Wrote The Signalman Essay Example For Students

Wrote The Signalman Essay Dickens leaves the reader wondering if the Convict is religious or not because when he lets Pip go he makes pip say Lord strike me dead if I dont, which either means the Convict believes in a Lord or the convict believes that Pip might believe in a Lord so it would give Pip a better reason for coming back, if the fact a young man willing to tear out his heart and liver isnt enough. When the Convict lets pip go home Pip runs away towards his home. He is obviously scared and occasionally looks back to see if the Convict is still there. We will write a custom essay on Wrote The Signalman specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The end of chapter one explains how Pip sees in the distance ac, which makes him think of the horrible young man. He looks around for the young man and then becomes frightened again and so runs all the way home without stopping. This technique at the end of the chapter is called a cliffhanger and it makes the reader want to read on leaving them in Suspense in what is going to happen next. Dickens also wrote The Signalman and I will briefly explain the first few paragraphs how Dickens creates Suspense In the Signalman: The Signalman has a very unusual beginning Halloa! Below there! Dickens creates suspense in the first few paragraphs of the signalman by once again luring the reader into an unknown atmosphere. He start off the story with someone shouting down at a signalman and this is the first piece of Suspense. The reader is left wondering what will happen next or what the signalman will say. The man shouting down is asking the signalman if there is any way, which he can come down and talk to him. The next large area of Suspense is when Dickens describes a train passing by Just then, there came a vague vibration in the earth and air, quickly changing into a violent pulsation, and an oncoming rush which caused me to startle back, as though it had force to draw me down. When such vapour rose to my height from this rapid train , had passed me and was skimming away over the landscape. Dickens builds up suspense by describing the train passing in so much detail and leaving us to wonder and imagine what will happen next. Dickens is very good at using imagery in his character and having a visual image of a character helps that person to understand the story more. The way in which Dickens explains the surroundings and the characters is in so much detail we can almost picture them as if they were in the room with us. In the Signalman Dickens describes the descent in which the person has to make to travel down to the signalman. It is so detailed you can picture being there. Dickens also uses the senses to enhance the feeling of what he is describing. His favourite sense is sight as most of the things he describes are to do with seeing the object he is describing. There by a dint of looking closely about me, I found a rough descending zig-zag path notched out: which I followed. The cutting was extremely deep, and unusually precipitate. It was made through a clammy stone that became oozier and wetter as I went down. Dickens also uses complex words to portray his suspense For these reasons, I found the way long enough to give me time to recall a singular air of reluctance or compulsion with which he had pointed out the path. Dickens describes the thoughts and images that the man sees when he comes down to talk with the signalman. .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536 , .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536 .postImageUrl , .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536 , .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536:hover , .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536:visited , .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536:active { border:0!important; } .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536:active , .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536 .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubf955b12f0d12c996fcf2ca9909c6536:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Wizard of Oz Essay I resumed my downward way, and, stepping out on the level of the railroad and drawing nearer to him, saw that he was a dark sallow man , with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows. His post was in a as solitary and dismal place as ever I saw. On either side, a dripping-wet wall of jagged stone, excluding all view but a strip of sky; the perspective one way, only a crooked prolongation of this great dungeon; the shorter perspective in the other direction , terminating in a gloomy red light, and the gloomier entrance to a black tunnel, in whose massive architecture there was a Barbarous, depressing, and forbidding air. This section is a perfect example of how Dickens creates suspense in the Signalman and great Expectations. He uses great detail to lure a reader into an unknown atmosphere. This makes the reader want to read on and desperate to find out what is going to happen next. A combination of interesting and thorough detail, careful choices of words and the five senses create an excellent base for building up Suspense in Dickens Stories. This is why he is such a brilliant Suspense writer.

