The Prohibition of Cigarettes

Writing 101 17February2011 The Prohibition of Cigarettes I thought about the question, â€Å"Should the manufacture of cigarettes be prohibited† and I don’t really believe that saying â€Å"yes† to this question would be of benefit to those who are pro cigarettes or against cigarettes. The question basically appears to make out that the manufacture of cigarettes, and only cigarettes, should be prohibited. There are many campaigns against the usage of cigarettes as we can see television commercials clearly stating that smoking causes cancer or attempting to deglamorize cigarettes.Many people have seen the surgeon general warning on a pack of cigarettes claiming that cigarettes can cause â€Å"lung cancer† or â€Å"emphysema. † In a study performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the study shows that between the year 2000 and 2004 that about 443,000 people in the USA died from a variety of illnesses due to cigarette smoking (citatio n 1). This would certainly be a motivation and a convincing reason to halt the production of cigarettes but we should analyze this proposition more in depth.I believe that the term â€Å"cigarettes† is too narrow to solve any problems, as not everybody smokes cigarettes nor would the halted production of cigarettes solve any public health problems. Tobacco is a better term as it is much more broad and would include cigars, snuff, dip, and other forms of tobacco that contain nicotine. Nicotine is the suspect found in cigarettes that causes an addiction but nicotine can be found in the other forms of tobacco.Stopping production of â€Å"only cigarettes† simply means that current cigarette users may, switch to another nicotine source, quit smoking, or choosing an alternative nicotine source such as nicotine gum or the patch. Having been a tobacco user in the past, I know most certainly that many people will not just outright and quit. Prohibiting the manufacture of cigare ttes means that it will be illegal to produce cigarettes but how about the selling or the possession of these products?It will be necessary to outlaw these points of trade if the intended action is to meet with success because if selling and possession are legal then it will be difficult to regulate the circulation of cigarettes within the nation. Though the making of cigarettes are deemed illegal by the government, the creation of cigarettes will certainly not halt as now cigarettes are almost equivalent to that of the marijuana drug trade as there will probably be many people growing and producing cigarettes.The police cannot arrest these people for possession or selling of cigarettes and cannot obtain a justifiable clause to obtain a search warrant to prove that the person may be manufacturing cigarettes which is deemed illegal. One last point would be the idea that cigarettes can be grown in another country such as Canada or Mexico and brought through the border with no problems as possession is not illegal. There are actually quite a few positive reasons to keep the cigarette trade going rather than shutting production down.I have been around the world through my time in the navy and I have seen one of the most popular brands of cigarettes â€Å"Marlboro† just about everywhere that imports tobacco. Take note that I mentioned the term â€Å"import† as in those countries do not make â€Å"Marlboro† cigarettes in their own country. Marlboro is a popular brand of cigarettes made under Phillip Morris which is a subsidiary company to Altria incorporated. Marlboro, in itself, holds about 42% of retail shares of cigarettes in the USA (Citation 2).This is certainly an income to our nation and though I’m uncertain of how much is made through the exportation of cigarettes; it certainly has an effect on the economy which is currently in a depression. Have you ever looked around base and noticed those supposed â€Å"smoke pits† or a designated smoking area? Those â€Å"smoke pits† seem to be next to just about every building on base. Did you notice how many stores sell cigarettes or even the cigarette vending machines here in Japan? How about in movies? Doesn’t the popular stereotypical â€Å"Bad Ass† person in the movies usually smoke a cigarette?Even though direct advertisement through television or magazines is prohibited, cigarettes are still very popular and many people do smoke them and not just in America. The cigarette trade is most likely a very profitable trade based on it’s popularity and demand which would probably put it as a very valuable source of income for the United States. Based on the many cigarette brands I’ve seen from traveling the world, I’ve seen that cigarettes are quite likely a major export for the states as many f these brands are originate from the States. I personally do not deny of the risks caused by cigarette smoking and myself being an ex-smoker, I certainly do not encourage smoking but the plan of prohibiting â€Å"just† the manufacture of â€Å"only† cigarettes does not reflect the best interests of those that are for cigarettes or against cigarettes. Cigarettes are a form of tobacco and the halted production of only cigarettes means that a regular cigarette user will move to another source of nicotine rather than quit.I know personally that quitting is a long process (I still chew nicotine gum four months after quitting). Prohibiting the manufacture of cigarettes in the United States but allowing the sell or possession simply means it will be produced where it’s legal and the carried over through the US’s borders with no issues. We can’t deny that cigarettes are very popular worldwide and thus contribute to the United States economy as a popular export since many popular brands such as â€Å"Marlboro† are made in the United States.

Describe and explain the value of industrial location models Essay

What is an industrial location model? [5] 1) A model is a mathematical representation that is used to show why patterns have occurred, or to predict how things will occur in the future. A location model shows why certain things have located in certain spaces and aims to show where they will locate in the future. An industrial location model therefore aims to show why industry has located in the area it has, and where it will locate in the future. The term industry includes primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors. All sides of industry can be incorporated in these models, this includes tertiary and primary as well as secondary employment, although most models are designed with manufacturing specifically in mind. There are many types of industrial location model. Weber designed a model that showed where secondary manufacturing industry would locate based on the weight of raw materials used and the weight of the final product. Smith (1971) built an alternative to Weber’s model, which is more updated and takes into account new types of transport and industries other than secondary. There are also models such as the behavioural matrix which attempt to show what type of companies are more likely to choose the optimum location for their business. Describe and explain the value of industrial location models [20] 2) A model of industrial location put forward by Alfred Weber in 1909 assumes that industrialists choose a least-cost location for the development of new industry. The theory is based on a number of assumptions. Weber assumes that there is a flat relief, uniform transport, culture, climate, labour costs, political and economic system, and that markets are of fixed size and location. It is also assumed that transport costs are proportional to the weight of the goods and the distance covered by the goods, and that perfect competition exists. One of the main assumptions is that raw materials are either ubiquitous or localised. Ubiquitous raw materials are found everywhere and are evenly distributed, and therefore would affect industrial location e.g. water and clay. Localised raw materials are not evenly distributed. Weber suggested that raw materials and markets would attract the location of an industry due to transport costs. Industries with a high material index would be pulled towards the raw material. Industries with a low material index would be pulled towards the market. The material index is calculated by dividing the total weight of raw materials by the total weight of the finished product. A material index of much greater than 1 indicates that there is a loss of weight during the manufacturing process; for example butter making. The factory should therefore locate near to the raw material. A material index of less than 1, where weight is gained during manufacturing, would locate near to the market. An index of less than 1 could be achieved by an industry using largely ubiquitous materials, like water, as in the brewing industry. Once a least-cost location has been established through the material index, Weber considers the effect of labour costs in deflecting industry away from the least cost location. Isodapanes are constructed to determine the area within which an industry can locate without losing money. The critical isodapane is the greatest distance an industry can locate from the least-cost location without losing money. If a source of cheap labour lies within an isodapane below the critical isodapane, it would be more profitable to choose the site with low labour costs rather than the least transport costs location. Weber also takes into account agglomeration of industries, the model suggests that some factories locate within critical isodapanes of other factories, to share resources labour and transport costs. Weber’s model doesn’t relate well to modern conditions. This is because it doesn’t take into account many recent developments such as reduced costs of transport and government intervention. Weber assumes a lot of things that in reality wouldn’t be found e.g. perfect knowledge of the market, and physical geography is ignored. Weber also ignores changes in costs and sources of raw materials over time. Overall Weber’s model is largely applicable to heavy industries only. In 1971 David Smith provided an alternative to Weber’s model of industrial location. Smith suggested that as profits could be made anywhere where the total income is greater than total costs, then although there is a point of maximum profit, there would be a larger area where production is possible and profit is still made. Smith suggested that industries rarely located at the least-cost location, but more often at a sub optimum and practical location. He suggested that this was due to imperfect knowledge about production and market demand, imperfect decision makers, who can be influenced by other factors, or may not act ‘rationally’, or a government policy, which may tempt industry to locate in areas of high unemployment or development areas. Smith’s model takes into account all types of transport although a circular margin of profitability is rarely produced in real life. Where Weber’s model can only be used for secondary manufacturing Smith’s model can easily be modified to include all types of industry. However Smith’s model is based entirely on money and other factors such as employees needs are not taken into account. The UK iron and steel production is a good example of industrial location compared to Weber and Smith’s models. Before the 1600’s, iron making was found near to outcrops of ore, where there were plenty of trees, e.g. Forest of Dean, because transport was poor and they were unable to move raw materials large distances. This fits Weber’s model because iron making would have a material index of greater than one, due to iron ore being much greater in weight than the iron produced as the finished product. However Weber’s model says that a resource such as trees will be ubiquitous, which is not the case here. After 1700 coke began to be used to smelt iron more efficiently. The new furnaces were located near coalmines, where coal would have been the heaviest raw material to transport e.g. Sheffield and South Wales. This fits Weber’s model. Today the coalmines have run out, but the industry hasn’t relocated because good transport systems mean that ores and coal can be transported in from abroad. This complies with Smith’s model because profit has been made in a sub optimum location. Other reasons for the iron and steel industry remaining in the same areas are large amounts of labour and agglomeration, which are covered in Weber’s model.

