A Crash Course on Racism and Contemporary Society Essay Example for Free

A Crash Course on Racism and Contemporary Society Essay When you see the word crash, it always summons to mind an unfortunate event that has to deal with vehicles. Someone even told me that it is prohibited to say this word when you are boarded on an airplane because you might cause panic among another passengers. Planes, cars and even computers crash. Crash basically means collision. Similarly, the title of Paul Haggis recent movie is Crash (2005). However, viewers will see not only collisions involving cars, but collisions involving race, culture and classes. The movie †Crash† tackles the cross-cultural panorama of Los Angeles urban life, involving people interconnected to each other in vestiges of crime, racism, corruption, obligation, indignation and chance over a two-day period. The storyline superimposes the complexity of the multifaceted narratives of their lives entwined under the numerous social and psychological issues usually hidden inside the closet of the American consciousness. The Plot: Crash or Clash The story revolves around two cops, one senior and the other junior. The other jaded and abusive, the other one is a novice and willing to learn the ropes. These cops are played by Matt Dillon and Ryan Philippe respectively. One day, when they were assigned in their beat site, they pull over and eventually harass a black couple (Terrence Howard and Thandie Newton) because the SUV theyre driving vaguely fits the description of a carjacked vehicle that was reported. More complications swiftly supersede within 24 hours, these characters all cross paths again in separate incidents of incredibly high tension that challenge both the prejudices that have formed between them and the assumptions we draw out from their different perspectives about race and culture as a whole. It turned out that Christine (Thandie Newton) was surprised that she encounters Sgt. Ryan (Matt Dillon), the racist cop who sexually molested her during a traffic stop the previous night, the officer on the scene who pulls her from the burning car. To further intricately muddle the conflicts, characters encounter and reencounter one another in highly convenient ways. For example, a young African-American criminal Peter (Lanrez Tate) is murdered. Fortunately, he has a brother, Graham (Don Cheadle), an LAPD detective, who discovers Peters dead body in the desert. Prior to learning of his brothers death, Graham is thwarted by the district attorney’s office into suppressing evidence that may partially absolve a white police officer charged with killing a black cop. Incidentally, the district attorney (Brendan Fraser) is looking for a conviction that would help him gather enough support from the black community, since he is trying to manage a potential media scandal. He and his wife (Sandra Bullock) were carjacked in Sherman Oaks by two young black men. Moreover, more table-turning events are revealed in the lives of the characters because actual carjackers is Peter and his friend (Larenz Tate and rapper Ludacris). Surprisingly, the carjackers and their victims – these four are, in turn, connected through other events to a young Hispanic locksmith (Michael Pena) desperately trying to make a better life for his 5-year-old daughter after moving out of a crime-ridden neighborhood, and to a struggling Iranian shopkeeper (Shaun Toub) desperately seeking to lay blame for the vandalization of his convenience store, and to a pair of internal affairs detectives (Don Cheadle and Jennifer Esposito), whose lives and jobs are complicated by politics, tested principles and personal secrets. As film involves various crashes and clashes, forcefully it does not just invoke commonly hackneyed racially charged confrontations found in some films, but it almost subliminally showcases how passive prejudice and pre-conceived notions are often prevalent in simple day-to-day life. Thus, people could just collide and all these complications happen within a blink of an eye, unaware that they are villains and victims all at the same time of the milieu they are placed in. Although the dominant illusion that Crash could perpetuate among its viewers about its own narrative is that each character does something virtuous in one situation, and something unconscionably racist in another. Entirely, this is not the case because some characters could be deemed as purely good people. The Latino locksmith Daniel exists solely to incur racist threats and insults from other characters, then to belie their opinions through his role as the most upstanding of family men. Unfortunately, other characters display no redeeming traits, like the DA’s wife, Jean Cabot (Bullock) is depicted as a self-involved rich and uptight woman who is there to speak the unspeakable truth when justifying her fear of black men. Eventually, she stops just short of calling Daniel a wetback, and undergoes a quite insincere transformation that resulted from her inability to understand that her housekeeper Maria (Yomi Perry) is nice to her when she fell down some steps and fractured her leg, and nobody else has given her sympathy. She had no choice, but be nice to the person who helped her (Sicinski, 2005). Craig Detweiler (December, 2005) analyzed that Haggis portrays the film as a depiction a fine interconnectedness of realistic portrait of pertinent issues with a subliminal touch of magic realism. The movie offers a range of familiar types, attempting to prick his viewers consciences without being overbearingly preachy or nearly jingoistic. As the film kicks off, tempers are already surging as invectives and epithets are blurted out without batting an eyelash. Prejudices are looking for confirmation. I am angiy all the time, and I dont know why, laments a frustrated housewife. The first half of the film whips up the melting pot of complications, with racist assumptions spilling out of the characters ears. Viewers relish a platter of racism and crime, seasoned with sexual harassment, a broken health-care system and the purchase of firearms. In the softer second half, Detweiler explains that the isolated moments suggest a possibility of redemption for the characters. A motorist hassled by the cops for driving while black turns out to be a conflict-avoiding Buddhist for Christs sake. But that doesnt dissuade the police from violating his humanity and that of his wife. A statue of St. Christopher shows up at surprising times, but it ultimately proves ineffectual. A protective icon inspires a random act of violence. As Christmas unfolds in the movie, we see images of the nativity that could only summon unrealized prayers for peace on earth (Detweiler, 2005). Circumscribing the â€Å"circle† that goes around the film’s plot, a realization could smack its viewers that in the small world we are living in, we are connected to each other, like it or not. Conclusion Racism is a topic well-tackled among discussions. We are aware that it is generally loathed by people and we heard calls of putting a stop to it. We have seen the fall of Apartheid, we have seen those protests voicing out equality, but people still commit racism unconsciously as they encounter each other in their daily lives. Is prejudice primarily a question of color? How do differences of language and culture play into our misunderstandings? What must be done to bridge understanding and permanently inculcate the ugly face of prejudice regarding our differences? The film Crash does not present the ultimate panacea to racism and prejudice. But certainly, it is a mirror of what American society has become. It is presenting a consciousness about the interconnectedness of people and the situations that made them come up with their own realizations. Thus, the film invites its viewers to come up with their own realizations about the contemporary cross-section of American society and provide a space about perspectives on how to deal with their own prejudices. Works Cited Detweiler, Craig. Cultural Collisions. Sojourners Magazine. Washington, (December 2005), 34 (11): 45-46. Sicinski, Michael. Crash, Film Review. Cineaste. New York, (Fall 2005), 30 (4): 51-54.

