mary reilly essays

mary reilly essays The novel Mary Reilly by Valerie Martin took place in London in the Victorian stage. The story served as the diary of a housemaid named Mary Reilly recording events throughout her time employing at the household of Dr. Henry Jekyll. The other important characters consist of Edward Hyde, the antagonist of the story ; the servants in the house : Mr. Poole, Mr. Bradshaw, Cook, Annie; Mr. Utterson, the solicitor of Henry Jekyll and other different supporting characters. Ever since a child, Mary had had to go through many hardships due to her father being a drunk and abusing her. The diary started out with Mary recalling the time her father had put her in the closet with a mouse. The mouse ended up biting her to serious injuries and it was from then that she was departed from her father. With that, Mary started out her first lines in recording her life at Dr. Jekylls house. Mary right away interested him because unlike other servants she was not only observant and literate, she also had a constant tranquil view of the world around her. Mary began to establish a close relationship with her master as they had a lot in common. Mary also recognized the abnormal habit of her master, who usually spent hours and hours in his laboratory ( a small cabinet in the theatre across the yard) until after midnight and would come in sometimes just before dawn. Day after day, Dr. Jekyll gained his trust in Mary. The mystery began when Mary was sent on an errand to the house of Mrs. Farraday in Soho. After her second trip there, she was confused and frightened as she was shown a room full of blood and in that room laid a handkerchief on which her masters initials imprinted. Her masters explanation of all this confused her more as he said it was just an act of charity but this seemed contrary to what Mary felt. Subsequent to this, Master informed the household that he would be having an assistant, named Edward Hyde and he was to ...

