Impact of sea power upon history Essay

Introduction â€Å"The profound influence of sea commerce upon the wealth and strength of countries was clearly seen long before the true principles which governed its growth and prosperity were detected. † (Mahan 2004) Water covers over three-fourths of the earth’s surface. The entire human civilization lives on the remaining one-fourth area of earth. And only 3% of the entire water present on the earth’s surface is fresh water. This leaves most of the remaining part of earth’s water area, as large salty water bodies everyone knows by the name of seas or oceans. These are the facts known to all, but few really come to know and appreciate the power that seas have wielded in the development of civilization. Before man ventured out into the sea for traveling, he was just a semi-barbaric creature, with limited trading and social skills. As humans decided to venture beyond to uncharted sea territories, and discovered new lands and newer civilization, the world started to get close and hence the progress of mankind, other than strictly in the biological sense, came into picture. But, progress was not the only thing which sea brought; sometimes it also brought diseases like plague and big destructive wars to people residing on its shores. This paper will analyze all these issues, and will attempt to look at the effects these events brought to the civilization as a whole. â€Å"The history of Sea Power is largely, though by no means solely, a narrative of contests between nations, of mutual rivalries, of violence frequently culminating in war. † (Mahan 2004) History of Navigation History of Navigation can be traced back to centuries. Merchants in Egypt and Mesopotamia used to build large commercial vessels to carry and trade goods, more than 5500 years ago. In Egypt, sea voyage are even recorded in hieroglyphics, which can be dated back to 3200 BCE. One can take this as the starting point to trace the beginnings of navigation as a commercial pursuit. The first Western civilization in history, which is known to have developed the art of navigation at sea were the Phoenicians, more than 4,000 years ago. The popular stories of Helen of Troy were all related to sea travel. Phoenicians were in fact the first to use Pole Star for navigation, according to some accounts. Still under overcast skies, the navigation was usually based on sheer guesswork and intuition, till in about 2000 years ago, when Chinese created the first magnetized needle compass. This technique spread across the world in about a thousand years. In 12th and 13th centuries the science of making proper nautical charts and celestial almanacs began. By the 15th and 16th centuries, aggressive exploration of the world of the world started with explorers like Columbus getting funds from their respective Emperors to explore and enslave newer lands (Spera & Strom 2002). Nevertheless, it is wrong to think that the early explorers used to sail into the unknown without any idea of their final destination. It is true though that while searching for a specific land or route, the explorers were often surprised at the new lands they discovered. This was because many times the country they were seeking was only known in legend or rumor, the most famous example being Columbus, in the recent times. While the entire world is now charted and studied thoroughly, sea does not hold any less influence. The destruction brought by Tsunami is a very recent event. And even Mahan’s lines about sea and war, mentioned above, still hold true, as the countries still are always protecting themselves against attacks from other countries. Famous Historical battles Countless battles have been fought over the sea shaping the civilization, by up throwing older empires and making newer one. One of the most famous older battles is the Battle of Thermopylae between the Greek and Persians, changing the course of the entire war. As is mentioned in the section above, the aggressive exploration started in the 15th and 16th centuries, to enslave newer and older countries. Before this the exploration of the sea was usually only trade-oriented. Many of the 16th century explorations were funded by the reigning Monarchs who wished only to increase their area of reign (Stafford 2005). Major battles that were fought in this period were between English, Dutch, French and Spanish Monarchy. The popular battles were the Anglo-Dutch war 1665-1667, war England and France against united Provinces 1672-1674, between France and the entire Europe in1674-1678, battle of the Spanish succession 1702-1713 i. e. The Sea battle of Malaga, Sea battles between Britain and Spain 1748, Seven years war which establishes the English Supremacy over the seas 1756-1763, Naval war in America and West Indies in 1778-1781 which led the way to the American Revolution etc (Mahan 2004). These wars led to the building and destruction of colonies, and in turn exposed the people in the colonies to a wide array of culture and newer ideas which were previously only prevalent in the Europe, and had led to them being superiors over other cultures. Diseases brought by sea. Diseases is not a term usually associates with the sea, even though the possibilities are huge. However, the most destructive spread of Plague can be attributed to the seas and trade routes. Plague is one of the most destructive as well as the most incomprehensible disasters for humanity. While there is no direct relation between sea and plague, yet the spread of plague with sea from one to other port cities is a very relevant domain. The earliest and the best documented history of Plague was that of the Justinianic plague in the mid-sixth century. The Justinianic plague generally followed trading routes and therefore, was especially brutal to coastal cities. This plague originated either in Ethiopia, moving through Egypt, or in the Central Asian steppes, where it then traveled along the caravan trading routes. Finally through either of these locations the disease quickly spread throughout the Roman world and beyond (Smith 1996). Another very infamous Plague closely resembling, but much more destructive was the Black Death in 1348. The effect of sea on Plague is even worse in this case. The Plague started in China and made its way west across Asia to the Black Sea by 1347. One theory states that a group of infected Tartars besieged a Genoese outpost on the coast. Tartars harassed the trapped townspeople by hurling the dead bodies of their comrades over the town walls spreading the epidemic among the Genoese. The panicked inhabitants fled the scene by ship showing up in the ports of northern Italy and bringing the Black Death to Europe (www.eyewitnesstohistory. com). Conclusion The effect of sea on mankind has both – the positive effects of exchange of trade and ideas; and the negative effects of destruction and sometimes fatal diseases. One thing is clear however, no matter what the situation was, the mankind always managed to surge ahead learning newer things and forging newer relations. This has in the end brought only positive influences to the mankind in the longer run. References Books Mahan A. T, â€Å"The Influence of Sea Power Upon History†, 2004, Gutenberg. Stafford J, â€Å"Some Principles of Maritime Strategy†, February 16, 2005, Gutenberg Magazines Spera G, Strom S. R, â€Å"The Back Page: A Brief History of Human Navigation†, Crosslink Volume 3, Number 2, 2002, http://www. aero. org/publications/crosslink/summer2002/backpage. html Journals Smith C. A, â€Å"Plague in the Ancient World: A Study from Thucydides to Justinian†, The Student Historical Journal, 1996-97, http://www. loyno. edu/~history/journal/1996-7/Smith. html Websites â€Å"The Black Death, 1348,† EyeWitness to History, www. eyewitnesstohistory. com, 2001.

Positive impact of multiculturalism in America Essay

Nowadays, it is common to see people from diverse background living together in a single territory. Some societies are even lenient in allowing the existence of diversity which could be termed as multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is identified as the co-existence of different cultures in a single bounded territory where in the small group of people of diverse background have the right to practice things that are different from the dominant population and are still accepted as an important part of a whole (Kennedy-Dubourdieu, 2006, p. 1). United States is considered as a land of diversity and a destination to millions of immigrants who are seeking to become a part of the â€Å"American dream. † The rise of multiculturalism has been evident in the country since the second half of the twentieth century. Since then various debates have been raised against the fast-paced movement of multiculturalism in the United States. It has been consistently told that there are various drawbacks regarding multiculturalism (Parillo, 2008, p. 167). However, most of the people have always focused on the negative impact of multiculturalism, never realizing that things always have its flipside. This paper sought to explore the positive impact of multiculturalism in the United States. According to Vincent Parillo (2008, p. 167-168), multiculturalism in the United States will not simply fade away. Because every nation’s strength lies among its people, it should be clearly understood that United States is not an exemption. The diversity of people played a substantial role in the development of United States as a whole. Many immigrants from different countries have come in the United States and contributed much in America’s evolution. The coming of age of United States’ agriculture and industrial landscape was shaped by past immigrants who were responsible for the creation of transportation systems, cities and labor unions. Likewise, current immigrants have also strengthened America’s economic state. The technological industry of America rose to its competitive level because of immigrants who have recognized the full potential of these advancements. Apart from these, immigrants from different nations have brought billions of dollars in the nation’s economy with the help of their businesses, consumerism and occupations. Additionally, the workforce of different sectors in the country has been benefiting from the diverse pool of people who are sharing their knowledge and skills in the union labor. The education system in United States is also not new with the aspect of multiculturalism. After World War II, the colleges and universities in the country has been more diverse. Through the acceptance of multiculturalism in educational facilities, majority of the people become more attentive about the rich concepts of diverse society, politics and economy. Multiculturalism also set a ground for students to give recognition in the works of other people especially in the field of literature. The development of the influence of multicultural literature exposes students to become more understanding in the diversified forms of lifestyle outside America, which means that although there are no firsthand accounts with the actual events, the students are given the idea of how other cultures work, which in a greater scale could contribute to the knowledge of the students of where and how things have originated (Lowe, 2000). Records also showed that educational facilities in the United States that are racially and ethically diverse substantially benefits the students because they are able to learn more in that particular environment and becomes a well rounded person. Students actively participates in the society that is driven with pluralistic and democratic thinking which in the end they could use once they leave the school grounds. In addition, the presence of multiculturalism in American higher education promotes the reduction of the patterns of racial segregation that has been permeating in the school grounds for such a long time. The incorporation of diversity in the curriculum also serves as an opportunity for creating effective interpersonal relationships among students which they could later on use to act responsibly and negotiate on things beyond borders and colors (Clayton-Pedersen and Musil, 2008). Unlike other people from different nations who are able to speak two languages or are considered as bilingual, majority of the American’s are monolingual. Because of this reason, American’s are placed in a disadvantaged position in the business community and global marketplace which are landscapes that encourages the usage of different languages. Through multiculturalism, the mastery of a secondary language is given priority in different sectors. It was also posted that learning another language enhances the mental mobility of an individual and provide a holistic view of the cultural background of the said learned language. More so, learning a different language creates the whole American society attain the level of maturity and tolerance towards its relations with interracial groups. Thus, it is posted that additional languages through multiculturalism are indications that Americans have met the needs of minorities to find the freedom and opportunity in the â€Å"land of the free† (Parillo, 2008, p. 169). Multiculturalism also diminishes the ignorance and arrogance of American’s towards other interracial groups. Since Americans and other racial groups are sharing together in a single territory, people happen to engage in activities that promote the knowledge about all shades of people. Suppose that an American did not have any encounters with a particular culture, and rely mainly on the news that he or she viewed such as that particular culture has minimal technology and are inclined towards nature. Consistently the American, who was born in a country that is technologically rich and driven towards modernity, would think that he or she is far more superior compared to the people in the said culture. Due to this idea, the individual closes his or her mind to have any dialogue or contact with any of the members of that culture. However, through multiculturalism close contact between the two cultures are possible where in the other culture could be praised for their perspective of maintaining the environment that has been the top priority of many environmentalists while the other culture could be reinforced to understand that the continuous exploitation of the environment for the improvement of their prized technology does not reach the standards of true progressiveness. In the end, there is a meeting of knowledge where in the questions that surround the American is satisfied by the dialogue that is made through multiculturalism (Ainsah-Mensah, 2007). Combating stereotyping as well as racial discrimination is also an advantage of multiculturalism. By discovering and building upon the similarities of every individual as well as acknowledging difference, various minorities in United States are able to break through the color barrier. It is evident that from many sectors across the United State the optimal performance and productivity of every individual, American or individual of color, is enhanced because of the decrease in segregation. And because of this, the country’s monoculturalism has been translated into a pool of diversity where the maximum potentials of individual contribute to the improvement of every aspect of the nation and the true meaning of democracy and civil rights has been sufficed (Parillo, 2008, p. 68). Apparently there is a continuous increase in the multicultural society in the United States and various changes are taking place. However, it is important to note that the growing number of racial minorities in the country does not always post a negative impact on the nation as a whole. What many do not realize is the fact that the things that are sometimes viewed to be a threat for the improvement of United States could also be an asset. Obviously people are more centred towards the drawbacks of multiculturalism not realizing that multiculturalism has been an important factor in shaping United States. Multiculturalism fosters a better understanding towards people of color. As such, it also bridges gaps undermined by ignorance and promote oneness and synthesis in different aspects of the community. Likewise, it is an important medium that encourages interracial relations. By deeply understanding the impacts of multiculturalism, significant changes for the betterment of the country and its people could be properly attained.

