Macro economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Macro economics - Essay Example Inflation that comes with recession is normal but hyperinflation is a nightmare. Hyperinflation occurs when inflation is out-of-hand making a currency lose its value while prices soar at an alarming rate ( Sheffrin, 341). Inflation is actually a normal part of an economic cycle which occurs at certain times in a year, but when inflation is not headed towards equilibrium, hyperinflation happens. Among the world’s worst case of inflation, Hungary stands out due to the phenomenal nose-dive of its currency – the pengo. This happened to Hungary between the last quarter of 1945 towards July 1946. In order to fully understand the magnitude of this hyperinflation, it must be pointed out that a year before the hyperinflation ( 1944 ), the pengo’s highest denomination was only 1,000. A year later, the highest denomination was already a staggering 10,000,000 pengo. It meant that one needs an awful lot of money to purchase an item due to the low value of currency. This instance did not end the cycle , it even got worse when the pengo reached its highest denomination in 1946 – a shocking 100,000,000,000,000,000,000 pengÅ‘. The rate of the pengo was fluctuating faster than the weather as radio announcements were made daily to adjust its rate. Even when the pengo was replaced by the forint ( new currency ) in 1946, still the value of the circulating Hungarian amounted to â€Å" one-thousandth of one US dollar† ( Judt 87). In fact, some pictures from old Hungarian newspapers depict people sweeping the almost useless banknotes. In contemporary times, this can be compared to the hyperinflation that occurred in Zimbabwe; however, the Hungarian incident is more severe as â€Å" the inflation reached a peak of 1.3 x 11016 percent per month (prices double every 15 hours)† according to the rep ort of Zimbabwe Situation in 2008. There are many reasons why hyperinflation occurs in an economy. Among the prevalent factors are economic depression, aftermath

History of the Scientific Revolution

History of the Scientific Revolution What we call today as Modern Science and Technology is in fact not that modern, but was born nearly half a millennium ago at the time of Renaissance in Europe. According to traditional accounts, the scientific revolution began in Europe towards the end of the Renaissance Era lasting from 15th century to 18th century. Ancient people who are considered the first scientists called themselves â€Å"natural philosophers† or â€Å"practitioners of a skilled profession† or as â€Å"followers of a religious tradition†. Both institutionally and conceptually, science was not the independent practice what we see today. Much of what we know as science originally was undertaken by priests and monks, and scientific knowledge was taught in temples and monasteries. The scientific revolution was not marked by any single change, but a century long process of discovery in which scientists further elaborated and developed the findings of those who had come before—from the scientific learning of the ancient Greeks to the scholarly contributions of the Islamic thinkers, to the work of the late medieval and early Renaissance Europeans. The Medieval Islamic Science period lasted from 7th century to 15th century, during which the Muslims were the leading scholars and the heirs to the scientific traditions of Greece, India and Persia. The Islamic Science suffered a gradual decline in the early 12th century which provided the Europeans an opportunity to seek and translate the works of Islamic philosophers and scientists. Beginning in the late 11th century and over the next two centuries the Islamic world was under pressure by The Crusades and Mongol conquests, during which libraries, observatories, hospitals, and universities were destroyed. In add ition to Mongolian invasions and the crusades, political mismanagement and the stifling of ijtihad in the 12th century in favor of taqlid thinking played a part. The destruction of the intellectual center of Baghdad the capital of the Abbasaid Caliphate in1258 is traditionally seen as the approximate end of the Islamic Golden Age. The translation of the Islamic texts into Latin during the 12th and 13th centuries had a great impact on the European Renaissance and helped Europe seize the initiative from the Muslims when political conditions in Islam brought about a decline in Islamic science. By the end of the 18th century, the Scientific Revolution had given birth to Industrial Revolution which dramatically transformed the daily lives of people around the world. During the 19th century, the practice of science became professionalized and institutionalized in ways that continued through the 20th century. According to many, scientific revolution was the prelude of a much bigger transformation, the Industrial Revolution which began in 1760’s. The Industrial Revolution marks a major turning point in history and a shift to powered, special-purpose machinery, factories and mass production. The iron and textile industry, agriculture, and the invention of steam engine played central roles in the Industrial Revolution, which also saw major changes in transportation and banking systems. These changes had a profound effect on the socio-economic and cultural conditions in England, and then subsequently spreading throughout the world. The first Industrial Revolution which took place from 1760 to somewhere between 1820 and 1840 evolved into the Second Industrial Revolution around 1850 and continued through the 19th century. However, the date of origin is still a highly debated topic among historians. While it is difficult to explain all of the examples of how technology has influenced cult ure and vice versa, reviewing a few examples from the last few centuries it is clear that the technology developed during and after the Industrial Revolution has changed cultures from simple farming villages to modern hustling cities and sprawling suburbs. What then is the relationship between Science, Technology and Culture? It is an intricate relationship that forms a figurative circle of influence with no real start or end points. Science, Technology and Culture continue to influence one another as they evolve and change over time. From 19th century onwards science, technology and culture have significantly influenced one another. As cultures change so does the technology they develop. A contemporary writer Raymond Williams, in his book Culture and Society regards the concept of culture as consisting of four jointly applicable meanings: A general state or habit of mind, having close relations with the idea of human perfection; A general state of intellectual development in a society as a whole; The general body of arts; and A whole way of lifematerial, intellectual, and spiritual. Culture is thus the totality of the technological, sociological and ideological features of a given society. Rationality, utility, ethics, freedom, and sociality are the central cultural elements of our societies. Because science and technology rest on these central cultural elements, the adoption of new knowledge and new devices does not always imply their acceptance. We often accept an innovation owing to its evident utility at the individual level, and then criticize it for its consequences at the collective or cultural level. Science and technology can contribute to the preservations and advancement of a culture. At the same time they can also help cause its mutation and destruction. Science has contributed a great deal to human welfare. It has produced miraculous cures for diseases which for a long time, were regarded incurable. It has brought the marvels on industrialism, technology and space exploration. But science has created as many problems as it helped to solve. It has le d to an undue stress on materialism and economic barbarism in the absence of controlling mental and moral ideas. The knowledge and power of science need to be harnessed to the service of man through the culture the finer sense and sensitivity of man. For instance, beginning in the mid 1950’s, the post war years in Western Germany were marked by enormous obstacles. Due to extensive bombing destruction and dismantling of factories, various cultural and traditional supply networks were destroyed. Under this circumstance what role did culture play in the technological development of Western Germany? Stokes had argued that the way Western Germany approached technological change bound economic miracle both German past and to the country’s present day industrial structure. The Western German approach, in other words, has drawn upon a set of German technological traditions that emerged in the large 19th and early 20th centuries, major characteristics of which include a drive for technical excellence tempered by gradual implementation of new technologies. There are two views about culture and Germany’s Technological and Economic Miracle one view advanced by scholars about culture and Germany’s technological and economic miracle is that the experience of skilled workers and the persistence of socio-economic relationships were important factors in permitting an economy to reconstruct itself after a disaster. A second, and a more recent view is that the important cultural factor that was responsible for Germany’s technological and economic miracle was the ability of Western German technologists and industrialists to embrace technological alternatives. What then is the relationship between culture and technology? The culture of a society determines the nature of technological development and the evolving technological culture. Technology is thus a cultural enterprise is thus accepted that technology has had an important influence on Western civilizations for the last 300 years. But partly because of the diverse cultur es found in human societies, the contribution of some cultures to the pool of technological advances has been comparatively modest. However, technology has always been too important to be measured purely in terms of the activities of technologists. Just as history is not made by historians, but by society, so technology is not developed only by technologists but the wider community. Every human society possesses its own distinct culture, so that the members of one society behave differently in some significant respects from members of every other society. Furthermore, human societies are also distributed over very varied regions differing markedly in climate and environment. There are also very large ethnic, social and cultural differences between the various human communities and their economic conditions. In recent years the impact of culture on technology in most traditional societies has tended to bear on two opposing directions at once. On the one hand western technology is being sought virtually without limits on the other hand there is opposition to certain aspects of western lifestyles, attitudes and value. This phenomenon is termed as the techno-cultural gap between traditional values and western technology. Now, if we take these issues into full consideration, we are left to conclude that what is needed at this moment is not just an increase of interna tional technology transfer nor even the setting up of a screening mechanism permitting only appropriate technologies to be transferred, but rather a major at two levels: the domestic and the international. At the domestic level, it is important to build a popular technological awareness crossing the borderline between the so-called indigenous and modern technology people should become aware of the issues in culture and technology and they can improve their livelihood by modifying and improving indigenous and modern technologies. At the international level, the re-orientation and restructuring of science and technology must touch on two areas: On the study of science and technology in schools, scientists, technologists and science educationists of different cultures, languages and social systems must build new paradigms for science and technology education from a multicultural perspective. Science and technology must be seen as existing in all cultures, the issues must be taught and the potentials of these must be explored in situations of everyday life. An acceptance of the restructuring of RD systems could permit the developing and the industrialized countries to engage in a dialogue on alternative RD, assessment of technology for development, concrete measures to redirect government RD from technocratic to need-oriented technology development, etc and joint RD for alternative technologies. In the west, the pervasiveness of technologies like televisions, telephones, and computers is affecting the way we perceive the world and how we interact. In addition many new developments, like cloning, challenge fundamental cultural beliefs and traditions. While Western nations have become relatively accustomed to technological change since the industrial revolution, developing nations are just beginning to grapple with the problems of the rapid introduction of industrial and scientific technologies. There is growing awareness of the consequences of the interaction between science, technology and culture. However, we are just beginning to understand how to reconcile the benefits of science and technology-such as higher standards of living, longer life spans, more leisure time, and improved communications-with the possibility of reshaping, many cultures and possibly redefining fundamental aspects of society. As science and technology continue to advance, the ways in which people communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge and attitudes toward individuals, as well as local, national, and international communities, will continue to undergo radical change. The continuing development of science and technology is not inherently bad. However, it has the potential to endanger our diversity and traditional knowledge. We must work together to determine how to preserve and foster our cultural heritages at the same time we embrace the future.

