Dulce Decorum

Taylor 1 Dying for a State through Poetry Wilfred Owen’s Dulce et Decorum Est uses vivid imagery which removes any romantic ideas that it is sweet and honorable to die for the fatherland. Randall Jarrell’s The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner uses ambiguity to compare death for the state and abortion. Both writings convey the horror of dying for a state. The Death of the Ball turret Gunner begins â€Å"from my mother’s sleep, I fell into a state and hunched in its belly until my fur froze. † This is saying that the gunner was born from his mother’s warmth into a cold state, as he is born in the belly of a high altitude bomber.The â€Å"State† is referred to as cold and less nourishing in Randall Jerrell’s poem. In Dulce et Decorum Est the poem reveals hidden truths of the first world war, and showed the cruelties the soldiers had to face on a day to day basis. Dulce et Decorum est begins â€Å"Bent double, like old beggars† (5) A ll the turmoil’s that young men were put through making them feel and look older than they really were, breaking them down making them lose their spirit they had as young men. What makes this poem unique is the fact that Wilfred Owen was there to witness the horrors of the first world war.Owen continues â€Å"An ecstasy of fumbling fitting helmets. † As the soldiers ran from the gas bombs their helmets bouncing on their heads, putting them at bigger risk of dying for your country. War is often glorified by others that have not experienced how horrifying war can be and they think that they can be hero’s, because of stories they heard as a child from a mother or a father that makes war seem romantic and patriotic so they should enlist in the romance of being that hero not realizing that the war is truly a horrifying experience.Owen states at the end of his poem â€Å"to children ardent for some desperate glory† (25) Children who think it is sweet and honora ble to die for ones country because someone who has no experience has told them stories of romance and patriotism allowing them to believe they will be hero’s in the perfect dream. Taylor 2 Wilfred Owen and Randall Jerrell both tell the gruesome truths of the war and ow it really was to be that unsung hero that watched his friends die and be put into a cart to be hauled off not really knowing if their families and loved ones knew they had passed on, or how it was to be the product of a war and to not live past your first hour because you were born into the freezing belly of a bomber plane and treated like trash when the plane has finally landed and was being cleaned out. How the war today is any different than what both of these authors are trying to say?There is no difference because in Dulce et Decorum est the very last words â€Å"The old lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori. † â€Å"It is sweet and honorable to die for the fatherland. † The recruitment offices of today still tell their soldiers that they are doing America a favor by fighting for them and that it is an honorable way to live life however it is not said that it is honorable if you die but if you live you have better opportunities in life to go somewhere and be someone.What happened to those young men who fought in the First World War? Most of them lost their friend because they were told it was honorable to die for their country, then a lot of them came home from the wars crippled and could not participate in the things they did before they enlisted, and then some of them came home in a plain pine box to families that only then saw the horrors of the war.

Deviant Behaviour in the Civil Services Essay

The concern laid out a viable extraction of information that focuses on several nations outside the Commonwealth Caribbean and their history of administration together with the leading factors of deviance in the civil services. Criterion used to assess the intricacies of Public Maladministration and Bureaucratic Corruption includes: injustice, unreasonable delay, abuse of discretion, negligence, arrogance, disregarding morality, employing deception and justifying criminality, nepotism, bribes, fraud, and waste and abuse in government. Public Administration is â€Å"centrally concerned with the organization of government policies and programmes as well as the behavior of officials (usually non-elected) formally responsible for their conduct†. The field is complex in nature due to the various sub-fields such as organizational theory, statistics, policy analysis, human resources, ethics, and budgeting. Woodrow Wilson – 1887, defined Public Administration as â€Å"the detailed and systematic execution of public law†. Therefore, it is the government’s responsibility to take rational action and manage human and capital resources to attain its goals. Wilson is known to be the father of Public Administration. He wrote an article entitled â€Å"The Study of Administration†, and stated that â€Å"it is the object of administrative study to discover, first, what government can properly and successfully do, and, secondly, how it can do these proper things with the utmost possible efficiency and at the least possible cost either of money or of energy†. He also wrote in 1887 four concepts in which he believed: * â€Å"Separation of politics and administration * Comparative analysis of political and private organizations * Improving efficiency with business-like practices and attitudes toward daily operations * Improving the effectiveness of public service through management and by training civil servants, merit-based assessment† Deviance, when looked at sociologically, describes actions or behaviors that violate social norms, including formally-enacted rules. (eg crime. Norms are rules and expectations by which members of society are guided. When there is a failure to conform to these norms and they are defied, it can be considered to be deviant behaviour. This is quite common in administrative systems around the globe. The political term maladministration however, is linked to the actions of government bodies that cause injustice. Comparative Public Administration lecturer Maukesh Basdeo, stated that â€Å" Public Maladmini stration can be interpreted as a perversion of power, extortion, discrimination, intentional misperformance or neglect of a recognized duty. He goes on affirming that â€Å" public maladministration is a term derived from a purely post-French Revolution Western notion of public office based on the theory of the administrative state, the bureaucratization of government, the separation of political and bureaucratic career structures, the professionalization of public service, and the idea of public servants as trustees of the common good†. The government according to lecture notes is a public trust that must be used in the general interest and not for the benefit of particular sectional interests. Since public officials are â€Å"servants of the people and not vice versa†, it is a necessity that such officials be dedicated, obedient, hardworking, loyal, honest, patient, respectful and must have the ability to represent the people. They must also be highly productive and efficient and should be appointed based on merit not ascription. â€Å"The Western World has accepted this public service ideology and has, with varying degrees of success, exported it to the rest of the world.

Simulation paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Simulation paper - Essay Example Thus, our firm intentions are to promote and generate effective marketing. Through, the use of feasibility studies that allow the firm be in a position to launch it services to the large market and to the consumers. In this firm, there are it objective that it foresee to achieve in the period of simulation. Owing to the above elucidation, LINKS Services Management has its own goals that it works upon to achieve them. Here are the goals of Link Simulation: to create the best services in the market by this the firm invests its energy and time to produce better services that fit the consumer through its availability and affordability. Secondly, to be a worldwide leader in manufacturing through this the firm aims at achieving a universal trademark that makes it the best in the sector of production. This means that Link Simulation wants to develop and invest in its services that will be capable of capturing the consumers’ needs. Thirdly, it wants to content to consumer provisions hence making it a preferred firm. This attained through availing the products on time, availability in plenty due to the client demands and at a fair price (Bill Hefley, 2008). Besides they aim at developing a truly relation that relies on the trust in times of the transaction. Fourthly, to provide a consistent, suitability, productivity and value for money services to the consumers and the large market. This enables the firm to have much grip on the market source since they are able to deliver regarding to the customer demands. Finally, the firm objective is to offer a high-value products and services. The production of a high notch product and services enables a company is accepted in the market quickly. Link Simulation hires qualified personnel has to ensure a number one product delivered in the market. With all this achievable goals, Links Simulation work upon attaining them evenly in the worldwide business market. In

Forum7 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Forum7 - Article Example To sum up, if information technology is used for intended purposes, e.g. to aid electioneering process, and promote quality of service, government may enjoy it to the fullest. Sure! This is a fact and is happening in the field. Although IT has been useful in making work precise, faster and presentable, some elements have been compromised. For instance, the integrity of the information relayed has been â€Å"transformed† to suit that suit the occasion. In most organization, they are tempted to ‘overuse’ the services and end up spending too much time that could otherwise be spent wisely. In fact, information is transmitted without the conscience of the quality of the message. At the end, the organization may waste a lot of resources which cannot be accounted. In the same manner, most people have realized the gap that exists between organizations and the dynamics in IT field. They do shoddy work to increase chances of recurrent breakdowns or updates. Organizations adopting any form of technology should plan well how it should

Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Operations Management - Essay Example Higher rates of employee contentment are directly proportional to lower turnover rates. Therefore, keeping employees in the firm satisfied with their careers should be at the top of the priority list of every employer. While employee empowerment and its upsides are well-known facts in management conducts, economic drop downs seem to cause employers to ignore it. Operations managers of most of the organization observe and scrutinize performance data frequently and create challenging yet reasonable targets for the organizational campaigns. Evaluation softwares are used by some of the most efficient managers to check employee performances. In a survey by â€Å"Glassdoor† Google Inc. has been declared as the company with the highest employee satisfaction and productivity for the year 2013. The secret of such an achievement lies in the fact that the company empowers its employees to venture into fields of their talents (Reed, 2013). Google shares rose sharply, from less than $500 a year ago, the stock traded in nearly $600 since mid-July, near to its record high of $707 a share as in 2007 (Schepp, 2013).. It is evident from this fact that Google Inc.’s success in the share market is a productivity marker that may be correlated to the high levels of employee empowerment practices that the company follows Every company requires a system to scrutinize their employees’ performance based upon parameters like employee attendance, projects undertaken, and reviews by immediate superiors etc. Several software tools are available in the market that can help individuals working on performance reviews to visualize and comprehend the data correctly and hassle free. Database tools achieve goals that many Chief Information Officers (CIOs) would like to match: Taking key data for business side or external customers and offering it in an attractive, appropriate way on the internet (McLaughin, 2013). Software vendors like InetSoft

