English Speech About Big World and on Her Knees

English Speech: How would you feel if your mother had to clean other people’s houses to make a living? How far would you really go for a friend, would you sacrifice a love life, your education? Out of all the books I have read, I absolutely love Tim Winton’s short stories, 2 short stories that I loved are â€Å"On Her knees† and â€Å"Big World†.I have particularly enjoyed â€Å"On her knees† not only because of its intriguing name but because it depicts the issue of dignity throughout the whole story and it taught me that â€Å"there is more honor in scrubbing other people’s floors than in having strangers scrub your own†, the second story â€Å"Big World† depicts the issue of friendship which also teaches me that â€Å"Friendship can evolve through the smallest of incidents† Now to the short story â€Å"Big World† which is about an emotional journey for a young man and his friend Biggie, who have recently failed their exams.As life becomes monotonous by working in a abattoir, they decide to escapee and go as far away as they can from the town they had lived in, Angelus, so they buy an old VW which later breaks down and as the realization seeps in on how stupid the idea was, they decide to go separate ways. Friendship is one of the main themes in this short story; it expresses the idea of two friends who make sacrifices for each other so their friendship will be able to continue on.This can be seen in several times in the story; one is where the persona sacrifices his love for Briony9 Nevis, quote: â€Å"out of loyalty† and when the persona does Biggie’s homework â€Å"†¦his whole academic success was his essay on the demise of Led Zeppelin, but then I wrote that for him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  A technique that shows friendship is first person, making it seem as a personal experience, this point of view also enables the author to manipulate the reader’s feelings and judgment s. This method also helps in creating an atmosphere where the reader feels as if he or she is one with the narrator which gets the story to be more involving. For example: In the short story, the event in which Biggie’s father is described as a beater and that if Biggie were to return home his father â€Å"His father would beat the shit out of him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  which creates a sense of sympathy towards Biggie and a sense of antipathy towards his father. â€Å"On her knees† which is about a son’s perception of his mother’s cleaning work that is contrasted with pride and dignity, which is accentuated when she is falsely accused of theft. The short story itself is about dignity, about maintaining dignity and understanding its meaning.What makes this a good read, is that the title itself contradicts the whole idea of dignity, the fact that when someone is on their knees, they are in a degrading state but in this short story Winton has effectively shown that this is not true and that no matter what occupation your mother has you will always be quote: â€Å"proud of her good name†. The narrator Victor Lang loa thes to see his mother lower herself and degrade her own dignity just to provide an education for him quote: â€Å"†¦ my mother cleaned houses to pay debts and keep us afloat and get me through university†¦ , this depicts how the mother had a â€Å"come-down† from her previous job as a receptionist, as long as her son is well provided for, such a high class occupation to a â€Å"domestic benchmark†. The â€Å"veins livid in her legs† represent labor, pain and strain which in contrast to the character of the house owner is regarded as admirable. A further comparison of the narrator's and the owner's shows that while they of low class have a neat clean home, those of â€Å"higher class† have a messy one full of neglect. A sad truth is put forth in this story where the value of a pair of earrings surpasses the value of a human being.A technique that shows dignity is symbolism. For example: the action of the boy taking a shower can be translated in to a wanting to escape form this situation. The mother is said to give the boy a â€Å"lecture†, which suggests that she is in control leading to another symbol of imprisonment for the boy. The car is another clever use of symbolism where the car represents the boy's life. It is said to be â€Å"reeking† which shows that the narrator hates his life. The cranking down of the window represents a desire to escape.The mother is said to be driving carefully which shows two things: a) that she is in control of his life and b) that she makes sure she takes the safest route, protecting her son from harm. Not only have both of these short stories alienated me in such a way, but I found these stories surprisingly beautiful, I highly advise for you to read these two great short stories, because the next time you are facing troubles in life, you remember what Carol Lang had to go through in life, remember what happens when you don’t face your problems in life, not like a bo y, but like a man.

Basant Festival

Mela entertainment is widely recognized as a wholesome, complete events solution factory. It’s a team of young, creative, enthusiastic and dynamic professionals with a sparkling stream of ideas having vast experience in the field of Events & Entertainments. Our goal is to give each & every event a different Meaning, Identity and a Vision with true professionalism to chart the roads of informative & entertaining events.Mela entertainment is here to simplify & make things easier to provide excellent services to the clients. Every event organized / managed / coordinated by us is an excellent opportunity for entertainment, growth, personality development and confidence building. From our in-house staff to our many clients and participants; every one experiences the magic.Our Philosophy & Commitment is encapsulated in the following statement: â€Å"To provide & deliver event solutions & services with the highest standard of professionalism, creativity upholding at all times qualit y, integrity and innovation.†Our expertise covers all the aspects of Events: Planning, management, Coordination and Execution. We deliver cost effective events without compromising on the final outputs. And to say the least, we have a capability & ample of workforce to organize many events at a time without compromising on the quality of the event. Services we offer:†¢Corporate events †¢ Conferences & Seminars †¢ Product Launches †¢ B2B & B2C Events †¢ Networking Events †¢ VIP Visits †¢ Road Shows †¢ Facility Inaugurations †¢ Employee Motivation programs †¢ Residential Conferences †¢ Awards functions †¢ Media / Press meets †¢ Customer / Dealer interaction programs †¢ Brand Extension Exercises †¢ Celebrity Management †¢ Live Concerts & Stage ShowsEvent Production & Direction†¢ Integrated Communication / Event Strategy †¢ Budgeting †¢ Technical Consulting †¢ Multimedia Production †¢ Artiste, Dance Troops Management †¢ Creative ConceptualizationLogistical Planning / Production / Stage Management†¢ Public Relation Services †¢ CEO Visits †¢ PR †¢ CSR Projects †¢ Media monitoring †¢ Crisis Management †¢ Public AffairsPromotions†¢ Retail Visibility †¢ Product Awareness †¢ Product Sampling †¢ Consumer Insights †¢ Lead GenerationRetail Activation†¢ Exhibition †¢ Wedding PlanningLarge field force activation†¢ Market / Competition Intelligence & Analysis †¢ Sampling and Audits †¢ Mystery Shopper Programs †¢ Kiosks †¢ POP / POS †¢ Time bound Installations †¢ Permanent Installations †¢ RWA Activities †¢ BPO Activities †¢ Mall ActivitiesMissionWe love what we do†¦Our mission statement is:– to work with our clients for their long term benefit, – to constantly research and develop new strategies, technologies and skills, â₠¬â€œ to provide exceptional service, -to maintain constant communication.

Organization Development and Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Organization Development and Change - Essay Example This is because the effects of change are understood hence organizational change is supported by the same people who change affects within the organization. This involvement of the workforce in the creation of change within the organization leads to the acceptance of change among the stakeholders of the organization. This involvement leads to synergy, which enhances motivation and productivity in an organization. These are the benefits that accrue from full implementation of change in an organization. Inclusiveness in strategic change creation and implementation serves as a cheap source of ideas because the contribution of many people is considered before a decision is made. This initiative also provides networking to the organization which enhances the implementation of the change within an enterprise. This owes to the fact that networking helps in acquisition of crucial information with regard to decision making. According to Cummings and Worley (2009), strategic change in an organization determines the going concern of an organization. Participation in the change process is favored in the republics which practice democracy in governance as opposed to one-man rule scenario in some countries. Organizational development and change are inevitable for the advancement of any organization. This is because of the flaws associated with the status quo position of an organization structure especially a bureaucratic organizational structure. There is a need for the organization’s management to communicate the re-structural change and the goals of the change, to the workforce in order for the employees to embrace the change. There are benefits which accrue to people when they take part in a number of activities pertaining to change. These benefits include the improvement in the quality of decisions made with regard to the change variables. It also highlights timely responses required when the change takes effect. According to Lines (2011), the effect of

The development and expansion of the logistics system in China's Research Proposal

The development and expansion of the logistics system in China's e-commerce market - comprehensive Impact assessment in the past decade - Research Proposal Example ch is to conduct a comprehensive impact assessment in the past decade of the development and expansion of the logistics system in China’s e-commerce market. This paper intends to explain why China’s e-commerce sector has grown at a very high rate in the past decade. In this study, the researcher will analyze the current situation of e-commerce development in China, and also figure out the obstacles faced by this sector. E-commerce in China has experienced tremendous growth in the past ten years. According to experts, this growth is largely attributed to the local environment in China. This paper intends to conduct a detailed analysis of this local environment. In addition, the researcher will introduce the current situation of e-commerce development in China and highlight the major challenges faced by this sector. In broader terms, the paper will conduct a comprehensive impact assessment in the past decade of the development and expansion of the logistics system in China’s e-commerce sector. The long term objective of this research is to analyze the development and expansion of the logistics system in China’s e-commerce sector. Particularly, the following are the sub-problems of this research: Studies have indicated demonstrated the importance of logistics in e-commerce. In any e-commerce business, there is need for support structures that would facilitate retail system. Nowadays businesses have moved away from traditional business models and have started accommodating new ways of conducting businesses (BARBOZA, 2015). Technically, in conventional retailing supply chain, the responsibility of purchasing goods lay in the hands of customers (Martin, 2014). The customers in this case travel to the stores to access products and services, and the retailers only provide the services of transportation of goods when the products are bulky. As noted in a study by Rodrigue, (2015), location is very important in retailing and retailers are often faced with the

