University Fee Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

University Fee Control - Essay Example According to the essay findings  when the university fees are high, many families are unable to afford. Few people get the opportunity to pursue higher education and hence increased illiteracy while people like the youths, may resort to crimes as a means of sustaining their livelihood, and others get into drug abuse. There have been measures put in place and are assumed to be of help to the students, the measures such as increasing the students loan is really not of help since an increased loan would only make students indebted to the government .Setting up a price favorable to both the government and institutions will be of great significance to the organization and the economy.As the paper highlights  government intervention in the university fees is the only solution to the fee problems faced by students. It should, therefore, take stern measures in ensuring that students are not disadvantaged. Once this is done, students will enjoy the fruits of their labor upon graduating ra ther than paying for loans and getting jobs that pay salaries which are not equivalent to the money they spent on their education.  Despite the success, most of the group members tended to come late for the group discussion but we agreed amicably that no one will be late during the next debate. Regarding the contribution of team members, we gave marks of 9 out of 10.  This is because each group member handled the success of this group work and its completion.

Research paper on carnival Essay Example for Free

Research paper on carnival Essay Mardi gras Just the name Mardi gras conjures up images of drunken, bead-wearing revelers dancing through the streets of New Orleans. But how, and when, did this huge mid-winter party get started? Heres a look at the history of Mardi gras throughout the ages and across the nations. Herman states, Historians tell us that the ancient Romans probably kicked off the Mardi gras celebrations. (pg. 115)Their mid-February festival known as Lupercalia honored the god Lupercus, alternately known as the god of fertility and the god of agriculture and pastoral shepherds. In either case, his party definitely had Mardi Gras-like qualities, including days of feasting and drinking. And a little enjoying the pleasures of the flesh, probably, too in fact, the term Carnival, often synonymous with Mardi gras, is derived from the Latin expression meaning farewell to the flesh. Like most of the ancient Roman and Greek festivals, Lupercalia was adopted and adapted by the Church as a way of subtly converting the local pagans to Christianity. The carnival-like celebration of Lupercalia thus morphed into a last fling before the beginning of the Lenten period. Lent refers to the 40 days of pertinence and purification celebrated between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. During Lent, the religiously faithful refrain from a number of indulgences of the flesh, including eating meat. (pg. 220) What began as a Roman-based celebration quickly spread across the European continent. By medieval times, lords were hosting carnivals prior to Lent in honor of the conscription of their new knights. Each region and country celebrated their own traditions, but all were indulgent. [pic] In France, this period of revelry before Lent was especially raucous. In fact, the term Mardi gras is a French expression meaning Fat Tuesday likely referring to the indulgent nature of the pre-Lenten celebration. The name may have been more than just allegorical, however. Ancient pagans often marked their fertility ritual by parading a fattened ox through the town before sacrificing it. (lent pg. 101) It was also the French who brought the celebration to America. Many historians believe the party crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1699, on the ship of a French explorer named Sieur dIber ville. The Frenchman landed in what is today Louisiana, just south of New Orleans, the heart of Americas modern-day Mardi Gras celebrations. In fact, his landing is believed to have coincided with the French celebration of Mardi gras, explaining his choice of name for his point of entry: Point du Mardi Gras. However, dispute the dIberville connection, contending that it was the early French settlers to Louisiana who introduced Mardi gras to America. Regardless of the precise origin, Mardi gras can clearly be attributed to a Franco-influence. By the mid 1820s, Mardi gras was firmly rooted in the New Orleans culture. Lent later states that Today, the citys celebrations are considered one of Americas biggest parties, with towns and cities throughout the Gulf Coast Region getting in on the fun. (112) Zulu (krewe of Mardi gras) Early in 1909, a group of laborers who had organized a club named The Tramps, went to the Pythian Theater to see a musical comedy performed by the Smart Set. The comedy included a skit entitled, There Never Was and Never Will Be a King like Me, about the Zulu Tribe. (herman pg. 201) The earliest signs of organization came from the fact that the majority of these men belonged to a Benevolent Aid Society. Benevolent Societies were the first forms of insurance in the Black community where, for a small amount of dues, members received financial help when sick or financial aid when burying deceased members. Conversations and interviews with older members also indicate that in that era the city was divided into wards and each ward had its own group or Club. The Tramps were one such group. After seeing the skit, they retired to their meeting place (a room in the rear of a restaurant/bar in the 1100 block of Perdido Street), and emerged as Zulus. (pg 210). According to herman, This group was probably made up of members from the Tramps, the Benevolent Aid Society and other ward-based groups. While the Group marched in Mardi gras as early as 1901, their first appearance as Zulus came in 1909, with William Story as King. The group wore raggedy pants, and had a Jubilee-singing quartet in front of and behind King Story. His costume of lard can crown and banana stalk scepter has been well documented. The Kings following William Story, (William Crawford 1910, Peter Williams 1912, and Henry Harris 1914), were similarly attired. (pg. 214). 1915 heralded the first use of floats, constructed on a spring wagon, using dry good boxes. The float was decorated with palmetto leaves and moss and carried four Dukes along with the King. That humble beginning gave rise to the lavish floats we see in the Zulu parade today. On September 20, 1916, in the notorial office of Gabriel Fernandez, the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club were incorporated. Twenty-t wo of the organizations officers and members signed the first official document. The Geddes and Moss Funeral Home, located on Washington Avenue, played an integral part in Zulus beginning, and have continued to do so throughout the years. The first official toast of King Zulu and his Queen is held at this establishment each year. Zulus were not without their controversies, either. In the 1960s during the height of Black awareness, it was unpopular to be a Zulu. Dressing in a grass skirt and donning a black face were seen as being demeaning. Large numbers of black organizations protested against the Zulu organization, and its membership dwindled to approximately 16 men. James Russell, a long-time member, served as president in this period, and is credited with holding the organization together and slowly bringing Zulu back to the forefront. (pg. 220) In 1968, Zulus route took them on two major streets; namely, St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street, for the first time in the modern era to see the Zulu parade, you had to travel the so-called back streets of the Black neighborhoods. The segregation laws of this period contributed to this, and Zulu tradition also played a part. In those days, neighborhood bars sponsored certain floats and, consequently, the floats were obligated to pass those bars. Passing meant stopping, as the bars advertised that the Zulus will stop here! Once stopped at a sponsoring bar, it was often difficult to get the riders out of the establishment, so the other floats took off in different directions to fulfill their obligations. Zulu has grown tremendously over the years. This continual growth is credited to the members for their love, loyalty and dedication to this organization. In 1978, the organization opened its doors to their new home, a two-story frame building houses a lounge downstairs for members and guests to enjoy themselves. Of all the throws to rain down from the many floats in the parades during carnival, the Zulu coconut or Golden Nugget is the most sought after. The earliest reference to the coconut appears to be about 1910 when the coconuts were given from the floats in their natural hairy state. Some years later there is a reference to Lloyd Lucus, the sign painter, scraping and painting the coconuts. This was the forerunner to the beautifully decorated coconuts we see today. (pg. 229) With the proliferation of lawsuits from people alleging injury from thrown coconuts, the organization was unable to get insurance coverage in 1987. So that year, the honored tradition was suspended. After much lobbying, the Louisiana Legislature passed SB188, aptly dubbed the Coconut Bill, which excluded the coconut from liability for alleged injuries arising from the coconuts handed from the floats. On July 8, 1988, then-governor Edwards signed the bill into law. (pg. 233) Carnival in the Caribbean Hundreds of years ago followers of the Catholic religion in Italy started the tradition of holding a wild costume festival right before Lent. Because Catholics are not supposed to eat meat during Lent, they called their festival, carnevale-which means to put away meat. (internet site: â€Å"caribbean carnival†)As time passed, carnivals in Italy became quite famous. The practice spread to France, Spain and Portugal. As these Catholic countries began to take control of the Americas and other parts of the world, they brought with them their tradition of celebrating Carnival. In many parts of the world, where Catholic Europeans set up colonies and entered into slave trade, carnival took root. Today Carnival celebrations are found throughout the Caribbean. Traditions of the cultures have come together and especially African dance and music traditions transformed the early European carnival traditions in the Americas. Important to the Caribbean festival arts are the ancient African traditions of parading and moving in circles through villages in costumes and masks. These traditions were believed to bring good fortune, to heal problems and chill out angry spirits. Caribbean carnival traditions also borrow from the African culture the tradition of creating pieces of sculpture, masks and costumes. For the Caribbean people carnival became an important way to express their rich cultural traditions. It takes many months of coming up with a theme or overall concept and developing costumes for the dancers. Lots of creativity, energy and patience is put into work such as welding, painting, sewing, gluing, applying feathers, sequins and glitter. Carnival groups, entertained by music orchestras, parade and dance wearing costumes depicting a common theme. When Carnival first began it was celebrated from December 26 until Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday). Nowadays Carnival festivities and activities are being held year-round in the Caribbean. The dates on which Carnival celebrations such as; music competitions, festivals, concerts, street jump-ups, beauty pageants, balls, parades etc. take place may vary from country to country, from island to island. For days, sometimes weeks, the people of the Caribbean express themselves socially and artistically and sheer joy with visitors from all over the world. (internet sit â€Å"Caribbean carnival†)Everyone, including the spectators, is part of the celebrations. Antigua and Bermuda The festivities reveal the many influences that formed the Antiguan society, cultural, social and political. Over the years cultural elements from countries like Venezuela, Brazil, Holland, Colombia and the United States have slipped into the Antiguan community and blended with and into the unique world famous carnival celebration with its typical characteristics of creativity and rhythm, dance happiness, Flamboyant costumes, Beauty pageants, Talent shows, and Great music. All these and more define a fantastic celebration of happiness that is the Antigua Carnival. In retrospect, the Antigua Carnival dates back in August 1 of 1834 when slavery was entirely abolished. In 1666, it was ravaged by French inhabitants but was soon conquered by the British and was formally restored to them by the Treaty of Breda. It all started when the local natives immediately went to the streets to express their joyful celebration of freedom. As the years passed by, it continued not until in 1957 where it was declared an official Antigua Carnival. (oduber pg. 97) Since then, the Antigua Carnival has developed into ten days packed with revelry in a glitzy manner of dance to the beat of the Calypso. It includes marches, jump-ups and shows which always took place around the last week of July up to the first week of August. The Antigua Carnival is undeniably the best time for tourists to immerse with the culture of this Caribbean island. If you head to the city, you are fortunate to witness the Pan Ban, a steel orchestra, practicing for the event.(oduber pg. 99) They go by troupes as they set up a Mas Camp, a base where their intricate wardrobes are made. It is also the starting point as they walk to the metropolis to open the Antigua Carnival. The lively event culminates by a massive road party called J’ouvert, which means â€Å"day break†. Everybody is literally on their feet as they sway to the beat of the dr ums from the young night until the middle morning. Barbados (Crop over) Masquerading was an old African tradition, where they paraded in masks and costumes through the villages to bring good luck and to remove evil spirits. Originally materials for costumes were natural things such as; grass, beads, bones, etc. Head-pieces and Masks were made of feathers to symbolize that people can spiritually rise above anything. Most European colonies within the Caribbean who were part of the slave trade have Carnival or Carnival-like celebrations. (praiser pg. 23)Now in large countries like USA, Canada and England, where they are Caribbean communities you will find Carnival celebrations. The History of Crop Over The end of the sugar cane harvest, or Crop Over as it is almost always referred to, has long been the occasion for celebration. In what seems to be the earliest reference to the Crop Over festival, we find the manager of Newton Plantation writing in 1788 to the estates owner in England, telling him that he had held a dinner and sober dance for the slaves, saying: twas a celebration of Harvest Time after the crop. (housman pg. 304) Many aspects of plantation life in Barbados carried on unchanged after the end of slavery, and the Crop Over festival likewise continued. Never the less there must have been an important difference in the way in which the festival was perceived. Before emancipation, the planter had no choice but to support his slaves, well or badly as the case might have been, all year round. After 1838, for most people Crop Over meant not just the end of a period of hard work, but also the beginning of a period of less work and lower wages. For many the interval between tw o crops would indeed have been hard times, and the symbol of these, perhaps not invented until after Emancipation, was the figure of a man stuffed with trash (the dried leaves of the sugar cane plant) which was known as Mr. Harding. (pg. 311) Mr. Harding was formally introduced to the manager of the plantation, and, according to some accounts, later burnt as part of the celebrations which must have had a tinge of desperation to them as people strove to enjoy themselves while they could. The festival was apparently fairly common at the beginning of the present century, by which time the name Crop Over seems to have ousted that of Harvest Time. A procession of carts would bring the last canes to the plantation yard, the draught animals being decorated