Bacteria and Antibiotic Resistance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Bacteria and Antibiotic Resistance - Essay Example "Virulence" and "pathogenicity" refer to the ability of bacteria to cause disease. "Bacteria are complex (while viruses must "live" in a "host" (us), bacteria can live independently) and so are easier to kill" (Antibiotics, Bacteria and (usually not) Viruses 2007). The traditional criteria for establishing that a bacterium is responsible for a disease have been Koch's postulates, which were developed in 1882. Although serving well for many years, these postulates have limitations: (1) not all bacteria can be cultured, (2) not all members of a species are equally virulent, and (3) adequate animal hosts are not always available. Host susceptibility is an important virulence factor for bacteria. The first important step in bacterial pathogenesis is adherence to a host cell. This occurs by means of pili, which consist of long rods that extend out from the bacterial surface. The tips of the pili contain proteins that attach to host cell receptors. In some cases, "pilin, the protein subuni ts of the pilus shaft, attach to the host cell's receptors. In addition to pili, bacterial surface proteins called adhesins attach firmly to the host cells" (Walsh 2003, p. 34). Sometimes the host makes antibodies against pili or adhesin proteins, and this induces the bacteria to make different types of adhesins. Only Gramnegative bacteria make adhesins; the mechanism of how Gram-positive bacteria attach to a host cell is not known (Walsh 2003). The virulence of many bacterial pathogens is due to the toxins they produce, which disrupt normal cell functions and cause cell death. Scholar and Pratt (2000) explain that "exotoxins are proteins that are excreted by dividing bacteria. Exotoxins that attack a variety of cell types are called cytotoxins" (p. 76); those that attack a particular cell type or tissue have specific names, such as neurotoxin, leukotoxin, hepatotoxin, or cardiotoxin. Exotoxins can be associated with a specific bacterial disease. In addition to toxic proteins, pathogenic bacteria also produce hydrolytic enzymes that degrade host tissues and disseminate bacteria within the host. Heat-shock proteins produced by bacteria stimulate autoimmune responses so that host antibodies and T-cells attack healthy host cells (Scholar and Pratt 2000). The essential property that differentiates antibiotics from antiseptics is that they are sufficiently selective to allow their use within the body, rather than just on the surface. This selective toxicity is not absolute but it is quantifiable as we shall see in chapter 6. There is, therefore, always room for improvements and developing drug licensing regulations seek improvements in the comparative safety of antibiotics. "Antibiotics work by destroying either the proteins that build a bacterium's cell wall or the protein-producing ribosomes" (Greene 2000, p. 23). The drug must inhibit the target bacteria at lower concentrations, usually much lower, than those concentrations that produce toxic effects in humans. Some antibiotics can be given in very high doses without toxic effects, e.g. penicillins, but others may produce serious toxicity at levels that are not much above those required for treatment of infection. Many alterations to antibiotics have been made to improve this select ivity; though with some antibiotics this is virtually impossible to achieve. The most selective antibiotics tend to be those that inhibit a process in bacteria that does

Causes and Spread of Infection Essay Example for Free

Causes and Spread of Infection Essay 1. Understand the causes of infection. 1.1 Identify the differences between bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Bacteria – a single cell micro-organism that gets its nutrition from its surroundings and can only be seen under a microscope. Viruses are disease producing agents far smaller than bacteria. They are enclosed in a protein coating which makes them more difficult to destroy. Fungi – are included in the plant kingdom but are quite different from green plants. The basic unit of a fungus is a hypha which is a hollow tube. The hyphal threads spread out over and into the food material making a visible mesh or mycelium. Some fungi mass together to create toadstools. They spread by releasing spores into the environment. Parasites – an organism that feeds and is dependant of its host. 1.2 Identify common illnesses and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Bacteria – Lyme disease, Tuberculosis, tetanus, MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) Viruses – polio, Norovirus, common cold, flu, chicken pox Fungi – tinea pinus, athletes foot, oral thush Paracites- worms, ticks, lice, mites 1.3 Describe what is meant by ‘infection’ and ‘colonisation’. Infection – is a invasion of a host organisms bodily tissues by a disease causing organism. Colonisation – occurs when any one or more species populate a specific area. 1.4 Explain what is meant by ‘systemic infection’ and ‘localised infection’. Systemic infection – affects a number of organs or tissues or affects the whole body e.g. type 2 diabetes, aids and hyper tension. Localised infection – confined to one organ system or area in the body e.g. absess, boil, sprain. 1.5 Identify poor practices that may lead to the spread of infection. Not wearing personal protective equipment such as disposable gloves, disposable aprons, washing hands and disposing of clinical waste in the correct way. 2. Understand the transmission of infection. 2.1 Explain the conditions needed for the growth of micro-organisms. * Psychrophiles grow below temperatures of 20Â °c * Thermophiles grow above temperatures of 45Â °c * Oxygen, pathogens vary in their oxygen requirements * Food * Most foods naturally contain suffucant moisture to provide bacteria with the water they need in order to grow 2.2 Explain the ways an infective agent might enter the body. * food/drink * natural orifices * inhalation * ingestion * inoculation 2.3 Identify common sources of infection. Droplets produced by coughing or sneezing, in air and dust, in water/food, carried by animals and insects. 2.4 Explain how infective agents can be transmitted to a person. * food/drink * air/dust * touching contaminated items * cross contamination * direct (person to person) * animals and insects 2.5 Identify the key factors that will make it more likely that infection will occur. * Open wounds/sores * Vulnerability/low immunity (children, babies, elderly) * People already suffering from health problems * Stress (suppression of immune system) * Poor practice and infection control

Baseball’s Freedom Fighter :: Essays Papers

Baseball’s Freedom Fighter The 1960’s were a decade of upheaval. Outcry spilled out into the streets as angry demonstrators protested against the Vietnam War; Civil Rights marches occupied a segregated South; and the Black Power movement swept through the Negro community with persuasive authority. In the midst of all of this social change stood one man, St. Louis Cardinal’s centerfielder Curt Flood. Fueled by the turmoil of his times, Flood started his own social movement, a one-man struggle for freedom on the baseball diamond. Flood an accomplished baseball player had endured twelve years in the Major Leagues, a victim of unwarranted discrimination in a still racist nation. In 1969, Flood became a pioneer, making an historic decision that ended his baseball career at the age of 31. Against the advice of the Major League Baseball’s Players Union, Flood refused to accept his trade to the Philadelphia Phillies after the end of the 1969 season. When Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn r efused to let him out of baseball’s reserve clause, which allowed for a player to be traded without his consent and made it impossible for a player to choose to play for another team, Flood took his case all the way to the Supreme Court (Ashe 61). When the case finally made its way through the courts system, Flood’s playing career was lost but a whole new era of baseball had begun. Flood stands as the pivotal figure that changed the balance of power in the game. The story of Curt Flood is one of tragic sacrifice and poignant courage. It is the story of a ball player giving up the game he loved for nothing more than a principle. Flood’s famous â€Å"I am a Man,† statement illustrated his belief that baseball was treating him unfairly (Burns, The Eighth Inning). Flood also penned these thoughts in a letter he sent to Kuhn on Christmas Eve of 1969, writing, â€Å"I do not feel that I am a piece of property to be bought and sold irrespective of my wishes† (Burns, The Eighth Inning). Craving the freedom to choose what team he played for, Flood would not accept the notion that he had no control over his own destiny as a baseball player. Flood however, stood alone in his fight. At his court hearing no active baseball player would testify on his behalf. Baseball’s Freedom Fighter :: Essays Papers Baseball’s Freedom Fighter The 1960’s were a decade of upheaval. Outcry spilled out into the streets as angry demonstrators protested against the Vietnam War; Civil Rights marches occupied a segregated South; and the Black Power movement swept through the Negro community with persuasive authority. In the midst of all of this social change stood one man, St. Louis Cardinal’s centerfielder Curt Flood. Fueled by the turmoil of his times, Flood started his own social movement, a one-man struggle for freedom on the baseball diamond. Flood an accomplished baseball player had endured twelve years in the Major Leagues, a victim of unwarranted discrimination in a still racist nation. In 1969, Flood became a pioneer, making an historic decision that ended his baseball career at the age of 31. Against the advice of the Major League Baseball’s Players Union, Flood refused to accept his trade to the Philadelphia Phillies after the end of the 1969 season. When Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn r efused to let him out of baseball’s reserve clause, which allowed for a player to be traded without his consent and made it impossible for a player to choose to play for another team, Flood took his case all the way to the Supreme Court (Ashe 61). When the case finally made its way through the courts system, Flood’s playing career was lost but a whole new era of baseball had begun. Flood stands as the pivotal figure that changed the balance of power in the game. The story of Curt Flood is one of tragic sacrifice and poignant courage. It is the story of a ball player giving up the game he loved for nothing more than a principle. Flood’s famous â€Å"I am a Man,† statement illustrated his belief that baseball was treating him unfairly (Burns, The Eighth Inning). Flood also penned these thoughts in a letter he sent to Kuhn on Christmas Eve of 1969, writing, â€Å"I do not feel that I am a piece of property to be bought and sold irrespective of my wishes† (Burns, The Eighth Inning). Craving the freedom to choose what team he played for, Flood would not accept the notion that he had no control over his own destiny as a baseball player. Flood however, stood alone in his fight. At his court hearing no active baseball player would testify on his behalf.

