“A Martian Sends A Postcard Home” by Craig Raine Essay

In â€Å"A Martian Sends a Postcard Home,† Craig Raine uses many metaphors to describe what a Martian would see if he came to earth. In the first stanza Raine uses metaphors to describe what a Martian may think a book looks like. Raine makes reference to William Caxton, who was the first to print books in England, in the first stanza; â€Å"Caxtons are mechanical birds with many wings / and some are treasured for their markings. A book would resemble a bird when opened, the wings being the many pages, and many books have marked a spot in history or is cherished by the person reading it. In the next four lines the Martian observes the different emotions one may have while reading a â€Å"mechanical bird,† and although he’s never witnessed one actually flying, which is impossible, he notices that they are sometimes in someone’s hand. In stanzas five and six the Martian is trying to explain fog. â€Å"Rain is when the earth is television / It has the proper ty of making colours darker,† meaning when the colors are changed on a television the picture would look unclear, and cloudy even. Raine simply describes a car as a â€Å"Model T,† in the next two stanzas. Explaining a car to be â€Å"a room with the lock inside,† is a very imaginative metaphor. By writing â€Å"But time is tied to the wrist / or kept in a box, ticking with impatience,† Raine is expressing that the Martian is encountering a watch or a clock. In stanzas ten through twelve the Martian has come upon a telephone, which he describes as a â€Å"haunted apparatus,† which usually â€Å"sleeps,† and cries, or rings until it is picked up. Raine also adds the element of humor to the poem, an example is in the twelfth stanza when he writes, â€Å"And yet they wake it up / deliberately, by tickling with a finger.† The Martian believes that humans â€Å"tickle† the keypad with their fingers, when they’re making a call. â€Å"A punishment room / with water but nothing to eat,† is a bathroom. The Martian observes that â€Å"Only the young are allowed to suffer openly,† which is really when I child would be getting their diaper changed, and adults must be alone when they go to the â€Å"punishment room.† Finally, in the last two stanzas the Martian is describing the nighttime routine of humans, â€Å"At night when all the colours die / they hide in pairs / and read about themselves / in colour, with their eyes shut,† in other words at the end of the day humans close their eyes to fall asleep and dream. This poem uses a multiple metaphors to describe what a Martian would  encounter if he visited Earth. The poem is interesting to read because it requires the reader to use their imagination, the reader must think in order to figure out these everyday things the Martian is seeing for the first time, it’s somewhat of a brainteaser. It’s obvious that the Martian is seeing these things for the first time, it makes the reader wonder why a simple thing such as a watch or a clock is not found on his planet, is time insignificant were he’s from?

