John Steinbeck Living the Story Essay - 582 Words

John Steinbeck was one of the great authors of his time. He was the winner of a Nobel Prize, and among other accomplishments. Many of his experience and knowledge are incorporated throughout his stories. Steinbeck strived to accomplish everything that he did during his lifetime. Nothing came easy and he had to work hard to earn everything in his life. This experience and hardship helped him with his writing, as he was able to write about real people and experiences. Steinbeck got his inspiration from life experiences, people he knew, and places he had visited. Steinbeck’s life experiences good and bad helped shape him as a writer. He went through many phases in his life that were not easy to deal with. In other words Whatever does not†¦show more content†¦Lastly, Steinbeck was a WWII transcript writer during the earlier years of his life. During this time, Steinbeck had not yet become known and one of the only ways that he could get paid for his writing was to be a w ar correspondent for the Herald Tribune in Europe. This took place in 1943, yet it stayed with Steinbeck for the rest of his life. This is illustrated in his most successful novel titled The Grapes of Wrath. This novel was about a family trying to survive during the second Great War. The detail put into The Grapes of Wrath proves that Steinbecks prior knowledge of the war helped him in his writing. John Steinbecks works all include a little piece of himself. The blatant use of his experience in his stories suggests that Steinbeck felt his experiences were so important that he could not help but incorporate them in his works. Steinbeck incorporated his many experiences into his works through events and characters. For instance, his history in marine biology snuck its way into Cannery Row as well as his ranch hand knowledge, and his writings about the war. This use of life experiences in his novels was not meant to be a secret. The use of these familiarities further proves Steinbeckâ €™s life experiences affected his writing in many ways. During his life, Steinbeck met many people. The people he met had many character types that aided in the unique diversity of his characters. Almost all of the main characters in his novels, as well as some of the otherShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of John Steinbeck s The Grapes Of Wrath And Of Mice And Men 1433 Words   |  6 Pagesare; and the important things in life are love and beauty, which bring joy to the process of living. These answers are the philosophy of John Steinbeck † (Benson 555). John Steinbeck was a major American writer who has written many books, which have come to be known as classic American stories. Examples of these classic stories are The Grapes of Wrath, The Red Pony, and Of Mice and Men. John Steinbeck is worthy of the praise he has received for his contributions to American literature because heRead MoreLife of John Steinbeck974 Words   |  4 Pagesthe famous American writer was John Ste inbeck. He earned a Nobel prize of literature from his American classic novels that he had written in the past. The Nobel prize was not the only award that he had earned for his literature, he earned different awards for his writings also (John Stein..). John Steinbeck is a man who had overcome different obstacles and being successful in life. Everyone has a life history, John Steinbeck also has a history of his own. His life story began on February 27, 1902, inRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath And Of Mice And Men1644 Words   |  7 PagesJarvis Johnson Research Paper John Steinbeck is an American author of 27 books, widely known for award winning novels, The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men; Steinbeck is also a Nobel Prize winning of Literature. Steinbeck’s writing expresses realistic and creative thoughts, combining as they do compassionate comedy (through Lennie) and intense social perception with their surrounding national culture. John Steinbeck, â€Å"Of mice and Men†, Printed in 1937, articulating a tale of characters, GeorgeRead More Symbolism in The Grapes of Wrath Essay example1446 Words   |  6 PagesSymbolism in The Grapes of Wrath  Ã‚      John Steinbeck is an author known worldwide for his compelling stories and novels. One such novel is The Grapes of Wrath. This novel was written to expose the plight of those dispossessed from their lands by the Great Depression. Steinbeck uses several literary elements to help relate the story to the reader. In The Grapes of Wrath, as in his other works, Steinbeck relies on the use of symbolism to strengthen and enhance the plot. By far, the mostRead MoreThe Struggle for Equality and Respect in a Man’s World Essay example928 Words   |  4 Pages John Steinbeck’s short story â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† portrays the struggle for equality and respect in a man’s world for the protagonist Elisa Allen. Steinbeck defines Elisa as a strong, proud woman who is limited from personal, social, and sexual fulfillment by the prevailing conception of a womans role in a world dominated by men. From the beginning of the story, Steinbeck effortlessly describes boundaries Elisa faces through the detailed description of the geography and weather. Steinbeck notesRead MoreWhat Influenced John Steinbeck?. What Exactly Influenced884 Words   |  4 PagesWhat influenced John Steinbeck? What exactly influenced Steinbeck’s writings? Was it his background, his past, or was it the way he grew up and learned. There are many factors that come into play when trying to depict what exactly influenced an author. A lot of people believe that he was heavily influenced by California, where he lived. As many as nine of his works were proven to be based off of some part of california life in his time. But not all of his inspiration could simply come from CaliforniaRead More John Steinbeck Essay1735 Words   |  7 Pages John Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California, a farming community with of about 2500 people. He was the third of four children and the only son of John Ernst and Olive Hamiton Steinbeck. His sisters Beth and Esther were much older than John and he felt closest to Mary, the youngest. He spent his childhood and adolescence in the Salinas Valley, which he later called â€Å"the salad bowl of the nation.† John’s mother, Olive, was the daughter of Irish immigrants. She left her parents’Read MoreTheme Of Irony In Cannery Row1633 Words   |  7 Pages Lauren Skalet ENG-101 Ms.Hoelle December 12, 2017 The Irony of Cannery Row The book Cannery Row by John Steinbeck provides several examples of irony, which shed light on life during this time in history and demonstrates the humanity of people that are traditionally looked down on and seen as less fortunate. The story of Cannery Row takes place shortly following the Great Depression when despite many areas were seeing relief through increased job opportunities, there were still many areas like CanneryRead MoreThe Descriptive Writing Style of John Steinbeck1122 Words   |  5 Pagesbook are going through. Not only does the story focus on the problems one family goes through, but explains the problem is happening to many more civilians than the story focuss on. Steinbeck does not leave out a single detail about the Joad family and their journey to California, and that in itself is what makes his writing so entertaining. Not only is this a very powerful topic to write about, but the remarkable writing style of author John Steinbeck makes this book a masterpiec e. From the intenselyRead More John Steinbeck was born to middle-lower class family in the farming1689 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Steinbeck was born to middle-lower class family in the farming community of Salinas, California. John’s Steinbeck Imagine†¦ your town is suddenly stricken with poverty. Your family business goes under because the economy of your local community can no longer support it. Herds of your closest friends continually move out of the town you grew up in due to a severe shortage of work. The basic necessities of life are so scarce that everyone around you reverts to their animalistic urges

