Silent Spring Book Review essays

Silent Spring Book Review essays Rachel Louise Carson (1907-64), was an American marine biologist, and author of widely read books on ecological themes. Carson was born in Springdale, Pennsylvania, and educated at the former Pennsylvania College for Women and Johns Hopkins University. Rachel Carson taught Zoology at the University of Maryland from 1931 to 1936. She was an aquatic biologist at the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries and its successor, the Fish and Wildlife Service, from 1936 to 1952. Rachel Carson wrote 4 books including The Sea Around Us for which she was awarded the 1952 National Book Award for nonfiction. At the end of Rachel Carson's career she wrote Silent Spring, which questioned the use of Chemical Pesticides and was responsible for arousing world wide concern for the preservation of the environment. Silent Spring takes a hard look at the effects of the insecticides, weed killers and other common products as well as the use of sprays in agriculture. By introducing these deadly substances, we have poisoned or lakes and streams, or wild and domestic animals, and even ourselves. The book focuses on the importance of balance within the environment. Rachel Carson wrote... "Where spraying destroys not only the insects but also their principle enemy, the birds. When later there is a resurgence in the insect population, as almost always happens, the birds are not there to keep their numbers in check." Carson examines the way dangerous chemicals have been used without sufficient research or regard for their potential harm to wildlife, water, soil, and humans, creating an evil chain of poisoning and death. The over use of DDT, dieldrin and other pesticides eventually poisoned an entire world of living things. Silent Spring not only recognizes the severity of the chemicals usage but recognizes the effect of substance use on a community. It helped people to look at the whole picture, to look into the future instead of the now. Carson helps to ...

8 Warning Signs You Need to Update Your Resume

8 Warning Signs You Need to Update Your Resume While job searching, you want to make sure you’re coming across as the best and freshest person for the job. Here are 8 warning signs you need to update your resume. 1. Too much historyGet out of the past. You don’t need to list every single position you’ve ever had, just the most recent and relevant ones. This is the first thing hiring managers look at on a resume. Make yours sing. If you’re going back 10 or  15  years? Consider de-emphasizing that content and focusing instead on the good and grabbing most current stuff.2. Too much textFormat your resume to be reader friendly and to give the hiring manager the information they need most as quickly and as pleasingly as possible. Avoid long paragraphs and big sentences. Keep it short and snappy and keyword heavy.3. Too longKeep it to a page, unless your field demands something different. Make sure that a potential hirer can see what you need them to see in six seconds- which is sometimes all the time yo u get. Tailor your resume specifically to the job you’re applying for, and leave the rest of the content on your standard or generic document for other positions where it might be more relevant.4. Wasted address spaceYou don’t need to give out your personal snail mail address, unless otherwise specified. Current resume etiquette maintains that all you need in the way of contact information is your name, phone, and email. Anything more just wastes valuable space and could make you appear hopelessly retro.5. Your home numberBusiness line or cell, please. Who even has a home number anymore? This isn’t 1990. Plus, you want to set up boundaries. Do you really want recruiters calling while you’re sitting down to dinner with your kids?6. No links to social mediaThis is necessary nowadays. Add a link to your Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook profile. LinkedIn at the very least. But do make sure you’ve double-checked your profiles before linking them, and scou red for any inappropriate or inflammatory content!7. Career objectiveThis is way out of fashion, takes up valuable space, and bores the recruiter to tears before they even get to the part where you list your qualifications. Write a brief professional summary instead- two or three sentences that synthesize your strengths and experience and show why you’d be a unique and ideal fit for the position and the company.8. â€Å"References upon request†This is a way outdated and redundant thing to include. Obviously you’ll provide references if requested. Take that sentence out and put something more valuable in its place.

Financial Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Financial Management - Essay Example The financing policy should be designed in a way that it maximizes the wealth of the shareholders while minimizing the overall cost of capital. Equity The equity shares are also referred to as ‘ordinary shares’. The equity shareholders also referred to as ‘ordinary shareholders’ who share the risk as well as reward associated with the corporate ownership. Unlike preference shares the equity shares do not carry any preference with respect to redemption and income. As the equity shareholders are exposed to greater risks and do not enjoy any specified preferential rights, the equity holders are entitled to a higher share in the business profits in the form of high dividends as compared to the payments made to the preferential shareholders. However, the declaration of dividend is at the discretion of the directors’. Types of equity shares The equity shares are of the following types- With voting rights Without voting rights With differential voting rights with respect to dividend payments or voting, as per any prescribed rules and conditions. The shares with the feature of â€Å"differential voting rights† cannot be more than 25% of the company’s Total Issued Share Capital. The corporate can raise additional funds, without diluting the ownership interest of the existing shareholders through the issue of â€Å"non-voting equity shares†. ... In the event of dividend failure, the non-voting class of shares will automatically get pro-rata voting rights until there is resumption in dividend payments (Guruswamy, p.51). Merits & demerits of equity An important benefit arising from the issue of equity is that it does not create any fixed obligations. The dividends paid on the equity shares are at the discretion of the management and therefore it does not create any legal bindings. In the initial stages, the company may not be in a position to withstand fixed contractual obligations. For this reason, the equity issue is the most preferred route of issuing funds as it does not create any financial burden on the company. However, a high level of equity can dilute the ‘ownership’. It is argued that the equity shareholders interfere in the business affairs thereby delaying crucial business decisions. Moreover, the managers have to seek approval of the majority shareholders at the time of making important business decis ions. This leads to excessive delays. Benefits & Risks of voting & non-voting equity The main advantage of non-voting shares is that it overcomes the problem of dilution of ownership as these classes of shares do not have any voting rights. This class of shares tackles the problems related with other class of shares such as the ordinary shares or voting shares. The latter class of shareholders seeks high returns on their invested funds both in the form of high dividends and capital appreciation. Due to this, the non-voting shares are said to have a popular and ready market. In fact, this class of shares is similar to preference shares in terms of absence of voting rights but unlike preference

