Friday, November 29, 2019

Mr. Essays (268 words) - Economy, Marketing, Business,

Marketing * Evaluate her strategy planning for her new business.>From her love to stay in Petosky; she started the carpet cleaning service by her saving money, and based on her experience when she worked part-time for Joel Bullard. Mr. Bullard has a very successful business at this small town, dominates this carpet cleaning service, and so far no one able to compete to him in quality, strong relationship with many loyalty clients. Jane Galloway try so hard in advertising, taking care of her customer?s work but she still unable to reach her goal, $60,000/year.* Why was not she able to reach her goal of $60,000/year? The most important problem of Jane is she did not do any marketing research in potential need of customers, she tries to sell the service she has rather the customer need. First, she should do marketing to know this business saturated at this town or not?. It seems to me that this small town just needs some extra works in the peak seasons as summers and winters. Second, she should study to know her competitions and what she should do to compete with them in quality, prices, customer?s relationship?. Third, from lack of marketing the potential need of customer; she set her goal is too high and spends too much energy to reach her target.* What should she do now? Explain. I think she can have two choices:- First, if she wants to stay in Petosky; she should set her goal more reasonable. She can maintain her good work as quality and advertising; but she should...

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Role of the Supreme Court, Government, Economics, and Protests in the Civil Rights Movement

The Role of the Supreme Court, Government, Economics, and Protests in the Civil Rights Movement There were four different elements that contributed to the success of the Civil Rights Movement: the Supreme Court, the Government, the economic situation of the time, and the protests of the movement. The role, which the Supreme Court's played in the success of the civil rights movement, was essentially one of neutrality. The Supreme Court ordered the segregation of schools and other public facilities, known as the policy of separate but equal. But the Supreme Court, also, declared the separate but equal laws unconstitutional and ordered desegregation. The different parts of the United States government played different roles. John F Kennedy and the executive branch helped to protect the nonviolent protesters from violent acts against them as well as issuing executive orders, such as banning employment discrimination. Congress helped by passing laws in favor of the black, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, one of the great victories in the Civil Rights movement.Civil Rights Act o f 1964The economics of the day placed many blacks in ghettos in the north, this situation allowed them to organize themselves to protest segregation. The protests of the movement showed the country how the black were treated and that all they wanted was to be treated fairly, the protests also allowed them to make themselves a nuisance for the police and government to deal with.The Supreme Court made some of the major decisions that instituted segregation in the late 1800s and some of the major decisions that brought about integration in the 1950s. In 1896, with the court case of Plessy v Ferguson the Supreme court decided to segregate "intrastate railcars" between white and black (Constitutional). "This decision legitimized the segregation of American society under the 'Separate but Equal' doctrine" (Constitutional). Then in 1954 with the court case of Brown v Board of...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Analysis of Offshoring Jobs Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis of Offshoring Jobs - Research Paper Example India has become one of the dominant players in the field of offshoring; this has taken place mostly in works related to software. There are several factors that have aided the evolution of offshoring in India and its spread to other countries. The first factor includes the regulations put by the Indian government during the 1970s; these regulations allowed all foreign ventures to have ownership of majority Indians. Another factor that contributed to offshoring included the advent of the internet as well as telecommunications technology. This enabled the doing of computer-based work anywhere in the world. As a result, the phenomenon of offshoring spread to countries all over the world.Offshoring witnessed immense changes during the early years of the 1990s. The CEOs and CIOs of large corporations realized the need to reduce budgets of information technology. The significant and rapid development of web-based communication made information technology become an essential part of carryi ng out business, thus leading to the revolutionization of the corporate world. To curb the costs of maintaining processes, Chief Information Officers and Chief Executive Officers changed their strategies and began outsourcing the development and maintenance of IT systems. This set the trend for other support and administrative functions being outsourced.According to Gupta (2008), there are several jobs that are offshored all over the world; these jobs tend to be more affected by outsourcing than any other jobs.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Service and relationship marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Service and relationship marketing - Essay Example The exterior facilities include waiting areas consist of benches, sofas and chairs and external sitting areas for customers who wants to enjoy their meal outside the restaurant. Subway has a typical green colour dominating its physical landscape which implies nature and warmth. Also, the fast food joint have established signboards for travellers and onlookers. The subway store signage is uniform as established by uniform standards. Glass branding such as on windows and door panels is not usual in Subway as the store size is generally small. The interior facilities can be described as cosy and comfortable. Internally the store is not very brightened but has sufficient lighting and consists of minimalist sitting areas. The company is also engaged in home delivery services. Customer experiences and points of customer contact occur in several places. First is when a customer enters the restaurant and is greeted by the staff members. In the seating area, customers are served with water, if requested. Since subway is a self service restaurant, most of the customer-employee interactions occur in the area where food is prepared. Helping the customer to decide on the food product, recommending choice of ingredients in cases of confused products billing and payment are other customer contact points. Line of interaction divides customer experiences and employee actions. Onstage employee actions and backstage employee actions are divided by line of visibility. ... In the seating area, customers are served with water, if requested. Since subway is a self service restaurant, most of the customer-employee interactions occur in the area where food is prepared. Helping the customer to decide on the food product, recommending choice of ingredients in cases of confused products billing and payment are other customer contact points. Line of interaction divides customer experiences and employee actions. Onstage employee actions and backstage employee actions are divided by line of visibility. The backstage employee actions in subway include housekeeping services and employees involved in keeping stocks and supply, maintenance department coordinating various operations and department for cash management. Finally the support processes include back system operating all the daily activities of the restaurant, technical department involving in market research, customer research and feedback and customer data collection, POS system involved in cashing and in flow of liquid cash etc. Figure 1 Service Blueprint of Subway (Source: Author’s Creation) Front Stage and Back Stage Functions Blueprinting is a tool for service planning. It can be used either for the development of new services or improvement of existing services. Service blueprint is also helpful in ensuring the quality of services offered by a company. The output of a service blueprint is a graphical representation of the overview of service and its related activities. It helps to visualize the development process. During each process, visible contacts are established between the firm and client. It is also possible to discover various areas of innovation and identification of failure points (Hauser, Tellis and

