Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Displacement Reaction Definition and Examples

A displacement reaction is a type of reaction in which part of one reactant is replaced by another reactant.  A displacement reaction is also known as a replacement reaction or a metathesis reaction.  There are two types of displacement reactions. Single Displacement Reactions Single displacement reactions are reactions where one reactant replaces part of the other: AB C → AC B An example is the reaction between iron and copper sulfate to produce iron sulfate and copper: Fe CuSO4 → FeSO4 Cu Here, both iron and copper have the same valence. One metal cation takes the place of the other, bonding to the sulfate anion. Double Displacement Reactions Double displacement reactions are reactions where the cations and anions in the reactants switch partners to form products: AB CD → AD CB An example is the reaction between silver nitrate and sodium chloride to form silver chloride and sodium nitrate: AgNO3 NaCl → AgCl NaNO3

Monday, December 23, 2019

How Prison Life Really Works Essay - 1305 Words

How prison life really works Prison life is much harsher than jail. In prison you stay inside until you are done with your sentence or until you die; jail is nothing compared to prison. Each prisoner is locked out from the outside world. Each inmate is in there for different crimes they have committed outside and inside the prison. It is very interesting to see how the inmates survive in prison and how they adapt to their new lives because in prison they are blocked from the outside world. The inmates dont exist to the people on the outside anymore. Violence is a big part of the problem in prison because everywhere in prison someone gets hurt. The weaker inmates get sexually harassed by the ones who have the power to control whatever†¦show more content†¦The violence between the inmates is brutal. Some inmates use violence to show others that they are the strongest and that they are in charge of the whole prison and other inmates that are under their protection. They tak e control of everything that is going on inside the prison. In the article of Enforcing the Convict Code: Violence and Prison Culture, it talks about how violence in prison differs between women and men, For instance, while both women and men used violence to control the behavior of others, men tended to use it more often while women tended to use rumors, gossip, and avoidance to deal with bothersome inmates. The inmates use violence to gain control of the prison. Violence happens when inmates talk or say terrible things about each other. To a large extent there is violence between the inmates because either they dont get along with each other, or they cant trust one another. In the article of Enforcing the Convict Code: Violence and Prison Culture by Rebecca Trammell, mates understand violence as a social process the inmates only understand that violence is a process that they have to live with, it is their life to survive this process and follow it. Inmates only know how to use v iolence to control the environment in the prison and the behavior as well. In the article of Enforcing the Convict Code: Violence and Prison Culture by Rebecca Trammell, she tells us that inmates use this to control others â€Å"try to controlShow MoreRelatedAnne Frank, Nelson Mandela And Louis Zamperini1346 Words   |  6 Pagesclass really gives you a sense of how a person is feeling in such little words. It describes the environment around them, how they are dealing with is and what their thoughts are on it. A poem I feel does incredibly well with this this â€Å"Some Advice to Those Who Will Serve Time in Prison†. This poem describes a man in prison with a lot of time to serve and how he feels about it. He describes prison as making him start to lose himself and how much it really affects his outlook on life. Prison makesRead MoreIncarceration as a Form of Punishment1355 Words   |  6 Pagesin prison will tell you it is a horrible place that should be gone. That would allow criminals to be free and that would let them cause harm to others or other illegal activities. Incarceration was not designed to be a paradise, it is a detention center for the bad, and meant for them to be punished. Without jails the world would be filled with even more evil, and would leave people in more danger than they already are. Incarceration is what makes those who have done bad appreciate what life hasRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Guarding Sing Sang By Ted Conover1089 Words   |  5 PagesThe book NewJack: Guarding Sing Sing by Ted Conover is an profound book to read it gave me a great glimpse of how the prison life really is and how you can put yourself in comparing how Hollywood movies or TV shows displays them. Conover discuss about the history of Sing Sing prison since 1826. It was an authentic and straight forward of how the prison life is especially for those who want to pursue as a correctional officers. It gave two perspectives one from the guards and the other by the inmatesRead More The Shawshank Redemption Essay1402 Words   |  6 Pageswhich looks at prison life in a interesting and different perspective than one normally thinks. The main characters are Andy Dufrense (Tim Robbins) and Eliss quot;Redquot; Redding (Morgan Freeman). These characters are well complimented by the wise and simple old man, Brooks (James Whitmore), and the evil warden. The personalities of the Shawshank prison combined to form a sort of community. One never really thinks of a prison as such, but it seems to hold true. This movie showed a prison not only asRead MoreThe Importance of Prison Reform Essay954 Words   |  4 Pages In this world we live in many feel that prisons exist to punish, not counsel, offenders. That may be true that Prisons exist for punishment, but they also have an important contribution to make to reducing re-offending by engaging prisoners in rehabilitation programs and purposeful work. Society is flawed in its thinking that by putting criminals in a place away from society we would be better off. To make it worse I am sure that more that 60 percent of Americans are against social reformRead MoreThe Prison System And The Prisons System Essay1258 Words   |  6 Pagesmade me realize how much prison affects someone. In the US the prison system is completely different than the prison system in Denmark. After watching Prison State, I didn’t really know what the pros were of our prison system. I saw more cons than pros. I was completely shocked by the way that Denmark runs their prison system. The video confused me a bit, so I did some research and found an article that I und erstood a little bit better about Denmark’s prison system. The US prison system is definitelyRead MorePersuasive Speech966 Words   |  4 Pagescriminals are walking the streets and crime is a way of life to many Americans. In America, crime does pay because our nations prison system is not working properly. B. Most of you may know someone who is either a family member or a friend who has committed a crime and served jail time that has gotten out and committed the same crime. Not once but twice maybe even a third time. Now what does that tell us? C. Today I will address the prospect of prison aims to stop someone who would commit a crime andRead MoreEssay on Should Capital Punishment Be Legal?992 Words   |  4 Pagesdoesnt really go along with the idea of incorporating the offender back into society; on the contrary, it just gets rid of the individual, because in society eyes, the offence committed is so wrong, that the person is no longer able to return into society. On the other hand, how can one really know if the person is really able to change his ways. Capital punishment also does a lot of good for the community. It saves the taxpayers money by not making them pay for the life sentence in prison. It alsoRead MoreIncarceration Practices in the United States Essay1292 Words   |  6 Pagesthe crime. Many people are incarcerated due to the type of crimes they commit. When you’re incarcerated, you’re sent to prison. I always had somewhat of an idea how being imprisoned works but I wasn’t fully aware of how the routine worked, I just know the basic steps like committing a crime, getting caught, sent to jail, go to trial, then the judge sentenced you depending on how bad the crime was, I didn’t know anything else passed that. As a curious student of Kingsborough, I’ve pulled up a lotRead MoreA Woman Doing Life : Notes From A Prison For Women1320 Words   |  6 Pagesreading A Woman Doing Life : Notes from a Prison for Women, I learned a lot more than I thought I knew about the life of women in jails or prisons. Erin George , the main character , gives readers an ethnographic insight on the struggles women face in prison. The hardships women face in prison consist of, and are limited to harsh shakedowns, poor medical treatment, and changes within the prison system that intentionally dehumanizes women inmates. Erin George before prison was a middle class women

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The Outsider’s Free Essays

How would you like it if people considered you to be poor or rich? The outsiders is a novel of conflicts and is about two teen gangs that live on different sides and the country. Greaser’s against socks in other words the poor against the rich. The book by S. We will write a custom essay sample on The Outsider’s or any similar topic only for you Order Now E. Hilton and is about how the rich kids call the poor kid’s socks and get beat up. Pony boy is a 14-year-old teen boy that is a sock and gets beat up quite a lot. Pony boy is really sensitive, intelligent and observant. â€Å"Pony boy reminds me of a house cat hat always know what’s going on†. Body Paragraph 1 Throughout the novel pony boy is really observant because many different reasons that I will explain. He might not have that much common sense but he always knows what’s around him and what’s going on whatever the situation is. In the book his brothers say â€Å"he might lack a bit of common sense but he always knows what’s happening†. This is really true it’s like he keeps an extra eye somewhere and is one of a kind. Also he is observant because in the book he says this mfou take up for your uddies, no matter what they do. When you’re a gang, you stick up for the members. If you don’t stick up for them, stick together, make like brothers, it isn’t a gang anymore. It’s a pack. A snarling, distrustful, bickering pack like the Socks in their social clubs or the street gangs in New York or the wolves in the timber. â€Å"(34) he is helping has brothers and the greasers and is observing and telling them before hand what they are. Body Paragraph 2 In the other hand pony boy is a really sensitive kid in this novel. When something oesn’t go right has emotions well let loose and you will easily find out what kind mood he is really in. In the book it says â€Å"don’t cry pony don’t cry we’ll be okay (75)†. Pony boy is in bed with soda and soda says remind about last night and pony starts tearing up and tells him to shut up. Another reason why I think he’s sensitive is because in the book it says â€Å"l wanted to cry, but Greasers don’t cry in front of strangers. Some of us never cry at all. Like Dally and two-bit and Tim Shepard–they forgot how at an early age. 102) Pony was in the hospital and has throat was hurting and he was thinking of has brothers and was about to cry but kept it together because strangers where there. Body Paragraph 3 Finally pony is a really intelligent person you might think he’s not but he sure is. In school he gets really good grades and is the best student from all the characters he excuses Darry tor getti ng bad grades and not doing g â€Å"He is always having a nose in a book. (13)† That’s what Darry and has brothers say about pony boy in the novel would always read and loves doing it. Also he is a good writer to he gets put in the A class. Also his brothers say that he is really good in school and stuff but his street smarts aren’t so good and don’t really have any. Conclusion In conclusion pony boy is Just like house cat that always knows what’s happening and might do something bad here and there. Overall pony boy is a good house cat that knows what to do most of the time. Finally remember it doesn’t matter what people consider you poor or rich you are what you are and let people think what they think. How to cite The Outsider’s, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Direct Hits by The Killers free essay sample

