Internet Marketing Strategies of Hsbc

In line with HSBC’s aim for development with global focus, the company was able to adopt a strategy, which enhances its technology development through information systems operations. This strategy was able to increase staff retention rates, and decrease staff turnover, which brings greater continuity and efficiency to the company’s projects (Annesley 2006). Moreover, in terms of internet communications, HSBC has a single global center of excellence for e-commerce IT, made up of collocated businesses and staff, distributed in international offices, such as in New Jersey, Chicago, Canada, Hong Kong and London. In accordance to this, HSBC was also able to implement and introduce another feature of HSBC. com, the HSBCnet, which is its developed key global platform, designed for commercial customers in other countries. HSBCnet includes services for global markets, global cash management and investment banking that are being used regularly by corporate customers. Moreover, as an response to the need of security, the company has developed a second-generation internet technologies, exposing customers to intelligent, personalized content and better targeted marketing, and this feature allows the customers to save time, avoid repetition of tasks by pre-filling in application forms, to come back to a product offer, and get to the end of an application process (Annesley 2006). Furthermore, the company has also developed the successful credit card authorization and accounting platform, which consists of linked applications, such as credit assessment, risk-based pricing, card ordering and transaction processing and reporting (Annesley 2006). These strategies enabled HSBC to gain competitive advantage over their competitors, by implementing an effective and efficient Internet-based information system. These strategies become relevant to the problems of Nokia because like HSBC, they can also develop the same strategies and use them for their own advantage

Main Events of World War 2

†¢World War II started on the third of September 1939 and ended in April 1945. Over these years the were many significant events in World War Two such as Germany declaring war on the U. S and the invasion of Poland. A few that is of some importance that will be discussed in detail in following are the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbour, when Germany surrenders after Hitler commits suicide and when the U. S drops a bomb over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. †¢The attack on Pearl Harbour was a horrific ordeal because it was a surprising attack on the U.S navel base at Pearl Harbour conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The attack was in Hawaii on the morning of December 7, 1941. The U. S base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighters, all eight U. S battleships were damaged some way or another. Some being sunk, two being raised from the water and with for repaired, over all there were six in total to return to service later in the war. There were numerous reasons for the Japanese for attac king the U. S on Pearl Harbour. The tension between the two nations started in 1931 when the invasion on Manchuria by the Japanese.Although there was multiple events in World War 2 the bombing of Pearl Harbour only feed the fire of the great world war. †¢Adolf Hitler died on the 30th of April 1945 by his own bullet in Fuherbunker in Berlin. His wife Eva died along side of him by ingesting cyanide. From these acts it resulted in Germany surrendering, This is also extraordinary on account of the war ending. Hitler realizing that all hope was lost and not whishing to suffer Mussolini’s fate, the dictator of Germany committed suicide. Germany raise the white flag to the Western Allies and the soviet Union took place in late April and early May 1945.

Domestic Violence Essay

Before I answer to this question, let me tell you a short story. Her friends describe Maria â€Å"as the perfect girl†. She is beautiful, she is working and she has many friends. However, Maria has many problems in her family. Her father is alcoholic and he is not working to feet his family. So, Maria and her mother are doing two or three jobs each in order to earn enough money to survive. Her father was hitting her and her mother almost everyday. One day one of Maria’s friends that know what it was happening report this situation to the police in order to help Maria. When the police ask Maria if she believes that there are any signs of Domestic Violence in her family, her answer was just like that â€Å"Of course not, no one rape me or my mother or my little brother.† I am here to talk you about Domestic Violence and specifically what it is, how common it is and some basic signs of identifying it in everyday life. In 1993 the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) Report on Domestic Violence used the following definition: â€Å"any form of physical, sexual or emotional abuse which takes place within the context of a close relationship. In most cases, the relationship will be between partners (married, cohabiting, or otherwise) or ex-partners†. So domestic violence can affect many aspects of someone’s life. It is more likely to acts against women more than men. Crime survey found that 45% women and 26% men had experienced at least one incident of inter – personal violence in their lifetimes. This means that women affected almost twice as much than men. Domestic violence is repetitive, life – threatening and can destroy the lives of women, children and men. I will be concentrating on how common is domestic violence nowadays. The association for domestic violence prevention in the family was founded in Nicosia on the 25th July 1990. The association is an non- profitable organization. An Administration Body of 9 members also administrates the association. The goals of the association are prevention of use in the family, immediate help to victims in the family, shetter to victims of family members and provide information and generate awareness of the public for the problem of domestic violence. According to the statistics 20% of the murders are due to family violence, generally speaking the police signify two events of domestic violence murders a year. In 2009 8 out of 19 murders are family-violence murders. 85% of murderers are men and 15% are women. 36% of victims are men and 54% are women. We have seen until know how common is domestic violence between sexes but it is very important to highlight some points that can help you to recognize an abusive act or relationship. All forms of domestic violence, psychological, economic, emotional and physical come from the abuser’s desire and control over other family members or intimate partners. Although every situation is unique, there are common factors that link the experience of an abusive relationship. Acknowledging these factors is an important step in preventing and stopping the abuse. This list can help you to recognize if you, or someone you know, are in an abusive relationship. Firstly, is the destructive criticism and verbal abuse like shouting/mocking/ accusing/name/calling verbally threatening. Secondly, the Pressure tactics like sulking; threatening to withhold money, disconnect the telephone; lying to your friends and family about you; telling you that you have no choice in any decisions. Thirdly, when they show to you disrespect for example putting you down in front of other people; not listening or responding when you talk; interrupting your telephone calls; taking money from your purse without asking. Also when breaking your trust, for example lying to you; being jealous and having other relationships. The most serious forms of domestic violence is the sexual and physical violence. Using force, threats or intimidation to make you perform sexual acts or having sex without want it. Punching, slapping, hitting, biting kicking and so on are part of the physical violence. Maria now, knows that the problems that she was having are fall in Domestic Violence. Now she can realize that rape is not only the main cause of it. She and her mother report her father in the police. But even though Maria she is never going to forget what it was happening to her all these years. Further to my analysis of what Domestic Violence is, how common it is and what are the basic signs of it I will show you once again which are the statistics about reported facts of Domestic Violence in the UK. 1. One call about Domestic Violence every minute†¦ 2. 1,300 calls each day†¦ 3. 570,000 every year†¦ After all now you know what Domestic Violence is. Next time you are asked what Domestic Violence is †¦., now you Know the answer.

Hamel and Prahalad's Concept of Core Competence Essay

Hamel and Prahalad's Concept of Core Competence - Essay Example Formerly, the diversification of the corporation would simply direct its business units towards particular end product markets and order them to become leading outlets of the business, but with the ever changing market boundaries, the targets proved to be to elusive with their sustained ‘capture’ limited. Only a few companies have been able to adapt to the ever changing dynamics and thus have been able to capture the existing markets through their inventing of new markets, their quick entry into new emerging markets and, more dramatically, in their shift in patterns on the selection of customers in the already established markets. Therefore, the critical task that various corporate management face, is the creation of an organization that is capable of infusing their different products and services with efficient and effective functional ability or improving their profiles with the creation of product and services that their customers need but have not yet envisioned (Gra nt, 2005, 182). Such a task is difficult since it ultimately requires the radical restructuring the management of these companies. This in essence means that the top management of various corporations or companies must accept and assume their role and responsibility in the decline of their companies’ competitiveness. The theory and practice of the ‘Western’ type of management is blamed on the creation of a ‘dragging effect’ on the forward movement of companies. It is thus imperative that the principles of management be changed /reformed (Grant, 2005, 182). Core competency can be described as ‘a specific factor that, through the business’ point of view, is centrally responsible for the way the business and by extension its employees perform their duties. Through its utilization, it can fulfill the following aspects: - it cannot be imitated easily by business competitors, it can be used to put leverage on a wide range of products and marke ts and its core importance is that it must contribute to the benefits experienced by the consumers. Therefore, it can take a myriad of forms including customer services, technical/subject matter knowledge and effective and efficient management of the business. It may include product enhancement, good marketing skills, efficient Human Resource Management among others (Nitschke, 2011, 23). They enable better coordination of the diverse production skills through the integration of different technologies, good communication, good interpersonal skills and an involved and deeply committed work attitude. Consequently, a core competence is achieved through the application of a specific and unique set of skills and or production techniques that will, in the end, deliver the expected value to the customer. This in turn, enables the discovery and exploitation of newer varieties of markets. As illustrated by Professor Prahalad and Hamel, core competencies usually lead to the creation or the cor e products of a business and in themselves can add many more products for their end users. These core competencies are enhanced through continued improvements by the companies over a period of time. This build up of the core competencies

Network Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Network Security - Essay Example Cyber security made the greatest move on the discovery of Stuxnet, computer software, which is believed to be the first warfare weapon and a computer virus that attacks and destroys industrial computer programs. Over the past years there has been a great debate about the Stuxnet virus. This computer worm was first used to wipe sixty percent of Iran’s computer network and programs. The Stuxnet attack has far-reaching policy implications and cyber-security, since it demonstrates that states are vulnerable to crippling cyber actions from other states. The source and the exact purpose of the virus are not well known to the international community. The software was basically designed to target industrial equipment. It is an IT discovery which attacks programs and destroys information aimed for an attack. Since the discovery of the software, different opinions regarding its application have been forwarded by many computer experts among other members of the public. Views against the device have been raised while other individuals considered it a security device that can be used to improve security in a nation (Reveron, 2012). An observation on this device portray that there is a difference in the style of coding used in the software that initially affected the targeted states and the software that deploys once the virus has penetrated the state’s defenses. The device has therefore been believed to have been a collaborative effort between its two developers, the United States and Israel. According to other experts in various defense departments, the highly complex computer software was the first of its kind. It is said to have been written to specifically target critical mission control systems that run a specific combination of software and hardware. Many experts believe that the kind of research coordinating and planning required to undertake this specific kind of multi-stage attack on an industrial control system is most likely

Proof reading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Proof reading - Essay Example The system I developed is more suitable for hot-dry climate area. Now I am looking forward to expanding my experience by getting relevant employment.   I have completed two years job contract as a project engineer for Knowledge Transfer Partner (KTP) Association; this was a joint program between Cooper Technology and University of Nottingham. I have handled a project with a budget of ?200,000, which entailed designing and manufacturing of a new unbound material tester which called Precision Unbound Material Analyzer (PUMA). I carried out this project by myself; starting from market awareness, project management, designing and manufacturing of the product to testing the product, promotion and selling of the product. My educational background is in engineering only, however with the help of my KTP job I have had the opportunity to learn management as well. This opportunity was provided by KTP when they enrolled me in a number of training courses including those for project management , marketing, finance and leadership, software package training course, etc. I have had the opportunity to learn the process to request the UK Patent for the PUMA. Currently, the UK Patent Application No. of the PUMA is 1014471.5.

