The Causes of Poverty Concentration in the Modern World

Introduction In wealthy nations, concentrations of poverty always exist and persist. The major reason for poverty concentration is income inequality. The causes can best be understood using three theoretical perspectives: labor market dynamics, institutional view, and socioeconomic environment view.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Causes of Poverty Concentration in the Modern World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper therefore explores the causes of such concentrations and localities of poverty using the three theoretical perspectives. It then provides remedies for the inequality witnessed and gives an analysis of why the causes and remedies to income inequality in rich nations may differ from those of poor economies. Poverty definition Poverty is a deprivation of basic needs and well being in people. In simple terms, poverty is best understood as the lack of money or commodities in general and the in ability to access opportunities to functions within a society [Handbook: pp1]. The use of income paradigm helps to monetize the concept of poverty. Even though the average income of people living in developed countries is above the poverty line, the nations still experience concentrations of poverty especially when it comes to income inequality. The gap between high income earners and low income earners is widening despite the fact that there a reduced gap between the rich and the poor. Reasons for concentrations of poverty There are three main perspectives that help understand the causes of income inequality in developed countries. The three include socioeconomic environment view, institutional view, and labor market dynamics. Labor dynamics Two approaches can be used to explain how labor dynamics increases concentrations of poverty in developed economies. The first one is skill-biased technical change. According to this approach, there is creation of a technological shift that fav ors a portion of the labor market and leaving the other portion trying to cope with the situation. For instance, advances in technology will favor highly skilled workforce over the low skilled workforce. Essentially, demand for high skill labor has been on the rise within developed countries thereby creating biasness in the labor market. As the demand for high skilled labor increases, the wages also increases leading to a wage inequality in the labor market. This may be illustrated using a supply-demand model. When new technologies are introduced, supply of skilled labor expands at a slower rate than demand does. There is competition between innovation and education.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As for low-skilled labor, both supply of and demand for it decreases over time, resulting in no upward pressure on wages. At the same time, skill-biased technical change leads to increasing labor market premium to skill and thus increasing wage in high-skilled labor market. Therefore, distributional problems arise. In addition, changes in international trade patterns and off-shoring also have impact on demand for skills, especially for people at the bottom of skill-income distribution. Additionally, the effects of the labor market dynamics on the poverty concentration can be explained using the traditional models. The Kuznet hypothesis and Lewis model predict that income inequality should follow an inverse U-curve along the process of development [Understanding poverty pp63]. Empirically observed curves over a long term do not provide strong supports to this hypothesis. Kuznets stressed development as a process of economy moving from rural (labor-intensive) sector to urban (IT-intensive or labor saving) sector. His argument seems to be supported by the 1913-1948 inequality declines in many developed countries. But they seem â€Å"to be due to specific econo mic shocks and circumstances† that do not have much to do with labor migration. [Understanding poverty p64] Institutional view Both formal and informal institutions play important roles in disparities of incomes. In formal institution, expansion of educational infrastructure cannot match up with the expansion of innovation and technology. There is unequal distribution of resources through redistribution and welfare transfer. Redistribution of resources occurs through mechanisms such as divorce charity, welfare, monetary policies, and taxation. The currently existing policies and government interventions on redistribution of incomes do not favor income equality. The regulation in labor market lack control over executive compensation. In as much as high income earners are taxed, the policies on taxation do not favor the low and middle income earners. In regards to the informal institution and social norms, executive compensation has been noted to have a phenomenal increase in th e US between 1970 and 2000. This rise is disproportionate to the rise in executives’ productivity and efficiency. In Europe during the same period, no such observation was made. The social economic environment view This perspective is best understood under the view of informal institutions [Groups 146-147]. At individual levels, parental income on offspring education has been identified to have an impact on income disparity witnessed in developed countries. Most young people opt for high education in order to attain high income.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Causes of Poverty Concentration in the Modern World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Those with low levels of education cannot attract certain kinds of jobs with high income levels. At the social levels, there is clustering of poverty which affects individual’s social economic outcomes. Poverty level in urban centers within developed coun tries is framed on the living conditions of dwellers. There are neighborhoods for the wealthy, the upper middle class, and the lower middle class. There are also neighborhoods that enclave on ethnicity and racial backgrounds. This clustering creates an effect on the individual and social economic outcomes. The behavior of individuals within these groups and neighborhoods is influenced by the characteristics and earlier behaviors of elder members of the group. Peer group effect has also been identified to play a role in the economic outcomes of the individuals in the groups [Groups 147]. Remedies Reducing income disparity witnessed in developed countries can be achieved through various mechanisms. The two major ways may include redistribution through benefits and taxation, and ensuring smaller income differences before taxation. However, the redistribution methods should ensure a progressive tax system and estate tax. Both approaches cab be used collectively or combined to address th e situation of income inequality within developed countries. The nature of government activities relating to the economy of a nation makes it impossible to have equal income distribution, especially in a free market economy or a mixed market economy. Income distribution will always be unequal. However, government interventions and regulations can help reduce the disparity. The idea of wage compression and minimum wage encourages investment in non skilled labor thereby reducing the biasness witnessed whenever there is technical change [Understanding poverty p68]. Regulations in the labor market need to be structured in way that encourages parity in income levels. For instance, there are no regulations to review the compensation for the c-level management. Why different Institutional and geographical factors have been described to be at the center of differences in prosperity. The nations located in the tropics are not as rich as those located in the temperate areas. This does not nec essarily imply that climatic conditions have a major role in economic outcomes, but it is a determinant of prosperity. Additionally, the institutions within these areas greatly differ. The main reason for this difference is because of the shaping that transpired during the colonial era. As the Europeans settled in different areas, they set institutions based on the need of each location. For instance, the whites created institutions that attracted economic progress and investment in geographical areas associated with temperate climate. At the tropics, the kinds of institutions set up in these areas were extractive in nature making these areas to be less prosperous.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Geography becomes an important factor to explain the difference because of the historical role it plays in economic outcomes. Some of the nations that are rich today have been rich since history and this can be attributed to their geographical location. The tropic areas were also once richer than the temperate areas, but the impact of colonial activities turned the tables for these areas [33]. Institutions vary over time and across countries. They affect both the economic prosperity and the distribution of income. Good and effective institutions have the implication of enforcement of the rule of law and property rights. They give rise to well-functioning markets, development of infrastructure, and innovation. They also increase social welfare. But the change from dysfunctional institutions to good ones may be blocked by powerful groups whose interests may get hurt if the change takes place [p20-21]. Conclusion Based on the discussion developed in the paper, it is apparent that even though the average income of people living in developed countries is above the poverty line, the nations still experience income inequality. In order to understand the causes of inequality in rich nations, three theoretical points of view have been used: labor market dynamics, institutional view, and socioeconomic environment view. Recommendations on solutions to the problem have also been provided. The remedies focus on two major areas: redistribution of income and ensuring smaller income differences before taxation. Lastly, institutional and geographical factors have been used to explain the differences in remedies and cause of poverty between developing nations and developed economies. This essay on The Causes of Poverty Concentration in the Modern World was written and submitted by user Joey Gray to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