California Water Pricing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

California Water Pricing - Essay Example Under marginal cost pricing, subsidies are withdrawn and the cost of supply of water is raised to match its full marginal cost. This will cause the demand for water among the farmers and other selected sectors to reduce considerably. This, in turn, creates an excess supply of water that the district supplier can distribute. Multiple water users are likely to pay a higher price for the extra water than the marginal cost, reflecting scarcity conditions in a relatively supply-constrained water market. Thus there will be excess demand as the market price will be much higher than the marginal cost at which it is being priced. There is better efficiency in allocation as the supply is routed to users whose value of the resource matches the marginal costs incurred in its supply. The question of distribution of the excess supply of water is to be debated next. Marginal cost pricing plus auctioning excess demand: One method of distribution would be auctioning off the excess supply of water. In this scenario, farmers buy their existing allocation of water at the marginal cost and are allowed an option of buying extra water, which is beyond their original allocation, in a competitive bid. The excess water, in this case, will be redistributed to the highest bidder. Full water marketing: The other option available is full water marketing. In this case, water will be traded freely at the market and price will be determined by the forces of demand and supply. Water as a resource is scarce in its existing quantity and hence supply will remain inelastic. Therefore the price of water will be higher than the marginal cost, the demand will drop and this will lead to more excess water supply for redistribution than the previous scenario. Full marketing will thus yield greater efficiency gains than the options discussed above. The excess water can be redistributed either by auctioning rights or by granting rights by charging the users the marginal cost and allowing for resale of these rights in the open market.

Supply Chain Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 7

Supply Chain Management - Essay Example Transportation plays an important role in the supply chain management because, SCM basically categories in 3 areas; purchasing, manufacturing and transport. A supply chain manager looks into the fundamentals of material to be as input, it distribution, quantity and transportation associated with the delivery of finished products. For this purpose a term of SCM is used which is known as, logistics management. Logistic management is where the collecting of raw materials, its intermediate process and delivery of goods from origins to the final destination is being recorded. Today, the goods are even getting exchange on international level called as, international trading. Moreover, goods are not often getting consumed where they are originally produced. Hence, there is no doubt in saying that, transportation service is the key component which unites all the other components of supply chain management. Logistic management also looks into the efficient cost to be in the process of transpo rtation. An effective economical transportation allows an organization to reduce the cost and increase the customer services to bring up the company in competitive market area. Overall, transportation is the main ingredient between the firms to further execute the businesses. If the presence transportation didn’t exists in the first place, then it would have been impossible for the businesses to transact the business deals both domestic and internationally. How well the logistic management manages effective and less cost transportation leads towards a successful and profitable business. The word Warehouse refers to a place, where an organization stores its goods for a temporary period of time. The need to occupying warehouse in the industrial area occurred, when people came up with the time management difficulties between a product’s product and its consumption. As a solution to this problem, the need of

I am a catholic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

I am a catholic - Essay Example I chose this topic because the world today is so full of apathy, violence, depression, and negativism, that people need to know about what will help them keep back on track towards the true meaning of life. Additionally, probing this topic is quite relevant considering all the rapid changes in communication and technology that people may be too busy to do the things that really matter and keep him grounded on good soil. As such, the main issues that will be tackled in this paper includes the traditional views about Catholicism such as going to church every Sunday, submitting to regular confession and receiving all the other sacraments that are considered central to the practice of religion, devotion to prayer and the call to study the lives of the saints (Richert). Moreover, this paper would like to explore how the modern-day Catholic has evolved and grown in his faith throughout the years. Foremost is to examine the challenges posed to him by the environment today and how he faces them. Secondly, this paper will also present how Jesus Christ is made the center of the Catholic’s life. Thirdly, significant beliefs in faith, forgiveness, devotion, ecumenism and eternal life are also given emphasis. Fourth, the qualities of the Catholic that make him stand out from the rest will also be described. Consequently, aside from being religious in his practices, he may get more focused on developing the qualities of a real Catholic who lives for others. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the Catholic as a man of God and a follower of Jesus Christ is somebody who, through His grace, essentially has love in his heart that overflows and spreads to the rest of humanity. As such, Catholicism is not merely a practice of religion or religiosity but a way of life that promotes forgiveness and healing. I have chosen to interview a Redemptorist priest from Ireland who has had vast experience in his vocation over the years. I chose

Movie Heat Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Heat - Movie Review Example This film review will discuss some of the technical aspects of Heat by using appropriate filmic terminology to describe its various sections. Particular scenes will be analyzed in order to fully grasp these terms and will be compared to the rest of the film. A synopsis at the beginning of the review will reveal the story line and introduce the characters before the technical analysis takes place; whilst the conclusion underlines these important aspects in the final closing. The film follows the trail of two men. One, an LAPD homicide officer named Vincent Hanna who is so obsessed with his work that he's failing his third marriage. Hanna lurks the streets of LA like a tiger, pestering those who are up to no good, while his personal life falls into dismay. The other, a life long expert criminal named McCauley, is simply doing what he knows best - committing crime. He also lives a lonely existence, making no personal connections that he couldn't walk out on at a moment's notice. He and his crew are after one last score; this being a bank hold up that could land them more than 12 million dollars. As these two hard-boiled men go about their business, they increasingly become aware of each other; predator and prey, and they begin to gain a certain respect for one another. Nevertheless both know that they're on a collision course with fate - and each other. While in the end, only one will be left standing. In the subsequent scene which is to be discussed, Neil is gathering with one of Van Zant's men at an old drive in Movie Theater to accumulate his money. The deal goes awry and turns into a weapons clash between Neil's crew and Van Zant's henchmen. After Neil finds only shreds of blank paper in the package, he makes a phone call to Van Zant and threatens to kill him. Color and lighting play significant functions in the telephone discussion. Neil is in a cafe, under high key white lighting. Van Zant is in a dark office with only blue low key lighting from one side and a little light coming through an open door behind him. As soon as Van Zant understands that his life is in danger, someone closes the door behind him and he is left with only cold blue lighting on one side of his face. By the end of the scene, as Van Zant hangs up the telephone, most of the frame is considerably black and he is consumed by the shadows. In the meantime, Neil is still under high key lighting in the cafe. The dramatic difference in color and lighting key strongly accentuates the danger in which Van Zant faces. During the telephone conversation, a typical two shot cannot be used. Instead, both characters are shown in full front or profile positions at medium or close-up range. The audience can fully see the emotion on both characters' faces as they talk. Neil means business and Van Zant is evidently shaken. The shots of Van Zant also go from loosely framed, to tightly framed during the conversation. He shifts from being free (using up only a quarter of the frame) to being trapped. By the end of the conversation, the camera illustrates only close-ups of Van Zant - who has nowhere to run. These close-ups are also used to show facial expressions in the telephone conversation. After Van Zant slowly hangs up the phone, a close-up of his face shows his intense fear and cold eyes staring far into the distance. He is

