Journal 1 – The Metamorphosis

The opening paragraph of this short story begins with the introduction of Gregor Samsa as a newly transformed insect. The narrator's intent in regards to this brusque stating of Gregor's new physical shape, is perhaps to convey Gregor's own surprised and confused feelings into the reader's mind. The narrator seems to anticipate what the reader is thinking, as he immediately states that Gregor is transformed, and what shape he now possesses. The narrator pushes his description to unfolding the exact contours of Gregor's body. He takes the perspective of Gregor, looking down on his own body, perhaps to heighten the vividness and brutal psychological shock of the first vision of his â€Å"numerous legs, which were pitifully thin compared to the rest of his bulk, waved helplessly before his eyes. † The reader is thus enabled, through this first-person point-of-view, to visualise that precise image, which inherently helps the reader better understand the effect of the transformation through Gregor's perspective. The paragraph detailing Gregor's metamorphosis is followed by a description of his room and of his non-bug life. The reader notices that where the first paragraph was leaning towards structure and a coherent and precise description of Gregor, this paragraph seems to consist of more random thoughts than anything else. It's as if Gregor's mind is wandering about his room, trying to rebuild his human character, whereas the previous paragraph had completely shattered his notion of humanity. We can see in the following quote just how determined Gregor is to re-ascertain his humanity, † What has happened to me? he thought. It was no dream. His room, a regular human bedroom, only rather too small, lay quiet between the four familiar walls. † Firstly, the fact that Gregor states very plainly that he lived in a good, human bedroom seems odd, as he feels the need to qualify the normalness of his place of residence through it's ‘human' appeal, instead of, say its ‘roomy' or ‘comfortable' appeal. Furthermore, the description of his room continues in its peculiarity, as Gregor feels compelled to further solidify the mundane-ness of his room through its ‘four familiar walls'. It seems that Gregor feels further compelled to make his room normal by depicting it as being of usual dimensions, hence the four walls, which are familiar – a contrast perhaps to his newly acquired uncomfortable feeling of not belonging, of being odd – hence the insect-like shape. The seemingly xenophobic attributes of his new character seriously conflict with the person he used to make himself be. As he states, â€Å"Above the table on which a collection of cloth samples was unpacked and spread out – Samsa was a commercial traveler – (†¦ † The position he held, and assumedly still has, of being a commercial traveler would lead one to believe that Gregor was not antisocial in any way, in fact the reader could assume that Gregor worked as a traveller because of his affinity with people. Yet the manner in which he now describes his room perhaps suggests that a deeper transformation had occurred, one that affected his self-confidence and his pers onality. Lead by hermit-like comments such as the â€Å"four familiar walls†, one can see that Gregor may now find sanctuary in the closeness of these walls, rather than seeking the public world of a traveller. This reaction is rather evident, as one could assume that any person would feel demoralized after being transformed into a huge bug. Yet where some people may be affected only physically, this transformation seems to have affected Gregor's psyche as well. Lastly, the end-description of the lady, â€Å"sitting upright and holding out to the spectator a huge fur muff into which the whole of her forearm had vanished! † seems odd, as Gregor's reaction to the huge fur muff somehow seems detached, like it was the first time he had seen it done. Ironically, Gregor tells the reader that he had recently framed the picture and had placed it above his desk, which would lead one to believe that he had looked at the picture before hanging it. Moreover, his reaction to the disappearing forearm may be related to the fact that he no longer has any, which would therefore explain his shocked reaction; the fact that a human is being portrayed in some light other than a normal one is both terrifying and appalling to Gregor, a notion that is explained again through his reaction to the picture, and perhaps thus to his physical state.

