Biography of Architect Richard Rogers, Designer of 3 WTC

Biography of Architect Richard Rogers, Designer of 3 WTC British architect Richard Rogers (born July 23, 1933) has designed some of the most important buildings of the modern era. Beginning with the Parisian Centre Pompidou, his building designs have been characterized as being inside out, with facades that look more like working mechanical rooms. In 2007 he received architectures highest honor and became a Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming Lord Rogers of Riverside, but in the U.S. Rogers is best known for rebuilding Lower Manhattan after 9/11/01. His 3 World Trade Center was one of the last towers to be realized. Fast Facts: Richard Rogers Occupation: British ArchitectBorn: July 23, 1933 in Florence, ItalyEducation: Yale UniversityKey Accomplishments: Centre Pompidou with Renzo Piano; Three World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan; 2007 Pritzker Architecture Prize Early Life Born in Florence, Italy to an English father and Italian mother, Richard Rogers was raised and educated in Britain. His father studied medicine and hoped that Richard would pursue a career in dentistry. Richards mother was interested in modern design and encouraged her sons interest in the visual arts. A cousin, Ernesto Rogers, was one of Italys prominent architects. In his Prizker acceptance speech, Rogers noted that it was Florence where my parents instilled in my brother Peter and me a love of beauty, a sense of order, and the importance of civic responsibility. As war broke out in Europe, the Rogers family moved back to England in 1938 where young Richard attended public schools. He was dyslexic and did not do well. Rogers had a run-in with the law, entered the National Service, became inspired by the work of his relative, Ernesto Rogers, and ultimately decided to enter Londons Architectural Association school. Later he moved to the U.S. to pursue a masters degree in architecture at Yale University on a Fulbright Scholarship. There he developed relationships that would last a lifetime. Partnerships After Yale, Rogers worked for Skidmore, Owings Merrill (SOM) in the U.S. When he finally returned to England, he formed Team 4 architectural practice with Norman Foster, Fosters wife Wendy Cheeseman, and Rogers wife Su Brumwell. By 1967, the couples had split to form their own firms. In 1971 Rogers entered a partnership with the Italian architect Renzo Piano. Although the partnership dissolved in 1978, both architects became world famous with their work in Paris France - the Centre Pompidou, completed in 1977. Rogers and Piano had invented a new type of architecture, where the mechanics of a building were not simply transparent but showcased as part of the facade. It was a different kind of postmodern architecture that many began to call high-tech and inside-out architecture. Exterior of Centre Pompidou. Richard T. Nowitz/Getty Images Rogers chose good partners, although it was Renzo Piano and not Rogers who in 1998 would win the first Pritzker Prize and then Norman Foster won in 1999. Rogers won in 2007, and the Pritzker Jury was still talking about Pompidou, saying it revolutionized museums, transforming what had once been elite monuments into popular places of social and cultural exchange, woven into the heart of the city. After Pompidou, the team split and the Richard Rogers Partnership was established 1978, which eventually became Rogers Stirk Harbour Partners in 2007. Personal Life Rogers married Susan (Su) Brumwell before they both went off to study at Yale University - he studied architecture and she studied town planning. She was the daughter of Marcus Brumwell who headed the Design Research Unit (DRU), a moving force in British design. The couple had three children and divorced in the 1970s, during the work on Centre Pompidou. Shortly after, Rogers married the former Ruth Elias of Woodstock, New York and Providence, Rhode Island. Called Ruthie, Lady Rogers is a well-known chef in Britain. The couple had two children. All of Richard Rogers children are sons. Famous Quote Architecture is too complex to be solved by any one person. Collaboration lies at the heart of all my work. Legacy Like all great architects, Richard Rogers is a collaborator. He partners not only with people but also with new technologies, the environment, and the societies in which we all live. He was an eary champion of energy efficiency and sustainability in a profession that came late to taking responsibility in protecting the environment. His fascination with technology is not merely for artistic effect, cites the Pritzker Jury, but more importantly, it is a clear echo of a buildings program and a means to make architecture more productive for those it serves. Inside Lloyds of London. Sean Batten/Getty Images (cropped) After the success of the Centre Pompidou in the 1970s, Rogers next huge project was the Lloyds of London building completed in 1986. The Pritzker Jury cited it as another landmark of late twentieth century design and that it established Richard Rogers’ reputation as a master not only of the large urban building, but also of his own brand of architectural expressionism. In the 1990s Rogers tried his hand at tensile architecture and created Londons temporary Millennium Dome, which is still being used as the O2 arena center of entertainment in Southeast London. The Rogers Partnership has designed buildings and cities all over the world - from Japan to Spain, Shanghai to Berlin, and Sydney to New York. In the U.S. he was part of the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 - Tower 3 at 175 Greenwich Street is a Rogers design, completed in 2018. Rogers legacy is as the responsible architect, the professional who considers the workplace, the building site, and the world we share. He was the first architect to deliver the prestigious Reitch Lecture in 1995. In Sustainable City: Cities for a Small Planet he lectured the world: Other societies have faced extinction - some, like the Easter Islanders of the Pacific, the Harappa civilization of the Indus Valley, the Teotihuacan in pre-Columbian America, due to ecological disasters of their own making. Historically, societies unable to solve their environmental crises have either migrated or become extinct. The vital difference today is that the scale of our crisis is no longer regional but global: it involves all of humanity and the entire planet. The Leadenhall Building, London, UK. Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Critical Essay on The Glass Menagerie