buy custom Operations and Technology Management essay

buy custom Operations and Technology Management essay Slack et al. (2008, p. 2) assert that operations and process management is the action taken to manage the processes and resources that produce services and products. Organizations have an operations function since they produce some kind of services or products. Processes are managed through different approaches using any of the four operation Vs: variety, visibility, volume and variation, as related to the various services and products produced by a business organization. High visibility/variation/variety/volume procedures and processes require management in a distinct way, making use of different people and technology to design and develop a different approach to low volume procedures. Operations strategy is the outline of actions and decisions that shape the lasting objectives, vision and abilities of the operation and its part to the general business strategy. This essay discusses how the effective management of operations contributes to a competitive advantage in Ericsson Company . Ericsson is a company from Sweden that takes part in the telecommunication industry. Its operations also involve data communication systems and the management of similar services related to telecommunication. In the recent past, operations in the telecommunication industry have become a basis of competitive advantage. Telecommunication industry operators are in search of performance objectives like speed, cost, flexibility, quality, and dependability. With the ever-increasing significance of operation, the telecommunication operators have begun looking for external suppliers to beef up their operations. Ericsson Company realized this dynamic trend and set up their managed service department which offers operation structure and human resources to Telco operators (Meurling and Jeans 2000). The DU is a telecom operator based in Dubai and outsourcing its business to Ericsson. DU operates in the following levels. Firstly, there is a front-level operation team that monitors the entire network. Secondly, there is an operation team at the next level for managing the problem of the network and complaints from the customers. This level works with a close link to the business and marketing. The third level constitutes the managemet team for dealing with and scheduling any changes. The fourth level constitutes a team that deals with the performance of the network. Through this, Ericsson has brought about a significant difference and, following the outsourcing of DU, has earned a lot of profit and revenue in the Middle East region. This is very reflective of the manner in which operation has contributed in this success. After Ericsson took up managed operations and services, there were quite a number of issues that were realized in the network. Thus, the first step was to address these matters. Next, Ericsson adjusted to best practices through modification of the operation process and tools. Automated scripts were developed in 2010 to establish proactive measures of monitoring the network and yield statistics of evaluating the market based on promotions for marketing to study trends. Likewise, the planning team applied these statistics to make plans concerning the network. The operations of Ericsson have set up the in-house MSTOP tool founded on globally used Enhanced Telecom Operations Map (eTOM). The tool can be used for processes founded on the 4Vs, interaction amidst various teams in the operation, service level accords, promoting quality, performance and speed within a given time period and finally in an escalation path. With the application of Slack et al. (2008) operation management procedures, the operation for DU by Ericsson is changing from the third stage to the fourth stage. It is not completely at the fourth stage, but is taking up the fourth stage. In connection with both the internal and external end-use and the first stage, most of the issues concerning the external customer are addressed in the communicated time which amounts to customers that are satisfied. In addition, usual meetings with internal customer are being conducted to enhance performance. Likewise, the operation team has gone beyond reactive measures to taking up proactive approaches. All the same, there are a number of conflicts which get extended due to matters between departments. In the second stage, considering operation practice on external neutrality, Ericsson establishes best business and operation practices. Ericsson has esstablished MSTOP found on eTOM toll that uses best practices based on performance monitoring. Changes in the network and their management, the preparation of all processes are aligned with the strategy of the business. This increases the strategic impact and capabilities of operation. Such best business practices have offered a clear advantage to the DU over its competitor, Etisalat, and at the same time gained above 40 per cent of the share in the market, which shows that the best practice is more valuable than the competitors. All the same, operation is not taking up responsibility for restructuring expectation and competencies of the entire supply network (Meurling and Jeans 2000). Connections with competitive strategy and the third stage about the nature of being internally supportive is another level of operation. Quality is an important aspect to DU. The target by the top management is to increase the rate of retention and at the same time decrease the rate of churn. The churn rate is the rate at which the customer of DU leaves DU. Operations are paramount in this sense. The complaints of the customers are thoroughly addressed. The satisfaction of the customer is comparable to the speed through which the operations team will provide a solution. An effort was made in minimizing timelines for solving these issues, evaluation of the changes in the network and the implementation of the changes that add quality value to the network. Thus, those endeavors have made operation helpful to the business internal operation and strategy, while feasibly shaping the competitive strategy. There is also a notable innovation in the operation at the fourth stage which is also externally supportive. Operation in DU takes up a proactive form. The promotions are very significant to the competitive strategy. The proactive plan in 2010 clearly showed an innovative and proactive operation. However, operation is still not involved fully in changing entirely the rules of the game and, even though operation is very important for the competitive strategy, it does not make it. All the same, effective management of operations contributes to a competitive advantage in Ericsson Company. Buy custom Operations and Technology Management essay

External assesment of Snyder's lance inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

External assesment of Snyder's lance inc - Essay Example y has managed to grow that thrive despite the fact that the snack industry is highly competitive is greatly affected by changes in the external climate such as economic and political change. The company was able to survive the recent economic crises which crippled many organizations (Standard & Poors, 45). This paper analyzes the Snyder Lance Inc in terms of its competitors and carries out a SWOT analysis to determine the companies threat, opportunities, strengths and weaknesses. The company currently faces market risks that are linked to energy cost, packaging and ingredients. Since the company has to adhere to certain protocol set for the food industry in terms of packaging and ingredients, this is a potential for increase in costs. The company incurs interest on existing debts depending on the US dollar and the Euro rates of exchange (Poole & Daryl, 37). To manage the risk of exposure to changing exchange rates, the company has entered into interest swaps that ensure that there is balance between the variable rate and fixed rate debt. The company is as exposed to risk of losses arising from exchange rate variation through its operations in Canada where it has a subsidiary. Raw materials used in this subsidiary are obtained by the Canadian dollar while the revenue is dominated by the US dollar. The company is also exposed to credit risk associated with its debtors. The company has over the years engaged in offering credit services to her customers. There i s a need to continually evaluate the customer credit standing to prevent the company from getting into bad debts (Slonecker, 138). Increase in amount in the account receivable has the potential of making it impossible to pay dividends on time and repurchase common stock. We are living in an age where the consumers are aware of the company’s responsibility towards the environment and energy consumption. The company is thus required to adopt greener technologies but at the same time ensure that it maintains

Economics 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Economics 2 - Essay Example Recognizing that economies are fast becoming more integrated and consolidated through the number of transactions conducted within borders, our company has started to look at the events in the global market which could affect our operations. It has began to recognize that the competition is global and that competitiveness should be enhanced in order to be at par with larger global players. This called for the installment of world best practices. How does a government budget surplus affect the economy? How does a government budget deficit affect the economy? During what periods in recent history have the U.S. run budget deficits and budget surpluses? A budget surplus indicates that a company is spending less than what it earns while a budget deficit represents the opposite. In the condition of a budget surplus, the economy is affected as consumption is seen to be lower than expected and the government often needs to stimulate spending by allowing consumers to have lesser taxes. On the other hand, a budget deficit implies that the government will need to borrow money in order to fund its expenditures. The government also often levies tax increase in order to finance its projects. In the United States, budget deficit have been observed from 1993 to 1996 while budget surplus occurs in 1998. Argue in favor of deficit spending on the part of the federal government. Then argue in favor of running government budget surpluses. List the positive and negative aspects of each. Then indicate which policy would be best at this time. A budget deficit is a very potent way in allowing consumers to save. It should be noted that during a budget deficit, customers anticipate that debt will be paid off through additional taxes in the future. Thus, in order to be able to pay these off, they will be motivated to save. On the other hand, budget surplus is recommended because the government will not need additional fund which is often acquired through borrowing from the

Does the idea of equal opportunity demand or prohibit cultural and Essay

Does the idea of equal opportunity demand or prohibit cultural and religious exemptions in the multicultural society - Essay Example On the other hand, it should be noticed that in most countries around the world the development of various legal and social ethics is based on certain principles the most important of which is equality; the specific principle is often used by governments internationally in order to justify their decisions on a variety of issues related with people’s daily life. The principle of equality is further divided into sub-principles like the equal opportunity one. Generally, it could be stated equal opportunity should prohibit the exemptions related with culture and decision within modern societies; of course, there are cases where such exemptions should apply – when the criteria for the development of these exemptions cannot be related with the principle of equal opportunity (e.g. specific religious exemptions based on the existed religious rules of a particular region). In order to evaluate whether the principle of equal opportunity can be used in order to impose or prohibit cultural and religious exemptions in modern society it is necessary to refer primarily to the general framework of equal opportunity – as developed in modern states influenced by the relevant theoretical and empirical studies on this field. Other issues, like the relationship between the state and the church and the involvement of culture in the development of specific social principles could be also examined. In order to understand the importance of equal of opportunity within the modern society and its interaction with various social and cultural principles and ethics, it is necessary primarily to refer to its meaning and its characteristics. In accordance with a definition published by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2002, online version) equality of opportunity is a political ideal that is opposed to caste hierarchy but not to hierarchy per se; the background assumption is that a society contains a hierarchy of more and less desirable, superior and inferior positions’. The