Why Is Paper Recycling Important Environmental Sciences Essay

Why Is Paper Recycling Important Environmental Sciences Essay The large amount of paper waste being generated in the past years has really being a great concern to the society, the disposal and treatment process involved in paper waste had being on the increase, Richard A. Venditti (1992) said 37% by weight of Municipal Solid waste are being generated are gotten from paper, but as at Due to this large amount of the paper waste being produced by homes, industries and office, recycling of the paper waste technology has help in the reduction of the total amount of waste being put in the landfill and also help in the reduction of high dependence of raw materials for paper production from plants(vegetable fibers) which in turns help in the reduction of the way tress are being cut for paper production thereby preserving our environment and also reduces energy use and CO2 and Methane emission compaired to the normal production procress from plants The recycling of paper waste which majorly gets it raw materials from: Mill broke ( paper scrap from paper production), Pre consumer waste ( paper being discarded before usage by consumers) and post consumer waste(paper being discarded after use), has helped in the reduction of deforestation. Due to the source of raw material for paper being produced by recycling there is high dependence of paper being produced from recycling paper, Paper online said that 90% newspaper are printed on recycle paper,90% corrugated boxes are made from recycle fiber and 54% of fibres which are being used in new paper and board are gotten from recycled paper Europe has being the leading recycling of paper in the world, studies has shown that more than 60 tonnes of paper of paper are being collected per year and still on the increase which has exceed 60%of the paper consumed since 2005 (Paper online) Paper Recycling is mainly the processing of waste paper into new paper product. Waste paper, which are majorly gotten for offices, homes and industries are being taken to the recycle bank by local authorises and then collected and processed into paper related product. Recycling of waste paper has affected the environment in a positive way by the reduction in the dependence of plant for raw materials for paper production which is vegetable fibers gotten from plants. Recycling of waste paper gets its raw materials from three catergories,   Mill broke (paper trimmings and other paper scrap from the manufacture of paper, and is recycled internally in a paper mill),   Pre-consumer waste(is material which left the paper mill, which has been discarded before it was ready for consumer use) and   Post-consumer waste (waste is material discarded after consumer use, such as old magazines, old newspapers, office waste, old telephone directories, and residential mixed paper) Debunking the M yths of Recycled Paper Pre recycling Technology involved in paper recycling The technology involved in paper recycling involves majorly five step after collection of waste from the waste bank. The Seven steps which are, Pick up form home offices and business, Sorting to remove contaminants, Re-pulping which invovles blending of d sorting with water and chemicals, Filtering to remove scraps and impurites, De-Inking by use of soapy chemicals, Draining of the water, Drying by the use of heat and Rolling and Packing of the produced paper. I will be looking at each of this steps individually in my report. Pick up General waste from Homes, officesRecycling actually starts from our homes, offices and business, where we separate the type of waste to be disposed by putting them in specific disposal bags and bins ready for collection. The waste bin (the recyclable bin) which has the paper content inside are being collected by local collection agents and then transported to the recycle bank where it is being sorted out and read for recycling Paper Recycling Recycle Bank Recyclable waste Pick up by local agent Non-Recyclable waste Sorting to remove contaminants Sorting is majorly done by the use of recycling sorting line (RSL) in the recycle bank. The recycling sorting line sorts out the recyclable materials gotten from home into different recyclable materials(like paper, plastic, plastic, cans) and are then sold to different recyclers. The recycling sorting line can be fully or partially automated or can involve manual sorting. In the automated system the RSL separates the recyclables in terms of their density, size, and chemical composition it uses specific properties of separation equipment (like , trommels, density sorters, and magnetic separators) to separate the recyclables into different categories. The combination of both manual sorting and the automated sorting give a very high efficiency sorting system. Trommels : this separation equipment is being made up of different screen hole sizes at the outer part of the equipment. The screen size gets larger as the through the length of the screen allowing the recyclables be separated according to size. Density sorters: this separation equipments used density of the recyclables for d separation process by the use of air knife which produces controlled air stream with a specific velocity so as to blow the lighter recyclables like plastic, cans or paper into a collection chamber depending on the air stream velocity. Magnetic separators : This is majorly the use of eddy current as a means of separating of ferrous metals like   aluminium which are being lifted away from the recyclable mixtures. Conveyer belt: this is mainly used during manual sorting, where the recyclables materials moves through the conveyer belt and it is being manually sorted through hand picking by workers. (www.p2sustainabilitylibrary.mil/p2/7_III_8) After sorting they are then baled and being sold to the very recycler for the recycling of their various components. The baled waste paper are then taken to the paper mill for the recycling. Re-pulping The baled paper waste are then slide into different sizes and then transfer in a pulper for it to get mixed with water and chemical. Contained in the pulper is a mixture of water and dipolar aprotic protophylic solvent{1}. The water being used IN this mixture is being   optimized to get a tetrahedral lattice of natural hydrogen-oxygen-hydrogen angles through the rearrangement of its hydrogen bonding system. Due to the aptimization of the water components the water structure develops properties of smaller cluster pattern, lower surface tension, increased dissolving powers, higher carrying efficiency, microbiological stability and greater reactivity(1) which determines the characterises of the final pulp being produced. Mixing of this water optimized water with dipolar aprotic protophylic solvent would produce an aqueous solution of dipolar aprotic protophylic solvent. The aqueous solution is then mixed in the paper waste in the pupler until a  stereochemical alterations occurs with the waste paper which cause a full repulping of the paper waste. The aqueous solution is then drained away from the pulper after the completion of the process and the prodced pulp from the paper waste is removed out of the pulper afterways. The repulping of the paper waste forms a pulp(i.e the paper waste then forms a pulp). A pulper is majorly a mixing tank which contain a pulp feeder(which is used to feed the waste paper, water and the chemical into d pulper), turbine impeller , a mixer (which is being driven by a motor to ensure proper mixing), sieve plates ( to ensure that no undiluted particule leaves the pupler) (http://www.lenzing.com/technik/en/fiberandpulptechnology/2085.jsp) Filtering After the pulp has being extracted from the pulper its then being filtered and cleaned so as to remove impurities (like waxy coatings, heavy inks, non wood-based fillers, glue,ink) present in the pulp. Screening is the major process involved here, which involoves the use of sieves of different sizes together with centrifugal cleaning system are being used. Sieved sizes screens are being arrangement in parallel at forming different layer of stages. The pulp is then being passed through the sieves which would filter of the unwanted imputires thereby producing the pure required pulp needed. De-Inking This is majorly the removal of printed ink from the paper fibers by the use of soapy chemicals which involves both mechanical and chemical process. The chemical and mechanical process are mostly called flotation and wash deinking. Flotation process involves the transfer of the pulp into the froth flotation cell in which the sopy chemical is then added in the cell. The froth flotation cell mostly operate 45 550c. Air is then blowed through the pulp thereby causing the air to get attached to the ink present in the pulp and then its being left up away from the pulp and suspend at the top of the chemical .the flotation cell consist of two cylindrical flotation cell with both have an overflow forth launder and hexagonal in shape an inlet and discharge box attached to the cell.

