Being There Essays - English-language Films, Being There, Films

Being There The idea of a mildly retarded grown man who can not read or write to be mistaken for a rich and wealthy brilliant gentleman is extremely obsurde. One would never think they would make a mistake such as this one. Yet, a man named Chance repeats this tremendous feat over and over. He even worked his way up to meeting the President of the United States and made him think that he is not mildly retarded. It all began with a rich old man called The Old Man. He took Chance in and had his servants take care of him. Chance just watched TV and took care of his garden, every day for years and years. One day, the Old Man past away. Chance did not really understand what had happened except for the fact that he was gone. Soon after the Old Man died, everything in the house was packed up and all the furniture was covered with bed sheets. Chance no longer had anyone to take care of him. When the bank representatives came to check on the house, they found Chance inside. Chance was wearing the Old Man's clothes which helped to make Chance look wealthy and proper. Chance acted out roles that he saw on TV which helped him to seem like a wealthy person. He did not know any better than this. Soon later, he was being mistaken as Mr. Gardener because EE did not hear him correctly. Mr. Gardener was a wealthy-high classed gentleman, even though he was actually Chance. He was given much respect by everybody and people enjoyed his company. He soon started to meet more and more wealthy people. Little by little the importance of the people he became friends with increased. He even made his way to meeting the President. Even the President took some of Chauncey's advice on some matters. In conclusion, it is realistically impossible for a mildly retarded man who can not read or write to be confused as a wealthy businessman. This irony is exactly what makes the life of Chauncey Gardener as humorous as it is. All anyone ever says is that it can not happen to them, nobody thinks that they will mistake Chance for Chauncey. Truthfully, one can never tell........ Book Reports

Criminal Justice Organizational Structures Essay Example

Criminal Justice Organizational Structures Essay Example Criminal Justice Organizational Structures Essay Criminal Justice Organizational Structures Essay Identify and Explain Three Different Communication Barriers that Might exist within a Criminal Justice Organization. Communication barriers are the obstacles that prevent information from reaching the receiver in good form. In many organizations, there are problems with information being passed because as it is moved across channels, some information may be removed or added thus passing across an entirely different message from the original one. Many organisations have problems with communication thus failure of the systems which may eventually lead to the collapse of the organization. The challenges of communication that exist within a criminal justice organization include lack of clarified assumptions, poor planning methods and differences in status and power. In criminal justice organizations, people in high power may not be willing to disclose information to their subordinates since they view themselves to be more superior (Doss, 2014). The juniors may also be unwilling to communicate to their seniors for fear of being apprehended. They may also fail to disclose information to their seniors esp ecially if they do not respect them. Their differences in power affect their readiness to pass information to each other and also affect nature of the information being given. Poor planning methods also affect communication within a criminal justice organization. When information being communicated is not well thought out and planned, it may mislead people in the organization. It can also lead to distorted information being passed around, therefore, misguiding the people in the organization. Lack of clarified assumptions can also be a barrier to communication in a criminal justice organization (Doss, 2014). When an employee in the criminal justice organization leaves out relevant information, with the assumption that the employer already knows, it may cause serious trouble. For example, it can lead to the occurrence of severe terrorist attacks like the 9/11 attack. Discuss what Steps should be taken by an Organization to Reduce the Risk of the Communication Barriers you have Selected To lower the possibility of the communication barrier, members of an organization should ensure they have a well thought out plan. It is so as to communicate facts and figures without passing misguided information. Planning of information is crucial to criminal justice organizations where information is in a hierarchal chain of command. It is because information needs to reach the most junior staff member without being distorted so as every member of the organization can have and understand the same information. Colleagues of an organization also need to resolve their power and status differences to reduce the risk of communication barriers. Senior employees need to accept junior employees and not look down upon them to ensure effective communication. They should also disclose all necessary information to their juniors to enhance the proper flow of information. The junior employees should, in turn, respect their managers and report to them in the case of a problem in the organization . They should also not fear their employers to enhance a proper working environment. This way all employees will be at peace with each other, and thus information will be passed through the right channels. The risk of communication barrier can also be avoided by clarifying information being communicated (Doss, 2014). Employees should not assume that their managers are aware of particular facts or theories. They should include information necessary to avoid misleading information being communicated. Discuss the Role of Technology in Ensuring that Criminal Justice Agencies have Effective Intra-and Inter-organizational Communication Protocols Established Technological changes are causing continuous changes in the way various jobs are conducted. Most organizations ae now relying on technology to carry out their primary activities and ensure productivity. Technology has enhanced productivity in the criminal justice agencies in many areas. Firstly, technology has improved quality communication. Since many criminal justice agencies deal with a lot of paperwork and type a lot of documents, the use of grammar and spelling checks and other devices among other aspects can help produce high-quality documents (Bloom, 2014). The use of video calls has also enhanced quality communication since it ensures face to face conversation, where one can see the expressions of the other, and also it ensures the firsthand information being transferred. Secondly, technology has reduced the time needed to complete individual projects and tasks. It is because it allows one to use or recycle information or forward information to many people at once. It reduces the time used to create new data. The use of telephones, emails and electronic memos has also reduced time wasted when a person moves from one office to another to pass a message across. Thirdly, technology enhances convenience in the criminal justice agencies. It is because correspondence can be distributed through methods such as emails, fax, and voice messages thus making work more convenient. It enhances communication between agencies. Lastly, technology makes the work environment more enjoyable (Bloom, 2014). It helps streamline tasks for example; the use of voicemails has eliminated the need to take written telephone messages. Technology has also reduced time and money used on messengers who go around distributing copies of papers or posting letters. Since many criminal justice agencies are structured with the hierarchal chain of command, the use of electronic memos, letters and minutes has decreased the need to print many copies of papers to be distributed throughout the cha in. Identify Potential Weaknesses that currently exist and the Steps Necessary to correct these Communication Gaps. Communication gaps occur when the recipient of information does not understand the meaning of the intended message by the sender. It can happen when the sender overloads the recipient with too much information especially if he or she is in a hurry. The recipient may not hear certain words or he may hear other words incorrectly. It may result in confusion and misplaced priorities. Communication gaps may also occur due to technological errors. For example, a telephone line may disconnect before all information is communicated thus leaving hanging messages. Communication gaps may also arise due to personality differences between the communicators (Doss, 2014). Communication gaps can be corrected by firstly, identifying the source of the communication problem. The office equipment should be assessed and be checked whether they are functioning properly. Through the identification of the origin of the communication problem, one will be able to put across possible measures that will resolve the problem. Secondly, an organization can train employees on current communication methods. For example, employees can be taught how to use computers and other new technological devices used in the connection. Thirdly, communication gaps can be resolved by introducing an open door policy. It is where employees are encouraged to give their views and talk about their grievances openly without being reprimanded. It encourages employees to communicate effectively and openly without fear. Fourthly, communication gaps may be corrected by evaluating the means needed to fix the communication problem. For example, new technological devices may be brought to repair the communication gaps caused by the old appliances. If it is an issue between employees, a staff meeting can be held to resolve the issue. If the dispute is involved, the workers can be put on a mediation program to settle their differences. Lastly, communication gaps can be resolved by assessing differences in the grapevine (Do ss, 2014). Formal messages and their feedbacks should be measured to ensure that there is additional information that distorts the message. References Bloom, N. (2014). The distinct effects of information technology and communication technology On firm organization. Routledge. Doss, D. A. (2014). The foundations of communication in criminal justice systems. CRC Press.