Fighting a War :: Personal Narrative Papers

Fighting a War I have never been to war. I hope I'll never go. There is nothing that I believe in enough to sacrifice my life. These are supposed to be days of idealism and youth, and I am blessed. I cannot care. I cannot fight. The only appealing little thing about violence is the potential for heroism, and I doubt I'll ever be a hero or save an innocent life from a burning building, stop a runaway train like so many bad movies. I can't see myself triumphing over this world. I can see myself climb out of the trench and nobly get mowed down by the bullets of a gattling gun. I let fly an arrow from my longbow. In the cockpit of a fighter plane, props twirling, I strafe Japanese ships and dodge innumerable Zeros. On a dusty hill I calculate the trajectory of an artillery shell and re-check my math. I slink through a dark jungle and blend in with the foliage, camouflaging my thoughts, a shadow amidst all the life. I can only see myself in war movies, not in actual wars. I have never been in an honest-to-god kill or be killed full on violent fight, much less a nationally sponsored war. Never defended my life or my honor, or someone else's; but I have taken and sadly given a beating. The closest I have ever been to war is a controlled skirmish with a friend, a fistfight for fun. No anger. One time, at his twenty-first birthday party, Frank and I gave up on docile lives and began to fight. Neither of us was born in Idaho. We never grew up together but we've both spent some time there. Our families moved, his east mine west, Hong Kong and Connecticut, so we're there for the summer and the winter. We know some of the same people, like the Peruvians and Adam Pracna and Jason Spicer, but we're three years too far apart. I'm younger, and we never hung out. We've got mutual friends and we've eaten at all the same places. Small town, not many places. We've both driven out the same canyons in a pickup with mud and girls, same girls? Who knows? There's a keg or two in the back kicking up dust up into it all and clouding up the sky, and we're throwing empty glass bottles shattering at trees and shadows and animals as we drive and sing.

The Philippine Health Care Delivery System

THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM HEALTH CARE SYSTEM * an organized plan of health services (Miller-Keane, 1987) HEALTH CARE DELIVERY * rendering health care services to the people (Williams-Tungpalan, 1981). HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM (Williams-Tungpalan, 1981) * the network of health facilities and personnel which carries out the task of rendering health care to the people. PHILIPPINE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM * is a complex set of organizations interacting to provide an array of health services (Dizon, 1977). COMPONENTS OF THE HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM The Department of Health Mandate: The Department of Health shall be responsible for the following: formulation and development of national health policies, guidelines, standards and manual of operations for health services and programs; issuance of rules and regulations, licenses and accreditations; promulgation of national health standards, goals, priorities and indicators; development of special health programs and projects and advocacy for legislation on health policies and programs. The primary function of the Department of Health is the promotion, protection, preservation or restoration of the health of the people through the provision and delivery of health services and through the regulation and encouragement of providers of health goods and services (E. O. No. 119, Sec. 3). Vision: Health as a right. Health for All Filipinos by the year 2000 and Health in the Hands of the People by the year 2020. Mission: The mission of the DOH, in partnership with the people to ensure equity, quality and access to health care: * by making services available * by arousing community awareness * by mobilizing resources * by promoting the means to better health LEVELS OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES 1. PRIMARY LEVEL OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES are the rural health units, their sub-centers, chest clinics, malaria eradication units, and schistosomiasis control units operated by the DOH; puericulture centers operated by League of Puericulture Centers; tuberculosis clinics and hospitals of the Philippine Tuberculosis Society; private clinics, clinics operated by the Philippine Medical Association; clinics operated by large industrial firms for their employees; community hospitals and health centers operated by the Philippine Medicare Care Commission and other health facilities operated by voluntary religious and civic groups (Williams-Tungpalan, 1981). . SECONDARY LEVEL OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES * are the s maller, non-departmentalized hospitals including emergency and regional hospitals. * Services offered to patients with symptomatic stages of disease, which require moderately specialized knowledge and technical resources for adequate treatment. 3. TERTIARY LEVEL OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES * are the highly technological and sophisticated services offered by medical centers and large hospitals. These are the specialized national hospitals. Services rendered at this level are for clients afflicted with diseases which seriously threaten their health and which require highly technical and specialized knowledge, facilities and personnel to treat effectively (Williams-Tungpalan, 1981) FACTORS ON THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF HEALTH WORKERS AMONG COUNTRIES AND COMMUNITIES 1. available health manpower resources 2. local health needs and problems 3. political and financial feasibility THREE LEVELS OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE WORKERS A. VILLAGE OR GRASSROOT HEALTH WORKERS * first contacts of the community and initial links of health care. * Provide simple curative and preventive health care measures promoting healthy environment. * Participate in activities geared towards the improvement of the socio-economic level of the community like food production program. * Community health worker, volunteers or traditional birth attendants. B. INTERMEDIATE LEVEL HEALTH WORKERS * represent the first source of professional health care attends to health problems beyond the competence of village workers * provide support to front-line health workers in terms of supervision, training, supplies, and services. * Medical practitioners, nurses and midwives. C. FIRST LINE HOSPITAL PERSONNEL * provide back up health services for cases that require hospitalization * establish close contact with intermediate level health workers or village health workers. * Physicians with specialty, nurses, dentist, pharmacists, other health professional s. TWO-WAY REFERRAL SYSTEM (Niace, et. al. 8th edition 1995) A two-way referral system need to be established between each level of health facility e. g. barangay health workers refer cases to the rural health team, who in turn refer more serious cases to either the district hospital, then to the provincial, regional or the whole health care system. Public P Barangay Health OHealth Worker Nurse 2nd 3rd P H F H F U E A E A L Barangay RHU A C A C A Health Midwife Physician L I L I T Stations T L T L I H I H I O T T N RHS Sanitary Y Y Midwife Inspector MULTISECTORAL APPROACH TO HEALTH (NLGNI, 8th edition, 1995) The level of health of a community is largely the result of a combination of factors. Other health-related Systems (government/ private Ways of CommunityHealth Care The Health System People (Cultural) Environment (Social, Economic, physical, Etc. Health, therefore, cannot work in isolation. Neither can one sector or discipline claim monopoly to the solution of community health problems. Health has now become a multisectoral concern. For instance, it is unrealistic to expect a malnourished child to substantially gain in weight unless the family’s poverty is alleviated†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ In other words, improvement of social and economic conditions need to be attended to first or tackled hand in hand with health problems. 1. Intersectoral Linkages – Primary Health Care forms an integral part of the health system and the over-all social and economic development of the community. As such, it is necessary to unify health efforts within the health organization itself and with other sectors concerned. It implies the integration of health plans with the plan for the total community development. Sectors most closely related to health include those concerned with: a. Agricultural b. Education c. Public works d. Local governments e. Social Welfare f. Population Control g. Private Sectors The agricultural sector can contribute much to the social and economic upliftment of the people†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Demonstration to mothers of better techniques and procedures for food preparation and preservation can preserve the nutritive value of local foods. Through joint efforts, agricultural technology that produces side effects unsafe to health (for instance, insecticide poisoning) can be minimized or prevented. The school has long been recognized as an effective venue for transmission of basic knowledge to the community. Every pupil or student can be tapped for primary health care activities such as sanitation and food production activities†¦.. Construction of safe water supply facilities and better roads can be jointly undertaken by the community with public works. Community organization (e. g. establishing a barangay network for health) can be worked through the local government or community structure. Likewise, better housing through social welfare agencies, promotion of responsible parenthood through family planning services and increased employment through the private sectors can be joint undertakings for health†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦We have to recognize that oftentimes health actions undertaken outside the health sector can have health effects much greater than those possible within it. 2. Intrasectoral Linkages – In the health sector, the acceptance of primary health care necessitates the restructuring of the health system to broaden health coverage and make health service available to all. There is now a widely accepted pyramidal organization that provides levels of services starting with primary health and progressing to specialty care. Primary health care is the hub of the health system. A PYRAMIDAL HEALTH STRUCTURE Tertiary National Health Health Care Services Regional Health Services Secondary Health District Health Services Care Rural (Local Hospital) Services Rural Health Units Primary Barangay Health Stations Health Care THE NATIONAL HEALTH PLAN (Niace, et. al 8th edition 1995) The National Health Plan is the blue print which is followed by the Department of Health. It defines the country’s health problems, policy thrusts, strategies and targets. POLICY THRUSTS AND STRATEGIES There are policy thrusts and strategies which are commonly important. These are: 1. Information, education, and communication programs will be implemented to raise the awareness of the public, including policy makers, program planners and decision makers; 2. An update of the legislative agenda for health, nutrition and family planning (HNFP), and stronger advocacy for pending HNFP –related legislations will be pursued; 3. Integration of efforts in the health, nutrition and family planning sector to maximize resources in the delivery of services through the establishment of coordinative mechanisms at both the national and local levels; 4. Partnership between the public and the private sectors will be strengthen and institutionalized to effectively utilize and monitor private resources for the sector; 5. Enhancement of the status and role of women as program beneficiaries and program implementers will be pursued to enable them to substantially participate in the development process.