Teen Moms Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Teen Moms - Term Paper Example It is quite evident from the available literature that the incidents of adolescents giving birth have been increasing. The biological and economic consequences of teenage pregnancy and parenthood have been largely studied. However, these conclusions confirming its negative impacts have to a large extent influenced the social perception on teenage mothers. It has been established that both the mothers and children in the discussed population are underprivileged due to various reasons. As motherhood limits their scope of further education, resultantly hindering their access to good employment, the chances of these mothers remaining underprivileged is large. Thus the inherent consequences of teen motherhood remain to be same across generations. Wiemann, Rickert, Berenson, & Volk (2005) confirms this argument as they observe that despite the increased visibility of teen mothers and unmarried teen pregnancy, the social stigma around ten mother are significant. Interestingly, there are opi nions which connect to the reciprocal effect of this stigmatization. This school of thought suggests that stigmatization would ultimately result in the positive consequence of reduced teen pregnancies. However, the implications that this futuristic philosophy can have on the present generation of the target population is overseen. In other words, the teen mothers will be socially marginalized. This in no sense is justified in a civilized society. There are several researches which suggest that this stigmatization add to the challenges which they are going through due to their underprivileged social context. A very important factor that has to be considered while understanding the larger social effects posed upon teen mothers is their perception of the societal attitude towards them. The aspect of stigmatization has to be considered in this respect. It has been

Genetically Modified Food Essay Example for Free

Genetically Modified Food Essay Genetically modified (GM) foods are ethically unacceptable. GM foods are food product derived in whole or part from a genetically modified organism by human intention. It is a special set of technologies that concerns the alteration, deletion, or addition of the genetic makeup of living organisms such as animals, plants, or bacteria. This is an important issue because GM foods have been dubbed as the Food of the Future and although studies have shown that genetically modified foods may bring about many benefits to mankind, we must also look into the ethical issues involved in producing such food before we even consider accepting it as the way of the future. First, we must understand that the word ethical is defined as having to do with ethics or morality; or of conforming to moral standards. There will be 3 parts to this essay. Firstly, I will be presenting and defending 2 arguments that support my stand. Following that, Ill take into consideration some common objections against my thesis. Lastly, I will summarize the main points in this essay before drawing to a conclusion. The essays argument takes the form of Modus Ponens: If GM is X, GM is unethical GM is X GM is unethical My main argument is that it is unethical to tamper with nature by mixing genes among the different species. By doing so, it may actually lead to a violation of natural organisms intrinsic values. There is a very delicate balance that links this world together and this is the balance that makes things work. GM foods might actually give rise to more complications such as the disturbance of natures food pyramid. For example, the pesticide produced in the crop may unintentionally harm other creatures while producing a benefit to others. The introduction of pest-resistant genes into crops could lead to the death of the pests and other animals causing an imbalance in the food chain that could possibly lead to the extinction of some species especially if they are only localized in one particular area. In Britain, a native farm bird, the Skylark, was indirectly affected by the introduction of GM sugar beets that were designed to resist herbicides. The result in planting this crop was that weeds were reduced substantially. However, since the birds rely on the seeds of this weed in autumn and winter, researchers expect that up to 80% of the Skylark population would have to find other means of finding food. Another issue brought up is that GM crops may also pose a health risk to native animals that eat the plants and may be poisoned by the built-in pesticides. Although others might also argue that the cutting down of trees to construct buildings might also be a way of tampering with nature, GM food not just tampers with physical nature but with the foundation of nature genes. Every organism, no matter how small, is made up of genes. These genes control the physical development and behavior of the organism and are passed down from parent to offspring. The word genes (comes from the Greek word genos meaning origin) actually defines natures origin and the production of GM food would mean to change the origin of nature. Furthermore, religious communities Christians, Hindus, Jews and Muslims Ââ€" also share such concerns regarding GM products. According to Bishop Jeff Davies from the SA Council of Churches, With genetic engineering, we are tampering with the structures of life that have taken millions of years to evolve and we have the arrogance to think that we can improve on them in 10 years to transfer a gene from one species into another. Different religious communities have different believes and one of them would be their food such as kosher and halal food. But with the introduction of animal genes into plants how will they define a tomato with a fish gene? This will also be a major concern to vegetarians. All in all, I believe that people should be happy with what nature has to give and not play God and try to control nature. It is unethical to sacrifice other creatures and meddle with the delicate balance of nature. Furthermore, there will be potential chain reactions that may be unstoppable. One other argument is how GM products can affect our health especially in the long run. The unpredictable changes in our food could lead to negative reactions that are not detected by research techniques until much later. A quick acceptance of GE foods without proper testing could show corporate profitability to be very influential but that would be too dangerous because there has been no adequate safety testing to ensure that using other organisms genes is going to have the same useful effects if inserted into a totally unrelated species. Furthermore, testing has only been done on a small scale currently and its hard to predict what will happen when its used on a wider ecology. In 1989, dozens of Americans died and several thousands were afflicted and impaired by a genetically altered version of the food supplement L-tryptophan. Studies have been done to show how viruses can mix with genes of other viruses to give rise to more deadly viruses. To mass market the use of GM food when it has not been properly tested for safety issues would mean that businesses are gaining at the expense of consumers health and is therefore ethically unacceptable. On the other hand, some organizations insist that GM technology is the solution to solving the problem of world hunger. However, I feel that it is simply a ploy of corporations and countries that are using the plight of the developing world as a marketing strategy to gain acceptance of GE foods. GM technology is not an economical method that can be easily implemented by most countries. In fact, genetic engineering techniques are currently being applied to crops important to the industrialized world and not on crops which the worlds hungry depend on. GM foods could actually reduce developed countries reliance on crops from developing countries, resulting in loss of trade and severe economic damage for them and intensifying their problem of poverty. This would mean that theres a conflict of interest. Furthermore, an important factor that Friends of the Earth has pointed out is that many people in the world are suffering from malnutrition and hunger because they cannot afford to buy food, not because it is unavailable. Therefore, even with GM food, people would still not be able to afford it or have it distributed appropriately. Most of the causes of hunger are found in global politics, rather than issues of agriculture and technology. As a result, a variety of groups and people are questioning the motives behind GM foods as the political causes of hunger appear to be ignored. An article from Food First observed that most innovations in agricultural biotechnology have been profit-driven rather than need-driven and it questions whether GE technology can really ensure food security, protect the environment and reduce poverty in the developing world or is it produced simply because its patentable and thus, profitable to businesses. In some cases, as reported by The Institute for Science, pesticide usage is actually increasing, and GE crop actually yield less than conventional crops. In this essay, I have come up with several valid reasons why Genetically Modified Foods are ethically unacceptable. GM foods tamper with the origin of nature which is the genes and there is inadequate safety testing to prove that GM food is safe for human consumption. Therefore, businesses are mass marketing GM food at the expense of consumers health and proclaiming that GM Food is the solution to world hunger when it might not be true. Although there might be potential and benefits in GE technology, there are still many unknown areas that might prove to be more harmful then beneficial. Furthermore, there are still too many important ethical issues that have been ignored and that reason by itself makes it ethically unacceptable.

