Bartleby essays

Bartleby essays Since he will not quit me, I must quit him. Ah Bartleby, Ah Humanity. (Page 140, Herman Melville) This is the key to Bartleby, written by Herman Melville, for it indicates that Bartleby stands as a symbol for humanity. This in turn functions as a commentary on society and the working world, for Bartleby is a seemingly homeless, mentally disturbed scrivener who gives up on the prospect of living life. However, by doing so Bartleby is attempting to exercise his freewill, for he would prefer not to work. His relationship to the narrator is thus significant, for as he attempts to exercise his freewill he is breaking from the will of the narrator and the normal progression of life. However, this attempt to exercise his freewill and break loose from the confines of typical societal functions, isolates Bartleby from society, which in turn places him in a state of depression and soon there after, death. Ultimately, by having Bartleby prefer not to, Melville is commenting on the role of human ity in the work force. If man attempts to break free of his role and exercise his own freewill then he is severing himself from humanity which in turn will lead to depression and perhaps death, for he will have nothing but a wall always obstructing him. From the beginning Bartleby is isolated within the confines of his work place. I procured a high green folding screen, which might entirely isolate Bartleby from my sight, though not remove him from my voice.( pg 111) In this quotation the narrator put Arnold, Page 2 up a screen to separate his office from Bartlebys, which isolates him from the other members of the staff which thus isolates him from humanity. However, this is not the end of the isolation for he is not only detached from those around him, but society as well. I placed his desk close up to a small side window, a window that had originally afforded a view of certain grimy backyards, bu...

Sushi essays

Sushi essays The Japanese live long, and this is already a well known fact. One of the proven secrets of longevity is that they eat fish, a lot of them.  µ, the highlight of their fish cuisine, became very popular all over the world and had been representing Japanese food ever since. There is even a word in English: Sushi. There are numerous types of sushi such as nigiri-sushi, maki-sushi, and sashimi. In the 7th century, Southeast Asians introduced the technique of pickling. After 500 years, the Japanese acquired this same practice which consisted of packing fish with rice. As the fish fermented, the rice produced a lactic acid which in turn caused the pickling of the pressed fish. This was the very first form of sushi, and it was called Nare-Sushi. Then in 15th and 16th century, an altered form, Nama-Nare, appeared due to lengthy process. After a century, Matsumoto Yoshiichi of Edo introduced the use of rice vinegar into the sushi rice to add a flavor of tartness. One of the best known kinds of sushi, nigiri, wasn ft introduced until 1820 fs by Hanaya Yohei of Edo. His morsels, which included fresh sliced raw fish combined with the vinegared rice, were prepared and served for customers directly from his portable sushi stall. It eventually won immediate demands over the nation and descended the sushi bars of today. One of the typical nigiri sushi we eat is maguro, tuna sus hi. In my experience, there fs not just one tuna sushi, but quite a few, such as an albacore tuna, a white tuna, a fatty tuna, and the regular tuna. Just like other sushi, vinegared rice and a piece of tuna are, at least, required to make a tuna sushi. Once they are ready, by taking a small portion of the rice to the middle of a hand, pressing it with fingers to make it form nicely round and fairly long, and placing a sliced tuna on top of it, maguro is made. Another typical sushi is maki-sushi. This sushi contains strips of fish or vegetables ro ...

Hedging Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hedging Strategy - Essay Example By considering the Treasury bond futures hedging strategy, he can minimise his risk as it is an effective instrument of risk control and can also enhance his returns. As Treasury bond futures cover up a broad range of maturities from the bonds of long term to short term notes, so it will help Clark to construct trades depending on the disparities in the movements of interest rates alongside the yield curve. There is negative connection between the fluctuations in interest rates and the bond prices. The increase in the interest rates is bad for bonds because when the rate of interest rises, the shareholders or investors in the bond fund prefer to liquidate or settle their shares. Due to this, the finance manager might be compelled to sell its bonds prematurely to raise sufficient cash in order to meet its requests of redemption. This could have a pessimistic effect on the regular price of bond fund (Forbes, 2013). Conversely, a fall in the interest rates results in the increase in the bond prices. This happens because, if rates of interest fall after the purchase of bond, the worth of bond will rise as investors will not be able to purchase a new bond with a high coupon rate. In this situation, the value of bond will be more than the actual value. Consequently, it will be traded at a premium (Bodie et al, 2009). Clark should consider the short term hedging strategy. Investment in the short term bonds is recommended because long term maturities bond would be hit tremendously when there is an increase in the rates of interest. Along with this, he should consider the individual bonds but require being cautious with the issuer’s credit quality. Clark also needs to be sure that the company is monetarily strong and proficient to repay his principle on the maturity of bond. A short term bond is suggested because this will facilitate Clark not to become locked in a low interest rate for an extended period (Forbes, 2013). The reason behind suggesting the