The Unsolved Case of the Long Island Serial Killer

The Unsolved Case of the Long Island Serial Killer Oak Beach, Long Island is a small, semi-secluded community located 35 miles from Manhattan on the eastern end of the barrier island called Jones Beach Island. It is part of the town of Babylon in Suffolk County, New York. The residents of Oak Beach are wealthy by most standards. The average home with a view of the water is priced at around $700,000 to $1.5 million for a home on the water. The crime rate is minuscule, at least until May 2010 when Shannon Gilbert, a 24-year-old  escort advertising on Craigslist disappeared after running from a clients home in Oak Bridge. According to Gilberts client Joseph Brewer, the young escort began to fall apart while at his home. Suffering from bipolar and reportedly not taking her medication, Gilbert called 9-1-1 from Brewers home and talked for over 20 minutes. At one point she told the 9-1-1 operator, theyre trying to kill   me. Brewer later told the police that he was unable to calm Gilbert down and asked her driver, Michael Pak, to help get her out of the house. Gilbert ended up fleeing both men and began knocking on nearby neighbors doors, screaming and pleading for help. The police were called, but when they arrived Gilbert had vanished into the night. Where she disappeared to remained a mystery for over a year. A Discovery by Chance On December 10, 2010, police detective John Mallia was training his cadaver police dog when he discovered a burlap sack buried down in the marshes of Gilgo Beach. Inside the sac were the skeletal remains of a woman, but it was not Shannon Gilbert. A search of the area turned up four more skeletal remains in December. From March through May 2011, detectives from Nassau County, Suffolk County, and the New York State Police returned to the area and worked together to search for more victims. They discovered the remains of six more victims, including the body of a small toddler girl. All of the remains were found approximately a mile apart and about five miles from where the other victims that were found in December. Long Island Serial Killer The news media was quick label the killer as the Long Island Serial Killer and the police agreed that they likely had a serial killer in the area. In June 2011, investigators offered a reward of $25,000   (up from $5,000) in exchange for information that would lead to the arrest of the person responsible. On a map, the locations of the victims remains, some just partial remains, are like dots scattered along the Ocean Parkway that leads to Jones Beach. Up close it was a macabre scene as detectives dug through the thick bramble that covered the marsh. When they finished they had the partial remains of eight female victims, one male victim dressed as a woman, and the toddler. It was not until a year later, on December 13, 2011, that the remains of Shannon Gilbert would be found in the same area. Victims Advertised Escort Service Through Craigslist Police later reported that all of the victims appeared to be sex workers who advertised their services on Craigslist. They suspect that the toddler was the child of one of the women. At first, believing that the area had become a dumping ground for a pair of serial killers, the investigators later retracted that statement, saying instead that it was the work of one killer. Investigators do not believe that Shannon Gilbert was killed by the serial killer, but by natural causes, after she became disoriented and lost in the marsh. They believe that she most likely drowned. Her mother does agree, particularly since Shannon was found face up, which is unusual for drowning victims The First Victims That Were Identified Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, of Norwich, Connecticut, was last seen on July 9, 2007, after leaving Norwich to go to New York City. Maureen worked as an escort and advertised on Craigslist. She was a small woman, only four feet eleven inches tall and one hundred five pounds. She got into the escort business because she needed money to pay for her home. Once she caught up on her mortgage she left the sex industry for seven months but returned to it after receiving an eviction notice. Her remains were found during the December 2010 search. Melissa Barthelemy, 24, of Erie County, New York, was last seen on July 10, 2009. Melissa worked as an escort and advertised on Craigslist. Her last known activity was on July 10 when she met up with a client, made a bank deposit of $900 into her account. She then called an old boyfriend, but he did not answer. After a week that she went missing and for five consecutive weeks after that, her young sister received phone calls from someone using Melissas cell phone. The sister described the anonymous caller as   vulgar, mocking and insulting and she suspects the caller was the person who killed her sister. Megan Waterman, 22, of South Portland, Maine, disappeared on June 6, 2010, after advertising her escort services on Craigslist. Megan was staying at a motel in Hauppauge, New York, which is located 15 miles from Gilgo Beach. Her remains were discovered in December 2010. Amber Lynn Costello, 27, of North Babylon, New York, went missing on September 2, 2010. North Babylon is located just 10 miles north of Gilgo Beach. Amber was a heroin user and a sex worker. On the night that she vanished, she had received several calls from a client offering to pay her $1,500 for her services. Her sister, Kimberly Overstreet, also a sex worker at one time, reportedly said in 2012, that she would continue to use Craigslist in the same manner as her sister, in an effort to catch her sisters killer. Jessica Taylor, 20, from Manhattan, vanished in July 2003. It was known that Jessica had worked in New York and Washinton D.C. as a sex worker. On July 26, 2003, her partial remains were found in Manorville, New York, which is located about 45 miles east of Gilgo Beach. Her nude chopped up torso was found and the head and hands were missing. On March 29, 2011, her skull, hands, and a forearm were found at Gilgo and identified through DNA.   Unidentified Victims Jane Doe No. 6: The right foot, both hands, and a human skull, were found on April 4, 2011. The rest of the unidentified victims remains were found in the same area where Jessica Taylors partial remains were found in Manorville, New York. Investigators believe that Jane Doe No. 6 was probably a sex worker. Police believe the same person is responsible for the death of both of the victims. Similar methods were used to dispose and disperse the womens remains. Police released a composite sketch of Jane Doe No. 6. She was between the ages of 18 and 35 and was around five feet, two inches tall. John Doe: The remains of a young Asian male, between the ages of 17 and 23, were discovered on April 4 at Gilgo Beach. It appeared that he had been dead for five to 10 years. The cause of death was blunt-force trauma. Investigators believe he may have worked in the sex industry. At the time of his death, he was wearing womens clothing. A composite sketch of the victim was released. Police say that he was around five foot, six inches and he was missing four teeth. Baby Doe: Located around 250 feet from Jane Doe No. 6, investigators discovered the remains of a female toddler between the ages of 16 and 24 months old. DNA tests determined that the toddlers mother was Jane Doe No. 3, whose remains were found 10 miles east, near Jones Beach State Park. It was reported that she was non-Caucasian and was wearing earrings and a necklace at the time that she was murdered. Peaches and Jane Doe No 3: On April 11, 2011, Nassau County police found the dismembered skeletal remains in Jone Beach State Park. The remains were stuffed inside of a plastic bag. The victim was named Jane Doe No 3. On June 28, 1997, the dismembered torso of a young Black female was found in Lakeview at Hempstead Lake State Park. The torso was discovered inside a green plastic container which had been dumped next to the road that ran alongside the west side of the lake. The victim had a tattoo of a peach shaped ​like a heart that had a bite out of it and there were  two teardrops on her left breast. DNA analysis identified that Peaches and Jane Doe No 3 were the same person and that she was the mother of Baby Doe. Jane Doe No. 7: Located near Tobay Beach, a human skull and several teeth were found on April 11, 2011. DNA testing showed that these remains belonged to the same person whose severed legs had been found on Fire Island on April 20, 1996.