with flamboyant, frangipani and other flowers, whilst brightly colored kerchiefs would be tied like flags to the canes. The laborers would parade around the yard, and it was at this point that that they would introduce Mr. Harding to the manager, after which they would adjourn for a dance, for the manager or the owner of the estate would normally contribute some salt meat and rum. Even by 1940 Crop Over was being described as a custom which has very nearly died out, according to Housman (pg. 316), and the continuing decline of sugar and the growing availability of other sources of employment had put an end to much of traditional plantation life. The modern Crop Over, revived by the Board of Tourism in 1974 and now administered by the National Cultural Foundation, pays tribute to the fact that sugar is still important in Barbados and the immense influence which it has had on our history. The present day festival is very different from the old time Crop Over, but it continues as a tradition by offering a thrilling celebration of many aspects of Bajan Culture, old and new. CROP-OVER CARNIVAL Crop-over has become the centerpiece of Barbados culture, a process enriched by much history, a savvy visitor promotional sense, and the great nearby pre-Lenten Carnival of Trinidad Tobago. Conga-line from April 22 May 01 begins with the longest Conga line in the Caribbean and features a series of concerts at the Malibu Conga line Village. May 1 is the finale, where bands, floats and Carnival goers take part in the May Day Parade, The Caribbeans largest summer Carnival begins on the first Saturday with the Decorated cart and float opening and Gala crop-over opening. (praiser pg.31) This parade begins at Bridgetown Independence Square in the early afternoon and finishes at the National Stadium. Here, the opening ceremony takes place with the ceremonial delivery of the last canes and the crowning of the king and queen of the festival followed by an excellent night of entertainment and socializing. The festival, revived in 1974 following a 30-year hiatus, continues to grow and evolve with the culture. Unlike most Carnivals whose roots are in spring, Crop-over is a harvest festival dating back centuries to the end of the sugar cane season. The end to all the grueling and arduous work was marked by the final delivery of canes to the mill. Surely a cause for song, dance and general jubilation, as such, the workers would begin the festivities by boisterously telling each other CROP OVER. Folk Concerts celebrating the emancipation from slavery are popular events during the Carnival season the last Carnival weekend features the most important Carnival events. On Friday, there will be the Pic-O-De-Crop Finals at the National Stadium. The next night in the wee hours of Sunday morn, the Fore-Day morning jump-up will go down from 2am till dawn. Before this special event is the steelpan competition. Cohobblopot is a huge carnival-like show where the most popular calypsonians and bands perform on Carnival Sunday night. The Calypso Contest is one of the worlds best even though it features primarily local talent. Before the best singer/songwriters of the season are chosen, the talent will perform their new compositions at many venues or tents. These tents, with names like Super Gladiators, Conquerors, House of Soca, Pioneers and Stray Cats, play an important role in deciding who will win the title of Party Monarch, Road March Monarch and the Pic-O-De-Crop Monarch. The King and Queen of the bands competition is also an important part of the Cohobblopot Sunday show. Get tickets in advance since the National Stadium can sell out, particularly with all the talk about not allowing it to be broadcast on free TV. (pg. 37) All this buildup makes for a memorable Grand Finale, or as they say at Barbados Crop-over, the Grand Kadooment. Here, over two dozen large costumed bands will go dancing down de road inviting everyone to jump up with them as they make their way to the ocean surf. (pg. 42) Tuk: Indigenous to Barbados, its a combination of African and British military rhythms with the musicians dressed in minstrel like costumes creating music from kettledrums, bass drums and whistles. They play sounds like marching band music, old-time waltzes and almost always end with an African beat. According to praier, This is a great spectacle to see. ( pg. 51) The musicians are as serious about their music as any steelband man. Although a part of the old era, it is still very alive and a part of the modern day celebrations with completions staged during Crop Over. Calypso Soca: Although calypso is indigenous to Trinidad, it now holds a very prominent place in the Crop over Celebration. Like Trinidad Carnival, it has all the trimmings, the Tents, parties, semi-finals judging and then to the Calypso Monarch finals, which take place just before Grand Kadooment. The Bajan artistes are holding their own with this art form and have even created new forms like Ringband and Ragga-soca, a definite invention of the Bajan calypsonians. (pg. 55) Steelband: Borrowed from Trinidad, the Bajans have taken it, and now the popularity and growth of the steelband in Barbados is phenomenal, states praiser. (pg. 68) with every year seeing the improvement of the sound and quality of the music to the extent that steelband has now taken a place on the curriculum of many of the schools on the island. Grand Kadooment: The grand finale, a parade of the costumed bands for the final competition for Designer of the Year Crown. The revelers are dressed in elaborate costumes depicting various themes dancing to music playing from the most popular bandstands, with disc jockeys winding their way down to Spring Garden where they would be judged for this coveted crown. (pg. 73) St. Vincent and the Grenadines (â€Å"vincy mas†) History Hugh Ragguette, a name that is synonymous with Carnival in St. Vincent explained to The Vincentian that the historic roots of Carnival lie in deep antiquity: since at the dawn of history, man celebrated several festivals of which Carnival was one. The Kalinagos and other indigenous peoples who inhabited St. Vincent had their festivals. With the introduction of slavery, the Africans with their varying cultures and rich variety added to those expressions. Although the practice of wearing mas' came from Africa and was subsequently adopted by the Greek and Romans, it was actually the French who celebrated carnival in the Caribbean as the highlight of the year. After the British supplanted the French, the practice continued. The wearing of Mas in carnival was introduced by the Pope in Rome in 1494 and then spread throughout Europe. (Sutty pg. 37) Naturally, the slaves participated in these festivals at a different level. â€Å"The slaves would have noted and participated in the festival, albeit at a different level. Naturally, they were not invited to the mas balls and dances.† stated however, when chattel slavery ended, the freed slaves embraced carnival and turned it into a callaloo pot, adding elements of the respective cultures.(pg 38) They took to the streets and displayed the theatrical spectacle they had created and to vent their subdued creative abilities. These street marches took place on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Unable to chain the hands and feet of the slaves any longer, in 1892, he related, the colonial Governor banned the festival claiming that the revellers were lashing out at each other and observers with whips. Ragguette held another opinion, â€Å"The main reason was to suppress the people’s culture and their peculiar African expressions. The coloniser could not understand these expressions and wanted to stifle them.† The fire that burnt within slavery was reduced to mere embers and in 1879, fuelled by the unchainable African spirit it le apt into flames again. In 1899, the people decided that come what may, ban or no ban, which they were going to celebrate. They began the celebrations as early as the Friday preceding Ash Wednesday. As a result, the colonisers brought out what was termed the armed might of the Empire. (pg 44) The people resisted and a riot broke out, writing the Carnival Riots of the 11th and 12th February into this country’s history books. From then on, Carnival has been a part of St.Vincent’s culture. Four years later, carnival fever spread to Trinidad in the south where the festival had been banned resulting in the Comboule Riots. throughout the years people have built on and experimented with the components of Carnival; to the extent Trinidadians have invented a musical instrument in the form of the steel pan to provide accompanying music to its calypso. ( pg. 47). By 1973, it was virtually impossible to hold all the Carnival shows during the Wednesday and Tuesday period. â€Å"Our pan, our calypso, and particularly our Mas has reached a level of development that it needed to spread its wings outside the Catholic Christian Carnival to a more embracing festival,† Ragguette commented. (pg. 49) Since the festival was held so soon after Christmas and the length of time available for shows coupled with the fact the Trinidad and Tobago, whom Ragguette stated â€Å"had run away with title of king of Carnival in the world and boasted of having the greatest show on earth,† held its Carnival around the same time, it was necessary to move the festival to another season. The June-July period was decided as most suitable. (pg. 50) With more time to work, the CDC wanted to introduce a Caribbean component into its programme. Antigua and Barbuda already had a Caribbean Calypso Competition and the organisation could not get beyond the logistics of a Caribbean Pan or King and Queen of the Bands competition. sutty explained that it was felt that a show should be organised to showcase â€Å"the beauty and profound intelligence of our Caribbean women†. (pg. 53). This resulted in the birth of Miss Caribbean Carnival Miss Carnival. Trinidad Carnivals principal components are calypso, steelpan and playing mas (masquerade). In the historic capital City of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, these elements are harmoniously structured to form a five day ritual pageant beginning with the King Queen Contest (Friday), Panorama (Saturday), Dimanche Gras (Sunday), JOuvert (Monday) and the Parade of the Bands (Tuesday). (green pg 57) These main events and countless others build to an unforgettable epiphany of beauty and stunning display of the irrepressible human spirit before concluding and allowing the quiet first day of Lent and reflection known as Ash Wednesday to be admitted to consciousness. [pic]The genesis of this worlds greatest Carnival has been attributed to the many cultures of Trinidad and their interaction. While the African influence is predominant, the Carnival carries an overriding theme of unity, a central part of this unique cultures mythology. Trinidads namesake, the holy Trinity is blessed as the unifying principle. This is the countrys well known motto, resting at the base of the ubiquitous and striking TT Coat of Arms reads, Together we Aspire, Together we achieve. (pg 59).Yet the wisdom lies in paradox for there is no Carnival with more intense competition than Trinidads. [pic]Today Trinidads model for public celebration is the most widely imitated festival art form in the world. Many Trinidadian Carnival artists are able to work year round performing throughout North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. J’ouvert Jab Jab The name of this mas is derived from the French patois for Diable Diable. It is pretty devil mas. The costume consists of a Kandal or satin knickers, and satin shirt with points of cloth at the waist, from which bells hang. On the chest, there is a shaped cloth panel which is decorated with swansdown, rhinestones and mirrors. Stockings and alpagatas are worn on the feet, while the headdress consists of a hood with stuffed cloth horns. The costume can come in alternating colors and be divided into front and back panels. (pg 61) The Jab Jab has a thick whip of plaited hemp which he swings and cracks threateningly. These whips can reduce the costumes of other Jab Jabs to threads. It is not to be confused with Jab Molassie. JAB MOLASSIE Jab is the French patois for Diable (Devil), and Molassie is the French patois for Mà ©lasse (Molasses). (pg 62)The Jab Molassie is one of several varieties of devil mas played in Trinidad and Tobago carnival. The costume consists of short pants or pants cut off at the knee, and a mask and horns. The jab malassie would carry chains, and wear locks and keys around his waist, and carry a pitch fork. He may smear his body with grease, tar, mud or colored dyes (red, green or blue). The jab molassie wines or gyrates to a rhythmic beat that is played on tins or pans by his imps. While some of his imps supply the music, others hold his chain, seemingly restraining him as he pulls against them in his wild dance. The differences among the various forms of devil mas were once distinct, but have become blurred over time. Trinidads carnival is a gorgeous paradigm of how carnival can connect the entire world. In this Trinidad little nation, the lifestyle and customs of various cultures come collectively for a short five days every year, the entire country stops thinking about their dissimilarities to celebrate life! Similar to many other countries under colonial rule, the history of Native Americans and African people in Trinidad is atrocious and a sad story. At different times England and Spain both maintained Trinidad as their colonies. Around 1785, Carnival was introduced to Trinidad. The French settlers started to arrive. The custom caught on rapidly, and fancy balls were held where the rich planters pretend masks, and beautiful dresses, wigs, and dance the whole night. The employ of masks had particular meaning for the slaves, as for several African peoples, masking is usually used in their rituals for the dead. Evidently banned from the masked balls of the French, the slaves would grasp their own tiny carnivals in their gardens — using their folklore and own rituals. However they also imitate their masters’ manners at the masked balls. Carnival has turned out to be a way to convey their authority as individuals for African people, and also for their rich cultural traditions. (pg. 102) The slavery was eradicated after 1838, the Africans were freed and started to host their individual carnival celebrations in Trinidad streets. This carnival developed progressively and sophisticated and rapidly became trendier than the balls. Nowadays, Trinidad carnival is like a mirror that reflects the faces the many immigrant nations from Africa, India, China and Europe. Carnival is such a significant aspect of life in Trinidad, as many schools trust that funding/ sponsoring a carnival band is a way to train youngsters about their culture and roots. According to green, Hundreds of schools and community organizations contribute in Trinidad’s Kiddies Carnival. In this fashion, communities’ works as one to build up strong friendships and good respect for the various cultures that make up Trinidad. (pg. 59) Bibliography â€Å"Caribbean carnival† Caribseek.comhttp://www.caribseek.com/adventure_and_entertainment/carnivals/caribbean-carnival.shtml. â€Å"Carnival in Trinidad.† Mustard.org.early 1985 carnival in Trinidad†¦evolution and symbolic menaing.21 February 2008 http://www.mustard.org.uk/articles/trinidad.htm. Cowley, John. Carnival, Canboulay and Calypso: Traditions in the Making. Trinidad: Macmillan Caribbean May 4, 1988 Green, Garth L. Trinidad Carnival: The Cultural Politics of a Transnational Festival. Massasetucheuts: Harper smith, 2005 Herman, Wouk. Don’t stop the carnival. USA: Doubleday, 1965 Housman, Gerald â€Å"The kebra nagast: the lost bible of Rastafarian wisdom and faith from Ethiopia and Jamaica.† (July 1979): 299-671 Lent, A John. Caribbean popular culture. Michigan: bowling green state university popular press, 2006. Pariser, Harry S. Explore Barbados. Manatee Press: 3 edition October 2007 Razak, Victoria M. Carnival in Antigua. Boston: Cenda Pub; 1 edition May 1, 1998 Riggio, Milla Co. Carnival: Culture in Action The Trinidad Experience (Worlds of Performance). Routt ledge: Pablo Delano, 2004: Sutty, Lesley. St Vincent and the Grenadines. Caribbean: 2 edition September 2002 Oduber, Vanja. Antigua carnival. New York: Chauvenheid Graphic Group 1996