Eating Disorder Reflection Paper - 1341 Words

Reflection on impact of societal ideas on body image and eating disorder. Nah! you are not skinny enough, no one wants a fat guy or a girl, do not eat that you will never get skinny, sadly but truly we are consistently being reminded with phrases like these to pursue a socially accepted thin and trimmed figure. Eating disorders are chronic and serious illness that engages a person into severe irregular eating behaviors to satisfy their distress about maintaining a thin figure and low body weight. The widely known types of eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa, is a fear of gaining weight, in which an extremely little food is consumed causing a significant lower body weight. The other common type of eating disorder is Bulimia Nervosa, in†¦show more content†¦In my opinion, when people began to lose weight the first thing to do is skip their meals since it is easier to do so than exercising. However, as pleasing as it sounds that people are thriving to achieve my body type I am somewhat indirectly encouraging them towards eating disorders since thei r distorted perception of their body figure does not allow them to perceive themselves as thin or healthy but instead fat. In our society the model of beauty is characterized by a thin frame in females and a muscular frame in males but, I began to ask what might be the cause of these societal pressures on our body images. In my opinion these perfect and ideal body images are triggered by media, prejudice in body size, and peer pressure since we are constantly exposed to these sources in our everyday lives. In developed countries, mass media plays a direct role in regards to eating disorders by allowing people to acknowledge their thin ideals and values that being beautiful means being thin. People are progressively exposed to perfect images in media via television, magazines, internet, and video games; for example, compared to past years, females are portrayed as non-curvy, tall and with a perfect skin and males are portrayed as tall, muscular with no chest hair; this evidence is consistent with the rise in eating disorder as people try to internalize their thin ideals and manifest themselves in abnormal eatingShow MoreRelatedEffects Of The Fitbit Fitness Band Essay965 Words   |  4 Pages In her blog post â€Å"It Happened to Me: My Fitbit Reignited My Eating Disorder†, Martin (2015) discussed how the features of a fitness band led to an eating disorder relapse. Eating disorders are characterized by pervasive fear of gaining weight and altered perception of body image (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Eating disorders may also be associated with restrictive eating and compensatory behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Martin (2015) argued that the conditioning effectsRead MoreMindfulness : The Practice Of Mindfulness1556 Words   |  7 PagesKabat-Zinn, 1982). MBSR is an 8-week training in mindfulness meditation which consists of weekly 2.5-hour group classes and one day-long silence retreat. MBSR has been found to be effective in the management of stress, physical illnesses, and psychiatric disorders with a range of clinical and non-clinical popula tions (Grossman, Niemann, Schmidt, Walach, 2004; Cramer, Lauche, Paul, Dobos, 2012; Lauche, Cramer, Dobos, Langhorst, Schmidt, 2013). MBSR was later combined with elements of Cognitive-BehaviouralRead MoreThe Negativity Of Media Towards Woman1646 Words   |  7 PagesAnna Wright Mrs. Ford Junior Research Paper February 10, 2015 The negativity of media towards woman â€Å"We are constantly surrounded by all sorts of media and we construct our identities in part through media images we see†(Ossola, Alexandra). In the world we live in today we are constantly bombarded by impossible standards of how we should look and behave, and this has a very negative effect on women of all ages. Women suffer from horrible stereotypes and images that make them think less ofRead MoreThe Impact Of Media On Body Dysmorphic Disorder Essay1733 Words   |  7 Pagesbody of the model and not think much of it. But for those who suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder, this will affect them in a completely different way. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is â€Å"a body image disorder characterized by persistent and intrusive preoccupations with an imagined or slight defect in one’s appearance† (ADAA, 2014). The impact that advertisements can have on those suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder, can be crucial to their mental health. These individuals will begin to obsess over changingRead MoreEssay about Pro-Anorexia Websites1686 Words   |  7 Pageshas developed into a tool that allows people struggling with anorexia to potentially find a sa nctuary from the regulatory systems in popular culture that are applied to women’s bodies. Cyberspace provides an alternative space for women with eating disorders or body issues. The space created by cyberspace is potentially safer for women to meet because it allows anonymity while simultaneously being part of a community that the built environment is unable to provide. The components that make up pro-anorexiaRead MoreThe Autism Spectrum : Reflection Paper1708 Words   |  7 Pages The Asperger’s Disorder in the Autism Spectrum: Reflection Paper Psychology 340: Fundamentals of Psychopathology Marie-Eve Lefebvre Concordia University The definition of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) says: â€Å"[†¦] considered to be the result of some structural differences in the brain that are usually evident at birth or become apparent as the child begins to develop.† (Butcher, Mineka, Hooley, Taylor Antony, 2010) I am sure that modern discovery related to theRead MoreObesity And Weight Loss And Obesity1673 Words   |  7 PagesObesity Obesity and weight loss is an issue that many men and women deal with on a daily basis. According to the Mayo Clinic obesity is defined as a complex disorder involving an excessive amount of body fat (Mayo, 1998-2016). Obesity in men, women, and children increases the risk of diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Early prevention during childhood deceases the chances of the individual being obese during adulthood. Early prevention includesRead MoreMy Greatest Challenge As A Group Facilitator1739 Words   |  7 Pageshand group, therapy is a type of psychological therapy that is conducted with a group of people facing similar issues and is led by a trained mental health expert. Group therapy is exceedingly beneficial to individuals with addiction problems, eating disorders and other psychological issues. Being surrounded by people who have dealt with similar challenges and consequences helps clients to become cognizant that they are n ot alone, and this revelation can be comforting and relieving to the individualRead MoreThe Backseat Driver : A Journey Of Sexual Abuse944 Words   |  4 PagesExpository Essay 5 Backseat Driver 6 â€Å"Molest†* 7 Age 7 8 Teeth* 9 Old Friend 10 Traffic Guards* 11 Flashbacks* 12 Age 14 13 Letter to a Shadow* 14 Signature 15 Angeline 16 I’m fine* 17 Candle 18 Emancipation* 19 Changing the Story 20 Age 16 21 Running 22 Reflection 24 Notes 25 Bibliography 26 to my Angeline whom I will always believe is an angel sent to any others trapped in binds of your own minds do not fear freedom to the self-abused your glowing future deserves all you can offer and lastlyRead MoreAs A Client, I Played The Role Of An Individual With Anorexia1292 Words   |  6 Pageshow difficult it would be for someone to come into a counseling office and tell a stranger about their weight, obsession with losing weight, lack of eating, etc. In the role play, I was an 18 year old woman in high school that came into counseling because of her concerned mother. I tried to be resistant and in denial that I had a problem with my eating and desire to lose weight because it seems as if many individuals with Anorexia Nervosa feel as if they do not have a problem. My partner, Jordie, for

Pestel and Porters Tesco Free Essays

PESTEL provides an analysis into the external business factors which may effect the company performances. It can be used on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis to analysis the macro environmental effects on a company. POLITICAL-EU Free trading laws promoting trade between western and eastern European resulting in expansion of tesco retail outlets ECONOMIC-Economic recession has affected consumers buying behaviors. We will write a custom essay sample on Pestel and Porters Tesco or any similar topic only for you Order Now Consumers buy essential commodities however the demand for luxury has decreased. Consumers spend less time eating out and spend more time eating in, in order to cut down on cost. SOCIAL-The majority of the uk population is made up of retired people who spend less on food and eat less. Consumer attitude changing to become more healthy. Increase in demand for organic foods. Increase in UK ethnicity population has lead to a wide range of food items available in store TECHNOLOGICAL-Increase in population access to internet has caused an increase in Online grocery shopping. Loyaty programs has enabled tesco to analyze consumers spending habits. Mobile technology allowing convenient shopping on mobile devices. Self service tills makes buying quicker for customers ENVIRONMENTAL-Incentives to re-use bags and be more environmentally friendly. Recycling center’s available at tescos. Carbon foot print data available on some products. Greener living scheme which advices customers on environmental issues such as how to reduce food waste and carbon foot print when preparing meals LEGAL-Increase in VAT rate will affect the non-food sector of tescos. Increase of minimum wage of over 21s (from 6. 08 to 6. 9) impacts operating costs. PORTERS 5 forces allows the analysis of the competitive environment. SUBSTITUTE of PRODUCTS and services-Low threat of substitute for food products as tescos provides quality goods at low prices Substitutes- indirect- pubs offering food, local marketss or shops, on line suppliers New COMPETITORS – Low rate of competition from new entrants into the market because it takes a huge investment and a new business pathway to capture customers however lidl, aldi have come in to the market capturing a new market with lower prices. Marks and spencer offer food at the high end of the market Old COMPETITORS – High rate of competition from other food retail stores such as asda, Morrison, Sainsbury’s and waitros in the form of price, promotions and retaining customer loyalty. Competitors Sainsbury etc compete as a traditional competitor for market share BARGINING POWER OF BUYERS High bargaining powers of buyers in the supermarkets, high. We have lots of choice as to where we shop. Tesco have to keep on their toes to be competitive. When I take the DLR to work however the buyer has no power, no choice, so prices go up BARGINING POWERS OF SUPPLIERS – suppliers to supermarkets have little power and get squeezed by the big boys. they have to supply at a lower price, will not get paid by tesco until it suits tesco. How to cite Pestel and Porters Tesco, Papers

How I Decided to Change My Life free essay sample

ENGLISH 2 COMPOSITION NANCYCABRERA THE DAY I DECIDED TO CHANGE MY LIFE The day I decided to change my life was the day I called upon the Lord. I was ready to take my precious life, in my room stretched against the wall with a knife in my hands ready to slit my wrist. I was crying intensely, and as I was trying to a Voice reminded me that I had 3 Boys who needed me , I started to cry and Called on Jesus to please help me. There is a point in life where we all decided to change many can find the way out. Others aren’t so fortunate; they never call upon the only one who can save their soul and life. My life hasn’t been easy there were many times in my life where I know the Lord was there to save me. Countless times I was in Near death Experiences where from My Car catching on Fire as I was driving, to Car Accidents where my Car flipped and thought I was never going to make it. We will write a custom essay sample on How I Decided to Change My Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Reality was I was headed down the wrong Road and all the while God was trying to catch my attention. Many times I did what I wanted, lived how I wanted, and never took time to truly seek him or know him. But change and a complete 360 change cannot occur unless we surrender and acknowledge our maker. I remember that my life was a wreck from Drinking and Partying Every Single Night, to having countless Relations with different partners not really ever finding love but just heart breaks. I had no goals in my life and thought life was just one great party. To make money I sold Drugs and escorted myself as a means to get by with fast money, I realized that this world sends this message to world yet it was illegal. My life was headed down the path that many are on now and I job knowing the Lord is to tell them there is hop found in the Lord Jesus. See before changing my life I had seeked Religion and other ways I thought could lead me to God but never did from Catholic to Jehovah Witness to Wiccan nothing could connect me or lead me to the true source of life. But then when I called upon him He answered. My life totally changed after my Ex-boyfriend got arrested from Selling Drugs, God had a plan for me because I was in New York at the time this happened. When I got back his Probation was to attend a Church Ministry Barbeque where they Spoke and preached about Jesus Christ. I had never heard the Gospel this way and for the first time I truly felt the Presence and Love of God, that Day they asked me if I wanted to receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior and I said yes. From that Day forward my life changed completely not only did I stop doing drugs, drinking, partying and having sex with every guy that was attractive to me but God finally started speaking to me, leading me to get my life in order the bible which once was not understandable I finally could read and he spoke to me through it. To many they don’t realize that change comes from the heart and that we all need to find the missing piece of our life which is God to find true change.

