Essay About Family: Inside the Nightstand :: Personal Narrative essay about my family

Inside the Nightstand We live together now, my boyfriend and I. It’s still new to both of us. 41 North State Street- that’s us. The quiet apartment lined by two rows of cement drive, an oak tree, and his step-mother’s opinion that we are â€Å"too young to be living together seriously.† We share our bedroom, square in shape, with the bed pressed tightly to the far wall, curtains embracing the narrow sides of the mattress. It’s ours- the bed, the room, the oak tree, and the way my toothpaste sticks to the sides of the white sink. The toothpaste doesn’t bother me, but it’s something I’m working on. We’re still getting use to all this. Sharing a bathroom is what we’re working on at the moment. Home alone I find myself organizing- shiny silverware drawers, old, half-bent novels, rows of mismatched socks. My mother calls and tells me I must get out more. I opt instead for making the bed in our square shaped room, but not before casting myself between the sheets, my bare back feeling warm against the patch of sun-stricken cotton. Beside the bed is the nightstand. My face shines innocently in a picture of myself taken with my father at age four. His dark bushy hair and matching 80’s mustache contrast with the pale frame of my body sitting on the counter beside him. Near that is the picture of my best friend Erin and me. We were in Paris. The close frame of the picture cuts off anything below our necks, hiding her belly that has recently become home to a tiny son- due to arrive early January. Inside the nightstand many things sit quiet: an old red wallet, a shirt with a broken left strap, a journal, and a stack of pictures from my 21st birthday party. I open the wallet to see if, by chance, I was smart enough to leave myself some backup cash. The slots inside lay empty, bent over from years of wear and tear. I remember how I used some of my graduation money from high school to buy this wallet.

Environmentalism and Deforestation Activities Essay

Deforestation is a severe environmental destruction which cannot be revived easily if changed at current rate. Therefore, I totally agree that deforestation causes a lot of environmental problems. Deforestation includes the cutting down, burning and destructing of forests. The deforestation affects the ecosystem and disrupts the oxygen and carbon oxide cycle. People have an impression that if the trees were cut down, it will grow back in a few years. Everyone knows the trees are very important in our daily life because it can produces oxygen to people can breathe with fresh air. However, the trees become less because deforestation. We can plant more trees around the environment to prevent the deforestation. Furthermore, plant more trees also can prevent our health and the global warming. In short, we can plant more trees to stop the deforestation. On the other hand, we can recycle the anything that we can recycle it. The paper that we use every day was makes from trees, so, we cannot waste the paper and we must reuse the part that can be used. We also can buy the variety of recycled items likewise papers, toilet paper, note books, and shopping bags. When we start use the recycled things, we can save many the demand of raw material replaced by the recycled products. We can join the environmental group to prevent deforestation and and protect our environment. When we join the group, we can make some notice boards about the serious of deforestation. For example, we can write the ‘Please save our earth!’, ‘Stop cutting the trees!’ and the others. The notice board can placed at the college, school, or the road side to remaining people that our earth was dangerous now. In fact, people can realize the deforestation was very harmful to our earth. In conclusion, the deforestation was cause many environmental problems. Therefore, we need some way to stop all such deforestation activities immediately for our earth future become very well.

The Twin Paradoxical: Acme and Omega Electronics Study Case

The Paradoxical Twins: Acme and Omega Electronics E-mail : [email  protected] co. id Introduction: In this case, two similar electronic companies named Acme and Omega, Which situated closely one to another. Both of them are originally formed from the same company, but they grew into completely different companies. Below listed their company details and unique points, right after company’s establishment: Acme: ? ? ? ? ? ? Company size: 550 employees, with annual sales $10 million The president: John TylerRetaining the original management and upgrading general manager to president Has a relatively more effective management and bigger net profits Management culture: bureaucracy/ hierarchy culture, it is stated by John Tyler â€Å"he retained the basic structure† and company has a well structured organization chart. Management get used to routine and predicted activity, stated in â€Å"Tyler was confident that has the demand had not been so great†¦. †, and â⠂¬Å"we have been able to beat Omega regularly.. † Omega: ? ? ? ? ? ? Company size: 480 employees, with annual sales $8 millionThe president: Jim Rawls Hired a new president who is a former director of a large electronics research laboratory, and upgrading several of the existing personnel within the plant. Relaying on face to face communication which leads to ineffective time management. Management culture: adhocracy/ entrepreneurial culture, stated in â€Å"Jim Rawls did not believe in organization charts†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , â€Å".. people from mechanical, electrical, production and industrial engineering got together.. †, and â€Å"Jim Rawls called a meeting on Friday, July 8, that included all departments head.. †Team oriented and project based organization are used, based on Jim Rawls’ background as a researcher and his capacity as the president. Case Summary: In July 1996, on of major photocopy manufacturer was looking for a subcontractor to assemble the memory unit, whereas this project worth $5-7 million. This project required 100 prototypes, and speed is a critical factor indeed. Both Acme and Omega had at most 2 weeks to get this project done. Acme Timeline: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Monday (July 11th): Blueprint arrived and purchasing decision has been made by purchasing department.Tuesday (July 12th): mechanical engineering received manufacturing prints and evaluated their capabilities in completing this project. Wednesday (July 13th): Purchasing found that a particular component could not be purchased due to summer vacation