History Of Egyptian Architecture

History Of Egyptian Architecture Free Online Research Papers EGYPTIAN PERIOD (3100-311 BC.) To begin with, Egypt, the cradle of the arts of architecture and the seat of the earliest known civilization presents the astonishing picture of a society which went all the way from primitive life to the high level of the civilization by the middle of the third millenium B.C, and then lost its creative power but retained its status for another 2,500 years. By studying the architecture of this civilization we find two very big difficulties. The first is a enormous lenght of time, and the second is the scarity of information. It is difficult to push the true history architecture back so far without trepassing upon ground which belongs to archaelogy. However remains of their architecture are incredibly conserved; this is due to the fine quality of the building stones which Egyptian used, to the dry climate, and to their desire to erect monuments which would endure for ever and it is! Today we can see them on the edge of the sprawling suburbs of Cairo; we have to imagine the emptiness that must have once existed. I) The great history of the cradle of architecture As the pioneers of cicilization and the first teachers of mankind its necessary to come back to the deep egyptian history. In addition to the monumental tombs, with their vast array of historical and others records, extracts have been preserved from the writings of Manetho, an egyptian priest, living in the third century B.C. , who compiled a histoy of his country. Manetho grouped the monarchs of Egypt under some thirty dynasties, but considerable doubt has been thrown upon the accuracy of his chronology. Although other information, more or less reliable, relative to Egyptian history has been obtained from various ancient papyrus manuscripts, yet the question of the exact antiquity of Egypt still remins a matter of controversy. Tradition assigns the commencement of the Egyptian monarchy to a certain Menes, who, at a remote date, founded a dynasty at This. The first dynasty, which, according to Manetho, lasted for 253 years, was followed by a second Thinite dynasty of kings, who reigned for 302 years. The sovereignity was then transferred to Memphis, where the kongs of the third dynasty reigned for 214 years. There is no clear evidence of the actual commences, therefore, with the reign of Sneferu, the founder of so-called fourth dynasty at Memphis Even at that remote period, which Erman places at 2830 and Profesor Rawlinson at 2500 B.C., civilization had already been developed to a considerable extent. Hieroglyphic writing had been invented, numerous pyramids built, great progress made in the arts of sculpture and engraving, and confortable house of wood or stone were in existence. Three kings of the 4th dynasty are especially notable for their monumental efforts in pyramid building, namely , Khufu, or Cheops, the second monarch of the dynasty, who erected the Great Pyramid of Gizeh, near Memphis; Shafra, or Chephren, who built the Second Pyramid and the temple of the Sphinx and probably carved the colossal Sphinx at Gizeh; and Menkaura, or Mycerninus, who commenced The Third Pyramid. The following dynastic periods are of special importance in the political and general history of the country : THE OLD EMPIRE Dynasties IV and V, from about 2830 BC Dynasty VI, from about 2530 BC THE MIDDLE EMPIRE Dynasty XII, about 2130 BC Dynasty XIII, about 1930 BC THE NEW EMPIRE Dynasty XVIII, about 1530 to 1320 BC Dynasty XIX, about 1320 to 1180 BC Dynasty XX, about 1180 to 1050 BC The seven kings of the 5th dynasty governed from Memphis and continued to built pyramids and tombs which, however, were designed upon a far less magnificient scale than those of their predecessors of the 4th dynasty. In the 6th dynasty the centre of the government from Memphis was transfered to Abydos. This dynasty was notable for the completion of the third Great Pyramid of Gizeh. Following long times of obscur kings who, owing to the troublous times in which they lived, left few monuments and buildings, came te famous invasion of the Shephred Kings, a foreign race of monarch, probably Hittites, who ruled Egypt during the period known as the Middle Empire. The founder of the 18th dynasty expelled the Shepherd Kings and reinstated a native monarchy at Thebes, where he and his successor ruled during the period known as the New Empire. In the course of this dynasty two great Colossi were set up at Thebes and the temple of Ammon built at Luxor. In the sucessing dynasty, Manethos nineteenth, the great pillared hall at Karnak was built by Seti I, who also erected numerous temples and commenced the construction of a fresh canal between the Nil and the Red Sea. Setis son, Ramesu II, or Rameses, was a distinguished monarch, and during his reign many great architectural and engineering works were carried out. The unfinished canal, connecting the Nil with the red Sea, and the Ramesseum were completed by this king, who also constructed a grat wall to protect Egypt from the east. In these, as in other great Egyptian buildings, the forced labour of prisoners of war and slave was employed. Rameses III, the second king of the twentieth dynasty, built a magnificent temple at Medinet-Abu and encouraged trade. His successors were undistinguished and feeble monarchs under whom the power began to pass from the king to the priests, who founded a dynasty of their own order. At a later period the Ethiopians extended their sway over southern Egypt. The last period of independant Egyptian history was marked by a singular recovery of national vigour under Psamatik I, or Psammetichus, the founder of the 26th dynasty, who, aided Gyges, King of Lydia, established himself as king over the whole country in 655 BC. Under this monarch great architectural projects, that had remained in abeyance since the time of Rameses III, resumed, the temples at Thebes and Medinet-Abu were restored,and large buildings were constructed at Sais, Mendes, Philae and Heliopolis. Psamatik III, the last king of this dynasty, was defeated by the Persians at Pelusium in 527 BC, and Egypt became a province of Persia. After the death of Alexander the Great, Egypt fell into the hands of Ptoemy, who was crowned king in 306 BC. The Ptolemaic dynasty lasted for nearly three centuries, namely, to the death of Cleopatra, in 30 BC, when Egypt came under the dominion of the Roman Empire. II) Characteristic of Egyptian architecture Principal features Pyramidal and Columnar Architecture When we think of Egypt we think of pyramids. The pyramid represents the earliest example of Egyptian architecture, the temptation to employ decorative detail is repressed and subordinated to the desire to construct a monumental tomb of an imperishable nature, gigantic in size, and impressive by its majestic severity. Its form instantly conveys a sense of stability, through clarity of outline and breadth of base, whether as an isolated object or as one element among others. The Step Pyramid at Saqqara was the first pyramid to be constructed in Egypt and the largest in the stepped form. Later the Egyptians simplified the form, stressing its outine and profile. The pyramids at Giza of Cheops, Khephren, and Mycerinus of the 4th Dynasty (2465-2323 BC) are pure geometrical forms. The temple at the top was replaced by a point, and stepped sides became smooth stone. The pyramid was built up layer by layer in steps until the peak was reached and capped, after which the sloping sides were brought down in stone from the top. Structurally, the pyramid comprises four sloping, triangular planes which spring