Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Bill of Rights, 1st Amendment and Internet Hate Speech essays

Bill of Rights, 1st Amendment and Internet Hate Speech essays Hate Speech is an area in modern society that has taken on diverse aspects due to the changing standards of correct social behavior, and the lack of precise legislation dealing with this subject. Recently the most debated topic in this area has been the censorship of Hate speech on the Internet. This topic requires and is provoking serious discussion as the World Wide Web is as yet an unknown entity when it comes to censorship laws and presents due to its intrinsic qualities of anonymity a challenge to law Regulating the Internet deals with such sensitive issues as infringement of human and individual rights. I feel serious new issues have arisen from lack of legislation of the internet and amendment is necessary to this state of affairs. Regulation of certain Internet material is needed to protect the values the Bill of Right and the First Amendment advocate. The American democracy is unique for the determination of its forefathers to protect human rights at all levels of society. The constitution has had to go through many stages of development and amendment but on paper the trend has always been to protect all individuals and the citizens of the United States from the oppression of the state or any other form of authority without due cause' and the process of the law'. The Bill of Rights was formulated in the late 1700's and designed so that the powers of the national government were limited. (Glasser, 1991) Originally consisting of ten amendments several have been added since then. The Bill of Rights was however just the guidelines, and implementation on many of its regulations did not take place unanimously in all states or even until a century later. (Glasser, 1991) The First Amendment states that: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" guaranteeing that the gover...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

The Pros and Cons of Screenplay Competitions

The Pros and Cons of Screenplay Competitions Screenplay competitions have long served as a means for fledgling screenwriters to call attention to their talent, especially if they have little else to draw from in the way of Hollywood relationships. As a former literary manager and screenplay competition judge, I can confidently say that the most skilled storytellers will ultimately get noticed in such settings. However, there are a few thing screenwriters should know before submitting. First, not all competitions are created equal. In fact, only a small handful will truly mean anything when it comes to advancing your career, and even then, only if you place in at least the top 10 percent. So, what competitions are worth your hard-earned 50 bucks? Below is a list of what I believe are the top 10 screenplay competitions today based on credibility and access they provide to the industry: 1.  Ã‚     Academy Nicholl Fellowship oscars.org/nicholl 2.  Ã‚     Sundance Screenwriters Lab sundance.org/programs/feature-film#labs 3.  Ã‚     Final Draft Big Break Contest https://store.finaldraft.com/big-break-contest.html 4.  Ã‚     TrackingB trackingb.com/contests/?contest_id=36 5.  Ã‚     Launch Pad https://www.tblaunchpad.com/ 6.  Ã‚     Slamdance http://showcase.slamdance.com/Screenplay-Competition 7.  Ã‚     Scriptapalooza scriptapalooza.com/home.php 8.  Ã‚     PAGE International https://pageawards.com/ 9.  Ã‚     BlueCat bluecatscreenplay.com/ 10.  Ã‚     Austin Film Festival https://austinfilmfestival.com/submit/screenplay-and-teleplay-submissions-2/ What makes these competitions so widely trusted compared to others in the marketplace is their long history of rewarding quality writing and the high caliber of judges they hire – many of whom are respectable producers or managers. This translates to greater industry access for top finishers in addition to generous cash and other prizes. Several of these competitions, such as Slamdance and BlueCat, also provide written feedback to all entrants; so even if you don’t place, you get some constructive criticism that can be used to better your material for the next one. Another key takeaway: it means more to do well in one or two highly respected competitions like the Nicholl or Sundance than to do well in dozens of lesser-known competitions. Industry types are more apt to trust the informed opinion of a few accredited peers than a bevy of unknowns. Furthermore, entry fees for preeminent competitions aren’t higher on average than less notable ones, meaning you’re spending less and getting more value for your dollar So then, what scripts typically do best in competition? Readability is key. Proper formatting, spelling and grammar alone will elevate your material above half the submissions. After that, the focus is on craftsmanship. A coherent three-act story structure coupled with compelling characters, clever plotlines and crisp dialogue will catapult you to the quarter- or even semi-finalist stage. Reaching this level is all but guaranteed to generate reader requests and perhaps even some phone calls from interested parties. However, the screenplays that advance to the finalist level and beyond – the ones that get you in-person meetings – often have one very special, very ironic ingredient: they boast unfamiliar ideas and storylines that may not be marketable enough to get the film made. Numerous colleagues of mine, from Nicholl judges to professional script consultants, have confirmed as much. Essentially, there’s a disconnect between scripts that place highly in competitions and those that get produced because competitions look at creative writing skill over marketability and reward highly original ideas that eschew the very market trends and genre conventions production companies seek. Bottom line, screenplays that win competitions are less likely to get made than they are to serve as calling cards for agents, managers and producers who want talented writers-for-hire. While it may not be the path you planned, it’s still a step toward becoming a professional screenwriter. And a very viable one for those with real talent.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

