Stress and Immunity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Stress and Immunity - Essay Example Numerous empirical findings in animals and humans substantiate linkage between physical and psychological types of stress and immunological adjustments. Adjustments in the immune response have been reported to go with bereavement, unemployment, coping with phobia, divorce, work-related stress, examinations, exercise, etc (Rice 2000). This essay discusses comprehensively the relationship between stress and immunity. The first section gives an overview of such relationship; the second presents a brief discussion of the cultural and social influences on stress and immunity; the third focuses on the relationship between stress and schizophrenia, with a discussion of policy and practice implications; and last sums up the entire discourse. Stress and Immunity The assumption that stress can increase the likelihood of acquiring physical illnesses is not completely unknown. Proofs that stress can bring about physical ailment started to build up in the 1930s (Edworthy 2000). The term ‘ps ychosomatic disease’— actual physical illnesses that were believed to be brought about, to a certain extent, by psychological aspects like stress-- was known far and wide. The common psychosomatic ailments were asthma, tension headaches, peptic ulcers, eczema, and high blood pressure (Rice 2000, 64). These illnesses were not considered as ‘unreal’ physical diseases. The concept of ‘psychosomatic’ has usually been used wrongly to denote physical illnesses that are ‘imagined,’ but that is a completely distinct set of symptoms (Rice 2000, 64). Instead, according to Lovallo (2005), psychosomatic illnesses were regarded as ‘real’ untreated problems that were profoundly caused by stress. The term ‘psychosomatic’ illness has slowly been neglected since the 1970s because studies have reported that stress can heighten the development of a wide range of other illnesses previously assumed to be wholly caused by phys iological factors. Hence, it has become evident that psychosomatic illnesses should not be given a specific classification since there is nothing unusual about them (Rice 2000). However, numerous findings show that experimentally stimulated stress can weaken immunity of animals. To be exact, stressors like restrictions, shock, congesting, and food limit weaken different features of immune responses in animal subjects (Steckler, Kalin, & Reul 2005). Apparently, according to Ayers and colleagues (2007), stress can also have an effect on the immune responses of animals in natural environments. Chronic diseases have a harmful effect on immune responses and stress makes the capabilities of individuals to cope with these diseases much worse. Segerstrom and Miller (2004), in a comprehensive evaluation of three decades of empirical work on stress and immunity, report that constant stress can weaken ‘humoral immune response’ which defend the body from bacteria and other extracel lular pathogens, and ‘cellular immune responses’ which defend the body from viruses and other intracellular pathogens (as cited in Ayers, Baum, McManus 2007, 168). Moreover, according to Ayers and colleagues (2007), they conclude that the length of a stressful episode is a major aspect establishing its effect on immune responses. As stated by Steckler and colleagues (2005), lifelong stressors, like looking after a gravely ailing loved one or long-term joblessness, are

Roles and Desires of Men in the olden times based on the Story Faust Essay Example for Free

Roles and Desires of Men in the olden times based on the Story Faust Essay In the lives of men and women, different thoughts and desires have come to their minds. Various types of needs and aspirations are known to have been in the back of their minds. With this thought, most of these men and women tend to aspire things which sometimes translated into dreaming. In the psychoanalyst’s point of view, dreaming is something that is from our unconscious. The thoughts which different individuals had which had been pushed in the back of their minds show while we are in deep slumber. In the book scene The Witch’s Kitchen is able to analyze the theory made by Sigmund Freud relating to the story written by the Goethe â€Å"Faust†. The story of â€Å"Faust† is a German Folk Tale in which many different authors had created their own version in order to relate to their time. Through all the available versions, Freud utilized the Goethe’s version in order to explain his theory of â€Å"Outline of Psychoanalysis† (Prokhoris Foreword). Sabine contradicts most of the theory made by Freud and explains that the literary work of Goethe is just a material in which the psychoanalyst utilized in order to make his theory evident. But still, Sabine explained in the whole book that the theory is unlikely to be related to the written work of Goethe. It is stated that the different actions of characters where only a translated or related as such due to the desire of Freud to explain his thoughts and justify his claim. However, in this paper, the analysis of the scene in The Witch Kitchen would not be close to psychoanalysis instead, it would focus on the regular lives of individuals. The analysis in this paper desires to relate the scenes which had made in the earlier period to the current state of mind of various individuals as well as the existing values and lifestyles of people. In this scene, the drama for the first time enters a feminine sphere after dwelling almost exclusively in all-male realms. Also, for the first time Faust experiences a domestic space, a kitchen. How does he react to it? What is the significance of this particular setting? It is known that a kitchen is normally known as a space for women in order to create a dish for the different individuals and their families. In some context, the kitchen is a place where in women devoted their time for the reason that they need to provide food to suppress the feeling of hunger which could result to pain or anger. It is stated in different parts in which directly states that the devil cannot create anything. Although the devil has the power to do different actions which are not naturally for any being, the devil cannot do anything for him or her to generate something. The devil still needs someone that could create something for him. At first Faust did not think that he would be lead into the kitchen of all the available places in the house. As said earlier, a kitchen is a feminine placed which is only designated for a woman. It is obvious that Faust was deeply wondering whether or not he is in the right place and what other possible actions could the devil be asking him now. In my own analysis he felt uncomfortable which then leads to not knowing what to do. But then, the devil was able to explain the different action which he needed to accomplish. Faust is not even close to the thought of having â€Å"girly† materials therefore he disgusts the thought and look of â€Å"dainty† materials around him. Like a typical man, having â€Å"girly† materials and thoughts is something very far from what he needs and wants. However in my own point of view, there is too much hatred which he felt for the â€Å"girly† materials around him. It could be assumed that he is truly angry with girls or he just simply hates dainty materials. In the current times, such materials are not truly hated by men. Although they do not use such material for themselves, there is no sign in which men acts violent when asked about something close to such. Faust’s hatred in my own reflection might be a sign that there is he had a history which such materials or with girls. In the other hand, it could also be assumed that he had frustrations if he sees such kinds of materials. In a feminist view point, the hatred of Faust could be immediately interpreted that he hates how women are—their attitude their characteristic and their desires. It is known that most women likes such things and most men want to give dainty and adorable things for women to make them happy. It is either he does not want to satisfy women in such sense or he just plainly despises such things for the reason that he is a man who has strong desire of â€Å"manly† things for himself. Like most men, he is someone who was acting tough without any acts of weakness. In the current times, if men desires to have dainty things and are fond or them, it means that he is a homosexual therefore, it could be directly stated that Faust is not homosexual. What is the significance of the image that appears to Faust in the magic mirror on the Witch’s wall? Are there other instances of mirroring in this scene In the first scene in which he entered the Kitchen and was asked if he wanted dainty materials he immediately despised everything and even cursed it. But then, in the scene where a mirror was laid in front of him, it is interesting that he saw a woman standing in front of the mirror. It is puzzling that he despised â€Å"girly† things while when he faced the mirror, he was not able to see himself but a woman who was beautiful which he adores. With such interesting scene there are many assumptions and reflections which could be made. First, it could be assumed that the reflection in the mirror reflects him self. It could be that he wanted to be a woman which could be connected to the happiness which he felt while looking at the mirror adoring the image in front of him. Having someone in front of him who he desires to be is something that homosexuals would be happy about. If this assumption is correct, Faust desires to be a woman and the hatred that he felt about dainty things is something that he was acting for the devil to not think otherwise. During the times where in the image of a beautiful woman was reflected there is a big part of him where he found happiness because in some ways he had become something that he was yearning for in such a long time. In another context, if he is heterosexual it could be easily said that he wants to be with a female. In the context that the story is within an all male realm, the yearning of Faust was awaken. Seeing a beautiful woman made him realize that he wants to be with her and wishes a person close to someone like the image in the mirror. In other conclusion, it could be stated that the image in the mirror is a person which he desires to be with him. It is the mirror who presented what he wanted therefore he became thrilled when he saw the woman. In my own interpretation, the woman he saw was someone who has a very beautiful face, angelic and kind. It could be said that she was the one he wanted for him self to be his partner or his wife in the future. The delight in which was expressed by Faust had been something that was very exquisite. It almost felt like she was what he was waiting for his whole life and that she was someone whom he would do anything for. In the current times, men do not see women in mirrors like Faust have experienced. They are seen everyday like other normal people. Genders are mixed and they are mingling with one another unlike in the story which they were all men in the story. Compared to the value Faust gave when he expressed his happiness while seeing the image, men are not anything close to such kind of value now a days. In the past, men are not as able or they could not easily get a woman which just a few actions. There is a process in which they follow in order to achieve the love and attention of women. Wooing is something that is not practiced now. Individuals just get together when they realize that they have something in common or they like each other. Although women are said to be someone who are special and is worth all the love and affection, some men do express that they do this in order to get what they want. Most of the time, men only uses some strategy to get what they want and need while on the other hand women become used and helpless. In some point, I reflected that situation that: what if there are no women just mirrors to see who and what we want? Would anyone be happy or satisfied? Would men be the men they are now? —most probably not. But then I ask myself, why did Faust look at the image was happily, as lovingly as he was? It puzzles me because none of the lines stated that he was homosexual or something that just wanted to have a family life. But then, I still believe that the imagery that he saw was something he wanted for himself that if he maybe able to have it he will surely be satisfied unlike the other things which are presented to him like the dainty things as well as the images which were focused on the story. In conclusion, the story of Goethe is something that is puzzling and intriguing due to the different contexts that it has. There were issues of gender and desires which could only be explained by the writer himself. However, such could not happen anymore. The theories and the real ideas of this story is left to its readers to assume and hypothesize the thoughts in which are made in the story.