Critical Essay on The Glass Menagerie Critical Essay on The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams’ play The Glass Menagerie is about undergoing the transition from childhood to adulthood and the decision to leave home and become independent. The decision is made with the understanding of the difference between reality as well as illusion. Tom makes the decision to leave home, aware that there are things in life he can control and others which are beyond his control. This story revolves around persons who are not aware of themselves or their true identity. Paul tries to encourage his family members to be more aware of their true selves. People tend to run away from reality and create illusions that they believe in. These illusions blind them, encouraging them to live in a dream world. So many people live this kind of life, and by the time they become aware of reality, they are too late or unable to revert to their true selves. A major them in Williams’ The Glass Menagerie is that people live a dream life by making any effort to understand their potentials and capabilities. Throughout the play, the characters try to create illusions because they find reality very painful. This makes the characters believe too much in their illusions, which results in them being accepted by their society in a way that they should not be accepted. Believing in illusions is a psychological problem because these people are no longer in control of their senses. Illusions cause, people to become more of dreamers and this can affect their relationship with the family members who perceived life from a different perspective. A dreamer is unlikely to agree on many issues with a person who bases his life on reality. A dreamer will always remain a dreamer, and his or her ideas are unlikely to produce anything important. It is not good to encourage people to live in a dream world because this affects their social, economic, and civic responsibilities. It is important to take life seriously by doing what is realistic. An individual can begin by identifying realistic goals and a doable plan to achieve those goals. When dreamers make up the majority in a society, then many important issues are likely not to be addressed because no one will take such issues seriously. Society always encourages its members to take responsibility for themselves and those around them to some extent. Parents encourage their children to be courageous in life by facing reality. These are the core principles that shape the community and make it a good place to live. Illusions, thus, are not part of a society. Those who are perceived as dreamers often find themselves as social outcasts. This is why Williams’ play The Glass Menagerie is considered so important. It shows how life can be wasted by living in a dream. Tips on Writing a Critical Essay: People often think that being critical means being negative. That is not so. When writing a critical essay on anything, one examines the strong and the weak points in a work and discusses those points in reference to some aspect of the work. In the case of a story, for example, the reader might identify a major idea that the story is expressing and then analyze how well the writer did in presenting and supporting that idea throughout the story. Regardless of what kind of essay you are writing, be certain to begin with a thesis statement. Gather your evidence from the story you are critiquing. Then, refrain from presenting that evidence according to the order in which it occurs in the story. Remember, you are not retelling the story. Instead, organize your arguments in the order that makes sense for your paper and draw on the evidence as needed to support your arguments. Welcome to our custom essay writing service to get professional essay help from academic experts. guarantees high quality and plagiarism-free in our papers!

