The Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs - 1335 Words

Harriet Jacobs wrote Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Incidents) to plead with free white women in the north for the abolition of slavery. She focused on highlighting characteristics that the Cult of True Womanhood and other traditional protestant Christians idolized in women, mainly piety, purity, domesticity, and submissiveness. Yet, by representing how each of her characters loses the ability to maintain the prescribed values, she presents the strong moral framework of the African American woman. It is this independent, non-submissive, and intelligent woman that reshapes the ideal image of a Christian woman. In order to create empathy in her readers, Jacobs focuses on the values of an esteemed woman of the time. A true woman was expected to possess the virtues of piety, purity, domesticity, and submissiveness (Cult of Domesticity). These specific values were best represented by the Cult of True Womanhood, a value system held among the middle and upper class whites. To be a w oman, was to hold to biblical values as highlighted in 1 Timothy 2:11-15; â€Å"11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.† (NIV) Yet, in highlighting theShow MoreRelatedThe Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs858 Words   |  4 PagesThe way that Harriet Jacobs describes slavery in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl was not a surprise to me. I believed that slaves were treated poorly and often times were hurt, the way that I thought of slavery is just like it is described in the book if not worse. I will discuss what I believed slavery was like before I read the book, how slavery was according to the book using in text citations and examples and also explain my thoughts on why the treatment was not a surprise to me. FromRead MoreThe Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs1606 Words   |  7 PagesSlaves in the southern states of the United States were oppressed, beaten, and deprived of their natural human rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Which in turn caused many slaves to resist their ill fate that was decided by their masters. Through the story of â€Å"Incidents in the life of a slave girl† by Harriet Jacobs she wrote in her experience how she was resisting her masters and how many people helped her in her escape. And it wasn’t just black that resisted the slave systemRead MoreThe Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs1791 Words   |  8 PagesIn the slave narrative entitled Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs also known as Linda Brent, is faced with a number of decisions, brutal hardships, and internal conflicts that she must cope with as an enslaved black woman. She opens the narrative with a preface that states: â€Å"READER, be a ssured this narrative is no fiction. I am aware that some of my adventures may seem incredible; but they are, nevertheless, strictly true. I have not exaggerated the wrongs inflicted by Slavery†Read MoreThe Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs Essay1316 Words   |  6 PagesIncidents in the life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs, she talks about how her life changed while serving different and new masters and mistresses. I think that this narrative writing is an important text to help us understand the different perspectives of slavery in America. There are some slave owners that are kind and humane, and some slave owners that are cruel and abusive. Additionally, reading from a female slave’s perspectives teaches us that life on the plantations and life in the house isRead MoreThe Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacob Essay1049 Words   |  5 PagesIn the novel Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacob’s writes an autobiography about the personal s truggles her family, as well as women in bondage, commonly face while maturing in the Southern part of America. While young and enslaved, Harriet had learned how to read, write, sew, and taught how to perform other tasks associated with a ladies work from her first mistress. With the advantage of having a background in literacy, Harriet Jacobs later came to the realization that she wouldRead MoreThe Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs1198 Words   |  5 PagesIn her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs portrays her detailed life events on such an intense level. Jacobs was born in 1813 in North Carolina. She had a rough life starting at the age of six when her mother died, and soon after that everything started to go downhill, which she explains in her autobiography. Her novel was originally published in 1861, but was later reprinted in 1973 and 1987. Harriet Jacobs presents her story using numerous detailed descriptionsRead MoreThe Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs1292 Words   |  6 Pagesslavery. I chose to focus on two texts: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. In the personal narrative Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, author Harriet Jacobs depicts the various struggles she endured in the course of her life as a young female slave and, as she grew older, a runaway escaped to the â€Å"free† land of the North, referring to herself as Linda Brent. Throughout this story, Jacobs places a heavy emphasis on the ways in which Brent andRead MoreThe Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs928 Words   |  4 Pagesin the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs offers the audience to experience slavery through a feminist perspective. Unlike neo-slave narratives, Jacobs uses the pseudonym ‘Linda Brent’ to narrate her first-person account in order to keep her identity clandestine. Located in the Southern part of America, her incidents commence from her sheltered life as a child to her subordination to her mistress upon her mother’s death, and her continuing struggle to live a dignified and virtuous life despiteRead MoreThe Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs1575 Words   |  7 Pagesncidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Slavery, in my eyes, is an institution that has always been ridiculed on behalf of the physical demands of the practice, but few know the extreme mental hardships that all slaves faced. In Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs writes autobiographically about her families and her personal struggles as a maturing mullatto child in the South. Throughout this engulfing memoir of Harriet Jacobs life, this brave woman tells of many trying timesRead MoreThe Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacob993 Words   |  4 PagesHarriet Jacob’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, depicts a personal and true account of how woman were sexually and physically abused rather than just physically abuses as that of an enslaved man. Enslaved woman struggled tremendously to not only be considered equal to man though to be seen equal pure and virtuous identical to the white women. Jacob’s female slave narrative was a special kind of autobiography, were she not only used anothe r person to represent her, however, she wanted the reader

Eliza and Higgins Free Essays

At the beginning the relationship between Higgins and Eliza is based on two objectives: Eliza wanted to be taught to speak proper English keeping in mind that the end goal was to get a job in a flower shop and Higgins wanted the challenge to change Eliza from a flower girl to a lady. On the off chance that he wins the bet, he would have yet another verification that he is matchless at his profession. Eliza and Higgins has a complex relationship, it unfolds as the story evolves. We will write a custom essay sample on Eliza and Higgins or any similar topic only for you Order Now Their relationship was just intended to be a professional one, a teacher student one to be specific. For Higgins, Eliza is just a subject for an experiment at the beginning, nothing more. He treats her gravely and offends her constantly. He could not stand Eliza at the start of the play, being friendly was not a part of his plan. Nonetheless, Higgins could have indicated Eliza somewhat more regard then what he did, especially when they got closer. As time passes, Higgins and Eliza become accustomed to each other, despite the fact that they don’t admit that to anybody, not even themselves. Higgins may be a companion, a father figure, or even a romanic interest to her, and throughout the play they start to display affections towards each other and their relationship develops beyond their professional interests.? Eliza appeared to be shockingly mature when she first went to Higgins, offering to pay him to give her lessons on how to speak proper English after their first encounter at the Covent Garden. Oddly, Higgins agreed to give Eliza lessons and appeared to be exceptionally pleasant and supportive at the start. Even Mrs Pearce questioned Higgins’ motives, this leads to her looking out after Eliza as she is well aware how Higgins can be. Perhaps without being aware of it, Higgins changed gradually throughout the process of teaching Eliza. When Eliza could go out in public and legitimately act like a lady, Higgins was extremely impolite. He sat around then took credit for the diligent work Eliza put in. Higgins is not entitled to all the credits even when he immensely helped Eliza with her transformation from ill-favoured to an appealing lady. It was Eliza who approached Higgins and asked him to give her lessons on how to speak proper English. Again, it was not Higgins but Eliza who conflicted her intuition on things like removing her clothes to take a bath and act more like a lady. No one told her that she needed to stick through with the experiment, still she went through with it despite Higgins verbally abusing her. She endure him treating her like she was a house keeper, ordering her to get his slippers and such. Eliza is a fast learner since she learned to speak proper English in a short period of time. She exhibit remarkable ability in learning from her errors. She could have walked out and not put up with Higgins verbally abusing her, yet she remained solid since she hope to better he life. Eliza deserves majority of the credit in spite of the fact that it would not have been achievable without the assistance of Higgins. After all, it was entirely on her to actually put an effort and go through with it. . The fact that Higgins never refreshed his view of Eliza aggravated me all through the play and the way act towards Eliza when his acquaintances are around is frustrating. Higgins acts significantly more pleasant to Eliza when nobody is around, as if he’s ashamed to be seen acting nicely towards someone when he’s known for being rude and acting as he pleases. At the end he realised that he was growing to be attached to Eliza and he seem to despise what he was feeling. Perhaps it was because he was unfamiliar with the feeling and he has only felt that way towards a handful of people since he doesn’t let many people into his life. In Higgins’ defense, he doesn’t intend to treat  her  poorly as treats  everyone  poorly. It’s simply his method for being reasonable. And Eliza got precisely what she asked from Higgins, she asked him to give her lessons to speak proper English and that is the thing he did. She ought to have made a plan other than just learning to learn proper English and becoming a lady. She knew she was coming from nothing and in her mind she ought to have known she was returning to nothing. It was wrong for Higgins to treat Eliza the way he did but Eliza had no reason to distress over what Higgins feel for her, whether he feels the same as she does. All Higgins was asked to do was teach her to speak proper English not return her feelings. She should have realised that they may not stand at the same place. He was a self-absorbed bachelor before Eliza came and would have remain so when she left. All this could have been avoided if Eliza had not moved in with Higgins, their relationship could have stayed strictly professional as a teacher and student. That way, there would not be any personal involvement that would displease either of them. How to cite Eliza and Higgins, Papers