Rise of Hitler :: World War II WWII WW2 Nazi Germany

Origins of the Nazi Party The Nazi Party was formed in January 1919 by Anton Drexler. Originally it was named the German Workers Party (DAP). Hitler joined in Autumn of 1919. He quickly rose to become the leader of the party. The party was transformed by Hitler and became a political party rather than the discussion group that it had been when he joined. The SA (Brownshirts) was formed to protect Hitler and other party leaders at meetings. It also disrupted the meetings of the Nazi’s political opponents. Appeal of the Nazi Party The military uniform of the SA appealed to many former soldiers. The aggressive berating of the Weimar leadership for signing the treaty of Versailles appealed to the disaffected and to former soldiers. Use of force and the parties strict discipline appealed to those who longed for a return to the old, militaristic rule that had preceded the First World War. Munich Putsch The party attempted to take control of the government by force. This failed as the Nazi’s did not enjoy widespread support at the time. The government was capable of controlling the armed forces and police. Hitler was imprisoned as a result of the Putsch (Uprising). In Prison Hitler thought about the methods he had used to try and take control. He realised that the Nazi’s would need to use legitimate, electoral means to assume power and that the appeal of his party would need to be widespread in order to achieve this. As a result he wrote â€Å"Meine Kampf†. This book outlines Hitler’s beliefs. Upon being released from prison Hitler started to reorganise the party. The SS (Blackshirts) were introduced as his own personal bodyguard: they later became a much larger organisation with many functions. People were employed within the party to work on strategy and the delivery of an aggressive advertising campaign (propaganda). This included Goebbels. Campaigning and the Rise to chancellorship The Nazi’s rise can be linked with the economic problems faced by Germany. They offered radical solutions to the economic crisis. Ignoring the treaty of Versailles and protecting the country from communism appealed to a wide range of people. Other policies included, but were not restricted to: Public works, anti-semiticism, reorganisation of the labour corps (workers), redistribution of wealth (welfare policies, how they help those in need). Economic policy was focussed on big business and manufacturing. The majority of the policies were populist (appealed to many people). The policies were advertised on the radio, at rallies, through leaflet distribution and through a show of strength. Rise of Hitler :: World War II WWII WW2 Nazi Germany Origins of the Nazi Party The Nazi Party was formed in January 1919 by Anton Drexler. Originally it was named the German Workers Party (DAP). Hitler joined in Autumn of 1919. He quickly rose to become the leader of the party. The party was transformed by Hitler and became a political party rather than the discussion group that it had been when he joined. The SA (Brownshirts) was formed to protect Hitler and other party leaders at meetings. It also disrupted the meetings of the Nazi’s political opponents. Appeal of the Nazi Party The military uniform of the SA appealed to many former soldiers. The aggressive berating of the Weimar leadership for signing the treaty of Versailles appealed to the disaffected and to former soldiers. Use of force and the parties strict discipline appealed to those who longed for a return to the old, militaristic rule that had preceded the First World War. Munich Putsch The party attempted to take control of the government by force. This failed as the Nazi’s did not enjoy widespread support at the time. The government was capable of controlling the armed forces and police. Hitler was imprisoned as a result of the Putsch (Uprising). In Prison Hitler thought about the methods he had used to try and take control. He realised that the Nazi’s would need to use legitimate, electoral means to assume power and that the appeal of his party would need to be widespread in order to achieve this. As a result he wrote â€Å"Meine Kampf†. This book outlines Hitler’s beliefs. Upon being released from prison Hitler started to reorganise the party. The SS (Blackshirts) were introduced as his own personal bodyguard: they later became a much larger organisation with many functions. People were employed within the party to work on strategy and the delivery of an aggressive advertising campaign (propaganda). This included Goebbels. Campaigning and the Rise to chancellorship The Nazi’s rise can be linked with the economic problems faced by Germany. They offered radical solutions to the economic crisis. Ignoring the treaty of Versailles and protecting the country from communism appealed to a wide range of people. Other policies included, but were not restricted to: Public works, anti-semiticism, reorganisation of the labour corps (workers), redistribution of wealth (welfare policies, how they help those in need). Economic policy was focussed on big business and manufacturing. The majority of the policies were populist (appealed to many people). The policies were advertised on the radio, at rallies, through leaflet distribution and through a show of strength.

