Monday, December 30, 2019

The Forest, The Trees, And The One Thing By Allan G. Johnson

Being a component of society is an unavoidable status that every person falls into. To escape it would be impossible as society itself is the interweaving lives, systems, beliefs and ideas that every individual contributes to and experiences. Without a contextual perspective, comprehending one’s place in society while in the chaos of personal and widespread clashes is challenging. Sociology and, thus, the sociological perspective allows people to understand the threads that connect them to someone else or to the institutes that surround them. When two or more people become involved in each other’s lives, a society is born. Love and hate, respect and disdain, honesty and deception––all of these emotional and interhuman elements blend to create said society. A sociologist is able to see through these components and break them down individually as well as find how they blend together. In his article â€Å"The Forest, the Trees, and the One Thing,† Alla n G. Johnson says that he and other sociologists â€Å"wonder what life really is all about, what this stream of interconnected people’s lives consists of, what knits it all together and what tears it apart, and what†¦it’s got to do with me† (2008). Human sociology is greater than just individual-to-individual relationships; it is as vast as social movements and government takeovers and as intimate as an individual woman reading a popular book. The study of sociology gives a person the ability to perceive relationships and lives in waysShow MoreRelatedWhat Can We Do? Becoming Part Of The Solution1619 Words   |  7 Pages† by Allan G. Johnson, a well-known author, novelist, and sociologist, indicates that, â€Å"Privilege is a feature of social systems, not individual. People have or don’t have privilege depending in the system they’re in and the social categories other people put them in.† (Johnson, 650). In this article Johnson encourages people to comprehend social issues and to create a new path that directs to a possible solution to social problems. In the article, â€Å"The Forest, The Trees, and The One Thing,† alsoRead MoreAllan G. Johnson2492 Words   |  10 PagesFinal Research Paper Allan G. Johnson wrote a book called, ‘Privilege, Power, and Difference’. He has written a very accessible introduction to the concept of privilege: the notion that certain members of society benefit from institutionalized assumptions and beliefs about what is normal. Conversely, attention is also given to various groups that are harmed by these same institutionalized assumptions. People of color, women, homosexuals, and those with disabilities are all included in his discussionRead MoreForest from the Trees Analysis2134 Words   |  9 Pagesnature to view things simplistically. Most of us participate in day-to-day events single-mindedly. We are much too wrapped up what we are doing to take a step back and recognize the greater picture. We fail to notice the impact of the social systems that constantly surround us. The systems that we associate with are much bigger than ourselves. In fact, they define who we are not only as individuals, but also as part of a society. Allan Johnson, author of The Forest and the Trees, does an incredibleRead MoreHow The Media Is Influenced By Many Different Things1825 Words   |  8 Pages Behavior can be influenced by many different things such as the way someone was raised, how their family situation is, how their friends act, how the media displays certain actions, and so on and so forth. Each person has their own factors that have affected how they react to certain things. There are some factors or actions that the vast majority seem to have been effected by and therefore most people react the same way under certain contexts. This common action or reaction can be referred to asRead MoreFreshwater Mussel and Water Quality: a Review of the Effects of Hydrologic and Instream Habitat Alterations9693 Words   |  39 Pageshabitat alterations G. Thomas Watters1 Ohio Biological Survey and Aquatic Ecology Laboratory; 1315 Kinnear Road, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43212 ABSTRACT: Hydraulic impacts represent a suite of habitat alterations that, although having different causes, often have similar methods of affecting the mussel fauna. For instance, logging and channelization are very different disturbances, but both generate sediments. These “hydraulic impacts” thus overlap each other to one degree or anotherRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesWorld Migration in the Long Twentieth Century †¢ Jose C. Moya and Adam McKeown 9 †¢ 2 Twentieth-Century Urbanization: In Search of an Urban Paradigm for an Urban World †¢ Howard Spodek 53 3 Women in the Twentieth-Century World Bonnie G. Smith 83 4 The Gendering of Human Rights in the International Systems of Law in the Twentieth Century †¢ Jean H. Quataert 116 5 The Impact of the Two World Wars in a Century of Violence †¢ John H. Morrow Jr. 161 6 Locating the UnitedRead MoreStrategy Management18281 Words   |  74 Pagestraining with leading corporations such as Amgen, Daimler, Eli Lilly, GE Energy, GE Healthcare, Kimberly-Clark, Microsoft, McKesson, and NCR, among others. Bloomberg Businessweek named Frank one of Georgia Tech’s Prominent Faculty in its national survey of business schools. The Kauffman Foundation views Frank as one of the world’s 75 thought leaders in strategic entrepreneurship and innovation. Frank has published over 25 articles in leading academic journals such as the Academy of Management JournalRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesWeidemann-Book Credits and acknowledgments borrowed from other sources and reproduced, with permission, in this textbook appear on appropriate page within text. Copyright  © 2011, 2007, 2005, 2002, 1998 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproductionRead MoreTop 1 Cause for Project Failure65023 Words   |  261 Pagesblogspot.com Karl Kerr Project Planner at Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems UK Limited Anish, Wow a great question and one that should generate plenty of feedback! I have worked on many projects in my time in the following sectors: Nuclear, Public Sector, Rail Telecommunications. They all have one thing in common: they have in place Project Management systems and processes and plan to succeed! However with all best intentions they usually fail

