Fast Breeder Reactors Essay -- Nuclear Power Energy

Fast Breeder Reactors Abstract In this report I will investigate how different breeder reactors operate, the many problems addressed by the Fast Breeder Reactor, including efficiency and cost, the disadvantages of Fast Breeder Reactors, and working examples that have been constructed throughout the world. Introduction There is another type of modern nuclear energy, an interesting idea that will grow on you, so to speak. If one were to think of an â€Å"alternative† nuclear energy source, a pebble bed fission reactor or namely fusion reactors come to mind. The Liquid Metal Fast Breeder reactor (FBR) is the alternate â€Å"alternative† reactor. FBRs first went critical (became operational) in 1951 with the American experimental EBR-1 in Idaho. FBRs, in principle, produce more fissile material than they produce. Although they still need a blend of stable fertile material with fissile fuel, the fact that they convert this mix to a unified fissile material while generating electricity at the same time is the primary reason these reactors are appealing. The technology used for FBRs has been consistently researched in the US, USSR, France, UK, Germany, Japan, China, and India at different points in time beginning in 1949 with initial design work performed on the EBR-I in the US (Encarta-200 5). Asian countries currently lead the world in the effort being invested in this type of reactor. We could see a significant number of FBRs being built within the next 25 to 50 years, as the demand for fossil fuels increases with pollution and the constant and inefficient consumption of fossil fuel supplies by all nations. Are FBRs a viable energy source for California or the US? I will discuss the atomic process that FBRs use to operate, the problems the... ...Foundation. Retrieved July 28, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monju Nuclear Power Reactors. (2005). Nuclear Energy. In Encarta Reference Library 2005 [CD-ROM].Microsoft Corporation. Nuclear reactor. (2006). In Wikipedia [Web]. Wikimedia Foundation. Retrieved July 28, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reactor Fast Breeder Reactors: Do They Have the Juice? Breeder Reactors 11 Nuclear Waste and Breeder Reactors - Myth and Promise. Retrieved July 28, 2006, from agree.net Web site: http://www.agree.net/DefenseWatch/Nuclear%20Waste%20and%20Breeder%reactors.htm Shi, R. R. Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor. Retrieved July 20, 2006, Web site: http://www.nuc.berkeley.edu/thyd/ne161/shir/project5.html Superphenix. (2006). Superphenix. In Wikipedia [Web]. Wikimedia Foundation. Retrieved July 28, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superph%C3%A9nix

Bru Case Study

BRU World Cafe Note: All information in the case has been garnered from sources in the public domain. This case has been developed for purely academic purposes, and is not in any way the intended or actual plan of Bru World Cafe Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 0 About the Category/ Brand and Market Trend ? BRU is India’s largest coffee brand in terms of volume, with a portfolio of instant and roasted & ground (filter) coffee, Ice and Hot Cappuccino and out of home vending. BRU was the first coffee brand to go national with a variety of offerings suited for the varied and distinct taste palette of the Indian consumer. BRU Green Label Roast & Ground is the largest brand in the conventional coffee segment. BRU’s Hot Cappuccino and Ice Cappuccino are innovative products specially designed for the cafe going youth – to enjoy a great cup of cappuccino even at home. ? The brand enjoys very strong equity in the south and its awareness and associations in the non-south part of the country emanate from its roots as the authentic south Indian coffee brand. BRU strives to stimulate conversations over coffee livening up every shared moment ? A key trend, which has fuelled coffee consumption in India is â€Å"rise in conversations over coffee†, which means a direct correlation with increase in out of home consumption for coffee as there is an increasing trend to socialize in cafes (especially in 10 lakh plus towns). ? With more than 1500 coffee cafes in the country, up from 175 in 2002 (of these around 1000 have opened in the last 5 years), coffee has emerged as the most happening beverage category, estimated to be around 1000Crs (in End Consume Price (ECP) terms) in 2011. Valued at around US$185 million, the organized cafe market in India is estimated to be growing at a compound annual rate of 25%. Players from Barista Coffee Co. to Cafe Coffee Day are opening outlets practically every weekend. In the past couple of years we have also seen the entry of new players like Cafe Mocha and Gloria Jeans in the premium category. ? The gro wth [of cafes] has been triggered by rising youth spending, paucity of alternative hang-outs and an increasing number of new office complexes and colleges. The market has the potential to touch US$800 million to US$900 million with a total of 5,000 cafes by 2015. Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 1 ? This provides a unique opportunity to leverage the strength of well established brands in HUL’s beverage portfolio to create a service model that would allow building preference for these brands while also adding a sizeable turnover to HUL’s Foods business. Given the size and opportunity of the coffee cafe segment, BRU became the natural choice for leveraging this opportunity. ? With entry into cafes, BRU plays across the coffee category definition becoming a complete in-home and out-of-home coffee brand and also proactively drives â€Å"coffee experience† with direct consumer engagement. This is also an approach for the brand to contemporarise and premiumize by driving imagery through a futuristic segment. ? â€Å"Coffee Experience† model is an opportunity which can be utilized to deliver the dual objectives of : 1. Building expertise and coffee credentials for BRU in the coffee category and get an imagery rub-off on the in-home consumption portfolio. . Another important value driver identified for the category is, â€Å"Bringing out of home experiences in-home†. Cafes will provide a unique space and an exclusive retail channel to drive this opportunity. ? This segment holds immense potential given that the coffee consumption in India is still very low as compared to the rest of the world and the Indian market is just starting to heat u p with international players like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts announcing their entry here. BRU World Cafe Theme Great coffee is an experience. We bring it alive. When you step into BRU World Cafe, you step into the world of coffee – an experience that is visual, aural, olfactory and gustatory. Name Tagline : BRU World Cafe : Discover the World a cup at a time Cafes today are not about coffee. This theme lets us bring the coffee back to the cafe. It helps us to establish the coffee credentials and in future we can easily translate the out of Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 2 home experience in home. The consumer takeout after a visit to World Cafe: BRU knows coffee like no other Identity for the Cafe Target Audience Description Demographics: ? ? SEC A/B1 18 years + An audience on the move, who is looking for a unique experience while enjoying their favorite cup of coffee. And cafes also double up as their hangout joints or meeting places. Along with being an ardent coffee lover they are used to the good things in life, are welltraveled or well-read and exposed to the cultures and offerings of the world at large. Experience and Ambience BRU World Cafe is a traveler’s and coffee connoisseur’s haven. The coffee is served in many traditional styles evoking the palettes of coffee lovers. BRU scours the world to bring the finest coffees from a few prized plantations and stays true to their authenticity by brewing and serving them right. Additionally it provides a relaxed atmosphere with great coffee and vast menu offerings. On entering BRU World Cafe, you leave the hustle-bustle of the city behind. The interior is contemporary and bright, almost Mediterranean in its look and feel. The sounds are Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 3 nippets of music one would hear while traveling the globe whether it is the music of the Balkans, country music from the European greens of Italy and Spain or the Tibetan chants. Browse through the eclectic collection of books that give you insights & quaint facts about exotic destinations across the world or just switch off and chill out over your favorite pick from the comic series of Aestrix and Tintin. Coffee facts, stories, legends and myths and the interesting collage of visuals make up the way coffee arrives to you, becoming an integral part of the experience. It is a place for telling, sharing and creating your own personal story. The Business Challenge There are 7 BRU World Cafes which have opened as part of a pilot run in Mumbai across the western suburbs (Andheri (W), Malad, Bandra, Juhu and Versova) and another 3 are expected to go live within this year. The first cafe went live in February 2011 and the consumer response over the last 5-6 months across outlets has been very encouraging and very positive in terms of the overall experience, ambience, service and differentiation on providing an international coffee experience (best suited to Indian taste palette). Cafe revenue per day is calculated as number of bills in a day multiplied by the value per bill. So far the overall average bill value is 50% more than the assumptions made as per business case construct, however, the number of bills per day (very critical to ensure long term sustainable business) is only about 30% of the assumption (average of 30 to 40 bills per day per store – taken at an average across stores) 1. How do we increase footfalls (and therefore bill productivity) across the current set of Bru World Cafes without incurring extensive marketing spends? Suggest a marketing model for BRU World Cafe which involves not more than Rs. 0 lakh of annual spend including above the line and local store marketing and production/ fabrication cost of these activities. 