Global Economic Environment and Marketing Essay

Global Economic Environment and Marketing - Essay Example This has lowered the cost of production for the company which in turn has provided them cost leadership. This also allows the company to maintain its environmental standards (The Times Newspaper, 2009). The key economic factors are: Firstly, the use of renewable raw materials and smarter use of them along with a dedicated relationship with suppliers have contributed to the company’s performance. Secondly, the economies of scale enjoyed by the company in terms of huge production scales. This has further lowered production costs. Thirdly, it has strategically placed its sourcing materials close to the supply chain to reduce costs. This factor further reduces the cost of handling by the company and contributes to its profit. Lastly, the use of innovative technologies has increased the profits of the company over the years. This paper aims to understand the impact on the marketing strategies of IKEA on account of globalization and the impact on the changing customer behaviour. Pot ential economic impact on marketing strategies IKEA initially operated with ten stores at the time it had opened. The increasing integration of the world economies on account of globalization has made IKEA operate a large number of stores to present day. The number of stores has raised to 345 in 42 countries in 2013 (IKEA Group, 2013b). IKEA has expanded its business across the continents of US, Asia along with the countries of Europe. The business environment it had to face in the different countries was different. For example, when it entered China, it faced a unique problem at hand by following its low pricing strategy. The Chinese customers were confused with the low prices of products, while the local companies began to copy the design. In China, the company chose to enter in a joint venture and customize its products to meet the aspirations of the clients (Chu, Girdhar and Sood, 2013). Porter’s five forces can be applied to understand the marketing strategy of the firm. Firstly, the competition from other firms becomes an important factor. IKEA has created a highly competitive market for its business. Secondly, the threat of new entrants can pose a problem to a firm. This threat is relatively less for IKEA because of high levels of market saturation and high capital investments. Thirdly, the bargaining power of suppliers is one of the forces. In case IKEA, all the suppliers strive to maintain a good relationship with the firm. IKEA has maintained strategic relationship with the suppliers, but reduced their bargaining power. The threat from substitute products is another component in Porter’s five forces. This threat is again weak in relation to IKEA because of its large scale. The bargaining power of the buyers is also less due to the large scale of operation of IKEA. This section concentrates on some of these forces in shaping IKEA’s choice (Luxinnovation G.I.E., 2008). Competitive advantage The factor which has contributed signific antly to become the greatest competitive advantage for the company is cost leadership. This has mainly owes to the self-sufficiency of the company. The company strives to provide for the home furnishings that are contemporary in sense of style, robust in quality and offers it at reasonably fair prices. IKEA does not depend on the third party manufacturers instead the employees of the company design the low cost furniture which can be readily assembled by the customers

Personal narrative about an experience that impacted you involving Essay

Personal narrative about an experience that impacted you involving your education - Essay Example Academics was something that my parents put a great deal of pressure upon; they had invested a great amount of money for the purpose of my education and thus wanted me to excel more than I wanted to. I was never good in studies, but I always spent time trying to make my parents happy by trying my best to get good grades. The high school I attended had a number of clubs and associations attached with its prestigious name and as students we were always encouraged to be a part of them. There was one social service unit that did not have too many students as a part of it and thus the student body always urged students to join it in order to help the special children within the city. However, the club was never able to attract a lot of attention towards itself because not everyone wanted to become a part of a social unit designed for the welfare of differently-abled children. My parents have always tried to help charitable organisations and young orphans to live a better life in whatever way they can; my mother has raised me teaching me little things like donating m old clothes and always taking food for orphans on