The Impact of the Invention of the Sewing Machine on America free essay sample

The transition that took place resulted in reliance on mechanical sources of power/energy rather than the traditional human or animal sources to produce the products needed (Hackett, 1992). One of those inventions, the sewing machine, dramatically changed the lives of women across the world during the mid to late 1800’s (Kramarae, 2005). Prior to the invention of the sewing machine, women homemakers were responsible for making almost all of the family’s clothing. Even with help, creating and repairing family garments by hand usually consumed a large part of a women’s daily routine. As the sewing machine evolved and became more suited to home use, women had more options available to them with regard to management of household duties as well as adding to the household income by working as a seamstress either inside our outside of the home (Kramarae, 2005). Even so, there were both benefits and burdens that resulted from this all-important invention. We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of the Invention of the Sewing Machine on America or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Evidence of the basic sewing function goes back as far as the Ice Age where needles were made of bone and animal sinew was used for thread (Bellis, 2011). During the 18th and 19th centuries, several attempts were made by inventors to mechanically reproduce the hand sewing performed by small tailor shops and women in the home. In 1755, Karl Weisenthal, a German inventor, came up with the first sewing machine needle, but did not produce the actual machine. Most of the early prototypes either did not work at all or were only partially functional. In 1790, Thomas Saint, a British cabinetmaker, patented the first functional sewing machine. It was primarily designed to sew leather and canvass for boots and used a single needle to produce a simple chain stitch (Museum of American Heritage, 2010). In 1830, Barthelemy Thimmonier, a French tailor, patented the first functional sewing machine that used a hooked embroidery-type needle to produce a chain stitch. However, in 1841, after successfully using his machines to mass produce army clothing, his production facility was destroyed and he was almost killed by other tailors in the town who were angry and threatened by the machine’s efficiency and utility. In America during the early 1830’s, a New York inventor, Walter Hunt, produced the first sewing machine that created a lockstitch. As a result, thinking changed and duplication of the human hand stitch was no longer the standard that inventors were measured by. Hunt at that time did not see the promise of his invention and did not file for a patent to protect it. He sold his interest for a small fee. (Museum of American Heritage, 2010). In 1846, Elias Howe filed a patent for a sewing machine that used two needles and generated thread from two different sources, resulting in a lock-stitched seam. However, Howe spent several years trying to defend his patent in America and market his machine abroad. In 1856, Howe successfully sued several of the patent infringers and received substantial income from the settlement, which paid him a fixed dollar amount for each machine sold using his technology. (Bellis, 2011). One of the companies involved in the patent lawsuit was the Singer Company, owned by Isaac Singer. Singer, a trained mechanic, duplicated Howe’s patented lockstitch seam, but modified the machine itself to operate with a vertical needle mechanism and a foot treadle as opposed to a hand crank. His machine also included a table to support the fabric and a vertical pressure foot to hold the cloth in place while the needle moved up and down. Singer was a skillful businessman and was very successful in marketing the first commercially successful sewing machine during the 1850’s (Bellis, 2011) when the machine was mass-produced for the first time. His machine was more adaptable to home use than earlier models. To match his competition, Singer offered potential customers the ability to set up a payment plan over time to increase his sales and capture more of the market (Museum of American Heritage, 2010). The development and refinement of the sewing machine was influenced early on by the increasing need to produce sewn goods quickly and efficiently. The early machines were large, heavy and specifically designed for factory use (Kramerae, 2005). However, as more women became proficient at machine sewing by working in the sewing factories, and the United States became involved in the Civil War, the sewing machine became more like a symbol of American innovation and achievement. In particular, the machine was used to provide inexpensive clothing for people who could not afford to otherwise buy or make it (Museum of American Heritage, 2005). Women had an increasing sense of accomplishment and families who were fortunate enough to have a machine in their home were able to creatively use the sewing machine’s capability and efficiency to become more independent and confident. (Kramerae, 2005). Additional improvements to the machine continued into the early 20th century such as stitch variety and quality, the addition of quilting capability, and using electricity as the power source. The machines became lighter in weight and eventually portable so that even more options were available to earn income for families struggling to make ends meet. An outgrowth of the wider use of sewing machines was the invention of sewing patterns, which allowed for production of better-made, more current, fashionable clothing. (Macklin, 2010). One of the social burdens brought about by the mass use of the sewing machine in factories was the unfair and sometimes inhumane treatment of factory workers who were mostly women and children. Long hours, harsh working conditions, and aggressive production quotas led to employee frustration and the eventual development of unions to protect workers basic rights (Hackett, 1992). Even so, America as a whole was able to grow and flourish as a result of the invention of the sewing machine. During the civil war, there were musical tributes to the machine and the women who operated them to produce much needed wartime products. There were many other similar inventions such as the refrigerator and vacuum cleaner that affected the way in which families functioned within the home.

