The various characters in Of mice and men. Essay Example for Free

The various characters in Of mice and men. Essay Discuss the importance of dreams of the various characters in Of mice and men. Do any of these characters have a realistic opportunity to realise their dreams? Of mice and men is a novel written by John Steinbeck set in the 1930s. John Steinbeck was born on the 27th February 1902 in Salinas, California. Of mice and men mainly focuses on loneliness and isolation. I will have to consider the importance of dreams of various characters in Of mice and men and do they have a realistic opportunity to realise their dream. Many of the characters have dreams in this novel, big dreams, wild dreams all sorts of dreams but I am only going to talk about the following characters: George and Lennie, Curleys wife, and Candy. George and Lennie share a dream of settling in a farm house and looking after animals and doing what any other people would do. During the story their dream is also shared by candy known as the swamper. I think that if Lennie and George didnt have a dream, they wouldnt have had the enjoyable time in their lives that they had even though Lennie was a big problem to George. If they never shared the same dream, I think that George would have left Lennie when the first time Lennie caused a problem. But one reason that George continued to stay with Lennie is because George knew that Lennie on his own would get into trouble and eventually die. George also knows that if he leaves Lennie, he is going to become a lost and a awful person, George says I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. After along time they get mean. They get wantin to fight all the time. From this we know that George wouldnt want to leave Lennie because what could happen to him, he is scared of the bad things that could happen to him so he needs to have a companion, and that is one way to achieve the goal of their dream. Basically George realises from the beginning that their dream could come true, because from the point when George, Lennie and Candy decided how they can collect the money and then they are sorted, but there is a problem, it is Lennie, Lennie doesnt understand anything due to his mental immaturity and therefore he acts like a child. George is scared that Lennie will do something wrong, something that will ruin their dream to become a success. One thing that is interrupting Lennie from doing well is Curleys wife. At the end of the story, George, Lennie, and Candys dream is destroyed by Lennie because of his immaturity and thoughtlessness. With his own mind Lennie took the wrong path, by talking to Curleys wife and that ended up into a death and a ruined dream that will never come true. It was not her fault because she is already isolated by the other workers and obviously she would want to talk to someone. We know hat the dream is ruined. After her death is discovered by candy he tells George about it and when George goes to tell the other workers candy is left alone with Curleys wife, he says to the dead lady you god damn tramp,you done it, dint you? I spose youre glad. Everybody knowed youd mess things up. You wasnt no good. You aint no good now.you lousy tart. Candy lets out all his anger and says all these bad things to her even though she wasnt the person the ruined their dream, she was the means of their dream to be ruined. After letting all his anger out candy states I could of hoed in the garden and washed dishes for them guys, this is one major speech that indicates us that their dream is truly finished. Curleys wife has a big dream of becoming an movie star with a life of luxury. She is one of the main characters that suffers loneliness and isolation, her big dream is to go to Hollywood and become and actress, nevertheless her mother may have had stopped her from going and realising her dream to become an actress. Her dream is one big source that keeps her occupied at all times, and that is why she is still with Curley. She misleads herself and then could of never gone to Hollywood, she says could of went with shows. Her vision is to be famous, eye-catching, recognised and well known, I think she has a dream to keep her away from isolation and loneliness. The marriage between Curley and his wife, kept her realising and questioning her dream. If Curleys wife admitted to herself that she is a failure and hadnt an ounce of acting in her, she wouldnt of been able to hold her marriage with Curley any more because she always dreams that she will be an actor some day that it goes to an extent that it become a part of her normal character. When Lennie kills her, her dream is put to an end. Candy is one of the workers that was made a permanent residence on the ranch. Candy is known as the old swamper. He himself knows himself that he will be getting kicked out soon. I think that he knows that George and Lennie are good people so he wants to really share the same dream with them, this is because of his old age and I think that candy feels isolated because of his age difference from the other workers. He realises that their dream can come true if only Lennie doesnt do anything dumb which he does and destroys their dream.

Frankenstein and Darkness by Lord Byron

Frankenstein and Darkness by Lord Byron The Romantic period is probably one of the most significant periods of change in literature. It is during this period that a lot of high quality works were produced be it in literature, art or music. Apart from being rich in poetry the period can be seen as an exaltation of the imagination. This was replacing the rational thought which had overcome Europe at the time. The Romantics also saw themselves as prophets and used their works to prophesise about the future of mankind. Due to this it is interesting to investigate whether these prophesies of the future of mankind have actually come true. The essay will look at how exactly the two romantic writers of Frankenstein (Mary Shelley) and the poem Darkness (Lord Byron) and what these two writers prophesised in their works. Also in the end see whether what the writers are trying to portray in their texts can be applied to modern day. References to other romantic works by William Wordsworth and William Blake also aid in this investigation. The essay reaches a conclusion that the various themes displayed in the texts can be applied to modern day and do serve as a warning as most of which these writers feared would happen to mankind is actually taking place to this day. As a final point, that indeed their warnings are justified. Introduction Throughout the ages it can be observed that they were a lot of periods of change that happened throughout the history of literature. These include the Victorian era. One of the most influential periods of change happens to be the Romantic era. The word suggests that this era was based on peoples appreciation of love and romance. All the same, though love was a common theme during works of the time the Romantic of era was in actual fact a movement in the creativity of artists and writers of the time. This movement was not just a shift in the mind sets of those involved with literature but it also involved art and music. The movement began in the late 1700s in Western Europe and continued towards the mid 1800s. In the 1700s there were a lot of advancements being made by the European people including advancements in