Diwali – Festival of Lights

Diwali  (also spelled  Devali  in certain regions) or  Deepavali,[1]  popularly known as the â€Å"festival of lights†, is an important five-day festival in  Hinduism,Jainism, and  Sikhism, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. Deepavali is an official holiday in  India,[2]  Nepal,  Sri Lanka,  Myanmar,Mauritius,  Guyana,  Trinidad & Tobago,  Suriname,  Malaysia,  Singapore,[3]  and  Fiji. The name â€Å"Diwali† is a contraction of â€Å"Deepavali† (Sanskrit:  Dipavali), which translates into â€Å"row of lamps†. [4]  Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyas  or  dipas) in  Sanskrit:   ) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks wit h family members and friends. Most Indian business communities begin the financial year on the first day of Diwali. Diwali commemorates the return of  Lord Rama, along with  Sita  and  Lakshman, from his fourteen-year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-king  Ravana.In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of  Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen  diyas  (oil lamps) and burst firecrackers. [5] In Jainism, Diwali marks the attainment of  moksha  or  nirvana  by  Mahavira  in 527 BC. [6][7]  In Sikhism,  Deepavali  commemorates the return of  Guru Har Gobind Ji  to  Amritsar  after freeing 52 Hindu kings imprisoned in Fort  Gwalior  by defeating Emperor  Jahangir; the people lit candles and diyas to celebrate his return. This is the reason Sikhs also refer to Deepavali as  Bandi Chhorh Divas, â€Å"the day of release of detainees†.The festival starts with  Dhanteras  on whi ch most Indian business communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival,  Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the demon  Naraka  by  Lord Krishna  and his wife  Satyabhama. Amavasya, the third day of Deepawali, marks the worship ofLakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of Lord  Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the  Bali, and banished him to  Patala.It is on the fourth day of Deepawali,  Kartika Shudda Padyami, that Bali went to  patalaand took the reins of his new kingdom in there. The fifth day is referred to as  Yama Dvitiya  (also called  Bhai Dooj), and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes. ————————————————- Spiritual significance In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the signi ficance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope.From darkness into light — the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, it's a celebration of South-Asian identities. 5] While Deepavali is popularly known as the â€Å"festival of lights†, the most significant spiritual meaning is â€Å"the awareness of the inner light†. Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the  Atman. The celebration of Deepavali as the â€Å"vic tory of good over evil†, refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance, the ignorance that masks one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite,  immanent  and  transcendent  reality.With this awakening comes compassion and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings  ananda  (joy or peace). Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light. While the story behind Deepavali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region (festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets), the essence is the same – to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying Reality of all things (Brahman). Diwali – Festival of Lights Diwali  (also spelled  Devali  in certain regions) or  Deepavali,[1]  popularly known as the â€Å"festival of lights†, is an important five-day festival in  Hinduism,Jainism, and  Sikhism, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. Deepavali is an official holiday in  India,[2]  Nepal,  Sri Lanka,  Myanmar,Mauritius,  Guyana,  Trinidad & Tobago,  Suriname,  Malaysia,  Singapore,[3]  and  Fiji. The name â€Å"Diwali† is a contraction of â€Å"Deepavali† (Sanskrit:  Dipavali), which translates into â€Å"row of lamps†. [4]  Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyas  or  dipas) in  Sanskrit:   ) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks wit h family members and friends. Most Indian business communities begin the financial year on the first day of Diwali. Diwali commemorates the return of  Lord Rama, along with  Sita  and  Lakshman, from his fourteen-year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-king  Ravana.In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of  Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen  diyas  (oil lamps) and burst firecrackers. [5] In Jainism, Diwali marks the attainment of  moksha  or  nirvana  by  Mahavira  in 527 BC. [6][7]  In Sikhism,  Deepavali  commemorates the return of  Guru Har Gobind Ji  to  Amritsar  after freeing 52 Hindu kings imprisoned in Fort  Gwalior  by defeating Emperor  Jahangir; the people lit candles and diyas to celebrate his return. This is the reason Sikhs also refer to Deepavali as  Bandi Chhorh Divas, â€Å"the day of release of detainees†.The festival starts with  Dhanteras  on whi ch most Indian business communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival,  Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the demon  Naraka  by  Lord Krishna  and his wife  Satyabhama. Amavasya, the third day of Deepawali, marks the worship ofLakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of Lord  Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the  Bali, and banished him to  Patala.It is on the fourth day of Deepawali,  Kartika Shudda Padyami, that Bali went to  patalaand took the reins of his new kingdom in there. The fifth day is referred to as  Yama Dvitiya  (also called  Bhai Dooj), and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes. ————————————————- Spiritual significance In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the signi ficance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope.From darkness into light — the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, it's a celebration of South-Asian identities. 5] While Deepavali is popularly known as the â€Å"festival of lights†, the most significant spiritual meaning is â€Å"the awareness of the inner light†. Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the  Atman. The celebration of Deepavali as the â€Å"vic tory of good over evil†, refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance, the ignorance that masks one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite,  immanent  and  transcendent  reality.With this awakening comes compassion and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings  ananda  (joy or peace). Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light. While the story behind Deepavali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region (festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets), the essence is the same – to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying Reality of all things (Brahman).

