Determination of the Explosive HMX in Soil Coursework

Determination of the Explosive HMX in Soil - Coursework Example The method is commercially designed for RDX and HMX testing for concentrations between 1-20mg/kg in soil samples, Marshall & Oxley (2008). EPA method 8510’s procedure adheres to the following steps; Extract soil sample with acetone If inorganic nitrates and nitrites are present the soil extract is then pasted through an ion exchange resin for their removal The Nitramines and Nitrate esters are then acidified and mixed with zinc dust, passed through reactants of target analytes of zinc dust A color then is developed using NitriVer3 powder pillow, which ranges from pink to deep red depending on the concentration of RDX/HMX in the mixture. Using a spectrophotometer, absorbance is then measured of the treated extract at designated wavelengths and the concentration of RDX/HMX of the unknown sample estimated by comparison to a known standard. Interferences of the sample analysis can be caused by the presence of solvents, reagents, glassware and other processing hardwares present in the soil sample. Hence, the soil samples must be rendered free of these materials by using specific selection of reagents and solvent purification using distillation process in an all glass system following guidelines on cleaning of glassware(). Chemical related explosives such as nitroguanidine (NQ), nitroglycerine (NG), nitrocellulose (NC), tetryl and pentaeythritol tetra nitrate (PETN) can cause pink color to develop if found present in the soil sample. In the absence of RDX and HMX on the pink color does not develop in the presence of Trinitroluence, Dinitrobenzene, 2, 6-Dinitrotoluene, Trinitrobenzene and 2, 4-Dinitrotoluene. Human matter present in the soil will cause a yellow colored extract but this precipitates during acidification leaving the extract cloudy interfering with the accurate determination of absorbance, Taibah University (2012). Other than the common laboratory glassware such as beakers, test tubes etc., the equipment used in this procedure include: A commercia l testing product, EnSys RDX soil testing system that specify the apparatus and materials necessary for test completion Spectrophotometer capable of reading absorbance of 507-510 nm Top loading or mechanical balance for weighing samples to -/+ 0.1g Spectrophotometer cuvettes two or more of 25ml and 2.5cm path length Alternatively; Analytical balance Wide mouth bottles of 125ml Glass volumetric pipettes ranging from 0.5ml – 25.0ml Graduated cylinders 10ml and 100ml Glass volumetric flasks 100ml and 250ml Filter units 0.45 or 0.5Â µm Syringes Spatula Vacuum desiccator – For preparing calibration standards in a fixed laboratory and storage of zinc dust Ion exchange tubes Alumina-A, 3ml Automatic pipet -500Â µl equipped with tips Measuring spoon for zinc dust Wrist action shaker Vials -40ml amber glass equipped with solid caps Reagents and standards; Acetone, CH3COCH3 Distilled water Analytical standards(RDX and HMX analytical standards) Stock standard solution Working s tandard solution Calibration solution Q2. Draw a cause and effect (fishbone) diagram to indicate the contributions to the uncertainty in the result for RDX in soil. Taibah University (2012) Reagent Humic matter Linearity Temperature Calibration Temperature Standard Sampling Standard Volume Temperature Extraction procedure

Analysis of Marks and Spencer Group PLC

Analysis of Marks and Spencer Group PLC The principal activities of the company are retailing clothing, food and home products. Marks Spencer operates in the secondary and tertiary sectors. It operates in the secondary sector as it manufactures finished goods and it is associated with textile production. It operates majorly in the tertiary sector as it provides goods and services to the population and to other businesses. A group of companies is one which consists of two or more companies between which there is a parent/subsidiary relationship and they are usually under the same ownership and maybe management. The group balance sheet will differ from that of the company since it includes the total of each individual company balance sheet of all the companies together us one compared to the company balance sheet which includes all the transactions of the company. i) total assets  £7258.1 millions total liabilities  £5157.5 millions net assets  £2100.6 millions ii) The difference between the total assets and the total liabilities is the net assets which can be also called as the groups capital. When you add the fixed assets with the current assets and then subtract the current liabilities from the Balance sheet, the total that you write down is called Net Assets. i) profit after tax (52 weeks ended 28 March 2009)  £506.8 millions (52 weeks ended 29 March 2008)  £821.0 millions Net profit margin 2009 5.6% 2008 9.1% ii) The net profit margin has significantly fell because of the exceptional costs incurred to the firm during the current accounting period due to the economic recession that affected considerably the markets MS operates in. The firm had to spend  £135.9 millions on exceptional costs, due to a change in its strategies, compared to 2008 when it had no exceptional costs. i) MS uses straight line method which is a method that allocates the amount to be depreciated evenly over the useful life of the asset. Some of MSs uses of depreciation are the following: Freehold land not depreciated Freehold and leasehold buildings with a remaining lease term over 50 years depreciated to their residual value over their estimated remaining economic lives Leasehold buildings with a remaining lease term of less than 50 years over the remaining period of the lease Fixtures, fittings and equipment 3 to 25 years according to the estimated life of the asset. ii) The straight-line method of depreciation is a method that allocates the amount to be depreciated evenly over the useful life of the asset. For example for something with a total cost of  £500 and an estimated useful life of 5 years, using the straight-line method, the annual depreciation charge will be  £100. On the other hand the reducing balance method is the method in which the depreciation is expressed as a fixed percentage on the reducing balance of an asset. In simpler words the amount of depreciation gets reduced every year. For an asset of a total cost of  £500, using the reducing balance method by 20%,it means that the value of the asset will decrease 20% of its value each year. After year 1, the net book value will be  £400 and then for the next year the value will drop to  £320 and so on. iii) Property, Plant and Equipment as at 29/3/2009  £4.834.0 millions (a)  £725.1 millions straight line depreciation (b)  £1450.2 millions reducing balance depreciation iv) By using the straight-line method of depreciation the reported profit of the group will be reduced by about  £400 million as depreciation is placed under the expenses category in the income statement and it will also be deducted from the assets current value in the balance sheet. On the other hand, by using the 30% reducing balance method, profit will decrease even more and the assets value on the balance sheet will be reduced even more. The more depreciation they charge the less net profit they get for the current period. i)  £285.2 millions ii)1371.9/365=3.76 millions/day 285.2/3.76à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‹â€ 76 days worth of sales. iii) The ratio of trade debtors and customers to sales is about 20%. This seems quite high but for such a large company like Marks and Spencer, which generates so much cash from operations (sales), is not much of a concern. However it would be better for the company to try and minimize this ratio in the next years. Stewardship accounting is the provision of information by managers to owners for the purpose of avoiding a potential conflict between managers and owners. Directors act as agents of the shareholders, or as stewards on their behalf. The stewardship function requires directors to act in the best interests of the company at all times. Where shareholders are remote from the management of their company there is potential for the directors to take action that benefits themselves rather than benefiting the shareholders. This is one of the potential problems of the stewardship relationship. If directors wish to manipulate financial information they are well placed to do so. Shareholders can be assured that the annual financial information they receive has not been distorted by requiring an audit by an independent auditor. Until recently all companies were required to have an audit of their annual financial statements. i) current Ratio= Current Assets/ Current Liabilities = 1389.8/2306.9= 0.60:1 Quick Ratio= (Current Assets- Stock and prepayments)/ Current liabilities = (1389.8-536.0)/2306.9=0.37:1 ii) The current ratio and the quick ratio are both liquidity ratios. They are commonly used to assess the liquidity of a business. As a general rule, a current ratio of 1.5 or greater can meet near-term operating needs sufficiently. A higher current ratio can suggest that a company is hoarding assets instead of using them to grow the business not the worst thing in the world, but its something that could affect long-term returns. The Quick Ratio is a much more exacting measure than the Current Ratio. By excluding inventories, it concentrates on the really liquid assets, with value that is fairly certain. An acid-test of 1:1 is considered satisfactory unless the majority of your quick assets are in accounts receivable, and the pattern of accounts receivable collection lags behind the schedule for paying current liabilities. i)There are many factors that determine the share prices but only some factors can directly influence them. One of these factors is demand and supply. The price is directly affected by the trend of stock market trading. When more people are buying a certain stock, the price increases and when more people are selling the stock, the price falls. Secondly news is a huge factor that influences the shares price. Positive news about a company can increase buying interest in the market while negative news can decrease it. It is the overall performance of the company that matters more than news. The earning per share is the profit that the company made on the last quarter and it is also a huge factor that can affect the share prices. Every public company needs to publish a quarterly report that states the earning per share. By this way they influence the buying tendency in the market resulting in the increase in the price of that particular share. So, one needs to watch on the quarterly reports of the companies and before buying any shares. ii) MarksSpencer Share prices My evaluation of Marks and Spencers performance thus far for this current accounting period is positive. First of all the company uses a long term plan and any short term decreases in revenues or profits is acceptable. The profit margin ratio has increased in 2009 from 13.43% to 23.45% so despite the recession MS managed to increase its profit margin. On the other hand the earning per share has decreased for 2009 from  £0.49 to  £0.32 per share. Though the profit margin has increased the earning per share has decreased and that is not positive for us investors. The firm might have a long term plan that is indeed promising but thus far this season we investors are concerned about the effect of the recession on the firm and more specifically on our earnings per share.

