PSYCHOLOGY APPROACHES Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PSYCHOLOGY APPROACHES - Assignment Example In addition the recent development in the field of genetics and molecular biology has enabled psychologists to have a better understanding about human behavioral and mental processes (Barondes). Though the biological approach was initially shunned by scientists such as Freud who invented the psychoanalytical approach the numerous advances made in the field of biology has contributed immensely towards the understanding of human psychology. There has also been a greater understanding of the mechanism of drug action for psychiatry treatment due to these biological advances and as a result drugs are being used effectively to cure mental illnesses. The advances made in genetic study of psychiatric disorders have enabled researchers to identify the causes for these illnesses, especially those with no observable neuropathological conditions, and the study of the molecular biology of the receptors will help in development of more effective drugs for psychological disorders. In the two most p revalent psychiatric disorders, schizophrenia and manic-depressive disorder, genetics has been found to play a very prominent role and with the new DNA mapping techniques it has been possible to identify the hereditary genes (Barondes; Sammons). Inheritance of these faulty genes in turn influences the nervous system thereby giving rise of the symptoms of the disorder (Sammons).

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Community Based Tourism Tourism Essay

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Community Based Tourism Tourism Essay The information contained within this literature provides a complete analysis of The Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Sector. It clearly outlines the importance of quality service delivery, the differences between service in the hospitality industry and service in other business, community based tourism, the advantages and disadvantages of community based tourism, diversification of Jamaica through community based tourism and the effects of technology on the tourism industry. The Travel Tourism and Hospitality Sector Definition of key terms What is hospitality? Dictionary.com, 2012.Hospitality is the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors or strangers. What is Community Based Tourism? Responsibletravel.com, 2012 asserts, Community Based Tourism is tourism in which members of a community, local residents (often rural, poor and economically marginalized) invite tourists to visit their community with the provision of overnight accommodations. Pearson Education 2010 online, Community managed and owned sustainable tourism that aims to share local ways of life and the communitys natural and cultural resources with visitors. What is an advantage? Farlex, The Free Dictionary, 2012, An advantage is a beneficial factor or combination of factors. What is a disadvantage? Farlex, The Free Dictionary, 2012, A disadvantage is an unfavourable condition or circumstance. What is Service? Farlex, The Free Dictionary, 2012, Service is work done for others as an occupation or business.The Importance of Quality Service Delivery in the Hospitality Industry. As tourism plays a major role in the economic development of most countries, it is imperative that impeccable services are provided at every given opportunity. A guest or visitor needs to feel welcomed and appreciated to the point where by the end of their trip they have begun planning their return. The industry is also extremely competitive i.e. a lot of products and services offered are similar hence from the customer service perspective providing excellent service is the best option for getting ahead of the competition. A five star hotel may possess the luxurious furniture, the spas, the sporting facilities and all the trimmings that go along with it but because the verbal and physical delivery is lacking in personality and respectfulness, a guest would be willing to settle for the lesser amenities of a three star hotel in which they are made to feel welcome and appreciated as well as treated with the respect they deserve. Providing the service is one thing, however, the method of delivery is another. People tend to pick up on body language, gesticulation as well as facial expression through careful observation. It is best when providing quality hospitality services in the tourism industry to do so with a genuine and honest disposition, anything less will seem as a faà §ade and is unacceptable. Service in the hospitality and tourism sector is delivered in mostly on a one on one, verbal and or physical manner. This exposes the visitor or guest and the service provider to a range of differences in one or the other which the service provider must handle in a professional manner regardless of his or her personal preferences to secure the longevity and integrity of the business. These differences may include but are not limited to one or more of the following: Religion (Christianity versus Atheism, Islam, Buddhism etc.), Language which causes a barrier (English versus Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese etc.), preferences in entertainment (an older crowd who is more conservative versus a younger crowd who is more into the party scene), race and cultures (African American and black versus Caucasian), Cuisine and dietary preferences (Asian versus Italian). These differences must be treated with genuine respect rather than disdain as it will undoubtedly create an instant rift betwee n the parties involved and subsequently result in a decline in the return rate of visitors and affect the arrival of new comers. This occurs due to the fact that a bad experience is never forgotten and will most definitely be shared with others to warn them of the possibility of being treated in a similar manner and as individuals tend to believe what is communicated to them by a known acquaintance whether it be friend or family, the end result will mean less business being operated, loss of