Trends In Hospitality: Boutique Hotels

Trends In Hospitality: Boutique Hotels This paper is a research on the factors that have influenced growth in the boutique hotel sector, demonstrating that boutique hotels have become a popular alternative to five star properties. The study methods included a review of the literature and surveys of boutique hotel guests. Location, high quality, uniqueness, services provided and the personalized levels of service offered the top five attributes attracting guests to these hotels. The growth of the boutique hotel sector may be because of hotel clients looking for alternatives to standard and more traditional accommodation. This paper will investigate the growth of the boutique hotel sector and the factors that influence the consumers decision to purchase this type of accommodation. Introduction. Origin of boutique hotels. 1980s were the time of the construction boom in the hotel business. Thus, only during 1980-87, the number of hotel rooms in the USA increased by 40%. Economic globalization has not bypassed the hotel industry: nowadays, mergers and acquisitions no longer involve just individual hotels, but the entire hotel chains. Huge international hotel groups are created, such as Bass Hotels Resorts, Starwood Hotels Resorts, and Carlson Hospitality Worldwide (Keeps 2006). At the same time, hotels are becoming more and more comfortable, offering guests new services that previously simply did not exist or were accessible only to guests of 5-star hotels spacious apartments, cable TV, high speed internet access, recreation complexes, and guaranteed security. But it turns out that the modern consumer is not enough satisfied with what traditional hotel give him; he needs now more than reliability and the program of earning points (Bender, 2009). While the giants of the hospitality industry excelled themselves in the struggle for the customer, constructing mega-hotels the most spacious, highest, most expensive, with a set of all conceivable service, they have lost the most perspective clientele: relatively young business travelers aged 25-45, rich and tending to everything unusual. Hotel giants are now challenged by small privately-owned hotels, each of which has its own unique style. By analogy with small shops, selling things from well-known designers, these hotels received the name of boutique hotels (Bender, 2009). The first hotel of this format appeared only in the early 80-ies of the 20th century. It is believed that the first boutique hotels sometimes referred to as design hotels (design hotels or lifestyle hotels) opened their doors in 1981 on two continents simultaneously: The Blakes Hotel was opened in London, South Kensington, sponsored by a former actress, now a famous designer and hoteliers Anouska Hempel, and Bedford in San Francisco, located on Union Square. Subsequently, this hotel has become a part of a network of boutique-style hotels exclusively under the administration of one of the most famous players in the market Kimpton Hotels Restaurants (Boutique Hotels On The Rise). In 1984, three years later, the first object named Morgans which officially gained the status of a boutique hotel was opened in New York by the famous hotelier, developer and designer Ian Schrager, who is now considered a trendsetter on the market of boutique hotels (Bell 2008). Definition and Features of a Boutique Hotel A boutique hotel is a type of accommodation which can be called the embodiment of a design idea of modernity. Taste, luxury and exclusivity are the basic ingredients for the success of a boutique hotel. Further, the paper covers the main components, making up the notion of a boutique hotel (Boutique Hotels Defined). First of all, a boutique hotel is usually a small hotel, the number of rooms in which rarely exceeds one hundred. The average number of rooms usually reaches 20-30 apartments. According to some experts, the maximum number of rooms in a boutique hotel should not exceed 150, because only in this case, the service may be personalized. They believe that the main feature of a boutique hotel is its chamber character and some mental connection between the clients of the hotel and its staff (for example, in some hotels the staff should know all the guests staying at the hotel by name). Others, including the founder and CEO of Ian Schrager Hotels Ian Schrager, believe that the key to the boutique hotel is not a small number of rooms and personified service, but the opportunity to involve the guests into a special atmosphere, influencing all their senses through architecture, design, colors, light and music. For example, these are the main peculiarities of Schragers boutique hotels Paramount H otel (597 rooms) and Hudson Hotel (1000 rooms) (Bell 2008). The word boutique also determines the degree of comfort and uniqueness of the hotel service. A boutique hotel is primarily a unique interior design. A boutique hotel is not necessarily trendy, but is always stylish. The design of a boutique hotel is often strictly kept within one theme: English aristocratic gloss of the late 19th century or ultra-minimalism, for instance. Nowadays, certain interiors for boutique hotels are developed by the leading representatives of the worlds design art, from Philippe Starck to Christian Lacroix (Craig, 2010). Special services offered today by boutique hotels form another quality that makes them special. Services provided by various boutique hotels are typically exclusive. For example, the boutique hotel Benjamin in New York takes care of guests domestic animals; Manor at Ngorongoro at the foot of the volcano Ngorongoro in Tanzania offers an exciting excursion to Maasai tribes encampment. Classic services of VIP-tourism and boutique hotels also include helicopter transfer or jacuzzi with champagne. The main task of a boutique hotel lies in bringing individuality, sometimes at the maximum level. The style, intimacy familiar to the guests, and palpable contrast to other hotels these are the characteristic features of a boutique hotel, which is an ideal place for customers looking for a hotel where they can relax and all their wishes will be fulfilled quickly and accurately (Craig 2010). That is why sometimes boutique hotels are based on old castles or old hotels, i.e. places which have their own history and heritage, providing special individuality of boutique hotels. For the same reason, boutique hotels can often be located in places not originally intended for tourists. Today, they are opened on the territory of former factories, abandoned farmsteads and even aircraft hangars. At the same time, while creating a hotel, designers often try to preserve the atmosphere of the previous premises in order to make the guest feel special. Thus, the customer of a boutique hotel can feel like a character of a fairy-tail, adventure novels, detective or love story (McIntosh Siggs, 2005). All the boutique hotels in the world can be divided into 2 groups: urban and resort hotels. Having much in common, these groups still have significant differences. For example, in urban boutique hotels, one of the key factors for success is the location. The hotel must be located in a landmark city and preferably in the most popular part of it. The location is determined not only by the concept of convenience, but also by the presence of stylish and trendy neighbors. That is why lots of boutique hotels are located in cities like New York, Miami, London, Paris, and Los Angeles, although recently there emerges a trend of opening boutique hotels in smaller cities with the great potential for future development (Hachisu 2008). Another situation concerns resort boutique hotels. The hotels location is also important here, but fashion placements are often hidden from prying eyes and seek to create a chic and exceptional comfort far away from the civilization, e.g. on remote islands or in wild jungle. Moreover, the more difficult is the road to the hotel, the more stylish and fashionable it is considered. While urban boutique hotels are often full of technical gadgets, from banal DVD-players to exotic electronically controlled beds, resort boutique hotels tend to provide recreation in isolation from technologies; and the lack of phones or TV-sets in the room is not some sad omission, but the deliberate technical asceticism. And this is not a complete list of differences (Lim Endean 2009). Another feature of a boutique hotel is that its main target audience is represented by people aged 20-50 with average or high income. The cost of living in a boutique hotel due to its uniqueness is often really quite high. Typically, each room of a boutique hotel is unique and each one has its own price. Today the lowest level of prices per room in a boutique hotel is about 200 Euros per day. This price level is valid for the boutique hotels of Europe, particularly Paris, Barcelona, Florence, Moscow, Istanbul or Rome, as well as for hotels in New York, Mexico City and Buenos Aires (Aiemens 2008). Thus, by analogy with the trading format, a boutique hotel should be small, should offer high quality services, and provide individual service. Therefore, it should be classified as a five-star or luxury hotel. In addition, such hotels, obviously, should be unique and have impressive interiors. At the same time, there are no single international standards managing the procedure of designation of an object to the class of boutique hotels, so each operator interprets the word in its own way. Today, one can find five-star (ecological Vida Sol e Mar in Brazil) and three-star (Rockhouse villas in Jamaica) hotels, as well as hostels (Rooms Deluxe in Valencia, Spain) among the boutique hotels (Parker, 2006). However, there still exist some characteristics allowing hotel owners to refer to the status of designer or boutique hotel. For example, when selecting objects for the Mgallery network, the hotel chain Accor outlines the following conditions: 1) the building and (or) the hotel should have its own history, 2) it should have an outstanding location, known for its unique concept, 3) it should be exclusive in its interior design and (or) the exterior (architecture), 4) it should prove personalized services (The Complete Guide To: European boutique hotel). It seems that the absence of strict standards, allowing the inclusion of an object to the boutique format, opens up great opportunities for operators. Each hotel with small number rooms and apartments should strive to become a boutique hotel, which would sound nice and expensive. In addition, the individuality, which is perhaps the only more or less general criterion for this format, can hide the mismatch with the classical standards of hotels in relation to the amount of apartments and range of services (The Complete Guide To: European boutique hotel). But for some reasons, the hoteliers do not hurry to declare their objects as designer or boutique hotels. In fact, the status of a boutique produces too many obligations, and it is sometimes easier to position the hotel as a mini-hotel and get free of special obligations to guests. In general, it is rather expensive to build a boutique hotel and it is rather difficult to create a special atmosphere. Thus, boutique is a complex of feelings the hotel wants to give to its guest. The service and staff form the desire to always return to this hotel. At the same time, every privilege entails responsibility (Parker 2006). Difference between Boutique Hotels and Hotels That is true, that the majority of population has already got used to the term of hospitality industry, and the contemporary hotel business is really a powerful industry. But the question is if the contemporary industrial approach compatible to the very notion of hospitality, the warmth which is so necessary for the guest exhausted by the current stressful life and willing to feel the same comfort and convenience far from home. And though the competitors accuse boutiques in the aggressive behavior on the market and even give them the nickname boutique terrorists (the term belongs to John Jarvis, the Head of Jarvis Hotels), the secret of their success is rather in their capacity to revive the forgotten art of hospitality (Keeps, 2006). A little more than a decade passed since the time when the American hotelier Ian Schrager first formulated the concept of the boutique hotels, and now boutique hotels can be found in major business centers in the world New York, London, Paris, Sydney, Los Angeles. In the vast metropolis, where life is humming 24 hours a day, they are the oasis of peace and comfort (McGinnis 2004). Generally, boutique hotel differ from the dull monotony of branded hotels with their creativity and imagination both in interior design and style of service. But returning to the previously given distinctive features of the boutique hotels, it is worth noting that sometimes everything regarding them is mistakenly reduces only to the design, but boutique hotels are not only design. Surely, exclusive design primarily determines the individuality of the hotel, but it is designed to help sell the hotel once or twice; later the guests will need something more. And this something more is individuality, distinguishing these hotels from just branded ones (Lea). Saying boutique hotel, one always involves the notion of individuality in everything: not only and not so much in service and personification of the customer, but rather in architecture, staff, and atmosphere. According to Ian Schrager, boutique hotels are subversive. The idea is to do something contrary, something that violates the status quo, and as long as it is well executed it works. If its not well executed, then its just trendy (Boutique Hotel Resort Trends). Compared with other hotels, boutique hotels have one more difference, but rather an advantage in terms of economy. Sometimes, boutique hotels may not spent money on the creation and maintenance of such expensive components, as a restaurant or conference hall. Despite the fact that the boutique hotel may successfully exist without them, the establishment of such services can bring significant additional income to the hotel. So the hotels sometimes rent such premises themselves or provide rent to some other organization (Yanos, 2008). Besides, the statistics of visits of boutique hotels shows that they have a considerably higher percentage of customers return, compared with industry averages. This allows them to better survive in the hard times of economic crises and recessions. Nevertheless, boutique hotels have to constantly monitor the changing market, consumer tastes, fashion trends in the field of hospitality, in order to maintain their competitive advantage and continue to be in the forefront of the market (ONeill Mattila, 2010). Reasons for growing popularity of Boutique Hotels Experts believe that one reason for the stunning success of boutique hotels are the changes in the customer base of hotels: with the rising living standards the number of rich young clients who travel a lot has increased; they get bored of the monotony proposed by standard hotels and are looking for hotels, which would give them a sense of not only physical but also spiritual comfort (Boutique Hotels Magazine, 2009). Of course, all of the above does not mean at all that the era of large branded hotel is coming to an