Thursday, October 24, 2019

Freak the Mighty and “Ability” Extended Response Essay

Believing in one’s self is common, and it thrives throughout the novel, Freak the Mighty, by Rodman Philbrick, and the poem, â€Å"Ability,† by Selina E. Matis. There are several lines in the poem, â€Å"Ability,† that relate to the novel, Freak the Mighty. For example, one of the lines in the poem was, â€Å"Ability is to look at a blank page, and create a poem.† An example from Freak the Mighty that relates to that line is that Max didn’t know how to write, even when Freak gave him the empty book. However, in the end, Max ended up writing a whole book. Another line from the poem was, â€Å"For many, ability is never found, but for all, ability is within.† The way this line relates to, Freak the Mighty, is that Max was able to read and write all along, he just had to take a chance and try, and also, not be lazy. One more line from the poem, â€Å"Ability,† is, â€Å"Ability is to stare into the eyes of fear, and come out stronger because of it.† The way that this line relates to, Freak the Mighty, is that when Max’s father, Killer Kane, was choking him, Max fought back. This also shows that, â€Å"what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.† As one can see, throughout the novel, Freak the Mighty, by Rodman Philbrick, and the poem, â€Å"Ability,† by Selina E. Matis, they both had many similarities. Both the novel and the poem showed believing in yourself.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Los Angeles Independent Media Causes Essay

The Los Angeles Independent Media Center is a website that allows for left wing issues to be reported and shared on the web for all to see. They have over two dozen different categories that people have reported on ranging from animal rights and anti-war to immigration and indigenous rights and issues. Arizona has a proportionally large number of illegal immigrants working in the state just like California. Naturally this was one of the categories that caught my eye. When reading some of the article I came across a story from 2007. It was a march in Los Angeles (LA) in which mostly immigrants participated. They were marching because they wanted to be treated just as fairly as the legal citizens of the United States. They preached that they have been working just as hard to contribute to the economy of this country. There are two sides to any story and this is true in this case as well. On one hand they are doing the jobs that normal Americans do not want to do but others argue that they are here illegally and should not have the same rights as legal Americans. These two sides will be debated for years to come until someone can come up with a reasonable solution that will satisfy both side. The idea of illegal â€Å"under the table† help is too engrained within our society that it would be impossible to eliminate the issue over night. Not only are illegal immigrants fighting for their rights, but in some cases so are Americans. In California Wal-Mart would contract with temporary job agencies to fill jobs working in warehouses. These workers can be exposed to toxic chemicals and extreme heat conditions. They are also sometimes not given the wages that they were promised. Because Wal-Mart uses third party companies to supply the labor they have in the part denied any wrong doing in the situation. Of course in this case there are no unions to represent the workers and them facing the threat of losing their job if they express their dissatisfaction of their working conditions. Some groups are not even worried with the thought of having a job; they just want to protect areas that have existed for hundreds of years. Kuruvungna means: â€Å"A place where we are in the sun† in the Tongva language. For thousands of years the Tongva people lived here in relative peace and harmony with their environment until the European invasion of the Americas. (Sunday, 2012) In 1992 a group of environmentalists was able to secure a piece of land that was located on a public school’s property for the low cost of one dollar a year. This piece of property contained a natural spring that once belonged to the Tongva people before they were forcefully removed. The spring is said to have natural healing powers as well as native fish species, fresh water crayfish, a 200 year old Mexican Cypress tree, oak trees, hummingbird sage and other native grasses. The group is trying to secure another long term lease for the same price. One of the more controversial issues of our times is the use of genetically modified foods for consumption. These foods consist of simple fruits and vegetable to more complex animals like cows and pigs. One major reason behind this is that scientists can modify items to produce more nutrient rich foods for consumption. Scientists can also produce animals that can be modified to produce medicine, organs for transplant, meat or even engineered pets. It seems like a good idea to have enough organs and such to go around so that way no one would have to wait for a transplant and in the long run saving human lives. The biggest debate is to determine whether a human life is more important than that of an animal. This debate has been going on for some time now and will probably keep going on especially since the US Food and Drug Administration has taken steps to allow for the sale of genetically engineered animals. One of the biggest issues we have in America is politicians supporting special interest groups and not the constituents they were elected to represent. The City of Fullerton California was faced with a lawsuit from a construction company after denying the company’s proposal to develop a more suburban sprawl in one of the last bits of natural ecosystems in Orange County. Initially the city council had voted to deny the request from the company. In a strange turn of events, a year later the city voted to settle with the company and approve the proposal. Currently citizens have collected signatures to get a referendum on the next ballot to hopefully overturn the city’s decision. Every year across the country we hear about budget cuts in the education system. Along with the cuts we also hear of colleges increasing tuition to cover basic costs. So the question remains how can a school cut costs because it does not have money yet at the same time raise tuition? People finally had enough and all across the country students were walking out of class in protest and joined their community members in protests at superintendents’ offices, city councils and board meetings to express their concern with all of the cuts that have happened. In recent months teachers have joined the effort, which has become inspiring that they seem to not have a concern for their jobs while they protest. Alas, the protests have had little success as we still see cuts being made and tuition is still being raised semester after semester. America is in the middle of a war and with that comes anti-war protests. Different groups have tried to use different tactics to draw attention to their cause. One group protests on thanksgiving while others have protested on Christmas ask the question: what would Jesus choose? One of the more powerful messages came from a group back in 2009. They staged a mock funeral precession honoring those American and Iraqi people who have died during the war time period. These protests have been so powerful that the president vowed to end the war if he was elected. The baby boomer generation has grown up with the knowledge that if they want their voice heard then they organize a protest or a walk. After a bad statement from a Canadian police officer in 2001, large groups of women took to the streets to get the word out about sexual assaults. The groups organized what they called a â€Å"Slut Walk. It is one of those situations in which they should have thought about how the name of their walk could be portrayed within the community. These walks have occurred throughout the world to include the US, Canada, UK, Australia and several European countries. These walks have had support from several large human rights groups such as Planned Parenthood, CA National Organization for Women and Peace over Violence. There are many different subjects for people to post article on that would spark criminal acts and public disorder. These subjects include Anti-War, Class War, Immigration, Police State, and Racism. These are all catalysts for groups to recruit people who believe in their cause. The best part about the website is that people can post at any time they wish. It also helps that the website has multiple links to other cities, states and foreign countries similar websites. This is crucial because it does not bog down the website with data and provides a worldwide platform for left wing issues and causes.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Imagination Jockey †An Interview with Indie Author Ben Galley

