Alchemist Answer Key

1)Why does Coelho open with the modified myth of Narcissus? How does the new version differ from the original one? How does it change the myth’s meaning? What might the author be suggesting about how we perceive ourselves and the world? Paulo Coelho began with the tale of Narcissus to show the reader that when you are so caught up in your own life you do not realize the greater things like nature and friends. It differs because it leaves out how the lake was also too caught up in its own beauty to notice other people. The new myth focuses more on positive outcomes from unfortunate events while the original is negative. It portrays everything to be self-centered. This relates to the tale of the Alchemist because, in chasing his personal legend, Santiago had to learn to see the world for all that it was, not just as it related to his personal struggle. 2)The novel opens with Santiago thinking about his sheep. What does he observe about their existence? How might the sheep symbolize the way some people live their lives? How does his observation that they â€Å"have forgotten to rely on their own instincts† foreshadow later events in the story? He observes that all they are concerned with is eating and sleeping. They do not have deeper thoughts or needs. Just like people that do not try to learn or grow, they continue blandly through life. They don't look around or try to learn from those around them. Because Santiago is different, he bravely leaves his comfortable existence and travels to the pyramids in search of his treasure. Along the way he learns to trust in himself and to understand the ways of the earth. 3)To what degree is his father’s observation about travelers (â€Å"They come in search of new things, but when they leave they are basically the same people they were when they arrived. â€Å") true about Santiago? )The old man tells Santiago the story about the miner and the emerald. How does it connect to Santiago’s situation? What does he mean when he says that â€Å"treasure is uncovered by the force of flowing water, and it is buried by the same currents†? What does this quote have to do with the miner/emerald story? 5)What point does the old man’s story about the boy in the castle and the drops of oil make? How might this story apply to us in our modern lives? You shouldn't worry too much about your family and flock that you don’t enjoy everything that is around you, but you also shouldn't completely forget about the ones you love. )How does the King assist Santiago in recognizing omens? When does Santiago use this help? The king opens Santiago's eyes to the possibility that there are signs/omens all around him and that he needs to be on the lookout for these as he goes about his life. God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you. Santiago uses this help when he does not know where to go or what to do. 7)How do Santiago’s thoughts and perceptions about himself and the world begin to change on pages 42-44? Describe three (3) things that Santiago sees now that he has never noticed before. )Why do you think Coelho chose crystal? How does the crystal merchant’s explanation for not taking the pilgrimage to Mecca hig hlight the difference between Santiago and the merchant? Coelho chose crystal merchant because he wanted to showcase the different paths a person may chose in life. Whereas Santiago feels eager to pursue his Personal Legend and get to Egypt, the crystal merchant fears pursuing his own dream to make a pilgrimage to Mecca because he worries he will have nothing to live for afterward. 9) The Englishman and his goals are described in the novel. What is he looking for? What does he demonstrate to Santiago that the Englishman already knows? Santiago says that the progress made at the crystal shop is an example of the principle of the Soul of the World. What does he mean? How does he define this? How does he connect the idea to the relationship between the caravan and the desert? 10) The oasis is described in great detail. How does its lushness, laughter, and color reflect what Santiago finds there? Where else in the story does Coelho provide details about the physical setting in order to lend more meaning to the events which occur there? 1)What is the meaning of the two (2) dead hawks and the falcon in the oasis? How does this omen change Santiago’s status in society? It doesn’t really have a meaning santiago has the skill of knowing future. It is not nature telling him the future, but he can feel the future as Santiago is capable of entering and understanding the soul of the world and well as the language of the world. This lets him understand and â€Å"read† the future through the omens. The reading of omens in the natural world gives Santiago a special status reserved for men much older and learned than he is. 2) During his trek through the desert with the alchemist, Santiago is told of many basic truths. The alchemist says, â€Å"There is only one way to learn. It’s through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey. † What are some of the things Santiago has learned through action? 13) Why did Santiago have to go through the dangers of the tribal wars on the outskirts of the oasis in order to reach the Pyramids? At this point, the boy remembers the old proverb: â€Å"The darkest hour of the night came just before the dawn. How does this apply to his situation now? At the end of the journey, why did the alchemist leave Santiago alone to complete it? Santiago must endure trials in order to fulfill his Personal Legend and thus comprehend the Lan guage of the World. One's goals are never reached unless we are willing to face fears. The proverb totally applies to his situation as things become their very worst before they get better. The alchemist left Santiago alone because every person's journey is an individual one; no one can help you realize your own dreams. 