Case And Statute Law. Robert and the Wooly Traders Essay

Case And Statute Law. Robert and the Wooly Traders - Essay Example In the case involving Robert and the Wooly Traders clothing wholesalers, this paper intends to analyze the position of Robert with regard to the contract for purchase of the coats. In the contract, Robert who is a clothing retailer places an order with WT, the clothing wholesaler to have fourteen superior all-weather coats supplied to his premises. The sheepskin coats order was placed in September which upon delivery, the whole bunch sold within a week. Nevertheless, the case states that a fortnight later after the entire sale, customers started returning the coats after a rain which made the coats to have a foul smell due to wetting. It was argued that the sheepskin used in the manufacture of the coats had not been well treated and that resulted to the fouls smell after the coats became wet. This made Robert to ask for a full refund over the business transaction with the Wooly Traders. However, clause 11 of the WT has a different opinion which is the stand of the wholesale traders. It states that unsatisfactory transaction with regard to unsatisfactory goods should be reported promptly within a limit of three days after the delivery, thus stating that the pass of three days without raising the complaint automatically stands as a binding proof of satisfaction. The company therefore refused to consent to the demand of Robert of full refund as a compensation for the faulty coats sold to him. Time inconsistency would be cited as the dominant feature within this case (Anderlini and Felli, 2008, p. 1-34). General reasoning compels Robert to demand for the refund because his merchandise was returned after the sale by the customers as a result of the defects seen. The returned coats would have implied that Robert assumed the responsibility to refund fully the customers over the returned coats. Therefore, Robert was equally entitled to full compensation by the wholesale traders. However, as a contract, the placed order between the WT traders and Robert had binding fram eworks and clauses among which the clause 11 had a time structure in determining the quality of the sold goods. Three days are what the contract is based on and thus any complaint rose after the three days after delivery would not be binding from the side of the wholesaler. Robert stands to lose on the case if the court would rule based on the eleventh clause. This is because as a contract, the two parties involved are entitled to abide with the consented to rules and guidelines. Robert has no defense because it would be assumed that he read and understood to the later the provisions of the clauses binding the contract. The guiding questions of fact to be relied upon by the court would be: Had WT made the contract clauses available to Robert before the consented to the contract and place the order? Had Robert read and comprehended the clauses of the contract before placing the order? After how many days did the complainant report the complaints? What is the proof of the complaints t hat the ship-skin coats were stinky when wet? Under the consideration of these questions, the court would be in a

The needs of future generations are being met by current policies of Essay - 2

The needs of future generations are being met by current policies of sustainable development. To what extent do you agree with this statement - Essay Example It defines it as the development that satisfies the current human needs without reducing the availability of the resources to the future generations. It breaks it into two concepts. The first concept concentrates on the needs and in particular the needs of the poor. Its second approach is on limitations. Its approach on limitations focuses on social and technology factors, and their ability in ensuring that environment use meets the present and future generations wants (Dobson & Lucadrie 2002, p. 85). It further defines development that is sustainable as the progressive transformation of the society and economy (Dobson & Lucadrie 2002, p. 85). It is, therefore, vital to concentrate on the three pillars of sustainable development; social, political, and economic factors to ensure the continuity of future generations. Researchers are of the opinion that governments still believe on the old development paradigms. They emphasize on economic growth while believing that other industrialized countries have made no changes to their patterns of production and consumption that threaten global resources. Meeting the goals of sustainable development require genuine institutional and political will by governments in all countries. The countries should contribute to it regardless of whether they are developed or not (Purvis & Grainger 2013, p. 177). Weak law enforcement, corruption, and ineffective governments are obstacles in achieving sustainability. Limited policy capacity, lack of information, and incompetent decision makers are some of the reasons for the minimal cooperation by governments. The World Summit discussion on Sustainable Development held in 2002 in South Africa maintained that the sustainable development has not evolved out of its roots. Focusing the issue on an environmental direction rather than integrating with an all-round development perspective is a mistake. The political agenda replaces

