Ritual – wine taralli

Nonna's Wine Taralli In a tiny house surrounded by a forest of fig trees in Rende, Cosenza, Calabria, my great great grandmother taught her little granddaughter how to make â€Å"Nonna's Wine Taralli. † That little girl would eventually become my grandmother and she would also teach me the art of wine taralli-making. Two cups of my grandfather's homemade white wine, fourteen ounces of canola oil and sugar, two teaspoons of baking powder, an envelope of â€Å"Lievito Bartolino,† three and a half pounds of flour and â€Å"un po' di aranzi,† as my Italian grandmother says, which are the licorice-flavoured seeds of the nise.These ingredients combine to make â€Å"Nonna's Wine Taralli† – a cookie-textured, ring shaped and slightly sweetened version of the traditional Italian taralli, whose recipe has been passed on for generations by the women in my southern-Italian family. Come fall and spring, a grandmother makes an abundance of wine taralli in the pre sence of daughters and granddaughters who watch intently and help accordingly.According to Searle's Taxonomy, the making of â€Å"Nonna's Wine Taralli† is regarded as ritualistic behavior as it is collective, formal, performance and formative, trengthens existing social statuses and relationships, and exudes ultimate goals. To begin, the making of â€Å"Nonna's Wine Taralli† is consistent with Searle's Taxonomy as it is collective, meaning there are at least two people (Searle 19) as well as formal since it calls for conformity, cannot be improvised and is not spontaneous (20). The activity is collective. It involves at least two and at most three women: a grandmother, her daughter and her granddaughter in any which combination.The activity is formal. Each and every ingredient is essential. There is not much, if any, room for improvisation. The flavour is entirely dependent on each and every ingredient. If certain ingredients are missing, sacrificed or substituted, the wine taralli will not taste as they are expected to taste and should taste. There is not only an expected taste, but also an expected and fixed order of events. The beating of the oil, sugar and white wine come first, followed by the sifting of the flour, baking powder, â€Å"Lievito Bartolino† and â€Å"aranzi,† then the kneading of the dough, the cutting of the strips and finally, the formation of the rings.Furthermore, the activity is performance. It can be seen as performance as it is bodily and demands its participants submit to a particular role (22). The activity involves the beating and sifting of the essential ingredients and the kneading of the dough through folding, pressing, and stretching, which require steady hand and wrist movements. It also involves roles which are quite fixed and unchanging. I recall standing on top of a chair in order to reach the counter of my grandmother's kitchen at the young age of five.I watched her perform er role which involve d kneading the dough with her strong hands as I waited anxiously for my role to come, which consisted of rolling the soft dough into strips and then forming them into the taralli's distinct ring-like shape. Throughout the years, the roles between my grandmother and I have remained the same. Finally, the making of wine taralli is formative and strengthens existing relationships and social statuses (24). An abundance are made to last several months since we gather only twice a year to make them.Since so many ot them are being produced at one time, he participants, especially young granddaughters like myself, have the opportunity to develop the ability to create and perfect the art of taralli-making. It also allows participants to strengthen existing familial and cultural bonds and social statuses. The familial bond between grandmothers, mothers and daughters and the familial status of being a member of this particular family are present and strengthened. The cultural bond that is shar ed in being members of the Italian heritage is strengthened by the practicing of an age old cultural tradition.The bond of womanhood is trengthened in that the participants are exclusively Italian women from the same family. These bonds are present while not explicitly stated. While there is only a small group of participants, the bonds and social statuses that are shared amongst them are strong and meaningful. A popular Italian saying that is spoken by my grandmother when making wine taralli is, â€Å"one can resolve any argument over a glass of wine and a handful of taralli. † As I get older, it becomes more clear to me what the ultimate goals of this ritual are and how they are achieved.

Stuck in Neutral

Rough Draft of Stuck in Neutral Terry Trueman’s Stuck in Neutral is about a boy who has Cerebral Palsy and yet loves his life. Shawn McDaniels has a lot of problems but he remains optimistic. His CP has left him totally disabled; he is unable to walk, talk, eat, or communicate. Although Shawn acknowledges that there is â€Å"Bad News† about his existence, he focuses on the positives in his life. Shawn loves his family deeply and appreciates people. Shawn finds the sensory world of hearing, smell, taste, and inner life, which is filled with his memories and great journeys of his seizures. Shawn is a very loving person. Everyone can see this by how Shawn loves his family and appreciates people. You can see this throughout the book, like Cindy teaching Shawn how to read. Because of Cindy, Shawn now knows how to read, and he now obscene more in the world around him. He loves his father because of what he has done for Shawn. He had Shawn go on a fair ride with him because he felt bad for him, Shawn also appreciates the poem that was made for Shawn and is now a famous poem (pg. 29), and lastly, Shawn has trust in his father because they have double-jointed thumbs and every time he sees Shawn, he would always first pull back his fingers. The reason Shawn’s dad does this is because they have something in common and Shawn loves this special connection (pg. 52). But lastly Paul. Paul because he stood up for Shawn when he was getting attacked by the hoodlums. Shawn says, â€Å"I’ve never seen Paul like this before, he looks like a monster† (pg. 94). These are the reasons why he loves his family the most. Shawn finds the sensory world of hearing, smelling, taste, and touching interesting. Shawn has a very distinct personality. Shawn loves the site of the paintings that he has seen, the feel of the sponge and water on his back when he is taking a bath, the sound a 1966 Ford Mustang and the taste of smoked oysters and chocolate pudding (pg. 84). He has always loved when his father’s arm was around him in the park because he has feared that he may kill him, he feels safe and comfortable in his arms (pg. 98). He also remembers when he was at the science convention that he can remember all the sounds of the music that was playing there. He heard all the songs and could remember them all from the songs, melodies, and symphonies. He has and will always remember the things that he has loved. The personality that sets Shawn apart from everyone else is his inner personality. Shawn loves his inner life of memory and seizures. This is what sets him apart from everyone else. This is because he thinks seizures are miracles. Because it is the only thing that lets him free (pg. 31-32). The joys of his seizures is when he feels like he is free, soaring over Seattle and when he sees the different colors. He feels like that is his only time that he feels normal. He feels normal because he can move like a normal person and feel like a normal person. He would sell his family and his friends just to keep his seizures. He would do anything just to keep his seizures. â€Å"I would even give up my family and friends just to keep my seizures†, Shawn. In the book, Shawn faces a lot of obstacles in his life. But then he had some good times, like his love for his family, his sensory world of hearing, smell, taste, and touch, and his love for his inner life of memory and seizures. He doesn’t care that he has CP, he just want to live his life to the fullest. Everyone can learn from this because now we can say that we are lucky to have a normal life and we can be grateful to not have problems with our body

Strategies for responsible business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Strategies for responsible business - Assignment Example For instance, employees may hold sarcastic approach towards the fact that their organization is externally engaged in social work while management is not doing the needful to improve their working conditions. Therefore, the exact definition of CSR can be explained by the overall approach of an organization. A firm that engages in sharing information with its employees regarding probable downsizing, and then helps the displaced employees with new job opportunities is essentially involved in CSR. Likewise, another firm that emphasizes on customer interest by providing them safe, reliable and innovative products is also engaged in a strategic CSR (Waldman et al., 1). The concept of CSR emerged in the aftermath of World War II, and it gained actual foothold in the business world from 1960 onwards (Carroll & Shabana, 85). CSR essentially means that a company performs its certain activities for a larger purpose of social, economic and environmental benefits over its economic and legal goals. Traditionally a business is known for its profit making strategies and its product or service innovations. In this modern age, CRS activities add brand value to an organization. In fact, many organizations promote their CSR activities so as to gain the confidence of more number of people across the globe. The essence of CSR lies in thinking above profit maximization objectives, and striving towards the goal of performing in a viable social and environmental setup. In truth, a company does not legally have any social responsibilities that are not integral part of its business objectives. The need is to put in best efforts to minimize adverse impact on society an d environment; nevertheless the trick lies in balancing such efforts with the core financial objectives. This paper has attempted to critically discuss the following statement: â€Å"Companies engage in CSR because, for a number of reasons, they think it will be good for their profit

Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child Research Paper

Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child - Research Paper Example Developmental toys are essential for young children because they support the child’s learning process and have the added advantage of being less likely to cause unintentional injuries. (Herr, 2001). The guidelines which need to consider when selecting toys for young children are as follows:1. It is important to consider the child’s age, interests, and developmental abilities when selecting an appropriate toy. Developmental skills should be given foremost importance because the toy should be able to enhance his problem solving and reasoning skills.  2. High-quality construction features are important to consider such as durability, stability, and good design.3. Select toys that young children can use on their own with minimal parental supervision.4. Avoid selecting toys which have small pieces in order to eliminate the chances of choking. (Marotz et al, 2005).The pop-up farmhouse is a great toy for young children. The toy is safe and is not too heavy for the child to l ift. Pop up farmhouse can be used with minimal adult supervision because the toy is not made of small pieces. The toy is a good developmental item because it enhances the child’s imagination and dexterity. Moreover, it is great for eye coordination and is a good tool for familiarizing children with the sounds of farm animals. Therefore, I would advise parents to select this toy for their young children.  The Inch WormThe Inch Worm is an excellent toy for enhancing a child’s dexterity and locomotory skills.

