Mayor Of Casterbridge By Hardy Essays - British Films,

Mayor Of Casterbridge By Hardy Many believe that a human's personality determines their place in life. In the Mayor of Casterbridge, Thomas Hardy explores the role of character in determining fate. He uses a character's personality flaws to determine their fate. Hardy utilizes such traits as temper, naivety, control problems, and shyness. Hardy takes his character and places them in a situation where their personalities usually make the situation worse. Throughout the novel the character, Lucetta, is portrayed as a spoiled child. She likes things to be the best for herself. She comes to Casterbridge in order to finish what she and Henchard proposed to do earlier, that is, marry one another. When she refuses to see him, because she likes Farfrae, she is intentionally provoking him. Henchard confronts her about this matter and he marriage to him. Lucetta refuses to marry until Henchard threatens to black mail her. He intends to black mail her with the love letters she wrote him earlier. She agrees to the marriage. Lucetta, however, marries Farfrae. She does this because he is good looking, better off than Henchard, and totally infatuated with her. This course was the best for her at the moment. She knew of Henchard's past, she had experienced his temper, and was afraid he would ruin her. Lucetta also puts a great deal of emphasis on looks. Earlier in the story, she had fallen in love with Henchard. After he left Jersey, Lucetta wrote Henchard love letters. These letters would become her down fall. She died of shock (or possibly miscarriage) after the skimmity ride. The only reason the townsfolk knew about her past with Henchard were these love letters. She had trustingly asked Henchard to deliver them back to her keeping so that she could destroy them. If she had trusted him enough to return the letters, why couldn't she trust him to destroy them? Henchard's fate was strongly rooted in his character. He has several character flaws that contributed to the break down of every relationship he had. At the beginning of the novel it is his temper that starts the whole story off. At the fair in Weydon - Priors, he becomes angry with his wife while he is drunk. Henchard tries to sell her because he believes that it is Susan's and the child's fault that he is not successful. This is evidently not the first time. He finds an interested man who pays five pounds and five shillings for her. This of course is the beginning of the break down of his family life and his role as a father. Henchard is upset when he sobers up the next morning. There are other instance where Henchard's temper destroys his relationships. The next episode in the story is when Farfrae's idea for the fair works better than his own. In a fit of jealous rage, Henchard fires his good friend. This alienates Farfrae from both Henchard and Elizabeth-Jane. It also distances Henchard from Elizabeth-Jane and Farfrae. His temper has now caused a fault in his business and his family. Farfrae sets up a business in competition with him. Henchard also denies Farfrae the right to court his daughter. This of course pushes Elizabeth-Jane farther from her father. In Henchard's anger and other habits there is an element of control. That is lack of control. Henchard, it seems, likes his drink. In the beginning of the story he asks for some liquor to be added to his furmity. Once drunk, he losses control and becomes angry. This of course leads to the family break up. In the morning, he swears, While he is sober for those years, he is very prosperous. Henchard becomes a wealthy corn merchant as well as the Mayor of Casterbridge. However, when the twenty-one years are over he starts drinking again. Prior to this because of his temper and the such, he is a ruined man. When he takes up drinking again it just hastens the downward spiral he is on. He is an embarrassment to himself and all that know him. This quote is from the visitation of the Royal Personage. Farfrae had set up a reception for the royal guest. Henchard's presence at the arrival of the guest was denied by the council. So, he decided, After this incident Lucetta refused to acknowledge who he was or that he was ever her husband's patron. Through the lack of control and anger, Henchard has a vague idea of what is right and wrong. He is very hard on himself. Henchard

Novice Meets Expert

Novice Meets Expert Introduction Business organizations across the world are using the social networking tools such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter among others to boost employee relationships, achieve credibility, set up an opportunity for having communication between the organization and its customers and also to promote sales.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Novice Meets Expert specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Moreover, it is reported that â€Å"company recruiters are going to sites like LinkedIn to get access to the almost 25 million resumes posted† (Brottlund, 2009, p.1).In this paper, there is going to be a discussion on the use of social networking tools by companies in general and by the IBM Company specifically. There is also going to be a discussion on the type of IT projects. The report is basically based on an interview with one of the company’s IT managers, George Rizk. In addition, there is also going to b e presentation of the information obtained from the review of the related literature; supporting or criticizing the information provided by the manager during the interview. The conclusion section will provide a summary of the discussion. Use of social networking tools by IBM Following the interview, it was established that there are social networking tools that are used by IBM and these include, as pointed out by the interviewee; Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. These social networking tools are used by this company for various purposes. For instance, it was found out that the company uses these tools to advertise IBM’s initiatives like Smarter Planet, among others. It was also found out that the social networking tools are used to find potential employees. Moreover, the manager pointed out that the social networks used in this company help the current and the former employees of the company to remain connected. However, the manager was also quick to point out that, to a cert ain extent, these social networks work against the company with other recruiters â€Å"poaching† the IBM employees.Advertising Looking for report on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Basing on information that has been presented in the literature on this issue, this manager’s view is correct. For instance, Zappone (2012) points out that in the present day, the social networks make it possible for the employers to engage in developing relationships with the potential employees even when they are working somewhere else. The inclination towards recruiting the employed candidates, instead of those who are not working, poses a big risk of raiding the talent pool of a company. It is reported that in the last few years, the Sony Erickson Company gave instructions to those who recruit talents for the company to exclude the unemployed (Zappone, 2012). Moreover, in survey conducted recently, it was found out that â€Å"more than 90 percent of senior human resources executives in the U.S regard recruiting ‘passive candidates’ as central to their strategy† (Zappone, 2012, p.1). â€Å"Passive† candidates refer to the professionals who are not presently seeking another career opportunity (Zappone, 2012). In such situations, the â€Å"passive candidates† may be contacted via the social networking tools. Zappone (2012) reports that, according to the information provided by LinkedIn, one of the social networking companies, â€Å"the rise of the social media and other new sources of potential candidates are driving a shift towards direct sourcing and recruiters expanding their search beyond active candidates to include ‘passive’ candidates† (Zappone, 2012, p.1). However, according to the interviewee, the social networks need to be used in ICT environment. When asked the reason for this, he pointed out that it makes it a ques tion of one company against the other and it is about the reputation of the company and how it treats its employees. Mr. Rizk had also established that, other companies might engage in using the social networks as a tool to take down the reputation of competitive companies.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Novice Meets Expert specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This view is also shared in the literature presented by Shullich (2011) where it is reported that a study conducted among executives by PRNewswire showed that; forty nine percent of them had a feeling that the use of the social networking tools could damage a company’s reputation. When asked whether this is legal or should be prevented, Mr. Rizk’s response was that the business organizations and social media will always be used in an inappropriate way by people and other business organizations to ‘put down’ another company’s rep utation. According to him, this is not fair or moral but a company cannot stop the actions of others in another company. He explained that in the case of IBM, this company has their BCG’s extend to social media. The company takes its BCG’s quite seriously to a level where every employee is asked to revalidate yearly and to complete an education module to certify and this includes â€Å"Digital IBMer†, which is based around social media. Type of IT projects When asked about IT projects, the manager pointed out that IBM Company has many different projects. According to the manager, there are different components of projects and for instance, in storage there are four of them which include B R, SAN, NAS, and Mainframe. His response to the issue of whether all the available projects are on-going projects and whether there are projects that are completed before a deadline was, from his perspective, that; he manages projects for the customers that IBM supports. He fu rther pointed out that projects come in all shapes and sizes and they all have maintenance and upgrading support. The manager added that in case new comers come in, that also is considered as a project.Advertising Looking for report on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The different types of the IT projects are complex to manage. It has been found out that considerable numbers of the complex IT projects up to now still do not succeed in delivering the main benefits in a timely manner and also fail to target cost as well as specification. It is further pointed out that this is largely driven by â€Å"the exponential growth in the capability of hardware and communications technology, and the corresponding inflation in people’s expectations and ambition† (British Computer Society, 2004). It is also observed that a larger number of the IT projects are carried out with an intention of delivering some form of process or business change (British Computer Society, 2004). In particular cases, the IT systems will be brought in to make it possible to have a larger number of business transformations. In other cases, â€Å"they will be automating an existing process† (British Computer Society, 2004, p. 17). Although the aim is labelled as automation, those involved will have to change their practices, â€Å"so business change of some form will ultimately result† (British Computer Society, 2004, p.17). The effect of this will be that the practitioners in the IT field will require having adequate knowledge about the processes as well as business concerned if ever the IT system is to realize the expected results (British Computer Society, 2004). It is very common for problems to come up and this is for the reason that the description of the â€Å"business process† provided to the supplier can not represent the process which is being used in an accurate manner (British Computer Society, 2004). In the automation systems case, â€Å"the manual process being replaced by the IT system may be intrinsically ineffective – automation is unlikely to make a bad process better, although it may execute it more quickly† (British Computer Society, 2004, p.17). Conclusion Just like in many other companies ac ross the world, there is use of various social networking tools in IBM. These tools include Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter among others. They are used for various purposes such as sales promotion and advertising, finding potential employees, and facilitating communication among employees among other purposes. However, the use of these tools comes with their own challenges which include the risk of damaging the company’s reputation and leaking out of the company secrets among other challenges. But this company still prefers to continue using of these tools, but insist on the issue that the employees should use the tools responsibly. There are also many different types of IT projects in this company and many different components of the IBM Company IT projects exist. For instance, in storage, there are four of them which include B R, SAN, NAS, and Mainframe. The complex nature of the IT projects call for having good project management in order to overcome the challenges that ar e associated with them. References British Computer Society, (2004). The challenges of complex IT projects. London, U.K: The Royal Academy of Engineering. Brottlund, B. (2009). Companies using social networking to boost sales. Web. Shullich, R. (2011). Risk assessment of social media. New York, NY: SANS Institute. Zappone, C. (2012). Social media used to poach workers. Retrieved from https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/social-media-used-to-poach-workers-20120506-1y6z0.html

