Distinguish between potential and economic growth and discuss the main Essay

Distinguish between potential and economic growth and discuss the main factors determining each - Essay Example Also, is it important that this ability of supply is always realised? This paper will attempt to answer these questions. Take a look at an economy’s business cycle1 showing the potential and the actual growth. It can be seen that there are some discrepancies in the actual and the potential. The Long Run Aggregate Supply curve can be shown as a vertical line in the graph. This figure depicts a yearly increase in the potential output of an economy, which consequently pushes the LRAS to over to the right also. It must be noted also that the progressive increase in Real GDP results in equitable increases in the rightward shift of the LRAS. So what causes the shift in the LRAS? These are described below: The labour force can be described as all the people, 163 years of age and above, who are either employed somewhere, or are actively seeking employment (Labour force, 2005). Retirement age4 also affects the number of employable people in the market. The birth rates and the death rates in a country play a major role in determining the size of available workforce, and also for making predictions for the future. For example, India, the second most populated nation of the world, has a steadily increasing birth rate, which predicts that the nation has and will have a surplus of available labour. Contrarily, most nations in Western Europe, for example Switzerland, have a decreasing birth rate, displaying the nation is likely to face a labour shortage. To match these, immigration5 plays a very important role. The chart displays the dependence that developed economies have on the developing world, esp. Asia, to fulfil their labour gaps. The reasons for immigration might be religious or political, but most importantly they are economic (Fairchild p145), where a person believes that he will be able to have a better chance of matching economic returns to the effort and labour he puts into his work and thus lead a better live with a higher standard of living. This

When Blood Isnt Thicker Than Water English Literature Essay

When Blood Isnt Thicker Than Water English Literature Essay In Barn Burning William Faulkner examines a young boys struggle against his father, Abner, who has a behavior problem. Abner keeps his family together by forcing them to lie for him while in trial and deal with his anger. Through the use of historical context, symbol, and character, Faulkner is able to demonstrate a theme that family loyalty is a vital part of life, however, sometimes being loyal to yourself ends with having to break loyalty to the ones you love. To understand more about Faulkners theme, one must begin with the historical context in which this story is written. The story takes place about ten years after the Civil War. Abner is portrayed to be a veteran, which may influence his wrongful actions. Being in a war could have had some affect on Abners mentality, which causes him to be hostile. Once a person leaves for war he or she never returns the same. Constance L. Shehan puts it like this: The after effects exhibited by many of these veterans appear to constitute a syndrome identified as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is defined as a delayed but persistent malaise characterized by nightmares, loss of control over behaviorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (55). Abner could be experiencing a little bit of this syndrome, which is causing him to act in such ways. Also, this story is most likely set in the southern part of America where the farming and tobacco industries were booming. This is important when thinking about the title of the story because many people owned barns in order to dry their tobacco and store farming equipment and animals. This is relevant because barns were an obvious treasure to those who owned them. It was considered not only a way of living, but something that kept a family living. Farming was important to the wealthy and to the poor. It cost a lot of money to build a barn and was very important to the owner, and Abner knew this, so this is what he went after in order to hurt someone. Secondly, the time period displays social discrimination. When Abner reaches the home of a family he will be renting farmland from, the black man at the door states: Wipe yo foots, white man, fo you come in here. Major aint home nohow. Abner replies with, Get out of my way, nigger and wipes his muddy feet on a rug (Faulker 191). In the 1930s blacks were still in the minority. Perhaps walking into a home full of chandeliers put Abner back into his place, a place that is no better than the minority, and caus ed him to become even more out of control. Many of Abners actions act as symbols in the disclosing of Faulkners theme, beginning with the most occurring, fire. Abner builds fires at night while the family is in the process of moving. These fires are described as a small fire, neat, niggard almost, shrewd fire; such fires were his fathers habit and custom always, even in freezing weather (Faulkner 189). The fires Abner would build while the family was moving would be small, which was out of the ordinary for him. Not only the reader begins to wonder why he would do this, but also Colonel Sartoris. Faulkner states that if he were older the boy might have remarked this and wondered why not a big one (189). After seeing his father start so many fires, which resulted in big disasters, Colonel Sartoris cannot understand why his father would want to build such a small fire. Later, it is revealed that the element of fire spoke to some deep mainspring of his fathers being, as the element of steel or of powder spoke to other menà ¢Ã¢â€ š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (189). This suggests that fire is a symbol of Abners control. He is able to control the size, place, and how long the fire burns, whereas, he is not able to control his own anger. A second symbol in the story involves all of the broken items in their wagon. Faulkner writes, the battered stove, the broken beds and chairs, the clock inlaid with mother-of-pearl, which would not run (188). All of the broken items together symbolize the brokenness of the family. Everyone is the family is trying to stay loyal to Abners deceit and as a result they become unaware of the fact that they can be happy as a family. More specifically, the broken clock could symbolize Abners control over the every member of the familys life. Neither are they able to move forward with their lives, nor are they able to remember happiness from their life before. With Abners actions, the family must try and make it through each day without having to be sent out of town or possibly visiting their father/husband in jail. Instead, the family is stuck trying to make the best of their controlled lives. Another symbol in the story is blood. This, however, is not an ordinary literary symbol. Blood represents family, which is obvious to the reader, but has a more revealing meaning when the term is linked to the Snopes family. In the beginning of the story, the reader experiences Colonel Sartoris agony as he sits before a judge, hungry, with the smell of food in the air. Despite his hunger, the smell of meat and cheese is over powered by the smell of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦old fierce pull of blood (186). This symbolizes the bond between Colonel Sartoris and his father. It is obvious that the boy feels as though the bond and loyalty of family is important because even though he is hungry and the reader can assume he has not eaten in several days, the only thing on this young boys mind is keeping his father safe. While other children would be sitting at a dinner table with their family, Colonel Sartoris (and the rest of his family) is stuck in a courthouse having to lie to get Abner out of trou ble, because at this time, the familys first priority is loyalty to their father. One reason for Colonel Sartoris oath of loyalty to his father may be a reaction to his fathers threatening words. Abner tells him, You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you aint going to have any blood to stick to you (189). Abner is threatening Colonel Sartoris by telling him if he is not devoted to his own blood, he will either be left behind with no one at all, or be the cause of his father to be taken away or even his death. The third and most revealing of the literary elements is character. It can be argued that Abner is the protagonist and the antagonist in this situation is undoubtedly Abners son, Colonel Sartoris. However, as the story starts, this is not obvious to the reader, or to his Abner. Faulkner writes, He aims for me to lie, he thought, again with that frantic grief and despair. And I will have to do hit (187). Colonel Sartoris obviously knows lying is the wrong thing to do, but is pressured into it by his fathers comments and swats. When he seems as though he wants to tell the truth, his father will hit him. With Colonel Sartoris being loyal to his father, it is hard to tell that he is actually against what is happening. But when Colonel Sartoris matures, he realizes what his father is doing is wrong and knows he needs to help himself, along with the families his father is tormenting, and finally decides to display his emotions. When he does, the reader and Abner get a glimpse of Colonel Sa rtoris as the antagonist. Faulkner states, Hold him, the father said. The aunt made a startled movement. Not you, the father said. Lennie. Take hold of him. I want to see you do it. His mother took him by the wrist. Youll hold him better than that. If he gets loose dont you know what he is going to do? He will go up yonder. He jerked his head toward the road. Maybe Id better tie him (196). It is obvious that Abner has now realized that Colonel Sartoris has decided that his actions are unacceptable and is planning on revealing his actions to the judge, families he has betrayed, and families he will betray. Another arguable point when it comes to characterization is that the roles of Abner and his son, Colonel Sartoris, can be switched. In this case, Abner is the antagonist because he is keeping his family from living a normal life and, as mentioned before, from moving on with time. Abner moves his family from place to place, and does not carry with him a good reputation, which reflects on the whole family. Colonel Sartoris, as the protagonist, has a goal of living a better life and looking forward to a brighter future. His father, nonetheless, interrupts his thinking. Faulkner states, They walked beside a fence massed with honeysuckle and Cherokee roses and came to a fate swinging open between two brick pillars, and now, beyond a sweep of drive he saw the house for the first time and at that instant he forgot his father and the terror and despair both, and even when he remembered his father again (who had not stopped) the terror and despair did not return. Because, for all the twelve movings, they had sojourned until now in a poor country, a land of small farms and fields and houses, and he had never seen a house like this before (190). Colonel then begins thinking this family will be safe from his father (190). Colonel Sartoris could perhaps be wishing that he and his family was safe from his own father. At this point, the reader can conclude that Colonel Sartoris is a round character who evolves from feeling obligated to keep a promise to his father to caring more about himself and his future. In the end, Colonel Sartoris finally runs away and does not look back. In conclusion, Faulkner is able to express many different aspects of family throughout the story Barn Burning. He stresses the significance if sticking together through hard times and the importance of what it actually means to be a family. However, through the use of these three important literary elements, Faulkner is able to illustrate the line between loyalty to a wrongful family member and loyalty to oneself.

