Tuesday, November 26, 2019

A Midsummer Nights Dream- Play within a play Essay Example

A Midsummer Nights Dream A Midsummer Nights Dream- Play within a play Paper A Midsummer Nights Dream- Play within a play Paper Reason and love keep little company nowadays, in fact, both plays possess the same message. Towards the climax of both plays, the lovers no longer hold senses and unreason begins to appear. Under the effects of the love- in- idleness, both Lysander and Demetrius who once adored Hermia turn their love towards Helena. Being neglected and unloved before, Helena immediately thinks of herself as a laughing stock and hence points the finger to Hermia as one of this confederacy. As a lady who is desperate for love a long time, all of a sudden getting that much, it seems quite natural to think of this as a jest. Yet, invisibly, she is actually laying down bias and putting her point of view into this issue. In the same manner, seeing the mantle of Thisbe stained with blood, Pyramus instantly think of her dead. Again, this seems logical, yet, personal emotions overrule and thus Pyramus has not thought twice and kills himself afterwards. On one hand, the play- within- a- play serves the use of restating the theme of love, yet it also serves as a warning in which unreason is the root of danger and tragedy in the future. With such unreason, the lovers encounter various dangers. In the main story, fairies are there to disturb ones thought whereas, in the play- within- a- play, something physically dangerous appears, the lion causes bloodshed which eventually makes Pyramus think of Thisbe dead. And at the same time, unreason makes Pyramus thinks without second thought, thus suicides wrongly, ending the play in tragedy. On the contrary, the main story shows the other side of a coin, despite of all those dangers surrounding the lovers, none of them are deadly and the problem finally resolves in the end with the help of the fairies. This creates great contrast between the two plays, so as to show the potential danger of unreasoned love. Dealing with a tragedy, the mechanicals production definitely makes a difference towards the tone of the play as a whole. The play itself loses it seriousness and heaviness, and is then becoming a lot more like a comical interlude. As the actors lack knowledge towards acting and the play, it adds comic effect to the play. Overusing poetic techniques such as alliteration and weird acting made by the wall, lion and moonlight make the performance the silliest stuff ever heard. This in fact quite matches with the Dukes intention that the pale companion is not for [his] pomp and that melancholy [should] forth to funerals. Instead of putting attention on the content of the play, much emphasis is on the simplicity of the workers. In fact, readers are reminded not to take the play seriously as they are just dreams which comes and goes quickly. As mentioned by Theseus the best in this kind [of play] are but shadows; and the worst are no worse, if imagination amend[s] them. Therefore, we should take the play lightheartedly as they are no more than visions. All in all, the tedious brief scene parallels with the main story as both plays deal with the obstacles of love and the unreason of love. Though the play- within- a- play ends tragically, it turns out to have a hilarious ending and matches with the plays ending as well.

