Monday, September 30, 2019

Differrences between Invitation to treat and Proposal Essay

A proposal is made when a person is willing to enter into a legally binding contract. However, an invitation to treat is merely a supply of information (eg. an advertisement) to tempt a person into making a proposal. It is important to differentiate a proposal which will consequently lead to binding obligations on acceptance. On the other hand an â€Å"invitation to treat† is a mere suggestion of a readiness to deal or trade. In essence, an invitation to treat is a preliminary approach to others inviting them to make a proposal which can then be accepted or rejected. For example, if A said: â€Å"I want to sell you my Xbox 360 but I will not let it go for less than $300†, that is an invitation to treat. Even if B wanted to buy A’s Xbox for $300 he cannot be obliged to sell it to you for there is no official proposal in which to accept or reject. However if A said â€Å"I will sell you my Xbox 360 for $300†, that would constitute as a proposal. The invitation does not constitute a proposal, it is an invitation to engage in negotiations to form a contract, or an proposal to receive an proposal from another party (Willmott et al., 2005, p. 37). In Partridge v Crittenden, case law has established that advertisements and in Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain v Boots Cash Chemists (Southern) Ltd auctions and displays of goods for sale are invitations to treat rather than proposals. However, in other types of transactions it can be hard to differentiate between the two. This is where the ‘objective test’ applies: it must be determined how a reasonable person would regard the situation. An invitation to treat may sometimes appear to be a proposal and the difference can sometimes be difficult to determine. The distinction is important because if one accepts an proposal, they have created a binding contract however if one accepts an invitation to treat then they will be making an proposal. The main difference betwe en an proposal and an invitation to treat is where an invitation to treat lacks the intention to be legally bound. The difference between an proposal and an invitation to treat lies solely in the promisor’s intentions. An proposal is a proposal in which all bargaining is resolved and the party who wishes to make the transaction is prepared to  make a legally binding contract with an individual who has equal bargaining power and has the capacity to responsibly accept. An example of a common proposal could include a phone contract, where all the terms and conditions have been made and acceptance is ready to occur with no further bargaining. In contrast, an invitation to treat is seen as â€Å"a request to negotiate or make an proposal with a contract in mind†[1]. An invitation to treat allows for further questions, statements and bargaining to me make during the negotiation process where the acceptance of such a request is not legally binding. Determining the difference between an invitation to treat and an proposal can be difficult as these two terms are similar and yet, legally, very different. An invitation to treat is not an proposal (Monahan and Carr-Gregg, 2007, pp. 6-7), but rather a request to negotiate with the intentions to enter into a contract. There is no legal obligation on the person who proposals an invitation to treat. Once there is an expression of willingness to be contractually bound on the stated terms (Australia Legal Dictionary, 2004, p.306) an proposal is said to have being made. However, where there is no intention to be bound by a contract, negotiations continue until the terms can be accepted and the parties contractually bound, should a party accept the invitation to treat then make an proposal and this is accepted, then there will be a legally binding contract. As shown in Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain v Boots Cash Chemists (Southern) Ltd (1953) 1 QB 401 once a customer makes an propo sal to buy goods from the store; the owner can accept or reject the terms. For example, though a salesman may display an item in a store window it is not an proposal as the proposalor is not obliged to make the sale and can still alter the price or present terms or conditions as to the sale of the item. If the terms can be successfully negotiated then an agreement can be reached and the parties are contractually bound, however, if the proposalor refuses the proposalees proposal, then negotiations may or may not continue depending upon the intentions of both parties. The shop owner isn’t legally obliged to sell an item that is being advertised, even if the price was met by a customer, or if it was accompanied by a special proposal. This was easily seen in Fisher V. Bell [1961] 1 QB 394, where the shop owner displayed a flicknife for sale  but this sale was prohibited due to legislation. This also allows shop owners not to sell an item which was mistakenly priced at a very low amount. A particular form of invitation to treat that has come under scrutiny has been advertisements. In his judgement in Partridge v Crittenden, Lord Parker CJ said, ‘When one is dealing with advertisements†¦there is business sense in their being construed as invitations to treat and not proposals for sale.’ Although a layman may regard the listing of a price next to an item in a catalogue as an proposal, in legal terms this is generally an invitation to treat, or an invitation for the customer to proposal to purchase the item, which the store/salesman may then accept or reject. Similarly, information regarding a product is also regarded as an invitation to treat according to Gibson v Manchester City Council. The fundamental difference between an proposal and an invitation to treat is the intention of the proposalor, and while an advertisement, which is not targeting anyone in particular (but the world at large), can generally be deemed an invitation to treat, it is possible for it to be an proposal to the world at large. As stated many times already, an important factor is the intention of the person making the proposal and there are several factors to determine whether the advertisement is an invitation to treat or an proposal to the world at large. The terminology that is used, any limitations imposed on who could accept or any limitations on what was being proposaled are important factors. The need for invitations to treat is clear, because otherwise people may find themselves in contracts they cannot fulfil, possibly due to insufficient stock (Graw 2005). If an proposalor, however, limits the number of people who can accept, the problem wouldn’t occur and it makes it possible for the advertisement to be an proposal to the world at large. This is seen in the case of Lefkowitz v Great Minneapolis Surplus Store 86 NW 2d 689 (1957) in the USA. In this case the store placed a newspaper advertisement specifying â€Å"first in, first serve† for â€Å"3 brand new fur coats, at $1 each†. Mr Lefkowitz was one of the first three customers to try and buy a coat. He was told that it was only for women. He sued and won as the proposal was clear and definite, it wasn’t an invitation to treat but an proposal to sell.  Also, if an advertisement proposals something and limits supply (eg. â€Å"Until stock runs out†, â€Å"two per customer†) i t may be intended to fill all orders within the limitation and therefore it would be an proposal not an invitation to treat. An important case to consider when comparing the differences between an proposal and an invitation to treat is the case of Leonard v Pepsico 88 F.Supp.2d 116 (1999) during which a television advertisement was aired proposaling prizes that could be exchanged for specific amounts of product ‘points’ or the cash equivalent (i.e. 50 points for a hat and 75 for a t-shirt). At the end of the advert Pepsico proposaled a fighter plane for 700,000 points. John Leonard took the advert seriously and consequently earned the required points and sent his points away to pepsico for the plane. When denied his acceptance of what he took to be an proposal, Leonard proceeded to take legal action against Pepsico. Kimba M. Wood J held that; the advert displayed no terms nor conditions, adverts do not constitute an proposal and there was no proposal made for which the plaintiff could respond to. As the proposal was made in jest, the advert could not be taken to constitute a valid proposal and as such should be viewed merely as a invitation to treat. An important case to consider when comparing the differences between an proposal and an invitation to treat is the case of Leonard v Pepsico 88 F.Supp.2d 116 (1999) [7] during which a television advert was aired proposaling telling of prizes that could be exchanged for specific amounts of product ‘points’ or the cash equivalent (i.e. 50 points for a hat and 75 for a t-shirt). At the end of the advert Pepsico proposaled a fighter plane for 700,000 points. John Leonard took the advert seriously and consequently earned the required points and sent away for the plane. When denied his acceptance of what he took to be an proposal, Leonard proceeded to take action against Pepsico. Kimba M. Wood J held that; the advert displayed no terms nor conditions, adverts do not constitute an proposal and there was no proposal made for which the plaintiff could respond to. As the proposal was made in jest, the advert could not be taken to constitute a valid proposal and as such should be v iewed merely as a invitation to treat. An invitation to treat is distinguishable from an proposal in that; an proposal constitutes the first step of a contract and can be accepted along with consideration to form a contract. An invitation to treat is not an proposal but merely an invitation for the targeted audience to present their proposal, which may, or may not be accepted. A prime example of an invitation to treat is a catalogue. Catalogues often contain pictures, and words describing their products on sale and are advertised to a large number of people in a certain market who may be interested. Whereas an proposal would be targeted at an individual with certain terms and conditions, rather than at a large audience. It is important to establish that a catalogue is only an invitation to treat, otherwise a retailer could be in breach of contract if they exhaust all their supply of a product that has been proposaled in their catalogue. Businesses such as Supermarkets, travel agents and Car Companies often use the term â€Å"special proposal†, which can be mistaken to have the same meaning as the term â€Å"proposal† does in the legal sense. (Massey V Crown Life Insurance Co ). The courts recognise that people from non-law backgrounds, use the word â€Å"proposal† rather loosely and therefore are reluctant to rely on the use of the word, to gauge intention (Gooley et al., 2007, pp. 45-46). It is often an invitation to treat in the same sense as â€Å"display of goods†. Merely calling something an proposal does not make it one (Graw, S, 2005, pp. 48-49). The conditions and rationale under which a court differentiates an proposal from the ambiguous invitation to treat, is that an proposal is a readiness to be legally bound. In contrast, both parties within the invitation to treat remain at the negotiation stage. It is not until the invitation to treat has led to an proposal, which is then accepted, that a contract is formed. Promotional statements in advertisements are treated as invitations to treat or to be ‘outside the realm of contract law altogether as being mere â€Å"puffery† not intended to be legally binding’ (Davis, J, 2006). Another  issue that arises in clarifying an proposal from an invitation to treat is that when an proposalee submits an enquiry, it is difficult to determine whether or not the response can be interpreted as an actual proposal or simply a mere supply of information as seen in Harvey v Facey [1893] AC 552. The courts regard that the presentation of goods for sale in a shop signifies that the cashier is willing to treat, in spite of the price labelled on the item. Therefore, an proposal is only reached when the customer presents the goods to the cashier, which will either be accepted or declined. When examining cases in contract law, it is essential to understand the four elements of contract formation to be able to trace negotiations back to the very fine point that distinguishes an proposal from an invitation to treat. Auctions are a distinct method of sale where whether it is an proposal or invitation to treat can sometimes be ambiguous. If there is a reserve price for the item of sale, the auctioneer cannot sell the item unless the highest bid is higher than the reserve price. In this case the verbal enticement to bid made by the auctioneer towards a plausible purchaser can be considered akin to an invitation to treat. Each of the bids therefore can be regarded as an proposal which the auctioneer may or may not accept. The acceptance can be considered to have occurred when the hammer falls. Payne v. Cave (1789) 3 TR 148 is a good example in which the proposal was withdrawn before being accepted. In this instance the defendant made the highest bid for items for the plaintiffs but before the auctioneers hammer could fall, he withdrew the proposal. The court found the defendant was not contractually bound to purchase the item. His bid was considered to be an proposal, which was permitted to be withd rawn before the auctioneer had accepted. If the item in question has no reserve price, the highest bidder is usually considered to have made a contract with the auctioneer and therefore a rejection by the auctioneer would usually be considered a breach of contractual proposal. This was shown in the Court of Appeal in Barry v. Davies [2000] 1 WLR 1962. Differences between Cross-offer and Counter-offer Cross offer – When the offers made by two persons to each other containing  similar terms of bargain cross each other in post they are known as cross offers. For example, on 1st January A offers to sell his radio set to B for Rs. 500/- through a letter sent by post. On the same date B also writes to A making an offer to purchase A’s radio set for Rs. 500 /- When A or B send their letters they do not know about the offer which is being made by the other side. In these cross offers, even though both the parties intend the same bargain, there arises no could arise only if either A or B , after having the knowledge of the offer, had accepted the same. Counter Offer – A counter offer amounts to rejection of the original offer.Legal effect of counter contract. A contract offer:- (i) Rejection of original offer (ii) The original offer is lapsed(iii) A counter offer result is a new offer.For example -A offered to sell his pen to B for Rs.1,000. B replied, † I am ready to pay Rs.950.† On A’s refusal to sell at this price, B agreed to pay Rs.1,000. Held, there was not contract as the acceptance to buy it for Rs.950 was a counter offer, i.e. rejection of the offer of A. Subsequent acceptance to pay Rs.1,000 is a fresh offer from B to which A was not bound to give his acceptance.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Within the Context of 1789-1890, Was the Unification of Germany a Result of Economic, Political or Military Forces?