BUS499-Module 1 - Case- The Financial Perspective Essay

BUS499-Module 1 - Case- The Financial Perspective - Essay Example It is a service based company which offers services like marketing and promotional strategies, advertising scripts and advertising production for media channels, market research as well as forecasting. It is a globally recognized brand which represents global brands like Procter & Gamble, Toyota/Lexus, Visa International, and General Mills/Pillsbury. Charles and Maurice Saatchi, two brothers, founded the eponymous organization and after that in a decade the company grew phenomenally through mergers and acquisition. This company became popular because of its efficient and creative services to the clients. From the phenomenal growth in 80s the company came to recession in the early 1990 and in 1995 the company went bankrupt. To get better competitive advantages the agencies were linked with common ownership. The management of the company had decided to make changes in two areas of balanced scorecard; these are customer perspective and financial perspective. In terms of financial perspective, the management made the structural changes of the top hierarchy of the organization. In 1995, the joint directors i.e. the two Saatchi brothers quit this company and Bob Seelert, a senior official of P&G joined as a chairman of the company. Kevin Robert who was a top official of General Foods joined as CEO of in 1997 (Business-Intelligence, 2006, p.3). After this reformulation in the top level, the company started de-merging and publicly announced the next three years strategies of company’s comeback. Those goals were; growing company revenue more than market revenue, 30% of incremental revenue converting to operating revenue, doubling the EPS of the company. These goals were well accepted by the existing shareholders and become interested to the new investors (Business-Intelligence, 2006, p.3). The new management team found that the different business unit of the company did not have a common goal. They did financial health check by financial prospective analysis of

What is the current, on-going and increasing demand and short supply Essay

What is the current, on-going and increasing demand and short supply for IT resources - Essay Example In 2013 for instance, there was a huge demand by the young generation of people in purchasing electronic gadgets likes tablets, i-phones, internet enabled phones, computers, among others, just for the sole purpose of being able to access the web. There has been growing interest among youths to have any information technology device that can enable them access the internet and be on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram among others (Croft). As the world is becoming a global village, people sort out any means that would connect them, creating the increased demand and short supply in IT resources. People have come to appreciate the importance of information technology in their lives currently. In looking at some of the trends which companies need to have in order to remain relevant in the near future, include something like diversification to mobile platforms (Wang 13). Companies are shifting their marketing strategies and building mobile friendly websites and applications for their consumers. According to a survey conducted in 2013, the number of mobile users had increased. It was found out that many people used their mobile phones to access their internet and do most of their stuff their when compared to desktop devices. In a way not to lose potential clients, most companies opted to introduce mobile friendly websites and applications which their clients can relate to easily (Wang 233). Another trend currently gaining popularity is people fancying to get internet everywhere in every device that they have. For instance, in 2014, there was a rapid emergence of sensors which were internet-connected, hence making computers being able to process devices and physical systems (Croft). This trend is what is being called â€Å"Internet of Things† and has already made steps in transforming TVs, personal healthcare devices, appliances, cars, and thermostats (Wang 23). From my opinion, I believe quite a number of goods will become connected to

Economy of Greece Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Economy of Greece - Essay Example p that occurred during the period, Greece had to witness a much sluggish economic growth, burdened with increased unemployment and worsening debt scenario (Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, 2014). Emphasizing this particular notion, the essay intends to elaborate and analyze the soundness as well as the sustainability of financial markets of Greece and the efficiency of its financial institutions with regard to interest rate policies, lending and borrowing that helped the economy regain its pace of growth. It is worth mentioning that transformation of national GDP rates mainly occur due to the variations observed in import as well as export ratings and change in other buisness policies. Similarly, prior to the year 2008, the weak economic condtions of Greece imposed strong negative impacts on the overall performance in the fiancial markets that were pertinent within the nation for several years. It will be vital to mention in this regard that the prime intent of designing effective economic policies is to achieve sustainable growth with respect to the performances of the nation’s financial markets. Irrespective of these qualities, sustsinability in the financial market of the country was affected much strongly due to limitations in its transparency when documenting financial disclosures. To be noted in this context, to gain the membership of Eurozone, Greece government was accused to have falsified its total deficit figures in the year 2000. This eventually imposed negative imp acts on the soundness along with the sustainability of its financial markets during reccession, as members states seemed reluctant and rather offended to the issue. Moreover, the situation also made Greece government to roll over debt in 2009, which certainly produced a contagion to other eurozone economies, such as Portugal, Spain and Italy (Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, 2014). The below diagrammatical representation depicts Eurozone’s real GDP per capita rate of

Business Law-Tort Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Law-Tort - Essay Example A tort is a legal wrong, and in this case the legal wrong is nothing being done to prevent an accident from happening on the job. It is a company's responsibility to ensure the safety of employees. Kofsy may not of been a direct employee, but he did deliver items to this place of business. He has as much legal rights as an employee as well as patients and visitors to the hospital. What would of happened if a patient wandered out there or a visitor got lost, and tripped and fell down because of that crack That is an endangerment to anyone who comes in contact with that area. Pat Seiple had Kofsy bringing that bed off of the truck to show him the difficulty he was having, and what could possibly happen if he used the steel plate. Technically, knowing that this could injure himself, he shouldn't have done it or at least not done it without help. Pat Seipe had refused to help due to company policies. Kofsy still attempted to bring the bed off of the truck with and without the steel plate, and then when it got stuck he struggled to get it out resulting in his own injury. Who is at fault A tort law helps distinguish who is at fault, and who is responsible for the damages. This case here is considered an unintentional tort due to negligence. The tort law helps focus on the consequences on this accident. First what needs to be determined is whether this case is a 'fault' liability (the plaintiff's fault), or a 'strict' liability (the defendant or both are at fault). In this situation, it seems to me that both are at fault here. Due to the fact that this area was not repaired so deliveries could be made without injuries or damages, and to the fact that Kofsy could of refused to move the bed after it got stuck. He had informed Pat that it would get stuck with the steel plate, and he went ahead to prove it to him. He could of refused knowing what would have happened, and someone could have seriously got hurt. However, it is still the company's responsibility to provide a safe atmosphere for all. This misfortune incurred costs to Kofsy, and it now has to be decided on who is responsible for them. The tort law was developed to allow victims the opportunity to shift the costs that befall them to others. It provides an avenue of redress, but not a guarantee of recovery. The law states, "A's wrong must be the proximate cause of B's harm." (Coleman, Oct. 20, 2003) In other words, it was the hospital's wrong causing Kofsy's harm. Therefore this case would fall under a tort. Under the principle of corrective justice, it is stated, "An individual who has wronged another has the duty to repair the wrongful losses occasioned." (Coleman, 2003) Due to the negligence of repairs, Kofsy has suffered from his injuries, accumulated hospital bills, and lost money from being out of work. Is this area repaired though to prevent future accidents All of this could have been prevented if both parties took safety measures. However, this isn't the case here. We now have to decide on how Kofsy will be compensated if at all. Tort 3 Even though his actions caused this injury by struggling to remove the bed from being stuck by himself, the company still should have had this fixed prior to avoid any injuries. It is not like Kofsy didn't let anyone aware of the damage at the hospital. It should have been fixed right away leaving the discussion of the subject and demonstration out of it. The company should be responsible for all medical bills incurring from what

Occupational Therapist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Occupational Therapist - Essay Example Education: The child has lower participation levels in education, especially school activities, with a reduced academic achievement plus attention. Thus, he is at a higher threat of experiencing learning difficulties since his aversive-evasion sensory behaviors produces lower grades in most of his school function, like spelling, reading, or writing. Social participation: His loneliness and social dissatisfaction can be attributed to his deficits in physical coordination. His minimal physical skill or coordination has exposed him to increased social isolation, particularly in natural environments like school playground Minimal participation in school tasks and this can be due to his developmental delays and aversive-avoidance behaviors. In particular, his poor hand preference is a result of loss of his cognitive functions, along with gross and fine motor deficits (Poulsen, Ziviani, Cuskelly, & Smith, 2007). Child is from culturally and linguistically diverse family, and the family is reluctant to have their son identified as having autism. Family feels that their son has been cursed and they lack confidence to discern what questions to ask. The child speaks repetitively while avoiding eye contact, and displaying hyperactivity behaviors, like self-injurious behaviour. The boy has recurrent negative outbursts coupled with odd comments plus crying fits. He lacks social skills along with social cognition notable by his lack of emotion recognition, such as facial recognition or gestures. He also lacks interest or rendezvous with others, and he has not developed normal relationships with his peers due to difficulty in discerning others perspectives. He experiences temper tantrums with aggression, when there are adjustments in daily routine and environment. He has major problems when processing time and does not perform well when the instructions are not accessible within the movement setting. Even though he has weak

