Most Common Plastics

Most Common Plastics Below are five of the most common plastics used for different applications along with their properties, uses and trade names. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Polyethylene Terephthalate- PET or PETE- is a durable thermoplastic that shows tough resistance to chemicals, high energy radiation, moisture, weather, wear, and abrasion. This clear or pigmented plastic is available with trade names such as: Ertalyte TX, Sustadur PET, TECADUR PET, Rynite, Unitep PET, Impet, Nuplas, Zellamid ZL 1400, Ensitep, Petlon, and Centrolyte. PET is a general purpose plastic that is made by polycondensation of PTA with ethylene glycol (EG). PET is commonly used for making soft drink and water bottles, salad trays, salad dressing containers, peanut butter containers, medicine jars, biscuit trays, rope, bean bags, and combs. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is a semi flexible to hard plastic that can be easily processed by catalytic polymerization of ethylene in slurry, solution, or gas phase reactors. It is resistant to chemicals, moisture, and any sort of impact but cannot stand temperatures exceeding 160 degrees C. HDPE is naturally in the opaque state but can be colored to any requirement. HDPE products can be safely used for storing food and drinks and so it is used for shopping bags, freezer bags, milk bottles, ice cream containers, and juice bottles. It is also used for shampoo and conditioner bottles, soap bottles, detergents, bleaches, and agricultural pipes. HDPE is available under trade names of HiTec, Playboard, King Colorboard, Paxon, Densetec, King PlastiBal, Polystone, and Plexar.   Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is present in both rigid and flexible forms as unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride PVC-U and Plasticised Polyvinyl Chloride PCV-P. PVC can be obtained from ethylene and salt by vinyl chloride polymerization. PVC is resistant to fires because of its high chlorine content and is also resistant to oils and chemicals except aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones and cyclic ethers. PVC is durable and can withstand aggressive environmental factors. PVC-U is used for plumbing pipes and fittings, wall cladding, roof sheeting, cosmetic containers, bottles, window frames, and door frames. PVC-P is commonly used for cable sheathing, blood bags, blood tubing, watch straps, garden hoses, and shoe soles. PVC is commonly available under trade names of Apex, Geon, Vekaplan, Vinika, Vistel, and Vythene. Polypropylene (PP) Polypropylene (PP) is a strong yet flexible plastic that can withstand high temperatures up to 200 degrees C. PP is manufactured from propylene gas in presence of a catalyst such as titanium chloride. Being a lightweight material, PP has high tensile strength and is highly resistant to corrosion, chemicals, and moisture. Polypropylene is used to make dip bottles and ice cream tubs, margarine tubs, potato chip bags, straws, microwave meal trays, kettles, garden furniture, lunch boxes, prescription bottles, and blue packing tape. It is available under trade names such as Valtec, Valmax, Vebel, Verplen, Vylene, Oleplate and Pro-Fax. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is soft and flexible as compared to HDPE. Low Density Polyethylene shows good chemical resistance and excellent electrical properties. At low temperatures, it shows high impact strength. LDPE is compatible with most foods and household chemicals and acts as a poor oxygen barrier. Because it has very high elongation as a result of its molecular structure, LDPE is used in stretch wraps. This translucent plastic is mainly used for plastic food wrap, garbage bags, sandwich bags, squeeze bottles, black irrigation tubes, garbage bins, and plastic grocery bags. Low density polyethylene is made from the polymerization of ethylene in an autoclave or tubular reactors at very high pressures. LDPE is available in the market under the following trade names: Venelene, Vickylen, Dowlex, and Flexomer.

