Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Tour Report Essay Example

Tour Report Essay Example Tour Report Essay Tour Report Essay This is the report of the most exciting tour we had in the first week of november from our school. The trip was to Shimla. It was a 4 days trip. Shimla is the capital of Northern most state of India, namely Himal Pradesh. On a cold night of november (5 november 2010, Sunday), I and my friends along with the teachers board the flight to Shimla, we all were a little excited, since for most of us it was our first trip through the air. On Saturday moring we reached the Shimla airport. The airport was crowded with the thick mass of touristers who had came to explore the magnificiant creation of god. As this was the biginning of winter, the climate was very cold here. Our English sir, Mr. Murali, instructed us to put on our sweaters. We came out of the Airpot, and moved towards a bus which was provided by the Shimla tourism. The bus started moving and we were first taken to Wildflower hall which is now a luxury hotel, where our food was arranged. The hotel was enough to tell the rich cultural heritage of Shimla. It was nearly noon when we were to visit the most exciting place of interest in Shimla,the Summer hill,It is said that Mahatma Gandhi lived in these quiet surroundings during his visits to Shimla. Himachal Pradesh University is also situated here. We enjoyed 2 days in these hills, in the morning we went to take bath in the nearby river, we were provided with traditional food of Shimal, Baadi and Bada. On the third day we left the Summer hills and went for shopping in the the well-developed malls of Shimla. I along with my friends bought many items of our interests, in which the Shimalian clothes were the most interesting. In the evening we went to a mini zoo in Kufri where rare breed of pheasants and wild animals are kept in natural habitat. Of which the most attracting was the state bird of himachal pradesh the ‘Monal’,it had a colour mixture of black, light green and orange. The other attraction of this zoo are Tibetan wolf, Brown Bear and Barking Deer. The next day, we had an exciting opportunity to visit the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, this magnificent English renaissance structure was the former Vicerega Lodge. Its lawns and woodland added attraction to the visitors. Here entry is by a ticket of minimum charge. A portion of the interior is also open to the public. This building is a symbol of ancient British architecture  in India. On the morning of 9 november 2010, we were to visit our final place of the trip,the ‘Shimla state’ museum. We found a collection of paintings, jewellery and textiles of the region there. We had a great time there. In the evening we boarded our return flait to Nedumbassery. We had a great time in Shimla, we all enjoyed the trip. We hope the school authorities will put forward interesting trips like this in the coming years also.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Icicle, Another Good Word Down the Tubes

Icicle, Another Good Word Down the Tubes Icicle, Another Good Word Down the Tubes Icicle, Another Good Word Down the Tubes By Maeve Maddox I became aware of what is happening to the lovely word icicle when I read a poem in which it was spelled ice sickle. There was nothing in the context to suggest that the poet intended a pun. A web search showed me that theres a comic book character called Ice Sickle. Numerous clever photographers have posted pictures of icicles shaped like sickles and tagged them ice sickle. Many of the thousands of hits on ice sickle certainly refer to the comic book character or are deliberate punnings. However, as is inevitable when pop culture gets hold of a pun, its not long before the original word falls into obscurity. Hi. I installed gutter toppers on my eaves this summer†¦.How should I hang my strands on ice sickle lights being that the toppers are now in the way? Thanks! Reverse Ice Sickle in my dogs water bowl. I took this picture [this] morning. †¦ It is shaped like a triangle at its base. Pictures and albums about Icesickles published in outdoors Black and white ice sickles on my front porch after all the snow started to melt and refreeze. (Note: The photo shows standard icicles.) For those who may not be familiar with the standard meanings, here are some definitions from the OED: sickle: a. An agricultural implement similar in form and use to a reaping-hook, but properly distinguished from this by having a serrated cutting-edge. Figuratively, something having the curved or crescent form of a sickle†¦ icicle: A pendent ice-formation resembling a rod tapering downward to a point, produced by the freezing of successive drops of water falling or trickling from the point of attachment, as from the eaves of a house or other overhanging point. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Slang Terms for MoneyList of Greek Words in the English LanguageEducational vs. Educative

