U.S economiy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

U.S economiy - Term Paper Example Discussion Price instabilities have also been a common feature in the housing sector of the country as caused by such factors as poor government policies and the periodic boom and bust cycles in the economy. The current prevailing housing model therefore suffers over stretching by the need to address the raising instabilities within prices of the house facilities. The model is characterized of adverse shortages, which has passed on the effect even to the social rented housing facilities besides having implications to the private sector of housing market. The private sector therefore suffers shortage and fails to meet the ever-increasing housing needs for the surging population. In fact, according to a report on WSJ by Timiraos, the market of houses has seen a rise in the last years and this is currently witnessed by very high prices today (Timiraos, para 1). Over years, the governments in the international scene have been subjects of discussion in their role in intervening in the hou sing market with critical analysis of the same revealing different arguments. The supporters of the initiatives of government in policy to intervene in the housing market cite accompanying benefits while the critics question the authority and benefits resultant from such interventions. Concerns raised in the past have cited government’s intervention to lead to undesirable outcomes in the end as compared to the little benefits that are accrued to specific target groups/persons. Governments intervene in the housing market through different mechanisms, which include offering subsidies to the developers, injecting credit facilities into the market to support potential homebuyers to access the required amounts as well as through designing and implementation of government policies to address the issue. Besides the introduction of ‘temporal home purchase’ credit facilities within the economy, the government equally uses policy tools for asymmetric tax treatment of renta l houses as well as to owner occupied housing. However, the application of these different policy instruments has accompanying advantages as well as disadvantages in the overall outcome to the economy. Intervention in the US has often focused on lowering or operating the house prices in order to target the majority residents who are potential homeowners but due to financial constraints, they are not in a position. Many questions therefore arise on the implications and strategic necessity to have the government intervene in the housing sector. Questions revolve around the implications of the intervention in that government intervention would alter the free market price balance while on the other hand; intervention would reduce the risk of price crash in the housing market. Recession has the potential to decline the consumer wealth as well as negative equity in the sector (Dougherty, Timiraos and Shah, para 1). Moreover, the intervention by the government has the capacity to reduce th e price volatility of houses which if not addressed has the potential to lead to a price crash within the economy. The critics reasons that house price fall have no empirical justification to cause recession within the economy. This therefore refutes the position by the arguments of the supporter of government intervention to reduce the risks of price recession. According to the critics, government intervention would not lead to control of price volatility, which is likely

The Kite Runner Essay Example for Free

The Kite Runner Essay What would you do to redeem yourself for a very bad thing you’ve done? In the novel The Kite Runner, the main character, Amir, will redeem himself for what he had done in his childhood by doing good things. In Afghanistan, there is a segregation of ethnic groups between the Hazara and the Pashtun. Hazara people work for the Pashtun people. Hassan Is a Hazara and Amir is a Pashtun. Although Amir and Hassan are best friends, Amir never consider Hassan as his best friend or even a friend. Even though Amir is a mean and jealous character when he is young, he evolves into an entirely different person. He redeems himself by showing unselfishness and generosity to a stranger. He grants Rahim Khan’s last request and risks his life to go help Sohrab in Afghanistan. As a child, Amir’s character shows jealousy and selfishness because he doesn’t receive enough attention from his father. Amir is always jealous of Hassan for being treated the same as him by Baba. In his head, Amir thinks that he is Baba’s true and only son, so he doesn’t understand why Baba treats Hassan the same way he treats him. When Amir and Hassan go to buy kites, they get the same kind of kite, and when Amir asks for a fancier one, Baba buys the same for both of them. â€Å"Sometimes I wished he wouldn’t do that. Wished he’d let me be the favorite. † Amir doesn’t like Hassan to be treated the same way as him because he is jealous. He once thought that the orphans should have died along with their parents because he is jealous of the kids that get to spend time with his father. This shows that when Amir is young, he was mean and selfish. To run away from his jealousy and guilt, he frames Hassan for stealing his watch and money by placing it under the mattress. After Amir frames Hassan for stealing his watch and money, he never had the chance to see Hassan again in his life. Although he purposely pushes Hassan out of his life, Amir is obsessed with Hassan throughout the novel. He thinks about Hassan when there was war, wonders if Hassan is still alive. He thinks about Hassan when he was grown up, wonders if Hassan was alive or if he has any wife yet. Its because Amir is full of guilt and obsession over Hassan. Deep inside, he thinks that if Hassan dies, it might be because of him. Amir also regrets the action in the past. Amir regrets that he wasnt mature enough to understand that Hassan is his best and only friend. He regrets that he wasnt strong enough to stand up for himself. He regrets how he was ignorant, and didnt know that Hassan is his brother. Throughout the novel, Amir has evolves into an entirely different character. He changes from a mean and jealous boy to a generous and kind man. Amir plants fistfuls of crumpled money under the mattress. He shows kindness to a stranger like Farid. Amir wants to help Farid’s family because he understands what his family has to go through in Afghanistan. When Amir was searching for Sohrab at Afghanistan, he met a beggar that knew his mother. Amir gave the beggar on the streets three dollars. Three dollars is not a lot of money but to give three dollars to a beggar is not a common thing that happens. This proves that Amir also evolves into a character that has empathy towards people, and changes into another level of kindness. He also evolves into a character that has more courage. As a child, he won’t fight people back and needs Hassan to help him. He also couldn’t stand up to the General but now he can finally stand up to the general, when he said to the general that, â€Å"you will never again refer to him as’ Hazara boy’ in my presence. He has a name and it’s Sohrab. † â€Å"There is a way to be good again†. These words come out from Rahim Khan’s mouth. He convinces Amir to be a good person after he finds out what Amir has done in the past. Amir tries to redeem himself by meeting with Rahim Khan and grants him his last request before he dies. He goes back to Afghanistan to help Sohrab out of that poor and dangerous place. This shows Amir’s commitment to Hassan. He redeems himself to Hassan. Amir would risk his life to go help Sohrab, even though he has other responsibilities like how he has his wife at America. If he dies in Afghanistan, it will really affect Soraya’s life. He even accepts Sohrab in his family and adopts him. It shows that Amir is really dedicated to this redemption. The novel shows the evolution of Amir as a character. He becomes more kind and generous to other people. He also redeems himself for the bad things that he did to his half brother. His regrets lead him to his redemption. After Amir finds out that Hassan is his half brother, and that he has passed away, that is when Amir starts to evolve into a different character. He starts showing kindness and generosity because it is Amir’s way of redeeming himself. I think at last Amir really did become a good person.