Chivilary essays

Chivilary essays In Medieval times, nights went by a code called chivalry. Chivalry was the order of knighthood and the code of knightly behavior. Many of the tenets of Chivalry were displayed throughout the Arthurian legend. The Lady of the Lake and Excalibur displayed such aspects of chivalric code. The great King Arthur even though young and foolish began to exemplify these tenets of chivalry such as: loyalty, generous treatment of foes, and fearlessness. Loyalty was present in two ways in the story. For example, when the three ruffians were chasing Merlin, Arthur came to Merlins side and protected him. With that, Arthur showed his Loyalty to Merlin. The tenet of loyalty was also present in Merlin. Merlin illustrated loyalty in more than one way. When King Pellinore was about to kill Arthur, with a purpose of saving Arthurs life, Merlin cast a sleeping spell on King Pellinore. During the jousting with King Pellinore, Arthur broke his magical sword, which prevailed him as the future king. Merlin saw that Arthur would receive a new sword. With that, Merlin took Arthur to the Lady of the Lake and Arthur obtained the powerful Excalibur. Finally Merlin, as Arthurs guardian, warned Arthur not to fight King Pellinore again. The importance of loyalty is many times overlooked. Only through loyalty can trust be built on. Without the concept of trust, the world as a whole would not be able to function very well. We, as people, have it in our hearts to help each other. In order to help one another, people need to have a connection of trust. If we did not have trust in each other, than people would never help each other. This all ties back to loyalty and without it the world is a darker place. For foes were something Arthur could not live without. In order to exemplify class, Arthur treated many of his foes with generosity and kindness. In the story, Arthur did not attack King Pellinore when he had a ch...

Medicare part D coverage and how it makes the elderly a vulnerable Essay

Medicare part D coverage and how it makes the elderly a vulnerable population - Essay Example the package that was finally approved by the Congress has been criticized as being complex and ill conceived, with a capacity for adding to the difficulties of the elderly who are a vulnerable segment of the population and find it difficult to negotiate complex administrative procedures or to fight for their rights. Broadly speaking, some assistance with prescription drug expenditure has been provided for annul expenditures on prescription drugs with an upper limit of about $ 2,250 after which the enrollees pay out of their pocket until catastrophic assistance with prescription drug expenditure cuts in at about $ 5,100. Although the previously mentioned ‘doughnut’ is expected to keep expenses on healthcare under control, Medicare Part D has been criticized as being too complex, with an ability to add to the vulnerabilities of the elderly Americans. A very large number of plans are now being offered and it has to be wondered why the tax cuts that had been announced could not have been used to device a simpler system without a doughnut to better care for the elderly and the disabled. This brief essay presents an examination of why Medicare Part D coverage makes the elderly a vulnerable population. I hereby certify that, except where cited in the text, this work is the result of the research carried out by the author of this study. The main content of the study which has been presented contains work that has not previously been reported anywhere. Major changes were made to the Medicare Program for the first time in 30 years, when The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 made it possible for all Medicare beneficiaries to receive prescription drug assistance (Quimby, 2006, Pp. 1 – 10). Prescription drugs are important because they play a vital role in improving health outcomes and the quality of life in many ailments which may otherwise require surgery or other expensive and invasive treatments. Prescription drugs are essential for promoting early recovery

My Writing Experiences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

My Writing Experiences - Essay Example I am an extrovert person even from my childhood which enabled me to communicate effectively with even strangers. Such communications often increased my knowledge level immensely. New knowledge or information always attracted me irrespective of whether it is useful to me or interesting to me. Topics like politics, sports, cinema, science, history, philosophy, sociology, psychology education, business, and economics; all attracted me and I always tried to collect information regarding the above topics in particular. I strongly believe that my interests in a variety of topics helped me a lot while writing something about a topic. Simple academic knowledge alone cannot make a good writer. Close observation of incidents or developments happening all over the world is necessary for a writer. Moreover, I have a strong temperament in listening others even though I am a bit, talkative person. I consider all the above qualities as the strengths of me as a writer. The main weakness about me as a writer is my inability to concentrate entirely on the topic. Because of a reasonable amount of knowledge I possess about different topics, my track quiet often deviated from the main theme while writing. I need a lot of proofreading sessions before making the topic back on track. I always tried to accommodate too many things in a small paper and hence quiet regularly exceeds the limits while writing my assignments. I always tried to incorporate interesting examples in my paper irrespective of the topic. I believe that the readers are the asset of a writer and hence in order to catch the attention of the readers, interesting examples or stories need to be included in the paper even if we are writing about boring subjects like philosophy or politics. I always like to have a calm and quiet atmosphere around me while writing which enabled me to focus entirely on the paper.