Vegetarianism Could Save the Planet

Question: Write an essay on "Vegetarianism Could Save the Planet". Answer: Vegetarianism is the exercise of refraining from consuming meat, which includes poultry, red meat, insects, the flesh of any animal and also seafood(Kids Health, 2016). It also includes refraining from consuming the by-products of slaughtered animals. There are different types of a vegetarians diet. Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians do not feed on meat, fish or poultry. They, however, feed on dairy products and eggs. Lacto-vegetarians do not feed on meat, fish, eggs or poultry, but feed on dairy products. Ovo- vegetarians do not feed on poultry, fish, dairy products or meat but feed on eggs. The last kind of vegetarians are the vegans who only feed on plant-derived foods(Kids Health, 2016). Other individuals are semi-vegetarians refraining from red meat but consume fish or poultry. Vegetarianism is a choice. However, there are queries as to whether a vegetarian gets all the required nutrients. Medical experts confirm that a well-organized vegetarian diet is a very healthy way to eat. Vegetariani sm is chosen due to various reasons. Some individuals due to the respect of sentient life, others health related issues, political, cultural, personal preference and also environmental issues. Vegetarianism is a good thing especially for the protection of the environment as consuming meat wastes and pollutes water sources as well as destroying land and the rain forests, through deforestation among other factors like adding to global warming and the wastage of resources. There are claims that non-vegetarianism does not harm the planet. They state that issues like civilization is what has brought about the damage to the environment that includes water pollution. Meat eaters claim that the agricultural foods that is vegetarian foods, which are promoted to save the planet lead to the pollution of water. They give reasons such as salts runoff from irrigation, that include pesticides and fertilizers, lead to salinization of surface waters; that is pesticides and fertilizers runoff to the surface water. This pollutes the water. They also claim that ground water also contains residue of agricultural practices from pesticides and fertilizers(Natural Resources Management and Environment Department, 2016). Another example meat eaters give is that effluent outfalls from factories, waste treatment plants, and refineries pollute the water and by them consuming meat they do not affect the water sources. Agriculture also involves animal farming. The fact that irrigation may be the cause of water pollution is not entirely the whole truth. Poor farming methods, which are avoidable through education, are the reason as to why there is no proper use of pesticides and fertilizers. One of the biggest attributes of water pollution is keeping animals for food. The number of bacteria, antibiotics, and pesticides concentrated in the flesh of these animals is also contained in their feces. Much of these waste excrement from abattoirs and factory farms flow into rivers and streams leading to their contamination. Rivers carrying livestock waste dump excess waste into gulfs and bays leading to the death of huge zones of the marine areas. Effluents from factories also arise mostly as a result of processing meat and other non-vegetarian products when compared to vegetarian products. According to Peta India, 20, 940 litres of water are used in the production of 1 kilogram of meat as compared to the 50 3 litres of water required for the production of 1 kilogram of wheat(PETA India, 2016). It is, therefore, evident that most of the planets water go to animal agriculture. Other statistics also indicate that in a day a pure vegetarian diet only requires 1,137 litres of water, while 15, 160 litres of water are required for a meat-based diet(PETA India, 2016). It clearly indicates that keeping animals as a source of food exerts pressure on the inadequate water supply on the planet. There is, therefore, more efficient use of water when directed towards producing crops. When individuals consume less meat, the number of herds will decrease and thus reduce this pollution. The Gulf of Mexico not only faces the crisis of oil pollution but also faces dead zones due to excess quantities of animal waste, sewage, and waste from factory farms. Algal blooms develop and take up all the oxygen living inhabitable areas(PETA, 2016). There are about 400 identified dead zones from the Scandinavian fjords to the South China Sea that range in size from 1 to above 70 000 square kilometers. The Natural Resources Defense Council claims that large livestock farms that accommodate hundreds and thousands of cows, chicken and pigs emit a lot of waste which is 130 times more than people do(Worldwatch Institute, 2016). The Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. states that waste from livestock has polluted rivers for more than 27, 000 miles and also soiled groundwater in a majority of countries(Worldwatch Institute, 2016). Yacoubou encourages the improvement of waste management through technology, such as, the use of readily absorbable feed ingredients that are not excre ted. Furthermore, the improvement of manure collecting process is critical through better housing, manure storage, and processing. Timely manure dosing should also be performed in agreement with the crops requirements(Yacoubou, 2009). Other claims that non-vegetarianism does not harm the planet arise on the issue of land and deforestation stating that by consuming meat land and deforestation does not occur. They blame it on the need for space for industrial and urban needs. They also claim that individuals are adding in number and that is why forests are being cleared to acquire extra space for settling. Their main point is that this land is cleared for commercial, residential and industrial uses. Urbanization that involves the construction of roads is highlighted as among the major contributors of deforestation(Conserve Energy Future, 2016). The claims further suggest that forests are cleared to grow crops for vegetarians placing more emphasis on soy, which is the main ingredient for making tofu. Tofu is a staple food for vegetarians(Mocana Productions, Inc., 2016). Here they stress that being a vegetarian is leading to deforestation as land is required to grow soy for the vegetarians. It is true that soy has covered about 11 million hectares of forest land across South America. However, farmed animals are the ones eating a majority of these soybeans. It is stated in the Encyclopaedia Britannica that about 98% of Americas production of soy goes to feeding the farmed animals(Mocana Productions, Inc., 2016). It is, therefore, safe to say that the deforestation claimed to be by vegetarians is mainly by meat eaters. The expansion of production of livestock is a major factor in deforestation and land degradation. It is clearly evident in Latin America especially, where they experience the greatest deforestation effects. About 70% of the Amazons previously forested land is now occupied by feed crops and pastures(Vegan Outreach, 2016). The World Bank also stated that about 90% of the Amazon rainforest has been cleared since the 1970s and is used for meat production(Friedrich, 2015). It indicates that the forest is being cleared to pave the way for both livestock grazing a nd to grow their feeds. This is not only about cattle. Feeds for chicken and pigs is also grown. A study carried out by the Union of Concerned Scientists discovered that a lot of land is needed for the production of meat. The production of meat globally has also increased and the new land for production has been acquired through clearing forests. The study found this to be a leading factor of deforestation. Beef was also viewed to require more land than pork and chicken that use lesser land to produce similar quantities of protein. The study also discovered that about 60% of agricultural land globally is used for beef production, which offers less than 2% of the calories consumed worldwide(Mishler, 2012). Beef has been termed as an inefficient use of feed resources as it requires 10 kilograms of grain for the production of 1 kilogram of beef. The study pointed out that the food that is raised for livestock, such as, soybeans, corn and alfalfa do not go directly to human consumption. It goes to the livestock that is slaughtered to produce lesser food for fewer individuals. Anothe r study from the Cornell University discovered that about 13m hectares of land was used to grow rice, beans, potatoes, fruits and vegetables in the United States. On the other hand, 302m was used for livestock. The issue was that farm animals have been identified to be inefficient converters of food to flesh. Broiler chickens are considered the best as they only require about 3.4kg to produce 1kg of flesh. Pigs, on the other hand, require 8.4kg to produce 1 kilogram. Various academics have also calculated that if the grains fed to animals were consumed by people directly rather than animals, twice as many individuals would be fed, possibly more. From the above, it is clearly evident that vegetarianism is a good thing especially for the protection of the planets water sources, land, and forests. Vegetarianism is a choice as stated earlier and individuals are free to eat whatever they want. However, they should take into account that eating meat may end up depleting the resources that the children of their children will require to survive, more rapidly than if they became vegetarians. To cater for the reasons offered as to why individuals eat meat and that there are those who cannot stay without eating meat, there are different types of vegetarians mentioned above to choose from. The UCS study also recommended consuming chicken or pork to replace beef, or even purchasing beef from cows living on already deforested land(Mishler, 2012). They found beef to be the most hazardous to the environment. Some Dutch researchers made observations that global vegetarianism would result to expanses of new land(Anderson, 2014). Today, the gr azing land used for livestock rearing accounts for 26% of the worlds land surface. The researchers predict that land used for grazing amounting to about 2.7 billion hectares would be freed. Also, the land used to grow crops for the livestock that amounts to 100 million hectares, would also be freed(Anderson, 2014). Not to be assumed, is the fact that there are individuals living in the dry areas where they cannot grow any crops. Rearing animals for meat becomes their livelihood. For them, education is critical as they can utilize the manure from the animals and in time revitalize the lands and grow crops just as Yacoubou states above. References Anderson, L. V. (2014, May 2). Could vegetarianism save the world? National Post: Apetizer. Conserve Energy Future. (2016). Deforestation: Compromises of a Growing World. Friedrich, B. (2015). Why Vegetarianism Is the Best Way to Help the Environment. Mishler, J. (2012, June 29). Environmental Study: Consume Less Meat to Fight Deforestation Mocana Productions, Inc. (2016). Blaming Deforestation on Vegetarians. Natural Resources Management and Environment Department. (2016). Control of water pollution from agriculture.

Smallpox and Different Vaccines free essay sample

Are vaccinations likely to do more harm than good? The risks of common vaccines often exceed their benefits. There are real dangers to vaccines and some parents often feel they have to lie to avoid vaccination of their children. In the world today there are thousands, even millions of different vaccines created on a daily basis. The main function of a vaccination is to build our immune system, allowing it to work against different types of bacteria. Instead of helping us fight against disease and certain infections, it seems the vaccines are actually the leading cause to the disease. Scientists lessen the amount of the disease in the vaccine making it harder to become sick or in other words, obtain the disease. For individuals with little to no immune systems it is still very easy for the vaccine to trigger an infection. This is why children, babies in particular, become very ill sometimes fatal when receiving vaccinations. We will write a custom essay sample on Smallpox and Different Vaccines or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Vaccines started back in the ancient times. Edward Jenner, the father of immunology, was the first to ever record a vaccination. Jenner was born on May 17, 1794. At age 5 Edward was orphaned and went to live with his older brother. He developed a strong interest in science and nature during his early school years, which he never let go of. When Jenner was 13 he job shadowed a country surgeon. During his time there Jenner heard a dairymaid say, I shall never have smallpox for I have had cowpox. It was a common belief that dairymaids were in some way protected from smallpox. Jenner developed the first vaccine called the small pox vaccine. He discovered by exposing an individual to cowpox bacteria the body could produce its own protection from the disease once it is exposed. The vaccine became very popular, parents were even fighting for their children to be vaccinated. However, this did not last all that long. Out breaks of small pox began to occur leading to a worldwide banning of the procedure. Small pox is a disease caused by the variola major virus. Experts say that over the centuries it has killed more people than all other ineffectual diseases combined. In the 1800s small pox broke out in Germany. Over one million people had the disease and 120,000 died. Of those people, 96% of them had been vaccinated, and only 4% had not received any type of vaccination. (NBCI) Under the federal vaccine injury compensation program (VCIP), more than 2. 5 billion has been paid to vaccine injured individuals, as well as to families, whose children have died after vaccination in the U. S. A young girl at the age of 15, Jenny Tetlock developed a degenerative muscle disease soon after being vaccinated against the cervical-cancer-causing HPV. Jenny became almost completely paralyzed. Her father Phil Tetlock and mother Barbara Mellers were racing against time to save their daughters life. Sadly time ran out, and Jenny passed away. (CDC) Two other young girls, 22 year old Whitney Baird and 12 year old Alicia Olund developed ALS after being injected with Gardasil. ALS is a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Whitney died a short 13 months after receiving Gardasil. Alicia began having trouble walking after receiving her third shot. She now uses leg braces and a walker at home as her muscles continue to deteriate. Turns out, warnings concerning these vaccines have been raised before. (CDC) Different vaccines contain different ingredients. These ingredients include, lab altered live or inactivated viruses and bacteria, chemicals, metals, proteins, antibiotics and human, animal and insect DNA and RNA. The worst ingredient by far in vaccines is thermisol. Thermisol is a mercury-containing preservative used in some vaccines. Mercury is a metal that builds up in human bodies over time. These small amounts of mercury (thermisol) accumulate and can eventually lead to mercury poisoning, which can be fatal. Today’s vaccines not only contain live versions of the disease you do not want but also contain GMOS, hormones from infected cows, pigs, chickens, and monkeys. A few ingredients in vaccines also include: gelatin, sodium chloride, formaldehyde, phenoxyethanol, and MSG. Gelatin derived from the inside of animals skin and bones. Sodium Chloride raises blood pressure and inhibits muscle contraction and growth. Formaldehyde is a highly carcinogenic fluid used to embalm corpses. It is ranked one of the most hazardous compounds to human health. Formaldehyde can cause liver damage, gastrointestinal issues, reproductive deformation, respiratory distress and cancer. Phenoxyethanol is a glycol ether/chemical. It is highly toxic to the nervous system such as your kidneys and liver. The FDA warns can cause shut down of the central nervous system, and vomiting. Last but not least we have MSG. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), when injected becomes a neurotoxin causing CNS disorders and brain damage in children. (NVIC) In my very own opinion I do not agree to vaccinations. Injecting my child with a harmful disease is not something I agree upon. Why give yourself, or your children a deathly disease you do not want! Studies have proven more children die from being vaccinated due to bad reactions, or misuse of vaccine. Why put yourself or loved ones at risk when you really do not have to. Society needs to take the situation seriously when deciding whether to fund animal models that claim to be able to predict human responds to drugs and disease. It is more important parents become educated and knowledgeable about immunizations so that they can make an informed choice rather than be manipulated.

Drugs in America essays

Drugs in America essays Illegal drugs have found their way into the heart of American society. They can be found in almost any city or town in the US. They are being used by young, old, rich, and poor people alike. There are many different types of drugs out there and they all seem to have different effects on the user, different prices and quantities, and they all seem to have a different way to get into America. A drug that has recently burst onto the scene at an alarming rate is MDMA. Also known as ecstasy, E, X, and Adam this drug creates a feeling of euphoria and is described by users as making them feel good. This drug is usually associated with rave parties, which are all night dance parties usually held in a warehouse or other large buildings. In the early 90s the drug began to become popular in Europe and over the past five years it has come to America with a blazing force. During the late 60s a drug very similar to MDMA was being sold on the streets, MDA, ecstasies first form was a drug that created an easily controlled feeling of euphoria. MDMA is made in a laboratory by altering the existing synthetic drug MDA. Ecstasy is a powder often taken in the form of a pill or capsule, it may also be snorted. Most MDMA is produced in Europe, mainly Belgium and the Netherlands. The drug is also produced on a smaller scale in the US, Canada and Mexico. On average it costs about $.2 5-$.50 to produce and MDMA pill. Which leaves an incredible profit margin because most consumers will pay $20 for 1 pill. The most common transit points for the drug are Canada and Mexico. Exploiting the use of loose and open boarders between Canada and the US has made the drug easy to smuggle into our country, making it easy to find and very plentiful. The US government has had increased success in seizing the drug. In 1997 approximately 400,000 pills were seized, whereas in 2000 around 90 million tablets were seized. The main reason f...