Conduction Toturial

Tutorial 1 (Conduction and Convection) 1. Consider a composite structure shown on below. Conductivities of the layer are: k1 = k3 = 10 W/mK, k2 = 16 W/mK, and k4 = 46 W/mK. The convection coefficient on the right side of the composite is 30 W/m2K. Calculate the total resistance and the heat flow through the composite. (0. 46, 173. 9 W) 2. Consider a 1. 2-m high and 2-m-wide glass window whose thickness is 6 mm and thermal conductivity is k= 0. 78W/m. 0C.Determine the steady rate of heat transfer through this glass window and the temperature of its inner surface for a day during which the room is maintained at 24 0C while the temperature of the outdoors is -5 0C. Take the convection heat transfer coefficients on the inner and outer surfaces of the window to be h1= 10 W/m2 . 0C and h2 = 25 W/m2 . 0C and disregard any heat transfer by radiation. (471W, 4. 40C) 3. Consider a 1. 2-m-high and 2-m-wide double-pane window consisting of two 3-mm-thick layers of glass (k=0. 78 W/m . 0C) separa ted by 12-mm-wide stagnant air space.Determine the steady rate of heat transfer through this double-pane window and the temperature of its inner surface for a day during which the room is maintained at 24 0C while the temperature of the outdoors is -50C. Take the convection heat transfer coefficients on the inner and outer surfaces of the window to be h1=10 W/ m2 . 0C and h2 = 25 W/m2 . 0C and disregard any heat transfer by radiation. Given also k air = 0. 026 W/ m . 0C (114W, 19. 20C) 4. A cylindrical resistor element on a circuit board dissipates 0. 5W of power in an environment at 400C. The resistor is 1. 2 cm long, and has a diameter of 0. 3cm. Assuming heat to be transferred uniformly from all surfaces, determine (a) the amount of heat this resistor dissipates during a 24-h period, (b) the heat flux on the surface of the resistor, in W/m2 and (c) the surface temperature of the resistor for a combined convection and radiation heat transfer coefficient of 9 W/m2 . 0C. (3. 6 Wh, 1 179 W/m2, 1710C) 5. Water is boiling in a 25-cm-diameter aluminum pan (k=237 W/ m . 0C) at 95 0C.Heat is transferred steadily to the boiling water in the pan through its 0. 5-cm-thick flat bottom at a rate of 800 W. If the inner surface temperature of the bottom of the pan is 1080C, determine (a) the boiling heat transfer coefficient on the inner surface of the pan, and (b) the outer surface temperature of the bottom of the pan. (1254 W/m2 . 0C, 108. 30C) 6. Steam at 320 0C flows in a stainless steel pipe (k= 15 W/m. 0C) whose inner and outer diameters are 5 cm and 5. 5cm, respectively. The pipe is covered with 3-cm-thick glass wool insulation (k= 0. 38 W/m. 0C). Heat is lost to the surroundings at 50C by natural convection and radiation, with a combined natural convection and radiation heat transfer coefficient of 15 W/ m2. 0C. Taking the heat transfer coefficient inside the pipe to be 80 W/m2. 0C, determine the rate of heat loss from the steam per unit length of the pipe. Also det ermine the temperature drops across the pipe shell and the insulation. (93. 9 W, 0. 095 0C, 290 0 C) 7. Consider a 8-m-long, and 0. 22-m-thick wall whose representative cross section is as given in the Figure 1.The thermal conductivities of various material used, in W/m. 0C, are kA=kF=3, kB=10, kC=23, kD=15 and kE=38. The left and right surface of the wall are maintained a uniform temperatures of 3000C and 1000C, respectively. Assuming heat transfer through the wall to be one-dimensional, determine (Given Rcond = x/kA and Rconv = 1/hA) a) The rate of heat transfer through the wall. b) The temperature at the point where the sections B, D and E meet. c) The temperature drop across the section F. (6453. 0075 W, 259. 59380C, 134. 22220C)

Does Source B support the evidence of source C about the suffragette campaign

In this essay I am going to be discussing whether or not source B which is an extract from a book written in 1907 called Woman or suffragette supports the evidence given from source C which is a cartoon drawn by Bernard Partridge in 1906 about the suffragette campaign and the writers and artists opinions on the suffragettes. Firstly I am going to point out that source B which is a primary source was written by a woman and it is against women getting the franchise to vote. The thing that is very ironic about this is that at the time it seemed all women wanted the vote and wouldn't stop at anything to get it but this one woman â€Å"Marie Corelli† didn't think that women should have the vote and that all women should just leave the men to all the important things. Source C is another primary source and it is contempory to source B. The reason why this is important is because it helps towards showing that all of the people sort of had the same ideas about women's suffrage. In source C it shows a sensible woman and what seems to be a lunatic woman. The lunatic woman was looked upon as the suffragette and she has one fist clenched and in the other hand she a flag which says female suffrage but it looks as if it is falling apart and wearing down as if they are destroying the whole purpose of campaigning for the right. Also the main reason why these sources could not be used in too much in depth study is because both sources are bias towards their own cause. Source C is obviously just trying to make the suffragettes look bad so that it makes the suffragists look better. Source B however seems to be bias towards the men and is trying to point out that women are naturally incapable of being as mature as the men. In conclusion I think than source B most definitely supports source C for one main reason. This is because they are both trying to get the point across that they don't think women are going to get the vote and the main reasons for this are the suffragettes. One reason though why I begin to think that these source may disagree with each other is because one of the sources (Source B) believes that women will never get the vote because of the way the women are raising their children. Whereas in Source C the main reason why this source thins women will not get the vote is because of the techniques used by the suffragettes for example the main quote used on the poster is â€Å"you help the cause? Why, you're its worst enemy!† this quote shows the hate that the suffragists had for the suffragettes and their opinion of what their actions are doing to their main cause.