end. This is evidenced by the success of giant companies like, for example, Hilton London Metropole, which focuses on the congress market, having 1,073 rooms and 39 halls, 2 of which can accommodate 1900 people each, and another 1300. Its competitor for the title of Europes largest hotel is Berlin Estrel Residence Congress Hotel. These hotels, built in the late 1990s, in no way resemble a conveyor for sleeping. Elegantly eclectic, they are different in functional comfort and technological perfection. And the results are explicit their load rarely falls below 90% (Bender 2009). The success of such hotels suggests that the needs of the people are changing, and those who want to succeed in the hospitality business of the 21st century, must take into account that the marketing approach to identification of potential customers by demographic characteristics (age, sex, nationality, socio-economic status) is out-of-date now, since these characteristics do not determine the persons inner world, his desires and needs (McKinney, 2008). Psychography, which studies the values a certain person is committed to, the feelings that he experiences, his vital interests, and all the things that truly characterize a person, must now form the basis of marketing strategy. According to Chip Conley, the president the chain of 16 boutique hotels Joie de Vivre Hospitaliry, hotel owners should realize that their task is not just to provide people a place to sleep, but to help them implement their dreams. Three days stay in our hotel makes a customer feel a bit more refined, artistic, and intelligent; it even changes ones manner of speaking. And we win the competition, because we give our guests a unique opportunity to experience their personal uniqueness (Bell, 2008). The growth of supply always, including the hospitality market, leads to increased competition. The ruined hotels have been acquired by more successful competitors; some of them have themselves asked for that. Surely, in sharp competition for independent hotels it has been more difficult to survive. Life has pushed hoteliers to chain reaction (Bender 2009). Today, fans of the worlds most famous chains can find their favorite hotel in any corner of the world and be at the same time sure that the facilities and furnishings, a set of services, the food, and even the staff uniforms are almost identical in all the hotels of the chain whether in New York or London, Mexico City or Paris, Moscow or Singapore (Bender 2009). The unification surely gives the brands significant advantages in the fight for the customer compared to independent hotels, which keep their individuality. Many people are afraid of the unknown. Using the services of a hotel with a famous name, the client having lived in the hotel of the chain is quite aware of what awaits him, and as a consequence, the choice of the hotel is based on the previous positive experience (Bell, 2008). Originating as small independent companies, managed by private entrepreneurs or small companies, boutique hotels have changed over time and are now represented among the major hotel operators. First separate chains appeared consisting solely of boutique hotels (for example, Bvlgari Hotels and Resorts, created with the participation of Luxury Group, a division of Marriott International Company that also managers hotels Ritz-Carlton; networks of SLS Hotels and Joie De Vivre hotels), and then the majors of hospitality market, seeing the success of these hotels and noting the faster growth of income, including rate RevPAR, as compared to conventional network hotels, decided to enter the market of boutique hotels and recapture market share themselves. Among the most striking examples of the recent period are W Hotels managed by the well-known international operator Starwood Hotels and Resorts (McIntosh Siggs 2005). Design Hotel, originally conceived as an alternative to the standard objects of classical hotel chains, today themselves unite in networks: Boutique Hotels Resorts International, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Select Hotels Resorts International, Relais Chateaux are just some of them (Lea). Investors and Boutique Hotels Researches carried out by audit firms show that the niche of boutique hotels is very promising from a commercial point of view. Thus, for 6 years, from January 1995 to November 2000, the demand for the rooms in boutiques has increased by 14%, whereas in the traditional branded hotel deluxe it grew by only 4%. The average load in boutiques in 2000 was 74%, which though slightly, only by 1-2% but exceeded the load of luxe hotels. The average room prices (ADR) in the boutiques by the end of 2000 was $ 210 compared with $ 150 in luxe hotels. And RevPAR (Revenue per average room) in the boutique in this case was $ 160 versus $ 118 in luxe hotels (Craig, 2010). Hotels, owned by Ian Schrager and Bill Kimpton, a chain of hotels Joie de Vivre (Joy of Life a meaningful name), and finally the hotels W, created by Starwood Hotels Resorts, are rapidly filling America, going beyond its borders recently, the first W boutique appeared in Sydney. Interestingly, the hotel was rebuilt from the former wool storing warehouse. Today, the W chain includes 16 hotels, 5 of which are in New York. Hotels of the chain are characterized by rather small size for America, unique architectural and design solutions, and exquisite service, which allows them to attract a variety of important clients including the stars of show business (Boutique Hotels On The Rise). The services proposed to the guest deserve a special mention. Apart from conventional high-quality hotel services like round the clock room service, guest parking, strong rooms for storing valuables, health center and meeting rooms, they offer a service which is not found anywhere else, except W hotels the so-called Whatever/Whenever service, which implements literally any desire from a ticket to a fashion show to champagne bath (McKinney 2008). Life has confirmed the correctness of the chosen strategy of Starwood in 2000, 12 W hotels gave 15% of all incomes of the giant group, and it was not due to gaining over the clients from Westin and Sheraton, also included in the Starwood Group. The nearest plans of Starwood include bringing the number of W Hotels to 50-70, going beyond North America (McKinney 2008). Boutique hotels have become a very fashionable trend in the hospitality industry. Investors want to build them, travelers want to stay there, travel news commentators praise their advantages. But how popular are they among owners? How profitable are boutique hotels compared to other hotels of the class? To answer this question, the company PKF Hospitality Research (PKF-HR) conducted an analysis of revenues, expenses and profitability of boutique hotels that provided their annual reports to the annual study of trends in the hospitality industry. The sample involved only hotels that provided data for all years from 2000 to 2006 (Lea). For the analysis the boutique hotels of famous brands and independent hotels were selected. In 2006, selected boutique hotels had an average of 166 rooms with occupancy 77.3% and the average price $ 223.23. For comparison, independent hotels were taken by an average of 244 rooms with occupancy 71.8% and the average price $ 140.84 (Yanos, 2008). From 2000 to 2006, boutique hotels showed a steady growth of the following indicators: occupancy, average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per average room (RevPAR). For seven years, boutique hotels achieved the increase in RevPAR by 162.6%. This was the result of occupancy increasing by 106.1% and ADR by 154.4%. In 2006, income from hotels restaurant service was 23.5% of the total income. This is lower than the average number for the industry 26,7%. Nevertheless, the total revenue of boutique hotels was by the record 56.1% higher than the average for the United States. It should be noted that some of the boutique hotels rent restaurants to other companies, which reduces their share in total income. But the expenses of boutique hotels are also higher. From 2000 to 2006, the expenses of boutique hotels were about 55% higher than the average in the U.S. (Yanos 2008). Despite the high rates in the period from 2000 to 2006, the profitability of this segment varies widely from year to year. In good times boutique hotels reach record levels, but the decline in the industry in 2001-2003 affected them more seriously (Yanos, 2008). From 2000 to 2003 the average U.S. hotel revenues decreased by 15,1% and return by 36,2%. Boutique hotels had the same indicators decreased by 25% and 52.9% respectively. On the contrary, from 2004 to 2006, boutique hotels recover from the recession quicker than the rest of the industry. Their income increased by 36,6% and operating profit by 75,5%. Restoration of most ordinary hotels was more gradual: 26,7% and 45,8% respectively. Unstable rates of boutique hotels may be partly related to their predominantly urban location. Largest cities suffered most from the recession, but recovered quicker. Boutique hotels have to pay for their high performance by its instability (Yanos 2008). The first generation of boutique hotels had many similar characteristics. They were often housed in historical buildings a few blocks from downtown. Thanks to tax rebates for the restoration of historic buildings they could keep costs at a manageable level and redirect most of the money to the interior design. Moderation in construction costs, along with outstanding market performance creates opportunities for return of investment (Hachisu, 2008). But in recent years, boutique hotels have mainly been built anew without the charm of antiquity, which is associated with boutique hotels. On the contrary, they thrive because of their modernity, fashionableness, style and technological equipment. As a result, construction costs increase, but get balanced by traditionally high rates in this sector (McGinnis, 2004). The new wave of boutique hotels makes emphasis on the modern surrounding, high-tech electronics, thought-out selection of works of art and fashion individual features, such as living-rooms in the network of W Hotels. An example of a new generation of hotels may be the W Hotel under construction for the 225 rooms in Hoboken, New Jersey, located on the bank of the Hudson River opposite to Manhattan (McGinnis, 2004). The project appeared back in 2001 when brothers Michael and David Barry from Applied Development proposed to build a hotel and residential building of the W in Hoboken, which was then just beginning to develop. And now the construction of 26-storey building is at full swing. In December, when the hotel opens, visitors will see the beautiful panorama with views of Manhattan, a bar with fireplaces and room for parties for 500 people. Occupancy perspectives now seem more serious than before five Manhattan W hotels are often overcrowded. Hoboken is only the beginning. It is planned to open W Hotel in Oak Brook, Illinois, in La Jolla and Huntington Beach in California and in the Coconut Grove in Miami (ONeill Mattila 2010). The largest independent network of boutique hotels Kimpton, which appeared in 1981, has recently opened Palomar Hotel in Arlington; its their third hotel in northern Virginia, in the suburbs of Washington, where they own seven hotels. The plans of Kimpton include the further development of the network in the province, for example, in Chantilly, Virginia, 25 miles from the city. Nine of the forty-two existing hotels Kimpton are located in the suburbs (ONeill Mattila 2010). Recently new hotels have been opened by the brand Hotel Indigo owned by InterContinental in Newton, Massachusetts (near Boston) and in Fishers, Indiana (near Indianapolis). Half of the 17 existing and half of the 62 planned hotels Hotel Indigo are suburban, mostly near the prestigious shopping, business and residential centers. The main reasons for locating design hotels in province are as follows: Tourists are tired of traditional hotels. Business people and young people are especially demanding. For markets where luxury W is not required, Starwood formed a network of mid-market hotel segment Aloft. The first one will open this year in Lexington, Massachusetts, 10 miles from Boston. Suburbs are developing. Local business is developing, and large retail chains such as Ikea, Pottery Barn and Target are helping to clear the way for democratization of design. The cost of land in major cities is growing. It is more profitable to open hotels in the suburbs, where land and construction are cheaper. In addition, there is less competition (Yanos, 2008). So far, these hotels are mainly being opened in the suburbs of the 25 largest U.S. cities, where one can raise the price higher. And most of these hotels belong to the networks with limited services and no restaurants, such as the Holiday Inn Express, Fairfield Inn, Hampton Inn and La Quinta (ONeill Mattila 2010). In promoting and advertising boutique hotels, it is necessary to remember that these hotels are visited not because they are convenient or comfortable, but, primarily because they are fashionable and prestigious. Therefore, promoting a boutique hotel, like in the case of many other products on the market, where it is not the product but an image which is sold, should be done appropriately. The main task is, as marketing expert say, sending a message. This message in the case of boutique hotels is more important than ever. No matter what it would be: the formation of a special aura of the hotel connected with its location or atmosphere, or a beautifully presented history of the hotel; the main thing is to create a smart and unique product that is then necessary to properly convey to the audience, using various channels: direct marketing, media and public relations, profile travel agencies (ONeill Mattila 2010). Conclusion Thus, small exclusive boutique hotels have become more popular among affluent travelers, than the major hotel brands. In contrast to the well-known and comfortable hotels, peculiar with their uniformity, boutique hotels can offer an individual approach to the customers interests. In addition, nowadays there is a growing demand for luxury and extra comfort among the tourists, while each boutique hotel is the only one of its kind, allowing guests to feel their uniqueness and belonging to the higher strata of society (Parker, 2006). The owners of hotel chains do not disregard such a promising market. Furthermore, according to findings by researchers from the hotel school at Cornell University, independent hotels have practically no chance to compete with hotel chains. Nowadays, realizing the dominant advantage of boutique hotels, the hoteliers have started creating chains of boutique hotels, which are supposed to have promising future (Aiemens, 2008). PKF Hospitality Research predicts a relatively stable situation for the next few years. No significant jumps up or down in the hotel industry as a whole, occupancy rates and tariffs is not expected. Given the mobility of economic indicators of boutique hotels, it will be interesting to see how they will show themselves in a stable situation. According to PKF-HR, boutique hotels will continue to demonstrate high levels, but without previously observed strong deviations (Parets 2004).