Free Essays on After Life

The afterlife, in many cases, sounds more magnificent than life as we know it. Beliefs about an afterlife are, in fact, beliefs and not perfectly accurate information. Having specific beliefs about a person’s destiny after death is a way for many people to cope with death and have a sense of closure. Ideas about the afterlife may vary greatly, but one thing all religions and cultures have in common is that they trust that their own specific beliefs are the only way. There is, and always will be, a broad range of views on the ideas of afterlife, from traditions as diverse as apocalyptic Judaism to Hellenistic religious culture. For more than 3,000 years Egyptians have supported their initial, original ideas of the afterlife. The Egyptian afterlife is very detailed and is described thoroughly in the Book of the Dead. Once an Egyptian passes away they transform into two parts, the Ba and the Ka. The Ba is described as being the breath or soul and looks like a human-headed bird while the Ka is a carbon copy of the deceased and is the guardian spirit or life force (Lewis 123). Both parts travel in a boat to the underworld and once they reach their destination they proceed through seven different gates. At each gate they have to give certain names and formulas to be able to pass. Once they make it through the gates, the Ka’s continue to the Hall of Justice. Similar to most courtrooms, there is a judge, a prosecutor, and jury members. Thoth, the god of wisdom, is the prosecutor, while forty-two divine figures make up the jury, but the final decision is based on Osiris, the judge (Lewis 125). The deceased a re to give a detailed account of their lives. After they have completed the account, their heart is placed on a scale opposite either a feather or an image of Maat. Maat is the goddess of truth and to Egyptians, a feather is symbolic of the same. If the heart outweighs the symbol of truth, it is a clear sign that the person has been sin... Free Essays on After Life Free Essays on After Life The afterlife, in many cases, sounds more magnificent than life as we know it. Beliefs about an afterlife are, in fact, beliefs and not perfectly accurate information. Having specific beliefs about a person’s destiny after death is a way for many people to cope with death and have a sense of closure. Ideas about the afterlife may vary greatly, but one thing all religions and cultures have in common is that they trust that their own specific beliefs are the only way. There is, and always will be, a broad range of views on the ideas of afterlife, from traditions as diverse as apocalyptic Judaism to Hellenistic religious culture. For more than 3,000 years Egyptians have supported their initial, original ideas of the afterlife. The Egyptian afterlife is very detailed and is described thoroughly in the Book of the Dead. Once an Egyptian passes away they transform into two parts, the Ba and the Ka. The Ba is described as being the breath or soul and looks like a human-headed bird while the Ka is a carbon copy of the deceased and is the guardian spirit or life force (Lewis 123). Both parts travel in a boat to the underworld and once they reach their destination they proceed through seven different gates. At each gate they have to give certain names and formulas to be able to pass. Once they make it through the gates, the Ka’s continue to the Hall of Justice. Similar to most courtrooms, there is a judge, a prosecutor, and jury members. Thoth, the god of wisdom, is the prosecutor, while forty-two divine figures make up the jury, but the final decision is based on Osiris, the judge (Lewis 125). The deceased a re to give a detailed account of their lives. After they have completed the account, their heart is placed on a scale opposite either a feather or an image of Maat. Maat is the goddess of truth and to Egyptians, a feather is symbolic of the same. If the heart outweighs the symbol of truth, it is a clear sign that the person has been sin...

Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Finance - Essay Example Gitman(2005) in these words â€Å"A firm’s ability to satisfy its short term obligations as they come due†(p.58). It is one of the most important financial indicators of a firm. A firm which will not be able to satisfy its short term obligations will neither be able to satisfy its long term obligations/debts nor will be able to satisfy its stockholders. Time series analysis of Jool’s Product division shows unfavorable results, as out of five indicators four are showing negative results. Although current assets have increased in 2009 as compared to 2008 but increase in current liabilities is more as compared to current assets so division’s liquidity has decreased. Increase in inventory turnover shows that division is now more efficient in selling its inventory. While increase in debtor’s days shows that firm making more credit sales now and is inefficient in collecting its receivables and indicates that money is tied up in debtors. Decrease in credit or’s days shows that division’s credibility has decreased and its suppliers are allowing it less time to pay them back. Division should take immediate actions to decrease its current liabilities which will not only increase its liquidity but will also increase its credibility in front of its suppliers and other stakeholders. Moreover firm should adapt any mechanism to quickly collect its receivables. Asset turnover shows that division has ratio of 1.06 in 2009 which is higher than that in 2008 because the assets have increased but sales has also increased by a greater percentage. It shows that division is more quick in concerting its assets into sales now. Profitability analysis of the Jool’s Products division shows very favorable results as all of the profit indicators are showing highly favorable results which are not only good for division but will also contribute in overall profitability of Jools. But although the division is profitable but management should fix the problem of increasing current liabilities and should control operating expenses and receivables as it said by Gibson â€Å" Even a very profitable entity will find itself bankrupt if it fails to meet its obligations to short term creditors†.(p.253) Kitchen Division Category Ratio 2009 2008 Result Liquidity Ratios Current Ratio 2.02 0.4 Favorable Quick Ratio 0.99 0.78 Favorable Stock Turnover 60.74 49.87 Favorable Debtor Days 15.52 18.17 Favorable Creditors Days 10.22 12.01 Unfavorable Efficiency Ratios Asset Turnover 2.20 2.33 Unfavorable Net working Capital Turnover 10.13 13.67 Unfavorable Profitability Ratios Net Profit Margin 3.51% 3.27% Favorable Operating Profit Margin 3.88% 3.61% Favorable Return on Assets 7.71% 7.62% Favorable Return on Equity 11.77% 11.90% Unfavorable Critical Analysis:- Time series analysis of Jool’s Kitchen Division’s liquidity shows favorable results. Division has a healthy short term obligations fulfilling ability. Inventory is efficiently sold, less credit sales are allowed and receivables are quickly collected. But in spite of its good liquidity conditions creditors are still allowing less time to pay back which is a matter of concern for management. Efficiency analysis of the