Symbolism and Use of Water in Religion

Symbolism and Use of Water in Religion Question Title: On the element of your choice and the agency of that element. Water and its Purification and Curative Function Christianity and Bathing in Early Medieval Italy This paper analyses the natural element water and its purification and curative function, in the context of Christianity and bathing activity, in early medieval Italy, approximately between the fifth and the seventh centuries. The paper starts by tracing the qualities of water as an element in nature, and how the Italian society responded and produced social and cultural value. The next section examines water as a spiritual purifier in Christianity, with reference of works of medieval art. Lastly, the curative function of water is analyzed with the study of bathing activity in medieval Italy. In this section, the development of bathing from the Roman world to medieval Italy is also analyzed with the continuity of the discussion of Christianity and how it affected the peoples preference in bathing as well as their perception of water. Nature, Society and Culture of Water Among the four classical elements, water was regarded as the ylem, or basic substance of the universe.[1] Water is pervasively and powerfully presented within Western philosophical, literary, and geographical thought. Thales, who is widely regarded as the first Greek philosopher, claimed that water is the source of all things. Reasoned from the circumstance that moisture appears to nurture and inhabit all living things, Thales claimed that such wetness is contained in seeds and sperm, making water as the progenitor-agents of much life.[2] Such philosophical explanation can be supported by the nature of water. Not only it is obvious that the survival and growth of plants, animals, and people largely depends on water; the fact that babies are nurtured inside and protected by amniotic fluid before birth, suggests how particularly close and harmonious the relationship of the people and water is. The way how water was integrated into daily life and contributed to the civilization in early medieval society is particularly irreplaceable when compared to the other three elements fire, earth and air. Domestic usage of water, bathing, irrigation and drainage, fishing, milling and transport all receive full benefit from water.[3] The social and economic values of water can be showed by the scenes of the cities developed upon good sources of water, the numerous sanctuaries built near springs and rivers, and the gathering of women and men at fountains and wells. Water, as an essential element for any community, was not only a resource upon which people relied heavily, but also an element which largely produced philosophical and cultural reactions, which ultimately the Etymologies written by Isidore of Seville in the early seventh century was one of these. Isidore of Seville remarked that water is wondrous by its numerous unusual natural properties curing or sickening people, making plants grow, washing dirt off, quenching thirst, and even removing sins.[4] The natural element water imbued imaginations, associations and cultural values which step forward from its initial nature and practical function. Largely due to the natural function of cleansing and nurturing of water, people associate water with the power of healing and purification. For example, the health of a human body depends on medieval humors, which is the balance of water and the other three elements. Baths, spas, and hot springs were popular not only for the purpose of hygiene and relaxation, but also due to their belief in the benefit of bathing to their physical and spiritual health. The purifying and curative power of water as well as bath was certainly strengthened by the religious association of Christianity. Christianity and Purification of Water Water, as a friendly, useful and tangible element in the Middle Ages, is easily associated with positive qualities in most religions, including Christianity, which water is considered as a purifier. The importance of water in Christianity is interestingly expressed by the fact that water is mentioned in the Bible 442 times in the New International Version and 363 times in the King James Version.[5] One of the most important rite in the Church is baptism, which by the immersion of a person in water, one receive gift of the Holy Spirt and ones sins is simply washed away. The initiates died and were reborn in Christ in baptism.[6] This is when the element water is greatly associated with purification as well as the religious sense of death and rebirth, which is expressed in works of Medieval art, which can be viewed as Christian art in the early Middle Ages. Analyzing a baptistery in real life, the Baptistery of the Orthodox in Ravenna in Italy built in the middle of the fifth century (see Fig.1), the function of purification associated with Christianity cannot be more obvious. The sacrament of baptism, we recall, symbolized not only the cleansing of the soul but also the death of the sinful self and the initiates rebirth in Christ. The architectural design of an octagon plan associates with the spiritual resurrection of baptism, as for the context of Early Christian numerology, eight was the number of regeneration on the eighth day after creation the world began; and Jesus arose from the dead on the eighth day of the Passion Cycle.[7] At the center of the octagonal building is the baptismal font used for immersion, which is built like a bath. In such a Christian setting, the water poured inside the baptismal font is sublimated as a wondrous spiritual purifier, demonstrating how much cultural value a natural element water can imbued. Th e illustrations on the walls and dome of the Baptistery of Orthodox is stressing the importance of baptism as the first step in the divine scheme of salvation.