4) Earlier in the story, the alchemist told Santiago â€Å"when you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed. † At the end of the story, how does this simple lesson change Santiago’s life? How does it lead him back to the treasure he was looking for? When Santiago encountered the thieves, he told them the truth, and they didn’t believe him, which saved his life. This quote from earlier in the book was mentioned, about how people become more skeptical when they are older: Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their Personal Legend. † 1) What is alchemy? What processes were involved? Who performed it and why? Who were the famous alchemists of the medieval period? Alchemy (the â€Å"Royal Art†, or â€Å"Great Work†), a form of speculative thought, is perhaps best known as attempting to turn base metals into gold, and for trying to discover a cure for diseases and a way of extending the human life span. The word alchemy comes from the Arabic word al-kimia. It is in fact a system of thought, related to broad disciplines including natural philosophy, medicine, astrology, metallurgy, and hermetic thinking. The name alchemy is largely known to the west today due to its connection with the philosophy that surfaced in 12th century Europe via contacts with the Arabic world. But the study of alchemy and alchemical processes seems to be quite universal, with some evidence of it from ancient India, China, Persia, Egypt, and others, describing specific experiments with mercury, salt, and sulphur, etc. Transmutation, or change from one state of existence into another, is a key concept in Alchemy – for example, the process for lead to change into gold, or, for someone to go from a state of sickness to health, or from old age back to youth again (the â€Å"elixir of life†). The transmutation of metals was to be accomplished by a specific powder or elixir, often called the â€Å"Philosopher's Stone†, which would cause the changes to occur. The alchemists, after a profound examination of natural processes and the secrets of nature, arrived at a view that involved two polarities of nature; one being mercury, the volatile intellect, and the other, sulphur, connected with the soul. Paracelsus added a third principle, salt, which as a solid, corresponds to that of the body. To the alchemist, these Paracelsian â€Å"Tria Prima† are not only chemical substances, but spiritual forces. The qualities of heat, dryness, coldness and moisture were, according to Aristotle, joined with the â€Å"prima materia† to develop into the four elements. Alchemy has been practiced for centuries by mainly chemists for the reason that they wanted to discover the relationship of man to the cosmos and take advantage of that relationship to the betterment of mankind and to find the â€Å"philosopher's stone,† an elusive substance that was believed to make possible the creation of an elixir of immortality and the transmutation of common substances into gold. In Middle Ages alchemy was used as a tool in advancement of medicine. Zosimus, Geber, Albertus Magnus, Paracelsus Isaac Newton, Roger Bacon and St. Thomas Aquinas were the famous alchemists of the medieval period. 2) Research the Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of Life. The philosophers' stone or stone of the philosophers (Latin: lapis philosophorum) is a legendary alchemical substance said to be capable of turning base metals (lead, for example) into gold (chrysopoeia) or silver. It was also sometimes believed to be an elixir of life, useful for rejuvenation and possibly for achieving immortality. For many centuries, it was the most sought-after goal in Western alchemy. The philosophers' stone was the central symbol of the mystical terminology of alchemy, symbolizing perfection at its finest, enlightenment, and heavenly bliss. Efforts to discover the philosophers' stone were known as the Magnum Opus (â€Å"Great Work†). The philosophers' stone has been attributed with many mystical and magical properties. The most commonly mentioned properties are the ability to transmute base metals into gold or silver, and the ability to heal all forms of illness and prolong the life of any person who consumes a small part of the philosophers' stone. Other mentioned properties include: creation of perpetually burning lamps, transmutation of common crystals into precious stones and diamonds, reviving of dead plants, creation of flexible or malleable glass, or the creation of a clone or homunculus. The philosophers' stone is created by the alchemical method known as The Magnum Opus or The Great Work. Often expressed as a series of color changes or chemical processes, the instructions for creating the philosophers' stone are varied. When expressed in colors, the work may pass through phases of nigredo, albedo, citrinitas, and rubedo. When expressed as a series of chemical processes that includes 3 stages multiplication, and projection. The elixir of life, also known as elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a legendary/mythical potion, or drink, that when drank from a certain cup, at a certain time, grants the drinker eternal life and/or eternal youth. Many alchemists pursued it. The elixir of life was also said to be able to create life. It is related to the myths of Thoth and Hermes Trismegistus, both of whom in various tales are said to have drunk â€Å"the white drops† (liquid gold) and thus achieved immortality. It is mentioned in one of the Nag Hammadi texts. Comte de St. Germain, an 18th century nobleman of uncertain origin and mysterious capabilities, was also reputed to have the Elixir and to be several hundred years old. Many European recipes specify that elixir is to be stored in clocks to amplify the effects of immortality on the user. Frenchman Nicolas Flamel was also a reputed creator of the Elixir.

