Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Expectations about own work role Essay Example for Free

Expectations about own work role Essay It is important to understand the expectations, including codes of practise, regulations, minimum standards or national occupational standards. Some expectations are: see more:explain expectations about own work role as expressed in relevant standards ââ€"  reflect on their work ââ€"  record their qualifications ââ€"  understand what effective practise looks like ââ€"  formulate their self ­development plan ââ€"  allow managers to understand staff experience/qualifications and training needs to support the development of the setting. It is also expected as a practitioner to keep every child safe and secure in the environment as they learn and develop. It is very important to complete risk assessments daily for the safety of the children. Making sure the nursery is clean will help prevent the spread of illnesses and infections in the provision. Childcare providers must also have procedures for administering medication and supporting children with medical needs or who appear unwell during the day.

Monday, August 5, 2019

Agricultural Wage †Productivity Relationship Analysis

Agricultural Wage – Productivity Relationship Analysis A STUDY ON AGRICULTURAL WAGE – PRODUCTIVITY RELATIONSHIP WITH REFERENCE TO GROUNDNUT CROP IN CHITTOOR DISTRICT (ANDHRA PRADESH) Dr. E. Lokanadha Reddy, Abstract— The increase in production and productivity are influencing agricultural wages. But the results of empirical studies have shown a positive relationship between real wages and productivity. It is also observed that the real wages seem to have declined or remained stagnant in spite of increasing agricultural production. However, a close relationship may be found between wages and productivity. There are number of studies on the agricultural sector in Chittoor district. But the research on agricultural wage – productivity relationship is very limited. This paper aims to study the Agricultural Wage – Productivity Relationship with reference to Groundnut crop in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. An attempt has been made to study the relationship between wages and yield, output price of major crop ‘Groundnut’ for entire district as a whole. A regression model is used to study the relationship. In the present study, the relevant secondary data fo r explanatory and explained variables is collected from the Census of India 1991 : Population Census and also from handbook of statistics and other unpublished official records of the Chief Planning Officer, Chittoor. The primary data required is collected through field survey : 1998-99. In case of female agricultural labour, regarding the lagged yields, the rate of increase in real wages (0.19) is twice as compared to that of money wages. This increase in real wages over money wages reveals that the economic position of the female agricultural labour may be increased due to raise in lagged yields. Owing to the lagged price, the rate of increase in real wages of female agricultural labour (0.39) as compared to the female agricultural money wages (1.41) is approximately one forth. This result shows that about 3/4th of the monetary gains of the female agricultural labour has been taken away by consumer price rise. From this rate of increase in real wages, it may be concluded that the real economic position of the female agricultural labour has been deteriorated marginally. The same variables for the male population is studied and analysed . Further, the same was calculated separately for the three revenue divisions of Chittoor District. Keywords- Agricultrual Productivity; Female Money Wagerate; Female Real Wagerate; Male Money Wagerate; Male Real Wagerate; Regression Co-efficients; I. Introduction The term agricultural productivity we mean the varying relationship between the agricultural output and one of the major input such as land. The most commonly used term for representing agricultural productivity is the average yield per hectare of land. After the introduction of modern agricultural technique along with the adoption of hybrid seeds, extension of irrigation facilities and application of intensive methods of cultivation in India, yield per hectare of all crops has recorded a steep rising trend. Agricultural productivity in India has undergone an abrupt change in the Post-Green Revolution period. But the fruits of green revolution were mostly available to some particular states only, as the introduction of new agricultural strategy was very much restricted into some particular states like Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttarpradesh. Thus while the agricultural productivity in all other states remained more or less static or increased slowly but the agricultural productivity of some crops in those particular states adopting new agricultural strategy