Case Study †American Chemical Corp

The past performance of ACC as seen from the financial statements for the period 1974-79 is characterized by a high degree of variability. The overall situation has been very good with profit to net asset ratio (average 54. 3%) going as high as 84. 2% and 90% in 1977 and 1978, before dropping to 66. 4% in 1979. Barring the year 1975, the ratio has also shown a consistently increasing trend. In absolute terms the operating profit has shown substantial increases between the years 1976 and 1978.Except for 1976, when the company’s performance ahs dipped as a result of general market conditions, the company has shown reasonably good growth in sales, both in terms of quantity and amount. Costs have been under control and in some cases have declined over the years. Hence the past performance of ACC has been good but has shown a high degree of variability. This indicates that although the company has been performing well, the risk associated with it is also high. 2. Competitive enviro nment of ACC at the timeIn 1979, there were a dozen companies producing sodium chlorate. Apart from large, diversified chemical companies, these also included a few paper and pulp companies that had backward integrated into production of sodium chlorate. The total existing capacity was 455,000 tons, and another 75,000 tons were being added by way of new plants being put up. Over the years, sales of sodium chlorate had increased 220,000 tons in 1970 to 435,000 tons in 1979 (expected figure), representing an increase of 97. 7%.Durng the same period capacity grew from 270,000 tons to 455,000 tons, representing an increase of 68. 5%. This lag in the increase in capacity, compared to the increase in sales, has augured well for the companies manufacturing this chemical, and resulted in substantial price increases from $129 per ton in 1970 to $413 in 1979. Thus the market and competitive environment were quite favorable to the manufacturers at this time. Rising costs were a matter of conce rn with the cost of electricity, one of the major inputs, registering steady increases over the years.This placed companies such as American that were using older technologies and graphite electrodes at a disadvantage compared to newer plants that used metal electrodes. 3. Beta for Collinsville plant and ACC The equity beta for ACC and Collinsville plant was 1. 20. This is the levered beta. In 1978, debt was 39% of the total capitalization, while common and preferred stock accounted for 69%. The debt-equity ratio was 0. 565. Hence, the unlevered beta was 1. 2/1. 565 = 0. 77. 4. Cost of equity for evaluating cash flows of Collinsville plant projectThe Collinsville plant of American Chemical Corporation is into production of Sodium Chlorate. It might not be possible to locate companies that produce only sodium chlorate, as companies that produce sodium chlorate are either manufacturers of other chemicals or of paper. Comparing the cost of equity with other chemical manufacturers might not necessarily be representative. The best course would therefore be to compare the cost of equity of the Collinsville plant with other manufacturers of Sodium Chlorate.Since all these manufacturers produce other products along with Sodium Chlorate, the values may not be exact fits, but should be representative enough to provide a basis for evaluation. The beta values and debt and equity position of some of these companies are shown below. Organization Beta (Levered) (a) Debt/Equity (b) Unlevered Beta (a)/(1+(b)) Pennwalt 1. 33 39/69 = 0. 565 0. 85 Kerr-McGee 1. 06 17/83 = 0. 205 0. 88 International Minerals & Chemicals 0. 81 33/67 = 0. 493 0. 54 Georgia-Pacific 1. 50 29/71 = 0. 408 1. 07 Brunswick Chemical 1.10 15/85 = 0. 176 0. 94 Southern Chemicals 1. 20 21/79 = 0. 266 0. 95 . Average (unlevered) beta of selected firms = 0. 87. Debt-Equity ratio for American Chemical = 39/61 = 0. 639 Equity beta to be assumed for Collinsville plant = 1. 639 x 0. 87 = 1. 43 Interest on long-term treasury bonds = 9. 5% (Risk free return is taken as 9%) Market Risk Premium = 7%. Cost of equity = 9 + 1. 43 x 7 = 19% 5. Cost of debt and WACC The bond rating of American Chemical Corporation is BBB/A. The market rate for long-term A corporate bonds is 10. 75%.Hence the interest rate for American Chemical’s bond should be slightly higher than this. The actual rate being paid by Dixon is 11. 25%, which appears to be appropriate. The rest of the loan financing is also done at the rate of 11. 25%. Hence the actual cost of debt capital for Dixon for the Collinsville plant = 11. 25%. Although the purchase of the Collinsville plant is to done entirely with debt capital, it would not be appropriate to treat the cost of capital for the plant as the same as cost of debt capital, because the capital structure of the company as a whole needs to be considered.Debt-to–total capital ratio after acquisition of Collinsville plant = 47% Hence WACC for the Collinsville plant = 0. 47 x 11. 25 + 0. 53 x 19 = 15. 4%, which may be rounded off to 15%. 6. Incremental cash flows associated with the acquisition of Collinsville plant without laminate technology Using the same assumptions made in the preparation of the pro forma financial statements by Dixon for the years 1980-1984 as the basis, projections for a further period of five years were made to obtain expected incomes for a period of ten years, which is the estimated life of the plant.The cash flow has been arrived at by adding back depreciation, which is a non-cash charge, to the net incomes to arrive at the cash flow each year. The results are shown in Table 1. 7. Incremental cash flows and NPV associated with investment in laminate technology Dixon will get the laminate technology as part of the agreement for sale of the Collinsville plant, and hence no extra cash flow will be involved for the acquisition of the technology. However, Dixon will have to bear the cost of installation, which will amount to $2. 2 5 million. This will be depreciated over a period of ten years.There will be a one time cash outflow of $2. 25 million at the beginning of the installation. As against this, there will be recurring benefits in the form of savings in graphite and power consumption over the life of the project, which is ten years. The incremental cash flow that will accrue on an annual basis will involve no cash outflow, as the incremental cash flow is in the form of pure savings. The savings will consist of complete elimination of graphite costs and a saving of 15-20% in power. Taking a conservative view, 15% power savings are considered for the cash flow projections, which are shown in Table 2 below.

Does Political Participation Challenge Democracy or Enhance It

Does Political Participation Challenge Democracy or Enhance It Introduction Democracy is probably one of the most complicated concepts to be understood in political science. On the one hand, it seems to be so easy to comprehend the main idea of democracy as the form of government that is controlled by the citizens.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Does Political Participation Challenge Democracy or Enhance It? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other hand, such form of government has a number of components which have their own characteristics and peculiarities which are hard to define. Due to the Hudson’s idea that the citizen participation may have two faces, it is not always easy to define the impact of such participation on democracy in the USA. A certain control is required to enhance political participation and define its level by means of which it is possible to consider citizens’ opinions and promote the worth of government; in other words, political pa rticipation may enhance considerably American democracy in case this participation is properly organized in the forms of votes or Internet activities; however, current conditions undermine democracy a lot. Summary of the Author’s Ideas Hudson is one of the writers who creates a powerful system by means of which it is possible to evaluate the conditions under which American democracy may be organized. His American Democracy in Peril: Eight Challenges to America’s Future is a unique collection of professional ideas of what may challenge democracy and how this sphere of life may be improved. He introduces four theories of citizen participation and clearly describes an appropriate model for each. The role of people is huge indeed, and society should realize its impact on the development of the country. The author defines two sides of citizen participation: on the one hand, â€Å"fewer citizens seem interested in showing up to vote representatives into office†, and o n the other hand, â€Å"elected representatives are beleaguered with citizen activists monitoring every vote and ready with vociferous demands on every conceivable issue† (Hudson 144). The role of citizen participation in the system may be both decreased and increased under different theories given. For example, Hudson uses protective and pluralistic models of democracy under which citizen participation is passive, and society is too weak to protect its diversity, property, and liberty (Engel 46). However, the other two models, participatory and developmental, aim at involving citizens to the political sphere of life in order to prove social as well as economic equalities. Still, it does not matter for Hudson what model of democracy is used by society because each form is another serious challenge for people and for democracy. People are biased because of the encouraged trivialized elections, spreading radical individualism, and even inequality that is increased in the sphere of business.Advertising Looking for report on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Participation should provide citizens with more opportunities to improve their political rights and ideas; people may become more responsible for their activities. However, the author underlines that unfortunately â€Å"the character of American political participation undermines our democracy focuses not on who participates but on how participation is organized† (Hudson 160). Even citizen participation remains to be a serious challenge for American democracy under the current conditions. Argument: Does Participation Challenge or Enhance Democracy? According to Hudson, the relations between participation and democracy play an important role and should be organized properly basing on the theories. In the introductory part of the book, the author defines four main theories according to which citizen participation m ay be organized. Each theory has its own impact on politics, this is why it is necessary to pay certain attention to every aspect. Developmental type of democracy â€Å"takes much more positive view of people, especially people in democratic society† (Hudson 10). In other words, the peculiar feature of such model is that democracy here makes sense and has a purpose. Magstadt examines this model as â€Å"a kind of school for civic education and socialization† (103). Pluralistic democracy is one of the most recognizable models as it aims at defining social interests and their competition. There is a certain hierarchical order that is inherent to the economic elite, and such model defines the idea of non-participation as the only positive aspect to satisfy citizens with the offered political process. Protective democracy usually aims at protecting popular governmental control as the only reliable method to protect citizens’ liberty. The point is that citizens are f ree to perform passive roles in all political activities, still, they become active on the economic arena. Though this type of democracy is characterized by properly defined political rights as votes or protests, this model fails to focus on inequality that is spread in society. The essence of participatory model lies into the fact that political and social institutions may be improved by means of direct citizen participation. Democratic citizenship should be provided with freedom and opportunities to create a world the living conditions of which may be considered. Unfortunately, government is not able to control such model of democracy all the time, this is why such attitude to citizens’ rights is usually neglected or poorly organized. To create a properly working society, citizens should have a certain number of skills and a good level of knowledge. Political awareness is an important issue to be considered as citizens should understand the messages they send and receive (K uklinski 278). Unfortunately, not all American citizens are ready to study the required material to participate in different political activities and introduce new ideas of how the current living conditions may be improved.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Does Political Participation Challenge Democracy or Enhance It? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Of course, people may have their own opinions, still, they are not ready to find practical and legal application to their oral ideas and thoughts. This is why the only rational idea about the level of political participation in the USA should be connected to the protective democracy under which citizens’ ideas and rights are taken into consideration still require certain improvements and elaboration from a pure political point of view. It is seems to be rational to take some aspects of the two theories defined by Hudson in his work, protective and participative. In other words, political participation may enhance democracy in case citizens are provided with a number of opportunities and rights, still, their ideas and suggestions in the forms of votes, personal initiatives, and the Internet activities will be controlled by the government to protect human rights and not to create the situations which are legally hard to explain and introduce. Success of political participation is predetermined by the possibility to organize and maintain the control of human activities without neglecting human rights and initiatives. Conclusion William Hudson contributed considerably to the sphere of political science, and his idea to define citizen participation as one of the challenges to American democracy deserves recognition. In fact, political participation may enhance American democracy in a variety of ways in case a proper model is chosen and implemented to society. People are free to choose what kind of democracy they want to live in, still, they sho uld be also ready to improve personal understanding of the political terms and be promote ideas which have appropriate legal bases. Still, each person should ask one question to him/herself whether he/she is ready to learn more in order to take the step and be able to change the present and improve the future. Engel, Michael. The Struggle for Control of Public Education: Market Ideology vs. Democratic Values. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2000. Hudson, William, E. American Democracy in Peril: Eight Challenges to America’s Future. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2006. Print.Advertising Looking for report on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Kuklinski, James, H. Citizens and Politics: Perspectives from Political Psychology. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Magstadt, Thomas. M. Understanding Politics: Ideas, Institutions, and Issues. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, 2010.