Decisions Small Business Will Face in 2005 Essay -- essays research pa

What are some of the important financial decisions that small business owner will face in 2005? There are numerous issues such raising capital, accounting and bookkeeping, cash flow management, poor inventory management, over investments in fixed assets, poor credit arrangements, unexpected growth, and other economic factors that will affect a small business’s finances. The U.S. Small Business Administration has seen lots of small businesses com and, unfortunately, go. According to the SBA, over 50% of small businesses fail in the first year and 95% fail within the first five years (â€Å"Why Small Businesses Fail†, 2005, p. 1). With this fact in mind, one should seriously consider gaining a thorough understanding of finances and the effects it will have on their businesses.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In dealing with raising capital, one should consider how important his/her credit profile is to the loan equation. A small business should always strive to stay in good standing with all creditors, not only to gain favorable credit, but sometimes to gain cost cutting deals from just being a good customer which ultimately affects profits/losses. Debt-to-Income ratio is another important factor in raising capital. If your business has a high debt ratio, then you become a high risk investment. The most important issue in raising capital is if your request for funds logical and thoroughly justified. Lenders are in the business to make a profit, theref...

Critical appreciation of the poem “Old Ladies’ Home” by Sylvia Plath with reference to the presentation of old age

George Orwell, one of English literature's most important and famous writers, draws the picture of a dystopia in one of his best known novels 1984. Being considered as a warning against totalitarianism, it is also possible to say that the novel puts forth a road map on how totalitarian regimes work and how certain ideologies are imposed on nations. Creating a world in which the worst possible totalitarian regime is present, Orwell also takes a very close look at the psychological states of people. The writer doesn't only deeply analyze what a totalitarian regime stands for but also introduces the themes of the importance of language, how certain ideologies can be imposed on people and how physical pain can control the human mind. Putting stress on the dreadfulness and the destructive nature of totalitarianism, and also by pointing out that nations can in fact be forced to admire and support such a regime, the writer makes his reader face the cruelest and most realistic aspects of such a horrific repressive regime. Before taking a closer look at the novel, it would be helpful to give background information about the era in which Orwell was influenced to create such a hellish world. 1984 was written in 1949, when Fascism was on the rise, right after the Second World War, when Hitler was defeated and Stalin had performed his cruelest acts. Having worked in Spain in 1936 during the Spanish civil war, Orwell witnessed the cruelty of fascist regimes and had already collected his dreadful memories which lead him to write his political novels. Regarding Orwell's intention in writing 1984, Jenni Calder in her book Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four states: To anyone who was in Britain in the years immediately after the Second World War, and particularly in London, the sights and smell that Orwell recreates will be familiar†¦ In 1984 he translates this situation in to the future by adding details that are unfamiliar (57). Thus, it becomes possible to say that as a result of the world's existing state at the time Orwell wrote 1984, he was deeply concerned about the future and that his pessimist attitude in his novel acted as a warning and as a criticism of totalitarian regimes. Adriaan M. De Lange, in his book The Influence of Political Bias in Selected Essays of George Orwell says, â€Å"The rise of Fascism, Nazism and Stalinist communism in Europe and the resultant tremors in Britain left an indelible mark on Orwell's thought and work (1). † At this point taking a closer look at Orwell's intentions in writing 1984 from the perspective of the Marxist Hungarian critic Georg Lukacs would be convenient. Due to his theory of â⠂¬Å"Reflection† Lukacs claims that literary works would reflect the hidden aspects of the social and political era in which they are written. Parallel to Lukacs' â€Å"Reflection† theory, Orwell reflects his concerns deriving from the political state in which he lives through fiction. Regarding 1984 Calder states, â€Å"Orwell is underlining a psychological as well as a political truth here, which is demonstrated in the kind of mass embracing of authorial influence that came with the rise of Nazism and Stalinism (63). † While the era in which 1984 was written marks itself with political depressions, it also hints that the world was within a phase when totalitarian and fascist regimes were condemned as a result of the devilish acts of Hitler and Stalin. While taking a closer look at the book and the themes it introduces to the reader, the theme of the importance of language gains significance. â€Å"Newspeak†, Oceania's official language, consists of limited words which are created by party members. The language totally deletes some words which are present in the English language such as â€Å"excellent† or â€Å"splendid† and replaces them with an extremely plain word such as â€Å"plusgood†. Changing the language and limiting it in number of words becomes a matter of importance since language is one of the most important tools of expression and thought for human beings. Deleting complex words and limiting language also limits the thoughts of people and enables the party to delete certain concepts from people's minds. As Syme explains Winston how important it is to change the language he says, â€Å"Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thought crime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it (60). † Analyzing Syme's comment on language, the reader comes to the realization that it is the language itself that makes people think. Hence it becomes understandable that being a totalitarian regime, the party doesn't want its people to think, since thinking may lead to original ideas and thus to through crime. By lowering the language to a very simple state, the party cleverly paralyzes the brains of its people and disables them from thinking. As Syme continues to explain the real aim of the party in creating Newspeak, he also mentions one important topic about language forming concepts. He says: How could you have a slogan like â€Å"Freedom is Slavery† when the concept of freedom has been abolished? The whole climate of thought will be different. In fact there will be no thought, as we understand it now. Orthodoxy means not thinking-not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness (61). In trying to understand Syme's remark on language, it might be useful to think of Ferdinand de Saussure's theory that discusses whether concepts or objects would really exist if they were not expressed in language. According to Saussure, what makes a concept present is the language itself. He claims that the world is a whole and that the language divides this whole in to separate pieces to make it become more understandable. Thus, a concept or an object which isn't expressed by language wouldn't exist. When â€Å"Newspeak† is concerned, one may claim the same thing. If the word â€Å"Freedom† doesn't exist in Oceania anymore, there wouldn't be such a concept. Thus, one of the most important problems that threaten the party would be removed. When these facts are concerned, simplifying language and removing words that are used to express threatening concepts, would perfectionalize the regime in terms of the obedience of people. Another remarkable aspect about language is that it is one of the most important things that make human beings privileged when compared to animals. As a result of the ability to think, human beings can speak. Thus, decreasing language to a minimum level in words and expression also means the dehumanization of human beings. Limiting people's one and very important ability to think and speak, the party tries to dehumanize human beings and make them become animal-like creatures. Hence, it would be far easier for the party to have full control over its citizens. While language plays a major role in shifting people's thoughts to fit in the Totalitarian regime, another striking aspect of the novel is the theme of how certain ideologies can be imposed on people. As a starting point, the party chooses to change and destruct the past. Replacing true history with a fictional one which glorifies Oceania makes the already powerful party become even more invincible. As it is stated in the novel: And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed-if all records told the same tale-then the lie passed into history and became truth. Who controls the past,' ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: Who controls the present controls the past. ‘ And yet the past, though of its nature alterable, never had been altered (40). The party creates a kind of reality by creating a past of its own. Since when there's no one who has any historical documents saying that the party's history is shifted from the truth, the party's recreated history w ill become the truth. Hoping that there should be more than this in life, Winston tries to find a proof that the past wasn't always like this and that the past was based on a much better world. Winston tries to link himself with the past. He writes a diary using a pen. The pen, being an object belonging to the past, symbolizes Winston's need for the past and trying to find a little something which would connect him the past that he doesn't know about. Thus, the manipulation of history, in this sense, is directly related to the manipulation of people living in Oceania. Thinking that the world has always been like this, people don't have any expectations from the future and they accept the current regime in all its ways, since they don't have alternatives. However, when Winston is concerned, he is one of the rare citizens who think that the past couldn't be like this and that there was a totally different world. Knowing that history has been changed, Winston wants to find out about the true history. Looking at the issue from Winston's psychological perspective, it might be possible to say that Winston, unhappy in the world he lives in, needs hope for the future. Not knowing what the past was like disables Winston to locate himself somewhere in the future. When the theme of history is regarded, the antique shop can be considered as a symbol of the past. Winston gets deeply interested in the shop starting from the first moment he sees it, as it functions as a page from the past, which isn't manipulated and changed by the party. The paperweight which Winston buys from the shop can also be considered as a symbol of the past. Being a long lost object which Winston doesn't know about, the paperweight functions as what is â€Å"different† and â€Å"unfamiliar† and it gives Winston little hope about a better future. â€Å"Doublethink†, which simply means â€Å"telling deliberate lies and believing in them†, also functions as another aspect about imposing ideologies. The slogans, for example, are products of the â€Å"Doublethink† principle. Orwell uses binary oppositions that say â€Å"War is Peace†, â€Å"Freedom is Slavery† and â€Å"Ignorance is Strength†. He then places them as the main mottos of the party. As doublethink plays a very important role in conditioning people, it also becomes one of the most important sources which provides the regime with permanence. â€Å"Doublethink† marks itself as one of the most important tools of the party, since it's the basic element that makes people favor war. The reason why the party wants people to be in favor of war is once more related to the power theme. Paras Mani Singh, Nardeep Singh Juneja mention in their book Orwell as a Political Novelist that: The only way that Oceania can exist as a state is for it to wage a constant war, the whole structure of society and state is geared to wartime economy and austerity. If there should be peace, the citizens of Oceania might reasonably expect better living conditions, better food and less control by the government (123). Thus, the motto â€Å"War is Peace† becomes very important for the party in order to keep the citizens of Oceania satisfied. Making them watch movies of war and manipulating people in such a way to make them laugh when they see a woman hugging a little child to protect it from bullets, shows how a totalitarian regime would succeed in making people become fond of violence and cruelty. The motto â€Å"Freedom is Slavery†, on the other hand, is related to the idea of being free both in physical and psychological terms. Since freedom of thought and expression are threats to any totalitarian regime, the party replaces the understanding of the concept of â€Å"Freedom† through â€Å"Doublethink† and it creates an irrational way of understanding for its people. Due to the fact that the people of Oceania are anything but free, for they are being watched constantly, it also becomes necessary for the party to make its citizens believe that freedom is a negative thing and that it is nothing but slavery. A this point it might be suitable to mention Foucault's idea of the prison model the Panopticon, that functions as a system that disables the prisoners to know when they are being watched, thus to make them act in proper manners 24/7. Paul Rabinow, in his article The Foucault Reader states: On the whole, therefore, one can speak of the formation of a disciplines society in this movement that stretches from the enclosed disciplines, a sort of social â€Å"quarantine,† to an