Thursday, November 21, 2019

How Does Nokia Continue to be Successful in The U.S. Market Essay

How Does Nokia Continue to be Successful in The U.S. Market - Essay Example The aim of this research presented in the essay is to analyze how Nokia continue to be successful in the United States Market. The onslaught of new cell phone brands from China and India is a strong factor prompting Nokia to be on its toes ready and eager to come up with more accessories and benefits for the Nokia cell phones. The public must now use a cell phone to get emails. One very popular cell phone is known as the Iphone which is being marketed by the this brand called Apple. Apple should be one of the hall of fame companies for coming up with the first computer. The old standard of sending messages is through the use of snail mail or the post office has declined because companies and individuals can communicate better and faster using the email and yahoo messenger or the new favorite of the crowed, Skyped chat. The researcher then presents some of the Nokia famous products and demonstrates the income statement of Nokia company, that shows that the company was very successful during the years 2005 to 2007. The researcher then concluds that Nokia continues to be successful in the United States market, mostly because the company continues to innovate by adding additional benefits of buying a cell phone. Conclusively, the researcher also mentiones that Nokia continues to be successful in the United States Market because of the strong advertising promotions that Nokia is willing to pay for. The returns of the advertising budget will include increased revenues, increased gross profit and increased net profits.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

The validity of class conflict, feminism, diversity and inequality in Essay

The validity of class conflict, feminism, diversity and inequality in the context of organization theory - Essay Example Reform is more thoroughly implemented through legislative change and mandate at the state or national level. Organization theory charts a multi-disciplinary approach to the structure of business institutions, alternatively relating psychological studies, anthropology, sociology, and systems theory to methodology and research drawn from other social sciences in order to de-construct business organizations and understand them thoroughly. In a sense, organizational theory does reflect multiculturalism in its multi-disciplinary inquiry, but feminists and other civil rights activists have had a much stronger ability to effect business practices by targeting social legislation and the education system as places to implement political change. In many ways organization theory and the evolution of multicultural awareness within it in the 20th century as related to feminism, diversity movements, and civil rights must be seen in context with the Marxist movement, with which it competes in many ways historically.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Request for Sponsorship Essay Example for Free

Request for Sponsorship Essay Alcaraz Group Sales Manager-Area 1 Splash Direct Sales Division Splash Corporation Highest Fraternal Greetings! As a part of our fervent campaign in bringing forth excellence from every individual and celebrating the freedom of thought and self-expression of every people, we, the Kappa Sigma Kappa Delta Sigma Confraternity, a duly recognized confraternity in the University of the Philippines, will be holding our annual HIMIGSIKAN on 26th of February 2013, 7pm, at Meanwhile Bar, Balibago Angeles City. HIMIGSIKAN, our confraternity’s major event, is the much-awaited student-oriented musical affair not only for UP students but for the youth and all music lovers as well that highlights a coveted acoustic performance competition from different student organizations in our university. This year’s theme shall be Sarap at Pait ng Pagsasama, Ilalahad sa Awit ng Barkada In line with this, we are cordially asking for your assistance for the success of our event’s endeavor. Rest assured all solicitations will only be used to enhance and to further improve our plans for the event. We are looking forward to you for being a part in this fervent cause. We are hoping to hear from you soon. May God’s richest blessings be unto you! Sincerely Yours, Teddy Calilung Grand Lord Sigman Kenn Carlov Twano Sigman Master Scribe [pic] [pic] University of the Philippines Extension program in Pampanga Claro M. RectoHighway, CSEZ,Pampanga Co. reg. no. CN200618309 Co. TIN 006-532-105 www. kappasigmafraternity. net [emailprotected] com KAPPA SIGMA-KAPPA DELTA SIGMA CONFRATERNITY VDFGCOSFGCONFRATERNITYCONFRATERNITY Council of Masters and Lady Sigmans A. Y 2012-2013 Grand Lord Sigman: Teddy Calilung Deputy Grand Lady Sigman: Jessa Claire Pangilinan Sigman Master of Initiation: Michael John Aguas Sigman Lady of Rites: Ila Bernice Malenab Sigman Master Scribe: Kenn CarlovTwano Sigman Lady Master of Scroll: Monica Del Puerto Sigman Lady Master Bursars: Jhoane Capili Janne Kazel Punzalan Sigman Lady Master Herald: Analyn Pineda Prof. Penelope Nalo Faculty Adviser

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Burr, Hamilton, & Jefferson: A study in character :: essays research papers

