Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Econometrics Project- Tax income in the United State and United Dissertation
Econometrics Project- Tax income in the United State and United Kingdom - Dissertation Example Strong support for Keynesian model in US data. Insignificant coefficient of interest rate in UK data. Unit root test of residuals indicate possibility of these being spurious. Engel and Granger (1987) error correction model pursued to utilize co-integrated nature of data. Only the dynamics of output seems to matter for growth in investment. Interest rate changes does not have any significant impacts. Accelerator model performs substantially better in both economies. However, unit root tests reveal these results may be spurious. Null hypothesis of non-cointegration could not be rejected. So, we could not proceed with Engel and Granger error correction methodology. Instead ran regressions in differences. The growth in lagged real output turns out to be significant for growth in investment. There is a direct relation. ... Further, any model is yet to be convincingly validated empirically. However, till date the best performance in terms of fitting the data is credited to the actual and variants of the acceleration principle. The objective of the present paper is to utilize co-integration techniques to estimate a particular model of investment. In particular we are interested in exploring the empirical validity of the acceleration principle. The fundamental contribution of this paper is two fold. First, we shall utilize co-integrated nature of the data. Additionally, we shall use this model to examine the similarities and dissimilarities in US and UK investment trajectories and its determinants. Since investment is a key macro economic variable for growth and development, the inherent motivation is to derive instructive results that are relevant to macro-economic policy formulation. The paper is structured as follows: in section 1 we do a literature review of the theories and empirical work on investme nt. In particular we initiate the discussion by looking at the Keynesian ideas regarding investment. Then we shall look at the advances in the literature since then. In the subsequent sections we shall evaluate the performance of the models in regards to US data and then UK data using co-integration, error correction and differencing techniques. Finally, the last section will summarize the findings and conclude. Â 2. literature review The central feature of the neoclassical renaissance post 1870 was the distribution theory based upon marginalist principles (Fisher, 1930; Marshall, 1890; Walras, 1874). Essentially the theory implies a negatively sloped demand for capital. The idea was that entrepreneurs would go on
Monday, October 28, 2019
Trial By the Mirror Essay Example for Free
Trial By the Mirror Essay â€Å"Underneath the shadows of the other side of time If there is a hell then there must be a behind†-Insane Clown Posse, â€Å"Echo Side†           She is led into the room by two strong men, plump and middle age. The dark blonde hair quivers as she sobs. Her legs tremble and give way, and her eyes, fallen in deeply an a face that was formerly round, are pleading. She is flopped down onto the chair designated for those condemned to the Highest Measure, and looks at us, holding clenched hands to her mouth.            We – Nikolas and I – look at her indifferently.            â€Å"Marjorie Penant. Nickolas states.            She nods numbly.            â€Å"You have killed†He starts repeating her sentence to her. We are required to do it. Psychological torture it may be, but its part of the common procedure now. Something required before we finish our job. It is difficult otherwise, to            â€Å"I have killed no one!†Her voice rings out suddenly, kicking my train of thought off track. Damn condemned!            Yet this just may have been worth interrupting my musings for a moment. Most condemned lose all sense of will before the Highest Measure. She stands now, shaking not with fear, but with rage. Nikolas nods slightly, his perpetual boredom somewhat alleviated. Interesting – and it would seem its my turn to speak.            â€Å"Really?†Only one word. I know my voice is darkly musical. This is my gift, my power, so to speak.            The word echoes almost visibly through her body, making her consider and reconsider, invoking into her things that she might not want to remember, as forceful as the call of hunger after many days of starvation. She covers her ears, and stands erect for a couple of seconds, only to fall to the floor with a shriek. â€Å"N-no!!!†           My lips curl into a smirk. As expected. Ninety-nine percent of humans cant stand my voice sBut whats this?            â€Å"I Killed Nobody†She grunts through clenched teeth. â€Å"Ive Killed NOBODY!†           I cast a glance at Nikolas, who calmly continues reading her sentence. â€Å"You have killed three children, by exposing them to Matters of the Soul early.†           She raises a tear-stained face, and her voice is strangely clear, as she pronounces: â€Å"I. Killed. Not. One. Of. Them.†She sits up with obvious difficulty. â€Å"Your system did.†           â€Å"You went against it. And took them with you.†Nikolas says calmly.            â€Å"Because its nonsense!†She says sharply.            I raise an eyebrow calmly. Looks like I was mistaken in my first impression. She is not the simpleton she initially looked to be. I had even wondered why she earned her measure. I no longer wonder.            â€Å"Really?†You are despicable – this is what my voice says this time. You decided their fates, and their deaths are only your fault. You should cry with relief that we are a humane society and merely killed them – not did what we are going to do to you. Be self-contemptuous, be afraid, be dead – my voice commands it all.            â€Å"Nonsense!†She gasps stubbornly. â€Å"Th The soul Isnt something to be taken away by the likes of you!!†           â€Å"Pedagogue.†Nikolas says calmly. â€Å"Parts of the soul are shown as a human being gets older. Gradually. It does no harm this way.†           â€Å"And destroys our humanity!†She says proudly.            So typical of the old-style humanists. Nikolas looks to me. â€Å"Laas?†           â€Å"You destroy it yourself.†I add calmly. â€Å"Was it not you who cried for your life a minute ago?†           â€Å"I cried for the lives of my children.†She replies dryly. â€Å"Not for my own. It is in no danger.†           â€Å"You have been condemned to meeting yourself.†Nikolas finishes the sentence. And then adds; â€Å"You are wrong when you think your life is in no danger. You have been through meeting with parts of your soul.†           â€Å"And they have taught me much.†She raises her chin proudly.            â€Å"The shadows do not teach.†I frown. â€Å"They take away.†           She looks upon me with an expression I have not seen since my initiation. It is pity. â€Å"Then you were unable to cope with their lessons. As the fourth child was unable to cope with mine. And it will kill you. As it killed them.†           â€Å"And you.†I reply.            â€Å"No.†She says simply. â€Å"Go on. I want no other last words.†           I and Nikolas silently lead her to the silver arch. She is left under it, as we walk to the sides of it. We press our palms to the sides pf the arch, and darkness begins playing between it, almost touching it. The feeling of stepping through the arch is like skydiving, I know. Without a parachute.            She throws her hands up. â€Å"Nothing is true! Everything is permitted!†And jumps through the arch. The darkness swallows her, and wavers, as the machine starts working            Nikolas turns to me. â€Å"I think we will have a new one among us.†           I scrutinize the arch. The gate to the Other Side was reserved for those who did not deserve the Death Penalty. Especially those who committed the ultimate crime against humanity – destroyed the integrity of society by teaching younglings about souls before they were fully grown. This was the standard tactic of terrorists these days. Most return from the arch dead, a cruel death. It contains a realm of endless madness, among which, somewhere, is your own self, inflicting the insanity.            I know all about it. After all, I had once stood before the same gate myself.            The darkness wavers once more, as it spits out the woman who was Marjorie. Her eyes are dead now that she knows what she has been teaching her children. Sanity is limitation, after all. Those who break limitations too early, die to the world. Who survive death, learn to control limits.            Nikolas extends his hand to her. â€Å"Come.†He says soothingly. â€Å"You have much to learn.â€
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Advance involves loss :: essays research papers
It has been said that â€Å"Any Advance involves some loss†. This is in fact true because life is a learning process, where if nothing is lost nothing is learned. Mistakes are made and people learn from them. In life things are lost but something will always come from it. There have been many events in history and in literature that prove this saying right. In order for they’re to be an advance, or for something to be gained there are costs of sacrifices to be made but in the end the result is usually beneficial.      In between 1861 and 1865 there was a Civil War in the United Sates of America between the North and South in which the South wanted to secede from the Union. The civil war ended with a human cost of over half a million lives and untold amounts of property. It was a brutal conflict. Reuniting the nation proved to be a long and difficult task. The North’s victory meant that Lincolns goal of keeping the nation whole was achieved. He looked to restore peace and harmony. â€Å"The Emancipation Proclamation†of 1803 had announced the North would abolish slavery in the rebelling states. Lincoln planned to have the rebel states pass laws abolishing slavery, but since the states took no action congress moved. In December 1865, the states ratified the thirteenth amendment abolishing slavery.      In the play â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun†, Lorraine Hansberry, the younger family was not a very wealthy one. Their financial troubles caused for tension and discontent. An event in this play changed the lives of the Younger’s forever, when a check of $10, 000 arrived. This money comes form the hard work of Mr. Younger, husband of Mama, in this play who worked long hard hours to provide his family with this check after his death. It took the Death of Mr. Younger, and his strenuous work he did all of his life to receive this check. With this check the family could now move into a comfortable living space, and help them live life easier.      Overall, in order to gain something one must lose something. Advance involves loss :: essays research papers It has been said that â€Å"Any Advance involves some loss†. This is in fact true because life is a learning process, where if nothing is lost nothing is learned. Mistakes are made and people learn from them. In life things are lost but something will always come from it. There have been many events in history and in literature that prove this saying right. In order for they’re to be an advance, or for something to be gained there are costs of sacrifices to be made but in the end the result is usually beneficial.      In between 1861 and 1865 there was a Civil War in the United Sates of America between the North and South in which the South wanted to secede from the Union. The civil war ended with a human cost of over half a million lives and untold amounts of property. It was a brutal conflict. Reuniting the nation proved to be a long and difficult task. The North’s victory meant that Lincolns goal of keeping the nation whole was achieved. He looked to restore peace and harmony. â€Å"The Emancipation Proclamation†of 1803 had announced the North would abolish slavery in the rebelling states. Lincoln planned to have the rebel states pass laws abolishing slavery, but since the states took no action congress moved. In December 1865, the states ratified the thirteenth amendment abolishing slavery.      In the play â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun†, Lorraine Hansberry, the younger family was not a very wealthy one. Their financial troubles caused for tension and discontent. An event in this play changed the lives of the Younger’s forever, when a check of $10, 000 arrived. This money comes form the hard work of Mr. Younger, husband of Mama, in this play who worked long hard hours to provide his family with this check after his death. It took the Death of Mr. Younger, and his strenuous work he did all of his life to receive this check. With this check the family could now move into a comfortable living space, and help them live life easier.      Overall, in order to gain something one must lose something.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