Spring 2005 :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the first section of essays the authors discuss how and why feminist scholars do research is grappled with in each selection. The authors/feminist scholars discuss the importance of research and methodology.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sandra Harding asserts in her essay, â€Å"Is There a Feminist Method?† Harding argues that it is â€Å"difficult to define a distinct feminist method because method and methodology have been intertwined with each other and with epistemological issues.†(2) Moreover, it is, she argues difficult and potentially dangerous to identify anything as a distinctive method—her argument is that â€Å" it is not by looking at research methods that one will be able to identify distinctive features of the best feminist research methods.† In other words it is dangerous to mystify feminist research because it locks researchers, students, scholars and critics into rules and ideas that don’t necessarily encompass all facets of feminist scholarship and the efforts that are made to understand it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The idea of there being a single â€Å"feminist method† assumes that there is a single thing, or several concrete things/ideas feminist scholars must be searching for. Harding’s argument is supported by author’s Greene, Khan in â€Å"Feminist scholarship and the social construction of women†. Greene/Khan assert—that â€Å"feminist scholarship undertakes the dual task of deconstructing predominately male cultural paradigms and reconstructing a female perspective and experience in an effort to change the tradition that has silenced and marginalized us†¦feminist scholars work to expose and the collusion between ideology and cultural practices.† (1) She asserts that there are two premises about gender, the first is, â€Å"the inequality of the sexes is neither a biological given nor a divine mandate, but a cultural construct,† and the second is, â€Å"the male perspective has dominated fields of knowledge shaping their paradigms and methods.† Here the authors are illustrating the constraints ideology and methodology place on feminist research and substantiating the claim that ideology and methodology are emblems of constraint in the feminist discipline because of their universal assumptions and dependence on the paradigm for the purposes of legitimizing their claims. The authors, Greene, Khan, Harding, and Cannon all deal with the issue of being tied down to methodology and method that would define feminist work, and solidify its direction while at the same time not allowing it to be fluid enough to evolve as a legitimate academic discipline.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As it the issue is raised in â€Å"Race and Class Bias in

Literature Oregano

Oregano Oregano (Scientific name: Origanum vulgare) is also known as Wild Marjoram, Mountain Mint, Origanum, Wintersweet and Winter Marjoram. This erectly spreading plant has strong aromatic characteristics, with leaves and stems that are fleshy. The leaves of oregano are heart-shaped, with toothed edges, and which, grow for up to 9 meters in length. In other countries, the plant is primarily used as a culinary ingredient. However, in countries like the Philippines, Oregano is a known herbal medicine for its strong anti-oxidant properties.Plant family: Lamiaceae (mint family). Oregano is more popularly known for its aromatic and balsamic flavor and is commonly used as mint flavoring in Mediterranean and Mexican foods. Oregano as used as herbal medicine has its earliest beginnings even in early Egyptian times and has been traditionally used as herbal remedy for skin burns, cuts and bruises. Because of the minty flavor of oregano, it is also used as herbal remedy for sore throat, asthm a, colds, coughs and flu. Oregano was first used by the Greeks. In their mythology the goddess Aphrodite invented the spice.Giving it to man to make his life happier. The word â€Å"oregano† is actually derived from the Greek phrase, â€Å"joy of the mountains†. Just married couples were crowned with wreaths of it. It was also put on graves to give peace to departed spirits. Ancient Greek physicians discovered that the herb had beneficial effects and prescribed it for a variety of ailments. Hippocrates used it as well as its close cousin, marjoram as an antiseptic. The Roman's, who later conquered Greece, would adopt much of the culture of the region. They tasted oregano and thought that it was good.The ease of its cultivation coupled with the Roman proclivity for the expansion of Empire would spread its use throughout Europe and much of Northern Africa. In these regions it was used to spice meats, fish, and even as a flavoring for wine. In the middle ages people conti nued to use it. Sharp spices were not common at this time. Oregano was one of the few food flavorings available to give variety to the daily fair. The people of the dark age cast about for medicinal properties in whatever form they could find. They would chew the oregano leaves as a cure for rheumatism, toothache, indigestion, and as a cough suppressant.Oregano found its way to China probably via the spice road that wended through the Middle-East during the Medieval period. Here again it was a medicinal herb. Doctors prescribed it to relieve fever, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, and itchy skin. Later, the English found a use for oregano as an additive to snuff (which was generally a tobacco concoction taken through the nose). It was also used as a perfume in sachets. In spite of its use in England, Oregano was little known in the United States prior to the Second World War. Soldiers discovered the flavors and aromas during the Italian Campaign and brought back the spice and the desir e for it.Related Studies Oil of Oregano According to Scott Gavura, the less evidence that exists to support the use of a treatment, the more passionate its supporters seem to be. I learned this early in my career as a pharmacist. One pharmacy I worked at did a steady business in essential oils. And king of the oils was oil of oregano. Not only were there several different brands of the basic oil, they were different forms, including capsules, creams and even nasal sprays. Not aware of any therapeutic benefits, I would ask customers what they were using it for.I rarely heard the same condition described: skin infections, athlete’s foot, head lice, colds, sore throats, â€Å"parasites†, â€Å"yeasts†, diabetes, allergies and ringworm were apparently no match against the judicious use of oregano oil. Intrigued, I took a closer look. Long before our scientific understanding of bacteria and antimicrobials, infected wounds were packed with different products in an att empt to minimize the odor, and hopefully speed healing. It’s likely that someone happened upon a fragrant herb and discovered that it seemed to help treat wounds (or at least, cover some of the smell).Given there have been some amazing drugs with powerful effects that have emerged from natural products, it’s certainly plausible that oil of oregano could have biological and therapeutic effects. Oregano (Origanum vulgare) leaves contain a wide variety of chemical compounds, including leanolic acids, ursolic acids, and phenolic glycosides. Phenolic compounds make up to 71% of the oil. Carvacrol, thymol, cymene, and terpinine and are found in oregano leaves and do appear to have biological effects. It’s these chemicals that are proposed to be the parts with beneficial effects. EffectivenessWhen we contemplate administering a chemical to deliver a medicinal effect, we need to ask the following: Is it absorbed into the body at all? Does enough reach the right part of the body to have an effect? Does it actually work for the condition? Does it have any hazardous, unwanted effects? Can it be safely eliminated from the body? These questions are usually answered through a series of investigations, starting with preclinical (test-tube) studies, and moving into to animal trials, and then to human clinical trials that start with validating safety, and then progress to investigating efficacy and safety.The short answer is that there’s little beyond animal studies to demonstrate that the ingredients in oregano oil have any effects. One of the best reviews seems to come from the McCormick Science Institute (yes, the spice company). They commissioned a paper on oregano by Keith Singletary that appeared in the journal Nutrition Today in 2010. Happily, though the journal is paywalled, McCormick is hosting the paper on its own website. 1. Is oil of oregano absorbed? Some parts of the oregano do appear to be absorbed but the bioavailability of its diffe rent chemical constituents has not been verified.So we can’t be certain which components are reaching the circulation. 2. Does enough reach the right part of the body to have any beneficial effect? It’s not clear where the chemicals in oil of oregano act in the body, as no research has been done to show that it is adequately absorbed. However, there is some evidence to suggest that oregano may be implicated in inducing abortions in mice, so some parts of the herb must be absorbed, if this a causal effect. When applied to body surfaces or skin for topical effect, oil of oregano is more likely to reach high concentrations, at least locally, and then possibly deliver a medicinal effect.This makes topical effects seem much more plausible than ones that require ingestion. 3. Does it actually work for the condition? There is no published evidence to demonstrate that that oil of oregano is effective for any medical condition or illness. The McCormick review notes that that da ta for every condition evaluated is â€Å"preliminary, inconclusive. † There is some very limited evidence to suggest that it might be useful for parasite infections — but given the evidence consists of only one study with 14 patients, and no placebo comparison, we really have no idea if the oregano oil itself was effective.Let’s consider how oil of oregano might treat an infection. Bacteria are killed by antimicrobials based on a specific dose-response relationship. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) must be reached at the site of an infection. Then there’s a concentration range where the bacteria (or viruses, or fungi, or parasites, depending on what you’re treating) are killed, typically in rough proportion to the dose. Keep increasing the dose, and the effect plateaus.If you can hit the MIC without causing side effects or toxicity, congratulations: you have a potential therapeutic agent. There’s some evidence out there demonstrat ing that oil of oregano will kill different species of bacteria, etc in the test tube or Petri dish ( in vitro). If I pour a pile of salt, lime juice, Cointreau, or tequila on a Petri dish, it will likely kill most bacteria too — but that doesn’t mean margaritas can treat pneumonia. It’s not difficult to kill bacteria if you change the conditions enough that it cannot live.So while it’s easy to get high concentrations of oregano in a test tube and subsequent positive effects, these effects are meaningless in the human body unless we can achieve similar concentrations, without any toxicity. And this has not been demonstrated with oil of oregano, or its individual chemical ingredients. 4. Does oil of oregano have any hazardous, unwanted effects? Natural does not mean safe. There are some reports of gastrointestinal upset with oil of oregano. There are also reports of allergic reactions.There is no evidence to suggest that oil of oregano, used at high (medic inal) amounts, may be used safely in pregnant or breast feeding women. However, when used in cooking, and as part of a regular diet, there is also no evidence that causes harm in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Animal studies show that if you give enough carvacrol, it will kill, though. 5. Can oil of oregano be safely eliminated from the body? So little published research exists on oil of oregano there is no way to determine if oregano oil is non-toxic.Certainly, at low doses, when used as a food, there is no reason to have any concerns. But at higher doses, and particularly with regular use, there is no data to suggest it’s safe to consume all that carvacrol, thymol, cymene, and terpinine. As we have no idea if and how oregano oil works, we have no information to estimate what a proper dose might be. Doses published by manufacturers are not based on any published evidence. Conclusion Oil of oregano, and the claims attached to it, is a great example of how interesting laboratory findings can be wildly exaggerated to imply meaningful effects in humans.A few small studies have been conducted, mainly in the lab, and advocates argue this is evidence of effectiveness. The rest is all anecdotes. Despite the hype, there is no persuasive evidence to demonstrate that oil of oregano does anything useful in or on our bodies. And while it is popular, there is no science to support the use of oil of oregano for any medical condition. Suggesting that this herb is can effectively treat serious medical conditions like diabetes, asthma, and cancer is foolish and dangerous. If you’re ill, stick to the proven science, and save your oregano for cooking.