Information system management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Information system management - Assignment Example ferrous forgings (e.g. pressure vessels, satellite rings, aero plane undercarriages, chemical plant etc.) is performing their activities by connecting every area of it so that the whole system works together. Currently the issue is with the performance of IT system and its coordination with the business management. Any business that is established cannot proceed or grow unless there is proper integration of the divisions that are set in order to carry business. IT system and the business are two other ways, both work in their own manner and both have different ways of solving their problems and issues. Business focuses more on goals where as IT deals with the use of appropriate software’s and hardware’s. For organization’s it is difficult to bring the IT system and the management to one platform in order to bring sustainability to the business. This can only be done when there is proper communication of information between both divisions. Being a manager I know t hat the dissimilarity actually breakdowns the system and due to this the alignment of the business and the IT also get disturbs. Business success comes when there is understanding between both areas because the working ways and conditions are different of business and IT. Management can all the time be informed with the IT issues by communication and the involvement of IT specialists in the board meetings. Creating value in business is impossible unless the latest trends are not followed. Because of the changing trends and environment, businesses are creating shifts in order to bring sustainability and uniqueness in the services and operations. IT is one and the best way of providing customer service, establishing convenient distribution channels, and information regarding the products and rescheduling business boundaries. Business managers should see IT as the major component and a wheel of the business. To develop any business activity it is important to give required significance to the IT system of the firm whereas, IT plays a very important role in performing the business activities. This report will present the tools and techniques and the strategies that can be used for performing and fixing up the issues that are currently faced by this company regarding the performance of IT and the cost related issued with IT infrastructure. It furthers demonstrate the solutions to such problems to adhere the further adverse effects of IT on the organization. This report also illustrates that why this enterprise failed to follow the use of IT effectively whereas today the need of IT is rapidly increasing but due to the mismanagement and improper coordination of IT and business management it is bringing difficulties for them to manage their rapid growing costs of IT. Key Issues Following are the issues that are generally faced by the company related to IT as management failed to identify the issues and couldn’t create the solutions to it The issue that manageme nt faces consistently about IT is the change over time. As IT has moved into the strange era where the needs and demands of the market change over time and this causes IT to change their strategy whereas the strategies and working processes of the management also change. So it gets difficult for both the functions to work on one platform. Another issue is that whosoever is working in IT division need to keep themselves update and should be well

Smith & Ricardo vs. Malthus, Bentham, Senior, J.S. Mill and Say Essay - 2

Smith & Ricardo vs. Malthus, Bentham, Senior, J.S. Mill and Say - Essay Example Both theories assumed that there was full employment in a country (Smith, 35). Malthus has vehemently opposed Ricardo’s doctrine on political economics stating that it was impossible for effective demand to incur a deficiency. However, Malthus did not quantify his argument by explaining how effective demand could be in excess or deficient. This aspect of invalid quantification of the argument resulted in anonymous adherence to Ricardo’s doctrine by statesmen, city, and the academic world. The effective demand which was an idea that Malthus tried to nature, vanished into thin air since its discussion ceased and it was also ceased to exist in the city’s literature (Malthus, 10). Jeremy Bentham became the leading theorist in Anglo-American in the field of philosophy of law. James Mill was Benthans student and collaborator. He held an absolutely different opinion on the monetary economy in comparison to Ricardo’s ideas. He was absolutely aware of the relevance of saving that is forcefully imposed on consumer prosperity, saving and investment relationship. The monetary view was based on the fundamental concepts employed in his theory of utilitarian decision making. His work is valued and considered as a leeway to modern economics. The utilitarian concept stated that nature has placed human beings under the sovereign governance of either pain or pleasure and on the other hand the measure of wrong and right. These factors in their entirety govern mankind in whatever he thinks, says or does (Bentham, 21).