Heart Essays (596 words) - Kurtz, Joseph Conrad, Heart Of Darkness

Heart Of Darkness By Conrad In the novella Heart if Darkness by Joseph Conrad Marlow and Kurtz undergo similar journeys through the most evil and dark regions of their psyche; however, Marlow is able to realize the darkness inside him and retain his soul before he reverts to a savage animal-like Kurtz has. Marlow's disillusionment begins as he arrives on the shore of Africa. When he first arrives on the coast of Africa he sees a large warship bombarding the overgrown forest that has encroached on the beach. This firing is random and is only pointless destruction. He sees the natives, and the people view them as their enemies. Marlow thinks of them as enemies at first, however when he sees them up close he thinks they are nothing more than "black shadows of disease and starvation." Marlow sees the natives clinging to the shade which seems cooler and peaceful but when he enters the shade he realizes it is actually "a gloomy circle of some inferno." Marlow identifies with Kurtz finding many of the same qualities that Kurtz has in himself. Marlow idolizes Kurtz. Marlow sees a freeness and rebellious quality he wishes he could possess. Marlow sees that Kurtz has embraced his savage side when he goes and travels with the native savages. Marlow shows he has the savage qualities as well when he follows Kurtz into the forest, but not to the extreme Kurtz has. Marlow also shows his savageness when he is first in Africa when he and his men are carrying a dead man. One of his men expects to see Marlow kill someone, this man sees that Marlow has the potential to kill a man. Marlow realizes that Kurtz is a savage by his actions and behavior. First Marlow is horrified by the human heads on the poles outside his house. Marlow is also outraged and upset when Kurtz threatened to kill him if he did not give him the ivory. Kurtz is willing to kill over a small amount of ivory. Kurtz's viciousness is shown when he threatens him; because Kurtz does not think, but relies on gut instinct and his survival skills which have allowed him to survive for this time. Marlow tries to distance himself from Kurtz in his mind. Marlow tries to make himself believe that he is not like Kurtz and he will not and can not do the things Kurtz does. When he follows Kurtz he stays to the edge of the woods not venturing any further. This represents Marlow's unwillingness to participate in Kurtz's actions and atrocities. Marlow realizes that the Congo reveals the evil and savagery in an individual. Marlow says, "I seemed to see Kurtz for the first time...the lone white man turning his back suddenly on the headquarters, on relief, on thoughts of home, towards his empty and desolate station." This quote reveals that Kurtz has turned his back on humanity and society. The brickmaker is jealous of Kurtz's position. When Marlow mentions of Kurtz's possible advancement to manager the brickmaker suddenly blows out the candle and stormed outside. Marlow talks with the doctor before his departure to Africa. Foreshadowing is prevalent in this section where the doctor inquires if there is a history madness in his family and how people change when they have ventured into the jungle. The manager said that Kurtz's methods had ruined the district, even though Kurtz is the most productive person consistently exporting ivory. The manager's complaint shows his jealousy of Kurtz. Marlow and Kurtz have similar paths in life, but they each choose a different path. Marlow sees the progression of the human mind in different people at different times. The most extreme savageness is Kurtz, while himself is the beginning of the darkness which lurks in the hearts of all men.

The Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988

The Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988 The Iran-Iraq War of 1980 to 1988 was a grinding, bloody, and in the end, completely pointless conflict. It was sparked by the Iranian Revolution, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which overthrew Shah Pahlavi in 1978-79. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who despised the Shah, welcomed this change, but his joy turned to alarm when the Ayatollah began calling for a Shia revolution in Iraq to overthrow Saddams secular/Sunni regime. The Ayatollahs provocations inflamed Saddam Husseins paranoia, and he soon began calling for a new Battle of Qadisiyyah, a reference to the 7th-century battle in which the newly-Muslim Arabs defeated the Persians. Khomeini retaliated by calling the Baathist regime a puppet of Satan. In April  1980, Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz survived an assassination attempt, which Saddam blamed on the Iranians. As Iraqi Shias began to respond to the Ayatollah Khomeinis call for revolt, Saddam cracked down hard, even hanging Iraqs top Shia Ayatollah, Mohammad Baqir al-Sadr, in April of 1980. Rhetoric and skirmishes continued from both sides throughout the summer, though Iran was not at all militarily prepared for war. Iraq Invades Iran On September 22, 1980, Iraq launched an all-out invasion of Iran. It began with airstrikes against the Iranian Air Force, followed by a three-pronged ground invasion by six Iraqi Army divisions along a 400-mile-long front in the Iranian province of Khuzestan. Saddam Hussein expected ethnic Arabs in Khuzestan to rise up in support of the invasion, but they did not, perhaps because they were predominantly Shiite. The unprepared Iranian army was joined by the Revolutionary Guards in their efforts to fight off the Iraqi invaders. By November, a corps of some 200,000 Islamic volunteers (untrained Iranian civilians) were also throwing themselves against the invading forces. The war settled into a stalemate throughout much of 1981. By 1982, Iran had gathered its forces and successfully launched a counter-offensive, using human waves of Basij volunteers to drive the Iraqis back from Khorramshahr. In April, Saddam Hussein withdrew his forces from Iranian territory. However, Iranian calls for the end to monarchy in the Middle East convinced reluctant Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to begin sending billions of dollars in aid to Iraq; none of the Sunni powers wished to see Iranian-style Shia revolution spreading southward. On June 20, 1982, Saddam Hussein called for a ceasefire that would return everything to the pre-war status quo. However, Ayatollah Khomeini rejected the proffered peace, calling for Saddam Husseins removal from power. The Iranian clerical government began to prepare for an invasion of Iraq, over the objections of its surviving military officers. Iran Invades Iraq On July 13, 1982, Iranian forces crossed into Iraq, heading for the city of Basra. The Iraqis, however, were prepared; they had an elaborate series of trenches and bunkers dug into the earth, and Iran soon ran short on ammunition. In addition, Saddams forces deployed chemical weapons against their opponents. The ayatollahs army was quickly reduced to complete dependence on suicide attacks by human waves. Children were sent to run across mine-fields, clearing the mines before the adult Iranian soldiers could hit them, and instantly become martyrs in the process. Alarmed by the prospect of further Islamic revolutions, President Ronald Reagan announced that the U.S. would do whatever was necessary to prevent Iraq from losing the war with Iran. Interestingly enough, the Soviet Union and France also came to Saddam Husseins aid, while China, North Korea, and Libya were supplying the Iranians. Throughout 1983, the Iranians launched five major attacks against the Iraqi lines, but their under-armed human waves could not break through the Iraqi entrenchments. In retaliation, Saddam Hussein sent missile attacks against eleven Iranian cities. An Iranian push through the marshes ended with them gaining a position just 40 miles from Basra, but the Iraqis held them there. The Tanker War In the spring of 1984, the Iran-Iraq War entered a new, maritime phase when Iraq attacked Iranian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. Iran responded by attacking the oil tankers of both Iraq and its Arab allies. Alarmed, the U.S. threatened to join the war if the oil supply was cut off. Saudi F-15s retaliated for attacks against the kingdoms shipping by shooting down an Iranian plane in June  1984. The tanker war continued through 1987. In that year, U.S. and Soviet naval ships offered escorts to oil tankers to prevent them being targeted by the belligerents. A total of 546 civilian ships were attacked and 430 merchant seamen killed in the tanker war. Bloody Stalemate On land, the years 1985 to 1987 saw Iran and Iraq trading offensives and counter-offensives, without either side gaining much territory. The fighting was incredibly bloody, often with tens of thousands killed on each side in a matter of days. In February of 1988, Saddam unleashed the fifth and deadliest missile attack on Irans cities. Simultaneously, Iraq began to prepare a major offensive to push the Iranians out of Iraqi territory. Worn down by eight years of fighting and the incredibly high toll in lives, Irans revolutionary government began to consider accepting a peace deal. On July 20, 1988, the Iranian government announced that it would accept a UN-brokered ceasefire, although Ayatollah Khomeini likened it to drinking from a poisoned chalice. Saddam Hussein demanded that the Ayatollah revoke his call for Saddams removal before he would sign the deal. However, the Gulf States leaned on Saddam, who finally accepted the ceasefire as it stood. In the end, Iran accepted the same peace terms the Ayatollah had rejected in 1982. After eight years of fighting, Iran and Iraq returned to the antebellum status quo - nothing had changed, geopolitically. What had changed was that an estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 Iranians were dead, along with more than 300,000 Iraqis. Also, Iraq had seen the devastating effects of chemical weapons, which it later deployed against its own Kurdish population as well as the Marsh Arabs. The Iran-Iraq War of 1980-88 was one of the longest in modern times, and it ended in a draw. Perhaps the most important point to be drawn from it is the danger of allowing religious fanaticism on one side to clash with a leaders megalomania on the other.

Individual portfolio on global enterprise Essay - 2

Individual portfolio on global enterprise - Essay Example The introduction of globalisation along with its effectiveness is generally considered to have commenced in the decade of 1980s. The different aspects and the procedure of globalisation have become one of the key components for the financial development of a particular nation. In this context, the business organisations deeply concentrate upon globalisation factor because it might affect their financial performance along with other business aspects by a significant level (Stewart, 2007). Thus, on the basis of above discussed grounds, it can be stated that globalisation can be measured as a multidimensional character that crucially affects towards the worldwide phenomena. In this particular paper, the conception of globalisation along with its different impacts and importance towards the economy of a particular nation and also on the business organisations will be depicted. ... of Emirates Airlines will also be depicted. In addition, certain discussions will also be portrayed on the basis of a presentation along with developing an efficient idea regarding the conduct of the project. Section 1: Literature Review of Globalisation Theory According to Bertucci & Alberti, the conception of globalisation is fundamentally defined as a worldwide complex phenomenon that covers a broad assortment of trends along with tendencies particularly in the communal, cultural and financial dimensions. It can be described as a flow of products as well as services in different countries and it increases the global interrelation of business culture, people and financial functions. Moreover, Bertucci & Alberti also stated that globalisation facilitates in the worldwide distribution of the manufacturing products along with services through reducing certain restrictions towards international trade that include the export charges, tariffs and taxes and import quotas among others. It also minimises the restrictions upon the movement of investment as well as of capital. Thus, by focusing upon the above discussed functions of globalisation, it can be stated that globalisation may contribute towards financial progression and advancement in different nations whether developed or underdeveloped by a considerable extent (Bertucci & Alberti, n.d.). In this context, Bertucci & Alberti identified that there are certain noteworthy driving forces that lie behind the aspect of globalisation. The important driving forces include technological innovation as well as the notion of entrepreneurship. From the perspective of technological innovation, the introduction of latest and innovative technologies plays an integral role in making the aspect of globalisation

