Individual reflection about a presentation(denmark Coursework

Individual reflection about a presentation(denmark - Coursework Example In an article written by Katzenbach and Smith (1993), The discipline of teams, there is an interesting exerpt, â€Å"When individuals approach a team situation, especially in a business setting, each has preexisting job assignments as well as strengths and weaknesses reflecting a variety of talents, backgrounds, personalities, and prejudices† (p. 168). The strength of our team was a powerful one. Though we had problems trying to meet each other due to distances we were able to put in our efforts and do our best. We were able to communicate with each other and each member was able to contribute to making our project succes. We understood each others weaknesses and we overcame those weaknesses by working together. This project had given us a positive experience that neither of us will soon forget. Though we only met four times during the making of our project I would like to experience this form of comradery again. We have accomplished a lot in such a small amount of time. The w eaknesses our group had were not based on an inability to get along. In actuality, we worked diligently and strived together. The problem was our distances from each other as well as our schedule. There are things that we are obligated to do in life such as work. Jobs and family life must take a priority and on the other hand, making a schedule to meet up together was difficult. Because of all of our different schedules we needed to set up a specific time and place to meet. Two of our group members live in London and us other two live far from each other as well. But even though the distance was large we were all able to meet up as scheduled. There were many difficulties trying to get our work done and it was sometimes overwhelming but we learned to compromise with each other to get the work done. As a team leader it took me much effort to have the group run successfully.We met up on February 15th for our first meeting. During that time I assigned divided the project so that each te am member would have a part and I took the first one which was about the background of Denmark. When we had to work on the part about Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions, we separated the part into pairs. During our second meeting on the 17th, we were able to begin our PowerPoint. On the 22nd we finalized the PowerPoint and organized it to make it sound perfect. And finally, on the 23rd we spent hours upon hours reciting and practicing our presentation. Before our presentation we had practiced ruthlessly. We were proud that our efforts had given fruition to our success. During my time as the group leader I had to coach everybody in the team. I encouraged everyone to think hard about the work we have done. I was able to learn a lot from my team members. I have learned that communication skills are important when working towards a common goal. As De Janasz-Dowd-Schneider (2005, pg. 195) put it, everyone should participate and take responsibility on what he or she has to do. The key to all of this is communication. If a team member is having issues, we should assist the best way we can. Without proper communication we would have had a hard time working together. We were able to tackle this project with our hard work and understanding of each others’

How Young People Represented in Eastenders and Hollyoaks Essay Example for Free

How Young People Represented in Eastenders and Hollyoaks Essay Eastenders is a British Soap Opera, first broadcast in the UK on BBC1. It’s about people who works and live in the frictional London Borough of Walford in the East End of London. The scenes usually around the Albert Square. This soap originally played in the TV as two half-hour episodes per week since 2001, for episodes are broadcast each week. It is one of the UK’s highest rated programmes. It’s created by two person called Julia Smith and Tony Holland. Hollyoaks is a long running British Soap Opera firs broadcasted on Channel 4 in 1995. It’s created by Phil Redmond and Directed by Ross Knowles and Robert Duffey. This programme is set in a fictional suburb of Chester called Hollyoaks. Scenes usually around the education college called Hollyoaks Community College. The characters are people who are in their late teens or early twenties. The series are filmed at Lime Pictures. There are many conventions in the soaps. Cliff hangers are is a practice of ending of an episode which leaves the character in a seemingly impossible situation or something really exciting happens. The purpose of this that it makes the story so interesting which makes people want to watch the next episode of the soap. Moralistic storylines are usually main theme of the story; the lesson the main character learns. Usually people who watching the soap learns from that storyline. For example for a moral storyline is could be that: a girl steals another girl’s roller-skate, the moral in this that stealing is wrong. Multiple storylines are means in a soap that lots of different lines going on. For example that a lady has a baby, someone had a car crash, while the school burnt down. Realism is also important for a soap opera because who watching it has to believe in that it’s ‘real’. For example people can’t sell a pen which cost 50p for  £20.000 because it’s not realistic. Soaps are passing on social messages such as: drunk driving, young pregnancy, taking drugs and so on. The writers passing these messages to do not do any of these by showing their consequences. If people see that 5 people dies because the driver was drunk they might not going the drive when they drinking. Characters from Eastenders I’ve chosen are Stacey Slater and Bradley Branning. Stacey had arrived in Watford at the age of 15 and she stayed with her uncle Charlie. She had been causes troubles with her behavior. She had been thrown out because of her behavior. She falls in love with Bradley BranningStacey represented like a bad teenage girl with lots of boyfriends. She also had taken drugs in the past. She not very educated. She worked at a stall. She was pregnant but had an abortion. Bradley represented as a quite clever teenage boy. He has a good job at the bank. Was in a relationship with Stacey. He sexually harassed by his boss. He flirted with lots of girls/women. He flirted with her colleague as well. I’ve chosen these characters because I thought they are exciting to me. Characters from Hollyoaks are Ste Hay, He has some wicked ways. It hasnt all been plain sailing for him. A job at chez brought him into the flight path of one Brendan Brady and so began the twisted love/hate/love/hate/love romance that is Stendan. All sorts of obstacles have come between them pregnant girlfriends, fitness instructors, angry wives and long lost sons; however it was Brendans issues with his sexuality and his propensity for violence that stopped them truly being together. Leanne Holiday is a blonde, petite, button-nosed; Leanne looks all sweetness and light. She first came to the village as fiancà ©e to Lee Hunter, who was returning to the village after a five year absence. Hardcore fans will have followed their engagement in the online drama Fresher’s. Wandering eyes from both parties soon caused trouble in their relationship, Leanne snagging Doug and Lee falling for Amy. She always chases boys. Young people in Eastenders represented more badly, in there are young pregnancies and other bad stuff going around the young characters. In Hollyoaks the young people are mostly represented as a studying respectful teenager. So the young people in Eastenders represented most likely as bad, while in Hollyoaks they are represented as goods. I think in Eastenders and Hollyoaks young people are represented in the way how the young people act or behave in the real life. Some young people having in trouble some of them are behaving well and doing their work and just being normal.

Dames, Coppers, and Crooks: A L:ook At Film Noir Essay -- essays resea

Dames, Coppers, and Crooks: A Look At Film Noir   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Film noir is a style of black and white American films that first evolved in the 1940s, became prominent in the post-war era, and lasted in a classic â€Å"Golden Age† period until about 1960. Frank Nino, a French film critic, first coined the label film noir, which literally means black film or cinema, in 1946. Nino noticed the trend of how â€Å"dark† and black the looks and themes were of many American crime and detective films released in France following World War II. In fact, only French critics used the term film noir in their work until the era of noir was over. The French label did not become widely known until the 1970s. The term film noir is now a more familiar term and it is used more often.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many historical factors that influenced the creation of film noir. During the 1930s, American was struggling with the Great Depression. There was widespread unemployment. The country also led an isolationist political belief, had beliefs of lasting world peace and pledged neutrality. They also had a very small standing army. America had all of these beliefs as they entered World War II.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States emerged as the one great victor of the war. The war had devastated Europe and shattered Asia. America, however, had not had any major warfare on its own territory, and during the war it had managed to leap out of the depression and reach almost full employment for it’s inhabitants. America also had the world’s largest military force and the world’s most threatening weapon. The country now had interests and responsibilities all over the world, but especially in Europe. As the Americans emerged from the war, they were elated and proud, happy of their victory and proud of their military and industrial might.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The 1940s and 50s were an era of economic boom, partly upheld by military demands during and after WWII, and partly by the Americans new consumer demands. Most people wanted newer and better things, which they now could also afford. It was at this time that the G.I. Bill of Rights was created. This bill was a veteran funding system that led to an increase in both college education and the founding of the suburban homes of the 50s. This was a kind of social revolution with consequences lik... ...d by them and the film noir is generally very closely connected with the 1940s Hollywood. This particular criticism of noir as a genre relies upon whether one regards the more recent films as a continuation of the noir tradition or not. Furthermore, film noir tends to cross traditional genre boundaries. There are noir westerns, gangster films and comedies to mention some. Other critics avoid these problems by viewing film noir not as a genre, but by emphasizing the stylistic elements. Here, tone and mood are given considerable weight. Maybe it would be best to simply state that all of the above describe some aspects of what one can call the film noir phenomenon. Works Consulted The Development of Post-war Literary and Cinematic Noir. 29 Jan 2005 http://www.crimeculture.com/Contents/Film%20Noir.html. Dirks, Tim. Film Noir. 29 Jan 2005 http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html. Hordnes, Lise. Does Film Noir mirror the culture of contemporary America?. 6 Mar 2003. 29 Jan 2005 http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/E/noir/noir01.html. Horsley, Lee. Thriller (Noir), 1930-. 20 Oct 2001. The Literary Encyclopedia. 29 Jan 2005 http://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=11251.html.