Effectiveness of a Country’s Educational Provision Essay Example for Free

Effectiveness of a Country’s Educational Provision Essay Introduction In the last quarter of the twentieth century, an increasing consensus developed concerning the link between economic prosperity and effectiveness of a country’s educational provision. As globalization gathered pace dramatically in the 1980’s and 199’s, this link became more overt as the comparison and competitiveness between nations inevitably increases. At the heart of the argument for the link, is the need for an educational workforce, without which a country’s economy will not keep pace.1 In the World Conference on Education For All, which assembled Jomtien, Thailand, it was recognized that the current provision of education seriously deficient and that it must be made relevant, qualitatively improve and made universally available to enable every person, child, and adult to meet the basic learning needs. These needs comprise both essential earning tools such as __________________ 1 David Middle Wood and Carlo Cardno, â€Å"Managing Teacher Performance. and the learning content (such as knowledge, skills, values and attitudes) required by human beings to be able to survive, to develop to their full capacities to live and work with dignity, to participate fully in development, to improve the quality of lives, to make informed decisions and to continue learning. 2 Education is the vital key to national development. More important is the training and development of human resources of teachers who are the frontiers of our educative pursuit. American may continue to lead the word of science and technology but its record of educating its citizens in those subjects is fairly dismal. An NSF panel has spent 128 months examining the state of Science, Mathematics,  Engineering and Technology (SME) and at the undergraduate level and reviewing hundreds of comments from academic. The overwhelming consensus is that most of the SME courses acts as filters. They screen out all but the promising students- those embarking on __________________ careers, leaving majority of the graduates with litters understanding of how science works. This worries the policy makers because many disgruntled students become teachers with little enthusiasm for the subject perpetuating a cycle of scientific and technological.4 Ana Marie Pamintuan, in her column entitled â€Å"Sketches†, in the December 12, 2000 issue of the Philippines Start stated: â€Å"In a season of bad news, there was one item I found particularly depressing. Filipino first year high school students ranked 36th among 38 countries in the Third International Mathematics and Science Studies (TIMSS). According to result, in the latest TIMSS, Japan ran fifth in Mathematics and fourth in Science. It can be expected that many people will really blame the education system for the Filipino students’ dismal performance. Although the schools along with the curriculum, teacher, supervisor, administrators and other elements that comprise the input components of the school as a social system, should take part of the blame. 5 __________________ 4 National Science Foundation, 1999). 5 Aquino, G. Effective Teaching. EDCOM reports that teacher is poorly trained. Many teachers at all levels do not have the optimum qualification for teaching. The proportion of high school teachers of science and mathematics, for example, do not have even  the minimal preparation for the teaching ranges from 54.6 percent to 5 percent. IN the 1991 DOST test given to both teachers and students in first year of the Second Education Program (SEDP), the total mean percentage score (54.08) of the first year high school teachers was only 8.79 points higher than those of the students (42.29). This deplorable performance can be traced to poor teacher training and the low quality of students enrolled in the teacher training.6 To further upgrade the standard of science education in the Philippines, the Department of science and Technology (DOST), University of the Philippines Science and Mathematics Education (UP-SMED) now National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (NISMED), the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have launched a joint project, the purpose of which is to __________________ 6 (EDOM: 1995). develop human resources which would ultimately enhance and upgrade the capabilities of science and mathematics teachers. The core program was the development of thinking skills through practical work and laboratory experiment.7 These are challenging times for the country’s educational system Cooperative efforts at all levels of instruction are directed towards common goal to improve the quality of education. Much more evident are such efforts aimed at reform in Science Education. Varied approaches and techniques have been pioneered to make classroom filled with fruitful investigations to uncover new and useful informations. A great variety of instructional materials and facts intended for daily classroom instruction have been assembled utilizing the indigenous resources of the community. Innovative procedures of presenting learning tasks have been tried to make every teaching-learning situation, encounter more exciting and hallenging.8 Of the 50 schools tested, ___________________  it was revealed what students from 20 schools did not master the topic taught, 27 schools nearing mastery, and only 1 school reported mastery level.9 The low performance of students in science also became the justification for the formulation and launching of the Science and Technology Education Plan (STEP) with Project RISE (Rescue Initiative for Science Education) as one of its project under the manpower development component. One of the major problems cited in the Accomplishment Report prepared by STEP stated, â€Å"every little was done about following up the trainees on in their use of their acquired skills.10  The problem reported b the STEP, prompted the researcher, being one of the trainors of the program, Project RISE, at the Regional Science and Teaching Center (RSTC-UEP) to assess the accomplishment of Project RISE, as to whether it achieved the goal and objectives set for – the training of science teachers to ___________________ improve their teaching competencies and raise the performance levels of the students in General Science. Statement of the Problem This study will try to assess the effectiveness of Project RISE in the Secondary Schools in the Division of Northern Samar, using the DOST-SET Monitoring and Evaluation Forms from its implantation in 1998. Specifically, this study will try to answer at the following questions. 1. What is the extent of accomplishment of Project RISE in terms of: 1. Objective of the program 2. Course content 3. Participants’ profile 4. Trainers profile 2. What is the status of the processing variables such as the following: 1. Teachers 1. Attitude towards teaching General Science 2. Content knowledge and laboratory skills 3. Classroom management 4. Time management 5. Teaching strategies 6. Skills in the utilization of instructional material 7. Skills maintaining classroom discussion 8. Skills in motivating 2. Administrators 1. Administrative support 3. Student 1. Attitudes towards General Science 3. What is the status of Project RISE on the following: 1. Teaching competencies of the teacher-participants as observed and evaluated by the principal. 2. Teacher’s perception on how the training improved their competencies. 3. Student’s performance in General Science/ Theoretical Framework The framework for the evaluation of Project RISE in the Division of Northern Samar particularly in General Science, will make use of the system theory propounded by Millilin. System theory engages a process of examining a school system or educational system (for a program or project), not by piecemeal approach where every element of the system stand independent of the others, but as an organic group of elements, as a system with interaction subsystems inside the school system (social, economic, cultural, political and technological), a system that contributes to society through its outputs the same society from which the school received its inputs, and  layer on as a system that receive feedbacks from the society as to the defined â€Å"value added† through outputs.11 Moreover, that the system theory gives a holistic view of advocating its internal efficiency as well as its external productivity: it calls for an interdisciplinary approach which mean that I considers how all the various system are interrelated, and it is a _________________  self-connective approach because it considers and profits from feedbacks received from its environs.12 The appraisal process using the system theory is hinged on the input, throughput and output concepts. The input includes the setting of verifiable objectives that become standards: the throughputs refers to the actually performance of the organization that is being evaluated; the outputs include the measuring of performance against standards such as the formal type of comprehensive review. A build in feedback mechanism pinpoint the flaws or errors in program implementation. Then corrective actions for undesirable deviation from standards are formulated. The system of evaluation is cyclical in nature consistent of formulation, implementation, monitoring and feedback pointing to the continuous assessment for program revision and improvement. Whichever is pinpointed as error implementation become the focus corrective decisions and actions and for program revisions. The advantage of the system evaluation concept lie in its ability to correct program errors at their earliest stages. Early direction and correction of ____________________ 12 Ibid. program implementation errors diminish the possibilities of incurring financial losses and unnecessary waste of efforts by the personnel implementing the program.  Therefore, assessing Project RISE, specially those having bearing on its accomplishments and innovations achieved by the teacher trainees in General  Science six year after might be a sound decision. This study is also supported by Bautista’s theory on evaluation, which shed light to the program design, assesses the implementation in terms of results of long effects. It is evaluation that provides timely and realistic feedback to the change agents, making the maximization of fiscal manpower resources possible. Programs are not evaluated attend to maintain a status quo to stagnate subsequently. One type of evaluation is the ex-post evaluation or impact evaluation. This is undertaken to determine whether the program or project merits expansion or replication in other areas and ascertain what aspects can be modified to improve implementation in other area. This study is then called an impact evaluation because it with try to assess the _________________  status of Project RISE teachers’ train on their overall performance as General Science Teachers. Carino’s theory, also sustains that accountability is a central problem of the government. The activities of civil servants and public agencies must follow the will of the people to whom they are ultimately responsible. The public ness of their employment and goals therefore prescribe their behavior and circumscribe their choice. Therefore, all individuals and office continue to have a range of options as to how they would act. The evaluation of whether such action would be within the bounds of their authority is referent to the concepts of accountability. Accountability focuses on the following: 1) regularity of fiscal transactions and the faithful compliance as well as adherence to legal requirements and administrative policies; 2) efficiency and economy in the use of public funds, prosperity manpower and other resources; 3) concerned with the results of government operation; 4) human resources accounting and the __________________  analogies of economics and social impacts of programs, and 5) emphasizes  procedures and methods operation and on the transformation of inputs to outputs.15 This study is an assessment of a project, which derives its finances from government funds, therefore projects implementers and all those involved in it are accountable to the people and the society. Another theory to support other variables identified in this study, such as attitudes and values of teachers, is that one advocated by Thorndike. The connectionist theory or the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) theory. This view was based on the concept that bonds or connections are formed between situations and suppose. Thordike advocates the idea that learning results from translating sense impressions and impulses to action learning occurs through change in connection between particular stimulus and a response, hence, connections are the key to understanding a learning task. ___________________ 15 Carino, Ledevina, â€Å"Administrative Accountability: A Review of the Evolution, Meaning and Operationa-lization of a Key Concept in Public Administration). 16 Gregorio, Hernan, â€Å"Principles and Methods of Teaching†. In the same manner, the personal attitudes and values of the teachers may have much to do with their teaching effectiveness because they could be the basis for their behavior, decisions and choice. This is so because â€Å"values are deep-rooted motivations of behavior. They defined what is important to the individual.16 In this study, it may be stated that the attitudes and values of the General Science teachers will have bearing with their work as teachers. What they believe in and what they consider important will influence their decisions and choices. Conceptual Framework The framework for the evaluation process has three components: inputs, throughputs and outputs. A built-in-feedback mechanism is the place to  derived information for project revision or improvement. Following the evaluation process, the inputs of Project RISE in Region VIII in general and in the Division of Northern Samar in particular are the objective of the program, course content, participants, trainers, and training ___________________  procedures. The actual performance in the implementation of Project RISE will be expresses in terms the throughout or processes. These consists of the teachers’ attitude towards teaching General Science, the General Science content knowledge and skills, classroom management, time management, appropriateness of teaching strategies, skills in the utilization of instructional materials, and skills in maintaining classroom discussions and skill in motivating. It will also include the teachers’ teaching competencies in teaching General Science as perceived by the principles, the teachers’ own perceptions on how the Project RISE training improved the competencies as observes by their principles and the students’ performance in General science as measured by a test in General Science.