has increased substantially. All these had led to a high degree of inter-state differences in agricultural productivity in the country. The condition of Indian agriculture still largely remains backward although it is considered as the backbone of the Indian economy. Agriculture productivity which is composed of both productivity of land and labour as well, is among the lowest in the world. Average yield per hectare in India is quite below the world average in all crops. It is much lower as compared with even the yield rates prevailing in less advanced countries of the world. With the introduction of economic planning in India, although some steps have been undertaken for improving the conditions of agriculture, its conditions have not changed much. In subsistence farming, the relation between wages and productivity is not like that in the modern sector where additional labour is employed to increase output and we imagine an employer equating wages with the marginal product. Wages and productivity are related in the sense that wages are paid out of total product, which depends upon productivity. The increase in production and productivity are influencing agricultural wages. But the results of empirical studies have shown a positive relationship between real wages and productivity. It is also observed that the real wages seem to have declined or remained stagnant in spite of increasing agricultural production. However, a close relationship may be found between wages and productivity. There are number of studies on the agricultural sector in Chittoor district. But the research on agricultural wage – productivity relationship is very limited. Hence an attempt is made to study the Agricultural Wage – Productivity Relationship with reference to Groundnut crop in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. II. OBJECTIVES The following is the objective of the study: To study the Agricultural Wage – Productivity Relationship with reference to Groundnut crop in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. III. METHODOLOGY An attempt has been made to study the relationship between wages and yield, output price of major crop ‘Groundnut’ for entire district as a whole. Therefore the following regression model is proposed to study the relationship. Y = a+ b X1 +c X2 (1) Where, Y = Real/money wagerate X1 = Lagged yield (Quintals per hectare) X2 = Lagged price (Rs. Per quintal) a, b and c are the constants. Both the linear and log-linear models have been estimated to the above model and it is decided that the log – linear model yields good results. Hence, the analysis has been carried out to log – linear model only. The log – linear model is as follows : logY = a+ b logX1 +c logX2 (2) In the present study, the relevant secondary data for explanatory and explained variables is collected from the Census of India 1991 : Population Census and also from handbook of statistics and other unpublished official records of the Chief Planning Officer, Chittoor. The primary data required is collected through field survey : 1998-99. IV. FINDINGS It is proposed to study the relationship between wages with yield and output prices per quintal of groundnut. Between the linear and log-linear estimates; log-linear model gives better results than the linear estimates. The equation (2) given in the methodology is estimated. The results were analysed based on log-linear estimates for the entire district as a whole. The estimated regression equation for female money wagerate is Y = -7.2169 + 0.0821 X1 +1.4356* X2 (0.2840) (0.1258) R2 = 0.9064 , F = 76.8136* * Significant at 5 per cent probability level. The two estimated regression co-efficients of lagged yield (X1) and lagged price (X2) are positive. It means, the effect of these two variables on money wagerate (Y) is positive. An increase in these two variables will increase the female money wagerate in Chittoor district. An increase in one unit of lagged yield will increase the female money wagerate by 0.08 units, but this increase is not significant. Similarly, an increase in one unit of lagged price will increase the female money wagerate by 1.44 units. This increase is significant. Hence, female money wages are influenced by changes in the yield and prices of output. One unit increase in output would result in more than one unit increase in money wage showing the improvements in real wages. With respect to the groundnut yield, the positive co-efficients of yield implying that wages are influenced by changes in the yields. It indicates that the benefits of technology has not reached the agricultural labourers at significant lev el. This indicates that the benefits which accrued to the groundnut farmers through a rise in the output prices also percolated to the agricultural labourers. The co-efficient of constant or intercept is -7.2169. It means the factors which are not considered in the model shows negative effect