Secret Window

Abstract This paper explores the review of the movie – Secret Window. It talks about in detail on how the movie shows the two side of a human behavior – the good and the evil and how things can go if one cannot have a control over its mind. It clearly shows the aftermath of it and sends a message to the viewer’s as well. Based on Stephen king’s novella â€Å"Secret Window, Secret Garden† (1990) , this movie inspires people to take a look at themselves and decide what is good and bad.The movie was released in 2004, and was mentioned as one of the best work of Stephen King by all the film viewer’s and the critics. In this paper, the history, thesis, story, moral and a conclusion is given about the movie. The movie is a drama thriller and it keeps audience at the edge of their seats for the entire 106 minutes. The movie explains about the life of a writer who is in a state of depression after a divorce from his wife and how this incident changes his whole life. The suspense and thrillers in this movie will definitely make this movie very enjoyable.The purpose of this paper is to review the movie and explain how this movie can become a huge factor in the lives of the people. The goal of this paper is to show what it has given to its viewers and how this can affect them. Secret Window Secret Window is a psychological thriller released in 2004 and adapted from a Stephen King novel,† Secret Window, Secret Garden†. It stars Johnny Depp as Mort Rainey, a Successful mystery writer who is suffering from a serious case of writer’s block primarily caused by an unfortunate divorce from his wife Amy.Whom he caught cheating with her new boyfriend Ted Milner. Mort retreats to a lakeside cabin trying to finish a novel despite his lack of inspiration and growing resentment for his wife. Mort’s solitary life in the woods is disturbed when a mysterious man named John Shooter appears on his doorstep accusing him of plagiarism by claiming that Mort has word-for-word had stolen a story he had written years before, and published it in the Ellery Queen Street Magazine. The identical stories were Mort’s â€Å"Secret Window† and Shooter’s â€Å"Sowing Season†.Shooter demands to Mort,† Fix it. Make it Right! † in a southern accent and proposed to re work the ending of the story. The intruder Sends increasingly persuasive signals that he means business, first putting a screwdriver through Mort’s Dog, then burning down the New York home where Amy lives with her new partner before progressing to brutal murder. The movie ends when Mort realizes that Shooter is only a figment of his imagination, reveals this to his wife, and later kills her and her lover with a shovel and buries them in a garden where he later plants a crop of corn.By nature writers are quirky people. While they may pay attention to the mundane details of life in a painful manner, they are of ten unaware of their own behavior. While in the pursuit of a story they may pace around as the rough idea of pages come to them, or sit for hours staring at the screen thinking of the next precise word. They have a tendency to snack constantly rather than break for a meal and to remain in the same dirty clothes rather than break for a shower. I know this behavior because as a writer I’ve done all of it at some point or another.That’s the first part of the psychological thriller â€Å"Secret Window† that made me sits up and takes notice – a writer named Mort Rainey. In the film â€Å"Secret Window†, directed by David Koepp, the theme of the double is used to represent the protagonist’s â€Å"dark side†. This was realized through the portrayal of Shooter as Stalker and the use of two different kinds of hats, Mort’s depression from the divorce, and the ending in Mort’s story â€Å"Secret Window†. Rooney claimed that â€Å"the story is a chronicle of a man becoming steadily disturbed, engaged in a bickering dialogue with himself and increasingly ruled by the demons in his head†.Mort’s emotional trauma from the divorce robbed him off his inspiration and put him in a state of worst writer’s block. His negative feeling’s formed an evil-like alter-ego, in the person of Shooter, which overshadowed his real persona. Shooter was part of himself as displayed by his behaviors in the movie. First, Shooter seemed to appear at bad times, to know everything about Mort’s life and to make his quest for the magazine harder. Shooter accused that Mort copied a story he has written a few years back and demanded that Mort fixed it. Mort promised to get a copy of the magazine where the story was published to know his innocence.However, Shooter was a violent, impatient man, stalking Mort and making increasingly worse things happen as the magazine failed to arrive. Mort eventually lo cated the magazine that would have proven he published â€Å"Secret Window† before Shooter wrote â€Å"Sowing Season† but the story had been cut out. Second, there were two hats used in the film. One was Mort’s Knit hat and the other was Shooter’s tall brimmed hat. The hat represented two different personas. Whenever Mort got up from his couch of depression to do something he put on his going-out knit hat.Shooter’s hat was kept at a distance at first but began to close in on Mort as the story progressed. When he actually placed the hat on his own head, the dark inner workings of his soul were revealed. The use of Shooter also demonstrated the high cost of marital infidelity and the kind of evil that can be unleashed when one person chooses to follow his sinful desires. It presented the aftermath of divorce and the kind of nightmare that it brings. Mort’s fascination with unending naps and liquors, as well as his tendency to walk around in hi s wife’s tattered bathrobe and sport a weird hairdo revealed longing for his wife.Also, Mort’s work â€Å"Secret Window† which Shooter claimed as plagiarized narrated the experience of a man who is betrayed by his wife, and decides to kill her and bury her in her beloved garden. When Mort finally realized that Shooter was only a fabrication of his imagination brought so vividly to life through undetected dissociative identity disorder to commit acts that Mort himself felt he could not commit, his concerned ex-wife tried to help him out but Mort was already overpowered by Shooter. He killed his wife and lover with a shovel and buried them in a garden where he later planted with corn.The movie’s ending was highlighted with Mort’s line â€Å"The Only thing that matters is the ending†¦and this one’s perfect†. The finale showed that the evil has won. The local sheriff told Mort that he knew about the murder and as soon as the bodies w ere found, Mort would pay for the crime. Mort nonchalantly ignored the threat because he knew that the ending of his story would be an impeccable culmination. His decision to plant, grow and consume corn from the garden where his ex-wife and her lover were buried meant that he was actually destroying all the evidence needed to implicate him with the crime.In my opinion, Depp is definitely the highlight of the movie, which is good since he’s the character the movie revolves around. In interacting with his ex-wife (Maria Bello) we can see the pain and the love he still holds for her. Rainey’s spats with her boyfriend Ted (Timothy Hutton) show his anger. Yet none of that holds a candle to his conversations with himself. Rainey spends at least a third of the film alone, but we never feel that he’s isolated. Out-of-nowhere quips and commentary about the situations Rainey finds himself in provide real depth to Rainey as a struggling writer.That is where the real geniu s of Depp’s work on this character comes from. I think the director David Koepp does an excellent job of bringing â€Å"Secret Window† to the screen. On the writing side he has taken a short story by Stephen King and created a strong and suspenseful plot, highlighted by complete and memorable characters as a solid base for his actors to work with. On the directorial side, he understands how a psychological thriller should work and makes his movie follow those rules. The movie builds just as a story of this type should and the audience is never ahead of the movie.But Perhaps, I think that the biggest problem with the movie is Turturro's awful turn as Mississippi hick John Shooter. There is nothing menacing or threatening about this guy, even after he starts taking revenge on Rainey. He is simply annoying. The scenes between Shooter and Rainey are excruciating because the novelist is so obviously unimpressed by the threats that there is no tension built between the two. The rest of the cast, including Charles S. Dutton, as a private investigator, and Timothy Hutton as Amy's lover, are completely wasted and seem to be just going through the motions of this flat thriller.The biggest problem, however, is that because there is no menace or tension built up throughout the picture, the ending, for all its obviousness, seems rather abrupt and wholly unmotivated and without cause. All in all, this movie is a great movie to watch and is sure to have the audiences at the edge of their seats. There’s always something going on in the movie which will have the audience glued at their screens. The Movie was a creation that aspired to arouse psychological enquiry as well as portray the dilemma within human nature which is the battle between good and evil.The plot of the movie was a subtle journey from the lead character’s emotional and psychological stresses caused by the two most common traumas in human experience – infidelity and betrayal. Mort’s hatred towards his wife’s cheating consumed his creativity and left him in a state of severe incapability to even come up with a single line for a story. These negative emotional factors brought into life a dark alter-ego Shooter, who became his companion in a sinister of events that led him to realizing that his stalker was actually a fiction of his mind.Koepp’s movie was helpful in portraying that a person’s self can actually be his greatest enemy. As human’s experience life and it’s varying degrees of complexities and stresses, a person has to deal with letting go off the past and moving on with the present to have a renewed view of the future. It is narration of how a person writes his personal story by making important decisions. Mort had a hard time doing this. The book of his life started with chaos and he ended it by choosing evil, which was basically more chaotic. Hence, this movie is sure to have the audience interested and I personally enjoyed watching this movie.

SWOT analysis of country Kazakhstan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

SWOT analysis of country Kazakhstan - Essay Example Even today mode of communications is expensive and slow. Wealthiest economic sector in oil and gas, Kazakhstan produced 61.9 million tons of oil and gas in 2005 with an export of 52.4 million tons during 2004 and 2005. (Kazakhstan, Sept 2006) Kazakh government with premium management skills turned to foreign investors on a scale unprecedented in the former Soviet Union for capital to repair and restart the large enterprises that in some cases had virtually ceased operation. Most recently, however, Kazakhstan has been placing much greater emphasis on local sourcing of as many inputs as possible and on the training of local employees by all foreign investors in what appears to be a concerted effort to regain greater control of their industry. The new emphasis is certainly understandable which foretells change in the investment climate. Kazakhstan being a Central Asian country is limited by the high cost of transport and raw materials. According to a report, raw materials, in 2000 represented 60% of the total products exported. That means Kazakhstan is completely dependant upon raw materials. Another weakness confronted by Kazakhstan is the high cost variable of traveling across the border at local and international level. In this context traveling is the main obstruction in trade. This obstruction escorts towards disorganized infrastructure of trading and even that at high cost. Travelling on a local level has given rise to expensive transport companies. According to Raballand (2003), "freight in transit through Kazakhstan has dropped by more than 90%". (Raballand, 2003) Besides freight, Kazakhstan is also confronted to serious water shortage problem. Increasing population, reliance on hydropower in certain states, and dependence on irrigation for growing cotton and other crops in others, have all resulted in a growing demand for water. (Cummings, 2003, p. 203) Pollution, lack of educational institutions and poor border security issues are other noticed weaknesses of the country. According to USAID Report, 25% of the population lives below poverty line. (USAID, 2006) Opportunity: Currently the Government aims to achieve its developmental goals by 2009 as it aims to contribute over $15 million to a $40 million USAID economic development project. In the last 2-3 years, the United States has provided almost $1.205 billion in technical assistance and investment support in Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan, Sept 2006) Recently, a joint venture agreement has been signed with a governmental body to "build and operate the plant at 'Kyzylorda', in the south of the Kazakhstan near Tashkent". (Future, 2006) It would be the first float plant of its kind, which would commence its construction in 2007. This project is no less than an economic opportunity for a country who is facing glass crises since its independence with no glass manufacturer or supplier throughout the country. (Future, 2006) The country is attracting foreign investors towards the energy sector with advancement in banking division and small-scale privatisation sector. (USAID, 2006) Taking both agricultural production and agribusiness together, opportunities for rural household income growth depend on linking farmers more closely to both domestic and export demand. There appear to be opportunities that can be realized in the short