Friday, November 22, 2019

How To Calculate the Variance and Standard Deviation

How To Calculate the Variance and Standard Deviation Variance and standard deviation are two closely related measures of variation that you will hear about a lot in studies, journals, or statistics class. They are two basic and fundamental concepts in statistics that must be understood in order to understand most other statistical concepts or procedures. Below, we’ll review what they are and how to find the variance and standard deviation. Key Takeaways: Variance and Standard Deviation The variance and standard deviation show us how much the scores in a distribution vary from the average.The standard deviation is the square root of the variance.For small data sets, the variance can be calculated by hand, but statistical programs can be used for larger data sets. Definition By definition, variance and standard deviation are both measures of variation for interval-ratio variables. They describe how much variation or diversity there is in a distribution. Both the variance and standard deviation increase or decrease based on how closely the scores cluster around the mean. Variance is defined as the average of the squared deviations from the mean. To calculate the variance, you first subtract the mean from each number and then square the results to find the squared differences. You then find the average of those squared differences. The result is the variance. The standard deviation is a measure of how spread out the numbers in a distribution are. It indicates how much, on average, each of the values in the distribution deviates from the mean, or center, of the distribution. It is calculated by taking the square root of the variance. A Conceptual Example The variance and standard deviation are important because they tell us things about the data set that we can’t learn just by looking at the mean, or average. As an example, imagine that you have three younger siblings: one sibling who is 13, and twins who are 10. In this case, the average age of your siblings would be 11. Now imagine that you have three siblings, ages 17, 12, and 4. In this case, the average age of your siblings would still be 11, but the variance and standard deviation would be larger. A Quantitative Example Let’s say we want to find the variance and standard deviation of the age among your group of 5 close friends. The ages of you and your friends are 25, 26, 27, 30, and 32. First, we must find the mean age: (25 26 27 30 32) / 5 28. Then, we need to calculate the differences from the mean for each of the 5 friends. 25 – 28 -326 – 28 -227 – 28 -130 – 28 232 – 28 4 Next, to calculate the variance, we take each difference from the mean, square it, then average the result. Variance ( (-3)2 (-2)2 (-1)2 22 42)/ 5 (9 4 1 4 16 ) / 5 6.8 So, the variance is 6.8. And the standard deviation is the square root of the variance, which is 2.61. What this means is that, on average, you and your friends are 2.61 years apart in age. Although it’s possible to calculate the variance by hand for smaller data sets such as this one, statistical software programs can also be used to calculate the variance and standard deviation. Sample Versus Population When conducting statistical tests, it’s important to be aware of the difference between a population and a sample. To calculate the standard deviation (or variance) of a population, you would need to collect measurements for everyone in the group you’re studying; for a sample, you would only collect measurements from a subset of the population. In the example above, we assumed that the group of five friends was a population; if we had treated it as a sample instead, calculating the sample standard deviation and sample variance would be slightly different (instead of dividing by the sample size to find the variance, we would have first subtracted one from the sample size and then divided by this smaller number). Importance of the Variance and Standard Deviation The variance and standard deviation are important in statistics, because they serve as the basis for other types of statistical calculations. For example, the standard deviation is necessary for converting test scores into Z-scores. The variance and standard deviation also play an important role when conducting statistical tests such as t-tests. References Frankfort-Nachmias, C. Leon-Guerrero, A. (2006). Social Statistics for a Diverse Society. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Working with and Leading People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Working with and Leading People - Essay Example Since we worked as a team, the activities and assessments seemed to be much easier. The learning experience of working in a team is highly commendable because students have the opportunity to share ideas and to benefit from collaborative learning, assertions supported by Gallegos and Peeters (2011, p. 33). This paper will present an in-depth reflection on my experience of working in a team. From my experience, working in a team is highly beneficial as it promotes higher levels of efficiency because several individuals work on a task together and have the opportunity to combine their efforts. As identified by Hansen (2006, p. 16), the level of efficiency attained when working in a group is much higher than the efficiency resulting from a single individual. For example, we worked on a series of activities as a team, a factor that registered higher levels of efficiency. For example, we were able to complete the activities in a shorter time span compared to an individual working on the activities alone. Since the team members were willing to cooperate, we completed most of the activities in record time (Volkov & Volkov 2015, p. 269). I noted the difference in the quality of work produced, a factor, which is related to efficiency. Therefore, working in a team promotes efficiency in two different aspects. According to the skills identified by Hughes and Jones (2011, p. 60), a team can produce a higher quantity of work, which meets the expected quality. In terms of speed, the activities were completed in a short time because the group designated different roles and responsibilities for all the members of the team. Working in a team allowed students with different capacities and talents to work together. Therefore, it was possible to undertake a collaborative learning because we share ideas. The sharing of ideas between different members of the team was highly beneficial because each member learned new ideas. As

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Domestic Violence against Married Women in Cambodia Research Paper