Grendel & Existentialism Essay Example for Free

Grendel Existentialism Essay â€Å"I understood that the world was nothing; a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears. I understood that, finally and absolutely, I alone exist. All the rest, I saw, is merely what pushes me, or what I push against, blindly-as blindly as all that is not myself pushes back. † Existentialism is a philosophy that I, personally, was unfamiliar with until we talked about it in class. The relationship between Grendel and existentialism was profound to me not only in the way that it drew lines of symmetry, but in the way that it helped me to interpret the concepts behind the philosophy. This quote spoke to me because it demonstrates how Grendel is pressured into living an existentialist lifestyle by the very forces that he says push upon him. Grendel delves into the psyche of a man-beast whose only choice is to react to the world as an existentialist; the world (specifically mankind) exemplifies all of existentialism’s concepts, proving Grendel’s niche to be that of an existentialist. â€Å"Dark chasms! † I scream from the cliff-edge, â€Å"seize me! Seize me to your foul black bowels and crush my bones! † I am terrified at the sound of my own huge voice in the darkness At the same time, I am secretly unfooled. The uproar is only my own shriek, and chasms are, like all things vast, inanimate. They will not snatch me in a thousand years, unless, in a lunatic fit of religion, I jump. † [Grendel, pg. 10] Grendel knows that he is alone, despite his attempts to fool himself. This is ratified by his mother’s inability to speak to him, the fear animals have of him, and the rejection he receives from mankind. He has no explanation for anything in existence due to his inability to communicate with anyone, until the dragon comes along. â€Å"My knowledge of the future does not cause the future. It merely sees it, exactly as creatures at your low level recall things past. And even if, say, I interfere even then I do not change the future, I merely do what I saw from the beginning. That’s obvious, surely. Let’s say it’s settled then. So much for free will and intercession! † [Grendel, pg. 63] Lack of free will is another concept of existentialism. Grendel’s previously mentioned lack of communication makes him eager to soak up any idea that the dragon shares with him, and eventually he takes this to mean that his war on the mead hall was not done of his own free will, but because it was his future as the dragon foresaw it.

The Democratic Party is Out of Touch with America :: Essays Papers

The Democratic Party is Out of Touch with America Major realignments have taken place in American political history. After the Great Depression, the Democratic Party gained significant amounts of political clout. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) won the Presidency right after the onset of the depression, and his party gained significant amount of seats in both houses of Congress. The primary reason for the Democratic emergence into the dominant political party of the time was FDR’s New Deal, which created many jobs for individuals who were without. Many would argue that the New Deal was the primary reason for the United States fighting out of the depression. At the time, the Democratic Party was the party in favor of small and limited government, but due to the crisis facing the nation, FDR lead the party towards a stronger national government with far reaching powers. However, the most recent realignment took place during the election of 2000. Starting with the election of 2000, America realized that the Democratic Party was out of touch with the majority of America. Due in large part to Bill Clinton’s infidelities, America was in need for a strong leader, who was morally just. George W. Bush seemed like the man to accomplish the countries yearning for a moral, strong willed leader. Though Bush lost the popular election, he won the Electoral College (Limbaugh). Many Democrats at the time were saying that this flew in the face of democracy and sought to abolish the Electoral College. However, I’ve been given the analogy that the Presidential Election is like the World Series. One team can win the first game by 20 runs, but lose the next four games by one run per game. Even though the team that lost the series it is still possible to score more runs than the winning in the games played. Bush sought to lower taxes on Americans, much like Reagan and Kennedy. When looking at a map of the counties won by Bush in 2000, one begins to see an overwhelming majority of the country supported George Bush, not Al Gore. The counties won by Al Gore were more densely populated and were in greater need for government subsidies. The counties won by Bush wanted to keep more of their hard earned money, and not have to pay for someone else to get services that they themselves might not be able to afford.

