Compare and Contrast the Revolutions

During the frame of the Romantic Period, there were many revolutions through 1798-1832. First the Americans, then the French, and ending with the English. All three of these historical events had a huge effect on one another by one ending, and the next one beginning. Follow the differences between the three. Starting off with the American Revolution (1776-1783). The British started to build up their empire. Next the started with the revolt of the thirteen American colonies. In the American war of Independence, Britain won, leaving the country with huge war debts and with out the American Revenue (keeps the British wealthy). Next, the French Revolution and the era of Napoleon (1798-1815). July 1798, a violent political upheavals and radical change in the French National government took into play. This happened because, an angry crowd of Frenchmen stormed the Bastille, in able to protect the oppressive policies of the French monarchy. British liberals looked to revolutionary France for new models of political freedom, but how British points its fingers to the French to justify their repressive policies. Finally, the Industrial Revolution in England. This was in the time frame that they started inventions of machines to do work at home. In the 19th century England began moving from a traditional rural, agricultural society to a more modern, urban, and industrialized states. Abundant of landless people became to have no choice but to move to crowded cities, and work in squalid, dangerous factories for low pay. The a lot in common in some certain categories. They had times where there was horrible labor jobs for low pay. Next, they divided the wealth where each job you were paid less. As you worked during the revolution it was a bad environment because of all the combat that was going on. Last it would end even worst because the country would lose a lot of money and have meager economic problems. They also had various differences on many levels. The way they had a revolutions were totally different situations. Also their time fames were divided it didn’t happen all at once. It wasn’t the same countries over and over. Different people were involved and it took place at multiple places.

“Invictus” by William E. Henley and “Anthem“ by Ayn Rand Essay

The poem â€Å"Invictus† by William E. Henley, and the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, both have common themes that discuss the importance of individuality in each society are forbid and belief of the unspeakable word ego and the word I should be eliminated from the vocabulary in a effort to eradicated the true â€Å"evil† are present as individualism. One of the common themes between Rand’s novel, and Henley’s poem is that, both of the main characters of these pieces are determined to be nothing less than what they were made to be which is unconquerable. A quote from Anthem that supports this theme is, â€Å"They (the Golden one) looked strait into our Equality 7-2521 eyes and they held our head high and they answered: â€Å"the unconquered.†(p.56). From this quote, the Golden one proves to think that Equality 7-2521 is an unconquerable being, because of this determination, as well as will-power with all his doings. In Invictus, the protagonist does not see himself to be overcome by anything, but to always be able to rise against his challengers. As the author states in Invictus , we thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul. The leading character explains in this quote how he is invincible, and that this gift was given to him, so therefore it cannot be taken away. I can relate this to Anthem , by recapping what happened to Equality 7-2521in his past experiences with the transgressor got burned alive, which made him steadily directed and immovable, such as in â€Å"Invictus†. Also, in both Anthem and â€Å"Invictus†, the protagonists of the story and poem, went through physical pain, which I also believe has a lot of emotional pain involved as well. In Anthem Equality 7-2521 states this excerpt, â€Å"They tore our clothes from our body, they threw us down upon our knees and they tied our hands to the iron post. The first blow of the lash felt as if our spine had been cut in two.† (p.64). From this quote we can gather that Equality 7-2521 had physical pain from the lashes, but also emotional pain behind the reasoning of the abuse. I believe that this had a hug Individuality, this word is what makes a person who they are. It can be molded into whatever one chooses it to be. It also puts you in control of yourself and guides you through your existence. Being individualized is what makes us human. We are not all the same. In the novel Anthem, the thought of individuality is a constant theme throughout the book. The main character, Equality believes he is cursed by being an individual, at first. Many similarities can be found between the novel Anthem and the poem â€Å"Invictus. Invictus is Latin word for Unconquered. Another character, Liberty, will begin to call Equality unconquered in the novel. She believes he is unconquered because his appearance to her is different. She believes that because he is different that he will not be held down by the conformity surrounding him, therefore unconquered. â€Å"Your eyes are as flame, but our brothers have neither hope nor fire. Your mouth is cut of granite, but our brothers are soft and humble. Your head is high, but our brothers cringe. You walk, but our brothers crawl.† his poem â€Å"Invictus†, â€Å"Out of the night that covers me, Balck as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.† These two quotes alone depict individuality very well and are similar in the message in ANTHEM AND THE POAM INVICTUS. Towards the end of the novel I think that Equality will tell the reader of how he will no longer live for anyone but himself and those that he loves and love him. â€Å"It is my mind which thinks, and the judgment of my mind is the only searchlight that can find the truth. It is my will which chooses, and the choice of my will is the only edict I must respect.† â€Å"I ask none to live for me, nor do I live for any others.† These quotes are very similar to the last two line of â€Å"Invictus.† They read â€Å"I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.

Adolescence Is the Unhappiest Time in Most People’s

Adolescence is the unhappiest time in most people’s lives. Adolescence is the period of time in someone’s life between being a child and an adult. For some people it is enjoyable, for others it can be the opposite. There are several arguments in favor of adolescence. To begin with, teenagers have more free time than adults. In this time they can do after school activities, join clubs and do sports. In edition, teenagers get support from their parents. For example, parents pay for everything – their child’s studies, food, clothes and so on.That means teenagers don’t need to work. Last but not least, adolescence is the time when people can have many friends and they can go to lots of parties, when adults may work all day and have less free time. Furthermore, it gives teenagers different experience and it is a step to becoming an adult. As there are good points in favor of adolescence, there is also bad. Firstly, it is believed that most of teenagers hate school. For instance, it is boring or too hard. It’s a good reason for disliking adolescence.Secondly, teenagers can’t drive a car. A car is a good advantage of being an adult. It is quite helpful for people who need to go places farther away or for people whose house is too far from school. Thirdly, earning money for underage people is very hard or even impossible. Teenagers’ parents give them money, but not always it is enough, so there is a need to earn extra money. To sum up it is a time with both – advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I believe that adolescence is a happy time. It’s only the matter of fact how people spend it.

Consultancy project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Consultancy project - Essay Example The company still experiences problems in Saudi Arabia, most of which affect the productivity of employees. The company currently experiences problems with the HR department. Therefore, the BAE Company plans to work with the Delta HR consultancy to enable them identify the issues related with the HR department. The consultant presented in this paper is Delta HR consultancy group, consultee in BAE company systems and the consultee’s client group are Strikemaster aircraft in Saudi Arabia ( BAE Systems 2000, p. 111). In any consultancy project, consultants must know the operational and conceptual picture of their definition in consultation, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the appropriate operation models to enhance their effectiveness in consulting. This also facilitates the expansion of experience and enhances understanding the necessary process in their consultancy projects. Studies indicate that only few consultants succeed in the absence of high quality skills. Su ch skills include evaluation of the problem definition, knowing of when to listen or confront, being a good relation builder, and recognition of excessive dependency or understanding dynamics of resistance. Such skills enhance the competency of a consultant (Biech 2005, p. 20). Objectives of the project entail the investigation of the problems facing BAE, the proposal of the process involved to undertake a consultancy project, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the consultancy project with regard to BAE. Process of Undertaking a Consultancy Project The process of undertaking a consultation project involves six steps. The steps apply to both long-term and short-term consultation. These include pre-entry, entry, information gathering, solution searching, evaluation and termination (The Consultancy Process, 1990). The steps are in correspondence to the research methods undertaken and data acquired through qualitative and quantitative methods. All information in this paper originates from questionnaires and interviews where the consultant seeks to get first hand information that forms the basis to the consultancy project. Step 1: Pre-entry Pre-entry step underscores significance of the consultants in their regular engagement in self-assessment. This ensures that consultants remain in their rightful positions situations arising. The consultant may be misperceived as possessing unusual knowledge, insights and skills in defining and solving problems for another person. The pre-entry step therefore focuses on the consultant, and in this case, Delta HR consultancy. This step forms the preliminary stage where the consultant establishes a conceptual framework. This also enables the consultant assesses himself to articulate to others and to self of his/her true capabilities in providing them with the services they require. Failure of going through this step leads to possible underestimation or overestimation of the potential of the consultant to be useful. The assessmen t prevents the consultant from considering most problems and needs of the consultee as fitting to the favourite interventions and paradigms of the consultant for helping. The reflective and self-assessment involved in this stage enable the consultant understand the beliefs and values to be able to understand how organizations solve their problems. The Delta Consultancy must

Central Network System for Sharjah Government Organizations Research Paper

Central Network System for Sharjah Government Organizations - Research Paper Example Implementation of a new system in an organization will lead to requirement of new skills, change in communication pattern, modification of work relationships, reporting responsibilities and roles, redefinition of points of control and authority, a shift in data ownership, increased security and privacy concerns and change in organizational structures and newer management skills. Therefore, the effects of system implementation need to be evaluated before a concrete decision is made. This document presents a review of system implementation methods, implementation strategies, and discusses the pros and cons on the implementation of Central Network Systems for Sharjah Government Organization on different government departments and authorities. System Implementation System Implementation is the fourth stage of the system development process where the needed information system is coded, tested, debugged, installed then supported. There are many factors to be considered prior to the choice of an implementation method, appropriate for a new software system. ... The procedure can be followed in a linear pattern being that it is a structured plan. The existence of an implementation procedure can let the involved team know all the conditions to be met at a given step before moving to the next step. The method or procedure of implementation should ensure that all possible risks are identified and counteracted efficiently. Below are examples of the system implementation methods: i) Direct Change Over The old system is stopped at once then the new system is started. Every data initially fed into the old system now goes into the new system. This method is fit for highly centralized and small organizations with excellent ability to handle change. One advantage of this method is that it takes minimal effort and time and the users can feel the effect of the new system within a short time. One flaw is that failure of the new system can be a huge set back since there will be no back up. ii) Parallel Running In this method both the old and the new syste m are left running side by side during which the data fed into the old system is also fed into the new system. In the end, the old system is dropped but only after a proof that the new system is working well. Familiarity with change and good organization are fundamental for a business enterprise wishing to use the parallel method of system implementation. The method has the benefit that the old system can serve as backup in the event of failure of the new system. Also, the outputs of the two systems can be compared and this could be useful in evaluating the success level of the newly implemented system. One challenge with this plan is that a lot of time and effort will be spent in running the two systems concurrently. iii) Phased

The Victims Of Domestic Violence Feelings Essay

The Victims Of Domestic Violence Feelings - Essay Example The feminist cultures progressively and constantly defend the women against critical issues including domestic violence. The belief that women can cause violent activities is relegated and quashed because it is believed that they are the victims. The defense of the women of the society makes it difficult to speak about men being victims of domestic violence. The portrays women as non-perpetrators of family violence. Most resources are often directed to the perceived victims who are the women. The narrative of men being victims is never discussed, and neither are resources allocated to create awareness concerning the challenges facing men in various partnerships.   The inconsistencies that are manifest in dealing with domestic violence makes it difficult to voice the violent propensities that males experience. The recognition of a problem commences if the society acknowledges a crisis and works towards resolving it appropriately. Violence against men in heterosexual or same-sex rela tionships is prevalent in several jurisdictions yet the stakeholders are not keen to improve on the situation. Men find it difficult to share their issues because they believe the society does not recognize domestic violence against them and minimizes its proliferation. The degree or measure of violence in a relationship cannot be underestimated or tolerated because of gender socialization.   It is difficult to talk about males as victims of domestic violence because of stigmatization.  