The Failure Of Baggage Handling Systems Information Technology Essay

The Failure Of Baggage Handling Systems Information Technology Essay From the article it is obvious that the city officials and BAE executives were at loggerheads and blame each other for the failure of the handling systems. BAE president and chief executive, Gene Di Fonso, supports his argument against the Denver city officials by pointing out that frequent alteration of the airport plans, involvement of inexperienced managers (appointed by Denver city officials) and failure to fix electrical flaws had left minimal time for testing out the system; were the major reasons behind baggage handling system failure. On the other hand, city officials blame the BAE for not fixing the software and mechanical problems by the time when the system was to be operational. But as it turns out, neither side is completely denying accusation made by other. So from the article, it is obvious that since neither parties have fulfilled their responsibilities, all the above mentioned factors equally contribute towards failure of the baggage handling systems at Denver Airpor t. To put it into simple words, the DIA project failed because those making key decision underestimated the complexity involved. Failure to recognize the complexity and the risk involved contributed to the project being initiated too late. Æ’Â   What could have been done by all stakeholders to prevent the failure caused by new technology introduction? It is always possible that unprofessional behavior by the city officials or defective equipment and software malfunction is partly to blame for the failure of the baggage handling system. But searching for a scapegoat is far simpler than trying to understand the difficulties faced when trying to develop large-scale projects. The project management team needed to do a better job of planning prior to the start of the project. The major roadblock was the simple fact that the automated baggage system was designed after the airport construction had already begun while it should have been included in the original design of the airport. Lack of communication between DIA airport designers, city officials, the airlines and BAE further caused damage to the project. Before beginning construction all the stakeholders needed to meet so as to put together a formalized plan. While this did not happen, the communication seemed more like a top down approach. Æ’Â   Give one public works (government) project that has similar or different fates since 1995, and draw comparisons. The much recent failure of the DART mission by NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center is an example of a technology project which can be described as a not one with an expected outcome. The DART projects biggest problem was that it only had one shot to test the technology. Complex hardware and software can fail from just one mistake, flaw, or overlooked factor in millions of actions or components. Mishap Investigation Board investigated the mishap and determined its underlying causes based on hardware testing, telemetry data analysis, and numerous simulations. So to compare with DIA project, we can find similarities in most aspects of its failure, like hardware and software malfunction, and testing problems. Æ’Â   What are the general lessons for this case? As with any project, the initial step should be to recognize the situation and then work towards it. Had the project management team and the BAEs executives recognized their lack of knowledge and the complexities they were facing, they could possibly reduced the risk, if not avoid it. It would have been a helpful knowledge to listen to those who did have the necessary prior experience. Stakeholder conflict, as in this case, with poorly defined roles and responsibilities and almost non-existent communication can lead to disastrous project results. From the article it is obvious that the city officials and BAE executives were at loggerheads and blame each other for the failure of the handling systems. BAE president and chief executive, Gene Di Fonso, supports his argument against the Denver city officials by pointing out that frequent alteration of the airport plans, involvement of inexperienced managers (appointed by Denver city officials) and failure to fix electrical flaws had left minimal time for testing out the system; were the major reasons behind baggage handling system failure. On the other hand, city officials blame the BAE for not fixing the software and mechanical problems by the time when the system was to be operational. But as it turns out, neither side is completely denying accusation made by other. So from the article, it is obvious that since neither parties have fulfilled their responsibilities, all the above mentioned factors equally contribute towards failure of the baggage handling systems at Denver Airpor t. To put it into simple words, the DIA project failed because those making key decision underestimated the complexity involved. Failure to recognize the complexity and the risk involved contributed to the project being initiated too late. So to sum it all up, the factors that eventually resulted in the failure of DIA project included poor management, conflicting roles and responsibilities, poor communication, no change control process, inadequate testing processes, stakeholder conflict, probably conflicting priorities, and finally scope creep by which I mean expansion of initial project design. It is always possible that unprofessional behavior by the city officials or defective equipment and software malfunction is partly to blame for the failure of the baggage handling system. But searching for a scapegoat is far simpler than trying to understand the difficulties faced when trying to develop large-scale projects. The project management team needed to do a better job of planning prior to the start of the project. The major roadblock was the simple fact that the automated baggage system was designed after the airport construction had already begun while it should have been included in the original design of the airport. Lack of communication between DIA airport designers, city officials, the airlines and BAE further caused damage to the project. Before beginning construction all the stakeholders needed to meet so as to put together a formalized plan. While this did not happen, the communication seemed more like a top down approach. The much recent failure of the DART mission by NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center is an example of a technology project which can be described as a not one with an expected outcome. The DART projects biggest problem was that it only had one shot to test the technology. Complex hardware and software can fail from just one mistake, flaw, or overlooked factor in millions of actions or components. Mishap Investigation Board investigated the mishap and determined its underlying causes based on hardware testing, telemetry data analysis, and numerous simulations. So to compare with DIA project, we can find similarities in most aspects of its failure, like hardware and software malfunction, and testing problems. As with any project, the initial step should be to recognize the situation and then work towards it. Had the project management team and the BAEs executives recognized their lack of knowledge and the complexities they were facing, they could possibly reduced the risk, if not avoid it. It would have been a helpful knowledge to listen to those who did have the necessary prior experience. Stakeholder conflict, as in this case, with poorly defined roles and responsibilities and almost non-existent communication can lead to disastrous project results. The most essential factor that helps a project succeed is if the scope of the project is well defined from the beginning. The scope of the project, if at all possible, should not be allowed to expand. Scope creep ultimately destroys budgets and leads to over time, thus undermining the support a project has. Automation off course in Denver Melvin Ver Dysfunctional decision making is the poison that kills technology projects and the Denver Airport Baggage System project is a classic example. The DIA case examines the key decisions that set the project on the path to disaster and the forces behind those decisions. What was supposed to be the worlds largest automated airport baggage handling system; became a classic story in how technology projects can go wrong. The airports baggage handling system was a critical component in the plan and by automating baggage handling; DIA was going to ensure faster aircraft turnaround which would have provided a competitive advantage over other airports. Despite the plan being technologically advanced and a possible winner, it rapidly dissolved into chaos due to underestimation of the projects complexity which resulted in extensive problems and eventually an embarrassment for everyone involved. The missteps that were involved along the way included a demonstration of the system to the media which illustrated how the system crushed bags, disgorged content and son on. While it is challenging to manage and carry out a technology project on such a massive scale, all it requires is precision in planning, scheduling and controlling; by managing critical interfaces with all the stakeholders involved. Æ’Â   What factors caused the failure of the baggage handling systems? From the article it is obvious that the city officials and BAE executives were at loggerheads and blamed each other for the failure of the handling systems. BAE chief executive blames the Denver city of frequent alteration of the airport plans, involvement of inexperienced managers and failure to fix electrical flaws resulting in minimal time for testing out the system; for the major reasons behind baggage handling system failure. On the other hand, city officials blame the BAE for not fixing the software and mechanical problems by the time when the system was to be operational. Since neither side is completely denying accusation made by other and have failed to fulfill their responsibilities, all the above mentioned factors equally contribute towards failure of the baggage handling systems at Denver Airport. To put it into simple words, the DIA project failed as it failed to recognize the complexity and the risk involved. Æ’Â   What could have been done by all stakeholders to prevent the failure caused by new technology introduction? Searching for a scapegoat is far simpler than trying to understand the difficulties faced when trying to develop large-scale projects. The project management team needed to do a better job of planning prior to the start of the project. The major roadblock was the simple fact that the automated baggage system was designed after the airport construction had already begun while it should have been included in the original design of the airport. Before beginning construction all the stakeholders needed to meet so as to put together a formalized plan. Lack of communication between DIA airport designers, city officials, the airlines and BAE further caused damage to the project. While this did not happen, the communication seemed more like a top down approach in this case. Æ’Â   Give one public works (government) project that has similar or different fates since 1995, and draw comparisons. The much recent failure of the DART mission by NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center is an example of a technology project that did not end up as expected. The DART projects biggest problem was that it only had one shot to test the technology. Complex hardware and software can fail from just one mistake or flaw. Mishap Investigation Board investigated the mishap and determined its underlying causes based on hardware testing, telemetry data analysis, and numerous simulations. So to compare with DIA project, we can find similarities in most aspects of its failure, like hardware and software malfunction, and along with testing problems. Æ’Â   What are the general lessons for this case? As with any project, the initial step should be to recognize the situation and then work towards it. Had the project management team and the BAEs executives recognized their lack of knowledge and the complexities they were facing, they could possibly reduced the risk, if not avoid it. It would have been a helpful knowledge to listen to those who did have the necessary prior experience. Stakeholder conflict, as in this case, with poorly defined roles and responsibilities and almost non-existent communication can lead to disastrous project results.

David Boston :: essays research papers

What's going on in Room 614? There's an overgrown wide receiver in there. "Dude, you're on steroids!" fans yell at him at training camp. A lot of NFL players and coaches think he's on something, but the term they use is yoked up. "Gotta be," says an NFC defensive back. The receiver keeps testing clean (seven times last season), but his peers are still suspicious. They can't prove it, but they think he's on something they don't have a test for yet, maybe human growth hormone (HGH), and one reason is the size of his head. "Look, even his face is growing," the player goes on. "He's bloated. His cheekbones have changed." Guys around the league just don't see how his weight could jump from 209 to 257 in three years. Or how he can have 21-inch biceps, a 34-inch waist and 5.5% body fat. Or how he can run the 40 in 4.3 seconds. Or how the sorry Cardinals could let such a physical specimen walk. Or how 30 other teams could let the Chargers scoop him up as a free agent for only 47 mil. No, there's got to be something going on in that room. Something to keep Arizona from franchising him, something to scare off the rest of the league. "We didn't even have him on our board," says a Redskins exec, whose team needed a receiver this winter and opted to pay Laveranues Coles a $13 million signing bonus. Laveranues Coles? He's half this guy's size and doesn't run any faster. But few trust him. They hear all the stories. How he eats only in his personal trainer's room, Room 614 at the Hilton Carson Civic Plaza in Carson, Calif. How Hall of Famer Joe Greene, an assistant coach on his old team, wonders if he'll live to 30. How he's paying his personal trainer $200K a year. How, even though he's rooming with LaDainian Tomlinson, he's holed up most of the time in Room 614. Holed up and getting heavier every day. "Have you seen that guy? Our D-line coach calls him Robocop," says Chargers defensive end Marcellus Wiley. "If any of us defensive linemen go down, he's going two-way. I mean, 260 pounds, 5% body fat, a 4.3 40? That's 30 sacks. Every day in the cafeteria, I walk past the fried foods and say, 'I am David Boston' That way, I won't eat them.