Heroification and Its Damaging Effects :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Heroification and Its Damaging Effects In the Disney movie Life-Size, actress Tyra Banks plays the role of Eve, a Barbie-like doll, who is "perfect in every way," come to life. Later in the movie, the once-very popular Eve doll's sales decrease dramatically, and the company stops the production of the Eve doll not realizing what they are doing wrong. Distressed, Banks, the "life-size" Eve doll, turns to her owner Casey and learns two valuable lessons—that perfection is boring and unrealistic, and it is okay to make mistakes. Casey tells the life-size Eve that the Eve doll is too "goody-goody" to be real, and girls need more realistic role models—heroes—with personality, inner struggles, and mistakes. Almost everyone likes heroes from Spiderman to firefighters to Dad who inspire the young and keep them motivated; however when the heroes' lives and beliefs are fabricated to fit a stereotype, these humans regress into nothing more than a boring ideal. Heroification with cognitive disson ance blind students to the reality of this world and limit their ability to view controversies objectively. Heroification is the process where details—both important and trivial—are left out or changed to fit the archetypical mold of the flawless, inhuman "heroes." This "degenerative process" makes "flesh-and-blood individuals into pious, perfect creatures without conflicts, pain, credibility, or human interest (Loewen 19)." For example, many people know of Helen Keller only as the blind, deaf girl who despite her handicaps learned to read, write, and to speak, but this is only the first twenty years of her life. Whatever happened to Keller for the next sixty-four years of her life? Keller was, in fact, a radical socialist in Massachusetts starting in the early 1900s, and was one of the most passionate and famous woman during that time rallying for the new communist nation. Keller's love for socialism did not stem from a vacuum but was rooted deep within her experiences as a disabled person, and she sympathized with other handicaps and learned that social cl ass controls not only people's opportunity but also their disabilities. But during the heroification process, the schools and the mass media omitted Keller's lifelong goal and passion to bring about radical social change because we would rather teach our young to "remain uncontroversial and one-dimensional" than to have a room full of leftists (Loewen 35).

Reaction Paper About a Play

Reyjin C. Balas Nov. 16, 2012 DAM5PROFES1 BS-Industrial Design Page 1 DULAANG FILIPINO Presents â€Å" E † The Dulaang Filipino is the College’s resident theater company. It is empowered to educate its audience on various social issues afflicting today’s society. This theatrical show was held at the 5F School of Design and Arts Theater (DLS-CSB SDA Campus). In this play, the story began in a musical way, showing their creative costumes, sounds, colourful lighings, all the characters were dancing, singing, saying out loud their dialogues one by one. The story was all about the mystery that was happening behind the so called â€Å"greatest show on Earth. There was this general manager of the world's largest railroad circus who has a number of problems on his hands for the upcoming season. Then there is his maid that knows all what was happening in their place. Other main characters in the story were the two agents who tried to solve the problem / mystery up to the end of the story, it wasn’t solved by the two. Up to the end of the story, I was still confused about the story and the characters because there was also a killing part where there were parts of the human body that were thrown everywhere on the stage, those hands, feet and the head that was taken off, I don’t know who’s head was that, but that part was very creepy for me, the light effects helped a lot because there was also a smoke effect and the color of the lights at that time was red. What I liked the most in the show was the roles of the two agents. I was amazed on the way they deliver their dialogues, kung ako ang nasa lugar nila, siguro malilito at Balas 2 mabubulol na ako sa pagsasalita. The second that I liked was the part that almost all of them were walking and dancing while wearing roller blades and they’re even on the stage. May part na kinabahan ako dahil baka may biglang mahulog sa platform na gawa nila, may mga maliliit din na gulong kasi ung ilalim. The third thing that I liked was that they got my full attention for the whole time of play, and I liked their costumes, colourful and creative, even though other props were not that made well and if I’m going to rate it out of ten, I will give them an eight.

