Thursday, December 26, 2019

The Alchemist Quotes

The New York Times panned The Alchemist as â€Å"more self help than literature,† and while that has a sliver of truth, this characteristic makes for a very quotable book. â€Å"That hasn’t hurt it with readers,† the writer concedes. In fact, since its publication in 1988, the book has gone on to sell more than 65 million copies. Soul of the World Whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, its because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. Its your mission on earth. Melchizedek tells Santiago this upon first meeting him, and essentially summarizes the whole philosophy of the book. He emphasizes the importance of dreams, not dismissing them as silly or selfish, but as a means through which one can connect with the soul of the universe and determine ones Personal Legend. For instance, Santiago’s wish to see the pyramids is not a silly nighttime fantasy, but the conduit for his own journey of spiritual discovery.   What he refers to as the â€Å"soul of the universe† is actually the Soul of the World, which is the spiritual essence that permeates everything in the world. With this quote, Melchizedek explains the individualistic nature of one’s own purpose, which heavily contrasts with the spirit of abjection of the main religions. Love It was love. Something older than humanity, more ancient than the desert. Something that exerted the same force whenever two pairs of eyes met, as had theirs here at the well. In this quote, Coelho explains love as the oldest force of humanity. The main love story in the plot concerns Santiago and Fatima, a woman who lives at the oasis, whom he meets while she’s collecting water at the well. When he falls for her, his feelings are reciprocated, and he goes as far as proposing marriage. While she accepts, she is also aware of Santiago’s Personal Legend, and, being a woman from the desert, she knows that he has to depart. However, if their love is meant to be, she is confident that he will return to her. If I am really a part of your dream, youll come back one day,† she tells him. She uses the expression maktub, meaning â€Å"it is written,† which show’s Fatima’s being comfortable with letting events unfold spontaneously. Im a desert woman, and Im proud of that,† she explains as her rationale. â€Å"I want my husband to wander as free as the wind that shapes the dunes.† Omens and Dreams You came so that you could learn about your dreams, said the old woman. And dreams are the language of God.† Santiago visits the old woman, who uses a mixture of black magic and sacred imagery to learn about a recurring dream he’d been having. He’d been dreaming about Egypt, the pyramids, and a buried treasure, and the woman interprets this in a pretty straightforward way, telling him he must, indeed, go to Egypt to find said treasure, and that she will need 1/10 of it as her compensation. The old woman tells him that dreams are not just flights of fancy, but a way with which the universe is communicating with us. Turns out that the dream he had in the church was slightly misleading, as once he made it to the pyramid, one of his ambushers told him that he had a parallel dream about a treasure buried in a church in Spain, and that’s where Santiago ends up finding it.   Alchemy The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals. They spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world. They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves. This explanation on how alchemy works, provided by the Englishman, serves as the overarching metaphor of the entire book. In fact, it connects the practice of transforming base metals into gold to attaining spiritual perfection by pursuing one’s own Personal Legend. For humans, purification takes place when one completely focuses on the Personal Legends, getting rid of mundane cares such as greed (those who just want to make gold will never become alchemists) and ephemeral contentment (staying in the oasis to marry Fatima without pursuing his Personal Legend would have not benefited Santiago). This, eventually, means that all other desires, love included, are trumped by the pursuit of one’s own Personal Legend.   The Englishman As the Englishman stared out at the desert, his eyes seemed brighter than they had when he was reading his books. When we first meet the Englishman, he is metaphorically buried in his books trying to understand alchemy, as he used to see books as the main way of acquiring knowledge. He spent ten years studying, but it only took him so far, and, when we first meet him, he has reached a dead end in his pursuit. Since he believes in omens, he decides to set out and find the alchemist himself. When he eventually finds him, he is asked whether he ever tried to turn lead into gold. â€Å"I told him that was what I had come here to learn,† the Englishman tells Santiago. â€Å"He told me I should try to do so. Thats all he said: Go and try. The Crystal Merchant I dont want anything else in life. But you are forcing me to look at wealth and at horizons that I have never known. Now that I have seen them, and now that I see how immense my possibilities are, Im going to feel worse than I did before you arrived. Because I know the things I should be able to accomplish, and I dont want to do so. The crystal merchant speaks these words to Santiago after he had spent the past year in Tangier working for him and significantly improving his business. He voices his personal regret about not achieving all that life had in store for him, which leaves him feeling dejected. He became complacent, and his life trajectory is a threat and a danger to Santiago, as he periodically gets tempted to either return to Spain to herd sheep or to marry a desert woman and forget about his Personal Legend.The mentor figures of the book, such as the Alchemist, warn Santiago against settling, as settling causes regrets and losing touch with the Soul of the World.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Islam Essay - 1483 Words

the Islamic Congresss president, Mohamed Elmasry. Mr. Elmasry said there are bad Muslims just as there are bad Christians and Jews. quot;We treat them as such and so should you. But Islam is a religion of peace. Muslims have a religious duty to be tolerant of other faiths and other ideologies. Mr. Elmasry said journalists need to differentiate between the peaceful teachings of Islam and the claims of some Muslim extremists that their actions are justified by their interpretations of Islam. He likened the situation of Canadian Muslims today to that of Canadian Jews 50 years ago. quot;Jewish children were being (wrongly) called Christ-killers just as Muslim children are called terrorists today. In their letter to the editor in the†¦show more content†¦That is called quot;extremism,quot; and quot;Islamic Extremism.quot; But a movement for better living, that is not extremism. These people nowadays are developing two ways of understanding the situation of Islam. From one side th ey think that they have to reform it; it is a duty on them, they have been brainwashed to think that they have to cleanse the world of devils and demons and of countries that suppress them, oppress them, and try to shut them down. Logicians argue that one cannot pass a judgment on something unless one has a clear conception of it, because the unknown and the undefined cannot be judged. Therefore, we first have to determine what quot;religious ,extremismquot; means before we can condemn or applaud it. We can do so by considering its reality and its most distinguishing characteristics. Literally, extremism means being situated at the farthest possible point from the center. Figuratively, it indicates a similar remoteness in religion and thought, as well as behavior. One of the main consequences of extremism is exposure to danger and insecurity.! Islam, therefore, recommends moderation and balance in everything: in belief, ibadah, conduct, and legislation. Islam is frequently misunders tood and may even seem exotic in some parts of todays world. Perhaps this is because religion no longer dominates everyday life in Western society; whereas, for Muslims, IslamShow MoreRelatedThe Islam Of Islam And Islam1398 Words   |  6 Pagesreligion of Islam today, there is a general that women are considered to be oppressed and deprived from becoming successful and powerful women. There is a claim within the Muslim community that Islam helped to elevate the status of woman with the creation of the religion in 610 A.D. The Muslim woman in Islam, specifically the married Muslim woman is not protected in Islam through the Quran. They are not considered to be of equal status of their male counterparts.. Many people in Islam believeRead MoreIslam : Islam And Islam869 Words   |  4 PagesIslam is a religion that developed in Arabia in the 7th century C.E. Islam was founded on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Islam belief centers on the premise that Allah is the one a nd true God with no partner or equal. Islam is divided into several branches each with its own interpretations. Founder Followers: Muhammad is considered the founder of the Islam faith. He was born around 571 CE in Mecca, in what is today Saudi Arabia. Much of what we know about him comes from his sermons andRead MoreThe Arrival Of Islam And Islam952 Words   |  4 PagesThe arrival of Islam brought many changes to Arabian life and society as it then existed. One of these changes was among the treatment of women and their place in society. Before the coming of Islam in the 7th century, women were thought to be inferior servants to men. The arrival of Islam throughout Arabia opened many opportunities for women that allowed them more rights and more influence on the basis of equality. The arrival of Islam is what was crucial for women to be seen as human beings. WomenRead MoreChristianity And Islam : Islam1317 Words   |  6 PagesChristianity and Islam in Premodern Africa Christianity and Islam date back to a time long before the modern era and both have sizable similarities between the two religions. Many of these similarities can be simplified into three subjects; both have books comprised of holy texts written about events taking place during their prophet’s life, both are believed to have started with God appointed leaders, and both consist of different divisions within their religion. Christianity starting with theRead MoreThe Birth Of Islam And Islam1129 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: The birth of Islam published liberal and humanistic origin of Islam in east Bengal. But later this Islam turn into political Islam due to three reasons the emergence of religious based Pakistan state, failure of punished the war criminals and the declaration of Islam as the state religion in replaced of secularism (8th amendment 1988). The failure of the state to provide basic need to the people, increasing violence in Economy and political sector gro wing discrimination in society,Read MoreThe History Of Islam And Islam1247 Words   |  5 PagesThe History of Islam Islam is a religion that was founded in 622 C.E. Its origin is traced to the Arabian Peninsula, and currently has an estimated 1.5 billion followers’ worldwide. The sacred texts that are associated with Islam is the Qur’an and Allah is the Deity they pay homage to. Muslims believe that there is only one true God and several time per day, they stop everything to participate in prayer rituals. The region, in which Islam was founded, was a melting pot of religious beliefs. ThereRead MoreThe Religion Of Islam And Islam1544 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"America and Islam are not exclusive and need not to be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings† (Barack Obama). For many decades, in most cultures, religious practice has been a controversial issue, because each religion competes demonstrating that their practices are the true path to God. Religious tolerance is very importa nt because followers should be free to choose their own religion. Some religionsRead MoreThe Meaning Of Islam And Islam1047 Words   |  5 PagesThe meaning of Islam is submission to one God. The central point or belief in Islam is to believe in the existence of only one God or Allah. The religion revolves around this one belief known as tawhid. This idea occurs in other religions such as Judaism and Christianity. All of these authentic religions speak of the same God as Islam is the reassertion of the revelation of God to Abraham, Noah and Christ. Islam considers these great figures as prophets and they are included in the Quran, the holyRead MoreIslam : The Rise Of Islam1335 Words   |  6 PagesSimilar to the religion of Christianity, Islam is difficult to generalize. When one brings up the word in conversation, they could be speaking of the religion and its systematic belief system or they could simply be talking about the approximately one and a half billion people who have f lourished and who currently live under the influence of said religion. Extending from Indonesia to Morocco and from Kazakhstan to Senegal, the ideals and mission of Islam were created in the seventh century underRead MoreChristianity And Islam : Islam937 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM.† Christianity and Islam are the two largest religions in the world, with over 2 billion Christian, and 1.5 billion Muslim followers. Christianity was founded by Jesus Christ approximately 2000 years ago in Palestine. Bible is collection of 66 books containing a message from God. The Muslim name for God is Allah. Islam is based on revelations received by the prophet Mohammad and originated in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Quran, is the Islamic sacred text. Both are monotheistic