Advancing Career Development. Personal and Professional Profile Essay

Advancing Career Development. Personal and Professional Profile - Essay Example Categorical initiatives could benefit the industry, but there is a broader push on the component of the regime to try out and promote salubrious healthy living. Factors like utility prices and salary rates will have an impact on numerous aspects of the industry, as costs will elevate and customers may need to prioritize their expenditure as their disposable income are cut down. From the PESTEL analysis of the three companies, namely Fitness First, Virgin Active, and Gold’s Gym companies, it is evident that people have placed their health first before everything else. Most of their management skills have been enhanced to keep the clients satisfied and eager to search for better health opportunities. It is also true that in most fitness centers, customers who are satisfied with the services come back often and build a good reputation for the companies. General Managers are normally responsible for daily operations of a business. Planning, Monitoring and Controlling is what they need to do. Responsibilities also include hiring or training staff members and to deal with clients. Business Development Managers are needed in the Health and Beauty Industry as the market becomes more and more occupied and as competition level increases. That is why it is vital to have a specialist, who is focused on innovations and improvements. When analysing business processes, I was able to identify important issues and made some useful recommendations, like the development of a web-site and advertising of new products and services via texts to the customer base I am an experienced strategic planner and consultant with proven results in a variety of industries. My entrepreneurial spirit has permitted me to achieve established success, along with my understanding of market trends and implementing processes to grow and expand products and services. I have proven organizational and time-management skills, with extensive knowledge of Design Process

Article Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Article Response - Essay Example Ziegelman then provides a brief history about the introduction of pickle in America in 19th century by immigrants. She terms a pickle as pungent, toxic and morally suspect. The pickle became popular due to its cheap price. Pickles were also considered by charity and health workers to be a stimulant like coffee, whiskey and tobacco. Children from poor families always had a strange fascination about pickles. Efforts were then made to transform immigrant food into American food. This began with the separation of children from their pickles. Cooking classes were established to teach immigrants about American way of cooking and homemakers were trained how to make simple American food including chowders and pies. In 1919 and 1920, New York City’s Board of Education started to feed immigrant children with American food in place of pickles. Pickles had not ceased by mid 1920s, so quotas were issued to stop immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe. However, the pickle did not stop; Americans started to use it as diet reforms declined, and nowadays pickles are enjoyed as normal food. This story shows that one can eat any kind of food and speak any language and still be an American. Therefore, what makes an American to be an American is citizenship and not food or culture. Immigrants can be assimilated to become American without necessarily forcing them to abandon their culture and food. American society is made up of diverse communities with different cultures and behaviours, but those differences never make them less or more American than others. In my case, I eat pickles. The introduction of pickles to United States is a thrilling story that may make some people who are radical to the American culture to hate pickles. However, I think that the story just indicates how the society accepts diversities in form cultural values and ways of life. I can eat food from any community as long as they do not have any negative health effects. Pickles have been eaten

