Abina and the Important Men

Abina and the Important Men BY ckc74426 Abina and the Important Men: A Graphic History This graphic novel was a very interesting and unique take on history and on how it's traditionally told. The story is based on a young African slave girl, named Abina Mansah, in the nineteenth century. Most of the events that occur in the book take place in West Africa and more specifically in the Gold Coast Colony. It's based on the real-life event of Abina's trial against Quamina Eddo, who was a powerful and wealthy man. She believed that she was wrongfully enslaved.She wanted her voice to be heard and decided that she would take this man to court. The only problem with this was that he grew palm oil, which at the time was vital component of Britain's growing industrial production. Therefore, bringing him to court was a big deal. They were walking a very fine line in doing so, but in the same token they had to honor the new laws that they passed abolishing slavery. None the less, William Melton, the acting Judicial assessor, decided to give the girl a shot in court to prove Eddo guilty of wrongfully enslaving her.The account goes on to tell of the events that occurred in court. Abina tells her account of what had occurred and is questioned about her experience by Eddo's attorney, her own attorney, and Melton. She states that she was left by her old master in the hands of Eddo, but that her old master was going to return for her later. While staying at Eddo's plantation with his sister she was approached by his sister and was told that she was going to have to marry a man, Tando, against her will. She told them that she didn't like the man and wouldn't marry him.With this she was threatened and told that if she didn't marry him then she would be flogged. After she was told this she ran away and knew that she wanted her story to be heard. This is why she had come to Cape Coast to be free. In the end Quamina Eddo was found innocent of enslaving Abina. She was very upset by thi s news and stated that all she wanted was to be heard. She wanted to go to the court so that she could say what needed to be said. She wanted them to know how her life was. In the second half of the book you can find the original transcripts that tell you xactly of what was said during the trial.You can also find a section on the historical context, a reading guide, and a classroom guide. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel. It was a really creative twist on the usual context of how history is normally told! I think that it kept me more interactive in the story and engaged. The main reason I enjoyed the book, along with many others I'm sure, is the story being focused on an unlikely person in history. Abina was Just a normal girl in history. She as a slave girl who didn't have any fancy education, nor was she wealthy or powerful.Basically, she was kind of like you or me in the grand scheme of world history. We don't hold any important role in history, yet we make up the majority of people in the history of our time. Its a wild thing to think about. It really makes you think about all of the history that was lost throughout the years! Who knows what other occurrences happened that, due to lack of good documentation or preservation was lost. What's even worse to consider is that throughout history there were people ho took it upon themselves to decide what was important and what was not.This is discuss is timely question of how people can so easily ignore what is right? For instance the men that were on the Jury and William Melton knew that Abina was most likely a slave. Even if she was labeled so, she was still being forced to marry a man that she didn't want to. This leads me to my next question, was she really a slave? My answer to that is a yes I believe, but I still would like to hear what others opinions are. As a girl, I can't help but side with Abina on this matter.Not only were they attempting to force her to marry someone else, but they were essentially taking her freedom away to choose her own path in life. No one likes to be told what to do and I admire her determination and courage in trying to give a voice to those who couldn't speak up for themselves. All in all this was a great book and I am really happy that you introduced us to it! It definitely made me consider all the voices that have gone unheard throughout history, but now I am left with only more questions about the history of our world and what it all means!

Abstract-writing guidelines Essay

An abstract allows the author to communicate to his audience the critical information of his original research in a concise manner. Foote (2006) and December and Katz (nd) recommend that in writing a good abstract, it should contain four elements – background or objectives, methods, results and conclusion. The background highlights the research questions and/or hypotheses, the methods describe the study population, data gathering techniques and statistical analysis. The results indicate the most pertinent findings and should contain actual data (Maughan 2001) and illustrative examples. The conclusion summarizes the findings and implications of the study (Rooryck & van Heuven 2003). The abstract should be between 100 and 250 words (Foote 2006, Shannon 2000, Guidelines for writing an abstract n. d. ) and should never be longer than a page (Rooryck & van Heuven 2003). Staiger (1965) suggests that a good abstract can have as little as 150 words once the information is concisely presented. Shannon (2000) and December and Katz (n. d. ) advise that nonessential information such as literature reviews should be avoided. In terms of style only common abbreviations should be used and only minimally (Foote 2006, Shannon 2000) and jargons should not be used (Maughan 2001). The future tense, adverbs and adjectives should also be avoided. The text should flow and be intelligible and easily comprehended by non-specialists and international readers. Abstract The traditional pattern of negotiation and placing of insurance risk between brokers and underwriters follows a face-to-face and paper approach but the new electronic placing system (EPS) is available to allow for submitting, transmitting and negotiating risks and processing claims electronically. This study explores the reasons for introducing, causes for the slow adoption and resistance to the implementation of the EPS systems. In a longitudinal research between 1993 and 1996, we surveyed 94 senior Market management, IT directors and staff, brokers and underwriters in the London Insurance Market using semi-structured interviews, observations of insurance risk placement work practices along with resource reviews. Reasons for introducing, delaying or resisting EPS introduction were copied verbatim and categorized based on its impact on work transformation or professional identity in the workplace. EPS was implemented because of the benefits of productivity, efficiency, speed and cost, its capability to facilitate simultaneous risk transmissions and potential to broaden job horizons. Reasons for resisting or delaying introduction of EPS were the resulting minimization of client, broker and underwriter interaction, the EPS’ inability to transmit supporting customer documents to potential underwriters and its potential to undermine the professional role and identity of brokers and underwriters and to worsen employment conditions and job satisfaction. Brokers also saw EPS as a potential threat to their employment security. There is resistance to technological change in the London Insurance Market and failure to adopt these technologies. EPS challenges the traditional mode of operation. We recommend that there be a balance between the use of computer technologies and traditional methodologies. References December, J. & Katz, S. nd, ‘What is an abstract’ The writing center, [Online] Available at: http://www. rpi. edu/web/writingcenter/abstracts. html Foote, M. 2006, ‘Some concrete ideas about manuscript abstracts’, Chest, vol. 129, no. 5, p. 1375-1377. ‘Guidelines for writing an abstract’, Sigma Theta Tau, International, [Online] Available at: http://www. umassd. edu/nursing/theta_kappa/research_committee/guidelines_abstract. doc Maughan, R. 2001, ‘Editorial: abstract thoughts’, Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 19, no. 5, p. 305. Rooryck, Johan & van Heuven, V. 2003, ‘Guidelines for writing abstracts’, Leiden University, [Online] Available at: http://www. unc. edu/linguistics/confinfo_files/hil-tips. pdf Shannon, S. 2000, ‘Writing a structured abstract’, Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal, vol. 51, no. 6, p. 328-329. Staiger, D. L. 1965, ‘What today’s students need to know about writing abstracts’, Journal of Business Communication, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 29-33. Walsham, G. 2001, Making a world of difference: IT in a global context, Wiley, Chichester, pp. 150-160.