John Dryden: England’s Controversial and Exceptional Genius

John Dryden was England’s most outstanding and controversial writer for the later part of the seventeenth century, dominating the literary world as a skilled and versatile dramatist, a pioneer of literary criticism, and a respected writer of the Restoration period. With Dryden’s great literary and critical influence on the English society during the Restoration period he has made a name for himself, which will be studied and honored for years to come. John Dryden was born in Northamptonshire, in 1631. His parents were Erasmus Dryden and Mary Pickery. They were both from wealthy and respected families in Northamptonshire. The Drydens were known for wisdom and great tradition all over England and were well-equipped with large estates and vast lands (Ward 5). Dryden’s father, Erasmus, was a justice of the peace during the usurpation, and was the father of fourteen children; four sons, and ten daughters. The sons were John, Erasmus, Henry, and James; the daughters were Agness, Rose, Lucy, Mary, Martha, Elizabeth, Hester, Hannah, Abigail, and France (Kinsley 34). Dryden was also a religious man. He had as much faith in the Lord as he did in his pen. He belonged to the Church of England all his life until converting to Catholicism due to the change of the throne. He was baptized at All Saints Church in Aldwinule, Northamptonshire ten days after his birth (Hopkins 75). Dryden, growing into a young man, began his education in his hometown. There he took the basic classes. He furthered his education at Westminister School in London. Here, he attended school for about twelve hours a day, beginning and ending at six. At Westminister he studied history, geography, and study of the Scripture, plus all the basics. After Westminister he Cunningham 2 attended Cambridge University (Hopkins 14). While attending Cambridge University, he excelled to the top of his class and was a standout student. John Dryden was the greatest and most represented English man of letters of the last quarter of the seventeenth century. From the death of Milton in 1674 to his own in 1700, no other writer can compare with him in versatility and power (Sherwood 39). He was in fact a versatile writer, with his literary works consisted of tragedy, comedy, heroic play, opera, poetry, and satire. Although he did write most of his important original poems to serve some passing political purpose, he made them immortal by his literary genius (Miner 3). John Dryden was the type of man who was always busy with some great project. He would never put full time and concentration into his work. He would quickly finish a project, careless of perfection, and hurry off to begin another, which was not a tempting deal on either the author’s side nor the reader’s side because Dryden lived in a time where there were few well-printed works (Hopkins 1). So much of his work consisted of numerous errors, misprints, and lost pages. Several critics have attempted to revise and correct his work but usually for the worse ( Harth 3). Despite his popularity during the Restoration and even today, little is known about John Dryden except what is in his works. Because he wrote from the beginning through the end of the Restoration period, many literary scholars consider the end of the Restoration period to have occurred with Dryden’s death in 1700 (Miner 2). Surviving Dryden was his wife Lady Elizabeth and there were three sons, to whom he had always been a loving and careful father. John, his oldest son, followed his father in death only three years later in April of 1700. His wife, the â€Å"Widow of a poet,† died shortly after his death in the summer of 1714 at the age of 78 (Bredvold 314). Dryden certainly attained his goal of popularity especially after his death. He became this Cunningham 3 through his â€Å"achievements in verse translations, the first English author to depend for a livelihood directly on the reading public and opening the future of profitable careers for great novelists during the next two centuries† (Frost 17). The Restoration period was a time of great literature and outstanding writers, but, with all the talent in this century, there were also many problems. The Restoration was an angry time in literary history. Writers threw harsh blows at one another, not with fists but with paper and ink. It was an age of plots, oaths, vows and tests: they were woven into the â€Å"fabric of everyday life, and hardly a person in England escaped being touched by them† (Hammond 131). During this time he wrote about what was going on in life activities quite often in his work. At this time there was a major controversy over the conversion from Protestantism to Roman Catholicism. Dryden’s church was in a strange and uncomfortable position. Since the time of the Restoration it had been an underground organization because it was regarded as the enemy of the English monarchy. Some of the members have been accused, and others falsely accused, of setting plots against the crown (Hopkins 85). In 1663, Dryden, â€Å"under the cloud of some personal disgrace,† married Sir Robert Howard’s sister, Lady Elizabeth. The marriage provided no financial advantages or much compatibility for the couple, but Dryden did gain some social status because of her nobility. Because of his social success, Dryden was made a member of the Royal Society that same year. Since he was a non-participating member and did not pay his dues, his membership was later revoked. In 1664, he wrote a poem honoring his brother-in-law, Sir Robert Howard, with whom Dryden remained involved personally and professionally for some time. In 1668, he was Cunningham 4 named Poet Laureate and was offered a share in the Theater Royal’s profits in exchange for his plays. This is where he earned a large portion of his income, and ensured his financial stability for the next several years. However, in 1689 when William and Mary took the throne they replaced John Dryden, a Catholic; and made Thomas Shadwell, a Protestant, the new Poet Laureate (Verrall 6). John Dryden was a poet for about forty years. He was formally known as a â€Å"public poet† because a great amount of his poetry dealt with public issues (Harth 3). The explanation for Dryden’s late development as a poet was due to the simple fact that he had nothing to say. In Dryden’s poems, the descriptions he gave avoided unique, concrete details; he preferred general terms. When he described men and women, he gave his attention to moral qualities, not physical appearance. He usually glorified the lower social class and put the upper social class in a shadow (Sherwood 7). Many of Dryden’s poems were congested with printing errors and misspelled words, although, the reasons for this were not totally his fault. There was not a great printing process during this time and many careless mistakes in printing were caused by neglectful workers (Sargeant 10). John Dryden is a poet who left a firm impression of his character in this world; he is known as a public figure, respected literary critic, popular dramatist, and strong supporter of religion and politics (Salvaggio 13). Dryden’s poetry has been divided into two time periods of his career. The first was during the Restoration period and ended in 1667. He did not write another poem for fourteen years; during this time he was writing plays and critiques. The second period began during the later part of his life and ended in 1681 (Harth 3). Some of Dryden’s more popular poems â€Å"The Cock and the Fox,† â€Å"All For Love,† â€Å"Antony and Cleopatra,† â€Å"Absalom and Achitophal,† and his most famous â€Å"Mac Cunningham 5 Flecknoe. † In the poem â€Å"All For Love,† it portrays the love story between Cleopatra, the breath-taking, beautiful, Queen of the Nile and her lover Antony. He also knew that when writing this poem it would be nothing new to the poetic world (Dryden 14). â€Å"All For Love† is a pale, beautiful play. The theme â€Å"All For Love† was meant to be that â€Å"punishment inexorably follows vice and illicit love. Actually, the motivation of the play is a conflict between reason and passion, and it is this conflict that makes â€Å"All For Love† truly representative of the Restoration Period and the battle of ideas that settled beneath† (Dryden 25). The greatest of his poems was â€Å"Absalom and Achitophel. † He wrote this while he was Poet Laureate, the national poet of a country (Hopkins 5). In this poem he described a political predicament that is described by characters from the Bible. He uses a vast amount of symbolism in the story. â€Å"Absalom and Architophel† represents his lifelong affinity for seeing the present in terms of the past (Miner 15). One of his most famous poems is â€Å"Mac Flecknoe. † He destroys Thomas Shadwell by taking very crude and harsh blows on the man. However, Dryden refers to Shadwell’s appearance to only imply that he is fat: â€Å"A Ton of Man in thy Large bulk is writ, but sure tho’rt but a kildrekin of wit† (Sherwood 7). There is nobody of English criticism that is more alive, that brings readers more directly into contact with literature, than John Dryden. One can never predict what will arise with Dryden’s criticism, but it will be far more promising than any other (Mc Henry 25). John Dryden is known as â€Å"the father of English Criticism† (Osborn 136). But, other studies and opinions show that his critical writings are known to quite often derivative, self-contradictory, rambling, inexact, at times over-specialized, and at others too sweeping (Hopkins 137). Cunningham 6 Dryden’s earliest critical essay was written in 1664, about his first verse play, The Rival Ladies. From this date until his death in 1700, Dryden scarcely passed a year without writing a preface, an essay, a discourse, a literary biography or some piece of criticism (Osborn 179). His criticism has not been viewed in the correct ways in some cases. It has often been praised for its minor virtues, and too little admired for its major ones. â€Å"His criticism is great in contrast as well as in style† (Hammond 179). John Dryden’s critical qualities are handsome ones, preferable to most. He has confidence in his basic assumptions and more gracefully within his tradition. Another great strength of his, is that he plays example against theory and theory against example; Dryden also possesses many more admiring qualities (Hammond 5). As a well-respected critic as he is Dryden has a habit of telling what he is thinking at the time of composition. His prefaces and prologues have the quality of studio talk in which the artist speaks of what he has tried to do and how he has done better, or worse, than others. He gives his views at the time, he may have different views at other times that are more educated, but he gives the views which engage him at the moment (McHenry 39). Criticism of Dryden in the half-century following his death is sparse, and contributions from the major men of letters are disappointingly casual and undeveloped. However, most likely the best criticism of Dryden during the period after his demise comes from â€Å"Dennis, Congerer, and Garth. † There is passion as well as admiration in Dennis’s remarks for Dryden’s poetry (Bredvold 14). He is a critic more than a theorist, meaning he judges poetry thoughtfully by talking incomparably well about the poetry. However, he also likes to think and to speak of his thinking to explore and mediate literary principles. John Dryden wrote with ease and at times carelessly, but he knew where he stood (Hammond 1). Cunningham 7 His poetry was often seen as a pure, rich, metrical energy, and formally proper to the genre. â€Å"It is throughout its whole range, alive with a special kind of feeling† (Osborn 181). John Dryden was engaged in literary controversy his entire literary career and life. He feuded with famous writers such as Sir Robert Howard, Thomas Shadwell, Andrew Marvell, Thomas Rymar, and many others. Shadwell was the most unfortunate foe of them all. If he had never quarreled with Dryden he would not have been known today as one of the four great comic playwrights of the Restoration period (Dryden 1). Shadwell’s and Dryden’s literary quarrel developed by the means of critical comments in prologues, epilogues, prefaces, and dedications written between 1668 and 1678. Dryden’s â€Å"Mac Flecknoe† was a major issue in the dispute between Dryden and Shadwell (Dryden 4). In â€Å"Mac Flecknoe,† Shadwell’s memory is kept alive, but has also been branded forever as horrible writer and a disgrace to the history of English writers. â€Å"Mac Flecknoe† is Dryden’s most delightful poem. It reveals Dryden’s great writing talents as poet and satirist. As he accuses Shadwell of â€Å"borrowing† from other authors. He also indicted Shadwell of â€Å"consistently stealing,† but the charges were also greatly exaggerated. However, Dryden admitted that he was guilty of â€Å"borrowing† from other authors, but he also mentioned that Charles II said that he wished those incriminated for stealing would steal plays like Dryden’s (Dryden 18). At some point Shadwell had got on good terms with Dryden, good enough at least for Dryden to provide the prologue to one of Shadwell’s plays. It might have been the prologue the others, but still it served as a prologue to one of Shadwell’s. They had to have developed some sort of friendship or came to know each other. Then something happened and the time for reconciliation had passed. In the same year in which he wrote that prologue for Shadwell he also wrote â€Å"Mac Flecknoe† to put an Cunningham 8 end to the feuding, and Shadwell became the â€Å"unforgiven butt of his ridicule† (McHenry 47). Dryden was an exceptional author that just did not make as big as others. His literary reputation suffers greatly from the simple fact that not many know of him. He is the man who wrote â€Å"Absalom and Architophel,† â€Å"Mac Flecknoe,† and who precedes Pope. He wrote not only great satirical, but great love poems, great political poems, and great religious poems. Beyond those poems he wrote many great passages of poetry. He wrote an astounding amount of good poetry, probably more than any other poet in the language except Shakespeare and Milton (Hammond 67). The English author John Dryden called himself Neander, the â€Å"new man,† in his Essay of Dramatic Poesy, and implied that he was a spokesman for the concerns of his generation and the embodiment of it’s tastes. He achieved a prominence that supported his claim. Dryden excelled in comedy, heroic tragedy, verse satire, translation, and literary criticism; genres that his contemporaries and later readers have defined as representative of the Restoration period. John Dryden’s lasting legacy will be defined by his unequaled, excellent criticisms of literature and his outstanding poetry. He developed the model for modern English prose style and set the tone for 18th century English poetry. His memorable works helped influence much of the writings that come from England to this day. Translations are another major reason why people will remember Dryden. He took authors from previous eras works and interpreted them into something superior and moved them to a greatness previously believed unattainable. His considerable accomplishments assured Dryden’s place in literary history and, through their influence on such writers as Alexander Pope, determined the course of literary history for the next generation.

