Specific reference a film Essay Example For Students

Specific reference a film Essay Pulp Fiction (US, 1994) was directed by Quentin Tarintino, and stared, amongst others; John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman and Bruce Willis. It is a film that has provoked much discussion, ever since it was first released, mostly because of its use of violence, but also over many other topics too. As Marjorie Baumgarten of The Austin Chronicle newspaper puts it: the movie makes you want to talk, want to babble, want to share your thoughts and enthusiasms. Pulp Fiction is a film that makes the viewer think in many different ways. You have to think to follow the storyline, which is actually several stories mixed together. Also it is not told chronologically, it raises many issues that are prominent in todays society, and also challenges the viewers own perceptions of the world. Its the perfect iconic slice of entertainment, but also puts forward ideas and thought provoking subjects. We will write a custom essay on Specific reference a film specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The film, although always regarded as indefinable in genre, is often filed under Crime. Which does make sense, as that is the main subject matter of the film, although there is hardly any police presence. All kinds of crime are covered. From the intricate network of organised crime headed by the mob boss, Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), to the two small time crooks, Pumpkin (Tim Roth) and Honey Bunny (Amada Plummer), that want to hold up a coffee shop because they are tired of the risks of robbing convenience stores and gas stations. The thing that makes Pulp Fiction make you think more than other crime films (or more than other films period) is the fact that practically all of the characters are criminals in one way or another. And these are the people we, as an audience, concentrate on, and sympathise and relate with as the story unfolds. Thats an odd thing for us regular law-abiding citizens, to have to relate to reckless, cold-blooded menaces to society, when we are so used to being on the side of the police. And as Ive said before, there is no police representation in the film, (with the possible exception of the hillbilly rapist Zed, who appears to be wearing some kind of law uniform, but even then its not as if hes depicted in a good light). Regular members of the public only appear for one or two lines and their characters are by no means developed. Also we see the criminals when they arent on the job as well. Most crime films might leave the criminals after theyve done their job, but in Pulp Fiction we follow Jules (Jackson) and Vince (Travolta), the badass gangsters, throughout the rest of their eventful morning. We see them have normal concerns, normal conversations, and normal relationships. So we are prompted to ask ourselves; are these people really all that evil? I doubt any decent person would deny that the things that they do are evil, but are they actually evil people themselves? Are the things theyre doing actually justified at all? Its not as if its mindless random carnage. The process of cancelling out debts and doing favours for favours, is one we do in our lives albeit not on such a huge scale, but still a widely used process. The dialogue between Jules and Vince gossiping over a supposed event that Marsellus had the non-appearing character Tony Rocky-horror thrown out of a window for giving Marsellus wife Mia (Thurman) a foot massage, illustrates this issue of justified actions. Jules thinks that Marsellus over-reacted: That shit aint right, man. and represents those who think such things are unfair, whilst Vince, although hes not sayin he was right, thinks Marsellus was justifiable in being angry as its laying hands on Marsellus Wallaces new wife in a familiar way. He represents those who think the reasoning behind acts of organised crime make sense. .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34 , .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34 .postImageUrl , .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34 , .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34:hover , .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34:visited , .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34:active { border:0!important; } .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34:active , .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34 .