Life and Work of Joan Mitchell, New York School Painter

Life and Work of Joan Mitchell, New York School Painter Joan Mitchell (February 12, 1925–October 30, 1992) was an American painter and a so-called â€Å"Second Wave† Abstract Expressionist. (The title does not do justice to her originality as a colorist; the artist preferred the label â€Å"New York School† instead.)  Mitchell’s life was characterized by a robust individualism, and much of her success is owed to her ability to unabashedly broadcast her talent despite the roadblocks set before a female artist painting on such a large scale. Fast Facts: Joan Mitchell Occupation: Painter and colorist (New York School)Born:  February 12, 1925 in Chicago, IllinoisDied: October 30, 1992 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, FranceEducation: Smith College (no degree), Art Institute of Chicago (BFA, MFA)Key Accomplishments: Featured in the 1951 9th Street Show; regarded as a key figure of second wave Abstract ExpressionismSpouse:  Barney Rosset, Jr. (m. 1949–1952) Early Life Joan Mitchell was born February 12, 1925 to Marion and James Mitchell in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents’ behavior often left young Joan alone to develop a staunch sense of self in the absence of her parents’ guidance, not unusual of the upper crust world to which the Mitchell family belonged (her mother was an heiress to a steel fortune, her father a successful dermatologist). Mitchell was marked by a sense that her father would always be disappointed in her, as she was born a second daughter when her parents had wanted a son. She cited her father’s attitude as the reason she became an abstract painter, as it was one realm in which he had no experience nor talent and therefore was a space in which she could fully become her own self. Mitchell’s mother was one of the early editors of Poetry magazine and a successful poet in her own right. The presence of poetry, as well as her mother’s contemporaries (like poets Edna St. Vincent Millay and George Dillon), ensured that Mitchell was always surrounded by words, the influence of which can be found in many of her painting titles, such as â€Å"The Harbormaster,† after a poem of Frank O’Hara’s, and â€Å"Hemlock,† a Wallace Stevens poem. At the age of ten, Mitchell was published in Poetry, the second youngest poet to be published in those pages. Her precociousness earned her respect from her mother, jealousy from her sister Sally, and only occasional approval from her father, whom she worked so hard to please. Mitchell was pushed to excel in all endeavors, and as a result was a superb athlete, a champion diver and tennis player. She was dedicated to figure skating and competed at a regional and national level until she suffered a knee injury and abandoned the sport. Eidetic Memory and Synesthesia Eidetic memory is the ability to vividly recall sensations and visual details of moments in the past. While some children possess the ability to keep images they have experienced in their mind’s eye, many adults lose this ability once they are taught to read, replacing visual with verbal recollection. Joan Mitchell, however, retained the ability into adulthood and as a result was able to summon memories decades past, which had a profound influence on her work.  Ã‚   A Joan Mitchell canvas for sale at Christies in London. Getty Images   Mitchell also had a case of synesthesia, a crossing of neural pathways that manifests in the mixing of senses: letters and words evoke colors, sounds would create physical sensations, and other such phenomena. While Mitchell’s art cannot be described exclusively through her synesthetic eye, the constant presence of vivid color in Mitchell’s everyday certainly had an affected her work. Education and Early Career Though Mitchell wanted to attend art school, her father insisted she have a more traditional education. Thus, Mitchell began college at Smith in 1942. Two years later, she transferred to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to complete her degree. She then received an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1950. Mitchell married high school classmate Barnet Rosset, Jr. in 1949. Mitchell encouraged Rosset to found Grove Press, a successful mid-century publisher. The two separated in 1951, and the marriage ended in divorce in 1952, though Mitchell remained friends with Rosset all her life. Mitchell began traveling to Paris in 1955 and moved there in 1959 to live with Jean-Paul Riopelle, a Canadian abstract artist with whom she had a sporadic and drawn-out twenty-five year affair. Paris became Mitchell’s second home, and she purchased a cottage just north of Paris with the money she inherited after her mother’s death in 1967. Her relationship with France was reciprocated, as she was the first woman to have a solo show at the Musà ©e d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris in 1982, received the title of Commandeur des Arts et Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture, and was awarded Le Grand Prix des Arts de la Ville de Paris in painting in 1991. Critical Success True to the character she developed during her long tenure as a champion athlete, Mitchell exhibited a toughness that her father would have disparaged as un-ladylike, but which may have been essential to the milieu in which she operated. Mitchell drank, smoked, swore, and hung around in bars, and while not befitting a high-society lady in Chicago, this attitude served Mitchell well: she was one of a handful of female members of the Eighth Street Club, an iconic grouping of downtown artists in 1950s New York. The first hint of critical success came in 1957, when Mitchell was featured in ArtNews’s â€Å"....Paints a Picture† column. â€Å"Mitchell Paints a Picture,† written by prominent critic Irving Sandler, profiled the artist for the major magazine. In 1961, Russell Mitchell Gallery staged the first major exhibition of Mitchell’s work, and in 1972 she was recognized with her first major museum show, at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, NY. Soon after, in 1974, she was given a show at New York’s Whitney Museum, thus cementing her legacy. The last decade of Mitchell’s life saw continued critical success. A life-long smoker, Joan Mitchell died of lung cancer in Paris at the age of 67 in 1992. Artistic Legacy Mitchell’s work was by no means conventional, as she frequently used her fingers, rags, and other instruments she had lying around to apply paint to her canvas. The result is an impactful emotional encounter with her canvases, though Mitchell was often reticent to describe what emotions she was feeling at the painting’s inception and why. Mitchell is often labeled as an Abstract Expressionist, but she deviated from stereotypes of the movement in her deliberateness and distance from her work. She began a canvas not by emotional impulse as her forefathers Pollock and Kline may have, but rather worked from a preconceived mental image. Listening to classical music as she worked, she would regard her work in progress from a distance in order to monitor its progress. Far from the canvas as â€Å"arena,† a term coined by critic Harold Rosenberg in reference to the Abstract Expressionists, Mitchell’s process reveals the premeditated vision she had for her work. Sources Albers, P. (2011.) Joan Mitchell: Lady Painter. New York: Knopf.Anfam, D. (2018.) Joan Mitchell: Paintings from the Middle of the Last Century 1953-1962. New York: Cheim Read.Timeline. joanmitchellfoundation.org. http://joanmitchellfoundation.org/work/artist/timeline/

Problems with Professional Development Dissertation

Problems with Professional Development - Dissertation Example It is easy to agree on the need; how should districts address obstacles that would impede the success of such programs? An inevitable consideration is time, of course. It would be ideal if all teachers had ample opportunities to learn from one another, and to absorb the current research in a vacuum; but considerable juggling of schedules is necessary; as the ongoing practice of direct student interaction is neglected only at the district's peril. With a limited number of school days per year, with needed allocations for snow days and unforeseen interferences with academic scheduling; a teacher's available time is a resource that determines district funding and must be husbanded by the administration. A study by Raywid has sought to examine time allocation by school districts in terms of professional development assignments. Numerous approaches have been devised for time-management that would free-up hours or days needed for improvement of the educational process as a whole. One proposal would be either extending the school year, adding additional days, or just hours to build a block of time permitting ongoing improvement for the staff. The entire day could be planned for an extended length during four days of the week, with one day being designated for a shortened time-frame. A shortened Friday might prove a popular choice in this instance; but specific district needs will of course be paramount in choosing a day most convenient. Without adding time, a budget could be allocated, for some districts to use greater numbers of teaching assistants, qualified volunteers, or teaching interns to cover classes; providing students with the same number of days they are entitled to under State and Federal Law, while granting time needed for continuous development amongst the teaching staff. The use of qualified teaching volunteers could serve as a means to increase community support. Former, retired teachers could be retained in a limited capacity to allow the same number of school hours, but giving current teachers a chance to pursue professional goals. Drawing upon the talent pool of the community at large could be a useful means to strengthen ties, and encourage interest and participation in events such as PTA meetings; or ancillary school-related functions. Certain previously-planned staff meeting and informational sessions could also be re-tasked to allow for instruction in teaching methods, and studies of knowledg e absorption in students. Teachers may be given 'PTO', some form of paid time off, or a substitute bank of time that has been previously allocated, and could be 'tapped' by individual teachers on an 'as needed' basis. (Raywid, 1993) More ideas are needed, as Professional development has not been universally perceived as integral to enhancing teacher effectiveness and adaptability. (Watts & Castle, 1993) The above mentioned recommendations for time allocation may be unusual in most districts; where district administration, as well as parents, and State education officials tend to be leery of anything that distracts teachers from direct student interaction. (NECTL, 1994) It is rare to create scheduling with professional skill development in mind. Guilt, on the part of