Report for Technical Writing Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Report for Technical Writing - Coursework Example (Asner, 2000).The technical section will have the details regarding the vendor’s projects, time line and entire schedule that are designed to complete the project. The time cost section will contain information regarding the time that the vendor has specified. The proposal may include a reference section that shows the reference used in preparing the proposal. Before preparing the request for proposal, the information regarding the vendors and the companies must be properly known. This will help in the easy development of the request for proposal. The RFP must be prepared in such a way that it is easy to understand and evaluate. This will enable the vendors to establish a connection between the developers. The people who request for the proposals specify a completion date before which the proposal has to be prepared. The important factor in the preparation of request for proposal is the ability to deliver well in advance. The RFP must be distributed only to vendors who have the ability to make use of the proposal. To accomplish this, the people who prepare the proposal must provide the vendors with sufficient time so that they can analyze the proposal. Once the request for proposal is completed, the vendor and organization analysis must be carried out to find the organizations that are interested. (Asner, 2000).The audience must be properly decided before preparing the RFP. Since most of the organizations do not have people who can prepare such proposals, the opportunities for preparing such proposals are given to the private agencies. The request for proposals will ensure that the information provided by the vendor is completely included in the format of

Principles of Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Principles of Marketing - Essay Example My learning took place by absolute adherence to the marketing standards and rules which have been mentioned in the course books. I gained much insight from the teachers who were there to make me get acquainted with the norms and routines of marketing, and how these are employed within the practical world (Jobber, 2009). I once resolved a problem by understanding the intricate details related with marketing. I looked up the marketing issue in my course book and consulted with my peers before I decided for my own self the best course of action. I believe this was one of the best solutions that I could have envisaged as it brought about a great deal of hard work and commitment at my end. I reached the conclusion through my marketing insight and the knowledge that I had gained all this while. As far as the mistakes are concerned, I met these as well. However I learned a great deal from these mistakes and built upon my repertoire with hard work and dedication. I did not give up and went t he way which had success written all over it. It helped me ensure that I gained quite a lot within the marketing realms and was able to manifest my truest basis in an easy way.

What is art Aspects of the definition of art Essay

What is art Aspects of the definition of art - Essay Example Art is considered to be indefinable. Art has no specific characteristics or features. According to the romantic tradition, it is the subject of genius, whose perception is beyond any social limitation and therefore it is considered as indefinable. In simple words art can be defined as a skillful piece that is the creation of a human artist. However the artists of modern age constantly have been pushing the boundaries of this definition and challenging new perceptions. The human artists have often left the psychologist, philosopher and critics far behind when it comes to preconception. Readymade art or found out often challenges the job of an artist as the creator of art (Tolstoy, n.d.). It is not always that an art is indefinable. It can be defined by the help of the institutional theory of Art. According to these institutional theories of art, it can be defined by the help of its partial or relational properties. The procedure through which art has been developed can also be conside red as a way of defining art.According to the Formalist theory of art, the formal characteristic of artwork can be used to determine its aesthetic properties. This formal relation can be between its constitutive elements such as relationship between line, colors, volume and masses in the form of visual art work for e.g. paintings. There are theories present that confirm that content can be an effective contribution to the aesthetic value of artwork. This is the only story that supports such an argument. The general and non-honorific are two aspects of the classification of art and therefore it better to develop the understanding of the two aspects and the difference between them. The two main categories of art are fine art or applied and decorative art. Fine art consists of aesthetic objects that are not meant to be used to fill any kind of practical purpose or the art which is purely decorative but doesn’t have any facade of being considered as art. The foundation of concept ual or found art dates back to the time when Marcel Duchamp’s work was introduced, which was the representation of the enamel urinal as the subject of art. The object of questioning used by Marcel was purely based on the aesthetic view and the high level of aesthetic excellence that can be used as the instance of art. We can also observe that not always are these events the instances of art, irrespective of the fact that how they are being viewed by an institution. Objects can be classified as art or non-art. It order to place a project in the former category it is important to ask about the intention of the artist regarding his composition that whether it is aesthetic or the artistic appreciation, whether the creation of the artist is original or it is inspired by the work of others or whether the work is a reproduction or is it an object that is produced in bulk. Fine art, folk art and popular art can be distinguished from each other on the basis of several aspects. For e.g . in fine art almost every composition of the artist is original but there are so many reproductions of it present, whereas folk art is purely original with no reproduction or copy. However popular art can be distinguished from the other two form of art as all the work present in this category is merely copy and there is no originality present, or has been preserved. There are two aspects of the definition of Art i.e. horizontal and vertical. Both these aspects at times can be confusing and therefore it’s better to develop a clear understanding about them. The horizontal aspect of art is concerned with choosing the general aspect of different things and then contrasting it with different aspects of human culture. These aspects can be literature, science, sports, etc. Horizontal aspect can be considered as a non-honorific or general aspect of art in which different categories of art are included. These categories can be applied art, decorative art, amateur art, popular art, fo lk art and children art. According

Mirabell and Millament Relationship Essay Example for Free

Mirabell and Millament Relationship Essay In The Way of the World, his last comedy, Congreve seems to come to realise the importance for providing an ideal pair of man and woman, ideal in the sense that the pair could be taken for models in the life-style of the period. But this was almost impossible task, where the stage was occupied by men and women, sophisticated, immoral, regardless of the larger world around them, and preoccupied with the self-conceited rhetoric as an weapon to justify their immoral activities within a small and restricted area of social operation. Congreve could not avoid this, and for this, he had to pave his way through the society by presenting a plot which, though complicated enough for a resolution, aims at the ideal union between the hero and heroine—Mirabell and Millament. They emerge as the triumphant culmination of the representative characters of the whole period, of course not types, for they are real enough to be human. Congreve endowed his hero and heroine with all the qualities typical of the society, but towards the end the qualities, if negative, are employed as guards against the venoms of the society. At the beginning of the play, we find Mirabell shaping up a situation so that he can win the hands of Millament and her estate as well from Lady Wishfort who has the rein of power over them. In this Mirabell is perfect Machiavellian: conscious of his surroundings. He is not at all a man from chivalric romance. That he is a past master in the game of love, of course, in the sense of the period, that is, sexual relationship—is evident from his past affairs with Mrs. Fainall, from Mrs. Marwood’s fascination towards him and, one many suspect, from Lady Wishfort’s unconscious longing for him. Moreover, Mirabell has mastered rhetoric to encounter men and women around them. Consistent with the irresistible charm of Mirabell, Congreve built the character of Millament. She is the perfect model of the accomplished fine lady of high life, who arrives at the height of indifference to everything from the height of satisfaction. To her pleasure is as familiar as the air she draws; elegance worn as a part of her dress; wit the habitual language which she hears and speaks. She has nothing to fear from her own caprices, being the only law to herself. As to the affairs of love, she treats them with at once seriousness and difference. For instance, she exclaims to Mirabell: â€Å"Dear me, what is a lover that it can give? One makes lovers as fast as one pleases, and they live as long as one pleases, and they die as soon as one pleases; and if one pleases one makes more. † This, however, may be a case for Millament who is â€Å"standing at the threshold of maturity from girlhood†, as Norman N. Holland points out. But from her discussion of preconditions before entering into marriage with Mirabell, it is clear that she is intelligent and discrete enough to judge her situation. In the Proviso Scene we find Mirabell and Millament meeting together to arrange an agreement for their marriage. The scene is a pure comedy with brilliant display of wit by both of them, but, above all, provides instructions which have serious dimensions in the context of the society. On her part, Millament makes it clear that a lover’s (Mirabell’s) appeals and entreaties should not stop with the marriage ceremony. Therefore, she would like to be ‘solicited’ even after marriage. She next puts that â€Å"My dear liberty† should be preserved; â€Å"I’ll lye abed in a morning as long as I please†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Millament then informs that she would not like to be addressed by such names as â€Å"wife, spouse, my dear, joy, jewel, love, sweet-heart; and the rest of that nauseous can, in which men and their wives are so fulsomely familiar. † Moreover, they will continue to present a decorous appearance in public, and she will have free communication with others. In other words, after marriage they maintain certain distance and reserve between them. Mirabell’s conditions are quite different: they are frankly sexual in content, directed to his not being cuckolded or to her bedroom manners. â€Å"Just as Millament’s are developed femininely† as Norman N. Holland points out, â€Å"Mirabell’s are developed in a typically masculine way. † Each of Mirabell’s provisos begin with its item: first, the general principle, â€Å"that your Acquaintance be general†, then specific instructions, â€Å"no she-friend to screen her affairs†, no fop to take her to the theatre secretly, and an illustration of the forbidden behaviour, â€Å"to wheedle you a fop-scrambling to the play in a mask†. Nevertheless, Mirabell denounces the use of tight dresses during pregnancy by women, and he forbids the use of alcoholic drinks. The conditions are stated by both parties in a spirit of fun and gaiety, but the fact remained that both are striving to arrive at some kind of mutual understanding. While the Proviso Scene ensures the marriage of true minds, the possession of dowry with Millament remains the aim of Mirabell for the rest of the play. At the end of the play Mirabell and Millament through their own peculiar balance of wit and generosity of spirit, reduce the bumbling Witwood and mordant Fainall to the level of false wit. Thus Mirabell and Millament dramatise the true wit that is so carefully and symmetrically defined through opposition. On his part, Mirabell informs that, â€Å"†¦I like her with all her faults: nay, like her for her faults†¦They now to grown as familiar to me as my own frailties†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And Millament declares to Mrs. Fainall, â€Å"Well, if Mirabell should not make a good husband, I am a lost thing—for I find I love him violently. † These confidences do not prevent their own chances for honesty in marriage. The triumph of the play is in the emergence of lovers who through a balance of intense affection and cool self-knowledge achieve an equilibrium that frees them from the world’s power. As the title of the play The Way of the World suggests, they have assimilated the rational lucidity of sceptical rake so that they can use the world and reject its demands.

