Research Paper on Taste Essay Example

Research Paper on Taste Essay Taste Research Paper Taste Research Paper Introduction The word â€Å"taste† has many meanings. The first definition of this word deals with the person’s physical ability to feel something with the help of receptors. The second meaning is an aesthetic notion that means the person’s ability to blend different things with each other, to feel what suits here and what does not. People with good taste always feel harmony with the surrounded world and are satisfied with what they do. People with bad taste usually feel discomfort and displeasure. Taste is often used in the same meaning as preference. At the same time taste is a sociological concept. In this case we state that taste is not only a personal liking but also an attitude, which is formed under the social pressure. In this case taste can be regarded as good or bad. The theory of social taste was developed in the end of the twentieth century and is based on the concept of aesthetic relativism. The notion of taste, which existed before this transformation was associated with good manners and good habits. These manners were considered to be inborn qualities. History of the Taste Term We will write a custom essay sample on Research Paper on Taste specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Research Paper on Taste specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Research Paper on Taste specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The word taste in the understanding close to modern one firstly appeared in the 16the century. It was firstly used in the vocabulary of Italian Style called Mannerism, which appeared in Italy in the 16th century. The name of the style explains its main peculiarities. Mannerism used the term â€Å"taste† to explain the manner in which the work of art had been created. â€Å"More specifically, the idea of â€Å"taste† as a quality that is independent of the style that is simply its vehicle — though the style might be designated a taste, such as â€Å"the Antique taste†Ã¢â‚¬â€ was born in the circle of Pope Julius III and first realized at the Villa Giulia built on the edge of Rome in 1551 – 1555.† (Stern, 115) So, the term reflected rather the way of production than the quality of the work of art. The distinction between good and bad taste did not exist at the time. During the period of Enlightenment the term ‘taste† still had a un iversal character and expressed something, plausible for the society. The change in meaning occurred during the period of Romanticism. It is during this period, when the term â€Å"taste† began to mean something beautiful for the audience. That is the period when taste became to be interpreted individually and its meaning became a synonym of the aesthetic value. This is the type of meaning of this term most of the contemporary people use nowadays. During several centuries the meaning of the word changed from physical characteristic of the piece of art into synonym of aesthetic value. From physical characteristic the word became intellectual quality and got emotional coloring. â€Å"It begins to be used in a metaphorical sense to refer to certain degrees of competence in relation to understanding of cultural practices. Taste is also closely related to the concept of discrimination, as being based on certain material experiences it can set distinctions between tasteful and tas teless or having a good taste or a bad taste, thus providing categories for social division and producing cultural hierarchy.† (Stern) Taste as Social Phenomenon The concept of good and bad taste is usually used by critics, while ordinary people tend to express their own opinions and appeal to such a term as â€Å"like-dislike† of this or that thing. Very often the opinion of the professionals is based on personal preferences; in this case personal liking label things of ones of bad or good taste. According to the theory of social origin of taste opinion of professionals quickly influences opinion of other people and an object gets its verdict as a one of good or bad taste. Unfortunately, modern theory of judgement does not assume other variant except for two polarities of good and bad taste. The idea about social pressure on the individual taste was firstly expressed by the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. He states that society shapes individual taste according to social position and other social aspects of an individual. In this case the society, not individuals, becomes the carrier of cultural norms and that justifies things as good or bad. People try to fit higher cultural norms, proposed by the society, and change their identities accordingly. This has a double meaning, as people, who change their identities according to social requirements, become the consumers of cultural products and, at the same time, they produce pieces of art, which correspond to these norms and this makes other people want to achieve their â€Å"higher† cultural and intellectual level. â€Å" In this sense the notion of taste is closely linked to consumption and consumerism: the viewer or reader consumes various artistic products and then interprets them by the means of criticism t hat rests upon the idea of taste† (Stern). The definitions of good and bad taste also derive from the theory of social origin of the taste proposed by Bourdieu. Under bad taste we generally understand things not perceived or even rejected by the society. These