Two short essay questions Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Two short questions - Essay Example Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) and Mido (Hye-jeong Kang) of Old Boy are both hypnotized to forget who they are and to fall for each other. Hypnotism removes their free will in controlling their actions. As a result, Dae-Su suffers a fate worse than death, an incestuous relationship with his own daughter because of the vengeance of Woo-jin Lee (Ji-tae Yu) against Dae-Su. Dae-Su almost wants to die because of his sin, which underscore the meaninglessness of life because of the absence of morality. Cheol-su (Woo-sung Jung) loves Su-jin (Ye-jin Son) so much but her mental illness is a great barrier to their happy ending. Hallyu is famous for its tragic endings that underscore realism and humanism in film that made it unique in Hollywood setting (Choi 68). Melodramatic plots feature characters that show the frailty of human life and morality. Hallyu films underscore that families continue to be the lasting source of happiness and identity in modern life that is full of violence and uncertainties. Old Boy and Moment to Remember may have tragic endings but they underscore the importance of families for the protagonists. Their family relationships are crucial to finding meaning in modern life in general and individual identities in specific. Old Boy and Moment to Remember show the significance of family relationships to survival and happiness. Oh Dae-su only wants to be reunited with his family, but his past became the greatest hindrance to his ultimate goal in life- to have a happy family. The melodramatic structure of the film underscores the role of family life to individual happiness (Choi 68). Furthermore, Dae su finds his identity through his love for his family. He wants revenge because his imprisonment took his family away from him, when before, his family is the center of his world. Without his family, his tortured soul experiences

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Essay Example for Free

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Essay The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is not just the story of a brilliant but flawed man who succumbs to temptation, it is also the story of a man who is a victim of his own society and culture. In The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde it seems that an upstanding gentleman is pressured by his society and own endeavours into ultimately separating the apparent bodies of good and evil. However the cause of the eventual, tragic demise of Dr Jekyll is rather complex and it is not enough to excuse his actions by placing the blame solely upon the restrictive society of late Victorian London. There seem to be other significant factors that can explain Jekylls actions and depict his character more clearly therefore providing a wider spectrum for determining as to what extent he is a victim or not. As one is given a description of what life in London was like for a man of such high status a sense of sympathy is developed towards Jekylls plight and also upon reading his Full Statement of The Case the reader is given a mostly honest insight into Jekylls mind; this again, brings forth some sympathy because he explains the pressures of society and the repression of his pleasures which condemn him to a profound duplicity of life. Also despite the understandable reasoning behind Jekylls actions the reader is confronted with the facts that he brutally murdered Sir Danvers Carew and he had intended to commit such crimes in order to satisfy his pleasures. The contrasting feelings tend not to give a clear view of whether or not Jekyll was indeed a victim of his society but the novel does show that he was flawed in his wish for undignified pleasures. There is a notion that Jekyll is solely to blame for his actions disregarding the circumstances, for it seems that the duality in himself was not normal and quite extreme; therefore he turned towards science and calculated his methods of achieving utmost respectability and satisfying his pleasures which were known to him as undignified and at one point monstrous, but yet he becomes unable to withstand the temptation of what is perceived to be the perfect solution despite its immorality. The society and culture in late Victorian England is conveyed as one that is wholly unsympathetic to anything shameful that is conducted within anyones own private life. For example if a man of such status, like Jekyll, was to be found frequenting brothels and indulging in public drinking a scandal would have certainly been made out of the situation and his reputation would have been ultimately destroyed. The society entirely disregards privacy and so, many upstanding gentlemen satisfy their urges for pleasure very discretely and make certain that no one comes to hear of their ventures. Then when we come to hear of Dr Jekyll having a very prestigious position in society and dignified reputation it seems as though he is held captive by such fortune. For very many years he has repressed his urges and subdued his taste for pleasure and so this portrays an extremely grave life and one of little joy. Jekylls only form of liberation was to have two bodies; one in which to satisfy his pleasures and one in which he could hide from them as the respectable doctor whose reputation would never tarnish. Taking only this into account it does seem as though he is a man imprisoned within his reputation and forced to take this course of action. Society is to blame up to an extent. Upon realising that Jekyll had carried out the senseless, brutal murder of Sir Danvers Carew in which the victim was trampled and bludgeoned to death until the bones were audibly crushed, it is rational to immediately condemn his actions. Society may have driven him to conceal his pleasures within a separate body but by no means does the social restriction excuse Jekylls need for such evil a crime. In Jekylls Full Statement of the Case he also admits that what were his undignified pleasures now turned towards the monstrous; he was now loosing control of his sense of morality. The statement Jekyll is a victim of his own society and culture, I feel, is too strong. There are many reasons for his wish and eventual accomplishment of separating what he believes to be good and evil bodies and therefore one cannot wholly excuse or condemn him. In Dr Jekylls full statement of the case he seems to explain his actions and motives and feelings but also takes a sorrowful tone as if asking for forgiveness and is quite apologetic. As he describes the pressures within his society and how he has repressed his pleasures a degree of sympathy is aroused within the reader. London, for a respectable gentleman, is portrayed as a strict society in which scandals can be easily procured for very little and as a result reputations are destroyed. Jekylls main flaw is that he consistently treats Hyde and himself as two entirely separate beings whereas, in fact, they are coupled within Henry Jekyll. Despite Jekylls honesty in his full statement of the case he remains ignorant to the fact that the two bodies of, quite simply, good and evil are actually one and whereas Hyde is pure evil Jekyll is both good and evil but he still sees Jekyll as his body of good and Hyde as the embodiment of evil. It is proved, I believe, that Jekyll is both good and evil for he himself states that as he drank the tincture his virtue slumbered and if he had approached his discovery in a more noble spirit, he would have come forth an angel instead of a fiend; Jekylls own evil produced Hyde. Henry Jekyll aimed to create a separate body free of social pressure and accomplished this; ironically the thing that was to liberate him led to his own imprisonment and ultimately his death. It is tragic that the society and its pressures led him to his fatal discovery, however many of those pressures were Jekylls own need for utmost respectability and subdued wish for undignified pleasures. The duality within himself forced the suppression of the evil but when it became unbearable his pleasures verged towards more than just the undignified but the monstrous; for example the brutal murder of Sir Danvers Carew which one cannot help but feel disgusted and contempt for Hyde, who it is revealed, is Jekyll. Jekylls subconscious evil intent meant that he procured evil and despite the circumstances I believe that Jekyll was a victim of his own need for two lives both of which were extreme in nature and the society which restricted him was not responsible for the eminently evil that he brought forward.

Mandatory Uniforms in Public Schools Essay -- Papers Argumentative

Mandatory Uniforms in Public Schools Do you want equality among students in your child's school? Do you want less violence within your child's school? Would you like your daughter to concentrate more on her schoolwork and less on what name brand jeans she is wearing? All this is possible with mandatory uniform policies in public school districts. School uniforms may seem outdated for some people, but in many cases they can improve school spirit, attendance and student behavior. According to The Humanist magazine, former President Bill Clinton's 1996 State of the Union Address called for all 16,000 school districts in the country to adopt a uniform policy. The President stated, "If it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear uniforms" (qtd in Wilkens, screen 1) The public school district in Long Beach, California was the first to take up the mandatory school uniform policy. The school district reported drasti c decrease in violence, discipline problems, as well as higher test scores after one year of implementing the new policy (Wilkens, screen 1). Although students feel that wearing uniforms to school stifles individual expression and creativity, mandatory uniforms in public schools promote a positive learning environment because it creates equality among all students, it decreases violence, and students can focus on schoolwork instead of their clothing. Students along with some parents dispute that mandatory uniform policies within public schools are unconstitutional. They feel that mandatory uniforms in public schools violate the First Amendment of the Constitution, Freedom of Expression. The First Amendment w... ...com*. Marchant, Valerie. "Dress for Success: It looks as if uniforms and dress codes may well make a difference." Time 13 Sept 1999: C6+. Infotrac. OSU-Okc Lib., Oklahoma City.23 Feb 2001 *http://www.infotrac.galegroup.com*. Renstrom, Peter. Constitutional Rights Sourcebook. Santa Barbara: Dimensions, 1999. "Uniform Improvements." Psychology Today Sept 1999: 14. Infotrac. OSU-Okc Lib., Oklahoma City.23 Feb 2001 *http://www. infotrac.galegroup .com*. "Uniforms Rule: This fall, dress codes are an increasingly popular remedy for all that's wrong with American public schools. Do they deliver?" Newsweek 4 Oct 1999:72. Infotrac. OSU-Okc Lib., Oklahoma City.27 Feb 2001 *http:// www.infotrac.galegroup.com*. Wilkins, Julia. "School Uniforms." The Humanist Mar/Apr 1999: 19-22. Infotrac. OSU-Okc Lib., Oklahoma City.23 Feb 2001 *http://www.infotrac .galegroup.com*.

