A History of Sparta 950-192 essays

A History of Sparta 950-192 essays The book that I read was, A History of Sparta 950-192 B.C., by W.G. Forrest. This narrative of history extends from Spartas founding in the tenth century B.C. to the Roman Conquest in 192 B.C. The book gives the reasons for Spartas rise and fall. Forrest examines the reasons why Sparta was able to conquer in war but could not maintain an empire, and why the state was too weak to survive the shock of defeat by Athens at Leuktra in 371. Sparta was founded in the tenth century and was not a city like those of the rest in Greece. By the late fifth century, Sparta had become the paragon of Greek oligarchies as Athens was the model for democracies. In 404 B.C. Athens lost the Peloponnesian War. An extraordinary experiment in imperialism had failed and the bright world she had built to dazzle the world of Greece for fifty years collapsed. Sparta was renowned for the skill and courage of their army and for the stability and excellence of their constitution. A man by the name of Lykourgos had created all the institutions which made Sparta and the Spartans what they were. Not long after the annexation of Messenia, in 708, Sparta sent out a colony of Tarentum in South Italy, her only certain colony venture after the migration period. The motive was political trouble at home; the colonists, a dissident group called the Partheniai. These people were not recognized as Spartans even though they were born of Spartan mothers and fathers. Disgruntled by this, they attempted a revolution. The first Pelonponnesian War broke out in 459 B.C. with Athens occupation of Megara and encounters with other northern allies of Sparta, which resulted in an untidy affair from the Spartan side. Sthenelaidas won by a large majority. To Sparta hegemony mattered more than a treaty. The second Peloponnesian War began in 415, when Athens committed a large part of her forces to an attack on Sicily. Athens lost the battle. No mat...

The Greek Words Used to Name Dinosaurs

The Greek Words Used to Name Dinosaurs If it sometimes seems as if the names of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals come from another language, well, theres a simple explanation: the names of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals really do come from another language. Traditionally, paleontologists the world over use Greek to christen new species and genera - not only of dinosaurs, but also of birds, mammals, and even microbes. Partly this is a matter of convention, but partly its rooted in common sense: classical Greek and Latin have been the shared languages of scholars and scientists for hundreds of years. (Lately, though, there has been a trend for using non-Greek roots to name dinosaurs and prehistoric animals; hence sibilant beasts like Suuwassea and Thililua.) But enough about all that: what good does this information do you if you have to decode a mouthful of a name like Micropachycephalosaurus? The following is a list of the most common Greek words used in dinosaur names, along with their English equivalents. If you want to have some fun, try assembling your own fictional dinosaur from the ingredients below (heres a nonsense example to get you started: Tristyracocephalogallus, or the extremely rare three-headed spiky chicken.) Numbers Mono OneDi TwoTri ThreeTetra FourPenta Five Body Parts Brachio ArmCephalo HeadCerato HornCheirus HandColepio KnuckleDactyl FingerDerma SkinDon, dont ToothGnathus JawLopho CrestNychus ClawOphthalmo EyeOps FacePhysis FacePtero WingPteryx FeatherRhampho BeakRhino NoseRhyncho SnoutTholus DomeTrachelo Neck Animal Types Anato DuckAvis BirdCetio WhaleCyno DogDraco DragonGallus ChickenHippus HorseIchthyo FishMus MouseOrnitho, Ornis BirdSaurus LizardStruthio OstrichSuchus CrocodileTaurus Bull Size and Shape Baro HeavyBrachy ShortMacro BigMegalo HugeMicro SmallMorpho ShapedNano TinyNodo KnobbedPlaco, Platy FlatSphaero RoundTitano GiantPachy ThickSteno NarrowStyraco Spiked Behavior Archo RulingCarno Meat-eatingDeino, Dino TerribleDromeus RunnerGracili GracefulLestes RobberMimus MimicRaptor Hunter, ThiefRex KingTyranno TyrantVeloci Fast Times, Places, and Assorted Features Antarcto AntarcticArchaeo AncientAustro SouthernChasmo CleftCoelo HollowCrypto HiddenEo DawnEu Original, FirstHetero DifferentHydro WaterLago LakeMio MioceneNycto NightOvi EggPara Near, AlmostPelta ShieldPlio PliocenePro, Proto BeforeSarco FleshStego RoofThalasso Ocean

