Tuesday, December 24, 2019

The Birthmark Literary Analysis - 914 Words

In â€Å"The Birthmark†, a short story by Nathanial Hawthorne, the use of the archetypal conflict Nature vs. Science, the character of Damsel in Distress, and the symbol of the Incurable Wound show how easily beauty is overlooked in the endeavor for perfection. The archetypal conflict of Nature vs. Science is shown in Aylmer’s intention to remove the birthmark, nature’s constant reminder of human mortality, from Georgiana’s cheek. Aylmer believed that the birthmark might heighten Georgiana’s beauty if it wasn’t her only visible imperfection, but on Georgiana’s otherwise flawless complexion the birthmark was nothing more than â€Å"the fatal flaw of humanity†¦the ineludible gripe in which mortality clutches the highest and purest of earthly mould,†¦show more content†¦Georgiana had always lived with the birthmark, and was quite fond of its charm. Many people in the town believe it was a fairy’s handprint left to sw ay all hearts; to them the mark only magnified her appeal. The mark’s charm had rarely been questioned by anyone other than the jealous women of the town, and its peculiar nature had once intrigued Aylmer and amplified his attraction to Georgiana. He begged for her hand in marriage, but soon after they were wed, he queried whether Georgiana had ever considered having the birthmark removed. She was hurt by the implication that the mark depreciated her and grew upset with her husband. As time passed, Aylmer continued to stare at the mark, unable to keep his eyes from wandering to it. This continued until Georgiana was no longer able to ignore the way his eyes were always fixated on this sole imperfection, the crimson hand that kept him up at night and plagued his dreams. She asked Aylmer to remove the mark, or take her life because she no longer wanted to live if she had to live with the mark. She preferred death to the harsh scrutiny from her husband. The symbolic meaning of t he Incurable Wound is used to show the psychological impact of Georgiana’s insecurity about the birthmark because of Aylmer’s lack of acceptance of her natural beauty. â€Å"Research has primarily focused on the consequences of exposure to beauty advertisingShow MoreRelatedThe Birthmark Literary Analysis1614 Words   |  7 PagesThe Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne is trying to communicate some important ideas about a variety of themes, he articulates a few weighty themes around this brief argument: the struggle between science and nature. In a story full of successful and almost magical scientific experiments, it is intact nature itself that is more powerful than any creation made by man. As is to be expected, this path to perfection also includes the creation of life and the victory over death. In the birthmark AylmerRead MoreA Separate Peace, By Nathaniel Hawthorne996 Words   |  4 Pagesnot get to do in depth analysis so as to encounter such in lifestyle. As an example, at this point the planet is at the verge of a war. Humans have completely different views and perceptions of the implications such events would bring around the planet. There has always been an unending struggle of deciding between good and evil. As humans, we have a tendency to do not understand or notice a balance between them so as to achieve a positive outcome. In any work of literary art, here are sides ofRead MoreThe Idea Expression Dichotomy1744 Words   |  7 Pagesplot ‘lovers are in proximity of blood’ is abstract enough to be an idea; While in another case, ‘father had secretly sent his daughter to other while remembering a birthmark on her shoulder. The father’s son had fell in love with his unknown-sister while they accidentally found their proximity of blood by knowing about the birthmark.’ This special arrangement and selection of the story would be close to the bottom of the pyramid, which is the expression.’ The ‘substantial part’ in the UK copyrightRead MoreWilliam Golding s Lord Of The Flies1603 Words   |  7 PagesLiterary devices are techniques often used by authors to portray in-depth analyses of major characters, storylines, and central themes, which take place in a story. These analyses help readers understand a message the author is trying to convey. In the novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses different literary devices in order to demonstrate the boys’ struggle against the lack of society and law on the island, as well as the consequences that have transpired due to this loss. This conflictRead MoreSimilar Gothic Elements in the Work of Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne2436 Words   |  10 Pages Nathaniel Hawthorne was one of the most valiant and significant writers of fiction before the Civil War. He gained fame for publishing, The Scarlet Letter, and was praised for his literary style. The Scarlet Letter, allowed him to direct atte ntion to issues he valued. Other stories like, â€Å"The Birthmark,† and, â€Å"Rappaccini’s Daughter,† provided a unique view of a how a male dominated society can harm its women. Author Henry James considered him a genius and the most significant writer of hisRead MoreEssay on Analyis of Knowledge of a Possibility by JUllary Putnam2603 Words   |  11 Pagesas define Formal Realism. In Hilary Putnam’s â€Å"Literature Science, and Reflection†, Putnam discusses both the limitations and potentials of knowledge in literature. The criterion for knowledge is rather complex and Putnam addresses literary knowledge in â€Å"both the empirical and conceptual elements† (Putnam 488). On the one hand, there are the conceptual elements of knowledge, those that can be considered â€Å"knowledge of possibility† (Putnam 488) that allow us to think of new possibilitiesRead More Characterization, Identities, and the Supernatural in Otranto2209 Words   |  9 PagesIsabella, to his murderous rage. Morris also points out the recurring set of patterns and coincidences. Theodore escapes from imprisonment not once, not twice, but three times. He appears at the perfect moment to aid Isabella in her escape, and his birthmark is revealed only seconds before Manfreds order to behead him, rescuing him from death and revealing him as the rightful successor to the municipality of Otranto. These perfectly timed appearances emphasize the idea of â€Å"surface† with no â€Å"depth† —Read MoreModern Environmental Degradation And Exploitation3639 Words   |  15 Pagesdegrade the natural splendor and resources of our planet. Since every transformative process bears the scars of revolution, Marx argues that, in emerging from the shackles of capitalism, socialism or the â€Å"first phase† of communism will bear the birthmarks of the previous order. Thus, each worker will be given credit for his contribution. When these changes transform the society and socialism extends throughout the world, humanity will enter the final stage of pure communism characterized by StatelessnessRead MoreEssay The Salem Witchcraft Trials of 16924260 Words   |  18 Pagesdid not participate in the trials, the other girls were joined by other young and mature women in staging public demonstrations of their affliction when in the presence of accused witches. The events in Salem have been used as a theme in many literary works, including the play by Arthur Miller which we are going to read during this unit. They are interesting to anthropologists because they display some of the characteristics of village witchcraft and some of the features of the European witchRead MoreFigurative Language and the Canterbury Tales13472 Words   |  54 Pages1. allegory: a literary work that has a second meaning beneath the surface, often relating to a fixed, corresponding idea or moral principle. 2. alliteration: repetition of initial consonant sounds. It serves to please the ear and bind verses together, to make lines more memorable, and for humorous effect. †¢ Already American vessels had been searched, seized, and sunk. -John F. Kennedy †¢ I should like to hear him fly with the high fields/ And wake to the farm forever fled from the childless