Battle of Passchendaele Essay

On November 6th, 1917 our Canadian soldiers captured the Passchendaele ridge. They had to face many obstacles but they made it. Canadians take Passchendaele successfully. On November 6th, 1917 our Canadian soldiers captured the Passchendaele ridge. They had to face many obstacles but they made it. Reporter Reporter Canadian Wounded at the Battle of Passchendaele More than 15,000 Canadians died or were wounded during the Battle of Passchendaele. Many of them drowned in the mud and shell holes. Canadian Wounded at the Battle of Passchendaele More than 15,000 Canadians died or were wounded during the Battle of Passchendaele. Many of them drowned in the mud and shell holes. The mud, flat terrain, and relative lack of preparation time and artillery support would make Passchendaele a far different battlefield than the one the Canadians encountered at Vimy Ridge. Currie took the time to carefully prepare as much as possible and on October 26, the Canadian offensive began. Advancing through the mud and enemy fire was slow and there were heavy losses. Despite the challenges, the Canadians reached the outskirts of Passchendaele by the end of a second attack on October 30 during a rainstorm. On November 6, the Canadians and British launched the assault to capture the village of Passchendaele itself. In excessive fighting, the attack went according to plan. After fierce enemy counterattacks, the last part of the battle saw the Canadians attack on November 10 and take out the Germans from the eastern edge of Passchendaele Ridge. Our Canadian soldiers won the Battle of Passchendaele. They faced many challenges and obstacles but they fought through and succeeded. The mud, flat terrain, and relative lack of preparation time and artillery support would make Passchendaele a far different battlefield than the one the Canadians encountered at Vimy Ridge.   Currie took the time to carefully prepare as much as possible and on October 26, the Canadian offensive began. Advancing through the mud and enemy fire was slow and there were heavy losses. Despite the challenges, the Canadians reached the outskirts of Passchendaele by the end of a second attack on October 30 during a rainstorm. On November 6, the Canadians and British launched the assault to capture the village of Passchendaele itself. In excessive fighting, the attack went according to plan. After fierce enemy counterattacks, the last part of the battle saw the Canadians attack on November 10 and take out the Germans from the eastern edge of Passchendaele Ridge. Our Canadian soldiers won the Battle of Passchendaele. They faced many challenges and obstacles but they fought through and succeeded. The Canadian plan in capturing Passchendaele was simple: they would attack in a series of battles, each with a small objective. Step by step, they would take the village, the overall objective being to secure a defensible position on the Passchendaele Ridge. If they succeeded, they would make a small gap in German positions, leaving them exposed to enemy fire from all directions. Before the Canadian entered the battle on the Passchendaele Ridge, the British and Australian soldiers had fought there for more than three months. They were defeated with 100,000 casualties.   Our Canadian Commander Sir Arthur Currie had begged the Commander-in-Chief to spare the Canadians the ordeal of Passchendaele, his plea had been refused because pressure on the enemy must be maintained. The Ypres Salient was in utter disarray. The continuous damaged that had been caused to it destroyed the drainage system. The heavy rains that lasted for days had the terrain turn into an oozing quagmire of yellow mud. It was impossible to dig trenches. Men would be swallowed and killed in that mud. The Canadian plan in capturing Passchendaele was simple: they would attack in a series of battles, each with a small objective. Step by step, they would take the village, the overall objective being to secure a defensible position on the Passchendaele Ridge. If they succeeded, they would make a small gap in German positions, leaving them exposed to enemy fire from all directions. Before the Canadian entered the battle on the Passchendaele Ridge, the British and Australian soldiers had fought there for more than three months. They were defeated with 100,000 casualties.   Our Canadian Commander Sir Arthur Currie had begged the Commander-in-Chief to spare the Canadians the ordeal of Passchendaele, his plea had been refused because pressure on the enemy must be maintained. The Ypres Salient was in utter disarray. The continuous damaged that had been caused to it destroyed the drainage system. The heavy rains that lasted for days had the terrain turn into an oozing quagmire of yellow mud. It was impossible to dig trenches. Men would be swallowed and killed in that mud. General Sir Arthur Currie Quote: â€Å"I am a good enough Canadian to believe, if my experience justifies me in believing, that Canadians are best served by Canadians.† General Sir Arthur Currie Quote: â€Å"I am a good enough Canadian to believe, if my experience justifies me in believing, that Canadians are best served by Canadians.†

Negative Business Letter Essay

Toy Travels Ltd. June 17, 2009 Mrs. Vic King 800 University Drive Romeoville, IL 60446 Dear Mrs. Vic, Toy Travels has been in business now for decades, it’s dedicated to customer satisfaction for over a decade now, achieving this goal by giving its customers excellent opportunities to travel at extremely low costs. We hope that you and your family enjoyed your week long trip with lots of fun in our nice weather down here in Chicago. It was greatly appreciated that your family tour down here and at the same time interested in our services. However I express regret that our company was unable to accept your application due to the fact that you do not hold any sort of good credit. Our report depict that you have couples of unpaid credit on your account. All you need to do is develop a good line of credit over about a year’s time,and our creditors will surely approve you. At Toy Travels, parts of our excellent services are to provide you with a chance to meet with Truth Mortgage, the company that handles most of our mortgage cases. This would get you started in a smart and easy plan to build up your credit. Please make possible effort to contact us using the provide telephone number above if help is needed. We will be anxiously waiting to hear from you Mrs. Vic because we at Toy Travels will keep our words in providing the best customer service you can ever receive elsewhere. Thank you for your time and patience. Sincerely, Toye Oduola, CEO Toy Travels Ltd

Motivational Quotes for Teens

Motivational Quotes for Teens Great thinkers throughout history have imparted insights that can provide inspiration for teens. From the value of hard work and optimism to the importance of time, itself, these quotes can help motivate any teenager. Hard Work Theres no substitute for hard work. -  Thomas Edison It took Edison more than 1,000 unsuccessful attempts over the course of a year before he produced the worlds first commercially viable light bulb. So, the next time your teen wants to give up, tell her about the persistence and work ethic of one of our greatest inventors. There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs. -   Author unknown Like Edison, this unknown author is talking about the importance of perseverance and putting in the effort to succeed. Thats an important motivational thought for any teen. Optimism There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist. -  Mark TwainThose who wish to sing, always find a song. -  Swedish Proverb A teen can find plenty of inspiration from Twains eternally optimistic characters, Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. And, there are plenty of references to singing in Twains The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- an optimistic trait the Swedish proverb alludes to.   Time Time is free, but its priceless. You cant own it, but you can use it. You cant keep it, but you can send it. Once youve lost it, you can never get it back. -  Harvey MackayTime ripens all things, no man is born wise. -  Miguel de Cervantes The importance of using your time wisely can be a great motivational thought for teens. MacKay  wrote such well-known business books as Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive,  which explained how to use your time to outsell- and outperform- others, while Cervantes, Spains greatest author, wrote about the ever-optimistic Don Quixote, a character who used his time to try to save the world. Character, Change, and Discovery To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue... gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness. -  ConfuciusThere is nothing permanent except change. -  HeraclitusThere are two  great days  in a persons  life- the day we are born and the day we discover why. -  William BarclayThere are two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live. -  John Adams Confucious, Chinas greatest philosopher; Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher; Barclay, a Scottish theologian, and Adams, our second president, who also helped sustain the Revolution with his brilliant negotiating skills, all talked about how life is an adventure- ever-changing, yet always providing an opportunity to learn, discover and strive to be your best self. That is certainly an important and serious thought to light a fire under any teen looking for motivation.

When PUsh Comes to Shove essays

When PUsh Comes to Shove essays In August 1940 the continent of Europe was all but conquered by the Nazis. There was no army left to fight the Germans on the Western front. Adolf Hitler's troops had pushed 340,000 English soldiers off the coast at Dunkirk, back across the channel to England. The British Isles was the only conquest left for the Nazi Empire. France had crumbled to the pressure of German blitzkrieg only months before, and the English were next on the list. The Battle of Britain in 1940-41, proved to be the first unsuccessful German campaign of World War II. According to the film, "Why We Fight," the battle was won not only over the skies of England by the Royal Air Force, but also by the people on the ground. The film argues that the English people's remarkable fortitude in the face of constant bombing, was a main factor in keeping Nazi soldiers and panzers off the shores of Britain. Although there were nearly 40,000 English citizens killed during the infamous "Blitz", Hitler and the Nazis w ere stopped when push came to shove. The Royal Air Force's success in the Battle of Britain destroyed the German's Operation Sea Lion. Hitler and his generals planned to develop Operation Sea Lion in three phases: First they needed to gain air superiority over the skies of Britain. Then, use the Luftwafe's dive bombing tactics to weaken the coast cities. Which finally would lead to an actual invasion of troops and tanks on English soil. The RAF made sure none of these objectives were effectively accomplished. The Luftwafe lost 182 planes in the first four days of the Battle of Britain. They never fully gained air superiority over the RAF. English systems of radar and listening posts were able to give the pilots warning of Luftwafe attacks. British Spitfire fighters were in the air within minutes to combat the enemy. Goering's flight crews were dropping like flies over the English skies. Hitler wanted ...

Using the Spanish Preposition Tras

Using the Spanish Preposition 'Tras' The Spanish preposition tras, usually meaning behind or after, isnt a particularly common preposition. In fact, you could probably get by without even using it at all, as the prepositional phrases detrs de (behind in location) and despuà ©s de (after in time) can usually be used instead. Tras is more common in writing than in speech. Even so, tras has significant use in journalese (its a shorter word to use in headlines) and in a few phrases such as uno tras otro (one after the other) and dà ­a tras dà ­a (day after day). Here are the most common meanings of tras, along with examples of its use. Tras Meaning After (In Time) Tras is sometimes used to mean after (in time), as in the following examples: Se degradà ³ la libertad de prensa tras la eleccià ³n. (Freedom of the press was diminished after the election.) El restaurante abre de nuevo tras ser cerrado. (The restaurant is opening again after being closed.) Tras Meaning In Pursuit Of Tras can also mean after (in the sense of advancing toward or being in pursuit of), as in these cases: Iba  tras  las riquezas.  (He was after riches.)   El perro salià ³Ã‚  tras  ella.  (The dog went after her.) Tras Meaning Behind It can also be used to say behind (in location), as in these examples: Tras las puertas cerradas puede haber violencia. (Behind closed doors there can be violence.) Necesita contraseà ±a para participar en las conversaciones tras la pared de proteccià ³n corporativa. (You need a password in order to participate in conversations behind the corporate firewall.) Tras- as a Prefix Tras- also is commonly used as a prefix, where it is a shortened form of trans- and often the equivalent of the English prefix trans-, as in  trascendental (transcendental), trascribir (to transcribe), trascontinental (transcontinental).