Bullseye! Throughout their career, The Killers have always hit the mark when it comes to innovative music. A glance at the name would suggest them to be a group that sputters out poorly tasted heavy metal or intense screamo rock, but that is certainly not the case. In truth, the Nevada-based band has been one of the leading indie bands in recent years and has been one of the few to actually crack mainstream radio. Single â€Å"Mr. Brightside,† for example, was voted one of the best songs of all time by NME magazine. But with the release of â€Å"Direct Hits,† it would appear that the end is near for the band. Overall, the album provides an excellent summary of the group’s career. Chronologically ordered, â€Å"Direct Hits† acts as a timeline. The transitions from album to album are evident, and the listener cannot help but notice that their earlier work clearly outshines the singles they have released most recently. We will write a custom essay sample on Direct Hits by The Killers or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Their early rise to success was especially impressive considering they developed long after the rise and fall of the 2001 rock revival and had to grow from out of its shadow. Hit singles â€Å"Somebody Told Me† and â€Å"Mr. Brightside† were more than enough to propel them to the high profile status they hold today. The Killers have not only leaned on the rich vocals of lead singer Brandon Flowers, but have looked to him as a source for inspiration as well. Flower’s fascination with electronic and ‘80s music has evolved into the band’s signature sound. Even in recent years, the influences are still present. â€Å"Runaways,† for example, has U2 written all over it. Lyrically, they are unconventional as they come. â€Å"Are we human or are we dancers?† from the song â€Å"Human† would make nearly all English teachers cringe, but somehow it has emerged as one of the the most memorable lyrics of all the last decade. To include such questionable lyrics is a risky gamble, but it is fresh, unique and acts as a pillar that shapes the identity of the band. Indie fans everywhere should be dissapointed if this album indeed marks the end of the great career of The Killers. They will certainly be missed.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Project story free essay sample

Mr.. Moral C. Moving Presented by: Motile, Jason Frizz A. Palsies, Ruin John A. July 1 l. Executive Summary A canned Jams, packaged dried fruits, producer and marketer named Yummy Company and all their products are made from pure natural exotic tropical Juice. The company is in good performance. From the field distribution, marketing, price, imports and exports aspects all are excellent. They also experienced massive expansions to the other part of the Philippines during past two years. They also have a workforce over 1 , 200, from the scenario, the regular employees are 900 and about 300 are seasonal or temporary employees. Yummy Companys workforces are currently non- unionized and its revenue has increased by about 20% in year 2004. On year 1990, yummy company bought two small companies located in southern. As time goes by, the acquisition did not go smoothly since one of the acquired companies had unionized employees and their human resource was not able to handle the situation. We will write a custom essay sample on Project story or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The human resource was not able involved in strategic planning process. As the result of this lack of human resource performance, the company deal several human resource related problems for at least three years, and result to detrimental to employee morale and productivity, with this experience the companys top management should hire the right person in a certain position so that they could avoid any inevitable situations that they could encounter. However, unionized and non-unionized employees can be considered as the strength, weaknesses, threats and opportunities that could possibly help nor can be a problem in the past, present or future. With this particular problems encountered, the human resource management should plan some alternative solutions on how solve the dilemmas which can affect their performance as a company. As the top management of the Yummy company is concerned, it should be strict in implementing their rules and regulations or by laws, they should also implement strict written communications to avoid miscommunication. And for the unionized employees of the company, it can be advantage for their part, but for the companys point of view, as their primary goal is to earn more profit, it may be disadvantage for their part. II. Statement of the Problem Managing people related issue result by company expansion. Companys HER problem due to: unionized employees, lack performance management system, hiring practices that allowed members of the same family in a supervisor- employee relationship, inconsistent enforcement of employee discipline procedure despite the presence of a collective bargaining agreement, high incidence of theft, informal and autocratic manner, no written HER policies, prop unequipped human resource. Lack of performance dress and communications tool and non-unionized employees Management system Incidence of theft unionized employees Harmonious relationship between companys by-laws proper Employee and employer Hiring practices: implementation workforce proper selection Same family member Detrimental to employee morale Ill. Areas of Consideration Strength Unionized employees Non-unionized employees Harmonious relationship between employee and employer Attained companys Vision Goals Mission Objectives Strong communication Culture innovation Experience in people related issue on merger/expansion. Excellent Manpower and technology Weaknesses Unequipped HER Lack of concern of HER issues Lack of performance management employee system Hiring practices: same family member Lack to employee discipline High incidence of theft Informal and autocratic management No written HER policies, procedures and communication flow management Opportunities Will increase customer satisfaction Will achieve VIGOR Will have good HER communications New management team Poor position in Governmental programs to develop or enhance employees deep understanding Threats Unionized employees Failure to attain companys Vision Mission Goals Objectives Human Resource misunderstanding Wrong decision making Cultural diversity Labor unrest IV. Alternative Course of Action 1. Companys Human Resource should always fully-equipped. . Should have right companys employee incentives. 3. Should hire right person in the right position. 4. Should have Companys Human Resource written the policies, procedures and communication flow. 5. Should not practice hiring blood-related family members. 6. Employee violates any company policies and he should be subject to disciplinary action. 7. Should hire man power. 8. Employees should receive all mandatory compensation: P. D 442 a decree instituting a labor code thereby revising and consolidation labor and social laws to afford protection to labor, promote employment and human sources development and insure industrial peace based on social Justice. 9. Employees should be protected off by laws: AREAWAY (an act instituting policies for the protection and welfare of domestic workers) Companys Human Resource should always fully-equipped. Every human resource of a certain company should always be ready and have always alternative plans for every decision making in the company. Human Resource should hire the right person in the right position, in order to achieve the vision, mission, goals and objective. Its part or function of HER is very important thats why top-management should be reticular and scrutinizing in hiring their workforce. Employees should have right companys incentives. This is to motivate the workforce to achieve the certain vision, mission, goal and objectives in the certain company. It workforces are highly motivated by the companys incentives tater their hard works are being paid, they continue do their best performance in working their assigned Job. Every employee deserves incentives or motivation after they are working for good. In relevance to Yummy Company, especially they experienced tremendous expansion nationally and hitting internally. Human Resource should hire the right person in the right position. If workforce is knowledgeable, his designated Job and it is easy to the management to less their work. It could also perform multitasking, well trained, people oriented (patience, hospitable, approachable, and trustworthy), hence, place the right person with all the knowledge and perseverance to work hard to serve the company. One of the most important factors is the companys Human Resource written HER policies, procedures and communication flow. Thus, the management should have written policies, procedures and communication flow to understand the employee- employer agreement either verbal or written agreement for both parties to have win- win situation. And to understand thoroughly the dos and dont if middle management and thus top management is having problem with their workforce. Should not practice hiring blood related family member. Due of some practices, in which is practiced by some employees in hiring their kins form some personal purposes. In some instances this is being practiced numerously of time in the Philippines, this is a distorted attitude of mostly Filipinos nowadays or lack of professionalism. Employee violates any company policies and procedures; he should e subjected to disciplinary action. If an employee disobeyed the top management, or because of recklessness, he should face the consequence as part of the companys disciplinary action to correct the wrong doing and re-film human resource and workforce communications. To be lawful, disciplinary action or dismissal must be fair and reasonable in all the circumstances with some limited exceptions. The employer must have good reason for the dismissal or disciplinary action, and the employer must follow a fair process in reaching and implementing its decision. Human resource should hire enough man power. Every station of a certain company hooked have a middle management to manage the business smoothly. Manpowers HER services are designed to help the company make more effective and successful hiring decisions, and to increase retention once you bring employees on board. Employees should receive all mandatory compensation: (P. D 442 a decree instituting a labor code thereby revising and consolidation labor and social laws to afford protection to labor, promote employment and human resources development and insure industrial peace based on social Justice. ) this is a motivation for the workforce to perform their Job well. It is now covered by the law makers to give all the mandatory compensation of the employees against opportunist employers. Employees should be protected off by laws: (AREAWAY an act instituting policies for the protection and welfare of domestic workers). As stated by the republic act 10361 that no employees shall be abused by the employer and should be subjected to punished. V. Evaluation Analysis Based trot the theory to Douglas McGregor Theory X believes that most people do not like work. Workers are not smart or creative. People do not care about the organization and will adequately work when there are promises for rewards and potential punishments. Moreover, Theory X manager believes that people want to have direction in order to evade responsibility. In relevance to the Yummy Companys case, human resource is the main problem and which is facing several of problems in the company. If you hired this kind of person, you should be concerned and put them into disciplinary action to correct their distorted principles and attitude. Human Resource problems like this should be correct by the middle management as part of the Companys Human Resource. From the theory of 2 factors motivation hygiene and motivators: Quality of inter-personal relations, working conditions, Feelings of Job security, Status, Opportunity for advancement, Gaining recognition, Responsibility, Challenging / stimulating work, Sense of personal achievement personal growth in a Job. With this aspect, human resource should be more particular and strict about their people and motivate them, challenge to develop skills and to dilate knowledge, know the quality for interpersonal relations, and your growth or experience towards working with several people. From the Carrot and Stick theory which serves as a motivation. Carrot in the company can be a food, shelter, clothes as which is the basic assumption of Mascots theory. Because from Mascots Hierarchy of needs. So the stick represents fear, which can be a good motivator when used sparingly at the right time. It may produce immediate results that derive from prompt compliance. It is only useful in the short term though, as over time increasing levels of punishment would be necessary to obtain the same results and this can backfire in the form of mutiny and sabotage. VI. References O Douglas McGregor D. 1960), THEORY X and THEORY Y 0 Jim Riley, Motivation Theory (Hygiene Factors- Motivator Factors) (Herbert) http://www. Tutors. Et/business/people/motivation_theory_Herbert. Asp 0 Carrot and Stick Theory http://imitate. Co. UK/professional/carrot-or-stick-approach/ VI. Conclusion Therefore, from the given case, Yummy Company is experiencing human resource management. If by chance, the us ed theories Carrot and Stick, McGregor theory X, and Two factors theory Hygiene and Motivators could be a way to help on how to motivate their workforce towards their Human Resource Problem. Hence, after finding the statement of the problem of the Yummy Company which are: unionized employees, lack performance management system, hiring practices that allowed embers of the same family in a supervisor- employee relationship, inconsistent enforcement of employee discipline procedure despite the presence of a collective bargaining agreement, high incidence of theft, informal and autocratic manner, no written H R policies, procedures and communications tool and unequipped human resource. Fish bone theory was used as the instrument to distinguish the problem. Afterwards, SOOT or (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) is being used to measure the companys capability to strengthen the strength, solve the problems or weaknesses, grab the opportunities, and prepare a plan and let the many to experience the threats. I conclude that Yummy Company should strictly implement the alternative course of action because this may help to solve the companys Human Resource. With the proper rules and regulations, by-laws, communication, disciplinary action and written agreement and all human resource problems with the help of detailed action plan which is designed to create a new plan and or solutions to prevent any companys weaknesses and threats and to firm companys strength and opportunities. VIII. Recommendations The recommendations for this study are based on the results of the findings from the analysis. The following are the researchers recommendations: 1. The human resource of Yummy Company should train their people workforce before upon hiring to avoid dilemmas. 2. Yummy Company should discipline their workforce or should be subjected to disciplinary action if ever he or she caught red handed. 3. Human resource or middle management should implement companys by-laws, written agreement, and shouldnt hire same family member. 4. The company should hire enough manpower with good skills and enough experience to reduce companys human resource problems since this is the primary problem. The researchers recommend firming their human resource aspects since they find hard in including their people and motivate them by giving incentives, compensation through following the motivation theory. 6. The researchers recommend to make unionized united employee if a certain company is abusing the right of employee and non-unionized if the company is giving all the benefits and incentives of employee. 7. Human resource manager should also hire the right p erson in the right position to easily adjust the culture and environment which are some factors that affects human resource.