Domestic Violence against Married Women in Cambodia - Research Paper Example Is there spousal abuse in Cambodia, and if so what factors are causing it This is a significant research problem for several reasons. First there is the issue of Human Rights for the women who are being battered. Domestic violence against women is a serious concern and no woman deserves to be harmed. Next there is the impact that the repression of women has had on society as a whole. When a woman is abused by her husband it creates and perpetuates a dysfunctional pattern of behavior in the world. I think that the motivation behind the research is sound. It can only be a positive thing to reduce violence against women. However one must keep in mind that the cultural norms are entirely different in South East Asia as compared to Western society. My biggest concern about the problems being perceived and studied here is that the scholarly theories presented may not have any relevance to the actual conditions as they are occurring in Cambodia. It seems that the academics are attempting to formulate different theories of the abuse and then gain evidence from the field to prove themselves correct. The paper paints a vivid portrait and fills in all of the details so that the reader does not necessarily need to critically examine the situation. All of the facts are wrapped up neatly in one small package with little room for speculation. Literature Review The researchers present abundant scholarly background information to support their hypotheses and make an effort to ensure the clarity of their position. The review of literature seemed to represent a fair sampling of arguments from several different perspectives. For any particular hypothesis, there are alternative explanations presented... The researchers present abundant scholarly background information to support their hypotheses and make an effort to ensure the clarity of their position. The review of literature seemed to represent a fair sampling of arguments from several different perspectives. For any particular hypothesis, there are alternative explanations presented to confirm the relevance of the present investigation. It some regards the review of literature for this article presents a convincing argument about the scope of past relevant research in this area. There are only a limited number of articles within this field from non-Western cultures but they seem to have been included in the review. The greatest strength of this section of the paper was that it covered a lot of diverse theories. The evidence is offered to support the dominant theories, yet any contrary evidence was suspiciously absent for some of the theories. The weakness of literature review was that it was too one-sided in some cases. For exa mple, it presented many articles in favor of the idea that there is a negative correlation between standard of living and domestic abuse but only one article to the contrary. Perhaps the article could have offered some explanation as to why this contrary view would have some value. This research article takes existing theoretical models and applies them to a novel population. For example, one academic model of domestic violence states that physical abuse is a resource, similar to money or goods, which people use for the purpose of controlling others.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Body-Adapted Wearable Electronics Essay Example for Free

Body-Adapted Wearable Electronics Essay The field of body-adapted electronics has been around for quite some time. People have been wearing calculator watches, mobile phones, music players, ear phones and the like for many years now. I was intrigued by the new ideas that have developed within the last few years in the way of health monitoring devices. There is a wristband available for you to monitor your exercise, health, behavior, and blood pressure. It helps you to understand your exercise and sleep patterns. Also out there for you to detect your blood pressure are ear buds. Some of the health monitoring devices are able to be embedded under your skin or worn as a tiny patch under clothing. The sensors provide feedback for you or your doctor to tract your vital statistics. The vital measures include heart rate, muscle tone, body temperature, sweat, motion and the amount of oxygen in your system. The environmental measures include location, illumination, ambient temperature, humidity, toxicity. A body posture detection sensor is worn to determine whether a person is exercising or performing a sport correctly. Along with this device, another can provide calculations of how many calories you have consumed, or your average speed and distance. This allows you to get the best performance in what you are attempting. For those suffering chronic disease or pain management, their doctor will be able to receive real-time information about the person’s health, so as to be able to prescribe medications properly. Alerts systems can be applied for drivers on the road to inform them of dozing off at the wheel. Fire-fighters have a polo shirt with sensors that collects their vital signs, so supervisors will know when to get them out of a disastrous situation. The Eye Tap, which is worn in front of the eye, or Smartglasses are for wearers to use as a camera or to view computer imagery, is being explored as a tool for people with visual disabilities to have the information directed  to parts of their retina that does not function well. Google Glass has been using them since 2013 in operating rooms, ambulances, trauma helicopters, doctors’ offices, and also for the visually impaired on public transportation. It is also being used in several countries during operations, to broadcast the actual surgery to other locations, and on TV, for many doctors to be able to watch how the procedure is being performed. In Australia, the Small World Social Breastfeeding Support Project created the first hands-free breastfeeding application for new mothers. Wearing the Google Glass, the mothers call a consultant to have any questions they might have, answered. In a few months, 100% of the mothers were breastfeeding with confidence. Several more emerging technologies are currently being developed. A brain-computer interface, for people with disabilities who can type by controlling their brainwaves, and eventually being able to operate wheelchairs using only their thoughts. The Haptic shoe soles, using sense of touch feedback and GPS technology, these soles will give the blind wearer vibrations to tell them when to turn or lift their feet via a voice-programmed app that reads GPS maps planned routes. The soles have sensors to let the wearer know when to stop, and read the walkers gestures, example, two taps means â€Å"take me home.† All of these new products are a great advantage for the medical, health, and disability fields. Along with them goes the disadvantages, until everything can be worked out. The trials that are necessary in order to make sure the products are fit for use is the biggest hurdle. Sensors miss firing; wrong data being sent and received; expertise needed around the eyes; missed directions for the blind walkers; battery-life needing to be extended; the cost of research and development and of purchase; and the right to privacy are all issues that need to be addressed. Wrong data REFERENCES: Body-Adapted Wearable Electronic by Dysheanna Franklin on Prezi http://prezi.com Interview: What’s the future for wearable technology? http:// forumblog.org ITEA3 Improving the quality of everyday life through wearable computers http://itea3.org Top 10 emerging technologies for 2014 http://forumblog.org Wearable computer-Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wilipedia.org