Open Source Software Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Open Source Software - Essay Example (Wheeler) Several peer-reviewed literatures suggest that using the OSS programs in many cases offers superior user interface and approach in contrast to their proprietary competitors. (Wheeler) Even with the above background review, many software users still are unaware of the very many user options that this utility presents. It is against this information that this paper examines two open source software (Neo Office 3.0 and Open Office) solutions as an alternative to Microsoft office 2010 applications. The paper examines the Open Source Software. The discussion compares the Open Source Software on grounds of the platform on which they are available, their affordability, available technical support, major features to meet the standards of a commercial product and arguments for and against the Open Source Software as a Commercial alternative to Microsoft Office 2010. Wheeler suggests that whatever the program, there are universal procedures for their evaluation. These steps are; iden tification of the candidates, examining existing literature reviews, applicability of the desired program to one’s personal needs, and analysis of the top candidates. Wheeler sums up the four sequential steps as â€Å"IRCA†; identify, review, compare and analyze. (Wheeler) Review of Microsoft Office 2010 Microsoft Office is a commercial workplace utility quite popular with most workplaces. The Office 2010 has a ribbon interface modification different from the traditional Office 2003 interface, additionally it has a file menu back into the tool bar making it easier to save and open files. Minimal system requirements for the program include 700MHz and a 512MB RAM with windows 7, XP or vista to be fully functional. Microsoft Office enjoys unlimited technical support: Microsoft Company, people with licenses from Microsoft, professional call centers and numerous books and websites that offer on time assistance to users with tips on configuration, modification and using Micr osoft Office with free resources especially for non-profit uses. Document sharing is simplified for this program because Microsoft has created standard file formats such as .doc, .docx. (For word) and .xls (for excel files). Microsoft also has enabled easier remote access using â€Å"Skydive† with standard file security if procedures adhered through allowing users to install Microsoft updates; firewalls, antivirus management and antispyware (Bonfield and Quinn). Equally, through the utilization of Microsoft outlook users are able to receive and send emails from Microsoft office. Other in built features includes; grammar checking, view document options, and pre-posted document formatting. (Bonfield and Quinn) Review of alternative Open Source Software to Microsoft Office 2010 OpenOffice.org OpenOfice.org 3.1 is the latest version of OpenOfice.org with the former being 3.0. The OpenOfice.org is versatile with Windows, Mac, Linux, and free suite being a preferred alternative to Microsoft Office suite. Additionally it is able to read and write to Microsoft Office supported formats and supports the Open Document Format (ODF) 1.2 standard. The suite is inbuilt with a word processing application, spreadsheet, presentations,