Philippines And United States Essay

1. How did the Philippines become a major headache for America? Filipinos erupted into an open insurrection in 1899 under Emilio Aguinaldo. The war/ conflict was sordid and prolonged. Instead of quietly assimilating, they objected. 2. Why did the United States hold on to the Philippines? Millions of American dollars were invested in improving the nation’s infrastructure and education. Moreover the 2 nations had established important economic ties including trades in sugar. 3. Why did Hay propose the Open Door Policy? What was it? He proposed it because Chinese markets were being monopolized by Europeans. Hays open door policy suggested that in their leaseholds and spheres of influence they would respect certain Chinese rights and the ideal of fair competition. 4. How did the US get â€Å"entangled† in China? American public was alarmed by European encroachments into Chinese markets and demanded that Washington should do something. Chinese did not like being used as â₠¬Å"doormats† by the Europeans and revolted. America joined in on a multinational rescue force to quell the rebellion. 5. Why was Roosevelt â€Å"kicked upstairs?† he was elected governor of New York but the local political bosses found him too headstrong and difficult to manage. 6. What were the major issues of the election of 1896? Why did McKinley win? The paramount issue as republican overseas imperialism. Along with republican fostered trusts. 7. What were Roosevelt’s general ideas on foreign and domestic policy? Domestic: mostly consisted of his ideas of the Square Deal on supporting middle class and Progressive ideas, regulating Business Monopolies, and enforcing the Anti-Trust act and hopes of protecting the common people. Also towards farmers, consumers, workers, and business owners have equal treatment and opportunity to succeed. Foreign: consisted mostly of the pressing need for the canal across Central America. Roosevelt also expanded the Monroe Doctrine in order to make new agreements with European Nations. Roosevelt’s Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine stated that if America and its protectorates receive problems and complications with other Nations, then America can handle its own issues and will not need the aid from foreign Countries. 8. Why did many Americans push for a canal in Central America? During the Spanish American war, battleship Oregon had to sail all the way across the southern tip of south America to reach the Cuban coasts. Building the canal would fortify Americas naval mobility. 9. What was the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty? What was the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty? Signed with Britain in 1850, The US could not secure exclusive control over such a route as the Panama Canal. In 1901 with the second treaty, US could build canal and fortify it too. 10. How did the US intervene in Panama to get access to the canal route? US naval forces did not let Columbian troops cross isthmus to quell the uprising. 11. What was the Hay-Banau-Varilla Treaty? Sold canal strip of ten miles for forty million. 12. How did the Panama Canal episode change US relations with Latin America? Made them bad. Fear spread and US became a bully. LOL 13. What was the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine? What was its impact? Justified US intervention in Latin American Countries. A policy of preventive intervention, it kept out European nations by allowing US forces to take over custom houses and pay off debts. Latin Americans viewed the US with disapproval as we interfered in the DR and Cuba. 14. Why was TR involved in the dispute between Japan and Russia? What was the result of his intervention? Established him as a global statesmen. Japan got no indemnity and only the southern half of Sakhalin. Japanese and American and Russian and American unfriendly relations grew. 15. What was the Gentlemen’s Agreement? Japanese flow of laborers to America by withholding passport happened and Californians were forced to repeal offensive school order. 16. What was the Root-Takahira Treaty? Japan and US will respect territorial possessions and uphold Open Door in China.