Hunger artist Essay

1. In the picture inspired by Franz Kafka’s â€Å"A Hunger Artist† there is a depiction of the man who is fasting, sitting solemnly in a cage as people look in at him as if he is a sideshow. Women, child, and men are all milling about looking in at the hunger artist and reading the signs that are posted around him, all of which sensationalize the hunger artists’ plight. The picture is loyal to the story as it brings a visual image of what it was like for the hunger artist, who simply sits there, starving himself for the amusement of the public. This picture is a wonderful depiction of the scene as described by Kafka when he writes, â€Å"While for grown-ups the hunger artist was often merely a joke, something they participated in because it was fashionable, the children looked on amazed, their mouths open, holding each other’s hands for safety, as he sat there on scattered straw—spurning a chair—in a black tights. Looking pale, with his ribs sticking out prominently, sometimes nodding politely, answering questions with a forced smile, even sticking his arm out through the bars to let people feel how emaciated he was, but then completely sinking back into himself, so that he paid no attention to anything, not even to what was so important to him, the striking of the clock, which was the single furnishing in the cage, merely looking out in front of him with his eyes almost shut and now and then sipping from a tiny glass of water to moisten his lips (Kafka)†. 2. A parable is a story that conveys its message or moral indirectly through the use of symbolism or analogies and the story â€Å"A Hunger Artist† is like a parable in that it conveys its meaning through symbolism and analogies. This story is a parable of the way the public looks at people and what our need for entertainment drives us to do. The hunger artist himself at the end seems to understand that the only reason he had harmed himself by fasting for so long was because he couldn’t be like the other people–food became a symbol of life. The ones who looked in on him had learned how to live life, while he never could. The comparison of starving oneself to being an art becomes a part of the parable as well, and the author writes, â€Å"Try to explain the art of fasting to anyone! † (Kafka). 3. In the story the author describes the hunger artist as an â€Å"an unfortunate martyr† because he is sacrificing so much for his art. There doesn’t seem to be anything incredibly important about what he is doing, yet he continues to sacrifice in order to do it. He is a martyr to the dying arts, the things that people do not care about anymore, and yet he keeps going forward. In the end he dies for his art, despite the fact he cannot do anything else, according to his own beliefs. 4. When the hunger artist joins the circus and is put near the animal cages this symbolized the fact that the public no longer cares about him as an artist, now he is simply entertainment, something strange and odd to be gawked at. While once they looked at what he did with awe and respect, now they see him as something strange and do not pay much mind to him. He is like an animal: something that can be caged up and ignored, but once in a while looked at with only passing interest. The public suddenly stopped caring about him, as the author states, â€Å"At any rate, one day the pampered hunger artist saw himself abandoned by the crowd of pleasure seekers, who preferred to stream to other attractions† (Kafka). 5. The last paragraph of the story shows just how people can soon forget something. No one remembers the hunger artist and, in fact, are relieved to see a panther in the cage, wild and savage, trying desperately to get out of the cage. The hunger artist had been happy in a cage, content with nothing, and yet the panther is the exact opposite. People see the panther and his â€Å"noble body† as being the future, something that is strong, like they wish to be. They do not want to see someone unhappy with his life, unhappy with his situation, and depriving himself. They want to see the spirit of something wild. As Kafka writes, â€Å"It enjoyed the taste and never seemed to miss its freedom† (Kafka).

Free Essays on Pro-Life Community

Pro-Life Community Abortion is a very serious issue to many people. This issue is serious enough to separate people into groups of activists, pro-choice and pro-life. The pro-choice activists believe the fetus is not a living human being, so it is alright to abort it because it is not alive. The others, the pro-life activists, believe that the fetus is living, and to kill it would be considered murder. The word pro-life is more than just a word to them. To this group it is a belief, community and way of life. The idea of pro-life means that a fetus is an actual living human, even when it is in the womb. There are different stages a fetus goes through from the second the egg and sperm join to when the fetus is born. Those different stages are where people decide whether the fetus is living or not. Barbra Mackinnon, a professor at the University of San Francisco, states in her book Ethics, Theory, and Contemporary Issues, â€Å" In week 2 to week 8, organ systems such as the brain, spinal chord, heart, and digestive tube and certain structural features such as arm and leg buds begin and continue to develop†(161). During those weeks, the brain and heart, the most vital elements of the human, body have started to develop. The community of pro-life activists believes that this is the beginning of human life. If abortion is wrong, how come murder of an unborn child be a charge is court? An example of this charge is the recent ruling on Scott Peterson. This trial has been on television for months, and everyone knows about it. Only recently did the jury just come up with a verdict on the case. Scott Peterson was charged with the murder of his wife Laci and their unborn child. He was charged with the murder of their unborn child, yet if anyone pays a doctor to have an abortion it’s legal. The law is uncertain if the killing of an unborn child is murder or not. The controversy over abortion has carried into this year’s ... Free Essays on Pro-Life Community Free Essays on Pro-Life Community Pro-Life Community Abortion is a very serious issue to many people. This issue is serious enough to separate people into groups of activists, pro-choice and pro-life. The pro-choice activists believe the fetus is not a living human being, so it is alright to abort it because it is not alive. The others, the pro-life activists, believe that the fetus is living, and to kill it would be considered murder. The word pro-life is more than just a word to them. To this group it is a belief, community and way of life. The idea of pro-life means that a fetus is an actual living human, even when it is in the womb. There are different stages a fetus goes through from the second the egg and sperm join to when the fetus is born. Those different stages are where people decide whether the fetus is living or not. Barbra Mackinnon, a professor at the University of San Francisco, states in her book Ethics, Theory, and Contemporary Issues, â€Å" In week 2 to week 8, organ systems such as the brain, spinal chord, heart, and digestive tube and certain structural features such as arm and leg buds begin and continue to develop†(161). During those weeks, the brain and heart, the most vital elements of the human, body have started to develop. The community of pro-life activists believes that this is the beginning of human life. If abortion is wrong, how come murder of an unborn child be a charge is court? An example of this charge is the recent ruling on Scott Peterson. This trial has been on television for months, and everyone knows about it. Only recently did the jury just come up with a verdict on the case. Scott Peterson was charged with the murder of his wife Laci and their unborn child. He was charged with the murder of their unborn child, yet if anyone pays a doctor to have an abortion it’s legal. The law is uncertain if the killing of an unborn child is murder or not. The controversy over abortion has carried into this year’s ...

Simulacra essays

Simulacra essays The simulacrum is never that which conceals the truth it is the truth that conceals that there is none. The simulacrum is true. Ecclesiastes. How does the above statement apply to representation of the real in art? In direct translation, simulacrum of any form threatens the difference between true and false. Simulation is to feign to have what one do not have, thus implies to an absence. Religion is seen as a simulacrum. The idea of it is not tangible nor comprehends physical truth. It is something that is made real by its believers, not something that is believed in because it is physically real although it can be real. The simulacrum is seen as the represented truth. According to Jean Baudrillard, simulation is the substitution of signs of the real for the real. Simulacra convey signs that no longer represent or refer to an external factor. They stand for nothing but themselves, and refer only to other signs. Baudrillard points out very clearly how our modern culture is being affected by images and other similar encouragement from media sources and simulations rather than what is considered real and how it becomes what is real to us by perception. Baudrillard clearly defines how various things like Disney, multi-media advertising and many other sources have replaced the provocation of the real for us and how our media culture has become our reality. The above statement which state, The simulacrum is never that which conceals the truth, which means its not an agent to hide the reality and its not feigning any truth. It however does confuse the relation between the real and imaginary. The simulacrum becomes our reality as how it is being presented to us. We got absorbed by the simulacrum that we tend to believe it is the reality and weve accepted it. It is the truth that conceals there is none, since we took the simulacrum as the truth...