Fool Chapter 6

SIX FRIENDSHIP AND THE ODD BONK Life is loneliness, broken only by the gods taunting us with friendship and the odd bonk. I admit it, I grieved. Perhaps I am a fool to have expected Cordelia to stay. (Well, yes, I am a fool – don't be overly clever, eh? It's annoying.) But for most of my manly years she had been the lash on my back, the bait to my loins, and the balm of my imagination – my torment, my tonic, my fever, my curse. I ache for her. There is no comfort in the castle. Drool gone, Taster gone, Lear gone mad. At best, Drool was little more company than Jones, and decidedly less portable, but I worry for him, great child that he is, stumbling about in the circle of so many villains and so much sharp metal. I miss his gape-toothed smile, filled as it was with forgiveness, acceptance, and often, cheddar. And Taster, what did I know of him, really? Just a wan lad from Hog Nostril on Thames. Yet when I needed a sympathetic ear, he provided, even if he was oft distracted from my woes by his own selfish dietary concerns. I lay on my bed in the portislodge staring out the cruciform arrow loops at the grey bones of London, stewing in my misery, yearning for my friends. For my first friend. For Thalia. The anchoress. On a chill autumn day at Dog Snogging, the third time I was allowed to bring food to the anchoress, we became fast friends. I was still in awe of her, and merely being in her presence made me feel base, unworthy, and profane, but in a good way. I passed the plate of rough brown bread and cheese through the cross in the wall with prayers and a plea for her forgiveness. â€Å"This fare will do, Pocket. It will do. I'll forgive you for a song.† â€Å"You must be a most pious lady and have great love for the Lord.† â€Å"The Lord is a tosser.† â€Å"I thought the Lord was a shepherd?† â€Å"Well, that, too. But a bloke needs hobbies. Do you know ‘Greensleeves'?† â€Å"I know ‘Dona Nobis Pacem.'† â€Å"Do you know any pirate songs?† â€Å"I could sing ‘Dona Nobis Pacem' like a pirate.† â€Å"It means give us peace, in Latin, doesn't it?† â€Å"Aye, mistress.† â€Å"Bit of a stretch then, innit, a pirate singing give us bloody peace?† â€Å"I suppose. I could sing you a psalm, then, mistress.† â€Å"All right, then, Pocket, a psalm it is – one with pirates and loads of bloodshed, if you have it.† I was nervous, desperate for approval from the anchoress, and afraid that if I displeased her I might be struck down by an avenging angel, as seemed to happen often in scripture. Try as I might, I could not recall any piraty psalms. I cleared my throat and sang the only psalm I knew in English: â€Å"The Lord is my tosser, I shall not want – â€Å" â€Å"Wait, wait, wait,† said the anchoress. â€Å"Doesn't it go, ‘the Lord is my shepherd'?† â€Å"Well, yes, mistress, but you said – â€Å" And she started to laugh. It was the first time I heard her truly laugh and it felt as if I was getting approval from the Virgin herself. In the dark chamber, just the single candle on my side of the cross, it seemed like her laughter was all around me, embracing me. â€Å"Oh, Pocket, you are a love. Thick as a bloody brick, but such a love.† I could feel the blood rise in my face. I was proud and embarrassed and ecstatic all at once. I didn't know what to do, so I fell to my knees and prostrated myself before the arrow loop, pushing my cheek against the stone floor. â€Å"I'm sorry, mistress.† She laughed some more. â€Å"Arise, Sir Pocket of Dog Snogging.† I climbed to my feet and stared into the dark cross-shaped hole in the wall, and there I saw that dull star that was her eye reflecting the candle flame and I realized that there were tears in my own eyes. â€Å"Why did you call me that?† â€Å"Because you make me laugh and you are deserving and valiant. I think we're going to be very good friends.† I started to ask her what she meant, but the iron latch clanked and the door into the passageway swung slowly open. Mother Basil was there, holding a candelabra, looking displeased. â€Å"Pocket, what's going on here?† said the mother superior in her gruff baritone. â€Å"Nothing, Reverend Mother. I've just given food to the anchoress.† Mother Basil seemed reluctant to enter the passageway, as if she was afraid to be in view of the arrow loop that looked into the anchoress's chamber. â€Å"Come along, Pocket. It's time for evening prayers.† I bowed quickly to the anchoress and hurried out the door under Mother Basil's arm. As the sister closed the door, the anchoress called, â€Å"Reverend Mother, a moment, please.† Mother Basil's eyes went wide and she looked as if she'd been called out by the devil. â€Å"Go on to vespers, Pocket. I'll be along.† She made her way into the dead-end passageway and closed the door behind her even as the bell calling us to vespers began to toll. I wondered what the anchoress would discuss with Mother Basil, perhaps some conclusion she had realized during her hours of prayer, perhaps I had been found wanting and she would ask that I not be sent to her again. After just making my first friend, I was sorely afraid of losing her. While I repeated the prayers in Latin after the priest, in my heart I prayed to God to not take my anchoress away, and when mass ended, I stayed in the chapel and prayed until well after the midnight prayers. Mother Basil found me in the chapel. â€Å"There are going to be some changes, Pocket.† I felt my spirit drop into my shoe soles. â€Å"Forgive me, Reverend Mother, for I know not what I do.† â€Å"What are you on about, Pocket? I'm not scolding you. I'm adding duties to your devotion.† â€Å"Oh,† said I. â€Å"From now on, you are to take food and drink to the anchoress in the hour before vespers, and there in the outer chamber, shall you sit until she has eaten, but upon the bell for vespers you are to leave there, and not return until the next day. No longer than an hour shall you stay, do you understand?† â€Å"Yes, mum, but why only the hour?† â€Å"More than that and you will interfere with the anchoress's own communion with God. Further, you are never to ask her about where she was before this, about her family, or her past in any way. If she should speak of these things you are to immediately put your fingers in your ears, and verily sing ‘la, la, la, la, I can't hear you, I can't hear you,' and leave the chamber immediately.† â€Å"I can't do that, mum.† â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"I can't work the latch to the outer door with my fingers in my ears.† â€Å"Ah, sweet Pocket, I do so love your wit. I think you shall sleep on the stone floor this night, the rug shields you from the blessed cooling of your fevered imagination, which God finds an abomination. Yes, a light beating and the bare stone for you and your wit tonight.† â€Å"Yes, mum.† â€Å"And so, you must never speak with the anchoress about her past, and if you should, you shall be excommunicated and damned for all eternity with no hope for redemption, the light of the Lord shall never fall upon you, and you shall live in darkness and pain for ever and ever. And in addition, I shall have Sister Bambi feed you to the cat.† â€Å"Yes, mum,† said I. I was so thrilled I nearly peed. I would be blessed by the glory of the anchoress every single day. â€Å"Well that's a scaly spot o' snake wank,† said the anchoress. â€Å"No, mum, it's a cracking big cat.† â€Å"Not the cat, the hour a day. Only an hour a day?† â€Å"Mother Basil doesn't want me to disturb your communion with God, Madame Anchoress.† I bowed before the dark arrow loop. â€Å"Call me Thalia.† â€Å"I daren't, mum. And neither may I ask you about your past or from whence you come. Mother Basil has forbidden it.† â€Å"She's right on that, but you may call me Thalia, as we are friends.† â€Å"Aye, mum. Thalia.† â€Å"And you may tell me of your past, good Pocket. Tell me of your life.† â€Å"But, Dog Snogging is all I know – all I have ever known.† I could hear her laughing in the dark. â€Å"Then, tell me a story from your lessons, Pocket.† So I told the anchoress of the stoning of St. Stephen, of the persecution of St. Sebastian, and the beheading of St. Valentine, and she, in turn, told me stories of the saints I had never heard of in catechism. â€Å"And so,† said Thalia, â€Å"that is the story of how St. Rufus of Pipe-wrench was licked to death by marmots.† â€Å"That sounds a most horrible martyring,† said I. â€Å"Aye,† said the anchoress, â€Å"for marmot spit is the most noxious of all substances, and that is why St. Rufus is the patron of saliva and halitosis unto this day. Enough martyring, tell me of some miracles.† And so I did. I told of the magic, self-filling milk pail of St. Bridgid of Kildare, of how St. Fillan, after his ox was killed by a wolf, was able to compel the same wolf to pull a cart full of materials for building a church, and how St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. â€Å"Aye,† said Thalia, â€Å"and snakes have been grateful ever since. But let me apprise you of the most wondrous miracle of how St. Cinnamon drove the Mazdas out of Swinden.† â€Å"I've never heard of St. Cinnamon,† said I. â€Å"Well, that is because these nuns at Dog Snogging are base and not worthy to know such things, and why you must never share what you learn here with them lest they become overwhelmed and succumb to an ague.† â€Å"An ague of over-piety?† â€Å"Aye, lad, and you will be the one to have killed them.† â€Å"Oh, I would never want to do that.† â€Å"Of course you wouldn't. Did you know, in Portugal they canonize a saint by actually shooting him out of a cannon?† And so it went, day in, day out, week in, week out, trading secrets and lies with Thalia. You might think that it was cruel of her to spend her only time in contact with the outside world telling lies to a little boy, but then, the first story that Mother Basil had told me was about a talking snake who gave tainted fruit to naked people, and the bishop had made her an abbess. All along what Thalia was teaching me was how to entertain her. How to share a moment in story and laughter – how you could become close to someone, even when separated from them by a stone wall. Once a month for the first two years the bishop came from York to check on the anchoress, and she would seem to lose her spirit for a day, as if he were skimming it off and taking it away, but soon she would recover and our routine of chat and laughter would go on. After a few years the bishop stopped coming, and I was afraid to ask Mother Basil why, lest it be a reminder and the dour prelate resume his spirit-sucking sojourns. The longer the anchoress was in her chamber, the more she delighted in my conveying the most mundane details from the outside. â€Å"Tell me of the weather today, Pocket. Tell me of the sky, and don't skip a single cloud.† â€Å"Well, the sky looked like someone was catapulting giant sheep into the frosty eye of God.† â€Å"Fucking winter. Crows against the sky?† â€Å"Aye, Thalia, like a vandal with quill and ink set loose to randomly punctuate the very dome of day.† â€Å"Ah, well spoken, love, completely incoherent imagery.† â€Å"Thank you, mistress.† While about my chores and studies I tried to take note of every detail and construct metaphors in my head so I might paint word pictures for my anchoress, who depended on me to be her light and color. My days seemed to begin at four when I came to Thalia's chamber, and end at five, when the bell rang for vespers. Everything before was in preparation for that hour, and everything after, until sleep, was in sweet remembrance. The anchoress taught me how to sing – not just the hymns and chants I had been singing from the time I was little, but the romantic songs of the troubadours. With simple, patient instruction, she taught me how to dance, juggle, and perform acrobatics, and all by verbal description – not once in those years had I laid eyes on the anchoress, or seen more than her partial profile at the arrow loop. I grew older and fuzz sprouted on my cheek – my voice broke, making me sound as if a small goose was trapped in my gullet, honking for her supper. The nuns at Dog Snogging started to take notice of me as something other than their pet, for many were sent to the abbey when they were no older than I. They would flirt and ask me for a song, a poem, a story, the more bawdy the better, and the anchoress had taught me many of those. Where she had learned them, she would never say. â€Å"Were you an entertainer before you became a nun?† â€Å"No, Pocket. And I am not a nun.† â€Å"But, perhaps your father – â€Å" â€Å"No, my father was not a nun either.† â€Å"I mean, was he an entertainer?† â€Å"Sweet Pocket, you mustn't ask about my life before I came here. What I am now, I have always been, and everything I am is here with you.† â€Å"Sweet Thalia,† said I. â€Å"That is a fiery flagon of dragon toss.† â€Å"Isn't it, though?† â€Å"You're grinning, aren't you?† She held the candle close to the arrow loop, illuminating her wry smile. I laughed, and reached through the cross to touch her cheek. She sighed, took my hand and pressed it hard against her lips, then, in an instant, she had pushed my hand away and moved out of the light. â€Å"Don't hide,† said I. â€Å"Please don't hide.† â€Å"Fat lot of choice I have about whether I hide or not. I live in a bloody tomb.† I didn't know what to say. Never before had she complained about her choice to become the anchoress of Dog Snogging, even if other expressions of her faith seemed – well – abstract. â€Å"I mean don't hide from me. Let me see you.† â€Å"You want to see? You want to see?† I nodded. â€Å"Give me your candles.† She had me hand four lit candles through the arrow loop. Whenever I performed for her she had me set them in holders around the outer chamber so she could see me dance, or juggle, or do acrobatics, but never had she asked for more than one candle in her own chamber. She placed the candles around her chamber and for the first time I could see the stone pallet where she slept on a mattress of straw, her meager possessions laid out on a heavy table, and Thalia, standing there in a tattered linen frock. â€Å"Look,† she said. She pulled her frock over her head and dropped it on the floor. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. She looked younger than I had imagined, thin, but womanly – her face was that of a mischievous Madonna, as if carved by a sculptor inspired more by desire than the divine. Her hair was long and the color of buckskin, catching the candlelight as if a single ray of sunlight might make it explode in golden fire. I felt a heat rise in my face, and another kind of rise in my trousers. I was excited and confused and ashamed all at once, and I turned my back on the arrow loop and cried out. â€Å"No!† Suddenly, she was right behind me, and I felt her hand on my shoulder, then rubbing my neck. â€Å"Pocket. Sweet Pocket, don't. It's all right.† â€Å"I feel like the Devil and the Virgin are doing battle in my body. I didn't know you were like that.† â€Å"Like a woman, you mean?† Her hand was warm and steady, kneading the muscles in my shoulder through the cross in the wall and I leaned into it. I wanted to turn and look, I wanted to run out of the chamber, I wanted to be asleep, or just waking – ashamed that the Devil had visited me in the night with a damp dream of temptation. â€Å"You know me, Pocket. I'm your friend.† â€Å"But you are the anchoress.† â€Å"I'm Thalia, your friend, who loves you. Turn around, Pocket.† And I did. â€Å"Give me your hand,† said she. And I did. She put it on her body, and she put her hands on mine, and pressed against the cold stone. Through the cross in the wall, I discovered a new universe – of Thalia's body, of my body, of love, of passion, of escape – and it was a damn sight better than bloody chants and juggling. When the bell rang for vespers we fell away from the cross, spent and gasping, and we began to laugh. Oh, and I had chipped a tooth. â€Å"One for the Devil, then, love?† said Thalia. When I arrived with the anchoress's supper the next afternoon she was waiting with her face pressed nearly through the center of the arrow cross – she looked like one of the angel-faced gargoyles that flanked the main doors of Dog Snogging, except they always seemed to be weeping and she was grinning. â€Å"So, didn't go to confession today, did you?† I shuddered. â€Å"No, mum, I worked in the scriptorium most of the day.† â€Å"Pocket, I think I would prefer you not call me mum, if it's not too much to ask. Given the new level of our friendship it seems – oh, I don't know – unsavory.† â€Å"Yes, m – uh – mistress.† â€Å"Mistress I can work with. Now, pass me my supper and see if you can fit your face in the opening the way that I have.† Thalia's cheekbones were wedged in the arrow loop, which was little wider than my hand. â€Å"Doesn't that hurt?† I'd been finding abrasions on my arms and various bits all day from our adventure the night before. â€Å"It's not the flaying of St. Bart, but, yes, it stings a bit. You can't confess what we did, or what we do, love? You know that, right?† â€Å"Then am I going to have to go to hell?† â€Å"Well – † She pulled back, rolled her eyes as if searching the ceiling for an answer. † – not alone. Give us our supper, lad, and get your face in the loop, I have something to teach you.† And so it went for weeks and months. I went from being a mediocre acrobat to a talented contortionist, and Thalia seemed to regain some of the life that I had thought sure she'd lost. She was not holy in the sense that the priests and nuns taught, but she was full of spirit and a different kind of reverence. More concerned with this life, this moment, than an eternity beyond the reach of the cross in the wall. I adored her, and I wanted her to be out of the chamber, in the world, with me, and I began to plan her escape. But I was but a boy, and she was bloody barking, so it was not meant to be. â€Å"I've stolen a chisel from a mason who passed by on his way to work on the minster at York. It will take some time, but if you work on a single stone, you might escape in summer.† â€Å"You are my escape, Pocket. The only escape I can ever allow myself.† â€Å"But we could run off, be together.† â€Å"That would be smashing, except I can't leave. So, hop up and get your tackle in the cross. Thalia's a special treat for you.† I never seemed to make my point once my tackle went in the cross. Distracted, I was. But I learned, and while I was forbidden confession – and to tell the truth, I didn't feel that badly about it – I began to share what I had learned. â€Å"Thalia, I must confess to you, I have told Sister Nikki about the little man in the boat.† â€Å"Really? Told her or showed her?† â€Å"Well, showed her, I reckon. But she seems a bit thick. She kept making me show her over and over – asked me to meet her in the cloisters to show her again after vespers tonight.† â€Å"Ah, the joy of being slow. Still, it's a sin to be selfish with one's knowledge.† â€Å"That's what I thought,† said I, relieved. â€Å"And speaking of the little man in the boat, I believe there is one on this side of the loop who has been naughty and requires a thorough tongue-lashing.† â€Å"Aye, mistress,† said I, wedging my cheeks into the arrow loop. â€Å"Present the rascal for punishment.† And so it went. I was the only person I knew who had calluses on his cheekbones, but I had also developed the arms and grip of a blacksmith from suspending myself with my fingertips wedged between the great stones to extend my bits through the arrow loop. And thus I hung, spread spiderlike across the wall, my business being tended to, frantic and friendly, by the anchoress, when the bishop entered the antechamber. (The bishop entered the antechamber? The bishop entered the antechamber? At this point you're going coy on us, euphemizing about parts and positions when you've already confessed to mutual violation with a holy woman through a bloody arrow slot? Well, no.) The actual sodding Bishop of Bloody York entered the sodding antechamber with Mother sodding Basil, who bore a brace of sodding storm lanterns. And so I let go. Unfortunately, Thalia did not. It appeared that her grip, too, had been strengthened by our encounters on the wall. â€Å"What the hell are you doing, Pocket?† said the anchoress. â€Å"What are you doing?† asked Mother Basil. I hung there, more or less suspended to the wall by three points, one of them not covered by shoes. â€Å"Ahhhhhhhhh!† said I. I was finding it somewhat difficult to think. â€Å"Give us a little slack, lad,† said Thalia. â€Å"This is meant to be more of a dance, not a tug-of-war.† â€Å"The bishop is out here,† said I. She laughed. â€Å"Well, tell him to get in the queue and I'll tend to him when we're finished.† â€Å"No, Thalia, he's really out here.† â€Å"Oh toss,† said she, releasing my knob. I fell to the floor and quickly rolled onto my stomach. Thalia's face was at the arrow loop. â€Å"Evening, your grace.† A big grin there. â€Å"Fancy a spot of stony bonking before vespers?† The bishop turned so quickly his miter went half-past on his head. â€Å"Hang him,† he said. He snatched one of Mother Basil's lanterns and walked out of the chamber. â€Å"Bloody brown bread you serve tastes like goat scrotum!† Thalia called after. â€Å"A lady deserves finer fare!† â€Å"Thalia, please,† I said. â€Å"Not a comment on you, Pocket. Your serving style is lovely, but the bread is rubbish.† Then to Mother Basil. â€Å"Don't blame the boy, Reverend Mother, he's a love.† Mother Basil grabbed me by the ear and dragged me out of the chamber. â€Å"You're a love, Pocket,† said the anchoress. Mother Basil locked me in a closet in her chambers, then mid-way through the night, opened the door and handed in a crust of bread and a chamber pot. â€Å"Stay here until the bishop is on his way in the morning, and if anyone asks, you've been hung.† â€Å"Yes, Reverend Mother,† said I. She came to get me the next morning and hustled me out through the chapel. I'd never seen her so distraught. â€Å"You've been like a son to me, Pocket,† she said, fussing about me, strapping a satchel and other bits of kit on me. â€Å"So it's going to pain me to send you off.† â€Å"But, Reverend Mother – â€Å" â€Å"Hush, lad. We'll take you to the barn, hang you in front of a few farmers, then you're off to the south to meet up with a group of mummers[21] who will take you in.† â€Å"Beggin' pardon, mum, but if I'm hung, what will mummers do with me, a puppet show?† â€Å"I'll not really hang you, just make it look good. We have to, lad, the bishop ordered it.† â€Å"Since when does the bishop order nuns to hang people?† â€Å"Since you shagged the anchoress, Pocket.† At the mention of her I broke away from Mother Basil, ran through the abbey, down the old corridor and into the antechamber. The arrow cross was gone, completely bricked up and mortared in. â€Å"Thalia! Thalia!† I called. I screamed and beat the stones until my fists bled, but not a sound came from the other side of the wall. Ever. The sisters pulled me away, tied my hands, and took me to the barn where I was hanged.