Fiber optics and its applications

Fiber optics and its applications INTRODUCTION Nothing in the world gives us more power and confidence than having information. The ability to communicate information is essential to achieve the successful advancement of humankind. Transmission of information is imperative to the expansion of our horizons. What does this all have to do with fiber optics? This research paper will cover the basis of fiber optics in terms of its transmission, communication, origin, uses and applications. Fiber optics transports light in a very directional way. Light is focused into and guided through a cylindrical glass fiber. Inside the core of the fiber light bounces back and forth at angles to the side walls, making its way to the end of the fiber where it eventually escapes. The light does not escape through the side walls because of total internal reflection. Why is fiber optics so important? Besides being a flexible conduit that is used to illuminate microscopic objects, fiber optics can also transmit information similarly to the way a copper wire can transmit electricity. However, copper transmits only a few million electrical pulses per second, compared to an optical fiber that carries up to a 20 billion light pulses per second. This means telephone, cable and computer companies can handle huge amounts of data transfers at once, much more than conventional wires can carry. Fiber optic cable was developed because of the incredible increase in the quantity of data over the past 20 years. Without fiber optic cable, the modern Internet and World Wide Web would not be possible. WHAT IS FIBER OPTICS? Fiber optics is extremely thin strands of purified glass that carry information from one point to another in the form of light. Unlike copper wire, fiber optics does not use electricity during transmission. Optical fibers can be either glass or plastic tubing capable of transmitting light, which is then converted into sound, speech or information. Fiber optic cables transmit a digital signal via pulses of light through the very thin strands of glass. A basic fiber optic system consists of: a transmitting device, which generates the light signal, an optical fiber cable, which carries the light, and a receiver, which accepts the light signal that was transmitted. A fiber optic strand is about the thickness of a human hair, about 120 micrometers in diameter and can carry as many as 20 billion light pulses per second. The fibers are bundled together to form optical bundles, which transmit the light signals over long distances up to 50 km without the need for repeaters. Each optic fiber is made up of three main parts: The core or the centre of the optical fiber is a very thin strand of glass that carries the light signal. The cladding is the optical material which reflects the light signals back into the core. This prevents the light from escaping and allows it to travel through the fiber. The outside jacket or buffer coating is made of a plastic material that protects the optical fiber from any moisture, corrosion and external damage. There are only two types of fiber optic cable: Glass fibers, which are more common, because they allow longer distance transmission and they are more efficient. Plastic optical fibbers are used in less technical applications and are normally used in very short-length transmissions. HOW ARE OPTICAL FIBERS MADE? Optical fibers are made of very pure glass. The glass core or centre is made of silica and is purified to minimise the loss of signal. It then gets coated to protect the fibers and to contain the light signals. The light signals carried by the optical cable consist of electrical signals that have been converted or changed into light energy. The following process is followed to manufacture the optical fibers: The Manufacturing of the Preform Blank The silica must first be purified before it can be spun into glass fibers. This process takes a long time and the silica is heated to very high temperatures and then distilled to purification. The sand is heated to a temperature that will change the silica into a gaseous state. The silica will then be combined with other materials called dopants, which will react with the silica (in its gaseous state) to form the fibers. All the solid impurities are removed and the gas is cooled to form the fiber material. A process called modified chemical vapour deposition (MCVD) is used to change the glass into the preform blank. During this process oxygen is bubbled through solutions of silicon chloride (SiCl4), germanium chloride (GeCl4) and other chemicals. The gas vapours are channelled to the inside of a synthetic silica quartz tube in a special lathe to form the cladding. While the lathe rotates a burning flame is moved back and forth on the outside of the tube. The extreme heat from the burner causes the following: The silicon and the germanium react with oxygen to form silicon dioxide (SiO2) and germanium dioxide (GeO2). The silicon dioxide and the germanium dioxide settles on the inside of the tube and it fuses together to form glass. The lathe turns continuously to allow the preform blank to be coated evenly. To maintain the purity of the glass a corrosion resistant plastic is used to accurately control the flow and the structure of the mixture. This process of manufacturing the preform blank takes a couple of hours. The preform blank is cooled and is inspected for quality through an inspection and control process. Drawing fibers from the Preform Blank After testing the preform, it is placed into a fiber drawing tower. The preform blank gets lowered into a furnace and is heated between 1,900 °C to 2,200 °C until the tip starts to melt an a molten blob starts to fall down. As it drops down, it cools and forms a strand. This strand is pulled through a sequence of coating cups (buffer applicators) and curing ovens using ultraviolet light, and then coiled onto a tractor-controlled reel. This process is accurately controlled using a laser micrometer to measure the thickness of the fiber. This information is then sent back to the tractor mechanism. The tractor mechanism pulls the fibers at a rate of 10 to 20m/sec and the finished product is wound onto a spool. A spool can contain more than 2,2km of optical fiber Testing the Finished Optical Fiber Once the optical fiber is manufactured it goes through a process of testing. The following tests are done: Tensile strength The fibers must withstand 100,000 lb/in2 or more Refractive index profile Determine that the core diameter, cladding dimensions and coating diameter are uniform. Screen also for optical defects. Attenuation Determine the extent that light signals of various wavelengths degrade or reduce over certain distances. Information carrying capacity (bandwidth) the number of signals that can be carried at one time (multi-mode fibers) Chromatic dispersion Spread of various wavelengths of light through the core, this is very important for bandwidth. Operating temperature/humidity range Determines the temperature and humidity that the fiber can withstand. Ability to conduct light underwater Important for undersea cables Once t ­he fibers have passed the quality control process, they are sold to telephone companies, cable companies and network providers. Currently many companies are replacing their old copper-wire-based systems with new fiber-optic-based systems to improve speed, capacity and clarity. TYPES OF OPTICAL FIBERS There are two types of optical fibers: Single Mode Fiber Single mode fibers transmit a single data stream. The core of the glass fiber is much finer than in multi-mode fibers. Light thus travels parallel to the axis, creating little pulse dispersion. Data transmission modes are higher, and the distances that single mode fiber can cover can be over 50 times longer than multi-mode fibers. Telephone and cable television networks install millions of kilometers of this fiber every year. Multi-Mode Fiber Multi-mode fibers allow different data streams to be sent simultaneously over