2. Prioritize the channel mix with spends break-down and a calculation of return on marketing spend? How can this be made into a sustainable and repeatable model once BRU WORLD CAFE extends into other cities with i ncreasing returns of spends? 3. Given the proposition of BRU World Cafe, which is the one key marketing initiative, in-line with the BRU World Cafe identity which will be clearly differentiated from others and which will help further strengthen the BRU World Cafe differentiation. Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 4 The success of the pilot in Mumbai will determine future expansion of the BRU World Cafe mix so getting the above objective right is critical. Assume that all other levers of the business case construct are in place. The Communication Challenge Young people today have a far higher disposable income than about a decade ago. Quite naturally then every category these days is vying for their attention. And hence as a target audience youth are the most spoken to today by brands across a plethora of categories from chocolates to denims to mobile phones to fast food chains. Therefore the challenge of communication is to stand out of the clutter of youth brands and be heard by them. The Communication Task From a brand point of view it is important for BRU World Cafe to appropriate a strong positioning & differentiation to counter competition from the category and beyond. The task also includes resonating with him/her to make BRU World Cafe his/her cafe of preference. This is critical to increase footfalls and repeat visits which are ultimately crucial factors while considering future scaling up and expansion. The Communication Strategy Your task is to provide a comprehensive communication strategy that details what BRU World Cafe should do to build its brand & gear up for growth in an increasingly crowded cafe space. The strategy document must provide solutions in the following key areas: 1. Identify key challenges for the brand and its communication. 2. Sharply define who the target consumers should be and their key characteristics. 3. Identify the key consumer insights in the target group and how BRU World Cafe should work its offerings in line with the consumer needs. 4. Identify the right positioning and messaging platform for the brand. 5. What should be the brand voice across its offerings? 6. Identify the right communication message for the brand. Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 5 7. Identify the appropriate media vehicles to reach the target audience. ? Complete with channel mix, spends and detailed description on mechanics wherever necessary. 8. Outline the complete strategy for the use of new age media like social media, CRM, mobile phones, mobile applications etc. to be leveraged to resonate with this audience Methodology ? Cafe visits and study of the current consumer marketing and consumer engagement initiatives by existing players and evaluate them for effectiveness and efficiency. Establish key learning from best practices of competitors on spends and returns, driving awareness and footfalls in India (CCD, Barista, Costa Coffee, Gloria Jeans etc. ) and internationally e. g. – Starbucks. ? ? Study of no n-conventional media channels and relevance and use to drive the above objective. Study of trend and media methods to drive consumer awareness and engagement in the service and retail world which can be applied in this case. Success Criteria ? ? ? ? Depth of understanding of successful marketing techniques in this space Innovativeness of the â€Å"idea† and/ or â€Å"marketing approach† and the ability to create â€Å"buzz/ talkability†. Practical application and relevance (ease of execution) to reality. Impact and achievability within the given constraints Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 6 Rules & Regulations: Participation Rules: 1. Participating teams should comprise of only three members. 2. Only one entry per institute will be considered. Two stages of this event: Stage I: Submission of the written case solution. Stage II: Power point presentation of the shortlisted cases. Stage I: Process and rules for submission of the written case: 1. DraftFCB+Ulka Comstrat is a contest for Communication Strategy; hence students are requested to focus on the same. 2. Creative renditions are not necessary and will not be judged. 3. A detailed Media plan is also not required and will not be judged. 4. A synopsis of the case solution should be submitted as a word document in a minimum font size of 11 points and single line spacing. The document should not exceed 15 pages. 