M5d1 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

M5d1 - Coursework Example A collective bargaining association may not necessarily comprehend the work culture and underlying issues of a clinic that vary from one healthcare organization to another. In such cases, the intervention of a collective bargaining association may only yield unfavorable outcomes not only for the clinic but also for the nurses employed therein. Collective bargaining promotes nurses’ reputation. In fact, nurses’ rights are subjugated in so many ways in the contemporary clinical practice that sometimes, intervention of a collective bargaining association is inevitable for the justice to be established; â€Å"Much more essential to nurses is assuring they have a safe practice environment free of mandatory overtime and other work issues, and a voice in the resource allocation decisions that affect their ability to achieve quality health outcomes for patients† (Budd, Warino, and Patton, 2004). Nurses need to belong to a collective bargaining association to have their power mustered up and reflected in front of the stakeholders to be able to control these issues. Bargaining: Strategies to Improve the Patient Care Environment. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. 9(1). Retrieved from

The development program for graduate students Research Paper

The development program for graduate students - Research Paper Example For example: students can help in figuring out whether the communication skills of instructors are of desired standard by rating how easily they understand what their instructors are teaching. Students can even help in figuring out whether the instructor has the analytical skills and the experience required to teach a particular subject to the undergraduate sections. Secondly, the instructors can themselves provide insight regarding the issues they experience while teaching students. Thirdly, grades of students in their exams can even help identify whether the students are able to understand the teacher or not. While determining who to train, it is necessary to figure out who lack the skills require teaching. If both the future as well as the current instructors lacks those skills, they should be trained. Those teachers whose students are not getting good grades plus those teachers who are rated low in the context of classroom communication and students understanding should even be

Eisenhower's Farewell Address Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Eisenhower's Farewell Address - Essay Example The Pentagon is the headquarters of the Department of Defence. Much of the focus of the complex is on this institution as this is where the money goes and the decisions are made. This was especially true during the height of the Cold War when the U.S. faced an existential threat from the Soviet Union, and members of the complex could use fear to strengthen their arguments. These groups not only felt that America needed to spend more on the military to survive, they also wanted more money spent so that they themselves could be enriched. Many of these programs would not have been a good use of taxpayers funds. For Eisenhower, this was unacceptable. He valued a strong national defence policy, but he was concerned that defence spending was taking over and that it was eating into other programs. He knew that for America to be strong it needed both a powerful military and also the social and cultural programs that made it a beacon of freedom to the world. He believed that too much power in the hands of the military-industrial complex would have negative consequences. Work consulted Bowie, Robert R. and Richard H. Immerman. (1998). Waging Peace: How Eisenhower Shaped an Enduring Cold War Strategy. Oxford University Press.

Marketing to the South Asian Population Assignment

Marketing to the South Asian Population - Assignment Example Moreover, the increase of ethnic diversity has become a trend that will increase, which means that UK population will be even more heterogeneous in future. (Halsey, 2000) The number of immigrants from South Asia will rise, which means greater social weight for this group - currently, the largest of all ethnic minorities in the UK. Adding to social weight also means adding to economic value of South Asian population in Britain. Previously perceived as lacking the purchasing power (Sivanandan, 1989) ethnic minorities now present a significant segment "as consumers, workers, and investors in Europe new immigrant groups are beginning to impact the economic, social and political scene" (Palumbo and Teich, 2004). On the one hand, the significance of ethnic minorities increases, and on the other one, practitioners lack the information on how to use their presence. Indeed, buying behaviour of foreigners differ from European significantly. For instance, Delener (1990) finds that religiosity affects significantly buying behaviour of many ethnic groups. Therefore, understanding of purchasing habits of people from minority ethnic group requires understanding of their cultural differences, which become apparent in ethnic identities of each nation. Despite the wide academic interest to immigrant adaptation (Bhugra et al., 1999; Masuda et al., 1970; Phinney, 1990; Ward and Kennedy, 1994) there is still a significant lack of coherence in the description of ethnic identity, particularly because of terminological issues. Ethnic identity is explained in early studies as common ancestry based on shared individual characteristics and socio-cultural experiences (Drieger, 1978); and as fellings of belonging or commitment (Ting-Toomey, 1981). Later researches consider ethnic identity of a group or individual as the maintenance of original ethnic persona (Laroche et al., 1998) and a sense of shared values and attitudes (White and Burke, 1987). Thus 'ethnic identity' is not a clear term, but rather an umbrella of terms close to each other, yet not exactly similar, remaining opened for new perspectives. Consequently, such multi-dimensional definition of ethnic identity has led to wide acceptance of its multi-dimensional nature (Christian et al., 1976). Another underlying notion widely agreed is that ethnic identity is bound to culture. (Rosenthal and Hrynevich, 1985). However cultural dimensions vary across studies, proposing different models for the analysis of ethnic identity, mainly depending on the particular observed identity. For instance, Palumbo and Teich (2004) indicate religion, rite of passage, language, food and leisure as dimensions of Hispanic ethnic identity. Laroche et al. (2005) while observing differences between Greek and Italian identities, analyse three dimensions: ethnic language use with family members, ethnic language media exposure and ethnic attachment. More general research of Constant et al. (2006) measured ethnic identities of ex-Yugoslavian, Greek, Italian, Turkish and Spanish ethnic groups with five elements: language, culture, social interaction, hist ory of migration, and ethnic self-identification. Without further excessive specification, seven widely accepted dimensions of ethnic identity are given: language, friendship networks, religious affiliation, participation in clubs and organisations, food preferences, traditional celebrations, and politics. Ethnic minority groups present a vast field of interest

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Case Study Example 15). Nick exhibits many symptoms. †¨ Nick’s behavior definitely seems erratic, dramatic, and emotional. He also seems to have met the symptom of having a grandiose sense of self-importance—which is probably related to his displays of worrying about whether he’s going to be famous or not. His preoccupation with actors and promoting talented people in order to gain fame himself have been eschewed by those in the acting community, as evidenced from the case study. Although Nick does not necessarily exhibit exhibitionism forthrightly, he does have some â€Å"show-and-tell† of his sacred objects in his briefcase. He exuded rage in response to criticism. Nick exhibits exploitiveness within interpersonal relationships to some extent, trying even to manipulate the clinician while he was being seen. Also, Nick exhibits unstable relationship patterns and lack of feeling for others. Without a doubt, Nick definitely exhibits most if not all of the behaviors of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. None of the criteria were really unmet—and, as far as one can tell, Nick is a classic case of NPD. The lack of empathy that Nick displays is quite characteristic of NPD. Differential potential diagnoses that might overshadow NPD would be Bipolar Disorder II, where the client would experience manic highs and depressive lows. Although the patient describes being depressed, he is also very high-strung, which could have a great deal to do with his attitude. He could have a mixed episode, and he might possibly be psychotic—after all, why would someone be wearing a white suit with a rose in the lapel unless he were absolutely, if not totally, disconnected from reality? Carrying around a briefcase full of newspaper clippings and certain items that give him a sense of self-importance is one of the characteristics of NPD, but if one thinks about it,

Culture and Society in Japan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Culture and Society in Japan - Essay Example They also attend the university for four years or join the community college for two years. Buckley (1998) indicates that of the total number of students, 90percent, and more graduate from high school. However, in higher learning institutions, at least 40 percent graduates, this shows the importance of education in the society of Japan. Those with disabilities are also considered but under separate schools. The country is keen to provide all individuals with equal educational opportunities hence, known to be one of the countries with high literacy rates in the world. According to Shields (2004), the year for most schools in Japan begins in April and has three terms. These terms are separated by spring, winter and summer holidays. However, the summer break is just one month. Students have an option to or not join the kindergarten when beginning. In 2000, the numbers of children in school were estimated to be half the total population of Japan. This was opposed to the requirements of t he state. According to Japan’s educational system rules, children who join the kindergarten must be 3 years and above and their parents have to meet the tuition fee required. At the age of 6 to 12 years, children attend elementary school known as Shogakkou. This is the first phase of the compulsory education in Japan (Okimoto and Rohlen, 1998). The curriculum in the Elementary school is divided into moral education, subjects, and special education. The subjects that are studied include languages, arithmetic, and life environmental studies, physical and moral education. In the special activities, students get involved in several club events. In this phase, students have play breaks and go on recess. Those between the age of 12 and 15 attend Chugakkou, which is junior high school. This phase is crucial for all students as it determines the future of an individual student. The performance here determines if one will get admission to a good senior high school or not. Joining a go od senior high school increases the chances of an individual to join the best universities and later attain a better career in life. In this phase, students have to extend after school and are required to attend Juku. Juku is a cram school that is meant to help students increase their knowledge grasping power and bright students are pushed to the next phase. Juku also assists students in the preparation of exams meant for high school entry. Entrance exams enable students compete for the best high schools. It is normal for students to be in school for 12 hours. This excludes the homework given and other different activities. This pressure on Japanese students prepares them to compete for high school positions. According to Dore and Sako (1989) the Japanese education System has special arrangements where students can also work full time, while attending senior high school part time. The Japanese education system has the following outstanding features that include; first, schooling occ upies childhood and adolescence stages completely, secondly, the development of the compulsory education both pre and post is privatized. Thirdly, under the single-track system, general education is preferred. Fourth, classmates are automatically promoted according to seniority. Fifth, the number of non-Japanese students and adults enrolled in different schools in Japan is low. Sixth, the country is known to have high education achievement