Banana Yoshimoto comparative essay

Banana Yoshimoto effectively portrays various common themes and motifs in both â€Å"Helix† and â€Å"Newlywed†, in revealing the subconscious state of mind of the respective protagonists. Although the storylines are quite different, we get the feeling that many themes and strategies such as isolation, incredible poetic effect, and the recurring use of a helper figure used to develop the characters, are relatively interchangeable. These literary patterns allow for the protagonists to both escape the shallowness that plagues them, and bring to light the deeper meaning behind their subconscious (now conscious) struggles, especially those relating to their true feelings for their personal companions. Isolation is a recurring theme that is a catalyst for the subconscious state causing the climactic epiphanies within the protagonists of both stories. This is comparably portrayed through the blatant representation of shallow urban relationships. In â€Å"Helix†, we witness this theme of shallowness through the personal thoughts of the protagonist at the beginning of the story. In a moment of reflection, the protagonist exclaims, I feel as if my heart will stop beating, because once I know that much about a woman, it can never work out between us. (Helix, 651) Alluding to his lover, this theme of shallowness is difficult to ignore as the narrator is transparently portraying his ability to write off a relationship on incredibly superficial grounds. In â€Å"Newlywed† however, Banana uses the same approach in order to portray this theme of isolation, yet goes to quite an extreme to illustrate her character’s subconscious thoughts. The transformation from bum to beauty is a symbolic element of the story, and is supposed to confuse both the narrator and the reader at first, but it soon becomes clear that there is a deeper philosophical meaning to this odd occurrence. This bizarre intervention, in what seemed to be quite an ordinary context, rapidly changes the pacing and evolution of the story itself. At first, the narrator is unsure of himself, which ultimately leads the reader to question the reliability of his story: â€Å"I tried convincing myself that this was nothing more than a drunken nightmare. That’s what it was, an ugly duckling dream, a transformation from bum to beauty.† (Newlywed, 5) The isolation that surrounds the protagonists of Newlywed and Helix both physically and emotionally is what ultimately leads to the epiphanies that expose the underlying feelings towards their companions. Whether it is an empty train cabin, or the deserted city of Tokyo, Yoshimoto definitely seeks to portray the feeling of seclusion in order to emphasize the revelations that expose the protagonists’ true emotions. Another common aspect in both â€Å"Helix† and â€Å"Newlywed† is Yoshimoto’s use of poetic language and literary symbolism in order to develop both her characters and the story with greater depth. Despite that fact that many of the descriptions that she gives on behalf of the narrator are purely physical, and extremely shallow, it is an important aspect of both stories, as it helps lead to the dramatic changes that occur within the protagonists. In â€Å"Newlywed† for example, when the beautiful woman on the train asks the narrator about his wife, the first description that he gives, is purely physical: â€Å"She’s short, and slender, and has long hair. And her eyes are real narrow, so she looks like she’s smiling, even when she’s angry.† (Newlywed, 6) These superficial descriptions may be attributed to the fact that the narrator was in a â€Å"drunken state†, yet clearly depict him as a man that is not madly in love with his wife. By contrast, the poetic imaging in â€Å"Helix† reveals a man that is clearly in love with his girlfriend. Even near the beginning of the story, when he is expressing his feelings of uncertainty toward his relationship, he still gives this poetic illustration of his girlfriend: â€Å"She was like an evening moon, her white light almost swallowed by the gradations of pale blue sky.† (Helix, 651) This beautiful poetic image of his girlfriend is surprising to the reader, as he had just explained that he was having difficulty overcoming her idiosyncrasies. This dramatization brings the reader to the realization that the protagonist’s stream of consciousness narration is very unpredictable, yet will ultimately lead to his ability to expose his true feelings as the story develops. The author clearly likes to represent this feeling of indecision with poetic illustration as it is used several times in both stories. In â€Å"Newlywed†, the narrator vividly describes his mixed feelings toward his wife, Atsuko, during the peak of his epiphany-like experience: â€Å"For me, the beautiful, all-encompassing web spun by this creature is at once so polluted, yet so pure that I feel compelled to grab on to it. I am terrified by it but find myself unable to hide from it. At some point I have been caught up in the magical power she has.† (Newlywed, 16) Banana doesn’t strictly limit her poetic language to the story’s character development; she also uses it to depict specific moods in order to contextualize certain situations that shake up the intensity of the story itself. Coincidentally, in both â€Å"Helix† and â€Å"Newlywed†, the feeling of isolation is commonly portrayed throughout both stories with the unique use of grandiose language. This allows the protagonists to avoid any outside distractions that would interfere with the personal situations that they have to deal with. Tokyo is described as being a ghost town at the beginning of â€Å"Helix†, for example. â€Å"There was not a soul on the dark streets, save the autumn wind. I encountered this emptiness at every moonlit corner I turned†. (Helix, 651) Clearly unusual in a city like Tokyo, Yoshimoto is almost desperately taking this context to the extreme in an attempt to add an element of absurdity to the situation, and maintain a clear line of focus on the protagonist and his continuous train of thought. In â€Å"Newlywed†, she uses the same strategic language to create a context of solitude in order isolate the protagonist: â€Å"I looked around to see if anyone else had witnessed this amazing transformation, but the passengers in the neighboring cars seemed miles away, in a totally different space, separated by a transparent wall, all looking just as tired as they had moments before, indifferent to my surprise.† (Newlywed, 4) The language that Yoshimoto uses is not only unique, but allows the reader to fully contextualize themselves within the story, and fully comprehend the conscious and unconscious struggles within each story’s protagonist. The use of helper figures is another way that the author both challenges and exposes the protagonists. The most evident helper figure from both stories is the seemingly god-like character that transformed from a homeless man to a beautiful woman in â€Å"Newlywed†. The interpretation of this symbolic figure is entirely left to the reader’s imagination, yet its crucial role in the storyline and to the protagonist’s character development is indisputable. This peculiar intervention is a clear example of how far Yoshimoto is willing to go to force her characters to express their thoughts. At first, it is difficult to process what the narrator is depicting; yet as the story develops, we quickly learn that this character has a specific purpose to act as catalyst to the protagonist’s epiphany-like reflection about his life, specifically in relation to marriage. After opening up to this woman about his life, he explains how he felt about what he had experienced on the train that night: â€Å"Deep inside, I felt timid, even scared, not about my own drunkenness or fear that my mind was playing tricks on me, but the more basic sensation of encountering something much larger than myself, and feeling immeasurably small and insignificant by comparison†. (Newlywed, 12) From this, the reader is able to see that this man is clearly having a life changing experience that is allowing him to re-evaluate the major aspects of his life, including his relationship. This helper figure to the protagonist allowed him to bring out the subconscious struggles that seemed to weigh on him throughout the story. On the other hand, â€Å"Helix† presents multiple helper figures, some seeming as random and arbitrary as that of â€Å"Newlywed† and similarly allows the protagonist to truthfully evaluate and ultimately expose how he feels about the woman that he loves. The first helper figure that seems to startle the narrator does not take the form of a person, but rather a situational mind-cleansing seminar that his girlfriend brings to the table. She explains, â€Å"I guess that’s the chance you take if you go to one of these sessions. You might even end up forgetting things that seemed really important to you, things you don’t want to forget†. (Helix, 652) This seminar quickly becomes a euphemism for breaking up in the mind of the narrator, and his response, â€Å"don’t go†, unconsciously shows his fear of losing her. This ultimately shifts the dynamic of the story as he had previously inferred his desire to break up with his girlfriend at the beginning of the story. Yoshimoto also inserts a random explosion near the end of â€Å"Helix† as the lovers discuss their love for each other. Much like most of the random events that present themselves in her stories, there is a deeper meaning below what we see at the surface. This strange intervention that causes people to â€Å"[poor] into the [empty] streets from every doorway† (Helix, 654) encapsulates the unpredictability that is portrayed throughout the story, and through the narrator’s stream of consciousness narration. This ultimately leads the story to end on a note of misunderstanding and confusion surrounding the protagonist’s comparison of love to the helix of a strand of DNA. The interventions are not only incorporated to reveal and expose the true feelings of each protagonist, but also change the dynamic of each story and help maintain a feeling of unpredictability toward the narratives themselves, as well as the unreliability of the protagonists.

The Purpose,Scope and Context of Interprofessional Collaboration Essay

The Purpose,Scope and Context of Interprofessional Collaboration - Essay Example   This paper is a personal learning and reflection of this health service provider about interprofessional education, collaboration and working while working with teammates. This interprofessional collaboration is happening among professionals, organizations, service users, carers and communities. The association of health providers work over critical matters on education, health and social care to deliver the necessary quality services to improve peoples’ quality of lives and for healthier communities. Among the many concerns they dealt are issues on nutrition, public health, policies, medical standards, medication of all illnesses or on the need to strategize development to better social services in complementation of health responses to communities. Consideration of the nature of communication within health & social care teams.   Communication is fundamental interaction and in nurturing understanding between the management, health providers, and with the patients. Peopl e who are seeking medical attention came from varied experiences, places, and bear different kinds of illnesses and thus, it is important that all of these are communicated so that the contexts, causes and surrounding circumstances of a case can be understood. From this study it is clear that appropriate medical remedies can only be provided when health cases are clear from all vantages. Communication also strengthens positive relation with co-workers and with management, especially in managing changes and health reform program . In fact, people will only come to understand hospital’s goals and programs by imparting and receiving communication. Moreover, work relations can only be understood through communication. This can be done either formally and informally; verbal or written; recited or in a journal; online or via telephone; by facial expression or by symbol; and by raising a picture or by simple touch. It’s aimed at bridging gaps, resolving issues, bringing toget her all partners for a meeting, and drawing all stakeholders to specific goals or in delving on issues though evaluations and monitoring. Sometimes communications bring along with it some misunderstanding because human beings, as social persons, exchange ideas in foreign language, in a jargon, in emotional distress, or in cultural differences.  

BIOMECHANICAL FORCES ACTING ON ELBOW( A STATIC ANALYSIS) Essay

BIOMECHANICAL FORCES ACTING ON ELBOW( A STATIC ANALYSIS) - Essay Example Meanwhile, a force is an effect on a certain body which changes its shape or motion. The elbow transforms shearing, compressional, and rotational forces into a normal motion. During flexion, the arm is bent, the pressure forces that moves along the elbow joint shift forces from the humerus to the ulna. Under extension, on the contrary, the applied forces run along the radius and the humerus, with the arm straightly open. The elbow displaces such forces largely through the muscles and ligaments that absorb and disperse stresses. Since the surface area of the ulna is bigger than that of the radial head, the ulna contributes lesser force per unit area as compared to the humerus. In addition, to avoid bone strain absorption, the elbow articular cartilages acts as a buffer between the bones. In the event that the cartilage is forced to absorb great stress for various times, the stress flattens out the cartilage and will eventually result to early wearing. Basically, the elbow is considered as a hinge joint with a single degree of freedom. However, its anatomical structure necessitates the inclusion of the articulations along with the radius and ulna. Thus, the elbow is best treated as having a mechanism of a two degree freedom that supports the supination/pronation of the forearm and the extension/flexion of the elbow. In terms of internal structure, the three synovial joints, along with subtle interactions, are radio-ulnar, humero-ulnar, and humero-radial. The humero-radial joint is of prime interest because of the combination of relative motions that occur therein: the axial rotation that involves in the forearm supination/pronation and the elbow flexion accompanying the ulna (Lockard 2006, p. 72). Flexion/extension moments are produced by the muscles that act over the elbow join, including brachioradialis, brachialis, triceps, and biceps brachii. While pronation is achieved through the muscles in the forearm, pronator quadratus,