from a square base and meet at a single point; the outline combines with the horizontal lie of the land to complete the shape of the architecture. Tombs and Temples This impressive and majectic aspiration of Egyptians is also apparent in the rock-cut galleries, temples, obelisk and tombs of later times. As exemple of the artistic skill and scientific knowledge of their constructors, Egyptians temple are preeminent. The earliest temple consisted of a small rectangular chamber, or sanctuary, to which only priests were admitted, containing an altar for sacrifices. Its one-entrance doorway was placed in the front wall of the building. Temples of a later date were built on a much more elaborate plan, rooms, intended for a storage of a sacrificial and ceremonial objects, being grouped round the sanctuary, and in advance of this block of buildings, there were one or more pillared halls. Beyond the halls was a colonnaded courtyard, in which the priests and worshippers were accustomed to assemble, approached through a central gateway flanked by two massive tower-like structures with battering walls, called pylons. A long avenue bordered with shinxes led to the outer courtyard Obelisks Egyptians obelisks cut from a single block of granite are quadrilateral in section, the width diminishing gradually from the base to the top of the shaft which is terminated by a small pyamidion (pyramid-shaped apex). Placed on plain square pedestrals they were usually set up in pairs in front of pylons. The height of the shaft was generally about ten times its thickness at the base, and its four faces were usually adorned with hieroglyphic inscriptions.The loftiest one known is taht of Queen Hatshepsu at Karnak, which is no less than 109 feet in height. Sphinx and Colossal Statues The sphinx, the emblem of royalty, was three kinds, namely : the andro-sphinx which had the head of a man and the body of a lion, the crio-sphinx with a head of a ram and the body of a lion ; and the hierosphinx , with the head of a hawl and the body of a lion. The great Sphinx in front of the pyramids t Gizeh, shown originally resented the appearance of an enormous crouching androsphinx. Between its huge paws was a small temple approached by a flight of steps and constructed of plain monolithic blocks of granite. With the exception of forelegs, which were made from separate blocks, the whole of this huge monument was cut out of the solid rock. Many of the colossal statues of Egyptians kings were of gigantic size. For example, the seated figure of Rameses, at Ramesseum, was 60 feet, and that of Memnon, at Thebes%%%, 53 feet in height. Wonders of Ancient Egypt: 2,575 BC 2,134 BC: Old Kingdom ? Abu Ghurab Ras Budran Step Pyramids of Djoser ? The Giza Pyramids ? The Sphinx ? 2,040 BC 1,640 BC: Middle Kingdom Abydos Karnak ? Thebes Luxor Temple ? Temple of Karnak Serabit el-Khadem Tell el Daba 1,550 BC -1,070 BC: New Kingdom Tombos Piramesses Abu Simbel ? Amarna Deir el Bahri Kush Kingdom Deir el Medina Abu Simbel Tutankhamuns Tomb Characteristics Due to the scarcity of lumber, the two predominant building materials used in ancient Egypt were sunbaked mud bricks and stones, mainly limestone, but also sandstone and granite in considerable quantities. From the Old Kingtom onward, stone was generally reserved for tombs and temples, while bricks were used even for royal palaces, fortresses, the walls of temple precincts and towns, and for subsidiary buildings in temple complexes. Egypt houses were made out of mud collected from the Nile river. It was placed in molds and left to dry in the hot sun to harden for use in construction. Many ancient Egyptian towns have disappeared because they were situated near the cultivated area of the Nile Valley and were flooded as the river bed slowly rose during the millennia. Fortunately, the dry, hot climate of Egypt preserved some mud brick structures. Examples include the village Deir al-Madina, the Middle Kingdom town at Kahun, and the fortresses at Buhen and Mirgissa. Also, many temples and tombs have survived because they were built on high ground unaffected by the Nile flood and were constructed of stone. Thus, our understanding of ancient Egyptian architecture is based mainly on religious monuments, massive structures characterized by thick, sloping walls with few openings, possibly echoing a method of construction used to obtain stability in mud walls. In a similar manner, the incised and flatly modeled surface adornment of the stone buildings may have derived from mud wall ornamentation. Although the use of the arch was developed during the fourth dynasty, all monumental buildings are post and lintel constructions, with flat roofs constructed of huge stone blocks supported by the external walls and the closely spaced columns. Exterior and interior walls, as well as the columns and piers, were covered with hieroglyphic and pictorial frescoes and carvings painted in brilliant colors. Many motifs of Egyptian ornamentation are symbolic, such as the scarabs, or sacred beetle, the solar disk, and the vulture. Other common motifs include palm leaves, the papyrus plant, and the buds and flowers of the lotus. Hieroglyphs were inscribed for decorative purposes as well as to record historic events or spells. In architecture there were variations in detail and minor changes of fashion, but the character of Egyptian design throughout three thousand years is remarkably uniform. There was a general tendency towards greater fineness of finish unfer the later dynasties. Egyptian construction is extremly simple and crude. The need for enclosing large room was not great because of the climate, and the problem of roofing with large spans seems never to have been attempted.Shade was important, and vast columnar halls, loggias and cloisters are characteristic. The arch used in Mesopotamia must have been known from the early times in Egypt but its structural possibilities were not exploited. Planning was not very imaginative and designers seem to have been obsessed with the idea of a main axis-the avenue, the processional way-flanked by monuments and pylons. The origins of architectural detail seems traceable to the forms of timber-, mud-,and ree-construction evolved in the pre-dynastic era. Familiar animals and plants figure largely in highly conventionalized forms in the decoration. Sculpture in the round was important and the incised figures of gods and legendary creatures, as well as pictures of events and hieroglyphic inscriptions, were much used on walls and columns with little regard for the architectural forms Detail of building WALLS, ROOFS, COLUMNS, AND ORNEMENTATION Plans : The plans of egyptians buildings were almost invariably rectangular in form, other geometrical figures, such as the circle or octagon, being studiously avoided. But despite the use of straight lines, there was much irregularity displayed in setting out the plans, the walls being seldom placed at right angles to each pther. The arrangement of the temples was not one that lent itself to external adjuncts of the temple, such as the long avenue of shinxes, huge obelisks, towering pylons, and arcarded courtyards,had an air of stately grandeur and formed a fitting counterpart to the impressive gloom which prevailed within. Walls: Granite, stone, and brick were used by the Egyptians for the walls of their buildings, which enormously thick. The stone-facing blocks were carefully worked and skillfully bedded and jointed. Roofs the ordinary roofing consisted of flat slabs of stine , supported, when the area to be covered was large, by immense beams, or trabeations, of stone or granite which were necessary, received