Industrial Relations Essay -- Politics, Bipartite Relationships

I. INTRODUCTION Industrial peace is one of the core issues in the field of industrial relations. Moore (1951) suggested that industrial conflicts can be minimized or prevented by resort to two types of procedures: first, a procedure of regulating and limiting the power of the two interest groups, especially by restricting power that can be exercised; second, a procedure of providing positive interference in industrial disputes. Both procedures suggest that beyond workers and employers, a third important player may also directly interfere in industrial relations processes. The Pluralist theory, the mainstream industrial relations theory, focuses primarily on the bipartite relationship between the workers and employers. The third player, governmental agencies, though is equally important, is largely overlooked (Keller, 1991). However, as a theory of politics in essence, the Pluralist theory requires considerable elaboration on such a missing piece, for it leaves itself open to questions of inequality of power among different interest groups: some groups may wield an influence on public policy which may not be the interest of other groups. Legislation and other public policy decisions oftentimes work through a complex process of political party structure (Hameed, 1982). Politics is one of the most important underlying developmental dynamic within industrial relations; as such governmental interference shall not be absent from existing theoretical frameworks. The primary objective of this paper is to examine the Pluralist theory focusing on its explanation on the role of governmental agencies in industrial relations. Furthermore, I hope to prove that the absence of the role of the state may be a theoretical flaw within Pluralis... ...on] McGuinty is being a lapdog for a union-hating right-wing mayor because he is afraid of Ford's political clout, not because he cares about transit in Toronto. (CBC News, 30 March, 2011) Though these statements may be purely Mr. Kinnear’s expression of personal interests, one interesting fact about this dispute is that, TTC management and TTC employees in fact unanimously oppose this provision. Management fear the unintended consequence of governmental intervention will reversely cause higher wage, TTC employees worry that they may lose their right to strike as a powerful channel to articulate themselves. All in all, it is without a doubt that government actively involves in this industrial conflict, and pluralism theory again, fails to explain why government has taken such an active role in interfering labour relations between TTC management and employees.

Frankenstein: Born Evil or Socially Corrupted Essay

Was the Being Frankenstein created born evil or was he shaped into being evil? Or any man for that matter? Nobody is born evil. They are taught evil ways. They are corrupted by society. In the book Frankenstein, the Being created is looked at as a symbol of evil who only seeks to destroy everything in his path. However, the Being was corrupted by the initial rejection of his creator. It is true that man could be considered evil, but I believe that man is born good and simply put, corrupted by the evil that already exists in the world. As in Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein creates a being that he later turns away from due to its hideousness, but the Being was created with a innocence and pureness that all men are born into. The Being appears aside Frankenstein after he is awakened from a nightmare. The Being seems to want to communicate with his creator but he had not been taught. Victor takes his behavior as a form of malice. â€Å"And his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. His jaw opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ ne hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped and rushed downstairs† (Shelley, p. 43). Victor even states that he is deliberately avoiding communication with the Being due to its hideousness. Victor Frankenstein of all people should understand the importance of love and the care of a parent in order to become moral and a good human being in general. He often talked about how attentive his parents were with him growing up. â€Å"†¦They always seemed to draw inexhaustible stores of affection from a very mine of love to bestow upon me†¦ he innocent and helpless creature bestowed on them by heaven, whom to bring up to good, and whose future lot it was in their hands to direct to happiness or misery, according as they fulfilled their duties towards me† (p. 19). According to Victor it was his parents love for him that helped shape his future. By abandoning the creature he has created, Victor Frankenstein helps raise feelings of vengeance toward himself by the Being which leads it to kill members of the Frankenstein family. The Being sets out to find someone to talk to as he can’t talk to his creator. He unknowingly looks to Victor’s younger brother William and hopes that society has not corrupted the young innocent child and that William will accept him despite his looks. The Being is disappointed when his hideous looks scare William, after discovering that he is Victor’s family, he kills the young boy. It is after having been rejected by man twice that the creature resorts to committing murder. Still the Being tries hard to do good, trying to save a woman drowning, but she also struggles against him, trying to get away. After being shot by her companion, the Being resorts to thinking that he must kill her too. â€Å"I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my creator, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me? You would not call it murder if you could precipitate me into one of those ice-rifts and destroy my frame†¦ † (p. 130).

Does Doctor-Patient Communication Affect Patient Satisfaction with Hospital Care? Essay

