Dont get me started on… Valentine s Day

Valentine’ s Day is trying to abduct me into a fake world where everything is glorious and perfect, a world we all wish to be living in. February 14th is the date I most dread every year. Couples get loved up and forget about the important things in life, such as working nine to five to pay the enormous bills that are piled in a drawer or scattered in the living room. Using Valentine’s Day as a runaway from bills isn’t going to make things better. Running away from Valentine’s Day sounds more appealing, it stop’s us from meeting women like these: 1) The hopefuls: These are women who get excited on Valentine’s Day because they believe their special person is out there somewhere, and loneliness isn’t an option. 2) The women who know love only exists in fairytales. These women would sit alone watching a romantic movie. They would cry, curled up on the sofa, every time there’s a romantic scene, while their full mug of hot chocolate gently warms the palms of their hands. Valentines Day is an excuse to advertise couples kissing and holding hands in public. Why would you want to advertise kissing? Which leads to interaction, which surely leads to†¦ yeah, you get my point? It’s not the best example for kids now-a-days is it? Wherever you go, even at the local shop, you’re reminded of this day with hearts, cupids and silly poems on the front of handmade cards. Believe it or not, I caught the bus and I went to town for a small portion of chips with sausage in batter, My FAVOURITE. And on the standing notice board, written in red chalk was: VALENTINES DAY OFFER, small portion of chips and sausage in batter,  £2.99 only. What a massive bargain. I’d never thought I’d hate to love the meal I always devour, little did I know.  £2.99 was a bargain, but I turned away and went in the nearby corner shop, to pick up some cheese and onion crisps instead. At least I could enjoy eating without the reminder of Valentine’s Day on my back. We all know when it’s coming, we’re not stupid. Living close to cinemas, restaurants, shopping centres, bowling alleys and night-clubs could be perceived to be an incredible place to live; everything is close by (except the chip shop). I guess it’s convenient as I’m quite out going, but it is the worse place to live on February 14th. Why? Because the whole area is full of teenagers drunk with fatigue, and middle-aged couples walking tall and ecstatic as if they are The bee’s knees. The only people with class on this irritating day are old people, they are respectful and they don’t go out with the hundred-and -something year old partner. They keep to themselves, like everyone should. Right? People that go out on Valentine’s Day are not paying attention to others feelings, now how selfish is that? Husbands and wives become immediately closer in 24 hours however, after 24 hours it was like they never were. Love is unconditional and is â€Å"life-long† if you love the person. But Valentine’s Day only lasts 24 hours. So, what about the other 364 days? We don’t have love your pet day, because you’re supposed to do that anyway. New years and Christmas are two good reasons for going out and celebrating. A new year is a day where we all are overwhelmed for the year to coming, while Christmas is celebrating Jesus’ birthday. And then there’s Valentine’s Day†¦ An interesting way for the government to continue making a ridiculous amount of money – which would probably be spent on single parents benefits. This makes me think. Government= a greedy bunch of people who needs money to operate. So that’s it. Valentine’s Day is just a day the government make money, they don’t care about lovers. People are not thinking outside the box and why there really is a valentine’s day, it’s all a part of the government’s evil and sick plan.

Feminist Perspective in Sociology Essay

â€Å"If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse gift will find a fitting place. † — Margaret Mead I. Prologue At present, it is quite difficult to imagine how there was a time when women were not afforded the same rights and opportunities as men. Some of these rights and opportunities include the right and opportunity to pursue a college diploma and a career, and the right to vote. At present, it is quite revolting to think how women were tagged and branded to remain at home and pursue the best interests of her family members, but not hers. It is quite difficult to imagine, but the truth of the matter is that there was such a time that all these unimaginable things and revolting things were happening, when women were to take the backseat to the men and when they were not regarded as equals. The goal of the first wave feminism was to correct all these notions and to try to achieve a position for the women when they do not take the backseat to the men, but stay beside the men as their equals. Slowly, this was achieved. Hence, women were then are given the right and opportunity to pursue a college diploma and a career, and the right to vote, among all others. All of these things are remarkable achievements and should in and by themselves, be commended. However, it cannot be denied once again, that the struggle of women does not end with the first wave feminism, after all its not apt to call it the first wave if there is no second wave. The second wave devolved around the problems that the achievements of the first wave put to fore. The sum of all these goals is ultimately for society treat woman not just as an object but as a subject — who has her own thoughts and who can speak through her own mind and with her own voice (Delmar, 2005, p. 32). The ultimate goal was to liberate woman from her reification. Thus, MacKinnon remarked: I say, give women equal power in social life. Let what we say matter, then we will discourse on questions of morality. Take your foot off our necks, then we will hear in what tongue women speak. So long as sex equality is limited by â€Å"sex difference† whether you like it or don’t like it, whether you value it or seek to negate it, whether you stake it out as a grounds for feminism or occupy it as the terrain of misogyny, women will be born, degraded and die. We would still settle for that equal protection of the laws under which one would be born, live and die, in a country where protection is not a dirty word and equality is not a special privilege (1987, p. 45). The issues and problems created by the first wave as manifested in the second wave led Bell Hooks to assert that [a]ll women are oppressed, and being oppressed means the absence of choices. The goal of this Paper then is to try to explain in a simplified but not in a simplistic manner what Bell Hooks meant when she cited the above-mentioned assertion through an exposition of some the writings during the second wave feminism. The Paper shall be divided into four parts. The first part is the Prologue, where these paragraphs fall under, which shall discuss in general the background and the goal of the Paper. The second part shall discuss in general what Bell Hooks asserted through the reference materials. The third part shall discuss in specific detail how all women are oppressed, once again through the reading materials. The fourth part is the epilogue, which shall present the conclusion and personal thoughts of the writer of this Paper. II. The New Face of Oppression Oppression presupposes two parties, one is the oppressor and the other is the object of the oppression, or oppressee, so to speak. During the first wave it is quite apparent that the oppressor is the patriarchal and machismo characteristic of society, or men in short, and the object of the oppression are women. In the second wave, one wonders how Hooks made this assertion given the fact that the men and women dichotomy and oppression were no longer as manifest. The answer is simple, while the first wave may have achieved equal rights and opportunities for women and men, there is still oppression. It is only that the faces of the oppressor and the oppressee have changed. With the second wave, other women became the oppressors. According to most critics, this was an inevitable consequence of setting equality with males as the primary goal of feminism (Jhappan, 1996, p. 25). Jhappan expounds: [i]n reality, the positions of power and privileges enjoyed by white men have only been made possible by racism and sexism, they require hierarchy, skewed power relations, inequality and the subjugation of the majority (white women and people of colour). It seems to me that white women’s â€Å"equality† with white men would only be possible of the race hierarchy were kept substantially intact since the privileges that white men enjoy depend upon a racially satisfied social system (p. 25). Simply, this means that with the goal of equality with men, women aimed for an equally oppressing position, where they are now the oppressors. While men were no longer tagged as the oppressors of all women, within the circle of women rose other oppressors in the face of fellow women who are of a different color. This is what Angela P. Harrris discusses in her article, in relation to what Catharine MacKinnon discusses in hers. Generally, the idea of the latter is that there is a universal concept of a woman so to speak. This universal concept of a woman is what was oppressed by society through male domination and supremacy before. For MacKinnon, there is just one experience, culture, heritage, needs for all women, thus, their needs are all alike. As most feminists then were white women, most of what was pushed for were for the needs of the white women. This is also known as the notion of a monolithic women experience (Harris, 2002, p. 384). Through this gender essentialism and worse, racial essentialism was likewise furthered (Harris, 2002, p. 384). Thus according to Harris, they reduce the lives of people who experience multiple forms of oppression to additional problems: â€Å"racism + sexism = straight black woman’s experience† or â€Å"racism + sexism + homophobia = black lesbian experience. † Thus, in an essentialist world, black women’s experience is always forcibly fragmented before being subjected to analysis, as those who are â€Å"only interested in race† and those who are â€Å"only interested in gender† take their separate slices of our lives (p. 384). An example for Harris is what MacKinnon does when she reduces Black women to just worse forms of white women, and not as a separate and diverse woman apart from the white woman, but not an aggravation. MacKinnon imparts: [b]lack is not merely a color of skin pigmentation, but a heritage, an experience, a cultural and personal identity, the meaning of which becomes specifically†¦ and glorious and/or ordinary under specific social conditions. It is as much socially created as, and at least in the American context no less specifically meaningful or defective than any linguistic, tribal, or religious ethnicity, all of whom are conventionally recognized by capitalization. While women on paper, were liberated from their reification, what happened really was that white women were liberated from reification. White women were no longer considered as objects —they became subjects. Black women, though they were women but because they were black, were not similarly liberated. This is because [w]hite feminists have exposed male essentialism only to replace it with another essentialism based on the notion of an essential woman. However, as it turns out, this generic â€Å"woman† is not only white, but middle class, and also able-bodied†¦Over the last couple of decades people of color have highlighted the silences of racists Eurocentric history and discourses which render all â€Å"others† invisible (Jhappan, 1996, p. 22). By virtue of the monolithic experience of women, women who did not fit the mold of the monolithic experience were oppressed in the sense that they were left with no choice. The choice was already made for them by the systems that were built in place respecting such monolithic experience. They were left with no choices as their needs were not addressed. The needs that were addressed were the needs of those who fit the monolithic experience of women. III. The Specific Instances of Oppression The specific instances of oppression that are discussed in the reference materials are enumerated below. a. Oppression in Relation to the Family Through the idea of the family wage, women were oppressed with the fact that they were made dependent on the wage of their husbands. They were made dependent with the notion that â€Å"a working man should earn enough to support his family† (Gavigan, 1996, p. 237), and consequently, the place of the woman or the wife is at home (Gavigan, 1996, p. 237). As the husband already earns enough to support the family, there is no more need for the woman to earn and augment the budget for the family. Thus, she is tasked by society to stay at home and address the needs of her family members. Such admittedly, does not require professional and personal growth. Thus, while the members of the family pursue different goals in their lives, the woman is stuck at home looking after the family members, sending them off to reach their dreams, while she stays in her place. In addition, if and when a woman earns, she is given minimum wage. The notion of minimum wage was put in place to accommodate individuals who were single and who did not have dependents to support (Gavigan, 1996, p. 238). In this wise, women were oppressed with the fact that when they earn, what they earn is not even enough to provide for their dependents, if any. b. Oppression under the Law Under the law, heterosexual relationships are afforded more advantages and privileges, in terms of â€Å"tax benefits, standing to recover damages for certain torts committed against spouses, and rights to succession and insurance benefits† (Gavigan, 1996, p. 263). The same are not afforded to homosexual relationships; thus women are oppressed. Oppression of women under the law is manifested explicitly in Welfare Law. When women seek assistance under the welfare law, especially the solo parents, they have a hard time obtaining the assistance that the law provides because of the very stiff and stringent definition of â€Å"spouse† under the laws such as the Family Law Act, RSO 1990 and Canada Pension Plan Act : â€Å"spouse† means either of a man and a woman who (a) are married to each other or (b) have together entered into, a marriage that is voidable or void, in good faith on the part of the person asserting a right under the Act x x x â€Å"spouses† means a spouse as defined in subsection 1 (1), and in addition includes either of a man and woman who are not married to each other and have cohabited (a) continuously or (b) in relationship of some permanence, if they are natural or adoptive parents if a child x x x â€Å"spouses: in relation to a contributor means’ (i) if there is no person described in subparagraph (ii), a person who is married to the contributor at the relevant time or (ii) a person of the opposite sex who is cohabiting with the contributor in a conjugal relationship at the relevant time, having so cohabited with the contributor for a continuous period of at least one year (Gavigan, 1996, p. 266) When solo parents seek social welfare assistance, there were always resort to the courts in order to determine whether or not a particular relationship was sufficiently conjugal to warrant the characteristic as spousal and consequently to warrant the benefits provided by the social services (Gavigan, 1996, p. 266). Also, the definition of the term â€Å"spouse† was too technical such that even in heterosexual relationships, there were always doubt as to whether a relationship is sufficiently conjugal to warrant the benefits granted by social services (Gavigan, 1996, p. 267). An example of the ill-effect of this law is the requirement that the spouse who should support the spouse (wife) and the children, must not live in a certain proximity; otherwise the latter cannot receive the benefits under the Welfare Law (Gavigan, 1996, p. 269). c. Oppression by Virtue of Race or Color This form was already discussed in part two. However, in addition Jhappan tells us that for colored women, race rather gender has been the primary source of oppression. †¦while white feminists have theorized the male breadwinner dependent-female, post-Industrial Revolution family form of the West as a source of women’s oppression, different family forms persist in other culture even among those living in the diasporas, For many women of colour, in fact, state actions such as iimmigration and labour policies that have separated and distorted families have oppressed them more than gender relations (p. 23). d. Oppression of Oneself by Oneself Women also admit that in and by themselves, they are oppressed. As there are women who are of different cultures, there are certain aspects of their identity that is rejected by another aspect, but which they ultimately have to deal with. For instance a woman who has both black and Caucasian heritage, the black heritage forsakes slavery while the Caucasian heritage promoted the same. There may be instances in the life of such person when decisions have to be made favoring one aspect over the other, and in such instance, the woman is the oppressor of her own self as she is left with no choice but to decide in such manner, although contrary to an aspect of her identity. IV. Epilogue Delmar has pointed out that the problem of oppression within the circle of feminism is rooted on the fact that the very definition of feminism is monolithic and abstracted. The very definition of feminism forgets or averts from the reality that there exists a multiple consciousness of women. With the realization that a multiple consciousness of women exists, then there may be the realization that there are various facets of oppression. Consequently, solutions may be afforded to these various facets in order to abolish, if not minimize the same. This is why at the beginning of this Paper a quote from Margaret Mead was stated. â€Å"If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse gift will find a fitting place. † With the realization that women are rich in culture, in contrasting values, then we can realize that there is a whole gamut of potentialities. With such variety, a less arbitrary social fabric may be established, and through such less arbitrary social fabric, each and every individual may find his or her own place without necessarily fitting into a monolithic mold. References Delmar, Rosalind. (2005). What is Feminism? Feminist Theory: A reader, 27-36. New York: McGraw-Hill. Gavigan, Shelley. (1996). Familial Ideology & the Limits of Difference. Women and Canadian Public Policy, 225-78. Toronto: Harcourt Brace. Harris, Angela. (2002). Race and Essentialism in Legal Theory. Women, Law and Social Change, 4th ed. , 383-92. Concord, ON: Captus Press. Jhappan, Raddha. (1996). Post-Modern Race and Gender Essentialism or a Post-Mortem of Scholarship. Studies in Political Economy 51:15-58. MacKinnon, Catharine. (1987). Difference and Dominance: On Sex Discrimination. Feminism Unmodified: Discourses on Life and Law, 32-45, 240-45. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Aspects of E-Commerce Business Solutions Coursework

