embracing the future with technology essays

embracing the future with technology essays Has technology opened a Pandora's box of social alienation, or alternatively, is it bringing humans into a new era of prosperity and well being? n the modern world technology is all around. Automobiles, computers, nuclear power, spacecraft, and X-ray cameras are all examples of technological advances. Technology may be defined as the process by which human beings fashion tools and machines to change, manipulate, and control their environment. The increasing pace of technological change in the 20th century makes it difficult to place recent developments into perspective. What new branches of science lay before us? Will new-age pseudo science or religious trappings keep us from opening our eyes to the facts of the world around us? Have the humanities been discarded for the complexities of electronics? Is our culture capable of embracing a technically advanced future? The most critical influence of technology in tomorrow's society lies in the social and cultural realms. There exists a diverse body of opinion on the possible ability of this technology to enhance democracy. One school of thought believes technology will usher in a new era of democracy, bringing about easy exchange of dialogue between different groups within society. The opposing school of thought is of a future in which this information technology will be controlled by big businesses that will provide opportunities for surveillance and domination. A recent example of the latter is the windows 2000 program that is designed to replace Windows 97. Here a user's activity on the Internet can be readily tracked by an invisible code that enables Microsoft to sell this information to the highest bidder. People have always wondered how life originated and how so many different kinds of plants and animals arose. Stories of a supernatural creation of life developed among many peoples. The Bible, for example, tells of God's creation of ...