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

An Army of One free essay sample

Twenge begins her argument by explaining that before the 1960’s, â€Å"self-esteem† did not have a pronounced role in the average life. Most people as Twenge explained learned at a very early age that recognizing others as opposed to only recognizing oneself, was much more important. In addition to this dating back hundreds of years ago, people had very little say in the decisions that were made in one’s own life. Who one married, what one’s job was, what one’s religious affiliation was-these were all decisions made by one’s parents. Slowly but surely however, as time went on people began more and more to become more individualistic and make decisions for themselves. The Baby Boomers as Twenge describes, in the 1970’s were the first real generation to truly focus on â€Å"meaning and self-fulfillment†. Despite that this is true, Twenge makes the argument that the boomers are not in fact the â€Å"real† Generation Me because they were not born into a world with these ideologies, but instead later explored it. We will write a custom essay sample on An Army of One or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In addition to this, the boomers generally did most things in groups and not on their own and therefore, are not considered to be Generation Me. Twenge then compares the two generations and how the two groups differentiate. The reader is able to see how being born into an environment where you are raised with the ideas of having to have high self-esteem leads to entitlement more self-absorbed people (GenMe) versus trying to fulfill oneself on ones own. The importance of having a high self-esteem has become very significant in the 80’s and 90’s and Twenge truly exemplifies through songs, children’s books and TV shows throughout her essay. Twenge then shows how this almost has a negative effect as kids are becoming less competitive and grade inflation has even reached its highest. Twenge continues on by discussing the self-esteem programs and how they relate to lower grades among students. It is important to acknowledge the fact that she is not saying it is a bad thing to have high self esteem, she just simply believes kids need to learn to have it for accomplishing things on their own-similar to the ways of the baby boomers.

Monday, December 2, 2019

The Monroe Doctrine free essay sample

The U. S benefitted Latin America through the implementation of the Monroe Doctrine, which helped prevented further European colonization. Independence and sovereignty were in the U. S’s intentions for involvement in Latin America, while many European governments saw benefits in overturning independence and thereby acquiring resources and global power. This paper will use examples of European colonialism in, Africa, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, to support my claim. Both the U. S and Europe had very different intentions for getting involved in Latin America and this influenced their relations and the overall status of Latin America. In the end, the United States helped prevent European re-colonization in Latin America through the Monroe Doctrine, even if the United States began aggressively extending its own formal and informal empire by the end of the nineteenth century. President James Monroe first presented the Monroe Doctrine in two parts in 1823. The first part was an anti colonial message to the Europeans, and the second was a promise of solidarity between the U. We will write a custom essay sample on The Monroe Doctrine or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page S and Latin America. â€Å"The Monroe doctrine’s transformation over time from a foreign policy principle into a national ideology was caused by the rise in U. S power, and American Expansionism. This transformed the Monroe Doctrine from an original isolationist policy, which was opposed to intervention in the Americans, to being amended with corollaries, which authorized the U. S to engage in internal affairs of Latin American countries,† (Dent 7). Before 1823, the U. S was still trying to become economically and politically stable after Independence. It was not until 1823 that President James Monroe came up with the Monroe Doctrine in order to send an anti colonial message to Europeans in a hope to keep them from expanding into the Western Hemisphere. Monroe stated, The American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers,  (Perkins 43). However, it took until 1895 before the Monroe Doctrine held any real precedence. At the time the Monroe Doctrine came into existence the U. S had no power to enforce it, with their weak military, and low economic status. But the Venezuela Crisis of 1895 transformed the Monroe Doctrine from a simple piece of legislator into a Global policy. The Venezuela Crisis led the British to  Ã¢â‚¬Å"tacitly concede the U. S. definition of the Monroe Doctrine and its hegemony in the hemisphere. † [1] The Venezuela Crisis was a land dispute between Venezuela and the United Kingdom and the U. S had to act as an arbitrator. After the settlement, Roosevelt decided to amend the Monroe Doctrine to include the Roosevelt Corollary in 1904. It stated the U. S had the right to intervene in Latin America internal affairs when there was â€Å"flagrant and chronic wrongdoing by a Latin American Nation. † [2] â€Å"The Monroe doctrine acted as a rationalization for U. S intervention and dollar diplomacy in dealing with Latin America. The original message of the Monroe doctrine did emphasize keeping Europe out of the Western Hemisphere, but it did not mention the U. S’s own intentions or limitations in access to Latin America. Between 1895 and 1930 the United States assumed the role of hemispheric policeman, imposing its control over Central America and the Caribbean in the name of peace, democracy, stability, and economic protection,† (Dent 7). Europe had several incentives for getting involved in Latin America, the first being a need for another economic market. One of the major ways a colony can strengthen a nation is by providing it with another economic market. As a result of Industrialization, production was too high for consumer demand in Europe. Jules Ferry wrote an appeal to the French, urging colonization. In his appeal he wrote, The European consumer-goods market is saturated: unless we declare modern society bankrupt and prepare, at the dawn of the twentieth century, for its liquidation by revolution (the consequences of which we can scarcely foresee), new consumer markets will have to be created in other parts of the world. Meaning that unless there is another market to sell national products to, then employment could decline drastically within the nation and eventually cause revolution. Englishman, Joseph Chamberlain, once gave a speech to the Birmingham Relief Association in 1894. In this speech Chamberlain stated, That in order that we may have more employment to give we must create more demand. This proves that the idea of a foreign market as a means of economic power was widespread among Europeans at the time. Both an Englishman and a Frenchmen used the same argument in pushing for colonization. [4] This quote gives insight to the economic markets in Europe and the many different countries that were advocating for another foreign market. The next incentive for European Colonialism was a need for Raw materials to fuel manufacturing. Many of the nations the Europeans colonized did not have the means for manufacturing goods, but they were able to provide the raw materials. Europe was over developed and no longer had a constant stream of manufacturing materials. However, other nations who had no means of manufacturing, due to underdevelopment, had bountiful resources that had been left untouched. The industrial revolutions in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries helped to spur European imperialism. For example, the production of cotton cloth needed tons of imported raw materials. Europe could not produce or grow these materials though so India grew cotton. However, Europe needed a cheap supply in order to capitalize, which lead to the spread of British control in the region. A third incentive of European colonialism was nationalism. Europe wanted to prove its superiority by colonizing and being in control of as much land as possible. â€Å"During the period 1850 to 1871, the nation-state achieved its mature status in Europe. Nationalism clearly became the principal basis for the organization of western civilization. This fact had earlier been demonstrated in England and in France during the course of their political revolutions. In this period, it became manifest throughout Europe. Nationalism is a primary motivating element, which determined the course of events in France during the regime of Napoleon III, Italy where unification was achieved, Germany, where unification was achieved, Russia where important steps towards modernization were taken, and the United States, which experienced the Civil War, a war to preserve the  union. Nationalism is the equivalent of American Patriotism and in the same way creates a sense of unification. It appeals to every member of a nation and regardless of race, gender, social class; it was the promise of benefitting the entire nation. There were also several incentives for the U. S to get involved in Latin America. The main focus for the U. S was to keep communism out of the Western Hemisphere. There are several examples of U. S involvement in Latin America due to the threat of communism. The Bag of Pigs invasion on April 17, 1961 was the attempt to remove Fidel Castro, a communist Cuban leader, from presidency. The Invasion of Grenada on October 25, 1983 is another example. The U. S was trying to remove Maurice Bishop, who had came to power with Cuban support, and was constructing a large airstrip designed for Soviet aircraft. There is also the example of Chile and Pinochet. Salvador Allende was the President who had strong ties with Cuba’s Fidel Castro. â€Å"Following the event, in a conference with President Nixon, National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger stated, ‘the Chilean thing is getting consolidated and of course the newspapers are bleeding because a pro-Communist government has been overthrown. Communism was a threat to American ideals, and if the Soviets were in Latin America, the U. S would have been vulnerable. In order to protect American Interests as well as Latin America’s, the U. S got involved in the internal affairs of several countries. The next incentive for American involvement in Latin America was helping Latin American countries maintain independence. After Latin American countries slowly began to gain independence, the only thing keeping European countries from maintaining them was the Monroe Doctrine. The U. S was now able to enforce it and keep European powers from reclaiming their lost colonies. For example, â€Å"Panama was once a part of Colombia (which was itself part of a country called Great Colombia following independence from Spain). The Colombian government had negotiated with the US to build a canal to bridge the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, but it fell through. A separatist movement in Panama ensued, which the US supported. Following the establishment of the Republic of Panama, French engineering magnate Philip Burnau-Varilla sold his concession to the building rights for the canal to the US government. The US also demanded control of the canal and the six-mile zone around it. The tension culminated in the 1964 riots that killed 22 Panamanians and 4 US soldiers. Control of the Canal was transferred back to Panama in 1999. †[5] Not only did the U. S support Panama in this initial movement for Independence, but also after gaining independence their presence was enough to intimidate the French from reclaiming Panama, although after obtaining independence the U. S did wish to maintain control of the Canal. A third incentive for American involvement was trade. The U.S wanted to establish strong trade relations with Latin America, but could not do so when Europe dominated some of Latin America’s countries so deeply that they sent the majority of all their exports to Europe. â€Å"By 1913, British investors owned 2/3rds of the total foreign investment in Latin America (railroads in Argentina, Mexico, Peru, and Brazil). † [8] Trade is mutually beneficial for economic growth, but not when a foreign investor owns the industries and controls exports so circulation of capital is not within a country, but rather, accumulated and transported back to Europe. Europe colonized many nations, most of which fueled their desire for economic growth at the cost of native people’s happiness. Starting with Africa as an example, Europe had very little investment in Africa in the early 1800s, but after much exploration, and the discovery of abundant resources, Europe’s interest in Africa peaked. Fueled by the same incentives for European colonization, Europe wished to create overseas empires due to imperialism. As well as a strong urge to control lands that had raw materials they needed for manufacturing and their growing Industrial movement. As well as opening up their markets in order to de-saturate them. Along with nationalism, Europe was motivated to gain colonies and establish their greatness. As a result of these influences, Europe began snatching up African lands. â€Å"Technology helped them succeed. Steam engines, railroads, and telegraphs made them able to penetrate deep into Africa and still have contact with the home country. Machine guns gave them a weapon of far greater power than any African peoples possessed. Finally, discovery of quinine gave doctors a weapon against malaria, which struck Europeans. They were also helped by the lack of unity among African peoples. The events called the European scramble for Africa began in the 1880s. The discovery of gold and diamonds in Africa increased European interest in the continent. So that they would not fight over the land, European powers met in Berlin in 1884~85. They agreed that any nation could claim any part of Africa simply by telling the others and by showing that it had control of the area. They then moved quickly to grab land. By 1914, only Liberia and Ethiopia were independent of European control. The Europeans began to build plantations where they grew peanuts, palm oil, cocoa, and rubber. They also took important minerals. The Congo produced copper and tin. South Africa had gold and diamonds. † [9] Europeans did not care for the rights of those living in Africa, Fueled by Racism and a lust for money and power Europeans directed the resources of Africa away from internal growth and instead diverted them to European capital. Another great example is Mexico in the 1860’s, where Europeans did try to re-colonize after the implementation of the Monroe Doctrine. Starting with Maximilian I, the only monarch of the Second Mexican Empire, he would be the last attempt to reclaim Mexico for Europe. â€Å"In the 1860s Mexico was occupied by the French. Using Mexico’s failure to repay its foreign debts as a pretext and his own desire to revive the Mexican monarchy, Napoleon III placed an emperor on the throne in 1864, Habsburg Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria. Embroiled in its own civil war at the time, the United States government under Abraham Lincoln did not intervene. †[10] He had a very successful career in the Austrian Navy prior to his Mexican Monarchial status. After he came into power, many nations including the U. S would not recognize his administration. â€Å"When the French realized that they had been unsuccessful in their occupation, and faced with Mexican resistance and U. S. opposition following Lincoln’s death, they withdrew from Mexico in 1866. Since he refused to give up his throne to return to Europe, Maximilian was left behind without support. Confronted with a civil war and the republican forces led by Benito Juarez, he felt his influence was rapidly eroding. With the growing reality of a return of the Juarez regime he was able to hold out for less than one year before his troops were overrun in Queretaro. On June 19, 1867 Ferdinand Maximilian was executed by firing squad. He was 35 years old. His body was returned to Austria where it lies in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna. †[10] With this final attempt crushed, Mexico was able to regain control of its own government. My final example is the Dominican Restoration War between 1863 and 1865. General Pedro Santana had taken the presidency from Buenaventura Baez, who had bankrupted the nation’s treasury. Pedro, faced with a serious economic crisis as well as the threat of another attack from Haiti, asked Spain to retake control of the country, which had only been independent for 17 years. Spain was apprehensive, but the U. S was fighting a civil war, making it unable to enforce the Monroe Doctrine. On March 18, 1861, they finalized the annexation of the Dominican Republic back under Spanish rule. [11] â€Å"Spanish officials began to alienate the general population by instituting a policy known as  bagajes, which required citizens to hand over any work animals to the Spanish military upon demand without any guarantee of compensation. This was especially problematic in the Cibao  region in the north, where farmers depended on their animals for their livelihoods. A second factor was cultural: the new archbishop from Spain was appalled to find that a large number of Dominican couples were not married within the Roman Catholic Church. With the best of intentions, Archbishop Bienvenido de Monzon wanted to rectify this situation within a short time, but his demands only irritated the local population, who had come to accept the current state of illegitimate births as normal. Economically, the new government also imposed higher  tariffs  on non-Spanish goods and ships and attempted to establish a  monopoly  on  tobacco, thus alienating the merchant classes as well. [11] â€Å"Pedro Santana rose to power, who in 1860 wrote a long letter to Queen Isabel II, requesting the  annexion of Dominican Republic to Spain, that is, the readmittance of  Dominica  into the Spanish Empire arguing that they had the same origins, held the same religion and customs. Spain complied, and Domincan Republic became one of the Spanish colonies  once more, with disastrous economic results for the former republic. [13] â€Å"Spain never kept their side of the agreement and they returned to slavery and racial measures and religious intolerance. Massive popular revolts took place as a consequence of economic and social crisis that hit Dominican Republic  after the annexation. The government took dire measures such as executions and expatriations. The first armed riot transpired in 1861 all over the country, including the  capital city Santo Domingo. Many movements rose with the aim to restore the republic and throw out the Spaniards. [13] Then on August 16, 1863, war began between the Dominican Rebels and the Spanish. Their slogan became â€Å"Freedom or Death. † It was March 3, 1865 that Spain annulled the annexation of the Dominican territory. However, extensive economic, political, and social damage had already been done. Africa, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic exemplify European colonialism during the same era of the Monroe Doctrine. Emphasizing the intentions of both the U. S and Europe is very important to understand why my claims are in favor of the U. S. The U.S had independence and sovereignty in their intentions, whereas it was more compelling to Europe to overthrow independence and monopolize natural resources and the acquisition of global superiority. The Monroe Doctrine had positive intentions and aimed to ultimately keep Europe out of the western hemisphere, establish independent nations, and bond the U. S and Latin America in solidarity.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Robert Fulton essays