In what ways did industrialization create new opportunities for women Essay - 1

In what ways did industrialization create new opportunities for women How and why were these opportunities limited - Essay Example portunities increased for women in terms of domestic manufacturing, employment opportunities for women started to decline from the 1880s until after the Second World War as the employment opportunities became related to the stagnating textile industry. Agriculture, domestic services, and manufacturing had started to contract in this phase. Change of the industry’s structure toward such heavy industries as metallurgy, machines, and mining signified a decrease in the work for married women workers. Although the government was not controlled by socialism until the 1917 Russian revolution, yet many governments were forced to target the industrial society’s abuses, as a result of which the parliament prohibited women’s underground employment e.g. â€Å"many women had worked in coal mines as "drawers" in which they pulled carts of coal from the mines with straps attached to their shoulders† (â€Å"The Industrial Revolution†). By 1914, certain new protest outlets including feminism and new work roles emerged for women. New standards and ideas brought important changes in the home (Stearns et

Strategic Analysis of Samsung Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Strategic Analysis of Samsung - Essay Example As per Franniegold (2008), the company's brand value was at US 5.2 billion in 2000 ranked 43rd globally, in 2001 it was ranked 42nd with USD 604 billion and in the year 2005, Samsung was at position 20th among the first companies with brand value of 14.96 billion. The company has taken up 18.1 % of all the exports which contributes to the economy of Korea with 13.2% billion in 2000 and by 2004 it grew to 20.7% with Brand value of USD 52.7 billion. Its tax payments to the Korean Government in 2003 were KRW 6.5 trillion, 6.3% of the total revenues from tax. By the year 1997, Samsung market value shot up to KRW 7.3 trillion accounting to 10.3% of the Korean market. By 2004 it went up to KRW 90.8 trillion. The company's net annual profits in 2001 were KRW 5.8 trillion and in 2002 it went up to KRW 11.7 trillion. These figures shot up to KRW 15.7 trillion in 2004 indicating a steady increase. Samsung annual profit growth is as follows: in 2001 it grew by 4.5 billion, in 2002 it reached $ 8.89 billion and in 2003 this figures shot up to $ 5.6 billion while $11.8 billion were recorded by the end of the year 2004. The firms debt-to-equity ration decrease includes: 104% as by 2000, 78% in 2001, 68% as in 2002, in 2003 the figures were decreasing at 56% while 2003experienced a decrease of 51%. Mission and Vision statement Its mission and vision statement, Economic contribution to the nation, priority to human resources, pursuit of rationalism, indicates its existence purpose and propels and gives the company a direction towards growth in the future. Currently, the company's strategic objectives indicate leadership in product development, strong performance, concentration in research and development and universal operation and presence as well as profitability and customer orientation. Samsung has installed strong mission and vision statements as well as good management philosophy that helps it achieve the above objectives. Its state of being conglomerate relates to its diversification in the other subsidiary group companies that it posses (Samsung Group, 2006). The appropriate approach to the market involves the manner in which it gains value to each and every section of the supply chain that encompasses relationship of customers and data relating to the products. This is achieved through Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). The company seeks to link up core gadgets like system-LSI, memory chips, A/V and LCDs, telecommunication gadgets, computers, home appliances, home appliances as well as other stand-alone goods into a net remedy to period of digital convergence. Samsung is dedicated to continuously create good relationship with its stakeholders comprising of employees, customers, suppliers as well as several governments and communities as a whole. It has a great focus on quality products that are at better competitive edge in the market. Strategic Analysis factors Samsung's in-depth business and strategic analysis involves a comprehensive study of the company, its

Economics of Organisations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Economics of Organisations - Essay Example Victor P. Goldberg (2008, pp. 1071-1084) states that the contract which was entered into between General Motors-Fisher Body (GM/FB) in the year 1919 was lawfully not enforceable. This realistic proof warranted the chronological significance of the institutional understanding of the economics of the firm founded on the minimization of transaction costs (Tirole,1988; Carlton and Perloff, 1994; Williamson, 1985; Ricketts, 1994). In a current publication of the Journal of Law and Economics (2000), law of economics of firm has received new explanations. Profounders like (Klein, 2000; Coase, 2000; Freeland, 2000; Casadesus-Masanell and Spulber, 2000;) have proposed that the leading clarification established on issues of sorting of information and transaction costs is an incorrect one. The explanation with regard to taking into account transaction costs, has failed or even neglected many other important causal factors of vertical integration. But according to Kelin (2000), the foremost hypothesis H0 is "holdup is the main rationale for vertical integration". Klein ( 2000, p 106) states that "the evidence unambiguously demonstrates that while the contract initially worked well, this contract broke down in 1925 when GM's demand for Fisher bodies increased dramatically. Fisher then refused to make the necessary capital investments required to produce bodies efficiently for GM, in particular refusing to build an important body plant close to GM production facility in Flint, Michigan. These contractual difficulties were the primary reason GM decide in 1926 to vertically integrate with Fisher Body" Whereas Coase (2000, p 15) states that Coase, alternatively, supports the idea that H0 is rejected by historical facts. To him, asset specificity is only a possible foundation for vertical integration which is not sufficiently adequate to validate vertical integration. According to him there are three reasons which stimulate arguments. They are: a. GM had only acquired 40% of the shares of FB which it had already owned. b. FB did not locate its plants far away from GM. c. Fisher Brothers did not use any incompetent methods of production. Thus it can be said that there was no holdup and thus the H0 was rejected by Coase and he suggested an alternative H1 which is: ""Asset specificity (with or without hold up) is normally handled satisfactorily with long term contracts without requiring vertical integration". According to Freeland (2000, p 35) vertical integration was "caused primarily by the desire to acquire and retain the specialized knowledge and services of the Fisher brothers". Thus Freeland also declines H0 and places more emphasis on human assets. He states that "Access to specialized human capabilities favours vertical integration which may, in turn, produce holdup situations". The H0 was also rejected by Casadesus-Masanell and Spulber (2000, 68). Conclusion: Alternatively, in more current combinings between economics of the firm and business history as in the case General Motor/Fisher Body, the previous difference still applies. Reference: 1. Crocker and Masten, 1996, "Regulation and administered contracts revisited: lessons from transaction-costs economics for public utility regulation", Journal of Regulatory Economics, 9, 5-36. 2. Carlton and Perloff, 1994, Modern

How a Country Benefits From International Trade Essay

How a Country Benefits From International Trade - Essay Example International trade, otherwise known as free trade removes the barriers that limit the country’s surplus. This has a great benefit on both the producers and the consumers. It has been seen to be the catalyst of the growth of many economies. Formulated by David, Ricardo, the law of comparative advantage was a pivotal development of the theory of absolute advantage previously developed by Adam Smith. As opposed to the theory of the absolute advantage, Ricardo believes that comparative advantage is enough to make trade possible and desirable. Today international trade is done without much hindrance. There is the removal of tariffs and import quota which we identify as protectionism. The removal of tariffs and quota can practically increase the consumer surplus as they allow domestic consumers to enjoy foreign products at lower costs. The reduction in the producer surplus brought by the entrance of foreign producers through importation can be outweighed by the gains of the domestic consumers, thus increasing the total surplus. Aside from the enjoying lower prices, consumers also benefits from the variety of products available to them through trade. Importation also provides greater choices for the consumers. Some of the practical benefits from international trade are the following: â€Å"enhances the domestic competitiveness, takes advantage of international trade technology , increase sales and profits, extend sales potential of the existing products, maintain cost competitiveness in your domestic market, enhance potenti al for expansion of your business, gains a global market share, reduce dependence on existing markets and stabilize seasonal market fluctuations†