indefinitely generalizable mechanism of â€Å"panopticism (206). Thus it would be possible to say that Big Brother, in the novel, functions as the Panopticon for the citizens of Ocenia, since people never know when they are being watched and due to their fear towards the existing totalitarian power, they act in proper manner when the sanctions of the regime are concerned. As the last motto â€Å"Ignorance is Strength† is concerned, the party makes its final stroke on the big picture by saying that none of these things should be thought through, since ignorance and accepting things just the way they are is a kind of strength. By doing so and by applying these mottos, the party blocks all the ways for its citizens to rebel against the system. The concept of â€Å"Thoughtcrime†, gets under the spotlight at this stage, since despite all the cautions taken against any threat or rebellions against the system, the party guarantees its permanence by also limiting the thoughts of its citizens. Having mentioned that the act of thinking itself is an undesirable act for the regime, the party strictly watches people in all their actions. The screens which are placed all over the city and even in the homes of citizens, completely removes the privacy of Oceania's people. Big Brother's picture staring at its citizens and controlling them in every action they take strengthens the idea of the totalitarian regime in the novel. Looking at Big Brother's picture symbolically, it may become possible to say that Orwell draws parallelism between the picture of Stalin and Big Brother. Drawing the picture of a totalitarian regime, Orwell points out the main principles of how such a regime would succeed. As Robert J. Savage, James Combs and Dan Nimmo quote Jane Kirkpatric's words in their book The Orwellian Moment: In a recent and well known essay, Jane Kirkpatric describes totalitarian societies as ones which drive to establish comprehensive political control over the lives of individuals, obliterating in both theory and practice the distinction between public and private, between objective and subjective, claiming for the state the whole life of people (47). Removing privacy is preventing people from thinking. People mostly think when they are alone and when they are in solitude. For this reason, the party completely removes the chance for its citizens to be alone, thus to think. Thinking is an important theme in the novel since it links the reader to the concept of forming an identity. People who think can have their own views about life and can be considered as individuals. Removing the concept of being an individual is one of the most important goals of the party, since individuality is a threat to any totalitarian regime. As Goldstein lectures Winston in room 101 about individuality he says, â€Å"Can you not understand, Winston, that the individual is only a cell? The weariness of the cell is vigor of the organism. Do you die when you cut your fingernails? (302)† Thus, it becomes plain to see that for the party, being an individual isn't a matter of importance, on the contrary it is something which isn't favored. Since the party only considers being a whole as something important, individuality is something which it wants to completely destroy. Taking a closer look at the novel, it can be said that Winston's ache in his ankle is also a symbol of his individuality. Before meeting Julia, Winston continually mentions an ache in his ankle and when he finally meets her, he mentions that the ache disappears. At the end of the novel when Winston is caught by the party and when he's being tortured in room 101, he receives blows on his ankle. Being an ordinary Oceania citizen, Winston first lacked his individuality. However starting from the moment he meets Julia and starts to have an affair with her, he regains his individuality, for he becomes able to experience something which is private and individual. Winston's love to Julia makes him become separate from the crowd and makes him become different from the rest of the people in Oceania, who have no intention to feel love at all and who only consider marriage as a duty which should be fulfilled for the sake of the party. Sexual life, amongst the people of Oceania is seen as a mission to reproduce and create other useful and loyal citizens for the system. However, the theme of love in Winston and Julia's case individualizes the couple not only in terms of the love they feel for one another, but also in terms of their meetings which they think are in private. Winston and Julia meet in secret places where they think they aren't watched and they get total privacy. Since lacking privacy also disables the people of Oceania from becoming individuals, they are also indirectly disabled from becoming human beings. Dehumanizing people by forbidding them to love and killing all their feelings towards compassion, mercy and affection, puts them in an animal-like state. This animal-like state, however, is totally perceived as normal and humane by the party and is presented as something which is favored. Citizens who don't posses this animal-like state are perceived as ill. At the end of the novel Winston is referred to as â€Å"cured† when he finally draws 2+2=5 on the table and perceives the principles which the party imposes on him with torture. Winston is considered as a person with an animal-like state since he felt love for another human being. The party treats Winston as if he is ill only because he questions the party's policies and only because he loves a woman. At the end, when Winston is freed from all the â€Å"inhumane† feelings such as doubt or love, he is again regarded as a healthy person by the party. When the theme of humanizing and dehumanizing is concerned, the Proles play an important role. The Proloes, symbolizing a rebellion against the party, are referred to as animal-like creatures; however Winston manages to make a distinction between his own people and the Proles by saying, â€Å"The proles are human beings. We are not (191). † Winston and Julia's love affair in this sense can be regarded as a rebel against the party and as a struggle to become humans and individuals. As Winston's thoughts about Julia are revealed, it's stated: In the old days, he thought, a man looked at a girl's body and saw that it was desirable, and that was the end of the story. But you could not have pure love or pure lust nowadays. No emotion was pure, because everything was mixed up with fear and hatred. Their embrace had been a battle, the climax a victory. It was a blow struck against the Party. It was a political act (145). As stated, the love affair of Winston and Julia is perceived by them as a rebellion against the party. Since the party is so much full of hatred, love becomes a rebellion against it. Being an important theme in the novel, Orwell also stresses that physical pain can control the human mind. Towards the middle of the novel when Julia and Winston are having one of their regular chats about the system as they say: I don't mean confessing. Confession is not betrayal what you say or do doesn't matter: only feelings matter. If they could make me stop loving you- that would be the real betrayal. She thought it over. They can't do that she said finally. It's the one thing they can't do. They can make you say anything- anything- but they can't make you believe it. They can't get inside you (192). Despite the firmness of Julia saying that nobody can make her feel something or can make her think something, at the end of the novel, the reader comes to the realization that through physical torture, one can be made feel and believe in anything. As Goldstein tells Winston what he thinks about confessions, he says, â€Å"All the confessions that are uttered here are true. We make them true (291). † The fact that the party does really make the confessions become true, is based on torturing people. Despite the human mind seems to be far away concealed in the skull, Orwell puts forth that physical pain in fact can rule the human mind. As stated in the novel: On the battlefield, in the torture chamber, on a sinking ship, the issues that you are fighting for are always forgotten. , because the body swells up until it fills the universe, and even when you are not paralyzed by fright or screaming with pain, life is a moment-to-moment struggle against hunger or cold or sleeplessness, against a sour stomach or an aching tooth (117). The basic human instinct of survival is actually based on physical aspects. Unless the physical wellbeing is fulfilled and satisfied, there's no rest for the human being. Relating this fact to the basic human instinct of survival, Orwell states that although it looks like the human mind is separate from the physical being, they are in fact directly related and that the physical suffering has the power to rule over the mind. As this is the case, the novel also clearly puts forth that at the end, Winston totally changes his thoughts about the system and even about Julia. In the end after being released from torture, Winston draws 2+2=5 on the table and believes in it. Again, at the very end of the novel Winston says that he has won the battle against himself and that he now finally loves Big Brother (342). Another fact about physical pain ruling the human mind is revealed in the case when Winston and Julia meet again after being released from torture and when they can't feel anything towards each other. As a result of torture and as a result of their survival being threatened for such a long time, both of these human beings have lost their feelings of love towards another human being. Orwell's message at this point might be based on the theme that after being threatened in existence and after being exposed to a tremendous amount of torture, human beings instinctually come to think of only themselves. As Winston and Julia confess to each other that they have betrayed one another in the novel, the heart breaking truth is being revealed that human beings, in depth, are based on the instinct of survival and that they are unconsciously selfish. The novel states: I betrayed you, she said baldly. I betrayed you, he said. She gave him a quick look of dislike. Sometimes, she said they threaten you with something- something you can't stand up to can't even think about. And then you say, don't do it to me, do it to someone else, do it to so-and so. And perhaps you might pretend, afterwards, that it was only a trick and that you just said it to make them stop and didn't really mean it. You think there's no other way of saving yourself, and you're quite ready to save yourself that way. You want it to happen to the other person. You don't give a damn what they suffer. All you care about is yourself (336). The sad fact that human beings do only think of themselves and that they are selfish in nature is once more revealed by this remark. However, it is also evident in the novel that human beings who are exposed to torture lose the ability to love and think of other people. Thus, it becomes a fact that physical pain is so strong that it has the ability to erase all sorts of feelings which are related to the wellbeing of other people. Due to their instinct of survival, human beings become ready to sacrifice even people they love, to save themselves. Looking at the party from a religious point of view is also a possible theme in the novel. Being free from all the beliefs which are related to God and his religions, people are still in need to believe in something. The party at this point functions as religion for the people of Oceania, since they are blocked in all the ways which lead to a power that is greater than the party. Thus, representing themselves and the divine power, the party introduces itself as God. The religious motives are present in the novel when Goldstein offers Winston and Julia some wine, and later places a white waffle both on Julia and Winston's tongues so that they don't smell of alcohol. The ceremony which is presented here is similar to the Catholic rituals that take place in church. Believers are offered some wine which symbolizes the blood of Christ and they are placed a piece of bread on their tongs to symbolize the body of Christ. Going through a similar ceremony with Goldstein, Orwell in fact makes a foreshadowing that even the opposition, which stands for Goldstein at the beginning of the novel, is in fact one of the closest persons to the party. Thus, there is no way out of the system. If this theme is compared to the theme of religion, the devil, who is the opposing party to God, is in fact an angel and that it is again strongly related to God. Drawing parallel lines between the party and religion, Orwell states that the Party is God like figure for the people of Oceania and that there's no escape from it. In conclusion, speaking in general terms, the novel functions as a warning against the totalitarian regime and reveals the fact that such repressive regimes, do in fact have the power to manipulate people and that they do have the power in making people believe things which appeared as totally bizarre at the beginning. Taking physical pain ruling over the human mind as a theme, Orwell states that human beings are selfish in nature, since they posses the basic instinct of survival. Putting also major emphasis on the concept of language and how it functions in people's lives, Orwell states that it is in fact the language itself that shapes the motives of people and that makes some concepts become reality. The lack of expression of some concepts in language would automatically destroy them and make them become nonexistent for human beings. Despite the novel as a whole appears as a pessimist approach to the future, taking it as a warning and looking at our present state in today's modern world, readers can still feel gratitude for the present capitalist system they live in now and they still can preserve their hope for a better future.