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Heros Journey and Archetypes in Literature

The Heros Journey and Archetypes in Literature Carl Jung called archetypes the ancient patterns of personality that are the shared heritage of the human race. Archetypes are amazingly constant throughout all times and cultures in the collective unconscious, and youll find them in all of the most satisfying literature. An understanding of these forces is one of the most powerful elements in the storyteller’s toolbox. Understanding these ancient patterns can help you better understand literature and become a better writer yourself. Youll also be able to identify archetypes in your life experience and bring that wealth to your  work.   When you grasp the function of the archetype a character expresses, you will know his or her purpose in the story. Christopher Vogler, author of The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure, writes about how every good story reflects the total human story. In other words, the heros journey represents the universal human condition of being born into this world, growing, learning, struggling to become an individual, and dying. The next time you watch a movie, TV program, even a commercial, identify the following archetypes. I guarantee youll see some or all of them. The Heros Journey The word hero comes from a Greek root that means to protect and serve. The hero is connected with self-sacrifice. He or she is the person who transcends ego, but at first, the hero is all ego. The hero’s job is to incorporate all the separate parts of himself to become a true Self, which he then recognizes as part of the whole, Vogler says. The reader is usually invited to identify with the hero. You admire the heros qualities and want to be like him or her, but the hero also has flaws. Weaknesses, quirks, and vices make a hero more appealing. The hero also has one or more  inner conflicts. For example, he or she may struggle over the conflicts of love versus duty, trust versus suspicion, or  hope versus despair. In The Wizard of Oz  Dorothy is the storys hero, a girl trying to find her place in the world. The Job of the Herald Heralds issue challenges and announce the coming of significant change. Something changes the hero’s situation, and nothing is the same ever again. The herald often delivers the Call to Adventure, sometimes in the form of a letter, a phone call, an accident. Heralds provide the important psychological function of announcing the need for change, Vogler says. Miss Gulch, at the beginning of the film version of The Wizard of Oz, makes a visit to Dorothys house to complain that Toto is trouble. Toto is taken away, and the adventure begins. The Purpose of the Mentor Mentors provide heroes with motivation, inspiration, guidance, training, and gifts for the journey. Their gifts often come in the form of information or gadgets that come in handy later. Mentors seem inspired by divine wisdom; they are the voice of a god. They stand for the hero’s highest aspirations, Vogler says. The gift or help given by the mentor should be earned by learning, sacrifice, or commitment. Yoda is a classic mentor. So is Q from the James Bond series. Glinda, the Good Witch, is Dorothys mentor in The Wizard of Oz. Overcoming the Threshold Guardian At each gateway on the journey, there are powerful guardians placed to keep the unworthy from entering. If properly understood, these guardians can be overcome, bypassed, or turned into allies. These characters are not the journeys main villain  but are often lieutenants of the villain. They are the naysayers, doorkeepers, bouncers, bodyguards, and gunslingers, according to Vogler. On a deeper psychological level, threshold guardians represent our internal demons. Their function is not necessarily to stop the hero but to test if he or she is really determined to accept the challenge of change. Heroes learn to recognize resistance as a source of strength. Threshold Guardians are not to be defeated  but incorporated into the self. The message: those who are put off by outward appearances cannot enter the Special World, but those who can see past surface impressions to the inner reality are welcome, according to Vogler. The Doorman at the Emerald City, who attempts to stop Dorothy and her friends from seeing the wizard, is one threshold guardian. Another is the group of flying monkeys who attack the group. Finally, the Winkie Guards are literal threshold guardians who are enslaved by the Wicked Witch. Meeting Ourselves in Shapeshifters Shapeshifters express the energy of the animus (the male element in the female consciousness) and anima (the female element in the male consciousness). Vogler says we often recognize a resemblance of our own anima or animus in a person, project the full image onto him or her, enter a relationship with this ideal fantasy, and commence trying to force the partner to match our projection. The shapeshifter is a catalyst for change, a symbol of the psychological urge to transform. The role serves the dramatic function of bringing doubt and suspense into a story. It is a mask that may be worn by any character in the story, and is often expressed by a character whose loyalty and true nature are always in question, Vogler says. Think Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion. Confronting the Shadow The shadow represents the energy of the dark side, the unexpressed, unrealized, or rejected aspects of something. The negative face of the shadow is the villain, antagonist, or enemy. It may also be an ally who is after the same goal but who disagrees with the hero’s tactics. Vogler says the function of the shadow is to challenge the hero and give her a worthy opponent in the struggle. Femmes  Fatale  are lovers who shift shapes to such a degree they become the shadow. The best shadows have some admirable quality that humanizes them. Most shadows do not see themselves as villains, but merely as heroes of their own myths. Internal shadows may be deeply repressed parts of the hero, according to Vogler. External shadows must be destroyed by the hero or redeemed and turned into a positive force. Shadows may also represent unexplored potentials, such as affection, creativity, or psychic ability that goes unexpressed. The Wicked Witch is the obvious shadow in the Wizard of Oz. Changes Brought About By the Trickster The trickster embodies the energies of mischief and the desire for change. He cuts big egos down to size and brings heroes and readers down to earth, Vogler says. He brings change by drawing attention to the imbalance or absurdity of a stagnant situation and often provokes laughter. Tricksters are catalyst characters who affect the lives of others but are unchanged themselves. The Wizard himself is both a shapeshifter and a trickster.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Refitting the pieces Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Refitting the pieces - Essay Example The results of the interactive Jigsaw Puzzle Media Piece exercise revealed one’s personal worldview is formed and composed of three essential components. The three components that make up my worldview are God, Ethics and Knowledge, because they shaped my thoughts, experiences, education and life decisions.Believing and trusting God’s Word provides a lively faith and confidence in God’s promises. One of the most significant lessons I learned is to live and learn from the Bible. Believing and trusting God’s Word and incorporating the Gospel in our lives will create a positive worldview and generate consistent worldview beliefs. God’s teaching, as detailed in the Bible shared messages of loving one’s neighbor as oneself and to obey the commandments. There were instances in life where trials and challenges are faced through death of loved ones or through troubles in relationships. The lessons of love revealed in the passages of 1 Corinthians 13 g ive the greatness of love in its capacity to encompass patience, kindness, hope and the constant pursuit for truth (Bible Gateway, 2010).Embracing God’s worldview steers us to make sound choices and life decisions. Those decisions uncover who we are, what we believe, and our purpose. When difficulties become pressing, the faith and trust in God gives courage and comfort that everything would come to pass and that these trials are just temporary incidents that are made to be experienced to make us stronger to face vicissitudes in the future. The Bible creates a moral compass for people to learn and make life decisions. As a book that gives guidance in the form of messages, one is directed to focus on specific aspects in one’s personality that needs to be addressed. For example, people who face problems in disobeying God’s commandments would find answers in Deuteronomy 27:11-27: â€Å"(â€Å"Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen† (Deuteronomy 27:26)† (Deeper Christian Life Ministry, 2011, par. 1). Those who are reflecting on taking one’s life or killing others would find answers in the value and sanctity of life through this verse: â€Å"Don?t you know that you yourselves are God?s Temple and that God?s spirit lives in you?† 1 Corinthians 2:16† (The Bible and the Sanctity of Life, n.d., par. 10). Following God’s Word creates the foundation necessary to choose between good and evil and right and wrong . My life decision is to learn, teach and follow the scripture but to also keep an open mind to others beliefs, opinions, and worldviews. Keeping an open mind means being open to accommodate diverse points of views and perspectives from different cultural and ethical orientations. With regards to ethics, one’s personal contention is to treat everyone like you would want to be treated. Being ethical (moral) is how humans relate to one another, how you relate to yourself, and how you relate to your creator. The word of God provides one with the direction and guidance to avoid treating others unethically or immorality. One’s personal beliefs, values and standards on fair and equally treatment in according human rights can impact in a negative or positive manner, depending on the person and how they apply it. For example, there have been controversial issues of equality in gender and race in organizations. With one’s commitment to ethical codes of conduct, one is co mmitted to treat all

