Inspiration

However, security, trust and convenience are among the major contending factors affecting the adoption of e-payment systems in Nigeria. This paper presents issues on the factors necessary to facilitate the development of PEPS Niger a and devise ways to enhance its adoption by users. Keywords: electronic payment system, e-money, and e-payment, Internet. 1. Introduction The worldwide proliferation of the Internet has led to the recent birth of electronic payment system : a payment service solution-software that enables monetary value to be transferred digitally.Today, electronic payment system s flourishing due to the openness, speed, anonymity, digitization, and global accessibility characteristics of the Internet [1 2], which has facilitated real-time payment transactions and the r business activities. In this paper, we considered some critical examinations on the existing payment structure in Nigeria. AY so reviewed, was different related literatures on e-payment system, and data fr om research reports. T chemical Journals, newspapers, and magazines were likewise examined.. 2.A Brief Review of the General Payment System in Nigeria In a country like Nigeria, where almost eighty percent of TTS population rely on physical cash rather than electronic payment, it is not so simple Just for people and employers of labor, to consider and decide on the basis of cost and benefit of using e-payment systems [2]. In the course of preparing this research, we had the opportunity of visiting few/remote places to find out the perception of the people about electronic money. It was observed that most people have no common knowledge about the Internet, let alone the existence of e-payments.People are quite far from all the CIT developments take Eng place in banking. What people know about banking is the use of physical cash for opposite and payment, but not electronic payments. The existing structure of the Nigerian payment system is fully based on traditional payment instruments of cash and cheeses [18]. Even for large-value payments, like sale and purchase of land and building, people prefer physical cash rather than receiving any other form of payment. This also applies to the general popular Zion. In businesses, people prefer using cheeses and drafts.Thus, Apex Bank (Central Bank of Nigeria – CAB) operates a clearing house, with many network centers for performing queue clearing throughout the country. The clearing house renders revives to the member banks and financial institutions only. Generally, all the banks and financial institutions are members of the clearing house. 2. 1 Electronic Payment Initiative in Nigeria Electronic Payment initiative began recently in Nigeria. Not all the banks and FL uncial institutions are participating in the e-payment system [11]. Although to date, most of the commercial I banks have engaged in providing some form of e-banking services.It is to be noted that not all of these institutions extend their e- banking facilities to their entire branch network. The e- payment services are mostly provided in the capital city ND some bigger cities nationwide. As mentioned, the e-payment facilities available in Nigeria are Automated Teller Machine (ATM) service, debit card, credit card, mobile banking and Internet banking [5]. Intertwines Nigeria Ltd provides the switching and settlement facilities for trans actions performed on ATM; and transact Nigh. Ltd provides mobile e-payment solutions switching and service provider.Banks purchased their software from different vendors to provide all these services to their customers. Authenticity, inter-operability, validity and confidence solely depend on the supplier of hat software [3]. However, the central bank of Nigeria and the supervisory authority of the Nigerian financial system, has thus initiated steps towards the regulation of electronic payment cyst ms in Nigeria [2]. Electronic payment system has also experienced a lot of setback in recent years due to limited availability of ATM services [5].These machines are only made available to few bank branches and clients, while the demand for the card is higher than the services provided. Infrastructure and Information Technology (IT) constraints also contributed to some of the setbacks experienced (such as: gig cost of internet connectivity, energy challenges, banks not fully automated, banks not ready for electronic payment services, and contentedness of people with the existing system because of lack of awareness on the benefit of the new technology [11]. CICS. Reapers/locals-9-2-1-462-467. Dif Facilitating the adoption of e-payment systems: theoretical constructs and empirical analysis Document Information: Title: analysis Author(s): Gives Г ¶azans, (Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey), Guyana Binaural, (Brunet University, Submerged, I-J), Ray Hackney, (Brunet University, Submerged, I-J) Citation: Gives Г ¶azans, Guyana Binaural, Ray Hackney, (2010) à ¢â‚¬Å"Facilitating the adoption of e- payment systems: theoretical constructs and empirical analysis†, Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Volvo. 23 Sis: 3, up. 05 – 325 Keywords: Electronic commerce, Payments, Risk, Trust Article type: Research paper DOE 10. 1108/17410391011036085 (Permanent URL) Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited Abstract: Purpose – The emergence of online transactions, enabled through internet media, has led to an increase in the availability of electronic payment (e-payment) systems. This research aims to investigate, through theoretical constructs (technology acceptance model, theory of reasoned action) and an empirical analysis, the critical factors that may ensure consumer adoption of these facilities.Design/methodology/ approach – This research study mainly uses the deductive approach to consider secondary sources and primary data, where hypotheses have been developed in order to demonstrate the findings. An init ial literature review revealed six issues that are considered critical for e-payment considerations. An anonymous and self- administered survey based on the research model was developed and e-mailed to he respondents. A total of 1 55 questionnaires were coded and analyses using SAPS to analyses the hypotheses.Advances in information technology and changes in laws, institutions and regulations in some countries have encouraged the emergence of new payment instruments as well as the delivery and processing arrangements for small and large value, time critical payments. With e commerce now in the mainstream of economic activities, we can therefore expect more major changes in the payment systems worldwide in the next five years than we have in the last five decades. Obviously, the e Philippines cannot escape from this sea change.This paper discusses key operational concepts involved in a payment system and describes the emerging payment systems in industrialized countries. This gives d eveloping countries, like the Philippines, a preview of the likely evolution of their payment systems in the next few years as they deepen the integration of their economies with the rest of the world. The paper gives a detailed description of the existing payment system in the Philippines and disc uses innovations in payments media, especially noncoms payment instruments, and facilities for the clearing and settlement of payments.Areas for improving the efficiency and reducing risks in existing payment system have been identified. Developments in the payment system have implications for the conduct of monetary policy. The second to the last section of this paper, therefore, deals with this issue. In particular, it discusses specific payment system innovations, such as the switch to ARTS system m and use of electronic payments media, that can enhance or attenuate the effectiveness of traditional monetary tools. The last section presents some recommendations.Key words: payment system ; electronic payment system; credit transfer; debit transfer; electronic money; transmission mechanism; seignior; queue clearing. President, Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PITS). The author wishes to thank Dry. Vaccine Alden's, Jar. , member of the Monetary Board, and Mr.. Francisco P. Yap, Jar. , President of the Philippine Clearing House Corporation, for their insightful comments on the first draft of this paper. Thanks are also due to Mr.. Gill Olivarez Lime, Mr.. Francis vela, Mr.. Jerome A. Archangel, Mr.. Alton Offering, Ms. Carlisle Scintilla, and Mr..Joel A. Ramose for sharing their insights on how the payment system in the Philippines operates. The author s grateful to Ms. Sharon Theta Vital, Ms. Merle Galvan and Ms. Juanita Deletion for their excellent assistance in preparing this paper. The usual disclaimer applies. 2 INTRODUCTION It is commonly known that a country's infrastructure system determines to a large extent the efficiency of the economy. In a mod ern economy, the payment system I s a major component of the country's infrastructure system. Indeed, no country nowadays can afford to take its payment system for granted.Firms pay wages to their employees and purchase raw materials from their suppliers. In turn, they receive payments for the sale of their rodents and services. Consumers make payment transactions several times in a day. Needless to say, value is transferred among participants in the economy every minute of the day, and it increases as the economy grows. The country ‘s payment system, therefore, must be efficient so that funds can quickly move among market participants for productive use, thereby promoting more activities in the economy. According to Humphrey et al. 2000), the resource cost of a nation's payment sys tem can account for 3 percent of its GAP. Modernizing a country's payment system can certainly reduce that resource cost. Thus, while the country continues to spend on roads, bridges, power supply, etc. , it must not neglect to invest in its payment system m to improve the efficiency of economy, in general, and the financial system, in particular. Through the years, payment systems have considerably changed as forms of payment have evolved from precious metals to currency and checks and recently to electro ionic payments.These changes have been made because of the need to facilitate voluminous transactions occurring in rapidly growing and increasingly more sophisticated economies. Customers naturally seek the most efficient payment teeth, while providers of payment services normally seek the most profitable payments system. Advances in information technology and changes in laws, institutions and regulations in some countries have encouraged the emergence of new payment instruments as well as the delivery and processing arrangements for small and large value, time critical payments.With commerce now in the mainstream of economic activities, we can therefore expect more 3 major changes in the payment systems worldwide in the next five years than we have I n the last five decades. Obviously, the Philippines cannot escape from this sea change. Developments in the payment system have implications for the conduct of monetary policy. Well functioning financial markets can improve the effectiveness of Indore CT instruments of monetary policy because it is through these markets that the signal of monetary policy is transmitted to the intermediate and ultimate targets of the policy Monsoons et al. 998). The effective functioning of the financial market is, in turn, affected by the extent of the efficiency of the country's payment system. Also, rapid innovations taking place in the country's payment system can unpredictably alter the emend for and supply of money, thereby affecting the effectiveness of convene national monetary tools. Monetary authorities, therefore, cannot afford to be indifferent to the rapid innovations taking place in the payment system.A coun try's payment system, no matter how advanced and sophisticated, is not immune to risks. One part y in a payment transaction may not be able to receive or use the funds at a time when she needs them for another transaction for one reason or another (e. G. , fraud, bank closure, clearing and settlement failures, etc). More importantly, failure of one par captain to settle one large payment transaction could quickly spread to other transactions and institutions involved in the payment system, causing disruptions to the entire payment system.Systemic failure of the payment system can inevitably undermine t he effectiveness of monetary policy and adversely affect the real sector of the economy. The monetary authorities, therefore, have great interest in promoting efficient and sound payment system and in seeking ways to minimize systemic risk in the payment system because it has important implications for the conduct of monetary policy, the soundness of the uncial institutions and the fu nctioning of the economy as a whole (Baling et al. 996). Recently, the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (CAP AS) of the Bank for International Settlements (IBIS) has developed core principles for systematically 4 important payment systems (see Table 1 These are certainly relevant to emerging market and transition economies especially since they are in the process s of improving their payment systems in order to better handle the growing payment flows within and across their borders.The development of these core principles clearly demonstrates he amount of attention currently given by developed as well as develop ins economies in modernizing payment system in light of increasing financial market integration worldwide. This paper in general attempts to assess the efficiency of the existing payment system in the Philippines and its implications for the conduct of MO notary policy. Section II discusses key operational concepts involved in a payment system. This provides a gen eral background to the issues discussed in the subsequent sections.Section II discusses emerging payment systems in industrialized countries. Modern payment systems have evolved in industrialized countries and rapidly spread to developing countries, especially to those that have already substantially liberalized their financial markets. This evolution has continued in response to the growing v illume and complexity of the transactions and as new technologies emerge. Thus, the emerging payment systems in industrialized countries provide developing countries, like the Philippines, a preview of the likely evolution of their payment systems.Socio n IV describes and makes an assessment of the existing payment system in the Philippines. Section V assesses the implications of the existing and likely evolution of the country's payment system for the implementation of monetary policy. The last section presents some recommendations. The IBIS is an international organization, which fosters coo peration among central banks and other agencies in pursuit of monetary and financial sat ability and serves as the central bank of central banks.Its head office is in Basel, Switzerland and its representative office for Asia and the Pacific is in Hong Kong. 5 Economic transactions involve the rangers of goods and services and the corresponding transfer of value . As illustrated in Figure 1 , these transfers flow in opposite direction. A pa Yemen system, which is indicated in the lower part of is a method of transferring value between buyers (payers) and sellers (payees). In reality, a payment system is much more complex than what is suggested in the figure above. 1998) provides the following comprehensive description of a payment system: â€Å"A payment system encompasses a set of instruments and means generally acceptable in making payments; the institutional and organizational framework overdoing such payments (including prudential regulation); and the operating procedures and co mmunications network used to initiate and transmit payment information from payer to payee and to settle payments. † This section discusses the functions, types of risks and payment instruments in a payment system.A. Functions of a Payment System Any payment transaction has essentially two parts: the flow of information providing payment instructions and the flow of funds . Both flows may have different timing and direction. Each payment trans action requires some form of payment instrument o convey the information about the transactions, which may include the face value of the payment, the identity of the parties (I. E. , the payer and the payee) and their intermediaries, the transaction date, ND the value or settlement date.Regardless of the type of payment instrument used to effect payment, the payment system's functions of clearing and settlement occur. Clearing is the process of transmitting, reconciling and in some cases confirming Payne NT orders or security transfer in structions prior to settlement, possibly including netting of instructions and the establishment of final positions for settlement. This will be clarified further below. 6 Settlement is the act of transferring â€Å"good and final funds† between two parties.A Payne NT is settled with finality when the payer can no longer revoke the transfer of funds to the payee and the funds have been delivered unconditionally to the payee. This is the ultimate objective of a payment system. B. Various Types of Risk in a Payment S http://drips. Pits. Gob. PH/iris/PDF/peptidase's. PDF Retail Electronic Payments Systems for Va lee Transfers in the Developing World Bill Manure Department of Anthropology University of California, Irvine [email  protected] Deed Work in Progress This is a draft concept paper.You are welcome to cite or quote, but please do not do so without the author's perm session. Comments welcome. Summary A new â€Å"payments space† has emerged in the past five to ten years that promises to bring access to funds transfer, banking and financial SE revives to millions of unbaked people in developing countries and in the diasporas that remit funds to them. This payments space is characterized by the I innovative use of new information and communications technologies. This paper summarizes the expel irenic to date of us chi new electronic payments systems.