Computers as Enhancement to the Early Childhood Learning Environment Essay

Computers as Enhancement to the Early Childhood Learning Environment - Essay Example They can use computers as educational tools rather than just toys for kids. Not only would they satisfy a child's curiosity, but they can guide and supervise the child in doing so. Specht et. al. (2002) conducted a survey in Canadian cities. They sent questionnaires to 196 Canadian educators. They wanted to assess the knowledge that the educators had about computers and what the educators feel about introducing computers in a child's learning environment. Overall, educators thought that the idea was good, and that they needed more knowledge regarding computers. The enhancement of children's learning environment using computers also relies heavily on the type of software that will be installed to the computer. The knowledge of the teachers and the developmental level of the children are also factors in the success of this activity. Computer programs that a child will be exposed to should be chosen with great care. Developmentally appropriate software should be appropriate for the age group. The correct software should be chosen with respect to the typical development stages of children in that age. The software should also be socially and culturally appropriate, which would be based on learning experiences when using the computer. Also, the software should be individually appropriate. ... oftware that can easily be controlled and manipulated by children so that the adults may allow them to use the computer independently which would support learning. Edwards also suggested that instead of containing violent images, the software should provide instructions clearly and should also contain non-violent animation that would capture the child's imagination. Edwards indicated that developmentally appropriate programs should also have a visual message and an auditory direction.Given developmentally appropriate software, a child who uses a computer would develop cognitive skills such as problem solving. When using a computer, a child will also try to focus on what he is doing, and will also try to concentrate. Computers would be a great enhancement to a learning environment. The right software would provide children entertainment while teach them about certain things. Images and sound are effective reinforcements in teaching a concept to a child. Edwards (2006) showed that computers give children the opportunity to take control, that there is actually an active engagement happening when a child is using a computer. When a child learns to use a computer, he may develop his independence. Gian Arnold Catangay, a six year old, knows how to use a computer. Whenever he has time he clicks on the browser and types www.pokemon.com on the address tab. He does this without the help of anyone. Some researchers fear that computers would isolate a child. But inside a classroom, a child who uses a computer may have one friend by his side or a many friends behind him. Children will also practice social skills like sharing and taking turns. Being exposed to a technology such as a computer at such an early age would not only help a child in learning, but

PR plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

PR plan - Assignment Example Such people have to conduct many helpful public relations strategies for efficient interactions with the public in order to succeed their viewpoints. Rob Ford is currently the mayor of Toronto, but has also served as Canadian politician for three years. Meanwhile, the mayor has many personal controversies which usually threatened his political career. He faced the charges of drug abuse in the year 2013 (Sussman and Susan142). He denied all allegations, but after serious investigations by the police, his videos were discovered involving drug syndicates. Later, Rob accepted the allegations of smoking cocaine, driving while drunk and use of illegal drug abuse. The council cannot be able to dismiss him from the office of the mayor according to law, as a result of, such scandals. Rob has to serve as mayor with a negative reputation thus requiring an image overhaul. Rob must, therefore, interact with people of Toronto to create a good image despite the scandal about drug abuse. The audiences commonly targeted are those who consume alcohol, use anabolic steroids, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, nicotine and opiates. Students in secondary schools, colleges and universities are also included. The appropriate ways of reaching the audience is by using the social media to reach the people, conduct public rallies and seminars and visiting education institutions. Rob will be accompanied by other ten members who will assist in taking minutes and other activities. The ten members will conduct public campaigns against drug abuse during Rob’s official hours. The will use transit with by speakers to campaign in the villages and towns. The whole project will take a whole month to access the targeted audience. Rob will hold public meetings in urban and towns to address the efforts he made to stop using drugs. Some of the groups will uphold in posting the good image about Rob, as a result of, quitting from

Mass transportation in los angeles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mass transportation in los angeles - Essay Example The express buses do not stop often and normally drive on the freeways where it is possible to cover the shortest distance, which means that it skips various stops and areas. The rapid buses normally travel and pick passengers on local streets, although they do not make as many stops as the local buses and, therefore, can be considered as better when it comes to beating the traffic. However, one is advised to review the schedules prior to travelling since these buses change routes and, during the late hours, their frequency is reduced. Fares for a weekly pass are $20, for a day pass one has to pay $5 and $1.50 for a single ride (Shanks, 2001). Metro buses in Los Angeles also use the orange and silver rapid transit lines to operate metro liners, which are present on the metro rail map due to the fact that, along majority of their routes, they operate transit-ways (Shanks, 2001). The Department of Transportation In Los Angeles also operates white buses on top of the Metro on local lines so as to supplement their bus service Downtown and in other areas with high population densities. In addition, cities that neighbour LA also operate bus systems that extend their routes into LA and charge different fares. These buses overlap with the Metro bus networks. Some of these bus systems also run rapid line routes, which are parallel to local routes but have fewer stops. Some of these include the Big Blue Bus that is operated by Santa Monica City and serves Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Brentwood and other West LA districts, LAX, and downtown LA. The Culver City Bus serves Culver City, LAX, Century City, Mar Vista, Rancho Park, Marina Del Rey, Palms, West LA Transit Centre, UCLA, Venice, Westwood, and Westchester (Bottles, 2011). The Burbank Transit operates around North Hollywood and Burbank, while Torrance Transit operates around Torrance to Long and Redondo Beach, downtown LA, and LAX. The Foothills Transit also operates

Injury and Illness Prevention Program Term Paper

Injury and Illness Prevention Program - Term Paper Example The United States Department of Labor addressed this problem and created the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. This act is geared towards the prevention of injuries and illnesses found during work by requiring employers to provide safe, working conditions that are free from dangers for their employees. The act also made the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that serves as the enforcers of the law, and it implements standards that describe methods that employers must utilize to protect their employees from hazards. Some of these standards include fall protection, prevention of infectious diseases, limiting exposure to harmful substances, provision of safety equipment, and giving training for dangerous jobs. It is the workers’ right to be protected on the job (OSHA, n.d.). In 2011, almost three million nonfatal workplace injuries were reported to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012). 94.8% of these consisted of injuries in the workplace while 5.2% accounted for illnesses. Among the 94.8% of injuries, there are 7 ‘compensable’ claims, which are serious injuries that really hurt the employees to the extent that they could not work, or are disabled. The seven compensable claims are: Other health hazards available in the workplace that can cause illness are non-communicable and communicable diseases. The common non-communicable diseases common in the adult working class are Heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes. These non-communicable diseases are a burden on the global workforce. According to the World Health Organization (2008), in 2005, Non-communicable diseases made up 60% of all deaths worldwide. Aside from affecting the workers and their families, these diseases can also affect the economy. One example is that the WHO estimates that China can lose around 558 Billion International dollars from 2005-2015 due to

Elasticity of rubber Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Elasticity of rubber - Assignment Example Rubber substances are not confined to natural rubber, however. They take account of a great variety of synthetic polymers of comparable properties. An elastomer is considered as a polymer that shows evidence of rubber elastic properties, i.e. materials that can be possibly stretched to a number of times its original length without breaking and which, upon release of the stress, instantaneously returns to their original lengths. A rubber is more or less an elastic material, since its deformation is instantaneous and it further shows almost no slither (Bjork, 1988). The distinctive nature of rubbers was ascertained by John Gough in 1305, and described his findings and experiments as shown in this subsequent paragraph. A person has to clasp one end of the slip of a rubber between the thumb and forefinger of each hand; get the central point of the piece into slight contact with the lips; further lengthen the slip swiftly; and you will instantly make out a feeling of warmth in that sectio n of the mouth that is in contact with stretched rubber. For this resin evidently grows warmer the further it is lengthened; and the edges of the lips possess a higher degree of sensibility, which facilitates them to discover these changes with greater facility than other parts of the body. The augment in temperatures, which is recognized in the event of extending any pieces of Caoutchouc, may be obliterated in on the spot, by allowing the slip to contract again; which it will do quickly by desirable quality of its own spring, as soft as the stretching forces cease to act as soon as it has been fully exerted. Gough made these comments regarding his second experiment: In any case one end of a slip of Caoutchouc is fastened to a rod of wood or metal, and some weight is fixed (added) at the other extremity/end; the thong will be seen to become longer with cold and shorter with heat (Mark, 1984). To make certain this concept, it is necessary for a self experimentation. One will only nee d a strip of rubber, a weight and a hair-dryer. Gough presented no better explanations to the unexpected findings, such as that the expected stiffness increments with rising temperatures and that heat is progressive throughout stretching duration. It took approximately fifty years prior to the formulation of thermodynamics of the rubber elasticity. Rubbers exhibit predominantly entropy-driven elasticity through measurements of force and specimen length at varied temperature levels. Thermo-elastic effects of rubber shows that stretched rubber samples which are subjected to constant uniaxial load contract reversibly on heating, and the same sample can give out heat reversibly if stretched. These two observable concepts are true and consistent with the view that the entropy of the rubber decreased on stretching. Molecular picture of the entropic forces is dated back to the theoretical work of 1930’s, when it was suggested that the covalently bonded polymer chains had been orient ed during extension (Gumbrell, Rivlin, &, Mullins, 1953, p. 1495). Methods and procedures This study involved an investigation in the thermo-elastic behaviors and thermodynamics, with regards to the energetic and entropic elastic forces. At minimum strains, characteristically less than ? = L L 0 < 1.1 (where L and L0 are the dimensions of the unstressed and stressed specimens, respectively), the stress at

To Shame or Not to Shame the Offenders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

To Shame or Not to Shame the Offenders - Essay Example Tangney believes that shame discourages the offender to be better. While reading this article, the main question that lingered in mind is how we can discourage crime in society? In essence, it is crucial to shame individuals to deter crime in the society. Well, one way to discourage offenders from committing a crime is by imposing a structure where they understand that they will reap what they sowed. Thus, this paper seeks to discuss why it is important to shame offenders so that they can focus on the negative effects of their behavior.   I agree with Tangney article on how offenders are likely to be guilt when imprisoned for life. As this article puts it, this may increase brutalization in society and increase the crime rate. The act of imprisoning people to death may increase psychological problems and thus, this is likely to increase the rate of killing. The act is morally problematic and flawed especially with the cost linked to it. Tangney (571) believes that society should work hard to ensure that offenders understand their negative constructive feelings. For instance, the government may create a platform where offenders understand the painful impact they bring to others. Tangney believes that this would prevent people from committing the crime without having to imprison them for life.However, I believe that most offenders are selfish and they do not care about the person they are harming. For instance, one would go into a jewelry store and steal an expensive necklace. I believe that such a person understand th e negative consequences of his behaviors to others. In other instances, sex offenders are selfish and do not care about the consequences of their negative behaviors. They ignore the fact that the person they are sexually assaulting can be sexually infected or become pregnant. Based on my analysis, I believe that most offenders are fully aware of their actions and how they affect others. With this, I believe that offenders should suffer for their wrongdoings and in the case of murder; he or she deserves a death penalty (Cromie and Lynn 22). The measure of the punishments should depend upon the magnitude of the crime. The court should punish those in the wrong to deter crime in the society. Criminals should be punished for the wrongdoing and capital punishment or the death penalty should be imposed on those convicted of a severe crime. Capital punishment is justified to a nation as it deters murders from killing innocent people.