Imagination Jockey - An Interview with Indie Author Ben Galley Imagination Jockey - An Interview with Indie Author Ben Galley He’s not just the co-founder of the world’s first ebook store exclusively for indie authors and small presses - Ben Galley is also the author of the ‘Emaneska’ dark fantasy series, the first part of which was recently adapted into a graphic novel featuring art from Michael Shipley.We spoke to Ben about his indie author alter-ego, and what it’s like juggling the creative side of being an author with the business of self-publishing.How did you get started as a writer?I’ve always had a passion for writing. I strayed away from writing through college and secondary school, but stumbled back into it, strangely enough, through being a musician. When music didn’t take off for me and I was becoming disillusioned with the endless bar jobs I was working in, I poured all the knowledge I had picked up about how to be a self-sufficient musician into publishing. I rediscovered my love for writing, and it went hand-in-hand with what I’d learned about being an independent artist. It was perfect timing!Did you start off thinking of going the traditionally published route? How did that background knowledge about being an independent musician shape how you were thinking about writing and publishing?I studied music at the Contemporary Academy of Music in Guildford. They’re a very eyes-wide-open institution, and they taught me to be very independent and how to run businesses in a digital world. Those skills, amazingly, translated very well into the book world, which at the time was just entering its digital revolution.After finishing the manuscript for The Written, I began to research publishing options, and I discovered the emerging concept of self-publishing. I suddenly realised I could do it myself, and bend my ACM skills into this new industry. Not only that, but by going indie and DIY I could shave 18 months off my release schedule, keep 70% of my royalties, and get to control my career. I haven’t looked back since!What’s the most important thing to creating a successful indie book?It’s about being professional and aiming for the highest quality you can. I recognised early on that these were key, if not the keys to success – your books need to look as good as, if not better than, a traditionally published book. So, if you want a good shot at making a living and standing out from the crowd, use professionals: cover designers, editors, formatters, they are very important, and will help make sure your book is as professional as can be.Have you been enabled to try new experiments because you’ve been an indie?Absolutely, and a great example of that is my Emaneska graphic novel, which will be released this December. I regularly have conversations with traditional-author friends where they’re saying â€Å"I wish I could do this, I wish I could do that.† Sadly, these authors are tied to contracts and the publisher’s whim. If an idea is not in the publisher’s financial game plan, or if it’s not a commercial trend, is generally not willing to take a punt. This means that these authors are limited in what they can do. Indies aren’t shackled by that.The Written graphic novel is something I probably would not have been able to do with a traditional publisher. I’m talking very generally, but as an indie I can make a decision and get started all in the same hour, no questions asked and no permission needed. That’s why I was able to set up a Kickstarter project, raise over  £5,500, hire an artist, and just get it done. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s testament to how free and agile indies are.How do you work creatively? Do you have any tips on how to disrupt writer’s block?I worry this is going to sound a bit pompous, but I don’t believe in writer’s block. I think it’s psychosomatic. Writer’s block normally happens when you don’t not know what you’re writing (i.e. you haven’t got a plan), why you’re writing, or you’re simply in the wrong frame of mind or environment. Writer’s block usually comes about for one or more of these reasons. I believe in setting time aside, having a dedicated space, and being clear about my goals and what I have to do. To date, that has kept the block at bay, and I can usually write every day without fail. Again practise helps you realise what works for you. Sometimes I need a little music to put me in a mood, that can really help. If I’ve done everything right it flows, and it normally doesn’t stop flowing until I can’t see because my eyes are so tired. If the block ever strikes, step back, re-analyse and refocus.How about when you’re generating ideas?Some of my best ideas come while I’m absorbing other media. I’m constantly inspired by movies, TV, music, and of course, books. Initial concepts have always come ve ry sporadically but naturally to me, literally springing out of thin air. Once I have a concept, I then sit down to formulate a book or story around that idea. Then it’s about locking the door, closing the window, and focussing. I use music a lot for that, something without lyrics, something very musical - I close my eyes and let the ideas and characters run away with themselves. I see where they end up, and if I like it I’ll write it down, pause the music, make some notes, and then go back. What I never do is dismiss an idea, no matter how trivial. I note everything down. You never know when you’ll need it.That sounds very pleasantly intuitive.Exactly. You’re not forcing yourself. You’re not sitting there going â€Å"I want this to happen, how can I make this happen?† Sometimes the ideas that come organically are the ideas that are best for the book and for the readers.What’s your editing process like?First of all I go through the ma nuscript once or twice myself. I work back through the book, reaffirming the structure and big concepts first, then I go through it again to focus on rewriting and correcting mistakes, and improving it overall. If I need to, I’ll go through it a third time before sending it through to my professional editor, Kevin. The right editor can do a huge amount for you and your book – an editor who can identify with your style, your genre, or you – or ideally all three! There’re a lot of editors out there, so it’s a matter of shopping around and finding the right one for you.Finally, what sort of stuff do you like to read?Lots and lots of fantasy. I just love it, and that’s why I write it. I’m reading ‘Queen of Tearling’ at the moment. I read a lot of mythology as well, a lot of Nordic mythology, Icelandic poetry, Greek and Roman classics, and recently near-Eastern mythology. That comes hand-in-hand with research, and I’m genuinely interested in it.Thanks for your time Ben!