TMA 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

TMA 1 - Essay Example One of the internal factors that affect the overall culture of the organization is leadership. The vice chancellor, being the chief executive officer and the deputy manager, plays a very important role in influencing culture in the college. For instance, the changes that come about by the beginning of the year were much influenced by the leaders of the college. Some of the lecturers and students were not involved in this and, as a result, required to leave. Communication is the other factor that influences culture in the Skyline College. The communication between the workers and the management has a major role in keeping the culture of the college. For example, the recent changes effected in the university were rejected by part of the workforce and the students’ body. Most of their ideas and grievances were ignored and, as a result, some of the lecturers ended up quitting while a small number of students opted to transfer to other schools. The third internal factor that affect s culture in any organization is the structure of the organization. The division of labour in any organization is important in determining culture in any organization (Hodder, 2001). To understand some of the external factors that influence culture in an organization, Pest analysis is necessary. Politics is a major external influence of culture in any organisation. ... This will automatically lead to change in culture. Economy is also a major determinant of any culture. For example, an affluent economy can be able to support technological advancements and other important gears that a poor economy cannot be able to afford. It is also evident that economy will affect the environment of the institution, especially the infrastructure of the institute which is very vital to the organisation culture. Role of leaders at Skyline College The above factors have a major impact on the culture of the organization as a result; there needs to be a person or people to monitor and control this influence. Leaders at Skyline College play a major role in mediating the impact of different factors in the school. First, the vice chancellor of the college is responsible for ensuring that every member of staff performs his/her duty as expected. This ensures that every employee knows the role they play in the various departments and what is expected of them. The vice chance llor also has the responsibility of allocating leadership roles to different workers, lecturers and students, as a result, influencing the way professional duties are carried out in the organisation. The leaders are also responsible for ensuring that there is effective communication in the school (Schein, 2007). For example, the deputy chancellor makes sure that suggestion boxes are emptied every week and read by the administration heads. With this, the vice chancellor is able to know all the issues affecting the college and how they can be worked on. Organization structure is also influenced by the leadership of the university. For example, in the recent changes in the

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Financial assesment - Aviva PLC Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Financial assesment - Aviva PLC - Research Paper Example Firms calculate their cost of equity using several methods, the most popular method being Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). This method assumes that shareholders expect a rate of return equivalent to the risk free rate plus a risk premium, and is expressed as - The current UK T-bill average yield was taken as the risk free rate. The recent T-bill average yield varied from 0.6725% (on Apr 3) to 0.6220% (on Mar 27) as per Financial Times (2009). The extract of the data is given in the Appendix as Exhibit 6-3. The average of these two figures (0.65%) was considered as the risk free rate. FTSE-100 was considered as the indicator of market return. The data range considered was between Jan 1, 2003 to Jan 1, 2009. The compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of FTSE-100 during this period was 2.55%. The relevant FTSE-100 data during this period is given in Table 6-1 of Appendix (Yahoo Finance 2, 2009). It is assumed that this is the rate of return that the market will expect in future. The historical dividend growth rate of Aviva works out to 6.20%. The divided payout details are given in Table 6-2 of Appendix (Aviva, 2009). It is expected that this growth rate will continue in future. A total dividend of 33 pence per share was paid for the year 2008. This amount is expected to be 35.05 pence per share during the year of 2009 using the current dividend growth rate. The share price of Aviva as on January 1, 2009 was 361.84 pence. There is subsThe cost of equity as per this method works out to (0.33 x 1.0620/ 361.84) + 6.20%, i.e., 15.89%. There is substantial difference between the cost of equity calculated using the two methods. Both methods use several assumptions and approximations. Therefore, it was decided to take the arithmetic mean of both these figures for the purpose of calculating the WACC. The arithmetic mean works out to 10.42%. Preference Shares/ Direct Capital Instrument: The Aviva has issued several types of hybrid instruments at different rates of

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Indictment of the United States in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath Essay Example for Free