Aspects of E-Commerce Business Solutions - Coursework Example The four basic technological trends that have led to a change in the technological environment within and outside an organization are as follows: - The doubling of computer power every 18 months, which we also refer to as the Moores Law; - Advancement in data storage and research techniques; - Advancement in the field of telecommunication; - The Internet. The Need for these premises in the modern day organization is as follows: - Business Transformation: this includes a class of services aimed at carrying out relevant research and applying the interpretation of the data emanating from the same in order to transform the company and render exponential growth to its operational effectiveness. - Systems and technology consultancy: this includes working with private as well as public companies and corporations to source and provide information regarding financial services, energy, government and public services, manufacturing and telecommunications, among many others, so as to promote the scope for strategic partnerships between the public and private corporations for a better information base that will help all aspects of a business. - The world has shrunk to a small speck called E-commerce, where it is now possible to exchange goods and money in the form of normal transactions. Shopping on the Internet or online shopping as it is more popularly known is that form of shopping that has almost emptied shopping malls in various parts of the world. For success in this kind of trading and information, it is important to stimulate the customer or end user in ways that will be different from normal marketing. (Nemetz, 2002) For example, it is not possible for a customer to feel the fabric of the shirt he is about to buy from an online trader. So what is it that is supposed to draw him? Similarly, the housewife cannot smell the coffee beans that she is being offered on an online grocery store – so how does she know it will be something that she will relish every morning? These are the questions that are often asked in the arena of the Internet and E-Commerce. In this regard, all the answers point towards specific simulation application that may be used and categorized as aids in online shopping.

E-Maps vs paper maps Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

E-Maps vs paper maps - Essay Example However, when a different paper map was given, the details were easily seen and accuracy was consistent while moving through the map. There was also the ability to get a general idea of the surroundings and where to move to next because the map isn’t limited by one location. The results with the GPS is one which was limited by only showing how far one needs to go to get to the location without having options for alternative paths. This leads to a lack in time and the inability to get alternative coordinates. There were also difficulties with the GPS because it didn’t pinpoint all the landmarks accurately. The interpretation of these results could lead to difficulties in trying to find the best options for getting to different points. The GPS, while working for those who want to get to a location with the easiest route and a step-by-step guide, would work effectively. However, there is a large amount of possibility for error, specifically because alternative coordinates can’t be identified and the overall changes in the system can’t be given when one goes in a different direction. The inability to show more than one point to a location while focusing on the time instead of space can lead to several errors and misinterpretations. However, a faulty map can be just as confusing as it may miss landmarks or can lead to misreadings. The advantage this has over the GPS is one can see the complete picture of their location, find alternative routes and can easily replace the map with a better guide. The GPS; however, remains with the automated expectations and can only give limited information. Twitter When using the Twitter map, I found that the same results appeared as the GPS. There were good directions and the ability to look at details, landscapes and various... The paper describes the advantages and disadvantages of E-Maps. The GPS, while working for those who want to get to a location with the easiest route and a step-by-step guide, would work effectively. However, there is a large amount of possibility for error, specifically because alternative coordinates can’t be identified and the overall changes in the system can’t be given when one goes in a different direction. The inability to show more than one point to a location while focusing on the time instead of space can lead to several errors and misinterpretations. However, a faulty map can be just as confusing as it may miss landmarks or can lead to misreadings. The advantage this has over the GPS is one can see the complete picture of their location, find alternative routes and can easily replace the map with a better guide. The GPS, however, remains with the automated expectations and can only give limited information. When using the Twitter map, I found that the same re sults appeared as the GPS. There were good directions and the ability to look at details, landscapes and various angles that were used. There was also the ability to look at the various parts of the area, specifically which was seen in real time. The particular downfall of this GPS system makes it easier for the person using the system to only use the Twitter Map as a physical map. The qualities which work with this are based on the ability to see the different alternatives when looking at the roads from a distance.

