Third World Development essays

Third World Development essays Understanding the nature and types of underdevelopment is the key to analyzing the degree of severity in which a state is underdeveloped. The term underdeveloped can describe several different situations. These different types of underdevelopment are economic, social, and political. Underdeveloped nations may experience a combination of these types ranging in different degrees of severity. These different types also affect each other as they naturally interact. Handelman explained this perfectly when he said that wealthier, more educated countries...tend to be more stable, responsive, and democratic than desperately poor nations (11). More economically advanced countries can educate more of their population and provide better health care. An educated citizenry, in turn, contributes to economic growth and participates in politics more responsibly (10). These aspects clearly influence each other, and thus can influence progress or regression. Religion also plays a huge role in the nature of a society. If that society is based on a particular religion and the government subscribes to that religious doctrine, then the society will follow the religion before it follows the example of other societies, thus impeding progress. However, depending on the religious movement, progressive religion can actually provide a median for progress. In Latin America, the progressive Church offered a shield against political repression and a voice for the poor. As different as they are, Islamic revivalism and the progressive Catholic Church both received much of the impetus from government repression and corruption. In short, the resurgence of Third World religion was, in part, a reaction to the deficiencies of modernization and the political-economic order (43). Religious fundamentalism can cause hostility within a state as well as strained relations with other states. ...

What You Need to Know About the Black Death

What You Need to Know About the Black Death When historians refer to The Black Death, they mean the specific outbreak of plague that took place in Europe in the mid-14th century. It was not the first time plague had come to Europe, nor would it be the last. A deadly epidemic known as the Sixth-Century Plague  or Justinians plague  struck Constantinople and parts of southern Europe 800 years earlier, but it did not spread as far as the Black Death, nor did it take nearly as many lives. The Black Death came to Europe in October of 1347, spread swiftly through most of Europe by the end of 1349 and on to Scandinavia and Russia in the 1350s. It returned several times throughout the rest of the century. The Black Death was also known as  The Black Plague, the Great Mortality, and the Pestilence. The Disease Traditionally, the disease that most scholars believe struck Europe was Plague. Best known as the bubonic plague for the buboes (lumps) that formed on the victims bodies, Plague also took pneumonic and septicemic forms. Other diseases have been postulated by scientists, and some scholars believe that there was a pandemic of several diseases, but currently, the theory of Plague (in all its varieties) still holds among most historians.​ Where the Black Death Started Thus far, no one has been able to identify the point of origin of the Black Death with any precision.  It started somewhere in Asia, possibly in China, possibly at Lake Issyk-Kul in central Asia. How the Black Death Spread Through these methods of contagion, the Black Death spread via trade routes  from Asia to Italy, and thence throughout Europe: Bubonic Plague was spread by the fleas who lived on plague-infected rats, and such rats were ubiquitous on trading ships.Pneumonic Plague could spread with a sneeze and jump from person to person with terrifying speed.Septicemic Plague spread through contact with open sores. Death Tolls It is estimated that approximately 20 million people died in Europe from the Black Death. This is about one-third of the population. Many cities lost more than 40% of their residents, Paris lost half, and Venice, Hamburg, and Bremen are estimated to have lost at least 60% of their populations. Contemporary Beliefs About the Plague In the Middle Ages, the most common assumption was that God was punishing mankind for its sins. There were also those who believed in demonic dogs, and in Scandinavia, the superstition of the Pest Maiden was popular. Some people accused the Jews of poisoning wells; the result was horrific persecution of Jews that the papacy was hard-put to stop. Scholars attempted a more scientific view, but they were hampered by the fact that the microscope wouldnt be invented for several centuries. The University  of Paris conducted a study, the Paris Consilium, which, after serious investigation, ascribed the plague to a combination of earthquakes and astrological forces. How People Reacted to the Black Death Fear and hysteria were the most common reactions. People fled the cities in panic, abandoning their families. Noble acts by doctors and priests were overshadowed by those who refused to treat their patients or give last rites to plague victims. Convinced the end was near, some sank into wild debauchery; others prayed for salvation. Flagellants went from one town to another, parading through the streets and whipping themselves to demonstrate their penitence. Effects of the Black Death on Europe Social Effects The marriage rate rose sharply- in part due to predatory men marrying rich orphans and widows.The birth rate also rose, though recurrences of the plague kept population levels reduced.There were notable increases in violence and debauchery.Upward mobility took place on a small scale. Economic Effects A surplus of goods resulted in overspending; it was swiftly followed by a shortage of goods and inflation.A shortage of laborers meant they were able to charge higher prices; the government tried to limit these fees to pre-plague rates. Effects on the Church The Church lost many people, but the institution became richer through bequests. It also grew richer by charging more money for its services, such as saying mass for the dead.Less-educated priests were shuffled into jobs where more learned men had died.The failure of the clergy to help the suffering during the plague, combined with its obvious wealth and the incompetence of its priests, caused resentment among the people. Critics grew vocal, and the seeds of the Reformation were sown.