Curriculum Development Paper

This curriculum paper discusses the normal development that occurs during the Toddlers’ stage of growth. It also discusses some of common respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases and disorders that are present throughout toddlerhood. It emphasizes important information related to the Nursing field. It thoroughly discusses the nursing management involved in the care of normal growth as well as the health deviations seen in toddlers. The target audience is a class of 3rd year nursing students. Pediatric nursing is important branch of nursing that should be tackled by junior level in a Nursing course.Goals/ Learner outcomes of the Lesson The goals of the lesson are for the students to understand the normal growth and development seen in toddlers. They should identify the different health abnormalities affecting toddlers. They should have thorough knowledge about the nature of the disorders discussed. Students should be able to identify the signs and symptoms related in every dis ease/disorder presented. They should enumerate the nursing management and its rationale given to sick toddlers. Learning ObjectivesAt the end of the lesson, the students will be able to understand the nature of Seizures, Cerebral Palsy, Meningitis, Primary Complex, Intestinal Parasitism and Croup. They should be able to describe methods to promote preventive measures against Seizures, Cerebral Palsy, Meningitis, Primary Complex, Intestinal Parasitism and Croup. They should be able to identify different laboratory and diagnostic examinations done for each condition. Students are expected to identify the common presenting clinical manifestation for each condition.And lastly, they should be able to enumerate nursing management done for clients with Seizures, Cerebral Palsy, Meningitis, Primary Complex, Intestinal Parasitism and Croup. Instructional design model, Learner characteristics, Learning theory and other applicable characteristics Instructional design model Dick and Carey Desig n Model. Dick and Carey Model involves all the phases described previously in the ADDIE model, commencing with identification of instructional goals and finishes with summative evaluation. This model is suitable for a variety of context areas including primary and secondary schools as well as business and government.It is also adaptable for a variety of users ranging from movie to expert, as the step by step descriptions aid with progress through the model (Taylor, 2004). Learner Characteristics There are many factors that influence a client’s ability, motivation and desire to learn. Addressing these factors when planning educational interventions is essential, because the effectiveness of the intervention can be at stake. Learner characteristics include, among others, culture/ethnicity, literacy, age, health status, education level, and socioeconomic status (De Young, 2003, p. 59). Learning TheoryCognitive Learning Theory. The key to learning and changing is the individualâ €™s cognition (perception, thought, memory, and ways of processing and structuring information). According to this perspective, to learn, individuals must change their cognitions. A highly active process largely directed by individual, learning involves perceiving the information, interpreting it based on what is already known, and then reorganizing the information into new insights or understanding (Bastable, 2004, p. 50) Content Outline Seizures I. Seizure II. Types of Seizures II. Signs and symptoms of Child with SeizuresIII. Medical management / Pharmacologic management (Nursing considerations) IV. Nursing Management V. Preventive Measures Cerebral Palsy I. Cerebral Palsy II. Signs and symptoms of Child with Cerebral Palsy III. Medical management / Pharmacologic management (Nursing considerations) IV. Nursing Management V. Preventive Measures Meningitis I. Meningitis a. ) Bacterial b. ) Viral II. Signs and symptoms of Child with Meningitis III. Medical management / Pharmacol ogic management (Nursing considerations) IV. Nursing Management V. Preventive Measures Primary Complex I. Primary Complex II.Signs and symptoms of Child with Primary Complex III. Medical management / Pharmacologic management (Nursing considerations) IV. Nursing Management V. Preventive Measures Intestinal Parasitism: I. Nature of Intestinal Parasitism II. Life Cycle of Intestinal Parasites III. Intestinal Parasites: a. ) reservoir b. ) portal of exit from reservoir c. ) method of transmission d. ) Portal of entry e. ) susceptible host IV. Signs and symptoms of Child with Intestinal parasites V. Medical management /Pharmacologic management (Nursing considerations) VI. Nursing Management VII. Preventive Measures CROUPI. Nature of Croup II. Signs and symptoms of Child with Croup III. Medical management / Pharmacologic management (Nursing considerations) IV. Nursing management Instructional Methods Lecture. Lecture can be defined as a highly structured method by which the teacher verbal ly transmits information directly to groups of learners for the purpose of instruction. In its purest form, the lecture format allows for only minimal exchange between the teacher and learner, but it can be an effective method of teaching in the lower-level cognitive domain to impart content knowledge (Bastable, 2004, p. 357)In this type of teaching strategy, the teacher will provide the necessary information about the normal growth and development of toddlers as well as the health deviations common to toddlers. The micro teachers will emphasize the important nursing management involved in caring of sick toddlers Group Discussion. It is a method of teaching whereby learners get together to exchange information, feelings, and opinions with one another and with the teacher. It is one of the most commonly employed instructional techniques. The activity is learner-centered and subject-centered (Bastable, 2004, p. 358).This strategy is incorporated in the lecture. Once in a while, the te acher would be asking questions for the class to discuss. After each video clip of certain illnesses, the class would be asked to give their opinions about what they have watched. They will be asked about certain information that should be remembered in the video clip. Questioning. The use of questioning places learners in an active role. They are asked to recall, to form links between previously isolated information, to analyze statements or beliefs, to evaluate the worth of ideas, and to speculate about what would happen â€Å"if† (De Young, 2003, p.126) This type of strategy will be used as to serve as a recitation for students. This will also serve as a pointing system for them to get rewards and additional credit in their evaluation quiz. Using of audiovisuals (handouts, power point presentation, video clips). If used appropriately, audiovisuals can greatly enhance teaching and can add interest and stimulation to the classroom (De Young, 2003, p. 131). Instructional Mate rials Handouts. The teacher would provide handouts containing important information students can review upon after the class. Power point presentation.Power point presentation is the type of visual aids that will be used; this is for the convenience of both the teachers and students. Students with portable storage devices can acquire the software copy of the report. Video clips. Video clips related to the topics being presented by the micro teachers would be shown to students and they would be asked to give opinions about what they have watched. Evaluation Methods Before the class ends, a 30 item quiz will be given consisting of true-false questions and situational types of questions for analysis and critical thinking using multiple choice.Multiple-Choice Questions. Nursing examinations are often written in the multiple format. There are several reasons for this fact. One is that although they are challenging to create, they are easy to score and can be scored by computer. Another r eason is that licensure and certification examinations are multiple-choice tests, and therefore educators want learners to be familiar with questions like the ones that they will be taking on these exams (De Young, 2003, p. 265). True-False Questions.True-false questions are designed to test a learner’s ability to identify the correctness of statements of fact or principle (De Young, 2003, p. 268). References Bastable, S. B. (2003). Nurse as Educator: Principles of Teaching and Learning for Nursing Practice. Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. De Young, S. (2003). Teaching Strategies for Nurse Educators. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. Taylor,L. Educational Theories and Instructional Design Models. Their Place in Simulation. [PDF document]. Retrieved from Lecture Notes Online Web Site:

privacy in America essays

privacy in America essays After viewing Enemy of the State, one can not help but feel vulnerable to the technological advances of our government. However, most Americans find it difficult to believe that they are being watched by agents of the United States government. When Americans do accept that their privacy is being invaded, they assume that only the United States government, or rich and powerful companies are responsible, yet with todays technology your next door neighbor could be listening. Americans believe that the right to privacy is a natural God given right, and that every American has the right to be left alone. Unfortunately, there are some individuals, usually labeled as terrorists, who would threaten the stability, and safety of America. Because of these select few the privacy of many must be compromised, and due to this compromise there is now controversy. Americans want to feel safe within their borders, free from foreign violence and terrorists attacks. We want our government to provide pro tection and security, however, with this protection we must be willing to surrender a certain amount of our privacy. The surrendering of our privacy brings about a debate, how much information does our government need. Americans have acknowledged and accepted that terrorism is a growing concern in our country, and that the United States government must utilize every possible option when battling this newest and deadliest foe. Terrorism poses a serious threat, requiring a serious government response. From 1990-1997 there have been 25 incidents of terrorism on U.S. soil, with two incidents occurring in 1997 (Center 1). Technology, Americas ally in the cold war has become the nations greatest national security vulnerability. Weapons of mass destruction may soon fall into the hands of terrorists, if they have not already (Thomas 78). The National Security Agency (NSA sometimes known as No Such Agency), claims it is rescuing...

