Iron Crowned Chapter 10

Deanna came easily when I summoned her, making me wonder if she'd been hanging around invisibly since our last chat. Regardless, she didn't mention the fake ultimatum, thus letting Kiyo continue to believe we were in a time crunch. I called Volusian as well, figuring it couldn't hurt to have his protection while traveling to the ghost cutoff point. The two spirits didn't interact as we traveled, no surprise seeing as they had little in common. Deanna was tied to the living because of unfinished business and love for others. Volusian's soul was damned for eternity, forced to wander for his crimes – unless I ever sent him to the Underworld. Deanna hadn't been able to give us a time estimate on how long it would take to reach the crown's lair (as I was beginning to refer to it). The Otherworld's twisted terrain always made travel hard to gauge, plus spirits could move faster than we could. I wouldn't have minded walking, but the unknown variables made me ride horseback. Kiyo did the same out of courtesy for me, though he could have tirelessly covered miles and miles in fox form. The only thing I really knew for sure was that this wouldn't be a day trip. Kiyo and I were as silent as the ghosts, though once we crossed out of the lands adjacent to mine, he would occasionally tell me where we were. I'd never ventured this far into the Otherworld, and it made me uneasy, though knowing we were clear of the Rowan Land was a relief. Even Kiyo, neutral as he claimed, had tensed in Katrice's territory. â€Å"This is the Honeysuckle Land,† he said, when the road led us to a hot, riotously colored landscape. Flowers grew everywhere, and even the trees were covered in blossoms. Arizona was notorious for all its hummingbirds, but here, they swarmed like flies. â€Å"Dorian was right,† I mused. â€Å"It is beautiful.† It was hard to imagine this place mustering up a military. This seemed more like a world where people frolicked in scanty clothing, beating drums and engaging in free love. Well, since they were gentry, free love would have been a given. â€Å"Dorian would know,† said Kiyo stiffly, eyes focused straight ahead. â€Å"I'm surprised he let you come with me.† â€Å"Dorian doesn't say what I can or can't do,† I snapped. â€Å"If you're going to just keep doing this the whole time, I'll – â€Å" â€Å"You'll what?† asked Kiyo with amusement, when I didn't continue. â€Å"Send me back? Face death-threatening situations alone?† â€Å"I would gladly escort you back, if that is what you choose,† Volusian told Kiyo. I sighed. â€Å"Please. Just don't get on Dorian the whole time, okay? He wants this over. It was his idea to get your help. He's worried, believe me.† â€Å"That,† said Kiyo gravely, â€Å"I can believe. I don't trust him. I don't believe his alliance with you is as straightforward as it seems. But I do believe he cares about you.† The landscape suddenly shifted around us, becoming a rolling desert of white sand. It stretched out under a blazing sun, reflecting back at us in a way that was hard on the eyes. â€Å"Ugh,† I said, focusing down on the road. â€Å"What's this?† â€Å"The Myrrh Land,† said Kiyo. Even with my eyes averted, I knew he was smiling. â€Å"Figured you'd like this place. You should go make friends with its king. They've got some badass fighters.† â€Å"Big difference between this and the Sonora Desert,† I said. Although harsh and scalding, the desert I'd grown up with was full of life. This place was desolate and dead. Mercifully, we soon passed out of it into sweeping moors, covered in snow. I took my leather jacket out of my pack. I'd brought it knowing we might travel through lands that were in winter. It still wasn't much protection, and I realized I could have easily gotten one of my servants to whip up something more suitable. No doubt it would've been gentry-style, probably a cloak. Look human, Jasmine had said. Mostly I looked cold. Kiyo identified this place as the Birch Land. We crossed into the Honeysuckle Land again, which was typical of the Otherworld. Other places repeated as well. When the road took us through a landscape that reminded me of northern Texas, Kiyo had nothing to say. â€Å"What's this?† I asked. â€Å"I don't know,† he admitted. â€Å"The Pecan Land,† said Volusian. â€Å"Sounds delicious,† I teased. We'd had few stops and mostly eaten travel rations. â€Å"I could go for a pecan pie right now.† Kiyo didn't respond. He seemed lost in thought, his expression growing darker as we passed through more and more terrain he didn't know. He seemed to know the names, though, and didn't like them. â€Å"You're taking us to the Unclaimed Lands,† he said to Deanna. It was near the end of our day, the sky burning red. â€Å"I don't know,† she said simply. â€Å"I'm only going where I was shown.† â€Å"Volusian?† I asked. â€Å"Of course we're going to the Unclaimed Lands,† he said, sounding mildly annoyed by my stupidity. â€Å"We're nearly upon them. Where else would you expect a coveted object to be hidden?† I glanced at Kiyo. â€Å"I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess these are kingdoms no one controls?† â€Å"‘Kingdoms' isn't even the right word,† he said. â€Å"No one lives here.† â€Å"Why not?† I asked. The scenery changed again. The texture of the ground was like recently dried mud, covered in a pattern of cracks that reminded me of one of my jigsaw puzzles. Odd holes were scattered here and there. This eerie landscape stretched far, far ahead, no end in sight. Not far from us – ten miles at most – the land rose sharply along the sides of the cracked road, forming high, rocky cliffs that curled in at their tops like jaws. Erratic gusts of wind blew through the tunnel they formed. The setting sun made everything blood-red. â€Å"Guess,† said Kiyo. â€Å"Because we're here.† I peered around, studying the depressing landscape. Its superficial appearance meant little, really. Any gentry seizing control of it could shape the land to his or her will, instantly beautifying it. Then, a strange feeling settled in me. I couldn't quite define it. It didn't make me ill or disoriented. It just didn't feel right. I squinted at the cliffs, taking in their striation. Through the red haze, I could see many of the loose rocks were a dull gray, streaked with orange. Oxidized metal. â€Å"Iron,† I realized. â€Å"We're surrounded in iron. We're not even in the crown's lair yet. We can't get to the lair without passing through iron.† â€Å"Can you feel it?† asked Kiyo. â€Å"Yes †¦Ã¢â‚¬  That was the odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. â€Å"That's the gentry in you. Even with your human blood, you can't help but be affected. There's a lot of iron here.† â€Å"I don't feel weak,† I said, astonished the iron would affect me at all. â€Å"Or sick or in pain.† I'd seen gentry scream just from the smallest touch of iron. I summoned the magic within me, letting it reach out to the air and unseen moisture, though I didn't actively use it. â€Å"I don't think it's hurting my magic either.† â€Å"Good,† said Kiyo. â€Å"You're strong, so I'm not surprised. You may just have a simple awareness of it.† I thought about this for a moment and came to another realization. â€Å"You're not affected at all, are you?† He shook his head. â€Å"Nope.† I always thought of Kiyo and me as being alike, children born of both worlds. That part was true, as was our half-human heritage. But my Otherworldly blood came from the gentry. Only gentry were affected by iron, and kitsunes had no fairy connection. As with the demon bear and the fetch, a kitsune's bane would be silver. At least, a full-blooded kitsune's would be. I'd seen Kiyo handle silver objects; his human blood protected him as mine did me. The bottom line was that he was a more useful companion here than I'd realized. I wondered if Dorian had made the connection. â€Å"We will cross through no other lands until you turn back, mistress,† said Volusian. â€Å"So this is the world's end. The Otherworld's end, at least.† I turned to Deanna, hovering alongside us. â€Å"Will we reach the entrance before night?† She thought about it, and I braced myself for another vague response. â€Å"No. If you don't stop, you'll reach it in the morning.† Kiyo and I exchanged looks, both of us thinking the same thing. Get to the crown sooner or camp and be rested? I looked over at Volusian. â€Å"You said there are no other lands. But will the terrain in this one change?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"What do you think?† I asked Kiyo. â€Å"I don't want to be tired when we face whatever's guarding the crown, but this isn't great camping territory.† â€Å"No,† he agreed. His eyes scanned around us, able to see more than mine in the waning light. He pointed. â€Å"There. There's a small outcrop that'll block most of the wind. Enough to keep a fire going. I hope.† I couldn't see the spot but trusted him. â€Å"Camping it is.† When we reached it, I saw the site was indeed sheltered. I tethered the horses while Kiyo built up a fire. We watched it warily as the wind abruptly came and went. The fire flickered and waved but appeared capable of lasting the night. â€Å"I could hold off the wind a little,† I said. â€Å"Don't bother,† said Kiyo, settling down beside the blaze. â€Å"Save your magic. This'll hold.† I wondered if he really was concerned about me conserving my strength or just wanted me to avoid my magic altogether. He'd never liked it. I didn't question him, though, and sat down as well, mostly because the cold was finally starting to get to me. I buttoned up the leather jacket, achieving little. Our dinner consisted of more travel food: jerky, granola, and some bread that would probably be stale tomorrow. â€Å"I don't suppose you can use your wilderness skills to go hunt us something fresh?† I asked. He smiled, the campfire casting strange shadows on his face, now that night had fully come. â€Å"I would if there was anything alive out here. It's just us.† He eyed me, taking in my shivering. â€Å"Don't you own a warmer coat?† â€Å"Where am I going to get a down coat in Tucson?† I demanded. â€Å"This time of year? Any sporting goods store. For the skiers. Lara could order you one if you can't be troubled.† â€Å"I think Lara and Tim are in love,† I said abruptly, remembering that bizarre development. â€Å"What?† asked Kiyo, as astonished as I had been. â€Å"Are you sure?† â€Å"Well, they're in infatuation, at least. Volusian, were they together when you went back?† My minion was off in the shadows, only his red eyes visible. â€Å"Yes, mistress. They were in bed, their bodies naked and – â€Å" â€Å"Okay, okay, stop,† I exclaimed. â€Å"I don't need to hear anymore.† â€Å"Well, I'll be damned,† said Kiyo. While we'd dated, he'd been witness to their phone battles. â€Å"But I guess stranger things have happened.† â€Å"Yeah,† I agreed. â€Å"Look at us. We're sitting in an iron landscape, being led by a ghost to a mythical object, which – if it even exists – may or may not make me scary enough to end a war.