couldn’t love her enough, that no man could, Kathryn started noticing women. Kathryn found her love could exist with another woman. Some lovers believe commitment is not a necessary part of love. Bradley’s second wife, Diana, felt this way. She had a long running affair with a married man named David. When she met Bradley and started dating him, Diana felt no need to give David up. She even saw David after she had accepted Bradley’s proposal. Although Diana avoided David during the couple of months she was married, she never totally put him out of her mind. Though David was still married after her divorce, Diana went right back to him. Marriage was not sacred to her. Being with the person she loved was more important than a piece of paper. Marriage is not a part of love for some people. After Bradley’s two marriages failed, he didn’t really want to go down

Current Events and U.S. Diplomacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 7

Current Events and U.S. Diplomacy - Essay Example As such, he declared that the United States would not send its troops to assist its allies in maintaining peace and stability in their nations. However, he decreed that he would give weapons, as well as, ant other military support to these nations, especially those fighting against communist rule, such as the Peoples Republic of Vietnam. In addition, he ordered a massive number of American troops stationed in foreign countries to return home, whilst strengthening the military power and stability of their governments to enable self-rule after the departure of American troops (Ambrose, 1989). The diplomatic relationship between the United States and the Republic of Vietnam was gross and appalling. The United States and the Vietnamese were at war. In fact, this war claimed over half a million of American troops stationed in Vietnam to maintain peace and establish a stable government. Many of the US soldiers died in military camps as prisoners of war, while numerous other sustained serious physical injuries before they got a reprieve through the call back plan initiated through Nixon’s Doctrines. This angered many citizens against Nixon’s regime. However, the move adopted by President Nixon to pull back American troops from Vietnam, a process termed as Vietnamisation, helped in restoring the public’s trust in his regime. While pulling out the American troops, the president provided the Vietnam government with skills, tools and weaponry, as well as, necessary financial support to set up a strong military squad in their country. This quest was very succe ssful as it enabled the two countries restore cordial relationships, and maintained peace and stability. The president also got local approval from his citizens for his successful efforts of saving numerous American soldiers (Dallek, 2007). The diplomacy rule adopted by President Nixon enabled establishment of peace and harmony within the Southeast Asia. The triple effects of this move also

How Different Leadership Styles Affect Workspace Performance Essay

How Different Leadership Styles Affect Workspace Performance - Essay Example It is quite difficult for one person to manage a large group without having to deal with the factors mentioned above. However, the path-goal theory sets a fair basis for ensuring that every member of the group gets a chance at performing to the best of their ability and receiving the rewards for it. Also, the environment in which the nurses work is very task-based and has a formal authority system that suits the path-goal style. The leader can lead by directing, supporting, setting goals or promoting participation amongst the members of the team, depending on the subordinates' needs. In turn, the subordinates gain experience and satisfaction in their work. This leadership style is commanding uses force. Cook would be giving orders to the subordinates and expecting them to follow these orders closely and act upon them immediately. The tone that Cook would use is upper-handed and she could be heard demanding "to do what I tell you to do". Cook would monitor the subordinates work performance very closely. In her opinion, the subordinates do not make informed decisions. The conversations and interactions are cold, brief and mostly work-related. This style instills fear in the subordinates and Cook would motivate them through threatening ways. Authoritative Leadership Style Although this style may seem very negative, it has a positive approach because the style allows the subordinates to explore and discover ways to achieve the goals. It motivates the employees. Cook would lead by good examples and she could be heard confidently saying, "come with me". In her opinion, the subordinates are individuals with a passion to achieve goals. The conversations and interactions are encouraging and motivating. Cook would motivate the employees by encouraging them to perform better. Affiliative Leadership Style Cook would encourage the team by having team-building efforts to create harmony. In Cooks opinion, "people come first". However, if used excessively, Cook could turn a blind eye to the mistakes that the subordinates make. The communications and interactions are friendly and go beyond work issues. In a way, the subordinates are motivated through the harmony and sense of belonging that the leadership style creates.  

Thursday, October 17, 2019

The Best Fish and Chips Shop in 2003 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Best Fish and Chips Shop in 2003 - Article Example Mr. Jones drew on his past experience as a customer and asked himself what he actually wants from a fish and chips product. All of the little things and ideas he and the staff have was put together to come up with better ways of improving both services and product. Some of their core products are the batter less Cod and Chicken Goujons which stands out among competitors. The staff has a way of reinventing some processes such as a certain way of washing the fryer so old starch would not stick to the new batter. Such things may seem little but they do go a long way in satisfying customer’s tastes. In fact, customers pass 8 more fish and chips shop before reaching Finnegan’s which shows how strong Finnegan’s brand loyalty is. Additionally, customers do not mind waiting for half an hour just to grab the favorite takeaway – fish and chips. There are several factors that can contribute to the future success of the organization, namely: focus on main products, creative marketing, and innovation. The owner himself doesn’t want to diversify too much when it comes to product development. He believes that diluting the focus of the business by offering too many products would not be advantageous in terms of profitability. Instead, current products are marketed in a different way so customers have better choices. For example, they created a kiddies’ serving for children which is not common among fish and chips shops. Also, they often ask the opinion of customers which is a good way of getting feedback. Even the packaging of the product is taken into account which just shows how keen the owner is in satisfying his customers. Simple things such as food warming process are also considered so eventually, everything ends up as the added value to the brand Finnegan. An obstacle that could limit their growth in terms of core competencies would be cutting costs. Although Mr. Jones saves as much as 10,000 pounds a year due to his good bidding skills.

