The Signifigance Of Irony, Metaphor, And Reverasal Of Situation In Oed

The Signifigance of Irony, Metaphor, and Reverasal of Situation in Oedipus Rex Oedipus Rex is a tragedy of a man who attempts to flee a prophecy out of fear of what the future may hold for him, and in doing so blindly falls straight into his tragic fate. The use of literary devices in this play such as irony, metaphor, and reversal of situation in this play help to weave Sophocles' masterpiece tragedy in to a work of art to be appreciated for centuries to come. The literary artwork of Oedipus Rex makes it a tragedy honorable of the title "perfection". As these threads of literary devices join together throughout the play, they weave the magnificent tapestry of Oedipus Rex. In the play Oedipus Rex, there are many hints of irony laced throughout this tragic play. The plot of the play in itself is ironic: Oedipus' goal in the play is to find the source of the plagues haunting Thebes, a search which ironically leads to the main hunter, himself. Many of these threads of irony are found in the third scene of the play. For example, in the beginning of scene three, Iokaste begins the scene by presenting a prayer to the Gods to help her land in this time of turmoil. In these opening lines, Iokaste observes that the "king is not himself" (scene 3, line 4). In this part of the play, Iokaste is only referring to Oedipus' mood. Iokaste will later in the play discover that Oedipus is indeed not the same person that she believes him to be. Iokaste had given birth to a child that she was prophesied to marry years later, and so not to shame herself with this event in the future; she bound the baby and left it in the forest to die. What she does not know is that another family found him, and raised him, and he is now the man that she has married in Laius' absence. Another spot of irony in scene three of the play: In line 182, Oedipus blindly boasts when speaking on why he insists that he pursue the truth "I am a child of luck, I cannot be dishonored". Ironically, Oedipus is actually extremely unlucky as he blindly follows a path that he thinks will lead him away from his predestined fate. In reality, this path only leads him directly to it. Another thread of irony To add color to the Oedipus Rex tapestry, Sophocles adds to his play the threads of metaphor. The riddle of the Sphinx becomes a metaphor for Oedipus himself. Oedipus is the perfect Athenian. He is self-confident, intelligent, and strong willed. Ironically these are the very traits, which bring about his tragic discovery. Oedipus gained the rule of Thebes by answering the riddle of Sphinx. Sophocles used the riddle of the sphinx as a metaphor for the 3 phases of Oedipus' life and to further characterized him as a tragic man. The Sphinx posed the following riddle to all who came to obtain the rule of Thebes: "What is it that walks on 4 feet and 2 feet and 3 feet and has only one voice, when it walks on most feet it is the weakest?" Oedipus correctly answered "Man" and became the king of Thebes. This riddle is a metaphor for the life of Oedipus. As a child man crawls on his hands and knees this is the four feet to which the Sphinx refers. Also man is at his weakest as a small child. He depends solely on others for his nourishment and well-being. Oedipus was the child of Iokaste and King Laius who was taken to the mountain by a Shepard to be killed so the omen of the god Apollo that Laius' son would kill him and lay with Iokaste would not come true. Oedipus was the weakest of his life at this point. If it has not been for the Shepard sparing his life and giving him to Polybus to raise as his own Oedipus would have died. Man walks on 2 feet when he has matured. This is a metaphor for Oedipus when he reaches adulthood and leaves Corinth to escape the oracle. Oedipus meets up

Election 2004 essays

Election 2004 essays Current Republican President, George W. Bush of Texas, has shown the country that he takes a strong stand on issues he is faced with. Democrat, John Kerry, a current senator and Vietnam veteran from Massachusetts, is liberal on social issues and moderate on economics and foreign policy. President George Bush and Senator John Kerry are both presidential candidates in this years election. As candidates, the two men are put under the spotlight and are pressed to share their opinions about the issues within our nation. One of the many topics that the candidates often speak about are "social issues". In the following paragraphs I will explain in detail, John Kerry and George Bush's opinions on abortion, the death penalty, drugs, gun control, and education. Overall, George Bush opposes abortion. He has exceptions that include cases of rape, incest, or to save a woman's life. He does not support international groups that offer abortion. He accepted the FDA approval of RU-486, the drug that is taken orally to induce abortion, but thinks it is wrong and is quite concerned about overuse. He wants to ban partial-birth abortions and try to reduce abortions all together. He would like to do so by encouraging adoption and abstinence. George Bush says, "Good people can disagree; but let's value life". Bush also beleives every child, both born and unborn, ought to be protected. Therefore, he supports the legislation to extend the 14th amendment, protections to unborn children. He supports the GOP (Grand Old Party - Republican Party) abortion plank but disagrees on the exceptions. He supports the Parental Notification Law and the Child Custody Protection Act for minor females who seek an abortion. He also opposes school-based clinics that provi de referrals and counseling for contraceptive techniques and abortion. Bush beleives that Kerry's abortion stance shows the wrong priorities. John Kerry supports a woman's right to an abortion. He holds back...

MEMORY ABOUT FAMILY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MEMORY ABOUT FAMILY - Essay Example My sister would parade around like some kind of prima donna plucked from the cover of Sports Illustrated while my mom ran around the house like she was preparing for the second coming of Christ. Their eyes would avert mine as I would sink into a lonely corner where no one cared to go. My sister and mother would make it to the car to be sure they would be on time, and I would always be dragging behind, reluctant and resistant. All the other families on the block had boys that played Little League with fathers that played catch. Not ours. Thanks to my mother, my father was 1000 miles away and I didn't have any brothers. In her twisted mind, my mother was fulfilling the father role by turning my little sister into a sports jock. As the car started to back out of the drive I thought to myself, "I'm more athletic than that chiffon Barbie doll in the front seat that my mother was dressing up in a softball uniform. My sister couldn't bat her way out of a bad movie". Yet, maybe because she was the baby of the family, she was the chosen one. My mother had suddenly become an authority on baseball and as she screamed from the bleachers, bolstered by vodka and Valium, it was I that was embarrassed. I turned away from the haughty glances of the softball moms that had gathered together to giggle and dispense their snide remarks. Every game would make me wonder if they were snickering at my mother or me. Was my misfortune the object of their entertainment By the fifth inning, my sister was hitless and my mother was missing. I spotted her behind the concession stand sneaking into her purse to top off her drink. I again sensed a wave of laughing and whispering. The icy stares of the 'good moms' sliced through my back. I just wanted to go home and hide. The only bright spot of the day came when my sister struck out in the bottom of the seventh inning to end the game. That meant that the torture was over. There would be no more false cheers, no tittering gossip, and no pretending that everything was OK. My sister was silent as my mother staggered back to the car. "I'll drive," I said. Though I was old enough, I didn't have a driver's license. I had no adult to take me to get the necessary permits. Driving was one more thing that my mother didn't allow me to do. I couldn't play sports, music lessons were too expensive, and driving was out of the question. My mother wouldn't even let me date any boy that had a car. "Oh, well," I thought, "Who needs 'em. I've gotten along this far without a man in my life. What's a few more years." As we began the short drive home, my mother kept criticizing my driving. "Stay on the road," she yelled. "Watch that car." My mother was irritated with my sister for going 0 for 3 in the game and she was taking it out on me. My patience had outlived its useful life. "If you weren't so careless I wouldn't have to drive. You're the most irresponsible person I've ever met and I've known some real losers," I snapped. "How dare you talk to me like