[8] The center of the dome depicts the doctrine that Saint John the Baptist is baptizing Christ with water from the Jordan River (see Fig.2). This evokes a sense that the purest form of water which is able to cure and purify ones soul can lie in natural environment like a river, and is not limited to a holy Christian architecture or a luxurious bath. Interestingly the small human figure on the right hand side is a river god who personifies the Jordon River, showing the rich imagination and association with water by the Italians of the early Middle Ages (see Fig.2). Another example is an apse mosaic located not in Italy, but in Thessalonika in Greece, which has a similar background with Ravenna, that both are a former Roman imperial city that became an important Christian capital in the Middle Ages. Despite its location not in Italy, this apse mosaic in a small chapel dated in the early sixth century is worth analyzing as it clearly illustrates the holy quality of the element water in the context of Christianity, which the Christianity in Greece and Italy would not differ much in the early Middle Ages. It depicts the incarnation of Christ the Lord, represented in human form, emanates from a radiant glory (see Fig.3).[9] Below at Crists feet, four rivers of paradise stream down from a hilltop. Ancient tradition held that four sacred rivers symbolized the four Gospels that flow from Christ. An inscription at the bottom of the mosaic explains that Jesus is the spring of living water, clearly evokes association that water would have the holy power like Christ, including curing and purifying. Water is also somehow associated with paradise, which would be the home of Christ and those who had received baptism. Fig.1 Baptistery of the Orthodox, mid-5th century. Stucco sculpture. Ravenna, Italy.[10]     Ã‚   Fig.2 Baptism of Christ, dome of the Baptistery of the Orthodox, mid-5th century. Mosaic. Ravenna, Italy.[11] Fig.3 Christ in Glory, the Vision of Ezekiel, Hosios David, early 6th century. Apse mosaic. Thessalonika, Greece.[12] Bathing and the Curative Power of Water Noted that bathing is not a new habit but a custom that survived in medieval Italy after the Romes demise. Therefore, the custom of bathing in the Roman world is briefly explained as follows. To the Romans, bathing was an irreplaceable part of the daily routine, which created relaxation, happiness, comfort, and well-being after a morning of hard work and business.[13] Bathing is viewed as a necessity as well as luxury, as baths are built with lavish and magnificent interiors, decorated with trophies, inscriptions, and sculpture, which reflected the splendor of the empire and the prosperity.[14] Furthermore, bathing had already gone beyond the functional and hygienic necessities of washing, and had been considered to be able to cleanse physical as well as moral stains.[15] Romans usually exercise before bathing as a means of keeping fit and healthy. The feelings of regeneration and rebirth of the body achieved through exercise and bathing acted as an effective tonic for the mind. Henc e, bathing, from its earliest history, was considered as therapeutic measure and received full support and authority from ancient medicine. Continuing to the Middle Ages of Italy, the habits of bathing was continuously popular. The understanding of bathing as the means of cleansing and hygiene as well as the maintenance or reestablishment of health was apparent. The development is that there was a change in the preference of where and what kind of water to bath. In the Roman world, people prefer bathing in the communal baths that is luxuriously decorated. However, in medieval Italy, with reference to the previous section Christianity and Purification of Water, people tend to define water of purity as from a natural environment, hence they prefer to enjoy therapeutic thermo-mineral baths, that is built at or near natural hot springs, than the artificially heated baths in a luxurious setting. The popularity of thermo-mineral baths in the Middle Ages depends on the curative qualities of their waters. in relation to the balance of elements in the setting all four elements of water, earth, fire, and air tangibly present in a thermos-mineral bath which might help the bodies to achieve a balance between the four medieval humors and hence to achieve health. The nature of the thermal-mineral phenomena of the region and the technical and architectural setups built around them on the volcanic hills were described with great precision by Dio in the early third century: The mountains here, which lie close to the inner bodies of water, have springs which send forth a great deal of fire mingled with water à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ from this association the water is heated and the fire moistened. The water on its way down the foothills to the sea runs into reservoirs and the inhabitants conduct the steam from it through pipes into upper rooms where they use the steam for vapor baths; for the hi gher it ascends from the earth and from the water, the drier it becomes. Costly apparatus is in use for turning both the vapor and water into practical use, and they are very serviceable indeed for the uses of daily life and also for effecting cures.