Monetary Policy of the Bank of England Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Monetary Policy of the Bank of England - Essay Example nflation, consumer price index is used which measures the changes in the prices of a fixed basket of goods and services and compare the new prices with the prices set in base year. The change therefore outlines as to how much inflation has emerged in the economy over the period of time. There are different price indices which can be used to measure the inflation however, consumer price index or CPI is widely used as a measure of inflation in the economy. Other indices include producers’ price index, commodity price index etc and these indices measure different aspects of price change over the give period of time in any economy. Inflation generally can be of two types i.e. cost push and demand pull inflation. Cost push inflation occurs when there is a decrease in the aggregate supply due to the increase in the wage rates as well as increase in the prices of the raw materials. These economic variables therefore can cause the aggregate supply to decrease thus pushing the prices o f the goods and services up and therefore increasing the inflation within the economy. Demand pull inflation can occur due to an increase in the aggregate demand and therefore can cause the price level to rise. This could occur mostly due to the increase in the aggregate money supply or the expansionary fiscal policies adapted by the government. Why Inflation Arises? Inflation also tends to occur when the overall aggregate demand for goods and services increases more rapidly than the increase in the aggregate supply of the goods and services. There can be different factors which can actually cause this imbalance between the aggregate supply and demand in the economy. The key reasons as to why this imbalance may occur can due to the increase in the consumption level, an increase in the investment... This essay outlines the detrimental effects of the high inflation for the growth of UK economy, and aims to determine optimal monetary policies for the Bank of England. Inflation is considered as a rise in the general price level in an economy over a given period of time. It therefore measures the rate of change of prices over a given period of time and indicates a percentage rate by which prices of goods and services have generally increased during the given period of time UK’s inflation rate has been recently soaring at high rate and there is a strong probability that the same can further increase in the future. At this time when economy is at a very fragile point, such higher level of inflation can actually discourage the consumers from spending and thus further putting pressures on the economy due to lack of demand. Over the period of time, Bank of England has taken measures to keep interest rates at really low levels in order to ensure that easy credit is available to consumers at relatively low rates. The idea was also to induce consumption in order to regenerate the demand and increase the economic activity. However, the continuation of this policy seems to have backfired because of the rapid increase in the inflation in the economy. The increase in the inflation rate has been mostly attributed to the expansionary monetary policy adapted by the Bank through quantitative easing as well as the reduction in the interest rates.The BoE must develop the reputation and credibility for its steps to reduce the inflation.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

The Best Fish and Chips Shop in 2003 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Best Fish and Chips Shop in 2003 - Article Example Mr. Jones drew on his past experience as a customer and asked himself what he actually wants from a fish and chips product. All of the little things and ideas he and the staff have was put together to come up with better ways of improving both services and product. Some of their core products are the batter less Cod and Chicken Goujons which stands out among competitors. The staff has a way of reinventing some processes such as a certain way of washing the fryer so old starch would not stick to the new batter. Such things may seem little but they do go a long way in satisfying customer’s tastes. In fact, customers pass 8 more fish and chips shop before reaching Finnegan’s which shows how strong Finnegan’s brand loyalty is. Additionally, customers do not mind waiting for half an hour just to grab the favorite takeaway – fish and chips. There are several factors that can contribute to the future success of the organization, namely: focus on main products, creative marketing, and innovation. The owner himself doesn’t want to diversify too much when it comes to product development. He believes that diluting the focus of the business by offering too many products would not be advantageous in terms of profitability. Instead, current products are marketed in a different way so customers have better choices. For example, they created a kiddies’ serving for children which is not common among fish and chips shops. Also, they often ask the opinion of customers which is a good way of getting feedback. Even the packaging of the product is taken into account which just shows how keen the owner is in satisfying his customers. Simple things such as food warming process are also considered so eventually, everything ends up as the added value to the brand Finnegan. An obstacle that could limit their growth in terms of core competencies would be cutting costs. Although Mr. Jones saves as much as 10,000 pounds a year due to his good bidding skills.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

International marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 3

International marketing - Essay Example Macy’s financial statements reveal that its sales in the United States have gone down in the last 5 years. Macy’s can use this opportunity to expand into a new country’s market. Secondly, over the past few years western media has played a significant role in influencing the culture and trends in the region. The demand for western goods has increased and consumers are looking more and more branded products. Customers now present a market which is willing to spend more on high quality goods. The number of department stores in Pakistan is very limited and competition is local. A department store will be welcomed by the consumers. This will give Macy’s a chance to ground itself before new competition enters the market. Macy’s is very well established in its home country and can explore opportunities in the foreign market. The management over 800 stores across the nation has significant expertise in marketing medium to high range products in a new country. Lastly, despite some challenging environmental factors, barriers to entry in Pakistan are low. Expanding into a newer region may also open doors to further expand within the country as well as the region of South Asia. Before a new market can be entered it is important for Macy’s to develop an international marketing plan to study the market and situation in the host country and determine the most suitable actions to take. International marketing plan provides market entry and targeting strategies and prospers the actions that are necessary for a business to get its product or service into the target market. Economic situation in the country is similar to that in the rest of the world, under the effects of the current recession. Over the last ten years, the employment rate increased giving rise to purchasing power. On a socio-cultural level the country has greatly fallen under western influence due to the proliferation of