The results from the study show that most of the patients are served within five minutes upon their arrival at the hospital. Taking an overview look on the results, it emerges that medical personnel in Netherlands serve their patients faster than their counterparts in Saudi Arabia. However, it is discouraging to find out that the percentage that is served beyond five minutes after the arrival is high. Myocardial infarction is an emergency condition (Covinky, K.E., et al., 544). It should be treated as such. The sooner it is handled the better the outcomes. Therefore, it is important for the hospitals to put in place strategies that will enable them handle myocardial infarction cases with speed. The percentage handled within the first five minutes must rise close to 100% for better outcomes. Satisfaction with the explanations about the tests done:                The findings show that patients in both hospitals are satisfied with the explanations given to them regarding the tests that are done concerning their condition. This is indicated by the high percentage that represents satisfaction. However, it appears that the level of satisfaction in Netherlands is higher than the level of satisfaction in Saudi Arabia. Ordinarily, it is important for the medical personnels to explain all the tests that are needed to be carried out on a patient prior to performing them. It is necessary to engage the patient adequately in the process of the treatment. Considering these findings, it is practical to state that the hospitals in both countries are doing what is required of them. Patient satisfaction with the explanation given about myocardial infarction:                The findings from the study clearly show that the patients were generally satisfied with the explanation given to them by the medical personnel with regard to their condition. It is important for the medical personnels to offer good explanation to the patients with regard to their condition. The patients become aware of their condition and therefore assume full responsibility of it. With awareness on the part of the patients, there is compliance that helps in achieving positive treatment outcomes. In addition, giving enough information to the patients regarding their disease empowers them in making better decisions (Priporas, C.V., et al., 48). They become aware of their role to play in the process of the management of the condition. In the case this study, is encouraging to find out that the hospitals used in the study are keen on this aspect of involving the patient in the treatment by informing them well. Satisfaction with the personal attention given to the patients by the doctors:                The results of the study reveal that the patients are generally satisfied by the personal attention that doctors give to them. In Netherlands, the level of satisfaction by percentage of the respondents is near 100%. This is an indication of good practice by the doctors in these hospitals. Giving a patient individualized attention makes them feel that they are important. In addition, it makes them feel that their condition is being taken care of. This is an important practice that should be incorporated in the hospitals. Moreover, when the doctors get close to the patient, they can get essential information that may be necessary in the course of the treatment. The patient can reveal deep information to a doctor who shows a sense of caring and concern. Both hospitals involved in this study are doing quite well in this respect. They are showing the necessary concern that is required when handling the patients by instituting personal attention to each patient. Ac cording to Clever, S.L.,et al (234), good patient-doctor relationship improves the outcome. Satisfaction with the expertise of the medical personnel:                The findings indicate a general high level of satisfaction of patients to the expertise of the medical personnels handling them in both countries. The findings show that patients in Netherlands trust the expertise of the medical personnel handling them. In Netherlands, the level of satisfaction is approaching 100%. Nevertheless, even that in Saudi Arabia is not badly off. The findings show that the medical personnels in both countries handling cases of myocardial infarction are up to the task. The expertise of the medical personnel should be of high standard when it comes to dealing with such cases as myocardial infarction (Quintama, J.M., et al, 69). Satisfaction level of the patients with the information given to them regarding their treatment:                Generally, the patients are satisfied with the information that is given to them regarding their treatment. This information includes various treatment options available, drugs to be used in the treatment, need for adherence to the treatment and the expected prognosis (Clever, S.L., et al., 235). The information given to the patients should be such that it helps in achieving a better outcome. In this regard, it should promote compliance and adherence to the treatment on the part of the patients. If the patients trust the level of the expertise of the medical personnel, they are satisfied with the information that they give to them. Patients’ satisfaction with the way the hospital facilitates visits by the family members and relatives:                Generally, the patients in both countries are satisfied with the schedule that the hospital has for the visits by the family members and other relatives. Family members and relatives are important to the patient because they offer emotional support that is pertinent in the recovery progress. It is clear that in Netherlands, the level of satisfaction is so high approaching 100%. This is because there are no limitations imposed on the visits by the family members to the patients. Satisfaction with the rules given:                High percentage of patients in both hospitals showed satisfaction with the rules that they are given after discharge with regard to managing their condition. These rules include the amount of exercise they should involve themselves with, the kind of diet that is consistent with their condition, how to assess their heart condition in the course of their activities and what to do in case they suspect an abnormality. Nevertheless, there is a small difference in the level of satisfaction between Netherlands and Saudi Arabia. The difference could be due to the explanations that accompany the rules given. The rules given are understood at different degrees depending on the person giving them and how they are given (Quintama, J.,M., et al., 68). It is possible that, in Netherlands, patients are given the rules and then given the reasons why they should adhere to them. In Saudi Arabia, poor communication between the patients and the medical personnel may be the cause for the massive dissatisfaction expressed by the patients. Patients’ satisfaction with the time spent with them by the doctors:                Generally, there is a higher percentage of the patients who are satisfied with the time spent with them by the doctors. However, a small percentage of patients is either neutral or dissatisfied by the amount of time and privacy accorded by the doctors. This finding reveals that the doctors are embracing the need for them to attend to the patients by giving them enough time. It is encouraging to find out that the patients are satisfied with the time that the doctors spend with them. These results show consistency with previous findings in this study. According to Priporas, C.V., et all (47), the doctor’s attitude towards the patient is very important in the psychological support of the patient. Doctors in Netherlands have more time with their patients than their counterparts in Saudi Arabia. It is necessary for the doctors to avail adequate time to the patients. This gives them an opportunity to understand the patient condition of the patient well. In a ddition, this creates a strong bond that defines doctor-patient relationship that can influence the subsequent steps in the treatment process. Patient’s satisfaction with the food and drinks provided:                The findings in this study show that the patients are generally satisfied with what the hospital provides for food and drinks in both hospitals. Admitted patients need proper diet that is consistent with the condition that they are suffering from. While they are recovering, they require proper food to help boost their body immunity. Moreover, there is need for more energy to assist in the general body recovery process. In findings in this report are encouraging as far as the patients’ care is concerned. General evaluation of the experience of the patients in the hospital:                Generally, patients rated the level of management in both hospitals highly. They indicated that the management provided was good enough to allow for proper management of myocardial infarction. The findings are encouraging. It is important for the hospital management to provide a conducive environment for the care of its patients (Kova J.A et al, 24). By so doing, the patients get satisfied with the hospital services. This should be the aim of the policy makers and other members of the management team. Significance of the Results                In Netherlands, it is clear that patients are treated well and this is because of high levels of satisfaction as depicted in the results. It is encouraging to find out that patients with myocardial infarction are being treated with urgency that is required because the condition is treated as a matter of emergency. In Saudi Arabia, much needs to be done in the hospitals. If decisions are to be formulated based on the findings, then it is disheartening to find out the high numbers of patients who are dissatisfied by the services offered. Limitations                There were several limitations during the study. Firstly, it was difficult to pin down the exact causes of dissatisfactions by the patients in Saudi Arabia. Also, it was not clear why most of the participants in the study were males. Perhaps further studies are necessary to find the answers to these two problems. It was difficult to get clarifications from the patients because most of them decided to fill the questionnaires out of the hospital and then posted them to the researchers. It is hoped that future studies will consider involving the patients using interviews so that proper clarifications can be done. The other challenge was that it was not possible to encourage with the medical personnel because of time limitation for the study. In the future, it will be paramount to base research on the level of awareness of the medical personnel regarding treatment guidelines for various diseases including myocardial infarction. The level of knowledge by the docto rs improves the patient conditions greatly. Recommendations                This report recommends that the management of KFSHRC in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia must find out how to improve their standards of service delivery for the sake of the patients. In addition, the hospital should come up with a policy that ensures patients with emergency conditions are handled with the necessary urgency. The doctors in the hospital should avail more time with the patients and give them enough attention to boost their level of satisfaction. Moreover, the patients’ emotional support requires attention. One way of doing so is having proper arrangements where the patient’s family members come to visit the patient and spend quality time with them. The UMCG in the Netherlands is doing quite well as far as patient care is concerned. This report recommends that the hospital should continue doing so. Finally, the report recommends that the time taken to handle the patients when they arrive at the hospital should be minimum possible. Delay in the treatment of myocardial infarction can have detrimental consequences. Conclusion                This study shows that patients are generally handled well in Netherlands, UMCG, and Saudi Arabia, KFSHRC. The level of satisfaction as presented in terms of percentages of the respondents is very encouraging. Patient satisfaction in the hospital is a measure of the quality of services being offered. There should be no compromise when it comes to the comfort of the patients in the hospital premises. Myocardial infarction is an emergency condition. It should be treated with urgency because time factor is the primary determinant of the prognosis of the condition. It is a condition that requires that a patient be handled very fast. Although this aspect has low satisfaction levels, generally, the patients gave both hospitals high scores to denote that they are generally satisfied by the services offered.This research adds into the existing researches in establishing the key parameters that determine patient satisfaction. References Clever, Sarah  L., Lei Jin, Wendy Levinson, and David  O. Meltzer. â€Å"Does Doctor-Patient Communication Affect Patient Satisfaction with Hospital Care? Results of an Analysis with a Novel Instrumental Variable: Does Doctor-Patient Communication Affect Patient Satisfaction with Hospital Care?† Health Services Research 42.64  (2008): 233-243. Print. Covinsky, Kenneth  E., Gary  E. Rosenthal, Mary-Margaret Chren, Amy  C. Justice, Richard  H. Fortinsky, Robert  M. Palmer, and C.  S. Landefeld. â€Å"The relation between health status changes and patient satisfaction in older hospitalized medical patients.† Journal of General Internal Medicine 54.43  (1998): 543-547. Print. Priporas, Constantinos-Vasilios, Christina Laspa, and Irene Kamenidou. â€Å"Patient satisfaction measurement for in-hospital services: A pilot study in Greece.† Journal of Medical Marketing 23.6  (2008): 46-51. Print. Quintana, Josà ©Ã‚  M., Nerea Gonzà ¡lez, Amaia Bilbao, Felipe Aizpuru, Antonio Escobar, Cristà ³bal Esteban, Josà ©Ã‚  A. San-Sebastià ¡n, Emilio De-la-Sierra, and Andrew Thompson. â€Å"Predictors of patient satisfaction with hospital health care.† BMC Health Services Research 42.12  (2006): 67-71. Print. Kovac, Julie  A., Samir  S. Patel, Rolf  A. Peterson, and Paul  L. Kimmel. â€Å"Patient satisfaction with care and behavioral compliance in end-stage renal disease patients treated with hemodialysis.† American Journal of Kidney Diseases 3.4  (2002): 23-26. Print. Man, Stefanie  D., Paul Gemmel, Peter Vlerick, Peter  V. Rijk, and Rudi Dierckx. â€Å"Patients’ and personnel’s perceptions of service quality and patient satisfaction in nuclear medicine.† European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 4.3  (2002): 32-34. Print. Source document

How I Got My Sweats Worth Out of a Content Mill

How I Got My Sweats Worth Out of a Content Mill Brace yourself. Im about to say something nice about content mills. First, the not-so-nice parts: If youve ever written for a content mill, you already know that theyre all about quantity, not quality, and management tends to be better at drawing people in than fostering morale or editorial standards. Theres a reason such places have been dubbed the sweatshops of online writing. And yet, content mills helped me leap from ferociously insecure writer to someone with a robust, independent writing career. Heres how it worked for me. My first writing job was a one-off newspaper article that eventually turned into six years of weekly columns and a book deal. Freelance gold, right? But I didnt know how successful it would be, and at the time I suffered from deep insecurity that, combined with the lack of feedback in the days before social media was a thing, left me convinced that my nascent column was a fluke. So, instead of pitching ideas to other publications, I sought refuge in the low expectations and anonymity of content mills that paid Suddenly, writing was far more lucrative than the side job Id been working. I became a full-time freelancer, even if it didnt look anything like Id imagined when, at about six years old, I started telling people that would be my career path. Encouraged Soon, I was straddling two career paths. On one side, seemingly endless access to a pool of easy money; all I had to do was endure a series of small indignities that I could escape The content mills made my choice easy Its in the content mills that I first learned the quality of my work is more important than where it runs, that theres no substitute for spending a lot of time writing (no matter the circumstances), and that having a prestigious job title like editor doesnt guarantee the person actually knows what theyre talking about. I also learned that flexibility, resiliency, and a willingness to make it work are what really make a freelance career go; and that youll be paid and treated just as poorly, or as well, as you allow. The latter may be the most important lesson of my freelance career scratch that, my life and has guided me every time I decide how to handle difficult colleagues or a challenging situation. Over the years, I have also learned that not all online content brokers follow the content mill model. Contently pays magazine rates and is a pleasure to work with. I hear that ClearVoice might pay similarly, although I havent yet had the pleasure; and E