[16] Here we can observe the presence of all classical elements in the setting of a thermo-mineral bath the natural heat of spring is fire mingled with water; the element earth presents as the water passes through the foothills while thermo-mineral baths were built in comparatively rural environment which are rocky and muddy, and some baths even were built directly on top of the Roman ruins; lastly, steam is created, which is a wet and visible form of the element air. Besides, it is also believed the mineral content added to water would produce different curative functions for different illnesses. Concerning the curative effect of mineral water, one could referred to the ancient book written by Vitruvius, a famous Roman author and architect, of the first century BC. Vitruvius devoted an entire chapter in Book Eight to the properties of waters in the ancient world: every hot spring has healing properties because it has been boiled with foreign substances, and this acquires a new useful quality. For example, Sulphur springs cure pains in the sinews, by warming up and burning out the corrupt humors of the body by their heat. Aluminous springs, used in the treatment of the limbs when enfeebled by paralysis or the stroke of any such malady, introduce warmth through the open pores, counteracting the chill by the opposite effect of their heat, and thus equably restoring the limbs to their former condition..[17] Rounding up the qualities of water as a beneficial natural resource contributing to the civilization of the society, a holy spiritual purifier in the Christian context, and an agency that combines with different elements and substances to generate curative function; water seems to be a perfect and completely positive element in the eyes of the medieval Italian society. However, bathing, as an activity which ones body is soaked and surrounded by water faced opposition of the Christian Church interestingly starting from the fifth century. As mentioned, bathing was a luxurious activity in the Roman world, which the Church drew a connection between the devil and the sinful temptations of baths, was against the Christian notion of spirituality. Barsanuphius, a hermit from Palestine, was asked if it was a sin to bathe if it were ordered by ones doctor, then the Church responded: Bathing is not absolutely forbidden to one who needs it of you are ill, you need it; so, it is not a sin. If a man is healthy, it cossets and relaxes the body and conduces to lust.[18] This query illustrates the permissive position taken by the Church with respect to medicinal and curative bathing. Many thermo-mineral baths and other bathing facilities continued to function throughout the Middle Ages. Since medieval medicine depended as much as ancient medicine has done upon hydrotherapy as a preventive and curative measure.[19] The opposition of the Church to bathing in medieval Italy is not an opposition to water. The Church respected the curative function of water, and reduced bathing to a functional, hygienic, and medicinal activity, opposing the component of pleasure and luxury associated with the experience of bathing. This reflected the seriousness of the medieval Italian society in their rational and intellectual reflection of their compact and spiritual relations with natural elements like water. Bibliography By Wikipedians, Biochemistry: An Introduction (PediaPress GmbH, Mainz, 2011) Cynthia Kosso and Anne Scott, The Nature and Function of Water, Baths, Bathing and Hygiene from Antiquity through the Renaissance (Brill) David Macauley, Elemental philosophy: earth, air, fire, and water as environmental ideas (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2010). Dio Cassius, Roman History (trans. Cary Earnest) http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/cassius_dio/home.html> [accessed 8 March 2017] Douglas Biow, The Culture of Cleanliness in Renaissance Italy (London: Cornell University Press, 2006) Fikret Yegà ¼l, Baths and Bathing in Classical Antiquity (New York: Architectural History Foundation, 1995) Marilyn Stokstad, Medieval Art (Colorado: Westview Press, 2004) Paolo Squatriti, Water and society in early medieval Italy, AD 400-1000 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998) Vitruvius (trans Morris Hicky Morgan) http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0073:book%3D8:chapter%3D3:section%3D4> [accessed 8 March 2017] [1] By Wikipedians, Biochemistry: An Introduction (PediaPress GmbH, Mainz, 2011), p.62. [2] David Macauley, Elemental philosophy: earth, air, fire, and water as environmental ideas (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2010), p.43. [3] Cynthia Kosso and Anne Scott, The Nature and Function of Water, Baths, Bathing and Hygiene from Antiquity through the Renaissance (Brill), p.2. [4] Paolo Squatriti, Water and society in early medieval Italy, AD 400-1000 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), p.8-9. [5] By Wikipedians, p.62. [6] Marilyn Stokstad, Medieval Art (Colorado: Westview Press, 2004), p.5. [7] Marilyn Stokstad, p.41 [8] Marilyn Stokstad, p.41. [9] Marilyn Stokstad, p.43. [10] Image from Starvin Artist, History of Architecture 2, Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/pin/251779435388066516/> [accessed 8 March 2017] [11] Image from Neonian Baptistery, Ravenna, Sacred Destinations http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/ravenna-battistero-neoniano> [accessed 8 March 2017] [12] Image from The Vision of Prophet Ezekiel, Macedonian Heritage http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/en/img_C235a.html> [accessed 8 March 2017] [13] Fikret Yegà ¼l, p.4. [14] Douglas Biow, The Culture of Cleanliness in Renaissance Italy (London: Cornell University Press, 2006), p.4. [15] Fikret Yegà ¼l, Baths and Bathing in Classical Antiquity (New York: Architectural History Foundation, 1995), p.5. [16] Dio Cassius, Roman History (trans. Cary Earnest), 48, 51 ff. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/cassius_dio/home.html> [accessed 8 March 2017] Fikret Yegà ¼l, p.4. [17] Vitruvius (trans Morris Hicky Morgan), 8, 3, 4. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0073:book%3D8:chapter%3D3:section%3D4> [accessed 8 March 2017] [18] Barsanuphius, 336 (ed. S. N. Schoinas, Volos, 1960); A.H.M. Jones, LRE, II, 977; III, 328. [19] Fikret Yegà ¼l, P.317.