Monday, October 14, 2019

Styrene production plant

Styrene production plant Project Process Project Definition The aim of this paper was to design a styrene plant that produces 30,000 kg/h of styrene using the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene (EB). This report determined whether the dehydrogenation of EB is an effective (both chemically and economically) and viable method of producing styrene. The paper sought to determine this by analysing the production process, cost of the building and running a styrene plant, and the chemistry involved. Process Description Incident Review Materials Hazard Data Raw Materials, Intermediates, Products By-Products Ethylbenzene is harmful, a flammable liquid and is a severe eye irritant. It is the reactant used in the main process of the plant. It dehydrogenates to form styrene as the main reaction, but other side reactions form toluene and benzene. This chemical would cause problems with fires on site. ethylbenzene should be kept away from the other flammable materials in process, to avoid the risk of fire. Styrene is a flammable liquid, mildly toxic, harmful when inhaled ( for example it may cause headache, nausea, dizziness, muscle weakness; produces central nervous system depression; irritates nose, lungs and throat.), and it moderates irritation to eyes and skin. Styrene is confirmed as a carcinogen. It should be produced by the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. This chemical can produce major injuries if a fire starts on site. The best condition for this chemical to be stored is on site for as short a time as possible, before being transported away by the tanker. Due styrene is flammable liquid it should be stored away from any other flammable substances such as ethylbenzene, toluene and extra care should be taken to inform the fire services of the danger, to ensure it is dealt with it promptly and properly. Pressure can build in component and they need to be checked for weakened points. Toluene is very flammable, can cause irritation to skin and is harmful if inhaled. It is formed as one of the side reactions in the reactor, when styrene reacts with the hydrogen formed. Loss of containment would cause problems, due to the additional fire risk. The chemical should be kept away from flammable chemicals. Benzene can cause cancer, is toxic, very flammable, irritating to eyes and skin. It is harmful for example it can cause lung damage if swallowed. Benzene is formed in the process by the reaction of ethylbenzene and hydrogen. Benzene is the most violent chemical in this process. Loss of containment could have very serious off-site effects. Cleaning up of any spills would be a problem, and extra care must be taken into account to ensure that people are trained to do so, as this chemical can destroy the environment. Effluents Steam is used as a power in order to keep the reaction going, and thus does not participate in any chemical reaction itself. It is not toxic, however large amount are required, and care must be taken that this water is taken from a suitable source. The water is reusable in this process. The risk of loss of containment depends greatly on the pressure of the steam, excluding the temperature, it should be relatively low risk. Emissions from other facilities This would need to be completed when it is known what is being released by facilities near by. Support Materials KOH is corrosive and harmful if swallowed. It catalysts the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene and reduces the energy required for this reaction. Fe2O3 is non toxic, has no risk to it and should not be considered as a hazardous chemical. It is used as part of the catalyst for the main reaction of dehydration of ethylbenzene. Loss of containment shouldnt cause many problems, and neither should storage or transport. There are no special handling problems with this chemical. Tertiary butyl catchol is toxic to aquatic organisms, can cause skin sensitisation and is an irritant. It lowers the amount of tars the styrene forms from polymerisation. Disposal of this substance would be difficult, and care must be taken to dispose of it in a way that is safe for aquatic organisms. Relatively small amounts of it are needed, as it is just an addition to the styrene, and doesnt take part in any of the main reaction. Services The services required for this chemical plant are fresh water, electricity and gas. Some of the gas will be provided in the plant itself by the combustion of the light reaction products, but gas will still be provided. Principal Materials of Construction Materials encountered during construction/demolition i. Important physical and chemical properties ii. Significant chemical reactions iii. Materials toxic, reactive or severe Environmental impact iv. Estimates of inventory v. Off site effects of Loss of Containment vi. Means of handling and storage vii. Special handling problems Environmental Aspects Environmental Impact Statement: As chemical engineers; it is our duty to ensure that pollution is kept to a minimum where safety of the environment and natural habitats are key priorities by safe and appropriate means of containment and disposal of all waste and effluents involved in the manufacture of styrene. Other Environmental Considerations: The following identifies how the product (styrene) is going to be stored, controlled and monitored: Product: Styrene Problem/Harm to environment: Mildly toxic, flammable, irritive to eye, inhalation may cause headache, nausea and dizziness. Means of Containment: As table 1 indicates; styrene would be best stored in Ny nylon, PE polyethylene, SS stainless steel or TF- Teflon containers. A thick container of this material would be most appropriate to store styrene as it offers â€Å"only slight changes in mass or dimensions† of styrene. Hirst (2002, p.90). Controlling and Monitoring: when exposed to styrene, wear protective clothing such as long overalls and thick appropriate gloves to avoid direct contact with the product. Additional safety precautions: o All clothes which have been in contact with product should be washed and rinsed immediately. o Air ventilates in all rooms to remove any harmful vapour. This table identifies all by products and wastes produced during the manufacture of styrene and offers reasonable solutions as to how they can be disposed of: Health Toxicology Occupational Health Statement Statutory exposure limits   Specific Requirements for Design Transport And Siting Possible Modes Of Transport For Styrene Production: By Road By Rail   By Ferry Transport Stages Due to the hazardous nature of the materials that we are going to be handling in order to produce styrene we have to undergo various safety precautions whilst transporting the materials. Because of the flammability hazard (in certain circumstances) and the unpleasant smell, all loading/unloading activities should preferably be carried out, having regard to the prevention of the ignition sources and styrene vapour emissions in the working area. An inspection of the transport equipment should be carried out by the loading terminal staff before, during and after loading. The inspection list detailed inAppendix 5is recommended for use. Previous Cargoes And Cleanliness A tank that carries Styrene Monomer should not have carried the following substances as any of the last two cargoes:  § Caustic soda  § Pyrolysis gasoline  § Fuel oils  § Lube oils Tanks to be loaded with Styrene Monomer should not be cleaned with materials which are reactive with Styrene Monomer or TBC, or cause increased colour, odour or a chloride problem. Salt water should never be the last wash because of possible chloride contamination. Because of the effect of the application of heat to styrene, steam cleaning of adjacent tanks to compartments which contain styrene or styrene residues is strictly not allowed. Facilities using styrene should have developed and implemented a comprehensive spill prevention and emergency response plan. This plan should address: 1. Spill detection methods, 2. Emergency notification procedures, 3. Community contacts for notification and advice on evacuation needs, 4. Fire prevention and protection, 5. Provisions for spill containment/clean-up, 6. Environmental protection, 7. Compliance with applicable local regulations or laws. Effect of Loss of Containment on Occupied Buildings Potential Effect From Existing Plants Iit is only slightly soluble in water (approx. 300 ppm at ambient conditions) and consequently the acute hazard of spilled styrene will be very limited for most aquatic species. However styrene may cause tainting (unpleasant taste) in food from aquatic organisms exposed to low environmental concentrations. According to the Standard European Behaviour Classification (Bonn Agreement) styrene is classified as a â€Å"floater evaporator†. Styrene is a monocyclic alkenyl aromatic compound with a molecular weight of 104. Being rather volatile and having a flash point of 32 oC, styrene is classified as a flammable substance, which in use may form flammable/explosive vapour-air mixtures. Despite its high boiling point, styrene will eventually end up in the air. Short-term exposure to styrene in humans results in respiratory effects, such as throat irritation and lung constriction, irritation to the eyes, and neurological effects such as dizziness (see Section 3 â€Å"Health Aspects† for more details). To date styrene is classified in the EU as harmful by inhalation, irritating to the eyes and to the skin Very low concentrations of styrene vapour will react with bromine and with chlorine in sunlight to form an extremely potent lachrymatory agent. (causes tears to form, irritation and can even lead to blindness!!!) Conformance With Company Policies Company policies concerning Health, Safety and the Environment: 1. Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the premises; both indoors and outdoors and in any other enclosed spaces. Smoking is only permitted in a specified location at a safe distance from the facility and all equipment. 2. Food and drink should only be consumed in dining areas and all employees must thoroughly wash their hands prior to handling food. 3. Fire extinguishers must be present in all parts of the premises. One should be in every room/corridor or other separated enclosure. It must be clearly visible and accessible. All Employees must be fully trained in their operation. 4. Fire alarms must be present in all rooms/corridors and must be clearly signed and accessible at all times. 5. All workers should not lift any objects which they are physically uncomfortable with lifting. They must ask for assistance during any moving process and movement of chemicals/other hazardous materials should always be supervised. 6. Where necessary, workers must wear suitable physical protection. This includes hard hat, coat, gloves, goggles etc. Protection guidelines should be available in all processing areas and must be clear and visible. 7. All materials presenting potential health risks must be carefully and properly contained. This should be checked prior to and after moving, and at least once daily. 8. All equipment must be maintained properly and regularly to the manufacturers guidelines. This must be carried out by someone qualified to do so and must be supervised. 9. Equipment involving high temperatures and pressures must be located at a safe distance from all areas largely populated by employees. 10. Equipment conditions (temperature, pressure, flow rate etc) must be consistently monitored and alarms must be in place to detect loss of control. 11. Controls must be capable of complete shutdown and isolation of any and all equipment and pipes. 12. Emissions must be carefully controlled and must fall within limits set by the Environmental Health Agency. 13. All the above policies must be reviewed monthly to ensure there are being upheld consistently. This must be carried out by an external professional. The styrene plant will adhere to all the policies set out above and all the policies will be considered and incorporated into the design of the plant to ensure they can be consistently and efficiently met. Consent Levels And Safety, Health And Environmental Protection Criteria Environment Exact sizing of the plant is yet to be studied, but based on a plant in Somerville Rd Brooklyn in Melbourne owned by Huntsman Chemical Company of Australia Pty Ltd, it is likely to be approximately 40 hectares (400 km2). Depending on the proximity to civilisation, this area may increase to create a safe perimeter. Wildlife will be affected by this development and so study needs to be done into the location of the site and habitation. Some wildlife may equally be a potential hazard to the operation of the plant itself.   Noise The exposure limit values are a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 87 dB; and a peak sound pressure of 140 dB. Study therefore needs to be done to investigate the level of noise produced by the machines that will operate in this plant. Health Effects As described in section 2, many of the materials involved present risks to health. All outputs in the liquid phase are irritants and some are known carcinogens. Several of the gaseous outputs are asphyxiates and flammable. The following emission controls are enforced by law (time weighted average): Ethylbenzene: TWA: 100 STEL: 125 (ppm) [United Kingdom (UK)] Benzene: TWA: 1.6 (mg/m3) [United Kingdom (UK)] Styrene: Long-term exposure limit (8-hour TWA limit reference period) 430 mg.m-3 8.4 Personal Safety Criteria Noise workers should be provided with noise protection when noise levels exceed the noise exposure limit stated above. Emissions In places of the plant where there is gaseous output, workers should be provided with dust respirators or gas masks where necessary. All workers must be given training on identifying gas leaks and emergency procedures. Machinery Workers should be provided with personal protection when working with machinery or handling equipment. This includes gloves, hard hat, protective boots and visibility jackets. Workers should be trained not to lift any heavy or dangerous material. Organisational, Human Factors Emergency Requirements   Suitability and Availability of Staff New systems of Work and Procedures Site Emergency Facilities and Roles/Responsibilities Facilities for peak construction staffing Sustainability   Environmental Responsibility The EU authorities have concluded that styrene is not bio-accumulative and meets the ready biodegradation criteria of the 29th Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Dangerous Substances Directive. The European Environmental Risk Assessment of styrene has concluded that no classification is needed. Persistence of Styrene in the environment is very limited because of its volatility from soils and surface waters, its rapid destruction in air and its biodegradation in soils, and surface and ground waters. Styrene is moderately toxic to aquatic organisms. Due to its high depletion rate from water the exposure rate may be very low. More details on Styrene environmental effects can be found in Section 4â€Å"Environmental Aspects†. What happens when styrene enters the environment For the most part, inert products such as plastic parts, packaging etc. introduce styrene into the environment through the manufacture and disposal processes with evidence of styrene contamination being found in air, water and ground soils. However, in unlinked liquid form it enters the environment quickly and in larger quantities through evaporation and is also further broken down by bacteria found in water and soils allowing further rapid entry. It is not expected to enter the food chain by grazing animals. How does it affect humans Surprisingly, for a fairly commonly used industrial product, little is known about the effects of styrene on us, what we do know to date is that although exposure may not lead to any symptoms at all, breathing high levels of styrene for short periods can lead to possible respiratory problems and nervous system effects such as depression, tiredness, nausea, muscle weakness, ENT irritation. There is currently no test data on the effects of breathing low levels for a long time, nor is any data available on the effects of ingestion or absorption although animal studies revealed various symptoms such as damage to the brain, kidneys, liver and lung along with some reproductive effects. The International Agency for Research on Cancer and the Environmental Protection Agency has also now determined that styrene could be a possible carcinogen to humans in airborne form and several studies of workers have shown that breathing styrene may cause leukemia. There is no current evidence to support any cancer or health risks for ï ¬ nal ï ¬ nished products containing styrene where skin contact or ingestion has occurred. Clearly, styrene is a toxic, dangerous product in its raw form. It ï ¬ nds its way into the market in either solid form e.g. plastic parts, packing etc. or in liquid form. It is not harmful to humans in its inert solid form although it is harmful to the environment if not disposed of correctly. It is harmful to humans in liquid form both as a ï ¬ nished product and during manufacture. WEALTH CREATION: The process of producing styrene on a large scale has a major benefit particularily on the local population surrounding the styrene plant as there is a great number of jobs that are created for people. The local community can therefore take advantage of this and unemployment levels in the local area should plummet. The general wealth of the community will in turn increase and so the plant is in effect responsible for the local area becoming more prosperous financially. Social Development Further Studies Further Studies would have to be conducted in the following area to assure the construction of the plant is safe and feasible: Wildlife in the local area Affect any emissions/noise might have. Local community whether the local community would be content with a styrene production plant in the area Noise produced by plant equipment Emissions of Benzene, Ethylbenzene, and Methylbenzene produced by the plants after reduction methods are complete. These gases are hazardous and have exposure limits which must be met. Emergency procedures and effects of plant layout