Trusts and Equity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Trusts and Equity - Essay Example Though since the Judicature Act came into force in 1875 the rules of Common Law and Equity are recognized and administered in the same court, yet they still remain distinct bodies of law, governed largely by different principles. Like the Common Law, the rules of Equity are judicial law, i.e. to find them we must look in the first instances to the decisions of the judges who have administered Equity. But some branches of Equity, like some branches of the Common Law, have been restated with amendments and additions in codifying Acts, such as the Partnership Act 1890.Meanwhile, Equity is adding new fields of jurisdiction. In the sixteenth century and the beginning of the seventeenth, fraud and accident especially the accidental loss of a document are regarded as matters peculiarly appropriate for relief in a Court of Equity matters which a Common Law Court cannot sufficiently deal with. Mortgages form a special subject, which the Chancellor deals with. A man borrows money and transfers his land to the creditor, making the creditor legally owner. He promises to pay on a definite date. If he keeps his promise, his land is to be returned to him; if not, it is to belong to the creditor forever. Suppose by mistake or accident he fails to repay on the day named, is it fair that he should be held to the terms of the deed? Equity says no and soon goes so far as to lay down a rule that a mortgage is a mere security for money, and something quite different from a genuine transfer of the ownership.... (Polloczek, 1999, p. 9) Though since the Judicature Act came into force in 1875 the rules of Common Law and Equity are recognised and administered in the same court, yet they still remain distinct bodies of law, governed largely by different principles. Like the Common Law, the rules of Equity are judicial law, i.e. to find them we must look in the first instances to the decisions of the judges who have administered Equity. But some branches of Equity, like some branches of the Common Law, have been restated with amendments and additions in codifying Acts, such as the Partnership Act 1890. (Geldart, 1995, p.21) Meanwhile Equity is adding new fields of jurisdiction. In the sixteenth century and the beginning of the seventeenth, fraud and accident especially the accidental loss of a document are regarded as matters peculiarly appropriate for relief in a Court of Equity matters which a Common Law Court cannot sufficiently deal with. Mortgages form a special subject, which the Chancellor deals with. A man borrows money and transfers his land to the creditor, making the creditor legally owner. He promises to pay on a definite date. If he keeps his promise, his land is to be returned to him; if not, it is to belong to the creditor forever. Suppose by mistake or accident he fails to repay on the day named, is it fair that he should be held to the terms of the deed Equity says no, and soon goes so far as to lay down a rule that a mortgage is a mere security for money, and something quite different from a genuine transfer of the ownership. (Geldart, 1995, p.31) We have the rules about the assignment of rights under contract. A owes money to B. Common Law regards this as purely a relation between A and B. B agrees with C that C shall have the right to

Merchant of Venice Assesment Essay Example for Free

Merchant of Venice Assesment Essay In this assessment I will analyse Shakespeare’s use of language, structure and dramatic techniques to present the relationship between Shylock and the Christians at different points of the play. I will first look at Act 1 Scene 3, where we learn that Shylock has suffered mercilessly at the hands of the Christians and now harbors an almost sadistic hatred towards them. This can be evidence by Shylock’s statement to Antonio. â€Å"You†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦gabardine,†. This statement allows the audience to gain an understanding of Shylock’s feelings and hatred towards Antonio. However, what is fascinating about this quote is Shakespeare’s use of the words â€Å"you† and â€Å"dog†. This is because, although Shylock and Antonio have never met before, Shylock’s use of the word â€Å"you† suggests otherwise. The reason behind Shakespeare’s use of personal and direct language is to allow the audience to imagine Antonio as the embodiment of Christianity. Thus, letting the Elizabethan audience know that Shylock’s feelings of hatred is actually aimed towards the Christians and hence the Elizabethan audience themselves, therefore causing further resent and prejudice towards Shylock’s character. While the use of the word â€Å"dog†, which is repeated throughout the play, not only symbolises that the Christians see Shylock as beneath them and will never be their equal. But also reinforces, through the use of repetition, that Shylock is seen as an infestation to the Elizabethan society, which in turn adds to Shylock’s humiliation and determination for revenge. However, due to his social ranking Shylock must consciously recognise his position of inferiority and must also treat the Christians with a, one sided, respect, despite his affluent position. Shakespeare manages to show this involuntary respect from Shylock to Antonio by structuring the dialog between these two main characters in poetry. Furthermore the level of hatred that Shylocks possesses towards the Christians can be evidence from Shylocks aside speech to the audience. â€Å"If†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦bear him.† The â€Å"ancient grudge† in this case being that Antonio is a Christian. This aside statement not only strengthens the idea that the mutual disdain between Shylock and the Christian is religious in nature, but also Shylock’s obsessive need for revenge, a revenge he hopes to achieve through Antonio’s bond. Because of this aside speech, most modern day audiences would be able to sympathise with Shylocks need for retribution. However, for an Elizabethan audience, Shylock’s aside speech will have no sympathetic effect. Instead it was a dramatic techniques used by Shakespeare to add further prejudice towards Shylock’s character and to add comedic value to the play. In Act 3 Scene 1, we see the seriousness of Shylock’s sadistic nature when he discovers that Antonio cannot fulfil his bond. Arguing that his obsession for revenge is just and he is entitled to revenge, in the same way that any Christian would. â€Å"hath†¦..?†, â€Å"If†¦..revenge!† This iconic speech uses a number of persuasive techniques to justify Shylocks feelings and need for retribution. First notice Shakespeare’s use of rhetorical questions in quick succession. This technique causes the audience to think, agree and actually sympathise with Shylock argument to some extent. This agreement is then reinforced, through the use of imagery, allowing the audience to gain a better understanding of Shylock’s feeling and emotions. Thus cause the audience to realise some of the prejudice that is currently present towards the Jewish community. In conclusion Shakespeare has used a variety of techniques and forms of languages to effectively highlight the prejudice towards the Jewish community during the Elizabethan period. In the two act that I mentioned it is clear that Shylocks feels he deserve justice through personal revenge and that he is not respected in the society, due to the Christians arrogant and prejudice vies towards his people. Although most of use might not morally agree with Shylock’s approach in seeking retribution, there is no denying that the language used by Shakespeare is a strong reminder of what persecution can have on an individual.