Cold Start 2013

The ambiguous status of its military doctrine may be no bad thing for India, if the end result is what Thomas Schelling described as ‘the threat that leaves something to chance’,76 but, as Delhi has discovered, issuing even embryonic threats can be counterproductive. Cohen and Dasgupta observe that ‘Cold Start has been a boon for the Pakistan establishment’, in that ‘its diplomats and generals can contend on the international stage that India is in fact an aggressive country’. 77 And far from leaving something to chance, the prevailing arrangements are widely accepted as aspirational at best.Third, inter-service rivalry has crippled a number of modernisation efforts in the past, and doctrine appears to be no exception. India’s wars have historically been disjointed affairs. In the humiliating defeat by China in 1962, airpower was glaringly absent. 78 Three years later, the Indian Air Force (IAF) preferred strategic bombing to close air su pport. 79 Chari et al. , Four Crises and a Peace Process, 175. Ibid. , 177. 74 Khan et al. , ‘Pakistan’s motivations and calculations for the Kargil con? ict’. 75 Mukherjee, ‘The Absent Dialogue’. 76 Thomas C.Schelling, The Strategy of Con? ict (Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP 1960), 187. 77 Cohen and Dasgupta, Arming without Aiming, 66. 78 R. Sukumaran, ‘The 1962 India-China War and Kargil 1999: Restrictions on the Use of Air Power’, Strategic Analysis 27/3 (2003), 341. 79 The limited amount of close air support furnished by the IAF was disastrous. It was characterised by ‘dismal conduct’, including the in? iction of casualties on Indian 73 72 Downloaded by [Harvard College] at 13:28 22 July 2013 526 Shashank Joshi Downloaded by [Harvard College] at 13:28 22 July 2013And although it played important roles in subsequent con? icts, it resists being co-opted for the Army’s purposes. The Indian Navy (IN) has ssimilarly carved out an independent role for itself in recent years, following minimal involvement in India’s wars. 80 Its doctrine ‘presents war? ghting as one of four equally important roles, with the other three – diplomatic, constabulary, and soft power functions – being broader in geographic scope and less dependent on combat power’. 81 The IAF and IN have abiding fears of being marginalised and subordinated by an overweening Army.This has ensured that Indian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) or Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) positions have never materialised, despite the coordination bene? ts of such an of? ce, whose existence was mooted as early as 1949 and the case for which has been made recurrently since. 82 India is not unique in this regard. Industrialised democracies often face inter-service wrangling. 83 In Britain, anticipated austerity has prompted each service chief to vigorously defend the relevance of his force structure, with an emphasis on costly platforms. 4 Such debates over force structure, such as the analogous questions over the utility of the F-22 in an age of irregular warfare, everywhere affect posture. 85 However, the Indian context is characterised by particularly rigid service identities and a de? ciency of overarching political orchestration. Cold Start threatens the organizational essence of the IAF. 86 This is unsurprising: as a doctrine for conventional limited war, it characterises airpower as ancillary to the movement of ground forces. Insofar as Cold Start is a strategic package rather than one operational manoeuvre personnel.

The Elizabethan Era Essay Example

The Elizabethan Era Essay Example The Elizabethan Era Paper The Elizabethan Era Paper By definition, a class is a group of people with a related social standing. There are often distinct differences between the classes, denoted by characteristics such as one’s wealth, education, career, and health. These principles applied for the Elizabethan Era as well. Elizabeth herself was a member of the upper class, while other fairly successful people belonged to the middle class. Peasants were the lowest ranked class, usually because they were unfortunate enough to either contract a disease that disabled them from work, or they were farmers that were stricken with poverty when a harvesting season went bad. The â€Å"upper class† consisted mainly of nobility and wealthy landowners. Those in this class generally handled governmental affairs. They also had their children brought up with an education in music, math, and history. It wasn’t rare for many of them to be literate in multiple foreign languages, as well as their own, such as Latin, English, French, and Spanish. Also, the men usually received a better education than the women. The men of nobility were taught extra skills such as horse riding, hunting, shooting, and hawking as well. Because of this class’s social statute and wealth, they were easily able to treat themselves to the best of the food available during their time, especially meaty foods. But because of the large consumption of meat with few vegetables, many eventually suffered from diseases such as scurvy, which is weakness of the bone. The dinnerware consisted of wooden plates, like those of the lower classes, but these were accompanied by other delicacies of the Elizabethan period, such as chairs, forks, and glasses. The favorite drink of all the classes was beer, although the upper class favored wine imported from French vineyards. One custom between the people of this class and the peasants was known as the giving of â€Å"alms† to the poor. This was were a wealthy person would contribute money and sometimes provide supplementary shelter to a less fortunate person. Although the upper class was a minority in Elizabethan times as it is now, it kept the thriving European kingdom alive. The second class of the Elizabethan Period was the â€Å"middle class†. This class usually consisted of merchants and some landowners, although the number of peasants who rose and fell between this class and the lower class varied depending on the health of the seasonal harvest. Those in this class lead a fairly peaceful, easygoing life, other than common household chores and visits to the local market. If possible, they would hire a servant to keep up with some of the household chores, such as the tedious task of clothes washing. They sent their children to a formal school if they could afford it. The parents were so intent for their children to learn the material that they encouraged teachers to beat them if they made mistakes or became lazy. The middle class often could not afford some of the things taken for granted by the upper class, such as chairs instead of stools, forks, glasses, and a large selection of meats. The middle class drove the economy of Britain through its trades with other European countries. The peasants made up the lower class. These people were either ill, lazy, became laborers, or were just turned a bad hand during the harvest season. The laborers and servants served long hours each day handling the least favorable jobs, such as field work and laundry. During bad seasons, as many as 25% could not afford food, and often the most they ever ate was bread. In many cases they turned to thievery, otherwise they would starve. Some were lucky enough to receive â€Å"alms† from the wealthy, but many didn’t, because of their great number. The upper class pitied the peasants that were ill or that couldn’t find work, so they created a system to care for them. If there were able men that were just lazy and rather beg on the streets, a Parish, or the person in charge of the system locally, would send them to a larger city were they would be whipped and then sent back and assigned a job. If a man was ill, then they would often try to take him in and give him enough food to survive on. Widows and their families were also treated in the same manner. In the end, when harvest was well, every class benefited, and it created especially good seasons for the poor, otherwise it was the peasants who suffered most. The classes of the Elizabethan Period established a society which became a model for many present-day cultures. Though not perfect, it still exists today, even in America to some degree. The upper class was the wealthiest and had the most power, while the middle class was mostly involved in trade, and the lower class made up the remainder who were often ill or widowed.