Art Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Art - Research Paper Example The different figures include Long, which is related to the Dragon; Feng Huang, which is related to the Phoenix; the Qilin, which connotes the Unicorn and Sun Hou Zi, referring to the Monkey King.1 The linguistic collection of terms has a similar interpretation in Japanese, Korean and traditional Vietnamese; it is a reflection of traditional as well as modern exchange of cultural formulations, forms and values. The symbolic â€Å"gateways† are references to the transition process for the Asian community into the new community, and is also a reflection of the social tradition of Spadina Avenue, where the situation used to refer to the displacement of a given culture replaced another, following the arrival of immigrant populations into the city. This paper is a review of Millie Chen’s â€Å"Gateway†, documenting its attributes, the information needed to understand the art work, the artist, the style used and the historical dimensions employed.2 The â€Å"Gateway† is a part of the Colonnade Pole, which is located along at the right side of Spadina Avenue I in Toronto. Starting 1997, the Gateway was identified as the landmark intersection of Chinatown at the Dundas and Spadian Streets – by the Toronto Transit Commission.3 One pair of the poles covered by the name â€Å"gateway† lie to the northern side of the intersection, and the other pair lies to its south. The dimensions of the two pairs of sculptures are six meters in height, 3 meters in length and 0.5 meters in breadth. The materials used for the construction of the different sculptures include steel, fiberglass, polyurethane foam and Endura. The sculpture by Millie Chen is composed of different casts made from fiber glass, showing four legendary creature, which are revered under Chinese and Asian mythology. The four figure forms curved out include a dragon, a phoenix, a Unicorn and a Monkey King, together with the 20 poles used as markers in spell ing out the Chinese inscriptions for the

Parliamentary sovereignty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Parliamentary sovereignty - Essay Example The term freedom or independence here must not be associated to escaping from human slavery in fact over time this term has broadened into its scope and expanded in its meaning and context. In the modern world humans combat for independence and freedom not from slavery but from suppression, inequity, poverty, injustice, discrimination and helplessness.1 Under the establishment of a democratic setup, the body that represents common man and brings his issues to discussion in at the executive level is known as parliament. The term parliament is adopted from a French word â€Å"parlement† that means â€Å"to speak† and this pretty much determines the function of the parliament in the political machinery of a state. The parliament’s main task is to speak for the rights of the people that it represents, at a level that can create an impact, a positive one. Parliament Parliament is the representation of common man at the executive level. The selection of representatives of masses is done through open and transparent elections where the masses participate and vote for their potential representatives. The selection is made on the basis of majority vote and the selected representatives form the parliament of the country. A colossus of powers and responsibility vest on the shoulders of the parliament. Parliament is responsible for raising public concerns and addressing to them as per the demands and expectations of the masses that cast the votes for the selection of parliamentary candidates.2 Parliament empowers the people as it gives them the right to be a participant in the decision making of the state, indirectly. Parliament provides means to the operations of a government. The personnel required to look after the affairs of the state and run various ministries, comes from the parliament and this is where a common man can be a part of the system as his selected candidate is now placed at the decision making slot.3 With great power comes great respo nsibility, the parliament is endowed with the task of legislation. In the greater interest of the public parliament has the additional charge of making, proposing and passing of laws that are to be practiced under the doctrine of state. Parliament also has the power to approve or reject any financial decisions regarding any ventures that come up to the parliament for the final decision. It is totally up to the parliament to decide upon the feasibility and relevance of the venture to its policies and objectives. The presence of parliament also adds accountability in the operation of state affairs. Parliament has the whole sole authority to question the executive and bring him to task for explanation of various actions that has been taken on his behalf. This forces the executive to be extra cautious in his actions and decision making for he stands accountable to general public and hence the parliament. Power of the Parliament The domain of powers that reside with the Parliament of a s tate is defined in the constitution of the country. The powers can be increased or decrease with respect to the significance and spontaneity of the events, and this modification is subject to the passing of bills in the parliament that gain majority of the vote in their favor from the parliament itself. For instance in UK the Bill of Rights 1869 stated that the power to change or amend a law lies with the parliament.

Individual Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Individual Report - Assignment Example ts that are usually given a high sense of priority, when analyzing the economic status of a country in relation to its fitness for business activity (Mohr, 2011). In this research, the discussion will be based on an analysis of three major economic indicators; the currency value against the US Dollar, inflation and economic growth rate measured in Gross Domestic Product and how they will affect the multinational company that intends to expand the provision of its services and products to other parts of the global business environment. Economists have asserted that a nation’s economic indicators are usually voluminous statistical information that are provided by governments, non-governmental organizations as well as the economic agencies charged with the responsibility of undertaking economic analyses (Mohr, 2011). This information has proved beneficial to not only local companies, but also multinational companies that aspire to expand their services to these countries. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States, information regarding the country’s Gross Domestic Product has been crucial for the government owing to the fact that it assists in making adjustments of the existing economic policies (Berlatsky, 2013). In this regard, multinational and SME’s are usually subjected to scenario where they have to keep up to date with the existing economic policies in order to adjust their operations. The Federal Reserve Bank of the United States indicates that Gross Domestic Product of a nation is basically the value of services and products within its markets, generated within a specific period of time (Berlatsky, 2013). This information is usually released to the general public on a quarterly basis together with some revisions that may be provided within a period of ten weeks after the real of GDP information. Information regarding this data is usually accompanied with explanatory data that provides reasons for an increase in GDP or the reasons why

The interaction of cultural myths Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The interaction of cultural myths - Essay Example The myth of the melting pot refers to the aspect of people originally from minority races being influenced to abandon their cultures in order for them to become ‘American’ instead of fusing their culture with the American culture. The myth of individual opportunity is also illustrated by Eric Liu in which everyone in America is given the opportunity to achieve the desired American dream through any way possible. For the Chinese, they created Chinatown in Manhattan, New York, which is significant for the Chinese because they were able to retain a bit of Chinese culture through trade as much as they were in pursuit of the American dream. With this, this essay will discuss how each of these myths coincides with Eric Liu’s essay ways in which the myths reinforce, contradict or challenge each other and the expression of the same in the text. America is not a melting pot, but rather it is a compartmentalized society with truer whites being in the biggest compartment while the other ethnic minorities fit in the smaller compartments. Essentially, the melting pot is the assimilation aspect for a person from a minority culture in the dominant culture in the hope of obtaining economic improvement, which is usually at the expense of their own culture (Chandler and Ledru 115). Eric argues that Asians in America have replaced the Jews to become the model minority based on the aspect of assimilation. Essentially, this becomes a myth because as much as the minorities claim to have undergone assimilation, they still experience first hand racism making them not to be part of the white culture that they perceive to be part of. However, in the essay Liu writes: â€Å" My parents, who traded Chinese formality for the more laissez-faire stance of this country. Who made their way by hard work and quiet adaptation† (Liu 664). Accor ding to this statement from the essay, Liu’s parents had to assimilate the American

The Leader as Communicator Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

The Leader as Communicator - Assignment Example Additionally, diversified styles of communication are needed to meet the demands of effective communication processes at different levels (Lee, 2012). Expression of ideas should not be controversial neither conservative, but it should encourage listeners to equally participate in the communication process. Otherwise, communication will be considered one-sided and balanced communication will be interrupted (Lee, 2012). Moreover, it should be understood that individual communication is considered more effective than mass communication in context of leadership competencies (Lee, 2012). It is because a leader understands cognitive and psychological patterns of his/her team members and individual communication can contribute more effectively to convey message and convince team members for a particular mission within the organization (Samovar, Porter, & McDaniel, 2011). For a leader to be a good communicator it is important to understand the significances of the good communication skills. For good communication skills a leader is needed to develop confidence and an inspiring style during communication process (Decker, 2006). He/she should designed messages strategically that could influence thoughts of the listeners at first attempt. Also, instant response without taking long time to reply also increases the effectiveness of the communication (Decker, 2006). Mostly important a leader should have an ability to develop a sense of believability in his/her listener because without believability of the listeners content of the message cannot add efficiency in the communication process. Lee, T. (2012, June 9). Core Competencies in Communication for Leadership. Retrieved from Rainbows.typepad:

Personal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Personal - Essay Example When I reflect at the most touching sights I have had in my life, one that particularly comes to my mind is the first time I saw a cow feeding the calf her milk. In my childhood, I was very fond of pets. Whenever I happened to make it to my town, I spent hours playing with the hens and the ducks. My uncle had kept that cow and the calf in the town. I noticed that the cow fed upon the grass while the calf did not. When I asked my uncle the reason, he said it was so because the cow had teeth while the calf did not. He drew the calf’s mouth open to show me that the calf instead had a gum-plate without teeth in the mouth’s top where the cow had teeth. Then I saw the cow feeding the calf. Although I was quite touched then, but was too little and probably, uneducated also to realize what had made the cow feed the calf. The cow’s responsibility towards the calf was an outcome of the relation between the two. I had several questions in my mind; Who taught the cow to feed the calf and the calf to suck the milk from the cow’s breast? Who was careful enough to put the milk in the cow’s breast for the calf since it didn’t have teeth of its own to chew the grass? Following the cosmological arguments that every phenomenon has a cause for its occurrence, I realized that there is somebody who put milk in the cow’s breast so that the calf would not stay unfed. There is somebody who made the cow responsible enough to share her body with the calf. There is somebody who put love between the two. And there is somebody who nurtured the cow to the level that she had fully developed teeth while the calf had not. And that somebody is God. Concluding, my critical analysis of the relation between the cow and the calf and all aspects of it was fundamentally an outcome of the cosmological arguments that made part of my studies in the high school. I found answers to my questions using my critical analysis and