Nursing Shortage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nursing Shortage - Essay Example tions and there is need to change in order to improve quality of healthcare services and increase customer satisfaction by increasing staff ratios in healthcare facilities, introduction of worker retention incentives, development of placement programs and training of more nurses to meet the demand (Satterly, 2004). The stakeholders involved in this kind of change include the government, nursing professional bodies, community representatives, healthcare training institution’s heads, and the nurses. The government allocates more funds for building more training institutions, training of nursing personnel and development of placement programs. The change will also demand that the heads of training institutions expand their capacities by admitting more students. The community leaders are expected to report the level of shortage and engage in developing policy frameworks to address the issue. Nursing professional bodies also have to be up to date in terms of the demand and supply of nurses and will have to engage in identifying areas of high shortage and advice the government on how to deploy (Ross, 2005). Nurses are the subjects in this case and they understand the problem more clearly by implementing change to address the problem of nursing shortage nurses are expected to provide leadershi p and serve as role models encouraging more people to join the profession. Lippit’s Theory used to implement change is the most appropriate for solving the problem of shortage of the nurses. The theory is about finding an external agent to effect change. Here I will propose that one person experienced in the nursing field with transformational leadership mind should serve as the coordinator of the entire process of change. Shortage of nurses can be solved by following the steps of Lippit’s Theory (Feldman, 2013 ). The first stage is diagnosis of the problem. Here the leading nurse who is the transformational leader realizes that the problem of nurse shortage is real and

Compare the cultural revolution called for in the Futurist Manifesto Essay

Compare the cultural revolution called for in the Futurist Manifesto with the political revolution of the Plan of Potosi - Essay Example The Plan of San Luis Potosi, on the other hand, is a statement made by Francisco Madero, a leader of the political opposition in Mexico when the country was under the grip of a dictator, Porfirio Diaz. In the statement, Madero explicitly expressed the necessity of a revolution that would oust the dictator and establish a truly democratic government. Although both authors apparently wrote their respective pieces to promote revolutions, they do have significant differences in terms social analysis, objectives, methods, and perspectives. The fact that one is essentially cultural, while the other is political, is already a major factor in the difference between the two. Before Marinetti explained the concepts he is promoting in the Manifesto, he made an effort to first express his sentiments regarding the realities in Italian society then. It is apparent that he had nothing but harsh criticisms for the people’s continuing reverence of items of antiquity. He believes that people sh ould no longer adulate anything that is a remnant of a bygone era because this only tends to obstruct the rapid pace of development. He writes: â€Å"what is the use of looking behind at the moment when we must open the mysterious shutters of the impossible?† (Marinetti) However, Marinetti clearly goes to the extreme, when he considers that humane concepts are also outmoded. Clearly, this cultural revolution that he proposes is radical in a sense that it essentially seeks the eradication of what has been considered characteristically human: compassion. In place of love and compassion, which Marinetti believes are traits that can only be attributed to the weaknesses of humans, are hatred and violence. In explaining his agenda, Marinetti points out that all things that symbolize so-called glories of the past, including cemeteries and museums, should be destroyed so that futurism can be advanced. He asserts that â€Å"daily visits to museums, libraries and academies (those ceme teries of wasted effort, calvaries of crucified dreams, registers of false starts) is for artists what prolonged supervision by the parents is for intelligent young men, drunk with their own talent and ambition.† (Marinetti) In order to achieve what he envisions, Marinetti endorses the use of violence or war. For him, total destruction of the old through the use of violent force is the prerequisite to the realization of futurism. Madero, on the other hand, puts forward the idea of launching a political revolution against the Diaz dictatorship in his country, Mexico. Madero expounds the bases of the revolution in the article Plan of San Luis Potosi. The Mexican people have suffered much under the undemocratic rule of the current regime. Their basic civil and political rights have been violated many times, the most glaring example of which is the anomalous election results that led to the failed attempt of Madero to take the presidency. Madero denounces the Diaz promise of achie ving peace without democracy. He writes that it is â€Å"a peace full of shame for the Mexican nation, because its basis is not law, but force; because its object is not the aggrandizement and prosperity of the country, but to enrich a small group who, abusing their influence, have converted the public charges into fountains of exclusively personal benefit, unscrupulously

IT - Radio Frequency Identification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

IT - Radio Frequency Identification - Essay Example This arises because of the simple reason that an wireless monitoring system is capable of checking the work that a person does or claims to have done in addition to even the personal chores that one might attend to. It is like any other personal monitoring system, like say a video-graphy station in a parking lot. There will of course, be occasions when the monitoring station infringes in to the privacy of the individual. The user of such devices has to exhibit caution and responsibility in addition to technical prowess. RFID comes under two basic technological models. One, we call the passive RFID tag and the other an active RFID tag. While the passive RFID tag has a pretty long life with no supporting batteries inside the tag, the active RFID tag has a battery inside it which makes the life of the tag relatively lesser though the power consumption of such tags are very small1. The corollary of such a limited life is that, the RFID tags cannot be embedded permanently inside any object or an animal body including man. If it has to be done, then it has to be a passive tag. The passive tags have another major limitation being that they cannot be read from a distance that is greater than two feet effectively. There are passive tags that are supposed to read even from greater distances but are not found effective. Technologically this limitation arises because of the fact that the RFID tag uses the induction technology of the radio frequency waves. There is always an RFID reader that is placed at strategic points. These readers emanate radiations all around and get triggered once it senses a response. These readers are generally directed and emit radiations only in one direction. In case of a passive tag, the waves sent out by the reader induces a current in the tag itself. This powers the operation of the tag and it passes to the reader a specific number or identification that forms the basis of communication between the two. However, in case of an active tag, the active tag receives the signal and is able to boost it and send it back to the reader. Since this has an internal source of power, the active tags can respond to even very feeble signals from the readers. This is the reason why while passive tags can be read out of a distance of one and half feet to two feet, that of the active tag is much more. And as we have seen earlier, the same reason also has a disadvantage that of life time limitation. RFID provides its users the facility of storage, retrieval, erase and rewriting of the data in the RFID tags from the remote reader. This makes the RFID immensely powerful and enables it to have details like the entire patient history in case of hospitals, payment histories in case of customers / vendors and production data in case you need to monitor the work in progress. Remote reading and writing of data into the RFID tags also make it the right kind of tool to monitor animals in a farm and assets or library books that are issued and returned or routed to some body else. All these are massive advantages for industries. However, these can also be misused by having and storing data that goes into the

Comparison of UK's economic performance with that of Germany for the Essay

Comparison of UK's economic performance with that of Germany for the years 2006-2010 - Essay Example According to the Office of national statistics, UK officially entered into economic recession in 2008, the first time in its history. As a result, the rate of unemployment among the youths rose by 5.4% (ONS, 2011, 41). However, this recession was officially reported to have ended on 26th January, 2010. By May 2010, its economic growth rate was reported to be 0.4%, and 1.2% by the second quarter (ONS. 2011, pg 32). For the last 5 years, the economic indices have been reported to be as follows; Table 1; Changes in UK’s GDP between 2006 and 2010 Year GDP (billions of GBP) GDP change (%) 2006 2.9 2007 2.6 2008 1,448 0.6 2009 1’396 -4.9 2010 1.7 Source: ONS Statistics As the table illustrates, the GDP was worst in 2008 and 2009 because of the economic recession. However, a positive change was realized in 2010. Economy of Germany The economy of Germany is the largest economy in Europe. In the world, it is the fourth largest in terms of nominal GDP, second according to PPT, it is fifth. It is second in world’s exporter, accounting for approximately $1.120trillin in its economy (ONS, 2011, 13). About a third of its national output is realized from exports, thus making its balance of payment favorable, compared to that of UK that is normally characterized by deficits. The service sector accounts for about 70%, industry 29.1%, and 0.9% in the agricultural sector of its total GDP (IMF, 2009, pg 321). Most of its products are from engineering, for an example automobile, chemicals, metals and machinery. In December 2010, German’s unemployment rate was found to be 6.1%, lower than that of UK’s 7.8% (Boyes, 2007, pg 65). In Germany, the lowest growth figures of... The essay is the best example of comparison of German and UK economic performances. These two countries have diverse and strong national economies. UK’s economy is the sixth largest world economy in terms of nominal GDP, and seventh in terms of Purchasing Power Parity. In Europe, it is the third largest in terms of PPT after Germany. The economy of Germany is the largest economy in Europe. In the world, it is the fourth largest in terms of nominal GDP. In 2007, the annual growth rate for UK was at an average of 2.68%, according to the IMF (2009, pg 321). Growth in its financial sector contributed a larger economic part, but this declined in 2008 when it suddenly entered into a recession due to the global financial crisis. This began with the Northern Rock’s collapsing and being taken over into public ownership in February the same year. On the other hand, other banks were also nationalized. Such banks included Royal Bank of Scotland Group, According to the Office of national statistics, UK officially entered into economic recession in 2008, the first time in its history. As a result, the rate of unemployment among the youths rose by 5.4% About a third of the German national output is realized from exports, thus making its balance of payment favorable, compared to that of UK that is normally characterized by deficits. The service sector accounts for about 70%, industry 29.1%, and 0.9% in the agricultural sector of its total GDP In December 2010, German’s unemployment rate was found to be 6.1%, lower than that of UK’s 7.8% In EU, the car industry is oligopolistic, rather than perfectly competitive Germany is the largest motor vehicle producer in EU, and it has become very hard for competitors from other regions to compete with its firms. the fact that the firms have captured reasonable market shares in their respective location has made it hard for other competitors to penetrate and survive in their markets