on female money wages. The collective effect of the two independent variables – X1 and X2 is shown by the value of R2. The value of R2 is 0.9064. It indicates that 90.64 percent of variation in female money wagerate is observed by these two independent variables. The value of R2 is significant. The estimated regression equation for female real wagerate is Y = -4.392 + 0.1886 X1 +0.3938* X2 (0.1505) (0.0666) R2 = 0.7541 , F = 51.4269* * Significant at 5 percent probability level. The two estimated regression co-efficients of independent variables – X1 and X2 are positive. It means the effect of these two variables on female real wagerate (Y) is positive. An increase in these two variables will increase the female real wagerate in Chittoor district. An increase in one unit of lagged yield will increase the female real wagerate by 0.19 units. But this increase is not significant. Similarly, an increase in one unit of lagged price will increase the female real wagerate by 0.39 units. This increase is significant. Hence, female real wages are influenced by changes in the yield and prices of output. The co-efficient of constant or intercept is -4.392. It means, the factors which are not considered in the model show negative effect on female real wages. The collective effect of the two independent variables – X1 and X2 is shown by the value of R2. The value of R2 is 0.7541. It indicates that, 75.46 percent of variation in female real wagerate is obser ved by these two independent variables. The value of R2 is significant. The estimated regression equation for male money wagerate is Y = -6.8562 + 0.0901* X1 +1.4094* X2 (0.0349) (0.0155) R2 = 0.8982 , F = 70.5855* * Significant at 5 percent probability level. The two estimated regression co-efficients of lagged yield (X1) and lagged price (X2) are positive and significant. It means the positive relationship is observed between independent variables X1 and X2 with dependent variable (Y). An increase in these two variables will increase the male money wagerate in Chittoor district. An increase in one unit of lagged yield will increase the male money wagerate by 0.09 units. But this increase is significant. Similarly, an increase in one unit of lagged price will increase the male money wagerate by 1.41 units. This increase is significant. Hence, male money wages are influenced by changes in the yield and prices of output. One unit increase in groundnut price would result in more than one unit increase in money wage showing the improvements in real wages. The positive and significant co-efficient of yield reveals that wages are influenced by changes in the yield. It mean the benefits of technology have reached the agricultural labourers at s ignificant level. It indicates that a rise in the output prices is beneficial to the groundnut farmers which in turn effects the agricultural labourers. The co-efficient of intercept is -6.8562. It means the factors which are not considered in the model show negative effect on male money wages. The collective effect of the two independent variables X1 and X2 is shown by the value of R2. The value of R2 is 0.8982. It indicates a variation of 89.82 percent in male money wagerate is observed by these two independent variables. The value of R2 is significant. The estimated regression equation for male real wagerate is Y = -0.2138 – 0.0513 X1 +0.3252* X2 (0.0189) (0.0835) R2 = 0.6702 , F = 16.267* * Significant at 5 percent probability level. The estimated co-efficient of lagged yield (X1) is negative and insignificant. It means the negative relationship is observed between X1 variable and male real wagerate. An increase in the lagged yield will decrease the male real wagerate in Chittoor district. The estimated co-efficient of lagged price (X2) is positive and significant. It means the effect of independent variable (X2) on male real wagerate is positive. An increase in the lagged price will increase the male real wagerate in the district. An increase in one unit of X1 variable will decrease the male real wagerate (Y) by 0.05 units. But this decrease is not significant. Similarly, an increase in one unit of X2 variable will increase the male real wagerate (Y) by 0.33 units. This increase is significant. Hence, male real wages are affected by changes in the yield and prices of output. The co-efficient of constant is -0.2138. It means the factors which are not considered in the model show negative effect on male real wages . The collective effect of the two independent variables X1 and X2 are shown by the value of R2. The value of R2 is 0.6702. It indicates that, 67.02 percent of variation in male real wagerate is observed by these two independent variables. The value of R2 is significant. V. CONCLUSIONS In case of female agricultural labour, regarding the lagged yields, the rate of increase in real wages (0.19) is twice as compared to that of money wages. This increase in real wages