The Rise of Nazism in Germany essays

The Rise of Nazism in Germany essays In 1918, after the hopeless surrender of Germany, the armistice of World War One was signed. The surge of German nationalism, build up over the war, was crushed at their desperate submission to the allies. The next 14 years would mean economic, social, and political depression for Germany. By 1932 the German people were desperate for someone, a leader, to take control, to take responsibility for them, and to help them rebuild the country they had such a passion for. Adolf Hitler was this leader. He used the situation in Germany to convince the people that nazism was the answer for Germany, and, once in power, began his reign of terror which still sends chills down our spines today. The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, was an insult to the German nation. It forced Germany to take full responsibility for WW1, and required them to pay enormous reparations. Germany was not consulted on the terms of this peace treaty, but merely called to sign the final document. The conditions of the Treaty of Versailles state, among many injustices for Germany, that the German empire was to be divided amongst the victors, restrictions were placed on the size of the German army, and the German government were forced to pay 6,600 million pounds sterling reparations. The Treaty of Versailles drained Germanys economy and, perhaps more importantly, their spirit. This peace treaty angered and disgraced many Germans. They needed a way to rebuild the spirit of their country, as it had been destroyed by the shocking conditions of the Treaty of Versailles. After the first world war, the German economy was shattered. Both as a result of the war effort, and the payment of war reparations due to the Treaty of Versailles. This resulted in unemployment and economic depression in Germany. In the early 20s, Germany suffered one of the worst bouts of hyperinflation the world has ever seen. As a consequence of this, millions starved and many lost the ...

Great 20th Century Inventions From 1900 to 1949

Great 20th Century Inventions From 1900 to 1949 Technology, science,  inventions, and re-inventions have progressed at an accelerated rate during the hundred years of the 20th century, more so than any other century. We began the 20th century with the infancy of airplanes, automobiles, and radio, when those inventions dazzled us with their novelty and wonder. We end the 20th century with spaceships, computers, cell phones, and the wireless Internet all being technologies we can take for granted. 1900 The zeppelin invented by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin.Charles Seeberger redesigned Jesse Renos escalator and invented the modern escalator. 1901 King Camp Gillette invents the double-edged safety razor.The first radio receiver successfully received a radio transmission.Hubert Booth invents a compact and modern vacuum cleaner. 1902 Willis Carrier invents the air conditioner.The lie detector or polygraph machine is invented by James Mackenzie.The birth of the Teddy Bear.George Claude invented neon light. 1903 Edward Binney and Harold Smith co-invent crayons.Bottle-making machinery invented by Michael J. Owens.The Wright brothers invent the first gas motored and manned airplane.William Coolidge invents ductile tungsten used in lightbulbs. 1904 Teabags invented by Thomas Suillivan.Benjamin Holt invents a tractor.John A Fleming invents a vacuum diode or Fleming valve. 1905 Albert Einstein published the Theory of Relativity and made famous the equation, E mc2.Mary Anderson receives a patent for windshield wipers. 1906 William Kellogg invents Cornflakes.Lewis Nixon invents the first sonar like device.Lee Deforest invents electronic amplifying tube (triode). 1907 Leo Baekeland invents the first synthetic plastic called Bakelite.Color photography invented by Auguste and Louis Lumiere.The very first piloted helicopter was invented by Paul Cornu. 1908 The gyrocompass invented by Elmer A. Sperry.Cellophane invented by Jacques E. Brandenberger.Model T first sold.J W Geiger and W Mà ¼ller invent the geiger counter.Fritz Haber invents the Haber Process for making artificial nitrates. Bettmann Archive / Getty Images 1909 Instant coffee invented by G. Washington. 1910 Thomas Edison demonstrated the first talking motion picture.Georges Claude displayed the first  neon  lamp to the public on December 11, 1910, in Paris. 1911 Charles Franklin Kettering  invents the first automobile electrical ignition system. 1912 Motorized movie cameras invented, replaced hand-cranked cameras.  The first military tank patented by Australian inventor De La Mole.Clarence Crane created  Life Savers  candy in 1912. 1913 The  crossword puzzle  invented by  Arthur Wynne.The Merck Chemical Company patented, what is now know as,  ecstasy.Mary Phelps Jacob  invents the bra. 1914 Garrett A. Morgan  invents the Morgan gas mask. 1915 Eugene Sullivan and William Taylor co-invented Pyrex in New York City. 1916 Radio  tuners invented, that received different stations.Stainless steel invented by Henry Brearly. 1917 Gideon Sundback patented the modern  zipper  (not the first zipper). 1918 The superheterodyne radio circuit invented by  Edwin Howard Armstrong. Today, every radio or television set uses this invention.Charles Jung invented fortune cookies. 1919 The pop-up  toaster  invented by Charles Strite.Short-wave radio invented.The flip-flop circuit invented.The  arc welder  invented. 1920 The  tommy gun  patented by John T Thompson.The  Band-Aid  (pronounced ban-dade) invented by Earle Dickson. 1921 Artificial life begins the first  robot  built. 1922 Insulin invented by  Sir Frederick Grant Banting.The first 3-D movie (spectacles with one red and one green lens) is released. 1923 Garrett A. Morgan  invents a traffic signal.The television or iconoscope (cathode-ray tube) invented by  Vladimir Kosma Zworykin.John Harwood invented the self-winding watch.Clarence Birdseye invents  frozen food. 1924 The dynamic  loudspeaker  invented by Rice and Kellogg.Notebooks with spiral bindings invented. 1925 The mechanical television a precursor to the modern television, invented by  John Logie Baird. 1926 Robert H. Goddard  invents liquid-fueled rockets. 1927 Eduard Haas III invents  PEZ candy.JWA Morrison invents the first quartz crystal watch.Philo Taylor Farnsworth  invents a complete electronic TV system.Technicolor invented, which allowed the widespread creation of  color movies.Erik Rotheim patents an  aerosol can.Warren Marrison developed the first quartz clock.Philip Drinker invents the  iron lung. 1928 Scottish biologist Alexander Fleming discovers  penicillin.Bubble gum  invented by Walter E. Diemer.Jacob Schick  patented the electric shaver. 1929 American, Paul Galvin invents the car radio.Yo-Yo  re-invented as an American fad. RapidEye / Getty Images 1930 Scotch tape  patented by 3M engineer, Richard G. Drew.The  frozen food  process patented by Clarence Birdseye.Wallace Carothers  and DuPont Labs invent  neoprene.The differential analyzer, or analog computer invented by Vannevar Bush at MIT in Boston.Frank Whittle and Dr. Hans von Ohain both invent a  jet engine. 1931 Harold Edgerton invented stop-action photography.Germans Max Knott and Ernst Ruska co-invent the  electron microscope. 1932 Polaroid photography invented by  Edwin Herbert Land.The zoom lens and the light meter invented.Carl C. Magee invents the first  parking meter.Karl Jansky invents the radio telescope. 1933 Frequency modulation (FM radio) invented by  Edwin Howard Armstrong.Stereo records invented.Richard M. Hollingshead builds a prototype  drive-in movie theater  in his driveway. 1934 Englishmen, Percy Shaw invents  cat eyes  or roads reflectors.Charles Darrow claims he invented the game  Monopoly.Joseph Begun invents the first tape recorder for broadcasting - first magnetic recording. 1935 Wallace Carothers  and DuPont Labs invents nylon ( polymer 6.6.)The first canned  beer  made.Robert Watson-Watt patented  radar. 1936 Bell Labs invents the voice recognition machine.Samuel Colt patents the Colt revolver. 1937 Chester F. Carlson invents the  photocopier.The first  jet engine  is built. Monty Rakusen / Getty Images 1938 The ballpoint pen invented by  Ladislo Biro.Strobe lighting invented.LSD  was synthesized on November 16, 1938 by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann of Sandoz Laboratories.Roy J. Plunkett invented tetrafluoroethylene polymers or  Teflon.Nescafe or  freeze-dried coffee  invented. 1939 Igor Sikorsky invents the first successful  helicopter. 1940 Dr. William Reich invents the  orgone accumulator.Peter Goldmark invents modern  color television  system.Karl Pabst invents the jeep. 1941 Konrad Zuses  Z3, the first computer controlled by software.Aerosol  spray cans invented by American inventors, Lyle David Goodloe and W.N. Sullivan.Enrico Fermi  invents the neutronic reactor. 1942 John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry  built the first electronic digital computer.Mueller designs a  turboprop engine. 1943 Synthetic rubber invented.Richard James invents the slinky.James Wright invents  silly putty.Swiss chemist, Albert Hofmann discovered the hallucinogenic properties of  LSD.Emile Gagnan and  Jacques Cousteau  invented the aqualung. 1944 The kidney dialysis machine invented by Willem Kolff.Synthetic  cortisone  invented by Percy Lavon Julian. 1945 Vannevar Bush proposes  hypertext.The  atomic bomb  invented. 1946 The  microwave oven  invented by Percy Spencer. 1947 British/Hungarian scientist, Dennis Gabor, developed the theory of holography.Mobile phones  first invented. Although cell phones were not sold commercially until 1983.Bardeen, Brattain, and Shockley invented the  transistor.Earl Silas Tupper patented the Tupperware seal. 1948 The  Frisbee  Ã‚ ® invented by Walter Frederick Morrison and Warren Franscioni.Velcro  Ã‚ ® invented by George de Mestral.Robert Hope-Jones invented the Wurlitzer  jukebox. Glow Images / Getty Images 1949 Cake mix invented.