The Harmful Educational Tracking System Essay -- Education, Curriculum
In this day and age, the United States, leader of the free world, is not leading. Our economic system is failing. Even worse, our educational system falls short compared to other nations. Consequently, our literacy rate and mathematical abilities are far behind; and even more embarrassing is the fact that education is not doled out equally despite our rather relentless fight against inequality. When academic achievement is examined on the basis of race, class, and gender, widening academic gaps are evident. * If this continues, there will be nowhere to go but down, economically and educationally. In order to prevent this foreboding future, we must get rid of the practice behind it - Tracking. Tracking, or homogenous grouping, is a process in which groups of students are assigned to different sets of classes, or tracks, based on factors such as academic performance, teacher recommendation, and potential for acquiring more knowledge (Oakes 3; Gamoran and Mare 1152). Schools use tracking to determine class placement for students for optimal instruction. The placement of these students is, supposedly, meant to meet their varying needs. In some schools tracking is done based on subject, meaning a student can be a quick learner in math, but slow in language, etc (Lockwood 2; Oakes 3). While tracking can serve as an effective means of organization within a school, it also harbors many detrimental effects for students. This brings me to the purpose of this paper, that tracking is not a practice worth continuing and should be discontinued? Tracking must be terminated. In this paper, in order to understand why we must detrack, I will first examine tracking in terms of race and class. Second, I will consider the effects of tracking as... ...Web. 14 Oct. 2011. Page, Reba Neukom. Lower-Track Classrooms: A Curricular and Cultural Perspective. New York: Teachers College, 1991. Print Petrilli, Michael. â€Å"All Together Now? Educating High and Low Achievers in the Same Classroom.†Education Next 11.1 (2011): 48-55. Web. 4 Nov. 2011. Pool, Harbison, and Jane A. Page, eds. Beyond Tracking: Finding Success in Inclusive Schools. Bloomington, Indiana: Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation, 1995. Print. Schofield, Janet Ward â€Å"International Evidence on Ability Grouping With Curriculum Differentiation and the Achievement Gap in Secondary Schools.†Teachers College Record 112.5 (2010):1492-1528. Wheelock, Anne. Alternatives To Tracking and Ability Grouping. Virginia: American Association of School Administrators, 1994. Print.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Questions for Stuff
1. What issues divided the Whigs and Democrats? How did the Panic of 1837 and its aftermath solidify the Democratic and Whig parties? How did the massive immigration of the 1840s influence the balance of power between the Whig and Democratic parties? 2. In what ways did the concept of Manifest Destiny affect the foreign and domestic policies of the US in the years 1840-1850? What economic and political forces fed westward expansion during the 1840s? 3. Why did Americans settle in Texas? How did it become an independent country in 1836? 4. Why did the U. S. wait until Tyler’s final days in office to annex Texas?What problems did the annexation of Texas bring to the country? 5. What were the countries that claimed the Oregon territory? How was the dispute eventually settled? 6. What were the arguments that both sides employed for and against going to war with Mexico? 7. How did the acquisition of the Mexican Cession spark a national debate? 8. To what extent did the Compromise o f 1850 represent a genuine meeting of the minds between northerners and southerners? How, specifically, did the controversy over enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act contribute to the undoing of the Compromise? 9.Why did the Whig Party collapse in the wake of the Kansas-Nebraska Act? Why did the Democratic Party not collapse? 10. How did the outbreak of conflict in Kansas influence the rise of the Republican Party? 11. Why is John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry considered a significant historical event? 12. What led southerners to conclude that the North was bent not merely on restricting territorial slavery but also on extinguishing slavery in southern states? 13. What was the platform of each party in the election of 1860? Why did Lincoln win? 14. How would YOU explain the causes of the Civil War?
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
The Kings Speech Essays
The Kings Speech Essays The Kings Speech Essay The Kings Speech Essay While The Kings Speech draws upon a number of historical facts and events, this is not its primary concern. The film is about the effect of a person’s family on how the person develops. For example, in The Kings Speech, King George VI’s brother abdicating and his father’s cruelty played a part in his stammer and lack of confidence. The film is also about the importance of a secure support system, for example Queen Elizabeth and Lionel Logue were Berties support system and they helped him overcome his stammer and lack of confidence.A third important issue in the film is about the different approach to class distinction by British and Australian people, as shown by the expectations of Bertie and Queen Elizabeth that Lionel Logue will do whatever they wanted and Lionel Logues insistence on working on his own terms. Finally, the film is about how a person can dig deep into their own character to become a better person and in Berties case, a be tter King. He overcame his speech impediment, anger and confidence issues to prove to himself, his family and his country that he was suitable to be King.The effect of one’s family on how the person develops is significant. His father’s cruel upbringing and the mockery received from his siblings were a contributing factor to his lack of confidence as a young man. For example, Lionel asked Bertie: â€Å"Did David ever tease you? †â€Å"Oh yes of course! Ber-ber-be-bertie. Father encouraged it. He said ‘GET IT OUT BOY’. Said it would make me stop. I was afraid of my father, and my children are damn well going to be afraid of me! ’†(The Kings Speech, 2010).Also, being forced to use his right hand when he was naturally left-handed and having to wear metal splints for knocked knees also contributed to his shyness, which caused him to develop a stammer. When growing up, it is important to have a strong support system and without one, the e ffect on a persons confidence can be devastating. In Berties case, it caused his stammer. Bertie’s brother abdicating put even more pressure on him and made the stammer worse: Bertie talking to Edward about abdicating, says â€Å"That is terrible thing to hear. Nobody wants to hear that, me least of all†(Hooper, 2010).Also, â€Å"I am not a King, I am a naval officer. I’m not a king, I’m not a king†(The Kings Speech, 2010). The psychological effect his brother abdicating had on him, was enough to send him back to Logue for more therapy. Bertie was fortunate to find that his wife, Elizabeth, gave him the love and support he did not receive from his own family. She was his backbone. At the start of the film, when George had given up and he said â€Å"promise me, no more†(The Kings Speech, 2010), she believed in him and knew she had to keep trying to find the right person to help him.It was only through her efforts, that they found Logue. Th roughout the film, whenever George was giving a speech, she would be there in support of him. â€Å"I’m sure you’ll do great†(The Kings Speech, 2010) were her words of encouragement before Berties final speech on the war against Germany in the film. The love and encouragement of a persons partner can help the person achieve great things. The fact that Logue was Australian was also an important element to helping Bertie overcome his difficulties.The approach to class distinction of Australians is different to the approach of British people. British people believe strongly in social hierarchy. Being Queen, Elzabeths high expectations revolve around respectfulness and full cooperation of the subject. The laid back personality of an Australian is to treat everyone with equality and treat everybody as themselves. These two personalities clash when Elizabeth comes to Logue for help. She expects Logue to do what she wants and is a bit taken aback by how informal he is : Logue to Elizabeth We need to have your hubby pop byHe can give me his personal details, Ill make a frank appraisal and then well take it from there. I dont have a hubby, we dont pop and nor do we ever talk about our private lives. No you must come to us (The Kings Speech, 2010). Logue refuses her demand so she uses and what if my husband were the Duke of York? (The Kings Speech, 2010) but Logue stands by his rules and Logue insists her husband to him: for my method to work, I need trust and total equality. Here in the safety of my consultation room.No exceptions (The Kings Speech, 2010). At first, this difference of class made it difficult to form a normal relationship between the pair. For example, Bertie to the Archbishop: â€Å"Lionel will be seated in the kings box†â€Å"But members of your family will be seated there sir! †(The Kings Speech, 2010). The astonishment of the Archbishop when Bertie requested for Logue to be seated in the Kings box shows that th e relationship was very unusual. Class distinction affected Logues treatment of Bertie.On one side, Logue should be respectful and abide by the Kings request to keep this a strictly business relationship, but on the other hand if Logue was to help and teach Bertie to overcome his speech, anger and confidence issues, they had to be equals. Requests such as being told not to sit too close or when one is speaking with the Prince, one waits for the Prince to choose the topic was not an option if Logue was going to fix George. â€Å"In here it’s better if we’re equals†(The Kings Speech, 2010). Bertie disagrees with Lionel and states: â€Å"If we were equals, I’d be home with my wife, and no one would give a damn†(The Kings Speech, 2010).It would have been much more difficult for a British speech therapist to help Bertie the way Logue did because a British person would not have been able to overcome the class differences the way Logue could. Finally, t he film shows that overcoming adversity helped George to be a better person and a better King. This is because the difficulties of overcoming something that had kept him hostage from a very young age and the confidence he found in doing this, gave him something in common with the British subjects, who were struggling when World War Two started.His anger went away and he became stronger and more confident. The main motivation for George to overcome his stammer was to prove to himself, his family and his nation that he was fit to be King. The Kings Speech uses the historical story of King George VI to illustrate important issues that affect all people: the need for a supportive family, the love and support of a good partner, the ability of people to fix problems when they put aside class distinctions and what can be achieved when a person digs deep into his or her own character to overcome adversity. It is a very inspiring film. The Kings Speech Essays The Kings Speech Paper The Kings Speech Paper The Kings Speech, directed by Tom Hooper, Is a British block produced In 2010. The film Illustrates the story of Bertie, later crowned King George VI, and his stammer affliction. It follows Berths wifes pursuit to help her husband, employing Lionel Loge, an Australian speech pathologist, to assist, and potentially cure Bertie of his speech condition. The Kings Speech unravels the tale of how two entirely adverse characters end up the greatest of friends. Leading cinematographer, Danny Cohen, has used a variety of camera shots, angles, movement and lighting to greatly enhance he transformation of the characters and the growth of their friendship. Cohen opens the heros Introductory scene with a wide shot and grim lighting to develop an uncomfortable sensation for the viewers, allowing them to realism the absence of trust and contentment Bertie has felt throughout his life. The cinematographer has positioned the characters using an off-centre technique to establish the Minimal distance and discomfort felt between Lionel and Bertie. Positioning the pair on either