over money wages reveals that the economic position of the female agricultural labour may be increased due to raise in lagged yields. Owing to the lagged price, the rate of increase in real wages of female agricultural labour (0.39) as compared to the female agricultural money wages (1.41) is approximately one forth. This result shows that about 3/4th of the monetary gains of the female agricultural labour has been taken away by consumer price rise. From this rate of increase in real wages, it may be concluded that the real economic position of the female agricultural labour has been deteriorated marginally. Whereas for male agricultural labour, in case of lagged yield is observed that there is a decreasing trend in male real wages (-0.05) and an increasing trend in male money wages (0.09). This results indicates that the declining trend in real economic position of the male agricultural labour. With respect to the lagged price, the rate of increase in real wages of male agricultural labour (0.32) as compared to the male money wages (1.41) is just marginal. This results tells that about 3/4th of the monetary gains of the male agricultural labour has been taken away by consumer price rise. From this rate of increase in real wages, it may be concluded that the real economic conditions of the male agricultural labour has been decreased marginally. references Misra, V.N., and Gupta, S.B.L. (1974). Productivity, wages and its determination in Gujarat Agriculture : An Inter-District Analysis. Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, vol.XXIX, No.3, July-September, pp.22-34. Pandey, R.K., and Dixit, U.N. (1974). Inter-Temporal Analysis of Productivity and Wages of Farm Labour in Ferozepur District (Punjab). Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, vol.XXIX, No.3, July-September, pp.34-40. Pandey, V.K., and Pandey, R.N. (1974). Trends in Agricultural Wages in Uttar Pradesh. Indian Journal of agricultural Economics, vol.XXIX, No.3, July-September, pp.70. Sisodia, J.S. (1974). Trends in Agricultural wages in Madya Pradesh. Indian Journal of agricultural Economics, vol.XXIX, No.3, July-September, pp.73. Raju, V.T. (1974). Impact of Green Revolution on Wages and Incomes of Hired Labour in IADP District., West Godavari. Indian Journal of agricultural Economics, vol.XXIX, No.3, July-September, pp.74. Prudhvikar Reddy, P. (1998). Trends in Agricultural Wages : An Inter-Regional Analysis in Andhra Pradesh. Economic and Political Weekly, vol. XXXIII, No.13, March 28, pp. A.15-A.19. Sidhu, H.S. (1988). Wage Determination in the Rural Labour Market – The Case of Punjab and Haryana. Economic and Political Weekly, Review of Agriculture, December, 24th – 31st, pp.A.147-A.150. Kalpana Bardhan, (1973). Factors affecting Wagerates for Agricultural Labourers. Economic and political weekly, vol.VIII, No.26, June 30, pp.A.56-A.66. Pandey, S.M. (1973). Wage Determination in Indian Agriculture : An Empirical Analysis. Indian Journal of Industrial Relations, vol.9, July, pp.83-99. Singh, M.L., and Singh, K.K. (1974). Factors Determining Agricultural Wages – A Case Study. Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, vol.XXIX, No.3, July – September, pp.54-60. Paramar, B.D. (1981). Wage Determination in Developing Economy : The case of Gujarat Agriculture. The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, vol.XXIII, No.4, January, pp.231-240. Pushpangdan, K. (1993). Wage Determination in a Casual Labour Market : The Case of Paddy field Labour in Kerala. The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, vol. XXXVI, No.1, January – March. Acharya, Sarthi. (1989). Agricultural wages in India : A Desegregated Analysis. Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, vol.44, No.2. Gough, J.W. (1971). Agricultural Wages in Punjab and Haryana. Economic and Political Weekly, vol.VI, No.13, March.27. Grewal, S.S., and Bal, H.S. (1974). Impact of Green Revolution on Agricultural Wages in the Punjab. Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, vol.XXIX, No.3, July-September. Jose, A.V. (1974). Trends in Real Wage Rates of Agricultural Labourers. Economic and Political Weekly, vol.IX, No.13, March. Jose, A.V. (1988). Agricultural Wages in India. Economic and Political Weekly, vol.23, No.26, June. Krishnaji, N. (1971), Wages of Agricultural Labour. Economic and Political Weekly, vol.6, No.30, September. Parthasarathy, G., and Adiseshu. (1982). Rural Wages of Agricultural Labour in Andhra Pradesh – Two Decades of Stagnation. Economic and Political Weekly, vol.XVII, NO.31. Rao, V.M. (1972). Agricultural Wages in India – A Reliability Analysis. Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, vol.XXVII, No.3, July – September. Acharya, Sarthi, and Papanak, G.F. (1989). Agricultural Wages and Poverty in India – A model of Rural Labour Markets. Asian Centre Discussion Peer, No.3, CADS, Boston University, Boston, U.S.A. AUTHORS PROFILE

