Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis - 1222 Words

For many people the family is something that is there as a form of support and guidance. Mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters all gain strength from those around them to face the sometimes harsh challenges of day to day life. However, not many often consider the possibility that the family can not only build you up but also tear you down. In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis this destruction is what is seen in the Samsa family. Through what they believe to be necessary, Gregor’s family destroys the environment that he knows, Gregor Samsa destroys his family, and Mr. and Mrs. Samsa bring unnecessary destruction to both of their children. The very nature of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is change and the effect on people. The first very obvious change is that of Gregor Samsa into a â€Å"monstrous vermin† (Kafka 3). However, one change that many may not realize is that of the arrangement of the apartment after Gregor’s metamorphosis. The Samsa family, with the exception of Grete, does not know how to properly cope with Gregor’s transformation. So in response to their new normal, the family decides to make changes. One of the first is when Gregor’s sister Grete and his mother decide to change the arrangement of his bedroom; which up until then had been the only place he had been left to live in solitude. Kafka explained the actions of the women as, â€Å"They were clearing out his room; depriving him of everything that he loved. . .† (Kafka 35). Gregor had not had much to love in life. HisShow MoreRelatedThe Metamorphosis Franz Kafka s Metamorphosis1663 Words   |  7 PagesIn The Metamorphosis Franz Kafka tells the story of a young man named Gregor who observes the radical changes in his life after transforming into an insect. Gregor’s life was centered on his job as a traveling salesperson and his family. One morning Gregor woke up transformed into an insect. Afraid of the transformation Gregor stays in his room and ignores calls from his family. When Gregor realized that his new body did not allow him to have a normal life, he tried to adapt. After his metamorphosisRead MoreMetamorphosis By Franz Kafka s Metamorphosis1496 Words   |  6 PagesIn Franz Kafka s Metamorphosis, Grete changes from a child into an adult while also trying to do the opposite with her own family. Gregor’s metamorphosis leaves her family without anybody money to pay for their needs. Consequently, Grete replaces Gregor and begins to cook and clean for her family and go to work. These jobs allow Grete to become more experienced and to mature. Similarly, Grete shows displays these changes by dressing more provocatively and becoming more interested in romance. HoweverRead MoreReview Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 958 Words   |  4 PagesBibliography of the Life of Franz Kafka There are several aspects about the writing of Franz Kafka that make it enticing to the reader and tantalizing enough to keep the reader intrigued. The narrative that I find most intriguing by Kafka is The Metamorphosis. The Metamorphosis is a tale wherein Kafka essentially gives his perception of the story of his life through the use of storytelling devices, which without the use of them would have made it a less interesting tale. Franz Kafka was born on July 3rdRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 3979 Words   |  16 PagesAustin Day Professor Imali Abala English 357 18 February 2015 The Theme of Alienation in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis The Metamorphosis written by Franz Kafka in 1915 is said to be one of the greatest literary works of all time and is seen as one of Kafka’s best and most popular works of literature. A relatively short novel; the story explains how the protagonist, Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a vermin which completely estranges him from the world even moreRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 1087 Words   |  5 Pagesmercy were ignored. Franz Kafka’s novella is not about a dictator but it alludes to a person close to Franz that was as close to a dictator that he ever go to. Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, is about a young man that wakes up one day and is a vermin and has to maneuver around his home and come to terms with his six itchy legs. It probably sounds like a load of fictitious ramblings that somehow became a classical novel. Wrong! Look a little closer and the secret message Franz Kafka wrote for his fatherRead M oreFranz Kafka s The Metamorphosis882 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Metamorphosis† is a surreal story by Franz Kafka surrounding the transformation and betrayal of Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one day, reborn into a large insect. Along with the bizarre and nightmarish appearance of his new hard back, brown segmented belly, and many legs, Gregor only desire is to live a normal life, unfortunately, this is impossible because he struggles to even get out of bed. Gregor transformation into an insect is a vivid metaphor for the alienation of humans from around theRead MoreFranz Kafka s The Metamorphosis814 Words   |  4 Pages When Franz Kafka first penned his short novel The Metamorphosis in 1915, he had no idea that it would become one of the most influential pieces of fiction of the twentieth century, continuously being studied in colleges and universities across the Western world. The novel rotates around the life of a man named Gregor Samsa, who wakes up on a routine day, and suddenly finds himself transformed into an insect. As the story progresses, the reader can see how Gregor’s physical transformation triggersRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s Metamorphosis1985 Words   |  8 Pagestruly seen? Does one view one’s external self, or do they see a reflection of past experience? Not many have the value of altruism, but some do. Sometimes altruism can turn extremist though, to the point where it can be a negative thing. In Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis, the main character Gregor Samsa is a workaholic that randomly one day awakens as a bug. Initially, Gregor sees himself with a condition, and then slowly tries to adapt to his bug transformation. Gregor did not put himself first when heRead MoreFranz Kafka s The Metamorphosis1630 Words   |  7 Pagesomnipresent in the context of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. Throughout the story, the Samsa family struggle to balance their own lives and the sympathy for Gregor, the only son, as his transformation from human to cockroach leaves a burden on the family and results in the loss of Gregor’s humanity. Despite the fact that Gregor had been the sole income of the family, the loss of humanity from becoming a cockroach was overwhelming to the family, resulting in selfish tendencies. Kafka displays how humans areRead MoreFranz Kafka s The Metamorphosis1318 Words   |  6 PagesFranz Kafka’s twentieth-century classic, The Metamorphosis, shows the changes of the Samsa family after their son, Gregor, turns into a vile insect. Even though Gregor has turned into the most disgusting of creatures, this â€Å"metamorphosis† is ironic compared to the transformation that his family endures. While Gregor still sustains his humanity, the lack of any compassion and mercy from his family, is what makes them the disgusting creatures rather than Gregor. The changes of Gregor’s father, mother

The Controversy Over Mark Twains The Adventures of...

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a controversial book that has raised heated debates across America for the past century. It was ranked fifth most challenging books out of one hundred in the 1990s (Chadwick 2). Although this book is a hot topic, it should remain on shelves, and still be taught in schools. While Huck Finn seems to be only a book of satire, most want this book banned because it is seen as highly racial. â€Å"The reading of Huck Finn is humiliating to back students. It contributes to low self-esteem. Only the insensitive and often unwittingly racist teachers respond ‘This book is a classic’ (Washington post 6).† The use of the word nigger upsets many black students and instigates the other students to use†¦show more content†¦The book is so comical, and lively all the way through. What makes this book so controversial is the fact that the word nigger is used more than 200 times in the book, but Twain simply used the term as they would back then. Can you say anyone dislikes Jim? No, we grow fond of him, perhaps love him. The n-word is not demining (Jones 154). Shelly Fisher Fishkin quotes, â€Å"Huck Finn is the greatest anti-racist novel by an American writer today.† This is proven in chapter XXXIV of Huck Finn when Huck knew helping Jim may get them killed, but he chooses to try to make him a free man. The book possesses good qualities, and morals. Huck could have turned Jim in; but kept him a secret and stayed afloat the river of freedom. We can also learn that our society is not what is seems. Although everyone is of Christian faith, they still own slaves, and are morally bad people. The novel presents a new perspective on today’s society and how it is still very much like Twain’s time. The need to ban this book from shelves and schools should stop. People need to start to embrace this book with meaning and the humor it possesses. The Banned Books Week Club celebrates the F irst Amendment and the freedom to read by posting a list of banned books that society should read, Huck Finn being 6th on the list (Adler7). In schools teachers need to learn how to explain Twain instead of banning his works of literature.Show MoreRelatedMark Twain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1575 Words   |  6 Pages Mark Twain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Controversy Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, is a highly recognizable figure in American literature. Born in Florida, Missouri Mark Twain and his family moved to Hannibal, Missouri where Twain discovered and fell in love with the mighty Mississippi River. The river and his life in Hannibal became his inspiration and guiding light in most of his writing. Although Twain loved the river and did a great deal of traveling, he eventuallyRead MoreHuckleberry Finn Persuasive Essay1571 Words   |  7 Pagesalmost-right word and the right word is really a large matter- ‘tis the difference between the lightning bug and lightning.†(Mark Twain). Mark Twain, the author of an extraordinary yet controversial novel; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn had a great way of capturing moments in time and bringing them to life through the use of meaningful and direct diction. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been a vexed novel for it s a use of the â€Å"N-word†. However, many scho lars and associations have devised a â€Å"solution†Read MoreRacism of Yesterday and Today Essay1655 Words   |  7 PagesThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was written by Mark Twain in the middle of the nineteenth century. Much of the inspiration for the book came from Mark Twain’s own encounters. Twain’s experiences as a steamboat pilot from 1835 to 1845 provided a great deal of the historical context for his work. The novel revolves around a southern boy, Huck, and a slave named Jim who both reject society by running away in hopes of finding freedom. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn highlights and portrays theRead MoreMark Twain : Seeing America s Flaws1593 Words   |  7 PagesMark Twain: Seeing America’s Flaws â€Å"You don’t know about me, without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer , but that ain’t no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain and he told the truth, mainly. There was things he stretched, but mainly he told the truth† (qtd. in Jones 237). That was the very first line in Mark Twain’s controversial book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Samuel L. Clemens, as a young boy, grew up on the Mississippi and learned the ways of southernRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn787 Words   |  4 PagesIn this journal, both Nicole Amare and Alan Manning criticize the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through Mormonism. To Amare and Manning, Twain’s fascination of Mormonism and the character’s literary meanings. Furthermore, they claim of Twain’s use of his use of politician names in the stories, which are seen as juxtaposed by Twain in the novel, impact the character Boggs and Governor Lib urn Boggs of Independence, Missouri. However, these uses of political names can be portrayed as simplyRead MoreEssay on Racism in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn576 Words   |  3 PagesMark Twain has always been one of the most controversial authors of all time. Though in recent years, there has been increasing controversy over the ideas expressed in his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In some extreme cases the novel has even been banned by public school systems and censored by public libraries. The basis for this censorship is the argument that Mark Twains book is racist, but in reality Twain was against racism and used this book to make people aware of what wasRead MoreThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain830 Words   |  3 PagesThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is â€Å"A Great American Novel†, because of its complexity and richness. Twain writes dialogue that brings his characters to life. He creates characters with unique vo ice and helps the reader connect to the book. Anyone who reads it is forced to develop feelings for each character. Even though there is a great amount of controversy over the use of some choices, such as the â€Å"n word†, it makes the book more realistic. In the beginning of the novel Huck,Read MoreResearch Paper Mark Twain1306 Words   |  6 PagesIsabella Thomaz Donna Hunter - Period 2 Research Paper - Mark Twain October 26, 2012 MARK TWAIN: A REMARKABLE MAN WHO PAINTED THE WORLD â€Å"Classic - a book which people praise and dont read.† When Samuel L. Clemens (more often referred to as Mark Twain) said this, he meant it in a humorous sense, but he also wanted people to understand it’s meaning. People call books like Huck Finn and Gatsby classics, yet the idea that these books are actually read by everyone isn’t so. Twain isn’t justRead MoreRespect The Elderly By Mark Twain1565 Words   |  7 Pagesthe elderly. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one hundred and thirty years old, yet unfailingly manages to fascinate, infuriate, and inspire its readership. The novel rests on many a bookshelf and regularly appears on lists of literary legends- though it is equally likely to top a list of controversial and profane works. Certainly, there is no other book in the oeuvre of Mark Twain that commands attention more deservedly than Huckleberry Finn. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the decidedRead More Prejudice and Racism in Huckl eberry Finn Essay1265 Words   |  6 PagesHuckleberry Finn: The Immorality of Racism A majority of people in American society believe that school systems must teach children that racism is morally wrong. Often, however, tension has builds over how to teach this important lesson. Unfortunately, a controversy has built over the teaching of Huckleberry Finn. Although some believe that Mark Twains novel perpetuates racist feelings, in fact Twain uses the characters to demonstrate the immorality of slavery. Miss Watson and Pap