Creating a Plan for a Culturally Diverse Classroom Essay

Creating a Plan for a Culturally Diverse Classroom - Essay Example Classroom differences do not only show ethnic and racial groups but also religious and political groups. These differences may affect the students’ behaviour towards their classmates, teachers and other people. Learning about the diversity in a classroom will not be easy. The differences of the students will take extra effort, patience, creativity, attentiveness and guts on the part of the teacher. However, a teacher must be able to work out the issues and differences in a multicultural classroom to help build a stronger foundation for the students’ growth and development. The teacher should create an atmosphere of tolerance, acceptance, and caring the in environment. This diversity demands more work, sincerity, resolution and understanding. Thus, to address these issues, a multicultural education was developed. According to Gollnick and Chinn (2006), multicultural education is â€Å"educational strategy in which students’ cultural backgrounds are used to develo p effective classroom instruction and school environments.† This educational strategy carries the concept of diversity, equality, culture, social justice and democracy in the classroom (Gollnick, Chinn, 2006). These concepts are the foundational areas that are given importance in the developed strategy. It is very important that we give meaning and sentiments to the issue of multiculturalism. Thus we need to create an atmosphere of tolerance, acceptance, and caring in our classroom environment to promote unity and commonality to the students. Diversity has long been an issue and thus we can only address this if we somehow demand conformity. If we embrace multiculturalism in our classroom, it gives us the chance to practice the students with democracy on which our state was founded. Thus, despite the diversity, we need to commit to find new language of unity and mutuality based on equality and respect and to gain courage to face the fears of differences. Teachers should be able to address the diversity and unequal power relations because these have huge impact on a student’s and group’s capacity to classify and achieve their own ambitions and purpose. These differences can lead to confusion and misperceptions that would eventually cause conflict. In the near future, these differences will end in political alliances. The coalitions respond to both perceived and real dominations and subordinations faced by such groups. Strong feelings of unity and patriotism stemmed from these perceptions and may result in armed conflicts in tribes, ethnic groups, and religious communities and even across the state. Thus, as early as in the classroom, we should be able to help create a unified and unbiased setting despite the differences. The Plan To be able to help address the issue on multiculturalism in a certain classroom, the teacher should be able to implement and handle the class very well. Before anything else, orient the students of the learning activ ities that are going to be implemented and taught during the school year. Also, explain the objectives and outcomes of activities thoroughly. Also, set academic standards and expectation and make sure that these have been explained and understood by the students. Students have different understanding and interpretation of every topic discussed in class. Thus it is very important to explain very well the teacher’