Robert Fulton essays Robert Fulton is not a name that children hear often like George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. But with his invention, Fulton changed the way people get around. He made the first steamboat. With the help of a friend, Fulton changed history forever. Robert Fulton was born on November 14, 1765 in Lancaster County, Pa. Fulton was born to an Irish immigrant family. For six years, Fulton lived on an unproductive farm until the farm lost its mortgage in 1771. After they lost the farm, the Fultons moved to Lancaster. Fultons father died in 1774. Since Fulton learned to read and write at home, he was sent to a Quaker school when he was eight. A few years later, Fulton became an apprentice at a jewelry shop in Philadelphia. He specialized in painting pictures on ivory for lockets. After settling his mother on a small farm, Fulton want to Bath, VA to recover from a bad cough. The people in Bath admired Fultons paintings. They suggested he study in Europe. When going back to Pennsylvania, Fulton looked for someone to sponsor him so he could go to London. He found a person that wanted more culture in the town and sponsored his passage to London. When he was in London, people showed little interest towards his work. While in London, he got to know the idea of propelling boats. Then in 1794, Fulton admitted that he was not a painter. His new interest was canal engineering. In 1796, Fulton proposed the Treatise of Improvement of Canal Navigation. That treatise consisted of small canals extending through the countryside. Instead of locks, Fulton also included details on inclined planes to raise boats. Only a few parts of his idea was excepted in the British Isles and no where else. Since the war between Britain and France was going on, Fulton had an idea to improve fighting. Fulton went to Paris and proposed the idea of a submarine named the Nautilus. In Fultons idea, the Fren...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

A Killers Mind.

A Killers Mind. Before we can discuss what serial killers do, we must first define what a serial killer is. Some people might place serial killers into the same group as mass murderers. This would be incorrect because they are two totally different types of killers. While both of these individuals may kill many people, the difference lays in the reason they kill and the period over which they kill their victims. An event or a build up of circumstance triggers mass murderers and causes them to act. This may be the result of a stressful situation or frustration either at work or in their private lives. For whatever reason, they may choose to use a weapon and kill people that they feel are responsible for their problems. They may also kill total strangers in a bid to get even with whomever or whatever they feel wronged them. Whatever their reason, they are usually cooperative and quite often docile if they survive the episode.Mugshot of David Berkowitz. Copyright 2003 New Yor...It seems that this one-t ime outburst of violence, once enacted, puts an end to any future events of this type for that individual. While the mass killer may kill many people in one attack, when the attack is over, their mission is complete. The mass killer's victims may not be chosen for any other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.Serial killers are a totally different and more dangerous threat to society. They may not kill many people at one time, but they may kill for many years without being detected. They are able to kill again and again without being caught because they are careful in their choices of victims. They typically pick victims who are vulnerable and un-able to defend themselves such as children, the elderly or women. They also pick victims...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Global Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Global Language - Essay Example There are various nations in the world who speak French as their professional and official language. Ability to communicate in French along with English will help an individual in accessing employment opportunities in areas where French and English is used professionally to communicate. An individual who has the ability to communicate in French along with English can gain access to the top universities throughout the world. A total of 41 universities where education is delivered in French language are amongst the top 250 universities throughout the world. One such university includes Ecole Polytechnique ParisTech University (Top Universities, 2015). Individuals who know how to communicate in French can easily gain admission in such universities. Learning French can help an individual learn about the cultures of different groups and regions. Broady states that there are more than 200 million individuals who speak French language and they are divided in five different continents (Broady, 2003, p.200). One can take advantage of having the ability to communicate in French to learn about the culture of these individuals. Two languages that can be considered as global languages includes French as well as English but one needs to learn French along with English to reap the various benefits that the French language has to offer. By learning French one can increase the number of employment opportunities they can access. An individual can gain access to top universities throughout the world by learning French and they can learn about the cultures of 200 million individuals throughout the world with this