Monday, October 21, 2019

What To Know About Marijuana Professor Ramos Blog

What To Know About Marijuana There are many things we Wonder about Marijuana, From the laws to the side effects. Did you know that in the 1600’s hemp was grown by George Washington at Mount Vernon and by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. By the early 1800’s cannabis medicines were produced and medicinal use of hashish and marijuana where legally used throughout the 1930’s. As the states started to legalize the medicine, states would proceed with the marijuana legalization laws as well. First, is how Marijuana has changes many peoples lives over the years. Secondly, how marijuana has been beneficial to the world. Lastly how it may affect the people or the world in a harmful way. How marijuana has changed the world Marijuana has been used since ancient times and has been beneficial in so many ways. It has been used as food, rope and its fabric has been made into parachutes for WW2. In the U.S around the 1850’s 8,327 hemp plantations where growing hemp for cloth, canvas and rope. Once it is used as recreational use during the prohibition in 1922, â€Å"tea pads† opened up all around new york and would sell product for low prices, at least 500 of these locations opened up all around. Some people even use is as income since it has been in such high demand. Once the medicine became legal in so many states, it really started bringing a better outlook to the people. There are many different laws on how much you may carry at one time and it all varies from state to state. In 1915 is when it all started, when a group of mormons were caught traveling with marijuana they were caught returning to Salt Lake City from Mexico and states then enact there marijuana prohibition laws. In the 1930â €™s there was harsh penalties for drug use and Marijuana was considered a drug, maximum criminal penalties and may establish mandatory minimum for violation of drugs, including marijuana. That could be 2-10 years in jail or facing up to a $20,000 fine for marijuana possession. Back in 1978 a law was passed that allowed curtain people to be able to use marijuana and at it peaks had about 30 or so people, they would receive medical marijuana from the government. It is said that marijuana does not cause violence, insanity or lead to any other drugs. Marijuana is used by a group of hippies and it became a symbol of rebellion against the authority. How marijuana has benefited the world â€Å"Hemp For Victory†   is a campaign to encourage American farmers to grow hemp to help produce materials for the marines like cordage, parachutes and sails all during WW2. Ones who did attend got grants and seeds to start there work. Although when nylon came around it made hemp less profitable around the U.S and farmers began planting more lucrative crops. As the years go on, now at 1970’s the law is prohibited and sentencing for small amounts of marijuana is eliminated. President Richard Nixon steps in and Studies the abuse of the medicine, and says it is a simple misunderstanding and recommends that they decriminalize marijuana. It is now treated as little as a traffic violation in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Main, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, and Ohio. In 1970 it was now legal for medical use and the Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws is in full affect. In 1974 High Times comes out with a magazine that inform s you on the legalization of marijuana. In 1976 Randall was arrested for cultivation of his own marijuana, and becomes the first patient to receive marijuana as a treatment for his medical disorder. By 1977 Jimmy carter is recommending that it decriminalization of marijuana for possession in small amounts. In 1995 now some states are allowing it to be cultivated for industrial reasons. Requested by the white house was the institute of medicine which conducts a review, the report concludes that cannabis is useful for pain relief, controlling of nausea and vomiting and helps the appetite. By 2011, a gallup poll shows that 50 percent of americans think that marijuana should be legalized. By 2013 a Gallup poll for the first time reports that, A majority of americans are supporting the legalization of marijuana, and then the first retail shop opens up in colorado. Then the government wanted to put a restriction on who was able to use medical marijuana, to use is you had to have serious m ental illness. It is even said by the man himself, President Obama states â€Å"he does not think that marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol.†   by 2016 the sales of marijuana have grown to an outrageous amount of 5.4 billion dollars and a judge rules that one can legally cultivate their own plants.There are many good effects of marijuana it will help sleep, arthritis, muscle pains and help calm down after a long day. How the world may have been affected by Marijuana The Government states that marijuana has no accepted medical use and should remain classified in the same category as heroin. In 2011, A gallup poll states thinks that 50 percent should be legalized, while 46 percent oppose legalization. In 2012, a rejected petition to reclassify marijuana from its current federal status with no accepted medical use. As the word gets spread about marijuana more and more people want to know about it, but it being a Schedule 1 drug it does not allow doctors and prohibits the amount of research that is accessible. A schedule one drug is a substance or chemical that are defined by the government as drugs and not looked at as medicine, and a high potential for abuse.The California Supreme Court holds bans on medical dispensaries in about 200 cities throughout the state. In an interview in New York, 2014 Obama states that â€Å"he does not think that marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol.† The Colorado Supreme Court rules that anyone who uses mar ijuana even on their offtime can be fired. As more states proceed with marijuana legalization laws, questions have arisen about how to accommodate those states that wish to retain prohibition, for instance in 2014 Oklahoma and Nebraska both unsuccessfully sued colorado based on the spillover effects that Colorado’s marijuana legalization affected the neighboring states. The legalization laws have a number of things that make it very hard for distributors to profit from exporting legally produced Marijuana across state lines. Coming into 2018, there are 30 legal medical marijuana states and a few of them allow cultivation that allow cultivation and the use of marijuana, now 19 states and counting have operating dispensaries. Eight states now have recreational marijuana laws and there are four states with operating retail stores. The facts show that marijuana has been very beneficial to the world, it has been used since ancient times for many things like food, utility’s and many other helpful things for the people. It is stated by Richard Nixon he steps into the study’s of marijuana and says â€Å"it’s a simple misunderstanding and we should decriminalize marijuana. It is now treated like a small traffic violation if you are stopped in curtain parts of the us. There are many ways marijuana has affected the world, it being looked at as a schedule one drug really made people hate the substance and smell. It being a schedule one drug really prohibited the research that is allowed to be done. That is until everyone started becoming interested in the medicine that is now helping people all around the world and they started to become more interested in where to get it. Work Cited: K.I. Bolla, K. Brown, D. Eldreth, K. Tate, J.L. Cadet, Neurology Nov 2002, 59 (9) Kimberly A. Babson, Matthew Tyler Boden, Marcel O. Bonn-Miller. (2013) Sleep Quality Moderates the Relation between Depression Symptoms and Problematic Cannabis Use among Medical Cannabis Users. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 39:3, pages 211-216. Alfonso Fiorello, Giovanni Vicidomini, Mario Santini; Marijuana smokers and lung bullae, European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Volume 34, Issue 3, 1 September 2008, Pages 706–707 Pacula, Rosalie Liccardo, et al. Developing public health regulations for marijuana: lessons from alcohol and tobacco. American Journal of Public Health 104.6 (2014): 1021-1028. Pierre, Joseph M. Psychosis associated with medical marijuana: risk vs. benefits of medicinal cannabis use. American Journal of Psychiatry 167.5 (2010): 598-599. Kreit, Alex â€Å"Marijuana Legalization And Nosey Neighbor States† 2017 Boston College Law Review.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