This is a controversial book that is well worth the read. The author comes at his subject from outside academe, albeit with impeccable credentials. Although he has authored nine books, has served as Director of the National Park Service and Director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, and was once a White House correspondent for NBC, his approach remains outside the mainstream of history or journalism. To begin, it is refreshingly place-oriented and rich with detail of physical surroundings and personal relationships involving the nation's founders. The work is less successful in terms of the context of time. Roger Kennedy's study is not presented in strict chronological narrative, because it is a study in "character." Its analytical framework, however, is too value-laden, sometimes obscuring the political and social context of early nineteenth-century America. Kennedy sets up his straw men to praise and destroy, which is an easy feat from the vantage point of twenty-first-century morality. The book is, nonetheless, intellectually honest (the author admits his biases upfront and in the appendix), provocative, and ultimately instructive. He blasts certain points of historical consensus and bias through the skillful use of both evidence and conjecture. He utilizes firsthand accounts of friends and associates, as well as rascals and enemies, to convey multidimensional impressions of Burr, Hamilton, Jefferson, Washington, and others. There are no flat images here. Kennedy uncovers motivations that drove these men to do great (and not-so-great) things, which is definitely not an easy feat, especially in a prosopographical study that links the lives of its main characters. When the smoke dears, Burr comes away looking quite a bit better than reputation would have it; Hamilton emerges from a mixed review about the same; but Jefferson now looks decidedly worse--not at all the guy you think of smiling on that brand-new, shiny nickel. Burr and Hamilton were local rivals in New York politics. They had a sometimes close, but complex, relationship. When Hamilton played dirty politics (yet again) to keep Burr from becoming New York's governor, Burr uncharacteristically lost his self-control, called Hamilton out for a duel, and shot him dead in 1804. It is quite possible that Hamilton actually committed suicide, using Burr as the instrument. Afterwards, Burr took to referring to "my friend Hamilton, whom I shot." At any rate, Burr was vilified nationally for his deed, and Hamilton was less-than-deservedly martyred. Burr and Jefferson, on the other hand, were national political rivals.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet Act 3 Scene 1 Analysis