intermediate support from stone columns or pillars. Openings in the walls, chether in the form or doorways or windows, were uniformly square headed and otherwise simple in their architectural treatment. Exept where the lintel was overshadowed by a cornice, the doorways had merely a slight prohection from the face of the walling. Moldings, or projections to relieve that flatness of the walling, were used very sparingly by the ancient Egyptians. Reference has already been made to enriched torus mouldings worked on the arrises of the external walling, and to the curved projecting cornice, surmounted by a flat band, which emphasized the horizontal lines of the buildings, and pratically these were the only moldings used. Columns and piers were sometimes cut from a single blocks of stone or granite, as in the case of the monolithic pillars of the temple of the Sphinx. But as a rule these supports were built up in irregular courses of masonry and afterwards coated with plaster to obtain a monolithic effect. The process by which the plain, square, uncarved pier was developed into the richly ornamented Egyptian column has been explained in the following way. First its four angles were cut and it became octogonal form ; a second cutting produced a sixteen-sidded column the side of which, when made slightly concave, became flutes, while a large stone slab or cap, placed on the top, gave it more than general resemblance to the Doric column. Egyptian columns and support may be roughly classified as follows : the square pier, or post of stone, the polygonal column, plain or fluted. the bud capital column. the lotus-plower capital column. the bell-shaped capital column. the Hator-headed capital column. Of these columns or supports those under were often embellished with vertical of hieroglyphics, and columns classified under were sometimes painted or otherwise ornamented. Those under, of which is an example, concisted of three varieties, the oldest of which, at Beni-Hassan, is composed of four plants with rounded stems bound together by a banded necking. Those of the Labyrinth, and of the processional hall of Thothmes III, consisted of eight stems each presenting a sharp edge on the outer side, the bulbous-shaped lower part of the column being ornamented with leaves. At a later period the simple round shaft variety of this column came into use. The shaft of the lotus flower capital, shown in generally either plan or decorated with inscriptions,was sometimes worked to present the appearance of a group of clustered columns. In early times the shaft was curved inwards at its base, but in the Protemaic period the bulbous shape is seldom found. The columns surrounding the first court at the temple of Edfou rise straight from their bases, and in these and other examples the tapering sides of the shaft are finished by flat bands or neckings placed one above the other. Lotus-flower columns were usually surmounted by a square die, and adorned with rows of leaves and sprigs of lotus or papyrus plaed at the springing of the capital. Ornamentation The earliest Egyptian temples are said to have contained neither hieroglyphic inscriptions nor sculptured images, but at the beginning of the fourth dynasty, at which periof our exact knowledge of Egyptian art commences, the primitive severity of their architectural treatment had been abandoned. At later periods in the history of the country the wall surfaces, pillars, and columns of important building were freely enriched with sculpture and inscriptions, and still later, under the rule of the Ptolemies, decoration in every conceivable form was employed. Among the natural forms of which Egyptian decorative art is based, the following were supplied by a vegetable kingdom : the lotus : a large water lily of grat beauty, the sacred flower which kings offered to the gods the papyrus : a tall smooth reed from the stalk of which the Egptians manufactured their paper and the palm. From the animal and bird kongdom came a beetle, the asp, birds, feathers, and winged plulage ; these, and many other types of decorative detail, were used during all epochs of the national art. The well-kown ornemental enrichment the winged disc, contins a central disc, representing the sun, supported by two asps from which spring widely out stretched wings to symbolize the beneficent activity of sun Wall and Ceiling decoration Hieroglphic and pictorial records of historical events were used to relieve the monotomous effect of large expanses of wall surfaces. In the private tombs the daily lives and occupations of their dead owners were depicted and scenes illustrating the relation which existed between Egypt and the gods decorated the immense wall spaces of the temples.Qualified in his dual capacity of god and man, the king alone was sufficiently high descent to act as a mediator between the deities and the people. Accordingly the Egyptian monarchis pictured in the temples as interceding out the wine, and burning the incense. Ceiling were painted blue and relieved with five pointed yellw stars; in the Ptolemaic age zodiacs, fashioned after Greek models, appear in combinaison with astronomical tables of native origin. Whether carved or painted, ornementation of the character was always conventional in its treatment, and if carved was the earliest peiods usually executed in low relief and sunk within the suface of the stone. But at a later period the wal surface was more deeply cut, with the result that the ornamentation stood out in high relief. Architectural Style ? Focal Points -Statues of Pharaohs and sanctuaries of gods in temples, and sarcophagus in tombs dominated the whole architectural layout. ? Walls immensely thick and sloping structural requirement for balancing (vertical walls of stone are unstable) ? Stone Columns closely spaced Large spans were not possible ? Stone Lintels massive with short spans, stone is a material that has a weak tensile strength ? Flat roofs Domes and vaults were unknown in Egypt ? Small Openings large doors and windows are not possible in stone construction, this also secured privacy to the religious structures inaccessible to the public ? Hieroglyphs- recording of historic events in stone obelisks and walls ? Religious symbols (scarabs, solar disk) essential component for the decoration of all architectural elements ? Single storey buildings Techniques ? The basic construction method was post and lintel. ? Buildings were erected without mortar, so the stones had to fit and cut precisely together. ? Ramps were used to allow workmen to carry stones to the top of structures as height was added, the ramp was raised. Disappearance of the Ancient Egyptian culture Egypt became to be influenced by some other nations which brought the end of the Ancient Egyptian culture. They were conquered by the Greeks in 332 BC. As a result of this they became a province of the Greek empire and they were influenced by the Greek culture both in their art and in their lifestyles, however their religion was respected by the Greeks. In 30 BC they were conquered by the Roman Empire. This brought the final end to the Ancient Egyptian culture. They no longer had pharaohs, they no longer built pyramids, they no longer followed their traditional rules in their art. Their old culture slowly but surely disappeared and all that is left is the ancient Artifacts Research Papers on History Of Egyptian ArchitectureCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionBringing Democracy to AfricaOpen Architechture a white paper19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeThe Project Managment Office SystemWhere Wild and West MeetQuebec and Canada