science and social changes such as the Industrial Revolution. Majority of these changes were brought forth by the Age of Enlightenment that went through the 18th century which saw the awakening of scientific thought, the overthrowing of the conquering religious knowledge and the change in European philosophy as a means of finding reason in the world. It also saw the beginning of the Industrial Revolution which took over Europe during the 18th century. The Romantic era was basically a rebellion against the scientific and rational thought that gripped Europe during the previous age of enlightenment. This rebellion saw the shift from rational thought to more concentration on emotions, passion for life and nature. Other important themes of the Romantic era were nationalism, freedom and liberty. These themes formed the ideals of most Romantics and they displayed them through all their works. Romantics also concerned themselves with using their works as a means of displaying human society and its link with nature often spoke of the future of mankind. They saw themselves as prophets of the future and used heir works as warnings of the future. One of the most influential works of literature written at the time is the poem Darkness by Lord Byron. The poem was written in 1816 in the midst of very strange events which people thought at the time were signs of the apocalypse. That year was known as the year without a summer due to darkness which had over shadowed the land which originated from the volcanic ash cloud of the eruption of Mount Tambora a volcano situated in Indonesia the previous year. Unfortunately the people in Geneva did not know this and went into a panic believing the apocalypse was near. The chaos and activity of the time were the inspiration behind Byrons poem. In addition he wrote his poem as a means of writing about the calamity which will take over mankind if immoral behaviour is continued. Another important work is Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Mary Shelley was the wife of another famous poet by the name of Percy Shelley. The book was written while on a visit to the Swiss Alps with Percy at the Lord Byrons home. Here due to the unseasonal rain they had to remain indoors and entertained themselves with ghost stories. Due to the urging of the Lord himself a competition was set to see who would write the creepiest story and Mary took the prize through the writing of her book Frankenstein; Or The Modern Prometheus which is the full name. The book is based on the story of a young ambitious scientist who sets out to create life but ends up creating a monster. This book is a metaphor for what would become of mankind if they continue to tamper with nature. The theme of nature and its destruction is a common theme in a lot of Romantic works. In this paper the manner in which these two writers warn the reader of the misfortune that will take over mankind by looking at various themes and methods the authors use to expose them. Also reference will be made to other works of the Romantic period to show the similarities and differences of the works. Chapter 1: The Theme of Nature in the Works The theme of nature was very prominent in many Romantic works. It was believed that nature possesses an ability to revitalize the mind and help man escape from the constraints of civilisation. The root of these beliefs also come from the fact that the Romantic period arose from the time when Europe was undergoing the Industrial Revolution which saw the destruction of forests and beautiful scenery to make space for factories and mills for industrial purposes. According to them, nature was viewed as a sublime Godly creation which was to be appreciated and not destroyed. This is portrayed through the setting of the texts and the many creative ways the writers made lucid descriptions of nature. In Frankenstein, Shelley uses elaborate description of the scenery to display this. Looking at the first letter from Richard Walton, he describes sensations he feels as he walks through the streets of St Petersburg, I feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which braces my nerves and fills me with delight. The beauty of the environment around him inspires him to continue his voyage to the north pole and increases his excitement about the beauty of the north pole which is he is so eager to see. Throughout the novel it can be noted how nature uplifts and provides some healing for both the monster and Victor Frankenstein. Another famous work is the poem Daffodils also known by the title I wondered lonely as a cloud by William Wordsworth, a celebrated Romantic poet. Wordsworth wrote this poem after taking a walk with his sister admiring the daffodils in the fields surrounding him. Similar to Mary Shelley, he paints an ostentatious image of the beauty of the flowers their ability to invite him to enjoy them through use of language. He describes the flowers as fluttering and dancing as if to say the movements of the flowers are as gentle as the fluttering of butterflies and birds in the breeze and their motions graceful as if they were dancing. The use of imagery was also very important tool for the Romantics to exhibit their message and aid the reader in appreciating the beauty of nature they often portray. There, Margaret, the sun is for ever visible; its broad disk skirting the horizon and diffusing a perpetual splendourà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Here, Walton describes in his first letter to his sister Margaret, how the sun spreads over the horizon at the North Pole. The words perpetual splendour further enhance the beauty of the region. In Daffodils, Wordsworth also refers to the power of nature to enlighten his heart from sadness, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦For oft, when on my couch I lie/ In vacant or in pensive mood,/They flash upon that inward eye/Which is the bliss of solitude;/And then my heart with pleasure fills,/And dances with the daffodils. The words vacant and solitude describe his empty state of mind. The daffodils flash appear brightly within his inward eye which is his imagination filling his heart with pleasure. These are all demonstrations of the power nature has over the individual as portrayed by the Romantic writers. Chapter 2: The Consequences of the Pursuit of Knowledge One of the major themes in Frankenstein is the pursuit of knowledge and its consequences. The prior to the Romantic period was the Age of Enlightenment which saw a rise of rationalism and continuous significant scientific advancements. These concerned Mary Shelley and other Romantic writers. The concern was they saw this rationalist movement as man trying to meddle with the laws of nature. This is the foundation of the character of Victor Frankenstein. At the age of 17, Frankenstein goes off to university where he meets many intellectuals and wise professors who inspire him to pursue natural science. Sadly, this inspiration eventually turns into an obsession. I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation. From this we see how Frankenstein aspires to achieve greater accomplishments than philosophers before him. He also aims to overcome nature. This means he aims to overcome God himself for God be the creator of nature. Due to this obsession, he sacrifices all his time, energy and health to create life, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦with unrelaxed and breathless eagerness, I pursued nature to her hiding places. It was on a dreary night of November, that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. This opening line of Chapter Five sets a dark, depressing, and cold scene which gives a feeling of foreboding as a means of warning of events to come. Words such as anxiety, agony depict the depressing scene of the coming to life of the monster. Shocked at the hideousness of his creation he laments, How can I describe my emotions at this catastropheà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ as a part of reinforcing his shock there is a use of exclamation marks as he says, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Beautiful! Great God! This is ironic, in that Frankenstein had sought to create life as a means of being able to uncover nature and certifying himself to be greater than God. Ironically, he calls upon God upon his failure though he never mentions God before. The monster is described to have yellow skin, lustrous black hair and pearly white teeth which form a horrid contrast with his watery eyes, dun white sockets his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips. This image painted of the monster depicts how he was created to have beautiful features yet upon his awakening, they come together to form a hideous being. The eyes in their sockets also give a sense of sadness within the monster. The monster is therefore an unnatural being with human features. Unable to bare the being he had created he runs of to his room. He begins to develop fever like symptoms. He recalls the monster as, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the wretch the miserable monster I had created. The use of the word I demonstrates his selfishness and how he does not even consider how the monster feels. The fact that he does not give the monster a name and refers to it as the creature or the wretch, demonstrates his disappointment and dislike for that which he has created. Through these different devices Mary Shelley allows the reader to visualise the scene and have a share in the experiences of the characters. Nonetheless, it may be possible that the monster is a metaphor for scientific creations created with the intention of beauty going horribly wrong. This can be paralleled to the pursuit of knowledge and how it can have dire consequences for in the story it can be seen that the monster brings death and destruction. Chapter 3: The Consequences of the Immorality of Mankind The poem Darkness, creates grisly apocalyptic images of the earth and mankind at their demise. The opening line of the poem Darkness by Lord Byron along with the title of the poem already prepares the reader of the grim mood displayed in the poem. I had a dream, which was not at all a dream. Here the narrator of the poem describes having an experience similar to a dream which but turns out to be more of a nightmare not in his mind but in reality. Basically, Byron speaks as though he had a premonition of the grave future ahead for mankind. This opening just as the opening of chapter five of Frankenstein, It was on a dreary night of Novemberà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ is foreboding and gives a sense of grief and impending doom. The inspiration behind this poem was not only due to the very strange events of the time which made people believe in the coming of the apocalypse but also immoral acts of mankind. The Industrial Revolution had also provoked a lot of social unrest. Countless underprivileged European citizens moved from their rural countryside homes to work in factories. They worked under very harsh conditions and were paid vey low wages. This exploitation was all in the name of greed and the pursuit of wealth and prosperity in the advancing European societies. These inhumane acts in the name of gaining wealth and gaining status were part of the inspiration behind another famous Romantic works. One such work is Jerusalem by William Blake which was inspired by the writers condemnation of the products of the Industrial Revolution. Written in 1804 Jerusalem later became a patriotic hymn during the First World War and is used as a national anthem for England at certain sporting events. This piece speaks of England being a special land and a possible candidate for the building of a New Jerusalem given the possibility that Jesus Christ visited the land as a boy. In essence, the poem Jerusalem gives hope to the society where as lord Byrons poem speaks of death and destruction giving no sign of optimism of a brighter future. The poem has no obvious structure. It is an 82 lined poem of free verse. It is not divided into any stanzas and is therefore continuous but there is a large use of punctuation marks to break this continuality. This is very evident through lines 78 and 79. The waves were dead; the tides were in their grave, /The moon, their mistress, had expird before; These repetitive breaks portray the disturbance of he natural flow of nature and life during this catastrophe hitting the world. They also help vary the tone and speed of the poem. At the beginning it is slow and calm displaying the gloom of the world, then fast and chaotic and finally slow and calm again to portray the doom taking over the earth. Nature is also at a standstill and seemingly dead as the lightless world. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The winds were witherd in the stagnant air/ And the clouds perishdà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and The rivers, lakes and ocean all stood still/ And nothing stirrd within their silent depths. It seems nature too has died due to the disappearance of light. Byron uses a lot of interesting words to expose the pure gloom and doom he experiences in the events of the poem. The poem itself is centred on the disappearance of light from the earth. Words which accentuate this theme are, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦swung blindà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ blackened dull gloomà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ In addition, the light is described as despairing. In other words, it is as if it is non existent. Fear is also exposed as he talks of how it has overcome the people and how even the toughest of animals were tame and tremulous. Onomatopoeic words such as shrieked, gnashed, howled, hissing, describe the sounds. The fact that there are a lot of sounds creates a certain degree of chaos. Furthermore, the sound of the forests crackling as people try to make fire to light up shows the desperation. The main image in this piece is that of mankind turning into beasts due to the desperation to find light. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the wildest brutes/ Came tame and tremulousà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The more frightening creatures are also consumed by fear to the point that they began to pose no danger and instead the humans became the monstrous ones. Images used to enhance this are, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦vipers crawldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Hissing, but stinglessthey were slain for foodà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The vipers which were now harmless were being slain. The word slain puts an emphasis on the cruelty now consuming the humans. The images used in Darkness can also be linked to apocalyptic images used in the bible. Matthew 24:29 reads, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. This is similar to Byrons imagery of, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The bright sun was extinguishd, and the stars/ Did wander darkling in the eternal space, Rayless, and pathless, and the icy earth/ Swung blind and blackening in the moonless air. In the desolation and men becoming beasts Byron adds, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦there was no love leftà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ which can be a reference to Matthew 24:19, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. The disturbance in the peace is enhanced when the writer states, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦And War, which for a moment was no more/ Did glut himself again: a meal was bought/ With bloodà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This demonstrates that war had arisen again with man fighting and killing each other just for food. This can be compared to the war referred to in Jerusalem by William Blake. Firstly, a sense of evil of the unjust is also displayed in Wordsworths poem. The dark satanic mills the poet describes are a reference to the mills and factories built during the Industrial Revolution causing all the social unrest which he protested against. The word satanic fully highlights how Blake views the mills as sinister due to the unjust manner in which workers were being treated. In the 3rd stanza he speaks of gathering up arms in order to fight against the evil brought forth by the mills. On the other hand, it turns out the war he refers to is more of a mental fight for he says, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I will not cease from mental fight, / Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand/ Till we have built Jerusalem/ In Englands green and pleasant land. In effect, Jerusalem is a tool in restoring peace and tranquillity in England. The poem itself is more of a call to the English people to rally against the iniquitous acts done to them due to Industrial Revolution. It also gives a sense of hopefulness that freedom and harmony can be restored to the human race. In contrast, Lord Byrons poem does not speak of hope that in the end light which is seen from the last line, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Darkness had no need/ Of aid from themShe was the Universe. This line is as if to say nothing can save the human race from the cruel end they have subdued themselves onto by their immoral acts. Darkness is finally personified and the fact tat it is compared to the universe shows the vast degree to which darkness has taken over the world. Chapter 5: The Symbols of Light and Fire in the Two Texts Symbolism is a very important literary tool used to convey different messages and present ideas and emotions to the reader. The most important symbol in the texts is the symbol of light. In Frankenstein light symbolises knowledge and discovery. This is first illustrated when Richard Walton asks, What could not be expected in the country of eternal light? Walton is clearly vey optimistic about reaching the north pole and looks forward to the enlightenment which will be brought forth by the voyage. The light is a positive object both Walter and Frankenstein try to reach in the hopes of gaining knowledge and enlightenment. Lord Byron uses light to represent life and the balance between nature and the human race. It also represents morality and discretion of man. The disappearance of light means, firstly, the loss of morality of people, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ men forgot their passions in the dread/ Of this their desolationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Secondly, a break in the balance with men turning into beasts and beasts becoming tame. The end result is chaos, gloom and the destruction of nature. This is what the darkness represents in the poem; consequences of mans loss of morality. Likewise, the scene set for the opening of Chapter five of Shelleys book is dull and cold taking place under half-extinguished light giving a foreboding effect of the consequences of Frankensteins work. Fire is a more dangerous version of light which can be created by man. Although fire provides light it also burns and causes pain as discovered by the monster while he was by himself in the forest in Chapter 11. How strange, I thought that the same cause should produce such opposite effects. Normally, to create a fire there must be a spark. Frankenstein collects his materials and then infuses à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦a spark of being into the lifeless thingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This spark could symbolise the starting of a dangerous fire. In Darkness, the disappearance of light causes the world to become void/à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ a lumpà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ in other words, an empty place. This results in people becoming desperate for light and they try to create their own light, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The habitations of all things which dwell/ Were burnt for beaconsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Forests were set on fire. The desperation only causes more destruction as they destroy nature by setting it to fire all in the search of light. The symbol is further enhanced through the full name of Mary Shelleys Book which happens to be, Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus. In context, the Greek God Prometheus was assigned by Zeus, the god of the sky and the king of the Greek gods, to form man out of water and Earth. However, against the orders of Zeus, he gives man the knowledge of fire. He was then severely punished for this deed and defying Zeus by being tied to a stake where everyday an eagle came to eat his liver. Victor Frankenstein can be compared to Prometheus, as his attempt to acquire more knowledge for himself and mankind only brought dire consequences resulting in the deaths of the ones he loved. Though he did not give fire to humanity he gave the gift of the secret of life, the spark of being but withal it still remains unknown exactly what this spark really is. Similar to Prometheus defying Zeus, Frankenstein tries to defy God and he too is punished for it. CONCLUSION Romantic writers prided themselves with being individuals and Mary Shelley and Lord Byron clearly pay testament to that. These two texts are all very unique though there are some similarities the main one being the ability of the writers to warn of the future. Other writers vey well known woks which waned of the fall of mankind In Frankenstein, the monster is basically an unnatural being. The coming to life of the monster brings an aftermath of death and destruction. In addition the anxiety which Frankenstein experiences could be an illustration of the anguish mankind will suffer from due to these scientific advances. The use of religion i.e. the defiance of God in Frankenstein and apocalyptic imagery in Darkness further enhance their warnings. The question is. were the Romantic writers correct? The answer is yes. The world has changed with wars and global warming, terrorism, corruption and immense poverty being just some of the troubles of the world.