God’s Design: A Focus on Old Testament Theology

The book â€Å"God’s Design: A Focus on Old Testament Theology† by Elmer Martens discusses the essence of the Old Testament, in which the author offers his own categories from Scripture as text, knowledge of God, deliverance, community and, finally, abundant life. The first section God’s design is discussed in terms of pre-monarchial period stressing the importance and influence of Israel’s history on emergence and development of Christianity. Salvation and deliverance are presented through the Yahweh’s image – a divine warrior. The aspect of community appears as the author draws relations between the people of Israel and the God. Martens argues that the knowledge of God is knowledge of the world’s creation and world’s order which can be found in the prologue in Genesis. The second section discusses the monarchial era and the author applies God’s design template to present or even to prove the validity of his approach. Martens notes that both Hosea and Exodus passages are provided with the same design elements. For example, in monarchial period deliverance was viewed rather differently – actually, Israel established its own army. Instead, the divine warrior is presented in the expressions of the Day of Yahweh. The central point of the section is that people expected for Messiah. The last section is devoted to post-monarchial period. The author refers to tertiary text of Ezekiel. In particular, the author tends to strength the aspect of deliverance and he shows that Yahweh was handing over Israel and he was to be blamed for having got in the hands of enemies. The author views deliverance as the future promise. Only in this period the first community was established in the Israel history. Community is presented as future, whereas the knowledge of God was firstly identified in the post-monarchial period focusing more on prayer. Judgment and salvation are two events which Israel people experiences. In the conclusion the author shows God’s design in creation and shows relations between God’s design and the world’s nations. God’s design is highly appreciated both in the Old and the New Testaments. Book Review I think that the book is very informative and the other offers his original ideas and thoughts about the God’s design in the Old Testament basing in scared scriptures. The author has managed to take seriously scriptural text and to make readers acquainted with hidden facts and revelations. The author doesn’t apply external categories to God’s design. Neither has he supported interposition of categories developed by other scientists as they are not consistent with the book. Instead, Martens has utilized approach which is an excellent way to do biblical and theological researches. Therefore, the author asserts that there are unifying themes of the Scripture and it is necessary to base the whole research on them. Martens claims that there are â€Å"many different pictures† (p. 4) in the landscape of Scripture. The author views his task as â€Å"to paint the best possible picture†. (p. 4) I think that the author has done an excellent job when developing own categories and not forcing them to be applied to any sacred scripture. Instead, the author allows sacred scriptures to shape the necessary template. We can see this in the changing nature of deliverance through the pre-monarchial to post-monarchial era. In the pre-monarchial ear deliverance is accomplished by divine warrior, whereas in monarchial period deliverance changed as Israel had established own standing army. Thus, deliverance is presented through expectation to be sent by the God. Finally, in the post-monarchial period divine deliverance us seen to come from the Messiah defined as cataclysmic event. It is possible to say that the book is the exegetical perspective brought out but h author in the context of unifying themes of the Old Testament. Author’s template can be applied to certain aspects of the text and, in such a way, the author manages to inform his readers about the primary meaning of the passage. To prove exegetical perspective it is necessary to mention stipulations of Israel covenant. In particular, the author claims that Israel must not be loyal to the words which are not a coercive law which doesn’t threaten the blessing of the God. Stipulations are viewed as the necessary response to a personal God. Actually, it was Yahweh who had promised salvation and deliverance to the people of Israel. In other words, the found promises aren’t consistent with Israel’s failure to obey and to follow the ten words of stipulations. However, if this point is proved, it means that God’s design wouldn’t ever be fulfilled because the people of Israel are faithless. It is the God who has designed salvation and deliverance, and â€Å"God’s character and purposes generated the design that brought about faithfulness to the people with whom He was covenanted†. (p. 86) The book offers comprehensive studying and analysis of the Old Testament, but there are many moments where the author refers to the issue of hermeneutics. Some of the passages are vague and they are nothing more than overarching paradigms. The author assumes that the name of Yahweh should be differentiated from God’s name as the author speaks about the God of all people, but it is not correct. Instead, the Abrahamic Covenant shares the same goal interpreted by the Old Testament and the covenant template is found in the pre-monarchial period. Nevertheless, despite certain weaknesses and misinterpretations the book is very helpful in identifying modes of biblical theology.

The New York Stock Exchange Essays

The New York Stock Exchange Essays The New York Stock Exchange Paper The New York Stock Exchange Paper Our purpose is to supply you and your company with detailed information, so you can make an educated decision on the stock option you hope to purchase and profit from over the next few years. We have decided to analyze Cedar Fair, LP (NYSE: FUN) and one of its main competitors Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS). When researching, it is vital to use all your resources. We at Walnut Street Securities, Inc. have done extensive investigation so we can bring you the best stock options with the highest profitability and success rate. While looking at Cedar Fair, we will take into consideration that no company is perfect. There might be discrepancies, but we find that it is very important for us to bring you all the facts from every aspect of the company before making a decision on a purchase. Scope We have researched and reviewed the companies background information, financial reports, press releases, stock prices, dividends, competitors, additions and new attractions, and even lawsuits that could influence this company in the stock market. As we look at the background information we will see the progress Cedar Fair has made over the years and the current assets this company possess. We will also see in the financial portion of the report, the effects on revenue, net income, and sales over the last three years. In addition, while looking at the stock and dividend prices you will be able to compare Cedar Fair, LP and Walt Disney, Co. for the highest return rate. The recent press releases and current lawsuits will also give you an insight as to how these companies perform according to the news reports and public opinion. Methodology To research the data enclosed in the report we sent Walnut Street Securities, Inc. representatives to libraries to research financial and company databases and websites. As well, printed sources, such as newspapers and periodicals, were used in the research of this report. Some of the printed sources used were from Standard and Poors 2006 Edition, Americas Most Watched Companies and Mergents, Handbook of Common Stock. Some of the helpful databases and websites we researched were cedarfair. com, disney. com, bigcharts. com, valueline. com, and businesssourcepremier. com. Cedar Fair, LP specializes in entertainment and amusement. Rollercoaster, park rides, water parks, indoor water parks, shows, resorts, games, food, and souvenirs is what this company offers to the public. As the NYSE ticker symbol suggests (FUN) is what Cedar Fair is all about. Cedar Fair since commencing operations in 1983, has accumulated twelve properties, seven amusement parks, and five water parks. Cedar Point located on Lake Erie, between Cleveland and Toledo, OH, serves a total market area of about 26 million people. Knotts Berry Farms, Los Angeles, CA, serves more than 20 million people. Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom in Allentown, PA serves 35 million people. Geauga Lake and Wild Water Kingdom located near Cleveland, serves around 7 million people and Michigans Adventure in Muskegon, MI serves the area of about 5 million people. (Annual Report, 2) The five water parks are located near San Diego, Palm Springs, and also accompany Knotts Berry Farms, Worlds of Fun, and Cedar Point. Cedar Fair also owns and operates Castaway Bay indoor water park and resort in Sandusky, OH. (Annual Report, 2) In 1991, Cedar Fair consisted of only two parks with combined attendance of only 4. 1 million people a year and $128 million in revenues. Recently, attendance has reached over 12. 7 million people a year and maintains revenues of $520 million. This is about a 3% increase from the previous year. (www. valueline. com) Four years after commencing operations, in 1987, Cedar Fair, LP became publicly traded in the New York Stock Exchange.