festive occasions. These habits have been inculcated within me so deep that somehow someday, I was urged from within to join the social service unit in order to interact with differently abled children and understand how they lived lives. With time, we were taken on field trips where we visited children from various schools; some of them were blind, some deaf, and some were physically handicapped. However, I remember meeting a young boy by the name of Austin, who was autistic. Soon, we had a three day older sibling program where we were each assigned a young boy or girl to foster and nurture under our care. We were to behave as their big brothers or sisters and teach them all kinds of values and morals and spend three days with them. I was assigned as Austin’s brother. At first, I did not understand how to deal with the young boy because he always thought on a different wavelength – I was still not able to understand how to interact with Austin and by the end of the first day I felt frustrated and disappointed on having had him appointed with me. However, as the second day came and I wearily woke up to go meet Austin, I was surprised when he handed me a jigsaw that he had painted, cut up and made for me. He told me with his slurry speech that he had designed it on the story ‘Hansel and Gretel’ by the Grimm Brothers. I was extremely touched. That day, I met Austin’s teachers as well and they showed me his skills and creativity. I was amazed to see that the boy had an amazing sense of art – his paintings were something different! His teachers also told me that despite his challenges, Austin spent hours at an end reading and being read to, trying to understand his texts and making sure that he did well in his studies, because his parents believed in him and told him that God would take his illne ss away if he studied hard and made something of himself. His parents had raised him by telling him every day that his handicap was only a matter of perspective and that he was the only one who could change it by making himself smarter day by day. Those thoughts hit me like an impact as I thought to myself how lucky I was to be physically fit unlike Austin. However, despite his challenges, he was doing well in his studies and making excellent progress. Till today, I am grateful to Austin for

Experiment to Learn the Amount of Iron in Iron Tablets

Experiment to Learn the Amount of Iron in Iron Tablets GABRIELA CARUSO KANDIR 1.1 What is Topic area you are investigating in to: Prepare and standardize a potassium permanganate solution and use it to determine the amount of iron (II) in iron tablets What is your title: Analyze the actual amount of iron (II) present in a tablet of iron supplement What is your Aim: Demonstrate if iron supplements have the adequate levels of iron (II) by studying if the claims in supplement bottles are correct or not. 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 Objectives: Measure the amount of iron (II) in supplement tablets through performing a redox titration reaction 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 Extraneous variables (contaminants): Permanganate solutions tend to decompose with time, causing a change in concentration. To overcome this variable it is important to standardizing the KMnO4 solution. Sulfuric acid should always be in excess to avoid insoluble brown manganese oxide (MNO2) formation. Introduction and/or rationale: Iron is a mineral that is naturally present in many foods, added to some food products and available as a dietary supplement. Ion is an essential component of hemoglobin, an erythrocyte protein that transfers oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. As a component of myoglobin, it provides oxygen to muscles. Iron also supports the metabolism and is necessary for growth, development, normal cellular functioning, and synthesis of some hormones and connective tissues. In case of iron deficiency the human body cannot make enough healthy oxygen carrying red blood cells (erythrocyte), and a lack of those cells is called iron deficiency anemia. Without healthy red blood cells it is not possible to transport enough oxygen through the body, and without oxygen there is fatigue. Exhaustion can affect everything, from brain function to the ability of the immune system to fight infectious. The daily requirements for iron depends o age, gender and overall health. Starting at adolescence, a woman’s daily iron needs increases. Women need more iron because they lose blood each month during their period. That is why the NHS advices women from ages 19 to 50 to get 14.8 mg of iron each day, while men the same age need to ingest only 8 mg. For the same age group the United States department of health and the Heart and stroke foundation in Canada recommends a even higher daily intake of 18 mg of