Issues in Palliative Care Nursing Research Proposal

Issues in Palliative Care Nursing - Research Proposal Example However, majority of the nurses have insufficient training in communication skills, and, thus, conveying bad news has been a great issue in palliative care nursing. Research has indicated that poor communication skills may make the nurse frustrated or cause burnout. At other times, the nurses may be faced with an ethical dilemma such as euthanasia, and fail to come up with a proper decision. This is because most of them know nothing about moral sensitivity. A nurse who lacks moral sensitivity cannot use moral components or elements such as honesty and fidelity to make a proper ethical decision about a particular situation. Just like poor communication skills, inability to deal with an ethical dilemma can cause burnout and/or make the nurse frustrated. Thus, both ethical dilemmas and communication skills are key issues that can affect the quality of palliative care offered by the nurse. How the Problem Was Identified Palliative care is given to patients who are in the process of dying . These patients usually suffer from terminal diseases (diseases that have no cure or treatment). Dealing with these patients and their families is a big problem for the nurses especially if they have poor communication skills and cannot solve an ethical dilemma. ... Therefore, it becomes an issue if the nurse cannot offer holistic support to the patients. Research has indicated that communications skills and ethical dilemmas are issues in palliative care nursing. Brief Overview of Why It Is a Problem in Nursing As stated before, the quality of the patient and the nurse relationship has a direct effect on the quality of care provided. If the relationship is compromised by poor communication skills and inability to deal with ethical dilemmas, then, the quality of the care given will be low based on the severity of the compromise. Good communication skills and the ability to deal with ethical dilemmas are important because the opposite may adversely affect the holistic well-being of the patient and their families. Nurses are also affected in that they can get frustrated when they are unable to communicate well and deal with ethical dilemmas. Burnout can also occur if the nurse is unable to deal with these issues. Literature Review The purpose of pa lliative care is to enhance the quality of life and being supportive through the management and control of the patient’s symptoms to attain the best quality of life for the patients and their families. In such a case, death should not be hastened or postponed (Hughes, Bakos, O’Mara, and Kovner, 2005). The quality of the nurse and client relationship has a direct impact on the quality of care offered, and thus, important for effective nursing practice (McWilliam, Oudshoorn, and Ward-Griffin, 2007). Communication skills are significant in effective or successful delivery of palliative care. Much emphasis has been put on physician communication and this has brought a number of issues. Less emphasis has been put on communication as an important skill for the nurses. It is important to

