The Novel A Christmas Carol Essay Example

The Novel A Christmas Carol Essay Example The Novel A Christmas Carol Essay The Novel A Christmas Carol Essay at acquaintance with the spectre Scrooge primarily passes it off as an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato in fear of insanity seeping into him. However instead of insanity setting in, the ghost Jacob Marley was genuinely visiting the tenacious Scrooge. In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley The words spoken from beyond the grave consume Scrooge and start him of onto the path he should have taken a long time ago. Scrooge is foretold of the three ghosts that await him. Without their visits, said the ghost, you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. We leave this stave with Scrooge in a deep sleep, anticipating his destiny of amendment. The opening to any book is arguably the most important part, as it has to hook the reader with a small section of writing into continuing to read the story and the author hasnt fallen short on this occasion. The book starts strangely with Marley was dead which although seems rather bizarre, it grabs the readers attention and sidetracks their thoughts to trying to understand; who is Marley? How did he die? Why is he dead? What is the relevance of this information? However the fact that someone has died [fictional, but nonetheless] the author is in fret to conjure up a few quirky jokes. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. Mind A might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadiest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the similie; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or our countrys done for. You will then permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail. This is a good example of how Dickens finds humour in even in a persons death even if the joke isnt really that funny, it still lightens up the mood and by adding this paragraph to the story just emphasised Marleys death so that the appearance of the ghost later on adds a more eerie aura to the epic saga. Because Scrooge knows that Marley is dead for sure, the whole incident sparks of a whole chain reaction, before he didnt care what others thought, wasnt scared of anything and believed in nothing [even love]. But after seeing Marleys faced envisaged into his door knocker, Scrooge became afraid and looked all around his house every room and even under the beds! After all the nasty things Scrooge has done, it is amusing to see him put into this situation and revenge taking place. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and Scrooges reaction to the ghost of Marley surely is a humorous one. The first ghost to visit was ghost of Christmas past. Its appearance is rather peculiar It was a strange figure like a child: yet not so like a child as an old man, viewed through some supernatural medium, which gave him the appearance of having receded from the view, and being to a childs proportions. Its hair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age; and yet the face had not a wrinkle on it, and the tenderest bloom was on the skin. The arms were very long and muscular; the hands were the same, as if its hold were of uncommon strength. Its legs and feet, most delectably formed, were, like strength those upper members bare. This strange description carries on for quite a while, but from what weve seen so far the ghost is very strong. It most likely uses this strength to hold on to Scrooges past that he himself tries to forget. She looks old because she is Scrooges past, and Scrooge himself is old, therefore she looks old. But she looks young because the young are often looked upon as innocent, which may suggest Scrooge used to be nice. The scene I want to talk about is that at Fezziwigs party. During this whole time, Scrooge had acted like a man out of his wits. His heart and soul were in the scene, and with his former self. This visit unveils the true Scrooge that actually enjoys things and knows how to have fun. Scrooge gets so caught up in the moment he even forgot the ghost was there. This definitely shows us that Ebenezer Scrooge once had a heart. The Second ghost visiting Scrooge was that of Christmas present. Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam. In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see, who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plentys horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door. This description beautifully shows us the shear amount of food there is. And the representation of the 2nd ghost is quite intriguing. It was clothed in one simple green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown curls were long and free; free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air. Girded round its middle was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust. This ghost takes Scrooge to many places, and in each place people still celebrates Christmas. Scrooge is also shown how unpopular he really is when people make fun of him at a party. The final ghost, the ghost of Christmas yet to come is a very dark and mysterious character. Lead on! said Scrooge. Lead on! The night is waning fast, and it is precious time to me, I know. Lead on, Spirit! this is different from how we saw Scrooge in the sense that at first he was scared by his own business partner Marley, and now he is talking confidently to a ultra scary ghost. Unlike the previous two, this phantom seems to drain all happiness from its surroundings. It shows Scrooges grave stone covered in rubbish and moss. And then he sees Tiny Tims grave stone immaculate and clean. And to round things off, Scrooge is shown businessman laughing over a dead man [obviously himself]. He moves on to see all his belongings on sale at market. If he wanted to keep them after he was dead, a wicked old screw, pursued the woman, why wasnt he natural in his lifetime? If he had been, hed have had somebody to look after him when he was struck with Death, instead of lying gasping out his last there, alone by himself. . This gives Scrooge an even better view of peoples opinions of him, because now that hes dead they arent afraid to speak their mind. It also is different from stave 1 because then people were scared just by the very presence of Scrooge. And because they think Scrooge deserves all his things being stolen from him. The final scene shows Scrooge looking at his own grave. This hammers home the idea that if Scrooge carries on with his bad ways hell be remembered as the selfish man he is. His conscience is as filthy as his grave. I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone! . Stave 5 ends the novel with applauded content. Scrooge has been liberated from his wicked ways of malevolence. His pleasant counterpart has been salvaged from his mercilessness exterior. I dont know what day of the month it is. said Scrooge. I dont know how long Ive been among the Spirits. I dont know anything. Im quite a baby. Never mind. I dont care. Id rather be a baby. Hallo! Whoop! Hallo here! . This act of unconcern and rather giddiness has pushed the boundaries that held people back from even being on the same sidewalk as Scrooge. Now his act of blissfulness is being extended to others in the environs of him. He now abides by the knowledge Treat others as you would like to be treated. His life of cruelty and indecency has therefore revoked his right to be treated with the courteous ways in which he ceases to yield. However this encounter of ethereal events has cast him to the path of righteousness. Running to the window, he opened it, and put out his head. No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. Oh, glorious! Glorious! These weather conditions deeply contrast those unambiguously dramatic circumstances revealed in stave 1. Foggier yet, and colder. Piercing, searching, biting cold. If the good Saint Dunstan had but nipped the Evel Spirits nose with a touch of such weather as that, instead of using his familiar weapons, then indeed he would have roared to lusty purpose. This is another way in which the author lightens the ambience. He had a momentary idea of knocking Scrooge down with it, holding him, and calling to the people in the court for help and a strait-waistcoat. That just shows how people genuinely cant believe that Scrooge has changed and that instead he has just gone insane, which was ironically Scrooges thought as he first laid eyes upon the spirit of his former business partner, Jacob Marley. At the end of the novel, Scrooge discovers his new passion for Christmas and understands how his ways of skimping on money and overall cruelty has hauled others around him into a descending spiral of misery. And in utter contrast to his former self Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror. into a happy and grateful for everything kind of person Its Christmas Day! said Scrooge to himself. I havent missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can. Hallo, my fine fellow! . The novel ends with a perpetual sense of being and archetypal joy. And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One! In conclusion, I believe this novel was written to not only show the inequality of treatment throughout society forced labour in work houses for poor, slave wages, but also to show that people like Scrooge are not overly popular and wont live a good life. Moreover, it is never too late to change your ways.