Maslow and Jung: Life and the Workplace Essay

We work, strive, succeed, and sometimes we fail. What drives us to succeed, or in some cases keeps us from success? Perhaps a better understanding of our motives, and the motives of our colleagues would help us make the personality changes we need to succeed. The way we interact with others in the workplace and our personal life may be improved. The Freudian theories opened our minds to many of our odd behaviors but did little to provide methods of self-examination. Very few of us have the time and the funds available for in-depth psychoanalysis. The theories of Carl Jung and Abraham Maslow are interesting and, in certain respects, opposing. With study, introspection, and a better awareness of others, aspects of the theories of Jung and Maslow can be used by most individuals to improve their working and personal relationships. Carl Jung was a younger colleague of Sigmund Freud but he made the exploration of â€Å"inner space† his life’s work. Jung and Freud began to go their separate ways in 1909 even though Freud had once considered Jung his heir apparent, the â€Å"crown prince of psychoanalysis† (Boeree, 2006 Pg 3  ¶3). Jung had an extensive knowledge of mythology, religion, and philosophy. He was especially knowledgeable in the symbolism of complex mystical traditions: Gnosticism, Alchemy, Kabala, Hinduism, and Buddhism. He had a capacity for lucid dreaming and occasional visions (Boeree, 2006). Jung divided the psyche into three parts: ego, personal unconscious, and the collective unconscious. The ego and personal unconscious are very much like Freud’s understanding of the psyche; the collective unconscious was added to Freud’s theories and stands out from all others. This part of the psyche represents our experiences as a species, a knowledge with which we are born (Boeree, 2006). Jung spent a great deal of time in self-examination. Much of his theory is based on this introspection and a source of criticism from several of his colleagues. Jung carefully recorded his dreams, fantasies, and visions; he felt if we could recapture our mythologies, our ghosts, we could understand these ghosts and heal our mental illnesses (Boeree, 2006). Jung’s sense of personal examination and commonality of the unconscious may allow us all to heal and live better, more fulfilling lives. Abraham Maslow’s belief in Humanistic Psychology and his Hierarchy of Needs can be, and has been, applied in the workplace outside of psychology. A pyramid, with Physiological Needs at its base, represents the Hierarchy (Boeree, 2006). The Hierarchy’s five stages: physiological, safety, belonging, esteem, and Self-actualization explain many of the motivations within the workplace. One example is the rather obvious puzzle of why employees are only temporarily satisfied by a raise in salary. Inevitably, most employees are satisfied when first receiving the bump up in pay. However, just as inevitably, shortly thereafter the same employee expects another raise; he has become dissatisfied. Even when the raises in pay are forthcoming in intervals that are acceptable, the employee still seems to become dissatisfied. Maslow believed that we are driven to understand and accept ourselves as fully as possible, and are motivated to satisfy ever-increasing levels of motivation. Once the basic need of enough money to provide a basic standard of living is met, the employee is still driven to satisfy higher needs. These higher needs may include a sense of personal achievement (Heffner, 2002). Maslow felt that no one would ever reach the top of his hierarchy but should realistically try only to get as close as possible. Through our continued journey in life, meeting problems and issues, we can either grow or slip backward. We can choose to learn and continue climbing or give up. Most people choose to continue their climb. With some, this choice is not an actual conscious decision. The choice is more of a drive to succeed or a cycle of happiness and depression that we have trouble understanding. As a supervisor or manager, our ability to understand the constant cycle of satisfaction and dissatisfaction may mean the difference between a successful career and failure. If in a career or business the only answer to dissatisfaction is monetary, excessive cost to the company can be easily caused and still have unhappy employees and a high turnover rate. Conclusion Carl Jung’s introspection and self-examination have led us to the realization that childhood traumas are not the only sources of behavior and personality characteristics. Our continued learning from our experiences, our differentiation, gives us a life-long ability to make corrections. Abraham Maslow’s understanding of our motivation and constant striving for satisfaction has brought the person back into Psychology and given renewed attention to the truly human qualities that make up us all. Understanding the motivation and satisfaction needs of colleagues, our family members, and ourselves provides avenues of action that were previously only sources of frustration. Taking heed of both schools of psychological thought, the Neo-Freudian Carl Jung and the Humanistic Psychology of Abraham Maslow, may be our best path for understanding our own behavior and motives and those of our colleagues and family. References Boeree, C. (2006). Abraham Maslow 1908-1970. Retrieved Jan. 22, 2006, from Personality Theories Web site: http://www. ship. edu/~cgboeree/maslow. html. Boeree, C. (2006). Carl Jung 1875 -1961. Retrieved Jan. 22, 2006, from Personality Theories Web site: http://www. ship. edu/%7Ecgboeree/jung. html. Heffner, C. (2002). Personality synopsis. Retrieved Jan. 22, 2006, from AllpsychON LINE, The Virtual Psychology Classroom Web site: http://allpsych. com/personalitysynopsis/index. html.

Hellenization and Its Affects on the birth and spread of Christianity

Hellenization and Its Affects on the birth and spread of Christianity What is Hellenization? Hellenization is a term that is commonly used in describing the spread of the culture of the ancient Greeks as well as, to a smaller degree, the Greek language in particular. This issue includes the indication of the rate at which the culture spread was the highest among all the foreign nations conquered by Greece or within its sphere of influence.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Hellenization and Its Affects on the birth and spread of Christianity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is worth noting that Alexander the Great is the historical figure who can be largely linked to the spread of Hellenization. His contribution to the development and promotion of the Greek culture and language is done through his conquests of the new lands and other cultures, thus enabling the spread of Hellenization within the period of his life, which was the fourth century BC (Eraman 34). The whole concept of thi s is what has been referred to as Hellenism, a study of ancient Greece, in modern days. In what ways do you think it might have affected the birth and spread of Christianity? As it is evident from most of the scholarly articles studying and examining Greek philosophy, Hellenism was a cultural force that significantly affected many lands and countries within the Mediterranean region. Furthermore, basing on the fact that Christianity arose, developed and received a wide spread in the countries along the Mediterranean area, there are a lot of reasons to believe that Hellenism contributed much to its growth and consequent spread. In his book, Brief Introduction to the New Testament, Bart Ehrman (45) argues that the majority of the early Christians insisted on borrowing some ideas from the Greek cultural world as well as church terms are derived from the Greek language. The factors that made the early Christians address to the Greek culture and language may be explained in the following way. In order to help the first missionaries communicate and spread the gospel to those who surround them, they decided to use the language that would be understood by a wide majority of people who may be viewed as a future congregation of a new developing religion. Moreover, to attract more church members, the early Christians used to implement some views and ideas of Greek culture to their propagation. Thus, they made the alien religion become closer and more understandable to the people with the Greek influenced vision of life. As such, Hellenistic ideologies gradually infiltrated into the Christian setting. As a matter of fact, Bart Erman argues that the outstanding and well-known Greek philosophers, such as Plato, Aristotle, as well as some others, greatly influenced on as well as remarkably contributed to the development of the ideologies that are represented in the New Testament (78). Ehrman, Bart. A Brief Introduction to the New Testament. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2 009. Print.Advertising Looking for report on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Free Essays on The History Of The Nun

The Affects of a Broken Vow Aphra Behn’s The History of the Nun illustrates the importance of decision making and keeping vows, particularly the â€Å"Sacred Vow, made to God only,† through the life of the main character Isabella (Behn). The reader witnesses the perfect, simplistic nature of Isabella changing as she attempts to conquer the misfortunes that accompany her broken vow to eternally â€Å"serve him [God] with all Chastity and Devotion† (Behn). It is through Isabella’s interactions with other characters that she acquires more realistic qualities. From beginning to end, this virtuous woman is just another victim of a sinful world. Isabella’s upbringing in a nunnery influences the woman she becomes. As a young girl, she is exceptionally civil and affable as the nuns teach her everything possible; however, she only sees a nun’s perspective of life. The nuns mold her view of the world, causing the secular outside to become less appealing to her. In the nunnery, she is an ideal person with perfect virtures and is full of knowledge. Her character, in this stage of her life, is too innocent and righteous. Her first big mistake occurs as she enters the sisterhood. This, in actuality, ignites a chain of events that leads to many of her downfalls. Isabella is unaware of her other options while she makes her decision; one that will affect the rest of her life. Isabella’s personality becomes more realistic as she journeys through life and faces consequences rooted in her initial vow to become a nun. The nun undergoes changes in her personality from being a perfect little girl, to becoming a nun, to breaking her sacred vow, and killing both of her husbands, and finally losing her own life. At first, Isabella questions her morals as she confesses to her best friend, Katteriena, that she loves Katteriena’s brother, Henault. Deceiving Katteriena, Isabella convinces her that she can see Henault without loving ... Free Essays on The History Of The Nun Free Essays on The History Of The Nun The Affects of a Broken Vow Aphra Behn’s The History of the Nun illustrates the importance of decision making and keeping vows, particularly the â€Å"Sacred Vow, made to God only,† through the life of the main character Isabella (Behn). The reader witnesses the perfect, simplistic nature of Isabella changing as she attempts to conquer the misfortunes that accompany her broken vow to eternally â€Å"serve him [God] with all Chastity and Devotion† (Behn). It is through Isabella’s interactions with other characters that she acquires more realistic qualities. From beginning to end, this virtuous woman is just another victim of a sinful world. Isabella’s upbringing in a nunnery influences the woman she becomes. As a young girl, she is exceptionally civil and affable as the nuns teach her everything possible; however, she only sees a nun’s perspective of life. The nuns mold her view of the world, causing the secular outside to become less appealing to her. In the nunnery, she is an ideal person with perfect virtures and is full of knowledge. Her character, in this stage of her life, is too innocent and righteous. Her first big mistake occurs as she enters the sisterhood. This, in actuality, ignites a chain of events that leads to many of her downfalls. Isabella is unaware of her other options while she makes her decision; one that will affect the rest of her life. Isabella’s personality becomes more realistic as she journeys through life and faces consequences rooted in her initial vow to become a nun. The nun undergoes changes in her personality from being a perfect little girl, to becoming a nun, to breaking her sacred vow, and killing both of her husbands, and finally losing her own life. At first, Isabella questions her morals as she confesses to her best friend, Katteriena, that she loves Katteriena’s brother, Henault. Deceiving Katteriena, Isabella convinces her that she can see Henault without loving ...

The Life Of William Bradford And Olaudah Equiano essays

The Life Of William Bradford And Olaudah Equiano essays The writings of both authors, William Bradford and Olaudah Equiano, are very important, because they show us first and accounts of their ideas and horrors. Bradford and Equiano both have many similarities. To begin with, both of them leave a country for a specific reason. Bradford leaves his country, England, to escape religious prosecution (William, 1) and Equiano leaves America to avoid discrimination and becoming a slave again (Elements, 56). Bradford left his country roots to traveled to Holland, before sailing to the New World and helping establish a Plymouth Colony for English Puritans (William, 1). According to Elements (56), when Equiano bought his freedom he left America to forget his slavery horrors that had happened there. Secondly, Bradford and Equiano married Englishwomen. Bradford marries twice. His first wife, Dorothy, felled from the Mayflowers deck and drowned during the voyage (Kelso, 2). Bradfords second wife was Alice Carpenter Southworth, a widow (3). Equiano gets married in London at the age of 47 to an Englishwoman, Susanna Cullen (Elements, 56). While having many similarities, Bradford and Equiano also had many differences. For example, their reason to go to America, the New World. Equiano had no choice, he was forced to go. At 11 he was kidnapped into domestic slavery. He was held captive in West Africa for seven months and then sold to British slavers, who shipped him to Barbados and took him to Virginia. In 1766, Equiano was able to buy his freedom and with that accomplished he left to London ( They, 1). On the other hand, William Bradford was not forced to go to America, he and the Nonconformists chose to go, to escape religious prosecution (William , 1). By sailing to the New World, they thought they could expect more religious toleration while still preserving their English heritage (2). Another difference was their religion. Bradford became a regular attender...