Waters Unique Characteristics Essays

Waters Unique Characteristics Essays Waters Unique Characteristics Essay Waters Unique Characteristics Essay Essay Topic: Unique Water, with its unusual bonding to hydrogen, is an invaluable resource to the Earth, wildlife, and the environment. Due to waters hydrogen bonding, it has developed many unique characteristics that many other liquids do not possess. Some of these characteristics are the following: adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension. These three characteristics alone allow for the attachment of water to its self and to other molecules for the movement of water it self.Cohesion is the ability of water to attach to itself to move opposite the force of gravity. While adhesion is the ability of water to attach to something other than water molecules, this allows for water to move with out having to have a force behind it. Surface tension is the measure of how difficult it is to break the surface of a liquid. Water has an exceptionally high surface tension due to the fact that water molecules are intermixed with air and bonded to other water molecules beneath it; thus, causing an almost invisible shield.Other qualities that water possesses are high specific heat, evaporative cooling, and a high boiling point. A high specific heat means that it takes a longer time for one gram of water to heat up by one degree Celsius. Due to this, water will change its temperature less when it absorbs or loses heat. Evaporative cooling happens because hot molecules leave, or escape into a liquid or gaseous state, before cool ones and thus prevents overheating. Also, another important attribute of waters is its density while in solid and liquid forms. Compared to other liquids, water is less dense in its solid state than in its liquid state.This happens because when the hydrogen bonds are being frozen they bond with four other molecules at an arms length rather than closer to the hydrogen. This allows for the ice, or solid form of water, to be 10% less dense than the liquid stage. However, one of the most important benefactors of water is its universality. It can be used t o dissolve just about any substance. For this reason, solutions have been donned either hydrophobic, water fearing, or hydrophilic, water loving. In these two instances, the solution either can dissolve in water, hydrophilic, or is insoluble in water, hydrophobic.These unique characteristics allow water to be one liquid with its own abilities; however, it is what these abilities allow in nature and in the environment that make water so unique. The purpose of adhesion and cohesion basically has to deal with the watering and nurturing of plant systems. Cohesion is used to pull the water up the stems of plants to the top to nurture; on the other hand, adhesion is used to help keep the water in place even though it is being pulled down by gravity. Another example of how adhesion is used is in the vessels of human blood systems; adhesion is used to pull the blood up versus the strength of gravity.Surface tension is used to allow bugs or other animals to walk across the top of water to al low for escape or for the capture of food. Waters high specific heat allows for it to absorb a large amount of heat without changing its temperature much. This allows for in the summer months, the beaches to be cooled off and in the winter months to be heated up. This also, stabilizes ocean temperature, creating a more stable life for marine life, and it allows for temperature fluctuations on land but keeps the water within limits that permit life.Evaporative cooling of water contributes to the stability of the temperature of the lakes and ponds and also prevents animals, and other mechanisms, from over heating. Evaporative cooling also helps with plant life; it keeps the tissues in the leaves from becoming too warm in the sunlight. Moreover, waters density is a better attribute to the environment. As a solid, waters density is less than when it is a liquid this allows for only the tops of lakes, etc to become frozen rather than the bottoms. If a lake were to freeze from the bottom up, then virtually the whole Earths water system would freeze up in only a matter of time.However, because this does not happen, the frozen layer on top insulates the bottom portion of water and allows for marine life to live during the winter months rather than die. Waters universality, however, is its biggest asset. This characteristic allows water to be an easily accessible lab partner all around the world. Without water as a universal solvent, scientists would have to create a solvent that could potentially cost too much money and only allow for limited experiments. However, because water is cheap, and readily available, scientists have no problem with conducting the experiments they feel are necessary.

Beginning Of Christianity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Beginning Of Christianity - Research Paper Example ctions and ministries that the disciples themselves initiated as a means to fulfill this grand commission that they had received from Christ during his earthly ministry. Furthermore, the outpouring the Holy Spirit during Pentecost was merely a sign that the earliest beginnings of Christianity and the movement to become fishers of men had initiated as Christ noted during his earthly ministry that just such an occurrence would take place as a means to help spread the gospel message. The earliest history of the church relates how it grew from what could be described as a 1st century Jewish following to an inclusive religion that sought to engage gentiles within the ranks to the very same extent that Christ himself had focused upon the Jews within Israel. As the message was destined for all peoples, the gospel commission exhorted the disciples and fellow believers to engage with diverse peoples the world over and seek to engage them with the New Testament gospel that Christ imparted to the early church. As a function of this, the disciples spread out over various parts of the Middle East, Asia Minor, parts of Africa, and Southern Europe as a means to accomplish such an end. Although Christ spent almost all of his earthly ministry appealing to the Jewish community to accept the Savior that was sent to them, the disciples were charged with expanding upon the converts that they sought and therefore the dawn of Pentecost, the revelation of the Holy Spirit, and the ab ility to speak with different nations with the gift of tongues provided the clear break from the past that helped to define the early church and the beginnings of Christianity. Although the early apostles were themselves invariably ethnically Jewish, the great commission extended outside of the Jewish ethnicity and demanded that these apostles interact with and engage members of diverse groups outside of which they would not otherwise likely have any degree of contact. In this manner, the earliest church

Nuclear Fission Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nuclear Fission - Essay Example A uranium atom is bombarded by slow moving neutrons. Nucleus that split produce three neutrons creating a chain reaction that must be controlled. Control in a nuclear reactor is obtained by using two isotopes of Uranium and . does not split when bombarded with neutrons and thus stops the chain reaction. Graphite modulators and control rods are also used in nuclear reactors to control the nuclear fission reaction. Graphite modulators slow down the fast moving newly generated neutrons. Carbon rods are moved in and out of the reactor to absorb neutrons and control or complete stop the nuclear fission reaction. The main disadvantage in using nuclear fission reactors is the disposal and storage of nuclear waste which remain very harmful for several thousand years. The sun generates its heat energy by using nuclear fusion reactions that takes place on the sun. Even though, both nuclear fusion and fission generate energy. However, fusion is the reverse of fission. Fission is simple in relation to fusions. Fission requires lots of highly radioactive material, creating by-products with very long half-lives, whereas fusion uses only small amounts of fuel. Fusion occurs when light atomic nuclei are forced close enough together that they combine to form heavier nuclei. On the other hand fission heavy nuclei are broken downs into lighter fragments (POST 2003, p.1). Controlling fusion reactions involves the use of two light nuclei, deuterium and tritium, which are isotopes of hydrogen. Fusion takes place when the nuclei obtain enough energy to overcome their mutual repulsion, they can undergo the fusion reaction shown in the following figure: Figure 1: simple Fusion Reaction Nuclear fusion reactions involve the fusion of two nuclei to generate helium and a neutron in addition to a large amount of energy. The particles form a high density and super hot ionized gas called plasma. At high temperature the electrons escape from the nuclei producing a plasma of positive ions. To create nuclear fusion reactions on earth, the plasma must be confined to minimize heat losses from the system. Nucleogenesis: Lithium is generated in the stars by the process of nucleogensis. This process uses the most abundant elements of hydrogen and helium to generate lithium. In the sun, the nearest star, a large quantity of energy is generated when hydrogen is converted into helium by the following nuclear fusion reaction: (Woods 2006, p9) After hydrogen is used up in the sun, a new series of fusion reactions occur in which helium generates beryllium, which then reacts with helium to generate carbon, which then reacts with helium to generate oxygen, which then reacts with helium to generate neon, which then reacts with helium to generate magnesium. All of these fusion reactions generate energy in addition to the different elements that are produced as shown in the following series of reactions (Woods 2006, p9): Once helium is used up, carbon regenerates hydrogen and helium in addition to a number of other elements as demonstrated in the following fusion

Women and The Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Women and The Law - Essay Example Women and The Law One actually had mixed opinions in the article given that through the experiences of three women who opted out (Chimerine Irvin, Kuae Kelch Mattox, and Sheilah O’Donnel), some of these women turned out more advantageous for being accorded with the opportunities of finding more rewarding employment when they opted to return on the work force; despite obviously lower compensation. However, others who are not so fortunate could face greater anxieties for having to look for more productive endeavor at an age where they could in fact be discriminated on for entering the labor force at a much older age where younger, healthier and equally qualified contenders could be more than willing to accept positions at considerably lower pay. However, through the experiences that were relayed, it was commendable that those who were able to establish a network of professional colleagues while at their prime of the career, could still tap these network and resources to find rewarding opportuniti es to enter the labor force. The difference of having taken the class is that one is more cognizant of theories and their applications to contemporary settings. As such, much appreciation is taken in crucial concerns, especially those affecting women in the workforce and their abilities to sustain supporting their respective families despite the challenges of balancing work and family life.... d even facing serious consequences, especially when divorce had left women without support, without money, and without resources to support the growing needs of the children. Description of Personal Reaction to/Opinion of the Article One actually had mixed opinions in the article given that through the experiences of three women who opted out (Chimerine Irvin, Kuae Kelch Mattox, and Sheilah O’Donnel), some of these women turned out more advantageous for being accorded with the opportunities of finding more rewarding employment when they opted to return on the work force; despite obviously lower compensation. However, others who are not so fortunate could face greater anxieties for having to look for more productive endeavor at an age where they could in fact be discriminated on for entering the labor force at a much older age where younger, healthier and equally qualified contenders could be more than willing to accept positions at considerably lower pay. However, through the experiences that were relayed, it was commendable that those who were able to establish a network of professional colleagues while at their prime of the career, could still tap these network and resources to find rewarding opportunities to enter the labor force. Statement of What Difference, if any, Taking the Class Had on Reaction to the Article The difference of having taken the class is that one is more cognizant of theories and their applications to contemporary settings. As such, much appreciation is taken in crucial concerns, especially those affecting women in the workforce and their abilities to sustain supporting their respective families despite the challenges of balancing work and family life. The lessons provided ample opportunities to be apprised of how theories are applied and how,