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u68dfc9604ca2e68eaaeb9b5dbe85cf34:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Film Response - Citizen Kane EssayThe amount of violence in the film has always attracted criticism. The American film critic Robert Ebert stated he had received mail from those who hate the movie. They say it is too violent, too graphic, too obscene, or makes no sense. Many say they walked out after 20, 30 or 60 minutes. It is true that there is much violence in the film (no more than in the average action blockbuster though), but rather than glamorise violence, (which is a popular accusation toward the film), Pulp Fiction illustrates miss-conceptions about the amount of violence in society. Most of the violent acts happen in normal environments. Butch (Willis) kills Vince in Butchs sub-urban apartment, rather than in nuclear facilities, or government headquarters, as they might do in other action films. It brings the violence closer to home in some respects and could prompt the viewer (especially a viewer in Los Angeles, or a similar American environment, where the film is set) to question how much violence actually goes on, on their own doorstep. Also, Tarintino never actually shows much of the violence on screen. When Butch kills Maynard (Zeds similarly sick minded brother) in the basement of the pawnshop with a samurai sword, we never see the sword go into Maynards body. The contact is just off screen, below our view. Similarly we never actually see the syringe go into Mias chest. Instead we cringe when a chilling thud is sounded whilst the camera shows Mias shocked expression, not the contact. And when the guys in the apartment are shot, the camera is on Vince and Jules, not the victims. As previously stated, the film is no more violent than your average action movie. It just seems more violent because of the suspense and delay by humour that Tarintino uses. Only nine people die in the entire film; the three guys in the apartment who are shot by Vince and Jules, Marvin the fourth guy from the apartment who is accidentally shot by Vince in the car, Vince is shot by Butch, the two hillbillies in the pawnshop basement, the boxer killed in the ring by Butch and the Gimp in the pawnshop basement. But alongside this count, six main characters; Mia, Marsellus, Pumpkin, Honey Bunny, Vince, and Jules are saved from death. Plus the many people in the coffee shop are also saved. In Pulp Fiction, Tarintino tackles violence in our society, and makes the viewer really think about violence and crime. But violence and crime arent the only issues Tarintino raises in the film. Drugs are another issue he deals with. The main perception of drugs in the film is that they arent glamorous. At first it may appear that Tarantino is glamorising them, as everything goes great for the two sexy young drug takers; Vince and Mia on their date. But it soon all goes wrong as Mia discovers a bag of heroin in Vinces coat pocket when Vince is in the bathroom. Mia, herself a coke-addict, thinks that it is coke, and proceeds to prepare a large line of it on the coffee table. Her nose starts to bleed and then she passes out. She has over-dosed. Vince discovers her when he comes out of the bathroom (note that whenever Vince comes out of the bathroom, something bad happens). The sight is not pleasant. Panic stricken takes her to his dealers house, where they administer an adrenaline shot just in time to bring her round. This negative image of drug taking isnt a very conventional one. In lots of films, before Pulp Fiction, drug taking was portrayed as cool and sexy, but this portrayal is quite the opposite. The viewer is shown the real dangers of drugs, straight up. Tarintinos use of drugs culture in the film is not one of glamour, but one of warning. .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05 , .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05 .postImageUrl , .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05 , .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05:hover , .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05:visited , .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05:active { border:0!important; } .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05:active , .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05 .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9228ce432b6d00004498768f1dcc6a05:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Thoughts on Pocahontas the Movie EssayTarintino also challenges racism in the film. The word nigger is used in the film a lot. But it is not always used by white people as a term of abuse toward black people, and when it is, the black people dont seem to care so much. This is because they use the term themselves. Marsellus once uses the term on Vince, who is white, in a friendly tone. Tarintino is trying to put across the word as slang used between black people in friendly situations, but also acceptably used by white people. Hes trying to communicate with the audience that the term is not always used in a racist context. And by us having the skewed view that white people only use the term to abuse black people, Tarintino is saying that we ourselves are being racist. Because we are singling out the word, singling out a group that uses it and a group that it describes. Tarintinos use of the word is also for authenticity, as it is used as we see in the film. The same applies for the, what some might say over excessive, use of coarse swearing and cursing in the film, its for realism. The kind of characters in the film use that kind of language all the time.