Weathering and Erosion

Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place, with respect to variables such as temperature, moisture, wind velocity, and barometric pressure. Weather can be classified as day to day temperature and precipitation activity, where climiate is average atmospheric conditions over longer periods of time. Weather occurs from temperature and moisture differences between one place and another. These differences can occur due to the sun angle at any particular spot. The strong temperature contrast between polar and tropical air gives rise to the jet stream. Weather systems in the mid-latitudes, such as â€Å"extratropical cyclones†, are caused by instabilities of the jet stream flow. Because the Earth's axis is tilted relative to its orbital plane, sunlight is pointed at different angles at different times of the year. On Earth's surface, temperatures usually range from 0-100 degrees farenheit annually. Over thousands of years, changes in Earth's orbit affect the amount and distribution of solar energy received by the Earth and influence long-term climate Surface temperature differences in turn cause pressure differences. Higher altitudes are cooler than lower altitudes due to differences in compressional heating. Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a future time and a given location. The atmosphere is a chaotic system, so small changes to one part of the system can grow to have large effects on the system as a whole. Human attempts to control the weather have occurred throughout human history, and there is evidence that human activity such as agriculture and industry has inadvertently modified weather patterns. Studying how the weather works on other planets has been helpful in understanding how weather works on Earth. A famous landmark in the Solar System, Jupiter's Great Red Spot, is an anticyclonic storm known to have existed for at least 300 years. However, weather is not limited to planetary bodies. A star's corona is constantly being lost to space, creating what is essentially a very thin atmosphere throughout the Solar System. The movement of mass ejected from the Sun is known as the solar wind. On Earth, common weather phenomena include wind, cloud, rain, snow, fog and dust storms. Less common events include natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, typhoons and ice storms. Almost all familiar weather phenomena occur in the troposphere (the lower part of the atmosphere). Weather does occur in the stratosphere and can affect weather lower down in the troposphere, but the exact mechanisms are poorly understood. Weather occurs primarily due to density (temperature and moisture) differences between one place to another. These differences can occur due to the sun angle at any particular spot, which varies by latitude from the tropics. In other words, the farther from the tropics you lie, the lower the sun angle is, which causes those locations to be cooler due to the indirect sunlight The strong temperature contrast between polar and tropical air gives rise to the jet stream. Weather systems in the mid-latitudes, such as extratropical cyclones, are caused by instabilities of the jet stream flow (see baroclinity). Weather systems in the tropics, such as monsoons or organized thunderstorm systems, are caused by different processes. Because the Earth's axis is tilted relative to its orbital plane, sunlight is incident at different angles at different times of the year. In June the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, so at any given Northern Hemisphere latitude sunlight falls more directly on that spot than in December (see Effect of sun angle on climate). This effect causes seasons. Over thousands to hundreds of thousands of years, changes in Earth's orbital parameters affect the amount and distribution of solar energy received by the Earth and influence long-term climate. see Milankovitch cycles). Uneven solar heating (the formation of zones of temperature and moisture gradients, or frontogenesis) can also be due to the weather itself in the form of cloudiness and precipitation. Higher altitudes are cooler than lower altitudes, which is explained by the lapse rate. On local scales, temperature differences can occur because different surfaces (such as oceans, forests, ice sheets, or man-made objects) have differing physical characteristics such as reflectivity, roughness, or moisture content. Surface temperature differences in turn cause pressure differences. A hot surface heats the air above it and the air expands, lowering the air pressure and its density. The resulting horizontal pressure gradient accelerates the air from high to low pressure, creating wind, and Earth's rotation then causes curvature of the flow via the Coriolis effect. The simple systems thus formed can then display emergent behaviour to produce more complex systems and thus other weather phenomena. Large scale examples include the Hadley cell while a smaller scale example would be coastal breezes. The atmosphere is a chaotic system, so small changes to one part of the system can grow to have large effects on the system as a whole. This makes it difficult to accurately predict weather more than a few days in advance, though weather forecasters are continually working to extend this limit through the scientific study of weather, meteorology. It is theoretically impossible to make useful day-to-day predictions