The New Testament and Culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The New Testament and Culture - Research Paper Example Racial mix up has reduced ethnic differences as communities continue coming to a common understanding of the New Testament. Professional athletes have also been depicted as a falsely glorified group. The glorification has been portrayed as a short-lived affair that lasts as long as the professionals remain popular in the game. There after, they are forgotten. Parables in the New Testament have been illustrated as awe inspiring narratives that carry their own meaning. They are portrayed as having a significant impact on literature. Hofsted defines culture as a tool that the mind applies to guide a person’s day to day activities and interactions with others. He believes that culture is a collective aspect of a population that has occupied a particular social environment where individuals learn unique norms and also develop standards that guide their behavior. These behaviors make a distinction between cultures since all individuals in a particular culture share norms and customs (Hofstede, 65). The New Testament conflicted most of the cultural practices especially those concerned with worship. Generally, societies had their own way of worship and believed in supernatural powers that influenced their existence. For example, God was regarded as the Supreme Being and the giver of life, similar to the belief in the New Testament. However, the ways of worship changed when people could no longer speak to God and offer sacrifices in shrines. The New Testament emphasizes on new ways of worship and faith as well as adoration of people with unique talents such as those of modern athletes. Ethnic practices such as traditional dance, marriages and burial rights among other aspects of traditional lifestyles were overshadowed by the New Testament (Johnson, 112). The New Testament had a great influence on social identity of communities globally. When people belong to a certain social grouping, they develop a sense of

Using Buddhism in Todays Modern World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Using Buddhism in Todays Modern World - Essay Example Many people associate Buddhism with all sorts of things, i.e. incense, bald monks, temples, the figure of Buddha sitting with a benign smile on his face, chanting, vegetarianism, etc. I know this to be the case because these are words and images I get whenever I ask people to free-associate on the word Buddhism. One person even associated Buddhism with liquor because he had just gone the night before to a place called Buddha bar! What all these shows are instances of an average person on the street having all sorts of preconceptions about Buddhism. Even those who have read little about it have all sorts of misconceptions about it, thinking that Buddhism is pessimistic for emphasizing on suffering, or that Buddhism is a religion that regards the Buddha as a god. What I want to do in this paper is to go beyond the rituals and external trappings of Buddhism in order to touch the deeper core of the teachings. This will help me understand how Buddhism could help us cope with life’s struggles in today’s modern world. At the heart of Buddhism is The Four Noble Truths (Hanh 9). This is the very foundation of Buddhist teachings, which differentiate it from other religions. These teachings say that (1) human existence is characterized by suffering, (2) that there is a cause for suffering, (3) that there is a way out of suffering through the elimination of its cause, and (4) that there is a path leading to the cessation of suffering (Hanh 9-11). In most Buddhist texts, it is said that the cause of suffering is trishna or craving (Bercholz and Kohn 64). We suffer because we have too many wants and needs. We own a cell phone but soon grow dissatisfied with it as soon as a new model comes along; we own a car but soon get dissatisfied with it because we desire a better, faster or more luxurious model; we have a perfectly good relationship with someone but then look for someone else because we want something new and more exciting. All these desires inevitably lea d to suffering because we cannot possibly fulfill them all. In the end, we get utterly frustrated. Actually, if we think about it hard enough, there are many causes of suffering, since there are many types of suffering. The suffering that results from viral infection that makes you sick is not due to desire but to the presence of a virus that has infected you. Some other forms of suffering that do not have desire as their root cause would be a headache, a toothache, a broken limb, and various other physical pains. These forms of suffering, which are all physical, are to be distinguished from other forms of suffering which are mental. Examples of mental suffering would be depression, worry, jealousy, regret, anxiety, etc. Between the two general forms of suffering, it is the mental type of suffering that the Buddhism tries to address because they believe that this is the more serious type of suffering. When you are sick with a fever, you can make yourself feel better by changing your attitude about your sickness to a rather positive light. However, if you are suffering from some sort of mental anguish, it does not quite help if you work on the body. In fact, people do not commit suicide because of a toothache, but there are those who would commit suicide because of a heartache. The Role of The Mind What we need to understand at this point is that the mind plays a very big role in human suffering. We need to understand this very clearly if we want to get a glimpse of the heart of Buddhist teachings. Here, we emphasize on the importance of one’s attitude or state of mind with regards to the experience of happiness and suffering (Smith 245). If we think about it close enough, we should also come to the conclusion that our state of mind also affects other people’s happiness or suffering. Here is an example to illustrate this point. Suppose you have just received word that the backpack which you lost in school was finally found with everything intact.

Discussion Board 10 - Chapter 13 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion Board 10 - Chapter 13 - Essay Example I am able to resolve these conflicts because I use my leadership abilities in order to make them listen to each other and meet halfway whenever possible. I let them know that I respect everyones opinion and that I am empathic to their reasons. However, as I listen to their arguments, I make sure to take note relating to what I think will work for us and what will not. At the end of the bickering, I let them know that they actually have some common ground to work on that is sure to benefit the group and result in the outcome that we all expect to have for our project. Normally, after I ask them to reconcile their expectations based upon their common ground, the group members manage to see each others point of view quite differently from when they were talking at each other rather talking to each other. This results in a more cohesive group that can work together towards the completion of a common

The New Testament and Culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The New Testament and Culture - Research Paper Example Racial mix up has reduced ethnic differences as communities continue coming to a common understanding of the New Testament. Professional athletes have also been depicted as a falsely glorified group. The glorification has been portrayed as a short-lived affair that lasts as long as the professionals remain popular in the game. There after, they are forgotten. Parables in the New Testament have been illustrated as awe inspiring narratives that carry their own meaning. They are portrayed as having a significant impact on literature. Hofsted defines culture as a tool that the mind applies to guide a person’s day to day activities and interactions with others. He believes that culture is a collective aspect of a population that has occupied a particular social environment where individuals learn unique norms and also develop standards that guide their behavior. These behaviors make a distinction between cultures since all individuals in a particular culture share norms and customs (Hofstede, 65). The New Testament conflicted most of the cultural practices especially those concerned with worship. Generally, societies had their own way of worship and believed in supernatural powers that influenced their existence. For example, God was regarded as the Supreme Being and the giver of life, similar to the belief in the New Testament. However, the ways of worship changed when people could no longer speak to God and offer sacrifices in shrines. The New Testament emphasizes on new ways of worship and faith as well as adoration of people with unique talents such as those of modern athletes. Ethnic practices such as traditional dance, marriages and burial rights among other aspects of traditional lifestyles were overshadowed by the New Testament (Johnson, 112). The New Testament had a great influence on social identity of communities globally. When people belong to a certain social grouping, they develop a sense of

Discussion Board 10 - Chapter 13 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion Board 10 - Chapter 13 - Essay Example I am able to resolve these conflicts because I use my leadership abilities in order to make them listen to each other and meet halfway whenever possible. I let them know that I respect everyones opinion and that I am empathic to their reasons. However, as I listen to their arguments, I make sure to take note relating to what I think will work for us and what will not. At the end of the bickering, I let them know that they actually have some common ground to work on that is sure to benefit the group and result in the outcome that we all expect to have for our project. Normally, after I ask them to reconcile their expectations based upon their common ground, the group members manage to see each others point of view quite differently from when they were talking at each other rather talking to each other. This results in a more cohesive group that can work together towards the completion of a common