German Automobile Industry Background

German Automobile Industry Industry Background The automobile industry in Germany was born on in the earlier 1886 when the first â€Å"vehicle powered by a gas engine† was assembled and registered. 125 years has passed, and with it the industry has acquired an incredible growth and global recognition. The industry now is one of the most powerful and reliable of the world that actually competes â€Å"vis a vis† with the one of the most dominant car industries of the world: Asian automobile industry.The German automobile industry is one of the stronger and successful industries in the world, it is the fourth global manufacturer in terms of volume (numbers of cars assembled) after China, United States and Japan. In fact, German automobile industry is responsible for of the manufacturing of 17% of the total global car production. Furthermore, it represents the main sector of Germany’s economy (main driver of growth) as well as the largest automotive market in the who le European continent.One of the key factors of success of this industry has been the large budgets invested in automotive development and research, which has allowed them to manufacture and offer vehicles with latest technology that in most of the cases fits better with consumer insights; in other words, an evolutionary process of application of innovation and cutting-edge technology has lead into one of the main industries in Germany. A good example of this fact is the development of environmental friendly vehicles, which makes â€Å"Germany the most innovative auto nation in the world†.German cars are known globally due to its attributes in terms of comfort, luxury, security, efficiency, reliability, design and image. In addition, the industry counts with one of the higher qualified labor forces, as well as modern infrastructures and research facilities. The industry actually employ 747,600 people just within Germany, and this rate is increasing sharply over the years. The result, Europe’s largest automobile market: about 5. 4 million passenger cars manufactured in 2012; 46 automobile assembly and engine production plants with a capacity over one third of the total automobile production in Europe.Giving the importance of German automobile industry is not a surprise to find some of the most influent companies of the world setting their headquarters and principal assembly plants in the country. The market is dominated by Audi, BMW, Ford Germany, Mercedes Benz, Opel, Porsche and Volkswagen. All these companies have a common characteristic: global demand. Therefore, even when domestic economy is huge –including Germany and the European Union- the industry growth is predominantly due to the exports of vehicles to other countries.Also, as well as the manufacturing of passenger cars, the industry in comprised in an important proportion by the manufacturing and trade of auto parts. The latest reports indicate that last January was a historic mo nth for German automotive industry in which they experienced a sharp increase in demand due to past few years’ trends that have been defining market behavior. Audi and Mercedes Benz sold more cars around the world in January than any corresponding month in the past. The Volkswagen subsidiary Audi sold 117,500 cars, the higher quantity of monthly sales in its history.Also, it increased the worldwide distribution by 16% the same month. The trend was indicating in the past years a significant growth in trade especially with the Asian market, last January the trend was confirmed. Even though the sales increase in all regions, in China the increase was of 38. 5%. Giving this, is possible to identify the markets that represent the clusters of largest demands of German cars as: Asia (mainly China), US and Europe. Bibliography Bibliography IANS. (2013, 02 13). German Cars in Global Demand. Retrieved from Zeebiz. com: http://zeenews. india. om/business/automobiles/auto-news/german-car s-audi-mercedes-benz-in-global-demand_69691. html Invest, G. T. (n. d. ). Automotive Industry. Retrieved from Germany Trade and Invest : http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Industries/Logistics-mobility/automotive. html Invest, G. T. (n. d. ). The Automotive Industry in Germany. Retrieved from Ixpos. de: http://www. ixpos. de/IXPOS/Content/EN/Your-business-in-germany/_SharedDocs/Downloads/automotive-industry-in-germany. pdf ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Germany Invest and Trade: Automotive Industry.