Numerous factors have lead to the progressive creation of a unified Germany by 1871; such factors are fundamentally related to economic, political or military origins. To accurately understand the reasoning behind the unification, one must look at the history preceding it – The after-effects of the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire; The significance of the French revolutions and Napoleonic Wars on Germanic national identity; the degradation of Austria’s national power; the introduction of the Zollverein in 1834 and the Prussian economic superiority that followed in addition to the industrialisation of the German states all contribute towards economic and political factors relating to the formation of a unified Germany under Prussia’s direction. Military factors contributing towards the unification of Germany include the defeat and exile of Napoleon Bonaparte; Otto Von Bismarck’s foreign policy based strongly around ‘realpolitik’; the significance of the ‘New Model Army’ on Prussia’s military prominence in addition to the conclusive Franco-Prussian war. The Germanic region is immersed in a rich cultural heritage extending back, within the context of recorded history to a wild, untamed land coupled with the indomitable spirit of the indigenous people who populated it. Numerous tribes took residence within Germania including but not limited to the Saxons, Franks and Chatti. Several centuries on, the Frankish territories within Germania had spread across the Central European landmass under the tactical prowess of Charlemagne to encompass large parts of Western Europe and Northern Italy, thus forming â€Å"Teutonicorum† or â€Å"Germanic Realm†. This newly formed empire was later consolidated by Otto the Great to become the Holy Roman Empire and is considered by numerous historians as the formation of the First Reich. The period from 936 C. E onwards saw the further expansion and consolidation of the Holy Roman Empire’s territory; this territory was however still rather localized to the Central European landmass. The conglomeratic nature of the Holy Roman Empire’s territory in addition to Otto the Great’s ecclesiastical reformations and papal disputes provide a poignant appreciation to French philosopher Voltaire’s phrase (1)â€Å"This agglomeration which was called and which still calls itself the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empireâ€Å". Nevertheless, the Holy Roman Empire laid immeasurable foundations in the construction of a modern Germanic national identity; this national construct was further built on by the shared linguistic and cultural background of the denizens of Central Europe and as such, the importance of this rich heritage in the creation of a unified Germany must not be neglected. Analysis must be made in order to quantify the involvement economics played in the unification of the German states. The main economic impact on the Germanic states pre-1834 was the French Revolution and subsequent Napoleonic Wars, the French Revolution in particular stemmed partly from an economic crisis based in France; although providing unseen benefits that later amalgamated into the creation of a unified Germany, the wars were extremely taxing on the German states, such an economic drain arguably perpetuated the view that the German states would be unquestionably stronger if they were unified economically with consideration to the possibility of a future surge of French imperialism. After the creation of the German Confederation via the Congress of Vienna, inter-state trade began to increase but was severely limited by individual state tolls on goods passing through their respective territories, as such; Prussia introduced the Trade Reform Act 1818 which effectively removed intrinsic customs tariffs boosting internal trade massively. From this sphere of economic influence, neighbouring states began to adopt a similar tariff system in the interest of long-term economic growth. This indoctrination of sorts paved the way for the rapid economic development of the states that had adopted Prussia’s tariff system. Not only did this economic revolution increase the wealth of the states that adopted it, it also laid the foundations for an economic national identity which became synonymous with interstate politics. The increased political involvement between states can only be looked at positively when attributing its involvement in the creation of a unified Germany, with such involvement taking place, it is apparent that the German Confederation was already beginning to function as a single entity. With the boost in economic co-operation came a degree of cultural integration as a result of the increased inter-state involvement. It can certainly be argued that the introduction of the Trade Reform Act and the resulting economic co-operation contributed to the formation of a unified Germany. The positive effects of the newfound increased economic co-operation were further exemplified by the introduction of the Zollverein in 1834. The Zollverein’s influence furthered a national identity, both through the solid participation of the constituent states of the German Confederation and ‘monuments’ under which unification could prosper such as the customs-parliament and the formation of a governing body of the economic aspects of the German Confederation. The synonymous nature of economics and politics meant that it was only a matter of time before the latter was formalized just as the economic union of states had been formalized by the Zollverein. With the Zollverein came a rapid increase in foreign trade which bolstered the confederation’s economic armoury as a result of commercial treaties with Holland, Britain and Belgium. Not only did this bolster the Prussian-dominated Zollverein’s coffers, it paved the way for a diplomatic stability with the nations; the fact that it is arguable that the majority of the states within the German Confederation were interested in international relations is further indicative of the collective will of the Germanic states to be unified. A further benefit towards unification that the Zollverein brought was the industrialisation of the German states as a result of the increased trade and wealth that the Zollverein had provided; this industrialisation emerged primarily with the introduction of the railways. Not only did the railways further bolster trade and strengthen the bond that the Zollverein had provided for the German states, it removed a large portion of pre-existing inter-state cultural segregation and local prejudice as a result of the increased social and cultural contact made available by the addition of the railways to the German Confederation’s transport system. An additional economic aspect that must not be neglected is the effect the Zollverein had on Prussia’s main rival for unification – Austria. Due to the fact that the Zollverein was fundamentally born from the Prussian womb as a result of previous success of the Tariff Reform Act, it allowed Prussia to refuse entrance of the Zollverein to Austria despite three arguably frantic attempts to join in 1852, 1853 and 1862. This further weakened Austria’s hold over the German Confederation and as a result, it became more apparent that Prussia was to lead a unified Germany. The fact that one nation had clear dominance within the German Confederation provided a rallying point for German states under a Prussian banner and furthered the now Prussian-biased ideology of German dualism. It is also possible to consider that the German states may have used the example of Prussian economic solidarity and political dominance as a justification for a Prussian-lead unified Germany. In contrast, Lombardy was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy during 1859 as a result of the Second Italian War of Independence, further weakening Austria’s economic position due to the fact that Lombardy was a significant Austrian trade hub; in addition, this led to the defeat of the Hapsburg family. The war was a catalyst for liberalism/nationalism. From a political point of view, it can be said that political activities both intrinsic to the German states and extrinsic such as political ideological revolutions across Europe contributed to the unification of Germany. The political effects Napoleon exercised on the Germanic states and their relevance to German unification almost a century later must be appreciated in order to properly understand the political basis for unification. A principle factor was the continuation of the War of the Second Coalition and the subsequent Peace of Luneville. Although initially enforced to allow easier management of German territories, it can be argued that Napoleon had unknowingly paved the way for German nationalism. German nationalism was further exemplified by the martyr Friedrich Staps(2); his attempt on Napoleon’s life and subsequent refusal to denounce his will to assassinate Napoleon after being asked by Napoleon whether he would thank him if he was pardoned became a beacon of unification and furthered the German nationalist identity; he was quoted as saying â€Å"Long live freedom! Long live Germany! † before being executed by firing squad. The fact that an attempt on Napoleon’s life was made in the first place is strongly indicative of an inherent nationalist awareness and disagreement with French hegemony; collating to form a strong will for unification under a single identity. The Congress of Vienna was a further spoke in the wheel of unification. Although initially intended to reconsolidate existing Germanic states and quash nationalist views, the German Confederation was formed which can be considered a major step towards unification; this further amalgamated German states and as a result of the denomination of the states under a single name, caused political arguments over who should rule the confederation. Although political tensions were fierce between Prussia and Austria, it can be considered positive that there was a title of ‘ruler’ of the German Confederation to quarrel over at all; this is highly suggestive that most German states had unification to some degree planned or had at least considered it by 1820. What the Congress of Vienna did not take into account however was the growing economic power and ambition of Prussia. The Zollverein further reinforced Prussia’s political influence over the majority of states within the German Confederacy and continued to isolate Austria – Prussia’s main contender for the crown of unification due to the lack of inclusion within the Zollverein. In addition to Austria’s waning political influence as a result of the Zollverein, Prince von Metternich’s resignation in 1848 brought an end to Austria’s largely protectionist policy and allowed for a continued nationalist view with Prussia firmly secured to unify Germany. This nationalist â€Å"will† to become a single nation is supported by Heinrich von Treitschke, a German nationalist historian’s statement (3)â€Å"Every virile people has established colonial power. All great nations in the fullness of their strength have desired to set their mark upon barbarian lands and those who fail to participate in this great rivalry will play a pitiable role in time to come. † From a nationalist point of view, it is suggestive of the yearning that citizens of the German states had to be a part of the new world that was forming as a unified identity. As a result of the degeneration Austria was experiencing, Frederick William IV of Prussia took control of German Confederacy affairs and called the Frankfurt National Assembly. Although the assembly was hugely biased towards the middle class populace, boasting 325 middle class delegates and only 5 of a working class background, it was not the fact that it was unsuccessful, it was the fact that delegates from the Germanic peoples met at all. Although Frederick William IV declined the crown mainly due to opposition from the other German princes in addition to strained relations with Austria and Russia, he quickly summoned the German princes to Erfurt to create a plan to unite Germany. The activities that transpired during the Frankfurt National Assembly indicated a step away from autocracy and a step towards a constitutional monarchy, suggestive that a unified Germany was imminent. Perhaps the greatest political influence on the unification of Germany was Otto von Bismarck. He has been described by William Carr as (4) â€Å"a giant among pigmies† due to his political and diplomatic influence. Bismarck was appointment as Minister President of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1862 and had a profound effect on nationalism and the foreign policy of the German Confederation. Bismarck’s progressive domestic policy can be considered a great stepping stone towards unification. One such subjectively important measure