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Memo Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Memo - Assignment Example â€Å"The pursuit of health care quality has led to substantial performance measurement initiatives† (Larson & Muller, 2002, p. 261). Quality initiatives also help in reducing operational costs of healthcare organizations (Micheletti, & Mannis, 2004). For Newton Managed Care, some of the main benefits that quality management program can bring with it include increased public satisfaction, improved image of the company, improved employee performance, and improved organizational performance. Having discussed the significance of quality management program for Newton Managed Care, let us now discuss ten characteristics of a quality program, which include customer focus, continuous improvement, employee involvement, continuous supervision, process oriented, establishing the metrics, monitoring the metrics, improving public perception, an all-inclusive package, and ease of applicability. Let us discuss each of these characteristics one by one. Customer focus is one of the main characteristics of a quality program. A quality-oriented healthcare organization focuses the needs of the patients all through the process of delivery of healthcare because they are the main drivers who can ensure success of the organization. If a company does not provide the highest level of quality treatment to the patients, it can never gain public trust. Therefore, health companies give extreme importance to the provision of quality treatment to patients in order to ensure quick success and growth. Next major characteristic of a quality program is that it is always geared towards continuous improvement. A company adhering to the principles of quality management brings continuous improvement in its services in order to ensure an increase in the public satisfaction level. A healthcare company can achieve continuous improvement only by integrating quality in all phases of any disease treatment program because a fraction of negligence can lead to severe health problems

Monday, November 18, 2019

Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Health - Essay Example It involves managing an individual’s feelings and behaviors, accepting oneself unconditionally and the ability to cope with stress. The social dimension is the ability to create and maintain healthy relationships with other people. It encourages harmony within the family and contributes to the human and physical environment for the goodness of the community. The intellectual dimension is the ability to use an individual’s mind to create the best understanding and appreciating oneself and others. It involves an individual’s ability to be creative in thinking and to expand their knowledge and skills through various activities. Today, technology had changes people lives greatly. Through technology, people are able to interact with others instantly worldwide. In addition, individuals are able to move around fast, the appliances in people’s homes have made life easier thus making the world a better place. According to a fieldwork done since 2003, the American teens use the social media massively and the use social sites like MySpace and Facebook. Some teens opted for MySpace while others preferred to use facebook and there are those who opt to use both. The teens independently chose the kind of social media they wanted to use. Moreover, personal preferences like features, functionality, how to use and design led to the teens choosing one to the other. teens often talk about what they like about and how they perceive the different sites in relation o the values they hold. For example some teen prefer facebook because it seems faster to them as well as it is less competitive than MySpace. In addition, some choose specific social media platforms because of their friends. On the other hand, some teens describe those who use MySpace as those from the ghetto and hip-hop lovers group. In the United States, the social structure is shaped by race, socio-economic status, lifestyle, and education. Social media is fading away as the one that seems trendy

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Accounting and Finance Degree Reflection

Accounting and Finance Degree Reflection Accounting has always been an interest of mine. Since I was a child, I have always been good in calculation, which makes it clearer that accountancy would be a good choice. After years of studying it, I realised accounting is not only about numbers but theory that require various skills in order to perform a good accounting. The increase number of students in the accounting field has made employment extremely competitive. Major findings suggest that, employers require a broad range of generic and professional skills in graduates to add value to business. In the past, generic skills was broad in that it was usually associated with those skills developed outside the technical curriculum. More recently the scope of the term generic skills has extended to emphasize relevance to graduate outcomes in terms of the world of work and, more specifically, employability (Barrie, 2004). The mixture of skills is necessary by the employers as it helps them solve the diversity of business challenges . Generic and professional skills that employers require The embedding of generic and professional skills in higher education curriculum has been of interest for many years. Skills are important for life-long learning and employability. B. Jackling and P. De Lange (2009) suggested that the skills most desired by employers include communication skills, analytical skills and team skills. Communication skill is particularly essential to accounting profession for which interaction between the providers and the recipients of information. For accounting it is important to starts with gathering and processing of information and end with communication of processed information. Previous research shows that accounting graduates experience communication problem in early employment (McLaren, 1990: Pattern and Williams, 1990). Despite that accounting curriculum has positively contributed to the development of written communication skills (Zaid, O. and Abraham, A. 1994) Analytical skills is relating to using analysis or logical reasoning to solve a problem. It is the ability to visualize and solve complicated problems while making accurate and informed decision. Employers are looking for people that are able to think critically and its consequence. For example, one could be good at spread sheets, can manipulate data effectively but they arent good at figuring out whether the information is reasonable or realistic (Ballantine, J. A. Larres, D. M. 2004). There are an increasing number of companies that want employees to work in a collaborative environment in order to respond quickly in an environment with intense complexity. Avery (2001) proposes teamwork as and individual skills, meaning each individual in a team must take responsibility for the process necessary to accomplish a similar goal. Teamwork is used a lot in the field of accounting such as complete tasks, evaluate clients and report and analyse financial statements. Learning outcomes that are relevant to achieving these skills The degree that Im currently pursuing is Accounting and Finance. The module chosen from this course is Financial Accounting and Reporting (U50035), delivered in semester two of the 2011-2012 academic year, and Financial Accounting Theory (U50081), delivered in semester one of the 2012-2013 academic year. As a credit entry student, I took a module in year one similar to Introduction to Accounting delivered in semester one 2010-2011 academic year. The learning outcomes from the modules in the area of financial accounting were designed to provide students with opportunities to build their employability profile alongside developing their knowledge. The modules were designed to encourage students to build their skill base as part of their way to higher level of intellectual development. In my second year I did Financial Accounting and Reporting module. Throughout this module, I manage to develop some skills and achieve some learning outcomes. For instance outline the regulatory framework for financial reporting which applies to UK and international companies and also using financial and other reports to appraise the performance, financial situation and cash position of companies. We were given two coursework assignments: one individual and one group. The individual coursework is regarding IAS 19, Employee Benefits that has been amended. At a glance, the coursework is intimidating because there are substantial amount of research and reading. They reduced my motivation. However, as I started to read, common key term such as International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), defined benefits, termination benefits, service cost, net interest, re-measurements tend to appear in most of the articles. The skimming phase confirmed that my initial problems came from jargons and new terms about the IAS 19. It taught me to use critical and analytical skill in order to find key words and phrases, which help me to read long articles. The second assignment of this module is to do a group presentation on the financial performance, financial situation and cash position of Good Energy Group plc. Further, I have improved my presentation and writing skill because this coursework is presented in a professional report with graphs and financial data. We have limited time to carry out research and we were worn off by the intensive lectures. This is where I found out how time management and teamwork skills play as important elements for success. We distributed the workload among ourselves and set a time frame for completion. Group members were to adhere to the time frame stipulated. This is how we manage to complete a simple presentation, with many hidden hard work behind our success. Currently Im doing Financial Accounting Theory module. There are several learning outcomes from this module one of it is to understand the function and operation of Accounting in a range of contexts, informed by current thinking and research in the discipline. We were given homework almost every time after a seminar. In week 4 we were asked to read a few articles regarding revisiting the conceptual framework. This article refers that the framework needs updating and refining, the inconsistencies need to be eliminated because framework being less helpful in providing guidance for standard setting decisions. During the seminar in week 5, we then discussed our findings in a small group of three. Through this Ive learned a lot more than self-reading, the interaction has definitely improved my communication skills. One strategy describes by Cunningham (1998) to develop creative and critical thinking skills in students are by analysing real life case studies. During the seminars, students were asked to analyse articles provided by the lecturer. Learning outcome such as able to demonstrate the use of current accepted technical language of accounting and accounting practices internationally is achieved. A constructive feedback is given on the spot after a question is raised. This will assists students to develop a questioning attitude as well as able to update their knowledge. Introduction to Accounting is a first year compulsory module, which introduces student to certain principles and techniques of accounting. The module will be concerned with the processes used to record, summarize and present accounting data. The objective of this part of the module is to enable students to prepare company financial statements. Learning outcome after having completed this module is the ability to prepare a set of financial statements for a company from a trial balance and incorporating a variety of simple adjustments. For example when learning how to produce a financial statement, it requires technical and theoretical knowledge once I discovered how to present the information, thats when I develop non-verbal communication skills (Ballantine, J. A. Larres, D. M. 2004). When I started my first semester, I find myself struggling for time. My lifestyle has become chaotic, as I have to juggle between school, work and family. I felt tired everyday and have no motivation to complete my tasks. This is mainly due to my poor time management. As part of the module, an educational talk from one of the accounting firm, Ernst and Young has made me realize that many things could be achieved with proper time management. A person that works at least 12 hours a day still find himself some time spend with family and for his favourite sports. Conclusion This reflective statement is a learning tool, which will help students better understand, learn and reflect on issues covered in the entire course and in other relevant areas. I believe that a strong academic background is a fundamental issue for student but might not be enough in indicating whether or not a student will be successful in a particular work environment. Throughout this course I personally think that the modules I have taken have been benefiting me in terms of the aspects in which I have learned. It is designed to encourage communication skill, teamwork, critical thinking and analytical skill. This is what employers seek for in a potential candidate. Researching on coursework have opened my eyes and made me aware of any jargons that come across during reading. In the final (third) year, I feel as if I have a great deal of knowledge of the information that I looked at for these modules. The use of case studies, group-based learning, and task designed to address communica tion and presentation skills are suitable for developing appropriate competencies in accounting graduates for future employment.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Essay -- Crib Death SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sudden infant death syndrome, better known as S.I.D.S., is one of the leading causes for the inflated infant mortality rate in this country today. It is often misunderstood or unrecognizable. For the most part, the causes of SIDS are unknown to the general public. This is changing, however, as public awareness is ever increasing. Thus, the purpose of this paper will be to explain sudden infant death syndrome and its known or suggested causes. Also, the history of SIDS, the problems and emotional suffering that results from the loss of a child, the toll it takes on the surviving sibling, and possible counseling or other help that is available for parents who may have lost a child to SIDS are such areas that will be explored. Overall I hope to achieve a better understanding of all these suggested topics within the body of the paper.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  SIDS is also commonly referred to as crib death. It is said to claim approximately in the range of 6,000 to 7,000 babies a year within the continental United States alone, with a slight increase each year (Bergman xi). This would seem to be an astounding figure, but when the figure of the total amount of babies that are born in the United States is compared to that of the number of deaths due to SIDS, it accounts for only a small percentage. It is a small percentage that hopefully can be reduced. And to any parents, the loss of just one child is definitely one too many, despite of the statistics that are currently available. During the first week of life is where most deaths that are associated with prematurity dominate, SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants under one year of age, according to Bergman. It ranks second only to injuries as the cause of death in children less than fifteen years of age. An unknown fact is that SIDS takes more lives than other more common diseases such as leukemia, heart disease or cystic fibrosis (Bergman 24). Ironically it was not until the middle of the 1970’s until SIDS was no longer ignored as being a cause of death. For the most part, no research was being conducted, leaving families and victims left to wonder why their babies died (Mandell 129). For the family and friends of the family, who also are victims, this was definitely a tragedy. Not knowing the cause of death had to have caused physical and emotional ... ... Gregory, Geoff. "The Discovery of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome." The Journal of the American Medical Association 264 (1990): 2731. Kahn, A., et al. "Problems in Management of Infants With an Apparent Life Threatening Event." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 533 (1988): 78-88. Limerick, Sylvia. "Family and Health Professional Interactions." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 533 (1988): 145-154. Malloy, Michael H. "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Maternal Smoking." American Journal Of Public Health. 82 (1992): 1380-182. Mandell, Frederick, et al. "the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 533 (1988): 129-131. Mandell, Frederick, et al. "The Surviving Child in the SIDS Family." Pediatrician. 15 (1988): 217-221. Martin, Richard, J. Respiratory Disorders During Sleep in Pediatrics. New York: Futura Publishing Co., 1990. Powell, Maria. "The Psychological Impact of SIDS on Siblings." Irish Journal Of Psychology. 12 (1991): 235-247. Raub, William. "Chronic Fetal Hypoxia May Predispose Infants to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome." The Journal of the American Medical Association. 264 (1990): 2731.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Gillian Clarke †Neighbours Essay