Solar Radiation and the Earths Albedo

Solar Radiation and the Earth's Albedo Nearly all of the energy arriving on planet Earth and driving the various weather events, oceanic currents, and distribution of ecosystems originates with the sun. This intense solar radiation as it is known in physical geography originates in the sun’s core and is eventually sent to Earth after convection (the vertical movement of energy) forces it away from the sun’s core. It takes approximately eight minutes for solar radiation to reach the Earth after leaving the sun’s surface. Once this solar radiation arrives on Earth, its energy is distributed unevenly across the globe by latitude. As this radiation enters the Earth’s atmosphere it hits near the equator and develops an energy surplus. Because less direct solar radiation arrives at the poles, they, in turn, develop an energy deficit. To keep energy balanced on the Earth’s surface, the excess energy from the equatorial regions flows toward the poles in a cycle so energy will be balanced across the globe. This cycle is called the Earth-Atmosphere energy balance. Solar Radiation Pathways Once the Earth’s atmosphere receives shortwave solar radiation, the energy is referred to as insolation. This insolation is the energy input responsible for moving the various Earth-atmosphere systems like the energy balance described above but also weather events, oceanic currents, and other Earth cycles. Insolation can be direct or diffuse. Direct radiation is solar radiation received by the Earth’s surface and/or atmosphere that has not been altered by atmospheric scattering. Diffused radiation is solar radiation that has been modified by scattering. Scattering itself is one of five pathways solar radiation can take when entering the atmosphere. It occurs when insolation is deflected and/or redirected upon entering the atmosphere by dust, gas, ice, and water vapor present there. If the energy waves have a shorter wavelength, they are scattered more than those with longer wavelengths. Scattering and how it reacts with wavelength size are responsible for many things we see in the atmosphere such as the sky’s blue color and white clouds. Transmission is another solar radiation pathway. It occurs when both shortwave and longwave energy pass through the atmosphere and water instead of scattering when interacting with gases and other particles in the atmosphere. Refraction can also occur when solar radiation enters the atmosphere. This pathway happens when energy moves from one type of space to another, such as from air into water. As the energy moves from these spaces, it changes its speed and direction when reacting with the particles present there. The shift in direction often causes the energy to bend and release the various light colors within it, similar to what happens as light passes through a crystal or prism. Absorption is the fourth type of solar radiation pathway and is the conversion of energy from one form into another. For example, when solar radiation is absorbed by water, its energy shifts to the water and raises its temperature. This is common of all-absorbing surfaces from a tree’s leaf to asphalt. The final solar radiation pathway is a reflection. This is when a portion of energy bounces directly back to space without being absorbed, refracted, transmitted, or scattered. An important term to remember when studying solar radiation and reflection is albedo. Albedo Albedo is defined as the reflective quality of a surface. It is expressed as a percentage of reflected insolation to incoming insolation and zero percent is total absorption while 100% is the total reflection. In terms of visible colors, darker colors have a lower albedo, that is, they absorb more insolation, and lighter colors have a high albedo, or higher rates of reflection. For example, snow reflects 85-90% of insolation, whereas asphalt reflects only 5-10%. The angle of the sun also impacts albedo value and lower sun angles create greater reflection because the energy coming from a low sun angle is not as strong as that arriving from a high sun angle. Additionally, smooth surfaces have a higher albedo while rough surfaces reduce it. Like solar radiation in general, albedo values also vary across the globe with latitude but Earth’s average albedo is around 31%. For surfaces between the tropics (23.5Â °N to 23.5Â °S) the average albedo is 19-38%. At the poles, it can be as high as 80% in some areas. This is a result of the lower sun angle present at the poles but also the higher presence of fresh snow, ice, and smooth open water- all areas prone to high levels of reflectivity. Albedo, Solar Radiation, and Humans Today, albedo is a major concern for humans worldwide. As industrial activities increase air pollution, the atmosphere itself is becoming more reflective because there are more aerosols to reflect insolation. In addition, the low albedo of the world’s largest cities sometimes creates urban heat islands which impacts both city planning and energy consumption. Solar radiation is also finding its place in new plans for renewable energy- most notably solar panels for electricity and black tubes for heating water. These items’ dark colors have low albedos and therefore absorb nearly all of the solar radiation striking them, making them efficient tools for harnessing the sun’s power worldwide. Regardless of the sun’s efficiency in electricity generation though, the study of solar radiation and albedo is essential to the understanding of Earth’s weather cycles, ocean currents, and locations of different ecosystems.

Event project management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Event project management - Assignment Example Operations going down in an event ought to be executed efficient and effective. According to (â€Å"Events Feasibility and Development†, 2011), event project management has to develop an excellent strategy that will ensure events do meet their objectives as stated. However, some objectives do contradict with the mission of an event this should not be the sole reason for an event failure. Models have been developed to assist event managers in the process of planning. Planning for an event go beyond the literary word and involves a series of activities ranging from been awarded permits by relevant authorities to the closure of an event. A well informed and experienced event manager should always be aware of the possibility of activities planned for an event failing, and therefore, proper fall-back plan should be in place to salvage the moment. It has been argued that all over the years that an event cannot be rated as successful either by a brilliant plan or execution but how th e event ends is what can be used to gauge (Burke, 2011). Adoption of models like events management body of knowledge (EMBOK) and Event Plan and Archive Review System (EPRAS) can assist in event planning. Both are useful tools for event to be successful, however, conflict arises on how one model prefers planning and execution ought to be done. Therefore, it would be wise to incorporate elements that are applicable to a planned event from the two models, so as to achieve objectives of the events. In every organization, it must be guided by values that are deemed to be controlling the flow of operations within the organization. The group is geared towards St. Patrick’s Day parade. It is in it preparation stage, putting all pieces together waiting for the event that will be going down in March. As a team, principles guiding the activities should be in place. For instance, the team should hold a couple of meetings to air and share new

Survey Research4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Survey Research4 - Essay Example The quality of service is said to be the gap between customer expectations and the actual performance they receive. (Parasuraman et al, 1994; Tsang and Qu, 2000). When customers are pleased with the service they receive, they are likely to patronize the hotel again and again, which reduces advertising costs. In particular, previous studies have shown that the quality of service offered by front line personnel has a great impact on levels of customer satisfaction (Dunaway, 2002: McKenna, 2002). Furthermore, customer loyalty at hotels may be largely dependent on the quality of housekeeping services and the room itself. (Kandampully and Suhartanto, 2000; Parasuraman et al, 1991). These are some of the important elements that have been identified in the literature as contributing to customer perception of quality in service. In developing a survey instrument, McDowell(2006) points out that the method used must set out a comparison between the theory vs the reality, which is the need identified that is to be examined in the survey. In this case, the theory identifies two important elements that are crucial in customer perception of service. They are (a) the quality of front line services and (b) the room and housekeeping services. The need identified in this study is to examine how these elements may be applicable specifically in four star hotels. On the basis of this, the survey instrument is to be designed.(McDowell, 2006:30-54). In developing face validity for the questionnaire, it is necessary to address the following aspects – what is the need to test the items through the survey? Why do we need to ask these questions and how should they be asked? In this survey, the need that has been identified is that of testing perception of service quality in four-star hotels. The service quality is very important because four-star hotels are more expensive, therefore customers expect higher levels of service from these hotels. As a result, it is

Conflict Resolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Conflict Resolution - Essay Example Conflicts between employees, small groups of employees, or employee unions and employers are manageable because of existence of recognized frameworks that each party can resort to for resolution. Conflicts however threatens an organization’s sustainability when none of the involved parties are willing to be involved in a resolution and existing resolution frameworks are perceived to be incredible. Such was the conflict situation that I experienced in one of my former work environments. The organization had a strong internal workers organization that served both as a union and as a welfare organization. This identified diversified interest from both employees and the organization’s management. Politics among employees led to polarized alignment with two major opposing groups as the union headed for its elections. Incumbent union leaders were seeking reelection but their main rivals had accused them of working with the management to embezzle union funds and undermine empl oyees’ rights. The political environment became more polarized as rumors spread that the organization’s management was planning to influence elections results in order to retain the incumbent office. An unidentified group, in masks, then invaded the pooling station, disrupted counting of votes, and physically abused electoral officials. A massive protest then followed this on claims that the management had interfered with the election results to favor the incumbent office. The opposing group of aspirants then mobilized employees to sabotage work and threatened violence and destruction of the organization’s property if the management failed to either recognize them as leaders, or organized for fresh elections that had to be free and fair. Cause of the conflict The problem in the case was a conflict between the organization’s management and the employees’ fraternity who believed that the organization was misusing its powers to retain a weak leadershi p that it could continue manipulating in order to exploit employees. The problem identifies a conflict involving three groups in the organization. Employees did not like the way their leadership was managed and the relationship between their incumbent leaders and the organization’s management. This difference in management of the union developed a disagreement between a large percentage of employees on one side, and the management and the incumbent leaders on the other sides with support from some employees who were accused of being beneficiaries of the management’s influence, or of being cowardice. This difference polarized the political environment into the elections and was therefore a cause of the resultant conflict between the employees who sabotaged the organization’s operations, and the management. Perceived management’s direct involvement in interfering with the election results is another identifiable cause of the conflict. The organized demonstr ation was, however, the immediate cause of the conflict that involved a disagreement between the administration and employees. Employees accused the organization’s management of exploiting them and using their leaders to suppress their possible opposition, and demanded that their choice leaders be given an opportunity, and the management stops oppressing them. Approach to resolving the conflict The management, of which I was part, applied an authoritarian approach to resolvi

Benjamin Britten Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Benjamin Britten - Essay Example Benjamin Britten was an opera composer of the modern age. Because he lived in the modern age, there has been a range of interpretations that musicologists have taken towards his work. The range of interpretations depend mainly upon whether the musicologist who analyzing his work is an example of a new musicologist or an old musicologist. New musicologists essentially are focused upon the meaning of the work (Eyerman & McCormick, 2006, p. 2). New musicologists may derive meaning from examining the composer himself, discerning what a particular composer may have meant by his work by examining the life of the composer in search of clues (Seymour, 2004, p. 1). They may also derive meaning by applying other disciplines to the work, such as literature, religion, philosophy and psychology (Zolberg, 1990, p. 8). They may derive meaning by associating the work with a body of studies, such as gender studies or queer studies. They may apply sociology to the work in an effort to discern the work’s meaning (Brett & Britten, 1993, p. 633). Or, they may use a combination of the above to arrive at what the meaning is. New musicologists may be compared with old musicologists. For them, new musicology is a corrupting influence in that, by applying other disciplines, the inherent musicality of a particular piece is lost (Miles, 1995, p. 12). Old musicologists analyze work by using musical theory, and may be formalistic or positivistic in their approach to composer’s work (Agawu, 1997, p. 299). What they do not do is attempt to discern hidden meanings behind the composer’s work. The shift from old musicology to new musicology can be traced to Joseph Kerman (1985), whose book Contemplating Music: Challenges to Musicology, was the first instance where a musicologist proposed analyzing music by bringing in history, communication, the existence of other works of art, affects, texts and programmes (Kerman, 1985, p. 18). Since then, prominent musicologists such as Susan McClary and Philip Brett have analyzed music from the perspective of gender and queer studies, respectively (McClary, 1993; Brett, 1993). These scholars represent the tip of the iceberg for new musicologists, but they are examples of how new musicology approaches music. This paper will consist of an examination of new musicology and compare it to old musicology. Then, the next section will examine how new musicologists see the works of Britten by examining some of the themes that are inherent in his work, themes that have been teased out by prominent new musicologists. The next section will handle how old musicologists examine Britten’s work. Finally, the last section will be a conclusion which ties together the concepts and analyzes what it all means. New Musicologists Approach to Britten’s Work A new musicologist would not analyze Britten’s operas in a superficial way – such stating the innocent themes of a certain opera, without going into subtext – but would also go beyond what is on the surface and delve not only into Britten’s psyche but also the sociological mores of the times to determine what the true meaning is behind the operas that he has written. For instance, Seymour (2004) state that if one examines a Britten opera, there are a number of superficial theme s, but that, if one looks closer at Britten’s operas one can see that he is trying to find a voice that â€Å"might embody, communicate, and perhaps resolve, his private concerns and anxieties† (Seymour, 2004, p. 1). Seymour was a definitive new musicologist, as she attempted to examine several operas written by Britten – Paul Bunyon, Death in Venice, three of his church parables and several of his children’s operas – and analyzed these creatively by linking them to psychological factors and biographical events that were occurring with Britten during this period of time (Seymour, 2004, p. 1). It was Seymour’s theory that Britten, through his music, was able to express ideas about his sexuality and identity that were difficult for him to come to terms with and