profit, loss of jobs and subsequently loss of the entire industry. It is widely accepted within the hospitality and customer service industry that a customers good experience will be shared with only a few close friends and family while a bad experience will be told to everyone willing to listen. This is proven on a daily basis on websites such as Trip Advisor and it has such far-reaching effect that most progressive companies in the sector have their marketing or public relations teams scouring the internet to respond to all concerns raised and to ensure their reputation remains untarnished. The Difference between Service Delivery in Hospitality and Other Businesses. Regardless of industry every business relies on hospitality and customer service to not only retain its current customer base but to also increase it through customer loyalty and positive word of mouth advertisement. Failing to fulfill the needs of a customer through effective and admirable customer service methods is the reason a lot of businesses are failing as their employees are sometimes lacking in the appropriate training, experience and patience required to ensure a satisfactory and memorable experience for the client. There are however differences in the service delivery, in the hospitality industry the service being delivered is geared towards the visitors/tourists and much emphasis is placed on the level of training it requires in order to perfect the necessary skills it takes to get the job done. Due to the fact that the Hospitality industry in Multi- culture there must be a certain level of appreciation for the vast amount culture and cultural diversity, meal preparation, entertainment, dress and rituals of Tourists. The importance of service delivery is stressed more so in the hospitality industry because of the diversity of the consumers and their varying cultural backgrounds. The services must be delivered perfectly to each and every customer in ordered for the guest to have an unmatched experience which will guarantee excellent reviews, return customers, new business opportunities and the survival of the industry which is the fuel of our economy.. The hospitality industry survives due to prompt convenient service which is value for money. In other business the service is mostly geared towards locals (Mono- cultural), who are already a part of the existing community and are familiar with the business. Though some level of customer service is involved it is not as demanding of the service provider to be as vigilant in ensuring that staff provides the best service possible at all times. This is mainly as a result of there being fewer options. For e xample a Kentucky Fried Chicken (K.F.C) being operated in the down town Montego Bay area, the customer service is extremely lacking however customers return because the location is convenient and they do need to eat, but for no other reason. Some customers do divert their business elsewhere to either Pizza Hut or Island Grill but return after a while because these other entities do not provide what it is they really want. In the hospitality industry it is not the same, there are endless options and if one location fails them, they either find another location within the same country or travel to another country. This now means a loss of business not only for that establishment but also for the country as a whole. The advantages and Disadvantages of Community Based Tourism Community tourism has both its supporters and its detractors as does every other type of business venture. Both sides bring across very important concerns which can prove to be either helpful or harmful to the environment based on the implementation methods used and the scale of operations. Advantages: Supporters will posit that community based tourism is beneficial and important in that it, transfers decision making to a community level, provides employment, infrastructural development (roads, water, electricity, telecommunications, internet, etc.), superstructure development (buildings and structures covering area),cultural preservation, foreign exchange and development of health care facilities. Disadvantages Detractors on the other hand will advance that there will be cultural destruction, environmental destruction, the host country fails to benefit as government is unable to withdraw taxes, marginal employment, low benefits, development of illegal and/ or destructive economical activities, seasonal employment, unrealistic expectations, anti-democratic collusion, land controlled by the elite, negative lifestyles as well as diverted and concentrated development. The implications of the pros and cons of Community Based Tourism on the country as a Whole. The effects of the advantages of community based tourism on the country as a whole may prove to be widely beneficial to the economy, wherein the unemployment rate is greatly reduced because as more people become exposed and educated the higher percentage will endeavor to become involved. Communities which were considered marginally poor become developed and are more appealing to visitors and other locals alike, its pushes the use and exchange of foreign currency which boosts the economy giving the local dollar more value but most importantly it educates as locals are introduced to varying cultures and are forced to learn their own history, and culture as well as that of the visitors in order to communicate effectively.That is a limitless opportunity as visitors have varying backgrounds and orientations. Locals make valiant efforts to learn their languages as well as cuisine, religion, preferences in entertainment, day to day living and rituals. This in its entirety equates to a more tourist friendly, economically stable, market aware destination which is more appealing to visitors. The result of the disadvantages of community based tourism on the country as a whole also brings to light some valid points which must be handled with much consideration in mind as it relates to the long term repercussions. The loss of culture as it pertains to age old rituals, language, art, dance, food, religion