Ing Direct (“Ing-D”) Case Study Marketing Fundamentals Essay Example

Ing Direct (â€Å"Ing Ing Direct (â€Å"Ing-D†) Case Study Marketing Fundamentals Paper Ing Direct (â€Å"Ing-D†) Case Study Marketing Fundamentals Paper ING DIRECT (â€Å"ING-D†) Case Study Course: Marketing Fundamentals Submission Date: 17th November 2009 Executive Summary ING-Direct (ING-D) is a marketing orientated bank that has launched into established markets in the last decade using differentiation as a way to build competitive advantage. This report splits into Section A, based on information provided by the ‘ING Direct USA – Rebel With A Cause’ Case Study by IMD International, and Section B which critically assesses the ING-D website. Section A The Nature of the ING-D’s Value Proposition Customer Value Proposition Creation By engineering processes and products from the customer inwards, ING-D aimed to construct a customer value proposition that offsets perceived sacrifices with higher levels of perceived benefits in areas which resonate strongly with customers. Value Proposition Summary The key perceived benefits offered to customers are simple, easy to use accounts with no fees or service charges, no minimum balances, great savings rates, the convenience of 24/7 internet banking and quality service from an award winning call centre. The perceived sacrifices are principally the physical evidence aspects of the ervice marketing mix that are associated with the traditional banks, including branches and ATMs. The other key perceived sacrifice is that ING-D does not offer a complete portfolio of accounts due to the lack of a Checking Account. Therefore customers potentially need to operate a number of accounts with different organisations. The value proposition is supported through integrated marketing com munications which utilise a range of tools and channels in addition to basic advertising, including sales promotion, events and online educational services. The use of less traditional communication methods underlines the strategy of using differentiation for competitive advantage. It sets ING-D apart from the mainstream banks in brand personality. Value Proposition Effectiveness ING-D created a viable customer value proposition as evidenced by high levels of customer advocacy and the growth in customer numbers and deposit levels. The Evolution of ING-D’s Strategy Since its Launch in the US Market Post-Launch Environment The post-launch period saw ING-D US entering a period of significant growth. At this time the bank was grappling with a range of challenges including pressure on margins, aggressive competitor activity, consumer confusion and increased internal reporting and control measures. The marketing strategies employed principally focussed on evolving two key parts of the marketing mix; product and place. Product Development Post-launch ING-D chose to implement a product development strategy as per the Ansoff Growth Matrix (Appendix 1). This can be seen in the period from 2000 to 2002 when a range of new products, such as Mortgages, Certificates of Deposit, etc, were launched into the existing ING-D US footprint. Channel Development ING-D traditionally operated a direct to consumer distribution channel. This had the benefits of maintaining control over the relationship with the customer ensuring that the brand values could be executed consistently. However, to address its balance sheet issues, in 2005 the direct distribution channel was supplemented with the introduction of intermediary agents in the form of wholesale mortgage brokers. Impact of Activity Growth was achieved quickly with effective diffusion through the market resulting in ING-D becoming the largest on line bank in the US. However, the rapid growth strategy resulted in a more systems and process based organisation and challenging the maintenance of its trademark entrepreneurial culture. ING-D Competitors and the Evolution of Their Strategies. Key Strategic Changes By Competitors Considering Porter’s Model of Competitive Industry Structure, we can see that with high barriers to entry, and limited opportunity for substitution, the main factor affecting ING-D has been in the form of competition from existing US banks, (Appendix 2). Previously these banks had core strategies of targeting specific markets. They focussed on their main product offerings such as Checking Accounts, and on branch network service provision. However, because ING-D’s success many of the established banks implemented new competitor target strategies in which they went head-to-head with ING-D and the other new entrants, internet banks, which had been attracted into the direct market. ING-D’s competitors fall into two key groups; Bricks Mortar The traditional banks such as Citibank HSBC have principally eroded ING-D’s unique selling propositions through the availability of high interest savings accounts. They had the advantage of building on existing relationships and offer the convenience of being a one-stop-shop for customers. As holders of the primary checking relationship this has been a credible market position which has resulted in savings balances switching from ING-D. Internet Internet competitors have operating models more like the â€Å"no frills† approach adopted by ING-D. The main competitive threat has been around interest rates but they also attacked ING-D’s brand values and personality, such as the use of less formal marketing messages and communication channels. Impact The result of these strategic changes has been a proliferation of ‘me too’ savings products from a range of providers which have created price competition, choice and consumer confusion. The actions of competitors have reduced the perceived benefits of ING-D and increased the value of the perceived sacrifices. The main impact is that ING-D lost its price leadership position for savings interest rates weakening the customer value proposition and leaving the bank open to threat. The impact can be seen in the 2006 figures, with average savings per million customers of $10. 8m in 2002-05, falling to $8. 2m in 2006, a drop of 24. 7%. Arguments For and Against ING-D’s Introduction of Checking Accounts and Recommendation ING-D has lost its competitive advantage of high rate savings accounts. To rectify this one option is to introduce a checking account. Benefits Establishing primary customer relationship associated with Checking accounts Removing an existing advantage for established competitors Protecting market share by meeting its customers’ complete banking needs Attracting new customers from an attractive, substantial (49% of bill payments in 2002) and profitable market sector Doing nothing leaves bank open to continued risk of market share erosion Removes reliance on maintaining the best rates as sole USP Risks Conflicting with the company’s core value proposition as a low-cost, simple, easy to use banking provider Increasing customer support and training requirements leading to higher operating costs Introducing a level of operational complexity and increasing operational risk Requiring a more process and systems based environment contrary to its entrepreneurial culture Recommendation We believe the benefits outweigh the risks and recommend ING-D launches a Checking Account. It is vital that it links the product offering back to the fundamental brand values that have made the bank successful with a specific focus on product and process design. ING-D needs to focus on making its Checking Account a differentiated product offering around areas such as; less complicated than its competitors’ accounts no requirements for minimum balances transparent communication and application of fees Limited market testing has already helped to refine the product and processes. This needs to be finalised to ensure that the ‘easy to use’ market position is achieved. As part of this, further research around the lack of a cheque book may be required as this could be viewed as a negative by customers and limit the potential market penetration. By referring back to ING-D’s core principles it is possible for it to create a market position on checking accounts that is consistent, credible, competitive and clear and aligned with its other products and core values. Section B Critical Assessment of the Current Positioning of ING-D Based on Their Website ngdirect. co. uk/ The ING-D website was reviewed on 31/10/09 and 15/11/09 and the overall positioning assessed within a framework of four principles of successful positioning. This is completed on the website as at 15/11/09 with references to any noteworthy changes from the 31/10/09 version, (Appendix 3) Clarity The use of the â€Å"Saving Feels Good† positioning statement fixes ING-D as a bank with savings as a key offering. The other products on offers are limited to Mortgages and Home Insurance leaving a very simple uncluttered view of what products ING-D is providing to customers. However, it could also be argued that simplicity has gone too far and that the stripped down approach limits the provision of a comprehensive offer. For example areas such as the main FAQ section fail to answer many common questions that customers may have regarding the bank or the broader economy. The site consistently evokes an emotional relationship through the words, â€Å"feels good†, which links into the behavioural market segmentation approach. Some of the images and marketing approaches are confusing in terms of customer segmentation targets. For example, there are photos of young children and parents on the general pages, whilst the ages of the customers in the video section start at 46 years, thereby conflicting with the messages about earlier life cycle stages. Consistency The use of brand assets such as contemporary â€Å"Dutch† orange and the lifeboat image ensure the site is instantly recognisable. The lifebelt image is consistently used to highlight rates. This links to safety as a motivation for saving, further building on the use of family images. The site remains consistent with the ING-D brand values by being easy to navigate, in a clear font and with easy to find information such as contact details and frequently asked questions. The lead item on the homepage is mortgages which changed since the 31/10/09 when savings led. This doesn’t sit as well with the usual ING-D market positioning as a savings provider. It may well be that ING-D has a strategy to keep the website fresh by changing the offer and emphasis on a regular basis. However, the change may have resulted from the significant drop in interest rates between the two dates as the company attempts to drive mortgage business. Other parts of the home page continue to focus on savings and therefore there is some consistency in reinforcing this position. Tick marks give an upbeat feel to the site rather than simply using bullet points and this fits with the less formal communication style. By delivering a differentiated offer to competitors through the provision of fewer products, a friendlier quality service and a fresh approach ING-D seeks to establish itself in the minds of consumers as a different type of bank with a clear brand personality. Competitiveness The site works to convince consumers that ING-D is a safe place for their money. It doesn’t confirm a position of competitiveness through its messages. The savings interest rate is clearly highlighted which allows for easy comparison but doesn’t specifically provide information on competitor offerings. This may be due to restrictions due to legislation. Over this fairly short time period the ING-D site has changed in emphasis from savings to mortgages which may be due to variances in the savings rate on offer, which have dropped by 2. 7% to just 0. % for new customers. ING-D is proud of its award winning customer service centres and the site highlights a range of awards across both general service and product specific categories. High levels of customer service and UK based call centres will be seen by some customers as a competitive advantage given the recent backlash against organisations that have outsourced this service to India and the Far East. Credibility Much of the credibility of ING-D’s positioning off-line comes from the high levels of customer satisfaction and advocacy. ING-D has chosen to directly translate this factor online with customer videos and uses cues such as customer numbers to build credibility and pre-empt cognitive dissonance. Given the economic back-drop the bank has missed the opportunity to build possible creditability by helping its customers to better understand the stability of the bank and the safety of their deposits. Further to this there are only 5 press releases provided for 2009, the most recent of which is over 4 months out of date, and none of these relate specifically to ING-D. The creditability of the ING-D offer could be greatly eroded by the large drop in the savings rate. In a period with no base rate changes it is difficult to see how the size of change could be justified, especially as competitor rates published on comparison websites remain in excess of 3. 0%. Appendix 1 Ansoff Growth Matrix [pic] (Jobber Mahy, 2009, based on p324) Appendix 2 The Porter Model of Competitive Industry Structure [pic] (Jobber Mahy, 2009, based on p319) Appendix 3 ingdirect. o. uk Home page as at 31/10/09 [pic] ingdirect. co. uk Home page as at 15/11/09 [pic] Bibliography ING Direct [Online]. Available from: ingdirect. co. uk/ [Accessed 31/10/2009 – 15/11/2009]. Jobber, D. and Fahy, J. (2009) Foundations of Marketing, 3rd ed. , McGraw Hill, London. Sequeira, S. , Ryans, A. , Deutscher T. , Ivey, R. , (2007) ING Direct USA – Rebel With A Cause. IMD International, Richard Ivey School of Business (The University of Western Ontario), IMD-3-1845.

Skateholm - Late Mesolithic Site in Sweden

Skateholm - Late Mesolithic Site in Sweden Skateholm consists of at least nine separate Late Mesolithic settlements, all located around what at the time was a brackish lagoon on the coast of the Scania region of southern Sweden, and occupied between ~6000-400 BC. In general, archaeologists have believed that the people who lived at Skateholm were hunter-fishers, who exploited the lagoons marine resources. However, the size and complexity of the associated cemetery area suggests to some that the cemetery was used for a broader purpose: as a set aside burial place for special individuals. The largest of the sites are Skateholm I and II. Skateholm I includes a handful of huts with central hearths, and a cemetery of 65 burials. Skateholm II is located about 150 m southeast of Skateholm I; its cemetery contains some 22 graves, and the occupation had a few huts with central hearths. Cemeteries at Skateholm Skateholms cemeteries are among the earliest known cemeteries in the world. Both humans and dogs are buried in the cemeteries. While most of the burials are placed lying on their back with their limbs extended, some of the bodies are buried sitting up, some lying down, some crouching, some cremations. Some burials contained grave goods: a young man was buried with several pairs of red deer antlers placed above his legs; a dog burial with an antler headdress and three flint blades was recovered at one of the sites. At Skateholm I, elderly men and young women received the largest quantity of grave goods. Osteological evidence of the graves suggests that it represents a normal working cemetery: the burials show a normal distribution of gender and age at the time of death. However, Fahlander (2008, 2010) has pointed out that the differences within the cemetery might represent phases of occupation of Skateholm, and changing methods of burial rituals, rather than a place for special individuals, however that is defined. Archaeological Study at Skateholm Skateholm was discovered in the 1950s, and intensive research conducted by Lars Larsson was begun in 1979. Several huts arranged in a village community and about 90 burials have been excavated to date, most recently by Lars Larsson of the University of Lund. Sources and Further Information This glossary entry is a part of the About.com Guide to the European Mesolithic, and part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Bailey G. 2007. Archaeological Records: Postglacial Adaptations. In: Scott AE, editor. Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science. Oxford: Elsevier. p 145-152. Bailey, G. and Spikins, P. (eds) (2008) Mesolithic Europe. Cambridge University Press, pp. 1-17. Fahlander F. 2010. Messing with the dead: Post-depositional manipulations of burials and bodies in the South Scandinavian Stone Age.  Documenta Praehistorica 37:23-31. Fahlander F. 2008. A Piece of the Mesolithic Horizontal Stratigraphy and Bodily Manipulations at Skateholm. In: Fahlander F, and Oestigaard T, editors. The Materiality of Death: Bodies, Burials, Beliefs. London: British Archaeological Reports. p 29-45. Larsson, Lars. 1993. The Skateholm Project: Late Mesolithic Coastal Settlement in Southern Sweden. In Bogucki, PI, editor. Case Studies in European Prehistory. CRC Press, p 31-62 Peterkin GL. 2008. Europe, Northern and Western | Mesolithic Cultures. In: Pearsall DM, editor. Encyclopedia of Archaeology. New York: Academic Press. p 1249-1252.