Karate vs Taekwondo Similarities and Differences Essay Example For Students

Karate vs Taekwondo: Similarities and Differences Essay Martial Arts Differences: Karate versus Teakwood Ever since the times of the Japanese and the Koreans, Karate and Teakwood were used forms tot self-defense. Still, the two martial arts, serve its purpose, but presently have additional purposes which are for physical fitness and spiritual and mental focus. Although the two might appear very similar, they are strikingly different. Unfortunately, many people dont know this and cant differentiate the two. , for one, became interested in differentiating the two to know which arterial art will be suitable for me; because am planning to learn one of the two in the near future. After some research, have found that both Karate and Teakwood are great martial arts, but they are different in origin, moves, and purpose. Karate and Teakwood are often mistaken to have the same origin or their origins are Often mixed up. Karate was developed in the Rusk Islands, but the island of Okinawa is considered to be its birthplace (Critter 101 , 2009). Thus, Critter 101 stated that its various styles were all rooted from the Okinawa style systems. Meanwhile, Teakwood started in Korea and was enhanced when the country was occupied by the Japanese. It just became systematic martial art after the Second World War (Teakwood-information. Org, 2009). Another difference of Karate and Teakwood are its moves, On one hand, Karate is comprised of punches, strikes, blocks, and kicks to make the entire human body a weapon. These techniques are combined with evasive footwork maneuvers and joint locks to create a hand-to-hand or hand-to-weapon combat method of basic self-defense, In addition to that, training and understanding he basic moves can deliver one of the most devastating strikes to any attacker rendering them incapacitated (Nichols, 2009). On the other hand, a lot of the Teakwood moves are about striking people using the legs and most of the moves involved spin around kicks, flying kicks, open handed strikes, system of blocks and punches. Aside from that, Tea Swoon Do believes that the leg is the most important weapon that a martial artist has and since it is the longest it has more chances of hitting the target compared to the arms (Sitting, 2008). Lastly, the two martial arts both are for self-defense, but they certainly differ in Other purposes. The Other purpose Of Karate is to make the body like iron or as hard as a rock and the hands and feet used like points of arrows. This is because it the only weapon used in a right that should be reasonable. Karate fighters arent allowed to get into fights without any reason (Toots, 1908). Meanwhile, the other purpose of Teakwood is perceived as a way of life. This is because it involves discipline, technique and mental training, resulting in a strong sense of inference, spirit and character (Mamas Health. Com). Overall, I prefer to take Teakwood, although there is the reality that both do many Of the same forms as the Other _ In addition to that, they both require athleticism, stamina, and discipline. The differentiation is that the higher kicks in Teakwood are not suitable for all people (Wiseacres). Even though Teakwood might sound more difficult, my preference for it wont change, because I like to be challenged.

Is health care a basic right free essay sample

Can it be limited if the cost of providing unlimited treatment is prohibitive? If so, should it be regarded as a commodity and limited by market mechanisms, or should it be rationed by government regulation? If not, how can the nation pay for it? Health Care, like all other services comes at a financial cost. While we should strive to make health care available and affordable to all, the bottom line is that it is a service that can only be provided if the voting populous agrees on its need. Basic human rights do not cost money. We have the right to life and liberty which is great and we do not have to pay for it. We have the right to basic medical care as well. But we can only have that if other people pay for it. And that is the problem with health care as a basic human right. We will write a custom essay sample on Is health care a basic right? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The only way it can happen is if the rights of others are curtailed. Some people will be forced to pay for it and others like doctors and nurses will be forced to provide it. All people of the world should be able to receive adequate health care when they need it. How this would work is another question all together. When we are talking about governments providing plans and systems for this to work it starts getting very complicated and ever the best and brightest have not come up with the golden bullet. Much work is still needed to figure this one out. Americans consider health care a basic right. Through Medicare, Medicaid, and employer health plan requirements government has arranged broad access to health care. Yet, like other rights, it is limited. For example, patients in managed care do not have the right to unrestricted care and some expensive treatments. Medical costs continue their rise and the nation cannot afford lavish, universal health care. Instead of a comprehensive rationing system imposed by government, market forces will determine how, when, and for whom care is limited. The HCA saga is a small, but conspicuous part of this trend. Having the government regulate health care cost is so far the best solution because if everyone takes advantage of this unlimited treatment, who will pay for it? In the worst case scenario the nation might probably go bankrupt if they do not regulate it. Thus health care should be limited if the cost of providing unlimited treatment is prohibitive. Health care is an essential service like education, clean water and air and protection from crime, all of which we already acknowledge are public responsibilities. Never mind that many  Americans do not believe that public agencies are in fact providing adequate schooling, pollution control, and crime prevention. If we think health care is a right, then we should be appalled that the United States is the only western democracy whose citizens do not have universal access to health care. If you think health care is a commodity, then you should accept the fact that some of those without coverage will end up at the mercy of their hospital when the medical bills come due. Realizing that there is no free lunch when it comes to health care. That is why health care should be rationed by government regulations. Hospitals are a local monopoly. The result is that hospitals may tend to monopolize their local area, consolidating or driving competitors out of business and then charging rent-extracting prices for their services. Given the basic necessity of healthcare services and the resulting political sensitivity of the issue, this is generally viewed as a Bad Thing. So government serves a role by treating hospitals like an airport, utility, or other natural monopoly, and regulating their prices or rate of return. Many of the arguments in the media for government intervention in the US healthcare market are really observations that the current set of regulations is functioning very poorly. One of the more insidious arguments in this vein is that reform of the healthcare system will lead to rationing of care. But the entire economy is about rationing of goods and services. Unless we are willing to spend a ruinous portion of our GDP on healthcare services, these services will be rationed, one way or another. The best hope of economists is that they are rationed in an efficient way, a way that lets consumers trade off, as well as possible, the benefit of a healthcare procedure versus the other uses those resources could go to. This is the reason that attaching prices to procedures is in theory a good thing. What gets mixed up with prices is the differential access of the rich and poor to procedures under a price system. Many of the problems with modern healthcare have been trial-and-error attempts to identify what allocations of healthcare are approximately efficient. In the US, they have ended up with a system where we give out too much healthcare, whereas in Britain and elsewhere the problem may lie somewhere toward the other end of the spectrum. Healthcare industry need to place an honest value, sell products only for what they are worth and involve a third party for payment only when absolutely necessary.  But above all there is no value on healthcare costs. The money is not spent on caring for our health. This is how the free market works. It is not a market, and it is not free.