Taking a Little Break from LinkedIn - A Wedding Roast for Mom

Taking a Little Break from LinkedIn - A Wedding Roast for Mom My family has a long history of writing lyrics for every big family event, to the tune of Woody Guthrie’s â€Å"Hey Lolly.† Hey Lolly consists of rhyming lines, with â€Å"Hey lolly lolly lo† sung after each line and a longer refrain sung after each section. The job (or joy, should I say?) of writing these roasts used be owned by my creatively gifted dad. Since his death 20 years ago, I’ve carried on the tradition in my own way. I wrote songs for my two nephews when they were Bar Mitzvah’ed (one to the tune of â€Å"The Rainbow Connection,† and the other to Pharrell’s â€Å"Happy†). I’ve written wedding roasts for other friends, too. Up until now, never a Hey Lolly. But then my 75-year-old mom got engaged to be married, and it was time. A few months ago, I started thinking of everything I knew about my mom and her fiancà ©, asking them sneaky questions, and putting the best bits into rhyming couplets- which my family and I delivered last Saturday at her wedding. It will help you, as you read, to know a few things: My dad went to Yale and attended just about every Yale-Harvard Game that was hosted at Yale. My sister and her husband combined their names when they were married, to â€Å"Gostein.† My mom drinks kombucha like it’s water, and it’s not unusual to find an entire shelfful of the stuff in her fridge. The wedding took place in Austin, TX, where my mom moved to join my sister several years ago. The wedding had a cowboy theme and the fare was Texas barbecue. Now imagine that my family and I are on stage facing an audience of 200+ guests, with my mom and her fiancà © in centrally located chairs facing the stage. My nephew is on the piano and each of the rest of us is singing a part that were appropriately assigned. I hope you enjoy! Hey Lolly for Marcia and Arnold – March 25, 2017 We gather here with joy and laughter To celebrate forever after Arnold, Marcia, now it’s time To roast you with a little rhyme. HEY LOLLY Arnold Lo – o – pez Cepero Is our tale’s swashbuckling hero And Marcia Bernstein is our queen Or should we call you Marcia Lopestein? HEY LOLLY Arnold ‘fore he met his new belle Spent many hours playing Free Cell, Passionate ‘bout his trips to India, Head filled up with loads of trivia†¦ He likes to study all things quizzical Especially the astrophysical. Marcia spent her hours singing And hugs to her grandchildren bringing She built a life she loved in Austin, With family, friends, and temple tossed in. And what could you count on to sate her? Kombucha in the ‘frigerator. HEY LOLLY Both bride and groom led splendid lives, But something lacked on their insides In both their hearts there was a cavern And so each headed to a tavern. ‘Twas ‘round the middle of November A day we always will remember Marcia got a hunch and came To watch the Yale Harvard Game Arnold showed up too and met A lady he would n’er forget That day this couple’s fate was sealed While Ivies battled on the field. It’s strange that game was so much fun†¦ ‘Cuz Yale lost†¦ but these two won! One problem – Arnold had no number He couldn’t call her – what a blunder! But in the end his Yalie smarts Found a way to Marcia’s heart. HEY LOLLY Two plus years have passed and now Each has made a faithful vow, He puts sushi on her plate, And often keeps her up too late, She has curbed his too-sweet tooth, And brought him to the fount of youth. They’ve traveled to exotic lands, And always come back holding hands Masada brought them sacred blessing Just one step toward their cowboy wedding. Let’s wish them joy that overflows, And love that grows and grows and grows. HEY LOLLY So, that is what The Essay Expert does when I’m not writing about LinkedIn, resumes, or big life lessons. I could write one of these for anyone if I were provided enough material, so let me know if you would like to enlist my assistance. I’d love to have the chance to use this different part of my brain more often. I’d also love to hear your favorite stories and traditions for weddings and other family events. Please share in the comments! Save Save Save Category:Life and LeadershipBy Brenda BernsteinMarch 27, 2017 1 Comment Liz Lynn says: March 28, 2017 at 5:06 pm Mazel tov to all of you!!! So nice to have good news! Log in to Reply