Monday, December 16, 2019

The Rise of Punk in 70’s Britain. Free Essays

string(88) " to appear on Britain’s streets in attire which shocked the everyday British citizen\." hDuring 1970s Britain, life was a picture of austerity and hardship for many members of the public. The country was facing the worst economic recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s and large numbers of the electorate were quickly beginning to grow tired of the failing policies being touted by both Labour and Conservative minority governments. The experience of Britain for many in the 1970s was one of drawn out decline and decay, the consensus politics of the 1960’s was falling apart and Harold Macmillan’s notion of ‘You’ve never had it so good’ couldn’t have been further from the truth. We will write a custom essay sample on The Rise of Punk in 70’s Britain. or any similar topic only for you Order Now It could be argued that the aforementioned factors played a role of importance when assessing the largely spontaneous emergence of the punk movement into British society. Economic recession, not only in Britain but in other major world nations, was ever increasing, mainly due to the 1973 oil crisis which eventually cost Heath his post as prime minister and paved the way towards ‘The Rise of Thatcherism’.The crisis was due to the Arab members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), announcing, as a result of the ongoing Yom Kippur War, that they would no longer ship oil to nations that had supported Israel in its conflict with Syria and Egypt. These nations included the United States of America and their allies in the shape of Britain and Japan.British industry suffered a great deal due to the lack of oil being imported into the country, Britain began to face major competition from other major economies, such as Japan and the USA, in certain secto rs such as manufacturing, which had previously been a large and consistent area of income. With the flight of capital in the face of increasing working class militancy, it soon became clear that Governments in the industrialised economies could no longer sustain a commitment to full employment.As factories within these newly competitive industries were forced to close due to falling sales, it consequently had the effect of rising unemployment. By the mid 1970s unemployment had reached well over a million people and did not show signs of ceasing at any point soon after. The electorate began to resent the emergence of mass unemployment as it had not played any real part within British politics since the years shortly following the end of World War I, a period of British history which the British public would not look back on with any great affection and certainly would not want to revisit.Considerable amounts of workers who had been recently made redundant began supporting trade unions on a more regular and meaningful basis. The unemployed became aggrieved with the failing British economy and felt adamant that they deserved better support and welfare than they were currently receiving due to the government’s current inadequacies. Now that the trade unions had a much greater support, albeit in unfortunate circumstances, they began to put increasing pressure on Heath’s conservative government to pass legislative measures to aid the unemployed in their hour of need. Workers from almost all of the countries key industries such as mining, ship building and car manufacture went on strike to demonstrate their frustrations and vent their anger towards the incompetence of the Tory’ administration. The refusal by either party to make compromises on their respective arguments only furthered the problems and deepened the mire which Britain was steadily descending into.Due to the prolonged strikes by the mining community which started on the 10th February 1974 and lasted until 7th March of the same year, Britain found herself being exceedingly stretched to the point of what resources they had left circa the aforesaid strike action. Electrical power was deemed to be being consumed at too much of a prompt pace and under the rule of Edward Heath, the Conservatives decided on the introduction of the ‘Three Day Week’. The Three Day Week was a policy in which commercial users of electricity would be limited to a quota of three specified cons ecutive days use in a week long period.General members of the public also had to deal with the consequences of the striking populations’ actions. Ministers solemnly urged the populace to share baths and brush their teeth in the dark. Television, which by now was one of the nation’s favourite pastimes, was brought to an untimely end at 10. 30pm each evening. Heath had promised â€Å"tomorrow would be better than today†, but he couldn’t even keep the lights on. An image synonymous with the mid to late 1970s was that of piles of rotting rubbish collecting on pavements throughout the country.Waste centres were closed and emergency refuse sites were opened in town streets after binmen joined in months of strikes. This only became a further irritant to the British electorate who were becoming increasingly restless waiting for the government to develop new strategies in order to tackle the ongoing disrepute between themselves and Britain’s workforce. The social and economic problems of Britain, however, could not be solved simply by government legislation. Unrest was caused by much more than Heath’s perceived shortcomings as a Prime Minister. The problems of society ran far deeper than that.A process of fallout from the 1960’s had occurred; a sizeable part of the generation born at the end of the late 50’s and early 60’s were coming into maturity and most were without the guarantee of a job, economic stability and a sense of community. The younger generations within Britain began to feel alienated from their peers and it could also be argued that some may have wished alienation upon themselves to escape from what was fast becoming a dire excuse for a society. The youth of the time were on the lookout for an escape from their lives of conservatism, conformity and control.This accumulated feeling of resentment towards the authoritarian government manifested itself in the form of the Punk movement. From late 1976, kids started to appear on Britain’s streets in attire which shocked the everyday British c itizen. You read "The Rise of Punk in 70’s Britain." in category "Papers" Ripped t-shirts with hastily drawn band logos, safety pins, bin liners and spiked hair defined a new image. Since the 1960s any diversity became a wagon to jump on; any music, fashion or ideologies that were incorporated within the ‘free love’ scene were no longer something that the uninspired youth of the ‘70s aspired to be part of.Mods, Rockers and Hippies were all fast becoming sub-cultures that were deemed to be cliched by the nation’s youth. The ‘60s scene had been entirely commercialised by the establishment and had been turned into areas of profit by large record companies. These record labels however also were not putting any interest or faith into anything new in the music industry, they wanted to stick with what had brought them so much profit and it seemed nothing would be able to shift their ‘if its not broken, don’t fix it’ mentality.The establishment of the 1960’s-70’s did not want their youth creating c ounter-cultures, thus the average youth felt the need to rebel and so the DIY culture exploded. Although punk never reached the forefront in the 60’s, the rebellious ethos of the movement was beginning to show, mainly in American acts and specifically within the New York rock scene. Teenagers influenced by the R;B styled groups of the decades earlier years began to form their own garage bands across the United States. Various trends and events would occur at the inception of the 1970’s that would be helpful in advancing the music ndustry and working towards the growth of punk rock, namely the deaths of Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison which seemed to have brought the popular music lovers into a state of uncertainty and would now mean music journalists would have to find new acts to write about. In Great Britain, bands and artists such as David Bowie had started to refine their sounds in hope of reviving their careers. The result of this was the so called ‘glam’ movement, which saw artists like T-Rex and Roxy Music beginning to blend pop song structures with harder edged guitar based material.Back in the New York Scene, a trashy streetwise orientated version of glam was starting to surface. A band eager to take to the throne of this was the New York Dolls. The Dolls, and later, The Ramones would serve as somewhat of a prototype, from which later came the Sex Pistols and many other of London’s punk bands such as The Clash, The Jam and Siouxsie and The Banshees. By the mid ‘70s many music lovers had become tiresome towards the industry’s ‘run of the mill’ rock that the public were being force-fed. Members of the public began to see rock and roll acts as nothing more than that acts – artificial, manufactured and uninspiring.The world of rock had become a tightly controlled, moneymaking machine in which record sales and success held precedence over any passion or true emotion. Essentially people yearned for a rock and roll that was innovative and fun again. On December 1st 1976 an infamous event occurred that made sure that anyone who was not aware of the emergence of punk was now fully conscious of its presence. The Sex Pistols appeared on the ‘Today’ show as a last minute replacement. The band was interviewed by Bill Grundy who naively on his part, proceeded to provoke the band to â€Å"say something outrageous†. For Mick Jones in particular, he took this as an open invitation and obliged with a barrage of expletives, which not surprisingly, shocked the early evening audience. The following day the front page of various national newspapers contained pictures of the band on the show and a summary of their antics. The older generation of Britain, needless to say, were in outrage. This however was exactly the kind of reaction the band had dreamed of. It gained them column inches and further made the public aware of their existence. Whilst in the public spotlight the band released arguably their most famous single, ‘God Save The Queen.The song came at a time when opposition to royalty was still seen as treasonous and frowned upon by the majority of British people. The record was quickly refused airtime by the BBC whose station, Radio 1, dominated the broadcasting of music at the time. Only DJs such as John Peel dared to play punk in succession to other popular music hits of the era. Nevertheless, during the week of Queen Elizabeth II’s silver jubilee, the single ‘officially’ reached number two in the UK charts although many large record stores knew that ‘God Save The Queen’ was outselling Rod Stewart’s â€Å"I Don’t Want To Talk About It† by four to one.Unbelievably, the charts had been rigged so the music industry would not be red-faced by such a spectacle. However this did not deter the band from putting out further material. ‘Pretty Vacant’ and ‘Holidays In The Sun’ were released to promote the Sex Pistols’ first and only full length album, ‘Never Mind The Bollocks – Here’s The Sex Pistols’, which was released in November and s ubsequently went straight to the top of the album charts despite many stores refusing to stock it.After another tour, this time held in secret to avoid bans, The Pistols’ final gig took place at Ivanhoe’s in Huddersfield on Christmas Day 1977 before they took off for the ill-fated U. S. tour in January 1978. They had originally been scheduled to start the tour in December 1977, beginning with a performance on Saturday Night Live, but due to the bands run-ins with the law, were unable to get their passports in time, so Stiff Records’ band, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, went on in their place. The eight show tour of the U. S. was a badly planned and dispiriting experience for all concerned.Sid Vicious, the band’s bassist, was beaten by the bodyguards who were hired to protect him, Johnny Rotten was ill and the bands’ performances were destroyed by awful sound and hostile audiences. On the final date of January 14th at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, Rotten quit, famously asking â€Å"Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated? † before walking off. Punk bands continued to play the usual haunts around London, but never again did anyone come close to causing the outrage or having the success which the Sex Pistols had experienced.I went about organising a question and answer session with my father Martin, who was in his teens during the emergence of punk and also followed the movement with great interest. Through summarising the feedback I gained from the aforementioned interview I was given a great personal viewpoint on the society of the mid 1970s as well as his own personal experiences of the same period. ‘Through the 1970s the news was all about strikes, economic downturns and lost opportunities.As a teenager I can recall the 3 day week when places of work closed to save energy, my dad would be at home on reduced pay (he worked for the GPO – now BT) and the newspapers would print schedules showing when your area would have power cuts, which were a regular part of life. I remember my dad taking my sister and me for a drive in the car to Falkirk to get out of the house and keep warm rather than sit in the house with no power. TV stations shut down after the news at 10. 30 in the hope that people would just go to bed and save electricity.A mate of mine bought packets of candles from the market in Glasgow and made a decent addition to his pocket money by selling them round the neighbourhood where he lived. Also the entitlement to dole money for school leavers had been stopped which meant that you couldn’t sign on and get money straight away, you had to wait for a number of weeks before you’d get a â€Å"Giro†. Unemployment was making the headlines in the papers and for the first time in years people were leaving school believing that they wouldn’t get a job, or at least wouldn’t get one that was worth having as the factories and shipyards which traditionally paid well were closing.I started to become aware, mainly through the pages of the NME, a number of bands from London who were playing music inspired by early Iggy Pop and The Stooges as well as The Ramones. The latter had made front page headlines in The Glasgow Evening Times, which had got itself in a state of moral outrage over the song â€Å"Sniffin’ Glue† arguing that the number of kids dying from glue sniffing could be increased due to the song. Bearing in mind how few copies it sold, it was nonsense.John Peel once said of the punk era â€Å"You don’t know you’re bored, until you stop being bored. † I was 17 in 1976 and probably the only band I was currently into was Dr Feelgood. They were a band playing Chuck Berry influenced songs, wearing bad suits! The prevailing music of the time was bland, inconsequential, middle of the road rubbish by Rod Stewart, The Eagles and Queen. I still remember vividly the moment I first actually heard the Sex Pistols in November 1976.My friend Davie had borrowed a copy of ‘Anarchy in the UK’ from his friend in school and we played it in my bedroom. I can remember us both laughing out loud at how different it was and how blown away we were by it. We must have played it 10 times in a row. Looking back, I think we felt like we were part of a â€Å"privileged few† who had heard the song as it was subsequently banned by all radio stations at the time, this is hard to imagine now. The 3rd single released by the Pistols, â€Å"Pretty Vacant†, could only be played on Radio 1 after 10pm.If anything, it only reinforced the Pistols credentials as the band you most wanted to be associated with. We started to see and hear of people dressed as â€Å"punks† around the city, though what constituted the punk look was very difficult to describe. It could be anything from old school jumpers ripped and worn inside out, t-shirts torn or cut and held together with safety pins with band names scrawled on in biro or marker pen or even t-shirts made from bin liners.For girls the look was heavily based on Jordan (Pamela Hook) and Siouxsie Sioux; short skirts, fishnets, and heavy eye make-up. . Glasgow District Council decided to withdraw licences of any venue which had booked punk acts, effectively banning punk in the city. Occasionally you’d hear of a secret gig being played somewhere in Glasgow and you had to meet up to be told where it was. By the Summer of 1977 I’d left school and got a job in an independent record shop and remember the clamour when the first Pistols album came out.People were waiting around in the shop for it to be delivered. Every box that arrived, we’d be asked if that was the album. First one out of the box went onto the sound system at maximum volume and we couldn’t keep up with people shoving to the front of the queue. Eventually the council lifted the ban and loads of bands came to Glasgow, many playing small gigs and doing signing sessions in the shop where I worked, including The Clash who were considered to be the most overtly â€Å"political† band of the era. ’ How to cite The Rise of Punk in 70’s Britain., Papers

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Government Role Behind Hike in Oil Prices in Middle East