Monday, November 18, 2019

Human service Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human service - Essay Example The primary issues facing grandparents who parent are as follows: (1) residence: are they living in a separate house from those of their grandchildren? Do they own a house of their own? Grandparents with homes of their own would be more confident to do parenting tasks in a familiar and convenient environment. (2) Income: do they have a regular source of income or pension? They might want to order for food or give their grandchildren some treats. (3) Interests and endeavors: are they currently engaged in regular extra-curricular activities such as being involved in social or civic organizations? into some form of sports? still actively involved in work as a proprietor or owner? They might be busy and could not fully attend to the needs of their grandchildren if their minds are focused in other activities. (4) What is their educational background? Do they share the same interests with their grandchildren? Are they capable of addressing the inquiries and curiosity of their grandchildren ? (5) Health status and condition: are they healthy enough to parent their grandchildren? Are they afflicted with some form of illness? (6) Are they parenting children for their own biological child or the children of their child’s spouse? This concern could actually matter if the grandparents have some conflicts with sons or daughters-in-law. (7) Are they parenting for children with disabilities? Are they therefore competent and qualified to address their grandchildren’s needs? (8) Are they genuinely interested to care take their grandchildren or they just do not have any choice? (9) Are they being paid or remunerated in some form or the other for taking care of their grandchildren? All these concerns would affect the quality and competence in parenting grandchildren. If grand parenting skills are needed on a more permanent basis (due, for example, to parents’ impairment or disabilities),

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Criticisms of the positivism approach