Strategic Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Strategic Management - Assignment Example In this definition, the scope and direction of the strategy and the configuration of resources are within the purview of the organization. External competitive forces determine the 'environment' in which the organization works. Michael Porter (2004) describes five such forces that have an effect on the competitiveness of an organization. These five forces comprise the 'outside-in' business strategy tool as diagrammatically depicted below: 1.1. About Alitalia: Alitalia is the smallest of Europe's full service airlines (after the merger of KLM with Air France and Swissair with Lufthansa) in terms of revenues generated, flights operated and passengers flown and other financial parameters. (See Table-1 below. Table-2 provides comparative statistics for low budget airlines) Alitalia (Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A) has been operating as a full service airline that flies passengers and cargo for sixty years. Alitalia is Italy's national airline with the government holding 49% equity (other shareholders including employees hold 49% and Air France holds 2%). The airline has a fleet of 177 aircraft and flies to 102 destinations in Italy, Europe, the middle and far East Asia, Africa and the Atlantic. Alitalia has modernized its fleet keeping in view the distances and load factors involved in various sectors. In fact the company boasts of operating one of the youngest and most efficient fleets in the world. During the year 2005, 24 million passengers flew Alitalia, which represented a growth rate of 7.8% year on year over 2004. In April 2004, the company acquired the bankrupt regional airline Gandalf Airlines to gain additional slots at several European airports, mainly Milan (Linate) and Paris (Charles De Gaulle). In September 2004 the company sought to lay off almost 5000 employees to avoid bankruptcy and possible liquidation. A vicious fight ensued with employees unions striking work which finally ended with government intervention and provision of a bridging loan. There was a proposal to merge the company with Air France-KLM but it petered out. During this period, to save costs, the company was, splicd into two holding companies. They are Alitalia Fly which controls Alitalia Express, Volare SpA, Volare Airlines and Air Europe. The company holds 51% equity in the new formation Alitalia Servizi which controls the following: Alitalia Airport which operates ground handling services in Rome Fiumicino, Palermo, Cagiliary and passenger handling services in Catania and Naples; Alitalia Mainatenance Systems 40% of which is owned by Lufthans

Economic Improvements in California Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Economic Improvements in California - Essay Example Marois and Pei differentiate between opinion and facts. The article is full of statistical evidence from cited reports published by acknowledged institutions such as World Bank, U.S. Census Bureau, and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp (Marois and Pei 2015). It is difficult to identify any political bias in the article because of the use of numerous statistical findings. However, a likely political bias in the article is Marois and Pei ‘s observation that Brown’s â€Å"proposed state budget show the gains† is purely personal (Marois and Pei 2015). The writers offer no evidence for this observation, which adds more suspicion to the fact that the revise figures will not be available until June 2015 yet this article was published in January. From this perspective, one can easily question why the writers did not wait for the revised figures to observe Brown’s â€Å"gains,† which brews a republican agenda when discussing big governments (Ma rois and Pei 2015). The economic development and related political figures are very important to California. This importance shows the results of efforts made to improve infrastructure and alleviate unemployment and poverty. More specifically, living standards in California are high in comparison to other states. Californians living on and below the poverty threshold might not be thought of as poor in states such as Seattle and Texas.

Urban Area in Hong Kong Essay Example for Free

Urban Area in Hong Kong Essay An Infant becomes elderly as time flies, buildings also do. According to the annual report of the Urban Renewal Authority, there’re 18,000 of buildings over more than 30 years in Hong Kong. All 3600 buildings are in poor conditions. To reverse the urban decay is race against time, redevelopment work is then necessary to carried out in Hong Kong by replacing old buildings with new. In recent years, the Urban Renewal Authority has adopted the concept of sustainable development in order to balance social, economic and environmental impacts on the redevelopment process in Hong Kong. How does it overcome the difficulties in these aspects? We’ll mainly describe them in the following paragraphs with evidences. Environmental The Urban Renewal Authority has been implementing an environmental- friendly and sustainable development in enhancing the built ambiance in urban areas. Vision City and Mount Davis 33 are the typical examples, whose vertical greening developments have been well adopted. The two projects have rewarded the platinum standard certificates by the HK-BEAM Society in recognition of the environmental features in 2006 and 2007 respectively. After the redevelopment of the Vision City, about 8,000 square feet of such vertical greening will be formed by the 40,000 plants. In addition, appropriate and sustainable environmental provisions are made into the construction of joint venture developments of the Urban Renewal Authority. After the application of the green features such as High Thermal Performance Structural Fabric, Renewal Energy Lighting System, and Grey Water Recycling System, Lee Tung Street’s carbon dioxide emission has reduced 23%. Mr. Cheung, the URA Chairman stated that â€Å"this reduction in the projects carbon footprint is equivalent to about 170,000 trees. Why it can reduce such a large amount of carbon dioxide? Let’s take a look of E-glass, an example of High Thermal Performance Structural Fabric, which can reduce the overall cooling load and heat island effect by reflecting 48% of solar energy outwards indoors. For another example which is the Renewal Energy Lighting system, it uses the mixture of street lamps and electronic sunlight collectors to let the street look shinier. Also, there will be less changing the light bulbs daily and for the lighting system; it is use of sun sensor and optical fiber to make the lighting system more environmentally friendly. For the example on Low lighting power for common areas such as the front of the house, when no one is in that particular area, the lights will be switched off automatically. On the other hand, when people entered a room, the lights will be turn on because of the light sensor. Therefore, the Urban Renewal Authority has been developing a green, modern and environmentally-friendly showcase for the renewal areas. Conclusion In conclusion, the urban redevelopment has improving residents’ living standards, promoting a sound economy, and also creating an environmentally-sustainable urban environment in Hong Kong through the redevelopment. One-day success is not a victory. To maintain sustainable redevelopment for Hong Kong cannot only rely on the Urban Renewal Authority, but also government support and everyone’s participation.

Okonkwo in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart Essay -- Things Fall

Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart  Ã‚  Ã‚   Okonkwo, as presented by Chinua Achebe in the novel Things Fall Apart, wished to be revered by all as a man of great wealth, power and control--the antithesis of his father. Okonkwo was driven by the need to exhibit utmost control over himself and others; he was an obsessive and insecure man. Okonkwo's father, Unoka, was "a failure," "a loafer," and "People laughed at him" (1426). This would bring great shame to any man as it did for Okonkwo. In Umuofia "a man is judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father" (1427). In Umuofia "achievement was revered." Okonkwo became obsessed with the need to prove to everyone that he, unlike his father, was a man worthy of respect. Okonkwo worked hard and in time his "prosperity showed in his household" (1429). Okonkwo had "a large compound," "three wives" (1429), "two barns full of yams" and "two titles" (1427). Okonkwo had become a wealthy and respectable man. Still he feared that all would fall apart if he were to allow any slight deviation, any sign of weakness. Weakness could be a slight disobedience of a wife, as happened during the "Week of Peace." Ojiugo was not home in time to prepare Okonkwo's meal and though it was "unheard of to beat someone during the sacred week" (1435), Okonkwo beat Ojiugo unmercifully. Likely, Okonkwo feared that others would view Ojiugo's indifference to her responsibilities as a sign of Okonkwo's inability to control his wife. Okonkwo was just as demanding upon his children and he wanted his "son to be a great farmer and a great man" (1437). Okonkwo would become overly angry if Nwoye made small mistakes while learning. When Nwoye and Ikemefuna were splitting yam... ...ch so that he chose "evil" and took his own life. Achebe, for the most part, does seem to follow the Western formula for tragedy and the tragic hero. Okonkwo, while not born into wealth or privilege, does become a wealthy and powerful man in Umuofia. Okonkwo is neither "good" nor "thoroughly evil" yet does possess a "tragic flaw" that leads to a series of tragic events. Okonkwo begins in poverty and rises to the height of wealth and prestige among his people. He is so obsessed with control, control at all costs, that he begins to make tragic mistakes: beating his wife during Peace Week, killing Ikemefuna, having to flee Umuofia, killing the messenger and then himself. This fits the criteria of "disregard of divine law and trying to escape his fate," as outlined in the study guide. Works Cited: Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Ballantine, 1969.

A Place at the Table Movie Review

I’m glad that I was able to go watch the screening last week because the movie truly emphasized on the alarming situation in our country. I usually don’t like watching films that are relative to what happening to our nation but this movie really showed an impact to me. It's a national disgrace than nearly 50 million of our American neighbors live in homes that can't afford enough food. This compelling film explains why we have this problem, and, most importantly, what we can do to end it.I think everyone in America should see this film because it emphasizes how big the problem is. The movie powerfully displayed the real lives of actual people whom were struggling against hunger. And every single one of these individuals defied a common stereotypes of hungry people. I believe that many Americans believe that we can end U.S. hunger one person at a time, one donated perishable good at a time. They are all acting as a good Samaritan but they are wrong, as this film proves.W hen Ronald Reagan entered office in 1981, there were only a few hundred emergency feeding programs in America, most of which were traditional soup kitchens serving mostly the people who had been historically the most hungry, the single men with substance abuse or mental illness problems. Yet, as a direct result of the economic policies and social service cuts set in motion by Reagan, the number of emergency feeding programs in America skyrocketed, and continued to do so even after he left office.There are now more than 40,000 such programs in America, and roughly two-thirds of them are food pantries, where parents and their children, the elderly, and working people obtain free groceries. Meanwhile, hunger has soared. The truth is that these agencies simply don't have anything close to the resources needed to meet the demand. This vital film proves that the only way to truly end U.S. hunger is by advocating for fundamental change that include living wage jobs and a robust government safety net.