Reasons Why Catalonia Wants Independence

Reasons Why Catalonia Wants Independence Catalonia’s Pursuit of Independence â€Å"No podem ser si no podem ser lliures.† This quote from Catalan poet Salvador Espriu roughly translates to â€Å"We cannot be if we can’t be free† a statement that rings true for over half of Catalonia’s 7.5 million residents. The people of Catalonia have long been in a struggle with Spain to gain independence and feel that they should be their own nation. Recently the separatist views in Catalonia have come to the forefront of national news as the state makes a push to secede but there are those who question the likelihood and feasibility of this move. If the people of Catalonia achieve what they desire, Spain will lose one of its most well known states as well as one that provides a great amount of economic stability, but if they do not they will continue to fight for independence and their struggle could turn violent. The struggle for independence dates back to the 19th century during the Romantic age when nationalism surged. Catalan separatist fee l they have multiple reasons to secede from Spain but the main reasons are that they have their own culture, history, and language; have experienced a history of persecution as a result of Spanish rule; and that they are responsible for a large majority of Spain’s economic success. Catalonia is one of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions, each region having its own executive, legislative, and judicial branch. It is located in the northern part of Spain on the border of France and is divided into a few different regions: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. According to a census performed in 2012 the population is roughly 7.5 million accounting for just over 16% of Spain’s total population. The city of Barcelona is the regions capital and is also the second largest city in Spain with a population of about 1.63 million (Generalitat de Catalunya). Catalonia has its own history, separate from the rest of Spain, rich with culture and tradition. They also speak a language different than is spoken in the rest of Spain known as Catalan. Catalan is not a dialect of Spanish but rather a language that was developed on its own with Latin origins and is recognized as one of the four official languages in Spain. 93.8% of citizens living in Catalonia can understand Catalan (Generalitat de Catalunya) and around 9 million people worldwide speak the language. There are laws in place within Catalonia in order to preserve the language and makes sure it lives on. Some examples of such laws are that all businesses must display their material in Catalan or risk being fined, doctors are required to speak and understand Catalan, and there are quotas in place to regulate Catalan media (Miley). While it is true that 98.8% of Catalan’s understand spanish, children in public schools must be taught in Catalan and can only receive a maximum of three hours per week in spanish training (Govan). This is because the people of Catalan have realized that for their language to survive the test of time it must be heavily involved in education of the youth. Catalan’s feel that their own language and culture deserve to be recognized by national borders and wish to govern the land as they see fit.   Catalan’s rich history and culture has not always been welcome in Spain and the rest of the European Union and the people of Catalan do not feel they receive the respect they deserve. There have been several distinct attacks on Catalan language throughout history but the most recent took place during the rule of General Francisco Franco between 1939 and 1975. Franco gained power over Barcelona following the Spanish Civil War with a goal of uniting Spain and removing those that attempted to differentiate themselves, including those that speak a different language. Throughout the time of his rule Catalan speakers and academics were persecuted and repressed. The autonomy that the Catalan’s had come to know was stripped away from them and Catalan nationalism was subdued. The Catalan language was banned from being used and was completely removed from the educational system. Along with this all remnants of the language were sought out and changed including media and street na mes. There was also a wave attacks on nationalist resulting in several thousand being killed or exiled. This persecution continued until Franco’s death in 1975 but the legacy of his rule has not been forgotten. Following the death of Franco in 1975 a new ruler took the throne, King Juan Carlos. Carlos was a fair ruler to the people of Spain and pushed to democratize the country. In 1978 the Spanish constitution was written and in it Catalan was officially recognized as the official language of Catalonia (Barcelona’s Languages). To this day the people of Catalonia cherish this victory as it represents the fortitude of the Catalan people and their ability to stand up to oppression. The people of Catalan, while happy to be recognised by Spain, feel they deserve more and wish to be an official language of the European Union. Catalan is a language similar in prevalence to Castilian Spanish, Swedish, and Czech (Mari 1). As expressed in the preceding paragraph, the Spanish government has neglected to serve or even defend the people of Catalonia in the past and many Catalan’s feel they must do so individually. There are many organizations throughout Catalonia whose mission it is to spread the language and culture on an international scale. One of these is the Consortium for Language Normalization, a program which aims to help foreigners that have recently moved to Catalonia learn the Language(Mari 2).   The people of Catalonia have long been in a struggle to make their voices heard on a national and international level and believe they have not been fairly represented by Spanish rule.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The third and final reason Catalan’s wish to separate from Spain is that they are one of the wealthiest regions in Spain and believe they are not fairly compensated for the amount of money they generate for the country. Catalonia is known to be one of the wealthiest and advanced regions of Spain accounting for nearly thirty percent of Spanish exports and although its GDP per capita is slightly below average compared with other nations in the European Union, it is still about twenty percent higher than the rest of Spain (Alexopoulos). It is also estimated that Catalonia makes up for around twenty percent of Spain’s total GDP (Goodman), a contribution that would be sorely missed by the Spanish Government. Catalonia’s most popular export locations are too surrounding countries in the EU including Portugal, Germany, France, and Italy. There is also a large amount of products that are imported to the rest of the country which would make Spain one of Catalonia’s main importers if they succeed in independence. In recent years, Catalonia has grown its export rate by more than Germany, France, and the Netherlands, and in the technology sector saw an increase in exports of about 9% (Wharton University of Pennsylvania). Catalonia also asserts that it pays more in taxes to the central government of Spain than it receives back in spending on infrastructure and its citizens. Those pushing for independence say that Catalonia would be better off in the long run if it kept the money that is currently being sent to the Central Government and instead spent it themselves and provide its people with the necessary social and security services. Furthermore, a study performed by the Universit y of Edinburgh claims that independence could shift the competition for firms within Catalonia. If Catalonia were to become independent, firms would be protected from direct competition with Spain and those that would normally be pushed out of the market may be able to survive and thrive (Comerford). Although some experts believe an independent Catalonia is fiscally possible, there are many consequences that will be difficult to overcome for the people. Currently, the central government of Spain located in Madrid is opposed to any sort of independence and claims that Catalonia already has more autonomy than most places in Europe. The region is the only one in Spain that operates its own police force and also has a reasonable amount of control over other factors such as culture, transportation, education, and health (Goodman).   