Industrial Terrorism in Modern World

Industrial Terrorism in Modern World Overview Incorrect assumption in alleviating the threat posed by industrial terrorism is the main setback in the fight against acts of terror that target industrial chemical establishments. In the past, much of the effort had been directed towards responding to disasters caused by terrorism with minimal consideration of protective measures that can be put in place.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Industrial Terrorism in Modern World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although the September 11, 2001 incidence did not target chemical plants but real human life, first responders have made significant progress strengthening capabilities needed to defend the nation against the threat of WMD (Kosal, 2006). The DHS national guidelines developed and implemented nationwide have provided a durable framework for multi-agency coordination and cooperation. This is important because terrorist attacks or major disasters often ar e beyond what a single jurisdiction can respond to effectively. However, whether levels of preparedness are adequate at all levels of government may prove difficult to assess. Many emergency response and management professionals believe that the nation is better prepared than it was prior to 11th September 2001, but still has plenty of room for improvement. For example, priority missions identified in Homeland Security Strategic Plans have associated capabilities taken from the DHS Target Capabilities List. Each capability must reach target levels of performance if an adequate level of preparedness is to be achieved. It is clear that the emergency response community benefits from national standards that allow response entities to coordinate more effectively than before. However, to reiterate, is this level of preparedness where it needs to be? If not, what are the shortfalls and how should they be addressed? The biggest challenge for achieving an appropriate level of preparedness na tionwide remains the need for continued strengthening of multi-agency capabilities. Multi-agency preparedness, in terms of multi-agency capabilities achieving target levels of performance, is critical for safeguarding the country. This paper offers a succinct overview of industrial terrorism with cross reference to regulatory measures in place and some of the loopholes that need to be sealed in fully addressing the menace. Incidents It is highly possible that close to 2.4 million people may either sustain serious injuries or be killed altogether in the event that a terrorist attack is directed in a heavy industrial plant establishment with several employees (Perrow, 2007). Secondly, it also worth to note that substantial quantities of industrial chemicals emanating from over 15,000 chemical plants are transported, stored and produced.Advertising Looking for term paper on homeland security? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is against this background that â€Å"a worst vase release† was determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1996 and established the fact that over 100 of the identified chemical facilities had the potential of jeopardizing over one million lives located near the plants. Further, it is also estimated that between100, 000 and 1,000,000 people are currently at risk of the chemical facilities should they turn to be targets of industrial terrorists. Indeed, these are staggering numbers that authorities cannot merely develop policy documents without implementing the proposals. While politics has played a significant role in aggravating industrial terrorism, the international terrorist groups targeting industrial chemical plants has been uniquely identified as a thorn in the flesh in domestic security platform. It is an urgent threat to the security of people, whether viewed in terms of loss in life or destruction of property. Unfortunately, the relative effo rts to improve the status of domestic security have not seriously embarked on setting up robust measures against safeguarding industrial plants. The chemical plants remain as potential points of ‘accidents’ yet to be caused by terrorist. Owing to this precariously dangling scenario, there are interest groups that have incessantly pressured Washington to institute safety measures. On the same note, the chemical industries themselves are fighting hard to see into it that the federal government put up measures that will protect them against organized international terrorism. Even after the September 11 attacks and the subsequent creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), critics continue to assert that security measures adopted by the Homeland Security Act f 2002 on industrial chemicals are quite weak. The Act does not fully take into account the growing technological trends in industrial terrorism. Most chemical plants do not have any robust security structure since the federal standards in place are relatively weak.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Industrial Terrorism in Modern World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Critical infrastructure Why then are the chemical industries considered to be critical infrastructure? It is definite that employees in chemical industries are at a higher risk exposure due to threats of industrial terrorism. It is also evident that the worst-case scenarios present staggering numbers of people that are highly likely to be either injured or killed. The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) estimated over 2,000 sustained injuries in over 2,000 facilities each year. It is important to note that these figures are drawn within the U.S borders alone. The statistics could even be higher bearing in mind that the total number of chemical establishments in United States is continually growing. Contrary to the expectation, most of t hese injuries are sustained when the chemicals are being transported, not just within the chemical plants themselves. Besides, the worst impact of industrial terrorism is felt on the performance of the economy over and above the mass causalities and injuries. Much of the export from U.S emanates from the chemical industry. For instance, the year 2001 witnessed more than 80 billion dollars of exports from the chemical industry. This accounted for slightly over 10% of the total exports from United States. Besides, the industry employs more than one million workers at the local level while Research and Development consumes over 31 billion dollars on an annual basis. It is against this background that any terror attacks on industrial chemical facilities can grossly jeopardize the economy and as such, it is considered to be a critical infrastructure. In any case, the ability to communicate risk as soon as they are noted is crucial since it marks an integral step of responding to risks as well as being strategically prepared. The fact that strategic risk management has not been visibly put in place implies that some of the safety measures put in place may not be well received by the people and especially those employed in the industrial facilities targeted by terrorists (Chess, 2001). To date, industrial facilities that are considered high risk to acts of terrorism are being safeguarded by the SARA Title III. According to this title, the task of reporting and communicating risk has been mandated to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).Advertising Looking for term paper on homeland security? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For comminutes that are located within the proximity of facilities earmarked as ‘high risk’, local Emergency Planning Committees have been formed bridge the gap between the local governments and the grass-root level. One of the fundamental roles of this committee is to set up procedures and measures for manufacturing emergencies. Additionally, the committee also serves as an open forum where concerned groups or individuals can air their concerns regarding the chemical industries located near them. For instance, health and safety officials, industry representatives, government officials as well as individual residents can make use of this committee to deliberate on safety concern issues emanating from industrial establishments within their locality. Realistically speaking, it is vital step to take. The impact would even be larger if it were replicated in the at all levels of the government namely local, state and federal. The American Chemistry Council has also been on t he forefront towards implementing the initiatives set forward by the state and federal government. For example, there are SARA Title III requirements that must be met by chemical industrial plants. In order to meet these minimum requirements, the council is proactive in creating community advisory panels. These panels provide a forum through which the community can dialogue on matters related to safety of industrial facilities within their areas of residence. Besides, the public health officials are also mandated to see into it that the manufacturing principles are not only safe enough for the exposed populations but also meet the optimum requirements for anti-terror attacks. Furthermore, the Responsible Care Security Code was incepted after the 9/11 terror attacks. The code ensures that there is re-alignment between law enforcement and industry relationships. The protection of the high-risk chemical sites is also a top priority agenda under this code. Furthermore, the chemical comp anies are required by law to safeguard information that may be lethal should they fall on perpetrators of terror alongside striving to improve the security of their environment (Linden, 2007). This requirement is contained in the Responsible Care Practitioner’s Site chapter. Hence, both the individual companies and the industry at large are redirecting their efforts in developing components crucial to combat industrial terrorism. In order to achieve this, risk communication plans have been devised and implemented by many players especially those in the explosive toxic chemical industries. Although such efforts are apparently appealing, there is lack of positive reporting on the impacts derived from these measures. For example, environmental information and how the same is communicated to citizens is still a matter of concern. There are mixed reactions on how both the councils and committees have been relaying the vital information to the highly vulnerable communities. It is f eared that although such community based organizations have existed for long, most residents seem not to be aware of their operations (Heath, Bradshaw Lee, 2002). On the other hand, the intended functions of these organizations have been approved by slightly over 60% of residents. Nonetheless, it is unanimously agreed that a communication structure that is fully functional is necessary so that uncertainties can be managed a lot easier. Industrial responsiveness is indeed paramount even as the integral role of risk management is being given due consideration by both the federal government and industry players. Federal regulations The Department of Homeland Security was created by the federal government in a bid to tame domestic security, this being one of the largest overhauls in security systems and structures ever experienced in a fifty-year period (Sloan, 2008). The rationale behind this monumental task was to harness and consolidate the federal government’s protective and anti-terror systems so as to ascertain that the process of deploying and coordinating security services is done in a more harmonious and effective way. The emergency preparedness and response branch takes care of disaster preparedness at the domestic level alongside offering training and capacity building to First Responders. Furthermore, this division accelerates the process of recovering from acts of terror and disasters. In fact, the key role of the directorate is to ensure that there is a high level of disaster preparedness among various teams charged with emergency response. This would be of great importance to industrial terrorism setting where mass causalities are highly likely in the event of terror attack. Hence, an emergency response plan is one of the many strategies employed by this division to cater for hazards and attacks. Under this division are FBIs National Domestic Preparedness Office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Moreover, a national crisis managem ent system is part and parcel of the distinguishing tasks of this wing. In order to achieve this, it coordinates the working of emergency response teams using some public safety organizations located at the local and state governments. The science and technology division specifically deals with technology behind technological advances in Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) that are often used attacking industrial chemical facilities. Hence, all catastrophic acts of terrorism applying either biological or chemical warfare are under the control of this wing of DHS. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 also mandates the science and technology division to set up a national emergency strategy teams at all levels of the government (Sloan, 2008). For example, the local and state governments should be well equipped with response teams that are well versed with both the management and disaster recovery skills following nuclear attacks, radiological or chemical terrorism. The overall aim is to sy nchronize the various response plans to improve efficiency. Further, the development of diagnostics antidotes, antibodies and vaccines is under this division. Better still, the Act provides plenty of room for devising countermeasures that can be instrumental in minimizing the threats of WMD attacks. Data collection and analysis is under the docket of Information Analysis and Infrastructure Division. The data to be analyzed are obtained from relevant federal agencies like Departments Drug Enforcement Agency and National Security Agency. The Homeland Security Act 2002 also established two main units under this division. These are the Critical Infrastructure Protection as well as the Threat Analysis and Warning. As a core duty, the division ensures that all data gathered and analyzed before the September 11 attacks are not only accurate but also relevant in the actual security operation. Hence, information has been centralized by this wing of the homeland security. The given informatio n is assessed in terms of the potential threats to national security. Additionally, relevant response actions are conveyed to the right teams spread across the federal government. Disparate intelligence information is compiled by the Threat Analysis and Warning wing of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The level of vulnerability of the nation in terms of catastrophes caused by either man or natural factors is also assessed. The security information at the domestic level is evaluated by the Critical Infrastructure Protection. In particular, the internal security components of the nation are analyzed by this division of the Homeland security. While the roles of the division are far reaching, the individual officials deployed at this branch are mandated to come up with sound policies that can assist in protecting targets labeled as high risk. Apart from the provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 outlined above, this grand piece of legislation also stipulates that expl osives should not be possessed beyond certain restrictions. Further, the Act also permits training of pilots on how to defend their crew just in case they are exposed to danger of airborne terror attack. It goes further stating that airport screening can only be done by either U.S nationals or citizens. The U.S immigrants are excluded under this provision. Although the Act has addressed myriad of security concern issues on terrorism, there are latent weaknesses that cannot be ignored if the department is to fully safeguard the growing threats to industrial terrorism. For instance, the creation of Operation TIPS is strictly forbidden in the Homeland Security Act of 2002. According to critics, this controversial security organ would have transformed the Department of Homeland Security into a swift intelligence agency with the power and ability to efficiently handle and manages homeland security in totality including industrial terrorism. Nonetheless, the main point of concern by the A merican Liberties Union is that the integration of such legislation into the country’s constitution would grossly jeopardize civil liberties protection. According to the proposals contained in the TIPS provisions, the Liberties Union argue that it will be impossible to grant citizens and other American nationals the right to privacy as granted in the constitution. The fact that the Department of Homeland Security has express right over controlling infrastructure, a director at ACLU, Laura Murphy, maintained that the department was given superfluous powers over vital infrastructure thereby limiting the public from conducting any significant scrutiny (Sloan, 2008). According to the provisions in the Act, certain infrastructure information may not be availed to the public especially if the government presumes it unfit for purposes of national security. Indeed, one of the apparent weaknesses in the Act is the fact that any disclosure of the ‘critical infrastructure’ information by a government official may lead to heavy imposition of criminal offence on the offender. Hence, whistle blowers on certain matters directly affecting the American public may as well be branded ‘criminals’ since they will have contravened this law. The online privacy of individuals is also undermined at great length by this piece of legislation. The Center for Democracy and Technology argue that the Cyber Security Enhancement Act is a real setback to personal online privacy (Sloan, 2008). According to the provisions in this Act, the government has the right, through telecom companies, to access and retrieve personal online data such as internet transactions and emails. The government’s rationale behind this legal provision is that accessing such personal information is pertinent especially in the event that national security is at risk. For telecommunication companies, they have been quite reluctant to avail personal information unless there are cour t warrants to do so. Cyber criminals like those who hack computers may be sentenced to life imprisonment as a maximum charge. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is also permitted by this law to access and utilize intelligence materials courtesy of the office of TIA. William Safire, a New York Times columnist dismissed this legislative arrangement as â€Å"Big Brotherism†. At the same time, TIA was also limited by the Congress. The appropriations bill of the Congress also witnessed a heavily cut down of the TIA budget. In yet another separate but related developments about the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the indemnification provision has equally sparked widespread protests. This provision has it that class-action law suits filed by citizens against individual or corporate contractors are restricted up to some level. Although the provision does not favor individual citizens and American nationals interested in lodging their complaints against public health menace caus ed by contractors, the government argues that companies which manufacture lethal vaccines necessary in biological or chemical warfare should be given some incentives to continue with the tedious task of production. This, according to the government, will shield them from high liability overheads. Worse still, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 that led to the inception of the Department of Homeland Security has faced equally tough criticism from city mayors who lament that the Act failed to provide â€Å"money to cities to fight terrorism† (CNN Politics, 2002). In recap, it is pertinent to reiterate that the chemical industry is highly visible in the eyes of terrorists and is equally potentially dangerous upon attack by terrorists. It is therefore necessary for the federal government to reinforce anti-terror planning and strategies. Emphatically, It is also worth to note that there are certain pieces of ‘critical industrial information’ that may be instrumental in terrorist planning. However, rather than creating a cowed community, risky information should be utilized in such a way that it empowers the community. In spite of the growing concerns on industrial terrorism, the security status in the transportation sector is equally important since terrorists are well known to target industrial chemicals on transit. References Chess, C. (2001). Organizational theory and the stages of risk communication. Risk Analysis, 21(1), 179-188. CNN Politics (2003). Bush signs homeland security bill. Web. Heath, R. L., Bradshaw, J., Lee, J. (2002). Community relationship building: Local leadership in the risk communication infrastructure. Journal of Public Relations Research, 14, 17-353. Kosal, E.M. (2006). Terrorism Targeting Industrial Chemical Facilities: Strategic Motivations and the Implications for U.S. Security. Studies in Conflict Terrorism, 29, 719–751. Linden, V.E. (2007). Focus on Terrorism, Volume 9 New York: Nova Science Publishing Inc . Perrow, C. (2007). The Next Catastrophe: Reducing Our Vulnerabilities to Natural, Industrial and Terrorist Disasters. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Sloan, E. (2008). Continental and homeland security: From Bush to Obama. International Journal, 64(1), 191-200.

Porphyrias Lover and My Last Duchess Essay Example

Porphyrias Lover and My Last Duchess Essay Example Porphyrias Lover and My Last Duchess Paper Porphyrias Lover and My Last Duchess Paper Essay Topic: Poetry In both Porphyrias Lover and My Last Duchess Browning criticises the position of women in Victorian society by showing the relationship between men and women through two dramatic monologues. In both of the poems the men appear to be the villains, in Porphyrias Lover Porphyria is killed by the man who she has run through the rain to seen. In My Last Duchess although it is unclear if the Duke had the Duchess killed or just sent to a convent, there is quite clearly something going on with the Duke saying I gave commands/Then all smiles stopped together. The Duke and Porphyrias certainly do not appear to be anything but villains but perhaps there is a little more to both characters. Although the characters may not be as simple as being just villains, it is very hard to feel much sympathy for them. They are both jealous and controlling, especially the Duke who even has to have control of the picture of the Duchess None puts by/ the curtain I have drawn for, but I. Porphyrias Lover is even more jealous and kills Porphyria so that she could belong only to him That moment she was mine, mine, with the repetition of mine emphasising the jealousy and selfishness of the character. The Duke and Porphyrias lover reduce women to objects with the Duke treating the Duchess very much as one of his expensive treasures and with Porphyrias love saying how Porphyria felt after he had murdered her The smiling rosy little head/so glad it has its utmost will. Neither has any understanding of the women in the poems, the Dukes selfishness is especially obvious in his comment But who passed without the same smile which shows how jealous he was when his Duchess even dared to smile at someone else. They both are very much in control over the women in the poems, with even god like associations; the Duke has a statue of Neptune Taming a sea horse which shows how the Duke feels natural things should be tamed, perhaps how he felt about his wife who appears to be very natural with imagery such as bough of cherries orchard and white mule associated with her. Porphyrias lover convinces himself that his murder of Porphyria was fine since God has not said a word which seems a frighteningly light hearted take on the murder of the women who mattered so much to him. Porphyrias love is certainly the more frightening of the characters, this is partly because of the metre used, iambic tetrameter, which gives the monologue an almost sing-song effect, and seems strangely calm considering it, tells the story of a murder. Porphyrias lover is more passive and wretched than the Duke adding to the sinister effect of the poem, this is shown in she put my arm about her waist and the pathetic fallacy at the beginning of the poem, for example the sullen wind and this wretched, depressed nature makes Porphyrias lover seem more selfish and villainous. The Duke is not as obviously villainous as Porphyrias lover, he appears to be more subtle, or least tries to be more subtle about the disposal of his wife, this is shown is his evasiveness which is made clear in his convoluted syntax, for example I said Fra Pandolf by design, for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance. Although the Duke seems less frightening than Porphyrias lover he still comes across as controlling, possessive (My last Duchess) and selfish, and almost impossible to feel sympathy for. The same is true of Porphyrias Lover, he is a character who is it virtually impossible to feel sorry for. Perhaps this is because both of these poems are a criticism of womens position in Victorian society, women could not vote or hold political office and although attitudes were slowly beginning to change, women were still very much seen as objects, much like the Duke sees the Duchess as an object to be admired like his many paintings, and seen by many as being incapable of serious thought about anything. Robert Browning was married to successful woman poet Emily Elizabeth Barret Browning, who was more successful than Robert Browning during their lifetimes, indicating that Browning clearly thought women to be capable of more than just housework, unlike many other Victorian poets, most notably Coventry Patmore, who wrote The Angel in the House which described the perfect Victorian wife whose job it was to please her husband but him to please/Is womans pleasure. Both of the men in the poems might be so villainous you are not supposed to feel sorry for them, because they represent a larger problem in society rather than just individual stories. Although the Duke and Porphyrias lover are both clearly villainous characters perhaps it is impossible to feel no sympathy at all towards them. Both characters ultimately defeat their own desires; Porphyria belongs to Porphyrias lover for the short amount of time before her death is found out, and the Duke wanted the Duchess attentions to be focused only on him and his Nine hundred years old name, but how can this be achieved with the Duchess dead or locked away in a convent? It is only a small amount of pity felt towards them for this, but they both are very self deceived and unable to see the reality of their actions and the world around them for example Porphyria travels through the rain to see her lover in his cottage and he thinks that she is too weak to set herself free From pride, and vain tides dissever/ and give herself to me forever, however this might be feeling sympathy towards the situation overall not the men, because if they had understood what was really going on there would be no need for the women to have been killed. Perhaps, also, before this episode their relationship was more normal, would Porphyria journey through harsh weather to visit someone she thought would not show kindness to her however we cannot tell if she would as the story is told from Porphyrias lovers point of view. However violent and sinister the character of Porphyrias lover is there is still a bit of sympathy felt towards him, he is consumed by jealous and wants Porphyria to be his alone, but because she has a higher social status than him this is not at all possible. With the Duke the image of him running after the envoy Nay, well go/together down sir for me sums up just how pathetic the Dukes life is, he feels his world with pictures by famous artists Claus of Innsbruck and Fra Pandolf but yet he is unable to get what he wants, for his money and nine hundred years old name could not give him the Duchess undivided attention that he so craved. His convoluted syntax, which is empathised by the frequent use of enjambment, and attempts to be subtle show very effectively how hollow his life is, which is most clearly shown when he is addressing the envoy about a possible marriage between himself and the daughter of another noble towards the end of the poem The Count your masters know munificence Is ample warrant that no just pretence Of mine for dowry will be disallowed; Though his fair daughters self, as I avowed At starting, is my object and perhaps this is the main reason that some sympathy is felt towards him. Overall, although both characters commit terrible deeds however some sympathy remains towards them, although this might be partly because the stories are told from the mens point of view and we have to guess at the true events of each of the stories. Overall I feel that although both men are quite clearly villains, with Porphyrias love strangling Porphyria and appearing to feel no remorse at all, and the Duke sinisterly hinting at his was able to get rid of his last wife, it is impossible to feel no sympathy at all for them because they both have such hollow lives, in the case of the Duke, and would never have been able to achieve what they actually wanted especially Porphyrias lover who, because of his lower social status would never be able to marry Porphyria perhaps leading to his all consuming jealousy that led him to commit the murder.