Selected Quotes From Entertainer Madonna

Selected Quotes From Entertainer Madonna Much-acclaimed and controversial Madonna has lived a public life deliberately outrageous, and her words reinforce and further define her public image. Madonna has also spoken out on how she relates family and a private life to her carefully-crafted public image. Selected Madonna Quotations I am rich and famous. I have a talented and gorgeous husband and two beautiful children. I could go on. To be brave is to love someone unconditionally, without expecting anything in return. To just give. That takes courage; because we dont want to fall on our faces or leave ourselves open to hurt Never forget to dream. A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. Thats why they dont get what they want. Im tough, Im ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay. Sometimes you have to be a bitch to get things done. I became an overachiever to get approval from the world. I wont be happy till Im as famous as God. I always thought I should be treated like a star. The fact of the matter is that you can use your beauty and use your charm and be flirtatious, and you can get people interested in your beauty. But you cannot maintain that. In the end, talent is the only thing. My work is the only thing thats going to change any minds. I love horses. I think I may have been one of Henry VIII’s knights in another life, riding through a great forest. Listen, everyone is entitled to my opinion. I dont care anymore if people dress like me, now I want them to think like me. If I was a girl again, I would like to be like my fans, I would like to be like Madonna. Better to live one year as a tiger, then a hundred as sheep. I never wish I had a different life. I am lucky to be in the position of power that I am in and to be intelligent. Being blonde is definitely a different state of mind. I cant really put my finger on it, but the artifice of being blonde has some incredible sort of sexual connotation. Men really respond to it. I love blonde hair but it really does something different to you. I feel more grounded when I have dark hair, and I feel more ethereal when I have light hair. Its unexplainable. I also feel more Italian when my hair is dark. There are moments when I cant believe Im as old as I am. But I feel better physically than I did 10 years ago. I dont think, Oh God, Im missing something. I have the most perfect belly button. When I stick my fingers in it, I feel a nerve in the center of my body shoot up my spine. Ive always wanted to be taller. I feel like a shrimp, but thats the way it goes. Im five-foot four-and-a-half-inches. Thats actually average. Everything about me is average. Everythings normal, in the books. Its the things inside me that make me not average. Its not my nature to just kick back. I think passive beauties have their place in the world. Its hard for me to relate to that. People think they will wake up one day and Ill be gone. But Im never going away. I have the same goal Ive had ever since I was a girl. I want to rule the world. I sometimes think I was born to live up to my name. How could I be anything else but what I am having been named Madonna? I would either have ended up a nun or this. To me, the whole process of being a brush stroke in someone elses painting is a little difficult. Poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of another. I stand for freedom of expression, doing what you believe in, and going after your dreams. When Im hungry, I eat. When Im thirsty, I drink. When I feel like saying something, I say it. That we are responsible for our own fate, we reap what we sow, we get what we give, we pull in what we put out. I know these things for sure. Id like to think I am taking people on a journey; I am not just entertaining people, but giving them something to think about when they leave. I am my own experiment. I am my own work of art. I try to have thick skin, but every once in a while I read something that someone says about me, and its so slanderous and moralistic and it has nothing to do with my music. I want to be like Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, and John Lennon... but I want to stay alive. Id love to be a memorable figure in the history of entertainment in some sexual, comic, tragic way. Id like to leave the impression that Marilyn Monroe did, to be able to arouse so many different feelings in people. I think the ultimate challenge is to have some kind of style and grace, even though you havent got money, or standing in society, or formal education. I had a very middle, lower-middle class sort of upbringing, but I identify with people whove had, at some point in their lives to struggle to survive. It adds another color to your character. I think you can be defiant and rebellious and still be strong and positive. Be strong, believe in freedom and in God, love yourself, understand your sexuality, have a sense of humor, masturbate, dont judge people by their religion, color or sexual habits, love life, and your family. I laugh at myself. I dont take myself completely seriously. I think thats another quality that people have to hold on to... you have to laugh, especially at yourself. I do it in most of the things I do, and most of the videos that I make and most of my performances. Even in my concerts there are so many moments when I just stood still and laughed at myself. In everyday life I am quiet and reserved, not the housekeeper type but cool and relaxed. I dont get up in the morning wearing false eyelashes and I dont wear fancy underwear when Im cooking popcorn. Im a nice little ducky. Quotes About Lifestyle Everyone probably thinks that Im a raving nymphomaniac, that I have an insatiable sexual appetite, when the truth is Id rather read a book. I dont trust any man who hasnt kissed another man. I liked my body growing up and I wasnt ashamed of it. I liked boys and didnt feel inhibited by them. Maybe it comes from having brothers and sharing a bathroom. The boys got the wrong impression of me at high school. They mistook forwardness for promiscuity. When they dont get what they want, they turn on you. I went through this period when all the girls thought I was loose and the boys said I was a nymphomaniac. The first boy I ever slept with was my boyfriend and wed been going out a long time. About singer Prince: He reeks of lavender. It turned me on, actually. Because Ive taken my clothes off in public doesnt mean that Ive revealed every inch of my soul. Sometimes I look back at myself and remember things I used to say, or my hairstyle, and I cringe I hate polite conversation. I hate it when people stand around and go, Hi, how are you? I hate words that dont have any reason or meaning. Also I hate it when people smoke in elevators and closed in places. Its just so rude. You have to be patient. Im not. I miss New York. I still love how people talk to you on the street - just assault you and tell you what they think of your jacket. I know the aspect of my personality, being the vixen, the heartbreaker and the incredibly provocative girl is a very marketable image - but its not insincere. You just cant take it seriously. The worst thing about being famous? I think its what everybody says... the lack of privacy and the idea that youre not really allowed to make mistakes and everything that you do is viewed under a microscope. I think my biggest flaw is my insecurity. Im terribly insecure. Im plagued with insecurities 24/7. I have had many challenges in my life, including some very big ones when I was young and Ive learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way. I have seen life from just about every angle you can see it from. I was sacked from Dunkin Donuts for squirting the donuts jelly all over the customers. I wouldnt have turned out the way I was if I didnt have all those old-fashioned values to rebel against. Quotes About Gender and Race Not only does society suffer from racism and sexism but it also suffers from ageism. Once you reach a certain age youre not allowed to be adventurous, youre not allowed to be sexual. I mean, is there a rule? Are you supposed to just die? Im not a feminist, Im a humanist. Straight men need to be emasculated. Im sorry. They all need to be slapped around. Women have been kept down for too long. Every straight guy should have a mans tongue in his mouth at least once. Quotes About Family My father was very strong. I dont agree with a lot of the ways he brought me up. I dont agree with a lot of his values, but he did have a lot of integrity, and if he told us not to do something, he didnt do it either. Im anal retentive. Im a workaholic. I have insomnia. And Im a control freak. Thats why Im not married. Who could stand me? Im a very old-fashioned girl. Marriage is a great thing when its right. And I did celebrate it and embrace it, and I wanted the whole world to know that this was the man I loved more than anything. But theres a price to pay for that, which is something I realize now. Ever since I was in high school, when I was madly in love with someone, I was so proud of that person. I wanted the world to know that I loved him. But once you reveal it to the world, and youre in the public eye, you give it up, and its not your own anymore. I began to realize how important it is to hold on to privacy and keeping things to yourself as much as possible. Its like a runaway train afterwards. I could probably bring up a child as normal as I can live my life. I surround myself with people who dont treat me like a celebrity or a freak or whatever, and I would do the same with my child. Im not interested in being Wonder Woman in the delivery room. Give me drugs. My having a child is not for public consumption. Its not a career move. Its not a performance to be judged or rated. Nor is my role as a mother. Family is everything. Family comes first. Its not what I expected it to be, but nothing ever is. The last thing I want is to raise a brat. We could definitely go down the wrong road. I dont want Lola to have everything she wants. I want her to appreciate things, and not to be presumptuous. I want her to have manners and social graces. Ever since my daughter was born I feel the fleetingness of time. And I dont want to waste it on getting the perfect lip color. Lourdes really is the love of my life. I dont want to traipse around with nannies and tutors. I think its important for children to stay in one place, to socialize with other children. Obviously, my tastes and my priorities have changed, Just because Im a mother doesnt mean Im not still a rebel and that I dont want to go in the face of convention and challenge the system. I never wanted to think in a robotic way, and I dont want my children to think that way, either. I think parents should be constantly questioning society. Quotes About Faith With the crucifixes I was exorcising the extremes that my upbringing dwelt on. Putting them up on the wall and throwing darts at them. And the Boy Toy thing was a joke, a tag name given to me when I first arrived in New York because I flirted with the boys. All the graffiti artists wore their nicknames on their belt buckles. Catholicism is not a soothing religion. Its a painful religion. Were all gluttons for punishment. It is difficult to believe in a religion that places such a high premium on chastity and virginity. When I get down on my knees, it is not to pray. I would like to see the Pope wearing my T-shirt. I loved nuns when I was growing up. I thought they were beautiful. For several years I wanted to be a nun. I saw them as really pure, disciplined, above average people. They had these serene faces. Nuns are sexy. I think that life is a paradox and you have to embrace that in your work and your belief systems ... you cant be a literalist, and thats the trouble that people always find themselves in. Thats why people always hit a wall with any of my stuff, because you cant take it literally. Quotes About Madonna Britney Spears I would really, really, really like to be a legend like Madonna. Madonna knows what to do next, and when shes performing, the audience is just in awe of her. I performed at Mom and Dads party when I was four. Oh my gosh, I was singing a Madonna song and I peed myself. Cher No one knows how to work this business like she does. Susan Sarandon The history of women in popular music can, pretty much, be divided into before and after Madonna. Rosie ODonnell She is no symbol. She is human. More brilliant than most. The real deal. Miley Cyrus Madonna always reinvents herself, and thats what I want to do. Whatever comes my way that sounds good, thats what I want to do. Whether its designing clothes or photography or whatever. Gwyneth Paltrow Shes like an older sister. Everything I have gone through, she went through ten times worse and ten times longer. She gives me good advice about how to say no and take care of myself. Tori Amos Madonna’s sound was made for the dance floor when she epitomized the New York club kid; it got a bit closer to rock when she started presenting herself that way, connected with RB when her image became softer again, went New Age techno when she got into spirituality, and so on. Fashion has become a part of the musical exploration and experience. Sean Penn She was in the process of becoming the biggest star in the world. I just wanted to make my films and hide. I was an angry young man. I had a lot of demons and dont really know who couldve lived with me at the time. I was just as badly behaved as her, so I cant point the finger of blame. Sarah Jessica Parker Madonnas probably the most disciplined person around and so I can only pale in comparison. Its just too impressive. Michael Moore If we had a royal system shed be the queen of Michigan and all the Michiganders would bow down to her, and Im not kidding. Shes a person with a good heart; she does a lot of good for other people. I really admire her. Beyonce It all works for Madonna. I mean, I couldn’t do a lot of the things she does, but it works for her.

