Verizon Stakeholders

Stakeholders Stakeholders are the ones who have a stake in the organization and thus in some way or the other are related to the organization. This broad definition of stakeholders often leads to confusion; hence a more narrow definition was derived that explains â€Å"group who are vital for the organization or groups that help to define the organization, its mission, purpose and goals, and or are most affected by the activities of the organization† (Lebeer, 2002, p. 181). Considering the above given definition, the stakeholders of Verizon can be segregated as internal as well as external stakeholders. Everybody who works for the organization can be considered as the internal stakeholder (Banhegyi, 2009, p. 395). The employees of Verizon are the internal stakeholders of the company; however the families of these employees are also considered to be a part of internal shareholders. The external stakeholders are the ones who are not a part of the organization, but have interest in the company (McManus, 2005, p. 147). In Verizon, the customers are considered as one of the most important external stakeholders. Apart from customers, the shareholders and the investors are also of great importance. Other external stakeholders are the government, the public, and the environment. According to stakeholders’ theory, the stakeholders should be identified and segregated into different groups depending upon the power and interest the exercise on the organization. This segregation is often called power grid. According to it, the stakeholders can be segregated into four different groups, these are: High power-High interest:These stakeholders have active interest in the day to day functioning of the firm, so they should actively participate in managing the organization. Interest coupled with power gives them the authority to take decision and set policies. Example: The management High interest-Low power: These stakeholders are interested in participating in the activities related to the organization but due to lack of power they cannot actively participate in the decision making process. The organization should keep them informed regarding the decision taken. Example: The employees High power-Low interest:The stakeholders who possess the power but are unwilling to participate in different organizational activities belong to this group. The management tries to appease this section of the stakeholders as far as possible. Example: Investors Lower interest-Low power:This set of stakeholder neither have the power to participate in the decision making activities nor do they have the interest to participate in any kind of activity related to the organization. Therefore, the organization should not pay much attention to them but their activities should be monitored on time to time basis. Example: Government, social interest groups, suppliers, etc. Figure 1: Power Grid (Source: Davies, 2007, p. 36)

Responsibility of student Essay

â€Å"In the long run/ we shape our lives/ and we shape ourselves//. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make/ are ultimately our own responsibility.// (Eleanor Roosevelt) Being responsible/ is a learned behavior. Sometimes// we want everything to be easy. I often hear some students say /†Bakit may P.E tayo,hindi naman natin magagamit pag nagtrabaho na tayo†. We have so many complaints in terms our studies. As Mr. Olarte once said â€Å"Kapag nag enrolll ka siguraduhin mong papasukan mo yung mga klase mo.† Most of us /take our studies for granted/ not taking in consideration the effects of these actions/ to our future. So//, why do we need to take responsibility of our studies? They say /that education is not a choice//, it is a privilege.// We all know/ that not all students who finished their secondary education /can afford to take up college. Fellow classmates// we are very lucky to be here in SMU,// taking up our own choice of profession. So why we not taking advantage of this given opportunity? Many students don’t attend their classes. Some would prioritize playing DOTA,/ waste their time in drinking and smoking rather than finishing their school requirements. Some practice cheating and academic dishonesty, instead of studying hard for their exams. These irresponsible students don’t think of the consequences of their actions. And as a result? Failing grades and disappointment of parents. And yes//, later, regrets. Tons of them. By being responsible, accountable and dependable. I believe that every one of us could achieve whatever goals we have set for our lives. Just always remind yourself that every decision and actions that you will make entails a big responsibility. And as a student you know what your responsibilities are. We should be actively involved in the learning process and should behave appropriately for a learning environment. Attend all your classes and listen carefully. Put a sufficient time for your studies. And if you think you’re doing your best right now, then, strive harder. With all the temptations, hindrances, and problems towards education we should always bear in our mind that OUR OWN FUTURE LIES IN OUR OWN HANDS. Let us all be responsible and strive harder for our own success.

African American and Conflicting Perspective Essay

Every individual has a perspective on things in life and their personal idea of the truth. These are universal concepts and are widely seen in ted Hughes poems â€Å"birthday Letters†. Birthday letters is a set of poems, said to have been written by Hughes for six years prior to his death, on his ex wife’s birthday each year this the selection of poems being called birthday letters. The selection on poems surrounds his problematic marital issues between himself and his wife Sylvia Plath. It is also to show the conflicting perspective on their relationship. This is mainly towards the criticism he received all those years after her suicide. He had been blamed for being the catalyst for her suicide/death and so began a collection of poems regarding their relationship but in some way, excusing himself and explaining that she was already on a destructive path. Through two of his poems, Fulbright scholars and the shot, an understanding of the poems have thrown lighten the concepts of conflicting perspectives. Two other complementary texts such as letters from two jima and to kill a mockingbird convey conflicting perspectives however on issues such as racial discrimination and the perspectives of an opposing country that has been marked as enemies. Fulbright scholars are the first poem in the birthday letters collection. Hughes here tries to remember how he met her and first know of her existence. He does this whilst looking at a picture that was taken at university, when he was a naive young man. He ponders about her throughout the poem trying hard to delve into his psyche hopelessly to recollect something about her when they met at a party. This can be noted by the quote â€Å"were you among them? † which refers to the picture of Fulbright scholar. In terms of conflicting perspectives, the e poem can also be seen as a text that he wrote implicating how difficult it is t recall that first meeting, however he begins to explain his perspective of Sylvia Plath. He says â€Å"your exaggerated American grin for the cameras† which referred to her as someone with false appearances. The various techniques Hughes used to convey his ideas were the use of rhetorical questions such as â€Å"were you among them? †, the repetitions of the word maybe and the use of the I persona, and metaphors such as the â€Å"first fresh peach†. Rhetorical questions he used as a means of asking himself how he met her and what she first looked like to him. The metaphor ‘delicious peach† can be said to be another way to say she was the first girl he â€Å"ever tasted†, in terms of the experience of truly liking someone who seemed special to him. Reputation is used throughout the poem of maybe can be analyzed as a way of trying to remember what he saw of her and his knowing of her existence. The ‘I’ persona is an important tool in terms of Hughes alluding to the very personal nature of his reflection. The poem ‘the shot’ is also one from the collection and conveys Plath as someone different to what her fans saw her to be. As he says that she was deceitful in terms of appearance of a good and decent person/poet. In the poem, the shot is a metaphor of Plath being bullet shout out a gun. It can also e sad that Hughes thinks that he was the one shot. Hughes perspective on paths â€Å"destructive path† is one that she has always been on, saying that she was already a bullet long before she has met him. Followers of Plath as a victim view him as a catalyst for her suicide but in the poem he tries to explain that she was already suicidal as she tried to commit suicide when she was younger. The use of word â€Å"daddy† is one of great importance as it refers to her childish attachment to her father. This is also the title of her famous poem daddy. Hughes also explains that from his perspective, that he himself has become the father figure that she had ways been looking for. Overall, the concept of the two poems depict conflicting perspectives through analysis of ted Hughes’ birthday letters. The text letters from Iwo jima is similarly to birthday letters, a conflicting perspective however of the Japanese however of the Japanese soldiers during the American invasion of to two jima in ww2. It depicts their perspective throughout the turbulent time, showing that even were still human beings with the same universal feelings. Clint eastwood directed the film letters from Iwo Jima in 2006, trying to show an American or non Japanese audience their side of the story or their perspective. Here, a conflicting perspective is shown. Throughout the film, eastwood wants us to empathise with the Japanese perspective f the same terror and emotions that the Americans felt at that time too. The main character is a young Japanese soldier called saigo who is little enthused on fighting and going to war. This is all seen through techniques eastwood input such as flashbacks- which were important in the film. The audience is then able to see how the soldiers were like before the war and what it was like for them when they got conscripted. Their reflections are a huge part in their conflicting perspective and also a great important technique is the Japanese language. Eastwood used the language to give a strong sense of ethnicity and strong sense of tradition. To kill a mocking bird written by Harper lee in 1960 conveys the conflicting perspectives of the treatment of African Americans in Alabama. This conflicting perspective is seen through the eyes of a young white girl, rather than n African American person. The text shows her view o the racial discrimination against the Negroes and the treatment, prejudice and violence they receive. The event takes place that’s how a conflicting perspective is the court case scene, where an African American man is accused of raping a young white girl. The perspective here is not only through the girl, Scout Finch, but also her father Atticus finch which is the lawyer defending the accused. However he took on a case he know that with all the racial discrimination and prejudice around, he would inevitable lose. The fact that he took on the case shows a conflicting perspective of a white American man who has no prejudice against African Americans. The daughter scout finch views the situation on a different level as well as she was basically raised by African American woman and didn’t judge her, as many people did in Maycomb County. She begins to see and understand the prejudice and discrimination when the man is accused of rape as the majority people did not like his race at that time. It was seen as stereotypical to blame him for the rape. The conflicting perspective here is that the perspective o a young white American and her family on the treatment the Negroes received. It can be said that harper lee wanted the audience to challenge their beliefs and see events from the perspective of a young child who is horrified by the treatment of the Negroes.