Napoleonic Wars Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Napoleonic Wars - Essay Example He decided early on a military career and won a scholarship to a military academy. His ensuing military conquests threatened the stability of the world and made France a powerful force. He built an empire extending throughout Europe, but his quest for France's total world domination was doomed to failure. Napoleon was decidedly effective against the Austrians in Italy in 1796. Ever a great self-publicist, he maintained the popular profile of a political independent, thanks partly to the newspapers he ran. Because he controlled printed matter in France, he was able to influence public opinion. His political talents and military expertise on land expanded his powers. He did, however, fail in his attempt to invade Egypt, and, crushed by the British navy, he was forced to abandon much of his army and return to the European front. In the meantime, however, the French public was aware only of his military successes, and he was considered a hero. Napoleon took control of France after overthrowing the republic. By 1801, as First Consul, he had restored order in France. He established the Civil Code on March 21, 1804, and it was renamed Code Napoleon in 1907. With its stress on clearly written and accessible law, it was a major step in establishing the rule of law. The principal tenet of the Civil Code was that every French person was equal before the law. Napoleon wanted to replace a series of existing laws in France with a standard code for all people. However, the law was inconsistent in that it established supremacy of husband with respect to wife and children, but allowed divorce on a relatively liberal basis, including divorce by mutual consent. Other major points of the law were: Laws could be applied only if duly promulgated and if published officially. No secret laws were authorized. Ex post facto laws were prohibited. Judges prohibited from passing from general judgments of a legislative value. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopaedia Napoleon's empire controlled-either directly or through states under his sway-France, Portugal, Spain, modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands, and large parts of modern Italy, Germany and Poland. Alliance with Russia between 1807 and 1812, and dominance over the remaining continental powers of Austria and Prussia, showed the empire at its peak. Napoleon's rule began with the annihilation of the French monarchy, which would never again be in control. He established an independent nationhood based on ability and rose to power through political coups. The French Directory was replaced by the Consulate, a new government run by three consuls (Bonaparte, Sieys and Roger Ducos) with Bonaparte as First Consul (Time Traveller's). In 1804, Napoleon declared himself emperor and ruled from 1804-1814 when he abdicated to Elba, and then reclaimed power from March to June 1815. Continental System Napoleon established the Continental System in 1806, his scheme to stop all shipping of British goods into Europe, which ended up hurting France more than Britain, and leading to the rise of nationalism in Europe. The response of the United Kingdom with a counter blockade indirectly led to the War of 1812 (Napoleonic, 2006). One of the most dramatic results of this commercial warfare was "the English bombardment of

A comparison of wine cultures between United Kingdom and Hong Kong Literature review

A comparison of wine cultures between United Kingdom and Hong Kong citizens - Literature review Example They further stated that the production of food and wine is a global phenomenon. Varriano (2011) added that wine had manifested its uniqueness in the culture and history of food and drink that first started in the ancient Greece and Rome civilizations. It is further essential to almost all forms of religion as they use this in their worship (Deutsch and Saks 2008). Today, the wine industry is rapidly growing along with the rise of the globalization (Anderson & Nelgen 2008). Indeed, wine has played a significant role in the lives of wine consumer’s way back in the past and up to the present. According to the work of Estreicher (2004), wine has played an essential role in the foundation of Western civilization. He further added that wine is a magical special ancient alcoholic beverage due to its associations with gods and religious and spiritual traditions. Sanchez (2008) further added that wine is considered by the ancient people such as the Greeks, Romans, Cretans and Egyptian as their daily commodities dated before Christ. These people are used to conducting grape brewing in their respective households. In the ancient history of the invention of distillation, wine is considered to be the best and most effective antiseptic. Furthermore, it is also considered as one of the most in-demand commodities for trade in the early Western civilization along with vine. Therefore, wine can be cited as a very significant in terms of religion, medicine, and trade (Estreicher 2004). Such notions and claims are further supported by the article of Squicciarini and Swinnen (2010) as the authors had revealed that, even back in the old times, wine has been used by the ancient people in several ways and within different purposes. For instance, in China, Chinese folks are using wines for spiritual purposes. This is also the same with the Indian people in which they used wines for