The History of the Internet Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The History of the Internet - Research Paper Example At the height of Cold War, in 1962, the American Government was devising a plan that would enable the military to maintain its command and control system in an event of nuclear attack on the US. The RAND Corporation was given the task to conduct research and studies to find how the US army could maintain its command and control system if any of US cities come under nuclear attack. After due deliberation and diversified studies, Rand Paul Baran from RAND Corporation submitted his final proposal for a Packet Switched Network (Ruthfield 1995). ARPA, a branch of US department of defense ARPANET awarded a contract to BBN to develop a decentralized architecture network. BBN constructed physical network linking four locations University of California at Los Angeles, SRI (in Stanford), University of California at Santa Barbara, and University of Utah. According to the record, the network was connected through a 50 Kbps circuits on wire (Ruthfield 1995). By 1973, it was established that besides ARPANET other networks have come into a successful existence like National Physical Laboratory in England and the scientific network CYCLADES in France. Undoubtedly, these different networks with different approaches are the foundation of our modern internet. CYCLADES, being a commercial network, had many commercial users who began transferring data from one user to the other. Here Packet switching was born (Dave n.d). In 1976, Dr. Robert M. Metcalfe developed Ethernet, which was a crucial invention to moving data faster through a coaxial cable. Following, Package Satellite Project, SATNET came into existence which connected United States with Europe thus bringing about the first intercontinental Internet in the history (Dave n.d). The same year ARPANET started working on a protocol, later to be called, TCP/IP to bring together different networks without interfering their basic structure. With the invention of TCP/IP protocol it became possible to connect

VBE value based education Essay Example for Free

VBE value based education Essay Abstract Today in the era of competitiveness, learner seem to prefer their education based on what they could derive from it in their near future. No one gives it a choice that how could it be useful to the society and to the people around them-Everyone is looking for the survival in the society. The main objective of the learners are to earn monetary benefits from their education, when such a mindset is prevailing in the minds of the learner, then where are the values of VALUE ORIENTED EDUCATION ? In the present scenario everyone is walking on the trails left by someone , no one gives a thought of finding out their capabilities and deciding their road to success, which ultimately creates a havoc in one’s life. This is clearly evident from the increasing rates of suicide in our society. One of the very common factors responsible for this is over pressure on students to get the high marks in their exams. It is for sure a very unhealthy and unethical competition. It is not only limited to a school level education, several suicide cases happen even at top level academic institutions worldwide here the race is for getting employment. Everywhere we see the learners are indulged in winning the races, in this dieu of time all have forgotten the basic objectives of our contemporary education. The contemporary system of education which stands on the pillars of social values, national values, ethical and aesthetic values like truth, goodness and beauty (Satyam , Shivam, Sundaram) are being eroded speedily. Therefore to delay the time of erosion we need to inculcate the value oriented education in our societies. Value Oriented Education is highly needed in our modern society because our lives have become more miserable. The quantity of education has considerably increased, but the quality has decreased. It is so because the number of educated people has reached at a high level, but murder, hatred, and selfishness have spread out like wildfire everywhere. Institutions are opening day by day, but only few civilized people are produced. It is so because the Degrees are available for all, but the dignity has gone down. Therefore, we need Value Oriented Education which will not only improve the status of the society but also enhance the life of the learners. â€Å"The central task of education is to implant a will and facility for learning; it should produce not learned but learning people. The truly human society is a learning society, where grandparents, parents, and children are students together.† Eric Hoffer