Handmaids Tale - Basic Response Essay Example for Free

Handmaids Tale Basic Response Essay One of the ways in which The Handmaid’s Tale creates opportunities to respond is through its discussion and exploration of a dystopian society. A dystopian society is often characterised as a futuristic setting with oppressive societal control and elements of totalitarianism. The Handmaid’s Tale is set in the futuristic Republic of Gilead and a way in which Atwood has chosen to display a dystopian society is through creating a sense that the citizens of Gilead are under constant surveillance, a characteristic of dystopian literature. This can be shown through the reoccurring motif of â€Å"the eye. † The eye motif symbolises the eternal watchfulness of god and the totalitarian state with its recurrence creating a sense that citizens of Gilead are constantly being surveyed. This is shown as Offred states â€Å"to be seen-to be seen- is to be- her voice trembled-penetrated. † The use of repetition and italicise of the word ‘seen’ is used to highlight the fact that individuals don’t want to be seen, creating an ominous presence of control and threat through the constant watching. Another way The Handmaid’s Tale creates opportunities to respond in relation to its dystopian reading is in its discussion of citizens in fear of the outside world. This fear is shown through the presence of â€Å"The Wall. † The wall serves as a symbolic barrier separating Gilead from the outside world and also emphasising the existence of the totalitarian state and its allusion of a perfect world. This meaning is shown as the wall is described to have â€Å"barbed wire along the bottom and broken glass set in concrete along the top. Visual imagery here is used to create fear of the outside world through the literal and metaphorical barrier the wall represents. It is also important to note that the value of Atwood’s text is evident in the way it is a cautionary novel, designed to provide a reflection and thus provide commentary on the potential for 21st century society to adopt these extremes. Therefore the novels exploration of elements of dystopian society including the perceived surveillance of citizens and fear of the outside world creates opportunities to respond to The Handmaid’s Tale in relation to its comments about dystopian society, making it valuable. Even though the totalitarian regime has been destroyed, Atwood warns us that governments can still exploit woman. In the Historical Notes, it is concerning how Professor Pieixoto states, â€Å"No new system can impose itself upon a previous one without incorporating many of the elements to be found in the latter. † This implies that selected characteristics of the dystopian Gilead Republic will be adopted by a new government. Another way in which The Handmaid’s Tale creates opportunities to respond is through its complex interpretation from a feminist perspective. This is shown within the novel as the Handmaid’s bodies are used for procreation, their sexual freedom has been denied. This is seen through the constant discussion of fertility with Offred often belittling herself and her body to be used, â€Å"we are like containers, it’s only the insides of our bodies that are important. The outside can become hard †¦ like the shell of a nut. † Here a simile is used to continue to degrade and dehumanise Offred through equating her to a simple â€Å"nut,† an empty being, only valued for her fertility. Also the way in which women are used for procreation is shown through the motif of red, â€Å"a nondescript woman in red,† with women here further dehumanised to â€Å"nondescript† beings. The motif of red is used to represent fertility. The way females are often referred to as red throughout the text highlights how the Handmaids’ sole purpose within the society of Gilead is to procreate, demonstrating once again how females within the society are only valued for their bodies. In regards to a feminist interpretation, male dominance is also presented throughout the novel through the discussion of sterile- this is again italicised to emphasise its effect relating to a feminist viewpoint as males don’t go to colonies yet females do highlighting gender inequality. The inclusion of these elements discusses a range of feminist concerns allowing it to be interpreted in a myriad of different ways, increasing its value. The Handmaid’s Tale furthermore creates opportunities to respond through its inclusion of post-modern elements thus making it valuable. The novel can be read from a post-modern perspective as Atwood uses self- reflexivity as a means of questioning what is truth. This is shown when Offred admits, â€Å"This is a reconstruction, all of it is a reconstruction. It’s a reconstruction now, in my head. † The use of repetition, â€Å"reconstruction† creates emphasis and awareness of how the story Offred tells is only fractured pieces of the story, taken apart and put back together. Atwood here is trying to make her reader’s question if what is being said is true; implying that not everything read is necessarily true. This post-modern analysis which believes in the existence of multiple truths can be further seen through Offred’s narration shown as she questions â€Å"you want the best for her. Don’t you? † Here metafiction is used as Offred directly communicates with the audience, presenting an element of post- modern literature. From a post-modern interpretation the truthfulness of Offred’s singular narration is questionable accentuated when she consciously reinstates, â€Å"I don’t want to be telling this story. † This highlights how her narration could be subjected bias rather than truth. Thus The Handmaid’s Tale can be interpreted from a post-modern perspective making it valuable as this is one of the many ways it can be responded to. In conclusion it is through the different ways to respond to Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale that the text possesses value. These responses are generated in relation to dystopian, feminist and post-modern interpretations that the novel discusses. Each of these comments on 21st century society and encourage audiences to respond to their own society in different ways making the text valuable.

Beardless Children :: Arthurian Legends English Literature Essays

Beardless Children Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is considered to be one of the finest Arthurian romances in English. Unfortunately, the 14th-century author of the epic remains unknown. The poem describes a common game at the time the "Beheading Game," which turns out to be a great physical as well as moral challenge to the main character, Sir Gawain. The passage (130-202) of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight describes the appearance of a strange knight in King Arthur's court. The anonymous author of the epic describes the rider in great detail, emphasizing the importance of this character. The passage is intended to arouse readers' curiosity, and at the same time, to introduce the mighty danger that the main character, Sir Gawain, will have to face. Furthermore, the strange knight is shown to be a test or trial for King Arthur and his knights. Finally, the passage presents the actual dynamics of Arthur's court as incompatible with the poet's initial praising of nobility, justice and chivalric ideals. The Green Knight is clearly a magical figure. This strange rider is of green hue, and he is riding a green horse. Physically, the knight is presented as strong and of a great size: From broad neck to buttocks so bulky and thick, And his loins and his legs so long and so great, Half a giant on earth I hold him to be...(138 - 140). The author gives these characteristics to the character for a reason. Possibly, the author aims to arouse interest of the readers or to emphasize the danger that Sir Gawain is about to face. However, at this point of the story, the reader is unaware of the true identity of the Green Knight, which makes it more exciting to read the poem. The passage describes the great festivities in King Arthur's court during the celebration of Christmas. And already Arthur is portrayed behaving childishly, when he refuses to eat unless he hears an entertaining story: But Arthur would not eat till all were served; So light was his lordly heart, and a little boyish; And also a point of pride pricked him in heart, For he nobly had willed, he would never eat.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner Chapters 4

He frowned a little. â€Å"What's real y going on. What Riley's up to. Why he keeps bringing the most random kids to her. Why it doesn't seem to matter to Riley if it's someone like you or if it's someone like that idiot Kevin.† It sounded like he didn't know Riley any better than I did. â€Å"What do you mean, someone like me?† I asked. â€Å"You're the kind that Riley should be looking for – the smart ones – not just these stupid gang-bangers that Raoul keeps bringing in. I bet you weren't some junkie ho when you were human.† I shifted uneasily at the last word. Diego kept waiting for my answer, like he hadn't said anything weird. I took a deep breath and thought back. â€Å"I was close enough,† I admitted after a few seconds of his patient watching. â€Å"Not there yet, but in a few more weeks†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I shrugged. â€Å"You know, I don't remember much, but I do remember thinking there was nothing more powerful on this planet than just plain old hunger. Turns out, thirst is worst.† He laughed. â€Å"Sing it, sister.† â€Å"What about you? You weren't a troubled teen runaway like the rest of us?† â€Å"Oh, I was troubled, al right.† He stopped talking. But I could sit around and wait for the answers to inappropriate questions, too. I just stared at him. He sighed. The scent of his breath was nice. Everybody smel ed sweet, but Diego had a little something extra – some spice like cinnamon or cloves. â€Å"I tried to stay away from al that junk. Studied hard. I was gonna get out of the ghetto, you know. Go to col ege. Make something of myself. But there was a guy – not much different than Raoul. Join or die, that was his motto. I wasn't having any, so I stayed away from his group. I was careful. Stayed alive.† He stopped, closing his eyes. I wasn't done being pushy. â€Å"And?† â€Å"My kid brother wasn't as careful.† I was about to ask if his brother had joined or died, but the expression on his face made asking unnecessary. I looked away, not sure how to respond. I couldn't real y understand his loss, the pain it stil clearly caused him to feel. I hadn't left anything behind that I stil missed. Was that the difference? Was that why he dwel ed on memories that the rest of us shunned? I stil didn't see how Riley came into this. Riley and the cheeseburger of pain. I wanted that part of the story, but now I felt bad for pushing him to answer. Lucky for my curiosity, Diego kept going after a minute. â€Å"I kind of lost it. Stole a gun from a friend and went hunting.† He chuckled darkly. â€Å"Wasn't as good at it then. But I got the guy that got my brother before they got me. The rest of his crew had me cornered in an al ey. Then, suddenly, Riley was there, between me and them. I remember thinking he was the whitest guy I'd ever seen. He didn't even look at the others when they shot him. Like the bul ets were flies. You know what he said to me? He said, Want a new life, kid?'† â€Å"Hah!† I laughed. â€Å"That's way better than mine. Al I got was, Want a burger, kid?'† I stil remembered how Riley'd looked that night, though the image was al blurry because my eyes'd sucked back then. He was the hottest boy I'd ever seen, tal and blond and perfect, every feature. I knew his eyes must be just as beautiful behind the dark sunglasses he never took off. And his voice was so gentle, so kind. I figured I knew what he would want in exchange for the meal, and I would have given it to him, too. Not because he was so pretty to look at, but because I hadn't eaten anything but trash for two weeks. It turned out he wanted something else, though. Diego laughed at the burger line. â€Å"You must have been pretty hungry.† â€Å"Damn straight.† â€Å"So why were you so hungry?† â€Å"Because I was stupid and ran away before I had a driver's license. I couldn't get a real job, and I was a bad thief.† â€Å"What were you running from?† I hesitated. The memories were a little more clear as I focused on them, and I wasn't sure I wanted that. â€Å"Oh, c'mon,† he coaxed. â€Å"I told you mine.† â€Å"Yeah, you did. Okay. I was running from my dad. He used to knock me around a lot. Probably did the same to my mom before she took off. I was pretty little then – I didn't know much. It got worse. I figured if I waited too long I'd end up dead. He told me if I ever ran away I'd starve. He was right about that – only thing he was ever right about as far as I'm concerned. I don't think about it much.† Diego nodded in agreement. â€Å"Hard to remember that stuff, isn't it? Everything's so fuzzy and dark.† â€Å"Like trying to see with mud in your eyes.† â€Å"Good way to put it,† he complimented me. He squinted at me like he was trying to see, and rubbed his eyes. We laughed together again. Weird. â€Å"I don't think I've laughed with anybody since I met Riley,† he said, echoing my thoughts. â€Å"This is nice. You're nice. Not like the others. You ever try to have a conversation with one of them?† â€Å"Nope, I haven't.† â€Å"You're not missing anything. Which is my point. Wouldn't Riley's standard of living be a little higher if he surrounded himself with decent vampires? If we're supposed to protect her, shouldn't he be looking for the smart ones?† â€Å"So Riley doesn't need brains,† I reasoned. â€Å"He needs numbers.† Diego pursed his lips, considering. â€Å"Like chess. He's not making knights and bishops.† â€Å"We're just pawns,† I realized. We stared at each other again for a long minute. â€Å"I don't want to think that,† Diego said. â€Å"So what do we do?† I asked, using the plural automatical y. Like we were already a team. He thought about my question for a second, seeming uneasy, and I regretted the â€Å"we.† But then he said, â€Å"What can we do when we don't know what's happening?† So he didn't mind the team thing, which made me feel real y good in a way I didn't remember ever feeling before. â€Å"I guess we keep our eyes open, pay attention, try to figure it out.† He nodded. â€Å"We need to think about everything Riley's told us, everything he's done.† He paused thoughtful y. â€Å"You know, I tried to hash some of this out with Riley once, but he couldn't have cared less. Told me to keep my mind on more important things – like thirst. Which was al I could think about then, of course. He sent me out hunting, and I stopped worrying†¦.† I watched him thinking about Riley, his eyes unfocused as he relived the memory, and I wondered. Diego was my first friend in this life, but I wasn't his. Suddenly his focus snapped back to me. â€Å"So what have we learned from Riley?† I concentrated, running through the last three months in my head. â€Å"He real y doesn't tel us much, you know. Just the vampire basics.† â€Å"We'l have to listen more careful y.† We sat in silence, pondering this. I mostly thought about how much I didn't know. And why hadn't I worried about everything I didn't know before now? It was like talking to Diego had cleared my head. For the first time in three months, blood was not the main thing in there. The silence lasted for a while. The black hole I'd felt funneling fresh air into the cave wasn't black anymore. It was dark gray now and getting infinitesimal y lighter with each second. Diego noticed me eyeing it nervously. â€Å"Don't worry,† he said. â€Å"Some dim light gets in here on sunny days. It doesn't hurt.† He shrugged. I scooted closer to the hole in the floor, where the water was disappearing as the tide went out. â€Å"Seriously, Bree. I've been down here before during the day. I told Riley about this cave – and how it was mostly fil ed with water, and he said it was cool when I needed to get out of the madhouse. Anyway, do I look like I got singed?† I hesitated, thinking about how different his relationship with Riley was than mine. His eyebrows rose, waiting for an answer. â€Å"No,† I final y said. â€Å"But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Look,† he said impatiently. He crawled swiftly to the tunnel and stuck his arm in up to the shoulder. â€Å"Nothing.† I nodded once. â€Å"Relax! Do you want me to see how high I can go?† As he spoke, he stuck his head into the hole and started climbing. â€Å"Don't, Diego.† He was already out of sight. â€Å"I'm relaxed, I swear.† He was laughing – it sounded like he was already several yards up the tunnel. I wanted to go after him, to grab his foot and yank him back, but I was frozen with stress. It would be stupid to risk my life to save some total stranger. But I hadn't had anything close to a friend in forever. Already it would be hard to go back to having no one to talk to, after only one night. â€Å"No estoy quemando,† he cal ed down, his tone teasing. â€Å"Wait†¦ is that†¦? Ow! â€Å" â€Å"Diego?† I leaped across the cave and stuck my head into the tunnel. His face was right there, inches from mine. â€Å"Boo!† I flinched back from his proximity – just a reflex, old habit. â€Å"Funny,† I said dryly, moving away as he slid back into the cave. â€Å"You need to unwind, girl. I've looked into this, okay? Indirect sunlight doesn't hurt.† â€Å"So you're saying that I could just stand under a nice shady tree and be fine?† He hesitated for a minute, as if debating whether or not to tel me something, and then said quietly, â€Å"I did once.† I stared at him, waiting for the grin. Because this was a joke. It didn't come. â€Å"Riley said†¦,† I started, and then my voice trailed off. â€Å"Yeah, I know what Riley said,† he agreed. â€Å"Maybe Riley doesn't know as much as he says he does.† â€Å"But Shel y and Steve. Doug and Adam. That kid with the bright red hair. Al of them. They're gone because they didn't get back in time. Riley saw the ashes.† Diego's brows pul ed together unhappily.

