Ludwig Van Beethoven Essays - Ludwig Van Beethoven,

Ludwig van Beethoven The rise of Ludwig van Beethoven into the ranks of history's greatest composers was paralleled by and in some ways a consequence of his own personal tragedy and despair. Beginning in the late 1790's, the increasing buzzing and humming in his ears sent Beethoven into a panic, searching for a cure from doctor to doctor. By October 1802 he had written the Heiligenstadt Testament confessing the certainty of his growing deafness, his consequent despair, and suicidal considerations. Yet, despite the personal tragedy caused by the "infirmity in the one sense which ought to be more perfect in [him] than in others, a sense which [he] once possessed in the highest perfection, a perfection such as few in [his] profession enjoy," it also served as a motivating force in that it challenged him to try and conquer the fate that was handed him. He would not surrender to that "jealous demon, my wretched health" before proving to himself and the world the extent of his skill. Thus, faced with such grea t impending loss, Beethoven, keeping faith in his art and ability, states in his Heiligenstadt Testament a promise of his greatness yet to be proven in the development of his heroic style. By about 1800, Beethoven was mastering the Viennese High- Classic style. Although the style had been first perfected by Mozart, Beethoven did extend it to some degree. He had unprecedently composed sonatas for the cello which in combination with the piano opened the era of the Classic- Romantic cello sonata. In addition, his sonatas for violin and piano became the cornerstone of the sonata duo repertory. His experimentation with additions to the standard forms likewise made it apparent that he had reached the limits of the high- Classic style. Having displayed the extended range of his piano writing he was also begining to forge a new voice for the violin. In 1800, Beethoven was additionally combining the sonata form with a full orchestra in his First Symphony, op. 2. In the arena of piano sonata, he had also gone beyond the three- movement design of Haydn and Mozart, applying sometimes the four-movement design reserved for symphonies and quartets through the addition of a minuet or scherzo. Having confidently proven the high-Classic phase of his sonata development with the "Grande Sonate," op. 22, Beethoven moved on to the fantasy sonata to allow himself freer expression. By 1802, he had evidently succeeded in mastering the high-Classic style within each of its major instrumental genres -- the piano trio, string trio, string quartet and quintet, Classic piano concerto, duo sonata, piano sonata, and symphony. Having reached the end of the great Vienese tradition, he was then faced with either the unchallenging repetion of the tired style or going beyond it to new creations. At about the same time that Beethoven had exhausted the potentials of the high-Classic style, his increasing deafness landed him in a major cycle of depression, from which was to emerge his heroic period as exemplified in Symphony No. 3, op. 55 ("Eroica"). In Beethoven's Heiligenstadt Testament of October 1802, he reveals his malaise that was sending him to the edge of despair. He speaks of suicide in the same breath as a reluctance to die, expressing his helplessness against the inevitability of death. Having searched vainly for a cure, he seems to have lost all hope -- "As the leaves of autumn fall and are withered-so likewise has my hope been blighted-I leave here- almost as I came-even the high courage-which often inspired me in the beautiful days of summer-has disappeared." There is somewhat of a parallel between his personal and professional life. He is at a dead end on both cases. There seems to be no more that he can do with the high-Classic style; his deafness seems poised i nevitably to encumber and ultimately halt his musical career. However, despite it all, he reveals in the Testament a determination, though weak and exhausted, to carry on -- "I would have ended my life-it was only my art that held me back. Ah, it seemed to me impossible to leave the world until I had brough forth all that I felt was within me. So I endured this wretched

