Issue-based memorandum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Issue-based memorandum - Essay Example In the case of Henry and Hanna, they had insured their home with Fastpay Insurance Company. However, the insurance policy document made it clear that, in case of a vacancy of up to sixty days, it would automatically lead to suspension of the coverage. Since Henry and Hanna brought their marriage to an end, this meant that their house would remain vacant until that time when there would be a potential buyer. Unfortunately, the house was damaged by wind and fire in a freak Plano tornado. The insurance company turned down their compensation claims on the mere fact that the house was vacated for 60 days prior to the emergence of the Plano tornado. On one, hand, the provisions of the policy document are legally binding, whereas another school thought thinks that this condition should not to be deterrence for denying Henry and Hanna some sought of compensation from the insurance company. Appelle Carnes filed a suit against Texas Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company. Appelle Carnes sought t he services of the insurance company because they wanted to insure their cotton picking machine against risks such as fire. The two parties’ rubber stamped an endorsement that was known as â€Å"Endorsement No. ... It is at this point that the machine was damaged by fire. At this point, Appelle Carnes and Texas Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company could not come into an agreement on the actual amount of damage payable. This forced Carnes to file a legal suit against the insurance company. The insurance company cited two reasons, both of which meant that Carnes did not stand to be compensated in anyway whatsoever. First, the insurance company argued that Carnes had violated â€Å"Enforcement No. 10† thus Carnes should not claim any payment. Second, the policy document requires Carnes to file a sworn proof of loss and Carnes failed to do so. Hence, this barred Carnes from any recovery based on the terms of this policy. On the other hand, Carnes argued that the violation of â€Å"Endorsement No. 10† could not be used as a point of reference, because the provision is unenforceable under Art. 6. 14 of the insurance code. It is a known fact that Carnes went against the terms set under à ¢â‚¬Å"Endorsement No. 10† because he was using the cotton picking machine more than fifty miles away from the garage. That being the case, the jury concluded that the violation in that particular provision in the policy document, did not contribute to the damage of Carne’s cotton picker by fire. This finding was not challenged on appeal. In fact, the insurance company contends that Carne’s violation of â€Å"Endorsement No. 10† did not contribute to the loss, thus the edict could not apply. Furthermore, it is the contention of the insurance company that â€Å"Endorsement No. 10† is either a warranty or it is merely meant to limit the coverage, but the violation of this statute is connected to the risk, thus it bars recovery. Endorsement No. 10 is often considered to be

A Study on the Problems Faced by Teachers in a Mixed Essay Example for Free

A Study on the Problems Faced by Teachers in a Mixed Essay A Study on the Problems faced by Teachers in a Mixed-ability Class. P. Karthi, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Gobi Arts Science College, Gobichettipalayam. Mixed ability as used in ELT usually refers to the differences that exist in a group in terms of different levels of language proficiency. This might be a result of simply the amount of time they have spent for learning, their different language learning abilities or learning style preferences. Almost all groups are mixed-ability. The world of English language teaching (ELT) presents a great number of ideas and concepts, expounding a vast assortment of styles, models and techniques, but often makes a general assumption on the make-up of actual classes in which such teaching methods are to be employed. In an ideal teaching environment, we might all wish for energetic, highly-motivated and able students coupled with a limitless supply of time and resources, but the reality that many of us have to face is far from the ideal situation. For a variety of restrictive reasons there is a need for teachers to make the best use of what is available and to do so in the most productive way that ones personal teaching methodology might allow. Teaching students with mixed ability can pose a unique set of challenges. Diversity in language, culture, confidence and ability can all come into play for teachers in the classroom Working with students, sending them down different paths in order to arrive at a similar goal can be one of the most challenging things for teachers of all backgrounds. However with patience, respect and hard work all the seemingly grand problems can be overcome to the benefit of all. As such, it is our intention to present a brief, basic summary of what we believe to be a sound starting methodology for approaching classes with students of mixed abilities. As a first step in managing the diversity of student ability in the classroom, there needs to be an analysis of the needs of the students. With this analysis the teacher will gain much ground in the effort to determine and support the needs of every student. This analysis will provide an opportunity for the students to reflect on their ability and style and prepare them for the fact that the class will not be managed in the traditional manner. While this action seems to add work for the instructor on the front end of things we think we can easily liken it to the old adage ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’. Upon determination of the individual student needs the teacher can strive to coordinate the students into functional learning groups based on their skills and learning pace. The construction of focus groups allows the instructor to proactively increase the effectiveness of the lesson plan and provide realistic and achievable assignments to the students. The groups can work together based on their skill level or at that time the instructor can intermingle the weaker with the advanced, which will also contribute to creating variety in the class. This method allows for all students to advance toward a mutual goal at an appropriate pace for their capacity and avoids putting them off with material that is outside of their aptitude. Provided the instructor has established focus groups based on ability or learning pace the next step is to consider the curriculum to be utilized. The instructor should prepare a collection of authentic information and materials that can be used with varying requirements for the class. These materials can be utilized in the classroom to provide different tasks for the unique skill levels so as to achieve conformity in the exercise, while utilizing realistic expectations of what can be accomplished based on individual groups. To this end the instructor can include several different versions of the same homework task in order to align with achievement levels and maximize the benefit to all the students. Ultimately in this very limited summary we feel that we need to consider the psychology of the students, the effects of this methodology on them and how to work to benefit each and every student. If caution is not taken to include all students fully the weaker students will potentially not achieve and consequently experience the natural reaction of avoiding the activities they are not successful in. Because of this reaction the achievement gap will only be widened rather than narrowed. To this end, instructors must make an effort to make the classes inclusive while differentiating in order to ensure student achievement across the board and not just with the better performing students. While there are so many different facets in managing a class of students with mixed abilities, by taking some basic measures teachers can manage the challenge effectively for the benefit of all. We can be certain hat we have only begun to scratch the surface of the issues faced by teachers of classes with mixed ability students, but we hope we have provided some basic building blocks for individual instructors to start with. As instructors we have the responsibility to show respect and provide reasonable attention to all students and we feel strongly that utilizing the previously stated methodology is a start down a path to achieve such ends. Differentiating Instruction for Advanced Learners in the Mixed-Ability Classroom.

New Born Athletes Essay -- College Athletes Professional MOney Fame Es

New Born Athletes There are many "cultures" people get caught up in today, and one of those is the desire for money and fame. Many people use those two words to define "success". So much emphasis is put on this that it sometimes becomes the only thing that motivates many of us today. We don't care what it takes to reach this. One place where this is very evident is in sports, especially basketball. In many instances, it has gotten to the point where children, or young adults are making the decision to forgo college, an education, to make money. These athletes are either leaving college early for a career in the NBA or they are going straight from high school to the NBA. Granted, this is what most of them love to do, it has been their lifelong dream, but that is not the reason they choose this route. They are listening to others who think it is the best choice for them, when many times it is not. When these decisions are made, it affects more than just the athlete. This movement affects the athlete, the athletes family, the NBA team, and for those who leave college early, it affects the team they leave. I am going to show you how each of these are affected. I am going to use some examples of successes and some failures in different types of situations. It has been my experience that people like to hear good news before bad news, so I will start by with an example of what society has labeled as a "success". Michael Jordan, the name almost speaks for itself, but I am going to use some of his circumstances to show one point of view. Michael is someone who decided to stay in college throughout his eligibility. It seems to have paid off in a big way; not to say he would not have made it if he had left early... ...ms we are continually moving even more in this direction. When are people going to realize that money can buy a lot of things, but happiness and true success are not within the realm of money. I also believe my example is timely because of any event of late, the NBA lockout. For one thing, it shows these players are not playing for the love of the game because if they were they would not be upset that they were only making millions of dollars. People who really enjoy what they are doing want enough money to get by on and have a few extras, enough to be "comfortable". The fact that these athletes are upset because they can't get paid more shows they have become far too dependent on money and what it can do. I know not everyone will agree with what I have said in this essay, but I think if you look deeply into what I have said, you will find most of it is true.