in manufacturer region. Tyler decided to continue on producing with the missing component, and add the missing on the last stage. Friday (July 15th): Mechanical engineering informed an additional assembly time might be occurred because of the missing component. Monday (July 18th): Tyler got information from shipping department if most of the component has arrived.Foreman ignored the normal procedure of contac ting method engineers due to time limit. As a matter effect, the method engineers were very upset because they have no chance in designing proper layout. They had spent an entire weekend in analyzing the motion needed and his process was very inefficient and imbalanced. The foreman refuses to stop working, due to short time limit. Tyler got himself complained by the method engineers, but no one of them could change his decision and he wants to get all the prototypes ready as soon as possible. They just said each other if the units must be almost completely tear down in installing the missing unit.Friday (July 22nd): They have their last unit produced Tuesday (July 27th): Missing parts have delivered Wednesday (July 28th): Foreman found that they have to tear the units to install the missing units. Thursday (July 28th): Tyler decides to tear down all units. Friday (July 29th): 50 units of prototypes have been completed, and shipped without final inspection. Tuesday (August 2nd): The rest 50 units were shipped Omega ? ? ? Friday (July 8th): Jim Rawls called all department heads, and soon after he had received the blueprints. Monday (July 11th): Blueprint arrived and all department heads met to discuss this project.Wednesday (July 13th): They found that one component would not be ready in the next two weeks. Substitution of component must be made to keep the assembly time by using Ja pan material. ? ? ? Friday (July 15th): on process, industrial engineering department reported that the missing component would increase the assembly time. Relaying on this, the head of electrical engineering tested and ensured that the Japan component will definitely work. Monday (July 18th): All engineering gathered in finishing the units needed. Friday (July 22nd): all units were completely inspected and shipped.As a result, ten of Acme’s units were defective, while all Omega’s units passed the test. The client was disappointed with Acme’s delivery delay and i ncurred further delays in repairing the defective Acme units. However, rather than giving the entire contract to one firm, the final contract was split between Acme and Omega, with two added directives: maintained zero defects and reduced final cost. Analysis: 1. The importance of organization chart On the writer’s point of view, well structured organization chart is critical to illustrate distribution of management structure.This opinion supported by Colquitt which said organizational chart helps organization members and outsiders understand and comprehend how work is structured within the company (Colquitt et al, 2011). Based on Harvard Business Review, there would be several disadvantages occurred within a management with not organizational chart, which listed below: a. The â€Å"unworkable† job: an unworkable job means the absence of organizational chart, brings an unclear distribution or task and responsibility. One man has to do several tasks within the same time and reports to several bosses.As a matter effect, some tasks won’t be completed and reported when the time needed. b. Politics: An uncertain organization hierarchy often influences members to reach the highest level of organization hierarchy. Even more, inappropriate behavior might occur to get a higher authority and power. c. Over-regulation: The absence of organizational chart leads to uncertainty for job approval. One project must be approved some of majority member of organization before comes to realization. d. Cultural clashes: Unavailability of organizational chart often leads to unidentified organizational culture.Each member claims their own culture and also bring their previous company culture. 2. Distribution of authority in both company Based on Colquit (2011), elements of organizational structure divided into: a. Work Specialization ? Acme: individual specialization is used in Acme, where well structured of work flow has been divided into several steps of flow w hich given to different specific department. ? Omega: team work is used to bring the best performance, since the tendency is to get everyone involved in finishing one project. Everyone has almost similar knowledge and skills since everyone does all things together. . Chain of Command ? Acme: Well structured chain of command in Acme, creates a clear reporting order from subordinates to the manager. ? Omega: Group approval is needed since almost everyone has an obligation to do everything together. Moreover decision can only be produced after team discussion. c. Span of Control ? Acme: Tall organization chart symbolized this span of control which in Acme it is shown by the organizational chart. ? Omega: Relatively flat organization chart, even though there is no organization chart. In Omega, everyone has almost the same responsibility and authority. d.Centralization ? Acme: Centralized decision maker where Tyler as the decision maker or Tyler’s approval is the key point on orga nization activities. ? Omega: Decentralized decision maker, where everyone was involved by Rawls. e. Formalization ? Acme: Standardized procedure with specific rule set to maintain working behavior in Acme, such as using memo as communication tool (Mechanistic Organization). ? Omega: Flexible procedure and direct communication were highly encouraged to avoid misunderstanding in Omega. The Organizational dimensions displayed as below: Source: Colquitt, Jason A et all (2011) 3.The influence of company strategy to company distribution of authority Colquitt (2011) mentioned that company strategy has an influence on organizational structure, which described as below: ? Mechanistic Organization Acme has a mechanistic organization where the efficiency strategy, and work specialization are the unique mark of this organization. ? Organic Organization Omega has an organic organization where lateral communication, decentralized knowledge, and low degree of work specialization to maximize organ ization performance. 