Operation Managenent free essay sample

After completing this chapter, you should be able to: 1. Define the term operations management. 2. Identify the three major functional areas of organizations and describe how they interrelate. 3. Identify similarities and differences between production and service operations. 4. Describe the operations function and the nature of the operations managers job. 5. Summarize the two major aspects of process management. 6. Explain the key aspects of operations management decision making. Briefly describe the historical evolution of operations management. . Characterize current trends in business that impact operations management. Chapter 2 Competitiveness, Strategy, and Productivity After completing this chapter, you should be able to: 1. 2. 3. 4. List the three primary ways that business organizations compete. Explain five reasons for the poor competitiveness of some companies. Define the term strategy and explain why strategy is important. Discuss and compare organization strategy and operations strategy, and explain why it is important to link the two. 5. Describe and give examples of time-based strategies. We will write a custom essay sample on Operation Managenent or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 6. Define the term productivity and explain why it is important to organizations and to countries. 7. Provide some of the reasons for poor productivity and some ways of improving it. Chapter 3 Forecasting: 1. List the elements of a good forecast. 2. Outline the steps in the forecasting process. 3. Evaluate at least three qualitative forecasting techniques and the advantages and disadvantages of each. 4. Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative approaches to forecasting. 5. Describe averaging techniques, trend and seasonal techniques, and regression analysis, and solve typical problems. Explain three measures of forecast accuracy. 7. Compare two ways of evaluating and controlling forecasts. 8. Assess the major factors and trade-offs to consider when choosing a forecasting technique. Chapter 4 – Product and Service Design: 1. Explain the strategic importance of product and service design. 2. Identify some key reasons for design or redesign. 3. Recognize the key questions of product and service design. 4. List some of the main sources of design ideas. 5. Discuss the importance of legal, ethical, and sustainability considerations in product and service design. 6. Explain the purpose and goal of life cycle assessment. 7. Explain the phrase the 3 Rs. 8. Briefly describe the phases in product design and development. 9. Name several key issues in manufacturing design. 10. Recognize several key issues in service design. 11. Name the phases in service design. 12. List the characteristics of well-designed service systems. 13. Assess some of the challenges of service design. Chapter 5 Strategic Capacity Planning for Products and Services: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Summarize the importance of capacity planning. Discuss ways of defining and measuring capacity. Describe the determinants of effective capacity. Discuss the major considerations related to developing capacity alternatives. Briefly describe approaches that are useful for evaluating capacity alternatives. Chapter 6 Process Selection and Facility Layout: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Explain the strategic importance of process selection. Describe the influence that process selection has on an organization. Compare the basic processing types. Explain the need for management of technology. List some reasons for redesign of layouts. Describe the basic layout types, and the main advantages and disadvantages of each. Chapter 7- Work Design and Measurement: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Explain the importance of work design. Compare and contrast the two basic approaches to job design. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of specialization. Explain the term knowledge-based pay. Explain the purpose of methods analysis and describe how methods studies are performed. 6. Compare four commonly used techniques for motion study. 7. Discuss the impact of working conditions on job design. 8. Define a standard time. 9. Describe and compare time study methods and perform calculations. 10. Describe work sampling and perform calculations. Compare stopwatch time study and work sampling. 12. Contrast time and output pay systems. Chapter 8 Location Planning and Analysis: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Identify some of the main reasons organizations need to make location decisions. Explain why location decisions are important. Discuss the options that are available for location decisions. Give examples of the major factors that affect location decisions. Outline the decision process for making these kinds of decisions. Chapter 9 – Management of Quality: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Define the term quality as it relates to products and as it relates to services. Explain why quality is important and the consequences of poor quality. Identify the determinants of quality. Distinguish the costs associated with quality. Compare the quality awards. Discuss the philosophies of quality gurus. Describe TQM. Give an overview of process improvement. Describe and use various quality tools. Chapter 10 – Quality Control: 1. List and briefly explain the elements of the control process. 2. Explain how control charts are used to monitor a process, and the concepts that underlie their use. Chapter 11 Aggregate Planning and Master Scheduling: 1. Explain what aggregate planning is and how it is useful. 2. Identify the variables decision makers have to work with in aggregate planning and some of the possible strategies they can use. 3. Describe some of the graphical and quantitative techniques planners use. 4. Describe the master scheduling process and explain its importance. Chapter 12 – MRP and ERP: 1. Describe the conditions under which MRP is most appropriate. 2. Describe the inputs, outputs, and nature of MRP processing. 3. Explain how requirements in a master production schedule are translated into material requirements for lower-level items. Discuss the benefits and requirements of MRP. 5. Explain how an MRP system is useful in capacity requirements planning. 6. Outline the potential benefits and some of the difficulties users have encountered with MRP. 7. Describe MRP II and its benefits. 8. Describe ERP, what it provides, and its hidden costs. Chapter 13 – Inventory Management: 1. Define the term inventory, list the major reasons for holding inventories, and list the main requirements for effective inventory management. 2. Discuss the nature and importance of service inventories. 3. Explain periodic and perpetual review systems. 4. Explain the objectives of inventory management. 5. Describe the A-B-C approach and explain how it is useful. 6. Describe the basic EOQ model and its assumptions. 7. Describe reorder point models. 8. Describe situations in which the singleperiod model would be appropriate. Chapter 14 – JIT and Lean Operations: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Explain what is meant by the term lean operations system. List each of the goals of a lean system and explain its importance. List and briefly describe the building blocks of lean. Identify the benefits of a lean system. Outline the considerations important in converting a traditional mode of operations to a lean system. 6. Point out some of the obstacles that might be encountered when converting to a lean system. 7. Describe value stream mapping. Chapter 15 – Supply Chain Management 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Discuss the key issues of supply chain management. Name the recent trends in supply chain management. Summarize the motivations and risks of outsourcing as a strategy. State some of the complexities that are involved with global supply chains. List some of the strategic, tactical, and operational responsibilities of supply chain management. Give examples of some advantages of e-business. Explain the importance of supplier partnerships. List the requirements of an effective supply chain. Name some of the challenges in creating an effective supply chain. Chapter 16 Scheduling 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Explain what scheduling involves and the importance of good scheduling. Describe scheduling needs in high-volume and intermediate-volume systems. Describe scheduling needs in job shops. Use and interpret Gantt charts, and use the assignment method for loading. Give examples of commonly used priority rules. Summarize some of the unique problems encountered in service systems, and describe some of the approaches used for scheduling service systems. Chapter 17 – Project Management: 1. Discuss the behavioral aspects of projects in terms of project personnel and the project manager. 2. Explain the nature and importance of a work breakdown structure in project management. 3. Give a general description of PERT/CPM techniques. 4. Construct simple network diagrams. 5. List the kinds of information that a PERT or CPM analysis can provide. 6. Describe activity crashing and solve typical problems. Management of Waiting Lines After ompleting this chapter, you should be familiar with waiting line terminology, be able to solve typical problems using the models presented in this chapter, and answer these questions: 1. Describe what imbalance does the existence of a waiting line reveal? 2. Explain what causes waiting lines to form, and why is it impossible to eliminate them completely? 3. Describe what metrics are used to help managers analyze waiting lines? 4. Explain what are some psychological approaches to managing waiting lines, and why might a manager want to use them? 5. Explain what very important lesson does the constant service time model provide for managers?