A Synopsis of Christopher Taggi’s Movie 95 Essay

Renowned American film producer Cecil B. DeMille once said, â€Å"What I have crossed out I didn’t like. What I haven’t crossed out I’m dissatisfied with.† (â€Å"Cecil B. DeMille Quotes.† brainyquote.com. Brainy Quote, n.d. Web. 05 Oct.2012.) This persistent feeling of dissatisfaction is suggested in Christopher Taggi’s â€Å"95,† in which the protagonist is discontent with his current life condition and keeps driving on the highway to look for better opportunities. In fact, the author points out that in contemporary society people are dissatisfied because of their insatiable desire for wanting more. This sad reality is illustrated by the protagonist’s parents, who are constantly moving from one place to another to try find opportunies, the protagonist Hank himself, who desires more than what he already has, and the highway that symbolizes people’s everlasting demand. The unfortunate fact of people feeling dissatisfied because of their avaricious desires is demonstrated by the characterization of Hank’s parents. When Hank was young, he and his parents were continually moving from here to there. His parents were never satisfied with what they had and were always looking for opportunities that would give them better jobs and make them wealthier and happier. From Hank’s descriptions of his father† touching things absently† (4) and† his eyes clouded with the nowhere stare,† (4) the author suggests that his father doesn’t enjoy his life. Also, when they stopped for food during car trips, Hank noticed that his father would only have a glass of water. Even if his father explained that: â€Å"No sense in buying something you don’t feel like eating,† (4) Hank knew that his parents were poor. This justifies his parents’ motivation of constantly moving. His father also used to say: â€Å"Opportunity, it makes people rich, makes people famous. All you have to do is go out there and find it.† (4) Contrary to what his parents believed, even after all the years of searching, they never found the right opportunity and obtained what they wanted. This suggests that Hank’s parents, like many people in modern society, will not find happiness because they live with insatiable desires and therefore will not get the feeling of satisfaction in their lives. The characterization of Hank himself also shows how people in the contemporary society always want more. For example, when Hank woke up from his dream about his socks, he realized that† nothing good or special or wonderful has happened to him.† (7) This shows that Frank is idealistic and has superfluous expectations in life. Also, Hank has a nice girlfriend who cares about him and loves him, but he still thinks about how he would leave her even though there are no reasons for him to do so. When his girlfriend asks him if he was happy, he says, â€Å"Sometimes I am. Mostly, I guess I just feel like I can’t be really happy. Just missing something important.† (7) Another passage would be when his girlfriend asked him if he likes her, he answered:†sometimes I like you and maybe I think I even love you a little. And sometimes I hate you.† (7) We can see that Hank is uncertain about his feelings for his girlfriend and if she is the person that he wants to be with. Those are typical examples of a person who is not sure about what he wants and believes that there is always something better waiting for him. The thing that is missing for Hank is simply appreciating what he already possesses. From this reasoning, it is clear that great numbers of people from the twentieth century are just like Hank, they can’t find happiness simply because they are insatiable. The highway is an important symbol used by the author to signify the notion that contemporary people are dissatisfied and always want more. Hank and his parents used to drive on the highway because they wanted more than what they have and the highway offered opportunities. When Hank is driving with his girlfriend on the highway, he sees many billboards that attract him. Especially one billboard on which was written† LUCKY LEO’S FIREWORK EMPORIUM, it boomed in explosive neon colors. LARGEST SUPPLY OF FIREWORKS IN ALL DIXIE! FREE PARKING and DELICIOUS RESTAURANT. 20Ml.† (4) However, when Hank finally gets there, all he finds is the emptiness of an abandoned place. He could see that â€Å"the largest supply of fireworks in all of Dixie must have gone off simultaneously a long time ago. Only the charred, outer brick shell of the building remained.† (5) This suggests that people like Hank, who always wish for more will often get disappointed by the reality and then again return to their initial state of dissatisfaction. The symbolism of the highway proves how people in contemporary society feel dissatisfied because of their everlasting demand. Thus, Christopher Taggi’s â€Å"95† suggests that people in the contemporary society are suffering from dissatisfaction. This is demonstrated by the characterization of Hank’s parents, who always try to find a better life, Hank himself, who is never satisfied with what he already has and the highway that symbolizes how people believe that better things are waiting for them. Work Cited Taggi,Christopher. â€Å"95.† Voices of the Xiled: A Generation Speakers For Itself. Eds. Michael Wexler and John Hulme. New York: Doubleday, 1994. 210-218. Print. â€Å"Cecil B. DeMille Quotes.† brainyquote.com. Brainy Quote, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2012

Consider how Shakespeare presents madness Essay

Consider how Shakespeare presents madness in the play and explain whether you think it does illustrate how, â€Å"something is rotten in the state of Denmark. † One of the main themes in Hamlet is that of madness. Shakespeare conveys madness through not only Hamlet but through other characters as well, such as Ophelia, to covey that that the state of Denmark is rotten. At the beginning of the play, the first thing introduced are the night watchmen seeing the ghost. This is at the beginning because it is the first event in the chain that eventually leads to Hamlet seeking revenge for his father’s death. Although he was upset by his father’s death and his mother’s ‘o’erhasty marriage’, it was the revelation that his father was murdered that he thinks that he must take revenge. When Horatio first speaks to the ghost he recognises that it is unnatural for it to be there; â€Å"What art thou that unsurp’st this time of night†, illustrating that he feels that the ghost has ‘wrongfully seized’ the night. The atmosphere is unsettling and the ghost’s unnatural appearance is a sign of the bad things going on in Denmark, especially the court; â€Å"This bodes some strange eruption to our state. † During the times that the play was written, unusual things that happened were seen as a sign that something was not right in the courts; â€Å"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark†. This could be referring either to the whole of Denmark, or just the courts. It is after Hamlet sees the ghost that he decides that he will pretend to be mad; â€Å"put an antic disposition on†, but he does not want his friends to tell anyone what they have seen or that he is feigning madness; â€Å"Never make known what you have seen tonight†, as he believes that this way he can find means to exact his revenge on Claudius for killing his father; â€Å"And thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain†, meaning that all he shall have in his thoughts is how the ghost of his father told him to exact revenge on Claudius. This is the first step in the theme of madness for the play. Although Hamlet clearly says that he will be putting on his madness, it is uncertain whether actually he does go mad during the play, as illustrated in his outbursts towards his mother and Ophelia, and the murder of Polonius. There is much deception during the play, such as Claudius trying to gloss over the fact that he knows that his marriage to Gertrude could be seen as incest by the Church and that Hamlet should have been the rightful heir to the throne; â€Å"Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature that we with wisest sorrow think on him together with remembrance of ourselves. † He says that he is mourning and feels that mourning is appropriate for the old king, but he must think of himself, perhaps hinting at the fact that the death was convenient for him and he has had enough of mourning. This is characteristic of him throughout the play as all he has done and will do is for his own self interest, as when Hamlet asks if he can leave the castle, Claudius refuses, saying; â€Å"And we beseech you, bend you to remain here in the cheer and comfort of our eye†. He appears to be asking him to stay for his comfort, but he actually wants to keep an eye on him because he knows that he is still a threat to him and the throne. He at first seemed to want Hamlet to become like a son to him, but that changes as soon as he realises he could be a threat to him. He also continually uses the words ‘we’, ‘our’ and ‘us’ to establish himself as the husband of Gertrude and the King of Denmark. Polonius comments; â€Å"with pious action we do sugar o’er the devil himself†. To which Claudius replies as an aside; â€Å"The harlot’s cheek, beautied with plastering art, is not more ugly to the thing that helps it than is my deed to my most painted word. † Claudius admits that he is covering up the truth, continuing the theme of deception, adding to the audience’s awareness of the rottenness of Denmark. As there becomes more deception and secrecy throughout the play, it seems that the imagery in the language reflects the deception, and images of disease are used; â€Å"For the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion†. This could be language to refer to how that state of Denmark is rotting, but also Hamlet’s language seems to reflect his turmoil as he tried to decide what to do about Claudius, and as he gets more frustrated with himself he becomes more abusive towards his mother and Ophelia; â€Å"You are keen my lord, you are keen. † â€Å"It would cost you a groaning to take off mine edge. † He is taunting Ophelia using double meaning. Hamlet is very good at creating double meanings, like when he says to Claudius; â€Å"I am to much i’th’sun†, which he says as if he is in too much sunshine but also he is saying that he feels too much like Claudius’s son. Later in the play the text says; â€Å"It will but skin and film the ulcerous place, whiles rank corruption, mining all within, infects unseen. † He is saying that corruption, like infection starts within, and the corruption of Denmark will begin with the court. This also links in with madness because madness also starts from within – within the mind, and perhaps it is saying that just one unstable mind could bring down all the state. Another way that Shakespeare presents madness in the play is through Ophelia. She goes mad after Hamlet kills her father, but also because of the way Hamlet treated her – cruelly. He said to her that he loved her, and there were some hints that he had been intimate with her, but he treats her badly and even tells her that he does not love her. She has been a victim of a corrupt society – from Hamlet leaving her and from her father, such as using her as a pawn to spy on Hamlet. After she has become mad, she sings many songs. The first one that she sings is, ‘How should I you true love know’. This song could be her recalling the death of her father; â€Å"He is dead and gone lady, he is dead and gone. † This is the first thing that comes into her mind to sing about, so it must be the thing that is foremost in her mind. It could also be that she is recalling how Hamlet is now lost to her, and she is still looking for her true love, because it seems obvious that she has not found him yet. However, the rest of the songs seem to be about Hamlet, as they are about lost love and some of them imply that Ophelia had been sexually intimate with Hamlet; â€Å"Quoth she, before you tumbled me you promised me to wed†. It seems that both her father and Hamlet are responsible for Ophelia’s madness, and this is reiterated by what Ophelia sings about. Ophelia was controlled all the men in her life, and this was customary for the time, but it seems that they took too much of a hold on her, with none of them considering her feelings, for her father told her to no longer speak to Hamlet as it could affect his career, Laertes also told her to stay away from Hamlet and Hamlet was cruel to her. She also says, after her first song; â€Å"They say the owl was a baker’s daughter. † This could just be nonsense, but it could also be referring to her father, saying that once she was the daughter of a man in the court, but now she is just the daughter of a dead old man. Polonius did help the corruption in Denmark, such as spying and trying to make sure his own career was safe, and because of him Ophelia is mad. Hamlet also said that he loved Ophelia, and whereas before he was tender, due to the corruption around him and his succumbing to it, he was a factor in Ophelia’s madness, which eventually led to her suicide. By the actions of people around her, Ophelia is tainted by the corruptness around, as Hamlet says in the beginning of the play says that she is pure, but later on says she is wanton like all women, and tells her; â€Å"to a nunnery go. † This could be to send her to be protected, or it could be a sarcastic remark telling her to go to a brothel. One of the other reasons that cause Hamlet’s torment is his indecisiveness. He says during one of his soliloquies: â€Å"O what a rogue and peasant slave am I! † He is berating himself for not taking action when his father has been murdered, while the player can make himself cry for a fictitious character. He could also be saying that he is not worth anything in the court now, as his father is dead, yet he is not king when he should be. When Claudius is attempting to pray in the Church, Hamlet says that he did not want to kill him until he was sure that he would be sent straight to hell with no hope of being sent to heaven, for example if he was laying in ‘incestuous sheets’. However, this could have been just another excuse at putting the task off, for he seemed to offer no resistance when Claudius sent him to England. This may not have been his fault, as Claudius shows himself throughout the play as being a very manipulative person. He has taken the throne and Gertrude. He has Polonius spying for him, and he also gets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who are Hamlet’s friends from school to spy on him and eventually gives a letter to the English King requesting that he murder Hamlet. Perhaps Hamlet is even jealous that Claudius, who he hates, can take such action when he himself cannot. It seems that Claudius is the main source of corruption in the play, and also he is the reason that Hamlet decides to pretend to be mad, for it was Claudius that started off the chain of events, with killing Hamlet’s father. It was he that murdered Hamlet the king, corrupted Gertrude, encouraged Polonius to spy and eventually murdered which in turn caused Ophelia’s madness and Laertes’s downfall. He is described by Hamlet as a; â€Å"Smiling damni d villain†, picturing Claudius as full of deception where he is hiding his evil deeds. This has had an effect on the whole court, and indeed the whole of Denmark, for the text says; â€Å"This heavy-headed revel east and west makes us traduced and taxed of other nations. They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase soil our addition. † The Danish are said to be drunks, and later Claudius himself describes them as ‘false Danish dogs’, for he believes that they are still only loyal to Hamlet. Hamlet acknowledges all of this corruption, even in the beginning of the play when he says; â€Å"’tis an unweeded garden that grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature possess it merely. † Hamlet sees at the very beginning that things are starting to turn bad, and he can feel, like the attendants at the beginning, that something is not right. Hamlet feels surrounded by madness around him, and he feels that the only way he can make sense of all this and to find means for his revenge is to put on an â€Å"antic disposition† and pretend to be mad. This seems to be a reflection of the state around him – that something is not right, however towards the end of the play it is unsure whether he has actually gone mad, being affected by his surroundings, for his actions do change dramatically, and although he does not act in the way Ophelia does when she is mad, he is a changed person. All of the other main characters are corrupted, and Hamlet despises this. One of the reasons that he puts off killing Claudius could be that it goes against what he knows is right. He wished that he would have the strength to avenge his father; â€Å"Now could I drink hot blood and do such bitter business as the day would quake to look on. † He was born a thinker, but he asks that; â€Å"My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth! † He wishes that he were able to have passion like the player and act like Fortinbras. Eventually this does happen, as Ophelia comments on; â€Å"O, what a noble mind is here overthrown! The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s eye, tongue, sword, th’expectancy and rose of the fair state, the glass of fashion and the mould of form, th’observed of all observers. † Ophelia sees how has changed, and believes that he truly has gone mad, for he has changed into what he hated most. He kills Polonius, with no real regret, disregards Ophelia’s feelings and his mother’s, sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths without regret and does in the end kill Laertes and Claudius. However, there still is some of the old Hamlet left in him, for after Ophelia has died he says that he always did love her, so perhaps he shunned her so that he would have a clear mind to be able to think about his revenge. Also he apologised to Laertes before they fight, perhaps seeing something of himself in him, for his father was murdered as was Hamlet’s. This shows that Hamlet has not yet completely given way to the corruption of Denmark. Just before Hamlet dies, he claims that the throne should be given to Fortinbras. Hamlet admired Fortinbras for his action, and he was quite like Hamlet, his father being killed and he being usurped from the throne. Fortinbras accepts the throne and orders that Hamlet’s body be treated with respect; â€Å"Let four captains, bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage, for he was likely, had he been put on, to have proved most royal†. Fortinbras believes that Hamlet would have been a good king, and perhaps he might have had he have not been corrupted by the state of Denmark. Fortinbras survived, seemingly because he came from outside Denmark, and as did Horatio, not only because he was a good friend to Hamlet, but as Hamlet said; â€Å"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. † Hamlet believed that Horatio was unable to see the corruption that infected Denmark, and because of this he was untainted by it, this perhaps being a reason why Horatio does not die in the play. Bibliography Cambridge School Shakespeare – Hamlet by William Shakespeare, edited by Richard Andrews and Rex Gibson. Longman 1988, critical essays, Hamlet – The State of Denmark by Alan Gardiner, editors – Linda Cookson and Bryan Loughrey.