iron per day. Most women will ingest their daily iron needs through their normal meat and vegetables diet. Some groups, such as vegetarians, pregnant women, or those with higher blood loss (blood donations, heavy menstrual periods, stomach or intestine conditions among other examples) may need iron tablets supplementation on top of their regular diet. This is due either because of a decrease in ion intake (diet) or absorption or there is an increase in the iron needs (such as pregnancy or breast feeding for example). An iron deficiency and consequent anemia will lead to signs of short of breath, fast heartbeat, cold hands and feet, craving for strange substances such as dirt or clay, hair loss, sores at the corner of the mouth and sore tongue. As mentioned before, in some cases of iron deficiency eating a diet that is high in iron-rich foods such as fortified cereals, read meat, dried fruit and beans may not be enough to give the required needs, in this case a doctor may recommend iron supplement, but unlike some supplements, when the subject is iron, more is definitely not better. Adults shouldn’t take any more than 45 mg of iron a day unless they are being treated with iron under close medical supervision. 2.4 Analysis of source material: Oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions are one of many chemical reactions. Redox usually involves the transfer of electrons. Titration is the volumetric measurements of a solution of know concentration when it reacts completely with a measured volume or mass of another substance. The analysis of present iron in a supplement tablet can be done by a redox titration reaction. Iron (II) ions can be ionized to ion (III) ions by potassium permanganate in acidic solution. For the redox titration reaction one of the most commonly strong oxidizing agent is used, the potassium permanganate (KMnO4). Iron (II) will be oxidized to iron (III) and the potassium permanganate will be reduced to Manganese. MnO4+8H++5Fe2+à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚  Mn2+4H2O+5Fe3+ As the Potassium permanganate doesn’t require an indicator to signal the end-point of the titration, it has a unique advantage among titrants. In an acidic condition the deep purple solution of manganite ions is reduced to a very pale pink solution of manganese ions. This solution is so pale as to appear colorless when dilute and, in practice, the marked difference in color between these two oxidation states is useful as an end-point for this redox reaction. The manganite ion accepts electrons and is reduced to colorless Mn 2+ ions according to the following half-equation: The potassium manganite solution is added from the burette to the solution of the reducing agent and is immediately decolorized. As soon as the reducing agent is used up, the next drop of potassium manganite solution is not decolorized therefore coloring the solution as a pale purple color. The end-point is the first appearance of this purple color. The acid used to provide H+ is dilute sulfuric acid. Risk assessment: Name of the Chemical Risk incurred How to reduce the severity of the risk Disposal/Spillage KMnO4 Not Hazardous Not Hazardous Not Hazardous 3M H2SO4 Risk 4 for irritating eyes and skin. Casing severe burns to eye, skin and body tissues. If well handled the risk is low. Wear Safety Glasses Keep out of reach of Children, Keep container in a ventilated place In case of contacted with skin or eyes, rinse immediately with water and seek medical advice If ingested wash out month, apply artificial respiration if needed, seek medical help Avoid contact of the acid with water. As any strong acid it may explode and or produce corrosive fumes in (fast) contact with water Wash down the sink with a large amount of water In case of Spillage, liquid can be absorbed using sand adsorbent. This should be transferred to a suitable container and disposed as contaminated waste Iron Supplement tablets Not Hazardous Not Hazardous Not Hazardous 2.1 List the equipment and chemicals/reagents you would use to undertake your experiment: Potassium Permanganate Burette and Clamp with white numbering Iron sample (Iron supplement tablets- 3 different samples) Appropriate glassware 3M sulfuric acid (H2SO4) Magnetic stirrer 3 100- 150 mL beakers 2.1 How you would carry out the experiment including the use of equipment and what chemicals/reagents you would use? preparation of the Iron tablet sample: Clear three 100-150 mL beakers with soap and water. Rinse with several small portions of distilled water Directly into each beaker, weigh approximately 0.5 grams of iron sample. Add 15 mL of distilled water to each sample and stir to dissolve the solid Add 8mL of 3M sulfuric acid, to each sample. This step is needed to provide the hydrogen ions, which are required for the reduction of the permanganate ion. Titration of the Iron sample Potassium Permanganate: Obtain approximately 55 mL of the standardized potassium permanganate solution (KMnO4), and record the exact concentration of the KMnO4 solution. Prepare the buret by cleaning, rinsing and filling with potassium permanganate solution. Record the initial volume reading to the nearest 0.01 mL Titrate each sample to the endpoint (first appearance of permanent- at leat 10 seconds-, pale pink color). Record the final buret reading The mass of iron in each sample can be determined from the volume of KMnO4 required to titrate. This is possible through determining the moles of KMnO4 used, and a balanced equation. 