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Comparing Little House on the Prairie and Sarah Plain and Tall :: Compare Contrast Comparison

Comparing Little House on the Prairie, written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Sarah Plain and Tall, Written by Patricia MacLachlan Little House on the Prairie, written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, bears some resemblance to Sarah Plain and Tall, written by Patricia MacLachlan. Within both of the texts one can find two families that are adjusting to life out on the Prairie. Even though the books are written some fifty years apart they still portray the aspects of living on the prairies in the Midwest. In both books the parents seem equally important to the plot, while the point of view enhances the importance of the children within the books. In Little House on the Prairie the family is already formed, but the homestead is not. The opposite situation occurs in Sarah, Plain and Tall, where the homestead is in place but the family is not quite complete until Sarah travels from Maine to live with Jacob, Anna and Caleb. In both books, all of the characters are very similar. Charles and Jacob, the fathers in the books, are seen as very strong willed, loving and appear to be capable providers. The fathers in both of these books are in control of their families and do whatever is necessary to provide. On many occasions Charles travels to Independence to get food for his family and he also hunts and traps animals to sell their fur. Although Jacob's acts of providing for his family are more stationary, he works hard on their farm to provide for them. The men may be hard workers and do the main part of the manual labor, but the women also do their share to contribute to the success of the family. In Sarah, Plain and Tall the roof needs repaired and a storm is on the way. Jacob tells Sarah that he needs to fix the roof and she replies, "We will fix the roof." (46). Sarah and Caroline are both willing to do their share of work on the prairie. Caroline helps Charles build their house on the prairie. "Pa lifted one end of a log onto the wall, then Ma held it while he lifted the other end"(58). Sarah also insists that Jacob should teach her how to drive the wagon because she wants to go into town to get supplies.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Essay --