Romeo and Juliet Coursework In Act 3 Scene 1 of Romeo & Juliet, Shakespeare raises the excitement and the tension throughout the scene by using dramatic tension between the characters, provocative and threatening dialogue, strong language effects, and sharp vital violence. The scene begins with Benvolio and Mercutio coming on to stage, with Benvolio suggesting they should go home in case they meet the Capulets and the violence ensues. â€Å"The day is hot, the Capels are abroad, And if we meet we shall not scape a brawl, for now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring. This pathetic fallacy and strong image of mad blood creates an expectation in the audience of violent events to come. This expectation seems to be met fulfilled quickly as Tybalt enters with other members of the Capulet family and some servants and immediately a dramatic tension is established between the two factions. We are shown that Mercutio is in a difficult frame of mind. â€Å" ‘By my head here comes the Capulets’ ‘By my heel, I care not. ’ † Clearly Mercutio is in an aggressive mood. Tybalt addresses Mercutio and Benvolio. ‘Gentlemen, good den, a word with one of you’ † Up to this point, Tybalt is courteous – his quarrel is with Romeo, not with Benvolio or Mercutio. However Mercutio is extremely provocatice and he responds to Tybalt, asking a word with one of them with, â€Å"Make it a word and a blow. † The audience feels there is a fight in prospect. When Tybalt says that Mercutio consorts with Romeo, Mercutio sees an insult where there is none. â€Å"Consort? what, dost thou make us minstrels? an thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall make you dance. Zounds, consort! † A gentleman cannot accept being compared to a lowly musician, but this is not what Tybalt meant and the audience feel expectation of fear and violence. Now Romeo enters, and now the focus of the tension shifts as a dramatic tension is established between Romeo and Tybalt. Tybalt says to Mercutio: â€Å"Well, peace be with you sir, here comes my man. † It is strange that Tybalt is prepared to swallow such provocation from Mercutio, just as Romeo will soon swallow his. Tybalt puts Romeo in a situation in which almost no gentleman could refuse to fight. â€Å"Thou art a villain. † he says but Romeo does not respond with aggression. Now a new element of intrigue and excitement comes with a kind of dramatic irony. The audience knows why Romeo does not want to fight Tybalt –they have just become relatives- but the other characters do not know. Romeo seems quite unmanly when instead of fighting Tybalt for his honour he swallows the insult, saying â€Å"I do protest I never injuried thee, But loved thee better than thou canst devise. Again the audience knows, can â€Å"devise†, the reason, but Mercutio sees it as cowardice. Now the excitement moves up a notch as Mercutio starts the violence and we are to have the sword fight the audience has been expecting. Mercutio condemns Romeo’s peaceful ways. â€Å"O calm, dishonourable, vile submission! Alla stoccata carries it away. (Draws) Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk? â₠¬  The ‘vile submission’ shows what a humiliation Mercutio believes Romeo is accepting; the insult ‘rat catcher’ makes it almost certain Tybalt will have to fight. Now the sword play begins, and the audience not only have the excitement and great dramatic action of two fighters trying to kill each other but also the sight of Romeo trying to stop the fight for the reasons only he and the audience know. With a tragic irony it is Romeo’s efforts to separate the two men that give Tybalt the chance to stab Mercutio, a friend of Romeo’s on the Montague’s side. Now the audience has put in suspense wondering whether Mercutio is going to die or not. Romeo raises their hopes that he may live. (â€Å"Courage man, the hurt cannot be much. ); but Mercutio seems to know that he is a dead man. â€Å"A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me: I have it, And soundly too: your houses! † The dramatic and terrifying image of worm’s meat makes Mercutio’s last words very powerful; and his cursing of the Capulets and the Montagues shows that he blames their useless feud for his death. The scene now takes another turn as Romeo puts aside all thought of peace, and becomes warlike. Benvolio tells him that Mercutio is dead, and Romeo decides on revenge in spite of his marriage to Juliet. This day's black fate on more days doth depend; This but begins the woe, others must end† The audience is put on more suspense with this foreboding of more strife and death. Tybalt returns, perhaps to continue his quarrel with Romeo but strangely this time, alone and Romeo resolves on violence. â€Å"Away to heaven, respective lenity, And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now! † With the passion of this language and the dramatic tension once again onstage between Romeo and Tybalt, the scene approaches its climax. Tybalt declares that he will send Romeo’s soul after Mercutio’s. â€Å"Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him hence. † The audience understand that either Tybalt or Romeo must die. Now we have the second sword fight in this scene and this is the climax. As Romeo kills Tybalt he takes his revenge for Mercutio’s death, he gets rid of his main enemy in the Capulet camp, and he puts his relationship with the love of his life in grave danger – this is the peak of the excitement and tension. Now Shakespeare lets the audience relax a little as Benvolio explains what has happened and the Prince orders Romeo exile but not death. From foreboding at the very beginning of the scene to mortal insults and provocation, to sword fighting and death, to the audience’s realization that something terribly wrong has happened to Romeo and Juliet’s romance Shakespeare uses a wide range of dramatic and language devices to make the scene one of the exciting and enormous tension.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Prom Nights from Hell Chapter Seven