Interspecific and Intraspecific Competition Among Alfalfa in in Shaded Research Paper

Interspecific and Intraspecific Competition Among Alfalfa in in Shaded and Unshaded Pots - Research Paper Example These variations were both put in pots that received the light, and ones which did not. The measure of length and weight of the germinated seeds were then recorded and compared. The outcome concluded that the length in the unshaded pots were much higher than those in the shaded, and the most competition in alfalfa was found in the 50 seed pot. Difference in weights however varied with alternating higher values in both shaded and unshaded experiments across the samples. Further, interactions among species are negative since length were longer in pure samples than in mixed samples. Introduction and Background Interactions among species of organisms within resource limited ecosystems leads to competition for the resources. Every species and individual within a species will seek to utilize the available resources for survival. This defines the concept of competition among organisms in an ecosystem that can be explored from two perspectives, intraspecific competition, and interspecific co mpetition. While intraspecific competition occurs among organisms of the same species, interspecific competition occurs among different species. It does not happen at individual level but organisms of the same species acts as a community to gain an advantage over a competing species. Intraspecific competition may be witnessed over resources such as â€Å"food, water, breeding sites† among others such as light and shade (Toole, 2004, p. 34). One of the important principles in competition is the exclusion principle. This principle, as established by Gauss, defines the basics of survival for the fittest. It provides that when more than one species are competing for limited resources, the species that can utilize the resources most economically will have an advantage over the other species that may end up being extinguished from the ecosystem. This defines a negative competition as it leads to destruction of some ecosystems’ elements in the extinguished species. If the dis advantaged species fails to find an alternative niche for survival then they face the threat of total extinction from the immediate environment. Competition, however, plays a crucial role in determining the size of organisms in an ecosystem among other positive interactions.This leads to a maintained balance of the population sizes of different species of organisms that can be supported by resources in an ecosystem. This is because the feeding rate will highly depend on the availability of resources that translate to the number of organisms that can be sustained by the available resources (Toole, 2004, p. 34). Abiotic factors in an environment also affect chances of growth and development of individual organisms and entire species of organisms in an ecosystem. Shade, for instance, is identified to enhance chances of survival among plants with respect to predators. This is because organisms under shade enjoy a level of freedom from predators as compared to those that grow in well lig ht areas (Kersch and Fonseca, p. 1). Even though shade enhances survival of plants, there has not been an established competition for shade among the organisms (Zobel, et al, p. 1). This paper seeks to investigate interaction between plants under shade and in light. The paper will apply statistical analysis to investigate existence of intraspecific competition and interspecific competition for shade and without shade within and among species. Experimental Designs and Results The project used primary data in which tomatoes, alpha, and rye were planted both separately and in pairs by species. The alpha species was planted with 25 seeds in one pot, 50 seeds in another, 25 seeds of alpha combined with 25 seeds of rye, as well as 25 seeds

Organisations competition business environment Essay

Organisations competition business environment - Essay Example This is not a war but the language of business is filled with win-lose terms. An organisation wins a game, beats the other sales. This is a daily practice and we go through everyday with these types of competitive activities. A unique characteristic of global competition is that it is a closed text. This competition adopts a signification of the underlying model that justifies contemporary strategies of businesses. However, critics of competition have always argued that competition should be avoided because of its negative effects on the performance of organisations. They are of the view that that competition can result in nervousness with high anxiety levels, lesser productivity, de-motivation by those who believe they have no chance of winning, extrinsic motivation, contingent self-esteem that goes up and down depending on how one's performance compares with that of others, bad relationships, aggression toward others in an attempt to win at all costs, and fraud. "The outcomes of co mpetition are seen as so destructive by some individuals that they have proposed eliminating it altogether, especially from the workplace" (Maehr & Midgley 399-427). But the success stories of different organisations tell us that competitive experiences have always been perceived to be healthy for businesses. The macroeconomic theory of global trade recognizes competition as a driving force. Boehm develops a framework for five forces driving competition among human service organisations: (1) rivalry among existing organisations; (2) the presence of substitute services in the market; (3) the bargaining power of suppliers; (4) the bargaining power of consumers; (5) the threat of entrance by new organisations (Boehm 61-78). In the international trade nations cannot have competitive advantage in all goods and services, but they have to compete with others even in fields of their excellence. According to the story of global version of competition, the signals that organisations receive have a restricted interpretation. Firms are caught in an algorithm that demands top interests of stockholder. In result, firms adopt a strategy of raising productivity and reducing the cost. A nexus is depicted between signals, incentives and rational behaviour. Signals acquire the form of relative prices. Profits provide the inducement to perform on signals. To behave rationally is to reply with an action to them. Since 1980 the pace in the global competitiveness is very fast and firms around the globe have been experiencing different types of competitions. By summarising the story of global version of competition, it can be said that at present the speed of change is extraordinary. In the whole situation information technology, globalisation of world finances and markets' deregulation have played a great role and provided a new shape to the competitions of organizations. The situation has provided a great benefit to developing countries. Several firms of developed nations are experiencing a shock of supply from their counterparts in the developing world. As the transfer of capital and technology from developed world is no more a problem, developing countries are competing with the firms developed nations. Low wages is also a strong tool in the hand of developing countries to give tough competition to the firms of industrially advanced countries. And this is also a

Current Financial Article Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Current Financial Article Summary - Essay Example Homeowners are required to post insurance for titles of their properties for the purpose of gaining protection from property claimants. The author averred that â€Å"a 1974 federal law gives purchasers the right to choose† (McClay, 2011, par. 3) the title insurers, which, not all homeowners are aware of. Title insurers underwrite policies that protect the property from unforeseen claims. They, or the agents who sell the policies, conduct a land records search to make sure the property history is clean. The insurance pays for expenses related to defending against claims on the property and covers any valid claims. Homeowners who are refinancing are usually required to buy a policy, often for a lower rate (McClay, 2011, par. 8). The experience of a retired computer engineer, Tom Strange, faced with considering the title insurance offered by his mortgage broker, manifested a substantial savings that ensued from his searching the internet for alternative options. The offered price from Strange’s mortgage broker for the title insurance was $1,870. Upon exercising his right to select other alternatives, he was able to get a title insurance that was pegged a price half than what was offered by his mortgage broker. Actually, as revealed by McClay, the search for alternative options was only made possible when homeowners were revealed to â€Å"receive a summary of their closing costs earlier in the buying process. It’s been required by law since January 2010 that lenders must provide accurate closing costs within three business days of receiving a mortgage application† (McClay, 2011, par. 4). The three-day leeway in time prior to the submission of the application to refinance the mortgage makes it possible for homeowners to search the web and to compare quotations of costs from various title insurers. In analyzing the substantial amount in savings, the report revealed that be doing away with

Effects of Climatic Changes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Effects of Climatic Changes - Essay Example These gases in turn deplete the ozone layer and the green house hence leads to climatic change. This paper will explain in depth why there is much effect on developed countries by climate change compared to developing countries. This will be done by presentation of points of view and summarizing by picking on the best. Climatic changes Global warming is one of the greatest hazards facing the universe today. This heat from global warming cause’s oceans and atmosphere to heat up, and leads to changes in climate that poses a great threat to the universe (World Resources Institute (WRI), 2000). Global warming is majorly triggered by activities carried out by man, for instance burning of charcoal. Scientists have forecast global warming that will be accompanied adverse effects. The warming cause’s deaths from extreme cold and hot conditions, extreme weather as drought and floods, pathogens spread to other areas of a new invasion, changes in yields of agriculture, erosion, gl aciations and host many other effects. The effects will be of more harm to countries that are poverty stricken because of their locations, which hinder them from adaptation. However, one reason for not ignoring the changes due to its uncertainty is that it can be mitigated. Victims from global warming effects can also be helped out by aiding them to adapt to the changes. It is illogical to wait for solutions from methods of science provided that the harm is to extend to other areas. Only Americans are still in doubt of global warming and its aftermath and prevention of the act. The delays brought by debates in the US are projected to be of great harm as a result of suffering and hardship. Industrialized countries are believed to have greatly contributed to effects of global warming like changes in temperature and hindering ways of dealing with them (World Resources Institute (WRI), 2000). Currently, the emission of carbon dioxide that mainly emanates from coal burning, oil, and foss il fuels are from these industries. All the responsibility is borne by the U.S.A. They are the major emitters of the gases produced by the green house. In contradiction, the emission of these gases by countries stricken by poverty is from consumption of essential goods and services. Therefore, U.S.A. should wholly responsible for the eradication of this hazard in the globe as a whole. Treaties have been signed by nations on climate change. However, they acted less compared to the extent of the crisis to act out on them. In 1992, a framework was put in place to ensure that the levels of gaseous emissions reduced. However, most countries never adhered to it. In particular, the United States went against that by increment of their levels of emissions. However, the poverty-stricken countries were politely advised to minimize their levels of emissions as they were surpassing the primary source. Arguments arose that cuts were to be imposed on both developing and developed countries. The d eveloped states were to be exposed to big cuts in relation to rights to emitting of gases while the poor states were to be exposed to increases on these cuts. On the other hand, a practical argument was that, the same per capita should be entitled to emission of gases trading and shifting to sources that can be renewed (World Resources Institute (WRI), 2000). In general, these emissions have profound effects on the United States. The big question is if the powerful United States will accept to change their ways of living. To them

Global Climate Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Global Climate Change - Essay Example However, we’ve only seen a glimpse of what’s to come in both the near and far future. It’s not a myth as deniers would have people believe or even a debate to be had. The earth’s climate is warming and man-made air pollutants are the main cause. Factories and automobiles are spewing hundreds of tons of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere faster than it can be naturally absorbed. Air pollution is not only affecting people’s lungs but every aspect of the natural world as well. This warning has been sounded by climatologists for at least 30 years; the science has in, peer-reviewed and accepted by more than 98 percent of all scientists worldwide. The only question is do we have the political will to do anything about it. Carbon dioxide is the main â€Å"greenhouse gas† affecting the earth’s temperature. The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring event that provides a warm blanket of air for the earth. It had served the planet well f or thousands of millennia but excess gasses are causing the effect to become unbalanced. In much the same way as a man-made greenhouse are designed to grow plants operate, the earth’s greenhouse allows in sunlight but just enough to keep the temperature steady. Gases, such as naturally occurring carbon dioxide and water vapor trap some energy but the rest is bounced back into space. Excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere absorbs additional heat allowing less back into space thus warming the earth at a faster rate than normal. Methane and nitrous oxide are two other types of gasses caused either directly or indirectly by man’s actions but carbon dioxide, the result of fossil fuel emissions are the main culprit. This pollutant accounts approximately 85 percent of the excess greenhouse gas. Oil and gasoline used by automobiles and coal burnt in electric generating power plants are by far the main source of carbon in the atmosphere. Methane results from cattle flatulence therefore the more beef people eat, the more methane is emitted into the atmosphere. In nature, animals, such as humans, breathe out carbon dioxide and growing plants â€Å"breathe† it in. This is not a contributor to climate change but coal and oil emissions are. (Walls-Thumma, 2012) Slight changes in the earth’s average temperature cause big changes in intensity and frequency of extreme weather events such as drought, rains, floods and tropical storms. With only modest temperature variations rare weather occurrences become more often and are more severe. Precipitation patterns are altered. Normally dry areas become drier and areas that usually experience moderate rains are deluged by heavy rains. Examining the way global climate change has altered the chances for a particular event occurring has been performed for extraordinary incidents such as the 2003 heat wave in Europe which left tens of thousands dead. The odds of this extreme heat wave occurring, based on reco rds dating back 150 years, are about 1 in 10 million. (Shar, et al., 2004) When factoring in just a two degree temperature rise globally, the odds closed severely, more than quadrupling the chances. The intense weather occurrences that were expected to happen with greater frequency in a warming world are increasing. For example, just six decades ago record high temperatures were occurring at the same frequency as record low temperatures. Today, approximately two record highs are documented for each record low. That is phenomenal change and a clear indicator of a warming earth and the correlation of higher temperatures with extreme weather events. This increase in record high temperatures is occurring all over the globe. A comparable two to one proportion of record highs temperatures to record lows have recently been documented in