The in-game advertising industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The in-game advertising industry - Essay Example Business organizations have been very quick to realize the potential profit gain from this segment. Massive Incorporated, which is the world’s first video game company, operates with the mission of â€Å"aggregating the gaming audience to deliver advertising across a network of premier video titles and providing measured results on consumer interaction with the advertising.† Double Fusion is an Israeli in-game advertising company established in the summer of 2004. The business model of Double Fusion is very much similar to that of Massive. The product line of Double Fusion ranges from dynamic advertisements, integrated advertising, and â€Å"around game† inventory. In Game Advertising (IGA) seeks t o provide advertising services with its global computer video game media and advertising network. As opposed to Massive and other aforementioned competitors, IGA’s network encompasses multiple platforms including PC, console and mobile gaming and offer both stat ic and dynamic advertising. Together with Massive, Double Fusion and IGA Worldwide captures the largest market shares. Some smaller start-ups and players in the video game industry are also taking the challenge of in-game advertising.Despite the rapid growth of the video gaming industry, it also faces numerous challenges. It should be noted that customers now demand the creation of video games which have more sophisticated story lines and graphic improvements. On the other hand, the average commercial life of a video game has significantly dropped to less than one year.

Five-page analysis of short story--The Yellow Wall-Paper Essay

Five-page analysis of short story--The Yellow Wall-Paper - Essay Example As she passed time in near isolation, she became determined to free the â€Å"creeping woman† whom she saw in the paper. Although Jane aspired to be a dutiful and obedient wife, she also felt that if she does not develop a sense of autonomy, she would be eternally unhappy. As the male authority figures around her (her husband and brother) saw mental stimulation and her creative work as her enemy and the cause of her problems, the author wanted to point out that suppressing Jane’s creative intelligence and maintaining a dual identity is the root of her nervous depression. A strong narrative in support of this was when Jane frees the symbolic persona within the yellow wallpaper by tearing it down. It was an expression of her liberation from a suppressed creative character. It was apparent early in the story that Jane did not believe in John’s prescription, but she was powerless to protest: â€Å"I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus†¦ but John says the very worst thing I can do is to think about my condition.† (249). She also intoned sarcasm as she tried to sound agreeable with John’s counsel by saying â€Å"He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction† (250). For most part, however, we are led to believe that it was her husband whom Jane blames for her illness. â€Å"John is a physician and†¦ perhaps that is the reason I do not get well faster†¦You see he does not believe I am sick! But what can one do?† (249) In pretending to agree with John, she did in effect lie to her husband and to herself – an event that created a schism in her personality. The upshot was that she became her own enemy and in doing so, two characters developed within. The first was the exterior, public Jane; the sweet, obedient, and loving wife, who cared for her husband and a Jane who should be