more than about two weeks ahead, imposing an upper limit to potential for improved prediction skill. Chaos theory says that the slightest variation in the motion of the ground can grow with time. This idea is sometimes called the butterfly effect, from the idea that the motions caused by the flapping wings of a butterfly eventually could produce marked changes in the state of the atmosphere. Because of this sensitivity to small changes, it will never be possible to make perfect forecasts. Weather has played a large and sometimes direct part in human history. Aside from climatic changes that have caused the gradual drift of populations (for example the desertification of the Middle East, and the formation of land bridges during glacial periods), extreme weather events have caused smaller scale population movements and intruded directly in historical events. One such event is the saving of Japan from invasion by the Mongol fleet of Kublai Khan by the Kamikaze winds in 1281. French claims to Florida came to an end in 1565 when a hurricane destroyed the French fleet, allowing Spain to conquer Fort Caroline. More recently, Hurricane Katrina redistributed over one million people from the central Gulf coast elsewhere across the United States, becoming the largest diaspora in the history of the United States. Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a future time and a given location. Human beings have attempted to predict the weather informally for millennia, and formally since at least the nineteenth century. Weather forecasts are made by collecting quantitative data about the current state of the atmosphere and using scientific understanding of atmospheric processes to project how the atmosphere will evolve. Once an all-human endeavor based mainly upon changes in barometric pressure, current weather conditions, and sky condition, forecast models are now used to determine future conditions. Human input is still required to pick the best possible forecast model to base the forecast upon, which involves pattern recognition skills, teleconnections, knowledge of model performance, and knowledge of model biases. The chaotic nature of the atmosphere, the massive computational power required to solve the equations that describe the atmosphere, error involved in measuring the initial conditions, and an incomplete understanding of atmospheric processes mean that forecasts become less accurate as the difference in current time and the time for which the forecast is being made (the range of the forecast) increases. The use of ensembles and model consensus helps to narrow the error and pick the most likely outcome. There are a variety of end users to weather forecasts. Weather warnings are important forecasts because they are used to protect life and property. Forecasts based on temperature and precipitation are important to agriculture, and therefore to commodity traders within stock markets. Temperature forecasts are used by utility companies to estimate demand over coming days. On an everyday basis, people use weather forecasts to determine what to wear on a given day. Since outdoor activities are severely curtailed by heavy rain, snow and the wind chill, forecasts can be used to plan activities around these events, and to plan ahead and survive them. Studying how the weather works on other planets has been seen as helpful in understanding how it works on Earth. Weather on other planets follows many of the same physical principles as weather on Earth, but occurs on different scales and in atmospheres having different chemical composition. The Cassini–Huygens mission to Titan discovered clouds formed from methane or ethane which deposit rain composed of liquid methane and other organic compounds. Earth's atmosphere includes six latitudinal circulation zones, three in each hemisphere. In contrast, Jupiter's banded appearance shows many such zones, Titan has a single jet stream near the 50th parallel north latitude, and Venus has a single jet near the equator. Weather events influence biological processes on short time scales. For instance, as the Sun rises above the horizon in the morning, light levels become sufficient for the process of photosynthesis to take place in plant leaves. Later on, during the day, air temperature and humidity may induce the partial or total closure of the stomata, a typical response of many plants to limit the loss of water through transpiration. More generally, the daily evolution of meteorological variables controls the circadian rhythm of plants and animals alike. Living organisms, for their part, can collectively affect weather patterns. The rate of evapotranspiration of forests, or of any large vegetated area for that matter, contributes to the release of water vapor in the atmosphere. This local, relatively fast and continuous process may contribute significantly to the persistence of precipitations in a given area. As another example, the wilting of plants results in definite changes in leaf angle distribution and therefore modifies the rates of reflection, transmission and absorption of solar light in these plants. That, in turn, changes the albedo of the ecosystem as well as the relative importance of the sensible and latent heat fluxes from the surface to the atmosphere. For an example in oceanography, consider the release of dimethyl sulfide by biological activity in sea water and its impact on atmospheric aerosols.