Criticisms of the positivism approach This essay aims to explore and assess the criticisms that have been levelled at the application of positivism within human geography. It will become clear that most of these criticisms follow two interlinked themes: The idea that such scientific and quantitative approaches rely on generalisation and are shallow by nature, and that positivisms objective approach tends to refuse acknowledgement of individuals and their experiences. However, despite the numerous flaws of positivist approaches, it would be naive to ignore the useful aspects of their nomothetic direction. This paper will conclude that the divide between the positivist and non-positivist (humanistic, radical and Marxist) geographers should not be seen as a weakness in the discipline, but rather as Geographys main strength. As Ackerman (1958 p.74, cited in Johnston, 1997) noted, most geographical research has dealt with much generalisation, yet it has given meaning to other research efforts which succeeded it. In this sense it has a block-building characteristic. (p.17). The philosophical divide is therefore in fact constructive. Non positivist approaches compliment the generalisations of the previous more positivist studies through expansion and critique. Before immersing into the stark debates inherent of these criticisms though, a brief history of positivism is necessary so that the critiques that follow can be understood on a contextual basis. Positivism is a philosophical approach that can be applied to social sciences. The approach was founded upon the belief that phenomena of the human social world are no different from those of the natural inorganic and organic world (Unwin, 1992 p.31). As a result, the father of positivism (Kitchin, 2006 p.20), Auguste Comte felt that social phenomena should be studied using more scientific methodologies. Kitchin (2006) explains that this new approach, first presented in Comtes mid 19th century writings, focused on facts and truths that could be empirically proven and observed. Indeed the reasoning behind the coining of the term positivism was the approaches aim to prioritise actual truths. Comte demanded objective studies using replicable methods so that common laws could be generated, he was consequently dismissive of metaphysical and normative questions as they were seemingly impossible to answer from a scientific standpoint. As positivism grew in influence it branched into two main directions; logical positivism and critical rationalism (falsification). Logical positivism, a product of the Vienna Circle in the 1920s, revolves around the idea that a hypothesis should be set and vigorously tested until it becomes statistically true (Johnston et al, 2000). Popper (1976) on the other hand suggested the ideal that something is only true until it is disproved, therefore academics should be aiming to nullify hypotheses. In turn this becomes a more objective method as you are not biased toward satisfying the criteria within your own hypothesis. Of course there are flaws with both of these ideals. It is impossible to prove many things beyond a doubt, especially when dealing with processes as complicated as those applied to human geography; and not everything can be falsified, it is for example not possible to falsify something that cannot be directly tested. Nevertheless, these two strands of positivism played an important role in the application of the philosophy within human geography. Whilst positivism set the groundwork for the debates that are to follow, the quantitative revolution acted as the trigger. In the 1950s Geographys low reputation as a science led to an increase in positivist and quantitative approaches to human geography as the discipline attempted to legitimise itself by producing laws based on observational evidence (Unwin, 1992 p.106). Indeed geography had shifted dramatically from a traditional idiographic descriptive approach to that of a nomothetic, thriving on evidence and statistics. Of course both approaches are still present in contemporary geography, yet the rise in positivist research is undeniable. This of course leads us to the criticisms that one half of the geographical divide have levelled at their positivistic adversaries. As outlined in the introduction, most of the criticisms aimed at positivism in human geography are loosely based around its shallow nature, sweeping statements and lack of normative questions. The first major critique of the positivist approach is its over tendency to focus on space, this has been termed spatial fetishism. Livingstone (1992, p.328) goes as far as to suggest that Geographys confrontation with the vocabulary of logical positivism was a post hoc means of rationalizing its attempt to reconstitute itself as a spatial science. Geography should be covering more than just space and scales, indeed it is called human geography as its intent should be to uncover peoples experiences and interactions with the world and each other. It is certainly easy to criticise positivism if its purpose was to prioritise spatial science over other geographies. The progress of the discipline would certainly be limited if the majority of research was based only on quantitative spatial analysis a nd modelling. Sack (1980) agrees that positivistic geographys spatial feitsh has been at the expense of all other aspects of geography. Collinge (2005) argues that too much focus on distinctive spatial relations to society and social change can be deconstructive. He applauds and calls for a continuation of critique against geographies current understanding of space and society, instead suggesting that interactions between the two (the kind that can not be covered with mass generalisations) should be studied more closely with less focus on the distinction between the two dimensions. Whilst this effort by Collinge and indeed new feminist geographers is certainly noble, it is a relatively weak critique as it offers no real solution. Even so, as Collinge himself inferred, critique can actually be constructive, it does after all lead to further research and in turn further knowledge of the world. Continuing along the critique of positivist geographys spatial fetishism, Sack (1980) also claims that this focus on space actually serves to isolate space from time. This is yet another critique that suggests positivism to be deconstructive. Dynamism is at the heart of geography, particularly the human side. Quantitative studies can be taken, correlations and patterns can be observed, but the results are always going to be inherently subject to change. Indeed positivisms nomothetic approach aims to produce laws, but does not take all things into consideration. This is integral to Harveys (1973) argument as he claims that positivism ignores factors such as political and sociological shifts that can only be studied qualitively. However, that does not mean that positivism doesnt belong in geography. Even if we were to assume that positivism were only interested in spatial sciences, it is still a useful philosophy, as is