Financial Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Financial Accounting - Essay Example Further analysis shows that not only the Gross Margins have gone up by 1.73%, but there is huge decrease in operating expenses by 6.18% of revenue in 2005 comparing 2004.This efficiency in operating activities has been attained because of under noted contribution: The other contributor to increase in net margins is the ‘other incomes’ by 0.49%; whereas provision for taxation has snatched 2.16% of net margins. A summary showing various effects on net margin is drawn as under: Total stockholders equity has increased by $2390m, mainly because of increase in 2005 retained earnings by 1.58% as compared to 2004. There is no preferred capital and the entire equity belongs to common stockholders. The increase in stockholders equity is not as high as in increase in the net income. In nutshell, contribution of the increase in net income played the major role resulting into tremendous hike in ROE for 2005. The increases in sales and efficiency shown in the reduction of operating costs have caused a double effect in boosting the net earnings. Though total stockholders’ equity also rose in 2005 but this high was mainly caused by increase in retained earnings affected by net earning increase, maintaining the major effect resulting into increased net earnings on ROE At present The Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) is the body that formally issues accounting pronouncements in US. In fact FASB replaced Accounting Principal Board (APB) as the primary private body setting accounting standards for US; and in 1973 FASB formally succeeded American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) as accounting standard body. The GASB is the other body setting accounting standards for states and municipal entities. Auditing Standard Board of AICPA issued SAS 91, which in fact formally recognized FASB pronouncements within auditing standards structures. FASB issues Statement of Financial

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN EDUCATION and TRAINING Essay

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN EDUCATION and TRAINING - Essay Example On the other hand, people from the supposed low class may not be able to get all the constructive things. Although, they may be interested to access all the constructive things particularly education, because of their economic and social drawbacks, they may not be able to do that. In those cases, the role of government and other governing bodies assumes so much importance. From earlier times, government has been coming up with various policies and steps, to give them a platform or backup to aid them in their endeavours. This is particularly visible in the educational sector. Education plays an important part in the intellectual and mental development of any individual. Education is an imperative part of human life as it directs person particularly young children towards his/her progress. Thus, lack of education could take the lives of people in the negative direction. Although, this is not a norm, as many people without education are shining in various fields, however, the fact is, e ducation provides them the platform to learn a lot of things, and importantly gives them the confidence to go for various optimum targets. To fulfil this motive only, government has been giving free or subsidized education to the needy target group. Although, this government policy and social initiative is aiding a lot of children and providing positive results, some scepticism has arisen due to the new studies, which show that social background determines pupils' success. That is, even if the economically and thereby socially disadvantaged people are given free education in the form of Free Schools and City Academies, it does not guarantee their success. This implies that the children’s social status is the reason for their lack of success, and the government should reconsider or even stop its free or subsidized education, as it does not lead to success. However, the fact is, various other factors plays a role in the academic success of the children, and their social status is not a major reason. So, this paper will discuss the above assumptions regarding the class differences, and will point out how there are many more factors that play a role in a child’s academic success, than the class differences. â€Å"Class in Classrooms† For a child to become educationally equipped various factors come into play and all these factors have to be fulfilled. Among these, the two key factors are the parents and the school, its teachers. As the child will spent maximum of their childhood years and time in their household and in their schools, these two factors or environments will only play a key role in their development and in their future. Among these two environments, it is always said and assumed that the school environment only play the major role as far as academic success is concerned. With the children spending more productive time in their schools only, than their homes, in their crucial formative years, it is logical to say that the schools and their teachers mainly play the influencing role in the academic success of the children. Although, the role of parents and home environment cannot be totally ignored, the schools are said to decide the pupil’s success. However, recent studies have stated that the children’s parents and their home environment, thereby their social background maximally influences the academic succ

Development of U.S Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Development of U.S - Term Paper Example Hamilton suggested that, as the government did not have the money available to buy the stock, it could be loaned to the government by the bank itself. However, Jefferson rejected the idea on the basis that it would be unconstitutional, since the government did not have the right to form corporations. This issues represented the idea of loose against strict construction of the constitution. Jefferson’s argument was based around the argument that any action not enshrined in the constitution as therefore automatically unconstitutional. Hamilton, on the other hand, took a more fluid view of the constitution, arguing that the government holds the power to take any action which is not specifically banned by the constitution. This view takes into account changes in society since the writing of the constitution. In order to set up a regular source of income for the government, Hamilton also set up the Tariff. This not only had the effect of increasing government revenue but also of protecting manufacturing in the U.S. It was therefore significant as a protectionist policy. This was to create a rift within the Federalists. Meanwhile, the issue of national debt, first exemplified in the establishment of the National Bank, was creating more tension between Hamilton and Jefferson. Jefferson strongly believed that public debt and government borrowing was a curse because it would place a serious financial strain on future tax payers. Indeed, he wished to see the constitution amended to remove the ability of the government to borrow. Hamilton, on the other hand, believed that public debt could be a useful tool. He aimed to use the money generated through the tariff to offset the extremely high debt inherited from the old government by reissuing bonds. He also wanted state debt to be assumed by the government, in order to further benefit from tariff revenue which was federal. The tariff, however, was

Trifles by Susan Glaspell Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Trifles by Susan Glaspell - Essay Example Wright as the main suspect, they cannot establish the motive why she wanted her husband dead. When the men left the women downstairs, as the women wandered about the cheerless house, they discovered what the men didn’t discover proving that the perspective of men and women about certain things are very different. The women realized how Mrs. Wright must have felt about her marriage and about her role in the house. The different things in the house actually symbolize how Mrs. Wright felt with her marriage. The jars of preserves crack under extreme cold temperature. This symbolizes the coldness of the Wright marriage. As the marriage grew cold, both cracked under pressure and eventually breaking the sanity of Mrs. Wright leading her to kill her husband. The last jar remaining intact that Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters want to give to Mrs. Wright, who was in prison, symbolizes the last hope remaining for Mrs. Wright retention of her sanity. The story also presents the status of women w ithin the society. Women are caged within the bounds of marriage, being slaves to their husbands. The bird in the cage symbolizes Mrs. Wright and her caged feeling within the marriage. The cage stands for the caged freedom of women when it comes to marriage. Mrs. Wright is described as a happy and cheerful woman before she got married. After her marriage, she began losing her cheerful self. The bird became her only link to her past self, but when her husband killed the bird, it seemed like he killed herself too. The dead bird was the missing motive. When the female characters hid the dead bird and its box, it was an act of rebellion against the patriarchal society. They understood why Mrs. Wright killed and they wanted to protect their kind from being discriminated even more. Even if they knew that she should be punished for the crime she did, they questioned who would have punished Mr. Wright for what he did to his wife. The method of killing Mr. Wright further emphasizes the desir e of women to be as equal as men. Strangling is a method of killing which requires strength. It was an unusual method of killing used by a woman as women are known not to have as much strength as men. But in this story, Glaspell allowed Mrs. Wright to kill her husband by knotting a rope around his neck. This establishes the need for women to become strong as men, if not physically, strength of the mind and the heart. When Glaspell wrote Trifles in 1916, the society was dominated by males. Women are struggling to find an equal stand in the society. Women are denied the right to vote and their roles in the workplace are severely limited. Women’s roles are concentrated on child-bearing, child-rearing and household management. Glaspell’s Trifles emphasizes the desire of women to rise up to the devaluation and discrimination they are experiencing within the society. It bears a radical perspective, that women can have the same strength as men, that women can do the same thin gs as men, and that women can band together to fight the inequality and discrimination they are experiencing. For men, women’s things and activities, such as housework and quilt-making, are mere trifles, things of no great value. And this is where the investigation reaches a dead end. Since they don’t see things as women do, they fail to see that the trifles are major evidences enough to establish the guilt and motive of Mrs. Wright. Men’s undervaluation of women actually created a void, a hole in the men’

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 7

Research Paper Example These physical and psychological demands of the profession of nursing often leads to high job stress amongst nurses. Employee performance on the job is a function of three factors working together: effort, skills and abilities and the work environment. Skills is the set of abilities and knowledge possessed by the employee whereas effort signifies the amount of hard work the employee puts into the job (Levey, 2001). The theoretical framework of a research includes: the variables under study, the nature of relationship between the two and the reason for the same, study of other variables that might affect the outcome of the relationship and a schematic diagram showing the various relationships (Sekara, 2009). The two central variables under study in this study are: job stress and employee performance. There have been many definitions for stress. Michie (2002) defines stress as the psychological and physical state of a human when the resources available with the individual are not sufficient to manage with the demands and pressures of the situation. Although stress can not be said to be harmful in all the cases, it does seem to have significant negative effects. For success it is necessary that organizations provide quality services efficiently. In this scenario, job stress becomes a very important variable to be studied. There have been many factors that may result in employee being stressful at the job. Some of the reasons that may lead to stress at work include: poor physical working conditions, time pressures, work overload, role ambiguity, role conflict, dissatisfaction with the appraisal process, poor relationships with the manager or the subordinate or absence of decision making powers (Michie, 2002). Besides these, issues at home such as financial problems, or life crisis can also lead to job stress. The second important variable that needs study is the employee performance. Job stress often has significant impact on the employee morale.