What Turned My life Around Essay Example for Free

What Turned My life Around Essay MY WATERSHED MOMENT 2 My Watershed Moment There are many memories that have happened in my life that are important to me. It is very hard to select one that has really changed or impacted my life as an individual. Considering I am just about half way through my illustrious life building a bank of historical memories that I would like to recall and some that I would like to erase for good. As I look back, I think the one event that really turned my life around was joining the Navy, 20 years later and I must say it was a decision well made. As I graduated high school my thought process was to be the first person in my family to go to college. Here I am an 18 year old boy from Queens, New York having to travel more than an hour to college, taking two buses and a train. Now this does not sit well with someone when it is in the middle of winter and you feel like the city is just eating you up. It was at that point where I figured college life was not for me. Transitioning from a place where I knew plenty of people to an environment that was completely made of strangers also contributed to my decision on leaving college. Now here I am attending college, it feels like things have come full circle; I am now laying the foundation for my children setting the example that I did not have while I was growing up. As for my future, I am looking forward to gaining more experience through more watershed moments and hopefully I have the awareness to enjoy the transition from the ending to the new beginnings. Situation Analysis When I was 18 years old going to college living with my parents, I have made  up my mind to drop out of college and join the military. I did not know which service I was going to join but I know college was not for me. The one thing that surprised me was the reaction of my MY WATERSHED MOMENT 3 parents; it was a reaction of being more supportive than disappointed considering I was going to be the first in the family to go to college. As I went to each recruiting stations, I could feel nothing but anxious, scared, and sadness. The next step was to explain my decision to the rest of my family and friends. No matter how they took the news, all I knew was things were not going to be the same. After all I was going to start a whole new lifestyle and end connections with friends that I have had for the past 10 years. This was the first step to a new beginning and I knew it was going to affect many people especially myself. The Five Stages of Endings In William Bridges’ book Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes (2004), he states that a life transition is the psychological process where we slowly recognize the details that are within situations we are faced with. According to Bridges (2004), when faced with life transitions we go through three distinct processes: Endings, The Neutral Zone, and New Beginnings. Endings being the first stage which is broken down into five stages: disengagement, dismantling, disidentification, disenchantment, and disorientation. I will try to explain how I went through each of the stages of endings. 1. Disengagement: When I first thought about the meaning of disengagement I truly did not understand it. As I thought of the moment of disengagement, it would have to be when I stepped onto the bus for boot camp. As soon as stepped through the bus doors and hearing the doors close behind me, it felt as though I stepped into a whole new world, I was in a place where I knew no one. It was more apparent when we arrived at boot camp. When we stopped in front of the processing center I can already hear the company commanders yelling, something I was MY WATERSHED MOMENT 4 not use to. This was definitely a culture shock for me, one that I was not use to and comfortable with. I thought this would be an easy transition  because my cousin had entered the Army just months before I joined the Navy. So I figured if he can do it, than I can do it. 2. Dismantling: Even though heading to boot camp was a shocking experience, I was in for a rude awakening. My dismantling started to take place when the recruiter took me to hotel where all the new recruits were staying for the night so we can all go to the airport together. This took me away from what was the normal routine of going home and sleeping in my bed. My dismantling continued when they sat me in the barber’s chair. I was known amongst my friends as the guy with the â€Å"good hair†, not any more. When the barber picked up those clippers I knew it was not going to be good. As the clippers buzzed through my hair, I felt like a new person. Than the next step was to take off all our civilian clothes, put them in a bag and label it with our last name. It felt as though they were stripping me down of my identity in order to mold a new person or sailor. 3. Disidentification: I believe my disidentification began within the dismantling stage. Once my personal possessions were taken away from me and my hair cut I knew I had to start and find my new self. I remember trying to hang onto who I was throughout boot camp but slowly realized that was not going to happen. I quickly came to my senses seeing that this was the company commanders’ world and they were there to make you that new person. Once I have come to my senses I was willing to let go of my identity that I used to have and started to become the new me. â€Å"That is when it is important to remember the significance of disidentification and the need to loosen the bonds of the person we think we are so that we can MY WATERSHED MOMENT 5 go through a transition toward a new identity† (Bridges, 2004, p.117). As boot camp went on I found myself becoming more mature and dependable within my unit. I was designated master at arms by the company commanders, this was the first time I have ever been in charge of anything and I was proud of myself the accomplishments that I have achieved so far. 4. Disenchantment: Starting with the first day of boot camp is when I believe I encountered disenchantment. â€Å"The disenchantment experience is the signal that the time has come to look below the surface of what has been thought to  be so† (Bridges, 2004, p. 121). As I lay in my bunk, my mind would race about my family, friends, and significant others. I knew my family would want what was best for me but I did not know if that was the case for my friends. I would always wonder if my friends would be there for me if I ever needed them in time of need. As for my significant other, was she truly going to wait for me whi le I was trying to make my life better? At that point I had to get them out of my mind in order to make my experience in boot camp the best it can be. I knew if I was preoccupied by the thoughts of untrustworthy friends back home my training and experience in boot camp would be a wasteful 8 weeks of training. 5. Disorientation: My disorientation goes back to the first day I stepped off the bus at boot camp. It was cold, the snow was up to my shins, and I had three to four company commanders yelling at me for no apparent reason. It was a whole new world for me. I kept on repeating in my head, â€Å"What did I do?† I did not have my family and friends to turn to for encouragement, I really felt as though I was in another world. When it would be time for lights out that is when it occurred to me that I was all alone. The next two months in boot camp were MY WATERSHED MOMENT 6 very difficult, especially at night when I had time to reminisce about the great times I spent with family and friends. Even though the toughest part of the military was boot camp, it was the beginning of my new life. The constant comparison of what my life used to be and what my life was going to be like made for a very difficult transition. When I reported to my first submarine is when things started to get better. I started to open up to crew members; they essentially became my second family and new friends. I was in an environment that allowed me to express myself and it made me feel like accomplished something when my ideas were utilized to make things better within my division. My Neutral Zone I believe I reached my neutral zone when I decided to join the Navy. When I arrived at boot camp, I automatically noticed the way people acted and the surrounding area was different from what I was used to. While boot camp always had the hustle and bustle of activity I found myself in the neutral zone while in my bunk. Every time they would say lights out, I would think  about my future plans and how am I going to make the best of my time in the military. Another aspect I thought about is the new friendships I will be developing and old ones that will become a memory. As I returned home from boot camp, I visited some old friends and it seemed as though they were all strangers to me. They all were doing things that were not familiar to me and were recalling things that happened while I was away. It made me feel secluded from what was going on in the old neighborhood. At that moment I started to realize the experiences of boot camp, reporting to my first submarine, and the people I h ave met throughout the process, I MY WATERSHED MOMENT 7 have come to appreciate the structure and the way the everyday life of the military is conducted. I realized that my old self had to come to a close and a new chapter in my life needed to begin. I knew a better lifestyle was waiting for me in the future which included independence, opportunity, and freedom in making the decisions based on my own thought process without interference from friends and family. New Beginning I knew a new beginning has occurred for me when I woke for the first time on a submarine while underway. For the first time in 19 years I was not able to say good morning to my parents, sleep in my own bed, and say hello to my friends on the phone. I was anxious to learn new things not only from the technical aspect of submarines but to learn from other people. It felt as though I was reenergized in the way I saw life and the goals I had set for myself were becoming reality. I knew people were counting on me to make decisions that will not put them in jeopardy while I was on the boat. I also had to reinvent the way I acted towards others, especially to the higher ranking people. Before, I was in the military I would call people no matter who it was by their first name as though we were friends. As my new beginning started, I think back of all the time thought about how things should have been instead of taking in and acknowledging the transition to a new beginning and new life I was encountering. Reflective Analysis In my lifetime I have experienced many watershed moments that have played a  big part of my evolution from a young boy to adulthood. When I was faced with difficult times and decisions as I was growing up, I could do nothing but learn from those experiences and share MY WATERSHED MOMENT 8 them with my children. We have to prepare ourselves for new opportunities that come our way and move on with whatever we are facing. Change will always be peeking around the corner and no matter how hard we try to stop it, it cannot be done. So, I have learned whatever change you are faced with it is not worth the stress that comes with it. Just make the best of it, adapt to it, and challenge it only if you feel it jeopardizes safety and well-being. References Bridges, W. (2004). Transitions: Making sense of life’s changes, revised 25th Anniversary Edition: Cambridge, MA: Perseus Publishing.