Science and Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Science and Law - Essay Example That is why the scientific theories and dogmas enjoy much higher levels of veracity and credibility as compared to other academic disciplines. So much so, that scientific approach towards research and experimentation has been incorporated within the ambit of other disciplines and fields of enquiry like sociology, history, economics, jurisprudence, psychology, etc. The fact is that science has infiltrated every aspect of life and human existence and today there exists practically no social institution or concern that is devoid of scientific methods and approaches. Especially in the realm of law, science has brought about an unprecedented change and revolution. In the 21st century, scientific evidence is legitimately welcomed and accommodated in all the courts of law and it holds a credibility and veracity about which there exists no doubt. The scientific community has also promptly responded to this new challenge and responsibility by developing new disciplines like forensics that spe cifically cater to the realm of law and the techniques like finger print evidence, DNA fingerprinting, etc hold an almost unchallenged recognition in the courts of law. With the digitization of the economies and scientific orientation of the means and ways of production, the courts of law are often required to contend with the litigations that require considerable amounts of scientific data and inputs. There is no denying the fact that the courts in the West have over the centuries, incorporated certain cardinal instruments within their frameworks and the jury is one such integral aspect of such legal frameworks. For good or for bad, the litigations requiring scientific data and discussion are not devoid of the decisive influence of juries and the concerned scientific evidence furnished in such cases is as much open to analysis by the jury as by judges, lawyers, litigants and other parties involved.The entrance of science in the courtrooms has given way to a plethora of questions, apprehensions and doubts. Infact this new trend has exposed the jury to attacks and aspersions from various quarters of the society and intelligentsia. Such pressure grou ps, while citing the complexity and intricacy involved in the conception and understanding of scientific evidence as a valid excuse claim that the contemporary system of assorting juries that seldom requires and asks for relevant qualifications and scientific knowhow, has literally rendered the institution of jury as totally obsolete, especially in the court cases that involve considerable amounts of scientific evidence and theoretical arguments and discussions.Such claims need to be qualified in the light of the basic objectives that led to the introduction of the institution of jury in the English legal system. It is imperative for the so called champions of science to understand that the jury is essentially a political institution and serves specific purposes in the democratic societies (Edmond and Mercer 331). Leaving the practical aspects of justice aside, a stiff opposition from the so called adherents of science is the biggest problem that the institution of jury faces in the 21st century. The reasons cited by such elements will be dealt with later on in this paper. First and foremost it is important to understand the political and democratic relevance of the jury in the Western legal

The Impact Of Ict On Accommodation Sector Tourism Essay

The Impact Of Ict On Accommodation Sector Tourism Essay Domestic and international tourism in New Zealand has grown significantly in the past decade and shows every sign of continuing to do so. A vital component of the tourism industry is the Accommodation sector. Over 3000 accommodation enterprises employ more than 20,000 New Zealanders on a full time equivalent (FTE) basis and bring important economic benefit to both rural and urban settings. The accommodation sector is characterised by considerable uptake of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in areas such as bookings, Property Management System (PMS) and back-office functions. This research aims to create a better understanding of how ICT adoption is influencing the demand for, and use of, accommodation in this important sector and how enterprise owners and managers feel about the ICT issues that stem from the tourist influences. The research is based on: (i) a review of global and local research in tourism, ICT and accommodation use; our findings reveal that ICT adoption is having important impacts on accommodation use and demand in both small and large enterprises, the researcher conclude with the presentation of a major findings and some thoughts on approaches that may enhance the ability of the accommodation sector to cope with the complex interactions between ICT adoption and tourism activities. 