Hazards Of Sulphuric Acid And Caustic Soda

Hazards Of Sulphuric Acid And Caustic Soda A factory will be extended and it will consist of sulphuric acid and caustic soda and these two substances are hazardous substances which will be stored with propane which is a flammable substance and storage of these chemicals can pose various hazards to people and properties both on site and off site but theses hazards can be prevented or reduced as low as reasonably practical. Ai Sulphuric acid in concentrated form is highly irritating, toxic and corrosive to the tissue. Contact with this acid during leakage or spillage can rapidly destroy the tissue, and can cause severe burns, shock, collapse and other symptoms related to those of severe thermal burns, causing onsite hazard to the workers. The material used to construct the tank can cause hazard, according to HSE (2007), Sulphuric acid comes in contact with iron and some steel, hydrogen can be produced and trap quantities of these hydrogen can cause explosion resulting in onsite hazard. Leakages resulting from storage tank, tank truck can drain down the right way of embankment to the low grounds. If there is water flow, it can lead to water body containing acid causing off site hazard on the people that might drink from it, swim in the water, death or sickness off fishes and other water bodies. SCL (2002) Caustic soda can cause both onsite and offsite hazard, if caustic soda reacts with atmospheric carbon di oxide, blockages can be formed as a result of sodium hydroxide clumping.HSE (2007). During unloading of caustic soda if the lid of the tanks, flanks connected to the pipeline, the valves are opened or defected; ejection of caustic soda from the openings can result in accidents. Leakages of the tanks can also flow into the environment causing off site hazard. If this alkali comes in contact with the eyes it could lead to lowering or loss of vision, dermatitis or chronic eczema can affect skin. If the concentration is very high it can rapidly decompose affected tissue. Inflammation of the mouth, throat, oesophagus and stomach may occur if come in contact with NAOH. Japan Soda industry association (2006). As seen in sulphuric acid, this alkali can cause unusual fire and explosion hazard. If it comes in contact with water, moist air and certain metals. OSHA. Spillage of sulphuric acid and caustic soda can also result in slip and trip of workers. HSE (2003) Question Aii SULPHURIC ACID To reduce the risk of sulphuric acid the tank which the acid is stored should be constructed to appropriate standard by a specialist. Acid resistant material should be used to bund the acid stores. HSE (2007). Sulphuric acid residue and vapour are usually retained in empty containers. For this reason labelled safeguards should be observed until they have been thoroughly cleaned. The storage area should be correctly sited and provided with warning notices. Storage tanks should be segregated from incompatible material. The flooring should be constructed by acid resistant to prevent accidents such as slips and trip. The storage area must be secured and regular inspection should be carried out for the container and ancillaries in case of defect to avoid leakages Carson and Mumford (1988). The risk of sulphuric acid can be reduced by carrying out some precautions against exposure to the acid such as enclosing transfer, safety showers and eye wash facilities should be provided close to areas where exposure to the acid is possible. Employees and employers should be kitted up with personal protective equipment such as PVC plastic gloves with gauntlets, PVC plastic chemical suits, acid resistance boots, chemical goggles or face shield these personal protective equipment should be worn regularly especially when getting in contact with the acid and the whole body should be protected not wearing some and omitting others because contact of the acid with any part of the body can cause harm as seen above. Carson and Mumford (1988) Sulco is a chemical company in one of its bulletin described how a storage tank for sulphuric acid can be constructed and thus explains that carbon steel should be used in the construction of tanks and piping for concentrated sulphuric acid over 70% while the pumps and valves should be constructed with 316 stainless steel to avoid iron contamination and alloy 20 for prolonged life since they are subjected to wear. Concrete footing should be used to support the storage tank. The storage tank should be surrounded by a dike, dike material can be concrete or earth lined with compacted clay or can be a synthetic liner. The design and operation stages should be done with care to avoid liquid full sections of pipe between closed valves of which the hydrogen produced by steel corrosion causes dangerous pressures most especially in warmer weathers. On delivery of the sulphuric acid the competent person should ensure that the tank is big enough to contain the amount of sulphuric acid that is b eing delivered to avoid over filing. The person receiving the sulphuric acid should check the unloading connections of the truck to ensure that the material is unloaded into the proper storage tank to avoid explosion. SCL (2002) Unloading must be done by two people to reduce the possibility of accident and also in case of emergency the other can be of assistance and the facilities required for unloading should also be designed to reduce accidents location of the overflowing vent should be of interest, the vent should be directed away from buildings, isolation valves and air shut off valves into the dike. In cases of ruptured unloading hose, liquid isolation valve and air shut off valve should be far from the loading area so that the leak can be stopped quickly and safely. The truck driver should ensure that all equipment on his truck such as unloading hose is in good order. He and the person receiving should wear personal protective equipment and should be trained on proper actions to be carried out in case of spillage. During unloading of the acid, the truck should be wedged by wheel chocks to prevent movement while offloading. The ignition should also be off unless tractor air is needed. There should be po st warning signs, the operators should route traffic away from off loading areas. In an event of spill, ensure that the unloading area are covered or sealed for containment. The regulated air supply should be at normal of 30psi and maximum of 35psi. SCL (2002) From above it can be deduced that leakage can result in water body containing acid. To prevent this, steps should be taken to construct earth dikes downstream to contain the acid and water. If it is a frozen ground, back-hoe and front end loader will be necessary if a dam is needed, but if there is a high rate of flow through the area, damming may not be feasible, then a place farther downstream will be located where the contaminated water can be contained for neutralization before it reaches the main water course. The ph of the effluent liquid should be between 6.0-9.0 and the local regulation must be met before being sent for disposal. The tank truck should be made of 316 stainless steel, to prevent iron contamination. SCL (2002) CAUSTIC SODA Preventive measures should be carried out to avoid onsite and offsite hazard due to splash, leakage, outflow or penetration of caustic soda to the external environment. Due to its corrosive properties to avoid harm during working hours, a competent person should be employed to handle the alkali. He should be trained on the properties of caustic soda and various precautions on handling it. To avoid leakage of caustic soda, the competent person should be in charge in checking pipe opening and closing of valves, checking of the commencement and termination of the receiving and checking of the quantities received. Care should be carried out during loading and unloading of this alkali to the tanker to avoid mistake in transferring the alkali to the wrong tank to avoid exothermic reaction or explosion. The competent person should always wear personal protective equipment such as rubber gloves, rubber apron, work cap, protective goggle, cotton or synthetic fibre work, rubber boots and dust mask. Shower and face washing facilities should be provided close to where the caustic soda is being handled in case of any accident such as spillage or leakage. Japan Soda industry association (2006). Skin cream are also necessary for protecting the skin, they help wash contamination from skin and after work cream aids replacement of skin oil and this can also be carried out when working with propane and sulphuric acid.HSE (2006). To prevent leakages of caustic soda from flowing out of storage tank a spare tank should be installed to receive the alkali before emergency action is being carried out. Liquid bank such as earth fill, concrete, pit-like structure, pond and depression can also be constructed to accumulate the leaked caustic soda. These facilities tend to prevent harm from happening and the accumulated leaked caustic soda is then recovered and disposed. The alkali is disposed by neutralizing it with acid then wash it away it away with large quantity of water. The caustic soda water solution (water used for washing) should be neutralized before disposal to the river or sewage system to prevent polluting the river. Large quantity of leakage can be reduced by surrounding the leaked alkali with sand before disposing it as described above, small quantity of leaked liquid can be flushed with water or wiped off, and solid caustic soda can be recovered by scraping it together with sand or soda ash. The equipm ent that is being used to handle the caustic soda should be inspected periodically and the record should be retained. Erroneous operations can be prevented by taking certain measures like indicating name and directions of flow of the liquid, colour-coding and indication of the opening or closing direction of major valves and cocks. Checklist should be done during inspection of operating facilities and procedures. Japan Soda industry association (2006). Training should be carried on individuals involved in handling or working with the alkali, to prevent accident, they should be trained on proper usage of the personal protective equipment and first aid kit. HSE (2006) Caustic soda should be isolated from metals such as aluminium, tin, zinc because it corrodes them and hydrogen can be formed from this process and this can cause explosion. Caustic soda should be kept far from other chemicals, organic peroxides etc. From the above it can be deduced that not any material can be used to construct the storage tank for caustic soda. Steel can be used but it is safer to use a tank lined with rubber or alkali resistant synthetic resins. Defects and openings in the lid of the tanks, the body of the tanks, the flank connected to the pipeline and valves should be checked for by a competent person before injection of caustic soda into the tank. Japan Soda industry association (2006). Health monitoring should be carried on the workers working with propane, sulphuric acid and caustic soda. They should be asked to check their skin every six months for dryness and soreness and if these symptoms appears, the proper use of hand cream and PPE by the workers should be investigated HSE (2006). Question Bi According to Carson and Mumford (1988) leakages of propane can results hazard. Even small leakages can cause harm resulting in large volume of potential flammable gas. Propane is known to have anaesthetic properties; it is also known to cause depression of the central nervous system and can also be nauseating when inhaled. The density of propane is such that when released it can accumulate at low levels, filling valleys, sumps, ditches pits hugging contours of the ground, pipe-trenches, and propane is known to travel considerable distance causing offsite hazard when it comes in contact with a source of ignition can cause fire and explosion risk. Loss of liquid propane at temperature of 15oc causes vaporization of propane this is usually seen in nearly all propane released to the atmosphere this results in flammable vapour air cloud. This can cause onsite and offsite hazard. The propane can disperse harmlessly or it can ignite immediately in the factory (onsite hazard) if it comes in contact with an ignition source it can also drift until it reaches an ignition source then ignites, the cloud may burn with or without explosion, if the clouds is too rich to explode it may form a mobile fire ball. This can cause off site hazard. The radiant heat from this can cause burns on people and destroy properties and probably ignite combustible material depending on their distance to the fire ball. Debris can also be drawn in to the fireball by convection currents. Carson and Mumford (1988) explain that onsite and offsite hazards can also result from boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion (BLEVE). This result from failure of LPG vessel exposed to fire and mechanical damage this can be due to corrosion or by impact or due to over filling. The failure can result from either combination of weakening of part of the vessels exposed to fire and or excess pressure due to the effects of heat on the vessel content damages from BLEVEs arises from blast wave due to release of internal pressure, thermal radiation as a result of fire ball from massive burning of the contents of the vessels in the air which is preceded by ground flash, projection of fragments scattered over considerable distances due to violent rupture of the tank. Carson and Mumford (1988) explains that missiles usually travel alongside the direction which the end of the container is facing, but in some cases deviation can occur this can result in both onsite and offsite hazard. BLEVE ca n affect people and equipment onsite, passersby, onlookers, emergency services; road tankers can also be affected. BLEVEs can also affect road tankers during delivery if the tank suddenly rupture and blast and the blast are usually then followed by fireball. During transportation of hazardous material BLEVEs is the more severe and two types are known to affect tankers which is fired BLEVEs which has been discussed above and the cold BLEVE which can result from violent impact on the tank during traffic accident and other causes as seen in the storage tank. Accidental spill which can occur during delivery of propane can result to severe fire and explosion causing injuries and fatalities amongst off-road population resulting in off side hazard. Paltrinier, Gabriele, Menson et al (2009). Question Bii Risk assessment should be carried out to prevent off site and on site hazard as seen above and this should meet up with the standard of DSEAR. HSE (2009) As seen from above one main hazard that can affect both onsite and offsite is human error and this can be prevented by employing a trained and competent person who understands the job and the characteristics of the chemicals they are working with. During filling of vessels with propane, it is the duty of the competent person to ensure that the required free space is left in the vessels after addition of propane. He should also ensure that the storage vessels of propane should not be manifolded together and if manifolding is unavoidable then suitable non return valves should be fitted. Carson and Mumford (1988) Another hazard could result from the type of vessels in which the propane is stored. According to Carson and Mumford (1988) propane can be stored in any common metal (since its non corrosive) except from aluminium and external corrosion must be prevented. Non-metallic materials like rubber and certain plastics should be avoided. To ensure a good tank that will not give problem, advice on the type of materials to construct the storage vessels, valves, pipes, joints, seals etc. Should be given by the supplier and the plant should be designed, installed and maintained by a competent engineer using appropriate standard or codes. The storage vessels should be designed to endure the highest vapour pressure to be encountered during use; this can be due to highest temperature of exposure usually solar. The tank should be inspected for soundness, crack detection and weld integrity and this should be every five years. The positioning of the tank should also be considered, from above it can be deduced that some tanks are usually position below the ground level and other above the ground. Neither of the two ways can cause risk. To prevent the storage of propane below the ground level the tanks must be securely fixed and external protective coating should be provided to resist soil corrosion. If the tank is situated above the ground, the tank vessels should be elevated above the ground. It can be placed on the cement floor and the floor should be sloped away from the tank to prevent accumulation of propane in case of leakage or spillage. Installation are usually fitted with water drench systems to discharge water onto the vessels, this should be done in such a way that the water discharged onto the vessels gets to all the part of the vessels in case the vessels is threatened by direct flame impingement or radiant heat. This also prevents unnecessary discharge of vapour. This appliated could be from f ixed points such as drencher heads and monitors or mobile units spray nozzles. From above it can be deduced that BLEVEs occurs almost immediately hence these water spray stem should be automatic and should be less or equal to 600mm from the vessel surface to negate wind effects. Continuity of water supply should be at designed stage since the water discharge needs to be sustained for a prolonged period Carson and Mumford (1988). According to Landucci et al (2009) fired BLEVE on LPG road tankers during loading and unloading operations are the main cause of societal risk. Paltrinier, Gabriele, Menson et al (2009) explains that from previous studies it can be deduced that 85% of BLEVEs are thermally induced; hence prevention of fired BLEVEs may lead to reduction of risk related to LPG transportation. They further said that passive protection such as pressure relief valves and thermal coating can avoid fired BLEVE. The presence of thermal coating increases time to failure allowing time for effective mitigation actions by fire brigades. The employer or supervisors should ensure that the tank used in transporting the propane should have thermal coating. According to activities involving transportation of hazardous material (hazmat) is the main contributors to overall risk; hence reduction of risk can be achieved acting on hazardous material transport. A study carried out by Landucci et al (2009) also agrees with Paltrinier, Gabriele, Menson et al (2009) saying that coating produces effective protection of the tanks, it also increases the expected time for the tank to fail. They also concluded that introduction of fire protection coating may be a possible route to improve the safety of LPG distribution by road. The factory should be extended in such a way that the location of the storage tank will be far from the population in case of missiles and explosions hazard may not be formed. The end of the tank should be positioned from the population and the main building of the factory in case of missiles since missiles follows the direction of the end of the tank. Carson and Mumford (1988). According to HSE (1999) there are five steps to be considered when working with flammable substances, firstly ventilation: the area should be properly ventilated to enhance dispersal of liquids or gases in case of leaks, spills or release from any process. Secondly the storage and handling area should be free from ignition sources such as electrical equipment, smoking materials hot surfaces, open flames from heating equipment. Thirdly the chemical should be properly contained with the fourth step being elimination and this is not an option the fifth step by separating the chemical from other chemicals. These chemicals can be separated by physical barrier, wall or partition. If these steps above are carried out effectively where ever possible, the risk that can result the chemical will reduce especially that of propane. This can be summarised as ventilation, ignition, containment, exchange and separation (VICES), this five principle helps to ensure safe working conditions with flammab le substance such as propane. .