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Supervision Platform Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Supervision Platform - Essay Example Thus, as a supervisor I intend on ensuring that via collaborative efforts between the teachers and other academic staff, each student gets the maximum level of emotional satisfaction possible. The aim is not to produce money making machines in the long-run, in fact to create a lot of highly motivated individuals with the potential to change the world for the better tomorrow. Thus, the supervisory practices which I aim at adopting constitute a collaborative paradigm where every contributor will also be decision maker adding value to the educational practices being employed. Mission Statement as a Supervisor As a supervisor I aim at empowering the teachers as they are directly involved in the personal as well as the professional development of a child. According to a research published in the New York Times by Fretty, Friedman and Jonah (2012), the educational practices adopted by the primary school teachers directly impacts the professional development of the child, i.e. if the qualit y of a primary school education is enhanced by 1%, the earning rate of the resultant student also increases by 1%. This implies that the quality of teachers needs to be enhanced by persistent training and evaluation, also by transforming the way strategies are designed. When the teachers will directly be involved in the decision-making process, an innate capacity for moral responsibility will follow, thus I aim at developing a collaborative working environment giving way to creativity and innovation. My Role as a Supervisor As a supervisor, I am bound to take multiple roles which are even subject to be extended in the long run. I consider my professional as well as my moral responsibility to understand the needs and desires of the teachers as well as the students, and to sync these needs with the modern day practices to impart quality education. Considering this scenario, it is my sole responsibility to transform the teaching patterns by adding new and updated courses to the curricu lum to ensure the progression of the students to the most advanced levels possible. In addition, I intend on taking up this role to add value to the skills and creativity of the students by introducing additional courses relevant to arts. The video illustration; â€Å"connecting with the arts: A workshop for Middle-Grades Students† stresses on the significance of combining arts subjects with sciences to create a sense of innovation in the minds of the students (Education Next). Also, the addition of new courses to the curriculum would naturally demand skills development for the teachers to cope up with the transformation, thus skill development would also become an important role in the process. By initiating discussions with the teachers, it will be my responsibility to create opportunities for the teachers to acquire new skills to equip them with the necessary teaching tools and techniques. In this context, as a supervisor my role won`t be limited to the evaluation and moni toring of the current practices, but also initiating new ones whenever the need arise. Evaluations and collaborative practices go hand in hand, being an important role as the supervisor under the systematic procedures. Leadership Orientation The most traditional leadership styles have been the

Sunday, November 17, 2019

How surface area of vanes effect Essay Example for Free

How surface area of vanes effect Essay Hypothesis I predict that by increasing the surface area of the vanes on the wind vane, I will increase the air resistance therefore slowing the rate at which the weight will drop. Primary Work If a piece of paper and a marble are in free fall, they will fall at the same speed, so they should hit the ground at the same time. If you test this by just dropping a marble and a piece of paper you will find it is not true. This is because the objects are not in free fall. To be in free fall, gravity has to be the only force acting on the objects. When you just drop something, there is also air resistance. Air resistance is a type of fluid friction. Because friction acts in the opposite direction of the objects motion, air resistance of an object falling downward is an upward force. This is because a falling object is coming down, so the opposite direction is up. If air resistance were equal for every object, objects would still fall at the same rate. Since we know they do not fall at the same rate, we know air resistance is different for different objects. The amount of air resistance acting on an object depends on the objects surface area. If an object has a small surface area, it will have little air resistance. Because the piece of paper has a larger surface area than the marble, the marble will have less air resistance than the piece of paper and the paper will fall slower. This is what I expect to happen with a wind vane. As the wind vane turns, air resistance will act on each of the separate vanes. By increasing the surface area of the vanes, I will increase the air resistance therefore making the rate at which the weight drops slower, because there is more opposing force. Theory Newtons law of gravity and Galileos freefall theory state that objects of any mass will fall to the ground at the same time if in a complete vacuum i. e. space, if not in a complete vacuum i. e. earth, they will fall at different times because of air resistance (and weight). The air resistance depends on the surface area of the object, the larger the surface area, the more amount of air resistance. In the case of a wind vane, the objects dropping are the separate vanes. Plan Of Experiment I will drop a 15g weight from a piece of string; this string will be attached to an axel which is further attached to a wind vane. Firstly the string will be coiled around the axel then when let go, the weight will drop and the wind vane will turn to create opposing force. I will time the rate at which it falls. My dependant factor will be the time the weight takes to hit the table. My independent factor will be the surface area of the vanes. To ensure a fair test, my controls will be the distance from the table and the weight of the falling object. Apparatus   Stand Clamp 20g Weight 55cm of String   Axel   Cork With Equal Slits For Vanes   Card For Vanes   Stopwatch Method 1. I will set up the equipment as shown below. 2. I will cut out 6 vanes with a certain surface area and put them into their corresponding slits in the cork. 3. I will coil the string attached to the weight around the axel and then drop it. I will time the time it takes for the weight to hit the table and record my results. 4. I will repeat the experiment for accuracy of results Results Surface Area (cm) 1st Try (secs) 2nd Try (secs) Average (2. d. p) 3 1. 8 1. 6 1. 7 4 2. 4 2. 3 2. 35 5 3. 2 3. 4 3. 3 6 3. 9 3. 7 3. 8 7 4. 4 4. 3 4. 35 8 4. 7 4. 5 4. 6 9 5. 4 5. 7 5. 55 10 6. 3 6. 5 6. 4 Graph Of Averages = Line Of Best Fit Conclusion I have found that I was right in my hypothesis in thinking that the larger the surface area of the vanes on a wind vane, the more time it takes for a weight attached to it by means of an axel to fall. This was because, as stated in my theory and primary work, the surface area increased the amount of air resistance and this force opposed gravity which was pulling the weight down, therefore making it travel slower. This is shown in my graph as a positive correlation. Evaluation I had no major anomalous results, this was down to accurate measuring and because I kept my experiment fair. After doing this experiment I would like to be able to calculate the actual amount of air resistance created by a wind vane and see if there is any relationship between surface area and amount of air resistance.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Batteries :: essays research papers

BATTERIES There are many kinds of batteries which consist of different materials in order to produce an electric charge. Here are some of the most common batteries, what they consist of and how they work. Bichromate Cell (see picture # 1) A battery is a device which converts chemical energy into electrical energy. A battery usually consists of two or more cells connected in series or parallel, you can also have a single cell battery. All cells consist of a positive electrode, and a negative electrode. An electrolyte is a liquid substance capable of conducting electricity. In this substance one of the electrodes will react producing electrons, while the other will except electrons. When the electrodes are connected to a device to be powered, called a load, an electrical current flows. Batteries where the chemicals cannot be returned to their original form once the energy has been converted (that is, batteries that have been discharged) are called primary cells or voltaic cells. Batteries in which the chemicals can be returned to its original form by passing an electric current through them in the direction opposite that of normal cell operation are called secondary cells, rechargeable cells, storage cells, or accumulators. Dry Cell Battery(see picture # 2) This is the most common battery that people use today like Energizer or Duracle batteries. The most common form of a primary cell is the Leclanche cell, invented by a French chemist Georges Leclanche in the 1860s. The electrolyte for this battery consisted of a mixture of ammonium chloride and zinc chloride made into a paste. The negative electrode is zinc, and is the outside shell of the cell, and the positive electrode is a carbon rod that runs through the center of the cell. This rod is surrounded by a mixture of carbon and manganese dioxide. This battery produces about 1.5 volts. Another widely used primary cell is the zinc-mercuric-oxide cell, more commonly called a mercury battery. It can be made in the shape of a small flat disk and is used in this form in hearing aids, and electric wristwatches. The negative electrode consists of zinc, the positive electrode is of mercuric oxide, and the electrolyte is a solution of potassium hydroxide. The mercury battery produces about 1.34 volts. The fuel cell is another type of primary cell. It is unique in that the chemicals aren't contained within the cell but are supplied from outside of the cell.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