1. What is the accepted definition of a ‘contaminated site’? Broadly discuss the reasoning underlying the definition and discuss reasons why there are notifiable activities and what these activities are. What other government or supply authorities are required to be notified for development work to be initiated? HD question – How might groundwater be a significant issue on this site? Definition of a contaminated site To understand what a contaminated site is, soil contamination should be defined to understand the scope of contamination that can affect a site when observed in a construction context. Soil contamination can be loosely defined as polluted soil, thereby including liquid or solid hazardous substances mixed amongst the earth’s naturally occurring soil causing impurity. The causes of soil contamination can range from negligence, intentional abuse or at times unintentional actions that can all lead to destructive consequences with long term affects. Soil contamination in Australia is commonly caused through a chemical interference with pesticides, metals such as lead, chromium, cadmium and mercury, petroleum and solvents. The following List outline key causes of soil contamination: ï‚ § Unintended Spills ï‚ § Acid rain ï‚ § Rigorous farming ï‚ § Deforestation ï‚ § Genetically modified plants ï‚ § Nuclear wastes ï‚ § Industrial Accidents ï‚ § Landfill and illegal dumping ï‚ § Agricultural practices, such as application of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers ï‚ § Mining and other industries ï‚ § Oil and fuel dumping ï‚ § Buried wastes ï‚ § Disposal of coal ash ï‚ § Drainage of contaminated surface water into the soil ï‚ § Discharging urine and fasces in the open ï‚ § Electronic waste The Queensland Government, Department of Environment and Heritage, Protection, de... ...ivide by two as we know the ground is flat in the zone where we need to fill we therefore do not average. B = Height variance to fill level x the distance B = 3*14.584 B = 43.752 Notes: 1. The distance of 14.584 meters is chosen assuming that the chosen shape has right angles in B C and D. 2. We don’t need to divide by two as we know the ground is flat in the zone where we need to fill we therefore do not average. C = height varian to fill level x the distance C = 3*14.584 C = 43.752 Note1: We don’t need to divide by two as we know the ground is flat in the zone where we need to fill we therefore do not average. Prismoidal Formula Application Volume = (A+4B+C)*L/6 V = [30.468 + (4*43.752) + 43.752] * 30.118 / 6 V = (30.468 + 175.008 + 43.752)] * 30.118 / 6 V = (249.228 * 30.118) / 6 V = 7506.249 / 6 V = 1251.041 m ³ Environmental engineer