Poes The Cask of Amontillado: A Psychological Analysis of Characters

Poe's The Cask of Amontillado: A Psychological Analysis of Characters Widely regarded as E. A. Poe's finest story, "The Cask of Amontillado" depicts a deed so horrific that for many it defines evil. Edmund Clarence Stedman said of Poe's writings: "He strove by a kind of divination to put his hand upon the links of mind and matter, and reach the hiding-places of the soul". Even though 20th century theories of psychology would not be formulated until many years after Poe's death, he nevertheless delved into the realm of abnormal psychology instinctively and perhaps never with a more terrifying outcome than in the character of Montressor, a man so bent upon revenge that he walls his enemy up in a crypt and leaves him to die. Is Montressor a madman, or is he evil personified? Is Fortunato merely the unfortunate victim of a deranged murderer, or did he entice Montressor to commit the deed? By applying 20th century psychological guidelines, one can speculate that Montressor is not insane per se but is afflicted with a malignant narcissistic disorder which, w hen aggravated by Fortunato's egotism and naivetà ©, drives him to commit his violent act. Fortunato is depicted from the outset of the tale as arrogant and egotistical. Montressor begins his narration by saying, "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge" (240). Though the exact nature of the insult is not made known, there are numerous examples of subtle slights by Fortunato throughout the narrative. Perhaps Fortunato is unaware that his comments are frequently demeaning but his remarks make him seem arrogant and uncaring. Early in the story, he indicates his belief that Montressor is not a true connoiss... ...y points to a mental disorder but is not indicative of insanity as we define it. Did Fortunato's perceived insults drive Montressor to commit his crime? Perhaps they did, or perhaps Montressor needed little incentive. However, one thing is certain. If evil can be defined as the death or absence of a soul, then to look upon Montressor must surely be to glimpse the very face of evil. Works Cited Goode, Erica. "Stalin to Saddam: So Much for the Madman Theory." New York Times 4 May 2003: pg. 4.5. Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Cask of Amontillado." Reading and Writing about Literature. Phillip Sipiora. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2002. 240-244. Stedman, Edmund Clarence. Scribner's Monthly, Vol. XX, May-Oct. 1880, pp. 107-124. Reprinted in Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism, Vol. 16. GALILEO. . Yen, Duen Hsi. "Shame." 23 May 1997. Noogenesis. 4 Mar. 2004 .

Mental Illness Essay -- Psychology Mentally Sick Essays

Mental Illness Mental illness is an issue that hits extremely close to home. Both of my uncles on my fathers side developed schizophrenia in their 20’s. One of them, upon being diagnosed, committed suicide. This happened before I was born, but the fall-out is still visible in my family. The other now lives in a home for those with mental illness. He is on medication, which helps with many of the symptoms, and has been an important pillar in my life. There is a fair chance that either my brother or I may contract schizophrenia, and for these reasons, mental illness will always be a large part of my life. I say this, not to arouse pity, but simply to make a point that no matter where you stand on mental illness, chances are that you or someone close to you will endure some type of mental illness. We are all responsible to aid those who are in need of it, and the way we respond to the call will define us as human beings. Definition A concise definition or idea of mental illness is fairly difficultly obtainable. Mental illness covers an extremely wide range of cases, symptoms and patients, which makes a cumulative definition hard without leaving out many main areas. A definition of mental illness is further impeded by taking into account the personal subjective ness of a mental illness (eg: some may view homosexuality as a mental illness). One of the more inclusive definitions describes mental illness as: â€Å"A pathological state of mind producing clinically significant psychological or physiological symptoms (distress) together with impairment in one or more major areas of functioning (disability) wherein improvement can reasonably be anticipated with therapy. In addition, for the purpose of definition only, mental illness includes alcoholism, and drug abuse and other controlled substance (drug) abuse.† The Individual The above definition misses much of the individual experiences of mental illness. Mental illnesses will disrupt a person’s feelings and emotions, the way they think and view their surrounds, and their moods. Mental illnesses will also affect a person’s ability to communicate and relate to others. Although symptoms and diagnosis of mental illnesses are fairly well known and classified into separate afflictions, the causes are less understood. In many ways the cause of mental illness boils down to a debate of nurture vs. nature: whether... ...d that is the saddest fact of all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ideally, our society should be there to help those with mental illnesses. We should treat these people with the same respect and dignity that we would treat any other person. The article makes a point of telling us that we should start to see these people the same way we would see someone with a different physical affliction, like a broken leg, or measles. We should help these people when they need it, but let them help themselves, and maintain a sense of independence. We would let them know that we are here to help, but not overstep our boundaries. We would breakdown stereotypes and stigmas that tell us that mental illness is a danger, or is something to be ashamed of. Closing Mental illness is not something that is going to magically disappear. It has been with us for centuries, and we must learn to embrace is as another part of human society. Until we can do so, our society will be drastically flawed. The world we live in is home to people that come from all different situations and circumstances. If we are unable to treat people with basic respect and accept them for who they are, then I ask you; who is really crazy?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Illuminating The Path Of Progress :: essays research papers