Chapter questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Chapter questions - Essay Example Children who are undernourished are more susceptible to illness that adversely affects their health. Malnutrition also leads to terminal diseases such as â€Å"diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol† in a child’s later stage of life (Skolnik, 167). Similarly, malnutrition increases women’s risks of pregnancy related deaths besides premature births and births of unhealthy children (Skolnik, 167). The parts of the world that experience the worst nutritional problems are Sub Saharan Africa, Mid and North Africa, and South Asia. This is because the regions report the highest cases of deaths, â€Å"underweight† and â€Å"low birth weights† that are related to nutritional problems (Skolnik, 170, 171). The link between nutrition and economic development is the role of nutrition in empowering people towards economic development. Nutrition facilitates cognitive and physiological potentials that determine people’s abilities towards economic development. Poor nutrition however undermines the ability and identifies poor economic development (Skolnik,

Techniques of Effective Discipline Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Techniques of Effective Discipline - Term Paper Example But if an employee fails to respect these rules, the employee’s behavior needs to be corrected. The entire purpose of discipline is to improve the employee’s behavior, and hence in turn improving work performance. This relationship is considered the most important factor that governs effective discipline in the work environment. If a manager gets along well with his employee and they develop an understanding, life in the workplace becomes fairly easy. A good manager would take time to go through the work of the employee and would not hesitate to give positive as well as negative feedback. This would motivate the employee to improve and actually perform better. For example: if a manager were to give negative feedback, point out mistakes and rebuff the employee, everytime he submitted an assignment, and not compliment the employee for submitting it before the deadline or even when he did a good job , then obviously the employee would be extremely demotivated and would not try to improve. Hence, it is extremely essential for the manager to be supportive, helpful and encouraging so that the employee strives to do a better job. Whenever an employee makes a mistake the manager should explain what went wrong and then guide the employee on how to correct the mistake. This not only motivates the employee but it could help to make him enjoy his work. Positive reinforcement is one of the primary techniques in effective discipline and one the most successful one. It is a known fact that people work harder and better when they are rewarded for doing something right than when they are punished to do something wrong (B.F.Skinner, 2011). If an employee has never been late to work or has always submitted his assignments on time, the manager should praise him in the monthly meeting so that he keeps up the good work. Not only that, other employees might learn from

Criminal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Criminal - Essay Example des services to unincorporated county area, contractual police services in districts, providing full security to county facilities and national parks. Similarly, county police have to provide some road patrol duties and provide municipal police support. Their training is equipped to ensure they have the best qualities in providing county security. They are rated amongst the low ranked in regard to payments. The second law enforcers are state police. The state police are mandated as a statewide government agency deemed to provide law enforcement in the state. They are regarded to provide the best services in line with investigations and state patrols. They are widely use in the state in different positions, including game wardens, conservation officers, campus police, capitol police and state hospitals (Dempsey &Forst, 2011). Their training is widely complex as it includes serving the state in different capacities. Their remuneration package is better than that of the county police as they have a wider jurisdiction in the country. There have a consideration of moving from one state to another since they have a wider training. The third arm of the law enforcement is the federal police. The federal police are mandated to ensure the country is in solidly secure state. According to the United States Code, the federal police have full federal authority to authorize and enforce the law at various federal levels. The federal police are trained in vast areas of ensuring they have the best training in their course of their duty. There are many points to note from the federal police as they have different training for different working positions (Dempsey & Forst, 2011). For instance, they have the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, federal Bureau of Prisons and The United States Marshals Service. They are considered to be the highly rated police officers in the country as they have a higher job commitment in the

Threats to the Global Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Threats to the Global Security - Essay Example As the research declares the major world super powers (United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, Russia and the United States) followed a two-track policy that encouraged Iran to take part in the diplomatic negotiations as they continuously impose comprehensive sanctions a gains energy and financial sectors in Iran. Both the U.S and Israel encouraged the imposition of the sanctions and the search of the diplomatic resolutions as they give serious warning that there will be limited time for the policies and that all the available options for example military actions had only to be put on the table for discussions. According to the report findings nuclear -armed Iranian military in most cases posed a lot of threat to the Americas closest allies who were mostly in the Middle East. Israel on the other hand was also at great security risks as most of the leaders from the Iran continuously declared a war of trying to wipe out the Israel from the global map. Close allies of America like the Saudi Arabia had already been alarmed of the Iran’s aggressive policy thereby increasing their feeling bout threat by the Iran. For a very long period of time Middle East remained a significant source of the energy that was used in the U.S and the whole world . And for this reason, a nuclear-armed Iran sparked a nuclear arms race in the better part of the Middle East that for a very long time destabilize the volatile and vital region.

Road Movies Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Road Movies Analysis - Research Paper Example The south-west was the protagonist’s home place responsible for discrimination, violence and racism. It was the place where the two drivers did not receive the best of treatments, experiencing attack and insults due to their long hair. The depictions of the African American poverty with the touch of modernity with the gas stations were later to indicate more to the story. The first terrain discussed above showed the nationalism that was being experienced already and the fight for those against it (Laderman, 179). Vagabond was the distinguishing film between the European and American road movie. It was the first depicting a woman on the road, the film does not put much emphasis on the drive but on the isolation, and lack of interest in being part of a home. Mona does not cross over borders or territories but rather circulates in the same place south of France. The camera shifts from Mona to other scenes such as the branches of trees alongside the road to creating a feeling of w hat will happen in future. The non-narrative escape from the road drifts induces coldness in the film. More attention is given to Mona’s body rather than the car she is travelling in. This is a major distinction between the European and American road movie. The sound techniques in the film are modern classic tracking the camera and only changes to focus on significant objects or sceneries (Laderman, 268). Stranger than paradise was an American Road movie was produced by Win Wenders when the activities of this genre were inactive. He established a film producing company named as Road movies. This particular film adopted a journey structure where the film characters taking a journey that stopped frequently by having long pauses in between the drive. The journey takes a therapeutic remedy. The first driving scene is staged with the camera being at the back of the seat of the car where Eddie and Willie are going to escape from the town. They are driving the windscreen is being us ed as a shield in which we can see them.

Supply Chain Management and Logistics Assignment

Supply Chain Management and Logistics - Assignment Example The researcher states that developing an interest in logistics benefits should be the sole interest of Toyota logistics sector, which is portrayed by an absence of professionalism. The criteria for selecting a logistics administration supplier are evolving. Clients have exchanged their center at least conceivable costs for administrations to unwavering quality. Because of the business shift from the expense, determined to quality-determined within a brief period of time, the systems for logistics administration suppliers need to incorporate more adaptability, better value security, higher transparency and expanded professionalism, keeping in mind the end goal to meet the tests. The move methodology created supply fastens to end up more dynamic, reflecting the flimsy additionally very guaranteeing business. Partnerships with outside accomplices, co-operation, and joint stock organizations are currently the way to go through. The new supply chains are a mixture of novel components join ed with old various leveled plans of existing connections and associations. Toyota should adopt Omni-channel systems by focusing to change organization which is the execution of developments relating to heightening delivery. The way to go is Omni-channel configuration, which is propelling impact of having attributes and information open over all channels. The organization incorporates leveraging customer experience chances, process upgrades, and a new arrangement for adoption. One explanation behind changing supply chains are new circulation methodologies, which are controlled by expanding client administration desires, developed business sector scope, immediate channel structures, long-haul channel connections, and developing gainfulness, stabilization, and vindication. Directors should unequivocally characterize the aspects and necessities of any key organization. Exact methods and guidelines must be created with the goal, control, and consistency of yield increment across all the departments.

Road Movies Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Road Movies Analysis - Research Paper Example The south-west was the protagonist’s home place responsible for discrimination, violence and racism. It was the place where the two drivers did not receive the best of treatments, experiencing attack and insults due to their long hair. The depictions of the African American poverty with the touch of modernity with the gas stations were later to indicate more to the story. The first terrain discussed above showed the nationalism that was being experienced already and the fight for those against it (Laderman, 179). Vagabond was the distinguishing film between the European and American road movie. It was the first depicting a woman on the road, the film does not put much emphasis on the drive but on the isolation, and lack of interest in being part of a home. Mona does not cross over borders or territories but rather circulates in the same place south of France. The camera shifts from Mona to other scenes such as the branches of trees alongside the road to creating a feeling of w hat will happen in future. The non-narrative escape from the road drifts induces coldness in the film. More attention is given to Mona’s body rather than the car she is travelling in. This is a major distinction between the European and American road movie. The sound techniques in the film are modern classic tracking the camera and only changes to focus on significant objects or sceneries (Laderman, 268). Stranger than paradise was an American Road movie was produced by Win Wenders when the activities of this genre were inactive. He established a film producing company named as Road movies. This particular film adopted a journey structure where the film characters taking a journey that stopped frequently by having long pauses in between the drive. The journey takes a therapeutic remedy. The first driving scene is staged with the camera being at the back of the seat of the car where Eddie and Willie are going to escape from the town. They are driving the windscreen is being us ed as a shield in which we can see them.