Any topic that is current Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Any topic that is current - Essay Example In this paper, we shall discuss some of the events which led to the Arab Spring and how most of the public protests were organized. The Arab Spring came into existence as a response to the lack of political freedom in the various countries in which it has occurred. At first, they were peaceful protests some of which became armed struggles whose aim was to topple the autocratic regimes ruling over these countries. According to Ben-Meir (106), the rebellion against such governments was due to the fact that instead of taking into consideration the calls of their people to allow them to have political freedom. These autocratic regimes responded with violence against peaceful protesters, a move that may have been spurred by their conception that their authority was being threatened and that there was a need for them to reclaim such authority by using brute force. The use of force against unarmed civilians led to the discrediting of the legitimacy of such governments and calls for the stepping down of these leaders were made from many international organizations and governments. Moreover, in cases such as Libya and Sy ria, the peaceful protests suddenly became fierce armed rebellions against the government which attacked the unarmed civilians. Jones (447) states that protesters in the Arab Spring made very good use of modern technology such as social networks in order to organize protests as well as making people outside their countries aware of what was really going on because of the media blackout that had been created by the autocratic regimes. Many of these regimes had banned and continue to ban international journalists from having access to their countries perhaps because they do not wish for their crimes against their own people to be revealed in the international arena. To counter this, many protesters have devised ingenious ways of getting the information out of their countries including hacking through the heavily censored internet to sites which

Atoms of metals and LIDAR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Atoms of metals and LIDAR - Essay Example pag). LIDAR is a remote sensing technology that can measure distances or properties of a material by laser illumination (Sanderson n. pag.). Origin of metal atoms in the atmosphere Normally, meteoroids enter the Earth’s atmosphere between 11 to 72 kilometres per second. Friction between the meteor and air molecules in the upper atmosphere generates enough heat to disintegrate it to particles less than 1mm in diameter. These particles are deposited at an altitude of 70 to 140 km in the upper atmosphere (Von Zahn, Hoffner and McNeil, 149). McNeil, Lai and Murad acknowledged the fact that meteoric material is the most significant source of metal atoms in the upper atmosphere. However, the amount of metal atoms in the atmosphere differs from the amount present in the meteor itself. This is attributed to the process known as differential ablation. Differential ablation suggests that more volatile metals vaporize earlier than less volatile metal components in a meteorite. Comparison between sodium, magnesium, and calcium ablation revealed that sodium is the most volatile of the three elements. Thus, sodium ablates at a much higher altitude. On the other hand, calcium ablates at a much lower altitude. Therefore, the rate of conversion of elemental calcium into compounds in the lower atmosphere is the primary cause of calcium ion depletion (10899-10911). Aside from sodium, metallic atoms of potassium, lithium, calcium and iron make up the rest of the metal atom layer in the mesosphere. The discovery of other metal constituents started in 1973. Potassium ions detected through the use of ruby-laser-pumped dye laser components calibrated at 769.9 and 766.5 nanometres. Lithium ions were identified using a flashlamp-pumped dye laser calibrated at 670.8 nanometres with 800 millijoules output pulse energy. Calcium was detected with a dye laser calibrated at 422.7 nanometres (Abo 315). Thin layers of sodium, calcium and iron have been detected by LIDAR in the upper atmo sphere. These layers range from 100 metres to several kilometres thick and usually superimpose on a background layer 10 kilometres thick. Despite efforts to ascertain the origins of sporadic layers, no single scientific explanation was accepted (Clemesha 725). Chemical role of metal atoms in the atmosphere The formation of metal layers in the upper atmosphere has been instrumental in several vital atmospheric processes. Rapp and Thomas have confirmed the role of mesospheric metal layers in the formation of noctilucent clouds through the nucleation of ice particles in the upper atmosphere (715-744). Murphy, Thomson and Mahoney investigated the composition of aerosol particles in the stratosphere and discovered the existence of meteoric particles in stratospheric aerosol. Thus a link was suggested between mesospheric metal particles and the condensation of stratospheric sulphate aerosols (1664-1669). Atmospheric observation over the South Pole was initiated through LIDAR to measure th e seasonal variations of the mesospheric sodium and iron layer. The polar annual mean abundance is almost equal to mid-latitude readings while the mean centroid height is 100 metres higher for sodium and 450 metres higher for