† â€Å"Fair point,† said Kiyo, his smile returning. We sat in companionable silence. It was a nice change from the animosity and tension that had surrounded us for so long. I'd missed him, I realized. â€Å"Eugenie?† â€Å"Hmm?† I glanced up, feeling embarrassed by my thoughts. â€Å"Why didn't you bring Roland with you? He could've fought unaffected. And God knows he doesn't want gentry power.† I looked away from those dark eyes, down at the fire's blue heart. â€Å"He doesn't want me to have gentry power either.† â€Å"Yeah, but he'd put that aside if he knew you were walking into – â€Å" â€Å"He doesn't know anything,† I said bluntly. My voice then grew soft. â€Å"We aren't speaking anymore.† â€Å"How †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Kiyo paused, no doubt trying to wrap his mind around this. â€Å"How is this possible?† I shrugged. â€Å"He cut me off. When he found out I'd been keeping the truth from him, about the Thorn Land and everything else †¦ Well, ever since what happened with Leith, he's refused to speak to or acknowledge me.† â€Å"But your mom †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Talks to me occasionally. She's caught in the middle, and I don't want to make it harder on her than it already is. She shouldn't have to go against her husband.† Kiyo's confusion was becoming anger. â€Å"Yeah, but you're her daughter! She should be able to – â€Å" â€Å"Just forget it, okay?† I drew my knees up to me and wrapped my arms around them to draw in more warmth. â€Å"I don't want to talk about it.† â€Å"Eug, I'm sorry.† I kept quiet. There was nothing to say. He cleared his throat. â€Å"I don't suppose you brought anything else to keep you warm? Blankets? Camping supplies?† â€Å"I didn't think about the possible overnight part,† I said, grateful for the subject shift. â€Å"I've got a change of clothes like these, food, weapons, and first aid supplies.† â€Å"You brought first aid stuff?† He sounded impressed. â€Å"It's not like you to think ahead. Er, I mean, you don't usually worry about – â€Å" â€Å"I know what you mean,† I said with a weary smile. â€Å"And don't worry, the universe is the same. I didn't plan ahead. It's for current injuries.† â€Å"Current?† â€Å"I got hit by a table.† There might be a million reasons that Kiyo and I were wrong for each other, but one nice thing was that when I made a statement like that, he just didn't question it. I was still freezing when it came time to sleep, forcing Kiyo into a bold suggestion. â€Å"Come sleep over here, between me and the fire. The cold doesn't bug me as much, and I can block the wind.† â€Å"Kiyo – â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, yeah. I know. Dorian. But if he wanted me here to protect you, then here's the perfect chance. Besides, we all know you can kick my ass if I try anything.† I said and did nothing. When this continued for about a minute, he sighed and lay down on his side, back to the wind. I attempted the same, after ordering Volusian to stay on watch, but even with the fire's warmth, I was still cold. I'm tough, I'm tough. I played those words over and over through my head, not wanting to admit weakness. After about fifteen minutes, I gave in and crawled over to Kiyo's side of the fire. There was no â€Å"I told you so.† He simply made room but was surprised when I positioned myself to face him. â€Å"I thought you'd want your back to me.† â€Å"Can't,† I said. â€Å"That's where the injuries are.† â€Å"From the table.† â€Å"Right.† He could have attempted propriety by turning over so his back faced me, but that would have put his face to the wind. He didn't deserve that. I wiggled myself closer, curling myself against his body, and resting my head against his chest. He was big enough that he did almost completely shield me. His whole body stood still as I made myself comfortable, either from his astonishment or for my ease. Once I was settled, he relaxed slightly and tried to put his arms around me. He suddenly fumbled and pulled them away, grazing my breast as he did. I don't know if he noticed. I certainly did. â€Å"Wait. Where are you hurt?† â€Å"Back. Left shoulder.† Tentatively, he reached out again and wrapped his arms around my waist. â€Å"This okay?† â€Å"Mmm-hmm.† Holding me, he shifted closer so that our bodies pressed together, holding in the warmth. â€Å"This?† â€Å"Fine.† He relaxed again and exhaled. Tucked against him, I couldn't see his face but had the sneaking suspicion that I wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight. Survival-wise, this plan was sound. I was warm(ish) now, protected and heated by him. But I was also pressed up against a body that I knew intimately, one that used to move in mine with a possessive fierceness. Dorian claimed me with mind games and exquisite acts of dominance. Kiyo had always done it through strength and ferocity, an animal taking his mate. I bit my lip and closed my eyes, hoping I'd fall asleep if I mentally enumerated the reasons we'd broken up. But mostly, I kept remembering how his hand had lightly rubbed my breast. Sleep finally took me, but it was a long time in coming. As I drifted off, I wondered how he was coping. This probably didn't affect him at all. If he really wasn't sleeping with Maiwenn again, then he was probably out picking up women all the time. Kitsunes had kind of a supernatural allure, and God knew he'd been pretty persuasive the night we'd met. I awoke a couple hours before dawn – and not by choice. Volusian's warning came only seconds before the surface below us began to tremble. I was up in a flash, but unsurprisingly, Kiyo had already beaten me. I'd gone to sleep with weapons, uncomfortable though it was. I hadn't known what I'd need out here, except that I wouldn't need the iron athame since this was a gentry-free zone. I had my gun (safety on) and the silver athame. Both were out as Kiyo and I stood back to back, staring around us. The tremors shook the ground, forcing some fancy footwork, and creating more of the cracks that already covered the ground. A few more seconds passed, and then all went still. â€Å"An earthquake?† I asked uncertainly. â€Å"No,† said Volusian. He was in his solid, two-legged form, staring around with narrowed eyes. It was a little disconcerting that he didn't seem to know precisely what the problem was. â€Å"Then what are we – â€Å" The ground below us suddenly split open. With only the light of the fire, my vision was bad, but I thought I saw what looked kind of like a serpentine shape emerge from the earth. No, it was exactly like a serpentine shape because a moment later, a giant fucking snake shot up and landed neatly in a perfect coil, its head towered over Kiyo and me as it regarded us with glowing green eyes. The light from them illuminated a flicking, forked tongue, and the loud hissing that followed was kind of a given. â€Å"Volusian!† I yelled. My minion sprang into action. The deadly touch of his hands made the snake jerk in surprise. Beside me, Kiyo was shifting into fox form, and I decided a gun was probably going to get me farther here than the athame's small blade. A drop of venom fell from the snake's mouth, and it sizzled when it hit the ground in front of me. Lovely. Still, I felt confident the three of us could take this thing. At least until the ground shook again, and another snake popped up. It was soon followed by a third. â€Å"Son of a bitch.† I deliberated, wondering if mass force on one snake at a time was the way to go. No. I'd leave Kiyo and Volusian to the first. I yelled a warning to Kiyo that the snake was poisonous, but it was hard to say if he understood. I turned on the two new snakes. Even with part of their bodies coiled, their heads stood a good ten feet above mine. More venom dropped before me. Deciding not to play favorites, I aimed the gun and quickly fired off a couple of rounds into each. I'd had the foresight to load up silver bullets, but it didn't look like the gun was going to kill the snakes anytime soon – at least not without fifty more shots. Mostly, the bullets seemed to piss them off more. Still, I kept firing since that seemed to make the snakes keep their distance. It proved to be a short-term solution, seeing as my bullets soon ran out. I reached for another clip. I could reload a gun quickly, but that pause gave one of the snakes an opening. Its head – no pun intended – snaked toward me, giving me a close-up view of large fangs. I'd been on guard for such an attack and jumped out of its way, only to be struck by the other's tail. It knocked me several feet away, causing me to lose my grip on the new cartridge. The cartridge disappeared into the night, and I landed hard on the ground. My back and shoulder screamed in agony, but I had no time to baby them. There were two other clips in my belt, but as one of the snakes came for me again, my hand went to the athame after all. The snake that had hit me leaned down, its face and dripping jaw inches from me. Rather than run again, I leaped forward and plunged the blade into its eye. It cried out in pain, suffering from the silver, just as any Otherworldy creature would. Well, actually, any creature with a knife in its eye would probably suffer, magical or not. I had the sense to jerk my athame out, having no desire either to lose the blade or get pulled along as the snake reared back up. The suffering of its pal made the other hold off. In those moments, I shoved the athame back into my belt, yelping in surprise. Apparently, the snake's eye was poisonous too, and whatever liquid had come away with the blade ate through my jeans and burned my skin. Nonetheless, I managed to get another cartridge loaded. Without hesitation, I turned and emptied the entire gun into the snake's head. I wasn't precise enough to hit the eye, but all those bullets took their toll. The snake wavered in the air, blood mixing with venom on its skin, and with a last hiss of pain, it fell over and slammed into the ground. Wondering why the other snake hadn't come for me, I spun around and saw Volusian and Kiyo attacking it. I took it on faith that the first one was dead and loaded the gun with my last cartridge. Volusian's touch was searing the snake's skin, and Kiyo was simply ripping into it with his teeth. Opting for what seemed tried and true, I fired into the snake's head again. Between the three of us, we soon literally took the snake down. I stood there tense and ready, empty gun in one hand and athame in the other. The world was silent except for the wind and the occasional twitching of the third snake as it died. Moments later, Kiyo morphed out of the fox shape, giving me a better view of any injuries now that he wasn't covered in fur. He grimaced and spit on the ground a few times, but biting the snake apparently hadn't destroyed his mouth or face. A couple red spots on his arms made me think he too had been splattered with the venom. Otherwise, he looked unharmed. He sighed and raked a hand through his black hair, which was curling slightly from sweat. â€Å"You know,† he said. â€Å"I don't think I'll ever be able to bring myself to watch Dune again.†