Perfect Competition :: Brisbane Australia Restaurants

Brisbane, Australia, is the third largest city; where it serves up some of Australia’s best culinary finds. There is a marvellous collection of Brisbane restaurants with everything from stylish boutique eateries featuring top chefs from around the world to local diners than feature Australian specialities (ABC Integra, 2004). This essay will discuss the extent to which restaurants in Brisbane match the characteristic of a perfectly competitive industry both in the short and long run. Following that, this essay will elaborates on the pros and cons from an economic perspective, the characteristics of a perfectly competitive industry. Comparison between perfect competition and monopolistic along with examples will also be given to further illustrate the best market structures that fit restaurants in Brisbane. It will then be concluded that restaurants in Brisbane does not fit the characteristics of a perfectly competitive industry but rather a monopolistic industry as the only si milarity between restaurants and a perfectly competitive industry is the large number of participants involved. Diagram 1.0 – Perfect Competition Perfect competition (as shown above) is a market structure characterised by a large number of small firms, a homogenous product, and very easy entry into, or exit from, the market (Layton, Robert & Tucker, 2002, p.173). The characteristic of a large number of small firms is fulfilled when each firm in a market has no significant share of total output and has no ability to affect the product’s market price. Each firms work autonomously, rather than coordinating decisions collectively (Layton, Robert & Tucker, 2002, p. 173). Restaurants in Brisbane do not fit this characteristic as restaurants are more fitted under monopolistic competition; exist under a large number of firms where no single firm can influence the market outcome. For example, Michael’s Riverside in Brisbane serves some of the area’s best seafood (ABC Integra, 2004). Even so, Michael’s unable to influence the market outcome, but is able to set the prices higher than rival restaurants without fear of losing its customers. This is due to product differentiation (Layton, Robert & Tucker, 2002, p.233). Consumer demand for differentiated products is described using two distinct approaches – the heterogenous demand and homogenous demand. The heterogenous demand assumes that each consumer has a demand for multiple varieties of a product over time and the homogenous demand assumes that each product consists of a collection of different characteristics such as in location, atmosphere, quality of food, style, services and price (Suranovic, 1997).