Journal Article Summaries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Journal Article Summaries - Essay Example easured, this was done with the overall intent to draw a level of inference on the ultimate research question of the degree to which UV light affected primary cell growth within the specimens. As such, the study itself was conducted over a period of one month with varying levels and strengths of light being administered to the samples. The research helped to prove that the light fluctuation and temperature variation both played a prominent role in actuating the growth mechanisms that the cells exhibited. Moreover, the photosynthetic process itself was proven to be fundamentally shaped and directed by the availability and strength of the different wavelengths of light that were affected on it. An interesting facet of the approach was the fact that the researchers employed not only differing wavelengths of synthetic light onto the test group but also the fact that LED light was incorporated. Further, the research was able to prove that there was no verifiably noticeable differential between the rates of growth that were observed. Miller, J. H., & Stephani, M. C. (1971). Effects of Colchicine and Light on Cell Form in Fern Gametophytes. Implications for a Mechanism of Light-induced Cell Elongation. Physiologia Plantarum, 24(2), 264-271. doi:10.1111/1399-3054.ep13041273 As with the first study that has been listed, this particular study goes into a great deal of depth with reference to the presence and intensity of light and the patterns of cell development that are exhibited. With relation to this particular study, the researchers are keenly interested in the actual physiology that light and the photosynthetic process has on the unique ways in which the cell developes. In order to draw inference on such a research question, the researchers separate multiple groups, as well as a control, and proceed to measure unique fluctuations in the rate and type of growth that is exhibited therein. Furthermore, the researchers found that when light were limited and/or a