are things, which do not correspond social standards of the certain time. This can be traced on simple example: in different societies different things will be considered as the things of a bad taste. The same situation is with the notion of good taste. It reflects things, which correspond to social norms and standards and meet the requirements of the contemporary society. Taste and Design The two notions – design and taste are very closely connected. It’s impossible to imagine a good fashionable designer with bad taste. Every designer has his own style and so his own unique taste. Aesthetic quality can be the characteristic of both – people and objects, while taste is the personal characteristic of a person. Nowadays good taste is the necessary attribute of a good designer who wants his products to be popular among consumers: â€Å"The idea of taste cannot now be separated from the idea of the consumer,† suggests Raymond Williams (Wiliams, 1976, 266). Today’s understanding of taste differs from the classical one. According to the classical conception taste is an ability to analyze things critically from the aesthetic point of view. Today taste is more a subjective notion, it’s an inner state of the person and it’s not necessary to follow any classical canons. Inner harmony is the main criteria for the designers. Not only designers but also consumers can show their taste in the act of consumption. â€Å"The act of consumption is also an act of exercising taste, and the sheer magnitude of this process makes it impossible to have a singular standard for taste† (Postrel, 2003). One of the main design’s tasks is c the improving of the taste. In the past museums fulfilled this function in most cases. The museums had the mission to educate people by showing them specific designers. â€Å"Taste classifies, and it classifies the classifier. Social subjects, classified by their classifications, distinguis h themselves by the distinctions they make, between the beautiful and the ugly, the distinguished and the vulgar, in which their position in the objective classifications is expressed or betrayed.† (Bourdieu 1984). In modern world of different possibilities and different views, however taste plays a very important role. There are a lot of different facts that form good or bad taste. Among specialists who work in this sphere there are different opinions on this question. The most spread opinion is that all in all taste depends of the individual features of the person, it’s more a natural ability to blend things together. There are some rules following which it’s possible to form a good taste. First of all it’s necessary to have a lively and bright imagination. It gives a person a possibility to conceive the images and ideas that the writer or the designer has described and so to feel the author’s purpose. â€Å" Sometimes, when one’s imagination is lively, and regulated too by an acquaintance with nature, one may, notwithstanding, contract habits of indolence and irregularity in one’s studies; which produce a superficial medley of knowledge very detrimental to the native vigour of the mind† (Beatie, 69). The second important thing is distinct apprehension. A person must know exactly what he likes and what he hates. The third thing is acute senses, a person must be affected by harmony and beauty, must feel them. The next thing deals with sensibility or sympathy. With this feature we are conscious of emotions that arise within us. The last thing that is necessa ry to form a good taste is judgement. By judgement here is meant â€Å"a constitution of mind, as disposes a man to attend to the reality of things, and qualifies him for knowing and discovering the truth. It is by means of this faculty, as applied in criticism, that we compare poetical imitations with natural objects, so as to perceive in what they resemble, and in what they differ; that we estimate the rectitude of sentiments, the probability of incidents† (Beattie, 71). According to Beattie good taste is not a good taste in clothes or food, its inner state of the individuality, the form of self-expression. The person is born with good or bad taste, but it doesn’t mean that situation will not change. For the person with good taste it’s easy to transform it into a bad state under the influence of surrounding. Sometimes we can see designers who don’t try to follow their inner impulse and inner voice, instead they follow fashion and try to follow famous de signers, in most cases they won’t be successful. As it was already mentioned taste is closely connected with a consumer, and a consumer in his turn is closely connected with consumer culture. According to Slater consumer culture is â€Å"a subject which – far from being of narrow or recent interest – is intimately tied to the central issues of modern times and modern social thought.