Saturday, December 21, 2019

America Is Known For Its Freedom Of Speech - 1682 Words

America is known for its freedom of speech. The dynamics of the American political system gives the American people a voice in what goes on in the government. The right to vote gives all citizens the opportunity to vote on various positions in the government and local areas. Political parties perform a number of functions for the American political system. The functions and components of political parties, interest group activity, electoral politics, public opinion, political participation, and political socialization, all are essential factors towards the influences of the American political system. A political party refers to a group of people that are organized to gather knowledge and exercise political power. These groups are formed by citizens that enable individuals to have influence on government affairs and processes. The goal of a political party is to recruit, nominate, and elect individuals to office, in hope of gaining control over government power through the capture of public offices and the organization of the government (Laucella, 4/5/16). Political parties provide effective means through which individuals express themselves and make decisions on appropriate system of government. The function of political parties is that it provides citizens with a basis for participation in politics. It helps socialize and educate voters by making them aware of issues and by encouraging their participation within the established political processes. AsShow MoreRelatedAmerican History : Essential American Documents1353 Words   |  6 PagesRoosevelt s â€Å"Four Freedoms† speech and â€Å"Request for Declaration of War on Japan†, Abraham Lincoln’s â€Å"Gettysburg Address† and â€Å"Second Inaugural Address†, and Susan B Anthony’s â€Å"Women’s Right to the Suffrage†. These five speeches changed America at the time to what we have and live by today. The first, of the five, is Franklin Delano Roosevelt s â€Å"Four Freedoms† speech. â€Å"In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.† - FranklinRead MoreAmeric Essential American Document1356 Words   |  6 PagesRoosevelt s â€Å"Four Freedoms† speech and â€Å"Request for Declaration of War on Japan†, Abraham Lincoln’s â€Å"Gettysburg Address† and â€Å"Second Inaugural Address†, and Susan B Anthony’s â€Å"Women’s Right to the Suffrage†. These five speeches changed America at the time to what we have and live by today. The first, of the five, is Franklin Delano Roosevelt s â€Å"Four Freedoms† speech. â€Å"In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.† - FranklinRead MoreR s Four Freedoms1123 Words   |  5 PagesF.D.R s Four Freedoms Speech Franklin Delano Roosevelt served as president of the United States of America from 1933 until 1945 and is most famously known for his handling of one of the most difficult periods in American history, a time plagued by economic depression and war. FDR, as he came to be known, started a â€Å"New Deal† which focused on relief, recovery, and reform. He gave hope to the American people, ensuring to them that, â€Å"the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.† FDR changed theRead MoreAmeric Essential American Document1356 Words   |  6 PagesRoosevelt s â€Å"Four Freedoms† speech and â€Å"Request for Declaration of War on Japan†, Abraham Lincoln’s â€Å"Gettysburg Address† and â€Å"Second Inaugural Address†, and Susan B Anthony’s â€Å"Women’s Right to the Suffrage†. These five speeches changed America at the time to what we have and live by today. The first, of the five, is Franklin Delano Roosevelt s â€Å"Four Freedoms† speech. â€Å"In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.† - FranklinRead MoreMy Fellow Americans: John F. Kennedy ´s Presidential Speech Analysis1028 Words   |  5 Pages1960 with John F. Kennedy was to be the president of the United States of America. America is going through a period of where they are scared and worried about what is going on in the world around them. They needed a strong leader to turn them around and get them back on top. John F. Kennedy gave them just what they need to hear with his inauguration address. He spoke of helping others, working together and protecting are freedom at all cost. It was exactly what the citizens of the United States neededRead MorePersuasive Essay On I Have A Dream769 Words   |  4 Pages The United States of America, is known to most as the land of the free and the home of the brave. A place where everyone has the opportunity to be whoever they want to be. President John F. Kennedy once said, â€Å"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty†. He is expressing that the freedom and opportunities the citizens have, is what makesRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Lesson In Hbos The Newsroom715 Words   |  3 PagesAmerica Is Not The Greatest Country Anymore In the pilot episode of HBO’s The Newsroom, Will McAvoy (portrayed by Jeff Daniels) delivers a powerful rant. After answering almost every question in the most sarcastic, jokingly way possible, McAvoy gets asked a simple question that he is finally demanded to have a serious answer from. His answer sparked controversy all around the world on whether or not America was the greatest country in the world. This speech went viral and is even used in classroomsRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King s Speech1318 Words   |  6 Pagesa major problem in America. However, it was known to be the most problematic in the late 1950s. On August 28 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his infamous speech â€Å"I Have a Dream† to America. His dream highlighted the injustices of segregation and discrimination of African Americans that took place in this nation every single day. Dr. King inspired thousands despite the color of their skin, to take a stance against racism, with his powerful way with words. In his speech MLK efficaciously usesRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy s Inaugural Address Essay1566 Words   |  7 PagesPRIDE BUT FREEDOM: Rhetorical Analysis of John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address Tanner A. Woody Anderson University On January 20, 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy delivered a speech with a backdrop of snow and a twenty-degree wind blowing in his face in Washington D.C. In his speech, he starts off with saying that his victory is not for a party but it is for freedom. At the climax of his speech, JFK delivers a call to action which is also the most well-known line from his speech: â€Å"†¦ask notRead MoreThe Enlightenment Ideas Of The American Revolution1423 Words   |  6 Pages Key Nov 8. 2017 The Enlightenment’s ideas in the American Revolution People in America were mad and broke. The colonies did not like the idea of paying high taxes to the King of England. In order to show their rage and anger, they did it by not paying taxes. The King of England was frustrated by the colonist s action and send an army to the Americas to sort this problem out. However, the people of America wanted to be free from England, so with the help of the Enlightenment thinkers and the