Multicultural Education Freedom or Oppression

Multicultural Education Freedom or Oppression Introduction Multicultural education is an emerging discipline in education that is designed to provide equal opportunities to students from diverse ethnic groups, nationality, social-class, and culture. The concept seeks to develop an education system that enables the students to learn in a pluralistic society that embraces their diversity.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Multicultural Education: Freedom or Oppression specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Over the past decade, scholars have reviewed the effectiveness of implementing multicultural education in different nations. There are emerging concerns about the effectiveness of the approach. While some scholars believe that multicultural education fosters oppression, others share the sentiment that is influencing the development of freedom. This paper looks into multicultural education with a focus on its effectiveness in fostering freedom or oppression. M erits of multicultural education The main goal of developing the multicultural education system in developed nations like the United States is to provide an environment that accommodates all the members of the society despite their differences. Multicultural education provides a unique opportunity for the minority in a society to access the same opportunities as the majority ethnic groups. With the current state of globalization, people from different nations, ethnic backgrounds, and cultural beliefs settle in the same areas, and they have to access the same social amenities. This has influenced the authorities in the areas to develop rules that accommodate the beliefs of the different people. Education facilities have pioneered the accommodation of cultural diversity through the elimination of discrimination and racism in their facilities. Curriculums are shaped in a manner that provides fairness in learning. The system focuses on curriculums and rules that influence reflection on positive social changes (Jay, 2003). Implementation Despite the many years that multicultural education has been theoretically present in the curriculum, there is yet to be substantial evidence of its implementation. Many institutions still have multicultural education in the planning process; thus, the intended goals of the concept are yet to be achieved (Jay, 2003).Advertising Looking for critical writing on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Part of the reason that has led to the slow development of multicultural education in institutions is the complication of transitional process from the traditional mainstream knowledge. It is apparent that the level of school dropouts in the education system is still affecting the minority in the society. This has specifically affected the Latino and Hispanic groups in the American society. Developing multicultural education does not solve the underlying issues in the society. This failure is one of the challenges that must be met to influence higher attendance of school by the minority ethnic groups. Social justice issues still prevail in the American education system. This problem hinders the implementation of the multicultural education ideas. It is apparent that equality in the education system is yet to be attained despite the claims that most of the institutions have already implemented multicultural education (Khan, 2008). Conclusion Multicultural education is a phenomenon developed to promote social equity in the education system. The goals of the concept are to influence equality in the access of education and the development of an environment that accommodates the entire society, regardless of the diversity of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, and cultural beliefs. The implementation of the concept is yet to be realized in the American nation because of the social challenges that still haunt the society. The rate of school dropout s in the society still remains high among the minority ethnic groups. The multicultural education concept aims at fostering freedom in the society, but it is yet to eliminate the social oppressions present in the society. The institutions that claim to have implemented the multicultural education still implement the oppressive values of the traditional mainstream education; hence, the multicultural education concept is oppressive. References Jay, M. (2003). Critical Race Theory, Multicultural Education, and the Hidden Curriculum of Hegemony. Multicultural Perspectives, 5(4), 1-9.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Multicultural Education: Freedom or Oppression specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Khan, M. (2008). Multicultural education in the United States: reflections. Intercultural education, 19(6), 527-536.

Verb Words

Verb Words Verb Words Verb Words By Sharon Im always interested in words that relate to a particular area. A couple of weeks ago, I looked at words for book lovers. Now its time to think of words about words. In this case, Im concentrating on one particular Latin root, verbum, the Latin word for word. That has spawned a number of other words in English, such as: verb (14th century, meaning word) verbal (relating to words, oral, relating to verbs) verbalism (an expression, phrase or word; an emphasis on the importance of words; a cliche) verbalist (someone who deals in words instead of facts, or who is skilled in using words) verbalize (to put into words, or to change a word into a verb) verbatim (word for word) verbiage (excessive and meaningless use of words) verbose (wordy) Here are some quotations from newspapers: by of all purists The New York Times (Youve come a long way, baby): It is complained that the President is too verbose and too vague. But this is to miss entirely the point of popular acceptance. In the Presidents misty language (www.nytimes.com) time, for then we had nothing to lose and a vision to gain. Today it is not quite the same. It is a time of tons of verbiage, activity, and consumption. Which condition is better for the world at large I will not venture to discuss. But (www.theguardian.com) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely?For Sale vs. On SaleAppropriate vs. Apropos vs. Apt

Apt Accuracy in Forecasting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Apt Accuracy in Forecasting - Essay Example In addition, the problem situation entails exploring other available techniques that can be used to improve short-term forecasting on an annual, quarterly and monthly basis (Emerson, 2003). On a similar note, the firm is interested in long-term forecasting ranging from 2-3 years and generation of inflation forecasts. For proper maintenance of the balance between the company objectives and customer prospects, it should be assumed that the EBBD managers are habitually required to bestow better service with limited resources (Fildes & Allen, 2011). The EBBD’s approach in forecasting is not only an estimation of future business but also an appeal of resources, which will ensure a steady supply of the product (Fildes & Allen, 2011). The assumption that, the monthly costs and operational budget reviews are prolific then it follows that this process is expected to provide desired results. An assumption that, this environment is constant, the benefits of effective forecasting are numerous. It is imperative to note that, placing a determined amount of product in a forecasting process, expectations that both the resources and the products are available to remain fundamental. (Fildes & Allen, 2011). This stage requires apt accuracy in a bid to meet the expectations with limited fluctuations. EBBD management like those of other companies operates under the environment of risk and uncertainty. It is imperative to note that, one of the key instruments of reducing risk in decision-making processes is forecasting. It is assumed that an immense difference exists between forecasting intended for an existing product and that intended for a new product (Fildes & Allen, 2011). Proper application of forecasting in each case can be critically ascertained in each case.

Reshaping Toledo The physical and symbolic transformation of the Essay

Reshaping Toledo The physical and symbolic transformation of the medieval city after the Christian conquest of 1085 - Essay Example This paper not only concentrates on the physical patterns that underwent changes during the transitional period, but also focuses on the several changes which cast their strong influences in human psyche of this place. It talks about the history of the city itself, the quintessential aspects of its transformation through the centuries, the effect of repopulation of the al-Andalusia region during the long years of the Reconquista and the people representing a large melting pot of various cultures and creeds, namely Christians, the Muslims and the Jewish minorities, who inhabited the city. The city being one of the most happening centers of physical, religious and cultural transformation has been the interest of a large number of archaeologists and historians, who tried to bring out the subtle tones of color representing the gradual change in the nature of the city, the outlook of the people and their social standing with respect to each other. This is a fact that these changes effected over a long period of time throughout the reign of Alfonso VI and continuing aftermath slowly imparted the final tones of color to the city whose traces can be linked even today. If we retrospect the entire history of medieval Spain and not just the city of Toledo, which was an integral part of the al-Andalus governed by the Islamic supremacy and the Berber regimes of Almohads and Almoravids, we would procure a tale of both oppression and tolerance throughout the entire period of change from the Islamic supremacy to Christian power. The chronicles that record this transformation also s peaks of the slow change in the lives of the people, the Christians and the Muslims along with the minorities, mostly the Jews, because reshaping of the city was also brought about by the changes in the religious and social scenario. It led to the mingling of different ritualistic practices among the Spanish population. This paper will focus on the Spanish mediaeval history when all these transformations took place giving birth to a multicultural milieu of Toledo. Reshaping Toledo is the main subject of this paper. Throughout the discussion, we shall try to examine in what sense the city was reshaped. There are different schools of thought who have said different things on whether the Muslim era in Toledo had its serious effect. This paper will also throw some light on whether the Christian era after Reconquest in the city was able to bring valuable changes to the city scenario. Regaining the power over Spanish states was a great achievement for the Christians, but our discussion wi ll try to evaluate this reign's actual influences on the physical, religious and symbolic aspects of Toledo. It might be noted that Medieval Spain went through several torments as the Christians showed up a constant fight to clinch power from the hand of Muslims. The Spanish battlefield remained a happening place throughout the medieval era and the crusade started at the point when the Muslims had their control almost all through the Western Europe. European continent was ruled by the Muslims from the beginning of the 8th century and they continued spreading until hindered by the exploits of Charles the Hammer. Defeat of the Muslim power in the Pyrenees resulted in their settlement in the