Friday, October 11, 2019

Bulgarian Identity and Folklore

The tapestry of a Bulgarian’s life is interwoven with the country’s rich and colorful folklore, songs and dances, varied festivals and witty proverbs. The folk culture which has been preserved through the centuries is an intrinsic part of a Bulgarian’s daily activities. The spirit and identity of a Bulgarian is entwined with the folk traditions and customs, as it influences and shapes his way of thinking.Also, a history of suffering under the Ottoman rule and coming through it with their identity intact, adds a special dimension to the people of Bulgaria, packing power to the motto â€Å"unity makes strength. † The courage that the peasant community displayed in clinging to their cultural identity, under the â€Å"Turkish yoke,† united them to fight for their freedom. The determination that they displayed in preserving their identity under extremely oppressive conditions, tells us why the modern Bulgarian army never lost a flag.This essay will first learn what â€Å"identity† means to a Bulgarian and then move on to study the historical facts that shaped the Bulgarian identity as it is today. It will explore how Bulgarian identity has survived over the centuries and how the folklore traditions in its entirety, bonds Bulgarians scattered all over the world to their motherland. This essay will also provide a glimpse into the Bulgarian folk culture including festivals, rituals, proverbs mythology and music, which have kept the Bulgarian identity and spirit alive round the world even today.Shaping the identity In 19th century Eastern Europe, the emerging nation-states depended on their peasant traditions, which had survived foreign invasion and dominance, to form an definite idea of what they stood for. According to Herder, every nation is an organic entity with its own native cultural institutions and pure spirit which are best reflected in the folk poetry of the peasants. If a nation is to seek political sovereignty, it m ust find its pure spirit and build its future on the cultural traditions of the past.The native peasants were thus viewed as the soul of the nation, and folklore their legitimate expression. For the people of Bulgaria, their folk culture was also a weapon, which they used as an inspiration to unite and fight for their freedom. The Haidouk folk songs – about the heroes who hid in the mountains and formed a band of guerilla fighters – influenced the people of Bulgaria to join the bands and fight against the oppression of the turks, which tells us how powerful folklore is.Today, folk culture in Bulgaria is carefully preserved and taken forward with government-sponsorship, through various organizations and festivals. The government understands that folk culture, with its vital music and traditions, is what keeps Bulgarians together, no matter where they are. For the Bulgarian community, the traditions will always remain a part of life. The beliefs, knowledge, traditions an d value system still plays a major part in social and cultural interaction.This explains why ethnic discourse is so often â€Å"objectified† in folk culture events in Bulgaria, and why folk texts of various kinds are so widely used in it. In fact everyday life is dominated by the folklore traditions because they are regarded as a system of values, norms, texts, patterns and technologies. According to William R Bascom, ethnomusicologist, folklore serves to sanction and validate religious, social, political and economic institutions and plays an important role as an educative device in its transmission from one generation to another.He therefore suggests that folklore must be examined in better detail and care, because it gives us a clearer picture of the facts that shapes the destiny of a culture. Through the oral traditions of folklore, hundreds of songs, legends, rituals and tales are handed down to the present. Traditions that go back to Slavic antiquity are still alive tod ay, for example, the ritual sharing of sweetened wheat to commemorate the death of a loved one, forty days after his decease.Another tradition, this one peculiar to the Bulgarians, is the exchange of â€Å"martenici. † According to which, the year begins on March first (mart is Bulgarian for March). As part of the tradition, a red string, is attached to children’s wrists as well as animals’ necks and tails – to combat evil. This is one of the most popular custom among Bulgarians world-wide. On this day a string is offered to each member of the family and to all of one’s friends, in order to bring them health and happiness throughout the year.Another unique aspect of Bulgaria which differentiates it from the rest of the world is its special voice. It is said that there is nothing in this world to match the Bulgarian voice, which is why a Bulgarian folk song performed by Valya Balkanska was recorded on a gold CD and sent aboard the Voyager to be the earth’s ambassador in alien worlds. Bulgarian folksongs too are singular in nature.There might be a folk song for every occasion from field work to harvest, from birth to a funeral, for any stage of life that you can think of, but they are not repetitive and Bulgarian music remains exceptional. The folk songs and the dances afford a rich background for the understanding of the spirit, that kept alive, the spark of national feeling for over five hundred years under foreign occupation.The unconscious pictures that people create of themselves are more authentic and more accurate than any other source that we can secure and the Bulgarian peasant through the medium of folklore has painted a picture of what he considers important. Folklore customs aside, in Bulgaria the official historic pillars of identity are three, chosen by the government, for their various positive and shining qualities. First of all the Protobulgarians – warriors, who defeated the superpower Byzantium and established a state on its land in the 7th century.Secondly the Slavs – industrious, egalitarian, freedom-loving people, useful in times of pro-Russian orientation and finally the Thracian ancestors – ancient, wise, peaceful. It was the Thracians who contributed the Kukeri traditions and the ever-popular day of Baba Marta. The Slavs are said to have created the traditional circular Bulgarian folk dances and the lucky number three. Without knowing it, these centuries-old civilizations worked together to create a modern culture for their descendants.Today, Bulgarians consider both the Slavs and the Thracians to be their ancestors. However, history proves that the more primitive Thracians were here first. If we look into the symbols that can be associated with the Bulgarian identity, the Balkan mountains and the Balkan lion stand out, both for obvious reasons. The Balkans appear as symbols of shelter in many folk songs for the haidouks, the venerated resistance-fighte rs, who in turn were the symbol of Bulgaria's urge for national liberty.The â€Å"Balkan lion† as the epitome of Bulgaria's victorious spirit too appeared in the first national hymn of the country, composed by Nikola Zhivkov . Despite decades of oppression or maybe because of it, the Bulgarians have an identity that is rich and vital. The concept of this identity stands on the stable foundation of a folk culture which incorporates strength, humor, wisdom, music as well as a unique and varied mythology.But, there is another school of thought which begs to differ in the matter of Balkan stability and provides a different point of view. Always traumatic and unstable, Balkan reality invites discourses of domination. Within this asymmetrical system of antagonisms and co-operation, stereotypes of Balkan character emerge as identities. It is said that the Balkan identity has been a potent channeling tool in the cultural exorcism of civilized Europe.The challenge for Balkan scholars, though they desire a modern non-ethnic identity, is to resist the lure of globalization. But, since the Balkan countries lack what it takes, the region’s best resistance to globalization is to foster an alliance of cultural critics across ethnic and professional lines. A window to the Bulgarian history History tells us that the Bulgarians are Asiatic in origin. Kinsmen of the Huns and Avars whose earlier raids had greatly disturbed the peace-loving Slavs.The Bulgarians were the first Asiatic people who established a permanent home in Balkania. They effected the conquest of the Slavs, but in the course of about two centuries were absorbed by the more numerous race, and largely lost their identity. Intermarriage and mixture of blood modified the physical type of the Bulgars. They lost their language and were converted to the same type of Greek Orthodox Christianity as the Slavs. They adopted the same Cyrillic alphabet and became thoroughly Slavicized.Nothing but the name Bulga rian remains to associate them with their Asiatic forebears. In the tenth century, Bulgaria came under the direct control of Byzantium, but recovered its independence in 1197 after a long struggle. The Bulgarian ruler at the time, Kalojan, set the seal on this victory in 1204 by having himself crowned the King of Bulgaria by a papal envoy. The second Bulgarian state thus inaugurated lasted until the Ottoman conquest, which took place in 1393. After that, the country ceasedto exist as a separate entity until the nineteenth century. Whatever Bulgarian culture