Nipah Virus and the Potential for Bioterrorism

Nipah Virus and the Potential for Bioterrorism Nipah Virus and the Potential for Bioterrorism Introduction Bioterrorism is considered to be one of the most talked about issues with regard to national security since the inception of the new millennium. On September 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorism struck the United States with the crashing and attempted crashing of airplanes into significant economic and political buildings. This act of terror was a significant beginning to fears of what was next from terrorist groups. Even though this was not the first, and definitely not the last, terrorist threat or attempt it was definitely the most profound and unquestionably caused fear, panic and social disruption much less economic issues globally. Within days of the 9/11 attacks the awareness of American vulnerability became more evident with the media publicity of the Anthrax scares. This brought about international concerns with bioterrorism as envelopes that were filled with anthrax spores were sent to political and media sources throughout the United States and twenty-two people were infected and five deaths occurred (Ryan Glarum, 2008). Nipah is just one of many viruses that are available to terrorist groups for development as a bioweapon. In 1999 this virus was first found and noted to be very easily disseminated to humans through inhalation and ingestion. Even though there are many potential pathogens available, the Nipah virus has proven itself to be one of the most dangerous and advantageous . As the Nipah virus progressed there was fear noted by workers, families and healthcare providers in southern Asia. With a mortality rate of 40% to 100% (Lam, 2002; World Health Organization [WHO], 2009) in infected areas, and an economic impact that cost several millions to Malaysias economy, this virus has potential for significant bioterrorism. Natural History The Nipah Virus (NiV), family paramyxoviridae, was first recognized in Malaysia, South Asia in late 1998 into Spring 1999. This disease was recognized when an outbreak of sickness and death occurred among pig farmers, it infected 265 people, with 105 deaths, a mortality rate of approximately 40% (Lam, 2002). This virus was new to the scientific community and first thought to be Japanese Encephalitis (JE) which had occurred in approximately the same location years earlier. JE was also noted to infect people that were around domesticated pigs, just like the currently identified Nipah Virus (Center for Disease Control [CDC], 2001). The Nipah virus was found to also have similar symptoms as those of the Hendra Virus which caused respiratory disease and encephalitis in Australia in 1994 (Fraser, 2009). The Nipah virus is considered by the CDC as a newly emerging pathogen that could be engineered for mass dissemination (Ryan Glarum, 2008; Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d.). Since the onset of the Nipah virus in 1999, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been twelve significant outbreaks since the initial, with 202 persons infected and a loss of life of 146 individuals, mortality of over 72%. Two of these outbreaks, one in India in 2007 and one in Bangladesh in 2008 had mortality rates of 100%, showing the devastating effects of this virus (WHO, 2009). The initial investigation of the Nipah virus found that abattoir workers who dealt with pigs daily and those that were exposed through farming and transporting pigs were getting ill. As the investigation continued it found that the pigs were infecting the workers (zoonotic disease). After discovery, subsequently over 1.1 million pigs were disposed of to quell the transmission of the virus. This destruction of pigs was significantly devastating to the economy of Malaysia noting an estimated loss of $217 million dollars (Ryan Glarum, 2008, p. 104). Virus Transference The Nipah virus host was found to be pteropid bats (flying foxes), located in Australia and the southern areas of Asia. During expansion of farms toward the rainforests and the destruction of the rainforest for manufacturing and industry, many animals including bats had to relocate to survive. Many pig farmers in Malaysia also had large fruit orchards situated next to the pig enclosures, as growth of pig farming continued and the loss of habitat for bats persisted to change bats started to forage the nearby orchards for food. As this progression continued there was an increased chance of disease contamination to domestic animals from wildlife, and as such a significant increase in contact between pigs and bats. Therefore, greater opportunity for transmission of the Nipah virus (â€Å"Dr. Jonathan Epstein Returnsâ€Å", 2005). As the Nipah virus was investigated it was believed to have been transmitted to pigs from bats through the saliva, urine and feces of the bats which feed and nest in local orchards (â€Å"Dr. Jonathan Epstein Returnsâ€Å", 2005), near pig pens. This potential transmission probably occurred when bat secretions fell into the pig pens and were ingested by these domesticated animals. The initial human virus outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore was believed to have been from direct contact with sick pigs or their meat products, and possibly could have come from the consumption of contaminated fruit or juices from the orchards. As the virus progressed and research was done there was an established link noting person-to-person contamination through close contact (World Health Organization [WHO], 2009) Physiology of Exposure The Nipah virus seems to have many different clinical manifestations in individual animals and humans. There is a broad range of clinic signs that can point to virus infection that cause researchers and healthcare providers to not recognize patterns of initial infection, therefore not recognizing potential disease outbreaks. According to the WHO (2009), the incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) varies from four to 45 days. This significant range makes it incredibly hard to follow the virus between initial exposure and medical treatment. Recognizing that the person is showing signs of a virus, and narrowing down the specific virus, then treating it appropriately for an individual is a challenge but feasible. But with such a wide incubation period there is a possibility that viable information could be lost or not noticed. The physiological symptoms of this virus in humans is characterized by non-specific signs and symptoms to include severe headache, fever, vomiting, myalgia (muscular pain) disorientation, respiratory diseases, neurological deficits and encephalitis and in many cases may cause coma or death (Center for Infectious Disease Research Policy [CIDRAP], 2009). In pigs there is characterization of signs and symptoms depending on the age of the animal. The basic signs noted are fever, shortness of breath, muscle twitching, trembling, rear leg weakness, severe coughing, open-mouth breathing, abnormal posturing and convulsions (CIDRAP, 2009). After initial exposure and treatment follow-up research was done and in this study it was noted that there were relapses in clinic symptoms to include encephalitis up to twenty-two months later, without re-exposure. The research and that an estimated 160 patients who recovered from acute encephalitis and 89 patients who experienced asymptomatic infection received follow-up care for ‘late-onset encephalitis (neurological manifestations occurring for the first time at ten or more weeks after initial infection) or ‘relapsed encephalitis (neurological manifestations after recovery from acute encephalitis) (Halpin Mungall, 2007, p. 290). Host Sources The Nipah Virus source comes from Pteropus fruit bats (AKA: Flying Foxes), which are found in Southern Asia and Australia. In 1997 fruit bats were noted to begin foraging on flowers and nectar in trees located near orchards contiguous to infected areas (Cobey, 2005). Fruit bats were found to be the natural source of this virus and caused the transfer of the virus to pigs and human beings. As domesticated pigs were sold for breeding and transferred to other farms the virus was quickly disseminated further throughout southern Asia (Cobey, 2005). Possible Use in Biowarfare Biowarfare, and in this day and age bioterrorism, is a threat that began before the birth of Christ. According to Dr. Michael D. Phillips, M.D. one of the first recorded incidents [of bioterrorism]was in Mesopotamia. The Assyrians employed rye ergot, an element of the fungus Claviceps purpurea, which contains mycotoxins. Rye ergot was used by Assyria to poison the wells of their enemies, with limited success (Phillips, 2005, p. 32). Use of pathogens to induce sickness, death or terror has continued until present time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has listed the Nipah virus as a critical biological agent, Category C. Category C agents are emerging pathogens that could be engineered for mass dissemination in the future because of: * Availability * Ease of production and dissemination * Potential for high morbidity and mortality rates and major health impact (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d.,  ¶ 3; (Ryan Glarum, 2008, p. 105)) With this categorization the virus is a living pathogen that can be developed as a bioweapon with the right knowledge, and equipment. For the virus to be weaponized it needs to be purified, stabilized and properly sized. Since this is a living virus the bioterrorist agent can be replicated once disseminated (Ryan Glarum, 2008). At this time, there is no information about how this virus could be manufactured to become a bioterrorist agent, but with the right knowledge the potential is there. Production Methods Since the Nipah virus has proven to be disseminated through secretions from bats and pigs, and shown to cause severe infection and death it can potentially be used as a bioterrorist agent with little changes in its basic state. If the excretions from infected bats in palm juice can cause infection and death then there is ease in distribution with a significant amount of virus. Even with these basic distribution methods there is information about the Nipah virus and its compounds being published. As knowledge continues be found about the virus and information availability of the compounds there is potential for virus manipulation for maximum threat to animals and humans to induce fear and panic. Information such as this is noted in an article by Medical News Today, (2005). This article states that UCLA scientists have revealed how the Nipah virus infiltrates human cells. The article further states the virus exploits a protein that is essential to embryonic development to enter cells and attack. The virus must infect a cell by binding to a viral-specific receptor and once that is done penetrates the cell. The article actually gives the receptor name as Ephrin-B2, and is found to be the key to unlocking these dangerous cells. If this information is so easily accessible and is available it allows terrorists groups with the knowledge and expertise to manipulate the virus for dissemination and extreme virulence. The Nipah virus is still a relatively new virus and steps are slowly being made in understanding this infant virus. As of this time there is very little knowledge about how effective this virus would be or what would be needed to make it infective. With bioterrorist there is always a concern with the storage and stability of the virus for development and weaponization. As developments are made and intelligence is gathered with regard to potential agents there will be a concern with any viral pathogen. Transmissibility Animal-to-human Animal (pig) to human transmissibility was the first noted issue with regard to the detection of the Nipah virus in 1999. As stated earlier the virus spread rapidly and was found to have started with pig farmers and abattoir workers that worked closely and handled these animals. As the virus progressed and workers died it was found that pigs in these farms had been coughing loudly (bark type of cough), and nerve damage was becoming prevalent. In a short amount of time approximately five percent of these animals died and the illness was spreading significantly (Pearl, 2006). Also transmissibility has been noted from non-specific animal contact put through the ingestion of date palm juice taken from the trees that bats nest and feed. As the fruit tree workers and farmers gather the palm juice through clay pots bats drink from the pots and transfer saliva to the nectar (Pearl, 2006). Person-to-person Many of the articles written on the Nipah virus states that there is no evidence that there is transmissibility of the virus from person-to-person. In contrast, according to a research investigation done during a Bangladeshi outbreak in 2004, there is definitive evidence that the Nipah virus can be transmitted from person-to-person (Gurley et al., July 2007). According to the research, subsequent investigations in India and Bangladesh have suggested that Nipah virus may have been transmitted from person-to-person. During an outbreak in 2001in India, 75% of the patients, including fourteen healthcare workers, had a history of hospital exposure to patients infected with Nipah virus (Gurley et al., July 2007), with no other exposure risks noted. The exposure, and subsequent virus, occurred with persons who lived with or cared for the patients, and persons who were in close contact for a significant amount of time. According to a research article published by the CDC, the Nipah virus can be transmitted from person-to-person. The article states, in a densely populated area a lethal virus could rapidly spread before effective interventions are implemented. This spread would provide the seed for a substantial regional or global public health problem (Gurley et al., 2007, p. 1036). According to Gurley et al., 2007 there is significant evidence that person-to-person contact will cause infection. The person-to-person transmissibility factors include having (1) touched or received a cough or sneeze in the face, (2) any contact with someone who later died, was febrile, unconscious, or had respiratory difficulty, and (3) visited the home, and possibly, the village an infected person. The most significant evidence of person-to-person infections was with a religious leader where twenty-two persons who had became infected after close contact. The religious leader was moved to his home and eight members of his household became infected. Two brothers who lived a significant distance away were infected after only a six hour visitation, son-in-law and daughter who lived only about one hour away and eleven other followers of the leader contracted the disease after contact (Gurley et al., 2007) with no noted other infection means. Surface-to-person To this date there is no evidence of any transfer of the virus to persons from surface contact, in fact how long the virus remains infectious on environmental surfaces is not known. In an article written by (Gurley et al., 2007) collection of 468 environmental specimens were gathered through swabbing of potential surfaces that included walls, bed frames, mattresses, floors and utensils in hospital rooms and residences of infected individuals. Also collected were swabs from trees, fruits, excrement and other surfaces around possible bat foraging sites. With all of this gathered specimens the only information obtained was that the infected individuals shed the virus into the environment, showing potential for transmission, but no evidence was found that surfaces caused any positive infection to another person. Potential for contagion and considerations relative to Biodefense The Nipah virus has the potential to be a very detrimental bioweapon of choice for domestic or international terrorists. With the virus being zoonotic (disease which can be transmitted to humans from animals, [â€Å"Zoonosisâ€Å", 2009]), which effects animals and humans, and the ease of transmission from the saliva and urine of fruit bats to these two groups the potential for a Potential for contagion and considerations relative to biodefense According to Kortepeter and Parker (Kortepeter Parker, 1999), for a biological agent to be used for a greatest plausible occurrence, an agent must have specific properties: * the agent should be highly lethal and easily produced in large quantities * Given that the aerosol route is the most likely for a large-scale attack, stability in aerosol and capability to be dispersed (17,000 to 5,000 nanometers (nm) particle size) are necessary * being communicable from person-to-person, and * having no treatment or vaccine In using the above criteria the Nipah virus would make a credible biological threat for a domestic or international terrorist group. Host bats being plentiful in Australia and southern Asia would make it easy to obtain the saliva, feces or urine of these hosts for initial development of the virus. The Nipah virus being 150 to 200 nm in diameter and 10,000 to 10,040 nm long (CIDRAP, 2009,  ¶ 3), it could be used in an aerosol form for dispersement. According to Gurley et al., there is significant evidence that there is person-to-person communicability and according to the WHO, there are currently no drugs or vaccines available to treat Nipah virus infection. Intensive supportive care with treatment of symptoms is the main approach to managing the infection in people (2009,  ¶8 ). Conclusion The Nipah virus should be a concern for any government as a potential for a bioterrorist attack. As with the 9/11 and the anthrax attacks in 2001 there could be significant fear, panic, economic issues and social disruption if this virus was used. With a mortality rate of 40% to 100% (Lam, 2002; WHO, 2009), and an incubation period of up to 45 days (WHO, 2009), this could definitely be a pathogen of choice for terrorists. The ease of access to the virus itself from fruit bats, to pigs and to humans, not to mention the transmissibility ease through inhalation and ingestion, makes this the perfect biological weapon. The disease this virus manifests, from flu type symptoms to severe encephalitis, will cause significant fear to the public and will stress healthcare facilities if a large outbreak occurs. This virus also has no known cure as of this date, even though there are developments in that direction. The Nipah virus needs to continue to be monitored and treatment options along with vaccine development needs to be continuous until this threat is diminished. References Biological Warfare. (2009). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 25, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_warfare Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2001). Japanese Encephalitis. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/jencephalitis/qa.htm Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Emergency Preparedness and Response: Bioterrorism; Category C Agents. Retrieved from http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/agentlist-category.asp Center for Infectious Disease Research Policy. (2009). Nipah Virus. Retrieved December 25, 2009, from http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/biosecurity/ag-biosec/anim-disease/nipah.html Cobey, S. (2005). Nipah Virus: Natural History. Retrieved from The Henipavirus Ecology Collaborative Research Group: http://www.henipavirus.org/virus_and_host_info/nipah_virus_natural_history.htm Dr. Jonathan Epstein Returns from Studies of Nipah Virus in Malaysia. (2005). Retrieved from http://www.wildlifetrust.org/news/66-dr_jonathan_epstein_returns_from_studies_of_nipah_virus_in_malaysia Enserink, M. (2004, February 20). Nipah virus (or a cousin) strikes again. Science, 303.5661, 1121. Retrieved from Academic OneFile. Web. 24 Dec. 2009. . Field, H., Young, P., Yob, J. M., Mills, J., Hall, L., Mackenzie, J. (2001). The natural history of Hendra and Nipah viruses. Microbes and Infection, 3, 307-314. doi: 10.1016/S1286-4579(01)01384-3 Fraser, L. (2009, November 16, 2009). Is Hendra and Hipah a threat to US?. Ticker. Retrieved from http://www.theticker.org/about/2.8220/is-hendra-and-nipah-a-threat-to-us-1.2085160 Gurley, E. S., Montgomery, J. M., Hossain, M. J., Bell, M., Azad, A. K., Islam, M. R., Rahim Molla, M. A., Breiman, R. F. (July 2007). Person-toperson transmission of Nipah virus in a Bangladeshi Community. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/13/7/1031.htm Gurley, E. S., Montgomery, J. M., Hossain, M. J., Bell, M., Azad, A. K., Rota, P. A., Lowe, L., Breiman, R. F. (2007). Person-to-person transmission of Nipah Virus in the Banglashi Community. Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/eid Halpin, K., Mungall, B. A. (2007). Recent progress in henipavirus research. Science Direct; Com ¶tive Immunology, Microbiology Infectious Diseases, 30, 287-307. Kortepeter, M. G., Parker, G. W. (1999). Potential biological weapons and threats. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no4/kortepeter.htm Lam, S. (2002). Nipah virus A potential agent of bioterrorism? (Antiviral research 57). Retrieved from Science Direct: http://www.sciencedirect.com.lib-proxy.jsu.edu/science?_ob=MImg_imagekey=B6T2H-47MJ4XH-3-1_cdi=4919_user=446480_orig=search_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2003_sk=999429998view=cwchp=dGLbVtb-zSkzSmd5=464c2420befda40589fa6aef4b45cc20ie=/sdarticle.pdf Lowrey, C. H. (2010, February 10, 2010). Application of Gene Therapy Strategies to Offensive and Defensive Biowarfare (White Paper). Retrieved from Dartmouth Medical School: http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/ethreats/whitepapers/Lowery.html Medical News Today. (2005). UCLS scientists reveal how Nipah virus infects cells. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/27038.php Pearl, M. C. (2006, September 2006). The potential pandemic youve never heard of. Discover, 27 (9), 26-27. Phillips, M. B. (2005). Bioterrorism: A Brief History. Northeast Florida Medicine, 32-35. Retrieved from www.dcmsonline.org/jax-medicine/2005journals/bioterrorism/bioterrorism_history.pdf Ryan, J. R., Glarum, J. F. (2008). Biosecurity and Bioterrorism. Burlington, MA: Elsevier, Inc.. Wong, K. T., Shieh, W., Abdullah, W., Guarner, J., Goldsmith, C. S., Chua, K. B., Lam, S. K., Zaki, S. R. (2002, December). Nipah virus infection: Pathology and pathogenesis of an emerging paramyxoviral zoonosis. American Journal of Pathology, 161 (6), 2153-2167. doi: Retrieved from World Health Organization. (2009). Chronology of Nipah virus outbreaks. Retrieved from World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/nipah_chronology_en.pdf World Health Organization. (2009). Nipah Virus. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs262/en/ Zoonosis. (2009). In Zoonosis. Retrieved from http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?lextype=3search=zoonosis