gullivers travels essays

gullivers travels essays Lemuel Gulliver- He is a sailor and observes many different cultures on multiple islands. Emperor of Lilliput- He uses Gulliver to defeat his enemy and then tries to kill him when King of Laputa- He is a peaceful and moral king. He runs a country without complexities and cannot understand abstract ideas. Queen of Laputa- Takes a special liking to Gulliver, and purchases him. She also owns a dwarf who hates Gulliver for gaining her favor. Munodi- The governor of Balnibarbi- Tells Gulliver about the history and problems of his island. The setting of the novel takes place on various islands throughout the world. His homeland is England. He travels to the islands of Lilliput, Blefscu, Surat, Brobdingag, Laputa(a flying island), Balnibarbi(another flying island), Lagado, Glubbdubdrib, Luggnagg, and Japan. The novel takes place in the first half of the 18th century. The book begins when Gulliver goes to sea. He is a surgeon on the ship, Antelope. During this voyage there is a windstorm, which sinks the ship causing Gulliver to swim to Lilliput. Once there he finds little men 6 inches tall. They take him to a temple, the only place large enough for him. The Emperor is not sure what to do with Gulliver, but he is very pleased with his behavior. Gulliver is granted partial freedom for cooperating with the emperor, and given plenty of food. Two countries are at war, Lilliput and Blefscu. The war started over a petty religious debate about which side of the table their eggs should be broken on. Blefscu soon tries to invade Lilliput put they are stopped by Gulliver. Gulliver, who wants a peace treaty, refused to completely destroy Blefscu. His disagreement with the Emperor is made worse when he puts out a fire in the palace by urinating on it. The Emperor pardons this act but is still at odds with Gulliver. Laws in Lilliput are particularly strict. The latest accusation against Gulliver is the worst of all of them. H...

Dissolution of the Department of Homeland Security Essay

Dissolution of the Department of Homeland Security - Essay Example One need look no further than the seemingly ever increasing nature of the annual budgets within which DHS must manage its mandates to see evidence of this. For instance, in 2012 alone, your budget allocated 43.2 billion USD to the Department of Homeland Security as a means of meeting the goals and mission objectives that it has been tasked with (Vandermey, 2011). Although one of the main reasons why both republicans and democrats have argued for the perpetuation of the Department of Homeland Security is due to the fact that there has not been a single domestic act of widespread terrorism since the attacks of September 11, 2001. However, this logic is faulty due to the fact that absence of an attack does not actually correspond to the effectiveness of the agency in general. Moreover, and perhaps more importantly, the actual distribution of power that the Department of Homeland Security oversees appears to be one of its greatest weaknesses. Moreover, it is the belief of this citizen th at the argument for the furtherance of the Department of Homeland Security by congressional share-holders has been partly born out of a fear for voting to discontinue such an entity and then facing the electoral ramifications of what this could portend for them, as well as for their party, should another terrorist attack similar to the scale of September 11th, 2001 take place again within the United States. This fear is not only warranted but it is also indicative of a type of thinking that continues to place the United States in a great deal more debt than it would otherwise have. Prior to its creation in October of 2011, the Department of Homeland Security’s ultimate functions were not merely nonexistent. I would ask that your administration keep this in mind as it considers funding and furtherance of the Department of Homeland Security into the future. Due to the fact that many of the individual aspects of the Department of Homeland Security’s ultimate purview were handled by other government entities, what the current Department of Homeland Security has come to represent is a government agency charged with an extraordinarily high level of oversight. As a function of this extremely high level of multiple oversights that the Department of Homeland Security is tasked with, it is the opinion of this author that this ultimately makes the mission, vision, and goals of the Department of Homeland Security untenable. Moreover, many critics have claimed that the department itself is ineffective due to the extremely wide breadth of instances that it attempts to protect against. Although it is laudable what the Department of Homeland Security is attempting to do with regards to protecting the population of the United States against natural and man-made threats to its continued existence, the fact of the matter remains that it is has seemingly become yet another bloated

Content Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Content Analysis - Assignment Example 3G helps fulfill the needs of its users to have instant access to corporate networks, e-mail and the internet. 3G also helps use certain personal-use applications ranging from multimedia and e-commerce applications to â€Å"smart† appliances. Evolution of 3G also ensures the development of the envisioned advanced applications in the near future. The article also mentions some perfect advantages of the 3G technology. This technology enables managers’ instant teleconferencing with their colleagues in case they r on drive. This is made as simple by 3G as making a phone call to someone while driving or being busy. Similarly, mobile video on demand is another interesting use of 3G that helps users to watch sports highlights, news and video clips of their choice anytime on their cell phones. Today 3G enabled vehicles are capturing the auto industry. These enable the drives to have access to the traffic view cameras, gaming, internet access, and video-streaming. The second selected article shows the positive aspects of social networking. Reading this particular article will allow you to know and understand the benefits that accrue to the users while using social networking. These benefits are: Social networking provides a cheaper way to advertise as it costs very less to a person in employment of social networking strategies online compared to paying huge amounts for other alternatives. Social networking enables businesses to know what their customers and users like in their products or services and what they do not. Since advertisement is impersonal and this concept does not work so well now, the personal relationship gained through socializing with customer is very much valuable comparing to advertisement. It always creates trust and credibility when you connect with your customers on a personal level. Simply ask for help, offer expertise and services by socializing with customers because you may be deemed spam if you