How Frequent Organisational Changes Affect Employees Essay

Today’s business world is constantly evolving. To keep up with the rapidly shifting environment, companies introduce process changes frequently within their organization to improve performance, and outdo their competition. In this memo, the pros and cons of frequent organizational changes are first investigated. By going through the effectiveness of adopting specific activities and leadership style in communicating changes, we seek to understand employees’ reaction to frequent process changes, and how it affects their work performance and attitude towards the organization. This will allow us to understand if employees learn and get better at change, or does change does irreparable damages. Pros and cons of frequent organizational changes When frequent changes are introduced, employees will grow to be accustomed to changes and eventually view it as a company culture. Therefore, whenever there is a change to be implemented, employees will be less resistance to change and accept the change. Employees will learn that changes are meant to improve their work productivity and effectiveness. Using the example of job rotation (Friedrich and Kabst, 1998) between various departments, employees will get accustomed to learning new skills which aim to increase work productivity and effectiveness. When employees are multi-skilled, job satisfaction and productivity increases and they also better understand how their work affects other employees. Employees would also feel that with more skills and knowledge, they are valuable to the company and this gives them a sense of job security. Once employees accept frequent changes, they are able to learn and use past experience of change to help them cope with stress each time new change is implemented. They can better understand change is necessary and how the change can help them perform better with confidence and increase job satisfaction. One of the frequent changes organization adopts is due to globalization. Introduction of strategy, structure and processes enable employees to become better in managing effects of globalization. In such instances, employees become adaptable and better in managing the effect of globalization. Established frequent changes will also encourage change leaders to constantly look for new ways to communicate and implement changes to employees. They can use employee participation, reward management, training and development and motivation which will help to assist employees learn and get better at change. The above positive effects are expected when employees accept changes, learn from and get better with changes. But in reality, employees are by nature resistant to change, and feel primarily stressful when changes are implemented. If employees are unable to accept change and adapt, stress increases and directly impacts their work performance, mental and physical health, and attitude towards the organization (Poole and Van de Ven, 2004), leading to irreparable damages. Employees mostly fear that if they are unable to adapt, they may lose their job. This increases stress levels and directly lead to poor work performance by the employees and lowers productivity level for the organization. Using the example of process change, such as automation through the use of machinery, organization aims to improve productivity, maintain or improve quality standard, and reduce costs. However, older employees of the organization will be resistance to use the machines and they fear that they would not be able to learn how to operate them. They would feel compelled to learn and usually take more time to learn, leading to poor work performance and lower productivity level. In the event that the older employees lose their job, previous tacit knowledge and work experience within the retrenched employees may be lost and this represents irreparable damage to the company. Stress can also lead to health problems such as hypertension and anxiety. When employees seek frequent medical attention, both short and long periods of absences away from work will further impact the organizations daily operation, resulting in poor work performance and attendance for the employees and decreasing productivity for the organizations. Organizations will not be able to recover the lost time and potential profits lost due to low productivity; these are irreparable damages to the company. In the absence where organization fail to adopt specific steps as per suggested by (Kotter, 2007), employees become less trusting and show less commitment to the company. Employee dissatisfaction would accumulate with frequent process changes being enforced onto them, resulting in lower morale and commitment towards the organization. These employees are likely to leave the company when there are better job opportunities. Organizations must than accept when large number of employees leaves, productivity level will decreases resulting in loss of income and potential profits. Organizational will also take longer time to hire and train new employees. Time lost and cost spent to rehire are irreparable damages to the organization. It can be seen that frequent process changes aims to improve a company. But the end effect is mixed. It depends on employees’ perspective to the change, and their ability to adapt. The main crux lies in how the management implements changes, and communicates to the needs of every employee. Effective Activities and leadership style For employees to learn from and get better at change and experience the benefits we discussed above, the change leader should adopt specific effective activities at the right time to effectively implement change (Kotter, 2007). There are five steps that leaders can consider (Waddell, Cummings & Worley): Motivating Change; creating a vision; developing political support; managing the transition and sustaining the momentum. Firstly, change leader should convince employees that frequent change is necessary through motivation. They can do so by creating a sense of urgency, showing employees how frequent change is a preventive measure rather than a salvation solution when they experience deep levels of hurt. Employees are also less resistance to change when they are motivated by the benefits of change. Secondly, change leaders should create a simple and concise vision to enable employees to visualize the desired outcomes through proper plans and processes. Thirdly, change leader should aim to balance the power among the various departments as it is an instinct for various departments to protect their self-interest and compete with one another for resources and influences Fourthly, change leader should facilitate a smooth transition from the organization’s current state to the desired state through activity planning, commitment planning and management structures. Change leader should have a specific activity plan that has clear instructions, action and timeline. Change leader must be committed to see the transition complete successfully. Lastly, once the changes are in progress, change leaders continue to provide the necessary resources for change. He should also have a support system for his employees in place when they face difficulties during the change. A reward system can be implemented for employees when they have successfully performed the changes that led to the desired outcomes. The reward system will encourage the employees to continue the change. Besides adopting the above five steps, a change leader should display a democratic and participative leadership instead of an autocratic leadership (Lewin, 1967), this will reduce the irreparable damages discuss above and ensure that employees learn from and get better at change. Conclusion In conclusion, employees are by nature resistant to organizational process changes but will eventually grow to be accustomed to changes and view it as a company culture. However, it is recommended that change leaders adopt a democratic leadership together with specific effective activities to effectively communicate frequent process changes. This is likely to reduce the irreparable damages and ensure that employees learn from and get better at change. References Cherry, K. Lewin’s Leadership Styles. Retrieved on 19th September 2012, from http://psychology.about.com/od/leadership/a/leadstyles.htm Dahl, M.S. (2010), Organizational Change and Employee Stress. Friedrich, A., and Kabst, R. (1998). Functional Flexibility: Merely Reacting or Acting Strategically? Gilmore,T., Shea,G., &Useem,M. (1997) Sides effects of corporate transformation. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science. Grunberg, L., Moore, S., Greenberg, E.S, &Sikora, P. (2008).The Changing Workplace and Its Effects: A Longitudinal Examination of Employee Responses at a Large Company.The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science. Kotter, J.P, (2007) Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail. Harvard Business Review Manns,M.L. &Rising,L. (2010). Strategies for Leading through Times of Change: Fourteen Effective Patterns to Ease an Organization through Change. Graziadio Business Review. McDonald, T.N. (2004). Analysis of worker assignment Policies on Production Line Performance Utilizing a multi-skilled workforce. Pascale, R, Millemann, M., Gioja, L.(1997). Changing the Way We Change. Harvard Business Review. Poole,M.S., & Van de Ven. A.H. (2004) Handbook of organizational change and innovation. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Turner, R. &Sternin, L. (2005).Your Company’s Secret Change Agents. Harvard business Review Waddell, D.M, Cummings, T.G. & Worley, C.G. (3rd Edition).Organisation Development &Change.:CENGAGRE Learning Australia Pty Limited.

Edward sciccorhands review Essay Example

Edward sciccorhands review Essay Example Edward sciccorhands review Essay Edward sciccorhands review Essay Essay Topic: Batman Yet again Tim Burton has brought a masterpiece to our screens, this is indefinitely his best work following fankenwenie (1984), and batman (1989). Its the story of a shy lonely man (Johnny Depp) who finds friends, a lover, and then rejection in the heart of suburbia. Like the best fairytales, the story can be read many ways.  Scissorhands is arguably Burtons most personal film, a moving portrait of an imaginative outsider who cannot touch what he desires without harming or damaging it.  Tim has brought a great supply of cinematography once again, especially when he pans across the family and introduces them at the same time by doing this. While hearing slow and classical music to represent the difference in feeling from confused to happy and admiration. Burton mixes classic fairytale themes to create an original and touching character in Edward. Taken from his gothic castle to a colourful and romanticized suburban neighborhood he changes the lives of the towns people forever. The first half of the film is very funny, full of subtle physical comedy and gentle satire on suburban life. Edward brings his artistic skill to the town and the people almost ignore his creepy, weird and disturbed appearance. Then he begins a longing romance for Kim (Wynona Ryder), the girl he shares a house with but who seems to want nothing to do with him. He eventually wins her love, but is exploited by and then violently rejected by the towns people. The film is made with a skill far exceeding all of Burtons previous works of art. The unforgettable images make this a film to remember. Every performance is amazing. Johnny Depp brings a feeling of scared emotion to his almost silent character that lingers long in the memory. I almost forgot who was playing the part. Dianne Wiest and Alan Arkin are, respectively, touchingly real and hilariously blank as the parents who adopt him. Winona Ryder brings warmth and beauty to her supporting role as the object of Edwards affectations, who comes to love him for his artistic vision. Anthony Michael Hall is suitably menacing as the jealous jock that eventually gets his what he is deserved, and Kathy Baker funny as the sex-starved, Tom Jones-listening housewife. Finally, Vincent Price, in his last feature film role, brings extra resonance as Edwards inventor.  Some people criticize the plot holes such as where did he get the ice? They are missing the point, as this fairytale bears no relation to the real world, except in its themes. You have to suspend your disbelief. Edward is the most normal person in the movie and it is the twisted towns people who are the real monsters, resulting in his loss of innocence. Edward represents, among other things: a childlike imagination; the unconditional love of an animal; someone who longs for love and close affection. The famously beautiful scene where Edward makes an ice-sculpture as Kim dances in the snow is the ultimate representation of the artist communicating his feelings through his work. This film is almost perfect in its own way, even with the unfortunately sad ending.  To sum up, I believe Burton will never make anything near the depth and emotion of this amazing film again. Its funny, sad at times and visually striking. This was an outstanding movie in everyway.