John Steinbecks East of Eden - Caleb Trask and the Message of Persever

Caleb Trask and the Message of Perseverance in East of Eden      Ã‚   Caleb Trask was a man with many faults and shortcomings. Yet, Caleb was also a man who had a deep longing to be perfect and pleasing to his family, a man who craved his father's attention, and a man with a better heart than any other character in the book. In his novel, East of Eden, John Steinbeck uses the character of Caleb Trask to convey the important message of hope and perseverance.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When I first read East of Eden, nothing about Cal Trask's personality or his mannerisms made him likable. He was introverted, cold, and hard.   I could not help but sense the story of Cain and Able being played out in a modern day version between him and his twin brother.   Although Cal and his brother Aron were twins, distinct differences existed between the two boys.   Aron was a natural spot of sunshine, illuminating his surroundings wherever he went.   He was a curly topped child who was adamantly attached to his rabbits.   Cal was the opposite of his brother, quiet and serious; he was looking forward to farming a small patch of land that his father was going to give him.   Yet there existed an even greater difference between Cal and his angelic brother.   Cal had a foreboding sense of anger and evil about him that was completely foreign to Aron.   Cal takes pleasure in making his brother cry, and in causing a little girl to urinate in her pants b y frightening her so.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It becomes apparent, though, that Cal struggles with his darkness and wishes passionately to be rid of his meanness.   He doesn't like the way he is, but at the same time he can't change himself, either. From my first introduction of the two brothers, I was taken with Cal.   He wa... ... 1989. JOHN STEINBECK(1902-1968).   San Jose State University.   17 Jan. 2001.   . Levant, Howard.   The Novels of John Steinbeck: a Critical Study.   Columbia: U of Missouri Press, 1974. Murray, Robert Davis, ed.   Steinbeck.   Englewood: Prentice-Hall, 1972. National Steinbeck Center.   Salinas, CA.   17 Jan. 2001.   . Steinbeck Country.   San Jose State University.   17 Jan. 2001.   . Trosow, Esther. John Steinbeck's Pacific Grove.   17 Jan. 2001.   . Trosow, Esther.   John Steinbeck's Biography.   17 Jan. 2001.  Ã‚  Ã‚   . Valjean, Nelson.   John Steinbeck: The Errant Knight.   San Francisco:   Chronicle Books, 1975.