The Global Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Global Economy - Essay Example (Sriram 2010). Whereas foreign investors to the US are profiting by loaning ‘devalued dollars’ to purchase government bonds and industrial securities and invest in foreign exchange and credit markets, foreign central banks, on the other hand, collect below 1% on the international treasury bills and bank securities (Hudson 2010). In 2011, Bernanke’s recommendation of another quantitative easing (QE II) is an additional $1 trillion liquidity in the Federal Reserve credit, aside from the $2 trillion reserve credits made in 2009 and 2010 would help the financial sector; solve the unemployment crisis and consumer expenditures; and revitalise the US economy. However, this second quantitative easing is not free of associated risks. Federal Reserve, treasury assistance and liquidity have been used by banks to maximise returns and disburse on high wages and bonuses. Capital lending has increased asset costs but decreased the production and employment. Inflation in asset co sts has placed the FIRE sector (finance, insurance and real estate) beyond the true economic status of the country (Hudson 2010). Anchored in the wrong assumption that the QE policy of granting liquidity will be an opening for the banks to profit from loans, thus freeing them from debts, Bernanke failed to consider that almost 80 percent of US bank lendings are mortgage loans and that around 30 percent of the US real estate is experiencing economic inequities due to asset prices that have failed to keep up with mortgage liabilities. The collateral loaned for these mortgages do not cover the principal cost and property titles seem to lose protection as the real estate sector is sometimes managed in fraud (Hudson 2010). US Treasury Secretary Geithner (2010) explains that reviving the credit flow would only create more debts. The credit flow would allow real estate buyers and stock market financiers to employ further control over debts to propose asset costs back up to save the banking system against the previously negative equity it has befallen. Geithner describes it as steadying the failing banking system. The Fed hypothesises that for the country to regain its high economic status, the national banking system would loan out the almost-free limitless liquidity at a markup. Such recuperation would be generating more debts. Bankers, businesses and homeowners would be liberated from their negative equities and the corporate sector and housing market would likely boost again. However, since 2007, the banks have implemented high restriction standards in loaning out to businesses, homeowners and consumers. The increased rate from zero to 3% has been crippling these debtors with liabilities in their credit cards, mortgage and bank loans (Hudson 2010). The US quantitative easing is diminishing the dollar value against foreign currencies with floating trade rates whilst increasing the dollar supply. The impact of the policy on exchange rates between the US currency and the floating-rate currencies is not surprising. It is the obvious outcome of the dollar devaluation from the excess flow of dollars. Moreover, foreign investors tend to purchase other currencies not prone to volatility and inflation (Feldstein 2011). One of the objectives of Bernanke’s QE schema is the encouragement of domestic activity within the US and the lessening of further depreciation, however, the generated surpluses on