Ancient culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ancient culture - Essay Example Also, the civilizations were laddered and followed through a hierarchy. The kings called for extending their territories, hence, subsequently formed a territorial organization that guaranteed their ascendancy and supremacy. The early civilizations have expanded to the following civilizations with the emergence of Greece that greatly influenced the Roman Empire that survived for roughly 1,300 years. [Last Name] 2 recovered are the Warka Vase, the Mycenae and the Capitoline Wolf. â€Å"The Warka Vase or alternatively called as Uruk Vase, is a carved alabaster stone vessel found in the temple complex of the Sumerian goddess Inanna.† It is deemed to be one of the oldest extant works that was believed to have predominantly existed from 3,200 to 3000 BC. It was carved with symbolical details like some cultivated grains, oxen and nude males that implied thievery and renewal. The second artwork is the Mycenae which is an archaeological spot in Greece. It is located about 90 km south west and is bounded by two Greek cities: Argos in the south and Corinth which is 48 km towards the north. Its name, Mycenae, was actually a re-enacted name for its ancient name Mukanai. Albeit it was erected by the people of Greece, its name was taken from some pre-Greek settlers. The third and last artwork is the Capitoline Wolf. It is one of the most symbolical artworks during the prehistoric time s. â€Å"It is a 5th century BC Etruscan statue that is made of bronze cast in the lower Tiber valley.† On it is a female wolf â€Å"suckling a pair of human twin boys, representing the legendary founders of the city of Rome.† All three artworks were identical in motive, that is, essentially symbolical in nature that depicts supreme powers as well as exploitation and an accompanying reformation on the ancient civilizations. Nevertheless, unlike the Warka Vase and the Capitoline Wolf, the second

Comparing and Contarasting the Governments of India and Ireland Research Paper

Comparing and Contarasting the Governments of India and Ireland - Research Paper Example Ireland Like India, Republic of Ireland is a sovereign democratic state with a parliamentary form of government. The Cabinet or Executive is known as the government of the Republic of Ireland exercising executive authority in terms of the Irish constitution. The republic is also a member of the European Union. The cabinet or government of the Ireland is seated in its capital city Dublin. 2. Internal structures There are three branches of the government in both India and Ireland, the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. India The constitution provides for a federal government structure with President as the head of the executive of the union. The legislative assembly is the parliament and is the supreme governing body. According to the constitution of India adopted on 26th November 1949, the union parliament consists of a lower and an upper house called the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), respectively. The upper house is comprised of 2 50 elected members, whereas the lower house comprises a total of 550 elected members. The constitution also provides for a Council of Ministers with the prime minister as its head. The president is bound to exercise powers in accordance with the advice of the prime minister. Thus, the executive power is vested in the Council of Ministers headed by a prime minister. ... The Council of ministers along with chief minister as its head is responsible to the state legislative assembly. The seven union territories are administered centrally. Judicial system in India functions independently. The judicial branch of Indian government has a unitary system. The structure of judiciary consists of Supreme Court of India at federal level, High courts of India at the level of the state, and district and session courts in all districts within a state. The Supreme Court comprises 30 associate judges headed by a Chief Justice. These associate judges are appointed by the president on advice of the chief justice of India. The superior courts in India have the power to review laws of state not in conformity with the constitution and invalidate them. The government employs civil servants who are responsible for the implementation of government decisions. Ireland The parliament of the Ireland is called the Oireachtas. Like the Indian parliament, Oireachtas is a bicameral parliament comprised of a lower and an upper house known as the Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann, respectively. There are 60 members in the upper house and 166 in the lower house. According to the constitution of republic of Ireland, the cabinet must be larger than 7 and smaller than 15 members. Prime minister, called Taoiseach is head of the government who is nominated by the lower house and formally appointed by the president. There is also a deputy prime minister called Tanaiste appointed from members of the government by the prime minister. According to the constitution, only two members can be appointed from the upper house, and Taoiseach, Tanaiste and Minister for Finance must be appointed from the lower house. Other members of the government are called