Critically review the practice of post-development monitoring in eia

Critically review the practice of post-development monitoring in eia Introduction Since the 1960s, there has been a growing concern in the environment and the unfavorable impact that society has on the global environment (United Nations, 1990). Over the years, there has been a steady introduction of environmental legislation, in an attempt to regulate impacts on the environment. However, other environmental management means have also been developed. These include environmental auditing, environmental accounting, environmental reporting, life-cycle assessment, environmental management systems, risk assessment and environmental impact assessment. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has become a widely used means for making out the possible impacts of new developments (Glasson et al, 1999). It is proposed to provide decision-makers with an understanding of the possible environmental consequences of a proposed project and thereby facilitate the making of more environmentally sound decisions (Bailey and Hobbs 1990). EIA is now being used in many countries worldwide ( Glasson et al 1999). In the 1990s, a worldwide study on the usefulness of environmental assessment was carried out, which highlighted several areas were improvements needed to be made; areas such as scoping, evaluating significance, review of environmental statements and post-decision monitoring and auditing mostly termed as follow-up (Sadler 1996). Lack of follow-up is undeniably the weakest point in many systems and this is resulting to questions over whether EIA is being used effectively. Effective EIA should lessen the environmental impacts of developments; however, without follow-up being completed it is only the envisaged impacts on the environment and not the existent impacts that are regarded. Furthermore, the EIA process can be divided into two stages based around the approval for a development proposal: pre-decision and post-decision (Marshall, 2004). Follow-up, which includes post-decision monitoring and auditing, refers to actions that occurs all through the post-decision stages of the EIA p rocess to monitor, evaluate, manage and communicate the environmental results that in reality happen (Arts et al 2001). Current practice has focused on the pre-decision stages of the process, which means that little or no attention is paid to whether the actual impacts of the development match up to those that were predicted. There is much debate as to the effectiveness of EIA practice without follow-up; it has not been thoroughly required or properly implemented within current practice (United Nations, 1990). This review will first discuss the definition of follow-up, and then highlights the various types of follow-up. Following this, the role and value of follow-up in EIA is discussed; the basic principles are stated; legislative requirement for follow-up with reference to different countries is examined; an overview of required bodies for follow-up practice is also looked into and then an overview of the global perspective of follow-up practice is discussed. EIA Follow-up In its role as an environmental management means, EIA must put into practice processes for verifying the existence of predicted effects and controlling the damaging effects of those that in reality happen (United Nations, 1990). Thus, impact studies should take into consideration the need for and requirements of follow-up (Wood, 2003). EIA follow-up is important to the entire assessment process because it provides information about the outcomes of an activity and ensures that development and management requirements have been met (Arts et al., 2001). Guidance for good practice EIA follow-up, however, has not been efficient and has been addressed on very few occasions (Marshall, 2004). Follow-up has been used as a general term for various EIA activities including: monitoring; auditing; ex postevaluation; post-decision analysis; and post-decision management. While there is no single definition for follow-up, it is generally related to activities in the post-decision phase of a project (Arts et al, 2001). Follow-up includes the gathering of data, the arrangement and investigation of this data and the review of the acquired information about the impacts of a project that has been subject to EIA. It also involves decision-making on remedial procedures and communication of the results of this process (Wood, 2003). Thus, follow-up is comprised of four key activities; see figure 1 below for further illustration. Role and Value of EIA follow-up EIA is intended to provide decision makers with information concerning the environmental impacts of development on the environment. For this information to be reliable, it must be verified (Arts et al, 2001). Moreover, the responsible parties, that is the proponent or the competent bodies have a starting point for employing mitigation procedures and precautionary procedures for the negative impacts. The response acquired from follow-up programs is important for the improvement of EIA which currently can best be described as weak and not realized to its full potential (United Nations, 1990). Follow-up is an essential part of any EIA system in that follow-up ensures that EIA actually works to protect the environment and achieve its intended objectives (Marshall, 2004). The United Nations (1990), for example, observed that follow-up examinations are useful in making certain or assisting the execution of development activity in accordance with the terms put in place by the environmental assessment process. It involves monitoring project outcomes, evaluating results and integrating mitigation procedures from the initial process of the project. EIA should be applied as early as possible and follow-up, as a system of checks and balances, should commence as the assessment unfolds to generate data and ensure the results of assessment are integrated into the project design and management (Marshall, 2004). Furthermore, examination of environmental impacts serves as an indicator to practitioners on which