Tribological audit on Gears

Tribological audit on Gears Tribology has been there since the beginning of recorded history. Tribology is the word basically derived from Greek in which ‘tribos means rubbing. From this we understand that â€Å"Tribology is the scientific study of interacting surfaces and of related subjects and practices†. [1] The 3 factors that are considered to be a major factor in tribology are friction, wear and lubrication. Friction is defined as the opposite force created when 2 surfaces are in contact. Friction can cause damage to the parts in contacts due to the heat generation and this can be studied using tribology. Wear is defined as the irregularities caused in a surface due to the external factors. Running a machine with weared parts can reduce the life of the machine. Lubrication is defined as the viscous liquid applied between two surfaces in contact for better performance and longer life. Untitled.jpg Gears are means by which power is transferred from the source to the application. [2] In the present world it has been used in most of the mechanical machines so that power can be transferred in an easier and sufficient way. The gearing technology started at about 100 years before and it was carried out by the Europeans in the ‘Dark Ages to bring out the development in the gears. [2] As years passed by more developed versions of gears were introduced which were lightweight, with high speed and gears that could withstand high loads. The gears are used as an important component in automobiles so that power is transmitted from the engine to the wheels to cause an increase in the speed of the vehicle. Hypoid gears are one of the common gears used in automobiles to do this operation. [2] Transmission which is defined as two or more gears working in tandem is used as an important principle in automobiles. In todays world many gears have been developed and these gears are being used for different purposes. These gears have been been divided into 2 such as: External Gears: In these types of gears the teeth can be found outside the cylinder or cone. Internal Gears: These types of gears have teeths in the inner surface of the cylinder or cone. Spur GearsWith either internal or external gears a lot of gears have been developed for different purposes and these gears are explained below: a) Spur gears: This is one of the most common types of gear. These gears have teeth perpendicular to the face of the gear and the edge of the tooth is parallel to the axis of rotation. The disadvantage of these types of gears is that they are a little noisy at low speeds and this reduces to a minimum at higher speeds. [7] b) Rack and pinion gears: This type of gears consists of a rack more like a spur gear with infinite radius of curvature and a pinion gear which keeps on rotating over the rack. These types of gears are mainly used to convert circular motion into linear motion. Trains run on railway tracks based on this principle. Racks Gears c) Helical gears: Helical gears are almost similar to the spur gears. The difference is that the teeths are in a helicoids shape and are not parallel to the axis of rotation. [7] It is less noisy than the spur gears and is widely used in industries. [7] Double helical gears are also used which has helical gears kept inversely on both sides. Helical Gears d) Worm gears: These are the type of gears that consists of a concave teeth profile and this teeth is usually engaged to helical gears. It is used where power is to be transferred at 90 degrees. Here sliding motion is caused rather than helical motion. [7] Heavy lubricants with good film thickness is used to prevent contact of the metals because since the teeth is small there is a chance in breakage of the teeth causing higher maintenance of the gears. Worm Gears e) Bevel gears: These types of gears have conical shaped teeths. It is mainly used to connect shafts to intersecting lines. The angle between 2 bevel gears can be between 0 to 180 degrees depending upon the purpose. Bevel gears with equal number of teeths and shafts at 90 degrees are called miter gears. Spiral bevel gears also known as hypoid gears are used in automobiles. These gears will always have shafts at 90 degrees. Bevel Gears f) Epicyclic gears: Here 2 or more external gears move inside an internal gear as shown in Fig. 8. These types of gears are mainly used in mechanical differentials. In all the types of gears above due to their contact with each other a frictional force is created between them and due to these frictional forces it can cause wear to the gears. Here the tribological factors come into play and reduce the life cycle of the gears. This can also cause the tooth of the gears to break. So lubricants have to be used to an extent to improve the life of the gears and materials have to be used according to the kind of environment in which the gears are to be used. Materials used for making Gears: Gears can be made from a wide variety of materials such as wood to high steel alloys depending on the requirements. Gears in different mechanical machines needs different materials to overcome the surrounding obstacles, for longer life of the equipment and the machine and also to reduce the cost. Due to these the design of gears will always depend on the accuracy level needed for the gears, load to be applied on the gears, speeds to which the gears will rotate, the noise limitations and the material to be used. So the cost of the gear will always depend on these factors. [2] So while selecting materials we should consider the tribological factors that would affect the gear while its operation like: * Allowable bending and Hertz stress because as the bending stress is low there is a chance for the gear to get bend at higher temperatures. * Wear resistance as the gears and gear tooths should not get weared at higher speed of rotation of the gears. * Impact strength as the gears should not break when it is engaged with higher force with another gear. * Water and corrosion resistance to resist against corrosion due to lubricant action. * Manufacturing cost to make the gears profitable * Size and weight so that the gears can be used in all machines * Lubricant requirements to see that costly lubricants are not required to maintain the gears. * Dimensionally stable and reliable. * Stress free structure [3] Depending upon these factors, different materials are used and the details about properties of the materials and the conditions on which these materials are used are given below: 1) Plastics: In the past, gears were made of wood or phenolic-resin impregnated cloth and as years passed by more light weight, low cost gears were required. With the invention of new polymers in plastics it gave more opportunities for the preparation of light weight, low cost gears. For this the most common plastics used today are acetate and nylon resins. This plastic gear reduces the cost of the gears when produced at large quantities and also is sometimes mixed with metals for longer and quieter operation of the gears. But since these acetate and nylon resins gears are limited to certain conditions such as strength, temperature resistance and accuracy it was required to make a different polymer for the preparation of the gears and a different polymer called ‘Polyamide was developed. This polyamide molded gears could resist higher temperatures and could be used in certain situations in place of metal gears to overcome the tribological factors but due to its higher cost for p roduction its still not used in all situations. [2] 2) Non-ferrous alloys: Titanium is also another material that can be combined with other metals to form a gear. Also the die cast materials like zinc, aluminium, brass, bronze are also used for gears due to its high corrosion property, high strength, less machining. These non ferrous alloys can be used for making gears because it can overcome most of the tribological factors. But these metals cannot be produced at large quantities due to its high cost of production. [2] 3) Cast iron: Cast iron is used for the preparation of gears because of its low cost, machinability and moderate mechanical properties. There are 3 types of cast irons differentiated basically depending on the structure of graphite in these irons. These are gray iron, malleable iron and ductile iron. Out of these the malleable and ductile irons have good shock resisting property and are mostly used in most of the gears by mixing it with other metals so that the gear made from this will be able to overcome most of the external factors affecting tribology. [2] 4) Sintered Powder Metals: These metals are used where high production is required with low cost. The process is simple where powder is put into the suitable high pressure die. A wide variety of selections of powders are available in this section of powdered metals. This sintered powder is also widely used in automotive industries by hot forming process which was recently developed to improve the mechanical properties of gears and resist against the effects of tribology. [2] 5) Hardened steels: This is one the most commonly used material in all industries for the manufacture of gears. These types of materials are used based on the factors like load, time period for which the material will work, lubricants to be used and the surrounding conditions that affect tribology such as temperature, pressure and humidity. When the gears are to be run at moderate temperature a low alloy material will be used for the production of gear and if the work load on the gear is to be high a high alloy material will be used after case carburizing or case nitriding to increase the fatigue