How Can Kelloggs Make Improvement both for its Business and Case Study

How Can Kelloggs Make Improvement both for its Business and Environment - Case Study Example This system prevents the company from the needless expenses and this system helps a lot to Kellogg’s business because by using that system they contain less amount of stock and help in minimizing expenses. Because of using stockholding system, they do not have a need for stock products. Stocking products are the extra work for any company so the company only has to focus its main work that is to make products reliable and efficient. TDG uses specialist transportation system because of the system, warehouse expenses remain low. The system is so efficient that minimizes the transport expenditures and carbon footprints. Because of the system, Kellogg’s do not have to give needless expenses and this is one of biggest benefit for Kellogg’s. After the partnership with TDG, big retailers such as ASDA and Tesco keep the products without taking storage expenses. Another benefit is that TDG has a waste identifying system through which during completing the task, the system recognized the waste as the lean production and remove the waste immediately. The system enhanced the efficiency in manufacturing of products. After the production of products, company checks the product’s reliability twice and then supplies them. Company’s motive is that to attain the maximum profit in a minimum expenditure. Kellogg’s get many advantages with the partnership with the TDG for its business and environment. Now Kellogg’s utilizes the TDG’s efficient system that has made the company reach the highest position. Now Kellogg’s have all efficient systems that any prosperous company has such as they have their own transportation system, they have control over their retailers. The company has stockholding system that informs when the bare house is emptied.  