What You Should Know About Plate Tectonics

What You Should Know About Plate Tectonics Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that attempts to explain the movements of the Earths lithosphere that have formed the landscape features we see across the globe today. By definition, the word plate in geologic terms means a large slab of solid rock. Tectonics is a part of the Greek root for to build and together the terms define how the Earths surface is built up of moving plates. The theory of plate tectonics itself says that the Earths lithosphere is made up individual plates that are broken down into over a dozen large and small pieces of solid rock. These fragmented plates ride next to each other on top of the Earths more fluid lower mantle to create different types of plate boundaries that have shaped the Earths landscape over millions of years. History of Plate Tectonics Plate tectonics grew out of a theory that was first developed in the early 20th century by the meteorologist Alfred Wegener. In 1912, Wegener noticed that the coastlines of the east coast of South America and the west coast of Africa seemed to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Further examination of the globe revealed that all of the Earths continents fit together somehow and Wegener proposed an idea that all of the continents had at one time been connected in a single supercontinent called Pangaea. He believed that the continents gradually began to drift apart around 300 million years ago - this was his theory that became known as continental drift. The main problem with Wegeners initial theory was that he was unsure of how the continents moved apart from one another. Throughout his research to find a mechanism for continental drift, Wegener came across fossil evidence that gave support to his initial theory of Pangaea. In addition, he came up with ideas as to how continental drift worked in the building of the worlds mountain ranges. Wegener claimed that the leading edges of the Earths continents collided with each other as they moved causing the land to bunch up and form mountain ranges. He used India moving into the Asian continent to form the Himalayas as an example. Eventually, Wegener came up with an idea that cited the Earths rotation and its centrifugal force toward the equator as the mechanism for continental drift. He said that Pangaea started at the South Pole and the Earths rotation eventually caused it to break up, sending the continents toward the equator. This idea was rejected by the scientific community and his theory of continental drift was dismissed as well. In 1929, Arthur Holmes, a British geologist, introduced a theory of thermal convection to explain the movement of the Earths continents. He said that as a substance is heated its density decreases and it rises until it cools sufficiently to sink again. According to Holmes it was this heating and cooling cycle of the Earths mantle that caused the continents to move. This idea gained very little attention at the time. By the 1960s, Holmes idea began to gain more credibility as scientists increased their understanding of the ocean floor via mapping, discovered its mid-ocean ridges and learned more about its age. In 1961 and 1962, scientists proposed the process of seafloor spreading caused by mantle convection to explain the movement of the Earths continents and plate tectonics. Principles of Plate Tectonics Today Scientists today have a better understanding of the make-up of the tectonic plates, the driving forces of their movement, and the ways in which they interact with one another. A tectonic plate itself is defined as a rigid segment of the Earths lithosphere that moves separately from those surrounding it. There are three main driving forces for the movement of the Earths tectonic plates. They are mantle convection, gravity, and the Earths rotation. Mantle convection is the most widely studied method of tectonic plate movement and it is very similar to the theory developed by Holmes in 1929. There are large convection currents of molten material in the Earths upper mantle. As these currents transmit energy to the Earths asthenosphere (the fluid portion of the Earths lower mantle below the lithosphere) new lithospheric material is pushed up toward the Earths crust. Evidence of this is shown at mid-ocean ridges where younger land is pushed up through the ridge, causing the older land to move out and away from the ridge, thus moving the tectonic plates. Gravity is a secondary driving force for the movement of the Earths tectonic plates. At mid-ocean ridges, the elevation is higher than the surrounding ocean floor. As the convection currents within the Earth cause new lithospheric material to rise and spread away from the ridge, gravity causes the older material to sink toward the ocean floor and aid in the movement of the plates. The Earths rotation is the final mechanism for the movement of the Earths plates but it is minor in comparison to mantle convection and gravity. As the Earths tectonic plates move they interact in a number of different ways and they form different types of plate boundaries. Divergent boundaries are where the plates move away from each other and new crust is created. Mid-ocean ridges are an example of divergent boundaries. Convergent boundaries are where the plates collide with one another causing the subduction of one plate beneath the other. Transform boundaries are the final type of plate boundary and at these locations, no new crust is created and none is destroyed. Instead, the plates slide horizontally past one another. No matter the type of boundary though, the movement of the Earths tectonic plates is essential in the formation of the various landscape features we see across the globe today. How Many Tectonic Plates Are on Earth? There are seven major tectonic plates (North America, South America, Eurasia, Africa, Indo-Australian, Pacific, and Antarctica) as well as many smaller, microplates such as the Juan de Fuca plate near the United States state of Washington (map of plates). To learn more about plate tectonics, visit the USGS website This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Gender Women's studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Gender Women's studies - Essay Example An issues touching on courtship usually reminds us of the relationship leading to marriage without paying attention to issues, which might terminate it before the goal is realized. Notably, courtship is a complex cultural ritual that has been shaped by modernization (Janrt 187). In fact, many things have changed and the people’s way of life has had dramatic shifts. Traditionally, both men and women did not have a choice of their partner as this was an issue left for the parents, thus part of the societal ritual (Clark, Poulin and Kohler 397). The process of courtship was done by the parents without involving the man and woman to get married. In Ethiopia, Men who had reached maturity would ask their parents to arrange for their marriage, because it was the role of the parents to pay the dowry (Fafchamps and Quisumbing 348). The parents then arranged for the marriage, depending on their choice for his/her son or, daughter. Indeed, it was a complex ritual where dowry was paid after the bride had been identified, prior to the actual marriage (Fafchamps and Quisumbing 348). Additionally, the parents were to make all the necessary inquiries to make sure that their child would marry, or get married to families with impeccable background (Fafchamps and Quisumbing 355)). Precisely, this was the only sure way of sustainability of the marriage and a better life. In some communities, even girls ware to be imposed on older men due to parental arrangements, which they could not resist. However, with increase in education, urbanization and HIV/AIDS epidemics, this has changed and relationships are nowadays by choice (Clark, Poulin and Kohler 398). As part of the engagement process for marriage, courtship has recently shifted attention from organized marriage to a situation where the adult person selects a spouse for him/herself (Clark, Poulin and Kohler 398). In Malawi, for example, the increase in cases of HIV/AIDS has changed the situation since the