Femme Fatale Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Femme Fatale - Essay Example It was a remedy to the conservative society that limited the free expressions of one’s creativity and faith. It is therefore, indirect representations of absolute truths via images and objects, both suggestively and metaphorically. In literature, it started with publications of â€Å"Le fleurs du mal† (flowers of evil )by Charles Baudalaire who also greatly admired and later on translated works of Edgar Allan Poe forming the basis for stock tropes and images. Symbolism was further developed by Stephane Mallarme and Paul Valaine in the 1860’s and 70s. The term ‘symbolism’ was first used by a critic, Jean Moreas , who sought to find a distinction between symbolists and other decadents of literature and art. Symbolism and gothic romantics share a close relation. They both have no limiting techniques of presentation; therefore encourage the ‘free verse’ ideology to encourage creativity and comprehensive representation of one’s thought s and talent as evident in poems of Gustav Khan and Ezra Pound. As a result of this, symbolism became sanctuary to free will and from there; characteristic themes of mysticism, mortality and sexuality came into play which Albert Samain termed as â€Å"fruit of death upon the tree of life† There is symbolism in fine art that though similar in the main fabric as that in literature, is distinct. In visual art, it was a continuation of mystical tendencies in the romantic tradition. Symbolism in visual art was more widely spread that symbolism in poetry. Other areas of applied symbolism are in music, prose fiction and theatre. This research paper looks at the differences in the symbolism in â€Å"Judith† a paint work of Gustav Klimt. Gustav (July 14th 1862- February 6th 1918) was an Austrian painter specializing in paintings, murals and sketches and his main subject was the female human form, a femme de fatale, i.e. a mysterious and highly seductive woman. It compares the G ustav’s painting of Judith with a present day femme fatale. I have chosen Angelina Jolie as my present day seductive and dangerous woman. Anelina is both and actress and a humanitarian ambassador of our current age whose interaction with the world especially with the men both in the theatre and in real life has raised enough eyebrows and had enough men fall victim to her seductive and witty ways. ARTISTS’ REVIEW JUDITH. Judith was a biblical heroine in Venice who seduced and decapitated General Holofernes in an attempt to save her city Bethulia from destruction by the Assyrian army. This accorded her popularity in the Middle Ages onwards as a symbol of virtue overcoming vice. She was a Jewish widow who compromised her virtues for the greater good of her country men. The painting of Judith by Klimt was modeled by Adele Bloch-Baur whose beauty and coquettish aura and sense of fashion were not far fetched from what Judith was. Judith’s sensuality and seduction as s he held up high the head of Holoferns shocked the Vienna inhabitants and for a long time , they could not come into terms with her actions and personality, a no doubt femme fatale who had nothing to hide. Although Judith decapitated Holoferns, she herself in the painting also seems decapitated. She wears clothes that half conceal half expose her body, a gold chocker that clearly separates her head form her body and at the hem of her shirt, though ornamental cuts across her abdomen like a flat belt. This shows some level of slavery within her although she herself saves her city. Judith therefore comes across as a brave woman who stands out from the crowd. She could have ignored the city’s safety and eloped and got sanctuary in a far land, after all, she was widowed and had nothing to lose if she moved. She nust have read the atmosphere of her city men, either they were

Collage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Collage - Essay Example Then I thought that since I really cannot run away from my circumstances, I might as well face everything. I braved myself and approached strangers for directions whenever I needed to go to a new place. It felt so good to finally overcome my fears and simply be like everybody else. I felt then that I really belonged to my new environment. Life became more bearable as I learned to deal with other people. I gained new acquaintances who have been very helpful to me as I adjusted to the American lifestyle. I noticed that there are a lot of foreign students in school. Instead of befriending them, I shied away because I thought that they might have their own friends. Moreover, they might not really be interested in me. Unexpectedly, an American stranger spoke to me, talking about everyday things such as difficulties, struggles accompanied by many good things as well that might simply happen to anybody. She somehow influenced me to change my perspective about new environments. I will be forever grateful to that young woman. We may have talked for just a few minutes but her gesture of taking the first move to really make me feel comfortable was just reassuring. Now, I have befriended some students because of that incident. I did not feel out of place anymore but I have discovered that people are actually accommodating here. Things have been going quite well in school. I gained a few friends and I find the classes interesting. However, I always fear examinations because they will show how I am performing in class. It is not that I am afraid of the results. What I am more afraid of is how my mother would react to my grades if I fail. You see, Chinese mothers have always been known to demand high performances from their children especially if they are successful in their own fields. Chinese parents always regard the success of their children as a reflection of their own accomplishments so they work hard to make their kids work even harder. In my case,

Ethical Business Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ethical Business Behavior - Essay Example The bottom line is that the conceptual framework in the organization is laid upon the ethical framework. This study would include assessment of two famous organizations called Anglo American and Primark on the basis of their ethical practices. Ethical business practice is like a hot selling cake in the global market, but the question is that how many organizations are following them too. Formulation is easy, but implementation, control, monitoring and evaluation of the same are tough and require knowledge and expertise (Svensson, & Wood, 2011, p. 2-3). The study would begin with a brief overview of business ethics in organization and its significance, further leading to detailed description of the essay structure. In the body, a comprehensive discussion regarding the ethical business behavior has been presented, followed by ethical business practices of Anglo American and Primark. Furthermore, a cost benefit analysis has been drawn to show that how ethical business practices benefit organizations and reduce cost. In order to support the view point, Svennson & Woods’ Model has been utilized to throw light on other facade of ethics and its importance in business. Finally a conclusion has been included to summarize the learning and to highlight the key areas from the study. Ethical Business Behavior of Organizations - Anglo American and Primark Most of the newspapers are filled with the names of those executives or organizations that follow unethical practices. Companies like Tyco International, Global Crossing, Parmalat, Systembolaget, WorldCom, Qwest, Arthur Andersen, Barings Bank, Enron, and Skandia (Carroll and Meeks, 1999) have all come to eminence on immoral grounds. Across the world it has been seen that eminent personalities, highly influential people, etc have faced issues due to their unethical practices. The word ethics has many nuances. It basically deals with the enquiry of morality and setting grounds based on the morality to make judgment, st andards, or code of conduct. Business ethics deals with standards, principles or values which draws the line between wrong and right organizational practices (The Times Newspaper, 2011, p. 1-2). Ethical misconduct has become a major issue in the organization nowadays. The resource center for ethics, National Business Ethical Survey (NBES), has conducted a survey among 3000 US employees in order to collect reliable data on the ethical practices of the organizations. It was found that about 49 percent employees reported to have seen at least one type of misconduct was surely seen in their organization. About 63 percent of the employees reported about such misconduct to the management (Ferrell, & Fraderich, 2012, p. 8). The results depicted that almost all the organization were the victims of unethical practices. Ethical business practices comprises of assuring that the maximum lawful and ethical standards in case of maintaining relationships with the organization and its people (Anglo American, n. d.). Anglo American is an American mining company, who are highly committed to follow the ethical business standards for conducting business. They also include their employees in their campaign of following ethics in business. Even the stakeholders of the company are not exempted from the policy of ethical business practices of the company. The company has independent whistle-blowing facilities for both internal and external stakeholders of t

Is Parole Effective Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Is Parole Effective - Essay Example It is with this ideological framework in mind that this paper sets out to present an informative look at the New York State's system of parole and probation. The word 'parole' has its origins in the Latin term "probare," meaning "to prove" or "to test," and the term was coined by John Augustus ("A Brief History of Probation," 2006). The meaning of the term suggests, therefore, that parole is a chance given to a person to prove that they are deserving of the right to live in society among free people without being a threat to others or to themselves. The idea of probation is an opportunity given to a former criminal to absolve themselves of the charges against them, and to prove to the authorities, to society, and most importantly, to themselves, that they are capable of conducting themselves in a manner in which they can follow the norms of the society that they live in. (Jeffrey et al., 2003) In terms of the history of probation, two names are definitive: John Augustus and Matthew Davenport Hill. Hill was a judge who "had witnessed the sentencing of youthful offenders to one-day terms on the condition that they be returned to a parent or guardian who would closely supervise them" ("A Brief History," 2006). Hill applied the same idea of 'guardianship' of criminal offenders to the legal system: When he eventually became the Recorder of Birmingham, a judicial post, he used a similar practice for individuals who did not seem hopelessly corrupt. If offenders demonstrated a promise for rehabilitation, they were placed in the hands of generous guardians who willingly took charge of them. Hill had police officers pay periodic visits to these guardians in an effort to tack the offender's progress and to keep a running account. ("A Brief History," 2006) The above citation illustrates a very important aspect of probation: that not everyone is worthy of it. It is only when people in prison demonstrate, either through good conduct or because of the nature of their crimes, or for any other valid reason, that they deserve the chance to be free again, that they may be offered release on probation. Augustus, like Hill, also came up with the idea of probation based on an analogy with another practice; in his case, he was inspired by the way in which victims of alcohol abuse can be reformed through rehabilitation. (Robert et al., 2002) Widely regarded as the world's first parole officer, Augustus was the owner of a successful boot-making business in early nineteenth-century Boston before he made his entry into the judicial system. He believed that those who had committed crimes "could be rehabilitated through understanding, kindness and sustained moral suasion, rather then through conviction and jail sentences" ("A Brief History," 2006). The first person ever to be paroled was a "common drunkard" in 1841, who "was ordered to appear in court three weeks [after his] sentencing. He returned to court a sober man [] To the astonishment of all in attendance, his appearance and demeanor had dramatically changed," ("A Brief History," 2006) and thus began the system of probation in Americ a. The State of New York State had the official beginning of the system of probation in 1901. by 1917, a State Division of Probation had been implemented in the State's Department of Corrections. The Division of Prob

The feasibility of electric car policy in England's tourism industry Essay

The feasibility of electric car policy in England's tourism industry - Essay Example Many factors are said to affect England’s tourism industry and they specifically are integral parts of the business environment such as political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental concerns. One of the most important issues it needs to face is the prevailing government concern on global warming or climate change. As mandated by the local government, the tourism industry in England has to abide by its political obligation and that includes its role to manage carbon output (Visitengland.org, 2012). This particularly means that the visitor economy should be controlled within certain limit. This has become its great challenge especially that it tries to create the visiting experience appealing to its visitors. England’s tourism industry’s survival relies on the maximisation of the numbers of visitors. However, due to critical consideration of its production of environmental hazards, England finally decided to limit the number of its visitors ev ery year. This substantially would indeed be a challenge to England’s economy. After all, tourism in the British economy is able to provide around 1,000,000 jobs (Ritchie and Adair, 2004). Furthermore, it contributes 4% of UK’s gross domestic product (Hiles, 2011). This would mean a lot to England’s economy. The aim of this research is to come up with effective strategy for tourism industry in England that will focus on the assessment of the government’s move to limit the visitor economy. There are various options that it needs to consider. In particular, it is important to take a look closely at the feasibility of applying electric-generated vehicles in order to ensure adhering to political commitment in the local and national management of carbon... It is the main concern of the following paper to assess the level of confidence that England investors in the tourism industry have on the government’s electric vehicles policy, most particularly on its amount and terms of support. In knowing this, it would be specifically important to evaluate how much level of confidence the people in England have on the government’s policy making from the point of view of its entire tourism industry. In 2000, around 700 million international tourist arrivals were recorded worldwide and these were considerably assumed to have substantial impacts on the environment. Gossling remarkably considered the investigation of five aspects of the leisure-related alteration of the environment which include changes on land cover and land use, energy consumption and its impact, extinction of wild species and biota exchange, dispersion of diseases and psychological consequences of travel. This study has remarkably shown that the energy consumption t ogether with its impact was a significant highlight of the country’s entire business environment. Thus, this can also be intertwined with the prevailing political consideration of the Tourism Industry in England, which associates the significant impacts of carbon dioxide emission. The amount of carbon emitted in the atmosphere is so massive, making the UK government to substantially control it at its best possible way.