Competition in the Airline Industry

Competition in the Airline Industry Introduction to airline industry: The airline industry is a very competitive market, in the past 2 decades the industry have expanded and still expanding its routes domestic and globally in the beginning airline industry was partly government owned but in the recent years many privatization with airline industry have taken place. D E L A G (Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-Akiengesellschaft) the first worlds first airline which was on the 16 November 1909 this airline was started mainly with the government owned/assistance this airship manufacturers were the Zeppelin Corporation and their head quarters was in Frankfurt. The two Americans named Rufus and Marriott tried to start the Americas first airline but the attempts were failed due to the airline catching fire. The five airline which was first started still exist these airlines are the oldest ones. KLM its the Netherlands owned, Avianca airlines owned by the Columbia. Qantas is Australians, Czech Airlines operated by the Czech Republic, Mexican Airlines by the Mexico. Af ter the world wars there was some inventions have been made and the demand for new planes the designs and the techniques have greatly constructed and soon after the world wars the air rout throughout the Europe have been set up since the past 15 years the airline route have became a baggiest necessity of both business and common peoples that it is hard to live without the air travel the main pros for the Air travel is it reduces time and making the peoples to visit world in the affordable time. The airline industry can be categorized into four different and main Operations International: This service take more than130 passengers and have them and can take anywhere in the world. In this category the business have its revenue for at least $ 1bn. National: In this category it can take the passengers up to 150 and the business have its revenue for from $100 m $1bn Regional: The small companies which mainly focus on the flights with quick halts and the revenue of this business is less than $ 100 m. Cargo: The main focus of these airlines is to carry goods. Emirates (airline) introduction and its growth: Emirates airline is the major airline of the UAE and it is the subsidiary of the Emirates group it is also the national airline of the UAE (Dubai) its major operations is from the Dubai International Airport. It was founded in the year 25th October 1985 The Hub of the Emirates airlines operates its services to the ninety six (96) destinations and about 56 countries and covering around 6 continents. The company also operates the worlds longest flights to New York, los angles and other two states in Unites States of America including Houston (Texas) the cargo services of this airline is operated by the Emirates Cargo services Division at present the Emirates group has more than 40,000 Employees Employed and it is the one of the top 10 world class airlines in the world. Emirates group as a new and young company faces problems back in 1980s when the gulf airways cut down its flights to Dubai the rescue of help from the Dubai royal family invested $10 million in order to begin, the head of the airlines was sheikh Ahmad Bin Saeed al Makhtoom and he is also the present chairman since then the airlines have made its growth in the fleet and also have expanded its destinations. Emirates Airlines Growth and Incorporation: Emirates group have made tremendous efforts to grow since 1990, research shows that Emirates is one of the fastest growing airline in the world since the Emirates group have made partnership with AA (American Airlines) in 1994 it started providing the world class service to the passengers throughout the world soon after the partnership Emirates revenue turned to $634 M in the end of 2004, then after the airlines ordered 7 new Boeing 777 in 1996 costs about $1 Billion. In May 1998 Emirates enter into the agreement with Sri Lankan Air Lines to manage the airlines for 10 year In the year 2008 Emirates launched its nonstop flight to New York. In the year 2010 Emirates group have launched its flights to many new destinations in UK, Paris, Bangkok, Australia, and Saudi Arabia 1. Do you agree with performance linked reward system? Summarize the recent trends of reward system in your organization or the organization you have chosen. Discuss its impact on productivity in your organization Performance linked reward system: The most important way to impress employees is only by reward to share the profits and allow them incentives by paying them bonuses the theory of reward system says that this is the way the employees will share in your dream when you fulfill their dream. The mechanism of this system can make this possible. The reward system is not just paying the bonuses and letting employees shares in the stock options. It is more likely to do with promotions, benefits and other incentives which can motivate employees unfortunately many companies do not offer this which leads to the failure of their organization so all the employers and I should agree with the reward system to sustain in the market with the competitors. (Donna Dee prose P: 33) The basic principle of reward system is that, you get what you reward the Employees. The main principle of management is things are done quickly if you reward the Employees, they shows positive attitude towards their works and their behavior changes if you reward them for their work. If you set a certain target for the employees and when they achieve it reward them immediately failure to do so will affect the results in the future and never hold behind the employees rewards. Therefore the main principle of motivation is by providing rewards and every organization should agree with this system for a successful organization. Benefits in working with airline industry (Emirates): Individuals interested in finding a job which can provide a good career prospects which will provide the option to travel the entire world and enjoying all the