Regional Security Complex Theory

Regional Security Complex Theory This chapter will provide an in-depth look at a range of theoretical approaches to the concept of energy security. It is expected by examining several theoretical approaches we will be able to determine a comprehensive understanding of what constitutes energy security. A range of academic approaches exist which can be utilised in order to understand the origins, prerequisites, and consequences of any given type of security. Throughout this chapter we will be taking the concept of energy security and firstly examining approaches to understanding it as part the existing theoretical framework. Secondly, efforts will be made to comprehend the securitization of energy as a part of broader and more contemporary political architecture. The scope of this literature review will extend to the work of founding theorists, as well as contemporary literature, journals, and reviews. 2.1 Understanding Security Since the eventful oil disruptions of the 1970s, energy security has slowly but surely assimilated itself into the key debates of IR theory (Bohi and Toman, 1996: 32). Energy security discourses are varied and volatile at the best of times. If we are to comprehend energy security, we must first have a clear understanding of how security can be approached and conceptualized. Is it a response to threat or a strategy to evade threat? Or perhaps neither? Security is a both a highly contended and heavily debated concept. Owing to its inherently multifaceted premise, it is rare now for a political article not to refer to security in some form or another (Neocleous, 2000: 11). Irony lies in the fact that our present inability to define security has, as a result, caused the international society and our interpretation of it to be less secure as a whole (Booth Wheeler: 2007: 94). What is exceedingly clear, however, is that our understanding of security and what it entails has moved well beyo nd the claim that security studies should focus only on the threat, use and control of military force (Nye and Lynn-Jones in Walt, 1991: 212). It is interesting that our understanding of security has only relatively recently been contested. We can classify security either as defensive (a response to a threat) or offensive (interaction with other actors for state gain) (Grafstein, 2002: 139-165). Traditional thinkers have conventionally classified security primarily as a defensive mechanism (i.e. power measured by war and military strength). Kenneth Waltz built further on this assumption in his book, Theory of International Politics. By suggesting that, in an anarchic international system, the incentive of every state is to put itself in a position to be able to take care of itself since no one else can be counted onto do so, he suggests security will remain an inherently defensive mechanism. Barry Buzan, on the other hand, took this further and attempted to dissect this highly complex term by questioning the very legitimacy of security itself (1997: 5-21). Buzan, Ole Wà ¦ver, and Jaap de Wilde form the foundations of the C openhagen School of security studies, which focuses on the process of securitization, regional security complexes, and sectoral security. This has conversely been criticized by those of the Critical Security Studies school of thought, which itself is set in contrast to the assumptions of neo-realism and realism. As such, we can see how security has undergone and will continue to undergo analytical re-evaluation thanks to recurrent contestation of this concept within the field of IR. As a result of this unremitting confrontation, the scope for what constitutes security has broadened significantly and developed into a dynamic yet still unbalanced concept. Thus, how might we define begin to security, and at what point does a states action, agenda or thinking become a security concern? It is useful here to refer to Buzan et al.s definition of security: It is when an issue is presented as posing an existential threat to a designated referent object (traditionally, but not necessarily the state, incorporating government, territory, and society). The special nature of security threats justifies the use of extraordinary measures to handle them (1998: 21). Conceptualizing security as such posits that if a concern is deemed to be a security issue, it must be presented to and subsequently accepted by an audience: indeed, Buzan, Wà ¦ver and de Wilde further clarify that securitization is not decided by the securitizer but by the audience (1998: 31). In adopting their understanding of securitization as a speech act, we can see how this process creates rights, obligations and responsibilities which are decided not by the securitizer but by an audience (Buzan  et al. 1998: 25-31). Taking this approach, we can apply this framework in understanding why the need to find, secure and diversify energy supplies has been construed as a leading security concern for many states. As Luft and Korin note, energy security is very much in the eyes of the beholder (2009: 1). By having a succinct critical framework for analysis, we are better able to understand the actions, reactions, and needs of states who consider their energy security to be threatened. What follows is a range of theoretical and analytical approaches for conceptualizing energy security. 2.2 A Realist Scope No IR theory accentuates the position of security more than realism, yet there is rarely a critical analysis by realists to explain what security actually means (Baldwin, 1997: 21). The presence of realism simply cannot be ignored when trying to frame the concept of energy security, and although it fails to address some of the key reasons as to why energy is a contemporary security concern, it is nonetheless a theoretical standpoint which has been synonymous with mid-twentieth century security studies (Baldwin, 1997: 9). Sustained by centuries of progressive and traditional thought, the realist stance is backed by great intellectual contributions from Rousseau, Thucydides, Hobbes and Machiavelli to name but a few (Deudney, 2011: 18). Realism is not a single theory, but a cluster of progressive theories with shared core values: Realism focuses on power struggle, national interests, competition between states, and conflict over resources. To realists, international politics is characterised by a zero-sum game: one sides gain is the other sides loss. Therefore, relations between states can only produce competition and conflicts (Bathily, 2009: 185). Realism is a state-centric theory, the classical premise of which declares that the international system is anarchic and within this system states strive for survival and cannot rely upon other states, since every state has the potential to harm through use of military force (Mearsheimer: 1994/95: 9-10). Hans Morgenthaus contributions to the realist paradigm discuss the inherently flawed nature of humans, suggesting that our innate selfishness and desire for power leaves no room for moral principles when understanding the behaviour of states (Morgenthau in Donnelly, 2000: 15-16). Donnelly further emphasises that, realism emphasizes the constraints on politics imposed by human nature (2000: 9), demonstrating that if energy security is accepted as a realist security concern, states will strive for survival by resolving this issue without concern for moral or human principles. Kenneth Waltzs development of structural realism (also referred to as neo-realism) explains the international system by identifying a central and anarchic state, then subsequently relating this object to the interaction between constituent elements of the system (e.g. states in search of survival). These components are further characterised by the balance and distribution of power; in this context, their capability and proficiency in terms of seeking survival and energy security (Waltz in Booth, 2001: 5). The fundamental approaches to energy security under Waltzs structural realism are summarised by Luft and Korin as follows: 1) States are inherently predisposed to egotism, and will therefore pursue hegemony through use of whatever powers they may possess. 2) Structural realists stress that energy commodities have historically held value beyond simply that of commercial pricing they emphasise how resources have repeatedly been used strategically as means of directing foreign policy and asserting dominance. 3) Although realists will take into account the influence of mutual cooperation and independent institutions, they also maintain that culture, history, and economic tendencies and trends do play a crucial role and cannot be ignored when understanding energy security needs and concerns (2009: 340). Approaching energy security in such a manner allows us to see why states might prioritise energy security over other concerns; however the realist paradigm has always prioritised military security in their understanding of security as a whole. Engaging with strands of realist though explains why self-interest of states and the struggle for dominance is an occurring theme in the international system, but the critical flaws of Waltzs structural realism lie in the fact that he largely discounts the importance of geography and geographical regions, while also paying little attention to technology as an influential shaping force (Deudney, 2011: 29-30). When endeavouring to find a position for energy security in a theoretical framework, it is evident that realism does not offer a fully logical and explanatory approach to the concept. As mentioned earlier, Buzan (of the Copenhagen School of security studies) deems anarchy to be the key feature within the international system, and splits security concerns into 5 categories (political, military, societal, economic, environmental); energy security, however, is not explicitly identified within these categories (Buzan, 1991: 19). Although this categorization is evidently broadening the approach to security, a prominent weakness of the theory is its inability to account for the impact of other actors and structures on securitization, while giving too much attention to how international anarchy is constructed politically. The main critic of Buzans work is Bill McSweeney, who claims that the key flaw within Buzans work is his inability to break away from the neo-realist assertion that the state is always the main object for analysis (2004: 123). 2.3 A Liberal Understanding Liberalism and security are concepts which have in recent times both clashed and contradicted each other. Hyde-Price understands this to be a result of liberalism misunderstanding the nature of power (2007: 16). The core value of classical liberalism are neatly summed up into four components up by Kelly: All individuals are of equal and ultimate moral value. This individualism is ethical and not sociological or psychological. Equality of concern and respect is cashed out in terms of a set of basic rights, civil liberties and economic entitlements. These rights entail accompanying responsibilities and duties. Ethical individualism and equality of concern and respect does not entail moral scepticism about objective values. It is instead concerned with the moral limitation of coercion or political power (2004: 13). What can liberalism offer in terms of conceptualizing energy security? Bathily forms a coherent and persuasive argument for approaching it from a liberal perspective. They assert that liberalism in fact challenges the very notion of security in any form and suggest that the realist egocentrism, struggle for survival and innate fear of external threat could be substituted by a so-called liberal logic, wherein states maximise absolute gains and generally prioritise economic development over that of political. In doing this, they predict that traditional elements of security will become sidelined and therefore the security agendas will eventually become redundant. Liberals view naturally occurring resources such as oil to be strategically unimportant, given the frequent rate of discovery around the world. This consequently turns oil from an economic fortune to an ordinary commodity. They further believe that resource management is not the responsibility or the right of the governing bod y, and that management should be decentralized and democratised to multiple, non-governmental actors (2009: 183-184). In some ways, the liberal take on energy security is a valid and applicable one. It explains why actors controlling the resource industry have freedom and independence from government decree which is true in many states and explains why the need for peaceful cooperation and mutual reliance is present in the international system today. What is fails to address, however, is the rising concern for resources in resource poor nations, which in turn has caused political instability, egocentric policy making, and the rise of resource nationalism (this will be examined further on). When trying to understand energy security, liberalism places too much emphasis on the importance of moral human nature in relation to political and resource-based relations, and does not provide enough focus on the importance of geographic, economic, regional and political involvement. 2.4 Energy Security and the Regional Security Complex Theory Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) offers a somewhat more contemporary and relevant approach to conceptualizing energy security. The founding academic linked to this particular theory is Buzan, with further contributions from Wà ¦ver. A regional security complex has been defined as a group of states whose primary security concerns link together sufficiently closely that their national securities cannot realistically be considered apart from one another (Buzan, 1991: 190). It is argued by Buzan and Wà ¦ver that the security complexes of states depend primarily on the pressures deriving from geographic proximity, and the interplay between the anarchic structure and how balances of power play out in the system. They view the world as regional clusters, whereby security complexes are magnified within these clusters (2003: 45-46). Buzan and Wà ¦ver further clarify the central ideas of RSCT as follows: The central idea in RSCT is that, since most threats travel more easily over short distances than long ones, security interdependence is normally into regionally based clusters: security complexes. [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] Process of securitization and thus the degree of security interdependence are more intense between actors inside such complexes than they are between actors inside the complex and outside of it (2003: 4) Here, it is supposed that both mutual and rival interests can contribute towards the formation of such a region, and in this case, ensuring energy security would be one of those interests. A major benefit of RSCT is that it allows analysts to confront common conceptions and thus discuss security concerns between members of a given security complex this dispels the overly generic assumptions of liberalism and realism, and suggests that the concept of energy security can be analysed and approached by varying methods, but all within the scope of RSCT. Furthermore, applying Buzans theory gives an explanation as to why security concerns vocalized by one state are frequently echoed around neighbouring states with a relatively short time frame (Sheehan, 2005: 49-50). The strengths of RSCT also lie in its ability to be adaptable and logical RSCT, unlike the traditional theoretical approaches, does not rely on sweeping generalization of defining concept such as human nature. RSCT confidentl y explains the occurrence of energy complexes and relations between two or more states within a region, and further demonstrates how energy has become securitized within a given geographical area (Buzan, Wà ¦ver and de Wilde, 1998: 31). To classify an energy security complex, however, it is necessary to understand the nature and level of energy dependencies through studying the energy profile of a given state: e.g. the extent of external dependence, diversification possibilities, trade levels, domestic supplies etc. This in itself highlights the problematic nature of RSCT if a state is said to have 100% dependency for, say, oil, this contributes to the securitization of energy. On the other hand, if oil only constitutes 10% of the states energy profile, this brings about an entirely different view. Therefore, in order to analyse energy security from this standpoint we must choose whether it is more beneficial to group together major energy sources, or to base our understanding upon aggregate energy reliance of a given state. Further to this, it is crucial to acknowledge that energy security also entails a need for supply security and demand security. In addition, dependence can be both positive and negative between two or more states. While RSCT presents a plausible and applicable framework in terms of understanding energy security, it is limited in that it does not address the interaction of states at a global level. With the possibility and indeed reality of constructing long energy export pipelines and transport energy by land and sea, we can see that energy (inter)dependence between states from different regions is both real and developing. Furthermore, it is undeniable that with the rise of globalization, the integration and transfer of knowledge, and the power of technology, energy security is not confined solely within regional complexes. 2.5 Critical Security Studies (CSS) Increasingly, IR theorists have been left searching for a concept to shed light on why structures and responses within the international society are increasingly determined by shared ideas rather than material forces, and that the identities and interests of purposive actors are constructed by these shared ideas rather than given in nature (Wendt, 1991: 1). In contract to the realist and neo-realist assumption that security is primarily defensive, traditional and in pursuit of hegemony, CSS significantly broadens the concept of security. It brings in the notion of instability-of-the-object within the international system, and conceptualizes security not as an absolute feature but as a constructed quality which is dependent on shared ideas rather than state-centric gain (McSweeney, 1991:1). CSS has already been subject to diversification since its appearance in the 1990s, but several key aspects characterize this school of thought. They are summarised by Vaughan-Williams below as foll ows: The focus of analysis within CSS is called the referent object this can be an actor, sector, or concept which requires securitization The broadening of security. This refers to the move away from narrow and traditional views of security defined in terms of military strength, and posits concerns within other sectors as security issue The normative approach suggests what must or ought to be secured and analysed. The derivative nature of security. This idea speculates that our methods of understanding the world have a profound effect on the way we approach and conceptualize security (2010: 4).