Maestro Essay Essay Example

Maestro Essay Essay Example Maestro Essay Essay Maestro Essay Essay Maestro Essay Discuss the ways that composers of text use distinctively visual elements to convey ideas in their texts. Distinctively visual elements convey concepts and ideas presented by composers in texts which are expressed through the construction of writing within a novel or through symbolic artworks. In the novel ‘Maestro’ by Peter Goldsworthy and the sand art performance by Kseniya Simonova, distinctively visual images are generated thorough various techniques which convey the concepts of love and lust, the significance of loving bonds and the impact of war. 68) Paul, the main character in ‘Maestro’ is taught by a musical maestro named Keller who not only teaches him about his music, but also life skills. Keller becomes instrumental to Paul’s life and Goldsworthy presents this clearly in his novel. As Paul matures, he slowly comes to the realisation that he is beginning to learn from the maestro, and that Kellers phrasings, which seemed absurd in adolescence, blossom into a musical bible whose texts I knew by heart (p. 123). This is a metaphor that emphasises the importance of Keller’s phrasings to Paul as they are referred to as a â€Å"musical bible†, displaying the importance of Keller in Paul’s life. It is through this metaphor that the composer conveys the significance of the loving bond between Paul and Keller to Paul in his development. (133) Although, as Paul matures, his attitudes towards the Maestro become warmer and they develop an unexpressed bond â€Å"I came to love the man, to depend on him† (p. 13). The metaphor, â€Å"A straining hawser† (p. 18) provides a distinctively visual image of Paul and Keller firmly clenching each others hands which symbolises the strength of the emotional connection between Paul and the maestro. This is significant as Paul’s connection with the maestro possesses great importance throughout his life as Paul develops a sense of maturity and personal development through him. Therefore, it is through this distinctively visu al element generated by Goldsworthy that the loving bond and the significance of the bond between Paul and Keller is conveyed. This concept of love is also expressed in Kseniya Simonova’s sand art performance (1:05-2:00) through the tears of the woman resulting from the separation from her loved one due to the war. (148) Through the use of contrast, Goldsworthy creates distinctively visual images between Paul’s female friends Megan and Rosie, differentiating between love and lust simply through the use of descriptive language used to describe them. Distinctively visual images are illustrated of Megan as an angel â€Å"haloed vision†, â€Å"glowing hair† and Rosie as a fly â€Å"podgy, dimpled legs† in the novel and clearly express Paul’s initial feelings towards the girls, yet Paul becomes interested in Rosie â€Å"she had turned†¦pedalled to Rosie’s house†. Through these distinctively visual images the composer successfully conveys the idea of love overriding lust. 94) When Paul initially began lessons with Keller, his first impressions were misleading, a boozers incandescent glow†, â€Å"sun-coarsened-skin, â€Å"a cheap, ruined leather†, providing a distinctively visual image of Keller indicating that he has a wasted appearance. This is expressed by juxtaposing adjectives such as ‘cheap’, ‘ruined’, ‘coarsened’ and ‘incandescent’, which emphasise the effects alcohol has had on his appearance. This distinctively vis ual image of Keller demonstrates the detrimental impact of the war on him due to the loss of his family. The sand art performance by Kseniya Simonova also depicts the harsh affects of war. She sculpts one image skilfully into another and telling a story with her fingers and the sand about WWII. During the act (4:10 – 4:40), a young beautiful woman is transformed into a sorrowful old lady after receiving news that her loved one is dead. This conveys the detrimental impact of the war on this lady through this distinctively visual image. (159) Throughout the novel, Goldsworthy explores the impact of war which is expressed through Keller. In the novel, Paul comes across a tattoo situated upon Keller’s forearm, â€Å"tattooed upon his forearm, six faded, blue digits† which symbolised Keller’s involvement within the concentration camps and the Holocaust. It is through the use of descriptive words such as ‘faded’, which creates the meaning that it was faded because it was something of Keller’s past he wanted to forget about but will always remain with him, both internally and externally, that the composer has created a distinctively visual image of Keller’s tattoo indicating the traumas of his past resulting from the war, which conveys the idea of the impact of war. The concept of the impact of war is similarly illustrated in Kseniya Simonova’s sand art performance as during the act (1:45-2:00) a happy couple is suddenly interrupted by the initiation of the war causing the woman to weep in fear and sadness. This scene provides a distinctively visual image of a traumatised woman which fosters the composer’s idea of the traumatising impacts of the war. (189) Kseniya Simonova’s facial features and agile movements throughout her performance evoke emphasis on her art work and it is through these movements that she engages herself in her artwork. It is through her use of violent movements as her fingers fly over the sand, creating then destroying images that a distinctively visual image of WWII is created which conveys the traumatic impacts of the war. This is displayed during the act (3:10-3:15) as she violently throws sand destroying the illustration which represents the destruction of the war and therefore generates a distinctively visual image. (94) Resulting from the war, Keller lost his wife and son which resulted in Keller becoming an alcoholic. He chose the life among the ‘booze and blow’ (p. ) of Darwin to constantly remind himself of the weakness and absurdity of the human condition. The use of descriptive words such as ‘booze’ and ‘blow’ indicate the alcoholic smell of the place and creates a distinct image of the place, portraying it as an unpleasant atmosphere, which expresses the severe impacts that war has had on Keller as he surrounds himself in an uncomforting environmen t. (92) In these texts, the composer’s have clearly conveyed the concepts of the impacts of war, love and lust and loving bonds and shaped meaning of these concepts through the construction of distinctively visual images. (34)