strength. Of the 2 processes the case carburizing will have more distortion than the case nitriding process and would require an additional grinding process that would cause an increase in the cost of the gears. [2] Steel alloy is mostly used for the production gears more than normal steels. The materials used for gear preparation are an important factor for the preparation of gears as the working, the life of the gear, strength of the gear will all depend on the material. The material chosen must also be able to withstand the friction, wear and lubrication and have to be overcome to have long lasting and strong gears. If correct material is not chosen according to the criteria the machine can be of a complete failure and may not work properly. While selecting the materials the following factors have to be considered: Surface of the gears: The surface of gear has an important part in the life cycle of the gear as it must be able to withstand friction, wear and it must be able to properly engage with other gears and provide the required power to the required output shaft. For gears the surface texture which is defined as â€Å"the combinations of imperfections on a surface† [11] must be smooth and the gap between two teeths must be of proper size so the the 2 teeths are engaged correctly to each other. Eventhough gears now produced are with poor geometrical perfection or quality of surface texture companies is trying hard to produce gears with reduced surface texture by processes such as honing, lapping and super finishing methods. This is the opposite force caused when one body moves tangentially over another. The force can cause heat between the surface and can lead to the wear of the parts. The quality of the material used and the surface roughness decides the amount of friction that would occur on the surface of gears and this inturn decides the depth of wear that would occur on gears.The different types of wears that occurs on the surface of gears are given below: Ø Adhesive wear: This type of wear occurs on the tooth surface and is very difficult to find. Here the surface of the tooth gets a quashed look due to the long running of the gears. A moderate adhesive wear can also be caused on the gear surface due to variable loading of on the gear at different times. [15] The moderate adhesive wear will appear bright and can be seen with the naked eye 9as shown in fig. 11). Ø Abrasive wear: This type of wear occurs on gear surfaces when fine or severe dust particles are present in the lubricant used to reduce friction between the engaging gear surfaces. This type of wear is mainly seen in machines used at cement factories, road laying machines, mining machineries etc. The abrasives can cause the surface texture of the gear to change which in turn causes the application of more lubricant to the surface for the smooth running of the machine. [15] The abrasives in the lubricant can be of 2 types and cause wear to the gear in 2 methods which are classified as mild abrasion and severe abrasion.  · Mild Abrasion: This type of wear is caused when mild or fine particles are present in the lubricant and this causes wear on the surface of the gear. This cause only small marks on the surface of the gear and wear increases in the longer run of the gears. [15]  · Severe Abrasion: This type of wear is caused when large particles are present in the lubricant. It causes a larger wear in the gear and also can cause the breakdown in the machine. [15]  · Corrosive Abrasion: This type of abrasion is caused when the chemicals in Lubricating oil reacts with the surface. [15] Conformity: It is defined as â€Å"the degree of agreement between the surfaces†.[1] The degree of conformity must be maximum for gears to exactly engage and run for a longer period of time. Initial wear can increase the conformity between the gears. If the right amount of lubricant is added during the initial wear period the initial wear will stop by itself and increase the conformity between the gears. High conformity is found mostly between 2 flat surfaces. The lowest conformity is found between a flat surface and a ball.[1] Surface Texture: It is surface condition that depends on the material of manufacture, the way in which the material was processed, the lubricant used on the surface and the type of wear that occurs on the surface. Surface texture is an important factor for gears movement of the gears and the degree at which the gears touch each other depends on this property. Below the shows the terms that are used for defining the surface texture: The irregularities in the surface of gears must be reduced to minimum while making a gear so that the thin film lubricant can run smoothly between gears and reduce the tribological factors between the gears. The surface finish should be smooth and must be free from sharp irregularities to increase the fatigue strength of the gear and this should be maintained throughout the gears to have a quieter operation. [3] The surface of the gear which is to be in contact with the other gear has to be of higher strength so the tooth dont get weared out easily. The precision of the gears structure should be considered for long lasting of the gears. The surface of the gears can be improved using methods like polishing, heat treatment methods, Lubrication for smoother operation of gears: Lubricants are a viscous fluid applied between 2 gears for reducing the heat generated between them and to lubricate the teeth to reduce the friction between the gears. The selections of lubricant have to be correct to in order to provide high efficiency, good reliability, low maintenance and long life for the gears. [4] Generally the gear operates in 3 modes of lubrication mainly boundary, mixed, full film and hydrodynamic lubrication. The boundary condition is attained when the gear is started or stopped. With increase in relative motion the mixed lubrication condition is obtained and with further increase in speed the gear is said to run at full film lubrication.[3] â€Å"If there is a lubricant between the 2 contact surfaces and it is sufficient to protect the gears from contact then the lubrication is called as hydrodynamic lubrication†. [1] The lubricant differs from the normal liquid by the property of viscosity. Viscosity is defined as â€Å"the measure of the fluids resistance to flow†. [13] Since gears would be under high pressure and sliding it would require a medium to high grade lubricant. As the viscosity of lubricant increases the lubricant is said to be more reliable for the gears. A gear lubricant is said to have the below factors for obtaining a good performance from the gear: * thermal and oxidative stability * thermal durability * compatibility with seal materials * protection against excessive gear and bearing wear * high-temperature extreme pressure protection * gear and bearing cleanliness * emulsibility characteristics * rust and corrosion protection, especially to yellow metal components * antifoaming characteristics [5] The major tribological factors of the lubricant are:  · Viscosity: It is a property of the lubricant for providing the lubrication affect to the engaging gears. The viscosity of the lubricant can protect the gear from friction. Higher the viscosity greater the protection to the gears.  · Additives: It is a chemical substance added to oil to increase the property of oil and protect the gear against wear. Additives can protect the gear from wear and overheating. Better the additives greater will be the protection for the gear.  · Contamination: It is the addition of an external component in the lubricant that could reduce the property of the lubricant. This is a disadvantage for gears. If the contaminated substance is large it can cause a breakdown to the gears.  · Degradation: It is the wearing out of some parts of the gear due to chemical reactions. This is also a disadvantage to the gears. More the degradation more the chance for the tooth to break off. The below table explains the factors affecting selection of industrial gear lubricants: Factor Requirement Gearing Type * Spur and bevel * Helical and spiral bevel * Hypoid * Worm Low slide, low speed Moderate slide, moderate to high loading High slide, high loading Excessive sliding,moderate to high loading Loading High loaded industrial gear drives requires the use of extreme gear pressure gear lubricants. Surface finish Rougher surfaces requires high viscosity oils Smoother surfaces can use low viscosity oils Transmitted power As load is increased viscosity must be increased. Gear speed The higher the speed of the gear drive the lighter the viscosity needs to be Materials compatibility Some types of extreme pressure additives can attack yellow metals like brass and bronze Temperature The industrial gear lubricants viscosity must be selected based on the lowest and highest operating temperature. Types of gear lubricants: There are lots of oil used as lubricant for gears to reduce wear,to protect against corrosion, to protect the gear against oxidation and to prevent the formation of foam between the 2 gears. [12]  · Inhibited oil: This is a lubricant used to prevent the corrosion and foaming between the gears. [12]  · Extreme Pressure Oils: These oils contain inhibited oils and chemically active substances and are used for modifying the friction acting between the 2 engaging gears.[12]  · Compounded oils; These are oils made from steam cylinder stocks compounded with fatless additives. The purpose of this oil is also to reduce friction.[12]  · Open gear compounds: This lubricant consists of additives and is used for high, slow speed heavily loaded gears. This lubricant protects the gear teeth from damage.