Relationship Between Lennie And George Essay

Relationship Between Lennie And George Essay Analysing the relationship between George and Lennie in Steinbecks Of Mice and Men In the opening section of the novella, Steinbeck wishes to portray the relationship between George and Lennie as leader and follower. Steinbeck highlights that they walked in single file down the narrow path and when they came into the open, one stayed behind the other; which immediately indicates that George is dominant in this relationship, therefore Lennie is somewhat irresponsible, dependent and incapable of looking after himself. This image illustrates that George acts as a parental figure and Lennie is similar to a shy child hiding behind a father. Furthermore, in Chapter 2 this idea is developed when George also carries Lennies work card, knowing that Lennie would lose it if he was responsible for it Think Id let you carry your own work card?. This quote shows how George acts as a parental figure for Lennie; George must look after Lennies important possessions, as George knows that he will just lose them because of his simple-mindedness. The rhetorical question also shows Geor ges frustration with Lennies small mental capacity as he is always creating problems. Also, when we are first introduced to Lennie and George, the main physical differences between them are highlighted. Lennie is huge, shapeless of face and often dehumanized to be that of a bear. However, George on the other hand, is small, quick and thin with, restless eyes and slender arms. This description is a form of juxtaposition, as the two characters contrast in appearance. It would form an image in the readers minds of two characters that differ greatly, and could supposedly be the opposite of one another. I think the authors intentions of using of this language technique, would be to make a point of their differences and suggest that their personalities also greatly contradict each other. So this makes us read on to find out why we find these two opposing characters together in the story. Throughout the passage, Lennie is referred to as a bear, and a huge companion with dragging feet. This creates an image in the readers mind of a man who is giant-like in size and is supposedly clumsy and uncoordinated. The authors use of the animal Bear to compare Lennie to, symbolizes that he can be the dangerous, strong bear, or the cuddly teddy bear. It indicates that whilst Lennie is a big and strong man, he is also just a playful, childish boy who needs guidance. Steinbeck also metaphorically compares Lennie snorting into water like a horse; Lennies actions are similar to an animal, unlike humans who cup their hands to drink water. This emphasizes that he will act upon an animal instinct and his animal characteristics convey Lennies great strength that he is unaware of; this holds immense importance in the novel as it foreshadows the downfall of Lennie due to his powerful strength and animal instincts. Verbs and adverbs are chosen specifically to reflect Lennies and Georges attitudes and characteristics. Generally actions and descriptive words attached to Lennie show a lack of confidence and maturity, for example words such as dabbled and timidly displays Lennies hesitancy and unassertiveness, whilst George on the other hand has words adverbs such as sharply and gently which suggests that he is thinks a lot before all his actions. Overall the reader can deduce without any explanation required, that Lennie most likely needs supervision from George, and looks up to him as a role model because he admires his intelligence and general behaviour/demeanour. In the books dialogue, Steinbeck uses slang,colloquialism, and non-standard terms (aint, would of, brang, and so on) to convey an authentic sense of the characters. This casual dialect(shes a loo loo, Curleys got ants in his pants) helps recreate a particular time, place, and social background that make the book sound real as well as the characters more relatable. Whats more, is that the lack of standard English is constant throughout all speech, characters dont speak with more refinement to other specific characters. Even Lennie, though hes slow, isnt less able to communicate with words than others.This aspect equalizes the characters and gives them a lack of identity or purpose. Overall it addresses the theme of power and each characters lack of control over their own destiny. Readers may interpret these aspects negatively, because it is symbolic of the lack of importance or significance people had back in the contexts day. However, on the other hand you could interpret it as a goo d thing that all of society was equal, everyone had equal chances and people felt a good sense of community and belonging. Towards the end of chapter 6, as Lennies captors advance towards him, Steinbeck gives a brief description, using pathetic fallacy, of the landscape in which the story is unfolding; Already the sun had left the valley to go climbing up the slopes of the Gablian Mountains, and the hill tops were rosy in the sun. I believe Steinbecks desired intentions of using this specific technique, is to reflect that all hope of the American dream has been lost, due to the death of Curleys wife. The sun is the light, which represents hope and happiness, and the fact it has left the valley represents the reality of the situation; that Lennie has ruined any chance they once had of fulfilling the dream. The use of the word already in particular, depicts the idea that all hope vanished as soon as Lennie killed her; there was no way he could have made amends. This would make the reader feel sympathy/pity for Lennie, as they have grown attached to his character throughout the book, and they know the death was unintentional. Also, embedded frequently throughout the book, is the use of structural motifs. In particular, the recurring element of the American Dream, and its dismal achievability, is used to signify the relationship between Lennie and George. It exemplifies one of the reasons why we find the two characters together; their differences are made apparent yet they both share and hold onto this strong sense of longing for this scenario, no matter how out of reach it is. Additionally, each time George repeats this dream to Lennie, his intonation and demeanor in which he says it, reflects its current state of achievability. For example, in chapter one, where Lennie and George have no job and no comfortable sanctuary, George is reluctant to finish describing the dream, I aint got time for no more, this hesitancy shows that he has obvious doubt in fulfilling it due to the current circumstances he and Lennie is in. However, in chapter 3, when Candy offers his savings into the purchasing of the house, George becomes excited as he believes the dream is now within reach. Steinbeck shows this through the use of short sentences and informal dialect, Jesus Christ! I bet we could swing her, because we relate excitement with uncontrollable language, colloquialism and the inability to produce sophisticated sentences, therefore it creates authenticity and pace for the reader, thus making it more believable. Lastly, in chapter 6, the dream is again repeated, back where the story first began. Yet now, the dream is fragmented, separated with the use of ellipses, Youan me. This punctuational technique symbolizes the loss and feebleness of the dream, as well as Georges despair of having to kill Lennie to save him from the oncoming lynch mob. Now, its no longer a chore for George; he wants to take it slow and let Lennie enjoy it fully before he dies, it truly reflects that George needs Lennie just as much as he needs him. Overall the reader would sympathize for both of them, because we can understand that George only did this for Lennies benefit, and despite their disputes; they cared about each other very much. The plot in Of Mice And Men is also an example of a circular narrative; it concludes in the same location, and George and Lennie are once again fleeing from trouble. This structure is used to offer a valuable moral about difficult the American Dream is to fulfill, as well as to reveal the sad absurdity of dreams in general. Overall this highlights Steinbecks pessimistic views towards the dream as he adapts his story to portray the dream to be impossible for all, Curleys wife included. However, on the other hand, Lennies death was inevitable because of the escalating destruction he was evoking, so others could interpret it as a blessing that Lennie died at the hands of a man he trusts, painlessly and still believing in his dream. So readers may believe Steinbeck wrote this to emphasize the beauty of friendships and highlight how important it is for mankind to uphold them.