sides of the frame allows Bertie to be depicted as powerless and isolated. Cohen has ensured that Lionel is similarly presented slightly if-centre during the straight cut conversation piece, but the camera is positioned at a lower angle granting a sense of superiority to Lionel. This shot and angle diversification allows the audience to experience the inequality felt between the heroes. The use of the off-centre technique in the lead room approach further enhances Berths emotional constraint and adds to the distance between the characters during conversation. To enhance the sense of discomfort and disconnection, Cohen has utilized an adverse lighting technique in the background of each of the characters frames. Bertie Is predictably presented against a bleak wall, with neither artificial nor natural light In his favor, communicating his negatively and distress. However, the cinematographer presents Lionel against a cluttered, and yet out of focus backdrop, with two artificial lights behind, and an evening skylight above, contributing to his disorderly and yet ingenious form of introduction. Additionally, this lighting variation further exposes a sense of unease amidst the pair. As the scene progresses, Lionel requests Bertie to read a segment of script with headphones on, to replace the echo of his voice. Cohen has filmed this fragment using a medium two shot, presenting both the characters within the frame. The audience is then exposed to a soft zoom upon the characters, hinting at the forming connection and possible foundation of their forthcoming solidarity and the blurring of social boundaries. Hooper ensures that the transformation of the characters and development of their friendship Is clear by directing Cones diverse use of cinematography. When the introductory scene, the characters are shot from the front and side, presenting a sense of maturity in their relationship. This movement of focus upon the characters softens the use of lead room, allowing the audience to identify a growing intimacy between the two. As he does earlier in the film, Cohen positions Lionel and Bertie on either sides of the frame, however only a meter apart further allowing the audience to experience a growth in trust and comfort felt by the heroes. The backdrop of the characters has barely been altered, with Lionel presented against a window, predictably portraying a midday light, outlining the sense of freedom and connection he has with the outside world, while Bertie is presented against a plain and unlit cockade. The flourishing sense of familiarity and confidence between the characters is clear in Cones use of close up shots throughout the conversation. The characters are similarly portrayed, with the camera positioned front on allowing the audience to see them as equals and furthermore at ease with each other. As the scene unravels, Lionesss wife returns home early to find Queen Elizabeth I seated at her dining table, Myrtle totally unaware of her husbands connection with the Royals. Hooper uses this point of action to reverse the roles of Lionel and Bertie. Lionel acts with complete awarding, unwilling to face his wife after shes discovered his bizarre secret. Cohen has presented Lionel pushed against the edge of the frame, with Bertie seated confidently in the centre, portraying the characters in a slightly humorous manner, certainly expressing the new sense of companionship and collusion. The climax scene opens with a point of view shot from Berths perspective. It presents the daunting hall ahead that ends at the Palace room where he is to present his first wartime speech, announcing that England has officially Joined the war. Cohen then uses a blend of a frontal and following tracking shots as Bertie alls. This is filmed from a slightly lower angle with a continual minor sway, presenting the Kings true nerves for his forthcoming responsibility. The camera is then steadied after Lionel is included in the frame, allowing the audience to feel the ease Bertie feels with his speech pathologists, and now friends, presence. This further allows the audience to experience the growing trust and companionship between the heroes. Cohen has filmed the pair directly through the out-of-focus microphone. Lionel is leveled with the camera and in contrast, Bertie is filmed from above, again depicting his tension and distress. Unlike the introductory and apology scene, both Lionel and Bertie are presented in the path of a single windows light, expressing the now pure equality and thriving friendship between the pair. Cohen abandons the microphone by further blurring and then removing it from within the frame, thereby allowing the audience to feel Just as Bertie does, that the speech is presented only to Lionel, not the British Empire. Additionally, Bertie is now equally leveled with the camera, demonstrating that once his focus shifted from the rest of England to solely Lionel, his confidence could soar. Cohen then uses an arc shot, a arching of the characters, that reveals a true flow of ease, faith and harmony that Lionel and Bertie hold together. Danny Cohen, under the direction of Tom Hooper, has combined a diverse array of opposite social classes, grow together and form an unbreakable friendship. The Kings Speech has clearly demonstrated how the nature of friendship can spark between anybody as long as trust, contentment and intimacy are equally nurtured. Specifically, Cohen has used a variety of camera shots, angles, movement and lighting to develop the solidarity between Bertie and Lionel to allow this magnificently exclusive and everlasting bond to form.
Monday, October 21, 2019
reds v man for all seasons essays
reds 'v' man for all seasons essays Both A Man for all Seasons and Reds were aimed at Hollywood audiences and meant to appeal; to the general public, they include elements of character that are intended to please the audience (after all they needed to make money to pay for their making an estimated 45 million dollars in Reds case). In addition, some truths are left out of both, to make the film more concise and for the audiences enjoyment. This however, does not detract from the fact that they both offer accurate accounts of their relevant topics and do in fact both provide good representations of the past in film. In terms of characterisation, Thomas More (from A Man For All Seasons) is fairly accurate: according to Marius, More was witty, devout, principled, courageous and faithful unto death; Paul Schofield (More) conveys all of these attributes successfully (even humour in places). The story of Thomas More is one of a martyr, who died for his principles and stood strong in the face of corruption and the king, this is what the audience witness as they watch A Man For All Seasons, Fred Zinnemann (the Oscar winning director) successfully portrays the tyrannical Henry VIII reluctantly forcing More into execution through acts of parliament (the doctrine, confirming Mores acceptance of Henrys annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Arragon, which More refused to sign). However in terms of historical representation there are some truths, which are missing from Zinnemanns account, and in fact some that have been altered. For example, the infamous Richard Riche was not as malicious in him testimony against More as the film would have the viewer believe, and he actually played a much lesser role in history than in the film and his role was a lot less clear cut; what was conveyed was that he was a man striving to make himself and would no doubt have furthered his quest for power, influence and parliamentary position, ...
Sunday, October 20, 2019
The Ancient Illyrians Connection to Todays Albanians
The Ancient Illyrians Connection to Todays Albanians Mystery enshrouds the exact origins of todays Albanians. Most historians of the Balkans believe the Albanian people are in large part descendants of the ancient Illyrians, who, like other Balkan peoples, were subdivided into tribes and clans. The name Albania is derived from the name of an Illyrian tribe called the Arber, or Arbereshà «, and later Albanoi, that lived near Durrà «s. The Illyrians were Indo-European tribesmen who appeared in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula about 1000 B.C., a period coinciding with the end of the Bronze Age and beginning of the Iron Age. They inhabited much of the area for at least the next millennium. Archaeologists associate the Illyrians with the Hallstatt culture, an Iron Age people noted for production of iron and bronze swords with winged-shaped handles and for domestication of horses. The Illyrians occupied lands extending from the Danube, Sava, and Morava rivers to the Adriatic Sea and the Sar Mountains. At various times, groups of Il lyrians migrated over land and sea into Italy. The Illyrians carried on commerce and warfare with their neighbors. The ancient Macedonians probably had some Illyrian roots, but their ruling class adopted Greek cultural characteristics. The Illyrians also mingled with the Thracians, another ancient people with adjoining lands on the east. In the south and along the Adriatic Sea coast, the Illyrians were heavily influenced by the Greeks, who founded trading colonies there. The present-day city of Durrà «s evolved from a Greek colony known as Epidamnos, which was founded at the end of the seventh century B.C. Another famous Greek colony, Apollonia, arose between Durrà «s and the port city of Vlorà «. The Illyrians produced and traded cattle, horses, agricultural goods, and wares fashioned from locally mined copper and iron. Feuds and warfare were constant facts of life for the Illyrian tribes, and Illyrian pirates plagued shipping on the Adriatic Sea. Councils of elders chose the chieftains who headed each of the numerous Illyrian tribes. From time to time, local chieftains extended their rule over other tribes and formed short-lived kingdoms. During the fifth century B.C., a well-developed Illyrian population center existed as far north as the upper Sava River valley in what is now Slovenia. Illyrian friezes discovered near the present-day Slovenian city of Ljubljana depict ritual sacrifices, feasts, battles, sporting events, and other activities. The Illyrian kingdom of Bardhyllus became a formidable local power in the fourth century B.C. In 358 B.C., however, Macedonias Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, defeated the Illyrians and assumed control of their territory as far as Lake Ohrid (see fig. 5). Alexander himself routed the forces of the Illyrian chieftain Clitus in 335 B.C., and Illyrian tribal leaders and soldiers accompanied Alexander on his conquest of Persia. After Alexanders death in 323 B.C., independent Illyrian kingdoms again arose. In 312 B.C., King Glaucius expelled the Greeks from Durrà «s. By the end of the third century, an Illyrian kingdom based near what is now the Albanian city of Shkodà «r controlled parts of northern Albania, Montenegro, and Hercegovina. Under Queen Teuta, Illyrians attacked Roman merchant vessels plying the Adriatic Sea and gave Rome an excuse to invade the Balkans. In the Illyrian Wars of 229 and 219 B.C., Rome overran the Illyrian settlements in the Neretva River valley. The Romans made new gains in 168 B.C., and Roman forces captured Illyrias King Gentius at Shkodà «r, which they called Scodra, and brought him to Rome in 165 B.C. A century later, Julius Caesar and his rival Pompey fought their decisive battle near Durrà «s (Dyrrachium). Rome finally subjugated recalcitrant Illyrian tribes in the western Balkans [during the reign] of Emperor Tiberius in A.D. 9. The Romans divided the lands that make up present-day Albania among the provinces of Macedonia, Dalmatia, and Epirus. For about four centuries, Roman rule brought the Illyrian-populated lands economic and cultural advancement and ended most of the enervating clashes among local tribes. The Illyrian mountain clansmen retained local authority but pledged allegiance to the emperor and acknowledged the authority of his envoys. During a yearly holiday honoring the Caesars, the Illyrian mountaineers swore loyalty to the emperor and reaffirmed their political rights. A form of this tradition, known as the kuvend, has survived to the present day in northern Albania. The Romans established numerous military camps and colonies and completely latinized the coastal cities. They also oversaw the construction of aqueducts and roads, including the Via Egnatia, a famous military highway and trade route that led from Durrà «s through the Shkumbin River valley to Macedonia and Byzantium (later Constantinople) Constantinople Originally a Greek city, Byzantium, it was made the capital of the Byzantine Empire by Constantine the Great and was soon renamed