The Indictment of the United States in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath Essay The Grapes of Wrath is a novel written by John Steinbeck. In the bulk of modern literature, it is consider a masterful epic unmatched in the realm of the written word. The novel centers around a family of workers who are immigrants The Joads. When the novel takes place they are in California attempting to survive the scarce conditions of the depression. Steinbeck monitors and recounts the ups and downs of the family and their experiences in United States. The Grapes of Wrath is an indictment of the United States because much of the plot is Steinbecks commentary on the rampant capitalism which literary sucked the land and the people dry during the 1930s. The story is based on real life excerpts of John Steinbecks field research. The real life conflict was created by greedy business men, and lending institutions which bought up land and employed workers to farm. The majority of these workers were lower class immigrant families that were paid so little that their struggles have often been paralleled to that of slavery which plagued the United States in the 16th and 17th centuries. The old adage was particularly relevant when examining this novel, as the rich get richer, the poor end up dead worked to death. Steinbeck is not casual in his assault of capitalism and it not fearful to express his disgust for the supposed American dream. He has a clear political viewpoint and asserts: the great fact: when property accumulates in too few hands it is taken away. And that companion fact: when a majority of the people are hungry and cold they will take by force what they need. And the little screaming fact that sounds throughout all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed. (333). A major theme developed by Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath is his believe that the survive of the lower class is based on their dedication to family. His approach is a delicate mixture of Marxism and Socialism, both of which promote cooperative living. In the context of the time, Steinbecks beliefs were not just controversial but also dangerous. The United States went through a two periods in which the government hunted after individuals they considered unamerican, the 1920s and the 1950s. This novel was written in the the 1930s. However, Steinbeck intricately weaves a tale of family strife, struggle, and survival, in The Grapes of Wrath, which has become a beloved and honored classic since its publication. Steinbecks depiction of the devastating conditions during the 1930s is historically accurate. In particular, Steinbeck articulately describes what a Dust Bowl actually is and how it was created. He explains that the great plains experienced the greatest droughts ever during the great depression. The Dust Bowl was created due to lack of rain and also the over use of the land. Once pieces of land are over farmed they lose their nutrients and crops will not grow. These areas, once plush with grass and trees became â€Å"virtual deserts. † It was this drought which forced families, hungry and tired, to see out new hope in the west. The west promised folks clean and cheap living, and with access to regular work. Steinbeck describes the Dust Bowl in the following way, â€Å"The wind increased, steady, unbroken gusts. The dusts from the roads fluffed up and spread out and fell on the weeds besides the fields . . .the sky was darkened by the mixing dust, and the wind felt over the earth, loosened the dust, and carried it away. † For the people living in these devastated lands, this was a very accurate account as to what the â€Å"weather† was like for weeks and months. There are two general groups of people at conflict in the novel the rich bosses and the labor force. Steinbeck writes heart wrenching characters of the lower class which are just barely surviving. These workers are victimized by the greedy upper classes, their bodies treated like commodities. The audience can feel nothing but empathy for these immigrant workers who toil the land drawing figures in the dust with bare toes, (10), while the men that own the land [sit] in their cars to talk out of the window, (43), making money on the backs of the poor folk. Steinbeck explains that these capitalists have never done a day of hard work in their life and their only motive in using big earth augers into the ground for soil tests (43) is to squeeze more money from the land they own. Steinbeck is also quick to point out that farmers and these land owners are different. While landowners corrupt the land leaving it near death with their iron penes [and] orgasms set by gears [rape] methodically, [rape] without passion. (50). Whereas the farmer works with the land keeping it healthy. He explains A bank isnt like a man. Or an owner with fifty thousand acres, he isnt like a man either. Thats the monster. (46). Steinbeck does offer an alternate choice to this capitalistic nightmare which is represented by the Weedpatch Camp. This a town in which folks elect their own cops (400), and everyone who lives and works in the town has say about the choices are made. It is within Weedpatch, that all people including immigrant are treated fairly and with kindness. Steinbeck asserts that it is socialism that ensures that there is respect, and equality between all its citizens. It is in Weedpatch that Joads family ends up and while their struggle is not over, at least their victimization is. Steinbeck fully explores the cruel experiences that many migrant workers had to face in the 1930s and continue to face today. Steinbeck accurately and historically portrays the perils which many family has to overcome in the newly capitalistic culture in the United States.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Heart Felt Wedding Speech from the Father of the Bride -- Wedding Toas

Heart Felt Wedding Speech from the Father of the Bride Thank you Ralph for that introduction – I must say that you are looking a great deal better tonight than when I last saw you after Polly’s 21st in the morning at our home. That was not a pretty sight. GENERAL Ladies and Gentlemen I am delighted to welcome you here tonight to celebrate the Marriage of Polly and Justin. I know that many of you have travelled many thousands of Kilometres to be here with us, and I welcome you and thank you for being here. I know Polly and Justin greatly appreciate your presence and your sacrifice. As I look around the room I look and realize what dear friends we have, and I hope you have a really wonderful evening. Although this Marriage has brought us together tonight, I am reminded of what Billy Connelly said of Marriage: â€Å"Marriage is a wonderful invention, but then again so is a bicycle repair kit.† LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS Because this is my speech, I can say whatever I like, and I would like to reflect for a few moments on love and relationships. This day ushers in the beginning of a wonderful new phase in lives of this couple. Perhaps the wisest thing anyone has ever said to me about marriage and love is this: love is a decision. On the surface it sounds a fairly clinical and unromantic assessment, but if you think about it a little deeper you will realize that there is truth in these words. It’s ea... ...on which this whole day has been built. In my life she has made me very happy, and I must take this opportunity to thank her not only for her enduring and mostly patient love, but also for planning and executing such a wonderful day as today. TOAST When I look back over the many wonderful years of my marriage, I envy Polly and Justin as they embark on one of life’s most exciting, and â€Å"interesting† journeys. It is now my very great privilege to propose a toast to my daughter and new son-in-law. Could you all please stand and with all the very best wishes, raise your glasses to Polly and Justin, as we wish them the greatest health and happiness for their future life together. TO POLLY AND JUSTIN!