Ancient Traders and Merchants of Mesoamerica

Ancient Traders and Merchants of Mesoamerica A strong market economy was a very important aspect of Mesoamerican cultures. Although much of our information about the market economy in Mesoamerica comes primarily from the Aztec/Mexica world during the Late Postclassic, there is clear evidence that markets played a major role throughout Mesoamerica in the diffusion of goods at least as recently as the Classic period. Further, it is clear that merchants were a high-status group of most of the Mesoamerican societies. Luxury Goods for the Elites Beginning during the Classic Period (AD 250-800/900), merchants supported urban specialists with raw materials and finished goods to convert into luxury goods for the elites, and exportable items for trade. Specific materials traded differed from region to region, but, in general, the merchant job involved acquiring, for example, coastal items such as shells, salt, exotic fish and marine mammals, and then exchanging them for materials from the inland such as precious stones, cotton and maguey fibers, cacao, tropical bird feathers, especially precious quetzal plumes, jaguar skins, and many other exotic items. Maya and Aztec Merchants Different types of merchants existed in ancient Mesoamerica: from local traders with central markets to regional merchants to the professional, long-distance merchants such as the Pochteca among the Aztecs and the Ppolom among the lowland Maya, known from Colonial records at the time of the Spanish conquest. These full-time merchants traveled over long distances and were often organized into guilds. All the information we have about their organization comes from the Late Postclassic when Spanish soldiers, missionaries, and officersimpressed with the organization of the Mesoamerican markets and merchantsleft detailed documentation about their social organization and functioning. Among the Yucatec Maya, who traded along the coast with large canoes with other Maya groups as well as with Caribbean communities, these merchants were called Ppolom. The Ppolom were long-distance traders who usually came from noble families and leaded trading expeditions to acquire valuable raw materials. Probably, the most famous category of merchants in Postclassic Mesoamerica, though, was the one of the Pochteca, who were full-time, long-distance merchants as well as informants of the Aztec empire. The Spanish left a detailed description of the social and political role of this group in the Aztec society. This allowed historians and archaeologists to reconstruct in detail the lifestyle as well as the organization of the pochteca. Sources Davà ­d Carrasco (ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures, vol. 2, Oxford University Press.

Now we can get congress going Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Now we can get congress going - Essay Example There should be adoption of policies that will ensure new graduate and majority of youth get enough opportunities after getting out of the education system. Addressing these issues will boost confidence on elected leader and also esnures that the current administration is seen as doing something on policy issues. On the other hand, I belive that addressing issues of enrgey will help in reviving areas of the economy that are not performing well. Energy sector is a key driver of various parts of the economy. This is because energy drives various sector of the economy such as prodcution. Most of the prices of goods and services enjoyed by americans are determiedn by the prodcution process. Hence, addressing issues of enrgy will be paramount in esnuring that Americans are not faced by high prices of goods and services. Moreover, americans will be able to purchase more commodities with less. Therefore, a proposal to construct Keystone XL pipeline should be a priority of the new elected

Children Are Not Little Adults Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Children Are Not Little Adults - Essay Example Children have frameworks in which adults must approach issues for their health and well being. Because children are not small adults, they must be approached with recognition of the differences in development on all levels of human experience. Physiology The physiology of a child is very different than that of a full grown adult. These differences can be observed through three distinct areas of concern. The first area is through developmental changes, the second area through dependency, and the third area is through patterns of illness and injury (National Research Council Board on children youth and families & Institute of Medicine (U.S.), 1996). Children and adults are very different in the way in which their bodies interact with the effects of life on their health. Children have a higher rate of susceptibility to toxins and viruses because their bodies are still forming and have not accommodated for environmental exposures (Ginsberg, G., Slikker, W, & Bruckner, J. (Feb. 2004). Chi ldren’s bones are more pliable than adults, thus much more force is required to break them, injuries in a child different than those in an adult as the space in physiology that allows for growth in all systems creates additional problems (Mooney & Ireson, 2009). Cognitive Development Infants and toddlers have limited capacities for realizing that objects and people exist outside of their immediate interaction with them. However, they still form attachments and are better when there is a consistency in the care that they receive. Children in the age range of three to five develop higher levels of attachment and have a cognitive awareness of the existence of people and things beyond their immediate interaction. Between the ages of six and ten, there is an observable expansion of relationships for children, with the beginning of an understanding of the world in relationship to their own place within it (Zemmelman, 2010). Children between the ages of ten and twelve will have a fi rm belief that the world is precisely the way they have envisioned it. However, in the teen years the world changes dramatically as children begin to form concepts of abstraction, seeing that the world may have differences within it that are not in line with their earlier point of view (Oestreicher & Rubin, 2009). Brain-training games can be useful in helping children to learn and gain knowledge so that they can use the level at which they able to learn to its fullest capacity. One example of a brain-training game can be seen in song-experience games. Children learn to â€Å"wait, participate, listen, think, move, time their response, learn to become interested in others, organize, strategize, predict, self-monitor and learn compassion and empathy† through folk songs that are chosen for their capacity to evoke identifiable parts and then relationships between the parts (Harris & MENC, 2009, p. 40). Children are given an opportunity to learn problem solving and to learn comple x information through discovering the associations between visual and auditory experiences. Brain-training games are intended to create methods for children to make increasingly more sophisticated connections through games that indirectly stimulate those connections. The example of the song-experience g