A University Guide for the 21st Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

A University Guide for the 21st Century - Essay Example Moreover, what are the key messages that can be ascertained from a rigorous critique of the very methodology of the STUG ? IT WILL BE DEMONSTRATED THAT A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF THE STUG YIELDS A TWO-FOLD IMPROVEMENT FOR DURHAM UNIVERSITY: ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND INCREASED DIVERSITY BY ALL RELEVENT INDICATORS. SCOPE & BREADTH OF DATA PRESENTED: Established in 1993 and both funded and supported by universities across the UK [APPENDIX: D] the Higher Education Statistics Agency houses a significant body of data pertaining to university demographics – indeed, HESA tracks performance indicators, finance, enrollment, student achievement at all levels, faculty demographics, and a wide range of other very useful information [see: APPENDIX: B-C; E - F]. For the STUG, the HESA is the source for a number of their key indicators in regard to how they compare one university in the UK against the next [APPENDIX C]. The following analysis is dependent upon both the various university guides such as the STUG, the Guardian annual survey and the Complete University Guide, but also the annual key indicators that are accumulated and presented at HESA. The details of the analysis will be comparative as far as including both the newspaper distillation of the HESA information ( and beyond the HESA too), with particular attention paid to the STUG, but also the HESA in its raw and more expansive form. METHODOLOGY: There is both qualitative and quantitative methods employed in this analysis. First, the data stated in the previous section will be compared in terms of key performance indicators. In numerical or quantitative terms, significant improvements, changes or declines will be noted and presented. Particular focus will be paid to the indicators that are Durham specific, however, it is difficult to isolate Durham University when considering notable

Distribution Pattern Analysis of Public Parks and accessibility in Essay

Distribution Pattern Analysis of Public Parks and accessibility in Madinah Using GIS Technique - Essay Example Distribution Pattern Analysis of Public Parks and accessibility in Madinah Using GIS Technique This research quantifies inequalities in green space accessibility to support long term spatial planning strategies that specifically address green space accessibility. The focus of this paper is the distribution and accessibility analysis of public parks with regard to all segments of the population. When there is a significant increase in population and urban growth in a region, the need for public places of recreation increases. For example, in Britain, the area dedicated to national parks and green areas is approximately 10,000 square miles, which represents 17% of England and Wales’ total area of. Increasing rates of urbanisation in Madinah have led to increased pressure on many of the services and facilities, especially green spaces and gardens which are a key requirement for high density neighbourhoods. Green space refers to an area of land or water mass that either remains in its natural form or is used for agricultural purposes . Green spaces are free from industrial, institutional, commercial and residential use and development. While most green spaces are publicly owned, others are private properties and consist of undeveloped coastal lands, undeveloped, scenic lands, public parks, forest lands and estuarine lands . In urban areas, however, where land development is predominant, green space may encompass areas such as wetlands, recreational areas, vacant lots or narrow corridors for walking or cycling. Cultural and historic resources also form part of green space in some countries. In addition, green space is crucial as it absorbs and expels pollutants from the environment, by acting as an urban heat sink thereby protecting urban biodiversity. As agricultural pressures on land increase through greater demands for land, green spaces are slowly becoming depleted (Forman 2005). However, as development becomes a key priority, more land that was previously set aside for agricultural purposes is being developed into residential or institution areas (Van, 2007). This has led to scarcity of green space, and access to the available few is hampered by the prospect of development. Access to green space is of paramount importance because of the unique contribution of green spaces to the quality of life, It is likely that they can then work to review development plans for gardens on an equitable basis to serve the citizens. Green spaces are important for improving the air quality during the day, ridding it of carbon dioxide and other pollutants; they also beautify the environment, create a soothing atmosphere, and protect people from the glare and heat of the sun (Kumagai.2011). For instance, green spaces allow for relaxation, way from the daily stresses of urban life such as hectic work schedules and traffic. Moreover, green spaces offer immense recreational opportunities like individual exercise and organised sports. Spending time in urban green spaces offers reprieve to urban dwellers. However, because of increasing urbanisation a nd access to green space and spatial planning policies with regard to densification, more urban dwellers face the prospect of living in areas with few or no green space resources. Governments and individual municipalities set up clear guidelines for access to green space (Smith et al.2002). The Green Belt is a policy for managing urban growth in the UK. The policy guidelines provide concise

Discuss the rationale and impact of the decision on company law Essay - 1

Discuss the rationale and impact of the decision on company law - Essay Example The case and its subsequent ruling were significant in informing successive laws that would help mitigate on the numerous dispute arising from business engagement. The doctrine of corporate identity for example exempts the shareholders of an insolvent company from any case by creditors since the company becomes the defendant in such cases. Mr. Aron Salomon ran a successful shoe manufacturing in the United Kingdom. The boot manufacturing business was a major success thus enticing his sons who expressed interest in joining the business. As such, Mr. Salomon turned his business into a limited company, which then purchased his previous business at a cost of  £39,000. Mr. Salomon became the company’s largest shareholder after he purchased 20,001 shares of the company’s 20,007 shares. Additionally, he loaned the company  £10,000. Unfortunately, subsequent years became unfavorable for the business thus causing massive loses for the company. The government, which was the company’s major customer, withdrew its tender thereby leading to a massive decline of the company’s revenue. The company therefore began defaulting on the  £10,000 debenture it owed Salmon. Half of the debenture belonged to Broderip who the sued the company thus forcing the government to put the company under liquidation. The company paid Broderip his  £5,000 but this left the company at an unstable position since it could not pay the other unsecured creditors. The company failed to reimburse the unsecured creditors. The liquidator concluded that the government should not honor the floating charge. Such an action would make Salmon personally responsible for the debt. Salmon contested the decision in court thus instigating a lengthy court battle that would reform the country’s company law. At the end of the length court cases that ended up at the House of Lords, the lawmakers appreciated the fact that a company is independent and therefore a separate legal entity. In cases

Rails to Trails Program Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rails to Trails Program - Research Paper Example As a function of this particular level of analysis, the author will discuss five of the sea goals/accomplishments that Rails to Trails has elaborated on within its 2011 annual report. By engaging in a summary and objective analysis of these goals and competence, it is the hoped that the reader can come to a more appreciable understanding of detailed victories and further goals that program necessarily engenders. Secondly, as a means of determining the effectiveness of the entity in question, the analysis will also engage with an analysis and discussion of whether media coverage of the group has been on the whole either positive, negative, or neutral. Likewise, by leveraging an understanding of the internal accomplishments and goals that the group seeks to affect as well as understanding the likely level to which societal shareholders have engaged with the group via the media, it will be able for the analysts to calm to a more clear and definitive understanding of whether or Not the m acro and micro scheme that the group seeks to affect has a likelihood of general success. It can and should be understood that a broad and overarching goal that Rails to Trails has sought to affect is with regards to the level and extent to which the entity and its stakeholders continually seek to engage key members of Congress. This is done so that awareness within the minds of the legislatures can be created and key responses made with regards to proposed legislation and potential cuts (Hannan 44). In this manner, it can be understood by the reader that one of the primary goals with which Rails to Trails seeks to engage is with regards to the current economic environment; the environment in which the clear and present need for economic cuts places the life blood of Rails to Trails at a distinct risk. Accordingly, one of the greatest, judgments that was detailed within the annual report 2011 was with regards to the general success which was achieved at keeping the Federal Transport ation Fund available to both highways and trails. Movements and interest by key legislators to remove trails and walking paths into the general fund of the Federal Transportation Fund; whereas before these programs that always enjoyed a degree of safety from the competition that the general fund would necessarily imply. Secondary item of success and a compliment is with regards to the way in which Rails to Trails engaged with Representative Mica. This was done in something of an expert manner due to the fact that Representative Mica only recently became the head of the Transportation Infrastructure Program; a powerful body that was able to decide what expenditures or cuts would be made to key government programs (Fisher 10). Due to the fact that Representative Mica was a Republican, it would’ve been easy for the organization to merely seeks to combat him rather than co-opt him. However, a resounding success was able to be realized when stakeholders from Representative Micaâ⠂¬â„¢s home district were able to begin passing several resolutions. These resolutions had the impact of encouraging Representative Mica to consider his view upon funding cuts and ultimately support the Rails to Trails Program. Another means by which a level of success was able to be realized was with regards to the partnership with the Campaign for Active Transportation (CAT). As a means of providing a unified voice and engaging with other stakeholders to maximize the combines impact upon legislation and potential cuts looming on the horizon, this particular engagement was extraordinarily helpful to achieving these goals (Hearne 118). Yet another compliment is with regards to the bipartisan support that Rails to Trails was able to

Fire detection and suppression systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Fire detection and suppression systems - Essay Example This can be in form of sirens, flash lights, telephone calls and a signal sent to the city’s fire department. It comprises the following parts: The alarm system is composed of mainly the control panel, power supply, zone feature, input devices and the output devices. The input devices are the sensory zones of the alarm hence they include the smoke and heat detectors. If the signal is high enough, the control panel would provide notifications about the danger posed by the changes in the detectors. However, some signals may require immediate attention, for example a fire alert in a specific room of a building. In such an instance, the zone feature is programmed to activate instant sprinklers that would put off the fire. Finally, the output devices include the horns, voice announcements and flash lights that indicate danger (Hirschler, 1992). Fire alarm systems are very important in notifying the occupants of the building under fire to vacate. They are designed to use both sound and visual warnings hence ensuring evacuation of the buildings thus saving lives. In the recent models of the alarm systems, they are programmed to inform an individual the specific location of the fire hence giving him or her right direction of the nearest exit (Sturzenbecker, Adams & Burnside, 2012). The alarm systems assist the fire fighters to easily locate the building under fire thus facilitating quick response to the fire. In addition, the alarm system may produce a human voice that informs them of the location of the fire hence.