30 Words Inspired by 29 People and An Elephant

30 Words Inspired by 29 People and An Elephant 30 Words Inspired by 29 People and An Elephant 30 Words Inspired by 29 People and An Elephant By Maeve Maddox Thousands of English words may be classed as eponyms, words derived from proper names. Many eponyms derive from deliberate choices to call a product, invention, or scientific discovery after the person most closely associated with it, for example: macadam, guillotine, pasteurisation. Sometimes scientific terms are coined to honor a famous person or a friend, for example, watt, ohm, and dahlia. Other eponyms derive from characters in fiction, mythology, or geographical locations, for example rambo, hermaphrodite, marathon. Eponyms I find especially interesting are those that derive not from a deliberate naming process, but from distinctive associations with specific individuals. Here are 30 eponyms that owe their existence to somethingphysical features, manner of dress, writing style, profession, or behaviorassociated with specific people (and one elephant). The People 1. bowdlerize [bÃ… dlÉ™-rÄ «z, boud-] remove sexually offensive words or passages from a written work before publishing it. From Thomas Bowdler (1754-1825) who published an edition of Shakespeare that left out such things as the porter scene in Macbeth. As preposterous as the idea may seem now, it was a boon to women who had previously been deterred from reading the plays by their parents, husbands, or dread of social disapproval. 2. boycott [boikÃ… t] refuse to do business with with someone. From Charles C. Boycott (1832-1897), the Irish land agent for an absentee landlord. Boycott refused to conform to land reforms supported by the Irish Land League. The League acted against Boycott by preventing his access to stores, postal service and other economic necessities. Boycotting is an important tool in campaigns of passive resistance to unjust social conditions. 3. cardigan [krdÄ ­-gÉ™n] style of sweater that opens at the front. From James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan who is said to have worn a knitted waistcoat to keep warm on campaign. He was one of the commanders in the field on the day of the fatal Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War. 4. casanova [kÄÆ'sÉ™-nÃ… vÉ™] This is one of those many euphemisms for a man who preys on women. One definition is a man gallantly attentive to women. Others are promiscuous man, or philanderer. From Giacomo Jacopo Girolamo Casanova de Seignalt (1725-98), an Italian adventurer who wrote a memoir in which he bragged about his conquests. 5. chauvinism [shÃ… vÉ™-nÄ ­zÉ™m] fanatical patriotism or an intense belief in the superiority of ones own gender, group, or kind. From Nicholas Chauvin, a soldier in Napoleons Army who was a by-word for stubborn loyalty to Napoleons Empire long after Napoleons defeat. Male chauvinism is the belief that men are congenitally superior to women and therefore have the right to set the standards for acceptable female behavior. The adjective is chauvinistic. 6. C-section (shortening of Caesarian Section) medical procedure in which a child is delivered by being cut from the mothers womb. Tradition traces the word to the belief that Roman Dictator Julius Caesar was so born. However, Roman doctors performed the procedure to save a child when the mother died before completing delivery. Julius Caesars mother, Aurelia Cotta, lived to raise her grand-daughter. The word Caesarian for the medical procedure may have more to do with the family name Caesar than with Aurelias son. Caesar comes from Latin caesus, past participle of caedere, to cut. 7. gerrymandering [jÄ•rÄ“-mÄÆ'ndÉ™r, gÄ•r-] practice of dividing voting districts to give unfair advantage to one party. From Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814). The shape of one of the voting districts suggested the body of a salamander, prompting a staffer at the Boston Gazette to coin the word Gerrymander. 8. leotard [lÄ“É™-trd] tights worn for dancing. From Jules Là ©otard (circa 1839-1870), French acrobatic performer who was the inspiration for the 1867 song The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze. 9. luddite [lÃ… ­dÄ «t] opponent of technological progress. From Ned Ludd, an English laborer who was supposed to have destroyed weaving machinery around 1779. Later on (1811-1816) a band of weavers calling themselves Luddites destroyed machinery in the Midlands and northern England. 10. lynch [lÄ ­nch] Originally lynching meant any kind of impromptu justice, chiefly flogging. Now it means to hang someone in a mob frenzy without a trial. From William Lynch, the author of Lynchs Law. The law was an agreement with the Virginia General Assembly in 1782 that allowed Lynch to capture and punish criminals in Pittsylvania County without trial. The county lacked official courts. 11. machiavellian [mÄÆ'kÄ“-É™-vÄ•lÄ“-É™n] characterized by expediency, self-interest, and deceit. From Niccolà ² Machiavelli (1469-1527), Italian political theorist who wrote The Prince (1513). In it Machiavelli argues that the most effective way for men and governments to achieve and maintain power is to act without regard to moral considerations. 12. Mae West [mÄ  wÄ•st] a type of inflatable life jacket. Named for buxom U.S. film star Mae West (1892-1980). 13. marcel [mr-sÄ•l] a hairstyle characterized by deep regular waves made by a heated curling iron. Named for Francois Marcel, 19th century French hairdresser who invented the process in 1872. Can be used as a verb. 14. martinet [mrtn-Ä•t] a military officer who demands strict obedience to regulations; by extension, anyone who demands absolute adherence to forms and rules. Coined from the name of Col. Jean Martinet, a French drillmaster during the reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715). 15. masochism [mÄÆ'sÉ™-kÄ ­zÉ™m] sexual pleasure in being hurt or abused. Coined in 1883 by German neurologist Richard von Krafft-Ebing (1840-1902), from the name of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836-95). Sacher-Masoch was an Austrian novelist who wrote Venus in Furs, a novella about a man who enjoys submissive relationships with cruel women. The adjective is masochistic. 