The Almanac of American Politics (2008) Essay Example for Free

The Almanac of American Politics (2008) Essay Presidential election results (2000, 2004) The following pages are quoted verbatim from the Almanac of American Politics, 2006 edition: American politics has devolved into a grim battle between two approximately equal-size armies in a take-no-prisoners culture war. In 2000, those armies fought to a near-draw—out of more than 100 million ballots cast, the presidency of the United States hinged on a breathtakingly slim 537-vote margin in Florida. Four years later, despite the occurrence of a recession, two wars, and a devastating terrorist attack on American soil, the two adversaries remain fairly evenly divided. In the wake of an acrimonious election where both political parties together spent roughly $4 billion on the federal elections the crisis spilled over into other areas of American politics: health and welfare spending, handling of the economy, and the continued occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan (Barone and Cohen, 2006) State Profile NEW JERSEY State Profile The following data and information about this state is taken from the 2006 Almanac of American Politics. â€Å"New Jersey boomed in the 1980s, suffered sharply in the early 1990s recession, came back strongly, and is now weathering the high-tech storms with mixed success.† At A Glance Size: 8,721 square miles Population in 2000: 8,414,350; 94.3% urban; 5.7% rural Population in 1990: 7,730,188 Population Change: Up 8.6% 1990-2000; Up 5.0% 1980-1990 Population Rank: 9th of 50; 3.0% of total U.S. population Most Populous Cities: Newark (277,911); Jersey City (239,097); Paterson (150,782); Elizabeth (123,215); Trenton (85,314) Registered Voters: 1,163,224 D (23.2%); 884,801 R (17.7%); 2,957,934 unaffiliated and minor parties (59.1%) State Senate: 22 D 18 R State General Assembly: 49 D 31 R State Legislative Term Limits: No Key Elected Officials Gov. Jon Corzine (D) Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) Sen. Robert Menendez (D) Representatives: (6 D, 6 R, 1 V): Robert Andrews (D-01) Loida Nicolas Lewis (D-02) Jim Saxton (R-03) Chris Smith (R-04) Scott Garrett (R-05) Frank Pallone (D-06) Michael Ferguson (R-07) Bill Pascrell (D-08) Steven Rothman (D-09) Donald Payne (D-10) Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11) Rush Holt (D-12) Vacant; formerly Robert Menendez (D-13) About New Jersey The Northeast has long been the nation’s least conservative region and turned out the biggest bonanza for the Democrats in their surge to an even greater House majority in 2008: 15 of the 25 seats the party took from the GOP were in the area.   Democrats say this â€Å"reverse alignment† — counterbalancing the Southern shift to the GOP — rolls on (The Electoral Map, 2007). â€Å"A valley of humility between two mountains of conceit: That is what Benjamin Franklin called New Jersey, which even in colonial days was overshadowed by the metropolises of New York and Philadelphia. New Jersey was named by King James II, then Duke of York, for the Channel Island on which he was sheltered during the English Civil War. But New Jersey has much to say for itself. It is a sort of laboratory in which the best blood is prepared for other communities to thrive on, Woodrow Wilson said when he was governor, just a tad defensively. Today, New Jersey is the nations tenth most populous state: It boomed in the 1980s, suffered sharply in the early 1990s recession, came back strongly, and is now weathering the high-tech storms with mixed success. New Jersey was the home of Thomas Edison and of the old Bell Labs; its successors Lucent and ATT were among its biggest employers in the 1990s. Other big employers include several of the nations biggest pharmaceutical firmsMerck, Johnson Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, Schering-Plough. These industries give the state a high-income, high-education work force, and in 2000 New Jersey passed Connecticut to boast the nations highest median household income. This is prosperous middle-income country, with more two-car than one-car families but fewer limousines than Manhattan, with an estimated 13,500 $1 million houses but not the multi-million dollar co-ops of Manhattan or mansions of Greenwich, Connecticut. Within New Jerseys close boundaries is great diversity, geographically from beaches to mountains, demographically from old Quaker stock to new Hispanics, economically from inner city slums to hunt country mansions. Though New York writers are inclined to look on New Jersey as a land of 1940s diners and 1970s shopping malls, this state much more closely resembles the rest of America than does Manhattan, even if its accents can sometimes be incomprehensible to outsiders. The Jersey City row houses seen on emerging from the Holland Tunnel, many renovated by Wall Street commuters and Latin immigrants, give way within a few miles to the skyscrapers of Newark and its new Performing Arts Center. Farther out are comfortably packed middle-income suburbs and the horse country around Far Hills, the university town of Princeton, old industrial cities like Paterson and Trenton, and dozens of suburban towns and small factory cities where people work and raise families over generations. Among them are commuter towns like Middletown, whose commuter trails lead to Lower Manhattan, and which lost dozens of neighbors on September 11. A year later, only 37% of New Jersey citizens said their lives had returned to normal and 29% said they would never be the same; 43% said they thought about the attacks every day. New Jersey has long been a magnet for immigrants, and it is again today. In 2000, 29% of its residents were born in another country or had a parent who was; only California and New York have larger percentages of foreign-born residents. Hudson County, the land along the ridge opposite Manhattan, was the home to hundreds of thousands of Irish, Italian, Polish and Jewish immigrants in the early 20th century; in 2003 it was 41% Hispanic, with Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans and Mexicans. Immigrants are plentiful in the little middle-American towns of Bergen County, Filipinos in Bergenfield, Guatemalans in Fairview, Koreans in Leonia, Indians in Lodi, Chinese in Palisades Park. The old central cities of Elizabeth and Paterson were half-Hispanic in 2000 and Camden, opposite Philadelphia, was 39% Hispanic. There is still a black majority in Newark, but it includes many of the Brazilians in the Ironbound district. New Jersey has all the ethnic variety that America offers. In the last two decades, a new New Jersey has sprouted. The oil tank farms and swamplands of the Jersey Meadows have become sports palaces and office complexes; the Singer factory in Elizabeth, the Western Electric factory in Kearny, the Ford plant in Mahwah, the Shulton plant in Clifton are all gone, replaced by shopping centers or hotels or other development, and the GM plant in Linden, the last New Jersey auto plant, closed in April 2005; the intersection of I-78 and I-287 has become a major shopping and office edge city; U.S. 1 north from Princeton to North Brunswick has become one of the nations high-tech centers. Even some of New Jerseys long-ailing central cities are perking up. New Jersey increasingly has an identity of its own. It is the home of big league football, basketball and hockey franchisesthough after nearly three decades, two of them have threatened to moveand of the worlds longest expanse of boardwalks on the Jersey Shore from Cape May to Sandy Hook. And New Jersey is one of Americas great gambling centers: Atlantic City, an hour from Philadelphia and two hours from Manhattan, had gambling revenues in 2006 ($8.2 billion) that nearly matched the Las Vegas strip ($8.8 billion). State government played an important role in building New Jersey identity and pride. In the 1970s, Governor Brendan Byrne started the Meadowlands sports complex and got casino gambling legalized in Atlantic City. Governor Tom Kean in the 1980s started education reforms and promoted the state shamelessly. The revolt against Governor Jim Florios tax increase in 1990 was led by the first all-New Jersey talk radio station and took on national significance with the 1993 election of Christine Todd Whitman, who later became EPA Administrator. In the next decade crime and welfare rolls dropped, but auto insurance and property taxes remain the highest in the nation. New Jersey, contained within two of the nations biggest metropolitan areas, was also a harbinger of the national trend in the big metro areas toward Bill Clintons Democrats. Not so long ago, suburban New Jersey was one of the most Republican of big states: It voted 56%-42% for the first George Bush in 1988. But in 1996 New Jersey voters, turned off by the congressional Republicans Southern leaders and by the national partys opposition to abortion and gun control, voted 54%-36% for Clinton and 53%-43% for Democrat Bob Torricelli for the Senate. In 1997 Whitman, despite cutting taxes, was reelected by only 47%-46% over little-known Democrat Jim McGreevey. In 2000 Al Gore carried the state 56%-40%. In 2001 McGreevey defeated Republican Bret Schundler for governor by 56%-42% and in 2002, after an unorthodox campaign, Democrat Frank Lautenberg defeated Republican Douglas Forrester for senator by 54%-44%very similar margins. Democrats cinched control of both houses of the legislature in 2003. New Jerseys politicians compete in a market that is the second most expensive in the nation, because they have to buy New York and Philadelphia television. And they have a special handicap, because those stations dont give state politics and government the in-depth coverage that voters in most states can expect. This gives an advantage to well-known candidates, like former Senator Bill Bradley, and to incumbents with a distinctive style and notable achievements, like Governors Byrne, Kean and Whitman, and to self-funders like Senator and gubernatorial candidate Jon Corzine. But it also means that high-income, highly educated New Jersey politics is often the business of county and city political machines, of varying degrees of competence, cronyism and corruption. It is, astonishingly, a great advantage in both parties to have the designation of the local county party on the primary ballot. A 1993 campaign finance law allowed county parties to take contributions 18 times as large as candidates could, so money is increasingly raised by chairmen of parties that have control of local government and can dole out contractsthe Jersey term is pay to playand then wheeled, or doled out, to favored candidates all over the state. McGreevey, elected in 2001 after his near-defeat of Whitman in 1997, was a product of the Middlesex County Democratic machine and served as both mayor of Woodbridge and state senatorin New Jersey, as in France, politicians can be town mayors and legislators at the same time. Second District, New Jersey 2008 Congressional Election Results (Second District, New Jersey) NJ-02 District Profile: Politically, Atlantic City often votes Democratic but has an antique Republican machine that goes back generations. 