Summary Of The Story Of An Hour English Literature Essay

Summary Of The Story Of An Hour English Literature Essay The story is about a woman known as Mrs. Mallard and she had problems with her heart. Her husband was involved in an accident and because of her condition good means of letting her know of this were to be used. It was her sister who brought the news to her and also a friend to the husband who happened to be in the newspaper office when they got the news that Brendly Mallards was in the list of those who had died from the road accident. Her sister named Josephine broke the news to her. When she was told the story she was shocked and she wept as her sister held her on her arms and in a short while she abandoned her sister. After receiving this news she went in her room alone and she did not want to have anybody follow her. Inside her room she stood facing outside through the window that she had opened seated in a roomy chair which was comfortable. She felt that she could now be satisfied physically and from the way she looked she had attained the desires of her soul. She peeped through the window and saw the tops of the trees which were outside her house which all seemed to a have a new life beginning. There was a delicious breath from the rain. There was also a cry that she could hear which was coming from a peddler. She hears the notes from her house. When she looked at the sky it showed some patches of blue sky which were concentrated in one place and they had piled on top of each other on the western side of her window. She sat with her head leaning on the cushion of chair quietly but time to time she could be shaken by a sob which came up in to her throat. She behaved like a child who has been crying before he goes to sleep because he continues to sob even in his dreams. She was young, her face was calm and fair and she seemed to have strength in her. However the stare which was on her face was dull and her stare was fixed at one of the patches on the sky. The glance did not seem like she was reflecting something but rather she seemed to be having an intelligent thought. Something was to happen to her and she waited it in fear. She did not know what was coming to her and it was elusive to name but she could feel it moving from the sky towards her passing through the sounds, scents and colour which filled the air. Severally her bosom could rise and fall and now she began to be aware of what was to posses her and she tried her best to fight against it even though her two white slender hands were powerless. There was a little whisper from her lips which she repeated several times Free Free Free. She then seemed to be relaxed with her heart beating faster. She was full of joy and she did not want to think of the source of this joy. She imagined that the other time that she will cry is the time she will see kind and tender hands folded of her husband, and the face of her husband which according to her she had never loved. But beyond these moments of bitterness she could see many years which will belong to her and she was eager on the arrival of such moments. She was eagerly waiting for that time to come when she will be in a position to feel free and enjoy herself. She wished the time could be now and welcomed it. (Gilman and Golden 37) During that time she will live for nobody but her self. She will be free and no body will impose any rule on her like it has always been the case when two people get married. The woman is supposed to be under the man and obey what the main as the head demands of her. As for her no body will be on her way to tell her to do this or that. She was now free both in her soul and the body. Her sister kneeled from the outside of the door begging her to open the door and telling her that if she continued like that she could even make herself ill. She told her sister to go away and that she was not making her self ill, instead she was she was drinking in a luxurious manner inside the house. She was wishing that the spring days, summer days, and all other days that belonged to her would draw nearer. She prayed that she will lead a long life. She opened the door for her sister she held her sister by the waist and they came down the stares. At that time Richard was standing at the bottom waiting for them. Brently Mallard opened the door and entered from some journey. He was carrying a grip-sack and an umbrella. Mallard was very far away from the scene of the accident and he did not even know that an accident had taken place. He was amazed why Josephine was crying. Her wife was shocked and she died. When the doctor came they told him that she died as a result of heart disease .The joy that she experienced led to her death. The story presents a negative view of marriage. This comes clearly when the woman is very happy when she receives the news that her husband is dead. She is very happy that her husband has left her with enough freedom and she will lead a happy life where she will enjoy herself. Louise did not have love for her husband. Married couples should be joined by love in them and this is required in all marriages. This portrays marriage negatively in the sense that some people may be joined to their spouses not because they love them but because of their own motif gains. The marriage between these spouses was not based on love. Therefore the text portrays marriage negatively. At the end of the story she died because of heart disease which according to the doctors was as a result of happiness when she saw her husband. The disease symbolizes a disease of marriage. She could never be free unless her husband out of her life. The fact that the disease affected the heart shows that the problem in he r marriage originates from her and not from outside. The husband loved her but she did not love him in the same way that he loved her. According to the story she loved him only sometimes. Louise did not have strong feelings for her husband and that is why she is happy of his death so as to get rid of her. The story reveals the status of Mallard. We can easily conclude that Mallard was a well off man. The home that he lives is described as having upstairs and the furnishings are comfortable. We also see that he was coming from a journey showing that he travelled to several places. He is also in a position to hire a medical doctor who diagnoses his wife and concludes her death due to heart disease. This is an image of a wealthy man. It is rich men who bother themselves with travels and having personal doctors. There is irony in the story. According to the setting of the story the writer makes readers feel that it is going to end well. Oise will have freedom and lead the life of her choice if her husband dies. But this is not the case. The husband comes back alive and when Louise sees her she dies out of the heart disease. She does not experience the good moments that she thought she will have. When Louise is told the news about the death of her husband she goes back to her room alone and gets seated in a comfortable chair and starts staring outside. She sees the top of the trees that have new springs of life. Its ironical that she sees the death of her husband as the beginning of her new life and she is very happy about it. Instead of mourning that her husband is dead she is happy about the episode. She would now live her live in the way she wanted it to be. Other phrases are also ironical like Patches of blue skies showing through the clouds, the delicious smell of rain the air, and also the countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves are description which imply of the life that Mrs. Mallard was about to begin. As soon as she was about to begin her new life, she died. Its also ironical that Louise lived with a man who she was not happy about but still stayed with him. She is described to have loved him only sometimes and often she did not love her. It is very funny that Mallard did not know that his wife did not love him. Throughout the time that they spend together Mallard must have been in a position to see some of the things that her wife did to her and at least sense that she did not love her. It is a worry that she could not realize this from her wife. Chopin has also used foreshadowing in this story. This device is used in the beginning of the story. From the way the story begins something bad was going to happen to this lady. Somewhere in the course of the story she was likely to die of heart disease. There are also other things throughout the story which makes us understand that something will go wrong but the writer tries to make us feel that everything is going to run smoothly .Chopin ends the story in a manner which leaves us with a lot of surprise.She did not take much of her time to give out the story neither did she use a lot of materials to convey the information. As the title of the story indicates this is the story of the last hour of Mrs. Mallards life. In the process of telling us about the last moments of her life, Chopin also gives us her life history until that point.(Boren and Davis 23) The plot of the story makes the author to major on the thoughts of Mrs. Mallard. This is important in explaining the theme of the story which deals with her desire to have freedom. She wishes to fulfill her desires after her husbands death. Louse is presented in the story as somebody who is likeable and sympathetic character. The way in which her sister breaks the news of her husbands death and the way she is portrayed to have problems with her heart makes the reader to sympathize with her. The author also uses narrative as a stylistic device. The way the story is told is a narrative. Its a story of the life of Mallard and how she related with her husband. Death is used as a theme in this story. Mrs. Mallard dies at the end of the story. Her husband is shown to have been involved in an accident and he was in the list of the people who died even though he actually was not involved. The story is used to describe a woman and the way she reacts to news of her dead husband and her respons e when she realizes he is alive. She was unfaithful to her husband and therefore she deserved the death herself not the husband. Work cited Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Catherine Golden. Charlotte Perkins Gilmans the yellow wall-paper: a sourcebook and critical edition. London. Rutledge, 2004. Lynda Sue Boren and Sara de Saussure Davis. Kate Chopin reconsidered: beyond the Bayou. New York LSU Press, 1999

Essay --

Cancer can develop anywhere in the body. Cells grow abnormally and become cancerous because of environmental factors, such as smoking cigarettes and exposure to radiation; genetics, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and even just luck (Stern et al., 2004). Even though genetics play the primary role in the development of cancer, the environment in which one lives also contributes to the chances of getting cancer. Some of the environmental factors that influence the development of cancer include alcohol use, obesity, asbestos, HIV, and Down’s syndrome. Cancer affects people of all ages. In infants and children, genetic abnormalities are generally the primary cause of cancer. Individuals over the age of 55 years old make up more than 80% of all cancers (Stern et al., 2004). 2.3 MYTHS ABOUT CANCER According to Aronson (2010), cancer is a humiliating and punishing disease as its treatments often deny people of the organs that give them their gender-identity, their sense of wholeness, and beauty. After treatment, patients also often feel less than whole. For them, cancer is not just a physical disease but rather a state of mind and a reason for societal quarantine and judgment. It is not discussed freely or accepted objectively. Cancer is seen as a "taint" upon the family, just as HIV is viewed as a disease that needs to be hidden away. There are many misconceptions across all ethnic and racial groups regarding cancer. Many believe that since no one in their family previously had cancer, then they would not get cancer. People also have a false impression that if they are healthy then they would not develop cancer (McGarvey & Brenin, 2005). According to Frymark, there are three chief myths about cancer: 1. Although chemothera... ...e. Among the members of the Solanaceae family, Solanumaculeastrumwas the most common plant used for the treatment of cancer (Koduru, Grierson & Afolayan, 2007). Scientists these days are also investigating traditional medicine for anti-cancerous effects. A popular ayurvedic herb Ashwagandha, frequently known as â€Å"Indian Winter cherry† or â€Å"Indian Ginseng† is used in ayurvedic medicine in a way similar to that Panax ginseng used in traditional Chinese medicine. This herb is normally used for its wide range of health advantages. Withaferin A, which derived from this medicinal plant, it often used for its anti-tumorigenic activity against various cancer cells. Withaniasomnifera flowers are small and green and the roots are mostly used for medicinal purposes. It is cultivated in the drier regions of India such as Punjab and Rajasthan (Singh, Verma, Pandey & Gilca, 2011).