Friday, December 13, 2019

The Castle of Otranto Free Essays

string(126) " little disappointed as she thinks that Isabella would confess anything to her but she had never mentioned the young peasant\." In â€Å"The Castle Of Otranto† begins as Conrad, son of Manfred of the house of Otranto, is crushed by a giant helmet on this weeding day, also hhis birthday. Manfred, having no other male heir, decides to divorce his wfe and marry his son’s wife, Isabella, himself. Manfred’s union is disrupted by a series of supernatural events involving ghost, mysterious blood, and a true prince. We will write a custom essay sample on The Castle of Otranto or any similar topic only for you Order Now Man, prince of Otranto, is impatient about marrying his son conrad a â€Å"homely youth, sickly, and of no promising disposition† (Walpole 17) to the marquis of Vicenza’s daughter Isabella.Hippolita, Manfred’s wife, is worried about marrying the young prince off so early (he is only 15), but her husband ignores her concern, only pointing to â€Å"her own sterility, who had given him but on heir† (Walpole 17). Manfred seemed quite reckless about the wedding, probably because of his â€Å"dread of seeing accomplished an ancient prophecy† (Walpole 17). The wedding ceremony was fixed for Conrad’s birthday. However, when everything is ready for the â€Å"divine† office†, Conrad is missing. Manfred sent a servant to look for his son, but the servant returned breathless, his eyes staring, and foaming at the mouth telling him about a giant helmet in the court. When Manfred reached the helmet, â€Å"an hundred times more large than any casque ever made for human being, and shaded with a equal quantity of black feathers† (Walpole 18). However, Manfred seemed more concerned mabout the helmet than about his son’s death.While Hippolita and Conrad’s eighteen year old sister, Matilda mourn the death of their son/brother, and Isabella although not sad about the loss of her future husband, for whom she had had little affection joins in their grief. Manfred’s only concern was the casque in the court. A young peasant appeared and realized a strong resemblance between the casque and that of the black marble figure of Alfonso the Good, one of the former princes, in the church of St. Nicholas. Manfred became furious about this statement.But before he could punish the yound peasant, some spectators came back from the church to which they had ran and informed Manfred that the statue’s helmet is missing. Manfred accused the peasant of a being a witch and gave orders to imprison him without food underneath the casque in the court. He then locked the gates of the castle and retires to his chamber. Meanwhile, Hippolita is worried about Manfred and sent Matilda to see to him. But Manfred told Matilda that does not want a daughter and sent her away. The girl, deeply hurt, returned to her mother and told her that her husband is well to calm her down. A servant appeared, informing Isabella that Manfred wants to see her. Obeying, Isabella goes to see Manfred. It is now evening, and the sevant accompanying her is carrying a torch. However, when they reached Manfred’s chamber, he ordered the servant to take away the light and sent him off. He then tells Isabella about the importance of keeping up his line, cursing Hippolita for her â€Å"unfruitfulness† (Walpole 24) and therefore having decided to divorce her, and offers himself as Isabella’s new husband now that his son has died. Isabella is terrified and starts from him.Manfred rises to pursue her, but suddenly sees â€Å"the plumes of the fatal helmet† at the window. Shortly after, the portrait of his grandfather exposed a deep sigh, which distracted Manfred for a moment. Isabella saw her chance and escapes, while the portrait quits its panel. Manfred was asked to follow the painting to a chamber into which it enters, but before Manfred could enter, the door closes. He then decides to pursue Isabella, who has meanwhile escaped into a underground vault that leads to the church and convent of St. Nicholas.In the labyrinth, she encounters the yound peasant, who then helps her escape through a secret trap door before Manfred, whom they can already hear, reaches them. When he does, the peasant had to explain how he could escape from the helmet-prison and Manfred also questioned the yuouth about Isabella. The peasant pretended to not know anything about her, trying to win time for Isabella’s flight. While the two are discussing, two servants come and tell Manfred that while they were trying to find Isabella in the great gallery, they saw the limbs of a giant in armor in a chamber close by.Manfred is determined to find out more about these strange events, and the peasant offers his help. Suspecting that Isabella might be hiding in his wife’s chamber, Manfred goes there first and then tells Hippolita to call the chaplain. He then continues his search. When he returns from the cault, he finds Hippolita and the chaplain, who tell him that they have examined the chamber and found nothing. Manfred once againdecides that he must marry Isabella and, having given orders to guard the castle, and having locked the peasant in a room, he retires to his chamber. Matilda has retired to her apartment and is now waiting for the return of her maiden Bianca, who she had sent to examine about Isabella’s whereabouts. The two discuss Matilda’s attitude towards men and her plan to join a monastery. Bianca wans her mistress to get married instead, and Matilda admits that she has always been very fond of Alfonso the Good’s picutre and that she believes that somehow her desiny is linked to him. They also talk about some fatal secret that Hippolita is obviously keeping.Soon, the two women begin to hear strange noises coming from the chamber beneath, and Bianca immediately believes that it must be a ghost; that the castle is certainly haunted. However, they found out that it is the yound peasant who is causing the noise. Through Matilda’s open window, she began to talk with the youth, who investigate about Isabella and what has became of her. The two women suspected that hu must be in love with her, and Matilda is a little disappointed as she thinks that Isabella would confess anything to her but she had never mentioned the young peasant. You read "The Castle of Otranto" in category "Papers"Before they could learn more from the peasant, a servant suddenly appeared and informed the two women that Isabella has been found in the monastery of St. Nicholas. Meanwhile, Manfred is at Hippolita’s apartment to find out more about Isabella’s whereabouts. Father Jerome comes to the apartment to talk to Manfred and Hipplita about Isabella; he wants to ask Hippolia whether she knows the cause of Isabella’s retirement to the monastery. Before she can answer, however, Manfred interrupts the father, eagerly trying to avoid his telling Hipplita of the circumstances.Father Jerome nevertheless gives an account of Isabella’s story and askes that they leave her at peace. Once again, he begins to hint at details concerning Isabella, but Manfred again interrupts him and Hippolita, realizing that Manfred does not want her to hear the father’s words, leaves. Manfred then tries to convince Father Jerome that he must have an heir and then asks the priest to persuade Isabella to marry him. To get Father Jerome on his side, Manfred even hints at an unlawful marriage between Hippolita and himself, telling the father that Hippolita is actually related to him in the fourth degree.Father Jeome is now unsure what to do and tries to win time. Manfred then asks Jerome who the youth is, whether he is Isabella’s lover and Jerome, thinking that this might help Isabella, affirms Manfred’s assumption. At this, Manfred becomes furious. He ordered the peasant to be brought before him and begins to interrogate him about his connection with Isabella. During this interrogation, Matilda and Bianca are on their way toHippolita’s apartment. They overdear the men’s conversation and suddenly realize a strong resemblance between the peasant whose name is Theodore and the picture of Alfonso.When Manfred utters the verdict (Theodore is to beheaded), Matilda faints and Bianca exclaims that the princess is dead. Matilda is carried away and Manfred ordered Theodore to kneel down to receive his punishment. Theodore asked to be allowed to confess to someone and Manfred grants his wish, calling Father Jerome, hoping to find out more about the youth that way. Father Jerome tries to convince Manfred to spare the youth, but Manfred is determined to have him beheaded. As theodore kneels down to receive his punishment, his shirt slips down and discovers the â€Å"mark of a bloody arrow † (Walpole 51). Suddenly, Jerome recognizes the mark and realizes that Theodore is his son. Father Jerome tells the story and reveals that he is in fact that count of Falconara (Sicily). He begs for Theodore’s life and Manfred said that he will give the boy’s life in return for Isabella. Theodore and Father Jerome object, wanting to save Isabella. Before anything is decided, a trumpet is heard, announcing someone at the gate. At the same time, the sable plumes on the helmet in the court begin to nod â€Å"thrice, as if bowed by some invisible wearer† (Walpole 53).Manfred is terrified at these events and begs Father Jerome to see who is at the gate. The priest told Manfred to release Theodore first, then he will do as he wishes. Manfred agrees. It is a herald from the knight of the gigantic blade and he had wished to speak with the leader of Otranto. At Father Jerome’s account and the word â€Å"usurper†, Manfred’s rage rekindles and he decides to meet the herald himaelf, and ordered the priest to bring Isabella from the convent. He takes Theodore hostage to assure that the friar will do as he is told.Manfred admits the herald to his presence, who told Manfred that, in the name of his lord Fredric Marquis of Bicenza, the knight of the gigatic sword â€Å"demands the lady Isabella, daughter of that price, whom thou hasely and traitorously got into thy power, by bribing her false guardians during his absence: and he requires thee to resign the principality of Otranto, which thou hast usurped from the said lord Frederic, the nerest of blood to the last rightful lord Alfonso the Good† (Walpole 55). Other wise he will challenge him in combat to the last termination. Manfred reflects about his state: â€Å"Frederic’s ancestors had assumed the style of princes of Otranto, from the death of Alfonso the Good without issue: but Manfred, his father, and grandfather, had been too powerful for the house of Vicenza to dispossess them. Frederic had married a beautiful young lady,who had died in childbed of Isabella. Her death affected him so much, that he had taken the cross and gone to the Holy Land, where he was wounded in an engagement against the infidels, made prisoner, and reported to be dead.When the news reached Manfred’s ears, hebribed the guardians of the lady Isabella to deliver her up to him as a bride for his son Conrad; by which alliance he had purposed to unite the claims of the two house† (Walpole 56). This motive had also given him the idea to marry Isabella himself now; and he then wanted to obtain Frederic’s acceptance to this marriage. He then invites the knight to the castle. Meanwhile, Father Jerome is sti ll agitated and does not know what to do. He retured to the temple where he is then informed that apparently Hippolita is dead. Father Jerome asked where Isabella was and was told that she retired to her chamber. However, when he reached the chamber, Isabella is nowhere to be found. Father Jerome decided to return to Manfred to convince him of his innocence. Manfred is welcoming the knight and his team, which is carrying an enormous sword. Again, the feathers on the helmet in the court are agitated. Manfred tried several times to get the knight to disarm and to speak but the knight refused. Suddenly, the gigantic sword falls to the ground, next to the helmet, and is now immovable. Manfred fears for his fate. Having reached the hall, Manfred again asked numerous questions but does not receive any answers. Then, Manfred began to talk, soon turning to business. He defends his right to the throne, but the knight only shakes his head. Manfred then told the knight that his son has died and that Isabella is therefore at liberty. He goes on, telling that his marriage to Hippolita is unlawful and that he will soon be freed from this relationship. He emphazized his determination to restore the line of Alfonso and therefore suggests that it would be best if he and Isabella got married. At this moment, Father Jerome and his company arrived and uncovered to the strangers the truth about Isabella’s flight. Theknight repoached Manfred and asked him about the circumstances. Manfred made up a story and Father Jerome is too worried about his son’s life to contradict. However, onw of his brethren explains what happend, and the group moves off in search of Isabella.At the same time, Matilda grabbed the chance and frees the peasant, as all servants and guards are involved int he search for Isabella. In the courese of their interview, Theodore and Matilda discovered their affection for each other, but Matilda reminds the peasant of Isabella. Theodore, however, does not know who she is talking about; he had assumed that it was Matilda whom he had assisted in the vault. Matilda supplied Theodore with her father’s armory and, exchanging expressions of affection once more, helped him escape.Theodore went to a cave in the forest where he suddenly meets Isabella, who is hiding there. Revealing to her that he is on her side, he promised to protect her from Manfred. At this moment, a person in search of Isabella arrived and Theodore wants to prevent him from entering the cave. He found the knight talking to a peasant outside the cave. The two engage in combat and Theodore wounds the knight. Soon, however, the two men discovered thir error. They both are enemies of Manfred. The knight asked for Isaabella, and whern she arrives, he informed her that he was Frederic, her father.They carried Frederic to the castle to take of his injuries. The troop arrived at the castle and was met by Matilda and Hippolita, who gave orders to take care of Frederic’s wounds. Isabella realized that Theodore and Matilda have affections for one another. Frederic informed Hippolita and the others of his story. That while being imprisoned, he had a dream about Isabella being in danger. Fortunately, the confederate princfes paid his ransom and he immediately set out for the wood he had seen in his dream. There, he encountered a hermit who told him about a secret: How to cite The Castle of Otranto, Papers