The Alternative Beverage Industry Commerce Essay

The Alternative Beverage Industry Commerce Essay After analyzing the case study, we can conclude that strategically relevant components of the global and U.S beverage industry macro environment are the rapid growth of the product inclusive of high profit margin and premium pricing of alternative beverage. Each group demands for different types of alternative beverages which divide the global market into various types of products such as energy drink, sports drink, relaxation drinks. In the year of 2009, the US drink data was accounted of sport drink at sixty percent, vitamins enriched drinks and energy drinks about twenty three percent and alternative beverage sales at eighteen percent. In the context, when consumers are focusing on reducing the consumption of carbonated soft drink, alternative beverages are the medium of the soft drinks companies to maintain the sales volume growth as well as furnishing to different demographics. The number of sales of the drinks depends on the demand of the group for example children prefer juice drink, adults to energy shots, athletes to the vitamins enhanced drinks. This all demand differs alternative beverages from the usual carbonated soft drinks that people were used to drink. Now, alternative beverages offer variety of products which consumers could consume for different activities. 2. What is the competition like in the alternative beverage industry? Which of the five competitive forces is strongest? Which is the weakest? What competitive forces seem to have the greatest effect on industry attractiveness and the potential profitability of new entrants? Innovation is the vital source of creating the competition in the globalised market and alternative beverages are facing competition on the basis of differentiation from the traditional drink or the fruit juices. Alternative beverages are inclusive of vitamin enriched drinks, energy boosting drinks, sport drinks etc. and to develop the brand loyalty it totally relies on the test, properties and ingredients of the drink. To meet with the competing company works on the advertisement, brand name, nutritional properties, packaging and unique flavors. The PepsiCo and the Coco Cola having a big market share and their products have a strong presence on the consumers and the production of alternative beverages is very easy job for them. This action can dominate such channels of the alternative beverages. Therefore, from all the five competitive forces, strongest is the action of the firm which is already providing a variety of drink products. However, the weakest competitive force is the bargaining power which is exercised by the buyers only. At the time when alternative beverages were introduced company use to sell it at the high price and customers pay for it and now if customers are willing to pay a higher price for the product company will have to sell it on the same price. The established companies seem to have a greater effect on the new entrants like PepsiCo and coco cola because they already have a huge number of loyal customers that follows their brand. If they introduce a new product in contradiction to the new entrants, customers more willingly adopt their products more than the new company. 3. How is the market for energy drinks, sports drinks and vitamin-enhanced beverages changing? What are the underlying drivers of change and how might those forces individually or collectively make the industry more or less attractive? Customers are becoming more health conscious and they are aware about the positive and negative effects of the drinks. Therefore they reduced their consumption of the alternative beverages which slow down the demand and sales of the product. Due to recession customers are becoming more money conscious and spending very less in the alternative beverage and it indicates that the market becomes mature and there is no scope for longer growing. Change in the product innovation, long term growth rate and industry consolidation are the driving force of the alternative beverages. The second forces segmented with the alternative beverage industries have consolidated as the market has matured and leaders have been established for example in the year of 2010, Coco Cola controlled the Red Bull GmbH and Henson natural corporation. However, the individually or collective effect of the industry driver of change is likely to make the alternative beverage companies less attractive until and unless such companies gain a first mover advantage. 4. What does your strategic group map of the energy drink, sports drink, and vitamin-enhanced beverage industry look like? Which strategic groups do you think are in the best positions? The worst positions? Strategic group map of the energy drink, sport drink and vitamin-enhanced beverages shows that companies are competing in the scope of brand portfolio favor and geographical distribution. It indicates that the company which is competing globally and having broad brand portfolios is positioned well in the market. However, companies which are working regionally and on national distribution only or having a single brand seems to be the worst position in the industry. As per the case analysis PepsiCo and Coco cola are in the best position due to having a wide range of products and Red Bull considered as being in the worst position as they are having a low variety of products. 5. What key factors determine the success of alternative beverage producers? The following key factors determine the success of alternative beverage producers. The test should be appealing and unique to the customers. Advertising and Promotions in such an effective way that spread awareness about the products and can establish the brand image. Access to the distribution of the product in order to achieve good sales volume and market share. An innovating Product skill which can differentiate the alternative beverage from the traditional drinks. 6. What recommendations would you make to Coca-Cola to improve its competitiveness in the global alternative beverage industry? To PepsiCo? To Red Bull GmbH? According to the case, Coco- Cola should research the country and conclude about the test, customer preference and demand than introduce the product in the market. They should try and introduce new flavors also and should discontinue the non preferable and profitable products. PepsiCo has largest market share in the US as well as in the global market. In the case study it mentioned that PepsiCo had introduced alternative drinks blood shot, charge, defend and rebuild but customers are not aware about this product. Therefore, PepsiCo should enhance their marketing and promotional activities. PepsiCo could also try for more energy drinks. Red Bull GmbH should improve their strategy to increase their market share. As red bull is a very popular flavor therefore they should introduce more flavors instead of focusing on one flavor. They should enhance their water line drinks or sport line drinks. The company can research the market requirement and can develop a new line of products to become competitive in the market.

Why Global Warming Needs to Stop :: essays research papers

Why Global Warming Needs To Stop Global warming causes our fresh water glaciers to melt, leaving us with less and less drinking water everyday. Global warming also causes various diseases to spread faster. We need to stop the global warming before it gets any worse, before we have no water and before we all die from communicable, global warming-spawn diseases. First, global warming needs to be stopped because it is infecting animals and sea life that we eat with parasites that come from the warmer sea temperatures. These rising temperatures have caused oysters to be infected with a certain parasite that makes humans sick â€Å"one of the largest known break outs of vibro parahaemolyticus gasteroenteritis has been attributed to rising temperatures in the ocean. Where infected oysters were harvested in Prince William Sound, Alaska.† (â€Å"Global Warming†) Before this the northern most reported infection was in British Colombia, 1000 km south of Prince William. Therefore, from this we can see that global warming is changing the temperatures in Alaska and other northerly provinces and territories to be as warm as other southern provinces. It also doesn’t just make the land hotter, therefore, it affects the sea, which is an important commodity. With this comes dire consequences such as animals and food being consumed by h umans is going to make people sick. Therefore, we need to stop the global warming so that we don’t get sick and start loosing whole species to global warming. Another effect of global warming is that each year the glaciers are getting smaller and smaller. This makes our fresh water sparse and hard to find for certain areas in Canada, more northerly provinces. In Ontario, we get most of our fresh water from the great lakes, while on the other hand, cities in these northern provinces need water from these glaciers. â€Å"Over 30% of the earths fresh water comes from glaciers. Each year in retrospect, there is less and less water from these glaciers because they are melting from global warming.† (â€Å"Global Warming†) So from this we can see how if global warming keeps on getting worse and worse, we will have no water left at all.