etc., through modernization, the destruction of natural habitats as a result of infrastructural and super structural changes by building roads and architecture, employment would become limited to members of the community and result in outsourcing whereas businesses would seek to employ the more educated, the question of job security arises, negative changes in the lifestyle would come about where unscrupulous characters engage in the trade of illegal drugs and endangered and exotic wildlife, drug abuse, prostitution, fraudulent practices and new found get rich quick schemes come into existence and causes young people to divert from school and higher education. Compile all t hese issues and it would result in a lack of order, an upsurge of crime and violence and finally the consequential loss of previous business with a significant decline in any interest from new customers or the hope of creating new opportunities. Diversifying the Jamaican Tourism Product Through Community Based Tourism. Communities must go through a process of empowerment and development before tourism becomes the focal point.The first area of focus is to build a sustainable wealth creating community with organized productive activities. These activities would create economic and social benefits for its members through employment and financial stability. After this has taken root, tourism can be introduced to communities, to create even greater wealth, and this will ultimately diversify the jamaican tourism product. There are many resources which may be enhanced and marketed to give Jamaica a more diverse and competitive edge over other tourist destinations. These include; culture, heritage, Cuisine, natural flora and fauna, landscapes and human resources. It is known world wide that Jamaica is very different from other countries even those located in the same region. In order for Jamaica to diversify and maintain a competitive advantage in the hospitality industry we need to capitalize on these opportunities and the best way to go is from a community level as every community possesses a different amenity which makes it unique. There are quite a number of these locations in jamaica such as; Maroon Town, Outameni Experience ,Croydon Plantation,Accompong, The Bob Marley Museum, outdoor activities i.e ( horse back riding, dune buggies, canopy tours, zipline tours, ect ), the wonderful blue Mountains and Cockpit Country ,rafting on the Martha Brae river and health spas such as Bath Fountain Hotel an d Spa in St. Thomas and Milk River Bath in Clarendon. The jamaican culture and heritage are unlike any other anywhere on earth, it is essential to get jamaicans more educated in culture and heritage as a means of being able to extend the offering of a richer quality cultural and heritage experience to adventure seekers who travel to our destination. A high percentage of travelers are more than interested to learn our language, dance, music and cuisine in their purest forms, however not many get the full on experience as there is a lack of manpower in these areas. Much more use can be made of the abundance land, sunlight and water to aid in the development of Jamaicas tourism product in the area of agricultural tourism. The Blue Mountains are currently used as a source of adventure tourism and farming ground for the infamous Blue Mountain Coffee, should this be expanded into the Cockpit Country and other products introduced it would become a more wide scale operation, in that, it would create more employment, attract more visitors and th ere would be a greater demand for those areas as tourists would seek to discover whatever new adventures there are. Another avenue that could be enhanced in order to create a greater demand of Jamaica as a tourist destination is our ancillary services in terms of transportation (comfort and luxury of vehicles and condition of roadways), banking ( the exchange rate), accommodations (the quality and value for money they receive by staying in hotels),upgrading the equipment in hospitals in order to have better healthcare facilities and render enhanced medical services to both locals and tourists, providing travel insurance at competitive rates and so forth. Should the quality of these services be improved then it would give Jamaica a more competitive edge in the tourism market. The impacts of Technology on the Tourism Industry. Technology and Transportation. Tourism is quite as old as time itself, from the earliest days when man would travel for long distances on foot, until the evolution of tools of trade and man themselves gave birth to new technological inventions that made traveling gradually easier to the point where what used to take months has been shaved down to mere hours, a day or two being the maximum for travel to the lesser percentage of destinations. Throughout the ages traveling has been developing more and more with each generation. It all began with traveling by foot; however man soon learned to domesticate animals such as mammoths, horses, donkeys, elephants, camels etc. Ever inventive man created the wheel around 3500 BC, then came the joining of the wheel and some animals to form, horse drawn carriages, chariots and wagons, which made travel easier and faster than foot but nothing close to what was coming next. Boats were the next mode of travel and the earliest type was the dug out canoe where a fire was lit on a log then put out and the burnt part was dug out leaving a hallow space for passengers. As with time they too evolved into ships which were large wooden structures built to travel long distances across oceans and seas and then there were mainly two types, the sail and the later invented steam engine, the powerful and fast railway was next to be developed in the 19th century, closely following was the invention of the first cars which were made in 1865 and 1866 respectively by Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler, however cars only became more common in the 1960s and 1970s after the first and second world wars as there was mass production companies