How Does Reedsy Select its Publishing Professionals

How Does Reedsy Select its Publishing Professionals How Does Reedsy Select its Publishing Professionals? "How do you select the editors and designers featured on your marketplace?" This is one of the questions we get most often at Reedsy, probably because we can’t help bragging (loudly and often) about the quality of our publishing professionals.The curation of our marketplace is what makes us a truly incomparable player in the industry. Over 15,000 publishing professionals (editors, designers, illustrators, publicists, marketers and translators) have applied to be featured on our site. Currently, only 1,100 have been accepted.Reviewing thousands of profilesSo how do people apply, exactly? It's pretty simple: professionals only need to sign up through our landing page and indicate during the onboarding process that they want to register as "professionals". Once signed up, we prompt them to fill in a Reedsy profile - a page that compiles all their professional information, from work experience to portfolio items to work philosophy.These profiles are public, which means Reedsy pro fessionals can use them as websites or landing pages for all professional activity. More importantly, profiles form the core of our quality control process.First, we make sure professionals who are serious about being listed on Reedsy complete their profile as exhaustively as possible. Our curation team reviews all new, fully finished profiles once a week, at which point they separate the ones who merit inclusion on our marketplace from the rest. If you visit our service pages, you will see a few examples of professionals who have been accepted, and will be able to click through to their public profiles.Our selection criteriaSo how do we determine who to activate? Naturally, the decision is ultimately somewhat subjective as it is made by actual people (not algorithms), but our curation team uses a list of tangible criteria to keep the decision as objective as possible. Here are a few criteria all our professionals meet:be a full-time professional in the field you are applying for (e diting, design, publicity, translation, marketing, ghostwriting)demonstrate experience on at least 10 published books that are well-reviewed on Amazon Goodreadshave experience in every "genre" listed in the profilehave 5+ years experience in your professionThe Reedsy marketplace is competitive, which means professionals meeting all the above criteria are not automatically accepted. These are "minimum criteria" that need to be supplemented with one or more of the following:significant experience working at a renowned traditional publishing companysignificant experience working as a freelance contractor for a renowned traditional publishing companyhistory of high-quality work with a bestselling author, or on a bestselling bookreceipt of a distinguished award in your fieldSome of our editors have worked on books by authors such as Ken Follett, Isabel Allende, George R.R. Martin, Hugh Howey or J.K. Rowling. Because of this, we tend to become more and more selective as our marketplace k eeps growing, and our current acceptance rate is at 1%. That said, we're always on the lookout for more professionals who meet our criteria.Naturally, we do our best to ensure that all information entered by the professionals on their profiles is accurate, and will often verify our professionals' portfolios by searching books' "acknowledgements" sections for mentions of their editors and cover artists.A constant quality controlSo, once I’m in, I’m in forever? Well, not quite. Our curation work doesn’t stop once the professional has been accepted based on the information provided in their profile. We closely monitor our professionals’ work through Reedsy and regularly survey our authors at the end of their collaborations.On rare occasions, we've had to â€Å"deactivate† one of our professionals because of unprofessional behavior, but we have not hesitated to do so - nor will we in the future. Reedsy acts as a third-party guarantor for authors in th eir collaborations on the platform, so it is our duty to keep monitoring our professionals’ work on the marketplace.Our team also keeps an eye on the marketplace to ensure we have sufficient professionals listed and available in each genre. It is by successfully juggling supply and demand that we have been able to build a safe haven for authors and professionals alike - and that’s what Reedsy is all about.

MODEL TRENDS IN NURSING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MODEL TRENDS IN NURSING - Essay Example Accordingly, a larger volume of nurses should be trained and developed to grow their efficiency in sufficing the requirements of the community, and if required, must also be capable of addressing the needs of the acute care hospitals. Correspondingly, a primary objective, when focusing on the restructuring of the US healthcare sector, must be to enhance nursing practices in accordance with the needs of the community. In order to accomplish this aim, training the nurses with the application of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) can be suggestible. This particular technique has been one of the major reasons for the successful performance of many of the healthcare units in the US. In accordance to this approach, evidence-based care shall further result in improved patient care as well as satisfaction of the nurses in the community level. EBP is also vital for healthcare practitioners and nurses owing to the fact that it acts as the foundation for disease management works (Saver, 2006). Anoth er practice enhancement mechanism that can be applied when aiming at restructuring the nursing trends in the US healthcare sector can be suggested as the Continuum of Care mechanism. It is among the vital aspects in the nursing practices that intend to augment the effectiveness of professionals. It directly focuses on the well being as well as the safety of the patients. The nurses involved in the healthcare sector will thus need to develop continuous care relationship with the patients through providing seamless services and simultaneously, seeking effective coordination and assistance from different departments of the healthcare unit (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2013). Hence, it can be argued that along with identifying the community healthcare needs, nurses should also be competent enough to work in cohesion with other departments of the community care hospitals. Scope for nurses from the restructuring Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) constitute of healthcare servi ce providers comprising doctors, nurses and hospitals who aim at working together to serve the community with efficient services. The roles played by nurses can be observed as quite vital in this group. The organization purposefully strives hard to ensure recognition for the nurses who deliver effective services, so that the nurses are satisfied in their profession and are able to deliver utmost care to the patients. Furthermore, the organization has reflected its endeavor to enhance effectiveness of nurses regarding to be included in this group (American Nurses Association, 2013). Medical homes can also be considered to add vital scopes to the success of nurses. Medical homes generally follow a team based delivery model that provides complete healthcare services to the patients focusing primarily on effective training of the nurses. It has increasingly become a new employment sector for nurses, offering them with complete assistance and benefits when serving the community (Sheridan , 2012). Apart from Accountable Care Organizations and Medical Homes, Nurse-Managed Health Clinics also provide vital opportunities