Disneyland: A Public Space Analysis

The concept of public space is perceived as that of an external environment that is populated by material things, people and other living things like plants and animals.   According to a sociological study of urban spaces and its dimensions, it was said that there are four (4) foremost environmental stimuli ( Carmona, 87).   These stimuli are vision, hearing, smell and touch or feel.   Vision relies heavily on the perception of distance, colour, shape, texture and contrast gradients, etc. Hearing involves â€Å"acoustic space† which is â€Å"all-surrounding† and is supposedly emotionally rich (Carmona, 87).   The stimuli of smell, like hearing is not well developed in humans (unlike some predatory animals) but it also provides emotionally enriched stimulation.   The last but not the least is the sense of touch or feel – which surprisingly comes through our feet, and buttocks (when we sit down) rather than the hands (Carmona, 87).All of the four stimuli to our sense of public space was fulfilled by our topic of analysis which is Disneyland.   It also added a fifth dimension to our stimuli – that which stimulates the brain and imagination as to how much public space can change us and affect us all. II. Answers to posted questions:Location analysis. Also, what does your analysis of your space reveal about Los Angeles and its use of public space?Disneyland in Los Angeles (LA) is one of the better public places to go – if only people’s entry and exit are limited to a certain number so as not to overwhelm the limited facilities and amenities that it offers to the paying public.   LA in general is like a macrocosm of Disneyland in the sense that its public utility facilities are being over run by the influx of people that comes into L.A. and stays to work and live on it instead of just coming and going.   The reasons behind this (overcrowding and saturation of public spaces) are the economic opportunities that it offers – being 11th largest in the world and its being known as a cultural gateway only next to Manhattan, New York.LA’s use of public space should be more attuned to a forecast of city planning, design use and building rather than just allowing the private sector and big businesses to rezone every possible space to a money making venture like mega malls and the like.Whose interests does the space represent?Most of the public spaces represent the interest of a few big businesses and studios of the tinsel town republic. While LA has always been recognized as the destination of the rich and famous – and where most of the rich and famous live (and earn their living), there are other big businesses that abound in the area that makes it so attractive as a port of entry to the California’s southland.Whose interests (if any) dominate the space?Disneyland is a theme park that is dominated by children’s theme characters.   In fact, Walt Disney, the fou nder and majority owner of Disneyland came up with the idea of the theme Park because of people – particularly children kept asking where they could meet Mickey Mouse and Snow White.   From there, the concept of Disneyland was founded and its theme and parks kept changing as people and animation technology evolve alongside Disneyland.   So to answer the question on whose interest the space represent – we can safely assume that Disneyland represents all the magical dreams and characters we have and evoke the child inside of each and everyone of us.What factors makes a public space diverse?The primary factor that makes a public space diverse is its usage.   We can observe from the patrons of certain public spaces like Disneyland what uses it serves the public when you see the age range that caters to it.   Disneyland has no specific age bracket.   Although majority of people assume that children comprise the most number of visitors to Disneyland, its ever chang ing theme parks also cater to adult taste and even the technologically savvy – with their space center and other similar themes.What factors make a public space exclusive?A public space can be considered exclusive if it only serves a specific age bracket or a specific group of clientele.   Such exclusivity is usually reserved for the rich, the adults and specific interest groups like the veterans, etc.   Such exclusive use of public space also maintains an exclusive membership or entrance fee to use the space.Who uses the space and how do they use it?Again, with Disneyland as an example, the management, theme park employees and the general public utilizes the space primarily for amusement.   The space is used to get away from the daily grind of life. What invisible and visible codes of behavior are found in the space?The theme and environment that Disneyland evokes a feeling of wishful and dreamlike state in people who enter its gates.   Upon entering Disneyland, peop le feel like they are in a different world that is devoid of reality and oftentimes changes their behavior inside the park.   People seem to be more carefree, happy and relaxed.   Since the initial theme of animated characters founded the place, the people that go through its park change their demeanor and perspective – at least during the trip inside the park.Meanwhile the invisible code of behavior can be identified as masking the worries and tensions brought about by people’s daily existence and pressures.   For the meantime though, they are hidden.

Classical vs Romantic Essay

The classical period in music spans from 1750 to 1820, a period of musical change after the Baroque and Rococo periods and its eventual transition to the Romantic period. This era in music produced most of the well known composers, prominent of which were Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Joseph Haydn, among others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The shift from the Baroque and Rococo musical styles also coincided with the formation of classicism, an artistic movement that also involved painting, literature, and architecture. The Baroque era of music mainly utilized polyphonic harmony in composition – a style which involves two main themes or melodies, which creates an elaborate hearing experience because of many different instruments playing unique themes. An example of which is Johann Sebastian Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier which is a collection of piano pieces specifically arranged for the piano, utilizing every major and minor chords. The contrapuntal polyphony of these pieces have two different melodies for the left and right hands, creating harmony at the same time. On one hand, the classical movement utilizes a homophonic – a style that is above chord accompaniment and emphasizes on melody, tone, form, and balance. Melodies are more refined, elegant, and expressive, utilizing dynamics (pianissimo, mezzo forte, etc.) along with a balanced formal structure. The classical period also developed the sonata, symphony, concertos, serenades, among other instrumental music during that time. The Romantic period on the other hand, is a movement that expands the form of classical composition that enhances expressiveness and appeals to the emotive aspect of the listener. Although identified as a Romantic period, the era does not emphasize on romantic love per se, but it is used as a prevalent theme in composition. There is little difference between the classical and romantic periods because both utilize the same structure in composition, but only vary with the use of themes. In terms of expression, the romantic period is much more expressive compared to classical pieces.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert, prominent classical masters, produced music for both eras, with their works employing a smooth transition of change regarding themes and melodies into the Romantic period. Schubert’s violin compositions are generally associated with the Romantic era while Beethoven mastered the use of chromatic and homophonic harmonies to stress fiery and elegant themes in most of his works.

Suitable alternative that addresses crime Term Paper

Suitable alternative that addresses crime - Term Paper Example Consequently, the mayor has commissioned the renovation of the correctional facilities in the city. He has sought the assistance of professionals in improving the conditions within the facilities. It is noticeable that the facilities in the city are ill equipped to serve the populace. Consequently, it is urgent to improve the conditions within the facilities. The authorities are expecting a surge in cases of crime in megacity due to the stagnation in economic growth. The mayor states that authorities will find it hard to deal with the situation because they are ill equipped to serve the needs of the population. Moreover, the rigidity of the jurisdictions in the city complicates the situation further. The facilities are undermanned, making it difficult for them to serve their purposes. Authorities need to tackle the circumstances prior to them becoming dire to accommodate the rise in the number of incarnates. The objective is to invent a suitable alternative that addresses crime in th e city. Consequently, the paper discusses the challenges that authorities face when dealing with cases of crime. Furthermore, the paper focuses on the functions of the correctional facility in addressing cases of crimes in the society. Lastly, the paper intends to discuss the relationship amid the rise in crime and the economic stability of the region. Under the stewardship of the mayor, the authorities are planning for the renovations at the facility. The mayor is collaborating with the commissioner of the facility in commissioning for the renovations of the facility.

The animal weapons arms race Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The animal weapons arms race - Essay Example The show is called science frantic, and the person hosting the show was Jordan Koski. The guest on the show is Douglas Emlen, who is the author of a book named animal weapons – the evolution battle. Douglas is also a professor of biology and lectures at the University of Montenor. I was amazed to realize that it was possible to conduct researches on the extremeness of animal weapons. Douglas claimed that the research leading to writing his book started with watching clips of animal fights. The professor had keen interest in small animals such as dung battles. He claimed that the weapons carried by small animal were very dangerous considering their body sizes (Science-Friday retrieved from http://www.sciencefriday.com/playlist/#play/segment/9594). It was interesting to realize that most fights among small animals were all because they needed access to females. Douglas noted that some animals had deadly weapons since they cannot swim fly or run fast to catch their prey. He gives the example of Smilodon, which has 7 inch canine teeth but cannot run after its prey. I was amazed to realize that some animals had to lose certain minerals in their body in order to make their weapons more deadly. He also noted that some species with fierce weapons had stunted testes and small genital organs. Some animals use their fierce weapons to scare away other animals of the same species. It overwhelmed me know that animals with the most vicious weapons fought less and were rarely involved in battles. He discussed an exceptional case where female animals are fiercer than their male counterparts. He said that Jacana females have bigger weapons that than Jacana males since the males take care of the youngness. The females have to fight for access to males, and hence they develop fierce fighting weapons (Science-Friday retrieved from

Steve Jobs Role in Improving the Apple Company Research Paper

Steve Jobs Role in Improving the Apple Company - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that Steve Jobs was among the most successful inventors and innovators in the business world. Jobs most fashionable and expensive inventions include the iPhone, Ipad and the iMac. Most of Steve Jobs' products have great influence on the lives of people. Steve Jobs was an inventor and a marketer whose life is a good example of innovation, ambition, and determination. Born in San Francisco, Steve Jobs was abandoned by his parents and later adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs. Steve Jobs studied at a nearby school, Homestead high school where he met future co-inventor, Steve Wozniak. After high school, Jobs later enrolled at Reed College, which, he later dropped out by not attending creative classes. In 1974, Steve Jobs became video designer before visiting India for a short period of spiritual enlightenment. In 1976, Steve Jobs and he friend, Steve Wozniak started the Apple computer. Steve Jobs helped revolutionize technology by making computers t hat were smaller, cheaper and easily accessible to consumers. Due to Steve Jobs inventory and creative mind, Apple Computer became a huge multinational and publicly traded company in 1980 owning a market value of $1.2 billion. He left the company only to return later, in 1996 as CEO. It was under Steve Jobs guidance that the Apple Company revolutionized the world of technologies by inventing the technologies such as the iPhone and iPad. These Apple products are some of the technologies that are dictating the evolution of modern world and technology. Despite his death in 2011, Steve Jobs creativity, inventions and entrepreneur nature made Apple company a powerhouse in the computer and technologies sector. According to Young and Simon, Jobs has a way to use technology and creativity to show the greatness of his abilities as evident from his improvements at Apple. The success of Steve Jobs and the Apple Company may be attributed to Jobs genius thinking and creative mind. Steve Jobs was an intelligent inventor who was able to develop unique technologies that stood out in the market. His creativity was evident in the way he designed and developed products at Apple. In addition to his creative designs and products, Steve Jobs helped the Apple Company rise to the top of the technology world through his efficient branding and marketing Campaigns.

Answer the 4 questions from the provided uploaded information and the Research Paper

Answer the 4 questions from the provided uploaded information and the provided book - Research Paper Example Likewise, it was asserted by Powell (2008) that â€Å"the death of Jesus Christ is an integral aspect of salvation† (p. 3232) because at the moment of death, it was noted that God forgave the sins of many and became the liberation of the souls from the bondage of sin; thus, opening the gates of heaven to eternal life and to salvation. In addition, it was also contended that â€Å"salvation includes new life in Christ, comprising regeneration (or rebirth) and eternal life. We have this new life as we participate in Jesus’ resurrection† (Powell, 2008, p. 3599). 2. In 150-300 words, compare the theological positions of James Arminius and John Calvin. (10%) James Arminius alleged that man should not be held accountable for the sin of Adam; but only accountable when man transgressed against God’s laws voluntarily. ... As such, children of Christian disciples should be baptized while infants to be participants in the noted new covenant (Powell, 2008, p. 4764). Likewise, his teachings include: (1) total depravity concept where man was believed to be incapable of saving oneself; (2) that God chooses those who go to heaven or hell and man can do nothing to change this; (3) that Jesus allegedly died on the cross not to save mankind; but only those who were elected to go to heaven; (4) that man cannot resist God if and when he chooses to draw man towards Him; and finally, (5) salvation is believe to be left entirely to God. 3. In your own words, write a one to two sentence definition of the following terms or phrases: (5%) Canon of Scripture, as defined, means rule of a collection of writings of the Church which were considered of great value (Powell, 2008, p. 4514). Image of God was allegedly described in the Bible where man was created after the likeness of God, in terms of resemblance to some form of goodness, which is solely attributable to Him. Kenosis is a term which actually meant ‘emptying† which was analogous to Jesus, as the Son of God, who apparently emptied his divinity and assumed the role of a slave (Powell, 2008, p. 5270). Omniscience was noted to be the term which signifies the universality of God’s wisdom, which far exceeds the understanding and grasp of human nature and intellectual faculties of man. Original sin is reported to be a doctrine which presupposed that people are born in a sinful world; and therefore, it is acknowledgement that even before the ability to reason and have the capacity for spirituality, people are born to participate in the natural and universal sinfulness of the world. Orthodoxy was acknowledged to come from the word orthodox, a