The Treatment of Women in the Old Testament Research Paper

The Treatment of Women in the Old Testament - Research Paper Example This essay will demonstrate an argument against this point of view in conjunction with numerous examples in order to back it up. Such examples will include the major Old Testament characters of Eve, Rahab, and Ruth. In the first couple of books of Genesis, we read that Eve was created and thus was the first women to exist. The Lord decided that Adam needed a helper because he could not do everything on his own. So, the Lord put Adam into a deep sleep and took one of his ribs, which He used to form the first woman, Eve. After this, we understand how a woman must be connected to a man: â€Å"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh† (The Holy Bible, Gen. 2:24). This tells us that women must be treated with respect because they become one with their husbands. In the very next chapter of Genesis, Eve comes across her first challenge—this sets the tone for women throughout the rest of the Old Testament. In Genesis 3:6 (The Holy Bible), after being tempted by the serpent, Eve decided to taste the fruit. Once she had tasted it and found that it was good, she gave some to Adam so he could also eat some. This was the beginning of mankind, but more specifically women in general. Once God had found out what Adam and Eve had done, he cursed them for their disobedience. He said to Eve: â€Å"I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you† (The Holy Bible, Gen. 3:16). Even though Adam was also punished, his penalty was not as severe as Eve’s. This begins a theme that is seen all the way through the Old Testament—women are inferior to men because they were the first ones to sin. However, there are examples of women who went against the stereotypes of those times. Further along in the Old Testament, we can see in the book of Joshua how Rahab is treated. This wom an is a very interesting case because she lived in Jericho; she was not from the Israelites. Additionally, she was also described being a prostitute. These types of people were the lowest of the low back in those societies. At that time, the Israelites had sent spies to the city of Jericho in order to capture the city. They just happened to stay at an inn where Rahab was also the inn-keeper (Word 7). Instead of turning them over to the authorities, Rahab took them up to the roof and hid them under stalks of flax that were placed on the roof (The Holy Bible, Josh. 2:6). When asked why she risked her life for her enemy, Rahab said that she believed in the God Jehovah because of the miracles that occurred down in Egypt. For her help, Rahab asked that her and her family would be spared once the Israelites took the city. The spies replied, â€Å"If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land† (The Holy Bible, Jos h. 2:14). An agreement was then made to work out how the plan would come to fruition. When the Israelites did take the city of Jericho, Rahab and her family were spared because of Rahab’s obedience. After the Israelites had gained control of Jericho, Rahab and her family were allowed to remain along with the Jews. This story shows us how even though a woman may be considered dirty and unclean, if she displays obedience, then she can be used for good. This example of Rahab is a little

Personal experience in the war in Counter- Attack Essay Example for Free

Personal experience in the war in Counter- Attack Essay By considering one of the poems that you have read, explain how the poet presents their view of the conflict – ‘Counter-Attack’ Siegfried Sassoon presents his personal experience in the war in ‘Counter- Attack’ with raw brutal imagery of the battlefield, the numerous sensory feelings provoking terror and outrage at the war, coupled with the stark contrast of report-like statements to ultimately convey the futility of the conflict, and the massive waste of life. Sassoon immediately establishes the sense of emotional detachment in the conflict; the opening lines simply state that they had ‘gained (their) first objective hours before’, provoking horror at the fact that soldiers were forced to fight in inhumane conditions and ultimately were made to detach themselves from the terror of watching their friends being murdered. A semi-omniscient narration is maintained to establish the collective horror of the war, the fact that all soldiers would almost always face the same fate as the previous had and remains set throughout the poem as the contrast to the emotional detachment presented. The poet describes how at first even before the attack begins the soldiers are already ‘blind with smoke’, yet they are made to continue to work as soon as ‘dawn’ begins; all the soldiers are immediately forced to join in with the ‘clink of shovels’, a sign of the hard conditions of living in the trenches, while the militaristic onomatopoeia coincides with the perceived orderliness, such as the ‘bombers posted’ and ‘Lewis guns well placed’. The poet therefore establishes the horror of the almost methodical methods to which the war was fought, and that the death that would come later made to seem almost mechanical. Sassoon also emphasises that these soldiers are simply normal men, many whom are young and forced to fight when he describes how prior to the counter-attack, there was ‘a yawning soldier [kneeling] across the bank’; in order to keep their morale up, they are forced to become sardonic, sarcastically describing the weather as ‘the jolly old rain’, yet serving to reinforce the message that the conflict has forced people to become detached from their emotions and feelings. The horror of the battlefield is also clearly defined; Sassoon describes the average life in the trenches even before the counter-attack to be one ‘rotten with dead; green clumsy legs’. The use of ‘rotten’ inherently suggests that the battlefield is full of bodies, many of which are likely to be decomposing which only heightens the horror in which these soldiers must live their daily lives. They are in effect also forced to separate themselves from the sights; death is a normality in warfare, and the raw description of various soldiers ‘sprawled and grovelled’ along the trenches defines the sheer brutality they face. The men are reduced from strong, able men who were previously ‘high-booted’ to being helpless in the face of war, some even described as eventually dying ‘face downward’, a possible reference to the conflict only bringing doom to their lives. The battlefield is not only strewn with countless bodies, but also described as treacherous itself; the mud is personified as ‘sucking’ the fallen soldiers down into it with little remorse, creating a sense of the indignity of the soldiers’ deaths. The soldiers that are still alive are simply ‘[wallowing] like trodden sand-bags’, indication of the hopelessness and lack of control in the situation they face. They are also metaphorically ‘loosely-filled’, hinting possibly that these men are also physically as well as mentally exhausted, hence the soldier having ‘knelt’ against the bank. The sudden switch from the collection of soldiers to the single one in the second stanza points towards Sassoon’s idea of the wrongs of war; the stark reality that war costs numerous lives and each soldier is in effect a whole life, the one about to be lost in the war is as just as important. To describe the intensity of the conflict, the poet describes how this single soldier responds with such fear in that he becomes ‘mute in the clamour of shells’, simply reduced as he recoils from the initial shock of warfare. Yet rather than recovering from his initial shock, ultimately the soldier is described by Sassoon as helpless, as he ‘crouched and flinched, dizzy with galloping fear’, reduced almost to primal instinct when faced with such a large ‘strangled’ horror. The battlefield along with its weaponry ‘[spouts] dark earth and wire with gusts from hell’; the poet explains the terrible nature of the war, likened to hell wrecking its destruction onto the battlefield, and in the remnants of the carnage the soldier can only hear the ‘butchered, frantic gestures of the dead’ – an oxymoron to establish the fact that death on the battlefield is so sudden and brutal it is literally incomprehensible. Sassoon’s view of the conflict is described as being ultimately futile; the first stanza already indicates that there are numerous ‘bulged, clotted heads’ scattered throughout, grotesque imagery that also provides an ominous undertone to the counter-attack. These bodies are also described as ‘[sleeping]’ rather than the stark reality that they are dead, pointing to the normality of the situation. To add further to the futility, even the officer of the trench is ‘blundering’, somewhat dark comedy in the face of terrible times, and he continues only by ‘gasping and bawling’ in shock. In contrast to the ‘dead’ lifeless nature of the soldiers, it is the ammunition that is fully alive in this case; ‘bullets spat’ at them, ‘traversing sure as fate, and never a dud’, adding to the certainty of death in the conflict. The soldier Sassoon describes ultimately meets his fate in a spout of confusion indicated by the sudden ellipses in his thoughts: ‘and he remembered his rifle†¦rapid fire†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Notably the soldier himself cannot remember to hold onto his own rifle – shock is combined with futility in that the soldier cannot arm himself and is therefore helpless, akin to almost all the other soldiers in the trenches. His fate is one that ends with him having ‘[bled] to death’. Heavy consonants throughout the line along with repetition emphasise the futile nature in which he dies: ‘Down, and down, and down, he sank and drowned’. The poem establishes Sassoon’s opinion of the conflict being one filled with horror, forced emotional detachment and ultimately the underlying futility of the war in the soldiers’ confusion and the mechanical killing presented. The poem never aligns with any set line structure in order to add to this confusion, and the poem is closed with the simple factual statement ‘the counter-attack had failed’, in line with the opening line to create a contrast and show the real brutal nature of war: people become numbers rather than the real human beings presented in the second stanza.