Question 1- Oil prices have risen temporarily due to political uncertainty in the Middle East. An advisor suggests, Higher oil prices reduce aggregate supply. To offset this we must increase the money supply. Then the price level wont need to adjust to restore equilibrium,and well prevent a recession, Using your knowledge of the macroeconomic policy,comment on the effectiveness of the above statement? Answer - In the Middle East there has been a temporary increase in the oil prices due to various political uncertainties. It is suggested by an advisor that the aggregate demand in the economy can be reduced significantly due to the higher oil process and thus it is very important to offset the impact of such a rise in the oil price that affects the aggregate demand. Thus it is suggested by the advisor to increase the money supply in the economy. It is expected that the measure will be very effective and the price level will not have to be adjusted for restoring the equilibrium and it will also prevent the recession (Krugman and Wells, 2013). Here the market of aggregate demand and the aggregate supply and IS-LM model can be considered as well for analysing the statement. The aggregate demand-aggregate supply (AD-AS) model basically uses the aggregate demand and supply in the economy in order to explain the relationship between the output and the price level in the economy. In terms of IS-LM equilibrium it can be said that the aggregate demand is the income at different price levels. The AD curve is usually downward sloping and it represents the equilibrium in the goods market. It represents various combinations of output and price level (Hubbard and O'Brien, 2013). On the other hand the aggregate supply curve shown factor market equilibrium and it represents how much output will be supplied by the producers at different price level. In this case it is stated that the policy will affect aggregate demand in the economy offsetting the negative impact for avoiding recession. But the statement is not correct as it will affect on the Full employment of FE line but not the aggregate demand (Hubbard and O'Brien, 2013). So it can be said that the policy is not correct. Money supply increase may also increase the inflation level even higher thus money supply should be reduced instead of increasing in the economy. This will increase the real interest rate and the output level will fall. This can be explained with the help of the following diagram. In the above diagram it is seen that, when the real money supply increases, it does not shift the FE or IS line and the rate of interest and the income remains the same. The increase in the real money supply will shift the LM curve rightwards and the rate of interest will fall and the income will increase. Here the FE or the labour market equilibrate slowly where the asset market adjusts faster, the goods market adjusts moderately (Mankiw, 2013). Thus it will be more effective to lower the real money supply in the economy as it can help in lowering the aggregate demand. This will shift the LM curve to the left and thus the output level can fall and the real interest rate will rise. This will lead to a reduction in the price level and the recession can be avoided in the economy. So the policy measure suggested here is not effective. Question 2 - It is a role of every government to smooth the business cycles that may emanate from the global market. Try to examine measures taken by the UKs coalition government in trying to ensure that the economy benefits every citizen and reduces overall burden of it(QE, Fiscal policy, Monetary policy, Multiplier effect)? Answer - It is known that business cycles can create various issues in the economy and thus it is the responsibility of each and every government to smooth the business cycle that may emanate from the global market. The coalition government has taken various measures in order to ensure that every citizen is benefitted in the economy and to reduce the overall burden. There are various policies that are taken by the coalition government in the UK in order to increase the efficiency in the economy. The fiscal policy basically involves government borrowings, taxation, government expenditure etc. fiscal policy can change the aggregate demand and supply in the economy (Painter, 2012). A growth review has been launched by the coalition government in the UK. The government has also increased the transfer payments in the economy in order to increase the welfare of people. There are social and economic justifications are also given for merit goods and the public goods for increasing the welfare (Hoxley, 2010). The government has been involved in redistribution of income for reducing the inequalities in the economy. In the growth review programme a set of policies are taken for driving a stronger growth rate of the GDP as there have been difficulties in terms of recovering from the recession. The incentive structure is changed in the labour market as the t ax rate is lowered for increasing the productivity of the labour (News.bbc.co.uk, 2015). The coalition government also implemented policies to reduce the budget deficit. Here a fiscal austerity policy is implemented which combines the tax rise and the spending cuts. A growth review programme is also conducted by the government. The expansionary fiscal policy can also lead to multiplier effects on the society. Here it can be said that an expansionary fiscal policy where the government expenditure may increase will increase the welfare and income of the economy (eHow UK, 2015). Here a positive multiplier effect will be evident if increased income will further increase the output by investing in the economy rather than saving. Similarly a contractionary fiscal policy led by a tax cut can lower the output by multiplier effect. The government has also implemented various monetary policies in order to control the business cycle in the industry. The monetary system basically includes the stability of price and how the government can restore stability in the money market. The coalition government of the UK has implemented policies in order maintain the price stability. The coalition government has maintained the rate of inflation at 2%. After the global recession of 2008, the government has taken measures to control negative impact in the economy. The interest rate rates were cut in the economy by implementing affective monetary policy (HM Government, 2010). So these are the main measures that are taken by the coalition government in order to smooth the business cycles in the economy especially after the global recession of 2008-09. References eHow UK, (2015).The uk's monetary policy | eHow UK. HM Government, (2010).The Coalition: our programme for government. 1st ed. Hoxley, M. (2010). UK coalition government.Structural Survey, 28(4). Hubbard, R. and O'Brien, A. (2013).Macroeconomics. Boston: Pearson. Krugman, P. and Wells, R. (2013).Macroeconomics. New York, NY: Worth Publishers. Mankiw, N. (2013).Macroeconomics. New York, NY: Worth. News.bbc.co.uk, (2015).BBC News - Policy-by-policy: The coalition government's plans. Painter, C. (2012). The UK Coalition government: Constructing public service reform narratives.Public Policy and Administration, 28(1), pp.3-20.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Safe in My Own Pierced Skin free essay sample

I was a sophomore and waiting for the end of year, but also wishing that it wouldnt come because my mother was moving away. We didnt have a perfect relationship, but it was a precious one. It was a mystery to me how I would survive without her, or how I would say good-bye. We decided to have a mother-daughter day. It was to be an extraordinary bonding day, and it was. I was treated like royalty. My mother wanted to make sure I was happy before she left. That seemed impossible, though, because what she was trying to compensate for was the very thing that was making me unhappy. She asked if there was anything I wanted, anything at all. Jokingly, I said, Ive always wanted an eyebrow ring, expecting her to turn me down. When she said, Okay, we can do that, I didnt know how to react, but it didnt take long for excitement to replace my uncertainty. We will write a custom essay sample on Safe in My Own Pierced Skin or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When we reached a safe, clean piercing place that I had researched, my mother asked for an eyebrow ring thing for my chula. The man at the counter looked at her strangely. I doubt it was because of the Spanglish, but rather wonder how many mothers accompany their daughters for a piercing? Probably very few. My mother checked the tools, the eyebrow ring itself and everything around it. She made sure the gentleman put on the cleanest gloves possible and used the most pristine needle, even though they were all in sterile packaging. When it came down to it, my mother could not bear to watch. The man clamped the area that was going to be pierced and out came the especially sanitary needle. Now there was no turning back. He asked me to count to three. One two It was done before I could finish my countdown. This was a very effective procedure that cut down on my hesitation. A few moments later, there it was two lustrous, silver balls connected by a bar sticking out of my skin in triumph. Wow, wow, wow! was all I could say. I almost like it, my mother proclaimed. I dont like the fact that a piece of metal sticking out of your skin is going to remind you how much I love you, but I almost like it. There I was, walking home, eyebrow first, thinking this definitely was the day my mother had promised, unusual but special. I received mixed reactions to my new accessory. My peers were shocked, fascinated and even speechless. Some wanted to poke at it, as if it were an illusion. I refused, of course, not wanting anything to contaminate my mothers memento. Adults had some negative reactions: You probably got hepatitis and I dont think people should be putting holes in their bodies that dont belong there. I always think, Well, I dont mean to be rude, but I dont suppose you were born with those metal hoops dangling from your ears, were you? With so much hate based on sex and race, I didnt think there would be room for piercing discrimination. I do suppose it emits a kind of image, but isnt that a stereotype? I have told my mother about some people displaying this ignorance. Well, when you go to college or become a professional, youre going to have to take it out, she advises. I highly doubt my piercing impedes any of my skills, my qualifications, or my abilities. So why would I have to remove it? Zora Neale Hurston said, I am not my race, I am me. Well, I am not my piercing or the stereotype that comes with it I am me. I did not do it because of a fad. I did not do it to have a certain image. I am not angry. I am not a criminal. I am neither a poor student nor a bad person. It is jewelry like no other, not because of its location, but because it is a part of me and because of what it means to me. Its a symbol of the bond between my mother and me, which is something I never want to let go.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Punctuation Errors When Posing a Question

Punctuation Errors When Posing a Question Punctuation Errors When Posing a Question Punctuation Errors When Posing a Question By Mark Nichol When writers pose a question, or call attention to one, they sometimes impose unnecessary punctuation in the framing sentence. Here are a few examples of extraneous punctuation in such sentences. 1. â€Å"To pass a necessity test usually means a negative response to the question: ‘Can the same result be obtained by other means?’† A colon is correctly used only when it follows a complete thought; it serves as a traffic sign noting that what follows is a definition, expansion, or explanation. The question in question is none of these it’s just a question, and to precede it with a colon (or a comma) implies that it’s the only existing question. Delete colons in such constructions: â€Å"To pass a necessity test usually means a negative response to the question ‘Can the same result be obtained by other means?’† (And because the quotation is not attributed no one is credited with a â€Å"Smith said† type of attribution the comma that normally follows such a phrase is not necessary before the quotation here.) 2. â€Å"There remains the question: where, if at all, should we draw the line?† This sentence suffers from the same problem as the previous one. The question is not styled to suggest that it was actually uttered or can be uttered, although that is possible; it’s an unspoken expression of a problem to solve and can therefore be incorporated directly into the framing sentence: â€Å"There remains the question of where, if at all, we should draw the line.† 3. â€Å"The question was how to translate and standardize these successful processes across a company that had several new divisions, a diverse global spread, and disparate technical platforms?† This sentence is correctly rendered in terms of the incorporation recommended for the previous example, but one problem remains no question is literally posed in the sentence, the syntax of which is declarative so interrogative punctuation is not appropriate: â€Å"The challenge was to translate and standardize these successful processes across a company that had several new divisions, a diverse global spread, and disparate technical platforms.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:5 Uses of InfinitivesAwoken or Awakened?15 Names and Descriptions of Effects

Friday, November 22, 2019

Adding Images in Microsoft Word

Adding Images in Microsoft Word Adding Images in Microsoft Word From company logos to detailed scientific illustrations, there are many reasons to add an image to a Microsoft Word document. But how does this work? And how can you ensure your finished document looks professional? Check out our guide below for a few tips. Adding Images in Microsoft Word You have three main options for adding images in Microsoft Word: Adding an image from your computer Adding an image from the internet Using the â€Å"Shapes† and â€Å"SmartArt† available via MS Word You can access all these options by going to Insert Illustrations on the main ribbon. This tab is also where you can find options for adding charts and tables to your document. The Illustrations section of the ribbon. 1. Adding an Image from Your Computer If you are adding images from your own computer: Place the cursor where you want to add a picture Go to Insert Illustrations Click Pictures to open a new window Find and select the image you want to use on your computer Click Insert This will add the picture (full size) in the place selected. You can also add an image from your computer by dragging the thumbnail into the document. 2. Adding an Image from the Internet This option lets you import an image directly from the internet. To do so: Select where the image should go with the cursor Go to Insert Illustrations Click Online Pictures Search for a picture using Bing Image Search (keep Creative Commons Only selected if you will be using the image for commercial purposes) Select the image(s) you want to use and click Insert Selecting an online picture. This will add the selected image to your document. It will even add a makeshift caption, including the license for the picture. However, make sure you’re familiar with the rules about using copyrighted and Creative Commons images before you add other people’s pictures to your document. 3. Shapes and SmartArt For simple images, such as flow charts or arrows, it may be easier to use the â€Å"Shapes† and â€Å"SmartArt† in Microsoft Word. These are pre-set graphics that you can add at the click of a button: The Shapes include arrows, boxes, speech bubbles and other basic geometrical shapes and graphics. You can access these by going to Insert Illustrations Shapes. You will then need to click and drag to set the dimensions of the shape selected. SmartArt uses predesigned combinations of the graphics from the â€Å"Shapes† menu. This allows you to add an entire flowchart in one go, for example, which you can then adjust as required. These options offer a simple way to add visual elements to your document. SmartArt options. Formatting Images We won’t go into all the image formatting options available in Microsoft Word here. However, there are two main factors to consider when adding images to a document: Image size and position – You can resize an image by clicking and dragging the circles at its edges. To move an image, moreover, you can click it and drag it around the document. Text wrapping – This controls how the image is positioned in relation to the text. You can access these settings by clicking the image and going to Format Arrange Wrap Text. You can also access image layout options by clicking an image and selecting the icon that appears next to it. These options will help ensure the image looks tidy on the page. To remove an image from a document, meanwhile, simply select it and hit delete or backspace on your keyboard.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Interpersonal Conflict in Film Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Interpersonal Conflict in Film - Movie Review Example Farhad did not know anything about guns and so when the store owner asked him about the kind of ammunition he wanted, Farhad had an argument with Dorri. This made the owner impatient and he told Farhad: â€Å"Yo, Osama, plan the jihad on your own time, what do you want?† Because of this statement, Farhad reacted: â€Å"Are you making insult at me?† The store owner continued in insulting Farhad and he said: â€Å"Is that the closest you can come to English.† Farhad emphasized that he can speak English and that he has rights to buy a gun: â€Å"Yes, I speak English. I am an American citizen†¦I have rights to buy guns!† Then the store owner reminded Farhad about 9/11, which made Farhad angrier. The owner called the guard, which led Farhad outside the door, while Dorri was left inside the store to demand either their money back or that the owner give them the gun. The conflict was not handled effectively, because the store owner and Farhad both had negati ve stereotypes about each other, which they used to prejudge each other’s motives and actions. Stereotypes are â€Å"preconceived opinions† about someone that tend to be â€Å"negative and reflect prejudices, preconceived opinions of dislike, hostility, or unjust behavior† (Sole, 2011, section 7.2).