Qualitative individual Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Qualitative individual - Essay Example Bullying in health care involves all members of the medical fraternity such as health care workers, nurses, and doctors. Bullying in health care is more apparent compared to other problems such as sexual harassment face institutions. Bullying victims can help reduce the problem by reporting bullying incidences to the management (D. Jackson, 2008). According to (Gaffney, Donna, Anne, Judith & Wendy, 2012) in the article making things right: nurses' experiences with workplace bullying-a grounded theory, bullying is an internationally recognized problem that affect healthcare institutions. The article clearly states how the problem affects healthcare management. The article looks in to the effects of the bullying on patients, health care workers and the entire health care systems. These are the primary areas in nursing and healthcare. Addressing bullying in these, healthcare areas demonstrate that indeed bullying play a crucial role in prevention of effective and efficient health care s ystems. The article explains what the suffering patients go through because of bullying of nurses. Bullied nurses do not have the energy to serve patients with compassion and love (Monks, el et, 2009). The affected nurses loose esteem and there are a high probability for them to make mistakes as they carry out their duties. In some cases, the affected health care workers may feel isolated, get depressed and develop in drug substance additions such as alcohol. The primary objective of the research outline in the article was to understand the complexity of bullying in healthcare institutions. The article highlights the consequences of bullying as one of the outcomes of the research undertaken. The research question stated is extensive enough to qualify for a qualitative research. The main objective of a qualitative research is to bring a variety of data extracted from an array of sources using different methods. Qualitative research employs real world settings in data collection. The study design was consistent with qualitative research approach. The study employed qualitative constructivist grounded approach with the use of respondent’s individual experiences. Both online and offline means were some of the methods respondents used to give their experiences. Guided questions helped the researcher pick the bullying social realities. Quite often researchers engage their values and experiences biasing the research outcome. The researchers laid precautions to prevent researchers from biasing the research. Qualitative research does not use experimental approach since its primary goal is to capture a thorough comprehension of the concerned phenomenon. The subjects used in the research covered by the article â€Å"Making things Right† consistently comply with qualitative research methodology. The objective of the research is to get an in-depth knowledge and understanding of bullying in healthcare institutions. The setting in this research engages anonymou s respondents to give their own experiences inform of a narrative of 5 to 780 words. In qualitative research, data collection involves a number of methods. This particular research required unstructured data. The use of a web link to conduct electronic survey in the internet provided an ideal means for conducting data collection. The validity and the integrity of the data use in the research are crucial to ensure correctness of the research

Impact of IT Outsourcing in the Tertiary Sector Essay

Impact of IT Outsourcing in the Tertiary Sector - Essay Example This paper has chosen McDonald's in the United Kingdom as the case study, in order to understand the consequences and impact of IT outsourcing in the tertiary sector, and particularly, McDonald's. The literature review has indicated that McDonald's has also turned to outsource its IT processes for maintenance of quality service at lower costs. Studies have noted that a seven-year IT outsourcing deal has recently been signed by the fast-food giant, McDonald's. (Morales, pp. 24-25, 2006) The role of a third party is played by Affiliated Computer Services, which will be providing the IT services to McDonald's worth millions of dollars. In specific, IT infrastructure needs and requirements of McDonald's will be fulfilled by the above-mentioned third-party firm by the provision of back-end support, as well as, help desk assistance to McDonald's, particularly, in its operations in the UK region. (Morales, pp. 26-28, 2006) Moreover, a centralized office will be established by the Affiliated Computer Services for the provision of IT support to McDonald's according to the agreement. In the result, work of more than eighty-five percent of IT workers of McDonald's will be absorbed by this office, which will result in the lowering of maintenance and administrative costs. McDonald's is also involved in outsourcing its IT requirements for its farms, in order to fulfill the needs of its millions of customers around the globe. For instance, phone-ordering operations of a local franchise of McDonald's in the United Kingdom has been outsourced to a local call center, which has resulted in costs lowering, as well as, quality maintenance of the tasks.

E-Commerce Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

E-Commerce Issues - Essay Example The payment is usually done through credit cards. Once the person has entered all the information he or she just have to wait for the delivery of the products at their home. The biggest issue that arises here is the security of the information transmitted we will discuss about it later. A poll conducted by CNN during Christmas season resulted in 62 percent of the respondents saying they prefer to shop online in this season. Hence by using E-Commerce not only you save money but you can buy products 24 hours a day, 7 days-a-week, without experiencing traffic jams, crowded markets, and carrying heavy bags of shopping. Apart from this organization can increase their profits by introducing E-Commerce as their business runs 24 hours a day. Our organization follows the simple E-Commerce method of using a website, but not only for buying products also for after sale services and complaints about any defected product. We also welcome any suggestions by our customers to improve the way we do business. The organization has its own website that has a multiple range of products as mentioned in the online catalog, the prices are updated every day in order to keep our customers informed. We follow a delivery procedure that has no charges meaning we offer a free delivery for the citizens of the country where the company is operating. Hence we have made different websites for different countries. If a person orders his or her product from the country's website than he gets a free delivery. The ranges of products that the organization is offering are different in different countries and regions. We have a direct interaction with our customers meaning that every customer is contacted through his email for informing him about promo tions and different offers or sales that are being held by the organization, the organization also offers a loyalty card after 200 purchases that enables a customer to get discount on purchases. The organization also does business with other organizations doing E-Commerce. E-Commerce in our organization takes care of automatic collecting of data by these systems, funds transfer by electronic means, electronic-marketing, processing of transactions online, EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), inventory management by automation, and management of supply chain. Security After discussing so much about E-Commerce and its advantages and how our organization follows it, E-Commerce seems to be an easy subject but there are complications as well. The biggest issue that E-Commerce is experiencing during this time is the security issue. When customers are buying online they give the websites personal information that is private and confidential hence it's the organization's duty to protect it. To make sure that the information transmitted is secure certain steps have to be taken. E-Commerce is said to be prone to internet crime, which to an extent is quite true hacking credit card numbers has become a menace to E-Commerce and sometimes people only discourage to buy online because of this. Making sure that E-Commerce is secure physically and from hackers, its important to identify the following: The role of a security policy in e-commerce. Approaches to security risk assessment in e-commerce. Physical security options. The features of dynamic firewalls. The risks involved in

A Strategic report on The CrossChannel Transport Business and Essay

A Strategic report on The CrossChannel Transport Business and Eurotunnel (GET.SA) - Essay Example Choice affects outcomes and this is the nature of strategy. Whereas organizations can often function just fine in periods of stability, this is not appropriate for long-term success. Environmental turbulence and competition are sure to increase at some point, at which the company that was relying so heavily on the stability will be adversely affected. This is the very basis of the formation of strategic management. Whatever strategy a company decides to employ will be based on their unique organizational structure, their access to resources, their relationship with the environment, and their desired objective(s) (Wikipedia, 2008). Capacity on Cross-Channel traffic has grown with the opening of the tunnel in 1994, and with bigger modernized ferries, and fast hydrofoil services. Unlike low-cost airlines where lower prices have led to a growth in travel, demand for vehicle transit across the channel has not also grown rapidly, therefore and intensely competitive situation persists, especially away from holiday 'peaks'. It is easily notable here that while Eurotunnel is experience steadiness, they are not experiencing the growth they desire. People have other choices for travel, such as flying. When the price of airline travel goes down, Eurotunnel experiences less business. Road freight traffic grows steadily with economic growth in the EU; car traffic (especially from the UK) is largely dependent on shopping and vacation choices. Eurotunnel also has 'rail-user' customers 'Eurostar' and 'Rail-freight'; the former is growing rapidly, the latter has problems. According to the company information that is provided to the public on their corporate website, "Eurotunnel is the holder, until 2086, of the Concession to operate the cross-Channel Fixed Link made up of twin rail tunnels and a service tunnel below the bed of the Straits of Dover, of two terminals in Folkestone (Kent) and Coquelles (Pas-de-Calais) which provide access, as well as a fleet of 25 Shuttles which transport passenger vehicles or trucks. This impressive undersea structure, the longest in the world, also gives passage to passenger and freight carrying trains belonging to rail operators" (Eurotunnel, 2008). There are current and future key issues and trends that are likely to affect this market and GET.SA's strategy-making. One major issue is the abolishment of the Strategic Rail Authority in 2006, as it is yet to be determined how this will strategically affect the industry. The United Kingdom's growth rate largely determines the condition of the passenger and freight transport markets in the country. According to Bharat Book Review: "The present economic climate remains favourable for companies operating in the market, with economic growth steady, and both inflation and unemployment levels relatively low by historical standards. Rail passenger markets benefit from the fact that work-related trips, both the journey to work and trips undertaken as part of business activity, are likely to be relatively inelastic to short-term changes in the economic climate. Rail freight, which serves markets for the carriage of industrial materials, is likely to be relatively unaffected by any short-ter m fluctuations in consumer demand (2006). There are other customer concerns that are affecting this market. First of all, they are concerned about issues such as safety and security.