Christmas Traditions Explained for ESL Class

Christmas Traditions Explained for ESL Class Christmas is one of the most important holidays in the English speaking world. There are many Christmas traditions in these countries. The traditions are both religious and secular in nature. Here is a short guide to the most common Christmas traditions. What Does the Word Christmas Mean? The word Christmas is taken from Christs Mass or, in the original Latin, Cristes maesse. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on this day. Is Christmas Only a Religious Holiday? Certainly, for practicing Christians around the world, Christmas is one the most important holiday of the year. However, in modern times, traditional Christmas festivities have become much less related to the Christ story. Examples of these other traditions include Santa Claus, Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer, and others. Why Is Christmas so Important? There are two reasons: 1. There are approximately 1.8 billion Christians in a total world population of 5.5 billion, making it the largest religion worldwide. 2. And, some think more importantly, Christmas is the most important shopping event of the year. It is claimed that up to 70 percent of many merchants annual revenue is made during the Christmas season. It is interesting to note that this emphasis on spending is relatively modern. Christmas was a relatively quiet holiday in the USA until the 1860s. Why Do People Give Gifts on Christmas Day? This tradition most probably is based on the story of the three wise men (the Magi) giving gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh following the birth of Jesus. However, it is important to note that gift giving has only become popular in the last 100 years as figures such as Santa Claus have come to be more important, and emphasis has been shifted to giving gifts to children. Why Is There a Christmas Tree? This tradition was begun in Germany. German immigrants moving to England and the USA brought this popular tradition with them and it has since become a much-loved tradition for all. Where Does the Nativity Scene Come From? The Nativity Scene is accredited to Saint Francis of Assissi in order to teach people about the Christmas story. Nativity Scenes are popular around the world, especially in Naples, Italy that is famous for its beautiful Nativity Scenes. Is Santa Claus Really St. Nicholas? Modern day Santa Claus has very little to do with St. Nicholas, though there are certainly similarities in the style of dressing. Today, Santa Claus is all about the presents, whereas St. Nicholas was a Catholic saint. Apparently, the story Twas the Night before Christmas  has a lot to do with changing St. Nick into modern day Santa Claus. Christmas Traditions Exercises Teachers can use this Christmas traditions reading in class to help start a conversation on how Christmas traditions are different around the world, and whether traditions have changed in their own countries.

Compare and Contrast the History of Coffee in Brazil, Colombia, and Essay

Compare and Contrast the History of Coffee in Brazil, Colombia, and Costa Rica in the Nineteenth and Twentieth century - Essay Example It has been proven that during monopoly, Coffee is one of the most favored, finest, and the richest product of the people until now. The reason why they always wanted this overwhelming product that made coffee to be the world's largest in trading. The major coffee importing countries are United States, Germany, Japan, Italy, and other European countries. These include the South and Latin America, as the major importing countries; such as Brazil, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Let us tackle the history of the three countries: the Brazil, Colombia, and Costa Rica, and on how their coffee products came to be different in the 19th century and 20th century It's Francisco de Mello Palheta who introduced coffee in Brazil. He got some coffee beans in France to be planted in 1727. Paran, Espirito Santos, So Paulo, Minas Geraes, and Bahi are the states in Brazil where coffee cultivars were grown. In the past, Brazilian coffee refers only to a low quality mixer. It is the time when the Organizations and Institution of the coffee industry such as International Coffee Organization (ICO) and the Brazilian Institute de Caf (IBC) set quotas for importing and exporting coffee products. They just only consider the price, quantity and the volume of the product because of the quota system. Brazilian coffee plays only as a mixer in the higher quality coffee to reach the demands of quota considering its quantity and not its quality. Because of these, other coffee sectors deteriorate while other rises. But , the new government in Brazil have observed the problem of these quota system, so they decided to broke this system to a new right to have a reformation on how coffee was processed and most importantly, to develop its economy and industry through a coffee product trade. The San Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Geraes, and Espiritu Santo are some of the districts in Brazil who are the coffee growers. Of these four states, San Paulo produces the largest quantity and certainly the finest quality.But according to the Diagnostico da Cafeicultura em Minas Gerais, the vast majority of farms in Brazil are less than ten hectares in size and only 4% of farms were larger than 50 hectares. It means even though Brazil has a small portion of farm to harvest coffee beans, still, Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer and that produces a large supply of coffee in the world. And they say that eighty percent of this is Arabica. Their coffee undergoes to the following processes: Wet processing (washed) Dry processing (natural) Semi-washed process (pulped natural) Of the three processes mentioned above, the vast majority still processed the dry method because we all know that Brazil is one of the countries in the world that has the appropriate weather to do this process. Many people observe that Brazil is one of the most advanced and well-cared-for processing systems in industry. They carefully pick and nurture even an individual bean, that a single bean can create a larger number of coffee beans. Government was interested in this coffee trade because the financial stability of the country depends

IDiscusson board reply645 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

IDiscusson board reply645 - Coursework Example The Bible is full of teachings on rewards that should be fair and just (Deuteronomy 25:4). In most of Jesus’ teachings, one will be rewarded for what they have done. In business, this sets a yardstick for just and consistent compensations. The same principles are applicable to person-focused pay systems. Skills are acknowledged in the Bible the same way they are acknowledged in the business world as basis of competency-based pay. In 2 Chronicles 2:3, Huram-Abi is preferentially sent because he is â€Å"a man of great skill.† NIV (â€Å"BibleGateway.com,† n.d.). In the same way, Ecclesiastes 10:10 states that â€Å"If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.† NIV. Those in leadership, according to the Word of God, should lead in all diligence and Colossians 3:23 admonish everyone that â€Å"whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.† (AKJV). As such, everything one does should be to perfection and justly. The Bible is sensitive to equitable pay to everyone (PETER, n.d.), including the top executive by giving an analogy of an ox that ploughs in Deuteronomy 25:4 that says â€Å"Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out

Warehousing and Inventory Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Warehousing and Inventory Management - Essay Example A computerized management system is the best option. Any WMS must ensure an effective and efficient management of inventory. A WMS aims at controlling and storing of inventory in the warehouse. This process is closely linked to transactions such as putting away and picking, receiving and shipping. WMS also help in directing and optimizing inventory put-away based on real-time information concerning status of bin utilization. WMS usually make use of data capture facilities such as wireless LANs, RFID, mobile computers, and barcode readers. Data collection is followed by either batch synchronization or wireless transmission to a central database. This can then give useful reports about the status of inventory in the warehouse. WMSs aim at providing automated procedures of handling receipt and returns of inventory, modelling and managing logical representation of the warehouse, managing inventory within the store and enabling a seamless link to order processing. WMSs help in controlling the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse. They data-track inventory during production and interpret between existing ERP and WMS systems Warehouse management should be incorporated with the rest of the business to help in streamlining operations, reducing costs and speeding up order fulfilment. Setting up of a criterion to help in guiding the most efficient put away locations, bin quantities, and pick patterns is very vital in warehouse management. Any warehouse management practice should help in reducing bottlenecks and multiple handling. Materials handling information should be input directly from the warehouse to assist in reducing inefficiency and data handling redundancy (Frazelle, 2001). Pick and pack process in a warehouse should be automatically updated. This ensures accurate and timely fulfilling of orders and quickly responding to status inquiry. The warehouse management should decide on the sophistication level of their management system confidently. It should adapt to new volumes, technologies, products and processes with ease. It should also be at par with the growth of the business (Warman, 1971). Integration of other business operations such as manufacturing and order processing with warehouse helps in optimizing the layout, handling multiple orders, managing replenishment, and proper utilizing of space. The warehouse manager should incorporate various pick prioritization methods that include FIFO, FEFO and LILO into directed movement, pick and put away decisions (Frazelle, 2001). All credit or debit inventory records should be kept separate from sales, source documents and purchase receipts. This will help in maintaining accurate inventory records one when one needs to access records for display and testing among other operational needs. The warehouse manager should keep a visible inventory to help in increasing the efficiency and accuracy of management (Jenkins, 1968). To help in item tracking serial numbers should be used to help in determining where the products were bought, processed and sold. This will help in reducing waste and limiting carriage of expired stock via FEFO handling. Warehouse management