5. A written case solution on the case should be submitted either through email to [email  protected] com or by post to DraftFCB+Ulka Advertising, 4th floor, Nirmal, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021. 6. The last date for receipt of the submission is 6 pm on 23rd November 2011. 7. A shortlist of six teams shall be arrived at by evaluating the case solutions received. 8. The shortlist shall be declared on 28th November 2011 and posted on the website www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com and communicated to K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research. . The six shortlisted teams will be invited to make a power point presentation to a panel of judges on 10th December 2011 in Mumbai. Please remember: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Synopsis to be submitted as word document only. Font size should be minimum 11 The document should not exceed 15 pages The document should have a single line spacing Synopsis should be submitted on or before 6 pm on 23rd November 2 011 Stage II: Final power point presentation of the case: 1. Shortlisted teams are requested to reach the venue on 10th December 2011 at 12 noon sharp for the set-up and dry run. 2. Please get your power point presentations on a CD/Pen drive, rest of the equipment shall be provided at the venue. 3. The time limit for each presentation is 20 minutes and the students are requested to strictly adhere to the time-limit. A warning bell will ring after 15 minutes. 4. At the end of 20 minutes the team will be asked to stop the presentation. Comstrat 2011 Page 7 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com 5. Students are requested not to indicate their institute’s name on the slides or anytime during the presentation. 6. Stay and travel arrangements have to be made by the participants themselves. 7. The Comstrat is a contest for Communication Strategy; hence students are requested to focus on the same. 8. In the case presentation, creative renditions are not necessary and will not be judged. 9. Media plan for the same is also not required and will not be judged. 10. The solution must have only one approach and not multiple options. Key Dates to remember: Last date for written submission ? Shortlist of 6 teams for power point presentation ? Final Presentation ? 6 pm on 23rd November 2011 6 pm on 28th November 2011 12 noon on 10th December 2011 Comstrat 2011 Visit us at www. draftfcbulkacomstrat. com Page 8

Eurocrisis and Monetary&Fiscal Policy

The government will have to borrow from overseas or International Monetary Funds to pay for the differences between the import spending and export costs. The European Union lend to Greece 109 billion of euros to bailout (Foreleg and Walker, 2011, July 23). This is really a burden for a country and it may bring negative effects to the government policy and function, because the government will have to response the imbalance in both the government spending and policies. It is a real social cost. Meanwhile, the confidences of the foreign will be effect. They may care about the external imbalance in their partner country because it is related to their profits and stability.The external imbalance may make investors feel risky and then reduce the investment or charge more on the loans, which will make the imbalance worse. And for the country, it is really a risk because the economic imbalance has negative influences on many different factors, such as the value of the currency and the natio nal credit rating. Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain (PASS) face the decreasing of value of their credit rating. Now Greece is C and Portugal is B+ (Hawkers, 2012, January 14). Both of them are not optimistic. When government face recession they will consider increase public expenditure and cutting taxes to stimulate demand and decrease the unemployment rate (Quailing, Eastward and Holmes, 2009).However, in this case, the crisis countries have so many debts that make their government deficit large enough to do no actions. What they have to do is to austerity their fiscal policy to reduce the deficit. So Greece executes the 5 years plan to get loans. Comparing to other European countries, PASS are relatively falling behind. Their economies are more relied on labor force type of industry such as globalization, companies are seeking for cheaper labor forces; their advantages are no longer existed. If these countries do not adjust their industry structure, they will e much frag ile than now during the financial crisis. Also, the labor forces among European Union are also not liquid.Companies from different country have different tax system so their funds become bubbles. The theory of optimum currency area is based on labor mobility, price and wage flexibility as the preconditions. Also the mobility can instead of the floating of exchange rate. Euro zone creates a system that labor can move freely, however, because of the culture, language, welfare