Project management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words - 2

Project management - Essay Example it is not always the case that these projects are successful and achieve the desired objectives, but usually most of them do fail, either in terms of cost, quality, deliverables or time (Meredith & Mantel, 2012). Any project’s success is inherited in the timely ending of the project, attainment of the required objectives or deliverables are delivered, and within the project limitations or constraints. In order to execute the project successfully, it is imperative for the project team or managers to consider some crucial elements of the project, which may be the project cost, time, or resources (Oisen, 1971; Lock, 1994; Atkinson, 1999). Among these aspects, there are three central issues, such as the time, cost and quality, which are the key intentions of any project and hardly be achieved and make the project a successful one (Iqbal, Azam, & Qureshi, 2011). However, the secret of success can be understood by analyzing the executed projects, where the success factors or failure factors can be identified by a careful analysis. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the two real-life projects related to the adoption of Information Technology in the organization by identifying the success factors of these projects, and also to identify the risk factors with the help of risk map as well as provide suggestions for mitigating or managing the risks. ECourier is a well-known UK based organization, where it provides 24/7 and same day courier services to the customers throughout UK. It was started in 2003 and the main objective of the company was to deliver courier service with accurate delivery information or transparency in this information, along with the highest customer relationships through automation. It collects and delivers the packages from all the areas in London, as per customer’s instructions. In the beginning, it was involved in delivering the packages only in London, but now it has developed a huge customer base across the world, and have built many