2008 Results: First-timer Loida Nicolas-Lewis (D) roundly defeated Frank LoBiondo (R) by 64-31% Loida Nicolas-Lewis (R) Nicolas-Lewis was nominated with 72% in a two-way primary. Contact: 212-756-8900 †¢Ã‚  Campaign Web site †¢Ã‚  Official Web site †¢Ã‚  Almanac biography Frank LoBiondo (D) Elected in 1994; Seeking eighth term; LoBiondo barely emerged from the primary with 50.5% pf the vote. Contact: 856-794-2004 †¢Ã‚  Campaign Web site †¢Ã‚  Official Web site †¢Ã‚  Almanac biography Profile of the District (Source: Almanac of American Politics) When the builders of the Camden Atlantic Railroad in 1852 extended the line to the little inlet town of Absecon, little did they know what would become Americas biggest beach resort, Atlantic City. Like all resorts, it was a product of developments elsewhere: of industrialization and spreading affluence, of railroad technology and the conquest of diseases which used to make summer a time of terror for parents and doctors. In the years after the Civil War, first Atlantic City and then the whole Jersey Shore from Brigantine to Cape May became Americas first seaside resort, and Atlantic City developed its characteristic features: the Boardwalk in 1870, the amusement pier in 1882, the rolling chair in 1884, salt water taffy in the 1890s, Miss America in 1921. By 1940, 16 million Americans visited every summer, Atlantic City was a common mans resort of old traditions; but the place became less popular after World War II as people could afford nicer vacations. By the early 1970s, Atlantic City was grim. Then in 1977, New Jersey voters legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City and gleaming new hotels sprang up, big name entertainers came in and Atlantic City became more glamorous than it had been in 90 years. But not for all of its residents: Casino and hotel jobs tend to be low-wage, and the slums begin just feet from the massive parking lots of the casinos. In the 1990s Atlantic Citys gambling business was thrivingcasinos came out ahead $4.3 billion in 2000and huge new casinos were built on both Boardwalk and bayside. Over Donald Trumps objections, Steve Wynn won approval of a new tunnel, which would permit him to build a new casino in the marina district. Now listed among the top 10 House districts nationwide for tourist economies, Atlantic City is growing into what Las Vegas has become, not just a collection of gaudy casinos but a gaggle of theme parks, with entertainment for the family as well as adults. The Jersey Shore south of Atlantic City is a string of different resorts. Behind the Shore are swamp and flatland, the Pine Barrens and vegetable fields that gave New Jersey the name Garden State. Growth has been slow in these small towns and gas station intersections, communities in whose eerie calmness in the summer you can hear mosquitoes whining. In the flatness, you can also find towns clustered around low-wage apparel factories or petrochemical plants on the Delaware estuary; the Northeast high-tech service economy has not reached this far south in Jersey yet. This part of South Jersey makes up the 2d Congressional District. Politically, it has strong Democratic presences in the chemical industry towns along the Delaware River and in Vineland and a strong Republican presence in Cape May; Atlantic City often votes Democratic.   The party carried the area in all 1990s statewide elections and won easily in the 1996 and 2000 presidential races. This is prime marginal territory, off the beaten track of Northeast politics. The Incumbent New Jersey 2d voters finally gave seven-termer Frank LoBiondo the boot long after he had promised not to run for more than six terms.   Even loyal Republicans angrily crossed party lines owing to a series of indiscretions and scandals.   Chief of these was involvement in the Abscam scandal and the revelation that Harrah’s had been the single biggest contributor to his campaigns all along.   Sentiment against the Iraq war also focused on his voting record of going along with every bill sponsored by the White House that related to funding and deployment in that country and Afghanistan. Other aspects of his legislative record that came to light in a bad way were having voted with DeLay seven in eight times, agreeing to weaken ethics rules and assenting to bringing indictment hearings behind closed doors.   The last straw turned out to be outtakes from the local Harrah’s security cameras proving it was LoBiondo after all who had been, and still was, carrying on an affair with Vicki Iseman the telecoms lobbyist whom the New York Times had wrongly linked with John McCain. Mere minutes after LoBiondo conceded the election in November, his wife held her own press conference to announce she was divorcing LoBiondo.   The following day, a downcast ex-congressmen was seen off at the airport departing for parts unknown, muttering something about getting in a few rounds of golf with the Bushes. The 2008 Election Winner Loida Nicolas Lewis Born: July 20, 1957 Family: Husband, Reginald (deceased); two daughters Religion: Roman Catholic Education: St. Theresa’s College (Philippines), A.B. 1972 (summa cum laude) University of the Philippines, Ll.B. 1976 (summa cum laude) Harvard, J.D. 1985 Career: Chairman/CEO, Beatrice International Holdings, Inc. President, Confederation of Asian-American Associations Immigration lawyer Elected Office: None 2008 New Member Profiles New Jerseys Second District: Loida Nicolas-Lewis (D) The Almanac of American Politics  © National Journal Group Inc. From out of nowhere and riding a wave of anti-administration sentiment among minorities in the district, the inexperienced but highly intelligent and articulate Loida Lewis captured the imagination of voters and soundly trounced the incumbent by an unprecedented 2:1 margin.   No one was more surprised than Representative LoBiondo himself. Loida first came to national attention and even gained a measure of fame after her husband, the famed African-American deal-maker Reginald Lewis engineered a leveraged buyout of Beatrice Foods International.   On completing the LBO deal with the help of Michael Milliken at Drexel Burnham Lambert, the press hailed Reginald and the flagship TLC Beatrice as the most successful African-American enterprise ever.   When Reginald foundered in his choice of domestic acquisitions that would allow Beatrice to balance industry cycles in Europe and especially after Reginald’s death, Loida earned the respect of minority stakeholders for her business acumen as CEO. Three months before the primaries, Loida landed in the short list of Gov. Corzine owing to her decade-long work with minority associations on both coasts.   An informal dinner with campaign managers of Sen. Obama and President-Elect Clinton made the choice official. In the ensuing campaign, Loida Lewis proved herself a soft-spoken but very articulate and highly moral rival to the flagging and corruption-prone image of the incumbent.   With unfailingly good press, unanimous support from every minority association and church group, and extremely good rapport with businessmen, Loida Lewis was happy enough to leave the mudslinging to the press.   To no one’s surprise, she won handily and immediately won kudos from the House leadership. THIS SECTION ADAPTED FROM ALMANAC OF AMERICAN POLITICS 2008 (Almanac, 2007) Committees Foreign Relations (10th of 11 D) European Affairs; African Affairs; East Asian Pacific Affairs; International Development Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs International Environmental Protection. Health, Education, Labor Pensions (11th of 11 D) Employment Workplace Safety; Children Families. Homeland Security Governmental Affairs (8th of 9 D) Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services International Security; Investigations; State, Local Private Sector Preparedness Integration. Veterans Affairs (2nd of 8 D). Group Ratings ADA ACLU AFS LCV ITIC NTU COC ACU CFG FRC    2008 95 83 100 100 75 16 55 8 7 0 2009 100 100 95 6 39 8 0 National Journal Ratings 2008 LIB 2008 CONS   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2009 LIB 2009 CONS ECONOMIC 87% 12% 87% 0% SOCIAL 77% 18% 77% 21% FOREIGN 76% 15% 85% 12% Key Votes Of The 109th Congress 1 Bar ANWR Drilling Y 2 FY06 Spending Curb N 3 Estate Tax Repeal N 4 Raise Minimum Wage Y 5 Recognize Filipino WW2 veterans Y 6 Path to Citizenship Y 7 Bar Same Sex Marriage Y 8 Stem Cell Research $ N 9 Limit Interstate Abortion Y 10 CAFTA Y 11 Urge Iraq Withdrawal Y 12 Provide Detainee Rights Y References Almanac (2007) Almanac of American politics 2008. National Journal. Barone, M. and Cohen, R. E. (2006) The almanac of American politics, 2006. Retrieved February 29, 2008 from http://www.press.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/hfs.cgi/00/161479.ctl. The Electoral Map (2007) Do Democrats still have room for growth in the northeast? Retrieved February 29, 2008 from http://theelectoralmap.com/2007/11.