Colombia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Colombia - Essay Example Colombia, a country in northern South America, borders the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean and is situated between Panama and Venezuela. Encompassing more than one million square miles, Colombia is ranked currently as the 26th largest country in the world, slightly smaller than twice the size of Texas (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011). Its climate is tropical along its coasts and plains, but in the Andes Mountains it is slightly cooler, and it has a population of 44,725,543 people as of July 2011 (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011). Its government, overall, is a republic with elected officials, with a judicial system that has numerous national and district courts as well as a court of appeals, along with a House of Representatives and a Congress in its legislative branch and a duly-elected President in its executive branch. Colombia was originally colonized under Spanish rule. The Spanish sailed along the north coast of Colombia as early as 1500, but their first permanent settlement, at Santa Marta, was not made until 1525. In 1549, the area was established as a Spanish colony with the capital at Santa Fe de Bogota (Winslow). During the period before Spanish colonization, the area was inhabited by indigenous peoples who were primitive hunters or nomadic farmers, and out of the various Indian groups that were there, the area was dominated by The Chibchas, who lived in the region of present-day city of Bogotà ¡ (Winslow). Columbia actually had its first social movement in history in 1810, when on July 20th of that year the citizens of Bogota created the first representative council in defiance of Spanish authority and to attempt a try for their independence. Over the next three years, they fought for independence, which was proclaimed in 1813, and in 1819 the Republic of Greater Colombia was formed. Simo n Bolivar was elected its first president and Francisco de Paula Santander, vice president. However, just like any other movement, soon conflicts arose between the two leaders and their visions. From their views, two political parties grew and branched out, coming to dominate Colombian politics even today (Winslow). Bolivar managed only to keep authority until 1828, and then everything fell apart. In 1830, Venezuela and Ecuador became separate nations. Through the 19th century and into the 20th century, both political unrest and small, usually unremarkable social movements to combat the social unrest were popular. Strong parties developed along conservative and liberal lines; the conservatives favored centralism and participation by the church in government and education, and the liberals supported federalism, anticlericalism, and some measure of social legislation and fiscal reforms (Columbia Encyclopedia, 2007). The structure of Colombian society in the 1980s, which was always str ongly influenced by traditions inherited from sixteenth-century Spain, was highly stratified, having well-defined class membership, pronounced status differences, and limited vertical social mobility. The urban sector was characterized by a more flexible social system, a growing middle class, and greater participation of the population in national politics. Rural society in all but a few regions was organized in rigidly hierarchical structures in which change of status was very difficult. Only in the coffee-growing departments of Caldas and Antioquia were there sizable segments of the population exhibiting the traits of a rural middle class (Colombia: National Front). Various social movements existed in the 1960s and 1970s, and even well into the 1980s that eventually formed into armies. In 1964 the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group was born. It was followed by other groups, such as the National Liberation Army (ELN) on January 7, 1965, the Popular Libera tion Army (EPL) on July 1967, the Quintin Lame Movement (MAQL) in 1984 and the 19th of April Movement (M-19). (Colombia: National Front) Currently, there are still social movements in Colombia. Some groups make political statements their main

Company Analysis of the Financial Performance of White bread Plc Coursework

Company Analysis of the Financial Performance of White bread Plc - Coursework Example These businesses are conducted under the name of several well-known brands like the Premier Inn, the Beefeater Grill, the Brewers Fayre, Table Table, Taybarns and Costa Coffee. The company provides employment to around 40,000 people all over the world. The organization in based in the United Kingdom and constitutes one of the major hospitality brands of the region. It serves over 11 million customers on a monthly basis in UK. Whitbread Plc recorded commendable financial results in the year 20110-11. The company’s total revenues grew by 11.5 per cent from ? 1435 in 2009-10 to ? 1599.6 in 2010-11. The profit before tax recorded a handsome increase of 20.1 per cent from ? 239.1 in 200-10 to 287.1 in 2010-11. The firm also recorded a 17 per cent escalation in its full year dividend. The corresponding dividend increased from 38 in 2009-10 to 44.50 in 2010-11. Thus, overall the Whitbread Group consisting of the Bars, Hotels, restaurants and the Coffee Chains reported a good growth i n its business operations during the financial year 2010-11. Profitability Ratios Profitability Ratios of a company exhibit the firm’s capacity to generate earnings in comparison with its expenditure incurred during a period of time. Usually, an increase in the profitability ratios of a company over a time period indicates a good financial performance of the firm. (Thakuram, 2007, p.48). The Profit Margin: The Profit Margin is defined as the Net Income/Revenues or Net Profits/Sales. This is usually expressed as a percentage and indicates how much the firm retains as earnings out of every dollar of sales The Profit Margin of Whitbread Plc has been calculated for 2009-10 and 2010-11, as follows: Years Profit before Tax (million) Sales (mn) Profit Margin = Net Profit/Sales (%) 2010-11 ? 287.1 ? 1599.6 17.9% 2009-10 ? 239.1 ? 1434.6 16.7% (Annual Report of Whitbread Plc, 2009-10, 2010-11) Therefore, the Profit Margin of Whitbread Plc has increased from 16.7% in 2009-10 to 17.9% i n 2010-11. This shows that the financial performance of the company has improved from the previous year. Return on Assets (ROA): The Return on Assets is calculated by Net Income/Total Assets. This is also expressed as a percentage and gives an idea about the profitability of the company in relation to its total assets. The ROA of Whitbread Plc has been calculated for 2009-10 and 2010-11, as follows: (Annual Report of Whitbread Plc, 2009-10, 2010-11) The figures indicate that Whitbread Plc’s ROA has increased from 0.0009% in 2009-10 to 0.0010% in 2010-11. This shows that the pro0fitablity of the firm has increased from the last year. Efficiency Ratios Efficiency Ratios are utilized to evaluate how efficiently a company is able to make use of its internal assets and liabilities. An improvement of efficiency ratios usually lead to increased profitability for the company. (Leach, 2011, p.75-78) Sales to Inventory Ratio: This is calculated by Annual Net Sales/ Inventory. It provid es an idea about the inventory-to-sales ratio of the company, which can be compared over a period of time. The Sales to Inventory Ratio of Whitbread Plc has been calculated for 2009-10 and 2010-11, as follows: (Annual Report of Whitbread Plc, 2009-10, 2010-11) Therefore, the Sales to Inventory Ratio of Whitbread Plc, has decreased from 0.55 % in 2009-10 to 0.54% in 2010-11. Assets to Sales Ratio: This ratio is given by Total Assets/Net Sales. It provides an indication of how the firm is utilizing its assets to generate sales. The Assets to Sales Ratio of Whitbread Plc has been calculated for 2009-10 and 2010-11, as follows: (Annual Report of Whitbread Plc, 2009-10, 2010-11) Thus, the Assets to Sales Ratio of Whitbread Plc had reduced from 0.018% in 2009-10 to 0.017% in 2010-11. The decline in both the Efficiency