american literature :: essays research papers

Romantic literature is such that an author writes in an attempt to convey his feelings on what the world should be like. It is unrealistic, unreasoning, and imaginative writing. William Cullen Bryant and Edgar Allen Poe are two examples of romantic writers. Though Poe fits the mold of a romantic writer it is obvious that his writings do not mirror those of Bryant or many other known romantic authors. His works share a uniqueness that is not found amongst the other writers, it is this uniqueness that separates Poe’s works from the rest. Bryant’s poem â€Å"Thanatopsis† is a good example of romantic literature. This work compared to Poe’s â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart† will show that characteristics of Poe’s work that, both, make him a romantic writer and separate him from other romantic writers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Thanatopsis†, by William Cullen Bryant, is a very romantic poem about the relationship between man and nature. Bryant’s purpose for this poem is to spread his belief that at the last hours of life man is joined with the Earth and when that last hour is over man will join all those who have passed before him. From the first two lines of the poem it is obvious that this poem is romantic in nature. â€Å"To him who in the love of Nature holds – Communion with her visible forms,† (470). Bryant personifies nature in this poem by referring to it as a â€Å"she†. He does this to establish a common thread between the reader and Earth. It is easier for someone, reading Bryant’s work, to begin believing his ideas about nature if â€Å"Nature† is referred to as a human being. Along with Bryant’s approach to the reader his description of the connection between man and nature is also very romantic. â€Å"Go forth u nder the open sky, and list – To Nature’s teachings, while from all around – Earth and her waters, and the depths of air, - Comes a still voice-†(470). In this quote Bryant begins to speak about how Nature offers comfort, â€Å"When thoughts – Of the last bitter hour come like a blight – over they spirit..†(470), through a â€Å"still voice†(470), implying that Nature speaks. As the poem continues Bryant brings out more of his romantic ideas. â€Å"Earth, that nourished thee, shall claim – Thy growth, to be rolv’d to earth again..†(471) In this quote Bryant expresses his feelings that when life is over man will return to earth and become part of it once again.

The University Should Extend the Add/Drop Period for Classes Essay

The University Should Extend the Add/Drop Period for Classes If there is one thing I'm good at, it is shopping. I find the best deals, make the most out of every shopping trip and generally derive great pleasure from the process. Unfortunately, State College students are only given a very short time to shop for our courses and even less time to return our books to the bookstore for the classes we dropped. The more classes you attend and professors you meet, the more educated your final decision will be at the end of add/drop. If you miss the first day of a Tuesday/Thursday class, you will have to base your judgment of the class on a mere two lectures. I may be a good shopper, but when it comes to classes, no one is that good. University of Southern California students are given three weeks to finalize their schedules without penalty. Students at MIT can drop a class up until three weeks before the END of the semester. If a student at State College dropped a course that late into the semester, the dreaded "W" for "Withdrawn" would appear on his or her transcript. The first tw...

Elevator

Hey Gaby, I just started my class online with the University of Phoenix, let me tell you a little bit about it because I know you were interested in going back to school as well. Online courses are also known as distance learning, which means that you are earning your education via online. Instead of being in a traditional classroom setting and having that face to face contact with your teacher, distance learning is student centered instructional format that allows you to take courses without having to commit to a regular campus attendance. I personally enjoy doing distance learning; so far I have been able to easily concentrate on my work. The reason why I chose to do distance learning is because I really have a hard time attending regular face to face classes due to my work schedule, very much similar to the situation you are in Gaby. Just like your goals I want to continue to pursue my degree further and I didn’t want to stop attending school so I chose this avenue. Distance learning is a field where instructional systems are designed to deliver education to students who are not able to physically be in classroom site. In my opinion I think you would enjoy distance learning and you would be able to focus a lot easier. I really enjoy doing it because I love working with computers, some people say that they do not like it but most people that I have spoken to say that they really enjoy it as well. You should really try it I truly recommend it; I was scared at first because I was concerned about having questions that I would like to ask my teacher in person and via online you do not have that opportunity. The method used to communicate with your professor and or classmates is through forums and thread discussions. In these forums and threads you post your questions and responses to other posts as well, somewhat like a live chat room. This is referred to as asynchronous communication; because you are not receiving feedback onsite like you would in a regular face to face classroom. To be honest with you it was a little frustrating learning how to navigate thru everything but once I had spoken to my advisors and they explained to me how everything worked things went so much smoother. As the time has gone by I have gotten the hang of it and I think you would pick up the process pretty easily too. Hope that this information has shown you that there is a way for you to continue your education just like I am.