Cyber Bullying Essay Essay

â€Å"Give me some nude pics or I’ll post the picture of you last night at the party on Facebook †. This is an example of cyber bullying and nearly 43% of kids have been bullied online, 1 in 4 has had it happened to them more than once. However, you hold the power to change someone’s life with small actions. In other words, â€Å" Change can begin with simple actions/gestures â€Å". Nevertheless, everyone must be aware of how cyber bullying could affect somebody, to be alert of the situation, and how to prevent it from happening or helping a victim. Cyber bullying causes psychological, emotional, and physical stress. It can cause a higher risk of depression and anxiety. Being a victim of this abuse can lead to lower confidence, self-esteem, and your sense of security. It can affect your performance in school, also destroy your reputation, but worst of all, cyber bullying can lead to suicidal thoughts. Multiple teens have gave up their lives because of cyber bullying and for what ? A coward hiding behind a computer screen ? This needs to sto therefore if you stand up for your peers it does help and YOU can start a chain reaction. If you get trapped in cyber bullying, it is hard to get out because it is an on-going cycle and the bully can see you as a vulnerable target. It can affect you for the rest of your life if you don’t take action or help a friend. 1 in 10 victims will inform a parent or teacher, but what about the other 9 ? They hide it in until they are mentally suffering. We must change our actions and stand up to these bullies. Many others have been waiting for someone brave enough to take a stand, all it takes is one person and others may join to help stop it. However, if you are the victim don’t get deeply involved before its to late so show no emotion and interest in the situation and inform a trusted parent or guardian. One way to prevent cyber bullying is to know what to look for. Such as, signs of impression, harassment, and public humiliation. Afterwards, take immediate action. For example, attempt to identify the cause, stop responding to the bullies message, block the bully, change your account  settings and most importantly save the evidence. Next, get outside help but don’t wait too long or else it would be too late. If it gets that serious inform law enforcement. Finally, the best way to prevent cyber bullying would have nothing against you so the bully can’t work with anything. Also don’t participate in cyber bullying. For example, your friend is teasing someone online don’t participate, tell them to stop. If you stand up for others, others will too, it all starts with a simple action and people will join in. They are just waiting for someone brave enough. We must be aware of this situation and it all starts with a small action. If everybody joins in on this, those small actions can turn into a great opportunity to open the door and help these victims and resolve the matter. Everybody can help so we must stand by each other because together we are stronger. This is a serious situation and 90% of teens seen social-media bullying and said they have ignored it. We must change these actions to help our society.

Untitled Document Essay

Untitled Document Essay Untitled Document Essay Mercutio is one of the cleverest, wittiest characters in all of Shakespeare's tragedies. He is constantly poking fun at Romeo's lovelorn melancholy, using bawdy sexual double entendres and puns that would have delighted Shakespeare's audiences. When Romeo is hiding in the Capulet's garden, for example, Mercutio tries to goad him into revealing himself through sexual references to Rosaline, the former object of his longing: I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes. By her high forehead and her scarlet lip, By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh, And the demesnes that there adjacent lie, That in thy likeness thou appear to us! Later, in a long and comical speech on love, he mockingly describes love in explicitly sexual terms: ...For this drivelling love is like a great natural that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole. Later in one his more famous scenes, he relentlessly mocks the Nurse by comparing her dress to a sail (suggesting she is massively overweight) and begging her servant Peter to give the Nurse a fan to hide her face. Mercutio, then, is a foil for Romeo, who is always moaning about love, and he serves as a consistent source of comic relief throughout the play. A notable exception is his death scene, when he recklessly provokes a duel with Tybalt, and in his poignant speech blaming the Montagues and Capulets for his death. Mercutio is one of the cleverest, wittiest characters in all of Shakespeare's tragedies. He is constantly poking fun at Romeo's lovelorn melancholy, using bawdy sexual double entendres and puns that would have delighted Shakespeare's audiences. When Romeo is hiding in the Capulet's garden, for example, Mercutio tries to goad him into revealing himself through sexual references to Rosaline, the former object of his

Good Will Hunting essays

Good Will Hunting essays We could not be where we are today if great minds like Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton didn't exist. These individuals helped create who and what we are today. Without their help our world would be a far more primitive one. These incredible people are said to have a gift, which few could only dream of. But what if these individuals decided in not using this gift. Then where would we be today? In the film "Good Will Hunting" Will Hunting is blessed with having this gift, but isn't convinced if he should use it. Will kept his gift to himself. He wasn't what society sees as a typical mathematical intellect, being well dressed, law biding, unathletic, and antisocial. Instead he played sports, fought a lot, used foul language, and drank excessively. He acted this way because it was the way he grew up and he didn't want to be treated differently because of his gift. When a Hartford professor sees Will's capabilities he can only think of the possibilities a great mind like Will's could create. Will, on the other hand would rather work a labor-oriented job for the rest of his life. He believes his job as, a janitor or demolition laborer, are just as noble as any other. The truth is Will isn't psychologically stable and therefore he doesn't know what he really wants. His whole life he lived in different foster homes and was abused excessively by different people. This abuse leads him to live a life where he pushes people away because he's scared of getting hurt. When Skylar, his girlfriend, asks him to move with her to California he automatically acts in his defense mode of pushing her away. He convinces himself that if they did go away together she would eventually leave him for a more economically stable guy that her mother would approve of. His psychologist (Robin Williams) realizes the psychological problem Will faces and understands that this problem must be dealt with before Will can decide what he really want...

A Lesson in Spelling Definite

A Lesson in Spelling Definite A Lesson in Spelling Definite A Lesson in Spelling Definite By Maeve Maddox Next to the possessive adjective its, the word definite is possibly the most misspelled word in English. If I had a nickel for every time Ive circled the misspelling definate in a students paper, Id have enough money to buy a house. Perhaps one way to impress the correct spelling of definite on the mind would be to consider the family of words to which it belongs. finite: having bounds, ends, or limits infinite: having no limit or end infinity: the quality or attribute of being infinite or having no limit define: to settle the limits of And, of course, theres definite: Having fixed or exact limits Look at all the i words in these definitions; Something that is infinite has no limits. Something that is finite has limits. To define is to limit. Something that is definite is limited. There! Go forth and spell definite with two is. For babies and children, whose nutritional needs are extraordinary, the risks are definite and scary. The breast milk of vegetarian and vegan mothers is dramatically lower in a critical brain fat, DHA (www.nytimes.com) one of the more useful words in the English language, but according to research by a linguistics professor, use of the definite article â€Å"the† has declined â€Å"radically† over the last century. (www.theguardian.com) of state for public health, committee chairman Neil Parish wrote: â€Å"We are disappointed with the lack of definite action taken by the FSA [Food Standards Agency] and wider government to date. We trust that the further response (www.theguardian.com) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What Does [sic] Mean?How to Play HQ Words: Cheats, Tips and TricksFew vs. Several

How important were farming regions in determining allegiance in the Essay

How important were farming regions in determining allegiance in the English Civil War - Essay Example Even in Jacobean London half the aldermen, the merchant princes, were domestic traders. And in contrast to the faltering export trade, the internal economy was not only diversifying but growing considerably (T. Wilson Hayes, pg 115). London was not the sole 'engine of growth', but farming regions impact the most obvious feature of internal development. The Newcastle region was by no means alone in its integration into an increasingly national economy. The costs and delays of inland transport, especially by road, meant that pastoral regions still grew grain for bread and beer. Outlying upland counties periodically had difficulty in sending taxes to London, especially in winter, since so little traffic went that way, and cross-country contacts by road were even more difficult - indeed, the average price of wheat in Devon late in the dearth year of 1631 was 50 per cent higher than in neighboring Dorset. Nevertheless, growing specialization in agriculture accounts for the fame of Cheshire cheese and Worcestershire apples. Transport ties to London were sufficiently developed for John Taylor's Carrier's Cosmography in 1637 to give details of carriers linking the capital with all regions. By the 1630s regular stage coa ches linked London with major towns in the southeast and Midlands, and by the 1650s Edinburgh and most major provincial cities had been drawn into the coaching network. More substantial connections appeared by mid-century, as inns along the scarp slope separating the Severn and Thames valleys allowed traders to join the hinterlands of Bristol and London. The growth of London and the forging of a national economy were both cause and effect of developments in both agriculture. In agriculture the gradual spread of new techniques was symbolized by a new vogue in handbooks, such as Walter Blith's The English Improver (1649). As the market expanded more attention was given to the crops and farming practices best suited to local soils: the growing popularity of 'convertible' or 'up-and-down' husbandry, alternating periods of arable and pasture, is evident across much of lowland England. More striking still is the way many farmers, small as well as large, converted to new cash crops like madder and woad for dye, to tobacco in the Severn valley, as well as to market gardening around towns (Mark Stoyle, 1994). Although the full impact of the new crops was only to be felt after mid-century, when slackening demand encouraged farmers to raise productivity, England slowly outstripped much of the rest of Europe in its ability to feed and employ a g rowing population. Starvation in the crisis of 1623 was limited to the northwest; and thereafter, despite appalling hardship in the later 1640s, famine seems to have been more or less eliminated. The prevalence of domestic production in textiles, in leather-working, in most branches of the metal industry, makes it impossible to measure economic distress. Cost-of-living figures measure prices in the market. Much of the population was engaged in both agriculture and industry: the small farmer whose wife and servant did some subsidiary spinning or stocking-knitting, the artisan miner with a small plot of land attached to his cottage, even Norwich laborers who did harvest-work in nearby fields in the 1630s, and