An inspector calls Essay Example for Free

An inspector calls Essay How does Priestley use the Inspector to create a sense of impending doom for the Birling family in act one of An Inspector calls? There are several themes portrayed by certain characters including responsibility, community, guilt, egocentricity and denial. They are key ideas in Priestleys play An Inspector calls, and contribute to the general sense of imminent trouble. There is a great deal of contrast with regards to social events and historical context between the time the play is set in, 1912 Pre World Wars, and the first staging of the place, post World war 2, 1945-46 (disputed). This difference is what fuels many ironic statements throughout Act one, mainly by Mr Birling (one example of this is his speech on page 4). The class Hierarchy also plays an important part in the play, as the Birlings are upper-middle class, and Act One conveys this impression of the stereotypes of class very well. The Impact of the staging suggests a money-orientated posh lifestyle surrounding the family, which the audience would generally disapprove of because of the economic slump and more lower classes present post World War 2. The Birlings are an almost aristocratic family and they look down on any one who is below them in the social hierarchy. Priestley uses the inspector as a key dramatic device and moral conscience to teach the Birlings moral values and the themes discussed earlier. There are many emotive metaphors one can link to the idea of war in the play, such as fire blood and anguish. Furthermore Priestley may have written this detective thriller play set in Edwardian England in an industrial city to convey the message Learn from your mistakes so it doesnt happen again referring to the world wars. Who is the inspector? No real person of interest, more something like a personified bad conscience of guilt and internal voice. The play opens with an intimate celebration of Gerald and Sheilas engagement. Priestley presents the audience with a calm, family and celebratory mood at the beginning of Act Ones first scene. This is clearly shown in the stage directions the lighting should be pink and intimate. The adjective intimate may suggest a mood of relaxation, cosiness and self-involvement. This contrasts to the set as being described as not cosy and homelike implying something is out of place in the atmosphere, which may suggest presage to looming mess and confusion. It also contributes to the foreshadowing of the inspectors entrance (as one would expect contrast later in a play) when the lighting is described as brighter and harder. The comparative adjectives brighter and harder both suggest the mood turns focused and may imply an intensification of the already tense atmosphere caused by the dramatic effect of the inspectors entrance. Moreover this use of lighting hints at the foreshadowing of the trouble that the Birlings will come to turns with. Priestley presents Mr Birling in a very arrogant and negative light to the viewers. An example of this is Mr Birlings toast on page 4, when he talks about his view regarding the engagement of his daughter. Perhaps we may look forward to a time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing For lower costs and higher prices. This shows Mr Birlings possible key objective and may suggest Mr Birling is materialistic, as that is how he finished his speech, pressing more emphasis on money and profit. This is an example of his totalitarian obsession with money, and is likely what caused the idea of Eva Smiths loss of job, and eventual death, exposed by the inspector. In addition, the focus on reputation and honour are key factors in presenting Mr Birling as a corrupt, self-obsessed, and acquisitive businessman, obsessed with his image. I gather there is a very good chance of a knighthood so dont get into police court or start a scandal his suggestion of a knighthood may indicate his need of representation within his social class; as a righteous citizen, showing the Birlings have high hopes within their society. Mr Birling appears to use his social status to acquire respect and nobility from Gerald. It is also ironic that he asks his family not to get into police court or start a scandal since that is exactly what appears happens in the play, and this can ironically foreshadow the future events. His obsession in keeping his image, and his attitude toward lower classes is what makes him reluctant to disclose details concerning and regarding his company, Birlings and Company, to the inspector. This defensive attitude, this wall is what he inspector expects and retaliates against. By doing so he makes the family feel uncomfortable as if there is something worse to be revealed, adding to the sense imminent disaster in this Act. Furthermore, Mr Birlings strict view on life is another probable cause for the unfolding of the events. The fact that Mr Birling says that a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own and- shows his self-obsessed and uncaring side, which makes the audience feel uneasy. At this point, at the pinnacle and point of Mr Birlings speech, the doorbell sharply rings interrupting him. This has a substantial dramatic impact as Mr Birling was likely to say family and, ironically, the inspectors supposed aim is to teach him and his family community responsibly, as if the inspector wants to say community by ringing the doorbell, and, by using hindsight, one may assume this foreshadows the inspectors intentions. Also, the inspectors entrance is considerably significant, as it adjusts the mood and alters the atmosphere. His entrance invokes a sense of apprehension which is built on later on in the play, starting the sense of impending doom of the inspectors interrogation because no one would expect anyone to come to the house this late, unless it concerned something very important, urgent or a combination of the two. His first words are Mr Birling? simply inquiring to if it is Mr Birling he is talking to. This may imply the inspector wants to cut to the chase and start the inquiry, to the annoyance of Mr Birling, as he wants to butter him up and get it over with. It may also show that the main reason the inspector is here is Mr Birling, and he may directly implicate Mr Birling just by asking a simple question, even though we know that is not true later on in the Act, the audience is still unaware. This adds to the uneasy, nervous atmosphere caused by his entrance. The stage directions clearly intensifies the mentality and superiority of the Inspector, as he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity, and purposefulness. The sense of anxiety, interest and uneasiness rises at the sudden impact of a police inspectors entrance, just spelling trouble, and the fact that it is late at night implies deep trouble for the Birlings and Gerald. Moreover, the inspector makes the family ask him questions rather than the other way around (as one might expect with an inspector, as that is his job, to ask questions) and he intentionally withholds details and information from the family to use their curiosity to implicate themselves. For example when Eric tries to get out of the interrogation as he says he feels uneasy, the Inspector tells him he should stay there, and waits for Eric to ask Why should I? and replies with It might be less trouble. If you turn in, you might have to turn out again soon. This answer could simply state the impracticality of Eric turning in yet his answer may also be ironic because he will implicate Eric in a number of ways, revealing Eric is in more trouble than he previously thought, possibly because he stayed. This may be because the inspector is trying to teach them a lesson, and he does so by Inspecting the family and he gathers and uses the information he derives from the reactions of the characters, in this case Eric. By telling Eric to stay he makes not only the characters but also the audience feel uncomfortable, and this further builds on the apprehension and mystery surrounding the inspector, adding to the sense of impending doom in the Act. Moreover, Mr Birling is trying to get the interrogation over with and refuses to believe he is involved. For example, Mr Birlings reaction when he realises hes not the only one involved, but also his family, is quite significant. He said If id known that earlier, I wouldnt have called you officious and talked about reporting you and may imply that Mr Birling is relieved that he isnt involved, but the fact that its any better for him that his family is involved, is quite disconcerting for the audience because it shows he is more self-involved and egocentric, as he cares more about himself than his wife and children. The statement may also imply that, in the point of view of Mr Birling, his temper got out of hand when he talked about calling him officious, and he now regrets what he said either because he was just worried about himself and looked for an excuse to show his remorse to show himself in a more positive light, or because he feels he needs to protect his family, and that his calling the inspector officious he may have offended him and this could negatively change the inspectors view of the family, which may lead the inspector do or act unsympathetically towards them, and by explaining his actions he could avoid impending trouble. In addition, Priestley presents Sheila as being part of the audience. He does this by using her as a dramatic device, as the inspector. But in contrast to the use of the inspector as a dramatic device to be the voice of moral value, Sheila may be used to represent the ear, or audience to absorb Priestleys lessons. For example the inspector talks about Eva Smith not exactly going on the streets, Sheila enters, as if her entrance represented the audiences curiosity toward Eva. Sheila immediately inquires whats this about streets? Leading into her involvement in the supposed suicide of the character Eva Smith by making her ask the questions and him using emotive language. Finally he shows a photograph, which may or may not be the character Eva Smith, to Sheila and she instantly exposed herself with the person on the photographs involvement. The inspector feeds on this and uses it to implicate her further. This gives an impression of the inspectors superior knowledge To the Birlings and builds on the sense of impending doom in the Act. Adding to that, the family, especially Sheila, feel there is no point in lying because the inspector knows the truth. The family, and event he audience, might wander why the inspector asks the questions if he already knows the answers? The answer to that may simply be he wants to find out he credibility and honesty of the family but I think its deeper than that. It could be Priestleys intention of teaching audience, through the play, moral responsibilities and values by showing the social flaws at the time. An example of this is the discussion of the inspector between Gerald and Sheila at the end of Act 1 revealing Geralds connection with Eva Smith (Daisy Renton) and Sheilas reluctance to lie to the inspector. This shows how deep the dramatic impact of the inspector really is, as was foreshadowed earlier in the Act concluded by the entrance of the inspector right before the curtain falls leaving a dramatic cliff-hanger at the fall of the curtain. Finally, Priestley was a soldier in the First World War, experienced many of the harsh realities of war; which may have motivated him to write this play. He wanted to express his beliefs through a character. So he created the inspector as his image to convey his scepticism and criticism toward anti-socialist upper-class arrogance represented by the Birlings. Priestleys use of the inspector as a dramatic device and Sheilas representation of the audience promoted and got across his views throughout the play and especially in Act One. He created the sense of doom for the Birlings to show what happens to such attitudes represented by the family, because as we know, the war would have had a devastating impact on them. The mood of the act started out intimate and casual and slowly evolved to tense and disquieting because of the inspectors interrogation and even by him simply being there. What J. B. Priestley wanted to tell the audience through the play and through the inspector was One Eva Smith has gone but there are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smith still left with us We dont live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. I didnt much like the play, but I did enjoy the subtleties and casual metaphors that made me think. To conclude, I think it is a piece of literature that was significant at the time, though I think a different piece which wouldve evoked more interest wouldve been a better choice to analyze. I hope you enjoyed reading it more than Ive enjoyed writing it.