Half Of A Yellow Sun Chimamanda Adichie English Literature Essay

Half Of A Yellow Sun Chimamanda Adichie English Literature Essay After reading Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies enthralling novel, Half of a Yellow Sun is not a conventional war story. It is a story whose characters live in a changing wartime atmosphere, doing their best to keep that environment at bay. And while the ravages of the Biafran war are well known, they do not manifest themselves in predictable or one-note ways here. From reading the reviews, I learned that this is the authors second novel. It is written with astounding empathy and the natural grace of a normal storyteller, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie weaves together the lives of three characters swept up in the turbulence of the decade. In this literary analysis, I plan on examining aspects of the literary elements that Adichie incorporates as far as her writing style and her reasons for depicting certain elements in certain light. I also plan to break down some characterizations and cultural elements of her novel that I relate to in trying to understand inter-racial/class conflict. Finally, I l ook at how Adichie transforms her characters throughout the novel. Although this analysis may not follow a clearly defined stream, much like the novel does, rest assured that I cover all my bases. The characters and landscape are vividly painted -thirteen year old Ugwu is employed as a houseboy for a university professor full of revolutionary zeal. Olanna is the professors beautiful mistress, who has abandoned her life of privilege in Lagos for a grimy university town and the charisma of her new lover. And Richard is a shy young Englishman courting Olannas twin sister, an enigmatic figure who refuses to belong to anyone. As Nigerian troops advance and the three must run for their lives, their ideals are severely tested and so are their loyalties to one another. In my opinion, the central theme revolves around moral responsibility, about the end of colonialism, about ethnic allegiances, and about class and race. Adichie indicts the outside world for its unconcern and probes the arrogance and ignorance that perpetuated the conflict. Based loosely on political events in nineteen-sixties Nigeria, this novel focuses on Olanna who falls for the imperious academic whose political convictions mask his personal weaknesses; meanwhile, Kainene becomes involved with a shy, studious British white man who struggles to find his place within this conflict though he identifies with the Biafrans. After a series of massacres targeting the Igbo people, the proper world of the two couples breaks down. Half of a Yellow Sun is concerned with class and race and ethnicity which seem to play the biggest role in the relationships of characters to one another. Ugwu is only thirteen when he begins working as a houseboy for Odenigbo, but he is one of the most intelligent and observant characters in the novel. His presence throughout affects the readers experience of the story because he is initially a naive outsider looking in but by the end of the novel he comes into his own. Good or bad, life and the war situation change him into a veteran and he chronicles his experiences during the war. The ways in which Adichie reveals the differences in social class among her characters is also culturally relevant. There are the different cultural assumptions made by educated Africans like Odenigbo, nouveau riche Africans like Olannas parents, uneducated Africans like Odenigbos mother, and British expatriates like Richards ex-girlfriend Susan. Adichie seems to poke fun at certain aspects of her characters, take Odenigbo for instance; the war changes him from educated political debater to a squalid drunk and really displays the power shift in roles. Once he was the stolid figure in the novel, Olanna seems to take that place while he degenerates due to the war scenario. In reading the novel, I couldnt help but express a connection between the Holocaust and the Biafran situation. I found myself questioning why are the Igbo being massacred by the Hausa? I could only attribute their conflict to tribal resentments and rivalries. The novel makes clear that these rivalries have been intensified by British interference supplying the Hausa with money, weapons and ammunitions. Also conveyed by some excerpts throughout the book, the British had to preserve Nigeria as they saw fit a spite of France and to perpetuate their large market. They also rewrote the constitution to give the north control over the central government and even fixed the elections in their favor. Given the history of Nigeria and Britains support during the war, the defeat of Biafra seems a foregone conclusion but I can understand why a people oppressed would revolt. Adichie breaks the chronological sequence of her story so that she can delay the revelation that Baby is not Olannas child and that Olanna had a brief liaison with Richard. The effects of these revelations tell of a cultural dilemma. The babys mother rejects her, Odenigbos mother rejects her for not being a son, yet Olanna shows her true courage in accepting the baby as her own. Adichie makes a point of displaying Olannas middle-class frame of mind. She is disgusted at the cockroach eggs in her cousins house and is reluctant to let Baby mix with village children because they have lice, but by the end of the novel her privileged outlook changed by the war. It is remarkable that a woman so young could write a novel of this scope. There is a human face on these struggles, and being Nigerian-Igbo I can relate to them. Bearing witness to violence and death changes people in the story. Adichie handles descriptions of scenes of violence, death, and famine in an almost brutal and nonchalant way. I can only image what goes through Ugwus mind being that he participates in the rape of the bar girl then finds out that his sister was also gang-raped. Richard, on the other hand, seems like he wants to be African, learns to speak Igbo, and says we when he speaks of Biafra. Although the Biafran soldiers are not impressed, it seems a noble gesture to want to be an Igbo man. Reading this book has deepened my understanding of Biafra in particular and war in general each character make difficult moral judgments. I find myself being least sympathetic to Olanna when she cheats in retaliation, to Ugwu when he rapes the bar-girl, to Eberechi for exchanging favors for security from the soldier, even to Odenigbos mother when she chases Olanna out of the house. Each of the major characters also deal with the question of identity who they are, how they want to be? It is evident that the circumstance in any culture dictates how people act and react and justify their behavior. In this case, survival between two tribes was the catalyst in a previously stable country, language reinforce the novelà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²s themes of racial and social division. For example, Ugwuà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²s love of the English language, or the mixing of dialects and words throughout the novel. Even in Richardà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²s character, he seems like an outsider. I feel sympathy for him and a lthough his character adds extra insight into the Nigeria/Biafra war, I think that he is much like a ghost roaming the entire novel looking for a place to fit in. That is why it is particularly sad at the end of the novel when Kainene doesnt return as she would have been the only person to allow Richard to assimilate into the culture. In conclusion, the story is one of survival and remembrance from an Igbo perspective; it is important story to retell. The story begins as Ugwus aunty describes to Ugwu his new employer: Master was a little crazy; he had spent too many years reading books overseas, talked to himself in his office, did not always return greetings, and had too much hair. It ends with Ugwus dedication of his book: For Master, my good man. I can only consider how Ugwus relation to his master has changed throughout the course of the story, it fitting that Ugwu, and not Richard, should be the one who writes the story of the war and his people. It was a surprise to discover that Ugwu was the author of The World was Silent When We Died? I found this a great twist and I didnt see it coming. Since loyalty and betrayal is one of the dominant themes throughout the novel, the key characters betray each other, or themselves repeatedly but the greater threat from an outside enemy helps to put things in perspective and enable them to forgive and move on and provides for unification. I found the end of the story sad but settling since the Igbos returned to their homes, I cannot image having to flee from my home due to racial or tribal persecution.

Growin Up In the Hood :: essays research papers

Growing Up In the Hood   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is it a coincidence that highly urbanized areas are full of crime and always statistically higher than small towns and rural areas? A child that is being brought up in a metropolitan area that is full of violent crimes is flooded in a sense and has nothing to do but to breath in some of the negative influences that go on around him. Therefore, I believe that the most influential scene in a child’s life is the neighborhood that he grows up in. Parents cannot constantly watch over their children, ask about whom they are hanging out with, constantly check where they are, and find out what they are getting themselves into? (Statistics p348)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When a child is growing up he is frequently asked what he is going to do for money when he gets older. The more this question is asked to them, the more they feel like they have to have money to be happy in life. After many tries of trying to make a stable life at a low paying job, a criminal life maybe more appealing to them at they may start living life under the gun. As stated by William Wilson in When Work Disappears, â€Å"Neighborhoods plagued by high levels of joblessness are more likely to experience low levels of social organization, they go hand in hand.† In Chicago for instance, in 1990 there was only one in three in the twelve ghetto communities that had held a job in a typical workweek of the year. When there are high rates of joblessness bigger problems surface such as violent crime, gang violence, and drug trafficking. (Wilson P356-362)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  These crime-ridden communities (or ghettos) are springing up all through the country, mainly in and around major metropolitan areas. These areas are the most populated, so that means that within these areas are the most people there to be influenced by the crimes committed by fellow people. In Male's reading he shows statistics that prove the fact that once the poverty factor is taken away then teen violence disappears. He later adds, â€Å"That if America wants to rid of juvenile violence than serious consideration needs to be given to the societally inflicted violence of raising three to 10 times more youth in poverty than other Western nations.† (Males p386)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As stated by Elijah Anderson, â€Å"Just living in a low-income area gives most residents less hope for there own future.