Growth Dynamics Of E. Coli In Varying Concentrations Of Nutrient Broth :: essays research papers

Growth Dynamics of E. coli in Varying Concentrations of Nutrient Broths, pH, and in the Presence of an Antibiotic Abstract The purpose in this experiment of growth dynamics of E. coli in varying media was to determine which media produces the maximum number of cells per unit time. First a control was established for E. coli in a 1.0x nutrient broth. This was used to compare the growth in the experimental media of 0.5x and 2.0x, nutrient broths; nutrient broths with an additional 5.0mM of glucose and another with 5.0mM lactose; nutrient broths of varying pH levels: 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0; and finally a nutrient broth in the presence of the drug/antibiotic chloramphenicol. A variety of OD readings were taken and calculations made to determine the number of cells present after a given time. Then two graphs were plotted, Number of cells per unit volume versus Time in minutes and Log of the number of cells per unit volume versus Time growth curve. The final cell concentration for the control was 619,500 cells/mL. Four media, after calculations, produced fewer cells than that of the control, these were: Chloramphenicol producing 89,3 01 cells/ml; glucose producing 411,951 cells/mL; lactose producing 477,441 cells/mL and finally pH 6.0 producing 579,557cells/mL. The remaining four media, after calculations, produced cell counts greater than the control: 2X with 1,087,009 cells/mL; 0.5X with 2,205,026 cells/mL; pH 8 with 3,583,750 cells/mL and finally pH 7.0 with 8,090,325 cells/mL. From these results the conclusion can be made that the environment is a controlling factor in the growth dynamics of E. coli. This was found through the regulation of pH and nutrient concentrations. In the presence of the drug/antibiotic, chloramphenicol, cell growth was minimal. Introduction E. coli grows and divides through asexual reproduction. Growth will continue until all nutrients are depleted and the wastes rise to a toxic level. This is demonstrated by the Log of the number of cells per unit volume versus Time growth curve. This growth curve consists of four phases: Lag, Exponential, Stationary, and finally Death. During the Lag phase there is little increase in the number of cells. Rather, during this phase cells increase in size by transporting nutrients inside the cell from the medium preparing for reproduction and synthesizing DNA and various enzymes needed for cell division. In the Exponential phase, also called the log growth phase, bacterial cell division begins. The number of cells increases as an exponential function of time. The third phase, Stationary, is where the culture has reached a phase during which there is no net increase in the number of cells. During the

Nietzsche Essay -- Evolution Religion Creationism Science Essays

Nietzsche In 1859 Charles Darwin offered a theory that seemed to disprove the longstanding explanation of the origin of existence. Darwin’s theory of evolution proposes a convincing argument that the universe was not created for a purpose, with intention, by a conscious God, but rather, was a phenomenon of random change. Friedrich Nietzsche articulated the gravity of the effect of Darwin’s theory on society. He said that when Darwin published the theory of evolution people stopped believing in God. Nietzsche wrote that when people stopped believing in God, God died. Nietzsche’s assertion pivots on the assumption that God’s existence depends solely on human belief. Nietzsche assumes that belief is the greatest power that humans possess, but that this belief could not stand strong against the theory of evolution.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many people believe that in order for life to be worth living, there must be an overarching purpose to existence, and thus, according to Nietzsche, form illusions for the sake of comfort. By believing in a morality, God, or other higher cause, people get to live their dream that there is ultimate justification for everything. This serves to allow the imposition of an illusion so that one does not have to view the â€Å"truth† of the universe. One of these â€Å"truths† that Nietzsche proposes people deny is the â€Å"death of God†. Nietzsche’s statement that â€Å"God is dead† is intended to imply that there is a more accurate manner of existing now than following traditiona...

Levering Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

This article sheds light on how some companies approach diversity and inclusion training from a standpoint that may be doing more harm than good. The article speaks to what not to do or say as it relates to diverse groups of employees. Mainly to ensure no lawsuits occur or any laws are broken. However, a recent study by researchers from Harvard University, University of California at Berkeley and the University of Minnesota showed that diversity training that emphasizes the threat of lawsuits actually had a negative effect on diversity. In addition, attitudes about diversity showed no measurable changes after such training. The research showed that the problem with negatively directed diversity training was that it emphasized differences rather than similarities. The training tended to group people according to characteristics, such as color and religion, rather than individual preferences. Noting that race and religion, being such a â€Å"touchy† subject, put managers in a position where they felt they were being intrusive or encroaching on employees freedoms. Getting one step closer to breaking laws or having impending lawsuits. This article was written to suggest an alternate way of presenting diversity and inclusion as it relates to the work place. They suggest that training should focus more on similarities of diverse group members and non-diverse group members. This creates an open line of communication and appreciation that although a difference exists among them they still share common ground. They suggest that the key to successful training and in breaking down stereotypes is to focus on exercises that allow people to relate as individuals. Instead of using words like â€Å"diversity† or even â€Å"similarity,† turn the employee’s thoughts to â€Å"individuality. † At even the basic level all people can relate to being an individual. This individuality is generally more widely accepted than thinking of someone being a part of a â€Å"diverse† group. The major goal in addressing diversity from this stand point also shifts management’s mindset from what not to do to what they can do as it relates to positive diversity and inclusion training.

Helicopter Emergency Medical Service

Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Air medical transport has only been used for the past 70 years. The first true air ambulance flight was during the Great War. A Serbian officer was transported from the battlefield to the hospital by plane. Air ambulance was being tested by different military organizations during the First World War. Schaefer Air services was the first United States air ambulance service, created in 1947. The Korean War was the big turning point for EMS helicopters. In 1950, the military was given authorization to use helicopters for medical purposes.These helicopters were used to evacuate injured patients from the battlefield during combat. The small helicopters were equipped with basket stretchers that were attached to the landing gear. The patients were transported outside of the aircraft, which did not allow for medical during transport. From January 1951 to January 1953 more than 17,000 patients were removed from the battlefield and transported to the hospita l by helicopter. The use of medical helicopter transport significantly decreased the causality/death rate among the people in combat.World War II death/causality rate was 4. 5 deaths per 100 casualties, whereas, the Korean War death/casualty rate was 2. 5 deaths per 100 casualties. The Vietnam War introduced to idea of patients receiving medical care during air transport. The Bell UH-1 also known as the Huey was the frost helicopter that was large enough to carry the patient and medical staff inside the aircraft. The state of Maryland started the nation’s first combined emergency service helicopter program, in 1969. This program was put into place by the Maryland State Police and the University of Maryland.The program joined together the state police, rescue and HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service). In 1972, St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver Colorado was the first hospital to have civilian hospital-based helicopter transport. This hospital-based helicopter transpo rt system is still in use today and is now intergrated with Denver EMS. The attributes of helicopter transport are speed, accessibility, specialized personnel and technology. Modern medical helicopters are capable of sustain speeds in excess of 150mph. This allows for patients to be transported to a specialized care center much faster than ground transport.Using a helicopter allows for emergency medical personnel to access patients in places ground crews cannot go. A helicopter can take off and land in a vertical motion. Emergency medical helicopters are staffed with highly trained and skilled staff. EMS helicopters are equipped with highly sophisticated medical technology and can reach people across a wide geographical area. When considering the use of the EMS helicopter you should take all these attributes into consideration. If these attributes are not important, then the use of an expensive EMS helicopter should not be used.Air medical transport can pose its own stressors to pat ients, medical staff and medical equipment. These stressors are more predominant in fixed-wing operations rather than helicopter transport. Hypoxemia is the biggest threat to people who fly. However helicopters no dot exceed 1000 feet above sea level. Patients being transported by helicopter are at no significant risk of hypoxemia secondary to decreased ambient pressure. Acceleration of the aircraft is another factor that can stress the patient. Helicopter acceleration force is not that much different than that of ground transport.Acceleration is more significant in fixed-wing aircraft. Noise is a major issue when it comes to helicopter transport. The noise inside the helicopter causes problems for the medical staff. The noise may hinder the medical staff from hearing lung sounds. The staff must use headphones and an intercom system to communicate. Vibration of the aircraft is another problem for the patient and staff. The vibrations can cause fatigue and discomfort to the patient. Vibration can also cause monitoring errors and equipment malfunction. Air medical transport has a few cons but when life is on the line these issues seem minor.Each helicopter has its own transport team. The transport team may consist of a pilot, registered nurse or paramedic, and can include EMT’s and EMT-I’s. Some flight crews include a physician. Physicians on fight crews have posed a lot of controversy as to whether a physician as a crew member improves the outcome of the patient. Each crew member must undergo many education courses as well as hands on training before being employed by HEMS. Safety is the most important aspect to HEMS. Emergency medical helicopters have an alarming history of crashes.The National Transportation Safety Board conducted a study to determine the major causes of helicopter crashes. Important areas of flight risk are the pilots, the mechanics of the aircraft, crew training, maintenance, weather conditions, time of day, and landing sites. The study showed that poor weather conditions posed the greatest risk for helicopter crashes. Since, the study many improvements have been made to improve the crash rate. It has been said that the sole decision is set on the pilot as to whether it is safe enough to take the flight or not.The pilot must consider the weather conditions, aircraft maintainence, and crew readiness. Medical personnel cannot make the decision to take the call. Medical personnel should not tell the pilot the nature of the call, because this may deter the pilot’s judgment. Currently the Federal Aviation Administration is looking to make changes in the safety procedures of HEMS. Air medical transport is generally used in for two reasons, rescue and inter-hospital transfer. Helicopter transport is very expensive and is potentially dangerous.Rescue helicopters are dispatched by emergency personnel at the scene. The helicopter reports to the scene of the accident or illness. When should a EMS helicopter be dispatched? EMS helicopter should only be called out when speed, accessibility, specialized equipment and personnel are all needed to save life or limb. Inter-hospital air medical transport is generally used to transfer critically ill patients to another hospital that suites the needs of the patient. There are two types of landing sites for EMS helicopters. One type is the controlled site. The controlled site located at hospitals.These landing sites are constructed to safely accomindate the aircraft. The second type of landing site is the uncontrolled landing site. The uncontrolled landing site is landing at the scene of an accident. The landing site is selected by the ground EMS. The pilot looks at the site and determines if it is safe to land or not. Ground EMS are trained on how to chose, and mark a landing site. Ground EMS personnel are also trained on how to behave around the aircraft. When a patient is going to be transported by air the ground EMS must prepare the patient f or transport.The EMS ground crew should have the patient stabilized as much as possible before transport. Another way ground EMS can prepare the patient is to intubate a patient that has a high potential for loss of airway. Good communication is the biggest factor in a successful transport. Ground EMS typically has radio communication with the helicopter. The communication between the two should be maintained until after the helicopter takes off. Maintaining good communication allows the flight crew to inform ground EMS of any major, unexpected patient complications or malfunctions of the aircraft.EMS helicopters must have well trained, diverse flight crews. These crew members must be able to perform their duties on the scene of an accident and while in flight. The crew members are trained to handle many different types of patients such as drowning, burns, spinal cord injuries, heart attacks, pediatric and neonatal patients. The flight nurse is responsible for the patient assessment , and interventions before loading the patient on the aircraft. The flight nurse must know how to use all the equipment and know all the safety guidelines pertaining to the aircraft.There are many different requirements to becoming a flight paramedic. A person who wants to become a flight paramedic must be able to work in chaotic situations. Becoming a flight paramedic involves a lot of hard work and dedication. The person who wants to become a paramedic must have at least one year EMT experience and many different certifications such as: CPR, Basic Life Support (BLS), Basic Pediatric Life Support (BPLS), Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS), Neo Natal Life Support (NALS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).In order to become a flight paramedic this person would have to have at least 5 years critical care experience in a high volume progressive EMS system. Becoming a flight paramedic is no easy task.References Formm, Jr. Robert E. â€Å"Air medical transport†. Journal of Family Practice. March 1993. http://www. findarticals. com/p/articles. html . 1 Oct. 2010. Kreisher, Otto. â€Å"The Rise of the Helicopter During the Korean War†. Aviation History Magazine. History. net Jan 2007. http://www. historynet. com/the-rise-of-the -helicopter-during-the-korean-war. htm. 1 Oct. 010 Federal Aviation Administration. â€Å"Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Safety. †8 June 2010. http://www. faa. gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story. cfm? newsID+6763. 1 Oct. 2010. Lenworth M. Jacobs, MD, MPH, FACS, and Bennet, Barbra, RN, MPH. â€Å"The Critical Care Helicopter System in Trauma. † Hartford Conneticut.. http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC/articles. 1 Oct. 2010 Gentile. Rosanne. â€Å"How to Become a Flight Paramedic: Required Qualifications and Education. † Associated Content. 18 August 2008. http://associatedcontent. com. 1 Oct. 2010