Constantinople in his honor. The city was captured by the Turks in 1453 and became the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The Turks called the city Istanbul, but most of the non-Muslim world knew it as Constantinople until about 1930. Copper, asphalt, and silver were extracted from the mountains. The main exports were wine, cheese, oil, and fish from Lake Scutari and Lake Ohrid. Imports included tools, metalware, luxury goods, and other manufactured articles. Apollonia became a cultural center, and Julius Caesar himself sent his nephew, later the Emperor Augustus, to study there. Illyrians distinguished themselves as warriors in the Roman legions and made up a significant portion of the Praetorian Guard. Several of the Roman emperors were of Illyrian origin, including Diocletian (284-305), who saved the empire from disintegration by introducing institutional reforms, and Constantine the Great (324-37)who accepted Christianity and transferred the empires capital from Rome to Byzantium, which he called Constantinople. Emperor Justinian (527-65)who codified Roman law, built the most famous Byzantine church, the Hagia Sofia, and re-extended the empires control over lost territories- -was probably also an Illyrian. Christianity came to the Illyrian-populated lands in the first century A.D. Saint Paul wrote that he preached in the Roman province of Illyricum, and legend holds that he visited Durrà «s. When the Roman Empire was divided into eastern and western halves in A.D. 395, the lands that now make up Albania were administered by the Eastern Empire but were ecclesiastically dependent on Rome. In A.D. 732, however, a Byzantine emperor, Leo the Isaurian, subordinated the area to the patriarchate of Constantinople. For centuries thereafter, the Albanian lands became an arena for the ecclesiastical struggle between Rome and Constantinople. Most Albanians living in the mountainous north became Roman Catholic, while in the southern and central regions, the majority became Orthodox. Source [for the Library of Congress]: Based on information from R. Ernest Dupuy and Trevor N. Dupuy, The Encyclopedia of Military History, New York, 1970, 95; Herman Kinder and Werner Hilgemann, The Anchor Atlas of World History, 1, New York, 1974, 90, 94; and Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15, New York, 1975, 1092. Data as of April 1992SOURCE: The Library of Congress - ALBANIA - A Country Study
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Supply chain management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4
Supply chain management - Essay Example Experts defined SCM as a blend of a variety of procedures that begin from the preliminary stage of the product till the completed utilization of the same creation by the customer. It is a procedure which entail the development, execution, of these plans, and scheming of the product construct with the purpose of providing absolute fulfillment to the customer with regards to the quality of the product, (Wixon, Jim 2000). No innovation retains the fancy of the industry for long. SCM also, like many other new techniques before it, has gone out of fashion with many of the industries, (Davis,1993). This is evident from their inability to verify data pertaining to disruptions or irregularities in supply chains, Failure of Executives to pin point unfavorable actions and reasonably predict their consequences to the business push them into hasty decisions with undesirable consequences, (Gosling, 2003). Needless to say, such actions can be disastrous to the company operating in a competitive en vironment, (Lee, and Billington, 1992). Manufacturing and product delivery costs can mount, inventory may pile up, further adding to the cost, and actual delivery to the consumer get delayed, each of these individually and together can burden the company, (Christy, 1994). Non-availability of relevant SCM data may deny to the organization the ability to respond promptly and successfully to emerging opportunities. 2.0 SCOR – OVERVIEW AND UTILITY TO BUSINESS OPERATIONS Supply Chain Operations reference (SCOR) model has been evolved, tested and certified by the Supply Chain Council, a Non-Profit Organization. The industry has received it well and adopted extensively as a reliable tool for analyzing Supply Chain operations and managing them, (SCC, 1999). It enables its users to compare the various SCM activities and evaluate their performance and relevance to the management objectives. It is hierarchical and structural in nature. As end result it provides the optimal processes and solutions for the organization’s SCM requirements, (Brocke, 2007). SCOR analyses all the elements on the Product Development and Delivery network and keeping the focus on optimum satisfaction of the customer, identifies and brings to light complicated as well as simple supply chains which have specific impacts on the over all outcome of the operations, (Supply-Chain Council, 2005). This ease of analysis helps in interconnecting and showing as sequels the chain of events/operations that hinder production or delivery, and their over-all impact, (VRM 3.0, 2004). Thus it serves as a foundation on which Supply chains can be developed for simple local operations as much as it can serve to build large scale world-wide Projects, (Fox, Chionglo, and Barbuceanu, 1993). SCOR has become handy for enhancing the flexibility of interaction among trading partners and customers, which, in turn has radically impacted the operational economics of the entire Industry. The combination of the adv anced capabilities of I.T. with SCOR has produced very good results, (BEA,2003). Far from the mere connectivity of Supply Chain events, SCOR has now achieved a system of extracting real time data at various levels,
Friday, October 18, 2019
Economic Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1
Economic Issues - Essay Example These cities such as Stoke-on-Trent which was once booming with business and investors are now struggling to even keep majority of their industries open as the investors have moved to London and so has the population (Sindreu & Douglas). The situation in the UK is not very different with what has been happening in the rest of the world with big cities taking over all the business for the smaller cities and masking the economic problems being witnessed in the countries. Investors move into the large cities and camp there forgetting that there are other cities that need the investment more. The population of the nation also moves from their struggling cities and seek employment in these cities. All the elite camp in these cities and continue to build up the already booming economy. This is however really wrong as only one or a few cities in the country cannot totally be taking over the business from the rest of the cities making other loose employment through closing industries while the large cities are overflowing with them. The booming economy in large cities and the influx of people to these cities only lead to increase in inequality. Those in these cities are overly paid and enjoy the security of employment while the rest of the people struggle to even put food on their table at all times. The situation can be equated to the rich becoming richer while the poor continue to wallow in poverty. With the large cities having control over everything in the nation, the rest of the cities have to rely on them to survive. People are forced to go shop in London, New York, San Francisco or Washington as they are the ones with the resources and supply of materials. The little resources remaining in these other cities are therefore continuously being taken to the lack cities widening the economic gap even wider (DePillis & Guo). The government should come in and try and create some balance within all its cities in the nation. It cannot put all its eggs in one basket by
International strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
International strategy - Essay Example Disadvantages of Scandinavian business culture From the case study, it is clear that IKEA has been following a Scandinavian business culture, even in most of its international assignments. Scandinavian business culture is dominated by a direct style and more open culture. Conversations are more liberal and personal, and they prefer not asking questions after meetings or presentations. It should be noted that this culture is opposite to America or Asia, where business meeting are more formal and structured (Warner and Joynt, 2002). A typical Scandinavian culture gives high importance to consensus in every decision they take. Hierarchical structure is more or less flat and decision making can be sometimes very lengthy, because agreement has to be taken from every member of the business. Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA followed a similar culture. His distinctive style and objective of making a difference in the lives of common people drove his expansions strategy. He followed a non- conformist philosophy and looked at all facets of his distribution strategy, in order to focus and innovate (Politis, 2000). During the initial days, the objective of the company was to keep the costs low, and most of the strategies were made keeping this objective in focus. Supplier relationships were made reciprocal so that the company is above to sell whatever they have produced. Managers were expected to keep caring and close relationships with their subordinates and co-workers. Interactions between the co-workers and managers were characterized by egalitarianism and informality. In the following sections, IKEA business cultural and strategies will be discussed which the company implemented in different international assignments. While the culture of IKEA was a strong factor in contributing for the success of the company in its homeland, the same culture caused many issues and roadblocks when the company went for expansion strategy (Hofstede, and Minkov, 2010). The business cult ure of the host countries was vastly different from the way IKEA was doing business and caused cultural as well as business conflict (Huettinger, 2008). In Germany managers do not call each other by their first names as it is perceived as disrespectful. Business culture in Germany is mostly authoritative where managers takes order from bosses and are not supposed to perform any activity taking their own initiatives. This is vastly opposite from IKEA’s normal way of doing business. Thus, when IKEA entered Germany, its collaborative and opted business culture did not go well with the strict authoritarian German business culture. IKEA’s preference for informal relations between managers and co-workers was misinterpreted as disrespecting the boss and undermining the traditional rule of respecting authority. Also, the business culture is more adaptable to detailed work structure and a lengthy procedure, which is opposite IKEA’s cultural of minimalist bureaucracy and making things less burdensome. Similarly, in case of France, the informal culture of IKEA was interpreted as a sign of indecision and weakness. Also, in IKEA, recognition of status was not considered important, which again was interpreted as a negative sign in Germany. Even though the company was able to reduce communication problems arising in most of its international counterparts,
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Effect of Globalization on Qatar Architectural identity Case Study
Effect of Globalization on Qatar Architectural identity - Case Study Example In the past five decades, the world has experienced high levels of globalization. These result from liberalizations of markets, efficient flow of information, and integration of economies. Media flows and technological breakthroughs such as internet and TV have made it easy for people in Qatar to share ideas with their counterparts who are located in different parts of the world. This has created a global culture which has led to erosion of the local culture which was unique to the local population. The architectural sector has been largely affected by these changes of events. Initially, architectures were using specific designs that were unique to the Qatari people. This made the country unique. The social aspects of the local people were taken into consideration when designing new buildings, roads, etc. This played a significant role in maintaining the country’s identity. People felt connected to the local designs. However, globalization has opened up boundaries for the loca l people to move to different parts of the world (Ljungstrom, 2013). However, Qatar has also experienced an influx of foreigners who have introduced new designs in the architectural sector. In addition, people have access to internet and social media. As a result, they are able to interact with other people across the world, an aspect that has changed their perception towards the local identity. As a result, they have started to adopt change. This has forced the industry to look for innovative ideas which will attract the attention of the local people. Over the years, Qatar was little known for its Architectural innovativeness. People were using similar designs to develop their towns. The architectural sector was less developed and people working in this sector were not flexible. As a result, they were not willing to adapt to changes despite other