Gillian Clarke is a Welsh poet whose writing often uses natural and rural settings to explore larger themes and ideas, particularly political ideas. She draws on the Welsh landscape and her experience of sheep-farming on the small-holding where she lives in West Wales. She has been the National Poet in Wales since 2008. The Chernobyl Nuclear Plant in Russia was the site of a massive explosion in 1986. Radiation from the accident killed people and animals from the local area, including 6 firemen who put out the fire after the explosion. The effect and spread of the disaster can’t be accurately predicted after a nuclear accident because radioactive particles can be carried by the wind. They can also get into the water cycle. The Chernobyl disaster was one of the motivations for the policy of ‘glasnost’, proposed and developed by the Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev. Glasnost translates as ‘openness’ and the policy supported the freedom of information. Gorbachev saw a need for openness because Chernobyl residents were not evacuated immediately after the disaster due to the Russian administration’s concern to cover up their faults. The spring was late. We watched the sky and studied charts for shouldering isobars. Birds were late to pair. Crows drank from the lamb’s eye. Over Finland small birds fell; song thrushes steering north, smudged signatures on light, migrating warblers, nightingales. Wing-beats failed over fjords, each lung a sip of gall. Children were warned of their dangerous beauty. Milk was spilt in Poland. Each quarrel The blowback from some old story, a mouthful of bitter air from the Ukraine brought by the wind in its box of sorrows. This spring a lamb sips caesium on a Welsh hill. A child, lifting her head to drink the rain takes into her blood the poisoned arrow. Now we are all neighbourly, each little town in Europe twinned to Chernobyl, each heart with the burnt firemen, the child on the Moscow train. In the democracy of the virus and the toxin we wait. We watch for spring migrations, one bird returning with green in its voice. Glasnost. Golau glas. A first break of blue.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Ethan Frome and Age of Innonce Essay Essay

Edith Warthon was born in New York City into a very wealthy family. She was forced into a loveless marriage and eventually fell in love with another man. Her life closely resembles the two books she wrote–Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome. Age of Innocence was a novel by Edith Warthon that was turned into a movie. Newland was about to marry May when May’s cousin Ellen came from Europe to New York. Newland found himself wanting to be with Ellen rather than May. Ethan Frome was very similar to Age of Innocence and was the story of a poor man, his wife, and her cousin who find themselves in a love conflict. Ethan was married to Zeena, his very ill wife. In order for Ethan to continue to work, Zeena’s cousin, Mattie, came to take care of her. Ethan instantly fell for the young, charming, and beautiful Mattie. The film and the novel share similarities in the representation of symbolism and jealousy in the main characters yet differ in how their love affairs were resolved. Both Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome shared similar symbolism. To start with, in Age of Innocence, Newland and May attend an opera. In this opera the man kissed the brown string on the women’s dress as he walked away from her. He needed to leave her because they should not be together, just like Newland and Ellen should not be together because he was engaged to her cousin. This compared to the part in Ethan Frome, when Mattie knitted the brown stuff and Ethan kissed it. Mattie pulled the brown stuff away from Ethan before long. This symbolized the fact that Ethan needed to leave her because he was married to Zeena for seven years. These parts are related because they both symbolize a love that needed to be forgotten, a love that needed to be left in the past. Secondly, Newland and Ethan are very similar. In Age of Innocence, Newland encouraged Ellen to stay in New York and not go back to her husband. Although Newland was engaged to be married he wanted her to himself. He did everything he could to get her to stay away from her ex-husband. Her ex-husband begged and pleaded for her to come back and Newland got jealous and convinced her to stay. In Ethan Frome, Zeena mentioned that Mattie would soon leave and would maybe wed Dennis Eady. Ethan soon became furious and said she would never marry him and she would never leave Zeena when she needed her–or more importantly him. Dennis Eady! If that’s all, I guess, there’s no such hurry to look around for a girl† (Wharton, 34). Later, Ethan saw that Mattie danced with Dennis Eady. He got jealous and could not go into the room and get her so he hid. Newland and Ethan both wanted something they knew was not really theirs and did not want them to be with anyone else. Although Newland and Ethan were very similar, they were also very different. Each fell in love with his wife’s cousin, but Newland knew his responsibilities; he knew he had to stay with his wife, and that was what Ethan did not know. In Age of Innocence, when Ellen found out that May was pregnant, she left for London. She knew she could no longer interfere with their relationship. Newland was going to follow her but when he found out he was going to have a child with May Newland knew he needed to stay with her. And that was where Newland and Ethan differ. In Ethan Frome, Ethan was going to stay with Zeena and let Mattie leave but when she was about to leave he decided he was going to be the one to drive Mattie to the train station. On the way, they took a trip down memory lane and revisited many spots where they fell for each other. Then they stopped to sled and Mattie and Ethan agreed to kill themselves and escape Zeena. Newland knew that he needed to stay and be with May even though he may have been happier with Ellen. Ethan only thought about himself when he tried to kill himself and that’s where they differ. Newland’s and Ethan’s lives could have been better if they had left their wives and followed the person they were in love with. If May had never gotten pregnant then he could have gone to Europe and followed Ellen. Newland would have been happier with having a family with Ellen rather than May. If Ethan had left Zeena and went west with Mattie he could have been so much happier. He would not have to pay to care for Zeena. Also, he would have been with someone he actually wanted to marry, not someone whom he married just to avoid being lonely in the winter after his mom died. All in all, Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome are very similar but still different. They are similar because of the symbolism used. Also, Newland and Ethan are very similar because of whom they fell in love with. However, they differ due to the way Newland and Ethan handled the situation of being in love with their wife’s cousin.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Fahrenheit 451 Summary