Sociology of corrections essays

Sociology of corrections essays Typically, there are four justifications for punishment that are still used today in the United States: Retribution, deterrence, incapication, and rehabilitation. There are many ways of reaching these justifications besides prison today, which are made to help the current problems in the criminal justice system. There are many different views about the effectiveness of these justifications, and with all of the problems in the criminal justice system many questions are left unanswered today, such as...... How well do the realities of the correctional enterprise concur with these justifications of punishment Reality in this aspect generally means the rate of recidivism for a given offender. According to Marquart and Sorensen, "It may be possible to manipulate certain gross features of the existing, conceptional prison system- such as length of sentence and degree of security- in order to affect these recidivism rates. " (Correctional Contexts, Roxbury Publishing company, 1997, pg. 299 ) The recidivism rates for any given offender depend upon a lot of variables, one of which being, time of sentence. One harsh reality of the correctional enterprise is that the majority of the correctional institutions in the United States today are over crowded. A 1992 survey said that, "there are 3,500 county jails in the United States today, and there are 400,000 inmates inhabiting them." ( Class discussion, September 20 ) This makes time of sentence difficult to be fair about when there is no room to house an offender, even if he does deserve it. In light of what we know about corrections, how successful are we in achieving these goals? "Which should society use" retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, or rehabilitation? Justifications for specific sanctions overlap considerably. A term of imprisonment may be philosophically justified by its primary goal of retribution but also serve the secondary functions of deterren ...

How to become luckier

How to become luckier Have you ever wondered what it takes to be lucky? Sometimes it seems like certain people are just born to be lucky, and good things just happen to them, while others struggle to find good fortune and avoid bad luck from hanging over them like a rain cloud. But there are ways you can bring good fortune closer to you. If you’d like to become a little luckier in life, then keep reading.Don’t doubt the power of positivity.There’s a certain truth in the notion that positivity attracts more positivity in life, which can help position us for good fortune and luck. Keeping an optimistic outlook attracts positive people to us and makes others want to help us be more happy and successful.Have you ever tried smiling, even if there’s nothing in particular to smile about? According to a Psychology Today article, the physical act of smiling can create a slew of positive physiological changes in us, affect how we react to the world and how others respond to us, and can e ven lengthen our life spans! The same is true of maintaining positivity through our daily activities- at first it may seem like an effort, but once your positive outlook is met with a warm reception by the world, that positivity may just be a natural reaction to the good luck that’s finally found you.Put yourself in new situations.The best way to escape a rain cloud is to move from where you’re standing. If you want to change your luck, try changing your situation- inviting new activities, new social endeavors, and new people in our lives can open doors to a wide array of new opportunities, along with the potential for good fortune.If this sounds daunting, start small- try walking a different path than you usually do, making a deal with yourself to do one new activity this week, or initiating contact with one new person you encounter during your day. Before long, these new situations might just bloom into new chances for the clouds of good fortune to find you.  Learn from luck- good and bad.Trial and error can be a powerful learning tool, and life is full of lessons that we would all be well served to pay attention to. When good things happen to us and to others around us, we should take some time to reflect on each situation- was this truly random good luck or was there some conscious effort involved that made things turn out the way they did? Do the same thing for when bad luck seems to rear its ugly head- was it truly unavoidable or could we have done things to prevent it from happening? Take what you learn and use it to help guide you moving forward- hopefully, this increases your chances of encountering more good luck than bad in life.Most of us experience a wide range of events in life- some of which we’d classify as good luck and some of which we’d chalk up to bad luck. Use the strategies and advice outlined here to become a little luckier in your life.

Select two pieces of property in different areas of the city, identify Essay

Select two pieces of property in different areas of the city, identify their owner and assessed value, and discover from the records at least one interesting additional fact about each - Essay Example Therefore, the total market value for the property is 15,400 dollars. The interesting bit about this property is that assuming it is sold; the owner has 6 months to purchase the property back from the buyer for a price equal to the amount paid as an auction. 2110 E Susquehanna Ave in Philadelphia is a property that was sourced from the assessment roll on 29th June 2011. The owner of the property is Smith Nancy Theobald and Edward Theobald. Their contact is 2108 E Susquehanna Ave. The land acreage for the property is 0.018 with a property class of 911and a zoning of R10A. The property tax is 68.79 dollars, 2200 dollars as its land market value and no improvement market value. Therefore, the total market value for the property is 2,200 dollars. The most fascinating fact of the property is that it is a deeds ownership type of

Chinese history and culture analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Chinese history and culture analysis - Essay Example However, watching the movie, it is difficult to say if this fact destroyed him or helped him survive. The trouble is that in the conditions of so-called â€Å"cultural revolution† it was really impossible â€Å"to live†. It is essential to overview the historical facts in order to understand the plot of the movie. The Great Proletarian Cultural revolution in China represented a series of ideological and political campaigns of 1966—1976, which were organized and supervised by the chairman Mao Zedong. The main goal of Chairman Mao was to discredit and abolish political opposition and set up the regime of his own absolute power under the pretext of the possible â€Å"restoration of capitalism† in the Republic of China and â€Å"the struggle with internal and foreign revisionism†. According to the Chinese historians, the main reasons of â€Å"cultural revolution† were the following: 1) absolutization of the role of class struggle by Mao Zedong; 2 ) the cult of Mao Zedong’s personality that reached its peak in 1966—1976; 3) the struggle for the leadership in the party, active use of the mistaken views of Mao, the cult of his personality and his style by the heads of the Party in order to strengthen their power. â€Å"Cultural revolution† led to the wide-ranging repressions against intelligentsia, the destruction of Communist Party, social organizations, as well as to the great damage of culture and education, destruction of cultural monuments under the pretext of the struggle with the feudal principles and traditions, the changes in foreign policy, rapid expansion of the anti-Soviet ideology in the country. The system of state control was actually abolished. The law-enforcement and judicial system were inactive, thus hongweibing and zaofan, the groups or rather bands which were actually implementing the Cultural Revolution, were free to act in their own way. Certainly, this led to chaos. At the beginning hongweibing acted under the control of Mao and his people. There were many careerists among them and they managed to make a fast career. They were going ahead without remorse accusing their teachers in â€Å"counter-revolutionary revisionism† and their â€Å"comrade-in-arms† in the insufficient revolutionary character. Many of them grew up in unhappy families. Uneducated and cruel, they became the perfect tools in the hands of Mao. However, at the same time, among the strugglers there were many intellectuals. Later the Hongweibing were divided into two groups according to their origin. The first group included those who grew up in the families of intellectuals and the members of the Party and the second included the descendants of working class. There was an uncompromising struggle between the two groups. They followed the same rules, but interpreted them differently. After the confrontation of the two bands a murderer could say that it was â€Å"mutual assistanceâ₠¬ , a thief, who stolen bricks from the plant justified himself stating that â€Å"revolutionary class should reach its goals†. Mao’s control over the executors of Cultural Revolution was becoming weaker, but the main directions of the chaos development remained under his control. Mao had to interfere in the struggle when hongweibing became too cruel. Even in the small villages there was a war between â€Å"the North and the South of the village†

Semiotic examination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Semiotic examination - Essay Example The TV show is a host talk show where there are some audiences. Those involved in the talk show are three significant individuals; they include the talk show host, the invited guest, and another person participating through a video link on the show. The show is taking place in an auditorium where the host and the guest are on the stage the audience is upfront, and the host is taking the guest to task through questions (Dreyfus, 2011). The effect of the video can be drawn from the reaction of the audience present. Applauds are heard as the guests authoritatively responds to these questions. The significant components of the video clip include some introductory graphics introducing the title show. The appealing colors used catch the attention of the viewer at the initial start. As the clip progresses the trademark logo of the show is evident background instrumentals soundtrack is being played this goes inline of demonstrating the whole thing as captivating, which creates a perception o n the viewer that what waits is exciting. Through the use of fading effects, the talk show is ushered where the hosts instantly is captured on the introductory remarks. First introducing the person participating through a video link seen on a screen on the backdrop of the page, Which is made up of various screens and graphics which are symbolic appearance; the video shows an up-close view of the host and guests; the guests irregularly engage the audience who respond with applauds, the video is motivational from the context of what is being discussed, and it is likely to have an inspirational effect on the viewers. The video clip is made of a high resolution which may be highly appealing to the viewer, in addition to the bright silver, colors. That suits the entire event and also an active audience. The stated components have various effects on to the viewer this include their reactions perceptions and conclusions. The introductory graphics and soundtrack and the graphics try to move the viewers’ attention to continue watching the rest of the clip. Research has proved, that 80% of those who watched any visual contents decide to do it depending on the impression made in the first few seconds of the video clip. The soundtrack creates an ambience that is inspiring, and in line with the content of the video. The backdrop consists of several screens and colorful graphics with colors which offer a high appeal not only to the viewer but also the participating audience. The most important part is the fact that the viewers can identify with the topic of discussion due to its motivational nature this creates a feeling of relativity, which encompasses the viewer to the line of thinking making the video more and more appealing to him. The video conferencing link on the start of the video makes the whole context real coupled up with the occasional laughter from the participants and the guests present. The setting of the participants is unique to other talk shows, and this gives an edge to the clip. The setting in which the video is done also adds to its appeal the body language and posture assumed when paying attention to the video link participant shows the different angles it portrays, it makes the video to be exhaustive in regards to all the participants involved. The presence of a life audience in the video adds to the personal touch and relates to how they express their emotions and convey their feelings to the subject