Waste Management Practices for Domestic Waste in China and the UK Essay

Waste Management Practices for Domestic Waste in China and the UK - Essay Example Waste management is a complicated discipline, especially in highly populated countries such as China and the UK, where having a system that controls waste reduction is almost impossible. Some people throw a lot of waste, some recycle, but at the end of the day, the waste has to be discarded. However, waste management is not limited to public education, recycling, and environmental education, and waste reduction, garbage collection, composting landfill maintenance, government regulation, data analysis and public relations. In largely populated countries, staff is required to learn new strategies for advancing and adapting techniques of waste diversion, collection and disposal and complying with administration regulations. In major countries such as the UK and China, there are programs responsible for ensuring that all waste material is well regulated and does not affect the environment. There are several measures that the two countries use to ensure that domestic waste management is u nder control, and in some of these measures, there are some similarities and differences in the steps taken. Comparison China and UK have similar issues regarding sold waste management; for example, there is lack of consistent and reliable waste cost management, and quantity data make arranging for waste management policies difficult. This is because the two countries are densely populated especially in major cities (Shaw & Hawkins 2004, p. 97). The waste quantities in the two countries are also raising at an alarming rate with dramatic change in composition and negligible waste reduction efforts. Waste management affects every person who lives in the city, and the higher the population, the more solid waste will be expected in the same city and, if not well controlled, environmental pollution will be massive and out of control. The UK and China lack consistent decision-making processes especially for strategic policy and planning toward technology selection for waste management, co st recovery, classified segment involvement, contribution to the planning process and insufficient public access to information on how to recycle or reduce waste products (Ellis 1999, p. 115) . China and UK are both trying to come up with solutions of managing solid waste in their major cities and they are coming up with reviews and reports that work to improve the performance. They have come up with landfills that are classified depending on the kind of waste. For example, waste is classified as either degradable or non-degradable (Ellis 1999, p. 86). Both countries are trying to come up with successful waste management schemes and have willing participants to care for the environment. For example, in UK, there is the W12A landfill site opened in 1977, which is a well managed and designed waste management dumping area. It was expected to serve the city for at least 15 years with approval from the UK government body for waste dumping (C. Judd & S. Judd 2011, p. 202). However, operat ions in both countries do not convene design standards, especially in pollution management; where waste collection procedures are frequently not rationalized. Allocation of finances for waste management in the two countries has been difficult because there are inadequate tipping fees and user charges. Protecting the air has been an important aspect in China and the UK with both countries collecting and destroying landfill gas to decrease greenhouse gas discharge and potential stenches (Neubert & Dyck 2008, p. 112). After decomposing, garbage produces unpleasant smells and gases, one of them being methane, which increase global warming more than carbon dioxide does. In the two countries, gases are

Penn Foster Principles of Management Final Exam Essay Example for Free

Penn Foster Principles of Management Final Exam Essay 1. In order to implement an organizations commitment to social responsibility it is necessary to identify what social problem the organization intends to address, develop policies on what the organization plans to do to successfully fulfill its obligation and ensure stakeholder buy-in. The main obstacles an organization faces when implementing socially responsible policies is pressure from stockholders and business analysis who want steady increase in earnings. Without steady increase in profits, it becomes difficult to reinvest money in these areas. The following actions can be taken toward increased social responsibility: 1. Examine expectations and past responses 2. Set objectives and prioritize 3. Plan and implement strategies 4. Set budgets for resources needed for social action 5. Monitor progress 2. Departmentalization is the practice in which grouping or combining jobs that are related to form a specialized area that is distinct from other areas in an organization. Work or functional departmentalization is a method of separating the activities performed within an organization into groups by the nature or function of the work they perform. For example, functional departmentalization would tend to group together staff members that perform a specialized function in an organization, like accounting. Product departmentalization is the grouping of business activities that are necessary to produce a particular product and/or market a product or service line under the direction of one manager. An example of product departmentalization would be a large multiproduct organization like an automotive distributor. Geographic departmentalization is when organizations are physically isolated to geographical regions. An example of geographical departmentalization is a manufacturing company that has locations in Northern and Southern locations that deal with consumers within their region. Customer departmentalization is when an organization is divided into units that handle specific customer needs. Examples of customer departmentalization in a manufacturing plant are: Assembly, shipping, billing, etc. 3. The acronym SWOT stands for an organizations strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A SWOT analysis is strategic planning method that evaluates the internal and external performance of an organization to see if it’s favorable or unfavorable to achieve whatever objective you are set out to accomplish. Strengths and weaknesses usually arise from the internal aspect of an organization, whereas opportunities and threats evolve from external components. By performing a SWOT analysis it provides information to managers to help formulate a successful strategy to achieve goals. PART B 1. Six Sigma is a management philosophy that sets objectives, collects data and analyzes results as a way to remove wasted expenses from its processes and help reduce the number of defective products produced. Six Sigma uses quality measures to strive for near perfection by eliminating errors and variables. 2. The balance of trade is the point where the difference between exports and imports is favorable for the country. When the country imports more than it exports, it results in a trade deficit and when the country exports more than it imports, the country runs into a trade surplus. The balance of trade for a countries economy is a very fine balance. The economic condition can change and a deficit or surplus may be an ideal situation. 3. In the context of communication, perception is based on the individual that is on the receiving end of the information. Perception is a process in which stimulation of the senses, whether written, verbal or non-verbal, is translated into a meaningf ul experience. Each person perceives the same information differently and they tend to only listens to part of the message before perception distorts the intended message. 4. The term organizational decentralization refers to the increased amount of authority given to lower level management by upper level management. By allowing lower level management to be involved in decision making, it enables actions to happen in a timelier manner and promotes higher employee morale, as well as relieves upper management from time consuming projects. 5. Simon’s theory, principle of bounded rationality as it applies to satisficing can be summarized as a decision making strategy that selects the best alternative rather than continuing to search for the optimal solution to any given situation. 6. In relations to leadership, consideration and initiating structure both contribute positively to staff motivation and satisfaction, as well as, effectiveness. 7. Positive reinforcement is to add a positive outcome as a result of a desired behavior. Negative reinforcement is to give the person the opportunity to avoid a negative consequence by increasing the likelihood that the desired behavior will reoccur. Both are used to increase the frequency of the desired behavior. 8. Planning – The manager sets objectives and decided what needs to be done to meet those goals. Organizing – The manager divides work into manageable activities and selects people to accomplish the task that need to be done. Staffing – The manager determines how many and what kind of staff is needed to meet the organizations goals and then recruits and trains the appropriate people. Leading – The manager motivates and communicates with staff and also directs them towards meeting the organizational goals. Controlling – The manager measures and analyzes the organizations performance, and makes changes if financial standards are not being m et. 9. A manager would use the critical-incident appraisal method for assessing employees’ written record of both satisfactory and unsatisfactory work performances. Performance is documented as it occurs and can aid in preparing performance evaluations to identify strengths and areas that need improvement. 10. Group norm is an informal set of rules a group takes on to regulate group behavior, whereas group cohesiveness is the overall attraction each member has for the group. Group norm example: Employees that work on assembly line #1 at the local factory always sit at the same lunch table and don’t interact with others. Group cohesiveness example: Employees on assembly line #2 have beaten the monthly production record for the 10th month in a row.