Buddhism as a religion

Buddhism is a religion with a major following of believers from the Far East Nations. These nations are among the most populous countries of the world commanding about three quarters of the world population; with large part of China professing Buddhism it can be regarded as that religion enjoying the largest number of believers. Bearing in mind that many of this nation are (or they were) communists by ideology it is doubtless that establishment of any form of religion has not been easy, and Buddhism has not been an exception.Craik Kenneth: (1943). In this narration two most important names feature-a devoted Buddha who runs away at the time of heightened persecution, and the second one belonging to an American author and artist, George Crane. Tsai ran away from Mongolia as a young Buddhist monk in the wake of attack by the Red Army in 1959. Unfortunately many of the remaining monks are killed in this operation that was meant to do away with the Buddhism religion.According to Tsai, the main character in the Bones of the Master, he ran away to save the teaching of Buddha. Craik Kenneth: (1943). His exodus takes him to Hong Kong and eventually to the United States where, in New York he meets his neighbor and friend George Crane. As they were all working on translation of poems their relationship gets to grow deep despite their age, although it appeared quiet unusual for Crane in the way the Buddha friend expressed his faith.In observing the Buddhism culture to the maximum Tsai seeks to return to Mongolia with the main aim of searching for the bones of his master and also construct a shrine for his master. Tsai also has a statue of the master which was given him by his student of meditation, but this seems so awkward to Crane who fears for its size and weight. Crane feared because with such a massive thing with them they might not even be allowed to go beyond the boundaries of China. In this return journey he asks his friend Crane to accompany him, and the later is more than willing to come along.The land at this moment is still very dangerous for any individual who professes Buddhism as his religion and for this very reason Crane is worried on how they will enter Mongolia, a land which is more obvious that he is the only one remaining of the stock of Buddhist monks. Craik Kenneth: (1943). George Crane (2000), came out to explain the very basic concepts of Buddhism and begins by saying that this religion is built on main principles and one of them is basically that life is about suffering. He notes that human life is centered on striving and attachments and therefore according to Crane it is this struggles that bring about suffering.Futhermore, of utmost importance according to his views is how to overcome this sufferings in which he suggests that the believer should choose the way of the right action and views. At this point, Crane, who most obviously has been influenced by the Buddha practices points out that this actions lead to a path or a way of nirvana or unification with the universe, in which the author says it is about one being in control of her own experiences. Further on Crane says that this path is brought down into four divisions, three of which deal with mental experiences and the remaining one deal with the physical part of the approach.By doing this the author is giving as the insight of the importance of emotions for any believer of the religion of Buddhism. In addition, an individual of the Buddhism faith should act with emotions in addition to his or her mind as a sign of understanding the faith. Concequently, the believer should use the triangle of emotions, imagination and wisdom as a rule of following the right path. This insight therefore makes us to understand that Buddha religion brings an individual to closer understanding himself and the influence of his actions affect his relation with the spiritual world.Death appears to play a central role, an important pillar in the Buddhism philosophy. In fact, according to this philosophy death has never existed because the spirit undergoes a reformation called reincarnation, a kind of a circle involving deaths and births believed to be eternal up to the point of spirit achieving Enlightment and eventually enters nirvana. Another believe is in the idea of Karma which is actually the totality of good and bad deeds associated to an individual during his or her lifetime and which his future life in nirnava.Devotional Practices The Buddhism religion is characterized by a series of practices which are meant to show how devoted the faithful is in the religion. These devotional practices are a sign of veneration expressed before Buddha. Craik Kenneth: (1943). Shrines It is difficult for a Buddhist to worship without the use of shrines. Shrines are special worship points where the image of Buddha is placed and the worshippers bow down around the image during worshipping.For along time Buddha images and shrines have been used as objects of w orshipping and devotion to Buddha – being important in the sense that they are used as objects of inspiration and helps one to remain focused in worship hence showing maximum reverence and gratitude towards the teachings of the Buddha. Images and shrines reminds one of the importance of having perfection in wisdom and compassion in Buddha in addition to the inspirational aspect which serve in developing important qualities as one recalls the majesty of the teachings of Buddha.A Buddhist will tell you that the image in the shrine helps them to be peaceful because when they go to the temple and see the image it helps them to know that there are some peaceful beings elsewhere and they also ought to be so. Psychologically therefore one settles down. Craik Kenneth: (1943). There are several ways in which the faithful of the Buddha show respect to their majesty, the Buddha. This by: Folding palms and placing them on the chest. This action expresses deep respect to Buddha; Dharma an d Sangha.Another way is by Prostration before the image of the Buddha as a sign of showing deep veneration and makes one set to listen to the teachings. Prostration before Buddha helps a Buddhist to focus on the qualities of Buddha which include compassion, patience and wisdom. George Crane (2000). Therefore, the practices employed by Tsung Tsai from USA are the clear ways of showing how devoted he was to his traditional religion. The first expression of the practice is that of meditation. In the travel account we come of the meditation class organized under Tsung Tsai through the of appreciation him by one of his students.The class organized under Buddhist meditation types of the Western world appreciated their teacher on his return to Mongolia by giving him a gift of a statue of Buddha. Possibly they had understood the weight contained in this act of devotion because establishing a shrine for Buddha is the highest form of devotion one expresses to Buddha. George Crane (2000). Mast ers are highly respected among the Buddha because they are the teachers of the traditions, meditations and devotional practices among the monk communities. As an act of devotion therefore there has to be some respect and reverence to masters of the religion.We remember vividly that before Tsung Tsai left for Hong Kong while escaping the massacre he had to visit his master before leaving. While away his master dies, most likely by the bullets of the insurgents, and is buried not in accordance with the proper Buddhist traditions he used to teach. Consequently, Tsung Tsai seeks to come back to accord his master the required burial as per the Buddhist culture. George Crane (2000). Finally we recognize an act of wisdom as a devotional practice. Wisdom is about having a right understanding about all aspects of life, that is, recognition of one’s environment as it is.This act of wisdom is not viewed by Buddhists as any act of intelligence but the way one is refined and with time bec omes freed of ignorance of this religion wisdom is described as a devotional practice where should give in fully to be transformed . Wisdom is achieved through ethical practices and therefore our mental displine is important in the achievement of understanding. To the Buddhists wisdom is very imperative during meditation where one requires clarity of the mind . This is probably the main reason the old master teacher of Tsung Tsai spend times alone in meditation.According to the Buddha wisdom is a characteristic of an enlightened personality and the possessor is compassionate and is likely to operate wisely. George Crane (2000). Conclusion Devotional practices are the basis of any religion and the determinant of how engraved to the acts of the religion one is. To Buddhism in particular they show reverence and respect to the master and his Buddha. Bones of the master is a clear insight to explaining to us the clear insights of the culture of worship evolved behind the curtains of Budd hism. Craik Kenneth: (1943).T sung Tsai can be described as a Cha’n master and monk and is seen as the last Ch’an on earth. Ch’an is a form of Buddhism from Chinese and when it was later introduced in Japan it was renamed as Zen. Therefore a Ch’an monk is associated with the Mongolian or Chinese while the Zen is to Japan. According to Ch’an traditions in Buddhist writings women are accorded the same status as men, and that is why Crane receives a gift from a lama woman and also believed that he was taught the religion by this woman. Craik Kenneth: (1943). Hinduism and Buddhism are closely related religions and evolved together in the Far East.As a result it has been documented that Buddhism and Hinduism a rose from closely related ideas. In addition the early development in the Indian valleys as documented show that there was a strong flow of faith between the two religions such that at one time the Buddha temples were built under the control of Hi ndu kings. Furthermore, the worship through the use of images brings them together in addition to a strong culture embodied in devotional acts of meditation, building of shrines and the role of teachers in the passing of this beliefs to the next generations. Both religions show venerations to many deities. Kadodwala, Dilip. (1995). References Kadodwala, Dilip. (1995). Hinduism. World Religions Series. New York: Thomson Learning, ISBN 1-568-47-377-X. L.C. BL1203.K33. Grades 5Â ­7. Craik Kenneth: (1943). The Nature of Explanation Cambridge University Press. George Crane (2000). Bones of the Master: A Journey to Secret Mongolia Bantam Books, (paperback) 304 pages.