Sports tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sports tourism - Essay Example As a result, this experience takes on a perceptual role that entails catering to pivotal contents of accommodation and often the key motive for traveling to a given tourist destination. My target market is students looking for a summer or winter holiday and vacation that fulfills their sporting needs extensively. Sporting at the edges of beaches should bring about an educational and incidental experience for higher learning students from across the globe. A beach known for health-promoting properties in terms of sand and air quality should catch the attention of sports fans who are especially conscious of their health. In addition, a reasonably distant location should make for an affordable sporting ground for students. A target market of students should allow me to combine the sporting event with a set of fascinating 12-hour trips into the nearby areas to gain an understanding of its tradition, geography, and history. The sports experience would cost a maximum of $300 per student for one weekend that begins on Thursday evening. Out of this total cost, $105 caters for accommodation at a 3-star hotel close to the beach, sports grounds, and tracks. Local guides would get $45 of this package fee and $75 for sporting equipment and trainers. Students, in conjunction with their guardians and even schools in some cases, should be able to afford this experience for their summer or winter holidays. This sporting experience is not international as the beaches, sports fields, and tracks are local. Guides will be able to walk guests to nearby sites such as ports, towns, and other landmarks. Being close to the beach is advantageous to guests interested in beach and water sports such as swimming and beach volleyball. A local sporting experience removes transport costs from the overall cost and allows students to engage in their favorite sports at a

Discovering Science Thorough the Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discovering Science Thorough the Media - Essay Example Sara Seager, a theorist explains: We can count as many as we like, â€Å"but until we can observe the atmospheres and assess their greenhouse gas power, we don’t really know what the surface temperatures are like† (cited in Overbye, 2015). On the one hand such discovery is not surprising as the scientists have already came to the conclusion that in the Milky Way there can be more than 20 billion planets, on which the temperature conditions are appropriate for life. The relevant data were obtained as a result of the statistical analysis of the observations, which were being made with the help of Kepler telescope during three years. By means of the telescope scientists came to the conclusion that about 22% of stars in the Milky Way have the planets similar to Earth by the size where the temperature is appropriate for biological processes. A scientists Andrew Howard states: "For NASA, this number – that every fifth star has a planet somewhat like Earth – is really important, because successor missions to Kepler will try to take an actual picture of a planet, and the size of the telescope they have to build depends on how close the nearest Earth-size planets are† (cited in Ohlheiser, 2015) However, the fact needs further investigations, because the probability of mistake is very high. Thus, in July 2014 the scientists revealed that found Gliese d and g can be simply a mistake of researchers. A couple of planets, Gliese d and g, which are allegedly situated at the distance of 22 light years from Earth caused many disputes. Now researchers state that two planets, on which, as it was assumed, organic life can be present, simply do not exist. Researchers came to such conclusion after carrying out the spectral analysis of a star, which the planets were supposed to move around. They explained that there was no planetary signal as it was stated before. It was just a phenomenon caused by star activity". In other words, magnetic fields or flashes on the Sun

Topic about non-pofit and non-governmental organizations Essay

Topic about non-pofit and non-governmental organizations - Essay Example The greatest challenge confronted by NPOs today is the emergence of financial shortages posed by regular government cutbacks resulting in funders who prefer supporting short-term projects rather than long-term activities. NPOs immensely rely on their volunteers for various tasks such as fundraising, performing office works and other tasks related with the NPOs. Besides, the increasing competition among the NPOs have resulted in diminishing funding and raised various difficulties in acquiring corporate support. It has been majorly influenced by this aspect that the small non-profit organizations have emerged as the prime sufferers of the intense organizational competition (Stowe & Barr, 2005). Consequently, many NPOs have tailored programs limited towards meeting the needs of funders, only which has increased the risk of ‘mission drift’ among both large and small NPOs (Cheng & Mohamed, 2010). In the similar context, the structure of NGOs may take several forms such as lar ge or small, bureaucratic or flexible as well as it may be practiced in an informal or formal form. NGOs largely rely on its supporters and volunteers as well as on its staffs with the intention of availing adequate manpower in order to satisfy the organizational objectives. Similar to NPOs, funds are required by the NGOs as well to support their charitable operations (Australian Council for International Development, 2010). It is in this context that the fundraising costs of NGOs at times are observed to be problematic by a certain extent. Correspondingly, the activities related to fundraising of NGOs may be affected by inter-organizational factors including organizational values, resources and other external factors such as restrictions posed by government laws and regulations. The common fundraising sources that are adopted by organizations include government grants, roadside collections, special events, membership and online donations among others (Cheng & Mohamed, 2010). NPOs a nd NGOs are important elements of any society that aims to benefit the citizens to raise their living standard and seek cooperation from other to help them in performing their tasks efficiently. Nonetheless, it is not an easy task for the organizations to conduct activities conveniently as several factors act as hindrances in this context. For instance, in the current era, human sympathies are often considered as insufficient for reforming societies or eliminating social causes such as poverty, illiteracy, and other social causes or rescuing people during natural calamities rendering greater significance monetary values and economic benefits. Therefore, funds, as well as skilled and hard working staffs are also required in order to efficiently meet the challenges faced by the citizens of various nations (Australian Council for International Development, 2010). The organizations often obtain grants provided by governments and donations collected from various people and members which in most instances prove to be inadequate in meeting the financial requirements. Furthermore, with the increase in the human population, the vulnerability of unfavorable circumstances also tends to be increased. In this course, the organizations need to expand their area of

The Great Gatsby Essay Example for Free

The Great Gatsby Essay In the novel, The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby represents the American Dream of the 1920’s comprised of social values, wealth and excess in hope to make his own dream a reality. Social Values: 1. â€Å"I hope shell be a fool—thats the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool† (17) Explanation: The social environment in existence within the novel does not value the intelligence of women. By wishing her daughter to be unintelligent Daisy is asserting that the social constructs in evidence at the time entail that her daughter would be happier if she was simple; she will not be bored and frustrated in her existence in the same way Daisy herself is. 2. â€Å"in a moment she looked at me with an absolute smirk on her lovely face as if she had asserted her membership in a rather distinguished secret society to which she and Tom belonged† (18) Explanation: Although Tom and Daisy are considered wealthy members of the aristocracy their actions reveal an underlying egotism that reveals the shallow nature of society. Tom and daisy have a disregard for people who are from a lower class and they believe that money makes them superior. 3. â€Å"Mrs. Wilson changed her costume sometime before and was now attired in an elaborate afternoon dress of cream colored chiffon which gave out a continual rustle as she swept about the room† (35) Explanation: By referring to Myrtle as Mrs Wilson, Fitzgerald is emphasizing the fact that she is married and is therefore acting in a manner that is inappropriate. The fact that her dress is cream further reinforces her lack of purity. Her willingness to engage in an affair that is morally wrong is representative of the values of the society of the twenties. 4. â€Å"Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the Cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known (64) Explanation: Here Nick is revealing a great deal about the society of the twenties. During this period a great deal of money was being circulated and, alongside it, dishonesty and corruption. His comment reveals the degree of dishonesty in evidence within society at this time. Wealth: 1. â€Å"a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and ash-gray men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud. (23) Explanation: This quote describes the life of people who have failed to acquire wealth. Their existence and surroundings are represented by the color grey. They live in poverty and serve as an image of failure. 2. â€Å"A pair of stage ‘twins’- who turned out to be the girls in yellow- did a baby act in costume and champagne was served in bigger than finger bowls† (36) Explanation: The color yellow is of significance here and is a color that is used to emphasize the moral corruption the twins represent. The use of costume within the act is illustrative of the facade people use. As with the costume, the material items they possess entail that the characters in the novel are false and define themselves by material wealth as opposed to being true to their characters. 3. â€Å"They were careless people, tom and daisy they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together and let other people clean up the mess they had made† (170) Explanation: This quote portrays the impact that wealth has had on Daisy and Tom. They have no regard for anything or anyone else. When they encounter problems they simply throw money at them, they believe that their material possessions make them immune to difficulties, which are something that people who are not as significant as them can deal with. They are consumed by their superficial possessions. 4. It was a photo of the house, cracked in the corners and dirty with many hands He had shown it so often that I think it was more real to him now than the house itself (180). Explanation: This quote represents the relationship Gatsby has with his father. Even his own family value him for his wealth and not for who he truly is. His father takes a picture of a house to the grave with him. This shows what he values; material possessions. Excess: 1. â€Å"the one on my right was a colossal affair by any standard—it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden. it was Gatsbys mansion (9) Explanation: This description of Gatsby’s mansion reveals further conspicuous consumption. He has spent copious amounts of money on acquiring a status symbol that he hopes can attract the attention of Daisy. Whilst he has enough money to be able to spend excessively he do so in a futile manner; such material things can never make him truly happy. This can be perceived to be a criticism of the falseness of the American Dream. 2. â€Å"His family were enormously wealthy – even in college his freedom with money was a matter of reproach – but now he’d left Chicago and come east in a fashion that rather took your breath away: for instance he’d brought down a string of polo ponies from Lake Forest. It was hard to realize that a man in my own generation was wealthy enough to do that. † (10) Explanation: Nick was explaining the wealth of Tom Buchanan’s family stemming back from his college days. At that young age he had the unusual luxury of money and then showcased his wealth by bringing a fleet of polo ponies along with him when he relocated. The quote shows how people would spend all their money just for amusement, because they could not because they needed anything. 3. â€Å"The living room was crowded to the doors with a set of tapestried furniture entirely too large for it, so that to move about was to stumble continually over scenes of ladies swinging in the garden of Versailles. † (35) Explanation: Mrytle is obsessed with projecting an image of that of a wealthy individual. Her apartment shows that whilst she has money and possessions, she is lacking in class and is unable to grasp what is appropriate for her apartment. 4. â€Å"composed of oddly familiar pieces of ivory. Finest specimens of human molars, he informed me (77) Explanation: Here Wolfsheim is describing his cufflinks. This again shows how someone has made a purchase simply to make a point. In this case his elaborate cufflinks represent the combination of gentry with barbarinism. His conspicuous consumption is aimed at proving his status to those around him.