Healthy People and Your Community - Discussion Essay

Healthy People and Your Community - Discussion - Essay Example The hospital has developed an initiative whereby patients are assigned to primary care physicians who are charged with the task of overseeing them to prevent cases in which a simple case can turn into an emergency one. This has further proved fruitful after the hospital conducted a program of educating the people around on how best to handle illnesses to avoid last minute emergencies in hospitals (Healthy People 2012). The hospital facility has built various units around the place to facilitate easy access by patients. These units provide the requisite healthcare services that most of the patients need at any given time. The hospital has also partnered with respective health insurance companies in charge of providing covers to clients who need health care. This is because most people who do not have insurance covers cannot easily receive healthcare, are more likely to die because of lack or inadequate provision of healthcare and are likely to have poor health status(Healthy People 2012). The hospital has developed effective transport systems, with ready ambulances with first aid nurses who move patients with emergency cases to the nearest health facility with ease. These health facilities have enough doctors who work in shifts to ensure no patients wait longer either in emergency departments or outpatient departments. This goes on well even with other hospital departments such as labs, which ensure the tests required are conducted and treatment made within the shortest time possible (Healthy People 2012). The disparity comes in terms of racial and social discrimination as Blares and Hayes (2010) describe, which to some extend is reduced but still there among elderly health workers. This creates fear among the minority who might be suffering yet they need healthcare services. To reduce this problem, the government needs to incorporate the minority healthcare workers in the profession, to reduce the gap. This will increase the

Trends in Mining Industry Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 98

Trends in Mining Industry - Case Study Example Aluminum cost is going even lower in China beyond much of other countries. This is due to the funding by the Chinese government which has now reduced competition for the aluminum product from China. Silver and copper are amongst those expected to drop as well, however, this may not be immediate but rather gradual. Diamond and gemstone are the minerals whose mining are expected to experience a boom realizing the largest industry growth in Australia. The mining industry in Australia has experienced a tremendous growth over time and is thus expected to affect a change in the mining industry. However, explorations or mines are in a downturn. There is slush in companies’ exploration budgets. Additionally, there is a plummet of about 30% in the exploration of non-ferrous metals. Thus the focus is shifting away from the exploration of minerals to production. The nursery sector of mining is shrinking due to a rise in troubled small miners. Small miners are experiencing problems due to lack of economies of scale. Costs are likely to careen beyond control due to the resultant pullback in the budgets for exploration threatening to widen the rift between supply and demand. The mining sector is in a decline falling with over 7.5% in 2014. The effects of these challenges have subsequently made companies mothball their projects as well as cap capacity. Therefore only an adoption of new ways of business will break this cycle. Nonetheless, CIBC world Market projects a likely rise in gold at about $US1383 per ounce as silver on the other end is to fall to about $US22.81 per ounce similarly, copper will experience a drop to $US3.17 per pound. A critical evaluation of Dicores customers and Dicores competitors shows the table below using strengths, weakness risks and opportunity (Amin, Razmi, & Zhang, 2011).

Managing in a Mixed Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Managing in a Mixed Economy - Essay Example Washington square which is a Royal institution of the Chattered Surveyors was also established in 2007 and is regarded as the best commercial project in the England region (Byers, 1998). The high quality iron ore that is phosphorus free in Cumbria south of Workington is the main source of income in the region. It is the largest steel production area and therefore attracts a lot construction companies, car assembly and many types of firms engaging in steel works. Examples of these firms are the Disington Engineering company (DEC) and the British Steel Corporation (BSC). Due to the heavy investment in the region, the government must put in some resources to create a peaceful investment field. The government investment is in line with the nature of mixed economy. Mixed economy refers to an economic system whereby the state engages itself to the economic activities in collaboration with the private sector. State functions are always reflected by planning of the economy while the private sector is characterized by market economies. This arises because the private sector works for the sole purpose of accruing profit. On the other hand, the state or public sector is not necessarily concerned by profit but by protecting her citizens by providing a platform for the operation such as infrastructure, security and other unprofitable services. The English government has hugely invested her resources to the town in order to give the investors some specific benefits so that they can continue to invest in the highly resourceful town. One major form of public investment is the establishment of a good security system popularly referred to as the Workington police station. The police station offers security not only to the iron and steel manufacturing companies but also the other subsidiary companies like banks, hotels and even the families and workers. For the police to offer efficient

Select a big data problem, evaluate what was discovered and explain Essay

Select a big data problem, evaluate what was discovered and explain how it supports the business including any challenges, oppor - Essay Example With these units being used, people faced trouble to get part of the data or use it to develop a trend of events or occurrences in an environment which can be used to ensure it becomes useful to its owner (Sathi, 2012, p4). Some of the organisations that use big data include meteorological organisations, biological and environmental research complex physics simulations among others. These find it difficult to establish amicable to capture, store transmit and analyse some of their data that are collected from different events and analyse them to have necessary deductions. Units for measuring the amounts of data have continued to be invented with time and they are moving from simple to extremely complex and large figures that require large capacity to store. To understand the problem of big data, it is good to focus on the analysis of the issues of data analysis as could be realised in different organisations within the world (O'Reilly Radar Team et al, 2012, p8). Big data problem caus es and exposition In the past, people used to measure data in megabytes and in those times, 100 megabytes of data were considered a very large. With time, there data increased and gigabytes were used to measure data, this paved way for terabyte, petabytes and the latest invention of the units of measurement of data is the Exabyte. ... The big data has not gone without considerable problems in the way it ought to be handled and processed to explain phenomenon and trends in business or in any other organisation. Some problems experienced in handling big data include collecting, processing, analysing and storing of the meaningful data for future use (Ohlhorst, 2013, p11). However, in order to expound the problems of big data, analysis of the same offers an insight into the difficulty of handling that kind of data and the risks thereof. Why analysis of big data is a problem Analysis of big data is problematic because there are limited methods, which can be used to store large amount of data in the same place and process desirable results using it. For this reason, analysis is one of the problems of big data in that it is difficult to combine the different bits that are making the big data. As a result, analysis of such data of great magnitude becomes difficult because there are few devices that accommodate data to a c ertain capacity and is type. It is tasking to engage in analysing big data because in their unstructured form, they indicate that people have taken part in an event but the information is decentralized into a common place for effective analysis (Best, 2008, p63). How big data is analysed To enable ease of analysis, scientist start by classifying the data into groups and categories, this can be easily analysed to give the required information. The method of analysing big data by structuring is a scientific invention that is designed to ensure that organisations do not have to delete their data from their database. Companies categorise their information into clusters that are representing data for

Evidence-Based Practice & Applied Nursing Research Essay Example for Free

Evidence-Based Practice Applied Nursing Research Essay Type of Sources / Appropriateness of Sources / Classification of Sources American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians article regarding acute otitis media is a filtered resource. It is an appropriate source for nursing practice because; it establishes clinical guidelines to diagnose and manage AOM. It also establishes guidelines when to treat the signs and symptoms of AOM, watchful waiting, or to treat with an antibiotic. This article is classified as an evidence based guideline because, it reviews multiple research literatures in a systemic manner and provides recommendations of practice. Block’s Causative Pathogens article is an unfiltered resource. It is an appropriate source for nursing practice because it provides the clinician with the most recent and up to date research on the topic. The article is primary research evidence because; its researchers acquired the data first hand. Kelly’s article regarding Current pediatric diagnosis and treatment is a general information resource. This article is not appropriate for clinician use because it only provides basic general background. It does not guide the clinician in diagnosing and treatment. McCracken’s article in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal is an unfiltered resource. It is an appropriate for nursing practice because it supports established guidelines and shows what will happen with continued antibiotic use. This is an evidence summary article because it lists all of the important information and the evidence supporting it. The last source of evidence is interviews with parents. This type of source is considered a general information resource. It is appropriate because, the interviews give firsthand experience of onset and signs and symptoms of AOM. This source of classifications is none of the listed. â€Å"Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common infection for which antibacterial agents are prescribed for children in the United States. As such, the diagnosis and management of AOM has a significant impact on the health of children, cost of providing care, and overall use of antibacterial agents (AAFP, 2004).  Watchful waiting can have many benefits for the children and the provider if used properly. Diagnosing AOM can be tricky. The signs and symptoms can also be related to other illnesses such as an upper respiratory virus. Throwing antibiotics at any illness use to be the course of action. However, now that there is evidence that bacteria have become resistant to some antibiotics, clinicians are testing out other means of treating illnesses. If the child presenting with symptoms of AOM has no underlying conditions and has means to follow up with the doctor if the symptoms progress, watchful waiting is an appropriate app roach for treating the child. According to the research, placebo controlled trials have shown that children have responded well without antibacterial intervention. Giving the opportunity for the illness to resolve without antibacterial intervention not only benefits the child but, the caregivers and the clinician. It benefits the child by not being exposed to antibiotics that are not needed, therefore creating a potential resistance to that antibiotic. It benefits the caregiver by not spending money on a medication their child does not need. Last, it benefits the clinician by preventing resistance to an antibiotic that may be useful in the near future. Watchful waiting is only appropriate if the patient meets the guidelines of uncomplicated AOM, assurance of a follow up if necessary, and access to antibiotics if symptoms progress or worsen. The findings in the AAFP article can be applied in many ways to improve nursing practice in a healthcare setting. The article provides evidence based guidelines on how to properly diagnose AOM and the typical signs and symptoms. It establishes the three criteria the patient must exhibit for a certain diagnosis of AOM. If the patient does not meet the certain criteria, it guides the clinician to continue to assess the patient for another illness, such as an upper respiratory virus. Proper diagnosis will improve clinician treatment and care of the patient. The article also includes a descriptive chart on how to assess and manage pain associated with AOM. It lists for the clinician the recommended medications, remedies, and agents for the clinician to utilize to manage pain. It also lists the effectiveness and the side effects. This will help improve nursing care by implementing the proper medication and or remedies to the patient with the highest effectiveness and the least amount of side effects. The article also very clearly identifies when watchful waiting is  not appropriate and what antibiotics should be prescribed and the usual dosage. This information is helpful to nursing practice by helping the clinician distinguish what patient is suitable for watchful waiting or antibiotic therapy. Another way the article improves nursing practice is, that the article provides information on how to prevent AOM and reoccurrence. This information can be used to help educate patient’s caregivers on ways to prevent AOM and reoccurrence. Ethical issues always arise when it comes to healthcare, especially when it comes to children. When conducting an evidence based research, there is a high likelihood of exposing the child to potential danger, illness, and adverse reactions. The first ethical issue is; is it even right to subject a child to research if there is a high likelihood of helping other children. That is something for the children’s parents to decide. However, it is the responsibility of the researchers to fully explain the process, potential side effects, potential danger, and any other concerns to the parents. It also the responsibility of researchers to determine if the parents have the capability to comprehend the information and the risk of the research. Not doing so would be unethical and could tarnish the results of the research. Another major ethical dilemma that comes with involving children in research is that the children do not have the capability of making that decision themselves. Research should be a voluntary thing and not left up to someone else to decide. However, when it comes to children that is not an option. The ethical problem is should the child be subjected to potential harm because of the parents’ willingness to allow it. The needs to be guidelines established prior to the start of the research that regulate the risks that the child might be subjected to. The risk should be very minimal with a very high benefit. Involving children in any type of evidence based research can be very tricky and has the potential of bringing up multiple ethical issues. It is the researcher’s responsibility to ensure the child is protected, not exposed to unneeded harm, and the caregivers are knowledgeable of the risk factors and are competent enough to make an informed decision. Besides ethical issues, there are other issues that need to be taken into consideration when research involves children. Vulnerable populations, such as low income families, families with different cultural backgrounds, and families with insufficient education can be at risk when it  comes to research involving children. For an example, low income families may not have the opportunity to participate in evidence based research because they might not fit certain criteria. In the AAFP research, in order for the child to be a candidate of the watchful waiting, they had to have means of a follow up appointment. For low income families, coming to the doctor multiple time may not be option. Financially they may not be able to afford, parents may not be able to get time off from work, or have means of transportation for a follow up appointment. These circumstances may subject the child to unneeded antibiotic treatment simply because the patient is unable to follow up with the doctor. Also, families with a cultural difference may not fully understand the benefits or risks of allowing their child to participate in this research. Without informed consent, the results of the research are tarnished and run the risk of jeopardizing the study. Informed consent when it comes to research involving children is extremely important for validity of a project and prevents any ethical problems. Any research involving children can be extremely tricky and should be held to the highest ethical standards and involve minimal risk to children. References American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians. (2004.) Clinical practice guideline: Diagnosis and management of acute otitis media. Retrieved from http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;113/5/1451 Block, S. L. (1997). Causative pathogens, antibiotic resistance and therapeutic considerations in acute otitis media. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 16, 449–456. Kelley, P. E., Friedman, N., Johnson, C. (2007). Ear, nose, and throat. In W. W. Hay, M. J. Levin, J. M. Sondheimer, R. R. Deterding (Eds.), Current pediatric diagnosis and treatment (18th ed., pp. 459–492). New York: Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill. McCracken, G. H. (1998). Treatment of acute otitis media in an era of increasing microbial resistance. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 17, 576–579.