â€Å"He didn't even know you were there,† Sibby said. â€Å"He never even knew who hit him.† â€Å"That was the idea.† They were parked next to an abandoned Amtrak maintenance building on an old part of the train tracks that was completely hidden from the street. It was the place Miranda had started coming seven months earlier to work out all her new crazy energy and try things she couldn't practice anywhere else-Roller Derby was great for speed, balance, gymnastics, and shoving moves, but you weren't supposed to use advanced judo. Or weapons. She could make out marks from her last crossbow exercise on the side of the building, and the piece of railroad track she'd tied in a knot the day after Will rejected her was still lying on the ground. She'd never seen anyone else here, and she was sure she and Sibby would be pretty much invisible as long as they stayed parked. â€Å"Where did you learn to knock people out like that?† Sibby asked, sprawled out over the backseat. â€Å"Can you teach me?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Why not? Just one move?† â€Å"Absolutely not.† â€Å"Why did you say you were sorry after you hit him?† Miranda swiveled to face her. â€Å"It's my turn to ask questions. Who wants to kill you and why?† â€Å"Gods, I don't know. It could be a ton of people. It's not like that, how you think it is.† â€Å"What's it like then?† â€Å"It's complicated. But if we can just hang out until four in the morning, there's a place I can go.† â€Å"That's six hours from now.† â€Å"That'll give me time for at least ten more kisses.† â€Å"Well, of course. What else would you do while someone is trying to kill you besides go out and tongue tango with as many strangers as possible?† â€Å"They weren't trying to kill me, they were trying to abduct me. It's totally different. Come on, I want to do something fun. Something with boys.† â€Å"Or we could not do that.† â€Å"Look, just because you are a founding member of Down with Fun Inc. doesn't mean that the rest of us want to sign up.† â€Å"I am not a founding member of Down with Fun Inc. I like fun. But-â€Å" â€Å"Funkiller.† † – somehow the idea of wandering around while ‘a ton of people' are trying to kidnap you, doesn't sound fun to me. It sounds like a good way to get into the Guinness Book of World Records under ‘Plan, comma, World's Most Stupid. Plus innocent bystanders could get caught in the middle when the ton of people find you.† â€Å"‘If, not ‘when. And they don't care about anyone but me.† Miranda rolled her eyes and turned back around. â€Å"That's why they're called innocent bystanders. Because they were standing by you and accidentally got hurt.† â€Å"Then you should definitely get away from me. Seriously, although there's nothing I'd rather do than sit parked in a homeless person's bathroom for six hours with only you for company, I think it would be safer for both of us if I take my chances elsewhere. Like at that ice cream place we passed on the way here. Did you see the lips on the guy behind the counter? They were mythic. Drop me there and I'll be all set.† â€Å"You're so not going anywhere.† â€Å"Really? Because that sound you hear? Is me reaching for the door handle.† â€Å"Really? Because that sound you hear? Is me engaging the child lock.† In the rearview mirror, Miranda saw Sibby's eyes blaze. â€Å"You're really mean,† Sibby said. â€Å"Something horrible must have happened to you to make you so mean.† â€Å"I'm not mean. I'm just trying to keep you safe.† â€Å"Are you sure it's me you're thinking about? Not some skeleton in your closet? Like the time you-â€Å" Miranda turned up the radio. â€Å"Turn that down! I was talking and I'm the customer.† â€Å"Not anymore.† Sibby yelled really loud, â€Å"What happened to your sister?† â€Å"I don't know what you are talking about,† Miranda yelled back. â€Å"That's a lie.† Miranda didn't say anything. â€Å"I asked you before if you had a sister and you got all teary,† Sibby shouted in her ear. â€Å"Why won't you tell me?† Miranda turned down the radio. â€Å"Can you give me three good reasons why I should?† â€Å"It might make you feel better. It would give us something to talk about while we sit here. And if you don't tell me, I'm going to start guessing.† Miranda leaned her head back, checked her watch, and turned to stare out the window. â€Å"Be my guest.† â€Å"You bugged her so much she left? You bored her so much she left? Or did you drive her away with the huge stick you keep up your butt?† â€Å"Stop being tender with my feelings. Go on, tell me what you really think.† From the backseat Sibby said, â€Å"That might have been too mean. Sorry.† Miranda didn't say anything. â€Å"You don't really have a stick in your butt. You couldn't drive then, right? Ha-ha?† Silence. â€Å"But I mean, you started it. With the child-lock thing. I'm not a child. I'm fourteen.