Ethical Dilemma in Pharmacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethical Dilemma in Pharmacy - Essay Example In some states, pharmacists operate under set rules and regulations and therefore, they face ethical dilemmas when prescribing dangerous medication. This essay relies on the above scenario to discuss how pharmacists find themselves in ethical dilemmas and conclude by giving solutions on how to overcome such dilemmas. Here there is an ethical dilemma because the pharmacist is not aware of what the patient is intending to do with the injecting equipment. The patient may be planning to use the injecting equipment for purposes that may cause serious injuries or harm thus putting the pharmacist into trouble according to NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.The majority of people are currently being prescribed methadone not for drug abuse but for pain. It is true that methadone is the only type of narcotic that works under certain conditions. For instance, methadone is frequently used for relief of cancer pains or peripheral neuropathy. Therefore, the pharmacist is in an ethical dilemma since he does not know the purpose the patient is requesting for the injecting equipment. In addition, the pharmacist cannot assume that the patient is requesting for safer injecting equipment for heroin withdrawal. Now the patient calling back in the same pharmacy for safe injecting equipment can make the pharmacist think that the patient is requesting the injection equipment for something innocent. For instance, the patient’s grandmother may in need of insulin syringes. However, the preparation of methadone itself is such that the drug discourages injection. There is more than the pharmacist should do in such a situation but he should take the appropriate steps. Mostly, the pharmacist should first ask the patient why he is requesting for the injection equipment. In addition, methadone is temporary and supposedly the patient’s way off.

Benjamin Britten Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Benjamin Britten - Essay Example Benjamin Britten was an opera composer of the modern age. Because he lived in the modern age, there has been a range of interpretations that musicologists have taken towards his work. The range of interpretations depend mainly upon whether the musicologist who analyzing his work is an example of a new musicologist or an old musicologist. New musicologists essentially are focused upon the meaning of the work (Eyerman & McCormick, 2006, p. 2). New musicologists may derive meaning from examining the composer himself, discerning what a particular composer may have meant by his work by examining the life of the composer in search of clues (Seymour, 2004, p. 1). They may also derive meaning by applying other disciplines to the work, such as literature, religion, philosophy and psychology (Zolberg, 1990, p. 8). They may derive meaning by associating the work with a body of studies, such as gender studies or queer studies. They may apply sociology to the work in an effort to discern the work’s meaning (Brett & Britten, 1993, p. 633). Or, they may use a combination of the above to arrive at what the meaning is. New musicologists may be compared with old musicologists. For them, new musicology is a corrupting influence in that, by applying other disciplines, the inherent musicality of a particular piece is lost (Miles, 1995, p. 12). Old musicologists analyze work by using musical theory, and may be formalistic or positivistic in their approach to composer’s work (Agawu, 1997, p. 299). What they do not do is attempt to discern hidden meanings behind the composer’s work. The shift from old musicology to new musicology can be traced to Joseph Kerman (1985), whose book Contemplating Music: Challenges to Musicology, was the first instance where a musicologist proposed analyzing music by bringing in history, communication, the existence of other works of art, affects, texts and programmes (Kerman, 1985, p. 18). Since then, prominent musicologists such as Susan McClary and Philip Brett have analyzed music from the perspective of gender and queer studies, respectively (McClary, 1993; Brett, 1993). These scholars represent the tip of the iceberg for new musicologists, but they are examples of how new musicology approaches music. This paper will consist of an examination of new musicology and compare it to old musicology. Then, the next section will examine how new musicologists see the works of Britten by examining some of the themes that are inherent in his work, themes that have been teased out by prominent new musicologists. The next section will handle how old musicologists examine Britten’s work. Finally, the last section will be a conclusion which ties together the concepts and analyzes what it all means. New Musicologists Approach to Britten’s Work A new musicologist would not analyze Britten’s operas in a superficial way – such stating the innocent themes of a certain opera, without going into subtext – but would also go beyond what is on the surface and delve not only into Britten’s psyche but also the sociological mores of the times to determine what the true meaning is behind the operas that he has written. For instance, Seymour (2004) state that if one examines a Britten opera, there are a number of superficial theme s, but that, if one looks closer at Britten’s operas one can see that he is trying to find a voice that â€Å"might embody, communicate, and perhaps resolve, his private concerns and anxieties† (Seymour, 2004, p. 1). Seymour was a definitive new musicologist, as she attempted to examine several operas written by Britten – Paul Bunyon, Death in Venice, three of his church parables and several of his children’s operas – and analyzed these creatively by linking them to psychological factors and biographical events that were occurring with Britten during this period of time (Seymour, 2004, p. 1). It was Seymour’s theory that Britten, through his music, was able to express ideas about his sexuality and identity that were difficult for him to come to terms with and

Wooden Bat or Metal Bat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Wooden Bat or Metal Bat - Essay Example Using a wooden bat or a metal one has always been a controversial issue for baseball players. Wooden versus metal bat debate is not new for baseball fans who love to discuss what kind of bat is suitable for a bigger hit. This paper compares and contrasts the two types of bats. Wooden bats are heavier than metal because they are solid. Metal bats are hollow from within. Wooden bats require more effort to sway than metal oness. They also have a smaller sweet spot (Zumerchik 52) due to which the hit remains within range. Metal bats are lighter because of larger sweet spot which makes the hit swing higher. Wooden bats are safer than metal because the exit speed of the ball from a wooden bat is much slower. Thus, the ball comes off with slow speed, which is good, for it reduces the danger of injury if another player or pitcher hits the ball. Metal bats, as they are lighter, can easily get tossed away to injure another player. A wooden bat, due to its solid mass, does not compress when the ball hits it. But when the ball hits a metal bat, it causes the latter to compress which has a negative effect on the exit speed of the ball, though the exit speed is enhanced by the center of gravity being placed near the handle. In wooden bats, there is no issue of compression. To conclude, wooden bats are heavier, safer, and are affordable in price. Metal counterparts provide larger hit zone, are lighter and easy to handle. Major League Baseball makes the players use wooden bats due to their certain advantages over metal equivalents.

History - French Revolution Essay Example for Free

History French Revolution Essay I truly believe it was the collective effect of all the causes of the French Revolution that finally caused the people to rise up. In 1789 the people of France were suffering under the rule of Louis XVI, who used the countries money to provide him and his family the most luxurious life imaginable, while the people starved. The political regime of the time was a absolute monarchy (regime in which the country is ruled by a King or Queen, who inherit this position and has absolute power), but in theory there was a form of parliament, Estates General that consisted of elected representatives. This group of people could only meet if the King allowed or requested the meeting and in the 175 years of the parliament’s existence there had not been a single meeting. This fact frustrated the people because the King did not take their opinion and needs in consideration. Louis XVI would do as he pleased, a clear example of that was placing people in jail for no absolute reason except maybe his dislike for them. During the 18th century France was in a number of wars leaving the country with a lot of debts. In 1780’s the country had to borrow more money simply to pay interest (the amount of money paid on the money borrowed) on their debts. The royal family had a lifestyle the country could not support because only the lower classes were taxed, the peasants (people who worked on the land), while the higher classes, clergy (the religious leaders, individuals that worked for the roman catholic church, ex: priests) and the nobles (entities with a high social rank, ex: Ladies and Lords) did not pay tax at all. In other words the tax system needed a urgent reform (improvement). The social structure was horribly unfair. It was divided in three groups that were called â€Å"Estates†. The first estate was the Clergy, the people who belong to this estate worked for the Roman Catholic Church, which was at the time the main religion in France. At this specific stage in time the church owned a lot of land and most of their high officials were extremely wealthy. The Nobles formed the second estate. They were given many special rights and privileges. The third estate was made up of 98% of the people. This estate was where all the peasants, middle class traders and all kinds of professionals (ex. Lawyers). They paid heavy tax and had absolutely no privileges at all. Above all the estates was the King and his family with the absolute power. â€Å"It was the collective effect of all the causes of the French Revolution that finally caused the people to rise up. † History Essay Lara Ismael Nogueira Martha  For many centuries people in the whole of Europe accepted the authority of both their Kings and the Roman Catholic Church, a clear example of that was the â€Å"Divine Right of Kings† (this concept simply means that people believed their Kings and Queens were a representation of God and had to be respected and adored as such). Finally during the 18th century many philosophers started questioning these ideas. These period was called the Age of Enlightenment because the people began to question the old ways, led by the church, and created their own. Science had great advances during these times because everything was new, there was something to be discovered everyday†¦ it was at this point that Theocentrism (God in the center of the universe) was put aside and gave room for a complete new way of thinking and living, Anthropocentrism (man in the center of the universe). Diderot was a clear example of a philosopher that question the church and made his opinion well known. He was the leader of a group made up of philosophers that called themselves the â€Å"Encyclopaedists†, they’re goal was to write a series of books called â€Å"Encyclopaedia† (books that contained all existing knowledge). As they began to write the books they became more and more aware of the situation in France. They made their books public, therefore everyone could read them, this act helped spread the revolutionary ideas more than they already were. As the popularity of the Encyclopaedia grew so did the need for individual opinions. Another great example was Rousseau he was the true star, known as the father of democracy, he believed in equality among the people, and wrote about rules that weren’t based or chosen by God but by the people. This was the basic principles of democracy. In May of 1789 the representatives formed the National Assembly and met outside Paris against the Kings will and started a process of reform. They vowed to continue working until they had drawn up a new constitution for the country. However the process was very slow and the people of Paris grew impatient, the bread prices were constantly rising and the unemployment rate grew. On the 14th of July of 1789 angry people invaded the Bastille, killed the governor also some of the soldiers who tried to stop them and freed prisoners. When the news of the takeover reached other parts of France the ordinary people revolted and just like that the revolution started. â€Å"It was the collective effect of all the causes of the French Revolution that finally caused the people to rise up. † History Essay Lara Ismael Nogueira Martha In conclusion all this events such as the rise of bread prices and the unemployment rate in the country, the lack of interest the King showed for his people’s needs and the unfairness between classes made the people of France stand up for all they believed they deserved and needed.