Economics term paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Economics - Term Paper Example 44 Allied nations from 1 July to 22 July 1944 to sign agreements for the establishment of International Bank for Reconstruction (IBRD, the World Bank), the International Trade Organization (ITO), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A system of exchange rate management was deployed, which was working till 1970. Currency conversion was mandatory by the member countries of the agreement, which became functional only in 1959, culminating in the setting of IMF and IBRD. As per the agreement, the member nations needed to consult one anther to reach a unilateral decision on global monetary developments, impacting the economies of all nations. The purpose behind the creation of IBRD was to take quick action for post-war reconstruction, to reach political stability, and promote peace through making of programs for reconstruction and development . Thus, the major industrial nations of the world came closer by framing rules for introducing a system of monetary functions of businesses among the allied powers of the World War II. By 1945, the IBRD an associate of World Bank Group currently and IMF started functioning after the ratification of the agreement by a good number of member countries. As per the agreement, in each member country’s monetary policy it was mandatory to maintain the exchange rate of its currency around a fixed value with the flexibility of 1 percent up or down against gold. It was essential to clear the imbalances in payments by the IMF. The system couldn’t work beyond 1971 due to increasing financial glitches and one-sided termination of conversion of dollar into gold by the United States. This action of the United States created furors in the international economy, and a new situation surfaced making the dollar â€Å"reserve currency† for the member nations that signed the agreement . The worldwide depression of

Text Messaging Essay Example for Free

Text Messaging Essay Texting has become an integral part of our lives; it has developed very rapidly throughout the world. Initial growth of text messaging starts with customers in 1995 sending an average 0.4 messages per GSM (Global System for mobile communications) per customer per month. (Wikipedia, 2009) Today, text messaging is the most widely used mobile data service, with 35% of all mobile phones users worldwide or 4.2 million to 7.3 million phone subscribers at the end of 2003 being active users of SMS. The largest average usage of the service by mobile phone subscribers is the Philippines with an average of 15 texts per day by subscribers. (Wikipedia, 2009) Text messaging is most often used between private mobile users as a substitute for voice calls situations. Popularity has grown to a sufficient extent that the term texting has enticed the people. It is a very powerful tool in the Philippines where the average user sends 10-12 text messages a day. The Philippines ends on the average 400 million test messages per day or approximately 142 billion text messages sent a year. At the end of 2007, four of the top mobile service providers in the country stated that there are 42.78 million mobile subscribers in the Philippines; thus Philippines has become the â€Å"texting capital of the world†. The expanding availability of text messaging has raised questions about the effect of texting on standard literacy. Many have reported unintentional intrusions of abbreviations used in texting called â€Å"textisms†- is inappropriate contexts. (Wood. Et al., 2009) This study aims to determine whether the texting habits of the first year high school students of Aldersgate Science High School should be a concern as it significantly demeaning th eir spelling proficiency. Statement of the Problem This study aims to determine the correlation between the Spelling Proficiencies of Texters and Non – texters of selected students of Aldersgate College Science High School. It also aims to answer the following questions: Respondents of the study, the First Year High School students of AC Science High School 1. What is the profile of the selected students of the AC SHS as to: 1.1 gender 1.2 age 1.3 score in the spelling proficiency test 1.4 monthly income of the family 1.5 text promo availed of 1.6 length of ownership of the cell phone 1.7 amount spent in texting 1.8 frequency of texting 1.9 type of text message sent 1.10 person sent text messages to 2. Is there a significant difference between the spelling proficiency of texters and non – texters. 3. Is there a significant relationship between the spelling proficiency of texters when group according to the following variables: 1.1 gender 1.2 age 1.3 score in the spelling proficiency test 1.4 monthly income of the family 1.5 text promo availed of 1.6 length of ownership of the cell phone 1.7 amount spent in texting 1.8 frequency of texting 1.9 type of text message sent 1.10 person sent text messages to Statement of Hypothesis Null Hypothesis There is no skeptical effect of texting to the spelling proficiency of the first year high school students of Aldersgate College. Alternative Hypothesis There is a negative effect of texting to the spelling proficiency of the first year high school students of Aldersgate College. Scope and Delimitation of the Study The study is confined to determine if there is a negative effect of texting to the spelling proficiency of First year High School students of Aldersgate College through a series of survey conducted, during the first semester, school year 2009-2010. Significance of the Study To get a better idea of the effects of texting on teenagers and how much this technology was actually being used, a survey was conducted in Aldersgate College Science High School Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. Seventy- two First Year high School students were asked questions about their usage of texting and instant messaging. To ensure the honesty of the answers, the surveys were anonymous and the students were told that their answers would not be used against them. Summary After floating questionnaires regarding the effect of texting to the spelling proficiency of first year student of Aldersgate College Science High School, the researchers came up with the following significant data that texting habits had diminished the spelling proficiency of the students. Conclusion The researcher therefore conclude that texting habits affect the declining spelling proficiency of students, text languages often confuse the students with the correct spelling of the words leading to usually misspelled words. Recommendation The researcher would like to recommend that a further study about the effect of texting in the spelling proficiency of students would be done in a longer period of time with a larger number of respondents who should be observed in an adequate period of time. Writing, a linguistically complex skill, draws heavily upon our cognitive abilities. Dr. Mel Levine confirms this in his book, A Mind at a Time, (2002), by stating that â€Å"Writing is one of the largest orchestras a kid’s mind has to conduct.† Does text messaging harm students writing skills? Yes. I believe students are carrying over the writing habits they pick up through text messaging into school assignments. Maybe. Although text messaging may have some impact on how students write, I dont think its a significant problem. No. I believe students can write one way to their friends and another way in class. They can keep the two methods separate. None of the above. (Comment below.) Not only is texting used for person-to-person communication, but a number of groups have jumped onto the craze in recent years. Political campaigns, for example, have used it as a way to keep their supporters up to speed on events as they happen. Protesters and organizers have used text messaging as a way to stay connected during actions, mobilizing large groups of people in real time. Various businesses allow users to sign up for updates via text, or to receive bills this way. It can be used to stay up to speed on stock prices, sports scores, and any number of other small bits of data that change rapidly.