Nature vs nurture debate referencing to eating disorders

Nature vs nurture debate referencing to eating disorders This essay will be discussing one question that has stumped philosophers and psychologist alike since the eighteenth century. The nature verses nurture debate which has been one of the most controversial questions debated throughout the decade by students and lectures. Galton (1883) was the first to term the phrase nature-nurture. Gross (2005) which questions the amounts our psychological characteristics are due to our genes also the amount our psychological characteristics are due to the environment including social influence what we learn as well as. In psychology two main psychological approaches have put forward .different views on the nature verses nurture issue. The first is the biological approach (nature) which bases it strength on genetics and the study of MZ (identical twins) and DZ (non identical) twin studies in its argument. Nurture on the other hand states that all is a learned process and uses modelling and the environment (including western influence) to explain its argument. Both have strong arguments to support their claims both backed up by empirical evidence and theories. Using eating disorders as a reference especially anorexia and bulimia to the nature nurture Anorexia nervosa is a condition where the person loses weight or tries to maintain a abnormally low weight through dieting often masked by the use of vegetarianism. Whereas bulimia involves binge eating followed by purging (vomiting or over use of laxatives). One way the nature theory explains this disorder would suggest that it is caused by genetics, which could be hereditary. Strober et al (2000) theory gives weight to this by suggesting that first degree relative of women with anorexia were ten times more likely to get this disorder than children from families without anorexia. These results were collated through the use of interviews of 1,831 relatives of 504 probands and family backgrounds. According to this research best-estimate diagnoses was based on all available information. In a further study a year later Stroder et al (2001) went on to suggest that as well as women men could now al so get this disorder. However, it can also be said that environment may play a big part in the development of this disorder. If we take environment as another influence then studies carried out in countries that may be starting westernization could show us if there is a link between eating disorders and different cultures. This can be seen in the nurture argument by suggesting that this disorder is due to environment and western society influence. This helps explain how more eastern countries have now due to pressure of turning to more western ideals in their culture, and ways of thinking, are having more problems now than before, they took on the Western ways. This can be seen in Lee et al (1993) Westernization has been linked to an increase in eating disorders in other parts of the world, including Hong Kong and Japan. Nadaoka et al, (1996) suggested that due to the changing roles for women cultural approval has also been suggested for a slim body. Increased wealth and availability of food, were also thought to be implicated in this change. Dolan (1991) study carried out in the United States which suggested that in it was more common for white women to have anorexia than coloured women; implying that race could be linked to anorexia. However some have argued that this could be due to genetic make-up. Evidence to support Dolans theory has come from Powell Khan (1986) who asked why white women are more prone to eating disorders than black women. Their study revealed that white women were engrossed in how much thinner they looked than black women and showed more concern about weight and dieting. This showed their results as a black society is more tolerant of larger body size than white society and that the black society places less importance on thinness and appears to prefer a more rounded shape. Another theory put forward by the nature approach which backed up Stroders theory. Holland et al (1988) who also carried out twin studies which have also suggested a strong genetic influence as twin studies showed MZ twins have a higher concordance rate than DZ twins. The problem with this study is theres never a hundred percent concordance rate which may suggest that other factors need to be taken into consideration and we have to look at other influences even though there is evidence to support that anorexia and bulimia have strong genetic ties. Furthermore we cannot ignore the strong influence that media plays in the development of this disorder. This can be seen in teenagers and adolescences using their role models as there is an ideal shape which is portrayed by fashion magazines and models as well as other role models and icons. This we call socio-cultural opinion. You may have read/heard in the media stories of celebrities in the public eye being criticised by the media about how they dress, how they look have they put weight on or even have they lost weight. These sort of high profile celebrities such as Victoria Beckham etc have pressure to watch their weight as its constantly under scrutiny and so have been called size zero This supports what the behaviorist claim to be cause of anorexia and bulimia in saying that we learn through modelling. So by high media profiling of these role models and icons we can see how teenagers and adolescences in general may view their own bodies and so this disorder may result from this type of influence, This can be linked to Banduras social learning theory in that children model the adult which can be seen in adolescence and teenagers who have eating disorders. Another explanation from the nature side is that anorexia may be due to unbalanced chemicals in the brain particularly if there is low serotonin. Some studies have linked low serotonin with depression and low self esteem in anorexic patients. Kaye, Ebert, Raliegh and Lake (1984) studies support this theory in which they discovered anorexic patients that had not gained a healthy weight gain were compared to patients who had achieved a normal amount of weight, they put forward the theory which suggests this is due to norapinephrine. The study of genetic research in anorexia is still in its infancy stage unlike established research for example schizophrenia and diabetes. We may discover through future DNA studies a gene specific to anorexia. It may also suggest a link to depression, in playing a part in anorexia bulimia. This however could be argued against in that low serotonin could be the effect and not the cause of anorexia. As mentioned earlier twin studies have been used to strengthen the nature argument but there are flaws with type of study besides the concordance not being one hundred percent. As well as the twins may not be from the same environment. The results may be down to environmental influences rather than just genetic. The nature argument assumes that behaviour is innate and we are born with it and might explain why their arguments strength is based on genetic and hereditarianism theory. Furthermore the nurture argument relies on our environment, which includes cultural and societal pressure as well as media influence. However with the evidence presented in this essay the only conclusion to draw from this question is that anorexia and bulimia can be attributed to a combination of both the nature hypothesis in basing its facts on heredity and genetics and the nurture hypothesis basing its facts on environment, media and social structure. Some people may have a biological tendency to anorexia. However there is strong evidence to support the environmental influence, as this is needed to start it off. As you may have noticed the nature nurture debate is quite complex and not easy to tackle. From the time Galton first thought about this question is it nature or nurture responsible for our development to the present with the breakthrough in technology, we have to study DNA the human blue print. We still dont know the answer both side provide strong arguments but with the evidence this essay has found it would be inconsiderate to assume that one factor is solely responsible for eating disorders. It is obvious that both aspect contribute to anorexia and bulimia