a particular fiber. The glass fiber has a slightly larger diameter to allow light to be sent through the fiber at different angles. An LED or laser light source is used in the 50 micron and 62.5 micron fiber optic cables. They are also used in the same networking applications. The main difference between the two is that 50 micron fiber can support 3 times the bandwidth of 62.5 micron fiber. The 50 micron fiber also supports longer cable runs than 62.5 micron cable. Simplex cable consists of only one single fiber optic strand. The data can only be transmitted in one direction. The duplex cable is made up of two fiber optic strands that run side-by-side. One strand runs from transmit to receive and the other strand joins receive to transmit. This allows communication in both directions (bi-directional) between devices. Some optical fibers can be made from plastic. These fibers have a large core (0.04 inches or 1 mm diameter) and transmit visible red light (wavelength = 650 nm) from LEDs. Due to their inferior optical properties, plastic fiber optic (POF) strands and cables are not suitable for extended data transmission. HOW DOES A FIBER OPTIC CABLE WORK? Traditionally when we sent data transmissions over copper cables we transmit electrons over a copper conductor. Fiber optic cables transmit a digital signal via pulses of light through a very thin strand of glass. The fiber strands are extremely thin, not much thicker than a human hair. The basic fiber optic transmission system consists of three basic components: Transmitter fiber optic cable receiver A transmitter is connected to the one end of the fiber cable. Electronic pulses are converted by the transmitter into light pulses and the optical signal gets sent through the fiber cable. A receiver on the other end decodes the optical signal into digital pulses. The core of the cable is surrounded by a cladding which reflects the light back into the core and eliminates light from escaping the cable. This is called total internal reflection. When light is sent through the core of a fiber optic cable, the light constantly bounces off the cladding, which is highly reflective, like a mirror-lined wall. The cladding does not absorb any light allowing complete internal reflection and allowing the light to travel far distances without losing its intensity. The discovery of lasers influenced the development of fiber optics. Lasers and LEDs can generate an enormous amount of light in a very small area, which can successfully used in fiber optics. Laser diodes are complex semiconductors that convert an electrical current into light. The process of converting the electrical signal into light is far more efficient because it generates less heat than an ordinary light bulb. Reasons for using laser diodes in fiber optics: laser diodes are very small laser diodes are highly reliable and have a long life laser diodes have high radiance laser diodes emit light into a very small area laser diodes can be turned on and off at very high speeds ADVANTAGES OF FIBER OPTICS The use of fiber optics is fast becoming the medium of choice for telecommunication systems, television transmission and data networks. Fiber optic cables have a multitude of advantages and benefits over the more traditional methods of information systems, such as copper or coaxial cables. Speed One of the greatest benefits to using fiber optic systems is the capacity and speed of such a system. Light travels faster than an electrical system which allows faster delivery and reception of information. Fiber optic cables also have a much higher capacity for bandwidth than the more traditional copper cables. Immunity to electromagnetic interference Coaxial cables have a tendency for electromagnetic interference, which renders them less effective. Fiber optics is not affected by external electrical signals, because the data is transmitted with light. Security Optical systems are more secure than traditional mediums. Electromagnetic interference causes coaxial cables to leak information. Optical fiber makes it impossible to remotely detect the signal being transmitted within the cable. The only way to do so is by actually accessing the optical fiber itself. Accessing the fiber requires intervention that is easily detectable by security surveillance. These circumstances make fiber extremely attractive to governments, banks and companies requiring increased security of data. Fire prevention Copper wire transmission can generate sparks, causing shortages and even fire. Because fiber optical strands use light instead of electricity to carry signals, the chance of an electrical fire is eliminated. This makes fiber optics an exceptionally safe form of wiring and one of the safest forms of data transmission. Data signalling Fiber optic systems are much more effective than coaxial or copper systems, because there is minimal loss of data. This can be credited to the design of optical fibers, because of the principle of total internal reflection. The cladding increases the effectiveness of data transmission significantly. There is no crosstalk between cables, e.g. telephone signals from overseas using a signal bounced off a communications satellite, will result in an echo being heard. With undersea fiber optic cables, you have a direct connection with no echoes. Unlike electrical signals in copper wires the light signals from one fiber do not interfere with those of other fibers in the same cable. This means clearer phone conversations or TV reception. Less expensive Several kilometers of optical cable can be made far cheaper than equivalent lengths of copper wire. Service, such as the internet is often cheaper because fiber optic signals stay strong longer, requiring less power over time to transmit signals than copper-wire systems, which need high-voltage transmitters. Large Bandwidth, Light Weight and Small Diameter Modern applications require increased amounts of bandwidth or data capacity, fiber optics can carry much larger bandwidth through a much smaller cable and they arent prone to the loss of information. With the rapid increase of bandwidth demand, fiber optics will continue to play a vital role in the long-term success of telecommunications. Space constraints of many end-users are easily overcome because new cabling can be installed within existing duct systems. The relatively small diameter and light weight of optical cables makes such installations easy and practical. Easy Installation and Upgrades Long lengths of optical cable make installation much easier and less expensive. Fiber optic cables can be installed with the same equipment that is used to install copper and coaxial cables. Long Distance Signal Transmission The low attenuation and superior signal capacity found in optical systems allow much longer intervals of signal transmission than metallic-based systems. Metal based systems require signal repeaters to perform satisfactory. Fiber optic cables can transmit over 100km with no active or passive processing. Even greater distances are being investigated for the future. To use fiber optics in data systems have proven to be a far better alternative to copper wire and coaxial cables. As new technologies are developed, transmission will become even more efficient, assuring the expansion of telecommunication, television and data network industries. DISADVANTAGES OF FIBER OPTICS Despite the many advantages of fiber optic systems, there are some disadvantages. The relative new technology of fiber optic makes the components expensive. Fiber optic transmitters and receivers are still somewhat expensive compared to electrical components. The absence of standardisation in the industry has also limited the acceptance of fiber optics. Many industries are more comfortable with the use of electrical systems and are reluctant to switch to fiber optics. The cost to install fiber optic systems is falling because of an increase in the use of fiber optic technology. As more information about fiber optics is made available to educate managers