Comparison Between the Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis Essay

Comparison Between the Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis - Essay Example The King lived approximately between 2750 and 2500 BCE. The first half of the story focuses on the friendship between Gilgamesh-king of Uruk and Enkidu. From the Epic, Enkidu is a wild man created by the gods as Gilgamesh’s peer to relieve him from oppression caused by the people of Uruk. In a joint mission, the two gentlemen began a journey to the Cedar Mountain where they defeated Humbaba. Humbaba was the monstrous guardian to the Cedar Mountain. This victory called for a celebration and they killed the Bull of Heaven for the celebration. However, this did not go well with goddess Ishtar who sentenced Enkidu to death as a punishment for the actions. The second of half of the Epic highlights how Gilgamesh was distressed at the death of Enkidu and this resulted to him taking a long and perilous journey to discover the secret of eternal life. He later learned that you cannot get everything you are looking for in life. He realized upon creation of man, the gods let death be his share and hence life withheld in their own hands. However, it is worth noting that Gilgamesh fame survived the death of Enkidu because of his account of Siduri’s advice, his great building projects and what he was told about the great flood. GENESIS Genesis is a Greek word that means â€Å"origin† or â€Å"birth†. It is the first book of the Torah or Pentateuch. Genesis is also the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. Torah is a Hebrew word for â€Å"instructions† while Pentateuch is a Greek word for â€Å"five scrolls†. In regards to tradition, the Torah was dedicated to Moses by god. However, several scholars are of the opinion that Torah was composed from four different sources between 950 BCE and 500 BCE, which were later joined together around 450 BCE. The book of genesis is structured around ten toledot sections; however, modern commentators see it in terms of a primeval history. The book of Genesis is an example of â€Å"antiquarian history†. That is, a type of literature telling of the first appearance of humans, the origins of culture, the stories of ancestors, cities and heroes. Similarities There are several similarities between the epic of Gilgamesh and the book of genesis. One of the similarities lies on the flood account. The first point of similarities was the fact that God chose a righteous man to build an ark because of an impending great flood. In both cases, animals of all kinds were to be on the ark and birds were used after the rains to determine if floods waters had subsidized. After the rains stop stopped, both arks settled on mountain whereby Noah’s Ark and Utnapishtim’s on Ararat and Nisir respectively. It is worth noting that these mountains were not far from each other and sacrifices took the center stage after the flood. Apart from the floods, there was also the similarity in terms of the themes. Apart from the theme of seduction and civilization as r evealed by Eve and Shamhat; the theme of love and friendship and God’s chosen people also stood out. Themes Love and friendship The greater understanding and great love that emerged between Enkindu and the King; makes King Gilgamesh a better leader to the people of Uruk allowing him to better understand and identify with them. The epic of Gilgamesh may lack a female love interest, but the revelation of erotic love plays a vital role. Love and friendship in the epic is not considered not only as a part of life, but also as a vital part of the poem to

Planning, Siting, and Permitting of Landfills Essay

Planning, Siting, and Permitting of Landfills - Essay Example To begin, the construction of a landfill site involves investment in infrastructure to facilitate environmental measures. However, there are particular steps in the construction of a landfill. The choice of the site is an important factor. There is the need to establish and formulate a joint solid waste management program that involves the landfill component, waste reduction, recycling and improved collection (UsAid 1999). Secondly, there is the need to review the land Use policy in the areas. An official application should be submitted to the authority for the evaluation and choice of the potential site. Establish the feasibility of the project and an environmental analysis to assess the impact of the construction. There are also fatal flaws in the construction process of landfills. Position of the landfill is an important factor. The fatal flaw is the positioning of the landfill upstream and near the source of surface or ground water suitable for drinking and domestic use (UsAid 1999). However, this is a public health hazard and results in the poisoning of the local citizens. The location on highly porous soil can cause erosion which results in environmental damage. Location next to the residential, commercial and industrial developments is also a fatal problem because of the increased cost of