Skills for Study 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Skills for Study 1 - Essay Example One of the social factors contributing to low health expectancy is the level of poverty. In developing countries, the general level of income is very low. Consequently, such people cannot buy adequate healthy food. Furthermore, such people cannot avail the facilities of clinics or doctors as they are unable to afford it, which leads to high levels of mortality. Sometimes, health facilities are located in places far away from poverty-stricken areas, thus making it even more difficult for poor people to reach them in time (Caldwell et al 1990). Another social factor is insufficient education of parents. It is observed that health expectancy is high when the previous generation has been educated, especially mothers. Mothers are the biggest role models for their children, especially in developing countries where mothers usually stay at home while fathers go out to work. Literate mothers are more responsible when it comes to their and their children’s health. However, illiterate mothers lack knowledge of which foods are healthy, what kind of water to drink, which habits are hygienic and similar aspects of a healthy life. Due to this, their children eat anything which ‘appears’ to be edible, drink non-mineral (and thus harmful) water and develop unhygienic activities such as urinating in rivers from where water is used for drinking or cooking. These unhealthy habits cause them to develop life-threatening diseases or such, which in turn lowers the health expectancy in those areas. This factor of low levels o f literacy can also be a cultural issue for those people in developing countries that condemn women from getting an education, as they believe that such practices are only meant for boys (Caldwell et al 1990). In many developing countries, there are certain cultures that prefer the birth of boys rather than girls. People with such beliefs dispose of female

An acceptable defense Essay Example for Free

An acceptable defense Essay Insanity: Insanity defense has been considered by many as a â€Å"loophole† in the law allowing a number of guilty people to be set free. However, this so-called â€Å"loophole† does rarely set people free of criminal charges. Moreover, most of the cases involving insanity defense are murder cases. Many scholars, judges, attorneys and clinicians are said to be divided concerning the definition of insanity. In reality, though, it is not possible for them to be truly divided concerning the definition of insanity seeing that clinicians today have modernized means of determining a person’s mental state by means of psychological testing and interviews. What is more, psychologists are aware that there are neurological processes affecting a person’s mental state. Hence, brain scans can easily be used to understand the physiological condition of an individual charged with murder. Even the history of insanity will be made available through such brain scans, seeing that there is a genuine difference between the neurological processes of people showing abnormal and normal behavior. Therefore, scholars, judges, and attorneys must know that their understanding of the definition of insanity is irrelevant if clinicians are available with scientific evidence of insanity of an individual charged with murder. Given that psychological testing too is scientific, there should be no â€Å"loophole† whatsoever in this area. As a matter of fact, insanity is an acceptable defense. Eric Michael Clark shot a police officer to death because he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and believed that aliens were stalking him. According to the law of Arizona concerning insanity defense, the man had to prove with â€Å"clear and convincing† evidence that he was too mentally ill to know that he was wrong to murder an innocent police offer. The Supreme Court got involved in Clark’s case. Fortunately, the man was backed by the American Psychiatric Association in addition to the American Psychological Association – two entities based on true scientific principles. Most states of America have differing laws regarding insanity defense. Now with the support of both the American Psychiatric Association as well as the American Psychological Association – who believe in helping out mentally ill individuals that have been charged with murder although their mental health is not in their control – it is hoped that the states of America will work on a single law on insanity defense in order to make the â€Å"loophole† in the law completely vanish. This single law would also make insanity defense cases more straightforward than before. After all, abnormal psychology is a science which has made it clear that there is an illness called paranoid schizophrenia, and there are many people suffering from illusions, delusions, and hallucinations. To doubt that these people are ill is, in fact, insanity as well as a sin. This is because we will be depriving of treatment a lot of mentally ill folks if we do not even believe that they are mentally ill. And, what if these people enter jails to commit more murders? What if they kill themselves in prison after they have been unlawfully charged with crime? Whose responsibility would that be? In point of fact, mentally ill people require immediate healing instead of punishment. Besides, putting them through court trials may be worsening their mental condition. Many people who oppose the insanity defense have assumed that mental illness is a myth, and that those who label others as mentally ill are actually imposing violence and control on people. Thomas Ssasz argued that psychologists and psychiatrists use such labels only to make political and ethical decisions. It can be argued, however, that people who are unaware of the scientific basis of abnormal behavior are ignorant at best. Such people are the reason why books on the history of abnormal psychology claim that in the olden times people killed numerous mentally ill people simply because they were mentally ill. There was no treatment for such people, and nobody cared enough to stand for their right to be treated. Slowly but surely, future generations began to believe in the reality of mental illness. ‘Humane treatment’ of the mentally ill was suggested as a cure. Today, however, we are abusing the principles of ‘humane treatment’ by putting the mentally ill people through prolonged court trials. It would be best, therefore, for society to acknowledge that first of all, psychology is a science just as much as biology; and psychologists and psychiatrists are qualified to determine the mental condition of an individual. If, in fact, mental illness were a myth, the Supreme Court and everybody else involved in insanity defense trials would have worked on also closing down mental hospitals as well as the clinics of the well-educated psychologists and psychiatrists, who happen to know their science more than lawmakers would ever be expected to understand psychology. The fact that the government has not closed down psychiatric clinics and mental hospitals shows that society at large does instinctively believe in the reality of mental illness and realizes how painful it can be. Hence, it is utterly useless to argue against the insanity defense. Bibliography Lane, Charles. â€Å"Supreme Court to Review Insanity Defense. † Washington Post. April 20, 2006. â€Å"The Insanity Defense,† Cyber Essays, http://www. cyberessays. com/Politics/126. htm, Accessed 4 May 2007. â€Å"The Insanity Goes On,† Crime Library (2007), http://www. crimelibrary. com/criminal_mind/psychology/insanity/11. html, Accessed 4 May 2007.

Edgar Degas-en Francais :: essays research papers

Edgar Degas Edgar Degas à ©tait un peintre impressionniste trà ¨s important. Il s’est spà ©cialisà © en verticales des personnes, principalement danseurs de ballet. Degas n’etait pas simplement un impressionniste, parce qu’il est allà © au delà   de celui et est devenu un modà ¨le pour l’avant-garde, aussi bien que pour Toulouse-Lautrec son palpeur, et Gaugin son admirateur. Les à ©và ©nements de la vie de Degas ne sont pas d’intà ©rà ªt excessif ou romantique. Le 19 Juillet 1834 il à ©tait Hilaire Germaine nommà © nà © Edgar de Gas à   Paris. Il à ©tait le plus vieux de cinq enfants vivants. Degas embarquà © chez le Lycà ©e Louis-le-Grand, un des trois à ©coles qui l’ont prà ©parà © sont des pupilles pour l’Ecole Normale Supà ©rieure, endroit à ©ducatif de la France. C’est oà ¹ Degas fait beaucoup la vie de longs amis. L’à ©ducation, cependant, a laissà © quelque chose à ªtre dà ©sirà ©, des maths et la science d’ offre. Apres qu’il soit parti de l’ecole il a continue le souhait de son pere et a commence a etudier la loi. Apres un an de ceci il a quitte pour se concentrer sur devenir un artiste reussi. Son pere a ete impressionne de sa determination et lui a permis de continuer sur son formation artistique. Degas est alors entre dans le studio de Louis Lamothe, un artiste qui a etudie avec Ingres. Degas etait seulement dans l’atelier Lamothe pendant une annee mais ceci a commence son respect profond pour Ingres. Il a alors etudie d’Ecole des Beaux Arts a Paris. Degas plus tard etudie dans l’auvent et avez puis commence l’etude des peintres modernes aussi bien que les vieux maitres. Il est alors parti pour que l’Italie continue son education independamment. L’Italie a ce moment-la etait le but de tous les artistes aspirants. Degas trois annees epuisees de sa vie en Italie etudiant les peintures des artistes dans les galeries et pratiquees dessiner ses parents. Les peintures le plus tot terminees de Degas etaient de belles verticales de famille. Ensuite il s’est deplace a Paris et a commence a travailler a la forme d’art la plus elevee alors, les peintures de grande puissance d’histoire. Dans le mi 1860’s Degas a commence le peinture d’un contemorary dans la vie. Ce changement de son dessin-modele etait plus-probable inspire par ses amities avec Manet et d’autres impressionnistes. Il a commence a peindre peu de verticales et a fait la piste et le ballet ses nouveaux sujets. Degas a joue un role important en organisant les expositions impressionnistes dans le 1870’s et 1880’s.

Understanding Eskimo Science :: essays research papers

In Richard Nelson’s â€Å"Understanding Eskimo Science† a man, Nelson, traveled below the Arctic Circle in the boreal forest of interior Alaska were he lived, studied and interacted with a few native Eskimos groups during the mid-1960’s. Throughout the article Nelson provides an abundance of interesting and relevant information about Eskimo survival coming about through the understanding of one’s environment. Nelson’s best argument is the simple fact that these people have managed to survive in one the, if not the, harshest environment on the planet. There knowledge is useful, tested and true to the groups as this truly unique understanding of there world has permitted them to thrive well in these parts. Although the vegetation is rather scarce the Eskimo’s made due with a diet based mostly on hunting. But as we find out in the article Nelson describes how these people are well adapted to the art of hunting. The relationship between man and animal is described to be one of intricate understanding and respect: â€Å"Koyukon hunters know that an animal’s life ebbs slowly, that it remains aware and sensitive to how people treat its body†. The Eskimo people have accumulated a massive memory based archive of scientifically valid knowledge concerning the diverse workings of the landscape of Alaska. Unfortunately Nelson makes it all too clear that this knowledge is disappearing and he fears that once gone there will never again be such a deep link between man and land. On a side note, this arcticle also makes it clear that the Eskimo’s respect there elders and place them at the head of all that is important as there knowledge and experience is treasured. They are the teachers of there people and the identity of the Eskimo is reflected in stores of experience in the minds of elders like Igruk. Nelson is most obviously a rational man saying rational things, but as is often the case with topics concerning native people, this knowledge will probably be lost in time. This article makes one think about man as a hole. Are we truly happy in our jungles of steel? Have we not lost something of great importance, something the Eskimo people have managed to conserve through all these millennia. We have lost contact with the spirit of nature. We have lost it to a point where our scientist do not consider Eskimo science (general knowledge) as a valid enough foundation for