Bio Medicine Essay Example for Free

Bio Medicine Essay Two Cathy Ann Wilson-Bates Western Governors University EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE & APPLIED NURSING RESEARCH EBP 1 Brenda Luther, PhD, RN January 25, 2012 Task Two Introduction: What I have learned about working with children in a chronic healthcare setting like dialysis is that they are resilient beings with the propensity for rapid changes in their medical condition. Children almost always surprise me in their unique description of symptoms and pain. Depending on their age, they may not be able to describe the symptoms they feel or tell me â€Å"where it hurts†. A simple ear ache may be described as a â€Å"drum in my ear† or may be observed with non verbal cues like tugging on the ear. Acute Otitis Media is seen quite often during the cold and flu season. Recent clinical guidelines suggest waiting twenty four to seventy two hours before beginning antibiotic therapy. Parents of children with symptoms of otitis media are accustomed to receiving a prescription for antibiotics before they leave the medical office. Adults as well are preconditioned for the little white slip of paper from their physician. Waiting twenty four to seventy two hours to evaluate the need for antibiotics will definitely reduce the over-prescription of antibiotics as well as their efficacy. The waiting and watching of several days may seem like an eternity to a parent caring for a sick and crying child. Educating parents during routine visits to the physician office about the risks of over-prescribing antibiotics will help when the physician needs to discuss the possibility of waiting and evaluating before prescribing antibiotics. Providing a list of comfort measures parents can follow may help relieve the anxiety they have in caring for a sick child. Any comfort measure taken to reduce crying is helpful to the parent of a sick child, but mostly to the child. The following table and paragraphs will share the results of how one group of nurses at an outpatient clinic used clinical evidence to manage this situation. Source |Type of Resource |Source appropriate or |Type of Research | | |general information, |inappropriate |primary research evidence, | | |filtered, or unfiltered | |evidence summary, evidence-based | | | | |guideline, or none of these | |American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of|Filtered |Appropriate |Evidence-based guideline | |Family Physicians. Clinical practice guideline: | | | | |Diagnosis and management of acute otitis media. | | | |Causative pathogens, antibiotic resistance and |Unfiltered |Appropriate |Evidence-based guideline | |therapeutic considerations in acute otitis media . | | | | |Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. | | | | |Ear, nose, and Throat, Current pediatric diagnosis and|General |Inappropriate |None of these | |treatment. | | | | |Treatment of acute otitis media in an era of |Filtered |Appropriate |Evidence –based guideline | |increasing microbial resistance. Pediatric Infectious| | | | |Disease Journal | | | | |Results from interviews with parents who have brought |Unfiltered |Appropriate |Primary research evidence | |their children into the clinic for acute otitis media. | | | | | | | | | Subcommittee on Management of Acute Otitis Media. (2004). American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians. Clinical Practice Guidelines: Diagnosis and Manegment of Acute Otitis Media. American Academy of Pediatrics , Vol. 13 No 5 1451-1465. This article is an evidence-based clinical guideline. It is a systematic review making it a filtered resource which is very appropriate for this situation. The article describes the current, (as of 2004) recommendations for the diagnosis and management of Acute Otitis Media (Subcommittee on Management of Acute Otitis Media, 2004). These guidelines show several different ways to treat acute otitis media depending on the symptoms of the child. It states that sometimes waiting to give antibioti cs is good and sometimes waiting to give antibiotics is not good. This article is appropriate and provides clarity on the topic. Block, S. L. (1997). Causative pathogens, antibiotic resistance and therapeutic considerations in acute otitis media. The Pediatric Infectious disease Journal , Volume 16 (4) pp 449-456. This article discusses antibiotic resistance and describes the bacterial pathogens which are responsible for infections causing acute otitis media. This article is appropriate. It contains a comparison of studies performed based on the different types of bacteria which cause acute otitis media. It stresses the importance of identifying the bacteria causing the infection before giving antibiotics so that number one the bacteria can be eradicated and other bacteria will not become resistant (Block, 1997). PE Kelley, N. F. (2006). Ear, Nose and. In M. L. W. W. Hay, Current Pediatric Diagnoisis and Treatment (pp. 459-492). Lang. This textbook source contains general information on the ear, nose and throat. There is much more information here regarding basic anatomy and physiology as well as characteristics of the ear nose and throat. The information regarding otitis media is basic and not an appropriate source of research in this situation for three reasons. Number one, the information is very basic, number two, it does not give any up to date information on how to treat this type of infection, and number three there is too much non-relevant information. McCracken, G. H. (1998). Treatment of acute otitis media in an era of increasing microbial resistance. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal , Volume 17(6) pp576-579. This article is a review of the known etiologies that may cause acute otitis media. The article gives up to date information on therapeutic approaches when selecting an appropriate antibiotic therapy. We don’t practice â€Å"cookie cutter† medicine. The same prescription is not always right for all patients or all communities where some bacteria’s may be more prevalent than others (McCracken, 1998). This is appropriate information for this group of people or community. media, P. o. (n. d. ). Interviews. (C. nurses, Interviewer) This set of interviews is simply raw data. General information can however provide great insight as to what is happening out in the community. For example, this information might shed light on the fact that if the parents are willing to hold off on antibiotics for example, would they be more likely to follow up and come back into the clinic when asked? The reaction of parents is dependent upon other several basic factors like finances, a belief system and possibly the ability to obtain transportation. Knowing how the community is going to respond to their choice may have a great effect on the decisions they make. When evaluating the findings of these sources cumulatively, one must first determine the causative pathogens infecting patients in this given community with acute otitis media. After pathogen determination we can determine which antibiotics may be most useful in eradicating the given bacteria. Careful selection of antibiotic therapy will reduce the propensity for antibiotic resistance. Watchful waiting may be a good thing from the perspective of increasing microbial resistance however we must always evaluate patients on their individual needs or on a patient by patient case. One size doesn’t always fit all. Patient education is the key to keeping the public informed of current practice. Physicians and Nurses need to be consistent in the lesson plan shared with patients and remain true to our scope of practice. Communication is essential between the physician, nurse and other multidisciplinary team members in order to provide the best care. There are many considerations in assessing if patients are able to withstand the waiting and evaluation period. Low income families are one example of how the waiting and watching method might not work. Parents may have to take time off work to come to clinic with a sick child. They might struggle finding money for the additional return trip to the clinic and may risk losing their job if they take more time off work. Many low income families may have already waited before seeking help thus creating their own watchful waiting period. They also may not be able to afford antibiotics and as a result may not give the full dose if symptoms have subsided. The perception is that they will save the medication for the next time symptoms arise. Confidentiality might be an issue in smaller communities. People tend to be concerned about neighbors and co-workers and some may not care to share their experience with others. This may be an issue for parents who don’t share custody as in the case of divorce. It is a greater issue when parents or partners don’t share the same fundamental values, especially those related to healthcare. Conclusion: Watchful waiting like the nurses in this clinic are looking at may be useful for some of the patients, but not all. Again, a one size fits all philosophy is not always appropriate in healthcare. Tools like algorithms may be helpful in determining the appropriateness for watching and waiting versus immediate action as determined by physical findings and social circumstances like parental adherence for follow up and ability to afford treatment. Whatever course you choose, watchful waiting or immediate antibiotics the best practice remains a plan of care based on the individual needs of our patients. References Block, S. L. (1997). Causative pathogens, antibiotic resistance and therapeutic considerations in acute otitis media. The Pediatric Infectious disease Journal , Volume 16 (4) pp 449-456. McCracken, G. H. (1998). Treatment of acute otitis media in an era of increasing microbial resistance. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal , Volume 17(6) pp576-579. media, P. o. (n. d. ). Interviews. (C. nurses, Interviewer) PE Kelley, N. F. (2006). Ear, Nose and. In M. L. W. W. Hay, Current Pediatric Diagnoisis and Treatment (pp. 459-492). Lang. Subcommittee on Management of Acute Otitis Media. (2004). American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians. Clinical Practice Guidelines: Diagnosis and Manegment of Acute Otitis Media. American Academy of Pediatrics , Vol. 113 No 5 1451-1465. Bio Medicine. (2018, Oct 22).

Capital Expenditure and Depreciation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Capital Expenditure and Depreciation - Essay Example Acquiring fixed assets like building, land, plant and machinery, motor vehicle and furniture fittings are regarded as the capital expenditure. The assets are not to be sold for making profit but that assets should be retained in the business. Capex generally yields gains over a long period of time (Banerjee, 2010). Capex on a financial statement is important as the investors are interested in the amount of capital improvement that he experiences. The declining capex will make the investor cautious as well as abnormal increased values signals that the investor should also be cautious (Jennings, 2006). The different types of capex are the following: Expenditure resulting from the acquisition of permanent assets: Any asset that can be converted into cash later. The money spent to acquire the asset is called capex (Warren, 2009). Expenditure resulting from purchase, erection or receipt of a fixed asset: The expenses in addition to the purchase price that are incurred for manufacturing th e asset for use are added to the cost of the asset and thus is regarded as capex. The examples are the wages that are paid to the workers for manufacturing machines, the cost of the place where the machine will be manufactured and the interest on the loan raised to purchase a fixed asset. Expenditure resulting from improvement of the fixed asset: If the profit earning capacity increases because of the expenditure, through lowering of cost or increase the output level, it is capital expenditure. Expenditure incurred to get the right to carry on business: The expenses that are needed for establishing a business or acquiring license is capital expenditure. The cost of patent is also capital expenditure. Expenditure resulting from acquisition of tangible asset: The expenditure incurred on a non profitable asset is treated as capital expenditure. Factors that add to the cost of capital expenditure (with examples) Cost of capital expenditure i.e., the interest payments and the cash-flow, that affect cash that are available in the capital goods. Example: If one borrows ? 10000 to buy a new coffee maker and it brings with it an additional ?1000 / month of profit but the monthly interest that are to be paid for the loan is ?1120, then it is said to be the bad expenditure with a negative impact on the business. Now if the same person borrows the same amount but bring ?1500 profit/month it is a good investment. Thus, there are different factors that add up to the cost of capital expenditure and can make an investment unprofitable and even profitable. How does capital expenditure lose value over time? A product when capitalized the value of the item is placed in an asset that increases the total value of the company. The reason behind these is that the items are considered to lose their value slowly or increase over time. The asset is listed on the company’s property tax inventory and the asset is provided a number for tracking purposes (Elmaleh, 2005). The company gets bill for taxes on the value of the assets and the listing of an asset that is depreciating decreases in value each year until it is considered to have no value (Hoofman, 2009). After capitalizing, the item is allowed to depreciate over a period of time, such as 3 – 5 years of time. After depreciation the entire cost of the item is not revealed in the expenses at one time,