10 Fascinating Facts About Grasshoppers

10 Fascinating Facts About Grasshoppers Famed fable writer Aesop portrayed the grasshopper as a neer do well who fiddled away his summer days without a thought to the future but in the real world, the destruction wreaked by grasshoppers on farming and ranching is far from a harmless parable. Although grasshoppers are extremely common, theres more to these summertime critters than meets the eye. Heres a list of 10 fascinating grasshopper-related facts. 1. Grasshoppers and Locusts Are One and the Same When we think of grasshoppers, most people recall pleasant childhood memories of trying to catch the jumping insects in meadows or backyards. Say the word locusts, however, and it brings to mind images of historic plagues raining down destruction on crops and devouring every plant in sight. Truth be told, grasshoppers and locusts are members of the same insect order. While certain species are commonly referred to grasshoppers and others as locusts, both creatures are short-horned members of the order Orthoptera. Jumping herbivores with shorter antennae are grouped into the suborder Caelifera, while their longer-horned brethren (crickets and katydids) belong to the suborder Ensifera. 2. Grasshoppers Have Ears on Their Bellies The grasshoppers auditory organs are found not on the head, but rather, on the abdomen. A pair of membranes that vibrate in response to sound waves are located one on either side of the first abdominal segment, tucked under the wings. This simple eardrum, called a tympanal organ, allows the grasshopper to hear the songs of its fellow grasshoppers. 3. Although Grasshoppers Can Hear, They Cant Distinguish Pitch  Very Well As with most insects, the grasshoppers auditory organs are simple structures. They can detect differences in intensity and rhythm, but not pitch. The male grasshoppers song isnt particularly melodic which is a good thing since females dont care whether or not a fellow can carry a tune. Each species of grasshopper produces a characteristic rhythm that distinguishes its song from others and enables courting males and females of a given species to find one another. 4. Grasshoppers Make Music by Stridulating or Crepitating If youre not familiar with those terms, dont worry. Its not all that complicated. Most grasshoppers stridulate, which simply means that they rub their hind legs against their forewings to produce their trademark tunes. Special pegs on the inside of the hind leg act like a percussion instrument of sorts when they come in contact with the thickened edge of the wing. The band-winged grasshoppers crepitate or loudly snap their wings as they fly. 5. Grasshoppers Catapult Themselves Into the Air If youve ever tried to catch a grasshopper, you know how far they can jump to flee danger. If humans could jump the way grasshoppers do, we would be able to easily leap the length of a football field. How do these insects jump so far? Its all in those big, back legs. A grasshoppers hind legs function like miniature catapults. In preparation for a jump, the grasshopper contracts its large flexor muscles slowly, bending its hind legs at the knee joint. A special piece of cuticle within the knee acts as a spring, storing up all the potential energy. The grasshopper then relaxes its leg muscles, allowing the spring to release its energy and fling the insect into the air. 6. Grasshoppers Can Fly Because grasshoppers have such powerful jumping legs, people sometimes dont realize that they also have wings. Grasshoppers use their jumping ability to give them a boost into the air but most are pretty strong fliers and make good use of their wings to escape predators. 7. Grasshoppers Cause Billions of Dollars in Damage to Food Crops Annually One lone grasshopper cant do too much harm, although it eats about half its body weight in plants each day- but when locusts swarm, their combined feeding habits can completely defoliate a landscape, leaving farmers without crops and people without food. In the U.S. alone, grasshoppers cause about $1.5 billion in damage to grazing lands each year. In 1954, a swarm of Desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) consumed over 75 square miles of wild and cultivated plants in Kenya. 8. Grasshoppers Are an Important Source of Protein People have been consuming locusts and grasshoppers for centuries. According to the Bible, John the Baptist ate locusts and honey in the wilderness. Locusts and grasshoppers are a regular dietary component in local diets in many areas of Africa, Asia, and the Americas- and since theyre packed with protein, theyre an important nutritional staple as well. 9. Grasshoppers Existed Long Before Dinosaurs Modern-day grasshoppers descend from ancient ancestors that lived long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. The fossil record shows that primitive grasshoppers first appeared during the Carboniferous period, more than 300 million years ago. Most ancient grasshoppers are preserved as fossils, although grasshopper nymphs (the second stage in the grasshopper lifestyle after the initial egg phase) are occasionally found in amber. 10. Grasshoppers  May Spit Liquid to Defend Themselves If youve ever handled grasshoppers, youve probably had a few of them spit brown liquid on you in protest. Scientists believe this behavior is a means of self-defense, and the liquid helps the insects repel predators. Some people say grasshoppers spit tobacco juice, probably because historically, grasshoppers have been associated with tobacco crops. Rest assured, however, the grasshoppers arent using you as a spittoon.

Information essays

Information essays The Internet has vastly increased the supply of news channels and outlets and has spawned a 24-hour news cycle. The media audience of a public relations (PR) professional is more informed than in times before the Internet when the press kit was the primary means by which a reporter could obtain information about a company without speaking with a representative. Press and analyst conferences are no longer "invitation- only" events, but are now available to the masses through the Internet. However, ubiquitous access has its challenges. A reporter may not even interface with a PR professional when writing a store, increasing the likelihood of negative press that could have been controlled or prevented had the reporter gone through the traditional PR channels. And, individuals can easily plant negative stories on message and chat boards that a PR person never evens sees because of the overwhelming task of trying to monitor the huge volumes of Internet content.[1] The most important lesson that PR professionals can learn is that the Internet should not be viewed as a replacement for personal contact with the media on a regular basis. This will give the PR representative the opportunity to convey a controlled message and a chance to rebut any uncontrolled negative messages. Furthermore, a communications network in which one arm of marketing is unaware of the activities of another, can hinder the processes of message control when information is so widespread and rapidly distributed. The solution lies in centralizing the information flowing in and out of the various communications departments and streamlining the processes for interacting with various media and non-media ...