Self Reflection Paper Essay Example for Free

Self Reflection Paper Essay As a young boy growing up in a rural town (Dublin, VA) in Southwest Virginia, the furthest thing from my mind was â€Å"learning styles†. We had one stop light, a tight knit community where everyone knew everyone. The only learning we concerned ourselves with consisted of the lake, the river and the local church grounds. We went fishing, we liked to swim and participate in local sports activities (whatever sport that was relevant at the time) against local neighbor kids. Our learning was not about how we learned; it was about fitting in and learning how to be a great fisherman and a good athlete. What was important was fitting in both socially and athletically. I came from a family where education wasn’t important. The community, working hard and making a living were the important aspects of life. Learning style and school were the furthest things from my mind. However, once I started high school it all changed, I realized I had a dream to pursue. During high school it was my dream to play college football. Randy Flinchumm a special teams football coach made me realize that I was capable of living my dreams. He said â€Å"Son you have the talent to make it to college on your abilities, but your grades have to get better to qualify you to get into college†. I never took school seriously; it was boring and I struggled with the subjects I was trying to learn. I found classes were difficult. For me, classes which were fun and interesting were those that included charts, diagrams and physical activities that would allow me to stay focused and to really understand what I was learning. I had never heard of learning styles until now, here at the University of Phoenix. While taking Com/516 and reading an article called â€Å"Different Strokes: Learning Styles in the Classroom†, I have learned about three learning styles. There are three: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. In the article â€Å"The Effect of Learning Styles on Education and the Teaching Process† by Ibrahium, he tells us that visual learning is where the student uses items such as charts, pictures, diagrams and animations to learn. He also explains further that auditory student’s use listening as means of learning and kinesthetic learners use physical activities rather than watching and listening to a demonstration.

Is Immortality Desirable?