Morality and God Essay Example for Free

Morality and God Essay Morality only exists if we believe in God; therefore if God doesn’t exist there is no morality. There have been so many evil acts committed in the name of God that it is difficult to maintain that a belief in God equates to morality. There are situations that happen every day where decisions are made based off of human rights that contradict the word of God. Morality comes from within, it is an understanding of right versus wrong and the ability to choose what is right. Knowing all this a belief in God is not a requirement for a person to be moral. (Mosser, 2011) We are taught that morals are basically the difference between right and wrong. A child may be taught that stealing is wrong because it hurts the store owner and can ruin the child’s reputation. Or the child may be told that if they steal they will be punished because God is always watching. The child has learned the fundamental difference between right and wrong, even if the reasoning is different. This will allow the child to make moral decisions when they grow up whether it is based off of human compassion or fear of God. If we accept that the child understands right from wrong regardless of their reason, we accept that God is not a requirement to be a moral person. If a person observes an act of violence or torture, they are morally required to stop it. In biblical times these acts were not only accepted but encouraged by the bible. Today, a person would not ignore these things simply because they did not believe in God. There are human rights that we believe each person is entitled to and someone with good morals would help out another person in need because it is the right thing to do. If it turned out that God does not exist, violence and torture would not suddenly become acceptable. (Mosser, 2011) Mass acceptance of a belief does not make it right. Ancient religions that believed in numerous gods have been pushed aside as fairy tales, for the more widely accepted belief in a single God. During their time those gods were prayed to just as fervently as today’s God. What was accepted as true back then is now known as a fable, and the laws of the day have been wiped away and replaced with our modern laws. These laws were put in to place to punish people who do wrong to others. They have become the moral balance. If you do wrong you will be punished, if you continue to do what is right you will live unmolested and enjoy your freedoms. God is not a requirement for someone to act morally, because there are earthly punishments for crimes. There is no right or wrong without God because He determines what is right and wrong. Moral standards cannot be enforced without God to ensure that we are punished or rewarded for our acts. Someone who does not believe in God may change their morals to whatever suits them at the time. We have been given guidelines by God on what is morally acceptable, and informed of the punishment that comes with being immoral. When an individual does not believe in God they cannot be a moral person, because they have no moral standards. (Millard, A. 2000) The Ten Commandments give us a basic understanding of what is right and wrong. These Commandments along with various scriptures from the bible determine which acts are moral and which are immoral. An individual who witnesses a crime but does not believe in God can simply decide that they are not responsible for stopping the crime. This may lead one to believe that if a non-believer does something right that they have morals. This is not the case, because they could just as easily do wrong and their conscience would have been just as clear. They have no moral compass to tell them that this act is leading them astray from God. (Riskin, S. 2007) If one does not believe in God they cannot know right from wrong and cannot do what is right because they do not have the understanding. The lack of a belief in God means that rules do not have to be followed. If you do not fear the wrath of God, there is nothing to stop you from committing immoral acts, or any crimes for that matter. Any situation can be overlooked because there is no fear of punishment without a fear of God. Only a person with a firm belief in God can be considered moral because they fear His punishment and desire his reward. God is the only person great enough to enforce moral standards, without his guidance there can be no binding morals. Moral standards come from God and without Him a person cannot be moral. When we talk in absolutes we ignore possibilities that exist outside of our beliefs. There are many examples of individuals that believed in God who acted immorally, as well as examples of people who do not believe in God acting with good morals. Their beliefs do not determine their morality, their acts do. If we are to base morality solely on a belief in God then which believer do we follow? Do we follow the believer who commits crimes, or only the believer who is an upstanding member of society? Adolf Hitler was raised as a Catholic, and in his adult life spoke of his religious beliefs. He wanted to create a pure Germany, through a religion known as positive Christianity. Positive Christianity removed the Jewish elements from the standard Christianity doctrine and replaced them with Nazi philosophy. More than six million Jewish people were killed during the Holocaust in the ideal of positive Christianity. Bill Gates is noted as saying he does not know if there is a God or not, yet he donates billions of dollars to Charity every year. The foundation he formed with his wife to address extreme poverty and poor health in third world countries has brought attention and relief to millions of people across the globe. These acts were not done in the hopes that they would be rewarded, but instead to help the human condition. A general concern about the welfare of our neighbors is not exclusive to God. Not every action is based solely off of a person’s morals. There are many reasons people decide to do things and we cannot judge a person’s moral standing off of a single action. We do not look at Adolf Hitler and say that he is a great moral figure because he believed in God. On the same note we do not look at Bill Gates, a non-believer and say that he is immoral. We look at their actions over time and determine whether or not they acted morally. We know that killing millions of innocent people is immoral; just as we know that helping sick and injured people is moral. Which God you believe in determines what you consider to be moral. Muslims agree that polygamy is acceptable. Protestants and the Jewish believe divorce is acceptable if certain conditions are met. Catholics are strictly against both polygamy and divorce. Which God is morally right? All of these groups worship the same God, so perhaps it is the translation of the word of God that is in question. When we look at this we begin to have a better understanding that God’s contradictory words could bring the thought of what is moral crumbling down. There are many controversial moral endorsements in the bible that are accepted today. There are also commands given that are ignored because they are no longer socially accepted as truth. Exodus 20:13 says we must not kill. However, Leviticus 20:13 tells us that if a man lies with another man he must be put to death. There are many debates and arguments over whether homosexuality is moral, but we overlook the second part of the scripture because it is no longer held as a valid punishment. The times have changed and we cannot murder or we will go to jail. Leviticus 19:19 says it is a sin to wear clothes made from two different types of material. You will be hard pressed to find anyone backing up this claim today. (King James Bible) Many religious people have chosen scripture from the bible to suit their lifestyles over the years, but ignore things that are no longer socially accepted as immoral. They hold others to strict standards on matters that they do not agree on and use verses from the bible to support their viewpoint. If everyone used the internal right versus wrong approach to morality there would be less confusion on which standards we held each other to. It is unfair to condemn someone for something using half of a statement from the bible, and then ignore the rest of the statement because it does not agree with current beliefs. Our faith, lessons from our parents or even witnessing other people’s actions are different reasons to decide what we believe is moral. All three have flaws that can lead to differing views on the same subject. However, at the end of the day there are certain things that everyone accepts as morally right, or morally wrong. These are situations where it does not matter how you learned it, you just know it. Biblical teachings tell us that certain things are acceptable, while others are punishable by death. But in the legal society of America acting on the acceptable things will land you in prison, and the immoral sins are inalienable rights. Every day decisions are made across the world without having to consider if we will be punished by a higher being. These things prove that a person does not have to believe in God to act morally. A moral person is someone who not only understands the difference between right and wrong, but also does what is right. The lack of God in someone’s life doesn’t make a person immoral just as the presence of God does not make someone moral. Morality is not proven by a belief in God. References King James Bible Millard, A. (2000). How reliable is exodus? Biblical Archaeology Review, 26(4), 50-57. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/214908737? accountid=32521 Mosser, K. (2011). Logic an introduction. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Riskin, S. (2007). Ten commandments audience? Washington Jewish Week. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/220857354? accountid=32521.

Intellectual Property Essay -- Intellectual Property Essays

Intellectual property are the legal rights (control and ownership) of creations, such as ideas; inventions; designs, etc. for the use in commerce (Bainbridge, 2012). Intellectual law in countries seeks to deter individuals or organizations from copying or capitalizing upon another’s work. The main areas protected by protect intellectual property law include: patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret. Intellectual Property can be categorized under the following: Monopoly Right to prevent copying De Facto Monopoly Contractual Patents Unregistered Trade Marks Trade Secrets Confidential Information Registered Trade Marks Unregistered Designs Know-How Registered Design Copyright This essay focuses on Patents, Registered Designs, Unregistered Design Right and trademarks. A patent is needed to increase innovation and competition. It is an issued document which is applied for and is granted by a governing body that states that an invention which is patented is legally bound to its owner for exploitation i.e. manufacturing, use, sales and imports. A patent is generally issues for 20 years and their costs generally depend on the stage of the application process. In the UK, the total cost of a patent could be estimated at  £5000 over 5 years. International patents (PCT) on the other hand could total  £7000 over 2.5 years. This is because within the UK, the examination of patentability stage is generally cheaper ( £1500) compared to the International equivalent ( £300) but most importantly the closing process in the International patent application could be in a range of  £0 –  £30,000, whilst the UK patent end stage is approximately  £100 (HGF, 2014). Patents could give the product or idea not only a competitive a... ...ion of Time Warner Price paid: $147 billion, of which $128 billion was for IP (87%) Examples of the value of patents include: †¢ Nortel, a former Canadian telecommunications company, had a patent portfolio of over 6000 patents. Notable companies like Google bidding; later sold to other notable companies including Apple, Microsoft, RIM, EMC, Ericsson and Sony for $4.5Bn. REFERENCES Bainbridge, D. (2012). Intellectual Property. Pearson; 9 edition. Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, Intellectual Property Office, (No date). Designs: How to Protect your Design. London: HMSO Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, Intellectual Property Office, (No date). Trade Marks: Quick Facts. London: HMSO Harrison Goddard Foote LLP, (2014). Intellectual property workshop World Intellectual Property Organization, Intellectual Property Handbook, (2008).

Liberal ideology Essay

How important was new Liberal ideology in leading to the welfare reforms of 1905-11? In answering this essay it is probably best to understand what is meant by ideology. Ideology is defined as a set of beliefs and aims by a group or groups of individuals who share the same common views. The word ‘liberal’ means being ‘free.’ The Liberal party is seen as a party that has an open mind over issues and follows what the majority of people want. In this essay I will explain the key issues that might have led to the Liberal party implementing these welfare reforms in Britain between 1905-11. ‘New’ something ‘-ism’ is often just a name given by a party to show that their ideologies have evolved from previous, outdated times. ‘New’ Liberal ideology is looked at in the context of older Liberal beliefs. This idea of renaming the ideology of a party was seen as an attempt by a party to gain support by claiming to bring in new, unique policies (Simon Potter). However, these thoughts cannot be used when referring to ‘New Liberalism.’ Under the leadership of politicians such as Asquith, Churchill and Lloyd-George the Liberal party seemed to break away from its past. In fact, in 1906 after two decades of political failure, the Liberal party came to power. It introduced the biggest number of social reforms of its time in Britain. It is the reasons behind these reforms that I will be looking at. The main difference between ‘Old’ Liberal thinking and ‘New Liberalism’ was that more emphasis was put on collectivism rather than individualism, which had previously been preached. People began to change their minds from earlier thinking and began to believe that it was the government’s duty to improve life for the community. These ideas as well as those of positive liberty only seemed to appeal to a small minority of Liberal ministers. However, it did appeal to influential Liberals that were in power. This included the future Prime Minister Herbert Asquith. It is my belief that increased knowledge of poverty was more important than new Liberal ideology (aka New Liberlism). Many people in Britain were poverty stricken or in need for help. The government needed to find out exactly how people were getting into poverty. Seebohm Rowntree, a historian in the 19th-20th Century, carried out a survey into poverty in York. York was more typical of the whole country rather than the East End. Seebohm calculated a poverty line (minimum income necessary to stay out of poverty) based on scientific calculations. Those people that did not have the minimum income were in primary poverty and could not achieve physical efficiency. He discovered that those people who were in secondary poverty were there because they hadn’t spent their money well enough. Seebohm’s statistical figures and results opened the eyes of many in Britain. It made many people realise how poverty had come about and how The liberal party believed that welfare reforms would make Britain more competitive and efficient with foreign countries such as Germany and USA. Britain was less advanced than these two superpowers in their army, in industry and in education. Some believed that changes to the education system and administration would make Britain on a more equal level with the two above-mentioned countries. Others believed that sorting out poverty and health would improve Britain’s national efficiency. Liberals believed that welfare reforms would help improve the standard of living of the poorer classes. These people tended to be unfit and therefore were unable to join the army. It was also the poorer people who wanted to become soldiers. By improving the lives and health of poor people, then more would be accepted into the army. Therefore, this is one area that would become more efficient and competitive. Changes to health and child reforms would also make Britain more efficient. Children were Britain’s future prospects. By improving all aspects of their lives (especially those that were coming from poorer backgrounds), children would help Britain to become an all round superpower in 30-40 years to come. They were arguably the most needy of welfare reforms, which maybe explains why the Liberal party implemented many reforms regarding them between 1905-11. The need to win working class support and beat off challenges from the Labour party was the most important reason for the introduction of Welfare reforms between 1905-11. New Liberalism was based on political beliefs, but the need to resist the Labour parties potential challenge was based on political advantages. The 1903 Lib-Lab pact made Labour more of a threat on the political stage. They gained there most number of seats in Parliament in the 1906 elections and with the support of the majority of the working class and the Trade Unions; the labour party were proving to be capable opposition.