The Leader as Communicator Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

The Leader as Communicator - Assignment Example Additionally, diversified styles of communication are needed to meet the demands of effective communication processes at different levels (Lee, 2012). Expression of ideas should not be controversial neither conservative, but it should encourage listeners to equally participate in the communication process. Otherwise, communication will be considered one-sided and balanced communication will be interrupted (Lee, 2012). Moreover, it should be understood that individual communication is considered more effective than mass communication in context of leadership competencies (Lee, 2012). It is because a leader understands cognitive and psychological patterns of his/her team members and individual communication can contribute more effectively to convey message and convince team members for a particular mission within the organization (Samovar, Porter, & McDaniel, 2011). For a leader to be a good communicator it is important to understand the significances of the good communication skills. For good communication skills a leader is needed to develop confidence and an inspiring style during communication process (Decker, 2006). He/she should designed messages strategically that could influence thoughts of the listeners at first attempt. Also, instant response without taking long time to reply also increases the effectiveness of the communication (Decker, 2006). Mostly important a leader should have an ability to develop a sense of believability in his/her listener because without believability of the listeners content of the message cannot add efficiency in the communication process. Lee, T. (2012, June 9). Core Competencies in Communication for Leadership. Retrieved from Rainbows.typepad:

Relationship Between Argetina and the International Monetary Fund Essay

Relationship Between Argetina and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Essay Example The higher a countrys foreign debt level, the greater are the chances of default. According to World Bank, the Latin American Countries (LAC) would need US $ 60 million annually during 1991-2000 period. This translates into higher borrowing, higher debts and debt servicing. Budget cuts were immediately felt at the international financial institutions like the Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), which decreased access to officially supported credits. Global interest rates rose, which further increased foreign debts. Mexico, Brazil and Argentina could not sustain the economic growth and lurched from one financial crisis to another (Elstrodt, Lenero, and Urdapilleta). Debt has been the largest source of capital flows in the developing countries but despite that, economic development has not been successful. The causes and consequences of such debts have been the subject of debate over the years. This paper will examine the severity of Argentinas debt and the relationship between Argentina and the IMF. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, UK and France too had defaulted on the debt repayments but the problems in debt repayments in Latin American can be dated back to 1914 when Mexico suspended its payments (Dodd). Owing to a series of corrupt regimes, Argentina has experienced severe economic declines. In 1956, a group of wealthy nations met in Paris to find a solution to the looming debt problems of Argentina. In the 1970s, large amount of lending to Latin America was in the form of syndicate banks loans. Brady Bonds helped in the debt restructuring process and the Brady plan proposed exchanging the loans for bonds that would allow the debt to be traded in financial markets where it would be priced at market value. Macroeconomic management is essential if the country is to attain sustained growth. Argentina, besides pegging the peso to the US dollar at parity in

Search for My Tongue and Presents form My Aunts in Pakistan Essay Example for Free

Search for My Tongue and Presents form My Aunts in Pakistan Essay In this essay I shall compare the ways in which each poem describes being part of two different cultures. The word culture is a religion or a belief you belong to or something shared by people. A culture can be a Somalian culture in which we like to eat rice however I am also a part of British culture which I like to eat fish and chips. In my opinion I think it is important to belong to a culture because it represents you and what you do in your life. If you are part of more than one culture you will have a clash. The moral of a Muslim culture says dont steal furthermore the school culture, kids may tell you to steal. We have been looking at these two poems exploring these themes. The first poem is Presents from My Aunts in Pakistan. This tells the story of a teenage girl who does not feel comfortable in the Pakistani clothes sent to her by her relatives but prefers wearing denim and corduroy, which are her everyday clothes in England. The second poem we have been investigating is Search for My Tongue. It examines about a young adult that forgot about her two tongues which means her two languages. The poet testify that she forgot her native tongue which is Guajarati and knows her foreign tongue on the other hand she feels uncomfortable talking at the same time using both languages. Although the poem is using the same metaphor, one talks about a young teenager who is confused in her own thoughts. The young teenager cannot decide whether she is more British or Pakistani. The other poem called Search debates about mother tongue and foreign tongue. A mother tongue is the language that you were born with alternatively a foreign tongue is a language that you learn by yourself. Even though the poems have many differences, theyre also equivalent because they both use a metaphor, which means when something is represents things we cannot see, hear, touch, taste and smell because they are abstract. An example would be a fire which symbolizes anger or exasperation. However, the metaphors are conflicting in each poem. In Presents from My Aunts in Pakistan it is clothes that show her identity and her culture; whilst in Search for My Tongue it is tongue which represents her language. I will introduce the poem by demonstrating how Moniza Alvi develops that idea that the young teenager is torn apart being half British and half Pakistani through her feelings about clothes. At first, the clothes from her aunts are brilliant; she describes the salwar kameez an exotic peacock blue. An example would be they sent me a salwar kameez peacock blue. In this quotation she is suggesting the peacock an exotic bird that has beauty and confidence which contrasts with her feelings. Blue suggests peace, which contrasts her inner conflict and her low self esteem. An example would be a fractured land. In this extract she is feeling another side of her identity she tries to imagine how it might have been if shed lived in Lahore instead, and wonders would she have been more or less at home or still feeling torn apart from two cultures which are the Pakistani culture and the British culture. However, the clothes can also hurt her, for example, candy stripped bangles snapped drew blood. In this quotation she is sensitive and fragile because it indicates her. The word blood suggests her cultural identity which is Pakistani culture. The word snapped specifies that she has been torn apart from two different cultures. The clothes make her feel awkward for example satin silken top was alien. In this extract the girl in Present feels that she is alien and alien implies she does not belong in this world. The word alienated is a use of oxymoron because alien and sitting room does not go together. The poet us oxymoron because you should feel at home when you are sitting in the sitting room however the girl in Presents she feels uncomfortable sitting in her living room wearing her Pakistani clothes. The clothes remind her that she is half-English, which makes her feel uncomfortable and at the same time, she says the clothes are radiant in the wardrobe. Even though she isnt wearing them, they seem full of light and beauty compared with her other things. She is drawn to the flourishing colours. The girl in Presents form My Aunts in Pakistan feels that she would be more relaxed in her everyday English clothes. An example would be I longed for denim and corduroy. In this quotation she is showing that she really likes the British clothes. Denim and corduroy symbolizes British clothes. They are dull and normal unlike beautiful satin silken clothes. This tells us that her Pakistani clothes which are stunning contrast with her lifeless British clothes which were bought from MS. As her English friend dont like her Pakistani clothes, for example, did not impress her school friend. In this extract the English people are shown not value Indian culture. The girl internalises this idea. Her English friend does not like the bright colours of Indian clothes she likes the dull English clothes. However, the girl in Presents admires the delicate way the clothes have been made. An example would be I admire the mirror work. In this extract she tries to see her identity in the Asian clothes drown to her beauty. It also shows her mixed feelings about her heritage; she loves it and hates it at the same time. The opening part of Search for My Tongue is that the girl feels like she is making you imagine having a voice. An example of this would be I have lost my tongue. In this extract the tongue represents her language she has lost part of herself. Tongue sounds more physical and more painful. This is similar to Presents because it connects to the candy stripped bangles she is sensitive and fragile which connects to Searchso both of the poems we can see that they are in pain. In Search for My tongue a powerful image shows the awkwardness of having two languages. An example would be two tongues in your mouth. In this quotation she feels awkward in her mouth. As two tongues are in her mouth she feels muddle up and confused as she cant talk English and Guajarati at the same time. This is similar to Presents because the girl feels that her clothes have clung to her. It connects with Search as both show awkwardness. Also, they both suggest that the main characters have to make a choice between two cultures. You cant have both. As the poet feels it is impossible to combine both languages. For example, you could not use them both together. In this extract she suggests having two tongues puzzle you. This is similar to Presents for the reason that the girl does not feel right with Pakistani clothes she likes wearing her dull every day clothes which are denim and corduroy. The poet sometimes feels she is losing her native language. An example would be I thought I spit it out. In this quotation she feels that she is rejecting her native language and she is feeling that she is losing it. In contrasts with Presents she does not feel comfortable wearing her Pakistani clothes. Both of the poems have similarities which they are both lost and dont know what culture they are from. The two poems are also different in their use of structure which means when something is laid out or it makes something clear. Sometimes, structure is hidden. It is important to understand the structure because the poet lays out the poem so it emphasis the poem. An example would be when the poet uses rhythm and rhyme. We notice that then the other normal rules. In Presents Form My Aunts in Pakistan, she uses symmetrical structure she does not follow a path she follows her thoughts and memories as the girl is confused. The poet shows the flow of her thoughts as how one memory triggers another. First of all the poet starts of talking about her salwar kameez. Then she goes of and talks about her mothers jewellery then she goes back to her birth place which triggers her thoughts about her real culture which is Pakistani culture.

Essay examples --

For Pete’s sake, you've been learning how to read and write ever since the first day of school. And yet what's the one course that almost every first year student in every college and university required to take? That is correct, freshman composition, which means more reading and writing. Why, after all the practice, should you have to take yet an additional English course? You clearly know how to read and write. You might not even have the intention of majoring in literature or creative writing. You may also think that English has little to do with the real world or future profession. Well, think again. There are countless reasons to take freshman composition seriously. English class will definitely help you prepare for college level reading and writing coursework. Taking English composition classes can be very helpful in learning to meet college level writing expectations. Student’s achievement in college is largely determined on how well you can read, understand, and remember the texts you’ve read and on how effectively you can express that knowledge in writing. In both college and work, you'll be called on to write in different formats for a wide range of audiences and for a variety of purposes. For example, Queens College requires 2 writing intensive courses, and 2 additional English courses. At first I thought to myself, why do I need to take that many English courses? But at the end I realized that the benefit is all mine to take. Taking an English course will help you become a more skilled writer that can meet the particular needs of all your readers. Writing isn't just for English majors. English class can prepare you to write successful papers throughout your college years. Also in nearly every major, you will need to de. .. ... not, English composition classes can be fun. In colleges, these are sometimes the smallest classes available to underclassmen and are often limited in students. My English class accommodated merely 20 students. This permits you to know your peers as well as your professor. We had personal meet up sessions with the professor to discuss your personal progress in class. The professor identifies the problems you may need work on, and you can tell the professor your insight as well. It is wonderful to be able to share and communicate with your professor, not only do you focus more in class, but you tend to work harder. You're also likely to make friends, get focused attention, and receive feedback. Sometimes, mandatory composition classes are themed based, so you can choose a class that permits you to write through the lens of a topic you're particularly interested in.