Is Immortality Desirable? Abstract In this paper I discuss whether immortality in the physical form is desirable. In accordance with the deprivation account I seek to defend the commonsense view that death is a bad thing for the individual but will argue that consistency and logic does not require me to believe that an immortal existence is to be desired. I defend Bernard Williams claim that with an immortal life we are doomed to an eternity of never ending repetition, boredom and indifference and that death is a necessary evil if we are to avoid a life devoid of freshness. I will also argue that death and the very limitation that its sets down gives life meaning. In support of Victor Fankl I will defend the claim that it is time pressure that shapes our lives. In developing my argument I will oppose the counter argument that it is death that makes life meaningless not meaningful. Is Immortality desirable? Is it simply a design fault that we age and die? Are we living in a culture of death whereby we die simply because we accept it as an inevitability? â€Å"All men are mortal† said Socrates, however, a lifetime spent on in-depth research has led pioneering scientists to deem aging not as an inevitable consequence of the human condition but as a preventative disease. Perhaps these scientists are far too optimistic in their search for a virtual fountain of youth, or is it simply the case that death – the end of the physical being, is accepted by the mind and embraced through reinforced teachings and observation. Whether you believe that a quest for immortality will or will never be achieved is irrelevant to the question at hand. The focus will be on whether immortality is desirable, assuming something can be desired yet impossible. Clarification of what I mean by immortality is essential; I will focus on what can be described as physical immortality- by this I mean that on e can live for eternity as a human physical being on earth (where everyone is immortal). In my interpretation, I will also assume that there is no get out clause, take for example one is offered an elixir of immortal life, once taken a person cannot change their mind opting for death- immortality is forever. My definition will also incorporate a block on aging; eternity will be lived through a perfectly healthy functioning body. Accidents will be possible but can be fixed with ease. Intentionally, I have painted a picture of immortality which may at first glance seem desirable, as one may be quick to argue that an immortal life where a person is forever aging to the point of an eternity of pain and discomfort and where accidents occurred and could not be fixed is simply not one to be desired. However, throughout this essay I will put forward the argument that those who believe immortality to be desirable have made an irrational choice, it would be a mistake to crave an immortal life and take the elixir of eternal existence. I will approach this issue by initially examining Nagels (1970) question of whether it is a terrible thing to go out of existence, I will agree and defend the deprivation account of the evil and badness of death claiming it is possible to do so while maintaining immor tality would be a bad thing. The idea that boredom will develop if there was no end to human life will be explored, assessing much of the support from Bernard Williams (1973) as well as opposing and tackling one of John Martin Fischers (1994) criticisms of the above view. The second argument that I will present (which overlaps with my first) will be based on the meaning of life, I will argue that death and the very limitations that it sets down gives life meaning and this will be explored by assessing the views of Victor Frankl (1957) as well as counterarguments by Robert Nozicks (1981). Firstly, to determine whether immortality is a good thing, I pose the question of whether death is a bad thing. Death is an ambiguous term so let me be clear of the definition it will take in my essay. I will take death to mean the end of the physical being, the cessation of life. I am aware that defining death in this way is problematic but let us assume for the sake of simplicity that this is correct. My concern at this point is whether death is a bad thing for the person who dies, referring to the state of non existence (at least in the physical form), not the process of dying. For many, a rational response in life is to fear death- after all, it is our most personal and valuable asset, but is it really, as Nagel stated, a terrible thing to go out of existence? There has been extensive philosophical discussion and disagreement regarding this matter, with philosophers such as Bernard Williams (1973), who argue death has its rightful place; a point to which I will later return, and there are those such as Thomas Nagel (1970) who speak of its badness. Lucretius, however, argue that something can only be good or bad for a person if that person exists at the time the event takes place and is experienced, if we take death to mean non-existence where non-existence is nothingness then death cannot be said to be good or bad as only something can be interpreted in this way. I, however, believe that death is bad, agreeing with Nagel in most parts but at the same time believe that immortality, never dying is also bad, this is not a contradiction. I disagree with the Lucretius argument for the very same reason Nagel rejected their reasoning, Nagel presents an example of an individual betrayed unknowingly behind his back, although the person never becomes aware of this, it seems fair to say that the betrayal was a bad thing for the person involved, in this way the Lucretius connection between badness and experience does not hold true (Nagel, 1970:76). It may be the case that something can be intrinsically bad, bad in itself or in its own right, for example, pain is avoided for its own sake. It may also be the case that something can be comparatively bad, bad by virtue of what youre not getting while this other thing is present. I take the latter point to be the case for the badness of death. It seems to me that something can be bad even if you dont exist, e xistence is not a requirement, in fact it is the very fact that you dont exist that makes death bad. The central bad about death, about non existence, is that it deprives you of the goods of life you might otherwise be getting, I couldnt fall in love, enjoy a sunset or master philosophy.From this, it should follow that life is good because if I wasnt dead I wouldnt be deprived; more of a good thing is always better than less of a good thing; therefore more life is better than less life; it should follow therefore that eternal life never dying is exceptionally good. However, the rules of logic and reason do not require somebody who accepts the deprivation account to believe that immortality is to be desired. Looking closely at the deprivation account, what it claims is that death is bad insofar as it deprives us of the good things we could have otherwise experienced, but we shouldnt assume that life is good or always good (maybe Nagel does or often seems to assume this) what if it turned out that what you would have hereafter would be in fact a life full of bad things. It would there fore be a bad thing that you would go through the rest of your life which in this case would be an eternity with negative experiences. I will now go on to explain that it is an inevitability that an eternal life will somewhere down the line cease to be good, transforming into an eternity of badness in which case still in accordance with the deprivation account death will no longer be bad. I agree that at first thought immortality may be tempting the argument that life is too short will no longer exist. Think of all the things you could get done, you could devout years to writing great philosophy, you could take pleasure in countless sunsets and sunrises, you could enjoy things endlessly having more time to see and achieve things that you would have otherwise not had time to. Here is my argument, too much of a good thing can become a bad thing, medicine for example is something which is instrumentally good, however, although it is good in small doses in that it cures a disease for example if I take more than the prescribed amount it becomes harmful to my body. In this same way extending human life by 50 or even a 100 years can be good but what if someone added a thousand, a million, an eternity to your life? Having done and seen everything you could possible have imagined everything will start to feel the same, having experienced love and the sunset millions of times t hey would no longer excite you. Eternity is a very long time, forever goes on forever and boredom will eventually set in leaving you existing as oppose to living. It seems that I am in agreement with Bernard Williams, in his essay â€Å"The Makropulos Case:Reflections on the Tedium of Immortality† (1973) who also argues that an eternal existence would be intolerable, claiming that as human beings it is inevitable that by our very nature we will get bored we would be doomed to never ending repetition and boredom, life would simply be devoid of interest or freshness. He supports his view by discussing a play by Karel Capek which tells of a woman named Elina Makropulos, who at the age of 42 was given an elixir of eternal life by her father. The play is set 300 years on and Elina is now aged 342, Williams states that â€Å"Her unending life has come to a state of boredom, indifference, and coldness. Everything is joyless: â€Å"in the end it is the same,† she says, â€Å"singing and silence.† She refuses to take the elixir again; she dies; and the formula is deliberately destroyed by a young woman among the protest of some older men† (Williams,1973:82). EM has lived her life at the age of 42 for 300 years and it seems that everything that could happen to a woman of 42 has already happened to her. John Martin Fischer in an article titled Why immortality is not so bad criticizes Williams argument; Fischer asserts that if there was a sufficiently diverse package of experiences we would not get bored (Fischer 1994). He acknowledges that there are those pleasures that would be self exhausting, those which we would not want to repeat more than once or a few times as we would inevitably get bored. His examples of these self exhausting pleasures include pleasures that are disappointing which one would not want to repeat for that very reason and those non-disappointing pleasures which you do to fulfil a goal to prove something to yourself, for example, to overcome your phobia of heights you climb Mount Whitney but this is an experience you do not want to repeat. He acknowledges that there are those pleasures that are self exhausting but ther e are many repeatable pleasures that we would never get bored of like listening to beautiful music or seeing great art and we would therefore never fall victim to Williams boredom account. I disagree with Fischer, firstly it seems to me his examples of self exhausting pleasures present a distorted view of what pleasure really is. I agree that disappointing pleasures may appear to be pleasurable before the act but after we experience the disappointment they cease to fall into this category. It appears that these disappointing pleasures are not pleasures at all and should not fall into the category of self exhausting pleasures. It is a similar case for his example of non disappointing self exhausting pleasures like climbing a mountain to overcome a phobia, climbing this mountain is not done for sheer pleasure, we may experience pride and we may experience some pleasure from this pride but the very act is done reluctantly and is not pleasurable within itself. To claim that he partly agrees with Williams that there are those pleasure that are self exhausting is somewhat misleading what he presents in the above case are not pleasures at all. What Williams said, is to think of the most perfect immortality that you can imagine and imagine doing this forever, the above so called pleasures do not fall into this; it seems obvious they would not want to be repeated. Fischer also goes on to explain a second category of pleasures which he called repeatable pleasures which include listening to music and enjoying art, Fischer believed that if these pleasures were appropriately distributed (not too closely to each other ) they could be repeated countless times. I disagree; although in this case they could be classed as pleasure, it seems we would still inevitably get bored maybe not after 100 or even two hundred years but somewhere down the line of a never ending life we would get bored. I can only enjoy a piece of music a limited number of times before it no longer brings me pleasure. However at this point an objection may arise; some may argue that human potential is endless reducing the likelihood of boredom. There are millions of songs to be heard and millions more that will emerge, there is a countless number of things that can be enjoyed that will never run out so you are not doomed to be repeating the same things over and over, and maybe when things start to get tedious new things will be invented to occupy our minds. The response to this is that having heard a thousand, a million, two million, songs they will all eventually take the same shape, nothing new can be invented that would be so drastically different from all previous inventions. Another point to be made is that Elina Makropulos maintains the same character throughout her life changing only to adapt to her surroundings it could therefore be suggested that the boredom she experienced was a result of her unchanging character not the fact that she lived for such a long period of time. Williams addresses this throughout his article, he argues that as human beings we aim to be, and usually succeed, in becoming a certain type of person, we develop a certain set of interests, a certain way of acting and we become settled as that type of person. His thought is that those who can avoid boredom and continue to find things interesting are not sufficiently mature there seems to be something wrong with them as such immortality is not a life for a hu man being (Williams 1973) . Let us now introduce a way boredom can be avoided in accordance with his argument, a possibility Williams considers is rejuvenation; by this he means you remain a human being in that you maintain the same body but every so often you are rejuvenated, a certain part of your history disappears and is replaced by a new start. Although this seems to deal with the boredom issue Williams does questions whether this is in fact you? Every time I am rejuvenated I have no recollection of my prior self and build a whole new character based on different memories and experiences. It seems wrong to say that I am the same person after being rejuvenated for the hundredth time as I was prior to my first rejuvenation (Williams,1973:92). Even if we are persuaded that you are the same person Williams would argue that it is not giving you anything that you could be interested in, the absence of a continuity of consciousness is a serious problem. Even if it is not death it is as bad as death to be rejuvenated in this way. Another possibility to consider is the gradual deterioration of memory where we forget things as time goes on for example every 200 years. However I believe this raises the same question as above are we really the same person if we live in a 200 year envelope? Williams concludes that death is a necessary e vil; we should hope to die if we are to avoid the alternative of immortality. My second argument to why immortality is not desirable is based on the meaning of life. I believe that death and the very limitations that it sets down gives life meaning. My second argument overlaps with my first but what I wish to specifically argue here is that it is the very fact that we are here for what is comparatively a short time that makes our lives meaningful, in the way we act and behave, this is the idea that it is time pressure that shapes our lives. It is irrelevant whether one believes or does not believe in god or any form of creator or greater being, they will still find life meaningless without death, even if you merely carry on living out of the fear of dying. I believe that all good things have to have a beginning, middle and an end and each is necessary and is enjoyed accordingly. Victor Frankl argues that death itself is what makes life meaningful, his reasoning is as follows: â€Å"What would our lives be like if they were not finite in time, but infinite? If we were immortal, we would legitimately postpone every action forever. It would be of no consequence whether or not we did a thing now; every act might just as well be done tomorrow or the day after or a year from now or ten years hence. But in the face of death as absolute finis to our future boundary to our possibilities, we are under the imperative of utilizing our lifetimes to utmost, not letting the singular opportunities- whose finite sum constitutes the whole of life-pass by unused† (Frankl,1957:73). Nozick , however, has a problem with this argument, in his book â€Å"Philosophical explanation† he wonders whether death in fact makes life meaningless not meaningful, he argues that â€Å"Frankl assumes our only desire is to have done certain things, to put certain things somewhere on our record†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.However, we may desire to do things; our desire need not be merely to have done them. Moreover, if we had an infinite life, we might view it as a whole, as something to organize, shape and do something with† (Nozick,1981:579-580) I disagree, firstly it was not assumed by Frankl that we merely do things to put them on record, what was being said is that we have a limited amount of time to do things but we do not merely do them just to tick a box but to grow and evolve as human beings because pursuing our goals enriches our lives. It is the very fact that we have a finite time that motivates us to make those decisions and do those things that enhance our lives, which would only be forever delayed with an infinite existence. For example why should I go to school if I dont like it? The simple answer is to learn to acquire skills that would help me to achieve and make something of my self before I die and cease to exist. If I was immortal, learning trigonometry would seem less attractive than watching TV or playing computer games all day. I get more pleasure from such things (in the short term at least) and watching TV is certainly easier than studying and Ill get round to learning trigonometry sometime.Time press ure is what makes us set goals, with an immortal life tasks would forever be extended and a consequence would emerge whereby we would be less likely to do things of value, we would become a stagnant society where simple pleasures rule. Even if we are partly motivated by the desire to do things not only to have done things they would still be postponed and contrary to what Nozick claims this would matter as the desire alone to do things does not make ones life meaningful it may contribute to some poor will to carry on living (to do that specific thing) but will not give satisfaction to ones life. Nozick also questions whether death in fact makes life meaningless? Many argue that death renders life futile because we will all eventually die and so there is no point in developing character or studying calculus if our progress is ultimately going to be permanently interrupted and it will all go to waste. It seems to me that to argue that death makes life meaningless is to argue that something can only be meaningful if it lasts forever. The truth is that many things we value and find worthwhile do not last forever. I affirm that most if not all actions other than pleasures within themselves are predominantly motivated by the desire to get things done and enrich our lives from them before we die. Death is a deadline, a necessary evil; we know every day that passes we will never get back and this gives meaning and shapes how we live and thus an immortal life is not one to be desired. So far a strong argument has been provided for the undesirability of an immortal life but is there any situation in which immortality can be desired? In setting out what I meant by immortality I disallowed a get out clause, let us now suppose you would be able to live as long as you wanted and when you eventually had enough it would be possible to take your own life, is the elixir of eternal existence now more attractive? Surely it is, however, this is not all together straight forward. Take for example a mortal who chooses to commit suicide, in taking their own life he/she is giving up for example another 30 years, however, in the case of an immortal he/she is giving up what is essentially an eternity. They may be unhappy now but they could not possibly know that this would be the case in a million or a billion years time, choosing to take an immortal life is of greater consequence. In allowing a get out clause we would also become a very unadventurous and risk- averse society, who would take the risk of bungee jumping, paragliding and so forth if what they are risking is an infinite lifespan? Although this may seem a more attractive model of immortality it is complicated and can it really be called immortality if we allow this get out clause? It seems to me the very fact that we would choose this model supports my argument, that immortality would cease to be good and we would all sooner or later opt to take our own lives. In conclusion immortality in the physical human sense is never a good thing. It should not be desired; whatever perfect life you imagine to want to experience forever it will soon become tedious and boredom will eventually set in. Death is therefore necessary, even in accordance with the deprivation account, as further existence would become a bad thing sooner or later and it will no longer be the case whereby death deprives you of the good things life has to offer but where death provides an end to all that is bad with an eternal existence. It is also the inevitability of death that gives life reason and shape, the very fact that we have a limited lifespan motivates people through a sense of urgency to spend their time doing those things that contribute meaning and enrich their lives which would forever be delayed with inevitable consequences with an immortal life. Without death there would be no such thing as sacrifice, putting a lifes work into something, heroism and courage, we w ould lack appreciation for our existence, life would not be as serious or meaningful. I believe there to be an artistic necessity about dying- in the same way a picture has a frame, one cannot imagine an infinite painting, or a play has a shape and a final curtain, one cant imagine a play going on forever. Why grope for some mysterious realm for which we are not properly equipped to function in? Although I have argued that immortality is bad, this is not to say that it is a good thing that we die when we do, in accordance with all above arguments one can still think that we die too soon. Bibliography Fischer, M. (1994). Why Immortality is Not So Bad. International Journal of Philosophical Studies. 2, 257-270. Frankl, V (1957). The Doctor and the Soul. Alfred Knopf. New York Nagel, T (1970). Death. Nous. 4, 73-80 Nozick, R (1981). Philosophical Explanations. Oxford.  Clarendon Press Williams, B (1973). Problems of the Self: Philosophical Papers 1956-1972. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Speech :: essays research papers