In recent years however the people of Catalonia have grown restless and are pushing harder and harder to gain independence. In 2006 the central government of Spain and the Catalan authorities agreed to transfer more power to the region, a move which was agreed upon by the Spanish National Parliament. In 2008, however, Spain entered an economic crisis during which many Catalan’s believe their wealth would be better served if it was only supporting the people of Catalonia and not the rest of Spain. In 2010 the constitutional court of Spain moved to strike dow key parts from the 2006 agreement stirring up the independence movement and causing over 1 million people to take to the streets of Barcelona in protest. This sparked pro-independence parties to win the regional elections. On November 9th, 2014 Catalonia held a referendum for independence, they later scrap the plan saying the vote was just an opportunity for Catalan’s voice their opinions regarding independence. Although less than half of all registered voters ended up casting ballots, more than 80 percent were in favor of secession which the national government dismissed as propaganda. In the fall of 2015 Catalonia’s pro-independence party won the majority of the regional seats and draft a pro-independence resolution. Later this same year, Spain’s constitutional court rules the resolution to be unconstitutional. In 2017 the fight for independence heats up as the national government bans the former Catalan president Artur Mas from holding any sort of public office, this coming two years after the 2014 vote. In June of 2017 Catalan President Carlos Puigdemont sets the date for a new independence vote stating that a new republic will be formed within 48 hours if a pro-independence vote wins regardless of voter turnout. One September 7th, about one month before the vote is set to happen, Spain’s constitutional court rejects the ballot following a challenge from the central government. Later that same month about a dozen Catalan leaders were arrested for organizing the referendum. Police also capture around 10 million ballot papers and the Constitutional Court of Spain tells Catalonia it will fine the electoral board daily for disobeying the court orders. On September 29th Spanish government pledges to block the referendum while Catalan leaders reaffirm their position to proceed forward with it. Protesters occupy schools to be used for voting while police tell them to either leave by the following morning, October 1st,   day of the vote,   or face the consequences. The following day, hundreds of people are injured as national police close in on polling locations but defiant Catalan voters still manage to cast their ballots. On October 3rd Spanish King, Felipe VI, accuse secessionists of tearing apart Spain but hours later Puigdemont responds claiming Catalonia will declare independence once all votes have been counted. Puigdemont does not make a formal declaration and instead enters into talks with Spanish central government. At this point Spain takes control of Catalonia and dissolves its political autonomy, firing the elected government and forcing an entirely new election. On October 27th Catalonia moves to declare independence from Spain in defiance of the central government. The move is seen as mostly symbolic as neither Spain or the international community is likely to view Catalonia as its own nation. Since the vote, Spain has taken complete control over Catalonia and has also arrested and jailed nine former Catalan separatists on charges of rebellion. It wasn’t until March 25th, 2018, however, that Puigdemont was arrested in Germany after an international warrant for his arrest was made. He will be charged with rebellion and sedition and embezzlement. In my opinion, Catalan should remain a part of Spain not only as a benefit to the rest of Spain but as a benefit to the people of Catalonia themselves. The economic consequences of leaving Spain will tear Catalonia apart. The first reason for this is that Catalonia will lose its EU status as well as all the protections that come with it. The EU has already made it clear that it will not accept an independent Catalonia and if Catalonia wishes to continue trading with member other members of the EU they will face trade tariffs that are not currently present. Furthermore it is expected that businesses headquartered in the region would be forced to move since they would no longer be able to benefit from the policies of the EU. One such example is the EU has eliminated all import/export duties between its members. There are no trade barriers and workers are free to move around without restriction. These policies are in place to promote a unitary marketplace where capital is free to move b etween states (Moussis n.pag). All Catalan companies would automatically lose these freedoms and may would most likely choose to relocate. Another economic consequence is trade with the rest of Spain. In other secessionist movements, such as Czech and the Slovak Republics or Slovenia and Croatia, it was noted that trade fell between the freshly separated nations by about 33 percent to 66 percent in the first few years after seperation (Alexopoulos). Catalan exports to the rest of Spain make up for nearly 36% of exports from Catalonia and if the past trend continues, which it has no reason not to considering the tension between the two, it can be expected that Catalonia will instantly lose a large segment of its export market. If trade falls and businesses decide to leave, unemployment rates will skyrocket and people in the area will suffer one firm, Credit Suisse, estimates that secession would cause the Catalan GDP to fall by roughly 20 percent which would greatly reduce the per capita income (Alexopoulos). Although I understand the plight of the Catalan people who wish to have their culture respected, I believe there is room in Spain for multiple cultures to thrive and flourish. The central government of Spain does not wish to destroy the Catalan culture but rather to protect the people living in the region from making emotionally charged decisions without first weighing all of the negative consequences. Catalonia is a region of Spain full of culture and tradition. They speak their own language, celebrate different holidays, and choose their own rulers. For many years throughout history Spanish rulers were not kind to the people of Catalonia attempting to suppress their culture in an attempt to create a unified Spain. What these rulers did not understand is that one of the reasons Spain is such a beautiful country is that it has such a diverse background. In recent years, however, this has not been the case and Catalonia has had political autonomy and freedom to practice their own traditions. For a large group of Catalans this freedom is simply not enough and they wish to become an independent nation. In the past few years the central government of Spain has blocked these moves citing the constitution and more recently has even taken away the political freedom Catalonia once had. While I understand the plight of the Catalan people who wish to have their culture respected by becoming its own nation, the decision is emotionally driven and the economic consequences would be to great for the nation to bear.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   References Generalitat de Catalunya. Catalonia. n.pag. Web. 21 February 2014 . http://web.gencat.cat/en Miley, Dr. Thomas Jeffrey. The Constitutional Politics of Language Policy in Catalonia, Spain. Adalahs Newsletter. October 2006. p 1-2. Web. 20 February 2014 . https://books.google.com/books?id=S6Ie_HYgjUwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=general+francisco+franco+catalonia&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjP6K_Xt97aAhUBr4MKHaFjDckQ6AEINDAC#v=onepage&q=catalonia&f=false Barcelonas Languages. Barcelona.de. n.pag. Web. 21 October 2013   Barcelona.de Mari, Bernat Joan I. The Cornerstones of Language Policy in Catalonia. Language Policy at the Government of Catalonia. p 1-2. Web. 20 February 2014 . Alexopoulos, Yiagos, et al. Catalonias Choice. Credit Suisse. 19 November 2012. p 2-11. Web. 24 February 2014 . Goodman, Al. Catalans to Link Up in Human Chain Today in their Call for Secession. CNN. 11 September 2013. n.pag. Web. 18 October 2013 Wharton University of Pennsylvania. Is Secession the Answer? The Case of Catalonia, Flanders and Scotland. 2 December 2013. n.pag. Web. 25 February 2014   Comerford, David, Nicholas Myers, and Jose V. Rodriguez Mora. â€Å"Measuring Costs and Benefits of Independence.† University of Edinburgh. 9 October 2012. p 15-20. Print. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/catalonia-s-bid-independence-spain-timeline-developments-n815091 Moussis, Nicholas. The EU Common Market. n.pag. Web. 27 February 2014  