Susan Glaspells Trifles - Some Observations :: Trifles Essays

Trifles I would like to make three major points. Major #1: Since this is the first play we’ve read, the stage direction really caught my eye and I tended to consider it very seriously in determining the meaning of the work. The most obvious direction, which the essay by Parrish discusses, is that neither Mr. nor Mrs. Wright ever appear in the play, and Glaspell was the first to use this type of direction (which was later recognized as uniquely her own.) Other important examples of the play’s direction (not spoken lines) are: ( ... she is disturbed now and looks fearfully about as she enters.) (Stops, his face twitches.) In a manner of returning to familiar things.) Glaspell uses this direction several times. (Silence; then as if struck by a happy thought and relieved to get back to everyday things.) (Mrs. Hale glances in a covert way at Mrs. Peters.) (Pulling herself back.) this is an emotional direction, not a physical one Glaspell’s decision to present "Trifles" as a play instead of its short story original form (titled :"A Jury of Her Peers) gives the reader an opportunity to "see" the action better than usual, and therefore get a clearer understanding of the author’s meaning. Major #2: What is the significance of "preserves?" I see the literal meaning, but what is Glaspell saying about a woman’s act of preserving things? The action in the play keeps going back to this jar of preserves (example: if the jar gets too cold, it breaks; preserves make a sticky mess; they don’t want to let Minnie know the jars broke and are not preserved.) Major #3: Does anyone know about quilting? I’m looking for more specific information on knotting vs. quilting? I think Glaspell is using this craft (and it is a way of expression like writing and painting) very subtly to get her message across, but I don't have enough information to see it, although I do see the significance of knotting and the knot around Mr. Wright’s neck that killed him. Can anyone help? Parrish writes in her essay that Glaspell wrote and produced many plays, and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1931. It is interesting and meaningful to read drama because it finds yet another way for women to find and express their voices. Parrish states that Glaspell’s writing focused on women’s "desire for equality and acknowledgement in a "man’s world.

Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 18

My dream-self sprinted out of the kitchen and toward the sound of the crying. Aubrey and the mystery cat jerked their heads up, surprised at my sudden movement. On the other side of the living room, the little girl sat on the floor beside an end table with sharp corners, a small hand pressed to her forehead. Tears streamed down her checks as she wailed. In a flash, my dream-self was on her knees and had wrapped the little girl up in a tight embrace. I could feel what the other Georgina felt, and I nearly wept as well over the feel of that soft, warm body in my arms. My dream-self rocked the girl, murmuring soothing, nonsensical words as she brushed her lips against the silken hair. Eventually, the girl's sobs stopped, and she rested her head against my dream-self's chest, content to simply be loved and rocked. I opened my eyes and stared at Seth's plain white ceiling. He lay beside me, curled up near my body and still smelling like the massage oil. Even awake, the dream's images were still strong and so real. I knew exactly how my daughter's hair had felt, the way she smelled, the rhythm of her heart. My own heart pined so much for her that I could almost ignore the fact that last night's energy was now gone. This was turning into a real problem. I sat up, gently pushing Seth off of me. But as I tried to figure out what to do about this latest dream, a strange thought kept pressing into the back of my head. Erik. I couldn't stop thinking about Erik. It was nothing in particular, either. No specific problem. But, whenever I tried to think about something else – my job, the energy loss, Seth – it was Erik's face that appeared in my head. I didn't understand it, but it worried me. Seth's arms reached for me as I slipped out of bed, but I skillfully avoided them. Grabbing my cell phone out of my purse, I headed off toward the living room. No one answered when I dialed Arcana, Ltd. It was almost ten†¦usually he was open by then. I called information in search of Erik's home number, but it appeared to be unlisted. A sense of dread was building in me. Desperate, I dialed Dante's store. â€Å"Dante, I think something's happened to Erik, but I don't have his home number and – â€Å" â€Å"Whoa, whoa, succubus. Slow down. Start from the beginning.† Backing up, I explained how I'd dreamed again and woken up obsessed with Erik. â€Å"Maybe it's nothing, but after the drowning thing†¦I don't know. Do you have his home number?† â€Å"Yeah,† Dante said after several moments. â€Å"I do. I'll†¦I'll check on him for you and give you a call back.† â€Å"Thanks, Dante. I mean it.† I disconnected as a sleepy Seth stepped out of the bedroom. â€Å"Who's Dante? Was that a collect call to the Inferno?† â€Å"They won't accept the charges,† I murmured, still troubled. Seth's face turned serious. â€Å"What's wrong?† I hesitated, not because I was afraid to tell him about Dante but because I didn't know if I wanted him caught up in all of this. â€Å"It involves immortal intrigue,† I warned. â€Å"And the higher workings of the universe.† â€Å"I live for those things,† he said wryly, settling into an armchair. â€Å"Tell me.† So, I did. He knew about my first energy loss but not the rest. I didn't tell him about the content of the dreams, merely that they drained me of energy. I also explained about the self-fulfilling prophecies and how I'd woken up damp one morning and thinking about Erik today. When I finished, I stared at the cell phone accusingly. â€Å"Damn it. Why isn't he calling?† â€Å"Why do you always tell me this at the last minute?† asked Seth. â€Å"It's been giving you trouble for a while. I thought it had been a one-time thing.† â€Å"I didn't want to bother you. And I know how funny you are about immortal stuff.† â€Å"Things that affect you – that may be harming you – don't bother me. I mean, well, they do, but that's not the point. This all goes back to commun – â€Å" The phone rang. â€Å"Dante?† I asked eagerly. I hadn't even bothered to check the number. But it was him. His voice sounded grim. â€Å"You need to come over here. To Erik's.† â€Å"The store?† â€Å"No, his house. It's close to my place here.† â€Å"What's going on?† â€Å"Just come over.† Dante rattled off an address and directions. With quick shape-shifting, I was dressed and ready to bolt out the door in an instant. Seth told me to wait, and in less than a minute – not as good as me, though still good – he was ready too. I'd never thought much about Erik having a home of his own. To me, he just always sort of existed in his store. The address was about a mile from Dante's, in an old, yet well-maintained neighborhood. Erik's house was one of the small bungalow types so common in Seattle neighborhoods, and the front yard was filled with roses gone dormant for the winter. As we walked up the steps, I entertained a brief vision of Erik out there tending the flowers in the summer. Dante opened the door before I could knock. I wondered if he'd sensed me or had simply seen us through the window. He displayed no particular reaction to Seth's presence and ushered us in toward the house's one bedroom. The house's interior looked like it hadn't been updated in a while. In fact, a lot of the furniture reminded me of mid-twentieth-century styles. A plaid sofa with rough fabric. A worn velvet armchair in seventies gold. A TV that dubiously looked capable of color. None of that triggered any sort of reaction in me, though. What startled me was one framed picture sitting on a bookshelf. It showed a much younger Erik – maybe in his forties – with fewer wrinkles in his dark skin and no gray in his black hair. He had his arm around a thirty-something brunette with big gray eyes and a smile as large as his. Dante nudged me when I stopped, an odd look on his face. â€Å"Come on.† Erik lay in bed. To my relief, he was alive. I didn't realize until that moment just how worried I'd been. My subconscious had feared the worst, even though I'd refused to let it surface. But alive or not, he really didn't look so great. He was sweating and shaking, eyes wide and face pallid. His breathing was shallow. When he saw me, he flinched, and for half a second, I saw terror in his eyes. Then, the fear faded, and he attempted a weak smile. â€Å"Miss Kincaid. Forgive me for not being able to receive you properly.† â€Å"Jesus,† I gasped, sitting on the bed's edge. â€Å"What happened? Are you okay?† â€Å"I will be.† I studied him, trying to piece together what had taken place. â€Å"Were you attacked?† His gaze flicked over to Dante. Dante shrugged. â€Å"In a manner of speaking,† Erik said at last. â€Å"But not in the way you're thinking.† Dante leaned against the wall, appearing a little less grave than he had earlier. â€Å"Don't waste her time with riddles, old man. Spill it.† Erik's eyes narrowed, a bit of fire flaring in their depths. Then, he turned back to me. â€Å"I was attacked†¦mentally, not physically. A woman came to me tonight†¦wraithlike, inhuman†¦wreathed in energy. The kind of beauteous, enthralling energy I see you glow with sometimes.† It was a sweet way to describe my post-sex glamour. â€Å"Was she bat-winged and flame-eyed?† I asked, recalling Dante's long-ago joke about the mythological description of succubi. â€Å"Not a succubus, I'm afraid. That might be easier. No, this†¦I believe†¦was Nyx.† â€Å"Did†¦did you say Nyx?† Of course that was what he'd said, but I'd been waiting for him to launch into a discussion of Oneroi, not their mother. Nyx made no sense. It was one thing for dream spirits to appear in your bedroom and in your dreams. It was an entirely different matter for a monstrous primordial entity of chaos who had been instrumental in creating the world as we know it to appear in your bedroom. It was like saying God had stopped by for waffles on the way to work. Maybe Erik was still delirious. â€Å"Nyx,† he confirmed, no doubt guessing my thoughts. â€Å"Chaos herself. Or, more accurately, Night herself.† From the corner, Dante laughed softly. â€Å"We're all fucked now.† â€Å"She's the mother of the Oneroi,† Erik reminded me. â€Å"And, although dreams aren't her sole domain, she too is connected to them.† â€Å"Then†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I tried to grasp the implications. â€Å"Are you saying she's been responsible for what's been happening to me?† â€Å"It almost makes sense,† said Dante. Erik apparently agreed. â€Å"She's linked to time and all the myriad potential fates that exist for the universe. Fate and time are forever moving closer to chaos – to entropy – and that's what she feeds off of. She's trying to create more of it in the world, to bring us that much nearer to ultimate disintegration. But she's a long way from bringing anything like that about, so she settles for small acts of chaos.† I wasn't following. â€Å"My dreams and energy loss are acts of chaos?† â€Å"No.† Erik glanced at Dante again. â€Å"We believe you're her instrument. Since she's connected to time as well as space, she has the ability to see pieces of the future. And there is no greater way to cause chaos in this world than by revealing the future to mortals. Such visions prove consuming, and if crafted in a certain way, they can drive a person to madness. That person will obsess on it, struggling to either stop it or bring it about in a way it's not actually meant to unfold. Both acts are futile. The future plays out as it is meant to. In trying to alter it, we only make it happen that much more quickly.† â€Å"Like the Oedipus story,† noted Seth. â€Å"His father's attempts to change the prophecy's outcome are what actually made it happen.† Erik nodded. â€Å"Exactly.† I understood now too. â€Å"Just like the cop who saw his partner getting shot. And the man who saw his family benefiting by him swimming the Sound.† â€Å"It's how Nyx operates. Everything she shows them is true†¦just not true in the way they expect. The ensuing madness and destruction brought about by showing mortals their futures – futures that they end up bringing about – feeds her.† â€Å"But where do I fit in?† I demanded. â€Å"She isn't showing me my future or making me do crazy things.† â€Å"That's where the theory ends, succubus,† Dante said. â€Å"You're part of it, absolutely. And she needs you to do all this†¦but we don't know the mechanics of it.† â€Å"This is insane,† I said blankly. â€Å"I'm the instrument of an all-powerful primordial deity's wave of chaos and destruction.† â€Å"That's kind of extreme,† said Dante jovially. â€Å"It's not like you work for Google or anything.† Seth gently touched my shoulder. â€Å"Can I ask a question here? I'm confused by†¦like, how is it possible that you're just now realizing that this†¦Nyx†¦is out there? I mean, if she's as powerful as you claim†¦I don't know. Why didn't you think of her right away? Why hasn't this happened before?† â€Å"Because she's locked up,† I said. â€Å"Or well, she's supposed to be. Heaven and Hell have their own agendas for the world; they don't want her running loose and messing it all up. If this is her, I have no idea how she got loose. She's supposed to be guarded by angels, and if there was ever a group that could – † I let out a gasp that turned into a groan. The others stared at me. â€Å"What's wrong?† asked Seth. â€Å"That's why they're here,† I said. â€Å"I'm such an idiot. There's a monstrous regiment of angels in town. I knew they were looking for something, but I didn't know what.† That would also explain Vincent's interest in local news – he was looking for Nyx-patterns that would provide them with a trail. He'd even started to pursue my knowledge of the cop story, but Seth's shooting and his outing as a nephilim had distracted us all. â€Å"Yeah, well, they're doing a bang-up job,† said Dante. I rose from Erik's bedside. â€Å"I have to tell them what we know. Maybe they'll understand what she's doing to me.† â€Å"Be careful,† Erik warned. â€Å"She's suspicious now†¦I think that's why she came after me. I was looking into this, and she didn't want me to succeed.† Something else suddenly occurred to me. â€Å"Erik†¦did she show you a vision?† He nodded. â€Å"What was it?† It must have been horrible, whatever it was. He'd clearly been in shock when Dante had found him. Erik looked at me, and for an instant, I saw a flash of the terror he'd shown when I first walked into the room. Then, it was gone. â€Å"It doesn't matter, Miss Kincaid. She wanted to scare me, to stop me from helping you†¦but it didn't work. The future will unfold as it's meant to.† Seeing my doubtful look, he smiled again and pointed toward the door. â€Å"Stop worrying about me. I will be fine. Go find your angel friends before anything worse happens.† I gave him a quick hug before stepping into the other room with Seth and Dante. Once again, I paused to study the picture of Erik and the woman. Just as I'd always imagined Erik living in his store, I'd also never pictured him having any sort of personal life. Obviously, that was a foolish thought on my part. Who was this woman? Wife? Lover? Just a friend? Beside me, Dante held out his hand to Seth and introduced himself. The two men sized each other up. â€Å"I've heard so much about you,† said Dante cheerfully. â€Å"I never heard of you until this morning,† remarked Seth. My eyes were still on the picture. Near the edge of the frame, I noticed a crease in the photograph. I don't know what made me do it, but I picked the frame up and pulled the picture out. The right-hand third of the photo had been folded, obscuring another person who had been with Erik and the woman. Dante. I looked up in surprise. Dante took the picture and frame from me and reassembled them. â€Å"There's no time for this, succubus.† â€Å"But – â€Å" â€Å"We have more important things to deal with than your own curiosity right now.† I cast an uneasy look at Erik's closed bedroom door. Dante was right. â€Å"Do you think you could maybe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Dante sighed, anticipating my question. â€Å"Yes, succubus. I'll check in on him today.† For a moment, I thought I saw something in his face†¦something that wasn't just him grudgingly humoring me. Like that maybe – maybe – he cared about Erik too. It was weird, but then, they'd all looked pretty happy in the photograph. The worst enemies were often those who had been friends. This Erik-Dante puzzle just got weirder and weirder. I started to turn away, then Dante called, â€Å"Oh, hey. I can probably make your charm, now that we know what this is.† Hope surged up in me at the thought of finally having safe dreams again. â€Å"Really?† â€Å"If you still want me to,† he added warily. I presumed he was subtly referencing my skepticism – which hadn't entirely abated. Still, now that I had a name for my predator, I was more anxious than ever to take whatever protection I could get. â€Å"Definitely. If you think it'll work.† â€Å"In theory, at least. Nyx isn't exactly a run-of-the-mill spirit. I'll see what I can do.† I drove Seth back to his condo, anxious to let him off, so I could do some searching. â€Å"I have to go find the angels,† I told him. â€Å"I'll catch up to you later.† â€Å"So†¦no movie tonight?† â€Å"I – what? Oh, damn it.† I'd forgotten about the plans we'd made. He'd gotten tickets for an indie movie that was showing one night only here. â€Å"I'm sorry†¦I really am†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Well,† said Seth wryly, â€Å"considering life and death are literally on the line, I think I can forgive it this time.† â€Å"You know what you should do? You should take Maddie. You still owe her a date.† He smiled. â€Å"I have the best girlfriend in the world, always trying to push me into the arms of another woman.† â€Å"I'm serious! She's feeling unwanted. She thinks you don't like her.† â€Å"I like her a lot. The whole thing is just weird, that's all. I think I'm going to see if Terry can go to the movie. Don't give me that look,† he warned. â€Å"I'll still take her somewhere. Just not to this.† We kissed good-bye, and Seth promised to check on me later. Once he was gone, I set out to find my guardian angels.