which made them cheaper. The largest, most used, talked, about and technologically advanced type of travel began in the 20th century, December 17th 1903 to be exact, with the flight of the Wright brothers. This spearheaded the aviation standards which eventually led to the building of larger more elaborate types of aircrafts such as; Zeppelins, blim ps, Boeing 700 series airplanes as well as other makes and models, the air balloon, jets, rockets and other spacecraft. It is clear that technological development has greatly impacted travel and tourism in the field of travel as without these developments the industry would exist but the rate of turn over would be extremely low and slow. Travelers, regardless of net worth would be discouraged as the amount of time it took to get from one place to the next would be so great it would seem a burden and more than likely only destinations that are relatively close to the country of origin would be visited, causing it to become congested, repetitive and eventually boring and uninteresting. Thanks to the inventors and founding fathers of the different types transport, traveling has been made easy and allows for people to travel in large groups in comfort over immense distances within a tolerable time frame. This helps to increase the revenue of the economy for destinations travelled to. Technology in Research and Communication. Before anyone thought of how do I get there?They first asked, Where do I go? In order for one to have gotten an answer to this question he or she spent long periods of time mulling over all sorts of printed media ranging from, newspaper articles,maps,magazines and the like firstly to find a destination, then to garner as much knowledge about the place before deciding to embark on the journey. This was a rather tedious task, very time consuming and exasperating and this combination proved to be a natural deterrent. This was not to remain so as a slew of inventors starting with Konrad Muse and his freely programmable Z1 computer in 1936 began the invention of the computer. It continued with John Anatasoff and Clifford Berry in 1942, Howard Aiken and Grace Hopper in 1944, amongst many others up until 1985 when Microsoft windows became known globally and still is the world leader in computers and computer software. A computer by itself was just another machine. It was the invention of th e internet that revolutionized the use of the computer as a means of communication, research and advertisement.According to the Internet, unlike the light bulb and telephone the internet didnt have any one inventor. Over fifty years ago lt got its start in the United States of America as a weapon In the Cold War and for years scientists and researchers used it to communicate and share data with each other. This technological advancement has made traveling and the tourism industry significantly more developed as it makes life easier for the client and business alike. Instead of spending extended periods of time to get all the necessary information required to travel, everything is now readily available at your fingertips. It has significantly minimized the amount of time its takes for booking travel and accommodation as it offers the option of immediate pricing and confirmation as opposed to waiting for a travel agent which could take hours or even days, encourages the use of credit cards as opposed to having to visit a bank to withdraw cash, allows for simultaneous and immediate response in terms of emails and the instant messaging rather than writing letters or sending telegrams. Technology enables tourists to communicate with their family members back home via video chat, instant messaging and emails. Not only has technology benefitted tourists, it has also affected the way in which business is conducted in todays tourism industry, stakeholders utilize this medium for marketing themselves and their respective companies as well as to communicate with clients before the actual service delivery, communicate with employees and with other business owners as an avenue to conduct business meetings online through video conferencing which has proven to reduce the cost of traveling. Another technological advancement which has greatly affected the growth of the tourism industry is the telephone, an electronic device invented by Mr. Alexander Graham Bell. This device in not only beneficial for tourists for communication with family and friends but also for the tourism industry as it is a means of instant communication between the directors, shareholders and employees within organizations as well as other entities outside the tourism industry which are crucial to the operation of the business. Without both the computer and telephone, communication would be slow and it would cause decision making to be a much delayed process which affects the industry negatively. Other technological advancements which have greatly affected tourism and the tourism industry are the simple machines (lever, pulley, wedge and incline plane etc.) which have been integrated into the design of countless machines used in the building oh hotels to house tourist, roads to travel on, water filtration and plumbing for safe hydration, cooking and bathing purposes, installation of electricity used for lighting and the operation of machines and other electronic devices and in the d esign of all modes of transportation( ships, airplanes motor vehicles etc.). Without all of these, simply put the tourism industry would not be what it is today and with consistent and continuous modifications being made there is no doubt that in years to come the industry will become a more immense operation. Conclusion In conclusion the options must carefully be weighed and careful and contingent planning has to take place before any advertisement or production can manifest. This will allow for smooth and fool proof execution of procedures, hence, the guest/ visitor can have extraordinary and remarkable experiences, the community capitalizes on the opportunities afforded and the country as a whole and its economy can flourish.