English II paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

English II paper - Essay Example The story introduces the central character, Victor who had just lost his job and broke but needed to go to Phoenix to collect the remains of his cremated father who had apparently died of a heart attack. He also wanted to collect a pick-up truck and a few hundred dollars left by his late father. He was disappointed when the tribal council could only raise a hundred dollars as cash for this trip. Here, Alexie depicts Victor as a poor, sheltered Native American living on the reservation. He seems to have lost faith in his culture and traditions. He is affected negatively by his surrounding and struggles to find his identity. As he walked off to cash his check, he bumped into his childhood friend, Thomas Build the Fire. Thomas offered to lend Victor the money he needed to go to Phoenix, Arizona. In childhood, all the native American boys in the reservation including Victor kept ignoring Thomas for years because of â€Å"the same damn stories he was always telling over and over againâ⠂¬  (Sherman, 288). Thomas’ action was a sign of true friendship having offered and given his friend Victor money without expecting anything in return. The only condition Thomas gave was to accompany Victor to Phoenix in order to â€Å"watch out† for Victor, a promise he had given Victor’s father as revealed in the text (Sherman, 292). Thomas remained loyal to the promise he gave Victor’s father since the time they were kids, he always looked after Victor. The story brings out the importance of friendship and values such as loyalty and optimism. This interesting character in Thomas presents a person who is hardly affected negatively by the hardship and struggle a contrast of Victor’s character. Thomas also represents a funny, traditional person in the manner he greets Victor at the tribal trading post and expresses condolences for Victor’s loss. When Victor asked Thomas how he learned of the passing of Victor’s father, Thomas answere d, â€Å"I heard it on the wind. I heard it from the birds. I felt it in the sunlight. Also, your mother was just here crying† (Sherman, 292). When they came back from Phoenix, Victor promised that he would pay everything back. He thanked Thomas for help, but Thomas only replied; â€Å"do not worry about the money. It does not make any difference anyhow† (Sherman, 288). Notice that Thomas holds no personal attachment to money, possessions or wealth unlike his friend Victor who is modern, proud and possessive. In conclusion, I think their friendship was rekindled because Victor felt gratitude towards Thomas and even offered some of the father’s ashes to Thomas. When they arrived in his father’s trailer in Arizona, Victor apologized to Thomas. He even added, â€Å"I never told you I was sorry for beating you up that time†, and accepts him for whom he was (Sherman, 285). In an attempt to rekindle the alliance and relinquish any grudge, Victor agreed t o listen to just one more story as the trip came to a close. With some inheritance money, the story uses everyday life and conflicts inside an Indian reservation to present a parallel between the two characters in the story. Alexis explores life including typical conflicts such as the events that Victor encountered, reflections on his experiences with Thomas in childhood and later their rare

Rails to Trails Program Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rails to Trails Program - Research Paper Example As a function of this particular level of analysis, the author will discuss five of the sea goals/accomplishments that Rails to Trails has elaborated on within its 2011 annual report. By engaging in a summary and objective analysis of these goals and competence, it is the hoped that the reader can come to a more appreciable understanding of detailed victories and further goals that program necessarily engenders. Secondly, as a means of determining the effectiveness of the entity in question, the analysis will also engage with an analysis and discussion of whether media coverage of the group has been on the whole either positive, negative, or neutral. Likewise, by leveraging an understanding of the internal accomplishments and goals that the group seeks to affect as well as understanding the likely level to which societal shareholders have engaged with the group via the media, it will be able for the analysts to calm to a more clear and definitive understanding of whether or Not the m acro and micro scheme that the group seeks to affect has a likelihood of general success. It can and should be understood that a broad and overarching goal that Rails to Trails has sought to affect is with regards to the level and extent to which the entity and its stakeholders continually seek to engage key members of Congress. This is done so that awareness within the minds of the legislatures can be created and key responses made with regards to proposed legislation and potential cuts (Hannan 44). In this manner, it can be understood by the reader that one of the primary goals with which Rails to Trails seeks to engage is with regards to the current economic environment; the environment in which the clear and present need for economic cuts places the life blood of Rails to Trails at a distinct risk. Accordingly, one of the greatest, judgments that was detailed within the annual report 2011 was with regards to the general success which was achieved at keeping the Federal Transport ation Fund available to both highways and trails. Movements and interest by key legislators to remove trails and walking paths into the general fund of the Federal Transportation Fund; whereas before these programs that always enjoyed a degree of safety from the competition that the general fund would necessarily imply. Secondary item of success and a compliment is with regards to the way in which Rails to Trails engaged with Representative Mica. This was done in something of an expert manner due to the fact that Representative Mica only recently became the head of the Transportation Infrastructure Program; a powerful body that was able to decide what expenditures or cuts would be made to key government programs (Fisher 10). Due to the fact that Representative Mica was a Republican, it would’ve been easy for the organization to merely seeks to combat him rather than co-opt him. However, a resounding success was able to be realized when stakeholders from Representative Micaâ⠂¬â„¢s home district were able to begin passing several resolutions. These resolutions had the impact of encouraging Representative Mica to consider his view upon funding cuts and ultimately support the Rails to Trails Program. Another means by which a level of success was able to be realized was with regards to the partnership with the Campaign for Active Transportation (CAT). As a means of providing a unified voice and engaging with other stakeholders to maximize the combines impact upon legislation and potential cuts looming on the horizon, this particular engagement was extraordinarily helpful to achieving these goals (Hearne 118). Yet another compliment is with regards to the bipartisan support that Rails to Trails was able to

English II paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

English II paper - Essay Example The story introduces the central character, Victor who had just lost his job and broke but needed to go to Phoenix to collect the remains of his cremated father who had apparently died of a heart attack. He also wanted to collect a pick-up truck and a few hundred dollars left by his late father. He was disappointed when the tribal council could only raise a hundred dollars as cash for this trip. Here, Alexie depicts Victor as a poor, sheltered Native American living on the reservation. He seems to have lost faith in his culture and traditions. He is affected negatively by his surrounding and struggles to find his identity. As he walked off to cash his check, he bumped into his childhood friend, Thomas Build the Fire. Thomas offered to lend Victor the money he needed to go to Phoenix, Arizona. In childhood, all the native American boys in the reservation including Victor kept ignoring Thomas for years because of â€Å"the same damn stories he was always telling over and over againâ⠂¬  (Sherman, 288). Thomas’ action was a sign of true friendship having offered and given his friend Victor money without expecting anything in return. The only condition Thomas gave was to accompany Victor to Phoenix in order to â€Å"watch out† for Victor, a promise he had given Victor’s father as revealed in the text (Sherman, 292). Thomas remained loyal to the promise he gave Victor’s father since the time they were kids, he always looked after Victor. The story brings out the importance of friendship and values such as loyalty and optimism. This interesting character in Thomas presents a person who is hardly affected negatively by the hardship and struggle a contrast of Victor’s character. Thomas also represents a funny, traditional person in the manner he greets Victor at the tribal trading post and expresses condolences for Victor’s loss. When Victor asked Thomas how he learned of the passing of Victor’s father, Thomas answere d, â€Å"I heard it on the wind. I heard it from the birds. I felt it in the sunlight. Also, your mother was just here crying† (Sherman, 292). When they came back from Phoenix, Victor promised that he would pay everything back. He thanked Thomas for help, but Thomas only replied; â€Å"do not worry about the money. It does not make any difference anyhow† (Sherman, 288). Notice that Thomas holds no personal attachment to money, possessions or wealth unlike his friend Victor who is modern, proud and possessive. In conclusion, I think their friendship was rekindled because Victor felt gratitude towards Thomas and even offered some of the father’s ashes to Thomas. When they arrived in his father’s trailer in Arizona, Victor apologized to Thomas. He even added, â€Å"I never told you I was sorry for beating you up that time†, and accepts him for whom he was (Sherman, 285). In an attempt to rekindle the alliance and relinquish any grudge, Victor agreed t o listen to just one more story as the trip came to a close. With some inheritance money, the story uses everyday life and conflicts inside an Indian reservation to present a parallel between the two characters in the story. Alexis explores life including typical conflicts such as the events that Victor encountered, reflections on his experiences with Thomas in childhood and later their rare