Al Capone: The American Gangster

Al Capone: The American Gangster Al Capone was an American gangster who led a crime syndicate dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging of liquor and other illegal activities during the Prohibition Era of the 1920s and 1930s. Capone began his career in Brooklyn before moving to Chicago and becoming the boss of the criminal organization known as the Chicago Outfit; although, his business card reportedly described him as a used furniture dealer. He was, and still is, the most recognized and influential Mafioso in American history. Both hated and loved by the public, he shared a common dislike with many people in American society at that time; a strong disdain for the temperance movement. Alphonse Gabriel Al Capone was born on January 17, 1899 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City to Italian immigrants Gabriele and Teresina Capone. They landed in New York just in time for the Panic of 1893, which would wrack the countrys economy for years. Gabriel who was a skilled barber and Teresina a seamstress, wisely chose Brooklyn as home in preference to the even greater squalor and density of Mulberry Bend, Manhattans Lower East Side Italian colony; not that the depression spared Brooklyn. Unemployment would soon idle one quarter of the boroughs workforce, making it no time for the unskilled.  [1]   The Capones lived better than most. Though Gabriel could not ply his trade at first, he avoided the drudgery and extreme low pay of manual labor because he boasted another skill that went with his trade; he could read and write. In Italy, as well as in America, the illiterate expected their barber to read them any letters that came their way. Gabriels learning earned him a job in a grocery store until he could gather enough of a stake to open his own barber shop; a storefront in a tenement at 69 Park Avenue.  [2]   Little Al, as he was called, had started school at John Jay, P.S. 7, at 141 York, near the Navy Yard. After the family had moved, he transferred to William A. Butler, P.S. 133, at 355 Butler Street; seven blocks away from Garfield. Until he reached sixth grade, he maintained a B average. He devoted much time and energy to his favorite extracurricular activity, playing hooky. He attended class only thirty-three days of the required ninety. A red-haze temper that would occasionally overmaster him all his life exploded one day, and he hit a teacher who was lecturing him. Sent to the principals office, he got a whipping and quit school in embarrassment. He was fourteen at the time, but he was ready to quit anyway as it was practically a family tradition.  [3]   Al made a stab at an assortment of honest jobs; clerk in a candy store and pin boy in a bowling alley. For a while he earned twenty-three dollars a week working in an ammunition factory. He also worked as cutter in a book bindery, following his older brother Ralph, who had worked in the print shop of a newspaper. Apprenticeship for Al Capones lifes work, though, arose on the streets. The streets Capone traveled as a young boy was ruled by gangs, or more precisely kid gangs. Members of these kid gangs could not be called gangsters; by todays standards they would barely qualify as delinquents. Excepting petty pilferage and occasional lunch-money extortion, few engaged in activity anyone would consider downright criminal.  [4]   Al was heavily influenced by gangster Johnny Torrio whom he considered to be his mentor. John Torrio was the thinking mans criminal. Torrio owned a bar on James Street at the corner of Water. He soon expanded, leasing a rooming house down the block which he filled with prostitutes and a nearby store he converted into a pool hall. Young Al could hardly have avoided absorbing the lesson of someone who had attained money and power without the drudgery that were typically weighed on others.  [5]   Al eventually joined the South Brooklyn Rippers, a junior gang that inducted kids as young as eleven. No reliably authentic details about Als activities in his late boyhood and early teens have survived, but he evidently did not stand out or apart. Not many years later, a former Brooklyn kid-gang member remembered him as something of a nonentity, affable, soft of speech and even mediocreà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.  [6]   Al had caught the eye of someone who could exert the most portentous influence possible at that stage. It was Frankie Yale, six years older, who had ushered Al into the Forty Thieves Juniors gang. When Al entered his mid-teens, Yale welcomed him exclusively into the adult gang Five Points headed by Johnny Torrio. Membership in this Manhattan gang showcased his tough scrappiness. Capone learned all there was to know about extortion and slugging and the rest on the banks of the Gowanus Canal, says William Balsamo, Brooklyn native and historian of New York crime. Yale was fashioning a complex of enterprises beyond the Harvard Inn: a mortuary; racehorses; prizefighters; another nightspot, the Sunrise Cafe; a line of cigars-all based finally on his main line, strong-arm terror.  [7]   Capones job as bartender and bouncer at Yales Harvard Inn demanded a certain finesse. The trick was to bounce without alienating, and only to do so after considered efforts to calm and subdue had failed. Ideally, the bounced would recognize themselves as out of line. Capone combined the mass to bounce authoritatively and the intelligence to do it with tact. Capone became Yales pupil, favored by invitations after a hard night at the Harvard Inn to sleep over at Yales house. That happened frequently enough that Yales daughters would show visitors Als room. Yale had the swagger of a young man, already boss yet still a comer. Inevitably, Capone viewed Yale as a model and a teacher.  [8]   One summer night in 1917 resulted in scarring consequences. Frank Galluccio Galluch, a merchant seaman, barbers assistant, and spear-carrier in the Genovese crime family strutted into the Harvard Inn with his date, Maria Tanzio, and his kid sister, Lena. The sight of Lena set Capones glands exploding. Every time his rounds took him past her table he would try to chat with her; Lena snubbed him. Her brother who was half drunk and did not know Capone assumed from his familiarity that Lena did. His kid sisters growing anger penetrated Galluccios alcoholic fog stating, You know that guy? Lena then responded: I never saw him before. Hes got a lotta nerve. He wont give up, Frank. He cant take a hint. But I dont like him; he is embarrassing me. Maybe you could ask him to please stop-in a nice way.  [9]   Capone headed their way again and Galluccio was ready to take him aside like a gentleman: Hey, mister, please do me favor, okay? Shes my kid sister, you knowà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Before Galluccio could speak, Capone leaned over to Lena, and whispered-loud enough to startle the party at the next table with heads swiveled in amazement-You got a nice ass, honey, and I mean it as a compliment. Believe me. Her brother sprang to his feet. The insult was bad enough; the fact that strangers had plainly heard made it insupportable. I wont take that shit from nobody, Galluccio shouted. Apologize to my sister now, you hear? At a moment, Capones brain reasserted itself, perhaps kicked in by sister. Family meant everything, and its evocation put this customer unarguably in the right. With his most ingratiating and placating smile, Capone turned to Galluccio arms spread wide and palms up and open: Hey, whatsa matter, pal, a little misunderstanding, a joke, no offenseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This is no fucking jo ke, mister, cried Galluccio.  [10]   Galluccio stood five-foot-six and weighed under 150. Capone looked like a mountain avalanching toward him. The Galluch knew he could be badly hurt unless he struck first and quickly, but his punch would never do the job. He clawed his knife from his pocket and lunged as the streets had taught him. One slash started two inches in front of mid-ear, curved four inches down the left cheek to just below the corner of Capones mouth; the other two each measured two and a half inches, one on the left jaw, and the other on the neck under the left ear. Galluccio grabbed his sister and date and ran out the door. Someone rushed Capone to the Coney Island Hospital where doctors applied thirty stitches to his face.  [11]   Soon Galluccio heard that Frankie Yale had been asking around for him. Galluccio appealed to Joseph Masseria, overlord of all New York for justice. Joe the Boss decreed a sit-down at the Harvard Inn where they agreed that Capone had indeed been wrong and would not be allowed to seek vengeance, while Galluccio had to apologize for his disproportionate reaction-which he readily did, contrite at sight of how he had disfigured Capone. Capone also recognized the justice of the settlement and the dishonor of his scars. He later put out the story that the scars had happened to him in service with the Lost Battalion of World War I. In fact, he had never been called up in the draft. This notable scarring had given him the infamous nickname Scarface.  [12]   In 1918 Capone met an Irish girl at a dance and fell in love. She was pretty, slim and tall with a round piquant face and large eyes framed by a helmet of blond hair. Baptized Mary, she would be known all her life as Mae, daughter of Michael Coughlin, a construction worker, and the former Bridget Gorman. On December 4, 1918, Mae gave birth. Eighteen days later, Maes sister, Kathleen, and James DeVico, an otherwise obscure friend of Capones, became godparents to Albert Francis Capone, also known as Sonny. Mae had almost two years on Capone, perhaps an embarrassment to them because each fudged a year of age on their marriage registration. Capone appears in the church records as Albert, maybe a mistake, or maybe a typical bit of criminal obfuscation.  [13]   Members of the Anti-Saloon League, founded 1893 in Oberlin, Ohio, sincerely believed everyone would be better off without alcohol. They looked forward, one historian has observed, to a world freeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦from want and crime and sin, a sort of millennial Kansasà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Their campaign, which quickly enveloped the nation, combined such animating idealism with the most brutal brass-knuckles politics; the league terrorized Congress. In the words of a popular song of the era: What Have They Got on You, Mr. Congressman? Weve heard just how those drys, Keep cases on you Congress guys. One wrong vote and reports would wing back home broadcasted by the leagues fifty thousand field workers.  [14]   Americas April 6, 1917, entry into the war sanctified the dry cause as patriotism even for the doubting majority. The liquor trade gobbled up enough grain for eleven million loaves of bread a day. The league insisted drunken workers could not turn out war materiel any more than drunk soldiers could shoot straight. Caving in to these pressures, Congress passed a resolution calling for a prohibition amendment to the Constitution and sent it to the state legislatures for ratification in December 1917. On January 16, 1919, Nebraska provided the necessary three-fourths majority by becoming the thirty-sixth state to approve the resolution. The Eighteenth Amendment would become law in one year.  [15]   Meanwhile, the league rammed wartime Prohibition through Congress. Until the Eighteenth Amendment kicked in at midnight on Friday, January 16, 1920, the interim law forbade anyone in the United States to make, sell or transport-without a permit-any beverage containing more than one half of 1 percent alcohol. The ban-both permanent and interim-cunningly did not include owning, drinking or buying liquor. The league had been careful not to offend voters or members of Congress; many were notoriously wet in habits no matter how dry they voted.  [16]   Capone was a suspect for two murders in 1919 and was seeking a safe haven and a better job to provide for his new family. Capone relocated to Chicago to help out his Five Points gang mentor Johnny Torrio. Torrio had gone to Chicago to resolve some family problems his cousins husband was having with the Black Hand. Torrino had also been summoned there to help out his uncle, Big Jim Colosimo, the citys leading whoremaster to run his empire. By the time Capone arrived, Torrio was in dispute with Big Jim. Seeing the major financial opportunities that came with Prohibition, Torrio wanted Colosimo to shift his organizations main thrust to bootlegging; Big Jim was not interested. He had become rich and fat in the whoring trade and saw no need to expand. He forbade Torrio to get into the new racket. Torrio realized that Colosimo had to be eradicated so that he could use Big Jims organization for his criminal plans. Together he and Capone planned Colosimos murder and sent Frankie Yale and his men from New York to carry out the job. Capone and Torrio meantime would act out airtight alibis  [17]  . One of Capones duties was to buy trucks for Torrios operation-which those in it called the outfit-especially after Capone took over. Members used it casually when talking among themselves about their group-I joined the outfit two years ago-as they would say Im with Capone, when talking about their affiliation to an outsider. Many in the outfit were involved in transporting beer. For most of them, being part of a gang meant little more than being a truck driver; that was the entry-level job for most. Possible promotion led to muscle and racketeering work. But Torrio relied on few to buy new and used trucks; one was Capone. By mid-1922 Capone already ranked as Torrios number two.  [18]   The election of reform mayor William Emmet Dever led to Chicagos city government putting more strain on the gangster agenda within city limits. Devers biographer called him a dripping Wet who enforced Prohibition. He would tell a meeting of beer-guzzling Germans, I have never pretended to be, and am not now a Prohibitionist. But he would have law and order stating, He would enforce the law to the limit. Within a month, authorities were raiding places citywide with, wrote a reporter, unabated enthusiasm, arresting five hundred in one sweep, 450 in another. Within six months his men had closed over four thousand blatant saloons and some five hundred soda parlors-notoriously fronts for selling beers. A significant amount of license revocations were set forth.  [19]   To put its headquarters outside of city jurisdiction and create a safe zone for its operations, the Capone organization muscled its way into Cicero, Illinois. This led to one of Capones greatest triumphs; the takeover of Ciceros town government in 1924. Capone made it clear that he wanted an all-out conquest of the town. He installed his older brother Frank (Salvatore) as the front man with the Cicero city government. Ralph was tasked with opening up a working-class brothel called the Stockade for Ciceros heavily blue-collar population. Al focused on gambling and took an interest in a new gambling joint called the Ship. He also took control of the Hawthorne Race Track.  [20]   For the most part, the Capone conquest of Cicero was unopposed, with the exception of Robert St. John, the crusading young journalist at the Cicero Tribune. Every issue contained an expose on the Capone rackets in the city. The editorials were effective enough to threaten Capone-backed candidates in the 1924 primary election. On election day things got ugly as Capones forces kidnapped opponents election workers and threatened voters with violence. As reports of the violence spread, the Chicago chief of police rounded up seventy nine cops and provided them with shotguns. The cops, dressed in plain clothes, rode in unmarked cars to Cicero under the guise of protecting workers at the Western Electric plant there. Frank Capone, who had just finished negotiating a lease, was walking down the street when the convoy of Chicago policemen approached him. Someone recognized him and the cars emptied out in front of him. In seconds, Franks body was riddled with bullets. Technically, the police c alled it self defense, since Frank, seeing the police coming at him with guns drawn, had revealed his own revolver.  [21]   Al was enraged and escalated the violence by kidnapping officials and stealing ballot boxes. One official was murdered. When it was all over, Capone had won his victory for Cicero. Capones temper stayed under control for about five weeks. But then, Joe Howard, a small-time thug, assaulted Capones friend Jack Guzik when he turned him down for a loan. Guzik told Capone and tracked Howard down in a bar. Howard had the poor judgment to call Capone a dago pimp and Capone shot Howard dead.  [22]   While only twenty-five, Al Capone became a prominent figure in Chicagos organized crime. He wasnt the only one though. Dion OBanion owned a thriving florist shop, but was also one of the biggest names in the bootlegging business. Flamboyant but untrustworthy, OBanion became a thorn in Capones side. In one instance, OBanion killed a man outside of Capones Four Deuces gambling joint and the ensuing trial dragged Capone into unwanted attention. OBanion also set up Torrio to be arrested by the police. He had promised Torrio he would move to Colorado if Torrio agreed to buy OBanions Sieben Brewery. OBanion took the money and left while the police were waiting to raid the brewery. Torrio went to jail and OBanion kept the money. The Brewery was eventually shut down permanently.  [23]   OBanion met his end while preparing a floral arrangement in his shop on November 10, 1924. He was a consummate hand shaker and on that day three known gangsters came in the shop. Thinking they were there to pick up flowers for the funeral of another prominent gangster, he went to shake their hands. One of them pulled OBanion off balance and six shots rang out. While there was a great deal of speculation concerning the triggermen, no one ever went to trial over the murder. It did leave OBanions territory wide open for Capone to move in, but also made powerful enemies of OBanions friends. These friends included Hymie Weiss and Bugs Moran.  [24]   Over the next two years, Moran and Weiss would fail in over a dozen assassination attempts against Capone. On January 24, 1925, Torrio was returning to his apartment at 7106 South Clyde Avenue from a shopping trip with his wife Anna. Walking from his car towards his apartment building, Weiss and Moran opened fire. They shot Torrio in the chest, neck, right arm and groin, but miraculously the elderly man survived. The true miracle came about when one of the men-reportedly Moran-held his gun to Torrios head and pulled the trigger only to hear the click of an empty firing chamber. This incident made Torrio consider quitting the game. After recovering, Torrio pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine months in jail for the Sieben Brewery raid. During his jail sentence Torrio informed Capone he was planning on leaving Chicago and turning his vast empire over to Al stating, Its all yours Al. Me? Im quittin. Its Europe for me. Torrio then moved to Italy with his mother and wife.  [25]   Shortly after he took over Johnny Torrios empire, it was clear that his new status had changed Al Capone. He was a major force now in the Chicago underworld. To underscore his rise in the world, he moved his headquarters to the Metropole Hotel. His luxurious suite of five rooms cost $1,500 per day. He went from near obscurity to cultivated visibility. Capone became visible at the opera, at sporting events and charitable functions. He was an important member of the community: friendly, generous, successful, supplying a throng of thirsty customers. In an era where most of the adult population drank bootleg alcohol, the bootlegger seemed almost respectable.  [26]   In the spring of 1926, Capones run of good luck hit a snag. On April 27, Billy McSwiggin, known as the young hanging prosecutor who had tried to pin the 1924 death of Joe Howard on Capone, met with an accident. A bootlegger named Jim Doherty picked McSwiggin up by car at his fathers house. Dohertys car broke down and they hitched a ride with bootlegger Klondike ODonnell, a bitter enemy of Capone. The four Irish lads went on a drinking binge in Cicero with ODonnell and his brother Myles and ended up at a bar close to the Hawthorne Inn where Capone was having dinner. ODonnells cruising around in Cicero was a territorial insult.  [27]   Capone and his henchmen, not realizing that McSwiggin was in the bar with Myles ODonnell, waited outside in a convoy of cars until the drunken men staggered out. Then out came the machine guns and McSwiggin and Doherty were dead; Capone was immediately blamed. Despite the blot on McSwiggins integrity for keeping company with bootleggers, sympathy was with the dead young prosecutor. There was a big outcry against gangster violence and public sentiment went against Capone. While everyone in Chicago knew that Al Capone was responsible, there was not a shred of proof and the failure of this high-profile investigation to return an indictment was an embarrassment to local officials. Police took out their frustrations on Capones whorehouses and speakeasies which endured a series of raids and fires.  [28]   Capone went into hiding for three months. Reputedly some 300 detectives looked for him all over the country; in Canada and even Italy. He initially found refuge in the home of a friend in Chicago Heights and then, for most of the time, with friends in Lansing, Michigan. Those three months in hiding made an indelible mark on Al. He began to see himself as much more than a successful racketeer. He believed he was a source of pride to the Italian immigrant community; a generous benefactor and important fixer who could help people. His bootlegging operations employed thousands of people, many of whom were poor Italian immigrants. While much of this was just his ego getting larger, Capone had real leadership abilities and was very capable of extending those talents into areas that were beneficial to the community. He seriously thought of retiring from his life of crime and violence.  [29]   On July 28, 1926, he returned to Chicago to face the accusations of murder. It turned out to be the right decision because the authorities did not have sufficient evidence to bring him to trial. For all the public uproar and efforts of the law enforcement groups, Al Capone was a free man. The people of Chicago were tired of reading about gang violence and the newspapers fanned their anger. Capone held a highly publicized peace conference in which he appealed to the other bootleggers assembled there to tone down the violence. He made his point stating, There is enough business for all of us without killing each other like animals in the streets. I dont want to die in the street punctured by machine-gun fire. At the end of the meeting, an amnesty had been negotiated which accomplished two key things; first, there would be no more murders or beatings and second, past murders would not be avenged. For more than two months thereafter, nobody connected with the bootlegging business was kil led.  [30]   In May of 1927, the Supreme Court made a decision that Manny Sullivan, a bootlegger, had to report and pay income tax on his illegal bootlegging business. Just because reporting and paying tax on illegally-derived revenues was self-incrimination, it was not unconstitutional. With the Sullivan ruling, the small Special Intelligence Unit of the IRS under Elmer Irey was able to go after Al Capone.  [31]   Unaware and uninterested in Manny Sullivan or Elmer Irey, Capone became more compulsively extroverted and expansive. He indulged heavily in his two big passions; music and boxing. He became close pals with boxermJack Dempsey, but given the concern over fixed fights, the friendship had to be very discreet. Always an opera lover, Capone expanded his patronage to the jazz world. With the opening of the Cotton Club in Cicero, Al became a jazz impresario, attracting and cultivating some of the best black jazz musicians of the day. Unlike so many other Italian gangsters, Al did not seem to have the deep-seated racial prejudice and he gained the trust and respect of many of his musicians. Al extended his generosity and personal concerns to everybody who worked for him, black or white. Al spoke to reporters: Public service is my motto. Ninety percent of the people in Chicago drink and gamble. Ive tried to serve them decent liquor and square games. But Im not appreciated. Im known all over the world as a millionaire gorilla.  [32]   Capone biographer Laurence Bergreen described the way Capone inserted himself into the lives of those he knew: He came to dominate them not by shouting, overwhelming, or bullying, although the threat of physical violence always loomed, but by appealing to the inner man, his wants, his aspirationsby making them feel valued, they gave unstintingly of their loyalty, and loyalty was what Capone needed and demanded; in the volatile circles through which he moved it was the only protection he had from sudden death. The highest compliment other men could pay Capone was to call him a friend, which meant they were willing to overlook his scandalous reputation, that he had never been a pimp or a murderer.  [33]   The exposure was becoming a real nuisance. When he left for a trip to the West Coast, he had police surrounding him at every station. Los Angeles toughest detective said We have no room here for Capone or any other visiting gangsters whether they are here on pleasure tours or not. When Capone came back from the West Coast he found himself surrounded by six Joliet policemen with their shotguns aimed at him. Capone stated, Well, Ill be damned. Youd think I was Jesse James. Whats the artillery for? In Chicago, the police made things as uncomfortable as possible by surrounding his house and arresting him at the slightest provocation.  [34]   Capone left for Miami where the weather was much better than the Chicago winter, but the reception by the local community was chilly. He, Mae, and Sonny rented a house for the season and started to look for a permanent residence. Over the coming months he would invest a small fortune in redecorating his new palace in Miami, securing it like a small fortress with concrete walls and heavy wooden doors.  [35]   The Palm Island estate came to the attention of IRS Intelligence Unit watchdog Elmer Irey. He chose Frank J. Wilson to head up the job of documenting Capones income and spending. The job was monumental; despite Capones lavish spending everything was transacted through third parties. Although Capone had incredible wealth, every transaction was on a cash basis. The major exception was the very tangible assets of the Palm Island estate, which was evidence of a major source of income.  [36]   George Emmerson Q. Johnson, a member of the Scandinavian old boys network in the Midwest, was appointed U.S. attorney for Chicago. Johnson targeted Capone with unbridled passion. In the spring of 1928, the violence preceding the April primary election began to escalate out of control. It was not clear who was orchestrating all of this violence, but this time the targets were not gangsters, but U.S. Senator Charles Deneen, a reformer and a judge. The unabashedly corrupt Mayor Bill Thompson was presumed responsible since the victims were people who opposed him, but Al Capone who was still in Florida, was the scapegoat. While Mae Capone spent the spring of 1928 on an extravagant decorating spree Al dedicated himself to establishing himself as a legitimate citizen of Miami. In spite of the outward show of respectability, Al quietly made plans to solve pressing problems caused by his old boss Frankie Yale. The liquor supply deal that Capone and Yale had negotiated was experiencing too many