Introduction to Ideologies Essays

Introduction to Ideologies Essays Introduction to Ideologies Essay Introduction to Ideologies Essay Essay Topic: On Liberty Do the assignments in as much detail as you find necessary to learn the material. Keep your notes for study purposes. Outcomes: 1 . To appreciate various perspectives regarding identity and ideology and the relationship between individualism and the common good. 2. To explore factors that many influence individual and collective beliefs and values (culture, language, media, relationship to land, environment, gender, religion( spirituality, ideology). 3. To examine expressions of individualism and collectivism and the dynamic between individualism and the common go( contemporary societies. . To examine characteristics of ideology (interpretations of history, beliefs about human nature, beliefs about the Truckee of society, visions for the future); the themes of ideologies (nation class, relationship to land, environment, religion, progressivism); and the relationship between worldviews and ideology. 5. To analyze individualism and the common good as foundations of ideology. II. Learning Activities Students will complete 7 Learning activities using this learning guide, the textbook Perspectives on Ideology; and a number of Internet websites. The course textbook Perspectives on Ideology is available in the Library. Ill. Evaluation Spoon completion of this learning guide students will write a test in the Test Centre consisting of 25 multiple-choice items. Activity l: Consider the following with reference to pages 7 18, 23 24 and 49 50 01 Perspectives on Ideology 1 . Briefly identify different beliefs about human nature, nature of society, interpretations of history and visions of the future 2. Explain what is meant by individualism and collectivism. 3. Explain the role of values in influencing personal identity and collective goals. 4. Identify the factors that influence beliefs and values. 5. Compare and contrast the views Of Locke, Hobbes and Rousseau on human nature. 6. Consider the source on page 13. To what extent are the distinctly European ideas of Locke and Hobbes based on similar values? 7. Describe the meaning and role of ideology in human affairs. FOUNDATIONS OF IDEOLOGY The popular 17th C scientific approach to understanding natural phenomenon isolating, reducing, dissecting, and separating was adapted for use a social instrument, a political spectrum in the hopes of revealing the constituent parts of political belief. A political spectrum is a way of comparing or visualizing political beliefs by placing them on an axis. The spectrum places conservatism on the right, verbalism centre-left and socialism left of that. Communism and Fascism occupy positions on the extreme left and right respectively. While the spectrum is an inaccurate measure of belief, the following characteristics are generally accepted: An emphasis on equality is considered left-wing and emphasis on liberty is right-wing Government economic interventionism is leftist; limited government is right-wing. Readiness to change is left-wing; support for tradition and the status quo is right-wing. The Political Spectrum Political ideas are often classified according to their position on a political Spectrum. The political spectrum first came into use shortly after the French Revolution in 1789. (Those who sat on the left side of the chamber wanted significant change in government; those on the right wanted little or no change. ) The Political Spectrum: as an expression of peoples readiness to accept change: NOTE: The expression status quo means the current system or the way things are now. If you desire change, then that means changing the status quo. If you leave things the way they are, then you are maintaining the status quo. The status quo) Radical Moderate Reactionary Radical: An extremist of the political left. Radicals want change to the status quo that is immediate and sweeping and are prepared to use violence to achieve their revolutionary goals. Moderate: Someone who is generally satisfied with the status quo. Moderates include both liberals who support progress and accept change as a means of improving conditions for individuals and society, and conservatives who resist change believing that traditions, privilege and law and order are essential to maintaining a civilized society. Reactionary: An extremist of the political right. Reactionaries reject hang and favor a return to traditional values, institutions and the real or imagined glories of the past. Ideological Belief and the Political Spectrum: In the 20th Century, radical Communists believed an international workers revolution would result in collective ownership and a classless society. Moderate socialists sought equality through democratic means. Liberals searched for broader individual rights in a just society. Conservatives defended privilege and individualism. Fascists were reactionaries who opposed equality, promoted uniformity and supported a return to national glory and empire. Communism Socialism verbalism Conservatism Fascism Note: On the spectrum, change moves to the left; consequently, over time, values that once seemed more radical gradually become accepted and eventually may represent the status quo. Liberals in the 1 9th century supported limited government, individual rights but not universal suffrage (it was accepted that certain groups, women for example, should not have the right to vote). Ironically, in contemporary society, it is conservatism that argues for limited government and liberalism that believes government has a meaningful role to play in creating a more