Cultural Assimilation and American Music Artists

good afternoon everyone, today i am going talk about the impact of americanization, First of all i will talk abiut some background of americanization and then i will talk about the positive and negative impact of it. what does americanisation mean? The word, of couse has many meanings,definitions and descriptions. the impact and influence of the US on the culture, politics,business practices and technology of other countries. Nowadays, people view America in the form of a role model and a leader in influencing other countries and have their culture blended in. deals, traditions, and ways of life. Do you notice that American culture has gradually assimilated into our society? Have you ever thought of how Americanization affects our daily life? However, it can be argued that the American culture domination poses a threat to culture diversity. Ranging from Hollywood, popular music, fast food to Disney cartoons, the world in which we live in would be imbued with less local colour. Unique festivals and rites celebrated by people of different culture round the world which filled the world with vibrancy are on the verge of extinction.In addition, americanisation can also have other downsides,American culture has affected the mentality of Asians; such as increase in the number of abortion rates, illegitimate children and the surge in the number of single parents in there. Traditionally, were very conservative and the abovementioned problems were uncommon and condemned. This shows that the American culture has indirectly affected the mentality of Asians; although people generally disapprove of single parenting and abortion, the statistics prove otherwise.The spread of American media including TV, film and American music artists, has been the main component of Americanization of other countries. American TV shows are broadcast around the world. Many of the shows are broadcast through American broadcasters and their subsidiaries such as HBO Asia, CNBC Europe, Fox Channel and CNN International. All of what is known as the â€Å"big four† American broadcasters have international distributors, for example HBO broadcasts to over 20 countries. Many of these distributors broadcast mainly American programming on their TV channels.

Free Essays on Frederick Douglass’ Status Elevation Through Disassociation From Slavery

Frederick Douglass states he found himself regretting his own existence. Douglass is humiliated by his slavery status, and attempts to elevate himself in other’s eyes. Douglass writes about slavery from a third person point of view, free of personal accounts. Douglas attains an education; something very uncommon for slaves. He affirms his father is a white man, while not having any true confirmation in writing. Altering his name from Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey to Frederick Douglass changes his identity and removes his â€Å"slave† identity. Douglass’s narrative takes on a modest tone about his classification as a slave as he struggles to pursue an elevated status in society. Douglass’ recount is written in the third person point of view, removing him from the condition of slavery. He removes himself so easily because in writing the narrative, he is no longer a slave. However, consciously or subconsciously, Douglass displays his elevated status by writing and through his recognition as an autobiographer. Referring to the slaves’ feelings about the Great House Farm, and not his own elevates his position and disassociates himself from slavery in the reader’s mind. â€Å"The slaves selected to go to the Great House Farm, for the monthly allowance for themselves and their fellow-slaves, were peculiarly enthusiastic (Douglass 270).† Although Douglass writes in third person often, he chooses the narrative voice when he retells about his education, allowing him to become a freed slave. Education for Douglass was attainable due to Mrs. Auld, the white boys, and his own perseverance. Because Mrs. Auld was the first teacher Douglass had, reading gave Douglass the ability to learn about possibilities and gain a desire to improve his condition. Closer to his age, the white boys helped him learn to read, and instilled within him a need to become equal with them. â€Å"Have not I as good a right to be free as you have (Do... Free Essays on Frederick Douglass’ Status Elevation Through Disassociation From Slavery Free Essays on Frederick Douglass’ Status Elevation Through Disassociation From Slavery Frederick Douglass states he found himself regretting his own existence. Douglass is humiliated by his slavery status, and attempts to elevate himself in other’s eyes. Douglass writes about slavery from a third person point of view, free of personal accounts. Douglas attains an education; something very uncommon for slaves. He affirms his father is a white man, while not having any true confirmation in writing. Altering his name from Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey to Frederick Douglass changes his identity and removes his â€Å"slave† identity. Douglass’s narrative takes on a modest tone about his classification as a slave as he struggles to pursue an elevated status in society. Douglass’ recount is written in the third person point of view, removing him from the condition of slavery. He removes himself so easily because in writing the narrative, he is no longer a slave. However, consciously or subconsciously, Douglass displays his elevated status by writing and through his recognition as an autobiographer. Referring to the slaves’ feelings about the Great House Farm, and not his own elevates his position and disassociates himself from slavery in the reader’s mind. â€Å"The slaves selected to go to the Great House Farm, for the monthly allowance for themselves and their fellow-slaves, were peculiarly enthusiastic (Douglass 270).† Although Douglass writes in third person often, he chooses the narrative voice when he retells about his education, allowing him to become a freed slave. Education for Douglass was attainable due to Mrs. Auld, the white boys, and his own perseverance. Because Mrs. Auld was the first teacher Douglass had, reading gave Douglass the ability to learn about possibilities and gain a desire to improve his condition. Closer to his age, the white boys helped him learn to read, and instilled within him a need to become equal with them. â€Å"Have not I as good a right to be free as you have (Do...