Path-Goal Leadership Questionnaire Personal Statement

Path-Goal Leadership Questionnaire - Personal Statement Example Path Goal Leadership theory is nothing less than a revolution in the world of management and leadership as the man himself said in his paper, ‘Path Goal Theory of Leadership: Lessons, Legacy, and a Reformulated Theory (House, 1996). This particular theory focuses on the relationship between the manager and his or her subordinate staff and how that relationship affects the performance of the staff and the company generally. The four main styles talked of in this theory are; Directive leadership, supportive leadership, achievement-oriented leadership, and participative leadership. A manager working by the rules of Path Goal Management should at least be one of these things if not all; a Goal Setter, a Supporter, a Clarification Provider, and a Participant (Mooney, 2010). After completing the questionnaire the results I reached led me to believe that I rely a lot on directive leadership and least on participative leadership. Directive leadership accounts for providing staff with clarity in a situation when the staff is not independent enough to be left on their own. And participative leadership depends and works on the basis of participation from every level of the staff. I believe that generally while dealing with any one subordinate to me I tend to keep things serious and work-oriented. For example, keeping the lowest level of subordinate staff in mind, when dealing with the working class in case of an event management I would give them all directions and the entire explanation and then leave them to do their work, of course with occasional supervision trips. This however does not mean that you restrict the environment so much that people start feeling bound and entitled to your command. The platform for opinion-making or giving suggestions is alwa ys open for anyone who has something worth sharing. The success rate of this management style however is not a set hundred percent. While using the directive style you have to be careful so that your directions do not

Nitroglycerin [NTG] Cardiovascular drug Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nitroglycerin [NTG] Cardiovascular drug - Essay Example Even more surprising is that Nitroglyercin is used as a heart medication, one of the most delicate and important organs inside our bodies. It is mind blowing that something so combustible and so explosive could be used to help treat heart conditions. Nitroglyercin can be found in many forms, varying from tablets, to sprays, to even patches. It works by allotting more blood and oxygen flow to the heart, and by widening blood vessels directly into the heart. However, after long term exposure to the drug, it can become addictive. Withdrawal symptoms can occur, such as headaches, recurring heart problems, or even death (Nitro). Exposure to the drug relieves these symptoms, which is why people working with the drug at work may feel withdrawal symptoms over the weekend only to find them relieved back at work on Monday. Another one of Nitroglyercin;s talents is that the patches th have been found to be a cure for bite of the brown recluse spider, a venomous, and possibly deadly bite. This is just another positive effect of the drug. When it is used in medicine, nitroglyercin is called something else. It is called Glyceryl trinitrate, mainly to avoid people thinking they are taking explosives into their body. It is used as heart medication, and can be in many different forms. It can come in tablets, ointments, patches, or even sprays (Nitro). A somewhat new medical procedure includes using small amounts of the compound in the tip of condoms, to help provoke. Ejaculation (Nitro). Taking nitroglyercin has many different effects on the body. It can reduce chest pain, decrease blood pressure, as well as increasing the heart rate of the patient. This happens because the nitroglyercin is converted into nitric oxide once inside the body, however, the process by which the body does this is not completely understood by scientists (Nitro). Then, the drug relaxes the blood vessels to the

Reflection on Graduation From Medical College Essay

Reflection on Graduation From Medical College - Essay Example If not for the burning urge to help others that resides within me, I am sure I would have given up on my course. The challenges that I faced during my learning years were enormous. One of the challenges that I managed to overcome is my fear of human organs (for their delicate nature) and handling people who are in great pain. In spite of the challenges, today I stand tall, confident that I have mastered many of my earlier fears and conquered the challenges that I thought spelled my doom. The success that I have achieved so far has not only increased my yearning for more knowledge but also my sense of responsibility. Wherever I am, I feel that I need to help someone who is in need. This sense of responsibility sits heavy on my shoulder and I keep wondering whether I will be able to help everyone in need all at the same time. I enjoyed my time in college; lectures, time with friends, and practical sessions. To me, college was like a home away from home. I must admit that without the help and support of my family, friends, colleagues, and professors, I would not be the success story that I am today. I am most grateful to every one of the giants upon whose shoulders I rode to success.