The Fall of Berlin Wall and its impact on the 1989 Revolution Research Paper

The Fall of Berlin Wall and its impact on the 1989 Revolution - Research Paper Example In addition, the paper examines the relationship between the collapse of the war and the subsequent revolution in 1989. Shortly before the Berlin wall was opened, the East German government had announced in 9 November 1989 that travel restrictions between the East and West Germany would be lifted with immediate effect (Beissinger, 2002). The announcement triggered excitement among the residents on the eastern and western side of the Berlin city and they dashed to the concrete barrier that had prevented interaction and movement of people across the boundary for over two decades. Berlin wall was constructed in 1961 and Peters (2009) indentifies four factors that motivated the construction. These include division of Germany in different administrative sectors, the mass movement of people from the east to the West Germany, rapid development and industrialization in West Germany and tensions between United States and Soviet Union (Peters 2009). Division of Germany into various administrative sectors occurred soon after the end of the Second World War. According to Darden and Anna (2006), the country was divided into four segments which were assigned to the four powers that had played the major role in the defeat of Germany during the war. United States, Britain and the Soviet Union in addition to France were assigned one administrative portion each. Similarly, Berlin which was the capital city was divided into four segments which were allocated to the four foreign powers. Due to the fact that Berlin was within the sector allocated to the Soviet Union, it was major cause of tension between the ideologically different western and the eastern powers. Consequently, Berlin City was polarized into two segments, the western part controlled by United States, France and Britain while the eastern part under the Soviet Union (Michael, 2009). According to Engel (2009),

National Ward Level Classification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

National Ward Level Classification - Essay Example Population census is a tool for the government and other authorities to get the knowledge of the people residing in the country and their whereabouts. The chosen census variables were selected on the basis of the requirement of the modern age and are regarded as the most reliable document by many writers. Population census is done after every ten years in UK. People are distributed in it with the help of different classification. Classification is to distribute the population on the basis of their locality etc. population is calculated by the government by dividing it into different clusters. With the help of clustering people, it gets easy for the government to keep the record of people, their occupation, age, job and other characteristics. This helps them in getting different benefits for their people. Data records are important nowadays for security reasons as well. Questionnaires were distributed among the citizens for the population census. People had to answer different questio ns which were comprised on four pages. The security of personal information was made sure by the government. The method of gaining the results of the questionnaire was digitalized. The forms were passed through machines which detected answers and kept a record of them. The paper was recycled later. Ward level classification was developed by the available for the office of national statistics. With the help of different formulas the population census is calculated and stored in databases. Details of the methodology of the national ward level classification and how the clusters were labeled. The chosen census variables were selected, the purpose of the multivariate statistical analysis techniques used and how labels (names) were decided for the final set of clusters at the different levels in the hierarchy.   2.1 Census The census is the count of people and households and is the most reliable source of information (ONS, 2011). According to the Office for National Statistics (2011), it is made sure that every individual is included in the survey. The UK census provides a comprehensive picture of the entire population residing there. The population census in the United Kingdom is carried out after every ten years. In UK, the population census is carried out regularly after every decade with the exception of the year 1941 due to war (Barrow, 2012). 2.2 Classification It is the distribution of population on the basis of similar features or attributes that come together in groups or patches. The classification area, ‘geo-demographics’ is used for the purpose of understanding the classification for population census. According to Harris, Sleight and Webber (2005, pp.2), geo-demographics is the segmentation of people by getting the knowledge of the fact that where they reside. 2.3 Cluster Analysis and details of methodology of classification The segmentation of people on the basis of where they reside etc is making clusters of people into groups whose in formation is easy to analyze. The cluster analysis is however a complex process. In the cluster analysis none of the information is wrong but things differ place to place and person to person. Arabie, Hubert and Soete (1996, pp. 341) discuss that Milligan proposed a seven step process for the cluster analysis. The difference between clustering and cluster analysis lies in the means by which clusters are formed and steps in the analysis. Milligan seven steps are clustering variables, clustering elements, variable standardization, and measure of association, clustering methods, number of clusters and interpretation and testing (Arabie, Hubert and Soete, 1996, pp. 341-343). 2.4. 2001 population census UK and ward level classification There were different variables selected in the 2001 population c

Proof read Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Proof read - Essay Example 3 Opportunity This report was designed to enhance the understanding of the benefits of donating recycled electronics or â€Å"e-waste† through Free Geek. It seeks to answer the following questions: Why is it necessary to recycle e-waste? What is Free Geek and how does it promote environmental sustainability and education? How can Intel’s donations to Free Geek benefit the e-waste problem locally and globally? What benefits can Intel expect if they donate to Free Geek? Background Over the last couple of decades, Intel has been a leader in technology, advancing not only technology, but the way the world interacts with it. Intel is at the forefront of the computer chip manufacturing industry and is possibly the most influential technology companies in the past century. Intel’s leadership and influence has set standards for similar companies for the betterment of the environment. Free Geek, a local non-profit organization in Portland Oregon, describes itself in the c ompany’s mission statement as an organization that firmly believes that recycling is best done through â€Å"reuse†. Owing to this philosophy, the company refurbishes whatever it can and gives it back to the community â€Å"with a new lease on life†. This way the stuff doesn’t get thrown into the garbage or used for landfills to filter toxins from the soil nor is it dumped to developing countries to be disassembled by young ones. The company makes sure that all electronic materials that are not reused are recycled in a responsible manner within the confines of North America. Imagine the possibilities if two forward thinking companies worked together with a common goal for the greater good of all humanity.   This report shall shed light on the downfalls of e-waste, the benefits of cooperation, and the positives of donation.   While e-waste is a global calamity, this report shall focus on a smaller scale, primarily the United States.    Discussion of Findings Hazards and Effects of E-waste E-waste has many negative effects on the livelihood of humans, animals and their natural habitats. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are a component of e-waste that is used as flame retardants in plastics in high tech electronics. This chemical compound is synthetic and is not a product of nature. It mainly includes bromine with some amounts of chlorine, fluorine, iodine and astatine. This compound works by releasing bromine atoms that depletes the surrounding oxygen in the air. PBDEs are toxic in that they are responsible for the disruption of thyroid hormones, deficits in neurodevelopment and cancer (Hooper and McDonald). These PBDEs have been detected in marine mammals everywhere from the Baltic Sea to the Great Lakes and are found in humans in the United States at higher levels than anywhere else in the world (Grossman 113). Since only 15-20% of e-waste is recycled in the U.S. it is questionable where the rest goes (U.S Environmental Protecti on Agency). â€Å"On the outskirts of Ghana’s biggest city sits a smoldering wasteland, a slum carved into the banks of the Korle Lagoon, one of the most polluted bodies of water on earth† (WGBH Educational Foundation). Exported e-waste has a huge impact in a lot of developing countries. These developing countries offer a very inexpensive recycling service although most workers work in extremely unsafe environments. Tests revealed the presence of purely acidic soil near some of the work areas having a pH level of 0 (Grossman 187). Impact of Corporate Recycling of