Global Financial Crisis Essay

The current global financial crisis which became prominently visible during September of 2008 is considered by most economists and world leaders the worst kind since the Great Depression. It is equated with the failure in conservatorship of the many financial institutions based in the United States of America. The US is considered the most powerful and the wealthiest nation or country in the whole world that every change that occurs can affect the current status of different countries. The failures committed by the US financial firms have evolved into global crisis affecting the financial stability of different continents like Europe and Asia. In Europe, bank failures and decline in various stock indexes are experienced. Also a large reduction in market values of equities and commodities in the world market occurred. Around the world, the United States of America is very influential and is the most prominent country in the world. One proof of this is the currently finished presidential election of 2008. Each and every nation in the world had their bets on who is going to attain victory between the two candidates running for office. The whole world is not taking their eyes of on who will win between John McCain, a white candidate and Barrack Obama, a black candidate. Not only the people of the US are excited in the incoming results but every person, mostly world leaders, are anticipating on the victory of the republican and the one who is craving for change. McCain is the presidential candidate that every person sees as someone who will continue the way current president George Bush rules the country while Obama, the other presidential candidate who claims of bringing change in the way the US should be governed. Every community supporting both presidential candidates becomes very vocal on who to put into office. But, the end of every fight comes and the black community and the rest of the United States have spoken putting someone who is craving for change in the position making Obama the first black president of the most influential nation worldwide. Obama attaining victory has inspired a lot of people, making it possible for every person to gain what they mostly wanted and in this moment, change is still possible or change can still be perceived. What is the connection between the current global financial crisis which is considered the major crisis after Great Depression and the just finished presidential elections? Well, the effect of every step that the country is taking affects other countries’ situation. On how the new president will govern the country and how he will offer help to other countries is what every nation is expecting from the most prominent nation in the world. While, the current global financial crisis have started in the failure of the United States which is now affecting the whole world is also very influential but in a very negative way for some other countries. Global financial crisis is mostly equated, or can be treated as economic crisis because the causes and the effects of the said crisis are mainly economic and mostly on the financial stability and the economic state of the country. Economic and financial stabilities can be the changes in prices of commodities, bank failures or unemployment. Some of the causes which lead to the global financial crisis are the following: (1) high commodity prices, (2) trade, (3) inflation, (4) unemployment, (5) return of volatility, and (6) economic governance. High commodity prices can be mostly seen in the purchase of food and oil. Food is very first in the list because it is the main need of every person. The family should have enough food to eat every day to maintain the health of every person. Food is the number one need of every person in order to live. Oil follows food in the list since it is the most exported and imported commodity in the world since most nations are not capable of producing oil while other nations are experiencing a surplus of oil. But the price of oil in the world market have reached $147 which led to the increase of oil prices in every country importing oil and the rise in other prime commodities has followed. Inflation is also present due to excess money supply around the world, speculation in commodities, agricultural failure, rise in the cost of imports and the rise in the demand for food and commodities. Unemployment is also considered one of the causes. The number of graduates or those people looking for jobs is growing largely each year while the number of jobs available does not increase as fast as the number of jobless people. It can be perceived that in the coming year, there will be 20 million people losing their jobs due to the financial crisis. These people who will lose jobs are mostly from the construction, real estate, financial services and auto sectors and industry. Economic governance is also important since it dictates how the economy of the country should be managed not only in time when the economy is stable but also when economic instability becomes unstoppable. How world leaders and economic advisors handle the situation is very important especially in the US because whatever decision they make will not only be perceived by the nation but also of different and other nations around the world that are mostly dependent on the US economic state. The global financial crisis can result to recession, rise in unemployment rate and liquidity crisis. Just after the 2008 US presidential election, leaders of the United States admitted that the country is in recession. This means that the economy is not stable as well as the financial capability of the country. This is the worst that can happen to the most influential country in the world since most of the countries in the world are depending on the economic changes that will be happening in the US for economic changes in their countries to also occur. Another worst effect that can be expected if the crisis will not be stopped is the rise in the unemployment rate all over the world. Major companies will be experiencing problems in their balance sheets that may result to the company closing down or laying off a number of workers. The global financial crisis may result in the economy slowing down and jobs will surely be affected. In what way? Investors might be experiencing emotions in the presence of paper based losses and there will be a visible decline in wealth. The state of the investment can experience a bad state that will choose to either close down or be taken over y competitors. Major companies can also result in selling their shares of stock because of the liquidity crisis. In this moment, banks will not be willing to lend money to other banks to protect the money and assets that their investors and depositors have trusted them. It will be a big risk for banks to lend money to other banks since some banks are already experiencing bankruptcy. Another thing is that importing and exporting products from other countries will be costly that the exportation and importation rates can be slowed down. In the exporting country, the commodity prices will be experiencing a decline. The exportation process slowing down, there will be lower prices for goods and services. The presence of the major global financial crisis has forced policymakers to focus on the problem well and come up with reforms that will address the problem encountered due to the crisis. Some policymakers had come up with reforming the global financial system in order to address the problem. World leaders and economic advisors have already conducted meetings regarding the global financial crisis talking about possible steps to address the problem itself and the problems that rooted to from the major crisis. The global financial crisis may have dangerous consequences mainly to the urban and rural poor, the labor sector and women and other marginalized sector of the society. These sectors are the most vulnerable to the changes that will be brought by the crisis so the country must first focus on these sectors. Policies focusing and protecting these sectors must be implemented to avoid involuntary hunger and unemployment rate. Since these are expected to be the most affected by the crisis, the state should be able to implement policies regarding social protection of these sectors. Companies who are mostly managing and holding these sectors must consider the state of the workers before deciding to lay-off workers. The most possible way is to offer lower salary for the workers if some of them will not agree to being removed from the job. The lower the salary, the greater the possibility for the owners to pay all the workers and there will be no problems regarding formation of unions because of the removal of employees. The companies just need to talk it over to their employees before making a move because the laborers will be the most affected sector. Investors and depositors are starting to save money on their own than putting them on the banks since there are a number of banks experiencing difficulties in maintaining their balance sheets which can result to bankruptcy. Most of these investors and depositors are afraid to trust the banks to take care of their money due to the fact that when the crisis ill become bigger, they will have no money to spend on their basic needs. In this way, the state can talk to the central bank in lending money to banks that need most of the supplies of money to adhere to the customers’ needs and wants. Investors and depositors still have the rights to their investments. The state should also allocate budget for basic services. Long term plans are not possible at this very moment of crisis since as time passes by the number of people who might be experiencing difficulties due to the crisis is rising. The state should not focus on what can be done for the future but focus more on what can be done today to address the current issues brought about by the global financial crisis. Short-term goals are more advised right now since there is a need for a quick recovery for other people especially the ones belonging to the lower-income groups, they are the most affected anyway. Overseas workers have been laid-off because some companies are securing jobs for their own country men. Overseas workers should not just be removed from their work; even though they are not from the country they should be given the same right as every worker in the country has. Protection of these workers should also be implemented since most of them are taking jobs that the citizens of the country cannot take to get as jobs since most of them see the jobs very low. The global financial crisis might bring something unexpected to the country. As some economists have already perceived the rise in unemployment rate, liquidity crisis and recession might occur. Some may say that this is uncontrollable yet certain measures must be taken to address the problem at the present. Short time goals are the most advised at this moment. s