Primary and Secondary Education in Wales and England Essay

Primary and Secondary Education in Wales and England - Essay Example In fact, British started the first educational institutions of most of the countries with the network of their missionaries, which has helped in the spread of English as a world language. However, the scope of this essay is restricted to the "social, economic and political factors that have influenced the changes to Primary and Secondary Education in Wales and England since 1944". 1944 was a landmark year in the history of the education system in Wales and England. The education act of 1944(also known as Butler Act, named after Rab Butler who formulated the act) completely changed the existing scenario of the Primary and the Secondary education system. It placed the education system under Ministry of Education, which hitherto was nonexistent and increased the role of the minister to include promotion of education in England and Wales. The act made Education free but compulsory. It raised the school leaving age to 15; suggested free milk, transport, and regular medical check ups for all the students. The entire Voluntary Schools most of which were owned by the churches were converted to, either aided, or 'controlled'. To advice the minister on the matters connected with education two Central Advisory Councils for Education, one for England and one for Wales were established. Although it maintained that Religious Education was a statutory requirement, it gave t he parents a free hand to decide their children's participation in it. It made the appointment of a Chief Education Officer a mandatory requirement for every LEA and divided the responsibility of management of education between the central government, the LEAs and Institution governing bodies. The government did not get involved in the process of making the curriculum which was left to the institution governing bodies mainly head teacher. The 1994 education act was based on the reports of Hadow (1926), Spens (1938), and Norwood (1943) all of which were suggestive of grouping of children based on their intelligence through exams (Roy Lowe (ed), 2000). Hence, it introduced the 'Tripartite System' of having Grammar Schools, Secondary Modern Schools, and the Secondary Technical Schools. Grammar school was for the most intelligent of the student lot, the Secondary Modern Schools for the ordinary majority and Secondary Technical Schools were for those with technical aptitude. The Labour party, which came into power with a huge majority after the Second World War, implemented most of the provisions of the 1944 Education Act. Several sections of the act were deleted one by one in the later years through legislation and it was completely repealed by 1996 Education Act. Even though Britain was occupied with mammoth restoration efforts after the Second World War, the government in power under the leadership of Clement Attlee was obsessed with the creation of so called 'welfare State'. Ellen Wilkinson the first Minister of Education post-war aggressively pursued her ambition of implementation of provisions of 1944 education act without much success. Some of the reports which were made after the 1944 education act recommended further changes in the education system. Percy report (1945) recommended inclusion of technical education in universities and Barlow Report (1946) recommended increase in number of seats for science students in universities. The first Clarke report (1947) School and life

Ethical Dilemmas in Organizational Communication Essay

Ethical Dilemmas in Organizational Communication - Essay Example However, the ethical dilemmas profoundly and dramatically affect the brand image of the enterprises and corporations due to increased awareness concerning these social issues amongst the general population of the world (Garber, 2008). An individual may encounter the ethical dilemmas in personal lives as well as in the professional or the business world. As an example about the ethical dilemma, I am a newly appointed personal director in a large beverage distributor and screening of all the applications for promotions to management positions come under my job responsibilities and tasks. According to the standard process and policies of the organization, top three contenders, or the applicants comes under the selection for additional interviews with the management after completing the screening process (Zastrow &Â  Kirst-Ashman, 2009). ... The finest option that I would go for is accosting the president about the discriminatory stance. As being a firm believer and supporter of the concept of EEO that is Equal Employee Opportunity, I would make my best effort to convince and persuade the president for the selected female candidates that they are the best matches with the skills and capabilities in accordance to the provided job specifications. Moreover, the president should not have the bias and prejudice feature while considering the applicants and their proficiency and talent should be the emphasis and the highlighting point while interviewing or selecting. While looking at the other side of the continuum, to resolve this ethical dilemma, I should reopen the position with an anticipation to catch the attention of further qualified candidates as an alternative preference that would come under implementation. Since I am an employee whose principal duty and responsibility is to screen, shortlist and recruit the applicant s according to the exact and accurate specifications provided by either the departments or the top executives, which is the foremost and key cause to go for this option. Therefore, by reopening the position, I would look for the best candidates according to the precise requirements as provided. In another example situation of ethical dilemma, I have overheard a dialogue exchange that was under discussion between my manager and the manager of another department in which my best friend came under hiring and worked. The matter of subject was my friend in the conversation that they were having. The conversation made it noticeably obvious that manager of the other department was not satisfied and happy with the work of my friend. In addition, the manager did