Project Management and its usage in cost and time mitigation Dissertation

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Dr.Jekyell and Mr. Hyde Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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Arts pictures description Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

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Wk 5d1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Wk 5d1 - Essay Example Private IP addressing helps improve the networks security, besides conserving public address space. Private IP addressing is used for connecting client computers on a private network, for example in institutions. This addressing method allows for easier communication between network computers. Private networks allow the network administrator to arbitrary assign a local machine an IP address of his choice, if it falls within the range of private networks shown above. This is quite different from public networks. The nature of private networks restricts access to the private network. However, it is possible to connect two private networks by use of a device which allows Network Address Translation (NAT), for instance a router. A public IP address, on the other hand is allocated to each machine which connects to the internet where all IPs are unique. Therefore, it is not possible to have two computers sharing a public IP address on the internet. Public addressing enables multiple computers to connect over the internet and share information. Public IPs is assigned to each computer by the ISP when a computer connects to the gateway and so the user of the computer cannot change the public IP address assigned to his computer. A computer accessing the internet from a private network has both private and public IP addresses. In essence, it can be said that private IP is for communicating within the network while public IP is applied for internet

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On the policy formation process - Essay Example batier, noted social scientist, has conceptualized ‘Advocacy Coalition Framework’ or ACF and ‘Multiple Streams Framework’ for the policies in different areas of public welfare, that have proved quite effective. The essay would be discussing these models of policy frameworks in the areas of healthcare and education in the United States. ‘Advocacy Coalition Framework’ takes into account the interests of various stakeholders by incorporating opinions and feedback from wide ranging external and internal resources that may significantly impact the masses in the specified areas. The stakeholders comprise of beneficiaries of the schemes, institutions and intermediaries that facilitate the schemes to the public and the decision making bodies that are responsible for various processes for policy framework and subsequent implementation of those policies. The coalition broadly comprises of two major sources who seemingly reflect the welfare of the people: media, researchers and analysts; actors at all levels of government (local, state and international) (Sabatier, 1988). These sources help to study the various perspectives of the policy in the particular field by taking into account the different variables like socio-economic changes, political paradigms, evolving socio-cultural values, normative beliefs and environmental constraints. Thus, while incorporating the finer details of the policies in the relevant area, the view point of these agencies and the feedback widens the policy perspectives and ensures better decision making in framing the policies. ‘Multiple Streams Framework’ primarily believes that three vital streams of thoughts significantly impact the process of formulation of policies. The first is the problem identification that necessitates the process, second is the diversity in the requirements of the communities and lastly the political imperatives of vested interests that are influenced by public opinions, changing socio-economic and

Our dreams Essay Example for Free

Our dreams Essay It is our constant pursuit to fulfill our dreams that captivates us to seek education and learning. We use this as instruments to satisfy the needed competencies to become capable in the responsibilities and roles our target profession may entail. Despite the occurrence of hindrances and obstacles along the way, each one must use this as an instrument to gain advantage and benefit from the process. This mindset together with the passion to learn has provided me the opportunity to apply for a degree in civil engineering at University of Massachusetts in Boston. At such a young age, I had always been fascinated in the way construction has helped man. These structures have constantly helped each one make their work easier by paving the way for access to roads and the creation of buildings to support both business and industrial objectives. Through this realization, I began to understand its relevance in society and clamored to learn the techniques and skills associated with engineering. This objective allowed me to find ways to enhance my current capabilities to fulfill this goal. As I took my education, I began to understand the relevance of gaining competency in my mathematics subjects as a foundation and preparation for my chosen profession. That is why I took extra effort in understanding and comprehending the subject. Though this may seem to be the case, I did not also look down or gave less priority on my other courses because I wanted to become a balanced student; eager and capable to withstand the challenges of academic life. Through this, I was able to benefit more in my high school education and further realize that my passion can be fulfilled. During my application to college, I had the privilege to go to Germany to seek education. However, I was not able to finish it due to some setbacks that I cannot prevent. However, this experience opened up my eyes to the realities in life. I must continuously struggle and work hard to achieve my dreams. I must be able to maintain my focus and target despite the obstacles that may come in the process. With my return in the United States, I spent 1 year with a host family and was tasked to take care of 3 boys in the process. By allowing myself to be in this position, I gained competence in organizational culture as I became acquainted and learned to communicate effectively with other people. I see this as an important stepping stone in my future career because it can allow me to gain my target clients together with the skills that I may learn during study. At the same time, during my travels in Las Vegas, I was fascinated in the construction present in the region. Due to these activities, I came to appreciate the relevance and roles of an engineer in these structures. I saw it entails a lot of collaboration, planning and effective implementation for these to become a reality. At the same time, it should adhere to specific standards and rules provided by each state. These experiences enticed me further to seek education, harness my skills as a potential engineer and create my own company that can make a difference to society which I believe that UMASS in Boston can give me. With all of these mentioned, I deem that the admissions committee consider my application and help me become trained and educated in my chosen profession. I feel that I had shown sufficient effort and dedication towards my craft. However, I feel that for these two tenets to be supplemented there must be a formal way wherein this can be actively facilitated. By allowing me to experience the education within the UMASS framework, I feel that I can actively become competent and recognize my dream of becoming an engineer in the future; a career that can help me realize my potential and contribute towards the improvement of my field and society.

International Trade Essay Example for Free

International Trade Essay International trade is a complex process that involves both physical and abstract components. Its physical aspects include the goods that are traded such as textiles, raw materials for automobiles and manpower or human resources to name a few. Some of its abstract components include the trading policies of governments from every nation and the trading agreements between the trading parties. Issues surrounding international trade vary in terms of complexity and nature, usually involving not only the direct physical and abstract components of international trade but also other areas of concern such as geography of trading locations and the insurance of the traded goods. Since international trade involves two or more traders situated in different countries, there is the issue of trading policies. Governments usually create trading policies that international traders should adhere to. Otherwise, trade compromises will be arranged. Like typical trading activities, there is also the issue of trade agreements between the trading parties specifying what kind and what amount of goods are to be traded for a specified duration. Prior to the actual trade, trading parties from across the world first arranges the payment and financial transaction details that are compatible with the existing laws of the receiving country. Each trading party will also have to ensure sufficient manpower to handle the actual transportation of the goods which, in effect, entails the secured transfer of goods from the supplier to the receiving client. The geography between the trading countries also gives rise to several issues such as determining and agreeing which route to take and what transportation equipments should be used. The security of the trading parties especially the receiving client is another issue in international trade as smuggling of prohibited products remains a big concern.