Art Apprecition IP Week One Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Art Apprecition IP Week One - Essay Example There are far too many mediums, concepts, genres, intentions, perceptions, and possible presentations that assigning a simple verbal definition would, in fact, be a disservice. Like beauty, is not art in the eye of the beholder? More so, does assigning any absolute definition not limit the potential of what â€Å"art†can be? Art is something being ever â€Å"re-defined,†and therefore often defies definition. Ultimately, it may be impossible to ever truly construct a definition of art that could truly and wholly satisfy what it is intended to encompass. The definition of art is one of the greatest controversial subjects in modern contemporary philosophy. (Adajian,2012) We all have our own internal understandings of what strikes us as art. We know as individuals what elicits an emotional response, what triggers your thoughts and what captured moment on canvas or print that lures ones imagination. Art is many things; it is timeless and everlasting element of the human ex perience that allows us to express ourselves in fascinating, unique, and different ways. It has been said that art is the truest freedom of expression, that said then it should be free of the boundaries and limitations of simplistic definitions. Perhaps the reason that art cannot be well defined by words alone is because it is not just a word; it is feeling, thought, and life experiences. Part 2-Examples of Art†¦ Wassily Kandinsky was a respected abstract painter. This piece, â€Å"Autumn in Bavaria,†completed in 1908, oil on cardboard, is one of the few paintings that are far less abstract than the majority of his work. This piece is striking in its use color to imply the very lovely and familiar image of a lushly landscaped European country road. It has the brighter colors of spring and warm weather. This is a beautiful and breathtaking sculpture titled, â€Å"Expansion,†by Paige Bradley, is the visage of a woman in a relaxed, peaceful, and meditative pose. Un ique lighting effects were employed to create the illusion that the woman’s inner being, spirit, soul, energy is bursting free of its limitations, starting with its flesh. It is hard not be pulled into the image, because it is so serene and implies by the calmness of the figure that this metamorphosis from physical to light is not frightening or painful, but desirable and necessary. Do we not all wish we could escape our physical limitations and move beyond what we are today? This piece personifies that very human longing. This is astounding house is built to set above this incredible flowing waterfall is titled â€Å"Fallingwater†It is a beautiful image and a stunning view. It, also, is a fantastic testament to the potential for humanity to build their homes in collaboration with nature, while still being visually appealing, and far less damaging to the environment. Architecture can be very dry and underappreciated at times; however, this piece is an example of how t he building of a house is not just a matter of construction and utility, but of unique beauty and artistic value. There were a multitude of amazing scenic photographs in collection of Ansel Adam’s. This piece is truly breathtaking and encompasses the majestic and awesome vastness and beauty of some of the natural environments around us. The use of light and shadow makes the mountain rage and river characters with personality, like characters in a story being told. So often nature is the background, in Adam’
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Effect of Globalization on Qatar Architectural identity Case Study
Effect of Globalization on Qatar Architectural identity - Case Study Example In the past five decades, the world has experienced high levels of globalization. These result from liberalizations of markets, efficient flow of information, and integration of economies. Media flows and technological breakthroughs such as internet and TV have made it easy for people in Qatar to share ideas with their counterparts who are located in different parts of the world. This has created a global culture which has led to erosion of the local culture which was unique to the local population. The architectural sector has been largely affected by these changes of events. Initially, architectures were using specific designs that were unique to the Qatari people. This made the country unique. The social aspects of the local people were taken into consideration when designing new buildings, roads, etc. This played a significant role in maintaining the country’s identity. People felt connected to the local designs. However, globalization has opened up boundaries for the loca l people to move to different parts of the world (Ljungstrom, 2013). However, Qatar has also experienced an influx of foreigners who have introduced new designs in the architectural sector. In addition, people have access to internet and social media. As a result, they are able to interact with other people across the world, an aspect that has changed their perception towards the local identity. As a result, they have started to adopt change. This has forced the industry to look for innovative ideas which will attract the attention of the local people. Over the years, Qatar was little known for its Architectural innovativeness. People were using similar designs to develop their towns. The architectural sector was less developed and people working in this sector were not flexible. As a result, they were not willing to adapt to changes despite other
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Anomie and a Bananafish's Liberation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Anomie and a Bananafish's Liberation - Essay Example Yet the actual theme is not Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), mental disorder, weird in-laws, or suicide. This paper will explore a deeper theme, specifically anomie, based on an analysis of the relationships among the characters, the depth of the characters, and the fragmented interactive reality within which Seymour Glass responds. This paper will furthermore justify an even deeper theme: redemption. We are first introduced to the self-centered, superficial wife of Seymour Glass followed by exposure to the highly neurotic mother-in-law. Seymour and Muriel are on a vacation together, but do not seem to be connecting much. Muriel had to wait for a phone call to go through due to heavy telephone traffic at the hotel. The author tells us that she â€Å"used the time, though†(Salinger 1). If I were to use that phrase, the meaning would be much different. I would be implying that something important had been accomplished. Muriel, however, smoked a number of cigarettes, read a trashy article, and attended personal grooming. Judging from the telephone call between Muriel and her mother, it seems their relationship is based on neurotic control games, vicious gossip, and unsupportive advice. Muriel cannot finish a sentence without being cut off by her mother who really has nothing helpful or interesting to say. She claims to be concerned for her daughter’s welfare, yet she shows no real interest in her daughter’s feelings or assessments. Muriel patronizes her mother, using coping mechanisms (keeping the phone angled away from her ear, and confirming that she is listening, for example) (1). This relationship is based on dysfunctional habits and codependence. The trendy topic of the moment, interspersed with nasty comments about others, is Seymour, specifically about how dangerous he is, or isn’t, and how urgent the current situation seems to be, or not. Muriel seems more bothered by her husband’s refusal to remove his bathrobe th an she is about him wrecking her father’s car, referring to Muriel as â€Å"Miss Spiritual Tramp of 1948,†having an odd reaction to trees, interrogating Grandma about her death plans, or gifting his wife with a book of poems in a language she cannot read. Muriel is determined to enjoy her vacation and Seymour’s mentality is obviously not a significant consideration (2-3). Muriel is dressed in a white negligee, without undergarments, nails freshly painted. This might be interpreted as a sign of relationship readiness, yet they have a hotel room with twin beds (1). She is on a vacation with her husband whom she spends no time with. She could lie with him on the beach or she could sing with him at the piano, as he plays, but she elects to consult an alcoholic psychiatrist she does not know in a bar where they are drinking with a wife she despises, about a husband she also does not really know (4). Furthermore, it is clear that the consultation was extremely superf icial, involving no significant questions and answers. Seymour lies alone on the beach, his pale vulnerability perpetually protected by a bathrobe (5). His only friend is a four year old girl, Sybil. Sybil is from Connecticut, which I suspect may be a pun, used by the author to indicate the irony of this strange connection between Seymour and Sybil. It is a strange connection because Seymour’s and Sybil’s tone and flirtatious mannerisms are like what one might expect from a
Poor Lifestyle Essay Example for Free
Poor Lifestyle Essay In the modern world, the modern urbanites are living in a tense community. Consequently, they might have different kinds of poor lifestyle in their life. According to Woods (2010), poor lifestyles always include smoking, drinking, poor diet and lack of exercise, which perhaps lead to a higher chance of cancer. However, it could be environmental pollution. Health plays an important role in people’s life. Therefore, it is essential to choose the right food or the right healthier way in your life. Moreover, environmental pollution could influence people in their lives as well. This essay will discuss about health issue on quality of life and how environmental pollution affects human’s lives nowadays. On the one hand, the healthy diet is more and more popular in this society. Hamer, Molloy and Stamatakis (2008) claim that there is a connection between the level of physical activity and diet or nutrition that people consume from the different foods. When a person eats immoderately, the calorie would be transformed to fat or cholesterol which is harmful for people’s health. It means that they will become overweight or obese. There are some dangerous factors if they are suffering obesity such as cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, body pain, being out of breath, easily tired and disability. Although people also eat a great deal of fruits or some natural food at the same time, it might be produced some harmful effects. For instance, eating too much animal fat is a main cause of sickness or ill health also our bodies need a little but most of us eat too much. Some people know saturated fat. Therefore, it could make the person get a disease and be overweight (BBC n.d.). However, there are numbers of fats in fish, chicken, eggs, turkey, duck, beans, dog, lentils and foods made from these. Unsaturated fat may be better for the people, but eating too much fat of any type can gain their weight. It is better to buy a small amount of lean meat rather than fatty meat or solid fat. The best way is to eat more fish or different kinds of nutritional food and do not forget to get a high iron intake by eating something like liver and bitter foods. Some traditional meal, they use pulses provide good nutrition, to reduce the use of animals fat in the cooking. (Morbidity, Mortality, 1996) On the other hand, environmental pollution could lead to poor lifestyle as well. The pollution could happen in many different sources such as contaminate water, air, and light. At first, the indoor air pollution will make children and teenager getting diseases. Cooking and heating with solid fuels on some open fires or traditional stoves will produce small particles and carbon monoxide, especially for young children and women. According to the Global Health Risks, indoor air pollution leads to 2.7% of world diseases. (WTO n.d.) Furthermore, air pollution also leads to higher temperature and green house effect. Take Chicago as an example. Many residents feel like it is too dangerous because of the high humidity and air pollution. People with pulmonary and respiratory diseases are very sensitive so they should limit their activitiesï ¼Ë†CDT, 2011ï ¼â€°. Secondly, water pollution would threaten tap water quality. According to the EWG, the biggest sources of contaminants are agriculture and industry. The environmental group finds the water that people drink everyday which contains about 260 chemical contaminants altogether. The pollution will be more dangerous to the citizens and pose a great threat on the human beings. (Larry West, n.d) As suggested above, environmental pollution is divided into several aspects, such as air pollution and water pollution, which might contribute to poor lifestyle. Nevertheless, every kind of pollution will damage our lifestyle so people should be aware of the risks. In addition, the government ought to lay down some laws to stop air pollution. This is because it could avoid deterioration of contamination. However, in developing countries , where pollution is strictly regulated, it still has much more things need to do. In conclusion, health and environmental pollution have a huge effect in the life. Air pollution is known to could affect people’s health as well.If a person had good health, they can do anything they want. As a result, people need to be care about their diet and lifestyle. It could save their health and lead the people more happy. Nevertheless, environmental pollution could affect the person. Even though the people are healthy. All show that poor lifestyle is unhealthy in this community. Reference: 1. Hamer M, Molloy GJ, Stamatakis E. (2008) Psychological Distress as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Events J Am Coll Cardiol. 