Art Projects: Drawing a Partridge and Crayon Art

Art Projects: Drawing a Partridge and Crayon Art How to draw a partridge in a pear tree How to seal a pendant colored with melted crayon shavings How can I make a bracelet out of DMC floss? HOW TO DRAW A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE The topic that this article is going to focus on is about a bird which is not so famous but means a lot when people come across occasions like Christmas. Many must not have heard about this bird and those who have heard it might recollect it from the phrase, Partridge in a Pear tree. Lets now get to know more about this bird and the meaning behind the phrase. In short, lets draw a partridge to our attention which is generally referred in context with a pear tree. A partridge is basically a bird belonging to the pheasant family also called as Phasianidae. They are non-migratory, medium-sized birds which are native to Europe, Africa and Asia. They are ground-nesting birds which are involved mainly in the seed-eating livelihood. These details must have given the readers enough information about a brief outlook of a partridge. But these details matter more to a biologist rather than general readers. The specialty of this bird is that, it has a unique relationship with the pear tree. Christians must be probably aware of the phrase, i.e. to draw a partridge to a pear tree, because the event takes place in Christmas. Partridge in a pear tree is actually a stocking kit from Bucilla which features a beautiful partridge nestled in a tree. To draw a partridge in a pear tree implies decorating the Christmas tree with a stocking which contains a partridge in a pear tree surrounded by glittering golden pears. To draw such a thing on a Christmas tree pleases Santa Claus and the tree glitters even more. The things need to create a partridge in a pear tree are sequins, beads, needles, cotton floss, metallic threads, stamped felts and glitter for shining. The stocking should be approximately 18 long diagonally and must display a partridge bird on a tree with pears around it. This is the way in which the stocking is created. There are several interpretations about the partridge in a pear tree phrase. One implication is that, it is a Christmas song which depicts the love between two persons by offering the partridge in a pear tree gift to each other. Another story behind this topic is known world wide. Partridge has been named from the Greek word, Perdix which was once the name of a Greek king. This king was once cast from a tower into the ocean by his enemy and he emerged as a bird from there and was carried to heaven by Goddess Athena. Thus, Athena represents the pear tree which was responsible for carrying the bird Perdix which is called partridge, to heaven. Thus sometimes, the bird, partridge was also referred as a symbol of Jesus Christ and thus the Christmas carol containing the phrase was formed. These two instances clearly tell us how Christians believe in the partridge in the pear tree and wait to draw a partridge each Christmas. Thus, the readers must have gained a spectacular piece of mythological history which is followed throughout the world each Christmas, when people around the world get ready to draw a partridge in the pear tree. It also takes us to a bright moral that, occasions like these get focused only when they are followed regularly. BEST BRAND/TYPE OF TRANSFER PAPER FOR EMBROIDERY OR CREWEL WORKS Art and Craft form the major part of the creation industry. This industry is mainly based on the skills of the artists to imagine, design and create. While in school days everyone is taught a bit of art and craft, some like it, some dont. The days are greatly remembered when the tracing paper was used as the means of creating an exact copy of the image mechanically before printers came into existence. Transfer papers are also of the same kind as tracing papers and also have the same purpose. Many creative things can be done using this transfer paper such as, printing on t-shirts, designs on pots and many more. But the purpose that surprises many is the use of transfer paper for embroidery. The task seems new as the traditional method of doing embroidery on cloth articles was with a needle and many colorful threads. Earlier the design to be made was sketched with a pencil roughly onto the cloth and then the thread was used to give it an outline. Now-a-days, the free-hand sketching has been made more perfect by the use of transfer paper. The best quality transfer paper gives astonishing results and gives the impression of a perfect design. The process of using transfer paper for embroidery can be explained briefly as follows. Inkjet or any other printer is first used to print the image on the transfer paper. This image can then be transferred onto the clothing by a heat press. This process is also called as an iron-on. The image once transferred can be embedded in the cloth by the use of embroidery. There are several types and brands of transfer papers available in the market. These can be named as, heat transfer paper, inkjet transfer paper, sublimation transfer paper, color laser transfer paper etc. Each of them has their own advantages and disadvantages. The most expensive one is the color laser transfer paper. It seems the names of the transfer papers belong to the names of the printers they are used with. Inkjet transfer paper comes in two varieties, for light colored fabric and for dark colored fabric. The fabrics which are going to be used for printing need to be of good quality to increase the life of the print on it. Use of transfer paper for embroidery is an exciting option for creating and printing various designs on the fabric using the various transfer papers. This is a new fashion of clothing which is growing at a rapid pace in the fashion industry. This act of using transfer paper for embroidery on the clothes prompts the designers to try the process at home or open centers for such printing works. The embroidery which seemed boring for so many years will finally be retrieved in a new form and the clothes wore will have the designs made by the person wearing it. The important suggestion is to select the proper and the best type of printing and embroidery technique and last but not the least the best brand and quality of transfer paper for attractive printing. HOW TO SEAL A PENDANT COLORED WITH MELTED CRAYON SHAVINGS Jewellery is that part of beautification which includes various forms of designs and gems embedded with it. This has various forms ranging from the most expensive one to the most simple but beautiful ones. A ring looks incomplete without a gem; similarly a necklace seems incomplete without a pendant. Pendant is that part of the necklace which gives it a meaning and an extra bit of enhancement to the necklace. Pendant can exist in various forms, but the most discussed one lately is the one with melted crayon shavings. The reason for this can be known shortly. A pendant is that part of a necklace that is always hanging from it and gives it an identity. It can exist in various shapes, the most preferred of which is the heart shape. A pendant can be made of gold, silver, titanium etc., but the most simple and home made pendant is the one with melted crayon shavings. The process of giving a final polish or impact to the pendant is called as sealing. Sealing means the same as a piece of stamped wax which ensures strength for the material on which it is applied. Crayons are most popularly used for coloring, but they have a disadvantage of their disposal, because once the sharp point is gone, it is of no further use unless someone sharpens it. These crayons can then be converted into shavings and melted together to give it a different shape and color and used for various purposes. The following are the steps for sealing a pendant colored with melted crayon shavings Take the crayons available and cut them in the form of shavings in the way a tree is cut slice by slice. Make the slices as finer as possible to melt them quickly. After the shavings are ready, melt them by placing them on a tough paper and either placing them in an oven or doing it by an iron. The melted shavings are now ready for applying on the pendant to be sealed. Apply the crayon shavings onto the pendant. Make the colored pendant cool by keeping it at normal temperature. Use a metal rod or a log of wood and seal the pendant with a wax coating so that it gets a shiny look onto it. The pendant is now sealed and can be put into a necklace for use. The precaution to be taken here is while melting and sealing. It is suggested that these tasks are done by an adult and done carefully to avoid injuries. The above method of pendant making gives the pendant a simple look but a durable one. Also, it is a best from waste effort as the crayons suggested for use are the broken or spoilt ones. This task has given a great idea of recycling and recreation for generations to learn. The act of making such melted crayon shavings and using them for sealing a pendant will soon become a profession in the near future. HOW CAN I MAKE A BRACELET OUT OF DMC FLOSS Decoration is an activity which everyone loves to do, then it does not matter whether it is a house or an office or any other thing. The simplest way of decoration that humans use to look different and enhance their outer beauty is jewellery. Though women have more jewellery to look rich and beautiful, men dont have that much stuff in number. But both share some common jewellery types which include chains, rings and bracelets. Bracelets can be made from various materials. It is unbelievable that a bracelet does not compulsorily need metals for its creation. It can be made even with rubber or fiber or floss. Thus, to make a bracelet from DMC floss is what interests many for its discussion. Floss in generic form refers to an embroidery thread which is a rough silk obtained from a silkworms cocoon. DMC is a manufacturing unit which manufactures and supplies various kinds of floss to different locations. Thus, to make a bracelet from such a DMC floss is not very tough if proper precautions are taken. The process can be explained as a sequence of steps which are as follows. Bracelets generally are of the wrist size and the thickness can be defined by the amount of floss to be used. So cut 18 25 inches of DMC floss and make the ends line up evenly. Hold the ends together and tie a knot which has a 1 inch tail. Separate the 3 strands and form the number 4 over the adjacent strand. Then just follow the motion used while stitching clothes and make circular rounds about it. Continue this motion till the bracelet attains the desired size. Also the length can be increased as needed. The steps mentioned above give a brief idea about the creation of the bracelet. Many users will have other ideas of the material used for more decoration like beads or pearls and hence, they can go ahead with their own creations. The only care that is to be taken while designing this bracelet is the precision and the sensitivity factor. This is because, you cannot make a bracelet in a hurry, as it can lead to loosening of the floss and will reduce its life. The bracelet also needs to be tight enough to stay tight on the wrist and not fall off. The act of making the bracelet can be done quickly only by a professional. Beginners will take approximately 1 hour to complete this task, and they need to have patience for this. DMC floss is a tough thread and will not easily break off. A blade or a scissor is needed to cut it off and hence it is strong enough to last for a longer duration as compared to other threads. A bracelet is a symbol of friendship as bands are used on friendships day. The best idea is to make a bracelet out of such floss and present it to your friend or your loved one as a symbol of love and gratefulness.