SMIC is extraordinary in many ways. The only school that comes to my mind that actually has a river running through it! The lunches are controversial. School is a just as much a learning experience for the teachers as apposed to the students, and things getting done three weeks, let alone three months, after promised deadlines are commemorated. All these exclusive factors make SMIC a memorable and (if you don’t mind me saying) quite exquisite. The thing that I love the most about SMIC is that colorful after school life that waits for me every school day after I am dismissed. SMIC has a great number of things to do after school mainly because of the early ending of school. Many schools end at a prolonged 3:55 pm, leaving students who live far from the school with nominal amounts of spare time to do things that they want or need to do, for usually it’s a long bus ride home and another day squandered. However SMIC frees the students an hour earlier than any school in Shanghai, combined with an absence of a long-commute-home, really just paves the way for an awesome afternoon ahead. The possibilities are endless. Activities range from curricular to extracurricular to the absolutely non-curricular. Those of you that are feeling the pressures of college surely feel that upcoming SAT breathing down you neck right? Have no fear. SMIC offers after school SAT prep classes for all that want to get into there dream schools. The SAT classes aren’t the only way you can enhance and improve your knowledge! Teachers are on stand by and because all the teachers in SMIC are just fabulous, are willing to assists you in any troubles you come across in your studies. Teachers will stay for hours on end for you if you have not a clue how to prove the Pythagorim theorem, or if you have a piece from the Iliad that absolutely makes no sense to you. There are lots of clubs and extracurricular after school for the students to get involved in. The community service club is an awesome example of what kind of opportunities SMIC offers its students. The students give back to the society that is desperately in need of these kid’s contributions. Cooking club is out there with the cause. They provide the food and drink to the kids. What would we do with out them? Think about it. Speech :: essays research papers SMIC is extraordinary in many ways. The only school that comes to my mind that actually has a river running through it! The lunches are controversial. School is a just as much a learning experience for the teachers as apposed to the students, and things getting done three weeks, let alone three months, after promised deadlines are commemorated. All these exclusive factors make SMIC a memorable and (if you don’t mind me saying) quite exquisite. The thing that I love the most about SMIC is that colorful after school life that waits for me every school day after I am dismissed. SMIC has a great number of things to do after school mainly because of the early ending of school. Many schools end at a prolonged 3:55 pm, leaving students who live far from the school with nominal amounts of spare time to do things that they want or need to do, for usually it’s a long bus ride home and another day squandered. However SMIC frees the students an hour earlier than any school in Shanghai, combined with an absence of a long-commute-home, really just paves the way for an awesome afternoon ahead. The possibilities are endless. Activities range from curricular to extracurricular to the absolutely non-curricular. Those of you that are feeling the pressures of college surely feel that upcoming SAT breathing down you neck right? Have no fear. SMIC offers after school SAT prep classes for all that want to get into there dream schools. The SAT classes aren’t the only way you can enhance and improve your knowledge! Teachers are on stand by and because all the teachers in SMIC are just fabulous, are willing to assists you in any troubles you come across in your studies. Teachers will stay for hours on end for you if you have not a clue how to prove the Pythagorim theorem, or if you have a piece from the Iliad that absolutely makes no sense to you. There are lots of clubs and extracurricular after school for the students to get involved in. The community service club is an awesome example of what kind of opportunities SMIC offers its students. The students give back to the society that is desperately in need of these kid’s contributions. Cooking club is out there with the cause. They provide the food and drink to the kids. What would we do with out them? Think about it.

No Steroids In Baseball :: Steroids Athletes Drugs Sports Essays Papers

In baseball there has always been a steroid issue. In the years since 2005 the problem has expanded. Many more players are now using these drugs to boost their performance. I think that steroids are products that should be absolutely illegal and no player at any time should be able to use them. Steroids are drugs commonly classified as anabolic, androgenic and corticosteroids. Corticosteroids like cortisone are drugs used to control inflammation, and do not build muscle. Anabolic steroids are used by athletes to bulk up and improve their performance. Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones that cause the body to produce muscle and prevent muscle breakdown. Some athletes take steroids hoping that it will improve their ability to run faster, hit farther, jump higher, etc. Some people are not aware that anabolic steroids are a form of a drug. In the United States, it is against the law to use these steroids without a prescription. In many sports the issue of steroids has always been huge. Recently, mainly in baseball many players have been tested for steroids, and many are results are positive. These punishments have been mere warnings and suspensions to the players. The first player to ever admit to using any type of anabolic steroid was Ken Caminiti, he admitted to using steroids after he retired in his 14th season. He said that in his 9th season in the majors was when he was first influenced to take performance-enhancing drugs. He was a 3 time All-Star, won the MVP award in ‘96, got 3 gold gloves and 1 silver slugger award. After he retired in 2001 he finally admitted to using steroids. About three years later on October 10th 2004 Caminiti died due to a drug problem because of the use of steroids and cocaine. Caminiti had said that he made tons of mistakes. One being an alcoholic and the other using cocaine, But he did not say using steroids was a mistake. After Caminiti’s death many major league players were highly influenced, and stopped using steroids. But there are 30 major leagues teams and each team has 25 players on the active roster, 40 on the regular roster. So if you multiply 30 by 25 then you get 750 baseball players just on the active roster. So even if Caminiti scared a bunch of players there is a bunch of people who still use steroids. Some of the most recent players that have been convicted are giants slugger Barry Bonds, and New York Yankees 1st baseman Jason Giambi.

Madness and Insanity in Shakespeares Hamlet - Both a Sane and Insane Hamlet :: GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Hamlet

Sane or Insane Hamlet: Support for both Positions Shakespeare's tragic hero, Hamlet, and his sanity can arguably be discussed. Many portions of the play supports his loss of control in his actions, while other parts uphold his ability of dramatic art. The issue can be discussed both ways and altogether provide significant support to either theory. There are indications from Hamlet throughout the play of his mind's well being. Hamlet's antic disposition may have caused him in certain times that he is in a roleplay. Hamlet has mood swings as his mood changes abruptly throughout the play. Hamlet appears to act mad when he hears of his father's murder. At the time he speaks wild and whirling words:Why, right; you are I' the right; And so, without more circumstance at all, I hold it fit that we shake hands and part... [Act I, scene V, lines 127-134]. It seems as if there are two Hamlets in the play, one that is sensitive and an ideal prince, and the insane barbaric Hamlet who from an outburst of passion and rage slays Polonius with no feeling of remorse, Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! / I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune;/ Thou find'st to be too busy is some danger.- [Act III. scene IV, lines 31-33] and then talks about lugging his guts into another room. After Hamlet kills Polonius he will not tell anyone where the body is. Instead he assumes his ironic matter which others take it as madness. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten. / A certain convocation of political w orms a e'en at him. [Act IV, scene III, lines 20-21] If your messenger find him not there, seek him I' th' other place yourself. But, indeed, if you find him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby. [Act IV, scene iii, lines 33-36]. Hamlet's behavior throughout the play, especially towards Ophelia is inconsistent. He jumps into Ophelia's grave, and fights with Laertes in her grave. He professes I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers/Could not, with all their quantity of love,/ Make up my sum [Act V, scene I, lines 250-253], during the fight with Laertes in Ophelia's grave, but he tells her that he never loved her, when she returns his letters and gifts, while she was still alive. Hamlet subtly hints his awareness of his dissolving sanity as he tells Laertes that he killed Polonius in a fit of madness [Act V, scene II, lines 236-250]