The Laramie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Laramie - Essay Example in which religion puts people apart in the play as paradoxically as it is through judgment and the feelings when he questions if his priest and father are right about their arguments against homosexuality. The questioning raises the difference between reality and religion as well as the statement of not giving the organized religion permission of the contents of the said character (Kaufman 21). Evident from the text is the ability to differentiate between religion and spirituality. The idea of well-established religion as well as that of orthodoxy as shown in a way that practices the singular notion of the best. Such traits are depicted by Reverend Phelps when he tries to make the matter of homosexuality be the one who questions whether ones allegiance to his God as it creates a setting that looks to separate individuals from "us or them" situation (Kaufman 32).  Moreover, such also is the same as it discourages the Muslim woman in the play as it awakens the social status of some townspeople simply because of the cultural traditions.   At such point, also, one can get the difference such regards the approach that separates individuals from religion does not represent all the established religions when Matts funeral is held in a Catholic church, the time where establishment of religion does look to bring people collectively. Moreover,  there are also other religions, which cannot really be ready for them to accept fully homosexuality, and as well as its implications on the clergy, given so they cannot respond in the way of Reverend Phelps.   The play makes the greatest statement on religious views of love together with compassion by the individuals as it is seen in the play.   Those who live in the town like Jedidiah work extra hard to reconcile the meaning being loyal to the town, and they also commit themselves to the fraternity by accepting all individuals living there. Romaine Patterson also willingness to remove the perception of "angels" 23 is a good

Creating Corporate Advantage Essay Example for Free

Creating Corporate Advantage Essay Most executives focus on individual elements of their resources, business, and organization without integrating all the parts into a whole. First, it is important to understand what a good corporate strategy is. According to the authors, it is not a random collection of individual building blocks, rather a fully constructed system of interdependent parts. In order for the organization to thrive, executives must actively direct decisions about resources the corporation will develop, and the business in which it will compete. During this, the executives must make sure all elements are aligned with one another. By applying the triangle of corporate strategy, the strengths of all special assets, skills and capabilities will illustrate how each element quot;fits. quot; The Resource Continuum is another model that shows the basis for corporate advantage along a continuum. This model can be applied differently to different business, as one size does not fit all. Many companies choose to integrate other businesses based on products rather than resources, and end up with a quot;plain vanillaquot; infrastructure. By following this continuum it will constrain the set of businesses to compete in while limiting th There is no one best way to design a product, make a product, manage operations, or serve customers. The best way depends on a firms objectives, resources, competencies, and context (products and customers). Firms choose to compete in different ways. A firms strategy defines how it will compete in the marketplaceits own best way. Strategy formulation involves (1) defining the primary task, (2) assessing core competencies, (3) determining order winners and order qualifiers, and (4) positioning the firm. The secret to effective strategy? Excel on the order winners, meet the order qualifiers, capitalize on core competencies, and maintain focus. Corporate strategy drives functional strategy. Functional strategies must be consistent with and supportive of corporate strategy. Strategic decisions in the operations function involve products and services, processes and technology, capacity and facilities, human resources, quality, sourcing, and operating systems. Policy deployment is a planning system that helps align day-to-day operating decisions with the companys overall strategy.