The Message of the Torah Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Message of the Torah - Essay Example Therefore, it is kept and dressed in Synagogue. The significance of Torah can be substantiated by the message conveyed in it, which is about blessing i.e. God will always bless human beings1; which contains an abysmal severity of magnitude and importance for the mankind, particularly the followers. The literal meaning of the term Torah is to teach. The book teaches Jewish people how to pray, eat, and live2. The message of the Torah is that God provides all that mankind needs and give commands to choose the way of life. â€Å"The Torah conveys the message that God has blessed the humanity by providing them the required guidance in the form of this scripture† â€Å"male and female created He them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created â€Å"3 The Torah delivers the message that God has blessed us by keeping us alive and sustained in this earthly environment. The message it conveys is about self-satisfaction. Everything that human beings need in order to be happy has been provided by God. No matter how many difficulties we face in our lives, the recitation of Torah will fill ourselves with happiness and satisfaction. This shows that Torah is the source of solace and a means to achieve contentment in this highly materialistic world of today. In the present times, when materialism has heightened to extreme extents, individuals have forgotten to find happiness in nature and to be thankful with what one has. Torah acts as a reminder which aids to achieve contentment and inner peace. â€Å"and He said: If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His eyes, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have put upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD that healeth thee†4 The central message is predominantly preoccupied with human actions. It further teaches individuals to follow the commands of God

''Citizen Kane'' Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

''Citizen Kane'' Review - Essay Example The story begins with the protagonist as an old man on his death bed, alone in his expensive mansion without family or friends. As he utters his last word, â€Å"Rosebud†, a journalist sets out on a journey of investigation to discover the meaning of Kane’s last word. It is through this exploration, including interviews with family members and associates, that we are told the life story of Kane, from childhood as a member of a poverty stricken family, through to his move into the newspaper industry as he develops a position of huge and influential power within the medium as his personal life disintegrates. One of the most innovative and important techniques and aspects of the movie is its narrative techniques. The story is told through a series of flashbacks, and not necessarily in chronological order. In addition to this, the story is entirely non-linear in that it is told through the perspective and points of view of multiple characters (Cook, 2004). Such characters i nclude much older individuals who have different interpretations and opposing descriptions of the protagonist. This non-linear storytelling technique which incorporates multiple narrators, including unreliable narrators, was extremely innovative of the time. Though a few previous movies had attempted this to some degree, â€Å"Citizen Kane† exploited this technique and based the structure of the entire movie upon this strategy. This is an extremely effective device and very appropriate for this particular movie. As the character is presented as something of an enigma, this is reflected through the multiple, diverse perspective and views of the protagonist by the many people in his life. The audience never fully understands the charcter, his motivations, intentions, emotions and true desires. Just as the journalist becomes more confused with the more information he gets on Kane, so too the audience remains relatively mystified by the character. Another aspect of the movie whic h has garnered much well deserved acclaim is the cinematography. Welles apparently attempted to create a new style of making films, by trying to combine several such techniques into one cohesive method. This resulted in many new and innovative aspects to the movies cinematography. For example, the director employed several low-angle shots and used deep focus extensively (Cook, 2004). This was extremely modern and new for the time period, as the limitations and typical settings of movies restricted such techniques. One of the central themes of the movie is the inability to fully understand and categorise an individual’s life, certainly without their input, and the film explores this very successfully. Despite Kane’s achievements and wealth, the journalist still cannot understand his final word â€Å"Rosebud†. It is not until the end of the film that the audience is allowed insight into the meaning of the word, which has entirely nothing to do with the protagonist ’s professional career or successes. This reflects the fact that it is almost impossible to truly understand another person and that relying n the perspectives and interpretations of others is an extremely unreliable source (Sparknotes, 2012). The movie overall, certainly deserves it’s substantial critical acclaim and merits. The innovative cinematography and storytelling structure were highly creative and effective devices to use at the time. Orson Welles as

Fundamental aspects of Program Evaluation and its difference between Essay

Fundamental aspects of Program Evaluation and its difference between pure research - Essay Example offer that view that the major purpose of evaluation is â€Å"to judge the merit or worth of the total program being evaluated, as well as the individual elements of that program." (Billings and Halstead, 2005, p. 543-544). On this basis, they state that the elements comprising program evaluation include weighing and interpreting data that is collected from multiple components of the program and then making judgments about the data that has been collected. When an effective evaluation process is carried out, then the people staffing the evaluation program document the impact that a program has on its participants, as well as the institutions that are participating in the program. According to Patton, program evaluation is the collection of information about the â€Å"activities, characteristics and outcomes of programs†, so that (a) it can form the basis upon which judgments are made about the program (b) the information and measures collected can be used to improve its effectiveness and (c) decisions about the future of the program can also be made (Patton, 1997, p 23). On this basis, it may be seen that program evaluation does not merely involve an assessment of how successfully a program achieves its goals. It also takes into account the manner in which the program is being implemented and the proceses being used to achieve this. Additionally, the program evaluation process must also introduce measures to deal with unexpected consequences and assess the potential long term implications of the program being evaluated (Patton, 1997, p 23). This is a particularly important aspect in program evaluation because the efficacy of a particular program will determine whether or not Government funding for that program will be continued. In the case of educational programs, learning is a critical component of program evaluation and is the main determining factor on how effective the program is. Therefore, the process of program evaluation must also pay close attention to

''Citizen Kane'' Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

''Citizen Kane'' Review - Essay Example The story begins with the protagonist as an old man on his death bed, alone in his expensive mansion without family or friends. As he utters his last word, â€Å"Rosebud†, a journalist sets out on a journey of investigation to discover the meaning of Kane’s last word. It is through this exploration, including interviews with family members and associates, that we are told the life story of Kane, from childhood as a member of a poverty stricken family, through to his move into the newspaper industry as he develops a position of huge and influential power within the medium as his personal life disintegrates. One of the most innovative and important techniques and aspects of the movie is its narrative techniques. The story is told through a series of flashbacks, and not necessarily in chronological order. In addition to this, the story is entirely non-linear in that it is told through the perspective and points of view of multiple characters (Cook, 2004). Such characters i nclude much older individuals who have different interpretations and opposing descriptions of the protagonist. This non-linear storytelling technique which incorporates multiple narrators, including unreliable narrators, was extremely innovative of the time. Though a few previous movies had attempted this to some degree, â€Å"Citizen Kane† exploited this technique and based the structure of the entire movie upon this strategy. This is an extremely effective device and very appropriate for this particular movie. As the character is presented as something of an enigma, this is reflected through the multiple, diverse perspective and views of the protagonist by the many people in his life. The audience never fully understands the charcter, his motivations, intentions, emotions and true desires. Just as the journalist becomes more confused with the more information he gets on Kane, so too the audience remains relatively mystified by the character. Another aspect of the movie whic h has garnered much well deserved acclaim is the cinematography. Welles apparently attempted to create a new style of making films, by trying to combine several such techniques into one cohesive method. This resulted in many new and innovative aspects to the movies cinematography. For example, the director employed several low-angle shots and used deep focus extensively (Cook, 2004). This was extremely modern and new for the time period, as the limitations and typical settings of movies restricted such techniques. One of the central themes of the movie is the inability to fully understand and categorise an individual’s life, certainly without their input, and the film explores this very successfully. Despite Kane’s achievements and wealth, the journalist still cannot understand his final word â€Å"Rosebud†. It is not until the end of the film that the audience is allowed insight into the meaning of the word, which has entirely nothing to do with the protagonist ’s professional career or successes. This reflects the fact that it is almost impossible to truly understand another person and that relying n the perspectives and interpretations of others is an extremely unreliable source (Sparknotes, 2012). The movie overall, certainly deserves it’s substantial critical acclaim and merits. The innovative cinematography and storytelling structure were highly creative and effective devices to use at the time. Orson Welles as

Face Book Dilemma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Face Book Dilemma - Essay Example The chapter focuses on the unique features of e-commerce, the digital markets and digital goods. Authors Laudon and Laudon discussed how the internet has transformed the way consumers value products and services accessed through the web and its effect on business models. The case, Facebook’s dilemma exemplified an application of e-commerce, as it has been defined as â€Å"a social networking website that was originally designed for college students, but is now open to anyone 13 years of age or older. Facebook users can create and customize their own profiles with photos, videos, and information about themselves. Friends can browse the profiles of other friends and write messages on their pages†. The term e-commerce is revealed to include â€Å"business activities that are business-to-business, business-to-consumer, extended enterprise computing (also known as "newly emerging value chains"), d-commerce, and m-commerce. E-commerce is a major factor in the U.S. economy be cause it assists companies with many levels of current business transactions, as well as creating new online business opportunities that are global in nature†. The opportunities for interface and the ability to generate interconnections through friends, colleagues, users, organizations and commercial enterprises make Facebook conducive to enhance e-commerce applications, including solicitation of advertisements, promotions and investments at various fields of endeavors.