Cuban Missile Crisis and Cold War Assignment Essay

During the 1960’s, one of the most thing that the American government and the American people had to face was the Cold War. People who grew up during the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s would have talked about the war like it was an everyday thing. But, as the years and decades have gone by people have might have a different option and some might not even know or remember what it was. Interviewing 3 people will show what the average citizen knows or remembers about the Cold War. During the interviews, I asked 3 questions that would help me find this answer. They included, what words or phrases come to mind when you think of the term Cold War? Did you ever study the Cold War in school? If so, what are some aspects of the Cold War that you remember? Who were the parties involved in the Cold War? Can you name any key events that we mainly associate with the Cold War? The first person that was interviewed said the first word that came to mind when asked about the Cold War was the Cuban missile crisis. This person did study the Cold War in school and remembered that the United States was trying to keep most of the things discrete when it came to the political side of the war. The parties involved according to this person were the United States and the Soviet Union. Some of the key events that were associated were of course the Cuban Missile Crisis, the dealership of arms at the time, and the nuclear weapons involved. This person remembered a key point in the Cold War but, did not remember in detail what was taught in school. The second person that was interviewed stated the key things that came to mind about the Cold War, was the Soviet Union. They also mentioned that the Soviet Union had fallen after the Cold War. This person has also studied the Cold War in school and remembered that it lasted a long time and was after WWII. This person said the parties that were involved were the Soviet Union and the United States. The key elements that most people would relate to the Cold War were the length of the war and that it cost the United States so much money. They stated that the war was over a 4 decade period and said it cost upward to 8 trillion dollars and countless numbers of lives lost. This person knew about the cold war but only remembers a little of what was taught from school. The final person that was interviewed, stated that the first thing that came to mind when asked about the Cold War was the war was based the state of military rivalry and political tensions. The war consisted of the United States government and the government of the Soviet Union. The United States lost many lives in the hundreds throughout the long drawn out war. The person stated that they did study the Cold War in school and can remember how controversial it was for the American people and also with the government. The individual stated that the two parties they can think have been the United States and the Soviet Union. Finally, a key element of the war that was known across the United States was that the war had the complications of nuclear weapons and the countries trying to become a leader in arms dealing. Basically, see who had the most weapons and the more military firepower and power overall. This person had more knowledge as far as the understanding and remembrance of the Cold War. After conducting the interviews about the Cold War, there are some similarities to what the people who were interviewed had said. The definition of the Cold War was similar to the one given at the beginning of the assignment. All of the definitions of what the cold war was about and what were the key elements have to do with the political issues and the issues of the American people. This shows that people were divided in deciding if the Cold War was the right way to go. There was a lot of tension and cautiousness about the topic of the Cold War.