52:2156-2162 2. Woods T. (2010) , Poor Lifestyle Means Poor life Span, [online] Available at: http://www.emaxhealth.com/1357/poor-lifestyle-means-poor-life-span.html [Accessed 1 August 2011] 3. BBC n,d, The risks of a poor diet and being overweight [online] Available at:[Accessed 31 July 2011] 4. Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report. June 14, 1996; 45 (RR-9):1-33.Guidenlines for School Health Programs to Promote Lifelong Healthy Eating. 5. WTO, n.d, Indoor air pollution, [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 August 2011] 6. CDT, (2011) Pollution alert today, heat index could reach 100 degree, [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 August 2011] 7. Larry West, n.d, Tap Water in 42 States Contaminated by Chemicals, [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 August 2011]
Monday, October 14, 2019
What Makes Citizens Trust Political Institutions Politics Essay
What Makes Citizens Trust Political Institutions Politics Essay Issues of distrust in political institutions are very common in post-communist states in Europe. Even though trust is one of the key components for a successful democracy, the communist regime has left a trail of political distrust which will last for generations. When trust is low, the government cannot operate efficiently, and that creates further distrust, and a vicious circle is created (Mishler Rose, 1997: 419). This scepticism in post-communist Europe creates a paradox, because the states want to become more democratic, and see the senior EU members as an example of democracy and a direction they should be heading to, however the distrust in political institutions slows down the growth of the democracy and declines citizen participation in politics. It is reasonable to argue that no government should have an absolute trust as it might create instability. The trust in political institutions has been declining steadily since 1991 even in Western democracies, for example in Brita in the percentage of citizens who trust politicians decreased from 33 to 16 per cent. [1] In order to improve democracy in Eastern and Central Europe, political parties face a challenge of dealing with cynicism and distrust when communicating with the society. It is understandable, because many people, especially from the older generation, have lived a large portion of their life under the communist regime, and that changed their views on politics dramatically. Communist parties created various institutions such as party and trade unions, however the citizens felt it was all initiated by the state and did not intend to strengthen the civil society, but instead it was a tool to which was used to reduce the liberty of the society and create political conditions favoured by the leaders of the communist party. Instead of participating voluntarily, the citizens were forced into political participation or compliance by the communist party, and that resulted in further distrust of po litical institutions and destroyed free social life. This essay contains two main parts in the first part theory of institutional trust will be examined. The second part will be an analysis of Mishler and Rose article, which intended to explain issues of political trust in post-communist societies in Europe. [2] In the last bit of this essay both theory and the published article will be looked upon together, and a final conclusion will be made. Theory It is critical to understand the theory of political trust before we can proceed with the further research. Political trust is different compared to the personal trust. In order for an individual to trust someone, he needs to know that person quite well. However, political institution is not an individual and it is difficult to develop that kind of trust. The citizens trust institutions in a different way on a presumption that they will complete their duties as a governing body. Even though it is known that trust in political institutions has been declining steadily over the past two decades, there has been limited amount of research made purely on Eastern and Central Europe. Two main types of theories are identified which explain trust in political institutions in a different way cultural and institutional theories. Cultural theories explain political trust by the values and attitudes towards politics. Inglehart (1997) argued, that we form these values while we are growing up, and by the time we are eligible to vote we already have our own opinions towards politics, and it is extremely uncommon for an adult to change his political attitude completely. The trust in politics emerges from a non-political sphere, an overall life experience. In that sense, political trust is an addition to persons interpersonal trust, which develops while we are growing up and while we interact with others. Interpersonal trust can be affected by outside sources, for example the media, which is a big part in todays society; it can shape an individuals opinion towards something even if the individual does not have a good understanding on that subject. Many other factors can contribute towards an individuals attitude towards political institutions education, parents social status or the overall experience with institut ions while growing up. If a child is born in a family with high social status they are more likely to have better education. There has been evidence of correlation between familys social status and the childs trust in political institutions (Tong, 2007). Cultural theories argue that because cultural values are rooted to people when they are growing up, at least a few generations should pass in post-communist states in Europe before we can notify a significant increase in trust of political institutions. However, the trust of political institutions cannot be assigned only to the way people are brought up. Economic conditions of the state and overall well-being of the citizens might re-shape the values of the society. Because of that, the citizens can be categorised into two groups materialists and post-materialists (Inglehart, 1998). Materialist values for a successful democracy depend more or less solely on economic performance of the state if citizens are happy with the economic situation in the country, they are likely to trust the political institutions. Post-materialists, on the other hand, focus towards personal freedom and individuality, and therefore they might have issues of trusting political authority. Social background of the citizens is also important in cultural theory. Many post-communist states in Europe have a diverse population, and there might not be a lot of unity towards the political trust. For example, about one quarter of the Estonian population is Russian. [3] A question emerges whether the Russian population in Estonia would trust political institutions, because after the Independence was restored in 1991, the Estonian government shifted to a completely new direction and Estonia became a right-winged state. And indeed, there is a lot of tension in Estonia, as the Russians demanded that their language should be adopted as the second national language in Estonia. Despite these demands, the Estonian government did not give in, and even got tougher on Russian speaking citizens they might lose their jobs if they do not speak Estonian. This results in a clash of interests and Russian distrust in political institutions. However, cultural theories do not state that everyone goes through the same process, and everyone has a different experience of trust in life. Therefore, we should not assume that every citizen in a social group (based on age, race, ethnicity etc.) has the same attitude towards political institutions or interpersonal trust. Cultural theories have been criticized by Fukuyama, as he stated that it is in the human nature to develop a trust for groups and individuals who often interact directly. However, the degree of interpersonal trust varies significantly among democracies, and therefore we cannot make an assumption that high trust in political institutions is necessary for a successful democracy (Fukuyama, 1999). Institutional theories focus on the model of rule and the performance of the political institutions. If they perform well, that creates a sense of trust among citizens and benefits the democracy in the state. Institutional theories do not see the governments performance in the past or cultural aspects of individuals life as decisive factors on individuals political trust, although they can influence an individual to a certain degree (Mishler Rose, 2001:36). Unlike in cultural theories, short-time effects are stressed as highly important. Institutional theories make an assumption that citizens make rational choices by evaluating the political and economic performance of the political institutions. In that respect, citizens need to have a previous experience of interaction with an institution, or at least to have some knowledge about it. Institutional theories do not agree which factors are the most important when measuring the performance of the government. In Western democracies, th ey usually focus on economic conditions and policy performance, when in post-communist societies different measurements can be used. For example, the reduction of corrupt political officials or the liberalization of trade can be extremely important in post-communist states, because Eastern and Central Europeans have been oppressed for decades. By making these policy changes the governments are more than likely to receive positive feedback from the citizens, and that results in strengthening the trust of the institutions. However, institutional theories do recognize the importance of individuals values and political affiliations. If a citizen was in favour of communism, his trust of political institutions might be decreasing, despite the good performance of the new democratic government. It is important to understand, that not everyone sees economic factors as the key priority, and that people have very different values in life, and one model does not apply to everyone. Institutional theories have a significantly different approach towards the future of the political trust in post-communist countries. Unlike in the cultural theories, institutionalist scholars believe that trust for newly formed democratic institutions can be generated in a much shorter period of time (Mishler Rose, 2001: 33). If the newly formed government performs well economically and the citizens are happy with the new democratic system it should not take generations to develop the trust for political institutions. Micro and macro theories Both cultural and institutional theories can be sub-categorised into two dimensions micro and macro. It is important to distinguish the differences between them, because political trust is a very complex issue and these dimensions will play a crucial part in analysing