Faulkner’s Contradictory Roles as Father and Artist in the Film, William Faulkner: a Life on Paper :: Movie Film Essays

Faulkner’s Contradictory Roles as Father and Artist in the Film, William Faulkner: a Life on Paper After viewing the film William Faulkner: a Life on Paper it would be easy to attempt a pseudo-psychoanalytic interpretation of Faulkner’s relationship with his daughter and the other women in his life, but I think that would do a disservice to him. The film focused on the contradiction between Faulkner’s personal life, especially his relationships with women, and his professional life as a writer. The artistic sensibility that caused him to drink to excess and behave erratically does not fit common expectations of a good father. I think, however, that the interviews with his daughter, Jill Summers, and the other women who grew up with him as a father figure (at least one grand-daughter and one niece) indicate how that apparent contradiction was an essential part of the man whom they loved. I would like to consider two comments made by men who had known Faulkner in Oxford, Mississippi. One, a blacksmith, said that one day Faulkner suddenly left in the middle of a conversation with him. Faulkner’s only explanation later was that â€Å"when I think of something, I’ve got to go.† The other, a former friend of Faulkner’s speculated that he didn’t â€Å"think anyone knew who Bill really was, he was so moody†¦he was different from anybody else, seemed like.† The first comment indicates Faulkner’s unpredictability, possibly a humorous idiosyncrasy, but certainly not what is expected of a father. The second comment is intricately tied to the first. Because Faulkner’s behavior was unpredictable, often indicating that he was entirely self-absorbed in his own ideas and work, others found him to be distant. Those closest to Faulkner—his daughter, Jill, Phil Stone, and even Joan Williams—do not offer a portrayal of him that objects to his being erratic and distant. Probably the most poignant moment with Jill Summers is when she tells the story of asking her father not to drink before her birthday. His response was to remind her that Shakespeare’s daughter was never remembered by anyone. Although Summers relates the other facts of her father’s short-comings with little display of emotion, her face appeared pained after this story. Yet she said earlier in the film that she was absolutely sure that her father loved her very much. Maybe the problem is partly in what we expect a father to be. The film raises the problem of whether someone can function as both a great

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Essay

This is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts in the fight against hunger. It serves both developing and the already developed countries. FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. It is also a source of advice and knowledge to member countries as it helps in the provision of information, and helps developing nations to modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices, by ensuring good nutrition and food security for all (Amin,2002). In urban agriculture, FAO plays a general role of educating the urban farmers on the best methods of farming such as proper animal husbandry. It also offers them variety of species of crops to cultivate on in the urban areas. It protects the farmers from interventions by the specific governments, and they ensure food security for the already produced crops. Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) This is a North American coalition of people from different nationalities and organizations working from the local to international levels to build community food security. Membership in CFSC is diverse with almost three hundred organizations from social and economic justice, anti-hunger, environmental, community development, sustainable agriculture, community gardening and other fields. The main objective of CFSC is to build a strong, sustainable, local and regional food system that ensure access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food to all people at all times. CFSC has facilitated the development of urban agriculture through developing self reliance among all cities in obtaining their food and to creating a system of growing, manufacturing, processing, making available, and selling food that is regionally based and grounded in the principles of justice, democracy and sustainability. Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (APA) This organization involves the growing of plants and the rearing of animals within urban and peri-urban areas. It influences urban agriculture in a number of ways. UPA increases the availability of locally grown vegetables and fruits. This is done through making land available to increase production. UPA also recognizes the added value of combining vacant spaces with growing food in or near cities. It helps to restore consumer confidence in locally produced food. It helps promote food production to help reduce poverty and inequalities in urban centers. UPA has helped growers in urban agriculture to get closer links to their consumers and made it possible for retailers to improve access to affordable fresh vegetables and fruits sourced from the urban farming. UPA has improved logistics which has in turn increased access for instance transport services and home deliveries for those unable to get to the shops to buy food products. Resource centers on urban Agriculture and Food Security (RUAF Foundation) This is an international network of seven regional resource centers and one global resource centre on Urban Agriculture and food security. It was formed as a result to the expressed need of organization and local governments for effective mechanisms for the documentation and exchange of research of research data and practical experiences in urban agriculture. The major objective of RUAF is to help in eradication of poverty, generation of employments, food security and to help in stimulate participatory city governance and improved urban environment al management. This is achieved through creation of conditions for empowerment of male and female urban and peri-urban farmers. 3. Importance of urban agriculture Agriculture has been the primary occupation even in societies that are advanced. any form of improvement and innovation in agricultural methods has significant importance to the ever increasing populations (White, Jr. , 1974). Urban agriculture has come with improvements which have seen the societies benefiting economically, socially and environmentally. Economic importance Urban and peri-urban agriculture expands the economic base of the city through production, processing, packaging and marketing of consumable products. This results in an increase in entrepreneurial activities and the creation of job opportunities. This has led to increase in supply of food products in the cities, leading to decrease in prices of commodities. The quality of food products also improves, and the country can export more food products abroad and earning the country foreign exchange. Urban agriculture gives women an important opportunity to be part of the informal economy of a city (Paul, 1984). Farming and selling activities can be combined more easily with household tasks and child care. As women take care of the home, men are out there trying to make ends meet in urban agriculture. Through this, women participate in the economic development of the country as they help their spouses in other chores (Feder, 1970). In another perspective, women provide labor to farming activities, thus contributing to economic development. Urban agriculture provides employment, income and access to food for urban populations, which together contributes to relieve from chronic and emergence food security. With employment, every individual earns income and the cases of poverty in the city will considerably reduce with the practice of urban agriculture. Social Importance Better health and nutrition is one social importance of urban agriculture. With production of food products, there is enough supply of food in the city. Children cannot suffer from malnutrition because they have enough food and thus have a balanced diet. Having a balanced diet helps reduce diseases thus better health and nutrition. Increased income and employment are other social benefits of urban agriculture. Urban agriculture has been seen as means of improving the livelihood of people living in and around cities (Pereira, 1999). Taking part in such practices is seen mostly as informal activity, but in many cities where inadequate, unreliable, and irregular access to food is an occurring problem, urban agriculture has been a positive response to tackling food concerns. Households and small communities take advantage of vacant land and contribute not only to their resident city (Pereira, 1999).