The Immature Love of Romeo and Juliet :: Literary Analysis, Shakespeare

Just as the Friar says in the beginning of the Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet, â€Å"Wisely and slowly, they stumble that run fast.† (II.iii.94). this was a sign of foreshadowing for for the death of the lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Even though fate was a factor that had contributed to a tragic end, there was also personal choice involved, and ultimately, the story may have had a different ending if it weren’t for the flaws of the lovers and their inability to have a grip on reality in dire circumstances. Over the course of the play, the lovers from the conflicting households have not matured and remain rather static in development. Furthermore, in this tragedy, the only son of the montages remains rather childlike, Juliet still seems immature and their relationship over all seems more like a play act on lover rather then something mature and sustainable. Overall, from start to finish, Romeo and Juliet were living in the moment, being absurd and silly rather then focus ing on the future and trying to work problems out effectively. Although the lovers are both fairly impudent throughout the play, Romeo, the male lead, is even more so. Through out the play of Romeo and Juliet, the Montague heir has ceased maturity over the course of the Shakespearean tragedy. First of all, it was â€Å"Rosaline† (II.iii.67). whom Romeo â€Å"didst love so dear† (II.iii.67). at the beginning of the play as he â€Å"groaned . . . woes for Rosaline† (II.ii.74-78) however, he easily fell out of lover with her and in love with the â€Å"fair daughter of the rich Capulet† (II.iii.58) like he was changing his mind on a meal he’d order. Also, he fell out of love with Rosaline because she did not â€Å"doth grace for grace and love for love allow.† (II.iii. 85-88) which basically meant that Romeo didn’t love Rosaline because she didn’t love him back, which is very childish in hindsight. Another way that Romeo is immature is that he doesn’t have a sense of reality fore, heâ₠¬â„¢s always either extremely depressed, like when Rosaline wanted to remain chaised for life or extremely elated like when he met Juliet, while having no real middle ground for his emotions. These are all reasons why Romeo is immature: he’s always heads over heels in love for trivial reasons and he has no to little sense of reality. Although Romeo is immature, it’s unexcused since he’s well onto being an adult by society’s standards, however, Juliet is 14, so for her to be acting like a child is to be expected.