Comparison between Illiad and Gilgamesh male friendships Essay

Comparison between Illiad and Gilgamesh male friendships - Essay Example Both stories indicate how the relationship of friends creates the story or the plotline. Although both stories do not revolve around the theme of friendship, they use friendship as an instigator or an opening for other themes to evolve into. It is not mere friendship that is presented in both epics; rather it is a deep bond of two male individuals. Since epics are stories that revolve more on war, fighting and situations of victory and defeat, the main characters are usually male. From this, we can deduce that there will be a topic of friendship somewhere within the story as war and fighting usually create a strong bond between comrades. Because they treat each other as one unit, these soldiers or warriors feel a strong connection between each other, creating a stronger bond of friendship. This is the primary reason the theme of male friendship is very prominent in epics or classical stories, since these stories are focused on wars, victories and travelling or exploration. Why is mal e friendship a big deal in these epics? Because the friendship, rather its end, became the catalyst for the many changes in the decisions and perspective of the main character. The main characters’ friends seem to be like the glue to their old persona and when the friendship ends, the main characters’ became lost and tried to regain their old self back through revenge, for Achilles, and exploration, for Gilgamesh. Both of the friendships have an impact on the main characters’ personal development and it created within them the need to become round characters rather than flat characters. In Iliad, Achilles and Patroclus’ friendship was clearly seen on how Achilles trusted Patroclus to carry out his armor in times when the Achaeans seem to be losing hope. Achilles allowing Patroclus to wear his armor shows how much he trusted his companion in pretending to be him to give hope to the losing warriors. It also shows how Patroclus trusted and adored Achilles wh en he accepted this task even if he knows that this may cause his death. On the other hand, Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s friendship started out after they battled each other. It seems that Gilgamesh developed a friendship with Enkidu because he was the only person who was able to stand up to him. Enkidu was the personification of his weakness, thus, to become his strength, he befriended the man. Their friendship was not based on adoration, unlike Achilles and Patroclus. Their friendship was based on their strength and their love for adventure. They admired and respected each other, and this was definitely seen on how Gilgamesh reacted when Enkidu stood before him to fight him in his evil ways. Achilles and Patroclus’ friendship was based more on a mentor student relationship, wherein Achilles was the teacher of Patroclus. This was clearly seen when Patroclus readily accepted the task of wearing Achilles armor and pretend to be Achilles despite knowing that it is a deadly fea t to be Achilles. The poets who wrote Iliad and Gilgamesh used the death of these friendships in order to develop the characters of Gilgamesh and Achilles. In Iliad, the death of Patroclus pushed Achilles to make peace with Agamemnon to fight the Trojans, specifically Hector, in order to avenge Patroclus’ death. In Gilgamesh, the death of Enkidu made Gilgamesh search for the means on how to escape death. This allowed him to come into terms with

Monetary Policy Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Monetary Policy - Article Example result of the country’s monetary policy which has reduced interest rates too record low levels with the aim of stimulating the economy by encouraging borrowing. the article also does observe that low interest rates can be beneficial to companies in the sense that they can borrow money cheaply. The article revisits the issue of pension plans which were used to compensate workers instead of using pay increments. While these plans were quite helpful, they currently seem unsustainable as companies that contribute to pensions struggle with costs. The authors crunch some numbers, noting that pension plan funding experienced a fall of $79 billion in 2012. Using examples of big companies, the authors are able to show the effect of falling interest rates on pension plans. For example, Monga and Ramsey (1) observe that falling interest rates in Europe and the United states have seen the company reduce its discount rate from 4.6 percent to 3.84 percent. Some of the companies mentioned in the article that are pouring cash into their pensions include General Motors, Boeing, Verizon Communications and AT&T. therefore, while low interest rates might encourage borrowing, they affect other economic aspects

The Concept of Ethical Obligations Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Concept of Ethical Obligations - Case Study Example Bush. He is considered to have an exemplary public administration and leadership skills that had been both his strengths and his weaknesses (White, 2008, p. 420). Tenet’s career can be considered unprecedented due to his achievements but there are challenges and dilemmas he had to face when he became the director of Central Intelligence (DCI). There are factors then considered to be the main reasons why in the end his efforts failed. These factors also caused ethical dilemmas on his part. The first dilemma is setting his leadership priorities and holding a highly multitasking position as DCI. Due to the fact that a DCI holds numerous roles, he had to answer to different groups and stake holders. The DCI’s role includes manager of CIA, president’s principal intelligence advisor, and the head of the entire intelligence community of 15 agencies. Tenet’s job is highly complex that even an expert would find it very challenging (White, 2008, p. 421). In his case though, the role is difficult because he is considered as an outsider in the institution. Tenet’s leadership can be considered handicapped due to his lack of experience in different expertise required in the role because â€Å"he had never run for political office, managed a large organization, worked as an intelligence officer, shaped American foreign policy, earned academic credentials by authoring a scholarly publication, or served in the military† (quoted White, 2008, p. 421). His perspective is different from the perspectives of the DIC before him which resulted to a more diplomatic type of leadership. The second dilemma he had to face is related to the prioritization of his ethical concerns. Due to the numerous agencies and institutions with different missions, visions and priorities he has to answer to such as the decision making process in White House, CIA’s intelligence priorities and his own conscience. At different points in

Monetary Policy Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Monetary Policy - Article Example result of the country’s monetary policy which has reduced interest rates too record low levels with the aim of stimulating the economy by encouraging borrowing. the article also does observe that low interest rates can be beneficial to companies in the sense that they can borrow money cheaply. The article revisits the issue of pension plans which were used to compensate workers instead of using pay increments. While these plans were quite helpful, they currently seem unsustainable as companies that contribute to pensions struggle with costs. The authors crunch some numbers, noting that pension plan funding experienced a fall of $79 billion in 2012. Using examples of big companies, the authors are able to show the effect of falling interest rates on pension plans. For example, Monga and Ramsey (1) observe that falling interest rates in Europe and the United states have seen the company reduce its discount rate from 4.6 percent to 3.84 percent. Some of the companies mentioned in the article that are pouring cash into their pensions include General Motors, Boeing, Verizon Communications and AT&T. therefore, while low interest rates might encourage borrowing, they affect other economic aspects

Is brain dead really dead Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Is brain dead really dead - Essay Example The brain involves a mutual interaction with all the other parts, but the coordination and functioning specific body organ is integrative and independent unit. Therefore, a tenable rationale that equates brain death to a complete halt in the functioning of the whole body is physiologically and ethically mal-practiced in many brain examination, diagnosis, and treatment fields of medicine (David, 2009). (Key words: brain death, medical ethics, integrated organs, rationale, death). Introduction Brain death is a condition in which the role and functioning of the brain halts, and it is in a state of complete destruction. Therefore, the functioning of other organs directly or indirectly related to the brain enters into a state of limited performance or inevitable and imminent cessation. Brain death may result to total malfunctioning of the respiratory system, cardiac performance among other functions of the organs in the body. As a result, the direct control of these organs by the brain le d medical physicians to argue that failure of the brain results to failure of all other parts of the body. This persuasive argument concluded that when a human brain dies, then the rest of the organs come to a complete death too. Irreversible cessation of the brain results to pronouncement of death for all functions of the brain, and thus, the victim is said to be dead (David, 2009). This has brought controversial arguments among medical practitioners based on whether pronouncement of death is really, because of the brain malfunctioning. Other medical practitioners argue that statutory recognition of death in the basis of brain death is ethically undesirable especially in the field of medicine. Technical Aspects Ethical consideration of death on neurologic criteria lays a certainty on death of a person who meets clinical diagnosis test that shows total destruction of the brain, really, resulted to his or her death. The examination of a human body that shows un-receptiveness, missing spontaneous movements and unresponsiveness as well as poor and disorderly breathing functions with reflexes and dilated pupils are not evidence that a person died from brain cessation. Autopsy reports have showed that widespread destruction of the brain results to anticipated failure and destruction of other organs, including heartbeats and cardiac disorders, as well as, cellular destruction detected during morphology tests do not conclude that a brain failure resulted to the death of a human being. Intracranial blood flow is another technical aspect by which medical practitioners base their evidence (David, 2009). This isotopic technique shows how subsequent flow of blood in a necrosis and liquefaction manner in the brain leads to total failure of the brain. The technique shows how the brain is affected, but organs that fully depend on the control by the brain remain unaffected. Spinal reflexes and cerebral unresponsiveness in apneic patients showed that when appropriate diagnosti c procedures were met, as well as proper therapeutic techniques used to exclude the reversible condition, would have affected the brain to total destruction. The Collaborative technique shows that chances of the brain to affect spinal related organs had little or no effect at all (David, 2009). The various organ disorders found in the apneic patients did not necessarily result from the etiological factor