egalitarian society. Conservatism, as always, aims to preserve the status quo and its inherent traditions and privileges. A spectrum representing the extent of Government Control Political and economic systems can also be classified according to how much control the government has over its citizens. The extreme right and left of the spectrum favor total government control to achieve their objectives. Socialists believe that government has a significant role in controlling vital industries and agencies. Liberals believe government has a role in shaping a better society. Conservatives believe the role Of government should be limited. Anarchists are so distrustful of the power of government that they believe it should be abolished. These views can be represented in a number of ways: Anarchism No Government (Anarchy) Limited Government (Democracy) Total Government (Dictatorship) Government Control Freedom _ Liberalism Individual TOTALITARIANISM MODERATES ANARCHISM Totalitarianism: A totalitarian state is ruled by a single leader and party. The executive has total control over all functions of the state and citizens are expected to give their full allegiance to their government. Such a state could be Communist or Fascist (also termed authoritarian, absolutist, autocratic, actuarial, one-party state). Moderates: Moderates balance individual freedom with the common good. Moderate states promote pluralism which recognizes the natural rights of a diverse population to actively participate in the governing of the country. The power of the government is limited by the constitution and rule of law. A separation of powers helps ensure that no branch of government can wield extraordinary power without the consent of the governed. Anarchism: Anarchists believe that all government authority is self-serving, potentially corrupt and unjust, and that individuals should be ere from external agencies. Viewed from all other positions on the spectrum, anarchism is rejected as a system that would result in anarchy (chaos); but, this reflects the perspective of those who support government a an institution. EXPLORING THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM The Spectrum as a Grid The difficulty of placing complex beliefs on a left-right spectrum led to the us of a grid system. In this way, an ideology that valued economic freedom but civil restraint could be differentiated from one that preached both economic and political freedom. Economic Freedom Political Freedom Fascists reject political freedoms in a state that glorifies leadership and national objectives. They protect private ownership but control economic decision-making. Communists reject political and economic freedoms in order to create a new communist state. Theoretically government control ends when a classless society is achieved. Libertarians reject government intrusion in the lives of citizens. Libertarians believe individuals should be free to do anything they want, so long as they do not infringe upon the rights of others. They reject collective values and are suspicious of government intrusion in their lives. Socialists use the democratic powers of government to achieve egalitarian objectives. The following example of a two-axis grid shows that it is possible for a person to be one of four combinations of Liberal/Conservative. For instance, someone could be a fiscal conservative On economic issues (i. E. Believes in free markets, limited government, low taxes) and a social liberal on issues such as minority rights. Spectrums are useful in that they provide a visual means of contrasting beliefs on a continuum but because they simplify information they have limited use in pinpointing complex political and economic ideas. Activity 2: Consider the following with reference to what you have just read about The political Spectrum. You might also consider online sources such as: Policewomans. Org Learnable. Ca/content/espies/index. HTML http://en. Wisped. Org/wick/political_spectrum 1 . Briefly identify the characteristics and beliefs of radicals, liberals, moderates, conservatives, and reactionaries in the 20th century. . On the issue of promoting change in social conditions, briefly describe the position of anarchists, communists, socialists, liberals, conservatives, and fascists. 3. On the issue of government intervention in the economy, briefly describe the position of anarchists, communists, socialists, liberals, conservatives, and fascists. 4. Compare and contrast the position Of communists an d fascists in theory. 5. Explain why the radical theory of communism and the reactionary theory of fascism, although opposites, are justifiably placed on the same point on a spectrum depicting the power of government in society. Canadians are generally uncomfortable with extremism. As a democracy Canada is noted for its tolerance and acceptance of a wide range of political beliefs; its governments have never varied from he center stage of conservative and liberal philosophy. The same cannot be said for other countries. Many European nations are hotbeds of political activism. Parties of the far left and far right vie for political power in an proper contest that pits Communist against Fascist, radical against reactionary. Activity 3: Consider the following questions with reference to pages 9- 18 and 105 1 1: in Perspectives on Ideology: 1 . What kind of government and political system would be necessary if one viewed human beings in the same way as Thomas Hobbes, that is, as selfish, nominative, and prone to evil? 2. Why would an authoritarian style Of government be advocated by someone who places the highest value on unity, order, and military strength? 