Reading and Writing about Arguments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reading and Writing about Arguments - Essay Example People should always think of media as a place you can get information like reading an online newspaper, or report listening. Unfortunately, most people have confined abilities to offer their thoughts with such matters. Some of the social media websites of bookmarking include Blink list, Simpy, and Delicious. Social news website includes Propeller, Digg, and Reddit. The social news site interacts by commenting and voting for articles. Social networking websites include Facebook, Twitter, and Whattsup. The site interacts by adding friends, joining groups, and discussing issues (Rubinstein, Eli, and Jane 98). Among the social websites listed, many people are using social networks such as Tumbler, Twitter, and Facebook. Since internet rapidly propagates, the social network has also progressed. The internet makes the life convenient and faster. With the advancement in technology, people are using Smartphone's, and iPhones to access the internet with much ease. Accessing the social networ k, helps users to contact families, friends, and others living far away. If not properly used social networks can be easily abused. It is therefore important to regulate and understand the importance of social media for young children. The paper therefore, argues on how the negative impact of social networks outshines the positive effect. It is true that the social network has been abused that is why their limitations are so advanced. Social network especially Twitter and Face book is addictive. It has always been believed that alcohol and drugs are more addictive than the addiction of social networks. This is far from the truth. Whether the users are trawling news feed, uploading photos, or posting a comment. There is no shortcut in wasting time on social networks (Qualman 53). Youths login into their accounts after every single minute, and this has become a habit among young people. In the United Kingdom clinics are diagnosing thousands of addicts in a year (Rubinstein, Eli, and J ane 13). The researchers have found that features such as likes and retweets raise the "feel-good "chemicals of the brain. When the users lack endorsements they provoke anxiety and anger. People using the social network do not recognize it as a problem. According to Mr. White a psychologist believes that social network only becomes a problem when it starts interfering with the life of a person. Therefore, I feel social media pose a threat of addiction to others which is not good. Social networking can cause physical and mental disorders to users. Other people argue that social media is healthy because users share their feelings and thoughts easily. That through social media, people connect, and share feelings (Rubinstein, Eli, and Jane 23). This is misleading because, there is no physical meeting. Therefore, its useful impact is very minimal to the parties. According to the study conducted by Nielsen, participating in a social network is harmful. This is because in social media, cas es of bullying are rampant. A phenomenon called "Face book envy" which assumes that the life of online friends is better than the others (Qualman 34). Young people with problems of mental health, social media can easily exacerbate the condition. The stigma experience and online negativity from the online friends because they admit their depression or contact other problems. Also in ages when devices to access internet are everywhere, face to face meeting is fading away as people have resorted to meet screen to screen

Evolution of Color Vision in Mammals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evolution of Color Vision in Mammals - Essay Example Along with visual system alterations, these changes have caused significant differences in the salience and nature of mammal color vision (Schwab et al 11). This paper will seek to discuss how color vision has evolved in mammals, especially with regards to marsupials, dolphins, and primates, discussing the relevant biological mechanisms, color vision utility, and variations in color vision among the listed mammals. Majority of mammals are not able to distinguish color at all, instead living in a sort of black and white environment. Primates and marsupials are among the few mammals that can distinguish colors, which is proved by the distinct cells present in their retinas that are able to visualize colors (Schwab et al 23). Cone cells are fundamental in the ability to distinguish colors, thus color vision, while rod cells are found in animals that do not have the ability for color vision. Majority of mammals only possess the rod cells, except primates and marsupials. ... There are only two types of rods; one that has a short wavelength sensation, which enables it to sense blue color, and another for long wavelength sensation that allows it to sense for red color (Schwab et al 24). Color vision evolved from a vision in black and white with long wavelength sensing rods separated into red cones that sense red color and green cones that sense green color. Marsupials have also been found to have three forms of cones. As might be expected, color vision evolution in marsupials was distinct from the evolution of color vision in primates. This led to some distinct differences. The three cones that marsupials possess are not blue, red, and green. Rather, they are ultra violet, blue, and red because the rods for short wavelength sensing separated into ultra violet and blue cones (Gegenfurtner et al 44). However, as of today, no one knows what color sensations these cones have. The only way to find out something about marsupial vision is through behavioral testi ng. The quendka and cathemeral dunnart marsupials have trichromatic vision that is different to that of primates since their S-cones can sense UV light, whereas the L-cones of the fat-tailed dunnart have a special sensitivity for the spectral region in the green-yellow region. It has been hypothesized that the L and M cones combine to allow for sensing of brown and cryptically colored green. For the honey possum, the L-cones evolved to a further length than for fellow marsupials that conferred yellow-red sensitivity (Gegenfurtner et al 44). Color vision evolution for primates differs greatly compared to other eutharians. Primates are thought to

Diplomatic Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Diplomatic Security - Essay Example ly 1973 created and unified drug agencies under a single command to fight the global menace of drug (United States, History, n.d.) and was established under the auspices of the Department of Justice through Reorganization Plan No. 2 that took effect on July 1, 1973 (Records, n.d.). The Drug Enforcement Agency is a criminal justice agency headed by an Administrator appointed by the US President and should be confirmed by the Senate (United States, Staffing, n.d.). Its main mission includes the enforcement of laws and regulations on controlled substances and to â€Å"bring to the criminal and civil justice system of the US† everyone who participates in growing, production, processing and distribution of controlled substances (Hewgley, 2009, para. 24). In order to carry out its mission, the agency disseminates information uncovered with the intelligence sector (Hewgley, 2009). DEA offices situated in the US are called domestic offices (The Drug Enforcement, 2007). Before the establishment of the DEA under the Department of Justice, several agencies fought against drug trafficking with some simultaneously performing the same functions, namely: a) under the Department of the Treasury - 1) Bureau of Internal Revenue (1914-1921), 2) Narcotic Division, Bureau of Internal Revenue (1921-1927), 2) Narcotic Division, Bureau of Prohibition (1927-1930), 3) Bureau of Narcotics (1930-1968); b) under the Food and Drug Administration – 1) Bureau of Drug Abuse Control (1965-1968); c) under the Department of Justice – 1) Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (1968-73) (Records, n.d.). The Bureau of Narcotics and the Bureau of Drug Abuse Control exercised the same functions at an overlapping period (Records, n.d.). For an effective enforcement and operation, DEA has strategically established offices in other countries and conduct covert and surveillance operations. The agency coordinates and cooperates with foreign governments in order to thwart supply of drugs into the US

Marketing Plan for Product Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marketing Plan for Product - Essay Example highly rated industries for stability and success, the company offers mobile phones with special features to everyone who wants an excellent product. (Kotler and Armstrong 87). Marketing Strategies In general, marketing strategy deals with pricing, selling, and distributing a product. Using a market development strategy for a special mobile phone for aged people, the company will capture a larger share of an existing market for current products through market saturation and market penetration or develop new markets for current products. It is "the combination of choices you make about which tactics you use" ((Kotler and Armstrong 76). Product differentiation will be the main strategy followed by the company. Differentiation will be achieved by unique product image and features, low price and support services proposed fro all customers. The company will follow penetration pricing strategy. Penetration pricing refers to the establishment of price levels low enough to penetrate markets deeply, and to discourage potential competitors from entry. Although prices are set relatively low, expanding markets arc recognized. Pursuit of this policy slows down the recouping of investments and expenses. Which policy to use depends on the total marketing plan and an assessment of cost-revenue market factors (Boone and Kurtz 132). Segmentation Segmentation for a special mobile phone for aged people will be used to understand individual customers in the sports market place and to group them together to form distinct segments which are identifiable, accessible and substantial. In markets, segmentation is often used to make selling more cost effective by prioritizing the companies that require regular face-to-face salespeople and that can be served better by telesales and direct... The researcher states that new product management is one of the most complex and complicated tasks for an entrepreneur today. The proposed product is a special mobile phone for aged people with poor eyesight and deafness. The idea is to create a mobile phone device with big screen and special signals which help old people with poor eyesight and deafness to communicate with relatives and use mobile phone in emergency situations. The main goal of the new business is to get and keep a customer. Also, the product is aimed to achieve competitive advantage and sustainable competitive creating value for consumers, select markets where they can excel and present a moving target to their competitors by continually improving their position. Three of the most important factors are innovation, quality and inventory reduction. Using a market development strategy for a special mobile phone for aged people, the company will capture a larger share of an existing market for current products through m arket saturation and market penetration or develop new markets for current products. Marketing mix will involve telemarketing and direct sales, promotion through medical institutions and mobile stores outside the country. In conclusion, the researcher analyzes differentways of promoting the mobile phone for aged people and discusses the strategies adopted and implemented by the firm including product, price, promotion and distribution issues, that are aimed when advertising features and products to older people.