Underdetermination, Instrumentalism and Realism

Underdetermination, Instrumentalism and Realism Understanding Underdetermination in conjunction with realism and instrumentalism The present essay is about the understanding of under determination thesis in conjunction with the realism and instrumentalism. As we know that realism and instrumentalism are two opposite views in philosophy of science, so by explaining the two it would be much easier to grasp the concept of under determination thesis, which is one of complex doctrine. The intended audiences of this essay are science students and people who are interested to know about the philosophical issues in science. I divide the essay into four of parts. The first part explains the realism and instrumentalism concepts, second part explains the under determination thesis in detail and then the third part will state the views of different philosophers about three schools of thoughts. The fourth and the final part conclude the whole argumentation Realism The word realism in the dictionary means the tendency to view or represent things as they really are. [dic]. In philosophy of science it can be defined as â€Å"the philosophical doctrine that abstract concepts exist independent of their names†. It can be explained as an approach in philosophy that considers objects as they are in the universe as real things and their characteristics as a secondary thing. The advocate of realism are called realist and it is important to differentiate the realists. A person can be realist about the different kinds of things i.e. mountains, physical objects, numbers, universe etc. but in the case of a philosopher, it is required to specify that for what object/thing the philosopher is realist [book]. An American philosopher name Hilary Putnam stated that â€Å"A realist with respect to a given theory holds the following: What makes them true or false is something external that is to say, it is not in general our sense data, actual or potential, or the structure of our minds, or our language, etc. Furthermore he says that the positive argument for realism is that it is the only â€Å"philosophy that does not make the success of science a miracle†. [Book]. Generally, in science established scientific theories are treated as a true fact, but according to realist these theories would be treated as a successful explanation of the whole scientific process or its relation to an object, and not as a whole truth. [Book] An example is that sun, mountains, building etc. exists in this world, but the attributes like length, width, colour etc. are either dependent or independent of the environment. For example the sun is spherical in shape, so it is independent from any material thing of this universe. But in case of a building, its shape and size, all depend upon the person who designed or built it. So it can be said that reality is related to mind and environment. In general, Realism is supposed to be a term that relates to number of subjects i.e. ethics, aesthetics, causation, modality, science, mathematics, semantics etc. When we talk about the realism in the context of science then the intention is to elaborate the scientific realism which has a number of dimensions i.e. metaphysical, epistemological and methodological. Besides this it is also the truth that there is no single version of scientific realism which is being accepted by all the scientific realists. The doctrine of scientific realism states that â€Å" the world studied by science exists and has the properties it does, independently of our beliefs, perceptions, and theorizing; that the aim of science is to describe and explain that world, including those many aspects of it that are not directly observable; that, other things being equal, scientific theories are to be interpreted literally; that to accept a theory is to believe that what it says about the world is true, and that by continually replacing current scientific theories with better ones. Science makes objective progress and its theories get closer to the truth†. Realism has two schools of thought, first one is called Extreme realism, represented by William, a French philosopher; according to him â€Å"universals exist independently of both the human mind and particular things†. The second one is moderate realism and according to which â€Å"universals exist only in the mind of God, as patterns by which He creates particular things†. The main proponent of this view was St. Thomas Aquinas and John of Salisbury. According to epistemological view of realism, things exist in this universe, independent of our understanding or perception. This point is totally opposite to the theory of idealism, which states that â€Å"reality exists only in the mind†. By having a brief explanation of realism, instrumentalism will be discussed, which is the opposite view of realism and most of time called Antirealism. Antirealism is a doctrine that rejects realism, and includes instrumentalism, conventionalism, logical positivism, logical empiricism and constructive empiricism. Instrumentalism Instrumentalism is treated as a doctrine that states â€Å"theories are merely instruments, tools for the prediction and convenient summary of data† [Book]. In other words it can be defined as â€Å"concepts and theories are merely useful instruments whose worth is measured not by whether the concepts and theories are true or false, but by how effective they are in explaining and predicting phenomena†. The point is that in order to make predictions from theories, logic is required, so it can be hard to say theories have no truth values. In view of this instrumentalists admit that theories have truth values, but do not accept this argument that theories should be treated as accurately true. In view of this T.S. Kuhn said that â€Å"Theories may have truth values but their truth of falsity is irrelevant to our understanding of science†. [Book] In other words instrumentalism evaluates the significance of a theory with respect to empirical evidence and did not require the understanding of the actual phenomena. For example Newton gravity model is understandable and working fine, but it has no theoretical foundation [Answer.com] The another aspect of instrumentalism is that it relates closely to pragmatism and this point of view opposes the scientific realism because according to this, theories are more or less true in nature. Moreover, instrumentalism refutes that theories can be evaluated on the basis of truth. Theories will not be perceived as air plane black box which gives output on the basis of observed input. The point is that there should be a clear distinction between theory and observation that further leads to a distinction between terms and statements in each type. Like in science for statement of observation there is a specific meaning for an observable truth, for example if the litmus paper is red, so the observation terms have their meaning fixed by their referring to observable things or properties, e.g. red. Theoretical statements have their meaning fixed by their function within a theory and arent truth evaluable, e.g. the solution is acidic, whereas theoretical terms have their meaning fixed by their systematic function within a theory and dont refer to any observable thing or property, e.g. acidic. Though you may think that acidic refers to a real property in an object, the meaning of the term can only be explained by reference to a theory about acidity, in contrast to red, which is a property you can observe. Statements that mix both T-terms and O-terms are therefore T-statements, since their totality cannot be directly observed†. There is some criticism of this distinction, however, as it confuses non-theoretical with observable, and likewise theoretical with non-observable. For example, the term gene is theoretical (so a T-term) but it can also be observed (so an O-term). Whether a term is theoretical or not is a semantic matter, because it involves the different ways in which the term gets its meaning (from a theory or from an observation). Whether a term is observable or not is an epistemic matter, because it involves how we can come to know about it. Instrumentalists contend that the distinctions are the same, that we can only come to know about something if we can understand its meaning according to truth-evaluable observations. So in the above example, gene is a T-term because, although it is observable, we cannot understand its meaning from observation alone. The explanation of realism and instrumentalism above has provided us the capability to understand the topic with much insight. Now, I switch to under determination thesis. From the above discussion we have the knowledge that instrumentalism is related to pragmatism and this point of view is in contrasts with the scientific realism, which states that theories are often more or less true. Here, I refer to Quine, who said that theories can be underdetermined by all possible observations [23], and Newton Smiths, treat this as a threat to realism. He said, realism in his sense has to be rejected if there can be cases of under determination of theories. Under determination As we know that under determination is a thesis that is â€Å"used in the discussion of theories and their relation to the evidence that is cited to support them†.[1] Arguments from under determination are used to support epistemic relativism by claiming that there is no good way to certify a theory based on any set of evidence. A theory is underdetermined if, given the available evidence, there is a rival theory which is inconsistent with the theory that is at least as consistent with the evidence. Moreover, under determination is treated an epistemological issue about the relation of evidence to conclusions. Historical background The subject gets its first attention by Renà © Descartes, a French philosopher and mathematician in the 17th century. He presented two arguments related to under determination. â€Å"While dreaming, perceived experiences (for example, falling) do not necessarily contain sufficient information to deduce the true situation (being in bed)†.[2] As we know that it is not always possible for a person to separate dreams from reality and the theory that what is real or dream at a certain time is underdetermined. The second argument of Descartess is called demon argument â€Å"which is a variant of the dream argument that posits that all of ones experiences and thoughts might be manipulated by a very powerful being (an evil demon) that always deceives. Once again, so long as the perceived reality appears internally consistent to the limits of ones limited ability to tell, the situation is indistinguishable from reality, one cannot logically determine between correct beliefs from being misled; this is another version of under determination†.[2] The second person who talks about under determination was David Hume, who does not use the word under determination specifically but an argument about the problem of induction. I will discuss the induction later in the essay while explaining the under determination types. The Under determination thesis gets the recognition in the twentieth century through the work of Thomas S. Kuhn, who is a famous theoretical physicist and philosopher. He was very much prominent due to his work, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions that offered an alternative to linear models of scientific progress. According to Kuhn the under determination has a place to for argumentation against theories in the philosophy of science, and scientific realism. According to Khun the under determination can be divided into two types the weak and strong under determination. The both could be stated in the following words: Weak underdetermined is that the currently available evidence is not sufficient to prove the argument, but some evidence that will be available in the future might do this. Strong underdetermined is to claim that it is principally impossible to get evidence that could fully resolve the argument between the opponent theories. Besides strong and weak underdetermined theory there are two other attributes called deductive and inductive under determination. The two rival theories could be deductively underdetermined when the available evidence does not completely deny either theory. The theory is inductively underdetermined when theories are compatible with the available evidence, but still tries to determine, which theory could be a better failure A weak under determination can turn to a strong one if it avoids the attainment of future evidence that turns it into deductive under determination. A counter argument is that it is not possible for a theory to be accurately strong and inductive. In general weak under determination arguments are focused on the availability of evidence for an explicit set of theories, and strong under determination mostly entails common epistemological arguments that relates to the type of evidence and its viability for a particular or general theory. Furthermore, it is generally acknowledged that all theories are weakly underdetermined, but in case of some specific purpose all theories are strongly underdetermined. Explaining the types of under determination thesis, Ludan said that â€Å"for any finite body of evidence, there are indefinitely many mutually contrary theories, each of which logically entails the evidence†. So in other words it can be said that deductive under determination is under determination of selecting theory through a logical method. Finally, the term under determination as thesis is associated with two respectable names Pierre Duhem and W.V. Quine in philosophy of science, â€Å"that neither the truth nor the falsity of any scientific theory is determined by evidence†. According to Duhem-Quine Under determination is a â€Å"relation between evidence and theory. More accurately, it is a relation between the propositions that express the (relevant) evidence and the propositions that constitute the theory. Evidence is said to underdetermine theory†. From the above it can be said that evidence is not enough to prove the theory, belief or truth. Moreover, only the availability of evidence is not enough to make the theory a credible one. In view of this we can call the first argument a deductive and the second inductive under determination. Hence, according to under determination thesis, both arguments have required some definite epistemic proposition, and belief in a theory could not be justified on the basis of evidence. For under determination types, Duhem, also said that â€Å"logic alone cannot take us from the falsification of a prediction to a refutation of an isolated hypothesis. Importantly, deductive under determination does not mean that theory choice is underdetermined, nor does it mean that there is more than one reasonable conclusion given certain experimental evidence†. Up until now we have a basic understanding of the under determination thesis, so now I will discuss what realism actually is, the theoretical frame and the origin of the concept. Another argument against scientific realism, deriving from the under determination problem, is not as historically motivated as these others. It claims that observational data can in principle be explained by multiple theories that are mutually incompatible. Realists counter by pointing out that there have been few actual cases of under determination in the history of science. Usually the requirement of explaining the data is so exacting that scientists are lucky to find even one theory that fulfils it. Furthermore, if we take the under determination argument seriously, it implies that we can know about only what we have directly observed. For example, we could not theorize that dinosaurs once lived based on the fossil evidence because other theories (e.g., that the fossils are clever hoaxes) can account for the same data. Realists claim that, in addition to empirical adequacy, there are other criteria for theory choice, such as parsimony. In particular, it must not be confused with what Newton-Smith takes to be a minimal common factor among the wide range of philosophers who in recent years have advocated a realist construal of scientific theories. This common factor consists of the following theses: (1) Scientific theories are either true or false and which a given theory is, it is in virtue of how the world is, (2) If a theory is true, the theoretical terms of the theory denote theoretical entities which are causally responsible for the observable phenomenon whose occurrence is evidence for the theory, (3) We can have warranted beliefs (at least in principle) concerning the truth values of theories, (4) The historically generated sequence of theories of a mature science may well be a sequence of false theories but it is a sequence in which succeeding theories have greater truth-content and less falsity content than their predecessors. We may refer to (1) as the objectivity, (2) as the causality, (3) as the decidability, and (4) as the convergence of scientific theories. Newton-Smith uses the name realism for the combination of these four theses, and he also seems to hold that this is the standard use of the term. It is clear that theoretical realism in the weakest sense entails neither objectivity, nor causality, nor decidability, nor convergence. In particular, some theoretical propositions may be true even if no scientific theory as a whole is either true or false. Moreover, it is doubtful whether realism in Newton-Smiths sense entails theoretical realism. For example, if all theoretical propositions are false, then theoretical realism is false, but realism in Newton-Smiths sense might still be true. In any case, one of Newton-Smiths main theses is that realism in his sense has to be rejected if there can be cases of under determination. In particular, he claims that either objectivity or decidability has to be weakened if under determination can occur to give up decidability is what he calls the ignorance response (to under determination). This involves embracing the possibility of inaccessible facts facts concerning whose obtaining we could have no information. To give up objectivity is what he calls the arrogance response. This amounts to holding that if we cannot know about something there is nothing to know about. 36 Notice, that this holds only for under determination in Newton-Smiths sense, i.e. under determination by all possible data. It does not hold for the other kinds of under determination mentioned above. In other words, it is only when an underdetermined theory is empirically viable that we cannot know that it is true or that it is false (either because it is neither true nor false, or because we cannot know, even in principle, what its truth value is). In general, we cannot have under determination (of any kind) together with empirical viability, objectivity, and decidability. If a theory is underdetermined, we cannot know that it is true. This I accept. At first, it appears that Quine would not accept this. He holds that there may be two best total theories which are empirically viable and incompatible, but that we may know, at least in principle, that one of them is true and the other false. However, it seems that Quine is then using true and false in a non-realistic sense; according to him, to call a statement true is just to reaffirm it. He does not seem to assume that there is some objective reality, the world, such that the truth of a statement consists it its correspondence with this reality. Hence, presumably he would reject the objectivity thesis which is part of realism in Newton Smiths sense. Realism/Anti-realism Given the various epistemological difficulties (under determination, problem of induction, rationality, social forces), and the lack of a consensus on these issues, why should we think that our theories are actually describing reality? The apparently large gap between observational and theoretical knowledge inspires worry about realism Metaphysical difficulties come into play here as well—we do not have good understandings of the nature of laws and causation, explanation, so how can we claim that we are discovering the nature of the universe?