2.1 How will you collect and record the data: data will be collected from the 3 samples in a table with the initial and final volume of titrate. A note on the exact concentration of the KMnO4 solution will also be present in the results sheet. 2.1 How will you Analyze results: The mass present in each sample will be determine through the calculation of the concentration of a reagent from the titration results. Results will be compared with the claims from supplement bottles to verify if the amounts are similar or the claims are incorrect. 2.1 How will you present your data?: Data will be presented with tables showing the amount of iron (II) in the three samples followed by a comparing graph of the quantities found in the tests with the claims in the iron supplement bottles. References: Reference List: Heart and Stroke Foundation (2015) Nutrients for women [Online] Available from: http://www.healthcheck.org/page/nutrients-women>  (Accessed on 22 April 2015) NHS (2015) Vitamins and Minerals- Iron [Online] Available from: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-minerals/Pages/Iron.aspx  (Accessed on 22 April 2015) Centers for disease control and prevention (2011) Iron and iron deficiency [Online] Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/vitamins/iron.html  (Accessed on 22 April 2015) Webmed (2011) What You Need to Know About Iron Supplements [Online] Available from: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/iron-supplements?page=3  (Accessed on 22 April 2015) National Institute of Health (2015) Iron [Online] Available from: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/#h2  (Accessed on 22 April 2015) AQA (2009) 2 Inorganic Chemistry PSA10 Carry out a redox titration [Online] Available from: http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/AQA-2420-W-TRB-PSA10.PDF  (Accessed on 23 April 2015) A-level Chemistry web (2015) Redox titration [Online] Available from: http://alevelchem.com/aqa_a_level_chemistry/unit3.6/inorg01.htm  (Accessed on 23 April 2015) Collin College (2010) Determination of Iron in Dietary Supplement through Redox Titrations [Online] Available from: http://www.collin.edu/chemistry/Handouts/1412/Redox Titration Experiment.pdf>  (Accessed on 23 April 2015) Chemistry Lab Mouse A2 (2008) Practical: Determination of the Percentage of Iron in Iron Tablets [Online] Available from: http://sustainability.sellafieldsites.com/resources/labmouse/chemistry_a2/3204.php>  (Accessed on 24 April 2015) Northern Virginia Community College (2014) Chemistry 111 Lab- Redox Titration [Online] Available from: http://www.nvcc.edu/alexandria/stb/chm/111/111.08RedoxTitrationSpring2015.pdf >  (Accessed on 24 April 2015) Boundless (2014) Redox titrations [Online] Available from: https://www.boundless.com/chemistry/textbooks/boundless-chemistry-textbook/aqueous-reactions-4/oxidation-reduction-reactions-48/redox-titrations-248-1533/>  (Accessed on 24 April 2015) Winona State University (2010) Determination of Iron by Redox Titration [Online] Available from: http://course1.winona.edu/cmiertschin/213/inquiry_lab/exp10_fe_redox.pdf  (Accessed on 24 April 2015) Braemar College (2015) Internal Assessment Guidelines Unit Timeline [Online] Available from: http://vinkichemistry12.weebly.com/uploads/2/5/2/1/25219856/course_description_-_unit_3_2015.pdf>  (Accessed on 24 April 2015) Risk assessment services (2008) Hazard Communication Sheet  SULPHURIC ACID 90-100%w/w [Online] Available from: http://www.riskassessmentservices.co.uk/HazCom/Sulphuric Acid3.pdf>  (Accessed on 24 April 2015) TAQ 2 Time Frame of the investigation if the experiment was to be carried out: 3 days for background research 2 days to write an introduction, reference list 1 day to arrange chemicals, samples and equipments to do the experiment 1 day to do the experiment 1 day to analyze collected data 2 days to write results, build tables and graphs and write a conclusion and abstract Total 10 days to finalize carry out the research project

The Mystic Knights Band and Daniel Robert Elfman Essay example -- music