Leadership †Making the Business Successful

Leadership has different meanings to various authors.   Leadership could be defined as influence, that is, the art of process of influencing people so that they will strive willingly and enthusiastically toward the achievement of group goals (Bass, 1981).   Although their approach to leadership theory is primarily one of analyzing lead ­ership style, Fred E. Fiedler and his associates at the University of Illinois have suggested a contingency theory of leadership (Fiedler, 1967). The theory holds that people become leaders not only because of the attributes of their personalities but also because of various situational factors and the interactions between leaders and group members. On the basis of his studies, Fiedler de ­scribed three critical dimensions of the leadership situation that help determine what style of leadership will be most effective (Miner, 1982): Position power is the degree to which the power of a position, as distinguished from other sources of power, such as personality or expertise, enables a leader to get group members to comply with directions; in the case of managers, this is the power arising from organizational authority. As Fiedler points out, a leader with clear and considerable position power can obtain good followership more easily than one without such power (Bowers, 1975). With the dimension of Task structure, Fiedler had in mind the extent to which tasks can be clearly spelled out and people held responsible for them. If tasks are clear (rather than vague and unstructured), the quality of performance can be more easily controlled and group members can be held more definitely responsible for performance. Fiedler regarded the dimension of Leader-member relations as the most im ­portant from a leader’s point of view, since position power and task structure may be largely under the control of an enterprise. It has to do with the extent to which group members like, trust, and are willing to follow a leader (Yuki, 1981). To approach his study, Fiedler set forth two major styles of leadership. One of these is primarily task-oriented; that is, the leader gains satis ­faction from seeing tasks performed. The other is oriented primarily toward achiev ­ing good interpersonal relations and attaining a position of personal prominence. Favorableness of situation was defined by Fiedler as the degree to which a given situation enables a leader to exert influence over a group. To measure leadership styles and determine whether a leader is chiefly task-oriented, Fiedler used an unusual testing technique (Kirkpatrick & Locke, 1991). He based his findings on two sources: (1) scores on the least preferred coworker (LPC) scale – these are ratings made by people in a group as to those with whom they would least like to work; and (2) scores on the assumed similarity between opposites (ASO) scale–ratings based on the degree to which leaders see group members as being like themselves, on the assumption that people will like best, and work best with, those who are seen as most like them ­selves. Today the LPC scale is most commonly used in research. In developing this scale, Fiedler asked respondents to identify the traits of a person with whom they could work least well (Fiedler, 1967). Leadership performance depends as much on the organization as it depends on the leader's own attributes. Except perhaps for the unusual case, it is simply not meaningful to speak of an effective leader or an ineffective leader; we can only speak of a leader who tends to be effective in one situation and ineffective in another. If we wish to increase organizational and group effectiveness we must learn not only how to train leaders more effectively but also how to build an organizational environment in which the leader can perform well (Indvik, 1986). In a highly structured situation, such as in the military during a war, where the leader has strong position power and good relations with members, there is a favorable situation in which task orientation is most appropriate. The other ex ­treme, an unfavorable situation with moderately poor relations, an unstructured task, and weak position power, also suggests task orientation by the leader, who may reduce anxiety or ambiguity that could be created by the loosely structured situation. Between the two extremes, the suggested approach emphasizes cooperation and good relations with people. To conclude, leadership is the art or process of influencing people so that they contribute willingly and enthusiastically toward group goals. Leadership requires followership. The approach to leadership, built on the assumption that leaders are the product of given situations, focuses on the study of situations. Fiedler’s contingency approach takes into account the position power of the leader, the structure of the task, and the relations between the leader and group members. This would make the followers to like, trust and follow the leader. The conclu ­sion is that there is no one best leadership style and that managers can be successful if placed in appropriate situations. References Bass, Barnard M. 1981. Stodgill’s Handbook of Leadership: A survey of theory and research, Rev. ed, New York: The Free Press. Bowers, David G. 1975. â€Å"Hierarchy, Function and the Generalizability of Leadership Prac ­tices,† in James G. Hunt and Lars L. Larson (eds.), Leadership Frontiers (Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1975), pp. 167-180. Fiedler, Fred E. 1967. A Theory of Leadership Effectiveness (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1967). Indvik, Julie. 1986. â€Å"Path Goal Theory of Leadership: A Meta-Analysis,† in John A. Pearce II and Richard B. Robinson, Jr. (eds.), Academy of Management Best Papers-Proceedings, Forty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Chicago (Aug. 13-16, 1986), pp. 189-192. Kirkpatrick, Shelley A. & Locke, Edwin A. 1991. â€Å"Leadership: Do Traits Matter?† Academy of Management Executive (May 1991), pp. 48-60. Miner, John B. 1982. Theories of Organizational Structure and Process, Hinsdale, Ill.: The Dryden Press, Chap.2. Yuki, Gary A. 1981.   Leadership in Organization, (Englewood Cliffs, N.]: Prentice-Hall, chap. 4.                                       

Free Essays on Funeral Traditions

Funeral Traditions EARLY TRADITIONS - Since the earliest beginnings of man on this planet, other humans have buried bodies of dead humans. Archeologists have found shallow graves dug by hand or crude tools. In later dated graves, they have found flowers carefully placed on the body of the deceased. In more recent human history, they have found ancient graves into which tools, hunting weapons and food baskets have been carefully placed. For thousands of years, humans have believed that a dead human body deserves decent and respectful treatment. In the 17th century in Europe care of the deceased was undertaken by the family. They washed and dressed the body, laid-out the body of a period of time in the home, dug the grave, conducted a service acknowledging the life that had been lived by the deceased, and finally, they buried their loved one. Bodies were not embalmed. This European tradition came to America with the original Pilgrims and became the foundation for the American funeral tradition. THE WAKE – Methods of confirming death were crude. Stories of burying life persons were not uncommon. In an attempt to prevent premature burial, families would sit by the body for several hours or a few days watching to see if the person awakened. This became known as the â€Å"wake†. In the Jewish tradition, this became a religious ritual known as the â€Å"watching†. They even have special benches used exclusively for this ritual purpose. During the wake or watching, families would be joined by friends. Today, this tradition is carried on in the form of the â€Å"viewing† or â€Å"visitation†. OUTSIDE SERVICES - In the late 18th century the care of the dead began to be handed over to persons outside the family: cabinetmakers, church sextons and owners of livery services. Each professional had something special to offer. The cabinetmakers crafted coffins. Furniture stores sold coffins and related funeral merchandise. The church sextons laid... Free Essays on Funeral Traditions Free Essays on Funeral Traditions Funeral Traditions EARLY TRADITIONS - Since the earliest beginnings of man on this planet, other humans have buried bodies of dead humans. Archeologists have found shallow graves dug by hand or crude tools. In later dated graves, they have found flowers carefully placed on the body of the deceased. In more recent human history, they have found ancient graves into which tools, hunting weapons and food baskets have been carefully placed. For thousands of years, humans have believed that a dead human body deserves decent and respectful treatment. In the 17th century in Europe care of the deceased was undertaken by the family. They washed and dressed the body, laid-out the body of a period of time in the home, dug the grave, conducted a service acknowledging the life that had been lived by the deceased, and finally, they buried their loved one. Bodies were not embalmed. This European tradition came to America with the original Pilgrims and became the foundation for the American funeral tradition. THE WAKE – Methods of confirming death were crude. Stories of burying life persons were not uncommon. In an attempt to prevent premature burial, families would sit by the body for several hours or a few days watching to see if the person awakened. This became known as the â€Å"wake†. In the Jewish tradition, this became a religious ritual known as the â€Å"watching†. They even have special benches used exclusively for this ritual purpose. During the wake or watching, families would be joined by friends. Today, this tradition is carried on in the form of the â€Å"viewing† or â€Å"visitation†. OUTSIDE SERVICES - In the late 18th century the care of the dead began to be handed over to persons outside the family: cabinetmakers, church sextons and owners of livery services. Each professional had something special to offer. The cabinetmakers crafted coffins. Furniture stores sold coffins and related funeral merchandise. The church sextons laid...