First Analysis of the Great Gatsby Amina Bangura

First Analysis of the Great Gatsby Amina Bangura In The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraways second cousin, Daisy Buchanan, comments on her newborn daughter saying, Im glad its a girl. And I hope shell be a fool-thats the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.(22) Daisy echoes this sentiment as a mother trying to shield her child from heartache in a cold, hard world. As a woman who is aware of the fact that her husband is having an affair, Daisy is left bitter and scorned when his mistress calls him at dinner time. By wishing that her daughter will be a fool, Daisy is essentially wishing that she is kept blissfully ignorant from the cruel, callous and blatant disrespect that she will face as a woman, in a male dominated world.ÂÂ   She believes that living in oblivion will ultimately mean living a happier life. Daisy is a fool because it is subtle throughout the first chapter that she knows that her husband is cheating on her, but goes to painful lengths to prove otherwise. In the book, Nick explains Daisys reaction to Tom leaving the table to pick up a phone call from his mistress, saying, As if his absence quickened something within her, Daisy leaned forward again, her voice glowing and singing.(19) After she and Tom return to the table following the confrontation in the house, she chirps, I looked outdoors for a minute, and its very romantic outdoors. Theres a bird on the lawn that I think must be a nightingale come over on the Cunard or White Star Line. Hes singing away-its romantic isnt it Tom?(20). Furthermore, after following her to the front porch, Daisy confides in Nick, saying, You see I think everythings terrible anyhow, everybody thinks so-the most advanced people. And I know. Ive been everywhere and seen everything and done everything. Sophisticated-God, Im sophisticated! (22). Though she is deeply hurting on the inside, Daisy tries very hard to appear cheerful and unaffected on the outside, almost to an annoyingly creepy extent-as if she is overcompensating for her negative emotions to the point that she needs to exude fake happiness to feel better. This needless behaviour is in fact foolish, because it changes absolutely nothing. Putting on a happy front and pretending that her husband isnt unfaithful will probably only make her feel worse, because it requires her to reject a reality that deep down she knows deep down is true. Daisy is inherently not a fool as she is knowledgeable about worldly things, yet willingly plays the part of the fool, to her husbands benefit. This manner of thinking stems from the fact that prior to the 1920s, women were taught that a good woman was a good wife-docile, submissive and completely devoted to their husband. The 20s however, was an era based on superficiality and artificial happiness. It was all about keeping up unrealistic appearances of being happy, rich and carefree, even if that werent the case. Women were lead to believe that they had to act like fools to be happy because the 20s were a time where men thought little about women in terms of equality. Women were expected to be slender and beautiful, and obedient, humble wives to their husbands, despite their gross indiscretions. Back then, women were taught that their worth as a female lay in their physical appeal and carefree attitude, rather than what knowledge they possessed. Society put more emphasis on beauty than brains, which unfortunately led women to stay in abusive relationships, because they believed that that was the best they could hope for and that it would make them happy. I dont agree with Daisys sentiment that women should be beautiful little fools for men, because I believe that a womans intelligence is by far her greatest asset. She should be judged based not on her physical attractiveness, but on her ideas and intellectual capacity. If a man is disloyal to his wife, the fault lies not with the woman, but with the unfaithful man. And for a self-proclaimed sophisticated woman like Daisy to stay oblivious to her husbands infidelity on the basis that she will be happier, is doing a great disservice to herself, because she deserves so much better. I believe that we should start teaching our young women and daughters the importance of value and self-worth; that they are not extensions of their husbands, but are individuals capable of intelligent thought and deserving of love and respect and nothing less. Throughout the first three chapters of The Great Gatsby, women are continuously portrayed as fools obsessed with ostentatious material objects and excessive glamour. This one- dimensional portrayal of women in the book provides a very limited view of what women were really like in the 1920s. It reduces their characters to merely carefree and indulgent individuals, concerned more about their looks and perception in society, meanwhile lacking intellectual substance and thinking capacity. Today, the perception of women in society has changed greatly. Women have destroyed the idea that they are weak, unintelligent individuals, incapable of doing anything but to look pretty and obey their husbands. They now occupy every single sector of society and have continuously broken down barriers to equality. With the rise of progressive feminism, women are slowly challenging the patriarchal society, while simultaneously promoting the gain of womens rights. Furthermore, the role of women has change d drastically. Women are no longer trapped within the confines of their roles as homemakers and sentenced to a life of cooking, cleaning and raising children. Though women still have a long way to go in their road to equality, they have made great strides in regards to education, civil rights and the workforce.

Career Passports and Career Portfolios :: Career Passports Portfolios Essays

Career Passports and Career Portfolios Portfolios have long been used in some professions to showcase professional work and skill. In education, portfolios have also been used for assessment, including self-assessment (Lankes 1995; Pond et al. 1998). Both career portfolios and career passports reflect this dual focus—students assess themselves in the process of developing a product, and the resulting product showcases and documents their experiences and skills. A distinction is sometimes drawn between a portfolio as developmental and a passport as summative (Bridging the Gap 1993). With portfolios, more emphasis is put on the developmental process of self-assessment, planning, and goal-setting; with passports, more emphasis is put on the final product that sums up the results of the process and communicates them to others. In practice, however, both passports and portfolios represent a combination of developmental process and summative product. The value of the passport or portfolio is also twofold: students come to an awareness of their own skills and experience, and employers have richer, more detailed information for hiring decisions than is provided in transcripts and diplomas. As early as the mid-1980s, Charner and Bhaerman (1986) advocated a Career Passport as a way for secondary students to identify and document their work and nonwork experiences and to translate those experiences into statements of skills specifically related to work. The process was necessary for students to understand what they had to offer to employers; the resulting Career Passport provided employers with critical information to supplement the information in school transcripts or even resumes. The Ohio Individual Career Plan (ICP) and Career Passport. The Ohio Career Passport is the capstone of students' career decision-making process, begun before the ninth grade (Gahris n.d.) The planning and decision making involved in the ICP process lead to each student's Career Passport, an individual credential housing an array of formal documents that students use in the next step after high school. Components include a letter of verification from the school; a student-developed resume; a student narrative identifying career goals and underlying rationale; a transcript (including attendance); diplomas, certificates, licenses, or other credentials; and a list of any specific vocational program competencies. The state recommends housing those components in a consistent, easily recognizable folder. Students develop ICPs through career interest and aptitude assessment, exploration experiences, preferably through job shadowing, and annual review and revision in high school. The ICP and Career Passport can be developed in any statewide curriculum area but most often this occurs in English or social studies, with assistance from the computer instructor and guidance counselor.

Atlantis Myth vs Today’s Science :: History

Atlantis Myth vs Today’s Science Now that we know the foundation of the Atlantis myth we can now speculate if this is even possible with today’s science and geography. Atlantis was said to be bigger than Asia Minor and Libya combined. This statement made by Plato in the Critias is most likely not true because Atlantis would have to be in the Mediterranean Sea or within a few miles of the Mediterranean Sea such as the Atlantic Ocean or Indian Ocean. The other thought could be that the size was gravely misjudged through the ages and maybe when it got to Plato the myth had outgrown the size of the city. A more logical explanation could be that Atlantis was smaller than once though and was present at the western part of the Mediterranean, between the coasts of West Africa and East South America or somewhere by the horn of Africa. Many are skeptic as to whether Atlantis existed solely because of the size but many researchers believe that the books Timeus and Critias are too detailed to be made up by Plato. Unfortunately the books of Plato’s thoughts and descriptions get cut off at the end of the second book hence ending the story of Atlantis quite abruptly. Some think that either the end of the story was lost during a burning of an attack on one of the Greek cities or that Plato’s patron for the project, Dionysius I, was going to publish the books as prose and poem and try to become famous. Unfortunately Dionysius died unexpectedly and Plato did not finish the story. Ever since the idea of Atlantis being a city explorers and scientists have looked for Atlantis. One idea is that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge was caused by the sinking of Atlantis. But this is disproved because if Atlantis did sink in the Atlantic Ocean then it would not have created a ridge or ridge like area. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is caused by Divergent tectonic plates in the ocean which creates the ridge. The sinking of Atlantis could not have done this. Not only is this impossible but the descriptions given by Plato would also be off. The Mid-Atlantic ridge is a mountain like area going from north to south for a few thousands of miles; Plato described Atlantis a circular island that was maybe one hundred miles in diameter. Therefore this theory does not work.

Replay: Love is real or not? :: essays research papers fc

True love is when a person has a deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward one other person. Even through difficult obstacles or changes in life, the strong feeling between the two persons should remain constant and last eternally. However, the novel, Replay, by Ken Grimwood, creates characters that are confused on the meaning of true love. Throughout the novel, the characters are constantly falling in love with many different people and are having many short term marriages as well. The protagonist of Replay, Jeff Winston, who was originally married to Linda, claims to fall deeply in love with Judy and Pamela. Secondly, another main character, Pamela Philips was married twice before she falls in love with Jeff. Besides the novel, people in real life such as celebrities have numerous marriages too. In addition, it is proven that a married couple would tend to get a divorce as they spend more time together. All of these examples support the fact that true love does not exist. There is no such thing as true love, because a people keep switching partners and their relationships are short term. In the novel, Replay, Jeff Winston was originally married to Linda in his first life. However, during his replays, he falls in love with many other women and forgets about his original wife, Linda. Throughout the novel, Jeff had encountered many women, and made love with almost all of them. However, there were 2 other women besides Linda, which he loves so much, he marries them. During his second replay, he was madly in love with Judy, and decides to marry her because he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. The following quote shows Jeff’s confession of love to Judy: â€Å"Judy† His voice broke. He cleared his throat and started again. â€Å"I just want you to know†¦how very much I have always loved you.† (pg. 102, Grimwood) This passage shows that Jeff feels that he strongly loves Judy for all of eternity. Moreover, during his final replays, he meets another replayer, Pamela, and falls in love with her. This passage shows how Jeff feels about Pamela: It had been over a year since he’d begun his fourth replay of his life, and all the hopefulness with which he had once anticipated sharing this cycle with someone he fully loved, someone whose experience and understanding matched his own, had disappeared.