1.2 INTRODUCTION The increasing use of the Internet and other communication technology is changing the way the industry does business, allowing small operators to access those interested in their product irrespective of location, and allowing firms of all types to reap productivity gains, (Bahalis 1998, 2003). Tourists are also able to benefit from additional transparency in pricing and the ability to customize the experiences they seek (Inkpen 1998; Milne et al 2004). Medlik and Ingram (2000) stated in many years, hotel are important attractions for visitors who bring with them spending power and who tend to spend at a higher rate than they do when they are at home. Through visitors spending, hotel thus often contributes significantly to local economies both directly and indirectly through the subsequent diffusion of the visitors expenditure to other recipients in the community. However, the pattern and structure of the accommodation sector, growth in tourism, increase in capacities, globalisation and technology innovations has been the contemporary force for the hotel chains to extend their presence worldwide, achieving huge marketing success and market identity. Their success is not based only on promoting only one standardised product buy by introducing multiple brands which differentiate their services offered in the eye of the tourists. According to the international Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA), there are over 300 hotels chains which comprised one third of the worlds accommodation capacities. New Zealand is very much part of this dynamic and competitive tourism environment. The New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2010 (TIANZ 2001) identifies tourism as one of the nations key earners of foreign exchange and argues that the industry is likely to play a growing role in the future of New Zealands economy. During 2002 over 2 million international visitors spent an estimated NZ$6.140 billion. Taking into account the direct and indirect effects of this expenditure and the not inconsiderable (but harder to estimate) impacts of domestic tourism we see that the industry contributed approximately 9% of New Zealands GDP for the year to March 2002 and 14.3% of total exports (Statistics New Zealand, 2003). Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are a key element in attempts to enhance the yield of the industry. It has also been suggested that ICT change the very rules of tourism with industry leaders being forced to adopted new managerial and strategic best practice (Buhalis 2000, Law 2001). The New Zealand Tourism Strategy has as one of its key strategic objectives the need to build the ICT capability of New Zealand tourism enterprises, especially among the 85-90% of businesses that are classified as small tourism enterprises (STE) (Nodder et al 2003a). The Strategy identifies tourism as a knowledge and information-based sector and highlights the ability of ICT to collect, analyse and distribute information widely across the sector supporting a better understanding of visitors needs, preferences and behaviours. It is also argued that ICT can foster a higher degree of interaction between stakeholders through an internet presence, email, electronic discussion groups and teleco nferencing. Such networking and linkage formation offers the opportunity to realise enormous benefits (Nodder 2003; Nodder et al 2003). This research addresses these issues in the context of the New Zealand accommodation sector. Accommodation represents the cornerstone of both the international and domestic tourism markets and accounts for a major component of total tourist spend. The sector is relatively labour intensive and is a significant employer in both urban centres and more peripheral rural regions (Morrison and Thomas 1999; Statistics New Zealand 2003). It is a diverse industry including everything from large hotel with multinational organisational structures, through to small owner operated motels and bed and breakfast establishments. 1.3 Aims and Objectives The core objectives of this research are to: To develop a clearer picture of the current competitive context facing the accommodation sector in New Zealand, in order to provide a backdrop to the ICT and labour use dimensions that from the focus of the research. To gain an understanding of how ICT is being adopted and used in the New Zealand accommodation sector and to review wherever possible the differences that exists between small and large operations and between those operating in rural and urban settings. To provide a clear sense of how ICT adoption is influencing the demand for tourist and the workplace organisation and use of workers. In particular we focus on themes of hiring, internal communication, productivity, turnover and retention and processes of customer out-sourcing. To synthesize and discuss findings and present some tentative ideas that can assist the accommodation sector, and the regions that depend on it, to better anticipate and respond to the sometimes complex links between ICT adoptions and tourism demand for modern technology. 1.4 LITERATURE REVIEW It is important to note the international literature has generally shown that in the past small tourism firms have been less likely to implement ICT than their larger counterparts (Mutch, 1998; Paraskevas, 2002; Milev and Marsh 1998). Studies in the US, for example, show that managers in larger properties (greater than 300 rooms) attach significantly more important to the Internet as a tool to make reservations and analyse the competition than their smaller counterparts. Similarly, they rated its importance as a means to communicate with colleagues, vendors and corporate offices significantly higher (Van Hoof, et al, 1998). This is also fits the patterns seen in the studies conducted in the UK (Sigala et al, 2002, Evans and Peacock 1999; Buick, 2003, Main, 2001) and elsewhere (Milne and Pohlmann 1998). Resent years have seen a growing number of small operations embracing ICT for no other reason than they simply have no choice (Ateljevic 2002). The competitive cost of being invisible in a sector that is increasingly dominated by web-based booking systems is too great to bear for small operators who are already facing low margins and growing competition (Buhalis 1999). Thus ICT uptake is growing rapidly and, in the case of New Zealand, the use of computers, email and the Internet is reaching near saturation levels (Nodder et al, 2003a). Nevertheless it is important to note that there are varying levels and degrees of ICT use and many commentators argue that