impacts need mitigation. Hence, follow-up creates opportunity for practitioners to look back at the impacts foreseen and the mitigation procedures recommended to determine accuracy and effectiveness so that suitable action can be taken (Arts et al 2001). Follow-up, identified as environmental auditing and monitoring programs in some literature, is important to verify that the environmental predictions and assumptions are valid and to monitor the actual environmental performance of projects (Abaza, 2000). Follow-up ensures impacts are mitigated before breaching established criteria, to capture growing environmental impacts, and to guarantee that mitigation procedures are properly and timely implemented (United Nations, 1990). Hence, the follow-up process should naturally be integrated in every EIA and at all stages of the project life cycle; that is follow-up should analyze the entire cycle of a proposed project. In this way, EIA is a cyclical activity, with feedback and interaction between various steps being critical for improving EIA practice (Wood, 2003). Principles of EIA Follow-up EIA follow-up principles have been stated by various authors; however this review provides a summary of these various views. Follow-up principles are divided into Guiding Principles and Operating Principles as put forward by Morrison-Saunders et al (2007); see figure 2 below. Legislative Framework for Follow-up Monitoring The regulatory and institutional arrangements include the legal requirements and administrative framework for conducting EIA follow-up. In different countries around the world, there are different legislative requirements for follow-up practice; see figure 3 below. Practices vary from voluntary commitments for monitoring and reporting on EIA outcomes through to specific command and control approaches, some of which provide for specialist independent follow-up review bodies. Generally systems with a long history of EIA tend to be more advanced in their requirements for follow-up (Morrison-Saunders et al 2007). Country Status Legislative Requirement United Kingdom Developed Discretionary Australia Developed Discretionary Canada Developed Mandatory Netherlands Developed Mandatory New Zealand Developed Mandatory California Developed Mandatory Egypt Developing Non Existent Turkey Developing Non Existent Tunisia Developing Non Existent Required Bodies for Follow-up Monitoring EIA follow-up can take many forms, ranging from proponent-driven self-regulation to requirements put in place by EIA regulators or initiatives motivated by community involvement (Arts et al, 2001). Monitoring and evaluation may be conducted by proponents and regulators alike depending on the level of application. Continuing management decisions may be made by both proponents e.g., responding to unforeseen impacts and EIA regulators e.g., reviewing consent conditions and management requirements. Also, both proponents and EIA regulators may engage in communication programs. Some follow-up programs go far beyond mere communication to specifically include stakeholder participation in the monitoring, evaluation and management proceedings (Marshall, 2004). According to Morrison-Saunders et al (2007), there are three major groups of stakeholders involved in EIA follow-up whether as initiator, conductor or participant. Follow-up programs driven by proponents i.e. the first party follow-up, may also include voluntary, self-regulatory or industry-led initiatives such as environmental management systems. Follow-up carried out by regulators, the second party follow-up, typically focuses on making sure that proponents conform to EIA approval conditions as well as learning from experience to improve EIA processes in the future. Follow-up activities carried out or initiated by the community i.e. third party follow-up may range from formal committees or agencies (NGOs) established to manage or conduct follow-up activities through to independent action by community members concerned about environmental impacts. Global Perspective of EIA Follow-up Practice EIA is far from perfect; based on various reviews; it is widely believed that follow-up practice is the weakest area in the EIA process globally. As Sadler (1996) found out in his review of the effectiveness of various EIA systems globally, that there was a poor performance of follow-up activities. Also, Wood (2003) carried out a review on EIA systems in developed countries like UK, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, USA, Netherlands and South Africa and found out that follow-up practices are not widespread. As in the developed world, follow-up monitoring has been a missing step in EIA in developing countries. For example, George (2000b) identified the lack of attention and commitment to follow up as a serious shortcoming in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia. Despite the widely recognized importance of EIA, follow-up has not been satisfactorily implemented in EIA practice (Austin, 2000) and has yet to be recognized as an essential part of the EIA process (Marshall, 2004). The extent to which follow-up monitoring is required by the EIA processvaries greatly between countries, although mandatory requirements appear to be the exception rather than the rule. The EU Directive 97/11/EC as amended, does not specifically require follow-up monitoring (Wood, 2003), and this is reflected by a similar lack of legislative provision in most Member States. In Canada, EIA is enforced by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency; although there has been some measure of progress achieved in EIA, there are also several shortcomings. Follow-up processes have been hampered by weaknesses in laws (CEAA, 2004). Also, developers may be legally required to carry out follow-up monitoring under other legislation if specified in, for example, planning consent con ditions, emission consents or legal agreements as in the case of UK. But these methods are limited and do not represent a systematic approach to monitoring (Glasson, 1994). Follow-up monitoring has been poorly implemented also in Sri Lanka with the problem of