Performance Improvement Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Performance Improvement - Research Paper Example Evidently, there is a weak link between healthcare spending and patient experience. In this context, it is advisable for health organizations to review their health delivery policies and think how their health budget could effectively enhance patient experience. Evidences suggest that efficiency of workflow is the key to improve patient experience, and in turn a number of factors such as time, process designs, and procedural efficacy may influence workflow efficiency. This performance improvement paper will discuss how improving workflow can contribute to enhanced patient experience by reducing wait-times. The paper will also address the outcomes of a one on one meeting with the finance team, patient experience team, and patients. The term workflow refers to the sequence of administrative and other processes through which a particular healthcare work passes from initiation to completion. As mentioned already, time is a crucial component of workflow such that a long wait time would contribute badly to patient experience. According to a Press Ganey article (2010), US patients have been experiencing the longest wait times in emergency departments since 2002. The report says that in 2009 a US patient spent an average of four hours and seven minutes in the emergency department from the moment he entered the room until the time he was discharged. This average time spent was 31 minutes more than the national average in 2002 and indicated an increase of four minutes compared to 2008 (Press Ganey, 2010). Previous researches have established a clear negative relationship between long wait time and patient satisfaction. According to one finding, â€Å"patient wait time for medical care has a direct impact on patient sa tisfaction, medical compliance, return show rate and patient attitudes toward clinicians, staff and clinics in general† (Cuevas & Joseph, n.d). To illustrate, researchers including Anderson, Camacho, and Balkrishnan (2007) conducted a study to evaluate the

Casque d'Or (Golden Marie) Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Casque d'Or (Golden Marie) - Movie Review Example The document below reviews the film. Marie is depicted in the film as a woman of significant beauty. She is, however, distressed by the way Roland is treating her. Roland is a criminal and also among the local syndicate. After Marie was introduced to Georges, who was a humble carpenter, she instantly fell in love with him although he was a stranger to her. Roland became jealous after meeting Marie and Georges for several times. He decided to confront Georges. He did it behind a club where his syndicate members were watching. Georges, however, gained control of a knife and killed Roland. Everybody fled after police arrived including Marie, who sought refuge from syndicate at the nearby village (Leahy 7). Georges also decided to flee out of that town. He was, however, enticed to an engagement with Marie by a note that was sent by her. The two started living a peaceful life in a neighboring village. This continued until Georges was informed that Raymond had been arrested for Roland’s murder. This was Felix’s plan, who was the syndicate’s leader. He placed blame on Raymond so as to bring Georges out of a hiding place and win Marie’s control. Without realizing the plan, Georges confessed to the police that he was the real killer. When Raymond was being transported between jails, he broke free after being helped by a diversion by Marie (Deluermoz et al. 34). Georges seeks Felix, immediately to seek revenge. He found him in police presence and killed him. Georges was sentenced to die by guillotine because of the two murders. Marie is revealed very broken and in horror as she watched Georges being executed. The world of petty prostitutes and criminals in Paris is presented directly and simply. The Paris community is revealed as neither rendered gratuitously squalid nor romanticized. Paris  is, however, complex in its right. Although the film’s plot recounts a tragic series of murder, treachery, and death by

Mothering and Child Death Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Mothering and Child Death - Essay Example The region has experienced child deaths due to a variety of reasons. For example, Nations and Rebhun (1988) assert that it is caused by failure to obtain medical care for severely ill children. Other reasons such as the bureaucratic and geographic barriers also play a factor. The following paper seeks to examine the situation according to two different points of view. The two different points of view are brought forward by two sets of authors through the writing and research that was undertaken in the region. The paper looks at the key arguments that are made by each set of authors. Secondly, an analysis of the political, economic concerns that factor in each of the author’s reasons for the child death. Finally, the biggest points of contention between the two works as well as any points to which the two sets of authors. More than 1 million Brazilian children under the age of 5 years die each year mostly as a result of parasitic infections interacting with infectious disease and a chronic case of under nutrition. According to Scheper-Hughes (1985), infant and childhood mortality in the region and other third world countries is a problem of political economy. However, he asserts and brings out another point to the table. Scheper-Hughes (1985) states that maternal detachment and an indifference towards the infants and the babies that are judged to be too weak or too vulnerable to survive the unhealthy and bad conditions of the shanty town living. The author tries to show the link between the economic and the maternal deprivation between the maternal and the emotional scarcity. The author also brings forward the social and the economic context shaping the expression of maternal sentiments and the cultural meaning or implications of mother love and child death. The author also describes the experiences of attachment, separation, and loss. The author undertakes a research study with 72 women who have a

Casque d'Or (Golden Marie) Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Casque d'Or (Golden Marie) - Movie Review Example The document below reviews the film. Marie is depicted in the film as a woman of significant beauty. She is, however, distressed by the way Roland is treating her. Roland is a criminal and also among the local syndicate. After Marie was introduced to Georges, who was a humble carpenter, she instantly fell in love with him although he was a stranger to her. Roland became jealous after meeting Marie and Georges for several times. He decided to confront Georges. He did it behind a club where his syndicate members were watching. Georges, however, gained control of a knife and killed Roland. Everybody fled after police arrived including Marie, who sought refuge from syndicate at the nearby village (Leahy 7). Georges also decided to flee out of that town. He was, however, enticed to an engagement with Marie by a note that was sent by her. The two started living a peaceful life in a neighboring village. This continued until Georges was informed that Raymond had been arrested for Roland’s murder. This was Felix’s plan, who was the syndicate’s leader. He placed blame on Raymond so as to bring Georges out of a hiding place and win Marie’s control. Without realizing the plan, Georges confessed to the police that he was the real killer. When Raymond was being transported between jails, he broke free after being helped by a diversion by Marie (Deluermoz et al. 34). Georges seeks Felix, immediately to seek revenge. He found him in police presence and killed him. Georges was sentenced to die by guillotine because of the two murders. Marie is revealed very broken and in horror as she watched Georges being executed. The world of petty prostitutes and criminals in Paris is presented directly and simply. The Paris community is revealed as neither rendered gratuitously squalid nor romanticized. Paris  is, however, complex in its right. Although the film’s plot recounts a tragic series of murder, treachery, and death by

Mission Statement and Marketing Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Mission Statement and Marketing Research - Essay Example well elaborated example is the Sharp Healthcare’s mission, â€Å"our mission is to improve the health of those we serve with a commitment to excellence in all that we do and our goal is to offer quality care and programs that set community standards, exceed patients’ expectations and are provided in a caring, convenient, cost-effective and accessible manner. This clearly gives a historical and dream purpose of the organization and its value structure and it explains that their existence is mainly to improve health in the society. The business is well managed so as to serve and give quality services to their patients, and it promises them a future that is caring, convenient and cost-effective. Marketing research is a core functional aspect of any business and it is based on two perspectives which are the vision, mission and organization goals and the other part is the internal/external analysis (Hillestad, 2004) which includes the assessment of the environment, competitors, an internal analysis, market evaluation and a review of marketing activities. the marketing plan of establishing a surgical center must uncover numerous opportunities and have all the necessary information ,have adequate data, and financial planning issues, building issues and miscellaneous of the surgical center. It provides potential partners information about the expectations, risks and profits of the project as well as the total equity to be contributed for the success of the outpatient surgical center (Lawrence, 2004). The marketing research plan embrace financial, human resource, technological, regulatory ,operational ,analysis of data linked with organization’s strategic plan, marketing s trategy, tactical marketing and information system compensations and have to build on the values and mission of the

Ethics, innovation and entrepreneurship Essay Example for Free

Ethics, innovation and entrepreneurship Essay With reference to one or two organization that you have studied, discuss the influence of ethics and innovation on the role of entrepreneurship (entrepreneur) and intrapreneurship (intrapreneur). Conceptual approaches play a vital role in influencing the role of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in an organization. Innovation, which is one of the concepts, is the ability to think anew by developing new services or products. It is synonymous with risk taking as defined in the entrepreneurial behavior. Organizations that create innovative products take on the greatest risk because they create new markets. It is the act to carve a new niche in it, as deemed by most entrepreneurs. Ethics, on the other hand is the basic concepts and fundamental principles of decent human conduct. Organizations that mobilize this conduct concerned with decisions and what and how to do it. For example, ethical considerations in the role of entrepreneurship and intrepreneurship are revolved around the ways of an organization approaches its customers by instilling good values throughout the conduct, and also through consideration in the branding of the products or services, based on morality as it portrays the image of the organization. These two concepts influence the survival of an organization in the modern world to cater the society’s demands. One of the organizations that best fit these criterions is IKEA. IKEA has introduced various ethical conducts throughout the century. One of its most significance considerations is that IKEA introduced IWAY. It is an ethic code that had been introduced by the founder of the organization as a code of conduct between the organization and its suppliers since the year 2000. It encompasses guidelines concerning working conditions, prevention of child labour, the environment and responsible forestry management. This ethical conduct is to ensure that the suppliers won’t go overboard although things may seem inevitable as most suppliers don’t put that much of concern regarding the issues and most organizations seek for reduced cost. However, IKEA prioritizes morality, and dare to be venturesome, in starting their business with ofits from the quality. This ethical conducts inhibit bribery and anything related to the impropriety andanother organization as it is to ensure that their products are top-notch and can initiate a much greater pr results in creating quality products for the customers, hence providing customers the best of what they should opt for from an organization. It will  promote trust in business, and enhance in the growth of likely more organizations alike to adhere to the same code of conduct resulting a better lifestyle in a society. People benefits from getting to use quality products, while organization and suppliers gain profits as the business go viral from the trust embedded by the customers. However, this code of conduct, to a certain extent, won’t be able to stand a chance against the long run of the business. From time to time, organizations should revise on how they conduct their business as policies change overtime in order to adapt to the current demand of the world. IWAY can’t stay appr opriate for organizations as benefits and importance would be totally different years after. Hence suppliers will end up breaking the guidelines, resulting in contract breaches causing damages and loss to both organizations. Code of conduct, is about refinement in order to get it sustainably carried out, yielding its finest outcomes. In the innovative aspect, IKEA had been coming up with the concept of sustaining the price by introducing the ‘do-it-yourselves’ concept. Lowest price is the basis of IKEA’s concept. IKEA identify new customer needs for furniture from not just from those who can afford but also among the young and less wealthy. So the founder had came out with the idea of designing furniture in kit form, leaving the customer to put them together by themselves hence, reduce the cost of assembly. The furniture is put in flat-cardboard boxes, so that customers can access to the self-service warehouse without using any third-parties. This results in almost 80% of reduced cost for transportation. This innovation, as deemed to be potently reducing most of the cost, comes from having the customers engage in the idea of ‘do-it-yourselves’. IKEA’s prices have been 30% below any other traditional furniture manufacturers. Its contemporary and innovative avant garde idea had garnered both the attention of customers and suppliers. This results in impactful effects on the society as more classes of people would be able to possess high quality products and furniture. IKEA’s ‘do-it-yourselves’ furniture not just exhibit the exquisite design and sophisticated image from the company but indicates their stand in providing quality products in affordable price. This will entirely improve the social standard of a society and cater the demand of the customers, to own furniture that suits their social living within the current globalization. However, this strategy is not foolproof. There have  been numbers of debates on how customers comment that some I KEA’s products are complicated to assemble and in further action, require the need of an expert hence require more expenses. This will get us back to square one where buyers would have to pay for assembling the products. The idea of ‘do-it-yourselves’ is vividly attracting attention of customers and suppliers however, it would be better if proper guidelines and further proposal is planned for this strategy to work. Entrepreneurs are gambling to the fact that they’re selling unfinished products to the customers hoping profits in return, however this won’t be likely to occur without proper planning and detailed reviews. As discussed in the passage above, IKEA is been putting priorities to both the suppliers and also the customers. Attention on the suppliers was to ensure that the raw materials used reach the standard of quality to yield the best products. Customers were given priorities in the aspect of wanting them to buy the products, by taking care their needs, and demands. Exclusion of any of these two societies would leave a profound impact to IKEA itself. But in this aspect, it would be better if slight inclination of priorities were given to the suppliers instead of the customers. A great enforcement on how the expensive raw materials should have been taken into count by IKEA, is essential and should undergo ethical inspection, so that it gratifies the satisfaction of both the supplier and customers. Any organization should be aware that, if the materials are not off good quality, this will affect the selling process, as well as will hinder the profits gained. It is for us to realize that even though entrepreneurship is about approaching the customers need, venturing to their demands, it is highly recommended that we should look back and reflect that without having proper supplies and the right suppliers, none of that would happen. To deduce, both the concepts, innovation and ethics influence the role of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in an organization. Without the actualization of these two concepts, IKEA won’t be able to achieve such influences in the modern world of furnishing.