Daniel Robert Elfman known as Danny Elfman was born May 29, 1953 in Amarillo Texas. He grew up in Los Angeles until he moved to France with his brother at the age of 18. His mother Blossom Elfman was a teacher and a writer and his father Milton was a teacher and was also in the Air Force. His brother Robert is a filmmaker. He was married to Bridget Fonda on November 29, 2003 and has scored one movie of hers in 1997. He has three children Lola born in 1979, Mali born in 1984, and Oliver born in 2005. When he went with his brother to France he performed with an avant-garde musical theater group known as Le Grand Magic Circus. He then decided to travel through Ghana, Mali, and Upper Volta in Africa experiencing new musical styles that would influence his own style. While in Africa he contracted malaria. When he finally returned to the United States he began studying at CalArts even though he was not really a student there. In 1972 Richard Elfman began a band known as The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo that was a new wave band when he left the band to become a filmmaker. In 1976 Danny took over the band until they retired in 1995. They were then called simply Oingo Boingo in 1979 they were a ska influenced new wave band until they changed styles again in the 80’s and became more guitar rock. They were known for their Halloween themes and sold out every Halloween concert they ever performed. One of their most popular songs that is played on several radio stations every year for Halloween is â€Å"Dead Man’s Party†. In 1985 Tim Burton and Paul Reubens asked Danny Elfman to write the score for their film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. At the time he had no formal training but sought help from Steve Bartek the guitarist and arranger for Oin... ...on all 24. Nominated for 2 British Academy Film Awards and has not won either, same with Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards. Nominated for 4 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards and did not win any of them. Nominated for 2 Emmy Awards won one. Nominated for 2 Golden Globes did not win either time. Nominated for 11 Grammy Awards won once. Nominated for 1 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards did not win it. Nominated for 6 Satellite Awards won once. Nominated for 12 Saturn Awards won 5 of them. Nominated for 2 Sierra Awards one once. Nominated for 2 World Soundtrack Awards did not win either time. He has been nominated for a total of 75 awards and has won 33. Works Cited Barnes & Noble Biography: http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/biography.asp?CTR=68216 Encylopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Danny_Elfman.aspx Music For a Darkened Theatre

Ekg Measurement and Interpretation at Rest and During Exercise

EKG Measurement and Interpretation at Rest and During Exercise Jonathan Murdock March 5, 2013 March 19, 2013 (KIN 375) Purpose: In the United States, people suffer from heart problems every day. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year about 935,000 people in the United States suffer from a heart attack and about 600,000 die from heart problems. Electrocardiograms (EKG or ECG) provide important information concerning the electrical activity of the heart as well as the quantity and quality of heart contractions.An EKG, along with blood work to measure troponin levels, can definitively determine whether or not a person has suffered from a myocardial infarction. In order to obtain an EKG, electrodes are strategically placed on the limbs and torso of a subject to measure the electrical current that is generated in the heart and transferred to the skin. The electrical signal is first generated in the sinoatrial node (SA node). It then travels to both th e left and right atria to cause them to contract.Then, the signal goes to the atrioventricular node (AV node) where it is briefly delayed to allow all of the blood from the atria to move into the ventricles. It then moves through the Bundle of His toward the apex of the heart and then through the Purkinje fibers. This causes contraction of the ventricles to pump blood throughout the body and lungs. The purpose of this lab was to compare EKG at rest with and exercising EKG. In doing so, the subject’s heart health could be determined based on the results of being put under the stress of exercise versus when resting.Methods: Subject: The subject participating in this lab was a college aged (18-25 years) male enrolled in KIN 375. The participant was healthy, exercised regularly, and did not report any history of heart problems. Equipment: The equipment used in this lab included alcohol prep wipes, 10 electrodes and wires, a computer to read the EKG with paper to print EKG strips, a chair, a treadmill, and a timer. Procedures: The first step was to remove the subject’s shirt.Next, all of the areas where electrodes