Beloved & novel

This novel is set just after the Civil War; therefore slavery is still on the minds of all the characters. Toni Morrison mad one of the main characters of Beloved a ghost because she wanted the characters to remember where they came from and this very evident from the start of the novel. The house was haunted by all of Denver and Sethe’s dead relativities. The house which is called â€Å"sweet house† isn’t very sweet. In fact, Paul D says, â€Å"If the house was so sweet, people would have stayed† (Morrison 13).Even though the characters have moved on, memories come back to us no matter what else happens in over lives. Sethe and Denver keep seeing and talking to ghosts because the ghosts are the entire have in their lives. The ghosts equal all the memories of slavery that Sethe has. Morrison also uses ghosts in Beloved to equate slavery with a type of death . This death is the end of a part of a life and start of another part of a life.However, the memorie s of slavery were still so strong after the Civil War that the images of slavery were hard to escape. The color of death was always in Sethe’s dreams; baby blood, pink gravestones and nothing more (Morrison 39). In addition, when Beloved came into Sethe’s, Denver’s and Paul D’s lives she hovered over Sethe like a ghost who wished to haunt her (Morrison 51). Beloved like all of the other ghosts represents the past.Beloved doesn’t like when Sethe concentrates on anything or anyone but her (Morrison 100). In other words, Beloved wants Sethe to focus on all the bad memories of slavery. The supernatural events in the book contrast with what the reader expects in the ‘real world’ because it is possible that the reader would expect that if Sethe and Denver were actual people living in society they would wish to leave the house that is filled with a ghost that seems to be tied to the memories of slavery.In addition, they both would want to go outside more and enjoy what life has to offer them. Moreover, in the ‘real world’ Sethe and Denver would probably attempt to both contact the ghosts through a medium or a ghost whisperer and ask why they are haunting the house and why these ghosts aren’t letting them go on with their lives. In addition, Sethe and Denver might even attempt to perform an exorcism hoping to get rid of the ghost or ghosts in their home so they can get on with their lives.Moreover, in the ‘real world Sethe would see marring Paul D and possibly having a baby with him as a great way to start a new life after the horrible life she had because of slavery and Denver would be happy because she would have the father that she never had. Furthermore, Paul D might intervene in this situation by demanding that Sethe and Denver get some professional help because they both play and with and talk to ghosts that live in the house instead of interacting with a real human being who loves both of them.However, in the book both Sethe and Denver, especially Sethe are bewitched by Beloved and don’t wish to go on with their lives. Paul D wishes to have a baby and a life with Sethe and Denver but Sethe is too scared to do that (Morrison 131-32). Also, Sethe thanks Beloved for showing her that what is in the house is all that Denver and she needs and she doesn’t need the world, which includes Paul D outside the house in the ‘real world’ (Morrison 185). Morrison seems to be saying that sometimes human beings make their own reality.In other words, human beings create the reality that they need to survive even if that reality is false. In this book, fantasy is reality. Even when all three of them go outside to ice skate Beloved is still there and not Paul D (Morrison 174). Sethe and Denver ice skating with Beloved, who is a ghost isn’t al all realistic. In one way, it seems like Sethe and Denver are attempting to get away from the ghost because they go outside and ice skate and they are happy, but, at the same time it also seems like both Sethe and Denver are trying to hold on to a bit of the past along with the present while ignoring the future.Sethe is bewitched by a ghost because she sees herself as Beloved and vice-versa (Morrison 216) Sethe seems to be losing herself. She is losing her own identity. I think that Morrison makes the contrast between the world of the supernatural and the ‘real world’ to remind the reader that sometimes human beings can get so haunted by past memories, ghosts if you will, that the past bleeds into the present and into the future. In fact, human beings can get so absorbed in memories that they forget the present.This is very apparent when Sethe lost her job because of Beloved and Denver gets pushed out of Sethe’s life little by little the more Beloved stays there (Morrison 240). The contrast between the two worlds is also done to show that human beings can come out of their haunted world with a bit of help from your friends. The community broke Sethe out of the ghostly trance that Beloved had on her (Morrison 260). Morrison seems to be suggesting that the strength of the many will help the will of one. In addition, Paul D. tries to help Sethe by bathing her (Morrison 260).In addition, he says to Sethe that they need some tomorrows because they have seen more yesterdays than anybody (Morrison 273). I also think that the multi-colored quilt that Paul D imagines on the bed represents the bright future that he wants to have with Sethe and Denver. However, at the end of the novel when Beloved is talked about (Morrison 275), that Morrison is illustrating that the memories or ghosts of a human’s past may never go away completely. Works Cited Morrison, Toni. Beloved. New York: Alfred Knopf, 1987.

The eNotes Blog You Offend Me, Sir! Top 10 Insults from One Writer toAnother

You Offend Me, Sir! Top 10 Insults from One Writer toAnother Anyone who thinks authors would not stoop to trash-talking a fellow writer has another thing coming. Authors have egos that bruise like overripe peaches and will lash out at the slightest provocation. Provocations include boredom, low sales (you are convinced that it only takes the right person to acknowledge your brilliance), high sales (convinced that you are the superior author and that other guy is secretly sponsored by the Garden Weasel), hangovers, sobriety, and a lack of cheese choices when hungry. (Note: the last bit may be applicable only to me.) Fortunately, since writersfollow me closely herewrite things down,  we get to revel in their snarkiness. Dont pretend you dont want to look. 10.   Mark Twain on Jane Austen I havent any right to criticize books, and I dont do it except when I hate them. I often want to criticize Jane Austen, but her books madden me so that I cant conceal my frenzy from the reader; and therefore I have to stop every time I begin. Every time I read Pride and Prejudice, I want to dig her up and hit her over the skull with her own shin-bone. 9.   Virginia Woolf on James Joyce I dislike Ulysses more  and more that is I think it more and more unimportant; and dont even trouble conscientiously to make out its meanings. Thank God, I need not write about it. 8. Ernest Hemingway on James Jones To me he is an enormously skillful  f#*-up and his book ( From Here to Eternity) will do great damage to our country. Probably I should re-read it again to give you a truer answer. But I do not have to eat an entire bowl of scabs to know they are scabsI hope he kills himself 7.   James Dickey on Robert Frost If it were thought that anything I wrote was influenced by Robert Frost, I would take that particular work of mine, shred it, and flush it down the toilet, hoping not to clog the pipes.a more sententious, holding-forth old bore, who expected every hero-worshipping adenoidal little twerp of a student-poet to hang on his every word I never saw. 6.   John Irving on Tom Wolfe He doesnt know how to write fiction (The Right Stuff), he cant create a character, he cant create a situationYou see people reading him on airplanes, the same people who are reading John Grisham, for Christs sake.Im using the argument against him that he cant write, that his sentences are bad, that it makes you wince. Its like reading a bad newspaper or a bad piece in a magazine.You know, if you were a good skater, could you watch someone just fall down all the time? Could you do that? I cant do that. 5. George Bernard Shaw on William Shakespeare With the exception of Homer, there is no eminent writer, not even Sir Walter Scott, whom I can despise so entirely as I despise Shakespeare when I measure my mind against his. The intensity of my impatience with him occasionally reaches such a pitch, that it would positively be a relief to me to dig him up and throw stones at him, knowing as I do how incapable he and his worshippers are of understanding any less obvious form of indignity. 4.   Katherine Mansfield on E.M. Forster Putting my weakest books to the wall last night I came across a copy of Howards End and had a look into it. Not good enough. E.M. Forster never gets any further than warming the teapot. Hes a rare fine hand at that. Feel this teapot. Is it not beautifully warm? Yes, but there aint going to be no tea. And I can never be perfectly certain whether Helen was got with child by Leonard Bast or by his fatal forgotten umbrella. All things considered, I think it must have been the umbrella. 3.   D.H. Lawrence on Herman Melville Nobody can be more clownish, more clumsy and sententiously in bad taste, than Herman Melville, even in a great book like Moby Dick.One wearies of the grand serieux. Theres something false about it. And thats Melville. Oh dear, when the solemn ass brays! brays! brays! 2. Samuel Johnson on John Milton Paradise Lost is one of the books which the reader admires and lays down, and forgets to take up again. None ever wished it longer than it is. 1. Harold Bloom on J.K. Rowling How to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone? Why, very quickly, to begin with, and perhaps also to make an end. Why read it? Presumably, if you cannot be persuaded to read anything better, Rowling will have to do.

Effect of Budgetary Logistical - Constraints on Manufacturing Strategy Research Paper

Effect of Budgetary Logistical - Constraints on Manufacturing Strategy - Research Paper Example This research paper explains the effects of budgetary logistical/ constraint on the manufacturing strategy. According to Miltenburg (2008), manufacturing strategies are aimed at solving manufacturing problems and assisting the manufacturer in their objective to have a competitive advantage. The budgetary logistical or constraints are expected to have a great influence on the approach the manufacturers would choose to solve manufacturing problems as well as how he chooses to look for a competitive advantage. The research explained by this paper, explain how budgetary constraint or logistical affect the choice of a manufacturing strategy as well as its implementation. This research mainly relies on a secondary source of information as our main information source. Manufacturing strategy is composed of various aspects of a manufacturing process. This strategy is mainly aimed at minimizing the cost of production while not affecting production and product quality. If this is achieved it can increase the revenues of the manufacturers and thus increasing his profits. The most important manufacturing strategy in the today’s competitive business environment is the setup reduction program. The setup reduction program like other manufacturing strategies is mainly aimed at reduction of production costs while maintaining product quality. Though it was not introduced many years ago it has become very popular in the manufacturing industry and it is now greatly used by several manufacturers. Setup reduction program involves a reduction in the expenses incurred in designing a setup for the production process in the manufacturing industry.