Image as Icon: Recognising the Enigma’ by Tracey Warr

Image as Icon: Recognising the Enigma’ by Tracey Warr In Tracey Warr’s essay, ‘Image as Icon: Recognising the Enigma’, she identifies and discusses four discourses of performance photography–the document, the icon, the simulacrum and the live act–and what is at stake in these discourses is the ‘truth’. What she describes as ‘contradictory’ and contentious between the discourses, I believe what she has shown is the different ways in which photography is utilised and read as a medium for documenting and presenting a live performance. Although these photographs may offer themselves as an accurate record of the event, or the complete ‘truth’, Warr shows how incomplete, though necessary, photography is in depicting the experience of the live performance. Adrian George offers a loose definition of live performance art as primarily consisting of a living ‘human presence–a body (or bodies) in space and at a specific moment, or for a definite period’. What is difficult about performance art is that most people expect to see ‘art’ in a traditional sense, which is an art object. Performances do not have a ‘fixed referential basis’, much like Robert Smithson’s earthwork, Spiral Jetty 1970, whose spiral formation no longer exists physically due to erosion by the sea. Because performances and works like Spiral Jetty ‘continue to exist only through an accumulation of documentation and discourse’ documenting these works become very important in placing them in a historical context. In Warr’s discourses of performance photography as the document and the simulacra, we have what appear to be two polarising discourses–the ‘real’ evidence and the simulation; however, her development of both discourses arrives at similar conclusions about truth telling. Warr defines the discourse of the document as ‘the image perform[ing] the role of materialist evidence and proof–showing us exactly what happened so we can ‘know’ it’ while the discourse of the simulacra ‘explores fakery, the performative and representation’. According to Susan Sontag, unlike writing or even paintings and drawings which are perceived as ‘interpretations’, the photograph is perceived not so much as ’statements about the world so much as pieces of it, miniatures of reality that anyone can make or acquire’. However, both Warr and Sontag debunk the myth that the photograph is objective or factual. The perfo rmance is filtered through the photographer and camera through the process of framing, cropping and composing the photograph. Then there is the process of choosing the best photographs to represent the entire performance, which Warr points out are usually the most composed photographs. In addition to this process of reduction, the experience of ’sound, time, space, [and] often the audience’ are missing from the photograph. The photograph as document is exposed, so to speak, as being like the simulacra, a mere representation or a simulation–the document is a construction. In reference to Hans Namuth’s photographs depicting Jackson Pollock painting, Fred Orton and Griselda Pollocks’ pose the question: ‘how far does the photographer document what happened and how far does he or she create the ‘documented’ phenomenon?’ Although Namuth’s photographs can be read as historical documents of the painter, Warr points out that these images are actually ‘Namuth and Pollock staging Pollock’. Another question that could be asked is how much does the artist perform for the audience and how much does the artist perform for the camera? Many performances during the 60s and 70s are ‘hybrid performance photography’ which were performed especially for the camera as opposed to a live audience. This kind of performance photography subverts the function of the photograph as an objective, unobtrusive document as the hybrid performance photography blatantly uses the camera as an accomplice to stage its performance. Hybrid performance photography also subverts the central idea in the discourse of the live act. In this discourse, documentation is relegated to a mere ’subsidiary status’ while the live performance itself is ‘primary, cathartic, witnessed and ontological’. Here, documentation is supposed to be as ‘unobtrusive’ as possible because the most important aspect is the interaction between the performer and the audience, an aspect that comes from the traditions of the theatre. However, trying to capture the experience of the interaction between the performer and the audience is problematic as not only is the photograph incomplete as a truth teller as mentioned already but the viewer of the photograph cannot intervene with the performance. During the live performance, there is an opportunity for the audience to react ‘with a corporeal response’ but when viewing the performance through a photograph, the viewer is ‘already in interpretation mode’. Trying to decipher whether or not the photograph of Chris Burden’s nail-scarred hands in Trans-fixed 1999 is real or staged is an example of being in the interpretation mode. Because the live performance lacks a fixed referent, the performance photograph itself is liable to become an icon. Here, the photograph functions beyond just a mere document or a staged image. In this discourse of performance photography, the ‘icon presents us with a manifestation of the unknowable and an encounter with that manifestation in a state of belief’. Warr points out that the role of the photograph as an icon is riddled with contradictions and compromise. The icon ‘is both indexical and documentary’, presenting itself as tangible evidence but in doing so it also ‘compromises it status as a manifestation of an unknowable to be believed’–conjuring up issues of fakery. The icon is a paradox because the iconic ‘must be universally familiar and †¦enigmatic’, or ‘the known and the unknowable’. In the world of art, the photographs of Jackson Pollock and Joseph Beuys–images of two famous and well-k nown artists–are as much icons as are their artwork. Warr’s exploration of the four discourses presents contradictions between the discourses but at times they also complement each other. However, all four discourses point to the conclusion that even performance photography, like the art object, has no fixed meaning nor is there a fixed relationship between photography and performance. As Warr has shown us, it is a relationship that is highly complex.

America Needs Some Gun Control Essay -- argumentative, persuasive, gun

Gun control is the effort to restrict or limit the possession and use of guns. The gun control debate may be one of the most important issues in our society. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that the 2nd Amendment restrains the government’s ability to ban handguns. Some politicians are passionate about gun control and make voting decisions based upon on this issue alone; hence, the people we elect into office directly affect our lives. A few republican politicians have a strong belief in the right to own guns. This battling contradiction can sometimes make it difficult to approach the issue reasonably. The arguments have different statistics and facts regarding how firearms can impact society. It is important to realize that there are strong and valid points to be made for both sides of gun control issues. With that in mind, is there a â€Å"right† or â€Å"wrong† side to this issue? Gun right advocates believe that the 2nd Amendment, â€Å"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed† guarantees the right to own guns and that gun control laws are a violation of their constitutional rights.(constitution) Sarah Palin, Alaska’s former governor, believes that gun control is taking away the rights from the citizens in which the 2nd Amendment has granted them. She is in favor of the constitution and expresses that gun control laws are unconstitutional; â€Å"I support our constitutional right to bear arms†¦You start putting more and more laws on guns and you take away a second amendment right.† (Romano 2) The government is constantly proposing legislation for more and more gun control. However, they cannot be so naive to think criminal... ...ent, and More - Newsweek. 30 Jan. 2011. Web. 09 Feb. 2014. http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/30/sarah-palin-s-gun-control-warnings-at-safari-club-international.html Romano, Andrew. "Sarah Palin's Gun Control Warnings at Safari Club International - Newsweek." Newsweek - National News, World News, Business, Health, Technology, Entertainment, and More - Newsweek. 30 Jan. 2011. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/30/sarah-palin-s-gun-control-warnings-at-safari-club-international.html Souter, David. "David Souter on Gun Control." OnTheIssues.org - Candidates on the Issues. 09 Feb. 2010. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. . United States. The U.S. Constitution - The 2nd Amendment. By James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. .