Tin essays

Tin essays Tin has been known since ancient times. It has been traced back to the Egyptians in 2000 BC when it was used in bronze. Tin's name comes from the Etruscan god named Tinia. Its chemical symbol, Sn, is an abbreviation of its Latin name, Stannum. Tin is found on both land and in the sea. Major tin producing countries include Malaysia, Indonesia, Bolivia, Thailand, Russia, and Brazil. Unfortunately for these countries? economies, the huge demand for tin has dropped drastically since the production of aluminum. Aluminum is easier and cheaper to produce. Tin is in about fiftieth place on the list of elements most commonly found in the earth's crust. Scientists estimate that the crust is about 1-2 parts per million of tin. Stannum has a melting point of about 232 degrees Celsius. It is a soft and weak metal, so it is never used by itself. Tin is non corrosive. It can also conduct heat and electricity very easily. Tin has no taste and no smell. Stannum has three naturally occuring forms that include white tin, gray tin, and brittle tin. White tin is the most common. It is metallic and malleable and occurs when temperatures are above 13.2 degrees Celsius and below 161 degrees Celsius. White tin turns into gray tin when temperatures dip below 13.2 degrees Celsius. Gray tin is brittle and powdery. The third form of tin, brittle tin, occurs at temperatures above 161 degrees Celsius. A strange property of tin is its ability to make a screeching sound when it is bent. This sound is referred to as "tin cry." Tin reacts slowly in dilute acids, but quickly in concentrated acids. It also reacts easily in alkaline solutions. Another interesting fact is that ten naturally occuring isotopes and fifteen radioactive isotopes have been discovered. The process of separating tin from other compounds is relatively easy. The process begins with washing the mixture over riffles. It's like a wash board with its wavy accordion fold look. The tin set ...

Cause and Effect essay topic ( Reasons that relationships fail)

Cause and Effect topic ( Reasons that relationships fail) - Essay Example Other salient ingredients are communication and forgiveness. The foremost cause of relationship collapse has been singled out: ineffective communication. Not opening up to the other person. Understanding is rooted in disclosure.Laughter and play enrich communication by enhancing intimacy. And while sharing both parties must listen to each other and give the other adequate time for self-expression. All other causes including laziness, complacency and lack of cooperation of breakdown stem from this. Men tend to shut down communication-wise to avoid confrontation. For example when a spouse arrives home late and there is a flood of abuse from the other. At the core of this reaction is fear of loss.Once communication goes; it is easier to be detached, insensitive and even selfish about things. There is no support in such a relationship. Another is jealousy. Rivalry is present in almost every relationship. It arises when there is disconnection or competition between people. Selfishness prevents us from feeling one with others’ achievements and genuine happiness at the success of others. Rooted in distrust, suspicions emerge that a projection of our own insecurities. When our emotional attachments to people are irrational, we are prone to become possessive and demanding. A constant need for attention stems from people not having confidence or an inner belief in others. Domination is tied to jealousy. The need for personal space or individual freedom doesn’t go away with the decision to couple. A controlling nature breeds conflict as there’s a lack of mutual understanding and no freedom of expectations. Obsession with other people’s faults because of intolerance and the constant attempts to try to change the other person (Goldschneider, 42) The effect of any of the above mentioned problems on a relationship are stress. Jealousy gives way to paranoia and from this; it is easy to argue about even the most simplistic of issues. When couples feel they

Consultants Report Telecommuting at IBM Indiana Essay

Consultants Report Telecommuting at IBM Indiana - Essay Example Half of the company’s business volume was spread out worldwide. It was in the mid-1980s, however, that the company started to have problems. The profits of the company had started to plunge down. Analysts concluded that the reasons behind the downfall were not many but were strong enough to shake an established company. They were: the bureaucratic and slow-moving setup of the company, maintenance of old business strategies and reluctance to replace them with newer ones, incorrect assessment of business risks. As said by Ducker (1993), it is a business sin to sacrifice tomorrow’s opportunity on the altar of yesterday. This was precisely the reason why IBM got off-track its road to success. Though IBM did try to cope up with the growing trends of the market by introducing a PC in the market almost overnight after Apple introduced the first PC in the mid-1970s but they could actually never get out of the MAINFRAME mask that they had put on themselves. Then the time came wh en IBM was being administered by JOHN AKERS who was a career IBMer in the ear 1985. Since the downfall of the company had already begun several steps were being taken by the administered in order to downsize the company. A summary of the downsizing of the company can be viewed in the attached table. The administered however resigned in the year when despite all his efforts the company continued to lose stocks and suffered major losses in the year 1992.Louis V. Gerstner then replaced the former head of the company. Further downsizing of employees was then consented upon by the management of the company. The establishment of the company’s office in the state of Indiana was an evident example of the problem the company was facing overall. The Indiana office reduced its number of employees to about 30% in the year 1992. The General Manager Operation s for the State of Indiana was foreseeing another cut in the number of employees.