What makes a building green

This paper explores what makes building material green. Green building materials are materials that have less impact on the environment, human health, economy and productivity as well. Since buildings have significant impacts of the environment, design professional have resolved to the use of green materials in building process so as to eliminate waste and to conserve the environment. Construction of buildings consumes a lot of energy use and also emits a lot of carbon dioxide in the environment. Construction also consumes a lot of raw material each year. Buildings made from green material are healthier, energy efficient than other buildings and more durable. This paper will concisely articulate what sustainability and green building products are. This paper will also determine and explore if a product is green. Lastly, this paper will evaluate the relative greenness of different products. Table of contents Introduction 4 What is Sustainability? 5 Exploration 7 Green Building Products 7 How to determine a green product 10 Implementation 12 Conclusion 21 Works Cited 22 What makes a building material Green? Introduction Construction of buildings has intense environmental, health, economic and productivity impacts. 20% of global energy use is from buildings. Buildings also emit 20% of carbon dioxide to the environment. For these reasons, many builders have resolved in the use of green building since it has financial, health and environmental benefits. Many countries that practise sustainability have also supported the green building movement. Statistics in the U. S. show that green building construction will rise from 2% in 2005 to 10% of the constructed buildings by the year 2010 and therefore the country will have save about $30. billion. The green building initiatives in the U. S. has established more that 80 green building programs both regionally and locally. The local governments are also involved in the promotion of the green building by creating innovating ways of supporting the programs (NACo Green Government Initiative 1). In Europe and North America, many architects are involved in designi ng sustainable designs also known as the green building designs. This is due to their clients’ demands and their recognition in protecting the environment. Globally, there is a lot of support form the people in establishing environmental friendly buildings (Pearce 129). There is need of financing low energy buildings so as to enhance performance. Governments should initiate more programs that enhance building of green buildings. This process will therefore eliminate the environmental hazards and increase global health standards while reducing costs (Baden et al. 8-1). The green building has made tremendous benefits globally. The initiative has help in the conservation of the environment, health and financial issues (NACo Green Government Initiative 1). What is Sustainability? Sustainability is being responsible to the world especially environment and in energy saving. Sustainability is a social program that helps in energy saving and other global protection of the environment. It deals with issues on the environment, economy and society (Langdon 6). In order for the building process to be sustainable, there is need of taking care of the environment, health issues and the finances of the society. Sustainability has led to the establishment of green buildings since it helps in the protecting the air we breath (Wiaderski 2). Green buildings prevent the particles such as Volatile Organic Compounds off-gassings, carcinogenic among other airborne particles from filling people’s lungs. Green building eliminates the use of paints and adhesives that emits these volatile organic compounds. The process of using green materials such as the Dryvit coatings and adhesives, which are water based helps in the elimination of the harmful chemicals in the environment (Wiaderski 3). Many hospitals and schools are being sustainable by using green materials in the constructions process. This has therefore helped in ensuring that people live in environments that are safe and healthy. For sustainability to be ensured, designers are now using green materials that are environmental friendly (Wiaderski 3). To ensure that there is sustainability, there are many building standards that have been introduced. For example the National-recognized green building rating standards have been established for the builders and designers to ensure that they are making buildings that are protect the environment and the health standards of the people (NACo Green Government Initiative 3). In sustainability, builders try to eliminate the use of fibreglass insulation and other such products in order to protect the human health standards. This is the reason why builders use the Dryvit system in insulation since it helps in the improvement of the quality of the air in building (Wiaderski 4). To ensure sustainability in green building construction and design, the major factors to consider are efficiency in energy and other resources. This is done by ensuring that the designed buildings should of low energy consumption. This is practical by the use of the Dryvit systems which adds a constant insulation layer on the exterior walls of a building. The Dryvit system also minimizes the thermal breaks of the building. This process of insulation of the exterior wall helps in energy conservation and it also improves the indoor air quality of a building. Insulation also helps in resisting bad weather conditions. Insulation of the exterior walls is also advantageous to the northern climates since it increase the temperature of the wall cavity which therefore helps in the minimization of the condensation process inside the cavity of the walls. This process is also advantageous to the southern climate since it helps in reducing the air infiltration therefore protecting the wall cavity by minimising the entry of the heavily saturated moist air. This helps in the reducing mold growth and condensation on the wall cavity (Wiaderski 4). A study conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratories on the building material concludes that the Dryvit wall system is a building system that conserves energy of the wall system and therefore it was suggested that the system should be used in the commercial construction of the U. S. buildings (Kosny et al. Whole Wall Rating / Label for Dryvit Wall System Steady State Thermal Analysis). For sustainability, designers need to use products that protect the economy of the people and the country. Green products are durable and they also don’t need be maintained and repaired constantly. One practical example is the use of the Dryvit systems which is adaptable. This systems’ repair and main tenance process does not need to be harshly removed nor does not require demolition (Wiaderski 5). The base coat of the green products has a reinforced mesh that is embedded on them to ensure durability and resistance for more than 30 years. Since the green products are durable and resistant, they have been found to be cost effective. For example the Dryvit systems have been found to be cost effective due to its durability and other advantageous aspects (Egan et al. Projected Life Cycle Cost of Exterior Insulation Finish Systems). There are green building practices that help in the sustainability. This includes the use of the indoor air quality. In this practice, the designers and the builders ensure that they make buildings that have quality indoor air systems. This practice involves concepts such as relationships of the ventilations and the indoor air. Other concepts include the use of the simple dose in building process and source identification. Other concepts include strategies and options of source control and design and operations of ventilation systems. There are other concepts such as the selection and specification of material and procedure of construction. Lastly, other concepts for best practices in the construction process include the maintenance, operation and renovations (Levin Best Sustainable Indoor Air Quality Practices in Commercial Buildings). Exploration Green Building Products Green building products are materials that have less or none impacts of the environment. These materials are not hazardous materials and they allow for the eradication of the other hazardous building products. There are many classifications of green products. In the classification of the green building products, the building products are evaluates using their negative and positive impacts and thereafter, the products with most positives are classified as a green product (Wilson Building Materials). There are products that fall into multiple classifications and others that fall into one classification. The classifications of the green products include durability, zero-gassing, toxicity, longevity and resource efficiency. Other classifications include environmental impacts and energy efficiency. Green products are building products with various environmental and cost benefits. Green products have long-term performance benefits (Wiaderski 2). Green products are combined with the building designs to help in the reduction of the negative environmental effects. Deign and building professions the use the green designs ensure that they give vigilant attention to the aspects that oversee the projects’ designs. Buildings made from green products are airtight and therefore keeps the buildings from interior and exterior contaminations. Constructions that use green materials ensure that there is a healthy environment to the people in the society (Wiaderski 2). The green products are classified in the category of energy rating, life cycle costs and health conditions (Wiaderski 4). The common features of the green buildings include the energy conservation in which include factors such insulation, mechanical equipment and efficient lights as well. The other feature include the utilization of solar energy in which factors such as space heating, cooling and water heating are considered. There is also the water conservation feature which ensures that there are fixtures of low consumption. Other features of the green products include the recycled material incorporation and materials with low emissions improved indoor air quality ventilation (Levin Best Sustainable Indoor Air Quality Practices in Commercial Buildings). The other features of the green products include the development sites that less destructive to the environments which include processes such as run-off control, water courses and other natural habitats preservations. The other feature is the treatment of the on-site waste water. There are also features such the use of refrigeration and fire systems that have compounds that reduce or eliminate ozone-depletion. The other feature include the use of life cycled materials and assessment of the building projects’ environmental impacts. The last feature of the green products is the use of recycled products (Levin Best Sustainable Indoor Air Quality Practices in Commercial Buildings). Green building materials are sustainable to the environment since they help in the improvement of the health standards of the people. These are recycled materials that are highly durable. These products are categorised in criteria such as the resource efficient products which include products such salvage products, post-consumer and pre-consumer products. This category also includes products such as waste agricultural materials. The green products also include product that are non toxic which include products such as the natural processed and non ozone-depletion products. This category also includes non hazardous products and other environmental protection products. The other category of the green products includes the energy and the water efficiency products which include products such heat reducing building components and energy conserving equipments. Other products include the energy renewable equipment and water conserving equipments (Port 3). The last category of the green products includes the safe and healthy built environment products. These products include the non-pollutant products and products that reduce the contamination spread. Other products that are in this category include the indoor pollutants removers’ products and products that are used in warning about health hazards. Other products include that are light improvers and help in the control of noise. Lastly, this category includes products that help in community well-being’s enhancement (Port 3). Homes that are made from green products are durable, healthier and more efficient that other home. Components of a green home include selection of strategic sites to reduce environmental impacts. The other component is designs that help in conserving water and energy and waste. The other components include designs that minimize usage of materials and therefore reduce the needs to maintain the homes. Homes made from the green materials possess components that are recycled and are therefore efficient to the energy conservation. These components also use sources that are renewable (NACo Green Government Initiative 1). Green products have been used by the USA’s Green Building Resource Centre. These products help in the conserving the energy, water and natural resources. The products also help in the protection of the indoor environment of the buildings (Levin 465-482). How to determine a green product Green products are determined by how they meet the requirements of the performance. These requirements include the factors such as being sufficient and durable. The other requirements of the performance include the strength predictability and stability. Other requirements are such as moisture, decay and bio-contamination resistance and have less cost compared to other products. The other requirement includes factors of being non-toxic and non-hazardous to the people around. Lastly, these products are able to be efficiently and effectively installed (Pearce 3). The other way to determine whether a product is green is by ensuring that the product is not negatively an impact to the ecosystems. In this way, one should ensure that the product is harvested sustainably and is also non-accumulative and non-toxic to the environment. Another way of determining the product id this category is by ensuring that the product is recyclable and is cost effective since it does not have to be repair and maintained. Products in this criterion also produce waste that can be reused and recovered (Pearce 4). Another way to determine the green products is by ensuring that the products are able to be renewed. In this criterion, the products are checked is they are renewable and if they can be harvested sustainably. The other things to consider are whether the products are materials that are closed loop. This means that the products should be checked whether they are reused or recycled. Other things to consider in this criterion are things such as whether the product is adaptable or reusable and also whether they are non-renewable. Lastly, the products are checked whether they use unsustainable material (Pearce 5). The other factors that determine whether a product is green include factors such as green products saves energy. In this factor the products are determined whether they help in the reduction of the heating and cooling loads. Other factors are whether the products use reduces energy levels. Lastly, the green products are products that can produce energy. Products can be determined as green products when they protect the natural resources. In this factor, the products are checked whether they have recycled content and whether they are made from agricultural waste. Products that use less material and are made from materials that are swiftly renewable also fall in this category. The products in this category are those that are made from managed forest and are also products that are salvaged (OFGEM A review of the Energy Efficiency Commitment 2002-2005). The other factor that can make a product green is when they can conserve water. The products include those that can conserve and consume less water. The other way to determine whether the products are green is by checking whether the products have contributed in the safety and healthiness of the indoor environment. In this way the products are determined whether that have effects on the indoors. Such products should not release and pollutants in the buildings. Products in this category do not remove pollutants in the indoor environment (Mendell 227-236). Lastly, products can be determined to be green when they reduce the impacts of buildings on the community. These products are those that moderate the storm water effects and also help in the provision of access to transportation modes that are alternatives to other transportation modes. These are also products that treat without the use of the chemicals and also do not components that deplete the ozone (Levin 173-175). Practical examples of the buildings and projects which are among the 10 winners of â€Å"What makes it green 2008 winners† that have been used in the illustration of the green products include the Bertschi School in Seattle WA which was helped the people in the area to minimize the usage of transportation. The other example is the Centre of Urban Waters project in the Tacoma that is used in storm water runoff reduction. The other illustration is of the Corvallis CoHousing project in the Corvallis which has ensure that the there is minimization of the use of the resources through sharing. There is also the illustration of Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development that encourages clean energy development (Dispenza Green Building Elements: What makes it Green? 