3. Use the DEL glossary to explain the following terms: authoritarianism, autocracy, despotism, dictatorship, divine-right, monarchy, plutocracy, theocracy 4. What would the nature of government tend to be like if one viewed human beings as cooperative, rational, and essentially good, as was the case with John Locke and J. J. Rousseau? 5. Explain how the ideas Of Locke, Nonentities, Smith and Mill challenged the status quo. 6. With reference to page 18 of Perspectives on Ideology: Contrast Rousseau views of man in nature with man in society. To what structures and forces within society did he attribute these differences? 7. Compare Rousseau position with Hobblers. What could account for Ethel different conclusions about the state of man in nature? 8. Explain how the concept of the social contract is reflected in the ideas of Hobbes and Locke. 9. Explain how the social contract might serve as the basis of both individualist and collectivist ideologies. 0. Explain how the differing views of Hobbes and Locke result in significantly efferent ways of organizing society. 1 1. Where are power, authority and decision-making best placed in society? Why? To what extent does your position reflect a Hobnails or Locked perspective? 12. J. S. Mill analyzed the dynamic relationship between the individual and society. Ex plain how this dynamic results in both preservations of and restrictions to individual liberty. Activity 4 Complete the following with reference to pages 23 and 31 -47 and 50-51 of Perspectives on Ideology: 1. Identity could be said to be influenced by genetic, historic, cultural and current factors. Can ones personal identity be separated from ones collective identity? 2. Briefly identify what you consider to be the most critical factors that influence identity. To what extent do these factors represent underlying themes that characterize ideological belief? Activity 5: Complete the following with reference to pages 62 70 in Perspectives on Ideology: 1 . Briefly explain the importance of collectivist and individualist principles in human history. Activity 6: Complete the following with reference to pages 80 85 in Perspectives on 1. Briefly summarize the principles of collectivism. To what extent do they complement rather than oppose the principles Of individualism. Activity 7: Complete the following with reference to pages 44 -47 in Perspectives on 1. Explain Marshall Macaulays concept that the medium is the message. To what extent is medias impact reflected in high tech advertising? 2. Explain how Chomsky and Herdsmans concern with the potential of media to establish hegemonic control might negatively impact the ability of citizens to participate in a democracy. It is important to realize that individualism and collectivism do not represent an either/or proposition. Social issues are complex and should not be reduced to a simple choice. Political rhetoric often characterizes controversial matters in black and white terms creating a popularization that unfairly demotions the opposition. Recognizing this, Social Studies emphasize the importance of critical thinking; making decisions that are supported by evidence and guided by reason. Historical thinking and geographic thinking are important skills in this process. Neither is based entirely on known truths but rather on facts, accepted beliefs and critical interpretations that recognize the influence of a did variety of factors.

Collapse of CTV Building Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Collapse of CTV Building - Assignment Example The governments of several countries are motivating the organizations to follow proper business policies in order to improve countries’ business environment. This study will focus on the collapse of CTV building during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The study will try to find out several other reasons behind the collapse of this building. Collapse of CTV Building Introduction CTV Building was the headquarters of several leading organizations including Canterbury Television. This building was established in the Christchurch Central City (Kunstler, 2005). The CTV building became one of the significant symbols of 2011 Christchurch earthquake. 115 people lost their lives due to the collapse of CTV building during the earthquake. A series of construction, council, decision making, and engineering related errors over the last 20 years caused the catastrophic collapse of the CTV building. Prime Minister John Key ordered to set up the Royal Commission in order to investigate this i ncident. According to several reports it can be stated that the collapse of CTV building was the biggest life-taking incident. The Royal Commission stated that the CTV building’s engineering design was deficient in several ways. This building was not developed according to the appropriate standards. Therefore, Christchurch City Council did not make a right decision by issuing a building permit for CTV building. During the construction of the office block, it was found that the construction had been inadequately supervised by the appointed construction manager (Wilson, 2012). This study will identify the stakeholders and key role players associated with CTV Building and its consequences. Moreover, this study will critically analyze and evaluate the key management and several organizational factors associated with the critical incident. Analysis of the Case Study The government of New Zealand is trying to find legal reasons behind the collapse of this building. First of all, th e government has stated in the report of the Royal Commission that the construction plan was not created