and social norms, the labor forces inside European Union cannot achieve completely liquid Robinson, 2008). Monetary Policy The central bank of Europe has set several targets to help to achieve and maintain the macro economic objectives. The main target is to keep the prices stable and achieve the low inflation level in the medium term.And it also set targets of maintaining financial system stability and improves the payments system. The purpose that the central bank of Europe sets these targets is to achieve the economic objectives, promoting the healthy growth of the whole economy (Paula, 2009). And the most common and effective measure used by it is the monetary policy. The central bank helps to achieve the macroeconomic objectives through meeting its targets, with using the monetary policy. Using the monetary policy, the central bank can change the interest rate to adjust the aggregate demand, and then help to achieve the macroeconomic objectives. When the inflation occurs, the central bank will carry out the cash rate target, bringing up the official interest rate.And then, the central bank will sell the government securities to commercial banks. The interest rate for cash will be increased, because the decrease of the cash supply. In order to maintain heir profits, financial institutions charges more rates on loans and so does the deposits. Therefore, the households and firms will borrow less and prefer to save money in the banks rather than spend quickly. It means that the aggregate d emand is reduced and so does the inflationary pressure. The reduction of demand brings the prices down, so domestic produced goods will have advantage in the prices in the international market. More export earnings will be got and the external balance will be achieved.In addition, the low prices may attract more foreign investors to invest, which will benefit to the long term economic growth and full employment. It means that although the higher interest rate will reduce the production and make people lose their Jobs in the short term, it could bring chances for the future development. The similar theory is suitable for the opposite condition. When the aggregate demand needs to be pulled up, the central bank will decrease the interest rate and encourage economic activities, stimulating the growth of the economy so European Central Bank decreased interest rate in December 2011 by 0. 25% to increase aggregate demand (European Central Bank, 2012).Also, European Union has the same monet ary policy but without the same fiscal policy (Brittany, Timelier, Bergsten, Exchanging and Meltzer, 2010). Government financial policy serves internal to increase economic growth and decrease the unemployment rate. Indeed, these two on the allocation efficiency, currency policy serves external to keep low inflation rate and the stable currency exchange rate (Hudson and Quailing, 2009). Currency system and government financial system are not unedited so the coordination is difficult. When European Union was founded, they do not consider the quitting system, so hen there come problems, the costs of negotiations are very high (Repack, 2010). It leads the problems to the Euro crisis.When one or two membership countries have problems with their economics, they only can discuss inside the meetings to solve the problems. Then the market will face the strong fluctuations, and these fluctuations also make the problems unsolved. The banks among Euro zone have other European Union countries' debts. This makes European banks' credit expansion crazily, and the management risks increase fast. Their ratio of total capital and Tier 1 capital is even Geiger than the banks in supreme crisis in the USA (Beg, 2009). Conclusion Overall, although investors are losing confidence with euros, the monetary policy keeps the Euro price stability at an acceptable range. MIFF also lend huge amount of euros to save the market.

Acrylic polymer is derived from the monomer methyl metharcrylate or MMA

When modern man discovered plastic and its myriad of uses, there was no turning back. Today, plastics figured prominently in the lives of 21st century people. It is almost impossible to live comfortably without this substance. And among the many kinds of polymer there is perhaps nothing more versatile and very much in demand than acrylic polymers. This paper will look into the chemical properties and the myriad of uses for the compound normally designated as PMMA or Polymethyl methacrylate. Chemistry Acrylic acid (H2C – CHCOOH) was synthesized in 1843 according to Charles Carraher (2003, p. 160). Then he goes to add that ethyl methacrylate (H2C – C(CH3)COOC2H5) was synthesized and polymerized in 1865 and 1877, respectively (2003). With regards to polymerization e.g. acrylic or methacrylic acid, it must be done in an aqueous solution at less than 20-30% concentration (Feldman Barbalata, 1996). â€Å"Besides water, a conventional recipe involves an initiating