2008 Winners). Implementation The greenness of products can be evaluated from different perspectives for example according to their durability, stability, strength and speed. The greenness of products can be judged from the way a product or a material reduces its demand for landfills especially the cement company Ceratech in the U. S which makes use of recycled fly ash to manufacture Redimax cement. Ceratech, Inc a technology company for materials focuses in the enlargement and the commercialization of inventive green cement sustainable knowledge (Stone 1). The Romans used the volcanic ash (Pozzolan) which they mixed together with lime in order to manufacture the cement for constructing Coliseums, Pantheon and Pont du Gard Aqueduct in Southern France which are strong to date. Pozzolans include fly ash, timber ash, slag and residue from publicly consequential garbage which are blazed at elevated temperatures. The Ceratech Company uses fly ash in producing Redimax which is their cement for all household productions though it manufactures its cement locally by using Class N volcanic ash pozzolans to produce their cement. Fly residue, is a diaphanously alienated coal incineration derivative which is collected by electrostatic precipitators from the chimney gases. A rough calculation of 60% which equals to 42 M tons of fly ash is land filled in the U. S. per annum (Fanney et al Second International Green Building Conference and Exposition). There is a reduction in carbon footprint of concrete due to the replacement of Portland cement with fly ash since the production of a single ton of Portland cement gives production to roughly one ton of carbon dioxide. Ceratech technology of revolutionary cement is a footstep of change to the industry of construction by providing the cement which is environmental friendly and is engineered for its potency, momentum, permanence and its long-standing toughness. Fly ash which is a post industrial fritter away stream is utilised by Ceratech, in order to produce structural cement of high presentation worldwide encompassing of more than 90%materials from cast-off waste (Stone 3). The recycling process preserves the virgin material hence eliminating the mining of raw materials which are needed to produce Portland cement. It also reduces the emissions of carbon dioxide by making the replacement of Portla1nd cement to every ton of Portla1nd cement produced. World wide, Portland cement gives a contribution of 6% to 8% of all the gases of Carbon dioxide released per year (Consoli et al Guideline for Life-Cycle Assessment: A `Code of Practice' Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry). There is also the reduction of the energy consumed since the Ceratech Company is produced by the use of an amalgamation process of low energy powder against the calcining process of high temperatures. The Ceratech Company has done a careful manufacturing of their cement for the applications where strength, durability and strength are the preferred distinctiveness of a substance. There is competence of energy since their Pozzolanic cement requires 99% less energy to produce a corresponding amount of cement from Portland (CERATECH Green Sustainable Structural Building Material Technology: Driving Change through Innovative Thinking). The logistics behind the Redimax cement is that, it is shipped, handled, stored and batched like the Portland cement and it can either be transported by rail, truck or barge. Since the dangerous constituent of sustainable1 construction is durability, there is a designed subject to allow Ceratech maximizing the performance characteristics in order to come up with the constructing concrete which will last for long. The deterioration resistant of Redimax, low permeability does helps in resisting the establishment of the corrosive cell within the ma1trix of the concrete and in so doing there is eradication of characteristic costs which associate with the traditional corrosion performances of protection, coatings and sacrificial fundamentals. Hence there is extended cycle of the life of a construction. The strengths of green material can also result from its comprehensive strength since the cement concrete acquires rapid characteristic of hardening so that it gives an easy generation of more than five hours comprehensive strengths of 2,000 psi without any negative impact working time (CERATECH Green Sustainable Structural Building Material Technology: Driving Change through Innovative Thinking). The Sulfate Resistance of the cement evaluates the greenness of the product by examining its uniform density and extreme fine pore structure which increases its resistance to the penetration by water or substance. There is evaluation of greenness of products in terms of Improved Flexural Strengths whereby when they are associated with Redimax there is a typical of 15% to 18% compressive strengths of correspondence. There is an allowance of reduced loading stress from the cement in order to substrate for slab on grade work more effectively than the Portland cement concrete. The enhancement of flexural capabilities does provide for potential incorporation to longer spans fore important applications which are structural (CERATECH Green Sustainable Structural Building Material Technology: Driving Change through Innovative Thinking). The greenness of a product can be evaluated in terms of the expenses for instance the Ceratech construction expenses were reduced together with its direct and indirect value of the building project which leads o the enhancement of the breadth of a company’ s exclusive cement distinctiveness. The construction costs include reduced labour costs which are as a result of the compression of the project schedule. The compression also diminished costs, for charter items such as shoring organization, formwork and special apparatus. There is also the reduction of eliminate issues which are in association with the rejected concrete due to the discharge requirement of water within a period of 90 minutes. The construction cost reduction leads to the reduced prices in material costs by as much as 30% (CERATECH Green Sustainable Structural Building Material Technology: Driving Change through Innovative Thinking). There is also operating costs which lead to the decrease of heating and cooling costs due to decrease on the whole thermal mass of the building. There is also outstanding confrontation to damage from the liquefying congeal, scaling and chemical assaults and the extension of the suitability for local, situation and centralized taxes by means of GREEN inducement curriculum. There is also maximized reduction on saleable space expenses for example the reduced size structural mechanism by means of greater square recording. The evaluation of the greenness of a product can be gauged in terms of the innova1tion, aesthetics and environmental leadership. Innova1tion can be observed from the superior mechanical properties in order to give allowance to the increase in the usable space by decreasing the column footprints, breadth of the slab, the height of the ceiling and the increased free distance lengths. There is also the increase of 30% in the increase fire charges. The other evaluation of greenness in innovation on innovation is the creation of blast dead set against structures, the rapid build dry piled block structures utilizing the innovatory and also the design storm resistant colossal stonework structures (CERATECH Green Sustainable Structural Building Material Technology: Driving Change through Innovative Thinking). There is also the environmental leadership which entails the requirement of the technology of the product company as either stonework block concrete. This will do away with a single ton of carbon dioxide gas for every 3 yards of concrete. The efficiency, strength and safety of a product can brought out thr3ough greenness by the example of the technology of Ceratech cement technology which exceeds ASTM-C-1600 in all the groupings of testing. Whereby increase in the power gives allowance for greater suppleness of design, efficiency and the general presentation of building. The greenness of the product can also be observed from the efficiency of the design for instance in the Ceratech Company whereby the ultra high strength hollow core floor board consent to greater free duration extensions. There is reduction of overall weight of building whereby columns which cross sections can be reduced by a nearly percentage of 40%. There is also reduction of rebar requirements. The strength of the product can bring out its greenness like in the case of Ceratech who have compressive strengths to 10,000 psi using standard mix designs with high early strengths to 2,000npsi in 6hours (CERATECH Green Sustainable Structural Building Material Technology: Driving Change through Innovative Thinking). The use of green building construction, is of great benefit to the consumers since it is efficient in energy, water and materials, it minimizes waste and pollution and creates a better indoor environment. Designing of buildings is aimed at humanizing interior excellence of the surrounding which can bring into being benefits for workplaces and the productivity of the workers as well as the landlords. A proficient green structure can be strong enticement when giving promotion to the charter of residential or marketable space. According to environmental protection agencies, deprived interior air quality is an environmental threat to a nation. Whereas sick building syndrome causes fatigue and illness which is brought about by poor designed ventilations and the presence of biological contaminations for instance molds, bacteria and pollens. The indoor air pollutants can be as a result of smoking of tobacco, building resources, products for beautifying, practices for clearing out, pest management, supplying, dust together with other activities such as cleaning and heating up (Stone 4). Due to poor green construction, there is a possibility of occupants complaining of several indications such headache, irritations in the eyes, nose and exasperation of the throats, dry coughs, itchy skin, wooziness and vomiting, difficulty in concentrating, exhaustion and sensitivity to scents. Relieve from the suffering, comes about after leaving the building. T he Sick Building Syndrome reduces the efficiency of the workers which may lead to increased non-attendance. Green construction indemnifies appropriate exposure to air, condensed particulate substance and substitutes to pollution of chemical as long as preservation and modifying activities work in performance with the intention of the established green materials and systems when the construction took place (Stone 4). The elements of design of a construction play an important role in eradicating interior contaminants. Therefore, there is an importance of integrating permanent entryway features for example grills or grates which will be used to capture dirt and particulate substance at all entryways with heavy traffic. The buildings should also include controls of tenants for airflow, temperature and lightning. The possible options have to include task lighting, operable windows and under-floor heating, aeration (ventilation) and air habituation (HVAC) arrangements with personal diffusers. There should be a possibility of the proposal of the building maximizing the quantity of proscribed daylight that can reach interior regions which are occupied. The prohibited day lighting involves reflective exteriors and disseminating elements which enable sunshine diffusion while taking control of frown. Additionally, light sensors should be installed to supplement the total amount of sunshine to supply desirable lighting levels for the necessary errands (Lippiatt 37-45). The relative greenness of a product can be evaluated from scrutinizing the construction resources, supplying, and other products such as air fresheners, clearing products and pesticides which in the end result can discharge contaminants more or less incessantly. Therefore, there is a proposal of Formaldehyde-free materials for floor covering, furniture, fortifications and upper limits, lagging and finishes, sub-flooring and en suite breakfronts. Preferably all the bonding agents and paints should not have any fillings of Volatile Organic Content (VOC) but instead ordinary and water-based coverings should be used. Low and no-discharge grounds and flooring finishes, natural coverings of the floor are of greatly preferred to conventional carpeting (Stone 5). An observation from United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the financial benefits of residential green building, there is a production of $200-$400 in annual savings in energy from the houses which are built to Energy Star. This are all on heating, cooling and water heater related costs. The durability of the green home construction interprets to additional savings on the preservations over the existence of a home (Internal Revenue Service Treasury and IRS Provide Guidance on Energy Credit to Home Builders). There is an important role which is played by the counties in educating the residents and builders of homes, about saving energy and obtainable refunds, recognitions and other funding support for green structure and projects for home development (Weitz et al. 5810-5849). The counties can give an action of Clearinghouse of information for builders and confidential citizens who have an interest of capitalizing on the benefits of investments of their green building schemes. The incentives of finance in order to build green, come in different forms including credits from taxes, for individual taxpayers, accelerating process of giving permission for homebuilders and rebates from both power and water companies for doing the setting up of resource competent attributes in a residence (Roodman et al A Building Revolution: How Ecology and Health Concerns are Transforming Construction). The available incentives and rebate programs available to landlords and homebuilders include the Federal Energy Policy Act Tax Incentives whereby this act of Federal Energy Policy Act 2005, presents the inducements of tax for both acquiring and installing competent energy productions in building. This proceed comprises of credits to builders and customers for green structure schemes, enhancements of energy economy home and solar energy organizations (Internal Revenue Service Treasury and IRS Provide Guidance on Energy Credit to Home Builders). On the national Ratings Certifications and Standards, the recognized national ratings, standards systems and certifications of green building can be exceptional gear for regions for employment when coming up with own residential curriculums for green building. There can be customization of national programs in accordance to the differences of the region while giving provision of approval framework on which counties can come up with their own advancement of green building. Therefore there is a widespread network which has provided allowance to the national programs to bring together case studies and al1 the best information practices from all through the U. S (EIA Analysis of 10% renewable Portfolio Standard). There are a number of green building ratings, certifications and standard programs which are countrywide well known and may be given a priority to come up with programs of green building. They include, LEED for homes which is a USGBC with a mission of advancing the revolution of the market of the environment which is constructs, increases and supervises the LEED for the rating systems of homes which were put into action in 2005 and gave provision to a tool for certifying homes that are given a design in order to be energy, water and efficient of resources and built with the health of future occupants being considered. There is also the Centre for Communities by Design whereby the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Centre for Communities by Design does provide support to the societies on sustainable planning through its curriculum of Sustainable Design Assistance Team. SDAT’s undertaking is to provide methodological support in order to hold up communities come up with the vision and the construction for a sustainable future (EIA Analysis of 10% renewable Portfolio Standard). Conclusion The discussion in the paper was based on the green building products and their sustainability of Construction. It seems that, in many cases, the best alternative of a design for interior surrounding quality gives a determination on the excellence of the general atmosphere. Therefore the elimination of air contamination in the indoor will be determined by the durability of the building material which will hence need lower quantities and less toxic chemicals for the maintenance and renovation (Levin Best Sustainable Indoor Air Quality Practices in Commercial Buildings). The paper focused on the implementation and exploration of the green products for construction. There is also the evaluation of the greenness of construction materials which can be evaluated in different ways including valuing the durability, stability, strength and speed of the materials (Levin Building Design and Material Selection). The greenness of products is judged from the way a product or a material reduces its demand for landfills especially the cement company Ceratech in the U. S which makes use of recycled fly ash to manufacture Redimax cement. There are also energy policy acts which are featured on the paper which focus on means of saving the energy (EIA Analysis of 10% renewable Portfolio Standard).