inadequate staff, space allocation, funds, and equipment (Morrison-Saunders et al, 2007). In the United States, NEPA does not provide detailed information on the subject of follow-up monitoring; it states that monitoring and enforcement program shall be implemented where applicable for any mitigation. The emphasis in EIA has all too frequently been on the pre-decision stages and on preparation of the EIS, using EIA purely to achieve development consent rather than as a tool for sound environmental management and protection. As Sadler (1996) states, the inconsistency of EIA is that very little attention is paid to the environmental effects which actually result from the development. There is very little emphasis on follow-up, on comparing what was predicted with what really happened, and on feeding the results of such exercises back into the EIA process. Without follow-up and feedback, EIA remains as a none-moving, infrequent routine rather than becoming an active and recurring process (Glasson, 1994). This lack of mandatory follow-up requirement, combined with a lack of enforcement, means that, from the developers point of view, it really does not matter if predictions are inaccurate. Conclusion If the performance of EIA in accurately predicting impacts and enabling sound environmental protection and management is to improve, lessons must be learnt from past experience and applied to future developments. Follow-up provides a means of achieving this and delivering numerous benefits. Despite this, follow-up monitoring is rarely carried out in practice. Having assessed follow-up practices in both developed and developing countries, it is evident that the existence of a legislative framework is not sufficient to make the system effective. Although some countries legislative requirements are mandatory yet problems arise due to the limited scope of legal measures and administrative support (Mitchell, 1997). Other weaknesses reside in the procedures for the design and implementation of follow-up and control mechanisms; also, the attention has largely focused on the pre-decision stages of impact assessment with follow-up monitoring receiving less attention (Arts et al., 2001). Wloda rczyk (2000) notes that understanding among practitioners of what EIA follow-up is and what it entails has not been made clear. Some have interpreted follow-up strictly as the application of mitigation measures suggested in the EIA report. The result is that prediction accuracy is not being confirmed nor is the effectiveness of improvement measures being determined. Finally, there is a need to overcome the various setbacks associated with follow-up practices; as (Marshall, 2004) states that EIA follow-up is a feedback mechanism to reflect the pitfall or success of projects. Countries around the world need to improve on the image of follow-up monitoring to highlight its benefits; the possibility of developing mandatory requirements or a central guidance for EIA follow-up needs further exploration; continuous follow-up monitoring needs to be undertaken, and the results publicized and circulated to EIA practitioners. An opportunity to improve EIA practice and procedures is being missed with every development for which an EIS is submitted with no follow-up analysis carried out (Glasson, 1994). Reference Abaza, H (2000) Strengthening Future Environmental Assessment Practice: An International Perspective, in Lee, N and George, C (Eds) Environmental Assessment in Developing and Transitional Countries, Chichester, John Wiley and Sons. Ahmad, B and Wood, C. M (2002) Environmental Impact Assessment in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia, Environmental Impact Assessment Review,Volume 22, pp. 213-234. Arts, J., Caldwell, P., and Morrison-Saunders, A (2001) Environmental Impact Assessment Follow-up: Good Practice and Future Directions Findings from a Workshop at IAIA 2000 Conference, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal,Volume 19(3), pp. 175-185. Bailey, J.M and Hobbs, V (1990) A Proposed Framework and Database for EIA Auditing, Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 31, pp. 163-72. Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (2004) Strengthening Environmental Assessment in Canada: Amendments to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, Available at http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/013/001/0003/index_e.htm, Accessed on Friday January 29th, 2010. George, C (2000b) Environmental Impact Prediction and Evaluation, in Lee, N and George, C (Eds.)Environmental Assessment in Developing and Transitional Countries, Chichester, John Wiley and Sons. Glasson, J (1994) Life after the Decision: The Importance of Monitoring in EA, Built Environment, 20, pp. 309-320. Glasson, J., Therivel, R., and Chadwick, A (1999) Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment, UCL Press. Marshall, R (2004) Can Industry Benefit from Participation in EIA-follow up? The Scottish Power Experience, in Morrison-Saunders, A and Arts, J (Eds), Assessing Impact: Handbook of EIA and SEA Follow-up, Earthscan James James, London, Chapter 6. Mitchell, B (1997) Resource and Environmental Management, Waterloo, Addison Wesley Longman Limited. Morrison-Saunders, A., Marshall, R and Arts, J (2007) EIA Follow-Up International Best Practice Principles, International Association for Impact Assessment, Special Publication Series No. 6, Fargo, USA. Sadler, B (1996) Environmental Assessment in a Changing World: Evaluating Practice to Improve Performance, Final Report, International Study of the Effectiveness of Environment Assessment, Ottawa, Canadian Environmental Agency. United Nations (1990) Post-project Analysis in Environmental Impact Assessment, Report Prepared by the Task Force on Environmental Impact Assessment Auditing with Canada as Lead Country, New York. Wlodarczyk, T. L (2000) Improving Monitoring and Follow up in Canadian Environmental Assessments, Paper Presented at the IAIA Conference June 2000, Hong Kong. Wood, C (2003) Environmental Impact Assessment, A Comparative Review, Second Edition Prentice Hall, Harlow.