Critical Minerals And Uses Of Precious Metals Environmental Sciences Essay

Today I will supply some background information on which metals are the most built-in to our state ; these metals are widely used in mundane life, in some manner or another, by most Americans. I will besides discourse the beginning and formation of our cherished metals, every bit good as where in the state – and the universe – they are normally found and mined. As with all natural resources, the opportunity of someday running out of these metals is non merely possible, but really likely. I plan to besides discourse solutions to this hereafter job, including the usage of both man-made and naturally-occurring replacements for each type of metal. Cherished metals are considered critical for good ground. They have a broad assortment of applications in industry, engineering, jewellery, and even medical specialty. It is agreed among mineralogists that the most critical minerals which fall under the class of cherished metals are gilded, Ag, and minerals in the Pt metals group: Pt, Pd and Ir. Although the U.S. went off the gilded criterion in 1972 thanks to President Nixon, gold is still normally used in the countries of medical specialty, jewellery, electronics, and industry. The component is lissome and ductile, so it can be transformed into assorted forms and made utile in different facets of industry ; it can even be made so thin that it is about crystalline. Silver, much like gold, besides has an array of utilizations in today ‘s universe. Besides the obvious usage in the jewellery concern, Ag is besides used in dental medicine, medical specialty, electronics – Ag even has a topographic point in the industry of c ertain types of vesture. Platinum group metals, which are known as PGMs, have a broad scope of applications. Platinum is normally used in electronics, catalytic convertors, jewellery, and dental medicine tools. Palladium, which is a comparatively rare metal, is besides used chiefly in catalytic convertors. It is besides used in jewellery, and surgical and dentistry equipment. Iridium besides has many influential applications in scientific discipline and industry ; it lends its belongingss to particle natural philosophies, acetic acid production, and the industry of engines that require corrosion opposition. Beginnings, Uses, and Supply of Gold Beginning and Beginnings of Gold In naturally-occurring sedimentations, gold ( atomic symbol Au ) is found in the signifier of single nuggets ; it is besides found as grains and flakes in certain stones, or as venas. A vena is a mass of crystallised mineral found within a stone, normally formed as a consequence of deposition from after the necessary mineral elements are carried to the topographic point via an aqueous solution and precipitated out of the solution. Alternately, gold can be found in alluvial sedimentations – by and large as nuggets – which are unconsolidated sedimentations of deposit that have been eroded or otherwise shaped by H2O outside of a marine environment. By and large the gold found in ores is really little, but in some exceeding instances, really big nuggets have been found. Gold that occurs together with either vitreous silica or sulphide minerals – such as fool's gold, besides known as â€Å" Fool ‘s Gold † – is called a load sedimentation. Because g old has such a low thaw temperature compared to other metals, it is readily carried by hydrothermal solutions as a consequence of chilling magma, and so solidifies alongside the vitreous silica. One of the best topographic points to happen gold sedimentations is near the invasion of environing stone by a cooled magma organic structure. These lode sedimentations normally form inside clefts ( known as crevices ) within a slab of stone. Gold can besides be recycled from scrap stuff, and 190 dozenss of gold were recovered this manner in 2009 in the U.S. The most common geographic locations for gold excavation worldwide are southeasterly Australia, East Asia, parts of South America and Africa, and parts of the United States. Gold militias are highest in South Africa ( 6,000 dozenss ) , Australia ( 5,800 dozenss ) , and Russia ( 6,000 dozenss ) . Militias are different from mined measures because the gold in militias is held by a cardinal bank of a peculiar state, and used purely for payment to other states or organisations. The U.S. shops about 3,000 dozenss of gold in its pecuniary militias. Along with the Treasury ‘s Stockpile, the Department of Defense runs a Cherished Metallic elements Recovery Program ( PMRP ) , which works to achieve cherished metals for economic intents. Specifically, the DOD recovers cherished metals from metal bearing stuffs such as photographic and X-ray stuff ( from infirmaries, printing installations, exposure labs ) ; metal dust collected from vacuity sweepers ; and scrap/waste metals from industrial workss. The PMRP focuses on the metals discussed in this testimony, every bit good as Os, Rh, and Ru. Harmonizing to the British Geological Survey, as of 2005 the top location for gold excavation was South Africa, with a sum of about 294 dozenss produced. In 2008, the gold excavation industry in South Africa produced 2260 dozenss. But even though much of the universe ‘s gold comes from South Africa and China, there is some to be found in the U.S. The most abundant beginnings of coal in the U.S. are found in mines in South Dakota and Nevada. Uses of Gold The most common usage of gold today is for the industry of jewellery. Gold is besides an ideal industrial metal due to its opposition to corrosion, every bit good as its electrical conduction for usage in machine equipment and electronics parts. Harmonizing to the U.S. Geological Survey ( USGS ) , approximately 90 % of gold brought into the market yearly ends up in manufactured merchandises, while the staying part of it goes to both private investors and pecuniary militias. In 2009, 72 % of mined gold was used for jewellery, 7 % was used for electronics, and 21 % went into dental equipment and other assorted utilizations. Domestic Supply of Gold In January of this twelvemonth, the USGS published a trade good study on gold for the old twelvemonth ( 2009 ) . Harmonizing to this study, gold was retrieved at 50 load mines, every bit good as a few placer mines, all of which are in Alaska. As a side note, the difference between the two types of mines is that a load mine occurs within solid stones ( for illustration, in a vena ) , while a topographic point mine is an alluvial sedimentation – normally of sand or crushed rock – which besides contains of import minerals and metals such as gold. Smaller placer mines in Alaska and a few of the western United States besides yielded gold. A smaller sum of the 2009 gold supply besides came as by-products from Cu excavation operations. In the last few old ages, the purchase of gilded jewellery has decreased well, doing monetary values to increase. Last twelvemonth, gold mines in Nevada showed significant lessening in production, while a mine in Montana and another in Nevada closed, to farther cut down production. In 2009, the mean monetary value of gilded jewellery rose over 20 % higher than the mean monetary value in 2008. Due to recent labour jobs in gilded mines of South Africa, the rubric of top gold manufacturer shifted to China, with Australia and the U.S. following near behind. Although comparatively important sums of gold are mined here in the U.S. , a good part of it comes from these international beginnings. Last twelvemonth, 210 dozenss of gold were mined in the U.S. , and gold militias in the U.S. totaled 3,000 dozenss. Import Beginnings of Gold Although China is presently the universe ‘s top manufacturer of gold, none of our imported gold comes from at that place. Alternatively, the gold import statistics are broken down as follows ( for the old ages 2005-2008, the most recent records from the USGS ) : Canada – 30 % Peru – 29 % Mexico – 16 % Chile – 9 % Other – 16 % Beginnings, Uses, and Supply of Silver Beginning and Beginnings of Silver Silver ( atomic symbol Ag ) , a soft passage metal, of course occurs as an metal with gold ; it is besides found in its native signifier, and in ores along with S and arsenous anhydride. However, the chief beginnings of Ag are really copper, lead, and nickel ores, which are mined in parts of South America, Mexico, China, Australia, and eastern European states such as Serbia and Poland. Mines which produce the highest planetary sums of Ag are located in Mexico, Australia, Russia, Peru, and, here in the U.S. , in Alaska. Silver, like most metals, organize compounds with sulphides inside the Earth ‘s crust. Metal sulfides which have dissolved in hot, piquant H2O within the crust finally precipitate as different minerals when they come into contact with ice chest H2O or air. Silver precipitates as a mixture with these other sulphides, which is how it is finally found at or closer to the Earth ‘s surface. It is usually found as a constituent of hydrothermal venas. Silver occurs natively, and is comparatively pure in this signifier. It besides occurs as ores, such as argenite ( Ag2S ) and chlorargyrite ( AgCl ) , and is recovered as a consequence of the Cu refinement procedure. Uses of Silver Silver is largely used for the intents of jewellery, utensils, industrial equipment, coins and decorations, and picture taking. The USGS notes that Ag has the highest thermal and electric conduction of all the metals. Pure Ag besides exhibits the whitest colour of any metal, every bit good as the highest optical coefficient of reflection. Because it has such powerful optical belongingss, it is used often to do mirrors. The USGS besides notes that the most common single-end usage of Ag is picture taking ; in this country, Ag can be found on photo paper, movie, and in darkroom and exposure lab chemicals used for publishing exposure. However, the demand for