Organization Structure Essay Example for Free

Organization Structure Essay Tips: Or you can approach this way: 1. Briefly introduce the various organizational theories. 2. Mention that you will focus analysing two theories, where examples of principle and practice can be found from the case study, for the purpose of this task. Analyse how organizational theory underpins principles and practice of organizing and management. a. Briefly introduce the various organizational theories (Scientific management, classical administration and etc) b. Analyse in details the various organizational theories in terms of its principles and practice. ( Analysis: 1.Explain what they are, 2.describe their characteristics and under what circumstances each of them may be useful and 3.evaluate their strengths and weaknesses) c. Relate these theories, where appropriate and applicable, to the case study. d. Draw a short conclusion Tips: Or you can approach this way: 1. Briefly introduce the various organizational theories. 2. Mention that you will focus analysing two theories, where examples of principle and practice can be found from the case study, for the purpose of this task.1. Draw the organizational structures for both firms You should be able to see the differences of the two organizational structures: Tall and short hierarchical structure, narrow and wide span of management, specialization by geographic or functions or something else. These diagrams serve as the basis for you to do the following compare and contrast. 2. Compare and contrast the differences of organizational structures between the firms Based on the above diagrams, do the compare and contrast. Compare and contrast means you need to find out: * What are the things similar between the two companies? * What are the differences between the two companies? Sample answer for 2 a. Organizational structure Given the diagram, it is clear that both companies have a formal organizational structure. There are however differences between the two companies. First, Boss Ltd is taller than Agar in organizational hierarchy. (Plagarism is a serious offence. This content can be found at http://btechnd.blogpot.com/) This is due to the structure necessarily to support Boss Ltd’s geographical and product divisions that accommodate 400 more staff than Agar Ltd(Plagarism is a serious offence. This content can be found at http://btechnd.blogpot.com) . In contrast, Agar has a layer reporting hierarchy. Its line of command is shorter than that of Boss Ltd. Second, the span of management, in the case of Boss Ltd, is narrower than that of Agar. That being the case, a stronger degree of decentralised decision making is practised in Boss. Agar’s decision making mainly centralized to the CEO himself.

Teh Great Gadsby Essay -- essays research papers

The Great Gatsby is a novel that is about the rich people of the roaring twenties and in particularly about a man named Gatsby in search of the American dream. The story starts out with the narrator Nick Carraway moving from the west (Chicago) to a New York suburb called West Egg. His is trying to become a successful bond salesman. Just across the bay is where his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom Buchanan live. But right next door is where the main character Jay Gatsby lives in a huge house, where every weekend he holds an enormous party. In the beginning Nick goes to the Buchanan mansion. There he meats Jordan Baker(a pro golfer) and he also learns that Tom is having an affair. Next Nick and Tom go to The garage where Tom tells Myrtle to be on the next train. They picked her up at the station in New York and as they are driving to the apartment Tom has rented for the affair Myrtle buys a dog. The go to the apartment and have a little party and Tom and Myrtle get in a fight and Tom breaks her nose. Next Nick is invited to Gatsby’s party, there he hears many rumors about Gatsby. Then at almost the end of the party Nick finally meets Gatsby and he learns a little about him, That he’s an Oxford man and that he inherited his fortune from his family. At the end of their conversation they set up a lunch date for the following day. At the lunch date Gatsby introduces Nick to another important character named Meyer Wolfsheim, whom is the man that rigged the 1919 World Serie... Teh Great Gadsby Essay -- essays research papers The Great Gatsby is a novel that is about the rich people of the roaring twenties and in particularly about a man named Gatsby in search of the American dream. The story starts out with the narrator Nick Carraway moving from the west (Chicago) to a New York suburb called West Egg. His is trying to become a successful bond salesman. Just across the bay is where his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom Buchanan live. But right next door is where the main character Jay Gatsby lives in a huge house, where every weekend he holds an enormous party. In the beginning Nick goes to the Buchanan mansion. There he meats Jordan Baker(a pro golfer) and he also learns that Tom is having an affair. Next Nick and Tom go to The garage where Tom tells Myrtle to be on the next train. They picked her up at the station in New York and as they are driving to the apartment Tom has rented for the affair Myrtle buys a dog. The go to the apartment and have a little party and Tom and Myrtle get in a fight and Tom breaks her nose. Next Nick is invited to Gatsby’s party, there he hears many rumors about Gatsby. Then at almost the end of the party Nick finally meets Gatsby and he learns a little about him, That he’s an Oxford man and that he inherited his fortune from his family. At the end of their conversation they set up a lunch date for the following day. At the lunch date Gatsby introduces Nick to another important character named Meyer Wolfsheim, whom is the man that rigged the 1919 World Serie...