Ilo Decent Work Agenda And Informal Economy Benefits Economics Essay

Ilo Decent Work Agenda And Informal Economy Benefits Economics Essay The informal economy defined to include all economic units that are not regulated by the state and all economically active persons who do not receive social protection through their work (ILO 2002), is as perennial and ubiquitous as human society. Discourse on it however, came to light in the early seventies with various studies in third world countries. Notwithstanding its inescapable nature, conceptualization and definition has been a problem for policy makers as well as those within academia. Myriad debates have come up on the issue with diverse views and remedies: some view informal workers as a nuisance to be eliminated or regulated; others see them as a vulnerable group to be assisted through social policies; still others view them as entrepreneurs to be freed from government regulations (Chen 2006:26). But neither the theoretic thoughts nor tangible ideas have provided a comprehensive framework on how to approach global informality and the new challenges it pose to policy makers. This essay critically examines the position of ILO influenced by the legalist perspective on formalizing the informal economy. Are there vested interests in promoting the decent work agenda? Is the decent work agenda merely a guise behind which informality continues to operate? Does the decent work approach take into account structures and institutions? The essay will delve into the argument of who benefits in formalizing the informal economy recognizing the fact that the informal head porter pay daily levies to the local government systems in Ghana but do not receive any benefit. A synopsis on informal economy and decent work agenda will first be outlined and how this applies to the head porter in Ghana. Finally, a conclusion will be drawn with some policy recommendations. Perspectives on Informality The informal economy was first discovered in Africa in the early 1970s due to the dominance of large scale self employed who do not fall within the formal economy. Economic anthropologist Keith Hart coined the term in his series of studies in Africa on the urban labour markets where he distinguished between wage earning and self employment. He emphasized on entrepreneurial dynamism and diversity of people in the informal sector (Hart 1990). This led to the development of three schools of thought dualist, legalist and structuralist perspectives which all try to conceptualize, explain and address the challenges of this complex phenomenon. The dualist posit the view that informal economy is peripheral or marginal and result out of the inadequate jobs in the formal economy and will recede with the development of the modern sector (Hart 1973; ILO 1972; Sethuraman 1976; Tokman 1978). The perspective therefore call for policy focus on support for the informal economy enterprises and workers in the form of credits and business development services with the assumption that the informal economy will fade away with more formal jobs. The structuralists, however, abruptly refute the dualist approach and contend that formal and informal economies are inextricably connected and interdependent the informal economy continues to exist because it is subordinated to the formal economy and enables the formal economy to reduce costs and increase profits (Moser 1978; Castells and Portes 1989, Bromley 1994). Hence policy focus should be on altering the unequal relationship that exists. The legalist approach spearheaded by De Soto (1989) subscribes to the notion that informality is as a result of the excessive over regulation by the state (rigid mercantilist) and hence the solution to the problem of informality is a liberalizing framework deregulate, de-bureaucratize and privatize. The approach therefore advocates for formalizing and the decent work agenda follows directly from this perspective despite influence from other frameworks. Notwithstanding the diversity of these concepts, informality continues to grow in new guises and different forms even in the industrialized nations. It is worth mentioning that none of the perspectives adequately explains or prescribes solutions to the problems of informality given its heterogeneous and multi segmented nature. Consequently, policy makers are faced with the dilemmas of whether to eradicate or formalize the informal economy. This has led to the suggestion of different ways of providing support for those in the informal economy which include licensing, provision of micro credit, training as well as enabling environment for collective action (Chen 2006) with more emphasis on formalizing. In spite of these suggestions, understanding of the formalization process varies and different actors tend to define formalization to suit them. Intrinsically, policy makers view formalizing as a way of licensing informal work and putting in place taxation structures. Conversely, the different informal workers and enterprises see formalizing as a means to attain support and receive the incentives and benefits of formality. Hence in formalizing, there are striking differences in terms of interests and needs which should reflect in the policies of countries. The institutional capacities, mechanisms and resources especially in developing countries are however, inadequate to cater for the wide variations. The above problems question the feasibility of formalizing the informal economy and De Sotos legalist approach to informal economy. Are the states in many countries well equipped to enable workers and enterprises in the informal economy move upward into formality? Formalization may not be that simple as envisaged it can be problematic and a nightmare to policy makers. Despite the complication, the informal economy can be reframed to fruitfully interact with the context and actors as well as reduce the associated vulnerability and risks. Consequently, new frameworks have emerged to take care of the policy challenge of decreasing the cost of working informally (Chen 2006:90-1) or reducing the decent work deficits of working informally (ILO 2002). The ILO decent work agenda champions the emerging consensus concerning the need to develop a framework that is appropriate and able to respond effectively to the problems faced by those in the informal economy. However is this agenda feasible in the mist of all these dilemmas? What can the ILO Decent Work do for Informality? The ILO (2002) defines decent work as productive work which generates an adequate income, in which workers rights are protected and where there is adequate social protection providing opportunities for men and women to obtain productive work in conditions of freedom, equality, security and human dignity. Decent work has been categorized into two different approaches. Some analysts have classified it into eleven measurement categories based on employment opportunities, acceptable work, adequate earnings and productive work, decent hours, stability and security of work, balancing work and family life, fair treatment in employment, safe work environment, social protection, social dialogue and workplace relations, and the economic and social context of decent work (Ghai 2006:27). The other approach views decent work from the perspective of security in which there are seven security indicators labour security, employment security, job security, work security, skill reproduction security , income security and representation security (ILO 2002). Therefore lack of access to these indicators at the macro (national), meso (enterprise) and micro (Individual) (Ghai 2006:27) levels leads to decent work deficits. These securities and indicators are inaccessible to workers in the informal economy albeit pockets of workers in the formal economy also have deficits for example the working poor. Hence in looking at the situation of those in the informal economy, decent work deficits are the main characteristics and apparent are poor quality unprotected and remunerated jobs, the absence of rights to work, inadequate social protection and lack of representation especially among women and young workers (ILO 2002:8). The decent work approach therefore recognizes that all those who work have rights at work, irrespective of where they work (ILO 2002: 8) and should have decent work. Notwithstanding this, a one-size-fit all policy cannot be developed for all segments. Decent work programmes need to take into consideration the diversity in labour markets, multi-segmented nature of informality, the role of government, institutions as well as cultural and historical backgrounds of nations. Decent work should therefore be seen as a goal to be achieved progressively from immediate to long term (ILO 2002). The immediate term focus is to recognize and give protection to those working in the informal economy, the short/medium and long term strategies are to enhance upward movement into formal decent jobs and the creation of formal decent employment opportunities for all respectively. Work should therefore meet decent work conditions which are seen as a source of dignity, satisfaction and fulfillment to workers (Ghai 2006:11). Limitations of Decent Work Paradigm The decent work agenda is a benign attempt to informality but ILO unlike the World Bank and IMF do not have the capacity to enforce and ensure that governments adhere to the decent work programme. Also, while the ILO outlined the securities that will make informal work decent, it does not provide insights into how these securities can be met and whose responsibility (individual, state, market, and other actors) it is to address and find solutions to the deficits. Moreover, ILO does not point out how to prioritize the securities in situations where it is impossible to have all seven fulfilled. The question is shall we prioritize or shall we try to achieve at the same time all the seven securities? Furthermore, whiles Chen (2006:27) assert that capacity of institutions, funding for incentives and social protection, inadequate formal jobs and employers not willing to convert as the problems that impede formalizing, she seems to forget about the vested interest and structural determinants that could hinder decent work. For example institutional obstacles such as the local government units in Ghana may stifle the decent work agenda as incorporating decent work framework will hinder the benefits they enjoy from the informality. Who benefits from formalizing: local government or head porter (Kayayei)? Before looking at the head porter and the local government systems in Ghana, it is important to have background information on the head porter business. The head porters popularly referred to as kayayei in Ghana are female young girls who migrate from northern parts of Ghana to the south predominantly Accra and Kumasi. Like other informal businesses, the kayayei are self employed and engage in carrying goods on their head from one place to the other, unpacking stores especially in market places as well as assist buyers in carrying purchased goods to various locations for a negotiated fee (Argawal et al 1997, Opare 2003, Awumbila 2007). Agarwal et al (1997) further indicates that these girls are part of the informal transport structure of Ghana that transport load from one place to the other and this commercial head load carrying is to be understood within the structure of economic activities of women in the informal economy, and the importance of petty trading as the predominant occu pation of women. Similarly, ILO (2004) and Awumbila (2007) notes that jobs engaged by these Kayayei pay low wages, have low productivity which leads to unstable incomes. The purpose of their involvement however, is to attain sufficient savings to convert to a more lucrative and less arduous occupation (Awumbila 2007:3). These head porters lack official registration, work in highly competitive market places, have deficits in all seven securities, and are exposed to diverse risks and shocks. Their daily vulnerability goes from running after busses for business to harassment from metropolitan agents for payment of daily levies. These head porters however, have various survival strategies which include collective credit and insurance (susu and adashi) schemes and organization of semi-permanent conjugal unions to reduce their vulnerability within the labour market (Awumbila Ardayfio-Schandorf 2008, Argawal et al 1997, Opare 2003). Much of the literature on the kayayei phenomenon talks about migration and livelihoods but hardly talked about is the levy they pay to the local government systems in Ghana but do not gain any form of social protection. Their activities like other informal businesses are not recognized but they are regulated by the metropolitan assemblies in the forms of daily levies. They pay fifty Ghana pesewas daily levy to agents of the assemblies and are hijacked in the course of their operations to pay before they can continue with their activities. It is however, unclear what the taxes collected from these girls are used for. They do not get any form of benefits, incentives or social protection from the local government. Evans (1989:582) describes the case of Zaire predatory state in which state officials squeeze resources from civil society without any more regard for the welfare of the citizenry than a predator has for the welfare of its prey. This predatory state scenario best describes the relationship between the local government and the head porter in Ghana. The metropolitan authorities benefits from the informality of the head porters and do not have any regard for their welfare. In such a case, implementing the decent work approach will serve as a dis-benefit to the government who only plays an opportunistic appropriation role. Hence, such structures may serve as obstacles to the decent work programme. Chen ( 2006:15) indicates that many activities in the informal economy do not generate enough output, employment or income to fall into existing tax brackets but these girls though do not generate enough income are still taxed and this further exacerbate their situation. Conclusion and policy recommendations Once the local government recognize the legality of the head porters through taxation, they are obliged to provide them with protection. For example their activities could be regulated by putting in fixed prices for carrying goods to certain distances to reduce their vulnerability in terms of negotiation. State should provide kayayei with vocational and negotiation skills training, recognize them in the labour laws and give basic security like health care, shelter, protection from eviction and harassment can cushion them against risks and shocks in their daily activities. For instance paying the premium for these head porters in the Ghana national health insurance scheme will take care of their health needs and further enhance their work. Similar welfare funds like the Bidi Workers Welfare and Head Loaders Funds in India could be established to provide social security benefits for these head porters. In addition, their micro insurance schemes and strategies could be enhanced especially the susu and adashi systems. These forms of collective contributions could be transformed into mutual systems of social security. The role of the state is vital in promoting such systems by providing an enabling environment and suitable policy framework to include these schemes. Moreover, the local government systems should recognize and protect the rights of the head porters since they play a facilitative role being part of the transport sector in Ghana. As Opare (2003) noted the kayeyei make useful contribution to the Ghanaian economy and should be recognized as such and provided with the necessary protection to enable reduce decent work deficits. Should these be considered for the social protection policies, it will help reduce the insecurity, vulnerability and material deprivation faced by these head porters.

Creative Essay: Why Are There Poor People -- essays research papers

Creative Essay: Why Are There Poor People   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Looking back on my childhood, I realize how lucky I was to be blessed with the family I have. Knowing what I know now, I have come to understand that not every kid had the same life that I had. Not every child had a living room full of gifts on Christmas morning, or a family to share a birthday with. I was lucky enough to have all of the luxuries that so many children yearn for. So many children take for granted the fact that they eat three meals a day, while so many others are lucky to find a scrap of bread in a dumpster.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It wasn't until I was about nine or ten when I realized that there were poor people in the world. My family and I had been on our annual trip to New York City to see ...