according to the standard level. The Royal Commission has concluded that serious deficiencies in its construction and design are the major reasons behind the accident (Figure 1). CTV building did not meet the standard construction criteria. Moreover, the designing engineer constructed the building out of his depth (Stursberg, 2012). Moreover, as for the council staff that inspected this building after the incident of the earthquake, none of them were the engineers. The Construction and Building Minister said that the report of the commissions would be handed over to the professional engineers’ institute. The government wanted to find out the level of corruption and crime associated with the collapse of CTV building (Xu, 2012). Alan Reay Consultants Ltd. were in charge of CTV building construction. The commission blamed the groups for establishing a noncompliant and inadequ ate design (Figure 2). Moreover, the council stated that city officials were also responsible for the incident as they had not sent notice to the owner of the building. According to the report, the building got a green sticker after the earthquake of 2010. Signalling authorities gave it thumbs up for the individuals to use in future. Identify the Roles of Key Role Players and Stakeholders The owner and principle engineer did not follow the legal aspects. The principle engineer

To Dare & To Conquer Special Operations and the Destiny of Nations, Essay

To Dare & To Conquer Special Operations and the Destiny of Nations, from Achilles to Al Qaeda - Essay Example 124). The third part covers the American Revolution during the firs World war. It touches a bit on the French revolution, though it is American centric. The last part covers the post-first world war period through the present and the future.. Derek Leebaert, reveals the stories of the Special Forces, including those who were valued in the ancient myths and today's Delta Force. He describes the magnetic leaders behind the historical actions, and explains how such combinations have contributed in shaping the world. The book shows how risk operations have evolved in order to accommodate new technology and social change. Special operations grew out from the Second World War, and expanded during the savage wars after 1945 (Leebaert 2007, p. 201). The emergence of warfare at the last stages of the cold war resulted in to special operation throughout the world. The government seeks to meet more and new challenges in cost-effective and sparing ways of the sentimentality that passes for integrity in the period of 24-hour media.To Dare and to Conquer offers an impressive thesis: that special operations have continuously changed the course of human events. As a mode of testing, Leebaert puts the reader on a captivating tour of west ern military history; from siege of troy to the invasion of Iraq (Leebaert 2007, p. 301). The ambitious book not only uncovers the military history, but also shows the diplomatic, technical, political and cultural tide of events. Moreover, it introduces Alexander the Great and Roman emperor. It also shows American Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte, civil war and World War II. This is where Leebaert describes the special operations. He claims that Alexander was the conqueror of Egypt, Persia and other known parts of the world, encamped with his soldiers in the known countryside on border between Afghanistan and Pakistan (Leebaert 2007, p. 254). Alexander was dealt as a loosing person but he later turned to be victorious since he created a 300-man Special Forces team which was equipped with iron tent pegs which were used in place of pistons, as pistons had not been invented by then. Lee baert also explains about the British Navy captain, Sidney Smith, who was commanded to remove the French from Egypt after being conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798. He recruited a thousand Balkan mercenaries and took them to Levant to strengthen the fortress at Acre. In addition to that, he captured the fundamental French siege guns and thereafter halted the Napoleon's advance. According to the book, Bonaparte claimed that he could have changed the fate of the world if he could get the chance of reaching the Constantinople of India. Leebaert cites some special operations that later turned to a battle, took down a dynasty, wrecked a port and changed history. The question that this book raises is "how can any difficult military mission succeed without special operations" According to (Leebaert, ), the examples of special operations include familiar historical events such as Mexican cortez's conquest and Peru pizarro's takeover (Leebaert 2007, p 3224). He also considered the organizational questions and deals with the issues that have continually afflicted special operation efforts of U.S.: the issues concerning sufficient intelligence for protecting the operations. The book raises some questions like: what actually was achieved by U.S. special

People's Mujahidin Organization of Iran v. United States Department of Essay