Morally Ambiguous Characters in Fyodor Dostoevskys Crime and Punishmen

Often times in literature, we are presented with quintessential characters that are all placed into the conventional categories of either good or bad. In these pieces, we are usually able to differentiate the characters and discover their true intentions from reading only a few chapters. However, in some remarkable pieces of work, authors create characters that are so realistic and so complex that we are unable to distinguish them as purely good or evil. In the novel Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky develops the morally ambiguous characters of Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov to provide us with an interesting read and to give us a chance to evaluate each character. Svidrigailov is one of the most unfathomable characters in Crime and Punishment. As the novel goes on, Svidrigailov’s pursuit of Dunya progresses into sheer harassment. After eavesdropping on Raskolnikov’s confession to Sonya, he uses his newly acquired information to lure Dunya into his room. Svidrigailov proceeds to promise help to Raskolnikov if she will give him her hand in marriage. He then threatens to rape her when she tries to run away. Right when Svidrigailov appears to be purely evil, he surprises us all when his rational side kicks in and allows Dunya to leave. Although he may seem to be the cold-hearted villain of the book, his good deeds cannot go unnoticed. It cannot be forgotten that he is willing to give Dunya the three thousand rubbles in his wife’s will and offers ten thousand rubbles to help Dunya because he thinks her marriage will be a disadvantage to her in the end. Once Katerina Ivanonva dies, Svidrigailov also promises to pay for t he funeral arrangements and to provide for the children, who will be sent to an orphanage. Although... ...ing to compensate for them. As his guilt is almost done eating him inside and out, Raskolnikov finally admits and with a new love, he points his life in a whole new direction. Svidrigailov’s moral ambiguity seems to play a smaller part in the whole picture than Raskolnikov’s, making a subplot for the story and adding details to make it more exciting. If these characters were both purely evil, and had no guilt whatsoever, this would be simply a boring story of unhinged men. Adding both good and evil sides to an individual adds a little something extra to the story that distinguishes it from many other pieces of literature. Aside from adding to the storyline, these morally ambiguous characters give students a chance to practice their skill at analyzing characters and think for themselves, forming their own outlooks on the characters and the book as a whole.