4. Cost efficiency failure in Omega In writer’s opinion, there are several inefficiency recourses in Omega which ead to higher cost, which described below: ? People Management Rawls encourages everyone to get involved in certain project even though they not directly related with such project. Moreover, direct contact and discussion are recommended to eliminate misunderstanding. ? Time Management Inefficiency of people management causes inefficient time management which several jobs can’t be completed in the same time, whereas everyone involved in one job. ? Resource Management Omega has a tendency in wasting resources for a fast solution. In this case, Omega uses substitute product to replace the missing component.Even it’s perfectly fit with the requirement; this solution increases cost of production. 5. Personal recommendation to Omega Washington University highly recommends the organization restructured in Omega for a better management ro le. Well structured organization will give a clear view of everyone role, responsibility and authority. This recommendation can be broken down into several actions which are: ? Restructuring Organization Restructuring organization includes creating clear job description, organizational chart, adding and eliminating position. Omega should define each member’s position, task, responsibility and authority. Forming Labor Relation Labor relation is important in manufacturing company, since large numbers of labor are employed. This organization utilized as the communication medium between labor and company management. ? Change Management Change management is needed in restructuring organization, since many things must be socialize to different. This team prioritizes the change order and methods. References Books: Colquitt, Jason A et all. (2011). Organizational Behavior â€Å"Improving Performance and Commitment in The Workplace†. McGraw-Hill Internet Corkindale, Gill. Harva rd Business Review. org washington. edu The Twin Paradoxical: Acme and Omega Electronics Study Case The Paradoxical Twins: Acme and Omega Electronics E-mail : [email  protected] co. id Introduction: In this case, two similar electronic companies named Acme and Omega, Which situated closely one to another. Both of them are originally formed from the same company, but they grew into completely different companies. Below listed their company details and unique points, right after company’s establishment: Acme: ? ? ? ? ? ? Company size: 550 employees, with annual sales $10 million The president: John TylerRetaining the original management and upgrading general manager to president Has a relatively more effective management and bigger net profits Management culture: bureaucracy/ hierarchy culture, it is stated by John Tyler â€Å"he retained the basic structure† and company has a well structured organization chart. Management get used to routine and predicted activity, stated in â€Å"Tyler was confident that has the demand had not been so great†¦. †, and â⠂¬Å"we have been able to beat Omega regularly.. † Omega: ? ? ? ? ? ? Company size: 480 employees, with annual sales $8 millionThe president: Jim Rawls Hired a new president who is a former director of a large electronics research laboratory, and upgrading several of the existing personnel within the plant. Relaying on face to face communication which leads to ineffective time management. Management culture: adhocracy/ entrepreneurial culture, stated in â€Å"Jim Rawls did not believe in organization charts†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , â€Å".. people from mechanical, electrical, production and industrial engineering got together.. †, and â€Å"Jim Rawls called a meeting on Friday, July 8, that included all departments head.. †Team oriented and project based organization are used, based on Jim Rawls’ background as a researcher and his capacity as the president. Case Summary: In July 1996, on of major photocopy manufacturer was looking for a subcontractor to assemble the memory unit, whereas this project worth $5-7 million. This project required 100 prototypes, and speed is a critical factor indeed. Both Acme and Omega had at most 2 weeks to get this project done. Acme Timeline: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Monday (July 11th): Blueprint arrived and purchasing decision has been made by purchasing department.Tuesday (July 12th): mechanical engineering received manufacturing prints and evaluated their capabilities in completing this project. Wednesday (July 13th): Purchasing found that a particular component could not be purchased due to summer vacation in manufacturer region. Tyler decided to continue on producing with the missing component, and add the missing on the last stage. Friday (July 15th): Mechanical engineering informed an additional assembly time might be occurred because of the missing component. Monday (July 18th): Tyler got information from shipping department if most of the component has arrived.Foreman ignored the normal procedure of contac ting method engineers due to time limit. As a matter effect, the method engineers were very upset because they have no chance in designing proper layout. They had spent an entire weekend in analyzing the motion needed and his process was very inefficient and imbalanced. The foreman refuses to stop working, due to short time limit. Tyler got himself complained by the method engineers, but no one of them could change his decision and he wants to get all the prototypes ready as soon as possible. They just said each other if the units must be almost completely tear down in installing the missing unit.Friday (July 22nd): They have their last unit produced Tuesday (July 27th): Missing parts have delivered Wednesday (July 28th): Foreman found that they have to tear the units to install the missing units. Thursday (July 28th): Tyler decides to tear down all units. Friday (July 29th): 50 units of prototypes have been completed, and shipped without final inspection. Tuesday (August 2nd): The rest 50 units were shipped Omega ? ? ? Friday (July 8th): Jim Rawls called all department heads, and soon after he had received the blueprints. Monday (July 11th): Blueprint arrived and all department heads met to discuss this project.Wednesday (July 13th): They found that one component would not be ready in the next two weeks. Substitution of component must be made to keep the assembly time by using Ja pan material. ? ? ? Friday (July 15th): on process, industrial engineering department reported that the missing component would increase the assembly time. Relaying on this, the head of electrical engineering tested and ensured that the Japan component will definitely work. Monday (July 18th): All engineering gathered in finishing the units needed. Friday (July 22nd): all units were completely inspected and shipped.As a result, ten of Acme’s units were defective, while all Omega’s units passed the test. The