Character of Hamlet in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay -- Shakespeare Hamle

Character of Hamlet in Shakespeare's Hamlet Hamlet is a man of many discoveries. The tragic hero in Shakespeare's Hamlet undergoes many changes throughout the play. His mindset is set deep and far away from the physical world that both helps him and hinders him in his plight for revenge against his uncle, Claudius, and his mother. When Hamlet is first introduced in Act I, Scene II, the reader is shown the depths of his sorrow. The King asks Hamlet "How is it that the clouds still hang on you" and the Queen tells him to "Cast thy nighted color off." By these comments one can envision Hamlet as someone who appears and radiates out his sorrow over his father's death. Hamlet lets the reader know that his sorrow runs much deeper than his clothes and sorrow filled eyes, saying about them that "These indeed seem, for they are actions that a man might play. But I have that within which passes show; These but the trappings and the suits of woe." In this statement Hamlet pours out that his sorrows courses through every part of him. This sadness plays a huge part in Hamlet's overall mindset, his sorrow over his father's death has left him empty and without the will to live and prosper in this world. "O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His cannon `gainst self- slaughter!" Hamlet is contemplating suicide here, but understands that he has no chances for a peaceful after life if he takes his own life. He needs to find peace in the afterlife because his thoughts about this world are this: "How weary stale, flat and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world! `Tis an unweeded garden that grows to seed." Hamlet finds n... ...s of Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. He returns secretly to Denmark and is prepared to and does carry out the Commandment. Throughout Shakespeare's Hamlet, Hamlet finds the strength and drive to carry out the wishes of the Ghost of his father. His weakness laid in his sorrow over the death and in his fascination with the divine and eternal, where he found his strength was not from within himself but in other's abilities to devote themselves emotionally or with their lives to someone else's battle. Sources Consulted Greenblatt, Stephen. Shakespearean Negotiations: Inside the Mind of Hamlet. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1998.   Nevo, Ruth. Comic Transformations in Shakespeare. London: Methuen & Co., 1980. Shakespeare, William. The New Cambridge Shakespeare: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Philip Edwards. Cambridge: Cambridge U P, 1985.