A Study On Cumene Plant Engineering Essay

A Study On Cumene Plant Engineering Essay The system considered for study, simulation and optimization is a cumene production plant. The process described by Peterson and Schmidt is taken as base for simulating the system. The process description of Turton et al. (2003) provides relevant and valuable data required for the simulation of the process. Raw materials fed to the plant are benzene and propylene (may contain propane as an impurity) in which benzene is in excess. Various unit operations and processes are required to be taken care of which are described in some detail below. The major units in the process plant are the reactor section and the separator section. 1.2 RELEVANCE Isopropyl benzene popularly known as cumene is the principal chemical used in the production of phenol and its co-product acetone on an industrial scale. It is also the starting material in the production of acetophenone, methyl styrene, diisopropyl benzene and dicumyl peroxide. Minor uses of cumene include as a thinner for paints, enamels, and lacquers; as a constituent of some petroleum-based solvents, such as naphtha; in gasoline blending diesel fuel, and high-octane aviation fuel. It is also a good solvent for fats and resins and has been suggested as a replacement for benzene in many of its industrial applications. Around 98% of cumene is used to produce phenol and its co-product acetone. However, the requirement of cumene is largely dependent on the use of phenol’s derivatives which have resulted in increasing requirement rates for cumene. The largest phenol derivative is bisphenol-A (BPA) which supplies the polycarbonate (PC) sector. PC resins are consumed in automotive applications in place of traditional materials such as glass and metals. Glazing and sheet uses, such as architectural, security and glazing outlets, are also important PC applications. The third largest use for PC is optical media such as compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs). Another phenol derivative is caprolactam which is used mainly to make nylon 6. It is mainly the resin sector of the nylon market that is seeing growth. [Schmidt, 2005] Cumene is produced by the alkylation of benzene with propylene over an acid catalyst like aluminium chloride, boron trifluoride, phosphoric acid, hydrogen fluoride, supported phosphoric acid (SPA) etc. The usage of the above catalysts poses a lot of problems like product quality, lower catalyst activity, environmental hazard, catalyst non-regenerability etc and has been replaced by zeolites in most of the processes. In the present work the cumene production plant is simulated using ASPEN PLUS  ® and the sizes, the temperature and other relevant parameters are obtained by optimization. MATLAB ®, MS Excel and Origin Pro 8.0 are used to plot graphs in the following simulation from which an optimum value is estimated. The optimized values obtained can provide a lot of insight before actual plant commissioning is done. 1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT Considering the importance of the present process, work was undertaken to design and simulate the cumene production process using ASPEN PLUS  ® software. The objectives of the present project are following. To design a zeolite catalyst based cumene production process and study the sensitivity analysis. To optimize the contents of the flow sheet for minimization of loss of material along with a greater production of cumene and low requirement of energy. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 CONVENTIONAL PROCESS Cumene is produced by the alkylation of benzene with propylene over an acid catalyst. Catalysts like aluminium chloride, boron trifluoride, hydrogen fluoride and solid phosphoric acid (SPA) are normally used. Over the years these catalysts have given way to zeolite based catalysts. There are some inherent problems associated with the conventional acid catalysts. Disadvantages of using solid phosphoric acid (SPA) Process Lower activity Catalyst non-regenerability Unloading of spent catalyst from reactor difficult Relative high selectivity to hexyl benzene Significant yield of DIPB Disadvantages of using Aluminium chloride as catalyst High corrosion Environmental hazard Washing step for catalyst removal. 2.2 CURRENT INDUSTRIAL PROCESS Cumene is an important chemical in the present industrial world and its uses are steadily increasing. The process followed for the production of cumene is the catalytic alkylation of benzene with propylene and now a days zeolite based catalysts are used in place of the normal acid based catalysts due to added advantages. Cumene production process has been greatly studied and the reaction mechanism and the reaction kinetics have been specified by many researchers. Both experimental as well as computer based simulation and optimization studies have been carried out by various researchers. The significant works of various researchers which have been helpful in my project are described in brief below. The Q-Max â„ ¢ process converts a mixture of benzene and propylene to high quality cumene using a regenerable zeolite catalyst. The Q-Max â„ ¢ process is characterized by a exceptionally high yield, better product quality, less solid waste, decrease in investment and operating costs and a corrosion free environment. The Q-Max â„ ¢ process developed by UOP uses QZ-2000/ QZ-2001 catalyst which is a variant of ß zeolite. [Schmidt, 2005] 2.2.1 PROCESS DESCRIPTION The Q-MAXâ„ ¢ process provides a very good cumene yield and quality. The QZ-2000 zeolite based catalyst used in the Q-MAXâ„ ¢ process operates with a low flow rate of benzene and hence investment and utility costs are reduced greatly. QZ-2000 is non-corrosive and regenerable, avoiding the significant maintenance and catalyst disposal problems associated with SPA and AlCl3 systems. Compared to other zeolite based cumene technologies, the Q-MAXâ„ ¢ process provides better tolerance of feedstock impurities, the highest cumene product quality and excellent stability. The Q-MAXâ„ ¢ process flow scheme is shown in fig 2.1 above. The alkylation reactor is divided into four catalytic beds present in a single reactor shell. The fresh benzene feed is passed through the upper-mid section of the depropanizer column to remove excess water and then sent to the alkylation reactor. The recycle benzene to the alkylation and transalkylation reactors is a drawn from the benzene column. This mixture of fresh and recycle benzene is charged through the alkylation reactor. The fresh propylene feed is split between the catalyst beds and is fully consumed in each bed. An excess of benzene helps in avoiding poly alkylation and minimizing olefin oligomerization. Because the reaction is exothermic in nature, the temperature rise in the alkylation reactor is controlled by recycling a portion of the reactor effluent to the reactor inlet to act as a heat sink. The inlet temperature of each downstream bed is further reduced to the same temperature as the first bed inlet by injecting a portion of cooled reactor effluent between the beds. Effluent from the alkylation reactor flows to the depropanizer column which removes the propane that entered with the propylene feed along with excess water. The bottoms stream of the depropanizer column goes to the benzene column where excess benzene is collected overhead and recycled. The benzene column bottoms stream goes to the cumene column where the cumene product is recovered overhead. The cumene column bottoms stream, predominantly diisopropylbenzene (DIPB), goes to the DIPB column. If the propylene feed contains excessive butylenes, or if the benzene feed contains excessive toluene, butylbenzenes and/or cumene are distilled out and purged from the overhead section of the DIPB column. The DIPB stream leaves the column by way of the side draw and is recycled back to the transalkylation reactor. The DIPB column bottoms consist of heavy aromatic by-products, which are normally blended into fuel oil. Steam or ho t oil provides the heat for the product fractionation section. The recycle DIPB from the overhead of the DIPB column combines with a portion of the recycle benzene and is charged downflow through the transalkylation reactor. In the transalkylation reactor, DIPB and benzene are converted to more cumene. The effluent from the transalkylation reactor is then sent to the benzene column. The new QZ-2001 catalyst is utilized in the alkylation reactor while the original QZ-2000 catalyst remains in the transalkylation reactor. Expected catalyst cycle length is 2–4 years, and the catalyst should last for at least three cycles with proper care. At the end of each cycle, the catalyst is typically regenerated ex situ via a simple carbon burn by a certified regeneration contractor. However, the unit can also be designed for in situ regeneration. The Q-Maxâ„ ¢ process typically produces near equilibrium levels of cumene (between 85 and 95 mol %) and DIPB (between 5 and 15 mol %). The DI PB is separated from the cumene and is reacted with recycle benzene at optimal conditions for transalkylation to produce additional cumene. [Schmidt, 2005], [Peterson and Schmidt, 2002] 2.2.2 REACTION MECHANISM AND KINETICS The following reaction mechanisms are proposed for the alkylation of benzene to cumene process. The major reactions taking place are