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Thirty-One

Why do they always want to be on top of buildings? Bonnie thought irritably. Inside. Inside is nice. No one falls to their death if they're inside a building. But here we are. Stargazing from the top of the science building while on a date with Zander was romantic. Bonnie would be al for another little nighttime picnic, just the two of them. But partying on a different roof with a bunch of Zander's friends was not romantic, not even slightly. She took a sip of her drink and moved out of the way without even looking as she heard the smack of bodies hitting the ground and the grunts of guys wrestling. After two days of living with Zander, she was beginning to get the names of his friends straight: Tristan and Marcus were the ones rol ing around on the floor with Zander. Jonah, Camden, and Spencer were doing something they cal ed parkour, which mostly seemed to involve running around like idiots and almost fal ing off the roof. Enrique, Jared, Daniel, and Chad were al playing an elaborate drinking game in the corner. There were a few more guys who hung around sometimes, but this was the core group. She liked them, she real y did. Most of the time. They were boisterous, sure, but they were always very nice to her: getting her drinks, immediately handing her their jackets if she was cold, tel ing her that they had no idea what she saw in a loser like Zander, which was clearly their guy way of declaring how much they loved him and that they were happy he had a girlfriend. She looked over at Zander, who was laughing as he held Tristan in a headlock and rubbed his knuckles over the top of Tristan's head. â€Å"Do you give in?† he said, and grunted in surprise as Marcus, whooping joyful y, tackled them both. It would have been easier if there were other girls around that she could get to know. If Marcus (who was very cute in a giant shaggy-haired Sasquatch kind of way) or Spencer (who had the kind of preppy rich-boy elegance that some girls found extremely attractive) had a regular girlfriend, Bonnie would have someone to exchange wry glances with as the guys acted like doofuses. But, even though a girl would occasional y appear clinging to the arm of one of the guys, Bonnie would never see her again after that night. Except for Bonnie, Zander seemed to travel in an almost exclusively masculine world. And, after two days of fol owing the macho parade around town, Bonnie was starting to get sick of it. She missed having girls to talk to. She missed Elena and Meredith, specifical y, even though she was stil mad at them. â€Å"Hey,† she said, making her way over to Zander. â€Å"Want to get out of here for a while?† Zander wrapped his arm around her shoulders. â€Å"Um. Why?† he asked, leaning down to kiss her neck. Bonnie rol ed her eyes. â€Å"It's kind of loud, don't you think? We could go for a nice quiet walk or something.† Zander looked surprised but nodded. â€Å"Sure, whatever you want.† They made their way down the fire escape, fol owed by a few shouts from Zander's friends, who seemed to think he was going on a food run and would shortly return with hot wings and tacos. Once they were a block away from the rooftop party, the noise faded and it was peaceful, except for the distant sound of an occasional car on the roads nearby. Bonnie knew she ought to feel creeped out, walking around at night on campus, but she didn't. Not with Zander's hand in hers. â€Å"This is nice, isn't it?† Bonnie said happily, gazing up at the half moon overhead. â€Å"Yeah,† Zander said, swinging her hand between them. â€Å"You know, I used to go on long walks – runs, real y – with my dad at night. Way out in the country, in the moonlight. I love being outside at night.† â€Å"Aw, that's sweet,† Bonnie said. â€Å"Do you guys stil do that when you're home?† â€Å"No.† Zander hesitated and hunched his shoulders, his hair hanging in his face. Bonnie couldn't read his expression. â€Å"My dad †¦ he died. A while ago.† â€Å"I'm so sorry,† Bonnie said sincerely, squeezing his hand. â€Å"I'm okay,† Zander said, stil staring at his shoes. â€Å"But, y'know, I don't have any brothers or sisters, and the guys have sort of become like a family to me. I know they can be a pain sometimes, but they're real y good guys. And they're important to me.† He glanced at Bonnie out of the corner of his eyes. He looked so apprehensive, Bonnie felt a sharp pang of affection for him. It was sweet that Zander and his friends were so close – that must have been the family stuff he had to deal with the other night. He was loyal, that much she knew. â€Å"Zander,† she said. â€Å"I know they're important to you. I don't want to take you away from your friends, you goof.† She reached up to wrap her arms around his neck and kissed him gently on the mouth. â€Å"Maybe just for an hour or two sometimes, but not for long, I promise.† Zander returned the kiss with enthusiasm, and Bonnie tingled al the way down to her toes. Clinging to each other, they made their way to a bench by the side of the path and sat down to kiss some more. Zander just felt so good under her hands, al sleek muscles and smooth skin, and Bonnie ran her hands across his shoulders, along his arms, down his sides. At her touch, Zander suddenly winced. â€Å"What's the matter?† she said, lifting her head away from his. â€Å"Nothing,† said Zander, reaching for her. â€Å"I was just messing around with the guys, you know. They play rough.† â€Å"Let me see,† Bonnie said, grabbing at the hem of his shirt, half concerned and half wanting to just check out Zander's abs. He had turned out to be surprisingly modest, considering they were sharing a room. Wincing again, he sucked his breath in through his teeth as Bonnie lifted his shirt. She gasped. Zander's whole side was covered with ugly black-and-purple bruises. â€Å"Zander,† Bonnie said horrified, â€Å"these look real y bad. You don't get bruises like that just messing around.† They look like you were fighting for your life – or someone else was, she thought, and pushed away the words. â€Å"They're nothing. Don't worry,† Zander said, tugging his shirt back down. He started to wrap his arms around her again, but Bonnie moved away, feeling vaguely sickened. â€Å"I wish you'd tel me what happened,† she said. â€Å"I did,† Zander said comfortingly. â€Å"You know how crazy those guys get.† It was true, she'd never known guys so rowdy. Zander reached for her again, and this time Bonnie moved closer to him, turning her face up for his kiss. As their lips met, she remembered Zander's saying to her, â€Å"You know me. You see me.† She did know him, Bonnie told herself. She could trust Zander. Across the street, Damon stood in the shadow of a tree, watching Bonnie kiss Zander. He had to admit he felt a little pang, seeing her in the arms of someone else. There was something so sweet about Bonnie, and she was brave and intel igent under that cotton-candy exterior. The witchy angle added a little touch of spice to her, too. He'd always thought of her as his. Then again, didn't the little redbird deserve someone of her own? As much as Damon liked her, he didn't love her, he knew that. Seeing the lanky boy's face light up in response to her smile, he thought maybe this one would. After making out for a few more minutes, Bonnie and Zander stood up and wandered, hand in hand, toward what Damon knew was Zander's dorm. Damon trailed them, keeping to the shadows. He huffed out a breath of self-mocking laughter. I'm getting soft in my old age, he thought. Back in the old days he would have eaten Bonnie without a second thought, and here he was worrying about her love life. Stil , it would be nice if the little redhead could be happy. If her boyfriend wasn't a threat. Damon ful y expected the happy couple to disappear into the dorm together. Instead, Zander kissed Bonnie good-bye and watched as she went inside, then headed back out. Damon fol owed him, keeping hidden, as he went back to the party where they'd been before. A few minutes later, Zander came down again, trailed by his pack of noisy boys. Damon twitched in irritation. God save me from college boys, he thought. They were probably going to gorge themselves on greasy bar food. After a couple of days of watching Zander, he was ready to go back to Elena and report that the boy was guilty of nothing more than being uncouth. Instead of heading toward the nearest bar, though, the boys jogged across campus, quick and determined, as if they had an important destination in mind. Reaching the edge of campus, they headed into the woods. Damon gave them a few seconds and then fol owed. He was good at this, he was a predator, a natural hunter, and so it took him a few minutes of listening, of sending his Power out, of final y just racing through the woods, black branches snapping before him, to realize that Zander and his boys were gone. Final y, Damon stopped and leaned against a tree to catch his breath. The woods were silent except for the innocent sound of various woodland creatures going about their business and his own ragged panting. That pack of noisy, obnoxious children had escaped him, disappearing without the slightest trace. He gritted his teeth and tamped down his anger at being evaded, until it was mostly curiosity about how they'd done it. Poor Bonnie, Damon thought as he fastidiously smoothed and adjusted his clothing. One thing was abundantly clear: Zander and his friends weren't entirely human. Stefan twitched. This was al just kind of strange. He was sitting in a velvet-backed chair in a huge underground room, as col ege students roamed around arranging flowers and candles. The room was impressive, Stefan would give them that: cavernous yet elegant. But the little arrangements of flowers seemed chintzy and false somehow, like a stage set in the Vatican. And the black-masked figures lurking in the back of the room, watching, were giving him the jitters. Matt had cal ed him to tel him about some kind of col ege secret society that he'd joined, and that the leader wanted Stefan to join, too. Stefan agreed to meet him and talk about it. He never was much of a joiner, but he liked Matt, and it was something to do. It would take his mind off Elena, he'd thought. Lurking around campus – and it felt like lurking, when he saw Elena, with the way his eyes were irresistibly drawn to her even as he hurried out of sight – he'd watched her. Sometimes she was with Damon. Stefan's fingernails bit into his palms. Consciously relaxing, he turned his attention back to Ethan, who was sitting across a smal table from him. â€Å"The members of the Vitale Society hold a very special place in the world,† he was saying, leaning forward, smiling. â€Å"Only the best of the best can hope to be tapped, and the qualities we look for I think are very Wellexemplified in you, Stefan.† Stefan nodded politely and let his mind drift again. Secret societies were something he actual y knew a little about. Sir Walter Raleigh's School of Night in Elizabethan England wrestled with what was then forbidden knowledge: science and philosophy the church declared out of bounds. Il Carbonari back home in Italy worked to encourage revolt against the government of the various city-states, aiming for a unification of al of Italy. Damon, Stefan knew, toyed with the members of the Hel fire Club in London for a few months in the 1700s, until he got bored with their posturing and childish blasphemy. Al those secret societies, though, had some kind of purpose. Rebel ing against conventional morality, pursuing truth, revolution. Stefan leaned forward. â€Å"Pardon me,† he said politely, â€Å"but what is the point of the Vitale Society?† Ethan paused midspeech to stare at him, then wet his lips. â€Å"Well,† he said slowly, â€Å"the real secrets and rituals of the Society can't be unveiled to outsiders. None of the pledges know our true practices and purposes, not yet. But I can tel you that there are innumerable benefits to being one of us. Travel, adventure, power.† â€Å"None of the pledges know your real purpose?† Stefan asked. His natural inclination to stay away was becoming more resolute. â€Å"Why don't you wear a mask like the others?† Ethan looked surprised. â€Å"I'm the face of the Vitale for the pledges,† he said simply. â€Å"They'l need someone they know to guide them.† Stefan made up his mind. He didn't want to be guided. â€Å"I apologize, Ethan,† he said formal y, â€Å"but I don't think I would be an appropriate candidate for your organization. I appreciate the invitation.† He started to rise. â€Å"Wait,† said Ethan. His eyes were wide and golden and had a hungry, eager expression in them. â€Å"Wait,† he said, licking his lips again. â€Å"We †¦ we have a copy of Pico del a Mirandola's De hominis dignitate.† He stumbled over the words as if he didn't quite know what they were. â€Å"An old one, from Florence, a first edition. You'd get to read it. You could have it if you wanted.† Stefan stiffened. He had studied Mirandola's work on reason and philosophy with enthusiasm back when he was stil alive, when he was a young man preparing for the university. He had a sudden visceral longing to feel the old leather and parchment, see the blocky type from the first days of the printing press, so much more right somehow than the modern computer-set books. There was no way Ethan should have known to offer him that specific book. His eyes narrowed. â€Å"What makes you think I'd want that?† he hissed, leaning across the table toward Ethan. He could feel Power surging through him, fueled by his rage, but Ethan wouldn't meet his eyes. â€Å"I †¦ you told me you like old books, Stefan,† he said, and gave a little false laugh, gazing down at the tabletop. â€Å"I thought you would be interested.† â€Å"No, thank you,† Stefan said, low and angry. He couldn't force Ethan to look him in the eye, not with al these people around, so after a moment, he stood. â€Å"I refuse your offer,† he told Ethan shortly. â€Å"Good-bye.† He walked to the door without looking back, holding himself straight and tal . He glanced at Matt, who was talking to another student, as he reached the door and, when Matt met his eyes, gave him a shrug and a shake of the head, trying to telegraph an apology. Matt nodded, disappointed but not arguing. No one tried to stop Stefan as he left the room. But he had a nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach. There was something wrong here. He didn't know enough to dissuade Matt from joining, but he decided to keep tabs on the Vitale Society. As he shut the door behind him, he could sense Ethan watching him.