† (Slater, 1997). Slater thoroughly investigates numerous concepts and theories of consumption. The role of consumption a lot of years ago differed from the role it plays nowadays very much. With the changing of the process of consumption the meaning of the taste has also changed. Being of no importance in customer service, now it’s one of its main components. The consumer culture is a new phenomenon. Nowadays consumer culture has become the a symbol of the modern era, which distinguishes it from the old one. The notion of consumer culture is connected with three related phenomena according to Slater: consumer good, hierarchical distinction between notions of lower and high forms of consumption and new market. Consumer goods have become the necessary component of the daily life. Hierarchical distinction between notions of lower and higher forms of consumption is determined by good taste and fashion. New markets bring infrastructural and organizational facilities in order. People with good taste buy production of higher quality. There are no such strict aesthetic canons as there used to be just in the Age of Enlightenment or during some period afterwards. Nowadays there are no definite criteria of good taste. A person likes this suit, for example, in this suit the person feels harmony with the world and that’s it. Of course, the same rules can be applied for design, but however in designer there are some common laws, following which you’ll be regarded as a person of good taste. Signs of Good Taste in Design Good design is suggestive, it means that it’s just necessary to give customers a few basic elements and then they can combine them as they wish. â€Å"Good design is suggestive, it means that it’s just necessary to give customers a few basic elements and then they can combine them as they wish† (Postrel, 2003). Good designer is a bit funny, because humor is connected wit strength. Good taste doesn’t mean to be a clown, it means to dilute serious things with some funny elements. Design with good taste is â€Å"hard†. â€Å"When Bauhaus designers adopted Sullivan’s â€Å"form follows function,† what they meant was, form should follow function. And if function is hard enough, form is forced to follow it, because there is no effort to spare for error† (Postrel, 2003). Things produced by good design usually look like he has spent quite much time working on them. This can be false or true in reality, but an impression of hard work is really important. â€Å"When Bauhaus designers adopted Sullivan’s â€Å"form follows function,† what they meant was, form should follow function. And if function is hard enough, form is forced to follow it, because there is no effort to spare for error. Wild animals are beautiful because they have hard lives.† (Slater, 89) Another thing is that good design looks easy. Ease is the attribute of practice and professionalism. Ease comes with practice. Practice gives an opportunity to do things unconsciously and to concentrate on the things themselves. Good design resembles nature and uses symmetry. Symmetry is the best way to achieve simplicity and simplicity is the characteristic of good taste. Good design is usually a redesign because it’s very difficult to get the perfect thing from the first time. At the same time good design should be natural. The nature is perfect and following it designer can recreate wonderful forms, which already exist. It is not a process of copying. The main purpose of every designer is to create that unique combination of his own ideas and things, which already exist in nature. When the balance is kept right, the customers will immediately appreciate natural and original creation. â€Å"Working from life is a valuable tool in painting too, though its role has often been misunderstood. The aim is not simply to make a record. The point of painting from life is that it gives your mind something to chew on: when your eyes are looking at something, your hand will do more interesting work.† (Slater, 97) Working from life can be applied not only in painting. It’s also good for engineering, and any other branch connected with technology. The statement that good design never repeats anything is a myth. In reality good design can copy good solutions and successful ideas. The desire to be original by any means can be bad for quality. The designer always looks for the right answer, for him it’s more important to be right than to be original, that is why he is not afraid to reproduce some ideas, already discovered by others. Taste Research Paper Conclusion Taste is often associated with personal appreciation of beauty. There are different theories of the origin of taste. In modern world good taste is associated with good design. Good design can look strange and can cause controversial opinions. â€Å"The only style worth having is the one you can’t help. And this is especially true for strangeness. There is no shortcut to it.† (Slater, 101) Originality very often implies daring. Designer should be ready to make a bold attempt and then to wait for the results. He should not be afraid to make a mistake because things, which are regarded as mistakes, can be new discoveries in the future. References James Beattie, â€Å"Of Imagination,† Chap. IV. Dissertations Moral and Critical, pp. 166, 170, 173, 180, 182. Bourdieu, P. Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1984. Dant, T. Material Cultural Production, Polity, 1999. Postrel, V. The Substance of Style: How the Rise of Aesthetic Value is Remaking Commerce, Culture, and Consciousness. New York: Harper Collins Publishing, 2003. Slater, D. (1997). Consumer Culture and Modernity, Cambridge: Polity Press, 1997. Stern, Jane, Stern Michael. The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste. New York: Harper Collins, 1990. Ward, P. Kitsh in sync: A consumer’s guide to bad taste, Plexus, London, 1991. Williams, R. Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society. New York: Oxford University Press, 1976. Wright, Bradford W. Comic Book Nation. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001.