quantitativism a useful tool. In a subject as dynamic as geography qualitative methods alone could not sufficiently understand the world. Whilst positivism is flawed and overgeneralising, and could even be said to be a form of spatial fetishism, quantitative research can produce quick results. This of course is vital in what is an ever changing landscape. To revert to the two main themes of critique outlined in the introduction, positivist studies are, or at least were, shallow natured both in terms of what, and how they analysed phenomena. As Spate (1960) explained, there is a need for quantitative geography, but the knowledge that is gained cannot be expressed purely in number form. It is starting now to become clear that the philosophical divide that exists within geography may not be such a bad thing after all. Positivist studies are acquiring the raw facts, all be it with at times a generalised attitude, but critics are expanding upon these facts, thus engineering a better working knowledge. Interestingly though, many of these criticisms are loosely based around the logical side of positivism. The potential usefulness of falsification (despite its flaws) in an ever changing subject is intriguing, in which case, truths need not necessarily always be truths. A second set of critiques target positivisms laissez faire attitude towards its research subjects. Perhaps the key figurehead behind this critique is David Harvey. Even in Harveys Explanation in Geography (1969, p.107), a book that wasnt exceptionally radical being one of his earlier works, saw that it would be foolish to suggest that all our outstanding substantive problems will be solved merely by the touch of the glittering wand of scientific explanation. By 1973 Harvey had become disheartened with the over reliance of positivist approaches within geography, not just because it so often failed to ask why things were as they were, but namely due to its neutrality and hence its inability to solve the problems that it so often uncovered. It was this silence and ineptitude which essentially explain(ed) the necessity for a revolution in geographic thought (Harvey, 1973). Harveys revolution namely resulted in the creation of both Marxist and Radical geographers (Kitchin, 2006). Indeed t he effects of this evolving geography are still felt today with the expansion of feminist geography amongst other groups. Once again we reach the divide within the discpilne. To quickly summarise and reiterate here, the dualism within geography and the critique of positivist approaches actually went as far as to create new branches of geography, something that can only be beneficial for research purposes as the subject has evolved to become more diversified than ever. Surely then the hunger for knowledge within geography is actually as great as it has ever been. Whilst Kwan and Schwanen (2009) argue that this antagonistic divide is only hindering progress, I would argue that based on this historical evidence, the critique between the two has actually helped geography evolve into a much more complex, and consequently more knowledgeable discipline. To return to this set of critiques though, it could be said that Harveys earlier quantitative interests (present in Harvey, 1969) only serve to show Harvey up as a hypocrite considering the radical reversal in his views. Indeed Harvey himself stated that by our theories you shall know us (Harvey, 1969 p.486). Of course if this were the case then it may serve to discredit his works. On the contrary, it actually shows the true degree to which he was discontented by the general ignorance of positivistic geography. His experience within quantitative studies actually gives extra validity to his arguments. The last of the main attacks on positivism targets the objectivity that is underpins the philosophy. Goodwin (2005) discusses the advent of humanistic geography, yet another offspring from the critics of positivism and its scientific and nomathetic approach. Humanistic geography aims to uncover the importance of ideal, cultures and languages within local geographies. Humanists argue that people cannot be modelled using sweeping scientific methodology, indeed independent thought prevents that, not to mention the fact that ideals cannot be mapped quantitatively. Ley (1974) argues that such phenomena can be mapped qualitatively though, actually visiting the areas that you wish to research. Upon researching geographies of gang culture Lay suggested that graffiti markings represent the language of space for members of the street gang culture (1974 p.218, cited in Goodwin, 2005 p.55). From a critical standpoint though, humanist geography can only ever achieve so much. There frankly arent e nough geographers, nor is there sufficient time to absolutely understand aoll of the emotional attachments and ideas that humans have relating to place, space and nature. To go back to an earlier point, geography is inherently dynamic. Positivism, if nothing else, can produce a relatively quick scientific (all be it shallow) representation of the world. Even if these laws do isolate time from space, the studies can be repeated so that new laws can be constructed. It is by no means perfect, but it is pragmatic. An example of where mass information is required is in government. With governments usually in power for just 4-5 years in the UK, actual raw figures are necessary so that policies can be planned and implemented within the partys term time. Such data is often acquired and analysed by positivist geography academics (Rhind, 1981). Of course we have to be careful not to rely solely on such quantitative studies or else important issues will go unnoticed and thus unsolved, but thanks to the evident divide, there is little chance of positivism ever totally dictating geographical research. It has become apparent that there are many critics of positivism and its application to human geography. The critiques themselves generally target the philosophies objectivity, generalising nature and and its shallow desire for fact alone. Yet there is a need for positivistic and quantitative approaches. These often sweeping studies that assume homogeneity are flawed in many ways, but they deliver actual results that are necessary for many institutions, furthermore they can quickly respond to changing laws within a dynamic environment. In conclusion it is clear that positivist approaches have become a necessary part of research within human geography, but the humanist side cannot be ignored. Much more can be learned about the world than numbers alone can ever represent. The need for a balance between quantitative and qualitative studies is obvious. Where Kwan and Shawanen claim that the confrontations between the two strands are detrimental to geographys progress, it should be contested that in actual fact the divide in opinion has been beneficial to the discipline. Critique and expansion have led to the creation of new divisions and understandings of geography, hence, wider knowledges.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