client was disappointed with Acme’s delivery delay and i ncurred further delays in repairing the defective Acme units. However, rather than giving the entire contract to one firm, the final contract was split between Acme and Omega, with two added directives: maintained zero defects and reduced final cost. Analysis: 1. The importance of organization chart On the writer’s point of view, well structured organization chart is critical to illustrate distribution of management structure.This opinion supported by Colquitt which said organizational chart helps organization members and outsiders understand and comprehend how work is structured within the company (Colquitt et al, 2011). Based on Harvard Business Review, there would be several disadvantages occurred within a management with not organizational chart, which listed below: a. The â€Å"unworkable† job: an unworkable job means the absence of organizational chart, brings an unclear distribution or task and responsibility. One man has to do several tasks within the same time and reports to several bosses.As a matter effect, some tasks won’t be completed and reported when the time needed. b. Politics: An uncertain organization hierarchy often influences members to reach the highest level of organization hierarchy. Even more, inappropriate behavior might occur to get a higher authority and power. c. Over-regulation: The absence of organizational chart leads to uncertainty for job approval. One project must be approved some of majority member of organization before comes to realization. d. Cultural clashes: Unavailability of organizational chart often leads to unidentified organizational culture.Each member claims their own culture and also bring their previous company culture. 2. Distribution of authority in both company Based on Colquit (2011), elements of organizational structure divided into: a. Work Specialization ? Acme: individual specialization is used in Acme, where well structured of work flow has been divided into several steps of flow w hich given to different specific department. ? Omega: team work is used to bring the best performance, since the tendency is to get everyone involved in finishing one project. Everyone has almost similar knowledge and skills since everyone does all things together. . Chain of Command ? Acme: Well structured chain of command in Acme, creates a clear reporting order from subordinates to the manager. ? Omega: Group approval is needed since almost everyone has an obligation to do everything together. Moreover decision can only be produced after team discussion. c. Span of Control ? Acme: Tall organization chart symbolized this span of control which in Acme it is shown by the organizational chart. ? Omega: Relatively flat organization chart, even though there is no organization chart. In Omega, everyone has almost the same responsibility and authority. d.Centralization ? Acme: Centralized decision maker where Tyler as the decision maker or Tyler’s approval is the key point on orga nization activities. ? Omega: Decentralized decision maker, where everyone was involved by Rawls. e. Formalization ? Acme: Standardized procedure with specific rule set to maintain working behavior in Acme, such as using memo as communication tool (Mechanistic Organization). ? Omega: Flexible procedure and direct communication were highly encouraged to avoid misunderstanding in Omega. The Organizational dimensions displayed as below: Source: Colquitt, Jason A et all (2011) 3.The influence of company strategy to company distribution of authority Colquitt (2011) mentioned that company strategy has an influence on organizational structure, which described as below: ? Mechanistic Organization Acme has a mechanistic organization where the efficiency strategy, and work specialization are the unique mark of this organization. ? Organic Organization Omega has an organic organization where lateral communication, decentralized knowledge, and low degree of work specialization to maximize organ ization performance. 4. Cost efficiency failure in Omega In writer’s opinion, there are several inefficiency recourses in Omega which ead to higher cost, which described below: ? People Management Rawls encourages everyone to get involved in certain project even though they not directly related with such project. Moreover, direct contact and discussion are recommended to eliminate misunderstanding. ? Time Management Inefficiency of people management causes inefficient time management which several jobs can’t be completed in the same time, whereas everyone involved in one job. ? Resource Management Omega has a tendency in wasting resources for a fast solution. In this case, Omega uses substitute product to replace the missing component.Even it’s perfectly fit with the requirement; this solution increases cost of production. 5. Personal recommendation to Omega Washington University highly recommends the organization restructured in Omega for a better management ro le. Well structured organization will give a clear view of everyone role, responsibility and authority. This recommendation can be broken down into several actions which are: ? Restructuring Organization Restructuring organization includes creating clear job description, organizational chart, adding and eliminating position. Omega should define each member’s position, task, responsibility and authority. Forming Labor Relation Labor relation is important in manufacturing company, since large numbers of labor are employed. This organization utilized as the communication medium between labor and company management. ? Change Management Change management is needed in restructuring organization, since many things must be socialize to different. This team prioritizes the change order and methods. References Books: Colquitt, Jason A et all. (2011). Organizational Behavior â€Å"Improving Performance and Commitment in The Workplace†. McGraw-Hill Internet Corkindale, Gill. Harva rd Business Review. org washington. edu

The Most Commonly Read Books in High School