Blindness and Sight - Irony and Lack of Vision in Oedipus the King :: Oedipus the King Oedipus Rex

The Irony of Blindness in Oedipus The King    Is there a single definition of what it is "to see"? I can see the table, I can see your point, I see the real you, I don't see what you're saying. Sometimes the blind can "see" more than the sighted. During a scary movie or a horrific event, people may cover their eyes, choosing not to see the truth. As human beings, we often become entrenched in the material world, becoming oblivious to and unable to see the most apparent truths. Oedipus, the main character in Sophocles' play Oedipus Rex, could not see the truth, but the blind man, Teiresias, "saw" it plainly. Sophocles uses blindness as a motif in the play Oedipus Rex. Oedipus, known for his intelligence, is ignorant and therefore blind to the truth about himself and his past. Yet, when Teiresias exposes the truth he is shunned. It is left to Oedipus to overcome his "blindness," realize the truth, and accept fate. Oedipus, "who bear the famous name," fled his home of Corinth in fear of fulfilling the prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. During his flight, he Oedipus kills a caravan of presumed low-class travelers. Oedipus comes into Thebes a stranger and hero who solved the riddle of the sphinx. Believing that he is blessed with great luck, Oedipus marries the recently widowed Iokaste and becomes King of Thebes. After many years, a plague vexes the city and Kreon, brother of Iokaste, comes to Oedipus with news from the oracle. He states that the plague will be lifted when the murder of Laios is avenged. Oedipus claims that he sees and understands the terrible fate of Thebes and vows to find the murderer. Since the criminal is said to still be in Thebes, Oedipus believes that a man of his intelligence should have no difficulty in finding the perpetrator. When Oedipus is confronted by Teiresias with truth, perhaps it is Oedipus' own hubris, which blinds him to the unthink able truth. Unwillingly, Teiresias the blind seer provides Oedipus with the hurtful truth. Although before the truth is announced, Oedipus describes Teiresias as a "seer: student of mysteries." Oedipus looks to Teiresias for help in finding the murderer of the former king. He is trusted and respected by everyone in the city as evidenced by his introduction as "the holy prophet In whom, alone of all men, truth was born.

New Criticism Analysis of My Papa’s Waltz :: Literary Analysis

New Criticism attracts many readers to its methodologies by enticing them with clearly laid out steps to follow in order to criticize any work of literature. It dismisses the use of all outside sources, asserting that the only way to truly analyze a poem efficiently is to focus purely on the words in the poem. For this interpretation I followed all the steps necessary in order to properly analyze the poem. I came to a consensus on both the tension, and the resolving of it. A poem’s diction plays a fundamental role in analyzing a poem, considering the text is all one needs in order to discover the meaning. My Papa’s Waltz is a fairly short poem, but the words have major impact. The word â€Å"whiskey† (Line 1) implies that the father is a drunk, and this makes the boy â€Å"dizzy,† (Line 2) or in other words, it sickens him. The poem claims the boy is small, making him sound fragile, playing into the next few lines of the poem. â€Å"Death† (Line 3) is a negative connotation, along with â€Å"battered† (Line 10), â€Å"beat† (Line 13), and â€Å"caked hard† (Line 14). â€Å"Romped† (Line 5) has a positive denotation suggesting harmless roughhousing. The word â€Å"countenance† (Line 7) does not flow within the stanza, sounding sharp and negative, paralleling the mother’s stern disapproval. â€Å"Hung† (Line 3) is past tense, therefore the poem is a reflection of a n earlier time. â€Å"Waltzed† (Line 15) takes on a different meaning beyond the dance, making it a synonym for taking someone somewhere. Understanding the words of a poem was the first step in order to analyze My Papa’s Waltz using this methodology. Not only the words, but the figures of speech and other such elements are important to analyzing the poem. Alliteration is seen throughout the entire poem, as in lines one through four, and seven through eight. The alliteration in one through four (whisky, waltzing, was) flows nicely, contrasting to the negativity of the first stanza, while seven through eight (countenance, could) sound unpleasing to the ear, emphasizing the mother’s disapproval. The imagery of the father beating time on the child’s head with his palm sounds harmful, as well as the image of the father’s bruised hands holding the child’s wrists. It portrays the dad as having an ultimate power over the child, instead of holding his hands, he grabs his wrists.

Creative Brief GAP Inc.

The launch of the Americana khakis for the young professional, in other to reconnect with the Identity of what GAP Inc. Comfortable, stylish, quality, strong American brand. Ill. Description of product or service. Gap Inc. And Its preppy khakis feel more comfortable, lightweight, wrinkle worry free, excellent fit, resistible, washes and finishes, with best quality fabric for an average rice point of $54. 5. They are durable and last longer, also with new shapes for every young men and women with family that has no time and would like a quality product. IV. Why are we trying to accomplish with this communications piece? To reconnect the customer with the brand identity and regain the that young old growing customer, offering khakis at affordable price, but also offering more stylish and exciting, relatively conservative, and functional khakis to use anytime. Let always to look in-style, casual at work, at home, and at play.V. What Is the tonality of the ad? The tonality of the ad camp aign with Khakis will be creative. Fun, excellent. Connecting with past. The aim is to bring back and keep our loyal customers with Khakis classical style. By remaking the old ads from the ass's, with famous music songs of today dancing, playing, and working with the Khakis. VI. Who/What is our competition? American Eagle Outfitters, J. Crew, Firebombed & Fitch, Express, Reportable, Banana Republic, Old Navy, H and J. C Penny VI'. Who Is the target consumer?It is aim to young professional men and women ages 25 – 40 who have disposable 1 OFF commitment to brand loyalty and want to look good while keeping their purchases within their budget. They wear khakis to feel: comfortable and in style too. People wearing these khakis pants should feel natural, relaxed, and authentic. VIII. What is our single most persuasive idea? Khakis are classic, bringing back durable but also chic and fashionable every drawer and GAP Inc. , Go Khakis this season. The quality and services also importa nt role in the brand. ‘X.Why should our target believe the promise? For years GAP Inc. Offers good quality, simple, classic yet comfortable American style with this we reinforce and reconnect with the consumer and American tradition of the Khakis. X. What is personality for this product or service? Preppy and young professionals X'. What is the medium? TV ads are important as well as Media use of Internet: Youth, and Social Media advertisement using the new Khakis style. Magazines that target more family, fashion and general interest magazines US Weekly, Marie Claire, GO, Parent. XII.Approvals (Who is responsible for â€Å"signing off,† for example: Brand Manager, Marketing Director, then UP Marketing, after shoot the CUP XIII. First, Second, Third, Fourth Round Creative Due Dates – September 1st – until April 1st May. Introduce in XIV. Budget (example: budget is $50,000, quantity 2500, distribution via hand and mail) Budget of $1 Distributed quantity â₠¬â€œ TV media $ 600. 00/1/ ad campaign new version with artist collaboration Taylor Swift and other American famous artist that connect with GAP style. Social Media ad, Youth $300. 00 Print in Magazines $100,000