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Amy Tan Essay Example For Students

Amy Tan Essay Amy Tan was born in 1952, in Oakland, California to Chinese immigrants John and Daisy Tan. Her family eventually settled in Santa Clara. When Tan was in her early teens, her father and one of her brothers died of brain tumors within months of each other. During this period Tan learned that her mother had been married before, to an abusive husband in China. After divorcing him, her mother fled China during the Communist takeover, leaving three daughters behind who she would not see again for nearly forty years. After losing her husband and son, Daisy moved her family to Switzerland where Tan finished high school. During these years, mother and daughter argued over what Tan should do in college and afterwards. Tan eventually followed a boyfriend to attend college in San Jose, where she earned Bachelors and Masters degrees in English and linguistics, despite her mothers wish that she study medicine. After Tan married her boyfriend, Lou DeMattei, she began to pursue a Ph.D. in linguistics, but she abandoned this endeavor to work with developmentally disabled children. Later, Tan struck out as a freelance business writer. Although she was successful, writing for corporate executives did not fulfill Tan. She began to write fiction as a creative release. Meanwhile, her mother suffered a serious illness. Tan resolved to take a trip to China with her mother if she recovered. In 1987, after Daisy Tan returned to health, they traveled to China to visit the three daughters that Daisy had not seen for several decades and the three sisters Tan had never met. The trip provided Tan with a new perspective on her mother, and it proved to be the key inspiration for her first book, The Joy Luck, a collection of sixteen interlocking stories about the conflicts between Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-raised daughters. Soon after its publication in 1989, The Joy Luck Club garnered enthusiastic reviews, and it remained on the New York Times bestseller list for more than six months. It won both the National Book Award and the L.A. Times Book Award in 1989. Tan continues to publish popular works. She often emphasizes that she writes primarily to create a work of art, not to portray the Chinese-American experience, that her bicultural upbringing is the source of inspiration for her work, not the end product. The Joy Luck Club contain stories about conflicts between Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-raised daughters. The book mainly talked About Jing-meis trip to China to meet her half-sisters, Chwun Yu and Chwun Hwa. Jing-meis mother, Suyuan, was forced to leave her twin babies on the roadside during her flee from the Japanese invasion of Kweilin. Suyuan intended to recover her children, but she failed to find them before her death. Finally, a after her mothers life long search her mother received a letter from the two lost daughters. After Suyuans death, her mothers three friends in the Joy Luck Club, a weekly mahjong party that Suyuan started in China and later revived in San Francisco, urge Jing-mei to travel to China and tell her sisters about their mothers life. But Jing-mei wonders whether she is capable of telling her mothers story. Lindo, Ying-ying, and An-mei, members of The Joy Luck Club, do fear that Jing-mei might be right and that their own daughters may not reall y know them either. The book tells different stories of each characters life, and in each story teaches a lesson or tells of the Chinese culture. For example, Chapter Two talks about An-meis grandmother raising her because she disproved of An-meis mother becoming a concubine. When Popo, An-meis mother is on her death bead, An-meis mother makes a soup and cuts a chunk of her skin off her arm and mixes it in with the soup out of respect for her mother although they didnt get along. In Chapter Three it speaks of how Lindo was promised in marriage to Huang Tyan-yu when she was only two years old. They married when Lindo was sixteen years old, but the candle that is supposed to stay lit all night in order to symbolize lifelong loyalty even if her husband were to die was distinguished during the night so they were able to annul the marriage. .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c , .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c .postImageUrl , .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c , .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c:hover , .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c:visited , .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c:active { border:0!important; } .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c:active , .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u78b2118c3ca186c27dc9153b5b29482c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Multicultural Education2 EssayThe book also shows how things that happen in childhood effect adult life. For example Rose, An-meis daughter was always responsible to care for her little brothers growing up. At the beach one day three of her brothers were fighting so she was told to break it up, but at that same time her youngest brother, Bing fell into the water without a trace. They looked everywhere for him but they gave up. They ended up finding Bings body the next morning. Later in her life Rose came to her mother telling her that she and her husband Ted were getting a divorce. They dated for many years before resulting in the both of them clinging to each other. Ted m ade all the decisions, but after he lost in a lawsuit he started to push Rose to make some of the decisions and said that she resisted in taking on any responsibility and blame. Her marriage was a result of her brothers death and thinking although it was not her fault that it was her fault. Also another example of this is that Suyuan pushed her daughter, Jing-mei to become things that she was not. She wanted Jing-mei to become a pianist so she made her take lessons but Jing-mei never practiced. Suyuan and the piano teacher entered Jing-mei in a talent contest, but Jing-mei did very bad. As a child Jing-mei felt that she could never live up to her mothers high expectations. Suyuan did not realize how much her disappointment affected Jing-mei as a child. The book also speaks about how children take after their parental figures and internalize, even without meaning to, what their parent has taught them. An example of this is that Lena, Ying-Yings daughter has been married to her husban d Harold for eight years and they split the cost of everything equally, although Lena consumes far less than Harold. Lena got Harold to open his own business and worked there as a project coordinator. She also gave him the idea of opening up a restaurant. When Ying-ying goes to visit them she notices the list of shared items on the refrigerator has ice cream on it. She also knows that Lena does not like ice cream and tells Lena that they must not share ice cream, so Lena tells Harold that and he agrees, but Lena picks a fight anyway. During the fight Ying-ying breaks a vase on the table and asks Lena why she didnt stop it. Lena is silent in her marriage because she saw her mother silent in hers. Ying-ying tires to teach her daughter that expressing her wishes is not selfish on her visit because she does not want her daughter to make the same mistake she did. Another example of this is that a few months before her death, Suyuan cooked a crab dinner for the Chinese New Year. There was eleven people coming, but Suyuan hadnt counted one. The guests chose the best crabs, and when Jing-mei went to choose a crab she was going to pick the one with a missing leg, but her mother insisted that she choose the better of the remaining two. This shows that Jing-mei is different than the others, but the others had to have the best just like their mothers. Another part of the book touches on how the mother shows her daughter how to grow beyond her innocence without losing hope. It also shows how when a mother learns from her mistakes how she tries to teach her daughter without having to make the same mistake. Also this book demonstrates that the older generation can and does learn from the younger generation. An example of this is that due to Lenas marriage trouble it forces Ying-ying to confront her painful first marriage. .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce , .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce .postImageUrl , .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce , .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce:hover , .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce:visited , .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce:active { border:0!important; } .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce:active , .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6a502bef69fbbc2595d654a014d203ce:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Potato Famine EssayAnother major point this book touches upon is the fact that the American-raised daughters are Chinese not just through genes, but in personality, culture, loyalty, and respect. As a teen, Jing-mei refused her Chinese heritage and didnt even want to believe she was Chinese at all until she went to China after her mothers death to meet her half sisters. While in China Jing-mei finds out that she did appreciate her mother although she was worried that she didnt and knew nothing about her. She also realizes that she did not have to prove her Chinese identity to her two half sisters, that she belongs to their family automatically because of Suyuan. After her trip to China she found her mother and stops feeling doubt of her and Suyuans relationship with each other. In The Joy Luck Club each mother and daughter learned different things from each other. Also, it talks about the transition from China to America and how the Chinese raised mothers must raise their daughters in America but keep their Chinese values. Jing-meis story represents her mother to her two half sisters as well as the struggle of relationships between mother and daughter. Bibliography:

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Abnormal Psychology Essays - Psychiatric Diagnosis,

Abnormal Psychology In a world full of fears, perhaps the worst one a human being should haveis that to be afraid of his fellow man. The human that should be mostfeared is the one that has Anti-Social Personality Disorder or in laymen'sterms the psychopath. The psychopath is probably the most deviant mindthat exists and treatment is not very successful because there is not a cureor drug to control it. The solution in my mind to control the problem ofsociopaths is to let them live in colonies with each other. Through myresearch I will develop an understanding of this personality disorder andconvince you the reader that my solution might be a viable solution. Thesociopath is a combination of other mental illnesses that are incurred inchildhood as a result of heredity, trauma and the lack of emotionaldevelopment. The lack of moral or emotional development which gives asociopath a lack of understanding for other people's feelings whichenables them to be deceitful without feeling bad about whatever they do.T he under developed emotional system as explained in the video "TheWorld of Personality Disorders volume 5" says the sociopath is"emotionally retarded" . The sociopathic behavior problems that start as achild have links to heredity, a family with a pre-disposition to performcrimes, alcoholic parents that do crimes, irresponsible behavior thatpersists and parents that do not discipline. The child that will eventually bea sociopath exhibits certain feeling inside that they are inadequate, shamedand because of that they are teased and made fun of. The childcharacteristics of a future sociopath consist of being incapable offollowing the rules. The youngster will skip school, bully, steal! , tormentanimals, run away from home and the child is likely to develop AttentionDeficit \Hyperactivity Disorder or AD|HD. At an earlier age than theirpeer group the child will smoke drink, do drugs, and become sexuallyactive. The diagnoses of Anti-Social Personality Disorder is not used forpeople under the age of 18. The Psychopath is defined in the dictionaryas a person suffering from, especially a severe mental disorder withaggressive antisocial behavior which is a nice way of saying a really badand mean person. There are many characteristics of a sociopath and eachsociopath has their own special traits. A sociopath gets great gratificationin the act of hurting someone for absolutely no reason. The behavior of asociopath is so close to normal it is extremely hard to diagnose. Asociopath is a person that acts against society and their sole purpose itseems is to act against the laws of the given land their end. The sociopathwill in most cases become violent and abuse drugs and alcohol to facilitatethe violent behavior. The violence in many cases is the result ofsub-concious decisions that might lead to murdering or assaultingsomeone for no reason. When a sociopath is attacking someone they willinflict more pain if the victim fights back. The lack of moral developmentlets the pers on feel no guilt or pain for what they did and quite possiblyfeel great about their actions. A sociopath has little self regard forthemselves and pays little attention to their own personal safety whenpicking fights. Quite often they will be outsized and get hurt. Somesociopaths are non-violent and stay out of prison by doing small crimeslike swindling and insurance fraud. It is possible that a sociopath willcome from a normal home but their are more that do not. A sociopath hasthe opposite morals of society and by doing things like beating up peoplethat are stronger than them they feel like they did something positive. Apsychopath is very reactive and will blow their cool because of little thingsand no doubt assault the person they are reacting to. There is a possibilitythat saratonin a chemical that is linked to behavior has something to dowith the disorder but is not the major cause. The type 2 male sociopathdrinks heavily no matter what, has a history of frequent fights and arre sts,they are impulsive risk takers, curious, excitable, quick tempered,optimistic and independent. Characteristic List ? be glib or superficial ?have a grandiose self image ? be deceitful or manipulative ? lack ofremorse ? lack of empathy ? be impulsive ? be irresponsible ? be easilyangered or frustrated ? have serious problems as a child or teenager ?shows callous unconcern from other's feelings ? disregard social norms

Monday, November 25, 2019

pinnacle west case analysisChanges and Challenge of a Process Orientated Model at Pinnacle West essays

pinnacle west case analysisChanges and Challenge of a Process Orientated Model at Pinnacle West essays Pinnacle West is an organization that provides energy, energy related services and products to both residential and businesses in the state of Arizona. In the early 2000s the organization came to the realization that after being in business for over 120 years, its current processes were no longer as efficient as they once had been. Essentially, a determination was made that the companys traditional functional model was costly and ineffective, and that a change to a more process-oriented model would yield more impressive results in the coming years. To be successful when implementing a process-oriented enterprise there are a number of essential points that must occur to guarantee the process will be effective and efficient. James Champy identified a number of these points in his article People and Processes. According to Champy, some of the key ingredients for successful process transformation include the following: high level executive engagement; groups of small teams with the best people; initiate change quickly, ensuring the changes are thorough in both breadth and depth; communicate with all persons impacted by the change; inspect the workplace regularly; anticipate and plan for new skill requirements; and finally there needs to be a recognition that change is a never ending occurrence. In order for Pinnacle West to successfully enforce the changes from the traditional functional model to a process-oriented approach, they had to satisfy each of these points. As the Chief Information Officer (CIO), Denny Brown was dedicated to driving the change throughout the company. He realized the company needed to urgently replace the aging infrastructure and make more efficient improvements to better serve the predicted future growth projected to peak at an approximate 60% increase in customer demand in the coming quarter century. An increase this large would cause the old system to fail, unable to support the new hi...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Sumerian civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

The Sumerian civilization - Essay Example 42-4). The existing forms of writing were not sufficient enough to be of much use to the Sumerian civilization in its advanced methods of calculation and of setting down thoughts. There were not enough symbols, pictures or word forms in the original modes of communication. Especially, writing was found to be a hindrance when the civilization advanced to the point of sending out trade expeditions to other lands. All of these factors encouraged an advanced form of writing to be developed in the Sumerian Civilization-one in which they could keep official records (McClellan 2006, p. 66-71). Although the systems of the civilization were developing rapidly, there were not many Sumerians who had the ability to read and write. To overcome this problem, the people would hire the services of scribes who would read and write on their behalf. The main use of the written documents was the implementation of the legal system which first established and then further developed laws. The ruling King would make rules that could be consistently implemented throughout the region, as scribes would place their tablets throughout the city and the rules then could be uniformly applied (Sherman & Slaisbury 2008, p. 97-9). This process represented a major step forward. The uses of writings developed beyond just alphabets as people used them to make scaled drawings of inventions, and also used the tablets to record and get the inventions named after them. For example, the first wheeled cart was developed as a drawing on one of the specific tablets. As time progressed, writing found its use in the form of record keeping, news developments, and many other written records put on Cuneiform tablets. The writings were enhanced- to be used, as codes of law and systems of practice, for the lower administrators as well as the general public (Avery 2003, p. 112-7). 2. What were the main political changes that took place in Greek society in the period 700 - 489 B.C. What were some of the causes of these changes In the early seventh century, Greece operated on the legal code of Draco, which attempted to meet the needs that had developed from the dissatisfaction of the lower class due to the controlling power and the rule of the upper class. This conflict in interests resulted in a written code of governance for the lower class, which had become aggravated as the upper class had grown to make themselves forceful rulers of their regions-as when Cylon, for example, had seized the Acropolis (Sherman & Dennis 2008, p. 59-62). This act was the basis of revolt in the 620 B.C by the lower class, and many of the leaders of the upper class were challenged. As the laws were perceived, by the lower class, to be tailored and invented overnight by the upper class, the lower class demanded to have the rules and policies be uniformly set down in written form, in the hope that they would be equally applied to all. In the same era, a judicial system based on appointed judges also came into existence, to be responsible for administering the laws irrespective of class. Courts were established so as to ensure the proper implementation of the laws and a system evolved to establish the political