Challenges Facing Goodyear Essay -- Business Management Consumerism Ti

Challenges Facing Goodyear Problem Statement There are several challenges facing Goodyear in the current environment. Our sales have leveled off in the past few years and we need to increase our market share in order to improve these numbers. Our debt is high and our interest payments are eating away at our profiles so we need to get more income to pay down this debt. The more immediate question is if Goodyear should launch its new line of Aquatred tires. The trend has been toward higher mileage tires and the Aquatred tire is not in line with this trend, being more of a higher end tire. Additionally, if we do determine that we are going to launch the Aquatred, do we start the advertising during the Olympics when we don’t have all the tire sizes available? We are also determining if remaining with our current distribution channel is the best approach or if we need to expand the way our tires get to market. If we decide that we are going to expand our distribution channels, we then have to determine which tires, we are going to offer in the new channels. Finally, our market share in the replacement market is lacking not sure this is true, and since consumers feel that buying tires is a necessity we have to find a way to make them excited about purchasing our product. Goodyear used to be considered the Gorilla in tire producers, but with increased competition in recent years, that is not longer the case. Issues: Consumer model and expectations Essentially, consumers fall into 4 basic segments. Â § There are Price-constrained buyers who buy the best brand they can afford. They do not show any loyalty toward any brand and tend to shop around for tires so we would have to get our tired in front of them and be the best priced. Â § There are the Value-oriented buyers that shop around a lot to get the best price, but would generally buy major brands only so we would probably be able to capture this buyer because of our brand name, but we would need competitive pricing. Â § There are the Quality buyers who were loyal to the outlet and the brand of tire. These consumers were generally upscale and are going to be our main target audience and the challenge here would be to get the tire to the outlet that the consumer is comfortable buying at and communicating the difference in our tire verses our competitors. Â § Finall... ... and concern was put forth by the company to try to make tires as safe as possible. This is a positive spin on the company as a whole, which should translate to higher sales for our other tire products. In conclusion, we have a unique opportunity to take advantage of a niche market that is as of yet untapped. We have already purchased advertising time at the Olympics for which we are going introduce our new Aquatred tire, as well as promote Goodyear’s continuing quest for safety and quality. We are going to open up new distribution channels for our lower end tires so as to increase market share in these areas, while ensuring that our independent dealers sales are respected and promoted as much as possible. This is a very exciting time for Goodyear and the Aquatred tire. A little long, but I like your plan of action. Most important attributes for consumers when purchasing a new tire: 1. Tread Life 2. Wet Traction 3. Handling 4. Snow traction 5. Dry traction US market for Passenger Tires Replacement OEM Total Industry 152.0 43 195 Goodyear 22.8 16.3 39.1 Goodyear’s percent 15% 38% 20%

Physical Activity and Weight Control :: Health Fitness Weight Loss Essays

Physical Activity and Weight Control Regular physical activity is an important part of effective weight loss and weight maintenance. It also can help prevent several diseases and improve your overall health. It does not matter what type of physical activity you perform--sports, planned exercise, household chores, yard work, or work-related tasks--all are beneficial. Studies show that even the most inactive people can gain significant health benefits if they accumulate 30 minutes or more of physical activity per day. Based on these findings, the U.S. Public Health Service has identified increased physical activity as a priority in Healthy People 2000, our national objectives to improve the health of Americans by the year 2000. Research consistently shows that regular physical activity, combined with healthy eating habits, is the most efficient and healthful way to control your weight. Whether you are trying to lose weight or maintain it, you should understand the important role of physical activity and include it in your lifestyle. How Can Physical Activity Help Control My Weight? Physical activity helps to control your weight by using excess calories that otherwise would be stored as fat. Your body weight is regulated by the number of calories you eat and use each day. Everything you eat contains calories, and everything you do uses calories, including sleeping, breathing, and digesting food. Any physical activity in addition to what you normally do will use extra calories. Balancing the calories you use through physical activity with the calories you eat will help you achieve your desired weight. When you eat more calories than you need to perform your day's activities, your body stores the extra calories and you gain weight (a). When you eat fewer calories than you use, your body uses the stored calories and you lose weight (b). When you eat the same amount of calories as your body uses, your weight stays the same (c). Food scales Any type of physical activity you choose to do--strenuous activities such as running or aerobic dancing or moderate-intensity activities such as walking or household work--will increase the number of calories your body uses. The key to successful weight control and improved overall health is making physical activity a part of your daily routine. What Are the Health Benefits of Physical Activity? In addition to helping to control your weight, research shows that regular physical activity can reduce your risk for several diseases and conditions and improve your overall quality of life.

Philosophy of Education Essay -- Philosophy of Teaching Teachers Educa

Philosophy of Education The philosophical perspective possessed by a teacher has on affects the ability and effectiveness of their teaching methods. Therefore a teacher must be one who appreciates and respects education and formalized schooling. In the following paragraphs I will give a general description of my views on education. I will describe how I view the acquisition of knowledge, common student nature, what I believe the purpose of education is and my desired method and curriculum. Future teachers should carefully consider each of these aspects. After my graduation from Concord College I plan to be a history teacher at a local high school. If I proceed with any further schooling, it will most likely be in the field of special education. I have not yet decided what professional groups I may join in the future but I am currently researching the Center for Civic Education and the National Geographic Society. The nature of a student is an important area of thought for a future teacher because the student is a teacher's primary focus. The typical student is naturally prone to be easily distracted from their studies. One possible reason for this is that children do not realize the importance of education. This is more evident in lower grade levels. Children's personalities also vary. For example each class typically contains an immensely interested student, a class clown, and those children who are moderately quiet and follow the rules. Teachers need to consider the nature of each student in order to give the student an adequate amount of attention. More important aspects of teaching include the understanding of the acquisition of knowledge and the importance and purpose of education. Understanding how p... ...dict future events in society. History can also be inspiring to students who desire political or judicial occupations. The most important subjects for students however, are reading, writing and mathematics. They are the most important because they are the basic skills that one needs in order to function in current society. My interest in the school system is due to the difference that I could make in the life of one human. It is an exciting thought that I could be the teacher of a future historical figure or productive scientist. I think that the extrinsic benefits of being a teacher are far less important than the intrinsic benefits, however the extrinsic benefits will be satisfying to my economical needs. With all of my views on the aspects of teaching, I hope that as a teacher I am as friendly and helpful as several of my past teachers have been to me.