system (potassium persulfate and sodium thiosulfate) and chain transfer agent† (Feldman Barbalata, 1996). Acrylic polymer is derived from the monomer methyl metharcrylate or MMA. Polymers can be divided into two groups: thermoplastics and thermosets. And that majority of them are thermoplastics meaning once the polymer is formed it can be heated and reformed over and over again (see American Chemistry Council, 2007). This major attribute alone is enough to make scientists and businessmen to be very interested in the application of the product. But interestingly there are many more surprises up the sleeves of the thermoplastic polymer.Properties The following attributes can be seen in most polymers and especially so to acrylic polymers: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Has a light transmittancy of about 92% with particular clarity at lower wavelength of 270 to 350 nm (Whitaker, 1996) 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Has good resistance to weathering 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Good mechanical strength 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dimensional stability along with high tensile and flexural strength (Whitaker, 1996) 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Chemical resistance – including salts, bases, aliphatic hydrocarbons, fats and oils, most common gases, and inorganic chemicals as well as dilute and concentrated solutions of most alkali Applications According to Feldman and Barbalatat, the most important usage of acrylic polymer is in the manufacture of adhesives, thickeners, coatings, flocculants, dispersants, fluidizers, in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, ion exchange processes and textile processing (1996). Now, a few years after acrylic polymer was first introduced by the scientific community, the said substance was first used as interlining for automobile windshields (Carraher, 2003). Since acrylic polymers exhibit good resistance to weathering it is widely used in thermoformed signs, aircraft windshields, and bathtubs. Acrylic polymers have long been used in the manufacturing of cuvettes, tubing connectors, speculums,and many other medical devices requiring impact strength, chemical resistance, biocompatibility, and clarity. In fact it occupies a, â€Å"†¦prominent place in the market for clear, disposable plastic – only glass transmits light as well† (Whitaker, 1996). In the medical field, acrylic polymers have shown its versatility and all around usefulness. From the start medical professionals were already well acquainted with the substance because it was used in the manufacture of incubators. In 1955 its range of usage was expanded when the first acrylic prosthesis was implanted. This probably came after its success as a primary material for aircraft canopies during World War II – pilots suffered fewer infections from shards of acrylic than they had from glass (Whitaker, 1996). Aside as an important component of cuvettes and tubing connectors, it is also used to produce test kits, luers, drainage wands, syringes, blood filters, blood pump housings, fluid silos, surgical blade dispensers, surgical trays etc. Finally, acrylic polymers is not only superior in terms of chemical resistance, clarity as a thermoplastic, and durability which is highly prized in the medical field. This substance is also easily recyclable, â€Å"Acrylic burns extremely clean [†¦] with end products of carbon dioxide and water. In addition, the material offers superior recyclability: acrylic can be reground and reused, which results in less material waste during molding† (Whitaker, 1996). But there is more. The said material can be depolymerized back to its monomer, thoroughly purged of its impurities, and then can go full circle back into PMMA. This is a true recycling process, whereas most other recycling processes involve crushing the material and using it in applications with lower specifications (Whitaker, 1996). In the world of plastic, acrylic polymers belong to the top shelf. The range of its applications is a great help in the development of many industries especially in the medical field. Among other things it has provided cost-efficiency and safety concerning the medical practice and other industrial purposes. References American Chemistry Council. (2007). The Basics – Polymer Definition and Properties. PlasticResource.com [online] Accessed 08 May 2007 from http: www.plasticresource.com/s_plasticresource/sec.asp? TRACKID=CID=124DID=226 Carraher, C. (2003). Giant Molecules: Essential Materials for Everyday Living and Problem Solving. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons, Inc. Feldman, D. Barbalata, A. (1996). Synthetic Polymers: Technology, Properties, Applications.    New York: Chapman and Hall. Whitaker, W. (1996). Acrylic Polymers: A Clear Focus. Medical Device Industry [online] Accessed 08 May 2007 from http: www.devicelink.com/mpb/archive/06/01/001.html.