Philosophy Rhetoric Essay

For those politicians who find themselves faced with a question whose answer may be distressing to their audience, there is no substitute for the power of rhetoric   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The light-as-air rhetoric politicians tend to give in response to any question regarding national identity is a fine example. Asked what it is to be an American, most politicians will appeal to emotion with reflexes so skilled and precise that a kung-fu master would be hard-pressed to imitate them. Where logic is concerned, the rhetorical replies to this sort of question often begs many others. The politician will surely answer using words such as â€Å"hope†, â€Å"values†, â€Å"family† and â€Å"faith† but are those words even useful as descriptions? Do they speak to the actual experience of being an American or do they speak to some of the notions in which many find great comfort? How much of any politicians answer to this question is ritual and how much actual response? And, most importantly, are those things really characteristic of Americans or are they things Americans like to think about themselves, reality notwithstanding?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Where a reasonable, logical answer to the question of   what it means to be American may be pages long and the subject of spirited debate–not to mention heavily influenced by the time in which the question was posed–a rhetorical answer provides an easy dodge that leaves the politician with a faint glow of patriotism, the great persuader who is so often summoned by way of such simple rhetoric.

Accreditation

Accreditation can be viewed from two broad perspectives. It can either   be seen as a status and on the other hand, it can also be seen as a process. As a process, accreditation is the practice of certifying that an institution or a program has met some required standard and so, people are free to enjoy the facility. The institution to be accredited is subjected to such tests as to verify the veracity and authenticity of their claims. In this way, the institution therefore continues to seek ways by which it can improve in order to maintain its accreditation status. As a status, moreover, accreditation is the provision of notification to the general public that a process, or a program or an institution, as the case may be has met certain standards and the claims it is making are genuine. This is a sort of legalization as it gives them the right to operate their business. Accreditation is very important. it is necessary as it is a pointer to the quality of service an institution or organization is providing. Moreover, in situations where there are several providers of the same, or similar service, accreditation helps the consumer to be better positioned to make informed choices on which to choose from. Accreditation also gives room for continuous evaluation of the quality of products and services. Accreditation also ensures that the concerned corporations strive to continually improve on their services as they are subjected to periodic evaluation. This translates to a better quality of service to the consumers. The Joint Commission is a non-profit organization not affiliated to the government. it operates by scheduled surveys of hospitals. The hospitals are notified beforehand before the visits. The commission thereafter provides information as to the accreditation status of the hospital as well as the services that needs to be improved upon. The Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA) is also not affiliated to the government. It is a good substitute to the Joint commission as it also accredits health care facilities by surveying them. The accreditation option is tailored towards the Durable Medical Equipment. Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) is also a non-profit organization. it can also be seen as an alternative to the Joint commission. It accesses health care organizations that offer community based services. It is the first body created to perform this function. ACHC is another organization involved in the process or accrediting health care facilities. Its primary instrument is survey. There are a number of other agencies that are involved in accrediting health care. National Committee for quality Assurance: NCQA is also involved in the accreditation of health care facilities. It annually releases   a report on all accredited health care providers and facilities. Avmed is one of the health care providers in the country. It recently received an excellent rating from NCQAs annual ratings. This corresponds to the highest accreditation status that can ever be accorded a health institution for service and clinical quality. (Reuters, 2008) REFERENCES AvMed Receives Highest Quality Rating(2008) http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS133795+03-Jan-2008+PRN20080103 NCQA (2008) NAtional COmmittee for quality Assurance:Homepage http://www.ncqa.org/ The Joint COmmission (2008) About us. http://www.jointcommission.org/AboutUs/

MGMT4420 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

MGMT4420 - Essay Example some instances where an employee is very valuable to the company, the question might be, â€Å"So have you really made up your mind, are you really resigning?† There are many questions that the human resource personnel would like to ask the resigning employee and most of them are in line with the work experiences of the latter. This definitely will help the company evaluate some important reasons why an employee is resigning. At some point, this may also help the company realize some important points or adjustments that it needs to implement in order to retain its most valuable personnel. Contrary to a job interview, traditional exit interview is like a formal process of ending one’s responsibility with his or her employer. I remember, there were series of questions that were presented by the authorized personnel of the human resource without even knowing that it was already an actual exit interview. It was not conducted at the last day of my employment, but I still consider it as a form of traditional exit interview because the goal was purely for the benefit of the entire company. There was a specific attempt to hold my employment with them through a personal question from my boss which sounded like, â€Å"Would you be willing to leave your friend in this company and would you allow us to loss a valuable person like you?†. That certainly struck my emotion and I must admit it was because of a certain pride in me that I felt at that time upon knowing the fact from them that I was one of the assets of the company. I believe that at some point, the traditional exit interview is perfect opportunity for the company to hold back its very important employees. However, I believe everyone has the freedom to move out from an employment in the same way there was freedom in moving in. I think there must be something wrong with the traditional exit interview especially that it is usually conducted at the last day of employment. A person’s emotion might be mixed up with

Comparison of the Home Depot and Umpqua Bank Essay

Comparison of the Home Depot and Umpqua Bank - Essay Example The researcher of this essay aims to find a unique and outstanding banking environment, so that he compares he Home Depot and Umpqua Bank. To come up with a framework for the radical new culture, the Home Depot management under Nardelli as the CEO, created nine divisional operating offices. These offices had different pricing accords with the same supplier. This was done to enhance efficiency and diversification to spread risk and uncertainties. The managers were up to task and had righteous will for the prosperity of the bank. In Umpqua, the management is up to date and is culture oriented to satisfy clients and acquire new branches. To maintain their culture in newly acquired branches, they bring their new employees to their main deport for training. To draw the attention of its customers, Umpqua transforms some of its branches into store. This bank creates switching costs to its customers to lock them in. The firm uses many millions to design a new generation stores. To enhance ef ficiency, Home Depot came up with a design called a culture change tool box. This toolbox had several plans of handling different situations. They include information models, which had comprehensive outlines to organize presentation data, strategic operation, and resource planning, store manager learning forums to help the attendees’ acquaint themselves with the novel strategies, employee task force. In conclusion, the researcher states that these two firms have almost the same plans based on their client satisfaction and profit generation.