The Making and Unmaking of the Haya Lived World: Consumption, Commoditization, and Everyday Practice. :: Haya Humanity Essays

The Making and Unmaking of the Haya Lived World: Consumption, Commoditization, and Everyday Practice In relation to the Haya of Northwest Tanzania, Brad Weiss constructs a model of coeval symmetry in which people engage in making the world around them but also engage in making themselves (4). His ethnographic analysis illustrates how relationships with commodities contribute to the constitution and reconfiguration of the Haya sociocultural world. Drawing from the phenomenological work of Merleau-Ponty, Weiss constructs the Haya lived world in terms of inhabiting both social space and time in an effort to show the relevance of this conception of the world to both the anthropology of the body and understanding sociocultural practice in general (5-6). Weiss not only argues that commodities like food or land have social value but that they "can be understood as personifications (e.g. as extensions or embodiments) of those who give and receive them" (13). Part 1 focuses on the household production, provision, and consumption of food, which Weiss states is essential to making the lived world of the Haya. The cultural values regarding interiority, exteriority, heat, and speed are discussed as modes by which the Haya mediate with the processes of consumption. Architectural descriptions of different Haya homes are oriented to the ways in which division, enclosure, and exclusion shape the Haya habitus. Spatial configurations of social relations become embedded in Haya house opening rites, which serve to protect the house against potential conflict with guests (38). The hearth is central to the household, both literally (spatially) and metaphorically, in terms of the social relations which rest on it. Weiss relates the consumption of different kinds of banana beer and banana gin to both the temporal nature of banana cultivation and of beverage production and consumption. Hearth-ripened bananas involve a slower process but the resulting beer (olibisi) is considered superior (taste, ascetics) to that beer produced from the pit (olutala)-ripened method, a faster and more lucrative process. Banana gin (enkonyagi), having a much higher alcohol content, commands a higher market price but is associated with "the desire for money and its deleterious consequences" (61). Not only is the banana-ripening process faster for the gin, but also patrons get drunk more quickly while rapidly losing their pocket money. Weiss suggests that the Haya associate the rapid speed of such product turnover with animosity and illness, while the hearth is more revered for both its placement in the home and its more withdrawn stance from the world of quick monetized exchange.