Queen Isabella II of Spain Was a Controversial Ruler

Queen Isabella II of Spain Was a Controversial Ruler Background Isabella, who lived during troubled times for the Spanish monarchy, was the daughter of Ferdinand VII of Spain (1784 - 1833), a Bourbon ruler, by his fourth  wife, Maria of the Two Sicilies (1806 - 1878).  She was born October 10, 1830. Her Fathers Reign Ferdinand VII became king of Spain in 1808 when his father, Charles IV, abdicated.  He abdicated about two months later, and Napoleon installed Joseph Bonaparte, his brother, as the Spanish king. The decision was unpopular, and within months Ferdinand VII was again established as king, though he was in France under Napoleons control until 1813.  When he returned, it was as a constitutional, not absolute, monarch. His reign was marked by quite a bit of unrest, but there was relative stability by the 1820s, other than having no living children to pass his title to.  His first wife died after two miscarriages. His two daughters from his earlier marriage to Maria Isabel of Portugal (his niece) also did not survive infancy. He had no children by his third wife. He married his fourth wife, Maria of the Two Sicilies, in 1829. They had first one daughter, the future Isabella II, in 1830, then another daughter, Luisa, younger than Isabella II, who lived from 1832 to 1897, and married Antoine, Duke of Monpensier. This fourth wife, Isabella IIs mother, was another niece, daughter of his younger sister Maria Isabella of Spain.  Thus, Charles IV of Spain and his wife, Maria Luisa of Parma, were Isabellas paternal grandparents and maternal great-grandparents. Isabella Becomes Queen Isabella succeeded to the Spanish throne on the death of her father, September 29, 1833, when she was just three years old.  He had left directions that  Salic Law  would be set aside so that his daughter, rather than his brother, would succeed him. Maria of the Two Sicilies, Isabellas mother, supposedly had persuaded him to take that action. Ferdinands brother and Isabellas uncle, Don Carlos, disputed her right to succeed.  The Bourbon family, of which she was a part, had until this time avoided female inheritance of rulership. This disagreement about succession led to the First Carlist War, 1833-1839, while her mother, and then General Baldomero Espartero, served as regents for the underage Isabella. The military finally established her rule in 1843. Early Uprisings In a series of diplomatic turns, called the Affair of the Spanish Marriages, Isabella and her sister married Spanish and French nobles. Isabella had been expected to marry a relative of Prince Albert of England. Her change in marriage plans helped alienate England, empower the conservative faction in Spain, and bring Louis-Philippe of France closer to the conservative faction. This helped lead to the liberal uprisings of 1848 and to Louis-Philippes defeat. Isabella was rumored to have chosen her Bourbon cousin, Francisco de Assis, as a husband because he was impotent, and they largely lived apart, though they did have children.  Her mothers pressure has also been credited with Isabellas choice. Rule Ended by Revolution Her authoritarianism, her religious fanaticism, her alliance with the military and the chaos of her reign - sixty different governments - helped bring about the Revolution of 1868 that exiled her to Paris. She abdicated on June 25, 1870, in favor of her son, Alfonso XII, who ruled beginning in December 1874, after the First Spanish Republic collapsed. Even though Isabella occasionally returned to Spain, she lived most of her later years in Paris, and she never again exerted much political power or influence. Her title after abdication was Her Majesty Queen Isabella II of Spain. Her husband died in 1902.  Isabella died  April 9 or 10, 1904. You can also read about Queen Isabellas in History  on this site, in case this Isabella isnt the one you were looking for

Bible Exegitical Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Bible Exegitical - Essay Example The two different translations used in this paper are the NIV, and KJV translations. After the comparison of the two texts, a word study of the text is done, which aims at getting the correct interpretation of the text from the original language in which the text was written, i.e. Hebrew. The next part of the paper looks at the Historical background of Amos 9: 11-15. The historical background of the paper is followed by an analysis of the Movement of the text; the next part of the paper is the themes and the Theology of the text, and lastly, a summary and application of the message of the text is given A comparison of NIV and KJV translations of Amos 9: 11-15 shows that on verb tense, the two translations are written in the same tense, i.e. future tense1. The two translations, however, have some fundamental differences in vocabulary and phrasing. The first difference in diction is in verse 11. While NIV uses the phrases, â€Å"†¦ restore David’s fallen shelter†¦ repair its broken walls†¦Ã¢â‚¬  the KJV translation uses the phrases, raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen and close up the breaches thereof†. The main difference in these two phrases is that while the NIV uses the vocabularies shelter and broken walls, the KJV translation uses the vocabularies tabernacle and breaches. In the same verse, while the NIV translation uses the phrase, â€Å"restore its ruins† the KJV translation uses the phrase â€Å"raise up his ruins†. This is indeed a significant difference in the two translations. This is because while the NIV translati on talks of restoring the ruins of the broken shelter of David, the KJN translation talks about the raising up of David’s ruins2. This is clearly a significant difference that can help us in getting the correct exegesis of this verse. Another difference in this verse is that, while the NIV translation talks

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

Children education - Essay Example What makes it an important skill for children to gain is because it is one of the most significant factors in education. Without reading, there can be no effective education, at least not the formal kind. As children develop their reading skills, school education becomes easier as they are able to read and understand written instructions. What is more, with reading comes a sense of wonder; children are able to read stories and learn of lands and things new to them. This enables them to learn more. The article by Meier, a male first grade elementary school teacher, along with relating his experience as a school teacher, also brings to light his joy in teaching young children to read and write. He relates his joy at being able to teach a child to write his name, as well sharing the experience of reading children’s stories with his students. Whereas Pam Krueger’s article basically gives tips on how to get children reading – she talks about how to encourage children at home as well as how parents can promote their children’s interest in reading by reading to them. Though the articles seem different in tone, however, both of them involve educating children and getting them to read. My personal experience with reading has also been of a similar nature. Through my reading, I have been able to learn a lot about the world around me as well as about various subjects of my interest. It is through my habit of reading that I have been able to improve and enhance my English language skills. English is not my first language, and though it seemed quite daunting at first, with my habit of reading, I soon became quite familiar with the language. It is because of my reading that my English has improved this much. It is clear that reading does a lot in improving one’s language skills. It is through reading that correct grammar and diction can be learned, and it is through reading that vocabulary can be expanded. However, apart from its linguistic related

The Urban Schools in the United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

The Urban Schools in the United States - Essay Example tion in schools apart from the disparity in the enrollment rates of students as well as the availability of teachers belonging to different races and ethnic origins. â€Å"Equity is central to the current reform movement in science education. Although all students are capable of understanding and doing science, persistent and widespread differences continue to exist in students’ access, retention, and achievement, depending on their culture, gender, race, and socioeconomic status† (WCER, 2007). Besides, teachers and students are exposed to a lot of challenges in the urban schools. Background of Urban Schools In the United States, the education sector has been a major priority, with numerous efforts on reform being implemented to improve students’ performance. Urban schools in the United States are located in urban areas, where there are relatively high rates of poverty. Besides, the student population here possesses limited English proficiency and is, therefore r egarded as high need areas (Ruso, 2004). Gaskell (2012) claims that in the early years, wealth was accumulated by a limited number of individuals and, as a result, poverty levels in the urban areas increased significantly. The urban population in the United States increased as well, resulting in many differences, such as racism and inequality. The funding of schools among the wealthy and the poor districts remained fraught with inequality. The urban schools in the United States have, over the years, faced a declining level of test scores and high rates of violence. According to Stark (2011), urban schools in the 1800s have been started with an aim of providing immigrant parents with affordable places for their children to stay during the day as they worked in mills, factories or shops. By 1920, the urban... This essay approves that research on teacher turnover is examined and the situation in urban schools is related to the factors for teacher turnover that have emerged from the research. Finally, the review also presents factors that contribute to teachers’ motivation to stay in urban schools despite the difficult conditions. The researcher hopes that by looking at both the challenges and the motivating factors, this study will be contribute to the understanding of teacher retention in urban schools. There appears to exist a whole range of factors that demotivate teachers in general and science teachers in particular from continuing with the profession of teaching. While teachers receive only low salaries, the job is extremely demanding both in terms of time and physical as well as emotional stress it entails. The most unfortunate aspect of the job of teaching is the fact that a teacher is held wholly responsible and accountable for the behavior and results of students. The prof ession of teaching is too taxing, which prevents a teacher from attaining a balance between his or her personal and work life. This report makes a conclusion that teacher turnover is a particular problem in most of the urban schools. Negative reports about urban settings have discouraged properly qualified teachers from taking up teaching jobs in these schools. The high level of stress and exhaustion experienced in these schools also result in high teacher turnover. Despite the negative factors, however, there are some teachers that remain in the urban schools and they are motivated to provide quality education. The literature also reviews some of the teacher qualities that motivate teachers to teach in urban schools.

Linguistics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Linguistics - Term Paper Example Coprolalia is not only in verbal situations but some of its victims also show signs of obscenities like usually sticking the middle finger to the police and public, using the hands and body parts around the genitals to give gestures of sexual obscenities the deaf could also use sign language. The condition of Coprolalia is part of a condition called the Tourette syndrome (Timothy 20). I believe that since this is more of a social than a medical problem, it is the role of the society as a whole to educate itself about coprolalia. The society includes those suffering from the condition and those not suffering from it because both sides are victims. On the side of the affected, it is the role of those they interact with on a daily basis to educate them about the condition. For the young children, it is the role of their parents and teachers to teach them on how to control themselves when exposed to certain situations. The patient should be made to acknowledge that these words are involuntary and do not depict their actual opinions on the person he might have told. Teachers should teach the students not to be involved in situations that they are likely to get annoyed as their reactions are highly explosive. Therefore, as a child grows up, they will learn that they have to know to what extent he can carry on with an argument before they lose their cool and starts talk ing obscenities involuntarily. The parents should comfort their children by assuring them that even those suffering from this condition can lead healthy normal lives. Illustrations from family members and well known professionals can help assure the child of a bright future. It is important especially for the girls to be told that the condition is not hereditary and, therefore, their children will not necessarily have a similar condition (Mitzi 99). Since coprolalia is a condition of Tourette syndrome, public awareness of the condition can be done by giving contributions to the Tourette Syndrome