Critique of the paintings by the artist A.E. Backus Essay Example for Free

Critique of the paintings by the artist A.E. Backus Essay Albert Ernest â€Å"Beanie† Backus is a gifted painter born on January 3, 1906 in Ft. Pierce, Florida. He studied at the Parsons School of Applied Art in New York but his talent in creating wonderful works of art is considered to be only self thought. He devoted his time in creating Florida landscapes after he came from the war and his works became widely popular through his exhibitions in Miami and Palm Beach. (A. E. Backus: A brief biography, 2007) Backus is famous for his creative works that feature picturesque Florida views like sunsets, the vistas of the Everglades, and spectacular beach and river views. One of his artworks, titled the â€Å"Early Taylor Creek† was in fact a nice example in his set of landscapes. Created in memory of S. N. Baruch, this work of art shows a view of a boat resting on a side of a creek with palm trees and a house looming on its background. The outlines of the shapes and lines are not overly emphasized and are applied in light strokes creating a wispy sort of image to the view. The colors used are mostly in the hues of light green, brown, and blue giving the impression of solemnity and mildness to the artwork. The shading of the colors in the picture is applied subtly while the texture gives a rather unrealistic and semi-solid sense of touch on the surface because of the way the lines are applied in wispy strokes. (Permanent Collection, 2007) When it comes to the application of the principles of design, this work of art can undoubtedly be considered as one having a nice visual balance. The informal type is used in this work wherein unlike objects are placed on either side of the picture to create the illusion of balance. With the boat serving as the central point, Backus created equilibrium by painting a clump of trees on the right side and pairing it with the picture of the house, an expanse of grass, and a withered trunk on the left. (Principles of Design, 2007) Variety is the principle that artists use to make a certain artwork interesting by creating complex relationships in their works to make it appealing and lively. For some painters, however, the concept of variety is out of the question when they want simplicity to rule in their creations. Here in Early Taylor’s Creek, the principle of simplicity is the one used because it displays elegance despite of its plainness in subject. The boat resting on the side of the creek and the house on its background, on the other hand, shows the application of the principle of emphasis since these are the objects that stood out most on the painting. (Principles of Design, 2007) When it comes to contrast, the concept of low contrast is applied in this work since the colors used are mainly in the same hues and the shapes doesn’t give an impression of obvious difference on the whole of the artwork. Repetition is displayed here by the withering trunks on both the left and right side of the picture and it also showed good rhythm by the way Backus painted the trees and the grass swaying in the same direction to emphasize movement. Also, the principle of scale showed here are shown in correct proportions to the standard size references of the actual objects making it look realistic in nature. The spacing of the objects in the picture is done well and the motions as well as depth are also simply well-displayed. (Principles of Design, 2007) Backus has an unrequited passion for wildlife and plants and through his natural talent; he was able to produce captivating paintings of tropical flowers and other flora. One of his particular favorite as his subject is the hibiscus which is a native in Hawaii and Malaysia. One of his paintings featuring this ubiquitous flower is his work called the â€Å"Offering to the gods† which features a native mask standing amidst a background of several leaves with a red hibiscus lying on its side. (Wikipedia, 2007) Studying the elements and the principles of designs applied to it, this artwork can be well considered as the opposite of Early Taylor’s Creek. The lines and shapes used here are well defined and geometric compared to the earlier landscape giving it a solid and distinct impression. The colors used here are mostly in black and in shades of dark brown, green, and red which gave it a rather gloomy and mysterious kind of feel. The shading applied also added to the factor of the artwork’s shadowy appearance. Due to the smooth application of strokes and the defined lines, the Offering to the gods was able to attain the kind of solidity that lacked in Early Taylor’s creek. (Backusgallery. com, 2007) In examining the principles of design used here, it is noticeable that this creation didn’t use the principle of balance. All the weight is placed on the left side of the picture because of the mask and the clump of leaves behind it. Only the hibiscus flower was placed on the right but its bright red color somehow made up to its lack of size when compared to the dull colors of the objects painted on the left side. Simplicity isn’t also applied here because when you first look at the picture, you will quickly notice the stand out image of the mask looming over the startling red hibiscus lying prone on its side. (Principles of Design, 2007) When it comes to the principle of variety, what lacked in Early Taylor’s Creek was abundant here in this work. Because of this picture’s mystifying look, it possessed a certain complexity that only the aspects of variety can only give. However, emphasis is hard to distinguish in this artwork because there are only two subjects painted here and both are certainly noticeable. The native mask can be considered as the focal point of the painting because of its appearance and size but the hibiscus can also be taken in as the important subject because its bright red color stands out from the shadowy background of green, brown, and black. On the other hand, the concept of high contrast is used here because of the emphasis of the color of the hibiscus over the shades of the mask, leaves and the background. (Principles of Design, 2007) The concept of repetition is out of the topic since the two subjects here are far different from each other. The principle of scale, however, was quite noticeable in this painting because of the monumental size of the mask over the hibiscus flower. Motion is not applied since the subjects portray a fixed position and the principle of rhythm is also disregarded since it is connected to the concept of repetition. The depth possessed by the artwork is also unfathomable because of the mysterious and gloomy quality brought by its subjects. (Principles of Design, 2007) The Early Taylor’s Creek piece is more appealing to me because of its sheer simplicity and elegance. Its concept is also easy to understand and interpret compared to the dark ‘feel’ that the Offerings to the gods give. I also find that the principles of design are well applied here because the concepts of balance are applied soundly and the lack of variety makes people to easily connect with the message it communicates. Movement and rhythm are also very well handled making this painting more realistic in nature. The Offerings to the gods’ concept may be appealing because of its mystifying aura but Early Taylor’s Creek is still my choice because of the light and placid feel it displays. References: Backusgallery. com. (2007). A. E. Backus: A brief biography. (2007). Permanent Collection. (2007). Principles of Design. (2007). Wikipedia. (2007).

Phenomenology Through the Passage of Time

Phenomenology Through the Passage of Time Phenomenology through the passage of time Today architecture has become extremely dependent on peoples visual experience. Writers, poets, philosophers, artists, and experts from diverse areas of life have noticed the increase in the quantity as well as the speed of visual imagery which affect our society. In the context of this observation they have commented by saying the following statements. Italo Calvino (1988, p. 57) has written about the unending rainfall of images, in addition to which Richard Kearney (2002, p. 383) talks about the image addiction, and furthermore Roland Barthes (1964, p. 38) suggests that its the civilization of the image. Through the passage of time, the way we perceive architecture has changed. As the world has evolved, our means of interpreting what we see have evolved with it too. Earlier, during the renaissance period, architecture and art were perceived through static portrayals of paintings, whether it were within the architecture itself or on a canvas. In order to experience the architecture, one had to physically visit the space, which in turn changed the experience one had within the space. The speed and quantity of images during that time period were comparatively lower. As compared to the era of the renaissance, today, art and architecture are perceived through fast moving images, bright LED screens, and flashing signboards. The modern architect has skipped the static era and interprets architecture through the mobility of images. In order for one to know about a famous work of architecture, one doesn’t necessarily have to physically visit the space. The increase in the quantity of i mages today makes it easier to transport images as compared to buildings. Through the infinite amount of images that are available via various resources, the way we perceive architecture today has become extremely different as to how we perceived architecture back in time. In the context of architecture today, Juhani Pallasmaa (2011, p. 119) has written: Architecture is increasingly turning into the fabrication of seductively aestheticized images without roots in our existential experience and devoid of authentic desire of life. Instead of being a lived and embodied existential metaphor, today’s architecture tends to project purely retinal images, architectural pictures as it were, for the seduction of the eye. Since the early part of the twentieth century the basic principals of the theory of phenomenology were moderately applied to architecture, but as an acknowledgement towards modernity the theory emerged as a workable alternative for architectural thought, and more recently the theory has gained a following amongst architects and writers. It is an established fact that the relationship between the architecture and its image is profoundly entwined amongst one another, although there is a another topic that is quite frequently discussed in architecture that rotates around whether there should be a constant need for new innovations or the quest for architecture that already exists amongst us. These two opposing sides of architectural theory were coined the following terms by Peter Eisenman, zeitgeist and genius loci respectively. Those in the favor of the theory of phenomenology towards the approach of architectural design support the genius loci, which in simple terms talks about the spirit and distinctive atmosphere of the place. Therefore this also means that they associate unconventional and new innovations in the field with temporality, hence according to their methodology they prefer informed and descriptive design which they affiliate with the deep understanding of the context of the place. One of the core principles of phenomenology today is that the way we experience architecture is ongoing. That it is a dynamic experience. We experience it with all our senses. This experience in totality is dependent, culturally on where we come from. It differs person to person. The axiom of phenomenology revolves around the successful ability to design and build spaces, through the process or reverse engineering experiences, or by obtaining the crucial requirements that the space needs through personal intuition. One of many experts who have written about this percept, Japanese author Jun’ichirÃ…Â  Tanizaki’s in his work writes about how coming from different cultural backgrounds can immensely effect the experiences that people go through while visiting an architectural space. Similarly many other literature pieces have strongly been favorable towards the theory that the personal experiences that one goes through are unique and differ person to person when it com es to space and context. Furthermore, many theorists in the field of phenomenology also argue that while experiencing an architectural space, one needs to have grounding in relation with the context of the space, as well as ground with the genius loci. Theorists argue that this grounding is extremely necessary as it changes the experience for the better, and that if one experiences the space with no prior knowledge of the context of the space, the experience is not as profitable as the prior. However, I disagree with this theory. I do not agree that grounding is entirely necessary when it comes to experiencing a space. Phenomenology as a theory does not just talk about grounding in relation with context and space but talks about the experiences we feel while we are within the space. It is not about the architecture as much as it is about the people that inhabit the architecture. I think that the experiences that we go through are most definitely effected by where we come from, what our cultural backgrounds are, and what we, as individuals have experienced so far in our life. Going back to the context of this essay, the theory of phenomenology impacts the experiences we have while being within the spaces, but these experiences also change with time. If one experiences a certain range of emotions through their senses while visiting an architectural space, it is not necessary that they will experience the same set of emotions if they visit the space at a different point in t heir life. As time passes, we grow, we mature, and we get exposed to different outlets which in turn change the way we look at things. Our opinions change with time, and so does out perspective. Like many other experts in his field, Martin Heidegger wrote about the theory of phenomenology. His work (1927) broadened the scope of the theory as he suggested to include the semiconscious activities as well as the unconscious mental activities that were related to rational and practical activities. The way Heidegger approached these ideas were more practical than those of Edmund Husserl. He favored to find truths in relation with deep understandings of being. Through his work Heidegger secured a link between the theory of phenomenology and the practice of architecture, which has continued to influence experts from both these fields till today, theorists as well as architects. Numerous philosophers, writers, architects and theorists have condemned the analytical debate about the influence phenomenology has on architecture and design. Many architects have been linked to the theory with the work that they’ve put forward into the field. Although the extent of this relationship between the theory and their practicality while building varies. Some of these architects include: Alvar Aalto, Peter Zumthor, Hezrog and De Meuron and Louis Kahn. Individually they have all practiced changing the theory into practicality through their respective experiences. They have done this by studying the precise context and culture in relation with their design for the spaces, the aim of these works are to impact the users of the space in the same way that the architects were impacted, and in order for the users to imitate these experiences in the way that these architects has intended to put across. Opinions of the experts on the theory of phenomenology vary from person to person. The opinions on how the practice of this theory on architecture should adapt to times today differ as well. Pallasmaa (2009) insists that we should do the following, Instead of participating in the process of further speeding up the experience of the world, architecture has to slow down experience, halt time, and defend the natural slowness and diversity of experience. Architecture must defend us against excessive exposure, noise and communication. But I think that in reality the world is constantly moving at a fast pace which makes it extremely difficult to slow down experiences and time with it. Even though this would be the ideal way to approach meaningful experiences that people would go through while visiting a space, it is very difficult to achieve. In this context Rem Koolhas has said the following quote in an interview with the a magazine (Icon Magazine 2004) Any architectural project we do tak es at least four or five years, so increasingly there is a discrepancy between the acceleration of culture and the continuing slowness of architecture. I think that throughout time architecture has come up to be one of the most impactful and crucial reflection of cultures across the world. Whether we talk about historical monuments such as Coliseum in Rome, the Taj Mahal in India or whether we talk about modern day iconic buildings such as the Guggenheim Museum and the Empire State Building, each building reflects a different story of a different period of time that we have passed. While older cities have retained their essence and transport us back to a different time and era, modern day metropolitan cities are constantly moving at a fast pace, they don’t give us the time or the essence to look back and feel experiences about our past. They in turn project a vision of the future, and push us towards that future. Similarly phenomenology through time reflects different emotions on us at different points in our life. In this context it is not necessary that one must absolutely have prior knowledge about the context and genius loci of the space. A completely fruitful experience can also be achieved as architecture appeals to our senses, and its only a matter about what those senses do to our emotions. These emotions can vary due to various aspects at that point in time. It could be affected by the experiences we have previously encountered in our life, or it could trigger a range of emotions that have been enforced upon us while we visit the space. These range of emotions do not need to be grounded to the context of the site in order to felt. They can be affected by the essence of the space, just the way old cities have a different atmosphere to it. Although what I feel it is not necessary that the person I visit the place with feels the same while being within the space. These experiences also differ due to our cultural backgrounds and upbringings. I do believe that phenomenology as a theory plays an important role in experiences we feel while being within spaces, but I also think that the theory is almost flawed. Personally I think that thinking, processing and designing through the theory of phenomenology requires to envelope the ideology that it is extremely difficult to design spaces and just based on practicality and rationalization, but it is not that that difficult that an essence cannot be effectively felt through basic intuition and through the study of knowledge that we have but its just subconsciously or unconsciously there within our reach to access. To achieve a space that works functionally yet embodies the essence that is meant to trigger a set of emotions, both of the prior ways need to be combined and be constructively applied through design methodology. Only by doing this can a designer or an architect create a space where there is ambiguity and instinctiveness, as well as senses that are not visual which act as perfect tools to experience the architectural space. To conclude my essay, I think that through time as we grow and evolve, we are exposed to far more experiences which slightly change the way we look at things every time. The more exposure we get the more we grow spiritually and emotionally. This changes the way we experience spaces. I think that phenomenology is deeply intertwined with the concept of time and growth. It is also deeply intertwined with the speed at which we experience things. Through the passage of time we experience architecture differently and that phenomenology plays an extremely vital part in the equation of experiencing spaces.