Intercultural management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Intercultural management - Essay Example Then different types of corruption and its effects on the MNCs will be evaluated. Finally, probable solutions or measures will be analyzed which the government, regulatory bodies, or organizations are adopting to curb corruption and deal with such situations (Wei, 2000, p. 5). There are various forms of corruption: bribery, fraud, embezzlement, etc. In this work we will only include the issue of corruption which affects operational investment costs. According to Macrae (1982), corruption is an arrangement involving a private exchange between two or more parties. It also influences the resource allocation and makes people neglect their responsibilities. In case of FDI, the foreign investors have to pay extra cost in form of bribes for getting licenses or the permit from the government. Therefore, corruption in the countries has also raised the cost of investment there. These unnecessary costs have also reduced the margin of profitability of the investment being done. It has also been noticed that corruption adversely affects the economic performance of a country. Since the 1980s, debts have fuelled the consumption of the US and drove the global economy and its growth. However, in 2008 this economic paradigm collapsed and resulted in an economic breakdown. The government shortage expenditure, backed with paper money formation, has been replaced by debt-funded confidential expenditure as a major source of global development. The US came out of depression of $4 trillion because of Federal Reserves’ support of $2 trillion. These issues will be discussed in detail later in this study. Types of Corruption In this section we will discuss various types or forms of corruption that prevail in the global market: a) petty corruption, b) gifts, c) big corruption. It can be said that quantitative distinction can be drawn between big and small corruption and a qualitative distinction can be made between the illicit and legal aspects of these kinds of corruption. Petty c orruption means small corruption such as taking small bribes, etc. In poor countries, petty corruption prevails in every level of society. Gifts given as signs of gratitude for some official favor can be considered as petty corruption. Giving gifts is offering goods or services of some value to a person or organization with a view to some benefit from this person or organization. Various organizations have clearly specified guidelines regarding acceptance of gifts from clients. When those guidelines are overlooked, it is considered a case of corruption. Lastly, money laundering cases can be the examples of big corruption, as well as taking bribes from MNCs who wanted to invest in the country, tax evasion, etc. Corruption was also responsible for the global economic crisis of 2008. Even unnecessarily inflating the prices of products and services for earning supernormal profits is also a form of huge corruption. Effects of Corruption on MNCs The types of corruption have been mentioned in the section above. In this section the effects of such corruption on the MNCs will be discussed. The kinds of corruptions are being explained in the sequence of their entry modes. In case of forming joint ventures vs. wholly owned subsidiaries, most of the firms face the corruption of bribes from the state officials. In cases of franchising or master franchising,

Pathogoras' Fragments and Hermeneutics Coursework

Pathogoras' Fragments and Hermeneutics - Coursework Example      The two specific interpretations that Protogoras provides in his work titled â€Å"Fragments† center around two major concepts. First, is the issue of relativism, wherein man is viewed as the measure of all things. The question of ethics and what is good and what is not is determined according to man’s standards. One of the central issues in Protogoras is the question of whether virtue can be taught at all and whether citizens can be educated to a point where they become good citizens. Another central theme of the book is that possessing a virtue is equivalent to the possession of knowledge; whereas doing evil is merely an expression of ignorance in a person.   The idea that men who choose to do what is pleasurable to them may be venturing into evil deeds and not have the self-control to remain virtuous, is contested by Protogoras, who states that the very act of doing something pleasurable equates to being virtuous. In other words, he equates doing good to d oing what one finds pleasurable. Protogoras states that the process of learning is centered around the acquisition of knowledge, i.e, learning to be virtuous means in effect, learning a specific science or kind of knowledge.  Ã‚     The two specific interpretations that Protogoras provides in his work titled â€Å"Fragments† center around two major concepts. First, is the issue of relativism, wherein man is viewed as the measure of all things. The question of ethics and what is good and what is not is determined according to man’s standards. One of the central issues in Protogoras is the question of whether virtue can be taught at all and whether citizens can be educated to a point where they become good citizens. Another central theme of the book is that possessing a virtue is equivalent to the possession of knowledge; whereas doing evil is merely an expression of ignorance in a person.   The idea that men who choose to do what is pleasurable to them may be vent uring into evil deeds and not have the self-control to remain virtuous, is contested by Protogoras, who states that the very act of doing something pleasurable equates to being virtuous. In other words, he equates doing good to doing what one finds pleasurable. Protogoras states that the process of learning is centered around the acquisition of knowledge, i.e, learning to be virtuous means in effect, learning a specific science or kind of knowledge.   Plato was the one who formulated the term â€Å"rhetoric†, because before his views were propagated, verbal art was not well understood and the general understanding was that verbal art and dialogue was more holistic. But Pluto has highlighted how it is actually differentiated. the major issue that Plato has expounded is to clarify and establish a clear difference between rhetoric and philosophy. There are differences in the teaching about logos; one is the goal of seeking success and the other is the goal of seeking the truth – the former is rhetoric and the latter is philosophy.3.     A linguistic element may be both vocal and psychological in nature. There is an internal concept associated with each linguistic unit, which may exist in the mind and its understanding of the linguistic element. The other is the external sound-image, which is the spoken word. Linguistic elements are the foundation of language and because the process of formulation of language is such a complex one, it is not one that easily lends itself to changes. Moreover, it forms a common link between various generations; it forms the means by which linguistic signs can be used to depict reality.  

ART APPRECIATION - Understanding and Evaluating the Arts (U1IP) Essay

ART APPRECIATION - Understanding and Evaluating the Arts (U1IP) - Essay Example The artist’s technique in painting on an arid wall with the use of paint that was not dissolved with water produced an output that easily deteriorates as soon as Michaelangelo completed the painting. The great Royal Portal (c.1150-70) at Chartres Cathedral in France is wonderful sculpture which serves representation functions. It has a tympana depict that includes several subjects such as the Ascension, the Apocalypse, and the Incarnation of Christ. Aside from this feature, the sculpture also has several columns which serve as the foundation of door jambs below. The great Royal Portal is a transitional monument which embodies Romanesque appearance as well as the incorporation of a framework depicting Gothic style. URL: http://fenway.boston.k12.ma.us/library/art_resources/gardner_slides/prehistoric-gothic.htm Temple of the Pantheon of the Gods is found in Rome. This architecture functions as a monument used to worship the Roman gods. This temple has become a well-known tourist attraction throughout the years. Classic Alfred Stieglitz photograph, The Steerage exemplifies exceptional assemblage of black and white photos. Stieglitz started his career with the use of soft-focus photographs which can be proven by his styles, the medium and the subjects that he uses for his early photographs. Most of his art work is shot at the New York City with the negatives of the images being etched into printing plates. An example of printmaking art is "The sleep of Reason creates monsters", conceptualized and created by Francisco Goya. This art work has a personal meaning to Goya. It was his way of expressing his mental restlessness which resulted to unusual techniques and subjects. An example of conceptual art is Sol LeWitt (American, 1928-2007), Wall Drawing #263. These directions call for dividing a wall into sixteen equal parts with all one, two, three and four part combinations of lines in four directions. The first row of this

POINT CLOUD (technical report AND reflective report) Essay

POINT CLOUD (technical report AND reflective report) - Essay Example cept, the democratization and its expansion of the professionals in the AED field, and making it basic in the semantization quest of the digital mock-ups. In this case, it can be defined as both the methodology and the technology. It is a technology since it involves some digital representation of the functional and physical characteristics of the building. It can be considered being a methodology since it helps in the collaboration of different actors in various phases of the building life cycle. It is established on a number of architectural building information concerning components, building information, relations and characteristics between them while allowing all of them to enrich and complete the purely description of the digital mock-up through the association of the features that are semantic. The basic problem in architecture involves the fact that there is no efficient software that ensured the direct shift from the cloud points to the completely enriched CAD models, despite the fact that some software companies do propose new tools used in the exportation of the point of clouds. In essence, dedicated software has the ability of helping the semantically structured or efficiently segmented cloud poi nts of the historic buildings. The specificity of the historical component makes the task extremely difficult in order to construct an efficient digital representation of the historical buildings and is basic in analysing and understanding the whole chain moves from the one 3D point cloud acquired to semantically and well-structured enriched models. This process considers three key steps including the acquisition of data, enrichment of the 3D model, and segmentation of data. It is vital to highlight the BIM approach that starts to be largely used in the architecture field of design applied techniques to the available buildings, a concept referred to as the build BIM. The BIM process is made up of converting the geometry measurements and the appearance of the