Every Person Is an Architect of His Own Future

Every person is an architect of his future. Discuss. First draft Batyrkhan Saniya, ID 20122886 Academic Reading and Writing Course GEN 1120 Turgan Zhanadilov 12 February 2013 Outline I. Introduction. Thesis statement: Although some people believe that it is quite hard to manage the future because of inevitable fate, there seem to be no doubt that the person and only person is a creator of the future. II. Body. A. First, the future depends on person’s attitude to life. 1. Inspiring yourself 2. Doing everything with love B.Second, person and only person can create favorable conditions in his or her life. 1. Experience of successful people D. However, some people argue that no one can manage the future. 1. The destiny 2. Life circumstances III. Conclusion. Meaning of the â€Å"Every man is an architect of his future† make the public understand the phrase in different ways. Some people become rich and successful by a chance, while others reach their goals after a long strug gle. According to Dahl & Ransom (1999), wealthy people may help to poor people, but they will not make poor people become as rich as they are.Why they will not make them rich? Someone may say that wealthy man cannot make poor man rich because being poor and being wealthy is the fate. Others may say that living in wealth depends on person: if poor person do not want to be rich, he will not be rich; but he can be wealthy if he really want it. Some people believe in nature’s laws that everything in this world is related and nothing can happen just like you want; while others know that everything in their hands, that they are masters of their life, they are making their destiny by themselves.Although some people believe that it is quite hard to manage the future because of inevitable fate, there seem to be no doubt that the person and only person is a creator of the future. One of the main reasons for saying that everyone is an architect of his future is the person’s attit ude to life. Our future is what we are thinking and doing now. We creating next day by thoughts, wishes, behavior, etc. That is true! There is not only one possible course of events in your life. Every person has several variants of a destiny, and everyone choose the way which he or she wants to follow.The problem is how people feel about a situation that forces them to make this choice. Almost everyone meet with some obstacles on their life road, and many people see them as something irresistible, irreparable. Others see these obstacles as a challenge. They see them as not a dead end, but the opportunity. In all the events that happen around us, for someone there are opportunities and for others may be â€Å"dead end†. For example, Steil (2007) in his article mentioned about a girl, who almost lost the ability to see and move because of accident, weird accident.Doctors said that the situation is very bad, and many people may give up in her place. However, this girl believed herself and in her strength, she was positively-oriented to everything. It was reflected in her attitude to herself and other people. No matter how the situation was bad, she could struggle with this obstacle and move straight to her goals. Another reason is that the person and only person can create favorable conditions in his or her life. The one of good examples for that are the successful people.Not getting that promotion can make person feel like the end of the world, but people who are the idols for whole world show that devastating failures are just another stop on the road to success. For example, Marilyn Monroe's first contract with Columbia Pictures expired because they told her she wasn't pretty or talented enough to be an actress. Monroe  kept plugging away and now she is one of the most iconic actresses and sex symbols of all time (http://marilynmonroe. com/history/).Oprah Winfrey was fired from her television reporting job because they told her she wasn't fit to be o n screen. But  Winfrey rebounded  and became the undisputed queen of television talk shows. She's also a billionaire (http://www. oprah. com/index. html). These are the one of the world's greatest success stories of people, who just happen to have experience of massive failure that could have easily made them give-up. But they didn't and now they're the monuments of success that they are remembered for, a good source of encouragement when it feels like you will never make it to the top.However, some people argue that no one can manage the future because of the destiny and life circumstances. As Conchalovsky says (2005), â€Å"For every person, there is a destiny. Nothing happens accidentally, everything happens because of some law or other things. † There is a nature’s law that everything comes from something, all subjects and objects are related to each other. Another example is inevitable life situations occurring frequently nowadays that can ruin plans of human at anytime. But, as it was written, the attitude to life helps to fight with these situations.To conclude, our life is complex and unpredictable. Often people think that no one can hide from the fate, that we were born and live on a particular scenario, and that everything what destined above will happen. But few of us have thought about the fact that person creates the future, person’s actions, thoughts, desires and feelings. Always remember that people are the creators of the future, so they must create it with enthusiasm, reveal the creative potential. Reference list: Ransom, M. R. , ; Dahl, G. B. (1999).Does Where You Stand Depend on Where You Sit? Tithing Donations and Self-Serving Beliefs. American Economic Review  (pp. 703–727). American Economic Association. Retrieved February 9, 2013 from www. jstor. org Steil, M. (2007). Chto takoe pozitivnoe otnoshenie k zhizni? Retrieved February 8, 2013 from www. shkolazhizni. ru Baraban, E. (2007). â€Å"The Fate of a Man† by Sergei Bondarchuk and the Soviet Cinema of Trauma. The Slavic and East European Journal,  51(3), 514–534. Retrieved February 10, 2013 from: http://www. jstor. org/stable/20459525 .