Review on the Biomedical Importance of Taurine

Review on the Biomedical Importance of Taurine M.K.Vanitha, K. Baskaran, K.Periyasamy, D.Saravanan, A.Ilakkia, S.Selvaraj, R.Venkateswari, B.Revathi Mani, P.Anandakumar, D. Sakthisekaran ABSTRACT Objectives: To briefly outline the effects of taurine on different organs, in order to elucidate the biomedical importance of taurine. Summary: Taurineis a sulfur-containing amino acid that is found in mammalian tissues.Taurinehas different biological and physiological functions. It is a component of bile acids, which are used to help absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins. It also helps regulate the heartbeat, maintain cell membrane stability and prevent brain cell over-activity. In addition,taurine chloramine, an endogenous product derived from activated neutrophils, has been reported to suppress obesity-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in adipocytes. Conclusion: This review is an attempt to reveal the biomedical importance of taurine including its effect on heart, lung, kidney, bone, fetal tissue, retinal photoceptors, oxidative stress and cancer. Key words:taurine, endothelium, lung, kidney, antioxidant 1. INTRODUCTION Taurine originated from the Latin word taurus, which means bull or ox, as it was first isolated from ox bile in 1827 by Austrian scientists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin.1 It is often considered an amino acid in scientific literatures. It is a vital nutrient for cats, and probably also for primates, since it is essential for the development and survival of neural cell.2 In healthy humans, dietary foodstuffs are the main sources of taurine. High concentrations of taurine are found in animal sources whilst undetectable in vegetables.3 Figure 1: Structure of taurine Since vegetarians have no dietary intake of taurine and often eat low sulphur amino acid diets, plasma concentrations are lower in vegetarians. Methionine and cysteine are precursors of taurine, however synthesis ability varies widely amongst species, the maximal human synthesis rate is unknown. The average daily synthesis in adults ranges between 0.4 1.0 mmol (50-125 mg) 4 under stress the synthesis capacity may be impaired; therewith some authors consider taurine as a conditionally essential amino acid, whereas for others it remains non essential. Fish is a good source of taurine and tests for taurine content for a variety of fish have been conducted. Figure 2: Biosynthesis of taurine 2. CHEMISTRY OF TAURINE The molecular formula of taurine is C2H7NO3S and its molecular weight is 125.15. It has a pKa of 1.5 (at 25 Â °C) and a melting point of 300 Â °C (decomposition) and shows a bulk density of 0.65–0.75g/cm3 and a density of approximately 1.7g/cm3. It is soluble in water (10 g dissolves in 100 mL at 25 Â °C) and insoluble in ethanol, ethyl ether and acetone. The pH of a 5 % solution in water is 4.1 – 5.6. Taurine is a white crystalline powder that is almost odourless but with a slightly acidic taste. It contains by specification at least 98.0 % taurine in dried substance. Taurine is a monobasic acid that has unique physical constants compared to other neuroactive amino acids. The uniqueness of taurine is mainly due to the functional group containing sulfur, the sulfonic group, unlike the carboxylic group typical of all the other natural amino acids. This difference may provide the rationale behind the unique biological nature of taurine which is not shared with other ne uroactive amino acids. With its sulfonate group, it is a stronger acid (pKa 1.5) than glycine, aspartic acid, ÃŽ ²-alanine, and ÃŽ ³-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Similarly, having a pKb value of 8.82, it is less basic than GABA, ÃŽ ²-alanine and glycine. Its solubility in water is 10.48g/100mL at 258Â °C, which is lower than that of ÃŽ ²-alanine, GABA or glycine. Table 1: Properties of taurine 3. BIOMEDICAL IMPORTANCE OF TAURINE 3.1 TAURINE IN FETAL DEVELOPMENT AND NEONATAL GROWTH The human fetus has no ability to synthesize taurine, but considerably high levels of taurine have been recorded, and this may be due to a very efficient placental role of taurine in disease prevention. The amount of taurine was found to be very high in human breast milk compared to cow’s milk, on which a large portion of infants are fed, and this may be due to the high concentration of taurine in placenta. Thus, taurine is now added to many infant formulas to provide improved nourishment.5 Several types of organ dysfunction develop from abnormalities of taurine levels in growing children. In neonatal cardiomyocytes (as in adult ones), taurine functions as an organic osmolyte. During pregnancy, taurine accumulates in the maternal tissues, from where it is periodically released to the fetus via the placenta. In infants, taurine is acquired through the mother’s milk. This is the stage when taurine accumulates more in fetal and neonatal brain. A low maternal taurine concen tration will lead to low fetal taurine concentration.6 3.2 TAURINE AND THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) Taurine is the most abundant amino acid in the brain after glutamate, and it is found in all cell types in the CNS. A high concentration of taurine occurs in the developing brain, but with maturity, its levels fall to 30%.7 Taurine is extensively involved in neurological activities, including protection, modulation of neural excitability, maintenance of cerebellar functions and modulation of motor behavior through interaction with dopaminergic, adrenergic, serotonergic and cholinergic receptors and through glutamate.8 Free radicals are particularly detrimental to brain tissue where there is a high concentration of lipids, suitable target for oxidation. Taurine is now being explored for its capacity to protect tissues against oxidative stress. In cerebellar neurons, stimulation by excitatory agents was effectively countered by taurine. While taurine may not directly decrease the levels of free radicals, it does increase cell viability. This may become an important alternate protective mechanism against free radical damage to brain cells. 3.3 TAURINE AND THE LIVER Liver synthesizes bile, which is a mixture of bile acids, salts, bilirubin, cholesterol and fatty acids, stored in the gallbladder. It is also responsible for the detoxification of harmful substances, but only if available in sufficient quantities. The bile acids act as detergents to solubilize or emulsify food into digestible components. This detergent action is due to the presence of both lipophilic and hydrophilic ends in the bile acids. The hydrophilic regions include sulfonates or carboxylate backbones. Mammals mainly use taurine and, to a lesser extent glycine, as the major amino acids that conjugate with bile acids to form biliary salts. Among the tauro-conjugates, taurocholic acid (TC), taurodeoxycholic acid (TDC), taurolithocholic acid (TLC), and taurocheno- deoxycholic acid (TCDC), can act as cholagogues (agents that promote the flow of bile into the intestine) or choleretics (agents that stimulate the liver to increase production of bile). The ratio between tauro-conjugate s and glycocholate in humans is about 3 : 1 and this ratio is adversely affected in cases of low taurine supply. In the absence of TC, bile salts can precipitate and form gallstones.9 3.4 TAURINE AND HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA In blood, cholesterol is carried in low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). Elevated LDL levels are implicated in a range of heart and vascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (heart attack) and atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries). Taurine can attenuate the increased levels in total and LDL cholesterol in animals consuming a high fat, high cholesterol diet.10 High fat diets produce hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, and accumulation of lipids on the aortic valve of the heart. Dietary taurine supplements are known to be beneficial in situations when the body cholesterol status is high, as well as normal. In particular, it has been demonstrated that taurine is capable of reducing plasma lipid concentration and visceral fat in diabetic rats as well as in obese humans.11 3.5 TAURINE AND OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LIVER DAMAGE Exposure to toxic chemicals, which is a common hazard for industrial workers, has been linked to birth defects, sterility, headache, chronic fatigue, arthritic-like inflammation and many other symptoms. These chemicals have a deleterious effect on the liver and taurine is able to moderate the extent and severity of their side. Furthermore, it reduces the number of cancer antigen-positive hepatocytes and in several cases of chemical exposure, taurine also protected against DNA damage.12 3.6 TAURINE AND DIABETES Type II diabetes mellitus is one of the most common human diseases and its prevalence is constantly growing. This pathology is characterized by the reduced sensitivity of the cellular targets, mainly adipose and muscle cells, to insulin stimulation. Such alteration can lead to insulin resistance, hyper-insulinemia, hyperglycemia, and several other metabolic dysfunctions. Lifestyle, dietary habits, and environment can influence the appearance of diabetes.13 Taurine supplements administered to patients with type 2 diabetes were proven to be beneficial. Also, taurine alleviates clinical complications of diabetes, having beneficial effects on nephropathy and retinopathy. In animal models of experimental insulin resistance, it has been demonstrated that the metabolic alterations associated with diabetes are ameliorated by taurine administration.14 3.7 TAURINE AND THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM Taurine concentration is found to be high in the mammalian heart. The maintenance of cardiac taurine content is governed by a series of processes, which include transport, accumulation, binding, release, as well as metabolism. The availability of taurine in cardiac tissue is generally dependent on the transport process, because of its limited ability to be effectively synthesized in the cardiac tissue. Taurine deficiency may possibly be linked to cardiomyopathy, as it has been well reported in cats. Furthermore, conclusive evidence of the relationship between taurine and heart health was provided by studies with transgenic mice knocked out of its taurine transporter.15 3.8 TAURINE AND ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION Endothelial dysfunction is common among cardiovascular diseases and diabetes and it is known as one of the primary events in the development of atherosclerosis and diabetic angiopathies.16 Taurine has been shown to be a protector of endothelial structure and function after exposure to inflammatory cells, their mediators, or other chemicals. Treatment of activated macrophages with taurine inhibits the generation of NO and other inflammatory mediators, which is present in high amounts in inflammatory cells, seems to be uniquely capable of modifying homeostasis in both target and receptor cells through antioxidant calcium flux and the osmo regulatory pathway. Finally, taurine was proven to protect endothelial cells from damage induced by hyperglycemia and oxidized LDL.17 3.9 TAURINE AND LUNG FUNCTION The depletion of taurine is particularly harmful to pulmonary tissue. Alveolar macrophages, which reside on the surface of lung alveoli, ingest inhaled particulates to clear the alveolar spaces. However, alveolar macrophages, much like the general macrophages, become more susceptible to ROS and more pro-inflammatory when deprived of the antioxidant protective capacity that taurine provides. Fibrosis may also result from toxic chemical exposure. There are numerous factors responsible for toxin-induced damage to lung cells and tissue in animal models of induced interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. In several cases, the administration of taurine, niacin or a combination of both, yielded promising results, and can reverse increased lung lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, the ability to scavenge ROS and to stabilize cell membranes contributed to the suppression of lung collagen accumulation and oxidative stress damage. Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by bronchial obstruction and airwa y hyper reactivity with neutrophil accumulation. There is increasing evidence that excessive production of ROS along with defective endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms may be responsible for asthma. In an animal model of allergic asthma, taurine content was found to be reduced and oral treatment with taurine produced anti-inflammatory responses. Similar effects have also been demonstrated in humans.18 3.10 TAURINE AND THE KIDNEY In the kidneys, taurine is found at a high concentration, which is regulated by the reabsorption at the modulating proximal tubule according to its dietary intake. In alleviating the diabetic nephropathy, taurine serves as an osmolyte, an endogenous antioxidant and an inhibitor of phosphokinase C (PKC) in mesangial cells. The beneficial effects of taurine may be due to its well-known anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities.19 3.11 TAURINE AND RETINAL PHOTORECEPTOR ACTIVITY The common eye disease cataract demonstrates the importance of lens condition. It is speculated that cataract formation may be largely due to the oxidation of protein in the lens. Consequently, a lack of antioxidants could be a major factor in the development of cataracts. Since taurine acts as an antioxidant directly, it prevents changes in the levels of glutathione, ATP and insoluble proteins, molecular factors that predispose to cataract formation.20 Furthermore, taurine plays a critical role in the structure and function of the photoreceptors, specifically rods, which are responsible for seeing in both low illumination and night conditions. The promotional effect of taurine in cellular regeneration is compromised with drugs that induce the activation of PKC or phosphate inhibitors.21 Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is characterized by visual field loss and night blindness. Nutritional factors are now recognized as important factors in the reversal of RP. Experimental finding suggests t hat RP patients recover their visual capacities with the addition of nutrients, including taurine, which has been found to be beneficial. Taurine and zinc interact with each other to influence the development of the retinal structure and function in the eye. Both molecules promote the healthy oscillatory potentials necessary for vision. Deficiency of taurine has been identified as the cause of all these diseases and clearly demonstrates its vital role in vision.22 3.12 TAURINE IN BONE TISSUE FORMATION AND INHIBITION OF BONE LOSS Bone tissue contains cells and the extracellular matrix, which is composed of collagen fibers and noncollagenous proteins. In bone tissue, taurine is found in high concentration, similar to that found in the liver and kidneys. This taurine-bone interaction is one of the latest added to its long list of actions.23 In bones, taurine acts as a double agent. It is involved in both bone formation and inhibition of bone loss. In addition to these two major actions, taurine has beneficial effects in wound healing and bone repair. 3.13 ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF TAURINE Taurine has been found that taurine has radio protective properties and anti-mutagenic effect, reducing nucleic acid damage. The chemo-preventive activity of taurine and, in particular, 1-(2-chloroethyl)- 3(2-dimethyl sulfony) ethyl-11-nitrosourea derivative (e.g., tauromustine), have been used against colon and hepatic cancers. In hepato-carcinogenesis, the degree of membrane damage and the fall in glutathione function were reduced when oral taurine was given prior to exposure to carcinogens. These findings suggest that taurine, by inhibiting lipo-peroxidation and preserving the glutathione antioxidant system, offers protection against membrane breakdown.24 Recombinant interleukin-2 immunotherapy is utilized as a therapeutic approach in certain types of cancers. However, it may produce a cytotoxic effect on both tumor cells and healthy vascular endothelial cells. In such cancer therapy programs, taurine reduces interleukin endothelial cell cytotoxicity without compromising the antitumor activity of the immunotherapy. In addition, when taurine is used in conjunction with interleukin, it actually increases the tumor cytotoxicity. For the treatment of intra peritoneal (abdominal) tumors, researchers have studied a taurine derivative, taurolidine, as both an alternative and an adjunct to heparin, a standard substance used to prolong the clotting time of blood. In certain cancers, the amino acid profile yields data about the disease that is useful to better assess the therapeutic approach. Colorectal cancer patients exhibit a characteristic amino acid profile with significantly lower intracellular levels of taurine, glutamic acid, methionine , and ornithine and elevated levels of valine. Likewise, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck exhibit a profile that is marked by decreased taurine.25 4. CONCLUSION This review highlights the divergent effects of taurine on different tissues. Thus, further studies on taurine could exemplify the beneficial role of taurine in human health and disease. 1