Ag in picture taking has declined significantly, from 2,290 dozenss in 1999 to around 900 dozenss in 2009 ; this is likely due to the rapid passage from traditional 35mm picture taking to digital picture taking worldwide. Harmonizing to the USGS, Ag is even used in vesture to decrease olfactory property. Domestic Supply of Silver In a mineral trade good sum-up of 2009 published in January 2010, the USGS provinces that the U.S. mined about 1,230 dozenss of silver- this supply of Ag was deserving about $ 520 million. As with gold, most of the state ‘s Ag comes from Alaska, with Nevada coming in at a close second. Last twelvemonth, 1,500 dozenss of Ag were recovered through refinement, including bit metal. The USGS notes that unlike gold, there is no authorities reserve of Ag. In the 1950s when the authorities reserve of Ag was at its highest, the U.S. Treasury was in ownership of the cheapest Ag, while any silver outside the Treasury significantly rose in monetary value. Since the authorities ‘s Ag was so inexpensive, demand increased steadily until the reserve disappeared wholly. Since Ag is no longer used to do American coins, there merely is no demand for authorities reserve. Aside from the measures of Ag we mine in the U.S. , we besides to a great extent on Ag imports from other states. Import Beginnings of Silver Over half of the Ag used in our today really comes from Mexico, with important sums coming from Canada and South America every bit good. Between 2005 and 2008, the import of Ag into the U.S. can be broken down as follows: Mexico – 54 % Canada – 26 % Peru – 15 % Chile – 3 % Other – 2 % Two-thirdss of the universe ‘s Ag trade goods came from treating Cu, gold and lead-zinc ores in 2009. From 2005-2008, the U.S. exported a sum of 3,850 metric dozenss of Ag to other states. More late, in 2009, we merely exported 360 dozenss to other states. Beginnings, Uses, and Supply of Platinum Beginning and Beginnings of Platinum The three most common and of import members of the Platinum Group Metals are Pt, Pd, and Ir. Platinum ( atomic symbol Pt ) is another malleable passage metal. Platinum is an improbably rare metal, and occurs at a concentration of merely 0.005 parts per million ( ppm ) in the Earth ‘s crust. The celebrated Bushveld Complex in South Africa is the top modesty of Pt in the universe. Harmonizing to the USGS, in 2009 South Africa produced the highest sum of Pt – 80 % of the universe ‘s Pt trade good, to be exact. Russia produced the 2nd highest sum of Pt that twelvemonth, at merely 11 % . Platinum can be found natively or as an metal with Ir. An metal is a solid solution of two or metals, in which the atom of one metal occupies unfastened infinites between the atoms of the other metal. Both Pt and Ir occur in perceptibly greater copiousness at the site of big meteorite impacts. This can be explained by the fact that the Moon and other extraterrestrial organic structures – particularly meteorites – incorporate a much higher copiousness of Pt and Ir than any topographic point on this planet. On Earth, Pt combined with other PGMs are frequently found in alluvial sedimentations. Some little Pt militias located in North America include the Sudbury Basin in Ontario, Canada, and the Absaroka Mountain scope in Montana. Uses of Platinum Platinum is a various metal that is really immune to staining, doing it another metal that is ideally suited for jewellery. It besides has first-class catalytic and electrical belongingss. Platinum has many utilizations in the chemical industry as a accelerator, and is used often in the production of fertilisers and explosives. Platinum even plays a function in the crude oil industry, in the refinement of petroleum oil and the production of gasolene. Harmonizing to the USGS, since 1979, the automotive industry has been the primary user of all PGMs, particularly Pt. PGMs are used often in catalytic convertors to keep acceptable exhaust emanation criterions. Platinum is a common metal used in jewellery industry and watch-making. Domestic Supply of Platinum and Other PGMs The lone two runing PGM mines in the U.S. as of 2009 were the Stillwater and East-Boulder mines in Montana. Combined, these mines produced 3,800 dozenss of Pt, 12,500 dozenss of Pd, and 1,300 dozenss of Ir in 2009. Small sums of PGMs may frequently be recovered from Cu excavation processes ; and, as with most metals, PGMs are recovered and recycled from other bit metal. Approximately 18 dozenss of PGMs were recovered in this mode last twelvemonth. About 900,000 dozenss of PGMs are presently in militias ; this means that they could be extracted for economic intents at a clip of much greater demand. Estimates of militias merely see the stuff that can realistically be recovered. The worsening economic system over the last few old ages has caused a reduced demand in car gross revenues, which in bend has caused less of a demand in PGMs since they are widely used in autos ‘ catalytic convertors. However, as research continues for the usage of fuel cells in autos, the demand for PGMs may increase once more – Pd is an cheap option to platinum in the accelerators of such autos. Import Beginnings of Platinum and Other PGMs The USGS provides a dislocation of imported PGMs from other economically of import states: Platinum: South Africa – 27 % Germany – 17 % U.K. – 12 % Canada – 5 % Other – 39 % Palladium: Russia – 46 % South Africa – 21 % U.K. – 17 % Belgium – 4 % Other – 12 % Beginnings and Uses of Palladium Beginning and Beginnings of Palladium Palladium ( atomic symbol Pd ) is another PGM considered to be a rare component. It is pale Ag in colour, bearing a close resemblance to platinum but with a much lower denseness and runing point. In fact, out of all the PGMs, Pd exhibits both the lowest denseness and runing point. Ore sedimentations of Pd are non common, but like the Pt, Pd has been found in its highest copiousness in the Bushveld Complex of South Africa. In North America, it can be found in the Sudbury Basin in Ontario and the Stillwater Complex in Montana. These â€Å" composites † are known superimposed pyrogenic invasions ( LIIs ) or layered mafic intrustions ( LMIs ) . These abbreviations can be used interchangeably, since â€Å" mafic † is a descriptive term for an pyrogenic stone that is dark in colour and rich in Fe and Mg. LIIs are big, superimposed organic structures of pyrogenic stone found in ancient cratons. A craton is a really old, stable subdivision of the Continental crust. The formation of LMIs requires a big volume of magma over a short period of clip, happening within the Continental crust so that they finally become exposed at the surface due to eroding. Layering of these invasions occurs from alterations in mineralogy and texture. Most LMIs, including the Bushveld Complex and Sudbury Basin, are Precambrian in age. ( The Precambrian encompasses the creative activity of earth 4.6 billion old ages ago to about 542 million old ages ago. Precambrian minerals and stones are the oldest on Earth. ) Uses of Palladium Palladium ‘s chief usage today is in catalytic convertors, due to its really stable electrical belongingss and optimum catalytic belongingss. This metal is used to fabricate medical and dental medicine equipment aircraft flicker stopper, and, like Pt, jewellery and tickers. It makes a good jewellery replacement for white gold and Pt, particularly since its picket Ag colour is natural and it is reasonably hard to state the three metals apart merely by looking at them. Up until comparatively late, Pd ‘s chief usage in the jewellery trade was as an metal to assistance in doing white gold. In the electronic industry, Pd and palladium-silver metals are used to do platings in common electronics. Palladium, every bit good as the other cherished metals, is particularly of import in electronics because of how frequently computing machines are used in merely about every facet of life today – in occupations, research, schools, and places. Metallic elements with superior elect rical belongingss are used to do computing machine french friess implemented in CPUs, cell phones, and iPods, merely to call a few devices most people use day-to-day. Palladium can be one of the by-products of atomic fission, and can be recovered – though non needfully in important sums – from spent atomic fuel. Beginnings and Uses of Iridium Beginning and Beginnings of Iridium Iridium ( atomic symbol Ir ) is the 3rd most familiar and widely-used PGM. Although it is highly rare in the Earth ‘s crust, hint sums can still be found. Iridium is a well-known PGM due to its abnormally high concentration in a bed of clay at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary ( normally abbreviated as the K-T boundary ) . As celebrated earlier in my testimony, Ir ( along with Pt ) is found at much higher concentrations in meteorites than anyplace on Earth ; this cognition is one of the cardinal pieces of back uping grounds for a meteorite impact at the terminal of the Cretaceous Period ( about 65 million old ages ago ) , which finally would hold caused the dinosaurs to travel extinct. One of the rarest elements on Earth, Ir occurs at 0.001 ppm in the Earth ‘s crust – whereas in meteorites, the concentration is significantly greater at 0.5 ppm. As with Pt and Pd, the highest concentrations of Ir are found in the Bushveld Complex in South Africa. Very little sums of this metal are found in the U.S. and the remainder of the universe, most notably in impact crater and pyrogenic invasions. Along with its other PGM relations, Ir is often found in Cu and nickel metal. Since all three of these cherished metals portion similar physical and chemical features, it comes as no surprise that they are normally found together and portion similar utilizations in industry and fabrication patterns. Uses of Iridium Iridium is acquired through the excavation processes of Ni and Cu, and is a by-product of the two. As