U.S committee system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

U.S committee system - Essay Example tives; identify problems and propose solutions to them; select, determine the text of, and report out measures for full chambers to consider; monitor executive branch performance of duties; and look into the allegations of wrongdoing† (Schnieder 1). The decentralized structure of the congressional committee system started in adherence to the 1946 Legislative Reorganization Act though the use of committees is presence since the congress conducted its first meeting (Schnieder 1). The determination of the number of committee members as well as the ratio of majority to minority is often carried out by party leaders. Each party is also responsible in choosing the leader of each committee (Schnieder 2). The committees are classified largely according to their functions and activities they perform. These are the standing committees, select committees, and joint committees. Standing committees are permanent panels which are created according to chamber rules which also list the jurisdiction of each. Due to their possession of legislative jurisdiction, these committees â€Å"consider bills and issues and recommend measures for consideration† (Schnieder 3). Standing committees perform the general duties of the congress such as monitoring issues and activities as well as consider the government’s revenues, tax systems, budget, pension, industry subsidies, and other direct expenses. The activities of select committees are dictated by the parent chamber. These special committees are often established because the standing committee requires a more thorough comprehension of an issue(Schnieder 3). Thus, select committees often function to investigate on certain issues of interest and to consider possible measures. Because of the nature of their jobs, most select committees are often temporary and are dissolved when their tasks are accomplished. Joint committees are comprised of members from the senate and house which are â€Å"permanent panels which conduct studies or perform

Multicultural Maladjustments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Multicultural Maladjustments - Essay Example The essay "Multicultural Maladjustments" talks about the people who live amidst two or more cultures and an uncomfortable feeling of being outsiders. This is poignantly brought out in the three books that are discussed, â€Å"The Namesake† by Jhumpa Lahiri, â€Å"Persepolis-2† by Marjane Satrapi and â€Å"Anil’s Ghost† by Michael Ondaatje. All these three books deal with the conflict that results from being between two or more cultures. In â€Å"The Namesake†, it is the struggle for identity of a boy of Indian origin in America that is portrayed, in â€Å"Anil’s Ghost†, the author describes the travails of a young Sinhalese woman, and in â€Å"Persepolis†, the heroine is an Iranian educated in the West. All these characters have one thing in common, which is the feeling of being an outsider among peers. A feeling of perpetual disorientation and discord haunts the lives of the people who are forced by circumstances to live as a p art of multiple cultures. They can overcome this feeling of alienation by consciously trying to become a part of the prevailing culture. The graphic art novel â€Å"Persepolis† by Marjane Satrapi. was originally written in French. A daughter of a noble family of Iran, Satrapi lived a comfortable life in Iran. In 1984, in her early teens, she was forced to flee Iran and study in a school in Austria. She feels like an outsider among her classmates at school but struggles to acquire a sense of belonging.

Nagel, The Absurd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nagel, The Absurd - Essay Example Nagel’s first argument is that we lead our lives with such intense concern that we become unable to avoid seriousness. This unavoidability of seriousness adds to the absurdity of life. We always have to confront the discrepancy between our serious acts and the possibility of our acts coming true. We are so serious about our actions that any bend in the situation disturbs our minds. Nagel (1971, sec II, par.7) states that human beings â€Å"are prudent, they reflect, they weigh consequences, they ask whether what they are doing is worthwhile.† They have to weigh the choices and their decisions. This is what makes life all the more somber, and the seriousness cannot be avoided. The second is the inescapability of doubt. When we step back to have a look at our lives and goals, we come to know how petty like ants our goals are, and how unimportant our struggle is. He states: â€Å"humans have the special capacity to step back and survey themselves, and the lives to which they are committed, with that detached amazement which comes from watching an ant struggle up a heap of sand† (Nagel, 1971, sec II, par.9). This mismatch of what we do and our looking deeply into it, or comparing it to what others are doing, creates absurdity. Yet, Nagel agrees that we stay engaged to life, no matter we recognize that life is absurd because our perceptions that life and its goals are arbitrary in comparison to what we are actually doing in our lives. An objection to Nagel’s perspective is that: when we assess a situation and its outcomes, we do so by bringing into consideration some set of values and standards, which help us judge the situation, or determine whether it has been carried on in the right fashion. However, this cannot be applied while judging our lives. Stepping back to analyze our lives is like stepping into nothing, because there is no set of values and standards lying outside our lives, which could help to