Research and study on the deviant woman

Research and study on the deviant woman Living in a period which had totally ignored women and the study of female deviance (prior to 1960s), Professor Frances Heidensohn saw, as other criminologists, the immediate need for research and study on the deviant woman. As a pioneer of feminist perspectives in criminology  [i]  , Heidensohns work provided the too much mans land of criminology and how women have been unfairly treated and neglected in previous studies. Heidensohn is considered to be a revolutionist in this field of criminology due to her pre-feminist work (Heidensohn 1968 and 1970) on the invisibleness and silence surrounding the female offender  [ii]  .Throughout her work and extensive research on a variety of different writers and criminologists, she stressed the lack of attention on gender dimensions and the tendency to over-sexualise women crimes. Clearly upset of this status quo, she pointed out also the necessity of taking into account autobiographical experiences of female offenders, who are the act ual objects of this study. Frances Heidensohn; a professor in the Department of Sociology at London School of Economics, by her investigation on the study of gender in the context of crime, could be said to have set the foundations for next generations studies on feminist perspectives in criminology. Her biggest question mark was why the chapter of women and crime has been buried for such a long time and why there has been a failure to examine such an important issue. Most of her books and articles try to provide adequate aetiologies to all these question marks. Fortunately, things changed since the 1960s and feminism criminology was developed. As Heidensohn suggested in a metaphorical way, Like a wardrobe of new exciting clothes, a whole treasure generated in criminology. It offers us a great deal more to enrich our knowledge of women and crime. But there is much more on offer too.  [iii]  In other words, Professor Heidensohn held that even thought feminist criminology has been developed there are still many gaps and much more to be done. Thus, Heidensohn illuminated the path towards the understanding of female criminology. In the field of criminological study and most sociological research and writing, analyses of criminal women cannot be found before the 1960s. But even where they are considered, they are subject to marginalising and distorting treatment as Oakley noted in 1982  [iv]  or similarly as Klein suggested female criminality has often ended up as footnote to works on men that purport to be works on criminality in general  [v]  . This lack of interest was really surprising in Heidensohns eyes.  [vi]  As Frances Heidensohn noted in an important early article on deviance, virtually no serious scholarship has been undertaken to explain the dramatic difference between male and female lawbreaking.  [vii]  Hence, this status quo, which was much more due to male dominance, impelled her to start an extensive research on the subject to provide sufficient answers to all these questions raised. What was central to her work was the amnesia and neglect of women in previous studies in crimi nology and the fact that even where women were recognised, they were depicted in terms of stereotypes and based on their supposed biological and psychological nature  [viii]  . Her major argument which she highlights in all of her books, articles is the necessity of exploring gender in terms of understanding crime. Her discussion was concerned with personal experiences and autobiographies of women offenders in relation to the courts, the law and the police. She strongly stressed that at all levels women have been treated differently than men and in some cases harsher. Under the provisions of criminal law, women are theoretically equal to men. Conversely, she underlined that in many cases the laws on prostitution, for instance, prejudice against women and in general there is tendency to over-sexualise female crime. Frances Heidensohn objected this attitude towards female crime. Prostitution was seen only as sexual deviance and not as the rational choice for some women who need the financial support for themselves and their children (Heidensohn, 1968, p.168)  [ix]  . Klein also shared this opinion. Furthermore, criminal laws and lawyers tended to apply stereotype notions of what a proper woman is and does and dual assumptions such as virgin and whore were made when dealing with female offende rs. Yet, Heidensohn did not criticise that and she recognised that one cannot divorce the law and lawyer from the society in which they operate with its enormous cultural heritage and traditions  [x]  .Although she did argue about the too much mens world that existed, truly annoyed by the domination of men in administration as well as in the draft of legislation because of the implications that had on female offenders. Further, the courts even though women committed fewer and less serious crimes than men, were often harsher with women. According to Frances Heidensohn, there were several reasons that explained this stance by the courts. One of the strongest arguments that she made was that female criminals were considered to be doubly-deviant. Women criminals were very rare phenomena, a fact that biased the behaviour of the courts towards them. As Heidensohn had pointed out in one of her earliest presumptions, Women defendants therefore seem stranger and thus less comprehensible than men: they offend both against societys behavioural rules about property, drinking, or violence and also against the most fundamental norms which govern sex-role behaviour  [xi]  (Heidensohn, 1970, p.134). In other words, if they had been morally wrong, then they will be punished more; Courts and other agencies treat women as deviant twice over: they have broken criminal law and social expectations of proper female behaviour.  [xii]  In addition, the whole court procedure is something particularly bewildering, alien and unfair to female offenders.  [xiii]   While doing her research, Frances Heidensohn gave a great emphasis on the stereotype notions and the social standards that the society held for criminal women. In patriarchal societies, women were perceived as a source of disorder. Moral values and accepted social standards, especially in previous periods of time, rendered women subject to stricter rules. Moreover, the witch image as well as that of the whore seemed to be the key portrayals of the deviant women. The stereotype of witchcraft, which has always been linked to women, gave the idea of deviant women as especially evil, depraved and monstrous  [xiv]  . On the other hand, the tendency to sexualise the female offences portrayed them as whores. Professor Heidensohn argued that no such notions exist, equivalent to male deviants. On the contrary, male deviants either receive public approval-boys will be boys,- or are at least more positively portrayed  [xv]  . She continued her argument and she strongly criticized the ro le the media had overplayed in forming these ideas; male offenders in novels, films were presented as heroes, something that affected the public reaction and opinion. In reviewing traditional criminology and classical criminological writers, Heidensohn observed that female criminality was determined by their biology and psychology. Lombroso; the father of criminology, and Ferreros research, which focused on the meditation of the skulls, bones and appearance of female criminals, came to the conclusion that women deviants could be recognised by their physical appearance and they had very similar characteristics to male deviants. Women criminals like their masculine counterparts, had certain allegedly atavistic features, notably unfeminine features and built and dark masculine hair.  [xvi]  Additionally, they claimed that criminal women are abnormal. Following these lines, Professor Heidensohn found herself contrary to this presumption. She argued that his analysis of photographs of fallen women is as objective as adjudication in a beauty contest.  [xvii]  Furthermore, Lombroso and Ferreros theories did not provide us an adequate and precise understanding of female crime.What they did show us was the attempt to rationalise and justify the status quo, the existing position of women and the double standard of morals of their day.  [xviii]  Thus they did not draw away from the stereotype notions and the dual assumptions about women (good or bad, normal or abnormal). Deviant Womens experiences was a central method used by Frances Heidensohn and feminist writers towards the understanding of female delinquency; concentration on the researched and their experiences. Even though this methodology received much criticism (Ramazanoglu and Holland 2002)  [xix]  , Heidensohn and Gelsthorpe argued that close reading of feminist discussions ultimately reveal no fixed absolutes beyond the need for sensitivity in the research task, for personal reflexivity and commitment to make the research relevant to women.  [xx]  This methodology vested women the right to speak for themselves, their experiences, their feelings and thoughts. The technique of viewing the world through womens eyes was successful in making women visible in criminology and additionally created awomens world too. The concentration on womens experiences led to some crucial developments in female criminology and feminist contributions to criminology. Feminism standpoitism as Harding puts it (1987)  [xxi]  reflected the concept of viewing the world through womens eyes and encouraged both theoretical and personal reflexivity in relation to knowledge and the process of knowledge production through research.  [xxii]  However, the key aspect of focusing on the experiences of female criminals was that it rendered gender as the basis of understanding and interpreting crime and social conduct rather than simply as a statistical variable. As a synopsis of her study, Frances Heidensohn argued that what seems to be needed in the study of female deviance is a crash programme of research which telescopes decades of comparable studies of males.  [xxiii]  Also, she was consistent with what Mannheim recommended, who held that an objective and scientific approach should try to treat female crime as a topic in its own right.  [xxiv]  She therefore concluded in her book on Women and Crime that in order to gain understanding on women and crime other analyses such as family life, position and social control of women, male dominance should be taken into account. Arguably, she supported that this could not be achieved through feminist criminology or sociology of deviance.  [xxv]   Frances Heidensohns observations have not been subject to too much criticism as Lombrosos or other criminologists theories. However, some points that she did make were subject to debate and disapproval. Allison Morris was one of those who contravened with some of her presumptions. Her enantiosis was basically on the fact that the criminal justice system is a peculiarly alien an unfamiliar world  [xxvi]  only for women. Morrison focused on the belief that criminal law is sexist in the treatment of deviant girls and women and she went on to say that such factors as race, family circumstances and commitments, types of offence and previous record all clearly mediate the treatment of both female and male defendants and may be that some of those factors are as important as gender, if not more so.  [xxvii]  Indeed, Heidensohn relied on this assumption; that sex is the most crucial aspect and that it is not only women who are being deprived in the criminal justice system. However, wh at Morrison strongly argued was Heidensohns failure to identify other groups of people who could be treated unfairly under the criminal system or the court could be biased against them and to whom the whole process might be unfamiliar and alien. Such groups of people, as Morris suggests could be for young black and working -class men or minorities.  [xxviii]  Finally, she pointed out that it is wrong to present womens experiences in the criminal justice system as a unitary experience. We know that black women are over-represented in our prisons. We need to be able to account for this.  [xxix]  In my personal opinion Morrison made a full disclosure of the reality; that minorities or black people or people of different social standards, could also be treated unfairly in court or could be subject to discriminatory wrongs. She made a very strong argument which did take into account and tried to defend other social and powerless groups and not only women, something that Heidensoh n failed to do. Moreover, that could be the basis for other perceptions that Heidensohn provided. This is the one of economic rationality or that of stigma. Consequently it is not only women who can be motivated by the economic needs to commit a crime; people of a lower class can commit crimes as a result of poverty; or it is not only women who fear the idea of being stigmatised by their offences. Carlen Pat also argued at this part that this stance could cause race or class conflicts. Finally, in general Carlen suggested that no feminism theory could offer aetiologies to three major issues concerning female delinquency; that womens crimes are in the main, the crimes of the powerless; that women in prison are disproportionately from ethic minority groups; and that a majority of women in prison have been in poverty for the greater part of their lives.  [xxx]   Synoptically, Frances Heidensohns contribution to criminology was enormous in relation to female offenders. It could be said as having two sides of a coin. Her research in conjunction with that of other feminist criminologists illuminated the path towards the understanding of the female deviance. However, even though they shed some light on it there are still some dark aspects. As Frances Heidensohn pointed out, the study of female deviance has still a long way to go. The most crucial drawback that I can identify in her work was the lack of consideration of other factors that could play a valid role in the field of understanding crime such as race, class, nationality, age and other social characteristics rather than only focusing on gender dimensions and giving privileges only to women.