Catcher in the Rye :: essays research papers

â€Å"The Member Of The Wedding† and â€Å"The Catcher The Rye† are both similar novels in the way adolescents want to belong to a group of people but there is one major difference. Frankie is looking to grow up so that she can fit in with the people around her while Holden wants to avoid adulthood completely as he sees the adult world as being false and corruptible. In â€Å"Member Of The Wedding Frankie feels like she doesn’t fit in to a child’s world. This is due to a number of reasons. She wishes now to belong to a more adult society. Frankie feels alienated from the rest of her friends. When they play underneath the arbour Frankie doesn’t â€Å"fit† because she is too tall. She resents this and sees her friends as â€Å"ugly screaming kids†. Frankie attempts to befriend the older girls but they say she â€Å"smells† and when they talk about sex Frankie doesn’t understand referring to this as â€Å"nasty lies†. Here we see Frankie excluded from the adult world that she desires to belong to. Frankie also feels excluded from her family. Her father won’t allow her to sleep in the same bed as him anymore. He says that she is â€Å"too big† now. He is rarely at home and when he is he hardly speaks to Frankie. She attempts to converse with him but he just â€Å"grunts† at her. Eventually when he does talk to her he doesn’t say much. After the wedding he shows a lack of understanding towards his daughter. She needs him but he tells her to wait until they are at home because then he will punish her for her behaviour. Berenice is the mother figure in her life but she returns to her own home and family in the evening. She feels excluded from Jarvis and Janice too because when they arrive home for a few days they invite Frankie’s father but not her. She feels this isn’t very fair as she is also part of the family. This heightens Frankies isolation and also heightens her desire to belong to a group. Frankie wants to â€Å"belong† to the navy and then decides to give blood to the Red Cross. She is refused on both accounts because she is too young. She thinks the â€Å"freaks† and â€Å"criminals† are trying to make eye contact with her so she can join their group but Frankie does not want that.

Nature vs Nurture: Genes vs Environment Essay -- child development, ps

Introduction A debate between psychologist, scientists and philosopher thinkers on the spectrum of ‘nature vs. nurture’ arose concerning human development. In the nature versus nurture debate, the term "nature" refers to the genes we inherit while the term "nurture" refers to our outside environment (Nature vs. Nurture: Twin and Adoption Studies). This debate of ‘nature vs. nurture’ has existed for centuries and up to now it is still a topic of major discussion although at present time. Human development is the scientific study of age-related changes in behavior, thinking, emotions and personality (Boyd & Bee, 2005). In order to understand cognitive, emotional, physical, social and educational growth that everyone experiences from childhood until adulthood, we must first understand the influence and importance of child development. Different psychologists have different theories and concepts of child development. Grand theories often use a stage-by-stage approach while a ttempting to describe the areas of development. Mini-theories focus only on a fairly limited aspect of development, such as cognitive or social growth. (Cherry, Child Development Theories, 2011) Discussion John Locke, a famous philosopher once introduced the concept of tabula rasa that defines a child’s mind as a ‘blank slate’ which can be written on and moulded by the society and environment. He believes that what we are is determined by the experiences we face. Plato, the Greek philosopher suggests that certain things simply occur naturally regardless of any environmental influence. However, Jean Jacques Rousseau describes humans in their state of nature as noble savages living in peace and harmony but due to civilization and advancement in society, humans ... ...0 Â © 1963). Childhood and Society. W.W Norton & Company, Inc. 5. King, A. L. (2008). The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View. New York: McGraw-Hill . 6. Nature vs. Nurture: Twin and Adoption Studies. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2011, from Nurture or Nature.com: http://www.nurture-or-nature.com/articles/twin-and-adoption-studies/index.php 7. Preaaley, M., & McCormick, C. (2007). Child and Adolescent Development for Educators. New York: The Guilford Publications. 8. Robert S. Feldman, P. (2006). Child Development, . University of Massachusetts,Amherst. 9. Smolako, l. (1993). Adult development. Adult Development . 10. Spaulding, K. (2009). Human Development Theory - Psychological Growth Over Time. Retrieved December 4, 2011, from Knol - a unit of knowledge: share what you know, publish your expertise.: http://knol.google.com/k/human-development-theory#