Love from a Romantic Perspective in the Poems Essay

â€Å"Romantic† – this word holds many different connotations and brings to mind a collection of different images. It can be â€Å"fanciful, impractical, unrealistic†; it can be â€Å"ardent, passionate, fervent†; and it can be â€Å"imaginary, fictitious, or fabulous†. According to the dictionary, â€Å"romantic† is an adjective characterized by a preoccupation with love, or by the idealizing of love or one’s beloved. In the three poems I have chosen – â€Å"Let me not to the marriage of true minds† by William Shakespeare, â€Å"La Belle Dame Sans Merci† by John Keats and â€Å"Piano† by D.H. Lawrence, the poets use a variety of linguistic and literary devices, as well as explore different themes and imagery, to present love from a â€Å"romantic† perspective. The â€Å"romance† portrayed in the three poems may be distinct to each other, but is without a doubt something that idealizes love, that elevates the subject of love onto a pedestal. The poems â€Å"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?† by William Shakespeare, â€Å"First Love† by John Clare and â€Å"Remember† by Christina Rossetti also depict love in a romantic light. I will examine exactly how the poets do it – how the poets ingeniously present love from a romantic perspective in their poems. Firstly, â€Å"Let me not to the marriage of true minds† – also known as Sonnet 116 – is one of the most famous in William Shakespeare’s collection of sonnets. It demonstrates the glory and invincibility of love, and is a poem addressed to a mysterious â€Å"Fair Youth†. The sonnet proposes the idea that true love will always persevere, regardless of any obstacles or troubles that may come. Shakespeare employs various literary and linguistic devices to present love from a romantic perspective and portray it in a divine light. Shakespeare uses metaphors and imagery to idealize love, presenting the subject romantically. The lines â€Å"It is an ever-fixed mark / That looks on tempests and is never shaken† and â€Å"the star to every wandering bark† portray love as a permanent guide, something unwavering and definite that will always be there. The idea that love is a guiding star has been used in countless poems by many different poets, but Shakespeare puts a unique emphasis on this imagery. The main metaphor of the sonnet is that love is like the North Star, which never changes position in the night sky – it has been a stable point used for navigation for centuries, and by using such a comparison, Shakespeare portrays love as the star that shepherds people through life. The â€Å"tempests† that trouble the seas are a metaphor for the obstacles that relationships may have to face, and the â€Å"wandering bark† personifies the lost ship, as if it has a purpose and is looking for something. â€Å"Wandering bark† is also a metaphor for a lover being led, by love, out of the boisterous sea of life. Through the use of nautical imagery, Shakespeare presents love from a romantic perspective by creating a vivid scene of a ship lost in the turbulence of a stormy sea, with a serene, unmoving star as a guide above. The poet also explores the themes of time, age and death to glorify love, hence presenting it romantically. Elizabethan readers of Shakespeare’s sonnets are familiar with the Grim Reaper, the icon of European culture in the medieval period when many died every day due to the Black Plague. The Grim Reaper is a horrifying character who bears a scythe, skeletal and macabre. However, in Sonnet 116, Shakespeare expresses that the Grim Reaper can actually be defeated by love – again depicting the intrepidity of it. â€Å"Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks / Within his bending sickle’s compass come:† personifies love and time, claiming that Love will not succumb to Time. â€Å"Sickle’s compass come† uses the plosive sound of â€Å"k† to mimic the harsh sounds of a death rattle – it is onomatopoeic. In the lines â€Å"Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, / But bears it out even to the edge of doom.†, the â€Å"his† refers to Time, and Shakespeare is emphasizing the prowess of love by showing that Time has no effect or control over it. This lifts â€Å"love† onto a pedestal and portrays it in a romantic light. Similarly, Shakespeare also employs the themes of time and eternity to glorify love in another one of his most famous poems – Sonnet 18, â€Å"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?†. In this sonnet, the speaker compares a â€Å"beloved† to a summer’s day, and says that the beloved’s eternal summer will never fade, that the beloved would be kept alive forever by the poem. Once again, Shakespeare personifies death, this time as the one who oversees a â€Å"shade† – Shakespeare writes that the beloved will conquer all and will not be swept into this sickly light of Death. Thirdly, Shakespeare’s use of iambic pentameter and rhythm also elevates the subject of love and presents it from a romantic perspective. The sonnet manages to have a consistent rhythm, yet seem conversational; it is able to be formal and planned, but casual and spontaneous at the same time. This is achieved through Shakespeare’s ingenious use of rhythm and pacing. The iambic pentameter becomes very obvious after the third line, â€Å"Which alters when it alteration finds†, thus creating a consistent pacing. However, the poet uses dramatic exclamations to break up the rhythm, making the speaker seem more human than a machine – an example would be, â€Å"O no! It is an ever fixed mark†. The metaphors and imagery used all weave a sophisticated sonnet, but the actual language is very simple, making the sonnet easy to read and the claims well-illustrated. The closing two lines, â€Å"If this be error and upon me proved, / I never writ, nor no man ever loved.†, is a rhyming couplet that is full of impact. The couplet again immortalizes love and praises it with glory, an epitome of presenting love from a romantic perspective. William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116 is one of the most famous poems that immortalizes love. I think it definitely successfully presents love from a romantic perspective, using a variety of devices. Even after dissecting the poem and analyzing each of the aspects respectively, I am still overwhelmed by the general sense of romance that comes through, instead of being focused on the mechanics and functions of words and phrases. I feel that the â€Å"romantic† sense in Sonnet 116 is that of an idealization of love, and Shakespeare crafts it beautifully. The second poem I will investigate is â€Å"La Belle Dame Sans Merci†, a ballad written by John Keats in 1819. It is a poem that also presents love from a romantic perspective, though in a different way. In this poem, the â€Å"romance† that is portrayed is passionate and fictitious – something akin to a magical myth. The title of the ballad translates to â€Å"The Beautiful Lady Without Pity†. John Keats had taken inspiration and the title from the early fifteenth century French poem by Alain Chartier, though the narratives of the two poems are different. John Keats chose this phrase to use as the title of his ballad to highlight the storyline of a seductive woman who tempts a man of honour from the real world and abandons him with unfulfilled dreams, drained of life. The theme of dangerous and unrequited love is explored in the poem. John Keats is well known for being one of the most prominent poets of the Romantic era, and â€Å"La Belle Same Sans Merc i† is one of his most famous poems. John Keats plays with floral imagery to present love from a romantic perspective. Flowers are beautiful and delicate things that are often given as gifts and expressions of love and romance – and by using flowers as symbols for different meanings in the poem, Keats portrays love in a romantic light. In line 9, the speaker says to the knight, â€Å"I see a lily on thy brow† – lilies are pale white and are often associated with death in the Western culture, and this is a metaphor expressing that the knight looks sickly and deathly pale. Another obvious use of floral imagery to romanticize love is seen in lines 11-12, â€Å"And on thy cheeks a fading rose / Fast withereth too.† Roses are often associated with love in the Western culture, and the knight’s rose â€Å"fading and withering† holds connotations of the ending of a romantic relationship. However, the rose, like the lily, is also describing the knight’s complexion – the colour is fading from his cheeks. In these two lines, Keats cleverly employs the rose as a symbol for both the knight’s pale face and waning love. Lastly, in lines 17-18, the knight makes a garland and bracelets out of flowers for the faery’s child. Flowers hold connotations of beauty, love and life, and the knight adorns the woman with them – Keats uses the flowers as a symbol to show the intensity of the knight’s love for her. Another image that is repeatedly explored in the poem is â€Å"paleness†, and this paints love in a romantic sense as it highlights the melancholic and dramatically destructive aspects of love. In the beginning of the poem, in line 2, the paleness is already established by the speaker – â€Å"Alone and palely loitering†. This line has the alliteration of the consonance â€Å"l†, and this creates a musical sound that emphasizes the phrase, especially drawing the readers’ attention to the rarity of using â€Å"pale† as an adverb – â€Å"palely†. An internal rhyme is also created, as â€Å"palely† rhymes with â€Å"ail thee† from line 1 – again, this highlights the phrase and enhances the â€Å"paleness† of the knight, underlining the romantic melancholy of the knight. In the lines 37-38, the word â€Å"pale† is used three times in just two lines. When the knight is describing his dream, he speaks of â€Å"pale kings† and â€Å"pale warriors†, who were all â€Å"death pale† – the images painted in the readers’ minds are drained of colour and life, and the â€Å"paleness† is now explicitly associated with death. Lastly, in the lines 37-40, â€Å"pale† is repeated to accentuate the similarities between the word and the words â€Å"all†, â€Å"belle†, and â€Å"thrall†. The consonance creates a connection between all the words when they are read aloud, and makes the readers think whether the â€Å"belle dame† could’ve been the cause of the â€Å"paleness† of â€Å"all† the knights, warriors and princes she had in â€Å"thrall†. This clever manipulation of â€Å"paleness† reinforces the sense of a â€Å"story† in the ballad and enriches the romance within, presenting love from a romantic perspective. In addition, John Keats utilizes the â€Å"lyrical† sense of the ballad format to elevate the romance in the poem. â€Å"La Belle Dame Sans Merci† has the typical features of a ballad, and when read aloud, it is similar to a folk song. The words have a continuous, uniform rhythm that sets an underlying beat, and the literary devices employed – such as alliteration and rhymes – create a harmonious sound. The ballad also has a â€Å"circular structure† – it begins and ends similarly, with â€Å"The sedge has wither’d from the lake, / And no birds sing.† as the ending of the first stanza, and â€Å"Though the sedge is wither’d from the lake, / And no bird sing.† for the last stanza. This seems to make â€Å"La Belle Dame Sans Merci† appear more like a song than just a plain poem. Because of this musical sense that is added to the poem, John Keats puts the subject of his poem – love – onto a pedest al and portrays it romantically, akin to a love song. Lastly, the imagery of dew and water is used to intensify the danger of women in the poem, and this in turn portrays love in a fatal sense, rivetingly romantic. Women were often associated with water in medieval romances, and John Keats used this tradition in his medieval folk ballad. This symbolic tradition is a metaphor for men who become weakened after contact with dangerous women. A reference to water is already used in the beginning of the poem – in line 3, the speaker identifies death and â€Å"wither’d† with water – â€Å"The sedge has wither’d from the lake†. A lake does not flow like a river or a spring; it is stagnant and void of life. This already creates an ominous mood that hangs over the rest of the poem, and emphasizes the catastrophe that love has done to the knight. In line 10, the unnamed speaker says that the knight’s face has â€Å"anguish moist and fever dew† – the knight is sweating from a fever. This again demonstrates that the knight is physically ill from love, and also makes the reader wonder where he caught the fever. The readers seem to find the answer later on, when â€Å"dew† is repeated – the faery’s child fed the knight â€Å"manna dew† in line 26. â€Å"Manna† is heavenly food – but it was not originally food that is eaten as â€Å"dew†. John Keats wrote that the manna was in liquid state to add to the continuous metaphors used throughout the whole ballad. John Keats seems to hint that women are gentle and soft like water, but when men came into contact with them, they could suddenly become rash and vicious. Women are dangerous and unpredictable like water. This metaphor makes love seem thrillingly romantic; exhilarating – it delineates love in a romantic light. Another poem that echoes this idea of men becoming weakened by women and love is â€Å"First Love† by John Clare. This poem is about the poet’s first and seemingly unrequited love. John Clare uses the imagery of â€Å"deathly paleness† to show the destruction of love, too – he writes, â€Å"My face turned pale as deathly pale†. Clare also explores the aspect of becoming physically ill from dangerous love, just like Keats’s portrayal of love in â€Å"La Belle Dame Sans Merci†. Clare writes, â€Å"And blood burnt round my heart†, claiming that he was in physical pain – similarly, John Keats writes that the knight has an actual fever from his deleterious love. When I was comparing the poems, â€Å"La Belle Dame Sans Merci† and â€Å"First Love†, I was surprised and very intrigued by the similarities between them. Both poems seem to draw out the most fatal features of love, describing it as something that would drain men of life. I am engaged by the way they depict the thrilling qualities of love with corresponding images, and it is fascinating to see that the poets have chosen to portray love in a romantically dangerous light after analyzing the idealized â€Å"true love† in Shakespeare’s sonnets. The third poem I am going to analyze is â€Å"Piano† by D.H Lawrence. The love portrayed here is not that of a romantic relationship between a man and a woman, but that of a relationship between Lawrence and his mother. The poet begins the poem with an enchanting evening, where music brings back memories of his beloved mother – he then borrows the idyllic atmosphere of the evening to describe his reminiscence, hence presenting love from a romantic perspective. Even though the poem does not depict a relationship of â€Å"romance†, it does render love in a nostalgic and sentimental sense. â€Å"Piano† is a poem where the single speaker is listening to a woman sing to him, and the music brings him back to dwell in the memories of his childhood. The speaker remembers fondly of the times when his mother sang to him whilst playing the piano. In the end of the poem, the memory of the past overwhelms the present. As a man, the speaker should be more enraptured by the passionate singing of the woman, but his memory conquers his manhood as he loses control of his emotions. The speaker remembers his mother’s singing with tears on his face – he becomes a child again. The first line of the poem already creates an overall romantic atmosphere. â€Å"Softly, in the dusk, a woman is singing to me†. The word â€Å"softly† casts a gentle and tender tone to the following lines. The diction of the word â€Å"dusk† holds connotations of a peaceful warmth, an enigmatic and mysterious twilight, painting an image of a soothing glow in the minds of the readers. This first line sets the mood of the poem and creates a romantic background for the remaining lines of the poem to be based upon. The use of romantic atmosphere is also demonstrated in the description of the climax of the singer rising to a crescendo – â€Å"So now it is vain for the singer to burst into clamour / With the great black piano appassionato. The glamour†. The language is powerful and passionate. The memories of the speaker’s childhood also create a warm and secure ambience that forms a lingering feeling of romance. In the final line, â€Å"Down in the flood of remembrance, I weep like a child for the past.†, the diction of â€Å"flood† and â€Å"weep† craft a romantically melancholic atmosphere. Likewise, in the poem â€Å"Remember† by Christina Rossetti, an atmosphere of romantic melancholy is also explored to present love from a romantic perspective. The poem depicts a somber aspect of love by featuring the theme of death, and glorifies love by making it seem beyond death’s darkness. D.H. Lawrence also uses sibilance and assonance to portray love in a romantic perspective. The repetition of the â€Å"s† sounds in the opening line intensifies the feelings of romance as well as intimacy. Furthermore, assonance is used in the first two lines of the last stanza – â€Å"So now†¦clamour†¦glamour†¦Ã¢â‚¬  – the long â€Å"o† sounds depict the musical climax of the singer’s performance in a romantic sense. Sibilance is again used in the line â€Å"smiles as she sings†, and the repeated â€Å"i† sounds in the line create the facial effects of a smile when read aloud. This intensifies the romantic feeling of the poem as it emphasizes the speaker’s mother smiling and singing, and brings to mind images of affection and tenderness. Tone and language are also employed to present love in a romantic perspective. The language used can be called conversational, and is definitely very intimate. It is that of a narrative, as if the speaker is telling a very personal story. By starting the poem with â€Å"Softly†, the poet creates a romantic longing for the past, as the word has a semantic field of tender fondness. The warmth in the tone when the speaker is describing the childhood scenes also creates romantically nostalgic images in the minds of readers. In the fourth line of the first stanza, â€Å"And pressing the small, poised feet of a mother who smiles as she sings†, the repetition of the plosive â€Å"p† highlights the rhythm of the piano, as well as the intimacy between the son and the mother. Additionally, other techniques that are used to present love from a romantic perspective include repetition and metaphors. â€Å"Piano† is repeated in each stanza, making the image consistent through the whole poem – the piano then becomes a romantic symbol for the speaker’s love for his mother. The word â€Å"tinkling† in the second stanza can be seen as a repetition of the â€Å"tingling† in the first stanza, and this use of onomatopoeia creates a pleasant sound when read aloud, adding to the sentimental mood of the poem. â€Å"Weeps† is used in both the second stanza and the last stanza, and the repetition accentuates the speaker’s need and longing for his mother that seems romantically sad. In the poem, the poet also uses â€Å"vista† as a metaphor for â€Å"memory† – a vista is a beautiful view seen through a long and narrow opening, and this creates a bewitching image in the readers’ minds of scenes fr om a childhood spread out across a landscape. Similarly, the poet also writes, â€Å"the flood of remembrance† – in the diction of â€Å"flood†, the writer creates an image of an unstoppable overwhelming of emotions, and it is this uncontainable quality that adds to the romantic nostalgia. Metonymy is also used – â€Å"feet† represent the speaker’s mother. The scenes created in the readers’ minds seem to feature a faceless mother, focusing on the â€Å"child sitting under the piano†¦pressing the small, poised feet of a mother who smiles as she sings†. The mother’s face is not described – the only feature of the mother that the readers envision is her feet and her smile. This adds a romantic quality to the poem as it puts the world in a small child’s perspective, and gives a somewhat enigmatic aura to the mother and also expresses the fractured, dreamlike qualities of a memory. The â€Å"small, poised feet† of the mother portray her in a gentle and delicate light, and intensifies the overall romantic perspective of motherly love in the poem. In conclusion, the three poems – â€Å"Let me not to the marriage of true minds†, â€Å"La Belle Dame Sans Merci† and â€Å"Piano† – all display a variety of different techniques to present love from a romantic perspective. All three poets use literary and linguistic devices such as metaphors, sibilance, assonance and more. The three poems accent love with romance, whether it is a conventional man-woman relationship or mother-son relationship. The term â€Å"romantic† is explored by each of the poets: William Shakespeare immortalizes true love and makes it seem perfect and omnipotent; John Keats adds a vital, riveting quality to love and D.H. Lawrence examines the subject through a lens of nostalgia. After analyzing these three poems, I realized that the human experience of love has moved poets, throughout the centuries, to express the nature of love romantically. Love is depicted as fanciful, dreamy, impractical; invincible, passionate, immortal. Poets have a desire to eternalize the subject of their poems – whether it is their beloved, or love itself. It is as William Shakespeare writes in Sonnet 18, â€Å"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?† – â€Å"So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, / So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.† I agree with Shakespeare – as long as there are people alive to read poems, the nature of love that William Shakespeare, John Keats and D.H. Lawrence tried to present from a romantic perspective will live on forever.