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

The Cellar Of Doom

Alesha let out a long, heavy sigh. She couldn't believe she was stuck in an old hotel in Lincoln, Maine, USA. It was the Summer Holidays and she had come to America with her mum, dad, and her annoying younger brothers Ashley and Scott, who were six and seven. Scott and Ashley weren't the quiet sort of kids. They tended to excited over anything, and were always hyper. The Miller family were staying at The Stars And Stripes Hotel, which was really old and boring. Alesha would much rather be back at home in England, even it was raining all the time there. Alesha had only been there for two days, and had already taken advantage of the ‘fantastic facilities'. There was the ‘amazing' pool and spa, the ‘fabulous' arcade and the ‘wonderful' multi – sports court. Alesha couldn't see what was so fantastic about a dirty pool, an out-of-order spa, two fruit machines and a large pitch of mud with a few goalposts. It was going to be a very long and boring two weeks. She had been out ‘exploring' the creepy, old hotel trying to find some kids around her age. Alesha was 14, so it was quite easy really, as there were loads of fed up teenagers staying at the old place. â€Å"Alesha, we're going out!† her mum called. â€Å"Cool, lets go to Detroit, or Hollywood, or†¦.† â€Å"No, I mean me and your father are going for a meal. We're going to find a place to eat. OK?† â€Å"What?† Alesha protested. â€Å"That's not fair. You mean me, Ash and Scott have gotta stay here?† â€Å"That's right. We'll be only be gone for about three hours. We are not going far, we are still staying in Lincoln, don't worry!† â€Å"But mum†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No buts, OK? Now, be good.† Alesha sat on the fraying green couch, and looked around the dreary brown and yellow room. ‘The colours in here are awful. They so don't match!' she thought. She picked up her magazine and started to read the article about her favourite rapper, Eminem. She glanced at the clock. Her parents had only been gone for ten minutes. She heard a loud banging noise. â€Å"Ashley, Scott, please SHUT UP! Stop that banging NOW!† she shouted. â€Å"Alesha, it wasn't us!† Scott called. â€Å"Whatever! Now, just shut up!† She flicked on the old television and picked up the dusty remote control. The room hadn't been cleaned for ages. The floor had cigarette stains all over it, and as for the curtains, there was no point in having them there, because they were so ripped and frayed, they were almost non – existent. The banging noise was really annoying her now, and she yelled at her brothers to shut up, but they denied making the banging sound. She threw down her magazine and started to watch the TV. There was an image of a man building a brick wall in what looked a cellar. There was also a middle-aged lady with him. She looked really bewildered. Then the man turned to her and started beating the lady with a shovel. Boring! Alesha pressed the CHANNEL UP button. ‘Wonder how to get TRL on this thing?' Alesha wondered. The same image was on the screen. What? Alesha pushed down hard on the control. Maybe the button had got jammed. Now the woman was crying out in pain, and blood was staining her pale blue dress. She was screaming STOP! STOP! But the man obviously had no feelings, for he kept beating her, his shovel bright red, his face with an evil grin, his grey eyes frostily staring at the frightened woman, and the horror on the woman's face. Alesha was horrified, and pushed the button again. By now the woman was dead, and the TV still wasn't working properly. Alesha watched as the man started digging a hole, maybe a grave, in this thing that looked like a fireplace, but filled with soil and coal. Then Alesha heard a banging, and she wasn't sure whether it was on the TV or the same one as she had heard before. Alesha was really frightened, but she was almost glued to the screen. She wasn't sure what it was, but it was like there was a special force, keeping her transfixed to the terrifying images. She tried to pull away, but she couldn't. She watched as the evil man kicked the dead body into the make – shift grave. After a while, the man had covered the woman with soil and coal. He carried on building the wall. Alesha had snapped out of her trance, and tried the same button again. But when she pushed the button, nothing happened. What was going on? Maybe the remote wasn't working properly. That was why the sick program wouldn't go away. She stood up, and kept hearing continuous banging. Maybe it was next door or something. She was getting quite scared now. She realised that it was 6:30 pm, and that her parents had been gone for an hour. She couldn't bear to be alone now, so she called to her brothers. She turned the TV off. â€Å"Oi, come ‘ere, now!† she called out, agitated. When they didn't answer, she went to investigate. She realised that they were asleep in their beds. ‘Typical. Asleep at 6:30! Lazybones!' she thought. ‘Well, they must be quite tired after the football this morning.' Then there was a knock at the door. Thinking it was her parents, Alesha hastily opened it. â€Å"Hi!† said a voice. She saw it was her new friends that she had met in the pool yesterday. â€Å"Hi Marshall, hi Justin, hi Mel!† Alesha cried. Marshall was from Detroit, Justin was from California and Mel was from England. They were bored too. â€Å"Wanna come out with us? We are sooooo bored, and we're jus' wondering whether you wanna come and jus' like wander around here.