The first experiment Essay Example for Free

The first experiment Essay In the three experiments, we see how different objects fall. We should take note that the experiments are employed with the presence of air (and thus, air friction). In the first case, the quarter dollar coin is bigger and heavier than the penny; therefore, it will drop faster because its gravitational force is greater than that of the penny. Even if there is an air friction which is opposite the direction of gravity, it only has a minimal effect on the coins. In the second case, the crumpled paper falls faster than the uncrumpled one. This is because the presence of air friction acts greater with the uncrumpled paper as its surface is greater, hence creating a bigger space for air friction to occur. The crumpled paper, on the other hand, falls faster because of its compacted state. Its gravitational pull acts greater than the opposing air friction. Thirdly, the case of the coin dropped from the index card accounts for the coin to fall faster. This is because it has greater mass (and therefoe, greater gravitational force) tan the index card. Generally, the mass and weight of an object are major characteristics to consider in predicting its rate of fall. The greater the mass or weight, the faster will it fall. This is primarily due to the fact that gravitational force is mass (m) times acceleration die to gravity (g = constant at 9. 8 m/s2). In the same way, the shape and surface of an object also contribute to its rate of fall. The more compact or solid the object, the faster it will fall; the bigger the surface area, the more slowly it will fall. The frictional force is responsible for this slow down. 2. Describe the difference (in both what happens and why) between a person who jumps from an airplane with a parachute and one who jumps without a parachute. If a parachute is used, what would be the difference when the same size parachute is used on a person and then used on an elephant? In the first instance where a person jumps from an airplane with a parachute (say, person A), as compared to the person without a parachute (person B), person A will be able to land in a safer manner since the chute provides for a decrease in the person’s acceleration towards the ground. As person A drops down, the chute slows down his velocity by adding the oppositely directed air friction; meaning, as the downward velocity increases (or as person A accelerates downward), an upward force (which is the air friction sifted by the parachute) reduces the acceleration, thus creating less impact on person A’s landing. Contrastingly, person B will drop downwards in an accelerating manner, where the increased velocity will account for a less safe landing. In the second instance, the size is given focus with regard to the velocity and acceleration of the falling person/animal. Given the same sizes of parachutes used, a person (say, person C) and an elephant (say, Dumbo) are dropped down from an altitude. The effect would be that Dumbo will fall faster than person C despite the same sizes of chutes. Dumbo’s size accounts for the increase in velocity, as it has been established that mass is a factor for acceleration according to Newton’s First Law of Motion (F = ma or a = F / m). Person C will then fall more slowly as compared to Dumbo’s acceleration. The parachute may provide a decrease in acceleration, but this is more observable in person C’s experience.