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Epic of Beowulf Essay - Hero-elegaic :: Epic of Beowulf Essay

Beowulf : Hero-elegaic Beowulf is one of the oldest existing poems in the English language. Originally written in Anglo-Saxon, it has been translated to give readers the opportunity to enjoy this colorful, heroic poem of England’s epic age. It has been declared as a heroic-elegaic poem because of the various characteristics it clearly possesses. An epic consists of a hero who is larger than life. Beowulf is unquestionably a perfect example of this hero because of the amazing acts of heroism he commits. Epic characters also give numerous speeches that revel something about the past or the speaker’s characteristics. Beowulf does not give many, but from those he gives, the reader leans about his character traits. The language of the epic style is an elevated, rather formal language. Similes, kennings, and many other literary techniques are used throughout the poem. Beowulf clearly contains many epic characteristics and the following essay will present the evidence needed to support this allegati on. Firstly, epic characters hold high position—kings, princes, noblemen, and members of the aristocracy—but the epic hero must be more than that. He must be able to perform outstanding deeds, be greater than the average character, and be of heroic proportions. Most of all, he must have super-human courage. The poet first describes Beowulf as "...greater/And stronger than anyone anywhere in this world" (Raffel 195-196), without informing us about what he did to acquire this reputation. The reader initially sees him through the awestruck eyes of the Danish soldier patrolling the cliffs. Beowulf's appearance--his size, his armor--obviously commands immediate respect and attention. When asked by the soldier to identify himself and give detail of his visit, he says he is not there to challenge Hrothgar’s power but to perform a task to the lord. He respects the legitimacy of Hrothgar’s kingship and has no intention of usurping the throne. He preforms in the same honorable manner when he refuses the kingship after Hygelac’s death. He accepts the crown only after Hygelac’s son is killed in battle. Beowulf’s super-human courage is shown when he went into battle with Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon. He shows he is fearless when he says, â€Å"I’d use no sword, no weapon, if this beast/ Could be killed without it, crushed to death/Like Grendel†(Raffel 2518-2520) before he fights the dragon, which ultimately kills him. Epic characters generally deliver numerous speeches, all of which move the action forward, tell something about the past, or reveal the speakers character traits.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Consumer Behaviour Annotated Bibliography

In this article Anisimova investigates the influence of corporate brand on attitudinal and behavioural consumer loyalty. The author uses data gained through a questionnaire distributed through a participating car manufacturer to try to identify corporate brand attributes and consumer loyalty. Their research focuses on five hypotheses that related each corporate brand dimensions to consumer loyalty. The article is useful to my topic, because it identifies linkages between attitude and behaviour can be increased through brand personality. It also identifies that core values and personality are important paths to consumer loyalty. The main limitation of the article is that the research focused on one industry only (car industry), where brand loyalty is easier to determine. Thus the author indicate that further, more extensive, research needs to be undertaken to develop a more in-depth understanding of branding strategies in wider industries would be beneficial. This article will not form the basis of my research; however it will be useful supplementary information. Kaltcheva, V. D. and Parasuraman, A. 009, ‘Personality-Relatedness and Reciprocity Framework for Analyzing Retailer-Consumer Interactions’, Journal of Business Research’, Vol 62, Iss 6, pp 601 – 608 This article investigates four relational models for classifying retailer-consumer interactions to define the Personality-Relatedness and Reciprocity relational framework. The article investigates the use of this framework to identify t arget relational positioning, analyse actual relational positioning, formulate strategies to reach target and assess the effectiveness of these strategies. The article is useful to my topic, because it identifies the importance consumers place on retailer’s personality and the difference between consumer’s and retailer’s outcomes. The main limitation of the article is that the research is at an intermediate level that will inform propositions for future research. This article will not form the basis of my research; however it will be useful supplementary information. Capelli, S. and Helme-Guizon, A. , 2008, ‘Temperament: Measurement and Impact on Consumer Behaviour’, Recherche et Applications en Marketing, Vol 23, Iss 1. This article translates a measurement tool for temperament. The authors compare personality traits, and explores how it impacts on purchasing behaviours. The author uses data gained through a questionnaire distributed through a participating car manufacturer to try to identify corporate brand attributes and consumer loyalty. Their research focuses on five hypotheses that related each corporate brand dimensions to consumer loyalty. The article is useful to my topic, because it identifies linkages between attitude and behaviour can be increased through brand personality. It also identifies that core values and personality are important paths to consumer loyalty. The main limitation of the article is that the research focused on one industry only (car industry), where brand loyalty is easier to determine. Thus the author indicate that further, more extensive, research needs to be undertaken to develop a more in-depth understanding of branding strategies in wider industries would be beneficial. This article will not form the basis of my research; however it will be useful supplementary information.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Pre-Writing/Invention Strategies Essay