Modern english literature Essay

The purpose of this course is to encourage students to gain an awareness of, and insight into, the evolution of modern English literature. Students will become acquainted with writers, poets and playwrights such as Thomas Hardy, William Somerset Maugham, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, Virginia Woolf, George Orwell, Henry Williamson, John Betjeman, Ted Hughes, Charles Causley, Samuel Beckett, Laurie Lee, Agatha Christie and John Le Carrà ©. Connexions with socio-political factors will also be explored. The course takes the form of lectures, to which students may contribute their research. Evaluation is by written unseen examination, in the form of short essays. The lectures form but the tip of the iceberg, providing you with a door to your own research and study. You are encouraged to share the results of your studies, helping not only your fellow students, but me. We are, after all, in the same boat, even if I am at the helm. I do not so much teach, as try to help you to learn. I shall provide some examples of examination questions at the end of this hopefully helpful guide. English literature is a huge field, and I can obviously only try to open a few windows for you, or at least loosen the locks, with apologies to the many superb writers who have been omitted. You will hopefully have had a grounding, by attending my other course. If you have not, talk to other students. So here we go! We kick off with two superb dramatists and writers, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) and George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950). Wilde was quintessentially Irish in wit, humour, verbal prowess, blood, and origin, yet, having studied at Trinity College Dublin and then Oxford, was very ‘English’ in a pleasantly louche, supercilious and upperclassish way. In contrast, Shaw was an Anglo-Irish Protestant, morally, socially and politically conscious, even being a founder member of the Fabian Society. He was also self-taught, having left school at the age of fourteen. Their differences are reflected  in their work, although their pithiness unites them. Wilde is perhaps best known for ‘Picture of Dorian Gray’. Grey leads a life of debauchery, while remaining handsome and in good shape. But his portrait becomes increasingly corrupt and horrid: it represents his soul. The ending is pretty horrific. There is of course more to the book than just that, and although it is a superb work, I wouldn’t recommend it to adolescents! In the preface Wilde writes; ‘There is no such thing as a moral or immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written.’ In other words, he seems to be saying that art is for art’s sake. Another of his well-known works is the play, ‘The Importance of being Earnest’, from which we have the gem: ‘Really, if the low orders don’t set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them?’ Shaw found the work hateful and sinister, exhibiting ’real degeneracy’. In this connexion, on the other hand, Wilde said of Shaw: ‘He hasn’t an enemy in the world, and none of his friends like him.’ Other witty Wilde sayings are: ‘Modern journalism justifies its own existence by the greatest Darwinian principle of the survival of the vulgarest.â€⠄¢; ‘A cynic: a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.’; ‘I can resist anything except temptation.’; and ‘When good Americans die, they go to Paris.’. Wilde’s wild life seems to have led to a tragically early demise, not as early as Mozart, but still premature: he sued the father of a poet friend of his, Lord Alfred Douglas, for libel, for accusing him of performing sodomy with his son (the poet). Wilde lost the case, was arrested, and sent to Reading Gaol for two years, for sodomy. He then left for Paris, changing his name to Sebastian Melmoth, dying two years later. Was he Dorian Gray? Was he a homosexual? Having read ‘De Profundis’ (which he wrote in prison) I can find no forensic evidence of his admitting to having actually practiced pillow-biting and shirt-lifting, but then perhaps he was a teaser. Well, perhaps he had certain tendencies towards young men, but the question is whether it was right to send him to gaol. I leave this to your judgment. It is not an easy question, since one needs to look at the morality of the Victorian Age, which some say had an element of hypocrisy: sometimes, those who persecute people manically and morally for something, are trying to hide their own tendencies, even from themselves†¦. At any event, having run out of cash, and written ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol’, this former witty wordsmith par excellence said not long before he died: ‘I  shall have to die beyond my means.’ He left a wife and two children, for whom he had written a lovely, but slightly frightening book of tales. How great would he be today, had he lived to Shaw’s age? He is great enough, as it is. Shaw, perhaps somewhat more mature emotionally than Wilde, and surely a decent enough chap, was, like Wilde, healthily critical of people, but more as members of what we term ‘society’. Thus, in his plays, he criticized, inter alia, slum landlords and private doctors. In the preface to ‘The Doctor’s Dilemma’, he writes: ‘Thus everything is on the side of the doctor. When men die of disease, they are said to die from natural causes. When they recover (and they usually do), the doctor gets the credit of curing them.’ His play applies very much to today. Shaw was also an expert on class. If you wish to gain some insight into class and accent in England, you should red ‘Pygmalion’. If you wish to understand something about the England-Ireland problem, you can read ‘John Bull’s other Island.’ Some memorable sayings from Shaw are: ‘We have no right to consume happiness without producing it than to consume wealth without possessing it’; ‘He knows nothing; and he thinks he knows everything. That clearly points to a political career.’; and ‘ He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches.’ I escape this definition, since I do not teach, but try to help students to learn. He comments on the English were cutting; for example: ‘A person who thinks he is moral when he is only uncomfortable.’ Our course then rushes through John Galsworthy, Joseph Conrad (not even British-born) and T.S. Eliot. This highly educated chap is known, inter alia, for ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’. He wrote the play ‘Murder in the Cathedral’, a very good theatrical adaptation of the dastardly murder of Archbishop Thomas à   Becket. One of my favourite quotes of his, from ‘The Rock’, is: ‘Where is the wisdom lost to knowledge, where is the knowledge lost to information and where is the word we lost in words?’ After a brief glimpse of the amazing American Ezra Pound, who found Europe and Italy in particular, more to his liking intellectually than the USA, we come to William Yeats (1865-1939). He is the quintessential Celtic Irishman,  a friend of Shaw and Wilde, and a good dramatist and poet. ‘The Celtic Twilight’, a collection of traditional Irish stories, is a good pointer to Yeats’ thinking. Jumping now to Henry James (1843-1916), an American who, unlike many, preferred to settle in London rather than Paris, we see a man who could pick up the apposite word with the point of his pen, in a meticulous fashion. I find his style too precise for my liking, the very antithesis of ‘stream of consciousness’ writing. Nevertheless, he was a competent writer. ‘The Turn of the Screw’ is a good ghost story. Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), a giant in English literature, is worth chubby paragraph. A poet who wrote novels, he was born to a modest family (his father was a stonemason), trained as an architect, but returned to his beloved Wessex to write. Beautifully written, his novels can be quite pessimistic: ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ ends with the heroine’s execution for stabbing her husband to death, a husband whom she was emotionally pressurised into marrying, although she loved another. ‘Jude the Obscure’ ends with three children hanging dead behind a door, on clothes hooks. His stories often bring out what he saw as the injustice of the divorce laws, especially for women who had married the wrong man, and were then trapped in their marriage, and how they and their lovers were then ostracized by society. His writing was sensitive, and some of his descriptions of nature in his beloved Wessex are touching. We now look at three childrens’ writers, Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, an Oxford mathematician, non-practising Anglican deacon, and photographer, 1832-1898), Kenneth Graham (1859-1932), and Beatrix Potter (1866-1943). Few have not heard of Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Through the Looking-Glass and what Alice found there’, both of which are intriguing fantasies, almost making imagination real. From the latter, we have the memorable quote: ‘The question is’, said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean different things.’ The question is, said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master, that’s all.’ It was rumoured that he had a not wholly healthy interest in young girls, although there is not a jot of evidence that he ever did anything untoward. From Alice’s fantasy world, the Scotsman Kenneth Graham takes us to the fantasy world of little animals,  with ‘The Wind in the Willows’, written to his son. We see the daily lives of the toad, the badger, rat and mole in a typical English country setting. Beatrix Potter also wrote short books about animals, illustrating them herself. Of note are ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit’ and the ‘Tale of Mrs.Tittlemouse. She spent most of her later life in the Lake District, the most beautiful part of England. This had a kind effect on her writing. Moving now to more social and even sexual themes, we come to D.H. (David Herbert Richard) Lawrence (1885-1930). This man got through the bone to the marrow of passion, love and sex. His quintessential book is ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’, a story of illicit love, passion and unadulterated sex between the upper-class wife of an impotent aristocrat and the gamekeeper. Lawrence left England, and the book was published in Florence, not appearing in England until 1961, following a sensational obscenity trial. Lawrence wrote other books, such as ‘Women in Love’ and ‘Sons and Lovers’. He is very perceptive, revealing the real, rather than the politically correct and sanitised nonsense of hypocrisy. We can connect this to the English people’s dislike of being obvious, particularly when it comes to sex, and their embarrassment of sexual matters, often expressed in crude jokes. Now back to the Irish: James Joyce (1882-1942) was another of those linguists who chose Paris. His most well-known work is ‘Ulyses’, an example of his so-called ‘stream of consciousness’ writing, which tries to catch one’s deepest thoughts and imagination on paper, a kind of interior monologue. As such, it is naturally unstructured. ‘Ulyses’ deals with a day in Dublin, and a whole gaggle of characters. ‘Finnegan’s Wake’ is another example, and has been linked to Giambattista Vico’s ‘New Science’, which contains a good deal about the origins of language. Joyce certainly pushes written language to its limits. In contrast, his ‘Dubliners’, a series of short stories about life in Dublin, is surprisingly prosaic in style. He influenced another Irishman, the playwright Samuel Becket (1906-1989), another linguist residing in Paris, best known for ‘ En attendant Godot’, written ori ginally in French. The gripping play ends without Godot arriving. Let us now spare some thought for the wonderful and tragic Virginia Woolf,  known in particular for ‘To the Lighthouse’, ‘The Waves’, ‘Orlando’ and ‘Mrs. Dalloway’. As with Joyce, we see a certain amount of internal dialogue. Woolf was a leading light of the ‘Bloomsbury Group’, named after the area of London in which it met. She has also been seen as a feminist, having written : ‘A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction’. But does this not also apply to men? It is up to you to decide, by reading some of her work, whether or not she was a feminist. She is said to have had mental problems. At any rate, she drowned herself in the Thames. Back now to the men. Aldous Huxley (1894) is best known for ‘Brave New World’ (1934), a particularly negative critique of the future, where Britain is a wasteland of human ‘robots’ and scientific breeding (he virtually predicted test-tube babies), with subordination the ideal of happiness. He developed the theme in 1959, with ‘Brave New World Revisited’. At any rate, he is relevant today, as is the inimitable literary giant George Orwell (1903-50), whose real name was Eric Arthur Blair. His ‘1984’, published in 1948, predicts a future where the world is divided into huge power blocks, and where people are run on government propaganda. Wherever you live, ‘Big Brother’ watches you from a television screen, and so help you if you say anything against the government, or even try to have a loving relationship with someone. As for the Ministry of Truth, it is based on lying. ‘Animal Farm’ is an attack on communist totalitarianism. After Eton, Blair became a colonial policeman in Burma (he was born in Bengal), an experience which made him critical of the British Empire. ‘Burmese Days’ is a novel which brings out the hypocrisy of empire, and how social class mattered, in a story of unrequited love. Orwell was also a good short story writer. ‘Shooting an Elephant’ brings out the relationship between rulers and ruled, while ‘A Hanging’ is horrific in its detail. Orwell fought in the Spanish civil war, and wrote a very perceptive – if occasionally pedantic – book about the details of the conflict. He also spent several months living as a casual worker in London and Paris, working mainly as a dishwasher. He then produced a highly entertaining book, ‘Down and out in London and Paris’. Here is an example of his writing, from ‘E ngland, your England’: ‘As I write, highly civilised human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me. They do not feel any enmity against me as an individual, nor I against them. They are only â€Å"doing their duty†, as the saying goes. Most of them, I have no doubt, are kind-hearted law-abiding men who would never dream of committing murder in private life.’ Like several writers, Orwell was also a journalist. We cannot end without mentioning his essay ‘Politics and the English Language’, a highly entertaining but effective lambasting of the influence of political ideology on the English language, and very relevant today, with the erosion of clear English through computer language, sloppy education and political correctness. From Orwell, we turn now to two children’s writers, although their books are also appropriate for adults. The South African J.R. Tolkien (1892-1973), Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, is most well known for ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’, ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’, adventure stories laden with fantasy and drawing on Tolkien’s knowledge of the Celts. If I compare Tolkien to Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter’, the latter catapults itself out of existence. Roald Dahl (1916-1990) is also a wonderful writer, primarily but not exclusively for children. Born in Wales of Norwegian parents, his daughter was once one of the girlfriends of a cousin of mine. He wrote a series of short stories, ‘Tales of the Unexpected’, so gripping that they were serialised on television. Each story ends with a twist. Although they are for adults and older children, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ is defi nitely for young people. ‘My Uncle Oswald’ is also an amusing book. So we come to a mammoth of English literature, William Somerset Maugham (1874-1965). Born in Paris, where his father was a legal adviser, hiss mother died when he was eight years of age, and his father two years later. He was sent to live with an uncle, the Vicar of Whitstable, apparently a cold character, and then attended King’s School, Canterbury, left early, and studied literature, philosophy and German at Heidelberg, ending up studying medicine at St.Thomas’ Hospital in Lambeth, London, where he qualified as a doctor. His second book, ‘Lisa of Lambeth’ (1897), a story about working-class adultery, sold so well that Maugham became a full-time writer, moving to the south of France in 1928, around the time of his divorce (it is said that he had rather special relationships with various  males). We cannot of course mention all his books (he even wrote some popular plays), but of note are: ‘Of Human Bondage’, autobiographical in nature, †˜Ashenden’, about a secret agent, and four volumes of very entertaining short stories, of which my favourite is ‘Salvatore’. Maugham was certainly a pretty rum character, and was good at irritating people, in particularly those whom he almost libeled in some of his books. For even if he did not mention real names, it was sometimes fairly obvious whom he meant. The following quote reveals some of Maugham’s sometimes bitter-sweet powers of describing people: ‘When she reddened, her pasty skin acquired a curiously mottled look, like strawberries and cream gone bad.’ Wending our way towards the writers of thrillers, I shall touch on only four, although there is a whole bevy of them. Graham Greene (1904-91), who converted to Rome in 1926, was educated at Oxford, and worked for British Intelligence for a while. His thrillers are gripping, and delve deep into morality. One of his best thrillers, the ‘Human Factor’, is based on espionage, as is ‘Our Man In Havanna’. Other superb books are books are ‘The End of the Affair’, ‘The Honorary Consul’ and ‘Ministry of Fear’. John Le Carrà © (1931- ), whose real name is David Cornwell, is still going strong. After Oxford, he taught at Eton for two years, and then worked for MI5 (which handles, along with the Police’s Special Branch, internal security, but often has rows with MI6 about responsibility for Northern Ireland, because of the connexions with the Republic of Ireland). His espionage thriller ‘The Spy who came in from the Cold’, won him worldwide fame, and was made into a very good film. It brought out the reality of intelligence work, the drudgery and the mutual suspicions that abound in the incestuous world of institutionalised spying. Some of his other books are ‘Smiley’s Circus’, ‘A Small town in Germany’, ‘A Perfect Spy’ and ‘The Constant Gardener’ which, despite the alleged end of the Cold War, is as thrilling as ever, questioning the morality of big business. To get a sense of his style, here is the beginning of ‘A Small Town in Germany’: ‘Ten minutes to midnight: a pious Friday in May and a fine river mist lying in the market square. Bonn was a Balkan city, stained and secret [†¦].’ In juxtaposition, Ian Fleming (1908-1964), author of the extremely well-known Bond novels, emphasises, perhaps a mite too much, the more glamorous aspects of the job,  but nevertheless remains plausible. He was in British Naval Intelligence for a while. Then we should mention Len Deighton (1929- ), who may have caught the writing bug when doing his National Service as a photographer attached to the Special Investigation Branch. ‘The Ipcress File’ made him an instant success, and was made into a good film, with Michael Caine as the hero. Some of his other books are ‘Horse under Water’, ‘Bomber’ and ‘Berlin Game’ (part of a series). We cannot leave these chaps without mention of a lady writer, who, although not an espionage expert, is one of the best crime novelists: Agatha Christie (1890-1978), wrote sixty six detective novels, using her experience as a hospital dispenser in the Great War to learn a good deal about poisons. Although her writing style is surprisingly simple, she manages to keep the reader hooked by misdirecting him. Who has not heard of Mrs. Marples and Hercule Poirot? ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’, ‘Murder on the Orient Express’, ‘Ten Little Niggers’ and ‘The Mousetrap’ are just a few of her works. P.D.James was also an extremely good crime writer. Before now moving to a small selection of British poets and their poetry, we shall look at Henry Williamson, since he connects well to our first poet, Ted Hughes, who knew him, and spoke at his funeral. Williamson was a writer, journalist and farmer, who was in love with nature. He fought in the Great War, becoming disgusted with the greed and bigotry that had caused it, and determined that Britain and Germany should never go to war again. Because he had supported Oswald Mosley and his Fascists, and had admired Hitler before the next world war, a few small-minded individuals tried to damage his reputation. It is silly that the ‘Norton Anthology of English Literature’ does not include him, while including many lesser writers. After all, Oscar Wilde believed that art is for art’s sake, and should not be polluted by politics. Writers should be able to express their views without being sent to Coventry. The greatness of his books, however, saw him through. His masterpiece is ‘Tarka the Otter’, essentially about an otter being hunted to death. The reader actually becomes an otter. Williamson spent many months studying and watching otters before and while he wrote the book. So good was it, that Walt Disney twice approached him for the film rights, and was  roundly rejected. It was eventually made into a proper film, and Williamson died on the same day that the filming of a dying Tarka was taking place. Uncanny or merely coincidental? ‘Salar the Salmon’ is another masterpiece, as is his series of books on the life of Willie Maddison. The ‘Beautiful Years’ and ‘Dandelion Days’, partly autobiographical, describe beautifully a boy growing into adolescence and adulthood. And so to our poetic interlude: Laurie Lee was the quintessential Englishman: ‘Far-fetched with tales of other worlds and ways, My skin well-oiled with wines of the Levant, I set my face into a filial smile To greet the pale, domestic kiss of Kent. [†¦] The hedges choke with roses fat as cream.’ (from ‘Home from Abroad’). John Betjeman (a poet laureate), and lover of old England, loved Victoriana, the smell of old churches and musty books. But he is also perceptive about people: the following are extracts about an English lady at a service in Westminster Abbey, during the world war: ‘Gracious Lord, oh bomb the Germans. Spare their women for Thy Sake, And if that is not too easy We will pardon Thy mistake. But gracious Lord, what’er shall be, Don’t let anyone bomb me. Keep our Empire undismembered Guide our forces by Thy hand, Gallant blacks from far Jamaica, Honduras and Togoland; Protect them Lord in all their fights, And, even more, protect the whites. [†¦] Now I feel a little better, What a treat to hear thy word, Where the bones of leading statesmen, Have so often been interr’d. And now, dear Lord, I cannot wait Because I have a luncheon date.’ (from ‘In Westminster Abbey’). Unlike Betjeman, Charles Causley tends to look more at individual people and events, and is not as nostalgic. As regards his views on poetry, he writes in his introduction to a selection of his poems: ‘What a poem â€Å"means† is something that the writer as well as the reader each must decide alone. Only one thing is certain: that, unlike arithmetic, the correct answers may all be right, yet all be different.’ His imagery grips you hard: ‘Bank holiday, a sky of guns, the river Slopping black silver on the level stair. A war-memorial that aims for ever Its stopped, stone barrel on the enormous air.’ (from ‘At Grantchester’) or ‘Oh mother my mouth is full of stars As cartridges in the tray My blood is a twin-branched scarlet tree And it runs all runs away.’ (From ‘Song of the Dying Gunner A.A.1’). or ‘Charlotte she was gentle But they found her in the flood Her Sunday beads among the reeds Beaming with her blood.’ (from ‘The Ballad of Charlotte Dymond’). From poor Charlotte Dymond, we move to Clifford Dyment’s ‘Fox’, which begins: ‘Exploiter of the shadows He moved among the fences, A strip of action coiling Around his farmyard fancies.’ And so we come to another mammoth, a poet laureate into the bargain, Ted Hughes, who (see above) admired Henry Williamson. Cambridge-educated Yorkshireman Hughes was fascinated by the natural violence of nature – in particular as regards the behaviour of animals – , in power and in death: ‘I sit in the top of the wood, my eyes closed. Inaction, no falsifying dream Between my hooked head and hooked feet: Or in a sleep rehearse perfect kills and eat.’ (from ‘Hawk Roosting’). or ‘Terrifying are the attent sleek thrushes on the lawn, More coiled steel than living – a poised Dark deadly eye, those delicate legs Triggered to stirrings beyond sense – with a start, a bounce, a stab Overtake the instant and drag out some writhing thing. No indolent procrastinations and no yawning stares, No sighs or head-scrathings. Nothing but bounce and stab And a ravening second.’ (from ‘Thrushes’). or ‘The pig lay on a barrow dead. It weighed, they said, as much as three men. Its eyes closed, pink white eyelashes. Its trotters stuck straight out.’ (‘View of a Pig’). Hughes, who superbly described November as ‘the month of the drowned dog’, had a somewhat intense yet sad relationship with his wife, the American poetess, Silvia Plath, who committed suicide, allegedly because of Hughes relationship(s?) with another woman or more. Pity about the children: and Sylvia’s son committed suicide forty six years after his mother did. Nature, power and death. Our last two poems are by me, and I feel constrained to tell you that if a poem is to be unadulterated, and above the shackles of convention and/or self-interest, whether good or bad, it must come directly from the heart. The only question is how pure is your heart. ‘WILD RIVER TROUT Dark shadow lies beneath, no movement; Not even a twitch of the delicate tail While it seeks its food. More than hidden, it is part of the river. It darts, too quick for eye to follow, You see it in its new position. The upward stab, the plucking bite, The munching seconds, invisible to you. You see only spreading ripples, Then the golden glint, the creamy belly, In the evening sun. You cast, the sudden tug shocks you, Despite your expectation. It pulls and judders at your soul; Such beauty, as you take him out, Designed for hunting fly, To feed its perfect muscles. Body sculpted to living perfection; Colours glisten, yet as deep as the river. The hazel eye stares you out Long after the death. It hunts your soul. Thank God for procreation.’ or REMEMBER To your beauty-hunting body, Oh grant some time to feeling. To your love-thirsting heart, Oh grant some time to harmony. To your self-seeking soul, Please accord some time to thought. To your success-hungry ego, Just grant some time to others. To your power-seeking eyes, Oh grant some time to introspection. To your adventure-seeking feet, Oh grant some time to knowledge. To your God-seeking soul, Please give some time to prayer. Let us now talk quickly about John Fowles, who loved Greece. Indeed, one of his most famous novels, ‘The Magus’, is set on the island of Spetse, a story of intrigue, passion, obsession and sex, with an orchestrator, ‘Conchis’. ‘The Collector’ is also a rather frightening little story of a girl trapped by an obsessive collector, ending nastily. Returning to America, John Steinbeck is of considerable note for his novels about life during the Great Depression, in particular ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘The Grapes of Wrath’. Let us finish, as we began, with a couple of playwrights. Harold Pinter, famous for his skilful repartee, wrote, inter alia, ‘The Birthday Party’ and ‘The Caretaker’. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005, and, although part-Jewish, led a group of Jews who campaigned for justice for the Palestinians, embarrassing fanatic Israeli Zionists. To obtain a flavour of his political views, you can look at his ‘A New world Order’, published in 1991. He was awarded an honorary professorship by the University of Thessaloniki. Another well-known playwright is Tom Stoppard, also a master of repartee, who escaped from Czechoslovakia in 1938, at the age of one. He wrote, inter alia, ‘Arcadia’. He also wrote and spoke on political matters. Now we really must stop, and move on to a few typical examination questions: ‘Compare George Bernard Shaw’s and Oscar Wilde’s works.’ ‘Do you think that Maugham was more imaginative in his writing than Orwell?’ ‘It is said that Ted Hughes was obsessed with nature, power and death. What do you think?’ ‘Compare the works of Agatha Christie to those of John Le Carrà ©.’ It goes without saying, almost, that merely learning the above few pages, parrot-fashion, will not be sufficient to pass the examination: they represent only a skeletal outline. Also, you need to be succinct. No linguistic bulimia or irrelevant sentences, please! I shall immediately see through any examination paper that appears to rely only on this brief guide. Most marks will be awarded for evidence of originality and thinking, as well  as of knowledge.