Baby Boomers

Alexi Seely Professor Beauchene English 102 4 December 2012 Argument Response Essay In the article Blue Collar Boomers Take Work Ethic to College Sander’s makes that argument that the baby boomers of our time are still eligible to work, and are very willing to try new ways of achieving the education to start different forms of work. Most of the baby boomer generation had gone straight to hard labor jobs to help bring home money for their families, and now that they are older the labor is straining on their bodies (Sanders 3).While they may be older, they are still capable of learning how to use new technology and expanding their minds (Sanders 27). Sanders discusses that college is no longer a place for young adults to attend once out of high school, but rather a place for anyone to receive high education in order to attain a job. Some of the older Americans are choosing to go back to college. Mr Hill says, â€Å"I want a job sitting down, at the computer, in the cubicle†¦after being out in the field for so many years, I would like a sit-down job. Mr. Hill had decided that after working in the cold for so long, he thought that he deserved to make good money while not doing much physical labor (Sanders 24). After being a part of a great things or helping their country, some of the baby boomers believed that they deserve to live a cushy life. To a different extent, older Americans have to continue college as a matter of necessity. In paragraph 30 Mr.Ronan states, â€Å"They do not have the luxury nor the interest in going back to college for two or three years, they need something quick†¦ † This statement tells readers that older Americans do not have the luxury to go back to college because unlike younger Americans, they have bills to pay. Some of the baby boomers are continuing college for a job because the hard labor of their old career has left their bodies withered (Sanders 3).However, just because their bodies are incapable of hard work, does not mean that their minds are. When these older students come to college, they bring their values with them. In today’s society, people believe that college is just something that mostly everyone must go to after high school as a part of their path in life; and some take it for granted. The older Americans, or baby boomers, did not have the opportunities to go to college like we do.To them, college is a wonderful experience to learn the things needed to go into their field of work or even just to further their own knowledge. Baby boomers realize the value of a good education and what it can bring for their careers (Sanders 31). They are simply merging their work ethic from hard labor jobs, to studying just as hard in the class room. Works  Cited Sanders, Libby. â€Å"Blue-Collar Boomers Take Work Ethic  to College. †Ã‚  Everything's an Argument  5 (2010): 949-53. Web.

Comparing and Contrasting Two Characters Essay

There are different types of characters. Some are protagonists, and some are antagonists. Two antagonists, General Zaroff from â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† and the king from, â€Å"The Lady or the Tiger?†, can both be compared.These two characters are similar yet different in their nature, or personality, actions, and attitudes. These characters are both similar and different at the same time. Zaroff and the king are similar in many ways. They are both fair people. Zaroff and the king are both straight forward with people. They are both smart by the way they plan things. These two characters are both similar in more than a few ways. These two characters have a few differences despite the many simmularities. For one, Zaroff chooses to hunt people if they don’t join him, while the king doesn’t let criminals choose to be free or not. The king lets criminals pick their own fate, but Zaroff will still kill the people even if they join him. Zaroff is relaced while the king is strict. There are a couple distinct differences between these two characters. I prefer Zaroff rather than the king. One reason is that Zaroff is more relaxed. Zaroff also thinks ahead of other people. Overall, Zaroff is a keen antagonist. These are the reasons why I rather him than the king. The king anf Zaroff are both antagonists that are similar yet different. In my opinion Zaroff is more laid back than the king. The king in my opinion is more fair. These two characters are both kind by letting people choose their fate. These people are not only similar but are also different.