Forum 5 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Forum 5 - Research Paper Example most effective of what is commonly known as â€Å"business to customer communications† which effectively influences consumers to an organization or its brand products due to its dual way communication (Bowie and Buttle, 2012, n.p.). The customer communication effort is particularly effective because of its personalized approach that focuses on individual consumers. It similarly has a number of efficiencies that facilitate communication between businesses and their consumers towards capturing consumers’ attention and influencing them into preferring an organization and its products. The low cost of email communication as well as its speed in communication for example allows organizations to respond to consumers’ enquiries in a faster and affordable way, communicating the organization’s efficiency and the value it puts on consumers (Masterman and Wood, 2006). Application of emails also promotes consumers’ confidence in an organization and its products due to a continued contact even after purchase (Turner and Weickgenannt, 2008). The associated advantages and efficiencies of emails therefore identify it as a successful way of putting an organization’s name in front of current customers and potential customers. This is, further, because the approach induces confidence among the

Study of Chinese Wine Consumption Essay Example for Free

Study of Chinese Wine Consumption Essay Abstract Purpose  ± This research aims to examine Chinese consumers wine consumption and purchasing behaviour. Design/methodology/approach  ± The study, conducted during the Chinese New Year in early 2006, used in-depth interviews with 15 consumers in Guangzhou, Peoples Republic of China. Findings  ± The results suggest that Chinese consume Chinese spirits for all occasions, yet consume red wine only for special occasions such as Chinese new year and other holidays. A key point for selling red wine to the Chinese is its positive image; drinking red wine is considered trendy and shows good taste. Another key point is consumer perceptions of red wine as healthier than Chinese spirits because wine contains less alcohol. Two other findings are that most Chinese consumers assume all wine is red wine and have little wine knowledge. Most respondents did not know of white wine or that Australia produces wine. Finally, Chinas culture of face value, mianzi, plays a key role in purchasing and consuming wine. Chinese tend to purchase inexpensive wine for private consumption and public occasions, yielding more mianzi in front of others. In some important occasions, consumers will purchase a foreign (French) red wine to impress their guests and obtain even more mianzi. In most situations, Chinese purchase and consume wine for perceived health and symbolic  ± lucky or good face  ± values. Research limitations/implications  ± The small sample size is a limitation. Another limitation is that all the respondents lived in the urban area of Guangzhou, one of Chinas most developed cities. The findings do not generalize to China. Practical implications  ± The findings suggest that wine is a symbolic product rather than a necessity product in China; therefore, image is an important attribute for selling wine in China. Furthermore, limited wine knowledge tends to make Chinese consumers rely heavily on price for their wine purchasing decisions, as price relates to mainzi. Chinese consumers high awareness of France as a wine making country and their deep-rooted positive beliefs about French wines pose difficulties for marketing other foreign wines, such as Australian wines, in China. Originality/value  ± This is perhaps the first academic study in English of Chinese wine consumption and wine purchasing. It offers important insights on the characteristics of wine consumption and purchasing in China. Keywords Consumers, Consumption, China, Wines, Red wines Paper type Research paper 98 Fang Liu and Jamie Murphy International Journal of Wine Business Research Vol. 19 No. 2, 2007 pp. 98-113 # Emerald Group Publishing Limited 1751-1062 DOI 10. 1108/17511060710758669. Introduction Chinese wine production has grown dramatically since the 1980s, with an average annual increase of 14 per cent from 80,000 tons in 1980 to 440,000 tons in 2005 (ASKCI, 2005; Snapshot, 2005; see Figure 1). Wine consumption has risen alongside the wine production. From 2004 to 2005, Chinese wine consumption reached 420,000 tons  ± 564 million bottles, which brought China into the top ten wine consumption countries (Foodmate, 2007). From 2005 to 2010, Foodmate (2007) estimates that Chinese wine Chinese wine consumption 99 Wine production in China (1980-2005) Figure 1. consumption should increase by 35 per cent, or six times the worlds overall increase in wine consumption. Chinas per capita wine consumption of under 0. 5 litres is markedly less than the world average of 7. 5 litres, and 40 times less than the 20 litres drunk in western countries such as France, Australia, and the USA ( Jin, 2004). For the past 10 years, Chinese wine consumption increased from 10-15 per cent annually, grew 20 per cent in 2005, and this strong growth should continue for the foreseeable future ( Jin and Zhan, 2006). Chinas current low per capita wine consumption, augmented by the worlds largest population (1.25 billion) and decades of 7-8 per cent annual GDP growth (NBS China, 2004) has foreign wineries keen for a share of this market. In addition, a reduced wine import duty and the Chinese governments preferential policy for foreign wines further entice foreign wineries into China (SinoCast China Business Daily News, 2002). Foreign wines, particularly from France, the USA, and Australia, are pouring into China (He, 2004). From January to February 2006, China imported around 18 million litres of wine valued at E14 million, and its annual wine imports increased 79 per cent in 2005 (Worldbydata, 2006). Chinas wine market is also becoming competitive, with many local and foreign brands available (Tang, 2005). Despite its huge market potential, academic knowledge about Chinese consumers wine consumption and purchases is scarce. This paper reviews literature on Chinese wine consumption and then discusses the results of qualitative interviews conducted in early 2006 in Guangzhou, China. The paper closes with managerial suggestions for exporting wine into China and proposed avenues for future research. Chinas wine history China has a rich wine history. Towards the beginning of the Han Dynasty, around 206 BC, Chinese started to grow grapes and produce wines in the Yellow River region of northeastern China (Winechina, 2005). Grape wine production, however, lagged other alcoholic beverages such as Chinese spirits due to weather and soil conditions. During IJWBR 19,2 100 the Tang Dynasty, about 500 AD, there was still little Chinese wine production and China began importing wines, mainly from the Middle East. Due to its scarcity, only emperors, senior government officials, and rich merchants drank wine  ± usually for important occasions such as the emperors birthday (Winechina, 2005). Chinese spirits are alcoholic beverages distilled from grains and have been the traditional drink for nearly all occasions in China. Furthermore, due to historical and cultural reasons, wine has never gained the same popularity as rice spirits or beer (Li, 2006); tradition still influences who drinks wine and on what occasion. Wine is both a luxury and image product in China. Chinese who drink wine are usually educated, wealthy, and middle or upper class (Wang, 2006). Demographics aside, many Chinese consume wine for important social or business occasions (Tang, 2006b). Wine has a favourable image in China, but most Chinese have little wine knowledge or appreciation, such as judging wine quality or taste ( Jin, 2004). Macro-factors also hinder Chinas wine market. For example, few guidelines for wine advertising have led to many wine advertisements providing exaggerated or false information (Peoplenet, 2006). Yet, despite Chinas rich wine history and growing wine consumption, few studies have examined Chinese wine consumption and wine purchasing. The next section describes a qualitative study to help bridge this research gap of Chinese consumers attitudes towards wine. Research methodology Due to the complex topic and limited literature of Chinese consumers wine purchasing behaviour, this study adopted a qualitative method (Morse, 1994). Scholars often use qualitative methods in organizational and consumer research in order to help understand complex issues that may not be immediately implicit in surface responses (Goulding, 2005, p. 301). Furthermore, the qualitative approach is particularly apt for experiences such as consumption (Goulding, 2005, p. 303). This study investigated Chinese consumers thoughts associated with wine, wine drinking, and wine purchasing. The major research questions were: (1) when and where Chinese consume wine; (2) how frequently they drink wine; (3) how much they drink per occasion; and (4) what factors influence their wine purchasing. For a qualitative approach, this study used in-depth interviews and a semi-structured questionnaire of open-ended questions. Data collection All interviewees were friends of the researcher and thus inclined to discuss frankly and openly their attitudes towards wine. Interviewing friends is common in qualitative studies as friends will accept the interview as well as share intimate thoughts (Frankel and Devers, 2000; Pottie and Sumarah,2004). The criteria for selecting interviewees were availability, that they had consumed wine, and represented a balanced crosssection of age, gender, and income. Table I profiles the nine male and six female interviewees. Four interviewees were in their 20s, four in their 30s, five in their 40s, and two in their 50s. Defining Chinese income levels is difficult; different areas have different income levels and income disparity is a serious problem (Zhou, 2006). Chinas average ID A B C D Gender Male Male Male Male Age 33 24 42 23. Highest education University University Senior high New Zealand university Collegea Senior high University freshman University Senior high College Junior high Senior high Income Median Low High Median Occupation Marketing executive Engineer assistant Restaurant owner Bank customer service officer Washing business owner Small business owner University student Retired senior executive Working in a beauty shop Airline middle management Housewife Retired government official Lecturer Entrepreneur Account manager Marital status Married with one child Single Married with two children Single. Overseas travel None None HK and Singapore Studied in New Zealand; visited Australia. None HK None Holland, South Korea and a few others None Holland, Japan, Malaysia and HK None HK, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and a few others HK and Australia None HK Chinese wine consumption 101 E F G H I J K L Male Male Male Male Female Female Female Female 43 44 19 60 40 25 40 58 High High Low Median Median Low Low Median Married with one child Married with one child Single Married with one child Married with one child Single Married with one son Married with two adult children Married with one child Married with two children Single. M N O Female Male Male 30 35 34 University High school University Median High Median Notes: aCollege degree, da zhuan, is a three-year degree. A university degree, da xue, is four years. In China, the bachelor degree is four years and a three-year degree is not a bachelor. A four-year degree is much more valued than a three-year degree Interviewee profiles Table I. personal income per month is around E40, but E120 in Guangdong, Shanghai, and a few other developed areas. Even within the same area such as Guangdong, people in urban areas could earn approximately four times as much (E480) as people living in the rural areas. Thus, differentiating low and middle income depends on developed or less developed areas as well as rural or urban areas (Sina, 2006). As the interviews