Sling Blade Essay -- essays research papers

Sling Blade Film directed by and screen play by Billy Bob Thornton. Theme Sling Blade’s main theme is the redemption of Karl’s lost childhood. Karl Childer’s overly religious parents believed he was a punishment from God. They severely abused him, treated him like an animal, and forced him to live in a shed in solitude. Everyone in town picked on him and called him names. He was seen as a â€Å"retard† or slower than others. He had little to call his own. His only possessions were a Bible and several books on Christmas and carpentry. Karl was taught the Bible as a child, but it wasn’t really the Bible. The stories they told him were not in the Bible. His parents had made up their own stories and had led him astray on the rights and wrongs of life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Karl was 12 years old interrupted what he believed to be the raping of his mother. He took charge and killed the man with a â€Å"sling blade†. He than found out his mother had wanted it so he killed her too. When he killed his mother and her lover he thought he was doing the right thing. Karl believed that if you have to sacrifice to do the right thing than you should do it. Karl was locked away in a â€Å"nut house† for the next 25 years for rehabilitation and correction.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After Karl’s release he quickly made a new friend, Frank. The young boy accepted Karl with out question because he seemed to be more childlike than man. The two become soul mates. Karl related to Frank through his childlike manner as well as his parental setup. Frank’s mother was a widow dating an alcoholic, abusive man, Doyle. Karl saw himself in Frank and decided to watch over him. The parallelism between the two characters was shown throughout the movie. The love they shared will save them. The â€Å"boys† faced their troubles on a simple level. They avoided the complications of adult views and judgments.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Karl had read the Bible and believed he knew the difference between right and wrong, but was faced with the problem of protecting Frank from a painful future with Doyle. Karl knew that Doyle would manage to poison Frank’s life, or worse, just as Karl’s parents did to him. He tried to reconcile his own simple moral code with everything he had been taught about right and wrong, and must decide whether to stand by and watch, or step in to protect the child. He... ... of an abusive parent or significant other is it right to take their life to prevent danger of losing your life? I don’t understand why Linda stuck around. Doyle doesn’t provide anything for her family. All he does is endanger Frank mentally and physically. It shouldn’t have taken a â€Å"retard† to get rid of Doyle. She should have gotten rid of him in a calmer fashion. That way Karl would be a free man enjoying life on the outside with Frank. The scene that affected me the most emotionally was where Karl and the little boy tell each other â€Å"I love you† and than hugged their goodbyes. I was also touched by the way Karl protected Frank and Linda. He made sure they were safe before he killed Doyle.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I thought Sling Blade was written and filmed well. It did get slow in parts, but overall it kept my attention. I picked up on minute details that on a regular basis I wouldn’t have. This paper made me see the underlying aspects such as the music, lighting, and script. It made me pay attention to what the characters were saying and how they were relating. I now look at film in a new light. I don’t just watch the surface. I dig deeper and watch for everything.