The Most Commonly Read Books in High School No matter what type of high school you attend- be it public, private, magnet, charter, religious schools, or even online- reading is going be at the core of your English studies. In todays classrooms, students have a wide range of books to choose from, both modern and classics. If you compare the readings lists in all schools, you might be surprised to learn that the most commonly read books in all high schools are all very similar. Thats right! Course work for private schools and public schools (and every other school) are all very similar. No matter where you go to school, youll likely study classic authors like Shakespeare and Twain, but some more modern books are appearing on these lists, including The Color Purple and  The Giver.   Commonly Read High School Books Here are some of the books that most often appear on high school reading lists: Shakespeares Macbeth is on most schools lists. This play was mostly written when Scottish James I ascended the throne of England, much to many Englishmens chagrin, and it tells the tale of Macbeths fearful regicide and his ensuing guilt. Even students who do not relish Shakespearean English appreciate this lively tale, filled with murder, scary nights in a remote Scottish castle, battles, and a riddle that isnt solved until the end of the play.Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is also on the list. Familiar to most students because of modern updates, this tale features star-crossed lovers and adolescent impulses that appeal to most high school readers.Shakespeares Hamlet, a story of an angst-ridden prince whose father has been murdered by his uncle, also tops independent schools lists. The soliloquies in this play, including to be or not to be, and what a rogue and peasant slave am I, are known to many high school students.Julius Caesar, another Shakespeare play, is featured on many schoo ls lists. It is one of Shakespeares history plays and is about the assassination of the Roman dictator Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. Mark Twains Huckleberry Finn has been controversial since its release in the United States in 1885. While some critics and school districts have condemned or banned the book because of its perceived vulgar language and apparent racism, it often appears on high school reading lists as a skillful dissection of American racism and regionalism.The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850, is a tale of adultery and guilt set during Puritan rule of Boston. While many high school students have a difficult time wading through the sometimes dense prose, the surprise conclusion of the novel and its examination of hypocrisy often make it ultimately appealing to this audience.Many high school students enjoy F. Scott Fitzgeralds 1925 The Great Gatsby, a riveting and beautifully written tale of lust, love, greed, and class anxiety in the Roaring Twenties. There are parallels to modern America, and the characters are compelling. Many students read this book in English class while they are studying American history, and the novel provides insight into the moral values of the 1920s. Harper Lees 1960 classic To Kill A Mockingbird, later made into a wonderful movie starring Gregory Peck, is, simply put, one of the best American books ever written. Its tale of injustice written through the eyes of an innocent narrator grabs most readers; it is often read in 7th or 8th grade and sometimes in high school. It tends to be a book students remember for a long time, if not for the rest of their lives.Homers The Odyssey, in any one of its modern translations, proves difficult going for many students, with its poetry and mythological narrative. However, many students grow to enjoy the adventure-filled tribulations of Odysseus and the insight the tale provides into the culture of ancient Greece.William Goldings 1954 novel The Lord of the Flies is often banned because of its essential message that evil lurks in the hearts of man–or in this case, the hearts of boys who are marooned on a deserted island and turn to violence. English teachers enjoy mining the book for its symbolism and its statements about human nature when it is unchained to society. John Steinbecks 1937 novel Of Mice and Men is a sparsely written tale of two mens friendship set during the Great Depression. Many students appreciate its simple, though sophisticated language, and its messages about friendship and the value of the poor.The youngest book on this list,  The Giver  by Lois Lowry was published in 1993 and was the 1994 Newbery Medal winner. It tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who lives in a seemingly ideal world but learns about the darkness within his community after receiving his life assignment as the Receiver.  Another more recent book, compared to many of the others on this list, is  The Color Purple. Written by Alice Walker and first published in 1982, this novel tells the story of Celie, a young black girl born into a life of poverty and segregation. She endures incredible challenges in life, including rape and separation from her family, but eventually meets a woman who helps Celie change her life.

Franny and Zooey essay3 essays

Franny and Zooey essay3 essays Knowledge can at once be the most andleast sought after of entities. Throughout the novel Franny and Zooey, Franny Glass is engaged in a bout within, all due to her inability to separate her spiritual beliefs from her life. Following in the footsteps of her brother,Seymour, Franny begins to take measures in order to become one withherself. Deeply rooted in the storyis the premise of the importance of family. Through experience of his own, Frannys brother, Zooey, was able toleave Franny in a state of happiness, free of the mental baggage she had pickedup over the afore mentioned sequence of events. Fed up with her acquisitive boyfriend,Franny returns home to recuperate from her spiritual breakdown in the restroom of Sicklers. Her date, ending with her insensible, sent her back home with quite a reclusive disposition. Enter Zooey Glass, whilst bathing, his mother as well as Frannys, badgered him for a myriad while about talking to and hopefully helping her youngest. I dont suppose youve spoken to your little sister yet she said I dont thinkthats nice, I dont think thats nice at all. I asked you particularly to please go see if theres anything pp. 77 With the words of a mother, Bessie Glass finallyconvinced her son to talk to troubled, young Franny, thus shedding light on thenew, pious practices adopted by the girl. This enforces the concept of domestic support being a key factor, notonly to her well-being, but as a cornerstone of the novel. With obliging to talk to his sister,Zooey stepped into a snare; until he felt Franny was all right he wouldntleave in response to his previous commitments. Turning down a lunch date that pertained to his professional future toinstead aid his sister is also a definite sign that he truly cared; he didntdeliver the lecture to get his irritating mother off his back, as the case may havebeen. I know all youre saying. Youre not telling me one thing I havent thoughtof by myself. Youre saying I want som...