Mikhalkov’s Burnt by the Sun Essay

In the tradition of passions plays of a century ago that illustrated the age-old inequalities of unchallenged intrinsic power wielded by a single entity. This is the story of absolute authority and how well earned past loyalties have elapsed and betrayed by fear and replaced with paranoia.   Burnt by the Sun, a 1994 film by Russian director and actor Nikita Mikhalkov, the long film even with a tendency to meander,   carries the distinction of being the first noteworthy anti-Stalin film produce in post-Communist Russia. While the subject of matter of post revolution in Russia is not a new platform for addressing the thesis of Stalin’s dictatorial regime, what is interesting and original is the ability and opportunity for Mikhalkov to openly criticize the past without apparent fear of reprisal. The antagonistic and customary undiscriminating maltreatment launched at the history of the Soviet era has served to strengthen the political movement in late 19th-century Russia that sought to bring about a just new society by destroying the existing one through acts of terrorism and assassination. The obvious resentment of modern Russian film-makers toward the concept of socialism has not prevented them from producing a considerable number of films about Russia’s past during the past decade. For the most part, the directors of these films have sought to outdo one another in depicting the agonies of Soviet history. The tale of the films begins in 1936 Russia, slightly less than two decades following the Communist Revolution.   This point in time is seated in the midst of General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union’s Central Committee Joseph Stalin’s era murderous dictatorship.   The main characters; a well heeled and socially content Colonel Sergueiv Kotov, a military hero of the Bolshevik revolution,   his young beautiful wife Maroussia and their six-year old daughter Nadia are established in peaceful yet sheltered existence from the rest of post revolutionary Russia.   Their surroundings are idyllic and rustic, all expected from yearly sabbatical. However, the untroubled setting is soon disrupted by the untimely entrance of Dimitri; an old love of Kotov’s wife Maroussia, a young entertainer of a man, grew up with Kotov’s wife’s family.   Ironically, 10 years ago, Dimitri served under Kotov and hence was ordered away on duty.   The motives of such decision was suspect to say the least, but now Dimitri, of unknown means and purpose, has returned with a tacit mission.   Even while pleasantries were exchanged, adolescent amusements offer and lover’s memories revisited, Dimitri had assumed the task of arresting Kotov for espionage under order from Stalin.   Rather paradoxical since Kotov was openly very patriotic, dedicated to the State of the Soviet Union to the extent of carrying a photograph with him of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. The tale ends as it presents Kotov slowly and tactfully being removed from his relaxed and filled with humor semi-retirement. Obviously, this story being about Stalinist Russia, the closing stages will not reach a cheerful finish. The film has effectively taught us just how brutal those murderous years were and the insanity on which it was all based. The audience is presented with the beauty of happy, content lives crushed by the demands of Joseph Stalin.   Directly, in the conclusion, we are shown Kotov, a heroic courageous, dedicated and loyal soldier of Russia who, having devoted a lifetime to serving his motherland, is ultimately destroyed by a fellow soldier. Despite Kotov’s threats to contact Stalin directly, witnesses are shot, he is badly beaten and eventually executed.   Whether a deeper plot envisioned by Stalin existed or not, the plan took the lives two loyalist, from grief, Dimitri commits suicide. Unlike most depictions of this time period that display the horrors in surfeit, Burnt by the Sun has clearly focused on presenting a genuine sharp critique of Stalinism.   Much of the command of this film is due to the restrained manner in which Mikhalkov integrates a forbidding significance into the script.   His clear offering of allowing all the humanity of the characters develop first, in complete humor and visual beauty, before letting them fall prey to their fate. Symbolism plays a key part in Burnt by the Sun. Some of it, while images are subtle and obscure, imagery is left up to the viewer to determine how literally to take several instances of magic realism. Mikhalkov ensure that his central thesis is so strong and conveyed in such a manner that it’s impossible to overlook or be misunderstood for another point. Director Nikita Mikhalkov is candid about the definitive meaning of his film by dedicating it to â€Å"everyone who was burnt by the sun of the Revolution.† (Bulavka, 1997, p139) This movie is very much an attack on the policies and paranoia of Stalin. The chilling final scenes emphasize the theme as we come to realize just how far-reaching the dictator’s grasp was, and how insecure even the most loyal patriots were. One result, however it was intended, has been that both Russian audiences and the film-makers communities have tended to grow weary of the traditional national cinema preoccupation with its themes and obsessions. All the reason more Burnt by the Sun., was met with an enthusiastic reception not only in Russia but also in the West, (eventually receiving an Oscar.) Burnt by the Sun uses the medium of film to pose social questions and explore social relationships with some attempts to combine opposing segments of radically different style and presentation. In many ways, Burnt by the Sun is presented by Mikhalkov as an intense pathos that rivals any cinematic present day effort. The film presents a challenge to the main trends in post-Soviet Russian cinema. Traditionally, film-making in Russia is dominated by the realism in the democratic classification therefore advancing tired themes.   Clearly, the Russian audiences have suffered for a realistic candid character that deals with the important dilemma of the moral duality of man.   If not with the times in which he is currently living but all times that follow. However, the only criticism of the production is the over-emphasized methodical process of reaching the main point of the story. The overall finale primarily impacts the audience due to the beginning of the film is subdued, therefore setting up a climatic end. The crux is essential yet distant for it takes an extremely long time for it to be enjoyed by the audience.

Microeconomics D. U.s. Essay

7. Indicate whether each of the following statements applies to microeconomics or macroeconomics: a. The unemployment rate in the U.S. was 9.0% in April 2011. Macroeconomics b. A U.S. software firm discharged 15 workers last month and transferred the work to India. Microeconomics c. A unexpected freeze in central Florida reduce the citrus crop and caused the price of oranges to rise. Microeconomics d. U.S. output, adjusted for inflation, grew by 2.9% in 2010. Macroeconomics e. Last week Wells Fargo Bank lowered its interest rate on business loans by one-half of 1 percentage point. Microeconomics f. The consumer price index rose by 1.6% in 2010. Macroeconomics 11. Explain how (if at all) each of the following events affects the location of a country’s production possibilities curve. a. The quality of education increases. The curve will shift outward. Better education leads to higher productivity of labors, inventions and technological advantages. b. The number of unemployed workers increases. This should not affect the curve. Production moves inward, away from the curve. c. A new technique improves the efficiency of extracting copper from ore. The curve should shift outward as more production is possible with existing resources. d. A devastating earthquake destroys numerous production facilities. The curve should shift inward with the destruction of resources/capital. Chapter 2 1. Contrast how a market system and a command economy try to cope with economic scarcity. A market system allows for the private ownership of resources and coordinates economic activity through market prices. Participants act in their own self interest and seek to maximize satisfaction or profit through their own decisions regarding consumption or production. Goods and services are produced and resources are supplied by whoever is willing to do so. The result is competition and widely dispersed economic power. The command economy is characterized by public ownership of nearly all property resources and economic decisions are made through central planning. The planning board, appointed by the government, determines production goals for each enterprise. The division of output between capital and consumer goods is centrally decided based on the board’s long-term priorities. 10. In a sentence, describe the meaning of the phrase â€Å"invisible hand.† Acting in your own self interest to increase profit and at the same time helping society and the economy.