Use of Geographic Data in Natural Disasters Essay -- Natural Disaster

Missing Figures The use of geographic data in the field of preventing and mitigating natural disasters remains a pioneering activity. However the circulation of the technology is still hindered by many issues such as the difficulty in obtaining the appropriate raw data, the lack of effective graphical user interfaces, the intricacy of predictive models and the expense of digitisation (Carrara et al., 1999). Natural disasters are becoming more frequent around the world, as seen in figure 1, which shows that in 1975 there were approximately 50 disasters reported, compared to approximately 400 being reported in 2010. They are a damaging phenomenon upon the Earth’s citizens and the physical environment, but with the use of geographic data, natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, cyclone s and landslides can be monitored and mapped to ensure a successful disaster response strategy can be put in place to ensure we can protect people and the environment as much as possible. The success of these strategies depends upon access to real-time spatial information that can be used effectively by the Geomatics Industry, governments, relief agencies among others to provide a quick response to the disaster areas (Herold et al., 2005). Kunkel et al. (1999) suggest that there is strong scientific evidence of an increase in extreme precipitation events in particular regions, whilst water shortages are becoming more apparent in other regions, which indicates that weather driven natural disasters will surely become more frequent, resulting in the use of Geogr... ...97) Managing the natural disasters from space technology inputs. Acta Astronautica, 40. Kunkel, K.E., Easterling, D.R., Andsager, K. (1999) Long-Term Trends in Extreme Precipitation Events over the Conterminous United States and Canada. J. Climate, 12. Li, Q. and Li, D. (1999) Proceedings of the International Symposium on Digital Earth Science Press. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. National Research Council (1995) The global positioning system: a shared national asset : recommendations for technical improvements and enhancements. National Academy of Public Administration Raheja, N., Ojha, R. and Mallik, S. (Undated) GIS Development: Role of Internet-based GIS in effective natural disaster management. [Online] Available from: http://www.gisdevelopment.net/technology/gis/techgi0030pf.htm