Bismarck took was the secularization of the Klein Deutschland via the May Laws; these laws helped delegate power to the state therefore strengthening the Reich’s position within society. A principle factor of the May Laws relating to the continued unification of Germany was the state’s newfound governance of education over the Catholic Church; this helped promote modernist ideas to the future German population, thus allowing Germany’s continued survival in a progressive world post-industrial revolution. Additionally, Bismarck’s social welfare reforms further strengthened the fabric of the new society that was beginning to flourish. The introduction of sick pay in 1883 and pensions in 1889 helped quell the large socialist unrest which can be said to have helped towards the social stability of the nation. Bismarck’s foreign policy also provided a basis for the unification of Germany. Bismarck took a strong political stance of diplomatic isolation and pacification. Bismarck’s primary aim diplomatically was to maintain good relations with Russia and Austria and prevent a Franco-Russian alliance through the League of the Three Emperors as Bismarck realised that if diplomatic relations broke down with Russia, there was a strong possibility that Germany could be hit from both the Eastern and Western fronts. Bismarck maintained a â€Å"three against two† diplomatic philosophy; he is quoted as saying (5) â€Å"you forget the importance of being a party of three on the European chessboard. The foreign policy Bismarck employed enabled the diplomatic isolation and subsequent defeat of both France and Austria, the two main barriers standing in the way of a unified Germany. Following the unification, Bismarck employed a clever aggressive diplomatic move in the shadow of the Congress of Berlin’s negative effects on relations with Russia. A dual alliance was formed with Austria in 1879 in order to both coerce Russia into seeking a clos er diplomatic relationship with Germany and to secure Germany’s southern border in the event of a diplomatic breakdown with Russia. This was a very wise move on Bismarck’s part as it further pacified a real threat to Germany’s continuity. A further show of Bismarck’s diplomatic engineering unveiled itself in light of the Spanish revolution; As a result of the uprisings, the throne of Spain became available. Tensions between France and Prussia had escalated beyond all measure as a result of an offer to a German Prince to take up the throne and war was declared between France and Prussia as a result. The diplomatic supremacy portrayed by Bismarck aided greatly in the provocation of a Franco-Prussian war and as a result of the French defeat, aided greatly in the unification of Germany with one of its major enemies defeated. The Napoleonic wars and the resulting military encounters may be looked upon as a catalyst for the unification of Germany, a common â€Å"wartime enemy† gave the citizens of the German states a common goal which cumulated with the significant Prussian role within the Battle of Waterloo and the heroism shown by Gebhard von Blucher’s troops. The German revolutions of 1848 may be considered a military catalyst towards German unification. During the revolutions, Austria was mainly preoccupied with the First Italian War of Independence; this coupled with Prussia’s newfound superiority within the German Confederation meant that the German states relied upon Prussia to assist with the uprisings, this reliance further strengthened the political role Prussia played within the German Confederation and took the states one step closer to unification under a Prussian banner. The first major military effect on the unification of Germany came with the realisation in 1859 that the Prussian army was ineffectively trained and archaic, Albert von Roon, war minister of Prussia proposed the Army Bill of 1860. It planned to substantially increase the size of the Prussian army and improve its equipment; furthermore, national service was to be extended. The bill was passed by Bismarck in 1862 contrary to liberal opposition and hence the â€Å"New Model Army† was created. Despite continuous liberal opposition to Bismarck’s policies, as a result of the success his policies had, liberal support for him did grow. This is supported by the American historian Peter Viereck: (6) â€Å"The liberal university professors, Metternich's fiercest foes and now so prominent in 1848, were often far from the cloudy idealists pictured in our textbooks. From his own viewpoint, Bismarck erred in mocking their lack of Realpolitik. The majority†¦ as more Bismarckian than Bismarck ever realized. Many liberals†¦ later became leading propagandists for Bismarck, along with the new National Liberal Party,† Danish annexation of Schleswig brought the modernized German army to life and in February 1864, a combined Prussian and Austrian force crossed the Danish border into Schleswig. The Danish army consisted of around 40,000 troops and was swept away by a force superior in numbers, equipment and tactics. The Second Schleswig War accumulated into a victory for Prussian and Austrian forces, resulting in the re-annexation of Schleswig and the acquisition of the duchy of Holstein for both nations. This military move allowed Prussia to re-affirm its dominance and perpetuated to the German states that it was capable of defending its territories if provoked; this furthered nationalist views within the German states and contributed towards a unilateral notion that Prussia was able to lead a unified Germany. A further military factor of unification displayed by Prussia was the Austrian-Prussian war in 1866; through Bismarck’s diplomatic puppeteering, Austria declared war on Prussia. Austria was quickly isolated diplomatically and militarily. This isolation coupled with the Italian mobilization for the Third Italian War of Independence meant that Prussia had hit Austria at its weakest; Austria was quickly overwhelmed resulting in the loss of a thorn in Germany’s side. In addition to this, Austrian influence on German states waned due to both the defeat itself and that it became apparent that was unable to focus on the affairs relating to German states. This further solidified Prussia’s hold over both the states themselves and the Zollverein. Austria’s defeat also resulted in the further diplomatic isolation of France which would later aid Prussia in the Franco-Prussian war and make the path to unification more straightforward. By 1870, Prussian dominance was prolific across the German states, primarily as a result of the Prussian show of military force in the Second Schleswig War and indeed the Austrian-Prussian War. The interstate alliances that were formed meant that any European aggression on a German state would result in action being taken from all German states allied with Prussia, it was apparent from such diplomatic relations that the German states were at this point a pseudo-nation of sorts. As a result of the diplomatic breakdown over the Spanish crown, War was declared by France on Prussia in the summer of 1870. Napoleon III decided to invoke a strategy similar to his uncle’s strategy several decades ago however, the war was soon lost as a result of the unified German states being able to co-ordinate in addition to the Prussian military might resulting from the earlier Army Bill of 1860 in addition to the experience it had gained from the Schleswig-Holstein conflict and the Austrian-Prussian War. The British historian A. J. P Taylor summarized Napoleon III’s failure to take into account a key factor of his strategy (7) â€Å"Like most of those who study history, he (Napoleon III) learned from the mistakes of the past how to make new ones. † The importance of the military must not be neglected when considering the factors relating to the unification of Germany. The seeds of nationalism were planted at the turn of the 19th century as a result of the Napoleonic Wars. Military action formed a cornerstone of Bismarck’s foreign policy which subsequently can be considered a key piece of the unification. As a result of the modernization of the Prussian army, it was able to exert its dominance over both Denmark and Austria – the main contender to unify Germany and a stark opponent of the militaristic manner in which Bismarck was conducting in order to do so. Prussia was also able to eliminate France as the main rival to the formation of a unified Germany and prosper from the post-war reparations that France had been forced to pay both financially and in terms of territory thus aiding the continuity of the newly formed Germany. To conclude, it may not be accurate to attribute the unification solely, or even primarily to one set of factors but to a broad spectrum, each with their own significance, relevance and effect on other factors, for example; the Franco-Prussian war may not have resulted in a victory for Prussia had the Army Bill of 1860 not have been passed, nor would Prussian economic dominance be exerted in the later 19th century if the Zollverein had not been introduced in 1834 and as a result, Prussia may not have had the funds to introduce the Army Bill in the first place, this is testament to the theory that the economic, political and military factors relating to the unification of Germany are linked and as such, a denomination cannot be made towards the prevalence of one but indeed the combined significance of all of these factors. These interwoven strands of fate may be recognised by the Borussian Myth, a theory perpetuated by 19th century nationalist German historians such as Heinrich von Tr eitschke and Theodor Mommsen. The Borussian Myth states that German unification was inevitable; it is based off a teleological argument which suggests that all factors of an event are directed toward a final outcome. This theory is contrasted by post World War II historians searching through the immediate German past in order to better understand the root causes of World War II. It was progressively realised that Prussia was not the centre of German culture as suggested by the German nationalist historians of the 19th century and that 19th century German history wasn’t entirely centred on Prussian success attributed to accumulative fate but a time of great social, economic and cultural change for the German states. Although the Borussian Myth may be flawed by nationalist bias, the linked significance of the factors relating to the unification of Germany does suggest that Prussia was â€Å"destined† to unify Germany to some extent. Nevertheless, the unification of Germany cannot be attributed to one set of factors, but a precise combination of all factors executed with crucial timing whether intentional or not, sprinkled with a dash of luck.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Written Assignment # 3 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Written # 3 - Assignment Example The sectors are constructed with grooves and tiles, of which were symbolic of their faith. The nave being the main body of the church provided the central point to the high alter which was developed out of the apse. This architectural design resulted in the development of the Gothic Christian abbey, Romanesque, and cathedral basilica. The Abbey church of Saint- Denis is regarded as the first known Gothic structure in which Christians were able to worship. While the Hagia Sophia was a former orthodox basilica church and later became an imperial mosque. Synagogue is a derivative Hebrew word which means house of gathering. It is a housing for gathered prayer and discussions (Soltes). The five books of Moses are practiced in Judaism, the Torah, and the Jewish Bible (Soltes). They pray while facing Jerusalem and the synagogue structure is oriented to this. In the religion of Judaism, god is nonfigurative, and yet this notion is false because the district synagogues have displayed artistry. For instance, the Dura-Eurpus synagogue, one will find the Torah niche. The division of these designs provides a candelabrum of seven branches, the Menorah, a continuous Jewish art emblem. The number seven symbolizes the perfection and completion and represents the commandment of keeping the seventh day holy as stated in the Torah (Soltes). Also seen is the continuous narrative, of a chronological storyline of the life of Moses (239 A.D).The whole notion of a continuous narration is to do with the visual belief of how to exemplify the relationship b etween God and humanity (Soltes). Christians worship in churches, while Jews worship in synagogues, as the meeting point between sacred as well as profane, and between profanes and sacer. Within a synagogue, it is easy to find the western wall as it normally has a torah niche, which orients those in prayer towards Jerusalem. Architecture of the medieval Jewish synagogue differed from place to