The Burden on Ivory Tower in Community Colleges Essay

The Burden on Ivory Tower in Community Colleges - Essay Example The struggle between quantity and quality is not new to community colleges. Professor X points out different problems concerning education in community colleges and the admissibility of the students for college education. In his experience as an English teacher, he realized that â€Å"[their] presence together (Professor X and his students) in these evening classes is evidence that we [they] have screwed up† (2). This could be seen as a desperate remark of a teacher who thinks that he can do nothing to help the students because they lack all basic knowledge; however, this is the truth. On the other hand, it is also given that students pursuing higher education in community colleges have different purposes of participating and basically have lifestyles most adults have (e.g. attend to children’s needs, consider career growth). Because of this, the average performance of community college students may not be comparable to those who are studying in universities. Most of th em are returnees of school after many years of being plain workers. With the ambition of attaining degrees, students of higher education take courses â€Å"not because they want to but because they must,† just as in the case of Professor X’s class. The diversity of learning needs and generation gap of students made things difficult for Professor X. As a teacher of English, it is a headache for him to learn that most of his students in college could not even write coherent sentences like any high school student. Indeed, it is a great challenge for him to teach. His encounter with Ms. L highlighted the main points of the article. Ms. L represented the people who wants to go to a community college primarily for career growth. She could be one of those 36% of community college students who are able to get an associate or bachelor’s degree (Marklein), or maybe not. In Professor X’s experience, the problem roots from the pre-requisite subjects that students â⠂¬Å"must† take for them to complete a degree and the management of community colleges as a whole. It is said the community colleges are having â€Å"an identity crisis† (Evelyn, qtd. in Inoue and Bell 128). The management and the admission process are leniently addressed in community colleges. Inoue and Bell contend that community colleges are â€Å"trying to be all things to all people all the time† (129) which does not sound favorable for mastery of learning. Many of the students are not well-informed about how to use the computer and internet, which are necessary tools for college paper making. Nevada’s state community colleges, however, are beginning to notice this problem by developing quality rather than quantity of their students (Richmond). This can be done by adding the budget for education. This can be feasible, however, it should be noted also that the students of those schools primarily want a brush-up for certain subjects which they failed to take to complete their degree or full time workers in the morning and students in the evening. With these kinds of students, increasing the budget would not be enough; same goes with

Analyst Management Summary Report of Vodafone UK Essay

Analyst Management Summary Report of Vodafone UK - Essay Example Such a thorough assessment and comparative study with one of its peers, namely France Telecom-Orange, would enable one to recommend whether or not to make an investment of ?1Million in the stocks of Vodafone. Company Profile Vodafone is a global telecommunication company, operating in above 30 nations across the world and with more than 404 million customers (Vodafone, 2012). The company is listed in the London Stock Exchange and has 49,180.6 million shares outstanding (Bloomberg, 2012). ... Additionally, the company had been continuously giving out dividends to its shareholders since the last four years. Financial Ratio Analysis The liquidity position of an organization can be evaluated with the assistance of its current ratio and quick ratio. These ratios establish the organization’s capacity to meet its short-term liabilities. The current ratio can be determined as the ratio of the current assets to the current liabilities of the company, while the quick ratio is computed by dividing the quick assets by the current liabilities. It should be noted that the quick asset of an organization cosist of its cash, receivables and short term marketable investments (Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2010). The liquidity ratios of Vodafone are as follows: Year Mar-11 Mar-12 Current Ratio 0.63 0.83 Quick Ratio 0.61 0.81 The analysis of a company’s capability to generate cost-effective sales by means of its resources can be assessed by means of its profitability ratios. These ratio s include the gross profit margin, the net profit margin as well as the returns on equity and assets of the company. The gross profit margin of a firm is the ratio of its gross profit to revenue, while net profit margin is the ratio of net profit to revenue. Then again, the return on equity (ROE) of a company is the value of net income as a percentage of total shareholders’ equity while the return on asset is the value of net income as a percentage of its total assets (Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2010). The profitability ratios of Vodafone are as follows: Year Mar-11 Mar-12 Gross Profit Margin 32.84% 32.04% Net Profit Margin 17.37% 14.99% Return on Equity 9.10% 9.04% Return on Asset 5.27% 4.98% The solvency position of a company can be determined by means of

Influence of interest groups on president Obamas administration Research Paper

Influence of interest groups on president Obamas administration - Research Paper Example Center for American Progress recommends the government to develop guided pathways to success that will help the higher education system to develop a formidable and attainable success path that will lead students to successful careers (Klein, 2014). The established success pathway will allow the federal government to resolve the longstanding problem that has befallen the American postsecondary education system thereby enabling a clear success path that will enable students to identify their potential and eventually their suitable careers to venture. Under the recommendations made by the center for American progress, students ought to begin in a limited number of meta- majors, which entails a set of courses that the student should complete in order to meet academic requirements across a range of programs and disciplines. The move will assist students to complete a specific major while following a highly structured degree plan. The proposed recommendation from the Center for American pr ogress addresses the tightly structured programs that student undertake within the semester thereby imposing flexibility to the students , which helps the students to access a wide range of courses offered during the semester with ease and under their discretion. The recommendation from the lobby group offers room to the effective use of technology that will enable trainers to pin point reluctant students who do not complete their assignments or attend lecture classes thereby allowing the trainers to intervene before the situation gets out of control.

Yakuza criminal organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Yakuza criminal organization - Essay Example The Yakuza is the name of the most famous criminal organization from Japan. However, the Yakuza is not a single homogeneous organization: it comprises several hundred of clans or gangs that operate in different cities. The Yakuza is involved - in some or other form - in many aspects of life in Japan and has certain interests in virtually every area of commercial activities. The Yakuza's sphere of influence is huge spreading from prostitution rackets to the government and top level businesses. At present, the Yakuza is considered to be one of the largest and most powerful criminal organizations in the world. Thus, the number of known yakuza members only in Japan is almost 85 thousand (Bruno 2007).The origins of Yakuza can be traced back to the Tokugawa shogunate. Tokugawa's unification of Japan in the beginning of the 17th century brought peace to the country, but also produced approximately half a million of samurai unemployed and with practically no employment opportunities. Althoug h many of these samurai turned merchants this option was acceptable and available to only few of them: the rest had not other choice but to search for other means to earn their living. Thievery and other illegal activities became an option for many samurai to support themselves (Seymour 1996).However, the precise origin of the organization is still debated: the diverse gangs that constitute the Yakuza have different origins. Furthermore, the versions of origin adopted by members of each gang often differ substantially from the actual origins traced through the historical records. Therefore, the most popular version is that the Yakuza developed from several different elements that characterized the Japanese society of Tokugawa period (Kaplan and Dubro 1986). Although the Yakuza claim that they originated from the Japanese versions of Robin Hood whose main function was to protect communities and restore social justice this standpoint is reasonably questioned by many. Thus, some resear chers trace origins of the Yakuza to the so-called kabukimono (crazy ones): the group of samurai who adopted unusual hair styles, dressed in a strange manner, spoke in highly specific slang, had long swords and harassed ordinary people: "Some feel that its members are descendents of the 17th-century kabuki-mono (crazy ones), outlandish samurai who reveled in outlandish clothing and hair styles, spoke in elaborate slang, and carried unusually long swords in their belts. The kabuki-mono were also known as hatamoto-yakko (servants of the shogun)" (Bruno 2007, p. 1). The adventures of kabukimono are still a popular theme in Japanese folklore literature. At the same time, the claims of some groups of the Yakuza to have their beginnings from the communal police or machi yakko (servants of the town) that protected the community are justified. These groups of police had different types of organization and consisted of various members of the community. Some groups also included several samurais: only samurai had the right to carry swords while the rest of population was officially prohibited to do so (Kaplan and Dubro 1986). The origins of the most well-known groups of the Yakuza, namely tekiya (peddlers) and bakuto (gamblers) have better traceability due to the specific initiation ceremony that involves rituals that directly relate to the initial spheres of interest of these groups. Tekiya began to create organizations to take over at least some administrative functions and duties relating to commerce and especially to protection of their business. Thus, during trade fairs and festivals each peddler paid certain amount to run his business safely under protection of their own security forces. These forces were eventually recognized by the Edo government, and their leaders called oyabuns (top chiefs) were granted the right to carry a sword like samurai and nobleman (Hill 2003). Bakuto (gamblers) also represented a low caste (even lower than tekiya) of the Japanese soci

Australia Destination Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Australia Destination Analysis - Essay Example The same year had a record of overseas arrivals that is 5.9 million visitors came to the country (Australian Bureau of Statistics). There are many famous tourist destinations in Australia some of which include the cities of Melbourne and Sydney, Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef which is the largest reef of the world and the Gold Coast. Other popular tourist spots are Uluru, Tasmanian wilderness and the Australian outback. One must not forget that tourism and a country’s transportation are strongly interlinked since tourism is all about travel. Thus it is imperative that due attention is given to the transport system of a country so tourism can expand. There are several modes of transport in Australia out of which road travel is most common. There are over three hundred airports and an extensive rail network. You can choose to travel by road that is by a bus or coach or travel by train which is quite a convenient plus affordable means of transport in Australia. You can also opt for ferries such as the Sealink ferries or the ferry service run by the Spirit of Tasmania. The government has paid a lot of attention in developing the best transport system which is a reason why tourism is a great experience in Australia. The success of the tourism industry also lies in the fact that a lot of marketing is done in order to promote tourism. There have been several tourism campaigns that have aimed at the laid back style of the country. These include the advertising campaign of the 1980s that featured actor Paul Hogan saying "Ill slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for you" and the divisive campaign in 2006 that was done in UK. It used the Australian colloquialism phrase "So where the bloody hell are you?" In 2009 the federal minister of tourism launched another marketing campaign ‘No Leave No Life’ that encouraged employees to take their annual leaves in Australia. The most recent tourism promotion ‘There’s Nothing like