[12]  · Greases: This is one of the commonly used lubricants. It consists thick soap contents. It can only be used on low speed gear surfaces.[12] Methods of lubrication:  · Grease Lubrication: This type of lubrication is used at gears with0 to 6 m/s tangential speed. It can be applied on all types of gears operating at low speeds. Excess of this lubricant can lead power loss and viscous drag.[5]  · Splash Lubrication: This type of lubrication is applied to gears with speed of 4 to 15 m/s tangential speed. Here the lubrication is done by running the gear through an oil bath. The lubricant is effective only from 3 m/s speed of the gear and the oil should be prevented from mixing with some other liquid or particles which could cause a damage to the gear teeth.[5]  · Spray Lubrication: This type of lubrication is applied to gears with more 12m/s of tangential operating speed. Here the oil for lubrication is sprayed through a nozzle. The nozzle should be engineered properly as there is a chance for the oil to get deflected out of path of flow by centrifugal force or by the air that is flowing out. [5] Lubricants can protect the gears from the tribological factors such as friction and wear. We know what are the types of lubricants to be used, their applications and the types of lubrication processes. It is important that we select the right amount and quality of lubricants for the gears so that they have a longer life and dont get weared out easily. Engineers are still now researching to find the best lubricant for gears so that defects in gears like scoring, scuffing, pitting doesnt occur at all for gears. The gear noise is also prevented to an extend by lubrication. Operating Conditions for Gears: Operating conditions are important tribological factors for gears as this will determine the lubricant to be used, the material to be selected for making gears. The operating conditions of gears are determined by the factors like load applied on the gear, the speed at which the gear is about to rotate,relative motion between the gears, environmental condition, the product of pressure and velocity acting on the gears and the temperature on which the gear is about to work. These operating conditions which are to be considered for operation of gear are applied below: 1) Load: Load is the determining factor for the strength of a gear which determines the material to be used for the gear production, the amount of rubbing that would occur between the gear surfaces, the whole network of surface stresses that would occur in the contact zone of the gear surfaces and the coefficient of friction that would occur between the gears. The load also influences the behaviour of a lubricant or the abrasive particles present in the lubricant which would cause an impact on the gear tooth directly. The other area where the load influence is known is at the bonding between the gears that is directly dependent on the degradation of the surface films, increase in contact area and on temperature. In fact loading has a major impact on the change, age and wear characteristics of the materials. The schematic diagram of the influence of load on the operation of gear is given in the fig. 11.the explains the stresses produced due to load applied and the effects of these sub stances on the element.So in order to keep the gear in good condition and free from wear the following points have to be taken into account: * To keep the gears in good condition progressive loading of gears is a best way. * Decrease in load variation as it would reduce the rise of cavitation in the gears * Decreasing fatigue loading in gears to prevent surface fatigue wear.[14] 2) Speed: Speed of gear is an important factor as it varies from one mechanical component to another and is an important factor for the working of the machine. The parameter of the gears that are greatly influenced by the speed of gears are : a) Temperature: Temperature is a factor which is greatly influenced by the speed of the gear. As the speed of the gears increases the temperature between the gears also increases leading to more heat dissipation. Inorder to maintain the temperature between the gears we have to consider a good coolant and a good heat conducting surrounding medium. b) Friction coefficient: The effect of speed on the friction coefficient comes into play especially in a lubricated circumstance, where this factor determines the hydrodynamic load carrying capacity. At very low speed of the gears there is a chance for the stick-slip phenomenon due to the fluctuation in friction coefficient. [14] 3) Relative motion: The relative motion involves motions like sliding, rolling, spinning and bouncing. These motion can decrease the performance of the gear and also can cause wear in the gear. The use of correct material, lubricant and designing the gear correctly can increase the performance of the gear and also give longer life to the gear. [1] 4) Environment: Environment can cause a decrease in performance of the gear. This is caused by the contamination of the lubricant and also due to the chemical reaction of the lubricant with the gear metals. [1] 5) Product (PxV): Here the quantity of heat generated by friction is calculated from the energy at the contact which is given by the equation E = QVf (where Q = load applied to the contact, V = displacement velocity, f = friction coefficient). Here the term PxV is used as a reference to estimate the limiting conditions for materials such as polymers, solid lubricants, self lubricating sintered materials etc. This in turn can be used as a basis for the selection and comparison of materials. Thus we are able to know the maximum PxV for certain materials and us them for the production of gears. [14] 6) Temperature: Temperature has a major effect on the contact zone of the 2 surfaces of a gear. The temperature increase in the tooth of the gear can cause geometric distortion or loss of clearance in the tooth. It can also cause an increase in the coefficient of friction and wear to the gear. Temperature can also cause deterioration in the mechanical properties of the materials and change the properties of the lubricants. An increase in the interfacial bonds is also caused which lead to a chemical reaction between the materials. [14] Conclusion: Thus the audit of gears using the tribological factors such as material, surface, lubrication and operating conditions was conducted. It is found that gears are useful in most of the mechanical applications and also have a lot of properties that are to be taken care of while the operation of the gear. In todays world, a lot of materials are available for the manufacture of gears. These materials can only be used in different conditions and have their own advantages and disadvantages. So in future a much modern material with zero wearing property and that provides longer life to the gears have to be developed. In the case of surfaces of gears smooth finished gears are already been produced these days. A surface with normal surface texture and conformity will provide smoother running of gears in future. A lots of lubricants are available in todays world. In future a more advanced lubricant can be developed that can reduce wearing of gears completely and also help to increas e the performance of gears to the fullest. All gears today are developed for performing at a particular load and temperature above which the gear can get damaged. So in future gears have to be developed that can operate at maximum temperature and load so that wear of gears due to these characteristics can be reduced to minimum. References: [1] J.A. Williams, Oxford Science Publications, OUP, 1994, pp.1. [2] Coy, J.J., Townsend, P.D. and Zaretsky, E.V., â€Å"Gearing†, NASA RP-1152, December 1985. [3] Gear Materials, Ashoka Group [online].[Accessed on 6th December,2009]. Available from: http://www.gearshub.com/gear-materials.html#selection [4] Gearology, Boston Gear [online].[Accessed on 2nd December,2009]. Available from: http://www.bostongear.com/training/gearology.asp [5] Gear Lubrication [online].[Accessed on 4thDecember,2009]. Available from: http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Drive/Gear_lubrication.html [6] Lawrence G. Ludwig, Jr., Schaeffer Manufacturing Company, Lubrication Selection for Enclosed Gear Drives.Machinery Lubrication. January 2005 [7] Gear Types, Engineers Edge [online].[Accessed on 4th December,2009]. Available from: http://www.engineersedge.com/gears/gear_types.htm [8] Precision Gears,Inc [online]. [Accessed on 4th December,2009]. Available from: www.precisiongears.com [9] Gears,Monarch Bearing [online]. [Accessed on 4th December,2009]. Available from: http://www.monarchbearing.com/gears.html [10] Surface Finish [online].[Accessed on 6th December,2009].Available from: http://www.mfg.mtu.edu/cyberman/quality/sfinish/index.html [11] Surface Texture –Definition [online].[Accessed on 6th December,2009].Available from: http://www.toolingu.com/definition-350140-22499-surface-texture.html [12] Gear Systems – A Tribological Review [ online].[Accessed on 6th December,2009]. Available from: http://www.chunbotech.co.kr/techinform/ti-13.pdf [13] Viscosity [online].[Accessed on 6th December,2009].Available from: http://www.princeton.edu/~gasdyn/Research/T-C_Research_Folder/Viscosity_def.html [14] Neale.M.J, Polak.T.A., Priest.M, â€Å"Handbook of Surface Treatments and Coatings†, Professional engineering Publishing Limited London and Bury St Edmunds,UK,2003,pp. 24-27. [15] Gear Failures[online].[Accessed on 6th December,2009]. Available from: http://www.nptel.iitm.ac.in/courses/IIT-MADRAS/Machine_Design_II/pdf/2_7.pdf