The Chrysalids: A Science Fiction Novel

â€Å"It's often said that Science Fiction is the literature of change. † (Treitel). When a society is going through a period in which they develop many new technologies, science fiction stories often emerge. The feelings and fears of that society are expressed in science fiction. The Chrysalids, a science fiction novel, incorporates characteristics of its genre by being set in a different world, by relating to current events and by showing how destructive power can be. Setting plays a prominent role in defining a science fiction story. Science fiction texts are often set in the future, in space, on a different world, or in a different universe or dimension. † (â€Å"Definition†). John Wyndham's novel, The Chrysalids, is set centuries in the future. â€Å"But, Uncle, if we don't try to be like the Old People and rebuild the things that have been lost, what can we do? † (Wyndham 79). The word science fiction brings to mind futuristic worlds full of whirring machines and shiny metals. This novel takes an alternate approach; it shows a world so devastated by nuclear war that it has actually regressed, and yet it is still a possible future. In addition to being set in the future, this novel shows a changed Earth. â€Å"†¦ An Offense was sometimes quite an impressive occasion†¦ My father†¦ would call us all together, including everyone who worked on the farm. We would all kneel while he proclaimed our repentance and led prayers for forgiveness. The next morning we would all be up before daylight and gather in the yard. As the sun rose we would sing a hymn while my father ceremonially slaughtered the two-headed calf, four-legged chicken, or whatever kind of Offense it happened to be. † (Wyndham 18). The world John Wyndham has created is so different from the current reality, it is almost a separate entity. In the fictional reality, the people are terrified of anything different from what they perceive to be the norm. They kill, burn or cast out anything considered to be a deviation. This setting allows the writer to explore terrifying concepts with distance while still creating parallels with current societies. Setting is a vital part of any science fiction story. Furthermore, science fiction relates to current events. â€Å"Good [science fiction]†¦ can provide us with fascinating thought experiments to while way the hours, or extrapolate future dystopias from the politics of the present; it can generate visions of tomorrow's world, or of worlds eons hence; it can warn or it can soothe†¦ † (Clute 6). The Chrysalids explores the impact of nuclear weapons. â€Å"The whole seaboard is empty – black and harsh and empty. The land looks like a huge desert of c harcoal. Where there are cliffs they are sharp-edged, with nothing to soften them. There are no fish in the sea there, no weed either, not even slime, and when a ship has sailed there the barnacles and the fouling on her bottom drop off, and leave her hull clean. You don't see any birds. Nothing moves at all, except the waves breaking on the black beaches. † (Wyndham 60). This novel was first published in 1955, shortly after World War II and at a time when many people were protesting the use of nuclear bombs. People saw the destruction these weapons were capable of and they were afraid. The Chrysalids is a response to that fear; it shows one possible future. Propaganda is another issue discussed in The Chrysalids. â€Å"Not ashamed! Not ashamed of producing a mockery of your Maker – not ashamed of trying to tempt your own sister into criminal conspiracy! The enemies of God besiege us. They seek to strike at Him through us. Unendingly they work to distort the true image; through our weaker vessels they attempt to defile the race. You have sinned, woman†¦ You have produced a defilement†¦ A baby which, if you were to have your way, would grow up to breed, and, breeding, spread pollution until all around us there would be mutants and abominations. † (Wyndham 72). In 1955, the Cold War was in full swing. Spies and secrets abounded while children were told that the other side is evil and propaganda slowly poisoned their minds. Eventually, they believe the lies. Joseph Strorm truly believes what he is saying; he feels that his sister-in-law should kill her newborn child, rather than let it grow and eventually have children of its own. Science fiction often incorporates concerns of the author and the general public at that time. Additionally, science fiction often involves the misuse of power. â€Å"[Science fiction] suggests the possibility of scientific discovery going too far, taking on a God-like power that leads to disaster. † (Quinn) In The Chrysalids there are two examples of destructive power. Firstly, there is nuclear power. â€Å"This is a dreadful country indeed†¦ There are stretches, miles across, where it looks as if all the ground has been fused into black glass; there is nothing else†¦ It goes on and on†¦ What did they do here? What can they have done to create such a frightful place?†¦ It must be utterly beyond hope, barred to any kind of life for ever and ever†¦ There was the power of gods in the hands of children, we know: but were they mad children, all of them quite mad?†¦ The mountains are cinders and the plains are black glass – still, after centuries! † (Wyndham 179). Power is a dangerous thing, as evidenced by the burned mountains and plains of glass discussed in this novel. Power is a popular topic for science fiction stories because so many people crave it, despite its poor history and bleak future. The Chrysalids looks at the consequences of nuclear warfare and the idea that this kind of power is not meant for human hands. The second type of power explored in The Chrysalids, is the power of conformity. â€Å"According to Ethics, mankind†¦ was in the process of climbing back into grace; we were following a faint and difficult trail which led up to the peaks from which we had fallen†¦ There was only one true trail, and by following it we should, with God's help and in His own good time, regain all that had been lost†¦ Only the authorities, ecclesiastical and lay, were in a position to judge whether the next step was a rediscovery, and so, safe to take; or whether it deviated from the true re-ascent, and so was sinful. † (Wyndham 40). As a race attempting to rebuild its society, conformity and a deference to authority figures would have been beneficial. However, change is necessary for growth. Having a world full of people like Joseph Strorm, who fear change as a deviation from the true path, will bring about the destruction of that society. In The Chrysalids, authority figures force everyone to conform to their idea of what is right and what is sinful. This kind of power is dangerous and, at the end of book, brings about the death of Joseph Strorm and many like him. Destructive power is a popular theme in science fiction novels. Due to its setting, relation to reality and demonstration of various destructive powers, The Chrysalids is clearly a science fiction novel. Science fiction can be many things; it can be educational, providing lessons and morals that apply to real life scenarios; it can be a warning, showing the readers a possible or a probable fate; or it can simply take the reader on a fantastic journey, flying through space and time. Above all science fiction is about change. â€Å"Life is change, that is how it differs from the rocks, change is its very nature. † (Wyndham 182). The Chrysalids, and science fiction in general, teaches that nothing in life is static.

The Protagonist Suffers in Horses of the Night †English Essay

The Protagonist Suffers in Horses of the Night – English Essay Free Online Research Papers The Protagonist Suffers in Horses of the Night English Essay In the short story â€Å"Horses of the Night† by Margaret Laurence, The protagonist Chris suffers of depression. Laurence knows how depression disrupts the lives of millions of people and also reduces work productivity. In this short story Chris is able to cope with his depression by doing certain things like pretending he is rich and owns a ranch. A technique Laurence uses to help the reader understand depression is the foreshadowing which occurs many times threw out the story. Chris is able to cope with his depression and have people believe that he is not suffering from depression because he is always happy and â€Å"He always used to seem sohopeful. Even when there was really nothing to be hopeful about. That’s what I find so strange. He seemed hopeful, didn’t you think?† This indicates that Chris learned how to cope and cover up so well that even Vanessa didn’t know he was that depressed. In 23ff it shows that Vanessa never would have guessed that Chris would ever be depressed â€Å"I could not associate the word with Chris†. This shows how strong her disbelief of the fact that Chris could be suffering from depression. Every year over 17 million American adults experience clinical depression. Almost everyone has been depressed or has known someone who suffers depression. I have a friend that suffers from depression. You have to watch what you say around him because it’s hard to know what he’s thinking if he’s happy or if he’s having a rough day. It can be really hard on his family and the people around him that care about him. Depression affects many people. I believe that if you feel that you or someone you know is suffering from depression it’s important to seek help right away before the feelings of hopelessness over power the desire to survive. Research Papers on The Protagonist Suffers in "Horses of the Night" - English EssayArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)The Effects of Illegal ImmigrationHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayCapital PunishmentAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Mind TravelTrailblazing by Eric AndersonHip-Hop is ArtThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Free Essays on Young Offenders Act

On April 1, 2003 the YCJA was created (Youth Criminal Justice Act) this act replaced the Young Offenders Act. The change in legislation is because the federal government is trying to reform the Canadian youth. Most of the young people that are imprisioned is because of the distruction of and/or in relation to propety. Only 20% of young people in custody in Canada have actually committed some sort of violent offence. The incarcertion rate for youth is higher then the rate for adults. Young people tend to get longer sentences then adults do. The YCJA includes among all of it's provisions a "declaration of principle " This declaration says that the victim should be treated with courtesy, respect and compassion they are also given an opportunity to participate and be heard. It also says that the criminal justice department system for young people should "emphasize fair accountability of young people depending with the dependancy of young persons and lower level of maturity." The YCJA trys to divert more and more young people away from youth court through the introduction to extrajudicial measures. The YCJA requires police officers to consider a few of the extrajudicial measures before starting any judicial proccedings, it is up to the police at first to decide what they think is in the best interest of the young offender in the case of a offence these extrajudicial measures include: taking no further action, warning the young offender; administering a caution; a referral that the young person joins a group or organization that may help in assisting the offender to not commit any more offences. But the YCJA still seeks to have the young people take responsibility for their offences. The offenders that admit to doing the crime are allocated a easier extrajudicial sanction. These sanctions may include any of the following; apologies to the victim; community service; or paying restitution if crime is property related. ... Free Essays on Young Offenders Act Free Essays on Young Offenders Act On April 1, 2003 the YCJA was created (Youth Criminal Justice Act) this act replaced the Young Offenders Act. The change in legislation is because the federal government is trying to reform the Canadian youth. Most of the young people that are imprisioned is because of the distruction of and/or in relation to propety. Only 20% of young people in custody in Canada have actually committed some sort of violent offence. The incarcertion rate for youth is higher then the rate for adults. Young people tend to get longer sentences then adults do. The YCJA includes among all of it's provisions a "declaration of principle " This declaration says that the victim should be treated with courtesy, respect and compassion they are also given an opportunity to participate and be heard. It also says that the criminal justice department system for young people should "emphasize fair accountability of young people depending with the dependancy of young persons and lower level of maturity." The YCJA trys to divert more and more young people away from youth court through the introduction to extrajudicial measures. The YCJA requires police officers to consider a few of the extrajudicial measures before starting any judicial proccedings, it is up to the police at first to decide what they think is in the best interest of the young offender in the case of a offence these extrajudicial measures include: taking no further action, warning the young offender; administering a caution; a referral that the young person joins a group or organization that may help in assisting the offender to not commit any more offences. But the YCJA still seeks to have the young people take responsibility for their offences. The offenders that admit to doing the crime are allocated a easier extrajudicial sanction. These sanctions may include any of the following; apologies to the victim; community service; or paying restitution if crime is property related. ... Free Essays on Young Offenders Act ABOUT THE YOA The Young Offenders Act was proclaimed into law in Canada on April 2, 1984. It replaced the Juvenile Delinquents Act, which had been in place for the previous 75 years. The YOA brought about significant changes from that previous legislation. Many were considered controversial right from the beginning and the critics started complaining even before it was officially proclaimed. One group thought that it was too harsh and created a new "Criminal Code for Kids". Others said it was too lenient and allowed young people to avoid responsibility for their actions. Little has changed in that regard, despite amendments to the YOA over the past 15 years. The criticism continues from both sides with many looking back to the time of the Juvenile Delinquents Act. In this web page, I propose to examine that earlier Act, and then go on to discuss various aspects of the YOA. Needless to say, emphasis will be placed on those areas that have generated criticism or controversy. Comments will also be m ade about the new Youth Criminal Justice Act, which was recently passed by the Canadian Parliament but has yet to be proclaimed in force. JUVENILE DELIQUENT’S ACT The JDA was a mixture of both criminal law and child welfare ("child protection" in some provinces) law. It was a reaction to the perceived harshness of earlier laws that treated children who broke the law just like adult offenders. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the fundamental aim in criminal jurisprudence was not reformation but punishment. This applied equally to children and there were numerous reported decisions about young children who were hanged. By the late 19th century, reformers, who were incensed by the harshness of this, clamored for change. They sought to protect and redeem those who they saw to be the victims of vicious environments, unfortunate heredity and cruel treatment at the hands of parents and employers. Juvenile court reform was only ...

Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Strategy - Essay Example earch engine today is its ability to be â€Å"integrated into a third party’s website or intranet† (The Economist, 182) that also allows corporate intranets to search company documents. Its search engine also offers services to advertisers to run large campaigns through its search engine, which contributes tremendously to its bottom line. Google’s Adsense and the ability of its search engine appliance to be integrated into a company’s intranet for a charge, synergizes with its basic search engine facility, thus, enhancing the revenue potential of the engine. Its acquisition of YouTube in 2006 also allowed it to receive advertising revenues for ads displayed during internet videos, while its 2008 acquisition of DoubleClick allowed the company to generate advertising revenues through banner ads. Its other business segments such as Gmail, GoogleMaps, Google scholar and several other products and services add to its search engine with each segment complementing the other services. Google’s introduction of the Android operating system also allowed the company to penetrate the growing market of the mobile internet industry. All these capabilities of Google products and services, which work in synergy and complement each other in terms of increased traffic and market reach, illuminate its success. While Google’s basic services, such as its search engine and mail, are free, it is able to derive revenue from other revenue generating services attached to the free ones such as Adsense. The synergy of Google’s product and services increases the traffic and usage of its services, which allows it to reach and penetrate the market deeper. Google’s deeper market reach and penetration translates to its wider market base, which ultimately redounds to enhanced revenue for the company. All these innovative products and services were a product of Google’s talented workforce and its unorthodox corporate set-up. To maintain its innovativeness, Google always

Work Force Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Work Force Diversity - Essay Example Workforce diversity can be defined as the workforce of an organization that is made up of people from different cultural and demographical backgrounds. Diversity can be also on the basis of human qualities. However from the perspective of an individual diversity can be in terms of ethnicity, race, gender, age, or anything related to physical abilities. Although diversity acts as a key competitive advantage to the organizations, sometimes it can act as a concern. For example diversity in the form of working generation is a matter of concern for many organizations. There are four generations that work side by side in an organization, and each group has some different expectations and diversified mindset. Therefore to create an environment where all the groups get fitted is certainly a challenge for the organizations. As human being enters the 21st century, diversity in workforce has become crucial in a business venture. In this age of information technology, the most valuable asset of the organization is its workforce. The increasing globalization has made people to interact more among themselves as well as from the people of different beliefs, locations and cultural backgrounds. People are no longer working in an inward-looking market, but they work in a global market place. There are competitions from almost every part of the world. Hence for this principal reason organizations need diversity in their workforce. It has also become a way to be more innovative and also open to amendments.

Assignment 12(675) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Assignment 12(675) - Essay Example Sarah, being a novice teacher, is not likely to be acquainted with the norms and practices of Elmstreet Elementary School. The problems faced due to a conflict between school culture and her teaching approaches are chanced to be high. This is because the students would be used to a different technique of teaching and a different way of classroom management. For example, if other teachers were fairly strict with their approach to discipline and a new teacher seems to be softer, students may take advantage of the leniency. This causes classroom disturbance. This certainly does not point to the teacher’s incompetence in maintaining class discipline, rather the students not being used to such an instructor. A similar situation is displayed in Sarah’s case. Another problem that may arise is of a difference in delivering the lecture. Some teachers use an interactive approach and do excessive questioning, keeping the classroom lively by cracking jokes, whereas some may be too professional. What is important in schools is to adopt a way that suits the learning process of students and keeps them under control. The role to be taken of the mentor teacher is one of a personality mentor as well as a motivational guide. As mentioned in the vignette, Sarah lacks strong personal authority. The mentor must guide Sarah towards the type of culture that prevails in the school, motivate her so that she strengthens her personal authority and advise her ways to adopt to the culture. When someone is told off for their actions or their shortcomings are pointed out by someone else, it is in our human nature to not accept it fully and possibly feel angered and belittled. The most effective self-improvement is done where a person himself identifies and accepts his/her flaws and works on a plan to improve them. Having Sarah involved in her growth plan development will help keep her motivation and self-image intact. This will make her work harder than she would have had someone else

Reasons for United States Possible Attack on Iran Essay Example for Free

Reasons for United States Possible Attack on Iran Essay The topic on the possibility of United States launching a military attack against Iran has dominated much news for several years since the Bush administration and during which some quarters speculated that such an attack would be ordered before the administration left office. As early as 2005, a number of articles had started revealing the imminent plans by Pentagon to order military operations against Iran. While people and the media may speculate and give their opinions about many aspects of the imminent war, the most important issue to understand is the reasons which may spark the attack. It is therefore the objective of this paper to discuss the reasons why US would engage in a military land war with Iran. 2. 0 The Euro-Based Oil Bourse This is one of the major reasons which revolve around the plan by Tehran government in 2005 and 2006 to start competing with the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), the largest physical commodity futures exchange in the world based in New York and the London based International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) by using the euro-dominated oil trading mechanism (Clark, 2004). The logic behind this is that by using this mechanism in international oil trades, the euro is going to take dominance and establish a firm ground which will serve to overshadow the strength of the U. S dollar in the global oil market. The U. S government therefore considers this a real threat by Tehran government which warrants intervention to protect the dollar from being toppled off from its long term monopoly in the critical international oil market. It is worth noting that lack of an oil pricing standard that is euro-dominated also referred to oil â€Å"marker† in the oil trading industry is one of the technical challenges facing the euro-based trading system in oil transactions. The oil markers currently in operation today are the U. S dollar dominated which include Norway Brent crude, West Texas Intermediate crude, and the UAE Dubai crude. In the spring of 2003, Iran laid down a requirement that all the transactions for its Asian and European oil exports be conducted using the euro currency though the pricing of oil was still predominantly controlled by the dollar. Following an official announcement in 2004 that Iran had intentions to develop an Iranian oil Bourse, it raised the concerns that a stiff competition would ensue between the Iranian oil bourse and the U. S owned NYME and the IPE (Clark, 2004). The macroeconomic implications of such a development would cause a shift in the international commerce in both Middle East and the European Union which is the largest importer of oil from OPEC producers. Consequently, the financial hegemony enjoyed by the IPE and NYMEX would be greatly challenged and thus the U. S is likely to avoid this through military action. 3. 0 The Ambitious Nuclear Program of Iran The Tehran’s nuclear ambition is another possible reason as to why the U. S may launch a land military attack on Iran. This has been seen from the latest series of sanctions on Iran by the Obama administration which mainly targets the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps which is the most powerful social, political and economic institution in Iran. The organization also has a large number of companies and banks and therefore makes it an appropriate target for these sanctions (LANDLER COOPER, 2010). However, the critical thing to focus on with regard to this issue is whether these sanctions have the capacity to compel Iran to halt its nuclear program. If the history of political and economic sanctions against countries is anything to go by, then Iran may not change its course despite the sanctions and this may lead to war. The reason for the sanctions is to â€Å"contain† Tehran which depicts a link which leads from diplomatic pressure to military action (Nadal, 2010). Tehran views this threat as real considering that its two neighbors to the west and to the east have a large number of U. S troops. 4. 0 Conclusion A possible military action on Iran by the US cannot be overlooked since the reasons surrounding this possibility would also have major effects on the economy and the security of the US. Considering the economic problems facing the US, the attempts by Iran to establish the euro-based oil bourse may seem as an attempt to suppress the dollar in the international oil market. The nuclear program also would threaten the security not only of the US but also of the world if it is not either regulated or completely halted. To aver the nuclear weapons development, Washington ought to try and alter the perceptions of threat harbored by Iran against America. References Clark, W. (2004). The Real Reasons Why Iran is the Next Target: The Emerging Euro-denominated International Oil Marker. Retrieved August 20, 2010, from http://www. globalresearch. ca/articles/CLA410A. html LANDLER, M. , COOPER, H. (2010). U. S. Eyes New Sanctions Over Iran Nuclear Program. Retrieved August 20, 2010, from http://www. nytimes. com/2010/02/10/world/middleeast/10sanctions. html? _r=1 Nadal, A. (2010). Sanctions against Iran and the Next War. Retrieved August 20, 2010, from http://www. campaigniran. org/casmii/index. php? q=node/10518