Contempory business issues-sub-prime lettings Essay

Contempory business issues-sub-prime lettings - Essay Example In September 2007, Northern Rock, the UKs fifth largest mortgage provider, was forced to seek an emergency funding from the Bank of England, the UKs central bank as a result of problems in international credit markets attributed to the sub-prime lending crisis. Not only that, even the IMF has warned the UK housing market about the mortgage scenario in the country. According to IMF, the UK market is even more overpriced than its US equivalent before the current decline. Consequently, IMF has downgraded its forecast for 2008 growth to 2.3%. They attribute the dangers to higher lending standards than in the US as well as strong immigration combined with constrained supply. Recently, Morgan Stanleys David Miles described himself as ‘relatively pessimistic’ about the UK housing market. According to him, it is in a worse shape than its European counterparts. He further warned that limited supply wont continue to hold up prices into the future. In this context, I would also like to state the perplexing figures release by ‘Shelter’. According to which more than a million people used high-cost credit card loans to meet rental or mortgage demands in the last 12 months. Out of the 2,000 households polled, 6% had relied on a card, and when payments were made by young people aged between 18 and 24 that figure rose to 7.5%. Just few days ago, the Chairman and CEO of the global financial giant, Citigroup, had to resign owing to almost $5-billion write-off in mortgage due to the sub-prime crisis. These are certainly worrying signals of times to come. At this point, let us try to understand the root causes of the subprime crises in US. The subprime mortgage lending problems actually began almost three years ago when mortgage companies started giving out loans to consumers without asking for any documentation or verification. As a

Scripture Inerrancy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Scripture Inerrancy - Research Paper Example Even though most people where born into the religions of their parents and thus religions that already existed before their births, they have grown to accept the basic teachings and history of their religions as true and factual. It will not be far from right to argue that such people uphold and defend the doctrines of their religions because of documented evidence of the sanctity and authenticity of the stories surrounding their religion. Christianity is one of such religions that have very large following of people who in all cases try to defend the perfection of the religion. Like people of most other religions, Christians are always confident of the sanctity of their religion due to the faith they have in the origin of their history, documented in their holy scripture referred to as the bible. The phenomenon by which Christians attest to the authenticity and sanctity of the bible is common referred in theology as scripture inerrancy (Rhodes, 2001). Scripture inerrancy is regarded as an important subject in theology not because of the need to exonerate Christianity but to offer religious education and enlightenment to the world at large. As an important component of theology, it does not seek to perfect one religion against another but it tries to lay the facts bear so that readers and listeners will be able to make informed decisions for themselves. It is for this reason that research work on scripture is being considered for this research work. Problem Statement The problem under research has to do with scripture inerrancy, which has to do with the inspiration of the bible. As Challis (2006) notes, â€Å"the doctrines regarding the Bible have been discussed and debated at length throughout the history of the church.† Until a common compromise is reached in the discipline of theology on the doctrines of the bible, it is true to say that the debate and research will continue. The topic of scripture inerrancy therefore appears to be a problem that comm on in theological circles and even among religious followers who desire to be convinced of the truth behind various religions. This also means that the research problem

Contempory business issues-sub-prime lettings Essay

Contempory business issues-sub-prime lettings - Essay Example In September 2007, Northern Rock, the UKs fifth largest mortgage provider, was forced to seek an emergency funding from the Bank of England, the UKs central bank as a result of problems in international credit markets attributed to the sub-prime lending crisis. Not only that, even the IMF has warned the UK housing market about the mortgage scenario in the country. According to IMF, the UK market is even more overpriced than its US equivalent before the current decline. Consequently, IMF has downgraded its forecast for 2008 growth to 2.3%. They attribute the dangers to higher lending standards than in the US as well as strong immigration combined with constrained supply. Recently, Morgan Stanleys David Miles described himself as ‘relatively pessimistic’ about the UK housing market. According to him, it is in a worse shape than its European counterparts. He further warned that limited supply wont continue to hold up prices into the future. In this context, I would also like to state the perplexing figures release by ‘Shelter’. According to which more than a million people used high-cost credit card loans to meet rental or mortgage demands in the last 12 months. Out of the 2,000 households polled, 6% had relied on a card, and when payments were made by young people aged between 18 and 24 that figure rose to 7.5%. Just few days ago, the Chairman and CEO of the global financial giant, Citigroup, had to resign owing to almost $5-billion write-off in mortgage due to the sub-prime crisis. These are certainly worrying signals of times to come. At this point, let us try to understand the root causes of the subprime crises in US. The subprime mortgage lending problems actually began almost three years ago when mortgage companies started giving out loans to consumers without asking for any documentation or verification. As a

Problems in the Workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Problems in the Workplace - Essay Example Workers in the 21st century have increasingly raised concerns on how technology has changed their tasks as well as way of life, which could possibly lower performance. Some have lost their jobs because of mechanization and use of computers implying high level of unemployment. It has therefore become necessary for management to formulate policies for introducing new technology that do not lower workers ego but instead instills morale and motivation. In this paper, the issue of negative impact of technology on workers shall be discussed; issues related to technology change in working environment and suggest how to develop a mechanism to solve negative impact of technology, its implementation and suggestion on how to improve workers perception on new technology. Technology is in recent days among the greatest challenges that employees have because they fear losing their jobs after introduction of computers and other devices. Although job has been made easier and efficient, technology has lowered workers morale especially those that are convinced that use of computers, robots and advanced machinery will eventually replace them (Hodgetts & Hegar, 2008). Many workers are therefore not ready to embrace new technology; instead, they are resisting management move to introduce new technologically advanced equipment. This has made work become ineffective since workers are always on go-slows in embracing new technology especially the one that is deemed to take away their positions. Resistance has especially come from workers who are not skilled, those that like paper work and they fear that lack of knowledge on how to use computers can possibly eliminate them. Workers resistance to technology change has held some organization behind thus not sustain ing stiff competition especially in the 21st century. However, workers involvement in decision making and implementation of strategies to embrace technology changes has created a good working environment since

Religion Definition Essay Example for Free

Religion Definition Essay 1. What is a religion? You’ve read our textbook author’s definition; use that definition as a starting point to go further. The word â€Å"religion† is such a broad word that to this day there is no one definition that can satisfy all religions. For the time being, it is better to simply be open to many possible definitions, without embracing any single one. Different people especially in different religions will all have a difference in opinion when trying to use very few words to define religion. The traditional definition of religion is a system of belief that involves worship of a God or gods, prayer, ritual, and a moral code. Religion is important to many people because it gives them something to believe in. Religion helps human deal with their mortality. As human beings, we look to religion for answers to life’s unexpected or unknown questions such as death, pain, afterlife, or rebirth. Religion has a way of helping us deal with death and offers comfort. Religion also helps us be creativity and express ourselves through music, dance, and art. It gives us a sense of viewing life as something beautiful and lively. People who have a religion usually are more happy knowing that they life can reflect something of the supernatural that they do not understand. Through art, we get to express how we are feeling on the inside. Many people use music, dance, and art to show others what they cannot express through words. Religion gives them a sense of confident. 2. Discuss some of the characteristics that religions have in common. Some characteristics that religions have in common are: belief system, community, central myths, ritual, characteristic emotional experiences, material expression, and sacredness. Not all religions will consist of all elements but rather some of these characteristics are commonly accepted. Many believe in a worldview were all things in the universe and human being has a place in it. Humans need of belonging helps them seek out for a community where they can belong too and share their ideals and practices. Many religions have this so people can rely on one another. Other characteristics that are shared in religions are passed down from generations to generations through stories or reenactment of major events in the religious group. Each religion has its own myth that is central to the religion. Not only are myths passed down but rituals as well. These beliefs are enacted and made real through ceremonies. Also, ethics are passed down which are set guidelines for the group of people; these are viewed as being revealed through a supernatural realm. Religions also allow people to express themselves emotionally and give a sense of inner peace that cannot come from outer resources. Material expression allows religions to make use of astonishing variety of physical elements. Each religion has a source of sacredness that is distinctive from the ordinary. Ceremonies express the distinction through different language, clothing, and architecture. Each tradition exhibit most of these characteristics but for those who practice them will manifest them in different ways and at different times. 3. In addition to characteristics in common among religions, there are some patterns with regard to beliefs, world views, etc., that are exhibited by most religions. Discuss these patterns. There are three different patterns that we look for to see similarity and difference among religions. The first pattern is views of the world and life. Religions must offer answers to life’s great questions that are asked. All questions are the same, but the answers very depending on the religion. Because of the great variety of worldview each answer is different and must be examined close to get a better understanding of why it is the way it is. Some religion view the universe as being created by a Creator while others believe it has no beginning and no ending. Some view nature as the realm of evil where it needs to be overcome. Others believe that humans are called to shape it. Each view differs from religion to religion. The second pattern is the focus of beliefs and practices. There are three concepts that are practiced, although one may be more dominant than the other depending on the purpose of importance. Sacramental orientation emphasizes carrying out rituals and ceremonies regularly and correctly as the path to salvation. Some believe that correct ritual influences the processes of nature. Prophetic orientation implies that a human being may be an important intermediary between the believer and the sacred. This is prominent in Judaism, Protestant Christianity, and Islam. Mystical orientation seeks union with something greater such as God, nature, the universe, or reality as a whole. Upanishadi Hinduism, Daoism, and some Buddhism stress the importance of this. The third pattern is the view of male and female. As human being the role of men and women are very important and religion has had much to say about the roles of men and women on earth and in the divine realm. Today many influential religions consider the male as dominate; the sacred and full-time religious specialists are usually males. Although this may not be completely true, in the past, female divinities once played an important role in many culture and religion. 4. Having discussed in last week’s Discussion Board postings your own reasons for taking this World Religions course, discuss some of the benefits of studying the major religions of the world cited by our textbook author. Studying the different religions around the world allows for a better understanding of each religion and helps educate and improve one’s experience of other related subjects. When studying other religion it allows insights into the religious traditions such as values, relationships, personalities, and human creativity. Not only that but it gives the outsiders an appreciation for the things that are not obvious to the insider. Other benefits include insight into everyday life. Religions influence everyday life in many ways. Many people use religion for moral issues, on buildings, comic strips. The study of religion with help a person recognizes the religious influence everywhere. For someone who has no religion or is on their religious quest, understanding and studying the many different religions will help them find a place to belong too. Knowledge of the different religion will aid a person in their journey of life. Short Answer Questions: 5. What is the origin and meaning of the word â€Å"religion†? The origin of the word â€Å"religion† comes from the Latin roots re-, meaning â€Å"again,† and lig-, meaning â€Å"join† or â€Å"connect.† The translation would then mean â€Å"to join again,† or â€Å"to reconnect.† This word suggests the joining of our natural, human world to the sacred world. 6. What is the meaning of â€Å"sacred†? Sacred is a God or gods that is set apart because of its holiness. These deities are considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion. 7. Define and contrast monotheism and polytheism. Monotheism is the term that means a belief in one God. Those who believe in God believe that He is all powerful, pure spirit, and not fully definable in words. Polytheism on the other hand means worship of or believing in many coexisting gods. These multiple gods may be fairly separate entities, each in charge of an aspect of reality, or they may be multiple manifestations of the same basic sacred reality. 8. Define and contrast atheism and agnosticism. Atheism is the denial of the existence of any God or gods. Agnosticism is to argue that the existence of God cannot be proven. 9. How are symbols used in religion? Symbols are important in religion because religions are so varied in their teachings and in conflict with each other that symbols help express truth. Symbols are fairly concrete, ordinary, and universal that represents and helps human beings intensely experience something of greater difficulty. 10. What is a sacrament? Give two or three examples of sacraments in a religion with which you are familiar. A sacrament is a religious rite or act seen as way of receiving Gods grace. In some mysterious way God uses physical things to bring about spiritual changes and give His grace. As a Christian, a few sacraments that we hold are: baptism, communion, and fasting. These are all important in receiving God’s grace. 11. Contrast linear and cyclical time in the study of religion. Linear time place an emphasis on creation, religions that believe in this is Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, time is very important. Linear time means moving in a straight line from the beginning of the universe to its end. In cyclical time, the universe simply moves through endless changes, which repeat themselves over grand periods of time. Buddhism believes time is cyclical and is not as crucial because ultimately the universe is not moving to a final point.