Medieval Methods for Making Fabric From Wool

Medieval Methods for Making Fabric From Wool In the Middle Ages, wool was turned into cloth in the thriving wool production trade, in home-based cottage industry, and in private households for family use. Methods could vary depending on the wherewithal of the producer, but the basic processes of spinning, weaving, and finishing cloth were essentially the same. Wool is usually sheared from sheep all at once, resulting in a large fleece. Occasionally, the skin of a slaughtered sheep was utilized for its wool; but the product obtained, which was called pulled wool, was an inferior grade to that shorn from live sheep. If the wool was intended for trade (as opposed to local use), it was bound up with similar fleeces and sold or traded off until it reached its final destination in a cloth-manufacturing town. It was there that processing began. Sorting The first thing done to a fleece was to separate its wool into its various grades by coarseness because different types of wool were destined for different end products and required specialized methods of processing. Also, some types of wool had specific uses in the manufacturing process itself. The wool in the outer layer of fleece was ordinarily longer, thicker and coarser than the wool from the inner layers. These fibers would be spun into worsted yarn. The inner layers had softer wool of varying lengths that would be spun into woolen yarn. Shorter fibers would be further sorted by grade into heavier and finer wools; the heavier ones would be used to make thicker yarn for the warp threads in the loom, and the lighter ones would be used for the wefts. Cleansing Next, the wool was washed; soap and water would usually do for worsteds. For the fibers that would be used to make woolens, the cleansing process was particularly stringent and could include hot alkaline water, lye, and even stale urine. The aim was to remove the wool grease (from which lanolin is extracted) and other oils and greases as well as dirt and foreign matter. The use of urine was frowned upon and even outlawed at various points in the Middle Ages, but it was still common in home industries throughout the era. Following cleansing, the wools were rinsed several times. Beating After rinsing, the wools were set out in the sun on wooden slats to dry and were beaten, or broken, with sticks. Willow branches were often used, and thus the process was called willeying in England, brisage de laines in France and wullebreken in Flanders. Beating the wool helped remove any remaining foreign matter, and it separated entangled or matted fibers. Preliminary Dyeing Sometimes, dye would be applied to fiber before it was used in manufacturing. If so, this is the point at which the dyeing would occur. It was fairly common to soak fibers in a preliminary dye with the expectation that the color would combine with a different shade in a later dye bath. Fabric that was dyed at this stage was known as dyed-in-the-wool. Dyes usually required a mordant to keep the color from fading, and mordants often left a crystalline residue that made working with fibers extremely difficult. Therefore, the most common dye used in this early stage was woad, which did not require a mordant. Woad was a blue dye made from an herb indigenous to Europe, and it took about three days to use it to dye fiber and make the color fast. In later medieval Europe, such a large percentage of wool cloths were dyed with woad that cloth workers were often known as blue nails.1 Greasing Before the wools could be subjected to the harsh processing treatment that lay ahead, they would be greased with butter or olive oil to protect them. Those who produced their own cloth at home were likely to skip the more rigorous cleansing, allowing some of the natural lanolin to remain as a lubricant instead of adding grease. Although this step was done primarily to the fibers intended for woolen yarn, there is evidence that the longer, thicker fibers used to make worsteds were also lightly greased. Combing The next step in preparing wool for spinning varied depending on the type of wool, the instruments available and, oddly enough, whether certain tools had been outlawed. For worsted yarn, simple wool combs were used to separate and straighten the fibers. The teeth of the combs might be wooden or, as the Middle Ages progressed, iron. A pair of combs was used, and the wool would be transferred from one comb to the other and back again until it had been straightened and aligned. Combs were usually constructed with several rows of teeth and had a handle, which made them look a little like a modern-day dog brush. Combs were also used for woolen fibers, but in the central Middle Ages cards were introduced. These were flat boards with many rows of short, sharp metal hooks. By placing a handful of wool on one card and combing it until it had been transferred to the other, and then repeating the process several times, a light, airy fiber would result. Carding separated wools more effectively than combing, and it did so without losing the shorter fibers. It was also a good way to blend together different types of wool. For reasons that remain unclear, cards were outlawed in portions of Europe for several centuries. John H. Munroe posits that the reasoning behind the ban could be a fear that the sharp metal hooks would damage the wool, or that carding made it too easy to fraudulently blend inferior wools into superior ones. Instead of carding or combing, some woolens were subjected to a process known as bowing. The bow was an arched wooden frame, the two ends of which were attached with a taut cord. The bow would be suspended from the ceiling, the cord would be placed in a pile of wool fibers, and the wooden frame would be struck with a mallet in order to get the cord to vibrate. The vibrating cord would separate the fibers. Just how effective or common bowing was is debatable, but at least it was legal. Spinning Once the fibers were combed (or carded or bowed), they were wound on a distaff a short, forked stick - in preparation for spinning. Spinning was chiefly the province of women. The spinster would draw a few fibers from the distaff, twisting them between thumb and forefinger as she did so, and attach them