Wide Dynamic Range Compression Benefits Health And Social Care Essay

Wide Dynamic Range Compression Benefits Health And Social Care Essay Adults with a moderate sensorineural hearing loss have a need for soft sounds to be amplified to help with clarity of speech without going over a level which the person finds too loud. Moderate sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to outer hair cells, which can lead to a reduced dynamic range and ultimately, recruitment. The dynamic range is the range between the threshold of hearing and the uncomfortable loudness levels (ULL). Venema (1998) refers to this as the floor (threshold) being raised and the ceiling (ULL) remaining the same. When the ULLs are unchanged, as thresholds worsen, an irregular increase in loudness is perceived typically referred to as recruitment. In order to distinguish between different types of hearing aids and find the most suitable for this type of hearing loss we have to look to see if the hearing aids can encompass the persons dynamic range without going over their uncomfortable loudness levels. It has been suggested that output limiting compress ion (CL) and wide dynamic range compression (WDRC) hearing aids are more beneficial for this type of hearing loss compared to linear hearing aids with peak clipping. Ultimately, for a moderate sensorineural hearing loss it is believed that WDRC is the most beneficial type of amplification at this time. The outer hair cells in the organ of Corti have been referred to as the amplifiers of the cochlea (Brownell, et al., 1985). In the absence of outer hair cell function, a moderate sensorineural hearing loss of around 40-50 dB is present (Ryan and Dallos, 1975). The most prevalent type of hearing loss in adults is presbyacusis or age-related hearing loss (Valente, et. al. 2008). Presbyacusis begins as a bilateral, symmetrical, high frequency sensorineural hearing loss affecting the outer hair cells in the basal end of the cochlea. People with this type of hearing loss tend to complain about background noises such as speech babble in a noisy pub. This can account for, what is commonly referred to as the upward spread of masking, which is caused by lower frequencies masking higher frequencies (Valente et. al., 2008). This results in softer, higher frequency sounds from speech such as consonants being masked by lower frequency speech sounds such as vowels. Presbyacusis causes a subtle dec rease in hearing over time (Valente et. al., 2008) and as a result, patients do not usually attend clinics until their families notice that the television is too loud or the patient themselves realize that they cannot hear as well in noisy situations as they used to. Hearing aids can include different types of compression circuits, which can benefit different types of hearing loss. Lets first look at input and output compression circuits. They differ to each other depending on where the volume control is located in the circuit. Output compression circuits have the volume control before the compression takes place. This type of compression affects the compression kneepoint and the gain but not the maximum power output. It is also the type of circuit used with CL amplification strategy and is associated with high compression ratios and kneepoints. Input compression has the volume control located after the compression circuit; therefore the sound is compressed before the volume control affects the sound. This means that the kneepoint is unaffected while the gain and maximum power output are. This type of compression circuit is what tends to be used with wide dynamic range compression (WDRC) strategy and is associated with low compression ratios and kneepoints (Venema, 1998; Dillon, 2001). The first type of compression is output limiting compression amplification. The input is linear until it reaches a high kneepoint and then it compresses the sound with a high compression ratio (Venema, 1998; Valente, et. al., 2008). This type of compression is very similar to peak clipping (PC), which is found in linear hearing aids, however it is more pleasant for the listener than PC because there is less distortion. People with normal hearing or mild to moderate hearing loss will notice that the quality of speech is more distorted with limiting when compared to people with severe to profound hearing loss who will not notice this effect as much (Dillon, 2000). In a study of 12 adults with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss, sound quality and clarity were improved with output limiting compression when compared to peak clipping (Hawkins and Naidoo, 1993). It is generally accepted that linear hearing aids with peak clipping no longer have a place in audiology clinics and hear ing aid companies have stopped manufacturing them. Wide dynamic range compression (WDRC) is a compression strategy that aims to amplify soft sounds by a lot, medium sounds by a moderate amount and loud sounds by a small amount (Souza and Turner, 1998). WDRC tends to give more gain to soft sounds and has fairly short attack and release times (Marriage, et al., 2005). WDRC is a nonlinear compression strategy, which tries to mimic the non-linearity of the cochlea and attempts to account for loudness recruitment with sensorineural hearing loss (Moore, et al., 1992). The threshold kneepoint is usually low at around 50 dB in order to amplify quiet sounds, compressions ratios are usually lower than 4:1 and attack and release times are short so that consonant sounds are not masked by vowel sounds (Valente, et. al., 2008). WDRC is a relatively new compression strategy that is used commonly in modern digital technology hearing aids. There are mixed views as to whether WDRC is of more benefit than linear amplification. It has been noted in some literature that measurable benefits of WDRC include improved hearing for soft speech sounds (Souza and Turner, 1998), speech in quiet, speech in noise, more comfortable listening situations for loud speech (Moore, et. al., 1992; Davies-Venn, 2009) and improved acclimatisation (Yund et. al., 2006). In contrast it has also been reviewed that WDRC may improve audibility but not necessarily intelligibility when compared to linear amplification (Marriage, et. al., 2005; Souza and Turner, 1998). WDRC may be of more benefit for people with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss compared to people with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. This may be due to the suggestion that as hearing gets worse i.e. in severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss that temporal cues are relied on more heavily to understand speech. Since fast WDRC can change temporal cues it may be that this population of hearing aid wearers benefits more from compression limiting (Jenstad and Souza, 2005; Davies-Venn et. al. 2009). In 1992, Brian Moore, et. al. tested twenty subjects with moderate sensorineural hearing loss, measuring speech discrimination ability in quiet and speech reception thresholds (SRTs) in noise. The subjects were fitted with two types of hearing aids: Linear amplifiers and two-band WDRC compressors. They were tested with their new hearing aids and also in an unaided condition and with their own original hearing aids. With the compression hearing aids the subjects had good speech discrimination scores at all intensity levels in the quiet and the other three conditions showed decreasing speech intelligibility as the intensity level got quieter. The WDRC aids proved to help subjects achieve lower SRTs in noise compared to the other conditions. Patients with reduced dynamic ranges also benefited from the compression hearing aids more than the linear aids in that they found the loud sounds more comfortable. When surveyed the subjects also preferred the sound of the WDRC hearing aids (Moore, et al., 1992). Another benefit of WDRC over liner amplification is improved acclimatisation. Acclimatisation is the time it takes for the brain to get accustomed to sound from a particular type of amplification and to have increased speech recognition. Yund et. al. (2006) did an acclimatisation study with 39 subjects with mild to moderate sloping sensorineural hearing loss, who had never worn hearing aids. They showed that subjects who wore the WDRC hearing aids experienced acclimatisation, whereas the patients who wore linear hearing aids did not show any increased speech discrimination scores. They believed this was because the WDRC hearing aid was able to process the normal hearing dynamic range into the dynamic range of subjects with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss. After a period of wearing linear amplification, subjects were then fitted with WDRC hearing aids. These subjects still struggled with acclimatisation after a period with their WDRC hearing aids and needed extra help in t he form of auditory training to get rid of the effects of the linear amplification on the brain. Overall, it was concluded that hearing aids with more sophisticated technology may be the best aids for acclimatisation (Yund, et. al., 2006). One study compared the benefits of linear and nonlinear hearing aids with speech tests and Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP) questionnaires. The majority of subjects preferred the WDRC nonlinear hearing aids compared to the linear hearing aids. They showed better scores on speech tests, had better speech recognition, and preferred the overall listening experience with the WDRC hearing aids. WDRC hearing aids can be programmed with fast or slow attack and release times or a combination as this can be adjusted for different channels. In this study the researchers found that there was more of a preference for slow attack and release times for the most comfort and satisfaction compared to fast WDRC (Gatehouse, et. al., 2006). In comparison, Shi and Doherty (2008) found better speech recognition scores for both slow and fast, attack and release times compared to linear hearing aids, however found no difference between scores for slow and fast times in WDRC. When attack and relea se times are shorter the soft speech sounds are amplified more than the louder ones. If the release time is long then the soft and loud speech sounds are amplified at the same level, which may result in the softer phonemes being masked by the louder ones (Valente, et. al., 2008). Where to set attack and release times may be different for each patient depending on their preference; however in these studies it has been shown that having attack and release times using WDRC improves speech recognition scores compared to linear hearing aids. WDRC multi-channel hearing aids have a distinct advantage over single channel hearing aids because they have the ability to use BILL and TILL (features of WDRC) at the same time (Sandlin, 2000). BILL is the bass increase at low levels and TILL is the treble increase at low levels (Dillon, 2001, pp 169). BILL will tend to go into compression a lot more with low frequency sounds and not as much with high frequency sounds. The strategy of BILL is to allow the hearing aid wearer to hear better in background noise. TILL will go into compression more often with high frequency sounds and not as much with low frequency sounds. The strategy of TILL is to increase audibility of high frequency sounds. Both BILL and TILL used in conjunction can create a good fitting strategy for a flat moderate high frequency sensorineural hearing loss (Venema, 1998). Dillon (2000) described two problems that can arise with WDRC hearing aids. The first problem is that while WDRC hearing aids amplify very soft speech well, they also amplify very soft background noises such as the clock ticking or the sound of clothes moving (Dillon, 2000). Fortunately with newer digital technology, hearing aids are able to separate speech from background noise more intuitively than with analogue technology. A way to deal with these very low level background noises is to use expansion. Expansion is the opposite of compression and aims to make the weakest sounds in the quietest environments unnoticeable as it is below the listeners aided threshold (Valente, et. al., 2008). The second disadvantage is the problem of feedback being introduced when the hearing aid wearer is in a quiet environment and the gain is increased (Dillon, 2000; Valente, et. al., 2008). In the past few years digital feedback suppression/cancellation has become more sophisticated and this does not seem to be a problem with WDRC in hearing aid wearers as long as a suitable earmould is fitted. Wide dynamic range compression has been shown to have advantages over linear amplification using compression limiting and peak clipping circuits. In some researchers opinions it has still not been unequivocally proven that WDRC is the best fitting strategy for all types of hearing loss. As levels gets worse than moderate sensorineural hearing loss, the loss of outer and inner hair cell function causes temporal cues to worsen. It is unclear whether fast WDRC may be causing distortion in speech signals due to this. What is clear is that for mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss, most commonly observed with presbyacusis, WDRC seems to improve speech recognition in quiet, in noise, overall comfort and it is easier to acclimatise to wearing hearing aids. There is not a great amount of recent literature on the subject of the benefits of WDRC in the moderate sensorineural hearing loss category. It would be interesting to see new research conducted to determine whether there are more b enefits in multichannel WDRC with newer, more intuitive, digital technology hearing aids.