The Chimney Sweeper Essay Example for Free

The Chimney Sweeper Essay William Blake wrote two versions of his poem â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper†, firstly in 1789 and secondly in 1794. They both describe the lives of children as chimney sweeps. Three poetic techniques carefully explored by Blake are imagery, tone and diction to bring a sense of sympathy to his audience. Though these poetic techniques are handled in both poems, they are shown through different perspectives. In both versions of the poem, images of death are depicted similarly using the color black. In the 1789 version, the speaker says that chimney sweeps are â€Å"lock’d up in coffins of black† and in the 1794 version, the speaker mentions that there is a â€Å"little black thing among the snow. † This outlines the blackness of the soot on the children, depicting the daily turmoil the children have to endure. Furthermore, illustrating the chimneys as ‘coffins’ describes their conditions: chimneys, like coffins, are claustrophobic and terrifying. Also noted in the 1794 edition, the speaker says â€Å"They clothà ©d me in the clothes of death.† This conveys the image that chimney sweeps live in fear, and that their work is that of death. Their clothes are black, like mourning, which once again illustrates death in both versions. Another type of imager is that of Heaven and God. The person who takes the children out of their work daily is referred to as an ‘Angel’, â€Å"And by came an Angel who had a bright key/And he open’d the coffins set them free.† He is mentioned as an Angel because he is the one who literally ‘frees’ them from their work. However, the tones of the two poems contrast; with one having a positive view on life and God, the other with a negative view. In the 1789 version, the speaker does not give out a personal opinion and listens to what he is told. God is seen as someone good, giving hope to people, â€Å"And the Angel told Tom, if he’d be a good boy/He’d have God for his father never want joy.† The tone of this poem is hopeful and prospective, the speaker looks forward to the future, saying that if the work is done, nothing will go wrong, â€Å"So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm.† On the other hand, the speaker of the 1794 poem is bitter; he blames his parents for having to work as a chimney sweeper, and looks on with detest, â€Å"They think they have done me no injury.† The speaker of this version is outspoken and, unlike the speaker of the 1789 version, is accusatory of God, â€Å"†¦God his Priest King/who make up a heaven of our misery.† God, like the child’s parents, is being blamed for the anxiety the chimney sweeps have to suffer. Diction is also an important element in both versions of the â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper.† In the 19 version of the poem, William Blake uses the word ‘white’ to raise feelings of both purity and innocence. In line 8, the speaker says â€Å"You know what that the soot cannot spoil your white hair† and in line 17, â€Å"Then naked white, all their bags left behind.† This also is a reminder of childlike innocence; how the children want freedom from their work. Other words mentioned in this version of the poem that invoke a similar tone are ‘bright’ and ‘shine.’ In the fourth stanza of the poem, the speaker says, â€Å"Then down a green plain, leaping, laughing they run, and wash in a river and shine in the Sun.† The phrase ‘wash in a river’ gives the thought of baptism, the children are being cleansed. This furthers the tone of innocence in the poem. The 1789 version is dominated by words of despair, such as ‘woe’, ‘black’ and ‘misery.’ It begins from the first line of the poem, which says â€Å"A little black thing among the snow.† This exaggerates the blackness of the soot upon the child. In line 8, the speaker refers to saying ‘sweep’ as â€Å"the notes of woe† and in line 12 calls his and other chimney sweeper’s lives as ‘misery.’ This choice of diction conveys a more serious tone to this version of the poem and helps to arouse more irritation at the fact that young children were being forced to work.