to a drop-spindle. The weight of the spindle would pull the fibers down, stretching them out as it spun. The spinning action of the spindle, with the help of the spinsters fingers, twisted the fibers together into yarn. The spinster would add more wool from the distaff until the spindle reached the floor; shed then wind the yarn around the spindle and repeat the process. Spinsters stood as they  spun  so that the drop-spindle could spin out as long a yarn as possible before it had to be wound up. Spinning wheels were probably invented in India sometime after 500 CE.; their earliest recorded use in Europe is in the 13th century. Initially, they werent the convenient sit-down models of later centuries, powered by a foot pedal; rather, they were  hand-powered  and large enough so that the spinster would need to stand to use it. It may not have been any easier on the spinsters feet, but much more yarn could be produced on a spinning wheel than with a drop-spindle. However, spinning with a drop-spindle was common throughout the Middle Ages until the 15th century. Once the yarn was spun, it might be dyed. Whether it was dyed in the wool or in the yarn, color had to be added  by  this stage if a multi-colored cloth was to be produced. Knitting While knitting wasnt wholly unknown in the Middle Ages, scant evidence of hand-knitted garments survives. The relative ease of the craft of knitting and the ready availability of materials and tools for making knitting needles makes it hard to believe that peasants didnt knit themselves warm clothing from wool they got from their own sheep. The lack of surviving garments isnt at all surprising, considering the fragility of all cloth and the amount of time that has passed since the medieval era. Peasants could have worn their knitted garments to pieces, or they may have reclaimed the yarn for alternate uses when the garment grew too old or threadbare to wear any longer. Far more common than knitting in the Middle Ages was weaving. Weaving Weaving cloth was practiced in households as well as in professional cloth-making establishments. In homes where people produced cloth for their own use, spinning was often the province of women, but weaving was usually done by men. Professional weavers in manufacturing locations like Flanders and Florence were also usually men, though women weavers were not unknown. The essence of weaving is, simply, to draw one yarn or thread (the weft) through a set of perpendicular yarns (the warp), threading the weft alternately behind and in front of each individual warp thread. Warp threads were usually stronger and heavier than weft  threads  and came from different grades of fiber. The variety of weights in warps and wefts could result in specific textures. The number of weft fibers drawn through the loom in one pass could vary, as could the number of warps the weft would travel in front of before passing behind; this deliberate variety was used to achieve different textured patterns. Sometimes, warp threads were dyed (usually blue) and weft threads remained undyed, producing colored patterns. Looms  were constructed to make this process go more smoothly. The earliest looms were vertical; the warp threads stretched from the top of the loom to the floor and, later, to a bottom frame or roller. Weavers stood when they worked on vertical looms. The  horizontal loom  made its first appearance in Europe in the 11th century, and by the 12th century, mechanized versions were being used. The advent of the mechanized horizontal loom is generally considered the most important technological development in medieval textile production. A weaver would sit at a mechanized loom, and instead of threading the weft in front of and behind alternate warps by hand, hed merely have to press a foot pedal to raise up one set of alternate warps and draw the weft underneath it in one straight pass. Then hed press the other pedal, which would raise the other set of warps, and draw the weft underneath  that  in the other direction. To make this process easier, a shuttle was used a boat-shaped tool that contained yarn wound around a bobbin. The shuttle would glide easily over the bottom set of warps as the yarn unspooled. Fulling  or Felting Once the fabric had been woven and taken off the loom it would be subjected to a  fulling  process. (Fulling wasnt usually necessary if the fabric was made from worsted as opposed to woolen yarn.) Fulling thickened the fabric and made the natural hair fibers mat together through agitation and the application of  liquid. It was more effective if heat was part of the equation, as well. Initially,  fulling  was done by immersing the cloth in a vat of warm water and stomping on it or beating it with hammers. Sometimes additional chemicals were added, including soap or urine to help remove the natural lanolin of the wool or the grease that had been added to protect it in the earlier stages of processing. In Flanders, fullers earth was used in the process to absorb impurities; this was a type of soil containing a significant amount of clay, and it was naturally available in the region. Though originally done by hand (or foot), the  fulling  process gradually became automated through the use of fulling mills. These were often quite large and powered by water, although smaller, hand-cranked machines were also known. Foot-fulling was still done in household manufacturing, or when the cloth was particularly fine and wasnt to be subjected to the harsh treatment of hammers. In towns where cloth manufacture was a thriving household industry, weavers could take their cloth to a communal fulling mill. The term fulling is sometimes used interchangeably with felting. Although the process is essentially the same,  fulling  is done to cloth that has already been woven, whereas felting actually produces cloth from unwoven, separate fibers. Once cloth was fulled or felted, it could not easily unravel. After  fulling, the fabric would be thoroughly rinsed. Even worsteds that didnt need  fulling  would be washed to remove any oil or dirt that had accumulated during the weaving process. Because dyeing was a process that immersed the fabric in liquid, it may have been dyed at this point, especially in home industries. However, it was more common to wait until a later stage in production.  