Free Essays on Gas Tungsten Arc Welding

1 FUSION WELDING Fusion welding is a joining process in which the coalescence of metals is accomplished by fusion. The major fusion welding processes are listed below: Gas welding Oxyacetylene gas welding (OAW) Arc welding Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) Plasma arc welding (PAW) Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) Submerged arc welding (SAW) Electroslag welding (ESW) High-energy beam welding Electro beam welding (EBW) Laser beam welding (LBW) 1.1 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) 1.1.1 Description of the Process GTAW consists of an AC/DC arc burning between a non-consumable electrode and the work piece to melt the joint area. The area of the arc is enveloped in a protective gas shield which protects the weld pool and electrode from contamination while allowing a stable arc to be maintained. The filler wire is added either by hand, or in the mechanized process, by feed rollers attached to the torch. 1.1.2 Application Common applications consists of high quality welding on stainless steels; aluminium and its alloys; copper; nickel alloys and rare materials such as titanium and zirconium. Mild steels are welded when full penetration welds are required within certain tolerances, both in size and x-ray quality. Used widely in the aerospace, chemical and nuclear industries. 1.1.3 Electrical Conditions DC (direct current) - most normally used for GTAW welding of stainless steels and heat resisting steels, mild and low alloy steels, copper, nickel alloys, lead, silver, titanium and other metals that do not contain aluminium, magnesium or their alloys. The electrode must be connected to the negative terminal, where one third of the heat is generated. Two thirds of the heat of the arc is generated at the positive pole. A tungsten electrode connected to the positive pole would overheat and melt causing... Free Essays on Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Free Essays on Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 1 FUSION WELDING Fusion welding is a joining process in which the coalescence of metals is accomplished by fusion. The major fusion welding processes are listed below: Gas welding Oxyacetylene gas welding (OAW) Arc welding Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) Plasma arc welding (PAW) Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) Submerged arc welding (SAW) Electroslag welding (ESW) High-energy beam welding Electro beam welding (EBW) Laser beam welding (LBW) 1.1 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) 1.1.1 Description of the Process GTAW consists of an AC/DC arc burning between a non-consumable electrode and the work piece to melt the joint area. The area of the arc is enveloped in a protective gas shield which protects the weld pool and electrode from contamination while allowing a stable arc to be maintained. The filler wire is added either by hand, or in the mechanized process, by feed rollers attached to the torch. 1.1.2 Application Common applications consists of high quality welding on stainless steels; aluminium and its alloys; copper; nickel alloys and rare materials such as titanium and zirconium. Mild steels are welded when full penetration welds are required within certain tolerances, both in size and x-ray quality. Used widely in the aerospace, chemical and nuclear industries. 1.1.3 Electrical Conditions DC (direct current) - most normally used for GTAW welding of stainless steels and heat resisting steels, mild and low alloy steels, copper, nickel alloys, lead, silver, titanium and other metals that do not contain aluminium, magnesium or their alloys. The electrode must be connected to the negative terminal, where one third of the heat is generated. Two thirds of the heat of the arc is generated at the positive pole. A tungsten electrode connected to the positive pole would overheat and melt causing...