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Employee management practices Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Employee management practices - Case Study Example According to the research findings one of the identified management issues in business environment is the level of pressure that managers put on their employees. This may be with respect to working hours or with respect to the amount of work that is expected of an employee within a given period. As a result, employees are occasionally pushed to off their working capacity. This demoralizes the employees and shifts their interests away from their work and organization. The consequence is an increased employee turnover rate due to high rates of resignations. In the case, Dempsey tendered her resignation because of the pressure that she had been receiving from her managers. She was under pressure which many responsibilities within a limited scope of time. Communication skills and its applications in communication between human resource management and employees is another important element in employee management. The management should for example be keen to recognize and appreciate an emp loyee’s efforts that have yielded success. This initiative motivates employees and facilitates their level of satisfaction in the organization. Similarly, the management should be able to communicate objective and procedures to employees in clarity. Proper communication minimizes confusion in operations and promotes freedom between employees and the management. Poor communication on the other hand induces intimidation on employees and contributes to their demoralization. (Cghrc, p. 3). Human resource management should also establish a dual communication path in which employees can raise their concerns and opinions to facilitate conflict resolution. A poor communication structure is however noted in the case. While one of the managers offers a set of instruction to Dempsey, she receives contrary instructions from the other managers. James, for instance, instructed her to be open in joint forums while Fred instructed her to the contrary that the organizations strategies should not be shared with competitors. This is a potential source of confusion to the employee and is identified as one of the major challenges in human resource management that contributes to high employee turnover rates. It particularly played a role in Dempsey’s resignation (Cghrc, p. 3; Robbins and Bergman, p. 349). Motivational factors in an organization as opposed to authoritarian management and leadership are also identified as factors that influence employee mobility in the Canadian business environment. The decision by an employee to leave a current employment or to stay with the employer significantly depends on the employee’s level of satisfaction in the organization. Human resource management strategies such as remuneration and reward programs as well as relations between the management and employees are important in employee’s satisfaction and hence the need to retain the current employment or not. Involving employees in decision making for instance makes them feel part of the organization and therefore reduces turnover rates. An authoritarian leadership in which employees are subjected to strict orders and instructions on the other hand leads to dissatisfaction among employees at the work place (Haines, Jallette and Larose, p. 6; Canadian,

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Economics of Competitive Advantage Essay Example for Free

Economics of Competitive Advantage Essay A globalized economy in its theory entails opening up of the local economy of a certain country towards internationalization, creating a â€Å"borderless world economy†. Thus, ideally, it should pave the way for economic interdependence and promote economic fair play amongst participating countries. Globalization shall surely expose an economy towards the world market due to increased amount of global trade and exchanges in products and services and by encouraging application for an open-economy. Globalization has imposed too many changes on the international monetary policies. On the other hand, international monetary has seriously influenced trade and investment policies, finance, tourism and many other aspects that are coincided with the modernity imposed by globalization. Moreover, open-economy principles have profoundly affected exchange rate policies on the macro level. Thus, international economic migration has increased exposure towards international financial changes and commercial flows. (Frieden, p. 1) Moreover, according to Betts and Kehoe (2004), the aggregate real exchange rate movements are believed to be influenced by inter-country movements with regards to the relative prices of their traded goods within countries. Also, the currency denomination of international trade widely influences the trade prices of goods and services. Thus, it also turns out that changes or fluctuation in the on currency will decrease the buying power of a particular currency if compared to other currencies that have less amount of fluctuations in their market. In addition, the strong market competitors in this case, are those who are believed to have strong economic relations with participating countries, thus they carry an edge towards their trade practices. Nevertheless, they don’t act to stabilize world exchange rates, rather they only work to provide balance of trades and multi-lateral interaction amongst participating nations. There are several factors that affect the bilateral rate movements which have significant economic effects. According to the Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin (RBAB) (1998, p. 2) These are: (1) divergences between export and import and aggregated trade-weighted exchange rates; (2) role of US dollar as currency for international trade; (3) longer-term pricing of commodity exports in terms of other major currencies; and (4) importance of bilateral rates vis-a vis competitor countries with relatively little direct trade. These changes however, the depreciation or appreciation can create effects on international competitiveness. Moreover, aside from purely economic reasons of rate fluctuations, the political side behind changes in the market activity is also significant. This political-economic aspect is important most especially amongst developing nations. The emergence of developing countries and the continuing influence of strong countries amongst less empowered countries create domestic and international political pressures that are integral to the competitiveness of the participating countries (Freiden, p. 12) Thus, economically speaking, exchange rate fluctuations have impacts on the country’s competitiveness. Stability or non-stability of their currency has adverse effects on the currency’s buying and trading power. On the political aspect, excluding the changes and fluctuations in the currency rates, powerful groups and powerful consumers affect international economic integration. And thus the openness of world economy therefore pushes more politicized movements and political pressures in the economic arena.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in the Modern World :: Physician Assisted Suicide

Euthanasia and the Modern World      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A long time ago, culture was universal and permanent.   There was one set of beliefs, ideals, and norms, and these were the standard for all human beings in all places and all times.   We, however, live in the modern world.   Our ethics are not an inheritance of the past, completed and ready for universal application.   We are in the situation of having to form our own beliefs and meanings of life.   This struggle is now obvious in the contemporary discussions of euthanasia.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Of the controversial discussions involving euthanasia, the question of legalization is an often argued one.   Whether euthanasia ought to be illegal is different from the question of whether it is immoral.  Ã‚   Some people believe that even if euthanasia is immoral, it still should not be prohibited by law, since if a patient wants to die, that is strictly a personal affair, regardless of how foolish or immoral the desire might be. [Rachels, 56]   My position is almost identical.   I believe there are some instances in which euthanasia is immoral, but I believe it should unquestionably be legal.   In the following paragraphs, I will display the position of the opposition to the legality of euthanasia as well as the position of the supporters.   I shall attempt to prove that, yes, euthanasia should be legal. There is a strong opposition against the legalization of euthanasia.   The main argument against the legality of euthanasia is sometimes known as the slippery slope argument.   People argue that if euthanasia was legally permitted, it would lead to a general decline in the respect for human life.   It is professed that we would kill people in the beginning simply to put them out of extreme agony.   This is the ideal.   But the opposition states that the killing of people wouldn't stop here.   The killing could perhaps escalate to mass murder of innocent victims.   When would the killing stop?   This is what scares the opponent. The opponents argue that once something is accepted, we have no right to deny other similar practices.   This is when doctors and patients would start taking advantage of the new law. Therefore, the first step should not be taken.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I disagree with this notion and believe that there would hardly be any

Monday, November 11, 2019

By what methods does Fitzgerald present the Jazz Age Society’s preoccupation with wealth and materialism?