Assessing The Background Of Koolhaas Cultural Studies Essay

Assessing The Background Of Koolhaas Cultural Studies Essay After the devastating fire bombs of the Germans strategy during the early stages of World War II, Rotterdams centre was destroyed, together with many other older buildings of the city. The restoration of the Rotterdams centre presented a great challenge to architects of building a city from the start. Rotterdam was then a post World War II empty canvas which gave birth to some of the upcoming architects of the time. One of them was Rem Koolhaas, who four years after the destruction had the chance to design one of the cultural museums in the centre of Rotterdam. Kunsthal museum was built as a way to encourage tourism in Rotterdams cultural capital. The Kunsthal museum was design and built as a way to draw global attention for the architecture of the building in order to put Rotterdam on the European Cultural stage. Rem Koolhaas is a Dutch architect that was born in Rotterdam in 1944. He started his career as a writer and he worked as a journalist for the Haagse Post and as a film screenplay writer. In 1968 he moved to London to study Architecture at the Architectural Association School. By 1972 a scholarship, that he was awarded with gave him the oppotunity to stay in the United States where he started his analysis of the impact of the metropolitan culture on architecture. He wrote Delirious New York, which was published in 1978 and he described it as a retroactive manifesto for Manhattan.( eneshi reference?) At that time Rem Koolhaas returned to Europe in order to step forward from theory to practice and in 1975 he founded OMA (Office of Metropolitan Architecture) in London with Elia and Zoe Zenghelis and Madelon Vriesendorp. In the first 10 years OMAs designs were theoretical; they were only captured on paper but never build. The intentions of OMA were to define new types of relationships between architecture and contemporary cultural situation, both in theory and in practice. OMAs projects like the Educatorium in Utrecht, the Seattle Public Library and the Kunsthal Museum are undoubtedly revealing those objectives. Rem Koolhaas was mainly influenced by the early modernism of Destijl and the Russian Constructivists and his attempt was to reinvent the variety of the modern movement before the establishment of the Rationalist canon. In the 1980s he turned towards more realistic projects like housing programmes, some of them being a residential building project in Rotterdam (1980 1982) and public housing in Amsterdam (1983). By 1987 Rem Koolhaas had the commission to design the Kunsthal museum in Rotterdam, Netherlands which was the first large project by OMA to be built. Kunsthal Museum is located in Rotterdam, Netherlands and lies between the citys Museum Park and the busy highway Maasboulevard creating a division to the site which Koolhaas used to shape architectural design accordingly. The building contains three large exhibition halls (3300 square meters) on three different levels that can be used jointly or independently, two gallery spaces, a design gallery and a photo-gallery, a large auditorium, a bookshop, a VIP room and an independently accessible restaurant cafe. The museum is not only an exhibition building but also acts as a traffic intersection as well. The south facade of the building faces the main artery of the city, a busy highway which is built on top of a dyke and is connected through the building with the north side where the museum park takes place. In the perimeter of the museum park there are located 4 other museums among them the Netherlands Architecture Institute and the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen. Rem Koolhaas is using the surrounding features of the site to contrasts the two sides of the building, the quiet, green park and the busy and noisy highway, and uses Kunsthal museum as a bridge that connects the urban and the natural landscapes. The main idea behind the buildings design was that of a square crossed by two routes. One of those routes is a public pedestrian ramp linking the north and south sides of the museum and a road, parallel to the highway, running east west. Those routes would divide the square into four autonomous parts that would be joined by an axis of movement. The challenge for Rem Koolhaas and his partners was to design a museum- building as four different, autonomous projects, a feature that is used before in the Seattle City Library (2004) where Koolhaas designed the building as several different parts connected by a spiral route. From that challenge the concept of the building was a continuous circuit through the spaces. The concept idea was achieved by the use of ramps running through the interior, connecting the different levels and divides the functional areas. The ramps are connecting the interior spaces on different levels but at the same time the floor slopes and ramps are traversing the structure as the several parts of the building are piled on top of each other. Circulation is an important element of Rem Koolhaas architecture and as he stated: The movement changes the architecture.  [1]   Appendix: 1 Sections of the building showing the floor slopes created by the ramps. One of the ramps that divides the structure is the public, pedestrian ramp that runs from the highway level of the north facade to the access road at the lower level of the museum park. A glass wall separates the public path from the interior exhibition space that creates a connection between interior exterior spaces. Another passage through the Kunsthal Museum is an access road that runs Appendix: 2 Exterior public ramp glass wall beneath the building. A second; interior ramp runs parallel but reversed and crosses the pedestrian ramp. The entrance of the museum is defined when the two ramps meet. The interior ramp at the entrance of the building leads to the ground level into the Exhibition Hall One that faces out to the museum park. Rem Koolhaas used tree columns scattered on the interior to refer to the exterior view. At the end of Hall one a ramp leads to Hall two that faces out towards the urban landscape. Through Hall two a path leads either back to the entrance or leads up a different ramp to a roof garden but halfway up the visitor faces Hall three. This complex spatial circulation creates a unique experience through spaces with the use of different contemporary lighting systems and materials for each of the paths, ramps and spaces through the museum. Koolhaas is also using this technique in order to divide the private and public areas but also to create a unique relationship between interior and exterior. Appendix: 3 Lighting systems through spaces Appendix: 4 Roof Lighting systems Circulation is the main idea behind Kunsthal museum and as Rem Koolhaas stated for the MOMA expansion project: It is evident that circulation is what makes or breaks public architecture.   [2]   In the Kunsthal museum ramps are used as connectors but also are used to move the viewer from one space (gallery) to the next in order to experience the journey between spaces. Rem Koolhaas attempt to contain in Kunsthal, but also in some other projects, a complex spiral shape movement within a square which refers back to Wrights Guggenheim Museum with the circular circulation, the unbuilt endless museum project by Le Corbusier and the pinwheel plan of early villas by Mies Van Der Rohe. Rem Koolhaas has used the spiral circulation within a rectangular volume in several projects like the 1989 design for the French National Library in Paris. Many of Kunsthal design elements were used in the famous Seattle city library 10 years later, like the use of ramped spiral circulation, diverting public routes through the building, translucency and transparency. In order to create a contrast between interior and exterior spaces but also private and public areas, Rem Koolhaas used a various collection of contrasting materials, cheap and expensive, elegant and banal. The use of inexpensive, everyday materials is another element of Rem Koolhaas architecture that is contained in Kunsthal Museum. The architect stated that: Architecture is always the encounter of vision and circumstance. The Dutch dont believe in spending a lot of money on buildings so theres no choice but to build with really cheap materials.  [3]   He created a collage of materials, with Miesian aesthetics, on the exterior of the building which reflects the Mies Van der Rohes National Gallery in Berlin but in a deconstructed adaptation marked with contemporary elements and a contrast of fine marble and glass with raw materials. For Kunsthal museum Koolhaas used a collection of different materials like steel, glass, stone cladding, concrete, translucent corrugated iron sheets and plywood. This differentiation of materials had as a result the fragmentation of the facades and each side of the building is completely different. The architect used heavy, solid materials where the interior spaces had to be kept private and the use of glass gave a feeling of openness and a link between exterior-interior. With the use of glass he also achieved to open the exterior facades in order to show to the public the interior spaces without giving a clear image of whats really happening behind the walls. Appendix: 5 East Facade of the museum Appendix: 6 North West Facades of the museum The complexity and uniqueness of the building but also the detailing that Rem Koolhaas added to the Kunsthal museum is revealed not only through the exterior and interior architectural details but also through the structure of the building. Kunsthal museum, unlike most of the buildings, especially that time, embraces many options that create a varied spatial experience that make the concept and the building itself, stronger. The design of the structure for Kunsthal reveals the relationship between architectural intent, rationality and structure. Many elements were embedded in the structural system in order to create a unique structural system in each area of the building. There is a distortion of the structural grid and it is visible in the interior, in each hall the columns were placed diagonal in plan. Appendix: 7 Architectural and structural plans of the museum. In Hall one there are two rows of columns slipping past each other but in Hall two there is a complete free span space. The Auditorium has also a different structural system with slanted columns and the pedestrians ramps- path is being designed as a double cantilever with columns running across, diagonal in plan. The irrational structural system that is used in Kunsthal museum is exposed on the exterior of the museum at the main entrance, leaving a taste of what is to come on the interior for visitors. Next to the entrance there are four different columns very closed to each, one H column, one reinforced concrete column, one castellated and one cylindrical column. The unique structural systems used in the Kunsthal, the cheap exposed materials, the fragmentation of the facades by different materials, the use of a complex circulation, the extensive detailing throughout the building but also some functional problems that came to the surface after the opening of the museum in 1992, set Kunsthal as the pace for a lot of criticism about Rem Koolhaas and his architecture. Rem Koolhaas stated at one of his interviews for his book S.M.L.XL that: I was also interested in showing the implications of failure showing both the calculations and the miscalculations of projects.  [4]  Kunsthal museum is a great example of many architectural elements that Koolhaas wrote about and used at many of his later projects, but some failures was found in some of the detailing of the building after the opening in 1992. Problems associated with the building were indicated by many of its visitors. Some of the comments made by the visitors stated that the entrance of the building was not exactly obvious so later on a lighting arrow indicating the door was placed outside the entrance. Other problems associated to the building were some of the narrow corridors and metal grid flooring used in one of the exhibition halls that caused several drawbacks to the function of the building and created a lot of criticism for the architecture of the museum. Appendix: 8 Entrance of the museum Conclusion Alli mia paragraph g tin simantikotita p ennan to conclusion se 2 Perhaps its because Koolhaas is not wedded to any one style that he finds McArchitecture easy to digest. Unlike the work of Peter Eisenman or Gehry, a Koolhaas building isnt easily identifiable. In some ways I consider that a compliment, says Koolhaas. You work in so many conditions that it would be artificial and unreal if your work did not become very different too. Bibliography: Balmond, C. (2007) Informal, Prestel Publishing. Baumeister,R. Lee,S.(2007)The Domestic and the Foreign in Architecture, Rotterdam, 010 Publishers. Egeraat, E. Jodidio,P. Richters, C.(2005) 10 years, realized work, Australia, The images Publising Group. Graafland, A. Graafland, A.(2000) The socius of architecture: Amsterdam, Tokyo, New York. Rotterdam, 010 Publishers. Groenendijk, P. Vollaard, P. (2004) Guide to Contemporary Architecture in the Netherlands, Rotterdam, Uitgeverij 010 Publishers. Koolhaas, R. Mau, B. (1995) S.M.L.XL, New York, Monacelli Press. Koolhaas, R. (1996) Rem Koolhaas : Conversations with Students, New York, Princeton Architectural Press. Koolhaas, R.( 1994) Delirious New York: A retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan, New York, Monacelli Press. Naredi-Rainer, P. Hilger, O. (2004) Museum buildings: a design manual, Switzerland, Publishers for architecture. Storrie, C.(2006) The Delirious Museum: A Journey from the Louvre to Las Vegas, New York, I.B. Tauris Co Ltd. Waldheim, C.(2006)The landscape urbanism reader,New York, Princeton Architectural Press. http://architectuul.com/architect/rem-koolhaas http://www.notablebiographies.com/news/Ge-La/Koolhaas-Rem.html http://www.ribajournal.com/blog/comments/rotterdam_kunsthal/ Appendixes:

Prenatal Screening :: essays research papers

Prenatal screening Screening for Down syndrome is available to about 53.5% of mothers on a maternal age basis, and the remaining 46.5% of health boards provide serum screening for all ages. There are several methods used in prenatal screening, these are usually used separately, and a number of factors are taken into account to determine which method should be used. Amniocentesis has been around for 20 years and is probably the most well known screening method. It involves testing a sample of the amniotic fluid surrounding the foetus, ultrasound is used to guide a needle through the abdomen, into the womb and a small amount of amniotic fluid (20ml) is removed. The procedure is usually carried out at 14-16 weeks. Amniocentesis tests for chromosome disorders, and is 99.8% reliable for chromosome number, there is however a risk of miscarriage (usually 1/250 or less) after the procedure. This is one of the reasons why amniocentesis has only been offered to over 35's (since they have a much higher risk of having a Down syndrome child)(Webb 1990). Previous studies on amniocentesis concentrated on problems that might arise during pregnancy or immediately after, these studies found that children whose mothers had amniocentesis are more likely to have breathing problems in the first few days after birth. A study performed by Jo-Anne Finegan in Toronto followed 88 women who had, had amniocentesis, there was an increased incidence of ear infection in this group. Finegan tested the stiffness of the eardrum and found children in the amniocentesis group were more than three times as likely to have abnormal readings. It is thought that there is a disruption of the delicate balance of pressure across the eardrum when the amniotic fluid is removed, which could cause the problems(Webb 1990). Chorionic villus sampling is another form of sampling, it involves taking a small piece of placenta and genetic testing is carried out on it, there is a slightly higher chance of foetal loss with this procedure (Dick 1996). A more recent form of prenatal testing involves serum markers. Blood is taken from the pregnant women and the maternal blood is tested for three hormones, this test is called the 'triple screen' test. The three hormones tested are alpha foeto-protein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and oestradiol (E3). AFP is based on the fact that Down syndrome foetuses tend to be smaller on average, have smaller placentas and thus secrete less AFP.

Referring to Iago’s soliloquy at the end of Act I scene III, examine what Shakespeare shows the audience about his character

Iago is one of the central characters within Shakespeare's ‘Othello' and is introduced extremely early in the play, Act I scene I. It is generally assumed from even this early in the play that Iago is cunning, plotting man as he converses with Rodrigo. Throughout the centuries the common opinion on Iago is that he is an insidious, misogynistic, materialistic, dissimulating character, among other things. Few critics have spoken in appraisal of Iago's character and actions. In act I scene III, Iago ends the scene with his first soliloquy. Soliloquies generally reveal a lot about a person's character to the audience, but this is the first time the audience gets a taste of his thoughts. He begins by discussing Rodrigo: ‘My fool my purse' This is particularly dissimulating as he had just been talking to Rodrigo, planning how to match make him with Desdemona. This is a running theme, Iago's manipulating, and two-faced dealings. This links with: ‘That thinks men honest that but seem to be so' As Rodrigo is not the only character in the play that falls for Iago's deceptions. The next part of the soliloquy that reveals a lot about Iago's character is his admittance to using Rodrigo for his own benefits: ‘But for my own sport and profit' Iago can use Rodrigo using his manipulative powers of speech, he deceives Rodrigo to gain money off him and use it for his own needs rather then on the task it was intended for. By referring to this task as a ‘sport' it also implies that Iago receives some pleasure from deceiving people, that he finds this fun and does this for his own fun. The audience is left doubting his character and feels sympathetic for the other characters involved in Iago's deception. Iago then reveals a possible motive for his inexcusable behavior: ‘that ‘twixt my sheets' Iago thought that at some point Othello had cuckolded him, led Emilia astray from their marital bed. Iago displayed the same reaction that most men would, and so felt betrayed and angry, although he did not know for sure that the act occurred. This is a good argument against Coleridge's critical comment on his actions. He described his actions as: ‘Motiveless malignity'. This does appear to be the case, to a certain extent. Especially for a modern day audience, we find it harder to accept that Iago would become so nasty to people so close to him, but to an Elizabethan audience it would be more believable without any motive behind him. This part of the speech may not excuse his behavior for the rest of the play, but it is a starting point, it gives the audience something to relate to, to begin to justify his actions. ‘Cassio is a proper man' with this sense of the word, proper means handsome rather then suitable. This appears to be a compliment to Cassio, but again Iago is using him for his own means. Iago can use Cassio's good looks and status in society to create the allusion of an affair with Desdemona. Othello only becomes jealous because there is something to be jealous of, if Cassio was not handsome and admirable Iago would have nothing to create the jealousy from. This is yet another example of Iago using people close to him to gain what he wants. Iago appears to be a character that is trusted, by almost everyone other than Desdemona. She comes across as more suspicious character, as she questions Iago rather then just falling for every word he says. Iago knows that his fellow soldiers and people in society trust him, yet another way in which he can use manipulation as there is grounds for him to manipulate. This is shown when he says: ‘The Moor is of a free and open nature, That thinks men honest that but seem to be so' Iago actually admits to his deceitful nature, and ridicules Othello for being so trusting. This is the entire base for the play; if Iago weren't so â€Å"trustworthy† then Othello would have no reason to believe his accusations of Desdemona. It is this perception that makes the play possible. Othello is Iago's general; therefore he should be respected, and not ridiculed, which he is in this soliloquy: ‘As asses are'. It is disrespectful for Iago to be referring to his general as a fool, whether he is a Blackamoor or not. This shows that Iago is not a decent character; he does not even have the decency to respect his general, let alone other aspects of his character. Towards the end of the soliloquy, Iago refers to: ‘Hell and night' Which would have been a lot more relevant to an Elizabethan audience as it represents the devil and malicious behavior. It is ironic that he uses devilish language, as he is associated with the devil due to his evil character. To emphasize this point, he also says: ‘Monstrous birth to the world's light'. This also would have had a greater impact on an Elizabethan audience, and this is only the beginning of the devilish language used by Iago. It was said by William Turnbull that: ‘Iago is an unbeliever in, and a denier of, all things spiritual, who only acknowledges God, like Satan, to defy him'. (Othello: A Critical Study, 269) This is proved throughout the play by constant references to the devil, night, dark and Iago's actual behavior and attitude to situations. Finally, this soliloquy shows a great deal in its length. Within twenty-two lines, Iago has explained his actions, had no plan and conceived a plan and becomes anxious to begin. This shows his ability to improvise quickly and leaves the audience wondering how often he uses this ability, when he was with Rodrigo? Othello? Cassio? To conclude, Shakespeare uses this particular soliloquy to allow the audience to see what we believe to be Iago's true personality. We learn that he is definitely dissimulating, manipulative, deceitful, and disrespectful, a slanderer and cunning. Before this the audience could only speculate on this and the remainder of his personality as he shows different sides to different people, he has been referred to as ‘an onion' and ‘Janus, the Roman god' because of his multiple personalities.