Fahrenheit 451 Summary Ray Bradbury’s 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451 is set in a dystopian society that burns books in order to control dangerous ideas and unhappy concepts. The novel tells the story of Guy Montag, a fireman who questions the book-burning policy and undergoes extraordinary suffering and transformation as a result. Part 1: The Hearth and the Salamander When the novel begins, fireman Guy Montag is burning a hidden collection of books. He enjoys the experience; it is a pleasure to burn. After finishing his shift, he leaves the firehouse and goes home. On the way he meets a neighbor, a young girl named Clarisse McClellan. Clarisse tells Montag that she is crazy and she asks Montag many questions. After they part, Montag finds himself disturbed by the encounter. Clarisse has forced him to think about his life instead of simply offering superficial responses to her questions. At home, Montag discovers his wife, Mildred, unconscious from an overdose of sleeping pills. Montag calls for help and two technicians arrive to pump Mildreds stomach and perform a blood transfusion. They tell Montag that they no longer send doctors because there are so many overdoses. The next day, Mildred claims to have no memory of the overdose, believing she went to a wild party and woke up hungover. Montag is disturbed by her cheer and her inability to engage with what happened. Montag continues to meet Clarisse almost every night for talks. Clarisse tells him that she is sent to therapy because she does not enjoy the normal activities of life and prefers to be outside and to have conversations. Some weeks later Clarisse suddenly stops meeting him, and Montag is saddened and alarmed. The firemen are called to a book hoarder’s house. An old woman refuses to give up her library, and the firemen break in and begin to tear the house apart. In the chaos, Montag steals a copy of the Bible on impulse. The old woman then shocks him by setting herself and her books on fire. Montag goes home and attempts to engage Mildred in conversation, but his wife’s mind has regressed and she is incapable of even simple thoughts. He asks her what happened to Clarisse and she is able to tell him that the girl was hit by a car and killed a few days prior. Montag tries to sleep but imagines a Hound (a robotic assistant to the firemen) prowling around outside. The next morning, Montag suggests he might need a break from his work, and Mildred panics over the thought of not being able to afford their home and the large wall-sized televisions that provide her parlor wall family. Hearing of Montag’s crisis, Montag’s boss, Captain Beatty, explains the origin of the book-burning policy: because of shortening attention spans and increased protest against various books content, the society decided to voluntarily dispense of all books in order to prevent future trouble. Beatty suspects Montag has stolen a book, and tells Montag that a fireman who has stolen a book is usually given 24 hours to burn it. After that, the rest of the firemen will come and burn down his house. After Beatty leaves, Montag reveals to a horrified Mildred that he has been stealing books for a while, and has several hidden away. She attempts to burn them, but he stops her and says they will read the books and decide if they have any value. If not, he promises to burn them. Part 2: The Sieve and the Sand Montag hears the Hound outside the house, but tries to force Mildred to consider the books. She refuses, angry at being forced to think. Montag tells her that something is wrong with the world, that no one is paying attention to the bombers overhead that threaten nuclear war, and he suspects books might contain information that could help fix it. Mildred becomes angry, but soon gets distracted when her friend Mrs. Bowles calls to arrange a television viewing party. Frustrated, Montag telephones a man he’d met many years before: a former English professor named Faber. He wants to ask Faber about books, but Faber hangs up on him. Montag goes to Faber’s house via subway, taking the Bible with him; he attempts to read it but is constantly distracted and overwhelmed by the advertising being played incessantly. Faber, an old man, is suspicious and afraid. He initially refuses to help Montag in his quest for knowledge, so Montag begins to rip pages from the Bible, destroying the book. This act horrifies Faber and he finally agrees to help, giving Montag an earpiece so that Faber can guide him verbally from a distance. Montag returns home and interrupts Mildreds viewing party, turning off the parlor wall screens. He tries to engage Mildred and their guests in conversation, but they are revealed to be thoughtless and callous people who don’t even care for their own children. Disgusted, Montag begins reading from a book of poetry despite Faber’s pleas in his ear. Mildred tells her friends that this is something firemen do once a year to remind everyone how terrible books and the past were. The party breaks up, and Faber insists that Montag burn the poetry book to avoid arrest. Montag buries the rest of his book collection and takes the bible to the firehouse, handing it to Beatty. Beatty informs him that he himself was once a book-lover, but he realized that none of the knowledge in books was of any real use. A call comes in for the firemen and they climb onto the truck and race to the destination: Montag’s house. Part 3: Burning Bright Beatty tells Montag that his wife and her friends reported him. Mildred leaves the house in a daze and gets into a taxi without a word. Montag does as ordered and burns his own house down, but when Beatty discovers the earpiece and threatens to kill Faber, Montag burns him to death and attacks his fellow firemen. The Hound attacks him and injects tranquilizers into his leg before he can burn it as well. As he limps away he wonders if Beatty had wanted to die, and set up Montag to kill him. At Faber’s house, the old man urges Montag to flee into the wilderness and make contact with the Drifters, a group of people who have escaped society. They see another Hound being released on television. Montag meets the drifters, who are led by a man named Granger. Granger tells him that the authorities will fake Montag’s capture rather than admit to any flaw in their control, and sure enough, they watch on a portable television as a another man is identified as Montag and executed. The Drifters are former intellectuals, and they have each memorized at least one book with the intention of carrying its knowledge into the future. As Montag studies with them, bombers fly overhead and drop nuclear bombs on the city. The Drifters are far enough away to survive. The next day, Granger tells them about the legendary Phoenix that rose from the ashes, and muses that humans can do the same, except with the knowledge of their own mistakes to guide them. The group then begins walking towards the city to help rebuild society with their memorized wisdom.

Monday, November 4, 2019

American Civilization before 1877 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American Civilization before 1877 - Essay Example He was so proper that a commentator even kidded that â€Å"Washington was born with his clothes on and his hair powdered, and made a stately bow on his first appearance in the world†. He is always dignified and looked like a leader. Socially he also like to dance and ride horses which fits in the character of a gentleman of his time. He was not without criticism though. He was criticized as being unintellectual. Adams even mocked him that he was too illiterate, unlearned, unread for his station and reputation is equally past dispute. Thomas Jefferson Jefferson qualified and fitted of being a gentleman because he embodied America’s democratic ideals and democratic hopes. Lincold even said of Jefferson that â€Å"the principles of are the definitions and axioms of free society†. He was criticized by Leonard Levy though in his work Lincoln are the definitions and axioms of free society†. According to him, Jefferson was inconsistent and hypocrite. He ripped off Jefferson’s mantle of libertarianism to expose his darker sige: his passion for partisan persecution, his lack of concern for basic civil liberties, and his self-righteousness that became at times out- and- out ruthlessness. Far from being the skeptical enlightened intellectual, allowing all ideas their free play, Jefferson was portrayed by Levy and other historians as something of an ideologue, a doctrinaire thinker eager to fill the young with his political orthodoxy while censoring all those books he did not like. He did not have an open or a questioning mind after all. Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton was the great American capitalist. He singlehandedly created modern American capitalism. He is the founder big state fnancial capitalism. In the 1890 he was He was called a â€Å"sound thinker, the constructive statesman†who sponsored a â€Å"vigourous, positive, constructive national policy... that implied a faith in the powers of an efficient government to ad vance natioanl interest.† Robert Warslow described him in 1931 that for a man, he was not noble, as a politician, hewas not an eminent success; as a statesman, apart from financial measures, he was not superior. But as businessman, not in all this period was any man to match him. And this characteristic fitted Hamilton as one of finest gentleman of his time as he embodied the American ideals of capitalism that made it an economic superpower that it is now. 2. a In Revolutionary Characters, Gordon Wood explains "what made the founders different." How do the public lives and attitudes of two of the men he discusses prove his point? Base your answer on the Introduction, the Epilogue, and at least two other chapter America unlike its counterparts in Europe and elsewhere in the world, was created by a sense of belief and not by common ethnicity. It also prides being a gentleman not by birth but by merit. Being a gentleman however connotes different meaning with the forefathers of A merica. America’s founding fathers were different because for them being a gentleman assumed a moral meaning that was more important than its social significance. Unlike their counterpart in Europe where pure monarchists still define gentility exclusively by the pride of their families, the size of their estates, the

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Dannon Company Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Dannon Company - Research Paper Example Dannon has since become the yoghurt founding company in America. Dannon is one of the leading producers of beverages, packaged foods and top selling yoghurt brands globally. The main value of the company is Health and Nutrition. The mission of the company is towards the provision of health through the food supply to the largest number of people possible (Dannon’s CSR 2009 Overview). The vision of the company is health for all people. The company is always looking for different ways of encouraging people to eat healthier and delightful tasting dairy products. Dannon produces and sells over 100 different products across the globe which varies in different sizes, styles and flavors of cultured dairy products. Transparency 1. Level of public disclosure. The company has a high level of public disclosure. That is, Dannon Company makes the information about its company public and makes it open to investors and shareholders. In every financial year, the company makes public its CSR re port, events and all annual reports. The company gives a press release of all activities taking place including company awards and all nutrition grants. All this is done with the aim of enhancing investor and shareholder confidence on the company. 2. Responsibility for environment/sustainable development. Dannon Company engages in Corporate Social Responsibility activities. ... nt, company has also increased its health and nutrition and nature of its produces which include packaging, energy consumption and manufacturing (Dannon’s CSR 2009 Overview). The company has also cut by 10% on its overall carbon footprint during the 2009 financial year. As part of its responsibility towards sustainable development, Dannon Company helps people in making informed food choices in order to improve their health and nutrition. Dannon Company also supports initiatives which encourage nutrition education, supports research and education which help in exploration of the relationship between better health and nutrition. To Dannon Company, its responsibility goes beyond the usual business of just producing yogurt products as it the company’s privilege to be an active partner in the provision of families with information and tools required for health lives. Dannon Company is committed to three core values in its corporate social responsibility activities, and they include health and nutrition, nature and people. The company is highly committed in the production of those products which are quite useful to the consumer (Laszlo, 2003). The company strives to makes nutritious products, engages families and children at the community level, and makes use of Dannon Next Generation Nutrition to help children in understanding the usefulness of healthy eating habits. The company also limits the kind of products to advertise to children and engages in childhood nutrition education programs. When it comes to nature, the company is highly committed to environmental sustainability as it has been saving on its carbon foot print, has reduced the quantity of its primary packaging and also saves fuel by re-inventing different ways of making energy saving bottles and cups. The