Kate Chopin’s Life in Writing

The life of Kate Chopin was an interesting tale of struggle and perseverance in an area of the country where things were quite difficult. Growing up around the turn of the twentieth century, Chopin had to put up with a difficult life in addition to the usual challenges that went along with being a woman at the time. Unlike in today’s time, women did not have many rights, nor did they have many opportunities when Chopin was growing up. As with the majority of great writers during that time, life experiences were important.Not only did Chopin draw from her experiences to come up with story ideas and character ideas, but she took some very specific instances to create stories. Though all of her works had some elements of this held within, there are two works that specifically highlight some of her more difficult life experiences and speak to the overall struggle of women during her time. In her works, Desiree’s Baby and The Story of an Hour, readers get to not only read a great story, but also understand how one woman’s struggle to overcome can impact the way that she writes.In order to understand the references in her work, a person has to understand exactly what she went to during various portions of her life. The one overriding theme in her life was loss. As evidenced by a article on Kate Chopin from A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, the woman had trouble keeping a man around in her life. This does not mean that she was divorced or had men leave her, either. Instead, almost every meaningful man in her life died in a difficult fashion.Her father was one of the leading railroad men around the turn of the century and he lost his life on the rail when one of his tracks collapsed. Kate Chopin was only five years old at the time, so she had to live the majority of her life without a father figure. The bad luck did not stop there for Chopin, either. Her half-brother passed away from a rare case of swamp fever when she was young, as well.When Ch opin married a few years later at the age of 20, she had married a man who she thought would take the place of her brother and her father. He did her no favor by racking up a huge amount of debt and subsequently passing away from swamp fever, as well. Those things alone were enough to nearly drive her over the edge and created a really difficult life that was much harder than what most of her contemporaries had to go through. In a way, this set her up as a strong woman and prepared her to take on many of the challenges that faced women of her era, though. It is from this struggle that Chopin’s great works arose.Another aspect of Kate Chopin’s life that must be taken into account is the racism and inequality that she had to face. She was of Creole origin, which was one of the factions of society that was looked down upon by everyone else around them. In Desiree’s Baby, these themes of racism are presented quickly and succinctly. In the story, things change dramat ically when it is realized that her baby, and subsequently Desiree, are not actually white. The more telling thing is what follows in the book. It is telling that she tries frantically to convince her husband that she is white.This is the most important thing to her. In the work, Chopin writes, â€Å"A quick conception of all that this accusation meant for her nerved her with unwonted courage to deny it. â€Å"It is a lie; it is not true, I am white! Look at my hair, it is brown; and my eyes are gray, Armand, you know they are gray. And my skin is fair,† seizing his wrist. â€Å"Look at my hand, whiter than yours, Armand,† she laughed hysterically† (Chopin, p.2).Though this is not exactly how Chopin’s life went down, she does draw from her experiences. In addition to the idea of racism, one can view the desperation to keep a man around as a commentary on her life. Chopin lost many of the men in her life for various reasons and that can be seen in Desireeà ¢â‚¬â„¢s story. Not only is she distraught about the realization that she and her baby are not white, but she also worries that her man will leave her because of it. This is the most important thing for her character, so this might be an indication of what Chopin finds important.Though the reference to her life can be seen in that story, it can be seen even greater in another one of her stories. The Story of an Hour is the most telling story that shows how much the author was impacted by the experiences of her life. Interestingly, the reader gets an indication in the first sentence of what the author is thinking. In that sentence, she writes, â€Å"Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death† (Chopin).Not only does her own experience of losing her husband play a role in shaping the story, but the pain of losing him also plays a role. She has been there in that situatio n, so she knows all too well that losing a husband is one of the most difficult things a person can go through. Though it is not exactly clear who the author is talking about in much of the story, there are times when it appears that she is representing herself in many of the lines.At one point, Chopin writes of the struggle when she writes, â€Å"She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength. But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought† (Chopin). From this, the reader can come away with some sense of what Chopin may have been going through with her experiences in her life. From the words, the struggle seems to be too much to overcome.Overall, the two stories present different struggles, which is something that really shows how much she had to go through in her life. Most people would consider losing three men as big a challenge as any person should ever have to face. That was obviously not the case for Chopin, though. Her experiences shaped who she became in a number of different ways, including her struggles with female equality.During her time, being a successful writer was not a given for a woman, even if that woman had all of the talent and resources to succeed in the business. While she was having to put up with all of the problems of her life, she also had to try to put up a fight against the people who refused to take her seriously. Her entire career was a struggle to balance the emotions that she had to face. She had to feel pain for what was going on with her husband, her father, and her brother, but she could not readily show that. It was a very brave move including her life experiences in her works because that was not exactly an accepted tactic. By doing that, she opened up herself to lots of criticism, but it was something th at made her a memorable writer.Overall, much of Kate Chopin’s life can be seen through her works. If a person takes the time to sit down and study her life, then they would see that she had to face a lot. From facing that adversity, she became strong enough to overcome some of the racism and the discrimination that plagued other writers during her time. She allows herself to show some emotion and to be a human, but she never lets her guard down so much that people can take advantage of her. That strength is reflected in her work and it’s the thing that makes them so interesting.Works CitedChopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. 1894.Chopin, Kate. Desiree’s Baby. 1893.â€Å"Kate O'Flaherty Chopin†, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, Vol. I (1988), p. 176