† More silence. â€Å"I said I was sorry.† In the backseat Sibby slumped, sighed. â€Å"Fine. Be that way.† Silence. Until, for no reason she could explain, Miranda said, â€Å"They died.† Sibby sat up quick now, leaning toward the front seat. â€Å"Who? Your sisters?† â€Å"Everyone. My whole family.† â€Å"Was it because of something you did?† â€Å"Yes. And because of something I didn't do. I think.† â€Å"Um, Grandma Grim, that doesn't make any sense. How can not doing something-wait, you think?. Don't you know what happened?† â€Å"I can't really remember anything from that part of my life.† â€Å"You mean from that day?† â€Å"No. From that year. And the year after. Anything pretty much from when I was ten until when I turned twelve. And there are a few other holes, too.† â€Å"You mean that stuff is just too painful to remember?† â€Å"No, it's just†¦ gone. All I have are impressions.† And the dreams. Really really bad dreams. â€Å"Like what?† â€Å"Like that I wasn't where I should have been and something happened and I let everyone down†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She stopped, waved a hand in the air. â€Å"Wait, you actually think you could have stopped whatever happened to them? By yourself? When you were four years younger than me?† Miranda's throat felt like it was closing up. She'd never told anyone even that much of her real history before, never talked about it, not even with Kenzi. Ever. She swallowed hard. â€Å"I could have tried. I could have been there and tried.† â€Å"Oh my gods, now this is some kind of pity party. Yawn. Wake me when you're done.† Miranda gaped at her in the mirror. â€Å"I told you I didn't want to talk about it but you kept bugging me and now you turn into the mayor of TellItLikeItIsVille?† Swallowing again. â€Å"You little-â€Å" â€Å"You don't even know what happened! How can you feel so bad about it? Plus, I don't see how that can be your fault. You weren't even there and you were only ten. I think you should stop obsessing about some mystery thing that is ancient history and live in the mo.† â€Å"I'm sorry, did you just tell me to ‘live in the mo'?† â€Å"Yes. You know, ditch the past and try focusing on what's going on in the present. Like that the song on the radio right now? Sucks. And that there is a whole city of cute boys out there I am not kissing.† Miranda took a deep breath, but before she could say anything, Sibby went on. â€Å"I know, I know you say you're sorry to the people you knock out because you never got to say sorry to your family, and you have to keep me safe because you couldn't keep them safe. I get it now.† â€Å"That is not what's going on. I-â€Å" â€Å"Blah blah blah, insert denials here. Anyway, why does ‘safe' have to mean sitting in this car with you all night? Isn't there somewhere we could blend in? Instead of hiding? I'm good at blending. I'm like butter.† â€Å"Oh yeah, you're totally like butter. In fact, in your Madonna-called-and-she-wants-her-costume-from-the-‘Borderline'-video-back outfit, you're practically invisible.† â€Å"Good one, Funkiller. Come on, let's go somewhere.† Miranda turned all the way around in her seat and said, â€Å"Let me sound it out for you. Someone. Is. Trying. To. Kill. You.† â€Å"No. They. Are. Not. You keep saying that, but I've told you. They can't kill me. You should really work on this obsession you have with people getting killed. And I have to be honest with you, I'm getting bored. What do you have the radio set to, K-CRAP? There is no way we are staying in this car for six hours.† Miranda had to agree with her. Because if they did, it was now clear she'd kill Sibby herself. That's when she thought of the perfect place for them to go. â€Å"You want to blend in?† she asked. â€Å"Yes. With boys.† â€Å"Guys,† Miranda said. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Normal American girls from this century call them guys, not boys. If you want to blend in.† For a second, Sibby looked shocked. Then she gave a little smile. â€Å"Oh. Yes. Guys.† â€Å"‘Yeah, not ‘yes. Unless you're talking to a grown-up.† â€Å"Yeah.† â€Å"And it's ‘Oh my God' or ‘God, not ‘gods. â€Å" â€Å"Did I-?† â€Å"Yeah. And no one ever has or ever will say, ‘live in the mo. â€Å" â€Å"Just wait.† â€Å"No. Never. Oh, and no paying guys for kisses. You don't need to. They should feel lucky to kiss you.† Sibby frowned. â€Å"Why are you being so nice to me and helping me? You don't even like me.† â€Å"Because I know what it's like to be far from home, alone, trying to fit in. And to never be able to tell anyone the truth about who you are.† After they'd been driving in silence for a few minutes, Sibby said, â€Å"Have you ever killed someone with your bare hands?† Miranda looked at her in the rearview. â€Å"Not yet.† â€Å"Ha-ha.†