Mishler Rose publication in section 5. Micro dimension is linked with an individual, while macro dimension is focused on the society as a whole. Both micro theories state that political trust is different among individuals, due to different background, experiences or individual perceptions. On the other hand, both macro theories see trust as a value, which is shared by all members of the society (Mishler Rose, 2001: 33). Macro-cultural theory has very limited interest in trust of individuals, because they focus on national traditions and sees society as one body, which either trusts political institutions or not. Micro-cultural theories, on the other hand, emphasise the importance of the individual within the society . Personal experiences are the main subject of focus, and the opinions on political institutions are formed by every member of the society individually. The differences between micro-institutional and macro-institutional approaches are even more significant. Macro-institutional theories are shifted towards the performance of political institutions while micro-institutional theories leave the evaluation of political performance to the individual. Both micro-institutional and macro-institutional theories have three implications. Firstly, with the accurate sampling, decent research techniques and sensibly asked questions the responses about trust of political institutions will be quite accurate on how well the system is actually performing. Secondly, if the political institutions do not have a high public trust, this can be fixed in two ways by either lowering the public expectations for the institutions or by improving the efficiency of the institutions. And thirdly, these theories r ecognize an indirect relationship between trust in political institutions and social trust. This relationship is expected to be strong on the aggregate level of societies, but not on the individual level (Newton Norris, 2000). This is because the trust of the political institutions is the direct outcome of the performance of the government, just like people trust others by knowing how they acted in the past. Measurement of trust Measurement of trust is a tricky concept. Most surveys, such as Eurobarometer or European Social Survey, ask only one question in order to find data on causes of political trust. That is why new approaches of theory are useful; however their implementation in current study seems to be a very difficult task. To current day different scholars use different methods and variables to measure political trust. Many different sources of literature have been used for this essay, which enabled me to see a pattern in scholars research on measuring political trust. However, I will be using Putnams model (Putnam, 2000) which, to my understanding, provided the broadest explanation and measurement of trust. This model consists of five key concepts, which need to be examined thoroughly in order to develop an understanding and measurement of trust. The reader must bear in mind that the questions asked about these five concepts were made up by me, as I found them to be the most relevant. However, in t he next paragraph of this essay the authors of the examined article used different methods and different questions in their research. The five concept approach was selected because I argue that it provides the best measurement of trust the literature could offer, despite being just a recommendation. The first concept is civic engagement, which, according to Putnam, has four dimensions (Putnam, 2000). Political activity is the first dimension, however it is impossible to justify an individuals political involvement by asking just one question (with the exception of question Do you engage in any kind of political activity? and the answer being no). A series of questions need to be asked in order to determine ones involvement in political activity, such as Have you voted in your local election?, Have you recently contacted any elected official about a certain issue?, Do you participate in local council meetings?. The second dimension of civic engagement is volunteering activity, and the respondents should be asked whether they volunteer for political, cultural, religious or charity organizations. The third dimension is leisure activity, and we should ask whether the respondent is attending any group meetings, for example, a book club or football practice. Leisure activities are im portant, because they are the key attributes of interpersonal trust. The last dimension is the engagement with the media, and the respondents should be asked how often do they watch the news on the television or the radio and how often do they read the newspaper. The possible answers to all the questions should be based on frequency, as Putnam argued that voluntary participation in civic engagement increases the trust among the citizens. The second concept is trust. Again, this is a tricky question and it needs to be approached with caution. The respondent should answer three questions whether he trusts the majority of the society, whether he trusts local political institutions and whether he trusts federal or international institutions. The third concept is social demographics, because according to cultural theory on the micro level, personal experiences are important and should have significant results in institutional trust (Mishler Rose, 2001: 34). The questions for this concept should reveal the age, social status, gender, education, occupation and marital status of the respondent. All this information is commonly used in analysis of political trust (Job, 2005: 8). The fourth concept is the government performance and, according to micro-institutional theory, a decent performance by the government allows the citizens to trust the institutions, as long as the needs of the society are being met. The questions for the respondents should ask do they feel any corruption in their institutions and whether they would support the decision to provide the government with more power for implementation of law and security. If the citizens are in favour of giving the government more power, it means that political institutions are generally trusted. However, this puts the citizens in a difficult position, because more power to the government leads to stricter control and therefore less democracy. The fifth concept is the world views and general well-being. The well-being most commonly determines whether the citizens will blame the government for being incompetent or not. If the majority of the population feels happy with their lives, that means political institutions are doing good work, and that increases the trust in society. The world views might have major consequences on political trust as well. We should ask the respondents their willingness to co-operate with the government and comply with the law. There should also be a question on whether the respondents feel overall happy or not and whether they feel secure under the current government or not. A negative response would indicate distrust in the current government. The analysis of the publication This section of the essay analyses Mishler and Rose article What are the origins of Political Trust?: Testing Institutional and Cultural Theories in Post-communist societies. The authors used two datasets, which were both compiled in 1998. The first dataset comes from the fifth New Democracies Barometer (NDB), and it contains data from nine post-communist countries Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania. Each country had around 1000 respondents in a face-to-face interviews. The second dataset comes from the seventh New Russia Barometer (NRB), and it contains 1904 face-to-face interviews. Both datasets used probability samples, in order to increase validity of the research. The authors used the following question for determining the trust in political institutions: There are many different institutions in this country, for example, the government, courts, police, civil servants. Please show me on this 7-point scale, where 1 represents great distrust and 7 represents great trust, how much do you personally trust in each of the following institutions (Mishler Rose, 2001: 40).
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Conan Doyles the Adventure Of The Speckled Band and Victorian Readers
INTRODUCTION The Victorian era, a time of change in industry, education and family life brought us the famous Conan Doyle detective - Sherlock Holmes. At a point in history where wealth, media and intelligence were becoming more and more prominent in British society the mystery genre became as popular as today's soaps. Doyle's crime formula could be described as a masterpiece, his stories always involving the same fundamental factors that kept his readers hooked. These factors can be seen in The Adventures of the Speckled Band, Helen Stoner the helpless victim, Doctor Roylott the clever villain, a thorough investigation carried out by Holmes followed by a deduction, and a serving of justice. But the question is, how and why did these appeal so successfully to the Victorian readers? SHERLOCK HOLMES Sherlock Holmes as a fictional character was brought across by Conan Doyle to be a very popular detective, one of whom people "insist upon seeing". This popularity is reflected in real life as the stories had such a sense of realism the readers were compelled to see him as a real life figure. It also implies that he is successful in all the cases he is employed to examine. In the story, Holmes is a confident character, reassuring his 'helpless victim', "'You must not fear' he said soothingly". For Doyle's Victorian readers, this characteristic, along with the fact he always defeated the wrong-doer, gave them a sense of hope and security against the frightening changes going on and the increase in crime. This 'safety' the readers felt kept them hooked. Doyle's carefully crafted detective was always polite, for example "would you have the kindness". He was calm, strong and dedicated with an attitude of his ?profession is its own rew... ...e had had access to before. Holmes? characteristics added up to the ideal detective and a role model and figure of hope to Victorian society. Watson as a narrator is successfully used as the point through which readers could connect with the story and also the figure used to create captivating tension through the language employed by Doyle. Doctor Roylott was used by Doyle as the character the readers loved to hate and a stereotypical villain. The complete contrast between Holmes and Roylott created suspense and tension for the readers. Doyle cleverly moulded the female character Helen Stoner into a figure of aspiration to his female Victorian readers. Finally, the huge sense of justice the story is based around gave the readers something to cling to with hope. All of these created the infallible technique Doyle used which successfully appealed to Victorian readers.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Is Weed As Bad As They Say? Essay -- essays research papers