Analytical essay on Primo Levi’s “If This Is a Man” Essay

Primo Levi’s book ‘If This Is a Man’ is a novel about a German concentration camp, one among many novels on the same subject. However, this book is exceptional as Levi never ‘raises his voice, complains, or attributes blame’. ‘If This Is a Man’ is an objective story told in a detached tone using scientific language, which sometimes makes this book not a confession but an analysis. Nevertheless, distant tone and unemotional language bring the horrifying message across with even greater impact on readers. The saddest, the most powerful, and the most ironic chapter of the book is the central ninth chapter, called ‘The Drowned and the Saved’. Here the author’s talent as well as his training as chemist comes through in unique manner. Instead of telling the story, Levi analyses the reasons, the methods, and the effects of German concentration camps. The result is more like an essay or even lab report rather than a part of a novel. The diction of the chapter is sharply contrasted with its content, emphasizing the terrifying events described. Already the first sentence of the chapter (â€Å"What we have so far said and will say concerns the ambiguous life of the Lager.† P. 102) reveals a lot. This sentence is the first step in building up the emotionless tone through technical diction. The first person point of view used throughout previous chapters is suddenly replaced by the pronoun â€Å"we† as it is used in official documents. With every following sentence, the dryness of expression grows gradually: â€Å"To this question we feel that we have to reply in the affirmative.† (p. 102), â€Å"†¦the Lager was presumably a gigantic biological and social experiment.† (p. 102), â€Å"But another fact seems to us worthy of attention†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 103). Read Also:  Analytic Rubric for Essay The impact of language is reinforced by the structure of the chapter. As Primo Levi names the Lager to be an experiment, he writes his analysis of the reasons and effects of the concentration camp in the form of a lab report. One can clearly distinguish statement of purpose, method statement, hypothesis, observations, conditions, and conclusion – all the important parts of a lab report. However, as said before the detachedness of the structure is in sharp contrast with the content. For example, the â€Å"method  statement† (â€Å"Thousands of individuals†¦ are enclosed within barbed wire: there they live a regular, controlled life which is identical for all and inadequate to all needs†¦Ã¢â‚¬  p. 102) describes plainly and understatedly terrifying conditions of the camp. Levi does not complain, he just says that the conditions are â€Å"inadequate to all needs† but the underestimation brings the message across more powerfully, especially when compared to previous chapters. Similarly, the author writes: â€Å"And one must take into account a definite cushioning effect exercised both by the law, and by the moral state which constitutes a self-imposed law;† (p. 103), a statement, describing the conditions of â€Å"the experiment†, implying that there is no law or sense of morality in the camps. However, yet again, there are no protests or grumbles, and the reader has to find the meaning behind the statement himself. â€Å"Variables† in the experiment are two categories of men – the saved and the drowned. Sudden change of tone – from official to poetic and back to official – is used to accentuate the difference among the prisoners, to bring it across for the reader that in the Lager the only choice was either to survive or to die. Everyone struggles to survive and in this brutal exertion, all means are justified. â€Å"If some Null Achtzehn vacillates, he will find no one to extend a helping hand; on the contrary, someone will knock him aside†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 103). With this line author clearly states the moral of the camps: if I’m not for myself, who will be for me? With bitter irony Levi avers that the law â€Å"to he that has will be given; to he that has not will be taken away.† (p. 104) is openly at work in the camp and to obey this law is the only possible way to survive. Thus, the morality of the Lager is the antithesis of morality of normal life the way the concentration camp itself is antithesis of normal world. This passage is even more sarcastic when the fact that Primo Levi himself was not particularly strong and capable prisoner but rather a ‘muselman’. However, as it has been mentioned in the beginning of this essay, Primo Levi’s book is different from other novels on the same topic. All the writers have shown the brutal morality, or rather immorality of the Lager and deduced from it that â€Å"the Hà ¤ftling is†¦ a man without inhibitions† (p.  103) thus giving up on the humankind. Levi’s attitude is different. He believes that humanity of the prisoners is still hidden deep in their souls waiting for an opportunity to recover. (â€Å"†¦in the face of driving necessity and physical disabilities many social habits and instincts are reduced to silence.† p. 103) and as it becomes evident in the end of the book, he proves to be right. Another fact worth mentioning about this chapter is that the title â€Å"The Drowned and the Saved† used to be also the title of the English translation of the novel, indicating hence the importance of the chapter. As a conclusion it can be said that the novel ‘If This is a Man’ by Primo Levi and especially the ninth chapter is a unique account of the horrifying actions carried out in German concentration camps as it tells the story unemotionally using scientific diction to accentuate the seriousness of matter discussed. Analysis of the reasons behind setting up the Lager, methods used to break down human soul and the effects of the actions carried out by SS officials gives an appalling insight to one of the most horrifying events of the 20th century.