Socioeconomic and political environments Essay Example for Free

Socioeconomic and political environments Essay After the Civil War, Washington returned to the family business, assisting in completing two more suspension bridges across the Ohio River (Invention Factory 2007). During this time Washington’s father, John, became interested in building a bridge across the East River. New York legislators finally realized the need for a route over the East River and passed a bill for some sort of construction. The largest restriction that the plans for the structure had to abide by was its height over the river, which was set to avoid contact with masts of ships that passes under it. This idea of a bridge was nothing new. For 60 years, different ways of linking Brooklyn and New York had been considered (Trachtenberg 1965). Soon, the city of New York set up the first ferries from Manhattan to Brooklyn in 1812 but more versatile transit was needed. The Brooklyn Bridge was erected out of economic necessity and urban sprawl (Brooke and Davidson 2006). New York City was a huge immigration hub. In the mid-1800’s, men and women began to emigrate from Europe and many settled in Brooklyn. As a result, many lived in boarding houses. Brooklyn at this time consisted mainly of Irish immigrants. Immigrants were paid very poorly considered the work they performed as it was always the most demanding and risky. From 1860 to 1870, Brooklyn’s population growth was 50 percent; the fastest growing city at the time (Trachtenberg 1965). Manhattan was the opposite of Brooklyn, in that it was primarily a business district in the mid 1800’s. Approximately 40 percent of wager earners in Brooklyn had jobs in Manhattan. The northeastern coast was a major hub for imports and manufacturing goods after the Erie Canal was built. At the time the only way to get from Manhattan to Brooklyn was by fairy which was often slow and hampered by storms. Taking the ferries tended to be very dangerous. Plans for a either a bridge or a tunnel over the East River were interrupted by the Civil War. Bridges were thought to be impossible as no materials where known to be strong enough to support the needed span. Part of the problem was that the bridge needed to be high above the channel to allow masted ships to pass beneath it, even at high tide. These details had proved insurmountable until then. A fleet of ferries shuttled people and goods across the river every day. John Roebling, with his wire rope business and history of successful suspension bridges, had a viable solution (Invention Factory 2007). The Brooklyn Bridge would use steel in its cables. Good wrought iron breaks at 30 tons where good steel of the same size breaks at 75 tons (2. 5 times stronger) (Hart 1967). While it was not trusted at the time because of its newness, the Roeblings’ had faith in its strength. At the time, suspension bridges were viewed with suspicion. Many had failed in storms or under live loads; however, none of the bridges John had built had ever failed. One of the reasons he had succeeded was that he made them very stiff, preventing flexing from wind that would plague other suspension bridge builders into the next century and most famously in the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940, more than 70 years after John. After due debate, the Brooklyn Bridge Company was formed with John Roebling as chief engineer (Invention Factory 2007). One thing that the times lent to the project was a good source of cheap labor. Poor immigrants, mainly Irish, were the ones who worked the most on the bridge. They also took the brunt of the casualties. Approximately 20-30 people died during construction and administration viewed it as necessary and unavoidable. Labor was very manual and at the time workers had very little power in politics. The Irish workers did not enjoy the choice of date, as it coincided with the Queen’s birthday. Technological Context Construction Details In December 1849, an accident mangled Roebling’s father’s left hand while undergoing testing on the innovative wire rope machinery. This new technology would set this bridge far ahead of its time, utilizing a braded configuration allowing flexibility and easier handling (Trachtenberg 1965). The Brooklyn Bridge would use steel in its cables. Good wrought iron breaks at 30 tons where good steel of the same size breaks at 75 tons (2. 5 times stronger) (Hart 1967). While steel was not trusted at the time because of its newness, the Roeblings’ had faith in its strength. At the time, steel or no steel, suspension bridges were viewed with suspicion. Many had failed in storms or under live loads; however, none of the bridges John had built had ever failed. One of the reasons he had succeeded was that he made them very stiff, preventing flexing from wind that would plague other suspension bridge builders into the next century and most famously in the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940, more than 70 years after John’s lifetime. Construction was very hazardous at that time, even for chief engineers. At the start of the project, the Brooklyn Bridge Company lost a crucial member. A ferryboat crushed John Roebling’s foot when he was on site. After having his toes amputated, during which he declined anesthetic, an infection set in and killed him (ENDEX Engineering 2007). Surprisingly there was little debate over who should succeed him. Washington Roebling was already deeply involved with the project so he was appointed successor (Invention Factory 2007). In 1872 disaster struck again. Washington himself was down in the caissons more than any one else. He was suddenly struck with what was called caisson sickness, and is what is modernly called the bends (Invention Factory 2007). This disease was not understood at the time and results from prolonged exposure to high pressures and then sudden decompression, allowing nitrogen bubbles to form in blood and possibly clog them. Washington was not the first to fall ill from the bends, in fact, people had already died of it but work proceeded on. After coming back even though clearly sick, Washington was bedridden, crippled for the remainder of the project. He was only able to stand for 10 minutes at a time when the bridge opened in 1883 (Smithsonian Associates 2004). Washington remained head engineer giving orders from his bed but the person most visible to visitors at the project was his wife, Emily. She knew just as much about the project as Washington. When a board of enquiry was put together to try to oust the bedridden head engineer she removed sufficient doubt from its members for Roebling to stay (Smithsonian Associates 2004). To say she was the head engineer would only be a very slight exaggeration. The towers that supported the span were made out of limestone, granite and concrete. Newly found techniques for making steel made it a cheap, strong metal for the suspension cables (Hart 1967). The first order of business was to sink the two giant caissons into the riverbed to support the towers (Figure 1). These were made of 12 x 12 yellow pine beams and weighed by themselves 3000 tons, having 15 foot thick roofs to keep the excavators from getting crushed by the eventually 80,000 tons of rock piled on top to make up the Towers. John found a new way to devise a foundation. The caissons were floated into place and then sunk into position, driven downward by the towers on top and crews underneath removing the actual riverbed (ENDEX Engineering 2007). Once they reached solid ground the caissons would be pumped full of grout and serve as a perfect foundation. They were undoubtedly the most tedious and difficult part of the bridge construction. Excavation methods consisted of shovel, pick, wheelbarrow, steel bar stone breakers, winches, and ten ton hydraulic jacks, eventually blasting after Washington Roebling conducted a series of experiments in the caisson. Initial rate of caisson excavation and lowering produced 6 inches per week, with a workforce of 360 people constructing the bridge (Trachtenberg 1965). Compressed air was used in the caissons to keep the water out, and the deeper they got (78 feet on the New York side, 45 feet on the Brooklyn side) the higher the pressure needed (ENDEX Engineering 2007). This was dangerous in more way than one. Fires could be catastrophic, and occasionally there would be a blowout that subsequently would allow water back in. The largest of these air releases blew rocks and mud 500 feet into the air in 1870. Fires, from using dynamite, were the worst however. One was found smoldering in the 15 feet of wood under the Brooklyn Caisson, fed by compressed air (ENDEX Engineering 2007). Eventually some timbers were replaced and the rest of the holes were pumped full of grout. The New York caisson was stopped after 78 feet not because it had reached rock but because conditions had become intolerable. As a result, to this day it rests on sand; surprisingly stable (ENDEX Engineering 2007). The Brooklyn and New York Towers were completed in 1875 and 1876 respectively (ENDEX Engineering 2007). The cables were strung after the completion of the towers. Perhaps the greatest calamity struck in the middle of this. A cable snapped, killing two men, and it was found to be very substandard (ENDEX Engineering 2007). Incidentally, the contractor who supplied the steel cable was not John Roebling’s Sons Co, which at the time was owned exclusively by Washington’s brothers. The cables were flawed. Eventually, the wire in all the cables, including 1520 suspenders and 400 diagonal stays, was approximately 3600 miles long (ENDEX Engineering 2007). Personal Characteristics Washington fought in the civil war both on the ground as a military observer from hot air balloons. Washington served at Gettysburg with distinction on Little Round Top and was at the siege of Richmond (Invention Factory 2007). He became very noble and selfless, though cocky at times, during the Civil War. Perhaps the most important part of his war career, however, was that he met his wife to be, Emily Warren, because he served under her brother, General G.K. Warren (ENDEX Engineering 2007). He ended the war at the rank of a Colonel. After the war he helped his father build the Cincinnati-Covington Bridge (now called John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge) before the Brooklyn Bridge. Despite many the huge hurdles of the Brooklyn Bridge project, among which was the fact that Washington became horribly sick and bedridden for most of the actual building from decompression sickness when the huge caissons for the twin towers were sunk in the Hudson riverbed (hence the traditional term ‘caisson sickness’), he managed to oversee all stages of its construction. He did this only with the help of his wife Emily Warren Roebling, who almost every day visited the site and reported to him and who some felt built the bridge herself (The Great Engineers, 1967). The Brooklyn Bridge was opened May 24th 1883 by the president of the United States U. S. Grant, to fireworks and one cent ticket passes to cross. Apparently it was a great relief to Washington Roebling as his health began to slowly improve. After the completing this engineering marvel in 1883, Washington lived a relatively quiet life, mostly as a result of being still partially crippled from his illness, and when his wife died in 1903 he remarried in 1908. He spent much of his time collecting minerals, which was his one great hobby, eventually having 16,000 specimens and ending up in the Museum of Natural History’s mineral and gem collection (Smithsonian Associates 2004). This hobby added balance to his life and probably kept him from accomplishing very much else as it took so much of his time. He outlived his wife Emily and remarried. He became president of his fathers company, John Roebling’s Sons, in 1921 at the age of 79. He brought incredible energy to the position, modernizing the factory with electricity and adding a galvanized wire section. The business prospered under his leadership until 1926, when Washington Roebling died. When one has hobbies such as athletics help keeps a healthy time management of school work and fun down time. College is one of the few times were one can have fun. There is a time and place to enjoy your hobbies but to enjoy these hobbies one must put in an honest day’s work. Conclusion When the Brooklyn Bridge opened to traffic on May 24th 1883, it was one of the grandest engineering marvels of that century in North America. The construction was composed of many firsts. Despite innumerable setbacks, including the untimely death of the original designer of the plan, John A. Roebling, and the crippling of his son, Washington Roebling, who succeeded him in the chief engineer duties it, was finished in 14 years, having been commenced January 2, 1870. At the time of completion it was 50% longer than any other suspension bridge, it was the first to use steel cables, much stronger than hemp or cast iron previously used. The towers that supported the four main cables (each of which supports a total dead live load of about 6 million pounds) for the span were the largest stone and masonry objects of their kind rising approximately 276 feet above the high water mark (Smithsonian Associates 2004). The challenges of this are hard to fathom in today’s world of reinforced concrete. Appendices Figure 1. Sinking the Caisson into the Riverbed Table 2: Brooklyn Bridge Innovations   1st suspension bridge to use steel 1st suspension bridge to twist the wire†¢ 1st bridge to use pneumatic caissons 1st to use dynamite in bridge construction   1st female field engineer   Longest bridge constructed   Tallest structure in the western hemisphere   Considered to be the â€Å"8th Wonder of the World†. Bibliography â€Å"Biography – Invention Factory 2007. † The Smithsonian Associates Civil War E-Mail Newsletter, Vol 3, No 9. Smithsonian Associates 2004. http://civilwarstudies. org/articles/Vol_3/roebling. htm Brooke and Davidson 2006, Kathleen L. , and Frank P. Davidson. Building the World. Vol. 1. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood P, 2006. 240. Brooklyn Bridge: Facts, History, and Information. ENDEX Engineering, Inc. 5 May 1998. 29 Mar. 2007 http://www. endex. com/gf/buildings/bbridge/bbridgefacts. htm. Hart 1967, Ivor B. The Great Engineers. Freeport, N. Y. : Books for Libraries P, 1967. Trachtenberg, Alan. Brooklyn Bridge: Fact and Symbol. New York, New York: Oxford UP, 1965. 11. Invention Factory 2007. John a. Reoblings Sons Co. 28 Mar. 2007 http://www. inventionfactory. com/history/RHAgen/warbio. html. Wikipedia Update: April 1, 2007 at 8:13 p. m. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Washington_Roebling.