Profile of Jane Addams, Founder of Hull House

Profile of Jane Addams, Founder of Hull House Humanitarian and social reformer Jane Addams, born into wealth and privilege, devoted herself to improving the lives of those less fortunate. Although she is best remembered for establishing Hull House (a settlement house in Chicago for immigrants and the poor), Addams was also deeply committed to promoting peace, civil rights, and womens right to vote. Addams was a founding member of both the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union. As a recipient of the 1931 Nobel Peace Prize, she was the first American woman to receive that honor. Jane Addams is considered by many a pioneer in the field of modern social work. Dates: September 6, 1860- May 21, 1935 Also Known As: Laura Jane Addams (born as), Saint Jane, Angel of Hull House Childhood in Illinois Laura Jane Addams was born September 6, 1860, in Cedarville, Illinois to Sarah Weber Addams and John Huy Addams. She was the eighth of nine children, four of whom did not survive infancy. Sarah Addams died a week after giving birth to a premature baby (who  also died) in 1863 when Laura Jane- later known just as Jane- was only two years old. Janes father ran a successful mill business, which enabled him to build a large, beautiful home for his family. John Addams was also an Illinois state senator and a close friend of Abraham Lincoln, whose anti-slavery sentiments he shared. Jane learned as an adult that her father had been a conductor on the Underground Railroad and had helped escaped slaves as they made their way to Canada. When Jane was six, the family suffered another loss- her 16-year old sister Martha succumbed to typhoid fever. The following year, John Addams married Anna Haldeman, a widow with two sons. Jane became close to her new stepbrother George, who was only six months younger than her. They attended school together and both planned to go to college one day. College Days Jane Addams had set her sights on Smith College, a prestigious womens school in Massachusetts, with the goal of eventually earning a medical degree. After months of preparing for the difficult entrance exams, 16-year-old Jane learned in July 1877 that shed been accepted at Smith. John Addams, however, had different plans for Jane. After losing his first wife and five of his children, he didnt want his daughter to move so far away from home. Addams insisted that Jane enroll in Rockford Female Seminary, a Presbyterian-based womens school in nearby Rockford, Illinois that her sisters had attended. Jane had no other choice but to obey her father. Rockford Female Seminary schooled its students in both academics and religion in a strict, regimented atmosphere. Jane settled into the routine, becoming a confident writer and public speaker by the time she graduated in 1881. Many of her classmates went on to become missionaries, but Jane Addams believed that she could find a way of serving mankind without promoting Christianity. Although a spiritual person, Jane Addams did not belong to any particular church. Difficult Times for Jane Addams Returning home to her fathers house, Addams felt lost, uncertain about what to do next with her life. Postponing any decision about her future, she chose to accompany her father and stepmother on a trip to Michigan instead. The trip ended in tragedy when John Addams became gravely ill and died suddenly of appendicitis. A grieving Jane Addams, seeking direction in her life, applied to the Womens Medical College of Philadelphia, where she was accepted for the fall of 1881. Addams coped with her loss by immersing herself in her studies at the medical college. Unfortunately, only months after shed begun classes, she developed chronic back pain, caused by the curvature of the spine. Addams had surgery in late 1882 which improved her condition somewhat, but following a lengthy, difficult recovery period, decided that she would not return to school. A Life-Changing Journey Addams next embarked upon a trip abroad, a traditional rite of passage among wealthy young people in the nineteenth century. Accompanied by her stepmother and cousins, Addams sailed to Europe for a two-year tour in 1883. What began as an exploration of the sights and cultures of Europe became, in fact, an eye-opening experience for Addams. Addams was stunned by the poverty she witnessed in the slums of European cities. One episode in particular affected her deeply. The tour bus she was riding stopped on a street in the impoverished East End of London. A group of unwashed, raggedly-dressed people stood in line, waiting to purchase rotten produce that had been discarded by merchants. Addams watched as one man paid for a spoiled cabbage, then gobbled it down neither washed nor cooked. She was horrified that the city would allow its citizens to live in such wretched conditions. Grateful for all of her own blessings, Jane Addams believed it was her duty to help those less fortunate. She had inherited a large sum of money from her father but was not yet sure how she could best put it to use. Jane Addams Finds Her Calling Returning to the U.S. in 1885, Addams and her stepmother spent summers in Cedarville and winters in Baltimore, Maryland, where Addams stepbrother George Haldeman attended medical school. Mrs. Addams expressed her fond hope that Jane and George would marry one