Perfect :: Short Stories Baseball Papers

Perfect The rays of summer linger in a moist breeze of fall that gently sweeps through a ballpark made from cement dreams of Grecian fondness. The ballpark of 35,000 is filled with the chant, "Perfect." It’s early in the break of the wildcard race and a crucial period in professional baseball. For the surfacing hero of this afternoon pastime, it is a moment to see life in a different focus. It is a moment when a harmonious pulse dictates the thought, which, in turn initiates a perfect action in a particular frame in time, or what athletes call the zone. A.J. Martinez is a hero who, though young, is infinitely defined by the heroes of a time long before him. In the announcers booth high above home plate, the voices of hometown color commentator’s Ken Costa and Larry Lazzo invade the ballpark accompanying the excitement, which is felt by the chant echoing throughout the stands. "Ladies and gentlemen welcome back to the game! I’m Ken Costa along with my partner Larry Lazzo. We are witnessing an amazing display of athletic excellence today by a young man named A.J. Martinez! Martinez has been perfect for eight and 2/3 innings of work so far, and will attempt to close this game out by retiring one more batter in the top half of the ninth, as New Mexico leads the game one to nothing! You have to ask yourself, what a pitcher must be thinking, when in a crucial situation like this, don’t you think so Larry?" "You sure do Ken! In a situation like this I am almost certain that Martinez isn’t worried about anything else, but getting one more out! The one out that will capitalize this valiant effort which could very easily become part of baseball history!" The home plate umpire throws Martinez a fresh white baseball. As Martinez catches the baseball, he is met with a roar of cheers from the fans, which rise to their feet and with out-stretched arms repeatedly bow down in praise of their ace pitcher. "Indeed Larry by witnessing this historical effort, it can truly be said that Martinez has shown this sold-out home crowd what the definition of poise means, with an astonishing twelve strikeouts and a total of twenty-six batters retired," Ken shouts while trying to out duel the ear piercing cheers of the crowd. "What is even more amazing then that Ken, is the fact that Martinez has only been in the league for a total of three weeks, since being called up from the Conquistador’s farm system," Larry adds.