Management 497 Assignment Week 2

Audit Exercise Paper Two Student Name MGT/497 – Strategic Technology Planning for Organizations Professor Name January 16, 2012 Introduction This paper will refer to two audit exercises from Chapter three and Chapter four of the textbook. The first one will refer to demand for product, competitive response, level of novelty of the innovation, factor that could block the good outcome of an innovation, and other factors. The second audit exercise will involve the assimilation of a checklist for innovation with respect to the considered organization. It will also determine the readiness of the organization to implement an innovation strategy. The company chosen for these audit exercises is Apple. Everyone has heard about this company and knows that the products of it are very important in our lives. According to Apple Inc. (2012), they mission statement says that they design Macs, the best personal computers in the world and they lead the digital music revolution with their iPods and iTunes online stores. The mission statement also says that the company has reinvented the mobile phone with their revolutionary iPhone and that they define the future of mobile media and computing devices with the iPad. The goal of this company is to make the best mobile product from their phone. Remember what Steve Jobs said when people asked him about the purpose of this company. He said that the company will try and offer with their mobile phone what the people need and not what they want. Audit Exercise Chapter 3 This audit exercise will address demand for the product or products of Apple, factors possible to block the success of an innovation, their standards, competitive response, the level of novelty of the innovation, as well as other factors. White and Bruton (2011) give the following factors to determine the value of an option: favorability of demand for products, factors to speed adoption, factors to block the success of an innovation, the chances of strong competitive response, the likelihood that the possible competitive advantages are sustained, factors inside the company that allow setting standards, the costs to commercialize, the resources available to commercialize, the level of novelty that is captured by the innovation, development costs, certain opportunities that could be advantageous, and possible areas where damage might occur. In dealing with all these factors, we will refer to the iPhone, the innovation that took Apple on its highest peaks of success. First we refer to the demand for this product. Ever since it was released to the public this product has been nothing but a success. The early prototype that went on sale in June, 2007 blew up the market. According to Vogelstein (2008), analyst were speculating that customers would snap up about three million units by the end of 2007, making from this phone, the fastest-selling smartphone in the history. It was the same story with the following generations of the smartphone and the demand was higher even though they had their first powerful competitor by the end of 2008 when Android came to life with they G1 smartphone. In order to speed up the adoption of this product the company needs to make sure that they keep their quality standards as they are now. Innovation could be blocked if Apple makes structural changes inside the company or if the key employees in this position want to leave the company. Apple has received a big hit when the heart of this company left us. Steve Jobs was the brain behind all the innovation at Apple and people will remember him a lot of years from now. Their direct competition is the Android operating systems with all the smartphone adopting it. Android is a powerful competitor which has gain a lot from the market of the smartphone and as it currently is, Google’s Android has a higher portion of the market in this area compared to Apple. To sustain a competitive advantage, Apple needs to keep innovate and offer quality to their dedicated customers. When it comes to costs of commercialization, the company does well enough because the prices of producing the product are small compared to the prices at which the product is sold in the market. It seems that Google with their Android OS is a little in front of Apple with respect to technological advancement; this is why Apple need to direct some of their costs to research and development to keep up or become better than their competitor. They could leverage opportunities by being able to maintain their devoted customers and offer to them discounts or special promotions for the products. This would attract other potential customers. The potential damage may occur if Apple is not able to stay in the competition or cannot innovate; they are threatened if Google’s Android is advancing faster and faster because people like to stay in touch with the technology and would choose the best product in the market. Audit Exercise Chapter 4 This audit exercise from the end of chapter four requires analyzing a figure which contains a checklist for innovative organizations to consider. The questions at hand refer to ways of using the checklist in determining a company’s readiness to implement a strategy that would be innovative. It requires identifying at least a major area to be examined and addressing important considerations from this area. Figure 4. 7 is divided into four categories. It talks about vision, leadership, processes, and resources. We would refer to all of them in consideration to the company Apple. This time the chosen product will be the iPad. The same way Apple was ingenious by bringing the iPhone to the world, the same way was the story about the Ipad. It was the same brain behind this product as well. The iPad was the first tablet pc in the world. People have seen the concept only in science fiction movies and they were very thrilled when the product came out to the market. It had the same success, the same higher demand as the iPhone did. Now, referring to the vision category and to the first question which asks whether or not the team (or the company here) has a clearly articulated vision, mission, or set of objectives, it has to be noted that Apple has it all clear up, even though things have declined a bit when Steve Jobs died. However, all the employees in the company need to share the same vision so that they could put all their efforts in continuously creating the same quality products as they did so far. However, not everyone participated in creating the vision because this would be a tough thing to do. The vision came from Steve Jobs and it was shared progressively with all the important players from this company. The vision was to offer the people what they need most and not what they want. This is attainable; however, it is attainable with a higher price because the company needs to invest time and resources in research and development to spot the necessities of the client and to try to satisfy them. When it comes to leadership, Steve Jobs is the name that perfectly connects to this term. According to Miami University (2007) leadership is the reciprocal process of mobilizing by individuals with specific values and motives, various politic, economic, and other resources in an environment of conflict and competition, to be able to realize goals independently or mutually held by both the followers and the leaders. It may be a complex definition, but it has the power to point out all the important aspects of this discipline. The textbook asks: â€Å"Is excellence of central importance to the team? † The answer in the context of Apple is â€Å"yes† because they are reaching their purposes through excellence, hard work, and a lot of skill. All the employees in this company are committed to fulfill the same vision and the present leader Tim Cook has the purpose of taking forward the words of Steve Jobs and encourage open idea exchanges. The next category from the checklist for innovation strategy is about processes. At Apple probably not all the employees participate in decision making because this would not be appropriate. Imagine how would be to give a worker in assembly the power to make decisions about marketing strategies for the company. It would surely not be appropriate. However, all the employees are welcome to share their ideas and make recommendations to improve processes or products. They are even rewarded if their propositions are efficient. There is a climate of trust inside this company and it is mportant to maintain it because without good relationships, without communication, there will be conflicts, which lead to inefficiency and to lower productivity. When it comes to resources, Apple has a good way of managing them. Not only they try to make their quality products with a lower consumption of resources and money, but they have the possibility to charge more for their products in comparison with ot her companies in the same sectors. They are successful; however, this may not be the best strategy on the long-term. They should considering lowering a bit the prices; this would most likely increases their sales. Conclusion Apple is a market leader and it represents a business model to other companies. Its position offers the company the ability to innovate, invest extensively in research and try to be better than it self. The company has been around for a while now, so they know how to do business efficiently. However, recent competition has absorbed some of its market. This should not be seen as a bad thing in the company but as a motive, as a spark to make the company constantly innovate and make the world a better place with their products. References Apple Inc. (2012). Apple Corporate Information. Retrieved from http://investor. apple. com/faq. cfm? FaqSetID=6 Miami University (2007). What is Leadership? Retrieved from http://www. units. muohio. edu/saf/leadership/students/whatisleadership. html Vogelstein, F. (2008). The Untold Story: How the iPhone Blew Up the Wireless Industry. Retrieved from http://www. wired. com/gadgets/wireless/magazine/16-02/ff_iphone? currentPage=all White, M. A, & Bruton, G. D. (2011). The Management of Technology & Innovation: A Strategic Approach (2nd Ed. ). Mason, OH: South-Western/Cengage Learning.

A More Perfect Union

In the remarks on â€Å"A More Perfect Union† Senator Barack Obama discusses the issue of race identity in terms of American society. Barack Obama describes his life stressing the role the race has played in his life. It is known that if Obama wins Presdiential elections, he will become the first African-American president in the US history.Obama touches the questions of slavery, declaration of independence in Philadelphia and origins of democracy in America. Declaration of independence in Philadelphia played crucial role in promoting democracy as farmers, scholars, patriots and statement were provided with opportunity to express their negative attitude towards slavery, discrimination, tyranny and inequality.Declaration of independence became the first step on the long road to democracy, freedom, liberty and universal human rights. (Obama, 2008)Through struggles and protests, through civil disobedience and civil war, American citizens made a successful attempt to narrow the ga p between empty words and reality of the time they lived in.Therefore, the most important idea of the speech is that all citizens of the United States should be provided with full rights and obligations despite their color, religious preferences and beliefs.Obama says that US Constitution is the ideal for citizens as it ensures their legal rights, and opportunities. It is Constitution that promises all citizens liberty, freedom, justice and union. Obama adds that union should be perfected with time.Therefore, Obama views the task of his campaign as one which will continue the long march of to more just, equal, free American nation. Obama says that he decided to run for presidency as he believed that challenges couldn’t be overcome unless they were solved together and unless the union was perfected. (Obama, 2008)Obama stresses that we have different hopes, but all of us are striving for better future sharing similar hopes. Obama argues that â€Å"we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction – towards a better future for of children and our grandchildren†. (Obama, 2008) Obama’s beliefs, according to his words, are rooted in his own story. Obama tells he is the son of a black man and white woman from Kansas.Obama’s grandfather survived Depression and helped to raise Obama. Obama says he visited the best schools in American, and, at the same time, lived in one of the poorest nations. She is married to an African-American women and blood of slavery flowed within them. Obama’s life story has taught him that a nation isn’t simply a sum of genetic make-ups. Instead, nation is sharing common hopes and prospects for better future.Obama says that racial tensions are seen in all spheres of life. Even he is often labeled as ‘too black’ or ‘not black enough’. In South Carolina there are powerful coalitions of African-Americans an d white Americans. Blacks and whites are equally offended and it should be stopped. Obama shares his experiences at Trinity.He says that Trinity is embodiment of African-American community as similar to other African-American churches Trinity offers services which are full of bawdy humor and raucous laughter. Obama says that Trinity’s church is full of dancing, shouting and clapping, as well as it combines kindness and cruelty, struggles and success, intelligence and ignorance, love and bitterness, etc. All these components build the experience of Africans in America. (Obama, 2008)