Seasonal Variation Common Pediatric Problems Health And Social Care Essay

Background: Seasonal fluctuation is an of import public wellness phenomenon. Many common human diseases display predictable seasonal tendencies depending upon direct or indirect factors act uponing patient results. Pakistan lacks clear cut informations about this issue. Seasonal fluctuation assumes critical importance when it comes to paediatric disease in our set up. Our under 5 old ages mortality is one of the highest in WHO-EMRO part. Aims & A ; Aims: Present survey is aimed at observing and documenting seasonal tendencies in paediatric unwellnesss with highest morbidity and mortality rates in our state, viz. , acute stomach flu, asthma, URTI and LRTI. Material & A ; Methods: Retrospective reappraisal of Pediatric OPD databases for three ( 2006-2008 ) consecutive old ages in Kuwait Teaching Hospital was carried out by the research workers and instances run intoing inclusion standards were entered in survey database. Data was analyzed for seasonal tendencies utilizing Microsoft Excel 2007. Consequences: Clear cut seasonal tendencies were seen in Acute Gastroenteritis, URTI, Asthma aggravation and LRTI. Each disease displayed one-year extremums for three back-to-back old ages. Decision: Major paediatric slayers in our state show predictable seasonal tendencies that can be used for better readiness and improved results in paediatric population Keywords: Seasonal fluctuation, Acute Gastroenteritis, Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, Lower Respiratory Tract Infection, Asthma, Pediatrics, List of Abbreviations AGE Acute Gastroenteritis EMRO East Mediterranean Regional Office IMCI Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesss KTH Kuwait Teaching Hospital LRTI Lower Respiratory Tract Infection OPD Out Patient Department PMC Peshawar Medical College RSV Respiratory Syncytial Virus URTI Upper Respiratory Tract Infection WHO World Health Organization List of Tables, Graphs and Figures Table 1: Entire figure of instances of selected diseases for each twelvemonth of survey at Kuwait Teaching Hospital Figure: Seasonal tendency of Acute Gastroenteritis ( AGE ) instances Figure: Seasonal tendency of instances with acute aggravation of asthma Figure: Seasonal tendency of instances with acute aggravation of URTI Figure: Seasonal tendency of LRTI instances Background Seasonal fluctuation is a well-known public wellness property of human unwellness. It is of import from epidemiologic position point and serves as an index of etiologies other than primary causative agent for a disease. Human immune responses, [ 1 ] , bacterial counts, [ 2, 3 ] , allergen denseness, exposure rates, [ 3, 4 ] and opportunity exposure, [ 5 ] are all seasonally determined. Bing able to foretell seasonal fluctuation in any disease is, intelligibly, an assistance in index of intuition, diagnosing and above all aa‚ ¬Aâ€Å"Emergency Preparednessaa‚ ¬A? and preventative steps to incorporate disease. Outside primary attention, seasonal fluctuation has been documented in admittance rates to intensive attention units ( United Kingdom ) , [ 6, 7 ] visits to the exigency section ( United States ) , [ 8 ] and all-cause mortality ( United Kingdom ) , [ 9 ] . Published surveies show seasonal fluctuation in the diagnosing of ischaemic bosom disease in general pattern ( United Kingdom ) , [ 10 ] and in the figure of visits to primary attention doctors ( Sweden ) . The Swedish survey, based on a 14-year observation period from 1969 to 1982, found that visits to primary attention doctors declined during July and August in relation to a diminution in diagnosings related to respiratory tract infections, and that there were no appreciable differences for the remainder of the twelvemonth. Season specific unwellnesss, [ 11, 12, 13 ] and mortality rates, [ 13, 14 ] are now being used to find several wellness parametric quantities and resource allotment in wellness sector. This makes finding of se asonal fluctuation an of import public wellness step particularly in catching diseases. Although Pakistan is endemic for several catching diseases, yet we do non hold sufficient informations to back up seasonal fluctuation for common primary attention jobs in our population. Bing a state that faces one of the highest under 5 mortality rates in the WHO-EMRO part, we carry the duty of sensing and certification of baseline informations for appropriate intercessions in paediatric unwellness. From a public wellness position, the current survey will assist us place the demand for intercession and formulate schemes on a larger graduated table to cut down under 5 yr. morbidity and mortality rates in our population. Present survey is a Pilot design to look into the seasonal fluctuation of common paediatric wellness jobs showing to a primary attention OPD in a metropolis of Pakistan. Aims: To observe and document seasonal tendencies in paediatric unwellnesss with highest morbidity and mortality rates in our state, viz. , acute stomach flu, asthma, URTI and LRTI in Kuwait Teaching Hospital OPD, from 2006-2008. Methodology Present survey is a retrospective descriptive analysis of an bing database at paediatric OPD at Kuwait Teaching Hospital, KTH, Peshawar. Kuwait Teaching Hospital is an affiliate of Peshawar Medical College, an commissioned establishment of medical instruction. Pediatric OPD at KTH is of moderate volume with 60-80 OPD visits per twenty-four hours by kids belonging to middle to low socioeconomic category signifier the environing Jamrud Road and Tehkal country. Patients are largely cultural Afghans and Pashtuns. PMC Pediatrics is a well-equipped unit with inpatient bed strength of 35 beds and 5 neonatal isolates. It is staffed by 3 advisers 6 medical officers and 7 paediatric nurses. Study was approved by PMC Institutional Ethical Committee and informations aggregation was performed on site in KTH. Data was extracted from OPD and ward registries and patient medical records for admitted patients for old ages 2006, 2007 and 2008. Research workers met hebdomadal during informations extraction and informations entry clip and discussed jobs for common declaration. Operational definitions used were standard WHO/IMCI definitions. Acute Gastroenteritis was a kid less than 5 old ages age showing with history of increased frequence and reduced consistence of stool over past 24 hours with or without febrility and emesis. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection was child less than 5 old ages age showing with acute ear aching, sore pharynx, tonsillitis, spasmodic laryngitis or epiglottitis with moderate to severe respiratory hurt category harmonizing to IMCI categorization, Lower Respiratory Tract Infection was a kid less than 5 old ages showing with respiratory hurt harmonizing to IMCI categorization and chest X-ray findings consistent with lobar or bronchial pneumonia. Acute Exacerbation of Asthma was presence of respiratory hurt and wheezing in a kid less than 5 old ages age who was known to hold reactive air passages disease. Data was entered in Microsoft Excel 2007 and later analyzed for seasonal fluctuation. Graphs were constructed for each paediatric status under consideration and compared for consistence. Consequences A sum of 7209 patients were included in the survey reported in Kuwait Teaching Hospital OPD from January 2006 to December 2008. Entire figure of instances reported for Acute Gastroenteritis, Upper Respiratory Tract Infections, Asthma and Lower Respiratory Tract Infections were 3129, 1527, 1599, and 954 severally. 72.80 % of instances of AGE were reported in the months of April, May, June, July, August and September ( summer ) as shown in Figure 1. Patients with acute aggravation asthma reported most in the month of April ( spring ) ( 13.01 % ) and winter season. The Numberss of instances show a gradual addition from September to December ( winter ) ( 51.16 % ) as shown in figure 2. 61.36 % of instances of URTI were in the months of February, April, October, November and December. An addition in patient count was observed from the month of October to December ( 36.87 % of entire instances ) as shown in Figure 3. Extremums in the figure of patients reported for LRTI was observed in the months of April and July ( 15.93 % of entire ) and there was a gradual addition in patient count in winter months i.e. September, October, November, December and January ( 55.87 % of entire instances ) as shown in Figure 4. Year of Study Acute Gastroenteritis Upper Respiratory Infection Lower Respiratory Infection Acute Exacerbation of Asthma 2006 933 450 288 420 2007 1007 510 309 549 2008 1189 567 357 630 Entire 3129 1527 954 1599 Table: Entire figure of instances of selected diseases for each twelvemonth of survey at Kuwait Teaching HospitalFigure 1: Seasonal tendency of Acute Gastroenteritis ( AGE ) instancesFigure2: Seasonal tendency of instances with acute aggravation of asthma Figure 3: Seasonal tendency of instances with acute aggravation of URTI Figure 4: Seasonal tendency of LRTI instances Discussion Our chief aim was to observe and document seasonal tendencies in paediatric unwellnesss with high morbidity and mortality rates in our state, viz. , acute stomach flu, Asthma, URTI and LRTI. Although seasonal tendencies of assorted wellness jobs have been studied by assorted research workers in Pakistan and other SAARC states. Areas of probe include childhood poisoning [ 15 ] and shot, [ 16 ] . Probe of seasonal tendencies of childhood unwellnesss in Pakistan has non been carried out to the authoraa‚ ¬a„?s cognition. AGE exhibited a reasonably unvarying distribution form over the assorted old ages with regard to its seasonality. Higher sensing rate of AGE during the summer season may be explained due to assorted factors. First of all high temperature during this clip of the twelvemonth is thought to advance growing of morbific beings in the environment. [ 17 ] Furthermore, monsoon season causes a batch of strain on already unequal sewerage disposal system hence ensuing in a greater figure of incident instances. Particularly in the summers, the frequence of AGE towers above other paediatric diseases. The greater load of this disease exists in kids because of their under developed immune system. Asthma showed a bimodal distribution with its first extremum in spring and 2nd extremum in winters. The consequences clearly show that most people seek medical attention for Asthma in spring and winter. The rise in admittance for Asthma in spring may hold been related to increasing tree and grass pollen counts. The oncoming of cold conditions has been shown to be related to symptoms of asthma [ 18, 19, 20 ] . The acquisition of viral infections, [ 21 ] the seasonal prevalence of fungous spores, [ 22, 23 ] and the fluctuation in the house dust mite population [ 24, 25 ] may lend. The clear seasonal fluctuation is consistent throughout our state, proposing that similar environmental trigger factors are responsible for arousing onslaughts. Our consequences showed an addition in patient count with LRTI and URTI during the months of February, April, and July and in winter season in all the three old ages under survey. This may be due to the fact that people remain indoors during cold conditions. Due to shut contact in indoor environment, people, particularly kids, are more prone to acquire disease. The agents that cause LRTI are most frequently transmitted by droplet spread ensuing from close contact with a beginning instance. Contact with contaminated vehicles besides may be of import in the acquisition of viral agents, particularly RSV. Probably the somewhat fewer studies in summer were a manifestation of epidemic instead than seasonal fluctuation. For grounds that are unknown, different viruses cause extremums of infection at different times during the respiratory virus season ; these extremums rarely occur at the same time [ 26 ] . Seasonal tendencies are complex phenomena that require elaborate surveies with multipl e samples from diverse population beginnings over long periods of clip to be able to foretell seasonality of disease. Therefore, farther surveies with bigger samples and over longer continuance of clip are required to foreground the phenomena better in our set up. Decision A important seasonal fluctuation was observed in AGE, URTI, LRTI and Asthma. Summer received most instances of AGE. Most of the patients with Asthma were reported in spring and winter. A important addition in patient count with URTI was observed in winter and spring in all the three old ages. Most of the patients with LRTI were observed in winter and in the months of April and July. Further surveies with bigger samples and over longer continuance of clip are required to foreground this phenomena better.