Joints Bones One Health And Social Care Essay

Joints Bones One Health And Social Care Essay In both chapters six and seven we will take a detailed look at our skeleton and the joints and attachments. We will briefly introduce the skeleton here in chapter six but discuss it in greater detail and specificity in chapter seven. Thus our focus in chapter six will mainly be on our joints, how they allow us to move and how they are classified. You will notice that the various joints in our body allow different ranges of motion. In general, the more mobile a joint, the less stable it is, making it more prone to injury. The shoulder joint is a nice example. However, there are other factors that affect our mobility and stability such as ligaments, tendons, skin, cartilage and daily activity. We will look at these in greater detail over the next few chapters. But lets start by taking a simple look at the basic functions of the skeleton. Basic Skeleton Function The skeleton is our basic framework of support for all body tissues. It is our internal scaffolding that provides support for organs, allows movement, and gives us protection. The skeleton system is the name that is given to the collection of about 206 bones in addition to the joints and ligaments. The skeleton has many important functions that vary in complexity but generally includes the following: (insert simple skeleton schematic) 1. It protects the bodys vital organs such as the brain, heart, lungs and other organs. 2. It gives us our shape, posture and support. 3. It provides sites for muscular attachment that allows us to move. 4. It provides a reservoir for the storage of minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, fat, magnesium and many other minerals. 5. It is an important site for the production of blood cells, specifically red blood cells that allow us to transport oxygen. Our skeleton is a complex living system that is constantly changing. We will discuss many of these components in Chapter 7. However, at this stage we are interested in the role of the skeleton in how it allows us to move. In order to do this we need to take a look at our joint structure. The 206 bones in our body form approximately 230 joints. The joints are simply the place where two bones meet. Joints, which are also referred to as articulations, come in many different forms and not all are movable. The degree of mobility in a joint has a lot to do with its role or addition to its shape. The joints fall into three categories: synovial, fibrous or cartilaginous. They vary in movement and design. Types and Classification of Joints Joints are found anywhere that two bones meet. They have a specific and natural range of motion ranging from highly movable to unmovable. While most of our joints are freely movable, many are not. Joints are classified in several ways. For example, we classify some according to their architecture or their range of motion. Commonly, we use a mix of anatomical architecture and range of motion. In terms of movement, joints can also be classified according to the number of cardinal planes in which they can move. Therefore, joints can be non-axial (allowing no movement in any plane), uni-axial (movement in one plane of motion), biaxial (movement in two planes of motion), or tri-axial (movement in three planes of motion). Those joints that are freely movable are also referred to as synovial joints because at the end of the bone is a smooth covering layer called the synovial membrane. This membrane secretes a lubricating substance called synovial fluid which allows the joints to move in a s mooth and fluid fashion. As this membrane breaks down over time we often experience more discomfort in our joints with movement. This is a form of arthritis. (Chapter 8 in Seeley has great illustrations for all of this chapter) Joints are normally classified as belonging to one of three sub-classes. These classifications are based on several factors, including: a. the presence or absence of a joint cavity b. the shape and nature of the connection c. the degree of movement. The three sub classes are as follows: Synovial or Diarthrosis joints (freely movable). Fibrous or Synarthrosis joints (immovable). Cartilaginous or Amphiarthrosis joints (slightly movable). Synovial or Diarthrosis Joints These are the freely movable joints such as the shoulder, knee, ankle, etc. With this type of joint the articulating bones are covered with articular cartilage which is surrounded by an articular capsule which is lined with a synovial membrane. The articular surfaces are smooth and allow easy fluid movement. The synovial joint has two main functions. One is to allow movement, while the second is to transmit forces from one segment of the body to another segment, or one part of a limb to the other. The interactions between bones at an articulation are regulated by several types of structures. There include the joint capsule, synovial membrane, ligaments, bone shape, articular cartilage and pressure. However, it is the general structure of the synovial joint that permits smooth movement. Synovial joints have five characteristic features. They all contain the following which facilitates their range of motion: a. articular cartilage b. joint cavity c. articular capsule d. synovial membrane e. synovial fluid These contents and arrangements allow the bones to move and glide across each other. This synovial arrangement allows for the greater range of movement of any joint types and movements permitted include the following: gliding, hinge, pivot, circumduction. Of these movement types gliding is the most common as it occurs in every synovial joint since it allows them to simply glide over each other. In some joints, like the carpal and tarsal joints, gliding is the only movement possible. The articular end of bones in a synovial joint are covered with hyaline cartilage (articular cartilage) and a surrounding tubular capsule which we call the joint capsule. The joint capsule is composed of an outer layer of ligaments and on the inside contains a synovial membrane which secretes synovial fluid. Some synovial joints have additional features. For example the knee contains small shock absorbing pads called menisci. Menisci are actually small pieces of fibrocartilage situated between the bones t o absorb shock. Joints with menisci also have small fluid filled sacs called bursae. Bursae are also lined with synovial fluid and also help with smooth joint movement. Lets look at the synovial joints in more detail. There are six types of synovial joints. If you read different textbooks you will notice several different terms for the same type of joint. Where appropriate the other terms are also provided. (Insert Figs 8.8-8.12 from Seeley) (Also insert table 7.4 from Shier) a. Pivot Joint. This joint comprises a ring of bone that rotates around another. An example of this is found in the neck (the atlanto-axial joint). This joint is also referred to as a troichoidal or screw joint. This type of joint can also occur when two long bones fit against each other so that the bones roll around each other as with the radius and the ulnar in the forearm. The only type of movement that pivot joints allow is rotation. This movement only occurs in one plane and is therefore uni-axial. b. Ball and Socket Joint (enarthrodial, spheroidal). This joint is the most mobile and allows movements in all directions. Examples include the hip and shoulder. The high degree of mobility also causes the joint to be less stable. In this type of joint, the head of a long bone fits into a cuplike structure of the other bone. If you think about the trailer and hitch setup on a car, the joint is highly mobile and allows movements in the three cardinal planes and is therefore referred to as tri-axial. c. Hinge Joint (ginglymus). This joint allows flexion and extension (but not rotation). For this reason it is referred to as a uni-axial joint. Examples are the elbow and the knee joint. This joint structure contains strong ligaments and is therefore a very stable joint. d. Ellipsoid (condyloid, ovoid). This joint is essentially a less flexible version of the ball and socket joint. This joint has an oval surface that fits into a reciprocally shaped concave disc surface. This joint allows movements in tow planes and is therefore biaxial. It allows flexion and extension movements, and abduction and adduction and therefore circumduction as these movements can occur together. Examples include the radiocarpal joints. e. Saddle (sellar, carpometacarpal). The visual of a riding saddle is a good image to depict this joint. The bone surfaces are both shaped like a riding saddle and therefore fit over each other allowing flexion and extension, and abduction and adduction. Even though this joint has the same movement capabilities as the ellipsoidal, it has a greater range of motion. The joint is therefore biaxial. An example is the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb. f. Gliding (plane, arthrodial). In this type of joint the articulating surfaces are almost flat and so the surfaces glide over each other. This motion is fairly limited and the joint is viewed as a non-axial joint. Examples of this joint include the intercarpal and intertarsal joints. There are also other synovial type structures that are associated with the diarthrodial joints. They are called bursae and tendon sheaths. Like other aspects of the joint capsule these are susceptible to injury and breakdown over time causing discomfort and pain. The bursae are small capsules lined with synovial membranes that also contain synovial fluid. Their role is more for cushioning between the bones as opposed to providing a fluid lubrication surface (although they do that also). A primary role of bursae is to separate tendons and bone which reduces the friction during movement. Tendon sheaths are also synovial structures that surround tendons. Tendon sheaths are double layered structures and they also add an element of protection to many tendons that cross joints, such as those in the hands and wrist. Fibrous or Synarthrosis Joints These joints do not contain an articular cavity and are generally viewed as immovable. These joints are made mainly from fibrous connective tissue and can move very little. They are mostly concerned with absorbing shock. In this type of joint two bones are joined together by a fibrous connective tissue. There are two basic types of fibrous joints. a. Sutures. This type of joint is found only in the skull. They are very rigid joints designed mainly to absorb impact. The design of these joints is such that grooved or serrated bone ends are attached by tightly connected fibers. This also allows skull growth. As an adult these fibers begin to ossify and are eventually 100% replaced by bone and then are basically immovable versus somewhat movable in growing children. b. Syndesmoses. Like sutures, dense fibrous tissues bind the bones together allowing limited movement (although more than sutures). Examples in the body include the coraco-acromial joint. In this joint arrangement the bones are usually further apart than they are in sutures and are joined by ligaments. Hence, allowing some movement. The teeth are also an example of a particular type of fibrous joint. Sometimes they are called peg and socket joints. This joint is more accurately referred to as a gomphosis joint. Gomphosis literally means a bolt in Greek. A gomphosis joint is an articulation via the insertion of a conic process into a socket (hence the bolt). If you envisage the root of your tooth into an alvestus (small hollow) in your jaw, this is the form it takes. A gomphosis is not really a connection between two bones even though it is considered a fibrous joint. Cartilaginous or Amphiarthrosis Joints These joints do not contain an articular cavity but are viewed as slightly movable. They allow a twisting or bending motion. There are two basic types of cartilaginous joints differentiated on whether they joint together using hyaline cartilage (sychondroses) or fibrous cartilage (symphyses): a. Sychondroses. This literally means held together by cartilage. The bones are held together by a thin layer of hyaline cartilage. Examples include the sternocostal joints. The growth plates of bones are sychondroses. Interestingly, many sychondroses are temporary as bone eventually replaces the cartilage forming a synostoses (when two bones fuse together to form one bone). b. Symphyses. These joints are connected by fibrous cartilage which allows slight compression. In these joints a thin layer of hyaline cartilage separates a disk of fibro cartilage from the bones. Again, the joints allow limited movement. Examples include the vertebral joints. (Insert Table 8.2/8.1, Seeley) Joint lubrication The smooth movement of synovial joints is made possible by several features. We generally identify two forms of lubrication and refer to them as boundary lubrication and fluid film lubrication. The fluid film lubrication is really what allows us our day to day fluid movement as it comprises a thin film of lubricant that separates the bones. It functions for the most part under low loads with higher speeds. As an interesting side note; synovial joints can self-lubricate by shifting the synovial fluid back and forth under bone surfaces as the bones move. Boundary lubrication on the other hand is more important for higher stress loads over longer periods of time. Cartilage In the earlier section on synovial joints we introduced the terms articular cartilage and articular capsule. We also discussed the role of the synovial fluid in lubricating these joints. Like any mechanical device, be it a bicycle chain or car engine or human joint, lubrication is vital for proper functioning. In humans, a white connective tissue known as articular cartilage provides this lubrication. This white dense cartilage coats the ends of the bones in diarthrodial joints allowing movement with minimal friction, wear and pain. It also spreads the load at the joint over a wider area decreasing pressure and stress at any contact point. Estimates suggest that articular cartilage can reduce the contact stress on bones and joints by up to 50%. Articular cartilage is somewhat unique in its design as a living substance. Articular cartilage contains no blood vessels, nerves or lymph vessels. Water makes up most of the mass of articular cartilage with estimates ranging from 65-80% of th e weight of the time. Articular cartilage is also referred to as a viscoelastic tissue, sometimes this is referred to as biologically time dependent. What this means is that when you apply a constant load over time to the cartilage, its mechanical behavior (and shape) will also change over time. An example of this is an increase in the thickness of cartilage that occurs from exercise as greater volumes of fluid move in and out of the joint! Cartilage is a connective tissue that comes in several forms. There are three recognized types: a. hyaline b. articular c. white fibrocartilage Hyaline cartilage is smooth with shiny physical properties of a glue-like substance (even though it lubricates). The term hyal means glassy. Articular cartilage lines the articular (smooth) surfaces of the bones allowing for efficient smooth movement. White fibrocartilage is a strong fibrous tissue saturated with the glue-like cartilage that gives it a very strong tendon-like property. Articular fibrocartilage is found in amphiarthroses joints. This articular fibrocartilage is found as a fibrocartilaginous disc known as a menisci. This is the design in the intervertebral discs. The role of menisci are somewhat unclear but are believed to help reduce shock. The final articular component is that of articular connective tissue. Articular connective tissue includes both tendons and ligaments. The tendons connect muscle to bone and the ligaments connect bone to bone. These connective tissues are passive tissues comprised mainly of collagen and elastic fibers. These tissues are minimally extensible with no contraction ability and instead return to resting length as the muscle relaxes and the antagonist contracts. These tissues are elastic which helps them return to their original length. Ligaments Ligaments join bone to bone by inserting directly into the bone of the periosteum. Ligaments comprise fibers that are arranged in various directions. The major constituent in ligaments is the protein collagen and is very strong. The ligaments plan a major role in the stability of a joint. The arrangement of the ligaments varies according to the joint and the degree of mobility within the joint. In joints with greater mobility and larger ranges of motion there are usually multiple ligaments. The knee is a nice example in that its mobility necessitates four ligaments. This arrangement allows for a high degree of mobility while also maintaining its stability. Joint Problems and Injuries The basic shape of joints and they way they functions makes them prime targets for injuries. Some injuries are mild like a sprain or slight hyperextension while others are much more severe like shoulder dislocations or torn anterior cruciate ligaments. Sprains basically are a stretch of the ligaments and are usually very painful although not serious. While many joint injuries heal on their own, many do not and require either surgery or medications. Common joint injuries include the sprains and strains but also tennis elbow or nursemaids elbow. Nursemaids elbow occurs when the radius (one of the bones in the forearm) slips out of place from where it normally attaches to the elbow joint. It is a common condition in children younger than 4 years of age. It is also called pulled elbow, slipped elbow, or toddler elbow. The medical term for nursemaids elbow is radial head subluxation. A sudden pulling or traction on the hand or forearm causes nursemaids elbow. This causes the radius to sli p out of the ligament holding it into the elbow. It can occur when an infant rolls himself or herself over, from a fall or from pulling, or swinging a young child by the hand. Tennis elbow is also a very common injury and contrary to popular belief doesnt just result from playing tennis. Tennis elbow is a repetitive stress injury of the elbow that occurs when the muscles and tendons in the elbow area are torn or damaged. Tennis elbow is usually caused by repetitive activities that strain the tendons in the elbow area, such as using a manual screwdriver, using a hammer, gripping something repeatedly or of course hitting backhand in tennis. These types of injuries are usually acute and be treated effectively within a few days. Other conditions like arthritis are more chronic and require more long term treatment. Much joint soreness is caused by some sort of inflammation and the biggest cause of joint soreness in humans is arthritis which can affect any joint in the body. Arthritis is basically an inflammation of any joint in the body. Perhaps you have noticed that you are a little more stiff and slow when you get out of bed in the morning. Although we dont always feel it, arthritis is pretty much present in every person. As it develops it causes pain in the joints with movement especially after periods of inactivity. It is estimated to affect about 10% of the worlds population and 14% of the US population and is suggested as the leading cause of disability in people over 50 years old. There are many types of arthritis but the most common is probably osteoarthritis (OA). OA affects articular cartilage and results from the breakdown of the joint capsule and loss of synovial fluid. This means bones can end up rubbing together which cause pain an inflammation. However, it is not just the joint c apsule per se that is involved but also the ligaments, tendons and muscles. It has long been maintained that repetitive stresses caused arthritis but that is not always the case as we know that people who exercise regularly do not develop as much arthritis. It appears to be more due to trauma, age and infection. Summary In chapter six we provided a brief introduction of the general skeleton but paying particular attention to the role and classifications of articulations (or joints). We have learned that although there are many, many types of joints there are three basic classifications, namely, synovial, fibrous, and cartilaginous. The joints are classified according to their structure and also how much movement they allow. The joints that we are interested in the most in kinesiology are really the synovial joints. They are what permit the greatest range of motion. The structure of these joints is highly dependent upon synovial fluid which is a highly fluid lubricating substance permitting smooth movement. Joints vary in their range of motion whereby some joints do not allow any movement and some allow movement in all three cardinal planes. As a general rule, the more planes of movement a joint can move through, the less stable the joint, and the more likely we are to injure it. The shoulder joint i s a nice example of this relationship. Ligaments are also present in joints and they play a varying role in the stability of a joint. Ligaments join bone to bone and are highly tensile structures. Generally, we find a greater arrangement of ligaments in joints with greater ranges of motion. Research note: You may have noticed that women often become more flexible when they are pregnant. Naturally, this is to prepare for the action of childbirth and labor. However, for this increased flexibility to occur there needs to be structural changes in the joint structure. This is mediated by changes in hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. But there is another not so common hormone, relaxin, which increases and acts to improve mobility in the symphysis pubis, allowing them to stretch more. Although this action is most pronounced in the symphysis pubis, the hormone can act on all connective tissue in the body. However, while this is beneficial, it can also be problematic as this increased flexibility can cause injury such as back pain, or in worse cases torn ligaments during a fall. For the most part the hormone levels are restored to normal levels shortly after delivery. Can you now answer the following questions related to joints and joint structure? Differentiate between a fibrous joint, a cartilaginous joint, and a synovial joint! 2. Can you identify which of the synovial joints have: a. 3 degrees of freedom? b. 2 degrees of freedom? c. 1 degree of freedom? 3. In your own words describe the 3 major classifications of joints and give two examples for each classification (if possible). Also write the synonym for the terms below. a. Synarthrodial joint? b. Amphiarthrodial joint? c. Diarthrodial joint? d. Synostosis? Can you list a motion/action that is allowed for each of the six diarthrodial joints: 5. Identify 5 primary functions of the skeleton! 6. Starting with the neck and working downwards, classify each joint. Neck Shoulder Elbow Wrist Fingers (not thumb) Thumb Trunk (bottom of spine) Hip Knee Ankle 7. Identify the type of joint shown below and then identify, where possible, two locations where one may find that type of joint on your body: Insert a picture of 6 diarthrodial joints!