benefits as a part of the Emirates group then its hard to find the better industry than airlines and specially working for the Emirates one of the worlds best flight. There are number of benefits packages for the employees and career development programmers the group provides. In the further studies about the airline industry in the Unites States Of America there are nearly 100 airlines and 500,000 peoples are employed by them many of the positions provide excellent benefit packages, Emirates as world class airlines travels to providing services in 56 countries and expected to be added more in 2010 creates more job opportunities than the USA and runs a great reward system. Emirates Group: Emirates Group as a world class airline provides a very wide range generous benefits to the permanent employees who are employed globally. The group follows a detailed research and analysis on compensation and benefits policies by doing so the group can retain the top talented employees. This case study provides the understanding of the total benefits working for the Emirates, the reward system the company includes the cash and non cash elements. The Summary explains the basic elements of the Emirates group reward for the employees, this explanation for the compensation and reward system provides the information for the candidates working for the emirates group depending on what are their role and the unique skills and personality. The Najm award scheme is the reward and recognition program me of the Emirates Group. The Najm (Star in Arabic) recognizes, motivates and awards employees that either display exceptional behavioral competencies (going the extra mile) or identifies organizational improvements (enhanced safety, reduced cost or improved revenue) Cash elements rewards in emirates group Competitive salary and progression through salary range Emirates employees enjoy the competitive salary into cash; depending on the country they like E.g. The employees working in Dubai and K.S.A enjoy the tax free salary per month and rest all countries pays the normal tax depending on their countys legislations. Salaries are paid depending on their role and knowledge and specialization that the candidate can input into the role, the group carries a research with the relevant businesses and reviews on regular basis in order to remain competitive in providing the rewards to their employees. Employees receives the increase in salary range by the company when the responsibilities have been increased it is provided to keep employees motivates as money is a biggest motivator and used to divert route of employees to a desirable direction. Allowances The Group provides the accommodation for their employees or they give out the allowances for accommodation and it also provides the transport allowance or transport. The candidates in specific roles are only eligible for this role. Profit share schemes The company runs the profit share schemes to the employees depending on the financial statements of the group. Protection in exchange rate scheme The employees who works in the UAE their 50% of the salary is protected against adverse exchange rate towards dirham and your currency classification Professional allowance For the employees who possess the specialization skills company runs the scheme of recognizing their talents. Non Cash elements rewards in Emirates Group Annual leave The company provides 30 days of the annual leave excluding the public holidays. The annual leave will increase depending on the length of service. Gratuity/pension schemes Company runs a gratuity/pension schemes depending of the labor law rules and regulations of the country they work/ live in. For example in UK, if an employee signs up for the pensions Schemes Company deducts certain amount and pays monthly pension after the retirement age. The UAE labor law the employees are provided a gratuity on the end of service. This type of service is available to the candidates depending of the conditions like of employment and circumstances. Free holiday tickets Free holidays tickets are provided to the employees and their dependants/family for the destinations of their holiday and also runs schemes that employees can buy a ticket for the families and friends on the discounted fare. Education allowances Company provides financial support for their employees towards their tuition fees for the employees who are on senior positions to train them to requisite job skills besides these childrens of employees are allowed to claim the education allowance for the time of entire time of service. Insurance Insurances like Medical, Dental, life and Accident are provided to the employees throughout the length of service they are with the company. Provident funds On leaving the company employees are provided the provident fund that they have been saving throughout the service company decides either to pay the Gratuity or provident fund whichever is the higher the provident fund is like the long time savings of an employee with the company employee have to contribute 5% and company inputs 12% of the basic salary. Emirates card Emirates employees enjoy the privilege of being an emirates employee they can enjoys the benefits throughout the 1000s of outlets of the emirates group in UK and around the world. Additional reward system in Emirates Group Recognition reward from supervisors Employees with emirates enjoys the rewards from the supervisors when they feel the value of the candidate that they are performing consistently this the simple way to say thanks by words or by writing a thanks giving letter or by providing them an appraisal. Bibliography 1. The industry handbook Airline Industry available at: www.investopedia.com accessed on 21 February 2010. 2. Linked reward system you get what you reward available at: www.1000ventures.com accessed on 22 February 2010. 3. Donna, D.(2007) :How to recognize and reward employees 2nd ED. New York: AMACOM.(PP 61) 4. The Emirates Grout Company Overview: Available at : www.theemiratesgroup.com accessed on 23 February 2010