† Justin said. â€Å"I can't, I gotta look after my brothers.† She replied. â€Å"Go on!† Mel pleaded. â€Å"Well, only quickly. Scott and Ash are asleep anyway.† Alesha stepped out with her friends, and realised that she had about two hours before her parents got back. â€Å"So where we goin'?† Alesha asked. â€Å"Dunno!† Mel replied. They walked around, and found a set of stairs leading downwards. Alesha had forgotten about the TV incident, because she was happy that she wasn't alone anymore. There was a NO ENTRY sign on the door. Alesha's phone beeped. It was a text message. It said: HI ALESHA HOPE U R LOOKIN AFTA UR BRUVZ. WE MIGHT BE BAK L8R, MAYB @ 9:30. HOPE U R OK. IF U GET WORRIED JUS CALL US. C U L8R MUM N DAD XX : ) Alesha felt a bit guilty leaving her brothers alone now, but pleased she was out of the boring, stuffy hotel room. Marshall turned the NO ENTRY sign over so that it looked like a blank piece of card. They followed the stairs down, and realised that it was a cellar. It was pitch black. Alesha heard a very familiar noise. â€Å"Uh†¦.is there a light in ‘ere?† Mel asked. â€Å"Hey, guys, y'hear that?† Alesha questioned, totally ignoring Mel. â€Å"What, the banging? Yeah, I think†¦.† Justin said. â€Å"SHHH!† she whispered. Sure enough, there was a banging coming from somewhere in the room. Marshall searched the wall with his hands to find a light switch. He found one, and flicked the switch on. BANG! BANG! â€Å"Marshall†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Mel said. The banging got louder. â€Å"It's nothing, OK guys? Leave it. We're fine! Hey†¦.Look, a video camera! Its one of them ones that came out about five years ago, you know, a pocket one! They are worth loads!† Justin shouted with excitement. He went over to examine it. It was about 10cm in height and 5cm in width. Justin had seen it hidden in a small hole in the wall. It was plugged in though, as if someone had connected it to something. Alesha noticed that something had been boarded up. â€Å"Hey, check this out, I wonder what's behind this?† â€Å"Er, probably nothin' interestin'† Marshall answered. He started to kick the board down, with Justin still examining the video camera. Mel and Alesha just stood there talking. Once Marshall kicked the down the board, there was a wall which was about 2 metres high. â€Å"Hey, look over here!† he cried with excitement. â€Å"What it is?† Mel asked. â€Å"Dunno. I'm gonna climb over it and see what it's hiding.† He started to clamber over it, but the wall obviously hadn't been built properly, because it collapsed almost straight away. Marshall tumbled to the floor, and realised he had landed right next to something that made him feel quite sick†¦ â€Å"Ugh, Justin, it's a skeleton! How did it get down here?† Justin screamed. â€Å"OH MY GOD!† Mel cried when she saw it. â€Å"Cool†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Marshall marvelled. â€Å"Yuk! What we gonna do?† Alesha shouted out. Then Alesha remembered the video. â€Å"Justin†¦.† she called out. She ran over to the video camera. It was true. The video camera was connected to a TV somewhere in the hotel. Her TV. The shocking images that she had been watching earlier had actually happened. She explained to the others what she had seen earlier. But how could the banging be explained? Once Justin had gone to reception to find somebody, the once isolated room was filled with police, hotel staff and detectives. The police questioned the kids. Mel thought they would get told off for entering the cellar without permission! They didn't though. Although Alesha got told off for leaving Ashley and Scott on their own, she didn't really mind because it had been an adventure for her. Months the woman was named as Ann McKenzie. The police confirmed that Alesha's story was true. What had happened was that years ago, Ann knew that her fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ would kill her, because he was so violent, and every time she left him, he would hunt her down and beat her up. Every year they came to Maine, to The Stars And Stripes Hotel, and he kept dropping hints about death and that he would kill her once they were in Maine. Because they were from California, he thought that he wouldn't be caught because of the distance. She had no escape. So she invested in a mini camera so that he could be caught. Ann cleverly connected the camera to a TV, which happened to be in Alesha's room. Since the hotel had been closed for the last three years due to health and safety reasons (Alesha wondered what it was like before the inspections), nobody would have noticed. Then Ann's fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ (later named as Daniel Durst) beat her to death and sealed up her body up in the fireplace. Because the camera was a mini one, Daniel didn't notice it. Ann was removed from the Missing Persons list, and because Daniel's face was seen on the camera, the police caught him, and gave him a life imprisonment. The kids were given medals because they were quite brave. Alesha wasn't sure, but she had a funny feeling the banging noise was the ghost of Ann McKenzie, trying to get the attention of holiday – makers, so that everything would be discovered, and her fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ would be put to justice. After Alesha's holiday had finished, she kept in touch with the other kids. Maybe the holiday wasn't so bad after all!