Advantages and Disadvantages of E

Advantages and Disadvantages of E E-learning is the use technology and different forms of electronic devices in learning or teaching, either through internet or intranet means like online instructors and experts, self-paced studying or delivery of taped information in DVDs and CD-ROM. E-learning can include the use of written text, pictures, virtual information, animations and video or audio (Fuller 2009).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Advantages and Disadvantages of E-Learning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This enables learners to get information any time and at any location through the web, computers, virtual methods or using digital material. E-learning is not necessarily academic or for the purpose of receiving awards; it includes some basic forms like knowledge databases which offer information on how to perform some specific tasks or guidelines, answers and explanations for questions . There are many advantages and disadvantages of e-lear ning as compared to traditional learning methods. One of the main advantages of e-learning is convenience, in that it enables an individual to access learning material at any time and from any place as long as their electronic devices are properly configured. People who are working or have busy schedules can learn at their own pace without having to meet set time deadlines and without worrying about being late for classes, they do not have to quit their jobs or leave their families when they go to schools or colleges. Studies are done at home where people do not have to travel and so there is no problem of security when travelling to the learning venues (Fuller 2009). Older people who were not able to pursue their studies or people in the corporate world who need to upgrade their skills or gain new skills can learn through the internet and avoid embarrassing and intimidating situations of being in a classroom setting with younger students and having to compete with them for classroo m resources. The flexibility, availability and affordability of e-learning have made it attractive to many companies and organization and most of them use this method in training and educating their staff (Ebner 2007). A company can train its workforce from different parts of the world at the same time from a single location. Individuals can also terminate their studies whenever they feel under pressure, or when they do not have enough time and continue later when they are ready. E-learning has made it easier for people to pursue long distant learning programs especially at graduate and post graduate levels, where people who are doing research projects are able to communicate with their instructors from anywhere. E-learning exposes student to advanced communication technology that provides them with the experience that is helpful to them in the modern corporate world. Due to globalization and the advancement of information technology, organizations have expanded their businesses to different parts of the world. This makes it difficult and expensive to conduct meetings at the company headquarters or at one particular station.Advertising Looking for report on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Many organizations and enterprises are adopting modern communication technology like sending e-mails, on-line memos and the use of video conferencing methods instead of physical meetings. They also store and up-date their information online and so they expect their employees to be conversant with modern systems of information technology if they are going to be competent enough to work for them (Ebner 2007). Another advantage of e-learning is that it allows for opportunities to study anything. There are a variety of different courses in different education levels and from many colleges both local and international, which are on offer in the internet. A student is able to choose their preferred course which might not be offered in the colleges and universities near them. They can also pursue several different courses in the same institution or in different institutions at the same time depending on their flexibility. Scholars who are far from learning institutions can pursue education via the internet at competitive and affordable prices. It is also beneficial to international students, the advancement of communication technology and internet in the world makes it possible for people especially in poor countries in the developing world to have the alternative of pursuing quality education in colleges and universities abroad without having to incur transport, visa and living costs. This also encourages institutions to provide scholarships and learning opportunities since they do not have to take care of the student. This makes it possible for them to acquire knowledge and information that helps them in developing their countries. A greater number of students can also pursue there education since they do not have to rely on government or private support, small enterprises and organizations are also able to sponsor students (Dasgupta 2006). Research information can be retrieved from the internet with the availability of online journals, books, web articles, and magazines, et cetera. E-learning is also cheap as compared to classroom learning with the reduction of print material, furniture and teachers salaries, one reading session can hold a bigger number of student who cannot be contained in a single classroom or lecture theatre (Fuller,2009 ). The created material can be accessed in the internet and it can be easily stored or transferred sometimes with the payment of a small fee, this reduces the necessity of having to go to a library or buying whole books and journals when one is interested in a particular topic or article. This material remains in the internet and it is not easily tampered and so its quality and reliability is guaranteed (Ebner 2007).Adver tising We will write a custom report sample on Advantages and Disadvantages of E-Learning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another advantage of e-learning is interacting and socializing with other student who come from different areas, in more advanced situations the use of on-line discussions groups, e-mails and video conferencing enables student to exchange information and reading materials. They can also assist each other with problems in their studies without having to meet through collaborative learning (Ebner 2007). Students can meet other people with similar learning styles who are from different cultures and backgrounds. The interaction and integration of students from different cultures diversifies their learning especially on social and other non-scientific subjects. There are healthier and interesting discussions and debates. Students are able to look at their learning from different perspectives. A disadvantage of e- lear ning is that it requires computer and internet knowledge and skills and most people might not have them, it is highly sophisticated and that makes it expensive (Ebner 2007). It also requires one to have uninterrupted and easy internet and computer access, one must be computer savvy to be able to obtain full advantage of this method of learning and also keep on updating themselves on new technological innovations and developments. People have to keep updating themselves with new material from time to time or else they are left behind in their studies (Fuller 2009). E-learning lacks physical interaction between students and their teachers and among students themselves as compared to a classroom setting. It mainly depends on student initiative and the students are responsible for their learning. This can be a disadvantage to those students who learn at slow pace and need assistance or to ask questions because they might be left behind or miss important points (Dasgupta 2006). It is dif ficult to teach subjects that require discussions and debates because even when there is opportunity for interaction, the time is limited and very few people can participate. E-learning can also be boring and tiring when an individual has to sit in front of a computer or listen to an educational tape or video for many hours alone without any other form of interaction which they can also take part, they can doze off.Advertising Looking for report on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There have been arguments about health problems and issues that are related with spending huge amount of times on computers, some people argue that this has a bad impact on socialization, there are also problems associated with lack of exercise due to long sitting hours like obesity and also eyesight complications (Dasgupta 2006). Another problem of e-learning is that people who have a short concentration span might not be able to concentrate when they are studying, either because of the environments in which they are studying or because they get easily distracted, for example in the case of nursing mothers and housewives. A classroom setting ensures that people have close and one on one contact with their trainers and this can increase their concentration, there are opportunities for teamwork and group work in classes and students can ask questions or discuss. There is also no follow up on students who drop out of e-learning either because they loose interest or because they lack t he time to continue studying or they do not have the competence in using information technology. It is easier for students to copy and cheat in assignments especially when there are no sit-in exams. Students can pay other people to do their assignments for them or submit copied work without being noticed by their supervisors. Another problem is assessing the standard, quality and effectiveness of e-learning based courses. Due to the large number and wide variety of courses offered in e-learning, it is difficult to ascertain the impact and quality of knowledge that many e-learning students acquire and whether they are able to keep and apply the acquired knowledge in their different fields and professions when they get through with their studies (Dasgupta 2006 ). E-learning is also not effective when learning sciences or performing scientific experiments. Although there might be well outlined and elaborated guidelines, there is still need for physical supervision to make sure that stu dents clearly understand and follow the instructions and to also make sure that the results are correct and consistent. This cannot be done through e-learning because the instructor needs to teach and observe every student individually. Most applied sciences which involve practical experiments can only be taught effectively in a classroom or laboratory setting. E-learning can also be challenging when learning languages with parts and sounds that require listening and practicing. Many people learn foreign languages in colleges and e-learning might not effectively deliver this knowledge. E-learning has its many advantages and disadvantages. It is important to note that with the rapid spread and advancement of information technology, it is the best way of acquiring education. It is also preferred when there is time constraint and its costs are much less than those of other traditional forms of teaching (Fuller 2009). Blending of e-learning and other traditional classroom and visual met hods ensures that students are able to receive better and quality education. Reference List Ebner, K., 2007, The Impact of Introducing E-learning Courses. Norderstedt: GRIN. Fuller, C., 2009. Advantages and Disadvantages to eLearning. Web. Available at  https://ezinearticles.com/?Advantages-and-Disadvantages-to-eLearningid=2729026 Dasgupta, S., 2006, Encyclopedia of virtual communities and technologies. London: Idea Group Ltd.