with Pt, Ir is really immune to corrosion and wear, so it finds many utilizations in assorted industries. Iridium by itself is used in direct-ignition engines, where its first-class catalytic belongingss come in utile and let the engines to run decently. Natural Substitutes for Cherished Metallic elements With the possibility of our cherished metals resources going depleted, we are now turning even more towards the usage of naturally-occurring replacements for these peculiar metals. Silver and PGMs make suited replacements for gold, particularly in the industry of jewellery. Harmonizing to the USGS, base metals reinforced by gold metals have excellent usage in electronics. This method is besides used in jewellery, and allows a jewelry maker to sell the merchandise as gold while utilizing less of the metal itself. Stainless steel is a common replacement for Ag. In fact, most mean kitchen utensils are no longer made of Ag ; a speedy hunt for â€Å" silverware † on any common shopping web site will demo that most kitchen utensils are made of unstained steel instead than Ag. In picture taking, many factors now contribute to the cutback of Ag usage, including movie with diminished Ag content and digital picture taking. Aluminum and Rh are normally used to replace Ag in mirrors and other brooding surfaces. Many of the common PGMs frequently substitute for each other. For illustration, some car shapers have begun utilizing Pd in topographic point of Pt – which is more expensive – in catalytic convertors. Additionally, shapers of electronic constituents are cut downing the sum of Pd used by replacing base metals or silver-palladium metals that contain somewhat less Pd. We can surely populate without jewellery, but in such a technology-dominated society, we about can non populate without electronics, particularly computing machines ; and, although it works for some people, it would be unrealistic to believe we can populate without cars. Therefore, it is particularly of import to be cognizant of the supply of, and replacements for, cherished metals, since they are used on a regular basis in these facets of life. Recommendations for Policy Related to Cherished Metallic elements An appraisal of critical minerals conducted by the National Research Council in 2008 offered basic suggestions that can be applied to cherished metals every bit good: Identify critical metals and merchandises made from them that are important to industry and engineering. Address the beginnings of cherished metals and the planetary production/use of their terminal merchandises. Address any geologic, technologic, economic or political restrictions on the handiness of cherished metals. Acknowledge the effects of any breaks in the supply of cherished metals in the economic system and work force. These recommendations serve as a foundation and a starting point for farther research on cherished metal use: how they are acquired, when and why they might run out, the effects of acquisition ( excavation ) and what the U.S. authorities can make to turn to these issues. Our state ‘s metal resources are limited and will finally run out. Unlike fresh H2O, which is easy recycled thanks to H2O renewal workss, the per centum of metals we get from recycling is smaller than the per centum we attain from excavation. Mineral formation is a slow geologic procedure, so the refilling of these resources any clip in the close hereafter is non even an thought to see. Logically, if we mine at a faster gait than that at which the minerals are of course replaced, finally these resources will be depleted. For the clip being, we are able to trust on other states to export cherished metals to the U.S. , but their resources are limited as good. We need to take action to guarantee that we preserve these resources. As I have discussed in this testimony, these cherished metals serve a broad array of intents, and it would be a shame for them to run out in our life-time, which is a possibility. We need to measure how long we have before our resources run out. Government bureaus that deal with mineral issues, such as the U.S. Geological Survey, are responsible for carry oning mineral resource appraisals and mineral-environmental appraisals. These appraisals can help the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service to better manage land usage for excavation intents. The Mineral Resource Program ( MRP ) of the USGS is in charge of supplying information and research about the usage and supply of our minerals, including cherished metals. In 2003, the National Research Council ( NRC ) addressed four undertakings of the federal authorities in mineral scientific disciplines: Supply an indifferent beginning of information, accessible to the populace. Conduct general research on mineral resources. Support of minerals-related international activities that benefit the U.S. Advise, when necessary, on minerals use and direction. The MRP besides takes into history the sum of undiscovered metals that are likely located in an country. When an initial study was completed as portion of the MRP, the USGS admitted that it was during a clip of significant passage within the bureau ; this included decrease in staff members, important restructuring of the Geologic Division, decrease in installations, and alterations both in ends and leading – all marks that more updated appraisals of our metal resources need to take topographic point. A new MRP survey should turn to our state ‘s present and long-run metal demands. The precedence for an updated survey should be to supply scientific evidences that would let for informed decision-making as to how much of the state ‘s land should go on to be used for excavation, and how we can run into future metal demands despite low resources in the U.S. Mining minerals and metals has negative impacts on the environment. When metals are mined, important sums of toxins are released into the environment, particularly into the dirt and groundwater. Pollution of dirt and H2O is considered secondary taint, and is damaging to agriculture and works life, every bit good as our imbibing H2O supply. The processing and refinement on metal ores can besides foul the air. In recent old ages, with subjects like planetary clime alteration taking centre phase, environmental impacts of merely about anything should ever be taken into history. Consideration of environmental effects is of import in guaranting that land is non overused for mining even more than it is overused for other patterns such as agribusiness. Furthermore, it would be good to analyze how metal sedimentations behave geochemically when exposed to enduring procedures, every bit good as the environmental effects of these reactions. If this affair contributes at all to the lessening in o ur mineral supply, research on the topic may let us to forestall this lessening. A new MRP survey should sketch possible results of environmental impacts of metal excavation, which should be taken into consideration by the BLM when doing land-use determinations. Additionally, research demands to research the possibility of utilizing man-made ( semisynthetic ) substitutes for these cherished metals. When makers want to be use replacements for a certain metal, they by and large use a different naturally-occurring metal. Since we are at hazard of utilizing up our metal resources, it would be good to develop man-made versions of gold, Ag, and PGMs. These replacements should possess the same desirable qualities, including catalytic and electrical conduction. Another manner to cut back on metals usage is to recycle. Many states, including the U.S. , already used recycled stuff from bit metal, but merely little per centums of metals used today come from recycled beginnings. In 2009, 190 dozenss of gold came from recycled bit metal in the U.S. , compared to 210 dozenss mined. Merely 17,000 kgs ( merely 17 metric dozenss ) of PGMs were recovered from bit metal in the U.S. last twelvemonth, compared to 16,300 dozenss that came from mines. The exclusion is silver: in 2009, 1,500 dozenss of Ag in the U.S. came from recycled stuff, exceling the 1,230 dozenss that were mined. Even though metals are recycled, bureaus like the USGS can rede makers on new ways to retrieve even more material from bit metal. Metal processing workss should besides work to implement new ways of treating natural mined metals so that less of the metals are lost before being refined into the concluding merchandise. Not merely would that scheme be economical, but it would b e much less uneconomical excessively. Development and execution of synthetics, increased recycling, and more efficient metals treating might someday even let the U.S. to halt excavation all together, which in bend would cut down any harmful effects on the environment. The USGS, and any other federal organisations chosen to roll up and form critical minerals informations, should hold more authorization when it comes to policies affecting the recovery and usage of cherished metals. Surveies to better our usage of metals, as outlined above, should have the proper support, and multiple federal bureaus need to work together to spread out basic scientific research, and to advance the usage of new thoughts and engineering to better understand the effects, effects, and benefits of cherished metal use. Decision Cherished metals – specifically gold, Ag, and the platinum-group metals – serve many valuable intents in our economic system and our day-to-day lives. But merely as our oil resources will finally run out, so our cherished metals will someday go depleted every bit good. Until farther surveies are conducted, we will go on to be limited in our apprehension of how rapidly these cherished metal resources will run out. We must besides research any possible major environmental injury that may come from mining these metals, and what, if anything, we can make to extenuate such injury.