Toltec Weapons, Armor, and Warfare

Toltec Weapons, Armor, and Warfare From their mighty city of Tollan (Tula), the Toltec civilization dominated Central Mexico from the fall of Teotihuacn to the rise of the Aztec Empire (approximately 900-1150 A.D.). The Toltecs were a warrior culture and fought frequent battles of conquest and subjugation against their neighbors. They warred in order to take victims for sacrifice, expand their empire and spread the cult of Quetzalcoatl, the greatest of their gods. Toltec Arms and Armor Although the site has been heavily looted over the centuries, there are enough surviving statues, friezes and stelae at Tula to indicate what sort of weapons and armor the Toltecs favored. Toltec warriors would wear decorative chest plates and elaborate feather headdresses into battle. They wrapped one arm from the shoulder down in padding and favored small shields which could be quickly used in close combat. A beautiful armored tunic made of seashells was found in an offering in the Burned Palace at Tula: this armor may have been used by a high-ranking soldier or king in battle. For ranged combat, they had long darts which could be launched with lethal force and accuracy by their atlatls, or javelin throwers. For close combat, they had swords, maces, knives and a special curved club-like weapon inlaid with blades which could be used to batter or slash. Warrior Cults For the Toltecs, wars and conquest were closely linked to their religion. The large and formidable army was likely composed of religious warrior orders, including but not limited to coyote and jaguar warriors. A small statue of a Tlaloc-warrior was unearthed at Ballcourt One, indicating the presence of a Tlaloc warrior cult at Tula, much like the one that was present at Teotihuacn, the predecessor of the Toltec culture. The columns on top of Pyramid B are four-sided: on them they show gods including Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl in full battle gear, providing further evidence for the presence of warrior-cults at Tula. The Toltecs aggressively spread the worship of Quetzalcoatl and military conquest was one way to do so. The Toltecs and Human Sacrifice There is ample evidence at Tula and in the historical record that the Toltecs were avid practitioners of human sacrifice. The most obvious indication of human sacrifice is the presence of a tzompantli, or skull rack. Archaeologists have unearthed no fewer than seven Chac Mool statues at Tula (some of which are complete and some of which are only pieces). Chac Mool statues depict a reclining man, belly-up, holding a recipient or bowl on his abdomen. The recipients were used for offerings, including human sacrifices. In ancient legends still told to this day by locals, Ce Atl Quetzalcoatl, the god-king who founded the city, had a dispute with the followers of Tezcatlipoca, mostly about how much human sacrifice was needed to appease the gods: the followers of Tezcatlipoca (who favored more sacrifices) won the conflict and were able to drive Ce Atl Quetzalcoatl out. Military Iconography at Tula It seems that nearly all of the surviving art at the ruined city of Tula has a military or warlike theme to it. The most iconic pieces at Tula are by far the four Atalantes or mighty statues which grace the top of Pyramid B. These statues, which tower over visitors at 17 ft. (4.6 m) high, are of warriors armed and dressed for battle. They bear typical armor, headdresses, and weapons including the curved, bladed club and dart launcher. Nearby, four pillars depict gods and high-ranking soldiers in battle dress. Reliefs carved into benches show processions of chieftains in battle gear. A six-foot stela of a governor dressed as a priest of Tlaloc bears a curved mace and dart launcher. Conquest and Subject States Although historical data is scarce, it is likely that the Toltecs of Tula conquered several nearby states and held them as vassals, demanding tribute such as food, goods, weapons and even soldiers. Historians are divided concerning the scope of the Toltec Empire. There is some evidence that it may have reached as far as the Gulf Coast, but there is no conclusive proof that it extended more than a hundred kilometers in any direction from Tula. The post-Maya city of Chichen Itza shows clear architectural and thematic influence from Tula, but historians generally agree that this influence came from trade or Tula nobles in exile, not from military conquest. Conclusions The Toltecs were mighty warriors who must have been greatly feared and respected in central Mesoamerica during their heyday from about 900-1150 A.D. They used advanced weapons and armor for the time, and were organized into fervent warrior clans serving different ruthless gods. Sources Charles River Editors. The History and Culture of the Toltec. Lexington: Charles River Editors, 2014.Cobean, Robert H., Elizabeth Jimà ©nez Garcà ­a and Alba Guadalupe Mastache. Tula. Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 2012.Coe, Michael D and Rex Koontz. 6th Edition. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2008.Davies, Nigel. The Toltecs: Until the Fall of Tula. Norman: the University of Oklahoma Press, 1987.Gamboa Cabezas, Luis Manuel. El Palacio Quemado, Tula: Seis Decadas de Investigaciones. Arqueologia Mexicana XV-85 (May-June 2007). 43-47Hassig, Ross. War and Society in Ancient Mesoamerica. University of California Press, 1992.Jimenez Garcia, Esperanza Elizabeth. Iconografà ­a guerrera en la escultura de Tula, Hidalgo. Arqueologia Mexicana XIV-84 (March-April 2007). 54-59.

Innovative Organisations Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Innovative Organisations - Case Study Example In this paper, the author presents the characteristics of innovations of General Electric (GE). The presentation includes history of GE, innovation characteristics of GE, the most innovative service of GE and the perspective of how the author can contribute to the innovations of GE. Thomas Edison established the Edison General Electric Company in 1890. The series of innovations in GE started from the founder himself who invented one of the greatest products of this age - the electric lamp. In 1892, the Edison General Electric Company merged with their competition Thomson-Houston Company amidst common interests to for the "General Electric Company". The GE Global research still honours the heritage, legacy & dignity of Edison in their R&D activities (http://www.ge.com/company/history/edison.html). In the modern business world, GE has a wide range of products in the fields of lighting, electrical distribution, renewable energy, aviation, healthcare, business & consumer finance, Oil & Gas, water treatment & processing, railroads, media & entertainment and security (http://www.ge.com/products_services/index.html). In the area of process innovations, GE is one of the first companies of the world to implement Six Sigma successfully. Goldstein, Mark (2001. pp37, 39) a Six Sigma consultant comments that the foundations of this best practice that was implemented in GE Appliances in 1995 (and later on rolled out to the rest of GE Company by year 2000 as per the target set by Jack Welch) is yet to be seen in any other organization. GE proved that best practices cannot be adopted for the name sake rather the fundamental commitment to them by virtue of the foundations of innovative culture makes the difference. GE thrilled the entire world by demonstrating the level of value addition that they could achieve to their top line and bottom line - that means increased revenues at reduced costs. It is the sound fundamentals of innovative business processes of GE that has ensured them to be in profit even in these tough times. At the end of financial year 2008, GE has built an overall market cap of $105 bill ion with Price/Earnings ratio at 5.60, Price/Sales ratio at 0.58, Price/Book ratio at 1.0 and Price/Cash Flow ratio of 3.6. The return on equity achievement was 16.60, return on assets was 2.20 and Return on investment as 4.0. Except Price per book that is evaluated in most recent quarter, all other figures published are trailing twelve months (http://money.cnn.com/quote/snapshot/snapshot.htmlsymb=GE). The net income of GE in 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008 is $16.72 Billion, $20.742 Billion, $22.20 Billion and $17.41 Billion respectively (http://money.cnn.com/quote/financials/financials.htmlsymb=GE&sid=2148&report=2& period=1). The company presented impressive financial performance in the markets amidst global financial turmoil. The strength of GE has been built as a result of their remarkable contribution to the mankind that has changed the lives of people and the global economies as whole. GE has a major financial services business that is going to pose trouble to the overall organization given the turbulent times in the current scenario and the questions