Evaluation of Human Development Theories

Evaluation of Human Development Theories This essay is going to give a critical reflection of human development theories. It will compare and contrast human development theories, linking the theories to the events observed of a child aged three and a half years in a nursery setting, over six weeks. It will also evaluate the recording method used and what I have learnt relevant to the social work practice. For the purpose of maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), (2012), Guidance on Conduct and Ethics for Students, the child has been named under the pseudonym of Eva. Eva is a three and a half year old girl of black African origin and lives with her parents. She is the youngest in a family of three and has a sister and a brother. Both her parents work full time and she attends nursery full time. The nursery offers a wide range of activities and encourages free play. Observation Log 1 Cognitive Development I conducted six observations on Eva, over a period of six week in a nursery setting and one of the theories I was able to link to the observations, is the cognitive development theory. This theory is associated with the work of Jean Piaget (1896-1980) and his work focused on understanding how children view the world. Piaget believed that from infancy, we have the basic mental structure on which all subsequent knowledge and learning are based and due to biological maturation and environmental experience, the mental processes will have a progressive reorganization. Piagets assumption was that children are active participates in the development of knowledge and they adapt to the environment through actively seeking to understand their environment. He suggested that cognitive development happens in four stages, 0 to 2 years being the sensori motor, 2 years to 7 years the preoperational, 7 to 12 years the concrete operations, and 12 years and above the formal operations. (Beckett and Tayl or 2010) According to Crawford and Walker (2008), Piaget assumed that in the preoperational stages, (the stage Eva is) children have not yet mastered the ability to apprehend, offer judgment, inference or think actions through. He believed that children in this stage are considered to be egocentric by showing difficulty in seeing things from a point of view other that their own. They also engage in monologues, in which they will be talking, but not interacting with each other. During my observation, this was really evident and I noticed it on several occasions on Eva and the other children during free play. (Appendix ..) They also focus their attention on one aspect of the situation and have difficulty seeing that a situation may have a number of dimensions. Piaget called this centration and this was also shown in Appendix à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. They also lack reversibility by failing to understand that working backwards can restore whatever existed before. Piaget also believed that children build their understanding of the world through activities for example dramatic play. This was evident when the nursery class was rehearsing for the Christmas concert. She showed an understanding that a baby needs feeding and also talking to. At the preoperational stage they also learn skills like drawing, language and sort objects in groups. This was demonstrated in Appendix .. and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. . This showed that she understand the concept of shapes, objects and drawing skills. However, Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934), also did a study on cognitive growth and did not see children as individual explorers of knowledge, but as learners from social interactions. He emphasised the role of language and the importance of relationships and interactions between children and adults. He believed that the members of the culture, for example teacher, parents or siblings, construct the childs learning. While Piaget believed that children should not be presented with problems and materials beyond their developmental ability, Vygotsky believed that a knowledgeable adult can help them achieve the skills through what he termed as scaffolding. He referred this period of scaffolding as the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). For example during my observation Eva was playing with wooden blocks and was supposed to fit them through holes. (Appendix à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) The teacher helped her to fit in one of the blocks and later she managed to fit in the rest. Piaget and Vygotsky agreed that children build their knowledge through experiences. However, Piaget believed this happened through exploration with hands on activities. In contrast, Vygotsky believed that learning was not limited by stage or maturation. He believed that children move forward in their cognitive development with the right social interaction and guided learning. He argued that they learn through interactions, social and cultural experiences and interactions with adults. Vygotsky saw the adult as vital to the process of scaffolding the childs learning. Piagets concept have been criticised of denying other aspects of thinking such as intuition and creativity and also not examining and explaining individual differences in children. Vygotskys theory draws attention to the role of social and culture interaction and identifies the principle of scaffolding in the childrens learning. Nevertheless, Piaget and Vygotsky agreed that the children actively participant in their intellectual development. Observation Log 2 Play and Learning As I was doing my observations, I noticed that Eva was engaging in play when I was observing her for other developmental theories. According to Szarkowicz (), this is because play can be used in many different ways by children and it is an authentic way for them to demonstrate their competence in a range of developmental areas. Szarkowicz () states that, children engage in play either from a social perspective or from a cognitive perspective. When interpreting how Eva engaged in play, I can use Partens (1932) social stages of play. Partens theory looked at the social aspects of play, particularly the way play develops from being an individual solitary activity into a cooperative social experience. Parten (1932), categorised childrens play into six stages, unoccupied play, solitary play where a child plays alone and onlooker play (Appendix à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) where the child watches others play and this is to about 2 years. The other stages that can be seen from the age of 4 are parallel play (Appendix à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦), where the child plays with similar toys next to another child or children, associative play where the child plays near others and share the same toys and cooperative play where the children who play together with the same toys (Appendix..). Bee and Boyd () states that, the ability to join groups of other children, and the desire to do so begins, at an early age and progresses through a developmental sequence. Parten discovered that children of different ages actually played together differently. They engage in different levels or categories of social play. However the stages of play are not in sequence and children may often engage in different stages of social pla y depending on factors such as the childs familiarity with the situation, temperament, or playmates. This was evident in Evas play and what surprised me was that she actually played in all the stages.( Appendix à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) According to Piaget (1972) play promotes mental and social abilities and helps children learn how to express and manage their feelings. Piaget argued that for children to think things through they need to play and by doing so, play facilitates and transforms the childrens thought processes. He categorised play into sensory motor, symbolic and games with rules. He proposed that when in infancy up to about to 2 years, a child is in the sensory motor stage and uses motor skill and senses to explore objects and their environment. During the preoperational stage, children engage in imaginary games and fantasy role play which he called symbolic play. (Appendix à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) And finally in the concrete operations stage, children are capable to play games following rules of games. Piaget saw play as assimilation of new materials into existing cognitive structures and in his analysis he saw play as relaxed practice time rather than time for learning and grasping in new information. (Casper and Theilheimer 2009) I also looked at other theories and Smilansky (1968) proposed three stages of play based her work with Piagets but expanded to include functional play which takes place in the first two years. Smilansky (1968) identified four types of play thus, functional play, constructive play, dramatic play, and games with rules. However, his work emphasised the importance of considering the childs cognitive development when exploring the childs levels of play. (Casper and Theilheimer 2009) According to Sheridan (), children discover the world through play and they use their senses and movements. Play is a way of constructing knowledge, developing intellectual abilities and building social skills. Piaget believed that a child could use play to mirror obnoxious experiences or experiences where he or she had no power. He believed that children often imitate and role play an adult who has power for example a teacher who is ferocious because they can imagine themselves in the position of power and this facilitates them to deal with being powerless. This is also common with children witnessing or involved in violent households. Observation Log 2 Language Development The next theory I considered in my observation is the language developmental theory and I looked at the theories Chomsky, Piaget and Vygotsky. I believe language is an important part in human development because it a major medium of social interaction. According to Beckett and Taylor (), the vocabulary of children between the ages of 3 to 6 expands from 2 word sentence to more complex sentences. They believe that as the childrens vocabulary increase, they learn the rules of grammar and they become able to use different forms of words. Whilst I was observing Eva, I noticed that most of her conversation and responses were two or three word sentences and it made me more interested on language development. Chomsky (1957) believed that sentences are routinely created practically every time. He believed that we have internal rules that enable us to decide which sentences are grammatical correct and convey our intended meanings. Chomsky believed that children have innate abilities, a genetic program to learn language and once they begin to hear language around them, they automatically understand the structure of that language. He argued that this is because of the biological dispositions, brain development and cognitive readiness. His theory emphasises the need for language in the environment to stimulate childrens innate abilities. (Crain 2005) According to Piagets theory, children are born with basic action schemas and during the sensory-motor period (birth to 2 years) they use these action schemas to assimilate information about the world. Piagets theory suggested that during the preoperational stage childrens language rapidly progress due to the development of their mental schemas, which allow them to accommodate new words and build simple sentences. (Appendix à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.) Piagets theory describes childrens language as symbolic, allowing them to venture beyond what is termed as here and now. During this stage children engage in small talks about things as the past, the future, people, feelings and events. They begin to build sentences of three or more words and their grammar becomes complex. They start to use Where, What, Why, for example, What is that? (Appendix à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.) Piaget proposed that, during the sensory-motor period, childrens language is egocentric and they talk either for themselves or for amusement. During this period, their language often shows instances of what Piaget termed animism and egocentrism. Animism refers to childrens tendency to consider everything to be alive, including non-living objects. Since they see things entirely from their own perspective, their language suggests their egocentrism. Vygotskys theory of language development suggests that children begin by realising that words are symbols for objects and they develop curiosity to what objects are called. It is then followed by the egocentric or private speech stage from 4 to 7 years, where they often talk aloud to themselves as they perform tasks or solve problems. Finally the private speech wanes and speech becomes more internalised. Piaget and Chomsky both agreed that children are not moulded by the external environment but they create mental structures on their own accord. Chomsky proposed that children automatically create grammatical forms according to the genetic design and in contrast, Piaget proposed that cognitive structures emerge from the childs own effort. Chomsky also believed that language is a highly specialised mental faculty that progresses independently and children learn entirely on their own. However, Piaget viewed language as more closely related to general cognitive development. Piaget and Vygotsky agreed that children are active learners and they contribute to their own development. They both believed that children build ways of understanding and knowledge of the world through their activities. However, Piaget believes it happens primarily through physical manipulation of objects around them and Vygotsky that it is socially mediated. Language development deals with how a child develops his/her language skills during their growth period. Nativists (Chomsky) believe that language is innate and unique to humans. Cognitive theorists (Piaget) believe language is not innate but a product of cognitive development. Finally, social interactionists (Vygotsky) believe that language acquisition is a result of both biological and environmental factors. Evaluation of the observation process (how I managed the process and as an observer how may have affected the process) Evaluation of recording method Reflection (feelings, attitudes, beliefs and professional values, anti oppressive) Ruch (2009) states that, reflective practice enables the practitioners to acknowledge the actual or potential emotional impact of the observation and be able to transfer the awareness to practice. What I learnt McKinnon (2009), states that child observation is a process which enable the worker to be responsive rather than intrusive through watching and listening in an alert and informed way that raises awareness and sharpens understanding. It involves learning how to monitor feelings and reactions and how they can provide information. The observation process provided me with an opportunity to focus on the vulnerability, resilience and the relative powerless of children in a nursery setting. It also provides me with knowledge and skills on how to conduct an observation and according to McKinnon (2009), well developed observational skills can act as a safeguard. It also provided me with an opportunity to discover and have a deeper understanding of how children communicate, play, engage with adults and most importantly about their development. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE As a social worker student I need to have knowledge on human life course development in order to understand their use in practice as the practice requires me to take a holistic approach and understanding of an individuals circumstances. Social work practice involves interactions between people, which are influenced by each persons life course and their experience and perceptions about their own life. As a social worker student I need to have and understanding of how people develop and place peoples life situations in the context of the expectations of normal life course development. This will enable me to appreciate that a persons experience, their growth and life experiences have a direct impact on who they are and how they see their world. The social work profession is based on the supposition that people can be helped and supported to change and grow as a result of their experiences. Therefore, in order for me to be sensitive and appropriate in my communications with people and in the services I offer and provide, I need to appreciate and understand their life course and what makes them who they are. Understanding how people grow and develop is central to the role and task of a professional social worker. Crawfor d and Walker (2007) Evaluation As you examine different theories of development, you will find that some (such as Erikson and Piaget) are criticised for being too committed to identifying stages, ignoring the diversity which is found in psychosocial experience and behaviour -while others are criticised for failing to take account of the sequence in which changes occur, not being clear enough about which changes become possible at which stage, and which changes are ruled out until a certain level of maturity is reached. According to Moffatt (1996) argued that some models of human development are cultural biased and they did not include some aspect for example persons experience, race, class, gender and sexual orientation. All of these theories have their own way of interpreting language development, and to some extent, they all seem to be highly convincing. However, out of the four theories, the social interactionist view appeals to me the most; so my theory of language development is definitely the social interactionist view. Unlike Piaget, Vygotski considered language to be key to development. Although Piaget acknowledged language with development with terms such as egocentric speech, he did not believe it predominant, saying it was due to the childs inability to think from another perspective. Vygotski however, believed talking out loud gives the child a way to organize their thoughts and guide their actions.