Virtual Team Management & Success Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Virtual Team Management & Success - Essay Example Naturally, while this method of team management worked in the past, that was largely because there was no other way and people learned to adapt. With modern technology, making virtual meetings a reality, productivity can increase and much more can be gained through virtual teams in a focused amount of time (Benson, 2013). With this virtual method of teamwork now a distinct possibility for many organizations around the globe, there is a renewed interest in the concept of virtual team management. It is always important to maximize the resources of a team, and this becomes increasingly true when the majority of the team members are not physically present to bounce ideas off of one another and collaborate in a personal manner. As such, this paper is dedicated to the discussion of what it takes to build a high performance virtual team, and what goes into effectively managing them to result in a profitable and effective work environment. There are a plethora of communication tools available today that is enabling enterprises around the world to have the ability to create project teams that literally include valuable team members from around the globe. In order to build such a high performance virtual team, however, one must fully understand how to effectively integrate team members from various cultures and background to fit together in a virtual environment. There is little room for error, as the assigning of an important task to the wrong person or group can result in costly delays and project overruns. A virtual work team has been defined as the building of a group of people with complementary skills who are equally committed to a common purpose and objective. They are also committed to the development of a set of performance goals and are focused on a task-oriented approach to completing a project, by which team members are individually responsible for their own roles or tasks that are designed to contribute to the common core

The Morality of the Criminal Process and its Effects on a Victim Essay

The Morality of the Criminal Process and its Effects on a Victim - Essay Example As the essay stresses punishment is a worldwide phenomenon that cuts across even the smallest units of society, families. No society can live smoothly without imposing punishment on offenders who go against the laws and customs governing them. This could propose an escalation of crime but on the other hand punishment has only been measured by people’s opinion, which often act as scapegoats to the nature of crimes that felons commit. Punishment still remains a stumbling block that attracts constant debate. The word crime has been overrated with the fact that law identifies it at one angle rather than at different standpoints. By clarifying this, crime is a universal term used in law to denote a felony regardless of its stature, unless it is deeply scrutinized. From the paper it is clear that originating from a single parent family, she is pressed to go the extra mile of getting money, which prompted her to shoplift because she did not have money to buy her mother a gift for Chr istmas. Analyzing her argument shows remorse and regret for her actions but on the other hand it depicts her desperation to meet her and her family’s needs. This shows how she is caught up in the midst of life problems that if the judge justifies her point, should give an appropriate punishment. The arguments displayed by the politician does not at all have a drop of pity to the poor girl and her family by saying that the lack of employment does not escalate crime and in this case not an excuse for Shirley to shoplift.

Euthanasia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 5

Euthanasia - Essay Example This paper analyses, critically, the arguments for and against Euthanasia. In the conclusion, I have given a personal opinion on my view of Euthanasia. The following are the main pros and cons of Euthanasia. One of the main arguments advanced in support of Euthanasia is the argument that Euthanasia is a morally right action because human beings have a right to self-determination, and for that reason, they should be allowed to choose their own fate (ProCon.org, n.d.). The proponents of Euthanasia contend that since human beings have the right to self-determination, denying euthanasia to the terminally sick patients who need and request for it is immoral and a violation of their right to self-determination. In law the issue of self-determination in regard to Euthanasia is a controversial issue, especially in the United States. Various courts in the United States have interpreted this issue differently. The following case demonstrates how the issue of self-determination in the United States constitution is a controversial issue. Year 1975, the 21 year old Karen Ann Quinlan was admitted in a hospital in a comma. The doctors at the hospital later declared Quinlan to be in a persistent vegetative state. After spending five months on a ventilator, Quinlan’s parents requested that the ventilator be removed and that Quinlan be allowed to die peacefully. The doctors at the hospital, however, objected to Quinlan parents’ requests, and this made the parents to bring the matter to a New Jersey Superior Court. In the ruling, to the disappointment of Quinlan’s parents, the New Jersey Superior Court denied the request of Quinlan’s parents. When Quinlan’s parents, however, took the matter to the New Jersey Supreme court, the Supreme Court reversed the ruling of the Superior Court and ruled that Quinlan’s constitutional right to privacy included her right to be removed from the