Financial Statement Analysis Essay

Introduction The use of financial ratio is very common in accounting and finance process. These ratios are used for evaluation of a business performance, as well as identifying potential problems. Each ratio is used to inform about various factors like the solvency, earning power, and debt load of the business. These ratios measure the relationship arising between two or more modules of the financial statements and pose a greater meaning if the results are compared to industry standards of businesses with same size and activity. There are various types of ratios including return or profitability ratios, which offer information regarding the management’s performance in the usage of resources. The other ratio example is liquidity ratio, which are used to demonstrate the business ability to pay its present obligations. This measures in short and long term views. The other ratio is the leverage, which examines the extent in which a company has depended on borrowing so that it can finance its operations. The other ratio is the efficiency ratio, which assesses the firm’s credit use, assets, and inventory (Libby, Libby, & Short, 2011). Identifying the company using the exhibits 1 IT service provider 2 Retail grocery stores 3 Commercial airlines 4 Pharmaceutical preparations 5 Liquor producer and distributor 6 Mobile Phone service Providers 7 Semiconductor manufacturers 8 Computer software 9 Commercial banking 10 integrated Oil and gas Conclusion The use of ratios is a very important aspect for the firm. It helps in offering information regarding the managements performance in the usage of resources, demonstrating the business ability to pay its present obligations, examining the extent in which a company has depended on borrowing so that it can finance its operations, and assessing the firms credit use, assets, and inventory. This makes it possible to rate the company’s success. References Libby, R., Libby, P. A., & Short, D. G. (2011). Financial accounting. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