Illuminating the Path of Progress Thomas Alva Edison is the most famous inventor in American History. Edison designed, built, and delivered the electrical age. He started a revolution that would refocus technology, change life patterns, and create millions of jobs. He became famous for his scientific inventions, even though he was not a scientist. His real talent was his ability to clearly judge a problem and be persistent in experimenting. He was the master of the trial and error method. Thomas Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. He was the last of seven children born to Samuel and Nancy Edison. Edison's early life was spent in Ohio near the nation's busiest grain port. He spent time exploring the canal and played near his father's shingle business. When Alva was a child, he had scarlet fever. The fever damaged his hearing and delayed his entrance into school. Edison was curious about the world around him and always tried to teach himself through reading and experiments. Alva spent three years in home schooling. He was taught by his mother. He later returned to school but left at age twelve to get a job and help support his family. Edison got his first job selling newspapers and snacks to the passengers on the train between Port Huron and Detroit. Edison bought a used printing press in 1862 and published the Grand Trunk Herald for passengers. It was the first newspaper published on a train. When Edison was fifteen, he was taught Morse code and became a manager of a telegraph office. Edison got the idea for his first invention from working here. His first inventions were the transmitter and receiver for the automatic telegraph. At 21, Edison produced his first major invention, a stock ticker. In 1869, when Edison was twenty-two, he patented his first invention and advertised that he would devote his time to bringing out his inventions. The first patent received by Edison was for a vote recorder. Years later Edison's design was put in use by state legislatures for use by the public in general elections. By the age of twenty-three Edison owned two factories to manufacture telegraphic equipment and had money to pursue his research. On December 25, 1871, Edison married Mary Stilwell. They had three children. Two of his children were nicknamed Dot and Dash after the Morse code. In 1880 Edison made a discovery in science. He noticed that when a metal plate was inserted into a light bulb, the plate became a valve and the current could be controlled. This discovery is known as the "Edison Effect.

Education and the Brain Essay

Given the emerging challenges surrounding the practice of education, many scholars and researchers are trying to establish a particular framework that is dedicated towards the enhancement of information and intensifying facilitation. With these processes, there is one important and vital determinant of this situation – the man’s brain. In the advent of new capabilities, focus is now related on discovering and creating opportunities that seeks to enhance the relationship between the brain and education. The article of Bruer offers a comprehensive insight about the strength and weaknesses of such field. Tracing from the past, he emphasized how the discipline has evolved from a mere scientific study to reaching out in the realm of child development and education. As individuals and groups try to unearth the processes involved, it branched out to several unique disciplines that correlate with the concept of education; namely cognitive psychology and neuroscience (Bruer, p. 3). Operating on this scheme, there are two ways in which this can be recognized namely (1) the period of synaptic elimination and (2) critical periods (Bruer, p. 3). In the first part, Bruer points out the relevance and relative link between neuroscience and education. In this process, he mentions that there are various brain activities that are stimulated by synapses that affect the way a child can cope with numerous functions that are expected for him/her to perform in a classroom setup (Bruer, p. 4). At the same time, the document made mention the importance of the experiment concerning critical periods. With numerous ways for this case to be applied, researchers have focused on the idea that these actions are vital in the early advancement of an individual. Bruer argues that â€Å"cultural variations in child rearing suggest that there are many equally successful way to provide the normal environment needed for brain development† (p. 5). The next section caters in looking into environments that are vital for a child’s advancement during the early stages of his/her life. It fosters the claim that stimulating and active surrounding does contribute to the overall capability of an individual to function accordingly with the desired objectives and goals of an institution. However, there is a lapse in neuroscience as it fails to include and elaborate on how such process can be vital in the overall goal of education and growth (Bruer, p. 7). This remains to be the missing link in trying to determine that guidance of the brain functions in classroom instruction and learning. On the other hand, Bruer cites the capability of creating a bridge that will enable the brain to relate its functions towards cognitive functions. In this process, there are two ways that such idea can be recognized. Bruer mentions that â€Å"the first connects educational practice with cognitive psychology, and the second connects cognitive psychology with brain science† (p. 7). In here he cites numerous advancements in technology and equipments available nowadays to help study and examine the progression of mental activity happening in an individual. Similarly, using the mind-brain interface, many researchers and scientists are able to conduct tests that can determine which part/areas are vital in particular function that are used and applied in the educational sector (Bruer, p. 8). In the last part, it seeks to elaborate these bridges by pointing out two viable approaches in dealing with it; namely (1) instruction to cognition and (2) cognition to neural activity. The first part looks into the way cognition has been used by educators and scientists to determine appropriate ways to enhance neural activities. At the same time, it focused on several studies and findings that try to relate these instances. In the second part, Bruer points out the use of â€Å"cognitive models and brain recording techniques to trace the neural circuitry involved in a skill like numerical comparison† (Bruer, p. 10). It is in here that they were able to find the connection between the two. In the end, the article argues that the brain can greatly affect the way individuals respond to the education. Therefore, future studies must guide researchers in addressing the loopholes in the current literatures. As the demands for educational policy continues to increase significantly in the practice, a good basis for such study can be made by relating to one important factor that shapes learning and development – the brain. It is in here that we can find appropriate strategies to increase competency and skill acquisition needed to make students dynamic and vibrant in practice. Work Cited Bruer, John T. Education and the Brain: A Bridge too Far in ‘Educational Researcher’ 26 no. 8 1997. accessed 12 November 2008. 4-16.

The Battle of Tours, the Battle of Syllaeum and the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople

The Battle of Tours, the Battle of Syllaeum and the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople were important battles that averted the entry of Islam into Europe. Had these hostilities been lost to the Arabs, the present idea of European civilization would not exist. Islam and Islamic culture would be the dominant religion and way of life in Europe (both Eastern and Western Europe) and America. The Battle of Tours (also known as the Battle of Poitiers) is considered as one of the most decisive battles in history.On October 10, 732, the Frankish army under Charles Martel defeated the forces of Spanish governor Abd-er Rahman outside the city of Tours (Koeller, n. pag. ). The Battle of Tours was said to have retained Christian predominance over Western Europe by preventing the expansion of Islam in the said region (Culp, n. pag. ). By the 7th century, Islam was the most dominant religion in the Arabian Peninsula. During this period, Islamic armies had already conquered Persia, Syria, Egypt and North Africa and were about to occupy Constantinople and Spain.At the beginning of the 8th century, they had scaled the Pyrenees Mountains and were on the verge of entering France (Whittington, n. pag. ). The Septimania region of Southern France fell to the Moors in 719. Under the leadership of Al-Samh ibn Malik, they invaded the town of Toulouse in the Duchy of Aquitaine two years later. However, Al-Samh was defeated by Duke Odo of Aquitaine and eventually died of war injuries at Narbonne (Whittington, n. pag. ). Al-Samh's loss and demise did not stop Arab raids in France.Islamic forces reached the town of Atun in Burgundy in 725, forcing Duke Odo to align himself with Catalonian Emir Uthman ibn Naissa to maintain peace in the southern border of Aquitaine. But Uthman staged an unsucessful revolt against Al-Andalus governor Abd er Rahman, prompting the latter to go after Duke Odo in retalliation (Whittington, n. pag. ). Abd-er Rahman defeated Duke Odo at the Battle of Bordeaux, res ulting in the mass killing of Christians in the area. Desperate, Duke Odo sought the help of Austrasian Mayor-of-the-Palace Charles Martel. Martel agreed to help him, provided that he will bow down to Frankish rule (Whittington, n.pag. ). Martel and his army waited for Rahman's forces to arrive at Tours (Whittington, n. pag. ). Despite being composed of only 30,000 men, the Franks were well-armed – they had swords, axes, javelins and a small throwing ax called the fran-cisca (Wallechinsky & Wallace, n. pag. ). In addition, they knew the terrain very well and were properly outfitted for the bitterly cold weather. On the other hand, Rahman's 80,000-strong army were equipped with just light cavalry – spears and swords (Whittington, n. pag. ). The two forces only had minor encounters for seven days (Whittington, n. pag. ).Then, on October 10, 732, the Arabs assaulted the Franks. Due to their superior artillery, the Franks easily fended off the Arabs' charge. The Arabs trie d to attack repeatedly, to no avail (Wallechinsky & Wallace, n. pag. ). The Franks struck back as soon as the Arabs' stamina waned. They triumphantly defeated the Arabs and had Rahman captured and killed. The next morning, the Franks discovered that the Arabs had fled, leaving behind their plunder and their dead (Wallechinsky & Wallace, n. pag. ). Martel's victory in the Battle of Tours gained him the title â€Å"The Hammer. † In addition, France never experienced another Arab invasion.On the side of the Arabs, their defeat in the Battle of Tours severely destroyed their unity – a revolt by the Berbers (inhabitants of North Africa) ensued after Rahman's passing (Wallechinsky & Wallace, n. pag. ). Martel went on to crush Arab conquests at the River Berre and Narbonne. He also fought in Frankish expansion wars in Bavaria, Aquitaine, Provence and Alemannia. Martel's sons Carloman, Pippin the Younger and Grifo took over his territories after his death in 741. Pippin became the king of the Franks, while his son, Charlemagne, became the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.However, it must be noted that two more generations passed before the Franks finally suceeded in driving the Muslims back beyond the Pyrenees for good (Whittington, n. pag. ). Historians often claimed that Europe never faced another Islamic threat after the Battle of Tours (Whittington, n. pag. ). This is true to a certain extent – the next Islamic threat that Europe faced after the Battle of Tours was the emergence of the Ottoman Empire (1299-1923). Furthermore, the Christians regained Spain from the Moors after the fall of Granada in 1492 (Whittington, n.pag. ). But the Byzantine empire (667 BC-1453) was also crucial for the presevation of Christian ascendancy throughout Europe. The Battle of Syllaeum (677) and the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople (717-718) were two important wars that averted the spread of Islam in Eastern Europe (Reference, n. pag. ). The Arab fleet a nd the Byzantine navy were constantly in battle with each other since 672 (Reference, n. pag. ). In 677, the Arabs attacked areas along the coast of Anatolia and the Sea of Marmara, as well as Constantinople and Anatolia itself.The Byzantine army found themselves fighting two different battles, as the Slavs were staging an assault of Thessalonica by land (Reference, n. pag. ). Byzantine forces under Emperor Constantine IV met the Arabs near Syllaeum (Reference, n. pag. ). They defeated the latter through Greek fire, a â€Å"burning-liquid weapon†¦that could continue burning even on water† (Reference, n. pag. ). As the Arabs were retreating, a storm sank almost all of their remaining ships. The Byzantine army then proceeded to conduct a land assault on the Arabs, finally defeating them in Syria.The Battle of Syllaeum was believed to have brought peace over Eastern Europe for almost 30 years (Reference, n. pag. ). But Constantine IV’s death in 685 was followed with power struggles for the Byzantine throne, making the Byzantine Empire more prone to defeat in the hands of the Arabs (Gregory, n. pag. ). Caliph Sulieman took advantage of this situation by sending 120,000 Muslim troops (headed by his brother Moslemah) in 717 in an attempt to occupy Constantinople for a second time (TheLatinLibrary, n. pag. ). An additional 100,000 Muslims with 1,800 galleys from Syria and Egypt served as reinforcements (TheLatinLibrary, n.pag. ). But Byzantine forces led by Emperor Leo III quickly defeated them through the Greek fire (TheLatinLibrary, n. pag. ). The vanquished Muslims later died of freezing and starvation outside Constantinople. Muslim troops from Adrianopolis that were supposed to assist them were destroyed by the Bulgarian army (a Byzantine ally) (TheLatinLibrary, n. pag. ). Several historians argued that had the Arabs won the Battle of Tours, the Battle of Syllaeum and the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople, the present concept of European civi lization would be altered dramatically.The Arabs would be able to spread Islam throughout European countries such as France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom. At most, Christianity would end up being a minority religion (Whittington, n. pag. ). America would have been discovered by a Muslim explorer and Islam would be the religion both taught and practiced by the settlers across the United States. Works Cited Culp, Reid. â€Å"The Battle of Tours. † 2008. CCDS. 28 April 2008 . Gregory, Timothy E.â€Å"Leo III and the Beginnings of Iconoclasm. † 19 November 2001. A Chronology of Early Byzantine History. 3 May 2008 . Koeller, David W. â€Å"The Battle of Tours: 732. † 1999. WebChron. 28 April 2008 . Wallechinsky, David, and Irving Wallace. â€Å"About the Battle of Tours in 732 between the Arab Army and the French Army led by Charles. † 1981. Trivia-Library. 28 April 2008 . Whittington, Mark.â€Å"Day of Decision: The Battle of Tours. † 8 Decem ber 2005. Associated Content. 28 April 2008 . â€Å"Battle of Syllaeum. † 17 December 2007. Reference. com. 3 May 2008 . â€Å"Greek Fire. † 10 March 2008. Reference. com. 3 May 2008 . â€Å"Islam and Europe Timeline (355-1291 AD). † n. d. TheLatinLibrary. 3 May 2008 .

The Crusades Seen as a Whole Had Primarily Negative Consequences for Europe

The Crusades referred to the series of military campaigns that Western European Christians carried out in order to free the Holy Land from Muslim control. From 1096 to the late 13th century, these religious wars were waged against both internal and external opponents of Christianity. The Crusades, however, eventually became â€Å"any (form of) military effort by Europeans against non-Christians† (MSN Encarta, n. pag. ). Under the guise of militant Christianity, it was used as a means of European expansion (MSN Encarta, n. pag. ).Most of the effects of the Crusades in Europe proved to be very detrimental. For one, the power of the Papacy was increased. Crusaders who were either preparing for battle or returning home from combat gave vast tracts of land to the Roman Catholic Church in exchange for prayers and pious benedictions (Middle-Ages. org. uk, n. pag. ). Consequently, the Pope abruptly became more affluent and influential than most monarchies during this period. This sudd en increase in wealth, in turn, allowed him to institute both spiritual and secular supremacy over the royalty (Infoplease, n. pag. ).It is no longer surprising, therefore, if the Popes during the Crusades were always involved in power struggles and disputes with several European monarchs. Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I and King Henry II of England were embroiled in a squabble with Pope Alexander III. Despite strong opposition from Emperor Otto IV and Emperor Frederick II, Pope Innocent II declared himself as the virtual ruler of the West. The quarrels between the Popes and the monarchs in this period became so frequent that it ultimately became the basis for a papacy’s clout (Infoplease, n. pag. ).Another negative consequence of the Crusades in Europe was the senseless murder of non-Christian peoples both inside and outside the continent. The Crusaders’ decision to attack Constantinople, for instance, was motivated by the need to pay off their debt to Venice. The paym ent of the Crusaders to the Doge Enrico Donalo – 86,000 marks – ended up short of 34,000 marks. To compensate for the missing amount, he convinced them to assault Constantinople. Donalo had a hidden agenda – Constantinople â€Å"was the main obstacle to prevent Venice from rising to dominate the trade of the Mediterranean Sea† (Roman-Empire. net, n. pag. ).The Crusaders invaded Constatinople on April 13, 1204. They stripped Orthodox churches of their mosaics, vestments, religious scriptures and altar pieces. Thousands of innocent civilians were also killed. Moreover, Venice was able to occupy Greece shortly afterwards (Cooke, n. pag. ). The Roman Catholic Church used the Crusades within Europe to increase its membership and dominion. The Crusaders in the Baltic, for instance, were infamous for seizing the lands of Orthodox Christians in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe.One of the Crusaders’ organizations in the Baltic, the Teutonic Knights, violently slaughtered pagan tribes such as the Letts, the Balts and the Livs. The Archbishop of Riga urged Pope Clement V in 1308 to put an end to the carnage, to no avail (Ekelund, Tollison, Hebert, Anderson and Davidson, 147). In Spain, paramilitary orders such as the Belchite and the Monreal sequestered lands for the nobles and the Roman Catholic Church. These groups were able to carry out their operations under the guise of â€Å"(opening) a new route to Jerusalem along the North African coast† (France, 145).But the truth was that they were merely pawns in the desire of the Roman Catholic Church and the nobles to acquire more land. Religion was used to get away with injustice. It would be fair to say, therefore, that the Crusades was one of the darkest chapters of human history. The original teachings of the Roman Catholic Church – charity, forgiveness, compassion – were distorted to suit secular and military interests. Consequently, other religions were vi olated and their followers killed. Religion became a means of enriching a selected few.Works Cited Cooke, Nicholas A. â€Å"The Sack of Constantinople. † 2000. St. Michael the Archangel Church. 14 November 2008 . â€Å"Crusades. † 2008. MSN Encarta. 9 December 2008 . â€Å"Effects of the Crusades. † n. d. Middle-Ages. org. uk. 9 December 2008 . Ekelund, Robert Burton, Robert D. Tollison, Robert F. Hebert, Gary M. Anderson, and Audrey B. Davidson.Sacred Trust: The Medieval Church as an Economic Firm. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. France, John. The Crusades and the Expansion of Catholic Christendom, 1000-1714. New York: Routledge, 2005. â€Å"In the Middle Ages. † 2008. Infoplease. 9 December 2008 . â€Å"The Sack of Constantinople: The Conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders in AD 1203/1204. † n. d. Roman-Empire. net. 9 December 2008 .