Macbeth †Discuss the ways in which the play presents to us the picture Essay

Discuss the ways in which the play presents to us the picture of a man caught between the promptings of his worldly ambition and an acute awareness of moral and religious values. The tragedy of Macbeth is that we watch the downfall of a great man because of a flaw in his character. The play begins with the description of the battle between the Scottish forces led by Macbeth and Banquo, and the rebels led by Macdonald and the traitor Cawdor, and the Norwegian forces. The captain says, â€Å"brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name†, and describes how he mercilessly beat of the rebels and the Norwegians against the odds. He is a hero among the king’s court, and as he later says, he â€Å"hath brought golden opinions from all sorts of people†. However, even at this early stage, we see an undesirable side of the character, as described by the bloody captain; he says that Macbeth and Banquo fought so viciously that they â€Å"meant to bathe in reeking wounds, or memorise another Golgotha†. This reference to Golgotha would have had a much greater impact on the deeply Christian audience of the early 17th Century, when everyone would have known that this was the name of the hill on which Jesus was crucified. Therefore, with this reference Shakespeare must be aiming to show that Macbeth is not all good, and that although he is a brilliant general, and the hero of Scotland, he is also ruthless, and bloody. However, this is not the main flaw that is what brings about Macbeth’s destruction, his greatest flaw is â€Å"vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself, and falls on th’other†, and Shakespeare introduces this in Act 1, scene 3. The witches have already declared in scene 1, that they will next come together Upon the Heath. There, to meet Macbeth. so when they appear in thunder (rather then lightening or rain), on the heath we know that they are there to meet Macbeth. We also know from their conversation that precedes Macbeth’s entrance that they are very malicious; the first witch has vowed to sail to out to a ship called the Tiger to stop its captain from sleeping, and to keep the ship almost wrecked for 567 days, all because the captain’s wife wouldn’t give her a chestnut, while the second witch has been â€Å"killing swine†, presumably for fun. This gives a sense of dramatic irony when the witches tell Macbeth of his future, and he assumes that these predictions are going to be to his benefit, but we know that the witches are malicious, and are out to destroy Macbeth. He does not realise this until Act 5 scene 5, when he â€Å"begin(s) to doubt th’equivocation of the fiend, that lies like truth†. The ambition that I was talking about is introduced when the witches greet Macbeth first with a title that everyone knows he has, then with a title that the audience knows he has, but he does not, and finally with the greatest title of all. To this, Macbeth â€Å"start(s), and seem(s) to fear†, and so shows us that he had a guilty conscience, and suggests that he had long been harbouring a deep desire to become king, even before he met the witches. This means that the predictions have a huge effect on him, and begin to take over his mind. Therefore, over the next few scenes, we see the conflict in himself between his ambition, and his conscience. His personality becomes divided, and becomes very confused. He is spurred on by his wife, but then he didn’t have to tell her about the witch’s predictions, as he must have known that she would encourage him to do something rash. And the fact that he did shows that much of him wants her to encourage him towards a terrible deed, Whose horrid image doth unfix (his) hair And make (his) seated heart knock at his ribs Against the use of nature but yet he is â€Å"too full o’th’milk of human kindness† to be able to decide for himself whether or not to kill Duncan. You may note that he says that this image is â€Å"against the use of nature† this refers to the idea of there being a natural order of things, which would be totally upset, and turned on its head by regicide. The aside in Act 1 scene 3 shows how his feelings are in turmoil, and how he has become confused; each line of thought ends with a paradox, such as â€Å"nothing is, but what is not†. He then moves on to hope that â€Å"chance may crown him without (his) stir†, and concludes that he will let whatever happens happen. However, only a scene after this, moments after declaring his allegiance to Duncan, he hears that Malcolm is to be the heir to the throne, and says that this â€Å"is a step on which (he) must fall down, or else o’erleap†. However he is partly so horrified at his own thoughts, that he asks the stars not to let light see his â€Å"black and deep desires†, but he also wants this because he wants to get away with the deed that is lurking at the back of his mind. He obviously realises that his ideas about regicide are very wrong, and he judges himself severely. However, the next scene involves Macbeth and his wife, and in it, we see how with very little persuasion, only a few hints and double meanings, she is able to quickly persuade him to kill Duncan. She tells him to â€Å"look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t†, as if he needed tips in how to deceive and equivocate. I say this because in scene 4, he publicly declared his loyalty to Duncan, and then a few lines later (in an aside) begins to show signs that the idea of murder is building up inside his head. Shakespeare deliberately puts these lines close together to mark the contrast between his outward appearance, and his inner feelings. It is ironic that Macbeth’s appearance, and feelings should be so different, and so treacherous, when Duncan is on stage, and in the same scene as he claimed â€Å"there’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face.† However, his inner conflict is shown in scene 7, when he debates with himself, and identifies what is stopping him, and what is driving him on. This soliloquy has a great dramatic importance, because it shows just how tormented Macbeth is by the predictions of the witches and his ambition, in contrast to the awareness of how wrong the murder would be. He begins by saying that he would skip the afterlife if only it meant that he could succeed in becoming king. This is a measure of just how ambitious he is; he is a man who is always aware of the afterlife, he mentions it so often, yet says here that he would rather be successful in this one act, than live for ever at God’s side. He then begins to state the arguments against murder, beginning with the knowledge that the murderer will have justice eventually. He says that he shouldn’t kill him because he is his relation, king and host. He then uses very vivid and apocalyptic imagery to describe how Duncan’s virtues will â€Å"plead like angels against† his own lesser virtues, in heaven, because Duncan is such a saintly king. This implies that Macbeth does not think that highly of himself, because he recognises that Duncan is a far better king than he ever could be, and is a far better person than he. The image of the â€Å"naked newborn babe striding the blast† is another example of how vivid Macbeth’s imagination is, while giving another reason not to carry out the murder; the pity that he should feel for the old man. This is the most powerful reason for me, because of the way it is explained, and because I know how the murder will torment Macbeth and his wife for the rest of their lives. Therefore, Macbeth undergoes the change from a larger-than-life general, who is the hero of Scotland, to the guiltily ambitious thane, to the morally self-critical host, and then finally, in the rest of this scene, he turns into a poodle of his wife, and lets all his good sense be knocked down a combination of their ambition, and decides to kill Duncan. Act 2 sees Macbeth carrying out the murder of Duncan (offstage). This alienates him from the audience, so that whereas in Act 1 we saw everything about him, including all of his inner conflict, he is now distanced from the audience. This idea is also present scene when the murderers come on; he mentions that they have already spoken on the subject of Banquo’s murder, and so that what the audience may have thought was just another dark thought in the back of his mind, suddenly is a reality. Thus, Shakespeare creates a sort of tension between the audience and Macbeth, because they no longer respect him. This process of alienation continues, and worsens as the play continues, and reaches its peak in Act 4, scene 2, in which Macduff’s â€Å"castle is surprised, his wife and babes savagely slaughtered. This happens on stage, and the horror of infanticide would shock any audience, and so make them hate and recoil from Macbeth. I think that to a modern day audience, this murder condemns Macbeth, because child killings for their parent’s â€Å"crimes† is a terrible thing, and in modern society there is little worse. However, in the early 17th Century, there had been no Civil War, or French Revolution, so people still believed that kings were sacred, and had been put there by God. This meant that regicide was not only murder, but also treason, and an act against God, and the natural order, so was a deeply sacrilegious thing to do. The relationship between Macbeth and his wife deteriorates in a similar way to the relationship between him and the audience; in Act 1, they were â€Å"partners in greatness†, with her spurring him on to further achievements, but by Act 3, scene 2, she asks, â€Å"why do you keep alone?† but it is too late, and they continue to drift apart, and do not speak to each other after Act 3, scene 4. This deterioration of all of Macbeth’s relationships characterises his descent form the â€Å"most worthy thane† that we see at the beginning of the play, into the â€Å"abhorred tyrant† at the end. He cuts himself off from everything worthwhile in life because of his selfishness. In Act 4, scene 1, he seeks out the witches because he longs know what more lies in store for him. Now that all three of their original predictions have come true, he has nothing left to hang on to, and his ambition is restless. We already know how great his ambition is, so this may explain why he is so desperate to know more. However, when he goes to the witches this time, their predictions are not about his future successes, but instead are about his downfall. The speech in which he begs them for answers shows just how low he has sunk: His first words are â€Å"I conjure† this shows that he is using the language of witchcraft, and so is evil. There was another reference of this sort, when he said, â€Å"so foul and fair a day I have not seen†, as opposed to the witches, who said â€Å"fair is foul, and foul is fair†, but he wasn’t dabbling in witchcraft then, and perhaps that speech was only intended to reinforce the idea that throughout this play, all is not as it seems. He then says that if he gets his way, he is prepared for corn and trees to be blown down, so that there would be famine and destruction in nature. For castles, which were then the definition of stability, and strength, especially for kings, to fall down killing their warders, and for palaces and pyramids, which were more splendid side of being a monarch, to fall down. Finally, he says that the seeds of all life can cease to live, and destruction can continue until it grows tired of destroying, if it means he can find out about his future. This shows that he has completely lost his earlier sense of right and wrong and of his importance in the world, because of his terrible solipsism. In Act 1, he was able to realise that he shouldn’t kill Duncan, because Duncan was a better person than him, and a better king. But by this stage, he has lost all sense of proportion, and is just desperate. He says, â€Å"for mine own good all causes shall give way†, and seems to be so much engrossed in solipsism, that he refuses to acknowledge that other people exist. Soon after this, he revisits the witches, and then goes on to murder all Macduff’s children. This is a good example of how he changes through the play, and how his ambition has got the better of his awareness of right and wrong. However, this does not meant that his awareness of moral and spiritual values is dead; we can see that his imagination is still very active, and that is why his murder of Duncan affects him so deeply. In Act 1 Lady Macbeth told him to â€Å"consider it not so deeply† after he was terrified by his inability to say â€Å"amen†, but yet this is the type of thing that haunts him to the end of his life, and drives him to isolate himself from everything that he holds dear. Once he knows that he has â€Å"forsaken the life to come†, he cuts himself off from all moral and spiritual values, and though he is still very aware of these values, he just ignores them. As Macbeth himself said, I am in blood Stepped in so far that should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as going o’er. In this horrific and apocalyptic imagery, he conveys that he might as well continue to be bad, rather than admit his mistakes, and try to be forgiven. This idea is repeated, when the doctor says that the patient must help itself to be healed from a disease of the mind, and he basically says that he can’t be bothered with this. He has a deeply troubled mind, but yet his pride stops him from admitting that he ever made a mistake. By Act 5, scene 3, he knows that it is over, and begins to mourn himself. He says, again with imaginative imagery, that his way of life is slowly dying, And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have.