were going to be placed were cleaned with an alcohol prep wipe. Once these areas were dry, electrodes were placed in their proper places; one electrode per limb and six on the torso. The electrodes for the left (LA) and right (RA) upper limbs were placed just under the clavicles near the shoulders. The electrodes for the left (LL) and right (RL) lower limbs were placed at the waist line just above each limb. For the torso, electrode 1(V1) was placed in the fourth intercostal space to the right of the subject’s sternum.Electrode 2 (V2) was also placed in the fourth intercostal space but to the left of the subject’s sternum. Next, electrode 4 (V4) was placed in the fifth intercostal space on the midclavicular line. Then, electrode 3 (V3) was placed halfway between V2 and V4. Next, the sixth electrode (V6) was placed in the fifth intercostal space on the midaxillary line. Lastly, the fifth electrode (V5) was placed halfway between V4 and V6 in the fifth intercostal space. The subject sat on the chair without moving for three minutes to generate a resting EKG.Then, the subject walked 2 mph on the treadmill with a 7. 0% incline for five minutes. This generated an exercising EKG. Lastly, the subject sat on the chair without moving for three minutes to generate a recovery EKG. Results: The subject successfully completed all three EKG recordings. The resting and recovery EKG readings were very easy to read; whereas, the exercising EKG had a lot of artifact that made it difficult to read. Artifact is something that is not â€Å"heart made† and usually comes from movement.The exercising EKG also had the most QRS complexes due to the fact that the subject’s heart rate was the highest while exercising. Discussion: As previously stated, an EKG measures the electrical currents of the heart. There are diff erent waves shown on an EKG. Each wave is represented by a letter. The first small wave is known as the P wave. The P wave represents atrial depolarization and contraction. The next wave is slightly negative and it is known as the Q wave. The Q wave initiates depolarization of the ventricles.The next wave, which is the large positive spike in the wave, is known as the R wave. The R wave represents ventricular depolarization and contraction. The next wave is slightly negative and it is known as the S wave. The S wave represents the negative wave of ventricular depolarization. The last wave is slightly larger than the P wave and it is known as the T wave. It represents ventricular repolarization and relaxation. Since there are three waves that represent ventricular depolarization, they are combined into what is known as the QRS complex.The section of the EKG from the beginning of the P wave to the beginning of the QRS complex represents the ventricular fill time and is known as the PR interval. Ventricular systole, or contraction, is shown by the start of the Q wave to the start of the T wave and is known as the QT interval. Lastly, from the end of the S wave to the start of the T wave, ventricular repolarization is normally isoelectric (on the baseline) and is represented by the ST segment. Any slight changes from normal sinus rhythm in any of these waves could indicate a heart problem.Electrodes were used to measure the electrical current in the heart. The paths from each electrode to another created a lead. Lead I was the path between RA and LA. Lead II was the path between RA and LL. Lead III was the path between LA and LL. The ground electrode was RL. An EKG wave read positive when the current moved toward a positive electrode and it read negative when the current moved toward the negative electrode. At rest, the EKG was much â€Å"cleaner† (less artifact) and the P waves, QRS complexes, and T waves were much easier to identify.During exercise, howev er, these waveforms were much more difficult to identify because of the large amount of artifact. Compared to at rest, the waveforms were much steeper and quicker which indicated the heart rate was speeding up, contraction and filling times decreased, and the contractions were much more forceful to pump the blood to the necessary tissue. There were a couple factors that could have hindered a completely accurate EKG reading; such as, cheap electrodes, movement of wires, and the placement of electrodes.All of these factors could have affected the EKG reading to cause extra artifact or inaccurate readings of the electrical current. Conclusion: Every year, hundreds of thousands of people die from heart problems. Many of these heart problems could be detected if the individuals had received an EKG. An EKG measures the electrical currents of the heart and shows when there are defects or blocks by the change in waveform. If more people were able to have an EKG when the problems arose, then maybe more lives would have been saved.