Dbq for U.S History

AP U. S History DBQ During the early 1700’s, both New England and Chesapeake regions were settled largely by the people of the English origin. The settlers of the two colonies were foreigners to the land who established two exceptional, but contrary societies due to the diversity of English citizens. Although both colonies were from the same English background they developed different distinctions from their political standards, religion, and social life. With the offer of Virginia Company of London to prompt settlement in the New World, profit filled Englishmen couldn’t refuse the proposal. There was a promise of the golden lands and a new passage route through America to the West Indies. Arriving to the Chesapeake Bay, they were soon attacked by the Indians. After having to settle on James River, Virginia Company was forced to make a mosquito infested unhealthy region their home. In England, king Henry VIII broke ties with the Rome Catholic Church, anointing himself head of Church of England. The people of the English origin came to England to refine the gold and load the gold. They were trying to make a better living for themselves. Even though Governor John Winthrop, who was part of New England colony, and William Berkley of Chesapeake colony had different opinions on the upcoming of the community, god being the center of the New England colony ( Document A), the pilgrims believed in working together as one for the glory of God as oppose to the Chesapeake colony who believed that the Chesapeake colony should fellowship together and their unity should be abided by one spirit of peace because everyone is a worthy servant of Christ. It’s almost like a father and his children; a father is stricter on his daughter than his son. On the other hand, Governor Berkley viewed things differently. He believed that the people duty was to defend their country. Jonathan Edwards who ignited the Great Awakening believed in salvation and affirmed the need for dependence on God’s grace. Both governors trying to achieve the best for their colonies helped with the growth of the two separate colonies. New England ranged from children to teenagers to middle men. (Document B) Immigrants who were stationed to be in New England colonies were families that contained a variety of ages. New England was united with the family lifestyle. Meanwhile those who came to Virginia (Chesapeake) colony were mostly men who ranged from the ages of 14 to 51. (Document C) The men to women ratio consisted of about 6 to 1 showing how family life wasn’t as important. Disease settlements came through the Chesapeake colony causing low reproduction rates due to the scarcity of women. The men struggled to fight for women with it being 90% of men and 10% of women. In conclusion the New England and Chesapeake colonies both settled by the English and became entirely two different societies. Although they had similarities of the English background they developed different distinctions from their political standards, religion, and social life.

The world economy is in turmoil. Supermarkets are no different, as we Essay

The world economy is in turmoil. Supermarkets are no different, as we discovered during the year - Essay Example Retailers are in a position to exploit buyer power to distort competition. However, many retailers have had to change their offers and strategies in the face of the current economic turmoil. Grocery retail is the largest retail sector in the UK and four large retailers - Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda and Morrison/Safeway dominate the national market (Dobson, 2006). These four supermarket retailers have primarily positioned themselves as â€Å"one stop shops†, and they offer a wide range of goods. Waitrose falls under the smaller supermarket chains along with Marks & Spencer’s, Somerfield and Booths. Then there are the discounters such as Aldi. Supermarkets dominate the UK’s food system as food groceries are sold through a handful of retailers (EAFL, 2008). The supermarkets are more likely to be affected by the recent economic turmoil because they are dependent on banks and other financial institution for their capital whereas the smaller retailers are much less dependent on external capital (EAFL, 2008). This is the reason they are much more resilient in the face of economic turmoil. While some face losses due to financial recession others reap benefits. Due to recent financial turmoil the discounters have seen their customer numbers increase and their profits rise as the large supermarket chains have seen a reduction in profits (The Money Stop, 2009). The reason cited is that consumers are trying to save money by shopping at discount stores. The discount supermarket stores have benefited from the economic turmoil because the rising inflation has prompted the shoppers to trade down and choose cheaper stores and brands (Finch & Wearden, 2008). Customer is the focus of any strategy by any retailer and Tesco says they listen to what the customers want during the period of economic recession (BEN Rooth, 2008). They recognize that this is the most important time to recognize the needs of the customers because food is something that cannot be given up