Free Essays on A Dream Come True

My nights consisted of sweat beads falling down my fore head and fears of drifting back into sleep. I don’t think that my parents really ever understood how frightened I was when I woke up from one. I can specifically tell you how it smelled in some of my dreams, or what I might have been wearing. But every nightmare was the same, a dark bridge I’d fall from into murky rapids underneath. My hands would become clammy when I drove over a bridge. I’d clench onto the steering wheel and pray that I didn’t lose control. I wouldn’t dare change the direction of my eyes; for a single glimpse of the muddy waters below would fire pains to shoot threw my chest. Flashbacks of those thoughts swelled in my throat and the air passing through my lungs would become thinner and thinner. I would never consider myself a wimp. Ever since I could walk I had bruises and band-aids decorated in an assortment of colors on my legs, elbows and arms. I was a tomboy at its best w hen I was young, and still have a tendency to walk away from a game with the most amount of dirt on them. But when it came to a day on the river, I would have rather given a limb than surround myself with its terrifying pressure. It took a lot for me to give in to the invitation, but I decided to finally tag along one Sunday afternoon. I knew as soon as we got there I had overdressed. I had my swimsuit on underneath my wrinkled-free clothes, even though I was hoping a miracle would occur so that it would never saturate in river water. As we got closer to the dock, the sounds of rushing water rocked against the river bank. Just crossing over the walkway into the dock had my heart beating like a hollow drum. My friend’s hands held securely onto my own as I slowly, balanced my way onto the boat. Shocked by its swaying tranquility, I proceeded to find my seat and hold onto dear life, since Russ was known for showing off in his boat. As the day continued the pre-mature sunburn was ... Free Essays on A Dream Come True Free Essays on A Dream Come True My nights consisted of sweat beads falling down my fore head and fears of drifting back into sleep. I don’t think that my parents really ever understood how frightened I was when I woke up from one. I can specifically tell you how it smelled in some of my dreams, or what I might have been wearing. But every nightmare was the same, a dark bridge I’d fall from into murky rapids underneath. My hands would become clammy when I drove over a bridge. I’d clench onto the steering wheel and pray that I didn’t lose control. I wouldn’t dare change the direction of my eyes; for a single glimpse of the muddy waters below would fire pains to shoot threw my chest. Flashbacks of those thoughts swelled in my throat and the air passing through my lungs would become thinner and thinner. I would never consider myself a wimp. Ever since I could walk I had bruises and band-aids decorated in an assortment of colors on my legs, elbows and arms. I was a tomboy at its best w hen I was young, and still have a tendency to walk away from a game with the most amount of dirt on them. But when it came to a day on the river, I would have rather given a limb than surround myself with its terrifying pressure. It took a lot for me to give in to the invitation, but I decided to finally tag along one Sunday afternoon. I knew as soon as we got there I had overdressed. I had my swimsuit on underneath my wrinkled-free clothes, even though I was hoping a miracle would occur so that it would never saturate in river water. As we got closer to the dock, the sounds of rushing water rocked against the river bank. Just crossing over the walkway into the dock had my heart beating like a hollow drum. My friend’s hands held securely onto my own as I slowly, balanced my way onto the boat. Shocked by its swaying tranquility, I proceeded to find my seat and hold onto dear life, since Russ was known for showing off in his boat. As the day continued the pre-mature sunburn was ...