How does Hitler’s Seizure of Power in Germany help us define Fascism? E

Hitler’s regime in Germany is commonly referred to as Nazism, and is identified in the theories of both Sternhell and Payne, which they conclude to be completely divergent from Italian fascism. If this is the case, then Paxton’s five stages of fascism are proven to be invalid; as, like Mussolini in Italy, Hitler’s regime in Germany shows direct resemblance to these stages, as the latter parts of this chapter will show. With the signing of the armistice, that formally ended World War One, on November 11 1918, Germany respectively lost the war. Six months after the signing, the representatives at the Paris Peace Conferences, were finally able to conclude the peace treaties, which was signed on June 28 1919. The Treaty of Versailles was to have dire effects on Germany, effects that arguably completely altered the nature of her future. As part of the terms of this settlement, Germany was radically changed; in terms of: legal and military restrictions, territorial changes and also, as a result of Article 231, Germany were blamed for starting the war, which formally became known as the war guilt clause, which stated: ‘The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by t he aggression of Germany and her allies’ . The sum, was later determined in 1921, to be  £6000million. In terms of legal restrictions, articles 227 to 231 tried many German officials, including Emperor Wilhelm ll, as war criminals. Furthermore, Germany saw its military, in all forms, air, land and sea, vastly restricted. The German public w... ...orship. Works Cited Allan Todd – The European Dictatorships – Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini – Cambridge university press (2002) Stanley G Payne – Fascism: Comparison and Definition – University of Wisconsin Press – 1980 Walter Laqueur – Fascism: Past, Present and Future – Oxford University Press – 1997 Roger Griffin – Essays in the 20th century World History – Heinemann London 1999 A.J Gregor – Young Mussolini and the intellectual Origins of Fascism – California Press 1979 Martin Kolinsky – Continuity and Change in European Society: France, Germany and Italy since 1870 – 1974 Palgrave Macmillan Martin Blinkhorn – Mussolini and Fascist Italy – third edition – Routledge 2006 Sharma, Urmila. Western Political Thought. Atlantic Publishers and Distributors (P) Ltd, 1998. p. 66. Philip Morgan, Fascism in Europe, 1919-1945, New York Tayolor & Francis 2003

Red Dress by Alice Munro Essay -- Red Dress Alice Munro

"Red Dress" by Alice Munro The short story "Red Dress" by Alice Munro is about a young girl's first high school dance. Her home and school environment determined her attitude towards the dance.This girl's home life was bad. She was constantly put down mentally by her mother, even in front of her friend Lonnie, to the point that the narrator envied Lonnie on account that her mother died and she lived alone with her father. "'I doubt if she appreciates it.' She enraged me, talking like this to Lonnie, as if Lonnie were grown up and I were still a child." Her mother was obscene in the house; the description that is given would make one sick. It is said that she did not take care of herself in the house, and exposed her lumpy veins to the in-house public. This probably made the narrator t... Red Dress by Alice Munro Essay -- Red Dress Alice Munro "Red Dress" by Alice Munro The short story "Red Dress" by Alice Munro is about a young girl's first high school dance. Her home and school environment determined her attitude towards the dance.This girl's home life was bad. She was constantly put down mentally by her mother, even in front of her friend Lonnie, to the point that the narrator envied Lonnie on account that her mother died and she lived alone with her father. "'I doubt if she appreciates it.' She enraged me, talking like this to Lonnie, as if Lonnie were grown up and I were still a child." Her mother was obscene in the house; the description that is given would make one sick. It is said that she did not take care of herself in the house, and exposed her lumpy veins to the in-house public. This probably made the narrator t...

Bandura’s Experiments

In the early 1960s Bandura and other researchers conducted a classic set of experiments that demonstrated the power of observational learning. In one experiment, a preschool child worked on a drawing while a television set showed an adult behaving aggressively toward a large inflated Bobo doll (a clown doll that bounces back up when knocked down). The adult pummeled the doll with a mallet, kicked it, flung it in the air, sat on it, and beat it in the face, while yelling such remarks as â€Å"Sock him in the nose †¦ Kick him †¦ Pow! † The child was then left in another room filled with interesting toys, including a Bobo doll.The experimenters observed the child through one-way glass. Compared with children who witnessed a nonviolent adult model and those not exposed to any model, children who witnessed the aggressive display were much more likely to show aggressive behaviors toward the Bobo doll, and they often imitated the model's exact behaviors and hostile words. I n a variant of the original experiment, Bandura and colleagues examined the effect of observed consequences on learning. They showed four-year-old children one of three films of an adult acting violently toward a Bobo doll.In one version of the film, the adult was praised for his or her aggressive behavior and given soda and candies. In another version, the adult was scolded, spanked, and warned not to behave that way again. In a third version, the adult was neither rewarded nor punished. After viewing the film, each child was left alone in a room that contained a Bobo doll and other toys. Many children imitated the adult’s violent behaviors, but children who saw the adult punished imitated the behaviors less often than children who saw the other films.However, when the researchers promised the children a reward if they could copy the adult’s behavior, all three groups of children showed large and equal amounts of violent behavior toward the Bobo doll. Bandura conclude d that even those children who did not see the adult model receive a reward had learned through observation, but these children (especially those who saw the model being punished) would not display what they had learned until they expected a reward for doing so.The term latent learning describes cases in which an individual learns a new behavior but does not perform this behavior until there is the possibility of obtaining a reward. B Bandura’s Theory of Imitation According to Bandura’s influential theory of imitation, also called social learning theory, four factors are necessary for a person to learn through observation and then imitate a behavior: attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. First, the learner must pay attention to the crucial details of the model’s behavior.A young girl watching her father bake a cake will not be able to imitate this behavior successfully unless she pays attention to many important details—ingredients, quantiti es, oven temperature, baking time, and so on. The second factor is retention—the learner must be able to retain all of this information in memory until it is time to use it. If the person forgets important details, he or she will not be able to successfully imitate the behavior. Third, the learner must have the physical skills and coordination needed for reproduction of the behavior.The young girl must have enough strength and dexterity to mix the ingredients, pour the batter, and so on, in order to bake a cake on her own. Finally, the learner must have the motivation to imitate the model. That is, learners are more likely to imitate a behavior if they expect it to lead to some type of reward or reinforcement. If learners expect that imitating the behavior will not lead to reward or might lead to punishment, they are less likely to imitate the behavior.C Theory of Generalized Imitation An alternative to Bandura’s theory is the theory of generalized imitation. This theo ry states that people will imitate the behaviors of others if the situation is similar to cases in which their imitation was reinforced in the past. For example, when a young child imitates the behavior of a parent or an older sibling, this imitation is often reinforced with smiles, praise, or other forms of approval.Similarly, when children imitate the behaviors of friends, sports stars, or celebrities, this imitation may be reinforced—by the approval of their peers, if not their parents. Through the process of generalization, the child will start to imitate these models in other situations. Whereas Bandura’s theory emphasizes the imitator’s thought processes and motivation, the theory of generalized imitation relies on two basic principles of operant conditioning—reinforcement and generalization. D Factors Affecting Imitation Many factors determine whether or not a person will imitate a model.As already shown, children are more likely to imitate a model when the model’s behavior has been reinforced than when it has been punished. More important, however, are the expected consequences to the learner. A person will imitate a punished behavior if he or she thinks that imitation will produce some type of reinforcement. The characteristics of the model also influence the likelihood of imitation. Studies have shown that children are more likely to imitate adults who are pleasant and attentive to them than those who are not.In addition, children more often imitate adults who have substantial influence over their lives, such as parents and teachers, and those who seem admired and successful, such as celebrities and athletes. Both children and adults are more likely to imitate models who are similar to them in sex, age, and background. For this reason, when behavior therapists use modeling to teach new behaviors or skills, they try to use models who are similar to the learners. Microsoft ® Encarta ® Reference Library 2003.  © 1993-2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