day. George did have romantic feelings for Jane, but she didnt return the sentiment. Jane Addams was never known to have had a romantic relationship with any man. While in Baltimore, Addams was expected to attend countless parties and social functions with her stepmother. She detested these obligations, preferring instead to visit the citys charitable institutions, such as shelters and orphanages. Still uncertain of what role she could play, Addams decided to go abroad again, hoping to clear her mind. She traveled to Europe in 1887 with Ellen Gates Starr, a friend from the Rockford Seminary. Eventually, inspiration did come to Addams when she visited Ulm Cathedral in Germany, where she felt a sense of unity. Addams envisioned creating what she called a Cathedral of Humanity, a place where people in need could come not only for help with basic needs but also for cultural enrichment.* Addams traveled to London, where she visited an organization that would serve as a model for her project- Toynbee Hall. Toynbee Hall was a settlement house, where young, educated men lived in a poor community in order to get to know its residents and to learn how best to serve them. Addams proposed that she would open such a center in an American city. Starr agreed to help her. Founding Hull House Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr decided upon Chicago as the ideal city for their new venture. Starr had worked as a teacher in Chicago and was familiar with the citys neighborhoods; she also knew several prominent people there. The women moved to Chicago in January 1889 when Addams was 28 years old. Addams family thought her idea was absurd, but she would not be dissuaded. She and Starr set out to find a large house situated in an underprivileged area. After weeks of searching, they found a house in Chicagos 19th Ward that had been built 33 years earlier by businessman Charles Hull. The house had once been surrounded by farmland, but the neighborhood had evolved into an industrial area. Addams and Starr renovated the house and moved in on September 18, 1889. Neighbors were reluctant at first to pay them a visit, suspicious about what the two well-dressed womens motives might be. Visitors, mainly immigrants, began to trickle in, and Addams and Starr quickly learned to set priorities based upon the needs of their clients. It soon became apparent that providing childcare for working parents was a top priority. Assembling a group of well-educated volunteers, Addams and Starr set up a kindergarten class, as well as programs and lectures for both children and adults. They provided other vital services, such as finding jobs for the unemployed, caring for the sick, and supplying food and clothing to the needy. (Pictures of Hull House) Hull House attracted the attention of wealthy Chicagoans, many of whom wanted to help. Addams solicited donations from them, allowing her to build a play area for the children, as well as to add a library, an art gallery, and even a post office. Eventually, Hull House took up an entire block of the neighborhood. Working for Social Reform As Addams and Starr familiarized themselves with the living conditions of the people around them, they recognized the need for real social reform. Well-acquainted with many children who worked more than 60 hours a week, Addams and her volunteers worked to change child labor laws. They provided lawmakers with information they had compiled and spoke at community gatherings. In 1893, the Factory Act, which limited the number of hours a child could work, was passed in Illinois. Other causes championed by Addams and her colleagues included improving conditions in mental hospitals and poorhouses, creating a juvenile court system, and promoting the unionization of working women. Addams also worked to reform employment agencies, many of which used dishonest practices, especially in dealing with vulnerable new immigrants. A state law was passed in 1899 that regulated those agencies. Addams became personally involved with another issue: uncollected garbage on the streets in her neighborhood. The garbage, she argued, attracted vermin and contributed to the spread of disease. In 1895, Addams went to City Hall to protest and came away as the newly-appointed garbage inspector for the 19th Ward. She took her job seriously the only paying position shed ever held. Addams rose at dawn, climbing into her carriage to follow and monitor trash collectors. After her one-year term, Addams was happy to report a reduced death rate in the 19th Ward. Jane Addams: A National Figure By the early twentieth century, Addams had become well-respected as an advocate for the poor. Thanks to the success of Hull House, settlement houses were established in other major American cities. Addams developed a friendship with President Theodore Roosevelt, who was impressed by the changes she had effected in Chicago. The President stopped by to visit her at Hull House whenever he was in town. As one of Americas most admired women, Addams found new opportunities to give speeches and to write about social reform. She shared her knowledge with others in the hope that more of the underprivileged would receive the help they needed. In 1910, when she was fifty years old, Addams published her autobiography, Twenty Years at Hull House. Addams became increasingly involved in more far-reaching