The Delivery Of Social Work Services

The Delivery Of Social Work Services The second part of the report concentrates on to understand process of ageing. It will then assess the role and function of social work within wider socio-political policy context especially in terms of poverty and inequalities. Finally it will be demonstrated how the identified issues may inform the policy and organisational context and the points raised will be summarised in the conclusion. According to World Health Organisation, most developed world countries have accepted the age of 65 years as a definition of elderly or older person. (WHO: 2012) However, in the United Kingdom the Friendly Societies Act 1972 S7(1)(e) defines old age as, any age after fifty, where pension schemes mostly are used age 60 or 65 years for eligibility. (Scottish Government: 1972) Ageism can be defined as process of discrimination and stereotyping against people because of their age. It affects many institutions in society and has a number of dimensions such as job discrimination, loss of status, stereotyping and dehumanization. Ageism is about assuming that all older people are the same despite different life histories, needs and expectation. (Phillipson: 2011) According to Erikson (1995) psychosocial stages of life older age has been defined as the period of integrity versus despair. This stage involves the acceptance and reflection on ones life. The authors describe older people as a group of marginal concern that has moved to one of central importance in social work profession (Phillipson: 2011) This is caused by the speed of demographical change that is most remarkable in its expand. The number of older people is increasing both in absolute numbers and as a proportion of the total population. The ageing of the population indicates two main factors such as the downward trend in the birth rate and improvements in life expectancy. (Phillipson: 2011) In Scotland in 2010 there were an estimated 1.047 million older people age over 60, where older people are one fifth of Scottish population. (Age Scotland: 2012) In the last hundred years Scotlands life expectancy has doubled from 40 in 1900, to just over 74 for males and just over 79 for females in 2004. By 2031 the number of people aged 50+ is projected to rise by 28% and the number aged 75+ is projected to increase by 75% (All our future: 2007) It has been estimated that in the UK in 2005, 683,597 people suffered from dementia, the number is expected to triple by 2051 to 1,735,087 people. (Alzheimers research trust: 2010)The issue require to be deeply analysed in terms of how society will be able to respond effectively to the complex needs of older people. Look beneath the surface the needs and issues of older people The policy All our future (Scottish Government: 2007) indicates the age over fifty as a stage where life circumstances start to change in ways that can be significant for the future. An example of this can be; children leave home, change in working patterns, people have less work and more time for themselves and perhaps more money. It is worth pointing out that caring responsibilities for elderly relatives at this stage can also increase. The time fifty upwards is a time when physical health can deteriorate causing possible health problems such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis or coronary heart disease. What is more, the state of health after that time decrease substantially and become greater in its extend. People must face changes in appearance such as wrinkles, hair lost or change of hair colour to grey. In addition, they physical state deteriorates and they are not as fit as they used to be. Form psychological point of view this must be difficult to accept it. However, ageing can also concerns some psychological effects such as changes in memory function, decline in intellectual abilities or even memory loss. As a result of a degenerative condition of brains nerve cells or brain disorders many people may suffer dementia, Alzheimer or Parkinson disease. Wilson et al. (2008) who draws attention to physical, biological and psychological effects of the ageing, pointing out that ageing is not itself a disease but some specific diseases may be associated with this process. (Wilson: 2008) Social work underwent fundamental changes from the 1960s following broader ideological, political and economic developments. To understand the current role of social work within society and wider policy framework, particularly with older people, it is important to analyse the past socio-political and economic trends that have reflected on contemporary practice. By the 1960s, more attention was beginning to be paid to the social consequences of capitalism that started to be seen as the economic order of an unequal and unfair society. The strong critique of that system is known as radical social work that grew on the ideology of Marxism. (Howe: 2008) The publication of the Kilbrandon (1964) consequently led to introduction of Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, which embedded social work firmly within state sector with the voluntary sector as complementary. (Ferguson Woodward) Social work wanted to be seen as unified profession that offered generic services, to overcome earlier fragmenta tion and overspecialisation of services. Social workers were obligated by law to assess needs and promote social welfare by providing services. However, the government of Margaret Thatcher began to weaken state welfare responsibilities to help people in need leading to the major ideological shift in 1980s called neoliberalism. As a result Barclay Report (1982) intended to clarify the role and task of social workers employed within statutory or voluntary sector, the later Griffiths Report (1988) were similar to Barclay Report in terms of promoting greater choice, participation and independence of service user and carers. However, neoliberalism undermines the role of welfare professionals, allow the rich become richer and marginalise the poorest and most vulnerable individuals. Woodward and Ferguson (2011) argue that neoliberal trend has been continued under New labour government, leading to managerialism and bureaucratisation. Therefore, contemporary practice is drawn by extreme pres sure through the forces of marketisation, managerialism and consumerism, that led to profession dominated by stress, frustration and strongly focus on meeting deadlines. The labour government has also been driven by the development associated with consumerists ideas such as personalisation that place service user at the centre of service design and delivery or direct payments that emphasise independence and individual choice through giving service user their own money to buy own services. For a long time neoliberal economic and social policies in the UK speculated a very different concept of what social work should be about. The Changing Lives report of the 21st Century Social Work Review (Scottish Government: 2006) has brought significant shift within social work polices through an expression of dissatisfaction of social work that was mainly caused by lack of opportunity for relationship based work with service user. The policy has reshaped social work practice towards providing social workers with additional space to develop good social work practice. There have been initiatives to improve recruitment and increase professionalism and standards within workforce as well as improve integration in the planning and provision of social work services. Integration has been developed through Modernising Community Care: An Action Plan (1998) and Community Care Joint Future (2000) that introduce Single Shared Assessment (SSA). In Scotland Joint Future is the driving policy on joint working between local authorities and the NHS. The other key policy themes are personalisation, self-directed support, early intervention and prevention as well as mixed economy of care on the grounds of more effective partnership. (Scottish Parliament: 2008) Another significant report that brought about change in policy and later in Scottish legislation is the Sutherland Report (1999) that provided free personal and nursing car e on the basis of assessed needs. (Petch: 2008) The above review of social work policy framework is a good illustration of constantly changing role and function of social work. Social work operates within socio-political framework of constantly developing policies and legislation of health and social care. The reality and ideology constantly has changed people and society faceing new challenges. Social work makes a key contribution to tackle these issues by working with other agencies to deliver coordinated support and to increase the wellbeing of older people. The critical analyse of needs of older people and current issues in the delivery of social work services. The first issues when working with older people is partnership of health and social care within four main areas: assessment, care management, intermediate care and hospital discharge. (Wilson: 2008) The main problem is tight budget this is in particular importance especially in statutory setting. (Wilson: 2008) The problem increases when local authority must, as normally is a case, work in collaboration with other bodies. This raises an external question who are going to pay for services? That causes unnecessary delays and constraints. One might expect that new Integration of Adult Health and Social Care Bill (Scottish Government: 2012) will resolve problem by the joint budget and equal responsibilities of Health Boards and Local Authorities. Wilson et al. stresses the importance of rationing services in social work due to low budget that lead to delays in provision of services and lack of time to develop more creative forms of practice. The next issue is the assessment process that is seen as balance between needs and resources. A major element during assessment is the relationship with service user and appropriate methods of communication to understand and be understood. Practitioner must take the time to get know the older person and resist pressure from other professional to do a quick assessment. (Mackay: 2008) The problem of autonomy and protection is the other one in relation to work with older people. This raises the question of capacity, consent and the deprivation of liberty of older people. This group of service users is often a subject of legislation that deprives their rights and liberty, this is because they are likely to be affected by cognitive disorder such as dementia. The term dementia include Alzheimers disease, vascular and unspecified dementia, as well as dementia in other diseases such as Parkinsons. It has been estimated that in the UK the number of patients diagnosed is 821,884, representing 1.3% of the UK population. (Alzheimers research trust: 2010) The assessment of incapacity or mental disorder is not straightforward and ethically and morally difficult for both service user and social worker. Social workers have to manage the balance between acting in accordance with the wishes of the individual and their best interest. It has been suggested by policy and legislation that the views and wishes of people expressed through self-assessment would remain at the heart of intervention. (Department of Health: 2005) The another issue is abuse of older that may have many forms and can be very severe in its extend. Older people are vulnerable to abuse or to not having their rights fully respected and protected. The problem came to public awareness not as long as few years ago. Despite the fact that legislation came into force through Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 it is estimated that elder abuse affects 22,700 people in the Scotland each year. (Age Scotland: 2012) Older people are a subject of physical, psychological abuse, neglect, sexual or financial harm, that normally takes place at home, in hospital, residential care or day centre. Age discrimination is next issue to consider around 24 per cent of older adults in the UK report experiencing age discrimination. (Age Scotland: 2012) The new NHS policy that came to force 1st of October this year, states that it is unlawful for service providers, policy makers and commissioners to discriminate, victimise, or harass a person because of age. A person will be protected when requesting and being provided with services. If anybody will be treated less favourably because of their age, they will be able to take organisations or individuals to court and may be awarded compensation. This mainly relates to health boards individual clinicians such as consultants, GPs or other health professionals. (Department of Health: 2012) Older people are disadvantaged based on the relatively low socio-political and cultural status in contemporary society. They are repeatedly presents as a drain on resources as they no longer actively contribute to grow of society. They do not work and do not pay taxes anymore. Older people are systematically disadvantaged by the place they occupy within society. Wilson et al. (2008: p. 620) rightly suggests that old age is socially constructed. A good example of this is retirement that makes people officially old and unavailable to work, despite factual physical and emotional state of the individual. Other forms of social construction that significantly affect the experience of old age is class, gender, race and ethnicity. (Wilson: 2008) An illustration of this can be statement that older people have much more in common with younger people from their class then they do with older people from other classes. (Philipson: 2011) Disadvantages and inequalities experiences during life can m agnified the process of ageing through differences in access to health facilities, health status and lifestyle that may influence life expectancy. There is no doubt that experience of ageing is subjective and depends on many factors but it seems to be a matter to consider class, gender and race at first place. When discussing poverty and inequalities the things that have to be in mind are issues of discrimination of older women who are less likely to have as a great pension as male due to the fact many women are paid a lower wage then men. Moreover, women tend to live longer than men so they are more vulnerable to live alone and in poverty. (Age UK: 2012) There are many forms of disadvantage associated with older people in poverty such as; low income, low wealth and pension, debts or financial difficulties, feel worse off, financial exclusion, material deprivation and cold home. The first three are experiences by around 20% of older people, half of older people experienced at least one of the nine forms of poverty described above, and 25% had two or more. A minority 3% suffered from three or more forms of poverty. (Age UK: 2012) In terms of ethnicity and race there are significant inequalities in the process of ageing. An illustration of this can be the black community of older people who are more likely to face greater level of poverty, live in poorer housing. In addition, they are more susceptible to physical and mental illness due to often heavy manual work, racism and cultural pressures. (Phillipson: 2011) Most of older people want to say at home as long as possible this is supported by policy All Our Future (Scottish Government: 2007) that helps people through services such as free personal care, telecare development programme, care and repairs services or travel scheme free bus passes. The policy aims to improve opportunities for older people, foster better understanding towards this group of service user, create better links between generation to work together and exchange experiences, to improve health and quality of life: promote well being and active life within community, improve care support and protection, housing and transport as well as promote lifelong learning. The role of social work in working with older people is described by Marshalls text (1990) and cited by Scottish Government (2005) It has been suggested that a key issues are: communication, including sensitive listening and awareness of non-verbal communication, taking time to assess needs always in the presence of service user. Supporting people in managing crises that arise through loss or change such as bereavement, mental health issues or physical constrains like illness or disability. Offer practical help and organise resources. Working with other professionals and people involve in the process of intervention and together combat ageism. Ageing can be defined as discrimination against older people m The current trends in adults social care have began through Green paper Independence, Well-being and Choice (Department of Health: 2005) and the subsequent White Paper , Our Health, Our Care, Our Say (Department of Health: 2006) these documents set out the agenda for future. This is based on the principle that service users should be able to have greater control over their own lives, with strategies that services deliver will be more personalised than uniform, this is referred to as personalisation. Personalisation enables the individual to participate and to be actively involved in the delivery of services. Personalisation also means that people become more involved in how services are designed by shaping and selecting services to receive to support that is most suited to them (Scottish Government: 2009) Personalisation is a wide term covering a range of approaches to providing individualised services, choice and control. The programme directly response to wants and wishes of servic e user regarding service provision. Personalisation consists of person centre approach, early intervention and prevention, is based on an empowering philosophy of choice and control. It shifts power from professionals to people who use services. (Department of Health: 2010) However, it could be argued that approaches extending service user control in realty can be seen as transferring risk and responsibilities form the local authority to the individual service user (Ferguson: 2007) Another option recently promoting by government is Self Directed Support (SDS), a Bill has been introduced into the Scottish Parliament last year and recently has passed stage three. The bill seeks to introduce legislative provision for SDS and the personalisation of services and to extend the provisions relating to direct payments. (Scottish Parliament: 2012) The SDS approach before has been brought into Parliament were reflected in many reports and policy initiatives such as: Changing Lives, Reshaping Care for Older People. SDS let people to make informed choices about the way support is provided, they can have greater control over how their needs are met, and by whom. Social worker working on behalf of local authority will have a duty to offer SDS if the individual met eligibility criteria. The four options to consider are: direct payment to the individual in order that that person will arrange own support, the person chooses the available support and local authority will make arr angement for services on behalf of that person, social worker will select support and make arrangement for provision, the last option is a mix of the above options. (IRISS: 2012) There is no doubt that the ideas of SDS are glorious because express a great opportunity for service user to expand their control over services provided. However, this raises a question of how many people will be ready to utilise option one of SDS, if a ordinary person who use services will have skills and knowledge to take responsibility for own care such as to employ own carers or personal assistance and to buy own services. One could envisage that it could be possible if the role of social worker will change from care management to brokerage and advocacy. The new model of care requires also to support communication, have experience in employment practice, manage record keeping and pay roll services. A potential care broker will provide assistance to obtain and manage a support package, drawing on individ ualised funding. It can be questioned if social workers who are mostly employed by local authority and accountable to statutory agencies are reliable to perform this task working across three sectors. Service User Involvement Dalrymple and Burke (2006) discuss issues that influence contemporary social work such as social justice, empowerment, partnership and minimal intervention. The service user participation has began in 1990 through NHS and Community Care Act. (Ray, 2012) There is still increasing acceptance that people who receive services should be seen as own experts in defining their own needs. This is in accordance with exchange model of assessment presented by Smile and Tuson et al. (1993), where social worker view the individuals as experts of own problems. The role of practitioner is to help service user to organise resources in order to reach goals that are define by the service user. Government policy addressing to older people highlights the importance of developing services that focus on maintaining independence, encouraging choice and promoting autonomy such as Independent living in Scotland (2011), Reshaping Care for Older People (2011), All our Future(2007). The policies highlights the i mportance of user participation in risk management and risk taking within independent community living for older adults. One of the action enhance independent living is direct payments. This has been seen as a way of improving choice and autonomy of older people. Social workers have a moral obligation to ensure that direct payment, when offered, do in fact provide better opportunity for this group of service user to meet their needs in creative way. (Ray: 2009) One may expect that active involvement and participation in service provision will have a crucial role not only in exercise more control and choice but also in challenging social exclusion. Shaping our lives is a notional independent user network that aims to make sure the voice of older people are heard so they have equal chance in defining outcomes in social care. (Crawford Walker: 2008) It could be argued that one of the main needs of older people is the importance of active listening of this group of service user, who are often because of age ignored or disregard. This is supported by Kydd (2009) who highlights how important it is for older people to feel that they are being listened too. In social work there is constant need to evidence based practice on the grounds of empirical knowledge that guide decision making process. An example of this can be three stages of theory cycle presented by Collinwood and Davies. (2011) There is no doubt evidence based practice is important but the view undermine relationship based practice that is equally important. Rightly Wilson (2008) refers to relationship-based as a main feature of social work practice that shape the nature and purpose of the intervention. It is a unique interaction between the service user and the practitioner that help to obtain more information and define the best way of intervention. A fundamental part of working with older people is to recognise and respond to the way in which they may be marginalized. An example can be the role of social worker as advocate that seek; to provide accurate information in relation to the services the individual is entitled and to enable the person to live where she/he wants to live. (Dalrymple Burke: 2006)