Social work case study: Young and single mother

Social work case study: Young and single mother General Category of Service User: Level One Erikson’s ‘Stages of Human Development’ (Kalat, 2010, p.173) divides a human’s life into stages. Each stage highlights specific tasks which have to be completed before moving onto the next stage. Each stage creates its own physical, social and emotional conflicts. These stages help to determine where a person is in their life, rather than basing it on their age. Rachel Clark is nineteen years old, and is at the physical stage of a young adult, late teens to early twenties. However, as she has not yet developed her identity, it is fair to say she is still at the stage of an adolescent, early teens. Erikson greatly emphasised the adolescent period, as it is a fundamental stage for a person to develop their identity. The main conflict at this stage is better known as identity versus role confusion. Since moving back to Northern Ireland from Liverpool, Rachel had to move from one friend’s house to another before finally finding a place of her own. This m ay have affected Rachel’s confidence and increased her stress. Prior to meeting with Rachel it is important to consider where she is now living and who her peers are. Theories such as ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’ (Taylor Devine, 1993, p.44) is relevant to Rachel’s case as it is important to understand if her psychological needs are being met in order for her to grow. In an attempt to address unmet need, the use of interventions, such as assessment is proposed and these requirements are legislated for in the Children Acts across the UK. Assessment is used to ‘†¦make possible informed decisions about meeting client needs’ (Taylor Devine, 1993, p.7) Assessment frameworks such as; Understanding the Needs of Children in Northern Ireland (UNOCINI) are used to not only assess the child but also to assess the parents’ capacity to meet the needs of the child. Additionally, assessment is used to help the service user and worker to identify any areas which require growth and change. The UNOCINI framework is also in line with legislation such as; the Children (NI) Order (1995) and Article 8 of the Human R ights Act (1998); right to respect for private and family life (legislation, n.d.), which are also fundamental while working with Rachel’s case. Additionally, the stages of Egan’s ‘Skilled Helper Model’ can assist in providing a ‘basic framework for the helping process’ (Egan, 2002, p.25). Each of these stages are a set of tasks based around a theme that assist clients in moving forward to help develop opportunities and provide assistance in managing problems. Information specific to the service user/s: Level two Rachel Clark is a nineteen year old, who is currently residing in Northern Ireland. She is a single parent to a son named Jamie, two years old. Rachel’s parents divorced when she was fifteen. Following this, her mother and twelve year old brother, Mark, moved to Liverpool with Mrs Clark’s boyfriend, Gavin. Rachel was unable to settle in Liverpool and quickly lost interest in her education. Rachel became pregnant at sixteen and gave birth to her son, Jamie, at seventeen. Rachel’s relationship with Jamie’s father ended before Jamie was born. Rachel returned to Northern Ireland six months ago with Jamie. Following this, Rachel had to move from one friend’s home to another until she was granted rented accommodation from a local housing association. It has also been mentioned that Rachel’s grandmother lives nearby and provides support for Rachel on a daily basis. There has been reason for concern with Rachel’s situation following a call fro m one of her neighbours, they wish to remain anonymous. It has been stated that Rachel is ‘partying all night and sleeping all day’, there is a collection of rubbish within Rachel’s garden and it has been reported that Jamie has been heard crying on occasions. Prior to the initial interview with Rachel, it is important to have a clear overview of objectives and aims prepared. The main aim is to engage with Rachel and some objectives may include: To find out if there is any truth in the allegations made against Rachel. If Rachel is acquiring the full financial/emotional support available to her. What kind of support she receives from her grandmother and to establish if respite may be required to give both Rachel and her grandmother a break from Jamie. As Rachel is a young mother, it is important to make sure she is receiving all the help and support that is available. These include financial support, housing support and any child maintenance that is available to her. Although Jamie’s father is not on the scene, Rachel will still be able to claim child maintenance. This is perhaps something that could be discussed with Rachel. The financial help available to Rachel is also something that could be discussed, to make sure she is receiving all the financial support possible. It is stated that Rachel receives daily support from her grandmother, but it does not state what kind of help or what age her grandmother is. It may also be important to consider if respite may be required for both Rachel and her grandmother, to allow them both to have a break from Jamie at times. Specific Phase of Work/Tuning in to SU’s feelings/anticipations of potential SU objectives: Level three. A key skill during the preliminary phase of social work is to develop a sense of empathy. It is also essential to develop some initial strategies for responding directly to indirect words or actions. This skill is described as ‘Putting the client’s feelings into words’ (Shulman, 2012, p.148). In Rachel’s case, it is important to consider what it might be like to be an adolescent. It is essential to get in touch with possible feelings and anxieties that a client might be feeling. In this case, Rachel may be feeling anxious about what kind of worker or person she is going to be meeting with. It is important to engage with the service user and to establish a rapport to help her feel at ease and to gain her trust. Furthermore, effective preparation highlights your concern for the service user and therefore makes them feel valued. It is important to consider how Rachel might be feeling during the point of first contact with social services. She may be feeling angry that someone has reported her for neglecting her son, as well as showing anxieties about whether or not she will have her son taken away from her. It is important to acknowledge how difficult it must be for Rachel to have a social worker talk to her about things that could be a sensitive subject. Tuning in to own feelings, values and skills: Level four. It is important for me, as a social worker, to tune into my own feelings and possible anxieties before beginning the first session with Rachel. The reason for this, is because if they are not addressed before hand then they may arise during the interview session, cause a distraction and may ultimately affect my ability to help Rachel. To establish a rapport with Rachel, personal values such as respect, honesty and compassion would be beneficial and would help to relax the client when they know you are showing a genuine interest. The values and skills within social work apply to the process of aiding others from a professional perspective. Professional values such as; social justice, respect for their rights and professional integrity will also come into effect before and during the interview with Rachel. A number of communication skills can be used to engage with Rachel. Talking and listening skills such as; paraphrasing, the use of open questions, clarifying, reflecting and summaris ing would show evidence of genuine interest. Other skills such as body language will show non-verbal indications of my attitude or feelings towards Rachel, so it is important to have an open posture. Likewise, the ability to respond to non-verbal cues are also important during the interview session. But, most importantly, the ability to be empathetic is a fundamental skill which is required to help develop strategies and relate to the service user. The use of non-verbal methods, such as; self-perception questionnaires, a problem tree or using a life line, are other communication skills which could be used to help Rachel interact with me. Additionally, Rachel might feel an impact of oppression with stereotyping based on her gender, age, gender or mental ability to cope. She may feel like the social services are judging her because she is a young, single mum and therefore, she might feel tense and under pressure. To understand how discrimination and inequalities are present in the int eraction between service users and social workers, it is useful to consider the situation in terms of three levels. The personal, cultural and societal level, referred to as Thompson’s PCS model (Thompson, 2012, p.33). Thompson’s PCS model is important to comprehend as it states how personal beliefs, cultural norms and structural institutions combine to create oppression in society. China: The Ancient Civilization China: The Ancient Civilization There is no modern without an ancient just as there is no present without a past. Everything we have today we owe to the bright minds of our ancestors, and their ancestors. Almost every gadget,  [1]  tool, and device we have today is the result of a persons effort to make life a little easier, a persons desire to explore something new, and a persons effort to understand the world around them. Of the ancient civilizations, it seems that the Chinese were the most curious, and most driven to enhance the quality of life. They had the most prominent and strongly impacting inventions not just during their time, but for all time. The Chinese inventions have three clear divisions. These are: recreational, medicinal and technological, and military. The people of ancient China made many significant advancements in the fields of both science and medicine, which only continues to show how sophisticated and modernized their way of thinking was back then. A lot of the medical treatments still being practiced by doctors today stem from ancient Chinese practices; records of such have been found as early as the Zhou Dynasty (1050-256 BCE). In Confucius The Book of Rites, there is a record that speaks about court physicians and their division of medical teaching into internal medicine, surgery, nutrition and veterinary practice, evidence that medicine was already very much developed during those times. Ancient China had contributed to many branches of medicine including of pharmacology, endocrinology, clinical medicine, public health, acupuncture, and medical education. The very beginning of Chinese medicine is attributed to Shennong, the legendary emperor, who had personally tasted hundreds of plants in order to discover which ones had medicinal values. He was also said to have introduced the technique of acupuncture. During the Han Dynasty, doctors were already using methods such as pulse-reading to examine patients for the purpose of diagnosis. Around 2nd century BCE, the Chinese discovered the anti-malarial properties of a plant called Artemisia (or Qing Hao), which they also used to cure skin diseases (apart from malaria). (1) It is the active substance called artemisinin or qinghaosu contained in the plant that enables it to fight the disease of malaria. It is so effective that even until today, this method of treatment continues to be used. Around 10th century CE, the inoculation or vaccination of smallpox was discovered in the southern province of Szechuan. It is said that Taoist alchemists, who lived as hermits in the mountain of O-Mei Shan , practiced this technique of inoculation, which later caught the attention of the public when the eldest son of Prime Minister Wang Tan died of smallpox. Records of what may be diabetes have also been found in ancient Chinese texts. In the text Huang Di Nei Jing, a syndrome named xiao ke was described in detail. This syndrome was said to arise from eating too much fatty and sweet foods, a description that is very similar to type 2 or insulin-independent diabetes (the most common form of diabetes today). The Chinese produced even minor treatments like eye drops, made from a plant called the Mahuang and promoted the importance of proper diets as a way to cure deficiency diseases. They made use of wine and hot water as medicine, and bronze knives and needles as surgical instruments. China has contributed quite a lot to the field of science and technology as well. Amazingly, many of these major scientific inventions, which are still in use today, began during the ancient times. Some of these discoveries were even accidental, which is the case for one of the most significant Chinese inventions in history: gunpowder. During the Han Dynasty, alchemists did extensive research and conducted many experiments in search for the elixir of immortality. In their search, they made use of substances like sulfur and saltpeter, which led them to discover many chemical properties along the way. It was during the Tang Dynasty that they discovered that sulfur and saltpeter, when combined with charcoal, caused an explosive effect, which is known today as huoyao or gunpowder. Gunpowder is considered to be one of the four great inventions of China; the other three are the compass, paper and printing technique. The compass was invented during the Qin Dynasty and was used by travelers to find their way back home after traveling to far lands in search for jade and other great treasures. The compass was called zhi nan zhen, which meant needle pointing south. The first person to use this tool was Zheng He of the Yunnan Province, who was ordered by the Emperor to make ocean voyages. Another invention, which was also used for determining direction, was invented by Huangdi and was called the zhi nan che or vehicle pointing south. Before paper came into existence, the Chinese would use bamboo slips, bones and tortoise shells to write on. Because these materials were bulky and heavy, many were discouraged from writing down their thoughts and daily experiences up until 105 CE, when the invention of paper was first reported. The name most attributed to this great invention is Tsai Lun, though it is not certain if he was the real inventor or just the court official that presented the invention to the emperor. Tsai Lun supposedly took inner bark of a mulberry tree along with bamboo fibers, and mixed them with water. He then pounded this mixture with a wooden tool, poured it into a piece of woven cloth and let the water drain through. The fibers that were left behind on the cloth formed the paper material. The printing technique, which made use of carved wooden blocks, first appeared in early Tang Dynasty but only became widely used during the Song Dynasty. This new invention encouraged central and local governments to publish more books. It was Bi Sheng who invented movable type printing during the Song Dynasty. The first machines invented in China include the potters wheel, deep drilling devices, efficient animals harnesses, the stirrup, escapements, wheelbarrows and the first computer. In 1st century CE, the Chinese invented the chain pump, which they still use until today. Around 132 CE, Zhang Heng invented the first ever seismograph, which was called the dragon jar. This device would simply register the occurrence of an earthquake using the eight dragonheads arranged around its brim. China is also the pioneer of wind direction devices including weather vanes. As early as 1st century BCE, the Chinese had records of wind seasons. Methods like forensic entomology and fingerprinting were already used in 700 CE as a way of solving murders and identifying people. Thumbprints were found on clay seals and on various official documents. The ancient Chinese people already had coal as an energy source as early as the Han Dynasty in hand with a coal mining industry. Coal was unearthed in Shan Hai Jing and Fushun in Northeast China. Along with coal unearthed in residential areas, the Shui Jing Zhu or notes on waterways classic had a narration of one of the coalmines in Ancient China, the Bingjingtai. Coal mining made good progress during the Song Dynasty wherein the government set up a special institution to facilitate coal mining and monopolize it. Now, a reasonable chunk of Chinese inventions were geared towards a particular aspect of life, making it easier and more enjoyable especially with the Chinese being biased towards the liberal arts as opposed to science because of the lack of conscious interest the people had towards science. A lot of inventions were pointed towards recreational use as well as making everyday functions easier or at least open the way to innovation. These inventions also wound up being adapted by many Western cultures and are still used or can be connected to their Chinese roots. These inventions which we see in our culture in our daily lives often have unknown roots to as where they were invented. They could be as important as the paper money system and toilet paper, or still as essential but on a lesser scale as restaurant menus and eyedrops. One of the greatest inventions of Ancient China is something we use in our everyday lives, paper. Although paper was initially used for wrapping and padding, the use of paper as a writing medium began in the 3rd century. Paper had many new ways of being used which was due to the Chinese knack for innovation. 