Mormons In Utah Essay -- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Mormons in Utah I intend to prove that the Mormon religion, which began to rise in both reputation and numbers in Utah, is a strange mixer of Christianity, American pragmatism, millennialist expectations, economic experimentation, political conservation, evangelical fervor and international activity, but is still a highly followed, rapidly growing, and successful religion. Mormonism is a major modern religion with more than 8 million members, and over 4 million in the United States. Mormonism was founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith who was known as the prophet. This is a young age for such a widely practiced religion, and its numbers grow daily. Mormonism is officially the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Its founding doctrine is based on the assumption that Christianity was too corrupt and ungodly, and that restoring true Christian values was necessary. A revelation like this may only come through God who needs to put the true, pure forms of Christianity in a divine authority. The Mormons, who follow four books including The Bible, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine of Covenants, and Pearl of a Great Price do believe that all religions have some amount of truth to them and do good in one form or another, but it is only their religion that is " the only true and living church upon Earth". In 1820 , Mormonism was f...

The Life of the Governess Rebecca Sharp :: Victorian Era

The Life of the Governess Vanity Fair Sets the Stage â€Å"If Miss Rebecca Sharp had determined in her heart upon making the conquest of this big beau, I don't think, ladies, we have any right to blame her†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Thackery 27). The narrator of Vanity Fair encourages readers not to blame Rebecca Sharp for being determined to win Joseph Sedley's attentions and proposal in only ten days! After all, the narrator reminds us that she was motherless, and thus had no one to help her secure a husband. Yet, members of Vanity Fair rebuke Miss Sharp for her assertive efforts. Perhaps, though, one should sympathize and applaud Miss Sharp's labors because her destination after ten days was the life of a governess. A Governess-A Definition The position of a governess required that one act as a companion for her charges and teach them the accomplishments that would enable them to compete effectively in society†¦ The required accomplishments were still one or two languages, preferably French and Italian, music, dancing, drawing and needlework†¦ The eventual aim was the best possible marriage. --Alice Renton, 48 The governess was even often the heroine for writers focusing on domestic, educational and social issues (â€Å"The Victorian Governess†). Yet, author and former governess Charlotte Brontà « wrote, â€Å"it was better to be a housemaid or kitchen girl, rather than a baited, trampled, desolate, distracted governess† (Damrosch 1524). And Anna Jameson wrote, â€Å"a woman who knows anything in the world would, if the choice be left to her, be anything in the world rather than be a governess† (Renton 59). Why the Negativity Regarding a Governess? As the cries of these governesses allude, life as a governess was not always glamorous, despite the literary regard. â€Å"A governess who was capable of teaching more than the usual subjects was generally little valued† (Renton 50). The pay a governess received often reflected the small value. â€Å"Her wages could be as low as eight pounds a year†¦ Charlotte Brontà « received twenty pounds per year (actually only sixteen since washing expenses were deducted at the source)† (Allingham). Perhaps the Quarterly Review best put the institution of being a governess in perspective when the following was published, â€Å"a being who is our equal in birth, manners, and education, but our inferior in worldly wealth† (Renton 96). Thus, governesses â€Å"ranked with the superior servants† (Altick 56) and ended up feeling broken and lonely as Jameson described (Renton 59). So Where Did Becky Fit In? Becky was obviously not the typical Victorian governess.

The Architecture Of Theatres Architecture Essay

Back to the first half of the twentieth century and it was in America that mass production was going of all time more efficient and ironss of theaters were blossoming all over the state. Architects commissioned to plan these theaters were no longer being briefed by the dramatists and directors but by the proprietors of the ironss with the exclusive purpose on increasing box office gross revenues. The aesthetics were clearly intended for the paying client and the money directed at the entryway anteroom and the of all time turning auditorium infinites and the less exhausted on the of all time smaller dressing suites. This job was less common in Britain around that clip as really few theaters were built during the war but a premier illustration for Britain did come about with the renovation of the Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1930. Designed by modernist designer Elizabeth Scott, after months of fundraising and commission meetings, was expressed by the manager of the theatr e William Bridge-Adam as holding, â€Å" Absolute flexibleness, a box of fast ones out of which the kid like head of the manufacturer may make whichever form it pleases. It should be able to offer Mr Poel an Elizabethan phase after his bosom ‘s desire. † The Architectural Review responded to it with critical acclamation. Sightline was an country singled out as being particularily good with no pillars blockading any positions and no boxes. Acousticss were besides mentioned, â€Å" the form of the theater resembles a elephantine horn and is so deigned that the participants can be herd from all parts of the phase and the sound distributed equally throughout the auditorium. The splays and the ceiling of the apron, together with the proscenium when in usage, act as reinforcment to the beginning of sound. † Finally the usage of stuffs and the manner where mentioned. â€Å" Though new theaters continue to look in changeless sequence throughout the state, each fledgling, with really occasional exclusion, represents no more than another measure along the boring way of motif decoration and nonmeaningful ornament. Since Palladio built his theater of Vicenza there has been no development other than an increasing inclination towards coarseness and over-elaborationaˆÂ ¦ in the new theater in Stratford-on-Avon stuffs are used with intelligence, choice and fittingness of intent and designed by the nature of the stuff. † It subsequently became clear that the histrions did non experience the same manner. Remarks were made over the distance from the phase and front row and the bare walls stretching from the apron to the circle. It was described in The Other Theatre, published in 1947, Word count: 294 as if â€Å" acting to Calais from the drops of Dover. † ( Baliol Holloway ) Clearly the designer had non achieved what she had wanted ( an confidant theater ) nor what the client desired. What had happened here was a deficiency of communicating and cooperation between the two professions. In the yesteryear there was an apprehension of what was required and small was said between either professions but back so the designers working on theatre edifices would hold specialised in Theatre design, most of them being builders themselves with several old ages of experience under their belts. The word specializer was non used in Britain until the mid-19th century, pervious to that an designer who designed theaters would merely be referred to as a Theatre Designer. Earlier instances have been recorded in other parts of the universe where renowned general designers have thought they could work out the jobs aroused by the old theater designs. At the terminal of the eighteenth century London had several theaters which had work done to them such as Benjamin Dean Wyatt ‘s Theatre Royal in Drury Lane which besides received architectural critical acclamation. Too frequently theatres built by celebrated Renaissance man designers are more excessive and stop up holding work done to the auditorium within and around a decennary. Fortunately for both designer and theater proprietor money had become available for rebuilds and amendments nevertheless huge. The theatre professions displeasure with the plants of Wyatt ‘s at Drury Lane and Elizabeth Scott at Stratford -upon-Avon are merely a twosome of illustrations of what happens when celebrated designers try and enforce a solution to and old and accustomed job. Their belief that they could rethink the nature of the auditorium ‘s issues upon their first effort can be seen as naA?ve and as the theater profession is more voluble than the architectural kingdom when provoked, the public tend accept the incrimination being placed on the designer.Word count: 385Fortunately there are a few first clip Architects, Theatre Designers and Consultants who do listen to their clients and are willing to pass the clip analyzing the codification for auditorium design every bit good as meet proficient demands. As a consequence there are many theaters in both Britain and America which function out of a healthy relationship between both theaters and architecture professions. The dislocation in communicating is what both sides have to be wary of and this can frequently be caused by the designers instinctive to offer slight resources to the external design. In some instances it may be the instance that the designer has taken a modernist mentality, strange to the theatrical precedency which is by and large that the exterior of the edifice should show what ‘s interior and besides the other manner around. Therefore in the name of architectural truthfulness as a whole, the particularization and form to the auditorium could be sacrificed by the designer under his pronunciamento. Looking at it the issue in item, the same result can be caused by the sentiment that the designer is non altering anything merely reorganizing the auditorium elements more efficaciously which is merely every bit unsafe as believing that they can alter the nature of the auditorium itself. Therefore by seeking to organize these cardinal constituents such as lighting, side seating and acoustic stuffs, and traveling them to the margin of the infinite the oculus of the spectator may be drawn to the exterior of the phase instead than inwards at the histrion. The attending would be drawn to the side walls and ceiling hence the histrion will hold to seek harder to derive the attending of the audience. The job with auditoriums in the yesteryear was the failure to pull the attending to the front 15ft of the phase which should â€Å" look to drift † . Some of the causes may hold been that the seating went excessively far back or was spread excessively broad. The root for this job maybe that some designers are taught and become house trusters that form follows map, therefore the functionality false belief. They work merely with statistics in making a design which is dictated strictly on Numberss. Areas of the design which could non be measured were frequently ignored or left to the designer to make up one's mind on the result unattended. This is a clear illustration of a deficiency of a existent philosophical treatment on the nature of how theatre maps, between the theatrical technician and the designer.Word count: 403To understand the designer Lashkar-e-Taiba ‘s expression at how the development of the proper attack to theatre design. First of all a squad needs to be formed dwelling of: an designer, applied scientist, acoustic adviser, cost adviser and theater adviser. An designer of course heads the squad as is in the designer ‘s office where he or she works alongside spouses, associates and has technicians underneath headin g different sections on the building drawings. There will be some younger members of the squad which would hold graduated high from their architectural schools desiring to work for an experient designer on high degree undertakings who spend their clip seeking to happen rational solutions through planing study strategies with the designer. These immature people are who the Theatre Consultants should intercede with. The Engineers on occasion have a inclination to take over a undertaking which can be unsafe for the place of the designer. The electrical applied scientist has the safest function in footings of illuming which can be overseen by the Theatre Consultant and more cardinal to the success of the undertaking is the mechanical applied scientist. The mechanical applied scientist takes charge of the warming and airing. Theatres require that the infinite be dry and cool whilst besides being soundless, something theater directors specify as being indispensable is the silence. Architecture Actor & A ; Audience states that â€Å" Quite merely there is nil more expensive and nil more necessary. † The overall occupation of the applied scientists be them electrical, structural or mechanical is to work out how the design is put together as opposed to the â€Å" what † and the â€Å" why † of the design. This leads us to the unsafe instances in which the applied scientists take over the function of interior decorator of theaters from the designers. 1950 ‘s America and applied scientists were emerging with legion makings in phase design and acoustic and scenic technology claiming they had solutions to sights and sounds. Fixed angles where determined for acceptable sightlines in the auditoriums. Ceilings hidden by illuming, antecedently referred to as â€Å" the celestial spheres † to capture the lifting human spirit and to maintain a cap on the theatre infinite to concentrate the attending back down to the histrion. The side walls which had been lined with humanity in the early old ages were besides now shaped for acoustic advantages. To make a theater that was confidant, it was suggested that the furthest seats from the phase had to be of a certain distance. Jo Melziner ‘s so called field trials in which he concluded that the furthest distance of: â€Å" 55ft ( 16.8m ) for Julie Harris in play, somewhat more for Gertrude Berg in a instead wide comedy and 100ft ( 30m ) for Ethel Merman in anything. † What had non seemed to be considered was the denseness of the infinite given to the single audience member or of the impact of the sum of people to be fitted into the full distance allocated. Merely to advert some of the theaters loved by the theatre profession ; the Old Vic in London, the Lyceum and the Booth in New York, all of which would be considered severely designed with positions obstructed with bad sightlines and countries with a deficiency of legroom but shows win in these theatersWord count: 331Nowadays this is realised as being a error in design as functionality really took away from the experience but in the 50s and 60s this confusion of the standards of what makes a good theater experience had non been realised. What differentiates the unrecorded theater is the sense of community and engagement non the accent on the ocular lines and sound quality. Possibly if we take a measure back and expression at what Marcus Vitruvius Pollio wrote in the early first century BC on theatre architecture, we could perchance happen another angle on design. Vitruvius holding been an designer and builder shared most if non all his cognition in his 10 books on architecture. He makes elaborate mention to bing edifices and gave recommendations on how to construct new 1s.Word count: 248The decision is that clients are looking to be progressively avaricious desiring larger seating volume with equal comfort. The designer must non fall for the naivete that they can work out the jobs which have been around for centuries. An designer ‘s certitude in his proficient accomplishments can easy do the failure of a production and non hold the endowment of the production or authors to fault. Many freshly emerging designers believe that theaters need modernization but at that place needs to be a greater apprehension of the thaumaturgy and illusionistic handli ng of the infinite of such a complex edifice type. It seems better so to lodge to old schemes which work and if there is an old theater in inquiry so maintain it if it works. Amendments can be made to the dressing room and saloon, perchance the anteroom but non to the infinites in which the audience interact with the performing artists. By looking to the yesteryear for replies we will happen that the bulk of successful theaters are based on the rules of the â€Å" sacred geometry † which should be considered as particular harmoniousness with the purpose to promote motion of energy non as a robust cyberspace of formations. Finally the sightline paradox. It seems the theaters which work good suffer from the occasional positions with obstructors but those theaters which have first-class sightlines all-round are universally disliked by histrions and audience.