Different Versions of the Birth of Dionysus

Different Versions of the Birth of Dionysus In Greek mythology, there are often different and conflicting versions of mythological events. The story of the birth of Dionysus is no different, and Dionysus complicates matters by having different names. Here are two versions of the birth of Dionysus and one of the related birth of Zagreus: From a union between Persephone and Zeus in serpent form sprang the horned god Zagreus. Jealous Hera persuaded the Titans to attack the infant god as he looked into a mirror. Not only did they tear him to pieces, but the Titans ate him all but his heart which Athena rescued. From this organ, the rest of the god was resurrected. Semele is impregnated by drinking a preparation made from the heart of Dionysus who had been torn to pieces by the Titans. [Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 167]Most familiar is the story of Semeles impregnation by Zeus but failure to live long enough to give birth to the child. To save the fetus, Zeus sewed him inside himself and gave birth through his leg when the time came.(ll. 940-942) And Semele, daughter of Cadmus was joined with him in love and bare him a splendid son, joyous Dionysus, a mortal woman an immortal son. And now they both are gods. Hesiod, Theogony (trans. Evelyn-White) Homeric Hymn1 to Dionysus ((LACUNA))(ll. 1-9) For some say, at Dracanum; and some, on windy Icarus; and some, in Naxos, O Heaven-born, Insewn; and others by the deep-eddying river Alpheus that pregnant Semele bare you to Zeus the thunder-lover. And others yet, lord, say you were born in Thebes; but all these lie. The Father of men and gods gave you birth remote from men and secretly from white-armed Hera. There is a certain Nysa, a mountain most high and richly grown with woods, far off in Phoenice, near the streams of Aegyptus.((LACUNA))(ll. 10-12) ...and men will lay up for her many offerings in her shrines. And as these things are three, so shall mortals ever sacrifice perfect hecatombs to you at your feasts each three years.(ll. 13-16) The Son of Cronos spoke and nodded with his dark brows. And the divine locks of the king flowed forward from his immortal head, and he made great Olympus reel. So spake wise Zeus and ordained it with a nod.(ll. 17-21) Be favourable, O Insewn, Inspirer of frenzied women! we singers sing of you as we begin and as we end a strain, and none forgetting you may call holy song to mind. And so, farewell, Dionysus, Insewn, with your mother Semele whom men call Thyone.Source: The Homeric Hymns I. To Dionysus [3.4.3] But Zeus loved Semele and bedded with her unknown to Hera. Now Zeus had agreed to do for her whatever she asked, and deceived by Hera she asked that he would come to her as he came when he was wooing Hera. Unable to refuse, Zeus came to her bridal chamber in a chariot, with lightning and thunderings, and launched a thunderbolt. But Semele expired of fright, and Zeus, snatching the sixth-month abortive child from the fire, sewed it in his thigh. On the death of Semele, the other daughters of Cadmus spread a report that Semele had bedded with a mortal man, and had falsely accused Zeus and that therefore she had been blasted by thunder. But at the proper time, Zeus undid the stitches and gave birth to Dionysus, and entrusted him to Hermes. And he conveyed him to Ino and Athamas, and persuaded them to rear him as a girl.- Apollodorus 3.4.3

Bradford college recruitment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Bradford college recruitment - Essay Example EVALUATION OF MOTIVATIONAL THEORIES Maslow’s Hierarchy Theory The motivational theory of Maslow has been viewed to be developed by a psychologist named Abraham Maslow. This motivational theory further reveals that it is the prior requirement of an individual to fulfil his or her basic needs initially. The basic level of hierarchy needs incorporates various sorts of needs that have been portrayed hereunder (Corpuz 261-268). The theory can be better explained with the help of the following pictorial illustration. Source: (Corpuz 261-268). It is necessary for every individual to satisfy basic needs. The fulfilment of these basic needs act as a driving factor for motivating an individual. With reference to Maslow’s Hierarchy theory, all the levels have been briefly explained hereunder (Corpuz 261-268). Physiological Needs Physiological needs represent those needs that are required by every individual to sustain and survive. In this context, physiological needs embrace air, water, sleep and accommodation among others. These are considered to be the basic needs for an individual. It can be stated that without fulfilling these basic needs, an individual cannot take measures or implements procedures to satisfy other needs. In this similar context, it can be further affirmed that if any of the aforementioned needs is not fulfilled by an individual, then it becomes difficult for him to satisfy other needs and thus, the person tries to satisfy the missing need on a priority basis. This reflects the task identity on the basis of prior needs (Corpuz 261-268). Safety Needs In accordance with the fulfilment of basic needs, the next level of need emerges. Next level of need reflects safety needs. In this regard, there lies probable chance of arising crucial threats from safety needs in terms of physical as well as the emotional harm. Thus, an individual need certain measures to follow that helps in the fulfilment of safety needs at large. For example, safety agai nst the occurrence of accidents or injuries and the financial securities that is provided against the health schemes reflects the examples of safety needs (Rakowski 4-5). Social Needs With reference to the Maslow’s Hierarchy theory, after fulfilling the fundamental requirements that comprise physiological along with safety needs, an individual takes into account the higher level of need. It has been viewed that an individual dwells within a society. Social needs reflect the needs and wants linked with societal interactions. Every individual dwelling within a society needs someone to share thoughts and feelings (Rakowski 4-5). Self- Esteem The need that drives a person to get love and respect from others represents self-esteem. In this context, fulfilment of desire to become famous and attain important position reflects self-esteem needs. According to this statement, an individual reflects autonomy within his personal boundaries. Every individual desires for gaining self-respe ct, higher achievements with respect to assigned work, recognition as well as awards and certain amount of reputation within the society (Rakowski 4-5). Self- Actualisation Self- actualisation reflects the summation of fulfilling all the levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy needs. It represents the stage of an individual where he or she