Heart of Darkness and “The Hollow Men” Essay

Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness reveals the theme of self-reflection, however that reflection leads to a caliginous finish filled with vacantness. A poem written in 1925, â€Å"The Hollow Men† by T.S. Eliot, portrays a nearly equivalent feeling of emptiness. Both of which form a vacuous, hollow existence of man. Conrad and Eliot’s work mirrors each other’s directly with their internal reflection and overall emptiness. In fact, Eliot even begins his poem with â€Å"Mistah Kurtz- He dead.† a citation from Heart of Darkness. Poems often intend to express more than what they literally say within their lines. In T.S. Eliot’s â€Å"Hollow Men,† Eliot depicts the insignificant lives of these â€Å"hollow men,† â€Å"stuffed† with worthlessness. He then goes on to explain how the men go about their daily lives and â€Å"whisper together† meaningless things. Eliot also speaks of the eyes that are â€Å"more distant and more solemn than a fading star.† The hollow men’s eyes are in a sort of hellish state, with stares of nothingness as they gaze out among the world. God’s eyes seem out of reach to these hopeless men, God’s eyes â€Å"do not appear,† they are too distant for them to reach. â€Å"This dead land this cactus land here the stone images are raised,† men in this barren and empty land are seen worshipping false gods, worthless stone. The only way for the hollow men to find hope is for God to be brought pack in and praised in â€Å"death’s twilight kingdom,† which in itself seems hopeless. Almost spontaneously Eliot brings in a nursery rhyme, creating a whimsical and simplistic way about the hollow men. Shortly after he starts the Lord’s Prayer, â€Å"For thine is the Kingdom,† and repeats it several times seeming to loose his train of thought, adding to the meaningless stuffing of these hollow men. â€Å"This is the way the world ends not with a bang but a whimper,† ends Eliot’s poem and also the lives of the hollow men, without meaning or significance. Like the theme of hollowness throughout â€Å"The Hollow Men,† â€Å"Heart of Darkness† generates the similar theme of self-reflection and the eventual feeling of emptiness. The protagonist, Marlow, sees that England is filled with superfluous actions and material things. â€Å"The inner truth is hidden.† The character of Marlow consists of a wandering sailor with little knowledge of who he really is. When traveling throughout the world, Marlow’s eyes open as he realizes the darkness of the world. Marlow leaves behind Eliot’s â€Å"deliberate disguises† and journeys to the void land of Africa. Soon He soon ascertains that Africa is very similar to England, in that it is centered around the worthless materials and money, â€Å"the word ‘ivory’ rang in the air†¦ you would think they were praying to it.† Marlow’s main reason of going into this strange land was to check on the inner station and unintentionally on Kurtz. Through all of the things Marlow witnesses on his voyage, he discovers the true emptiness and hollowness within himself. The jungles of Africa assume the same roles as the deserts of â€Å"The Hollow Men,† the area is barren and forsaken reflecting the mind of Marlow. In the â€Å"inner station† Marlow meets a character who seems to be â€Å"stuffed† like the men of Eliot’s poem, â€Å"I could poke my forefinger through him, and would find nothing but a little loose dirt.† When Kurtz is finally introduced in Heart of Darkness he is repeatedly labeled as a â€Å"universal genius,† and this so-called genius is from his own inner reflections. Something â€Å"had whispered to him things about himself which he did not know, things of which he had no conceptions till he took counsel with this great solitude – and the whisper had proved irresistibly fascinating. It echoed loudly within him because he was hollow at the core.† The whispers in â€Å"The Hollow Men† are also found throughout Heart of Darkness. Kurtz knows deep inside that he is empty and attempts to fill the void with these whispers. His remorse for these actions are revealed through his last words, â€Å"The horror! The horror!† His genius was eventually seen for what it truly was; he knew was he had, a â€Å"hollow† existence. The poem and novella both represent the masked, hollow, and meaningless existence of men, through a sense of reflection of oneself. Heart of Darkness is a tale of searching of meaningless ends and â€Å"The Hollow Men† reveals the tragedy of the hollowness in men, both show that these material obsessions of the world are worth nothing in the overall outlook of life.