Self Discipline Diary

Most people went and had their showers in the morning before the activity but couldn't get up early enough and so instead I ad my shower during one of the activities which I got in trouble for and so to improve on this the next morning managed to get myself up earlier and have my shower before any activities started so it didn't interfere. After we had the introduction to this unit about discipline, I realized that sometimes I do not show very good self-control when in stressful situations.I remembered about this when was at work on Saturday when a customer got angry with me because she wanted to return a product. I remembered what my tutor had said about self-control being part of good discipline, and so anteed the situation differently. I felt really good afterwards. Am normally not good at arriving at places on time, and this week I have been getting up later and this has caused me to be late for college. Am annoyed with myself for allowing this to happen, and so I plan to go to b ed a bit earlier next week, so that can show good time keeping and punctuality. 3/09/2014 This week our course went on boot camp in the new forest during this We had to have good self-discipline, for example when we got there we had to set up camp and in pairs set up our tents independently after being shown how o do so by Phil. We also got put into groups and given a timetable of different activities that we had to take part in and so we had to be organized at time keeping and manage to get to each activity at the correct time. And finally we had to get up and out of our tents by 6:30 which was hard to do for some (Particularly Kerosene).During this week I forgot my ID badge on a couple occasions and have been told by the receptionists that I need to bring it in everyday. I also got told Off for swearing after getting frustrated with my tent, an area which will try my hardest to improve on. At boot camp was the first time I took part in drill, it was quite tricky and at first I cou ldn't get the hang of it and looked like I was going the goose step most of the time. However after working on it and practicing as a group managed to learn the basics and improve my marching and posture.It was particularly hard to wake up early at boot camp and so I was late to the first session. Also, buses during the week are 90% of the time late, which is fairly annoying as it impacts on my attendance. 30/09/2014 This week I have managed to remain focused in my lessons and have not allowed myself to become distracted by others. During the week a classmate tried to get my attention by throwing rolled up bits of paper at me. However, I managed to ignore it. I am happy that I have remained focused as wrote some good notes which I Can refer back to when I'm working on my assignment at a later date. M happy with the course and am finding it very interesting, which helps me ignore others who aren't showing the same interest in the sessions. I occasionally don't listen to what my tutor has said due to having earphones in at the time, an area at which I will improve on. Last year at sixth form was easily distracted by others and so wouldn't take down notes on the work we were doing this meant didn't have anything to help me on course work and revision material for exams and so I fell behind. Again the buses have been late this week, a very frustrating issue.I will attempt to wake up earlier in order to get an earlier bus into college, so am no longer late to the first session. 07/10/2014 This was our second lesson of drill and feel that I am getting more use to it and am learning more commands, the correct posture that I can apply during the session. I could improve my attention to Dale however I am getting distracted by others around me, rather than listening to the next instruction. I could also improve my timing and become more in time with the rest of the group. Have come a long way from the first session, and I now know a lot of moves and my timing is slowly improving.Our drill instructor is quite a quiet character and so it is quite hard to hear him at times during drill. 14/1 0/2014 Today we had a drill session and then had our first assignment with Phil, I paid my full attention to what was being said as it set the bar for future assignments and it was important that know what I was/will be doing. I could improve this week by managing my time and hobbies better alongside my college work. Perhaps cut certain aspects of my social life off in order to make sure I am applying the required amount of work.I made a progression this week by making sure I paid my full attention to Phil for our first assignment. Hadn't quite got use to Office 365 and therefore hadn't saved any of my work online; this meant that couldn't do any independent work at home. 21 / 10/ 2014 Enjoyed Marks session this week and found it very interesting. A couple classmates were fooling round near the back of my class and I managed to ignore it and carry on with the set work, which I am pleased with myself for. Could improve by being on time as I was late to a couple sessions in the morning due to the bus being late once again. Eve progressed this week by becoming more independent in my assignments and getting office 365 to work for me, and therefore I was able to do some work at home for a couple hours, which I'm happy about. One set back would be that during drill we were learning a new command (I think it was salutes) which just couldn't get he hang of, which was particularly frustrating for me. 28/1 0/2014 This week I enjoyed Phial's session as we were making paper airplanes and we had a budget on how many and which type we could make. My team lost miserably.However I became the leader of the team and despite my brilliant plane design (which was the most statically pleasing) other teams with their stupid dart planes managed to (in my opinion) cheat their way to victory. Work experience is quickly approaching and I have yet to do any preparatio ns for it. I should begin to start thinking about what I'll do and organize myself some more. This week have progressed by being a bit more organized with equipment and my timings for sessions have been much better. Office 365 was playing up again and I was not able to do any work at home for a couple days this week. 4/1 1/2014 This week we learned some new commands in drill which I managed to get the hang of. I paid a great deal of attention to what was being said and didn't get distracted nearly as much as usually would. Another week has gone by and I have still not done anything about work experience. Although I now have a few ideas on where to go. I have begun to come accustomed to the ark load and what is expected of us in college as it is very different to sixth form. I am finding the workload the right amount for me to take on and am not falling behind on work at all compared to last year.I struggled to find out what room I was in (due to construction work) and therefore I wa s around 5 minutes late to one of my sessions with Phil. 1 1/11/2014 This week we took a trip to RAFF Bribe Norton which was very interesting and paid my full attention to what was being said by the various military men and women who spoke to us. I didn't let anyone distract me and I thoroughly enjoyed the day. This week was late to a session due to bad time keeping and ignorance. I felt bad and I shall not do it again. I learnt a lot at RAFF Bribe Norton and now have a few more areas I would like to kick into within the military as a possible career path. Didn't quite understand part of an assignment this week and didn't say anything at the time so I now have to wait until next week in order to ask about my queries 1 8/1 1 /2014 This week we had Miles the PASO come in and talk to us about the chain of command and stop and search rules/techniques. I paid my full attention and made sure that I asked plenty of questions. I also volunteered for a demonstration I had to act out in front of the entire class. During the talk by miles I didn't take any notes, which Phil had a word to me about as it meant I then didn't have any notes to look back on for help during assignment work.I have progressed this week by becoming a more outspoken person and asking many questions, which has benefited the class and l. Was ill on Friday this week and so I missed an entire day of work, on which I will now have to catch up on. 25/11/2014 This week I decided to knuckle down at home and get some assignment work out of the way. I was very pleased with my independent work and it made me feel in front of my work load, rather than behind it. I decided not to go to enrichment this Wednesday and decided to do some assignment work which against college rules and is very irresponsible of me.It shouldn't happen again. Have made some great progress on assignments and am now in front of my work load which feels great and allows for some time to do some social things this week which I am looking forward to. I was late into college one day this week due to bus issues and so was a little late to one of my first sessions. 02/12/2014 Our second to last drill session was today and we have all begun to take the session a lot more seriously. I am no longer letting people distract me as much and am trying my hardest (despite the buses) to turn up to drill on time.