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Medieval Food Preservation Methods

Medieval Food Preservation Methods For centuries before the medieval period, and for centuries afterward, human beings in all parts of the world used a variety of methods to preserve foods for later consumption. Europeans in the Middle Ages were no exception. A society that was largely agrarian would be keenly aware of the need to store up provisions against the ominous threats of famine, drought, and warfare. The possibility of disaster wasnt the only motive for preserving food. Dried, smoked, pickled, honeyed, and salted foods had their own particular flavors, and many recipes survive detailing how to prepare foods that have been stored with these methods. Preserved foods were also much easier for the sailor, soldier, merchant, or pilgrim to transport. For fruits and vegetables to be enjoyed out of season, they had to be preserved; and in some regions, a particular foodstuff could only be enjoyed in its preserved form, because it didnt grow (or wasnt raised) nearby. Virtually any kind of food could be preserved. How it was done depended on what type of food it was and whether a particular effect was desired. Here are some of the methods of food preservation used in medieval Europe. Drying Foods to Preserve Them Today we understand that moisture allows for the rapid microbiological growth of bacteria, which is present in all fresh foods and which causes them to decay. But it isnt necessary to understand the chemical process involved in order to observe that food that is wet and left in the open will quickly start to smell and attract bugs. So it should come as no surprise that one of the oldest methods of preserving foods known to man is that of drying it. Drying was used to preserve all sorts of foods. Grains like rye and wheat were dried in the sun or air before being stored in a dry place. Fruits were sun-dried in warmer climes and oven-dried in cooler regions. In Scandinavia, where temperatures were known to plunge below freezing in the winter, cod (known as stockfish) were left out to dry in the cold air, usually after they were gutted and their heads were removed. Meat could also be preserved through drying, usually after cutting it into thin strips and lightly salting it. In warmer regions, it was a simple matter to dry meat under the hot summer sun, but in cooler climates, air drying could be done at most times of the year, either outdoors or in shelters that kept away the elements and flies. Preserving Foods With Salt Salting was the most common way to preserve virtually any type of meat or fish, as it drew out the moisture and killed the bacteria. Vegetables might be preserved with dry salt, as well, though pickling was more common. Salt was also used in conjunction with other methods of preservation, such as drying and smoking. One method of salting meat involved pressing dry salt into pieces of meat, then layering the pieces in a container (like a keg) with dry salt completely surrounding each piece. If meat was preserved this way in cold weather, which slowed down the decomposition while the salt had time to take effect, it could last for years. Vegetables were also preserved by layering them in salt and placing them in a sealable container such as an earthenware crock. Another way to preserve food with salt was to soak it in a salt brine. While not as effective a long-term method of preservation as packing in dry salt, it served very well to keep food edible through a season or two. Salt brines were also part of the pickling process. Whatever method of salt preservation was used, the first thing a cook did when he got ready to prepare the salted food for consumption was soaking it in fresh water to remove as much of the salt as possible. Some cooks were more conscientious than others when it came to this step, which could take several trips to the well for fresh water. And it was next to impossible to remove all the salt, no matter how much soaking was done. Many recipes took this saltiness into account, and some were designed specifically to counteract or complement the salt flavor. Still, most of us would find preserved medieval food much saltier than anything were used to today. Smoking Meat and Fish Smoking was another fairly common way to preserve meat, especially fish and pork. Meat would be cut into relatively thin, lean strips, immersed briefly in a salt solution  and hung over a fire to absorb the smoke flavoring as it dried - slowly. Occasionally meat might be smoked without a salt solution, especially if the type of wood burned had a distinctive flavoring of its own. However, salt was still very helpful because it discouraged flies, inhibited the growth of bacteria, and hastened the removal of moisture. Pickling Foods Immersing fresh vegetables and other foods in a liquid solution of salt brine was a fairly common practice in medieval Europe. In fact, although the term pickle didnt come into use in English until the late Middle Ages, the practice of pickling goes back to ancient times. Not only would this method preserve fresh food for months so that it could be eaten out of season, but it could infuse it with strong, piquant flavors. The simplest pickling was done with water, salt and an herb or two, but a variety of spices and herbs as well as the use of vinegar, verjuice or (after the 12th century) lemon led to a range of pickling flavors. Pickling might require boiling the foods in the salt mixture, but it could also be done by simply leaving the food items in an open pot, tub or vat of salt brine with the desired flavorings for hours and sometimes days. Once the food had been thoroughly infused by the pickling solution, it was placed in a jar, crock, or another airtight container, sometimes with a fresh brine but often in the juice in which it had marinated. Confits Although the term confit has come to refer to virtually any food that has been immersed in a substance for preservation (and, today, can sometimes refer to a type of fruit preserve), in the Middle Ages confits were potted meat. Confits were most usually, but not solely, made from fowl or pork (fatty fowl like goose were particularly suitable). To make a confit, the meat was salted and cooked for a very long time in its own fat, then allowed to cool in its own fat. It was then sealed up in its own fat, of course and stored in a cool place, where it could last for months. Confits should not be confused with comfits, which were sugar-coated nuts and seeds eaten at the end of a banquet to freshen the breath and aid the digestion. Sweet Preserves Fruits were often dried, but a far more tasty method of preserving them past their season was to seal them up in honey. Occasionally, they might be boiled in a sugar mixture, but sugar was an expensive import, so only the cooks of the wealthiest families were likely to use it. Honey had been used as a preservative for thousands of years, and it wasnt limited to preserving fruit; meats were also stored in honey on occasion. Fermentation Most methods of preserving food involved stopping or slowing down the process of decay. Fermentation accelerated it. The most common product of fermentation was alcohol wine was fermented from grapes, mead from honey, beer from grain. Wine and mead could keep for months, but beer had to be drunk fairly quickly. Cider was fermented from apples, and the Anglo-Saxons made a drink called perry from fermented pears. Cheese is also a product of fermentation. Cows milk could be used, but the milk from sheep and goats was a more common source for cheese in the Middle Ages. Freezing and Cooling The weather of the greater part of Europe throughout much of the Middle Ages was rather temperate; in fact, there is often some discussion of the medieval warm period overlapping the end of the Early Middle Ages and the beginning of High Medieval Europe (the exact dates depend on who you consult). So freezing was not an obvious method of preserving foods. However, most areas of Europe did see snowy winters, and freezing was at times a viable option, especially in northern regions. In castles and large homes with cellars, an underground room could be used to keep foods packed in winter ice through the cooler spring months and into the summer. In the long, frigid Scandinavian winters, an underground room wasnt necessary. Supplying an ice-room with ice was a labor-intensive and sometimes travel-intensive business, so it was not particularly common; but it wasnt completely unknown, either. More common was the use of underground rooms to keep foods cool, the all-important last step of most of the above preservation methods.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Four Ps of proposal writing - Emphasis