Global warming Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Global warming - Research Paper Example While considering meat’s entire lifecycle, a meat eater is said to contribute to 1.5 tons more greenhouse gases per year compared to a vegetarian. This fact has been revealed by a study conducted by the University of Chicago (Michael, 2009). By contrast, changing to a hybrid Toyota Prius from a Toyota Camry is expected to help humans get rid of one ton of greenhouse gases per year (Michael, 2009). Global meat production is increasing every year. This is found to be adding more global warming gases. Therefore it is said that one of the easiest ways to decrease the collective greenhouse gas emissions is to consume less meat. Similarly every human activity is blamed to be causing global warming. These findings appear to be amusing when we properly understand the nature of the process, global warming. Global warming is believed to be primarily caused by carbon dioxide emitted into atmosphere through the use of fossil fuels in vehicles. However we forget that natural water cycle is causing much more carbon-dioxide to come in and out of the atmosphere. Even though we cannot deny that human activities are contributing to warming of earth, it would be wrong to comment that global warming is completely human-made. Some of the causes of global warming are in the arctic region. The polar ice caps melt faster than they get evaporated. This process would be reversed in ten to twenty years. Human activities are causing less than three percent of greenhouse gas release into the atmosphere. Average world temperature is gradually increasing; this process is happening in the last one million years. This is long back the human activities started on earth. Global warming has been happening long back industries started emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. We are of the belief that carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere today will negatively affect human beings several hundred years later. This is however not true. The lifespan of carbon dioxide is only 20 year s. After 20 years, the emitted carbon dioxide would completely disappear from atmosphere. Sun has little role in heating the atmosphere. The high frequency radiation of sun does not heat atmosphere. Hot bodies like sun cannot release low frequency radiation called infrared radiation. Rather, the heat from the sun heats the earth’s surface. This process reduces the radiation to infrared. Heat moves into the atmosphere by different processes like conduction, convection and evaporation. The infrared radiation gets absorbed by carbon dioxide. Instead, the sun’s rays heats the Earth’s surface, this weakens the radiation to infrared. From there it moves in to the earth’s atmosphere by any means necessary (Conduction, convection, evaporation). Then the inferred radiation is absorbed by the CO2. Almost 97 percent of the heat in the atmosphere is caused by evaporation or convection. Greenhouse gases are not responsible for this warming of atmosphere (Mintzer, 1992 ). The climatic changes of these ages are negligible compared to the climatic changes of the ancient periods (Mintzer, 1992) (Mike, 2006). Water evaporation is the chief cause of global warming. Water evaporation is causing global warming 100 times more than carbon dioxide emission (Mike, 2006). Human activities

Employment Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 7

Employment Law - Essay Example 38). The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 is founded on the principle of equal treatment to agency workers, in comparison to employees. The entitlement to equal treatment is restricted to fundamental employment and working conditions, like rest breaks and pay and not to protection from unfair dismissal and other such statutory rights (Agency Worker Regulations 2010 – a missed opportunity?, 2010). In order to advice Erica, the Human Resource Director of the Cranford Computers Ltd, with regard to Shirley; the major issue to be considered is whether Shirley’s frequent absence from work, on health grounds, is permitted by the employment legislation. It is also to be examined, whether the Cranford Computers Ltd, is in breach of the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. As an employee of Cranford Computers Ltd, for 2 years, Shirley is entitled to rights under the Employment Rights Act 1996. The time off rights of the Employment Protection Act 1975 (Employment Protection Act , 1975) were incorporated in the Employment Rights Act 1996. Some of these grant employees paid time off, whilst others permit unpaid time off. Section 50(4) of the Employment Rights Act 1996, specifies that the duration of time off and related conditions to be reasonable (Employment Rights Act , 1996). In our problem, Julie, who was one of Shirley’s colleagues covering her absences, had protested at having to shoulder Shirley’s duties frequently. Julie had also demanded additional remuneration for this work, entailing additional costs for the employer. Whilst taking decisions in respect of Shirley’s absence, these factors have to be taken into consideration by Cranford Computers Ltd. With regard to Julie, there is no legal entitlement for working overtime. Furthermore, there is no specification regarding overtime pay and the only requirement is that the average pay should not be less than the National Minimum Wage. However, no worker

Tsotsi directed by Gavin Hood and Chris Abanis Nigerian novel Graceland Essay Example for Free

Tsotsi directed by Gavin Hood and Chris Abanis Nigerian novel Graceland Essay How do the names of main characters in the film Tsotsi and novel Graceland define their identity? When comparing the South African movie Tsotsi directed by Gavin Hood and Chris Abanis Nigerian novel Graceland, both are stories of young men struggling with their poverty-stricken fates. In these African cultures, the names of central characters Tsotsi and Elvis are more than just a reference; they carry the clues to their past and the explanation to their present as they endure journeys of self-discovery. In the film, main character Tsotsi embodies his native label. In the local vernacular of South African townships-comprised of Afrikaans and a mixture of local dialects such as Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana and Sotho-the term tsosti can literally be translated to thug. With it comes the historical association of the 1930s urban youth gangs that ruthlessly ruled at the top of the ghettos hierarchy. Although in the past the name tsotsi carried a glamorous gangster image, the word is now used to describe displaced young criminals. This history of the word parallels the characters past. Tsotsi is seemingly comfortable in his role as a cold-hearted gang leader, but the viewer questions his motives as the film progressively exposes his troubled past. Hood uses flashbacks to portray Tsotsi as a young boy in his last moments with his bed-ridden mother. As he reaches out to hold her hand, the scene is slow-moving as if visually symbolizing the strength and endurance of their love. In these defining moments, his mother calls him David-meaning beloved. The appearance of Tsotsis aggressive, drunk father triggers a sudden change in pace-a rapid series of individual close-ups foreshadows a climax in the conflict that will permanently paralyze the characters emotional acceptance of each other. Parting from his mother metaphorically displaces David from his once safe, loving past to Sowetos perilous grasp. When he runs away, he leaves behind his real name-his true identity. The new name Tsotsi allows him to take on the role of a nameless thug that masks his emotional existence and provides him with an outlet for his traumatic childhood. In Graceland, the main characters name is inspired by the late Elvis Presley. Throughout the novel, Albanis choices of names define a culture in which all you had was your name(187). Before money became a universal determinant of status, the sole measure of a man was his name(187). Elviss father, Sunday, lives to take the family from being a nobody to carrying a name people spoke with respect(187). It is therefore untraditional for Elvis, as a future male representative of the family, to be named after his mothers, Beatrices, unaccredited passion. This act alone foreshadows Elviss inability to satisfy the conventional role posed upon him in Nigerias male-dominated society. Beatrice, meaning bringer of joy, invests her love and passion for music in Elvis. In the same way music acts as an escape from the slums grim conditions, Elvis is Beatrices symbol of hope-an innocent new beginning to life. Both Tsotsi and Elvis define their names through the strong connection with their mothers. When Beatrice dies, Elvis loses his source of inspiration, and the reader questions whether he will still be able to live up to his name. Both Tsotsi and Elvis found motivation and purpose in their mothers care, thus struggling to maintain paths of righteousness(171) after their loss. Although initially thriving in his self-adopted role as criminal, Tsotsi is eventually forced to come to terms with his true, restrained identity. In the beginning, he organizes crime with his followers Boston/Teacher-boy, Butcher and Aap (monkey in Afrikaans) at his heels. Together the meanings of the three names describe the characteristics symbolic of a stereotypical street gang; an abandonment of education, a barbaric desire to hurt and kill, and the foolishness of reckless animals. Despite the gangs obedience, it is not long before Bostons guilt consumes him after a murder, and he begins to question Tsotsis mysterious faà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ade. He verbally tears at the mask Tsotsi has created: Whats your name, Tsotsi? Your real name? Thug? Thats not a real name. The interrogation triggers Tsotsis angry past and fuels a brutal beating of Boston. In the following scene Tsotsi is fleeing the bar, and Hood parallels the event to the flashback of David originally running away from his father. Hoods cross-cutting implies a commonality in Tsotsis state of mind during these two events. Tsotsi has become exactly what he ran away from all those years ago-a bitter, drunk abuser. This inner realization forces Tsotsi to come to terms with his past and re-establish his true identity. After Beatrices death, Elvis struggles to maintain a source of identity. Beatrice has endured him with the role of her idol-she loved Elvis Presley(105)-and Elvis soon begins to physically embody this responsibility. His first job in the novel is entertaining beachside tourists as an Elvis impersonator. While Tsotsi hides from his real name, Elvis tries to embrace the inspiration behind his. Unfortunately, in a life where money overrules passion, dancing is not seen as a sufficient job; it is something everyone does in de bar on Saturday(5). Despite the disparagement, Elvis finds refuge in his physical transformation into the King of Rock. Make-up is a tool to success, metaphorically providing him with the opportunity to escape his menial reality. In this way, Elviss physical mask is similar to Tsotsis emotional shield. Real make-up, however, is seen as a dangerous option(11) because he could be mistaken for a cross-dressing prostitute(11). Elvis resorts to layers of talcum powder and is dissatisfied(11) with his end result. The conservative Nigerian culture denies him freedom in expressing his genuine love for music and dance, and Elvis becomes afraid to define his impersonation as anything other than a materialistic occupation. His mother may have given him a name that carried her artistic inspiration, but she failed to raise him into a life where his true character could flourish without her. It takes Tsotsi years to accept his name, and Elvis a lifetime to try to live up to his. Together, film and novel act as a microcosm for urban African society-a culture in which names are carefully chosen as a representation of character. Hood and Abani use Tsotsi and Elvis to exemplify the powerful role of names in influencing and molding developing characters. Author and director stress the need to take control and establish ourselves in a way that brings honor to our names, and that doesnt allow societys pre-prescribed connotations to define us.