The American Dream The Aspects Of The American Dream

A hope, a wish, a dream, but certainly not reality. The proverbial American Dream consisted first of colonists emigrating to America and find a better life for themselves. The colonists could start from absolutely nothing and shoot to the top of the society. However, for most this dream is known more as a fallacy. The American Dream is Santa Claus. Some people are the beneficiary and believe in it and are filled with a sense of false hope, while others believe they have achieved it themselves and receive its gifts while in reality have done it single-handedly and blamed it on the American Dream. The American Dream gives people false hope, is a source of propaganda, and a global formula. People give themselves a feeling of false hope in†¦show more content†¦The American Dream still is and was not reality for either colonists in colonial America or immigrants today, but instead propaganda and incentive to go to America. Near Christmas time children hear the song â€Å"Santa Claus is Coming to Town†. In the song there are the lyrics â€Å"he knows if you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake† (Gillespie). Those lines are propaganda and incentive for children to behave and have good manners. Santa Claus is itself an icon for receiving things and good feelings. Much like that of the American Dream. If the American Dream does not really exist, could not it exist as a global formula? If the American Dream is indeed a fallacy and does not exist in reality, would the American Dream exist as a formula? This formula could be applied to any place in the world that is not wartorn or suffering under a dictatorship. The Canadian Dream or the Australian Dream would essentially be the exact same thing. The only difference is the fact that the American Dream was the only dream that was advertised and present throughout many types of media. All of the dreams are fallacies, which is why the American Dream would be the same as any other Dream. Anyone could start from the bottom and got to the top in either one of those countries and many others. According to the Cambridge dictionary this is the definition of the AmericanShow MoreRelatedThe Causes And Aspects Of The American Dream1014 Words   |  5 Pagesthey wanted, and to be free. This idea would be known as the American Dream. Sadly, over the years, these big dreams have been dying and for many they’ve already passe d on with no chance of coming back. In all aspects, I’m in total agreement. Unfortunately, people cant get ahead financially, debt is crushing the life of students and regular working people, and important things are slipping away, such as medical care. If the American dream means having a reasonable rate of income growth, unfortunatelyRead MoreEssay on The Corruption of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby1302 Words   |  6 Pagesjustify their actions, and it is what everyone longs for. This theme is better known as the American dream.The Great Gatsby is representative of the American dream in multiple ways. There are some aspects of the novel that symbolize the overall corruption of the American dream; there are others that signify the love of wealth, and the division of rich and poor. What exactly is the American dream? The American dream can be described as an idea, a concept, and a way of life. It can even be described asRead More The American Dream in Of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby, Two Kinds, and Sophistication1537 Words   |  7 Pages The American Dream in Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Two Kinds writer by Amy Tan, and in â€Å"Sophistication† by Sherwood Anderson. Working hard is the key to success. This struggle for success is most commonly called the â€Å"American Dream.† The aspect of the American Dream has been around forever and is often the underlying theme in many pieces of American literature. The theme of the American is especially presented in Of Mice and Men written byRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Death Of A Salesman755 Words   |  4 Pagesstruggle with their identity and demonstrate the concept of the American dream, which is the idea that every person should have an equal opportunity to be successful. Miller uses different characters throughout the story to exemplify the central theme of the play, the American Dream, and shows the readers how each character struggles with trying to pursue this dream. The first character who demonstrates the idea of the American Dream is Willy because he believes that personality and good looks areRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby Essay1490 Words   |  6 Pagesof the American Dream. However, upon deeper of his character has yielded that there are aspects of Jay Gatsby that call into question his so called success. As a result, I have concluded that F.Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, although still displays the overarching theme that is the American Dream it, in fact, portrays ‘The disintegration of the American dream’ through the character that is Jay Gatsby. The American Dream is the ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, regardlessRead MoreOf Mice and Men, American Beauty Essay examples1159 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Steinbeck in 1937 and â€Å"American Beauty† directed by Sam Mendes in 1999, it is apparent that the concept of the American Dream is timeless and enduring. Mendes and Steinbeck use language techniques such as dramatic foreshadowing and filmic techniques to define the American Dream’s spiritual and materialistic aspects. However, from the context of the Great Depression explored in â€Å"Of Mice and Men† to the economic boom of 1999 which provides the backdrop to â€Å"American Beauty†, society has greatlyRead MoreThe American Dream767 Words   |  4 PagesThe American dream is defined as the idea that every American should have an equal opportunity to achieve their goal in life through hard work, determination, and initiative. The novel â€Å"Of Mice and Men† by John Steinbeck explores this idea throughout his story. Through the characters in the story, it shows the many different hardships of each character trying to pursue their dream. John Steinbeck believes that the American Dream is a goal that every American has in life, but it is impossible to achieveRead MoreThree Symbols in the Great Gatsby1429 Words   |  6 Pagesthe â€Å"American Dream†. Typically the American society tries to follow the American Dream, which is a dream of a society that allows everyone, no matter what economic class they were born into, to be able to accomplish whatever they want with hard work. With this principle no matter their social class Americans should be able to accomplish anything. Fitzgerald thought that the American society wasn’t following the American dream; he successfully used symbols to criticize different aspects of AmericanRead MoreThe American Dream1246 Words   |  5 PagesSharing Is Caring, So Don’t Be Stin gy America The American dream is the ideal that every citizen of the United States can have an equal opportunity to achieve success by prospering through hard work, determination, and initiative. This concept has become an iconic part of American culture, and has led many immigrants to seek refuge under Lady Liberty. Therefore, living the American Dream can be obtained by anyone, regardless of race, gender, social status, or economic wealth, right? UnfortunatelyRead MoreMy Opinion of the American Dream701 Words   |  3 PagesWhat is the American Dream? Is a question that will be answered differently every time its asked to a different individual. Everyone has a different opinion regarding what is the American Dream and what it takes to make the dream a reality theres a simply explanation to this: People come from different places, and everyone has a different story to tell. No two lives are just alike, there are going to be people who have experienced different trials and tribulations, people who have seen what you

Bhopal, India Disaster Of 1984 - 1028 Words

Introduction This paper will examine the Bhopal, India disaster of 1984 focusing on the ethical responsibility of Union Carbide. In the rest of this document is the case that a corporation has a responsibility to behave ethically if for no other reason than increase in long term profitability. Background In 1969 the Union Carbide plan was built in Bohpal India. The plant was operated by Union Carbide India Ltd (Leonard, 2010). 50.9% of the plant was owned by Union Carbide (of which Union Carbide India Ltd was a subsidiary), 22% of the plan was owned by the Indian Government and the remaining 27.1% ownership was spread over approximately 23500 Indian Citizens (Trotter, Day, Love, 1989). In 1977 an additional plant began construction though before completion in 1979 some portions of the plant were redesigned. The plant was built to have a maximum annual production capacity of 5000 tons of Sevin though this production level was never reached. In 1982 an audit of the plant pointed out 10 safety deficiencies, of which 2 remained unresolved by 1984. However the plant managers at the plant had writing Union Carbide in the US stating that all problems from the 1982 audit had been rectified. (Trotter, Day, Love, 1989) The Union Carbide plant in Bhopal had been losing money and a number of cost saving measures were taken. These measures resulted including the reduction of equipment operators in 1983 from 12 to 5 employees per shift. This change caused many operators to quit whichShow MoreRelatedUnion Carbides Bhopal Disaster1301 Words   |  6 PagesUnion Carbide s Bhopal Disaster In 1984, as if in a nightmare, a cloud of poison gas reached out and snuffed the lives of thousands of people in the sleeping city of Bhopal, India. The residents awoke to a terrible disaster, a chemical explosion whose memory could never be erased. At the center of the tragedy was the Union Carbide pesticide plant, and surrounding the accident were doubts and accusations of negligence and unethical practices. The Disaster On December 3, 1984, one of the worldRead MoreEssay about Bhopal Ethical Issues1307 Words   |  6 Pages1. Introduction: In the morning of December 3, 1984 a tragic event occurred in the city of Bhopal, the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It has been known as the worlds worst industrial disaster. A Union Carbide India, Limited (UCIL)s plant released 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas which instantly killed over 3,000 people and carrying on causing the death of more than 20,000. This tragic event involved not only the technical, safety issues at the time, but also ethical issues on the responsibilityRead MoreBhopal Ethical Issues1350 Words   |  6 Pages1. Introduction: In the morning of December 3, 1984 a tragic event occurred in the city of Bhopal, the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It has been known as the world s worst industrial disaster. A Union Carbide India, Limited (UCIL) s plant released 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas which instantly killed over 3,000 people and carrying on causing the death of more than 20,000. This tragic event involved not only the technical, safety issues at the time, but also ethical issues on the responsibilityRead MoreBhopal Gas Disaster Of 19841247 Words   |  5 PagesThe Bhopal Gas Disaster of 1984 INTRODUCTION On the Night of December 2, 1984, there was a horrific accident at the Union Carbide Pesticide Chemical Factory in Bhopal, India. The factory produced a chemical called methyl isocyanate (MIC) also know by Union Carbide as â€Å"Liquid Dynamite†. It is an organic compound with the molecular formula CH3NCO MIC is a highly reactive intermediate chemical used to manufacture various pesticides. This chemical reacts exothermically with water and produces a poisonousRead MoreBhopal, Bhopal And Its Effects900 Words   |  4 Pagesyears ago in Bhopal, India, an accident at the Union Carbide pesticide plant led to around thirty tons of highly toxic gases to fill the air and spread through the nearby towns. When the accident occurred, over 600,000 people were exposed to the very deadly gas. Over the past years, 15,000 people have been killed by the disaster and it’s effects. (Union Carbide Corporation, 2001-2014) Toxic material still remains in Bhopal to this day. (Taylor, 2014) This accident occurred in 1984 at the Union CarbideRead MoreBhopal Gas Tragedy984 Words   |  4 PagesBhopal Gas Tragedy Product - Brand name Sevin (Union Carbide) - Third most used insecticide in US - Not fatal to people Carbaryl - Does not cause cancer Chemistry TLV = 0.02 ppm Methyl isocyanate Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) Clear, colourless, b.p. 39oC, odour threshold 2.1 ppm Effects of 0.4 ppm - Coughing - Chest pain - Breathing pain (dyspnea) - Asthma - Eye irritation - Nose, throat, skin damage Effects of 21 ppm - Lung oedema - Emphysema (damage of lung tissue) - hemorrhaging - bronchialRead MoreComparing and Contrast the Chemical Disasters at Bhopal in India and Seveso in Italy1362 Words   |  6 Pagessome serious mistakes which caused a huge damage and large amount of death to people. In this essay, I am going to write about the two disasters that caused a lot of injures by the explosion of poisonous chemicals, which located in India and Italy. According to Shrivastava (1996), on the night of 2/3 December 1984, an enormous accident happened in Bhopal, India, the highly poisonous and unbalanced chemical gas was escaped from the factory and continue to spread over the city which caused by theRead MoreThe Gas Leak Tragedy Of Bhopal1071 Words   |  5 PagesThe Gas Leak Tragedy of Bhopal, India is considered the worst industrial disaster in history. Originally, the Bhopal pesticide plants were to be some of the best and most beautiful plants which would have huge production capabilities. However, in 1984 there was a massive leak of methyl isocyanate (MIC) which spread out to local communities and has negatively affected the health of hundreds of thousands of people. The reason why the pesticide plant was created was for the â€Å"Green Revolution† in theRead MoreThe Bhopal Disaster of 19846444 Words   |  26 PagesBulletin of Science, Technology Society http://bst.sagepub.com/ The Bhopal Disaster of 1984 Roli Varma and Daya R. Varma Bulletin of Science Technology Society 2005 25: 37 DOI: 10.1177/0270467604273822 The online version of this article can be found at: http://bst.sagepub.com/content/25/1/37 Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com On behalf of: National Association for Science, Technology Society Additional services and information for Bulletin of Science, Technology Read MoreBhopal Gas Tragedy : A Terrible Gas Leak1642 Words   |  7 PagesSutton November 11, 2015 Bhopal Gas Tragedy A terrible gas leak on December 2nd and 3rd, 1984 had some of the worst impacts on the central part of India. It happened in the late night and early morning hours on those days when the clouds where filled with gray smoke which contained Methyl Isocyanate(MIC), one of the most poisonous gases from Union Carbide plant in the city of Bhopal. It was called one of the world’s most dangerous environmental disasters. The people of Bhopal had no idea what was coming