Principles of the Photoacoustic Effect

Principles of the Photoacoustic Effect photothermal and photoacoustic Photothermam science encompasses a wide range of techniques and phenomena based upon the conversion of absorbed optical energy into heat. Optical energy is absorbed and eventually converted into thermal energy by an enormous number of material –solids, liquids, and gases. In fact, the optical energy is absorbed, the excited states in atoms or molecules lose their excition energy by a series of non- radiative transitions that result in a general heating in the material. The underlying principles of the photoacoustic effect have been studied for more then a century. it was named photocoustic because the photothermal heating effect was detected by an indirect acoustic method in 1880. Alexander Grshsm Bell (cited in Favier J.P.1997) had discovered the early concept of the photoacoustic effect when he tried to explain the operation of his photophone. He had done a lot of experiments on photoacoustic effect with solids, gases and liquids, where modulated light was used to illuminate the sample. through the experiments, Bell discovered that when a periodically interrupted beam of sunlight shines on a solid in an enclosed cell, an audible sound could be heard by means of hearing tube attached to the cell. the photoacoustic effect discovered by Bell was regarded as a part of the family of photothermal phenomena encompassing many effect produced by the heat generated in a sample due to the absorption of electromagnetic energy. In 1881,both Tyndah and Withem Roentgen (cited in Favier J.P. 1997) confirmed Bells experiment on gases. they found that an acoustic signal could also be produced when a gas in an enclosed cell is illuminated with modulation light. But due to the limitation of hearing tubes as detectors in the early experiment, progress in the field of photoacoustic died down. therefore, the photoacoustic technique had lay dormant for almost 50 years, until the advent of a microphone 50 years later the photoacoustic effect with gases was reexamined. then it had become a well-established technique for gas analysis. photons in the photoacoustic cell absorbed by the gas was converted into kinetic energy of the gas molecules, thus it gives rise to pressure fluctuations within the cell. All the discoveries in the photoacoustic effect originate from 1938 was entirely limited to gases only. the phoyoacoustic effect on solid matter did not occur until the early of 1970. it is almost 90 years after Bells discovery, since 1973, photoacoustic effect has strongly reemerged on the solid sample. ti has revived with the development of a very useful technique spectroscopic investigation of solid material. The photoacoustic effect in condensed matter may be detected by microphone absorption of modulated light by a solid sample produce a modulated heating of the sample surface. This heating cause pressure waves to be created in a gas in contact with the sample, producing an acoustic signal in the gas, which may be detected by a microphone. the sample, coupling gas, and the microphone are enclosed in a gas light photoacoustic cell. the cell acoustically isolates the microphone from external noise and contains a window enabling the modulated light to illuminate the sample (Almond and Patel 1996) Bells first experiment on a condensed matter sample, revealed the fact that the loudest signal were produced by sample with the darkest colours. a few other experiments were performed in the years following, however condensed matter photoacoustic died out until the 1970 Parker (1073) carried out the experiment about to measure the phootoacoustic effect in solid when he tried to carry out the experiment on the photoacoustic effect in gases. in his experiment, he worked on gas phase photoacoustic, attributed an anomalously large PA signal to absorption of light by the windows of his cell. Three years later, Rosencwing and Gersho (1976) derived the one-dimensional theory for a photoacoustic effect from asolid material, which has become known as the R-G theory and which has basis for the most other theories on microphone photoacoustic detection from a solid sample. in his hypothesis, the primary source of the photoacoustic signal result from a periodic heat flow from the solid to the surrounding gas. these can be explained when the beam of light falls onto sample, the heat produced by the light absorbed in the sample will diffuse from the sample to the gas through the sample –gas interface. by modulating the light beam, we are actually causes the expansions of the gas layer which near to the sample and this will finally create a sound wave. The R-G theory has been shown to be agood model by subsequent experiment work. Therefore, it led to direct expansions in photoacoustic research in 1970. The publication of the R-G theory, stimulated work in photoacoutic and number of papers have been written on the subject, describing various light sources, sample, cells, modulation technique and frequencies, detection methods and signal processing apparatus. This theory will be discussed in detail in the next chapter The photothermal and photoacoustic research was investigated since 1970 due to three major factors. i) Devlopment of intense light sources, such as laser and high pressure  arc lamps,such as xenon arc lamps. ii) Development of sensitive detection equipment, such as condenser and electret microphones and piezoelectric detectors iii) Development of more sensitive signal processing equipment such as filters and sensitive lock -in amplifiers. The improvement in the above three areas enabled the photoacoustic effect to be studied and hence higher sensitivity photoacoustic spectroscopy could be performed. Schemes of Photoacoustic Detection. All photothermal system employ a modulated source of electromagnetic radiation usually a light source, to generate modulated heating in a sample medium. the system rely on the absorption by the medium of electromagnetic energy and its subsequent conversion into thermal energy. this heating result in a number of physical changes in  and around the sample, figure 1.1 is schematic illustration of the phenomena resulting from the exposure of sample surface to a localized periodically modulated light source. in addition to a change in the temperature of the sample, it is also produced infrared, acoustic waves, surface expansion, thermoelastic waves, surface reflectivity modulation and refractive index gradient in the medium in contact with the heated surface. all of these effects could be used to probe the photothermal response of an enormous number of materials –solids, liquids, and gases. the thermal wave detection method were classified in to acoustic and thermal detection techniques. acoustic detection technique employ either a gas condenser microphone for the detection of pressure variation in air or a piezoelectric transducer for the detection of thermoelastic waves in solid media. thermal detection method includes the use of thermocoupe or pyroelectric transducers (photopyroelectric detection, PPE)to detect waves directly. (Murphy et al. 1992) Incident Refractive index gradient Infrared emission Surface Reflectivity modulation Acoustic waves Surface expansion thermal thermoelastic waves waves sample figure 1.1 photothremal effect caused by illumination of a surface by a modulated beam of light (Almond and Patel 1997) 1.3 Objective of the present study. CHAPTER 2 THEORY 2.1 Introduction. In this chapter, will discuss the theory of photoacoustic effect in the condensed matter.the formulation of Rosencwaing -Gersho (R-G)theory from the acoustic detection technique employ a gas condenser microphone for the detection of pressure variation in air are described. According to R-G model,when heat is created by means of non radiative transition with a boundary layer of the gas in the cell. Since the light is chopped, the photoacoustic signal is generated due to an acoustic pressure disturbance at the sample -gas interface transferred from the gas medium to the microphone. 2.2 Rosencwaing -Gersho Theory The Rosencwaing -Gersho theory, known as R-G theory, is an one -dimensional analysis of the production of a photoacoustic (PA) signal in a simple cylindrical cell resulting from the absorbed light energy. The model is schematically shown in figure 2.1 from the figure, the photoacoustic cell has a diameter D and length L . It is assumed that the length L is small compare to the wavelength of the acoustic waves and the microphone detecte the average pressure produced in the cell. In the present case, they also assumed that the light is not absorbed by the gas and backing material. The sample has thickness and diameter D. The sample is mounted so that its front surface is expose to the gas (air)within the cell and back surface is against a backing material of thickness . the length. . Of the gas volume is given by. = When a sinusoidally chopped monochromatic high passing through are window of the cell and incident upon the solid sample, the intensity I at the depth x is given by

Importance Of Priority In Todays Society :: essays research papers

Importance of Priority in Today's Society In today's society it is of the ultimate importance to keep self- discipline as a major priority. Right now we may not realize it, but we are not living in a perfect society on this planet. But perfect is not the answer for our world, as it seems implausible. Rather, we are trying to work out into the opposite direction and not suffer chaos. Think of what would happen, if we all took the responsibility to keep our self disciplined and utterly focused in trying to do the best we could. Our world would not suffer the many consequences we suffer now. For example, if we decided to peaceful with other nations, and kept respect and peace with everyone. The prevention of mayhem, chaos and anarchy will not just come one day like an invisible shield trying to prevent this situation from happening. What needs to happen is, every person on this earth out of the many billions that there are, needs to take responsibility of his/her actions. Chaos, mayhem, disturbance, turmoil, pandemonium, uproar. Is this what we want in our world today? Although people are afraid to say it, it is obvious that if we all do not think before we do things, these events that I described could occur in the near future. Many people are in belief that chaos, mayhem, and even anarchy will not occur in their lifetimes. And most possibly what they think is true, but they don't show helpfulness towards they younger generations. By making a large pothole, it may be very difficult to fill it. By ruining the world today, it seems as if we are striving to mayhem. In our society we are not working to help other people and just help ourselves. If we all worked together, and not thought so much about ourselves we would therefore show that we can work as a large family or community, thus helping us realize what drastic situation we are in. Michael Jackson states in one of his songs " Heel the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race." The only way we could actually fulfill this statement is to be self-disciplined in what we do. Prevention of all three aspects, mayhem, chaos and anarchy, is a must and a necessity in our developing world. Also self responsibility ties into this matter. By being aware of your actions and not doing anything that could effect yourself or anyone else, we are one step closer to a better world, not only for us but the for other generations

Going Back to Archaic Greece :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Going Back to Archaic Greece   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Amasis Painter seemed to lure me into his world while reading these works compiled by these very prolific writers. Or maybe it was the writers that brought me back to experience what they felt while studying these paintings and giving up their thoughts to question as they questioned others. In either case it has sparked my interest in this painter, and potter if you will. He combines a perfectionistic attitude with an imaginative flare that is subtle and refined, giving him that contrasting edge that one looks for in an artist. I would first like to start with a look at these artists status in the Athenian Greek world. How did they become artists and how did they live as artists? One might suspect that you need just to turn to the old adage of the â€Å"starving artist†, to get a good idea of what it was like, but I hardly think they were starving or even poor for that matter. Of course I wouldn’t suspect that they were very well off at what they were doing, but they probably didn’t do to bad. In fact I look at Pedley and what he says that, â€Å"vase painting †¦ is the product of private enterprise†(Pedly p 77). This gives me speculation that the vase painters in Archaic Greece might have been sufficiently paid for their services. I get a sense of secure ness of who he is and what he’s doing with his paintings and his pots for that matter. If he does do both it would cut out another hand in the trading deal that would no doubt increase the size of his share. Also by doing this he has total control over the whole making of the vase itself, which shows in the way he presents the figures spatially and sometimes even simply in his works Something that adds to that of course is competition between artists, especially between Exekias and Amasis. These two were the closest in style, and were probably the most sought after painters of their time. A specific vase by Exekias has Memnon with two African attendants naming one of them Amasis. One can conjecture that there stands a good chance that he may be speaking of his colleague. Whether this is derogative towards Amasis in some way, maybe through his heritage, who knows, it shows competition either way.