Friday, September 27, 2019

The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl Movie Review

The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl - Movie Review Example She was, in other words, a wonderful filmmaker and an admirable survivor, whose fatal flaw was a horrible sense of judgment and an even more horrible tendency to glorify power, irrespective of the ideology it represented. "The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl" compels mixed reactions to its protagonist, evoking both admiration and aversion towards Riefenstahl. In one of the scenes, she is depicted as walking on a pier, carrying her own, undoubtedly heavy, scuba diving gear. Her much younger companions are walking ahead of her and neither offers to help her with her equipment and, indeed, her demeanour suggests that she would have rejected any offers of help. This scene would not have been remarkable were it not for the fact that Riefenstahl was over 90 at the time. This scene, which only occupies a few moments in a very lengthy three hour documentary, captures the essence of the woman. She is not one to concede to weaknesses, human frailties and recognises absolutely no boundaries or limitations. Had she done so, she would not have been directing an underwater documentary at the age of 91. Hence, in this single scene the filmmakers do more than countless verbal testimonies could have ever done - they show the audiences who Riefenstahl is and, who she is evokes admiration. While it exposes her admirable qualities, the film exposes an infinitely less attractive dimension to Riefenstahl's personality. She is self-defensive and over-brimming with self-justification, not to mention unwaveringly unapologetic about the services she rendered to, or her association with, Hitler and the Nazi party. The film shows her defending the association and services in artistic and professional terms; she was not a member of the Nazi Party and did not touch upon anti-Semitism in her work. In her defence and self-justification, Riefenstahl seemingly deliberately overlooks, as Downing (2008: para 1) points out, the propagandist nature of her "Triumph of Will," and the extent to which it affected mass perceptions of Hitler as a national hero and Nazism as the answer to all of Germany's problems. Her defence of her works, as presented in the documentary, indicates that either Riefenstahl did not understand the consequences of her propagandist documentaries, which is hardly be lievable, or quite unapologetically believes that the end justifies the means. In the final analysis, the documentary is objective. It presents both sides of Leni Riefenstahl and, more importantly, allows her to speak for herself. In so doing, it gives the audience the opportunity to witness the good and the bad and, accordingly, arrive at their own judgement. If that judgement is not in Riefenstahl's favour that is not because of the filmmakers' prejudices but because of Riefenstahl's presentation of her own self. Works Cited Downing, T. (2008) "Nazis and the Cinema." History Today, 58(3), 63. Rentschler, E. (1985) "The Use and Abuse of Memory: New German Film and the Discourse of Bitburg." New German Critique, 36, 67-91. Tegel, S. (2006) "Leni Riefenstahl: Art and Politics." Quarterly Review of Film & Video, 23(3),

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Organisational Behaivior Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Organisational Behaivior - Assignment Example However, all this changed after 2002, as Luxborough Chiltern increased in size and acquired more employees and projects. The lack of documentation suggests that no formal change management process was implemented and changes made were reactionary and not enacted with the participation of those undertaking tasks. The effects of the absence of a change management programme led to the gradual attrition of skilled labour for a variety of reasons. Certain policies were discontinued without prior consultation or regard to the employees it may affect. Actions such as these, had the effect of invalidating the organisational motto of "Transparency and Fairness for All" as the emphasis was placed on a certain category of employees. This pattern was followed in the reward system with bonuses which excluded a significant portion of the workforce. No consultation were held with regards to salary review, and as a result highly skilled employees have left the organisation as they believe their contribution and qualifications are not adequately recognised and rewarded. Immense pressure was being placed on meeting targets, and this pressure made it difficult for employees to be flexible and meet other commitments for fear of disappointing their respective teams. The list is endless; however the main underlying theme with the problems facing Luxborough Chiltern is that of a lack of communication between the managerial levels and the operational levels. Too many assumptions and judgements are being made which are having an adverse impact on the quantity and quality of the work produced. This lack of communication has been responsible for the resistance to change in this organisation, which has manifested as poor retention rates. If this is not addressed with urgency, Luxborough Chiltern will face a decline as it loses its value - which is its workforce. The recommendations for this situation have to start at the basic level, which is the 8 step change management model, which will form the basis for other additional programmes to rectify this situation. The onus is on the management of Luxborough Chiltern to acknowledge their contribution to this problem, and to recognise that the solutions lie in listening to and involving their workforce. Introduction Following Luxborough Chiltern's (LC) successful amalgamation of several organisations, the organisation has become one of the largest planning consultancies in the country. LC has grown from being a medium sized employer to being one that employs several hundred people. However, it as been an observation that this growth is having a negative effect on LCs retention rate, which is a cause for concern. If our retention rate continues on this downward spiral, this organisation could face serious threats to its reputation, as it would have lost its most valuable resource and the knowledge and expertise entwined within its employees. The problem with the retention rate has really been highlighted by the situation facing the Scarlett team which is now the smallest team in the organisation, and it is also the team that is experiencing a high rate of resignations. The manager for the Scarlett team is new to the organisation and has different

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Common core standards for mathematics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Common core standards for mathematics - Essay Example Reaching grade level seven, students must arm themselves with the basic knowledge in Geometry. It may all be about identifying shapes or using figures to solve a problem, but in Common Core State Standards Initiative or CCSSI (2012), the guideline set in this category goes beyond classifying figures since the emphasis was on the application on â€Å"angle† measurements and covered distances. The ability of students to grasp the idea of distance within surfaces in solving realistic situations is the goal of teachers in this grade level (Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2012). On the other hand, New Jersey Department of Education Office of Academic Standards or NJCCCS (2008) focuses on how to measure geometrically-perceived things and expects students to innovate, as well as execute cognitive actions, to come up with the measured distances of the shapes combined. Guidelines include the use of grids for estimating measurements (New Jersey Department of Education Office of Academic Standards, 2008). Both guidelines from CCSSI and NJCCCS are somewhat interconnected. Both focus on the ability of students to apply prior knowledge in real events and their lives, as well. The goal is for students to master the guideline and all its related outcomes affixed for grade seven Geometry. Once a student has proven to accomplish the grade level’s expectations, he/she will be able to move to the next level to optimize his/her learning

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Egypt and Mesopotamia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Egypt and Mesopotamia - Research Paper Example Not only this but the rulers of both societies− pharos, kings were considered as gods because of their power and wealth. Instead of being very similar in different religious points Egyptians and Mesopotamians however shared a different and pretty distinct culture in numerous ways. Language and development of alphabet was very different. Mesopotamian’s language was way too complex as compared to Egyptians also their studies and researches in the field of astronomy and other subjects were advance from the latter ones. Political comparison is actually very interesting. Politics and government formation in Egypt was very stable comparatively to Mesopotamia where shifting of power and states was very frequent. This was majorly because of the difference in geography, invasions and exposure to the outside world. The great tombs and pyramids which are now considered as the wonders are actually not because of the Egyptians religious beliefs in fact its geography has also played a significant role in those earthly wonders. According to geographers Egyptians were blessed with a good supply of great stones which they use very brilliantly in pyramids formation. Not only this, both civilizations were heavily dependent on rivers for the agriculture and irrigation purposes. Egyptians on River Nile and Mesopotamian’s on Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Comparatively speaking, agricultural production of Egyptians was greater than Mesopotamians due to their effective planning and also political stability which resulted in increase in their population bringing prosperity. Due to broad exposure Mesopotamians technological improvements were wide spread comparatively to Egyptians. They were accustomed to give more importance to trade, business and their merchant class which resulted in their economic stability. Also in everyday life Egyptians showed great deal of respect and affection towards their families particular their females (Bulliet 25). As for