16. McCarthyism [mÉ™-krthÄ“-Ä ­zÉ™m] the practice of accusing people of political disloyalty without evidence; the use of unfair investigation methods to suppress opposition. From U. S. Senator Joe McCarthy (1908-1957). Playwright Arthur Miller allegorized McCarthy and his methods in The Crucible, a drama about the 1692 witch hunt and hangings in Salem, Massachusetts. 17. mirandize [mÉ™-rÄÆ'ndÄ «z] to read the legal rights to a suspect arrested on a criminal charge. From Ernesto A. Miranda (1941-1976), a laborer whose conviction on kidnapping, rape, and armed robbery was overturned because arresting officers had failed to inform him of his legal rights. Heres the rest of the story: Ernesto Miranda was retried after his conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court. In his second trial, his confession was not presented. Nevertheless, he was again convicted of kidnapping and rape based on other evidence. He served eleven years in prison before being paroled in 1972. After his release from prison, he made money by selling Miranda rights cards with his signature on them. In 1976, at the age of 34, he was stabbed to death in a bar fight. The man suspected of killing him invoked his Miranda rights and refused to talk to police. He was released and never charged with Mirandas murder. Mark Eiglarsh 18. Oscar statuette awarded for excellence in film acting, directing, etc., given annually since, 1928 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The name Oscar was first applied to the statuette in 1936. The story is that Margaret Herrick, the Academys librarian, reacted to her first look at the statuette with the remark: He reminds me of my Uncle Oscar. Her uncle was Oscar Pierce, U.S. wheat farmer and fruit grower. 19. pompadour [pÃ… mpÉ™-dà ´r, -dÃ… r] hair style in which the front of the hair is swept up and back in a large roll. Named for Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour (1721-1764) mistress of Louis XV. A masculine version of the pompadour brushes the hair up from the forehead. 20. Ponzi scheme [pÃ… nzÄ“] an investment scam by which early investors are paid off from the contributions of later ones. Named for Charles Ponzi, who perpetrated such a scam from 1919 to 1920. The name Ponzi may be eclipsed by that of Madoff to describe such a scheme. Ponzis scheme netted only a few million dollars. Bernard Madoff stole $50 billion from his investors over a period of several decades. 21. quisling [kwÄ ­zlÄ ­ng] traitor; turncoat; enemy collaborator. From Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945) a Norwegian politician who headed a puppet government for the Nazis during the World War II occupation of Norway. 22. raglan [rÄÆ'glÉ™n] having or being a sleeve that extends in one piece to the neckline of the garment, with slanted seams from the armhole to the neck. Named for Fitzroy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan who was minus an arm. The special type of sleeve made his jacket fit better. Usually seen in the phrase raglan sleeve. 23. Reaganomics the economic policies of tax cutting and deficit spending. Named for Ronald Reagan, U.S. President from 1981 to 1989. 24. rubenesque [rÃ… «bÉ™-nÄ•sk] plump or fleshy and voluptuous. From Flemish painter Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) whose paintings favor that particular female body type. 25. sadism [sÄ dÄ ­zÉ™m, sÄÆ'dÄ ­z-] love of cruelty. From Count Donatien A.F. de Sade (1740-1815), a.k.a. the Marquis de Sade. He wrote novels that, according to the Wikipedia article, explored such controversial subjects as rape, bestiality and necrophilia. He was a proponent of extreme freedom (or at least licentiousness), unrestrained by morality, religion or law, with the pursuit of personal pleasure being the highest principle. The adjective is sadistic [sÉ™-dÄ ­stÄ ­k]. 26. sideburns [sÄ «dbà »rnz] strips of hair at the sides of the face. The word began as burnsides and referred to a style of facial hair that consisted of flaring side whiskers joining in the mustache. The chin was clean-shaven. Named for U.S. Army Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside (1824-81) who wore them. The words elements changed places by the process of folk etymology (false etymology). 27. tattersall [tÄÆ'tÉ™r-sà ´l, -sÉ™l] a pattern of dark lines forming squares on a light background; type of fabric with small and even check pattern. From Richard Tattersall (1724-1795), founder of Tattersalls, a London horse market and gambling rendezvous he founded in 1766. The pattern was a traditional one for horse blankets. 28. Victorian [vÄ ­k-tà ´rÄ“-É™-nÄ ­zÉ™m, -tÃ… r-] In one sense, the adjective can refer simply to the period of history that corresponds more or less to the reign of Queen Victoria of Britain (1837-1901), a period during which Britain led the world militarily, industrially, and politically. In another sense it signifies prudish behavior and social attitudes typical of the time. The phrase Victorian London evokes the image of a city of extremes. On one hand middleclass morality was so uptight that the word limb was preferred to more graphic words such as leg and arm. Ive read that even piano legs were carefully clothed with ruffled coverings for reasons of modesty. On the other hand abandoned children slept in doorways in slums so depraved that police were afraid to go into them. 29. wellingtons [wÄ•lÄ ­ng-tÉ™n] waterproof boots of rubber or sometimes leather reaching to below the knee and worn in wet or muddy conditions. Named for Arthur, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), who also in his lifetime had a style of coat, hat, and trousers named for him as well as varieties of apple and pine trees. ...and the Elephant 30. jumbo [jÃ… ­mbÃ… ] unusually large. In the 1880s jumbo was an English slang word for clumsy, unwieldy fellow. The famous elephant named Jumbo lived in the London Zoo for 17 years and was a great favorite with the English public. U.S. showman P.T. Barnum bought Jumbo for $10,000 in 1882. Thanks to circus advertising, the name Jumbo became a synonym for huge. In those days before animal protection laws, poor Jumbo did not have a happy life. Born in the French Sudan in 1861, he spent some time being exhibited in Paris before going to the London Zoo in 1865. When Barnum offered to buy him, 100,000 English school children wrote to Queen Victoria begging her to stop the sale. To no avail. Read Jumbos sad story at Wikipedia. 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:30 Synonyms for â€Å"Meeting†What is Dative Case?10 Functions of the Comma