M5A1-Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

M5A1-Conflict - Essay Example There conflict scenario entails several positives (for resolution) and negatives (for resolution) in favor of management group and in favor of the employee group. Some positives for resolution that are in favor of management include the high experience and training that is provided to the employees to build performance review systems and information systems. Accordingly, the low turnover, the visionary leadership of the three business partners and fair and comparable salaries will also help Metro services in resolving the conflict. In addition, 92 percent of employees assert that the owners have positive attitudes towards specialists and while 78 percent assert agree that Metro services offers opportunities to work in various companies. Some negatives for resolution that face the management include the inability to allow the specialists an opportunity in negotiating fees with the contracting companies, and lack of promotion opportunities in the company. In addition, the failure to ho ld employee/owner meeting for the past three years is a challenge for the management group in resolving the conflict. ... Accordingly, employees are allowed to demonstrated individual performance and 64 percent claim that the company offers job security. In addition, 80 percent of employees perceive the salary as fair and comparable and 74 percent assert that specialist positions allow them to utilize their knowledge and skills. Some negatives that may hinder employees in cooperating during the conflict resolution include lack of adequate opportunities for promotion, the confrontation with Mr. Baker that happened in 1999 and inability of the management to belief that there is a union movement by employees since it will be detrimental to all concerned. Some of the points of contention that relate to the positives and negatives include the possibility of implementing a bonus sharing system for the excess profits earned by the management. Some positive points of contention that may create conflictual conditions include the job security since some employees perceive six months full time position as temporal position that does not guarantee any job security. Another contention is the intention of employee to create a union since the management group does not believe whether such movements are necessary when the salaries and additional benefits like 401K securities are fair. The last contentious issue is the monitoring of contracting companies and requirement for a higher performance level than agree with contracting companies. The refusal of temporary specialists to participate in negating fees with contracting companies will also be contentious. Time phased strategy of addressing the conflict The management must analyze the employee survey and identify the source of conflict in the organization. The management must identify any barriers in

In considering the time period of 1865 to the present, is the American Essay

In considering the time period of 1865 to the present, is the American story one of oppression or success Victory on the par - Essay Example The rich have thrived for long while the poor have remained in abject poverty. For instance, during the gilded age, the large corporations, which were owned by the elite, influenced the market. Moreover, the industries manufacturing various commodities were regulated by influential politicians and rich businessmen and women (Unger and Debi 41).1 This led to great disparities in the social realm. In this regard, the poor were exploited because of lack of financial power. Democracy was not practice because the majority were poor hence they could not manage to marshal required numbers to oppose the rich. Even the labor unions could not protect the rights of the vulnerable workforce because the industrial leaders were corrupt. However, the oppression of the wealthy became unbearable culminating in reprisals from the workforce, women and the Black people. They capitalized on politics in their advances. For instance, they used the People’s party in order to present their grievances to the Authorities. These groups faced oppression of different forms like prejudice and social segregation and racial discrimination. The emphasis of a class society was also a means of oppression and exploitation especially at their workplaces (Â  Burnley 29). ... The understanding of the oppressors was that competition was warranted in order for the social and financially fit people to survive while the poor forever remained in anguish and agony. In this regard, any support for the poor from the government side was highly criticized by the high social class people. This implied that it was the wish of the poor to remain in their low social status. However, the farmers who were also oppressed were supported by some white in their fight for their rights (Burnley 34). This group of the white people had formed their own group called the populist movement, which advocated for the rights of all farmers regardless of color or race. Since many blacks never owned parcels of land, it became difficulty for them to engage their oppressors in a formidable battle. The black farmers formed their own movement called the colored farmers Alliance. This alliance was used by the black to specifically orchestrate strikes for the workforce who picked cotton. This contributed in the fight for the freedom of Blacks in America. This did not succeed because the politicians warned of the resurfacing of Negro supremacy. There discrimination against the black workforce continued. This resulted in high levels of unemployment for the black American community .Moreover, the blacks were excluded from voting. This was conducted through deliberate subjection of the blacks into literacy tests and understanding of the US constitution. ( Finkelman 23).34 This was intended to eliminate the black people from taking part in the voting process and deny them citizenship of the US, which was manifest of a high level of oppression. The worst case of oppression was the loss of Plessey’s case whereby he complained against