     Is Weed As Bad As They Say?      Illegal drug use is a major problem in the world today. Millions of dollars are spent every year to prevent the distribution of drugs. All drugs is smuggled into the United States concealed in false compartments, fuel tanks, seats, tires of private and commercial vehicles, pickup trucks, vans, mobile homes, and horse trailers (Pierson. 12-8-01) Large shipments is usually smuggled in tractor-trailer trucks in false compartments and in bulk shipments, such as agricultural products. The government has created ways to cut down on drugs. Yet the drug crisis is greater today then ever. Marijuana is one the most widely used illegal drug. Over the past thirty years the government has condemned Marijuana. So in this paper, I will be describing the pros and some cons about the use of Marijuana. Marijuana use should be legalized because of the beneficial uses that our economy can gain from weed.      Marijuana, also spelled Marihuana comes from the Indian hemp plant, cannabis sativa (Gwinn. Pg.764). It is a crude tobacco like substance produced by drying the leaves and flowery top of the cannabis plant. It is put into pipes or formed into joints, similar to a cigarette, for smoking. Recently, it has appeared in cigars called blunts. The drug is a mild hallucinogen meaning that it distorts sensory perceptions. Marijuana has a wide variety of street names including pot, tea, grass and weed (Dudley. pg. 21) Marijuana can also be added to foods such as brownies and beverages.      The intoxication part of the plant is mostly in its strong-smelling, sticky, golden resin. The hemp flowers, especially those of the female plant, gives the strong smell off. Many users describe two phases of marijuana effects as initial stimulation, giddiness, and euphoria, followed by sedation and pleasant tranquility. Mood changes can often accompany altered perceptions of time and space of one's bodily dimension (Gwinn. pg.765). The hemp plant can be found growing as a weed or as a cultivated plants in peoples homes. Marijuana can survive in almost any soils and climates. And the more potent varieties grow in dry, hot, and wasteland type environments (Pierson. 12-8-01)      Marijuana varies in potency, depending on where and how... ...nbsp;    Although it is true that there has been no proven studies that marijuana is indeed a life threatening drug (O’Brien pg. 70) But it has been proven that marijuana is a safe, versatile, and inexpensive medicine (Nahas. pg. 58-59) And what makes it even better is that it has been proven that marijuana is less toxic and dangerous than most of the prescriptions drugs given to you by your doctors which you trust (Nahas. pg. 111)      Marijuana is a useful and misunderstood substance. If more studies are done, it can be a helpful assistance to the economy (Skidmore. 12-7-01) Marijuana was legal for many years and we didn't have a big drug problem like today. Marijuana laws, the threat of jail and fines will not stop drug use. All they do is make it harder to help people (Skidmore. 12-7-01) As to me, I respect the right of people to control their own bodies. I believe we should legalize weed, and help those who need it, and let the police spend their time protecting us from real crime. I also believe our society should have a more opened mind on the hemp plant and really see the up side uses of marijuana.      Is Weed As Bad As They Say? Essay -- essays research papers      Is Weed As Bad As They Say?      Illegal drug use is a major problem in the world today. Millions of dollars are spent every year to prevent the distribution of drugs. All drugs is smuggled into the United States concealed in false compartments, fuel tanks, seats, tires of private and commercial vehicles, pickup trucks, vans, mobile homes, and horse trailers (Pierson. 12-8-01) Large shipments is usually smuggled in tractor-trailer trucks in false compartments and in bulk shipments, such as agricultural products. The government has created ways to cut down on drugs. Yet the drug crisis is greater today then ever. Marijuana is one the most widely used illegal drug. Over the past thirty years the government has condemned Marijuana. So in this paper, I will be describing the pros and some cons about the use of Marijuana. Marijuana use should be legalized because of the beneficial uses that our economy can gain from weed.      Marijuana, also spelled Marihuana comes from the Indian hemp plant, cannabis sativa (Gwinn. Pg.764). It is a crude tobacco like substance produced by drying the leaves and flowery top of the cannabis plant. It is put into pipes or formed into joints, similar to a cigarette, for smoking. Recently, it has appeared in cigars called blunts. The drug is a mild hallucinogen meaning that it distorts sensory perceptions. Marijuana has a wide variety of street names including pot, tea, grass and weed (Dudley. pg. 21) Marijuana can also be added to foods such as brownies and beverages.      The intoxication part of the plant is mostly in its strong-smelling, sticky, golden resin. The hemp flowers, especially those of the female plant, gives the strong smell off. Many users describe two phases of marijuana effects as initial stimulation, giddiness, and euphoria, followed by sedation and pleasant tranquility. Mood changes can often accompany altered perceptions of time and space of one's bodily dimension (Gwinn. pg.765). The hemp plant can be found growing as a weed or as a cultivated plants in peoples homes. Marijuana can survive in almost any soils and climates. And the more potent varieties grow in dry, hot, and wasteland type environments (Pierson. 12-8-01)      Marijuana varies in potency, depending on where and how... ...nbsp;    Although it is true that there has been no proven studies that marijuana is indeed a life threatening drug (O’Brien pg. 70) But it has been proven that marijuana is a safe, versatile, and inexpensive medicine (Nahas. pg. 58-59) And what makes it even better is that it has been proven that marijuana is less toxic and dangerous than most of the prescriptions drugs given to you by your doctors which you trust (Nahas. pg. 111)      Marijuana is a useful and misunderstood substance. If more studies are done, it can be a helpful assistance to the economy (Skidmore. 12-7-01) Marijuana was legal for many years and we didn't have a big drug problem like today. Marijuana laws, the threat of jail and fines will not stop drug use. All they do is make it harder to help people (Skidmore. 12-7-01) As to me, I respect the right of people to control their own bodies. I believe we should legalize weed, and help those who need it, and let the police spend their time protecting us from real crime. I also believe our society should have a more opened mind on the hemp plant and really see the up side uses of marijuana.     Â
A Worn Path Essay
â€Å"A Worn Path†The setting in the Eudora Welty’s â€Å"A Worn Path†plays a very important role in the make-up of this story. The story is based in the old south several years ago during the cold month of December. The main character is a very old, weak, poor, and tired African American woman. It is unclear in the beginning for what the lady is on such a difficult mission, but the last part of the story makes it clear. She faces many obstacles while on her journey, almost as though even nature is fighting against her, but with her strong determination, she carries on and does not lose spirit. She proves that, though she is old and seems unable, she accomplished her goal with the great mindset and determination she has. The journey Phoenix faces would have been difficult for a person of any age, and it is unimaginable that a woman as old and frail as she would be physically capable of making such a long journey. All of the obstacles she faces in the story, such as the creatures, critters, even plants, serve as symbols of things that can interfere throughout life, but one must continue the struggle and fight for the goals they are trying to accomplish. There are many times that you expect her to give up and go home, but she never does. She keeps pushing until she has reached her goal of making it to town to get the medicine she is after. Phoenix is from the country and must walk a very long distance to make it to the nearest town. Had the story been set somewhere else, there would not have been such a struggle with Phoenix going to the doctor’s office to receive the medicine she needs for her grandson. The main part of the story is when she is fighting so hard to make it through the long, winding journey through the woods. This is where most of her struggle takes place. The reader really gets an opportunity to see how hard Phoenix’s mission is and to what extent she will go to get to the doctor. It is very clear that Phoenix is poor, uneducated, and very unfortunate. She wears old and worn out clothing, must beg for the ten cents that she needs to purchase a paper windmill for her grandson, has old shoes that she does not know how to tie, and uses an old umbrella as a walking cane. Her grandson is not any more fortunate than she. She most likely comes from a poor and uneducated family and has never seemed to have anything nice or unnecessary. This makes it obvious to the reader that every little thing Phoenix has must have such a great value to her. She must appreciate everything in her life. It does not sound as though Phoenix will be able to make the trip many more times, if even one more time. Her body and mind are both exhausted. When Phoenix reaches the doctor’s office, the nurse is speaking to her and she forgets what she has come to town for. Phoenix’s body is very frail and tired. There were times she fell during her walk through the woods, and her mind continued to go downhill quickly. This is a sure sign that she will not be capable of such things in the future. Phoenix is stubborn, yet a strong woman who will not let anyone or anything stand in her way. Many people could read this story and think less of her for begging and her lack of education and money, but many who read it will feel her pain because it is clear she is hurting terribly both physically and mentally with the challenges she faces. She shows, strength, bravery, and love for her grandson.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
My Favourite Author Essay
â€Å"A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.†-Roald Dahl Roald Dahl has written numerous children’s books in his career as a writer. He had fun playing around with words, inventing new ones. He always capitalized on his humor, never failing to think to think out of the box. He always wrote from the point of view of a child. Roald Dahl was an acquisitive reader in his younger days. According to him, â€Å"An autobiography is a book a person writes about his own life and it is usually full of all sorts of boring details, this (Boy: Tales of Childhood) is not an autobiography†These words brought a smile on my face. I love Dahl’s silly yet creative style of writing. His book ‘Boy: Tales of Childhood’, is a favourite of mine. It is a memoir of Roald’s childhood. I find it utterly fascinating. This autobiography contains incidents about his childhood. He was born in Landaff, Cardiff, Wales, in 1916. He attended The Cathedral School in Llandaff. One of the events in this book is when he was eight. His friend Thwaites among his four friends was spanked by the headmaster for putting a dead mouse in a jar of hard candy, called ‘gobstoppers’ at the local sweet shop, owned by Mrs.Pratchett, an old woman whom Dahl described as â€Å"mean and loathsome†. Roald and the other four boys called the â€Å"Great Mouse Plot of 1924†. Along with his passion for literature, Dahl also developed an interest in photography; it is one of my favourite hobbies too. Roald Dahl was made captain for school fives and squash teams, and he also played football, his exceptional height helped him. In ‘Boy: Tales of Childhood’, Dahl also said that the chocolate company sent over boxes of new chocolates to be tasted. The chocolates were expected to be rated and commented on, be it the flavor or the enhanced needed in those chocolates. Roald wished to earn the praise of Mr. Cadbury himself. This wish of his gave him the inspiration to write the amazing book, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Roald had also said that he originally did not plan to include children in his book at all! But he changed his mind when his nephew said to him, â€Å"Uncle Roald, I do not like it a bit.† Another book, ‘Matilda’ is the second of my favourites of his books. It revolves around Matilda Wormwood, a girl who had an immense love for reading. Matilda, because of her parents’ ignorance towards her, taught herself to do things like cooking and reading. Her parents considered her a nuisance, who, according to them, should’ve been watching more television and reading fewer books! To add up to this, Matilda’s headmistress, a horribly cruel woman, Miss Trunchbull who believed Matilda’s father’s words indicating that his daughter-Matilda- was not well-behaved. Matilda later discovers magical powers within herself, powers that, with practice, allowed her to levitate things, with just a glance in its direction and a little concentration. This book is about how Matilda teaches her parents and headmistress a lesson, and makes friends with Miss Honey in the process. I have observed that Roald Dahl’s books for children, quite typically, comprise of evildoers who hate little children. These wicked people are either simply villains or tremendous gluttons. These characters or stories can also be a metaphor for the abuse the older boys put him through. His books also usually contain dark humor. These wicked people are usually punished for their evil, wicked deeds. Some of Roald Dahl’s other well known children’s books are, The BFG, The Twits, The Witches, Fantastic Mr. Fox, James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Dahl joined the RAF (Royal Air Force) as an aircraftsman. He married actress Patricia Neal fourteen years later after his involvement in wars, and they had five children. Roald Dahl died in 1990 of leukemia. Though Roald Dahl is no longer in this world, the magical worlds created by him in his wonderful, or, in his words- phizz-whizzing!-books, and characters will always live on. Roald Dahl will always be my favourite author.
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