the sophistication with which hard and software is used still lags behind larger operators, even though the actual equipment may be in place (Milne et al, 2004). The reason for the past, and sometimes present, lag in ICT uptake and use by small businesses are many and varied and are inevitable shaped by both internal and external (environmental) factors, ICT use by smaller accommodation operators tends to be dominated by accounting functions, data processing and inventory management tools. While email and website use is also increasingly common as noted above this is not necessarily enough to meet the evolving demands of increasingly technologically savvy consumers. Buhalis and Laws (2001) discuss the behaviour of these new consumers who are becoming more used to interacting in an electronic environment and are increasingly demanding that tourism enterprises be easily accessible on the Internet. Not only do they require access to information but also the ability to book online and submit payment in a secure environment (Mason and Milne 2002; Gatty and Blalock 1998). Buhalis (2003, 143) comments on a number of factors that determine the introduction of ICT by SMTE. Factors originating in political, social and economic forces can lead to the uptake and development of technology as part of broader strategies. Thus it could be said that the new, sophisticated consumer is pushing SMTE to respond and increase efficiencies (Nodder 2003; Milne et al, 2004). Similarly, SMTE who are forming strategic alliances in order to increase their influence on a global market require the support that can be delivered by up-to-date ICT. As pointed out by Cooper (1998), accommodation is the fundamental element of the tourism product, not only is it the largest and most ubiquitous sub-sector within the tourism economy. The accommodation sector is the essential components for the tourism development, planning and economy within any destination and consists of different sub-sectors from which hotels can be considered as the significant one. It is on this premise that Medlik and Ingram (2000), contributed by saying that the primary function of a hotel is to accommodate those away from home and supply them with their basic needs but through the years the diversification in the provision of accommodation as tourism products, change in consumer demand, needs and expectations, globalisation and modernisation challenge has given rise to an increase level of ICT competition among accommodation service providers. The accommodation sector and the impact of technology have had great influence on the distribution of the accommodation products. The development of technology has seen accommodation providers reviewing their marketing strategy and delivering their product via an innovation distribution channel. The Global Distribution Channel (GDS) and Computer Reservation Channel (CRS) represent the strongest distribution system for hotels and international chains. According to Travel Mole (2001), the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association has reported that hotels bookings made through Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, Sahara and World span grew 11.4 percent in 2000, with 48,787,000 bookings. The evolution of the internet provide the opportunity for the online booking through a central reservation system as well as the implementation of online marketing strategy and interaction with customers such as the e-commerce. However, it shows that despite the impact of the environment, seasonality or technological, the accommodation industry will still continue to innovate and diversify and expand to cater the demand in tourism products. 1.5 Accommodation, and ICT a review ICT are increasingly recognised as a critical part of the strategic management of accommodation organisations irrespective of size (Buhalis, 2003 p51). Studies of the significant intra-firm impacts of new technologies have been paralleled by broader analyses of ICT ability to alter distribution network and global industry structures (Nodder et al, 2003). Internally there has been a focus on the impact of technologies in both front office and back office areas with an emphasis on point of sale (POS) technologies, in-room entertainment, back-office accounting, human resources management and supplier relationships (Anon 2002b; 2003b, Baker and Sussman 1999). Emphasis on the broader impacts of ICT has been placed on airline-based Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and Computer Reservation Systems (CRS), Property Management Systems (PMS) and Destination Management Systems (DMS) (Milne and Ateljevic 2001). The latter have been used by enterprises to enhance performance in the global distribution channels that dominate international tourist flows, and to create seamless integration between internal technology use and the outside world (Go and Pine 1995; Gray et al, 2000). In simple terms, tools that facilitate the transmission of information and a level of interactivity between tourism operator and consumer are indispensable to each stage of the tourism value chain, especially when considering distribution and the ability to enter new markets (Buhalis 2001a, b). There are a number of ways that Information and Communications Technologies can enhance the performance of an accommodation enterprise and assist in gaining competitive advantage (Baker et al, 1999; Baum and Odgers 2001; Buhalis 2001c, Milne and Pohlmann 1998). These include; allowing a quicker response time to market and immediate processing of enquiries; integrating different applications to allow seamless processing with reduced error; sharing of resources; increasing capacity of work flow and worker productivity; customization and/or