Top Girls and Under the Blue Sky | Comparison

Top Girls and Under the Blue Sky | Comparison Discuss and compare how Caryl Churchills Top Girls and David Eldridges Under the Blue Sky deploy the conventions of Dialogue and Objectives/Obstacles, and asses the connection between these formal choices and the meaning and impact of the play. The conventions of dialogue and objectives and obstacles are intertwined through the playwrights portrayal of character and in the process of creating dramatic conflict. Dialogue is a revelatory device, where action is conveyed through speech to communicate character objectives; it is the chief means by which the premise is proved, the characters revealed, and the conflict carried out.[1] Dialogue reveals subtext as well as character and motive, and communicates the internal dimension of the plot[through] psychological, or inner action'[2] within each character, whose objectives become apparent through the translation of thought into speech and its function in drama. Character objectives are defined as goals or desires for individual characters, often in opposition to each other. For David Edgar [W]hat characters do is pursue objectives [but they] are not necessarily or even often pursued directly.[3] Objectives alter according to the nature of changing conversation and character revelations, thus transforming its intensity, pace, and meaning. The motivation behind a line of dialogue informs what the character wants to achieve by them saying a particular thing. Edgar refers to Stanislavskys theory of Actioning, where actors place an intention behind each individual line. This is a rehearsal technique utilised by the director Max Stafford Clark: Max Stafford Clarkand his actors action individual lines with transitive verbs: in pursuit of the objectives, say, of seduction, a character may befriend, please, intrigue and flatter in as many lines, to which the other character, in pursuit of the objective of remaining unseduced, may respond by warning, snubbing, and challenging before finally spurning.[4] This technique highlights obstacles to these intentions. Obstacles are defined as factors working against a characters objective, often taking the form of another character in the scene, ensuring a more emotional undercurrent between characters to create conflict, particularly as [A]nother important function of the dialogue is the expression of emotion. Characters dont just state facts; they express their feelings toward conditions they feel strongly about. The most highly emotional dialogue is often a free release of feelings stemming from an open clash of wills.[5] In order to evaluate how playwrights have deployed these conventions within their writing, Top Girls by Caryl Churchill and Under the Blue Sky by David Eldridge will be used as examples to explore how these dramatic practices create meaning. Top Girls was directed by Max Stafford Clark and premiered at The Royal Court Theatre, returning early in 1983 following its transfer to New York. The play emerged as a socialist comment on Thatcherite regimes and the championing of the Individual. This has led to debate over whether it is first and foremost a feminist or a socialist play. It is not only the political content of the play which is so significant, but the structure of its content and Churchills use of unconventional dialogue: The play is informed by a pivotal moment in the early 1980s, when social and economic change had liberated women but also fostered ruthless individualism. The subject finds expressive form in the plays hybrid structure, reverse chronology and verbal technique Churchills precise notation for interrupted, overlapping and non-consecutive dialogue that specifies rhythm and discontinuity for the actors in performance.[6] The overlapping dialogue echoes the flow of real conversation or argument, thereby having an impact on the pace of a scene, making any silences more significant. The opening act is well known because it represents five historical or fictional characters, all talking over each other in an effort to become principal storyteller. However, I will focus on the argument between Marlene and her sister Joyce in the final act of the play, where the dialogue is heavy with personal history and both characters objectives reflect the issues of the play in a more pertinent and grim reflection of Churchills intention to demonstrate the prices of success. David Eldridges Under the Blue sky was first performed in 2000 at the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, an appropriately intimate space for three volatile acts of two-handers. Its revival in the summer of 2008 transported the play to the Duke of Yorks theatre, where Eldridge reflected on the differences between a small theatre space and a West End theatre production, and on what he terms a cult of virginity in contemporary British theatre: As one critic has noted, a revival is something that normally only happens to the dead. Theatre in this country is currently preoccupied with a cult of virginity, with new plays premiered and discarded in rapid succession; far more than it is nurturing a contemporary repertoire that will sustain modern playwriting long-term.[7] The motivations behind the play derive from Eldridges reaction to how teachers are portrayed in drama, but also his interest in the question of unrequited love. Eldridge says of his intention that I did very much want to meditate on the nature of unrequited love with three couples in different relationships and at different stages of their life.[8] These couples have an act each to deliberate on their individual relationships. Eldridge shows that such temperamental subject matter obstructs character desires to express themselves, resulting in the unnerving proof that the body of a teacher is at least as fallible as the mind of a child'[9], until the final act of the play which ends on a note of possibility.[10] I will focus on the opening act of the play, between Nick and Helen which explores the impact of direct conflict of desires in the exploration of unrequited love. In the translation from thought to speech, what do characters really mean and what do they really say in relation to their objectives. Even if characters are attempting to conceal information, it is revealed, either through subtext or through an emotional outburst, thus heightening or pacing the drama. The relationship between thinking and speaking becomes a complication for the characters, in the conflict between want and need, rational and emotional, or truth and security. Dialogue is used in exposition. Different devices reveal past events, including the conflicting objectives behind the dialogue which move the scene forward. In both scenes the past is very much in the present, an obstacle to it, affecting the characters now. As a result, the process of communication may be compromised, by a character trying to conceal or even change the past in an attempt to protect themselves. In both Top Girls and Under the Blue Sky the character driven dialogue is stichomythic, organised into alternate lines. The dialogue technique employed throughout Top Girls makes the characters overlap and interrupt each other. In the act between Joyce and Marlene the conversation is emotionally loaded with their history, so the dialogue must function to illuminate how important their clashing wills are to substantiate the overlapping, and convey their inner action. In contrast Under the Blue Sky delineates alternate lines to Nick and Helen, amid frequent pauses, and strained laughter. Each playwright employs the relationship between thinking and speaking differently. Joyce and Marlene speak as they think, as they react to the others words to avoid the obstacles put up by their contestations, whereas much of what Nick and Helen say is deliberated, to conceal or protect. Each playwright has defined opposing objectives within the scene, to create conflict and achieve a dramatic situati on. So dialogue grows from the character and the conflict, and, in its turn, reveals the character and carries the action.[11] Eldridge has structured his scene so that both characters wants are in opposition, so they must change as they clash with obstacles put up by the other. Helens primary goal is for Nick to reveal his desire to be the same as hers, but she discovers it is in direct contrast. So her objectives alter to overcome this and change his mind; first she attempts to make him stay, then to find ways to maintain her presence in his life. In the rest of the play we learn what happens to them through what other characters say because they are not seen again. From information gained through others, Eldridge provides suggestions of their continuing objectives following on from Act One and indicates whether they are achieved, as they become obstacles to the plays new characters in the continuation of the story. Although they are described with verbs, objectives are not actually done; they are something the characters aim at doing in the future.[12] Therefore, the process of actioning is key to the dialogue, despite it being an actor exercise. Max Stafford Clark used this technique during rehearsals for Top Girls and its television adaptation in 1991. In such a fast-paced, non-consecutive dialogue that stems from rapid and unrestrained thoughts this technique illuminates intention behind each line and explores which character is in control at a particular point. In this final scene, the status of both sisters is relatively equal in their objective, even if not in their social position, meaning that when one exerts more control over the other it is even more significant. Joyces control is demonstrated through her resistance to Marlenes attempts to appease: Marlene I didnt really mean all that Joyce I did. Marlene But were friends anyway. Joyce I dont think so, no.[13] Here, Joyce asserts the finality of her decision to be distanced from her sister. The dynamics of this argument in Top Girls reflects the nature of a conversation which has opened up old hostilities between two sisters who are almost strangers. So the dialogue has become the means of communicating their opposing wants and needs, resulting in a heated, almost uncommunicative emotional exchange demonstrating a clash of wills and their shared history: Dialogue can narrate and explain ideas. Characters under stress, however, rarely stop to describe and analyse their thoughts and feelings. Such dialogue is seldom a cool academic debate. Instead it must reveal the strong emotions the characters feel for the practical outcome of their ideas.[14] The dialogue is raw and emotional in its argument, conveying both character and he stress they are under to prove their objectives. It reveals truth, not just about Angie, and illustrates characters who are bound together but clash so irrevocably. Dominic Droomgoole described the final act of Top Girls as a big, old-fashioned, stichomythic fistfight, a ball of love and rage, a classic scrap where two political philosophies and two sisters rehearse how much they loath, and how much they need each other. The play is a journey from high style to high naturalistic emotion.[15] Churchills techniques when drafting dialogue has an explicit effect on the exchange of conversation between characters and each line is carefully structured into its position within the organization of the dialogue as a whole; her slash and asterisk notation for interruptions and overlaps speeds up the dialogue by compressing it: the slash indicates a point of interruption, the asterisk indicates a common starting point between two speeches.[16] These indications of interruption also highlight the immediacy of one characters reaction to what the other has said before, expressing how conversation is complicated, that people interrupt and do not listen to one another. So Churchills dialogue is very truthful in its delineation of interruptions and reactions and has a particular intensity to it which echoes the unpredictable, complicated nature of conversation filled with such vehemence. The argument is not based solely on Marlenes unwelcome visit, but is burdened with their relationship as sisters. Thus they can dig into the roots of an argument which has been constrained for six years, and more. This relationship, and the history stemming from their connection, is all but shattered, rendered secondary to the issues which mount between them and is perhaps the tragedy of the scene; ultimately this bond cannot be repaired by one or both of them because they have each chosen something more important in its place. Throughout the scene, Marlenes main objective to pacify her guilt is continually evaded by her sister. This, as an obstacle put up by Joyce, stems from her own desire for things to remain the same, even to protect against the possible threats of Marlenes visit. So Churchill promises dramatic conflict by making them enter the scene with opposing goals. Following the first heated exchange about gynaecology[17] and the revelation that Marlene is in fact Angies biological mother, Marlene breaks down: Marlene I was afraid of this. I only came because I thought you wanted I just came Marlene cries Joyce Dont grizzle Marlene, for Gods sake. Marly? Come on, pet. Love you really. Fucking stop it, will you? Marlene No, let me cry. I like it.[18] Churchill demonstrates that there is still some feeling between them, before we witness the further collapse of their relationship which follows this. In using this moment where the dialogue breaks down and the objective is to soothe, Churchill appeals to our sense of hope, but as the conversation builds once more, as Marlene and Joyce question each other to fill the gap of time and of affection whilst slipping in comments about Angie, I dont see why you couldnt take my money,[19] the distance between them is widened: [In the last scene], in an extraordinarily effective piece of dialogue, the characters seem to change places before our eyes; Marlene shouts, weeps, pleads for sympathy and it is Joyce who gains stature by rejecting her sisters wheedling attempts at eliciting a compromise.[20] Here, Churchills intention is to create possibility, then shatter it, so the play offers a glimpse of affectionate relations between the sisters, before their political differences drive a wedge between them once and for all.[21] This is also the moment where Marlenes vulnerability is shown, as she seemingly finds her femininity again in the private company of her sister, liking that she is finally able to express it. Despite comforting Marlene, Joyce continues to snub her attempts to compromise: Marlene Youve been wonderful looking after Angie. Joyce Dont get carried away. Marlene I cant write letters but I do think of you. Joyce Youre getting drunk. Im going to make some tea. Marlene Love you. Joyce gets up to make tea. Joyce I can see why youd want to leave. Its a dump here.[22] Immediately, Joyce starts distancing once more, making it clear that these words are not enough, subsequently proving her as an obstacle to Marlenes desire in that moment to be comforted. In Joyces reluctance to repair the relationship with her sister, the promise of resolution is threatened once more; and is exacerbated by the political stance of each character, as they finally establish a permanent gulf between them: During the final scene, Churchill repeatedly gestures toward reconciliation as a possibility that remains unrealized. In the final moments of the play, the sisters recognize that a chasm has opened up between them-though they come from the same family background, their present socioeconomic and political differences place them on opposite sides of the divide between us and them. Churchill keeps these positions in dialectical opposition, resisting synthesis or resolution, through Joyces repeated rejections of Marlenes attempts to gloss over their differencesThe expectation of reconciliation remains frustrated right through the sisters final exchange.[23] Throughout the scene, the sisters constantly challenge each others personal and political views. The threat of change is something that scares Joyce, which Marlene takes as jealousy because she was able to leave, but at great cost to her family, gender and future relationships. In this final act, Churchill shows that things do run deeper than blood, that a persons beliefs can be an obstacle to comfort they seek, and intensifies the plays meaning that Marlene has sacrificed more than a daughter for the sake of the Individual. The main objective informing the dialogue between Joyce and Marlene is to tell the other what their life has been like, to justify their choices. However, these claims are complicated by the obstacle of memory and its discrepancies, or deliberate blocking of certain facts. Furthermore, both sisters have something to say, in a heightened situation, where both claims are valid, but there is nothing to allow for polite, uninterrupted conversation. Churchill uses dialogue to open up old arguments, demonstrating how the past affects their choices, through exposition within the debate which reveals much about why and how they have reached their current beliefs and situation. For example, Marlene mentions visiting their mother earlier and comments on how she had a wasted life, and Joyce reacts, undermines Marlenes opinion when she feels that her own choices and way of life have come under attack: Joyce You say mother had a wasted life. Marlene Yes I do. Married to that bastard. Joyce What sort of life did he have? / Working in the fields like Marlene Violent life? Joyce an animal. / Why wouldnt he want a drink? Marlene Come off it. Joyce You want a drink. He couldnt afford whisky. Marlene I dont want to talk about him. Joyce You started, I was talking about her. She had a rotten life because she had nothing. She went hungry. Marlene She went hungry because he drank the money. / He used to hit her. Joyce Its not all down to him. / Their lives were rubbish. They Marlene She didnt hit him. Joyce were treated like rubbish. Hes dead and shell die soon and what sort of life / did they have? Marlene I saw him one night. I came downI had to get out, Joyce Jealous? Marlene I knew when I was thirteen, out of their house, out of them, never let that happen to me, / never let him, make my own way, out.[24] This highlights a number of important details. Firstly, Churchill has illustrated the family life Marlene and Joyce lived as children through their clashing memories of it, and the impact of their disagreement on the standard of life alters the possibility of them finding a common ground. Their opinions, particularly of their father, inform the later debate about their separate political beliefs; showing that the personal does influence these politics. Furthermore, this dialogue demonstrates how these two realities clash, even though these characters share the same past. Churchill also reveals here how Marlene knew she needed to escape this life and the impetus which led her to where she is now; and not even her illegitimate daughter would stop her. In contrast, Joyces ability to relate to her parents lives and her desire to keep things the same means that Marlene cannot properly understand why Joyce could not leave. Marlene has become a separate individual, outside this life, this f amily. Because Churchills dialogue moves at the speed of thought and there is so much to say, there is no reprieve. Instead the argument is a drunken one between two angry sisters, not a considered political assessment, and is exaggerated and oversimplified on both sides,[25] so the dialogue gives substance to these character as flawed people, in the heat of the moment, revealing exposition in their attempts to justify themselves and the origins of their clashing objectives, to ensure an emotional intensity. In contrast to the overlapping exchange in Top Girls, the scene between Nick and Helen in Under the Blue Sky relies on dialogue which is predominantly thought through. The thought processes of the characters inform the pace of the dialogue, which is symbolized in the methodical preparing and cooking of the chilli and acts as something to return to in the awkward silences, and as ingredients are added and it gets hotter, the conversation escalates. The mechanical actions of cooking contrasted with emotional dialogue creates intensity which is emphasized by the moment it is ignored: When [the water] boils neither of them takes any notice.[26] In her review of the 2008 revival, Deborah Orr concluded that the situation of this first act is that Helen loves Nick, and Nick loves being loved by her. There, if hes honest, his interest ends.[27] This is where the clash of objectives lies in the scene. Helen hopes that Nicks invitation to dinner will be a further invitation to advance their relationship. She enters the scene expecting this will happen. Nicks revelation that he is leaving to improve his career, also a cover for his desire to minimise any chance of furthering their relationship, becomes Helens main obstacle. Nicks primary objective is to delay revealing this information, until Helen asks the inevitable question: A long pause. Helen So whats this thing you wanted to talk to me about? Nick looks at Helen and thinks. Nick Lets wait until after dinner. Yeah? Ok, darling Nick smiles. Helen drinks.[28] Nicks reply to the question is very considered, he thinks and he delays. What is communicated in these given objectives is that these characters enter a scene where the process will be harmful and complicated. The impact of Nicks pauses and careful discourse is enhanced when the scene becomes, inevitably, more emotional, Helen takes the news badly, and Nick fails to cope well with her reaction. Once Nick admits he is leaving, he then has to overcome the obstacle of Helens desire to understand why, without admitting the real reason. So he projects his guilt onto Helen, thereby obstructing his ability to be honest with her. Nick It isnt my duty to be unhappy. I owe it to myself to be happy in my work and Im not. Why are you trying to put me on this huge guilt trip? Helen Im not making you feel guilty. You feel guilty. If youre feeling guilty dont blame your guilt on me. Nick Helen, youre being so hard on me. Helen Am I? Nick I thought I could talk to you about this.[29] Both characters want to know what the other is thinking before they speak, but neither is willing to go first. Both postpone their admissions in fear of the reactions they will receive as a result. At this point, Helens desire moves from convincing Nick to stay, assuring him that the situation in their school will change, before appealing on a more personal level. Helen acts as Nicks obstacle, This is like talking to a brick wall'[30]. Both of them are thrown, because control is slipping away as their objectives are challenged, and Eldridge shows efficiently how rarely conversation goes according to plan, particularly prevalent in this scene because these characters are trying to conceal what they came to say. Eventually though, they are forced to articulate these thoughts, braving embarrassment, disappointment, or as Helen says, I feel like Im shrinking in front of you'[31]. The use of alcohol in the scene also allows the dialogue to escalate, and enables them to discuss the past between them, which is dramatically affecting the present and revealing important details about their relationship. The past is an obstacle because it confuses things presently, and memory is subjective or unremembered. Helen is taken back to this time through a negative association and subsequently becomes emotionally exposed. Once Nick suddenly reveals that they slept together and that he thinks it was a mistake, his attempt at explaining himself backfires, shocking Helen into reacting to this truth. Helen No, you were drunk and you wanted itThe things you said to me. Nick When Helen That time. Then. Nick I was drunk. A slight pause I didnt know what I was saying. Helen You were heavy and pissed and you moved me around the bed like I was a prone body. But your words? The things you said. Your promisesYour memory of it is that we were both drunk but I was sober. I remember every clumsy movement and every word you said like its shot through my memory. A slight pause I thought tonight would be my turn. You know that? To fall on you. Half cut.[32] The use of the word promises is repeated throughout the scene and has a connotative impact on the dialogue; implying hope and expectation. Consequently, the idea of broken or unremembered promises heightens the emotional content of the scene. Eldridge uses this repetition to warn his characters, essentially, about the danger of making promises to escape a difficult situation. Throughout this scene, the conversation goes round in circles as the issue is avoided but forever at the centre. The characters fail to communicate in a way in that they can achieve their primary objectives, so they must alter as the conversation continues. However, Eldridge uses a dramatic gesture to communicate a strong objective. When Helen first picks up the knife to show her experience of being attacked, there is no danger, but it does foreshadow what comes later in the scene. As much as she is appalled by this event, Helen uses the knife to react in a way that she has been reacted against to make her point. Choosing to place a knife in the scene may appear melodramatic, but in fact Eldridge gives Helen a very significant way of communicating her objective, which heightens the tension and reveals more about this character, an essential technique as she never appears physically after this scene. At this point, Helen is communicating, where words are not enough. With this device i n her hand, she is able to say certain things: Youre not goingIm not going to let you leave'[33] and we understand that Helen has been driven to distraction'[34] by this situation. In his exploration of unrequited love, Eldridge has shown the brutality of his theme and how it has affected both characters when their situation is based on clashing personal objectives, portraying the pain that they both feel when confronted with a love that one of them will not admit and the other can no longer keep within bounds'[35] The characters are unable to communicate successfully, failing to achieve these goals. Of course, this creates the tension and the drama in the scene. The play is a fine exploration of the cruel inequality of love, and of the violence passion can stir in even the gentlest souls. [Lisa Dillons (Helen)] vulnerable, breathless intensity powerfully captures the pain of unrequited love.[36] The ebb and flow of the conversation, keeps the pace and lures both characters and audience into false security when the dialogue returns to the cooking chilli before reverting back to the central issue, implying that this is a safe place for both characters to return to, just for a brief reprieve in the heavy dialogue. In many ways, this device is quite aggravating because the characters need to address what is between them, but still are unable to communicate with each other. Nick keeps telling Helen to talk to him, but neither will admit before the other, which is why the conversation continually rises and falls. Nick Why cant you say what you feel? Helen Say what? A pause Nick Im confused. Youre clearly not. But you only ever meet me halfway emotionally. And I dont know if thats good. I dont know how I feel about it. Us. I feel really confused. Helen So am I. Nick I dont think you are. I amOf course I wanted you to talk about your personal feelings. Helen Personal feelings. She cant believe it. A slight pause So I can put my heart and guts on the floor in front of you? Sob and wail like a widow and hope it might change your mind? And in the process confirm your gut feeling it might be good for us to see less of each other. Good for you to see less of me. While you create a new life for yourself in Essex. Is that what you want? Well, you can get stuffed. Helen tries to leave. Nick stands in her way.[37] This, along with frequent pauses, paces the argument and ensures the portrayal of the awkward cruelty of Eldridges theme of unrequited love. Contrary to Top Girls where there is so much to be said and it is being said, for Nick and Helen, what needs to be said is punctuated by silences and tension which intensifies the weight that hangs in the air between them. Are either of these scenes about successful communication, and are any of the characters able to overcome the obstacles to achieve their objectives? In Under the Blue Sky, Nick communicates his real reason for leaving through what is left out of the dialogue, until finally confessing. Helens objective becomes centred on her protection from exposure, which she is unable in the end to suppress. In Top Girls, the sisters are talking, but they are also competing to be heard. The competition they are playing out involves proving who has sacrificed the most. Churchill used this argument to show how their personal experiences informed the progression into a political debate. At the end of both Acts, the issues between the characters are not resolved and the dialogue has traced the thoughts they have been trying to conceal or not. Issues are left hanging in the air. For Marlene and Joyce, this encompasses the idea of solidarity, of sisterhood which has been usurped by their political ideals. Nicks suggestion to put the last half-hour behind us'[38] ensures that it will be hanging over them even if they agree not to voice it, just it has always been; it even prevails throughout the other two acts of the play. Despite the process of dialogue in the scene and the clashes of wants and needs, things have changed but nothing has been resolved. In both plays we know what happens afterwards; Under the Blue Sky communicates these events through the dialogue of others; and in Top Girls it has already happened in the play. The meanings that stem from these decisions ensure that we never reach any resolution in either situation. Although we are told that Nick and Hel en continue to be friends, we know that the issue from Act One has not been addressed again, which becomes the downfall of both of them: Helen dies and Nick is left to feel guilty about why. The placing of the final scene in Top Girls changes the essence of the story and its meaning in relation to Marlenes success, which defies the ideals of individualism and the positives of Marlenes success in a seemingly male-dominated world. It also means that in hindsight the impact of this scene on the rest of the play takes on a new emotional force. Because both playwrights have written these scenes between two characters, the action is scaled down and therefore emerges through the dialogue. It becomes the most direct way of communicating character wants, conflicts and obstacles, particularly effective as the other characters prove to be the obstacle. These characters use dialogue to persuade, appease, appeal to, insult, instruct, upset, challenge, dissuade, anger, judge, apologise, be honest , lie, conceal, explain and reveal, to convey character inner action in an exploration of the dramatic conflict of wills, utilising varying levels of tension and presenting back-story through speech which is now living in each present situation. By the end of both plays, the relationships have been ended in some significant