The Four Ps of proposal writing The Four Ps of proposal writing People who have the gift of being able to write a persuasive proposal tend to go a long way, regardless of whether theyre in sales or the Civil Service. Yet far from being a dark art, the skill of effective proposal writing is something you can teach yourself.  In fact, theres one formula that can bring you success time and time again. We call it the Four Ps. Position This is where you should start. Establish where the client or reader is at this moment. Your proposal might well be read by several different decision-makers – at different levels – in the organisation, but this will be the one thing that has everyone in consensus from the outset. In sales, don’t begin with a long-winded introduction to your company: you’ll make a much better impression by showing you’ve taken the time and interest to get to know your prospective client. Problem Despite the name, this could be a negative or a positive. There may be a problem to address, or the opportunity of a lifetime could be in sight. All it means is making it clear that a change must be made. Salespeople: again, the focus is on them, not you – their needs, not your product. Make it clear you understand those needs, using facts and figures as appropriate. Possibilities Here you can cover all the potential routes, including taking no action, with pros and cons for each. Don’t try to gloss over any possible downsides: it could look like they haven’t occurred to you. Rise above trashing competitors by name, though you can argue the flaws of their ideas – if you know them. If there’s only one option, you won’t need this section. Proposal This is your recommended route, with your reasons for it. Be succinct and specific. Make it very clear how your proposal relates to what the client or reader has asked for. They should be left with no doubts about why they should go with you, why they should do it now and what they need to do next. Ok, so we can’t completely guarantee you a win every time. But this is always the best p-p-p-place to start. For more help perfecting your proposal writing, why not arrange an  in-house bid, tender and sales-proposal writing course for your team, or book a spot on one of our bid-writing courses for individuals?

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Statistic Project Statistics Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Statistic - Statistics Project Example Significant difference in mode and median among of BMI among men and women suggests that the two data sets have different distributions. BMI of men is more concentrated along the mean of the data set, because of the closeness between mean, mode and median, as compares to the statistics for women’s BMI. Standard deviations and variances for the two data sets confirms suggested differences in distribution of the two data sets. Men’s BMI have a lower standard deviation and this means that the data are more concentrated around the mean than data for women’ BMI. This is further evident in the range that is lower for women’s data. Nature of the distribution that the values of mean, mode and median suggest, is also evident in the skewedness’ values. Even though the data sets are skewed towards one direction, the skewedness is greater in women. These statistics shows that despite the average similarity in BMI among men and women, frequency of men’s BMI increases with increase in BMI while that of women’s BMI decreases with increase in BMI. Based on the three analyses, it can be concluded that med have larger waists than women though this changes at old age and that people’s waist increased up to mid age and then declines slightly before increasing again. A majority f people have their cholesterol levels lower than 300 and trends in BMI differ between men and women but with equivalent