The â€Å"Great Gatsby† was published in 1925 and was set in the ‘Roaring Twenties’. This was a glamorous decade marked by cultural, artistic and social developments, but it was brought to an end by the Wall Street Crash of 1929, which triggered the Great Depression of the 1930s. In the 1920s, America became very prosperous as the country recovered from World War I. There was a policy of Prohibition. This meant that alcohol was illegal, but the continued demand meant there was a lot of money to be made from bootlegging. It was a time of social change; the younger generation started to rebel against tradition. For many people, and particularly women, the war provided new experiences and freedom. After the war, there was a strong desire to try new and exciting things and to break from tradition. Jazz music became popular because it was more energetic than earlier music styles. Fitzgerald coined the term ‘Jazz Age’. Flappers began to challenge traditional gender roles. Flappers were women who behaved in a way that was thought to be inappropriate by the older generation; they drank, smoked and wore revealing clothing. Fitzgerald sets â€Å"The Great Gatsby† in an altered version of Long Island and Manhattan. Great Neck and Manhasset Neck become East and West Eggs, and the large landfill site Flushing is renamed the ‘valley of ashes’. The main sites represent different elements of the 1920s east-American lifestyle; Manhattan’s skyscrapers and luxurious hotel suites but it is also filled with lonely clerks who spend all their time working, and gangsters who meet in seedy bars. The valley of ashes is a stretch of wasteland which sits between the other sites and connects them. The valley illustrates that the excesses of wealth can’t be achieved without exploiting another part of society. The wealthy upper classes who inherited their money live in East Egg, West Eggs hosts ‘new money’; people who have earned their money. The people who live in East Egg come from old, wealthy families and have inherited money. They see themselves as elegant and well-mannered. West Egg is the home of the ‘new money’; people who have recently made their money through business. The people of East Egg look down on the people who live in West Egg because they consider their family backgrounds to be ‘inferior’ and their ostentatious displays of wealth to be in bad taste. Gatsby realises that money isn’t enough to cross the social divide between himself and Daisy; he needs to be upper class to be seen as her equal. His affected speech and imported shirts are an attempt to imitate the upper classes. Religion has been replaced by consumerism and the pursuit of pleasure. The characters live aimless lives that revolve around pleasing themselves and acquiring new possessions. For example, the guests at Gatsby’s parties focus on drinking, looking for new lovers, and trying to make ‘easy money’. The conversation between Michaelis and Wilson in Chapter eight suggests that consumerism has replaced religion; ‘You may fool me, but you can’t fool God! ’†¦Michaelis saw with a shock that he was looking at the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleberg†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Wilson mistakes the eyes of the advertisement for God. This shows that the eyes actually have no meaning except for the meaning that the characters give them. This could reflect the feeling of the ‘lost generation’ that life is essentially meaningless and is defined only by the values the people give it. Consumerism promises that material objects will make you happy and give your life meaning. However, material possessions don’t make people happy; in the novel this is symbolised by the fact that cars, a desirable consumer item, cause death and destruction. The idea that consumerism has replaced religious value in reinforced throughout â€Å"The Great Gatsby†; Fitzgerald mentions the ‘Presbyterian nymphs’ in the speakeasy, a place where people could illegally buy and drink alcohol during prohibition, in Chapter 4. This use of religious language could suggest that religious symbols have lost their power, and are at home in places of corruption. Weddings are a religious and legal union of a couple, but Daisy’s wedding to Tom is used primarily to display their extravagant wealth. Tom brings ‘four private cars’ and hires ‘a whole floor’ of hotel. Gatsby’s car ‘scattered light’ across the landscape and has ‘fenders spread like wings’. These descriptions give the car qualities often associated with religion; it’s source of light and is winged like an angel. Most of the characters in the novel are very wealthy and live a life of luxury. The rich and glamorous atmosphere defines the noel’s tone; the focus on the upper-class lifestyle gives the novel a mood of lively extravagance. For example, Gatsby owns a beach, motor-boats and a Rolls-Royce and his parties are full of ‘faces and voices and colour’. However, this society is contrasted with the poverty of those living near to the valley of ashes. The location of the valley of ashes between the wealthy Egg communities and New York makes the contrast stronger. There is also a constant sense that the glamorous lives of the upper classes are essentially meaningless; beneath the surface, everyone is bored because they have no purpose; Daisy seems to realise this when she asks what they should do ‘this afternoon†¦and they day after that, and the next thirty years? . Many friendships appear superficial. For example, Gatsby’s parties are full of ‘enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other’s names’. This shows that the society is full of pretence and loneliness. Many of Gatsby’s guests had tragic fates. For example, ‘drowned’, â €˜strangled his wife’, ‘killed himself’. This reinforces the message that behind the light-hearted partying, much of society was deeply unhappy. Fitzgerald’s portrayal invites the reader to be critical of the character’s empty, materialistic lives while simultaneously making those lives seem exciting and beautiful. This reflects his own attitude towards wealth. The characters are defined by their relationship with money; it affects how they act, how they see themselves and how others see them; Nick is confused about how to respond to wealth and decadence. When he begins his banking career he suggests his role models are ‘Midas and Morgan and Maecenas’. At the same time Nick says that Gatsby’s empty display of wealthy ‘represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn’. Daisy and Tom take their wealth for granted. Tom assumes it is his natural right to be at the top of society, and Daisy was ‘casual’ about the beautiful house she grew up in. this attitude makes them ‘careless people’; they never worry when they hurt other people, they can retreat ‘back into their money’. Gatsby used to be ‘extravagantly ambitious’ and focused on financial gain. However, the Gatsby that Nick meets doesn’t get involved in the decadence of his own parties. This suggests that he has grown to be indifferent to his wealth; he just sees it as a means towards winning Daisy. For Myrtle, money buys happiness; she gets pleasure from her cold cream, pet dog and magazines. Her opinion of her husband was damaged by the realisation that he couldn’t afford to buy a suit for their wedding. Money takes on a meaning beyond its financial wealth. For Gatsby, money is confused with love. He says Daisy’s voice is ‘full of money’, linking his longing for her with his longing for the wealth and status that she represents. Gatsby understands the relationship between love and money. Daisy’s voice, he says, is ‘full of money’; it is the seductive, thrilling aspect of her. What Gatsby, with surprising consciousness, states is that Daisy’s charm is allied to the attraction of wealth; money and love hold similar attractions. Gatsby, with his boundless capacity for love sees that the pursuit of money is tied to his love for Daisy; and he knows himself well enough to see this. That Daisy’s voice is ‘full of money’ is a remark only Gatsby could make. It is a statement of someone attune to the possibilities of love and money and sensitive to them; perhaps too much. Tom could never have provided this description of Daisy; his attraction to her has nothing to do with wealth. Tom is accustomed to having money; money holds no interest for him because it does have to be chased after; his is old money simply there to be used. Tom may buy anything he wishes; from polo ponies to cufflinks; but he understands that polo ponies or cufflinks are all he is buying. Myrtle only cares about appearance and material possessions. Myrtle claims not to care about clothes; ‘I just slip it on sometimes when I don’t care what I look like’, but actually she’s obsessed with her appearance; she changes clothes regularly and buys cold cream and perfume. She wears bold colours, in contrast to Daisy who wears white but when Myrtle changes into a cream dress, her ‘vitality’ changes to ‘hauteur’. This shows that she thinks breeding is all about appearance. She’s also concerned with other people’s appearances. She was seduced by Tom’s clothes the first time she met him, mentioning that he wore ‘a dress suit and patent leather shoes’ as well as a ‘white shirt-front’. It’s significant that Myrtle pretended to be ‘looking at the advertisement’ instead of looking at Tom, because both Tom and the advertised product represent Myrtle’s greed for material objects and wealth. Tom Buchanan represents the immorality and materialism of the ‘Jazz Age’. Fitzgerald thought that the ‘Jazz Age’ was hypocritical and this is reflected by Tom’s behaviour; he is appalled when he learns of Daisy’s affair with Gatsby, but he has lots of affairs himself. He criticises Gatsby for ‘sneering at family life’, but ‘was God knows where’ when his daughter was born. He also criticises Gatsby for knowing criminals and for being a bootlegger, but Tom also knows criminals and he likes to drink, which shows that he doesn’t follow the prohibition laws either. He sets a high moral standard for other people, such as Gatsby, but has no morals himself. Nick notes that he moves ‘from libertine to prig’ to suit his needs. Tom’s wealth and sense of superiority makes him ‘careless’ and uncaring. Nick summarises Tom and Daisy’s behaviour when he says ‘they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money†¦and let other people clean up the mess†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. They run away from their problems and never face the consequences. He acts as a foil to Gatsby; Gatsby is loyal, sensitive and caring whilst Tom is more or less the opposite. For example, he only seems to start caring for Daisy when he sees he could lose her. This suggests his reaction is as much about pride and possessiveness as about actually caring for her. The fact that Daisy chooses Tom over Gatsby highlights the shallow and materialistic nature of the ‘Jazz Age’ society. Like Daisy, Tom is materialistic; he has to appear to have the best of everything. For example, he was married with ‘more pomp and circumstance than Louisville ever knew’.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Okc Murrah Building Bombing

Shelbey Brian Comp 1. OKC Alfred P. Murrah Building Bombing On April 19th, 1995 a horrific terrorist attack on U. S. soil took place in the heartland of Oklahoma. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma was targeted and was completely blown to pieces by one gigantic homemade bomb. The unimaginable had happened at the starting of a typical day at work. This day would be forever commemorated for the rest of America's history, unlike any other day until 9/11, as a prominent attack on the government of the United States.At 9:03 a. m. a massive bomb resting inside a rented Ryder truck destroyed half of the nine story federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. Within moments, the surrounding area looked like a complete war zone. The smoke in the air so thick it was impossible to breathe or see. A third of the building had been reduced to rubble, with many floors flattened like pancakes. Dozens of cars exploded and were incinerated. Also more than 300 nearby buildi ngs were damaged or destroyed.It also claimed the innocent lives of 169 men, women, and children, while causing critical injuries to hundreds more. The bomb was made up of a deadly and potent cocktail of two and a half tons of ammonium nitrate , 4800 pounds of a common farm fertilizer, and fuel oil then was packed inside the rented truck. The most terrifying thing about the making of this bomb was that its ingredients were cheap and very accessible to the public. Most gardening stores sell 50 pound bags of ammonium nitrate for $10. The substantial destruction from the bomb was luck more than anything.Former FBI bomb expert Denny Kline commented that â€Å"he made the biggest bomb he had accessible to him, placed the device outside, and hoped for the best, and in fact, it was the worst scenario† (Camp, 1995). It blew off the front end of the building, blowing up ceilings and collapsing floors, and burying victims under an immense amount of concrete and steel (Camp, 1995) Just 90 minutes after the explosion, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol pulled over Timothy McVeigh for driving without a license plate on his vehicle. By April 21st, the 27-year-old Gulf War veteran would be known as the main suspect for the Alfred P.Murrah Building bombing and would subsequently be charged for the devastating crime. At the same time, Terry Nichols, McVeigh's old army buddy was wanted for questioning. Nichols turned himself in, in Herington, Kansas, and was also charged with the bombing shortly after. (Clark, 1995) There has been speculation that the bombing of the federal building was to demonstrate the anti-government feelings over the 1993 government raid of the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco Texas. The Branch Davidians are a deeply religious group that originated in 1955 from a schism in the Davidian Seventh Day Adventists.They have many theological beliefs in common with Messianic Judaism. The Waco raid began because ATF (The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) ag ents were trying to arrest a man named David Koresh, the head of the Davidian Branch, and search the Davidian Compound. The feds believed that Koresh was illegally converting semi-automatic AR-15’s into the fully automatic machine guns that soldiers use. Both McVeigh and Nichols were once spotted at the compound in Waco and were openly supporting the other Branch Davidians.In 1993, McVeigh drove to Waco, Texas during the Waco Siege to show his support. At the scene, he distributed pro-gun rights literature and bumper stickers, such as â€Å"When guns are outlawed, I will become an outlaw. The bombing occurred exactly two years to the day after the compound burned to the ground killing 80 men, women, and children after a 51-day standoff between the Branch Davidians and the FBI. The bombing definitely put the spotlight on other groups with anti-government sentiments. McVeigh's trial was set for Denver, Colorado on March 31, 1997.On June 3rd 1997, the jury found McVeigh guilty of all 11 counts, including eight counts of first degree murder in the deaths of eight federal law-enforcement agents, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, using a weapon of mass destruction, and destruction of a federal building. The jury deliberated for 23 and a half hours before deciding the verdict. In the end, Timothy McVeigh was left all alone as dozens of former best friends and family relatives testified against him (Eddy et al. , 1997). On June 14th 1997, the jury sentenced McVeigh to death by lethal injection.Many of the victims' families were ecstaticly over joyed with the decision, as many people could see it no other way than to put him to death for the horrible crime he had committed. However, there were some people who were very saddened by the whole trial. One observer claimed that â€Å"it's not going to bring back my wife and lessen my loss,† said Mike Lenz, whose wife was pregnant when killed by the explosion†. Another echoed his attitude t oward the situation, â€Å"I really did not want the death penalty,† said James Kreymborg, who lost his wife and daughter. â€Å"I've had enough death. (Wilmsen & Simpson, 1997). The evidence against McVeigh was overwhelming. According to testimony, McVeigh constructed himself a fake driver's license with the name Bob Kling. Someone matching McVeigh's description rented a Ryder truck in Junction City, Kansas. That truck which was identified by the axle number found at the bomb site blew up in Oklahoma City. McVeigh's fingerprints were found all over a receipt that showed the purchasing 2,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate. He told his friend, Michael Fortier, that he planned to stash a getaway car in an alley near the federal building.The keys to that truck were found in the alley. In addition, testimony proclaimed that McVeigh was stopped 1 ? hours after the bombing; explosive residue was found on ear plugs inside his vehicle; he had an envelope packed with newspaper clippings and papers with revolutionary writings; he wore a tee-shirt with the slogan: â€Å"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. â€Å"(Wilmsen & Simpson, 1997). The trial for Terry Nichols had a different result compared to the one for McVeigh. Nichols' trial took place after McVeigh's trial.On December 24th 1997, the jury found Nichols not guilty in 10 of the 11 original charges against him. He was found guilty of one charge of conspiracy and eight lesser charges of involuntary manslaughter. The jury deadlocked as how to sentence Nichols and left it up to the judge (Gorov, 1998). On June 5th 1998 the judge, US District Court Judge Richard P. Matsch, gave the 43-year-old Nichols a life sentence for his role in the bombing (Haynes, 1998). The bombing was quickly solved, but the investigation turned out to be one of the most exhaustive in FBI history.No stone was left unturned to make sure every clue was found and all the culprits i dentified. By the time it was over, the Bureau had conducted more than 28,000 interviews, followed some 43,000 investigative leads, amassed three-and-a-half tons of evidence, and reviewed nearly a billion pieces of information. In the end, the government that McVeigh hated and hoped to topple swiftly captured him and convincingly convicted both him and his co-conspirators. The relatives of the victims were able to have some redemption with the horrible tragedy that happened.The worst terrorist act on US soil was committed by two Americans, the least likely thought by government officials to contain such a hatred for the American government. The April 19th 1995 bombing was an unthinkable tragedy but also an important lesson for the United States: one should look to themselves before pointing fingers at others. Works Cited Page Camp, J. (1995). Terror in the heartland. CNN interactive: Oklahoma City Bombing: http://cgi. cnn. com/US/OKC/facts/Bombing/Terror5-4/index. html. Clark, T. (1 995). The worst terrorist attack on US soil: April 19th 1995.CNN interactive: Oklahoma City Bombing: http://cgi. cnn. com/US/OKC/daily/9512/12-30/index. html. No author (1995). The Bombing. CNN interactive: Oklahoma City Bombing: http://cgi. cnn. com/US/OKC/bombing. html. Eddy, M. , Lane, G. , Pankratz, H. , & Wilmsen, S. (1997). Guilty on every count. The Denver Post: http://www. rickross. com/reference/mcveigh1. html. Gorov, L. (1998). No Nichols death penalty: Jurors deadlocked; judge will sentence. The Denver Post: http://www. rickross. com/reference/mcveigh5. html. Haynes, V. D. (1998). Nichols gets life for bombing role.The Denver Post: http://www. rickross. com/reference/mcveigh6. html. Wilmsen, S. & Simpson, K. (1997). McVeigh receives ultimate penalty. The Denver Post: http://www. rickross. com/reference/mcveigh3. html. â€Å"Oklahoma City Bombing. † History. com. A&E Television Networks, n. d. Web. 23 Feb. 2013 â€Å"THE TRUTH ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING. † THE TRUTH ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING. N. p. , n. d. Web. 23 Feb. 2013. â€Å"Terrorist Bombing, Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma, 1995. † Oklahoma City Bombing 1995. N. p. , n. d. Web. 24 Feb. 2013.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Free Essays on The Lady With The Dog