Development Of Port Services In Sri Lanka Tourism Essay

Development Of Port Services In Sri Lanka Tourism Essay 1. In the world today, all countries are inter connected in more than many ways. of all these connections, transport service are considered to be the most important and unavoidable connection. this transport service may be either human or cargo transport. Today to day there are many ways and methods of transport. Although most of these modern systems are quick and easy .the most ancient sea transport system is still the reliable and the profitable way of transport. Sri Lanka is rich with strategically located natural ports that are === by many other nations. These ports have the potential to be the best ports in the Indian ocean. they should be developed to an international expected standard with modern facilities and features. before embarking on the development of these ports , an in depth study of a few internationally famous ports should be made. If handle methodically and properly, Sri Lanka ports could be the best in South Asia and also be the province economic recourse of the country. This paper is an attempt to analyze and consider the measures that have to be adopted by the authorities in order to develop national ports to maintain highly efficient and productive ports as transshipment centers with adequate capacity equipped with most modern technology and facilities. At present several measures have been taken towards this goal, there is more that could be done to obtain making use of the existing resources. AIM 3. The aim of this service paper is to propose and suggest ways and means of developing Sir Lanka as the leading maritime and aviation center in the South Asian Region. that can complete with the most competitive and user friendly ports in providing high quality port, shipping and aviation service. BACKGROUND 4. For thousands of years, the highly strategic location of the ports of Sri Lanka has lured many a merchant. This is a location that connects Middle East with the Far East, with links to the Australian and African continents and it is the gateway to South Asia. From the past up to date many ships that use the international sea communication route are using Sri Lankan port services due to various reasons such as easy access, quality of the service, cheap labor etc. Therefore Sri Lanka should take maximum advantage of seaports to promote international trade by getting commercial and industrial activities which directly assist the economic progress of the country. The other countries of the region are developping their ports to gain economic benefits out of this sea transportation system. To face this competitive market we need to gear our sources to get the necessary attraction of the world. 5. On the other hand, today Sri Lanka with its far-reaching economic changes and policies has improved infrastructural facilities, tax incentive, opportunities for investment of capital for new industries, and above all the guarantee of the safety of capital invested and presents a favorable environment for foreign investment capital. This transformation of the economy has resulted in the increased industrial and trading activities in Sri Lanka. So this present trade development has influenced the need of development in the port and shipping sector in the country. 6. Sri Lanka Port Authority has the responsibility with the mission to increase our customer base profitability by providing excellent an service and world class facilities. PORTS AND ON GOING PORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS 7. As an island Sri Lanka is privilege to have natural harbors all around the country. But the country was not able to use a few numbers of ports due to various reasons such as war, lack of infrastructure facilities, investment capacity etc. At present with the high economic growth and the end of the armed conflict in may 2009 provides a firm base for all development activities. Port services which were growing significantly in the year 2010.The present ports and development projects are as follows: a. Port of Colombo. It is the main port in Sri Lanka. Located on the southeast side of the island and it is facilities include two terminals, Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) and Queen Elizabeth Quay (QEQ).From 1987 to 1997 due to the commitment , it has done so many development to control the container traffic. For example in mid 1990s it increased from less than 500,000 Twenty foot Equivalent Units (TUEs) over 1.5 million Twenty foot Equivalent Units. But it was not sufficient in 2003 and 2004 around 40% of west to east traffic was being diverted from Colombo port to more competitive ports out side Sri Lanka. Then Sri Lankan governments desire to create public-private partnership in 1999 to improve expands, operate and manage Queen Elizabeth Quay (QEQ) with South Asia Gateway Terminals (private) limited. To day under mentioned projects are going on: (1) Colombo South Harbour development Project. In ocean of about 1000 hectares on the South West of the percent breakwater this proposed harbour will be located. It will have four terminals , 1200 meters each capable of accommodating deeper draft vessels in the future. The development is expected to be done in two stages. The first stage to intfastructure with pulic funds and the second stage for terminal facilities with private sector participation. This project will promote the following Sri Lanka: Facilitate economic growth. Increase competitiveness in international trade. Lower transport cost and faster delivering times. Container handling capacity wills increase. (2). Jaya Container Terminal for the Enhancement of Capacity. Detail design of the extension of the Jaya Container Terminal has been completed. this will enhance the capacity of port of Colombo to accommodate the mega container carriers now and in the future. This also expected to berth two 8000 Twenty foot Equivalent Units container ships at the same time. (3). New Terminal Management System. This system will be implemented with the Sri Lanka port Authority (SLPA). It will replace the present obsolete computer system of the Jaya Container Terminal with modern computer system providing Networking, Radio data and Communication System. b. Galle port. The gall port is located very close to the international sea transport route. It is the very the only Sri Lankan port that provides for pleasure Yachts. All those facilities were destroyed by the Tsunami. It is proposed to develop this port to attract rich tourists and passenger carrier ships. c. Trincomalee Harbour Renovation. Ten times as much as the Colombo, the Trincomalee harbour is considered to be one of the most strategically situated natural harbour in the world. This harbour was tentatively considered to cater for bulk and break bulk cargo transportation. Coming under the new development project the Nagenahira Nawodaya great improvement and vast development is expected to take effect in this famous port. Development of the Hambanthota Port. Hambantota region is considered to be an under develop area both economically and socially. The construction of a sea port in that region will greatly enhance the improvement and the development of that area. the presence of a port in that area will certainly make it an industrial region. Unlike development an also functioning port, this newly constructed port can be streamlined to serve it expected goal. It has to be properly planned and executed. It is to be a commercial harbour will definitely of a more convenient and cost effective access to and from the Southeast region for goods and cargo from the West coast. It will also reduce the congestion in the Colombo harbour. Development of Port in Oluvil. In the process of developing the Eastern Region under the Nagenahira Nawodaya programme it has been decided to build a port at Oluvil. If so constructed it will be the Southern link in the developing chain of coastal harbours. This harbour will be another commercial harbour and basin for fishing crafts. Port of kankasanthurai and point pedro. This is one of the most Tsunami devastated ports in Sri Lanka. It needed urgent rehabilitation and improvement. This improvement includes the repair of the breakwaters, roads and pears. Wrecked and dredging have to be removed from the harbour basin. The Sri Lanka port Authority has carried out urgent and temporary repair to enable it to function without our interruption. The government of India has aided for the removal wracks and for the construction of a new pear. Very vital sections of the harbour are beyond use. The Sri Lanka port Authority while renovating the harbour, have decided to study the feasibility of developing Point Pedro in to a Sri Lanka port Authority regional port. COOPERATIVE VALUES OF SRI LANKA PORT DEVELOPMENT AUTORITY The SLPA is one of the major contributors to the economy of Sri lanka. As a key revenue earning and service providing agency, the role of SLPA is directly to the excellence of its delivery service. In this regard the value system of the authority is the basis for the success of its operational relationship with the stakeholders. These values could be categorized under the following. Dependability Timeliness Accuracy Accountability for Achievement Team Spirit Commitment Reward Recognition Performance with integrity It will be the responsibility of the chairman / chief Executive Officer, The managing Director and Other Senior management staff to inculcate the above values at all levels of the Authority. Hambantota is planned to undertake initially general cargo such as cement, steel, fertilizer, timber, bunkering services, port related industries, coal, RO-RO facilities, off shore services such as ship Chandling, supply of water fuel, crew changes, ship building and ship repair facilities etc. Contract for the construction of phase 1 was awarded to Chinese Joint venture Construction Company at the total cost of US$ 360m and the port will be operational in year 2010 SERVICES RENDERED BY OUR PORTS TODAY 8. Sri Lanka has a number of commercial ports and a National Shipping Fleet to provide services for the Maritime Transport Industry. The governments also encourage and develop multi country consolidation and entrpot trade on a large scale. a. Container Operations. Development of JCT and QEQ facilities enhance the productivity in container handling and off dock facilities such as inland container depots to ease the congestion within the ports. b. Ancillary Services. Ancillary services including ship building, ship repair, ship chandelling, salvage and towage, bunkering services, ship chandelling and off shore supplies, cruise shipping marinas and ship management are available. c. Tariff Concessions. Tariff concessions including lowest Transshipment rates in the region, restoring Transshipment rates irrespective of the mode, attractive rebates of up to 20% of the stevedorage, free storage (of 21 days) for transshipment etc. d. multi country consolidations and enterpot cargo. A separate warehouse has been provided specially for this purpose at the port access road. Special tariff concessions have been given to this multi country consolidation operation that use warehouse within the port. e. Information systems. Computerized systems for planning and control of container handling operations, data interchange between the shipping agents, inquiries available from the personal computers and port users and one stop documentation centre. f. transportation systems. Coordinated port facilities with inland transport and distribution systems in terms of control the ship traffic. g. infrastructure facilities. Connecting road, rail, and barge facilities. I. Other services. Handling of dry and liquid cargo, bulk and break bulk cargo, car carriages and passenger liners. J. port security. Sri Lanka ports authority complies with the relevant requirements of the international ship and port facility security code, contributing to the enhancement of maritime safety and security. MANAGEMENT OF PORT DEVELOPMENT . 9. To gain the status of regional mega hub port in the south Asian region sri lanka will have to compete with Singapore, Port Kelang, dubai and Aden.in this attempt we will be forced to use all possible resources. Therefore following are the salient points which required when developing port service in Sri Lanka: When developing ports according to the national plan. A comprehensive study should be need of each individual port. These should be combination of medium term and long term planning. While the existing ports are improved by the introduction of modern facilities. The recourses should be constructed according to the international standards. Complete and viable is that which includes all necessary facilities such as transshipping, cargo shipping, fire fighting and rescue service and the like. Planning of new ports should leave space in their for any future improvements. Any future development of existing ports should have the possibility of absorbing any new introduction. The organizational structure of any new port should be flexible enough to adapt to business environment changes. The planning section of management service department should be responsible for the following task: Traffic trend and performance statistics. Forecasting of future traffic shipping and cargo. The evaluation of new trends in ships and cargo handling. The analysis of requirements, water , load equipments and storage. The preparations plan for the future. Preparation of future traffic demands. Forecasting of traffic is an art which need a lot of understanding and experience. This may require the assistance of out side agents, but yet these reports should be checked mathematically and tactically before implementation. In arriving at this dicisions they should have considered the following targets: National economic targets. Have past trends clearly explained and the need for continuation of these trends be questioned. Have the port records being studied well. Will the change of each industry have any effect of the future traffic? The building of new ports. SUMMARY 16. In the two years following the end of a brutal war, Sri Lankas economic growth is projected to exceed six percent, according to the World Banks first annual assessment of regional economies.  The interim period requires improvements to existing facilities to bridge the gap between growing demand and shortfalls in facilities, so as to ensure that customers are not lost to competing rival ports.   Such losses would have disasters impact on the future of the Ports in Sri Lanka. So it is very vital to initiate actions for renew and expand existing ports in the aspect of Developing Sri Lankan ports as the leading Maritime and Aviation center in the South Asian Region with the most competitive and user friendly ports and airports to provide high quality ports, shipping and aviation services. But it should within the broad national strategy; the development of each individual port must be comprehensively planned. The development of a port consists of a combination of medium-term and long-term planning of new facilities plus-in the case of existing ports-a programme of short-term action to improve the management With New technologies, which can spur changes and will improve the operations. For example, the development of a container terminal can be accompanied by the introduction of modern data-processing methods to improve the quality of the information necessary for managers to control the flow of containers. RECCOMANDATIONS Developing Sri Lankan ports as the leading Maritime centers in the South Asian Region with the most competitive and user friendly ports, following policy decisions has to follow when projecting new ports or expansion of existing ports To consolidate the position of the Colombo Port as an International hub port for container operations and as a logistics center in the South Asian region. To develop a competitive marketing strategy in order to establish the port of Colombo as an International hub-port. c. To develop the port of Galle as a regional port as well as an alternate commercial cargo handling port to the port of Colombo and to develop this port to attract rich tourists and passenger carrier ships. To develop Trincomalee port as an ecologically sensitive, leisure and light commercial port. To develop the port in Kankasanturai, Oluvil and point-pedro as regional commercial ports. To build and establish the Hambantota port initially as a service providing industrial port, and in the long term develop it to be a commercial port for more convenient and cost effective access to and from the Southeast region for goods and cargo from the West coast. Then it will also reduce the congestion in the Colombo harbour. To maintain a high level of productivity and service excellence by enhancing knowledge, skills and creativity and inculcating positive attitudes to all port employees, through systematic Human Resource Development programmers. To develop a strategic development plan for all sea port of Sri lanka.