standardisation of key product offerings; flexibility and the adaptability needed to keep pace with the fast moving market, and the ability to creating communities of online suppliers and clients (Murphy 2003; Mutch 1998; Sigala et al 2001). The relationship with the customer can therefore be enhance at the information gathering and pre-arrival stage, during the arrival, check-in and stay stage, and also in the departure and post-stay stage. The ability to mine data gathered from clients and to measure the performance of individual workers and departments also makes it easier to benchmark, compare and contrast performance across global boundaries while also creating localized improvements (Van Hoof 1996, 2003). The accommodation businesses has this concern of improving market share and increase profitability as a result of providing a unique experience to customers with the accommodation structure located within an ecologically fragile natural environment. So it is very important that accommodation businesses adopt an environmental management scheme by adopting water conservation concept by reducing water usage mainly in areas where there are water shortage, energy conservation, for example the Hong Kong Guide identify a way for saving energy with the use of a computer which controls energy and even rooms in a way that as soon as a room is vacated and doors shut the light will shut automatically. Technological innovation is also depicted as an improvement in a product or service performance in terms of quality, cost, speed or number or characteristic (Cohen Levinthal, 1990). The technological innovation within the tourist accommodations activity has to capture the particular and differential features of sector, characterized by the nature of the service. According to Gallouj and Winstein (1997) there are some aspects that characterize service and have a great influence on the definition of technological innovation. Those can be relevant to the accommodation sector in the following ways: First, there is a close interaction between production and consumption (coterminality) that makes difficult the typical product and process manufacturing distinction. The coterminality implies that the innovation activities will focus on service individualization, adapting the service provided to the customer requirements. Moreover, the coterminality leads to a higher degree of service heterogeneity the exchange object differs from one case to another. Only institutional changes, effectively implemented as a business strategy, must be regarded as technological innovations, and not those spontaneously generated and derived from human interaction. This characteristic fits on the hotel set of services provided to their customers. The second is the intangibility and growing information contents in the provision of services. The information and communication technologies play a critical role in the innovation activities of tourist accommodation businesses: to reach the potential customers with information that helps to get the deeper understanding of the service purchased; to reach the largest share of the demand; to obtain and process the information for a better business performance. The role of human resources as a key competitive factor. The importance of the human factor in service activities is associated with the capability to establish the quality and features of the service finally provided. Training and education activities are explicitly considered as one way to improve and upgrade the technological capabilities of service companies. Changes in the organization architecture can be linked to the introduction of new technologies, and should be included as technological innovation activities. These organizational issues are relevant in the accommodation industry to fulfil the services requirements. As Weiermair (2001) notes, Information and Communication Technologies play an integral role in enabling tourism operators of all types to act local and think global. Information and Communication Technologies have been claimed by many commentators to be the backbone of the tourism industry (Wong 2001; McCann 2001; Applebee et al, 2000; Connolly and Olsen 2001) and accommodation is no exception to this rule. ICT is seen as a vital, and often somewhat overlooked, element that shapes and underpins management of operations, human resources, sale and marketing and accounting and finance (figure.1) Indeed ICT is seen more and more as an enabler of competitive improvements for both small and larger enterprises alike (Anckar Walden 2001; Gretzel and Fesenmaier, 2000). The tourism industry includes a wide range of activities such as restaurants, entertainment, transportation and accommodation. A rigorous and reliable analysis of the technological change focuses on one of these activities that include a homogeneous set of companies with similar production functions inputs, outputs and available technology and market environment. The homogeneity of the available data and the relative importance within the industry, make advisable to choose the hospitality business as the field of the study. The lodging sector is an outstanding tourist activity since is a sine qua non in the provision of all the other tourism services, being the basic requirement of the tourist at the destination point. Figure 1: The integral role of ICT in the accommodation sector (Connolly and Olsen, 2001, 87) Connolly and Olsen, 2001, 87) Within New Zealand, like elsewhere around the world, the government and major telecommunications enterprises have a vital role to play in providing the connectivity and bandwidth to support ICT uptake and effective use in business (e.g. Ministry of Economic Development Project Probe initiative) and in which industry and business leaders to build capabilities (a key objectives of the eCommerce Action Team ECAT). As Nodder (2003) notes, however, these initiatives have often highlighted the needs of large businesses, sometimes overlooking the SME that are vital to sectors such as accommodation. 