Uses of Simulation Technology in Hospitals Article

Uses of Simulation Technology in Hospitals - Article Example Simulation is based on three types, which are live, virtual and also constructive simulation. It can also be of combined styles with live simulation involving humans or equipment and activity in a setting where the operation is real. The virtual simulation, on the other hand, involves humans and equipment but in a computerized controlled setting (Wilson & Rockstraw, 2011). This mainly depends on time factor making the users concentration extremely significant. Constructive simulations do not involve humans or equipment rather than time and the occurrence of events. These can be seen by the occurrence of hurricane among others. How Simulation can be used as Orientation Teaching Modalities Simulation is used for training in schools to procedures which are irreversible such as patient care and surgery. This is also used in testing the student’s performance in communication skills, application of the knowledge they have and also be able to think critically. Through simulation, the students are able to be provided by a powerful learning experience (Bayley & Drury, 1998). Through this, they are grouped for the purpose of assessment. Simulation has enabled students to take part in fragile and surgical patient treatment. Most of the students gain experience as the devices are able to be controlled in case of a misunderstanding of a student or an emergency thereby not causing deaths and injuries. Learning in the healthcare system requires the knowledge and skills which are mostly developed through apprenticeship. Through the situations occurrence in the livelihood, the students are able to gain experience and become more competent. This is seen as a better way of learning as the experiences enable them applying their skills. Simulation also offers a scheduled and a learning experience which is not easily obtained in real life. Students can obtain techniques on dealing with a high workload, coordination under stress and gaining of information regarding principles to be considered as they put it in practice (Dyro, 2004). Through simulation, the learners are able to correct their mistakes without an expertise intervention as it is computerized. This gives an adequate knowledge of the areas with flaws so as to avoid future mistakes. The learning experience through the simulation process can also be customized. The stimulation process incorporates all students despite being experts in the field (Dyro, 2004). The simulation training method is helpful when it comes to illness like heart attack, allergic reactions and malignant hyperthermia among others. Simulation allows repetition of activities which provides a better place for one’s learning experience in the field (Kyle & Murray, 2008). How Simulation can be used in the Academic Setting In the academic setting, stimulation is used for research purposes. Many research activities happen in order to improve the patients’ safety and also in dealing with difficult illnesses, which have emerged. This also improves the quality of services provided as it is undemanding to evaluate an improved system of treatment. New procedures can be studied under the simulated conditions through the tests conducted. The different kinds of simulation which include virtual live and computer based may be used in finding a solution to a given research conducted (Wilson & Rockstraw, 2011). Through simulation, learners can experience a safe environment for practice. This is because of the technology which prevents one from endangering the health of the patient which makes it a better tool to be used as compared to the traditional education which was risky to the patient’s life (Satava, 1995). The environment can also be seen to as conducive as it allows learning

Marketing Plan for Product Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marketing Plan for Product - Essay Example highly rated industries for stability and success, the company offers mobile phones with special features to everyone who wants an excellent product. (Kotler and Armstrong 87). Marketing Strategies In general, marketing strategy deals with pricing, selling, and distributing a product. Using a market development strategy for a special mobile phone for aged people, the company will capture a larger share of an existing market for current products through market saturation and market penetration or develop new markets for current products. It is "the combination of choices you make about which tactics you use" ((Kotler and Armstrong 76). Product differentiation will be the main strategy followed by the company. Differentiation will be achieved by unique product image and features, low price and support services proposed fro all customers. The company will follow penetration pricing strategy. Penetration pricing refers to the establishment of price levels low enough to penetrate markets deeply, and to discourage potential competitors from entry. Although prices are set relatively low, expanding markets arc recognized. Pursuit of this policy slows down the recouping of investments and expenses. Which policy to use depends on the total marketing plan and an assessment of cost-revenue market factors (Boone and Kurtz 132). Segmentation Segmentation for a special mobile phone for aged people will be used to understand individual customers in the sports market place and to group them together to form distinct segments which are identifiable, accessible and substantial. In markets, segmentation is often used to make selling more cost effective by prioritizing the companies that require regular face-to-face salespeople and that can be served better by telesales and direct... The researcher states that new product management is one of the most complex and complicated tasks for an entrepreneur today. The proposed product is a special mobile phone for aged people with poor eyesight and deafness. The idea is to create a mobile phone device with big screen and special signals which help old people with poor eyesight and deafness to communicate with relatives and use mobile phone in emergency situations. The main goal of the new business is to get and keep a customer. Also, the product is aimed to achieve competitive advantage and sustainable competitive creating value for consumers, select markets where they can excel and present a moving target to their competitors by continually improving their position. Three of the most important factors are innovation, quality and inventory reduction. Using a market development strategy for a special mobile phone for aged people, the company will capture a larger share of an existing market for current products through m arket saturation and market penetration or develop new markets for current products. Marketing mix will involve telemarketing and direct sales, promotion through medical institutions and mobile stores outside the country. In conclusion, the researcher analyzes differentways of promoting the mobile phone for aged people and discusses the strategies adopted and implemented by the firm including product, price, promotion and distribution issues, that are aimed when advertising features and products to older people.

A Positive Impacts on Patients and Society as a Whole Essay

A Positive Impacts on Patients and Society as a Whole - Essay Example I have critically evaluated the nature of the nurse practitioner professional and am certain that I am equal to the task. I am certain that I have the ability and commitment to perform those responsibilities with enthusiasm and professionalism. I understand that the nurse practitioner is allowed to provide a wide range of health care services. The first health care services that nurse practitioners are allowed to provide is taking the patient’s history, physically examining the patient, as well as ordering laboratory procedures and tests. The second one is to diagnose, treat and manage diseases. Thirdly, nurse practitioners are allowed to write prescriptions and coordinate referrals. In addition, nurse practitioners are allowed to provide handouts about healthy lifestyles and disease prevention. The final main responsibility of nurse practitioners is to perform specific procedures such as lumbar puncture and bone marrow biopsy. As I seek to lead a purpose-driven life as a nurs e practitioner, I am fully aware of the variety of settings that as a nurse practitioner I can work in. these settings include neonatology, emergency, oncology, women’s health, paediatrics, cardiology, geriatrics, school health, family practice, primary care, and nephrology. I am also aware that I will be sometimes required to work in clinics in the absence of doctors’ supervision, while at other instances I will be required to work together in a joint health care team. More Importantly, I understand that I will be required to work within the authority and scope of state and federal laws.