Emily Brontës Wuthering Heights :: essays research papers

Chapter I But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living. He is a dark-skinned gypsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman †¦ Writing in his diary in 1801, Lockwood describes his first days as a tenant at Thrushcross Grange, an isolated manor in thinly-populated Yorkshire. Shortly after arriving at the Grange, he pays a visit to his landlord, Mr. Heathcliff, a surly, dark man living in a manor called Wuthering Heights—"wuthering" being a local adjective used to describe the fierce and wild winds that blow during storms on the moors. During the visit, Heathcliff seems not to trust Lockwood, and leaves him alone in a room with a group of snarling dogs. Lockwood is saved from the hounds by a ruddy-cheeked housekeeper. When Heathcliff returns, Lockwood is angry, but eventually warms toward his taciturn host, and—though he hardly feels that he has been welcomed at Wuthering Heights—he volunteers to visit again the next day. Chapter II On a chilly afternoon not long after his first visit, Lockwood plans to lounge before the fire in his study, but he finds a servant dustily sweeping out the fireplace there, so instead he makes the four-mile walk to Wuthering Heights, arriving just as a light snow begins to fall. He knocks, but no one lets him in, and Joseph, an old servant who speaks with a thick Yorkshire accent, calls out from the barn that Heathcliff is not in the house. Eventually a rough-looking young man comes to let him in, and Lockwood goes into a sitting room where he finds a beautiful girl seated beside a fire. Lockwood assumes she is Heathcliff's wife. He tries to make conversation, but she responds rudely. When Heathcliff arrives, he corrects Lockwood: the young woman is his daughter-in-law. Lockwood then assumes that the young man who let him in must be Heathcliff's son. Heathcliff corrects him again. The young man, Hareton Earnshaw, is not his son, and the girl is the widow of Heathcliff's dead son. The snowfall becomes a blizzard, and when Lockwood is ready to leave, he is forced to ask for a guide back to Thrushcross Grange. No one will help him. He takes a lantern and says that he will find his own way, promising to return with the lantern in the morning. Joseph, seeing him make his way through the snow, assumes that he is stealing the lantern, and looses the dogs on him.

Stock and Long Term Trend

Team 1 Monmouth Case 1. Is Robertson a good candidate for Monmouth (assuming the price is right)? Why? Yes. Robertson Tool Company had been going through a few years of low sales and profit, and, coupled with conservative financial and accounting practices, was far behind the normal growth rate for companies in its industry. Robertson’s 50% control of the market for clamps and vises, along with its good position in the scissors and shears’ $200 million market, let it compliment the diverse holdings of Monmouth.These are attractive attributes of Robertson, but the selling point lies in the distribution network consisting of 2,100 wholesalers and 15,000 retail outlets. The Robertson products are sold in 137 countries worldwide. This avenue to market Monmouth and Robertson products across resources could lead to above average growth and profits. 2. Estimate a WACC for the acquisition. Invested Capital| ? | $37,696,000 | ? | ? | ? | Debt| | $12,000,000 | | | ? | Equity| | $ 25,696,000 | | | ? | ?| | | | | ? | Current market price| | $44 | | | ? |Shares outstanding| | 584,000| | | ? | ?| | | | | ? | Unlevered Beat of Comparables| | 0. 725| | | ? | Debt/Capital of Comparables| | 32%| | | ? | Levered Beta| | 0. 86| | | ? | Risk free rate| | 4. 10%| | | ? | MRP| | 6. 0%| | | ? | ?| | | | | ? | Cost of equity| | 9. 28%| | | ? | ?| | | | | ? | Sources of capital| | | Weights| | After-tax cost| Debt| | | 31. 83%| | 3. 64%| Equity| | | 68. 17%| | 9. 28%| ?| | | | | ? | YTM| 6. 070%| Tax Rate| 40%| WACC| 7. 5%| 3. Discuss whether you think the forecast prepared by Vincent and Rudd is reasonable. Why? Be specific.We think the forecast is not reasonable since they forecast was too optimistic and subject of their sales growth. a) The growth rate estimate in the future they use is approximately 6%. The current growth rate is just 2% that cannot be increased as 2 times as large in a short time, although it might increase due to the sales increase after the merge and acquisition of the Monmouth and Robertson. b) NWC should be as a percentage of sales. c) Terminal Growth rate shouldn’t be zero but around 2%. d) The estimations of SG&A cost and COGS are reasonable.The merger and acquisition will result the percentage SG&A and COGS of sales respectively gradually decrease by increasing the manufacture efficiency and inventory turnover. Therefore, we decided to change the growth rate from 6% to 3% in the pro-forma, we will have the value of the firm calculated out from the pro-forma is $50 million instead of $56 million. 4. Prepare a value estimate for Robertson equity using the DCF method and info from steps 2 and 3 above. ?| Actual| Forecasts| ?| 2002| 2003| 2004| 2005| 2006| 2007| ?| | | | | | ? | NOPAT| 1. 8| 2. 4| 3. 1| 3. 8| 4. 2| 4. 4|Plus: Depreciation| 2. 1| 2. 3| 2. 5| 2. 7| 2. 9| 2. 9| Less: CAPEX| | -4| -3. 5| -3. 6| -3. 8| -2. 9| Less: Change in NWC| -1. 4| -1. 5| -1. 6| -1. 6| 0. 0| Firm Free Cash Flow| -0. 7| 0. 6| 1. 3| 1. 7| 4. 4| ?| | | | | | ? | ?| | | | | | 81. 9| Firm Value (millions)| 85. 95| | | | Terminal g| 2%| Less: Debt| 12| | | | | ? | Equity Value| 73. 95| | | | | ? | Shares Outstanding| 584000| | | | | ? | Price per share| 12. 66| ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 5. Estimate a value for Robertson equity based on the comparables approach. | Actuant Corp. | Briggs & Stratton| Idex Corp. | Lincoln Electric| Snap On Inc. Stanley Works| Robertson Tool Co. |   | | | | | | |   | Collection Period (days)| 55| 77| 47| 61| 96| 77| 53| Inventory % Sales| 12%| 18%| 13%| 17%| 18%| 16%| 33%|   | | | | | | |   | Operating Margin % Sales| 17%| 13%| 20%| 15%| 10%| 15%| 5%| Return on Capital| 21%| 9%| 10%| 12%| 11%| 14%| 4%|   | | | | | | |   | Times Interest Earned| 3. 8| 3. 2| 7. 1| 11. 5| 7. 8| 9. 3| 3. 5| Debt % Capital| | | | | | |   | ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   balance sheet values| 98%| 52%| 30%| 27%| 29%| 40%| 28%| ? market values| 29%| 37%| 20%| 17%| 19%| 24%| 37%| Bond Rating| BB-| BB+| BB B| -| A+| A| -| | | | | | | |   |Value of Firm ($ mil)| $ 712| $ 1,443| $ 1,191| $ 1,145| $ 1,861| $ 3,014| $ 29| EBIAT ($ mil)| 55| 119| 98| 90| 129| 234| 1. 80| EBIAT Multiple| 12. 8| 12. 1| 12. 2| 12. 7| 14. 4| 12. 9| 16. 1|   | | | | | | |   | Share Price| $ 42| $ 42| $ 29| $ 22| $ 26| $ 27| $ 30| Earnings Per Share| 2. 80| 3. 20| 2. 00| 1. 78| 1. 80| 2. 32| 2. 32| Price/Earnings| 15. 0| 13. 1| 14. 5| 12. 4| 14. 4| 11. 6| 13. 5| Average p/e multiple is 13. 5 Use the p/e multiple to multiply Robertson’s earning per share=13. 5*2. 32=31. 32 Now Robertson issued 584,000 shares So the equity value is 18,290,880 6.What price will be necessary to gain the support of the Robertson family, Simmons, and the majority of shareholders? What are the interests, concerns, alternatives for each group? . | Robertson| Simmons| Majority of SHs| Price| $32. 82| $50| $30| Interest| Distribution system| Interested in electrical equipment, tools, nonferrous metals, and rubber products| To improve the EPS of Monmouth in the next five years. | Concerns| A relatively poor sales and profit performance| NDP Stock price fluctuates| Poor company Performance Relative to the Industtry| Alternatives| NDP, Simmons, Monmouth| 133000 shares| NDP vs Monmouth| . Does Monwouth have an advantage over NDP in the bidding contest? Do you think NDP will raise its offer in response to Monmouth offer? The synergies created by a merger between Monmouth and Robertson are clearly greater than that of NDP. As a publisher and manufacturer of auto parts, the benefits would not be as many as that of Monmouth. NDP must consider how much it is willing to spend or borrow in order to make a bid greater than Monmouth. If Simmons receives his $50/share, he will be accepting of the merger, and support Monmouth.This will turn the favor to Monmouth, as an acquisition by NDP would surely devalue the resources of Robertson instead of using synergies created by mixing markets and offering new, complimenting , product lines. In fact, as Robertson is undervalued in the market because of unsystematic latencies and inefficiencies, the $50/share price demanded by Simmons might be less than the long-term gain inherent in the merger of Robertson and Monmouth. 8. What price can Monmouth pay without harming its long term trend in earnings per share ? Finance texts focus on net present value of cash flow to make investment decisions.Are companies therefore foolish if they make acquisitions based at least in part on earnings per share impact? First, we need to forecast Robertson’s net income if it is acquired by Monmouth, assuming its interest expenses will be $0. 8 million for the next five years. Second, we will forecast Monmouth’s total net income after acquisition of Robertson. Monmouth must raise funds to make this acquisition. The company anticipated making the acquisition by issuing stocks. Thus, we will calculate how many shares Monmouth should issue without harming its long term trend in earnings per share, and total shares outstanding after acquisition.We know that currently stocks of Monmouth and Robertson closed at $24 and $44, respectively; therefore, we can calculate the exchange ratio as $44/$24=1. 83x. If Monmouth acquired the entire Robertson by an exchange of stocks at a price of $44 per share, the shares that Monmouth needs to issue is 1. 07 (1. 83*0. 584) million. As a result, Monmouth’s total shares outstanding after acquisition would increase to 5. 28 (4. 21+1. 07) million. Now we know the total net income and total shares outstanding after acquisition, we can then calculate the after-merge earnings per share of Monmouth.According to the table below, the row in green shows that the after-merge EPS is lower than the before-merge EPS during the first two years, but will become higher in the following three years. Therefore, if we paid $44 per share for Robertson’s stocks, we can acquire the entire Robertson’s stocks wit hout harming Monmouth’s long term trend in earnings per share. Using the same techniques, we can estimate the price range that Monmouth can pay without harming its long term trend in earnings per share.We can use the Goal Seek function in Excel to estimate the highest exchange ratio. As you will see in the table below, the exchange ratio can increase up to 1. 98x without harming Monmouth’s long term trend in earnings per share. Therefore, using the exchange ratio of 1. 98x, we can estimate the per share price paid for Robertson’s stocks. The estimated price would be $47. 52 (1. 98*24) per share, higher than Robertson’s current trading price of $44, therefore will attract the shareholders of Robertson’s to sell; but still on’t harm Monmouth’s long term trend in earnings per share. However, EPS plays very little role in deciding whether an acquisition is good or not, since a company’s net income after acquisition and total shares outstanding can be affected by many factors. Acquisition will bring synergies to the acquiring company, such as cost savings and efficiency. Also, the acquiring company may not need to buy the entire target company’s outstanding stocks to gain control. As a result, EPS could also change due to these factors. Thus, NPV is a better alternative to value an investment.