measure for measure notes Essay -- essays research papers

Act II, Scene 1 To no avail, Escalus pleads with an adamant Angelo to have pity on the life of Claudio. Angelo does not really consider Claudio's crime to be something major, but he is intent on carrying out the "measure of the law" and to be strict with all offenders who break the law. As a result, he orders Claudio to be executed the next morning. Escalus is grieved over Claudio's fate, but is helpless to stop the execution. Elbow, a constable, enters with Froth and Pompey in custody, both guilty of immoral acts. When Escalus questions them about their crimes, they give long and ridiculous answers. Angelo, disgusted with their chatter, asks Escalus to settle the case and leaves the place. Although Escalus is dismayed by the steady decay of established social standard, he dismisses Froth and Pompey with a warning; he tells them that if they are again arrested for immoral activities, their punishment will be severe. Notes Angelo is adamant in enforcing the law to the letter, and, therefore, plans the execution of Claudio. When Escalus pleads for mercy for Claudio and tries to reason with him, saying that anyone, even Angelo himself could have committed the crime, Angelo argues and says, "It is one thing to be tempted, Escalus, another thing to fall." It is ironic that later in the play Angelo is tempted and commits the same crime, proving his total hypocrisy. Escalus serves as a foil to Angelo. Escalus is older, wiser, and merciful. On the other hand, Angelo is young and relentless. He wants to follow his orders to restore dignity to the City, and he is determined to carry out the law with great strictness, assigning punishment equally no matter the circumstances. It is obvious that he is using Claudio to set an example for all others involved in immoral activities. He plans to execute Claudio for having fathered an illegitimate child. Ironically, in the same scene, Escalus dismisses the charges against Froth and Pompey with only a warning, yet both of them are truly guilty of immoral behavior. Elbow, Froth, and Pompey are representatives of the lower class of society in contrast to Escalus and Angelo. The entry of the three men provides comic relief to the scene. Elbow, in his mission as a serious constable, uses highbrow language, which is filled with malapropisms. Instead of saying `malefactors,' he says `benefactors,' and he say... ...ave been chosen with careful references to the main theme. Thus, Isabella stands for saintly purity; Angelo stands for self- righteousness; the Duke represents a psychologically sound and enlightened ethic; Lucio represents indecent wit; and Pompey and Mistress Overdone symbolize professional immorality. Each character, therefore, illumines some facet of man's morality or immorality; and the play strives to define what is moral and just. The entire atmosphere of the play is one of religious and critical morality. In the beginning of the play, Isabella is a novice at St. Clare. The Duke disguises himself as a Friar, exercising the divine privileges of this office towards Juliet, Barnardine, Claudio, and Pompey. In fact, the Central idea of Measure for Measure can easily be stated in Christian terms: "And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." Since Angelo is not a conscious hypocrite, it is easier to forgive even him. Self-deception and pride drive him. When desire for Isabella overcomes him, Angelo even struggles against it and prays to heaven. Since he is weak, the struggle is short-lived; Angelo soon gives in to his desires and becomes an utter scoundrel.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Literal Translation Essay

A naive view of literal translation might be that it consists in the one for one substitution of the word forms of the target language for the word forms of the source language. This is what normally meant by the term â€Å"literal translation†. Yet , this view is unrealistic. Literal translation, also known as direct translation, is the rendering of text from one language to another â€Å"word-for-word† (Latin: â€Å"verbum pro verbo†) rather than conveying the sense of the original. Literal translations thus commonly mis-translate idioms. Also, in the context of translating an analytic language to a synthetic language, it renders even the grammar unintelligible. A literal English translation of the German word â€Å"Kindergarten† would be â€Å"children garden,† but in English the expression refers to the school year between pre-school and first grade. Literal translations in which individual components within words or compounds are translated to create new lexical items in the target language (a process also known as â€Å"loan translation†) are called calques, e. g. , â€Å"beer garden† from German â€Å"Biergarten. † Literal translation of the Italian sentence, â€Å"So che questa non va bene† (â€Å"I know that this is not good†), produces â€Å"Know(I) that this not go(it) well,† which has English words and Italian grammar. Further more, literal translation of idioms is a source of numerous translators’ jokes and apocrypha. The following famous example has often been told both in the context of newbie translators and that of machine translation: when the sentence â€Å"The spirit is strong, but the flesh is weak† was translated into Russian and then back to English, the result was â€Å"The vodka is good, but the meat is rotten. † This is generally believed to be simply an amusing story, and not a factual reference to an actual machine translation error [1]. Literal translation can also denote a translation that represents the precise meaning of the original text but does not attempt to convey its style, beauty, or poetry. Charles Singleton’s translation of The Divine Comedy (1975) is regarded as a literal translation. In Conclusion , A literal translation is a translation that  follows closely the form of the source language Also known as: word-for-word translation. This translation can not be applied in nature, because it will result sentences can not be understood . â€Å"literal† translations can actually result in mis-communication of the meaning of the text. The point is, of course, that the translators have decided to translate words, but not larger semantic units such as phrases.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Look at Your Fish! by Samuel H. Scudder