Management Power and Change Essay

1 Abstract The dynamics of power relations and their effects on organizational change was often underestimated by researchers. Analyses of the role played by power in organizational change are increasing in intensity, scale and impact (Munduate and Bennebroeck-Gravenhorst 2003). The appropriate and effective use of power is fundamental for managers engaged in major change processes. This report deals with the topic of management power and change. It focuses on the exercise of power and its function in organizational change. At first power and change management will be defined and then the bases or sources of power and the responses which are provoked according to the type of power being applied .how power can be used to influence and facilitate organizational change. 2 Definition of Power There are many variations to the definition of power and there are disagreements on its definition and what the best way is to measure it. The definition also depends on the context in which power is used. In this case, since the report focuses on the explanation of the use of power in the setting of organizational change, power is â€Å"the potential ability to influence behavior, to change the course of events, to overcome resistance, and to get people to do things that they would not otherwise do† (Pfeffer, 1993: 204-5). 2.1 Power and Influence In trying to understand how change is achieved, social psychologists have used the concepts of social power and influence (Raven 1999) and therefore the terms power and influence are sometimes used synonymously, but there are discrepancies between them. Social power indicates the various tools a person has to influence the environment or the other party, while influence is referring to the actual use of a specific tool in a particular situation (Munduate and Medina 2009). According to French and Raven (1959) influence is a force one person (the leader or agent) exerts on someone else (follower or target) to induce a change in the latter, including changes in behaviors, attitudes, and values. Social power was subsequently defined as the potential ability of a person to influence someone else. â€Å"Basically, influence is the effect a person’s actions have on the attitudes, values, beliefs, or behavior of others. Whereas power is the capacity to cause a change in a person, influence may be thought of as the degree of actual change† (Daft, 2006: 679-680). Boddy defines influence as the process by which one party attempts to modify the behavior of others by mobilizing power resources. Hence, in order to apprehend the function of the change agent in the promotion of change in an organization, the reactions of the targets involving a proactive disposition toward change have to be considered first and then the available tools for the change agent to influence the targets (Munduate and Medina 2009). 2.3 Types of Influence Processes There are clear differences in the way followers comply to direct and indirect social pressure from a leader and actually being convinced by him. In one case the influence may just be sufficient to exercise control over the followers’ behavior, guaranteeing a public agreement no matter if the followers are privately convinced. In another case the influence could be so strong that it changes the followers’ opinion and merely makes him committed to the leader’s request. Consequently, different types of influences have been proposed by social psychologists, whereby the most important was Kelman’s distinction (1961) between compliance, internalization, and identification. 2.4 Bases of Power For a manager to be effective, he has to possess a source of power which he can use to influence employees to take actions or carry out orders which they would not have done in the absence of that power source.

Face Recognition Ability Inherited Separately from IQ Essay

This article supports the modularity hypothesis of the brain where it is expressed that the human brain is like a Swiss knife that is represented as â€Å"a general purpose tool with special-purpose devices† (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010, n. p. ). Such kind of mentality is based on the idea that specialized genes are located in various regions of the brain which function for specific cognitive abilities like face recognition. In attempt to further investigate this issue, the researchers studied the relationship of face recognition to heritable characteristics by utilizing the help of 102 pairs of identical twins and 71 pairs of fraternal twins. The experiment made use of black-and white images of 20 different faces which were shown to each participant on a computer screen each for one minute and this step was followed by the mixing of 10 of the original 20 faces to 20 new faces. Results showed that identical twins, whose genes are 100% common, were more likely to provide matched results of the face experiment (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010). Moreover, 39% of the variance is attributed to genetic effects thereby suggesting that face recognition is a heritable trait. IQ relatedness of face recognition, on the other hand, was investigated by employing the participation of 321 students which revealed that the ability to recognize faces is independent of IQ (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010). The results gathered in this study affirm the hypothesis that some cognitive skills are not correlated with IQ which is the indicator of general intelligence (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010). Subsequent studies are intended to investigate if other cognitive abilities like language processing, navigation, reading and the likes are related to IQ. Consequently, the significance of these findings is seen on the study of autism and dyslexia because these heritable developmental disorders might also be dictated by specific genes on the human brain. Lastly, the findings presented on this paper are believed to be credible because they are grounded on empirically derived evidence. However, it is suggested that a larger sample size must be used to further confirm the statistical acceptability of the results. Nevertheless, the researchers made substantial and highly qualified efforts on the choice of participants because identical and fraternal twins are really the most appropriate subjects for studies that investigate heritable properties. In general, this study is a timely research endeavor that can lead to a series of promising effects in the fields of neurobiology and developmental psychology. Reference: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2010, January 20). Face recognition ability inherited separately from IQ. Science Daily.