The presentation of language through texts

The presentation of language through texts Presenting language through texts Texts have been used in language classrooms for many years. There are many reasons for teachers using texts. Firstly, they use texts as a linguistic objects. Secondly, they use texts as vehicle for information. And for the last reason, they use texts as a springboard for production. So texts in language teaching have played the important role in language learning and teaching. The most effective texts in learning process are authentic materials. Leaning English through authentic materials will make the learners feel like the are in the a real language situations. The atmosphere of the classrooms are alive. Research studies on the use of authentic materials reveal that it can promote the students motivation, positive attitude, involvement and interest on the subject. There are several kinds of authentic materials which are audio, visual, printed materials and multimedia materials. The multimedia materials are involved audio, video and graphic presentations. All of these materials are applied for communicating specific dispatches in real situations. Authentic audio materials: Music, news and other audio materials available on the internet TV programming including movies, commercials, quiz shows, cartoons, news and weather Radio including ads, music and sales pitches Taped or eavesdropped conversations, such as one-sided phone conversations Meetings, talks Announcements in airports and stores Professionally audio-taped short stories and novels Authentic visual materials: Images and graphs available on the internet photographs painting and drawings, childrens artwork wordless street signs pictures from magazines, postcards, wordless picture books stamps x-rays coins and currency clocks phones Halloween masks and other holiday decorations Authentic printed materials: web based printed materials available on the internet newspapers including articles, movies reviews and advertisements, astrology columns, sports reports, obituary columns, advice columns, classified ads reports, obituary columns, advice columns, classified ads lyrics to song restaurant menus street signs food product labels such as cereal boxes, candy wrappers tourist information brochures university catalogs telephone books maps magazines including TV guides, comic books, catalogs greeting cards, letters grocery coupons and flyer pins or t-shirt with messages bus schedules mail including bills , missing children flyers and junk mail flyers, posters, billboards school notices forms including leases, tax forms, applications, medical history forms Authentic multimedia materials: TV, Video programmes of various kinds podcasting on the internet we based programes involving multimedia use There are criteria for teachers to consider for choosing the authentic materials for classroom use. Firstly, the interest of the students, the teacher has to ensure that the chosen materials suit the age, interest and background of the students. Secondly, the purpose of language learning, teachers must consider the information in the chosen materials are of value to the learners. Thirdly, the cultural appropriateness, some materials are produced on the basis of the native speakers, the learners might not familiar with the culture of the contexts. Thus, the teachers should carefully select the appropriate second language contexts. Fourthly, the language level, the group of students are different levels like beginner, intermediate or advanced students .because the authentic materials are not made to fit the learning purposes so the teachers must choose the kind of comprehensible input which is slightly difficult in order to sustain their motivation. Lastly, the quality of the materials may be concerned. The chosen texts must have the quality of the text organization and the appropriate picture use. In the same time, the teachers must attentively check for errors and spelling mistakes of the texts. Using authentic materials have great benefits or advantages, specially for the second language learners of English. A large number of evidences of research studies have revealed a wide range of advantages. Firstly, the learners will expose to a wide range of natural language. Next, the reality and the meaningful interactive are brought into classroom. Then, there is a connection between the classroom and the outside world. The teaching and assessment focus on the 4 skills which the facts of language are not included. Moreover, the important objective is not a memorization for the examination but for the communicative proposes. For the next reason, the authentic texts can help the teachers accessing the ready, available, attractive and inexpensive resources of the texts as well as bring the variety to the classroom activities. So, the students have opportunities to practice the skills learnt in the classroom in the outside world when they meet them in the real situations. Using the authentic materials also have some problems. Some kinds of materials may include difficult language and unusual vocabulary items which are not being used in the daily life basis. These kinds of problems cause a burden to the teachers. So to solve the problems, the teachers should carefully pick the authentic materials by using the above mentioned criteria. For instance, the notices, bottled labels and reservation forms are used for the lower level learners. Whereas, the advanced levels need more complex materials. Thornbury claimed that language always happens as text and not as isolated words and sentences Therefore, the basis of foreign language teaching is handling texts for both written and oral. There are three acronyms that have been used to describe texts. Texts based activities presented in the course book Information Technology are marking the statements as true or false, filling in the gaps in the statements, linking each pair of actions ( donating cause and effect ) by a time clause, matching the terms in table A with the statements in table B, making a list of the key features of the facility ( device ) students are reading about, matching the reviews of the facilities to their titles, writing a brief evaluation of the phenomenon you have read about ( at least by listing its good and bad points ), trying to guess the meaning of the given abbreviations, trying to paraphrase the statements, linking each set of sentences to make one sentence ( corresponding to the descriptions given in the text ), completing the forms to record the main details of the problem described in the text, working in pairs, studying the diagram to explain how facility works, putting the described events in sequence, finding words or phrases in the table whi ch mean what is given in the statements below. From my experience as a teacher, I have been teaching young learners, mostly in the Phatom 1-3 students. And I have used several kinds of authentic materials in my class. For example, I use English songs and nursery rhymes when I would like to present new language to my students for promoting the motivation and engagement in learning of my students. Then, I use many pictures to present the new vocabulary in order to promote a better understanding of the meanings of the words. Sometimes, I have them read their favorable books from the bookshelf, so they can choose what ever they like.

Dreams on of mice and men :: essays research papers

Dreams, although often cut off are always necessary to keep the hope of people alive to fight against the inadequacies of the economic and social perils of life. Dreams are one of the most freely experienced actions by humans, and still it is the most rigid and unrealistic thought process that is part of our lives. The dream of most American’s at this time period surrounding the book â€Å"Of Mice and Men† was only a large cesspool of dying hopes that were kept alive by wishes and aspirations even without success. They often have no power fulfillment or credence to them even though we as humans put so much belief and effort in them. Joesph Fontenrose comments that the novel I about â€Å"the vanity of human wishes† (Fontenrose 375). Dreams and willpower are necessary to keep hope alive in people. What was once the land of opportunity was now the land of desperation. What was once the land of hope and optimism had become the land of despair. Sometimes these dream s become nightmares because of the hardships that are endured through the trials of life and society. Many immigrants from Europe coming to America in hope of prosperity and easy living found themselves in conditions that were paralleled by the conditions in the European slums of the inner city. Howard Levant made the statement after a critical reading of the novel that â€Å"the good life is impossible because humanity is flawed† (Owens 146). The horrors of the American Civil War and the growth of towns with slums as bad as those in Europe, and the corruption of the American political system led to many shattered dreams. For society as a whole the American dream ended with the stock market crash on Wall Street in 1929.This was the start of the Great Depression that would affect the whole world during the 1930’s. However the dream kept some hopes alive and could not be suppressed by the heartbreaking circumstances endured by all Americans. Many moved to the west in Cal ifornia to escape from their land in the mid west. Californians who lived through the 1920s and 1930s must have felt as though they were on a roller coaster. In a dizzying cycle of boom and bust, a decade of spectacular prosperity was followed by the worst economic collapse in the state's history. Ramshackle encampments, such as Pipe City in Oakland, filled with forlorn unemployed workers and their families.

The Ecological Impact of Native Americans in Eastern North America :: American America History

The Ecological Impact of Native Americans in Eastern North America Shetler, in the book Seeds of Change: Five Hundred Years Since Columbus, supports the myth that the new world was an unspoiled paradise by stating that " Native people were transparent in the landscape, living as natural elements of the ecosphere. Their world†¦was a world of barely perceptible human disturbances"(Shetler 1991). Sale contends that the Indians had a benign effect and refering to them as the "Ecological Indian".(Sale 1990) These are fine examples of the new way of portraying the Native Americans as "Noble Savages". There is no question that the Europeans had a more obvious influence on the landscape than the American Indian, but the notion that the Native Americans were "transparent" or "benign" to the landscape is an absurd over exaggeration. When in fact, "twenty million indigenous people were hunting gathering, burning, tilling, and otherwise managing North America"(Anderson 1991). It is not the intention of this paper to claim the American Indians did more harm to the environment than the European Settlers, but one important notion that must be understood before proceeding is that "even though a landscape may appear green it is not in indicator of natural ecology". It is the intention of this paper to show that the Native Americans had a significant impact on the ecology of the Eastern North American Landscape, which is unknown to many scholars. Fossil records from 12,000 years ago show the appearance of the Large Mammals followed by Paleoindian in Eastern North America. Another piece of the fossil record shows that the appearance of Paleoindian brought about the disappearance of the large mammals. Some people feel that, "there is evidence to suggest that rapacious hunting practice of the paleohunters in North and South America 12,000 years ago may have caused†¦The demise of the very animals they hunted" (Powell 1987). The evidence Powell suggests is that the extinction of a large mammal is usually followed by the appearance of humans in the fossil record. This coincidence is not only seen in the fossil records of North and South America but Europe and Asia as well. Powell shows that as human populations increased local extinctions of large mammals occurred. This was probably due to the fact that there were not many predators that could hunt the large mammals except man. For this reason it is also highly like likely tha t man and large mammals did not co-evolve which ultimately resulted in the extinction of large mammals.