took place in an urban area of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong and one of Chinas most prosperous cities (NBS China, 2004), this study IJWBR 19,2 102 classified four subjects earning E530 as high income. Regarding education, nine subjects had or were studying towards a university degree and six had a high school diploma. The profiles show that the sample has good coverage in gender, age, income, and education level. The researcher  ± a Chinese from Guangzhou, conducted and taped one hour indepth interviews in Chinas official language, Mandarin. The interviews occurred from 29 January to 12 February 2006, during the Chinese New Year, an official holiday of about two weeks. Choosing this festive period for interviewing had three advantages. Interviewees are generally in a good mood and less concerned with the time spent on an interview. Finally, during Chinese New Year, Chinese have banquets with friends, colleagues, and family once or twice a day and usually drink alcoholic beverages when eating. Interviewees were comfortable and less inhibited answering questions related to wine and other alcoholic drinks. Data analyses Transcribing and analysing the taped interviews reinforced and clarified the interview notes. Furthermore, after reviewing the initial narratives, the researcher returned to some interviewees for a follow-up interview and clarifications (Colaizzi, 1978). General findings follow. Wine means red wine When the researcher asked have you tried wine, pu tao jiu, ten interviewees instantly asked do you mean red wine, or ni shi shuo hong pu tao jiu ma? After the researcher explained that wine could be red or white, they said they knew and had drunk only red wine. They never tried nor knew about white wine. In their minds, there were four types of alcoholic drinks: hong jiu or red wine, pi jiu or beer, bai jiu or Chinese spirits, and yang jiu or foreign spirits. Similarly, Fu (2004) noted that most Chinese think red wine represents the entire wine category. Of the five interviewees who knew both red wine and white wine, D and H mostly drank red wine, as it was more available in the market. A and C mostly drank red wines, albeit for a different reason; red is a lucky colour in the Chinese culture. The other subject, J, also drank more red wine due to availability, but she preferred white wines as they were sweeter. She added that companies should promote white wine much more aggressively in China. These results suggest that Chinese have poor general knowledge about wine; twothirds of the interviewees were unaware of white wine. White wine may be less popular because it does not fit Chinese culture. Red is a lucky colour, associated with good things such as weddings and birthdays. White is an unlucky colour, often associated with funerals. Besides the lucky association, Fu (2004) argued that red wine sold better in China as it has a stronger taste than white wine; the Chinese prefer strong taste. Given the low awareness of white wine, the following section discusses Chinese consumers attitudes towards red wine only (see Table II). Chinese attitudes associated with red wine When asked about thoughts associated with red wine, all 15 interviewees began with differences between red wine and Chinese spirits. Later, interviewees B and I compared red wine with beer and J compared red wine with foreign spirits. In these Chinese Thoughts Choosing red wine or Chinese spirits depends on the occasion Red wine is less strong and thus healthier than Chinese spirits Red wine has positive symbolic meaning (e. g. lucky and prosperous) Red wine is particularly good for occasions such as spring festivals or celebrating good things Drinking red wine indicates good social image People drinking red wine cares about their face or image Drinking wine is more elegant and gracious than drinking Chinese spirits Red wine is particularly good for occasions such as banquets with important guan xi hu. Chinese know much less about wine, than about Chinese spirits Red wine is expensive Well-educated people with good income drink red wine You can mix red wine with other drinks (e. g. sprite) so you drink less alcohol Beer tastes better than red wine Red wine cannot replace Chinese spirits Red wine is good for those who are not very good at drinking Red wine drinkers are young and modern Wine suits women more than men as it contains less alcohol People who often drink red wine like following western lifestyles Xiaozia prefer red wine Wine suits get-togethers with less familiar or new friends as nobody would get drunk. (getting drunk in public is embarrassing) Red wine tastes good You can mix red wine with other drinks (e. g. sprite) so you can try more varieties than Chinese spirits Red wine is a better gift choice than spirits People above 40, white collared, will like red wine Chinese spirits have a bigger market than red wine as people drinking red wine are a small group Wine is for appreciation not for competition like Chinese spirits (Chinese like to compete on the quantity they drink when they consume Chinese spirits) Count 11 8 8 8 7 5 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1. Chinese wine consumption 103 Notes: aXiaozi directly translates as small capitalist. Compared to other middle-class Chinese, this subset is extremely concerned with image and tends to consume expensive and branded goods to show that they live better than others do. They often favour western lifestyles Interviewee thoughts associated with red wine Table II. consumers perceptual maps of alcoholic drinks, red wines main competitor was Chinese spirits. Eleven out of 15 interviewees said that drinking Chinese spirits or red wine depended on the occasion or chang he. Among these 11 interviewees, eight said that red wine was particularly good for celebrating Chinese New Year and other holidays as red symbolises prosperity, luck, and good fortune. Interviewees C, E, and F, all businessmen,  ± said that red wine was good for banquets with important business connections or guan xi hu. This common thread among the businessmen suggested that red wine is starting to appear in business banquets, traditionally dominated by Chinese or foreign spirits. Besides occasion, another important thought related to red wine was attributes. Red wines health aspect was the most important, and most recalled, attribute. Some of this perception may stem from Chinese Prime Minister Zhus 1997 speech promoting IJWBR 19,2 104 red wine as healthy (Anderson, 2001). Eight of 15 interviewees believed that red wine was healthier than Chinese spirits as it contained less alcohol. Of these eight interviewees, four were high income earners (C, E, F, and N) and four were middle income (A, H, I, and M). Living healthy is an emerging trend for Chinas middleand upper-income classes, so red wines health aspect probably attracts wealthier Chinese. Comments from subject C, a businessperson, covered the major perceived benefits that Chinese consumers had regarding drinking red wine (see below). Due to his age, he appeared to emphasise the health aspect of the red wine. If I had a choice, I would drink red wines in most social get-togethers. Red wines contain less alcohol so it is not as lie (strong) as Chinese spirits or foreign spirits; therefore, it is better for health. You know, at my age, when you reach 40, you must take care of your health. You cant drink alcohol as if you drank when you were 18 or 20 year old. Also, there are different ways of drinking red wine such as straight red wine or red wine mixed with something else like a cocktail (so it is less alcoholic). Even elderly people and young kids can drink red wines whilst these people wont be up for Chinese or foreign spirits. In addition, red wine indicates good luck so it is good for important occasions such as birthday parties and festivals. Other attributes mentioned were red wine indicates good social image; people who drink it have good taste (B, C, E, G, I, M, and O). Red wine is expensive (B, G, and O), beer tastes better than red wine (B and M), and red wine is not strong enough (B). Compared with the health and social image, the other attributes seemed less important. Consumers evaluate products on intrinsic and extrinsic cues (Ophuis and van Trijp, 1995). Wines intrinsic cues include physical attributes such as colour, aroma, and taste, which cannot be changed without changing the physical product itself; extrinsic cues associate with the product but are not physically part of the product such as brand, price, and distribution (Dimara and Skuras, 2001, p. 692). Healthy seems an extrinsic attribute as it stems from the perceptions that red wine contains less alcohol than Chinese spirits, and red wine is a fruit- rather than rice-based drink. Good social image is also an extrinsic cue. The above analyses indicate that extrinsic rather than intrinsic attributes dominate Chinese consumers perceptions. This also suggests that Chinese consumers know little about wine and aligns with studies of intrinsic vs extrinsic cues. Expert consumers, knowledgeable about the product, rely more on intrinsic product cues, while novice consumers with little product knowledge tend to rely more on extrinsic cues (Maheswaran, 1994; Laroche, 2005). A final category of thoughts related to who consumes wine. The most frequently mentioned statement was red wine drinkers are conscious about their face or image (B, H, I, J, and M). Being conscious of mianzi, directly translated as face (Graham and Lam, 2003), is a key Chinese characteristic; people are conscious of what other people think about them (Zhang, 1996). Four respondents (D, G, J, and I) noted that drinking wine was more elegant and gracious than drinking Chinese spirits. Two subjects (M and O) commented that people who often drink red wine like to follow the western ways of life as red wine indicates something non-Chinese or, in particular, western. These results confirm the importance of extrinsic cues. Drinking red wine suggests good social image, elegance, and grace, all of which indicate good mianzi. However, the perception that red wine drinkers are conscious about their mianzi could be negative. For example, Subject M, a well-educated female in her early 30s, told the researcher that: Red wine is particularly attractive to those Xiaozi (Small Bourgeois) people but I am not a Xiaozi type of person. (Why? ) Well, I will consider myself a middle-class person with good income and education but a Xiaozi person is different. Xiaozi is not decided by education or income, but rather by the xingtai (values). Some people may not have high income but they are very concerned with their public image. They want to be seen as unique and different. When they speak, they will always use a few English words in a Chinese sentence. They would also speak Chinese with a somewhat different qiangdiao (intonation). They like to follow the trends and fashions from western countries. For example, they would drink Cappuccino rather than tea. A Xiaozi type of person may earn only 3000 yuan a month but he or she could spend 4000 yuan on a Luis Vuitton bag. Frankly speaking, Cantonese (Chinese living in and around Guangdong province) people seem to be less xiaozi because Cantonese are very shiji (practical or down to earth) so they care more about the actual functions or benefits of a product rather than the image. For example, a rich Cantonese man may drive a BMW (an expensive car in China) but he will stop in a small takeaway at a street corner to buy a bowl of beef noodles if he thinks the noodles are good. This will never happen with a Xiaozi type of person. Chinese wine consumption 105 The drinking scent When asked how often they drank wine, the responses were one to three times a month (A, C, D, E, and F), one to three times a year ( J, K, L, M, N, and O), and once or twice in their life (B, G, and I). Four out of the five heavy drinkers, albeit light drinkers compared to Australians, were businessmen over 40, and had the highest income. They had more opportunities to drink red wine as they attended more business and social functions.