The Sacrifice Essay -- essays research papers

Aspects of Killing in The Sacrifice   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To kill does not only mean to take ones life, but instead it also carries the meaning of ending an important factor in ones life. Killing also has a lot of other meanings, but the main factor of killing leads to death there are many more the author Adele Wiseman displays the many different aspects to kill in the novel The Sacrifice, by dealing with a lot of situations that would kill an individuals heart. (I.e. Loss of a loved one, etc.) The ways to kill an individual portrayed in the novel are removal from religious beliefs, Racism to the two brothers, and the death of Laiah. Two of these points deal with death itself, but the other results in the killing of the families beliefs and way of living.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The family way forced to give up their religious beliefs and convert to another faith. This had a strong effect on how the family was to function, because they already had rules, regulations, and guidelines to follow that dealt with the religion they were with. When they were forced to change, everything was forced to change with it, like what they ate, what they did, how they acted, etc. This played a big role in the killing of the family, because what it eventually did was break up the family so that it was sort of dysfunctional. The family suffered severely from the change in religion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Racism, another important factor in the novel, which lead to the ac...

James Joyce’s Araby as a coming-of-age story Essay

Araby, by James Joyce is a story about a young boy experiencing his first feelings of attraction to the opposite sex, and the way he deals with it. The story’s young protagonist is unable to explain or justify his own actions because he has never dealt with these sort of feelings before, and feels as though someone or something totally out of the ordinary has taken him over. The boy can do nothing but act on his own impulses, and is blind to the reasoning behind him. Araby is such a powerful study on childhood because of the way Joyce so vividly recounts the frustration a child feels when they are unsuccessful at trying to be an adult too fast. The story begins with images of blindness, a symbol of the boy’s youth and ignorance. Joyce describes the street the boy lives on, North Richmond street, as being â€Å"blind.† It is from these blind shadows of the boys ignorance that the object of his affection, his friend Mangan’s sister, emerges. Joyce describes her figure as being â€Å"defined by the light of the half-open door† (Joyce, 27) a symbol of the boy becoming enlightened by these new, adult feelings. As she enters the story, the images change from darkness to light and his feelings change from immature childhood concerns to those of an adolescent. Eventually, the boy’s language becomes more poetic and adult, and his thoughts turn completely to her. â€Å"Her image accompanied me even in places the most hostile to romance,† he admits â€Å"her name sprang to my lips at moments in strange prayers and praises which I myself did not understand.† The boy idealizes Mangan’s sister, obsessing over her, and is overcome with joy when she speaks to him. She tells him about a bazaar being held called Araby, and asks him if he is going. â€Å"I forgot whether I said yes or no† says  the love-struck boy to the reader, he is overcome with a mixture of fear and excitement as she chats calmly with him, explaining she can’t go because she will be away on a retreat when the bazaar is being held. She does not have to say anything else, the boy has found his opportunity to gain her affections, he tells her he will go to the bazaar on her behalf and buy her a present. He can hardly contain his excitement at this chance he’s been given to prove to do something nice for her, and to do something mature and adult like traveling to a bazaar and picking out a present alone. The boy takes this new responsibility, this new adventure to mean that he’s entered a new phase of life. Time suddenly seems to slow down in the story as the boy waits for Saturday to arrive. â€Å"I could not call my wandering thoughts together† he complains â€Å"I had hardly any practice with the serious work of life which, now that it stood between me and my desire seemed to me child’s play, ugly monotonous child’s play.† (Joyce, 29) Everything getting in the way of his journey begins to torture the poor boy, he sits in agony as the clock ticks, as he waits to be allowed to leave, he can barely contain his frustration. This sort of anticipation shows to the reader that the boy is not as mature as he feels himself to be, if he were an adult making a journey for a girl he liked, the entire process would not seem so exigent. When his uncle finally arrives home he is distracted and has forgotten about the boy’s desire to go to the bazaar. He starts talking about an Arab poem he knows and keeps the boy even longer, finally giving him the money and allowing him to go. The boy’s arrival at the bazaar, like his quick transition to adulthood, is a false awakening. By the time he arrives at the bazaar he can not purchase anything, the vendors are tired and closing up shop, and have little desire to see what this young boy can buy from them. He is being treated as a child and is aware of it. His quest for adulthood and independence seems somewhat futile, this trip didn’t assert anything. He feels the disappointment of seeing Mangan’s sister empty-handed pour over him. As the boy leaves the bazaar the light goes out, once again returning to the symbols of light and darkness in the beginning. The boy is returning to  ignorance and childhood. â€Å"Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger† reflects the boy, finally realizing that the whole quest was frivolous, the girl was a fantasy. So, in this end paragraph, although the darkness is a return to childhood, he has gained some self-realization. His ability to recognize his youth and his ignorance is a growth.

The Elfstones of Shannara essays

The Elfstones of Shannara essays The Elfstones of Shannara takes place some time after the first novel The Sword of Shannara. In this epic tale the grandson of Shea Ohmsford is confronted with a task that may be more dramatic then his grandfathers. For Wil Ohmsford has to save the four lands from demon hordes, sealed long ago by the Ellcrys created by the elves to end a war of ages past. Now the Ellcrys is dying and the seal that banished the demons is fading. Allanon once again comes and brings with him the forbidding news of disaster facing the four lands. And he summons Wil from his studies to protect the Elven girl Amberle. The one that was chosen to bring the seed of the Ellcrys to the Bloodfire so that the tree can be reformed, and the demons banished once more. While Amberle and Wil adventure in their search for bloodfire the elves fight a hopeless war agenst the demons, with the help of Allanon. Wil and his charge search for the long forgotten resting-place of bloodfire and go up agenst many obstacles in a seemingly impossible quest. Before them is the Wilderun with impassible barriers as well as unknown dangers, covering the area where the bloodfire is disputed to flow. And behind them is the most fearsom of the demons, the Reaper who hunts them endlessly. The only power that Wil has at his disposal to defend them is the elfstones which where passed to him by his Grandfather. But he seems to have lost the power to control the stones. And weaponless, Amberle and he must brave the Wilderun with out there aid. ...