Native American Culture †The Micmac

It is not known when the Micmac first arrived in the Canadian Maritime provinces. Sea levels have risen such that early sites are now underwater. The earliest descriptions that we have are of people who already had contact with the westThe Micmac, along with the Beothuk of Newfoundland, may well be the first of the first peoples to have had contact with Europeans. This could have occurred with the Vikings in the 11th century and / or with Basque and other European fishing fleets that fished on the Grand Banks, but did not publicly reveal the source of their large catches. All this was well before Columbus in 1492. In 1497 when John Cabot returned to England he took three members of the Micmac tribe back with him.The Basques fished off Canadian shores, and by 1519 would dry their catch and to carry out trade shore. By 1578 there were about 400 European boats coming in summer. Trade with the Micmac for furs, especially beaver, was profitable for both sides. The demand was greater than the Micmac could supply and quickly adopted the role of middlemen for tribes such as the Algonquian who lived far from shore. The metal weapons received in trade mean the Micmac had a tremendous advantage in battle over other Canadian tribes.[1]Rivalry over trade eventually led to the Tarrateen war of 1607 when the Micmac moved in as far as Massachusetts. However, they contracted a disease that eventually killed three quarters of the population. In 1613, the British, anxious to make claim to territories held by the French, destroyed Port Royal and the mission at Mont Desert. The Micmac were caught in the raid and were sold by the British as slaves. The original Micmac population number has been estimated to reach as high as 30,000 but was probably less. Contact with westerners lowered their numbers to around 1,800 in the 1820’s after contracting various diseases including a devastating epidemic of smallpox.They occupied the Canadian Maritimes including eastern New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, the Gaspà © Peninsula in Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and after about 1630, a Micmac band also lived in southwestern Newfoundland. There were now about 25,000 members of the tribe in Canada. The Jay treaty of 1794 between the newly formed United States and England allowed the Micmac to cross and re-cross the border freely. Nowadays there are groups in New York and Maine, where in 1991 they finally gained official federal recognition particularly in Boston where they make up the largest first peoples group in New England.[2]The original spelling of their name was Mi’kmaq, which means ‘allies’. Over time, Micmac became the commonly used spelling, although it has several variations. Various groups have also been known as Cape Sable Indians, Gaspesian, Matueswiskitchinuuk (Malecite â€Å"Porcupine Indians†) and Shonack (Beothuk â€Å"Bad Indians†), The French called them Souriquois and the British Tarrateen.Their language is a branch of A lgonquian, although somewhat different from that used further south. There are links with other local languages such as that of the Cree and the Montagnais. Most Micmac still use it as their first language, with either English or French being the second. Regional dialects are so strong that for instance those in Quebec have difficulties communicating with those in Nova Scotia. Because their language is similar to that of the Cree it is possible that they moved into the Maritimes from the north.The people did very little farming since they lived too far north to be able to grow corn, though some was done in the warm summer months. Instead they were skilled in hunting, gathering and fishing, especially with regard to the catching of fish and sea mammals. This made them skilled in the making and use of birch bark canoes and those made of caribou skin. After 1600 they also used sails. Their larger distinctive light, humpbacked canoes could be used even on the open sea. However they quic kly learnt that some European vessels were also useful and adopted them.The birch bark, poles and skins were also used to construct their homes – smaller conical ones in cold weather and long house types used in warmer times. They were semi-nomadic living near the shore during the summer fishing season and inland during the colder weather when it was easier to track moose and deer in the snow. Snowshoes, sledges and toboggans were used to make movement easier in the deep snow. Hunting camps would consist of only one family but in spring and summer, families would come together and form villages of several hundred people able to take advantage of plentiful food supplies. Before the arrival of metal kettles, water was heated by placing hot stones in wooden kettles.[3]Clans are patrilineal and the tribes are confederacies of these smaller groups. Each clan had and still has a symbol, used to mark possessions such as homes and canoes. Local chiefs and a group of elders governed t he villages. The oldest male in the area became the district chief. His importance was linked to the size of his family hence polygamy was practiced.   The leaders would decide when and where to hunt and fish. For instance in December they would ice fish for cod, in January they would hunt seals, in February move inland to hunt moose, deer and bear as well as smaller game by the end of March they would move to the coast to begin fishing again, they would begin to catch eels in the estuaries in mid September and then move into the forests when the snow came.This pattern started when they were trading beaver with the Europeans, as the furs would be thicker in winter. Also they had to be on the coasts in summer in order to meet with trading vessels. Methods used to catch game were varied. Spears or bows and arrows would be used to catch larger game and snares and traps were used for smaller creatures. They made ingenious callers form birch bark to attract moose.[4] In order to catch fish they used tridents, hooks, nets and weirs. Seals would be harpooned. In historical times bone or stone tools were replaced by iron and steel ones gained in trade.The groups would occasionally come together and elect a high king – the Grand Saqamaw. This method of political authority meant that in times of war organization was made easier.As with other woodland tribes clothing for both sexes was fringed buckskin. This was used for leggings, breechclouts and sleeves. At some point during the 1700’s the women began to wear pointed headdresses. Clothing, bags etc were decorated with porcupine quills, though traded glass beads largely replaced these after the arrival of the Europeans. They would originally be sewn together using sinews and bone needles. In areas where porcupines were not present trade would either obtain their quills or other items would be used in imitation of them e.g. spruce roots.   By the 18th century woolen blankets were being used, and in the 19th century men began to wear great coats and the women were using woolen and cotton cloth and steel needles.The Micmac feasted at weddings, funerals and before the hunting season began. Unusually funerals were conducted before the person had actually died. If someone was incurably ill dogs were killed as a sign of grief, then after much singing, the person would be allowed to make a last speech and then they would be abandoned and no one would help them.Regarding religion, one supreme god was believed in, but also there were lesser gods including those in human form. Stories often centered on Glooscap, a hero whose stories explain how the world came into being and how it works. The ancient Micmac did not distinguish between the natural and the supernatural. A spirit might inhabit everything from the large sun to a small rock. They had shamans known as puion who provided both curses and cures and interpreted the natural world. The missionaries discredited them but some traditional beliefs persist. In the 19th century missionary Silas Rand made a collection of these stories and beliefs. Even today a Micmac web site, Traditional Micmac culture, states that Glooscap still lives in every Micmac.[5]After the arrival of the French, who brought very few women with them, intermarriage became common and so did conversion to Christianity. The Jesuits arrived in 1610 and the first Micmac family was baptized in the same year. However the Micmac branch of Catholicism includes many native ideas. When the French gave up the Maritimes to the British in 1713 the Micmac remained loyal to French links and most now have French family names. They are proud of the way their culture has contributed to life and language in North America whereby the hand drawn toboggan and snowshoes are still in use. The fact that they now often speak English, drive cars and wear similar clothes to everyone else does not make them any less Micmac.Bibliography Swanton J. The Indian Tribes of North Ame rica, U.S. Government Printing Office 1952Micmac Indians of Canada retrieved 22nd October 2007 fromhttp://www.canadiangenealogy.net/indians/micmac_indians.htm This site quotes from Swanton’s book mentioned above.Micmac Indians of Maine found at retrieved on 22nd October 2007 fromhttp://www.micmac-nsn.gov/  Ã‚  Pastore, R. Traditional Micmac Culture retrieved on 22nd October 2007 from  http://www.heritage.nf.ca/aboriginal/micmac_culture.htmlSultzman, L. Micmac history, retrieved 22nd October 2007 from  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.dickshovel.com/mic.html[1] Swanton J. [2] http://www.canadiangenealogy.net [3] http://www.micmac-nsn.gov/ [4] http://www.heritage.nf.ca [5] http://www.dickshovel.com Native American Culture – The Micmac It is not known when the Micmac first arrived in the Canadian Maritime provinces. Sea levels have risen such that early sites are now underwater. The earliest descriptions that we have are of people who already had contact with the westThe Micmac, along with the Beothuk of Newfoundland, may well be the first of the first peoples to have had contact with Europeans. This could have occurred with the Vikings in the 11th century and / or with Basque and other European fishing fleets that fished on the Grand Banks, but did not publicly reveal the source of their large catches. All this was well before Columbus in 1492. In 1497 when John Cabot returned to England he took three members of the Micmac tribe back with him.The Basques fished off Canadian shores, and by 1519 would dry their catch and to carry out trade shore. By 1578 there were about 400 European boats coming in summer. Trade with the Micmac for furs, especially beaver, was profitable for both sides. The demand was greater than the Micmac could supply and quickly adopted the role of middlemen for tribes such as the Algonquian who lived far from shore. The metal weapons received in trade mean the Micmac had a tremendous advantage in battle over other Canadian tribes.[1]Rivalry over trade eventually led to the Tarrateen war of 1607 when the Micmac moved in as far as Massachusetts. However, they contracted a disease that eventually killed three quarters of the population. In 1613, the British, anxious to make claim to territories held by the French, destroyed Port Royal and the mission at Mont Desert. The Micmac were caught in the raid and were sold by the British as slaves. The original Micmac population number has been estimated to reach as high as 30,000 but was probably less. Contact with westerners lowered their numbers to around 1,800 in the 1820’s after contracting various diseases including a devastating epidemic of smallpox.They occupied the Canadian Maritimes including eastern New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, the Gaspà © Peninsula in Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and after about 1630, a Micmac band also lived in southwestern Newfoundland. There were now about 25,000 members of the tribe in Canada. The Jay treaty of 1794 between the newly formed United States and England allowed the Micmac to cross and re-cross the border freely. Nowadays there are groups in New York and Maine, where in 1991 they finally gained official federal recognition particularly in Boston where they make up the largest first peoples group in New England.[2]The original spelling of their name was Mi’kmaq, which means ‘allies’. Over time, Micmac became the commonly used spelling, although it has several variations. Various groups have also been known as Cape Sable Indians, Gaspesian, Matueswiskitchinuuk (Malecite â€Å"Porcupine Indians†) and Shonack (Beothuk â€Å"Bad Indians†), The French called them Souriquois and the British Tarrateen.Their language is a branch of A lgonquian, although somewhat different from that used further south. There are links with other local languages such as that of the Cree and the Montagnais. Most Micmac still use it as their first language, with either English or French being the second. Regional dialects are so strong that for instance those in Quebec have difficulties communicating with those in Nova Scotia. Because their language is similar to that of the Cree it is possible that they moved into the Maritimes from the north.The people did very little farming since they lived too far north to be able to grow corn, though some was done in the warm summer months. Instead they were skilled in hunting, gathering and fishing, especially with regard to the catching of fish and sea mammals. This made them skilled in the making and use of birch bark canoes and those made of caribou skin. After 1600 they also used sails. Their larger distinctive light, humpbacked canoes could be used even on the open sea. However they quic kly learnt that some European vessels were also useful and adopted them.The birch bark, poles and skins were also used to construct their homes – smaller conical ones in cold weather and long house types used in warmer times. They were semi-nomadic living near the shore during the summer fishing season and inland during the colder weather when it was easier to track moose and deer in the snow. Snowshoes, sledges and toboggans were used to make movement easier in the deep snow. Hunting camps would consist of only one family but in spring and summer, families would come together and form villages of several hundred people able to take advantage of plentiful food supplies. Before the arrival of metal kettles, water was heated by placing hot stones in wooden kettles.[3]Clans are patrilineal and the tribes are confederacies of these smaller groups. Each clan had and still has a symbol, used to mark possessions such as homes and canoes. Local chiefs and a group of elders governed t he villages. The oldest male in the area became the district chief. His importance was linked to the size of his family hence polygamy was practiced.   The leaders would decide when and where to hunt and fish. For instance in December they would ice fish for cod, in January they would hunt seals, in February move inland to hunt moose, deer and bear as well as smaller game by the end of March they would move to the coast to begin fishing again, they would begin to catch eels in the estuaries in mid September and then move into the forests when the snow came.This pattern started when they were trading beaver with the Europeans, as the furs would be thicker in winter. Also they had to be on the coasts in summer in order to meet with trading vessels. Methods used to catch game were varied. Spears or bows and arrows would be used to catch larger game and snares and traps were used for smaller creatures. They made ingenious callers form birch bark to attract moose.[4] In order to catch fish they used tridents, hooks, nets and weirs. Seals would be harpooned. In historical times bone or stone tools were replaced by iron and steel ones gained in trade.The groups would occasionally come together and elect a high king – the Grand Saqamaw. This method of political authority meant that in times of war organization was made easier.As with other woodland tribes clothing for both sexes was fringed buckskin. This was used for leggings, breechclouts and sleeves. At some point during the 1700’s the women began to wear pointed headdresses. Clothing, bags etc were decorated with porcupine quills, though traded glass beads largely replaced these after the arrival of the Europeans.They would originally be sewn together using sinews and bone needles. In areas where porcupines were not present trade would either obtain their quills or other items would be used in imitation of them e.g. spruce roots.   By the 18th century woolen blankets were being used, and in the 1 9th century men began to wear great coats and the women were using woolen and cotton cloth and steel needles.The Micmac feasted at weddings, funerals and before the hunting season began. Unusually funerals were conducted before the person had actually died. If someone was incurably ill dogs were killed as a sign of grief, then after much singing, the person would be allowed to make a last speech and then they would be abandoned and no one would help them.Regarding religion, one supreme god was believed in, but also there were lesser gods including those in human form. Stories often centered on Glooscap, a hero whose stories explain how the world came into being and how it works. The ancient Micmac did not distinguish between the natural and the supernatural. A spirit might inhabit everything from the large sun to a small rock.They had shamans known as puion who provided both curses and cures and interpreted the natural world. The missionaries discredited them but some traditional be liefs persist. In the 19th century missionary Silas Rand made a collection of these stories and beliefs. Even today a Micmac web site, Traditional Micmac culture, states that Glooscap still lives in every Micmac.[5]After the arrival of the French, who brought very few women with them, intermarriage became common and so did conversion to Christianity. The Jesuits arrived in 1610 and the first Micmac family was baptized in the same year. However the Micmac branch of Catholicism includes many native ideas. When the French gave up the Maritimes to the British in 1713 the Micmac remained loyal to French links and most now have French family names.They are proud of the way their culture has contributed to life and language in North America whereby the hand drawn toboggan and snowshoes are still in use. The fact that they now often speak English, drive cars and wear similar clothes to everyone else does not make them any less Micmac.Bibliography Swanton J. The Indian Tribes of North Americ a, U.S. Government Printing Office 1952Micmac Indians of Canada retrieved 22nd October 2007 fromhttp://www.canadiangenealogy.net/indians/micmac_indians.htm This site quotes from Swanton’s book mentioned above.Micmac Indians of Maine found at retrieved on 22nd October 2007 fromhttp://www.micmac-nsn.gov/  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pastore, R. Traditional Micmac Culture retrieved on 22nd October 2007 from  http://www.heritage.nf.ca/aboriginal/micmac_culture.htmlSultzman, L. Micmac history, retrieved 22nd October 2007 from  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.dickshovel.com/mic.html[1] Swanton J. [2] http://www.canadiangenealogy.net [3] http://www.micmac-nsn.gov/ [4] http://www.heritage.nf.ca [5] http://www.dickshovel.com