A Cinematographic Vampire’s Tale Understanding the Symbolism Behind the Horror Icon Free Essays

Cinema is the place where we as viewers engage in sharing a collective dream. Certainly, horror movies enrich us as viewers with the most dream-like of plots. This is because they open a portal into another world where we are allowed to engage with our nightmares. We will write a custom essay sample on A Cinematographic Vampire’s Tale: Understanding the Symbolism Behind the Horror Icon or any similar topic only for you Order Now All over time various horror movies show us how normality is endangered by a monster, but the creature who has haunted the screen like no one is undoubtedly the Vampire. According to Ivan Phillips the figure of the Vampire has drifted and shifted through the pages of newspapers, travel journals, novels, poems, comics, and plays for 300 years, it has haunted cinema and television for almost a hundred, its shadow is creeping into the social, narrative and ludic networks of the digital’. The image of the Vampire is constantly present in the virtual and literature culture of the twenty-first century. Although this being moved from its folkloristic origins in which he appeared in works of J. Sheridan Le Fanu, John Polidori and Bram Stoker, the vampire still remains an iconic figure in Western Culture. This personage provides paradoxical fascination as it exists ‘at the edges of what is deemed normal, acceptable and safe, the vampire embodies the foreign and the unfamiliar’. Although, the vampire is often seen as a bringer of death, there are numerous metaphorical meanings and readings of this being. Through Marxist discourse the vampire is portrayed as the monster of monopoly capitalism and the agent of foreign ownership. This idea of the ‘bloodsucking capitalist’ is perceived in a negative way the Marxist community. In a xenophobic society this idea of the vampire embodies a general fear of the unfamiliar and may also constitute a racial difference. But the vampire not only represents the non-conformity it also alludes to an illicit desire. According to Jorg Waltje, this being is the embodiment of humanity’s ‘hopes and desires: beauty, strength, and immortality’. Although these elements do not express fear in the same way as the vampire’s link with death but in the same manner they express an external behaviour which puts at risk society’s stability. The vampire hints to a sense of ‘unsettlement’. Through his figure the viewer, in a quite troubled sense, comes face-to-face with the dramatization of humanity. As a creature, the vampire encompasses men’s vulnerability and his inability to alter the laws of time. As Sarah Sceats states ‘Vampires represent what we both fear and desire; they evoke a marginal world of darkness, secrecy, vulnerability, excess, and horror. Whatever they are, it is positively Other’. This notion of ‘excess’ was also tackled by Omar Calabrese in one of his chapters. According to Calabrese one could only escape from ‘a closed system’ through this notion of excess. The vampire represents this excess as he personifies ‘those aspects excluded or rejected by society, its existence in itself denotes excess’. In addition to this, Calabrese associates this vampiric excess to the exotic erotic which alludes to the scandal and breaks the boundaries of what is socially acceptable. In this sense the vampire’s bite is linked with the erotic. Further to this ‘explicit erotic act’ we have an unavoidable act with death. It was Bram Stoker which explored this notion in his novel Dracula. In the scene, where Lucy dies we see an excessive use of the erotic; ‘She seemed like a nightmare of Lucy as she lay there; the pointed teeth, the bloodstained, voluptuous mouth – which it made one shudder to see – the whole carnal and unspiritual appearance, seeming like a devilish mockery of Lucy’s sweet purity’. Through this, Bram Stolker illustrates us with an example of how death is linked to the erotic. The notion of ‘excess’ is repetitively used and reused by Stolker. In fact, he describes Lucy as a ‘nightmare †¦ hich it made one shudder to see’ As viewers, as film enthusiasts or as junkies of the silver screen, we have grown accustomed to think that nothing happens outside of the frame. Yet this idea seems to crumble to the ground when it comes to Dreyer’s, Vampyr. The latter haunts us with ‘a distinctly innerving sense of not knowi ng where anyone is, creating a feeling that anything culd be happening beyond the frame, in the ‘blind space’ in which the monsoter lurks’. Visually speaking, Vampyr resembles Jean Epstein’s La Chute de la Maison de Usher and Bunuel’s Un Chien Andalou. Dreyer’s horror movie encapsulates ‘clear moments of crossover between the two movements’. Therefore Vampyr distinguished itself from other movies of the same genre because of the various artistic influences which left their imprint. Comparison can also be drawn between more contemporary movies which are not necessarily classified under an artistic movement but which are still relevant to vampire studies. Coppola’s movie is separated by decades from its predecessors and is more straight forward in the narration of events. Visual metaphors are central to its filmic structure and the American director’s interpretation is completely submerged in blood, but while this film is heavily conditioned by an erotic element, the scenes of blood in Vampyr are scarce. The ‘spots of blood’ carry psychoanalytic connotations. Barbara Creed states that the manifestation of horror is culturally and socially constructed through the ‘images of blood, vomit, pus. shit etc’. These images emphasize a split between the law of the father and the maternal influence. This division has to be viewed under a pre-Oedipal line of thought. In this stage there is a fierce attachment to the maternal figure. In Dreyer’s vampire movie, blood is linked to the maternal entity because Chopin ‘punctuates the flesh and transgresses the sanctity of the body’. Another overwhelming point stated by Creed is that the female vampire does not limit herself to mutating her victims into creatures which are one with the night. Her victims are testimony of the vampire’s ability to destabilize ‘traditional gender definitions’. Although lesbian connotations are often attributed to this particular flick, there is no real intimacy between Leon and Chopin. The scene in which Chopin ‘feeds’ upon her young prey, does not communicate a sense of desire. The village doctor who is at the service of Chopin, does not coincide with the medical man who represents a positive force in the traditional gothic horror narrative. In Coppola’s Dracula, based on Bram Stocker’s novel, Van Helsing is an educated individual and an adversary to the malevolent vampire. The doctor ‘sucks’ the blood from the living thanks to the transfusion equipment just as Chopin uses fangs. The victim of the doctor’s bloodsucking, artificial technique is Gray. He is the character who often looks at the actions taking place by standing behind doors or windows; ‘he is an outsider peering in’. In fact, Gray is removed from the narrative action even as he witnesses the first death. David Bordwell believed that Gray ‘is a curious character’ and he is more of a mediator than a provocateur of action. However, Gray still ‘possesses an active and enunciating gaze’. This male character’s progress is often hindered by other characters, by the props and also by buildings. What is so overwhelming about Vampyr is the collision between reality and the supernatural. Everything seems to take place within a dream-like state and the movie is ‘ephemeral, polysemic and shifting, provoking opinion and polarising debate’. The movie afflicts the viewer with dissonance and discomfort, especially when our gaze meet Chopin’s stare as Gray is sealed in the coffin. The latter is an artefact which shares an endless tradition with the general notion of vampirism. It is the space where these beings retreat and hide away from the daylight. The coffin is the body-fitting box where Dracula and Count Orlock patiently wait their time to rise while the vessel is sailing. This tomb or repository is ‘the most vampiric of all enclosure’. Gray finds himself trapped in a coffin and at this point in the movie’s chronology, ‘the spectatorial gaze is doubly trapped, within the confines of a sealed coffin and the immovable dead body’. As the coffin containing Gray’s corpse is being carried away, the procession passes next to Gray’s unconscious body. In Vampyr, the element of the doppelganger has a heavy resonation. Vampyr is venerated amongst lovers of the genre even though movie makers throughout those years did not have the present technological resources. Old, BW, silent movies may seem alien in form and content to younger generations, yet what some of these past flicks embody inextinguishable artistic and human values. We’ve already drawn remarks on Coppola’s remake of Bram Stocker’s narrative work into film. Long before the release of this movie, ‘the most haunting of any attempt to dramatize Bram Stocker’s novel’ was Murnau’s Nosferatu. There is a strong resemblance between Murnau’s vampire and the one lurking in the book. What is it that viewers find so terrifying about Nosferatu? Is it the vampire’s appearance and inhuman gestures? Does he embody the general notion that â€Å"we fear whatever we cannot explain or understand through rational thinking†? As consumers, for there is no better way to call genuine movie enthusiasts, we ought to dig deeper and deeper into the sequence of images. Most of the time denotations come with connotations and it is up to us to fish out such hidden meanings. The imagery in Murnau’s movie suggests the concept of repression and ‘the arch is a visual leit motif in the film’. Arches and similar structures try to stop the vampire from emerging. Count Orlock is therefore a repressed force who is also linked to Jonathan via these same arches. In a memorable scene in the movie, the Count emerges from under an arch and Jonathan from another as they meet for the first time. Jonathan is also linked to the menacing creature through the house which stands on the opposite side to his. Count Orlock purchases this house, thus becoming the young man’s reflection. Jonathan is a loving companion to Nina while Nosferatu becomes a ‘demonic alternative husband’. Nosferatu contains numerous references to ‘a number of traditional or cultural elements’. Myths about Persephone and Orpheus also produce an echoing effect through this vampire movie. Nosferatu was not meant to float in its own air bubble, separated from all other influences and ideas. Murnau transfuses into the motion picture ‘the product of a synthesis’. This adaptation of Dracula, which donated to all lovers of the horrific this ‘thin, repulsively bald’ being, dates back to ‘the heyday of expressionist fantasy’. What come into collision are the natural and the fantastic. These two distant realms are central to Nosferatu yet neither dominates the film. The viewer cannot but notice the obsession with filing space and the ‘obrusive sets’. Like Tabu, Nosferatu is primarily set in natural surroundings and both of Murnau’s movies deal with a menace. The latter diffuses into an ordinary world and out of a fantastic, paranormal world. Nosferatu portrays an animal-like being (a mixture between a rat and a human skeleton) who is ‘constantly associated with nature throughout the film’. Even Count Orlok’s movements does not coincide with those of a human being , in fact even his castle ‘is like a natural continuation of the rock’ thus the true protagonist in Nosferatu is Nature which is closely linked with its natural settings. In Nosferatu, Murnau used a sort of trick photography also with expressionist angle shots. As Gilberto Perez Guillermo suggests these specific techniques are used to illustrate a remote, fragmented and bizarre environment. Nosferatu is generally seen from distance and this gives us the impression that the nocturnal creature is merging itself with the surrounding nature. Murnau succeeded into creating an iconic- power image through which he shows Nosferatu as ‘seemingly immensely tall’. In particular the scene where the vampire is standing on the deck of the vessel which is no longer conducted by a human being. Murnau makes also the use of the negative image, this technique is ideal to express ‘mystery, fantasy, and unreality’. This negative image basically involves an X-ray photograph, in this film it was used when Jonathan was being carried into ‘the land of phantoms’ in Count Orlock’s weird carriage. The three movies which have been discussed so far are all based on similar, if not identical, themes. In each case the relationship between the female character and the parasite represented by the vampire is at the heart of the movie’s plot. Guillermo del Toro took on a different approach and directed a vampire movie which derailed from the norm set up by the previously discussed films. Narrative-wise, Cronos ignores the myth of the Count and focuses on a device that causes transformations to take place within the main character’s physique. The Cronos looks like an insect which shares some sort of a mutual parasitic relationship with its victim. Apart from a different take on the blood-sucking creature’s myth, Cronos proposes characters which are marked by an ‘implied absence’. Del Toro’s movie might ‘represent a nostalgic look at the past’ in the sense that the long-gone years receive a corporeal dimension belonging to the present. The main character in this Mexican Gothic is a perfect illustration of this notion. Jesus Gris is the ‘purveyor of antiques and guardian of the new dawn’ the latter being Aurora. What distinguishes Jesus Gris with Dieter de la Guardia, the dying industrialist who is aware of the Cronos’ true nature and powers are there past scars which must be dealt with in modern times. On the one hand the ‘scars’ of Jesus are related to family life while on the other Dieter de la Guardia is at the mercy of an ailing health. Above all else, the Cronos is a ‘fascinating hybrid of science and nature’ and the golden case is said to hold an insect which lives off human blood. In return the creature rejuvenates its bearer and prolongs his life, killing off the threat posed by ‘corruptible, material flesh’. The device is needed by de la Guardia because it surpasses the technology of modern times. Only the Cronos can achieve what technology has failed in. There also lies a fine parallelism between de la Guardia and the angel’s statue. The man’s body is full of holes just like the archangel’s interior which is infested by cockroaches and if the statue reminds us of the divine, the deteriorating human body indicates an inevitable ending. Erotism is a stranger to the film’s plot, yet del Toro’s work delves into universal dreams, such as eternal youth and the conflict between life and death. Jesus caries the device while de la Guardia holds the instructions; Jesus is the unsuspecting individual who comes across an artifact of mysterious powers and who ends owning itself to it. The Cronos dehumanizes him and his need for human blood becomes more prominent as the film unfolds. Just as the insect feeds upon the blood of the device’s holder, the latter ends up developing an appetite for human blood. Viewers have grown accustomed to having a female figure within vampire stories. Whether the woman is a prey, a victim or an object of desire, she has been instrumental to Dracula’s and Vampyr’s storyline. In Cronos, Aurora ‘plays the role of the love interest for which the monster must make his sacrifice’. Transformation and shifting of form does not limit itself to Jesus’ metamorphosis, but it also manifests itself in the relationship between the vampire and the female figure. The erotism is replaced by an ‘innocent, filial love’. Contrasting and comparing characters and plots allows us to point out what is present in one movie and absent in another. Some characters from different filmic works may share the same attributes or characteristics, while others may interpret the same role but in a totally different manner. The so-called â€Å"assistant†, the faithful follower who is at the service of his master, is present in all four films discussed so far. However Angel, the nephew of de la Guardia, is not as submissive as Renfield and the village doctor. Angel’s mode of thinking is simply capitalistic. He yearns for his uncle’s wealth and represents the ‘cynical angel’. In contemporary popular culture the power of the vampire’s bite did not vanish but in some manner it did change. We can see this notion through the creation of diverse pop culture vampires such as Angel and Spike in the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003). These modern vampires have been ‘desexualized and de-victimized’ because they only obtain and drink blood from butchers. Now the vampire is made more human and this highlights the fact that contemporary vampires have a more mundane appearance. In the new millennium the vampire seemed to have changed from a creature of fear to a creature of ‘sympathy and emulation’. This is made more evident in online discourse about the vampire. As argued by Mary Williamson in her book Lure of the Vampire, in the virtual world the vampire is perceived as a ‘forgivable outcast’ and thus we sympathize with him. In Facebook, a social network used by millions in the world the presence of this being is very strong. Through one particular application called Vampire application we see several imitations of the ‘folkloric tradition of the vampire’. This application is diffused from one user to another via a ‘virtual bite’. During this process a user is sent an invitation to enrol himself to such application, were the user gets to interact with other individuals who share their interest and curiosities about this subject. Users get to fight other vampires, fill their hunger or feed upon weaker vampires. Once cravings for this so called ‘virtual-violence’ are stated by many, users can also send gestures such as hugs to their nearest companions. Feeding and fighting are the highlight of this application were vampires get points and money for doing so which than they can be exchanged for weapons or to improve their senses or powers . In this application placing someone in a suit will result in losing all their fights for two consecutive days, which is quite a deal breaker. This application also embraces violence amongst friends. Some of the many options this application boasts are the way one can attack another throughout the Facebook community. This application is filled with the erotic; this notion solidifies the ‘traditional elements of the transgressive vampire’. At each and every single level the vampire’s abilities achieves a new rank and this creates a new type of vampire. As noticed by Mary Williamson in the virtual world this being is not perceived as an ‘outcast’ but rather a fundamental figure through which players communicate. In the online world the vampires have become a part of a different ritual, a social ritual by which relationships and friendships are maintained and expanded’. In this application, what used to frighten about this creature is eliminated and instead it is accepted. In fact, with the loss of penetration of the bite the vampire is ‘de-sexualized and sanitized’. Accordi ng to Calabrese, the vampire represents only a slight alteration beyond what is socially accepted and thus it represents; the shifting of limits. ‘When confronted by an ‘acceptable’ excess, the limit is simply moved (perhaps to a considerable distance) in order to absorb it’. When in the virtual world, elements like blood and the penetration of the bite are removed ‘the virtual vampire becomes the monster that is us’. In the twentieth century, sympathy for this being has grown bigger. In fact as stated by Williamson, this being has generated new implications and attitudes ‘towards the ‘self ’ in the twentieth century’. There is a great desire to imitate the vampire not as a rebellious figure but rather to imitate a ‘bohemian outsiderdom which locates the individual as the desirable outsider, the sympathetically alienated’. In the virtual context perception of the self becomes ‘fluid and flexible’. As it is no longer linked with the body but it is highly linked with the fulfilment of desires. In this sense identity is constructed as one desires. The virtual identity can be understood through the Lancian psychoanalytic theory. ‘In the online world the virtual identity is not reflected but is rather constructed; the subject is not created in the reflection but rather in the digital composite’. This leads us to do a parallelism between the vampire and the virtual identity. According to Shannon Winnubst, the site represents the mirror reflection in which an individual forms and constructs his ideas about the self. On the other hand the vampire ‘in lacking a mirror reflection, does not even register on the radar of identity-formation: he does not have the necessary condition for the possibility of becoming a subject’. Also Rhonda Wilcox explored this theme using the imaginative Id and the Jungian shadow. According to Wilcox the online body represents the negative aspect of one’s personality. In this manner the vampire is portrayed as the doppelganger of the victim before it was biten. Stoker’s Lucy and Angel in Buffy are the perfect examples, Stoker’s Lucy from chaste to ripely erotic, or perhaps the souled and soulless incarnations of Angel in Buffy – so too does the virtual body provide opportunity for the vampiric shadow to find form in cyberspace. As stated by Wilcox, the imaginative Id illustrates the unconscious which is repressed and which encourages the pre-vampiric identity to free itself. In this sense online where the personality is fluid the wishes of the Id can be fulfilled as there are no repercussions which constitute some sort of restriction in the corporeal world. When talking about horror movies there is a subtle difference between the onster and the human being. But as indicated in films by Dreyer, Murnau, Coppola and Guillermo del Toro a strong link exists between the two beings. The myth and the vampire have always been subjects of debates. Although there are number of similarities and differences between Vampyr and Nosferatu yet both films show us the vampire as being more than just a b lood sucking, nocturnal creature but it is also the representation of the darkest corners of the human psyche ‘For this is one of the functions of our monsters: to help us constrict our own humanity, to provide guidelines against which we can define ourselves’. How to cite A Cinematographic Vampire’s Tale: Understanding the Symbolism Behind the Horror Icon, Papers