5 Reasons To View The Nicholas C. Rossis Author Blog

5 Reasons To View The Nicholas C. Rossis Author Blog Its not every day that a writer offers free content and book marketing advice. When I encounter one- especially one that can help writers get past major hurdles in selling their work- its hard to keep quiet about it. Thats why I want to share five reasons to view the Nicholas C. Rossis author blog.Reason #1: Nicholas C. Rossis is a fascinating authorFrom the opening lines of his introduction- I live to write and do so from my cottage on the edge of a magical forest in Athens, Greece- Nicholas C. Rossis shows his unique brand of epic description. Upon additional perusing through his author blog, his work in both the fiction and nonfiction realms is alive with humor, humility, and imagination.To get to know him better as an author, listen to one of the many interviews available on his website. These are the best introduction to learn who he is and why he loves writing. For example, there is this interview with Ron Yates for RRBC Rave Waves BlogTalkRadio, along with this one focusing on book marketing tips with Bernard Kelvin Clive.Reason #2: All of his writing is free to readRossis work includes fiction (of the dark, epic fantasy kind), nonfiction, childrens stories and short stories- all of which are available free on Kindle Unlimited or for a small fee on Amazons free reading apps.His most recent book, A Heaven For Toasters, is described as a science fiction crime adventure with plenty of humor and romance, set in the near future. The back cover reads:A souvlaki and some sun. That is all Detective Mika Pensive wanted from her fun weekend away on the Greek island of Hydra. Instead, she finds herself caught up in a sinister plot, hatched by a reclusive billionaire with a penchant for illegal genetic engineering. As if that wasnt bad enough, she has to put up with her new partner, Leo. Leo is an android- or toaster, as people scornfully call his kind. The only thing that could make things even worse would be for the headstrong Mika to fall for Leo. But people dont fall for toasters- do they?Nicholas C. Rossis, A Heaven For ToastersThe cover of Rossis book, A Heaven for ToastersIf you dont have Kindle Unlimited, you can still purchase his books at low prices. Here are the links to some of the other books he has published:Emotional Beats: How to Easily Convert your Writing into Palpable Feelings (Author Tools Book 1)Summary: This emotional thesaurus includes hundreds of examples that you can use for your inspiration, so that you, too, can harness this technique to easily convert your writing into palpable feelings. Genre fiction authors can use Emotional Beat as a feeling thesaurus and watch their writing take off!Runaway Smile: An unshared smile is a wasted smile (Mystery Smiles Book 1)Summary: A little boy wakes up in the morning and realizes he has lost his smile. After spending the entire day trying to find it, he learns the truth behind smiles: the only real smiles are the shared ones.Pearseus Bundle: The Complete Pearseus Sci-fi/Fantasy SeriesSummary: Combining fantasy with science fiction, Pearseus is filled with passion, warfare, and betrayal. Described as ancient Greece in space, it gives readers who want a different kind of fantasy an exciting new series to devour.Musiville: Lets face the music and conduct (Mystery Smiles Series) (Volume 2)Summary: The only thing that can save Musiville is a musical symphony. Sounds easy enough. But in a world where everyone believes only their own music to be worth playing, it is the hardest task the villages musical animals have ever faced.Reason #3: He offers valuable advice about writing and marketing your bookThere is an entire section on the Nicholas Rossis blog dedicated to marketing your book. If you are an indie author and in the throes of gaining an audience for your writing, these tips will be absolutely indispensable during the marketing process. Among them, he provides information on marketing your book across various platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Amaz on.Here is a sampling of the many tips he offers:A-Z guide: How both my books reached #1 on AmazonHow to Score Great Amazon Reviews: Resources and MoreHow to Tame Amazons Algorithm to Increase your Sales RankHow to Use Facebook Ads to Gain Subscribers and to Promote a GiveawayUnderstanding Amazon ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sale): What is it?Advertise with Amazon: a Step-by-step TutorialHow to Increase Your Amazon Click-Through Rate (CTR)Book Marketing Essentials: Positioning your WorkI Just Published my Book. Now What?7 fool-proof marketing tips to promote your blogAdditionally, on the Author Resources tab, Rossis advertises his work with an online media company, Istomedia. He mentions that for the past 25 years, his day job has been working to develop websites. As an author who has built his own website, he works specifically with other authors who want to have their own author website to market their work. He also offers a 30% discount for readers of his blog. Since the blog is so informative, this is certainly a win-win! He will also help you create your book cover for a reasonable price.Reason #4: Optimism (and entertainment) aboundsIn a world where bad news and political scandal fills the media, its nice to run across a blog that offers optimistic, fun, and useful entertainment. The Nicholas C. Rossis blog is one such blog. While much of the content is focused on writing and the literary world, there are some posts that are written simply for a fun, optimistic read.For example, the recent post, How the world got better in 2018, he notes multiple ways in which things got better last year, including increasing use of green energy around the world, increasing environmental protection for the worlds oceans, 50 animals species that were on the endangered list are now removed, falling global poverty levels, and greater access to electricity around the world, among others. Although these topics have little to do with writing or marketing books, the piece is well- written and informative- two aspects of a blog that make it worth your time to read.Author Nicholas C. RossisReason #5: His writing is superbRossis has won numerous awards for his writing. His first childrens book, Runaway Smile, was awarded the Gelett Burgess Childrens Book Award, and was a finalist in the 2015 International Book Awards, in the Childrens Fiction category and a Childrens Fiction Finalist in the 2015 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards.His collection of short stories and flash fiction, entitled Infinite Waters: A Collection of Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction Short Stories (Exciting Destinies Book 2), was voted as one of the best 50 Indie books of 2015. Both of these titles, along with the rest of his work, is available for free on Kindle and Amazon.Here is an excerpt from Simulation Over, one of the stories in The Power of Six, a collection of seven short stories.Without waiting for my reply, the elevator started its calm descent again. This time i t headed straight for the basement where the heart of the building was located. Or, should I say, its brain. I gazed with longing as the ground floor button lit up, then desperate hope turned into trepidation as it went dark again. The indication changed to a simple red hyphen and the elevator finally stopped with a gentle jolt. The doors slid apart and cool air caressed our faces. After the stifling heat above, the result of the many small fires around the building, this felt like balm on our skin.Nicholas C. Rossis, Simulation OverMy overall impressionThere are many author blogs available online that are created and written solely to market the authors work. However, the Nicholas C. Rossis blog seems to go a step beyond that to help other authors market their work, and provide valuable guidance from a fellow author who has learned the ropes. Specifically, I found Rossis advice on understanding the various marketing platforms- such as Amazon and Facebook- to be extremely valuable, since these two platforms can be confusing for new authors who are first-timers in the realm of book marketing and sales.Additionally, Rossis writing is fun, imaginative, and easy to read- particularly for those interested in the sci-fi and fantasy genres. Whether you are an author looking for advice, or just an avid reader, be sure to check this one out. You wont be disappointed.