Digital Marketing Strategies Report for Coca Cola Company Essay

Digital Marketing Strategies Report for Coca Cola Company - Essay Example The company zoned its marketing techniques in 1970 to dedicate their product as a representation of fun, freedom and playfulness. Currently, the company operates in 120 countries and serves over 1.3 billion customers daily (Senker and Foy, 2012). The company continues to be the leading marketer of the non-alcoholic drinks world wide. According to Goldberg and WHA-TV (1999), the company’s sustained success in marketing is related to its strategic focus on satisfying the customer needs through enhancing consumer awareness. Its focus on enhancing consumer awareness has led to adoption of digital marketing strategies which are relatively efficient compared to other traditional marketing methods such as newspapers. Traditionally, most business players used digital marketing to include other marketing strategies such as search engine optimisation (SEO) and banner advertisement that are currently not considered as constituents of digital marketing. Traditional forms of marketing such as radios and television means cannot be considered digital because they do not offer instant feedback or reports. Some such as telephones may offer responses but there is no means of ascertaining the number of people who assessed the information. Digital marketing is basically an internet service. The internet has the capability of sending messages such as email or voice broadcast as well as serving a banner ad. Digital marketing exists in two forms; pull and push. The pull digital marketing denotes the consumer actively seeking information through the various web search engines while the push digital marketing involves the marketer sending messages without the consumer or recipient’s consent (Raulas et al. 2003:293-300). This implies that the digital marketing applies both private and public means in promoting products. The company can then establish a reporting engine to relay information on the performance of the marketing strategy. The company has set high standards on the methods of promoting business activities through the use of social marketing on the internet (Darroch, 2009). Its success in digital marketing is related to its focus on quality maintenance. Most of the company ads are entertaining and creative. They are created through channelling of huge financial investments. The Coca Cola Company management is vividly aware that maintaining regular contact with consumers builds and sustains customer relationships. This is why they have enhanced the efforts geared towards application of digital marketing which is a more efficient strategy linking the customers to the company. Application of the digital marketing strategy is built on the premise that modern marketing is changing from exchange of goods and services to service quality, interaction, customer relationships and enhancing connectivity (Vargo and Lusch, 2012). According to Robbins and Stylianou, (2003), interactivity in the digital media offers better methods of searching for company information. Additionally, consumers utilize digital marketing to seek help on any problems related to company products. Digital connection has also provided efficient and cost effective means of spending free time with company brands such as participating in promotion games and learning about the product they are using. The company benefits from digital marketing

THE MID-EAST Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

THE MID-EAST - Research Paper Example Israel is further right in their claim that Jews probably need a state of their own – after the tragedies of the holocaust, where the entire people was nearly exterminated, it is impossible to argue that Jewish safety is not augmented by the state (27). Both sides thus have the â€Å"right† on their side, leading them to feel entirely justified in any actions they take to achieve their aims – after all, they are in the â€Å"right.† This argument obscures, however, the fact that a just cause is not all that constitutes being in the right. The actions one takes to achieve one’s goals are also incredibly important, and both Israel and Palestine put themselves in the wrong in this way. Israel has waged wars that have cost countless civilian lives, while some Palestinians have resorted to terrorist tactics, targeting civilians in the attempt to achieve their aim. So while the fundamental argument of both sides might keep them in the right, their tactics place them squarely in the wrong. This quotation may be an apt one – certainly it has been impossible for lasting peace to be achieved in the middle east for some time now, despite monumental efforts by everyone involved. The Six Day’s war, rather than leading to lasting peace, for instance, only intensified the conflict within the Levant itself (Shoshan 38), and the more recent war against Palestine by Israel served only to inflame opposition and further empower Hamas. This quote obscures, however, the fact that there is still a possibility of peace, and simply because the current political situation is not conducive to it does not mean that it will never happen. One of the fundamental problems with conflict in the middle east is the fact that there has rarely been representative governments – before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the recent Arab Spring, dictators or clans have been the norm of power in the Middle East. This is conducive to violence, because a) democracies have little qualms

Lean Production Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Lean Production - Term Paper Example minimal defects and variety of output with least input. The important aspect is ‘half ‘that symbolizes reduction by human power, investment, manufacturing and engineering hours (Black, pp. 6-15). It forms the systematic approach on cost reduction, quality, time management, delivery aspects, safety, and morale. It also models the ongoing customer pull and continuous flow of improvement. Gallus group also justified the lean production by eliminating 50% inefficiencies in their processes and saving on millions of Euros per year by a limited outlay. An important aspect of the lean philosophy is ‘Elimination of Waste’. It works on the excellent epitome of Zero’s i.e. zero waste. It features zeros in â€Å"defects, over production, waiting or lead-time, inventory, inappropriate processing, transportation movement† (Creative Class, pp. 25-29). The re –engineering not only implies in business process but also to people’s attitude, efficien cy, and input. The JIT (Just in Time) will eliminate the inventory holding cost by pull production of ‘zero’ strategy. The Toyota City is the best example of the just in time system that not only caters the main production but also its suppliers. The Japanese strategy of lean transplant was to bring an innovative approach to work practices such as work force, apparent skills and knowledge, quality management etc.