Crisis and Opportunity Essay

1) Introduction Nowadays, we have created our own world of technology. Convenience and efficiency are catered through it. Yet, the earth, the natural world, seems to rebel against such artificial world, by sending signals of natural crises to us. In this project, we are going to talk about â€Å"How people benefit from Water Crisis† surrounding the theme â€Å"Crisis and Opportunity†. The water crisis is branched out as two sections, namely water shortage and water pollution. The amount of water in the world is stable; it just changes its physical forms. Nonetheless, the problem of water shortages still exists. In fact, what we lack is clean water. With rapid advancing of human activities and technology, and unfavorable natural features like uneven distribution of rivers, the water crisis is growingly affecting our lives negatively and takes them at risk. Water is polluted by increasing human activities. Industrial wastes which include heavy metals like mercury and lead, harmful to living things, are illegally dumped into water sources; Sewage is directly deposited into rivers, which normally is a source of clean water. Ultimately, global warming, was elicited by human too, depletes clean water. With changing of climates, some countries face more floods which pollute clean water while other countries face more droughts which cause massive drying out of clean water. Now, we start worrying about the crisis because water controls our lives tightly as we could not survive without it. On the other hand, people are developing more and more solutions. By approaching the problem optimistically, this ought to turn this crisis into an opportunity so that we and the world can proceed sustainably. Scientists from all around the world have come up with ideas to solve the problem piecemeal. 2) Literature Review We used secondary research in this paper as there is simply no way for us to conduct our own research on water crisis. We mainly consulted online websites and read some online books. We also read articles from credible magazines such as National Geographic There is also a website called Global Water Intelligence which is a Market-Leading website for the analysis of International water industry. From these sources, we mainly found out that water is very limited around the world and there are people dying from consuming polluted water or simply dehydration. We also found out that the water crisis brought out some new technologies that changed the water pattern of the world. Have you ever thought of turning water from your basin into drinking water? Some people may think that it is impossible, or even a disaster. However, in Singapore, scientists have developed some methods, which can change waste water into pure water. The reused water is called the â€Å"New Water†. How to purify used water? Used water is collected from residence, companies, and schools, and then it is purified by three steps. First, it undergoes microfiltration. Large particles can be filtered away in this step. Afterwards, it undergoes reverse osmosis. Differentially-permeable membranes are used in reverse osmosis. These membranes contain tiny holes, which can only allow water molecules to pass through, so contaminated substances, such as viruses, bacteria can be removed. Lastly, ultraviolet light is used as a back-up to ensure the remaining micro-organisms were completely killed. This makes â€Å"New Water†. On the other hand, some people might worry that â€Å"New Water† was unclean, and thus may affect the health of citizens. However, research conducted, as shown in figure 1 and 2, the level of organic substance and amount of bacteria in â€Å"New Water† was much lower than the local reservoir water. Indeed, this shows that the â€Å"New Water† meets the requirement of drinking water so its safety was ensured. Compare to the other sources of water, â€Å"New Water† is even cleaner. Therefore, it was awarded many global water awards among these years, and this can surely tackle the problem of water shortage without polluting. There is another way to tackle water shortage and pollution. Do you know how sailors obtain fresh water when they are on a voyage? They obtain fresh water by changing sea water into drinking water. This method is called desalination. Sea water accounts for 97% of the world’s water resource. Only the remaining 3% is consumable for humans. In some countries like Saudi Arabia, there is water shortage. They only have a small amount of consumable fresh water. However, they have a large supply of sea water. However the salinity of sea water is four times higher than our body fluids. When we drink salt water, water molecules in our cells will move out of the cell due to osmosis. This net transfer of water may cause our cells to shrink, which may lead to dehydration, and death in serious situations. So how can this modern technology help us to turn this crisis into another opportunity? Desalination refers to the removal of salt and other minerals of saline water to make it consumable. It has become increasingly popular in recent years due to enhancement in technology. There are two methods for desalination. The most common type is work by reverse osmosis, which is based on osmosis- the movement of substances from a lower concentration to a higher concentration. It is a membrane-technology filtration and removes salt and minerals by pressurizing the sea water, forcing them to move through the selective membrane. The selective membrane has pores that allow only water particle to pass through, so that salt molecules and other pollutants are trapped behind the membrane. The by-product produced in the process is salt. It creates an economic opportunity. The process in a desalination plant Thermal distillation is another way of desalination other than reverse osmosis. It is known as the multi-stage flash distillation. It distillates water by flashing a portion of water into steam in multiple stages and then condense them into portable water. Where do we find desalination plant? In Hong Kong, the Water Supplies Department has two desalination plants which use reverse osmosis. The first one is located in Ap Lei Chau and the other one located in Tuen Mun. The government is also planning to build another desalination plant in Tseung Kwan O. There are 100 countries around the world which uses this technology. Saudi Arabia accounts for 25% of the world’s desalination output, with over 2000 desalination plants around the country. A desalination plant in Saudi Arabia. Apart from the problem of water pollution and water shortage, water crisis itself can also be an opportunity, if we look at it from another perspective. It can raise global awareness and promote international cooperation. Thus it drives globalization. Water crisis is a global issue. It cannot be solved by only the cooperation of a few countries; full cooperation from countries all around the world is required. Therefore, some international cooperation was established in order to help countries joining hands to solve water crisis. One of the examples is the World Water Council. The World Water Council organizes the World Water Forum once every three years. In the forum, representatives from different countries join together and come up with some solutions to solve the water crisis. It includes signing of protocols, reducing pollutants in order to help geographic areas that are facing an immediate water shortage. This can not only help to solve the water crisis, but also create peace among countries. 3) Discussion and Analysis What are the benefits of using â€Å"New Water† instead of local reservoir water? First, it can solve the problem of water shortage. In Singapore, there is not enough water because there are only a few rivers running through this small country, but it is densely populated. Reused water is using the same amount of water many times, so we can have unlimited water source without worrying being used up. Moreover, using â€Å"New Water† can help protecting the environment. Waste water cause water pollution, which can contaminate fresh water source; by using â€Å"New Water†, water can be reused and it will not cause any further pollution. This is beneficial to the environment. Furthermore, â€Å"New Water† can boost tourism. In Singapore, the â€Å"NEw Water† visitors centre is a new attraction. It attracts tourists to visit as it provides opportunities for them to explore Science and learn more about water. Last but not least, â€Å"New Water† can help Singapore to make money, as it can sell this technology to other countries. Some countries, such as, China and Europe has already started using â€Å"New Water† instead, as it is purer than local reservoir water. In conclusion, â€Å"New Water† is alternate solution, which can change water pollution and shortage into a profitable opportunity. Now, let us move on to desalination. Some people think that although desalination may seem to be a solution to our current water crisis, it has certain potential implications that cause harm to our environment. Fossil fuels or nuclear power are used in the majority of desalination plants. The burning of fossil fuels releases a large amount of carbon dioxide into the air. The increase in this disastrous greenhouse gas consequently makes global warming worse. Alternatively, but still, nuclear power is dangerous. The radiation leakage in Japan had spread concerns all over the world. Radiation is carcinogenic. People living near the nuclear power plant had to be relocated. It even made Japanese seafood un-consumable. Besides, the food chain is affected since water and soil is polluted by radiation. Furthermore, membrane-technology is expensive. The production cost of water per meter cube is HK$7.8- HK$8.4. However, the advantages of desalination outweights its costs because it can make water available to areas that have a scarce supply of fresh water. Why Saudi Arabia needs a lot of desalination plant? It is because it is located in a place where there is short supply of water. With desalination, they can change sea water into fresh water. It provides a reliable and sufficient supply of water to the growing communities, which reduces the crisis of water shortage. More people will have a steady supply of water and lives will be saved. People will no longer die from the lackage of water. The costs of human lives are much more important than the costs of desalination. The cost of desalination is only short-term and it can be solved by using renewable energy instead, such as solar energy and wind power. Also, the cost of desalination will be lowered once it is developed and widely used around the world. To sum up, desalination is another effective way to change water crisis into an opportunity. â€Å"A coin has two sides†. Water crisis does not only bring disadvantages, but it is also an opportunity for countries to join together and solve this global issue. This can improve international relationships and bring peace to countries. On the one hand, some people may argue that water crisis would not bring any peace to countries, but instead it brings conflicts and chaos. Some research show that as water crisis is getting more and more serious, water source becomes a weapon, and it may be a threat to other countries. Therefore, if one country is located at the upper course, while the other is located at the lower course, the one at the upper course can control the flow of water. However, the establishments of international organizations help to solve this problem together by promoting the saving of water supply and improvement of technology. This can create communication channels and may help to maintain peace in certain countries. For example, the 6th Water Forum held in Marseille, from 12 to 17 March 2012 was a great success. Participants from over 145 countries join this event. They discuss global water problems together. Through debates and in-depth dialogue, they were able to know more about water crisis and many stakeholders commit that they would try their best to conserve water in order to help the needy. This shows that water crisis can raise global awareness and promote international cooperation. (+ but piecemeal and suggestion) (favourable risk and insight) 4) Conclusion The water crisis does not have to be devastating. Flipside, there are advantages of it on bringing opportunities to communities, the world and to us. In face with the same problem, people unite and untangle the cluttered yarn of puzzle, mystery and problems. Because of the water crisis, people start organizing Water Forums so that opinions all around are synthesized, analyzed and become a grand solution. Working scientists, assisting each other and aiming at the target, invented ways like the New water and desalination of water. ‘Even the darkest night will end. And the sun will rise.’ There is always a solution to a problem. However, we could not just rely on the technology to solve this problem but we should also help conserving water and raise the global awareness. To solve the problem entirely we must start from its roots. Take a shower instead of a bath. Don’t leave the water running when you are brushing your teeth. Switch off any dripping taps. This will also decrease your electricity bill and help to build a greener environment where water is plentiful. If we still consume water at a stage like this, we are exploiting resources from our next generations, which doesn’t make the planet sustainable. With the cooperation of everybody, we strongly believe that water crisis will definitely change into an opportunity and the world would be a better place to live in. 5) Reference and Appendices Asia’s Water Crisis†¦and Opportunity (No.2 2011) Solutions http://solutions.bv.com/asias-water-crisis-and-opportunity/ Peak Water: Crisis or Opportunity? (Tuesday, December 1, 2009) Carbon Foresight http://carbonforesight.blogspot.hk/2009/12/peak-water-crisis-or-opportunity.html â€Å"Turning China’s Water Crisis into Investment Opportunity† Market Brief Water August 2009, New Ventures http://www.new-ventures.org.cn/sites/default/files/upload/turning_chinas_water_crisis_into_investment_opportunity.pdf â€Å"Who profiting from the water crisis†, Issue 452, New Internationalist Magazine http://www.newint.org/features/2012/05/01/water-crisis-profit-opportunity/ Singapore National water agency http://www.pub.gov.sg/water/newater/Pages/default.aspx Graphs: Fig1 and 2 http://www.pub.gov.sg/water/newater/quality/Pages/default.aspx How Desalination works http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/how-does-desalination-work.htm http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/desalination.htm Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desalination Fdu Magazine online 2003 http://www.fdu.edu/newspubs/magazine/03su/desalination.html The World water Council http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/ â€Å"Solving the World Water Crisis Takes International Cooperation†, Suite101 http://suite101.com/article/solving-the-world-water-crisis-takes-international-cooperation-a265088