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Liberias Iron Lady

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Liberias Iron Lady Ellen Johnson was born on  October  29, 1938, in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, amongst the descendants of original colonists of Liberia (ex-African slaves from America, who promptly on arrival set about enslaving the indigenous people using the social system of their old American masters as a basis for their new society). These descendants are known in Liberia as Americo-Liberians. Causes of Liberias Civil Conflict The social inequalities between indigenous Liberians and the Americo-Liberians have lead to much of the political and social strife in the country, as leadership bounced between dictators representing opposing groups (Samuel Doe replacing William Tolbert, Charles Taylor replacing Samuel Doe). Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf rejects the suggestion that she is one of the elite: If such a class existed, it has been obliterated over the last few years from intermarriages and social integration. Gaining an Education From 1948 to 55 Ellen Johnson studied accounts and economics at the College of West Africa in Monrovia. After marriage at the age of 17 to James Sirleaf, she traveled to America (in 1961) and continued her studies, achieving a degree from the University of Colorado. From 1969 to 71 she read economics at Harvard, gaining a masters degree in public administration. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf then returned to Liberia and began working in William Tolberts (True Whig Party) government. A Start in Politics Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf served as Minister of Finance from 1972 to 73 but left after a disagreement over public spending. As the 70s progressed, life under Liberias one-party state became more polarised- to the benefit of the Americo-Liberian elite. On April 12, 1980, Master Sergeant Samuel Kayon Doe, a member of the indigenous Krahn ethnic group, seized power in a military coup and President William Tolbert was executed along with several members of his cabinet by firing squad. Life under Samuel Doe With the Peoples Redemption Council now in power, Samuel Doe began a purge of government. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf narrowly escaped- choosing exile in Kenya. From 1983 to 85 she served as Director of Citibank in Nairobi, but when Samuel Doe declared himself president of the Republic in 1984 and unbanned political parties, she decided to return. During the 1985 elections, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf campaigned against Doe and was placed under house arrest. An Economists Life in Exile Sentenced to ten years in prison, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf spent just a short time incarcerated, before being allowed to leave the country once again as an exile. During the 1980s she served as Vice President of both the African Regional Office of Citibank, in Nairobi, and of (HSCB) Equator Bank, in Washington. Back in Liberia civil unrest erupted once more. On 9 September 1990, Samuel Doe was killed by a splinter group from Charles Taylors National Patriotic Front of Liberia. A New Regime From 1992 to 97 Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf worked as Assistant Administrator, and then Director, of the UN Development Program Regional Bureau for Africa (essentially an Assistant Secretary-General of the UN). Meanwhile, in Liberia, an interim government was put in power, led by a succession of four un-elected officials (the last of whom, Ruth Sando Perry, was Africas first female leader). By 1996 the presence of West African peacekeepers created a lull in the civil war, and elections were held. A First Attempt at the Presidency Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf returned to Liberia in 1997 to contest the election. She came second to Charles Taylor (gaining 10% of the vote compared to his 75%) out of a field of 14 candidates. The election was declared free and fair by international observers. (Johnson-Sirleaf campaigned against Taylor and was charged with treason.) By 1999 civil war had returned to Liberia, and Taylor was accused of interfering with his neighbors, fomenting unrest and rebellion. A New Hope from Liberia On 11 August 2003, after much persuasion, Charles Taylor handed power over to his deputy Moses Blah. The new interim government and rebel groups signed an historic peace accord and set about installing a new head of state. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was proposed as a possible candidate, but in the end, the diverse groups selected Charles Gyude Bryant, a political neutral. Johnson-Sirleaf served as head of the Governance Reform Commission. Liberias 2005 Election Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf played an active role in the transitional government as the country prepared for the 2005 elections and eventually stood for president against her rival the ex-international footballer, George Manneh Weah. Despite the elections being called fair and orderly, Weah repudiated the result, which gave a majority to Johnson-Sirleaf, and the announcement of Liberias new president was postponed, pending an investigation. On  November 23, 2005, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was declared the winner of the Liberian election and confirmed as the countrys next president. Her inauguration, attended by the likes of US First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, took place on Monday, January 16, 2006.Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the divorced mother of four boys and grandmother to six children, is Liberias first elected female president, as well as the first elected female leader on the continent.