Sunday, August 4, 2019

Comparing Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Laurences The Fire-Dwellers :: comparison compare contrast essays

Loss of Identity in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and  Margaret Laurence's The Fire-Dwellers The protagonists in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Margaret Laurence’s The Fire-Dwellers are very different in character.   However, both of these women lose their identity due to an outside influence.   In each of the books, we see the nature of the lost identity, the circumstances which led to this lost identity, and the consequences which occurred as a result of this lost identity.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In The Handmaid’s Tale our main character, Offred, has her whole world stolen away by the government of Gilead.   This new society is sexually repressed and is founded by religious extremists.   Women are only used to produce children, and they have no rights at all in the new world of Gilead.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In The Fire Dwellers our main character, Stacey MacAindra, has been thrown into a life of responsibility.   She has an uncommunicative husband who means well, but shows her no love, as well as four children who she feels are being ruined by her every action.   She feels that life has much more to offer than the tediousness of every day routine.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The nature of Offred’s lost identity is very drastic.   Before the new religious group of Gilead took over the world, she was a very normal every day woman.   She did what was expected of her time and continued to do so after the take over.   She had a husband and a daughter who she loved very much.   In the new society in which she lives, however, love is not permitted. â€Å" If   I thought that this would happen again I would die.   But this is wrong, nobody dies from lack of sex.   It’s lack of love we die from.   There’s nobody here I can love, all the people I could love are dead or elsewhere†(page?).   **Are these words spoken by Offred? **   Offred also had the choice of free will before her civilization changed, but then slowly women began to lose all of their rights and were no longer allowed to have jobs or even to use money. â€Å"Sorry, he said. This number is not valid.†Ã‚   â€Å"That’s ridiculous,   I said.   It must be, I’ve got thousands in my account.†Ã‚   â€Å"It’s not valid, he repeated obstinately.   See that red light?   Means it’s not   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   valid,†(p.

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Kripkenstein: Rule and Indeterminacy :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

Kripkenstein: Rule and Indeterminacy ABSTRACT: Indeterminacy theories, such as Wittgenstein's and Kripke's indeterminacy principle on rules and language and Quine's indeterminacy of radical translation, raise some fundamental questions on our knowledge and understanding. In this paper we try to outline and interpret Wittgenstein's and Kripke's indeterminacy, and then compare it to some other related theories on indeterminacy of human thinking, such as raised by Hume, Quine, and Goodman. Quine's indeterminacy differs from Wittgenstein's in several aspects. First, Wittgenstein and Kripke's indeterminacy applies to a single individual in isolation and this indeterminacy disappears when the single person is brought into a wider community. Thus, this indeterminacy is only logically possible or hypothetical. Second, in Quine's problem, two translation manuals are distinguishable; while Wittgenstein's hypotheses, such as 'plus' and 'quus' and many others, are indistinguishable for the subject's past and the subject would never aware of the distinctions. Third, in Wittgenstein's view, whether a member follows the rules or not can be determined by 'outward criterion'. Quine's indeterminacy denies the existence of such 'outward criterion' for his two translation manuals. Goodman's hypothesis of 'grue' is quite different from the above two indeterminacy in terms of both objective of introducing the concept and the usage of it. Goodman's issue is to search for the rules in screening out 'bad' assumptions in induction. This induction issue is not indeterminacy of Wittgenstein's skeptic arguments or Quine's radical translation. Wittgenstein and Kripke's conclusion that that rules are brute facts seems to be questionable. Form of life is one of Wittgenstein's key concepts in his theory on rules and is linked to rules in some crucial ways. A community cannot agree on arbitrary rules and rules other than some highly selected ones cannot bind a community together. What a community agree or disagree is not an arbitrary game. Kripke presents Wittgenstein's theory on rules in his book Wittgenstein on Rules and Private Language. The topic is difficult and the presentation seems to inherit some characteristics of the original work, which "is not presented in the form of a deductive argument with definitive theses as conclusions,..." (Kripke, 1982, p.3). Kripke tells the reader: "The point to be made here is that, at the same time the second part is important for an ultimate understanding of the first.'' (1982, p.84) "In this way the relation ship between the first and the second portions... is reciprocal." (1982, p.85). We find that a reciprocal reading helps me to understand and absorb the main points and arguments.