and technicians, the use of fiber optics in the industry will increase over time. The advantages and the need for more capacity and information will also increase the use of fiber optics. APPLICATIONS OF FIBER OPTICS As the popularity of optical fibers continue to grow, so does their applications and practical uses. Fiber optic cables became more and more popular in a variety of industries and applications. Communications / Data Storage Since fiber optics are resistant to electronic noise, fiber optics has made significant advances in the field of communications. The use of light as its source of data transmission has improved the sound quality in voice communications. It is also being used for transmitting and receiving purposes. Military Optical systems offer more security than traditional metal-based systems. The magnetic interference allows the leak of information in the coaxial cables. Fiber optics is not sensitive to electrical interference; therefore fiber optics is suitable for military application and communications, where signal quality and security of data transmission are important. The increased interest of the military in this technology caused the development of stronger fibers, tactical cables and high quality components. It was also applied in more varied areas such as hydrophones for seismic and SONAR, aircrafts, submarines and other underwater applications. Medical Fiber optic are used as light guides, imaging tools and as lasers for surgeries. Another popular use of fiber-optic cable is in an endoscope, which is a diagnostic instrument that enables users to see through small holes in the body. Medical endoscopes are used for minimally invasive exploratory or surgical procedures. Fiber optics is also used in bronchoscopes and laparoscopes. All versions of endoscopes look like a long thin tube, with a lens or camera at one end through which light is emitted from the bundle of optical fibers banded together inside the enclosure. Mechanical or Industrial Industrial endoscopes also called a borescope or fiberscope, enables the user to observe areas that are difficult to reach or see under normal circumstances, such as jet engine interiors, inspecting mechanical welds in pipes and engines, inspecting space shuttles and rockets. Inspection of sewer lines and pipes. Networking Fiber optic is used to connect servers and users in a variety of network settings. It increases the speed, quality and accuracy of data transmission. Computer and Internet technology has improved due to the enhanced transmission of digital signals through optical fibers. Industrial/Commercial Fiber optics are used for imaging in areas which are difficult to reach. It is also used in wiring where electromagnetic interference is an problem. It gets used often as sensory devices to make temperature, pressure and other measurements as well as in the wiring of motorcars and in industrial settings. Spectroscopy Optical fiber bundles are used to transmit light from a spectrometer to a substance which cannot be placed inside the spectrometer itself, in order to analyse its composition. A spectrometer analyses substances by bouncing light off of and through them. By using optical fibers, a spectrometer can be used to study objects that are too large to fit inside, or gasses, or reactions which occur in pressure vessels Broadcast/CATV/Cable Television Broadcast or cable companies use fiber optic cables for wiring CATV, HDTV, internet, video and other applications. Usage of fiber-optic cables in the cable-television industry began in 1976 and quickly spread because of the superiority of fiber optic cable over traditional coaxial cable. Fiber optic systems became less expensive and capable of transmitting clearer signals further away from the source signal. It also reduced signal losses and decreased the number of amplifiers required for each customer. Fiber optic cable allows cable providers to offer better service, because only one optical line is needed for every  ± 500 households. Lighting and Imaging Fiber optic cables are used for lighting and imaging and as sensors to measure and monitor a vast range of variables. It is also used in research, development and testing in the medical, technological and industrial fields. Fiber optics are used as light guides in medical and other applications where bright light needs to shine on a target without a clear line-of-sight path. In some buildings, optical fibers are used to route sunlight from the roof to other parts of the building. Optical fiber illumination is also used for decorative applications, including signs, art and artificial Christmas trees. Optical fiber is an essential part of the light-transmitting concrete building product, LiTraCon which is a translucent concrete building material. Conclusion With the introduction of highly transparent fiber-optic cable in the 1970s, very high-frequency laser signals now carry phenomenal loads of telephone conversations and data across the country and around the world. From surgical procedures to worldwide communication via the internet, fiber optic has revolutionised our world. Fiber optics has made important contributions to the medical field, especially with regards to surgery. One of the most useful characteristics of optical fibers is their ability to enter the minute passageways and hard-to-reach areas of the human body. But perhaps the greatest contribution of the 20th century is the combination of fiber optics and electronics to transformed telecommunications. References / Bibliography Why is fiber optics importany http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312432/lessons_part-04.html http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3706

Meetings :: essays research papers

Tips for Making Meetings Effective Throughout a project-oriented deployment, you will be required to conduct numerous meetings with your customer. If you plan them properly, you will be able to steer the project in the right direction. It also gives you the ability to gather all the key players in one room, put them on the same page, work through any issues that might have arisen and make any decisions that need to be made. When I first started running my own projects, I was given some great tips on what makes an effective meeting and felt that it might be helpful if I pass them on. Set Objectives – The art of setting objectives is something you will get better at with experience. You will want to give the attendees as much information as possible on why you have called the meeting and what you expect to accomplish. You will also want to set a clear timeline. Establish an agenda and distribute in advance – Send your attendees an agenda and a copy of the documentation you will be presenting to them. This gives them the opportunity to become prepared for the meeting and the opportunity to truly participate. Your results will fall short of your objectives if you give a customer a fifty page document and then turn around and ask if he or she has any questions. Send it out a few days in advance and let them know that you are willing to answer any questions they may have. Ask the attendees if they have talking points for the agenda and have them email those thoughts back to you before the meeting so you too will be better prepared. People love to participate. This shows them you are interested in what they have to say and also shows them that you like to be prepared in advance so as to not waste anyone’s time. Start and end the meeting on time (Don’t allow interruptions or sidetracking from the meetings agenda) – It is important for you to utilize your time as efficiently as possible. It is a good ideal to set tentative times for each item and then stick to them. You do this by the art of â€Å"on table / off table†. If you find the meeting getting off subject, you will want to take the subject â€Å"off table†. Then when you are documenting and assigning the next steps you will be able to schedule time for those questions / comments, if they are truly important.