Don’t give up on love Essay

Shilpa’s heart was broken by the Khiladi of Bollywood, Akshay Kumar but she never gave up on love. The rumour mills were abuzz about her ‘relationship’ with director Anubhav Sinha, but she firmly denied them. After winning Big Brother, Shilpa went to launch her signature perfume S2 and met Raj occasionally for the launch preparations. On their first media appearance, Shilpa called Raj, her ‘business friend’ but their frequent meetings soon took a personal turn. Shilpa soon announced her engagement to the world and proudly showed off the 20 carat diamond ring which had been gifted to her by Raj. A firm believer of karma and past life, Shilpa went on to say in an interview that Raj was a part of her past life and now they are back together. Lesson Learnt: So girls, no matter how many boys break your heart; don’t ever settle for anyone except for your Mr. Right. Never embarrass your ex publicly You may be seething in anger and may want to kill your ex for two timing you, but in public, you must always be at your dignified best. Even though Shilpa was heartbroken after her break up, she has often said in interviews that there is no animosity between her and Akshay and they are good friends. Akshay and Shilpa have come face to face on a number of occasions, most recently on the celebrity dance show Nach Baliye, but Shilpa has always been pleasant to her ex-flame. Lesson Learnt: Your ex may be the devil’s incarnate, but you should never wash the dirty linen in public. Maintain dignity under pressure Life wasn’t easy for this gorgeous actress, but things took a turn for worse when she entered the celebrity Big Brother 5 in 2007. Racial slurs by her fellow contestants Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd, Jack Tweed and Jo O’Meara rattled her but she did not give up. She stayed in the house and soon emerged as Britain’s favourite with 63 per cent votes. Not the one to hold grudges, Shilpa soon forgave Jade Goody and other contestants. She told the host of the show Davina McCall, â€Å"People make mistakes and we’re all human beings, we’re all fallible.† Lesson Learnt: In a high pressure situation, never let your attackers get to you. Keep yourself in positive spirits, maintain your dignity and always let bygones be bygones. Make time for family You may be swiftly climbing the success ladder, but don’t forget your family in all that excitement. Shilpa decided to take a break from her acting carrer for a year after her son Viaan was born. She signed up for a couple of endorsements, but ensured that her schedule would not take up too much of her time. 1. Don’t give up on love Shilpa’s heart was broken by the Khiladi of Bollywood, Akshay Kumar but she never gave up on love. The rumour mills were abuzz about her ‘relationship’ with director Anubhav Sinha, but she firmly denied them. After winning Big Brother, Shilpa went to launch her signature perfume S2 and met Raj occasionally for the launch preparations. On their first media appearance, Shilpa called Raj, her ‘business friend’ but their frequent meetings soon took a personal turn.less 2. Shilpa soon announced her engagement to the world and proudly showed off the 20 carat diamond ring which had been gifted to her by Raj. A firm believer of karma and past life, Shilpa went on to say in an interview that Raj was a part of her past life and now they are back together. Lesson Learnt: So girls, no matter how many boys break your heart; don’t ever settle for anyone except for your Mr. Right. 3. Never embarrass your ex publicly You may be seething in anger and may want to kill your ex for two timing you, but in public, you must always be at your dignified best. Even though Shilpa was heartbroken after her break up, she has often said in interviews that there is no animosity between her and Akshay and they are good friends. Akshay and Shilpa have come face to face on a number of occasions, most recently on the celebrity dance show Nach Baliye, but Shilpa has always been pleasant to her ex-flame. Lesson Learnt: Your ex may be the devil’s incarnate, but you should never wash the dirty linen in public.less 4. Maintain dignity under pressure Life wasn’t easy for this gorgeous actress, but things took a turn for worse when she entered the celebrity Big Brother 5 in 2007. Racial slurs by her fellow contestants Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd, Jack Tweed and Jo O’Meara rattled her but she did not give up. She stayed in the house and soon emerged as Britain’s favourite with 63 per cent votes. 5. Not the one to hold grudges, Shilpa soon forgave Jade Goody and other contestants. She told the host of the show Davina McCall, â€Å"People make mistakes and we’re all human beings, we’re all fallible.† Lesson Learnt: In a high pressure situation, never let your attackers get to you. Keep yourself in positive spirits, maintain your dignity and always let bygones be bygones. 6. Make time for family You may be swiftly climbing the success ladder, but don’t forget your family in all that excitement. Shilpa decided to take a break from her acting carrer for a year after her son Viaan was born. She signed up for a couple of endorsements, but ensured that her schedule would not take up too much of her time. 7. In an industry where actresses are always under the media scanner for their weight-issues, Shilpa says that she is no hurry to lose post-pregnancy flab. She believes â€Å"As we are in the glamour business, we are always scrutinised for our appearances and are bound to have insecurities. But for a mother, these first four months are very crucial for the child’s health. You should not compromise with it.† 1. Don’t give up on love Shilpa’s heart was broken by the Khiladi of Bollywood, Akshay Kumar but she never gave up on love. The rumour mills were abuzz about her ‘relationship’ with director Anubhav Sinha, but she firmly denied them. After winning Big Brother, Shilpa went to launch her signature perfume S2 and met Raj occasionally for the launch preparations. On their first media appearance, Shilpa called Raj, her ‘business friend’ but their frequent meetings soon took a personal turn.less 2. Shilpa soon announced her engagement to the world and proudly showed off the 20 carat diamond ring which had been gifted to her by Raj. A firm believer of karma and past life, Shilpa went on to say in an interview that Raj was a part of her past life and now they are back together. Lesson Learnt: So girls, no matter how many boys break your heart; don’t ever settle for anyone except for your Mr. Right. 3. Never embarrass your ex publicly You may be seething in anger and may want to kill your ex for two timing you, but in public, you must always be at your dignified best. Even though Shilpa was heartbroken after her break up, she has often said in interviews that there is no animosity between her and Akshay and they are good friends. Akshay and Shilpa have come face to face on a number of occasions, most recently on the celebrity dance show Nach Baliye, but Shilpa has always been pleasant to her ex-flame. Lesson Learnt: Your ex may be the devil’s incarnate, but you should never wash the dirty linen in public.less 4. Maintain dignity under pressure Life wasn’t easy for this gorgeous actress, but things took a turn for worse when she entered the celebrity Big Brother 5 in 2007. Racial slurs by her fellow contestants Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd, Jack Tweed and Jo O’Meara rattled her but she did not give up. She stayed in the house and soon emerged as Britain’s favourite with 63 per cent votes. 5. Not the one to hold grudges, Shilpa soon forgave Jade Goody and other contestants. She told the host of the show Davina McCall, â€Å"People make mistakes and we’re all human beings, we’re all fallible.† Lesson Learnt: In a high pressure situation, never let your attackers get to you. Keep yourself in positive spirits, maintain your dignity and always let bygones be bygones. 6. Make time for family You may be swiftly climbing the success ladder, but don’t forget your family in all that excitement. Shilpa decided to take a break from her acting carrer for a year after her son Viaan was born. She signed up for a couple of endorsements, but ensured that her schedule would not take up too much of her time. 7. In an industry where actresses are always under the media scanner for their weight-issues, Shilpa says that she is no hurry to lose post-pregnancy flab. She believes â€Å"As we are in the glamour business, we are always scrutinised for our appearances and are bound to have insecurities. But for a mother, these first four months are very crucial for the child’s health. You should not compromise with it.† 8. In another interview when she was asked what things she would grab in case there is a fire in her home, the gorgeous actress replied, â€Å"I would just make sure that my family escapes. Material things don’t matter.† Lesson Learnt: Family comes first, always! And Ladies, enjoy each and every phase of your life. Motherhood is a blessing and do not let any nasty comments about your weight or appearance affect you.

Gene Engineering

Genetic Engineering Research I. Introduction In the past three decades, scientists have learned how to mix and match characteristics among unrelated creatures by moving genes from one creature to another. This is called â€Å"genetic engineering. † Genetic Engineering is a test tube science and is prematurely applied in food production. There are estimates that food output must increase by 60 percent over the next 25 years to keep up with demand. Thus, the result of scientist genetically altering plants for more consumption. The two most common methods for gene transfer are biological and electromechanical. â€Å"Early experiments all involved changing DNA using bacterial vectors†(Randerson, 2001). Through other advances scientists proclaim how they can improve the human gene pool. All humans have genes which carry certain traits structuring a person’s chemical make-up. â€Å"Inheritable characteristics are passed from one generation to the next through DNA, a molecule that is present in all of our cells†(Massey,2001). Gene Engineering could be used in various ways trying to improve humans. Gene modifications can have an impact solely on a single person (somatic manipulation), or on a person's children and all subsequent descendants (germline manipulation). Somatic manipulation seeks to change the genetic makeup of particular body in somatic cells that comprise the organs and tissues. Germline genetic manipulation changes the sex cells which can modify the health of a c†¦ †¦ middle of paper †¦ †¦ must be put in use for advances in reproductive technology and not to become available with bad intentions or misguided choices. II. References Cited Massey, Rachel. â€Å"Engineering Humans Part 1†. Human Genetics Alert, March, 2001. http://www. – users. globalnet. co. uk/~cahg/ King, David. †The Threat of Human Genetic Engineering†. Human Genetics Alert, 1999. http://www. hgalert. org Randerson, James. â€Å"Gene Modified Athletes†. Human Genetics Alert, November, 2001. http://online. sfsu. edu/%7Erone/GEessays/genemodifiedathletes Hayes, Richard. â€Å"In the Pipeline: Genetically Modified Human