Monday, September 23, 2019

Love A Powerful Emotion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Love A Powerful Emotion - Essay Example This essay declares that love can be both masculine as well as feminine because different kinds of people and characters are brought up in different settings and are taught to love one another with the same emotions. ‘Maurice’, written by E.M Forster, is a book about a young boy who has spent all his life around other boys and men; he is never exposed to girls as he attends an all boys school as well as an all boys college, and thus, when his family expects him to fall in love with and get married to a girl, he finds it tough to do so because he begins to love people of the male gender. Some forms of love are said to be more feminine than others such as the passionate as well as tentative love which may be observed through the writings of E. M Forster. This report makes a conclusion that , love has been talked about as a feminine emotion because of the delicacy with which is it presented forth to people; however, most men are the ones that handle love in such a fragile manner and understand their better halves in women. Most men around the world have written some of the best love stories that have torn people’s hearts and helped them understand the meaning of being unconditional; how then can love be called a feminine emotion? It is neither emasculated in nature, nor completely womanly, because it consists of various aspects like understanding desire and sexuality. All these attributes of love cannot be given a gender specific role to follow because they are unique to themselves and general to the people.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Communication Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Communication - Assignment Example They are of the view that much of the information about the customers is personal in nature such as their leisure activities and family lives; that cannot be made available to all as that carries the risk of falling in wrong hands and may lead to some kind of a legal dispute in future. I am pleased to learn through your letter that the Manitoba Philanthropic Society will be holding its annual charity telethon on February 15 lasting for two days during next year. I am fully aware about the charity activities carried out by your organization to assist the victims of disaster within Manitoba province and do appreciate it. I also recognize the fact that you were inducted into the order of the Buffalo Hunt last year for your long charitable work and you greatly deserved the award. All our seasonal kitchen and cleaning staff are laid off during the winter season until April 15 each year and the resort has only a few maintenance workers during the period. Water in the resort is also turned off in winter for conservation and access roads are not plowed by then to make them usable. It is also not possible and economical to rehire workers for just two days period during the days you want to organize your charity show. However, I would like to draw your attention that some resorts do remain open all winter and Moose Horn Resort in the Riding Mountains is one of such kind. You can check with them if they are eager and ready to accommodate your charity

Saturday, September 21, 2019

The 140 Marketing terms you must know Essay Example for Free

The 140 Marketing terms you must know Essay The most visible part of a communication program for the end consumer. Uses mass media channels such as press, bill boards, radio, TV and cinema. See also Below the line. Advertiser A company that uses advertising as a strategic tool to build its business. The advertiser most often works with an Advertising Agency. Advertising Agency The advertisers first communication partner. Designs campaigns that run in press, TV, billboards, radio, cinema and online. 2 Key departments are Strategic Planning, Account Management, Creative and Production. Account Director The client contact at the advertising agency: briefs the right agency resources sells the agency work oversees the account profitability Adaptation work All translations, modifications and specific implementation ideas that will make a global campaign work locally to full effect. Agency Briet The crucial meeting (and document) in which the Advertiser communicates its business and communication objectives to the agency. 3 App A simple piece of software designed for a specific use and purpose for the end user. Mainly for mobile digital devices (smart phones and tablets). Art Buyer The person who finds the third party talents ho will design the final print and TV ads (photographer, film director, illustrator ). She also negociates all the production quotes and royalties. Art Director The eye of the creative team. In particular is in charge for the look ; feel of the campaign. (see also Copy Writer) 4 Below the line The less visible part of a communication program for the end consumer. Uses more targeted channels such as trade publications, direct mail, emailing or even in store activities. See also Above the line. Benchmarking The learning process that goes through the study of the best practices from the past or rom the brands competitors. 5 Benefit The essence of what the brand promises to its consumers that can change their lives in a positive way. See also Brand Promise Big Idea An outstanding creative idea never seen betore, that connects witn consumers and is true to the brand. Body copy The small type text in a press ad that explains in more detail the attributes and benefits of the product or service advertised. See also Headline. Bottom up Any user generated communication piece that will have an impact on the brand perception (e. g. blogs, forums, word of mouth). See also Top down. 6 Brand Awareness The percentage of the population who know the brand by name and can associate it with the right product category. Brand Book The brand Bible. The document that sums up the brand: its vision, pyramid, and its visual and creative guidelines. The purpose is to ensure that every future communication piece respects the values and the formal identity of the brand. Brand Character Describes the brand personality and the type of relationship it has with its consumers as if it were a person. 7 Brand Equity The differential effect that brand knowledge has on customer response to brand marketing activity. Brand Generated Content Content that is 100% generated by the brand Marketing department or by the agency, as opposed to User Generated Content. Brand Premium The price difference consumers are prepared to pay for a branded product vs a very similar product unbranded or from another brand. Brand Promise The rational or emotional benefit the brand stands for. Should always be consistent with the brand vision. 8 Brand Vision The brands ultimate ambition and why it is irreplaceable. The vision explains and Justifies the brands present and future initiatives. BTB Communication Any communication piece that addresses a business constituency of the brand, eg a ustomer, a supplier or a partner. BTBTC Communication Any communication piece intended for both to the business partner and the end-consumer that will facilitate the selling protocol (e. g. window displays, demonstration kits, etc.. ). BTC Communication Any communication piece directly addressed to the end-consumer. 9 Budget (Production/ Media) The financial provisions made by the advertiser to support the costs of its marketing and advertising campaigns. Buzz Literally a murmur. An intriguing communication piece that generates a word of mouth. The goal is to turn consumers into a free media for the brand. Also called Viral Marketing. 10 c Call to action Any communication piece that generates a positive change in the consumers behaviour (e. g. visit the web site, make an inquiry, visit a store, Campaign The implementation program that will make the creative idea come to life through all the relevant touch points with the consumers (offline, online, POP ). Challenge (in the brief) Explains what behavior or mindset change the advertiser wants to create on consumers through the new communication program. 11 Challenger Brand A brand with a strong and relevant point of difference yet without the stature, nowledge, and e steem of a Powerbrand. Claim An advertising statement that sums up the product performance or benefit. Competitive analysis/Copy review The analysis of the past advertising and results of a brand vs its competitors. Concept A short paragraph describing how the brand wishes to present itself through its products or services to appeal to consumers. Connect The brands ability to get closer emotionally to each and every consumer. 12 Copy Strategy See Creative Brief Copy Writer The pen of the creative team more specifically in charge of the headlines, signature and body copy. (see also Artistic Director) Cost controller Independent expert appointed by the advertiser to check the quotes and optimize production budgets. Creative Awards Yearly prize giving ceremony that distinguishes the most creative campaigns and agencies. The best known and prestigious Awards are the Cannes Lions. (See also Effie Awards) 13 Creative Brief Also called Copy Strategy. The contract that articulates what is expected from the creative campaign, what it must communicate (benefit, reason why), and to whom (core target). Creative Director Head of the agency creative department. Accountable for the quality of the work and he creative reputation of the agency. Creative Journey The total creative process from the initial concept writing to the local implementation of the campaign. Usually takes approximately 10 months. 4 Creative Presentation The meeting in which the advertising agency presents its different creative proposals for the future campaign. All decision makers on the agency and client side should be present. Creative Selection Always the clients call. When the decision is taken to go forward with one idea among the different creative proposals presented by the agency. Creative Team In general a Copy Writer and an Artis tic Director. Together they come up with the creative idea that answers best the creative brief. Their work is approved by the Creative Director. 5 Ditterence (brand) Any ownable attribute that makes a brand unique. The #1 of the four building blocks ofa Powerbrand. Digital Media The various platforms and channels (websites or Social Media) a Brand uses on the Internet Disruption Advertising method originally created by JeanMarie Dru of TBWA. Its core belief is that the strongest brands have established themselves 16 by breaking all pre-existing conventions on their market. DOS DONTS Formal guidelines of what should always and lso what should never happen in any piece of advertising developed for the brand (e. g. fonts, colors, logo placement, . Part of the Brand Book. 17 Effie Awards distinguishes the top business building campaigns and agencies. (see also Creative Awards). Endorsement A third party explicit support that improves the brands credibility (eg a celebrity, an expert, a group of consumers.. ) Esteem (Brand) Measures to which degree consumers are proud of buying and of using the brand. The #4 of the four building blocks of a 18 Fee (agency) The financial compensation paid by the advertiser to its advertising agency. Negociated by contract most often on a yearly basis. Also based on an agreed Scope of Work (SOW). EMOT (or ZMOT) First (Zero) Moment Of Truth P;G concept. The very short lapse of time in which a shopper in a store makes up his/her mind about a product or a brand. 19 Gatekeeper Someone from the advertiser organization with the power to approve or stop the process at any given stage of the development of the creative campaign. Generic Anything can be claimed by any player in a given category. Cannot be owned by any brand. GRP Media measurement unit on a given target audience that combines the average reach 20 nd the number of occasions to be exposed to an advertisement (reach x frequency). Gut feeling The initial reaction a Marketeer should always have when first exposed to an ad. The more spontaneous, the better. 21 Headline The line at the head ofa press or poster ad that it supposed to catch the attention of the viewer. See also Body Copy. Hemisphere right/left Refers to how our brain works. The right Hemisphere is the most intuitive one, the left Hemisphere is the most analytical. Ag campaign should speak to both hemispheres. Impact A metric of the ability for an ad or a campaign to get noticed and remembered immediately y the target audience. Incentive (agency) Any reward that generates the motivation to go the extra mile. Money is one. Recognition is another. Insight A consumer related truth. It should always be the starting point to develop new products or to conceive an effective communication strategy. The Strategic Planner can help brands to identify untapped insights. Judgment (Creative) There are 7 criteria to Judge a creative campaign: 1. Is ita big idea? 2. Is it on equity? 3. Does it communicate the benefit? 4. Is it simple? 5. Does it connect? 6. Is it distinctive and recognizable? 7. Is it easy to implement? 24 Kit (communication) The different creative pieces of a campaign put together for the local markets to adapt according to their specific needs and requirements. Knowledge (Brand) The consumers clear understanding of what the brand stands tor. Intimate Knowledge is the #3 of the four building blocks of a 25 KOL Key Opinion Leader. Has the credibility, expertise or fame to be a decisive influencer on a group of consumers. Key Performance Indicators. Pre-selected criteria to help assess and monitor the results ofa campaign. 26 Layout In advertising a piece of creative presentation material in the form of a drawing on a board. Has the same meaning as Mock up. Lead Agency The agency in charge of the strategy and central work on behalf on an international client. Its role is also to coordinate the work of the local agencies and monitor the account profitability for the network. 27 Mandatories Defined in the Agency Brief. For eg media selection, formats, cultural traps, graphic guidelines, different languages Indispensable before the creative team start working on the brief.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Vertigo, 1958 | Film Analysis