Qualitative Versus Quantitative

Qualitative Versus Quantitative Research There has been a large amount of complex discussion and argument surrounding the topic of research methodology and the theory of how studies should push forward. Majority of this debate has centered on the issue of qualitative versus quantitative study. Different methods become popular at different social, political, historical and cultural times in our development, and, both methods have their strengths and weaknesses. The researcher and/or the culture of the organization is a key factor in preferred choice of methods.Data can be quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative data answer questions like â€Å"how many? † or â€Å"how frequently†, and are measured/reported on a numerical scale, permitting categorization of pooled data, numerical reporting, statistical analysis and mathematical modeling. Qualitative data are non-numerical. Qualitative research seeks to analyze verbal discourse through interviews, written documents, or p articipatory field observations. This paper will break down both qualitative and quantitative methods individually to explain each one in depth.Also a chart will be included to understand and see the features of each side by side. In conclusion of the paper will be an example of both methods being used to understand how women felt about shopping at QuickStop stores and why. As researchers Ulin, Robinson, and Tolley (2006) have explained, three most common qualitative methods are â€Å"participant observation, in-depth interviews, and focus groups† (p. 2. * Participant observation is appropriate for collecting data on naturally occurring behaviors in their usual contexts. In –depth interviews are optimal for collecting data on individuals’ personal histories, perspectives, and experiences, particularly when sensitive topics are being explored. * Focus groups are effective in eliciting data on the cultural norms of a group and in generating broad overviews of issu es of concern to the cultural groups or subgroups represented. Qualitative methods are typically more flexible and allow more interaction between the researcher and the study participant.For example, qualitative methods, ask mostly â€Å"open-ended† questions that are not necessarily worded in exactly the same way with each participant. In regards to open-ended questions, participants are free to respond in their own words rather than simply â€Å"yes† or â€Å"no. † Also in qualitative methods, the relationship between the researcher and the participant is often less formal than in quantitative research. Participants have the opportunity to respond more elaborately and in greater detail than is typically the case with quantitative methods.Open-ended questions have the ability to provide responses that are: * Meaningful and culturally salient to the participant * Unanticipated by the researcher * Rich and explanatory in nature The three most common sampling meth ods in qualitative research: purposive sampling, quota sampling, and snowball sampling. Purposive sampling, one of the most common sampling strategies, groups participants according to preselected criteria relevant to a particular research question. In quota sampling, while designing the study how many people with characteristics to include as participants.The criteria used is to focus on people that we think would be most likely to experience, know about, or have insights into the research topic. A third type of sampling, snowballing also known as chain referral sampling. In this method, participants with whom contact has already been made use their social networks to refer the researcher to other people who could potentially participate in or contribute to the study. According to Carroll (2010), â€Å"qualitative studies frequently use primary data (e. g. interviews), others involve analysis of media reports and other secondary data sources. For example, community attitudes about road safety might be explored through interviews (primary data) or by analyzing newspaper articles on rights of bicyclists (secondary data). † (pg. 3480). Quantitative research can be defined as a means for testing objective theories by examing the relationship among variables. The variables will then be measured, typically on instruments, so that numbered data can be analyzed using statistical procedures.According to Creswell (2008), â€Å"the final written report has a set structure consisting of introduction, literature and theory, methods, results, and discussion† (p. 4). You measure variables on a sample of subjects, which can be tissues, cells, animals, or humans. You then express the relationship between variable using effect statistics, such as correlations, relative frequencies, or differences between means. Features of Qualitative & Quantitative Research Qualitative| Quantitative| The aim is complete, detailed description. The aim is to classify features, cou nt them, and construct statistical models in an attempt to explain what is observed. | Researcher may only know roughly in advance what he/she is looking for. | Researcher knows clearly in advance what he/she is looking for. | Recommended during earlier phases of research projects. | Recommended during latter phases of research projects. | The design emerges as the study unfolds. | All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is collected. | Researcher is the data gathering instrument. Researcher uses tools, such as questionnaires or equipment to collect numerical data. | Data is in the form of words, pictures or objects. | Data is in the form of numbers and statistics. | Subjective-individuals interpretation of events is important, e. g. , uses participant observation, in-depth interviews etc. | Objective seeks precise measurement & analysis of target concepts, e. g. , uses surveys, questionnaires etc. | Qualitative data is more ‘rich’, time consuming, a nd less able to be generalized. | Quantitative data is more efficient, able to test hypotheses, but may miss contextual detail. Researcher tends to become subjectively immersed in the subject matter. | Researcher tends to remain objectively separated from the subject matter. | (the two quotes are from Miles & Huberman (1994, p. 40). Qualitative Data Analysis) An example with qualitative and quantitative research project was designed to understand how women felt about shopping at QuickStop stores and why. This research project was completed by Chris Hawkes, a Senior Market Researcher at MarketResearch101. At some point a staff member realized that QuickStop seemed to be patronized by many more men than women.About two dozen current or potential female customers were paid to come into a research facility to discuss the use of convenience stores in general, and later in the interviews the discussion was directed specifically to QuickStop convenience stores, in particular. Studies showe d that women viewed the convenience stores to be primarily for men, with little or no consideration for women. The bathrooms were believed to be the dirtiest that could be found in the city. It was also viewed as the kind of place for a man to buy gas, and to buy a six-pack of cheap beer and cigarettes.Once the management team had an understanding of what issues they faced they needed to use quantitative research to get numbers. For the quantitative research they conducted 250 telephone interviews with a combination of female respondents. Over 76% of all female QuickStop customers were women under 30 years old, without children. The good news is 64% who did not use QuickStop said that if these stores were to update their color schemes, clean up their bathrooms and update their health and feminine products they would be willing to try QuickStop again.In general when conducting two phases of research it’s most often the case that the qualitative research phases is conducted fir st as a â€Å"lead-in†. Qualitative research tends to help the management team understand the underlying issues, and then the second phase (quantitative in this case) helps to understand how pervasive these feelings/attitudes are among a certain target audience. References Carroll, Linda (2010). Levels of Reconstruction as complementarity in Mixed Methods Research: A Social Theory-Based Conceptual Framework for Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Research.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. (p. 3480). Creswell, John (2008). Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Research Design, Third Edition. (p. 4). Hawkes, Chris (2011). Retrieved from http://www. streetdirectory. com/travel_guide. Miles & Huberman (1994). Qualitative Data Analysis. Retrieved from: http://www. gifted. uconn. edu/siegle/research/Qualitative/qualquan. htm Priscilla, Ulin. , Elizabeth, Robinson. , & Elizabeth, Tolley (2006). Qualitative Research methods: A Data Collector’s Field Guide. Qualitative Methods in Public Heatlh.