The Author to Her Book

Within the poem, â€Å"The Author to Her Book,† Anne Bradstreet uses a complex metaphor to describe her attitude towards one of her works that was published without her permission. Throughout the poem, she compares her anger towards her book to that of an unwanted child. Bradstreet apparently has the attitude of a perfectionist, so she did not think her book was worthy of publication. However, she was able to get it back and make corrections. Although Bradstreet has a negative attitude towards the publication of her book, she does show some signs of satisfaction when the book is returned to her. Throughout the poem, Bradstreet displays her negative attitude through a complex metaphor. The metaphor compares an unwanted child to a book that was published without her permission. She immediately begins the poem by showing her displeasure for her own work. â€Å"Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain. † The metaphor shows a comparison of a malformed child to her piece. She also claims that her book was stolen from her. Being a perfectionist, she did not publish anything that was not perfect. Who after birth did’st by my side remain,/ Til snatched from thence by friends, less wise than true,/ Who thee abroad exposed to public view. † Based on these lines, she claims her friends took her work and published it for all to read. She also states that they were less wise than true. This could possibly mean that she believes that her friends were ignorant in that they did not realize the faults in her work. She then shows some signs of disappointment and possible embarrassment when she states that her errors were there for everyone to see. Where errors were not lessened, all may judge. † Within the first six lines of the poem, Bradstreet disguises her negative attitude through her complex metaphor. When Bradstreet is given a second chance after her book is returned, she has an attitude of satisfaction. After the sixth line, the speaker talks about correcting the â€Å"ill-formed child. † Outside the metaphor, Bradstreet is actually referring to her being given the chance to fix and edit her book. â€Å"At thy return my blushing was not small,/ My rambling brat (in print) should mother call. Almost everyone who has created something has a feeling of attraction and love for it. The same applies for Bradstreet, â€Å"I cast thee by as one unfit for light,/ thy visage was so irksome in my sight;/ Yet being mine own, at length affection would. † After this, she starts to express her hope in correcting her faults within the book. â€Å"Thy blemishes amend, if so I could. † However, being the perfectionist she is, she finds new problems every time she proofreads it. â€Å"I washed thy face, but more defects I saw,/ And rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw. Bradstreet allows herself to become temporarily positive when she tries to â€Å"improve her child’s clothes. † â€Å"Yet still thou run’st more hobbling than is meet;/ In better dress to trim thee was in my mind,/ But nought save homespun cloth in the house I find. † In the last few lines, Bradstreet’s attitude of perfection is completed when she â€Å"lets her child free. â€Å"In this array, ’mongst vulgar may’st thou roam;/ In critics’ hands beware thou dost not come. † â€Å"She claims that she is satisfied to let people read her work and that she does not want it to fall into the critics’ hands. In the second half of the poem, Bradstreet shows her satisfaction with the re-publication of her book. Anne Bradstreet reveals various emotions throughout her poem, â€Å"The Author to Her Book. † Within the first half, she has an extremely negative attitude towards the improper publication of her work. In the last part, however, she expresses satisfaction when she has the opportunity to correct her piece. By using a detailed complex metaphor, Bradstreet is able to demonstrate her complex attitude about her book within the poem. The Author to Her Book In Anne Bradstreet’s poem â€Å"The Author to Her Book† she expresses her attitude of being embarrassed because sees so many flaws and mistakes in her writing, as a parent may see in their child but loving and apologetic because it is her own and she can’t make it better. Bradstreet’s use of the extended metaphor of the book being her offspring expresses her attitudes of embarrassment and love. The first metaphor is of her book to a child, this is the controlling metaphor. The first line: â€Å"Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble mind. . . † shows distaste for the book but more importantly compares the book to being a child of her own. On line 8, â€Å". . . my rambling brat (in print) should mother call. . . † she shows another view of her writing as a brat and herself as its mother. Finally, the entire last paragraph starting on line 20 â€Å"In critic’s hands . . . thee out the door† she very forwardly expresses that she is the mother of her book. She uses her controlling metaphor to help express her attitudes. Bradstreet’s attitude of embarrassment shows through her words quite vividly. She first talks about being embarrassed on line 7 â€Å"At thy return my blushing was not small. . . She is embarrassed to know people read her book. She didn’t want to have her book sent out but her friends took it from her. â€Å"Till snatched from thence by friends. . . †-line 3. She does not think her â€Å"offspring† is ready to be exposed to the real world. She wants to keep it hidden with her from the world. â€Å"I cast thee by as one unfit for light. . . †- line 9 . Bradstreet’s embarrassment comes from her â€Å"offspring† being â€Å"unfit† for the world to see and the flaws that she sees. Although she is embarrassed by her â€Å"offspring† she also has a love only a mother could have for a child. On line 12 she says â€Å"Yet being mine own. At length affection would thy blemishes amend. . . † She hopes that her love will help her â€Å"offspring† to become something to be proud of. â€Å"I washed thy face but more defects I saw. . . † on line 13. Here Bradstreet is trying her best to fix her â€Å"offspring† and make up to be something it just may not be. Although, she does love her â€Å"offspring† and although she is unhappy with it she soon has no choice but to send it out. â€Å"And for thy Mother, she alas is poor, which caused her thus to send thee out the door†- line 23. At this point she knows that it is not up to her standards but she has no other choice but to send out her â€Å"offspring† to help make her a living. Her attitude of loving shows in trying to do what’s best but she soon realizes that she has what she has. Anne Bradstreet loves her book solely because it is her own, but that may also be why she sees the flaws in it. She only wants to do what’s best for her â€Å"offspring† and tries to accomplish something but only sees more to fix. All throughout her poem, the extended metaphor is repeated, line after line, from the opening to the end, to convey her complex attitude.

Real GDP, unemployment rate Essay

Economic indicators measure and characterize the current state of economy. Unemployment rate, inflation rate, real GDP, and oil price per barrel form the general economic picture and show further directions of economic policies and tactics. â€Å"Real GDP is gross domestic product in constant dollars. In other words, real GDP is a nation’s total output of goods and services, adjusted for price changes† (Picker, 2007). Real GDP is often compared to nominal GDP which is always expressed in current dollars. In the third quarter of 2007, real GDP equaled to 11658. 9 billion of constant dollars, having increased 4. 9 percent as compared to the second quarter of 2007. Gross private domestic investment is one of the basic components of real GDP. In 2007, gross private domestic investment also increased to reach 1859. 9 billion dollars (GPO Access, 2008). The graph shows the historical fluctuations of real GDP in the United States: the beginning of 2007 was marked by the greatest real GDP decrease since 2005. The decrease of real GDP in the second half of 2006 indicates the start of economic recession in the United States. The unemployment rate is â€Å"the number of unemployed as a percent of the labor force† (Picker, 2007). In March, the U. S. economy was characterized by 5. 1% unemployment rate (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008). Normally, unemployment rates should not exceed 6 percent. Thus, unemployment rates in the U. S. are kept within the reasonable limits. However, the chart shows the slight but continuous unemployment rate increase since the beginning of 2007. These trends create a picture of recession in the American economy. Inflation rate shows the increase of prices for consumer goods and services, and is counted on a yearly basis (Picker, 2007). Inflation rates are basically measured with the help of Consumer Price Index (CPI); CPI calculates the value of consumer goods and services basket which households purchase (Picker, 2007). The chart shows the constantly increasing inflation rates in the U. S. economy. In March, the average cost of goods and services basket advanced 0. 3 percent (MERIC, 2008). These trends indicate the inability of the Federal Reserve to cope with the inflation problem. Growing inflation requires that the Fed pushes up interest rates and slows down the economy, but as the Fed decreases interest rates to regulate particular markets, it puts the economy into a deeper recession. Oil price per barrel is usually counted on the basis of the OPEC or NMEX oil basket prices. At the beginning of 2008, the barrel of oil cost $90. 7; by the end of April, the price has already crossed the mark of $116 per barrel (WTRG Economics, 2008). The chart shows significant continuous increase of oil prices. During 2007, the price of oil per barrel has nearly tripled. Inflation rates, unemployment rates, oil prices per barrel, and real GDP are the four interrelated economic indicators, which determine, at what stage of business cycle the U. S. economy stands. Business cycles impact all areas of economic development; the airline industry is not an exception. In many instances, airlines develop and act according to the basic economic laws. The state of real GDP and Consumer Price Index determine consumer capability to purchase tickets and choose convenient flights. The price of oil per barrel seriously increases airline industry costs, which the industry compensates for the account of more expensive tickets. The growing energy prices contribute into the CPI growth. The growing price of oil per barrel impacts unemployment: â€Å"on average, every time oil prices go up 10 percent, 150,000 Americans lose their jobs† (Eldad, 2007). It is stated that â€Å"the cycles of the airline market are often considered to be a response to fluctuations in the evolution of the GDP and to lie beyond the sphere of the industry’s influence† (Eldad, 2007). Unemployment does not significantly impact the airline industry. The United States has been able to keep unemployment rates at reasonable levels. Inflation rates directly impact the way the airline industry performs on the market. In general, inflation indicates the growth of all costs and expenditures within airline industry. Inflation means that energy prices grow, too. Traditionally, fuel and oil costs constituted 15 percent of the airline industry expenditures, but inflation and growing prices of oil per barrel have raised this index to 30 percent (Eldad, 2007). Due to continuous inflation growth and oil price increase, airlines annually lose up to $200 million (Eldad, 2007). These are the indicators of the economic recession. Economic recession is one of the five stages of business cycle. Since 2005, the airline industry has been experiencing serious economic losses and numerous business closures. The slight increase of real GDP in the last quarter of 2007 reveals promising trends which will hopefully help airlines cope with energy prices. The recession stage of the business cycle suggests that the U. S. economy has not yet reached the trough at the very bottom of its economic decline. This is why the airline industry should be prepared to facing even more serious economic difficulties. The current economic situation is more consistent with the classical economic conditions. The state is not involved into regulating inflation rates or oil prices per barrel. In the oil market, the state acts according to laissez-fair principles of classical economic theory, which promote free business choice and minimal state involvement into economic processes. Although the state regulates interest rates and seems to make everything possible to minimize the economic consequences of recession, its strategies are aimed at regulating particular markets and not the U. S. economy in general. The airline industry is given sufficient freedom for taking economic decisions according to the changeable economic conditions in the U. S. Conclusion The current state of real GDP, inflation rates, oil price per barrel, and unemployment rates form the picture of economic recession in the United States. The airline industry experiences significant economic losses. As the U. S. economy faces the recession stage of the business cycle, airlines should be prepared to even greater economic losses before the economy reaches the trough at the bottom of its economic decline.