Differences Between Count Dracula and Vlad Tepes

â€Å"Dracula† is a book written by Bram Stoker that was inspired by Vlad Tepes, which causes some confusion about where fact ends and fiction begins. The two undoubtedly share some similarities. For example, they are both in positions of nobility. Before becoming a vampire Dracula was a prince and Vlad was a voivode. They are both also from Transylvania, although â€Å"Dracula† does not take place entirely in Transylvania. Although there are elements of Tepes in the character of Dracula, a great deal of it was embellished for dramatic effect. Dracula and Vlad may have had a few similarities, but they are also very different. In Stoker’s novel Dracula is depicted as blood thirsty. Although Vlad was also blood thirsty, he and Dracula had very different ways of satisfying their thirst. Vlad was just a monarch with a very sadistic streak. He used this power to kill people who had personally offended him. Vlad killed in many ways but his favorite way to kill his victims was to impale them on a wooden stake, which is a very slow and agonizing way to die. Victims sometimes endured this for hours or days. Throughout his reign, Vlad systematically eradicated the old boyar class of Wallachia. Dracula killed and then fed on the blood of his victims. Vlad and Dracula’s motives for killing so many were different. After the death of his wife, Dracula sold his soul to the devil. This transaction turn Dracula into a vampire that survives by sucking the blood from his victims and transforming them into vampires. Vlad’s motivation in killing so many was to exact revenge for the death of his father and brother. Perhaps this difference causes the vastly lights that they are seen in. Dracula is a villian, but many Romanians view Vlad as a hero. His reputation in his native country is one of a man who stood up to both foreign and domestic enemies. In Romania he is considered one of their greatest leaders. Dracula had a bevy of superpowers to aid him in his dastardly deeds. Dracula had the power to shape shift. In the novel he shifts into things such as a bat and a wolf. He also possesses superhuman powers like being able to crawl on vertical surfaces and manipulating the weather. The most important characteristic of Dracula is that he is undead. The only way to kill Dracula is to decapitate him and impale him with a wooden stake through the heart. Vlad on the other hand, had no superpowers and was for the most part a normal person. Vlad and Dracula are both remembered for the same reason: their atrocious murders. They were both prolific killers. Despite their many differences, they will probably always be associated.

Characters in Mayor of Casterbridge and Frankenstein Essay

I am going to use Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero in order to ascertain whether the main characters in Mayor of character of Michael Henchard as a tragic hero as he adopts fatal flaws which result in an eventual downfall. He then recognises his faults and inspires pity from the reader. This novel was first Casterbridge and Frankenstein can be viewed as tragic heroes. Hardy presents the published on the 2nd January 1886. To date, his fictional writing had received mixed reviews but this particular novel was well received by his contemporaries and critics alike and given high marks. In Hardy’s autobiography it states, â€Å"Others thought better of it than he did himself.† Mary Shelley’s fictional novel, Frankenstein was first published in 1818. In this novel I have focused Victor Frankenstein, the main character, and have studied him thoroughly throughout the events in the novel. There is an ongoing and controversial debate as to who actually is the tragic hero of the novel as both Victor Frankenstein and the monster both qualify. In this essay, I will discuss this view and indicate who I believe to be the tragic hero. The first element I will look at is Harmartia which is Greek, meaning fatal or tragic flaw of judgement. In the novel, Henchard makes many fatal flaws which, in turn, causes the occurrence of other tragic events. I will concentrate on his first flaw which we come across right at the beginning of the novel. Henchard actually sells his own wife and infant daughter at a furmity tent while he is in a totally drunken state despite being disapproved of alcohol consumption by his wife. His flaws in being disobedient and inconsiderate are completely evident when he shouts, â€Å"Will anybody buy her?† This not only humiliates Susan, his wife, but also shows us a very bitter side to his character which is most definitely flawed. According to Samuel Pyeatt Menefee, â€Å"Contemporary critics who could not believe, apparently, that such transactions had ever occurred on English soil in the nineteenth century.† Hardy surprises the audience as well as the critics with the use of thi s plot device and gives the audience something to look forward to later in the novel. The flaw of consuming alcohol itself is a tragic flaw as it leads him to insult and blame his wife during her presence and makes drastic decisions. Hardy also describes Henchard as a â€Å"women-hater† which shows us that he has little respect for the opposite sex and thinks that they limit his opportunities of being successful. This is also corresponds to what happened at the furmity tent with his wife and shows his attitude clearly towards women. From this we can see that extreme hatred is definitely one of his flaws.   In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is considered to be a tragic hero as he fits in the mould of Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. Frankenstein’s tragic flaw is that he is overpowered by his ambitions and aspirations which drives him to create the monster. This is highly evident when he says, â€Å"when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy.† This shows how he is driven by success and ambition and shows that his creation means everything to him. Critique, Anne K Mellor states â€Å"Frankenstein has clear ly substituted his scientific research for normal emotional interactions† in her thesis (Mary Shelley: Her Life, Her Fictions, Her Monsters (1988). This not only supports the fact that Frankenstein has flaws but also introduces the fresh idea of ignorance in Frankenstein which could be a potential and hidden tragic flaw. He also attempts to play god and mess with the beauty of nature which results in something extremely ugly. This is explored through after creating the monster, Frankenstein is unable to face the consequences of his own scientific actions and rejects the monster. It is evident that Frankenstein was only concerned about the outer beauty and we see this when he says â€Å"breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.† This expresses his emotions towards his own creation and highlights his error of judgement which proves that Frankenstein himself had flaws. Peripeteia is a Greek element which involves a tragic downfall of character. As we have already established, Henchard has many flaws which start a chain of downfalls for him in the novel. The first fall he experiences is when he loses Donald Farfrae as both a manager and a friend. This impacts on Henchard’s business greatly as Farfrae is a great asset to the business as a result of his rational decision-making. Due to Henchard’s flaw of jealousy, he loses Farfrae in both of these capacities. Henchard then proceeds to make very bad business decisions which result in bankruptcy and the eventual loss of the business. Just as we believe that he has nothing left to lose, we are surprised when his secret is revealed in court by the furmity women. The secret, of selling his wife and daughter, is now revealed. This then effects Henchard further as he loses his house, his position as Mayor of Casterbridge and loses his reputation within the community. Eventually, we see Henchard depicted as a beggar during the Royal’s visit and is described as wea ring â€Å"fretted and weather-beaten garments of bygone years†. This description contrasts greatly with Hardy’s earlier description of Henchard’s clothing when he first becomes Mayor of Casterbridge. This contrast shows exactly how much of a downfall he has suffered. In comparison, Frankenstein also has downfalls which are caused by his own actions. Frankenstein suffers emotionally when he loses his wife Elizabeth and his friend Clerval as the monster kills them both which in turn, kills his own happiness. He expresses his â€Å"Overflowing misery† and â€Å"Agony of despair† and this is an indication that he is suffering and the great pain he feels. The word â€Å"overflowing† also implies that the grief he is trying to endure can no longer be contained and that his misery is reaching insurmountable levels within him. The phrase â€Å"Agony of despair† also gives the impression that his tolerance towards his own unhappiness will be prolonged, permanent and everlasting. The third element I will look at is Anagnorisis which is Greek for recognition of fatal flaw of character. In mayor of Casterbridge, Henchard falls from a high social status to a low one but does become aware of his fatal flaws and wrong-doings to others. The first flaw he admits to is selling Susan in the furmity tent in front of a court of magistrates .This is apparent when he says in court â€Å"‘Tis as true as the light.† This quote shows how Henchard realises the mistake he made with Susan and surprises the reader with this truthful attitude. Here, we see him in a different light from the character we have witnessed and come to know. It also causes confusion for the reader as to why he actually told the truth at this point when he knows that it can remain concealed. Similarly, the element of realising own tragic flaws is present in Frankenstein but instead Frankenstein realises when it’s too late. After the death of several people, he realises that his own cr eation was a mistake and that he only deserves the same fate as those the monster had killed. He describes himself as being â€Å"Unfeeling, heartless creator!† This indicates that he regrets making the monster which contrasts with his attitude at the beginning when he is driven by excessive curiosity. Frankenstein also admits that he cannot play God through the quote â€Å"Fright must it be, for supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavor to mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world.† The quote is his own realization that he, in his arrogance had mocked God, because the only consequence that can be had by playing God is frightful. It is true to say that Victor Frankenstein realises that his own creation was a mistake and that, as a consequence, he too deserves the same fate as those his monster has killed. He describes himself as being â€Å"Unfeeling, heartless creator!† This indicates that he regrets making the monster which contrasts with his attitude at the beginning where he was wholly driven by excessive ambition and curiosity. However, Unlike Henchard, it is evident that Victor has learned little from the suffering he has caused. This lack of self-awareness is indicated before his death when he speaks of â€Å"Another† who â€Å"may succeed.† This implies that he doesn’t recognise his flaws completely. or fear by the character. Despite his bitter character portrayal, Hardy also tries to create an innocent side Catharsis is an element of the tragic hero which is evident in the character of Michael Henchard. This forth element is Greek and it means to inspire pity ewual amount of sympathy towards the character. We come across this when Henchard states, â€Å"Here and everywhere are folk dying before their time like frosted leaves, though wanted by the world, the country, and their own families, as badly as can be; while I, an outcast and an encumbrance, wanted by nobody, I live on, and can’t die if I try.† Henchard feels like an outcast; no one cares whether he lives or die s, and yet he â€Å"lives on.† He uses the simile of â€Å"frosted leaves† to describe people â€Å"dying before their time,† perhaps because people have as little control over their deaths as they do over the weather. Henchard mainly inspires pity towards the end of the novel when he dies and leaves a will behind for his daughter and Farfrae. In this will he expresses his feelings of regret and starts to show that he thinks of others before himself. This is evident in the will when it states â€Å"that no man remembers me.† This particular line in the will is the last line of all of his other wishes that are completely selfless and expresses the hatred towards himself. This inspires pity in the reader as we feel a great amount of sympathy for Henchard when he wishes that no one would know and commemorate him regardless of his death. Henchard’s final will and testament sums up the dissatisfaction of his life. He doesn’t want to be remembered or mourned; he doesn’t even want a grave marker. In Frankenstein, the character of victor Frankenstein doesn’t entirely create sympathy for himself as he is responsible for his own actions but there are other things that we might empathise with. Frankenstein’s character shows determination and works hard when trying to create the monster. This is evident when he states â€Å"I failed; yet still I clung on to the hope.† For obvious reasons, his hard work was not reflected which is apparent upon seeing the monster. We can somewhat relate to this as he worked so hard and spent much time on his creation but the desired results were not shown at the end. This is where we might feel sympathy for him. Overall, in my opinion I believe that both characters adopt the necessary characteristics in becoming a tragic hero as they both fit in the mould of Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. Both characters do have fatal flaws and make errors of judgement which cause them to suffer a downfall in society. The characters then recognise their flaws and realise the wrongs they have done and try to make amends. They also inspire pity or fear, but in these cases, I feel sympathy for both characters, particularly, Henchard as we see a drastic change in personality from the beginning to the end.