Compare London and Westminster Bridge Essay

These two poems, though written within 10 years of each other, convey very different views on London. They were both written during a time of revolution and change. Both these poems were written at the turn of the 19th century, in Georgian times, to illustrate the authors’ views on the City of London. At the time, the industrial revolution was underway and there was a vast growth in the population, due to medical advances and a more promiscuous culture with prostitution in the formation of new cities. There was a revolution started in France and because it was a respected country within Europe at the time, with its pioneers in architecture, gardening and thought, the French had major influence in England. Being its neighbouring country it caused ripples of change and rebellion in European thought. This affected many people in England; the poet Blake was one of them. His revolutionist ideas were conveyed in this poem, London. This was contrary to Wordsworth’s poem, Upon Westminster Bridge, which picked out the imagery of London and its glory, without relating that the frivolous consummations of the monarchy and the church, created a vast gap between the rich and the poor, which Blake picked up on. Wordsworth was most probably ignorant of the fact that the mass of the English population in London was poor, because he was a tourist in the city. Or he could have realised the fact yet looked past it deciding that it would make a better poem to elaborate on London’s splendour. The poem also, seems vastly over the top and many people may just take the poem at its face value and dislike it, but Wordsworth’s poem describes London as ‘glittering in the smokeless air’ and having a calming aura. These statements, I think might be sarcastic. At the time it was written, the Industrial revolution was happening and the chimneys of most factories would be blurting smoke for most hours of the day, and even if they had stopped over night the remnants of months of coal burning would not dissipate within 8 hours. Also to describe London as calming is a little far fetched. London is the heart of the United Kingdom, a port and an important centre of commerce. It is near impossible for us to imagine it as ‘calm’ even in ‘The beauty of the morning;’ Wordsworth’s most famous works are dedicated to the beauty of the awe-inspiring lake district, so it is not hard to imagine he could have been shocked and repulsed by London. Upon Westminster Bridge sets off on the word â€Å"Earth† this could mean that London was the centre of the commercial world, and that at the same time was the best place on Earth to be. This could be another example of sarcasm due to London being half-built during the revolution. Its face meaning though is to start the poem off as a harmony of nature and architecture. The first line shows Wordsworth’s typical naturalistic view upon the city, as he relates with many of his other poems. He was an early romantic poet; he admired nature and natural form, his extreme idyllic view on London could be seen as sarcastic or ignorant. The second line is monosyllabic yet that doesn’t have any relevant dynamic effect on the style of the poem. Dull is the first word that goes against the happier grain of the poem. It relates a feeling of miserableness and boredom, and could be seen to insult the reader that doesn’t agree with his poem, as he would have a â€Å"dull, soul†, and an unopened, insensitive mind. This could be a reason why many take the poem on face value, because no one would want a dull soul as the poem suggests. The end of the line uses enjambment to connect the second line to the third. This line creates imagery; the word â€Å"sight† implies our soul would be â€Å"touched† by London. â€Å"Majesty† is a powerful word, exaggerating the overall romantic theme of the poem and an overview of England as a powerful and unique nation with high status in the world. Line 4 uses a simile and personification to make the city seem as one single body, wearing â€Å"the beauty of the morning†, possibly as a disguise to cover the corrupt people it houses. Wordsworth is viewing the city in the morning, when the city would be very quiet and peaceful. Wordsworth was also standing on Westminster Bridge; from which he had a higher, isolated view over the scene of London. At dawn, London would be showered with the golden light of the sun, the river would appear to gleam and the un-crowded streets would be filled with crisp air. The ground would be covered with dew, all idealistically perfect compared to the reality that within one hour of his view, the streets would awake and the whole scene would change. Blake had a completely different viewpoint on London, his first line opens with a romantic â€Å"wander† through the â€Å"chartered† streets, this is a contrast, he himself whilst romantic and free thinking, is in a city governed by rules, entrapments and corruption. He then repeats this idea in the next line with the chartering of the themes, contrary to Wordsworth’s gliding river, this implies that London is overpowering nature. He then alliterates â€Å"marks† 3 times to give an exaggeration of the theme of suffering. â€Å"Every† from the 3rd line is then repeated in the second stanza to generalise everyone as saddened, depressed and constricted. Blake’s poem is different to Wordsworth’s in its entirety. Blake is describing from a low viewpoint, in the streets between the dirty houses, at about 10:30 at night, with a serious, constricted and darkened theme. Wordsworth’s is from a higher viewpoint on the bridge, at about 5:30 in the morning with not many people about with a happy, elated theme. The techniques, each use to create these effects are also different, Wordsworth uses a typical romantic style sonnet, and both Poems use their structure to emphasise the words in them. William Blake’s ‘London’ is written in four, four line stanzas. Each line of each verse has the same number of syllables; this creates a regimented, almost mechanical effect. It uses alternate line rhyming to make the poem sound regular and accentuates the last word of each line. Each verse of the Blake poem attacks a different aspect of London. It is clear that Blake found London a very corrupt and immoral place. Whereas in contrast Wordsworth’s poem is written in the form of an Italian sonnet the octave of which describes the man made elements of the city, the last sextet refers to natural beauty. This poem also uses alternate line rhyming to create the effect of order. It is written in prose using iambic pentameter. This device brings attention to emphasise the meaning of the rhyming words. William Blake’s poem conveys his feelings in a more abstract style, when he uses the people and buildings of London to represent the institutions which they are associated with. He uses the image of a church to criticise religious establishments and a palace to signify the state, and authorities that control it. He gives the image of the â€Å"soldier’s sigh† running in â€Å"blood† down palace walls. Here he is attacking the monarchy and government for condemning young men to death by sending them off to fight in foreign wars. He uses hyperbole to criticise London and the sadness and malice of the people who live there. Blake’s London brutally painted is a dark, dirty, disease ridden and deprived place Unlike the Wordsworth poem it leaves you in no doubt as to the authors feelings on the subject. In the last verse of Blake’s, it gives us his time scale; â€Å"midnight†, and he shows us the corruption of innocence, with â€Å"youthful harlot’s†. The last stanza accentuates the uncleanness of the area, how London was plagued with diseases and how life in the slums of the city is very short. It may be an example of the typical life of people in London. With children being the product of prostitution and sexual promiscuity, the children are then raised in a poor, unhygienic even uneducated area then marry and die due to blights and diseases. Marriage is supposed to be a happy occasion, but here it shows to be an institution, which carries people to their deathbeds. This may be due to sexually transmitted diseases, which were ravaging through the population at the time. Blake’s entire poem is blunt and to the point, describing what was going on and that he was unhappy about it and the fact that people were ignoring it. Wordsworth’s poem is far less melodramatic than Blake’s, it is a snapshot in time of London in the morning, with no look at the types of people who live there, or of their pasts and futures. Blake’s overall poem display a message of sadness and disgust towards London, its monarchy and the authorities housed there. I think that the style of Wordsworth is very ineffective at relating his like for London as it seems to almost be sucking up to London’s builders and rulers and so it does not provoke strong feelings or thoughts. Even if the reader acknowledges there is sarcasm in the style, it still does not show accurately the problems of London or that anything should be done about it. Blake’s poem on the other hand is very effective at relating his own feelings towards the city, and of provoking our own so that we are appalled by the conditions and mistreatment people were forced to live with at the time he wrote this. I prefer Blake’s poem because the atmosphere he builds, through his phrases and his technique, is far more powerful than the atmosphere Wordsworth attempted to make. It is far more descriptive and flows more poetically than Wordsworth’s and I believe he was overall a better writer.