How atmosphere is created in Victorian ghost stories Essay

â€Å"Discuss and compare how atmosphere is created in three Victorian ghost stories† Atmosphere is created in Victorian ghost stories by using a few main factors- -Characters -figurative language -setting -themes -Era (period of time) The majority of Victorian ghost authors use these factors because they are best to create atmosphere in any story, i.e. for a theme you can use fear, and for a setting you can use an old abandoned mansion, a story can easily be set around this because the two factors fit together as the same genre. The first author that will be used as an example will be using as an example will be Charles Dickens, he was born in 1812, He had a marvellous photographic memory which helped him base some of his characters on people he had met earlier on in his life. The story I will be focusing on by dickens will be â€Å"THE SIGNALMAN†, this story is a good choice because its atmosphere is built up as soon as you read the story, â€Å"THE SIGNALMAN† is being narrated by the gentleman in the story, he is a means for creating atmosphere because he puts in a first person perspective, he gives opinion and tells you what the scenery looks like, characters are almost a part of the setting, they create a mood, for example the protagonist in the story spends most of his time learning from the signalman- â€Å"how I ought to act, having become the recipient of this disclosure? I had proved the man to be intelligent, vigilant, painstaking, and exact†, at first the protagonist sees the signalman to be a solitary, ghost of a man, but getting to know him, he sees him as a man waiting for something to come (this is now figurative language), what the author is trying to tell you is that he is not waiting to change the train track, but is waiting for the warning (or signal) towards his death. One of the themes is either death or hell, for example, in the start the signalman was shocked when the narrator yells at him â€Å"halloa, below there†, the signalman thinks that the protagonist is a ghost (the signal man is waiting for death). A quote that can support the theme of hell is: â€Å"just then there came a vague vibration of the earth and air, quickly changed into a violent pulsation and an oncoming rush that caused me to start back†, this shows that this character is not use to trains (most likely because of the era (period of time) , in which trains are relatively new and many people are scared of them), he may find them monstrous, figuratively, the ground quivering and the protagonist going down into the trench may possibly mean the earth is opening, and he is descending into hell. The era (period of time) also helps with the building of the atmosphere for the reason that the story is set around trains, and in Victorian times the general public were scared of trains which would add to the eeriness of the account being told. The author will use characters as a tool to build atmosphere by explaining what he or she looks like, how they act and what they do, for example, â€Å"And drawing nearer to him, saw that he was a dark sallow man with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows†, the narrator is describing the signalman as a person who does not interact with others and as if he is already dead because of his pale skin, deep voice, and in another part of the story he is described as having â€Å"an infection of the mind†, adding to the theme of death. The setting in the signalman is dim and creepy, this is explained by the protagonist, â€Å"down in the deep trench, and mine was so high above him, so steeped in the angry sunset†, the trench described in this quote is intended to represent the protagonist on earth, looking down into his grave, it could be that the point of the story is to represent the protagonist’ death. The next Victorian ghost author that will be used is Abraham stoker (Bram stoker); he is best known as the creator of the fictional character Count Dracula. The story which will be used is â€Å"THE JUDGES HOUSE†. One of the themes in this story is fear, this is mainly created by using setting and characters, for example, the protagonist, Malcolm Malcolmson needs a place of solitude to do his scientific research and so he finds † an old shambling, heavy built house of Jacobean style , with heavy gables and windows, set higher than normal, customary houses† he finds the perfect house for his research, this is also the perfect house to build suspense, horror and the theme, fear. This particular story brings different eras(periods of time) to it because the house that malcolmson takes residency in has a history, as malcolmson asks to stay in the house to the landlady, she replies â€Å"not in the judges house!, she said, and grew pale as she spoke†¦ the abode of the judge who was held in great terror because of the harsh sentences and his hostility towards the prisoners at assizes†, this makes the plot, and in turn it creates a negative atmosphere towards the house. This quote can also explain how the characters create atmosphere by use of their language , another example of this would be † mercy on us†, said Ms. Witham â€Å"an old devil, and sitting on a chair by the fireside , take care sir, take care†, Ms. Witham the woman speaking, sounds as if she is nervous just talking about the judge. In this story a setting can also represent a character i.e. the rats are meant to represent the judge, because it keeps catching the attention of malcolmson, â€Å"he raised a book in his right hand and taking careful aim, flung it at the rat, it sprang aside like a missile, he took another book and repeated his action, and a third, until he had only one book left, the rat squeaked and seemed afraid, malcolmson more eager to strike, the book flew with a resounding blow†. The book that hit the rat was the bible, usually in any Victorian ghost story the protagonist will have to use a religious object to get rid of the villain, i.e. in Bram stokers â€Å"Dracula† the protagonist (van Helsing) uses a cross to fend Dracula. So the rat (the judge) will have to be scared of the bible. The rats are also meant to representing the judges evil spreading like a plague, and ruining everybody’s lives around it. The last author that will be used to answer the question is Herbert George wells (h.g wells) he was a Victorian sci-fi writer most famous for his novel â€Å"war of the worlds†. The story he wrote that will be used is the â€Å"THE RED ROOM†. This will give good examples of how atmosphere is created by using characters; in the beginning of the story there is a conversation between the protagonist and the pensioners, the pensioners help create atmosphere because they are all somehow crippled, for example, â€Å"its your own choosing†, said the man with the withered arm once more†¦ a second old man entered, more bent, more wrinkled, more aged than the first. The reason these characters are like this is because they keep having to lecture the protagonist about not going to the red room, he won’t listen because no one would like to believe two senile old pensioners over their own opinion. The setting of the red room is a slightly different to other ghost stories because it is less secluded (there are more characters in the key building). It seems bizarre that the antagonist would only appear when a character is alone, as if it is shy: â€Å"as I stood undecided, an invisible hand seemed to sweep out the two candles on the table, with a cry of terror I dashed to the alcove†. The example of era (period in time) that happens in the story is more of a thought than it being existent: â€Å"an older age when things spiritual were indeed to be feared, when common sense was uncommon, an age, when omens and witches were credible, and ghost beyond denying†. This creates an Atmosphere of wickedness because it reminds you of the period in which everything was religious (religion can get rid of evil) and the church led the public to be against witches, demons and the devil. In all three of the stories there will be a person(s) who has experienced or witnessed the horrors that have happened before, they create atmosphere by giving the story a history.` Conclusion: Atmosphere is created in Victorian ghost stories by using some of the factors said before -Era (period of time) -Theme -Characters -Setting These factors are HOW atmosphere is created in these three Victorian ghost stories because they are best to put what is needed for a ghost story in the plot: suspense, history, death and a mystery to be solved.

Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway was a writer who could capture the essence of American Literature. His unique writing style and his use of imagery allowed readers to get a clear picture of what was taking place in the story. Hemingways wording in his text could seem somewhat redundant at times, but it inevitably allowed the reader to get a sense of what the narrator was feeling at that given time in the story. His ability to attack the readers interest with a love story inside of a war story allows him to build on his unique writing philosophy. This unique writing philosophy is what separates Hemingway from other authors. In this passage in book two, Hemingway writes in first-person narration. Most of the passages that are in this book are written in this narration. This type of narration leads into the descriptive style of writing Hemingway uses throughout the duration of the novel. This idea of description in his writing allows the reader to picture every detail that takes place in the story. The imagery that is used in this passage is not only evident in this paragraph, but in others as well. Hemingway is able to build Tenentes character through the use of his imagery and also through his descriptive writing style. Readers are able to understand Tenentes feelings towards Catherine through Hemingways unique philosophy. Like Edith Wharton, Ernest Hemingways overly descriptive writing style has given Tenente unique characteristics that are evident in this paragraph. The paragraph, which is the opening paragraph in chapter twenty-eight, is a descriptive narration of a dinner Tenente! had with Catherine. This paragraph is an excellent example of Hemingways writing in that he would discuss a situation that he was in, but he manages to talk about an intimate moment with Catherine as well. This is common in Hemingways style of writing in that there is always

Recognizing and Controlling a Tree Burl

Recognizing and Controlling a Tree Burl Little research has been done to confirm the cause (or causes) of burls. A burl could be caused by many environmental factors, but the biology of burls on trees is not well known. To be sure, burls and galls may serve as secondary infection avenues for insects and diseases, but as a rule, they do not appear to be harmful to most trees and maintain protective bark. Burl-Like Symptoms The tree trunk infections called burls look like bumps or warty growths, probably caused as a result of an environmental injury. Cambial growth is hyper-stimulated as a way for the tree to isolate and contain the injury. Almost all burl wood is covered by bark, even when underground. Often, a tree that has developed burl wood is still generally healthy. In fact, many trees with burl wood will go on to live for many years. Still, burl wood in vulnerable spots or with off-shooting growth can become so large and heavy that they create additional stress on a tree, and can cause the tree to break apart. Oak Tree Burl Bulges and Tree Health Even though not much is known about the cause of burls, it should be assumed that proper tree management that improves tree health can help reduce the occurrence of burls or make their presence less of a problem. Burls certainly should not be removed from the main stem of a living tree, since that would expose a large decay-producing wound or completely kill the tree. Burls can be removed if they are located on branches or limbs and proper pruning methods are used. Not All Burls Are Bad Burls can yield a peculiar wood that is prized for its beauty and sought-after by furniture makers, artists, and wood sculptors. There are a number of well-known types of burls. Quality burl wood often comes from redwood, walnut, buckeye, maple, baldcypress, teak, and other species. The famous birdseye maple superficially resembles the wood of a burl but is something else entirely. Burls Are a Valuable Wood Product Some tree burls can be valuable in the specialty wood market.  Cherry and ash trees are popular burl-producing species due to their remarkable grain. Oak trees, on the other hand, tend to mill out with defective rot and holes and are usually rejected by wood buyers. Depending on quality and size, walnut, redwood, and maples often yield quality burls, but most tree species can offer rare gems. If you have a large burl on a tree you might want to sell, measure its size and take photos from several angles. It would help to include a yardstick in the photo for perspective. The burl must be covered with sound bark and have no major rot. Its value is significantly higher with increased size. The best market for burls is among woodturners. Search for woodturners locally using the internet and the American Association of Woodturners.

Low Income Housing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dissertation

Low Income Housing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Dissertation Example Objectives 1- To study the theory of post-occupancy evaluation, its emergence, and its importance. 2- Understanding the importance of POE for creating better houses for low income people. 3- To critically evaluate literature about international housing policies and compare them to housing policies in Saudi Arabia. 4- To assess a case study by using the post-occupancy evaluation of the: a- Functional aspect b- Social views c- Technical factors 5- Evaluate building performance taking account the feed back from the residents. Research Questions: To which extend are the users satisfied with current housing design? What is post-occupancy evaluation? Why is it important? How to apply it? How did it emerge? What are the international housing policies, and Saudi housing policies? What are the differences? How to assess a case study by using POE for Functional aspect, Social views and Technical factors? How to evaluate building performance taking account resident's feedback fr om? Research methodology Review literature: Define both the area and the nature of POE that enhances the understanding of the concept, the scope and the process of POE. Setting Aims and objectives. Develop questions. Select research respondents. Implementing the survey. Analyzing the data collected. Structure of the research Chapter 2: Introduction Aims Research question Objectives Methodology Chapter 2: what does POE mean? What is POE ? History and background of POE Uses of POE Process of POE Benefits of POE Chapter 3: International housing policies Housing policies in Saudi Arabia Housing policies in Saudi Arabia for low-income Chapter 4: General information of Saudi Arabia. General information of case study.... Low income housing is a main requirement of many developed and developing countries, conducting necessary studies about it and implementing policies in order to provide economical solutions to provide appropriate housing to millions of poor around the world Different organizations world wide have played an active role in the development of housing models for low income housing some of them which have succeeded in providing appropriate housing to low income people. In recent years the government of Saudi Arabia has started providing houses to needing families so a number of housing projects were built in different parts of the country. And Algazala is one of these projects provided for low income people and in this research Algazala project will be the case study which will be evaluated using POE (Post-occupancy evaluation), by implementing a questionnaire on the residents of Algazala project to identify the advantages and disadvantages of these houses. Algazala which is located in the region of Hael is one of the of many low income housing projects that the government of Saudi Arabia has built for needing people it was built in 2007 and it contains 254 housing units and two schools, two mosqes, a health centre and a community centre . History and Background of Post Occupancy Evaluation From the past few years, the area that gained more attention of business industry experts and researchers is about identifying the ways in which the building attributes affect its users.