The Evolving Definition of Justice in Platos Republic essays

The Evolving Definition of Justice in Platos Republic essays Just as Polemarchus inherited the argument with Socrates concerning justice from his father, he also inherited a traditional definition of justice from Greek culture. Through their argument, Socrates shows Polemarchus that justice is more than just a balance of the pluses and minuses of debts; instead, Socrates illustrates that justice is a force that does good for all people. Through Polemarchus changing definitions of justice throughout the argument, the readers definition of justice also changes. In the end both Polemarchus and the reader come closer to grasping the true nature of justice. After taking over the argument, the first clear definition of justice Polemarchus presents is one given by the Greek philosopher, Simonides. It states, that it is just to give to each what is owed(331e). This definition is clearly part of the Greek ethos, and is similar to the definition of justice presented by his father, Cephalus. Socrates counter to this definition is shown when he asks Polemarchus if it is just to give back gold or weapons to a friend who has entrusted him with their care when they are not in sound mind. Polemarchus answers that returning the goods would be the wrong thing to do. Polemarchus goes on to say, friends owe it to friends to do some good and nothing bad(332a). It is in this exchange that both Polemarchus and the reader begin to see the good that must be inherent in actions for them to be considered just. In his original definition of justice Polemarchus would have done harm to his friends if he had simply returned the goods that he had been entrusted with when their owner was not in sound mind. This is clearly an unjust action. It is easy for the reader and Polemarchus to accept that justice should never harm someone one considers to be a friend. This first argument also paves the way for the realization that for actions to be just they must be backed with good inte...

Planning in Organisation for Creative Workforce Essay

Planning in Organisation for Creative Workforce - Essay Example This suggests that most of the organisations fail to utilise its workforce due to lack of planning leading to employee dissatisfaction. An employee who does not find any motivation into the job he performs, learns nothing out of the routine work, is not rewarded for any outstanding performance, and sees no challenge in his job is less likely to be motivated to work enthusiastically and perform at his best. Bramham (1987) propounds the most important aim of human resource planning in an organisation to foresee future need for employees not only in quantitative terms but also in qualitative manner such as the skills, calibre, performance and attitude required for particular types of jobs. Dessler (1999, p2) says that human resource management is all about devising policies and strategies for the employees working in the organisation. It includes selecting, training, evaluating, appreciating and providing convenient working environment for the employees. It shows that planning for creative workforce is very crucial for the survival and success of an organisation. The organisations use planning to select the kind of personnel it needs, motivate them and retain them towards future enhancement of organisational objectives. The organisations plan to realise organisational needs for workforce in future and take calculated steps to retain its employee through various means. In fact, human resource planning does not only enable an organisation to retain its employees but also to 'treasure' them so that they can gain more creative and efficient workforce. The use of planning by organisation to gain more creative workforce... Planning is the most important aspect of organisational management. Workforce planning is the key to acquire the kind of people the organisation needs and to retain them through various motivating factors such as salary, promotion, job security, learning opportunities, performance appraisals etc. It shows the criticality of organisational planning concerning human resource. Every organisation needs to plan in a proactive manner the labour needs that will arise in future. It will ensure that the organisation strives to attain the employees with suitable skills and attitude to train them for upcoming change. In this way, the organisation will have the 'right team' prepared for challenges when the time actually comes. Mullins (1996) maintains that human resource planning if done in an efficacious manner can enable the organisation to take imperative steps for the enhancement of employee productivity level at the right possible time. It assists the organisation in meeting all the necessary human resource requirements from hiring to firing in a systematic way. This reflects that human resource planning makes an organisation realise the factors undermining the productivity and calibre of its employees keeping them from achieving organisational objectives before it becomes too late. Most of the organisations do not actually plan to acquire highly qualified and skilled labour force, but most often to retain the employees on whom the organisation has already exerted substantial money and time. It mirrors that organisation will risk the creativity of its workforce if it does not properly plan for the development of its employees. Mathis (1997, p314) suggests that, â€Å"development can be thought of bringing about capacities that go beyond those required by the current job†¦As such, it benefits both the organisation and the individual’s career†.

Groups and Teamwork Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Groups and Teamwork - Essay Example Virtual teams are those in which team members are physically scattered and these teams perform their activities or tasks such as communicating and collaborating, information sharing, monitoring etc with the use of technology such as internet, email, telephone, video conferencing etc. Roles refer to individuals’ responsibilities based on their position, whereas norms are those principles that need to be followed by everyone in the organization. Norms are formed informally and guide the right behavior and attitude among employees; sometimes norms are framed in order to help the organization sustain. Norms guide the right behavior and avoid embarrassing situations for employees and the organization. Norms also play a critical role in clarifying organizational values. Managers can build trust through effective communication with their subordinates, providing support whenever required, respect every individual and treat all employees in a fair and justifiable manner. The five stages of Tuckman’s theory of group development include forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning stages. In forming stage, the group members come together and display behaviors that are typically acceptable by other group members. In storming stage, group members start expressing different ideas; identify what problems need to be solved; how each one can function independently by identifying their limits and also testing each other. In norming stage, group members tend to identify and agree upon common and acceptable norms related to power and authority; team members develop responsibility and aim to achieve the goals. In the performing stage, individuals start accomplishing the tasks by fulfilling their responsibilities; members are competent and confident to move ahead; members develop strong communication and cooperation during this stage. Lastly, the adjourning stage involves completion of the task