Friday, August 2, 2019

Shooting Dad

Jurgen Bolanos Professor Brewer English 107 Feb. 18 2011 We’re not so different you and I In Sarah Vowell‘s essay â€Å"Shooting Dad† she talks about her relationship with her dad. She goes far to explain how she differs from her father. She explains her tug-of-war battle with her father. In the end of the essay she expresses her great love for her father and it shows how happy she is that she shares a common feeling. They share a great sense of passion and pride. She begins the essay by showing the open gap between her and her father.She explains her relationship as â€Å"You could have looked at the Democratic campaign poster in the upstairs window and the Republican one in the downstairs window and seen our home for the Civil War battleground it was† (Vowell 433). I feel that in her description, her and her father both were very stubborn and wanted the other to view their personal way of living as right. Sarah’s father called her in mocking joyful tones when a republican won an election, and she pasted a left wing newspaper clipping on the refrigerator door because she knew he would see it.Another way of setting herself apart from her father was the numerous times when she explained discomfort in her home. â€Å"I had to move revolvers out of my way to make room for a bowl of Rice Krispies on the kitchen table† (Vowell 434). Vowell then contrast her discomfort with the lonely island she has made out of her room. She not only separates herself from her dad but also her twin sister who is just as passionate about guns as her father. She feels like her twin is in an alliance with her father and against her. Amy shared our father’s enthusiasm for firearms and the quick-draw cowboy mythology surrounding them† (Vowell 435). Sarah realizes she may now be able to build a relationship with her father when she hears about his new cannon. She asks him if she may go shoot his new cannon with him. This is like a breat h of fresh air to her and a great surprise to her father. â€Å"He was immediately suspicious† (Vowell 438). Even when she was trying out a new thing with her father she seemed a bit cautious because she was trying to justify her motives to the reader.Although Sarah starts to admit she likes her new experience, Sarah’s view of guns as negative still exists. She puts in her essay an explanation of why her father’s cannon are different by using the analogy of someone trying to rob a liquor store. â€Å"try to rob a convenience store with this 110-pound Saturday night special, you’d still be dragging it in the door Sunday afternoon† (Vowell 439). She tries to assimilate her love for loud, head banging music to the sound of the cannon when it is shot.Towards the end of the essay the rhythm slows down as she begins to talk about her fathers wishes when he dies. She feels kind of honored to know that her father will be shot out of the cannon they both sh ot together. In her last paragraph she shows that honor by starting just about every sentence with â€Å"I. † Sarah says, â€Å"I will have my father’s body burned into ashes. I will pack these ashes into paper bags. I will go to the mountains†¦I will plunge his remains into the barrel and point it into a hill†¦I will light the fuse.But I will not cover my ears†¦ I think she also uses the repetition of me to show ownership, because they way her father wants his body to be treated are from an experience they shared. This was an awesome essay that began with the clashing of two stubborn people. Sarah then learned that all her life she had believed that her and her father was complete opposites but went she first shot the cannon with her father all that changed. She ends the essay with a new found relationship with her father and knowing they are one in the same.

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Apush Chapter Notes

Although they shared similarities, the Northern and Southern colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries also had many differences. The diversity of the United States goes back to its beginning as a collection of northern and southern colonies. Their differences in religion, politics, economics, and social issues, and the way they dealt with them, are what shaped our country into what we are today. Religion in the southern colonies was not practiced with the enthusiasm that it was in New England. While most colonists of the south were Anglicans, they were more focused on their tobacco plantations. The same was true for the Catholic founders of Maryland. As their population grew, Protestants began to outnumber Catholics, though the Catholics continued to hold the power and influence. Just as in the other southern colonies, religion eventually took a back seat to tobacco in Maryland. Politics in the colonies were as different as their religious preferences. Seventeenth century New England was governed by Puritans. They governed the colonies with a General Court. The southern colonies, like Virginia, were ruled by the House of Burgesses. A large majority of the southern colonies followed the Virginia model of government. Northern colonial society was based on the Puritan religion. Community leaders attempted to form a completely pious society and to eliminate sin from within its boundaries. Those that did not conform were cast out or met with ridicule and violence, as is evident by the Salem witch trials. Southern colonists were mostly farmers with small plots of land that were maintained by family members and possibly a couple servants. Eventually, the mortality rate in the colonies began to decrease and most indentured servants survived long enough to be free. This caused a class system to develop that polarized the social structure of the south. Although they shared many similarities, and the prompt suggests that the Northern and Southern colonies were more similar than different, it seems clear that there were also many difference between the two. They had religious differences, they had political differences, they had economic and social differences. These differences prove the validity of the prompt’s statement to be wrong.