Vertigo, 1958 | Film Analysis Vertigo is a 1958 suspense thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, written by Alec Coppel and Samuel Taylor and based upon the 1954 novel Dentre Les Morts by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac. Starring James Stewart, Kim Novak and co-starring Barbara Bel Geddes. James Stewart plays the part of detective John Ferguson or Scottie as he is known throughout the film, who develops a fear of heights, acrophobia, after he watches a policeman fall to his death during a police chase over the San Francisco rooftops. Following the incident, Scottie retires from the police force, but old friend Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore) hires him as a private detective to follow his wife, Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak) as she has been behaving strangely. Elster believes that she is possessed by the ghost of a dead relative, Carlotta Valdez. It is not long before Scottie starts to find himself becoming obsessed with the beautiful but troubled Madeleine and falls in love with her. As the introductions roll onto the screen, we are confronted by a close up of a black and white womans face, first her lips, her nose, her eyes, then onto one eye, where we can see a tear Her gaze only briefly meets ours, when we first see her eyes, but then they are skirting from left to right. The music gets more intense and the scene turns red, as the eye we are focused on widens in what we can only assume as shock or horror. We then see coloured patterns, starting first in the pupil, then swirling round on the black screen, gradually becoming larger and enveloping the screen and the audience. This setting of emotion and involvement of the audience in what is to be classed as misà ©-en-scene; the creation of emotion through visuals and audio. Fig. 9 Introductory scenes The opening scene underpins the whole of Scotties acrophobia, and as an audience, we also get to experience what it is hes feeling. The music is tense, we can see the skyline, we see them jumping from roof to roof, then we see Scottie slip, hes clinging on to the gutter by his fingertips to stop himself from plunging to a certain death. The other policeman turns to help him, asks him for his hand, but he falls from the roof, to the ground hundreds of feet below. The distance and acrophobia is highlighted by the view on the ground below panning in and out toward us. People who suffer with vertigo feel as if they or their surroundings are moving. These false sensations are often accompanied by a feeling of spinning (Smith et al, 2000: 603). It has also to be noted that psychologists believe there is tension from the feeling of vertigo, whereby there is a desire to fall yet there is a dread of falling. The audience is made to feel the fear and terror that Scottie is experiencing, the fe eling that death is so close, could be so easy. To survive he has to desperately cling to the gutter, his arms and body stretched to their capacity, his mind full of terror, whereas to die, he only has to let go. Within this scene, the audience is given minimal information. We see three men in sequence climb over the top rung of a ladder, the second being a policeman, so we assume the first is a suspect? Thirdly, there is Scottie, but he is in plain clothes, so he could be anybody, but he must be connected to the policeman as he is pursuing him. This is shown as three close up shots, then we have panned out to reveal all three men running across the roof. In turn, they jump to another roof. This is when we see Scottie slip. This can be related to Freuds theory of the Id, Ego and Superego. The Id is the first man; he wants his urges satisfied regardless of society, his focus solely on his pleasure, relative to criminality. The second man, being the policeman, can be shown as the Supe rego, with strict and rigid morals, relatable to the father. It is also in this scene that we can take into account the Oedipus Complex, the son, Scottie, is responsible for the fathers, the policemans, death as he tries to save him from falling, whilst the Id has got free into the darkness. Scottie is left hanging from the gutter; we never see how it is he escapes this situation, leaving him metaphorically stuck there for the remainder of the film. Wood also mentions this theory in his book when he revisits Hitchcocks films. Fig. 10 Hanging and falling Another thing to take into account here is Freuds relation between events and birth trauma and the separation between mother and child. Although he said that a child couldnt recall these memories, they were still instilled within our subconscious. So the idea of falling is, in a way, a re-enactment of birth trauma and separation. This was thought to be at the forefront of anxiety. In the next scene, we are placed within Midges apartment. It is constructed on separate shots between Scottie and Midge and the male/female space in which they inhabit throughout the conversation. They are defined by definite objects, such as Scotties cane and the bra that Midge is sketching. Scottie is re-affirming that he will be free of the corset that is binding him tomorrow, taking back him masculinity and power within the situation. It is only at three points throughout the scene that Midge and Scottie are shown together. Firstly, when Scottie approaches Midge to talk about the bra she is drawing-she speaks of it in a very matter of fact way, telling Scottie that he is a big boy and knows of such things. Next, Scottie talks of curing his acrophobia a small step at a time, he stands on a stool, Midge takes over the situation by bringing him a set of steps to climb, which she encourages him to do so. He sees out of the window between the buildings, like the scene he saw when hang ing from the gutter at the start of the film, but we are still held in reality by the flowers on the windowsill, but his vertigo grips him again. Even the security of Midges home is not enough, that becomes the vision and the drop becomes real. Next, we see Scottie clutched to Midges breast, whilst she holds him and soothes oh Johnny, Johnny. The common theme throughout is the presentation of Midge as the mother figure. In the scenes where they are shown together depict the mother/child relationship that they have. This is a reason why Scottie wouldnt be attracted to her like he is to Madeleine. She is too independent, whereas Madeleine is helpless and mysterious as we find out as the film continues. Fig. 11 Motherly love It is this scene that particularly also states Scotties condition as feminine. When he approaches Midge to ask her what the bra on a wire frame is, she relates the design is based on that on a bridge, the latest in revolutionary uplift made by an aircraft engineer. Not only is the relation of a bridge, which is a high place with regard to Scotties acrophobia, linked with the femininity of a womans undergarment, but the design of it has also been constructed by a man, thus saying that femininity is exactly that. Scottie cannot fulfil his role in society as a police man because of the fear, like Jefferies couldnt in Rear Window because of his injuries. Next we are presented with the exterior of Gavin Elsters office, then straight to Scottie and Elster having a conversation inside. Elster is asking Scottie to follow his wife for him. Around the office, there are mentions of ships, suggesting escape, and also references of the old San Francisco, relating to the power and freedom you gained then, as a man, again, this is mentioned later on whilst Scottie and Midge are talking to Pop Leibel in his bookstore. This relates to the conversation they are having about Elster wife, she is the object in the conversation between the two men, an intensifier of the taboo desire that we often see within films; one woman and two men who both lust after her. The position of power is also shifting between Scottie and Elster. When we first enter the room, Elster is sitting behind his desk, whilst Scottie is wandering around the office, looking at things, he then gets up and explains what he wants Scottie to do, taking power by positioning himself high er than him. Fig. 12 Stances of power Next the viewer is positioned inside the restaurant and is introduced to Madeleine with Scottie. The camera pans across the restaurant and comes to rest upon Madeleines back, her bare shoulders showing. She is shown as an object of desire; a close-up allows us to see her features as a still portrait, like that of the painting of Carlotta Valdez as she gracefully glides through the restaurant in a dream like manner. From this instance she is a mysterious object of desire that we must know more about. She has no idea that our gaze is upon her, she is helpless to it; we are an accomplice to Scottie, if not already him, and what it is in turn we are going to discover about Madelines secret life. When Scottie follows Madeleine in his car, it is downhill, to an alleyway. He follows her inside, through the back door in which she enters, where she is buying flowers. We are seeing from Scotties point of view. When he spies in through a crack in the door, this is how we see her also. When she turns, we see her reflection on the mirrored door that Scottie gazing through the door, completely unbeknown to her. She is surrounded by flowers, bathed in a soft light, enhancing her subtle beauty and femininity accompanied by a haunting music. Is she somehow a mirrored image of Scottie/the viewer? Koftman (1985 cited in Modelski 1989) stated that mens fascination with [the] eternal feminine is nothing but fascination with their own double, and the feeling of uncanniness, Unheimlichkeit, that men experience is the same as what one feels in the face of any double, and ghost, in the face of the abrupt reappearance of what one thought had been overcome or lost forever. This links back to Freud s castration complex. The view of the camera is very much from Scotties point of view, subjective, only further reiterating the point that the feminine is seen as lacking and the masculine is to look. Fig. 13 The perfect and unobtainable Within this scene, another thing to note is the recurrent theme of the oil painting, with the surround of flowers, but also the mirror, not only relating to the Koftman quote above, but also briefly I would like to touch upon John Berger. Within his essays, Ways of Seeing, he talks of the relevance of mirrors, that they reflect the judgemental gaze of others, as well as her own. They are also a symbol of vanity. If a woman is seen surveying herself in the mirror, it is for the benefit of the male, showing her subservience and willingness to become pleasing to the eye, but also her vanity. This in turn can is relatable to Freuds theory of the Electra Complex and Penis Envy. Her affections are transferred from her father to other men to give her what she ultimately wants, due to her lack of a penis, which is a child. This is turn leads onto a point made by Jacques Lacan, whereby he states that the mirror stage of a childs development is crucial so it can place itself within the world and relate to others. Much like Freud stated within the Oedipus and Castration complex, whereby the son relates to his father, wanting to be like him and grow into a man so he can have a woman of his own, like his father has his mother. The screen within the cinema frames its actors much like the mirror frames the self. As Mulvey states; It is the birth of the long love affair/despair between image and self-image which has found such intensity of expression in film and such joyous recognition in the cinema audience. (Mulvey, 2009: 18) When Madeleine falls into San Francisco bay, Scottie rescues her and takes her back to his house, undresses her and puts her to bed. Once again, he is the hero and she is the helpless woman who, without Scottie, would be dead. His obsession is becoming more and more with her. Whilst in his apartment, her near first concern is of the pins from her hair and her handbag, so she can find a mirror and put her hair up, making herself presentable for Scottie. The relation of power is also clear in this scene; Madeleine is sitting on the floor, whilst Scottie takes the higher position of the sofa arm to question her, to watch her. She is the object of desire; of his desire, as well as the male viewers object of desire. From here we can see the relation to any stereotypical fairytale; the hero rescues the helpless princess from the evil man/woman, although there is more to fairytale, for the use of this essay, I am outlining it in this very simplified manner. Take, for example, Cinderella, she is a servant to her stepmother and step sisters, but she goes to the ball, meets the prince, who does everything in his power to find his princess and rescue her. Freud also made this point, highlighting the lengths a man will go to, to rescue the woman they love, even if, as Freud (1910 cited in Perron 2005) stated, another man can claim right of possession, Madeleine being Elsters wife. This in turn, can be linked closely with the Oedipus complex. Freud (1910 cited in Berman 1997) also stated A man rescuing a woman from water in a dream means that he makes her his own mother. In the bell tower scene where Scottie is chasing Madeleine, it is where his masculinity is compromised once more because of his acrophobia. He should have taken his role as a man and stopped her from falling, he should have rescued her, but he failed and she fell to his death. Elster had hired Scottie to follow his wife, but once again, he failed at his job, like he did as a policeman. Scottie is plagued by nightmares of the tragic event. He is falling, like Madeleine, haunted by Carlotta Valdez, colours flash red, signifying not only Scotties vertigo but also his fantasies. Fig. 14 Re-occurring fall When Scottie is back in San Francisco, every woman he sees bears a resemblance to Madeleine. Women on the street, in restaurantsHe seems like a broken man, not the strong counterpart that the audience want to relate to. He follows a woman, Judy, to her apartment and asks her out to dinner. Slowly, we can see Scottie becoming more and more obsessed with Judy, asserting his masculinity by offering to take care of her, but her flowers, clothes. Judy is becoming an ideal passive counterpart to Scotties active sadistic voyeurism. She knows her part is to perform, and only by playing it through and then replaying it can she keep Scotties erotic interest (Mulvey, 2009: 25). We, as an audience, have already made the discovery that Judy really is Madeleine, that she played a part for Elster. It is an uncomfortable discovery as Scottie doesnt know. We almost feel as though we are cheating him, hes falling into a trap and we cant warn him. We are only watchers to the scenes playing out before us, regardless of us; things will still happen and go forth. The essential fact is to get real suspense you must let the audience have information (Hitchcock cited in Bays, 2004). Scottie is trying his hardest to change Judy to Madeleine, and she is letting him. The roles of passive female and the active male are mirrored in the re-enactment of a scene that happened between Scottie and Madeleine. She is a visually objectified other, confirmed by her dress, make up and style. Also, this, again, can be linked back to the Oedipus/Castration complex, when the sole object of the boys desire was his mother. In his eyes, she was the perfect woman and satisfied all his needs. It is only when Scottie is happy that Judy looks enough like Madeleine that he begins to become sexually attracted and interested in her. He has successfully turned her into a fetish; he has eliminated the threat of castration. The tower in which Madeleine and Judy both fell off are very symbolically phallic, re-asserting the masculinity of the situation. The film makes the audience confront their own lives and past.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Francis Bacon - The Portraits :: Visual Arts Paintings Art