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 7

Finance - Essay Example The global nature of business operations has given rise to foreign currency denominated transactions. This means that the companies have a significant amount of foreign currency receivables and payables in their financial statements. Therefore any adverse movement in the exchange rate can have a serious impact on the profitability position of the company. For this reason the companies hedge their position using financial derivative products like foreign currency options, forward contract, currency swaps, currency futures etc. The modernization of financial markets and the consequent development of advanced hedging techniques mean that the companies no more rely only on the traditional hedging methods rather now they employ various financial instruments to protect the value of their receivables. Many studies have been conducted about the foreign currency hedging practices of the companies. Academic literature relating to hedging has developed various theories that explain the incentives derived by an individual from hedging. Hedging protects the position of the hedger. Keynes states explicitly that the process of hedging eliminates risk (Ullrich, 2009, pp.107). In fact the financial derivatives can also be used for making speculative gains. This can be done by the companies who maintain a specialized risk management department as these professionals can take a position based on market anticipations. Various studies have been done to find as to why the firms hedge their overseas exposures. Some of these studies have focused on the usage of hedging tools like foreign currency derivatives and foreign currency debt (Judge, 2003). The strategy is chosen on the basis of the term of the exposure. For short-term exposures one expects that the firms will rely on derivatives. The long term exposure can be hedged using methods like issuance of debt and geographical asset diversification. A

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Types of Phobias Essay Example for Free

Types of Phobias Essay Our psychics still stands very far away from the complete understanding of the processes that take place inside our mind. One of the striking evidences for this statement is the widest variety of fears that quite often enthrall people, and what is more, there are no easy ways to find any reasonable explanation to expand their origin. However, this problem is widely discussed in psychology and there is a special term to denote strong fear, aversion or terror, phobia. Anyone can be affected by phobia – even celebrities such as Nicole Kidman who is afraid of butterflies, Johnny Depp who is terrified of clowns, and Christina Ricci who is scared of sharks in the swimming pool. In this essay we shall describe a number of different instances of phobia and illustrate that generally they can be divided into to types, namely those which fall under rational explanation and respectively those which are based on deep psychological roots and defy any rational interpretation or explanation. Exactly the complexity and even sometimes impossibility to explain certain phobias, together with the need to apply an individual approach to examine each such case allows us to assert that our psyche and mental activity still is full of uncountable mysteries. Hundred thousands or even millions of people all over the world suffer from acrophobia or in other words the fear of heights. Basing on evidences and psychological studies this is likely to be the most spread form of phobias. Many of us have met people who feel petrified staying on an absolutely safe balcony of the skyscraper. So these are the apparent victims of acrophobia. There is little or no distinction between this kind of phobia and bathophobia, fear of depths; both involve fear of falling. The both forms of phobia have a simple rational explanation. Height and depth contain certain potential danger for a person. What helps realize this danger is person’s instinct for self-preservation, which compels a person to leave potentially dangerous place. However, in some cases the instinct for self-preservation transforms into exceptionally acute form, known to us as phobia. Another instance of phobia is arachnophobia or fear of spiders. Unlike the phobias discussed above this kind of fear is not related to the possible danger for life and cannot be explained by any reasonable means. To understand this phobia nature let us illustrate the particular case described in the newspaper Daily Record. Carol-Ann Swanson has been scared of spiders since she was a girl. At the age of 29 she admitted her tendency to scream and run away from anything that looked remotely like a spider and understood it was not quiet a normal thing for a psychiatry worker, so she decided to find the reasons for her fears. The psychoanalysis brought her back to her childhood when Ann’s older brother used to get her to close her eyes put a spider in her outstretched hand. Later that fear became a firm phobia in primary school. The teacher found out she was scared so she put a poster of a huge spider on the wall and asked her to touch it. The whole class discussed her fear, so it made her feel really embarrassed. Even the pom-pom spiders that hung from the classroom ceiling were terrifying. Thus we can see that in this given example through thorough psychological analysis one can derive the origin and explanation of the phobia. Nevertheless, there is a huge number of phobias which cannot be so easily interpreted of studied. For instance, if a lot people do not often feel very happy when seeing a spider then arachnophobia does not seem too abnormal phenomenon. However, such phobias like ailurophobia (fear of cats), koniophobia (fear of dust), anthophobia (fear of flowers), aurophobia (fear of gold) are considerably more complicated for interpretation. The problem of phobia origin still contains a lot of undiscovered facets. Among them the specialists (Kleinknecht R.) underline the following: Why some people at certain circumstances suffer from phobia and others do not? Why a person cannot overcome his or her phobia by the understanding that this fear is groundless? Are there any universal methods applicable to all people suffering from phobia? While there are no direct answers to these questions there is a strong need to apply individual approach to study each particular instance of phobia. The difficulty and sometimes even the helplessness in dealing with phobia gives the grounds for claim that our mind and mental processes occurring there still present a lot of riddles to be solved. References: Kleinknecht, Ronald A. Mastering Anxiety: The Nature and Treatment of Anxious Conditions. New York: Insight Books, 1991. Does This Tarantula Scare You? Amazing irrational fears that plague so many terrified victims; The like Carol-Ann You Are One of 50,000 Scots with a Phobia. Lifestyle Coach Alastair Campbell Helps Her Face Her Demons. Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) 2 Mar. 2005. Biography.ms. Retrieved on 22 Jan. 2006 from http://www.biography.ms/List_of_phobias.html

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Advantages and Disadvantages of Family Types

Advantages and Disadvantages of Family Types Individual Family culture VS Traditional Family Culture.   Advantages Of The Nuclear Family While discussing about the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear family, the first and foremost point pops up in the mind of a person is privacy of life.   Privacy:  The couple can get their privacy in their own house in nuclear families whereas you cannot get your privacy in a joint family. People can live their own way and can do whatever they want to. There are no such boundaries set by the elders to follow.   Financial stability:  When we talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the nuclear family, then financial stability is one of the strongest points in the nuclear family. One can be financially strong because of limited expenses. There is less number of people in the nuclear family and hence less expenses. You cannot have a strong financial stability if you are the only person who is earning in a joint family.   Freedom:  The elders restricts youngsters not to do certain tasks because they think this is not good for them. But today’s generation is very smart. They know what is good and bad for them and have enough analytical power so they don’t like to restrict themselves. Instead, they want their freedom so that they can do and achieve whatever they want in their life.   Ease in moving:  When you have a nuclear family, you face fewer problems while shifting from a house. You can manage your things according to you without disturbing the lives of other people. This is one of the major advantages of the nuclear family.   Avoidance of stress and discomfort:  Some people are emotional. They can’t tolerate any kind of fun that is on them and in the joint family, one need to have much high patience. But, nuclear families has the advantage that if you live in the company of those with whom you are very comfortable then there is no need to take any stress and your discomfort also get vanished in a moment.   Disadvantages Of The Nuclear Family While thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of the nuclear family, a person should also think that it is not always good to live in a nuclear family. At certain points, you realize the value of joint family. Here are those points which will teach you the importance of joint family and disadvantages of nuclear families.   No care:  If the parents are working and children suffered from any small or big disease, then one needs to deal with it alone as they don’t have elders and other family members to take care of. This is the major disadvantage of the nuclear family. One is alone and feels even sicker when he sees no one around. Problems to children:  If your child is small and needs special care, then at that point, you will definitely find the nuclear family not good enough. You will always think that if you were in a joint family then this condition would never arise as you have other family members who can take care of the child and in the mean time, you can do your work. Security and safety:  Security is one another disadvantage in the nuclear family. People feel insecure in the nuclear family. There are so many cases of robbery and murders and many of them are from nuclear family itself, as it is easier to grab someone who lives alone in a house or with less number of people. No support:  When we talk about the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear family, support is the thing one will always miss. If there is an argument between the couple then there is no one to support any one of them. They have to deal with their problem alone without any support. Sometimes due to open nature and ego, the fight results in divorce or separation because there was no one to make them understand the basics of a relationship. Extra Expenses: When you live in a community or in a joint family, then you have the liability to keep other happy and familiar to you. In order to do this, you need to do some extra expenses. Suppose, you bring some gift for your child then it is also important to bring some gift for other children in the family. TRADITION FAMILY CULTURE:- In an extended  family, parents and their childrens families may often live under a single roof. This type of  joint family  often includes multiple generations in the  family. From culture to culture, the variance of the term may have different meanings. Advantages of Joint Families Cradle of social virtues: Joint family is like a nursery to teach social virtues. It helps to develop social virtues like co-operation, sympathy, sacrifice, affection, spirit of selfless service, obedience and broadminded. Insurance against olds: Joint Family Acts as insurance for the members of the family at the time of crisis. It provides social security to its members especially to the old, the infirm, the unemployed persons, the orphans, the widowed daughters and sisters as well as the physical and mentally handicapped among them. For all such persons the joint family acts as an insurance company. Division of labour: In a joint family each member is given work according to his or her capacity. The men, women and children all have to work. For example, in a peasant joint family all the members work actively according to their ability. The old persons and children of the family watch the crops in the field. During the harvest season, the women in some families help in harvesting. This there is no need of procuring labour from outside the family. Socialism in Wealth: According to Sir Henry Maine joint family is like a co-operative society with the father as the trustee. Every member in the joint family works conforming to the well established socialist formula; each works according to his or her ability and gets according to his or her needs. Avoids fragmentation of land: Joint family avoids the evils or fragmentation of land by holding the property in common. Joint family is almost like a joint-stock company. An agency of social control: Another advantage of joint family is that it acts as an agency of social control. In joint family there is a close supervision over the anti-social and unsocial activities of the young member. Opportunity for leisure: Joint family affords ample leisure to its members. Both the male and female members divide the household works and finish it in a short time spending the rest of the day in leisure. They never feel over burdened. Money saving device: Joint family is advantageous from the economic viewpoint. This system helps in securing economy in expenditure. Since things are consumed in a large quantity they can be obtained at cheap rate. A large family can be maintained within a small means if it lives jointly. Disadvantages of Joint Family Home for Idler: Joint family rests on collective responsibility. This sometimes accounts for laziness among some members. No doubt the active members do hard work. But when they get equal share in the food cooked at the common hearth, some members may become lazy and may not feel the necessity of doing any productive work. They spend their time in eating, sleeping and begetting children. Hindrance in the development of personality: Joint family hinders the development of personality. Under the joint family system the head of the family or Karta is all in all. He is the sole authority to take any decision in family affairs. Other members, especially the   juniors do not get a chance to think independently to take any independent decision. Thus development of personality is arrested. Favours uncontrolled reproduction: Joint family is said to be associated with higher birth rate. Member does not feel the need of birth control because the children rest on the family as a whole. Hot bed of quarrel: Joint family is the hotbed of quarrels and bickering. Quarrels are common among the female members of the family. Quarrels between the wives of brother, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is very common. Source of litigation: Sometimes joint-family system encourages, litigation. At the time of the partition of movable or immovable property in the family dispute assumes serious proportion and most of the time these are not settled without the interference of the court of law. Loss of privacy: Over crowdedness in joint family kills one’s privacy. The newly married man and his wife hardly get the time to meet and talk rarely in joint family. Low position of women: Under the joint family system the woman is relegated to low status. Her condition in the family is worse. Particularly the condition of a daughter-in-law is very miserable. She is often ill-treated by her mother-in-law. Her life is no way better than that of a slave. In many cases, the ill treatment by the elderly women becomes so unbearable that they seek a permanent relief in committing suicide.