The Lady With The Dog In the beginning of the story, Chekhov begins with the simple line, â€Å"It was said that a new person had appeared on the sea-front†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This passage shows that the local residents of Yalta have discovered an outsider, a person they know nothing about. Chekhov asks the reader to consider who is she with and why is she there? The character of the sly womanizer, Dmitri Gurov, also asks these questions. When first reading I began to form a certain opinion of Dmitri. We know he is married and has children. He also admits to being unfaithful to his wife on numerous occasions. He appears to not like women as he referred to them as the â€Å"lower race.† This characteristic of his personality leads to the encounter between himself, the unfaithful husband, and the young mysterious Anna, in the gardens. â€Å"If she is here alone without a husband or friends, it wouldn’t be amiss to make her acquaintance.† He stated of her. In the character of Dmitri, Chekhov gives a man who seems to despise women; â€Å"he almost always spoke ill of women†¦Ã¢â‚¬  However, I believe that this was an act that he showed. â€Å"When he was in the company of women he felt free, and knew what to say to them and how to behave; and he was at ease with them even when he was silent.† If Gurov regarded women as the â€Å"lower race† than why was he only at rest when in their company? In truth I think that he liked women, he needed women. The reason he puts on this â€Å"tough guy† act is because he has never found a woman that he truly loved. Every time he had met a new woman, â€Å"he was eager for life, and everything seemed simple and amusing.† However, â€Å"Every intimacy inevitably grows into a regular problem of extreme intricacy, and in the long run the situation becomes unbearable.† Gurov did not know how to handle long complicated relationships that took work to maintain. That is why his marriage was a failure an d unhappy. That is also the reason w... Free Essays on The Lady With The Dog Free Essays on The Lady With The Dog The Lady With The Dog In the beginning of the story, Chekhov begins with the simple line, â€Å"It was said that a new person had appeared on the sea-front†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This passage shows that the local residents of Yalta have discovered an outsider, a person they know nothing about. Chekhov asks the reader to consider who is she with and why is she there? The character of the sly womanizer, Dmitri Gurov, also asks these questions. When first reading I began to form a certain opinion of Dmitri. We know he is married and has children. He also admits to being unfaithful to his wife on numerous occasions. He appears to not like women as he referred to them as the â€Å"lower race.† This characteristic of his personality leads to the encounter between himself, the unfaithful husband, and the young mysterious Anna, in the gardens. â€Å"If she is here alone without a husband or friends, it wouldn’t be amiss to make her acquaintance.† He stated of her. In the character of Dmitri, Chekhov gives a man who seems to despise women; â€Å"he almost always spoke ill of women†¦Ã¢â‚¬  However, I believe that this was an act that he showed. â€Å"When he was in the company of women he felt free, and knew what to say to them and how to behave; and he was at ease with them even when he was silent.† If Gurov regarded women as the â€Å"lower race† than why was he only at rest when in their company? In truth I think that he liked women, he needed women. The reason he puts on this â€Å"tough guy† act is because he has never found a woman that he truly loved. Every time he had met a new woman, â€Å"he was eager for life, and everything seemed simple and amusing.† However, â€Å"Every intimacy inevitably grows into a regular problem of extreme intricacy, and in the long run the situation becomes unbearable.† Gurov did not know how to handle long complicated relationships that took work to maintain. That is why his marriage was a failure an d unhappy. That is also the reason w...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Benefits Of Being A College Athlete Essay -- Sleep, Sleep disorder, Slee

When people experience trouble sleeping, depression is one of the major problems that arise from it. For example, I am sure we all have had nights where we could not fall, or stay, asleep, and when we had to get out of bed and start the day, we felt like it would be an absolutely terrible day. Some of us can shake this feeling off rather quickly, but with others the problem can linger for days, weeks, months or years. In one study, the researchers discovered that 33.5% of college students suffered from depression (Armstrong Ooman, 2009). Another study concluded that 52% of college students that suffered from depression were female, and the researc... ... middle of paper ... ...mstrong and Oomen was to analyze social connectedness, self-esteem, depression symptoms among female and male college athletes, and female and male non-college athletes, and compare the results between the two groups. These researchers had no specific hypothesis, but judging from the information they provided, they thought that athletes would have lower levels of depression and higher levels of social connectedness and self-esteem. In the article done by Nyer and his colleagues, the purpose was to show the relationship between sleep disturbance and depression, anxiety, and functioning in college students. These researchers hypothesized that students with depressive symptoms with sleep disturbances would demonstrate a greater burden comorbid psychiatric symptoms and functional impairment compared to students with depressive symptoms without sleep distrubances (2013).

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Little Albert and Classical Conditioning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Little Albert and Classical Conditioning - Essay Example Conditioned emotional responses as defined by Coon and Mitterer (2010) are learned emotional reactions to previously neutral stimuli (p. 232). An example of this are phobias, which psychologists believe began as conditioned emotional responses. During the time of Watson and Rayner (1920) who conducted the study entitled, Conditioned Emotional Reactions, different assumptions have been proposed in concerning the likelihood of conditioning diverse types of emotional response; however, exact experimental evidence in aid of such view is missing. It was recommended previously that in infancy the fundamental emotional reaction models are not many, comprising so far as perceived of fear, rage and love, then there must be several uncomplicated ways by means of which the range of stimuli which can bring forth these emotions and their compounds are highly amplified, or else, intricacy in adult response could not be accounted for (Watson & Rayner, 1920). Watson and Rayner (1920) though without adequate experimental evidence, enhanced the perspective that this variety was augmented by means of trained impulse aspects. It was recommended that the first home life of the child endows a laboratory setting for creating conditioned emotiona l responses. With this premise, Watson and Rayner (1920) put the whole matter into an experimental test. Watson and Rayner (1920) used the subject named Albert who was reared almost from birth in a hospital environment; his mother was a wet nurse in the Harriet Lane Home for Invalid Children. Alberts life was typical, he was fit from birth and one of the best developed youngsters ever brought to the hospital, weighing twenty-one pounds at nine months of age. He was impassive and inexpressive. His stability was one of the major reasons for utilizing him as a subject in their test as emphasized by Watson and Rayner (1920) for they felt that they could cause him reasonably little harm in performing such experiments. Watson

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Ethics - Essay Example George is responsible for poor time management that forced him to drive above the speed limit, causing the officer to stop him and give him a ticket. His son is part of the problem because of his illness, and George wants to get him home as soon as possible for him to rest. The officer is at fault for forcing George to go down to the station. He may be exercising his duties in a manner that suggests that he would like a financial favor from George, causing him (George) to resent him and waste more time. Regarding the problem, the officer could allow George to pay the ticket the following day, when it is convenient for everybody (given that it is a Sunday). George can report to the station after taking his family home, where he can request to watch the playoffs, as he pays the ticket. The third solution is to pay the bribe and each party of the problem is satisfied (and saving on time). Though it is unethical, my solution would be to pay the bribe. The main problem is time, and the officer offering the bribe that will allow George to attend to his son and watch the playoffs, will benefit everyone involved. It is unlawful to carry out corrupt acts, however in a situation that concerns health it is an ideal solution. It will serve as a reminder on the importance of time management. George should pay the cost for poor time

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Trends in Fashion Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Trends in Fashion Management - Essay Example The essay "Trends in Fashion Management" concerns the fashion management and trends. Moreover, analysis of the case study clearly reflects a continuous process of evolution in the journey of Luxottica (2012) as it continued to materialize itself with innovation in its production, focusing on excellence in the manufacturing processes, and at the same time, acquisitions of successful companies that facilitated Luxottica in creating its brand image in the eye wear industry. Since few decades, technology has played an enormous role in influencing business processes all over the globe. Luxottica (2013) has responded to technology in an efficient manner, and its globally integrated distribution system is one of the major indications of its efficiency in terms of utilization of technology. It has been an observation that in the past, business organizations even with quality products were not able to survive in the global market due to their inefficiency in terms of technology; however, Luxo ttica (2013) has successfully transformed this challenge into one of its qualities that distinguish it from its competitors in the market. With implementation of SAP information system, the company has not only been monitoring its manufacturing and sales progress; however, it has also enabled Luxottica in reducing delivery time and improving its service; in other words, resulting in effective supply chain management that has become one of the most important aspects of successful business organizations.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Analysis of the Demographics in Europe