History of the Internet Essay -- essays research papers

A very common question that often arises is ‘When was the Internet developed or invented?† That is a good question, one that is hard to define as it has many multiple answers. The Internet, including the World Wide Web (WWW), is perhaps one of the greatest inventions of our time. Without a doubt, it has had a profound effect on almost every aspect of our lives. The formation and implementation of the Internet has changed the way we do business, communicate, entertain, retrieve information, and even educate ourselves. Nevertheless, the Internet might have never materialized if it had not been for some innovated thinkers from the Advanced Research Project Agency, who created "ARPAnet." The Internet began as a proposed plan to interlinked a network of computers at several universities and research laboratories through a project of the United States Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), directed by American engineer Robert Kahn, and American computer scientist Vinton Cerf initially developed protocols for Internet transmission. This network of computers was originally designed in the event of a large-scale nuclear war to protect the information at these institutes. In the beginning there were only 4 computer nodes attached to this fledging network, two years later there were fifteen, and thirty-two in another year. Throughout the '70s, ARPA's network grew. Its decentralized structure made expansion easy. Unlike standard corporate computer net...

Fool Chapter 23

TWENTY-THREE DEEP IN THE DUNGEON â€Å"My fool,† said Lear, as the guards dragged me into the dungeon. â€Å"Bring him here, and unhand him.† The old man looked stronger, more alert, aware. Barking orders again. But with the command he commenced a coughing fit that ended with a spot of blood on his white beard. Drool held a water skin for the old man while he drank. â€Å"We've a beating to deliver, first,† said one of the guards. â€Å"Then you'll have your fool, well striped as well as checkered.† â€Å"Not if you want any of these buns and ale,† said Bubble. She'd come down another stairway and was carrying a basket covered with cloth and steaming the most delectable aroma of freshly baked bread. A flask of ale was slung over her shoulder and a bundle of clothes tucked under her free arm. â€Å"Or we'll beat the fool and take your buns as well,† said the younger of the two guards, one of Edmund's men and obviously not aware of the pecking order at the White Tower. Bugger God, St. George, and the white-bearded king if you must, but woe unto you if you crossed the cantankerous cook called Bubble, for there'd be grit and grubs baked into all you'd ever eat until the poison finally took you. â€Å"You'll not want to press that bargain, mate,† said I. â€Å"The fool's wearing the kit of one of my servers,† said Bubble, â€Å"and the boy's shivering naked in my kitchen.† Bubble threw a bundle of black clothing through the bars into the cell with Drool and Lear. â€Å"Here's the fool's motley. Now strip, you rascal, and let me get back to my business.† The guards were laughing now. â€Å"Well, go on, little one, get your kit off,† said the older guard. â€Å"We've hot buns and ale waiting.† I undressed in front of the lot of them, old Lear protesting from time to time, like anyone gave a hot bootful of piss what he had to say anymore. When I was radiant naked, the guards unlocked the door and I crept over to the bundle. Yes! My knives where there, secreted in with the rest. With a bit of sleight o' hand and a distraction from Bubble handing out buns and ale, I was able to secure them inside my jerkin when I dressed. Two other guards joined the two outside of our cell and shared the bread and ale. Bubble waddled back up the stairs, shooting me a wink as she went. â€Å"The king are melancholy, Pocket,† said Drool. â€Å"We should sing him a song and cheer him up.† â€Å"Sod the sodding king,† said I, looking directly into Lear's hawk eye. â€Å"Watch yourself, boy,† said Lear. â€Å"Or what? You'll hold my mother down while she's raped, then throw her in the river? Have my father killed later, then? Oh, wait. Those threats are no longer valid, are they, uncle? You've carried them out already.† â€Å"What are you on about, boy?† The old man looked fearsome, as if he'd forgotten he'd been treated like so much chattel and thrown in a cage full of clowns, but instead faced a fresh affront. â€Å"You. Lear. Do you remember? A stone bridge in Yorkshire, some twenty-seven years ago? You called a farm girl up from the riverbank, a pretty little thing, and held her down while you commanded your brother to rape her. Do you remember, Lear, or have you done so much evil that it all blends into a great black swath in your memory?† His eyes went wide then, I could tell he remembered. â€Å"Canus – â€Å" â€Å"Aye, your poxy brother sired me then, Lear. And when no one would believe my mother that her son was the bastard of a prince, she drowned herself in that same river where you threw her that day. All this time I have called you nuncle – who would have thought it true?† â€Å"It is not true,† he said, his voice quivering. â€Å"It is true! And you know it, you decrepit old poke[44] of bones. A warp of villainy and a woof of greed are all that hold you together, thou desiccated dragon.† The four guards had gathered at the bars and peered in as if they were the ones who were imprisoned. â€Å"Blimey,† said one of the guards. â€Å"Cheeky little tosser,† said another. â€Å"No song, then?† asked Drool. Lear shook his finger at me then, so angry was he that I could see blood moving in the veins of his forehead. â€Å"You shall not speak to me in this way. You are less than nothing. I plucked you from the gutter, and your blood will run in the gutter on my word before sundown.† â€Å"Will it, nuncle? My blood may run but it will not be on your word. On your word your brother may have died. On your word your father may have died. On your word your queens may have died. But not this princely bastard, Lear. Your word is but wind to me.† â€Å"My daughters will – â€Å" â€Å"Your daughters are upstairs, fighting over the bones of your kingdom. They are your captors, you ancient nutter.† â€Å"No, they – â€Å" â€Å"You sealed this cell when you killed their mother. They've both just told me as much.† â€Å"You've seen them?† He seemed strangely hopeful, as if I might have forgotten to bring the good news from his traitorous daughters. â€Å"Seen them? I've shagged them.† Silly, really, that it should matter, after all his dark deeds, all his slights and cruelties, that a fool should shag his daughters, but it did matter, and it was a way to unleash a little of the fury I felt toward him. â€Å"You have not,† said Lear. â€Å"You have?† asked one of the guards. I stood then, and strutted a bit for my audience, plus it was a better position for grinding my heel into Lear's soul. All I could see was the water closing over my mother's head, all I could hear was her screams as Lear held her. â€Å"I shagged them both, repeatedly, and with relish. Until they screamed, and begged and whimpered. I shagged them on the parapets overlooking the Thames, in the towers, under the table in the great hall, and once, I shagged Regan on a platter of pork in front of Muslims. I shagged Goneril in your own bed, in the chapel, and on your throne – which was her idea, by the way. I shagged them while servants watched and in case you were wondering, because they asked, and as any princess should be shagged, for the pure sweet nasty of it. And they – they did it because they hate you.† Lear had been wailing while I ranted, trying to drown me out. Now he growled, â€Å"They do not. They love me all. They have said.† â€Å"You murdered their mother, you decrepit loony! They've put you in a cell in your own dungeon. What do you need, a written decree? I tried to shag the hate out of them, nuncle, but some cures lie beyond a jester's talents.† â€Å"I wanted a son. Their mother would give me none.† â€Å"I'm sure if they had known that they wouldn't have despised you so deeply and done me so well.† â€Å"My daughters wouldn't have you. You didn't have them.† â€Å"Oh, I did, on my black heart's blood, I did. And when it first started, each of them would shout Father when she came. I wonder why. Oh yes, nuncle, I did indeed. And they wanted you to know – that's why they accused me before you. Oh yes, I bonked them both.† â€Å"No,† wailed Lear. â€Å"Me, too,† said Drool, with a great juicy grin. â€Å"Beggin' your pardon,† he quickly added. â€Å"But not today?† asked one of the guards. â€Å"Right?† â€Å"No, not today, you bloody nitwit. Today I killed them.† The French marched overland from the southeast and sailed ships up the Thames from the east. The lords of Surrey on the south showed no resistance and since Dover lay in the County of Kent, the forces of the banished earl not only offered no resistance, but joined the French in the assault on London. They'd marched and sailed across England without firing a single bolt or losing a single man. From the White Tower the guards could see the fires of the French drawing a great orange crescent in the night that illuminated the sky to the east and south. When the captain made the call to arms at the castle, one of Lear's old knights or squires, under the command of Captain Curan, put a blade to the throat of any of Edmund's or Regan's men, demanding they yield or die. The personal guard forces within the castle had all been drugged by the kitchen staff with some mysterious non-lethal poison that mimicked the symptoms of death. Captain Curan sent a message to the Duke of Albany from the French queen that if he stood down, in fact, stood with her, that he could return to Albany with his forces, his lands, and his title intact. Goneril's forces from Cornwall, and Edmund's from Gloucester, camped on the west side of the Tower, found they were flanked on the south and east by the French, and on the north by Albany. Archers and crossbowmen were dispatched to the Tower walls above the Cornwall army and a herald fought his way through the panicked forces to a commander, carrying the message that the forces of Cornwall were to lay down their weapons on the spot or death would rain down upon them such as they could not imagine. No one was willing to die for the cause of Edmund, bastard of Gloucester, or the dead Duke of Cornwall. They laid down their weapons and marched three leagues to the west as instructed. In two hours it was all over. Out of nearly thirty thousand men who took the field at the White Tower, barely a dozen were killed – all of those, Edmund's castle guards who refused to yield. The four guards lay spread about the dungeon in various awkward positions, looking quite dead. â€Å"Dodgy sodding poison,† said I. â€Å"Drool, see if you can reach the one with the keys.† The Natural stretched through the bars, but the guard was too far away. â€Å"I hope Curan knows we're down here.