Inventory Accounting at Wal Mart Stores Essay

From the annual reports we can conclude that Wal-Mart operates its stores as mass discount retailers, carrying between 60,000 and 90,000 different merchandise items in each store. Wal-Mart purchases more than $22 billion in merchandise, turning its inventory over as often as 4.5 times per year. Sam Club carries between 3,500 and 5,000 different merchandise items, acquiring more than $2.6 billion in merchandise. Wal Marts operations grew from 2003 to 2005. For example, the number of Wal-Mart stores increased and the number of Sam’s stores increased. WalMart utilized an extensive distribution and tracking system to maintain optimal inventories at each store. They use the retail last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory accounting method for the Wal-Mart Stores segment, cost LIFO for the SAM’S CLUB segment. For both financial reporting and tax purposes, Wal Mart used the accrual method of accounting and maintained a perpetual inventory system. Under the perpetual inventory system, the cost or quantity of goods sold or purchased is contemporaneously recorded at the time of sale or purchase. The system continuously shows the cost or quantity of goods that should be on hand at any given time. WalMart performed physical inventories to confirm the accuracy of the inventory as stated in the books, and made adjustments to the books to reconcile the book inventory with the physical inventory. WalMart’s physical inventories were taken at its stores in rotation throughout the year. They did not take physical inventories during the holiday season (November, December, and the first week of January). WalMart refers to this technique, which is common in the retail industry, as cycle counting. Cycle counting is necessitated by the difficulty in conducting physical inventories at every store on the last day of the year. This technique also provides management with feedback on the effectiveness of its inventory management and facilitates the use of experienced personnel to conduct the physical inventories. Forty-five days prior to conducting a physical inventory in one of its stores, Wal-Mart’s internal audit department sends the store a preparation package, which included instructions on how to prepare for the physical count. Each physical count is then conducted by a team of independent  counters (18 to 40 persons) and representatives from Wal-Mart’s loss prevention department (1 to 2 persons), internal audit department (1 to 3 persons), and operations division (1 to 2 persons). Wal-Mart’s independent auditors, Ernst & Young, also sent representatives to randomly selected physical counts to test their accuracy. The independent counters generally counted every inventory item. The results of the physical count were then reconciled with the book inventory. The reconciliations is reviewed by Wal-Mart’s internal audit department. Generally, Wal-Mart does not record the results of a physical inventory in its books until the following month. Sam’s Club conducs its physical inventories in the same manner except that physical counts are usually taken twice a year and recorded the very next day. Sam’s also periodically conducted item audits, counting the goods on hand for a particular merchandise unit and recording those results the next day. The physical inventories of both Wal-Mart and Sam’s usually revealed shrinkage. Shrinkage (or overage) is the difference between the inventory determined from the perpetual inventory records and the amount of inventory actually on hand. Because shrinkage reduces profits, WalMart has devoted extensive resources to monitoring and mitigating shrinkage. There are many causes of shrinkage, including employee theft, customer theft, vendor theft, damage, accounting and recording errors, errors in marking retail prices, cash register errors, markdowns taken and not recorded, errors in accounting for customer returns, and errors in accounting for vendor receipts and returns. Because Wal Mart does not conduct a physical inventory at year-end, its perpetual inventory records do not account for any shrinkage that may have occurred during the period between the date of the last physical inventory and the taxable year-end. The parties refer to this period as the stub period. Left unadjusted, the book records could overstate income because the stub period shrinkage results in a decrease to ending inventory, thus increasing the cost of goods sold and reducing gross income. In adjusting its books to reflect stub period shrinkage, Wal-Mart estimates  stub period shrinkage for each store monthly by multiplying a retail shrinkage rate by the store’s sales during that month. At new stores, the retail shrinkage rate fixed by management at 2% of sales. Wal-Mart used that fixed rate from the date the store opened until its first physical inventory. After taking the first physical inventory at a new store, Wal-Mart computed a shrinkage rate for that store by dividing the store’s shrinkage at retail, as verified by the first inventory, by the store’s sales for the period starting with the date the store opened and ending on the inventory date. Sam’s consistently estimates the stub period shrinkage at .2% of sales. That rate was determined by management based on their analysis of historical results from warehouse operations. Wal-Mart estimates shrinkage for each store, but not for each department within each store. It used a series of computations to allocate the estimated stub period shrinkage to each department. Once these allocations were made, Wal-Mart used the adjusted ending inventory to make its LIFO computations, which were made on a division-wide basis and not at the individual store level. The practice of estimating shrinkage as a percentage of sales is prevalent in the retail industry. A company may estimate year-end shrinkage if the estimate methodology (1) conforms to the best accounting practice in the trade or business and (2) clearly reflects income. There is nothing in WalMarts accounting for inventory that raise suspicion about their inventory not reflecting true numbers. Inventories are not recorded in excess of market value. Historically, they have rarely experienced significant occurrences of obsolescence or slow moving inventory. However, future changes in circumstances, such as changes in customer merchandise preference or unseasonable weather patterns, could cause the Company’s inventory to be exposed to obsolescence or be slow moving. The inventory system is commonly revered as the finest in the retail industry and WalMart is perhaps the best example of the importance of a high  inventory turnover rate to succeed in this industry. Increased turnover and increased sales at the same time — that’s great inventory management.

What Is Critical Thinking? Revisited

What is Critical Thinking? Revisited What is Critical Thinking? The definition of critical thinking is â€Å"aiming to make wise decisions and come to correct conclusions, and not being sidetracked by temptation, emotion, greed, irrelevant considerations, stupidity, bias, or other similar things. † (Moore, 2012) Therefore, to think critically is to think about what one is going to say or do before saying or doing it. When thinking before taking any action one is basically thinking about thinking and weighing the consequences of their actions before reacting to any giving situation.A perfect example of this would be that there is a couple who desperately wants to get married but after both losing their jobs they are living with the young man’s parents until they can get on their feet. The young woman secures employment and is now ready to go ahead with the wedding. The young man thinks about it and comes to the conclusion that they should wait until not only he gets empl oyed but until they are in a home of their own and then go to City Hall to get married since a wedding takes money that they do not have.This was thinking critically because if they were to spend her wages on a wedding it is quite possible that they would still be living with his parents and not have any money saved because she at the time was the only person with an income. This would have been a consequence of not using critical thinking. I do not believe that my answer to this question this time around is much different than when I answered it in the earlier part of this course. Although my answer seems similar, my new knowledge on the subject is not.I came into this course not knowing much at all about the subject. I never thought about thinking, unsound or valid arguments, deductive reasoning or any of the things that I now have learned from taking this course. Now I am paying more attention to rhetorical devices, having valid arguments, unstated premises and everything that go es along with these things. Works Cited Moore B. N. (2012). In Critical Thinking. New York: McGraw-Hill. ———————– What is Critical Thinking Revisited 1

Examine Shakespeare’s presentation Essay

When Hamlet was first performed in 1601, England had been successfully ruled for forty-three years by Elizabeth I, a strong and influential monarch who reigned without a male counterpart, establishing England as one of the most powerful and prominent countries in the world. This is proof that women can be as successful as men; however women were still seen as second class citizens, and â€Å"property† of their husbands, during the Elizabethan period. Polonius says of Ophelia â€Å"I have a daughter – have while she is mine. † (2.2, line 106). This is reflected in Shakespeare’s portrayal of women in Hamlet, which shows Gertrude in a very different light to Elizabeth Tudor. For many years in the past, many women played a small role socially, economically and politically. As a result of this, many works of literature of this time, including Hamlet, were reflective of this diminutive role of women. Shakespeare suggests the danger of women’s involvement in politics at the sovereign level, and reflects the public’s desire for a return to a state of stability through a change to a patriarchal system. We can examine Shakespeare’s presentation of women in Hamlet through the way the two women in the play, Gertrude and Ophelia, are treated by the men in their lives, and by analyzing the context in which they are referred. The first time Claudius refers to Gertrude he says: â€Å"Our sometime sister, now our Queen, Th’ imperial jointress of this warlike state,† (1. 2, lines 8-9) which shows how he took advantage of his dead brother’s wife whilst she was still mourning her husband’s death to settle his place on the throne. â€Å"She married. O most wicked speed, to post, with such dexterity to incestuous sheets. † (1.2, lines 156-157) Here Hamlet is accusing his mother of corruption because of her improper sexual activity and marriage. Even though a marital bond existed between Claudius and Gertrude, the rushed and incestuous aspects of the marriage enrage Hamlet. The couple were married less than three months after the death of Hamlet’s father, and in Hamlet’s eyes, Gertrude’s actions have defiled her character. Royal sexual activity created concerns about both power and purity in the Elizabethan world. As women had no opportunity to fight on the battle field, chastity was the principle measure of their honour and virtue. Therefore Hamlet’s opinion of his mother has a negative reflection of a woman’s virtues. Sir Walter Mildway, 1510, said: â€Å"Choose thy wife for virtue only. † Elizabeth’s sexual conduct drew public attention, and she publicly vowed her purity, even adopting the title â€Å"Virgin Queen. † When King Hamlet’s ghost appears he refers to Gertrude as his â€Å"most seeming-virtuous Queen. † (1. 5, lines 4-6) He is expressing his belief that Gertrude had always seemed faithful, but now she has married much less of a man she has dishonoured him, and lost all his respect and trust. Even though Hamlet and his father are seeking revenge on Claudius, they continue to speak of Gertrude. In his second soliloquy we expect Hamlet to be expressing his hatred towards Claudius, however he is focusing all of his energy on this â€Å"most pernicious woman,† (1. 5, line 105) who is his mother. This dis-belief at his mother’s behaviour is understandable, however, as it is so soon after his father’s death, and you would expect Gertrude to still be mourning the death of her husband that she apparently loved dearly. One of the most famous quotes regarding women in Hamlet is â€Å"Frailty – thy name is woman. † (1. 2, lines 146-147) This quote sums up the attitudes of the male characters in the play, that women are by far the weaker sex and gives us a clue as to why the men treat Gertrude and Ophelia with so little respect. In 1558, writer, John Knox described women as â€Å"weak, frail, impatient, feeble and foolish. † Emphasizing the way that women were viewed at the time Hamlet was written. Both the women are greatly controlled by the men of the play, particularly Ophelia who is often told what to do and who has been treated as if she does not have a mind of her own all her life. When asked a question Ophelia often replies with â€Å"I think nothing,† (3. 2, line 118) and when she does express an opinion it is dismissed. Polonius says â€Å"Affection? Pooh, you speak like a green girl unsifted,† (1. 3, line 101) which is extremely patronizing, saying she speaks like an inexperienced and untried girl who does not know what she is talking about. Ophelia could have an out-going personality; however, she is so oppressed that we never get to see a true reflection of her character, due to the constraints of the society she is living in. We even hear Gertrude, the Queen of Denmark, saying to her husband: â€Å"I shall obey you. † By obeying the men and giving in to a passive existence Gertrude and Ophelia are living up to the label that women are the weaker sex. The men give ‘good advice’ to both women, telling them what to do and when, Polonius tells Ophelia not to give her virginity away too easily when he uses the metaphor â€Å"set you entreatments at a higher rate then a command to parley,† (1. 3, lines 122-123) where her virginity is compared to a castle under siege. Even though Polonius is Ophelia’s father, he seems to have no respect for her, or her privacy, and rarely thinks of how she may be feeling. He reads Hamlet’s love letters out-loud to the King and uses Ophelia as bait to improve his image in front of Claudius, which is extremely self-centred and obsequious. Another quote that really stands out in ‘Hamlet’ that shows how little respect the men have for Gertrude and Ophelia is â€Å"Get thee to a nunnery. † (3. 1, line 121) This is Hamlet telling Ophelia that because he can not have her, no one can, so she has to go to a nunnery, away from all other male contact. He does not ask her how she feels, and is willing to make the rest of her life miserable simply because he can not be with her. It never even occurs to Hamlet that she might be willing to move on and find someone other than him to spend the rest of her life with. After the nunnery scene, Ophelia speaks to Polonius and we hear her opinion for the first and only time. She presents herself entirely as the victim of Hamlet’s rough treatment. She says: â€Å"I of ladies most deject and wretched, that sucked the honey of his musiked vows,† (3.1, lines 158-159) showing how Ophelia had believed in what Hamlet told her and how she feels dejected about the fact that he claims to have never loved her. â€Å"God has given you one face, and you make yourselves another,† (3. 1, lines 145-146) is Hamlet saying that women wear too much make-up and in doing so are deceiving men into thinking that they are something that they are not. He accuses Ophelia of being a typical woman and is therefore not treating her as an individual. He says: â€Å"For the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is bawd,† (3.1, lines 111-112) explaining his opinion that beautiful women are untrustworthy and insincere. Even though Hamlet accuses women of this, he is saying it in the heat of an argument so he may be exaggerating and may not be giving his true opinion. Ophelia hardly says a think back to him though, again reflecting the idea that women are frail and passive. Throughout the play Hamlet makes reference to prostitutes, and seems to make a connection between women, sex and corruption. When Hamlet and Polonius are speaking he says: â€Å"For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion. † (2. 2, lines 184-185) He uses this metaphor of a dead dog, and a pun on the word â€Å"sun,† to make the point that if the son (Hamlet) kisses the daughter (Ophelia) then she may breed, like the maggots in the dead animal. The characters of the play often refer to sex in a negative manner, and it is never described as a loving act between a couple. In Hamlet’s second soliloquy he is blaming himself, and compares himself to a slatternly woman saying that he â€Å"must like a whore, unpack my heart with words, and fall a-cursing like a very drab, a stallion. † (2.2, lines 592-594) His references to women are always negative, and he presents them as objects that men can use for sexual pleasure whenever they want. The final point to make about the way Shakespeare presents women is the fact that Ophelia is the only character driven to suicide, and that she is one of only two women in the play. This is possible another way for Shakespeare to make his point that women are by far the weaker sex. Audiences today would find the way that the women in Hamlet are treated extremely surprising as today women are so much more independent. Instead of being a husband’s possession, a wife is seen as an equal. Women today have the freedom to be more open-minded, and are allowed to voice opinions other than their husbands’. Women today have almost total sexual freedom as well, so the connection between women, sex and corruption would probably cause mixed reactions. This, however, also brings me to the point that even though Shakespeare’s presentation of women is negative, so is his presentation of men. He shows the men being insensitive, selfish, oppressive and shows them treating women with very little respect. â€Å"Frailty – thy name is woman,† no longer applies to the women of the 21st Century as there are more or less equal opportunities for men and women now, and everyone has the same education and job opportunities no matter what sex you may be. I think that this quote sums up Shakespeare’s overall presentation of women and the treatment of Gertrude and Ophelia shows us how women were oppressed, and often seen as objects rather than human beings.