Character of Athena in Homers Odyssey :: Homer Odyssey womody

Character of Athena in Homer's Odyssey The "gray eyed" Athena is one of the most special characters in The Odyssey. First off, how many gray eyed people do you know? That makes her pretty special right there, adding to the fact that she is an Olympian goddess. As all goddesses are pictured, she has a thin figure (not skinny), great brown curling hair which flows from the head gently down to her slender waist, perfect toned peach (in Greek and Roman myths) skin, and, of course, the big blue shiny eyes which can mesmorize any mortal at first sight. That's one special person. And she doesn't fail to keep those aspects while helping out ol' Odysseus. In addition to her outstanding looks, she has a kind heart. Unlike her brother, Poseidon, she wants Odysseus to get back home to Ithaka. She also wants Telemahkos to meet his father for the first time in decades. She does this very cleverly. To help Telemakhos grow out of his cowardly childhood, she comes to him as a good friend, encouraging the young boy to do what he must and seek out news about his father. But when she leaves, she gives a little hint to him that she's actually a goddess by turning into a bird. I think this was a weakness of Athena. The fact that she constantly showed off to many people that she was indeed a goddess shows that she wants to be praised by all and showing a slight immature and soft side on her part. This can also be interpreted as a good action in some cases. When Telemakhos knows Athena, a goddess, is on his side, this gives him extra confidence. She also shows a caring side when she turns into many different figures to guide Odysseus through his journey. This shows determination on her part, saying that she really wants Odysseus, a brave soldier who fought for good in the Trojan War, to get home to his loving family. The way she changes form to try and trick Odysseus from thinking that he was indeed back home was a test. But he obviously saw through the charade and went to claim his rights back in his palace. This isn't the only way she helps Odysseus and Telemakhos.