Honda Civic vs. Ford Focus

Ever thought about buying a new, gas saving, family car? If somebody needs some great information about two types of cars, which are the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid and the 2010 Ford Focus Sedan, then here it is. The quality of the car needs to be comfortable when riding in it. Also, the car needs to get good gas mileage, have a decent price, and have an exceptional warranty. The main thing is to make sure the car has excellent performance specifications and is safe. In these next paragraphs a person should be able to make a decision about which car will suit your families needs best.Most people want to be comfortable when riding in a car. Comfort in a vehicle can save somebody from getting a sore bottom or anything like that. The Ford Focus and the Honda Civic both have a five-seating capacity. The front has two seats and the back has three seats. The Ford Focus has a little more cargo space than the Honda Civic. The Honda Civic has a little more head and leg room in the front seat of t he car, whereas the Ford Focus has more head and leg room in the backseat for your passengers. (2010 Honda Civic) There is an article that was used for my information says that the Ford Focus has uncomfortable rear seating. 2010 Ford Focus) In another article it says that the front seats are comfortable, but it is a matter of personal opinion. (2010 Ford Focus: Overview) The Ford Focus has a compass, external temp, trip computer, stability and traction control, and Bluetooth that the Honda Civic does not have. The Honda Civic just has what is in both cars. There is air conditioning, power windows, tilt steering, cruise control, AM/FM radio, CD player and an alarm in both of the cars. (2010 Honda Civic) While looking up articles, there were not any that said the Honda Civic had uncomfortable seating.However, any article that says the seats are uncomfortable could be wrong. It does not matter how the seats feel to anybody else, it is how the seats feel to each individual that matters. Gas prices are outrageous; so why not get a gas saving car? Living in a hilly/mountain area the gas mileage of a car will not be as good as what it could be. The gas mileage of a car will be better in an area that has a lot of flat land where a person has to drive a little ways to get where they are going. Gas mileage is that way with any vehicle, but when driving around and topping and starting every five minutes, it will use more gas than just driving around for about thirty minutes. The Honda Civic’s gas mileage for the city and highway is approximately twenty-five and thirty-six, while the Ford Focus’s city and highway gas mileage is approximately twenty-four and thirty-five. (2010 Honda Civic) There is barely any difference in the two cars gas mileage, so which ever car a person picks they will get good gas mileage. Most everybody likes a deal when buying anything. Well when buying a car everybody wants to try to find the best deal possible.Whether it is a family car or a one person car, it needs to suits your needs. In choosing a car, evaluating the price of the cars is probably a smart thing to do. Look to make sure the cars that are being looked at stay within your budget and make sure the car has a good warranty for the value of your money. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the Honda Civic is $15,455 – $25,340. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the Ford Focus is $16,290 – $18,780. (2010 Honda Civic vs) The Honda Civic does cost more than the Ford Focus, but they are about the same price even though the Ford Focus is a little cheaper.The warranty of the new car is very important. Everybody should make sure that they have a good warranty so if anything messes up on your new car; it can be fixed for cheaper than what it would be without warranty. The Honda Civic and the Ford Focus warranties are for three years or 36,000 miles. Both have a power train warranty of five years or 60,000 mile s. Also, both cars have a rust-through warranty of five years or unlimited miles and they both have a roadside aid warranty of three years or 36,000 miles. Remember all the warranties say the year or mile, but mean whichever one comes first. Compare Cars) Some cars do not come with very good warranty, but the car needs to come with as much warranty as necessary to suit your needs. If it does not, then that car is simply not the right car to buy. When buying a car, make sure to evaluate the performance specifications that are on the car. How the car performs is important to just about everybody because nobody wants their new car to mess up on them right after they buy it. The Ford Focus is almost the same size as the Honda Civic, but the Ford Focus is just a bit larger than the Honda Civic. 2010 Honda Civic vs) The Honda Civic and the Ford Focus both are front wheel drive and four wheel drive power brakes. The Honda Civic has electric rack and pinion steering, whereas the Ford Focus has power rack and pinion steering. (2010 Ford Focus-4dr) The Honda Civic’s engine is 110 at 6,000 RPM and the Ford Focus’s engine is 140 at 6,000 RPM. The spare tires for both cars are compact. Also, the front and rear wheels on the both cars are made of aluminum. The Honda Civic has fifteen inch tires on the front and rear tires (2010 Honda Civic Hybrid – 4dr), while the Ford Focus has tires that are seventeen inches on the front and rear tires. 2010 Ford Focus-4dr) Here, the only reason that the Ford Focus is better than the Honda Civic is because of the power rack and electric rack. My family has never owned a car that has not had power rack and pinion steering, so that is why we would prefer the Ford Focus over the Honda Civic. Safety in a vehicle means a person’s life. Before buying a car, check out the safety features that vehicle has on it. The safety features in a vehicle is very important to everybody. So here is a little bit about these two car s safety.The Honda Civic and the Ford Focus both have front side airbags, curtain side airbags, antilock brake system, and antiskid system. The Honda Civic has traction control that the Ford Focus does not have. (2010 Ford Focus: Overview) The Ford Focus has dual front airbags and tire-pressure monitor that the Honda Civic does not have. (2010 Honda Civic: Overview) A tire-pressure monitor does help from having a blow out and the dual front airbags would probably make the passenger feel safer. Comparing, what the Honda Civic has over the Ford Focus makes the Ford Focus better.Buying a new car can be very overwhelming. Researching a few kinds of cars helps to narrow it down to the two cars you are leaning more towards purchasing and can make it a lot easier. The Ford Focus Sedan is better because of all the points made in this paper. Although the Honda Civic Hybrid is a good car too, the Ford Focus Sedan is what is needed to suit my family’s needs. This paper hopefully helped somebody make a decision on buying one of these types of cars or helped somebody out on what to look for when buying a new vehicle.