Management and Samsung

Contents I. Introduction – Executive Summary:2 II. Critical Success Factors4 1. Wise R&D Strategy:4 2. Strong intellectual Capital:5 3. Self-weakness recognition5 4. Effective Supply Chain Management7 5. Effective Marketing Strategy:8 6. SAMSUNG’s culture and leadership:10 III. Conclusion14 References:15 I. Introduction – Executive Summary: Electronic products now are the necessary part in household and they provide the conveniences make living of people better. However, the awareness of people now progressively has improved, lead to the higher expectation in quality of products.It provides both opportunities and threats for electronics companies. SAMSUNG is the company which seized the opportunities to growth from small export business to world’s leading electronics company, which specializes in digital appliances and media, semiconductors, memory, and system integration. SAMSUNG was found on 1st of March, 1938 by Byung-Chull Lee in Taegu, Korea with only 30. 000 won. At the start, SAMSUNG focused primarily on trade export, agricultural products such as dried fish, vegetable and fruit to Manchuria and Beijing.Samsung Distribution ChannelWithin a decade, SAMSUNG owned flour mills and confectionary machines became a co-operation in 1951. From 1958, Samsung began to broaden into other businesses such as financial, media, chemicals and ship building during the 1970's before it specialized in electronics manufacturing and continued expand their business on global market in 1990. In 1997 the majority of Korean businesses got smaller in size and Samsung was no exception. They had to sell and dropped some businesses to reduce debt and cut employees down lowering personnel by 50,000.But they managed to control that situation and continue to grow after restructure old businesses and enter the new ones with the aim of becoming one of the world’s top five electronics companies. Adapt with the changing tech world, SAMSUNG gradually became the famous name in electronics markets and now over more than 60 years, SAMSUNG becomes market leader in electronics market when it has market share in almost countries in the world, especially in Asia, the largest market of SAMSUNG.For examining the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) of the multinational corporation, SAMSUNG would be rather useful. It is essential to indicate the following Critical Success Factors of SAMSUNG that were in fact implemented to corporation’s strategy as main precedence in the long-term to become the leader in markets. ?Wise R Strategy ?Strong Intellectual Capital ?Self-Weakness Recognition ?Effective Supply Chain Management ?Effective Marketing Strategy ?SAMSUNG’s culture and leadership