'Look at Your Fish!' by Samuel H. Scudder Samuel H. Scudder (1837-1911) was an American entomologist who studied under the noted zoologist Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz (1807-1873) at Harvards Lawrence Scientific School. In the following narrative  essay, originally published anonymously in 1874, Scudder recalls his first encounter with Professor Agassiz, who subjected his research students to a rigorous exercise in close observation, analysis, and description  of details. Consider how the investigative process recounted here might be viewed as an aspect of critical thinking- and how that process can be just as important to writers as it is to scientists.   Look at Your Fish!* by Samuel Hubbard Scudder 1 It was more than fifteen years ago that I entered the laboratory of Professor Agassiz, and told him I had enrolled my name in the scientific school as a student of natural history. He asked me a few questions about my object in coming, my antecedents generally, the mode in which I afterward proposed to use the knowledge I might acquire, and finally, whether I wished to study any special branch. To the latter, I replied that while I wished to be well grounded in all departments of zoology, I purposed to devote myself specially to insects. 2 When do you wish to begin? he asked. 3 Now, I replied. 4 This seemed to please him, and with an energetic Very well, he reached from a shelf a huge jar of specimens in yellow alcohol. 5 Take this fish, said he, and look at it; we call it a haemulon; by and by I will ask what you have seen. 6 With that, he left me, but in a moment returned with explicit instructions as to the care of the object entrusted to me. 7 No man is fit to be a naturalist, said he, who does not know how to take care of specimens. 8 I was to keep the fish before me in a tin tray, and occasionally moisten the surface with alcohol from the jar, always taking care to replace the stopper tightly. Those were not the days of ground glass stoppers, and elegantly shaped exhibition jars; all the old students will recall the huge, neckless glass bottles with their leaky, wax-besmeared corks, half eaten by insects and begrimed with cellar dust. Entomology was a cleaner science than ichthyology, but the example of the professor, who had unhesitatingly plunged to the bottom of the jar to produce the fish, was infectious; and though this alcohol had a very ancient and fish-like smell, I really dared not show any aversion within these sacred precincts, and treated the alcohol as though it were pure water. Still, I was conscious of a passing feeling of disappointment, for gazing at a fish did not commend itself to an ardent entomologist. My friends at home, too, were annoyed, when they discovered that no eau de cologne would drown the perfume which haunted me like a shadow. 9 In ten minutes I had seen all that could be seen in that fish, and started in search of the professor, who had however left the museum; and when I returned, after lingering over some of the odd animals stored in the upper apartment, my specimen was dry all over. I dashed the fluid over the fish as if to resuscitate the beast from a fainting fit, and looked with anxiety for a return of the normal, sloppy appearance. This little excitement over, nothing was to be done but return to a steadfast gaze at my mute companion. Half an hour passed- an hour- another hour; the fish began to look loathsome. I turned it over and around; looked it in the face- ghastly; from behind, beneath, above, sideways, at a three-quarters view- just as ghastly. I was in despair; at an early hour I concluded that lunch was necessary; so, with infinite relief, the fish was carefully replaced in the jar, and for an hour I was free. 10 On my return, I learned that Professor Agassiz had been at the museum, but had gone and would not return for several hours. My fellow-students were too busy to be disturbed by continued conversation. Slowly I drew forth that hideous fish, and with a feeling of desperation again looked at it. I might not use a magnifying glass; instruments of all kinds were interdicted. My two hands, my two eyes, and the fish: it seemed a most limited field. I pushed my finger down its throat to feel how sharp the teeth were. I began to count the scales in the different rows until I was convinced that that was nonsense. At last a happy thought struck me- I would draw the fish, and now with surprise, I began to discover new features in the creature. Just then the professor returned. 11 That is right, said he; a pencil is one of the best of eyes. I am glad to notice, too, that you keep your specimen wet, and your bottle corked. 12 With these encouraging words, he added, Well, what is it like? 13 He listened attentively to my brief rehearsal of the structure of parts whose names were still unknown to me; the fringed gill-arches and movable operculum; the pores of the head, fleshy lips and lidless eyes; the lateral line, the spinous fins, and forked tail; the compressed and arched body. When I had finished, he waited as if expecting more, and then, with an air of disappointment: You have not looked very carefully; why, he continued, more earnestly, you havent even seen one of the most conspicuous features of the animal, which is as plainly before your eyes as the fish itself; look again, look again! and he left me to my misery. 14 I was piqued; I was mortified. Still more of that wretched fish! But now I set myself to my task with a will and discovered one new thing after another until I saw how just the professors criticism had been. The afternoon passed quickly, and when, towards its close, the professor inquired: 15 Do you see it yet? 16 No, I replied, I am certain I do not, but I see how little I saw before. 17 That is the next best, said he earnestly, but I wont hear you now; put away your fish and go home; perhaps you will be ready with a better answer in the morning. I will examine you before you look at the fish. 18 This was disconcerting; not only must I think of my fish all night, studying without the object before me, what this unknown but most visible feature might be; but also, without reviewing my new discoveries, I must give an exact account of them the next day. I had a bad memory; so I walked home by the Charles River in a distracted state, with my two perplexities. 19 The cordial greeting from the professor the next morning was reassuring; here was a man who seemed to be quite as anxious as I that I should see for myself what he saw. 20 Do you perhaps mean, I asked, that the fish has symmetrical sides with paired organs? 21 His thoroughly pleased Of course! of course! repaid the wakeful hours of the previous night. After he had discoursed most happily and enthusiastically- as he always did- upon the importance of this point, I ventured to ask what I should do next. 22 Oh, look at your fish! he said, and left me again to my own devices. In a little more than an hour he returned and heard my new catalog. 23 That is good, that is good! he repeated; but that is not all; go on; and so for three long days he placed that fish before my eyes; forbidding me to look at anything else, or to use any artificial aid. Look, look, look, was his repeated injunction. 24 This was the best entomological lesson I ever had- a lesson, whose influence has extended to the details of every subsequent study; a legacy the professor has left to me, as he has left it to many others, of inestimable value, which we could not buy, with which we cannot part. 25 A year afterward, some of us were amusing ourselves with chalking outlandish beasts upon the museum blackboard. We drew prancing star-fishes; frogs in mortal combat; hydra-headed worms; stately crawfishes, standing on their tails, bearing aloft umbrellas; and grotesque fishes with gaping mouths and staring eyes. The professor came in shortly after and was as amused as any at our experiments. He looked at the fishes. 26 Haemulons, every one of them, he said; Mr. - drew them. 27 True; and to this day, if I attempt a fish, I can draw nothing but haemulons. 28 The fourth day, a second fish of the same group was placed beside the first, and I was bidden to point out the resemblances and differences between the two; another and another followed, until the entire family lay before me, and a whole legion of jars covered the table and surrounding shelves; the odor had become a pleasant perfume; and even now, the sight of an old, six-inch, worm-eaten cork brings fragrant memories! 29 The whole group of haemulons was thus brought in review; and, whether engaged upon the dissection of the internal organs, the preparation and examination of the bony framework, or the description of the various parts, Agassizs training in the method of observing facts and their orderly arrangement, was ever accompanied by the urgent exhortation not to be content with them. 30 Facts are stupid things, he would say, until brought into connection with some general law. 31 At the end of eight months, it was almost with reluctance that I left these friends and turned to insects; but what I had gained by this outside experience has been of greater value than years of later investigation in my favorite groups.*This version of the essay Look at Your Fish! originally appeared in both  Every Saturday: A Journal of Choice Reading  (April 4, 1874) and the Manhattan and de la  Salle Monthly  (July 1874)  under the title In the Laboratory With Agassiz by A Former Pupil.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Insect Courtship Rituals and Mating Habits