Excavating Egypt Newsprint Essay Example For Students

Excavating Egypt Newsprint Essay This article tells of a typical working day for an archaeologist in Egypt. It tells of an experienced archaeologist named, Dr. David OConnor. He speaks of his working site, Abydos, and tells of what he has discovered since he started working on the site. In his 30 years of working there, he has uncovered 12 wooden boats, each about 60 feet long encased in 96-foot graves. He has also found the remains of an entire settlement covering about 16 acres. He annually spends up to $150,000 to pay of his fellow archaeologists and his laborers. He does receive funds from private institutions and government agencies to help support his effort in Abydos. In reading this article, I have become puzzled as to how so many people working there can split $150,000. It says that 20-25 scientists and 30-60 laborers are employed. I understand that he does receive funds from institutions, but I would not think that it would be upwards of enough money to support so many people. I have always respected archaeologists for what they do but now I have a deeper respect for Egyptian archaeologists. I do hope to visit Egypt someday though and experience what it is like firsthand. Article 2- Cosmetic Surgery Discovered on Ancient Roman Portrait Newsprint This article tells of artists in the modern day performing work on damaged ancient artifacts. It specifies on a head statue that was received as a gift by the Nelson-Atkins Museum. Scientists noticed some unusual features on the statues head and investigated it to discover that somebody had fixed it up before it was given to them. They used gamma-radiographs to find that somebody had fixed the heads broken neck with metal dowels and clamps. I found it pretty remarkable that some people may get away doing this without anybody knowing of it. It makes me wonder if some of the great artifacts that we have on display today have been tampered with and that they may not be 100% ancient. I dont see that there is anything wrong with this. Id rather look at a fixed up display than view one that has been badly damaged and is hard to make out. Article 3- Faking It: A Forgers Biography Newsprint This article tells of a modern day man, Alceo Dossena 1878-1937, and his ability to create artificial art pieces of ancient civilizations. He created sculptures in almost every style: Greek, Etruscan, Gothic and Italian Renaissance. He would sculpt them, then age them by giving them acid baths and then would proceed to bury them, allowing them to age. He was able to fool some of the greatest historians and scientists in the world. One of his art pieces was sold to a dealer who then sold it for $225,000, the highest price of any of Dossenas artworks. Dossena claimed that he did not make his art to cheat people out of their money. He then sued his dealer and won.  divided into three categories: domestic goods, tools and public art. In addition to all of the above listed, there are many other items to view at the museum. What I found interesting about this article was that the Romans had produced somewhat of an assembly line. I had no prior knowledge of anyone doing this before Henry Ford. I think that is really neat that they could create such an effect some 2000 years ago with the technology that they had.

20 Definition Essay Topics Meet the Most Interesting Issues about Muslim Culture

20 Definition Essay Topics Meet the Most Interesting Issues about Muslim Culture If you need help finding a topic for your next definition essay on Muslim culture, consider the list of 20 definition essay topics below: Defining Harth for Modern Culture The Definition of Cultural Relativism Means Today Defining Faith as a Fundamental Term The Power of a Word to Impact Change How Islam is a Word Which Creates Stereotypes A Word Which Changes History Defining Muslim as an Individual A Word Which is Stigmatized How Veil Harbors Negative Connotations The Negative and Positive Power of One Word The Linguistic Value of Symbols The Power of the Word Prophet Defining the Qu’ran in Modern Culture The Impact of the Five Pillars The Definition of Jilbab Defining Muslim as a Nation Defining Religion among Modern Culture Defining Subservience among Secular Cultures Defining Symbols and Power within Muslim Culture Defining Freedom among Modern Culture Sample Definition Essay Defining Symbols and Power within Muslim Culture One of the largest controversies within Islam and the west is the idea of gender equality. Many western schools of thought focus on the lack of gender equality associated with Muslim women in particular. This is often epitomized through the veil. The veil acts as the precipice upon which many negative connotations related to Islam have been built. There are other symbols for the oppression of women in Islam, but many Muslim scholars and those who associate with Islam in the Middle East, have argued that the Qur’an does not in fact support females as property meant only for the pleasure and service of men. The studies related to â€Å"devout women’s affiliation with conservative religious communities† have been brought under scrutiny in light of â€Å"contemporary social and religious life† (Bartkowski, 2003, p. 72). The most important symbol to many groups either in support of Islam or against Islam, is the veil. The veil is a proponent meant to signify the overall oppression of women in Islam, indicative of their being owned by men or treated as property. Shirazi (p. 32) argues that the veil is a multi-faceted symbol with meanings related to the context. The author states that there is â€Å"semantic versatility of the veil in western popular culture, Saudi advertising, Iranian and Indian poetry and films, and for Iranian, Iraqi, and UAE women soldiers (Shirazi, 2001, p. 32). This same argument is supported by the main authors. Issues of symbols as a means of conveying thoughts toward Islam and Muslim women surround the veil. Objects or people become symbols and with those symbols particular associations which spawn from politically minded propaganda, in the case of cartoons or other graphic depictions of the veil or the prophet. There is an assumption from the West and from the Muslim community that the veil is meant to cover the female body because of female sexuality. Female sexuality was also primarily associated with sin and impurity. The veil is thought by many Muslims as a means of being controlled by men, making them subservient, meant to keep their enticing sexuality covered so that men would not be tempted. However, none of the verses which pertain to the wearing of the veil link female sexuality with sin or impurity, but rather, leaves the female sexuality as something separate from impurity, though it can be used for sin. Castelli (p. 439) raises issues about which this author use as examples for those who hold contemporary ideas about the veil and Islam as oppressive. Castelli supports the idea of â€Å"Islam as a lesser religion and less developed† (p. 439). There have been misinterpretations of verses from the Qu’ran, mistakes made by Muslims who have interpreted them as requiring women to remain covered. It is posited that, â€Å"if the Qur’an asks women to cover their bosoms but leaves other allusions imprecise, it may be because what it means to generalize is a concept of modesty, not Arab dress† (Barlas, 2009, p. 5). Attention is also drawn to the emphasis on women being oppressed by the veil because it symbolizes their possession, being subservient to men. â€Å"A great deal is also made of the Qur’anic reference to women as harth, a word many people interpret as land and, hence, as property. However the Qur’an does not designate a wife her husband’s property†¦ â€Å"The jilbab as having been space and time bound, hence as a specific mode of veiling in that it only acquired meaning in a particular social context† (Barlas, 2009, p. 4). The Barlas viewed it as outdated given the context of the legal implications; if it was originally meant as a means of protection against other men, a way to state that a woman was taken, current laws against sexual abuse now take on that role. In terms of the prophet as symbol for the West to use against Islam, the prophet remains part of collective memory for western cultures, as Europeans associate Islam â€Å"as the harbinger of the West’s destruction in the form of the Antichrist† (Barlas, 2009, p. 7). Barlas raises issues of the graphic cartoons of the Prophet as a terrorist which caused much debate, and how the freedom of speech is really a legal means of domination, allowing westerns to say whatever they want to cast negative shadows on Islam and Muslims. The misuse of symbols such as the veil and the prophet for the purpose of drawing attention to gender inequality presumed to be associated with Islam is protected through freedom of speech: â€Å"Europeans have always felt free to say rather execrable things about Islam†¦That they now rely on free speech to impugn Islam or Muslims should tell us that speech permits not only satire and critique but also assertions of power and dominance† (Barlas, 2009, p. 8). There are many schools of thought pertaining to the veil as a symbol of oppression, all of whom have used freedom of speech to emphasize their interpretations of Islamic symbols. â€Å"The veil is seen as quintessentially traditional† (Bullock, 2002, p. 19) More attention is drawn to the fact that many presume the veil meant as a means of keeping men from thinking impure thoughts about women, thereby associating women and their bodies with sexuality and sin. Overall, preconceptions about gender inequality have been supported through symbols of oppression by the west and ignorant Muslims which have thereby managed to sustain incorrect assumptions about Islam through symbols, particularly the veil and the Prophet. References: Barlas, A. (2009). Islam and Body Politics: Inscribing (Im)morality. In Conference on Religion and Politics of the Body Nordic Society for Philosophy of Religion (pp. 1-12). Reykjavik: University of Iceland. Bartkowski, J., Reed, G. G. (2003). Veiled Submission: Gender, Power, and Identity Among Evangelical and Muslim Women in the United States. Qualitative Sociology, 26(1), 71-92. Bhutto, B. (2008). Reconciliation: Islam, democracy, and the West. New York, NY: Harper. Bullock, K. (2002). Rethinking Muslim women and the veil: challenging historical modern stereotypes. Herndon, VA: International Institute of Islamic Thought. Castelli, E. A., Rodman, R. C. (2001). Women, gender, religion: a reader. New York, NY: Palgrave. Hoodfar, H. (n.d.). The veil in their minds and on our heads: Veiling practices and Muslim women. Retrieved from umass.edu/wost/syllabi/spring06/hoodfar.pd Shirazi, F. (2001). The veil unveiled the hijab in modern culture. Gainesville, FL: Univ. Press od Florida.