Evalue The Benefits Of Pursing A Specic Essay

Abstract A hobby is more than just something that you do in your leisure time. It is something that you make time to do and look forward to doing. Insurmountable pleasure and relaxation can be obtained from doing something that you consider fun to do. It can be described as creative, fascinating, practical, inexpensive, enjoyable, different or unusual. Evaluate the benefits of pursuing a specific hobby Hobby is described as a regular activity that is done for pleasure. Common misconceptions about hobbies are that some think that hobbies or recreations are just for people who live a relaxed life or people who have been retired and have time on their hands, while others believe that hobbies are just a waste of time. On the other hand, people with full, busy, even stressful lives can benefit from hobbies just as much if not more than the average person. I would like to explorer specifically the benefits of pursuing a hobby like hiking. Hiking outdoors has plenty of perks: nice views, fresh air, and sounds of different things and smells of nature. It exercise your mind, body, and soul and is a simple way to challenge yourself. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes. In fact, turning this into a healthy habit can lead to a healthy lifestyle. It’s a great way to start an exercise program that is beneficial to the proper upkeep of the body. Hiking is a powerful cardio workout tool. Studies have shown that obesity is associated with a modest increase in risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. For people who find it uncomfortable to run or job, walking is a great form of cardio that burns about 240 calories an hour! There are a wide variety of hiking trails. Many people in my community take up walking early in the morning and sometimes late evenings. I would like to briefly  discuss the benefits of pursing hiking as a hobby. There are many definitions for the word hiking. Hiking in Canada and the USA is the preferred term for a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails, in the countryside, while the word â€Å"walking† is used for shorter, particularly urban walks. Another source gave the meaning to hiking as â€Å"In its most basic definition, Hiking is simply Walking for recreational purposes. A good summary is: â€Å"In Hiking, the Journey is more important that the Destination. The Encyclopedia Britannica from Encyclopedia Britannica Premium Service: Walking as a recreational activity and sport. Among those with sedentary occupations, hiking is a natural exerci se that promotes physical fitness, is economical and convenient, and requires no special equipment. Because the hiker can walk as far as he wants, there is not physical strain unless he walks among hills or mountains. I am sure we could find many definition for the word hiking, but despite the many variations derives from this word â€Å"hiking† they all have to do with some form of walking. Hiking is one of the most sought out hobbies in what world today and is used in academic and professional sports organizations around the world. Our US military and police forces use this hobby as a part of their routine training for fitness and training purposes. I remember my first experience hiking to the top of the tallest mountain in Jamaica West Indies. I was only 16 years of age, just a boy trying out this new adventure called hiking. My self and 14 other boys hike to the mountain top of the tallest mountain in St. Andrew, Jamaica known as the Blue Mountain Peak. Its elevation is 7,402 (2,256 m) It was breath taking to see this creation, to see different mountains overlapping each other, to hear and see different types of birds that are not usually seen in the city, to see the different plants and trees, hills and valleys in this cold elevated piece of Jamaica. This was an adventure of a life time I cannot forget. It would have been an experience that would have shaped my life forever and have taught me courage, bravery, it has also fostered closer and stronger relationship the scout brothers. In my research I have discovered that hiking is not just a hobby or a form of recreational interest or just another activity, but it also can lower your risk of colon and breast cancer, and possibly lung and endometrial cancer. Just 30 minutes of aerobic activity 3-5 times a week can lower your risk pf breast cancer by 30- 50 percent. In addition to this, it is good to know that you can turn hiking into a healthy habit! Hiking releases adrenaline and endorphins, which can decrease tension, anxiety, and blood pressure levels. This can reduce risk of depression and will leave you feeling better physically and mentally, which will encourage you to continue your new healthy habits. Studies have shown that exercising during and after treatment with people with cancer can benefits these patients in several ways, ranging from improved fitness and higher quality of life to reduced rates of recurrence and a longer life. Cancer patients who exercise may experience less nausea and less fatigue. It’s never too late to use exercise to fight cancer. If you’re coping with cancer or its aftermath, now is the time! Hiking offers additional health benefits such as: lowering your risk of heart disease, improve your blood pressure and blood sugar levels, boosts bone density, since walking is a weight-bearing exercise, build strength in your gluteus, quadriceps, hamstrings, and muscles in your hips and lower legs, it helps to control your weight, strengthen your core and boost your mood. Research have shown that hiking has a positive impact on combating the symptoms of stress and anxiety. In conclusion, based on the benefits highlighted above, hobbies is shown to have a rewarding outcome. When people think about Hiking, they mostly think of nature, the great outdoors, a backpack and a tent. For most people, Hiking is an escape back to nature and a great way to get a good workout while forgetting all about the day to day hassles of city life. Why should you do hiking? Hiking is a great body exercise which will realty improve your overall physical condition. The natural waling motion provides you with a relatively low impact but effective workout. In its easiest form, Hiking is a very safe walk using clearly defined trails. Many people take a walk to clear their heads or to think about issues. Hiking could be a way of relaxing or something that can test your own capabilities and foster relationships with people who share the same types of recreational interest. REFERENCE Lee, Jamaica Travel and Culture .com (2009). Blue Mountain Peak – The Blue Mountains. Retrieved from http://www.jamaicatravelandculture.com/destinations/the_blue- mountains//blue-mountain-peak.htm The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica (2014, September 25). What is hiking? Retrieved from http://www.abc-of-hiking.com/info/article-printer-version.asp?id=544 Scott, E., (2014), The Importance of Hobbies For Stress Relief. Retrieved from http://stress.about.com/od/funandgames/a/The-Importance-Of-Hobbies-For-Stress-Relief.htm Robinson, K. M., Smith, M.W., WebMD Magazine – Feature (2013, September 15). How Hiking is Good for Body and Mind. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/fitness- exercise/features/hiking-body-mind

The Crucible – Performance Review

The Crucible A joint cast from Melbourne High School and Mac. Robertson Girls’ High School were recently involved in a production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. The cast, led by Gilbert Stalinsfield as John Proctor and Greta Nash as Elizabeth Proctor, was able to captivate the audience for an the entirety of the performer. Director Anne-Marie Brownhill’s interpretation of the play, while short, allowed for each actor to contribute his or her own ideas to the story without removing the overlying theme of the empowerment provided through lies and playing on people’s fears.Each actor showed a deep understanding of the plot and was able to convey the message about McCarthyism and the symbolism of the witch hunts for the way people were suspected and persecuted in the 50s when McCarthy was most influential. Miller’s work successfully illustrates the parallels between the series of events that occurred in the late 1600s known as the Salem Witch Trials a nd the events that had been occurring during the time that The Crucible was written in the 1950s. The combined cast from Melbourne High School and Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School were incredibly impressive in their demonstration of these issues and the effects that these situations can have. Leading the female cast was Year 11 Alexandria Liistro. A shock choice for the role, Liistro understood her character and was able to portray the vindictive Abigail Williams to perfection. The seduction of John Proctor and lying to the judges appeared to come naturally in this wonderful performance, which employed the technique of realism to enable the character to be understood by the audience.It was hard to find a member of the audience who, after seeing the play, didn’t feel a sense of disgust towards the way Williams had acted throughout the plot. Liistro seemed to play on this disdain shown towards her and her character by not only the audience but also the actors on stage. S he truly showed the manipulative nature of Abigail Williams. The gentle giant James Ness was very cleverly chosen to play Judge Danforth, the deputy governor of Massachusetts that presided over the Salem Witch Trials in this play. Ness’ giant stature and booming voice commanded attention as he delivered a pitch-perfect performance.The way in which Ness was able to control an entire act with his presence throughout the trials of Elizabeth Proctor, played by Greta Nash, made for very intense and enjoyable theatre. Ness was also able to convey the subtle compassion that Danforth has when he is offering Proctor the chance to save his own life by admitting to the heinous crime of devil-worshipping. The power in the delivery of every line by James Ness sent shivers through the audience and kept them interested from the first time he is seen on stage until the end of the play. The choice of costuming was very successful in portraying the true intentions of each character.Abigail Wil liams was dressed in a black with a red headband, showing the evil that litters her soul, while the rest of the girls that were testifying against ‘the devil’ in court were wearing black with green headbands, showing the confusion and sickness that dominated their understanding of what they were doing. The green of the headbands worn by the group of girls were matched with the green light used in the first act when Betty Paris has fallen sick due to the witchcraft that has been performed. Both John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor wore lighter colours dominated by white and light greys.This choice of colour was to display the purity and innocence of these two people, despite what was happening around them. Secondary characters that cared only a little bit about the witch trials that were occurring but only for selfish reasons, like Giles Corey, were placed in costumes dominated by greys to show both the good and the evil in them. The set design and direction for this inter pretation of The Crucible was very well thought out. The early acts of the performance are dominated by a very crowded stage by both actors and props. This adds to the effect of the confusion that is intended displayed throughout the beginning of the play.As the acts continue, it appears as though there is more and more unoccupied space on the stage to allow for the real message of the play to be conveyed through the words of the story and the performance of the actors. The stage for the final act is completely bare and very few actors are on stage at once. This set being stripped for this section was so that the raw emotion delivered through the acting was more powerful and more easily observed and understood. The set appears to be a symbol for logic and altruism. As the play continues, so does the logic and altruism displayed by any of the characters.