Jasmine Revolution Essay

Leadership or Tyranny? Summary: Within just 28 days, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali had no alternative but to step down from his 23-year presidency in Tunisia. A single spark set by Mohamed Bouazizi turned out to be a prairie fire across the whole country. Economic Growth Paradox Although the economy of Tunisia has been growing steady at an average rate of 5% for the past 23 years, the unemployment rate has been standing at over 10% since 2003, which is indeed alarmingly high. The rate is double for the young Tunisians, and even higher for the fresh graduates. A recent survey has shown that the unemployment rate stands at 25% and 44% for male graduates and female graduates respectively. If the economy is growing every year, why are there so many people out of job and struggling to survive against serious inflation? What is going on behind the scene? Surrender to Dictatorship In addition to the economic factors, the political situation in Tunisia has played a crucial role in this Jasmine Revolution. The Tunisians have been silent for years: minimal (if any) freedom of speech, deprivation of other political rights and stringent censorship over information and the press. Rampant corruption at the top tier level of the Ben Ali regime, as revealed by Wikileaks, is another burning issue. On the other hand, the Tunisians had to confront the unreliable and abusive police force from the government. Instead of being protected by the local police force, Bouazizi (who was operating as an unlicensed hawker) had his produce confiscated and his subsequent complaints entirely ignored, which eventually led to his self-immolation. Transactional Leadership The exchange relationship between the Ben Ali government and the citizens in Tunisia did not seem to be balanced. Prior to a series of protests and demonstrations and subsequent abdication of Ben Ali, the Tunisians had been resigned to the dictatorship of Ben Ali in exchange of a decent life. However, are the Tunisians getting what they are supposed to obtain? Undeniably, Tunisia has become one of the most stable countries in Arab. True, the slow yet steady economic prosperity and gradual increase in basic health care and education have made the Tunisians look better-off than their Libyan and Algerian counterparts. Nonetheless, they are also under constant threat of unemployment, corrupt officials and violent police force instead of what guarantees a decent life – law and order. Media in Play? While some critics have also partially attributed this revolution to Internet social media, Twitter and Facebook in particular, caution should be exercised in order to avoid playing up the actual influence of social media. No doubt, the speed of information transmission has been greatly enhanced with the introduction of the Internet. In the case of Tunisia, some have named it as â€Å"Twitter Revolution†. However, all social media are better seen as a vehicle or a catalyst of the protests and subsequent overthrowing of Ben Ali. In other words, they are not the sole enablers of such revolution. After all, the crux lies with the fact that when the leader realises his self-interests and benefits at the expense of the interest of the other party, such transactions can no longer be deemed as satisfactory or fair in the eye of the exploited party. What’s Next The single spark in Tunisia has already started a prairie fire in Egypt, with the flame spreading to Libya and China at a great speed. How should the leaders faced with similar dilemmas react? Adopting an even more high-handed approach on the people helps very little at best, and aggravates the problem further at worse. Stricter censorship and control over the information flow to the citizens might sound plausible, yet people can always find means to overcome such barriers. On the other hand, people do not seem intimidated by the dire consequence of their protests – arrest and torture. The self-immolation of Bouazizi is a case in point to show the ‘make-or-break’ determination of the people when pushed to the dead alley. Fair Deal If the transactional relationship is to be maintained, the leaders should identify, understand and respond to the true needs of people. Marginalizing any segment of the society is the last thing to do – frustration and disappointment of the people can evolve into a fatal blow to any regime. If people’s basic welfare were not well taken care of, could the government rest assured that social peace would be maintained? What can go hand in hand with the above is that the leader should create a vision for the people and motivate the people to pursue and actualize the same version, not for themselves only but for others as well.