11 Writing Exercises to Inspire You and Strengthen Your Writing

11 Writing Exercises to Inspire You and Strengthen Your Writing 11 Writing Exercises to Inspire You and Strengthen Your Writing 11 Writing Exercises to Inspire You and Strengthen Your Writing By Ali Hale Whether you’re writing just for fun, for school, or with professional goals in mind, these exercises can all help you to improve your writing. Some will give you inspiration, others will help you avoid editing as you write, and many of them will help you pay closer attention to your word choices. I hope you’ll enjoy giving them a go! #1: Cover Your Screen While You Write If you find yourself doing more editing than actual writing, then try covering up (or, on a laptop, turning down) your screen while you draft. If, like me, you can touch-type – try closing your eyes instead. I find it surprisingly relaxing! (Though I tend to stop every sentence or two to make sure I’ve hit the keys I thought I was hitting) At first, it might seem odd not to be able to see the words that you’re typing – but you might well find that you write faster and express your thoughts more freely this way. #2: Set a Daily Writing Goal and Track Your Progress Writing, as most other crafts, only gets better with practice. If you want to improve, therefore, you will need to write pretty much every single day. The best strategy to achieve this objective is to set a goal of how many words you want to write per day, and then to track your progress over time. A simple notebook or spreadsheet should be enough for you to record your daily statistics. The Prolifiko blog has a great piece with more tips to set writing goals and resolutions and to make sure you achieve them. #3: Use a Writing Prompt to Get You Going If you want to write, but you don’t know what you want to write, try using a writing prompt. This could be anything from a story scenario (â€Å"write about someone who gets caught in a lie†) to a blog post title (â€Å"Ten Things I Wish I Could Tell My 15-Year-Old Self†). Here are a couple of sources of prompts to keep you busy for a while: 25 creative writing prompts, a list of prompts you can use to start writing a simple story or even a novel. 365 Creative Writing Prompts, from Think Written – a mixed bag of prompts, with some for stories and some for poems; many would also work for blogging. Even if you’re working on a longer piece, like a novel, prompts can be helpful. A line of dialogue, for instance, might give you just the inspiration you need for your next scene. #4: Don’t Start at the Beginning Start at the End There’s no writing rule that says you need to begin at the beginning. In fact, many writers find it more effective to start at the end. You can do this in a couple of different ways: Start your story (or blog post, etc) close to the chronological end – e.g. you might begin with â€Å"As I stared down the mountain, I couldn’t believe I was actually here† You can then jump back in time and narrate the events that led up to that point. Write the end of your blog post (or story, etc) first. Once you’ve written your concluding paragraphs or final scenes, you’ll know what you’re leading up to. If you prefer not to write it out in full, you could make notes. #5: Rewrite a Masterpiece or a Famous Story Choose a famous masterpiece or classic novel (like Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice or Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet) and write your own version. This is a great exercise because you can do it at almost any level: you could write a short story for children, or you could write a whole novel or screenplay. (Bridget Jones’s Diary, for instance, borrowed heavily from Pride and Prejudice; the children’s movie Gnomeo and Juliet is based, as you might guess, on Romeo and Juliet.) You can do this with fairytales, too, like the story of Cinderella or Little Red Riding Hood. You might decide to bring the stories into the modern world – or you might switch to a completely different genre, like a Western version of Little Red Riding Hood or a sci-fi version of Cinderella. Hopefully, you’ll think of some interesting ways to present an old story in a new way – great practice for avoiding clichà ©s and stereotypes in your own writing. #6: Create a Found Poem from Your Spam Folder A â€Å"found poem† is one created from text that already exists – and some writers enjoy repurposing spam emails for this! Check your spam folder. I’m sure that, like mine, it’s full of emails with some strange wording and dubious promises like: I did not need to find a winning product. he gave it to me Just drinking 1 cup of this delicious hot beverage in the morning sets you up to burn more fat than 45 exhausting minutes on the treadmill. Hello %E-mail_address%, I know your very love Engineer Jobs and want have T-Shirt for Engineer Jobs. It is vital  to have a telephone system that has all the specific functions (All of these are taken verbatim from my own spam folder) Could you pick out a few lines (they don’t have to be consecutive ones) to create your own found poem? Feel free to add some words if needed. There are some wonderfully odd examples here. #7: Write Something Inspired By a Piece of Writing, Music or Art Inspiration can come in all sorts of ways – but if you’re struggling to find an idea, try turning to other people’s creative works.  In my blogging, I’ve often been inspired by other people’s post structures, by an idea of theirs that I want to take further – or even by something they’ve written that I disagree with. You can use music and art in a similar way: they can be particularly potent sources of ideas for stories. If you have a favourite song or artist, what in their work speaks to you? How could you craft a story using some of those themes or thoughts? Alternatively, look through some photos of artworks, and choose one or more to use as the basis for a story. #8: Interview Your Novel’s Characters This is a fun exercise that a lot of writers use to dig into who their characters are: the character interview. You can work through a pre-set list of questions, or you can come up with your own in advance, or you can just start typing and go with the flow! You might do this essentially like a character questionnaire or checklist, or you might want to write it more like a mini-story, with you as the author inviting your character to sit down and talk. Depending on the sort of fiction you write, the setting for your interview could be almost anything – perhaps you’re enjoying a casual chat over coffee and cake with your character, or maybe you’re interviewing them as a journalist, or even in court. Or, if you’re into rather darker fiction, you might be conducting an interrogation However you do this, it’s a great exercise to have fun with, and you might discover a whole backstory to your character that you’d never thought about before. #9: Use the Alphabet This is a fun exercise that can work for almost any type of writing: craft a piece where each sentence starts with the next letter of the alphabet. Here’s the start of one to show you what I mean: At six oclock, Josie woke up. Before shed even opened her eyes, she knew what had woken her: she could hear it, just like shed heard it every Friday morning for months. Cliff, her neighbour, was out  in his garden. Despite all the times shed gone round and asked him, through gritted teeth, to please wait until at least seven, he was mowing the blasted lawn again. â€Å"Excuse me!† she called, over the fence. For a moment, she thought he hadn’t heard her over the sound of the mower. (Yes, it’s tricky once you get to X! You might find this list helpful, or you might choose to use a sentence-starting word that merely contains an X.) #10: Write with a Sentence Length Limit in Place Can you limit every sentence you write to ten words? (Or fewer!) This might be tricky. It’s a great exercise for bloggers and online marketers, though. Short snappy sentences and paragraphs work well online. You might want to draft as normal, then edit ruthlessly. Or you could count the words as you type. Whatever works for you! (Yes, the sentences in this section are ten words max) #11: Write Without Using Any Adverbs This is a common exercise advised for fiction writers: write a whole scene without using a single adverb. Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives and adverbs. They often (though not always) end with –ly. Here are a few sentences with the adverbs indicated in bold: The girl walked quickly to school. (â€Å"Quickly† is modifying the verb â€Å"walked†.) Slowly, the fairly tall man stood.   (â€Å"Slowly† is modifying the verb â€Å"stood†, and â€Å"fairly† is modifying the adjective â€Å"tall†) On the bus, the baby cried dismayingly loudly. (â€Å"Dismayingly† is modifying the adverb â€Å"loudly†, and â€Å"loudly† is modifying the verb â€Å"cried†.) Writing without adverbs forces you to write crisper, clearer (and shorter!) sentences, which often have more impact. In particular, you’ll find yourself choosing stronger verbs. All of these sentences could replace â€Å"The girl walked quickly to school† – and each has a slightly different nuance: The girl strode to school. The girl hurried to school. The girl power-walked to school. Of course, adverbs aren’t bad in themselves – so I don’t recommend avoiding them in all your writing! This exercise can help you, though, to be more aware of when you’re using adverbs unnecessarily. Pick one of the above  exercises to try out during your writing time this week. (If you’re feeling up for it, pick two and combine them – how about rewriting a classic without using any adverbs?) Have fun! Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:4 Types of Gerunds and Gerund Phrases60 Synonyms for â€Å"Trip†6 Foreign Expressions You Should Know

Analysis of determinate trusses Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Analysis of determinate trusses - Coursework Example (Provided the whole truss is in equilibrium, the two parts that have been cut must also be in equilibrium. This results to three equilibrium equations which can be applied to either of the two parts to determine the forces of the members at the section that have been cut. Always assume that the unknown member forces at the cut section are in tension. By doing this, the numerical solution of the equilibrium equation will yield positive scalars for members in tension an negative scalars for members in compression (Dr. G.Saravana Kumar 1) Truss analysis using this method is simplified if members supporting no load are identified. These members maybe be in the truss for stability purposes. They are also used to provide support to the truss if the applied load is changed. From figure 1.0, the members at C are connected together perpendicularly and there is no external force at the joint. The free body diagram at C shows that the force in each truss ember should be zero for equilibrium to be maintained. This method deals with graphical representation of equilibrium for each joint (Asst. Prof. Dr. Cenk Ustundug â€Å"Theory of Structures). This method unifies all the forces resulting the graphical equilibrium of each and every joint into one force. From one vector end, a line parallel to the direction of one of the two forces is drawn, while from the other end a second line parallel to the other direction is drawn. ( Asst. Prof. Dr. Cenk Ustundug â€Å"Theory of Structures

Comparative Analysis of Antonio Del Pollaiyolo's Battle of the Nudes Essay

Comparative Analysis of Antonio Del Pollaiyolo's Battle of the Nudes and Francisco Goya's - Essay Example Experts are having difficulty in dating Antonio Del Pollaiyolo’s work on the basis of style because Pollaiyolo may have already used the style earlier and only changed a little during the course of his style1 . As an artist Pollaiyolo was considered ahead of his time and was said to be one of the first Italian artists to render the engraving of the human form2 in the same manner that Francisco Goya was also considered as one of the pioneers of modern painting3. The paintings of both Antonio Del Pollaiyolo’s Battle of the Nudes and Francisco Goya’s Third of May are also large at 42.4 x 60.9 centimeter and 268  ?  347  centimeter respectively. Pollaiyolo’s Battle of the Nudes â€Å"depicts five men wearing headbands and five men without, fighting in pairs with weapons in front of a dense background of vegetation4†. The characters in the engraving are posed in various athletic positions where they fiercely grimace and their muscle tones strongly emphasized. Rather than painted compared to Goya’s Third of May, Del Pollaiyolo’s Battle of the Nudes used return-stroke engraving that was employed in modeling the bodies to create a delicate and subtle effect5. Del Pollaiyolo’s Battle of the Nudes where ten sculpted men was fighting was inspired by Greek and Roman sculpture. Scholars opined that these engravings were not a depiction of a literary subject but rather was intended for artists to copy because Del Pollaiyolo’s was said to use model carvings himself before doing the engraved. Pollaiyolo’s work is artistically significant because it was credited to have been responsible of the seminal idea of Italian Renaissance’s modeling of the human form as an object of art. Del Pollaiyolo’s was also said to be one of the pioneers of Italian Renaissance engraving. Pollaiyolo’s engraving of the Battle of the Nude was even said to have been used as a model of German artists such as Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) and Jorg Breu (c. 1480-1573). The detailed engraving of the human form, its particularity of the anatomical structure and the explicitness of its expression has been credited to have been germinated by Pollaiyolo’s6. While Del Pollaiyolo’s work was rich in details, Goya’s The Third of May 1808 was intentionally painted with the face of the executioner to be anonymous to highlight the drama of innocent civilian that was about to be executed. In this particular work, the artistry was better rendered with the anonymity of the executioner7. What was highlighted instead was the atmosphere that contributes to the gore and brutality of the execution. The main subject which was a civilian with his arms spread like the Christ in crucifixion was set against the backdrop of the rising mountain and heavy blackness of the night to highlight the terror of the persecution8. He also emphasized fear in the painting by â€Å"trailing the line of unfor tunate captives into the distance, suggesting that this action will by repeated throughout the night9†. Unlike in Pollaiyolo’s The Battle of the Nudes where the features of the characters were detailed, Goya’s The Third of May painting was rendered with â€Å"broad and rough strokes of the brush [similar] to the mature work of the Great Spanish

Democracy and Development Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Democracy and Development - Research Paper Example   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Globalization has become the dominant factor in the development of civilization of the world in the XXI century. Globalization is the process of market-driven, rather than government forces. Globalization is a fusion of national economies into a single, global system based on ease of movement of capital, on transparency, on the technological revolution. The contours of global consolidation are business in the distant future. In this context, the role of national states to regulate economic and social processes will continue for many years.( Acemoglu,Robinson 2006) A testament of the nation-state activity is the activity of the "Group of Eight" - the U.S., UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, Russia. At its annual meeting of leaders of the "Group of Eight" the global economy is discussed, poverty and wealth, and environmental problems. In the past three years, the leaders of the "Group of Eight" discussed the issues of nuclear security and disarmament, i nternational terrorism. Polar position in relation to a group of rich countries have the least developed countries (LDCs). Since the beginning of the 70s that number had increased to 40 in 1986. The countries LDCs are characterized by extremely low standard of living. Geographically, the majority of poor countries are a countries in Asia and Africa. But a number of states in Asia managed to make significant progress. In 80-90s were often mentioned the so-called Asian dragons (Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia). A whole group of Asian and African countries can not escape from the clutches of poverty. Among these countries there are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Gambia, Djibouti, Mali, Tanzania, Togo, Chad, Ethiopia, etc. The question of Romania and Poland After the Revolution of National Salvation Front, led by Ion Iliescu, took partial multi-party democratic arrangements and the free market. There were revived several major political parties, of the pre- war era, such as the Christian-Democratic National Peasants, the National Liberal Party and the Romanian Social Democrat Party. After several major political rallies, in April 1990, a protest sit-in, challenging the results of the recent parliamentary elections began in University Square, Bucharest accusing the Front to be composed of former Communists and members of the Securitate. The protesters did not recognize the election results, considering them as undemocratic and requested exclusion from the political life of former high-ranking participants of the Communist Party. The protest quickly grew to become an ongoing demonstration (known as Golaniad). Peaceful demonstrations deteriorated into violence, and strong intervention of miners from Jiu Valley has led to what is remembered as the June 1990 Mineriad. (Iliescu, Tismaneanu 2006) Subsequent decay of the Front has made several political parties including the Romanian Democrat Social Party (later the Social Democratic Party), D emocratic Party, and (the Union for Romania). First Romania run from 1990 until 1996 through several coalitions and governments with Ion Iliescu, and as head of state. Since then there have been three democratic changes of government: in 1996, the democratic-liberal opposition and its leader Emil Konstentinesku took power, in 2000 the Social Democra