Francis Bacon - The Portraits Francis Bacon was born in Dublin, Ireland to English parents. When F. Bacon grow up and was more independent he then travelled to Berlin were he spent most of his time there. He then moved onto Paris, before returning to London and starting out as an interior designer. Bacon never attended art school; he only began his work in watercolours about 1926 – 27. An exhibition of works by Pablo Picasso inspired him to make his first drawings and paintings. The influence of the biomorphic figures in Picasso’s work is apparent in Bacons first major painting of his mature period ‘Three Studies for Figures’ at the base of a Crucifixion 1944. This painting is also representative of some of Bacon’s methods and subjects. The Portraits influenced me because in my project ‘Journey’s’ I am looking at car crashes and what things lead to car crashes e.g. Drink driving. I wanted to see how drink affects the brain and how the brain reacts to the effects. As Bacon in this particular painting of this, distorted image of a face, I thought this would be a great image to use in my project. Using this image would help me to see what people, who drink drive, see while they are driving. So using this distorted image it showed me how incontrollable people are when drink driving. The image provides strong movement due to the harsh sweeps of paint. In the painting I noticed how Bacon used basic elements to give a distinctive image. He has used a thick paint brush and he probably only did about 15 brush strokes. The composition of the study is life-like and has made sure that he includes every detail of the face. By having the face on an angle and the thick brush strokes it shows me that this person maybe scared or has just seen some object that is distracting him, also it looks like he moved his face with some rapid force. Each of the colours contrasts well and gives a representation of a face. The shapes used in the composition of the painting are mostly round or even sphere shape. Bacon has used a lot of texture in the paint to show the different elements, e.g. the thick white brush stroke represents the cheekbone and the dark stroke for under the chin. The process of the painting that Bacon has gone through were sketching out the outline of the face and the facial features then I imagine he took the brush and with some force started to map out the face while

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Directing the Lighting in The corridors of power :: Drama

Directing the Lighting in 'The corridors of power' When you are using light you must consider: Ø The colour of the dancers costumes. Ø The mood of the dance. Ø The direction from which the light shines. Ø The intensity and colour of the light. Ø Effects - such as templates of the shapes the light. I imagine 'The corridors of power' dance to have an eerie scary mood. So I would expect dark, dull motionless colour. The costumes would be a red colour, so they can stand out from the dark, dull motionless colour of the light and also there is a saying that is said when you are scared and angry, 'I'm seeing red' so the red could represent scariness and anger. I think the light should come from below the dancers to create shadows that will make them taller and more powerful. There will also be side view lights to create eerie shadows and it will also enhance the movement and flexibility of the dancers'. There will be seven dancers. I will have the backdrop totally white, so the shadows will be clear with sharp edges when they are against the wall. I will also have side drops on either side of the stage, to give a closed-in, trapped feel, like a corridor. The colour of the light will be grey-ish colour. I also think there should be battens of light coming from above to represent power. I think there will be seven red laser lights following the movement of the seven dancers in their red costumes. There may also be colour changes of the light and music changes to change the mood of the dance. There would be a good effect if the light went a midnight-blue colour because then the colour of the dancers' costume will disappear, it will look very weird which will puzzle the audience. The intensity of the light will be sharp and sudden throughout the dance. In the start of the dance the scene will gradually become visible and the dancers will appear as silhouettes against a red flood

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Shapiros Poem Auto Wreck :: essays research papers

Shapiro's Poem Auto Wreck Philosophers have pondered the meaning of life and death since the beginning of time. There are many hypotheses. From reincarnation to Valhalla-then on to heaven. There have been many proposed solutions. Yet no one fully understands dea th. In Shapiro's poem "Auto Wreck," he illustrates the irrationality of life for it can be taken away at any given time for no rational reason.Shapiro uses metaphors to emphasize the fantasy-like and wild setting of the auto wreck. The following is an excerpt taken from "Auto Wreck":"And down the dark one ruby flare Pulsing out red light like an artery."This statement contrasts the red light emitted from an ambulance to the blood of an artery. The idea that a light is spurted out like blood is abstract and bizarre. In addition to that metaphor, Shapiro writes:"One hangs lanterns on the wrecks that cling Emptying husks of locusts, to iron poles."This rhythmical sentence paints a picture of locusts, grassÄ ho pper like creatures, clinging to a luscious green jungle of grass. Yet symbolically this jungle is the twisted, black, and crisp auto wreck. This depiction of the auto wreck is extravag ant and almost unreal. Using metaphors, Shapiro portrays the fantasy-like auto wreck in which wildness is indispensable.In addition to Shapiro's use of metaphorical phrases, he emphasizes the lack of comprehension of the on-lookers as a result of death's inconsistency with logic. Shapiro directly tells the reader, "We are deranged." The word "we" symbolizes u s, as a whole institution or better yet-society. He goes on further to say, "Our throats were tight as tourniquets." By this he means that the on-lookers were stopped, almost speechless, as they gazed upon the wreckage contemplating the reason b ehind death. Finally, Shapiro writes:"We speak through sickly smiles and warn With the stubborn saw of common sense."What the writer is getting through is that the on-lookers attempted to rationalize the accident with their common sense. But their "common sense," or their logical reasoning ability, was being sawed upon as they continued to puzzle over death. Once again, the old age question of "What is the meaning of death?" was tackled at the scene of the auto wreck.Finally, Shapiro asks rhetorical questions which could never be answered by logical means. One question which Shapiro asks is "Who shall die [next]?" This question could never be answered for death strikes without cause but randomness.