Anderson- Surname Meaning and Origin

Anderson- Surname Meaning and Origin ANDERSON Surname Meaning Origin: Patronymic surname meaning son of Andrew. Andrew (man, manly) was the first of Jesus disciples, and was a revered name in medieval times due to its church connections. St. Andrew is the patron saint of both Scotland and Russia. Swedish patronymic son names traditionally end in -son,  not -sen.  In Denmark the regular patronymic is -sen.  In Norway, both are used, although -sen  is more common. Icelandic names traditionally end in -son  or -dotir. Surname Origin: Swedish, Danish, Norwegian English Alternate Surname Spellings: ANDERSEN, ANDERSSON, ANDERSSEN, MCANDREWS Fun Facts About the ANDERSON Surname: Many Danes, Norwegians and Swedes who emigrated to America with the last name Andersson or Anderssen, dropped the extra -S after their arrival. Famous People with the Surname ANDERSON: Pamela Anderson - Canadian-American model and actressMary Anderson - inventor of the windshield wiperWillie Anderson - professional Scottish golferJoe Anderson - British actorWes Anderson - independent filmmakerHans Christian Anderson - Danish author Genealogy Resources for the Surname ANDERSON: 100 Most Common U.S. Surnames Their MeaningsSmith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown... Are you one of the millions of Americans sporting one of these top 100 common last names from the 2000 census? Anderson and Andersen Family DNA ProjectJoin Anderson and Andersen individuals worldwide working together to sort out Anderson families from different countries and connect Anderson families who came to America through DNA. Anderson Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Anderson surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Anderson query. There are also separate forums for the ANDERSEN and ANDERSSEN variations of the Anderson surname. FamilySearch - ANDERSON GenealogyFind records, queries, and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Anderson surname and its variations. ANDERSON Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Anderson surname. Cousin Connect - ANDERSON Genealogy QueriesRead or post genealogy queries for the surname Anderson, and sign up for free notification when new Anderson queries are added. DistantCousin.com - ANDERSON Genealogy Family HistoryFree databases and genealogy links for the last name Anderson. Looking for the meaning of a given name? Check out First Name Meanings Cant find your last name listed? Suggest a surname to be added to the Glossary of Surname Meanings Origins. - References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Menk, Lars. A Dictionary of German Jewish Surnames. Avotaynu, 2005. Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia. Avotaynu, 2004. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997. Back to Glossary of Surname Meanings Origins

Managerial Systems and Operations Management Essay

Managerial Systems and Operations Management - Essay Example No organization will ever want to have disgruntled customers, to achieve efficiency a plan is needed to improve the productivity of the company. Sometimes an ad hoc approach may be used on simplest grounds that may need very small changes. Outlined plans must be initiated to analyses the risks that are associated with a particular implementation strategy in accomplishing the drafted project. The last option to be considered is the effectiveness of the project to the organization, these acts as an assessment into the real functionality of the project in aiding organization performance. This paper analyses some of the problems faced by Marston Lodge, which in the long run inhibit its performance in the market. The paper will critical assess the impacts of these problems and come up with significant solutions that will cushion the problems. A detailed plan will exhibit what will assess the associated costs and the approach that will be taken when initiating the project. Last the end of the paper will depict how the technological project impacts on the levels of performance in the Hotel; this will consider the needs of employees and management towards attainment of quality production (Koontz & Weihrich, 2010). Marston Lodge is an example of an organization that is operating under minimal production levels. Numerous complaints hailed towards the company. For instance, long queues and poor conditions of the rooms depict that management and the employees are not taking seriously their jobs and working towards attaining the set objectives of the company. This thwarts the efforts of the hotel on profit maximization. The longer Marston Lodge keeps without addressing these challenges, the faster it degrades an eventually becoming bankrupt. What is also evident from the case scenario is the fact that Marston Lodge is using many funds to train its employees yet productions levels in the

Observers of Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Observers of Life - Essay Example . There is an element of darkness in every person’s heart. Heart of darkness illustrates how Marlow conquers the darkness in his heart and attains self knowledge; but the darkness with in him consumes Kurtz who falls prey to its wrath. The oblique narrative structure of Heart of Darkness serves to pull the reader to the depth of the novel. Further more, its interwoven style suits well to unfold history, myth, and legend with a special focus being laid on the characters. The story flows with a steady onward rush that brings several characters along with it and the loose ends laid on the way are linked seamlessly in the progress, rendering soundness to the logical precision. The unavoidable presence of the primary narrator is a matter of great interest as he introduces the main character Marlow and the scenic description in the initial part of his voice. Like chorus in drama, this non-descript character surfaces in the novel when clarity is needed and facilitates smooth flow by supplying supporting passages on Marlow. Interestingly enough, the storyline is narrated from the point view of the main character, Marlow. Thus the writer is double distanced from the novel eluding his subjectivity The protagonist, Marlow looms large in the novel as he is the main character as well as the narrator of the story .While Marlow meanders down the memory lane, the readers are offered a panoramic view of an exotic landscape, lush with the entangling greenery, contrasted against the lurched lives of the natives; manipulated and exploited by the interference of the English men. Marlow stands out from the rest of the characters with his unique wisdom, analytical qualities, and judgments on every situation. The primary narrator presents Marlow as sitting cross-legged, resembling an idol with his straight back and stretched hands and attributes to him a sense of ascetic charisma. Soon the counter of a meditating Buddha begins to take

Financial statements provide comprehensive information about the Essay - 1

Financial statements provide comprehensive information about the reporting entity that is useful to existing and potential stakeholders - Essay Example The role of the accountants and the auditors in ensuring a true and fair view of the financial statements has been explained. This is followed by the review of the key components in the financial statements which includes the income statement, balance sheet and the cash flow statement. The parameters of the income statement, balance sheet and the cash-flow statement and the information communicated by these key components have been explained. The interpretation of the key components of the financial statements fulfils the general purpose of the companies in communicating the effectiveness of the strategies for capital maintenance and wealth maximization. The financial statements are the means of communicating to the users about the business performance of the company. The companies of all business sectors all over the world have used the financial statements as the primary instrument of informing the stakeholders whether existing or potential, about the activities of the company in the area of its business throughout the year (Baker and  Powell, 2009, p.75). The users of the financial statements include the existing shareholders, the internal stakeholders that include the employees and the management, the external stakeholders which includes the customers, government, creditors and lenders, the potential investors, etc. All the users of the financial statements, whether internal or external, are only interested in maximization of profits of the company. The companies also carry out their business with the primary aim of maximization of wealth of the shareholders (Bhattacharyya, 2011, p.62). The various measures taken by the compan y during its operations in the business throughout the year are communicated to the stakeholders with the help of financial statements. Therefore, the financial statements of the companies are prepared and represented in a manner that they contain comprehensive information about the reporting entity that