What did Hoggart and other British cultural critics see the “juke box boys” (Hoggart, 1958, 247) as a portent of?

Dan Bednar The essay will introduce the notion of consensus – the agreement reached between political parties as well as in the society as a whole. However, due to the limitation of this paper, this is a rather an abbreviated description of the whole situation. As a result the British foreign affairs, as well as the importance of immigrant waves on forming the new British culture, will be ignored. Furthermore, the youth phenomenon did not appear overnight as it might seem from reading the following lines. In fact as the teenagers gained more and more attention from the marketplace and the popular press, they also gained more confidence and their voice was heard. The focus here will be on the Teddy Boys youths; the nation's young generation, however, was much more diverse, ranging from middle and upper class youth (with their specific culture) to youngsters organised in clubs and societies. Consensus Since 1951 the Conservative Party won three subsequent elections. The political consensus between the parties â€Å"reflected a consensus in the nation. In the spectrum of political opinion from right to left, the majority of electors had moved towards the middle †¦ leaving only minorities at the extremes† (Hill, 1986 p.7). This was due to a relative affluence of the working classes. They were better off, ate better food and watched more and more television. The Conservative party followed the political line of the Labour years, and, therefore, many ordinary citizens lost their interest in politics as well as their post-war collective enthusiasm (Hill, 1986 p.5). Furthermore, the consensus seemed to be reached between classes: the affluence of the lower classes made it seem like the class distinctions would eventually disappear (Hill, 1986 p.7). The consensus also reached the mass media. After the war the BBC set up a task of a â€Å"‘cultural mission'- elevating national standards† (Caughie, 1986 p.194).* Television hours were limited to a few hours a day: an act of protectionism. The contrast between what the public wanted and what was BBC's policy of educational entertainment was to be challenged by the first private channel. The British cinema was also rigorously protected. Import quotas secured the showing of a certain number of British films. New films were also censored or banned (McKibbin, 1998 p.423-435). As MsKibbin argues, â€Å"contemporaries thought the cinema was a uniquely powerful medium. The country's elites were persistently worried about its potentially subversive effect on England's politics and morality† (1998 p.455). The consensus reached in this area was set up to protect the citizens from what was then thought to be extremely dangerous: exposure to violence, sex and Americanisation. Contemporary studies supported these views: mass media supposedly had immediate effect (Street, 1997 p.62). The Horror of Rock'n'Roll The critics and academics saw the working class youth as the most endangered group. Thanks to the after war baby boom they were large in numbers, were often employed (We Are the Lambeth Boys) and earned more money. They are ground between the millstones of technocracy an democracy; society gives them almost limitless freedom of the sensation, but makes few demands on them – the use of their hands and of a fraction of their brains for forty hours a week. For the rest they are open to the entertainers and their efficient mass-equipment (Hoggart 1957 p. 249). Hoggart describes the Teddy Boys as frequent customers of milk bars, throwing one coin after another into the jukebox machine, reading sex and violence novels. These novels inspired the first British films targeting youth. With the emergence of the X certificate, some of the British studios concentrated on the horror and the sci-fi genres, the most famous being the Hammer studio. Although the cinema attendance numbers dropped drastically, due to the impact of television and shifting demographics (more and more people moving into new towns), the youth remained the largest cinema audience (McKibbin, 1998 p.420). The Hammer horror films were attractive for the youth audience (Street, 1997 p.76) as well as the Rock'n'Roll imports and their British versions (films with Cliff Richard and Tommy Steel). The horror and Rock'n'Roll films had their exploitational strategies in common. They were both taking advantages of certain novelties (scandals, wars) or/and their cinema audiences. These films usually had an inaccurate, sensational approach similar to that of the tabloid press. They, however, managed to express contemporary anxieties (nuclear threat, crisis of masculinity) (Street 1997, p.76-78). Films like Rock Around the Clock benefited from the Rock'n'Roll hype and from the controversy of the music; the assumed link between music and violence. Some Rock'n'Roll features were banned in local cinemas which only added to their popularity. Parents feared their children would turn into delinquents as the youth crime numbers were raising and the tabloid press blew the violent acts of a few into a nation-wide phenomenon (Hill, 1986 p.13-14). Famous filmmakers like Pressburger and Powell were clearly inspired by the horror genre in their film Peeping Tom. As well as some of the Hammer films, the film comments on the danger of science manipulation (Tom was a subject of scientific experiments of his fathers), but goes deeper into examination of the media exploitation itself, reflecting on contemporary anxieties (â€Å"fear of independent women† (Street, 1997 p.78)) and the supposed ‘higher morality' of the older generation (the elderly man, buying pornographic material in the kiosk). We might go further and suggest that the film is a call for realism. The studio in Peeping Tom produces popular murder stories, but when confronted with a real murder, we realize how remote these people are from the topics of their films. Similarly to Hitchcock's Psycho, Powell and Pressburger cast the main character with a good-looking young man – instead of a villain looking character. As Lowenstein argues, the social realism of Peeping Tom shows that these shifting social currents are shot through with anxieties that include viewers ‘like you and me' as agonized participants in ‘life here today'. (2000 p.229) Powell's and Presburger's interest in products of the mass culture is of the same sort as Warhol's interest in advertising, Kubrick's interest in popular genres in The Shining as well as Tarantino's obsession with pulp novels. Angry Young Men Hoggart's appeal was to preserve and enforce original ‘working class' culture. This appeal came about at the same time as the new breed of writers, first just called Movement and later on called the Angry Young Men. They were often of working class origin, and wrote novels about working class youth or about young men fighting bureaucracy and the current social order (Kingsley Amis – Lucky Jim). These ‘angry young men' represented the part of society that was slowly waking up from the consensus dream. The British Empire was facing internal and external crisis (racial upheavals, Suez War). Problems like class distinctions and national identity re-emerged with greater strength. The writers showed discontent with both the traditional highbrow culture as well as the faceless mass culture. However it turned out, that the mass culture swallowed the new subculture soon afterwards*. The films based on the Angry Young Men novels differed from the exploit features in their respectable treatment of the young individual and investigating the causes of their revolt. They might have been inspired by some of the American youth films, like A Rebel Without a Cause: the film is not just another exploit; it examined psychological depths of delinquent behaviour (the influence of the family background). Also the documentary tradition of some of the filmmakers like Karel Reisz was important. Reisz carefully observed youngsters and disclosed that they are much more than young delinquents in We Are the Lambeth Boys. Braine's novel Room at the Top was turned into a successful film. The film's revolt is in its exposed sexuality. As Marwick suggests: â€Å"censorship was itself changing its views as to what was now acceptable to British audiences† (1991 p.73-74). One of the illusions of the 50s was that the class distinction seemed to disappear (Hill, 1986 p.10-11). Clayton's film is a cruel awakening from the classless dream. The young man in the Room at the Top, puts up a tough fight to be accepted by the privileged class, only to realise that he had to pay huge prize for it. His lover dies in a car accident (suicide?). Joe Lampton hates the everyday routine and the oblivion of his own class, but also despises the class he is trying to join: their power and money are the only way to realise his potential. Sillitoe who wrote Saturday Night and Sunday Morning was of working class background. Reisz, who directed the subsequent film, already got a reputation with We Are the Lambeth Boys. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning is a fierce attack on the ‘great' values of the fifties: affluence of the working class, full employment and mass culture (television). In a way, Arthur is a representative of the disappearing working class culture with his spare time ‘activities': fishing, drinking with friends and revolting. Arthur's parents and his colleague, Jack, represent the new emerging mass culture. They all watch television: Arthur's father to such an extent that he becomes totally absorbed by the medium. When Brenda is getting ready to go out, Jack suggests that one day they will be able to afford a TV set so that she can stay home. The disaffection ..of the young worker is directed against organized society and it bureaucrats, and against the more docile members of he working class, rather than against any identifiable enemy (Marwick, 1982 p.135). Arthur's culture is that of a revolt. He knows that there is something very wrong, but he is not sure how to fight it. Arthur says ‘no' to Hoggart's definition of working class youths: use your hands and a fraction of your brain and you can then be entertained. Arthur's ‘no' is also a ‘no' to the boom of the fifties. The youths were the first to realise the drawbacks, while the older generation was blinded by relative affluence and the pleasures of television. Arthur carries on with the fight until he agrees to marry Doreen. He then conforms to the mass culture of regular wages, consensus and television. His culture of revolt is lost to mass culture. The same can be said of the Angry Young Men movement: it later assimilated with the mass culture, since â€Å"media interest nearly always means immediate expropriation and assimilation by the mass culture† (Taylor, 2000). Conclusion Hoggart saw the emergence of the mass culture as a serious threat to the authentic working class culture. He was one of the first critics who realised the richness of the original popular culture, but he also criticised the highbrow values imposed on the working class. He saw the horror and science fiction films as a sign of classless mass culture and Teddy Boys as a portent of losing one's culture to the universal culture. At the same time, however, a group of writers emerged that created and re-created original working class culture, giving young men the potential for cultural revolution. I have argued that the exploit culture targeting a young audience had a profound effect on the art of the next decade. The Pop art had it's inspiration in trivial entertainment and commercials. The Pop art (art for everyone) made no distinctions between popular and highbrow culture and freed art from all preconceptions. Furthermore, the open dealing with sexual matters in some of the films and novels, opened up the censorship and gave way to artistic freedom. The youth shook the power of the â€Å"highbrow minority† that dictated the shaping of the whole culture and helped the existence of working class bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. The youth also gained more attention from advertisers and this resulted in strictly teenage products – fashion, such as jeans and short skirts. The youth changed the whole nature of cinema production. From then on film producers became more aware of their audiences and the films targeted increasingly younger audiences. Also the age of the media planners, directors and producers decreased and the young filmmakers gained more power both in Britain (Anderson, Reizs) and Hollywood (Beatty, Hopper), only to loose it later on due to further commercialism of cinema during the 70s and 80s (Biskind,1998: Introduction). The strength of the youth influence is also in its diversity: it inspired Marxists, trash artists, nihilists, hedonists, feminists and the list could go on. Its main strength is that it enabled wide cultural and political discussions. Arthur was a portent of complex socio-cultural changes that started during the sixties and carry on until today.