Freuds Mind Structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Freuds Mind Structure - Essay Example Unconscious - Freud explains that this part occupies greater area compared to conscious and the preconscious memory of a individual and in enormous. This is not readily available in bringing it to conscious or awareness. The feelings and thoughts are dumped which includes the urges, feelings and ideas which are tied with anxiety, conflict and pain. Freud believed that this are not disappeared but stored in this part of memory which can eventually affect and influence actions and the conscious awareness of the individual. Also, Freud conceptualized the Id, Ego and Superego - where activities of this occur in this area. Freud also represented this mind structure into a model of an iceberg, the mental iceberg which Freud's illustration about Human Mind. Accordingly, conscious and preconscious can pass information back and forth wherein in the process of passing it can fall into the unconscious mind where it cannot be readily available freely. This is expressed as the images presented below: Id functions to satisfy self-gratification and no care for others, the selfishness in every individual, irrational and emotional. Ego does the rational thinking and helps grow awareness that there are things that human want are not always attainable.

St. Augustines Confessions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

St. Augustines Confessions - Essay Example They could be left behind for some time to strategize on ways to steal the pears without being conspicuous. On the day the crime was committed everything went as planned as the theft was a success. The narrator was able to take home some pears. However, the theft of the pears did not seem to provide him with the comfort he had imagined. He did not have much of the pears. The narrator points out that what drove them to steal was greater than peer pressure and the need to have a taste of the pears (Section 9). They always had the urge to steal which would introduce him to the feeling of sin. Different from other group members, his only objective from stealing the pears was to experiences sin. However, he terms sin as a spiritual need strong enough to justify his actions. In his explanation of sin, they argued that sin was a personal choice influenced by choice accompanied by a need. However, they pointed out that this need is more of a self-realization of satisfaction or quest. In this case, they asked God to provide him with the pleasure of is actions which they yearned for (Section 12). From a young age, the narrator always wanted to have the feeling of committing sin. From all the stories and narrations on sin, the envy for sin became a need strong enough to influence justification of their actions. As his peers envied the pears, the narrator envied the feeling one had when they had committed a wrong. They wanted to experience and be part of sin. In addition, they wanted to find pleasure in doing it. The narrator further explains that it would be more interesting if they could be made be responsible for the crime they had committed. To further provide light on the reasons that he influenced theft of pears, the narrator describes theft as ugly; there was nothing beautiful about you (Section 12). In addition, the narrator declares their love for theft; what did I love in you (Section 12). Regardless of the nature of sin,

Good Citizenship Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Good Citizenship - Research Paper Example Organizations such as Nike Inc. continue to demonstrate how corporations are the classics of the good citizenship test in their pursuit of financial gain. Since 1971, the organization has developed from a US-based distributor of footwear to the globe’s most preeminent marketer of athletic apparel, equipment, and footwear. This has come with massive financial gains, for instance, in the 2007 financial year, Nike earned $16.3 billion, which was an increase of $1.3 billion from 2006. Some prominent components instrumental in this growth include the company’s strategy to outsource manufacture to low-cost countries such as China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Nike does not own any factory which produces its items. The second factor of Nike’s success is its extensive public relations strategy, which entails sponsoring renowned athletes such as Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and Michel Jordan. However, Nike has been surrounded by controversy with anti-globalization activists ac cusing it of exploiting sweatshop conditions as well as child labor in factories that manufacture its products in order to enhance its financial gain (Carty, 2002). Sweatshops are essentially workplaces, which violate laws and where workers are subjected to poor working conditions, extreme exploitation, arbitrary discipline, and fear.The issue of sweatshops raises controversies, for instance: Should organizations manufacture its products in sweatshops because of the benefit of lower labor costs, which enhance financial gain?... in the organization to deter the principal-agent problem, also focuses on the effect of corporate governance systems on economic efficiency, laying strong emphasis on the welfare of shareholders (Goodwin, 2000). There has been new interest in the practices of corporate governance by modern corporations since 2001, especially following high-profile collapses of massive US firms such as WorldCom and Enron Corporation. As a consequence, the US federal government established the Sarbanes-Oxley Act aimed at restoring public confidence in the area of corporate governance. Organizations such as Nike Inc. continue to demonstrate how corporations are the classics of the good citizenship test in their pursuit of financial gain. Since 1971, the organization has developed from a US-based distributor of footwear to the globe’s most preeminent marketer of athletic apparel, equipment and footwear (Sytse & Schreuder, 2013). This has come with massive financial gains, for instance, in the 2007 financial year, Nike earned $16.3 billion, which was an increase of $1.3 billion from 2006. Some prominent components instrumental in this growth include the company’s strategy to outsource manufacture to low cost countries such as China, Indonesia and Vietnam. Nike does not own any factory which produces its items. The second factor of Nike’s success is its extensive public relations strategy, which entails sponsoring renowned athletes such as Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and Michel Jordan. However, Nike has been surrounded by controversy with anti-globalization activists accusing it of exploiting sweatshop conditions as well as child labor in factories that manufacture its products in order to enhance its financial gain (Carty, 2002). Sweatshops are essentially workplaces, which violate

Court Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Court Report - Essay Example The crimes and misdemeanors which the crown court holds it session for, include murders, manslaughter, and organized terrorism. The criminal offenses dealt in the crown court are divided into three classes according to the gravity of the crime. Class I offenses usually involve crimes on a large scale such as genocide, treason, and murder, which are exclusively under the jurisdiction of a high court judge. Class II offenses include incest, rape and manslaughter and such cases are also tried by a high court judge but they may also be tried by a circuit judge occasionally. Class III offenses are not handled by a high court judge unless the presiding judge’s consent is obtained and these offenses usually entail other instances of crimes and misdemeanors. (Jason-Lloyd, 1997, 18-21)The harshest sentence handed out by the judge is a life sentence and other ways of penalizing the offender such as community service, confiscation of property, discharges, and fines. Throughout my entire time in the courtroom, there was no case pertaining to organized terrorism and most of the defendants that were produced in the court were largely males, and mainly fell in the age range of 15 and 20. (YCAP. 2010)Most of the offenders were extremely young and this observational finding is vastly in concurrence with the statistical evidence that states that around 30% of the youth are involved in such activities. Other cases presented in the court were also instances of domestic violence and conflicts. (YCAP. 2010) Most of the issues and cases arose not only because of conflicts between complete strangers but also between people who knew each other and even family members came forth with grave instances of criminal offences. In one case, a young 18 year-old man was charged with assaulting a police officer at his place of residence due to some domestic dispute that led to the clash. (Smith, 2009; Rieff, 2001, 42-47) Though, I deem myself vastly naive as during my entire time in the co urtroom I was expecting

Comparing Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove to the Reality of the Essay

Comparing Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove to the Reality of the American West - Essay Example This is also an obvious example on how the Americans try to look for the thrill in the midst of the challenges and once again, rise and see the co-called modern reality of boundary expansion. Going back to the story, we can recall that each character has different internal conflicts that make up and or create their identity. A brief example of this is Woodrow Call and Augustus McCrae who have different persuasions and trips in life. Call is a loner which solely justifies his need for distance seeing that he is a very responsible person and a leader in image as seen and felt by people around him. McCrae on the other hand has his on longing for love and acceptance from Lorena Wood which in the end, only after he dies shall he get upon the realization of Wood that the short time marriage that MacCrae offered at the middle part of the story is indeed significant. Other characters also have their own mini conflict if that is the perfect way to see it, and these conflicts when joined all together will form one particular dilemma that can only be triggered by Call and McCrae's wanting to travel and search for the best time in their lives traveling away from the Lonesome Dove. It is surprising and or rather ironic to know that while the title suggests of the name of the place where the characters belong and where their identities are formed, the events happen away from the place of the subject. The characters are moving away from their identities which can all be related to the idea of American expansion. By the time the story is written, in the late 80' s to be specific, Americans have been struggling to fight against the Indians, all for the sake of land. This issue on land can all bring us back to the movies that proliferated in the early 80's with a topic of mostly protecting the boundaries which in history Americans try to defend. In short, this story of the Lonesome Dove presents to us a myth like art which can be seen as a rationalization of the movement being made in history, the movement of development from the part of the Americans and even from the European people as they join the world in settling for a culture that will soon be part of their identity and social living. However, the movie is not enough to conclude white male supremacy and its longing for Western expansion because it will be a harsh generalization to say such idea exists when others, specifically those in Europe are themselves finding a way to move to different directions to look for lands to toil and improve. The decline of the western as a commercially viable film and television genre in the 1970s and 1980s is not tied only to its traditional association with white male supremacy, however. After all, other currently popular action genres, including those that have absorbed some of the western's traditional thematic concerns, are similarly dominated by white male protagonists (e.g., the science fiction film: The Road Warrior "solves" the problem of the vanished wilderness by blowing up the world and starting from scratch, placing Mad Max as the reluctant and cynical avatar of a new civilization in a post-apocalyptic frontier). Rather, the western was rendered obsolete primarily because of its close ties with the nineteenth- and early twentieth-century myth of free-enterprise capitalism. In the present postindustrial era, as more and more people find themselves permanently un- or