The world is Flat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The world is Flat - Essay Example This is actually true as no two countries would fight against each other if they have similar interests and it is only a clash of interests that would bring about conflict between these countries. Countries like the United States of America and Great Britain have never really had any conflicts amongst themselves in recent years and the reason for this cannot be far-fetched. Over the years, the US has been an ally of Great Britain and it is not unusual that these two great countries have not had any reason to fight against each other. The reason is due to the fact that they are of the same global supply chain, thus corroborating Friedman’s argument that countries in the same global supply chain can never fight a war against each other. You can never hear two developed countries that share the same ideology fighting against each other. In order to disproof Duiker’s belief that the trend toward globalization could lead to fragmentation, one should consider two countries th at are thriving to be economically successful. The interests of these countries are aligned by the goals they share and this means that they are preoccupied with the success of their economy and would quell any crisis that could lead to conflict between them.

Community Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Community Communication - Essay Example Normally, we find ourselves bound to care with one another in a community not only because we readily understand the necessity of survival through interactive relationship but even for the natural truth in historicity where there emerges discernment of historical background that enables one person to gauge the other in terms of a continuing culture they have both lived with though at separate places and time. The mutual respect or concern established toward a cultural or religious tradition, for instance, may hold us within a sensible meaning of community in which while we distinguish individual selves with unique identity to develop for personal growth, we know somewhere from the inner core that our mutuality in beliefs and principles sets us apart from certain degree of plural indifference. Since a community is quite characteristic of norms when it comes to general views or opinions on matters of common interest, we are more likely to form social attitudes and standards based on these norms. Our adherence to a specific standard which is made by the majority in the community eventually becomes or aligns with our own as we give value or judgment to an object or person. Such act of paying someone worth or opinion comes out either just or unjust, hurtful or favorable on the basis of how the former interprets and reacts to the community’s overall perception of him or her. Consequently, the community becomes a ‘sum’ to look at or respond to and in return, it also collects to itself from individual ideas that share similar attributes in order to project a law that almost everyone is drawn to follow in the course of nature. In this regard, thus, communication is hugely significant especially in expressing one’s insights and feelings that would help the community make the necessary adjustment in recognizing the real value of a member or one that is