People's Mujahidin Organization of Iran v. United States Department of State - Essay Example The organization was known to conduct various terrorist activities during the regime of Khomeini as well as the Shah, which made the unpopularity of MeK inevitable. However, the organization claims to have ceased all of its terrorist activities since 2001 and has been aiming to improve its international ever since. This brings us to February 11th 2009, when the MeK filed a petition in the U.S court of Appeals to challenge its designation into FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organization) by the U.S. Department of State. The MeK claims that it has halted all of its terrorist activities since 2001, with valid proof, and the decision of the Department of State to keep the organization listed in the FTO in 2008 and 2003 is unfair. This created a point of confrontation between the two organizations. One needs to take for account both sides of the cases in order to understand the condition properly (Alexander, 2003). In 1996 according to the AEDPA, the Department of State to create a list of global terrorist organizations called the FTO. It was done to cease their working inside the United States. The FTO was to be reviewed by the Department of State once every two years and later every five years to keep the list updated. MeK has been a part of the list since 2003 and has filed a petition to the department of state in 2008 to delist the organization from the list. The MeK has also provided various evidences for this petition to become a reality. The MeK has presented the following changes in its activities and prospects: Ceased every ongoing military campaign in the territory of Iran since 2001. Has shared valuable intelligence information with the U.S. government regarding Iran’s nuclear program and alleged terrorist activities. Has surrendered all of its arms and military equipment to the U.S. military forces of Iraq and cooperated with the U.S. military forces at Camp Ashraf in Iraq. Has obtained a delisting from terrorist organizations from various countries, such as the United Kingdom and the European Union. Has rejected violence and terrorist activities on record in 2004. Even after these substantial evidences, the U.S. Department State ruled out the petition of MeK and maintained its listing in the FTO as a terrorist organization. A listing in the FTO means that all assets an organization has in the United States will be overtaken by the government and the organization will not be allowed to hold any activity, even peaceful, inside the U.S. territory. For the U.S. Department of State to justify its decision, they released a 20-page document to support their decision. In such documents, the Department was expected to give a detailed description of each of every difference stated by the MeK. This wasn’t the case here (McCormack and McDonald, 2006). The document, when analyzed by various analysts was found to be filled with one-sided reviews of past activities, dating back in the 1980’s and the 1990’s by the MeK. The dep artment did not give any pro and cons of the activities mentioned by the MeK in their petition to the department and were all pointing towards the activities conducted by the organization way before 2001, after which the organization claims to have changed. Some descriptions given in the document was even contradictory to the activities of the MeK such as, â€Å"On October 12, 2006, I received information that questioned activities were going on at the University compound, [C]amp

Proposed Sun Tracking System

Proposed Sun Tracking System Abstract Introduction The basic design of a solar thermal power generation system is as shown in the figure. In such a system, the major components are the solar energy concentrator, sterling engine and the dynamo (alternator) unit. A parabolic dish reflector acts as the concentrator in this system. To achieve a good performance from a solar thermal conversion engine, it should be exactly mounted on a place where maximum heat transfer is possible. It is the center or the focal point of the parabolic reflector surface. Then only the engine receives the maximum amount of solar thermal energy, which will be converted into kinetic energy and then to electricity. There are two possible configurations for the placement of the sterling engine depend on the surface type of the reflector. They are known as prime focus configuration and the offset focus configuration. Because of the position of the sun changes according to the rotation of earth, the parabolic surface has to be focused to the direction of the sun at all the times. The proposed solar tracking system consists of hardware and software to achieve following capabilities Localization The position of the Sun in a given time can be calculated using mathematical equations based on the time, location, altitude and few other factors. To perform such a calculation, the exact location of the device should be known. Since this device is not mounted on a mobile configuration, it is not hard to find the exact location with help of a map or a GPS device after install in the field. But it is more convenient to use an embedded GPS receiver with this system. This will eliminate the requirement of initial setup and it also capable of providing the precise UT timestamp based on the synchronized satellite clocks. It makes this device a location independent and time independent high precision solar tracking mechanism. NREL Solar position algorithm (SPA) Several methods and algorithms to calculate the position of the sun has been published in the literature of the solar research, but most of them were not precise enough because their uncertainties have been greater than  ± 0.01. Reda and Andreas implemented a new algorithm which is capable of estimate the position of the sun with uncertainties of  ±0.0003 and well known as solar position algorithm (SPA) by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Feedback loop mechanism MPU 9250 IMU In this solar tracking system, orientation of the reflector surface is precisely controlled and maintained by a closed loop control system. Therefore this system should consist of a feedback mechanism to obtain the current orientation of the