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Love is stronger than hate Essay

Nobody who has either heard or seen the tale of â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† can deny that two of the strongest themes found within it are love and hate – in many different forms. Even in the beginning of the play, this is made known to the audience, primarily by the lines, â€Å"From forth the fated loins of these two foes, A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life† (Prologue). This clearly shows both the hatred and love which can be found, but is not the only example. â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† not only has the love between the two main characters, but the brotherly love and sinister hatred between many others. It is harder to say whether love or hate is more prominent in â€Å"Romeo and Juliet†, but love plays an extremely important role – especially when the two lovers meet for the first time. Right away, Romeo is awestruck at Juliet’s beauty, proclaiming, â€Å"Did my heart love til now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night!† (I.v). Although he claims to be ‘in love’ with Rosaline, he becomes a victim of falling ‘in love at first sight’. This love is certainly not unrequited love though – although Juliet did not even know his name, she still asks, â€Å"Go ask his name. If he be married, my grave is to be like my wedding bed† (I.v). Clearly, she is already so much in love that she shall ‘die from grief’ if she finds out Romeo is already married. Although Romeo is in love with Juliet so much that he refuses to fight his one-time enemy, the murder of a close friend (whether accidental or not) forces a violent reaction out of him. When originally ‘taunted’ by Tybalt, he refuses to fight, saying, â€Å"I do protest I have never injured thee, but love thee better than thou canst devise†¦And so, good Capulet†¦be satisfied† (III.i). He further continues in this way, by saying, â€Å"Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up† (III.i). However, Tybalt does not listen to reason, as was proven earlier on by his stating, â€Å"Peace? I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee† (I.i). Onlookers to the fight cannot deny, although Romeo starts off with no intention to fight, he turns violent at the slaying of Mercutio. Challenging Tybalt, he shouts, â€Å"Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him† (III.i). It is at this point that both the hatred for Tybalt, and his love for Mercutio, overpower him, resulting in the murder of Tybalt. The constant feuding the Montagues and the Capulets is well known to the citizens of Verona – it is a common practice. In street fights, even the heads of the houses cannot stay out of it, with Capulet demanding, â€Å"My sword, I say! Old Montague is come† (I.i). These fights force the Prince to step in, telling them it has to stop and stating, â€Å"Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word by thee, Old Capulet and Montague† (I.i). Even the citizens of Verona are aware of the fact that the feuding is on-going. This is one of the major examples of the hatred that is present throughout the play. It is a wonder that Romeo and Juliet were able to overcome this hate, but both were able to accomplish it. Juliet, in one of the most famous scenes from the play, says, â€Å"Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet† (II.ii). She then goes on to say, â€Å"‘Tis but thy name which is my enemy†¦What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called† (II.ii). Juliet is asking herself about the differences between the Capulets and the Montagues, and saying that it does not matter about their backgrounds. All that matters is their love for each other. It is their love for each other, certainly, which makes the two lovers kill themselves. It is a much harder thing to kill yourself than to kill others – killing yourself make sit final, whereas killing others, while still hard, is slightly easier, as they have motivations, and sometimes also hatred for the person. The death of Mercutio, and in turn the death of Tybalt is an example of that, where Romeo states in anger, â€Å"Alive and triumph, and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven respective lenity, And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now† (III.i). However, both Romeo and Juliet killed themselves due to the strong love they both felt for each other. Overall, it is hard to say which is the stronger emotion – love or hate. Personally, I believe that love is stronger than hate, but it is really a matter of opinion – there is evidence to support both sides all throughout the play. One of the main things supporting that love is stronger than hate  is Juliet’s reaction at finding out who Romeo is. She says to herself, â€Å"My only love, sprung from my only hate! To early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathed enemy† (I.v).