Free Essays on Z For Zachariah

were, â€Å"I am hopeful.† This shows us that Ann has a positive attitude in life and still looks forward to the future, even although the odds are against her. Her farm upbringing has equipped her with a great deal of common sense, practicality and resourcefulness. Ann can shoot, cook and drive a tractor, as well as fish and do agricultural work. Thus helping her to make life on her own a lot less of a struggle and showing us that she has good survival skills. This shows us that she is independent and well organised. A stranger arrives one day in a plastic suit and Ann watches him explore the valley from the cave that she is observing him from. Ann has mixed feelings: â€Å"I am both exited and afraid.† She longs for companionship but she’s also ... Free Essays on Z For Zachariah Free Essays on Z For Zachariah â€Å"Z for Zachariah† The sci-fi novel entitled â€Å"Z for Zachariah† which was written by Robert O Brien is what I have been studying in class. It was first published in 1973 and was written during the â€Å"Cold War.† The plot of the novel is basically about isolation and the struggle to survive the after effects of a nuclear war. The main character in the novel is Ann Burden, from Burden Valley, in the United States of America. A nuclear war has left Ann all alone, as her parents, brother and cousin have been killed by the disaster: â€Å"When I look beyond I see that all the trees are dead, and there is never a sign of anything moving. I don’t go out there.† The valley however has been untouched by the devastation. Ann is entrapped, as everything beyond the circumference of Burden is unproductive of life. She leads a simple life-style. Cleverly using nature to survive. She shuts herself off from the past, and looks forward to the future: â€Å"I am hoping to be an English teacher.† I believe that Ann is a very optimistic person who never gives up on hope, as she is continually persistent on â€Å"her† idea of hope. In the very last paragraph of the novel, her final words were, â€Å"I am hopeful.† This shows us that Ann has a positive attitude in life and still looks f orward to the future, even although the odds are against her. Her farm upbringing has equipped her with a great deal of common sense, practicality and resourcefulness. Ann can shoot, cook and drive a tractor, as well as fish and do agricultural work. Thus helping her to make life on her own a lot less of a struggle and showing us that she has good survival skills. This shows us that she is independent and well organised. A stranger arrives one day in a plastic suit and Ann watches him explore the valley from the cave that she is observing him from. Ann has mixed feelings: â€Å"I am both exited and afraid.† She longs for companionship but she’s also ...