reflector as the feedback input of the control loop. There are several methods to fulfil this requirement. For example, a read reckoning based method such as a rotary encoder with a known reference point can be used per each axis. But since it increases the mechanical complexity of the system there is a very higher chance of causing mechanical failures and sensor issues. To eliminate this problems while keeping the accuracy in a higher level, a micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) [] based implementation is suggested. Among the advantages of this kind of devices less power usage, high accuracy, fast response, less complexity and the minimal space requirement are mostly highlighted in this application. Inertia Measuring Units (IMU) are very popular in the fields of mobile devices, game controllers, drone flight control systems and self-balancing toys because they provide the angular position coordinates (Yaw Pitch and Roll) in a very higher sample rates. They are also accurate enough to balance and guide a wireless controlled drone in a very high level of accuracy even in the industrial electromagnetic noise and interference. This devices are normally consist of a gyroscope, and accelerometer and a magnetic compass. To ensure the maximum accuracy in all directions, it is recommended to use 3 axis devices. Theoretically we can say that with the only help of a gyroscope, it is possible to calculate the angular orientation in Euler coordinates, but the problem of using a single device is it may generate very much of error when continuously using in long time periods. It is commonly known as the gyroscope drift. This can be compensated by using a secondary device which corrects the dri ft and it is the accelerometer. This combined sensor based approach is commonly described as sensor fusion. There are several sensor fusion algorithms available in the industry such as Karlmann filter and the complementary filter. In this research, Karlmann filter based algorithm has been used. With the both accelerometer and the gyroscope sensors, now we can accurately calculate the Euler angles of the reflector when the IMU is placed near the focus point of the Parabola. The offset values can be preconfigured to match the exact difference between the sensor position and the focal point. But we need one more reference point to convert this coordinates into altitude and azimuth vectors. It is the north direction and can use a magnetic compass to obtain this parameter. But it also need a very much higher level of calibrations due to the magnetic field variations depend on the situations and the locations. In this research, the nine axis MPU 9250 has used. It is an integrated chip with 3 axis MEMS gyroscope, 3 axis MEMS accelerometer and a 3 axis magnetic compass. It has a 16bit RAW data outputs on each axis and therefore a very high accuracy is obtained.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Reconciliation of Western a

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - The Reconciliation of Western and Eastern Philosophy The differences in Western and Eastern philosophy are marked. Eastern thinking has slowly become â€Å"discovered† by the West; meanwhile, the development of Western thought and philosophy has come under close scrutiny by modern and postmodern philosophers and thinkers as being flawed at its core. The German philosopher Martin Heidegger came to the conclusion that â€Å"Western philosophy is a great error† (Barrett xi). The manner in which Western thought was founded, the course of its development, and its incursion into every facet of life in the Western world has been and is now being questioned on all fronts by leading critics and thinkers. Robert Pirsig, in his book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, describes in detail the development of the Western philosophical tradition, and how it has shaped Western society. In doing so, he offers a critique of certain aspects of Western thought that resulted from a momentous battle for the â€Å"mind of man† (Pirsig 381). What came about was a fragmenting of the mind from matter, of perception from experience. In addition to outlining the history and philosophy behind Western thinking, he offers a rediscovery of the very concept that got buried under the â€Å"rubble of declining Athens† and Rome, buried deeply under the new champions of Western man: Reason, Intellect, Knowledge (Pirsig 391). Pirsig cites Thoreau in writing, â€Å"You never gain something but that you lose something† (387). This applies with direct impact to Western development. In understanding the world through â€Å"dialectic truths† man lost the ability to understand h ow to be part of the world, and â€Å"not an enemy of it† (Pirsig 3... ...not a divisive knife. It offers the ultimate solution to a fragmented mind, the dualistic world in which we live. Works Cited Barrett, William (ed.). Zen Buddhism: Selected Writings of D.T. Suzuki. New York: Doubleday, 1956. Blatavasky, Madame. The Secret Doctrine. Vol. 1. Theosophy Publishing, 1888. Capra, Fritjof. The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels Between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism. Boston: Shambhala Press, 1991. Kant, Emmanuel. Critique of Pure Reason. Trans. Norman Kemp Smith. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1965. Lao Tzu. Tao Te Ching. Trans. Mitchell, Stephen. New York: HarperCollins Press, 1988. Pirsig, Robert. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. New York: HarperCollins Press, 1974. Sprague, Rosamund Kent (ed.). The Older Sophists. Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press, 1972.