Critically discuss the following statement What is marketing Easy its Essay

Critically discuss the following statement What is marketing Easy its what marketers do - Essay Example A series of theories has been gradually developed aiming to help the transformation of marketing in accordance with the current market rules. Current paper focuses on the examination of the context and the role of marketing within the modern market; the specific field is evaluated using relevant theories – as published in the academic literature. Moreover, efforts are made in order to present and explain the practical implications of marketing – as these implications are understood and handled by marketers. It is concluded that the current forms of marketing are difficult to be fully explored and evaluated – being differentiated within each commercial sector; however, the theoretical explanations on marketing – as identified through the relevant literature – can help to understand the actual role of marketing in the modern market but also its potentials for further transformation in the future. 2. Marketing – Description and functions 2.1 The context of marketing - definitions One of the key characteristics of marketing is its ability to be transformed being aligned with the market trends and demands. Initially, marketing was a discipline rather foreign to academic study; it had been rather considered as a series of practices used by professionals who deal with the promotion of products/ services within a pre-arranged market (also known as target market); the above issue is highlighted in the study of Baker et al. (1998) who noted that marketing gradually entered the academic field of knowledge; however, despite the fact that a wide range of studies has been developed in regard to the content and the role of market, still there are many of its aspects that are not clear (Baker et al 1998). Probably the reason is that the changes of the market are too quick and extensive, marketing’s rules and forms are transformed - in order to be aligned with these changes - but there is no adequate time for the phases of this t ransformation to be monitored and evaluated. From a similar point of view Viardot (2004) noted that the context and the role of marketing can be differentiated when having to enter a particular sector; reference is made, for example, to the term ‘marketing for high tech firms’ (Viardot 2004, 1); it is suggested by Viardot (2004) that marketing is described as follows: ‘putting on the market’ (Viardot 2004, 2) – a description which presents the practical use of marketing as a range of tasks focusing on the achievement of a particular target. Baker et al. (2007) use a similar approach; they note that marketing is still in a period of transition from ‘a pure professional practice to an activity explained through appropriate theoretical models’ (Baker et al 2007, 3). Kotler et al. (2010) give a different, more analytical, description of marketing; in accordance with the above researchers, marketing is ‘the process of building profitabl e customer relationships by creating value for customers and capturing value in return’ (Kotler 2010, 53). In the above description marketing is presented as being closely related to customers; in this way, the main priority of marketers is set: marketers should focus on the development of the relationship between the products/ services

Comparison of a leader and a manager Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Comparison of a leader and a manager - Essay Example In addition to that, there is difference in the motivation level and control between a leader and a manager. According to (Nielson), a leader sets new and unique direction. Therefore, he should be able to justify the changes he suggests and show the validity of his approach. A manager helps in the application of ideas suggested by a leader and is responsible to make sure that the assigned tasks are completed by employees in time. In spite of these differences, a leader and a manager apparently share several important responsibilities. Both make heads of a team and coordinate teams to reach a goal. A final similarity between the two is that both exchange information in order to plan and direct. To sum up, leader and manager are much different, and yet alike. Although they differ in many areas such as people out look and motivation, they have several points in common. Furthermore, it can be said that both seek success.

Article Analysis by Geoffrey Ribbans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Article Analysis by Geoffrey Ribbans - Essay Example 2. Article Summary Ribbans in his article explore one of the major thematic concerns of the play La Verdad Sospechosa i.e. lying. In this article the writer throws light on the pros and cons of lying as well as he also illustrates various human behaviors to the common habit of lying. Moreover the play as well as the article supports the cliche that a lie is never a solution for a problem because one lie always leads to another and consequently leads to a series of lies in order to hide one truth. Ribbans has used various textual excerpts from the play to support his understanding and interpretation of each lie that is spoken in the play and he points out that each act of the play introduces a new lie that gives a new dimension to the plot of the play consequently the play comprises of four major lies followed by other meager lies. 2.1. Analysis Ribbans in this article reiterates the purpose of the Alarcon’s use of the theme of lie. He states that the writer makes use of his wr iting technique to mock the double standards and hypocrisy of the society and the nobility.

Middle Ages Literature Essay Example for Free

Middle Ages Literature Essay The Middle Ages had many interesting characteristics concerning the literature of that time period. The important literary works â€Å"incorporated elements and values drawn from different and conflicting traditions (Patterson 1143). For every opinion, there was another opinion to counter it. Many of the pieces of literature at this time had contradictory ideas in them or had competing interests (Patterson 1144). The literature of this time shows us that â€Å"many people took the central doctrine of Christianity so much for granted that their daily lives seem largely untroubled by the moral and spiritual demands of religion† (Patterson 1144). Another characteristic of the literature was that it alerts us to the â€Å"complexities and dilemmas that any faith poses† (Patterson 1144). The Middle Ages is also called the â€Å"age of chivalry† (Patterson 1144). The literature mainly â€Å"expresses the values of the most powerful members of society, the aristocracy† (Patterson 1144). The aristocracy achieved their power through â€Å"military might† (Patterson 1144). There was also an â€Å"explicit code of chivalry† (Patterson 1145). The values were â€Å"never entirely consistent with each other† (Patterson 1145). Characters of literature had to choose whether to be a lover or a warrior (Patterson 1145). The main concerns of the literature were â€Å"the demands of religious faith and appropriate use of physical force, and the individual human being working out his or her individual destiny† (Patterson 1145). The literature during this time contributed to a list of vivid characters to the world of literature (Patterson 1145). Writers created unforgettable, complex literary characters to deal with the themes (Patterson 1145). The Middle Ages contrasted to the Renaissance because the Renaissance’s characters had â€Å"greater autonomy and fully realized personalities† (James 1883). The Renaissance’s literature did not judge â€Å"human action by right and wrong but by beauty, memorability, and effectiveness† (James 1886). During the Renaissance, the presence of God was much less dominating (James 1887). Medieval men and women were more concerned with the afterlife, while in the Renaissance they had a preoccupation with this life (James 1886). The Canterbury Tales fits into the Middle Ages well with some characteristics and not quite as well concerning others. For example, the Pardoner in The Canterbury Tales preaches the word of God on a daily basis, yet he is morally corrupt in his everyday life (Chaucer 1759). He preaches of greed, yet is greedy himself (Chaucer 1759). The Pardoner steals from the church, as well as innocent people (Chaucer 1758). Chaucer showed us that people took the doctrine of the church for granted. Other characters in The Canterbury Tales spoke of God and were Christians, yet didn’t bother with feeling morally obligated to act right. The dilemmas of being a Christian in real-life are seen. Some of the characters are Christian but it is more complex and takes an effort to be a Christian. The Canterbury Tales didn’t seem to have contradictory themes necessarily. Chaucer makes his views of various social ranks known through a use of satire. The characters themselves are contradictory, as we see with the Pardoner once again (Chaucer 1758). Since Chaucer has every type of social rank represented, we see his view of these ranks, which does contradict some of the jobs or moral obligations of various people. The characters in the story itself did compete for various interests. They all held different values or beliefs about the world. Chaucer lived during this time period, so it is in a way a more realistic view rather than contradictory. The explicit code of chivalry isn’t necessarily a large component of The Canterbury Tales except for perhaps the Knight and his tale. Chaucer shows that some people were focused on the chivalry act during this time. The Canterbury Tales doesn’t focus on pleasing the aristocracy either. Chaucer wrote from the perspective of every social rank so his book was meant for the poor and rich. Its subject matter was meant to be appealing to all Medieval people. The final characteristic that The Canterbury Tales does follow is the well developed characters. Chaucer had a whole list of realistic, complex characters. These characters could rival the Renaissance’s characters to me. I enjoyed reading about the characters and reading even more of The Canterbury Tales online. The Canterbury Tales fits well with the characteristics of the Middle Ages for the most part. The individual characters do have an individual goal in mind. Chaucer seemed as if he cared about his characters and wanted readers to his get to know them on an individual level, which seems more ahead of his time.