Friday, October 25, 2019

History of Accounting Essay -- Accounting Employment Bookkeeping Essay

History of Accounting The history of accounting I feel is important in the learning, understanding, and developing of my foundation for my accounting career. In this report you will learn about the development of accounting. You will learn about the people who influenced accounting the most throughout the years. You will learn how accounting came about and how it was used in the ancient times. You will learn about the invention of the double-entry bookkeeping processes. You will learn how things were done before the birth of the double-entry bookkeeping process. You will learn about Luca Pacioli and the Summa. You will also learn about modern accounting and ACAUS. In attempting to explain why double entry bookkeeping developed in fourteenth century Italy instead of ancient Greece or Rome, accounting scholar A.C. Littleton describes seven "key ingredients" which led to its creation. Those key ingredients consisting of private property, capital, commerce, credit, writing, money and arithmetic. Most of these did not exist in ancient times. This alone would not lead someone to create a complete and involved accounting system. Writing, for example, is as old as civilization itself, but arithmetic - the systematic manipulation of number symbols - was really not a tool possessed by the ancients. Fairly, the persistent use of roman numerals for financial transactions long after the introduction of Arabic numeration appears to have delayed the earlier creation of double-entry systems. However, the problems encountered by the ancients with record keeping, control and verification of financial transactions was not entirely different than our own to day. Governments had strong incentives to keep careful records of receipts and disbursements -for the most part as concerns taxes. In any society where individuals accumulated wealth, there was a desire by the rich to perform audits on the honesty and skill of slaves and employees entrusted with asset management. But the lack of the above-listed antecedent to double entry bookkeeping made the job of an ancient accountant extraordinarily difficult. In societies where nearly all were illiterate, writing materials costly, numeration difficult and money systems inconsistent, a transaction had to be extremely important to justify keeping an accounting record. Accounting in ancient Mesopotamia, Circa 350... ...also shifted the focus to revenues and expenses . At the turn of the century, there were at least four types of funds statements in use - those that summarized changes in cash, in current assets, in working capital and overall financial activities. Accountant H.A. Finney led the movement for use of a funds statement, which focused on liquidity by tracking the sources of changes in working capital. He used a worksheet approach to highlight meaningful balance sheet changes by aggregating most of the fluctuations, which affect working capital and offered a standardized method for calculating them. In the 1940s, the accounting profession increasingly used the funds statement to measure the actual flow of monies, rather than simply the sum of working capital changes between balance sheet dates. The funds statement increasingly became a staple for the financial statement, and in 1971 the AICPA began requiring its inclusion in stockholders' annual reports. So in conclusion I hope by reading this you know have a better understanding accounting. Also I want you to have and understanding of how it was originated and the major contributors of the systems we use today in accounting.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Down these mean streets by Thomas Piri Essay

Years after its original publication, Piri Thomas’s Down These Mean Streets remains as powerful, immediate, and shocking as it was when it first stunned readers. In this classic confessional autobiography, firmly in the tradition of Eldridge Cleaver’s Soul on Ice and The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Piri Thomas describes the experience of growing up in the barrio of Spanish Harlem, a labyrinth of lawlessness, drugs, gangs, and crime. The teenaged Piri seeks a place for himself in barrio society by becoming a gang leader, and as he grows up his life spirals into a self-destructive cycle of drug addiction and violence, the same cycle that he sees all around him and hardly knows how to break. Piri is also troubled by a very personal problem: much darker than his brothers and sisters, he decides that he, unlike his siblings, is black, and that he must come to terms with life as a black American. Eventually arrested for shooting two men in an armed robbery, Piri spends six years in Sing and Comstock prisons. With insight and poetry he describes his time in prison, the dreams and emotions that prompted him finally to start life again as a writer, street poet, and performer, and how he became an activist with a passionate commitment to reaching and helping today’s youth. One of the most striking features of Down These Mean Streets is its language. â€Å"It is a linguistic event,† said The New York Times Book Review. â€Å"Gutter language, Spanish imagery and personal poetics†¦mingle into a kind of individual statement that has very much its own sound. † Piri Thomas’s brilliant way with words, his ability to make language come alive on the page, should prove attractive to young people and inspire them to look at writing and literature in fresh new ways. Thirty years ago Piri Thomas made literary history with this lacerating, lyrical memoir of his coming of age on the streets of Spanish Harlem. Here was the testament of a born outsider: a Puerto Rican in English-speaking America; a dark-skinned morenito in a family that refused to acknowledge its African blood. Here was an unsparing document of Thomas’s plunge into the deadly consolations of drugs, street fighting, and armed robbery–a descent that ended when the twenty-two-year-old Piri was sent to prison for shooting a cop. As he recounts the journey that took him from adolescence in El Barrio to a lock-up in Sing to the freedom that comes of self-acceptance, faith, and inner confidence, Piri Thomas gives us a book that is as exultant as it is harrowing and whose every page bears the irrepressible rhythm of its author’s voice. Thirty years after its first appearance, this classic of manhood, marginalisation, survival, and transcendence is available in an anniversary edition with a new Introduction by the author. The questions, assignments, and discussion topics that follow are designed to guide your students as they approach the many issues raised in Down These Mean Streets. The questions of race and culture, of drugs, and of crime and punishment are all treated in the book, and should provide jumping-off points for many fruitful discussions. Another important element of the book is its vivid description of the youth culture of the barrio. Ask your students not only to pay special attention to that culture, but also to compare it with their own, and to look for similarities even when similarities might not be immediately evident. Piri Thomas gained the distance and objectivity to observe his world without prejudice or self-deception; your students should try to do the same. Finally, the students should be encouraged to look at the book not only as a cultural document, but also as a work of literature. Ask them to examine the language Thomas uses, his choice of words, the â€Å"flow† of the story. How does he create his informal tone, his sense of immediacy? This work might help change your students’ ideas about the â€Å"right† way to write, and inspire them to try to find their own individual voices. To what extent is Harlem’s communal code of pride, masculinity, and â€Å"rep† re-created in prison life? How does life inside prison resemble life outside? â€Å"The reasoning that my punishment was deserved was absent. As prison blocks off your body, so it suffocates your mind.† [pp. 255–56] Does this indicate to you an essential fault in the prison system? Do you think that the advice Piri gives Tico about how to deal with Rube is good? Is prison a purely negative experience for Piri, or are there good things about it? Which of the people he meets while in prison enrich and improve his life? Does Piri decide not to join the rioters, or is the decision essentially made for him by the hacks? Why does Chaplin/Muhammed believe that Christianity is the white man’s religion, Islam the black man’s? Do outside or societal factors play a role in Chaplin/ Muhammad’s choice of religions? As he leaves prison, Piri says, â€Å"I am not ever going to be the same. I’m changed all right. † [p. 306] In what ways has Piri changed, and what has changed him? Which of his ideas have been altered by his time in prison? Piri presents himself as a product of his race, culture, and community, but many of his traits are purely his own. How would you describe Piri’s personality? Poppa: What kind of a person is Poppa? What makes him proud, what makes him ashamed? Is he a good or bad father, a good or bad husband? Do you find him sympathetic? Trina: Piri sees Trina as nearly perfect. How would you describe her? Do you think that she behaves passively toward Piri, or does she demonstrate spirit of her own? What do you think of her response to Dulcien’s baby? Brew: How would you describe Brew’s character? What has given him his outlook on life, and how does it differ from Alayce’s? How does he perceive Piri? Why does he agree to go south with Piri? Chaplin/Muhammed: What has made Muhammed hate Christianity? What does Islam mean to him? Piri Thomas uses a number of pungent expressions, both in Spanish and English. How does the language he uses express his character and his world? Write a two-page essay describing one day in your life. Use your own style of talking, and try to be as colloquial as possible. What might your essay tell the reader about you, your friends, and your world? The youth culture in Spanish Harlem to which Piri and his friends belong has certain firm, if unwritten, rules. Would you say the same is true of your own school or neighborhood? What are the rules that govern the behavior of young people you know? What do you feel you have to do to be â€Å"cool,† to be accepted, to belong? Write a short essay describing the social rules your own friend’s follow. Piri is describing a specific period in time: the 1940s. Do you find that the life a family like the Thomas’s lived has changed much since that time? Make a list of the things that have changed for teenagers like Piri, and of the things that have stayed the same. Reference †¢ Down these mean streets by Thomas Piri