Insect Courtship Rituals and Mating Habits Ah, romance. Because insects are so numerous, a good deal of work goes into finding a suitable mate. Females can be fickle, with such a wealth of insect bachelors from which to choose. If a male stands a chance at passing on his genes, hes got to do something to stand out in the crowd. Courtship rituals in insect mating include serenades, dances, nuptial gifts, physical touch, and even aphrodisiacs. Serenades Courtship songs differ from calling songs, which are broadcast from a distance to help females find the males. Crickets use distinct calling and courtship songs, for example. Once the female cricket is nearby, the male suitor sings his best courtship song to sweep her off her six feet. Fruit flies have no calling song but they do sing when a mate is in close range. The fruit fly male vibrates his wings in a pulsing, rhythmic pattern. His song lets the female know he is of the same species, and available to mate. Mosquitoes sing harmonic duets with each other, adjusting the frequencies of their songs simultaneously as they near the moment of copulation. Dances and Foreplay Any woman is a sucker for a man that can dance. Some male insects and spiders cha cha cha their way to love, performing elaborate dances for their chosen mates. Jumping spiders are famous for their ballroom skills. They can perform a linear dance, a zigzag dance, and even a sort of can-can with their forelegs. Certain male flies perform aerial dances around a female to attract her attention and win the right to mate with her. Some female insects like to be cuddled and caressed to get in the mood. This is especially true of the more primitive, wingless insects. Springtails, for instance, will touch each other with their antennae. Sperm transfer in apterygotes takes place externally, with the male depositing his sperm on a surface and then gently coaxing his partner to take it. Some dung beetles engage in a different kind of foreplay. Together, the pair rolls a ball of dung to serve as a nursery for their offspring. Nuptial Gifts Gift giving is another clever strategy employed by some male insects in their pursuit of a mate. Before seeking a partner, hangingfly males hunt and capture arthropod prey. They then lure a female closer using a chemical signal and offer her the food gift. She examines the prey, and if she finds the meal to her liking, they mate. If the gift is insufficient, she refuses his advance. Balloon flies take gift giving a step further by wrapping the prey in pretty, silken balloons. Females fly into a mating swarm of males and choose a partner, who presents her with his silk package. Dont give the males too much credit, though. Theyve actually learned to trick the females by offering them empty balloons. Some male insects, like Mormon crickets, produce a spermatophylax, a protein-rich wad which they attach to the females genitalia. The female eats the sperm-free offering, which may have cost the male a full 30% of his body weight. Thats a pretty substantial gift. Aphrodisiacs When all else fails, insects may try an aphrodisiac to make a partner willing to copulate. Male queen butterflies dust prospective mates with an aphrodisiac produced by hairpencils, brush-like appendages on the tip of the abdomen. If his magic dust works, she will fly to a nearby plant. He dusts her once more to be sure shes ready, and if she is, they consummate the marriage. On the other hand, insects sometimes employ anti-aphrodisiacs to turn away suitors. Certain ground beetle females produce methacrylic acid, a potent anti-aphrodisiac that not only repels males, which can knock them out for several hours. Male mealworm beetles apply anti-aphrodisiac pheromones to their female partners after mating, to make them less attractive to other males.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Arbitration Case-Decision and Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Arbitration Case-Decision and Analysis - Essay Example The company contended that Rose Ross failure to wear one of her steel gloves while continuing to operate the saw constituted gross safety violation punishable by discharge. According to Article 1 – Management Rights of the Contract Provisions, management has the right to discharge for just cause. The Company also has the right to determine work processes and procedures and enact plant rules and regulations which are not in conflict with the legal rights of its employees. The arbitrator therefore accepts the company’s position that Ross committed a gross safety violation punishable by discharge as this has been communicated to employees under Work Rules, wherein disregard of safety rules that endanger the safety of the employee or other employees is considered serious enough to warrant major disciplinary action, including discharge. Ross’ admission that she was not wearing the left-hand glove while operating the saw, as well as her admission that she was aware of the requirement, since she had already been previously warned about it on two previous occasions, support the company’s position. The Company also contended that its decision to terminate Ross was supported by prior arbitral decision. It has also cited the arbitral opinion of Arbitrator Porter in Bethlehem Steel Co., who reasoned that employees may not exercise individual discretion regarding the need to comply with safety rules. The prior decision does set a precedent for Ross’ case, although Arbitrator Porter’s opinion does not have any bearing on it. The prior case also involved saw operation and consists of the same type of violation. Employees should be able to realize the importance of the Work Rules, especially for their own benefit. Although the prior decision sets a precedent for Ross’ case, and supports the Company’s position, not much weight is put into it per se. What matters more is