Evolution of US Films Since the 1880s

Evolution of US Films Since the 1880s To what extent has film in the US evolved from the 1880s to modern day? Candidate Name: Dimitri Grigorov Abstract Film has gone through a drastic evolution since it began in the 1880s. There were 5 main stages regarding the evolution of film in the US. The Silent Period lasted from 1895 to 1929. This period brought the first films to the US. These films were black and white and featured no sound, other than some possible instrumentals. Silent movies appealed largely to illiterate immigrants because they didnt have to read, and it was a simple form of entertainment. The Classical Period lasted from 1930 to 1945. This time period was a huge leap forward because sound was introduced to movies. It was a new way to watch movies and people loved it. The Postwar Period, which lasted from 1946 to 1959, was the most historically significant era in the film world. The Transitional Period lasted from 1960 to 1979 and introduced new ideas to cinema that would shape the movies of today. The time period we are in now is known as the Contemporary Period and began in 1980. The Contemporary Period benefitted fro m technological advancements, and more elaborate films were made using CGI. Each time period had its own movements and iconic directors. Investigation Film has evolved since it began in 1880s. Film has gone from short black and white stop motion clips, to full fledged color spectacles with expensive special effects. It has gone from a fascinating gimmick to a new form of art. A lot can happen in the course of a century, and film has definitely changed in drastic ways. Film is an art. It influences people to change the world and to express themselves. Film gives people insight and inspiration in the darkest of days. In the late 1880s various people began experimenting with photo, blending them together to give the illusion of a motion picture. The technology and difficulty to capture that sort of video made motion pictures rare (boyslife.org). The first movie is a controversial subject. There are many differing opinions. Some believe it was The Horse In Motion, directed by Eadweard Muybridge in 1878. This groundbreaking motion photography was accomplished using multiple cameras and assembling the individual pictures into a single motion picture. Its something that you could do today, using a few cameras that are set to go off at an exact moment (lavideofilmmaker.com). The movie was created to answer a popular question of the time: Are all four of a horses hooves ever off the ground at the same time while the horse is galloping? The video proved that they indeed were and, more importantly, motion photography was born (boyslife.org). Not all people consider this film the first one, though. Some think the first film was Roundhay Garden Scene, released in 1888. Its a short clip directed by French inventor Louis Le Prince. While its just 2.11 seconds long, it is technically a movie (boyslife.org). According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the oldest surviving film in existence (boyslife.org). Eventually, films got longer. Brothers Auguste and Louis Lumià ¨re became prominent figures in the film world. They created various short films and were among the first filmmakers in history. Their films were unique at the time because instead of lasting a few seconds, they lasted a few minutes. The brothers even infused some comedy into their films. In one scene, a man is watering his garden, while a boy is stepping on his hose. The man, not noticing the boy, wonders why water stops pouring out of it. This slapstick humor would later become more prevalent in films such as Charlie Chaplin. The Lumià ¨re brothers were also iconic in the film world because they devised an early motion-picture camera and projector called the Cinà ©matographe (cinema is derived from this name), according to britannica.com. This device was a leap forward because it allowed more people to simultaneously watch films. Previously, only one person at a time could watch . Originally, the device was invented and patented as the Cinà ©matographe Là ©on Bouly by French inventor Là ©on Bouly on February 12, 1892. Bouly coined the term cinematograph, from the Greek term for writing in movement. Due to a lack of money, Bouly was unable to develop his ideas properly and maintain his patent fees, so he sold his rights to the device and its name to the Lumià ¨re Brothers. In 1895, they applied the name to a device that was largely their own creation. They made their first film, Sortie de lusine Lumià ¨re de Lyon, that same year (wikipedia.com). By 1895, the silent film era arrived. The earliest American films were primarily a working-class pastime. Because they told stories without words, they appealed to the large, mostly illiterate immigrant population in the United States (the-artifice.com). After 1900, film became a more middle-class phenomenon, as filmmakers exploited films storytelling potential by adapting bourgeois novels, which incorporated middle-class values, for the screen (sparknotes.com). Until 1914, the major national film industries were located in Italy, France, and the United States. When World War I came, it devastated the Italian and French film industries, allowing American producers to gain the lead on the global market. The major American production companies combined their film technology patents and used their patent leverage to implement block booking on exhibitors (movie theater owners), which forced them to buy lower-quality product along with high-quality product (sparknotes.com). These exhibitors fought back by buying small production companies, and eventually managed to beat out the major producers because they were quicker to adopt feature-length films, which proved to be more commercially successful than the earlier shorts. From 1907-1913, many production companies moved from New York City to Los Angeles to work in the warm weather that allowed for year-round outdoor production, giving birth to the Hollywood film industry. The costs associated with vertical integration (the combination in one company of two or more stages of production normally operated by separate companies) forced Hollywood studios to seek investment from Wall Street bankers. This development, along with the industrial modes of production pioneered and the bourgeois storytelling conventions introduced, turned Hollywood into a profit-driven enterprise and its films into commercial products (sparknotes.com). One of the most prominent figures in US silent film was Charlie Chaplin. Between 1914 and 1918, Chaplin became the first international film star when he wrote, directed, and starred in short films as the Tramp, a silly figure with baggy pants, big shoes, funky mustache, snazzy suit, and cane. For Chaplin, comedy was a way to examine the impact of social conventions and taboos on personal freedom and happiness. His Tramp character had lots of charisma: sensible, brave, and wise but also flirty, vulnerable, and socially awkward. Chaplins criticism of leaders, moral and political issues, and material and psychological divisions between classes and genders reached its high point in later feature-length works, such as City Lights and Monsieur Verdoux (sparknotes.com). Film was making a name for itself. The idea of pictures coming to life was fascinating on a deep level. This kind of thing was universally recognized and respected. Movies with sound arrived on the scene. The era between 1930 and 1945 was called the Classical Period and was a monumental leap forward for the film world. The transition from silent to sound films caused great change in the film industry, requiring costly renovation of production studios and movie theaters, ending the careers of many silent film stars, and making it more difficult to sell films abroad. Hollywood took some time to overcome the artistic and technical challenges of sound film production, and the result was several years of bland output. For European filmmakers, production costs were expensive because Hollywood studios owned the patents to the new sound technology and licensed it at an expensive price. This allowed the US to continue to be dominant in the film world (sparknotes.com).By the mid-1930s, Hollywood entered a period of unmatched success and prosperity, with five major studios (Paramount, Warner Brothers, MGM, RKO, and Twentieth Century Fox) and three minor studios (Universal, Columbia, and United Artists) introducing unique styles, genres, and stars. In 1934, under pressure from religious organizations such as t he Legion of Decency, Hollywood implemented a Production Code that censored the content of its films, filtering out portrayals of lewd sexuality, bad language, graphic violence, and drug use. During World War II, Hollywood contributed enormously to the war effort through the production of propaganda films (sparknotes.com). Despite the shift in film themes, the industry was soaring. Then World War II came. The period between 1946 and 1959 was known as the Postwar Period (britannica.com). The war affected American filmmakers and audiences, leading to the production of dark, morally ambiguous and socially critical films in the film noir style. The US made various films depicting the USSRs idea of communism in a negative light. This anti-Communist sentiment flourished as the U.S.s former ally the Soviet Union became its primary enemy. In the 1949 movie The Red Menace, an ex-GI named Bill Jones becomes involved with the Communist Party USA. While in training, Jones falls in love with one of his instructors. After a duration of being true followers of communism, they realize their mistake when they witness party leaders murder a member who questions the partys principles. When they try to leave the party, the two are marked for murder and hunted by the partys assassins (wikipedia.com). New York Times journalist Bosley Crowther points out that the characters in the film are highly overdramatized and villainous to an unrealistic extent. She implies that this discredits the accuracy of the film. Nevertheless, the film was released to the American public, infusing them with skewed information. Another 1949 propaganda film, The Woman on Pier Thirteen, previously known as I Married a Communist, shares similar themes. In this film, Brad Collins, former stevedore, is rising fast in a shipping company when local communist agitators use his former Party affiliation to extort his help in stirring up trouble. When Brad resists, communist femme fatale Christine works through his brother-in-law Don. But Brads new wife Nan sees that her husband and brother are under pressure; when she investigates on her own, party boss Vanning takes ruthless action (wikipedia.com). Again, communism is being portrayed in a negative light and as a threat to Americans. Communist leaders are being shown as evil and bloodthirsty. HUAC was formed to combat the threatof Communism. This organization tried professionals suspected of having Communist ties. As a result of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings, many of Hollywoods most talented actors, directors, and screenwriters were blacklisted by the studios because of suspected ties to the Communist Party. Some moved to Europe, some continued to work by using colleagues names as fronts, and others saw their careers and lives ruined (sparknotes.com). In response to competition from the new medium of television, Hollywood made films that showcased cinemas distinctive qualities: stereophonic sound, large screen size, and color images, benefiting from the emergence of widescreen technology and better color film stock. By the mid-1950s, the blacklist and new technologies led Hollywood to concentrate on apolitical, spectacular films such as biblical epics, westerns, and musicals. A 1948 Supreme Court decision forced Hollywood studios to end their vertical integration policies, making the marketplace more competitive and increasing opportunities for independent and foreign producers (sparknotes.com). The Postwar Period is when many of the most influential directors of all time arose. People like Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock, directors who are still well known today, got their start in this era. These directors would go on to be the inspiration for many modern day directors. Orson Welles is very well known because he was one of the youngest directors of all time. In 1940, Welles signed a $225,000 contract with RKO to write, direct and produce two films. The deal gave the young filmmaker total creative control, as well as a percentage of the profits. At the time, this was the most lucrative deal ever made with an unproven filmmaker. Welles was just 24 years old (biography.com). Unlike many of his contemporaries, Welles gained international recognition mostly on the basis of only that film, which was Citizen Kane (1941). The film is full of technical innovations, including crane shots, overlapping dialogue, multiple audio tracks, purposely grainy film stock, and low-angle photography. It explores themes that Welles would revisit throughout his career: the corruption of power and wealth, the fine line between desire and obsession, the precariousness of knowledge, and the limits of ego and ambition. Welless use of deep focus, long takes, and special lighting influenced a generation of filmmakers working in the postwar film noir and realist styles. Though rejected by audiences and undermined by studio executives throughout his career, Welles still managed to make several more highly acclaimed films, including The Lady from Shanghai (1948) and 1958s Touch of Evil (sparknotes.com). Perhaps the only director more iconic to this era was Alfred Hitchcock. In a career spanning half a century, Hitchcock got acclaim in both his homeland Britain and Hollywood. He directed some of the most memorable films of all time, including The 39 Steps (1935), Vertigo (1958), and North by Northwest (1959). Influenced by German expressionism and Soviet montage, Hitchcock used detailed visual and aural compositions to express his protagonists feelings of paranoia and claustrophobia, along with complex editing to create suspense. With a self awareness of society, Hitchcock examined the abnormal perversions and obsessive desires lurking beneath the surface of ordinary lives and communities, enabling him to become an astute observer of America in the 1950s, the decade during which he directed his greatest films (sparknotes.com). He would later be deemed as the master of suspense. By the time 1960 arrived, yet another era of film history began. The time between 1960 and 1979 was known as the Transitional Period. This period had its ups and downs but would eventually shape the modern movies we watch today. By the 1960s, Hollywood was in decline, unable to keep up with the radical political and cultural developments transforming American society. European films, however, fueled by government funding of film production, achieved unprecedented levels of critical acclaim and box-office success. The sophistication and creativity of these films led to the recognition of cinema as an artistic medium, not simply a form of mass entertainment (sparknotes.com). In contrast, Hollywood films in the early 1960s seemed devoid of style, boring, and out of touch. Less and less studio productions brought revenue. Hollywood reacted by cutting costs, entering into partnerships with independent and foreign producers, and allowing more flexibility in terms of experimentation (sparknotes.com). One exception to the low quality films produced in the 1960s was Alfred Hitchcocks Psycho. This film shocked audiences with a twist ending that audiences werent used to. The film was quite progressive for its time as well. The twist was that a man was dressing as his mother, taking on her identity, and killing women. Cross dressing, other than for comedy, was not popular yet and the fact that Hitchcock was daring enough to include this in his film, proved again to audiences that he was a force to be reckoned with. Still, most movies in the early 1960s were of lower quality unil Hollywood underwent another change in 1968. In 1968, the decades-old Production Code was scrapped, and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) began to issue movie ratings, which enabled the industry to make more daring and challenging films. These changes, along with a middle-class migration to the suburbs that left urban movie theaters in disarray, led to new genres such as exploitation and hardcore pornography (sparknotes.com). More famous directors got onto the scene in the Transitional Period. One of these directors was Francis Ford Coppola. He directed four of the most important American films of the 1970s-The Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974), The Conversation (1974), and Apocalypse Now (1979). Coppola was also an accomplished producer and writer. Along with George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, and Brian De Palma, he was part of the first generation of filmmakers to attend film school. His training enabled him to combine visceral visual imagery, compelling storylines, and dynamic editing in order to create iconic portraits of American interests, whether at home or abroad. Coppola was renowned for his biting critique of the power dynamics of individual and family ambition amid the corrupting influence of American capitalism and imperialism (sparknotes.com). John Cassavetes was another memorable director from the Transitional Period. Considered the founding father of American independent cinema, Cassavetes was also a talented actor who accepted roles in Hollywood in order to fund his own films. His commitment to making films outside of the studio system became legendary and influenced a generation of American independent filmmakers. Cassavetes rejected the formulaic plots, essentialist characterizations, and tidy narrative resolutions of Hollywood cinema. His most influential films, Faces (1968), Husbands (1970), and A Woman Under the Influence (1974), feature iconic acting performances that reveal the raw emotional energy of human interaction, chronicling the struggle of characters to express themselves honestly and fully under the pressure of linear social and moral conventions (sparknotes.com).One of the few filmmakers to connect with the American counterculture was Arthur Penn, whose Bonnie and Clyde (1967) became the emblematic film of its generation. Influenced by the style and politics of the French New Wave and American underground cinema, Penn sought to overturn Hollywoods staid representational conventions. Bonnie and Clyde incorporates many of the characteristics that would define American cinema for the next decade: romantic anti-establishment heroes, explicit treatment of sexual and psychological issues, a negative portrayal of authority figures and societal institutions, graphic depiction of violence, genre hybridity (often a mixture of comedy and drama), and a refusal to resolve narrative conflicts tidily (sparknotes.com). By 1980, we reached our time period, the Contemporary Period. Multinational corporations bought and merged many movie studios, ending the period of artistic experimentation in Hollywood. The industry has returned to financial success and global dominance through the development of blockbuster franchises, large-scale marketing campaigns, and content aimed at children. It also has placed increasing emphasis on spectacular special effects in order to draw audiences into movie theaters. CGI was huge in this time period (empireonline.com). The emergence of affordable digital video cameras and the growth of the film festival circuit have expanded the possibilities for independent filmmakers around the world to produce, distribute, and exhibit films (sparknotes.com). American independent film has flourished in the past 25 years, as well, emerging as a voice for those who do not identify with the image of America that Hollywood has projected. Independent films often contain explicit treatments of sexual, political, and psychological issues and avoid formulaic plots with happy endings and clearly defined characters. They are made by and for women (Susan Seidelman, Julie Dash), racial and ethnic minorities (Charles Burnett, Lourdes Portillo), gays and lesbians (Todd Haynes, Su Friedrich, Julie Zando), working classes (Michael Moore, John Sayles) and other groups who are not adequately represented in mainstream cinema. Harmony Korine, John Waters, Jim Jarmusch, David Lynch, Terry Zwigoff, and Todd Solondz make films full of dark humor that explore the lives of social misfits who are often ignored or ridiculed in Hollywood films. The success of the independents has led many Hollywood studios to establish subsidiaries that distribute smaller-budget fil ms, blurring the lines of distinction between industrial and independent cinema. Key films include Jim Jarmuschs Stranger than Paradise (1983), David Lynchs Blue Velvet (1986), Steven Soderberghs Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989), Spike Lees Do The Right Thing (1989), Quentin Tarantinos Reservoir Dogs (1992), and Wes Andersons 1998 film, Rushmore (sparknotes.com). Documentaries also soared in recent years. Challenging the tenets of direct, traditional cinema, many recent documentary filmmakers have included autobiographical and subjective elements in their films. Michael Moore and Marcel Ophuls insert themselves prominently into the fabric of their social and historical documentaries, both as on-camera interviewers and through voice-over, presenting themselves as near-mythical pursuers of truth and justice. Ross McElwee and Sadie Benning make introspective, essayistic films about their lives. Chris Marker and Marlon Riggs combine autobiography with political and philosophical analysis. Key films include Markers Sans Soleil (1983), McElwees Shermans March (1986), Ophulss Hà ´tel Terminus (1988), Moores Roger Me (1989), Riggss Tongues Untied (1990), and 1992s Bennings It Wasnt Love (sparknotes.com). The Contemporary Period gave us many of the directors we know and respect today. Directors like Steven Spielberg reinvented the way Hollywood works, and people like Oliver Stone brought a new edge to cinema. Spielberg has been at the forefront of Hollywoods reemergence as a dominant global industry. His 1975 film Jaws became the first modern blockbuster, revolutionizing the way Hollywood films are distributed and marketed. Jaws was released simultaneously in over 400 theaters, marketed extensively on national television, and timed for release in the summer, which linked thematically with its subject matter. In the 1980s, Spielberg showcased his storytelling talents with a series of hugely successful science fiction and adventure films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), which explicitly appealed to younger audiences. These films brought families back into theaters with compelling stories that were in line with Reagan-era ideals of family values and American moral and technological supremacy (sparknotes.com). Unlike that of Spielberg, Stones controversial career has been defined by its rebuttal to modern American values and trends. In a period when American films have become less historical and oppositional, Stone has made four of the most important political films of his generation, Salvador (1986), Platoon (1986), Wall Street (1987) and JFK (1991), in which he looks critically at Americas military-industrial complex, capitalist institutions, and foreign policy. In an era defined by minimal political dissent, Stone has managed to produce controversial, instigating films because his considerable storytelling abilities have made many of his films commercially successful (sparknotes.com). Film has become a massive part of our society. Film influences pop culture, language, and fashion. Some movies teach us crucial life lessons, some expose American corruption, and some just provide us some much needed entertainment. The industry has evolved a lot since it began over a century ago. Every time period mentioned in this essay brought advancements to film. The Classical Period was a huge upgrade from the Silent Period because of the transition to sound. The Postwar Period was the most historically significant period of film. The Transitional Period reinvented the way Hollywood worked. The Contemporary Period shaped the films of today by introducing new concepts such as CGI and blockbuster multi part series. This is important because we can use films as doorways to the past. You can read about history, but to see it played out onscreen is incredible. By looking at films in the 60s, you can see how fashion then differed from the fashion we express today. By looking at a movi e from the 90s, you can see what slang was used back then. Film has shaped the world we live in today and will continue to do so in the future. Bibliography Eisenstein, S. (Director). (1925). The Battleship Potemkin [Motion picture on DVD]. Russia. Colman, D. (2011, September 20). The Birth of Film: 11 Firsts in Cinema. Retrieved October 04, 2016, from http://www.openculture.com/2011/09/the_birth_of_film_11_firsts_in_cinema.html Most Influential, Significant and Important Films in American Cinema Introduction. (n.d.). Retrieved October 04, 2016, from http://www.filmsite.org/mostinfluentialfilms.html 11 Essential Camera Techniques in Filmmaking With Animated Images. (n.d.). Retrieved October 04, 2016, from http://www.lavideofilmmaker.com/filmmaking/film-techniques.html Fox, D. (2015, October 20). The Room. Retrieved October 04, 2016, from http://moviepilot.com/ Bitoun, R. E. (2015, April 21). A History of Colour: The Difficult Transition from Black and White Cinematography. Retrieved October 04, 2016, from http://the-artifice.com/history-of-colour-film/ Semlyen, P. D. (2015, October 09). A History Of CGI In The Movies. Retrieved October 04, 2016, from http://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/history-cgi/ The Evolution of Acting. (2005, February 23). Retrieved October 04, 2016, from http://www.npr.org/series/4510430/the-evolution-of-acting The Film Rating System (CARA). (n.d.). Retrieved October 04, 2016, from http://filmratings.com/ Hurbis-Cherrier, M. (n.d.). Screenwriting. Retrieved October 04, 2016, from http://www.masteringfilm.com/the-key-stages-of-script-development-2/ Film Studies. SparkNotes. SparkNotes, 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.