Monday, September 16, 2019

How Male and Female Students communicate Essay

In the feature article â€Å"How Male and Female Students Use Language Differently† the author Deborah Tannen, explains how men and women communicate differently in the classroom and reveals how she thinks classrooms everywhere can become a more conducive learning environment for all types of people regardless of gender. Tannen firstly points out the research conducted by Janet Lever, Marjorie Harness Goodwin and Donna Eder and how they’ve discovered that girls and boys do in fact learn to use language differently. For example, girls will use language to share secrets and talk with her friends. Girls form bonds with the ones they talk most with and that is how they form their friendships. On the other hand, boys tend to play in large groups and form a hierarchy where they are expected to use language in order to show strength and challenge each other. Tannen then compares this research to the classroom where it can be easier for boys to speak in front of a large audienc e than for girls because this is how boys were taught to communicate. With this knowledge, the author then decides to use her own classroom for research and breaks up her classroom at Georgetown University into small groups based on their gender and social aptitude. She discovered that when her students were able break apart from the larger arena of the classroom and instead share their ideas with small groups that they were more willing to participate in the discussion and felt better with the way they were communicating. Tannen leaves us by explaining that while yes, treating everyone as equals is great but does that mean that we should be treating everyone the same? If we are fundamentally different than shouldn’t we be taking that into consideration when trying to serve a diverse set of students.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Cyber Security Research Paper Essay

1. Preface This security profile of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is based on two documents of public record. The first is the published VA Handbook 6500 (VAH 6500) which defined policy and procedures for systems within the purview of the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2007). The second document is the Federal Information Security Management Act Assessment for FY 20011 commissioned by the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) and performed by Ernst & Young in accordance with Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) guidelines (VA Office of Inspector General, 2012, p. i). 2. Identification of Controls This security profile presents one control function from three primary policy and procedure controls. These controls are â€Å"System/New Technology Development Life Cycle† from Management Controls, â€Å"Security Training, Education, and Awareness† from Operational Controls, and â€Å"Remote Access† from Technical Controls. These controls are selected based on the lack of resolution based on information provided fiscal year 2006, 2010 (VA Office of Inspector General, 2011) and 2011 (VA Office of Inspector General, 2012) FISMA audits. 3. Management Controls The protection of systems via risk mitigation techniques are referred to as management controls. Management controls are designed to minimize risk associated with development process and systems implementation. 4.1. VAH6500 Section 6.a.(7) System/New Technology Development Life Cycle VAH6500 requires that any new technology undergo a systems development life cycle (SDLC) specific to the VA. The cycle consists of Initiation, Development / Acquisition, Implementation, Operation / Maintenance and Disposal. Systems must be able to encrypt/decrypt data. Systems not capable of this must receive a waiver from the OIG. 4.2. Implementation Assessment The SDLC program provided does not provide the necessary information for an effective program. No supporting material or references to NIST SP 800-64 Rev2 Security Considerations in the System Development Life Cycle or VAH 6500.5 Incorporating Security and Privacy into the System Development Life Cycle is made. 4.3. Implementation Impact The OIG 2011 FISAM Assessment indicates that â€Å"FISMA Section 3544 requires establishing policies and procedures to ensure information security is addressed throughout the life cycle of each agency information system† (VA Office of Inspector General, 2012, p. 9). Based on the lack of consistency in use of SDLC and change control, major security risks may go unnoticed. 4. Operational Controls Operational controls focus on techniques and procedures put in place by Information Technology staff or systems managers. The purpose is to increase security and provide deterrence via system controls. 5.4. VAH6500 Section 6.b.(11) Security Training, Education, and Awareness VAH6500 provides a concise policy which states any individuals that access sensitive information or systems must complete annual security training. Key persons with â€Å"significant† roles must attend additional training. All training is monitored for completeness. Policy indicates before employees can use systems security training must be completed. 5.5. Implementation Assessment Policy indicates that fourteen key pieces of information must be covered before an individual is allowed to begin work. This training must also be refreshed annually. The tracking of this information is the responsibility of the local ISO (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2007, p. 57). 5.6. Implementation Impact The distributed manner of training management is not conducive to consistent security training. The OIG 2011 FISAM Assessment findings indicate a centrally managed training database be used to ensure personnel receive the proper training needed for their job function (VA Office of Inspector General, 2012, p. 15). 5. Technical Controls The technical control area focuses on minimizing and/or preventing access to a system(s) by unauthorized individuals via technical measures. The measures are designed to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of a system(s) (VA Office of Inspector General, 2012, p. 54). 6.7. VAH6500 Section 6.c.(3) Remote Access Control VAH6500 relies on nineteen policy requirements to enforce technical control. VA policy states that no sensitive information may be transmitted via internet or intranet without proper security mechanisms that meet NIST FIPS 140-2 criteria (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2007, p. 61). Each department within the Agency is responsible for monitoring remote access and privilege functions. Access can be revoked by a supervisor or superior at any time. The remaining requirements cover contractor access, PKI certificate distribution and termination of accounts. System protection is the responsibility of the ISO for each area of access. 6.8. Implementation Assessment VAH6500 does not utilize NIST SP 800-46 Guide to Enterprise Telework and Remote Access Security. The OIG 2011 FISAM Assessment also indicates some remote access systems do not provide Network Access Control (NAC) to block systems that do not meet predefined security requirements (VA Office of Inspector General, 2012, p. 6). 6.9. Implementation Impact The diversity of ISO management practices coupled with a lack of specific procedures for management, auditing and access creates opportunity for security breaches. 6. Summary The three controls outlined in this document show the disparity between written policy, procedure, and implementation. In order for the VA to be successful in meeting the standards of future FISMA assessments, a fundamental change in operations within the VA is required. 7. Comments The multifaceted nature of operations within the VA requires guidelines that meet the needs of multiple departments within the Agency. All three controls discussed in this document have very broad definitions to accommodate the extensive variety of services the VA provides. This flexibility coupled with a drop in training acceptance, legacy systems (VA Office of Inspector General, 2012, p. 7) and the lack of an â€Å"implemented components of its agency-wide information security risk management program† (VA Office of Inspector General, 2012, p. 3) will continue to limit future progress. These delay factors provide an understanding of why twelve recommendations from prior FISAM assessments remain open. Of the twelve recommendations listed in the VA FISMA FY 2011 report, only three have been closed, while three other recommendations have been superseded by new recommendations (VA Office of Inspector General, 2012, p. 19). The recent announcement of the Continuous, Readiness in Information Security Program (CRISP) seems to indicate a fundamental shift in the way the VA views security issues (United States Department of Veterans Affairs). In order for this program to be successful, this message must be understood and acted upon by all persons under the VA umbrella. 8.References Department of Veterans Affairs. (2007). VA Handbook 6500. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. Retrieved February 20, 2013, from http://www.va.gov/vapubs/viewPublication.asp?Pub_ID=56 Department of Veterans Affairs. (2010). Strategic Plan FY 2010-2014. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. Retrieved February 20, 2013, from http://www.va.gov/op3/Docs/StrategicPlanning/VA_2010_2014_Strategic_Plan.pdf National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2010). Guide for Assessing the Security Controls in Federal Information System (NIST 800-53a). Washington, D.C.: US Government Printing Office. http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-53-Rev3/sp800-53-rev3-final_updated-errata_05-01-2010.pdf United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). CRISP. Retrieved February 21, 2013, from United States Department of Veterans Affairs: http://www.saltlakecity.va.gov/features/CRISP.asp VA Office of Inspector General. (2011). Department of Veterans Affairs Federal Informati on Security Management Act Assessment for FY 2010 (10-01916-165). Washington, D.C.: US Government Publishing Office. Retrieved from http://www.va.gov/oig/52/reports/2011/VAOIG-10-01916-165.pdf VA Office of Inspector General. (2012). Department of Veterans Affairs Federal Information Security Management Act Assessment for FY 2011 (11-00320-138). Washington, D.C.: US Government Printing Office. Retrieved February 20, 2013,from http://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-11-00320-138.pdf

Cambridge as Level Weathering Process

Weathering Process Physical Weathering Processes Freeze Thaw (Frost Shattering) Temperatures need to fluctuate above and below freezing. When the temperature drops below 0 degrees, water collected in rock cracks freezes and expands. When temperatures rise again the ice melts. Pressure created by expansion results in progressive weakening of the rock. At high altitudes frost-shattered material forms scree slopes. Heating & Cooling Thermal expansion & contraction of rock in response to rising and falling temperatures. The daily cycle of heating and cooling sets up stresses in the rock that cause it to disintegrate.Occurs mostly in deserts where there is the greatest diurnal temperature range. Also occurs during bush fires. Wetting & Drying (Slaking) Rock is alternately wetted then dried. Minerals which make up clay rocks expand when wetted, then contract on drying-out. The stresses from repeated expansion and contraction cause the rock to disintegrate. This process commonly occurs on t he intertidal zone of coasts. Exfoliation (Onion weathering/Spheroidal) Under warm conditions rock surfaces heat up and expand more than the main mass of the internal body of the rock.Eventually the surface layers split off or spall from the lower layers, sometimes in slightly curved sheets like the layers of an onion. Seen especially in granite. Crystal Growth (Salt Weathering) Salt crystals, such as sodium carbonate and magnesium sulphate grow within spaces in a rock. It happens when saline water enters cracks in rocks then evaporates. The growing crystals prise the rock apart and small pieces break off. This process is especially effective in semi-arid areas and coastal regions. Pressure Release (Dilation) Not caused by elements of weather.Occurs either when erosion removes a heavy covering of rock or when large ice sheets melt. The removal of great weight allows the rock layers beneath to expend. As they expand they also fracture to produce bedding planes parallel to the ground surface. The spaces between the bedding planes (joints) are now open to the influence of further weathering. Organic Action The breaking up of rock by plant roots and burrowing animals. Roots grow into cracks and lines of weakness & as they thicken exert increasing pressure and cause rocks to fracture.Chemical Weathering Processes Hydrolysis The most common chemical weathering process. Carbonic acid in rain water releases hydrogen ions from the water which then combine with minerals in rocks causing them to break down. This is common in rocks containing feldspar e. g. granite. The end products weathered feldspar are clay minerals known as kaolinite. Kaolinite is an important component of fine bone China. Hydration This occurs when water is absorbed into the crystal structure of certain minerals and causes chemical changes e. g. nhydrite absorbs water to become gypsum which is soft and crumbly. Carbonation On contact with calcium carbonate (the main component of limestone), carbonic acid found in rain water creates calcium bicarbonate. As calcium bicarbonate is readily dissolved in water it is quickly transported away, leaving behind only the clay and quartz impurities of the limestone. This process is most common in regions with limestone geology. Solution Some minerals in rocks do not require a chemical reaction to become soluble e. g. rock slat readily dissolves in water. OxidationSome minerals in rocks react with oxygen dissolved in water to form oxides This process commonly occurs in rocks containing iron. Iron in its ferrous from is changed by oxidation into its ferric from leading to the collapse of tis molecular structure. Commonly this is known as ‘rust’. Chelation Lichens and decomposing organic matter in soil (humus) release organic acids. These acids attack certain minerals in rock, releasing iron and aluminium ions which are then transported way by water. The process of release is called chelation and the organic acids are known as che lating agents.