A Close Critical Reading of Elizabeth Bishop’s “The Fish” Essay

Humans do not only learn from each other’s experiences. Sometimes, things in nature create within an observer or participant of a phenomenon in nature, a profound realization about life. Elizabeth Bishop’s â€Å"The Fish† shares to the reader a said effect. The poem describes a simple fishing experience, but the event, prompted by a particular fish that the speaker catches, awakens within him a sense of awe as to the worth of the otherwise everyday sea creature. The narrative poem has a simple story. It is about someone who goes fishing one day. After the speaker catches the fish, however, it becomes an object of curiosity for him. The introspection begins an internal struggle as to whether he should keep the fish or not. In the end, he chooses to throw it back into the sea. Using a number of literary devices, however, Bishop is able to dramatize through words the internal struggle and in the process, illuminates and heightens the ordinary experience. The fish, for one, is not described as an object. It is referred to as a â€Å"he†. This personification, however, is not to give the fish human attributes but to clue the reader that the poem is about more than catching a fish. The fish remains a fish all throughout the poem, but it is in the speaker’s mind that it becomes symbolic and therefore to be treated as an ordinary fish by the reader. More than this, it is actually the imagery, the similes and metaphors, which the writer uses to physically describe the fish that appeals the reader’s senses and sympathy for the fish which, in turn, lifts the poem to its higher meaning. â€Å"He (the fish) didn’t fight† (5) when the speaker catches him. Its skin is like â€Å"like wallpaper†¦stained and lost through age† (13-15). On its jaw â€Å"hung five old pieces of fish-line†¦all their five big hooks/grown firmly in his mouth† (51, 54-55). This set of imagery suggests that this particular fish is old and has fought a lot of battles already. Its body has suffered the scars of past struggles and is battle-worn. The simile of the five fish hooks as being compared by the poet to â€Å"medals with their ribbons†¦a five-haired beard of wisdom† (61, 63) recalls to the reader’s mind the medals on the suit of a five-star general who has fought wars and come out of them battle-scarred yet proud of every ribbon and scar. There is a tone of respect upon the speaker for the fish. At this point in the poem especially, the second half of the long single-stanza, there is an irony in the transformation of the creature from ordinary fish in the first line to the revered creature in the latter part of the poem. This reverence is what convinces the speaker to â€Å"let the fish go† (76). The act of letting go, too, is another ironic event in that any fisherman would not let go of something he has worked hard to get. But to the poet, it is not a waste of effort because it is a show of his respect for the fish. After staring at the fish for a long time, â€Å"victory filled up/ the little rented boat† (65-66), the speaker expresses. It is a score of victory for the fish because its scars have convinced the speaker that this fish has fought all its life and now deserves respect for being a survivor. Ultimately, the poem could be seen as an allegory to the beauty of a survivor’s ugly scars and physical deformities. The fish, with its rough skin â€Å"infested with tiny white sea-lice† (19) hanged with â€Å"rags of green weed† (21) and â€Å"five old pieces of fish-line† (51) stuck in its mouth, has grown ugly with age. Yet, these marks are not simply brought about by age but from years of struggling and freeing itself from past attempts of other fishermen to catch it. Those are its own marks of beauty and honor. Reference: Bishop, Elizabeth. â€Å"The Fish†.

Renaissance Art History essays

Renaissance Art History essays The transition from the Middle Ages to modern times between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries is referred to as the Renaissance, which originated in Florence, Italy. During this time, Italian artists studied the art of the Greeks and Romans, whom they learned a lot from. The Italian artists had hopes of rekindling the spirit behind Greek and Roman cultures, referred to as classical antiquities. The Renaissance artists were the main spark behind the rebirth of both cultures. Renaissance humanists emphasized the classical studies along with the restudy of the culturalist ideals and forms. With the combination of wealth and dominant connections, the Medici family soon began to make their presence known early in the fifteenth century of the renaissance. The Medici family were among the more powerful supporting leaders of humanism. The Medicis influence along with few members of the house that supported patrons of the arts, literature, and learning, are what helped establish Florence as one of the richest repositories in Europe. During the high Renaissance, art became a way for some to make a living. Artists were creating ways to show their humanistic ways and views. The same artists could often times get a better understanding of the renaissance in their own paintings. One important artist of the high Renaissance is Leonardo da Vinci, who presents the High renaissance dichotomy better than any other artist of that time period. Leonardo worked for a military weapon engineer, but still managed to continually paint creations of ideal beauty during the high renaissance. After his brief job with the military weapon engineer, Leonardo attained a better understanding of the evil nature of a man. Another important artist is Raphael, who composed the balance and harmony of the high Renaissance. Throughout the Renaissance time period, Raphael designed many churches, palaces, and even mansions. His interpretation of classi...