Abortion: I Am Pro-Choice Essay -- Freedom of Choice, Pro-Choice Essays

The foundation of the American Government is built on two ideologies; first, that the majority of the people govern through democratic election and second, that the power of the majority is limited to ensure individual rights. As defined by the American Heritage Online Dictionary a mother is a woman who conceives, gives birth to, or raises and nurtures a child. This paper will discuss the right of privacy of the mother versus the governments’ right to protect the unborn fetus in regard to Abortion. Every woman has the right to make any decision that involves her body. Our government has always respected the individual’s right to privacy. A woman’s reproductive system should not be regulated by the government. In the Supreme Court case, Roe v. Wade in 1973, the decision to make abortion legal came in effect (Frohock 1983). Before Roe, many women were pregnant were forced to weigh their respect for the law against their positivism that they were not ready to be mothers. Many women chose to break the law, putting their lives and futures at risk, and decided to get unsafe and expensive procedures. Many people who choose to get an abortion for several reasons. Some of these reasons are because they want to postpone childbearing, cannot afford a baby, had relationship problems, their partner does not want pregnancy, too young, risk to fetal health, risk to maternal health, incest, and or the person was raped. In a research done, the percentage of these reasons why people seek to get an abortion ranges from 2.1% because of rape and incest to 25.5% because these people want to postpone childbearing. Laws against abortion kill woman. Even though abortion may be illegal, that does not mean woman will not go thr... ...liberty, or property without due process of the law. The law already provides the right to privacy, liberties, and the freedom to choose unfortunately, the definition of privacy, and individual rights in this county are still in question. In conclusion having the right to choose to me is the best way to go. No one should have the right to tell another person what she should do with her own body. I am pro-choice. References Frohock, F.M (1983) Abortion: A Case Study in Law and Morals. United States of America: Greenwood Press. Retrieved on June 9, 2008. Messerli, J (2005, November). Should Abortion Be Banned (Except in Special Circumstances Like Saving the Mother's Life)? Retrieved June 8, 2008, from http://www.balancedpolitics.org/index.htm Pros and Cons of Abortion. Retrieved from http://tiger.towson.edu/users/bpahll/pros%20and%20cons%20page.html

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot Essay -- Medica

After her death in 1951, for six decades, Henrietta Lacks did not exist in the eyes of the society, but her cells did. How? Well, the answer is quite simple. HeLa Cells are the first immortal human cells. These cells never die and multiply every twenty-four hours. After spending 10 years to perfect her first book, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot essentially captured the life, the death, and aftermath of Henrietta Lacks’ life. With controversial issues regarding science, ethics, race, and class Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey. From the â€Å"colored† ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells, from Henrietta’s small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia to East Baltimore, where her children and grandchildren live and struggle with the legacy of her cells, Skloot remarkably shows the story of the Lacks family is inextricably connected to the dark history of experi mentation on African Americans along with the issue of bioethics, and legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of. The most intriguing aspect of this story is how is it that HeLa cells were used to develop the polio vaccine, uncover secrets of cancer, viruses’, and the effects of the atomic bomb, and help lead to important advancements for vitro fertilization, cloning, and genes mapping, yet, her five children are not even covered by medical insurance. Can’t the family sue for a profit? This question has been asked multiple times and in various forms, but the answer remains controversial. As Skloot addresses in her book, many lawyers point out that the family â€Å"cannot sue over the cells being taken†¦[but] they could attempt to stop HeLa research through a law... ... May 2010. Moreno, Jonathan D. "Lessons Learned A Half-Century of Experimenting on Humans." The Humanist Sept. 1999: 9. Questia. Web. 31 May 2010. "Nazi Neighbour; Nathan Gasch Moved to the US to Escape His Holocaust Memories but Six Decades on He Discovered the Man Next Door Was an SS Guard. at the Camp Where He Had Been a Prisoner." The Mirror (London, England) 6 Oct. 2007: 31. Questia. Web. 31 May 2010. "S. Fla. Hospital Called 'Most Dangerous' - Health News Story - WPLG Miami." Just News | Miami News, Fort Lauderdale News, Florida News, Weather | WPLG Local 10. Local 10 News, 14 Sept. 2009. Web. 27 May 2010. . Skloot, Rebecca. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. New York: Crown, 2010. Print. Williams, Patricia J. "State of Denial." The Nation 13 Oct. 2003: 10. Questia. Web. 31 May 2010.