Current situation of the coffee industry

Current situation of the coffee industry 1Coffee is one of the worlds most valuable assets and at least 25 million people around the world base their livelihood on their production. Most of these producers are small-scale farmers in the developing world, despite the extent of coffee consumption takes place in the United States and Europe Over the last twenty five years of the last century, developing countries have been incited to follow export-oriented economy models as a way to increase living standards of their citizens. With this model, countries have opened their economies globally, boosting international trade and investments, and expanding their exports with the objective of earning foreign exchange. These strategies try to substitute older models based on import-replacement, which proposed that developing countries should impose protectionism measures in order to protect their domestic economies by controlling investments and external trade. At face value, specializing in exporting coffee seems to be a good strategy for developing countries, knowing that they have the perfect conditions to grow coffee crops and taking the advantage that richer countries are not competitive in this field, but they are very interested in purchasing the product as they earn considerable profits of its distribution and consumption. However, the global coffee industry has become a nightmare as the world prices have dampened, which have an important impact on livelihoods of those countries. Why has this happened, and how is affecting developing countries? CURRENT SITUATION 2The current crisis is the latest and most dramatic in a long history of industry ups and downs. Coffee prices have plummeted to 30-years lows. (See appendix 2) Coffee, which is produced in over 50 developing countries, is one of the s worlds most important commodities exports. It makes an important contribution to development socioeconomic and poverty alleviation as well as its economic importance is based on exportation, some of represent more than the half of their export earnings. Moreover, a cup of coffee in any neighborhood in New York or Paris can reach the $ 3.60 price. That same cup of coffee, a coffee farmer in the Andes of South America or Southeast Asia receives only 24 cents, a paltry 7% which, of course, does not even cover the cost of production or the basic needs of collectors. This are the most direct consequences of a crisis in the last two years which has sunk into poverty over 25 million people, while the coffee trade of the four big multinationals (Nestle, Kraft Foods, Procter Gamble and Sara Lee) has curbed their economic growth. Therefore, it is not a trivial matter; it is actually the major source of foreign exchange for several countries. The current crisis is directly affecting some 20 million families living in the area where the center of all growing and production, between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and depend on grain as their main source of income. Moreover, the United Nations World Food Program launched an emergency operation to assist 155,000 people in Guatemala, where a severe drought that killed subsistence crops coincided with low coffee prices. CAUSES Coffee prices are at the alarming and the specialty coffee industry is in a crisis. In addition, most industry experts predict that will not improve in the near future. At the root of the current crisis is an oversupply of coffee on world markets. Since 1990, coffee production worldwide has increased by 15 percent, exceeding consumption by two folds. This increase was precipitated by new producers entering the market, most notably Vietnam (see appendix 3). Keep in mind that coffee production in Vietnam is not really traditional, in 1987. The Vietnamese were at the beginning just consumers. But the access to the position of largest producer of robusta type of coffee is actually the result of a political will, encouraged by the World Bank. As one of the most disadvantage countries in Asia, Vietnam saw in the business the chance to expand its economy and as a way to gain valuable foreign exchange. Furthermore, it provided an opportunity to encourage economic expansion in relatively disa dvantage areas. However, coffee production has surged in other countries as well. The reason for this relate to some complex technical, economic and political factors. In addition, during the last decade productivity of coffee trees increased because of enhanced agricultural practice. Moreover, many countries increased their lands in order to specialize in coffee production. 2The reasons for this is different from country to country, liberalization of trade in coffee, improving better transportation and communication on production data, prices and inventories increase security of supply World; domestic food markets were deregulated, which encouraged a general shift to export production; and land previously reserved for non-agricultural production, for example forest areas, was brought into agricultural use through privatization and non regulation. Going a little bit further, the beginning of the crisis dates back to 1989 when the International Coffee Agreement collapsed, contributing greatly to the problem of oversupply. The agreement had been responsible for the restrictions on exports of coffee, without it, many producing countries sought to increase export earnings through increased production. Unfortunately, its success in increasing it led to a surplus that, actually, decreased revenues. Moreover, severe frosts in Brazil during the middle 1990s showed a temporary rise in coffee prices, before the basic trend kept on increasing until the present days (appendix 3). But all of these effects are not just based simply one of supply and demand. The connections between the links of the supply chains that connect producers with consumers have also changed. Nowadays, coffee farmers receive less than 7% of the retail price of coffee in developed world markets; the rest of the percentage until 100%, 93% is paid to importers, packaging firms, roaster and retailers. In part this reflects a structural disparity of commercial power in the global coffee system, whereby six international trading companies control over half of the world coffee exports. In these contexts, developing country coffee growers are in a very weak bargaining position. CONSEQUENCES This downward pricing spiral is affecting infrastructures in coffee-producing countries where they are collapsing. There is no money to fix or repair roads, the cost of trucks is out of reach and distributing the merchandise is definitely a hard task. When small agricultural producers are dependent on some buyer to sale their crops for a large amount of money, slumping prices have dramatic repercussions for those poorest countries who everyday fight against hunger and social vulnerability. In recent years aid agencies have struggled to bring awareness about these human repercussions trying to call the attention of policy-makers. These human-scale dimensions of the crisis should flow into national and regional economies. For a significant number of tropical countries, coffee is the major source of export-earning. The collapse of coffee prices, then, has destabilized the systems of whole national economies. Many of these countries are also seriously in debt to international organizatio ns, and have had to renegotiate or even suspend the repayments of loans. In turn, the resultant debt crisis of developing countries is a major source of financial instability in the world. As always, the poorest countries are most affected, the business profit is becoming some of the poorest and most vulnerable of the world into extreme poverty, livelihoods of small farmers are being destroyed by international markets beyond their control. But not everyone is losing in the current scenario. While the cost of the raw material comes in a slump, some companies, particularly multinational companies along with several large coffee retailers, continue earning and being profitable. Their market powers allow them essentially to dictate to their suppliers and take advantage of the lower prices. As always, poorest countries are the most affected, corporate gain is turning over some of the worlds poorest and most weak people to extreme poverty: the livelihoods of smaller producers are being destroyed by international markets that are beyond their control. SOLUTIONS It seems clear that one of the solutions to the coffee crisis passes to limit grain production to raise prices in international trade. This would be the theory in the context of the market economy. In practice, it has been tried it last year and received the denial of the Asian countries and Brazil. in oil. Experts agree that the coffee industry is undergoing major changes in order to recover the price-crisis prices. The entry of Vietnam into the coffee trade had important consequences: the way to produce cheaper. Alternatives to the coffee crisis are in what some NGOs have called fair trade. If producing countries such as Vietnam has grown 400% in the last decade is because their culture has focused on the logical contribution of new technologies. It is a commitment to diversified organic coffee, coffee quality associated with sustainable development and fair trade outside intermediaries, to improve the price paid to farmers and reducing the supply with further restructuring of the field. An idea that is far from being realized because of the illiquidity of the farmer . 4The costs of producing differ from country to country, perhaps from 60 to 90 cents for The worst hits are Latin American countries with relatively high production costs. These countries may try to find ways to cut costs or find niche markets that command premium prices, such as organic or shade-grown coffee that provides ecological habitats. But those options do not help everyone. Many farmers ultimately have to move to other more lucrative products. In the fall of the current prices, farmers enough eventually be driven out of business, which will produce increased coffee prices again. That means another potential shortage threat in the future, especially for higher quality coffees are more expensive to produce. And this shortage can lead high enough to encourage overproduction, once again. It is not clear when this damaging cycle will repeat again, or even if it is going to finish. What is clear is that new and better solutions are needed to help the poorest countries that are affected by it. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS In conclusion, the existing circumstances of the world coffee industry represent a crisis of huge human cost. The low prices being received by coffee farmers not only put in danger the livelihoods of people and communities, but add significantly to global inequality and its correlated to financial and political implications. For another point of view, the crisis also unveils the failures of export-oriented models which curiously most developing countries follow. What it can be learned at this point: what is true for some countries may not be true for anothers. When one country increments its coffee exports, it benefits. But if all countries do the same, then the effects are to produce an over-supply of commodities and to cause prices to fall. The lives of smallholder farmers become vulnerable by depending on the conditions imposed those who dominate commodity markets, which in any case are structured in ways that concentrated power in a small number of transnational companies. And at least, some recommendations can be given: Correcting the imbalance between supply and demand by increasing consumer in particular by: improving quality in the world market and promoting diversification to reduce dependency. It is recognized that to ensure market access for products alternative, there must be a substantial reduction of tariffs and subsidies to those who are now protected agriculture in industrialized countries. In addition, support a broad-based rural development to enhance the capacity of local processing and producer associations, and also measures to improve access to credit and risk management. Beyond these suggestions, the coffee industry should participate in programs designed to help reducing the effects of price shocks at the farm level. These efforts should include locking roasters in contracts with farmers for the coming years, as a way to motivate farmers to keep on producing coffee, for example, paying more for certain quality coffees. Simultaneously with the efforts of importers, roasters and retailers to create mutually beneficial relationships with farmers, producers have taken steps toward understanding what the market demand for its coffee. APPENDIX 1 APPENDIX 2 Prices of the coffee market (2003) APPENDIX 3