Analysis of the Demographics in Europe The Demographic Sector in Europe This dissertation will present a historical overview of European population trends before examining in greater detail specific causes and effects of certain demographic changes. In particular, demographic changes which occurred in the UK between 1950 and 1990 and the economic consequences associated with reforms in Eastern Europe will be examined with a view to assessing the possible welfare implications. Environmental stress is increasing, due to both â€Å"unsustainable consumption and production patterns† (including high resource consumption in wealthy countries and among better-off groups in all countries) and demographic factors such as rapid population growth, population distribution and migration. 1.1 Historical Overview In a European context, the population was never more than 100,000. This represented a far lower carrying capacity than gorillas, as humans were carnivores (Emceed and Jones, 1978). Human population began to spread as the Ice Age started to retreat (25,000 10,000 B.C.). Migrations took place into the Ar tic Circle, across the Bering Straits, and also to Australia via Indonesian archipelago. The human population in 10,000 BC was probably double what it was in 100,000 BC (earliest appearance of homo sapiens) – standing at approximately 4 million. The increase had been achieved by increasing range and opening up new territories -not by new food technologies. Population density was thus traditionally low. This was to change with the switch from traditional food (hunter)gatherer to food production (Old Stone Age paleolithic 30,000 BC -to New Stone Age neolithic 6,000 BC) and as a consequence, population density increased from 0.1 km2 to 1 per km2. In the period from 1000BC 400 BC the world’s population doubled from10m to 20m. Greece’s population however, tripled to 3m. Greece’population growth meant that they were able to forge a new civilisation and become the dominant force. Malthusian claims that uncontrolled population growth can potentially lead to population decline as result of increased competition for resources, war, famine and poverty,were somewhat realized through the Asia Minor conquest and an eventual decline in the Greek population to approximately 2million by 1 AD. The population of Italy was the next major European country to experience major growth. By 300 BC the population of Italy numbered 4million people. By 1 AD this had risen to 7 million whilst the total European population was only 31 million. By 200 AD the Roman Empire had 46 million subjects including approximately 78% of this total in Europe. This peak declined to 26 million in total during the following400 years. This obviously leads to the question whether or not economic/ political / military development is a precursor to, or consequence of population development. In Greece the malthusian limits were reached which resulted in out-migration / foreign conquests. Consequently the population of Greece fell between 300 B.C. and A.D. 1, to 2 million .Population density also fell four-fold.   From the 8th century onwards there was a new increase in population,leading to a population level of approximately 36 million by 1000 A.D.,which compares to peak figures from the classical period. Population then continued to increase rapidly for nearly 300 years. By and large,increases were in the north and west, but there were also increases from the east (e.g. Portugal). The population in these regions were,however, relatively low to begin with. The continued population increase was brought to an abrupt halt in 1347 by bubonic plague -Black Death. Increases in mortality and reductions in nutrition had tremendous impact on the world’s population. Between a quarter and third of the population were to perish during this period. There was however, eventually a general recovery and by 1500 the world population was nearing 80 million, increasing to 100 million by 1600. Despite Religious wars, plague and economic upheaval which changed the political scene during the 17th Century, population rose to around 120million by 1700. Economic factors were vital in assuring continued population growth and were symbolized by better technology, sea route sand growing towns. The period 1750 – 1845 was marked by one of major growth.  During this period the population level rose from 140 million in 1750 to 250 million in 1845. Mortality changed definitively resulting in growth being assured unless and until fertility fell. The modernisation and urbanisation cycle had begun with famine and plague seemingly belonging to the past, although there was an extreme exception Ireland. Despite this, Europe’s population reached 450million by 1914. Population in the 20th Century was to be ravaged by both war (WWI and WWII) and mass emigration to the USA, Canada and Latin America. 2. Main demographic trends in the UK post WWII Between 1951 and 1981, the total population of the UK increased from50.4million to 55.9million. The total number of births rose steadily from c.800,000 in 1950 to a peak of over one million (1,015,000) in1964. This was the so-called â€Å"baby boom† of the 1950s and early 1960s. In 1964 the crude birth rate of the UK stood at an all time high of18.8 per 1000. In 1963 the oral contraceptive pill first became available to women, and in 1968 the Abortion Act legalised abortion in certain circumstances. The combination of these two factors, especially the former, initiated a down-turn in birth rate which continued for 13 years until 1977 when the number of live births was 657,000 to give ac rude birth rate of 11.8 per 1000. For two years, 1976 and 1977, the number of births was actually less than the number of deaths and the country briefly experienced a natural decrease of population .Subsequently, during the 1980s, the number of births rose to about700,000 per year to give a crude birth rate of about 13 per 1000. This slight up-turn in birth rate has been explained as a result of couples postponing the start of a family. Between 1965 and 1985 the average age of mothers having their first child increased from 21 to 27 years of age. Mortality in the UK since 1950 has been subject to far less fluctuation than fertility during the same period. The total number of deaths in the UK each year since 1950 has been between 600,000 and 700,000. Crude death rates during a period of 40 years have stubbornly remained within the range of 11 to 13 per 1000. This is significantly higher than the crude mortality rate of most other countries of North West Europe. The causes of death have shown little change over the period with diseases of the circulatory system and cancer firmly established as the main killing diseases and jointly accounting for over 70% of all deaths by the 1980s. The failure of the UK to reduce its mortality rate during the second half of the 20th century has been attributed to various factors; namely, declining standards of health care, the maintenance sofa large stock of obsolete slum housing, high unemployment rates and high levels of poverty and deprivation. In the late-1980s, infant mortality rates, probably the most sensitive indicator of the quality of the social and physical environment for human life, actually rose in many parts of the country. Detailed statistics for the numbers of migrants entering and leaving the UK only extend back as far as 1964. Comprehensive statistics for the numbers of immigrants and emigrants are not available for the period of the 1950s and early-1960s when large numbers of West Indian sand Asians entered the UK. Post-1964 statistics reveal considerable short-term fluctuations in the numbers of both immigrants and emigrants. However, with the exception of just one or two years, the net migration balance is a negative one; that is to say, in most years more people leave than enter the UK. Despite the popular myths about the flood of immigrants entering the UK, the reality is that the UK Lisa net â€Å"exporter† of population in most years. Since the early 1960s,the numbers entering the UK have been checked and reduced by succession of Immigration Acts (1962, 1968, 1972 etc) designed to make the conditions of entry more demanding and settlement in the UK more difficult. The long-term trend for immigration and emigration appear to be related to â€Å"push† factors in the source areas rather than â€Å"pull†factors in the destination area. Thus, peaks of immigration appear to be related to particular overseas events. For example, the expulsion of Asians from Uganda by President Am in in 1972 corresponds with a minor peak in the flow of immigrants into the UK. Conversely, the rising tide of unemployment in the UK during the early-1980s corresponds with as harp up-turn in the numbers leaving the country between 1981 and 1985. One of the most obvious demographic changes in post-war Britain has been its transformation into a multi-racial and multi-cultural society.rior to 1991, the UK Census did not include questions on race and ethnicity, so that it was impossible to obtain precise information about the size and distribution of minority groups. However,â€Å"place-of-birth† statistics derived from the census show that by 1981about six percent of the UK population was â€Å"overseas-born†. The total percentage of overseas-born population is not large, but it is very unevenly distributed. Racial and ethnic minorities tend to cluster in the inner city districts of particular towns and cities. Discrimination in the fields of housing and employment produced tensions and unrest which finally erupted in urban riots in 1981 and again in 1985. 3. Post-war political economy The year 1989 heralded a great change within Eastern Europe, as revolutions throughout the region swept away the communist governments,marking an end to conditions of political, economic and social repression. The major impetus in precipitating change was the desire for freedom on the part of the masses. Allied to this demand for social freedom was a general will for improved standards of living conditions,with the belief of the majority being that this could be achieved through the reorganisation of society along the lines of western-style free market economies. There was certainly a need for substantial economic reform within Eastern Europe in terms of â€Å"freeing up† the market economy and the need for some type of transformation strategy. However, a great deal of debate is concerned not with the actual need for transformation, but with the actual method of transformation. One can best define the argument in terms of the proponents of a gradualist approach to transformation. There are a number of economists who favour a radical approach to transformation, arguing the necessity for speed,comprehensiveness and simultaneity of change, who have been accused by other economists of stressing an over reliance on the market, and of failing to fully understand the nature of market economies. To explore the debate fully it is necessary for one to consider the claims of those economists that are in favour or the radical approach to transformation. â€Å"Both economic logic and the political situation argue for a rapid and comprehensive process of transformation† (Lipton and Sacs, 1990). This quote is from two of the main advocates of the radical approach. They emphasise the speed and comprehensiveness of change within Eastern Europe, believing that there should be a seamless web of transition.The first stage, they claim, should be achieving a macroeconomic stability: â€Å"structural reforms cannot be put in place without a working price system; a working price system cannot be put into place without ending excess demand and creating a convertible currency; and a credit squeeze and tight macroeconomic policy cannot be sustained unless prices are realistic, so that there is a rational basis for deciding which firms should be allowed to close.† Thus as crucial to their arguments for a comprehensive reform process is the need for real structural adjustment, and for this macroeconomic shock to be accompanied by a num ber of associated measures such as selling off state assets, freeing up the private sector, establishing procedures for bankruptcy, the preparation of a social security net and widespread tax reforms. Advocates of shock therapy transformation use a number of political reasons for their emphasis upon rapidity. Perhaps the most important of the political reasons is that the new governments would be best able to carry out strong measures at the outset of their office, and thus deny opponents the chance to subvert the process of change and retain some of the irrationalities of the old style regime. A further argument in favour of the shock therapy transformation is that there is a view of the market as being an institutional package, that it is an integrated and â€Å"organic† whole, the elements of which cannot be introduced one Bata time and in a gradual fashion. Thus certain economists have argued that the only way for the market system to function is if all of it score institutions are introduced simultaneously, with the core institutions being a legal infrastructure, private property, free markets and prices, competition, and macroeconomic policy instruments. However, the shock therapy approach to economic transformation has benignities by a number of economists. Although by common consensus is a definite necessity for change the shock therapy approach presents us with a number of difficulties. Perhaps the greatest problem concerns the nature of markets, for there is little knowledge of how tactually establish a market system. The situation in Eastern Europe is most certainly unique, for never before have there been attempts to establish a market economies from the wreckage of the communist system,since historically the development of free markets went hand in hand with the process of industrialisation. â€Å"Post – communist countries,however, do have a more or less developed industrial infrastructure,social services and political expectations to be governed in some sort of western democratic fashion. In short, our knowledge does not extend to the conditions under which Soviet type economies have to be reformed† (Pick el, 1 992). Andreas Pick el identified a number of criticisms of the shock therapy. The emphasis placed upon comprehensive change stresses the need for the creation of a â€Å"critical minimum mass of market institutions† necessary for the function of the market economy. Picketer that at best we have only sketchy knowledge of what thisâ€Å"critical minimum mass† is, and that claims as to the necessity for comprehensive change ignore the complex realities of the situation.Take for example, what Perry in his list of measures with respect to the creation of â€Å"free markets with free prices: there must be free entry into the market and free exit from it. This mans that there are no barriers to entering market transactions, that workers and manager scan be fired, and that unprofitable firms go bankrupt. There is not as ingle existing market economy that fulfils this requirement† (Pick el,1992). Therefore how can we hope to ascertain what is necessary for the wholesale importa tion of the market economy. The justification for speed on the part of the shock therapists owe sits origins to a conception of two clearly defined and opposite systems, those of socialism and capitalism. Speed is necessary in the transformation because plan and market institutions are said to be incompatible, that the new system will work badly or not at all as lon gas it contains too many elements of the old system. Pick el argues that this is merely another way of invoking the â€Å"critical mass† argument again. â€Å"Granted that the quick establishment of essential institutions crucial for the success of reforms, at which point is it possible to slow this down in order to reduce, for example, some of the social costs of transformation, or to consider alternative options† (Pick el,1992). As with the â€Å"critical mass† argument we have little way of