CHief Matenge’s Character Sketch Essay

This assignment is based on Bessie Head’s classic novel, When Rain Clouds Gather. It gives an assessment of one of the novel’s main characters, Chief Matenge and in the process exposes him as an undoubtedly corrupt leader. This is supported by the many intertwined facts and quotations that portray his character as such a leader and these are selected and presented from the novel. Byrne, Kalua, Scheepers and Kane (2012:100) provide the foundation for the reader’s agreement that Chief Matenge is a corrupt leader which in turn shapes the whole negative perspective of his personality when they describe him as representing the â€Å"Old Africa† at its worst – moral degeneration. Going through the whole novel the reader struggles and eventually loses the battle in finding anywhere where any positive notions are associated with Chief Matenge. Bryne et al (2012:100) present Matenge as a â€Å"villain, a bad person who is openly corrupt†. He is indubitably the antagonist and the opposer of Gilbert Balfour and Makhaya who generally stand for good in the name of progress and development in the novel. Head (1987:18) introduces Chief Matenge as Paramount Chief Sekoto’s â€Å"troublesome and unpopular younger brother†. This already gives the reader an idea of what sort of personality Chief Matenge has. This description of him sets the tone in the whole novel as he is further described using such adjectives and phrases as â€Å"overwhelming avariciousness† and â€Å"unpleasant personality†, (Head 1987:18). It soon becomes apparent that Chief Matenge’s brother, Paramount Chief Sekoto does not like his own brother, as the statement â€Å"nothing upset Chief Sekoto more than a visit from his brother, whom he had long classified as belonging to the insane part of mankind† (Head 1987:48) clearly displays. Paramount Chief Sekoto is said to have always sided with villagers who his brother constantly upset. Head (1987:18) presents Matenge as having a â€Å"devil† that drove him and would subside after some chastising from Chief Sekoto only to awaken its â€Å"clamouring and howling† a few months later. Matenge’s wickedness is further unfolded in the wish of Chief Sekoto to destroy him for â€Å"all the family feuds and intrigues he had instigated† (Head 1987:20). Ironically, Paramount Chief Sekoto was not what one would call a shining example of morality. Chief Sekoto, â€Å"although he was widely known as a good chief† (Head 1987:19) just like his brother Matenge â€Å"lived off the slave labour of the poor and his lands were ploughed free of charge by the poor, and he was washed, bathed and fed by the poor† (Head 1987:19). In turn Matenge also strongly despised his brother Paramount Chief Sekoto. Head (1987:42) discloses this when she reveals his thoughts about his brother who he secretly thought was â€Å"an amicable, pleasant nitwit of a brother in the supreme position. Matenge coveted is brother’s position of Paramount Chief. Matenge is referred to as â€Å"evil† countless times in the novel. Dinorego further exposes this evilness or corruptness when he confides in Makhaya that he (Matenge) was the evil force delaying progress in the village. Dinorego reveals Matenge’s machinations to â€Å"damage† and â€Å"delay† the starting of the farm and the cattle co-operative which are projects that are supposed to push development in the village. Matenge is said to have particularly sabotaged Gilbert Balfour on the cattle co-operative because he was personally benefitting from buying the poor villagers’ cattle at a low price and making huge profits by then selling them at a much higher price. Matenge took advantage of the poor villagers’ inability to hire railway trucks to transport their own cattle because they could not afford it. Matenge fought Gilbert Balfour’s cattle co-operative because it would put him out of business. Matenge’s falsehoods and cunningness are clearly portrayed when he lies to the villagers that Gilbert wanted to enslave them, â€Å"Was it true they wanted to know, that Gilbert had secretly purchased land from the paramount Chief and was using the name co-operative to enslave the people? That was what Chief Matenge had told them† (Head 1987:35). The reader would not hesitate to label Matenge as greedy and selfish. Head (1987:41) reveals that Matenge lived alone (before Joas Tsepe joined him) in a â€Å"big cream-painted mansion†. The other villagers are said to have lived in small and primitive mud huts and were in fact not allowed to build brick houses without permission from the Chief which was rarely given, if at all. Head (1987:41) goes on to mention that the central village where Matenge’s mansion was situated contained â€Å"one very poor general dealer’s shop which supplied the villagers with the â€Å"bare necessities† like sugar, tea and â€Å"cheap materials and shoes† among other items. The location of Matenge’s â€Å"big mansion† was also in proximity to a â€Å"three-roomed shack† which serves as the village primary school. The jarring contrast of Matenge’s seemingly luxurious life style and his surroundings nauseates the reader and speaks loudly of his greediness and selfishness. The reader can safely accuse Matenge of being a tribalist. Byrne et al (1987:100) describe tribalism as the practice of advancing one’s own tribe above others and judging other people on the basis of their tribal origins. Matenge is described as a â€Å"die hard traditionalist† (Head 1987:42). He wanted things to remain the same. He is said to have understood tribalism and that it was â€Å"essentially the rule of the illiterate man who when he was in the majority, feared and despised anything that was not a part of the abysmal darkness in which he lived†. (Head 1987:65) further portrays his disgust for other tribes when he is said to have dismissed Dinorego’s greeting at some point with a â€Å"slight gesture of the head which contained in it an inheritance of centuries of contempt for the ordinary man. † His shaky and opportunistic relationship with Joas Tsepe is another revelation of Matenge’s lopsided and corrupt character. Joas Tsepe was also corrupt and this is revealed in the sponsor that was shrouded in mystery who supplied him with money which enabled him to remain unemployed and to travel every six months by air as a very important person. Matenge also has xenophobic tendencies. His wish to chase Makhaya out of the village very much smelt of this. This is revealed when George Apple-by confides in Makhaya that Matenge wants him â€Å"removed† from the village because he is a refugee. Refugees were generally not liked in Botswana at the time of the book’s setting when many came from South Africa running away from Apartheid, but Matenge’s particular hatred for Makhaya as a refugee and all like him comes out when he referred to him as a â€Å"South African swine who always needs to run after his master† (Head 1987:66), referring to Makhaya’s close association with Gilbert Balfour. To say Makhaya was thoroughly offended by this is an understatement for unbeknown to Matenge, he secretly formed thoughts of murdering him. In conclusion Head (1987:43) could not have summed up Chief Matenge’s character better when she described him as â€Å"the epitome of darkness with his long gloomy, melancholy, suspicious face and his ceaseless intrigues, bitter jealousy and hatred†. Makhaya also equates him to several unsavoury items such as a â€Å"lout, cheat, dog and swine and he reckoned the â€Å"Matenges everywhere got themselves into a position over the poor† (Head 1987:136) The reader agrees with Mma Millipede when she quietly but unsuspectingly accurately predicts Chief Matenge’s demise. She tries to calm Makhaya after his dramatic encounter with Chief Matenge where he is labeled a South African swine and says, â€Å"People who err against human life like our Chief and the white man (referring to Apartheid in South Africa) do so only because they are more blind than others to the mystery of life. Some time life will catch up with them and put them away for good or change them† (Head 169:137). In Chief Matenge’s case, he was unlucky to not suffer the later of these predictions, but the former. After he comes back from a rather long absence from the village, he immediately gets back to what he knows best and summons Pauline and six village elders to be tried. Unbeknown to him, the whole village was excited that the day had arrived that they would face their â€Å"persecutor of many years† (Head 169:184). Because Matenge was not expecting a crowd, he panics, retreats into the house, and rather than facing the crowd, commits suicide, and the reader discovers another hidden character that was lurking in Matenge all along, cowardice. Not even his servants stand by him at his time of need; they beat a hasty retreat and leave him to deal with his issues alone and his eyes are opened and perhaps he finally sees himself for the monster that he is. The saddest part is not even his brother is quiet disappointed by his demise. Chief Sekoto’s digestion is said to have been â€Å"upset the whole day† by Matenge’s death, Head (1987:189). The reader is sure it is not because he is grieving for his brother but he is unappreciative of the fuss and inconvenience that the death causes. Such is the fate of the antagonist of When rain clouds gather. The reader applauds Bessie Head on successfully creating a fitting villain who one cannot help but hate. SOURCES CONSULTED Byrne, D, Kalua, F & Scheepers, R. 2012. Foundations in English Literary Studies. Only study Guide for ENG1501. Pretoria: University of South Africa Head, B. 1987. When Rain Clouds Gather. Heinemann.