production and cost curve :: essays research papers

Production/Cost Curves   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Every company has some kind of Revenue and they all have costs that are associated with running the company. It is also true that if a company wants to increase their Revenue, their costs will increase too. It is every company’s goal to maximize revenue and either through Production or Services, and minimize cost. These things are easy to figure out, but actually identifying the production and figuring out how it will increase or decrease with change is very difficult.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Fred Meyer our output like in all grocery stores, is not a product but the amount of items we sell. Sales is what drives the company, it is the source for our Revenue. Similar to manufacturing companies where they have numbers that tell them how much they produced, we have numbers that tells us how much we have sold. Every department has a goal that they have to reach. They have to sell their products to come to that number. The number varies daily, and managers expect from every department that they will sell more products compared to last year.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For departments to achieve that, managers have to look at the output level and decide how they can increase profit. It will be very difficult for them to do that because if they want to increase the production/output which is sales in my situation, they would incur costs. So if managers decide to try and sell more products, they could hire more employees to persuade customers to buy more products. We can see that when we go to â€Å"Circuit City† and â€Å"Best Buy†, they have employees just standing around and not doing anything, but once a customer shows up, they are all over them. So for managers in my Home-electronic department they could hire more employees to sell more products. That concept would not be very efficient after a certain number of employees are hired. If we h ire 10 more employee, than a lot of them would just stand around and be in the way of customers and even each other. This situation could be a bottleneck for people that are trying to get something done. Graph A could best describe this example. This graph shows you what happens to the output when more labor is added. The output will slowly level off and then start to decline. If the managers want to maximize the output they would have to look at the max point on the graph to get the highest output with the lowest labor force.