Transfer Pricing at Southern :: Business and Management Studies

Transfer Pricing at Southern Alternatives 1. Cost Based Transfer Price Maintain the status quo within the company. All cost methods require that standard costs be used; therefore each division is encouraged to meet standard cost levels, instead of working around actual costs. This will increase goal congruence. Currently, the price Southern is charging is based on the market but they are running under capacity and had excess inventory. Therefore, Thompson is charging market price even though he is running under capacity. If Southern’s VC = 60% then the 40% represents OH and profit. To prevent conflicts in the future it must be clear that variable costs of one division are not actually fixed costs for the whole company. Thompson’s VC = $400 some of that could be FC for the whole company. (Align this alternative with Rob’s Analysis). Advantages: increases goal congruence, requires that the vice president perform a routine cost analysis, therefore requires little resources. Southern mostly supplies Northern therefore, a market based system would be difficult due to the intermediate nature of the materials being transferred, adding attractiveness to a cost based system. Disadvantages: will be very difficult to determine what profit markup will be. Northern supplies mostly to outside companies and therefore will require additional resources in his division to price internal sales. The resources needed to work through the complexity of this system might not be justified by such a low volume. Two Step Pricing The standard VC is charged per unit sold then a periodic charge is made equal to the fixed costs associated with the facilities reserved for the buying unit. Since Thompson rarely sells to other divisions this might work because the facilities needed could easily be identified. Advantages: the buying unit would have proper information needed for marketing and long-term decisions Disadvantages: requires that FC be negotiated regularly, since Thompson rarely sells to Northern the resources needed for this negotiation might not be justified. 2. Negotiation Increase communication between divisions. Currently, Northern may not know that Thompson is paying a higher then expected price for the intermediate materials they need from Southern. If Northern was aware of the amount of upstream costs and profit involved internally, it might be encouraged to forgo its own profits for the sake of the company as a whole. Profit sharing could be introduced to motivate Northern to do this. A specified set of rules would be set up when each manager is negotiating a price. Such as if there is a match in price internally and externally, the business must be kept internally. Also if the managers cannot come to an agreement on price the outside market price will be used. If true negotiation occurred at Birch, each division manager would Transfer Pricing at Southern :: Business and Management Studies Transfer Pricing at Southern Alternatives 1. Cost Based Transfer Price Maintain the status quo within the company. All cost methods require that standard costs be used; therefore each division is encouraged to meet standard cost levels, instead of working around actual costs. This will increase goal congruence. Currently, the price Southern is charging is based on the market but they are running under capacity and had excess inventory. Therefore, Thompson is charging market price even though he is running under capacity. If Southern’s VC = 60% then the 40% represents OH and profit. To prevent conflicts in the future it must be clear that variable costs of one division are not actually fixed costs for the whole company. Thompson’s VC = $400 some of that could be FC for the whole company. (Align this alternative with Rob’s Analysis). Advantages: increases goal congruence, requires that the vice president perform a routine cost analysis, therefore requires little resources. Southern mostly supplies Northern therefore, a market based system would be difficult due to the intermediate nature of the materials being transferred, adding attractiveness to a cost based system. Disadvantages: will be very difficult to determine what profit markup will be. Northern supplies mostly to outside companies and therefore will require additional resources in his division to price internal sales. The resources needed to work through the complexity of this system might not be justified by such a low volume. Two Step Pricing The standard VC is charged per unit sold then a periodic charge is made equal to the fixed costs associated with the facilities reserved for the buying unit. Since Thompson rarely sells to other divisions this might work because the facilities needed could easily be identified. Advantages: the buying unit would have proper information needed for marketing and long-term decisions Disadvantages: requires that FC be negotiated regularly, since Thompson rarely sells to Northern the resources needed for this negotiation might not be justified. 2. Negotiation Increase communication between divisions. Currently, Northern may not know that Thompson is paying a higher then expected price for the intermediate materials they need from Southern. If Northern was aware of the amount of upstream costs and profit involved internally, it might be encouraged to forgo its own profits for the sake of the company as a whole. Profit sharing could be introduced to motivate Northern to do this. A specified set of rules would be set up when each manager is negotiating a price. Such as if there is a match in price internally and externally, the business must be kept internally. Also if the managers cannot come to an agreement on price the outside market price will be used. If true negotiation occurred at Birch, each division manager would

Essay on Literacy in Song of Solomon -- Song Solomon essays

Literacy in Song of Solomon    Through literacy will come emancipation. But emancipation comes in many forms, as does literacy. The various aspects of academic literacy are rather obvious in relation to emancipation, especially when one is confronted with exclusion from membership in the dominant culture. Most, but not all, of Toni Morrison's characters in Song of Solomon appear to have attained at least a modicum of literacy. But what part does literacy play in the advancement of the individual, and to what lengths will one go to achieve it?    "But if the future did not arrive, the present did extend itself, and the uncomfortable little boy in the Packard went to school and at twelve met the boy who [...] could liberate him [...]" (Song of Solomon 35-36). So says Toni Morrison of Milkman Dead, the boy in the Packard, in Song of Solomon. The other boy of whom she speaks is Guitar Bains, Milkman's mentor-of-the-street. Morrison tells us little more of Milkman's formal education, but we can assume that he goes on to high school because Guitar is in high school when she introduces him. We do learn that Milkman's sisters attend and graduate from college, but their education isolates them from the rest of the community. In fact, at age forty-four, Corinthians eventually goes to work as a maid and enters into a relationship with Porter, one of her father's tenants, much to her father's dismay. Within the class structure of "haves" and "have-nots," Corinthians finds the "haves" side abhorrent, the "have-nots" side attractive, but she can not cross the socioeconomic line that her father has drawn. She must remain within the paradigm that separates her from the lower, uneducated portion of their society.    Milkman's mor... ...ith the earth and at the conclusion of the novel when he finds he is able to fly. Is the state of super-metacognition he enters during these episodes a metaphor for an inherent attachment to the past? something akin to a shared history? something ingrained and transferred with roots deeply embedded in African traditions? Morrison leaves the answers to these questions (and many others) up to her readers, but it is obvious that Milkman finds more in historical literacy than he ever received from his formal education.    Milkman sees hope for the future through a connection with the past. In a certain sense, he finds emancipation through his relationships with literacy.    Works Cited Middleton, David. Toni Morrison's Fiction: Contemporary Criticism. New York: Garland, 1997. Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc., 1987.

A Cataclysm in Repose Essay

Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s â€Å"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings† is a short story that fuses together magical and realistic elements. In an interview, Marquez explains the influences and origins of this unique style of writing. The story (not surprisingly) is about an old man with enormous wings who somehow ends up in a small Caribbean or Central American town and the events that surround this occurrence. The story is written in such a way that magical elements appear in a seemingly realistic setting. The interview with Marquez, although never specifically mentioning the story, provides insight as to how he achieves writing in this oxymoronic style. Marquez attributes his magical-realistic style of writing to the reciprocal relationship between novels and journalism. Marquez says that his â€Å"†¦true profession is that of a journalist (131.† This background in journalism helps keep his writing in â€Å"†¦a close relationship with reality (137).† Marquez further states that trying to â€Å"transpose† reality can lead to losing contact with it and journalism is a good guard against that. As a journalist Gabriel Garcia Marquez believes that writing is hard work that requires a certain technique with structure and careful attention to detail. Marquez also describes a â€Å"journalistic trick (138)† used to make things credible; saying that there are four hundred and twenty-five elephants in the sky is much more believable than simply stating there are elephants in the sky. Evidence of this journalistic influence is clearly seen throughout â€Å"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings† and thi s makes the story seem much more believable. Another important aspect of Marquez’s writing is his use of vivid imagery. He began writing by drawing cartoons and in â€Å"†¦ the genesis of all [his] books there’s always an image (143),† such as a photograph. Gabriel Garcia Marquez visited his hometown and he experienced it as everything in the town evolved into literature. Marquez follows by saying that â€Å"it’s always easy to tell whether a writer is writing about something that has happened to him or something he has read or been told (136).† Writing on his birthplace adds a sense of realism and imagery to the story. Marquez also gives credit to his  grandmother’s â€Å"brick face† style of story telling as an influence to his writing. â€Å"She told things that sounded supernatural and fantastic, but she told them with complete naturalness (138).† The combination of these elements adds to the authenticity and colorfulness of Marquez’s stories. Gabriel Garcia Marquez explains, in his interview, the importance of the first paragraph as setting the tone for the rest of the story. â€Å"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings† is no exception. The story begins with a reference to Marquez’s fascination with plagues as he describes an abundance of crabs after three days of rain. Marquez continues by saying that â€Å"the world had been sad since Tuesday. Sea and Sky were a single ash-gray thing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This is an example of the aforementioned journalistic trick which makes the sadness more believable. There is a convergence with the interview when Marquez says that every Mexican he sees in Europe leaves the following Wednesday, as opposed to any other day. The â€Å"ash-gray† description also provides a vivid image of the sea and sky. The first paragraph ends with an introduction of the old man, â€Å"†¦impeded by his enormous wings.† This does indeed set the tone for the rest of the story with detailed descriptions, sharp imagery and the magical-realistic elements are introduced. The story continues with a detailed, precise, and unconventional description of an angel. Word about the angel gets out, and many people come to see him, including the Priest, Father Gonzaga. There is evidence, in the beginning of the story that the setting is in a small Caribbean or Central America town, such as the one Marquez grew up in. Statements like â€Å"†¦everyone knew†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , â€Å"neighbor women† and referring to the priest as Father Gonzaga give the image of a small Spanish-speaking town. The credibility of the winged man as an angel is questioned in the story by Father Gonzaga. The visiting people torture and test the patience of the angel. Eventually, a carnival took the attention away from him, including a â€Å"†¦woman who had been changed into a spider for having disobeyed her parents (572),† another example of the journalistic trick. An example of the brick faced story telling appears when things return to the â€Å"†¦time it had rained for three days and crabs walked through the bedroom (573).† The paragraph simply ends here, with something completely fantastical told as if it were completely normal. The keepers of  the angel profit at the angel’s expense until people no longer care to see him and eventually the angel regains his strength and flies away ungracefully. The interview did not specifically address â€Å"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings† and therefore it was not useful in understanding the story nor did it take anything away from it. The interview was, however, effective and useful in understanding how Marquez can effectively write in such a unique style. The way the story seems to be so believable yet at the same time so fantastical is explained. If I could ask Gabriel Garcia Marquez another question, I would like to know more about what he meant by the â€Å"intellectual writing† and more on the influence of politics in his writing. Being a Marxist, how did this affect the non-traditional representation of the angel? I found that, in general, the interview provided helpful insight on what makes Marquez’s magical-realistic writing so vivid and believable. Work Cited Stone, Peter H. An interview with Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Unknown date and publisher. Marquez, Gabriel Garcia. â€Å"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings.† The Story and it’s Writer. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s ., 2003.