Manhood and Heroism in Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness :: Heart Darkness essays

Heart of Darkness Essay: Manhood and Heroism Civility, civilization and civilize, are they and could they be man’s defense against the power and mystery of nature and the primal nature of himself? When man lives away from refinement and education and is living in the natural habitat of sea, jungle, and forest, there can be seen a tragedy of a warrior, in the destruction of nature and himself. In "The Heart of Darkness", Joseph Conrad must go on a quest to discover the fire and passion in his male being and ignite the flame in his heart that is the fuel for his will to survive in the earth. The immediate relationship to the Thames River and his merging consciousness with that element, reflect back to him a memory of myth and history of all the archetypes of man and warriors who also as he, was engaged and moving in this famous passage. The sea has parted and has opened all past memory to the strong images that have crystallized before him of his first journey where man and sea began. The sea is a man’s world where he goes through trials and initiations that test his manhood, and why? Is there an obsession in our past history and today with manliness and manpower? Â   If aliens were to study our cultures, they definitely would notice something very strange. It is our social obsession with manhood that is considered a test to be passed, which creates unnecessary arenas of war, and work that links man with the social stresses of protecting, providing and procreating. In "The Heart of Darkness" there is the fear of a man not being man enough. The tragedies of a hero and the hazards of heroism are that the more he fights the enemy, the more he begins to be like the enemy; the more he kills beasts, the more he becomes like a beast.

Commercial Bank Service Delivery

Commerce Bank INDUSTRY: Banking SERVICE: Checking Accounts & Loans COMPANY/BRAND: Commerce Bank SOURCE: HBS Premier Case Collection WRITTEN BY: Frances X. Frei, Corey Hajim PUBLICATION DATE: Dec 02, 2002 PROD. #: 603080-PDF-ENG Reader's comments would be much appreciated and replied to!!! Analyze Commerce Bank's service delivery system prior to ‘Retailtainment’. Base your analysis on the following heads: Service OfferingFunding Mechanism Employee Management System Customer Management System ANALYSIS: Commerce Bank’s Service Delivery System Commerce Bank’s entire banking and operational philosophy is designed around creating a retail experience for the customer. This was unusual for the entire banking industry and thus a great source of differentiation from both the operational standpoint and from the service delivery design perspective.This meant that the entire value proposition from the customers’ standpoint depended on the design of the service en vironment/theater including the 3 service marketing mix variables This can be seen from employee comments and facts in the case about these variables Product: â€Å"We believe the value of a bank is not its loan base but rather the deposit base† – Vernon Hill (Chairman & CEO) Price: â€Å"We are generally the lowest ratepayers in every market† – Vernon Hill (Chairman & CEO) Place: ‘†¦ eciding where to put a branch was just as important as what the building looked like.. ’ Promotion: ‘Commerce spent $500,000/branch in NYC on promotion†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and ‘Red and blue painted Commerce vans with an emblazoned logo’ People: â€Å"This is not a job for someone who ‘s interested in being cool or indifferent† – John Manning (Employee Trainer) Process: â€Å"the way we look at credit and credit quality is a lot tougher†¦Ã¢â‚¬  – Falese Physical Evidence: â€Å"They i. . customers know what th e deal is whenever they visit one of our banks† – John Cunningham (CMO) The Chairman and CEO, Vernon Hill has been able to do this by understanding 2 very important aspects or critical success factors of the banking business Understanding the Nature of the Servicescape: Despite trends (cross selling & non-interest revenue) in the banking industry moving towards the more remote delivery mode (Pg. : Most banks actively encouraged customers to move their transactions from full-service channels to self-service channels†¦monetary penalties for using the more expensive channels†¦charging $3 to visit the teller), he understood that because banking as a service depended so heavily on the service attributes of searchability, experience and credence and the nature of the servicescape was in essence that of an Elaborate- Interpersonal type Reducing the Listening Gap (from Gap Model of Service Quality): In comparison to other banks in the industry which competed on keepin g a low-interest ratio, he rightly understood the customers’ real need by competing instead on service, convenience and other intangible service differentiators (Pg. 6: †¦the competition is beating on the 3% i. e. ustomers wanting a higher interest rate; we decided to compete on the 62% i. e. customers wanting convenience) Keeping this in mind we can now look at the 4 dimensions its Service Delivery system prior to ‘Retailainment’ Service Offering In light of this, the bank’s entire service offering can be visualized as in the figure below: Here we can see that the service offering in itself is split into CORE OFFERING: This is not very different from what other banks in the industry offer. However, from an execution standpoint their focus was different, because their strategic intent for both operations and growth was that Bank Value is ‘Deposit Base’ NOT ‘Loan Base’. Their core offering i. e. anking services included Deposi ts or Checking accounts (first 3 years no monthly service fees and free 1st order of checks) Sr. No. Type Minimum Balance Details 1 Standard Checking $100 No monthly service fees 2 Interest Checking $1000 No monthly service fees, Unlimited check writing, Interest 3 50 Plus Club $100 No account maintenance charge for checking account with interest, free checks, money orders, notary service and travelers’ checks 4 Consumer Checking None No per check charge for first 8 checks/month for $3 monthly fee Table 1: Commerce Bank’s Deposit Product Line Loans: Commerce’s value is not in its loan base but in its deposit base.So for Commerce, loans are not given out as easily as other banks in the industry which believe that growth is in loans since deposit growth can occur only with the lowest interest rate. However, credit quality checks for loan approval is very stringent ATMs: Withdrawals were available at any ATM and purchases anywhere Visa was accepted. Transactions w ere immediately reflected in accounts and statements Cash Reserve Line: All accounts could be combines with a Cash Reserve Line to ensure protection from overdrafts SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICE: Commerce has 8 supplementary services (4 facilitators and 4 differentiators) which allow for superior customer service: FACILITATORS DIFFERENTIATORS InformationCommerce decided to use Live agents over the phone instead of Voice Response Unit (VRU)to talk to customers Consultation Branch manager (also the Loan officer) consults/advises loan applicants and helps to manage both loans & deposits Order Taking (Banking context: Cash withdrawal & loan application process)  · Loans were assigned to service branch instead of Head office for easy access for customer  · Weekend banking facilities were provided to allow customers to bank on Saturdays & Sundays Hospitality  · Helpline phones at ATMs  · Employee escorts with umbrellas during rains  · Lollipops and dog biscuits at drive through banking windows  · Coffee and newspapers in waiting lobbies Billing Banking context: Loan approval and monthly statement generation process)  · Loan applicant had to personally sign-off by on loan papers at service branch  · Online Monthly statements Safe