President Kennedy as the person who saved the west from nuclear war Essay

Section 1 The Cold war, which existed between the Soviet Union and the United States following World War ll, and the constant threat of nuclear devastation, which it presented, evolved throughout its history. The relationship between these two super powers was strained at the best, at its worst; it was hostile and came near the unleashing of the devastating nuclear arsenal both countries possessed. The term ‘cold war’ was used first by an American banker relating to the tension between the U.S.S.R and the USA, when he said cold he was referring to the fact that both countries were doing there best to stop direct fighting and for it to become a ‘hot’ war. The reason these two super powers fought were over their ideologies on how to live in each others country where as America was run by Capitalism, this was the system that gave common civilians the right to vote for which ever government party they wanted to run the country it also gave the press freedom of speech where government scandals were hardly censored, unlike The Soviets who ran a one party state consisting of only the Communist party called Soviets, but because most of the soviets were Communist the government was really run by the one party. Also there was mass government run industries like the media as this was run by them, the news was censored strictly throughout covering up any government scandal. The other major difference was the distribution of wealth and the line between the rich and the poor as this was very low in Russia however in the U.S average living standards where much higher as wealth was dispersed more unevenly throughout business Tycoons and their estate s. All these factors lead to nuclear war and the cold war between Russia and America, America was the first to release a nuclear attack and used, the first nuclear atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, on 6th August 1945 showing the world what lengths America would go to, to win a war. Source 1a A concluding sentence The relationship also evolved over time, and the emergence of Fidel Castro in Cuba was a catalyst for a change in the relationship between these powers. The threat he and his Communist party presented to his American neighbours would change the way the Americans dealt with their Cold War enemies. In the same way, Castro’s Communists also gave Nikita Khrushchev and the Soviets an entrance into North and Central American affairs. Section two Prior to the revolution in Cuba, during Batista’s brutal regime there was a period of time describes as ‘an easing of tensions’ in relationships between the East and the West. These tensions were eased because many of the potential conflicts between Eastern and western sides had been resolved, such as the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. During Batista’s regime as dictator over Cuba the Americans had been its main customer of Cuba’s main resource, Sugar cane, this made relationships between Cuba an America quite friendly and Cuba was full of American influence with Gentlemen’s Clubs, Brothels and Casino’s it was nick named the rich Americans playground, also on the island were strong Mafia connections, yet the police did little to stop them as they could easily be bribed and were often dealing themselves. The easing of tensions and the apparent lack of interest from either of the two cold war powers in aggression against one another would be brought to an end following Castro taking over Cuba in early 1959, but at this time the relationship between Fidel Castro and the Cuban Communist was not entirely clear. During the Cuban revolution that saw Fulgencio Batista’s brutal regime overthrown and come to an end, Castro had been at the fore of the uprising. He sold all the American owned business’s the mere presence of a ‘Communist’ island within 100 miles of the United States drew much attention to Cuba, both to the Soviet Union and their American rivals. The real cold war evolution did not have its beginnings in the working relationship, which was to be established between Havana and Moscow, but rather in the deteriorating relationship between the Cuban capital and Washington. American business interests in Cuba were being threatened by Castro’s policy of nationalisation of lands, and the U.S. was begging to feel that they â€Å"could not ‘do business’ with Castro’s government† this feeling was the reason for the beginnings of an action against the Castro Regime approved by President Eisenhower, and late adopted by John Fitzgerald Kennedy when he was elected to office in November 1960. This program consisted of political action, propaganda and military operations† and was behind the infamous Bay of Pigs invasion, although this program was directed against Cuba it may also have sent another message to the soviet Communists that the Americans were not prepared to tolerate communism so near their own borders. In any case, Source 2b Concluding sentence This policy, a direct reaction to Fidel Castro himself and the communist regime, which he had brought to power, could not have any positive effect on relations between the Capitalist Americans and the communists. The real advantage of Cuba to the Soviets was in the form of gaining leverage in negotiations over Berlin, which was of far more importance to the communist than the small, poor island ruled by Castro. Tensions over Berlin came about after Khrushchev demanded the western powers, which occupied Berlin, evacuate the city. Khrushchev, â€Å"alarmed at the growing military and economic strength of West Germany† otherwise, the soviets would turn the administration of Berlin to the East German government, with which the west had no agreements and under the rule of which the western powers would have no access whatsoever to Berlin. By removing the western influences from the area, Khrushchev hoped to â€Å"Weaken ties between the United States and West Germany and provoke disunity among NATO allies† The NATO powers however did not back down, however there came to be a dà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½tente over the question of administration of Berlin. This still existed in 1962, and Fidel Castro would prove to be a willing pawn in a move by Khrushchev to gain the upper hand in the negotiations over the administration of Berlin. Prior to the events of 1962, which made up the Cuban missile crisis came the infamous Bay of Pigs invasion, this great American failure showed to which lengths the Americans were prepared to go to remove the influence of Castro and communism from the island of Cuba. On 16th April 1961, 1,300 â€Å"CIA- trained Cuban exiles in American-surplus planes and boats left to invade Cuba and liberate their countrymen† this so called liberation was unsuccessful the Cuban people had been prepared for such an invasion and in fact the Cuban Military forces and Castro himself also knew of the plans of the invasion. One hundred and fifty invaders were killed, the rest taken prisoner and the American attempt to overthrow Castro and his regime had failed. There were several crucial outcomes to this invasion however, all affecting the relationship between the eastern and western powers. The soviets, due to the ability of the island nation to withstand the invasion, became convinced of the value of Cuba in gaining the upper hand over the U.S. enough so that the Castro’s regime would now be â€Å"worthy of a major military and diploma. But while the Soviet Union now considered Cuba a worthy ally, it became evident to Castro that he also needed to pursue a relationship with the Soviet Union for protection because his island was very much within the U.S. sphere of influence. The invasion, while unsuccessful, showed that the Americans were willing to go to great lengths to remove him from office, and at this point, the best solution for Castro appeared to be the pursuit of an alliance with Moscow, directed against his American neighbours. The strengthening of ties between Cuba and the Soviet Union, as a result of this Bay of Pigs invasion, led directly to the Cuban Missile Crisis. As much as that conflict resulted from Khrushchev’s design to take advantage of Cuba’s proximity to the U.S. to install missile sites, it was the American policy towards Cuba, that which sought, by any means necessary, to remove Fidel Castro’s influence over Cuba, which pushed the new Communist allies into each other’s arms. The mere presence of Fidel Castro was responsible for the heightening of tensions between the Soviet Union and John F. Kennedy’s United States leading up to the crisis. There was a strong Soviet presence in Cuba prior to the Cuban Missile Crisis. The sanctions, which followed Castro’s rise to power placed a large burden on the Cuban economy, as the U.S., naturally, had been the island’s primary trading partner. This burden was eased by the Soviets who, in 1960, agreed to buy out Cuba’s U.S. sugar share, and later made the promise to provide ‘necessary aid’ in the case of armed intervention. In fact, United States sanctions against Fidel Castro and his government â€Å"provided the rationale and the catalytic action which accelerate close economic, military and political relations between Cuba and the USSR.† But the gravity of the Soviets economic pursuits in Cuba is far less than the deal made which allowed the Soviets to build missile sites on the island. Due to the deadlock over the Berlin question, Khrushchev felt he needed to gain the upper hand in military might to have his way. Because the USSR was falling behind in the arms race, a creative solution was needed which would achieve equality and the â€Å"cheapest and fastest way †¦ was to install shorter-range missiles on Cuba.† The role of Castro in this affair was to accept the missiles from the USSR, but for his own set of reasons. Castro felt that some protection was needed from the threat of any more American invasions, and the addition of missile sites to his island would strengthen his position considerably. The military installations instilled confidence and would be a tremendous asset given any aggression by the Americans or their Western allies. In any case, both nations had interests in the missiles being installed in Cuba, so Castro gave the plan his blessing. By this time, it had become clear to the Soviets that their high expectations of Castro were warranted, as this revolutionary leader had given them the opportunity they thought they needed to tip the scale in their favour where there real interests lay, Berlin. For someone who had so critical a role in bringing about the Cuban Missile Crisis, Fidel Castro played only the smallest role once it began. When an American U-2 first spotted evidence of the construction of a missile site in Cuba on 14 October 1962, the crisis began. While negotiations to end the crisis were underway between Kennedy and Khrushchev, Castro was left out and â€Å"did not take the exclusion lightly† Castro even went so far as to make a speech, on 23 October 1962, denying that â€Å"either the Cubans or the Soviets would ever consider withdrawing their missiles† While the Soviets and the Americans were negotiating a peace, while still on the brink of launching an all-out nuclear attack, Castro was still trying to extract some political gain from the conflict. He imposed a set of conditions on the removal of missiles from his island, which called for the end of the U.S. blockade of the island, which had resulted when the crisis began, and for the end of subversive acts on the part of the U.S. against Cuba. All of these were ignored when a final agreement was hammered out between the U.S. and the USSR. Castro’s stubborn refusal to admit that he had been the real loser in the entire crisis was brought into focus when he refused entrance into Cuba to UN observers who were to assure that the missiles were dismantled, as had been agreed upon by Kennedy and Khrushchev. Castro’s reaction to his personal failure in the affair would signal the lesson he learned, as he made it known that â€Å"never again in the chess game of power† would his country play â€Å"the docile pawn† While Castro was involved in conflicts in Africa in the 1960s, and supported the communism of Vietnam, his involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis left the greatest of marks upon relations between the Cold War powers. What Castro may not have realized in all his bitterness over the results of the crisis is that, unwittingly, he had the effect of easing tensions between the U.S. and the USSR. His mere presence and his part in bringing about the crisis were instrumental in beginning a new era in the relationship between East and West. Prior to this point, any move by one side was met by an equally strong move by the other. Under such a system, no peaceful end could be sought to any conflict, only the escalating of tensions to a breaking point. The breaking point in the Cold War was the most undesirable, nuclear conflict, the implications of which were most destructive and grave. Indeed, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, while Castro was dreaming of power and prestige for his native Cuba, the Americans were reportedly minutes away for launching their nuclear arsenal against Russia, and likely the Soviets were in a similar position. But the diplomatic resolution to the problem, in spite of Castro’s designs, represented a turning point in the way problems were dealt with between the United States and their nuclear rivals. In a game of such high stakes, no longer could move be met with countermove because in such a case both would be losers. The value of diplomacy was realized and, in a way, Fidel Castro and his regime were facilitators for this lesson. After the crisis, relations once again eased into detente between the U.S. and the USSR and Castro, standing by his assertion that he would no longer be the pawn for any other, no longer wielded much influence in Cold War politics. And the relations between the two powers eased, that existing between Castro’s Cuba and the USSR grew more strained. These were restored somewhat later, but no longer were they of particular military or international significance. Cuba has continued to be a source of frustration to the United States, but this mainly from an ideological or philosophical point of view. While Cuba â€Å"gradually began to pursue a pro-Moscow course† their alliance with Moscow no longer posed any real threat to America in the way of future military aggression. Through the Cold War, the Americans had developed a great hostility towards anything perceived as being communist, Marxist, or socialist and Cuba has retained this aspect, but to have had any great fear of Castro and what he might do after the resolution of the missile crisis would not have been warranted. Castro’s role in the relationship between East and West, therefore, was played out over a short period of a few years, but on the largest of stages. His initial contribution to the evolution of this relationship was to cause it a large degree of strain. When the revolution of Castro became successful, he infuriated the Americans whose businesses and lands were being revoked by Castro’s policy of nationalization. The U.S. would accept this treatment at the hands of so insignificant a neighbour and launched the Bay of Pigs invasion. The reaction of the Cubans to this was the strengthening of ties with the USSR and inevitably the tensions between the USSR and the U.S. were raised as well. The USSR had one foot in the door, intolerably close to the American border and when the Soviets but this played this strategic card but installing the missile sites, the tensions were raised further. Castro’s role in the evolution of East/West relations ended soon after this point as both the Americans and Russians began to ignore him and pursue their own solutions to the conflict Castro brought about. Because of this exclusion, Castro no longer wielded any influence and faded into the background. Nevertheless, the Americans had been humiliated by seeing an island nation, which they had once dominated fall under the influence of the Russian communists, and this was Castro’s own accomplishment. It brought the prominence and importance to his country, which he desired and did fulfil some of the more immediate goals such as removing the economic stresses placed on his country by the U.S. sanctions. While the new tensions he brought about between the Soviet Union and the U.S. were alleviated following the crisis, Castro undeniably brought the world one step closer to witnessing nuclear war. It could therefore be said of Castro that his role and influence in Cold War politics was twofold. Firstly, it was largely his doing that the two powers came closer to clashing than they had ever come before, and it was largely in spite of him that this clash never took place. Instead, what followed was a detente, which, while still filled with suspicion and mistrust of one another, never again came so close to a boiling point as during the early days of Castro’s regime in Cuba.