Filters through which one perceives the world Essays

Filters through which one perceives the world Essays Filters through which one perceives the world Essay Filters through which one perceives the world Essay The Oxford Advanced Learning Dictionary defines a filter, as an apparatus for holding back substances. Filters allow somethings to pass through them and not others. This word can have many different forms of usage. Yet, when talking about life or how one perceives the world, a filter has a more discrete, hidden meaning. Everyday we filter ideas via the medium of sight, touch, smells, taste and sounds through our head. These senses can be significantly applied to the topic at hand. Although forming the body of this essay with the senses, it can be made easier, by breaking the question down into two manageable questions. How are things really? And what determines the filters through which we perceive the world, and life? An idea has all four senses some how woven into it. An idea is a questioned statement that one could be asking themselves and curious about the outcome of it all. The idea may have positive or negative feedback linked to it. For example, suppose a human being, fed up with life, decided that he/she wants to rob a bank and live off other peoples riches. : When he/she actually comes down to the whole plan, it has to be filtered through his/her brain. The brain understands the consequences behind the actions and does not filter the idea through, thus does not perform the task at hand. This idea may now be edging towards the background of the human conscience, but the conscience only kicks in just before one is about to make a comment, or perform an action. The filter is the first stage of pulling back the negative feedback. Keep account of the fact that filters dont always fully hold back things. Before a human being touches a flame or puts his/her hand in a freezing bucket of water, he/she attempts to recount a moment in his/her lifetime where he/she actually performed this task. The idea of putting ones hand through a flame is brought to the gates of the brain. In order for the brain to carry out the mission, the idea first, has to pass through the filters. In this case the filter realises that this experience may cause some bodily harm. Now that the filter has decided this, it brings the idea to the conscience, which then allows a second chance for he/she to think about what may happen. It is very common for young children aged between one and three years old to actually put its hand in a flame. This is because the filter has no recollection of past experiences with a flame, and therefore is a virgin to this feeling. This idea is allowed to pass into the brain (the conscience doesnt kick in, because babies dont have one at that age, and if it does, scientists have still to prove it) and then on to the action. Thus, the result is that the baby burns his/her hand and starts crying. But because of this experience, it has grown smarter (brain wise) and speeds up the advancement of its filter through which it may perceive the world. One of the most used, unless one is sleeping, is the sense of sight. This is definitely a filter that is able to affect the understanding of the world, and what things really are. The everyday life is controlled by sight. Sight gives humans a clear sense of direction and an image of what things really are. If there is a green apple on a table and a group of 20 people were asked what they see, they would say exactly what they are viewing, which in this case is a green apple. From this, it has been made evident that all humans with a clear vision (excluding blind people) all view the same images as each other. Now comes a contradiction to all that has just been said. Suppose a friend has told a human being, that a plane crashed killing all the dominant world leaders. This person with out viewing any images on a screen or on paper only knows the damage it has caused to the world, but has no idea how it has affected the people and the country, that are governed by these leaders. This person has no visual recollection of the devastation and can be by no means persuaded to believe it, since he/she hasnt viewed any proof. This proves that sight is the only filter that clearly allows a human to comprehend how things in life really are. Carrying on from this topic, sight is also a filter because it is able to block out things that someone may not want to see. The filter of sight narrowly differentiates itself from a human conscience. One has the option to filter through images that he/she would request to view, which in a sense voluntarily changes the perception of the world. Through sight this person can decide how he/she perceives the world. If the human being requests to have a positive perception of the world, he/she does not look on to the devastating results of the worst killers, human beings. The only person to decide what things really are, are humans themselves. Every human being has a different mind of its own; each one is able to interpret items completely differently according to his/her beliefs. Till this day some people find it difficult to express the ways in which, they think things really are. The majority of these people fall back on a certain religion to illustrate the path to the certainty of how things are, including life. The determining factors, when discussing the realness of certain objects, can only be finally evaluated by any certain individual. Everyday, a human being conscience sly filters ideas through their head. What they view surrounding them, is determined as being reality and that everyone would view the same images. Our guardians in life, our parents, provide lifes filters to their children, as well as a conscience and morals. Through these traits the human being is able to uncover the reality of objects, which may affect ones outlook and or perception of life and the world we live in today. The media, in a broader sense provides us, with an open perception of the world. Through the television, radio and papers, it encourages an identical view on things, among the total population. So maybe, the media has a more influencing power on us, than our parents or beliefs do. After all this information about filters is taken into account, the end result is what is real. After viewings, tasting etc. an object, only after that, can one actually decide if it is real or not. So the filters are our senses and everyday ideology. Answering the first question that decides whats real? Is simply answered by the second questions answer, which is the human being him/her self. All these questions and answers, are all connected together. This includes TOK, life, perception and filters. The result being a never ending circle, and that is what I am sure is how it really is.