Free Essays on Electricity Deregulation

Outline Title: Electricity Deregulation: The Downsides of Breaking Up a Monopoly Thesis: The deregulation of electricity will produce numerous negative results if states don’t enact guidelines to supervise the production of electricity. Purpose: To show that although the current public view on electricity deregulation is that it will lower the price of electricity, it will remain the same and in some cases rise. Introduction: Many issues must be finalized before states begin to deregulate electricity. Items such as stranded cost, distributing electricity, and who will receive the lowest prices as a result of deregulation all could increase preliminary assumptions about lower costs to the consumer. I. Electricity is different than conventional monopolies A. Vertical bundling B. ISO C. California’s solution II. Green electricity III. Possible price increase A. Minnesota B. Monatana IV. Stranded costs A. Paying for stranded costs B. Take years to pay for stranded costs Conclusion: Deregulation seems to be positive on the surface, but must be approached carefully before states choose to deregulate. Deregulation began with railways, which was proceeded by airlines, telecommunications and natural gas. All of these deregulated services proved to be beneficial to the consumer. And on November 15, 1998, Pennsylvania was the second state to fully deregulate their electricity suppliers. Government controlled services, such as electricity, are slowly becoming deregulated. History shows that deregulation proves to benefit the consumer with cheaper prices as a result of competition. The combination of savings from the deregulation of railways, telecommunications, natural gas, and airlines resulted in 40 billion dollars worth of savings for the consumer (Crews 12). Deregulation allows privately owned companies to participate in providing a service by breaking up the monopoly which is already in place. ... Free Essays on Electricity Deregulation Free Essays on Electricity Deregulation Outline Title: Electricity Deregulation: The Downsides of Breaking Up a Monopoly Thesis: The deregulation of electricity will produce numerous negative results if states don’t enact guidelines to supervise the production of electricity. Purpose: To show that although the current public view on electricity deregulation is that it will lower the price of electricity, it will remain the same and in some cases rise. Introduction: Many issues must be finalized before states begin to deregulate electricity. Items such as stranded cost, distributing electricity, and who will receive the lowest prices as a result of deregulation all could increase preliminary assumptions about lower costs to the consumer. I. Electricity is different than conventional monopolies A. Vertical bundling B. ISO C. California’s solution II. Green electricity III. Possible price increase A. Minnesota B. Monatana IV. Stranded costs A. Paying for stranded costs B. Take years to pay for stranded costs Conclusion: Deregulation seems to be positive on the surface, but must be approached carefully before states choose to deregulate. Deregulation began with railways, which was proceeded by airlines, telecommunications and natural gas. All of these deregulated services proved to be beneficial to the consumer. And on November 15, 1998, Pennsylvania was the second state to fully deregulate their electricity suppliers. Government controlled services, such as electricity, are slowly becoming deregulated. History shows that deregulation proves to benefit the consumer with cheaper prices as a result of competition. The combination of savings from the deregulation of railways, telecommunications, natural gas, and airlines resulted in 40 billion dollars worth of savings for the consumer (Crews 12). Deregulation allows privately owned companies to participate in providing a service by breaking up the monopoly which is already in place. ...