Delinquent Daughters Summary essays

Delinquent Daughters Summary essays Delinquent Daughters Summary Delinquent Daughters by Mary E. Odem touches on many topics involving women residing in the U.S. from 1885 to 1920. Not only does the book raise issues about women as a whole, but also it breaks the women into a more realistic view. Womens age, race, religion, ethnicity and immigrant status, social class, and complex of morals are all used as means of classifying women for analyzing their sexual behavior. To start with there is the issue of statutory rape and what the legal age limit shall be set at. Not only are the middle class women groups seen as organizing ways to protect women they are also seen in terms of protecting only white girls through the passage of their laws. This is seen by the African American women having to form their own organizations in order to insure the morality of the young African American females, and by being denied real help when requesting help against the white male to protect the decency of their young females and help in response to lynching. The classes of girls being evaluated were also seen. For instance, reasoning was given as to why working class girls became sexually active. Like for marriage or rebellion. The female being looked at as helpless and taken advantage of was not shown in an exaggerated light. There were women who made the choice to become involved in sexual situations. ...

Tesco in India Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Tesco in India - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that India is amongst the largest countries based on size and population across the world. Its population is more than 1 billion. There is a wide range of economic, as well as, social classes, religions, cultures, languages, and geographies within India. Therefore, it is important for any business operating in India to meet the wide range of consumers’ needs. The extremely large population reflects the opportunities for global businesses, especially the retail stores to invest within the country. Â  Tesco started its operations in 1929, in Britain. It is the leading food retail chain in the country and the third largest globally. In the 1980s, it was amongst the global retail chains that tried the concept of large supermarkets out-of-town. The company has come up with several innovations since the 1990s, including new store concepts, i.e. Tesco Metro and Tesco Express. Tesco Metro is a city store that serves all the needs of the con sumers. Tesco Express was the petrol station store in the United Kingdom. In 1995, the company introduced a Clubcard, which is a shopping card for its loyal customers. It was the first card of the kind in the United Kingdom. The company launched online selling in 2000, through its website Tesco.com. It started spreading globally in 1994. Currently, more than 50 percent of the company’s space is its international operations. Since 2000, the company has started focusing on non-food items, which, for example, has made it the leading retailer of CDs.

Examine the difficulties involved in making international GDP per head Essay

Examine the difficulties involved in making international GDP per head comparisons - Essay Example Substitute goods share similar type of effect on their demand and price (Sloman, Hinde and Garratt, 2010). For example, some countries use GDP per head while others use Gross National Product (GNP) per head. Within the economics context, both measures are used alternatively. Consequently, it will be very difficult to compare two economies in which one uses GDP per head while other employs GNP per head. Additionally, expenditure sources also hinder the process of carrying out an effective international GDP per head comparison. Many developed countries make expenditure on health, education and technology. On the other hand, developing countries prefer to spend on defence, security and other non-development sectors of economy. As a result, such difference also disallows a reasonable comparison between per head GDP of two international countries. Moreover, cost of living, particularly inflation, also makes it difficult to compare per head GDP of two countries. For example, Norway is known as the most expensive country because the rate of government taxes is considerably higher. On the other hand, small taxes are given in