survived through this period did so ‘behind the protective walls of monasteries. ’ Turkish rule lasted five centuries and is viewed by Bulgarian scholars as â€Å"the darkest period in the history of the Bulgarian people. † The Bulgarians were the last of the Balkan peninsula to attain their liberation. Perhaps because of the proximity to Constantinople, the hand of the Turk was felt more heavily in Bulgaria t han elsewhere.The only thing that continued was the village system in which the peasants were allowed to handle their own affairs. Oppressive, too, was the domination of the Phanariote clergy. This was even worse than the civil oppression of the Turks, because the clergy pursued a systematic policy of obliterating all evidences of Bulgarian culture and literature. In 1825, Illarion, the Greek Metropolitan of Tirnovo, made a bonfire of the old library of the Bulgarian Patriarchate, which till then had survived all the vicissitudes of the Turkish era.So thoroughly was this accomplished that the Bulgarians had actually passed out of the consciousness of Europe till the beginning of the nineteenth century. Bulgarian schools were closed, manuscripts were destroyed, and with the extinction of the Bulgarian archbishopric of Ochrida, the last stronghold of the old national Church, to which the Bulgarians had clung tenaciously, disappeared. It seemed that nothing could save the Bulgarians fr om complete Hellenization.Early in the nineteenth century, however, signs of a literary and cultural renaissance, the invariable prelude to a revival of nationalism, began to appear in Bulgaria. From the study of their past, the Bulgarians discovered their true identity and then went on to fight for it. Bulgaria’s chequered history, the points where it differs from the rest of the Europe and the fact that it serves to protect Europe from the imminent Islamic invasion also shapes its identity.Bulgarian historians, who also serve as national ideologists, always point out that it shields and protects Europe – a role that Europe is expected to understand and appreciate. Also the point here is to prove that Bulgaria was a cradle of European culture and that its history is intrinsically connected with Europe's development. Interestingly enough, at the same time historians take pride in matters that actually separate Bulgaria from the West European cultural tradition – the fact that it adopted the Cyrillic alphabet, and did not accept Roman Catholicism.The history of the country, which was conquered by the Turks in 1396, but managed to preserve its specific Slavic cultural and national identity throughout the five centuries, until 1878, when its European identity re-emerged, is stressed repeatedly. Folk culture In the field of culture, a long hard battle had to be waged against the Greeks, who by reason of their domination of the Church, gained a stranglehold on Bulgarian culture and even on the Bulgarian language.There was thus very little cultural advance until the end of eighteenth century, and it is small wonder that until recently Bulgaria was regarded as a very backward country. After the collapse of the Bulgarian Empire and its subsequent absorption into the Ottoman lands, the cultural level of Bulgaria reached an impasse. But soon a striking development of folk songs was noticed throughout the region. In the western part of the country th ese were largely epic, connected with the Serb epic cycles.These songs have a greater connection with the historical events that they purport to recount. The songs of the western region were less poetic, sober and realistic. In the east, however lyrical songs predominated. It was in such a condition, where traces of the popular language were slowly making their way into the written forms of Church Slavonic, that modern literature came into being and inspired national resurgence. Bulgarian folklore, mythology and festivals Bulgarian folklore exhibits a certain duality in nature.On the one hand, folklore is displayed as a spiritual expression of an agrarian type of society, where the central point is to recreate the annual farming cycle and the human life cycle in a tradition, based on folklore ritualism. On the other hand, it is permeated by the historical time of the Bulgarians. The interpretation of this time has found its most imposing expression in the Bulgarian heroic epic, simi lar to the epical sagas of other cultures.Furthermore, mythology too pops out from every nook and cranny in Bulgaria, in seemingly unlikeliest of places. Bulgarian mythology, with its in vampires and goblins, samodivi and dragons, endless tales with fantastic plots, for example in – A Lad Outruns the Sun, A Maiden Outshines the Sun – makes the Bulgarian culture such a rich and interesting one. It is amazing the way in which the Bulgarian folklore, mythology and festivals along with dance, music and assorted rituals come together in a holistic manner.They connect the spiritual growth of the Bulgarians with the cultural traditions of the other Balkan nations, irrespective of their religious identification and independent ethnic history. It could be said that when all these three elements come together, it reveals, a profound relationship with the Bulgarian daily experience and historical destiny. Somewhere the smaller events of life fall together in harmony to make the b ig picture.Among rituals and ceremonies, marriage and the continuity of the community is arguably the most important theme in the Bulgarian calendar, along with farm-related rituals. All festivals stress on these two points one way or the other. The most popular marriage-related ritual is the contrasting mid-winter and spring- time ceremonies for males and females respectively. For example, unmarried young lads, on 24 December, after midnight, visit each and every house, forming bands called ‘koledari or survakari’ and sing songs with an intricate mythical content.Similarly in the springtime, the maidens form ritual groups of girls, known as lazarki , perform a specific repertory full of tragic themes. In this context, the Bulgarian masquerade ritualism is very rich. The lazarki and koledari rituals are female and male life cycle initiations respectively. They prepare the males and females for the stage of matrimony. To elaborate on the theme, let us list a few festival s and rituals that allows us a glimpse into the two big wheels of folk life – life and farm cycle.The festivals in Bulgaria are innumerous and definitely merit a section of their own. According to ethnographers, the overall number of Bulgarian festive rites exceeds 11,000 – a plentitude of customs accompanying Bulgarian people's lives from the cradle to the grave. Here are a few popular festivals celebrated in Bulgaria. The Martenitsa Tradition – Baba Marta, Grandma Marta This is by far the most popular festival of Bulgarians and is celebrated world-wide by Bulgarians. This is a unique Bulgarian custom which originates from the ancient Thracians.The earliest martenitsas were made of white and red woolen threads to which a silver or gold coin was occasionally tied. Other rituals observed on March 1 include women dressing all over in red and in North-eastern Bulgaria, the lady of the house would toss a red cloth over a fruit tree or spread red wool onto a field to secure fertility. In stock-breeding areas, a white-and-red thread was commonly tied to the livestock. The tradition is still alive and widely respected.Every year on March 1, Bulgarians all over the world present each other with martenitsas, thus introducing and spreading this very Bulgarian custom, to a broader canvas of people. New year celebrations The most colorful set of winter calendar customs is that of New Year's celebration. From time immemorial, the fireplace and the table spread have been symbols of generosity and abundance. The richer the spread, the more fruitful the coming year is expected to be. It is a custom observed nation-wide.The koledari would go from house to house singing carols and wishing health and prosperity to the family. The koledari's dress and costume ornaments differ from region to region. This custom is characterized by extremely colorful rituality involving songs, blessings, and dances. The koledari perform on Christmas Eve as well. Having to do wi th the Julian and the Gregorian calendar, the customs have preserved their original vitality and are related to the anticipation of fertility. Ladouvane or Singing to RingsThis is another New Year's custom, expressing an young girls' eagerness to get married and enjoy a happy family life. Ladouvane or koumichene is a maidens' rite performed on the day before New Year only in the areas of Western Bulgaria, Central Balkan Range and in some regions along the Danube River. In the rest of the country, it is celebrated on Midsummer’s Day. Koukeri – the mummers tradition Koukerovden marks the beginning of the spring calendar. Everybody makes his own mask competing to show greater personal skill and craftsmanship.Therefore, no two ritual masks are alike and the men take great pride in displaying their masks. Young men in masks, visit houses and distribute gifts as part of the tradition. Todorovden – St Theodore's Day St Theodore's Day is celebrated six days after Shrove tide. It is also known as â€Å"Horses' Easter† because of the horse races commonly held on that day. According to folk tradition, newly married women would