6th century China began using it as toilet paper, something we cant live without in our present day. Paper was also used to make tea bags during the Tang dynasty, an age of culture in Chinese history. These tea bags are now a popular worldwide drink. Paper was considered one of the greatest inventions of Ancient China because of the position it had with exchanges between the East and the West. Paper is now seen in every society, culture, and part of the world as a essential medium for anything written or printed. A very important system we use today is the type of currency we use, paper money. Paper money or banknotes first appeared in China because the coins used for currency were sometimes too heavy to carry around especially for the rich folk. To address this problem, the coins were left to a trusted person in return for a piece of paper (Some kind of modern I.O.U) and the paper money was called jiaozi. Paper money or banknotes during ancient Chinese times often had a duration which discounted its value after some time until the reign of Kublai Khan during the Yuan dynasty in which he removed the durations and called the banknotes Chao. Another great invention of the Ancient Chinese are often seen in homes and in our daily lives, the use of pottery, porcelain and silk. Chinese pottery dates as far back as 8000 years ago and as compared to all historical periods, Chinese pottery was the one that kept improving and surpassing the quality of other civilizations with pottery (2). The production of pottery and porcelain was a whole culture in itself representing the Chinese economy, culture, science and technology. Though pottery started simple with simple shapes and rough features, the Chinese were able to mold it into something complex and beautiful for their culture. Among the most well-known works of pottery of Ancient China are the famous terracotta warriors and horses found in the tombs in Lintong of Shaanxi Province, the tomb of emperor Shihuang of the Qin dynasty. The tomb holding the terracotta army had thousands of clay soldiers and horses which had lifelike feautures and shows the skill of the ceramic artisans at that time. This marvelous display of the use of clay also represented the Chinese high value of life, believing that things in the tomb of people would accompany them in their second life, the afterlife. Though this belief started with the actual killing of servants, warriors and horses, the Chinese were able to see the value of life and instead use figurines as a substitute. Pottery advanced in many time periods during the Ancient Chinese era, from the ceramics during the Tang Dynasty which had three main colors, yellow, green and white up until the Zisha Tao or purple-clay pottery. China is also known as the capital of porcelain, a white, rigid and water-resistant piece of pottery. The use of porcelain boomed during the Song Dynasty with the discovery of a wide variety of designs. Porcelain from the Yuan dynasty was also widely regarded as top quality. Ming and Qing dynasties also had its own admirers as seen in this description, as thin as paper, as bright as mirror, as white as snow, and as resonant as chime stone (2). Silk was also a big part of Chinese culture that was discovered from silkworms eating on their mulberry trees. Silk was unearthed as far back as 4700 years ago in the Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. The use of silk was already popular during the Shang dynasty. Chinese people even included how to prevent silkworm diseases in the Li Ji or the Book of Rites. Silk was used to increase the dignity of the noble people as well as to add to the allure of their women. It also became a major export even opening the Silk Road. Silk and ceramics show the Chinese rich economy and culture because of how they were able to develop these arts as well as trade them to the world. (3) Tea and Wine are two beverages whose roots our society knows little about yet consume on a great scale. The ancient Chinese were the first people to process tea and make it into a beverage. Tea was said to have been discovered by Shennong, a legendary god who was cured by tea leaves from a coma. Tea was valued in ancient China even being offered to ranking officials as tributes and becoming an essential part of their everyday lives. People of the Tang dynasty had a saying that people can do without food  [2]  for several days but not a single day without tea. Tea was another valuable export of the Chinese people (4). The Chinese were also the first to discover wine. Yi Di was said to be the first to make wine and making wine probably started in the Yangshao period, about 4000 to 5000 years ago. The Chinese came up with many different methods of creating yeast for their wines, a sign of their innovation and creativity. A big achievement in Chinese history regarding wine was durin g the Song Dynasty, when hongqu or red yeast was used (5). Wine is a beverage that was adopted by the West and have been made in their own ways like the in the vineyards of Italy and other countries. A very important spice was also given its first use by the Chinese, salt. It was as early as 2700 B.C.E. that salt was already used for pickling in China, salt trade also helped finance the Great Wall. The Chinese also made important contributions to Astronomy. Emperor Huangdi often observed the stars to make out a calendar as well as naming metal, wood, fire, water and earth as the five elements. He even understood the concept of leap months and days in the calendar. A lot of astronomers in China were able to observe the stars and was compiled by the astronomer Chen Zhou. With this map, people were able to make the star atlas and catalogue with coordinates for each star. The advanced techniques used by the Chinese astronomers during the Warring States Period prove that they led the world in astronomy and astronomical tools (6). There were also many minor inventions the Chinese had which was adopted by the west and used by society in the present day. They invented the kite initially for war but became a tool for entertainment in the mid Tang Dynasty. Its popularity goes as far as the emperor Huizong actually presiding over a compilation about kites called A Collection of Kites from the Xuanhe Years (7). And their attempt to fit a man inside a kite led to the popular extreme sport we know today as Hang-gliding. Similar to the kites initial purpose, the hot-air balloon also became popular for entertainment during the Yuan dynasty wherein it attracted a lot of popular viewers. The original creator of the hot-air balloon was a war tactician named Zhuge Liang (8). Board games such as Mahjong also became popular because of the Chinese inventions, the Domino in particular (Dominoes). They were apparently derived from the cubic dice, which had been popular in Ancient China. The Chinese even helped give us some popul ar sports the world acknowledges today, specifically Archery, Golf and even Football. Archery goes back all the way to the Paleolithic age in Shanxi Province wherein archeologists unearthed finely made arrowheads. China was also the birthplace of the worlds number one sport, Football otherwise known as Soccer. Football was initially called cu ju which translates to kick ball in Ancient China. Inscriptions on bones and turtle shells during the Shang Dynasty proves that the sport was born in China. The ball was initially made of leather and hair while the first inflated ball was made during the late Tang Dynasty with the use of animal bladders. The game was said to have spread to the West because of wars with foreign countries(9). Chui wan or strike pellet is said to be the origin of the game Tiger Woods dominates, Golf. Other minor inventions were the principle of camera obscura, an early way of projecting images. Mo-Ti, the inventor referred to his camera as locked treasure room. The Chinese made many inventions towards recreational use and enjoying life because of their bias towards the liberal arts. Although they still made great contributions to science, their contributions to culture, the classics, sports, and other activities are common in our world today. It is important that one knows the foundation of these activities and objects one enjoys today so that proper credit may be given to the innovators. Now, creating a civilization like that of the Chinese does not come without consequences and at no cost. They did have to fight many battles both to unify themselves, and defend themselves from would be conquerors. In order to do this, they couldnt fall behind in terms of military might. To make sure that they always had the upper hand, the Chinese invented many simple, yet effective tools of war. The Military inventions of ancient China were the kite, the wheelbarrow, naval mines, land mines, the flamethrower, the early form of mustard gas, the fire lance, paper armor, and the crossbow. The wheelbarrow is speculated to have already been invented by at least the first century BCE. They were primarily used for war in that they were an efficient way to carry around large quantities of supplies, or heavy supplies such as armor, weapons, and ammunition. They were chosen over the larger vehicles because first, they could be operated by a person which was favorable over oxen in battle, and second, because they were more maneuverable around difficult terrain. They had many variations depending on the situation. Some wheelbarrows used single central wheels while others used two wheels. One famous variation of the  [3]  wheelbarrow was the add-on of a sail. This innovation allowed the wheelbarrows to travel up to 40 miles per hour. (10) Another invention that seems completely unrelated to war is the kite. The Mozi mentioned kites in 400 BCE. Kites were described as a bird constructed from bamboo and wood. (10) The materials used to produce kites were primarily silk and bamboo. Silk was the most lightweight and most durable material at the disposal of the Chinese, while bamboo was the lightest, and one of the most durable types of wood available. It is speculated that kites were used to signal the soldiers in armies during and outside of battle with instructions. For instance, different colored kites carried different orders for armies. As if the Chinese hadnt already proven that anything could be used in war, they began using paper for armor. Yes, thats right. The Chinese used paper for armor. The paper armor was highly praised for its warmth, comfort, and durability. In fact, in 1625, Mao Yuanyi, a Yellow Turban Rebel during the Han Dynasty, wrote: the best choice for foot soldiers is paper armor, mixed with a variety of silk and cloth. (11) The new weapons invented by the Chinese during these times were the Fire Lance, the Crossbow, the Flamethrower, Naval Mines, Land Mines, and the precursor to mustard gas. Naval mines were made by putting gunpowder in a barrel sealed with putty. They were either timed or made to explode by a hidden ambusher that would pull a cord and activate a Wheelock to create a spark and set off the explosion when an enemy ship sailed too close. Landmines functioned in pretty much the same way. Hidden ambushers would wait for enemies before lighting hidden fuses to set off the landmines. They did however, have an automatic way of activation. These automated land mines used weight drives. When a person steps on the landmine, the weights drop, activate a flame, and set off the landmine. The fire lance was the precursor to the gun. It was a bamboo tube that was filled with either a projectile or poison dart. These tubes were tied on to spears and then ignited to set off the gunpowder and launch the projectile. (11) The crossbow functions much like the crossbows of today. They had a string that was latched onto the tip of a trigger. When the trigger is pulled, the crossbow bolt flies. The Chinese flamethrower used double-action bellows placed beneath a hot cauldron with a mixture much like Greek-fire to spew fire. (11) It was the first type of flamethrower that could continuously shoot fire. The precursor to mustard gas was a simple mixture of around fifteen pounds of feces, herbs, and poison. When lobbed into a battle, it irritated and blistered skin. It was highly favored since it penetrated armor. (11) 4All of these weapons, with the exception of the flamethrower, show which side the Chinese were commonly on in battle. First of all, projectile weapons such as the Fire Lance and Crossbow are dangerous to use in skirmishes, and when the people shooting them do not have the high ground because of the chances of friendly fire. Based on that knowledge, these weapons were most probably used from castle walls, hills, and early in battle, before the skirmishes begin. Naval mines, land mines, and the early mustard gas were of course used as traps. But when and where are traps set? They are often set to fend off an invasion in ones home territory. This tells us that these were primarily defensive weapons. They were most effective in battles where the Chinese were able to choose where the battles would take place. What does all of this tell us? It tells us that the Chinese defended their land more than conquered. They held off invasions, rebellions, and raids more than attack foreigners. The Chinese opened the door for the golden ages of technology. Their inventions paved the way for great thinkers and great nations alike to create things never heard of before and to conceive new ways of doing things. Its obvious that not all the worlds innovations came from China, but it is safe to say that many of them were either adapted from ancient Chinese inventions or simply continuations of the inventions themselves. Things like the compass, for example, are Western adaptations of Chinese south pointing chariots. China, with all its riches, land, and manpower, was the perfect place for innovation to flourish. But why did the Chinese invent? It is natural for a person to explore and experiment with his environment, but what the Chinese did was not merely exploration and random wonderment. They wondered with a goal, and they explored with direction.  [5]   It can be said that, based on their early inventions, they created because they valued the gift of life highly. They sought not only to exist, but also to live. To merely go throughout life breaking ones back for daily meals did not appeal to them. They created tools such as the wheelbarrow and trip hammer that would help alleviate the workload of everyday life. They created games such as Cu Ju and Chui Wan that would allow one to enjoy life. They created practices and medicine to sustain life. They created things such as the early seismograph and star maps to understand life and the world around them. They also created weapons, but not with the primary purpose of destroying life, but with the purpose of protecting life and protecting order. However, compared to the Western Civilizations, China churned out massive amounts of innovations. What did China have that allowed it to invent so much so quickly compared to the Western Civilizations? Well, the first factor would be Chinas immense resources. They had the means to support research and development within their population and the means to mass-produce the new inventions. The second factor was that they generally lived in times of peace. While they did have many periods of war, the periods of peace, or at least relative peace allowed the Chinese to focus on improving their society. The third factor is exactly the opposite of the second. War forced them to create new weapons. There is an old saying, In peace culture prospers, in war science flourishes. The fourth factor would be the trade routes. China was exposed to many different cultures. Technology was oftentimes the most valuable commodity traded. While the Chinese inventions were oftentimes not direct descendants o r copies of foreign technology, they were most likely influenced by them. There is one factor that does seem to stand out above the rest, and this is need. The Chinese had many needs. They needed to meet the demands for food by a growing population, they needed to understand human ailments to be able to treat people, they needed to find more efficient ways of transporting supplies and more efficient ways of navigating rivers. Need is probably the single greatest driving force that the Chinese had. Like it was said in the movie Robots, See a need, fill a need. Although the Chinese did have a general sense of direction with their inventing, there was also the factor of luck. In the creation of gunpowder, for instance, it was by chance that they realized a mix of saltpeter, sulfur, and coal produced an explosive effect. Like Doctor Marquez says, Innovation happens when readiness meets serendipity. Our present world cannot be divided into a West and an East but as a joint creation of East and West, of China and other countries. Chinas society has had its ups and downs during its different dynasties. A strong foundation was built during the Spring, Autumn and Warring States periods which laid down a foundation for the development of science and technology. The Han and Tang dynasties wherein nations were unified, the Wei and Jin dynasties wherein the country was divided or the Song and Ming dynasties which enjoyed prosperity. All these different dynasties and up and downs in Ancient Chinese history, even the Yuan and Qing dynasty, which had leaders coming from ethnic minorities. All these times contribute to the Chinese success with innovation as compared to the West. And although the Chinese were responsible for a lot of firsts, the West can still be given credit for further advancing these firsts in their own ways. The fact that the Chinese lead the world in technology does not necessarily mean that they were the brightest or best. A lot of factors came into play that allowed the Chinese to invent so many things and advance in technology. In the end, it all comes down to the right circumstances. What probably put the Chinese in the perfect situation is again, serendipity. Sources Deng, Yinke. Ancient Chinese Inventions. Cultural China Series ed. China: China Intercontinental Press, 2005. Call Number In Library: General Circulation T27.C5 D4613 Kleeman, Terry F., and Tracy Barrett. The Ancient Chinese World. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Call Number in Library: General Circulation DS741.5.K55 Hochman, Karen. Salt History. Gourmet Food Magazine Website: The Nibble Gourmet Food Gifts, Specialty Food, Mail Order, Online Gift Webzine http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/salts/history-of-salt.asp (accessed January 12, 2011). Wicken, Jonathan. Ancient Warfare. Fight Game E-Magazine. www.fighttimes.com/magazine/magazine.asp?article=676 (accessed January 12, 2011). Murphey, Rhoads. A History of Asia. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ [etc: Pearson Education, 2009. Ho, Peng Yoke, and F. Peter Lisowski. A Brief History of Chinese Medicine. 2nd ed. Singapore: World Scientific, 1997. pp. 9-25. Call Number in Library: R601.H6 1997 Wisconsin Paper Council. The Invention of Paper. http://www.wipapercouncil.org/invention.htm (accessed January 10, 2011). Marashi, Reza, Yang, George, and Chan, Anthony. Chinese Inventions. Oracle Think Quest. http://library.thinkquest.org/15618/inventor.htm (accessed January 10, 2011). Case study: End of Life Care Case study: End of Life Care In describing a situation in which my integrity was challenged I would first like to give some background. This involved a patient I cared for and I will anonymize the situation for privacy concerns he will be referred to as Patient A. The patient was a middle aged male who had been diagnosed with cancer. He initially declined therapy due to personal beliefs that he and his wife had about alternative medicine. A year later, with progression of his cancer, he agreed to chemotherapy but by then his cancer was very advanced. He initially came under my care at the end stage of his cancer, and when I admitted him I did not expect he would survive to discharge. His wife was of the opinion that he had declined because he agreed to chemotherapy and expected him to improve now that chemotherapy had been stopped. During his admission he improved and was discharged. At discharge I went over his condition with him and his wife, and discussed his expected continued decline in detail. About one month after this I again admitted Patient A. He was in very bad shape and had not eaten much for about a month. He needed to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. He was lethargic, with a waxing and waning mental status. I was worried that he would not be able to swallow properly and would likely aspirate (with attendant complications including pneumonia) if fed, so I held off on feeding him till his mental status improved, sustaining him in the interim with intravenous nutrition/fluids. I also stopped some medications he had been on prior to admission including synthroid, a medication for thyroid dysfunction. I initially discussed Patients As condition with him (when he was more awake) and he decided he did not want to be resuscitated if his heart stopped. When his wife was available I sat down with her and we had a long discussion concerning his condition and his prognosis. She was very personable but was convinced that his prognosis was better than I was making out. Sh e was also very concerned about Patient A not eating and not getting his thyroid medications. I explained the rationale for my not wanting him to eat yet and explained that thyroid medication could worsen a complication he had at that time. Despite our conversation she was still convinced that his prognosis was pretty good. I ended the conversation by asking her to think on things and promising to discuss further with her at a later time. However, when I did see her later she accused me of not taking adequate care of her husband. She felt I was giving up on him and leaving him to starve. She also felt he would be doing better with his thyroid medication. She requested that a different physician be put in charge of her husband. Taking care of patients at the end stage of life can be difficult. It is especially so when the patients are relatively young. The surviving family members also often have survivors guilt, with a propensity to feel they could have done more. In this case Patient As wife believed there was a lot more that could be done that could change the outcome. I felt her accusation was a challenge to my integrity and was very taken aback, especially as I thought we had come to an understanding when last we spoke. She was essentially accusing me of not only inadequate care but of harming my patient. I gave Patient As primary care physician a call to discuss how she had been interacting with Patient A and his wife. I then sat down again with Patient As wife and we had another long discussion at the end of which I agreed to let Patient A try to eat. I agreed to this understanding that he could aspirate. In view of his expected imminent demise I felt if he could get some comfort from eating, it would be worthwhile. However I did not agree to recommence Patient As thyroid medication which would at that point have hastened his demise. I believe I was at fault in not adequately addressing her concerns initially. She was seeing individual trees and not the forest. But I was also taking a coldly clinical approach. While I was clinically right, a deeper view should have shown me that at that point his comfort and his wifes satisfaction that he had received appropriate care should have been paramount.