How to get a job in medical billing

How to get a job in medical billing You’ve probably heard about how the healthcare job scene is growing by insane amount over the next 10 years. But if you’re not necessarily interested in the medical side of being an allied health professional, where does that leave you? The good news is that there are lots of administrative roles that are growing and opening right alongside the rest of the healthcare field. One such job is medical billing, because a fact of healthcare is that services need to be tracked and paid for accordingly. What does a medical biller do?Medical billers work behind the scenes in a medical office, hospital, or other healthcare facility. This is an administrative role, ensuring that patients (or their insurance companies) are accurately billed for the medical care they receive. Medical billing responsibilities may include:Tracking payment informationAssigning billing codes to a patient’s tests, procedures, and other healthcare servicesSubmitting and following up on invoices to patients and insurance companiesWorking with medical staff (like physicians and nurses) to ensure billing accuracyWorking with patients to set up payment plansMonitoring payment status and collectionsManaging patient records securely and accuratelyThis is typically a 9-to-5 kind of job, with a stable work week, since billers work primarily with data and patient information rather than in direct patient care.What skills do medical billers have?This is an entirely administrative role, so your skill set should be heavy on organization, attention to detail, and financial math.Organizational Skills:Â  Medical billers are responsible for ensuring that all medical procedures are billed accurately, whether to the patient or to the insurance company, so it’s important to have the ability to keep things moving cleanly and efficiently.Attention to Detail:Â  Errors in billing can lead to legal or financial problems, so it’s essential to be able to notice errors and confirm the a ccuracy of data before it goes out.Finance:Â  While this job typically doesn’t require advanced accounting, medical billers should have strong math skills and the ability to analyze billing and financial data.Discretion:Â  Healthcare information is usually highly confidential (and legally so), so medical billers need to be able to maintain that patient confidentiality at all times.What’s required to work in medical billing?Medical billing is a field you can enter without a college degree, though an associate’s degree in medical coding or health information technology can be an asset. Certification is not usually a requirement for medical billing clerks, but if you want to enhance your resume there is an optional certification by the AAPC (formerly known as the American Academy of Professional Coders).How much money do medical billers make?According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical billing professionals make a median annual salary of $38,040 (or $18.29 per hour).What’s the outlook for medical billers?Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for medical records and health information technicians (including billing professionals) will grow by 13% by 2024- faster than average for all jobs.If you want to work in the growing healthcare world, but find yourself drawn to the more administrative end of things, medical billing and coding can be a solid long-term choice for your health-related career path.

More Hills Like White Elephants Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

More Hills Like White Elephants - Essay Example On one hand, ‘the man’ is for abortion, whilst ‘the girl,’ on the other hand, is strongly against abortion (Hemingway, 2013). As such, in order to procure the abortion against ‘the girl’s† wish, ‘the man’ does all he can to convince he fiancà © to agree to abort the child. In fact, ‘the man’ goes to the extent of telling his fiancà © that abortion is just a simple operation that is necessary for her interest. Even though Hemingway failed to tell readers, whether ‘the girl’ procured the abortion or not, we can only conclude that she did the operation in Madrid. This became apparent at the end of the story, where ‘the girl,’ like her fiancà © became a supporter of abortion, which was not only considered immoral and dangerous, but also illegal (Hemingway, 2013). Hemingway developed the plot in such a manner that interlinks well with the characters in the story. After reading the story, one becomes convinced that the two characters are acting naturally in the story. Naturally, a man will always seek for an abortion in the event that a girl friend becomes pregnant unplanned. On the other hand, woman would always tend to resist performing an operation that she believes to be dangerous. Therefore, the two characters, no doubt, act naturally in the story. Regarding the ending of the story, Hemingway should have ended the story by telling readers whether the abortion was successful. In addition, the author ought to have ended the story by informing readers of the repercussion of performing the abortion considering the fact that abortion was illegal and considered immoral at the time he wrote this short

Social class in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social class in America - Essay Example The line that separates the social classes can be vague. Just what the dividing line is and what determines it is subject to the individual’s perception of social standing. Using upper, middle and lower class to classify the various categories in which people may fit is not sufficient. Society is more complex than that. A person’s social standing depends greatly on their upbringing. Simply because a person from a poor family becomes wealthy does not mean they can buy their way into the upper class. The opposite is true as well. This paper breaks the social classes into seven groups to better understand the social classes in American.A person from the upper class is very likely to have been born there and have been schooled from the start to, above all else, represent the upper class ideal of power and prestige. This group is also much more likely than not to have inherited their fortune. Despite the popular perception of this class, they usually do not speak well or beh ave in a â€Å"gentlemanly† way, more like spoiled rich kids for life. Dudley Moore’s character in the movie Arthur is an accurate description of the upper class. The lower-upper class is often referred to as â€Å"new money† as opposed to the â€Å"old money† upper class. This group and their children did not grow up privileged, therefore, understand the value of a dollar, have a good work ethic, are motivated and set goals. Upper-middle class refers to well respected and well paid professional occupations such as doctors, college professors and attorneys. They are considered successful by all classes, especially so by the middle class. The upper-middle is more cultured than the upper or lower-upper class. This group is the biggest supporters of the theater, ballet, symphony and art museums. A person must have at least a bachelor degree but preferably have attained a post-graduate degree to be considered part of the upper-middle class (Skinner, 2009). Th e middle class acts as the dividing line between the upper and lower classes, neither of which has any love for the middle class. The true middle class are the movers and shakers of the nation. They are the real estate and insurance agent, stock broker, entrepreneur, middle manager, car salesman and local politician. They dress for success while fantasizing about expensive cars pretty women and big houses. â€Å"In a free-market society the middle class is always a minority. If your street has a gate and a security camera at the end of it then you are middle class. A middle-class kid can afford a college education, not a web-based degree† (Mason 2010). A middle-class family does not have the electricity shut off due to lack of payment or skip any meals and can afford at least once a year family vacation. The class known as upper-labor is usually associated with the middle class but actually is not. Though some in this group may make more money than some in the middle class an d carry more political clout, they lack the people skills, education and refined character. Their knowledge of culture, history and current events falls short of the middle and upper classes. They are not as adventurous or as well-read in addition to lacking the natural curiosity and drive of the middle class. The lower-labor class is unskilled workers; the roofer, security guard, landscaper, toll booth collector, etc. They do not have expendable income. All their earnings are spent on necessities and they usually come up short each month. They generally must live in small, bug infested government subsidized housing units located in bad neighborhoods. â€Å"Life is lived always under the poverty level and hope and religion play a large role in this class’ culture, because that’s really all it has† (Skinner, 2009). They have very little chance, if any, for upward social mobility and they know this unfortunate reality which leads to drug and alcohol use and abuse which is common. This is the social class that you see on television shows like