Dynamic Seal †Mba: Six Sigma / Operations Case Essay

Dynamic Seal, a precision parts manufacturer with a reputation for high quality, does not currently utilize a Statistical Process Control (SPC) system. However, United Airlines (UA), a major customer representing 14% of Dynamic Seal’s business, insists they implement an SPC system or loose United Airlines’ business. In addition Dynamic Seal do not have a sound preventative measure quality control system in place, preferring 100% inspection to cull bad quality, rather than building parts correctly from inception. Goal: Reduce product variance and the need for rework by implementing a company-wide quality control system that includes an element of Statistical Process Control. A secondary goal is to reduce waste by focusing on Lean engineering processes. Competitive Environment: Dynamic Seal are a successful manufacturer of mechanical components for aerospace, marine and military application. Their products require precision engineering, and the company has built an excellent reputation based on â€Å"high quality, innovative engineering and close tolerance manufacturing.† The company makes use of expensive superalloy materials manufactured to extremely tight tolerances, with many products selling for $10,000 to $50,000. A significant defective rate with such high cost materials / products will severely impact the company’s bottom line. The United Airlines production line operates under a separate department, with dedicated equipment and personnel. Dynamic Seal’s quality reputation is a result of highly skilled machinists and a 100% inspection policy. The company employs a workforce of approx. 400 people, in a 120,000 sq. ft. facility and has increased it’s sales ten-times over the last 10 years to $130 million. Key Facts: 1.Dynamic Seal does not have a company-wide Quality Management ethos. 2.There is a customer requirement to use SPC. 3.No SPC system is currently in place and equipment has not been tested for capability. 4.Quality is controlled by 35 quality inspectors and is not the responsibility of the workforce. 5.The Quality Control Dept. is overworked and underpaid – reports to the General Manager. 6.Machinists set informal equipment specifications, not the QC Dept. 7.The company operates a 100% inspection policy.  8.In-process inspection is infrequent, therefore origin of 25% of defective issues cannot be found. 9.Inspection and assignment of rework involves significant lag. 10.QC system generates significant volumes of paperwork: 80 defective reports (DMR) per week. 11.Product blueprints and Inspection Specs (IMS) often do not match and are not updated. 12.Initial defective rate documents (DMR) are often produced post-rework. Analysis: Two sets of process data have been collected for initial analysis. Before specific SPC issues can be addressed the process and equipment should be assessed to see they meet the capability requirements laid out in the customer specs. The first process examined uses the Lablond Lathe machinery and requires a machined diameter of 7.7250, plus tight tolerances of + .0005 inches. A Process Capability Ratio (Cpk) analysis of the lathe’s data, results in a Cpk of .379 (exhibit A). A result of less than one indicates the machine is not capable of matching the tolerances laid out in the IMS spec. Therefore the Lablond Lathe is not suitable to handle the process it is being used for. Before a more suitable machine is selected, the Lablond Lathe should be checked for calibration, as should the measuring equipment used. If all fall within calibration specs, new machinery should be selected that is capable of handling such tight tolerances. Solving machine capability issues is a low-hanging fruit method of quickly improving quality control. The second data set refers to the Cincinnati Milling Machine. Initial analysis indicates the machine is capable of meeting the required specs, so X-bar and R-bar run charts were constructed to visualize output performance against the IMS specs. Positions 8 to 10 on the R-bar chart (exhibit B) clearly indicate the process is out of control. The X-bar chart (exhibit C) further supports this claim by showing the process is out of control at positions 9 and 10. Although a bigger concern is that all but one data point lies above the control line, indicating the process could be off-center and require recalibrating. As Dynamic Seal’s materials and production methods are so expensive, before machine recalibration occurs, a fish bone diagram should be used to trace the problem to its source. Alternative Options: There are four significant options open to Dynamic Seal. The can opt to do nothing and potentially lose the United Airlines contract, plus risk further losses as more customers begin to impose stricter quality control requirements. They can implement a company-wide Quality Management system such as Six Sigma that incorporates SPC analysis. They can implement an SPC system on one type of machine throughout the manufacturing plant. Or they can implement a Quality Management / SPC system within the United Airlines production cell alone. Recommendation Short-term: To reduce project scope, I recommend initially focusing on the UA facility only. Once procedures have been tested and proven, they can be rolled out company-wide. Gordon Jenkins is a good person to head up the Quality Management program, as his initial plan (exhibit D) includes many elements of DMAIC and his review of the problems seems accurate. However, he needs senior management backing (possibly a promotion) and further Six Sigma training, to combat negative views from Alan Schneider and Scott Palmer. Without the three of them on the same page, any new quality management system will fail. Initially Jenkins and the QC team needs to perform a UA Dept. X-ray, creating process-maps, checking equipment capability and taking base-line SPC data (exhibit E). Once data has been received a full DMAIC analysis using Histogram / Pareto charts should be done to identify the low-hanging fruit. Variance issues in the new SPC data can be tracked to their source using fishbone diagrams and House of Quality reviews. Equipment selection, process streamlining, reduction in paperwork and implementing work procedures are valid projects. Equipment settings and tool selection should be standardized, reducing the craftsmanship required. The responsibility to monitor quality should be moved to the machinists. Having them fully involved in the process design, and giving them responsibility to manage their own quality would achieve machinist buy-in. In addition tight controls need to be placed around the production and updating of product specs, requiring improved communication and a sign-off system between the Sales, Engineering and Production Depts. Finally a measure of improvement is critical to the success of any quality management system. Improved SPC data will be part of that, but the company can also track rework labor hours, improvements in process throughput time, inventory reduction, and reduction in cost-of-goods as critical measures. Recommendation Long-term: SPC by itself does not promote in-depth quality management, therefore long-term I recommend Dynamic Seal implement a company-wide Lean Six Sigma system, with SPC analysis. To set the right tone and get management buy-in, long-term implementation should begin with upper-management Six Sigma training, including the GM. A dedicated approach to quality management should infiltrate all aspects of the company, from engineering to administration, with the goal of promoting a quality-focused Kaizen culture. The current Quality Control Dept. should train as Six Sigma black belts and be mandated to train the workforce in Six Sigma techniques and to oversee on-going Six Sigma projects. Salary incentives should be implemented that reflect advancement in Lean Six Sigma training.

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