10 Interesting Facts About Gold

10 Interesting Facts About Gold There are many interesting facts about the element gold, which is listed on the periodic table as Au. This is the only truly yellow metal on Earth, and theres a lot more to learn about gold. Gold Facts Gold is the only metal that is yellow or golden. Other metals may develop a yellowish color, but only after they have oxidized or reacted with other chemicals.Nearly all of the gold on Earth came from meteorites that bombarded the planet over 200 million years after it formed.The element symbol for gold is Au. The symbol comes from the old Latin name for gold, aurum, which means shining dawn or glow of sunrise. The word gold comes from the Germanic languages, originating from the Proto-Germanic gulà ¾ and Proto-Indo-European ghel, meaning yellow/green. The pure element has been known since ancient times.Gold is extremely ductile. A single ounce of gold (about 28 grams) can be stretched into a gold thread 5 miles (8 kilometers) long. Gold threads can even be used as embroidery thread.Malleability is a measure of how easily a material can be hammered into thin sheets. Gold is the most malleable element. A single ounce of gold can be beaten out into a sheet that is 300 square feet. A s heet of gold can be made thin enough to be transparent. Very thin sheets of gold may appear greenish blue because gold strongly reflects red and yellow. Although gold is a heavy, dense metal, it is generally considered non-toxic. Gold metal flakes may be eaten in foods or drinks.Pure elemental gold is 24 karat, while 18 karat gold is 75 percent pure gold, 14 karat gold is 58.5 percent pure gold, and 10 karat gold is 41.7 percent pure gold. The remaining portion of the metal usually used in gold jewelry and items is silver, but items may also consist of other metals or a combination of metals, such as platinum, copper, palladium, zinc, nickel, iron, and cadmium.Gold is a noble metal. It is relatively unreactive and resists degradation by air, moisture, or acidic conditions. While acids dissolve most metals, a special mixture of acids called aqua regia is used to dissolve gold.Gold has many uses aside from its monetary and symbolic value. Among other applications, it is used in electronics, electrical wiring, dentistry, electronics, medicine, radiation shielding, and to color glass.High purity metallic gold is odorless and tasteless. T his makes sense since the metal is unreactive. Metal ions are what confers flavor and odor to metallic elements and compounds.

Nagel's bat argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Nagel's bat argument - Essay Example This shortcoming in Nagel’s argument comes as a result of a conceptual error regarding the nature of a mind-independent, or objective, phenomenon. The nature of phenomenal experience can be illustrated with a thought experiment. A scientist can apply artificial impulses to a subject’s cerebrum through electrodes, causing the subject to react in predicable ways: moving his arm, yelling loudly, and so on. These artificial inputs mirror exactly the natural functioning of the brain. Imagine then if the scientist simulates pain, evoking the appropriate physiological responses, but hears no reports of pain from the subject. For pain to exist, we might conclude, there is a necessary condition that there be first ­-hand, phenomenal experience of such. Even though the physiological responses to pain appear, there is still the lack of subjectivity, which proves necessary for the ontic existence of pain. Nagel uses the term â€Å"subjective character of experience† to denote the thought that a point-of-view is essentially a set the sum of a thing’s subjective phenomena. The notion of the subjective character of experience suggests, according to Nagel, that some kinds of facts, namely the means by which mental states arise from physical ones, are outside of the realm of human experience and thus unknowable. A bat, for instance, perceives its environment entirely different from how a human being would and given that there is something that the bat subjectively experiences there seems to be some ontological closure for the human mind to some facts. The bat forms a particularly effective tool for Nagel to illustrate his claim insofar as that species employs a sensory device of sonar, which is a radically different from man’s means of perception. While any conscious animal would do, the bat’s sensory tools are clearly different in every respect of its operation from sight or any of the other human senses. While clearly conscious, the bat has its own very

Learning stile Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Learning stile - Article Example Sometimes, the pictures in my mind as I read books are very vivid. Reading is not only informational but it is also entertaining and enjoyable. One can travel to many places in just one sitting, meet various people from different cultures, taste their exotic foods and enjoy their music. Reading is so pleasurable, it makes learning very interesting. As one who loves reading, I am more able to express my thoughts and ideas through writing. When I write, I can choose the correct words to use in order to make the right impressions to my readers or listeners. Moreover, I can easily learn about things by writing. Perhaps this happens because when a person writes, he has to think things through before putting his ideas into writing. An individual has to analyze his subject matter and arrange the words in such a manner that they will not only be mere statements that have no meaning at all. Rather, one has to be eloquent and this skill can be developed through