Comparison of two Asian Megacities Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Comparison of two Asian Megacities - Term Paper Example Also the internal migration brought about a rapid change with regard to the economical, social, political and demographic aspects of these cities which in turn became mega cities. It will be interesting to study Mumbai and Bangkok in the above mentioned context. Demographics: Mumbai-formerly known as Bombay until 1995- is the capital city of Maharashtra state, India; but is well deservingly called the commercial and financial capital of India. It is also one of the world’s most densely populated mega cities. Its population of lately has reached a whooping 16 million mark. As per the wikipedia information â€Å"As of 2009, Mumbai was named an Alpha world city. Mumbai is also the richest city in India and has the highest GDP of any city in South, West or Central Asia.† Mumbai is popularly known as a cultural melting pot as one finds migrants from all regions of India settled here and many more pouring in daily. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand. Its population is ab out 9 million. It is the largest urban city of Thailand popularly known as the city of angels. Bangkok is perhaps the most apt example of a city representing a population of diverse cultures. Referbangkok.com confirms that â€Å"Bangkok has a true international culture with a sizable population of immigrants from China, Japan, India, America, Europe, Taiwan, South Korea, Nigeria, Malaysia and Singapore. Bangkok is also believed to be a host for a good number (approx. 400 – 600 thousand) of illegal immigrants from Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Russia, Ukraine, Pakistan, Nigeria, India, Bangladesh, China, and other countries.† Economy: In older times Mumbai’s economy revolved around its cotton textile industry. Textile industries still bear a lot of importance in Mumbai’s economy. But as a result of globalization Mumbai has emerged as an epicenter of a large number of economic activities. City-data.com gives the current account of Mumbai’s financial str engths mentioning that â€Å"Mumbai is home to some of India's largest and wealthiest industrial conglomerates, such as the Aditya Birla Group, Godrej, and Tata & Sons. More specialized economic activities are diamond cutting, computers, and movie making (in sheer numbers, Mumbai, or "Bollywood," produces more movies than any other city in the world, including Hollywood). In addition to manufacturing, Mumbai is a leading commercial and financial center. The city is home to the Reserve Bank of India, the Mumbai Stock Exchange, and a variety of other major financial institutions. The government and service sectors are also important in the city's economy.† Bangkok too is the financial center of Thailand. At one time, the major source of income in Bangkok was agriculture. But over the period of time it has solidified Thailand’s economy through establishing itself as the commercial center of not only Thailand but also Southeast Asia for imports and exports. Referring to Ba ngkok industries City-data.com reveals that †Food processing, textiles, and the production of building materials are the chief manufacturing enterprises. Other industries include cement, electronics, petroleum refining, and tourism.† The presence of Bangkok stock exchange and a majority of banks in Bangkok confirm the city’s status as the financial center of Thailand. Environmental Issues: The local politicians, administrators play an important role in the growth of a city in general. But Mumbai perhaps is the worst example