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 147

Summary - Essay Example He stressed on necessity to separate Islam of the Prophet Mohammad which never teaches terror from Islam Kharijites. Mustafa Ceric said war against terrorism imply a war against Islam, because terrorists proclaimed they were acting on behalf of Muslims. Tim Sebastian asked Mustafa Ceric if there too much hatred preached within Muslim tradition. Mustafa Ceric answered that hatred should be stopped both from Muslims and non-Muslims sides. Ramzi E. Khoury said the war was about oil, therefore it’s â€Å"a godless war†. He doubted that current Western authorities are religious persons. Second part basically specified panelists’ opinions while answering audience’s questions. Anas Altikriti pointed, that 9/11 changed situation and it’s no more only geopolitical, like The Gulf War was. Feisal Abdul Rauf spoke about fear West has of Islam. Anas Altikriti retorted, it confirmed that war was religious. Feisal Abdul Rauf disagreed, because Western people were just afraid of losing control on own lands. Both panelists highlighted the role of media in negative image of Islam. Second question brought a thesis, though Muslims themselves shouldn’t allow terrorists speak on behalf of all Muslims, US government and media oppose the positive image of Islam. Mustafa Ceric specified, US had enough power to change this image, therefore Muslims should stay open for dialog. Feisal Abdul Rauf specified, Muslims should â€Å"de-link† Islam and help Western people to understand Muslims. Audience asked, if a background of war change an oppression of Mus lims on West. Feisal Abdul Rauf stressed on necessity to separate reality form perception, because war can be shaped in different ways. Mustafa Ceric pointed later, that 9/11 revealed anti-Muslims views, therefore it was act against Muslims

The Hawaiian revolution ( History of the United States ) Essay

The Hawaiian revolution ( History of the United States ) - Essay Example This paper will look at some of the events that led to the Hawaiian Revolution, and what the revolution meant to the people of Hawaii during that period. Being a monarchial state, Hawaii was ruled by a royal family, which ensured the safety and protection of the land. The king, David Kalakaua, got his authority from the people of Hawaii after successfully managing to reduce the power of the missionaries in the region. He ruled but was unsuccessful in completely eliminating the foreign powers in Hawaii, who would later turn against him. This led to the drafting of a new constitution that would limit his authority (Lightner 67). After the death of the king, Liliuokalani, his sister, succeeded him in 1891 and she refused to recognize the constitution in place opting to bring forth another that would give the native Hawaiians the right to vote and restore power to the monarch. It was at this point that the wealthy American class in Hawaii chose to establish the 13-member committee, which would ensure that the queen was overthrown for her treachery against the constitution. The coup took place on January 17, 1893 after the shooting and wounding of a police officer who tried to cease armament meant for the committee. In order to avert violence in the region, the queen opted to surrender peacefully after her palace was surrounded by the committee’s militia. It was at this point that the committee put in place a government that would rule the region and had a president who was given the authority to rule over the dominion. In 1895, however, a group of Hawaiian loyalists who believed in the old ways and traditions started their own coup, but failed in securing the region back to its rightful owners (Fritz 59). In some history books, this has been identified as the counter-revolution, which was brief and the lack of casualties makes it largely forgotten by most people. After its failure, the

Is terrorism ever justified Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Is terrorism ever justified - Essay Example Terrorism cannot be justified because it causes fear and anxiety among peaceful populations. To some extent, it must be acknowledged that the fear of Arab terrorism among the American population has been cultivated, and that this cultivation clearly implicates the American media. This does not mean that other of the "institutional means of influence" are without fault (Reich and Laqueur 71). For example, fundamentalist Christianity inside the United States (whose churches and televangelists frequently view Israeli dominance as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy) clearly contributes to the real anti-Semitism in the United States. However, compared to the other ideological institutions, media influence is virtually universal and potentially life-long for the population. In a context of alienation, the media becomes both a tranquilizer and a source of the sharpening of images for dramatic effect (Kushner 360). Violence as a part of the terror attack cannot be justified. In the dominant view, those who perpetrate outsider violence are often portrayed as irrational or crazed, exercising a twisted thirst for blood. A political economy of terrorism must take note of such efforts, probing theoretically the structure of ideological systems, and placing these in a material context. Following Singh: "There is almost an infinite variety of violence of anti-social nature-homicide, acts of vandalism, arson, destructive rage, or other expressions of an essentially irrational urge to strike at someone or something" (Singh 377). Beyond this, a political economy of terrorism must place statist behavior in a world system context. However, terror is not confined to purely instrumental linkages between specific nation states and the misdeveloping world. The modern state may be quite "rational" in its projection of national power on a world scale through military force, covert intelligence operations, and e conomic sanctions (Edwards n.d.). State power may be used quite "systematically" to maintain an order of inequality with both global and domestic dimensions. And all of this may be done in the name of national sovereignty and international law. Indeed, it may be a function of lawyers working for the state to find "lawful" reasons for policies of international and national intimidation (Egendorf 2004). Terrorism cannot be justified because it involves the systematic use of torture and the rise of military and police forces engaged in an internal war against a subject population. This form of terrorism may also be waged through shadow organizations, death squads, and the like that have no official power but that are clearly linked with the national elite (Egendorf 2004). However, to focus on regime terror is often deceptive. To cast the issue of terrorism as the abuse of state power by political deviants may be to ignore the more endemic, taken-for-granted, higher forms of sanctioned violence that avoid the terrorist label. It may also ignore state structural imperatives (expressed in policy and action, including the threat or use of force) designed to preserve a transnational market system. At the international level, the higher terrorism takes different forms. It is ironic that in the political lexicon of terrorism, war between states is routinely omitted. Indeed, the architects o f the state may subscribe to humanitarian codes

Introduction to Entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Introduction to Entrepreneurship - Essay Example He or she does so with the drive to get profits, but they must also be bold enough to bear the risks that go with doing business. An entrepreneur may have employees or may work independently. What inspires me to Learn from Successful Entrepreneurs? What inspires me to learn from successful entrepreneurs is the qualities they posses that makes them successful. Their characteristics include â€Å"creativity, dedication, determination, flexibility, leadership, passion, self-confidence, and â€Å"smarts† (U.S. Department of State/Bureau of International Information Programs, 2012, p. 2). Creativity: this is the driving force behind invention of new products or creating new ways to do business. Successful entrepreneurs possess this quality and by looking at what they did you can come up with your own invention or improve on what they did. Sisamos, the owner of Engino.net Ltd, says that the beauty of being an entrepreneur is that you create your own destiny (European Commission, 20 09, p. 55). Dedication: It is what makes the entrepreneurs to work hard. Looking at successful entrepreneurs, they are always working. They created a new idea and they have to make it work. Looking at their lives, you can gauge yourself if you are ready for the undertaking. Determination: this is the inbuilt desire of an entrepreneur to succeed. He or she is not discouraged by failure and persistently keeps trying until he or she succeeds. Learning from them is of great value because it encourages one not to give up in the business undertaking. Flexibility: this is the ability to respond to the changing market trends. Learning from the lives of successful entrepreneurs, you will find that some of them at one time had to change products/ services or introduce new products /services. Their success story prepares you for any eventuality when starting a business and to be prepared for change. Passion: successful entrepreneurs have the ability to convince others about their vision. They are focused, and it is important to look at their plans in order to become a successful entrepreneur. Self-confidence: successful entrepreneurs believe in themselves. They plan thoroughly to reduce uncertainty and risk. They listen but they are not easily swayed. This is a character that is admirable among the entrepreneurs. â€Å"Smarts†: this is a combination of common sense, knowledge, and experience in a similar or related business undertaking. The main contributors of smarts are employment, skills, and education. We can learn a lot from the â€Å"smarts† of various successful entrepreneurs. To me, entrepreneurship is a mix of many elements; however, one has to be inventive in order to venture into this field; he or she has to do a thorough market study to see what lacks in the society and come up with an economic activity that will help close that gap. An entrepreneur is majorly a creator and also a destroyer: by creating a new way to do things one may render old methods obsolete. He or she would have helped one group while rendered another group jobless. Biography of Anita Roddick In this biography, I am going to look into the life of Anita Roddick and single out the entrepreneurship characteristics in her. These characteristics include creativity, dedication, determination, flexibility, leadership, passion, self confidence, and â€Å"smarts†. Anita Roddick was born in Littlehampton in 1942 (Bio, 2012). Her