Apocalypse Now, by F.F. Coppola :: essays research papers

Throughout the film "Apocalypse Now " by F.F. Coppola, there is a parallel between the Indian wars and the Vietnamese war. We can compare the Vietnamese with the Indians and the American soldiers with the cowboys. In the beginning, it is the triumph of the Cowboys, that is to say, the triumph of US soldiers. Colonel Kilgore's US Cavalry arrives in helicopters, playing Wagner's Ride of the Walkyries. A lot of elements show their superiority : the number of soldiers, their military power and the music, all of which tend to indicate that Kilgore's men are sure of themselves. Then, from the show scene onwards, the US gradually loses its superiority. In this scene there is a real opposition between Cowboys and Indians (several girls wear Indian clothes and cowboy clothes). From this moment, US civilization declines: the soldiers become wild when they see the girls, so much so that the girls have to escape. In fact, this scene emphasizes their cruelty, their violent behavior. Moreover, even if the show is organized for the US soldiers, the Vietnamese are present too, but behind a fencing. At the end of the film, the US civilization is replaced by the Vietnamese civilization. We can see in the arrow scene that the boat master is killed by a spear and not by a firearm, this shows us that even with a spear, we can be killed. In Kurtz's village, we can see that even the photojournalist has turned Indian because he wears war paint on his face. What is striking is that Willard tries to understand the Vietnamese and finally admires them, this in particular shows the decline of US civilization. So we can conclude that the Vietnamese civilization (that is to say Indians) replace the US. As we can see in the village scene, before the helicopter attack, there is an atmosphere of calm, of peacefulness and harmony until the US soldiers arrive. As soon as the Americans are present, all is destroyed, exterminated and chaos, destruction, disorder prevail after the attack. This film insists on the fact that it is the Americans who are the barbarians. F.F Coppola used the comparison wi th the Cowboys and the Indians to make us realize that the Americans are the conquerors of the world because they always want power and the territory of the weakest nations. At first sight, the two main characters appear completely different, but we soon realize that their lives are very linked.

Frank Lloyd Wright: A Comparison Of His Early Works With His Projects :: essays research papers

Frank Lloyd Wright: A Comparison of his Early Work with His Projects in Alabama   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Time has ravaged many of the greatest works of art that mankind has created but one form of art has far outlasted all of the rest. Architecture is the art of buildings but it spills over into designing furniture, bridges, and even cities. There have been many great architects, from the classical builders of ancient Rome and Greece to the Modernists of the last century. All of these men were great in their own right but perhaps the most famous architect ever is Frank Lloyd Wright.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is it that makes an architect stand out from the others in the field? It is a combination of older comfortable designs and cutting edge techniques. Also, it takes a certain amount of perfectionism in even the smallest details such as window design, furniture, and even the types of stones that make up a walkway.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is it that gives an architect that creative genius to be remembered as one of the greatest? Is it learning from other greats and implementing their ideas into new designs? Is it taking designs from nature and turning them into great manmade monuments? Is it turning experiences from life into blueprints that will continue to inspire for years to come? The answer is impossible to find by examining only one architect but some insight may be gained by examining the life and training of the architect and by comparing the early works with the later.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first work to be examined is Taliesin. Located in Hillside, Wisconsin and begun in 1911. Taliesin was built as a lasting monument to his lover, Mamah Borthwick ( Cheney ). It was named after a medieval epic poem from Wales called â€Å" The Book Of Taliesin.† It was built at a time in Wright’s life when his personal and professional lives were nearly in ruins. He referred to Taliesin as a â€Å" refuge and retreat for the woman, the work, and himself.†(Levine 76) When Wright began building Taliesin he had turned over control of his architectural firm to Hermann von Holst and had finally been granted a divorce from his tumultuous marriage to his first wife, Catherine.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  These demons that haunted Wright can be seen in his design for Taliesin and the way he threw himself head long into the completion of the project. Throughout the design for the house Wright mixes elements of the natural landscape to strengthen the lines of the house and to bring out it’s natural beauty.

Arthur Millers a View from the Bridge Essay

During the years following World War 2 there was an influx of Italian immigrants to America. The USA’s relative wealth meant that the lower socio-economic groups migrated to America in search of a better life. Arthur Miller, the playwright, came from a family of Polish-Jewish immigrants who had lost much of their wealth during the 1929 depression. He had several menial jobs one of which was as a longshoreman in Brooklyn, where he heard many stories which were his inspiration for A View from the Bridge. Because A View from the Bridge is based on real life events, its themes are based on people’s experience of life in the post-war era, Love, Justice and honour. However, love is the downfall of one of the characters, Eddie, a hero who stands up for his beliefs in order to save Catherine, or so he believes. This theme is the perfect definition of a Greek tragedy to which the play can be compared. Alfieri has two functions in the play. He is both a character and a narrator. He breaks the ‘fourth wall† and communicates directly with the audience, summarising sections of the play and allowing the middle-class audience to interpret the working-class story. We are first introduced to Alfieri at the beginning of the play where he presents a monologue which also acts as a prologue. He talks about the play in the past tense referring to it as if it has already happened and he has â€Å"Watched it run its bloody course†. The use of the word â€Å"bloody† shows that violence is a recurring theme and also implies that there is a tragic end to it. He first takes off his hat to the audience as a sign of respect and even possibly reminiscence. â€Å"You see how uneasily they nod to me? That’s because I am a lawyer.† The rhetorical question explains the relationship between him and other people in the community. Because he represents American law people treat him suspiciously. However, the fact that he is a lawyer suggests that he is educated and for this reason is highly respected in his community. The way he speaks represents his education. Miller said that he wanted to make this play a modern Greek tragedy. Classical Greek tragedies included a ‘Greek Chorus’ which was a single actor or group of actors who were characters in the play but also stepped out of the action as a narrator, to comment on the action and communicate with the audience directly. Alfieri fulfils this function and is the equivalent of the chorus in several respects. Firstly he introduces the play and its themes. The audience is instilled with a sense of trust because if his use of Standard English and because he is a lawyer. Secondly he moves the play on, he retells events which have already happened. He gives details of places, dates and times, enabling the play to move on more quickly, without the characters having to give this information. His narration is also mixed with brief comments: â€Å"He was as good a man as he had to be†¦he brought home his pay, and he lived. And toward ten o’clock of that night, after they had eaten, the cousins came†. In this quote Alfieri is setting the time which moves the play on from the previous scene and also he is explaining Eddie’s persona, † a good man† He also explains aspects of the play, for example â€Å"his eyes were like tunnels,† suggests that Eddie can’t see the whole story, he only sees a part of it. This intimate understanding of what is going on allows him to bridge a communication gap between the middle-class audience and working-class characters, enabling the audience to form an understanding of the story and the emotions that the characters are feeling. Fate is one of a series of inevitable or predetermined events, for example in the play Eddie’s ultimate fate is to die, this is clear from the beginning. We also know that because of the fate of Eddie Alfieri is powerless to stop the tragedy. We know this when he says â€Å"As powerless as I†, Alfieri cannot control fate, however he can alleviate suffering. In Alfieri’s opening monologue Alfieri expresses the idea that tragedy is timeless: â€Å"in some Caesar’s year, in Calabria perhaps or on the cliff of Syracuse, another lawyer.† The use of the name â€Å"Caesar† an ancient emperor shows the idea that humans don’t change, a Tragedy is timeless and can apply to an Ancient era, and it harks back to the Greek theme.