Concepts Of Time And Eternity

Concepts Of Time And Eternity Before beginning to look at time and eternity it is necessary to ask two questions; what is time and what is eternity? Eternity is most often thought of as existence for a limitless amount of time although many use it to mean a timeless existence altogether, an existence outside of time itself. So our concept of eternity is in many ways dependant on our concept of time. So then what is time? This has been discussed and pondered by many philosophers beginning with Aristotle, who speculated that time may be motion. He did however add that motion could be slower or faster but time could not be, it was a constant. Aristotle obviously did not know about Einsteins theory of relativity in which time can also change. Also when Einstein was working on his theory of general relativity and proposed his then revolutionary idea that mass can curve space, he was not aware that the universe was expanding. So our concept or definition of time is still something which, with our further discoveries of how the Universe is constructed, we are still developing. So we will then take a look at how time and eternity have been viewed historically by philosophers and how this has been developed up to the present day. Let us first take a look at the progression of our concept of time. In ancient Greek philosophy Plato speaks about the Demiurge. The demiurge is a term for an artisan-like figure which is responsible for the fashioning and maintenance of the physical universe. The demiurge however is not the creator figure in the monotheistic religious sense, both the demiurge itself and the material from which the demiurge fashions the universe are considered either uncreated and eternal, or the product of some other being. Plato speculates that the Demiurge creates order in the universe. The Demiurge is a force that provides order and stability of a kind and has an important place in Platos thought on time. In the Timaeus, several possible arguments can be chosen concerning the nature, beginning or indeed no beginning of time. Aristotle in contrast to Plato tries to prove in his Physics, that time neither has a beginning nor an end. His main argument revolves around the point that time or motion always was. If something that had the qualities of motion of movement existed, then it would either have to have been in constant movement or begun to move. Therefore, something that begins must too end. That the heaven as a whole neither came into being nor admits of destruction, as some assert, but is one and eternal, with no end or beginning of its total duration, containing and embracing in itself the infinity of time, we may convince ourselves not only by the arguments already set forth but also by a consideration of the views of those who differ from us in providing for its generation.  [1]  For Aristotle time can have no beginning or end. Something which begins cannot continue on for eternity. His thought also applies to ideas such as the beginning of the world, since for the world to change, or begin, G od or the Creator would have to be subject to a god changing his mind but this would be impossible. Simply put the idea of their being a beginning to time is contrary to Aristotles thought. If we go back to Augustine, we see the importance of Scripture in the Confessions. Therefore in relation to time, if we take the following passage from the Book of Genesis, then we shall see the basic workings or the initial starting point for Augustines theory on time. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.  [2]   It is clear that in the beginning there must have been a first step taken for the world and indeed the universe to come into existence, and this was the will of God. Augustine begins Book XI by asking O Lord, since eternity is Yours, are You ignorant of the things which I say unto You? Or see Thou at the time that which comes to pass in time? Why, therefore, do I place before You so many relations of things?  [3]  Augustine appears to be afraid that God is somehow frozen in Eternity, truly without change, without any role to play. However, he does take comfort in the hope that we also pray, and yet Truth says, Your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him. (Matt 6:8)  [4]  So God will provide for Augustine, or at least he hopes and believes having red scripture that God provides for him. So too has God given us the world and the universe. That he has created all of these things is enough for Augustine, as he says in Chap. 4 of book XI They [the heavens and the earth] also proclaim that they made not themselves; therefore we are, because we have been made; we were not therefore before we were, so that we could have made ourselves.  [5]   Here we see Augustine marvel at God in his creation of the universe. For Augustine he is trying to show how time came into existence with the creation of Heaven and Earth. God created this universe and everything in it and time, as we know it, began with creation, In the beginning. Yet there are some questions that need to be answered as St. Augustine shows us. And no times are co-eternal with You, because You remain for ever; but should these continue, they would not be times. For what is time? Who can easily and briefly explain it? Who even in thought can comprehend it, even to the pronouncing of a word concerning it? But what in speaking do we refer to more familiarly and knowingly than time? And certainly we understand when we speak of it; we understand also when we hear it spoken of by another. What, then, is time?  [6]  This is a very good question, but is there an answer? Augustine does not seem to be able to find one. When he comments on people who ask what God was doing before time began he says Behold, I answer to him who asks, What was God doing before He made heaven and earth? I answer not, as a certain person is reported to have done facetiously (avoiding the pressure of the question), He was preparing hell, says he, for those who pry into myst eries I boldly say, That before God made heaven and earth, He made not anything. For if He did, what did He make unless the creature? And would that I knew whatever I desire to know to my advantage, as I know that no creature was made before any creature was made.  [7]   Augustine does try to explain eternity being a moment of time, But should the present be always present, and should it not pass into time past, time truly it could not be, but eternity.  [8]  Time then, as opposed to eternity, is always moving and it is always in motion, as Aristotle said. Eternity, however, remains constant, unchanging and complete. But still we are left with that seemingly simple question; what is time? If we look at time as motion, constantly moving on, then we can look at past time or uture time. It is difficult to try and make any concrete claims over the issue of past, present and future. For example, if we say that the past day has been a long one, are we not talking about a day or a state that no longer exists? This is also the case if we speak about the future. How can we comment on the future, e.g. it will be a cold week or a warm day, if it does not exist. But can we measure time in the present? Augustine launches into discussion of the present time that shows the futility to grasp what time is. But we measure times passing when we measure them by perceiving them; but past times, which now are not, or future times, which as yet are not, who can measure them? Unless, perchance, any one will dare to say, that that can be measured which is not. When, therefore, time is passing, it can be perceived and measured; but when it has passed, it cannot, since it is not.  [9]  Augu stine continues to narrow down the present time into days, hours, moments, heartbeats and eventually into a single moment, If any portion of time be conceived which cannot now be divided into even the minutest particles of moments, this only is that which may be called present; which, however, flies so rapidly from future to past, that it cannot be extended by any delay. For if it be extended, it is divided into the past and future; but the present has no space.  [10]  We have come to a stage whereby it is almost pointless trying to even understand time, whether past, present or future. Augustines discussion on time is impressive but he is faced with that question again, that still has not been answered. What is time? It is too difficult, perhaps impossible, to offer plausible explanations. The answer to the question of time is to be found, paradoxically, outside of time.. in eternity We exist in this temporal world, but do not understand fully what time is to us. We are simply not in a position to fully comprehend time. After much searching, debating and discussing, Saint Augustine slowly winds down to a prayer, a prayer of acceptance and hope. You unchangeably eternal, that is, the truly eternal Creator of minds. As, then, Thou in the Beginning knew the heaven and the earth without any change of Your knowledge, so in the Beginning Thou made heaven and earth without any distraction of Your action. Let him who understands confess unto You; and let him who understands not, confess unto You. Oh, how exalted are You, and yet the humble in heart are Your dwelling-place; for Thou raisest up those that are bowed down, and they whose exaltation You are fall not.  [11]   God exists outside of Time. Time is a creature created by God. Gods Will is not temporal like our own. That Eternal God exists allows for everything we know. So, we ask again, what is time? According to Augustine, and other Christian writers and thinkers, It is a creation, just like you or me. We exist in it and travel in this temporal world, universe towards something. What that something is, in Christianity anyway, is eternity. So then we now ask ourselves the question, what is eternity? Concepts of eternity have developed along with the development of the concept of God in a Western context. Eternity has been viewed in history both as timelessness and as everlastingness and following the work of Boethius and St. Augustine divine timelessness became the dominant view. The two views were however very different. Boethius presented the idea of divine eternity as straightforward and relatively problem-free, while Augustine wrestled with the idea and expresses continual puzzlement and indeed amazement at the idea of time itself and with it the contrasting idea of divine eternality.  [12]  We have already looked at Augustines struggles with what time is, but what does Boethius say? It is the common judgement, then, of all creatures that live by reason that God is eternal. So let us consider the nature of eternity, for this will make clear to us both the nature of God and his manner of knowing. Eternity, then, is the complete, simultaneous and perfect possession of everlasting life; this will be clear from a comparison with creatures that exist in timeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ for it is one thing to progress like the world in Platos theory through everlasting life, and another thing to have embraced the whole of everlasting life in one simultaneous present.  [13]   Boethius asks the questions about eternity in regard to providence, how can God know about something before it happens, but not then control or influence the free will which he gave to human beings? His answer is to do with the mind of God. God does not know the world in the same way that human beings do because God exists outside of time, so he doesnt view the world as a progression of events. He does not see past present and future as we might but at the same time he knows all future acts and remembers all past acts. He sees the world in one single act, which includes knowledge of every choice of every human being from the beginning of the world to the end. Therefore he doesnt influence the free will or choices of human beings but he did, and indeed does, already know them. In metaphysical terms eternity could be summed up by asking the question can anything be said to exist outside of time and space and if it can how can it and, maybe more importantly, why? Many religions say that God is eternally existent but how we understand this depends on which definition of eternity we use. God might exist in eternity which means a timeless existence where the past, present, and future just do not mean anything. On the other hand, God might exist for eternity, which means he has already existed for an infinite amount of time and will continue to exist for an infinite amount of time. There is another definition that states that God exists outside the human concept of time, but also inside of time because if God did not exist both outside and inside time he would not be able to interact with humans as he does through answering prayers etc. Whichever definition of eternity we use it is safe to say that humans cannot fully understand eternity, since it is either an infinite amount of time or something other than the time and space we know. If we use the concept of God as Creator, as a being completely independent of everything else that exists because God created everything else. If this premise is true, then it follows that God is independent of both space and time, since these are properties of the universe. So then, according to this notion, God existed before time even began, he exists during all moments in time, and he will continue to exist after the universe and time itself will cease to exist. St. Thomas Aquinas in his Summae Theoligica argues against Boethius concept of time and eternity, he says As we attain to the knowledge of simple things by way of compound things, so must we reach to the knowledge of eternity by means of time, which is nothing but the numbering of movement by before and after. For since succession occurs in every movement, and one part comes after another, the fact that we reckon before and after in movement, makes us apprehend time, which is nothing else but the measure of before and after in movement. Now in a thing bereft of movement, which is always the same, there is no before or after. As therefore the idea of time consists in the numbering of before and after in movement; so likewise in the apprehension of the uniformity of what is outside of movement, consists the idea of eternity.  [14]  He is saying that what is eternal is interminable, that it has no beginning nor end and that because eternity has no succession like time, moment after moment in past present and future, it is therefore simultaneously whole. He says also that The idea of eternity follows immutability, as the idea of time follows movement, as appears from the preceding article. Hence, as God is supremely immutable, it supremely belongs to Him to be eternal. Nor is He eternal only; but He is His own eternity; whereas, no other being is its own duration, as no other is its own being. Now God is His own uniform being; and hence as He is His own essence, so He is His own eternity. Is it therefore the case that when we speak of eternity we speak of God? Is God the only thing that can be eternal? Certainly it is true that scientifically the only things we can know are those we experience in life but eternity, although almost universally accepted as a fact, is unknowable to us at least in our lifetimes. When we go, as Christians and others believe, to eternal life after this life, then we may have knowledge of eternity as we have experience of it with God as he is, but here and now we can ask what is eternity but we can never re ally answer it. According to William Lane Craig, on a relational view of time God would exist timelessly and independently prior to creation; at creation, which he has willed from eternity to appear temporally, time begins, and God subjects himself to time by being related to changing things. On the other hand, the Newtonian would say God exists in absolute time changelessly and independently prior to creation and that creation simply marks the first event in time.  [15]  According to the Christian doctrine, still taught to this day, of creatio ex nihilo, the universe began to exist a finite amount of time ago. And this doctrine, according to Craig, receives philosophical confirmation from arguments demonstrating the absurdity of an infinite temporal regress of events and empirical confirmation from the evidence for the so-called big-bang model of the universe.  [16]  But while we might agree that the universe began to exist, does this also mean a beginning to time? If one believes that time exists separately from events in the sense that if there were no events there would still be time, then there need not be a beginning to time as it exists outside of events. To say that the universe began to exist on such a time scale would simply be to say that a finite time ago there were no physical objects. However if one accepts that time cannot exist apart from events, then this means that the beginning of events, or beginning of the universe, would also be a beginning of time. So then is eternity simply a never ending period of time? Or does it exist separately and independently of time? We might ask in regard to God what does it mean to say that God is eternal? It can mean that he exists in divine timelessness or in divine temporality. Divine timelessness is the traditional view of God as being outside of time. It is the position advocated by Augustine, Boethius and Aquinas who we have looked at and also others such as St. Anselm. Divine temporality also holds the notion that God is omniscient and omnipotent. It is important to say that Gods temporality is not to be interpreted as a limit to his power, knowledge or being. Those who uphold a divine temporality view have problems with the views of the divine timelessness of God and indeed it has recently come under criticism by some philosophers and also by some theologians. Oscar Cullmann, a theologian, wrote that Primitive Christianity knows nothing of a timeless God. The eternal God is he who was in the beginning, is now and will be in all the future, who is, who was, and who will be (Rev 1:4). Accordingly, his eternity can and must be expresses in this naive way, in terms of endless time.  [17]   Richard Swinburne, a philosopher, wrote that the claim that God is timeless seems to contain an inner incoherence and also to be incompatible with most things which theists ever wish to say about God.  [18]  In this view Gods eternalness is expressed as being everlasting, without beginning and end, but he experiences time and is therefore able to work within time, and so is involved and working in time with us. This divine temporality is indeed a modern Christian view. It has often been stated in sermons around Christmas time that the birth of Jesus, the incarnation, God becoming man, signalled God entering into time and space with us and he continues to be with us in that same way. John M. Frame states that On Christmas, we celebrate something quite wonderful: God entering our time and space. The eternal becomes temporal; the infinite becomes finite; the Word that created all things becomes flesh.  [19]  He does also note a paradox though in this notion of God entering Space and time by saying From day to day, from hour to hour, the changeless God endures change. But God the Son incarnate is still God, still transcendent. As he responds to events in time, he also looks down on the world from above time and space, ruling all the events of nature and history.  [20]  So why enter time at all? The Christian answer is that he did this to show us how much he loves us, by dying for us, in our place, so that we might have eternal life. Even now God is both God and man, forever, so that he doesnt just rule is from above, but walks with us in every step, in every experience of our lives. As Frame puts it; So Christmas reveals in a wonderful way that God acts in time as well as above it. It shows us wonderfully how God relates to us, not only as a mysterious being from another realm, but as a person in our own time and place: interacting with us, hearing our prayers, guiding us step by step, chastising us with fatherly discipline, comforting us with the wonderful promises of the blessings of Christ. Truly he is Immanuel, the God who is really with us, who is nonetheless eternally the sovereign Lord of all.  [21]   Taking Christ as a pointer to God in both eternity and in time we see in Johns Gospel Jesus say of himself Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58). With the use of two different tenses, past in reference to Abraham and present in terms of Christ even though logically it should be past tense we are given an insight maybe into what eternity is, separate to time, at least as we know and understand it. Arthur C. Custance says in his book Time and Eternity that The really important thing to notice is that time stands in the same relation to eternity, in one sense, as a large number does to infinity. There is a sense in which infinity includes a very large number, yet it is quite fundamentally different and independent of it. And by analogy, eternity includes time and yet is fundamentally something other. The reduction of time until it gets smaller and smaller is still not eternity; nor do we reach eternity by an extension of time to great length. There is no direct pathway between time and eternity: they are different categories of experiences.  [22]  Therefore we experience time and cannot have a full understanding of eternity due to the fact it is beyond any experience we can have. So then why even ask about it, or even entertain the thought of it? Christoph and Johann Blumhardt in their book Now is Eternity give our reasons for asking about ternity quite simply when they say that The deepest need each of us has, even if we are not conscious of it, is that of eternal life.  [23]   In the book they discuss the impact that the loss of any awareness of eternity has had on the modern world. They say that for most people in todays world it is the temporal and transitory things of life that are most important for them. This is because these things are immediate, tangible, and visible. But it means that the eternal dimension of life that part of it that is divine and thus enduring is never acknowledged or sometimes never even realised that it is there. They go on to say that When eternity is forgotten, human destiny is robbed of its real significance, and the goal of life limited to the search for fulfilment on an earthly plane. Remembered, it enlarges our view and, through what is best and noblest in us, reminds us of the promise of another home on a higher plane: the world from which we come, and to which we must one day return. To be mindful of eternity is to know that our earthly existence will one day be overshadowed by the eternal reality of everlasting life.  [24]  Eternity is a part of who we are just as much as time is. We may live in time now but when we die we go to eternity, it is as much of what makes us human than anything else and therefore as we are destined for eternity we have that innate yearning and calling to know it and understand it, as with every other aspect of our being, but never will until we can experience it. When we read Augustines wonder and amazement when he is pondering time it is something qui te remarkable. It shows a man who has genuinely tried to walk the path of enlightenment. Augustine was faced with some problematic questions that were unanswerable, at least by the human mind and condition. Time is a creature that is so real in our lives, but is as fleeting as the wind, we cannot truly grasp it. Searching for time in the past, present, and future Augustine finds that it is a fruitless act. The answer to the nature of time is to be found in Eternity. That something so great, with a life span that has stretched from the beginning is a creature willed into existence by the Eternal God. That God is, guarantees our existence. God provides for Time and for Creation by His existence. We move also then to talk of eternity, if the nature of time is to be found in Eternity then we must ask what is eternity? The answer to this question then is again impossible to grasp, but the best clues to its answer are found in scripture. In the Old Testament God is referred to in the pres ent, I am, not I was or I will be but I am. This eternal state of being constantly in the present is our greatest insight into what eternity is. After wrestling with all these thoughts of time and eternity and what they are or, more accurately as we cannot fully grasp the concepts, what they might be, we are left back with Augustine and his ultimate belief that the mysteries in which he engaged only turn us towards something greater, something final, and that something is God. Ultimately the path to eternity, that is God, requires not an enlightened mind but a ready faith. We can ask all the questions we want, but in the end we must wait until we are with God, because at it says in the Eucharitic prayer at Mass On that day we shall see you, our God, as you are.  [25]  And then we shall grasp the concept of not only eternity but time and every other thing that we could not grasp here on earth, coming to true knowledge of God and therefore full knowledge of the Truth.