alkylation and trans-alkylation. The other reactions involved include isomerisation and dis-proportionation. The reaction mechanism as well as the reaction kinetics may vary depending on the catalyst used. The reaction can proceed by with or without carbonium ion intermediate. [Ding and Fu, 2005] The rates of reaction data was obtained for different catalysts from the work done by various researchers. The kinetic data and the reaction conditions specified by Turton et al (2003) for a particular catalyst have been used in the present work. The reaction kinetic data is shown below Propylene + benzene à   cumene K = 2.8 Ãâ€" 107 E (kJ/kmol) 104174 Rate=kcpcb Propylene + cumene à   p-diisoproyl benzene K = 2.32 Ãâ€" 109 E (kJ/kmol) 146742 Rate=kcpcc (The unit for rates is kmol s-1 m-3) [Turton et al, 2003] Trans-alkylation reaction K= 6.52 Ãâ€" 10-3 exp (27240/RT) The equilibrium data for trans-alkylation reaction is obtained for modified zeolite beta catalyst, YSBH-01. [Lei et al, 2007] From various works on cumene production mechanism the overall reaction can be assumed to consist of the following stages. Alkylation Isomerisation Transalkylation Dis-proportionation 2.3 PROPERTIES OF CUMENE Description: Colorless liquid with a sharp, penetrating aromatic or gas-like odour [Budavari, 1989; Cavender, 1994] Boiling Point: 152.4 °C [Lide, 1995] Melting Point: -96.0 °C [Lide, 1995] Density: 0.8618 g/cm3 at 20 °C [Lide, 1995] Refractive Index: 1.4915 at 20 °C [Schulz et al., 1993]; 1.489 at 25 °C [Lewis, 1993] Solubility: Insoluble in water; miscible in acetone, benzene, and ethanol [Lide, 1995] Flash Point: 39 °C, closed cup [Budavari, 1989] Reactivity: Combustible [Lewis, 1993], not compatible with oxidizers, nitric acid and sulphuric acid. 2.4 PROCESS DESIGN BASICS Process design is a very important aspect before any project implementation as a proper design during the initial stages can save costs to a great extent. The cost involved in designing a project is very less compared to the construction cost and it can be greatly helpful in maximizing profits of the plant as well as providing a safe environment. The plot shown in Fig. 2.2 gives a brief idea of how proper plant design can cut costs to a great extent. The following points need to be taken care for a proper process design. Raw material cost reduction. Selectivity of reaction is increased by proper use of catalysts. Increasing selectivity can reduce separation and recycle costs. Capital-cost reduction. Better flow sheeting can reduce capital costs effectively Energy use reduction. Pinch point analysis is used for energy saving. Increased process flexibility. Process plant should be able to handle a range of feed compositions. Increased process safety. Nonlinear analysis can be done to make the process safer. Increased attention to quality. Reduction of by products and the effective use of process control equipment can lead to process safety. Better environmental performance. Minimization of harmful wastes to the environment. The order in which designing should be done follows a systematic procedure as shown in Fig 2.4. A process simulation diagram is drawn from the process flow diagram. The chemical components are specified. The chemical component properties are generally available in a standard data base. The input streams are specified. Thermodynamic modelling is done. Series of simulations are run for convergence of a particular variable. Sensitivity analysis which consists of varying the sampled variables as a function of the manipulated variables is normally done. The major parts of a cumene production plant are reactor system, separation system and they are optimized. CHAPTER 3 DESIGN: PROCEDURE, RESULT DISCUSSION This chapter is divided into two main parts as (i) Reactor and (ii) Separator. The reactor design involves design of equilibrium based reactor as well as kinetic based reactor. The separator system involves the design of flash tank and distillation column. As the product purity is increased by increasing the working cost of the reactor, the separation cost decreases and vice versa. The sequence of computation followed is shown in Fig. 3.1. 3.1 REACTOR DESIGN Reactor is the heart of a chemical process plant. Design of a reactor requires data from thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mass transfer and economics. A properly designed reactor can minimize the production of unwanted products and hence reduce the purification costs. The alkylation and trans-alkylation reactors are the main reactors in a cumene production plant and they need to be designed for optimum use of material and energy. In all the optimization work done Douglas Doctrine (the costs of raw materials and products are usually much larger than the costs of energy or capital in a typical chemical process. Therefore the process must be designed (investing capital and paying for energy) so as to not waste feed stocks or lose products (particularly in the form of undesirable products) is followed. [Luyben, 2010] Kinetic model can be considered if accurate kinetic data is available. But a plant involves industrial reactors that are very complex and hence a proper combination of stoichiometric and kinetic reactor needs to be used. Kinetic model can determine the production rate where as stoichiometric model can describe the formation of by products and impurities necessary for the design of separators. Equilbrium based reactors like RGIBBS in ASPEN PLUS ® can give a realistic idea about the maximum achievable performance. They work accurately for fast reactions. The RGIBBS reactor predicts the equilibrium concentration by Gibbs free energy minimization. [Dimian, 2003] Generally in reactor design an equilibrium model is prepared and then the kinetic model. The following reaction mechanism was proposed by various researchers for alkylation of benzene by cumene. 3.1.1 REACTIONS CONSIDERED FOR MODELING Alkylation propylene + benzene à   cumene (1) propylene + cumene à   p-diisoproyl benzene (2) Isomerisation p-diisopropyl benzene à   m-diisopropyl benzene (3) Trans-alkylation p-diisopropyl benzene + benzene à   2 cumene (4) m-diisopropyl benzene + benzene à   2 cumene (5) Disproportination 2 cumene à   p-diisopropyl benzene + benzene (6) 2 cumene à   m-diisopropyl benzene + benzene (7) 3.1.2 REACTOR DESIGN PROCEDURE IN ASPEN PLUS The feed is a mixture of benzene and propylene such that benzene is in excess. In general propylene is not available in the pure form and has some amount of propane as inert. The separation cost of propane is high and hence normally propane is not removed from the propylene feed into the reactor. A high conversion of propylene is desired and the unreacted propylene can be flashed off along with the inert propane. RGIBBS reactor works by Gibbs free energy minimization. Alkylation and trans-alkylation reactors need not be modelled separately as they can be combined into one equilibrium reactor. The reactant, products as well as the intermediates as seen from the reaction mechanisms are specified into the component list. SYSOP0 or Ideal property table is used. A temperature range of 300 to 400 degree Celsius is specified and a proper temperature chosen. Pressure of 25 atm is chosen from previous industrial research work. [Luyben, 2010] 3.1.3 EQUILIBRIUM STUDIES The equilibrium is affected by the temperature as well as the benzene/propylene mole ratio. The alkylation and transalkylation reaction is usually carried out at atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the effect of pressure on the equilibrium was not considered in the present study. Seven reactor models are available in ASPEN PLUS. The equilibrium based RGIBBS reactor is used to find the product composition at which the Gibbs free energy of the product is minimum. The restricted chemical equilibrium approach is used and the reactions mentioned above are specified. The temperature approach for an individual reaction is used. The feed stream mole flow is set as 1 kmol / hr and the feed stream consists of benzene, propylene and propane (inert mixed with the propylene stream). Amount of inert in feed is kept fixed. The reactor temperature is set to 3500C and the reactor pressure is set to 25 atm. (a) The selectivity of cumene and conversion of propylene (limiting reagent) is studied by varying the benzene/propylene mole ratio in the feed keeping the amount of inert fixed. The effect of temperature variation (300–4000C) on the selectivity and the conversion is also studied. (b) Again, the variation in the selectivity of m-DIPB and p-DIPB with temperature and b enzene/propylene mole ratio in the feed is studied. The conversion and selectivity were calculated using equations 8 to 11. %Selectivity of cumene = Fcumeneproduct /(Fpropylenefeed-Fpropyleneprod) ´100% (8) %Conversion of propylene = (Fpropylenefeed-Fpropyleneprod)/Fpropylenefeed  ´ 100 % (9) %Selectivity of m-DIPB = Fmdipbproduct/(Fpropylenefeed-Fpropyleneprod)  ´100% (10) %Selectivity of p-DIPB = Fpdipbproduct/(Fpropylenefeed-Fpropyleneprod)  ´ 100% (11) Where Fcumeneproduct = molar flow rate of cumene in product Fpropylenefeed = molar flow rate of propylene in feed Fpropyleneprod = molar flow rate of propylene in product Fmdipbproduct = molar flow rate of m-DIPB in product Fpdipbproduct = molar flow rate of p-DIPB in product RSTOIC reactor model was used to find the