Thursday, November 7, 2019

A Short Definition of Landscape Archaeology

A Short Definition of Landscape Archaeology Landscape archaeology has been defined in a number of ways over the past couple of decades. It is both an archaeological technique and a theoretical construct- a way for archaeologists to look at the past as the integration of people and their surroundings. Born in part as the result of new technologies (geographic information systems, remote sensing, and geophysical surveys have all contributed greatly to this study) landscape archaeological studies have facilitated broad regional studies and the examination of elements not readily visible in traditional studies such as roads and agricultural fields. Although landscape archaeology in its present form is decidedly a modern investigative study, its roots can be found as early as the 18th century antiquarian studies of William Stukely and in the early 20th century with work by the geographer Carl Sauer. World War II impacted the study by making aerial photography more accessible to scholars. Settlement pattern studies created by Julian Steward and Gordon R. Willey in the mid-century influenced later scholars, who collaborated with geographers on such landscape-based studies as central place theory and statistical models of spatial archaeology. Critiques of Landscape Archaeology By the 1970s, the term landscape archaeology came into use and the idea began to take shape. By the 1990s, the post-processual movement was underway and landscape archaeology, in particular, took its lumps. Criticisms suggested that landscape archaeology focused on the geographical features of the landscape but, like much of processual archaeology, left the people out. What was missing was the influence people have on shaping environments and the way both people and environment intersect and affect one another. Other critical objections were with the technologies themselves, that the GIS, satellite imagery, and air photos used to define the landscape were distancing the study from the researchers by privileging the research with the visual aspects of a landscape over other sensual aspects. Looking at a map- even a large scale and detailed one- defines and limits the analysis of a region into a specific data set, allowing researchers to hide behind scientific objectivity and ignore the sensual aspects associated with actually living within a landscape. New Aspects Again, as a result of new technologies, some landscape archaeologists have attempted to build in the sensuality of a landscape and the people who inhabit it using hypertext theories. The impact of the Internet, oddly enough, has led to a broader, non-linear representation of archaeology as a whole, and landscape archaeology in particular. That involves inserting into standard texts such sidebar elements as reconstruction drawings, alternative explanations, oral histories, or imagined events as well as attempts to free the ideas from text-bound strategies by using three-dimensional software-supported reconstructions. These sidebars allow the scholar to continue to present the data in a scholarly manner but reach for a broader interpretive discourse. Of course, following that (explicitly phenomenological) path requires that the scholar apply liberal amounts of imagination. The scholar by definition is based in the modern world and carries with him or her the background and biases of his or her cultural history. With the inclusion of more and more international studies (that is, those that are less dependent on Western scholarship), landscape archaeology has the potential to provide the public with comprehensible presentations of what can otherwise be dry, inaccessible papers. Landscape Archaeology in the 21st Century The science of landscape archaeology today melds theoretical underpinnings from ecology, economic geography, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, and social theory from Marxism to feminism. The social theory portion of landscape archaeology points to the ideas of the landscape as a social construct- that is, the same piece of ground holds different meanings to different people, and that idea should be explored. The dangers and delights of phenomenologically-based landscape archaeology are outlined in an article by MH Johnson in the 2012 Annual Review of Anthropology, which should be read by any scholar working in the field. Sources Ashmore W, and Blackmore C. 2008. Landscape Archaeology. In: Pearsall DM, editor-in-chief. Encyclopedia of Archaeology. New York: Academic Press. p 1569-1578. Fleming A. 2006. Post-processual landscape archaeology: A critique. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 16(3):267-280. Johnson MH. 2012. Phenomenological Approaches in Landscape Archaeology. Annual Review of Anthropology 41(1):269-284. Kvamme KL. 2003. Geophysical Surveys as Landscape Archaeology. American Antiquity 68(3):435-457. McCoy, Mark D. New Developments in the Use of Spatial Technology in Archaeology. Journal of Archaeological Research, Thegn N. Ladefoged, Volume 17, Issue 3, SpringerLink, September 2009. Wickstead H. 2009. The Uber Archaeologist: Art, GIS and the male gaze revisited. Journal of Social Archaeology 9(2):249-271.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Dickinsons If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking

Dickinson's 'If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking' Emily Dickinson is a towering figure in American literature. This 19th-century poet, though a prolific writer, remained secluded from the world for most of her life. Emily Dickinsons poetry has a rare quality of truthful observation. Her words echo the images around her. She did not stick to any particular genre, as she wrote whatever intrigued her the most. The diminutive, introverted poet wrote more than 1800 poems during her lifetime. However, fewer than a dozen got published while she was still alive. Most of her work was discovered by her sister Lavinia after Emilys death. The bulk of her poems were published by Thomas Higginson and Mabel Todd in  1890.   The Poem Most of Emily Dickinsons poems are short, with no titles. Her poems leave you yearning for more, wanting to delve deep into the mind of the poet. If I can stop one heart from breaking,I shall not live in vain;If I can ease one life the aching,Or cool one pain,Or help one fainting robinUnto his nest again,I shall not live in vain. If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking Analysis To understand the poem, one needs to understand the poet and her life. Emily Dickinson was a recluse who had barely any interaction with people outside of her home. Most of her adult life was spent shut away from the world, where she attended to her ill mother and the affairs of her home. Emily Dickinson expressed her sentiments through poems. Selfless Love Is the Theme This poem can be categorized as a love poem, though the love expressed is hardly romantic. It talks about a love so deep that it places others before self. Selfless love is the true form of love. In this poem, the poet talks about how she would happily spend her life helping those who suffer from heartbreak, deep sadness, and despair. By wishing to help a fainting robin back into the nest, she reveals her vulnerable and sensitive side. Her deep sensitivity for the welfare of others, even before personal self, is the message conveyed in the poem. It is a message of kindness, compassion that one human should afford another human without the need for display or drama. A life that is devoted to anothers welfare is a life well-lived. Saints Who Followed the Path of Selfless Love A striking example of the kind of person Emily Dickinson talks about in this poem is Mother Teresa. She was a saint for thousands of homeless, sick, and orphaned people. She worked hard to bring happiness into the lives of the terminally ill, the miserable, and the destitute who had no place in society. Mother Teresa dedicated her entire life to feed the hungry, tend to the sick, and wipe a tear from the faces of those in despair. Another person who lived for the welfare of others is Helen Keller. Having lost her ability to hear and talk at a very early age, Helen Keller had to struggle hard to educate herself. She went on to inspire, teach, and guide hundreds of people who were physically challenged. Her noble work helped to change the lives of millions of people around the world. Angels in Your Life If you look around, you will find that you, too, are surrounded by angels who have taken care of you in the past. These angels could be your friends, parents, teachers, or loved ones. They support you when you need a shoulder to cry on, help you bounce back when you give up, and ease your pain when you are going through a bad phase. These good Samaritans are the reason you are doing fine today. Find the opportunity to thank these blessed souls. And if you want to give back to the world, read this poem by Emily Dickinson again and reflect on her words. Find an opportunity to help another person. Help another person to redeem his or her life, and that is how you can redeem yours.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Increase in Sexual violations against children from [year] to [year] Essay

Increase in Sexual violations against children from [year] to [year] (must be recent) - Essay Example Many people wonder what has become of our society and what the future generation will be like, are there mistakes somewhere that need to be addressed to combat the problem? Combating the problem calls for dealing with the root causes of the increasing sexual violations among children. The increase in sexual violations against children in the recent years has been attributed to increase use of internet, poverty, and the family environment the child is exposed. A number of researches show an increase in the number of sexual violations against children over the past years. Even though the exact numbers of sexual offence are not known, facts show an increase in the number of such cases. Most of the research work on the sexual offences relies on information from the police department although most of the sexual violations against children and youths are not reported to the police. Information from statistics Canada shows that there was an increase of three percent in the number of sexual violations against children reported between 2010 and 2011. Statistics has since then show a steady increase at an alarming rate, which call for drastic measures to be taken. The knowledge of the underlying causes for the increase is important since it is the first step towards combating the problem. Although the improved technology is something that calls for a celebration, it has come with the limitations to the society. The increased internet use exposes children to pornography, which is considered the basic factor contributing to increased sexual violations against children. According to Jaffer and Brazeau (2011), the internet has facilitated pornography and the sale and purchase of sexual activities (p.11). Children watching pornographic pictures over the internet tend to mimic what they see and may in turn practice the act on other vulnerable children around them. This is a form of sexual violation even though the offender who in this case is a child may not have bad intension s. There have been increased cases where perpetrators of the sexual offences children against themselves. In addition, there are older people who create the children pornography as reported by the police department (Canada, 2009). According to building a Europe for and with children (2010), there have been cases where adults entice children over the internet to sexual activities (p.304). The direct contact between a child and an anonymous is pointed out to be common. Usually the adult predators build trust with the victim then entice them to meet at a place where the offence is committed. Such predators also use webcam to send pictures of sexual malpractices to their victims who in most cases are children. Recruiting young girls into prostitution has also been done through internet. This can be termed, as child luring which according to the Canada statistics no much documentation is available. According to the centers for research and education on violence against women and children (2010), the greater percentages of sexual predator over the internet are male who lure adolescent girls (p.9). It is with no doubt that something needs to be done to combat sexual violations through the internet. Poverty is another factor seen to have contributed to the increase in the number of sexual offences against children (Holtz, 2013 p.327). Research show that, children from families with low income are more at risk of being abused sexually. Children who come from poor background, where life is unbearable, lack of education and