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Helvetica Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Helvetica Reflection - Essay Example In these conversations, one can understand the ideas behind the creative designs as well as the aesthetic value of the models as perceived in particular cities. Gary invokes the viewers of his film to reflect on the diverse number of designs, adverts as well as communication in the world today. He comes from a psychological point of view. This is because designs, adverts as well as most communication nowadays are shaped so that they have a positive psychological impact on the target group. From my point of view, I think Garys film is a milestone in provoking the world to develop a keen eye on typography, design advertising and more importantly communication. It shows the importance of the above areas of type in our lives. Gary suggests that these fields can be perused as excellent careers by engaging renowned designers in conversations who talk about the great deal of success they have achieved. The movie brings an urge to the viewer of the need to appreciate designers innovativeness. Gary accomplishes this by bringing on board famous artists in the film crew such as Neville Brody, David Carson and

Monday, November 18, 2019

Policy Response to Climate Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Policy Response to Climate Change - Essay Example Laws are virtually of no use if there are no regulatory bodies to ensure the laws are enforced. These regulatory bodies would, among other things, visit industries and other sources where carbon emissions are recorded in worse quantities. They would check to confirm that the laws and regulations set in the laws are adhered to. III. Education and Sensitization: More to the regulation of laws, there should be measures to educate the public and sensitize them on climate change. It is hoped that with massive education, the people will have personal and political will to ensure that they adhere to the need to ensure that there is not much production of carbon in the environment. Such education will be carried out in schools and in public places. IV. Enforcement of Law: Regardless of the activities of the regulatory bodies and the education and sensitizations that will take place, there are certainly going to be people and bodies who would attempt to break the laws. To such people, the laws must be applied. They must be forced to face the full rigors of the law. Laws without enforcement are only toothless bulldogs and this must not happen. There should be enforcements that would ensure that others are deterred from breaking the laws. I. Educating stakeholders and the public on climate change, its risks and how to avoid it: This policy will target the education of the masses on what climate change is, its causes and its effects. It is hoped that when the people gain enough education on the phenomenon, they will be empowered to be patriotic enough in ensuring that their actions and inactions do not lead to climate changes.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Economics Essays Petroleum Price Oil Economy