Erasmus-Praise of Folly Essay

Erasmus of Rotterdam (c. 1466-1536) is one of the supreme figures of the Renaissance humanist movement, which deserted Middle Ages pious nesses in support of a productive new image of the individual’s impending. Praise of Folly, scripted to engross his friend Sir Thomas More, is Erasmus’s famous work. Its incredible combination of flight of the imagination and spoof is recounted by a incarnation of Folly, appareled as a comedian, who fetes adolescence, happiness, crapulence and sexual aspiration, and goes on to berate human pretenses, mannerisms and debilities, to deride theologians and monks and to admire the ‘folly’ of simple Christian faithfulness. Erasmus’s humor, jousting and knowledge made the book an immediate accomplishment, but it also concerned what may have been sales- advancing criticism. He was apprehensive with the sleaze that had broadened all the way through the spiritual positions of organization. On the other hand, Erasmus believed that religious rebellion led openly to lawlessness; consequently he took the side of neither the Pope, nor the restructuring major, Martin Luther. Erasmus went for to intensify people into quizzical their poise in devout influence through his work as divergent to dialogue unswervingly next to the Romanists. As a result both parties, Luther and the Romanists, detested him. Spiritual influence: Erasmus wrote The Praise of Folly as a spoof in hopes that people would begin to query the Romanists’ spiritual influence. It is written from the viewpoint of Folly, a Greek goddess, who is appalled with the unawareness and pride of her believers. The goddess discriminates diverse classes along with her believers and discloses their mistakes. Erasmus insinuates that the faults of the followers which Folly remarks are those of the Romanists. One such group is that of the Scientists. They are criticized for conceiving that they are enhanced than all other individuals. They â€Å"teach that they alone are wise while the rest of mortal men flit about as shadows (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 67). † Erasmus is concerning to the forged propose that the Pope unaided has the capability to construe the Holy Christian Bible, as well as the insinuation that the Pope has a heavenly understanding that comes corresponding with his heading of workplace. Erasmus’ vision of the Pope and the Romanists is that they â€Å"know nothing in general, they profess to know all things in particular; though they are ignorant even of themselves, and on occasion do not see the ditch or the stone lying across their path, because many of them are blear eyed or absent minded; yet they proclaim that they perceive ideas, universals forms without matter, primary substances, quiddities, and ecceities; things so tenuous (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 67). † devoid of properly speaking out alongside the Pope, Erasmus entails that the Pope put on a frontage as an all-knowing, all-powerful mortal. Erasmus states here that the Pope has no true knowledge as to what God expects from his worshipers. He cannot believe that â€Å"these lucky scientists find people to believe them (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 67). † With this last account, he calls to the people of the church not to accept the whole thing that are told to them from dishonest power statistics. Erasmus assaults theologians through the voice of Folly when he says that they will not waste haste to proclaim heresy in order to â€Å"terrify any toward whom they are ill-disposed (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 67). † Erasmus does not accept the word of theologians as religious law, and therefore is not intimidated by their accusations of wickedness upon his surprised of influence. They are arrogant beings who overlook that they blunder as every human does. Their idea that they â€Å"already inhabit the third heaven they look down from† is proof that they have lost their humility in front of Christ (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 67). They have sheltered themselves with â€Å"scholastic definitions, arguments, corollaries, implicit and explicit propositions† and shaped resistance to any indulgence they may commend (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 67). To the Popes, Cardinals, and Bishops, Erasmus inquires why they believe that they have the information to respond any and all experiential doubtful nesses regarding human source and human fate. How is it that to blunder is human personality, but the Pope can direct a life devoid of intrude or responsibility? Is he not human being? These figures of spiritual influence are more apprehensive with their roles of ability than they are about their spiritual responsibilities. (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 71). Religious aspects: The most important premise found in Erasmus’ book considers with his thoughts toward belief and the Catholic Church. he inquiries the responsibility of the church leaders. What they are and what they should be. When Erasmus elaborates that Bishops don’t meet the requirements according to the role of work, compassionate, taking pains but care more about creasing in the income, it demonstrates that he wants revolutionize but not in a turbulent way. Erasmus thought that the Church could transform the industrialist in quest of Bishop into his suitable responsibility. Fundamentally the Church had turn out to be too concerned with wealth and control. The Churches role now had developed from stringently a spiritual meaning to an association that was accurately running the state and schooling. Erasmus also believes that the role of the Church leaders has been mislaid and that authority they now have has become dishonest. To a certain extent, it should go back to an establishment that mainly deals with the religious inspiring of the people. These ideas were believed to be carried out wordlessly and methodical inside the Church member of the aristocracy. as a substitute of a religious war between paragons, Erasmus required a tranquil amalgamated church serenely rehabilitated from inside. The alteration that is desirable would help concentrate on Erasmus’ predicament with the Churches misinterpretation of how spiritual observances should be accomplished. J. Huizinga details out that Erasmus is incapable to be pleased about the Churches workouts because of its succeeding domination it had in all fields of the social order. Connecting in well with the other writers aims that the Church demands to discontinue and re-examine its position in the general public. Erasmus’ thoughts were discarded in anticipation of the reorganization was over and the Counter-Reformation was in dangle. Erasmus considered scholasticism as the most caricature of the spiritual strength of mind; according to him this deterioration passe from the prehistoric Christological arguments, which induced the church to mislay its Christian church believing in personal conversion ease and turn out to be the fatality of word-splitting thinking, which climaxed in scholasticism. With the end there came out in the church that hypocritically pious which based uprightness on fine works and simple holiness, and on a observance underneath whose influence the Christian spirit was muffled. Alternatively committing itself to everlasting deliverance of mortals, scholasticism drove back the faithfully tending by its fine-spun unimportant conjectures and it’s over inquisitive conversation of impenetrable secrets. In Erasmus’ work, Mistress Folly addresses while admiring herself. â€Å"And to whom is it generally agreed life owes its beginning if not to me? For it certainly isn’t the spear of ‘mighty-fathered’ Pallas or the shield of ‘cloud-gathering’ Jupiter which fathers and propagates the human race†. She laughs at the Gods and denudes them of their abilities.