Saturday, November 2, 2019

The Population Environment Debate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

The Population Environment Debate - Essay Example Currently, researchers are trying to frame this debate into a more analytical parameter. This is after they discovered that a framework, which describes the inherent uncertainties in the relationships between population and environment, is vital in giving this debate a direction. Governments are also advised to develop and implement population policy that acknowledges and respects the relationship between population and the environment. Additionally, the entire population should also be engaged, in this debate, to get their views and opinions about the future at the local, regional, and national levels. These actions will help people understand both the positive and negative relationships between population and the environment. Betsy Hartmann first came up with the idea that overpopulation is the primary cause of environmental degradations, and serious population control is required to control this situation (Ramphal et al. 45). He dismissed the idea that population growth was the ma in cause of environmental problems, and reminded researchers to reflect on how population- control programs are not paid much attention. This argument is recognized as the cause of the population-environment debate. Participants of this debate are facing the challenging of considering whether population growth is the cause of environmental degradation, or whether it should be considered as a non-issue, in this debate. Considering one factor, as the effects of population growth on the environment, is what has always given this debate a meaningless direction. Participants need to broaden the basis of their arguments and understand population dynamics and their impacts on the environment (Ramphal et al. 51). While the rate of population growth has significantly slowed down, there is still an increase in the world’s population every year (Ramphal et al. 23). Population growth has a considerable effect on the environment, however; it is difficult to determine whether this impact i n linear or uniform.         Â