causes. An ardent advocate for womens rights, Addams was elected vice-president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1911 and campaigned actively for womens right to vote. When Theodore Roosevelt ran for re-election as a Progressive Party candidate in 1912, his platform contained many of the social reform policies endorsed by Addams. She supported Roosevelt but disagreed with his decision not to allow African-Americans to be part of the partys convention. Committed to racial equality, Addams had helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909. Roosevelt went on to lose the election to Woodrow Wilson. World War I A lifelong pacifist, Addams advocated for peace during World War I. She was strongly opposed to the United States entering the war and became involved in two peace organizations: the Womans Peace Party (which she led) and the International Congress of Women. The latter was a worldwide movement with thousands of members who convened to work on strategies for avoiding war. Despite the best efforts of these organizations, the United States entered the war in April 1917. Addams was reviled by many for her anti-war stance. Some saw her as anti-patriotic, even traitorous. After the war, Addams toured Europe with members of the International Congress of Women. The women were horrified by the destruction they witnessed and were especially affected by the many starving children they saw. When Addams and her group suggested that starving German children deserved to be helped as much as any other child, they were accused of sympathizing with the enemy. Addams Receives the Nobel Peace Prize Addams continued to work for world peace, traveling around the world throughout the 1920s as the president of a new organization, the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Exhausted by the constant travel, Addams developed health problems and suffered a heart attack in 1926, forcing her to resign her leadership role in the WILPF. She completed the second volume of her autobiography, The Second Twenty Years at Hull House, in 1929. During the Great Depression, public sentiment once again favored Jane Addams. She was widely praised for all that she had accomplished and was honored by many institutions. Her greatest honor came in 1931 when Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work to promote peace worldwide. Because of ill health, she was unable to travel to Norway to accept it. Addams donated most of her prize money to the WILPF. Jane Addams died of intestinal cancer on May 21, 1935, only three days after her illness had been discovered during exploratory surgery. She was 74 years old. Thousands attended her funeral, fittingly held at Hull House. The Womens International League for Peace and Freedom is still active today; the Hull House Association was forced to close in January 2012 due to lack of funding. Source Jane Addams described her Cathedral of Humanity in her book Twenty Years at Hull House (Cambridge: Andover-Harvard Theological Library, 1910) 149.

Greenwich Mean Time vs. Coordinated Universal Time

Greenwich Mean Time vs. Coordinated Universal Time By the mid-nineteenth century, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) had been established as the primary reference time zone for the British Empire and for much of the world. GMT is based on the line of longitude running through the Greenwich Observatory located in the suburbs of London. GMT, as the mean within its name, would indicate, represented the time zone of a hypothetically average day at Greenwich. GMT disregarded the fluctuations in the normal earth-sun interaction. Thus, noon GMT represented the average noon at Greenwich throughout the year. Over time, time zones became established based on GMT as being x number of hours ahead or behind GMT. Interestingly, the clock began at noon under GMT so noon was represented by zero hours. UTC As more sophisticated time pieces became available to scientists, the need for a new international time standard became apparent. Atomic clocks did not need to keep time based on the average solar time at a particular location because they were very, very accurate. In addition, it became understood that due to the irregularity of the earth and the suns movements, the exact time needed to be modified occasionally through the use of leap seconds. With this precise accuracy of time, UTC was born. UTC, which stands for Coordinated Universal Time in English and Temps universel coordonnà © in French, was abbreviated UTC as a compromise between CUT and TUC in English and French, respectively. UTC, while based on zero degrees longitude, which passes through the Greenwich Observatory, is based on atomic time and includes leap seconds as they are added to our clock every so often. UTC was used beginning in the mid-twentieth century but became the official standard of world time on January 1, 1972. UTC is 24-hour time, which begins at 0:00 at midnight. 12:00 is noon, 13:00 is 1 p.m., 14:00 is 2 p.m. and so on until 23:59, which is 11:59 p.m. Time zones today are a certain number of hours or hours and minutes behind or ahead of UTC. UTC is also known as Zulu time in the world of aviation. When European Summer Time is not in effect, UTC matches the time zone of the United Kingdom. Today, it is most appropriate to use and refer to time based on UTC and not on GMT.