History of Middletown, New Jersey Essay

A Starbuck or Panera Bread at nearly every corner, high rise condominiums and modern day architectural structures line the city of Middletown, New Jersey. This is the everyday picture of my hometown located north of the Navesink River in Monmouth County. Yes, I have noticed beautiful state parks, a lighthouse, and signs for tourist, but not being a tourist, I never realized or cared much for why Middletown even attracted tourists. I was looking forward to this research paper, because it gave me an opportunity to actually learn the historical significance of where I lived. I put the proverbial â€Å"tourist hat† on and took to the streets. What I learned amazed and embarrassed me, Middletown was encased in history, landmarks and all I basically new was where to get my latte in the morning. Before seeing the â€Å"sights† that I passed by so many times without pause, I wanted to learn about the history of Middletown itself, the simple facts. The township was settled in l665 by the English who migrated from Long Island, New York and New England. They had to purchase the land from the local Indian tribes and initially established three villages; the Portland Point, Shrewsbury and Middletown. The towns were organized as part of the Monmouth County in l693. Portland Point didn’t progress, but the two remaining villages prospered and were deemed as the â€Å"Two Towns of the Navesink† (Gabrielan, 2003). Middletown’s past included playing a part in the Revolutionary War. A vast number of residents stayed loyal to England and while others fount for their independence. According to Randall Barielan, â€Å"the conflict in New Jersey was a virtual civil war. Enemy participants in the major battle in New Jersey were headed toward Middletown. British forces hid in the Middletown hills during the battles. I never imagined my hometown shared a piece of our nation’s history. It’s a small town of about 60,000 people, on the Navesink River. Unfortunately, we did have thirty-six residents die on September 11th, but with that aside our crime rate is 0. 6 per 1,000 people (epodunk. com, 2007). Until this paper I thought of Middletown as a quaint village with the most impressive feature being that Bruce Springsteen, Geraldo Riviera and Vince Lombardi were born. Since I did pass a few â€Å"old† churches on my way to a Starbucks, I thought I’d esearch the spirituality history of Middletown. There were several different denominations early on with the Baptist Church founded in 1688, the oldest church in New Jersey, with at least one half of the original settlers known to be of this faith. The All Saints Memorial Church in Navesink, founded in l864 and officially becoming a National Historic Landmark in1988. Richard Upjohn, a visionary of this time period, with his English Gothic Revival architect, was chosen to construct the church laying the cornerstone in l863. According to there official website; www. allsaintsnavesink. rg, the church was awarded a â€Å"grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust to develop a long term preservation plan. † The story behind the Episcopal Christ Church, built in l702 is interesting. It was not about England settlers getting together to worship; it was more of a â€Å"missionary venture. † Colonial Governor, Lewis Morris, wrote to the Bishop of London of the people of Middletown: â€Å"There is no such thing as a church or religion among them. They are perhaps, the most ignorant and wicked people in the world†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The Bishop sent two Anglican priests to â€Å"save† Middletown. That was over three hundred years ago and the Christ Church still remains an active congregation (christchurchmiddletown. org). Another area of Middletown I wasn’t aware of, is snuggled away high on a hill and called the Water Witch Club, founded in 1895. A 50 acre â€Å"historic paradise,† added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. It is known for its â€Å"exclusive club culture,† and architecture. The Witch Club enticed visits by famous architects such as Frank A. Wright and Yew York are rich and famous. Presently there are forty-four homes at Water Witch Club that amazingly kept its â€Å"old-world charm,† throughout its history. A breathtaking site on top of a hill, which escaped me for so long (Van Develde, 2003). Before I introduce you and myself, to the several other historic landmarks in Middletown, there is one fact I was surprised to unveil. Middletown’s daily newspaper, the Times Herald-Record, often called simply, â€Å"The Record,† was the first cold offset press in the country, published in 1851. Subsequently, in 1956, the Middletown Daily Record, the first U.  S. newspaper to use cold type, printed from a garage, ignited competition for the Record. In l969 the two papers merged into the Sunday Record, but reverted back to the Times Herald-Record in 2007. The form of this newspaper from cold type to a website, in 2008, shows a timeline of innovations (record online. com). Now, back to being a tourist, I set forth to view the historical landmarks my locale had preserved for generations. Marlpit Hall was built in several stages and completed in 1756. It was the home of loyalist Edward Taylor and his family. Taylor was held under house arrest for his political views and lost most of his wealth and influence. In l936, the house was donated to the Monmouth County Historical Association. The Association restored it to become the first house museum in the region. Marlpit has five rooms all furnished to depict its setting from l756 through 1820. It is â€Å"key property† in the National Register of Historic Places in Middletown Village. A â€Å"spin-off† of the Marlpit Hall is the Taylor-Butler House, built in 1853 by descendents of the Marlpit’s Taylor family. Joseph Taylor and his wife, Mary originally called it the Orchard Home. They were particular in furnishing the home with family heirlooms. Mary was the last to live in the house, which remained vacant for ten years after her death in 1930. Henry Ludwig Kramer, a famous architect, bought it for his home and office, restoring its historical venue. George and Alice Butler bought it from Kramer in the l950’s; in turn the Monmouth County Historical Association bought the estate in l999. Actually the Association itself has an historical place in Middletown, too. It was founded in l898 by a group of citizens committed to preserving the history of Monmouth County. They built a three story Georgian building in l931 to house a museum and library (co. monmouth. nj). Middletown has two historic farmhouses; the Murray Farmhouse and the Moses D. Heath Farm. The Murray Farmhouse and barn was built in l770 and remains on its original foundation. Joseph Murray and his mother arrived from Ireland in l767 to Monmouth County where he met and married Rebecca Morris, and had four children. Joseph joined the â€Å"local militia,† when the Revolutionary War began. He acquired the nickname, â€Å"daring, notorious rebel,† because he was â€Å"openly defiant of British rule. † The farm remained in the family until l861, and had several owners until it was purchased in 1973 by the Middletown Township to â€Å"save the land from development. † Today the house is not accessible to the public but there are continuous events and tours throughout the barn and farmland (poricypark. org). The Moses D. Heath Farm provides access to numerous exhibits to illustrate the historical importance of farming in Monmouth County. They include; 19th century farm â€Å"artifacts, Gertrude Neidlinger (1911-1998) Spy House collection, and a working honey bee colony and museum. † The farm promotes the legacy of the Heath family, primarily Bertha C. Heath. Heath’s father, Clinton was a former slave until the Civil War freed him, and he fled to Middletown with his brother Calvin; who later became the first preacher at the Clinton Chapel Zion Church, founded in 1870. After he was settled as a crop farmer he sent for his wife and thirteen children. Bertha being the â€Å"youngest of 6 girls. † Born in the farm homestead on July 22, 1909, she ran two miles for a â€Å"trolley to take her to school,† each morning. Bertha was exceptionally graduating from Middletown Township High School in 1926 she moved to Upper Manhattan, New York City and lived there for forty-four years. During this period she graduated from the Harlem Hospital School of Nursing, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health form New York University, in 1958, and a Master of Science degree from Columbia University. Bertha went beyond what a black women was allowed or able to do, and enjoyed working as a registered nurse until her retirement in 1974. Bertha with the help of her nephew, Walter Spradley and countless volunteers, organized the Heath Center Black History Committee, which still participates in Black History Month celebrations. The property has remained in the Heath Family since the post Civil War years and converted into the center of New Jersey’s African-American agricultural history. Visiting the farm is the ultimate family experience. Along with exhibits already mentioned, there is a children’s educational garden, blacksmith shop, sugar can mill and â€Å"demonstrations on how farming was conducted in the l9th century,† (heahfarm. tripod. com). The last landmark I’ll review is the Sandy Hook Lighthouse. Built in l764 it is the oldest lighthouse in the nation and one of the twelve constructed before the Revolutionary War. It is octagonal, and rises eight-five feet above the ground and eighty-eight feet above the water. New York originally financed Sand Hook because the merchants lost a lot of money and crew members from shipwrecks. American and English troops both wanted control of the lighthouse during the war, so New York congressmen gave the order to darkened it to deter British ships. This proved ineffective, the British sent a landing party to relight Sandy Hook. The Americans even tried to destroy the lighthouse with cannons, but did little damage to its structure. The British controlled Sandy Hook throughout the Revolution. â€Å"The original tower of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse still stands. † Another interesting note from the National Park Service is that the lighthouse originally stood five hundred feet from the northern end of Sandy Hook, and now, because of the current of the water, â€Å"the light is five-eighths of a mile from the point. † Ironically the light continues to help mariners, as it has â€Å"faithfully done for the last l96 years,† and was designated a National Landmark on January 29, 1964 (nps. gov). Amazing how much a tourist learns about a place you call home? I had to walk in they’re shoes to notice the national historic landmarks, hidden natural treasures and areas steeped in history, literally in my own backyard. What an indelible past laid behind my everyday sights of the Gothic designed church, the farmhouses, and restored l9th century homes. It is like seeing Middletown for the first time, through the eyes of an interested stranger. My walk to Starbucks takes on a totally different meaning for me now; I take it slower, observe the artistic landscape and take pride in knowing I’m walking down a path through history.

Heavy Metal Is Misinderstood essays

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Summery of Audio lecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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