Cloth  that was dyed after it was woven was known as dyed-in-the-piece. Drying After it was rinsed, cloth was hung up to dry. Drying was done on specially-designed frames known as tenter frames, which used tenterhooks to hold the cloth. (This is where we get the phrase on tenterhooks to describe a state of suspense.) The sturdy frames stretched the fabric so that it wouldnt shrink too much; this process was carefully gauged, because fabric that was stretched too far, while large in square feet, would be thinner and weaker than fabric that was stretched to the proper dimensions. Drying was done in the open air; and in cloth-producing towns, this meant the fabric was always subject to inspection. Local regulations often dictated the specifics of drying cloth in order to ensure quality, thus maintaining the reputation of the town as a source of fine cloth, as well as that of the cloth manufacturers themselves. Shearing Fulled fabrics- especially those made from curly-haired woolen yarn were often very fuzzy and covered with nap. Once the fabric had been dried, it would be shaved or  sheared  to remove this extra material. Shearers would use a device that had remained pretty much unchanged since Roman times: shears, which consisted of two razor-sharp blades attached to a U-shaped bow spring. The spring, which was made of steel, also served as the handle of the device. A shearer would attach the cloth to a padded table that sloped downward and had hooks to keep the fabric in place. He would then press the bottom blade of his shears into the cloth at the top of the table and gently slide it down, clipping the fuzz and nap by bringing down the top blade as he went. Shearing a piece of fabric completely could take several passes, and would often alternate with the next step in the process, napping. Napping or Teaseling After (and before, and after) shearing, the next step was to raise the nap of the fabric enough to give it a soft, smooth finish. This was done by grooming the cloth with the head of a plant known as a teasel. A teasel was a member of the  Dipsacus  genus and had a dense, prickly flower, and it would be rubbed gently over the fabric. Of course, this could raise the nap so much that the cloth would be too fuzzy and had to be sheared again. The amount of shearing and teaseling necessary would depend on the quality and type of wool used and the result desired. Though metal and wood tools were tested for this step, they were considered potentially too damaging for fine cloth, so the teasel plant was used for this process throughout the Middle Ages. Dyeing Cloth might be dyed in the wool or in the yarn, but even so, it would usually be dyed in the piece as well, either to deepen the color or to combine with the previous dye for a different tint. Dyeing in the piece was a procedure that could realistically take place at almost any point in the manufacturing process, but most commonly it was done after the fabric had been sheared. Pressing When the teaseling and shearing (and, possibly, dyeing) was done, the fabric would be pressed to complete the smoothing process. This was done in a flat, wooden vise. Woven wool that had been fulled, dried, shorn, teaseled, dyed, and pressed could be luxuriously soft to the touch and made into the finest clothing and draperies. Unfinished Cloth Professional cloth manufacturers in wool production towns could, and did, produce cloth from the wool-sorting stage to the final pressing. However, it was quite common to sell fabric that wasnt completely finished. Producing undyed fabric was very common, allowing tailors and drapers to choose just the right hue. And it was not at all uncommon to leave out the shearing and teaseling steps, reducing the price of the fabric for consumers willing and able to perform this task themselves. Cloth Quality and Variety Every step along the manufacturing process was an opportunity for cloth-makers to excel or not. Spinners and weavers who had low-quality wool to work with could still turn out fairly decent cloth, but it was common for such wool to be worked with the least possible effort in order to turn out a product quickly. Such cloth would, of course, be cheaper; and it might be used for items other than garments. When manufacturers paid for better raw materials and took the extra time required for higher quality, they could charge more for their products. Their reputation for quality would attract the wealthier merchants, artisans, guildsmen and the nobility. Although sumptuary laws were enacted, usually in times of economic instability, to keep the lower classes from garbing themselves in finery ordinarily reserved for the upper classes, it was more often the extreme expense of the clothing worn by the nobility that kept other people from buying it. Thanks to the diverse kinds of cloth manufacturers and the many types of wool of different levels of quality they had to work with, a wide variety of wool cloth was produced in medieval times.

Traditional china Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Traditional china - Essay Example None, therefore, could function independently. Secondly and most importantly was that energy flowed through the body following certain distinct channels found deep within the body (Zhao, 12). In traditional china, it was believed that one fell sick as a result of the very channels through which energy passes are blocked. Consequently, the body parts working together were the reason why an individual became well or sick. In the event that the body parts did not work in harmony, one thus became sick. Most of the medicines used in traditional China were basically herbs (Tsang, 78). The traditional healers mixed a variety of herbs to effect a healing. This was done for a variety of diseases and none of the herbs could be said to be of a specific nature. A number of diseases were thus treated and become well. Many as the best have described medicine and healing in traditional china in many years. Scientists have also used the traditional medicines to develop more sophisticated drugs. In different countries, especially in America, these forms of healing and even the medicine have been used as direct alternatives of the actual drugs