AIDS & progres

Although progress has been in treating HIV infection and AIDS, the epidemic remains a critical public health issue in all communities across the country and around the world.Prevention, early detection, and ongoing treatment remain important aspects of care for people with HIV infections and AIDS.Nurses in all settings encounter people with this disease; thus, nurses need an understanding of the disorder, knowledge of the physical and psychological consequences associated with the diagnosis, and expert assessment and clinical management skills to provide optimal care for people with HIV infection and AIDS.In 1987, just 6 years after the first cases of AIDS were reported, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first antiretroviral agent; in 1988nthe first randomized controlled trial of primary prophylaxis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia appeared in the literature; and in 1995 protease inhibitors joined the growing number of antiretroviral agents.Improved treatment of HIV and AIDS has resulted in increased survival times; in 1996, 1997, and 1998, age-adjusted death rates fell 29%, 48%, and 21%, respectively.II. BackgroundSince acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first recognized more than 20 years ago, remarkable progress has been made in improving the quality and duration of life of persons with HIV infection.During the first decade, this progress was associated with recognition of opportunistic disease processes, more effective therapy for complications, and introduction of prophylaxis against common opportunistic infections (OIs).The second decade has witnessed progress in developing highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) as well as continuing progress in treating OIs (Letvin, Bloom & Hoffman, 2001).Since the HIV serologic test (enzyme immunoassay [EIA], formerly enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ALISHA], became available in 1984, allowing early diagnosis of the infection before onset of symptoms, HIV infection has been b est managed as a chronic disease   and most appropriately managed in an outpatient care setting (Gallant, 2001).A. EpidemiologyIn fall 1982, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a case definition of AIDS after the first 100 cases were reported. Since then, the CDC has revised the case definition a number of times (1985, 1987, and 1993).All 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. dependencies and possessions, and independent nations in free association with the United States report AIDS cases to the CDC using a uniform surveillance case definition and case report from (CDC, 2002).Starting in the late 1990s, more states started to implement HIV case reporting in response to the changing epidemic and the need for information on persons with HIV infection who have not developed AIDS.As of December 2001, there were 816,149 reported cases of HIV/AIDS and 506, 154 adults, adolescents, and children in the United States (including U.S. dependencies, possession, and associated nations) living with AIDS. Unprotected sex and sharing of injection drug use equipment are the major means of transmission of HIV.A total of 43, 158 AIDS cases were diagnosed in 2001. For men diagnosed with AIDS during 2001, 59% were in the exposure category of men who have sex with men; 24% in injection drug use; and 7% in heterosexual contact.In women diagnosed with AIDS during that same period, 44% reported injection drug use and 52% reported heterosexual contact. Comparing race/ethnicity amount the three largest groups diagnosed in 2001, 20,752 were black, not Hispanics (CDC, 2002).The number of people living with AIDS is not evenly distributed throughout the United States. States with the largest number of reported AIDS cases during 2001 were New York (7,476), Florida (5,138), California (4,315), Texas (2,892), and Maryland (1,860) (CDC, 2002).AIDS has reached epidemic proportions in some other parts of the world. According to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV /AIDS, more than 18.3 million people worldwide have died of AIDS and 34.3 million people are infected with HIV, with 5.4 million people newly infected with HIV in 1999 alone (Letvin, Bloom & Hoffman, 2001).UNAIDS (2001) reports that since the epidemic began, more than 60 million people have been infected with the virus, making it the most devastating disease ever.The earliest confirmed case of HIV infection was found in blood drawn from an African man in 1959 (Stephenson, 2003). Although factors associated with the spread of HIV in Africa in the 1960s; however, social changes such as easier access to transportation, increasing population density, and more frequent sexual contacts may have been more important (Stephenson 2003).III. DiscussionA. SymptomsTreatment of specific manifestations of HIV infection and AIDS in the person with advanced disease targets symptoms. Patients with HIV/AIDS experience a number of symptoms related to the disease as well as the effects of treatment. Som e of the vivid symptoms are as follows:Respiratory Manifestation. Shortness of breath, dyspnea (labored breathing), cough, chest pain, and fever associated with various OIs, such as those caused by Pneumocystis carinii, Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, CMV, and Legionella species.The most common infection in people with AIDS is Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), one of the first OIs described in association with AIDS.PCP. PCP is the most common OIs resulting in an AIDS diagnosis. Without prophylactic therapy, PCP will develop in 80% of all HIV-infected individuals. P. carinii was originally classified as a protozoan; however, studies and analysis of its ribosomal RNA structure suggest that it is a fungus.Its structure and antimicrobial sensitivity are very different from other disease-causing fungi. P. carinii causes disease only in immunocompromised hosts, invading and proliferating within the pulmonary alveoli with resultant consolidation of the pulmonary parenchyma.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Arthur Miller’s Treatment of Women in The Crucible Essay

Women play a crucial role in the conflict of Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. They are the entire foundation to the play. Arthur Miller’s treatment of women in this play shows women as weak beings who give into their husbands. The way women are treated in this play is a reflection of the Puritan beliefs of that time. Women were believed to have only the job of reproduction, and supporting the family with food. The first example that exhibits this is the way Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor’s wife, is treated as a character. Another example would be how Abigail Williams is a character that is very unique and smart but then again gives into society and is forced to lie to get herself out of trouble. Many other women are known in this story for revealing Miller’s treatment of women. Although many of the women in The Crucible are respected throughout Salem, Massachusetts, none of them have any sort of authority or power over anyone or anything. Even though they are pure hearted and genuinely good people, like Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Corey, they possess no right of authority. All of these women instinctively live to take care of their families and households. This reflects Miller’s treatment of women. In The Crucible, Elizabeth Proctor is a very good wife and mother to her 3 children. She is known in the town as one of the most honest people ever and is very respected by everyone, but, regardless of those things, women are seen by society as second-class citizens throughout the 50’s. No matter how respected or well-known they are, men always dominate and that is portrayed in the life of Elizabeth Proctor. John Proctor is a man who provides for his family; he is there for support and the kindness of a father. On the other hand, Elizabeth Proctor is a good mother and a good house wife but always put in her place by her husband and this just demonstrates how dominant the character is. The dominance portrayed in the life of Elizabeth Proctor is an example of what Miller is saying through his characters. The fact that in this time women don’t have as many rights as women do now, shows that Miller is drawn to literature puritanism of that time. In The Crucible, Elizabeth is convicted of witchcraft and I sentenced to prison. Luckily, she is found to be pregnant and therefore not sentenced to hang like most other women that were arrested. The fact that Elizabeth is given the â€Å"privilege† to live until her baby is born is just another sign of how Miller portrays the Puritanism into his writing. The Puritans of that time would never hang an innocent baby because they believe that babies are born amoral and have no sense of right and wrong. Therefore, this proves that Arthur Miller treated women in The Crucible just as other literature periods of that time by being influenced by Puritanism. Another example of a women who undergoes Millers characteristic categorization is Rebecca Nurse. She, along with Martha Corey, is viewed as one the most respected, faithful, godly women in the town but she is accused of witchcraft. The main reason why the most innocent women of Salem are accused is because the people that accused them were aware that they were not willing to confess to a crime they didn’t commit. Therefore, Miller shows Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey as women who not only are respected by others in the town but also respect themselves that are accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death. Like mentioned before, women of this era had no right of power and the women that do have authority derive it from manipulation. An example of that is Abigail Williams. She is the main â€Å"possessor† of power in The Crucible. She is one the most important characters of this play. She has caused many other women of Salem to go to prison and later be hung because of â€Å"witchcraft.† Abigail is a character that is seen as very manipulative and sneaky around authority. She manipulates people into believing her story and she knows how to act differently around authority.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Camera Corps †Corporate Biorgraphy

Camera Corps – Corporate Biorgraphy Free Online Research Papers En route to Norway for this years World Ice Hockey Championships, Laurie Frost is thinking about Sydney, Australia in the year 2000. Frosts company, London-based Camera Corps, is the turnkey supplier of the over 350 specialty camera systems that will be used at the Sydney Olympics. Camera Corps will provide 120 tons of equipment and 150 technicians to the Games, which will take place next September in Australia. From the lofty 100-foot Akela Crane to the Mobycam darting along the bottom of the swimming pool, Sydneys athletic feats will be captured by Camera Corps systems mounted on boats, bikes, cars and motorcycles; on helicopters and blimps; on cranes, motorized platforms and Steadicams; perched atop skyscrapers and submerged in pools; affixed to hurdles, goal posts and nets; and whizzing along tracks and cables to follow fast-moving athletes. Were always looking for new cameras and perspectives that will bring audiences more in touch with the sporting events and the athletes themselves, said Frost, whose credits include multiple Olympics and World Cup soccer matches. And every broadcaster wants something that has never been done before-a signature shot that will be seen for the first time at their event. The new camera being unveiled at the World Ice Hockey Championships is a fastmoving overhead tracking camera developed by Garrett Brown (best known as the inventor of the Steadicam), using gear from Camera Tracking Systems. Mounted on a wire that spans the length of the hockey rink, its Panasonic three-chip camera can travel back and forth over the rink at high speeds, keeping pace with the action on the ice. Hockey has been a hard sport to cover because the game is so fast and it changes direction so frequently, Frost continued There arent many opportunities to show instant replays because there arent a lot of timeouts or breaks in the game. And up until now, the overhead camera at a hockey game has always been stationary. An over head tracking camera can add tremendous visual excitement to the game. Good Sports For more than a decade, Camera Corps has been providing broadcasters around the world with the innovative cameras and mounts that have become hallmarks of sportscasting. With a core group of just six full-time staffers, the headcount at Camera Corps rises as high as 200 during major events like the Olympics. In the last year alone, Frosts globe-trotting operation has furnished specialty cameras and crews for the Goodwill Games in New York, the Nagano Olympics in Japan, the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia and the World Cup Football (Soccer) Championship in France. Our cameras come from small companies all over the world, so it would be hard for broadcasters to locate and implement all of this equipment, Frost said. We coordinate every aspect of specialty camera use, including contracts, freight, personnel, service, and spares. In terms of logistics, its like a big military operation. You have to plan for every possible contingency. Your equipment and your people have to be the best. And your gear has to be really rugged, so it can be moved from venue to venue quickly, and so it keeps working if it gets wet or kicked around. Frost views the relationship between Camera Corps and sportscasters as a creative collaboration as well as a business partnership. In the early planning stages of an event, we sit down and talk with the production team about how to cover the eventand how we might be able to bring something new to the coverage, she said. We ask the producers and directors what theyve always wanted to see, and we come up with a `wish list of new shots. Then I go out and look for the cameras to make it happen. As often as not, Frost is looking for a camera that doesnt exist-yet. So he turns to a band of technology enthusiasts who delight in developing these camera systems. People like Garrett Brown in Philadelphia and Mobycam inventor Rob Brayer in Australia. Companies like Wescam, in the U.S., Egripment, in Holland, and Camera Tracking Systems, in Great Britain. Once such invention is the ComCam (Commentator Camera), a remote pan-and-tilt head that attaches to a tabletop. At an event like the Olympics, space is at a premium in the commentator areas, and you cant get crews in there, Frost explained. But todays sports commentators are personalities in their own right, and the TV audience wants to see them as well as hear them. So we developed the Commentator Camera, that can shoot the commentators and pan around to show the action on the field. We use it at big events like World Cup soccer and the Olympics. Well have 70 of them in Sydney. Hidden Cameras Like many high-tech innovations, the RD process for new specialty cameras is shrouded in secrecy. Although Frost acknowledges that there are four or five exciting new things in development for Sydney, he can describe them only in general terms. Sydney will have a number of camera systems and shots that have never been seen before, he stated. Right now, directors and producers are looking for speedcameras that keep pace with the athletes at every moment of the competition. And were looking to put viewers in closer touch with the athletes themselves, using remote cameras to capture their preparations and emotions without the intrusion of camera crews. Although Frost is tight-lipped about the details, one thing seems certain: when the Sydney Olympics get underway in 2000, Camera Corps gear and technicians will capture some of the Games most memorable images. Research Papers on Camera Corps - Corporate BiorgraphyThe Hockey GameWhere Wild and West MeetOpen Architechture a white paperRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfThe Project Managment Office SystemTrailblazing by Eric AndersonAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor SAT Scores, Admit Rate