Economics Essays Petroleum Price Oil Economy Petroleum Price Oil and the Economy Summary The vulnerability of oil-importing countries to higher oil prices varies markedly depending on the degree to which they are net importers and the oil intensity of their economies. According to the results of a quantitative exercise carried out by the IEA in collaboration with the OECD Economics Department and with the assistance of the International Monetary Fund Research Department. Euro-zone countries, which are highly dependent on oil imports, suffered the most in the short term, their GDP dropping by 0.5% and inflation rising by 0.5% in 2007. The United States suffered the least, with GDP falling by 0.3%, largely because indigenous production meets a bigger share of its oil needs. Japan’s GDP fell 0.4%, with its relatively low oil intensity compensating to some extent for its almost total dependence on imported oil. In all OECD regions, these losses should start to diminish in the following three years as global trade in non-oil goods and services recovers. This analysis assumes constant exchange rates. Oil prices impact the health of the world economy. Higher oil prices since 1999 – partly the result of OPEC supply-management policies – contributed to the global economic downturn in 2000-2001 and are dampening the current cyclical upturn. World GDP growth may have been at least half a percentage point higher in the last two or three years had prices remained at mid-2001 levels. Current fears of OPEC supply cuts, political tensions in Venezuela and tight stock prices have driven up international crude oil and product prices even further. The adverse economic impact of higher oil prices on oil-importing developing countries is generally even more severe than OECD countries. This is because their economies are more dependent on imported oil are more energy-intensive, and energy is used less efficiently. On average, oil-importing developing countries use more than twice the amount of oil to produce a unit of economic output as do OECD countries. Developing countries are also less able to weather the financial turmoil wrought by higher oil-import costs. India spent $15 billion, equivalent to 3% of its GDP, on oil imports in 2003. This is 16% higher than its 2001 oil-import bill. It is estimated that the loss of GDP averages 0.8% in Asia and 1.6% in very poor highly indebted countries in the year following. The loss of GDP in the Sub-Saharan African countries would be more than 3%. The impact of higher oil prices on economic growth in OPEC countries would depend on a variety of factors, particularly how the windfall revenues are spent. In the long term, however, OPEC oil revenues and GDP are likely to be lower, as higher prices would not fully compensate for lower production. In the IEA’s recent World Energy Investment Outlook, cumulative OPEC revenues are $400 billion lower over the period 2001-2030 under a Restricted Middle East Investment Scenario, in which policies to limit the growth in production in that region lead to on average 20% higher prices, compared to the Reference Scenario. Introduction This paper reviews how oil prices affect the macro-economy and assesses quantitatively the extent to which the economies of OECD and developing countries remain vulnerable to a sustained period of higher oil prices. It summarizes the findings of a quantitative exercise carried out by the IEA in collaboration with the OECD Economics Department and with the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Research Department. That work, which made use of the large-scale economic models of all three organizations, constitutes the most up-to-date analysis of the impact of higher oil prices on the global economy. Oil prices have been creeping higher in recent months: the prices of Brent and WTI – the leading benchmark physical crude oils. These price increases and the possibility of further increases in the future have drawn attention again to the threat they pose to the global economy. The next section describes the general mechanism by which higher oil prices affect the global economy. This is followed by a quantitative assessment of the impact of a sustained rise in the oil price on, first, the OECD countries and then on the developing countries and transition economies. Finally the net effect on the global economy is summarized. Oil Price and the Global Economy Oil prices remain an important determinant of global economic performance. Overall, an oil-price increase leads to a transfer of income from importing to exporting countries through a shift in the terms of trade. The magnitude of the direct effect of a given price increase depends on the share of the cost of oil in national income, the degree of dependence on imported oil and the ability of end-users to reduce their consumption and switch away from oil. It also depends on the extent to which gas prices rise in response to an oil-price increase, the gas-intensity of the economy and the impact of higher prices on other forms of energy that compete with or, in the case of electricity, are generated from oil and gas. Naturally, the bigger the oil-price increase and the longer higher prices are sustained, the bigger the macroeconomic impact. For net oil-exporting countries, a price increase directly increases real national income through higher export earnings, though part of this gain would be later offset by losses from lower demand for exports generally due to the economic recession suffered by trading partners. Adjustment effects, which result from real wage, price and structural rigidities in the economy, add to the direct income effect. Higher oil prices lead to inflation increased input costs, reduced non-oil demand and lower investment in net oil importing countries. Tax revenues fall and the budget deficit increases, due to rigidities in government expenditure, which drives interest rates up. Because of resistance to real declines in wages, an oil price increase typically leads to upward pressure on nominal wage levels. Wage pressures together with reduced demand tend to lead to higher short term unemployment. These effects are greater the more abrupt and the more pronounced the price increase and are magnified by the impact of higher prices on consumer and business confidence. An oil-price increase also changes the balance of trade between countries and exchange rates. Net oil-importing countries normally experience deterioration in their balance of payments and putting downward pressure on exchange rates. As a result, imports become more expensive and exports less valuable, leading to a drop in real national income. Without a change in central bank and government monetary policies, the dollar may tend to rise as oil-producing countries’ demand for dollar-denominated international reserve assets grow. The economic and energy-policy response to a combination of higher inflation, higher unemployment, lower exchange rates and lower real output also affects the overall impact on the economy over the longer term. Government policy cannot eliminate the adverse impacts described above but it can minimize them. Similarly, inappropriate policies can worsen them. Overly contractionary monetary and fiscal policies to contain inflationary pressures could exacerbate the recessionary income and unemployment effects. On the other hand, expansionary monetary and fiscal policies may simply delay the fall in real income necessitated by the increase in oil prices, stoke up inflationary pressures and worsen the impact of higher prices in the long run. Impact on OECD Countries OECD countries remain vulnerable to oil-price increases, despite a drop in the region’s net oil imports and an even more marked decline in oil intensity since the first oil shock. Net imports fell by 14% while the amount of oil the OECD used to produce one dollar of real GDP halved between 1973 and 2006. Nonetheless, the region remains heavily dependent on imports to meet its oil needs, amounting to 56% in 2006. Only Canada, Denmark, Mexico, Norway and the United Kingdom are currently net exporting countries. Oil imports are estimated to have cost the region as a whole over $360 billion in 2006 – equivalent to around 1% of GDP. The annual import bill has increased by about 30 % since 2005. Higher oil prices have a significant adverse impact on OECD economic performance in the short term in this case, though their impact in the longer term is more limited (Table 1). The impact on the rate of GDP growth is felt mostly in the first two years as the deterioration in the terms of trade drives down income, which immediately undermines domestic consumption and investment. OECD GDP is 0.4% lower in 2005 and 2006 compared to the base case. In all OECD regions, these losses start to diminish in the following years as global trade in non-oil goods and services recovers. Throughout the whole five-year projection period, GDP is 0.3% lower on average. The impact of higher oil prices on the rate of inflation is more marked. The consumer price index is on average 0.5% higher than in the base case over the five year projection period. The impact on the rate of inflation was felt mostly in 2006 – the second year of higher prices. Recent trends show a clear correlation between oil price movements and short-term changes in the inflation rate. The economic impact of higher oil prices varies considerably across OECD countries, largely according to the degree to which they are net importers of oil. Euro-zone countries, which are highly dependent on oil imports, suffer most in the short term. GDP losses in both Europe and Japan would also exacerbate budget deficits, which are already large (close to 3% on average in the euro-zone and 7% in Japan). The United States suffers the least, largely because indigenous production still meets over 40% of its oil needs. The Impact on Developing Countries The adverse economic impact of higher oil prices on oil-importing developing countries is generally more pronounced than for OECD countries. The economic impact on the poorest and most indebted countries is most severe. On the basis of IMF estimates, the reduction in GDP would amount to more than 1.5% after one year in those countries. The Sub-Saharan African countries within this grouping, with more oil intensive and fragile economies, would suffer an even bigger loss of GDP, of more than 3%. As with OECD countries, dollar exchange rates are assumed to be the same as in the base case. Asia as a whole, which imports the bulk of its oil, would experience a 0.8% fall in economic output and a one percentage point deterioration in its current account balance (expressed as a share of GDP) one year after the price increase. Some countries would suffer much more: the Philippines would lose 1.6% of its GDP in the year following the price increase, and India 1%. China’s GDP would drop 0.8% and its current account surplus, which amounted to around $45 billion in 2006, would decline by $6 billion in the first year. Other Asian countries would see deterioration in their aggregate current account balance of more than $8 billion. Asia would also experience the largest increase in inflation in the first year, on the assumption that the increase in international oil price would be quickly passed through into domestic prices. The inflation rate in China and Thailand would increase by almost one percentage point in 2007. Latin America in general would suffer less from the increase in oil prices than Asia because net oil imports into the region are much smaller. Economic growth in Latin America would be reduced by only 0.2 percentage points. The GDP of transition economies and Africa in aggregate would increase by 0.2 percentage points, as they are net oil-exporting countries. The economies of oil-importing developing countries in Asia and Africa would suffer most from higher oil prices because their economies are more dependent on imported oil. In addition, energy-intensive manufacturing generally accounts for a larger share of their GDP and energy is used less efficiently. On average, oil importing developing countries use more than twice the oil to produce one unit of economic output as do developed countries. The IMF estimates suggest that, in the sustained oil-price increase case, the net trade balance of OPEC countries would improve initially by about $120 billion or around 13% of GDP, taking account of lower global economic growth. Venezuela would gain the least and Iraq and Nigeria the most, reflecting the relative importance of oil in the economy. The impact of higher oil prices on economic growth in OPEC countries would depend on a variety of factors, particularly how the windfall revenues are spent. In the long term, however, OPEC oil revenues and GDP are likely to be lower, as higher prices would not compensate fully for lower production. Higher oil prices in the last four years are in part the result of OPEC’s success in implementing its policy of collectively constraining production. This policy has led to a decline in OPEC’s share of world oil production from 40% in 1999 to 38% in 2003. There is a risk that this policy may be continued in the future, which would limit the extent to which OPEC producers, notably those in the Middle East, contribute to meeting rising world oil demand. According to the IEA’s latest World Energy Outlook, OPEC’s market share is projected to rebound to 40% in 2010 and 54% in 2030. In the IEA’s recent World Energy Investment Outlook, cumulative OPEC revenues are $400 billion lower over the period 2001-2030 under a Restricted Middle East Investment Scenario, in which policies to limit the growth in production in that region lead to on average 20% higher prices, compared to the Reference Scenario. Impact on the Global Economy The results of the sustained higher oil price simulation for both the OECD and non- OECD countries suggest that, as has always been the case in the past, the net effect on the global economy would be negative. That is, the economic stimulus provided by higher oil and gas export earnings in OPEC and other exporting countries would be outweighed by the depressive effect of higher prices on economic activity in the importing countries, at least in the first year or two following the price rise. Combining the results of all world regions yields a net fall of around 0.5% in global GDP – equivalent to $ 255 billion in the first year of higher prices. The loss of GDP would diminish somewhat by 2008 as increased demand from oil-exporting countries boosts the exports and GDP of oil-importing countries. The main determinant of the size of the initial net loss of global GDP is how OPEC and other oil-exporting countries spend their windfall oil revenues. The greater the marginal propensity of oil-producing countries to save those revenues, the greater the initial loss of GDP. Both the IMF and OECD simulations assume that oil exporters would spend around 75% of their additional revenues on imported goods and services within three years, which is in line with historical averages. However, this assumption may be too high, given the current state of fiscal balances and external reserves in many oil-exporting countries. In practice, those countries might take advantage of a sharp price increase now to rebuild reserves and reduce foreign and domestic debt. In this case, the adverse impact of higher prices on global economic growth would be more severe. Higher oil prices, by affecting economic activity, corporate earnings and inflation, would also have major implications for financial markets – notably equity values, exchange rates and government financing – even, as assumed here, if there are no changes in monetary policies: International capital market valuations of equity and debt in oil-importing countries would be revised downwards and those in oil-exporting countries upwards. To the extent that the creditworthiness of some importing countries that are already running large current account deficits is called into question, there would be upward pressure on interest rates. Tighter monetary policies to contain inflation would add to this pressure. Currencies would adjust to changes in trade balances. Higher oil prices would lead to a rise in the value of the US dollar, to the extent that oil exporters invest part of their windfall earnings in US dollar dominated assets and that transactions demand for dollars, in which oil is priced, increases. A stronger dollar would raise the cost of servicing the external debt of oil-importing developing countries, as that debt is usually denominated in dollars, exacerbating the economic damage caused by higher oil prices. It would also amplify the impact of higher oil prices in pushing up the oil-import bill at least in the short-term, given the relatively low price-elasticity of oil demand. Past oil shocks provoked debt-management crisis in many developing countries. Fiscal imbalances in oil-importing countries caused by lower income would be exacerbated in those developing countries, like India and Indonesia that continue to provide direct subsidies on oil products to protect poor households and domestic industry. The burden of subsidies tends to grow as international prices rise, adding to the pressure on government budgets and increasing political and social tensions. It is important to bear in mind the limitations of the simulations reported on above. In particular, the results do not take into account the secondary effects of higher oil prices on consumer and business confidence or possible changes in fiscal and monetary policies. The loss of business and consumer confidence resulting from an oil shock could lead to significant shifts in levels and patterns of investment, savings and spending. A loss of confidence and inappropriate policy responses, especially in the oil-importing countries, could amplify the economic effects in the medium term. In addition, neither the OECD’s estimates for member countries nor the IMF’s estimates for the developing countries and transition economies take explicit account of the direct impact of higher oil prices on natural gas prices and the secondary impact on electricity prices, other than through the general rate of inflation. Higher oil prices would undoubtedly drive up the prices of other fuels, magnifying the overall macroeconomic impact. Rising gas use worldwide will increase this impact. Nor does this analysis take into account the macroeconomic damage caused by more volatile oil prices. Short-term price volatility, which has worsened in recent years, complicates economic management and reduces the efficiency of capital allocation. Despite these factors, the results of the analysis presented here give an order-of-magnitude indication of the likely minimum economic repercussions of a sustained period of higher oil prices. Conclusion Oil prices remain a significant macroeconomic variable. Higher prices can still inflict substantial damage on the economies of oil-importing countries and on the global economy as a whole. The surge in prices in 1999-2000 contributed to the slowdown in global economic activity, international trade and investment in 2000- 2001. The disappointing pace of recovery since then is at least partly due to rising oil prices: according to the modeling results, global GDP growth may have been at least half a percentage point higher in the last two or three years had prices remained at mid-2001 levels. The results of the simulations presented in this paper suggest that further increases in oil prices sustained over the medium term would undermine significantly the prospects for continued global economic recovery. Oil importing developing countries would generally suffer the most as their economies are more oil-intensive and less able to weather the financial turmoil wrought by higher oil-import costs. The general economic background to the current run-up in prices is significantly different to previous oil-price shocks, all of which coincided with an economic boom when economies were already overheating. Prices are now rising in a situation of tentative economic revival, excess capacity and low inflation. Firms are less able to pass through higher energy-input costs in higher prices of goods and services because of strong competition in wholesale and retail markets. As a result, higher oil prices have so far eroded profits more than they have pushed up inflation. The consumer price index growth has fallen in almost every OECD country in the past year, from 2.3% to 2.0% in the Euro zone and 2.4% to 1.9% in the United States in the 12 months to December 2003. Deflation in Japan has worsened from -0.3% to 0.4% over the same period. A weaker dollar since 2002 has also offset partly the impact of higher oil prices in many countries, especially in the euro-zone and Japan. The squeeze on profits delayed the recovery in business investment and employment, which began in earnest in 2003 in many parts of the world. In contrast to previous oil shocks, the financial authorities in many countries have so far been able to hold down interest rates without risking an inflationary spiral. Yet the economic threats posed by higher oil prices remain real. Fears of OPEC supply cuts, political tensions in Venezuela and tight stocks have recently driven up international crude oil and product prices even further. Current market conditions are more unstable than normal, in part because of geopolitical uncertainties and because tight product markets – notably for gasoline in the United States – are reinforcing upward pressures on crude prices. The hike of futures prices during the past several months implies that recent oil price rises could be sustained. If that is the case, the macroeconomic consequences for importing countries could be painful, especially in view of the severe budget-deficit problems being experienced in all OECD regions and stubbornly high levels of unemployment in many countries. Fiscal imbalances would worsen, pressure to raise interest rates would grow and the current revival in business and consumer confidence would be cut short, threatening the durability of the current cyclical economic upturn. References Eichengreen, B., Y. Rhee and H. Tong (2004), â€Å"The Impact of China on the Exports of Other Asian Countries,† NBER Working Paper no.10768 (September). Frankel, J. and D. (1999), â€Å"Does Trade Cause Growth?† American Economic Review 89, pp. 379-399. Grubert, H. and J. Mutti (1991), â€Å"Taxes, Tariffs and Transfer Pricing in Multinational Corporate Decision-Making,† Review of Economics and Statistics 73, pp.285-293. Ianchovichina, E. and W. Martin (2005), â€Å"Trade Impacts of China’s WTO Accession,† this volume. Lian, D. (2005), â€Å"Singapore’s Lessons for China,† Morgan Stanley Global Economic Forum (5 May), np. Mody, A., A. Razin and E. Sadka (2002), â€Å"The Role of Information in Driving FDI: Theory and Evidence,† NBER Working Paper no. 9255 (October). Ravenhill, J. (2005), â€Å"Why the East Asian Auto Industry is not Regional,† unpublished manuscript, Australian National University.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Virginia Woolfs Mrs. Dalloway Essay -- Virginia Woolf Dalloway Essays

Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway â€Å"Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality.† -Jules de Gaultier Set just after one of England’s worst tragedies, Virginia Woolf’s 1925 novel Mrs. Dalloway is a vivid picture of the effects of World War I on London’s high society, often in glaring contrast to the effects of shell shock suffered by war veteran Septimus Smith. For members of high society, the War’s impact is largely indirect, mainly affecting their conversations at posh social functions. Although the war has had little impact on these people, some strive to develop a deeper understanding of the War’s main consequence: death. For Septimus, who has endured the direct impact of the War as a soldier, however, the memories and traumas of the War are more real than the peaceful life to which he has returned. At the urgent pleas of his wife, doctors unsuccessfully attempt to help him regain the blissful ignorance of war that he once had. Woolf illuminates a perpetual clash between those who merely understand the War as a continuing news story, and Se ptimus, who knows it as a frightening reality. For Clarissa and others in her elite world of parties and politics, the treaty has been signed and the War is over, clean and simple. â€Å"Except,† Clarissa notes generously, â€Å"for some one like Mrs. Foxcroft at the Embassy last night eating her heart out because that nice boy was killed and now the old Manor House must go to a cousin; or Lady Bexborough who opened a bazaar, they said, with the telegram in her hand, John, her favourite, killed; but it was over; thank Heaven—over† (4-5). It is significant to observe that even these close connections are extremely rare for the upper-class populace. The fact that Clarissa ha... ... â€Å"cure Septimus at once† from his true ailment (81). Through an abundance of human thoughts and interactions, Woolf has created a meticulous juxtaposition of Septimus against society or human nature in order to emphasize the self-absorption and desire for conformity of London society. Londoners’ understanding of the War and its fatalities is often specifically and immediately related back to themselves, used for entertainment or to ease their own fears of death. Their â€Å"treatment† of war-related illness is unfailingly for the benefit of England’s successful, if gilded, image at large. Woolf has, therefore, illustrated England’s proud display of personal advantage for all who conform to Sir William’s â€Å"sense of proportion† by exposing the hardships that befall those who do not. Work Cited Woolf, Virginia. Mrs. Dalloway. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, Inc., 2005.