Friday, October 18, 2019

Oxford castle development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Oxford castle development - Assignment Example All parties must be aware of financial budgets, regulatory controls and legal constraints. All goals and needs of the clients must be met. Challenges may arise due to different interests of the project partners. Public sector bodies hold the interests of the local community [OCC, OC] and/or the site’s heritage [EH, OPT] as their main priority. Commercial businesses such as the TOP on the other hand, are profit driven. The needs of all parties must be balanced by the project manager in order to represent the interests of all clients. The land is owned by OCC and the site of Oxford Castle and the ancient county gaol is an ancient scheduled monument containing 14 listed buildings and structures (English Heritage, 2010a). The project manager must ensure that developers work within the strict heritage guidelines of EH for listed buildings and scheduled monuments (English Heritage, 2010b) and meet the requirements of the land owner [OCC] and other public bodies. Problems may also arise in making listed buildings accessible to the disabled when EH refurbishment regulations conflict with accessibility. Funding must be secured and the roles of financers securely defined to enable the procurement of resources and contractors. The project manager must oversee organization of the project workforce, serving tenders for contracts. Specialist contractors such as historic building surveyors will be necessary to meet public body regulations. The project manager may also oversee the securing of tenants for commercial properties. All development contractors and tenants must adhere to all relevant building restraints and regulations posed by public bodies. Manage the entire project planning from inception to finish. The project schedule, budget and any anticipated future needs, foreseeable obstacles and resultant project alternatives must be planned in the preliminary stages. Budget authorization cycles/finance release