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor SAT Scores, Admit Rate University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Admissions Overview UMHB has largely open  admissions, and most students with grades and standardized test scores that are average or better are accepted each year. While SAT and ACT scores are required for most applicants, if you rank in the top 10% of your school, there is no minimum score on the exams. For other students, youll need at least a 20 on the ACT or a 1030 on the SAT to qualify for regular admissions (higher scores if you are ranked in the lower half of your graduating class). Note that UMHBs admissions are largely not holistic. Grades, class rank, and standardized test scores will carry the most weight. The application does not ask for an essay, letters of recommendation, nor extracurricular activity information. Admissions Data (2016): University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Acceptance Rate: 79%Test Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 450 / 560SAT Math: 470 / 560SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanACT Composite: 21  / 26ACT English: 19 / 26ACT Math: 18  / 25What these ACT numbers mean University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Description: Founded in 1845, UMHB, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, takes pride in its Christian identity and its affiliation with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. All students must agree to the schools policy of a faith-informed approach to education. The universitys residential campus is located in Belton, Texas, a small city in Central Texas situated midway between Waco and Austin. Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio are all within a three-hour drive, so the schools location is convenient to many major metropolitan areas. Academics at UMHB span a range of professional fields and majors in the liberal arts and sciences. Nursing is by far the most popular major, although business and education fields are also popular among undergraduates. On the athletic front, the UMHB Crusaders combete in the NCAA Division III American Southwest Conference. Athletics are big on campus, and many teams have met with national success including men and womens golf, men and womens basketball, and footbal l. Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 3,906  (3,278 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 37% Male / 63% Female91% Full-time Costs (2016  - 17): Tuition and Fees: $26,550Books: $1,300 (why so much?)Room and Board: $7,590Other Expenses: $3,030Total Cost: $38,470 UMHB Financial Aid (2015  - 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 97%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 96%Loans: 73%Average Amount of AidGrants: $13,776Loans: $6,704 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Biology, Elementary Education, Exercise Physiology, General Studies, Marketing, Nursing, Physical Education, Psychology Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 71%4-Year Graduation Rate: 32%6-Year Graduation Rate: 48% Intercollegiate Athletics: Mens Sports:  baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennisWomens Sports:  basketball, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics Interested in UMHB? You May Also Like These Colleges: Houston Baptist University: ProfileSam Houston State University:  ProfileBaylor University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphTexas AM University-College Station:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Texas at Austin:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphTexas Tech University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphStephen F. Austin State University:  ProfileTexas Christian University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Houston:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT Graph University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Mission Statement: mission statement from  http://about.umhb.edu/our-mission The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor prepares students for leadership, service, and faith-informed discernment in a global society. Academic excellence, personal attention, broad-based scholarship and a commitment to a Baptist vision for education distinguish our Christ-centered learning community.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

How Evil Has Evolved from the Early Witch Craze to Contemporary Ideas Essay

How Evil Has Evolved from the Early Witch Craze to Contemporary Ideas on Evil - Essay Example Exactly where did Satan evolve? The first appearance of Satan or the concept of Satan began following the Babylonian captivity of Judah in the 4th and 5th centuries. â€Å"Shatan† became known as the evil one to the Persians, as they became fearful of the Israelites. The Israelite faith adapted to the figure God, and he became the creator of good and Satan became the evil one. In ancient times good and evil pagans were formed as early cultures began to change from hunters of food to gradual farming societies. Gods and Goddesses of the Harvest were formed, as a way of giving thanks to what was harvested. Eastern and Western Europe were the first to see magical practices and witchcraft through all cultures shortly after. However, witchcraft, was not given the name witchcraft until the 13th century when the Anglo-Saxons formed covens. Dracula also has a history of being one from the dark side. Oblivious to some in our society, the name Dracula evolved from a Vlad Dracul who actua lly lived in Romania in the 14th century. Vlad Tepes was born on December 1431 in Sighisoara, Romania and his father was the governor of Transylvania. He was inducted into the Order of Dragon, which was a military/religious society, one year before. The primary goal of the society was a crusade for good, and war against the Turks. The Boyars of Romania felt that the Order of Dragon was evil, and associated it with the Devil They dubbed Vlad’s father â€Å"Dracul†, which in Romanian means Devil. Thus, Dracula evolved from the name, which means â€Å"the son of the devil.† The 15th century brought about the Witch Trials, which began in 1490, and these times have been called â€Å"the burning times.† England established the first and second Witchcraft Act, which made it illegal to organize covens in the 16th century. From this time forward, the covens were forced to go underground and become secret. A new and stricter law was passed in the early 16th century and was able to stay in place until the early 17th century; however, hysteria broke out in England, and tricked to the American colonies. The Salem Witch Trails began in Massachusetts during the late 1600s. Evil at its highest point expanded to include hangings, drowning and burnings at the stake. By the 18th century, England gained some stability, and the 16th century Witchcraft Act was repealed by King George II. By the 19th century, some of the secret covens began stepping into the public eye, and many books and publications on the subject were written in England. By the 20th Century the last Witchcraft Act of England was reformed, and the Craft was no longer illegal by 1951. Wicca was formed in 1951, which combines beliefs from folklore and mythology and was seen as a woman’s religion. In the 21st century or the â€Å"New Age,† native American beliefs become popular through TV and movies. This brings pagan beliefs to the surface as an acceptable and open religion. In 2007 the Veterans Administration approves the Pentagram’s use as a symbol acceptable on headstones in military cemeteries. From ancient times to our modern present times, good and evil have always been a part of our lives. If there is a good, then in retrospect there has to be an evil; is this true? There are natural evil occurrences in our society, floods and earthquakes, being struck by lightning and terminal illnesses. These all bring devastation, death and despair. But there is also humanistic evil, which most psychologist would call abnormal human traits. This is a question of moral evil and how our society views good and evil. As the timeline indicates we have drastically relaxed our values to allow evil a comfortable place in our society. This is not to say that good is better or evil is

Friday, November 1, 2019

Dietary Quality and Eating Competence Term Paper

Dietary Quality and Eating Competence - Term Paper Example The supposition is that people will deliberately choose foods that add to their long-term physical well-being by decreasing their threat of chronic disease. There is a slight doubt that a diet well-suited to human biological requirements is necessary to the existence of the species (Clifford, & Keeler, 2002). Satter is a model developed by Ellyn Satter, and that is based on her clinical observations of how people do well with eating. Essentially, eating competence explains how normal people eat. It is descriptive in that sense, and rigid only for that group who are not comfortable with their current eating or who are concerned about their diet and health, and seek to make a dietary transformation. Still, Weight Watchers, which a lot of people hype as the finest of the diet centers because of its dependence on real, unmarked food and flexible menu options, does not help people in understanding and knowledge about the inner competence on eating. This comes down to the issue of trust against control, according to the nutritionist Ellyn Satter†¦who takes care of ‘dieting casualties’ in her practice. She trusts that people require learning to believe that they will get filled, even on the food they think as highly desirable, and recognize that they can reliably control their own food intake, instead of depending on exterior rules to control those choices. â€Å"Weight Watchers is good at easing up food choices, teaching people how to eat carefully, and encouraging them to add to the diversity of food in their diet,† states Satter. â€Å"But it is still essentially a control stance they apply† (Satte, 2007, p. 56). When people rely on exterior rules, ranges, and diet cops to control their eating, their association with food remains delicate.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Journal # 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Journal # 1 - Essay Example Internship is an elemental component of nursing leadership where nursing students get to experience various professional scenarios first hand. The first day of Masters in Nursing Leadership internship at The Lake County Community Health Center involved meeting Damaris, M. She is the director of the family case management, nurse family, pregnancy prevention and health-works program. The meeting acted as introduction to what the internship entailed including the number of times such meetings were going to take place in a week. A notable engagement during the internship period was taking part in preparing for an upcoming performance review for the department (Clark 72). This created an opportunity for one to learn what is required in the operations of such a department. The internship also offered invaluable pointers onto the viability of my intended project. This was in the sense that it provided for a chance to remedy all the shortcomings of the project. The internship experience worked towards improving the content and context of the nursing leadership