determining how quickly or for how long should the process be continued with pace. The necessity for simultaneity, as emphasized by the proponents of the shock approach, is criticised by Pickle as revealing problems with the radicals’ conception of economics as â€Å"systems†. Pick el mentions’s statement that â€Å"the need for simultaneous action on the institutional front arises from the holistic nature of systems, their essentially integrated order†. Pick el then attacks this stance,claiming that the â€Å"market system† only exists in textbooks, that there are as many institutional configurations as there are actually existing market economies. Essentially, claims as to the necessary institution sand processes are somewhat speculative, for when one considers today’market economies one can see that there have been numerous stages of growth, development and mutation. Virtually none of the modern market economies have developed along the lines of simultaneous establishment of core institutions as prescribed by the shock therapist theorists,suggesting it is indeed possible for transition to the market to be accomplished in disjointed and incoherent ways. It is most certainly possible for one to claim that economists who emphasise the speed, immediacy, and comprehensiveness of reforms in Eastern Europe, both overestimate the properties of the market and misunderstand the nature of market economies. It is important for one to bear in mind that the major difficulty that exists in the attempts to undergo the radical transition process as prescribed by the shock therapists is that the â€Å"wholesale institutional transformation produces range of unintended consequences that will undermine the realisation of the original goal† (Pick el, 1992). To this end Pick el uses the example of East Germany in order to illustrate the â€Å"ideal empirical test case for the strengths and weaknesses of the radical strategy. Pick el begins by claiming that the two treaties between the FRG and the GDR, on monetary, economic and social union and on unification, created what proponents of the shock therapy deem essential – â€Å"the speedy creation of what are considered to be the essential practical and economic institutions and the rules of capitalist democracy† (Picked,1992). Pick el claims that the radical shock therapy approach in East Germany created a number of unforeseen consequences which possessed implications for the future development of the country. The first of these consequences was the collapse of the state sector, resulting in massive unemployment and serious problems in the existing private sector, something which is still affecting Germany’s economy. The second consequence was that the restitution of pre-communist property rights and titles, which produced hundreds of thousands of claims and created an uncertain atmosphere for investors. The third unforeseen consequence was that there was an uninterrupted migration of workers from east to west and the fourth was the so cio-psychological and political disembowelment of large sectors of the East German population, that is, the colonisation or creation of a de facto group of second class citizens. The argument here is that the radical strategy in Germany failed in crucial respects. Rather than create the conditions necessary for sustained economic development, the radical approach led to the occurrence of a number of unforeseen circumstances that led to the collapse of the East German economy, creating lasting structural damage. Pick el claims that since the radical shock theory approach was attempted under rather favourable conditions in East Germany it generates a significant amount of concern for other countries where the conditions are not so favourable. 4. Sustainable development Population growth and distribution have significant roles to play in the sustainability of the worlds vast resources. Not only the number of people, but also the lifestyle, consumption patterns, and regions people inhabit and use directly affect the environment. The relationship between population growth and environmental degradation may appear to be rather straightforward. More people demand more resources and generate more waste. Clearly one of the challenges of growing population is that the mere presence of so many people sharing limited number of resources strains the environment. But when looking at the impact of human activities, the situation is more complicated due to the wide variety of government policies, technologies, and consumption patterns worldwide. The link between population growth and the environment is found somewhere between the view that population growth is solely responsible for all environmental ills and the view that more people means the development of new technologies to overcome any environmental problems. Most environmentalists agree that population growth is only one of several interacting factors that place pressure on the environment.High levels of consumption and industrialization, inequality in wealth and land distribution, inappropriate government policies, poverty, and inefficient technologies all contribute to environmental decline. Infarct, population may not be a root cause in environmental decline, but rather just one factor among many that exacerbate or multiply the negative effects of other social, economic, and political factors. Bio diversity is a term applied to describe the complexity of life. It is generally measured at three levels: the variety of species; the genetic diversity found within members of the same species (what makes you different from your neighbour); and the diversity of the ecosystems within which species live. These three levels are intimately connected. Genetic diversity is essential to the prosperity of the species, giving it the resources to adapt. And the number of species within an ecosystem is closely tied to the health and size of the ecosystem://www.ourplanet.com/aaas/pages/bio01.html # (Rosen,1999). However it is defined, bio diversity is the stuff of life. However far we may be removed from wild bio diversity in our daily lives, it remains the source of our food and most of our medicines. In addition,15 percent of our energy is derived from burning plant materials. Evening the United States, wild species contribute around 4.5 percent of GDP(De Leo and Levin, 1997). Some of our uses are direct. Billions of people still harvest wild orbush food around the world. Between a fifth and a half of all food consumed by the poor in the developing world is gathered rather than cultivated, while at global level we obtain 16 percent of our animal protein from sea fish caught in the wild. The World Health Organization(WHO) estimates that more than 60 percent of the worlds population relies on traditional plant medicines for day-to-day primary healthcare ( Bali ck and Cox, 1996), and 3 000 plant species are used in birth control alone (My ers, 1979). The primary cause of this loss is not hunting or overexploitation,though these play a part, but loss of natural habitat. Habitat loss is generally greatest where population density is highest. A study nobodies data from 102 countries found that in the most densely populated 51 countries (averaging 168 people per square kilo meter), 5.1percent of bird species and 3.7 percent of plant species were threatened. In the 51 less densely populated countries (averaging 22people per square kilo meter), the proportions of threatened species were only half as high at 2.7 percent and 1.8 percent respectively(UNFPA, 1997). 5. Political and socioeconomic geography of Europe The Second World War was a catastrophe in terms of the huge loss of life and indeed by this very fact it can bee seen as an important watershed in the development of Europe. The economic and social development of Europe was severely dislocated and fractured .Industrialisation trends were re orientated to serve the demands of the war machine. Most areas of Europe by the close of the war were facing the same problem, that of reconstruction. The war created the conditions which were conducive for the progressive restructuring of social institutions. The experience of war seemed to demonstrate that central governments could control economic development and most European nations introduced some form of economic planning in the postwar period. The working classes began to have a representative with the emergence of legitimate parties participating in the political process. There was a shift in governmental policy to welfare state policies with post-war Europe recognizing the need to integrate the working classes into political life. There were several factors contributing to the restructuring of Europe and these are important when examining any increase in the welfare of Europe’s population since the Second World War. At the end of the war Europe was divided into the capitalist West and the communist East.This resulted in differential economic and social growth as well as obvious differences in political ideology. The capitalist West benefited from substantial America Aid under the Marshal Plan. Rapid industrial development was favoured in Europe to counter the perceived threat from the East, but also important was the fact that America emerged from the war with expanded industries which were also more efficient and therefore they needed trading partners and investment opportunities. The Soviet Union however, were not as fortunate and suffered heavily from the destruction inflicted upon its people,agriculture and industry, all of which needed to be recreated. The war provided for opportunities of peacetime recovery and prosperity. It had forced and even closer union of science and technology and in the new world it seemed that all problems could be solved through the development and application of new technologies .Damaged production could be replaced by new equipment, raising efficiency and stimulating capital goods industries. The war itself had provided the impetus behind scientific and technological development,which would prove to be the key behind future European development. The great hardships of the 1930’s encouraged the view that national governments had a responsibility to protect and enhance the quality of life through improved systems of social security, health care and education. And it was improvements in these areas of welfare that the population of Europe has, more or less, been a benefactor. Birth rate shave declined in most European countries, whilst in Northwest Europe it was close to, or even below, the replacement levels by the early 1980s.Marriage rates also declined following a relative peak after the war.The lowest levels are again in Northwest Europe, particularly Sweden,whilst Eastern Europe displays the highest inutility rates. The cause for declining birth rates is complex. Women’s rates have changed, there has been increased urbanisation leading to a reduced need for farm labour, increased opportunities for higher education, declining influence of the Church. Of great significance in explaining a decrease in birth rates, and itself an indicator of social welfare, is the infant mortality rate. Infant mortality has been significantly reduced since the second world war. In france in 1950, the infant mortality rate was 52 per 1000 deaths before the age of 1 year old. By 1970 this had been reduced to 18 per 100. Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands all had the lowest rates whilst Romania, Portugal and Yugoslavia suffered from the highest rates of infant mortality. In Europe, life expectancy is at its highest levels in history, with the average life expectancy being 75 years for someone in Western Europe and 72 in Eastern Europe. Death rates have decreased in virtually every European country since the Second World War due to improvements in medicine and medical care, sanitation, health provisions and technology. Demographic changes led to increasing proportions of the young and old dominating population structures. The welfare state had to respond accordingly with more emphasis having to be placed upon areas such as housing, education, child support,retirement and pensions. With increasing prosperity after the war,Europeans standard of living significantly improved and this move toward modernity employed classical demographic features involved in the process of modernisation. Several Western European countries experienced decolonisation and reparation of their expatriates and natives of former colonial areas.In Algeria 600,000 people â€Å"returned† to France in 1962 following independence. The boom of the 1960s resulted in some countries needing to attract migrant labour. Indian, North Africans, Spanish, Portuguese,Italians, Yugoslavs, Greeks and Turks all poured into the Northern and Western urban and industrial centres of Europe. Migrant workers were more numerate in the Low countries and exceptionally high in Switzerland, where, in 1974, 37 per cent of the workforce were foreigners. In 1982 there were 4.2 million foreigners working in France every 10th worker in France was non-French. In Germany there were 4.6 million non-Germans, of which Turkish, Italian and Yugoslav workers were the most dominant. These immigrant workers constitute a form of sub-proletariat, taking the jobs natives did’t want to do. They were(and are) often badly tre ated and denied political rights. They usually find themselves in ghettos, and in times of economic downturn find themselves the targets of racial abuse. Urbanisation was a major feature of postwar European society and was in essence a continuation of a nineteenth century trend. By 1975 most Europeans lived in cities – one-third of the Greek population lived in Athens. City growth was primarily the result of rural to urban migration, with such incentives as higher wages, better housing,attractive employment, educational opportunities and more access to recreation and entertainment. Urbanisation, particularly if it is coupled with high levels of immigrants can soon lead to overcrowded housing and poor sanitation. With huge increases in car ownership and the amount of automobiles on the road together with the location of industries in, or on the periphery of, cities, some major urban and industrial centres of Europe have become unpleasant areas in which to live. The subsidised housing which were created for the working classes under the social security provisions of the welfare state were often poor quality and consisted of high-rise buildings located in peripheral areas of the city. The HLM in France and estates on the north-side of Dublin, such as the Allah and Bally are examples of this type of housing. It is evident in such areas that the great disparities in income or certain social disadvantages were not dealt with despite some improvements in health-care, family allowances, education and other social services. Severe social problems face  people caught in the poverty cycle in these areas and, consequently, with such levels of despair, the rates for drug abuse, crime and deviancy are relatively high. The decline of the agricultural sector of the economy and the loss of farm populations was another major feature of post-war Europe. This transition was to be expected as the workforce moved toward an industrially-based economy and later increasingly dominated by the tertiary sector. In 1950 80 per cent of the workforce in Bulgaria was engaged in agriculture. By 1980 this figure had declined to 20 percent. This trend can be seen in several other countries, for example46% of the population in Eire were engaged in agriculture in 1949 but had reduced to 20% of the population by 1979. Spain exhibited a similar trend with 52% of the population engaged in agriculture in 1940 but by1979 this had been reduced to 20% of the population. This trend had the greatest impact on peripheral European countries industrialising after the Second World War. Technological innovations had made agriculture more intensive and mechanised. This initiated mass migration to urban areas, and also was to result in increasin