Access to Review Essay -- Supreme Court

When it comes to our courts there are many rules and regulations that our Supreme Court Justices must abide by. There are many restraints placed upon them and their ability to legally hear a case. Justices are restrained by the types of cases before them as well as jurisdiction, legitimacy and capacity, judicial role, and access to review. Under access to review there are many interesting caveats to the law that must be looked at with a critical eye and an understanding that not all cases are able to be heard by the Supreme Court. Access to review touches quite a few rules within the court; three of which will be discussed herein: ripeness, standing, and justicabilty. Ripeness is the notion that a case is ready to be heard before the Supreme Court only when all other involved agencies have exhausted their efforts to solve the dispute. The purpose of ripeness or of the doctrine introduced by ripeness ‘Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies’ is to prevent the courts premature involvement in cases that have yet to reach a final decision by other remedies and through other administrative agencies. In addition to these ripeness restrictions, the doctrine also provides that cases must face an immediate and nearly definite promise of adverse governmental action before a case may be heard before the Supreme Court. The doctrine â€Å"Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies† was adapted to give overseeing administrative agencies the authority to handle grievances within their jurisdiction as afforded to them by congress. â€Å"Requiring exhaustion helps agencies avoid the cost of making decisions without all interested parties present; increases accuracy, consistency, and public acceptability of administrative decisions; conserves judicial resou... ...st of time. Our court system is terribly overburdened and we must maintain a sense of law and order if it is going to continue to work in favor of the most deserving litigants. â€Æ' Works Cited Gelpe, Marcia R., "Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies: The Lesson from Environmental Cases" (1985).Faculty Scholarship Paper 81. http://open.wmitchell.edu/facsch/81 For Encyclopedia of American Law: Standing. (n.d.) West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. (2008). Retrieved April 20 2014 http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/standing John E. Finn (2006). "Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights". The Teaching Company. "Part I: Lecture 4: The Court and Constitutional Interpretation Murphy, Walter F., C. Herman Pritchett, and Lee Epstein. Courts, judges & politics: An introduction to the judicial process. 6th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2002.

Graduation Speech: Always Look On The Bright Side of Life :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

I have been chosen today to come before you and give some words of encouragement to the graduating class because I am seen as an example of one who has succeeded in school. And yet, I am by no means the only person in our class who has succeeded. Woody Allen once said, â€Å"Success is 80 percent showing up† and since all of you have shown up here today and at school for the last 12 years, you all are most of the way there. So what makes up the remaining 20 percent? Not getting all As on your tests, or going to state or winning first prize in a contest. It is merely trying. If you try your best, you have already succeeded, regardless of where you end up. The world is a fickle place and too often the most deserving, hardest-working people are passed over in favor of the ones who obtain the best-looking accomplishments. Thus, one’s measure of success should be based not on how well you do by society’s standards, but on how hard you worked and how much you got out o f it. As Tennyson once said, â€Å"How dull it is to pause, to make an end, To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use!† But rather, we should be, as he said, like the â€Å"spirit yearning in desire To follow knowledge like a sinking star, Beyond the utmost bound of human thought ... To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.† Just because we are graduating today does not mean we now know everything; rather, it is just the opposite. As we go out into the world we will continue to grow, to learn, to mature. Indeed, this is perhaps one of the greatest qualities of mankind, that we can develop our minds to better understand. It is a rare and important gift that should not be abused through neglect or halfhearted attention. Never stop trying and never stop learning because the moment you do, you begin to die. Once you leave here tonight, you will no longer be seniors. You will be adults, set adrift with the entire world at your disposal. It will be up to you, and you alone, to decide your futures. Today more than ever, as we stand at the dawn of the new millennium, you have the opportunity to become something great, to achieve wondrous deeds.