The Temporary Guide Base Engineering Essay

The Temporary Guide Base Engineering Essay After the drilling units anchors have been deployed on the new location the first item lowered is the temporary guide base (the TGB). This serves as a foundation for all the other subsea equipment that will follow, and as an anchorage for the guideline cables on which that equipment will be run down to the sea-bed. The TGB is a circular, octagonal or square, flat, steel frame of about 100 square feet in area which has compartments in which ballast materials can be placed. The unit alone usually weighs about four tons, but it is heavily weighted with bags of cement, barite or other heavy materials before being lowered to the sea bed on the end of a string of drill pipe. A special tool for releasing the TGB when it is in position is fitted to the drill pipe string, and this connects with a slot in the steel guidebase frame. On the underside of the frame four spikes project to dig into the sea bed and firmly anchor the unit. Four wires are attached to the edges of the TGB, and when it has been landed these are tensioned up and used for guiding other items of equipment down to their locations above the TGB. There are also two smaller lines for running TV cameras down for monitoring operations from the doghouse on the drill floor. The guide line tensioners are large cylinders, installed in the cellar deck on the rig, that contain pistons which are positioned by air pressure. The amount of tension required on the guide lines is simply set by adjusting the air pressure. In the centre of the TGB frame is a wide circular aperture with a funnel shape projecting above it into which the bottom of another frame the permanent guide base will fit. The drill bit will commence drilling and all subsequent downhole operations will be conducted through this aperture. 3.0 THE PERMANENT GUIDE BASE The permanent guide base (PGB) is another heavy steel frame, about 3 tons in weight and square in shape, that has a wide central aperture and a tall post on each corner through which the four guidelines run. The PGB serves as a landing seat for the wellhead and as a guide for drilling tools and the blow-out preventer stack which is eventually located above the wellhead. The posts are used to locate the stack, which has arrangements to accept them within its own frame. The PGB is run down the guide lines to connect with the TGB, and there is a funnel-shaped projection around the aperture on its underside that inserts into the TGBs funnel-shaped top aperture and ensures an accurate fit. Beyond about 400 m water depth the guidewire system does not work too well so for deepwater a guideline less system using a capture funnel system is utilised. 4.0 THE WELLHEAD/CASING HANGAR SYSTEM The wellhead is a large, cylindrical device housing several internal fittings called casing hangars that are designed to suspend the required number and sizes of casing and tubing strings that will be used in the well. The wellhead/casing hangar locates through the holes in the two guide bases and fits into the top of the conductor casing after this has been run. It projects above the PGB, and is designed to connect with the BOP stack which is later run above it. The Subsea Wellhead is the main structural component which supports the loads generated during drilling operations and during production Operations. It is connected (welded) to the inner conductor (18  ¾) and is locked into the outer conductor, which itself is attached to the guide base. Over recent years two connection profiles have become the most frequently used. These are proprietary designs known as Vetco H-4 and the Cameron Clamp Hub profiles. Most UK drilling rigs are equipped with a single high pressure stack, though two stack systems were previously in use, to provide a low pressure connection at the 20 and high pressure for the 13 5/8 inch casing. The three main functions of a wellhead can be considered as :- To provide a location for suspension of casing strings. Each of the casing strings which run up through the well are physically suspended within the wellhead housing. Should the well be used for production, the production tubing is additionally supported and locked in position in the wellhead via the tubing hanger. To provide Sealing and Pressure Containment This sealing and containment takes place on two distinct areas, between the well and the environment and to provide isolation from between the casing and downhole structures. During drilling operations a Blow Out Preventer (BOP) is installed on the wellhead at the base of the Marine Drilling Riser. The BOP is mandatory and used to protect the rig and the environment at the seabed level in case of gas kick from the well, to avoid a Blow Out. Allows the installation of Flow Control Equipment Should the well be converted from an appraisal well into a future production (NORMAL CASE) or water injection well, the subsea Xmas Tree can be installed to provide flow control from the well or from the injection line or manifold. . For subsea wells, the wellhead is supported through the 30 inch housing/conductor which is cemented into the first/primary soil formation. The 30 inch housing then supports the internal wellhead housing with the subsequent internal casing strings, each one supported via a casing hanger at the wellhead with a seal mechanism. The 30 inch housing supports the permanent guidebase which forms the main guidance mechanism for equipment being deployed subsea to the wellhead, during drilling and completion operations. Four Guide Posts and guide lines are used down to 400m. For deeper waters guide lines are not practical and funnel down or up systems are deployed. The BOP stack and subsequently the Xmas Tree are connected to the wellhead by a hydraulically operated connector. The primary environmental loading on the wellhead occurs during the drilling phase, when a high varying bending moment is transmitted through the riser onto wellhead housing and then to the 30 inch housing/casing/formation through current, wave loads and drilling vessel movement. The wellhead housing is locked into the 30 inch wellhead and loads on the wellhead are transmitted into the 30 inch conductor. 6.0 OVERVIEW OF SUBSEA OPTIONS; SHALLOW AND DEEP WATERS The challenges to subsea production in the future are considerable, with solutions required to the economical extraction of oil and gas from ever deeper waters in remote locations. Deep water options are illustrated in Figures 19 A 19 B. There are a number of options currently open in the movement of oil and gas from well to shore, and there are some limitations. Availability of investment capital to achieve a profit from the expectation of sales of gas or oil in a depressed and volatile market. The adverse effects of hydrostatic pressure on sensitive subsea equipment. The limiting effects of hydrostatic pressure on the means of maintenance and intervention with subsea equipment. Mechanical limitations on the type of host. The limiting factors of distance between well and host. Surface climatic conditions affecting the host annual storm patterns, ice, etc. Subsea production equipment used to be much more expensive than land-based equipment, adapted for use on offshore platforms. This was by way of specification, manufacturing quality, complexity etc., as well as the requirements for specialist tools with which to run the equipment. Nowadays costs of subsea developments are very competitive to platform based systems. This is due to more than 15 years of operational experience, fabrication simplification, and competition coupled with the use of more simple functional specifications. An additional feature of subsea production systems is their designed ability to operate in deepwater (diver less) areas. The development of deepwater systems, the installation and operational support systems using ROVs has been a major set in recent years. In earlier years such diver less systems were more expensive that diver assisted systems, but the advances now make then very similar in cost. In fact diver less operations using ROVs can be more cost effective than the use of very costly divers (requiring all the life support systems and complex DSV). The purpose of subsea wellhead is To support BOP and seal with well casing during drilling à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ To support and seal the subsea production tree à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ To support and seal the well casing à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ To support and seal the production tubing hanger The three main functions of a wellhead can be considered as; i)To provide a location for suspension of casing strings; Each of the casing strings which run up through the well are physically suspended within the wellhead housing. Should the well be used for production or injection, the tubing is additionally supported and locked in position in the wellhead via the tubing hanger (T.H.) when conventional dual bore trees are used. (ii)To provide Sealing and Pressure Containment; This sealing and containment takes place on two distinct areas, between the well and the environment and to provide isolation from between the casing and the down hole completion structures. During drilling operations a Blow Out Preventor (BOP) is installed on the wellhead at the base of the Marine Drilling Riser. The BOP is mandatory and used to protect the rig and the environment at the seabed level in case of gas kick from the well, to avoid a Blow Out and the riser is mandatory to return the drilling fluids, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ to the rig. Refer to additional figures in Lecture L 5 B. (iii)Allows the installation of Flow Control Equipment; Should the well be converted from an appraisal well into a future production (NORMAL CASE) or water injection well (or gas injection well), the subsea Xmas Tree can be installed to provide production flow control from the well or into the well from the injection line or manifold. In these notes, the emphasis is on the subsea wells drilled from a semi submersible or a drill ship. In the southern North Sea and in water depths generally up to 100 m, jack-up rigs are also used. These provide a fixed platform from which to drill the wells and the well can be directly tied back into the rig. During drilling operations, a high pressure riser system connects the well with the jack-up and no subsea B O P system is necessary. For subsea wells, the wellhead is supported through the 30 housing / conductor which is cemented into the first / primary soil formation. The 30 housing then supports the internal wellhead housing with the subsequent internal casing strings. Each one is supported via a casing hanger at the wellhead and with a seal mechanism. The 30 housing supports the Permanent Guide Base which forms the main guidance mechanism for equipment being deployed subsea to the wellhead, during drilling, completion operations and work over operations. Four Guide Posts and guide lines are used down to 500m .For deeper waters, guide lines are not practical and other guidance systems are in use with exploration drilling now reaching -2800m. Refer to section 6. The BOP stack and subsequently the Xmas Tree are connected to the wellhead by an hydraulic operated collet connector. Over recent years two connection profiles have become the most frequently used. These are proprietary designs known as Vetco H-4 and the Cameron Clamp Hub profiles. Most UK drilling rigs are equipped with a single high pressure stack, though two stack systems were previously in use, to provide a low pressure connection at the 20 and high pressure for the 13 5/8 casings. A single connection of the BOP stack to the wellhead is the generally accepted method. The primary environmental loading on the wellhead occurs during the drilling phase, when a high varying bending moment is transmitted through the riser onto wellhead housing and then to the 30 housing/casing/formation through current, wave loads and drilling vessel movements. It is now common policy to run the two top joints of 1  ½ wall thickness joints of 30 to provide the resistance to the anticipated loads, when previously, only 1 casing was considered. The wellhead housing is locked into the 30 conductor and loads on the wellhead are transmitted into it. In addition to the drilling loads the wellhead may be subjected to impact and snagging loads associated with construction activities and accidental incidents such as fishing trawl board impacts and pull over forces. These loads are transmitted through the production tree into the wellhead connector and through into the 30 conductor. SUBSEA XMAS TREES FUNCTIONS; 7.1 General; The Xmas Tree is the primary flow control system for fluid flow from or into the well. The flows which can be considered include the following :- (a) Production, produced fluids from the oil/gas/condensate bearing formation pass-up through the well tubing and the Xmas Tree. (b) Injection, treated, inhibited seawater is pumped from the host facility into the well to provide pressure support for the reservoir. Gas injection/disposal excess gas is pumped into an adjacent reservoir for temporary storage or in limited cases, pressure maintenance. Oil production with Gas lift, gas is pumped from the host facility, through the annulus to subsurface injection points in the tubing. The inclusion of gas into the produced fluid reduces the column density to allow the reservoir pressure to flow the well. It is a flow boosting technique but with a low efficiency.