The 10 Worst Natural Disasters in World History

The 10 Worst Natural Disasters in World History All of the worst disasters in recorded history have been natural disasters - earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, and floods. Natural Hazard vs. Natural Disaster A natural hazard is a naturally-occurring event that poses a threat to human life or property. A natural hazard becomes a natural disaster when it actually takes place, causing significant loss of life and property. The potential impact of a natural disaster depends on the size and location of the event. If the disaster takes place in a heavily populated area, it immediately causes more damage to both life and property. There have been numerous natural disasters in recent history, ranging from the very recent January 2010 earthquake that struck Haiti, final death toll still unknown, to Cyclone Aila, which hit Bangladesh and India in May of 2009, killing approximately 330 people and affecting upwards of 1 million. Top Ten Worst Disasters in the World There is debate as to what the deadliest disasters of all time actually are, due to discrepancies in death tolls, especially with disasters that occurred outside of the last century. Following is a list of ten of the deadliest disasters in recorded history, from lowest to highest estimated death toll. 10. Aleppo Earthquake (Syria 1138) - 230,000 dead 9. Indian Ocean Earthquake/Tsunami (Indian Ocean 2004) - 230,000 dead 8. Haiyun Earthquake (China 1920) - 240,000 dead 7. Tangshan Earthquake (China 1976) - 242,000 dead 6. Antioch Earthquake (Syria and Turkey 526) - 250,000 dead 5. India Cyclone (India 1839) - 300,000 dead 4. Shaanxi Earthquake (China 1556) - 830,000 dead 3. Bhola Cyclone (Bangladesh 1970) - 500,000-1,000,000 dead 2. Yellow River Flood (China 1887) - 900,000-2,000,000 dead 1. Yellow River Flood (China 1931) - 1,000,000-4,000,000 dead Current State of World Disasters Every day, geologic processes are taking place that can disrupt the current equilibrium and produce natural disasters. These events are generally only catastrophic, however, if they take place in an area where they affect human populations. Advances have been made in predicting such events; however, there are very few instances of well-documented prediction. There is often a relationship between past events and future events and some areas are more prone to natural disasters (​floodplains, on fault lines, or in areas previously destroyed), but the fact remains that we cannot predict or control natural events, therefore, we remain vulnerable to the threat of natural hazards and the impacts of natural disasters.

Business Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business Management - Research Paper Example The Spain team has the responsibility of expanding the firm’s product into the Latin America and Eastern European marketplaces. The team should take over the marketing function of the company. The Finland team has existing relationship with many European carriers. The Finnish deal included the acquisition of a product line of games. The Finland team should take over the function of supply chain and logistics. 2. Digital Chocolate is a major player in the gaming industry. The exact market share of the company is not provided by the case study, but it is stated that the 10 largest gaming companies (which includes Digital Chocolate) hold 70% of the market share in the gaming industry which is valued at $34 billion. Overall my assessment is that the company has done a good job penetrating the marketplace and is doing well financially. The firm was able to establish deals with 200 phone carriers. The arrival of the iPhone and the subsequent Apple Application store helped Digital Ch ocolate establish a greater presence in the mobile gaming sector. The company was able to obtain 10 million downloads of its titles within the first 100 days of the Apple App store launch. In 2009 Digital Chocolate ranked first among Pokergamer.biz Quality Index.

Texas Instruments - leadership and commitment to TQM Case Study - 1

Texas Instruments - leadership and commitment to TQM - Case Study Example licable to the I.T sector, and it can provide better services means, improved and enhanced productivity, and mitigation of overheads, defects and recalls from the customers end. All these are possible through the concept of T.Q.M adoption and incorporation itno I.T sector. T.I adopted the commitment policy by adopting the T.Q. M model which guarantees this in an indirect manner. T.Q.M allows commitment to customers concerns and customers’ demands as well as enabling policy definition which is best suited to the needs of customers and market. This was further enhanced by adoption of the EFQM model by the incumbent company in mid 90s decade. Adoption of total quality culture was another manifestation of the company that was brought into force. Adoption of new means in form of quality control and quality mechanism, EFQM and other similar concepts made the elements of leadership, commitment and policy deriving further easy. A cascaded vision approach demands a vigorous involvement and participation mechanism that would enable complete responses from the entire team. While the first step is that of taking the members on board, the next step is that of providing them with all the technical and relevant knowledge and expertise and finally the response and the impact of the process undertaken. This all can be implemented in any kind of organization especially higher education or health sector. In case of higher education sector, the policy makers along with the departmental heads and institutions should be made part of the entire process; finally the step of practical implementation would enable direct interaction. In case of health care sector, the governmental agencies, along with health care departments, can be involved in devising a cascaded vision. In each of the above mentioned cases, equal participation, transfer of knowledge and practical implementation is a must towards successful accomplishment o f the cascaded vision approach. EFQM model gave T.I a new life