Essay --

Elizabeth Kelly March 10, 2014 Research Paper Being a famous boxer, you might think it would be easy, but the boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, had a hard time making his way to the professional league. He nearly drowned as a kid, was abused sexually, and was not the tallest kid in school. Even as an adult Ray faced depression, drug addiction, and being an occasional heavy drinker. But even all that did not stop him from pursuing his dream, one he never had a plan for, after two of his brothers talked him into the rough sport. On May 17, 1956, the well-known boxer, Sugar Ray Leonard, was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Named after his mother’s favorite singer, Ray Charles, his real name, is not often used. When Leonard was three years old, they moved to Washington D.C. Being one of six kids was hard for the parents of Leonard. Then seven years later, his family finally moved into a nice, permanent home in Palmer Park, Maryland, a Baltimore suburb. Sadly as a child, Ray witnessed many crimes and deaths in his neighborhood. He also had some friends die in these areas. When Cicero, Ray’s dad, was a child, he worked long hours in the field. Then later he met Getha. They started dating, then got married and had children. With finances often tight, his parents, Cicero and Getha, had to work hard for their large household. Ray Leonard’s mother, Getha, worked as a nurse. His father, Cicero, worked as a late night supermarket manager so he was usually gone during the night. Ray Leonard was never a problem in school. He got good grade and never was a problem for his parents or the teachers. As a child, Leonard loved to read comic books. He had a friend who was someone who fought in lots of fights and was f... ... in the ring, Leonard decided to retire in 1984. Sugar Ray did not stay retired because in 1987 he started fighting again. As more fights passed, he decided to retire for good in 1997 with a record of 36-3-1 and 25 knockouts. In that same year of 1997 Ray Leonard was inducted into the Hall of Fame. After Leonard’s fantastic career ended, he has been introduced to the camera in a good and different way. Sugar Ray is Khole Kardashian’s godfather, so he has been on a couple episodes of â€Å"Keeping Up with the Kardashian’s†. Leonard has also been season 12 of â€Å"Dancing with the Stars†. Even after all Sugar Ray Leonard has been through, he still managed an outstanding boxing career. He was abused, had gotten in a divorce, and lived in unsafe areas with many crimes, but nothing could stop the boxing star from playing the sport he loved.

Death Penalty Essay -- essays research papers

Capital Punishment Capital Punishment: a.k.a. the death penalty. To kill or not to kill. This is an extremely controversial question in today’s society. The number of people who are for it still believe in the saying, â€Å" an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.† These are the people who feel if you intentionally take the life of someone else, then yours should be taken as well. But then there are the other number of people who feel the death penalty should be banned because of its cruel and unjust way of punishment. Should we keep it or not? And if it is kept, how do we determine who should be sentenced to death? An easy way to answer these questions is to totally nullify capital punishment completely. One reason why the death penalty is so controversial is because many feel its cruel ways of punishment are unnecessary, even if the crime is murder, whether it be premeditated or unintentional. They believe there are other ways of condemnation besides execution. In the case of an unintentional death feelings are that the perpetrators should have the right to live, but have to face each day with the fact that they killed someone weighing on their conscience. On the other hand, such as with a voluntary murder, the ideas are somewhat similar. They believe the murderer doesn’t deserve the death penalty. Chances are if a person is insane enough to kill another human being in the first place, they aren’t going to care what happens to them. They 2 realize that their execution, in most cases, is going to be short and painless. This isn’t a just punishment for someone who has inflicted severe pain upon another life. Our court system, after initiating a life sentence without parole, should not offer these killers the comforts they have in jail. They should be treated more or less like animals. In short, let the ones who institute a crime unwillingly live, but do not let the punishment be as severe as it would for a voluntary criminal. There are a vast number of people who believe that increasing the use of the death penalty will abate the crime rate. Not true. While a criminal is in the process of committing a crime, chances are that he is not contemplating what his punishment will be for his actions. More than likely his thoughts are upon getting what he wants, whether it be something tangible, such as money, or something as ... ... use of capital punishment will not affect the crime rate of an area in any such way. The third and possibly the most important reason why capital punishment should be eliminated is because what is stated in the Bible. The sixth commandment specifically says â€Å"Thou shalt not kill.† If someone is executed, our court system is deliberately defying our Lord’s laws. John 8:7 says, â€Å"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.† This supports the idea that only a man who is not a sinner has the right to eliminate someone from this Earth. Many feel the only person or being who is without sin is God. They also believe that He is the only existence who has the right to take someone’s life, or â€Å"cast the first stone.† Which in turn means we as humans are not entitled to that privilege. 3 The use of capital punishment in today’s society is an incredibly controversial issue which will require a great deal of contemplation to answer the questions: to kill or not to kill? Many feel that the annihilation of this practice will solve a large number of the problems and questions about the death penalty that haunt our society today. How did you find cheater.com? : friend

Boredom: Prank Call

Boredom paper Can Boredom get you into trouble? That is the question that i will be discussing in my paper. I think boredom can get you into trouble because you tend to do things you normally wouldn't do. Second I think boredom can get you into trouble because you can get arested. Lastly I think boredom can get you into trouble because when you are bored you tend to eat more and more. There's still some good in being bored. When your bored you can draw,read and just write about anything. My paper is going to be about the bad in boredom.My first reson that i think boredom can get you in trouble is because you will start doing thingsyou wouldn;t normally do. If your at home and your bored and hungry but you don't know how to cook what's going to happen? Your going to want to experiment but you don't know how cook,but you cook anyway. You cook anyway and you end up burning down your house and almost killing yourself. See that's what boredom does to you. My second reason that I you think boredom can get you in trouble is because you can get arrested. When your bored some people prank call people for fun depending on their aghe they can get fined or arrested.I went on my computer and typed in things to do when your bored,two things that came up were prank calling people and hurting yourself and others. That's what being bored does to you. My last reason that I think boredom can get you in trouble is because you tend to eat more and more. When your bored you eat just to eat. You eat just to eat because your bored and there's nothing else for you to do. When you eat because your bored all your doing is gaining wieght and seting yourself up for health problems down the road. See that's what boredom can leads too.

Cyber Crimes

Businesses are becoming more and more reliant on the Internet in modern society and it is important to study the crimes that are committed electronically. There are criminals on the Internet just as there are criminals on the street, the Internet has several common crimes that businesses need to understand. Users on the Internet have rights and violating these rights are the same as violating rights in person. The Internet has laws. That means that people need to be aware of cyber laws and illegal cyber activity. Torts made on the Internet are referred to as cyber torts. Torts are simply violated someone.To start, there are several instances where a person is violated on the Internet. The primary example of being violated in cyber space is defamation. Defamation is essentially any type of slander against someone on the Internet. Whether it is through a blog post, video post, chat room, or message board, attempting to harm someone’s reputation is against the law. The person com mitting the crime of defamation can be sued for libel. It is wrong to try and ruin someone’s reputation and businesses need to realize that even if they are just joking around, saying derogatory things about someone is against the law.However, the Internet Service Provider cannot be held accountable for someone committing defamation. The Internet is a place of freedom but abusing that freedom cannot be the fault of the service provider. The Federal Communications Decency Act was created to protect these ISP’s and remind users to be decent on the Internet. Several laws have been created due to people abusing the Internet and the service providers are not to be blamed. To continue on the topic of cyber crimes, spam e-mails are constantly being thrown around but only some are actually legal.If a user is sending so much spam e-mail that it slows down the use of the computer or disrupts the Internet Service Provider, then it is a crime. The trespass of chattels is interferi ng with a person’s use of the Internet. All the junk e-mails and pop-ups are annoying for user’s and is considered a violation. However, the use of these spam type e-mails for commercial use is allowed. The Internet is a great way to advertise so companies are allowed to send bulk e-mail all around the Internet to hope generate some business. It is definitely important for businesses to understand how to properly use spam e-mails.Also, financial crimes are beginning to become more common on the Internet. So much banking and paying bills is done electronically now and it has is pros and cons. Being able to use the Internet for tedious activities like banking is great. However, all of a person’s information is now on the Internet, a very public place. Identity theft is a serious offense committed in cyber space. A person can find all of the information needed such as social security numbers, date of birth, mother’s maiden name, and all kinds of information about a person that would lead to identity theft.Users need to be extremely careful when entering any financial information on the Internet because it can lead to crimes like identity theft. Businesses need to be extremely careful when putting anything on the Internet. It can destroy a business if someone can access all of the company’s records and private information. These crimes are very serious and the culprits face serious consequences. Overall, all of these types of cyber crimes are important for businesses to understand because so much business is done on the Internet nowadays.Companies are taking more and more precautions to avoid all kinds of cyber crimes. Violating someone on the Internet is the same as violating someone in person. There are now cyber laws and breaking these laws has real consequences. From spam e-mails to defamation to identity theft, businesses need to understand all of the dangers that exist out there in cyber space. Knowing the laws will protect businesses and guide employees to stay within the boundaries of the law and keep the company strong. Cyber Crimes Businesses are becoming more and more reliant on the Internet in modern society and it is important to study the crimes that are committed electronically. There are criminals on the Internet just as there are criminals on the street, the Internet has several common crimes that businesses need to understand. Users on the Internet have rights and violating these rights are the same as violating rights in person. The Internet has laws. That means that people need to be aware of cyber laws and illegal cyber activity. Torts made on the Internet are referred to as cyber torts. Torts are simply violated someone.To start, there are several instances where a person is violated on the Internet. The primary example of being violated in cyber space is defamation. Defamation is essentially any type of slander against someone on the Internet. Whether it is through a blog post, video post, chat room, or message board, attempting to harm someone’s reputation is against the law. The person com mitting the crime of defamation can be sued for libel. It is wrong to try and ruin someone’s reputation and businesses need to realize that even if they are just joking around, saying derogatory things about someone is against the law.However, the Internet Service Provider cannot be held accountable for someone committing defamation. The Internet is a place of freedom but abusing that freedom cannot be the fault of the service provider. The Federal Communications Decency Act was created to protect these ISP’s and remind users to be decent on the Internet. Several laws have been created due to people abusing the Internet and the service providers are not to be blamed. To continue on the topic of cyber crimes, spam e-mails are constantly being thrown around but only some are actually legal.If a user is sending so much spam e-mail that it slows down the use of the computer or disrupts the Internet Service Provider, then it is a crime. The trespass of chattels is interferi ng with a person’s use of the Internet. All the junk e-mails and pop-ups are annoying for user’s and is considered a violation. However, the use of these spam type e-mails for commercial use is allowed. The Internet is a great way to advertise so companies are allowed to send bulk e-mail all around the Internet to hope generate some business. It is definitely important for businesses to understand how to properly use spam e-mails.Also, financial crimes are beginning to become more common on the Internet. So much banking and paying bills is done electronically now and it has is pros and cons. Being able to use the Internet for tedious activities like banking is great. However, all of a person’s information is now on the Internet, a very public place. Identity theft is a serious offense committed in cyber space. A person can find all of the information needed such as social security numbers, date of birth, mother’s maiden name, and all kinds of information about a person that would lead to identity theft.Users need to be extremely careful when entering any financial information on the Internet because it can lead to crimes like identity theft. Businesses need to be extremely careful when putting anything on the Internet. It can destroy a business if someone can access all of the company’s records and private information. These crimes are very serious and the culprits face serious consequences. Overall, all of these types of cyber crimes are important for businesses to understand because so much business is done on the Internet nowadays.Companies are taking more and more precautions to avoid all kinds of cyber crimes. Violating someone on the Internet is the same as violating someone in person. There are now cyber laws and breaking these laws has real consequences. From spam e-mails to defamation to identity theft, businesses need to understand all of the dangers that exist out there in cyber space. Knowing the laws will protect businesses and guide employees to stay within the boundaries of the law and keep the company strong.