Directory Viruses

There are many ways to sabotage a computer. Some malicious programs create software that automatically replicates itself and spreads throughout a computer's file system to destroy it later. One of these virus types is called the Directory Virus. From its name itself, one can know that it attacks the directory and file system of a computer. The computer uses a large file that contains information about its subdirectories and files. It includes information such as the starting cluster, the name, the time and date it was created or modified, attributes such as being read-only, and other information.Every time a file needs to be accessed, it searches for the directory entry and the starting cluster, an index to the File Allocation Table or FAT. All the other cluster addresses are in the FAT. So a Directory Virus infects clusters and allocates it in the FAT. It then targets other clusters and infects other files. The destructive code is usually with executable files such as the ones endin g with . EXE or . COM. The location or paths to the computer's files will then be changed by the Directory Virus so that it can infect other files.This will be done transparently, without the user's knowledge, until the original files will be impossible to find. Eventually, the user's files become useless (Spam Laws, 2009). In May 1991, the DIR II virus was discovered first in Bulgaria. It is also known as Creeping Death and was written by the same programmers who coded the DIR, MG and Shake viruses. At that time, it was considered to be unique since directory viruses were still unknown. It changed directory entries only and did not change the files (Hypponen, 2010).It was eventually followed by variants such as the DIR III and DIR BYWAY viruses. The BYWAY virus appeared first in mid 1995 in Venezuala, but was possibly authored by a Chinese programmer named Wai Chan since the code is signed â€Å"By Wai Chan† (PR Newswire, 1995). It is similar to the DIR II family of viruses but alters the technique slightly by modifying directories and cross linking executable files to point to a file named CHKLISTx. MSx, containing the viral code (Paris, 2010).The BYWAY virus has an interesting story since it reveals that people from different countries often disguise themselves using other countries. The Chinese search engine, Baidu, for example was attacked by malware that showed an Iranian flag, but Baidu doubts that it was Iranian. They believe that it was American hackers who did it. In the same way, the BYWAY virus claims that it was authored by Wai Chan on August 1994. And then when the virus is triggered, it pops out a message saying, â€Å"Trabajemos Todos Por Venezuela† which means, â€Å"We are all working for Venezuela.†It also plays music simultaneously, mimicking the Venezuelan national anthem. But it is likely that the real author is neither Venezuelan nor Chinese since crooks are not likely to leave their calling cards at the scene of the crime. It is also possible to remove the virus without using disinfecting software. Simply rename all . COM and . EXE files with non-executable extensions. The virus will automatically correct the FAT. Then reboot using a clean boot disk to remove the virus in memory, and rename everything back to its executable extensions.Do this for all hard disk partitions and the virus will be removed. Unfortunately, because viruses are popularly known to wreak havoc on computers, there is an urban myth propagating in the world that every time a PC doesn't work properly, it is always caused by a virus (Rutter, 1999). However, the fact is that not all PC problems are caused by viruses. There may be manufacturer bugs in the software or incompatibility issues with the hardware or software. Or the computer may simply be malfunctioning like any other electronic device that eventually fails.

An Old Man’s Winter Night

An Old Man's Winter Night by Robert Frost All out-of-doors looked darkly in at him Through the thin frost, almost in separate stars, That gathers on the pane In empty rooms. What kept his eyes from giving back the gaze Was the lamp tilted near them in his hand. What kept him from remembering what it was That brought him to that creaking room was age. He stood with barrels round him†at a loss. And having scared the cellar under him In clomping there, he scared it once again In clomping off;†and scared the outer night, Which has Its sounds, familiar, like the roar Of trees and crack of branches, common things,But nothing so Ilke beating on a box. A light he was to no one but himself Where now he sat, concerned with he knew what, A quiet light, and then not even that. He consigned to the moon†such as she was, So late-arising†to the broken moon As better than the sun in any case For such a charge, his snow upon the roof, His icicles along the wall to keep; And sle pt. The log that shifted with a Jolt Once in the stove, disturbed him and he shifted, And eased his heavy breathing, but still slept. One aged man†one man†can't keep a house, A farm, a countryside, or If he can,It's thus he does it of a winter night. An Old Man's Winter Night is written by the American poet Robert Frost in 1916. He went through a lot of tragedies during the whole life. After experiencing the death his mother, his grandfather and his 2 children, the sense of helpness inevitably worked to shape and color the views of life's possibilities. It's unforeseeable for Frost to predict what will happen tomorrow so that he was called a poet who terrifies†. That's why the peotry is a mix of the calm and rural.The peaceful surface with an underlying darkness is an uncommon feature in this poetry. Symbolism Forst is representative of cold winter, â€Å"separate stars† showing hope and comfort of the mysterious and dangerous outer world at night. â€Å"ga thers on the pane†lmpersonate the forst to make the atmosphere warmer and more quiet. â€Å"cellar†, â€Å"branches†, â€Å"log fired†create some scaring sounds In the winter's night to emphasize the peaceful and lonely environment. The dark colours of these ugly and hard images snow tne repressed emotions. lamp† â€Å"Tire† make Teel warm ana peaceTul, Drlng llgnt to the dark and cold night to eliminate the feeling of scare. The poet tells us how he as â€Å"a light for no one but himself†, yet again confirms how isolated he is. Frost uses many different literary devices throughout the poem. Imagery which appeals to our sight, touch and hearing senses. Frost has used Imagery such as â€Å"In clomping there, he scared it once again† which appeals to our touch because you can almost feel how he has stomped the floor to try and frighten off the unknown.He has appealed to our hearing senses by using personification, â€Å"like the roar of trees† lets you almost hear how the trees were thrashing around on the cold winter night. Using contraries and ontradictions is another characteristic of this poetry. For example, the scaring sounds and the peaceful and quiet atmosphere make the old man feel more threaten and lonely. The warm light and fire in the room is on the contrary to the dark and cold winter to convey the scare of the unknown outer world of the old man. Also, Frost determinde to continue his old syle of using common, everday speech.It is simple to understand the superficial meaning of his poetry instead of the underlying theme. The poetry tells that an old man stands alone in his house in the middle of winter. His memory and legs crippled by old age ambles around his house without remembering who he was or even what he was doing. At one point, he becomes frightened by the cellar beneath his feet and the dark night outside, and he stomps his feet loudly to frighten away the unknown. Eventually th e old man dozes in front of the fire, after being disturbed by a shifting log, falls into a deeper sleep.The rural images like â€Å"forst† â€Å"cellar† â€Å"tree† â€Å"lamp† â€Å"moon† to convey his emotion of scaring and isolation. An Old Man's Winter Night creates a concrete view ofa lonely and amnesiac old man in the wooden house. I can see an old man who is trying to get away from the scaring environment and finally he succeed in sleeping beside the warm fire. An Old Man's Winter Night deals with the predicament of an old man who is dying on a cold winter's night. From the title of this poem, the reader might expect a warm and cozy narrative about an old man in front of a crackling fire.Frost denies this comforting expectation and instead creates a haunting narrative. What is the most scaring point is that the old man has lost his memory and it seems nonsense to exist in this world. But he still keep a house, a farm in the countryside. As to the emotion author wants to express, I think, it's relative to the life story of him. At that time, he still didn't sell his farm and enjoyed the life being a farmer in the countryside. However, the death of his children make him to imagine the future life in his old age.He is afraid that people will forget him and he will die by himself without accompanying by his children. This kind of depressed emotion influence the poem. The readers will find a poor old man struggling to prove his value to live. From my perspective, I feel merciful to the old man. He was place at the position of finding o clues to who and where he is. Maybe he is in his home but he cannot find the sense of belonging and he would like to risk for the dangers. He absolutely knows that the outer night is dangerous and he still goes out and talk to the moon.I can feel the old man is who really wants to get cares and love from other people but he cannot know what is going on. He is representative of the Frost and they are all want to escape from the scare of death and company. Obviously we can see from the poem, Frost treasured his country life and this kind of life really give him sparks in wrltlng poems mos OITTerent Trom tneme 0T otner Frosts poems, tney focus on the isolation from the modern society, on the contrary, this poem doesn's want to express this kind of meaning.http://www.studymode.com/essays/An-Old-Man's-Winter-Night-Analysis-1602199.htmlhttp://www.gradesaver.com/the-poetry-of-robert-frosthttp://www.english.illinois.edu/Maps/poets/a_f/frost/frost.htmhttp://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/frost/oldman.htmhttp://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/A_f/frost/fireice.htm

Managing Partnerships - Governance UK Educational Charity Essay

Managing Partnerships - Governance UK Educational Charity - Essay Example (ICNL, 2002) Aiming to protect the public trust from the big and small charitable sectors, the Cabinet Office and the Charity Commission published the ‘Charities Act 2006’ – the most recent regulation for charities in England and Wales. In line with the purpose of providing the trustees with a more flexible and less bureaucracy among the small-scale charities, the new regulation implements some changes in the charity structures and administration. (p. 5) For this study, the researcher will critically discuss the partnership among the key stakeholders2 in relation to the governance of an educational charity including the factors that could make or break a good partnership among the major stakeholders. The trustees or Charity Trustees are people who are directly responsible in the management control of the charity’s administration. Based on the charity’s governing document, these people are sometimes called the trustees, managing trustees, committee members, governors, directors, or whichever title they may be referred to. (p. 46) The role of trustees or employees is voluntary but the Act allows the trustees to be paid for the services they have rendered for the charity provided that the terms are officially set out in a written agreement and that the amount paid to the trustees is reasonable. (p. 23) The Commission which is composed of up to four newly elected non-executive board members regulates the charities based on the newly implemented legal framework. (p. 42) In line with the purpose of increasing the public confidence on charities, the Commission strictly encourage the charity trustees to comply with the proper documentation and management of its administration in terms of effectively using its monetary resources and being accountable to the public, beneficiaries, and the donors. (p. 41) Based on Charity Act