Cloud Computing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Cloud Computing - Research Paper Example Cloud computing has a number of business uses, such as, website hosting, project management, cloud-based accounting and billing, and document storage. Technology Required To Use Cloud Computing The only requirements for an individual or a business to access the services of cloud computing include a computer system, an internet connection, and an agreement with the cloud services providing company. â€Å"As long as a computer has Internet access it will be able to use the application† (Cheow, 2010). Business Uses of Cloud Computing For businesses, cloud computing provides a number of benefits some of which include ease in data storage, workload shift, improved organization of business processes, cloud-based project management, and improved customer service. Companies can store their important files, such as, Microsoft word files, spreadsheets, and audio files on the cloud through internet and can access them whenever required. Companies can also enjoy website hosting through cl oud computing using this facility, companies do not need to buy any physical server for the hosting of their websites, rather they can make use of cloud hosting where they can increase or decrease the bandwidth as per business needs. Cloud-based project management is another business use of cloud computing. ... Usually business professionals need to install, configure, test, and run all hardware and software products on their own. Cloud computing eliminates such problems for clients because the providers of cloud services are responsible for managing all technical issues. Another benefit of cloud computing for businesses is that of workload shift. Using cloud-computing services, employees do not have to worry about applications’ management because the service providers take responsibility of many of the business processes related to sales and service management. As Strickland (n.d.) states, â€Å"local computers no longer have to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to running applications†. For businesses, some of the main benefits of using cloud computing services include ease of integration with proprietary systems, low capital investment, user friendly interface of software applications, and improved data management. If we talk about the expense of using cloud services, we can say that cloud computing cuts down many of the expenses for small businesses. The only expense is the monthly bill which client organizations need to pay to the service providers. However, there is no expense related to design and management of software applications because service providers bear all such expenses. Limitations of Using Cloud Computing Along with a number of benefits for businesses related to cloud computing, there also exist some limitations of using cloud-computing services. Some of those limitations include lack of security customization, less application visibility for clients, and loss of control due to increased dependency. However, privacy is the biggest concern for the users because sending of private data to the cloud does not seem to be safe. In addition, increased

Trading Techniques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Trading Techniques - Essay Example The day-trading technique involves the strategy of taking a position in the market so that the return against the trading could be optimised at the end of the day. In this technique, the day trader focuses on the movement of the share price throughout the day. The positions taken in the day-trading technique is only for a few seconds or minutes. The trading of shares and the returns and risks related to the trading of the share are realized at the end of the day. The position of share trading is not carried over to the next day (FAMA, 1970, p.385). Thus in the day-trading technique, the trader could determine the net position of profit and loss on a daily basis. The swing trading technique requires the trader to identify the trends of the share price movements of the stocks. The swing in the share prices over a particular range could be identified to be favourable by the trader in which the trader desires to maximize the returns of the stock with the swing of the increasing share prices (JEGADEESH and TITMAN, 1993, p.68). The technique of swing trading is not a speedy process of trading as the trader holds the stock positions for days and weeks as per the analysis of the swing movement of the share prices. The effective implementation of swing trading techniques helps in the growth of equity base. There are various types of swing trades. The swinging stock price may depict up swings which reflect increasing prices of stocks, down swing which reflect declining prices of stock, short swing movements and the long swing movements. The position of the stocks is held by the trader based on the anticipation of the swing movement of the share price s (LO and MACKINLEY, 1988, p.48). The trend trading is another technique where the trader determines the movement of the share prices in the long run. The trend trading techniques is a simple technique of optimizing the returns from the ongoing fluctuation trend of the share prices and anticipation of how far

College Admissions Essay: Bringing Home the Gold :: College Admissions Essays