Rape Shield Laws Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Rape Shield Laws - Research Paper Example Center of discussion in this paper are rape shield laws, court rules or statutes which limit the defendant’s counsel ability to introduce the sexual history, past conduct or reputation of the accuser or victim as evidence during a trial relating to rape. Therefore, rape shield laws can prevent the victim from being discredited by the irrelevant information to the defendant’s innocence or guilt. In the United States, each state and the District of Columbia has a rape shield law applying to criminal cases and a few to civil cases. Rape shield laws apply to both state and federal criminal and civil cases except the certain limited circumstances, such as when the accuser’s consent can be illustrated or when the accused and the accuser have a shared history. Also, the defense may be required to prove that such evidence’s exclusion would amount to violation of constitutional rights of the defendants. Most of these laws were adopted in a bid to combat the practic e where the victims are discredited through introduction of irrelevant information concerning their reputation, sexual history or chastity. Most of these laws were adopted in the 1970s; the first rape shield law was passed in the state of Michigan in 1974 and since then all states have enacted one. Even though these laws were popular in the US, they were criticized for violating the rights of the defendant to confront the accuser as enshrined in the Sixth Amendment. It has also been criticized for being overly arduous for the defense, as well as violating civil liberties like the freedom of speech. (Flowe et al, 2007). So, what do rape shield laws do? Commonly, rape shield laws bar the introduction of reputation and opinion regarding the sexual history of the accuser. Additionally, they prove that evidence about victim’s specific sexual conduct is supposedly irrelevant unless such evidence is direct source of disease, pregnancy, or injury that may be an issue in the case, or has relation to particular sexual conduct with the defendant (The National Centre for Victims of Crime, 2011). Rape shield laws in eleven states have an exception which is known a â€Å"catch-all† which allows the judge to permit the introduction of evidence of any nature, even those that are normally barred by rape shield laws, if it is necessary to introduce that evidence in order to protect the accused constitutional rights. Various rape shield laws allow the judge to decide if the evidence in question is relevant or not. If it is relevant, the judge determines whether the evidence’s potential prejudicial impact outweighs its relevance, or not. Rape shield laws are relevant in the criminal justice system as they guard against the introduction of irrelevant evidence of the innocence or guilt of the defendant, but which can potentially prejudice the jury against the accuser or the victim (The National Centre for Victims of Crime, 2011). Flowe et al (2007) explain that rape shield laws are important to the victims as they help in ensuring that the rape victims are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness during criminal trial by making sure that the victim is not subject to a public airing about his or her past conduct, sexual reputation, and any other information which might be irrelevant. More importantly, rape shield laws increase the possibility that victims will report rape cases as they will be more likely to come forward to report. If the sexual history of the victims would have been examined or revealed in court as part of rape trial, it is very likely that victims will not report the rape cases with increasing regularity. However, it should be noted that rape shield laws only guard against the introduction of evidence or irrelevant information during trial, but do not protect the victims from publicity prior to the trial. This may probably deter many victims from reporting rape cases. Rape shield laws have been credited for the decrea sing

Jesus, Antigone and Augustine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Jesus, Antigone and Augustine - Essay Example This paper shall seek to look at the figures of Antigone, Jesus Christ and Augustine. These three figures fought against established forms of authority. What is significant about this collection of revolutionaries is that all three of them adopted methods that were not violent. All three of them were however, practitioners of very different methods and controversies remain as to the reasons as to why these three employed the methods of resistance that they employed. Antigone is a fictional character created by the great playwright Sophocles. His characterization of Antigone was meant to evoke strong reactions. On the other hand are Jesus and Augustine, both of whom are historical characters about whom most information is present, however, in the form of legends. Augustine is more of a historical character than Jesus, since information regarding him survives in the form of his writings. Jesus Christ was a person who lived during the times of the Roman Empire was a Jew who was consider ed to be the messiah of the Jews. The Jews in the Roman Empire lived under the control of the Roman Empire and were resentful of the control of whom they considered to be foreigners. Jesus, according to the Bible, was the Messiah (Mark 8: 27-32). He claimed to be the son of God and thus divine. He, according to the Bible, was the person who had taken on the form of man in order to wash off the sins of mankind and provide him with redemption. According to writers like John Milton, he was to be considered to have volunteered to save man from eternal perdition by laying down his own life voluntarily. By voluntarily undergoing a gruesome death at the cross, Jesus would act the role of the sacrificial lamb and thus free mankind from the original sin. Milton talks of the beginning of this story in his great work Paradise Lost (Milton). This account of the life of Jesus is however, not a strictly historical one. Historically, he is considered by many to have been a member of the Jewish com munity that was oppressed by the Roman Empire. He was a religious leader who sought to change the dynamics of power as they existed between the Roman officials and Empire and the Jews and the other original inhabitants of what is known today as Israel. Jesus’ contribution to the liberation of the people f Israel is considered to be seminal and this is considered by some to be the reason as to why he was deified by some. Antigone, on the other hand, is an almost completely fictional character. She is present in the work Antigone, by Sophocles. The importance of the character can be gauged from the fact that she is the titular character in the play. She also is the character who provides the play with its thematic thrust with an emphasis on the resistance to the established powers of the state. She is the daughter of Oedipus, who was once the king of Thebes and Jocasta, who was also the mother of Oedipus. The Oedipal tale is one of how man is unable to change his own fate. The tale of Antigone is however, that of one who makes an effort despite this knowledge, to change her fate. The very existence f Antigone is a challenge to the traditional social structures of her time, since she is the product of incest. Hers is a situation where her mother and her grandmother are the same person. This situation is according to conventional understandings of events, an unnatural one and Antigone is thus, a challenge to the