Art Is an Expression

Art History 6A 19 November 2011 Triumph! Art is an expression that we as humans do as a way to express and communicate with others. Through art every painting/sculpture has an intended purpose and message/story to convey. No matter what race, gender, or class, one can understand what message is being shared or find an entirely opposite interpretation other than what the artist intended. It can relate to the individual on a personal level, and that’s the beauty of art. In this essay I will be writing about two pieces of art that have been around for thousands of years.I will be comparing and contrasting the Palette of King Narmer (back) and the painting â€Å"Ti watching a hippopotamus hunt. † Both murals contain symbolism, as well as concepts of life and death. Each in their individual way conveys a message of importance and triumph. The Palette of King Narmer dates back to the first Egyptian dynasty, from Hierakonpolis, c. 3000 B. C, it is flat in appearance and double -sided with engravings on both sides, each individual side separated into 3 distinctive sections by horizontal lines with the middle being the biggest.It stands approximately 25† inches (63. 5cm) in height and tapers down to a point. The structure of the piece is very similar to the outline of a shield. It is composed of a dark color slate, common rock found in Egypt. Unlike the Palette the painting of â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† is much bigger almost double in size, standing 4 feet tall. It was created during the fifth dynasty, Saqqara, c. 2400 B. C. and is composed of painted limestone. Prior to the creation of the Palette of King Narmer, art was divided throughout Egypt.Egypt was divided geographically and politically into Upper and Lower Egypt. Society had an emphasis on becoming unified and the palate marks the unification of these two lands. King Narmer is famously known as the first king to rule these lands. The palettes’ historical importance m arks the transition from pre-historical to historical period in Egypt and serves as the foundation for generations of art glorifying kings. During the time of â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† Egyptians had a very strong belief and emphasis in death and the afterlife.Death was rarely filled with a sense of fear, but instead embraced with open arms and seen as a necessary transition one must make to live in the afterlife. Egyptians constructed mastabas for the dead. For this reason there was a plethora of funerary offerings including statues, carvings, and paintings made and placed into mastabas. The Egyptians built their mastabas very similar to homes for the dead so when they entered the afterlife they would have all the necessities and luxuries they once had during their lifetime.Narmers palette was an object commonly used in the preparation of eye make up, used by the Egyptians mostly to block and shield out the sun. The palette is most likely a votive or gift to the gods. Whereas the painting of â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† was a funerary gift made to honor loved ones who have passed and entered their next chapter in life. In both works of art, animals are portrayed but only in the palette do animals have true symbolic meaning. On the Back of the palette the upmost section portrays two cow heads one on each side, which appear to have human faces.This representation depicts a variety of interpretations: the goddess Hathor, or the goddess bat, or just a symbolism for the Kings power and strength, which is a common symbolism of a bull throughout Egyptian art. The true meaning of these symbolic bulls is unknown till this day due to the uncommon frontal portrayal of the bulls. Also in the back of the palette there stands a falcon, symbolizing the god Horus- protector of kings. The falcon is placed on top of a head sitting on papyrus representing Lower Egypt. This signifies the triumph and power Upper Egypt had over Lower Egypt.In th e painting of â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† animals individually serve no significant value, but as a whole in Egyptian art a successful hunt is a metaphor for triumph over evil. In the palette of King Narmer there are a series of hieroglyphics used to signify the powerful King Narmer making Narmers palette the earliest existing labeled piece of art. In between the bullheads are hieroglyphics of a catfish (nar) and a chisel (mer) within a frame representing the royal palace. The fish also pays tribute to the Nile River since Egypt strived and lived off the river for all its resources such as food and water.In the painting of â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† there are no hieroglyphics used because it was intended for the dead. Its purpose served to represent and honor the loved ones passed. In â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† the artist incorporates a unique series of lines/patterns to bring structure and organization to the piece. This is po rtrayed in the water beneath the boats by a pattern of wavy lines that embody fish and hippopotami. In the uppermost of the painting the artist uses a series of fine grooves that lead into a commotion of birds and foxes resembling papyrus flowers.Similarly lines play a Important role in the Palette of Narmer. A series of Horizontal lines are used to break the palette into 3 distinctive sections. Without the use of lines, the palette would have no organization and would become chaotic. The portrayal of the body when referencing both Narmer and Ti is very similar. Showing the influence Narmers palette had in art. In both pictures the eye and upper body is in frontal view while the head and legs/feet are in profile view, one in front of the other, which was a very common depiction of important figures.It was believed that by showing the Egyptians in this way all the body parts needed in the afterlife would be properly expressed and available to the deceased when needed. Slaves and anim als were painted more natural and relaxed, and with a smaller scale in drawings to show there limited importance. In both pictures the artists illustrate both Narmer and Ti being the dominating and largest figure (which is called  hierarchical scale). In the palette of King Narmer, Narmer is significantly larger in his ceremonial beard wearing a bowling pin shape crown, which represents Upper Egypt.Attached to the end of his kilt is a bulls tail indicating the power and strength of Narmer. Behind King Narmer is a much smaller servant, most likely of high rank, carrying his sandals making Narmer barefoot. Throughout Egyptian art being barefoot symbolizes the person is on holy ground. In Narmers right hand he holds a club, ready to strike a kneeling warrior he holds by the head with his left hand. This once again signifies the power and strength of Narmer over his enemies. Below this scene are two bearded men most likely enemies of the king lying dead symbolic of how lethal and vict orious of a ruler he is.In the mastaba of a Ti the painting â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† Ti is similarly portrayed. Ti is shown much larger and out of scale compared to his slaves depicted, representing his importance and social status. In Egypt a successful hunt was a metaphor for triumph over evil. Ti and his slaves are roaming through marshes, hunting hippopotami and birds. Ti unlike Narmer is distant away from the hunt, not engaging in the action of killing the hippopotami but yet he is still present over looking his slaves during the hunt.He is a neutral observer of life, resembling his Ka being at peace. Both murals use a variety of lines, symbols, and details not only to focus on the importance and triumph of Narmer and Ti but also make a structured organized piece of art. The palette of Narmer represents this triumph over evil more straightforward being that Narmer has already killed two of his foes about to kill another, holding in the palm of his hand the power to give life or death. On the other hand the painting â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† is metaphorically representing victory and triumph through the hunt.