† Lear looked around wild-eyed again, as if his madness had returned. â€Å"What is this? Captain Curan is here? My knights?† â€Å"Of course Curan is here. From the sound of the trumpets I'd say he's taken the castle, as was the plan.† â€Å"All your theater was misdirection, then?† said the king. â€Å"You're not angry?† â€Å"Burning, you old twat, but I was growing weary with keeping the tirade up while the bloody poison took hold. You're no less a turd in the milk of human kindness than I have said.† â€Å"No,† said the old man, as if my anger actually mattered to him. He began coughing again and caught a handful of blood for his effort. Drool propped him up and wiped his face. â€Å"I am king. I will not be judged by you, fool.† â€Å"Not just a fool, nuncle. Your brother's son. Did you have Kent murder him? The only decent bloke in your service and you turned him into an assassin, eh?† â€Å"No, not Kent. It was another, not even a knight. A cutpurse who had come before the magistrate. It was he who Kent killed. I sent Kent after the assassin.† â€Å"He is vexed by it still, Lear. Did you have a cutpurse kill your father as well?† â€Å"My father was a leper and necromancer. I could not bear his misshapen form ruling Britain.† â€Å"In your place, you mean?† â€Å"Yes, in my place. Yes. But I did not send an assassin. He was in a cell at the temple at Bath. Out of the way, where no one might ever see him. But I could not take the throne until his death. I did not kill him, though. The priests there simply walled him up. Was time that killed my father.† â€Å"You walled him up? Alive?† I was shaking now, I thought I might have forgiven the old man, seeing him suffer, but now I could hear my blood in my ears. The sound of boots on stone echoed in the dungeon and I looked up to see the bastard Edmund walk into the torchlight. He kicked one of the unconscious guards and looked at them like he'd just discovered monkey come in his Weetabix.[45] â€Å"Well, that's a spot of bother, isn't it?† he said. â€Å"I suppose I'll have to kill you myself, then.† He stooped and took a crossbow from one of the guards' back, fit his foot in the stirrup, and cocked the string. INTERMISSION (Backstage with the Players) â€Å"Pocket, you rascal, you've trapped me in a comedy.† â€Å"Well, for some, it is, yes.† â€Å"When I saw the ghost I thought tragedy was assured.† â€Å"Aye, there's always a bloody ghost in a tragedy.† â€Å"But the mistaken identity, the vulgarity, the lightness of theme and paucity of ideas, surely it's a comedy. I'm not dressed for comedy, I'm all in black.† â€Å"As am I, yet here we are.† â€Å"So it is a comedy.† â€Å"A black comedy – â€Å" â€Å"I knew it.† â€Å"For me, anyway.† â€Å"Tragedy, then?† â€Å"Bloody ghost is foreshadowing, innit?† â€Å"But all the gratuitous shagging and tossing?† â€Å"Brilliant misdirection.† â€Å"You're having me on.† â€Å"Sorry, no, it's pikeman's surprise for you in the next scene.† â€Å"I'm slain then?† â€Å"To the great satisfaction of the audience.† â€Å"Oh bugger!† â€Å"But there's good news, too.† â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"It remains a comedy for me.† â€Å"God, you're an annoying little git.† â€Å"Hate the play, not the player, mate. Here, let me hold the curtain for you. Do you have any plans for that silver dagger? After you're gone, I mean.† â€Å"A bloody comedy – â€Å" â€Å"Tragedies always end with tragedy, Edmund, but life goes on, doesn't it? The winter of our discontent turns inevitably to the spring of a new adventure. Again, not for you.† â€Å"I've never killed a king,† said Edmund. â€Å"Do you think I'll be famous because of it?† â€Å"You'll not garner favor with your duchesses by killing their father,† said I. â€Å"Oh, those two. Like these guards, quite dead, I'm afraid. They were sharing some wine over maps as they planned strategy for the battle and fell down foaming. Pity.† â€Å"These guards aren't dead. Merely drugged. They'll come around in a day or so.† He lowered the crossbow. â€Å"Then my ladies are only sleeping?† â€Å"Oh no, they're quite dead. I gave them each two vials. One with poison, the other with brandy. Bubble used the knockout poison on the guards, so brandy was our non-lethal substitute. If either of them had decided to show mercy for the other, at least one would be alive. But, as you said, pity.† â€Å"Oh, well played, fool. But, that said, I'll have to throw myself on Queen Cordelia's mercy, let her know that I was brought into this horrid conspiracy against my will. Perhaps I'll retain the Gloucester title and lands.† â€Å"My daughters? Dead?† said Lear. â€Å"Oh shut up, old man,† said Edmund. â€Å"They was fit,† said Drool sadly. â€Å"But when Cordelia hears of what you've really done?† I asked. â€Å"Which brings us to our apex, doesn't it? You won't be able to tell Cordelia what has transpired.† â€Å"Cordelia, my one true daughter,† wailed Lear. â€Å"Shut the fuck up,† said Edmund. He raised the crossbow, sighted through the bars at Lear, then stepped back and seemed to lose his aim, as one of my throwing daggers sprouted out of his chest with a thud. He lowered the crossbow and looked at the hilt of the knife. â€Å"But you said pikeman's surprise?† â€Å"Surprise,† said I. â€Å"Bastard!† snarled the bastard. He pulled the crossbow up to fire, this time at me, and I sent the second dagger into his right eye. The crossbow twanged and the heavy bolt rattled off the stone ceiling as Edmund spun and fell onto the pile of guards. â€Å"That were smashing,† said Drool. â€Å"You'll be rewarded, fool,† said Lear, his voice rattling with blood. He coughed. â€Å"Nothing, Lear,† said I. â€Å"Nothing.† Then there was a woman's voice in the chamber: â€Å"Ravens cry pork from the battlements, there's dead Edmund on the wind and bird beaks water at his scoundrel scent!† The ghost. She stood over Edmund's body outside our cell, rather more ethereal and less solid than she'd been when last I'd seen her. She looked up from the dead bastard and grinned. Drool whimpered and tried to hide his head behind Lear's white mane. Lear tried to wave her away, but the ghost floated to the bars in front of him. â€Å"Ah, Lear, walled up your father, did you? And?† â€Å"Go away, spirit, do not vex me.† â€Å"Walled up your daughter's mother, didn't you?† said the ghost. â€Å"She was unfaithful!† cried the old man. â€Å"No,† said the ghost. â€Å"She was not.† I sat down on the cell floor, feeling light-headed now. Killing Edmund had made me queasy, but this. â€Å"The anchoress at Dog Snogging was your queen?† I asked, my voice sounding faraway in my own ears. â€Å"She was a sorceress,† said Lear. â€Å"And she consorted with my brother. I did not kill her. I could not bear it. I had her imprisoned at the abbey in Yorkshire.† â€Å"Well you damn well killed her when you had her walled up!† I shouted. Lear cowered at my veracity. â€Å"She was unfaithful, having dalliance with one of the local boys. I could not bear the thought of her with another.† â€Å"So you ordered her walled up.† â€Å"Yes! Yes! And the boy was hanged. Yes!† â€Å"You heinous monster!† â€Å"She did not give me a son, either. I wanted a son.† â€Å"She gave you Cordelia, your favorite.† â€Å"And she was true to you,† said the ghost. â€Å"Up to the time you sent her away.† â€Å"No!† The old king tried to wave the ghost away again. â€Å"Oh yes. And you had your son, Lear. For years you had your son.† â€Å"I had no son.† â€Å"Another farm girl you took near another battlefield, this one in Iberia.† â€Å"A bastard? I have a bastard son?† I saw hope rise in Lear's cold hawk eye and I wanted to strike it out the way that Regan had taken Gloucester's. I unsheathed the last of my throwing daggers. â€Å"Yes,† said the ghost. â€Å"You had a son, these many years, and you lie in his arms now.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"The Natural is your son,† said the ghost. â€Å"Drool?† said I. â€Å"Drool?† said Lear. â€Å"Drool,† said the ghost. â€Å"Da!† said Drool. And he gave his newfound father a great, arm-rippling hug. â€Å"Oh Da!† There was a cracking of bones and the sickly sound of air escaping wet, crushed lungs. Lear's eyes bulged out of his head and his parchment-dry skin began to go blue as Drool gave him a lifetime of son's love all in a moment. When the whistling sounds stopped coming out of the old man I went to Drool and pried his arms off, then lowered Lear's head to the floor. â€Å"Let loose, lad. Let him go.† â€Å"Da?† said Drool. I closed the old man's crystal-blue eyes. â€Å"He's dead, Drool.† â€Å"Tosser!† said the ghost. She spat, a tiny gob of ghost spit that came out as a moth and fluttered away. I stood then and spun on the ghost. â€Å"Who are you? What injustice has been done that can be undone so your spirit may rest, or will at least make you go away, thou ether-limbed irritation?† â€Å"The injustice has been undone,† said the ghost. â€Å"At last.† â€Å"Who are you?† â€Å"Who am I? Who am I? Your answer is in a knock, good Pocket. Knock upon your coxcomb, and ask that trifling machine of thought wherefrom comes his art. Knock upon your cod, and ask the small occupant who wakes him in the night. Knock upon your heart, and ask the spirit there who woke it to the warmth of its home fire – ask that tender ghost who is this ghost before you.† â€Å"Thalia,† said I, for I could, at last see her. I fell to my knees before her. â€Å"Aye, lad. Aye.† She put her hand on my head. â€Å"Arise, Sir Pocket of Dog Snogging.† â€Å"But, why? Why did you never say you were a queen? Why?† â€Å"He had my daughter, my sweet Cordelia.† â€Å"And you always knew of my mother?† â€Å"I heard stories, but I didn't know who your father was, not while I lived.† â€Å"Why didn't you tell me of my mother?† â€Å"You were a little boy. That's not the sort of story for a little boy.† â€Å"Not so little you wouldn't have me off through an arrow loop.† â€Å"That was later. I was going to tell you, but he had me walled up.† â€Å"Because we were caught?† The ghost nodded. â€Å"He always had a problem with the purity of others. Never his own.† â€Å"Was it horrible?† I had tried not to think of her, alone in the dark, dying of hunger and thirst. â€Å"It was lonely. I was always lonely, except for you, Pocket.† â€Å"I'm sorry.† â€Å"You're a love, Pocket. Good-bye.† She reached through the bars and touched my cheek, like the slightest brush of silk it was. â€Å"Care for her.† â€Å"What?† She started to float toward the far wall where the body of Edmund lay. She said: â€Å"After grave offense to daughters three, Soon the king a fool shall be.† â€Å"Nooooooo,† wailed Drool. â€Å"My old da is dead.† â€Å"No he isn't,† said Thalia. â€Å"Lear wasn't your father. I was having you on.† She faded away and I started to laugh and she was gone. â€Å"Don't laugh, Pocket,† said Drool. â€Å"I are an orphan.† â€Å"And she didn't even hand us the bloody keys,† said I. Heavy footsteps fell on the stairs and Captain Curan appeared in the passage with two knights. â€Å"Pocket! We've been looking for you. The day is ours and Queen Cordelia approaches from the south. What of the king?† â€Å"Dead,† said I. â€Å"The king is dead.†