standard heat of reaction for different reactions 1 to 6 mentioned above. The standard heats of reaction have been tabulated in Table 3.1.1. The heat of reaction for isomerisation was found to be zero as expected. The all other reactions were found to be exothermic except trans-alkylation reactions as observed from the table. Table 3.1.1 Standard Heats of Reaction Reaction Number Standard Heat of Reaction (Kcal/Kg mol) 1 -23.670 2 -24.321 3 0 4 0.649 5 0.649 6 -0.325 7 -0.324 Effect of temperature and benzene/propylene mole ratio. The effect of temperature and benzene/propylene mole ratio on equilibrium conversion of propylene and selectivity of products, cumene, m-DIPB, and p-DIPB is shown in Fig. 3.1.1. The conversion of propylene was found to increase with increase in benzene/propylene mole ratio for a fixed temperature as observed from the Fig. 3.1.1(a). This is because of reduced proportion of propylene in feed. However, variation of conversion of propylene was found to be negligibly small above the benzene/propylene mole ratio in feed of 3. The conversion of propylene was found to decrease with increase in temperature for a fixed benzene/propylene mole ratio as observed from the Fig. 3.1.1(a). This is because of the fact that overall heat of reactions is exothermic as shown in Table 3.1.1. The selectivity of cumene was found to increase with increase in benzene/propylene mole ratio at a fixed temperature as the polyalkylation reactions are reduced because of excess amount of benzene present in the feed (Fig. 3.1.1(b)). Again, with increase in temperature, the selectivity of cumene increases for a fixed benzene/propylene mole ratio as transalkylation reactions (endothermic, Table 3.1.1) are dominant at high temperature. The distribution of m-DIPB and p-DIPB is shown in Fig. 3.1.1 (c). From the figure it was observed that selectivity of m-DIPB is significantly higher than p-DIPB. This is because of the fact that m-DIPB is thermally more stable compared to p-DIPB. Therefore, p-DIPB formed in alkylation reaction isomerises to more stable meta isomer. Effect of inert on equilibrium. The propylene stream used in alkylation process is usually obtained by pyrolysis of petroleum fractions that contains small amount of propane as impurity. Propane need not be removed from the propylene stream as it acts as an inert and does not take part in the reaction. Presence of inert has very slight effect on the conversion as well as selectivity as shown in Fig.3.1.2. The conversion of propylene decreases slightly with higher volume percent of inert in feed and increases slightly with the same. 3.1.4 KINETICS BASED REACTOR MODEL Kinetics based rate data was obtained from the work of various researches and is mentioned above. A RPLUG model is used in ASPEN PLUS to model the reactor. The design model specified in the book by Turton et al (2003) is used. The reactions occur in the vapour phase in the presence of a solid catalyst (assumed to have 0.5 void fraction and a 2000 kg/m3 solid density). The reactor is run at high pressure (25 bar) since the moles of reactants are more than the moles of product (Le Chatelier’s principle). A temperature of 360 degree C and a benzene/Propylene mole ratio of 6 is used. A flow rate of 330 kmol/hr is used for the simulation. The kinetic model generated few errors such as RPLUG exited because integration failed. index = (-1) probable cause is incorrect kinetics. check rate-constant parameters and molar volume calculations. 3.1.5 PRODUCT OUTPUT FROM REACTOR Assuming the RGIBBS model for the initial calculations for distillation columns can give a good idea about the distillation process in a cumene plant. RGIBBS model with an input feed rate of 100 kmol/hr and benzene: propylene feed ratio of 6:1 with an inert concentration of 5% in propylene stream, temp. of 360 degree C and a pressure of 25 bar is used. The flow rates obtained at the product side are noted.The non condensable components in the product side i.e. propylene and propane are removed in flash tank. These components have fuel value only as they cannot be completely purified. So the reaction conditions should be so adjusted that the propylene in feed is totally converted to the product. The concentration of non-condensable components from reactor is given in Table 3.1.2. This data is used for further designing. Table 3.1.2 Mole flow rate of components from reactor Component Mole Flow kmol/hr Benzene 72.85 Cumene 10.31 m-DIPB 1.77 p-DIPB 0.47 TOTAL 85.4 3.2 PREDICTING VLE CHARACTERISTICS Reactors and separators can be considered as the back bone of any chemical process plant. The cost optimization of any plant depends largely on the reactors and the distillation columns. The basis of distillation is phase equilibrium that may be VLE (Vapour liquid equilibrium) and LLE (Liquid liquid equilibrium). Before designing any distillation equipment the VLE characteristics need to be studied as they give a fair amount of idea about the ease of distillation. The Txy diagram or temperature versus liquid composition (x) and vapour composition (y) are plotted. A fat curve generally shows that the liquids in a mixture can be easily separated. The boiling point data of the three major components in the distillation column is shown in Fig. 3.2.1 below. Table 3.2.1 Boiling point of components Component Boiling point in degree Celsius Benzene 80.2 Cumene 152.4 DIPB 209.8 The product stream from a condenser tank is sent to a distillation column. RADFRAC model is used. In the industrial process three distillation columns are used i.e benzene column, followed by cumene column and DIPB column.The RADFRAC model is a rigorous model for various multistage liquid vapour fractionation operations and hence is used for the simulation Before going in for the design of the distillation column the VLE diagrams need to be considered. The industrial processes currently followed show that in the 1st column benzene and cumene need to be primarily separated and in the 2nd column cumene and DIPB need to be separated. The NRTL (non random two liquid) physical property package is used used to plot the vapour liquid equilibrium T-XY for Benzene-cumene and Cumene-DIPB systems. The VLE plots are shown in Fig 3.2.1 to 3.2.3 for different systems. It can be inferred from plots Fig. 3.2.1 to 3.2.3 that separation would be easy and a distillation column with fewer trays and a smaller reflux ratio can be used. Azeotrope is not formed. Flash distillation should be tried as separation is easier. 3.3 FLASH DISTILLATION TANK DESIGN Distillation is tried using flash tank as the cost of operation is very low. FLASH2 model is selected. SYSOP0 property method is selected, which works by ideal or Roult’s law. Pressure of the flash tank is set as 1 bar. The input flow rate is same as mentioned in Table 3.1.2. The minimum boiling point in the mixture is that of benzene at 80.2 degree C at 1 atm and hence a temperature of 85 to 97.5 is considered for flashing. The mole fractions of benzene and cumene in the bottom and top products are found out at various flashing temperatures and plotted in Fig. 3.3.1. Assuming a product purity of 95% benzene in the top product the flashing temperature is identified to be 92.5 degree C. The flow rates from the flashing tank is shown in Table 3.3.1. Table 3.3.1 Concentration of products from the flash tank 92.5 degree C Benzene Cumene m-DIPB p-DIPB BOTTOM Product 18.951865 7.89384963 1.68473832 0.45287993 TOP product 5.39E+01 2.41615031 0.08526167 0.01712006 The flow rates of Table 3.3.1 act as a feed to the benzene column. 3.4 BENZENE DISTILLATION COLUMN DESIGN 3.4.1 DESIGN PROCEDURE RADFRAC-1 is selected for designing the Benzene distillation column. SYSOP0 property method is selected and the flow rates from Table 3.3.1 are used. The pressure is kept fixed at 1.75 bar and the temperature is kept fixed at 90 degree Celsius. These two variables are obtained from the experimental data specified by Turton et al (2003). These temperature and pressure data have been used in the work by Luyben (2010). The variables that can be optimized are reflux ratio, number of feed trays, feed tray location and distillate rate. In the initial assumption the distillate rate is kept at half the value of the feed rate. A total condenser is used in the process and an equilibrium based approach is used. 3.4.2 REFLUX RATIO OPTIMIZATION The number of trays (including boiler and condenser as a tray) is kept fixed at any value say 15. The feed tray is varied keeping the number of trays fixed. Now for each different ratio of number of trays to feed tray a series of reflux ratio starting from 0.1 is considered. The process is run and the mole fraction of benzene in the top product as well as the reboiler heat load data are used and a graph is plotted as shown in Fig 3.4.1. Reflux ratio is optimized by the variable mole fraction of benzene in the top product. An optimum reflux ratio value of about 0.5 is identified from Fig 3.4.1. At higher values of feed tray location (close to reboiler) lesser reflux ratio is required. Note that condenser is considered as the first stage and the rebolier as the last. 3.4.3 FEED TRAY LOCATION OPTIMIZATION The reflux ratio is kept fixed at 0.5 and the number of trays is kept fixed at 15. The position of the feed tray is varied and its affect on the reboiler heat load and the mole fraction of benze