Chances Fat and Slim

Chances Fat and Slim Chances Fat and Slim Chances Fat and Slim By Maeve Maddox A reader wonders about two expressions: For many years I’ve wondered about Fat Chance and Slim Chance – both meaning â€Å"little chance,† but where’d they come from? The Ngram Viewer indicates that â€Å"slim chance† came along about eighty years earlier than â€Å"fat chance† and that â€Å"slim chance† is far more common in print than â€Å"fat chance.† A Google search shows the expressions in about equal use on the Web. One meaning of slim is â€Å"thin† or â€Å"slender,† but its meaning in â€Å"slim chance† is â€Å"meager, scanty, sparse.† I’d guess that the expression â€Å"fat chance† originated as a play on words. Both expressions are popular in titles for books and articles that have something to do with obesity or fitness. Slim Chance, Fat Hope: Societys Obsession With Thinness Slim Chance in a Fat World Fat Chance! The Weight Loss Workbook â€Å"Obese People Have Slim Chance of Obtaining Normal Body Weight† â€Å"Critics say mesotherapy offers slim chance† â€Å"Why dieters have fat chance of losing weight† Although many speakers share the reader’s idea that both expressions mean the same thing, the two have different meanings. If there’s a â€Å"slim chance† that something will happen, then there is a possibility, albeit a small one. That’s the meaning in this headline about the current movement of migrants: How much for a spot on a rubber raft and a slim chance at a better life?† â€Å"Fat chance† is an ironic way of saying there’s no chance at all, as in this exchange between a woman and a former boyfriend: I was just wondering - † â€Å" - if Id  come back to you  now?  Fat chance. Forget it.†    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 Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:45 Synonyms for â€Å"Food†50 Latin Phrases You Should KnowDrama vs. Melodrama

Mary Wollstonecrafts A Vindication of the Rights of Woman Essay

Mary Wollstonecrafts A Vindication of the Rights of Woman - Essay Example Grounding the idea of female rights, Wollstonecraft bases herself upon positions of the liberal theory of English philosopher John Lock about necessity of recognition of equal rights for all "full citizens". Paradox of the concept of liberalism of Lock, directed against despotism of absolute power, is that as "full citizens" of a potential liberal society he considered independent in relation to a monarch owners private, mainly the land property, which first of all are attributed with the ability to possess intellect, that is to be rational subjects (be capable to operate own land). "The central idea behind Wollstonecraft's work is that women are rational beings and should be treated as such"2. According to Mary Wollstonecraft, as the theorist of the liberal concept of female rights, the most important becomes the philosophical thesis about recognition of a female subject rational. Only in that case a woman has a chance to enter into a liberal continuum of "full citizenship" described by Lock. The other significant thesis is that female sensuality is not purely natural, but socially caused characteristic. Wollstonecraft states, "But, if women are to be excluded, without having a voice from a participation of the natural rights of mankind, prove first, to ward off the charge of injustice and inconsistency, that they want reason - else this flaw in your NEW CONSTITUTION will ever shew that man must, in some shape, act like a tyrant, and tyranny, in whatever part of society it rears its brazen front, will ever undermine morality"3.In conformity with the above said theoretical issues, considering modern position of women Wollstonecraft recognizes that the majority of women are not yet ready to act in a line with men as their intellect is insufficiently developed because of prevalence of sensual characteristics in it.However this position, in her opinion, is not a consequence of the special nature, female sensuality as considered Russo, or particular qualities of female intell ect as considered Kant. Such state of facts first of all is a result of the limited female education, and secondly of deprivations of women of basic civil rights, that is a consequence of certain social reasons which can be changed. Wollstonecraft's aim particularly in "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" is "to add the individual and civil rights of women to the universal category"4. Therefore the main philosophical thesis of enlighteners, which was a subject of Wollstonecraft's critic, is Russo's thesis about "the special female nature", in which sensuality prevails of intellect. Wollstonecraft considers that femininity in that form as it is described by Russo, is a repressive social construct, which will cease to exist provided that socialization of women will pass in the same conditions as socialization of men. The basic object of criticism of Wollstonecraft is so-called "superfluous sensuality" which is imputed to women in Russo's philosophical concept. In her book the author opposes men, who are admired of excessive female sensitivity and stand up for its development. It calls such men "tyrants of sexuality", and women, which agree to cultivate such type of sensuality in itself (sensuality of a sexual object) she calls "slaves of pleasures". Wollstonecraft accepts that owing to sensuality women has an opportunity to use a special form of