1.6 The New Zealand accommodation industry an overview The New Zealand accommodation industry is made up of a range of segments and is not an easy sector to define. The researcher begin this section with a short discussion of definitional issues revolving around accommodation type and size, then address issues related to the sectors overall size, economic value and geographical structure. Defining accommodation and size The key elements are defined below and are based on the descriptions provided by one of the nations leading providers of accommodation based information the Automobile Association (see www.aatravel.co.nz):  Ã‚ ¬ Hotels: includes both hotels and resorts Hotels of world class standard are found in major cities, leading provincial and resort areas. They have bar and restaurant facilities. Rooms have phone and TV, toilet, bath/shower facilities and usually have tea/coffee making facilities. Country hotels and pubs offer clean, pleasant rooms. Hotels and pub can refer to taverns without accommodation. Some sporting lodges and upmarket resorts offer exclusive hideaway location with top-class facilities.  Ã‚ ¬ Motels: includes motor inn, apartments and motels These are a popular form of accommodation for domestic travellers and family groups as most units offer self catering facilities. They also have phone. TV tea/coffee, bathrooms and toilet facilities; they have made up beds, bedding and parking. Breakfast can usually be ordered at an extra cost.  Ã‚ ¬ Hosted: includes private hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfast, and holiday farm (farm stay) accommodation Guesthouses may sometimes be in restored older buildings, not all include breakfast. Private hotel means no liquor license. Home-stay and farm-stay normally means accommodation is available in the family house, though a separate annex or cottage may be included. Bathroom may be separate or shared. Guests may share home cooked meals with their hosts or fellow travellers, breakfast is usually included in the tariff, and other meals are sometimes available by prior arrangement.  Ã‚ ¬ Backpackers/Hostels Generally independently owned, with an emphasis on enabling travellers to mix and mingle. Most offer a mix of shared rooms (dormitories) and double/twin/single rooms. Prices can start as low as $15. The focus market for this group is often younger independent travellers.  Ã‚ ¬ Caravan parks/Camping grounds. Tent sites, caravan sites, campervan sites etc with central toilet facilities and recreational facilities (games, TV rooms), some also offer onsite cabins which offer beds and a roof but little more, some are more upmarket with ensuite facilities, TV etc. Industry Characteristics The New Zealand accommodation sector continues to grow although periods of International uncertainty and domestic overseas economic fluctuations have impacts on the industry from time to time. Although there are some sectoral fluctuations overall trends in occupancy rates have been rising during the past five years (Figure 2). The relatively robust nature of the industry is underlined by the fact that during this period the global tourism industry has faced some of its most challenging times with the spectre of terrorism and health related pandemics creating a major downswing in international arrivals for several developed and developing nations. Figure2: Five years trends in accommodation sector occupancy rates (Source: Statistics New Zealand, 2004) Performance in the past year has been steady with most segments of the industry showing little growth. The overall occupancy rate for February 2004, excluding Caravan parks/camping grounds, was 69 percent, the same rate as that recorded a year earlier (Table 3.1). Hotels and motels both recorded rates of 72 percent in February 2004, while backpackers/hostels recorded a rate of 63 percent. Four of the five accommodation types recorded increases in guest nights in February 2004 compared with February 2003. Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were 3.2 million in February 2004, a 3% increase compared with February 2003 and 10% increase compared with February 2002. Motels (up 53,000 or 5 percent) recorded the largest absolute increase in guest nights, followed by backpackers/hostels (up 41,000 or 11 percent). Motels had the largest share of total guest nights in February 2004 with 33 percent, followed by hotels with 30 percent and caravan parks/camping grounds with 2 2 percent. 1.7 CONCLUSIONS This research has highlighted a number of key issues in the relationship between ICT adoption and accommodation use/demand in the New Zealand hotel sector. The main findings can be summarised as follows: In common with other parts of the world, the New Zealand accommodation sector is becoming increasingly reliant on ICT. Large hotels have already invested heavily and are now enhancing and fine-tuning their use of more mature technologies. For small operations the take-off in ICT use has occurred more recently. Future investment in ICT is unlikely to slow. The Internet and the use of on-line information by consumers and suppliers are playing a major role in influencing overall accommodation industry performance and organisation. The impact of on-line booking is being felt across all segments of the industry. As the Internet evolves into a single, powerful information highway supported by diverse technology applications, there will be many opportunities for more flexible and efficient sales processes, data-warehousing, customized service provision and labour monitoring. 