Blade Runner as a Classic Film Noir and a Science Fiction Film Essay

Blade Runner as a Classic Film Noir and a Science Fiction Film Blade Runner, a well known 80’s science-fiction film, begins in 2019, set in the industrial city of L.A., the scene lit only by the many neon lights and molten guisers. We draw in from a panoramic long shot to Deckard, ‘ex-cop, ex-killer, ex-blade-runner’, who is at the heart of this film. Blade Runner is, definitively, a science fiction film, but the traits of Film Noir are the bread and butter, bringing it the dark, desperate atmosphere that is the very beauty of the film. Ridley Scott plants shrapnels of Film Noir throughout, from the subtle (cigars), to the downright blatant (the washed-up cop of main man). The genre itself developed in the post-war era, thriving upon the depression that had settled upon the world, and the new technology. The latter meant that scenes could be filmed outside of a studio, and new effects could be created with lighting. However, though the new technology was there, the after-math of the war meant that this equipment was often quite rare, leading to the lower budget films opting for stark, shadowy sets rather than miss out on the technology. But this type of setting fitted perfectly into the style of Film Noir anyway, as the feeling of the genre was reflecting the current mood, which was far from happy. The war had left some blind, and everyone else with brand new eyes, people could no longer see everything at face value, or to put it bluntly, the value of face had slumped. The world after war was no place for the frilly and meaningless, and Hollywood, as the capital of frill, had to come up with something new, and refreshingly... ...th Deckard ‘why am I called back? Why am I doing this?’ and the replicants can ask, ‘why am I a replicant, why am I like this?’ The answer of course, the bitter sentiment of Film Noir, ‘for no reason at all.’ The viewer watches Blade Runner’s characters like fish in a tank, with pity because they are trapped, and with resignation, because they’ll never, really, get out. The fusion of Sci-Fi and Film Noir works perfectly in Blade Runner, using the past to paint a (dismal) picture of the future. The combination was one of the first of it’s kind, pulling two genres together to work in perfect unison. And this combination of Sci-Fi and Film Noir will continue to work because the future is unseen, and therefore to us, quite scary, and, as in typical Film Noir fashion, there’s always ‘something BAD out there†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢

Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis Essay example -- Fear Silent Pl

Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis In the year 1625, Francis Bacon, a famous essayist and poet wrote about the influences of fear on everyday life. He stated, â€Å"Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other† (Essays Dedication of Death). Clearly, external surroundings affect perceptions of fear as well as human nature in general. Although C.S. Lewis published the novel, Out of the Silent Planet, over three centuries after Bacon wrote his theory on fear, Lewis similarly portrayed external surrounding to manipulate perceptions of fear. From the first chapter of the novel, Lewis revealed fear to be a weakness that leads to ignorance. It was this ignorance that apparently fueled the cycle of corruption and immorality on â€Å"The Silent Planet.† Using the character Ransom to reveal the effect of memory and morality on fear, C.S. Lewis demonstrates that fear is a quality of the â€Å"bent† race (humans), and only by eliminating fear in our lives can the human race become hnau.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout Out of the Silent Planet, memory, in particular, appears to have a tremendous impact on Ransom’s perception of fear. The influence of memory on fear was noticeable since the early abduction of Ransom in this novel. After spending mere hours on the spaceship, Ransom reveals his ignorant notion that space was a â€Å"dark and cold abyss (29).† While Weston contemptuously corrects him, asking, â€Å"Forgotten the sun?† it is clear that Wellsian novels such as The Time Machine created this pessimistic view of space. This â€Å"Wellsian† ideology continues to influence the thoughts and actions of Ransom throughout his journey on the spaceship. When overhearing the conversation between Weston and Divine about the sorns, Ransom instinctively envisions these creatures as â€Å"the bogies† he read in the novels by Wells (37). Ransom later reiterates this idea when assuming that key words including â€Å"Giants, ogres, ghosts, and skeletons† represented the sorns or, â€Å"the horrors of [my] imagination† (47). When arriving at Malacandra (Mars), Ransom’s memories of Sci-fi novels causes him to instinctively categorize the living animals on the planet as savage beasts. Believing Weston and Divine’s ignorant notion that he would be tortured and consumed by the sorns, Ransom resists â€Å"donkey-fashion† when being handed over to them... ... Ransom ties all of his experiences on Malacandra together and learns that trivial aspects of life should not be feared (153). Instead of fearing life and death, mankind should fear ignorance and inequality (imbalance). Through this mere statement, Ransom proved his understanding that through the use of morality, a greater understanding of life (especially fear) may be attained.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In conclusion, while Ransom journeyed to Malacandra as an ignorant young man, fearful of the unknown, he was completely transformed by the end of the novel by his complex understanding of fear. Although memory primarily inhibited any development in Ransom’s character during the first half of the novel, following Ransom’s understanding that initial reactions are often erroneous, Ransom’s memory allowed him to see the problems of Earth clearly. On the other hand, Ransom additionally learned to use morality to overcome fear rather than the converse. While modern dictionaries describe fear as â€Å"an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by expectation or awareness of danger,† Ransom would define fear as ignorance, the possibility of lost opportunities, and most importantly, inequality within the world.

Workplace Telecommunications Essay examples -- Telephone Phone Systems

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Workplace Telecommunications The telecommunication system at XYZ Corporation meets the needs of its medium sized business. Their phone system consists of 1,000 2400 series digital phones. These phones help to improve the efficiency and productivity of our organization and simplify the flow of information because of the enhanced features such as the ability to expand your 24 button telephone with additional 50 button expansion modules. With this phone system there's no need to change station wiring or cross connects, your staff can move telephone sets around without the help of a technician. This feature saves time and money for every day moves. Each phone has a full duplex speaker phone a 2x24 display size (lines x characters) and expansion unit ports. Our organization uses a PBX system to route voice data, and internal video transmissions, while we send all external calls through one or more lines to the provider's central office. Digital PBX acts as the gateway between users and external world. To connect to t he outside, we connect to the public network with Sprint digital PBX trunks. Each digital trunk is delivered on a T1 (1.5 Mbps) line. PBX trunks provide individual phone numbers to all of our employees without purchasing individual, physical lines. The T1 bundle comes with many services which include: local loop access, 24 digital voice channels, configurable trunk lines, block of DID numbers, voicemail, a link to calling services. S...

Shawshank Redemtion

Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank redemption is all about relationships, there are many that influence Andy (the main character). He changes in many different ways throughout the book, these relationships influence the different ways Andy changes. The relationship I would like to discuss is one between Red and Andy. The relationship between Red and Andy is more brotherly like because they look out for each other.During the opening of the book Red and Andy aren’t very close they talk but not very much. Andy only asks Red for small things like a rock hammer to make small figurines, and later we find out that Andy used the hammer to dig out of Shawshank. But as the story progresses Red and Andy’s bond grows stronger until the day that Red is released from prison. This relationship is strong and when they find out that Red has killed himself, Andy punishes himself.This Changes Andy because Red looked after Andy and felt that it was his fault that Red killed himself. Another r elationship that changes Andy is the one he has with Brooks. This relationship started when Andy was down in the basement doing some work and discovered that Shawshank had a library. This is how Brooks and Andy’s relationship became to be. Once they began to work together things began to change, Andy began to influence other prisoners to read.He and Brooks begin to â€Å"hang out† in the exercise yard. They discuss new ideas for the library, like expanding it and bringing a program to get inmates their high school diplomas. This changes Andy by giving Andy something to look forward to everyday, and something to achieve while he’s in prison. The final relationship that has a major impact on the way Andy changes throughout the book is the one he has with Warden Norton.This relationship is a kind of relationship that isn’t one I’d appreciate as a person because Warden Norton treats Andy like a piece of garbage. Warden Norton wants Andy to stay in the prison because he balances the finances the prisons money. Warden Norton also wants Andy to stay in the prison because he doesn’t want Andy to find out that he was set up for the murder of his wife and her lover, by the Warden Norton himself. This relationship changes Andy by making him glum and gloomy and wanting even more to get out of Shawshank.

Diary Entries Of A Murderer

I can see Julia's grave in front of me. And Carla's. Yet, I don't really remember that night. The night they died, I mean. I know that Julie was arguing. She was arguing with me. It was a long and loud argument. Something about a hospital of some kind. She wanted me to go there. I don't know why. I don't think I was sick. I think she had something in her hand. It was glinting in the dim light of the room. She kept repeating that I shouldn't go near her. I couldn't understand why. I loved her. She was my wife and I went closer to her. She was so beautiful. Her hair was soft and pretty. I took two steps towards her. She pointed the silver object she was holding. I held her, holding the shiny metal part towards her heart which was beating fast. Then, I kissed her and she fell to the floor, heavily. Red was her favourite colour. 3rd April 2004 Blackthorn Road Blackthorn Road. What a name! It reminds me of a thorn, a really big one, covered with dried blood – blackened. Then, there she was. She was wearing red stilettos, a matching red dress with a white belt around her slim waist. Her shoulder-length brown hair was floating with the wind. Her bare legs, looking as soft as a baby's, were exposed. She was taking long strides, walking in an elegant manner. She walked right past me. Without even noticing I was there. â€Å"Julia!† I called out. She kept on walking. I called her again. But she continued to ignore me. Rage swept through me. How dare she ignore me like that? I thought to myself. I walked over to her and grabbed her arm. â€Å"Farewell, beautiful.† 8th April 2004 My daughter's bedroom Her bedroom was always well-kept. It has a single bed, and a small desk that occupied one side of the bedroom. The room is empty. No one is at home. She must be watching television downstairs. I love her. What's her name though? Amanda? Or the other one, Carla? It must be Amanda. Then who was Carla? She walks in, her blue eyes wide. â€Å"What are you doing here? How did you get in?† â€Å"What do you mean? This is my house, little miss daughter.† â€Å"I am not your daughter. Your daughter is dead!† â€Å"What are you saying?† â€Å"You killed her! And you killed your wife! Don't you dare come near me! I'll call the police!† I look at her. How did she know I killed her mother? Did she see it? Will she report it to the police? She can't know this and survive. I have to make sure of that. 15th April 2004 Swordbill Hotel I am in room number 101. I want to talk to my Julie. I miss her. She was probably making dinner right now. I dial our house number. It rings several times. Where is she? I almost hung up when: â€Å"Hello?† It is a man's voice. There was not supposed to be a man at home. No man was allowed to visit Julia when I was not there. Julia is having an affair, I think angrily. â€Å"How could you do this to me Julia? And who the hell are you? What are you doing at my house? How dare you!† I slam the phone down. At the same instant, a woman came in. She saw me and started to scream. â€Å"Keep quiet, damn it!† She shuts up. â€Å"What did I ever do to you, Julia?† I said sadly. â€Å"Why did you have to do this to me? Don't you know how much I love you?† She was cowering towards the door looking nervously at me, nearly in tears. I got irritated. Doing that innocent princess act on me is not going to work, I thought, I would have to make her pay for what she did to me Very quickly, I grab her and drag her to the bed. I take a pillow. I put it on her mouth watching her tremble in fear. Then I put it on her eyes and kissed her goodbye. I could taste the salty tears that had fallen on her lips. I then cover her entire face with it and hold it tight. After she lay limp on the bed, I walked out the door. 20th April 2004 Prison bunk I don't know why those men put me in here. I don't think I've broken the law or anything. They keep talking about killing someone. I have no idea what they are talking about. It doesn't matter though. I called Julia. She'll come to bail me out after she picks up Carla from her ballet lessons.