Monday, October 28, 2019

The Forgotten Group Member Essay Example for Free

The Forgotten Group Member Essay The case study of The Forgotten Group Member demonstrations in what manner teams separate due to an absence of communication. The case verifies that knowing how to lead a team is just as significant as being a part of the team. It is imperative to understand that not only does a leader have the responsibility to lead the team but the members have a responsibility to partake in order for the team effectively complete an assignment. Part I: Group Development Teams pass through numerous stages for example the forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning stages. This particular case places the team within the storming stage. When group participants get to know each other better, the storming stage begins. This stage is considered as a bid for power. Each group member is wondering whether or not he or she will be respected and this may play out in competition, tension and maybe disagreement. Relationships become strained and differences become uncomfortable. Christine is challenged for control by Mike. The hostility Mike feels developed when he came upon his teammates during an unofficial group meeting. Left unaddressed, as in this case, I can only assume that Mike become angry, hostile, and now unproductive. As the leader, Christine’s main task at this stage is to coach group members, in particular Mike, to get them on board. She needs to emphasis that teams come together because they share a common interest, and that members are treated equally. Once Christine re-evaluates the work and re-introduces the forming stages she can help re-integrate Mike back into the group. The forming stage occurs when the leader directs the team and establishes objectives clearly. Once Mike is reintroduced to the team goals and realizes his role on the team hopefully he would have made positive contributions in an effort to produce a high-quality group output. Part II: Problem Identification The hostile attitude Christina and her teammates experienced by Mike occurred during an unexpected team gathering; however Mike should reevaluate his overall performance in a group setting thus far. Based off his action, not attending team meetings and providing brief notes, Mike has become the social loafer of the team. Social loafers can be described as team members who work less and put less effort into the team assignment, than he or she would do if he or she had to complete the assignment alone. The key issues’ facing Christine is not only Mike’s social loafing but the lack of communication on her behalf to inform Mike of his lack of participation. By understanding the stages of group development, Christine should have redefined her team roles so that social loafers are more visible and peer pressures are more likely. This in turn will lead to yet another theory concept known as Social facilitation. Social facilitation occurs when the behavior of team participants are influenced positively by the presence of others in a team. According to our text, Social facilitation theory suggests that working in the presence of others creates an emotional arousal or excitement that stimulates behavior and therefore affects performance. When Christine recognized Mike as the â€Å"clown† of the group she should have relied on his strengths to embrace the audience. Perhaps assigning him the task of presenting the power point slides for their team presentation. Part III: Retrospective Evaluation Since this a difficult situation to solve and each solution has pros and cons I can only reiterate solutions mention in the previous sections. The ideal solution would have been for the group leader, Christine, to re-evaluate her understanding of group development. Once she had a full understanding of the stages and process that it takes to have an efficient team she would have known how to properly handle the situation. When I mention properly handle the situation, I refer to the fact that she should have addressed the issue with Mike in a non-threatening environment. After communicating with Mike, Christina would have been aware of any essential skills that he is lacking or uncomfortable situations that are preventing quality work. At this point in time Christine could have re-evaluated the work and reintroduced the forming stages. Mike will once again be re-introduced to the team goals and realize his role on the team. A different solution, not mentioned previously, would be Distributed Leadership. As per the course text, distributed leadership is the sharing of responsibility for meeting group task and maintenance needs. This involves having the leader, Christine, initiate discussions, clarifying issues, and sharing information while involving other team players. As outlined in the case, many team members were functioning fine, Mike was having trouble being able to meet deadlines and rarely let everyone know. This signals once again a communication problem. By having Christine reach out to Mike and his fellow team members, any issues that were apparent would be brought up and handled. In this case, Mike would have told Christine about his demanding job and relationship woes and thus the team could have adjusted according. The only demise of this method is that the discussions and information sharing will not always be as effective as actually addressing the issues head on. Part IV: Reflection Looking back at this case and the events that have transpired up till this point, it is obvious that Christine was not an effective group leader. Although the majority of the team did work efficiently there was just one negative aspect. That negative aspect was Mike. Being able to deal with conflict comes from experience but in this situation Christine was voted by her team members to be the group leader which should have inspired confidence in her. This confidence should have helped her address Mike in the beginning. If Christine have had the knowledge and the skills of group development she would have been able to effectively provide leadership.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Pearl Sydenstricker Buck, 1892 - 1973 :: History

Pearl Sydenstricker Buck, 1892 - 1973 Pearl Comfort Sydenstricker was born on June 26, 1892, in Hillsboro, West Virginia. Her parents, Absalom and Caroline Sydenstricker, were Southern Presbyterian missionaries, and were stationed in China. Pearl was the fourth of seven children (and 1 of only 3 who would live until adulthood). Buck was born in the U.S. so she could be a natural U.S. citizen. The Sydenstrickers lived in Chinkiang (Zhenjiang), in Kiangsu (Jiangsu) province. Pearl's father spent much time away from home, traveling in the Chinese countryside in search of Christian converts. Pearl's mother ministered to Chinese women in a dispensary she created. >From childhood, Pearl spoke both English and Chinese. She was taught mainly by her mother and a Chinese tutor, Mr. Kung. Though in 1900 the family returned to the US to continue their lives. In 1910, Pearl enrolled in Randolph-Macon Woman's College, in Lynchburg, Virginia, and graduated in 1914. Although she wanted to stay in US, she returned to China after graduation when she heard that her mother was extremely sick. In 1915, she met John Lossing Buck and they were married in 1917. (The marriage was very unhappy, but it lasted for 18 years.) They immediately moved to Nanhsuchou (Nanxuzhou) in Anhwei (Anhui) province. This is where Pearl gathered poverty stricken material that she would later use in The Good Earth and other stories about China. The Bucks' first child, Carol, was born in 1921, but was born with PKU. (A genetic disorder in which the body lacks the enzyme necessary to metabolize phenylalanine to tyrosine. Left untreated, the disorder can cause brain damage and progressive mental retardation as a result of the accumulation of phenylalanine and its breakdown products.) The child became extremely retarded. Then, because of a uterine tumor found during the delivery, Pearl had a hysterectomy. In 1925, she and her husband adopted a baby girl, Janice. >From 1920 to 1933, Pearl and Lossing made lived in Nanking (Nanjing), on the campus of the Nanking University, where both had teaching jobs. In 1921, Pearl's mother died and shortly after her father moved in with the Bucks. The tragedies which Pearl suffered through out her life reached a climax in March, 1927. In the terrible even called the "Nanking Incident." In a confusing battle involving parts of Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist troops, Communist forces, and assorted  ¡Ã‚ §warlords ¡Ã‚ ¨, several Westerners were murdered. The Bucks escaped and had an extremely long day hiding, but were finally rescued by American gunboats.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