Bringing Home the Gold    My family owned and operated a jewelry business for 8 years, since I was 10 years old. I grew up with this store, among the earrings and ornaments, always surrounded by things made from a unique substance called gold. Gold is a well-known element, atomic number 79; of course, everyone knows of its international monetary value.   However, gold also has a deeply personal resonance; and upon closer examination, this material provides an emblematic picture of my past, my future, and what I offer Harvard University.    Gold is a soft, yellow metal. It is extremely ductile, the most malleable metal there is.  Ã‚   I exhibit similar qualities, as I also adapt to the demands of my environment.  Ã‚   I am Persian, though I was born in Lebanon and later came to the United States; upon arrival here, I had to face the challenge of learning the English language.   I had to take a new shape in order to excel in unfamiliar surroundings.   In addition, I again transformed by beginning to learn my native Farsi language in order to further mold my cultural identity. Yet gold is not always a shifting, malleable metal; it is hardened by alloying with other metals, increasing its strength.   I hope to go through a corresponding process at Harvard.   I want to become a more solid citizen through exposure to other viewpoints and cultures, and by offering my own.   I will mix with new perspectives; I will alloy with my fellow students, with my professors, and with the learning that both groups impart in order to become stronger academically, socially, and culturally.    Moreover, gold is a corrosion-resistant metal.   I feel my past exhibits the characteristics of this material in that I avoided corrosion of my mind and body through active academic and athletic participation. In high school, I was president of the student body and head of the study group division. I became an Eagle Scout and was a member of the school's flag hoisting brigade.   I also played tennis competitively, swam, and played racquetball.   Through these experiences, I have gained the necessary leadership skills and exhibited unflagging responsibility to ensure a corrosion-free body and spirit.    Finally, gold parallels my goals for the future. It is one of the most conductive metals, extremely well suited for carrying an electric current.   I, too, aim to conduct another kind of electricity-political organization, by pursuing a degree in Political Science at Harvard. College Admissions Essay: Bringing Home the Gold :: College Admissions Essays Bringing Home the Gold    My family owned and operated a jewelry business for 8 years, since I was 10 years old. I grew up with this store, among the earrings and ornaments, always surrounded by things made from a unique substance called gold. Gold is a well-known element, atomic number 79; of course, everyone knows of its international monetary value.   However, gold also has a deeply personal resonance; and upon closer examination, this material provides an emblematic picture of my past, my future, and what I offer Harvard University.    Gold is a soft, yellow metal. It is extremely ductile, the most malleable metal there is.  Ã‚   I exhibit similar qualities, as I also adapt to the demands of my environment.  Ã‚   I am Persian, though I was born in Lebanon and later came to the United States; upon arrival here, I had to face the challenge of learning the English language.   I had to take a new shape in order to excel in unfamiliar surroundings.   In addition, I again transformed by beginning to learn my native Farsi language in order to further mold my cultural identity. Yet gold is not always a shifting, malleable metal; it is hardened by alloying with other metals, increasing its strength.   I hope to go through a corresponding process at Harvard.   I want to become a more solid citizen through exposure to other viewpoints and cultures, and by offering my own.   I will mix with new perspectives; I will alloy with my fellow students, with my professors, and with the learning that both groups impart in order to become stronger academically, socially, and culturally.    Moreover, gold is a corrosion-resistant metal.   I feel my past exhibits the characteristics of this material in that I avoided corrosion of my mind and body through active academic and athletic participation. In high school, I was president of the student body and head of the study group division. I became an Eagle Scout and was a member of the school's flag hoisting brigade.   I also played tennis competitively, swam, and played racquetball.   Through these experiences, I have gained the necessary leadership skills and exhibited unflagging responsibility to ensure a corrosion-free body and spirit.    Finally, gold parallels my goals for the future. It is one of the most conductive metals, extremely well suited for carrying an electric current.   I, too, aim to conduct another kind of electricity-political organization, by pursuing a degree in Political Science at Harvard.

Araby Essay

Irony in in the short story, â€Å"Araby,† is the comparison between the dream type of love the young boy feels for Mangan’s sister, and the reality of his own high expectations. Throughout the short story, I experienced a flashback to a particular external quote I had read previously, â€Å"Love is not what it seems, and just as reality has a way of dashing our dreams so too does the discovery of eyes blinded by love. † This is to reflect on how the young boy was blinded by love and that he was not aware till the end of the short story that his expectations of the show Araby was blinded by his love for Mangan’s sister. While reading the short story over and over, I happened to find symbolization towards how the dark and light are used to show how the narrator sees the world as a dark and lonely place the only light used in the story is used to describe magans sister, and in the end he learns how foolish that love was. This therefore, is making the light a symbol of his innocence and the dark the cruel reality of the world. Another aspect from the story, is how any individual could have easily inferred that, from the description of the boy’s housing situation and the small sum his uncle gave him, their financial situation was tight