Keeping (Banking context: Peace of mind about account balances and check deposits)  · Immediate updating of ATM withdrawals in online statements  · A ‘Check View’ feature on Commerce’s website Payment (Banking context: Loan repayment process)  · Payment is easier for customer and assured for bank, since loan customer also has a deposit at service branch Exception handling (Banking context: Coin currency & Irregular hours )  · ‘Penny arcades’ to handle coins  · Midnight timing at busy locations 10 minute rule to increase banking hours by 20 minutes in a day’ operation Table 2: Commerce Bank’s Supplementary Services mix As a result of this unique service offering design, Commerce has produced above average results in its undifferentiated core offering: Comparison Parameter Commerce’s Value Industry or Competitor Value Deposit Growth (1996-2001) 30% US Banking Industry-20% (98-01) Deposit Growth (2001) 40% US Banking industry – 5% Online Usage 34% Wells Fargo – much lower Net Income growth (1998-2001) 200% (Double) US Banking industry – 20% Table 3: Commerce Bank’s Performance Comparison Funding Mechanism Commerce’s funding mechanism can be looked at from 2 perspectivesCommerce’s own startup and growth strategy (how it funded it’s own growth) Commerce’s banking and lending operations (how it functions as a bank) Startup and Growth Strategy Founded in 1973 with $ 1. 5 million as startup capital (assumed to be seed capital not VC funding) Chairman & CEO, Vernon Hill did not believe in M&As as a growth strategy but as a cost-cutting measure Started operations as a community bank in southern New Jers ey Used the retail franchise expansion model (without acquisitions) to grow Expanded into branches in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York Concentrated on seeing customer as a revenue-generator (not cost center).However, cross-selling was not encouraged since main revenue stream was considered as deposits Expansion into New York was done organically (Branches were wholly owned and run by Commerce and promoted heavily (Spends – $500,000 per branch) By 2001, Commerce had $ 1 billion in core deposits Banking and Lending Operations Commerce’s 2 basic product categories were: Deposits (Debits) and Loans (Credits). Its operations as compared to the Industry can be analyzed as below: Product Category v Commerce’s Philosophy: Focus is consumer business (Deposits) Best value from both (conventional & electronic) channels Low-expense ratios are bad Outgoing friendly service Industry Trend: Cross-Selling products Preference to electronic channels Non-interest income revenue Pushing customers out of store(bank) DepositsRates need not be the highest in the industry (only 3% want this) Longer operating hours allow for more time for customer service (62% want this) Non-interest income revenue (i. e. ATM charges) must be used as competitive advantage to grow and not simply be an addition to the bottom line They are transaction-oriented and low growth Dozen or more types of checking accounts $5 monthly fee for Internet Banking facilities Loans Assigned to customer service branches that received credit for deposits Loan-deposit ratio low Stringent credit quality checks Customers mostly commercial real estate projects, mortgages and consumer loans Loan officer is also branch managerLoan delivery is centralized leading to customer and loan officer disconnect Loans are 90% of deposit base (2001) Lower credit quality loans (i. e. sub-prime mortgages) get approved Loans not linked to deposits RESULT > Deposit Growth (2001) – 40% Online Usage – 34% N et Income growth (1998-2001) – 200% Loan & Deposit growth (1998-2001) – 20% Deposit Growth (2001) – 5% Non-interest income growth – 27% Interest Income growth – 11% Customer attrition – 1/3rd of customer base Table 4: Commerce Bank’s Funding Mechanism Employee Management System Commerce’s Employee Management System can be broken up into Hiring Training Work Autonomy Workplace involvement Rewards Appraisal or Performance Measurement HIRINGPolicy emphasizes internal (among employees) and external (customers & employees) engagement Extensive interviews (2000 interviews for 40 positions in Manhattan branch) Experience about local and entrepreneurs given high importance Interviews used to know about competitors and their best performers TRAINING WOW program (process improvement) for all employees to be trained and integrated into the Commerce culture (‘Traditions’ class) Commerce University (full time education and trai ning facility) Easy to remember framework for learning Commerce service deliver model: SMART (Say YES to customers, Make each customer feel special, Always keep customer promises, Recover, Think like a customer) Continued business education for senior executives WORK AUTONOMY ‘Kill the stupid rule’ program to suggest improvements WORKPLACE INVOLVEMENTAll employees encouraged to hand out their visiting cards to recruit potential employees Redeemable WOW! Stickers WOW! Awards and Musical performances Red Fridays (Pictures taken of those employees who are wearing red) Mascots – Mr. C , Buzz and Dr. Wow REWARDS Glamorous prizes for top performers (like a leased Porsche Boxster for 1 year) $5000 reward for the staff of nearest Commerce branch where a competitor closed down $50 reward for suggesting improvement in the ‘Kill the rule’ program (mentioned above) APPRAISAL OR PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT All shops (branches) performance data on an internal database open to all branch managers Salary increases based on shopping (No. f deposits) results Mystery shoppers visited 14000 shops (branches) annually for evaluating employees, customer-service reps for compliance with greeting and other procedures Competition between branches in different regions in the form of Leagues (assuming this is like football or baseball leagues) to get the best service report Table 5: Commerce Bank’s Employee Management System Customer Management Systems Commerce’s Customer Management Systems or customer-centric programs can be divided into: Customer Acquisition Programs Customer Retention Programs Both these have some customer ‘delight’ features which are called as such because they are against industry norms and unexpected by customers Acquisition Industry NormEmployees were encouraged to cross-sell products (deposit account and loan products) Employees’ key performance measures were volume of calls handled and number of tran sactions processed rather than customer satisfaction or repeat customers Customers were seen as cost centers and in order to keep a low-expense ratio were pushed to use the electronic channels (full-service to self-service) Also, customers using the conventional personal (teller) banking channel were penalized through extra fees This savings in the marginal cost was then used to give a higher interest rate which banks felt was the only way to attract new customers. These are the result not understanding why customers selected their banks in the first place. In addition to proximity, customers chose banks based on service. Vernon Hill, CEO & Chairman, Commerce Bank understood this and built it into Commerce’s Customer Management System Commerce’s customer acquisition methodology Branches located close to competitors branches Branches are designed to be inviting, open windows (Note: this is a visual ‘Cue’ designed into the physical evidence variable.It shows honesty and transparency) and ample parking Red & blue painted commerce vans helped create free advertising opportunities Building designs across all branches were consistent (Note: This gives a consistent message to the customer – Integrated marketing communication) Very high promotional spends for every new branch in the form of direct mailings, subway ads, phone kiosks and free food (like 10,000 hot dogs in Commerce napkins) First time customer is given 4 simple checking account