European Politics Essay

Not long after taking office as President, Nicolas Sarkozy initiated a bold agenda of sweeping governmental and economic reform which enflamed controversy and engendered violent confrontation within the French government and among the French population regarding both the state of economic parity within French society, and France’s role in a swiftly changing global-political climate. Sarkozy, a former member of the National Assembly, a two-time appointee as Minister of the Interior, and a past President of the UMP, rose to prominence as a widely popular (and also widely unpopular) figure in the conservative wing of French politics. Although Sarkozy’s personal and romantic life as well as his financial dealings and his â€Å"public image† have all fallen under the intense scrutiny of the French and International media, the most controversial issues associated with President Sarkozy have generally been and continue to be issue and policy oriented. Prior to being elected President, Sarkozy made International news headlines when, as Minister of the Interior, â€Å"Sarkozy, insisted that Muslim women pose bare-headed for official identity photographs† (Scott, 2005), a move which provoked a storm of opposition within France and throughout the globe. However, Sarkozy’s intentions were even much wider than revealed by his policy regarding identity photos; Sarkozy’s â€Å"main recommendation, accepted by Chirac in January 2004, was for a law prohibiting the wearing of ostentatious signs of religious affiliation in public schools. This is now the law of the land† (Scott, 2005). Sarkozy’s record prior to becoming President indicated that he was a man unafraid to pursue a controversial course of action. As president, one of Sarkozy’s first publically criticized actions was his handling of a Libyan hostage crisis which involved the retrieval of Belgian health-care workers who had been held in Libya. In return for releasing the Belgians, the Libyan dictator Gaddafi was able to gain President Sarkozy’s signature on a treaty which transferred hundreds of millions of euros, along with important military equipment to Libya. This move was met not only with criticism but with a call for an investigation at the parlimentary level which was requested by the head of the French Socialist Party. Although this single example may seem slight in light of the forthcoming discussion regarding governmental reform and the EU policy on climate change which will form the heart of the present study of Sarkozy’s administration, the incident is illustrative of the odd duality which seems to stamp itself on many of Sarkozy’s policies, programs, and initiatives. The duality is one rooted on one side in what many might consider a superficial, yet effective, understanding of public image and political theater; on the other side, it is rooted in what many might call brutally pragmatic economics. Critics of Sarkozy go further than to call the President an economic pragmatist. Many members of Sarkozy’s own conservative party, the UMP, have criticized the President for being a strong advocate of free-trade while simultaneously backing sweeping reforms in the working-class sector including his â€Å"loi de modernisation de l’economie† (Lawday, 2007), or â€Å"Modernization of the Economy Law† which in addition to relaxing federal restrictions on retail prices and work-regulations, allowed workers who worked over thirty-five hours a week to collect their overtime pay tax-free. If, basically, Sarkozy’s economic policies reflect â€Å"a free-market, self-responsibility venture that he claims every advanced country in Europe, from Britain to those in Scandinavia, and lately Germany, has adopted to its advantage† (Lawday, 2007) they also reflect an essentially conservative philosophy which stands in odd contrast to Sarkozy’s iconoclastic image as an agent of change. As one observer phrased it, Sarkozy’s economic philosophy and national economic program â€Å"represents not so much novelty as catch-up politics with a conservative twist† (Lawday, 2007) and, as such, Sarkozy’s economic programs include the curbing of labor unions and their power. These aspects of Sarkozy’s approach to government and economic matters leaves little room for doubt that — at least in relation to financial matters — the President is a true conservative, although his vision may be, overall, a bit more modern than that which is commonly associated with conservatism, the end-result is the same. Sarkozy’s economic philosophies are important not only because they impact one of the most crucial sectors of public policy and governmental influence in France — the economy — but also because they indicate the aforementioned duality of purpose and bearing which seems to stand as part and parcel of Sarkozy’s political career. If on e the one hand, Sarkozy wanted to â€Å"amend the 35-hour working week so that it is no longer the reposeful regulation it implies† (Lawday, 2007), he also sought to simultaneously â€Å"force strikers to maintain a minimum service for trains, buses and other public services† (Lawday, 2007) and to â€Å"slice into the bloated state bureaucracy, where the unions are strongest, by permitting one replacement for every two retiring government office workers† (Lawday, 2007) while at the same time admitting — in the face of the recent global economic crisis — that laissez faire capitalism is dead. The economic platform and policies which Sarkozy has advocated indicate that — above all else — Sarkozy is a pragmatist. This fact is s very useful fact because, by keeping it firmly in mind, a more complete understanding of Sarkozy the politician can be gained. In point of fact, most of what passes for â€Å"populism’ in Sarkozy’s public image is precisely due to his pragmatic approach. His populist reputation as a French nationalist who is for robust immigration reform may collide somewhat uncomfortably with his status as the (rotating) President of the European Union, just as his stand on unions collides with his recent, public statements regarding socialism where Sarkozy responded to the question: have you become a socialist? — with the answer â€Å"Maybe† (Lawday, 2007). Sarkozy’s radicalism — which stands in sharp contrasts to his fiscal conservatism and his conservatism on issues such as immigration and unions — manifests itself not in ideology, necessarily, but within the framework of his aforementioned pragmatism. In other words, Sarkozy may be a populist to the extent that he adopts positions which will curry favor with French Nationalists, such as the â€Å"headscarf† legislation mentioned at the opening of this paper, he may be a fiscal conservative bent on busting the unions and generating a productive working class base for French society, but in each case his convictions, while arguably difficult to pin down under a single umbrella of ideology, are always enacted by way of robust action. Sarkozy may be many things, but one thing he certainly is not is a dawdler. One of the most illustrative examples of Sarkozy’s style and substance as a leader, and specifically as the President of France, is his massive reform of French government and the displacement of governmental power. Although — as will be demonstrated shorty — Sarkozy’s controversial reforms to French government have the design and purpose of bringing the government into the modern era of global-politics and allowing for a more efficiently run government within France itself, the same reforms have been assailed by Sarkozy;’s critics, primarily by the French Socialist party, as being tantamount to instating a dictatorship in France with Sarkozy himself enthroned as dictator. Although the specificities and complexities of Sarkozy’s reforming of French government pose much too vast a too vast to exhaust within the confines of this short discussion, the overall impact and intention of his reform policies offer profound insight into not Sarkozy’s ambitions as President but into the potentially radical reshaping of French government as well as France’s relationship to the EU. Before delving into the specifics of the reform legislation, it is useful to remember just how the French Constitution regarded the separation of governmental powers and — more importantly — what role the President of France was accorded by the Fifth Republic’s Constitution. Because Sarkozy’s program of governmental reform offers, as a centerpiece, the apparent expansion of Presidential power and authority, while simultaneously strengthening the role and power of parliament, sorting out the specific angles by which Sarkozy enabled the expansion of Presidential power can be quite difficult to achieve. However, the role of the French President, according to the Fifth Republic’s Constitution was limited: â€Å"Article 5 [†¦ ] states that the President â€Å"‘Provides by their arbitration for the regular functioning of the public authorities and the continuity of the State’† (Bell, 2000, p. 15), with nothing mentioned about the President’s own power to legislate. This aspect of the Constitution is the key area by which Sarkozy sought to expand, in the eyes of the anti-reformers, Presidential power. Specifically, the most controversial aspect of the reform-laws was Sarkozy’s † plan to allow the president to address parliament, opening up the possibility of a US State of the Union-style address. That has not been permitted since 1875, in an attempt to keep the executive and legislative branches separate† (BBC News), and it is by this seemingly simple move that Sarkozy expanded Presidential authority while simultaneously seeming to limit that same authority. Because the Fifth Republic’s Constitution calls for the President to function as an â€Å"arbitrator† the American-style Presidency of the President as the leader of the legislature, addressing parliament, becomes a specter of dread to those who view this as an incursion on the Constitutional separation of powers. While it is true that â€Å"Article 5, which implicitly restricts the Presidency, has been a subject of controversy† (Bell, 2000, p. 15), Sarkozy’s expansion of Presidential authority has proven to be even more divisive. Sarkozy’s plan to rewrite the Fifth Republic’s Constitution represents the two primary aspects of his governing style which have formed the roots of the current discussion; these aspects are his inherent conservatism and his obvious pragmatism. The reform legislation introduced radical, pragmatic steps toward affecting sweeping change in France and rewrote the French Constitution, but while Sarkozy verbalized his assurances that the reforms represented â€Å"‘Movement, change, modernity,'† (BBC News) as well as a victory for French democracy, the same reforms also contributed to the strengthening of Presidential authority and resulted in a divided parliament with Sarkozy’s reform bill passing â€Å"by 539 votes to 357 – one vote more than the three-fifths majority of the combined Assembly and Senate required to pass the reforms† BBC News), so if strengthening democracy was Sarkozy’s intention, his initial result was to divide the parliament and pass a sweeping reform to the French Constitution with next-to-no consensus. This fact in itself would seem to confirm the trepidation regarding his proposed reforms (now law) which engulfed his detractors in parliament. One of these detractor s, â€Å"Socialist senator Bernard Frimat told lawmakers before the vote at a special session at the Chateau of Versailles† (BBC News) that Sarkozy had offered a † â€Å"consolidation of ‘monocracy’,† (BBC News) but Sarkozy, always careful to play to populist ideas and ideals, counter-weighted the expansion of Presidential authority with corresponding limits and restrictions on the French Presidency. The reform laws while strengthening the President’s role in the legislature also limit the President to two five year terms, â€Å"gives parliament a veto over some presidential appointments, ends government control over parliament’s committee system, allows parliament to set its own agenda, and ends the president’s right of collective pardon† (BBC News). Seemingly, by these latter reforms, Sarkozy was interested in limiting not expanding the powers of the French President; however the telling point of the reform laws as they relate to the French Presidency lies within the mere expansion of the President’s role as a lawmaker rather than, as the Fifth Republic’s Constitution advocated, a â€Å"a neutral ‘umpire’ who has three principal tasks: i) to see that the Constitution is respected; ii) to ‘arbitrate’ to ensure the continuity of the state; iii) to be vigilant on the issues of national independence, territorial i ntegrity and the respect for treaties† (Bell, 2000, p. 16). Sarkozy’s vision of the President — and the reform legislation he was able to enact to realize this vision — stands in direct opposition to Article 5 of the French Constitution. Sarkozy’s radical pragmatism extends beyond the parameters and confines of French domestic issues into the realm of International affairs. As the acting President of the European Union, Sarkozy has applied a similarly â€Å"hands on† approach to issues of international importance such as climate change. As illustrated by Sarkozy’s reform legislation and the somewhat concealed agenda therein which provided for the expansion of Presidential authority, Sarkozy seems to have adopted a similar approach to his position as EU President. On the topic of global warming and climate change, Sarkozy has proven to be as pragmatic and as forceful as he was on the issues of crime, immigration, and government reform in France. At the thirty-third summit of the G8, Sarkozy offered a plan to reduce French CO2 emissions by half and what followed was the adoption of this concept by the G8 nations as a whole. Although the agreement which was reached at the summit was non-binding, Sarkozy’s lead enabled the G8 nations to put forth a collective plan to cut in half the global emissions of greenhouse gasses. Sarkozy continued to push for a binding agreement, but his efforts proved futile. Nevertheless, his approach to the issue of climate change represented, as his approach to governmental reform. a pragmatic and comprehensive approach to a hard problem. Of interest is the fact that the binding agreement regarding greenhouse gas emissions was apparently blocked by the United States with its President, George W, Bush, citing the refusal of third-world nations to also enter into the agreement. Responding tot his obstacle, Sarkozy turned his efforts not toward America or the Third World, but to China, utilizing his status as EU President to put forward a comprehensive and progressive energy policy which included a collaborative effort with the Chinese. Sarkozy’s successful brokering of a deal on energy adn climate change between the EU adn China marks one of the most important accomplishments of his pragmatic and often radical approach to governing. It is due to this combination of tenacity and creativity that Sarkozy has evolved from a controversial cabinet member in the French government known mostly for being a strong conservative to an actor on the world stage who seems to be equal parts populist and conservative. It is, perhaps, not necessary, to understand which of the aspects, conservative or populist is dominant in Sarkozy, it is possibly not even that important to understand, at a personal, human level, which aspect represents more honestly Sarkozy’s own world-view. While some observers may claim that Sarkozy’s populism is merely a smokescreen to conceal his ambitious moves toward a consolidation of personal power, others may claim, with good reason, that Sarkozy’s populism represents a genuine attempt to represent the global sea-change which has currently cast global economics and world-affairs into an ambiguous and dangerous place. No matter which of these perspectives lies closer to the objective truth of Sarkozy the man, the result of Sarkozy’s actions as a world-leader will involve much more than a consideration of President Sarkozy’s motives. One of the most compelling aspects of Sarkozy as a world leader is his simultaneous insistence of modernity while maintaining an acute, almost reverential, respect for the past. Like the other dualities apparent in Sarkozy’s governing style adn thinking style, this duality of â€Å"past vs. future† manifest, in Sarkozy, not as an abstract idealogy but in pragmatic application. In addition to his highly controversial reforms in regard to economics, government, unions, immigration, and climate change, Sarkozy has also generated a great deal of controversy regarding his position of cultural subjects and education in France. While seeming to be a strong nationalist with a true conservative’s reverence for tradition, Sarkozy has readily admitted that France has failed to â€Å"democratize† its culture and that in doing so, accomplished â€Å"one of the chief failures of the past 50 years of French government† (â€Å"Sarkozy out to ‘Democratize’,† 2007, p. B01). As always, his suggested course of action revealed a blend of populism and conservatism and fused the cultural concerns of France with the power of the French government: â€Å"Sarkozy defined â€Å"democratisation de la culture† as providing the means for the largest number of people to understand and appreciate Sophocles, Shakespeare and Racine. He added that the purpose of education is to â€Å"teach you how to tell the difference between ‘Madame Bovary’ and a police blotter, or between ‘Antigone’ and ‘Harry Potter. ‘ Later, you can read what you like. † (â€Å"Sarkozy out to ‘Democratize’,† 2007, p. B01) In conclusion, Sarkozy’s style of governing offers a curious and sometimes uncomfortable blend of populism and conservatism. In the area of domestic policy, he has proven to be both radical in his approach and keenly aware of the political impact of his pragmatic reforms, on international issues he has proven to be creative, opportunistic, and decisive. While Sarkozy’s bold embracing of â€Å"modernity† may be authenticated by his actions in some cases, many of his policies and programs reveal an essentially conservative politician who seeks, not merely reform, but the type of reform which ensures the continuation of his carefully crafted ideological beliefs.