Performance Analysis of One Dimension FDTD Code

Performance Analysis of One Dimension FDTD Code Performance analysis of One dimension FDTD code using Parallel Processing Technique P. GUNAPANDIAN, M.R.SUBASREE, B. MANIMEGALAI Abstract The requirement of longer processing time and larger memory makes FDTD method impractical for many cases. Implementation of parallel processing in FDTD method is proposed in this paper. The implementation depends mainly on computer architecture and programming libraries under different operating systems. In this paper a several performance tests of a one dimension FDTD code is tested in different platforms. The results shows that Parallel processing shows a linear decrease in time and larger data handling which makes it as a right platform for complex structures. Keywords:  FDTD, parallel processing, computer architecture, operating system, serial processing. Introduction Computational ability has advanced in the recent few decades. One of the most common methods to solve Maxwells equations on arbitrary configurations of materials and field sources is the Finite Differences on Time Domain (FDTD) [1]. There exist a number of techniques for enhancing the performance of the conventional FDTD, in order to obtain accuracy the conformal FDTD method which simulates the curved perfect electrical conductor (PEC) [2,3]. Sub-gridding technique is used to increase the mesh density in the local area in which the field varies quickly [5,6]. The Multi-Resolution Time-Domain (MRTD) and Pseudo-Spectrum Time-Domain (PSTD) techniques are used to reduce the dispersion of the conventional yee grid [7,8]. The above techniques mentioned are used to improve the conventional FDTD technique for the purpose of reducing either memory requirements or simulation time. The parallel-processing FDTD accelerates the FDTD simulation by distributing the job to multiple processors, so th at the available memory for large problems is virtually unlimited. At the same time, the simulation time is dramatically reduced compared to a single-processor implementation. On the computational point of view the parallel processing have an important advantage which makes the parallel executions strategies easier. Parallel processing in computers is based on dividing a computer code into a number of segments and distribution of the task among a number of computers/processors, which are then executed in parallel. This may be achieved on hardware-level, software level, or both. Hardware-level parallelization necessitates alternative processor designs. Software-level parallelization can be either on data level or function level, depending on the characteristics of the code [9]. In this paper one dimensional FDTD code is developed for parallel processing. The performance analysis of the code developed is compared with both serial and parallel. The code is simulated in different platforms and the results are obtained. The results shows the efficiency of the parallel processing in handling larger data and reduction of time compared to serial processing. FDTD METHOD The FDTD method is one of the well known approaches to solve Maxwell’s partial differential equations, because of its high versatility. FDTD algorithm is based on temporal and three-dimensional spatial discretization and it transforms the time-dependent Maxwell’s curl equations into a set of finite-difference relations [10, 11].Boundary conditions are needed on the edge of the simulation domain, among the several possible choices perfect matched layer (PML) boundary can be more accurate and the PML boundary is used in the developed code. One Dimension FDTD The one dimension FDTD starts with the formulation of the Maxwell’s equations, Where E and H are electric and magnetic field respectively. The one dimension equation for Ex and Hy are given, which denotes the Electric field with respect to x direction and magnetic field with respect to y direction. The update equations are given in (3) and (4). The FDTD update equations are used to develop the Matlab code and the code is excited with the Gaussian pulse and the results are obtained. PARALLEL FDTD According to the principle of FDTD algorithm, the electromagnetic field value at certain position can be decided by the value of last time step at this position and electromagnetic field value of this time step at nearby position. The electromagnetic field value has no direct relation to the values at position far from this point. So, the whole computational space can be divided into some sections that can be computed in some nodes of parallel computing system. The exchange of field values between nodes can be executed only at interface between sections. According to the basic concept, the computing between parallel nodes can be executed to simulate the serial computing in a single PC or workstation. This is the key point of our parallel FDTD algorithm. Fig.1 shows the methodology of serial and the parallel approach Figure 1. Serial and parallel approach PARALLEL PROCESSING TECHNIQUE The main idea of parallel processing starts with the updating the EM field components in each processor in the same instant. When the computation updates a field component on the border of the domain, some values belonging to the border of the adjacent domain are required to avoid communications during the computations each sub domain is surrounded by the border cells of the other domain. These border values are communicated after the updating phase. Thus the parallel processing is achieved. The first step of the FDTD modeling starts with the one dimensional method. A Gaussian pulse is generated in the centre of the problem space and the pulse propagates in the both the directions. The time step is taken to be 500 iteration steps and the total time required for the signal is 500fs. The time seconds are calculated by the time taken by the pulse to originate from the centre and to decay at the end. The Matlab code is developed for one dimensional FDTD for serial processing and the code is updated to parallel processing. The number of cells of the computation domain in varied by keeping the number of iterations constant and the time taken by the serial and the parallel processing is noted. The figure2 shows the comparison between the serial and parallel processing for different number of cells. From the figure 2 it is noted that the parallel processing code is able to process the large number of cells within the shorter period of time, thereby proving that the parallel processing can be used to process larger amount of data in shorter duration of time. Figure 2. Serial vs. parallel processing The parallel processing code developed has been simulated in various newer version Intel processors which is used to analyze the performance. The number of iterations are kept constant and the cell size is varied and the code is simulated in different Intel processors include i3, i5, i7 and Pentium processors. The results shows that the updated newer version i7 was able to process the data more quickly, so that the parallel processing can be used more efficiently in higher versions system which is easily available now a days. Figure 3 shows the Comparision with different versions of the processors. From the results it is observed that the i7 processor was able to process the code more efficiently than the others. Pentium processor which is one of the oldest among took larger time to process the code. Figure 3. Parallel processing on different versions of Intel processors The parallel code is simulated with different number of Matlab workers. Figure 4 shows the relation between the parallel code and the number of Matlab workers. In this code the number of iterations is kept constant and the time taken by the code to run with different number of cells is noted. The graph shows that parallel code works more efficiently when the number of workers is increased to be four. Figure 4. Performance with different number of Matlab workers The speed-ups increase with the problem size because of the better exploitation of CPU resources and parallel processing. Figure 5 shows the achieved speed-ups for with respect to the serial algorithm running on the CPU. Thus the parallel processing gives a better speed up for larger problems. Figure 5. Speed up comparison for serial and parallel processing From the figure 5 it is noted that the parallel processing gives a better speed up. With the previous results the number of iterations and the cell size is varied and the results are noted. For each cell size the iterations are changed and the values are noted. Figure 6 shows the speed up for different cell size at various iterations. From the figure it can be absorbed that larger the computation domain better the speed up thereby making the parallel processing very much suitable for larger computation domain. Figure 6. Iteration vs. Speedup CONCLUSION From the results it is observed that the disadvantage of the FDTD method can be overcome by using Parallel processing FDTD method. The performance analysis of this paper thereby shows that the parallel processing can be easily achieved efficiently by using modern CPU’s present today which can be used to do complex computations. REFERENCES [1]. Yee, K. S., Numerical solution of initial boundary value problems involving Maxwells equations in isotropic media, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 14, No. 5, 302-307, May 1966. [2]. Time Domain Maxwell s Equations Solver: Software and User s Guide, Norwood, MA, Artech House, 2004. [3]. W. Yu and R. Mittra, A Conformal FDTD Software Package for Modeling of Antennas and Microstrip Circuit Components, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, 42, 5, October 2000, pp. 28-39. [4]. W. Yu and R. Mittra, A Conformal Finite Difference Time Domain Technique for Modeling Curved Dielectric Surfaces,  IEEE Microwave and Guided Wave Letters, January 2001, pp. 25-27. [5]. W. Yu and R. Mittra, A New Sub gridding Method for Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) Algorithm, Microwave Opt. Techno. Lett. , 21, 5, June 1999, pp. 3 3 0-333. [6]. B. Wang, Y. Wang, W. Yu, and R. Mittra, A Hybrid 2-D FDTD Sub gridding Scheme for Modeling On-Chip Interconnects, IEEE Transactions on Advanced Packaging, 24, 4, November 200 1 , pp. 528-533. [7]. X. Zhu, T. Dogaru, and L. Carin, Three-Dimensional Biorthogonal Multiresolution Time-Domain Method and Its Application to Electromagnetic Scattering Problems, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, AP-51, 5, May 2003, pp. 1085- 1 092. [8]. Q. H. Liu, The PSTD Algorithm: A Time-Domain Method Requiring Only Two Cells Per Wavelength, Microwave Opt. Technol. Lett.,IS,1997, pp. 1 58- 1 65. [9] W. H. Yu, Y. J. Liu, T. Su, N.-T. Huang, and R. Mittra, †A robust parallel conformal finite-difference time-domain processing package using the MPI library,† IEEE Antennas Propagat. Mag., vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 39-59, 2005. [10] Almasi, G.S, and Gohlied, A, â€Å"Highly Parallel Computing†. Benjamin Cummings Publishing, 2a ed., 1994. [11]. Taflove A, Brodwin ME. Numerical solution of steady-state electromagnetic scattering problems using the time-dependent Maxwell’s equations. IEEE Trans Microwave Theory Tech. 1975,MTT-23(8):623–30. [12]. W. Yu, X. Yang, Y. Liu, and R. Mittra â€Å"Parallel FDTD Performance Analysis on Different Hardware Platforms â€Å",IEEE Int. Symp. Antennas and Propagation Meeting

Use of Credit Cards :: essays research papers

The use of credit cards is much more dangerous than use of checks or cash. Paying with cash is very easy; for knowing how much money is available and how much can be spent makes it very hard to get into debt. When paying with a check the process is a bit trickier; the exact balance has to be kept on the account at all time. Knowing what this balance is and continuously replenishing it can be quite hard. Nevertheless, even with a check consumers can not get into a lot of trouble. If more money is spent then the shopper has on the current account, the last written check will be rejected and account will be suspended until the balance is paid off. With credit cards however, every year more and more people get into debt. According to American Bankers Association (ABA), Americans owe more then $387 billion on their credit cards. This frightening number, averaging about $3,900 per family, is just as bad for the economy as it is for the consumers. In September of 1995, for example, The AT&T Universal card charged $15 per month for late fee to people who paid their bills just one day after the due date. Visa, on the other hand, was charging the penalty feesfor as little as a dollar over the limit, plus an interest of up to 24.9 percent per year. In the second quarter of 1995, overdue payments as a percentage of outstanding balance hit 3.267 percent. That is the highest mark since recession of 1991. "The picture is, some consumers are very, very deeply in debt," says Charles McMillion, chief economist with MBG Information Services. A swipe of the card has become so natural that many consumers do not realize how much they have charged, nor that it will take them forever to pay that debt off. Seventy percent of respondents to a recent ABA survey said that it would take them at least two months to pay off their holiday expenses. Unfortunately, there are more ways to use a credit card than ever before, making it very hard for consumers to refrain from spending a lot of money. Shopper can charge groceries, teeth cleanings, and on-line services to their credit cards. Introduction of rebate cards – which offer users credit towards new vehicles, frequent-flyer miles,