Technology Management Assignment

Introduction The emergence of new technologies has made a big impact on business management. Technology applications have been proven to enhance the acquisition of information and resources. Technology has also become an important element in decision making and product innovation. As such, without technology management, organizations cannot survive in the current business environment. Technology management has also been proven as a key component in the creation of wealth. Therefore, the management of technology, especially for technology intensive firms, is essential for their survival and to maintain their competitive advantage. Technology management is a multi-disciplinary field, which works as a bridge between engineering and business disciplines. The importance of technology management cannot be overlooked. In recent years, all leading developments in the global business environment are the result of the application of technology management (Khalil, 2000). Technology management is related to innovation (Mortar et al., 2009). In the current business and technological environment, corporations and SMEs must be able to adapt and evolve if they want to survive and expand their business. The ability and willingness to change is essential to survive in today’s highly competitive environment. As such, innovation has become an important aspect in the culture of an organization and is seen as a driving force in achieving growth (Trott, 2005). Innovation, in turn, is recognized as one of the results of efficient technology management. Technology management is a dynamic tool that can be utilized for various industries, both in the private and government sectors. The education sector is one of the areas where technological improvement is needed. This can be achieved through the use of online learning software and other related tools. Online learning communities are a growing feature in the landscape of educational technology. These tools and technology-oriented software are the key improvements in the education system and this has been proven with the passage of time (Herrington & Oliver, 2000) This essay analyses Pakistan’s education market to find the gaps in the use of technology in the country’s education sector. To illustrate the importance of technology management, the essay also discusses its application in relation to the development of new software targeted for the education sector in Pakistan. The development of the new software is carried out with the guidance of an appropriate technology oriented-business model and business plan. This is done to minimize the risk and uncertainty involved in the product development process. Literature Review Benefits of Technology ManagementLooking at the economic history of the UK, technological management has been recognized as one of the key factors in the birth and development of the industrial sector during the nineteenth century (Trott, 2005). Since then, technology management has been an important aspect in economic and business growth. Technology management is recognized as an important element in business management. Firms have utilized technology management in their operations and have adapted it to suit their business needs (Pilkington & Teichert, 2006). Many organizations are going through radical transformations due to technological changes that are happening on a global scale (Levin & Barnard, 2008). In this scenario, technology management is seen as playing an important role in managing organizational change. Over the years, many authors have focused on how to manage technology resources (Cetindamar, Phaal & Probert, 2009). Technology management involves processes to enhance performance and utilization of resources. It involves the acquisition and integration of existing knowledge into the creation of new knowledge. This is an important factor for an organization to survive in the current competitive environment. Every organization must have the flexibility to change and create new knowledge by adapting to the changes in the market. This will lead to higher performance and sustainable competitive advantage (Liu et al., 2006). Technology management is identified as a crucial factor for the long-term success and profitability of an organization. Technology is considered as one of the core assets that a firm relies on (Cockburn & Henderson, 1998). Technology management enables an organization to utilize its resources in creative ways in order to enhance performance and increase profit margin and market share. The company can also acquire and manage resources with the help of technology management. Challenges in Technology ManagementOne of the main difficulties in business is to manage uncertainty. This is the same challenge in technology and innovation management. New product innovation is a complex process. There are numerous factors and risks involved in innovation. The organization has to manage internal and external risks. Some of these are manageable while others are beyond their control. The management of the innovation process, which is a subset of technology management, involves trying to develop the creative potential of the organization. It involves the fostering of new ideas and generating creativity. Managing uncertainty is a central feature of managing the innovation process and managing technology (Trott, 2005). When there is new product innovation related to technology, the chances of uncertainty arises. Different experts have worked on these issues and have developed theories to avoid uncertainty or to create a better understanding of uncertainty, which occurs from new innovation. One of the theories in avoiding uncertainty is Pearson’s Uncertainty Map. This was developed after extensive analysis of different case studies of major technological innovations, including Pilkington’s float glass process, 3M’s Post-It Notes, and Sony’s Walkman (Pearson, 1991). Establishing something new is the essence of product innovation and this process necessarily involves risk. Therefore, early risk identification and management is required by innovative firms. Risk and uncertainty usually occur at the beginning of a new innovation process. It is important to note that innovation is not just about opening up new markets. Innovation can also present new ways of serving older and established markets. Technology Management and InnovationIn today’s fast changing business world, innovation has become a fundamental component in organizations. The speed of innovation has changed the nature of global economic growth – made possible by the rapid evolution of technology, shorter product lifecycles, and a higher degree of new product development. Additionally, the availability of more knowledge to firms has made innovation even more complex (Du Plessis, 2007). From this perspective, innovation is undeniably a product of technology management. One of the primary roles of technology is as an enabler – it ‘encourages the constant need to evaluate, update, and employ changing job descriptions and business processes’ (Savino 2009, p.1). Technological advancements have significantly changed how businesses operate and how employees go about doing their work. The new paradigm in business organizations is the continuous demands for improvement and the acquisition of knowledge in a very dynamic and constantly evolving environment. The catalyst that enables constant improvement and innovation is technology (Savino 2009). As such, it is highly important to manage technology in the pursuit of innovation. Researchers have recognized that large multinational firms are one of the key drivers for the globalization of research and development (R&D) and innovation activities. A study by Gerybadze & Reger (1999) found that R&D and innovation strategies have changed over the years. Since the mid-1990s, multinational corporations have been inclined to consolidate and streamline their operations. This shift in technology management strategy is due to the failures of distributed R&D activities and globally-dispersed innovation processes, which have led to highly complicated and unmanageable organizational structures. Consequently, firms have opted for leaner and more effective types in managing the portfolio of innovation activities. Using Business Models for Product Innovation One of the ways to manage risk in new product innovation is to come up with an appropriate business model or business plan. A business model helps in making the innovation successful and avoiding the chances of failure, which is one of the risks of innovation. Although creating and implementing the business model for a small firm is not an easy process, many firms utilize this in order to minimize the chances of failure (Lindgren, 2011). Business models have been the focus of both the academic writers and practitioners. Creating a business model is now a part of the innovation process (Zott, Amit & Massa, 2011). Researchers found that most firms have a variety of activities and corresponding business models. As such, a firm can use different business models to suit their various activities or a multi-business model approach can be used. Carrying out the perfect business model is not an easy task especially for the SME’s because they have limited resources; lack knowledge about the business; and have few business tools to support their activities (Neffics, 2010). Developing a new software for Pakistan’s education sector There is an existing gap in the use of technology in Pakistan’s education sector. Although there are some online tools that are used to manage online data and news, the information is usually found and managed in university websites only. There are currently no private providers of online learning software in universities in Pakistan. The new ruling of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) requires all education institutes to set online databases. As such, universities need to develop online learning software to fulfill the requirements and facilitate their students into using these new tools. This represents a good opportunity for the development of e-learning software for use in universities and colleges in Pakistan. Our plan is to develop software similar to â€Å"Moodle† for use in universities. Industry and target market A few years ago, Pakistan had no framework for the use of technology in higher education. This meant that the country’s education standards and quality were not at par with the rest of world. Pakistan was unable to make any progress in the education sector until 1991. There were only 34 universities serving a population of over 100 million and from 1997 to 2002, only 10 private universities were added. However, the rapid growth of the education sector resulted in the establishment of 53 private institutions by 2004. There are currently more than 74 universities across the country (HEC, 2012). Product Description The software that will be offer to customers is similar to â€Å"Moodle,† which is the acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. Moodle is an open-source course management system (CMS) / learning management system (LMS) / virtual leaning environment (VLE). It is used as a tool for creating online dynamic websites for students (Moodle 2013). Recent surveys show that it is considered as one of best e-learning software used by educators and is used by several primary and secondary schools in the UK (The Guardian, 2008). The software is customizable and there will be some modifications depending upon the circumstances and requirements of the clients. Using Moodle, the teacher can upload data form anywhere and student can access it instantly (The Guardian, 2008). Our aim is to introduce Moodle and to customize the software according to the needs of the higher education system in Pakistan. The software will allow tutors to manage their courses according to their requirements and students will be able to access available data from anywhere. University administration will also be able to upload news, results, and other related information using this software. There are various benefits in the application of the e-learning software in Pakistani universities. These include increase in availability of information, quick feedback, and better communication. The Moodle e-learning system provides users with an online platform for communication and sharing of content, information, and news. Communication – is the basic function of the Moodle e-learning software. Professors can post any course-related announcement for students. Students can chat with other students in real time. Discussion threads can be created. Students and teachers can participate in the discussion. Content – is the second core function of the software Teachers can post lectures, articles, assignments and other related information. Teaching calendar of the year can be included. Teachers can post quizzes and exams and allow students to access them via the internet. Students can submit their assignments online. Business Model A business model serves as a guide to help businesses create, deliver, capture and exchange value (Trott, 2005). There are main four components of a business model. Source: Trott, 2005 Core StrategyCore strategy is the first component of business model. It describes how a firm competes with its competitors. The core strategy involves customizing the software according to the needs of the organization and to set an optimum cost. Initially, we are targeting one university only, which is the Bahira University Islamabad. Other education institutions will be approached later on. Mission StatementOur mission is to provide excellent technology services to universities in Pakistan at the best cost. Product ScopeThe e-learning software will be developed by focusing on the needs and requirements of the clients. E-learning software is popularly used in UK schools. Teachers and students have given positive feedback on the use of e-learning software. We are expecting the same positive response from Pakistan’s education sector. Our focus is to develop the software based on some key points. Ease of use is one of the main objectives of the e-learning software. The product is new so we will ensure that it is easy to use and manage so that our clients will not have difficulty in using it. We will also ensure administrative flexibility so that they can manage it according to their needs. Our aim is to provide maximum value and optimize institutional investments to help them reduce their overhead costs and manage their finances better. We will also develop the software so that it is easily upgraded in the future should the client require changes. Basis for DifferentiationThere is currently no e-learning software in Pakistan, which is customized for the education sector and has excellent communication and content features. Most universities in Pakistan are using their websites for announcement and other news but they do not have a comprehensive software similar to Moodle. Our core differentiation is that we offer a customizable, flexible and easy to use software for the education sector. Strategic ResourcesFor the development of this software, we will hire the best software developer form Pakistan. The reasons for hiring the software developer from Pakistan are lower labor costs and familiarity with Pakistan’s education sector. This will help us to minimize our costs and be more efficient in our product development. Our strategic asset is our developers and our business plans. Technology Strategy The technology strategy is part the overall corporate strategy takes into consideration the components of the core strategy. In pharmaceutical firms and high tech equipment manufacturers, it is common for the technology strategy to be related to the corporate strategy. This concerns the management and use of technology for further expansion and development (Burgelman & Doz, 2001). Our core strategy is to focus on innovation and excellent services for our clients. Our goal is also to build reliable and flexible software that is cost effective and sustainable. The product we offer is based on Moodle. Although Moodle is already available in the market, we will develop a new e-learning software based on the Moodle framework. This new e-learning software will be customized to suit Pakistan’s education sector. Our basic strategy is to understand the client’s requirements and create products that will address all their needs. The service strategy provides guidance on how to design, develop, and implement our service management plans. We will provide not only the software to our clients, but also services such as installation, customization, and post-sales support. We will also provide trainings to teachers and administrative staff on how to upload data and use communication tools. Trainings will also be provided for university students who will be using the e-learning software. Financial Strategy The financial strategy is an important component of any business plan. Initially, we are going to finance our business using our personal savings and from investments of our family and friends. Our initial capital investment is ?3,000 to ?5,000. For future expansion plans, we will loan from a bank or other financial institutions. Partnership Networks We are going to start with one project, through the help of a partnership with a small software firm. This will help to minimize our development costs. The partnership contract will be based on profit sharing. The reason for entering into a partnership is to allow us to offer our products to other universities in the future. It is my responsibility to secure the contract from the university. It is my task to find out the requirements and needs of the university and to negotiate with them in terms of cost and other pertinent issues. Customer Interface Our target market is the Pakistani education sector. The main reason for targeting this market is the lack of educational software in Pakistan. Initially our target is one university, which will be Bahria University Islamabad. The motive for choosing this organization is the fact that some of our colleagues have studied there and are very familiar with the university. According to students of Bahria University, the administrative system that their university is currently using is not user friendly compared to other well-known universities in the Pakistan. As such, it will be a great idea to offer the new e-learning software to this university. To get the contract for developing this service, we will talk to the university’s management team. We will present them our product’s features and offer our services to them. Pricing Model We are new in the market and we want to compete with existing players. Our main focus is to attract a lot of customers and this can be achieved by making our products affordable. We are applying a cost leadership strategy. We will offer the best products at low cost to persuade customers to avail of our products. This is an ideal market entry strategy. maximum customers and for this out for going for cost leadership strategy. We will offer best low cost to facilitate our clients and make them comfortable to deal with us. Initially our motive is to adjust our self on low profit and gain market share. Conclusions Success of an organization depends on leaning, innovation, and constant change in a systematic and scientific way. Every organization will constantly have to acquire new knowledge to remain competitive. Change and uncertainty is managed by having a plan for the future. With a business plan, uncertainty ceases to be a threat and becomes an opportunity. Different models must be used to avoid uncertainty and risk. In entering a new market, we will use a business model to avoid uncertainty and carry out the innovation process in a manageable way. Being management student, we admire the importance of literature on technology management and new product innovation. On the basis of that literature and examples, we can conclude that if we ignore all those theories and models, product innovation will not be achieved. Our plan is based on the review of relevant literature and carried out through a business model. References Burgelman, R.A. and Doz, Y.L. (2001). The Power of Strategic Integration. MIT Sloan Management Review, 42(3), pp. 28-38. Cetindamar, D., Phaal,R. & Probert, D (2009). Understanding technology management as a dynamic capability: A framework for technology management activities. Technovation, 29(4), pp.237-246 Christoph Zott, Raphael Amit and Lorenzo Massa, Journal of Management published. 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