The reasons companies create and maintain accounting systems

The reasons companies create and maintain accounting systems Running a business successfully requires the business owner many skills. One of the necessary skills is the knowledge about the accounting system. The accounting always plays an important role in the financial management of business. Many different accounting aspects affect the business success, so the more the business owners acknowledge the accounting systems, the more chances they get to succeed. There is an old saying in business, you cannot manage what you cannot measure. Therefore, without the accounting system, the business owners cannot find out the most suitable way to run their businesses as successfully as they expect. Without the accounting system, the business owners cannot know the business is really making a profit or a loss. Also, they cannot predict cash flow shortages, and worst of all, they cannot accurately keep track of those slow paying customers. The accounting systems bring many benefits to the business management:: accurate reporting of business transactions, easy access to financial statements, up to date reports in accounting pay and fee, excellent management tool, and minimize problems with IRS and other tax authorities The basic structures of assets, liabilities, and stockholders equity Assets Assets are something valuable that an entity owns, benefits from, or has use of, in generating income; especially that which could be converted to cash. Assets are recorded in the balance sheet. From the accounting perspective, assets are divided into the following categories: current assets (cash, account receivable, and other liquid items), long-term assets (real estate, plant, equipment), prepaid and deferred assets (expenditures for future costs, such as insurance, rent, interest), and intangible assets (trademarks, patents, copyrights, goodwill). Liabilities Liabilities are obligations that legally bind an individual or company to settle a debt for the future payment of assets or the future performance of services that result from past transactions. Liabilities are recorded in the balance sheet. There are two perspectives of liabilities: Current liabilities: expected to be satisfied within one year or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer Long-term liabilities: due beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle. Stockholders equity Stockholders equity represents the claims by the owners of a business to the assets of the business. Stockholders equity is residual equity that remains after deducting liabilities from assets. Stockholders equity could be paid in capital, donated capital or retained earnings ( not yet paid out by the company). Relationships of assets, liabilities, stockholders equity Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders equity The above formula describes the relationships of three major parts of accounting. Total of liabilities and stockholders equity is assets. The four basic financial statements Income statement The income statement reports the success or failure of the companys operations for a period of time. Financial users are interested in net income because it provides useful information for predicting future net income. Investors buy and sell stock based on their beliefs about the companys future performance. Creditors also use income statement to predict future earnings. The net income equals to the revenues subtract the expenses: Net income = Revenues Expenses. In addition, amounts received from issuing stock are not revenues, and amounts paid out as dividends are not expenses. Retain earnings statement The retain earnings statement shows the amounts and causes of changes in retain earnings during the period. The time period is the same with the period of income statement. The first line in retain earnings statement is the beginning retain earnings amount, then the company adds net income and subtracts dividends to have the retain earnings at the end of period. Balance sheet The balance sheet reports assets and claims of assets (liabilities and stockholders equity). According to the basic accounting equation: Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders equity Assets must balance with the claims of assets. Statement of cash flows This statement provides the financial information about the cash receipt and cash payments of a business for a specific period of time. It reports the cash effects of a companys operating, investing, and financing activities to help financial users. The financial users are interested in the statement of cash flows because they want to know what is happening to a companys most important resources. The difference between net income and cash flow statements Many things that affect the cash flow of a business are not directly related to its income statement. For example, a company buys a new truck; the cash outlay affects the cash flow statement, but the truck is considered as an asset in the balance sheet. It will start to hit the income statement in small pieces when the company depreciates it. Moreover, the income statement is updated with any sales made or revenues earned as soon as the deal is done, and payments for such sales may be actually received much later. Therefore, though the income statement shows profits and the entrepreneur has made money, it is not yet available as cash flow and cannot be spent. Closing statement At the end of accounting period, the balances is temporary accounts are transferred to an income statement and retain earnings statement, thereby resetting the balance of the temporary accounts to zero to begin the next accounting period. Accountants close temporary accounts to permanent accounts because permanent accounts (assets, liabilities, and the owners capital account) always the starting balance in the subsequent accounting period. When an accountant closes an account, the account balance returns to zero. Starting with zero balances in the temporary accounts each year makes it easier to track revenues, expenses and to compare from one year to the next.

The Great Depression of the 1930s in Canada Essay -- World History

The Great Depression of the 1930s in Canada The Great Depression of the 1930's is a benchmark for all depressions and recessions in the past and in the future. In the booklet "The Great Depression of the 1930s in Canada" , Michiel Horn gives an intellectual dissection of the events that occurred during the Great Depression. Michiel Horn's approach leaves the reader with a foul taste for the Dirty Thirties. This essay will summarize Michiel Horns key points as well as discuss the ability of Michiel Horn to report his findings. Michiel Horn is currently the Chairman of the History Department at York University. His interests in the Great Depression revolve around the history of taxation. Therefore, he is interested in making sure that this sequence of events is fully understood so that future generations never allow it to happen again. There are several causes of the Great Depression which Michiel Horn touches on throughout his writings. The initial tool that he used to help understand the situation was to look at statistical data from that time. Through use of this data, a greater understanding of the physical hardships could be quantified and compared to present day. The reading begins with statistics about the shocking rate of unemployment. In 1933, at the height of the depression, the unemployment rate was between 19.3and 27 percent. The industrial activity in 1933 was only 57 percent of the average activity for the years 1925-29. The causes for the Great Depression were easy to see, but hard to fix. The problems included the inability of foreign countries to purchase surplus goods produced by other countries. Before the Great Depression, the British used this tactic to stabilize the market. Unfort... ...ults of the recession. In order for this never to happen again, there is a need to learn from the mistakes in the past and to look for the warning signs. The problem is not just restricted to one country, but is a global problem and needs to be addressed as such. The Great Depression often seems very distant to people of the 21st century. This article is a good reminder of potential problems that may reoccur. The article showed in a very literal way the idea that a depression can bring a growing country to its knees. The overall ramifications of the event were never discussed in detail, but the historical significance is that people's lives were put on hold while they tried to struggle through an extremely difficult time. Bibliography Michiel, Horn. The Great Depression of the 1930s in Canada. Ottawa: The Canadian Historical Association, 1984.

responsiblity of the media :: essays research papers

The Media  · an agency, means, or instrument to disseminate information  · defines our shared perceptions of the world, society, and politics  · selects what information is directed to us  · media presents views of an issue  · influences on media coverage o producers of the news o sources of the news o audience for the news Power and Responsibility of the Media  · investigate wrong doing  · publicize and explain government action  · evaluate programs and politicians  · bring matters to the public attention that might otherwise by hidden by government  · reconcile campaign promises with government action  · media shapes our perceptions of the government through reporting Media rests upon the First Amendment  · "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press." o instrumental to a free society o if people are given full information of their affairs they will exercise sound judgment (Jefferson)  · American media may openly oppose the government o Near v. Minnesota (1931) extended free press to states  § "complexity of government and opportunity for corruption increases the need for a vigilant press" Organization of the Media  · local orientation o learn about what is around us  · nationalization of the news o same sets of events, presented in a similar way  § wire services supply local newspapers with national and international stories  § cost effective  § every newspaper can not have a media corespondent in Beijing  · network news o national program carried by local affiliates o national newspapers (elite papers influence the influential people)  · national nagazines (Time, Newsweek, US News) o very similar in coverage o middle of the road  · nationalization of media contributed to the nationalization of politics Impact of Private Ownership of Media  · profit motivated o attract large, diverse audiences o programming appeals to certain advertisers o subscribers are consumers of advertising Preferences of Mass Media  · entertainment  · personalized stories about familiar people  · short, simple stories Distates of Public  · political stories  · repetition Media Regulation  · broadcast media is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) o electromagnetic spectrum is publicly owned and it should benefit all  · equal time rule o broadcasters must provide candidates for the same office an equal opportunity to buy commercial time  · right of rebuttal - individuals must be given time to respond to personal attacks o Red Lion Broadcasting Company v. FCC  § upheld right of rebuttal  § allowed a liberal author an opportunity to respond to an attack by a conservative  § "the views expressed in the program are not necessarily those of the producers of the program"  · fairness doctrine o broadcasters were required to air programs with opposing views o made obsolete in 1985 by FCC o diversity of media presented different views

Father and Son Essay -- essays papers

Father and Son Just whom is Edmund Gosse’s Father and Son written for? Is it for the Father, or for the Son, or, as Edmund Gosse tells us, for the public, so they can have a record of life in a rigidly religious family? Edmund begins his book by telling you that it is a historical record, an important chronicle that is to be used, basically as a reference for a period of time. Yet, in the first sentence of the first chapter, we can see that this is truly not his purpose. The first words on the page does not reference a historical event; they are, instead, cathartic. Edmund tries very hard to convince his reader that â€Å"this is not an autobiography† (217). Try as he might, he did not persuade me. I will grant that for Edmund Gosse to profess to have written this book as if it were a biography of his father, or even as a historical chronicle, was beneficial. First off, by writing something which is to document a period of time Edmund would be writing in the methodical and scientific style of his father, which then would mirror the lifestyle in which he is forced to live. Secondly, Edmund wants the reader to see his father as he did, with honor, awe, resentment and even shame. Edmund does this quietly, he does not shout his shame, he merely reiterates it as a anecdote of a story â€Å"...his very absence of imagination aided him in his work. (113)† . Finally, Edmund, being able to portray this book as a portrait of someone other than himself, is a chance to humble himself, no matter what he says about the father, to the reader. All of these methods that Edmund uses to sway our thinking actually serve only to benefit Edmund Gosse himself. This actually makes it more of an autobiographical account than ... ...ren. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seen not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forts. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness; For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.†