The Role of the Plaza in Maya Festivals

The Role of the Plaza in Maya Festivals Like many pre-modern societies, the Classic period Maya (AD 250-900 AD) used ritual and ceremony performed by the rulers or elites to appease gods, repeat historical events, and prepare for the future. But not all ceremonies were secret rituals; in fact, many were public rituals, theatrical performances and dances played in public arenas to unite communities and express political power relationships. Recent investigations of public ceremonialism by University of Arizona archaeologist Takeshi Inomata reveal the importance of these public rituals, both in the architectural changes made in the Maya cities to accommodate the performances  and in the political structure which developed alongside the festival calendar. Mayan Civilization The Maya is a name given to a group of loosely associated but generally autonomous city-states, each led by a divine ruler. These small states were spread throughout the Yucatn peninsula, along the gulf coast, and into the highlands of Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. Like small city centers anywhere, the Maya centers were supported by a network of farmers who lived outside the cities but were held by allegiances to the centers. At sites such as Calakmul, Copn, Bonampak, Uaxactun, Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Caracol, Tikal, and Aguateca, festivals took place within the public view, bringing together the city residents and the farmers and reinforcing those allegiances. Festivals of the Maya Many of the Mayan festivals continued to be held into the Spanish colonial period, and some of the Spanish chroniclers such as Bishop Landa described festivals well into the 16th century. Three types of performances are cited in the Maya language: dance (okot), theatrical presentations (baldzamil) and illusionism (ezyah). Dances followed a calendar  and ranged from performances with humor and tricks to dances in preparation for war and dances mimicking (and sometimes including) sacrificial events. During the colonial period, thousands of people came from all around northern Yucatn to see and participate in the dances. Music was provided by rattles; small bells of copper, gold and clay; tinklers of shell or small stones. A vertical drum called the pax or zacatan was made of a hollowed tree trunk and covered with an animal skin; another u- or h-shaped drum was called the tunkul. Trumpets of wood, gourd, or conch shell, and clay flutes, reed pipes and whistles were also used. Elaborate costumes were part of the dances as well. Shell, feathers, backracks, headdresses, body plates transformed the dancers into historical figures, animals, and gods or other-worldly creatures. Some dances lasted all day, with food and drink brought to the participants who kept dancing. Historically, preparations for such dances were substantial, some rehearsal periods lasting for two or three months, organized by an officer known as a holpop. The holpop was a community leader, who set the key for the music, taught others and played an important role in festivals throughout the year. Audiences at Mayan Festivals In addition to Colonial period reports, murals, codices, and vases illustrating royal visits, court banquets, and preparations for dances have been the focus for archaeologists to understand the public ritual which predominated the classic period Maya. But in recent years, Takeshi Inomata has turned the study of ceremonialism at Maya centers on its head-considering not the performers or the performance but rather the audience for the theatrical productions. Where did these performances take place, what architectural properties were constructed to accommodate the audiences, what was the meaning of the performance for the audience? Inomatas study involves a closer look at a somewhat less-considered piece of monumental architecture at classic Maya sites: the plaza. Plazas are big open spaces, surrounded by temples or other important buildings, framed by steps, entered via causeways and elaborate doorways. Plazas in Maya sites have thrones and special platforms where performers acted, and stelae-rectangular stone statues such as those at Copn-representing past ceremonial activity are also found there. Plazas and Spectacles Plazas at Uxmal and Chichà ©n Itz include low square platforms; evidence has been found in the Great Plaza at Tikal for the construction of temporary scaffoldings. Lintels at Tikal illustrate rulers and other elites being carried on a palanquina platform on which a ruler sat on a throne and was carried by bearers. Wide stairways at plazas were used as stages for the presentations and dances. The plazas held thousands of people; Inomata reckons that for the smaller communities, nearly the entire population could be present at once in the central plaza. But at sites such as Tikal and Caracol, where over 50,000 people lived, the central plazas could not hold so many people. The history of these cities as traced by Inomata suggests that as the cities grew, their rulers made accommodations for the growing populations, tearing down buildings, commissioning new structures, adding causeways and building plazas exterior to the central city. These embellishments indicate what a crucial part performance for the audience was for the loosely structured Maya communities. While carnivals and festivals are known today throughout the world, their importance in defining the character and community of governmental centers is less considered. As the focal point for gathering people together, to celebrate, prepare for war, or watch sacrifices, the Maya spectacle created a cohesion that was necessary for the ruler and common people alike. Sources To get a look at what Inomata is talking about, Ive assembled a photo essay called Spectacles and Spectators: Maya Festivals and Maya Plazas, which illustrates some of the public spaces created by the Maya for this purpose. Dilberos, Sophia Pincemin. 2001. Music, dance, theater, and poetry. pp 504-508 in Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America, S.T. Evans and D.L. Webster, eds. Garland Publishing, Inc., New York. Inomata, Takeshi. 2006. Politics and theatricality in Mayan society. Pp 187-221 in Archaeology of Performance: Theaters of Power, Community and Politics, T. Inomata and L.S. Coben, eds. Altamira Press, Walnut Creek, California. Inomata, Takeshi. 2006. Plazas, performers and spectators: Political theaters of the Classic Maya. Current Anthropology 47(5):805-842