1.8 RECOMMENDATION While ICT will continue to improve efficiency and reduce cost in the large accommodation sector its main role in the future is seen as the facilitation, provision, and monitoring of service quality and the blurring of divisions between departments and different properties. There is a clear sense that technologys major impact on job reduction has already occurred. There is a real need for workers to have a deeper understanding of not just the technology itself, but also of how the technology is embedded within overall business operations and performance. The task of the improving service and performance through ICT adoption in accommodation organizations is complex. The implementation of technology may very well assist in improving service quality but research shows quite clearly that technology and information alone do not confer competitive advantage. If managers want to convert ICT investments into real service quality and performance improvements they must understand its links to, and impacts on, workers, managers and suppliers. In simple term the work of managers is becoming more complex and they too increasingly require a deeper understanding of ICT as a business tool and its potential applications in the business setting. In recent years accommodation businesses have been influenced by substantial ICT change, both from within and outside the industry. The experience gained in recovering from adverse impacts, or from adapting to take advantage of new opportunities, has been hard won. Lessons learnt from such valuable experiences need to be shared to ensure the continued development of the industry. At the same time it is clear that the role of ICT in the industry will grow and evolve in the next few decades, bringing with it a range of new labour and training need. There is widespread consensus that formal training in the sector falls short of the evolving industry requirements for skilled workers. Hotel and tourism schools appear to be having problems keeping up with technological changes which require. In concluding the researcher is of the opinion that there is a need to better facilitate access to training programmes for operators, their staff, and cluster organisations. Improved feedback to industry on tourism demand and supply trends is required, and the establishment of formalised communication between tourist and tertiary providers is increasingly necessary. Recent initiatives highlighted in the Tourism Strategy will certainly help to overcome these issues. It will also be important to monitor the efforts made by groups like the CTC in Canada and Service Skills Victoria in Australia, as they establish new bodies that link the accommodation industry and training providers together to lead workforce development for the sector. Such bodies have the potential to assist industries, enterprises, and their workforce to integrate skills development with business goals. Based on the above role of ICT in the hotel industry, the impact of ICT on the accommodation sector can not be measured. Words count 4,286

Zarathustra by Me :: essays research papers

Zarathustra by Me Published 1895 translation by Gerardo Published 1999 ________________________________________ PREFACE This book belongs to the most rare of men. Perhaps not one of them is yet alive. It is possible that they may be among those who understand my \\"Zarathustra\\": how could I confound myself with those who are now sprouting ears?--First the day after tomorrow must come for me. Some men are born posthumously. The conditions under which any one understands me, and necessarily understands me--I know them only too well. Even to endure my seriousness, my passion, he must carry intellectual integrity to the verge of hardness. He must be accustomed to living on mountain tops--and to looking upon the wretched gabble of politics and nationalism as beneath him. He must have become indifferent; he must never ask of the truth whether it brings profit to him or a fatality to him... He must have an inclination, born of strength, for questions that no one has the courage for; the courage for the forbidden; predestination for the labyrinth. The experience of seven solitudes. New ears for new music. New eyes for what is most distant. A new conscience for truths that have hitherto remained unheard. And the will to economize in the grand manner--to hold together his strength, his enthusiasm...Reverence for self; love of self; absolute freedom of self..... Very well, then! of that sort only are my readers, my true readers, my readers foreordained: of what account are the rest?--The rest are merely humanity.--One must make one\\'s self superior to humanity, in power, in loftiness of soul,--in contempt. FRIEDRICH W. NIETZSCHE. 1. --Let us look each other in the face. We are Hyperboreans--we know well enough how remote our place is. \\"Neither by land nor by water will you find the road to the Hyperboreans\\": even Pindar1,in his day, knew that much about us. Beyond the North, beyond the ice, beyond death--our life, our happiness...We have discovered that happiness; we know the way; we got our knowledge of it from thousands of years in the labyrinth. Who else has found it?--The man of today?--\\"I don\\'t know either the way out or the way in; I am whatever doesn\\'t know either the way out or the way in\\"--so sighs the man of today...This is the sort of modernity that made us ill,--we sickened on lazy peace, cowardly compromise, the whole virtuous dirtiness of the modern Yea and Nay. This tolerance and largeur of the heart that \\"forgives\\" everything because it \\"understands\\" everything is a sirocco to us.