Change Of Chinese Theory Essays - Cinema Of China, Film Theory

Change Of Chinese Theory Essays - Cinema Of China, Film Theory Change Of Chinese Theory Western film theory is generally subdivided into classical theory and contemporary theory. Contemporary theory consists of a theoretical system, which employs psychoanalysis, ideological critique and feminism to interpret cinematic forms. It originated in the mid-sixties and flourished in the 1970s. It was first introduced to China in the early 1980s and brought in as a complete theoretical system a few years later. Peaking in the late 1980s, it should have taken up an important position in the development of China's film theory. Classical film theory had developed very slowly in China, and by the end of the 1970s it had acquired the following features: It was a theory about social politics, not about art or cinema, and frequently used as a tool in political struggle, directly serving the politics of the day. (Ke 66) Mikroulis 2 Its artistic theory was insipid, simple and ossified, consisting merely of theories about production transplanted from philosophical dogmas. China had been closed for a long time, and there had been little international exchange, borrowing or debate. Therefore, widespread assimilation of the scholarly achievements of foreign film theory had been impossible and numerous lacunae and defects existed.(Ke 66) Toward the end of the 1970s China chose reform and opening to the outside world. Major changes in film theory were inevitable in order to adapt to the needs of social reform and cinematic innovation and to enrich and improve theory itself. Importing foreign film theory and changing Chinese cinematic concepts were also inevitable. The adoption of any film theory by society is not random but socially and historically determined. A society invariably adopts theories suitable for social development independent of any individual's will. Mikroulis 3 As contemporary film theory was being given a cold reception, making up for what had been missed in classical theory proceeded on a grand scale and along the following lines: Establishing cinematic concepts by exploring the specificity of the cinema, making cinema an art form independent from others, and distinguishing film theory from general art theory to turn it into an independent field. Beginning to focus on cinematic forms of expression and artistic techniques in an attempt to break away from outdated methods centered on the Soviet montage theory, and beginning to use original forms to express fresh contents and feelings. Almost all these efforts to catch up on classical film theory provoked heated debates within the Chinese film world. There were both conflicts and compromises with the old theoretical system. Both sides attempted to devise an authoritative and socially accepted theory that would direct film production and criticism. In the absence of Mikroulis 4 common ground, struggles both open and covert broke out between the left and right. The gap between traditional Chinese film theory and classical foreign film theory was considerably narrowed as a result of these efforts to catch up. However, different social conditions mean that no Western theory can be brought in unchanged, and because of the speed of their introduction, the essence of many theories was not fully understood. Superficial understandings, out-of-context interpretations, misreading and even misrepresentations were unavoidable. Practice had yet to show whether these theories suited Chinese circumstances, and whether they could become a part of a dominant theory. But as the pace of China's reforms and opening to the world increased, classical Western theory found itself unable to satisfy the intellectual needs of China's film theorists. The film theorists were already casting their gaze toward the outside world again. In the summer of 1984, contemporary Western film theory entered China again, this time through the unusual Mikroulis 5 method of inviting American film scholars to Beijing to run a summer session on film theory. Although unprecedented anywhere in the world, such a method of disseminating contemporary film theory suited the organization of the Chinese cinema studies world. The two Chinese scholars responsible for this event were Cheng Jihua and Chen Mei. Cheng and Chen had been invited to give a course on Chinese films in 1983 by UCLA. It was well-received. In the course of extensive contacts with American scholars, they came to feel deeply that Chinese film theory was so narrow, ossified and monolithic that it precluded academic dialogue with foreign countries. A number of American film scholars also wished to see

3 Tips for Careful Writers

3 Tips for Careful Writers 3 Tips for Careful Writers 3 Tips for Careful Writers By Mark Nichol 1. Know the Rules This doesn’t mean to simply remember what you learned or what you think you learned five or fifty years ago. Careful writers continuously educate and reeducate themselves about grammar, syntax, usage, and style. In preparing to write my posts over the last few years, I have engaged in extensive research, consulting print and online authorities to confirm or correct my own understanding of what constitutes good writing. Confront your prejudices, and check your recall and understanding of the basics. Most important, don’t believe everything you think. 2. Be Open to New and Unusual Usage Language changes, and writers must change with it. This doesn’t mean that you should abandon your high standards and accept colloquial language; some contexts simply do not allow for a relaxation of the rules. But most forms of writing are flexible, and you should be, too. Adapt the language to the content, but consider also adapting the content to the language. 3. Verify When in doubt, look it up. When not in doubt, look it up. Don’t be content with spell-checking programs; check not only definitions of words, phrases and expressions but also their connotations. When discussing a person, place, or thing, don’t simply double-check the spelling and treatment of the term; reacquaint yourself with the person, place, or thing to confirm or correct your impression that the reference is appropriate for the content. (And check your facts.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Punctuating â€Å"So† at the Beginning of a SentenceHow Long Should a Paragraph Be?Predicate Complements

Ethical Issues in Information Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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

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