Applying the pre-reading strategies upon reading the article â€Å"A Rescue at U. N. Headquarters, as Others Wait and Hope† by the New York Times, can make the central message clearer to the reader. The title and the heading provide an insight to the content of the essay; which is primarily the first visit of United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, on Haiti after the devastating earthquake hit the country. Skimming on the essay conveyed the inevitable scarcity of food in the place, plus the rescuers’ nationalism ideals on their effort rescues. Skimming the essay provided insights that opened issues on importance of food and medical assistance to the victims of the earthquake. This makes a wider topic on the issues that must be tackled with regards to the mishap. After reading the essay and gaining queries and facts on the writing task, one must now apply the different pre-writing strategies to make the desired composition. Pre-writing strategies vary and may be referred to as free-writing, brainstorming, clustering, tagmemics, and journalistic technique (Pre-Writing Strategies, 2005). I used the brainstorming technique to particularly list all the elements and ideas that might be useful in making an essay about my insights, but the unorganized bulleted form might not be very helpful in making a cohesive essay. On the other hand, in the clustering strategy, the central topic could be the scarcity of food and medical assistance to the victims, and other sub-topics are written in smaller circles connected to the central point. This is effective as it provides a clearer and more organized flow of ideas for the desired essay. Conclusively though, it is advantageous to apply the journalistic technique to further broaden the essay. In this strategy, the six important questions; who, what, when, where, why, and how are discussed. By answering these questions, the author is ensured that the most important information about an event, issue, or problem is addressed to the readers. References English 090: Basic Reading and Writing. (2005) Pre-Writing Strategies. Retrieved July 12, 2010 from http://faculty. ncwc. edu/lakirby/English%20090/prewriting strategies. htm

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Douglas Mcgregor Theory X Y Essay Example

Douglas Mcgregor Theory X Y Essay Example Douglas Mcgregor Theory X Y Paper Douglas Mcgregor Theory X Y Paper DOUGLAS MCGREGOR FLOW PROFILE WHY NOW ? .. WORKS INTRO HIS STUDY THEORY-X THEORY-Y CONCLUSION RELEVANCE APPLICATIONS PROFILE-DOUGLAS MC GREGOR (1906-1964) He graduated Wayne State University PHD in Experimental Psychology(Harvard) He was Born Published his Theory of X Y in the book â€Å"Human Side of Enterprise† Death 1906 1932 1935 1960 1964 HIS WORKS Douglas Mc Gregor is one of the forefathers of contemporary management thinking over 50 years ago he began investigating the importance of people to business. In order to thrive an organization needs to harness the intelligence, enthusiasm and commitment of all the employees. He has worked extensively in this field and contributed through some of his works such as: 1. Human Side Of Enterprise 2. Leadership and Motivation 3. The Professional Manager (Posthumous Publication) This book had an profound influence on management practices then. In it he basically: a)Challenged the prevailing belief that workers are inherently lazy b)He formulated two models, Theory X and Theory Y, based on his examination of the way people behave at workplace. It has changed an entire concept of Organizational man and replaced it with a new paradigm that stressed human potential and emphasized human growth. This book is perhaps the clearest statement of the managerial theory that is scientific in outlook and in approach , humanistic and democratic in spirit. The most effective and the most equitable course of leadership is to satisfy the higher needs of workers on all levels the needs of self respect, initiative and recognition of competence. This book attempts to bring the needs of the business executive and the contributions of the behavioral sciences in to an applicable focus. The problems in dealing with unions of government workers. Clarifies the legal and political considerations. McGregor argued that managers operate from their personal view of how employees function. He separated managers into two groups based on Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. He related Theory X managers to lower order needs in the hierarchy and Theory Y managers to higher order needs. THEORY-X (AUTHORITARIAN MANAGEMENT STYLE) Human beings have an inherent dislike for work and will try to avoid it . People must be coerced controlled threatened to get the work done the average human being prefers to be directed wishes to avoid responsibility. People have relatively little ambition, want security above all. Management have the right to command and enforce obedience THEORY Y -( Participative Management Style) Assumes that people want to work and nee d managers to facilitate their activity not to control it. Control and punishment are not the only ways to make people work . The average person will take responsibility under proper conditions. The need is for â€Å"LEADERSHIP† and not â€Å"management† . X theory Demands Never asks.!! Y theory More of a Leader..! Distasteful, will avoid work whenever possible. Not ambitious, no desire for responsibility. Value Job security Dislike work Close supervision required. Work is as natural as play if conditions are in favor. Average person accepts responsibility. Values creativity Seeks chances to be creative BUSINESS IMPLICATIONS By applying the Mc Gregor’s model in to business we can: Devise a better performance management system Form and supervise effective management teams Better staff line relationships, build co-operation Cultivate an intrinsically motivating, value driven workplace. Creates employee commitment . CONCLUSION The X-Y theories express only the extreme positions between which most employees may or may not fall in to real life . In Peter Duckers words â€Å"With every passing year McGregors message becomes ever more relevant, timelier and more important.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The History of the Kaleidoscope and David Brewster