options (See Table 1) and First time customer is given a free gift for opening an account Employees treat customers with outgoing friendly service and do not try to cross-sell products or push customers out of the store after they finish their transactions Loan applicants were encouraged to open deposit accounts first Retention Industry Norm All banks provided the same ease-of-use electronic banking features along with their extensive branch networks. Also, existing Customers were expected to be c omfortable in a different environment and deal with a different culture when banks merged. In spite of this, even the best retail banks lost 15% customers/yr as the following table shows: Sr. No. Reason for leaving of customer base 1. Dissatisfaction with steep fees and fee surprises, poor service and errors 34 2. Outside of reach of current branch locations 34 3. Availability of more convenience such as longer hours in other banks 15 Table 6: Customer attrition in the Banking Industry Commerce’s customer retention methodology Analyzing the facts of the case, it can be clearly seen that Commerce’s customer retention program targeted exactly those pain points (See Table 6) which caused customers to switch banks. Convenience Extended banking hours (10 minute rule allowed for 20 minutes of extra banking everyday) Busy locations were open till midnight (12:10 am)Weekend banking (Saturdays & Sundays) which started in Jersey shore were extended to all branches Exactly same e nvironment across all branches (Note: This feature was lost after ‘‘Retailainment’ program was launched) Phones in ATMs reach helplines Live agents instead of VRUs Boundary-spanning Roles and Interface Employee conduct monitored by mystery shoppers for friendliness (handshakes), consistency in greeting and other procedural details when dealing with customers Employee appraisals and salary increases linked to branch performance (which is linked to service quality) and not volume of transactions handled Live agents dress codes stricter than other call center settings Personal attention Guidance to manage deposit accounts by branch managersLoan accounts handled by local customer service branches and not central headquarters Guidance to manage loan accounts by loan officers (who also happened to be branch managers) Customer delight features No fees for ATM and check cards Non-interest income (ATM charges/fees for using other bank’s ATMs) returned to customers E mployee escorts with umbrellas to cars during rains ‘Penny Arcade’ program to handle coins with no charge either customers or non-customers (Note: This might have even helped customer acquisition) Gifts (pens and lollipops) at drive-through banking windows All these helped drive the growth engine of Commerce Bank. It grew to $1 billion in deposits by 2001. While the net income for the industry stood at 20%, Commerce doubled its net income in the period 1998 -2001.

Juliet And Her Romeo Essay

â€Å"For never was there a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo†. Romeo and Juliet is a tragic love story. Whose tragedy is it? Through the metrical composition of the closing lines of the play, Shakespeare informs the audience on whose tragedy Romeo and Juliet is about. By addressing the last verse of the play to us in pyrrhic pentameter, he is suggesting a victory which has come about at too great a cost. The pace of time amplifies the tragic quality of the play. Time is used to set things in a motion that they spiral out of control. Instead of logical decisions, everything is controlled by emotions, which ultimately leads Romeo and Juliet to their path of death. However, Shakespeare’s deliberate use of pyrrhic pentameter reinforces the sound of a pyrrhic victory. Besides the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, there is something more pervasive suggested, as many characters thereafter also suffer as a consequence of this tragedy, such as the parents and Paris . Essentially, the story is Romeo and Juliet’s tragedy because they are young and pay the ultimate price for their passionate ‘true love’. The chorus tells us that the lovers are necessary sacrifices. Nothing but their death can â€Å"bury their parents’ strife†. Through the words â€Å"here’s much to do with hate, but more with love†, Shakespeare suggests how the world of the play is initially sprouted by hate between two families. So the paradox with Romeo and Juliet is how the one thing that defines them is ultimately the one thing which separates them. Not only are they victims of their families hatred, they are also victim to piteous overthrows and misguided plans which were supposed to unite them. By disregarding patriarchal imperatives and escaping to a world without parents, they place their trust in orders, such as Friar Lawrence and the Nurse. In doing that, they subject themselves to piteous overthrows. Their tragedy is that they have nowhere to turn. In an attempt to come together, the true lovers die; their love was â€Å"death-marked†. They are inexperienced and have the idealistic ardour of first love. Hence, their love is pure. The poetry of the play is written as beautifully and pure as the love it speaks of as this purity enhances the tragedy presented in the play for Romeo and Juliet. It is the parents’ tragedy in this play because of their disobedient children. Romeo and Juliet’s rebellion ultimately leads to them to their own deaths and consequently, the only succession to the Capulet and Montague’s family name is lost. Upon Juliet’s death, Capulet expresses lamentation to this loss of  succession through his words â€Å"death is my heir†. The children’s fatal flaws ultimately pave their parents’ tragedy. The children took little honour in their names and treated it as if it were a piece of clothing which they could just throw away. Juliet questions â€Å"what’s in a name?† and expresses dishonour to the significance of her family name. Juliet’s lack of pride leads her to Romeo, which ultimately leads her to death. Hence, her lack of pride is her fatal flaw. If she had pride in her name, she would not have allowed herself to love Romeo and hence, would not have died. If they did not die, the story would not have been their parent’s tragedy, as they would not have lost their children, or their successor to their family name. Of all the young men who die in the play, Paris is the greatest victim of all, because he dies from being a victim of both love and death. Essentially, Paris was not even part of the two families’ battle. Rather, he was dragged into the whole mess as a result of associations. For the other young men in the story, their tragedy had come about as a result of the ancient grudge however for Paris, he was a victim of love. He dies as a consequence of love in both ways; Romeo’s love for Juliet as well as his own love for Juliet. Paris was a nice guy who happened to get caught in someone else’s love story. As Juliet’s love for Romeo deepens, Paris is increasingly ignored by her. Hence, not only is it a tragic end for Paris in that he dies by the end of the play, but his beloved Juliet also dies and the fact that he never received Juliet’s love or attention since the start adds further depth to his tragedy. Through the use of pyrrhic pentameter, Shakespeare allows us to ‘hear’ as well as understand the pyrrhic victory taken place in the play. The constant battle between family Montague and the family Capulet is the spark which sets off the train for future misfortunes. Romeo and Juliet’s forbidden pure love is definitely a major factor which contributes to the tragedy of both these young lovers. For the parents, their children’s grave death, tragic in itself, also marks the death of their own succession to the family names. For Paris, his tragedy is bought about as a consequence of love. Ultimately, the catastrophic end to Romeo and Juliet is a t ragedy which affects everyone in the play.