BBC The Next Five Years Essay

Introduction The purpose of this study is to investigate the information strategy of the BBC. Having reviewed the various modes of enquiry, we have decided that the unbounded mode is the most appropriate in this instance. Using this, we have investigated the BBCs’[1] IS strategy, examining the external factors that may have an affect upon its planning and design. In addition we have reviewed other issues pertinent to the BBC to determine the possible negative of these might have on the strategy. Finally we have looked at the next five years to evaluate the relevance that significant advances over that period might have on the BBC IS strategy. Enquiry system   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In compiling this report we need first to decide what method we are going to plan our research upon. There are five basic enquiry modes ranging from the simple to the complex and innovative. Enquiry Modes 1) Inductive-Consensual   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As the words suggest this mode of enquiry relies upon one reaching a single conclusion by using a restricted range of interpretations, for example from previous researches into the subject matter. The result is influenced by the general consent of these opinions. For example if one asked the question â€Å"Is public service broadcasting superior to commercial,† and this was only put to BBC employees, the consensus is likely to answer affirmatively. 2) Analytic-deductive   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This mode approaches the problem or enquiry from a different aspect. In this case the problem is broken down into its component parts. Each one of these parts is then analysed and tested for logic. Once this process is complete a formula is used to build the results from the analysis of those parts into a single solution that addresses the problem. 3) Dialectic   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the more complex of the enquiry modes, the dialectic mode is based upon conflict or different viewpoints. It does not question the data, simply the views that are expressed about it, working on the basis that by discussion of the variance a logical conclusion will be reached. A relevant argument for this mode would be the discussion about whether the BBC should be allowed to sell advertising space in the same way that the commercial media does. 4) Multiple reality   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Multiple reality recognizes that people will approach problems from a predetermined viewpoint, based upon their own experience and training. For example an Accountant will look at the commissioning of a new revolutionary BBC sit-com from a different angle of the program planner. This process therefore relies upon the problem being addressed from a number of viewpoints, which will essentially come up with a range of conclusions. 5) Unbounded systems thinking   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This modes works on the basis that, in any given situation, all modes of enquiry are automatically brought to bear, and therefore cannot be separated. Thus, when addressing a problem every viewpoint and conclusion needs to be taken into account. Similarities and differences   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   All of the modes described above have similarities. All five rely upon the fact that there is a situation to be addressed in the first place. Additionally the point of the exploration, review and analysis of this problem, for all of the modes is to a) gain knowledge and b) reach a conclusion based on that knowledge, or a solution to the hypothesis or problem posed. Modes 1 and 2 above are similar to the extent that they both have a singular approach to the subject matter, relying upon one viewpoint (or consensus) being the input and the result.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With modes 3 and 4 the similarities are that both look for a range of viewpoints from which to approach a subject and neither attempt or profess to reach a singular conclusion, preferring instead to provide multiple conclusions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mode 5, in theory, displays the most similarity to all of the others. This is simply because it works on the premises that, in the real world, none of the enquiry systems and modes described can operate independently.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Equally there are some major differentials between these systems. The key difference is in their approach to a given situation. Mode one differs from the others in that it relies upon a consensus of opinion from a limited range of sources and seeks a single conclusion. Mode two differs from three to five for the same reason, but it also differs from one in the it analyses the component parts of the problem, rather than relying solely on interpretation. Mode three and four differ from each other in that they treat the conclusion in a different manner, three allowing differing conclusions to be presented, and four, seeking argument between different conclusions. Mode fives similarity is also its difference to the others, namely that it does not limit itself to a particular enquiry mode, instead using all formats. Strengths and weaknesses   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Inherent in all enquiry modes are strengths and weaknesses, which need to be recognised. Inductive-Consensual. The strengths of this mode rest in the fact that it is focused in one direction, making it simple to use and relatively quick to apply to a given problem. Its weaknesses lie in the limitation of approach and its reliance upon consensus of opinion. There is no attempt to check the validity of core data. Using the BBC example used in the mode description, there is no guarantee that the consensus of agreement is based on a genuine or, because they are employees of the BBC, biased and inaccurate opinion. Analytic-deductive. In this instance the strength comes from the fact that the component parts have been analysed before arriving at a conclusion. It bases that conclusion on logic. Its weakness comes from the fact that, like mode 1, it relies heavily upon a single source of operator to address the problem or situation. Both modes 1 and two have a strength that is also a weakness. This relates to the fact that both seek to arrive at a single conclusion. This is strength when given a task that asks for a definitive solution and the receiver does not want to input into this, but a weakness when asked for an opinion or range of solution.   Dialectic. The major strength in this mode is that it does allow for differing viewpoints to address a situation, thus relating itself more closely with a real world scenario. Similarly, the fact that it does result in a range of conclusions, and allow these to compete against each other to reach a conclusion is good when seeking a final unified approach. It means that all the options have an opportunity to be considered and discussed. The argumentative aspect can be strength insofar as such an approach can often lead to a tempering of divergent views. Weakness may Multiple reality. Like Dialectic, the multiple approaches have the strength of numerous viewpoints. In this case though, it presents all of the options. This allows the receiver to consider the options from their own particular viewpoint, before they make the final decision. Unbounded systems. The strength of this system is in its unlimited approach to a subject. Using this method ensures that it covers all possible aspects, resulting in a wide range of probable solutions. Its weakness rests in the fact that it is cumbersome and, if used as a tool for a conclusive result, could not facilitate this. In addition it would be a time consuming project. For the purpose of this study we will be using the multiple reality mode. Information Systems strategy – External environment Socio-political   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The BBC is a public service broadcasting organisation. Because of this there are more socio-political factors that impact upon the corporation and its operations than with most other businesses.   From a social point of view one has to look at both society as a whole as well as individual groups. Such groups can consist of ethnic, class and disabled minorities. All of these groups expect to receive equality of service from the corporation. This means that the corporation needs to ensure that it represents each group within all of its programme output. For example, it needs to ensure that within the public face of its broadcasting such minorities are adequately represented, be that in a factual or fictional environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On the political front the BBC also has to deal with a number of factions. In line with other businesses it has to pay heed to governments and judicial legislation, although the difference that exists with the BBC is that has a closer link in that it is a public corporation. Similarly, like other media, regulatory bodies overview its product and output. However, in addition to these, the BBC has two additional political factors to deal with. These are the Royal Charter, which has recently been reviewed (2006) and the BBC Trust.    Technological   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Trust is one of the key issues, which dictates the rate at which new technology is taken up. Often the speed at which technology develops is the one thing that makes trust difficult to achieve. No sooner has a user familiarised themselves with one system than this is rendered obsolete by a new one. Davis (2002) in his paper written for the Joint Information Services Committee posed the question that many users were asking. â€Å"How sure can one be that the outcome of an interaction is what it purports to be?† As it operates within the business medium, the BBC has greater access to technology than other organisations. It is an integral part of their broadcasting environment. This includes such areas as Broadband, digital and interactive technology. Internally it uses similar modern technology to other media businesses, in terms of computers, network systems in addition to the TV and radio broadcasting technology. The latter includes such things as cameras, film equipment and outside broadcast vehicles. However, as Paul Cheesbrough, BBC head of technology for production and technology direction, admitted in his interview with Miya Knights (2004), their internal systems do need updating in a number of areas, where he says, â€Å"Internally, our processes for producing and authoring content have been the same for many years and are still very physical. It’s a very distributed set-up with lots of physically-based processes in between.† The internal technology of an organisation is important (Glasson 1996) Economic – Geographical   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The BBC, unlike the commercial broadcasting media, does not receive money from other businesses in terms of advertising revenue, nor much in the way of sponsorship. It is funded in the main by a system of revenue from the television and radio licence, together with the annual financial support that it receives from the British government. Despite the wish, within some factions of the corporation to change this situation, so far this has been rejected. The only other of funding available to the BBC is the commercial sales it makes of its programmes to other broadcasting media throughout the world, including joint ventures, and sales of its products through other medium, such as books and publications, CDs and DVDs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From a geographical point of view, the BBC is predominately a British based broadcaster, although it does have a world service for radio, originally set up with the intention of providing a link for armed forces overseas. Historically it has concentrated upon this limited geographical area through which to develop and market its products. However, it does produce programmes relating to and based upon many areas of the world. Nowadays it is also making use of the Internet through which to extend its audience. To add to its home-based productions, the BBC also buys programmes from other media throughout the world. Impact on IS strategy planning and design â€Å"The social, legal, political, ethical, and ecological issues facing business have never been more complex or more difficult to comprehend,† wrote Stephen Wartick (1997). This statement is particularly applicable to the BBC.   The factors mentioned previously form an intrinsic element of its Information Services at the planning and design stage. From a social point of view the BBC is required to cater for all sectors of society. The means that part of its strategy has to be geared towards minority groups. In addition it has historically been seen as a provider of learning, necessitating part of its information system strategy to be used in that direction. Political issues also impact upon its planning and design because, as a result of the need to divert resources to other areas set within its charter, this means that there are fewer resources available to pursue avenues that it might otherwise wish to develop. There have been instances in the past where the political forces have tried to introduce a modicum of pressure onto the corporation and, knowing this is a possibility, must impact on the corporation strategy. The area where the BBC does appear to both holding its own, and in some respects, making significant advances, is in technology. Whilst internally there are areas that need addressing, from an external and production standpoint the organisation is keeping up to date. Here it has encompassed the changes that have occurred since the Information era began in the 1970’s, using modern technology to maintain its reputation as possibly the best broadcaster in the industry. The planning and designing stages are very important. As Paul Cheeseburgh (2004) observed â€Å"The term ‘digital islands’ means a lot in our industry, but there’s no point in moving from analogue to digital processes if those islands are disconnected.† Nevetherless they have made some of their processes more cost competitive as a result of technology, with the use of digital technology being an example of this. Economics probably has the greatest impact on the businesses IS strategies and their planning. Because its funding is subjected to restrictions than other broadcasters, this means that some of the innovative ideas that the BBC might wish to develop may not be possible due to financial restrictions. Similarly, it has a finite budget from which to take advantage of technology advances in the way that it would like to. Geographical issues have an impact on the IS strategy. Being a media corporation means that they have to plan for communication access sometimes to even the remotest parts of the world, and have a variety of climates to contend with. In the equatorial countries for instance, the corporation has had to make use of refrigerated broadcast vehicles. Impacts on IS strategy Risk Categorization Scales   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As has been widely publicised, Information systems and Technology attract risks and these manifest themselves in a number of ways. In all areas of life and business, there is the risk of sabotage (Stewart 2000) Technology for instance, suffers from hacking, virus and other dangers instigated from outside sources. Then there are the mechanical and accidental risks.