Symptomatic Intratendinous Ganglion Cyst of Peroneus Tertius

Symptomatic Intratendinous Ganglion Cyst of Peroneus Tertius Symptomatic intratendinous ganglion cyst of the peroneus tertius in an Irish dancer ABSTRACT The case of an 18-year-old female high level Irish dancer who presented with a painful mass at dorsum of the foot is reported. A database search of Medline and PubMed only revealed one such case and it did not result from sport injury. This is the first case of intratendinous ganglion cyst of the peroneus tertius in a dancer reported in a literature. It details the surgical repair, complication and the possible mechanism that can lead to the formation of ganglion cyst in an Irish dancer. INTRODUCTION Ganglion cysts are benign tumour-like masses that arise from the mucinous degeneration of collagen fibers of the tendon and cellular hyperplasia that associated with active secretion of mucin.[1] They characteristically arise either from the synovium of joints or tendon sheaths. We present a case report of an 18-year-old female Irish dancer with a symptomatic intratendinous ganglion cyst of the peroneus tertius. CASE REPORT An 18 year-old female Irish dancer presented with a painful mass in the left foot. (Fig 1) The pain was related to the dorsum of the foot. Worse on dancing and she complained of intermittent paraesthesia over the dorsolateral border of the foot after dancing practice. There was no history of discrete trauma to the foot. She was a high level athlete and had competed at national and international Irish dancing competitions. Examination revealed an oval cystic mass of size 2cm x 3cm. There was an otherwise normal range of movement of the foot and ankle. The superficial peroneal nerve was stretched over the mass, there was no sensory deficit. Plain X-Rays of the foot were normal. MRI (Fig 2) confirmed the presence a mass along the dorsum of the foot consistent with a ganglion cyst closely adjacent to the extensor tendons. There was no evidence of tenosynovitis. The risks and benefits of conservative versus operative treatment were discussed and the patient and her family elected for surgical intervention. A dorsolateral incision was utilised with protection of the superficial peroneal nerve. The ganglion was arising form and adherent to the peroneus tertius tendon (Fig 3). The tendon was salvaged during the operation. It was decided not to perform an ‘en bloc’ resection of the ganglion due to concern about function loss in this high level athlete. Excision of the ganglion by means of longitudinal incision in the tendon was done, followed by repair of the tendon with a running absorbable suture. She made an uneventful recovery and remains well at 12-months follow-up. She has returned to dancing with no symptoms or local recurrence. DISCUSSION The Peroneus Tertius (PT) muscle arises from distal one third of anterior surface of fibula; it may be fused with distal portion of extension digitorum longus, through an interosseous margin. The peroneus tertius tendon is located lateral to the extensor digitorum longus tendon and inserts on the superior surface of the fifth metatarsal base. PT acts as an evertor/dorsiflexor of the foot that works when the foot is off the ground in concert with the other anterior compartment leg muscles.[2] The PT functions to fine tune of the foot position during swing phase which is one of the important movements as a dancer.[2] The incidence of foot and ankle ganglion is between 3-5%.[3] Traditionally, they have been classified according to their site of origin: the tendon sheath, joint, bone or soft tissue.[4] Ganglion cysts have been reported in most joints throughout the body, commonly about the wrist. Intratendinous ganglion cysts arising in the foot are uncommon.[5] The provisional diagnosis of intratendinous ganglion is based on the physical examination by palpation of a distinct mass that moves with tendon excursion. Plain radiographs are often normal and an MRI scan does not always differentiate between a simple ganglion and one that is adherent or arising from a tendon. This has important implications for the patient with regard to pre operative counselling with regard to sacrificing of the tendon or recurrence rates following surgery. Two possible mechanisms of pathogenesis of ganglion cysts have been proposed; internal or external. Internal: Mucoid degeneration of tendon ground substance forming cavities full of vicious fluid which may precipitate an intratendinous ganglion.[4] External: Repetitive friction may result in tenosynovitis in which inflammation may cause ganglion formation within the tendon.[6] In a study of Irish dancers by Walls and colleagues, only 3 ankles out of 18 were considered radiologically normal. Irish dance contains lots of jumps which require a large amount of lower extremity strength and stability. One of the Irish dance moves is to stand â€Å"on toe† with ankles fully plantar flexed and knees extended then jump from this position. They produce sound while moving across the floor when standing â€Å"on toe† by creating enough friction between the shoes and the ground. Thus, the peroneal muscles attempt to compensate. Overuse peroneal muscle for this static stabilizing function and dynamic dance movements may lead to tendonitis and tenosynovitis.[7] The most common injury in female Irish dancers is a stress fracture in which the most common sites are the sesamoids bone (27.7%) and metatarsals (23.1%).[8] Peroneus tertius tendon is one of the tendons that insert at the metatarsal. A spiral fracture of the fifth metatarsal base also known as a ‘Dance fracture’ typically occurs when the dancer rolls ‘off pointe’ or landing on the lateral aspect of the foot after a jump where there is limited bony stability supporting the ankle. Higher demands for stability are placed on the ligaments and peroneal muscles. Ankles sprains are the most common acute injury in Irish dance population.[7] Repetitive sprains have also been linked to increased risk of osteoarthritis and articular degeneration at the ankle.[9] Hence, it may lead to the formation of ganglion cyst. There are two types of shoes worn by Irish dancer which namely â€Å"ghillie†, a soft shoe and â€Å"hard shoe†. The ghillie is very thing, pliable leather shoes with small arch support and thin metatarsal and heel pads. The â€Å"hard shoe† is comparable to a tap shoe. The objective of this shoe is to be loud, powerful, and rhythmical while standing upright. As a result a large amount of pressure is put on the metatarsals and sesamoids. The superficial peroneal nerve descends anterior to the fibula and crosses the ankle joint roughly along the anterior midline. The ganglion cyst may compress the nerve and may result in impairment and loss of aversion. Compression neuropathies of the lower extremity are much less common than the upper extremity and only few cases have been described in the surgical literature since the first description of a neuropathy of the peroneal nerve by Sultan in 1921.[10] Since the exact cause of a ganglion cyst is still unknown, it is difficult to tell how to prevent the formation of intratendinous ganglion cyst. However, early evaluation and treatment are recommended. Surgical excision with careful preservation of the tendon with protection of the nerve gives excellent results. References: 1. Kannus P1 JL. Histopathological changes preceding spontaneous rupture of a tendon. A controlled study of 891 patients. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1991;73(10):1507-25 2. Witvrouw E1 BK, Willems TM, Huysmans J, Broos E, De Clercq D. The significance of peroneus tertius muscle in ankle injuries: a prospective study. . Am J Sports Med 2006;34(7):1159-63 3. Berlin SJ RL, Brown H, Finstein M. Soft Somatic Tumours of the Foot: Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment. New York: Futura Publishing Company, 1976. 4. S.C. Young AF. A case of an intratendinous ganglion, The Journal of Hand Surgery, . J Hand Surg Am 1985;10(5):723-24 5. De R. Cystic degeneration of the peroneus brevis tendon. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1959;41-B(2):362-4 6. Seidman GD MS. Intratendinous ganglia of the hand J Hand Surg Am 1993;18(4):707-10 7. Werber B. Dance medicine of the foot and ankle: a review. Clin Podiatr Med Surg 2011;28(1):137-54 8. Noon M HA, McNamara L, Schimke J. Injury patterns in female Irish dancers. PM R 2010;2(11):1030-4 9. J. H. Functional Anatomy, Pathomechanics, and Pathophysiology of Lateral Ankle Instability. J Athl Train 2002;37(4):364-75 10. Greer-Bayramoglu RJ1 NA, Gan BS. Compression neuropathy of the peroneal nerve secondary to a ganglion cyst. Can J Plast Surg 2008;16(3):181-83

Economic Discrimination in Frank McCourts Angela’s Ashes Essay

Economic Discrimination in Frank McCourt's Angela’s Ashes As Jerome K. Jerome once said, â€Å"It is easy enough to say that poverty is no crime. No; if it were men wouldn’t be ashamed of it. It is a blunder, though, and is punished as such. A poor man is despised the whole world over.† This famous quote describes the way poor people are discriminated against and despised around the world by those who are better off. In the novel Angela’s Ashes, by Frank McCourt, the characters are greatly discriminated against by all different parts of society because of their poverty. This makes their constant struggle to survive even harder and prevents them from climbing to the next rung in the social ladder. The poor are discriminated against and held down by the church, school, and their fellow impoverished neighbors, as well as the rest of the world around them to the point where they often give up trying to get out of poverty all together. Shockingly, the place where the McCourts are most discriminated against is the one place where they should feel wanted, loved, and equal to those around them, the Catholic Church. Frank McCourt, the main character who was a young teenager at the time, had the door slammed in his face by the Catholic Church on at least two occasions because of his poverty. The first time he is turned down by the church, Frank’s quest is to become an altar boy. The priest declares that the church is not looking for any more altar boys. However, the real reason Frank is turned down is because of his poverty. Angela, Frank’s moth er, is infuriated and exclaims, â€Å"I’ll tell you what it is, ‘Tis class distinction. They don’t want boys from lanes on the altar. They don’t want the ones with scabby knees and hair sticking up. O... ...d them to the point where they often give up trying to get out of poverty all together. The church will not allow them to be in any sort of position in the church, namely altar boys or priests. The school holds them back by putting them into filthy, run-down schools and teaching them very little while drilling into their minds the fact that no matter how hard they try, they cannot succeed in life. Unfortunately, even their neighbors hold them back by discouraging them to try anything in order to succeed and making fun of their impoverishment. The discrimination that they face daily holds them back and eventually stops them from even trying to succeed and better their lives. As Jerome K. Jerome once explained, the poor will be discriminated against, snubbed and despised the world over. WORKS CITED McCourt, Frank. Angela’s Ashes. New York: Touchstone, 1999.