Navy seals

After striving to indicate a person who has had a significant influence on me I have come to a conclusion, that rather than a individual person I have a particular group. This particular group is unlike any other in the I the world. This group consists of elite men who put their homeland before themselves, they are capable of putting the needs of others before their own. These men were willing to do everything and anything to become part of the elite group known around the world as the Navvy Seals.Navvy seals are groups of elite soldiers, known around the world for their abilities in he air on the land and in the sea. These soldiers lead the world in their special oops. They are unlike another soldiers in the world, willing to risk their lives for anyone in need around the world. Ready to assist and cry for help. I see the Navvy Seals the way most people my age see pro sports players. Like pro sports players the SEALS are the best of the best. Their training and tactical work is so v igorous that their number one philosophy is â€Å"the easy day was yesterday†. Which is one of many in the Navvy.To be given the opportunity to serve my country a a Navvy Seal would mean the world to me. I would spend every breathing moment being the best I can be for my country family and myself. All my life I have wanted to be affiliated in the military. Four to five years ago I had very low self confidence in myself and others and not very great aspirations. My plan was to enroll in the marines after high school and attain my college education from the military. My primary aspiration for my life was to exceed the achievements of my mother, who didn't graduate high school.I wanted to be able to say if I could do it why couldn't you? My mind and heart were consumed by the dreadful thought of my rothers and how they would never have the opportunities that I have been blessed with. It wasn't until I had opened up to my uncle Derek who is a marine that I had a change of heart a bout virtually everything past and present. My uncle was in absolute disagreement with my plan. He explained the importance of college to my and the pride that comes with the privilege of becoming a marine that will extinguish my desire to exceed the accomplishments of my moms.Together we looked through the different military academies and I found Annapolis the most interesting because their classes in economics. I have a strange liking towards economics, like the stock market and the economy. Those thing Just really seem to interest me to I hope to major in economics and international trade while attending Annapolis. My interest in international trade comes from my desire to travel, which is another one of the many reasons I aspire to be a Navvy Seal. Ever since I was little I've wanted to see the world, and what it has to offer.There is absolutely no better way at accomplishing that dream other than attending Annapolis become a Navvy Seal, and sounds to go to be true, but I know i n my heart that in order to accomplish that goal I ave to be mentally and physically tough enough to get there. Speaking about becoming physically and mentally tough I have already begun those first small steps. It started off with small attitude adjustments such as my love for athletics, instead of dreading the next workout I changed the dreading into excitement that put me in the mindset to get better rather than Just get through the workout.Eventually I got to a point where my moms actions didn't influence my mind as much. In fact I changed my entire perspective on my mom, although, she isn't perfect she chose her path and being angry about that isn't helping me or her in nyway. So instead of being angry I chose put all the extra time I spent being angry and wishing things could be different to actually make a difference in my life not Just for me but for her my brothers and anyone else that thinks they can't do it.I feel like a much better person, free from the invisible chains that ranted excuse after excuse of why I couldn't or didn't get the Job done. I find happiness and hope to be the greatest things in life and I know whole heartedly that the SEALS brought those thing to me. Nothing makes me happier than getting a good grade on an ssignment and knowing I've gotten Just a tad bit closer to my dream. I can sometimes get lost in my thoughts of the the future, to the point where I feel as if I'm reading a good book with precise imagery.Imagining myself 10 years from now along side the best special pops team in the world, seeing the world and serving my country. Another exciting thing about the SEALS is their brotherhood. The fact that they would risk their lives for one another is breath taking. They would rather all sacrifice their lives saving one of their own than leaving them behind. Their goal number one oal in operations it to complete the given task unnoticed, quietly, quickly, and most importantly together.Like family these men will do anything f or each other and will go to the ends of the earth to protect their own. The final thing I will mention is the SEALS ability to be wherever they are needed whenever they are needed. No matter the circumstance they are always willing to put their lives on the line for whomever is in need. Which is also like something I've always done. I may not meet the needs or standards of everyone but I will always go out of my way to help someone in need.Not only because I know it is the right thing to do but because I remember when I didn't have much and someone would go out of their way to help me. I will never forget those people which makes it necessary for me to do the same for others. All that being said I don't believe that I am perfect by a long shot, there are thousands, heck millions that have it ten times worse than me and have beat the odds. But one thing is for sure once given the chance I will do everything I'm my power to be the best I can be for myself and my country,

Nacirema

The Nacirema change their behavior leading up to December 25th on their approved calendar. They believe that a spirit called â€Å"Christmas† will magically fill themselves and the people around then with joy and caring tendencies. They tell their offspring and little ones that a large man in a red suit with a white beard will break into their homes on the 25th and leave gifts if their behavior is good. If they are bad this man will leave black natural resources, coal.The children are also told to leave cookies for the man, although he is already extremely stout. The adults although supply the children with gifts and not coal, whether the child is good or bad by cultural norms. The women of the homes spend days prepping the home for others to come. They wipe down floors and use a large machine to attempt to remove debris from the soft areas of the floor, although the floor will just collect more dirt and debris over time.Some Nacirema even go knocking on the doors of other Nac irema and when they answer, they sing. The Nacirema dedicate literature, moving pictures, and several items to this spirit. Also, the Nacirema place large amounts of small balls of light and other items on or around their places of rest to honor the spirit. not really fake greed Nacirema is American spelled backwards and refers to, with a degree/pretense of anthropological self-distancing, aspects of the behavior and society of citizens of North America.Studying the Nacirema remains useful and productive for Americans even half a century after Miner first did so because it helps us realize how our behavior may be viewed by other cultures and what that impression will do for our relationship. Also, it helps us realize what parts of our behavior that we may have overlooked that are superficial, unnecessary, or flat out wrong.

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

Lupus - Research Paper Example The immune system of a person suffering from lupus cannot differentiate between normal body tissues and antigens. As a result of this, the immune system directs antibodies to normal tissues thinking that they are foreign materials. Due to this, there is swelling and pain felt by the person suffering from this disease. With advanced medical technology, different types of lupus have been identified by doctors. However the most common one is SLE or systemic lupus erythematosus. There are also others known as discoid, neonatal and drug-induced. Symptoms It is important to note that lupus is very variable. That is it is common for one to have the disease and not experience all the symptoms that other people feel. At the same time, every patient has their own feelings meaning that there are rare occasions when two or more patients experience similar symptoms. Severity also varies in individuals. Some patients experience symptoms that are severe and might last for a long time while others e xperience symptoms that are less severe and last for a few minutes but keep reoccurring. Sometimes, the patients expect to experience the severe pains that most textbooks describe but that never occurs. Some of the initial symptoms include (Basingtoke, 2011): 1. Lethargy, fatigue and weakness 2. Rashes in the skin. However, this occurs in very few cases. One in every five. 3. Swelling and pain of the join. This is experienced by almost half of the patients. Meaning that it is a very common symptom for patients with the lupus disease. 4. Fever; almost every patient experience this and it keeps occurring Diagnosis Since the symptoms of this disease vary, diagnosis of the disease is very difficult. The symptoms keep changing and in some cases, they become similar to symptoms of other diseases. For one to be confirmed as having this disease, several tests have to be performed. Urine and blood tests are however compulsory. The patient also has to be given a physical examination to know h ow fit they are. The laboratory tests include; 1. Complete blood count. This is the most common test for the disease. The number of white blood cells, platelets and red blood cells are counted and their ratio known. The results have to be analyzed properly since anemia also has almost similar results from the same test. 2. Sedimentation of erythrocytes rate. In this test, blood sample is taken and kept in a test tube from where the rate at which the red blood cells settle at the bottom of the test tube is measured. This test is very crucial since it determines the type of disease that one has. 3. Urinalysis. This is where the urine of the patient is analyzed to check the amount of proteins and red blood cells in the urine. Treatment Just like the difference in symptoms, the treatment of lupus is also different. Before administering any treatment, the doctor or physician has to analyze the signs and symptoms of the disease that the patient has shown and detriment the correct procedur e to use for treatment. As the signs keep changing, the nurse has to ensure that the patient changes the medication that they are using. This means that the nurse has to be able to closely monitor the changes that the patient is undergoing through and report this to the doctor who should change medication if necessary. Some of the treatments available include; 1. NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). This kind of medication is available over the counter. Some