Phillis Wheatleys To MAECENAS and On the Death of a young Lady of Five

The poetry of Phillis Wheatley is crafted in such a manner that she is able to create a specific aim for each poem, and achieve that aim by manipulating her position as the speaker. As a slave, she was cautious to cross any lines with her proclamations, but was able to get her point across by humbling her own position. In religious or elegiac matters, however, she seemed to consider herself to be an authority. Two of her poems, the panegyric â€Å"To MAECENAS† and the elegy â€Å"On the Death of a young Lady of Five Years of Age,† display Wheatley’s general consistency in form, but also her intelligence, versatility, and ability to adapt her position in order to achieve her goals. The main difference between these types of poems is that a panegyric is used to praise and flatter a living person, and an elegy is mournful regarding the death of someone. This is not to say that an elegy cannot fall under the classification of a panegyric, however one does not imply the other. According to www.Brittanica.com, panegyrics were originally speeches delivered in ancient Greece at a gathering in order to praise the former glory of Greek cities but later became used to praise and flatter eminent persons such as emperors. It seems fitting, therefore, that Wheatley’s panegyric, â€Å"To MAECENAS† contains so many classical allusions. In this poem she thanks and praises her unnamed patron, comparing him to Maecenas, the famed Roman patron of Virgil and Horace. It is widely believed that even though Maecenas is referred to as a male in her poem, in actuality it refers to the Countess of Huntingdon, Phillis Wheatley’s actual British patron. This is supported by the fact that her book is dedicated to the Countess, and also by her refere... ...rtially due to the slight change in rhyme scheme. Perhaps she does want to emphasize the first line in the last stanza, which contains the reference to the Thames River mentioned earlier, so that Wheatley can imply that Maecenas is in fact the Countess of Huntingdon. Each of Phillis Wheatley’s poems is crafted with a specific purpose in mind. Although her use of heroic couplets stays mostly standard, she does leave room for adaptations that offer some insight into her ultimate purpose. While many of her poems humble her own position, often it is indeed for a specific cause, usually to convey a point she could not have otherwise communicated without fear of chastisement. On the other hand, speaking on religious matters she seems to feel bold enough to elevate her own position to that of an authority figure, giving guidance and hope to those in need of it.

Compare And Contrast Thomas Be Essay -- essays research papers

The archetypal hero journey, Joseph Campbell states, is a typical series of heroic actions. Four stages form the hero journey: departure, trials, epiphany, and return (the stages do not necessarily occur consecutive with the listing). Death and resurrection of lifestyle and beliefs, spiritual journey, and finally rebirth form hero journey’s motif. An archetypal hero pattern is the transformation of the character’s conscience through trials and revelations. Lust, fear, and social duties tend to be the main trials heroes face. Campbell defines a hero as a character who overcomes his trials and gives his life to something superior to himself--committed extraordinary deeds. There are two types of heroes. The physical hero gives himself to rescue someone’s physical life or well-being; the spiritual hero returns to enlighten his people and, therefore, spare them misfortune or disastrous situations. Such characters enable the author to aid the reader in perceiving the positive aspects of negative situations and vice versa. Joseph Campbell’s hero journey outline provides an understanding for the paths heroes take pertaining to their specific circumstances.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Two characters that follow the hero journey are Job of the wisdom books of the Old Testament and Murder in the Cathedral’s Thomas Becket. Job is a fortunate and distinctively devout man. Satan wants to prove to God Job’s faith will falter if his blessings are obliterated. Satan creates an agonizing event sequence Job must suffer through. Job’s children, livestock, land, and health are taken away from him, and his comforters--three friends and a wife--believe Job deserves the turmoil and tell him he must repent his sins to regain his splendor. Becoming frustrated with the increasing agony he must endure, Job questions God’s actions but retains his faith. Thomas Becket’s story begins when King Henry II has trouble prosecuting church clergy under England’s law since the church they should try clergymen. Believing Becket will be a government ally, Henry appoints Becket (then King Henry’s chancellor) Archbishop. Becket finds the church has the right to try its, and holds God’s will above the king’s. Murder in the Cathedral begins with Becket, the current Archb... ...el assured his people will not be completely sorrowful when they lose their Archbishop. After speaking with his congregation, Becket is prepared for his death. Both Job and Becket return to their people in prayer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Joseph Campbell’s hero journey interpretation outlines the sequences of Job’s and Thomas Becket’s heroic circumstances. Each character progresses through the hero journey stages even though they do not necessarily follow the pattern. Job and Becket have similarities in their journeys: both experience a lifestyle alteration, are met with four advisors, and return to their people prayerful and matured; but the processes the characters journey through are distinctly different. Both Becket and Job fit Campbell’s hero definition: one who overcomes his trials and gives himself to a superior being. Both Job and Becket overcome their trials and give themselves to God. The two characters are categorized as spiritual heroes because they return sharing their spiritual findings with others. Job and Thomas Becket are spiritual heroes who successfully fulfill every phase of the hero journey Joseph Campbell outlines.

Industry analysis on ABS-CBN

Lopez  family-controlled ABS-CBN Corp. said it expects profitability throughout the year with the support of its airtime revenue after gaining in the first quarter of the year. In a briefing, Geronimo C. Estacio, ABS-CBN officer in charge for Finance, said profits for the full-year of 2006 may come from its airtime revenue, given the higher rating of the network’s primetime shows. Estacio said ABS-CBN posted a net income of P121 million in the first quarter of the year from P132-million losses in the same period in 2005. In the first three months of the year, ABS-CBN audience share averaged 32 percent compared with 43 percent of its rival GMA channel 7. On primetime, ABS posted 35 percent share from 36 percent compared with GMA’s 43 percent from 46 percent. The company attributed its profit turnaround to the lower cost base that resulted from last year’s manpower optimization and judicious production cost spending, as well as from license fees for the migration of North American DTH (direct-to-home) subscribers to DirectTVs platform. License fees from DTH amounting to P409 million were booked in the first quarter of the year. Total subscriber base of ABS-CBN Global grew by 22 percent year on year, which translates to 2. 1 million viewers worldwide by-end March. The Lopez-led company also said airtime revenues, which accounts for 60 percent of the total, grew 4 percent to P2. 26 billion in the first quarter of the year from P2. 18 billion in the same period in 2005 as it continued to strengthen its primetime programs. Gross revenue rose by 14 percent to P3. 95 billion, driven by license fees from DirectTV and higher airtime revenues. When Kris Aquino announced she and co-host Korina Sanchez might be in the United States late this year to tape some of their â€Å"Morning Girls† daily show, ABS-CBN International (NA) received lots of calls for the specific dates. â€Å"The response was amazing even if nothing has been firmed up,† said Rene Encarnacion, senior vice-president for international operations of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. and managing director of ABS-CBN Global Ltd. ABS-CBN International is one of four subsidiaries of Global, which is, in turn, a wholly owned subsidiary of ABS-CBN Broadcasting. With access to 25% of total Filipino-American households, ABS-CBN International accounts for 70% of gross revenues generated by Global. â€Å"The North American operations used to account for 85% of total revenues but that has happily dropped as we follow Filipinos abroad. There are Filipinos working in every country in the world except Bhutan,† said Encarnacion. Using a market yardstick of between 50,000 to 70,000 households, each household made up of five to six people, Global has presence in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe. In Asia, the company works with local partners. It services Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates through subsidiary, ABS-CBN Dubai; and England, Germany and Italy through another subsidiary, ABS-CBN Europe. â€Å"The Filipino-American market is so huge, there’s still a lot of penetration to do. Just maintaining our 25% market means we’re already growing. This is not a transient market; they are in the US for good and they have large disposable incomes,† said Encarnacion. Bundling Entertainment accounts for 65% of Global’s product mix. The company maintains four channels, which are either directly beamed to the homes of subscribers or by satellite. These channels are segmented by content, offering 24-hour news, the best of Channel 2 shows, and Philippine movies as well as sports and culture. Global pays royalties to ABS-CBN Broadcasting and its content-producing subsidiaries. It also sources other suppliers of content, such as the Philippine Basketball Association. Global holds the international broadcast rights for the PBA games. In a classic bundling strategy, the company has built on its existing relationship with customers to push non-entertainment products, all of which are billed through one cable statement. The nature of technology opens so many opportunities. We have become a distribution one-stop for everything from entertainment to courier services to retailing Philippine-made products to our customers. It’s a convenient pipeline that other Philippine media companies have not yet fully exploited,† said Encarnacion. Global also sells pre-paid US-to-the-Philippines cards which offer 60 minutes to 100 minutes of telephone use. The cards are offered to retailers for private labeling or sold in-house under the brand name, Sarimanok. Arm’s length Global was incorporated in the Cayman Islands last year, although its North American subsidiary has been in business for the past nine years. Consolidating ABS-CBN’s international operation is part of the strategy to sell Global shares through an initial public offering two or three years from now. Part of the proceeds will pay off the $25 million advanced by ABS-CBN Broadcasting, mainly to put up the transmission infrastructure. â€Å"We have an arm’s length relationship with our parent company. It’s important that we show we can and have been going it alone,† said Encarnacion. The company generated in excess of $40 million in gross revenues in 2002, accounting for close to 70% of total revenues generated by all ABS-CBN subsidiaries. On a consolidated basis, subsidiaries accounted for 20% of ABS-CBN’s total revenues in 2002. Money-makers This year, Global sees a 20% growth in gross revenues and a 30% growth in subscriber base through the three-pronged strategy of better programming, more non-entertainment products, and improved customer relationships. For one, programming for the American market will no longer be targeting solely first generation immigrants but their children and their grandchildren as well. The first generation of Filipino-Americans are nostalgic about the Philippines and they want to keep abreast with what is happening back home. The second and third generation understand and accept their Philippine heritage but they have their own distinct buyer preferences in terms of, say, what kind of music they want to listen to. We want to secure more programs developed by Fil-Ams for Fil-Ams,† said Encarnacion. For another, programs such as â€Å"Balita Middle East† developed for foreign audiences may soon be shown in the Philippines because of their relevance to Filipino viewers. Balita Middle East†, which has a segment where overseas Filipino workers can interact with their families in the Philippines, is the second highest rated show in the 24-hour cable news channel, ANC. From a wider perspective, Global intends to balance its revenue stream and be less dependent on the American market. It formally launches ABS-CBN Europe in Italy this month. It is also asking itself whether or not it makes sense to continue its partnerships in Japan or Australia, which have been delivering on their bottom line commitments.