Micronutrient Study Guide Essay

Vitamin C 1. Vitamin C is a required vitamin for the synthesis of collagen, norepinephrine, and carnitine. Collagen is a crucial component in the structure of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bone. Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter which is critical for proper brain function. Carnitine is a small molecule that is essential for transporting fat into the mitochondria of cells to be later converted into energy. Vitamin C is also used as a highly effective antioxidant to help protect key organs from the effects of free radicals and reactive oxygen. 2. The most severe malady related to a deficiency in vitamin C is scurvy. Symptoms of scurvy are easy bruising/bleeding, hair and tooth loss, and pain and swelling of joints. These symptoms are related to the deficiency of collagen which results in the weakening of blood vessels, connective tissues, and bones. 3. Adequate intake of vitamin C can help to prevent diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, cataracts, gout, and toxicity from lead. 4. For individuals with cardiovascular diseases, treatment that includes daily vitamin C dosages of atleast 500mg per day has been shown to improve vasodilation. It also helps to increase vasodilation in individuals with diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Vitamin C has also been shown to be useful in the treatment of cancer in terminal patients when administered intravenously. 5. Vitamin C supplements are available in a wide variety of forms. Supplements can come in the form of natural or synthetic L-ascorbic acid, mineral ascorbates, with or without bioflavonoids, metabolites, and ascorbyl palmitate. 6. Most studies that have been conducted on high vitamin C intake were based on invitro experiments. The outcomes included genetic mutations, birth defects, cancer, atherosclerosis, kidney stones, excess iron absorption, vitamin B12 deficiency, and dental enamal erosion. Folate/Folic Acid 1. Folates are vitamins that naturally exists in our foods and in metabolically active forms in our body. Folic acid is the more stable form that does not occur frequently in food or our body. However, folic acid is the form that is most often used in supplements and fortififed food. Its functions include the metabolism of one-carbon units, DNA, amino acids, vitamins B12 and B6. 2. Deficiency of folate is usually caused by inadequte dietary consumption. Deficiency can also occur due to alcoholism, pregnancy, or certain medications. Not consuming enough folate can lead to an increase of blood homocysteine levels. Inadequate supply of folate also leads to fewer and larger red blood cells being produced, which causes megaloblastic anemia to occur. 3. Folates can be used to help prevent many things. It helps in the prevention of pregnancy complications, such as neural tube defects, heart defects, limb malformations, premature delivery, low birth weight in infants, miscarriages, and preclampsia. Folates also help in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases caused by elevated homocysteine levels, colorectal and breast cancers, Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive impairment diseases. 4. To help eliminate and prevent diseases and conditions caused by a deficiency in folates and folic acid, it is recommended that adults 19 years old and older consume atleast 400mcg/day of Dietary Folate Equivalent (DFE). 5. Folate can be used in supplemental forms. Folate supplements come in the form of folic acid and are available in single and combination products. 6. There have not been any reported adverse affects of excess folate intake from foods. However, there are concerns with excess levels of synthetic folic acid intake in individuals with vitamin B12 deficiency, which may lead to a condition known as megaloblastic anemia. High intake levels of folic acid in these individuals leads to a correction of the anemia, without correcting the underlying vitamin B12 deficiency. Untreated vitamin B12 deficiency puts those at an increased risk of developing irreversible neurological brain damage. Fluoride 1. Fluoride is used in our body to harden tooth enamel and stabilize bone mineralization. 2. The biggest condition related to a fluoride deficiency is the increased risk of developing dental cavities and tooth decay. 3. Adequate intake of fluoride is useful in the prevention of dental cavities and tooth decay by enhancing remineralization of tooth enamel and making teeth more resistant to demineralization. It has also been found to be useful in the prevention of osteoporosis when consumed at levels higher than that of recommended levels for tooth decay prevention. 4. Osteoporosis can be eliminated with very-high dosages of fluoride. It has been shown to produce large increases in bone mineral density in the vertebrae of the lumbar spine. 5. Fluoride supplements are only available by prescription. They are only intended for children who reside in areas with low water fluoride concentrations. It is given to them for the purpose of increasing their fluoride intake to about 1mg/day. 6. High fluoride intake (for the treatment of osteoporosis) is associated with the side effects of gastrointestinal irritation, joint pain in lower extremities, and the possible development of calcium deficiency, which leads to stress fractures. Acute fluoride poisoning is especially possible in children when consumed in excess through fluoride fortified products. Skeletal fluorosis, the changing of bone structure, can occur with excessive intake occurring over a long period of years. Dental fluorosis is also possible when given in excess to children who have not yet produced permanent teeth. Potassium 1. Potassium is the most abundant positively charged ion contained in the fluid inside of cells. It is a part of an electrochemical gradient known as the membrane potential. It works along with sodium to maintain ion pumps within the cell membrane that use ATP to pump out sodium in exchange for potassium. Potassium is also required for a number of enzymes that require it for activation. 2. The biggest disorder related to potassium deficiency is hypokalemia, which results from excessive loss of potassium through occurrences such as prolonged vomiting, diuretic usage, some kidney diseases, or metabolic disturbances. Hypokalemia symptoms include fatigue, muscle cramps, muscle weakness, and gastrointestinal problems related to intestinal paralysis. 3. Diseases that may be prevented with adequate potassium intake are stroke, osteoporosis, and kidney stones. 4. Potassium intake has been shown to help in the treatment of high blood pressure when consumed through a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables. 5. Supplements containing potassium contain no more than 99mg per serving. Higher dosages are prescribed for the treatment and prevention of hypokalemia and potassium depletion, and should only be used under the guidance of a medical professional. Potassium supplements are available in many forms, including potassium chloride, gluconate,bicarbonate, and citrate. 6. The most common side effect caused by potassium supplementation is gastrointestinal problems. This reaction includes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort. These sides effects may be avoided by consuming potassium supplements with a meal. Using potassium chloride tablets coated with enteric has also reportedly lead to intestinal ulceration.

Whats Eating Gilbert Grape essays

Whats Eating Gilbert Grape essays Personal Identity in Whats Eating Gilbert Grape Personal identity is much like the blueprint for mankind, like a house, it is built and shaped after its design. If not built properly the house will eventually fall apart from how it was built or by the causes of nature. In the case of someone's identity if built properly by an individual it will last and stay strong, however adversity acts like a force of human nature and can either take a positive rebuilding role on a persons identity or a negative destructing role. In the film, What's Eating Gilbert Grape and from the excerpt in the novel of the same title, the director and author directly suggest personal identity as a key issue in the story. Whats eating the good Gilbert is laid out for us, like a feast. The title from the author further suggests we consider not only whats eating Gilbert (the forces preying on him) but also whats eating at him his ways of handling those forces. Living in Endora is like dancing to no music. The lame tone of Gilberts voice over creates a feeling of nothingness and the movie opening, with a track back along the road, suggests a sense of withdrawal. If Endora itself is nothingness, what is life out in the sticks, at the Grape house? Life at the Grape house is very depressing for all. Bonnie feels she has burdened her children and because of this Gilbert is forced to play the role of dad; Arnies retardation makes it hard for the rest of the family to deal with him because he is so hard to look after. All of this has a major impact on Gilbert. Over the course of the film Gilbert undergoes deep change. He is at first embarrassed by his mother, speaks disparagingly of her and even, at o ne point, lifts a small child to the window to peek at her. Yet in the final scenes, with Bonnie on her bed, there is love, tenderness and respect in his face. He has released all hi ...

Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder Introduction This assignment is a discussion on the topic of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).The discussion is based on the definition of Major Depressive Disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Major Depressive Disorder specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The purpose of the discussion is to analyze the definition of MDD and identify any gaps based on the social and biomedical perspectives, after which it gives the recommendations to fill the gaps in the definition so as to inform the definition of the MDD in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The discussion starts with a definition of MDD, then goes on to identify the gaps and the recommendations to fill the gaps. At the end is a conclusion which sums up the main arguments of the discussion. Discussion The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Di sorders Criteria for Defining MDD The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders bases its definition of MDD majorly on the criteria of consistence and persistence of symptoms. The criteria distinguish MDD from depression by describing MDD as occurring in a prolonged manner, usually for a period of two weeks. It defines MDD as a form of depression in which the patient experiences feelings of disturbed moods in a recurrent manner. The mood disturbance cause disruption of the patient’s normal mood and makes him or her unable to adjust or behave accordingly in school, family setting as well as in work. The criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not have any kind of diagnosis for MDD but relies on observation of the patient, the patient’s own account of changes in mood as well as reports by close friends or relatives on the observed changes in mood in the patient. The most notable symptoms which are relied on in diagnosing for MDD include day to day mood changes lasting for more than two weeks, lack of interest in virtually all daily activities even those which are very interesting, instances of daytime sleep (hypersomnia), loss of appetite which leads to loss of body weight, or a weight gain by more than 5 kilograms, inability to concentrate or think aptly, fatigue which leads to feelings of tiredness even after waking up, occasional thoughts about death which are accompanied by feelings of worthlessness, and suicidal or homicidal tendencies. On the symptom of depressed mood however, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria does not categorize depressed moods caused by things like drug and alcohol use or misuse, or depressed mood caused by other medical illnesses or conditions as MDD.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It does not also diagnose MDD for patients who are believ ed to have histories of mixed episodes, mania, bipolar disorder or hypomanic. Similarly, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria do not attribute the symptoms of depression caused by stress and bereavement in the criteria for diagnosing for MDD. The treatment and management of MDD under the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders mainly constitutes of three major interventions namely psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy and the use of antidepressants. For psychotherapy, the criteria recommend cognitive behavioral therapy both to the victim and his or her family members as well as close friends. It also recommends the method of psychoanalysis which was proposed by Sigmund Freud as a way of reconciling the past experiences with the present so as to help the patient get rid of the traumatic experiences of the past and live in a new orientation. According to the criteria, psychotherapy is recommended for patients with mild forms o f MDD. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders recommends antidepressant intervention for the severe cases of MDD which are accompanied by other mental illnesses. The commonly used antidepressant is the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), which is known to be effective especially for those patients who have recurrent episodes of MDD as well as those who respond negatively to psychotherapy. Electroconvulsive therapy is recommended for those patients who do not respond positively to both psychotherapy and antidepressants. It is also recommended for those patients who have suicidal tendencies, or those who are faced with the threat of dying due to their inability to eat or drink. It involves the generation of seizures in the patient’s brain through the use of electric waves especially when the patient is in a state of anesthesia. The Gaps in the Definition and Recommendations One major gap in the above definition of MDD is that the Diagnostic and S tatistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not consider social factors such as stress, stigma, criticism from other people, isolation and other relationship problems and challenges in its definition of MDD. According to a study done by Kleinman in 2004, negative criticism especially from family members is a major cause of MDD especially among women (Kleinman, 2004. pp.951-953). Other researchers have found out that grieve may be a cause of MDD, especially if the patient loses loved ones in a series of episodes. The prolonged stress as a result of bereavement may precipitate MDD in the patients, especially if the patients had strong emotional attachment to the deceased.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Major Depressive Disorder specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders should therefore consider including in its criteria of the causes of MDD the socia l factors mentioned above. This would allow for wider conceptualizations of the disorder, consequently leading to a wider conceptualization of its treatment and management. This would also widen the scope, especially with regard to counseling approaches involved. Such a move may see the inclusion of bereavement counseling as a way of dealing with or managing MDD. Going by the Diathesis-Stress perspective of mental illness, the criteria for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has got some other gaps in its definition and conceptualization of MDD. According to this perspective, individuals are born with certain predispositions, which are nurtured by environmental interactions into specific thought patterns and or personalities, some of which may manifest themselves as MDD. The diathesis stress perspective identifies various predispositions which may shape the future personalities of young children. Such predispositions include genetics, neurotransmitters, neurobiolog y and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis (Martinowich Lu, 2008. pp.342-348). The next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders should therefore comprise the above mentioned predispositions in its definition and conceptualization of MDD. This is because with such a gap in a definition of an important concept like MDD, it can make the diagnosis and treatment too narrow, biased and consequently inappropriate and inadequate in dealing with the disorder. The idea of the current edition of ignoring symptoms linked to personalities is tantamount to ignoring a very important aspect of mental illnesses. MDD should therefore be contextualized not only in terms of the duration in which it occurs but also on the history of the individual especially in regard to the above predispositions. The other gap which is found in the definition and conceptualization of MDD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental criteria is the role of sleep patterns in M DD. According to Krishnan, both ‘decreased REM latency’ and ‘decreased slow wave sleep’ are known to be major contributors of MDD. This is because upon the necessary intervention to deal with them, most patients show improvement in the severity of symptoms of MDD. Based the findings by Krishnan, the next edition should include the sleep patterns in the diagnosis for MDD. This would make the treatment of MDD more inclusive and consequently effective, as opposed to the current situation in which the sleep disorders and patterns are completely ignored in the diagnosis and treatment of MDD. Conclusion This assignment was a discussion on the topic of major depressive disorder. The discussion was based on the current edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) and how it defines MDD. From the discussion, it has emerged that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) criteria is perhaps the most comprehen sive approach in defining MDD as well as other mental illnesses.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The criteria for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines MDD based on the criteria of the duration of the symptoms, which it puts at two weeks. In the diagnosis of MDD, the criteria rely on observations of symptoms like suicidal tendencies and lack of concentration in the patients. These symptoms may be reported by the patient or his or her close friends or family members. One of the gaps which have been identified in the definition is the ignorance of some predispositions like genetics as well as social factors like stigma, isolation and criticisms. One of the recommendations is that the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders should factor in the issues identified above so as to fill the gap in the definition and make the diagnosis and treatment of MDD more inclusive and effective. References Kleinman, A. (2004).Culture and Depressions. The New England Journal of Medicine, (351) 10, pp.951-953. Krishnan. (2010). Epidemiology, Pathogenesis Neurobiology of Depression. Web. Martinowich, K., Lu, B.(2008). Interaction between BDNF and Serotonin: Role in Mood Disorders. Neuropsychophamacology: Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychophamacology, 12(3), pp.342-348.

The association between the derivatives products and the financial Dissertation

The association between the derivatives products and the financial risk management is quite substantial and significant - Dissertation Example In order to operate in an effective manner, the banks need to manage their assets and liabilities from the various risks prevailing in the economy, one of which is the interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is the risk to earnings or capital arising from movement of interest rates. The need to manage the interest rate risk is very crucial for any bank and it has generally been observed that the interest rate risk management form the integral part of the risk management policies of all major global banks. This dissertation analysis the effectiveness of â€Å"interest rate swaps† in managing the interest rate risk faced by the UK banks and also how these derivatives product improves financial outlook of these banks. For the purpose of conducting the study, a quantitative and qualitative analysis was conducted on a sample of 12 major UK based banks. Through this analysis the conclusion is drawn that interest rate swaps is quite an effective hedging tool for the management of the interest rate risk and also for improving the financial outlook of a bank. Problem Statement In the global conventional economic environment, it would be quite interesting to evaluate the usage of the interest rate swaps by the financial institutions of UK, particularly multinationals banks. In this study 12 major banks of UK are selected and through both qualitative and quantitative research, the effectiveness of interest rate swaps is evaluated in managing and curtailing the financial risk. Research aim and objective The association between the derivatives products and the financial risk management is quite substantial and significant. The purpose of this paper is to conduct research on the basis of an expected analytical outcome, based on qualitative and quantitative analysis of the financial statements of UK banks, that how they have implemented the interest rate swaps in their risk management strategy. In this dissertation proposal the aims and objectives are as follows: To cla rify the influencing impact that the interest rate swaps in the global financial market in terms of managing and curtailing risk. Through quantitative and qualitative research and analysis, evaluate how giant UK banks are safeguarding their risk of being exposed to interest rate fluctuation in both the local and international financial market. Through a questionnaire, conduct an interview with the major finance personnel of these banks in order to obtain their views about the effectiveness of interest rate swaps in managing interest rate and financial risk. Research Questions Is there any positive significant association between interest rates swaps and financial risk management process? How interest rate swaps works in the global financial market? How effective are interest rate swaps in managing and curtailing the interest rate risk and financial risk faced by the UK banks? Dissertation Layout The first Chapter ‘

Examine the extent to which children have rights in a particular area Essay

Examine the extent to which children have rights in a particular area of law and provision (Abortion) - Essay Example The UK is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Children’s rights held in the month of December in the year 1991. The Convention acts as a basis for protection of children’s rights in all member states. (Every Child Matters, 2008) The convention provides that all children have the right to life. This brings up a vital question; can a foetus be considered as a child? The United Kingdom recognises viable foetuses as those ones who have exceeded twenty four weeks. (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 2004) This is why the Abortion Act of 1967 allows abortions before a pregnancy has reached that stipulated time. In relation to this, the UK only allows abortion in cases where the unborn child will affect his mother’s health both physically and mentally. By providing such a restriction, the unborn child’s right to life is protected because mothers may not terminate their pregnancies for minor reasons. This ensures that unborn children’s rights are protected in the most viable way possible. The Abortion Act of 1967 also provides that abortions should only be carried out after obtaining consent from two medical practitioners. (Abortion right, 2007) The purpose of this stipulation is to further ascertain that abortions are only carried out in extreme conditions and that a child’s best interests are protected even before they are born. However, certain human rights groups like the Society for the protection of the unborn child claims that these laws are not doing enough to protect the unborn child. They argue that all abortions should be made illegal through repealing of the abortion acts relevant to women in the UK today. (Arthur, 2007) Experts agree that the United Kingdom’s abortion laws are quite severe to women but protect unborn children through its restrictions. In comparison to other countries in that area, unborn children take precedence over women. In countries like

LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS - Essay Example True indeed as the article asserts, Russia has proved to be a developing growth market whose legal environment has constantly changed in the recent past. The country has in the recent past experienced an increase in activities involving corporate transactions of different types including not only public listings, but also mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, consolidation and also restructuring. The result of these development have been far reaching especially from the legal front telling from the rising number of high profile disputes involving mostly Russian parties who numerous studies have indicated to be favoring either the English courts or other arbitration venues outside Russia for resolution of the disputes. This article despite not being very comprehensive in nature, the opinions provided has been presented in quite a general way making it worth for reference by any interested persons. While discussing the changing legal environment, the current state of affairs in Rus sia has been clearly brought out. Among the issues analyzed include the various changes to the Russian legislation and the impacts which they may have. One notable effect discussed on the article is the non appreciation of Russia to what the country regards as interference by foreign courts which is a clear indicator of the importance of the companies that wish to enter into transactions relating to business in Russia having a clear understanding of the local practical, legal and procedural issues (White & Case, 2012). The article has also been very effective in identifying the various trends that are associated with joint venture and the other transactions in Russia. Truly as asserted by Andrei Dontsov in the article that most offshore JVs are usually governed by an English law shareholder agreement, this is indeed a true reflection of what is on the ground as widely documented by different research findings on the topic. The issue of upcoming changes in Russian law has been well a nalyzed in the article. The article has been successful in outlining the various amendments to the Russian Civil Code that are under consideration by the Russian parliament whose main aim is to introduce new legal concepts familiar to lawyers from other jurisdictions (White & Case, 2012). While analyzing the issues to do with enforcing one’s rights as regards to Russia-related transactions, the article has been very successful in reiterating the importance of the investors doing business in Russia to keenly following the various developments with high likelihood of impacting the investor’s rights in instances where there may arise disagreements between the parties. This has been clearly brought out in the article especially to the extent where there is no appreciation of interferences and the implementation of various measures that are mainly aimed at addressing the interferences. The article has also been very successful in addressing the issues regarding the enforcem ent against assets within Russia. Among the issues that have clearly come out include whether arbitration can be relied upon to resolve disputes and key issue of concern being there can be enforcement of arbitration award obtained outside Russia (White & Case, 2012). Another issue of concern that the article clearly brought out was mostly related to one-sided optional dispute resolution clauses that is mostly common in finance transactions while at the same time operating to give the different parties