Judaism †Meaning of life Essay

The meaning of life is a philosophical question concerning the significance of life or existence in general. It can also be expressed in different forms, such as â€Å"Why are we here? â€Å", â€Å"What is life all about? â€Å", and â€Å"What is the purpose of existence? † It has been the subject of much philosophical, scientific, and theological speculation throughout history. There have been a large number of proposed answers to these questions from many different cultural and ideological backgrounds. The meaning of life is in the philosophical and religious conceptions of existence, social ties, consciousness, and happiness, and borders on many other issues, such as symbolic meaning, ontology, value, purpose, ethics, good and evil, free will, the existence of one or multiple Gods, conceptions of God, the soul, and the afterlife. Scientific contributions focus primarily on describing related empirical facts about the universe, exploring the context and parameters concerning the ‘how’ of life. Science also studies and can provide recommendations for the pursuit of well-being and a related conception of morality. An alternative, humanistic approach poses the question â€Å"What is the meaning of my life? † The value of the question pertaining to the purpose of life may coincide with the achievement of ultimate reality, or a feeling of oneness, or even a feeling of sacredness. governs the universe. Closeness with the God of Israel is through study of His Torah, and adherence to its mitzvot (divine laws). In traditional Judaism, God established a special covenant with a people, the people of Israel, at Mount Sinai, giving the Jewish commandments. Torah comprises the written Pentateuch and the transcribed oral tradition, further developed through the generations. The Jewish people are intended as â€Å"a kingdom of priests and a holy nation†[69] and a â€Å"light to the Nations†, influencing the other peoples to keep their own religio-ethical Seven Laws of Noah. The messianic era is seen as the perfection of this dual path to God. Jewish observances involve ethical and ritual, affirmative and prohibative injunctions. Modern Jewish denominations differ over the nature, relevance and emphases of mitzvot. Jewish philosophy emphasises that God is not affected or benefited, but the individual and society benefit by drawing close to God. The rationalist Maimonides sees the ethical and ritual divine commandments as a necessary, but insufficient preparation for philosophical understanding of God, with its love and awe. [70] Among fundamental values in the Torah are pursuit of justice, compassion, peace, kindness, hard work, prosperity, humility, and education. [71][72] The world to come,[73] prepared in the present, elevates man to an everlasting connection with God. [74] Simeon the Righteous says, â€Å"the world stands on three things: on Torah, on worship, and on acts of loving kindness. † The prayer book relates, â€Å"blessed is our God who created us for his honor†¦ and planted within us everlasting life. † Of this context, the Talmud states, â€Å"everything that God does is for the good,† including suffering. The Jewish mystical Kabbalah gives complimentary esoteric meanings of life. As well as Judaism providing an immanent relationship with God (personal theism), in Kabbalah the spiritual and physical creation is a paradoxical manifestation of the immanent aspects of God’s Being (panentheism), related to the Shekhinah (Divine feminine). Jewish observance unites the sephirot (Divine attributes) on high, restoring harmony to creation. In Lurianic Kabbalah, the meaning of life is the messianic rectification of the shattered sparks of God’s persona, exiled in physical existence (the Kelipot shells), through the actions of Jewish observance. [75] Through this, in Hasidic Judaism the ultimate essential â€Å"desire† of God is the revelation of the Omnipresent Divine essence through materiality, achieved by man from within his limited physical realm, when the body will give life to the soul. Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy named after its prophet Zoroaster, which is believed to have influenced the beliefs of Judaism and its descendant religions. [77] Zoroastrians believe in a universe created by a transcendental God, Ahura Mazda, to whom all worship is ultimately directed. Ahura Mazda’s creation is asha, truth and order, and it is in conflict with its antithesis, druj, falsehood and disorder. (See also Zoroastrian eschatology). Since humanity possesses free will, people must be responsible for their moral choices. By using free will, people must take an active role in the universal conflict, with good thoughts, good words and good deeds to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The Drunkard by Frank O’Connor

â€Å"The Drunkard† is, at first glance, a comedy about youth and unintended drunkenness, and a grateful mother. It is also, however, a glimpse into the personalities of the members of a dysfunctional family: egotistical father, demeaned mother and ignored and/or abused child. Think about the story and choose a focus of your essay. It could be humor, family dynamics or the individual characteristics of the father or son. Once you have your theme, consider the points that you will relate to support your idea.Develop the five-paragraph essay BEFORE you write so that you know ‘where you are going’. The Use of Irony and Humor of â€Å"The Drunkard â€Å"In the story, â€Å"The Drunkard† the author Frank O’Connor uses a point of view to primarily reveal humor and irony. In the story, O’Connor uses first person point of view. First person point of view is told through the eyes of the main character in this story. The main character is named Larry. Larry is a young boy who has to go along with his father one day to a funeral.Larry’s father Mick is the person referred to as the â€Å"drunkard†. Larry seems to know what will happen when he goes with his father but is hoping that his father might consider his presence and not drink. Since the story is told through little Larry’s eyes and thoughts the reader mainly focuses on how Larry feels about his dad being a drinker. The Irony and humor that is found in human nature is revealed through Larry, first person point of view, and what happens on his outing with his father Mick.Irony, the incongruities between the expected and actual results of events and humor, the quality of being laughably ludicrous are interweaved in this story. In the short story, â€Å"The Drunkard† Frank O’Connor uses first person point of view to reveal the humor and irony that is created in this amusing story. Humor is seen many times in the story after Larry and his fath er Mick reach the bar following the funeral. Larry is thirsty and takes a drink of his father’s beer. Larry finishes his father’s drink and becomes drunk afterwards.While this is occurring his father is talking away with a man named Peter Crowley who is also a drinker. When Mick realizes Larry is drunk he knows he must take him home immediately. This scene is described as, â€Å"They all stopped gabbling to gape at the strange spectacle of two sober men, middle aged men bringing home a drunken small boy with a cut over his eye†(301). This could not be better told than through the eyes of Larry who at the time is observing all he sees happening around him. Two usually drunk men carrying home but a young boy who is not sobers enough to walk.This humorous scene described by the main character reveals more enjoyment because little Larry is the one who is drunk. It is also a bit ironic that the two grown men are carrying a drunken young boy home and it is not the oth er way around. Larry is watching all the people around him and knows how ridiculous he must look in between the arms of his father adepter Crowley. The humor is revealed in an entertaining way from the first person point of view because of the situation the main character is in and how he is describing it.Irony seems to occur in a few instances since Larry is setting up the reader with certain expectations. Larry tells us how his father is and knows exactly what will happen after the funeral. His father will wind up in a bar drunk like he had been described doing since his best friend passed away. Larry’s first conclusion about the circumstances that are likely to occur is, â€Å"I know I might have to bring him home, blink drunk, down Blarney Lane, with all the old women at their doors, saying: ‘Mick Delaney is on it again’† (302).This is Larry’s prediction to how the day would end up. To the reader’s hilarious surprise, this is not what hap pens. Larry’s thirst at the bar gets him in to an unusual situation and bewilderment from the liquor he has drunk. Larry as he realizes he is drunk says to himself, â€Å"But, drunk and all as I was†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (301). both the Larry and the reader are surprised by this ironic event. Larry’s prediction is reversed. He no longer has to take his drunken father home down Blarney Lane. Now Larry’s father has to take Larry home blind drunk.The twist of events that Larry the main character is going through mainly reveals the irony also in a more humorous way. Humor through the eyes and words of Larry, the main character, provide the reader with more enjoyment as his day continues. As the men carry Larry by the arms he knows he is going to stroll down Blarney Lane drunk. So as Larry is proceeding down the lane he cries out to the women laughing, â€Å"I’ll make ye laugh at the other side of year faces if ye don’t let me pass†¦Go away ye bloody bit ches†¦Take care or I’ll come back and show ye!† (302).This scene described by Larry is very comical. He knows he father usually passes down this same lane drunk but does not get to realize what it is like until now. It’s especially worse for Larry because he is not a grown man yet who is allowed to drink. It is ironic also because Larry never thought he’d be the one walking down this lane drunk after the funeral. The humor being revealed is more amusing through the words of Larry who is telling the story from the first person point of view.Using the first person point of view is more appropriate in order to reveal humor and irony as the main elements in this story. The main character Larry who is telling this story adds a more entertaining view. He gives the story irony from his own words and predictions. He also gives the story more humor because of his actions. Despite what he thought the day would be like with his father after the funeral he ends u p being mistaken in an amusing way. The story told from the first person point of view reveals a more enjoyable story, regardless of whether the story’s incidents were actually true or not.