make a ritual Theodore's round loaf of bread decorated with a dough-modelled image of a horse's head.The ancient roots of this folk festival lie in Thracian mythology. The horse is a sun symbol, while the horseman is known in the Bulgarian lands through the cult of the Thracian Horseman. Trypon Zarezan – Vinegrower's Day Trypon Zarezan is celebrated during the first half of February. It is an old occupation-related custom. On this day, observed throughout the country, the vines are pruned and sprinkled with wine. In some areas, a Vine King is chosen and he is crowned with a wreath of wine twigs.Blagovets – Annunciation Day The festival of Blagovets, celebrated on March 25, symbolizes the beginning of spring – swallows returning from the southern lands. Popular Christian mythology associates the day wi th the story of Virgin Mary sitting in the garden and sewing, then leaning and smelling a sprig of basil and thus getting pregnant. Being an ancient festival, Blagovets is laden with old-time rites shrouded in popular Christianity. Easter Easter is the most revered festival in the Church calendar of Orthodox Christians.Making Easter cakes was introduced in Bulgaria as late as the 1920’s, but nowadays it has a very important place in the Bulgarian people's customs. Typical of the festival is the dying of eggs, a custom much enjoyed by all. St George’s Day St George’s Day is among the most important folk festivals. It is observed on May 6 and marks the beginning of trading activity and stock-breeding for the year. Its expressive rituality has been preserved to date.On the night before St George's Day, young boys would pick blossoming willow twigs to decorate the house, the pens, and the livestock for health. During the night, the sheep were turned out to feed beca use that night's dew on the grass is believed to have a curative powers. Bulgaria could easily be called the land of festivals, with almost every other day in the calendar being a festival of sorts. But it is the very same festivals, in all their abundance and glory, which prove to be at the core of the Bulgarian identity.Festivals are as a rule, a time when people socialize and bond, thus the plentiful festivals may explain the strong ties that Bulgarians world-wide share with their motherland. Story telling in Bulgarian culture Humor mixed with huge dollops of wit and a fine appreciation for life is what endears the native Bulgarian story-telling to the world. Bulgaria’s Nasreddin Hodja is a name everybody recognizes. This witty character is always getting the better of his rival comical character Hitar Petar.In fact Hodja can be termed the classic Bulgarian who endures hardship with loads of humor, wit and resourcefulness. As regards story-telling, the Bulgarian folk tale is characterized by its interest in the magical, its commitment with various everyday life events, confronting the rich and the poor, the clever and the fool, as well as by its abundance of candid and natural humor. The Bulgarian has a feeling for the legendary, most often associated with an old-testament imagery, and a live sense of historical narrative.Storytelling in Bulgaria is particularly enticing because the folklore memory travels into the realm of magical creatures, buried treasures, heroes who save the world, vampires, angels and healing spells†¦all fantastic and captivating. It also reminds us of the remote roots of the Bulgarian folk culture. Chase two rabbits and you catch none†¦ Classic proverbs like this one are as much a part of the everyday experience of the Bulgarian peasant as are his folk verse, song and tale.The proverb plays a more important role in the life of the Bulgarian than it does in the peasant civilizations of other European countries. As wit nessed in many other cultures of the world, the proverb is a focal point in conversation, argument or rhetoric. It is widely used to express compactly an idea or to create a mental image. It is a true mirror on the inner life of the people, of the conditions which prevail in their lives, of their morals and of their manners.Many Bulgarian proverbs are crudely expressed, internal evidence that they stem from the folk and are thus authentic. The proverbs also help in understanding the psyche of the man who uses a particular proverb. Here is a good one – An idle man makes a good prophet. Bulgarian music, folk songs and theater A Bulgarian can never be separated from his music. A character shared by the rest of the world you could say, but it is not all who share the fine appreciation for music that Bulgarians instinctively have.For a Bulgarian, life is a musical, with all its accompaniment. For him there is no plateau in life – joy, sorrow, loneliness or death that exists without music and suitable lyrics. Internationally, the Bulgarian music fascinates both the general public and the experts. At the turn of the century, the Bulgarian folklore tradition was given some new impulses, mainly in Macedonia and Thrace. Influenced by the revolutionary reality, a considerable number of songs were created.The musical expression of this cultural system has its regional and general characteristics for example, the Rhodope song, Thracian song, Shopp song, Macedonian song, among others. But the specific Bulgarian two-voice songs, and the phenomenon of irregular beats are unique. Regional variations are not strictly delineated, but certain typical characteristics have formed several musical dialects: North-Bulgarian, Dobroudjanian, Thracian, Shopp, the Pirin Mountains area, the Sredna Gora region, and Rhodopian.The distinguishing features of the Bulgarian folk song can be traced along three lines – homophonic, rhythm and vocal wealth. Today the Bulgarian f olk tradition is revived in the context of the specific new phenomena in music, where various styles and forms of genre meet as is witnessed in all parts of the world, in almost all cultures. In Bulgaria at the same time, there is a growing presence of performers coming from different ethnic groups, chiefly Gypsies, whose musical art has been exerting its influence on the Bulgarian folklore for a good while.What makes the Bulgarian folk song special is its rhythm and vocal wealth. They are of a caliber described by the experts as ranging from fantastic richness to primitive monotony. The extended time inherent in the folksongs are its distinguishing feature, as it is non-existent in the rest of the European music. Theater too is part of the Bulgarian love for expression. Once Bulgaria was free, its natural aptitude and love for music, drama, song and dance came to the fore.It is a fact that the musical theater in its informal form has always played a major role in Bulgarian culture. But after independence, classical operettas, revues, vaudeville, children's plays, and modern musical comedies flourished under the indulgent eyes of the Bulgarians. In a deliberate move to bring professionals together to explore this genre, the government established the State Musical Theater in 1948. The Bulgarian involvement with operetta, goes back to about seventy-five years.The State Musical Theater is the heir to a tradition that reached its high point during the 1930s. At that same time, private ensembles such as the Free Theater of the Renaissance, the Cooperative Theater, and the Odeon performed numerous works for enthusiastic audiences. An impressive standard was established which is appreciated all over the world today. The Bulgarian talent in the area of music, voice and opera is legendary, with people flocking to enjoy what the masters have in store for them.Bulgarians Abroad While there were no Bulgarian political institutions during the Ottoman era, the Bulgarian cu lture and language were well preserved as a result of Ottoman policy, which made no real attempt at cultural, religious, or linguistic assimilation. Gradually, both the formation of crafts guilds called esnafs, whose members underwrote the promotion of Bulgarian culture, and through the medium of education, Bulgarian cultural and ethnic consciousness spread.By the 1870s, there were thousands of Bulgarians living outside of their homeland in such places as Vienna, Bucharest, Odessa, Bessarabia and Constantinople and were to be a major influence on the Bulgarian Revival. The interest toward Bulgarian folk songs and dance has been sustained in the past two decades by a number of highly professional and amateur groups – American, Japanese, Dutch, Danish, among others and has culminated in the success of the Swiss recording of â€Å"Le mystere des voix bulgares,† followed by a worldwide tour of the Bulgarian vocal ensemble.The craving for Bulgarian folklore in the West is a basically urban phenomenon. For the foreigners, the representations of Bulgarian folklore music – the sound icon of Bulgarians is a fascinating one. During the 1970s, interest in Bulgarian female polyphony exploded in the wake of the American folk revival and the women's liberation movement.Groups began springing up all over, at colleges and community centers, often incorporating dance as well as singing. Although in the early years, instructors were mostly Americans, in the past decade, since the fall of the Bulgarian communist government in 1989, more and more Bulgarian instructors have been able to come to the United States to teach vocal and instrumental skills. Bulgarian folk songs and performers are liked and praised ar