Why Are Systematic Reviews Important Health And Social Care Essay

A systematic reappraisal is â€Å" [ a ] reappraisal of a clearly formulated inquiry that uses systematic and expressed methods to place, choose, and critically measure relevant research, and to roll up and analyze informations from the surveies that are included in the reappraisal. Statistical methods ( meta-analysis ) may or may non be used to analyze and summarize the consequences of the included surveies † ( Greens & A ; Higgins, 2005 ) . SRs are claimed to be the best beginning of grounds in clinical pattern and decision-making ( Cook et al, 1997 ) . They provide sum-ups of grounds from a myriad of primary surveies which focus on the same inquiries ( Cook et al, 1997, Sanchez-Meca & A ; Botello, 2010 ) by efficaciously pull offing and incorporating well big sum of bing information ( Mulrow, 1994 ) . An overview of available scientific grounds which addresses a specific job brand clip devouring procedure of reading single surveies unneeded and therefore, aid wellness atten tion professionals save their cherished clip ( Sanchez-Meca & A ; Botello, 2010 ) . By summarizing consequences of included research surveies into a individual statement, SRs provide greater advantage to clinicians in measuring grounds ( Stevens, 2001 ) . Furthermore, SRs resolve incompatibilities of surveies that discuss the same job but output confusing and conflicting consequences ( Stevens, 2001, Sanchez-Meca & A ; Botello, 2010 ) . Besides, SRs set up generalisability by measuring whether clinical findings are consistent across populations and scenes or vary harmonizing to peculiar subsets ( Mulrow, 1994, Stevens, 2001 ) . SRs have become progressively critical to a wide scope of stakeholders ( Moher et al, 2007 ) , peculiarly wellness attention suppliers, research workers and determination shapers ( Mulrow, 1994 ) . Health attention suppliers particularly clinicians read SRs to maintain abreast with their forte ( Swingler et al, 2003, Moher et Al, 2007 ) and to stay educated in wider facets of medical specialty ( Mulrow, 1994 ) . Health policy shapers and clinical guideline developers use SRs as get downing point in explicating clinical guidelines and statute laws ( Mulrow, 1994, Moher et Al, 2007 ) . As for some medical diaries, SRs are important as they serve as prerequisite grounds base tools to warrant the demand to carry on farther research ( Young & A ; Houltan, 2005 ) .2.2 Overall coverage quality of SRsOver the past few decennaries, SRs are being published yearly in progressively big Numberss ( Shea et al, 2002 ) . A survey conducted by Moher et Al ( 2007 ) showed that there are about 2500 SRs indexed yearly on Medline. However, there is relatively small bing informations on the coverage quality of SRs despite figure of SRs published is tremendous ( Shea et al, 2002 ) . Several earlier surveies concluded that quality of coverage of SRs was by and large hapless ( Sacks et Al, 1987. Mulrow et Al, 1987, Silagy, 1993, Mc. Alister et Al, 1999 ) . Sacks et Al ( 1987 ) evaluated the coverage quality of 86 meta-analyses of studies of randomised controlled tests published in English linguistic communication by taking into consideration 23 points covering six indispensable spheres, i.e. â€Å" survey design, combinability, control of prejudice, statistical analysis, sensitiveness analysis and application of consequences † . The consequences of the survey showed that coverage was by and large hapless, where merely 24 of 86 meta-analyses ( 28 % ) addressed all six spheres and of the 23 points, between 1 and 14 were satisfactorily reported ( average = 7.7, standard divergence = 2.7 ) ( Sacks et Al, 1987 ) . Another earlier rating of SRs by Mulrow et Al ( 1987 ) examined 50 reappraisals published between June 1985 and June 1986 in 4 major medical diaries and found that no individual reappraisal met all eight explicit standards of which the appraisal was based on, i.e. â€Å" purpose, informations designation, informations choice, cogency appraisal, quantitative synthesis, quality synthesis, drumhead and future directives † ( Mulrow et al, 1987 ) . An update of this survey affecting 158 reappraisals published in six general medical diaries in 1996 noted small betterment with merely 2 reappraisals met all 10 methodological standards and the average figure of standards fulfilled was one ( Mc. Alister et Al, 1999 ) . Silagy ( 1993 ) evaluated 28 reappraisals covering a broad scope of capable countries which were published in seven chief primary attention diaries in 1991 based on eight standards. The consequences of the survey showed that merely one one-fourth of the reappraisals scored 8 points out of 16 points ( 2 points allocated for each clearly reported standard, 1 point for each non clearly reported standard and 0 point for unreported standard ) ( Silagy et al, 1993 ) . More late, a survey by Jadad et Al ( 1998 ) concluded that Cochrane reappraisals have superior â€Å" methodological asperity † and are more on a regular basis updated compared with SRs or meta-analyses published in paper-based diaries. Oslen et Al ( 2001 ) assessed the quality of Cochrane reappraisals and noted that in general, there were no jobs or merely fiddling jobs found in most of the reappraisals. They studied 53 reappraisals published in issue 4 of the Cochrane Library in 1998 and found that major jobs were identified in 15 reappraisals ( 29 % ) , which correspond to the decision non to the full supported by the grounds in 9 reappraisals ( 17 % ) , unequal coverage in 12 reappraisals ( 23 % ) and â€Å" stylistic jobs † were recognized in 12 reappraisals ( 23 % ) ( Oslen et al, 2001 ) . Moher et Al ( 2007 ) examined the epidemiology and describing features of 300 SRs indexed in Medline during November 2004 and found that great differences exist between Cochrane reappraisals and non-Cochrane reappraisals in the coverage quality of several features. Main facets of SR methodological analysis were non reported in many non-Cochrane reappraisals, for case, merely 11 % of the reappraisals mentioned working from a protocol in the procedure of finishing the reappraisal. Besides, informations obtained from the survey suggested that the quality of coverage is inconsistent.2.3 SRs on herbal medical specialties for mental and behavioral upsets2.3.1 St John ‘s wort ( Hypericum perforatum ) for depressionHypericum infusions have been studied and included in clinical tests since the 1980s ( Linde et al, 2009 ) . Several systematic reappraisals published from 1995 to 2008 concluded that Hypericum infusions are more effectual compared with placebo and comparable to ( likewise e ffectual as ) criterion antidepressants in handling depressive upsets ( Linde et al, 1996, Kim et Al, 1999, Gaster & A ; Holroyd, 2000, Williams et Al, 2000, Whiskey et Al, 2001, Linde et Al, 2005, Clement et Al, 2006, Linde et Al, 2008 ) . However, some of the tests included in a few reappraisals ( Linde et al, 1996, Kim et Al, 1999, Gaster & A ; Holroyd, 2000, Williams et Al, 2000 ) were being criticised because they incorporated patients with really few and/or mild symptoms who did non run into the inclusion standards of major depression, were carried out by primary attention doctors who were deficiency of experience in depression research, and/or used low doses of comparator drugs ( Shelton et al, 2001 ) . Linde et Al ( 2005 ) conducted an update of antecedently completed reappraisal ( Linde et al, 1996 ) by including several new well-designed placebo-controlled tests where negative findings were found in some of the tests ( Shelton et al, 2001 ) . The consequences obtained aggravated new arguments on the efficaciousness of Hypericum infusions for intervention of depression and the analyses showed that effects of Hypericum infusions over placebo were less pronounced in surveies restricted to patients with major depression ( Linde et al, 2005 ) . In order to understate clinical heterogeneousness every bit good as to uncover the fact that about all new high-quality tests of Hypericum infusions are restricted to patients with major depression, another update of reappraisal ( Linde et al, 2008 ) was conducted by including several new well-designed tests restricted to patients with major depression. 29 tests were included in the survey. In nine larger tests and nine smaller tests affecting comparing of hypericum infusion with placebo, the combined response rate ratio ( RR ) obtained was 1.28 ( 95 % assurance interval ( CI ) , 1.10-1.49 ) and 1.87 ( 95 % CI, 1.22-2.87 ) severally. As for comparing with standard antidepressants, RRs were 1.02 ( 95 % CI, 0.90-1.15 ; 5 tests ) for tri- or tetracyclic antidepressants and 1.00 ( 95 % CI, 0.90-1.11 ; 12 tests ) for selective 5-hydroxytryptamines reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) . Hence, it can be concluded that Hypericum infusions tested in the included test are more effectual than placebo and are likewise effectual as standard antidepressants in patients with major depression ( Linde et al, 2008 ) .2.3.2 AnxietyThere are SRs on three herbal medical specialties, i.e. kava infusion, valerian and Passiflora for anxiousness ( Pittler & A ; Ernst, 2003, Miyasaka et Al, 2006, Miyasaka et Al, 2007 ) . Merely survey conducted by Pittler & A ; Ernst ( 2003 ) found that kava infusion is more effectual than placebo in diagnostic interven tion of anxiousness despite the size of the consequence is little. Finding of SR carried by Miyasaka et Al ( 2006 ) comparing the effectivity of valerian with placebo and Valium for anxiousness showed that there is no important differences between valerian and placebo and between valerian and Valium in Hamilton Anxiety ( HAM-A ) entire tonss. Besides, a definite decision was unable to be drawn as there was merely a individual little survey with 36 patients available ( Miyasaka et al, 2006 ) . Miyasaka et Al ( 2007 ) conducted a SR by including 2 surveies to compare the effectivity of Passiflora with benzodiazepines, i.e. mexazolam and oxazolam severally in handling anxiousness. None of the survey was able to separate Passiflora from benzodiazepines in any of the result steps. Two possible grounds for this deficiency of statistical difference identified were the medicines were every bit effectual and deficient figure of surveies were included ( sample size was non big plenty ) ( Miya saka et al, 2007 ) .2.3.3 DementiaStrontium on three herbal medical specialties, i.e. Zhiling decoction, Yizhi capsule and Huperzine A for vascular dementedness found no converting grounds to back up the usage or effectivity of these herbs ( Jirong et al, 2004, Wu et Al, 2007, Hao et Al, 2009 ) . Jirong et Al ( 2004 ) found no suited randomised placebo-controlled tests and concluded that the available grounds was unequal to back up the usage of Zhiling decoction in the direction of vascular dementedness. Wu et Al ( 2007 ) conducted a SR of Yizhi capsule for vascular dementedness found no survey that met the inclusion standards and no grounds from randomised controlled tests to measure the potency of Yizhi capsule in handling vascular dementedness. SR conducted by Birks & A ; Grimley Evans ( 2009 ) to measure the efficaciousness of Gingko biloba for dementedness included 36 tests but most were little and the continuance was less than 3 months. More recent tests with longer continuance showed inconsistent consequences for knowledge and activities of day-to-day life when comparing Gingko biloba with placebo and 1 of the tests reported big intervention effects in favor of Gingko biloba ( Birks & A ; Grimley Evans, 2009 ) . Another SR conducted by Weinmann et Al ( 2010 ) which included 9 tests with 2372 patients found that Gingko biloba appeared to be more effectual than placebo for dementedness. Datas obtained showed statistical important advantage of Gingko biloba compared with placebo in bettering knowledge every bit good as statistical important advantage of Gingko biloba compared with placebo in bettering activities of day-to-day life in subgroup of patients with Alzheimer ‘s disease. Consequences for quality of life and neuropsychiatric marks and symptoms were inconsistent ( Weinmann et al, 2010 ) .2.3.4 SchizophreniaA SR conducted by Rathbone et Al ( 2005 ) to reexamine Chinese herbal medical specialty, either being used entirely or as a portion of Traditional Chinese Medicine ( TCM ) attack for people with schizophrenic disorder found that Chinese herbal medical specialties, given in a Western biomedical context, may be good for people with schizophrenic disorder when combined with major tranquilizers.2.3.5 Insomnia/Sleep upsets2 of the SRs and/or meta-analyses of valerian for insomnia output inconclusive grounds of the benefit of valerian as a slumber assistance ( Stevinson & A ; Ernst, 2000, Bent et Al, 2006, Taibi et Al, 2007 ) . This was because the included surveies of these reappraisals presented great incompatibility across patients, experimental designs, processs and methodological quality ( Stevinson & A ; Ernst, 2000 ) . As for reappraisal conducted by Bent et Al ( 2006 ) , the surveie s included showed great heterogeneousness in footings of doses, readyings and length of intervention. Taibi et Al ( 2007 ) conducted a SR to analyze the grounds of valerian for insomnia and found that overall grounds did non back up the clinical efficaciousness of valerian as a slumber assistance. A meta-analysis including 18 randomised controlled tests was conducted by Fernandez-San-Martin et Al ( 2010 ) and the qualitative dichotomous consequences showed that valerian was effectual for subjective betterment of insomnia. However, the effectivity of valerian was non demonstrated with quantitative measurings ( Fernandez-San-Martin et Al, 2010 ) .2.4 Characteristics and Quality of SRs of herbal medical specialtiesHarmonizing to Linde et Al ( 2003 ) , â€Å" descriptive empirical surveies † on SRs are comparatively uncommon. Linde et Al ( 2003 ) conducted a research to analyze the features and quality of SRs on stylostixis, herbal medical specialties and homeopathy by including 115 SRs with 58 SRs on herbal medical specialties. The features and quality of the included SRs examined are summarised in the tabular arraies below ( Table 2.1 & A ; 2.2 ) . Table 2.1 Characteristics of included SRs ( Linde et al, 2003 ) Characteristic E.g. ( s ) Bibliographic features Year of publication Question Narrow intercession focal point Condition reviewed Psychiatric Information on inclusion standards Explicit inclusion standards sing patients/condition ; of import inclusion standards, e.g. merely placebo-controlled tests Literature hunt Explicitly in Medline Others Methods ; consequences and decision Table 2.2 Quality of included SRs ( Linde et al, 2003 ) Items reviewed Search methods reported Comprehensive hunt Inclusion standards reported Choice prejudice avoided Cogency standards reported Methods for uniting reported Findingss combined suitably Decisions supported by informations Some restrictions encountered in the survey were discussed, for illustration, restrictions in resources doing half of the reappraisals were extracted and assessed by merely 1 referee and there was great heterogeneousness across some of the included reappraisals. Therefore, it was suggested that the analysis of the informations merely served to give an overall position of the descriptive epidemiology of available SRs on herbal medical specialties and there is still plenty room for betterment in future SRs conducted on herbal medical specialties ( Linde et al, 2003 ) .2.5 Guidance/appraisal tools to measure coverage quality of SRsThe increasing popularity and utility of SRs urged the studies of SRs to be â€Å" clear, accurate and crystalline † ( Moher, 2008 ) . Despite there are some betterment in the coverage of SRs, the quality of coverage is still inconsistent ( Moher et al, 2007 ) . Therefore, it is of paramount importance to follow describing criterion or coverage checklis t ( Wiesler & A ; McGauran, 2010 ) . QUOROM ( QUality Of Reporting Of Meta-analyses ) statement, which serves as a criterion to heighten the coverage quality of â€Å" meta-analyses of randomised controlled tests ( RCTs ) † was developed in 1996. QUOROM checklist consists of a sum of 20 headers and subheadings and describes the preferable ways of coverage of meta-analyses in footings of abstract, debut, methods, consequences and treatment ( Moher et al, 1999 ) . Table 2.3 Quality of coverage of meta-analyses Heading Subheading Descriptor* Reported? ( Y/N ) Page figure Title Abstraction There are 6 points, i.e. aims, informations beginnings, reappraisal methods, consequences and decision Introduction Methods There are 6 points, i.e. searching, choice, cogency appraisal, informations abstraction, survey features and quantitative informations synthesis. Consequences There are 3 points, i.e. test flow, survey features and quantitative informations synthesis Discussion *Detailed form please refers to Moher et Al ( 1999 ) . Beginning: Moher et Al, 1999 QUOROM statement was revised and renamed PRISMA ( Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reappraisals and Meta-Analyses ) statement ( Moher et al, 2009 ) . PRISMA checklist consists of 27 points ( see Appendix 5 for elaborate checklist points ) . PRISMA checklist differs from QUOROM checklist in a few facets as shown by the tabular array below ( Table 2.4 ) . Table 2.4 Substantive specific alterations between the QUOROM checklist and the PRISMA checklist ( a tick indicates the presence of the subject in QUOROM or PRISMA ) Section/topic and point QUOROM PRISMA Comment* Abstraction Introduction: Aim Methods: Protocol Search Appraisal of hazard of prejudice in included surveies Appraisal of hazard of prejudice across surveies Discussion Funding *Detailed remark please refers to Moher et Al ( 2009 ) . Beginning: Moher et Al, 2009