Six Global Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Six Global Issues - Essay Example The absolute sovereignty exemplary is not state centric but nation centric, for the real size of the state remains to be a domestic problem. The mix of public and private scopes, and between domestic and international trade, stay determined with more justice and efficiency when they get determined at national level, without interference from outside. As a dynamic model, absolute sovereignty generates stronger relationships between nations and their own peoples – whatsoever form that picks. The model terminates top and down globalization, organizational infringements of sovereignty and foreign military interventions (Romaine, 2002). For states to withstand, they must re - engross with their only true population: domestic citizens. The United States, United Kingdom, France with other European nations preach about â€Å"freedom,† but candid freedom begins, as â€Å"freedom from coercion, foreign pressure, or occupations, whether political, financial or military. Only with â€Å"freedom from† interference from foreign forces can a nation involve in â€Å"freedom to† develop independent political forms, based on political culture and local conditions (Smith, 2005). (2) Effects of transnational organized crime on state sovereignty The new situation of organized crime enables people to differentiate certain facts, which imply considerable challenges to the governance of sovereign states. However, it should be remembered that transnational organized crimes remain not colossal, but rather a diversified, compound and multidimensional phenomenon where partnership between groups is more common than confrontation. It has different displays in specific countries and stays perceived differently throughout space and time. It does not function homogeneously nor does it have a perpetual degree of impact on people, state agencies and non governmental bodies throughout the world (Albanese, 2003). The first impact of organized crime relates to sovereign ty, an old concept that continues to dominate the domain of relations between different states. States stay separated by borders, which not only apportion each state physically but also mark different legal systems, politics, cultures and levels of economic development (U.N, 2004). Eroded against this remain the criminal organizations which, as a result of their transnational and illegal nature, ignore the sovereignty of the victim states and have no reverence for borders as much as their illegal businesses. Their plans for development are not apprehensive with the idea of state jurisdiction but on the tide of trustworthy goods and people who provide earnings. If they think of state borders, this stands always in terms of either their specific markets with prospects for illegal earnings and specific criminal law systems of differing levels of risks, or the confusing of the trails of illegal activities through the international partition of work (Dougan, 2007). (3) Regulation of immi gration Migration refers to the relocation of people from one state to another legally or illegally for a long of lifetime duration. Since human beings have wandered in search of food and better living standards, they have migrated from place to place around the world. However, global migration is a relatively new development.it is only in early 20th century that the system of nation-states, visas and passports developed to regulate the movement of citizens across borders (Somerville, 2007). Global migration is the

Economics 319-1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Economics 319-1 - Essay Example The financial crisis put to waste years of growth and resulted to unfathomable harm the fundamental productivity of the economy. One of a direct result of financial crisis is the loss of paper wealth (that can be measured monetarily). Loss of paper wealth has an indirect effect on the real economy in that it effects are felt incase depression or recession follows. The 2007-2009 financial crisis originated from within the United State market. it coincided with what many saw as a shift from the geopolitical dominance of the United States to a multi-polar international framework. It was not accident but rather a mistake driven by deregulatory mentality that took half a decade of post-New Deal financial stability for granted. The crisis was a failure of free market capitalism and over regulation which helped sow the seed of the crisis. The world experienced the most severe financial crisis in most recent times since Second World War. It was precipitated by sub-prime mortgages crisis which became apparent to the wider public in the year 2007. In 2008, it became a global financial crisis, and consequently into a global economic down turn that forced many countries to into recession. Stock market fell, large financial institutions collapsed and government had to come up with rescue packages to bail out the financial systems (Manuel, 2009). For a clear understanding of the crisis there is need to look at the economic happenings of Post -world war II. This period shows a significant decline in the rate of profit in the economy of the United States. From 1950 to mid 1970s, profit rates declined almost by 50%. As in past depression times, this decline triggered reduction in business investment, and consequently slower growth and higher unemployment rate. As a result many governments adopted expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. However the policies resulted to higher inflation rates

The Future of the U.S. Health Care System Essay

The Future of the U.S. Health Care System - Essay Example The Obama administration has also moved out the certain way to introduce universal medical care treatment in the United States of America. The current health care system of United States has introduced Act to change the way of medical care coverage. It is also revealed that Americans used to pay more compared to other nations (Southwestern, 2012). The poor health issues and shorter lifespan are some of the primary issues faced by United States healthcare management. The utmost visible health rights crisis is 50 million people are without any healthcare insurance. The prime purpose of the project is to focus on the thesis statement. Furthermore, the report also explores the benefits provided by healthcare system of United States to the population. It is believed that the health care system of United States is one of the most complex and largest healthcare systems. The U.S. health system analyses the health financing, health system performance, health reforms, health-care provision and developments in organizations. This system has notable weaknesses and significant strengths. Some of the considerable strengths of the system are high quality of medical specialists, robust health care research program and well trained medical department workforce. However, it also has some weaknesses such as incomplete attention towards health expenditure and citizenry, lack of instructing effective health information technology and unequal distribution of outcomes and resources. It is supposed that these drawbacks of healthcare system can heavily influence the sustainable development of the country. There are large numbers of evidence to state that Federal Government is heavily focusing on improving the healthcare issues of United States of America. But it can be predicted that the result of poor access towards the health care system is the prime reason for occurrences of these problems.  

An argumentative literary analysis on one or more works by a Research Paper

An argumentative literary analysis on one or more works by a particular author or comparative analysis of several works on a sim - Research Paper Example After ‘existing’ in that confused, constricted and compulsion state, individuals including the characters in fictions could undergo self-realization. In those scenarios, self-realization will be like the opening of the ‘inner eye’ of the individual, which will take them on a positive and best path. It can also be considered as a moment, when a big ‘confusion mass’ or guilt that may be occupying and constricting an individual’s mind has ‘evaporated’ for good. The confusion in the mind of Oedipus in Oedipus Rex, compulsion for Nora Elmer in A Doll’s House and constriction in the mind of Laura in The Glass Menagerie all get evaporated, when these fictional characters undergo self-realization. So, this paper will analyse how these three characters get entangled in a mess, and after a struggling phase, undergo self-realization, thereby enlightening them with mixed results. 2. Oedipus Rex and Self-Realization Oedipus Rex is about the life and the tragic death of Oedipus who after becoming the King of Thebes, dies a tragic death after undergoing self-realization. Oedipus was born to King Laius of Thebes and Queen Jocasta, but was cared by foster parents, Polybus and Merope, as King Laius feared that the prophecy of being killed by his own son could come true. The prophecy in a way gets actualized when Oedipus due to uncontrollable circumstances kills King Laius without knowing that King Lauis was his biological father, setting the stage for future confusions and self-realizations. The other prophecy of Oedipus marrying his mother also came true, when he married Queen Jocasto on the account of him becoming the king of Thebes, after solving the Sphinx riddle. When he comes to know about these crimes, or immoral acts, he goes into a state of confusion as well as depression, but also at the same time self-realization. That is, he was sure that he can find Laius killers and thereby prevent the onslaught of p lague, but this confidence turned into weakness when he comes to know the profound truth that he is the killer of Lauis. So, when the ‘recognition’ happens, the self-realization also occurs, with Oedipus transforming from a strong king to a weak blind man. He laments, â€Å"I, Oedipus, damned in his birth, in his marriage damned, Damned in the blood he shed with his own hand† (Sophocles 123).The affect this event had on Oedipus as discussed above also bordered on tragedy. On coming to know about the truth and after undergoing self-realization of his crimes and conduct, Oedipus as form of self-justice blinds himself with the golden brooches found on his mother’s dress. He blinds himself, as he did not want to see the miseries that his actions have brought upon him. â€Å"The alternative of suicide is directly before him. He takes up her golden pins...blinds himself. It is Sophocles point that Oedipus sees two possibilities and chooses the harder and more p ainful course† (Smith 92). Talking about the pace of the â€Å"recognition†, in the case of Oedipus, it happened suddenly. That is, although he wanted to know the real killers of Lauis for a long time, he comes to know about the truth from messengers and Servants, and when he hears the death of Jocasto immediately, he undergoes self-realization, leading to death. â€Å"Salvation becomes annihilation; the tragedy does not take place in the hero's downfall, but rather in the fact that man meets his demise along the very path he took up to escape his demise.†

International Law - tax system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International Law - tax system - Essay Example The meaning of tax can be actually described as the money, which is charged by the government for Public Sector Borrowing Requirement (PSBR) (Public Acts 1994). When we interpret the definition, we may find out the reason why countries charge tax. The governments levy tax upon its citizens because they want money to regulate it in the whole country. It as actually meant for the betterment of the country and the nation itself. Governments may built roads, built a better infrastructure, improved public organization services, improve the level of education, building schools to remote areas, proving better and free health care, etc. Government may charge the tax to invest back to the country in turn. Where as international law refers to the general rules and regulations practiced in most part of the world (Mifflin 2007). It is the law which is followed by all the countries worldwide and so it is called international. There are certain rules and procedures which are followed in every country of the world. These practices are important to carry out in the country, as they enable governments to work and perform better and in organized way. Those laws are called international, as they are practiced in every country and are accepted as well. ... but the thing which binds then together is the law which they practice in the country, only that is common in them and it keeps the countries linked together. This essay will include all the necessary and valid information about the international laws regarding the taxation issues. As far as the case study is concerned, I will try to ensure the reader abut the authentication of the information and will make sure that my answer shall convince the reader as well. The essay will proof to be the perfect guide for the three friends for their decision about the avoiding tax and the OECD proposal about the business. As described in the case study, that the friends do not want to pay taxes and their nature of business is to contribute to the tertiary sector of the country. It is yet no specified that whether the owners plan is to provide services to the country only or to the rest of the world as well. The type of job which these friends are going to do can be practiced in a country as well as outside the country, ignoring boundaries. It is because of the reason that, the friends will have headquartered at one place and will precede the business from there only. That means headquarter; will exist in one place, yet their operation in different part of the world at the same time. This is what most of the translational companies do, ignoring the boundaries. But trans-national businesses do not try to void tax and in this case, the partners are trying to ignore the tax as well. Now, it is very essential to understand the two types of taxes, direct and indirect. Before I shall proceed, I may make it clear that the direct taxes are unavoidable. This means, the direct taxes cannot be ignored and we have to pay them even if do not want to. These taxes are the