The History of the Kaleidoscope and David Brewster The kaleidoscope was invented in 1816 by Scottish scientist, Sir David Brewster (1781–1868), a mathematician and physicist noted for his various contributions to the field of optics.  He patented it in 1817 (GB 4136), but thousands of unauthorized copycats were constructed and sold, resulting in Brewster receiving little financial benefits from his most famous invention. Sir David Brewsters Invention Brewster named his invention after the Greek words kalos (beautiful), eidos  (form), and scopos  (watcher). So kaleidoscope roughly translates to beautiful form watcher. Brewsters kaleidoscope was a tube containing loose pieces of colored glass and other pretty objects, reflected by mirrors or glass lenses set at angles, that created patterns when viewed through the end of the tube. Charles Bushs Improvements In the early 1870s, Charles Bush, a Prussian native living in Massachusetts, improved upon the kaleidoscope and started the kaleidoscope fad. Charles Bush was granted patents in 1873 and 1874 related to improvements in kaleidoscopes, kaleidoscope boxes, objects for kaleidoscopes (US 143,271), and kaleidoscope stands. Charles Bush was the first person to mass manufacture his parlor kaleidoscope in America. His kaleidoscopes were distinguished by the use of liquid-filled glass ampules to create even more visually stunning effects. How Kaleidoscopes Work The kaleidoscope creates reflections of a direct view of the objects at the end of a tube, through the use of angled mirrors set at the end; as the user rotates the tube, the mirrors create new patterns. The image will be symmetrical if the mirror angle is an even divider of 360 degrees. A mirror set at 60 degrees will generate a pattern of six regular sectors. A mirror angle at 45 degrees will make eight equal sectors, and an angle of 30 degrees will make twelve. The lines and colors of simple shapes are multiplied by the mirrors into a visually stimulating vortex.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

I will add the preper topic soon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

I will add the preper topic soon - Essay Example became a fully fledged effects facility, but by the time Jackson directed his first Hollywood-backed movie, The Frighteners, weta had 14 workstations to generate astonishing 420 digital effects shots.† xv. Support from the New Zealand State for the LoTR project figured notably in the naming of a designated minister to work with the production team, and in the New Zealand army furnishing logistical support and extras, whilst public funds supported PR abroad as well as the refurbishing of the venue for the Return of the King premiere in Wellington. Xvi. Lee and Howe agreed to come to New Zealand, and they were ultimately credited as conceptual artists. They supplied thousands of sketches and paintings to guide the designers and help create a unified look for all research and projects going on in the various filmmaking departments. Xvii. It’s a good job that actor Stuart Townsend is engaged to actress Charlize Theron. That might just have come as at least some consolation for his having to give up the part of Aragorn four days into filming, handling over to Viggo Mortensen following â€Å"creative differences†. Xix. Billy Boyd who plays Pippin says, â€Å"My memory of the Two Towers is really me and Dom (Monaghan, who plays Merry) being stuck 15ft up Treebeard for a couple of months. You had to be harnessed for safety and it got to the point where you couldn’t get down for tea