Commercialization and Media in Sports Essay Example

Commercialization and Media in Sports Essay Example Commercialization and Media in Sports Paper Commercialization and Media in Sports Paper 1. Sports have exploded across the globe in every aspect to the game. The author says that commercial sports have become global in scope for two reasons. First, those who control, sponsor, and promote them seek new ways to expand markets and maximize profits. Second, transnational corporations with production and distribution operations in multiple countries can use sports as vehicles for introducing their products and services around the world. Many professional organizations now have games played in other countries and their merchandise is sold all over the globe. Kids that have never even seen a professional American sport on television can own a Chicago Bulls shirt, I believe that this shows how powerful sports can be. Commercialization has also given many different people the chance to fulfill their dreams, without the sponsors covering many costs some people will not be able to participate in the big events to be noticed. Players’ salaries have been one of the biggest positive impacts, for players at least, since commercialization has become big. While there are probably more positive than negative impacts of commercialization in sports, there are still some negatives worth mentioning. Personally, the biggest negative aspect of commercialization is the craziness of advertising in sports. Racing is the biggest; you can barely tell the color of some of the cars because of all the decals on the cars. I believe that advertising and sponsors are necessary, but it gets carried away in some instances. The author mentions that commercialization changes the ways that sports are controlled. When sports depend on the revenues they generate, the control center in sport organizations shifts away from the athletes and toward those who have the resources to produce and promote sports. Players have started to learn that they must answer to the sponsor first. 2. Media and commercialization are closely related topics in the sociology of sport. Commercial sports are unique in that they require the media to provide a combination of coverage and news. Media has become so important that sports promoters and team owners often go out of their way to accommodate reporters, commentators, and photographers. Because of commercial television, many changes in the ways that sports are organized, scheduled, and re-presented. I do believe that some parts to the media have gotten out of control. For a company to have to pay more than 2. 5 million dollars for a thirty-second commercial during the Super Bowl in asinine. I did find it interesting that the author states that males get 90% of the coverage in all the media, and images and narratives tend reproduce ideas and beliefs about gender. I agree with most of the authors major points he makes in the chapter. Some media outlets are dependent on sports and some sports are dependant on the media. The media has made many small colleges get that special athletic talent, because of their television coverage during a NCAA tournament or a NCAA bowl game. I think that they (media and sports) do wonders for each other.

gun control1 essays

gun control1 essays Since the days of the pioneers of the United States, firearms have been part of the American tradition as protection and a means of hunting or sport. As we near the end of the 20th century the use of guns has changed significantly. Because of fast andsteady increase in crime and the fight for the right to own a hand gun, the introduction of legislation for gun control, to try to reduce the crime in the United States, has been a hotly debated issue in recent years. Although many people feel that gun control violates the right of the people, given in the second amendment "the right to bear arms", controlling distribution and sales and the registration of guns and gun owners is necessary because of the homicide rate involving guns and the violence by criminals using guns. Many people feel that gun control violates the right of the people given in the second amendment the right "to bear arms". Opponents of gun control, including the National Rifle Association, better known as the NRA, argue that the "right To bear arms" is guaranteed in the second amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America and licensing restrictions penalize law-abiding citizens while in no way preventing criminal use of handguns. It is also argued that by making it difficult for guns to be bought and registered for the American public there is a threat to the personal safety of American families everywhere. However controlling the sale and distribution of firearms is necessary because of the homicide rate involving guns. In 1988 there were 9000 handgun related murders in America. Metropolitan centers and some suburban communities of America are setting new records for homicides by handguns. Larger Metropolitan centers have ten times the murder rate of all Western Europe. For example in Washington,D.C. there was an estimated 400 homicides including guns. In addition gun control has been seen as necessary because of ...

History Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

History - Assignment Example clination towards those blacks who can otherwise compete on their own but are utilizing the platform of NACCP to achieve their own objectives against the backdrop of black civil rights National Association for advancement of Colored People is one of the oldest organizations in US which has played significant role in the advancement of colored people. A torch bearer of civil movement in the country, this association was founded in 1909 and now have more than 500,000 members across the US and World. Over the period of more than 100 years, NACCP proved itself as one of gross root level organization which is also supported by Whites who are willing to erase the racial injustice in the country. The major achievements of the association include a long struggle for achieving different rights for the colored people within US most importantly their right to vote as well as forcing Federal government to end discrimination against black people. What is so significant about the history of NACCP is its ability to mobilize almost every segment of the society to fight for the rights of the black people. This struggle not only includes the non-violent sit ups but also involved a consistent persuasion of the rights of the black people within the country. Its role during civil rights movement is one of its glorious periods despite the fact that it disagreed with Luther King on different aspects of the movement. This paper will attempt to discuss the history of NACCP and how it contributed towards the rights of black people. This paper however will also provide alternative views about the role and history of NACCP also. NACCP was founded in Feb 1909 with philanthropic support from the White Population which was instrumental behind providing effective support to the black people. This was done in order to ensure that the country provides racial justice to all its citizens regardless of the color. NACCP emerged as a result of the series of violent attempts on the black population

Emirates Airlines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Emirates Airlines - Essay Example Emirates is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world and it has consistently posted an average of 20% growth in annual profit since 1985 (Plunkett, 2007). This research studies some key components of Emirates Airlines and how it relates to tourism and management. It examines the operational characteristics of the airline and how it aims at expanding its scope. The second section of the paper examines the financial performance of the airline and its implications. Finally, the paper examines the competitive situation of the airline and concludes on the findings. From the webpage of Emirates Airlines (Emirates Story, 2012), it started operating in October 1985. It aimed at providing high quality flight services to and from Dubai. The airline is mainly owned by the government of Dubai but it operates as an independent entity. Emirates has over 160 aircrafts and flies to over 100 destinations in 66 countries. A total of 40% of the flights are to or from Dubai. The growth in traffic for Emirates Airlines is characterized by the cumulative expansion of the airlines fleet. In 2001, there were just about 9 million passengers who flew on Emirates but by 2006, it had increased to 17.5 million (Graham et al, 2010). This is done through the offer of different classes of services that ensures that different people from different backgrounds are serviced by the airliner. Emirates flies to 111 cities and operates in five different global regions around the world (Emirates Routes, 2012). In each of these regions, Emirates Airlines provides various services that aim at meeting certain targets that are unique to the continent. In Africa, Emirates flies to 21 cities on the continent. Emirates flights to Africa was hinged on the expansion of business activities with Dubai. Since Dubai was set to become an international destination that links the developing world to Europe and North America. Due to the