Accounting and Auditing: Crazy computers

FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) plays the role of determining Generally Accepted Accounting Principles to ensure proper accounting standards are followed. According to FASB, revenue is recognized once it is earned.Commission in Crazy Computer's case is recognized immediately since Crazy Computers collects the cash on behalf of Third Party insurance and then pays it. Commission however should not be added to sales because when balancing the equation, Sales is equal to opening stock plus purchases less closing stock.This means that by adding commission to sales the equation may not balance and it will be exaggerated. The commission revenue consists of income and it is therefore used in the final statements of accounts to calculate the profit of the business.Commission received from TPI can therefore be used when coming up with profits for the year. In case Third Party Insurance agrees to re insure, revenue to be obtained from Third Party Insurance (TPI) will only be recogni zed after Third Party Insurance pays up the amount to Captive Insurance Company (CIC).Commission revenue can only be recognized immediately if Crazy Computers will automatically be deducted from the $110 that the company gives to Third Party Insurance so that it does not have to wait for TPI to pay. This would mean that Crazy Computers would have $165 at the end of the sale then give $25 to TPI.However, it may not show whether the computers on their own were able to sustain themselves without the boost from the commissions earned. When Crazy Computers introduce CIC, they will still get the commission but it will be offset when the amount received from TPI is added.Even as Crazy Computers recognizes revenue from sale of third party insurance on behalf of TPI, it should be careful when it comes to receiving the money back for re-insurance through CIC. The best method to account for the funds to be collected from the Captive Insurance is to do them separately from Crazy Computers.This is because Crazy Computers and CIC are two different kinds of businesses. FASB advices that in order to check the progress of a business it is good to gauge its profitability which is done by subtracting the expenses from sales made by the business.This will ensure that when it comes to paying claims, revenue received from Crazy Computers should not be used for CIC obligations. It will also ensure that the money collected from CIC is not to be used in the computer business unless Crazy Computers borrows from CIC.If Crazy Computers was to account for CIC revenue together with the computer revenue, calculating profits would get complicated since the revenue received is not made from sales only. In other words, treating the two businesses as separate entities will ensure the profitability of the two can be determined.Crazy Computer's idea to create a wholly owned subsidiary would be a good idea if the Third Party Insurer agrees to re-insure with them. Based on the transaction illustrat ed in the case study, currently Crazy computers pay $110 for insurance such that TPI takes responsibility for any obligations from customers.Because CC gets commission for every sale made then from the $200 received it is left with $80 after paying the sales persons $10. With the introduction of CIC and if TPI agrees to re insure with CIC, CC will get $ 85 back out of the $110 paid to TPI.This means that cash received goes up from $80 to $165. CIC would therefore be profitable. However, in case of any third party obligations CIC will be solely responsible. This is why it is extremely important for Crazy Computers to ensure that CIC's income does not mix with computer income so as to ensure each department can sustain its own expenses.Word count (635).ReferenceFASB. (2008). Financial Accounting Standards and Revenue Recognition.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   from http/www.fasb.org.

Approaches To The Broken Windows Policy Explained Criminology Essay

Approaches To The Broken Windows Policy Explained Criminology Essay 1. Explain the Broken Windows theory of policing. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. Detail the two most important benefits and the two pitfalls of such an approach to policing. Police departments, in the past twenty years, have adopted a theory that says by resolving minor disorders serious crimes can be reduced. It is called the broken windows theory, â€Å"also known as â€Å"order-maintenance,†Ã¢â‚¬ zero-tolerance,† or â€Å"quality-of-life† policing.† (Harcourt & Ludwig, Winter 2006, p. 282) It came to the forefront after a 1982 Atlantic Monthly article by James Q. Wilson and George Kelling. The article argued that when low-level quality-of-life offenses were tolerated in a community, more serious crime would follow. The broken windows theory says that â€Å"the variation in disorder in neighborhoods that explains the variation in crime, holding structural disadvantage constant. The real trigger is disorderliness itself.â₠¬  (Harcourt & Ludwig, p. 281) According to this view, broken windows, abandoned buildings, public drinking, litter and loitering cause good people to stay in their houses or move out of the neighborhood entirely. The theory argues â€Å"that the minor events and incivilities that frightened people, far from being a distraction for police departments, should be identified as key targets of police action.† (Moore, 1992, p. 138) It leaves criminals free to roam and send a message that law violations are not taken seriously. â€Å"The focus of the broken windows policing strategy is to address community anxiety about public safety. Broken windows advocates argue that the role of the police is fundamentally to maintain public order.† (Dammert & Malone, Winter 2006, p. 39) Some of the advantages of the broken windows policing are that it reduces social and physical disorders, furthers joint safety endeavors, and bring communities together. â€Å"Broken windows theory assu mes an essentialist notion both of disorder and its connection to perception: visual cues are unambiguous and natural in meaning† (Sampson & Raudenbush, Dec. 2004, p. 320). The theory’s biggest test has been in New York City, where a dramatic decline in crime has been attributed in large part to â€Å"order maintenance.† Rundown parts of the city have been cleaned up, and police focus more on such problems as panhandling, turnstile jumping, and public drinking. Police have even cracked down on people who clean the windshields of cars at stoplights with squeegees (Parenti, 1999, p.77). Among the first and hardest hit were the homeless, who travel, beg, and live in the political and physical basement of the class system: the city’s six-story-deep concrete bowels. Advocates of such tactics argued that in order to address these crimes, the police must be afforded wide discretion and should not be hamstrung by constitutional rules. Still â€Å"broken windowsâ €  enforcement has won a proper place among trends in criminal-justice reform. But in doing so, the police ignored the principal lesson of their own theory. If the toleration of minor law violations leads to more serious crime on the street, it would also follow that the toleration of minor law violations by the police will lead to more serious crime on the force. And that is precisely what has happened. â€Å"The broken windows theory suggests that minor disorders, both physical†¦and social†¦is causally related to serious crime.† (Harcourt, 2001, p.68) â€Å"Broken windows gives rise to â€Å"wars† on the poor, racism, and police brutality.† (Weisburd & Braga, 2007, p. 80) As mayor, Giuliani appeared to show his eagerness to impose law and order at all costs with the implementation of the zero tolerance policy. This led to a dramatic increase in arrests for such crimes as riding a bike on the sidewalk and playing loud music.

Gucci and Prada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Gucci and Prada - Essay Example In this market price directly represent the quality of a product. There is need to outshine the competing firms by introducing goods that unique and fits the customer’s requirement. The two firms utilize the approach in an effort to maintain their profit margin while venturing into new markets. The two rival firms focus on unique products to attract customers. Gucci for instance introduced customized bracelets and handbags to a number of its Asian market. This was a counter move by the firm to emulate Prada who offer the same service across its wider market. The move by Gucci was aimed at attracting more customers form the Asian market to compensate the European market widely dominated by Prada. The unique service to the Asian market is aimed at increasing revenue by widening its market size (Passariello, 2015). The customized products are far much expensive compared to an ordinary good. Thus the luxury firms utilize the price factor to emphasize on quality. The two firms attract the high end market by unique and expensive goods in the market. The firms depend on loyalty and of customers and new components in market to promote their goods. This strategic plan allows the firm to directly connect to its clients and offer services based on the customer’s request. The two firms the high end market by offering services and goods with unique characteristics. Their ventures across the world target high income earners and celebrities across the world. This means that they offer a wider range of products to the same market group. The aim of the two firms is to create a loyal client base and satisfies their needs while at the same time increase the company’s revenue collection. Accessories and clothing from the two firms aim outshining each other across the world (Passariello, 2015). The high end market targeted by the firms’ bases their preference on quality and uniqueness. Gucci enjoys a