Animal Experiments

Some people think animal experimentation should be stopped because it is cruel. Others think it is necessary for the development of science. Discuss both view and give your own opinion. Animals were friend of humanity at different times of the human history. In modern times, experiments upon animals have long been a breeding ground for spirited debate. Some animal right activists argue that we should ban animal experiments altogether because putting animals through experimentation is unjustifiable on moral grounds. Yet some other people contend that the advancement of science necessitates animal testing. Personally, I believe both their views have merit and demerit. Granted, empirical evidence suggests that many animal experiments are performed callously without any attention to the discomfort or pain that laboratory mammals endure. First and foremost, improper confinement of test animals such as locking them up in cramped cages is inhumane. It can gravely disrupt natural biological functions of the test animal. Further, the effects of vaccination and vivisection conducted on live mammals can be chilling. They may, in some case, even constitute sheer torture of live animals. However, from a more pragmatic perspective, evidence bounds that animal subjects are still an indispensable part at this point. In the first place, it is manifest that drug experimentation on live mammals is far more effective than experimentation on bacteria or on other lower species in testing drug safety. In the second place, in space research, live animals are still the only practical alternative to humans in testing living creature reaction to outer-space experience on a flight not considered to be sufficiently safe for human astronauts. Lastly, lab research about the behavioral tendencies of chimpanzees, gorillas and other members of the primate group is also necessary. It produces outcomes which consistently advance anthropological and genetic studies. To conclude, I concede that experiments upon animals may induce suffering to the test animals. However, I am convinced that there are no feasible alternatives to this methodology at the current stage of scientific development. On balance, I think that we should allow animals testing to be continued but at the same time we use techniques such as anesthetic to minimize the pain of the test animal.

Major Turning Points in U.S. History (1492-1820) Essay

Throughout documented United States history, immense changes in social, political, and economic establishments have been brought about by perplexing people or conditions. Often, these changes mark a turning point in the progress of civilization as new ideas are formed, new governments raised, or new discoveries put to use in the interest of progress. Whether these pivotal moments in history may be triggered due to a single nonconforming individual or a vast, radical multitude, each turning point has explicit influences and outcomes which shaped America for years to follow. Every important decision has two key dimensions. The first is the outcome in the immediate case, and the second is as a precedent for future development. When calculating the most substantial turning points of something as expansive as an entire country one must discern not merely the immediate effects, but the long-term consequences as well. Throughout the duration of this essay I will briefly analyze what is perceived to be the most imperative turning points in American history politically, socially, culturally, and economically on, not simply an immediate premise, but also on an enduring scale. One of the first major turning point events in early American history was the French and Indian war. The French and Indian war was fought between the French and its American Indian allies against the British colonial forces from the year 1756 to 1763 and is considered one of the bloodiest wars in American colonial history, and the bloodiest American war in the 18th century. It took more lives than the American Revolution and involved people on three continents. The war was the product of an imperial struggle, a clash between the French and English over colonial territory and wealth. The war was fought for 7 years across territory in North America and a major cause for this war was struggle for territorial expansion between Frenc h and English forces. It is also believed that the effects of the French Indian War are the ultimate cause of American Revolution. Before and throughout the French and Indian War, from about 1650 to 1763, Britain essentially left its American colonies to run themselves in an age of neglect. The consequences of the war successfully ended French political and cultural influence in North America. England gained massive amounts of land and vastly strengthened its hold on the continent. The war, however, also had indirect results. It severely eroded the relationship between England and Native Americans; and, though the war seemed to strengthen England’s hold on the colonies, the effects of the French and Indian War played a key role in the deteriorating relationship between England and its colonies that ultimately led into the Revolutionary War. As you proceed onward with the history of our country you reach what is undisguisedly the most significant turning point in American history; the American Revolution. After the French and Indian War, the age of neglect was finished. Britain, wanting to replenish its drained treasury, placed a more substantial tax burden on America and tightened regulations in the colonies. Over the years, Americans were forbidden to circulate local printed currencies, ordered to house British troops, made to comply with restrictive shipping policies, and forced to pay unpopular taxes. Furthermore, many of those failing to conform to the new rules found themselves facing a British judge with no jury. Americans were shocked and offended by what they viewed as violations of their liberties. Over time, this shock turned to anger, which ultimately grew into desire for rebellion. The Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris, France on September 3, 1783. This ended the American Revolutionary War, and gave the colonies their independence from Great Britain. The 13 states were now free to join together and become the United States of America. They could now formulate their own government and conceive their own laws. This freedom was the most substantial effect of the American Revolution. New ideas like those conveyed in the Declaration of Independence were finally allowed to spread and grow in the new country. The British gave America all of the land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River, from Canada to the north and Florida to the south. If the revolution had not taken place, it is probable we would still be under British rule today. The newly formed United States of America would need to set up a new national government. The citizens of the new country did not want a government that would inflict high taxes like England did before the revolution. However the new government would be weak unless the states were willing to compromise. The Articles of Confederation specified that all thirteen states had to ratify any new constitution for it to take effect. To avoid this obstacle, the delegates included in the new Constitution a section outlining a new plan for ratification. Once nine of the thirteen states had ratified the document (at special conventions with elected representatives), the Constitution would replace the Articles in those nine states. The delegates figured correctly that the remaining states would be unable to survive on their own and would have to ratify the new document as well. Politically, the creation of a new constitution, led to the establishment of a new centralized democratic government. Socially, more individuals and groups fought to secure rights for themselves, especially women, slaves, and religious groups. Economically, a method for fixing the national debt, along with a strong agrarian base, would help a slow, but steady improvement to American society. Political, social, and economic aspects of the overall American society were affected so dramatically as to create a new country that is so unlike any nation created before it. Benjamin Franklin jokingly made one of the best educated guesses and assumptions of all-time when he said, â€Å"Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxe s†. Neither death nor taxes have shown any sign of letting up, and the Constitution has shown plenty of longevity. Over 220 years after the ratification of the Constitution it stands almost untouched to rule and guide the citizens of the United States of America. Thousands of laws, actions, treaties, regulations, and judicial rulings have been made and decided on behalf of this document. This document not only protects and governs the lives of the people, but the businesses and foundations in which they work and own. As American Society continued to grow reaching residency in the millions another huge turning point event arose, the Louisiana Purchase. The purchase of Louisiana by the American President Thomas Jefferson was one of the greatest acquisitions America managed in history. It paved way for easy trade and doubled the total land space of the country. The Louisiana territory encompassed all or part of 15 present U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. The Americans managed to acquire this immense amount of land for merely $15 million dollars. Furthermore this colossal purchase directly led to what is identified as the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806), was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific coast undertaken by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, it was led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. It is difficult to overstate the long-term ramifications of the Expedition. The most noticeable immediate effect was the rise in the northern plains fur trade between 1806 and 1812. For Native Peoples, the aftermath of the Lewis and Clark was anything but a positive experience. Perhaps the most devastating was the outbreak of smallpox among the Mandan in 1837, an epidemic which all but destroyed the once-powerful group. To the Native Americans, it was the beginning of an end. Their lives were forever changed by their contact with the fur traders, soldiers, and missionaries that followed in result of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The changes were no less profound for the European Americans either. Lewis and Clark provided valuable information about the topography, the biological sciences, the ecology, and ethnic and linguistic studies of the American Indian. The mysteries of the vast area known as the Louisiana Purchase quickly disappeared after Lewis and Clark.