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Knowing that these events are likely to happen even in the best protected of systems, it is vitally important that this eventuality is recognised and addressed at an early stage. Kim Andersen (2005) in his book on the subject, shows â€Å"how getting things right† helps the information system. This is particularly relevant in a broadcasting organisation such as the BBC. At all stages of the development of an IS and IT strategy plan a consequence analysis should be carried out, this is relevant at each subsequent change as well. Within this process one needs to identify where the possibility of risks lies, what type of risks could attach themselves to the area in question and what the effect of those risks might be. Figure 1 (see appendices) gives an example of a consequence matrix. Effect/probability/Action Grid   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Having analysed the areas of risks and the types of risks that could occur, one then has to categorise and evaluate the risk. This means that one needs to first work out what the effects of that risk will be. Will it be in favour of the organisations and its IS and IT, or will it be fatal. Or will it be somewhere between the two. The next step it to ascertain the probability factor. What is the likelihood of the risk occurring, negligible or certainly? Armed with this information one can then work out what action to take in terms of prevention, assuming that the risk is not to the businesses advantage. Figure 2 (see appendices) shows a simple grid detail the possible results of this analysis. Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Following on from the previous analysis, the organisation needs to work out what impact this potential risk will have on the business. This can be categorised in three ways. Firstly there is confidentiality and privacy. The BBC IS and IT systems contain a lot of sensitive data, both from an internal and external point of view, such as staff and financial details. It could be embarrassing and costly if this information were to be obtained illegally, in addition to the fact that it could see the organization facing legal action for breach of confidentiality. This area will impact on the information system, (Mwangama 2006)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The second impact of risk could be to the integrity of accuracy of the data. If information is tampered with or altered in any way this would have serious consequences for the business.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The third area of impact is when the data or system is corrupted of deleted. In this case the system or database would be unable to operate and, in an extreme case the contents and data non-recoverable. Potential Negative Impacts 1) Technical   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From a technical viewpoint the negative impact of the consequences of risk will attach to the strategy planning and design. For example the BBC would need to ensure that, by the introduction of new and more versatile systems and upgrades, this does not increase the risks. If this appears likely then the direction of the strategy will need to be reappraised. Similarly, if by installing new software the system becomes less secure in terms of the data access, the necessity and cost benefit of new software should be evaluated. This may result in technology and information system upgrades being delayed until such time as the security of the hardware can be guaranteed to be as risk proof as possible. 2) Non-Technical   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The organisation also needs to look at the negative issues that the consequence of risk may raise in relation to human and business processing issues. Employees and others involved with the Corporation have a right to expect personal information to be maintained in a confidential and secure manner. The shoulders of the organisation that has the information, to keep it secure. In addition to this is the damage of such a risk to the business processes. It is not only losing of the programmes, which would prove costly enough, it is also the potential of lost data, which in some areas could be irreplaceable. Ethical Issues   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Added to all of the above are the ethical issues surrounding risk. The BBC, like all organisations that keep sensitive and personal data, is subject to both the data protection ACT and their own professional code of conduct and ethics. These include a duty to not harm those for whom you are responsible for and to respect their right to privacy, which includes ensuring that any personal information that they give to you are kept safe. Thus it cannot be passed to a third party, either by the organisation itself or by the intervention of an outside party. Even if that third party is committing an illegal act it does not absolve the corporation from liability. In the modern legal environment, if such an event occurs, the possibility of legal action being taken the organisation is very likely. The code of conduct for the BBC also states that it sees part of its duty being to respect and honour human rights. This extends to ensuring that the technology that is installed within its systems offers the same rights.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition to the rights of the individual whose rights have been violated there is the impact that such a breech will have on the corporations’ own reputation. According to a newspaper report written by Owen Gibson (2005) the BBC recently revised their code of ethics to take account of some of these issues. The Next Five Years   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strategic planning for the future of information systems is important. (Ward & Peppard 2002) A business needs a â€Å"clear vision of where it is trying to go.† (Andersen 2004) and to produce the correct strategy the BBC needs to know what events will impact on the strategy. External changes In terms of the future, the next five years are likely to produce changes of significance in terms of IS and IT in a number of areas, in hard and software (Mark Haggerty 2006).   The advances in wireless technology are one area where these advances are proving to be particularly rapid. This development will allow both television and computers to become really possible, with consumers able to carry the receivers in pockets. They will then be in a position of being able to view at any time and in any place. Wireless technology development will also have an impact on broadcasting in that it will allow ease of access for people involved in news reporting, such as with the BBC. Using these systems, particularly in their news department, the corporation will be able to achieve instant news reporting from almost anywhere in the world. In addition the reports will be able to be accessed and reported on air in real time, in other words as it happens. Continued development in satellite technology will also improve the ability of the BBC to achieve its strategy of moving closer towards a more â€Å"on-demand† consumer environment. Video conferencing is set to be one of the main growth areas in technology over the next five years. (Laura Hailstone 2006). This technology is already being used and implemented by a growing number of businesses. In addition to the business use, this technology is set to move into the private sector, allow for projects such as games shows to be conducted with participants not having to move from their home. With increasing computer technology being incorporated within television sets, the opportunities are available for television presenters to be able to interact directly with the consumer. There will be continued developments in the field of interactive media. The continuing improvements in this area will eliminate the need for there to be two or three machines in a household in order to give the consumer flexibility and choice. Within the next five years the facility of recording direct from the TV should improve substantially, allowing additional onset recording facilities, improving upon what systems such as sky offer already. Interaction will also affect the BBC’s learning facilities leading to closer interaction between teacher and learner, (G. Conole et al 2000). B. Davies (2002) also showed how modern and future information system developments are impacting on users in the education arena. An area of significant relevance to the BBC is the continued development of compact storage systems, such as the MP3. From an internal point of view this will mean less space utilised for storage of produced material, therefore reducing the corporations costs in the area of storage. With the increase in globalisation, business systems will also witness significant innovation over the next five years. Such programmes as the multi-national, multi-lingual supply chain software could be implemented within the BBC, providing it with more accuracy and accessibility in terms of its global operations, allow it to work more closely with the stakeholders who supply the corporation and ensure that the quality of the product is maintained. Internal changes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The BBC will see changes in a number of areas of IS and IT. It is expected that within the next five years media broadcasters will need to keep updating their technology and systems to meet the increasing demands from the public in the way in which programmes are presented. Digital development is something that the BBC sees as having a significant effect over their programming abilities over the next five years. From the point of view of the production side of their programmes, a test run on one programme has shown that it produces a significant cost reduction. More developments of this nature are planned. Development of the digital technology for the end user is also seen as a means of being able to extend the ability of the viewer to have more control over the way in which they organise their personal viewing or listening schedules. The corporation is planning to use this to restructure the way in which it produces programmes and extend the range of interaction with the consumer. Further developments on the World Wide Web are also being looked at. This will provide the BBC with the ability to make its services available in a number of new ways, including providing a service where programs can be downloaded and watched for a limited period, thereby avoiding the possibility of this being stored and affecting others possible sales of the programmes. As part of this development they are working with all of the major software organisations in the development of products, which will open new opportunities in terms of programming. The BBC sees, what its Director-General Mark Thompson (2005) â€Å"On Demand† television as the way forward in technology. In addition to this the BBC are also developing ways in which their programmes can be transmitted for screening on a range of portable devices. From an in house perspective the BBC sees that IT developments over the next five years will enable it to integrate all of its in house operations, linking together internal systems that previously have been disconnected. Internally there will also be changes in terms of office systems and other related technology usages. Microsoft’s chief technology officer, in his interview with Chris Nuttall (1999) stated that â€Å"every five years there is a revolution in the computer industry.† Therefore it is necessary that organisations like the BBC have a strategy prepared for it. Evidence Research shows that all of the changes outlined are evidenced. Tafazolli, Rahim (2006) comments â€Å"that the days of the totally wireless technology are close and that soon consumers will be able to access the media wherever they are.† Future Tech (2006), have noted that one organisation is already well advanced on a system of voice recognition for the purpose of media viewing, amongst other applications. The article also reveals that MIT are developing the computer glasses, which will make operation of computers and televisions much less tiresome, allowing the consumer to operate TV and Computer without using hands. The article also reveals that hardware companies are working to make the computer less visible. This means that, instead of the current box on the desk, they may be incorporated in the TV or portable devices, which can be, located and operated from anywhere. The BBC launched â€Å"Creative Future Project†. Part of the remit for this project is to continue to monitor the advances in new technology with a view to using the technology as part of its development strategy for the future. The project, and the BBC’s IT department are working with a number of the largest software houses, such as Microsoft and Apple, to development programmes and systems which can assist in the development of broadcasting. Energy consideration is already an area that the BBC is aware of. In the future the role of Information systems and technology will take on more significance in terms of its contribution to energy conservation, (J & R. Franchi 2004) Bibliography Andersen, Kim Viborg. (2004) The Past and Future of Information Systems. Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd Carpenter, Leona, Shaw, Simon and Prescott, Andrew (eds) (1988) Towards the Digital Library, The British Library, London Conole, G., Jacobs, G., Squires, D (ed) (2000), The Changing Face of Learning Technology. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1-3. Davies, B. (2002), How new technologies are impacting on users, Joint Information Systems Committee.   Retrieved 17 July 2006 from: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=pub_inform2 Franchi, John. R. Franchi (2004) Energy, Technology and Directions for the Future. Elsevier Academic Press. Future Tech. (2006) Future Computing. Retrieved 12 July 2006 from http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~jwb24/newtech/integrate.html Gibson, Owen. (2005) New Ethics Code for BBC. The Guardian Glasson, Bernard, C, Vogel, Doug, Bots, Pieter and Nunamaker, Jay (1996) Information Systems and Technology in the International Office of the Future. Chapman & Hall. UK Haggerty, Mark. (2005) GMS Software development. The next five years. Clientside News Hallstone, Laura (2006). VC market set to grow over the next five years. Retrived 16 July 2006 from www.vcunet.com Knights, Miya (2004) Interview with Paul Cheeseburgh: BBC sees new technology horizons. Retrieved 18 July 2006 from http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/analysis/2132111/bbc-sees-technology-horizon Mwangama, Ena. (2006) Information in the Next Five Years. Retrieved 18 July 2006 from http://www.comptechlib.com/326.html Nuttall, Chris. (1999). Windows to lose its crown within five years. Retrieved 10 July 2006 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/253592.stm/ Press Release (2006) Response to the white paper. Retrieved 16 July 2006 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/03_march/14/white.shtml Review of the BBC’s Royal Charter. (July 2006). Retrieved 17 July 2006 from http://www.bbccharterreview.org.uk/pdf_documents/BBCRoyal%20Charter_july06.pdf Stewart, R.A. (2000). Dam Risk Management (Invited Paper). Proceedings of the International Conference on Geotechnical and Geological Engineering (GeoEng2000). Melbourne, pp. 721-748. Tafazolli, Rahim (2006) Technologies for the Wireless Future. Wireless World Research Forum. UK Thompson, Mark (Director General) (2005) Creative Future Project. Retrieved 16 July 2006 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/thefuture/text/creative_future.html Ward, John and Peppard, Joe. (2002) Strategic Planning for Information Systems. John Wiley & Sons Wartick, Stephen L. (1997) International Business and Society. Blackwell Publishers [1] British Broadcasting Corporation