Contemporary ethical dilemma found in the business world or a topic in Research Paper

Contemporary ethical dilemma found in the business world or a topic in business ethics - Research Paper Example †. It is in this regard that this paper is written to present relevant contemporary issues in business ethics with actual experience and application in a health organization, St. Luke’s Medical Center. St. Lukes Medical Center (SLMC) is located in the Philippines and has provided high-quality healthcare for over a century. Founded in 1903, its mission is to provide outstanding out-patient care. Today it is the foremost and most admired hospital in the Philippines and an acknowledged leader in Asia. SLMC receives patients from around Asia, Micronesia, the Middle East, Europe and the United States. (SLMC About Us 2009 par. 1) A patient had been confined in a private room in this health institution for almost one month due to chronic illness with diverse complications. Due to her long stay and numerous laboratory, diagnostic and therapeutic examinations, her statement of account reached a staggering amount which could not be immediately covered by the funds of the patient and her family. She had been accompanied by her daughter who helps by providing physical, emotional and financial support. However, due to the critical condition that her mother experiences, their account was classified as â€Å"red tag†. Patients with red tags are immediately referred to the Customer Relations Department who monitors their status and closely coordinates with the Accounting and Cashier Department for settlement and collection purposes. Once a patient has been classified as â€Å"red tag†, any procedure (therapeutic, diagnostic, laboratory, etc.) need to be immediately settled prior to the administration of the procedure, regardless of the necessity and the kind of the procedure to be undertaken. The rationale for this is to prevent further increases in the amount due to the hospital which might not be collected nor paid. The patient regularly needs any of

Criminal justice Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Criminal justice - Thesis Example This analyzes the effectiveness and the accountability of a program, and whether it works or not. The following essay will discuss the elements of Municipal Police training program and how it can be evaluated. The program is offered in very many criminal justice institutions and it provides skills in enforcing law in townships, municipalities and cities. The course, which requires around 700 hours to be completed, is quite extensive but has certain modules that are common in all institutions. Recruits start by undertaking legal studies and social sciences, and their relation to the current social, ethical and political affairs. This is followed by a period of technical and physical training under a specialist which ends with an evaluation report about each recruit. The recruits are then upgraded with skills in their line of work like human relations, crisis management, operation of motor vehicles and firearms, among others (Criminal Justice Training Center, 2007-2013). The program requires that the prospective students be physically and psychologically fit. These are proved through a health examination. The applicants should also have a clean criminal background. There are a number of evaluation models and approaches that can be used to analyze the effects of this program. Some of the variables that can be put under consideration is the manner in which the police carry out their daily activities, how they manage crisis, how they handle law breakers and their readiness and preparedness to acts of crime and violence. Behavioral approach is one of them, and this focuses on the objectives, whether they have been achieved or not. The main objectives of the program, as stated earlier are to develop professional skills in handling issues concerning crime and justice. This evaluation can be done by observing the changes in the behavior of the recruits during training, and after training. This information can be obtained from the reports written by the

Present and evaluate the possible bank reforms emerging from the US Essay

Present and evaluate the possible bank reforms emerging from the US and the UK - Essay Example Now, when the crisis is within control and the economies of the US and the UK are showing signs of nascent recovery, the cries for reforms in the banking system are emerging from the affiliated concerns and institutions. Some of the proposed reforms are a step in the right direction. Still, all that is being said and done does not portend to achieve the expected results. Causes of the Banking Crisis The occurrence of crisis like situations within the US and the UK banking system owing to the embedded systemic weaknesses has been typically shocking in the current decade. Not to mention, the cost of such scenarios have been significantly high for the affected economies. Though, the causes and reasons impacting the banking system during the 2008-2009 recession have been to some extent, region specific. Still, some salient trends can be identified, that have been common to the UK and US banking system. First and foremost, the risky banking practices and the accompanying structural weakne sses in the financial system were bound to give way to a crisis like situation at some time or other (Turner 2008). ... It was an attitude of negligence on the part of the regulatory bodies that allowed the irresponsible bankers to manipulate an environment marred by ineffective market discipline (Turner 2008). This gave way to unsound corporate governance practices on the part of the banks and the customers who approached them for seeking loans. How Banking Crisis Contributed to Recession Actually experts have been predicting the collapse of the banking system much before the things went wrong. The unrealistic and unethical credit expansion by the American and the English financial institutions was a phenomenon that had been taking place since the last couple of years (Turner 2008). The irony was that even the Central Banks in the influenced countries failed to check this artificial credit expansion. All the instruments and mechanisms that facilitated this credit expansion were predominantly pegged on the real estate market in the US (Roberts 2008). As expected, as the real estate boom in the US came to a halt, the financial instruments backing it got worthless; giving was to caustic assets and the accompanying credit crunch that hit the world economy (Roberts 2008). The following oil price volatility made the things even worse (Turner 2008). Banking Reforms in the US The US government incorporated the lessons learnt from the subprime mortgage crisis into the envisaged banking reforms. These reforms not only intended to create new regulatory bodies with more teeth, but also planned to protect the interests of the customers. These reforms provided more power to the Federal Reserve thereby enabling it to better monitor the functioning of the financial institutions, and if required to takeover over a financial institution

The relationship between lifelong learning and vocations Essay

The relationship between lifelong learning and vocations - Essay Example A person acquires knowledge even after leaving school and while in employment. The learning needs of people continue increasing with the rising rate of technological advancement. The style of learning is also constantly changing with new inventions. For example, advancement in information technology in the last several decades has generated the need for learning regarding its application in virtually all aspects of life (Forrester 1995). For example, innovative banking systems require bankers to be competent in the use of computers for information storage, while customers are required to understand how to use new banking services such as the Automatic Teller Machine and electronic banking that enhance service delivery. Technology changes occur every year, meaning that for a person to be competent in the workplace or to access important services, he/she has to maintain lifelong learning which does not necessarily have to be undertaken at school or at the workplace. Many governments encourage lifelong learning as a policy response to the constant changes occurring in the modern economic systems. For example, Valsiner (2000) observes that there is a significant shift to a services economy from a manufacturing economy. The conventional institutions that require people to more vigorously in individual management of life have declined in the recent past, while a knowledge economy has materialized. This means that the formal education offered in the early stages of a person’s life may not be sufficient for maintenance of competence in an individual all through his/her life. This realization has made many governments especially in the developed economies to focus on promoting lifelong learning. This is accomplished through encouraging home based schooling whereby individuals acquire knowledge through the informal system, attainment of formal education through adult education, non examinable education in higher institutions of

Time and Travel in The Dispossessed and Kindred Term Paper

Time and Travel in The Dispossessed and Kindred - Term Paper Example Butler would agree with Asimov; when asked to label her novel, she has called it â€Å"a grim fantasy.† How time travel occurs in Kindred is never explained; the novel’s protagonist Dana simply feels dizzy from time to time and travels back in time, to pre-Civil War America. It is a mystery to her and to her husband, but they try to deal with the situation they have found themselves in, anyway. The only way she is able to return back to her own time is to feel threatened and in danger of dying. She even tries slitting her wrists in order to return to her own time. Each time she travels back in time, her stay on the plantation becomes longer—at first only a few minutes, and then several days and months. She disappears from the present as she travels, but at first for a few seconds and then for several hours. It seems as if Dana time travels to the past every time Rufus is in some kind of mortal danger. The first time she travels, he is drowning; the second time, s he saves him from dying in a fire. She discovers that the reason he â€Å"calls† her to the plantation is that he is her ancestor and it is her duty to save him so that she is preserved in the future. At the end of the book, however, she ends up killing him and experiences horrible consequences as a result—the mangling of her arm when she returns to the present. Perhaps the real reason she has to time travel is because it is Rufus’ destiny to die, and there is nothing she can do to prevent it. Although Butler was already established as a successful science fiction writer, one of the few African Americans in a white male-dominated field, the time travel in Kindred, is incidental. It is simply something she uses to illustrate her thesis about the horrors of slavery. When the novel is shelved in libraries or bookstores, even though Butler is well known as a writer of science fiction, it tends to be placed with African American literature because that creates the sa me feelings as the works of other female African American writers. Like all science fiction, though, Kindred is speculative: What would happen if a modern person got the opportunity to experience slavery first-hand? Time travel is used as a literary device to pursue her thesis, and to investigate how a sympathetic modern character would react in the setting of slavery. An example is Dana’s reaction to seeing a slave being whipped: I shut my eyes and tensed my muscles against an urge to vomit. I had seen people beaten on television and in the movies. I had seen the too-red blood substitute streaked across their backs and heard their well-rehearsed screams. But I hadn’t laid nearby and smelled their sweat or heard them pleading and praying, shamed before their families and themselves (Butler 36). Even though it definitely science fiction/fantasy, Kindred has the feel and structure of a slave narrative. Dana, and Butler’s audience along with her, travels to the pas t so that they can experience it and understand the impact of history, and more specifically, of slavery. Dana travels from freedom to enslavement, like her ancestors did when they were taken from Africa and enslaved in America, never to return. She goes through the same horror as her slave ancestors, and the time travel she experiences is just as confusing as the voyage they experienced. Dana attempts to explain this to her white husband, after reacting to him with fear after she returns: â€Å"