Comparison of Tragic Heroes: Othello and Willy Loman Essay

Tragic heroism dominates many of the plays written in the earlier years of literature. Many of the known authors and playwrights used them in their works to represent their main character. Among the more popular tragic heroes in the literary history are Othello from Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare and Willy Loman from Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. These two characters, although both fit the qualifications of a tragic hero, do so in different ways. In Aristotle’s Poetics, he outlined the characteristics of a tragic hero as follows; first, someone who has a noble standing or who has a high position relative to his culture; he should be great, but not to the point of perfection. Spectators must be able to relate to him as a man, not someone so godly. A fatal character flaw would cause his downfall and the consequences or punishments that he receives for it usually surpass the crime. However, the fall should not be limited to pure loss but may also be an increased awareness, some kind of self-discovery or self-realization or gained self-knowledge. Othello perfectly fit the standards provided above. He was a prominent man being the general and commander of the armed forces of Venice. People respect him and look up to him because of his noble stature. However, as the play progresses, it slowly unveils the character flaws of Othello. His being so trusting of Iago, which was partly because of his military mindset of fully giving total confidence to a comrade, led him to be manipulated easily. He was lured to believe that his wife was having an affair with another man. His jealousy took the better of him, thus he was not able to think clearly. This character flaw pulled him down from the pedestal for it showed that even though he was a very prominent person, he also have some weaknesses just like all humans do. As the story comes to an end, he was overcome by his suspicion of his wife’s dalliance, which made him kill her. It was only after that incident that he realized his foolishness for believing Iago. Thus, before he took his life, he stated â€Å"Speak of one that loved not wisely, but too well, of one not easily jealous but, being wrought, perplexed in an extreme†¦. † (Act V, Scene 2). Too late was his realization of his lack of wisdom and naivete, which led to the tragic ending of the story. Willy Loman, on the other hand, has a different story. He may not be a very prominent person just like Othello, but within the realm of his culture, he is at the higher post. He was a successful businessman; he has his own home, a car, and what he perceived as a wonderful family. He saw himself as someone very important in his family and a cut above his contemporaries. This claim is evident in his statement in Act 1 where he uttered â€Å"I’m the New England man. I’m vital in New England†. This prominence, although self-perceived made him qualify for the first qualification of a tragic hero. His flaws, however, also came from the perception he had of himself. He set a high standard for his son based on what he had accomplished, which the latter failed to achieve. As he got older, he became less effective as a salesman and things began going out of hand. He made major mistakes after another including an affair with another woman, which was discovered by his son making things worse. His faults, however, are not planned but were spontaneously derived from previous misfortunes. In the end, the once very happy and contented Willy Loman became very sad and miserable that he decided to end his life through a car crash. We can see in these two characters the fulfilment of the qualifications for a tragic hero in different ways. Othello, somehow manages to fit in classically while Loman had to achieve it by diving deeper into the criteria. Nevertheless, the main idea of being a tragic hero was met by both, thus they are considered as such. This only goes to show that literature is not limited, which is a good thing because it allows writers to explore different possibilities of meeting set standards.

Thanksgiving in Germany

Thanksgiving in Germany Various cultures and nationalities celebrate a successful harvest every fall and the festivities usually involve both religious and non-religious elements. On the one hand, people offer prayerful thanks for a fruitful growing season, for enough food to survive the winter, for their community’s health and well-being, and then add their sincere desire to renew their good fortune in the coming spring. On the other hand, people also delight in having crops of fruits, grains, and vegetables to trade for non-agricultural goods that make their lives more bearable. People worldwide, especially those involved in agriculture, share these common elements after the growing season. German Thanksgiving, das Erntedankfest In Germany, Thanksgiving- (â€Å"das Erntedankfest,† i.e.,Thanksgiving Harvest Festival)- is strongly entrenched in German culture. Erntedankfest is usually observed on the first Sunday of October (04 October 2015 this year), although the timing is not hard and fast nationwide. For example, in many of the wine regions (there are a lot of them in Germany), vintners are more likely to celebrate Erntedankfest in late November after the grape harvest. Regardless of the timing, Erntedankfest is usually more religious than non-religious. At their core and despite their renowned scientific, engineering, and technological wizardry, Germans are very, very close to Mother Nature (â€Å"naturnah†), so, while the economic benefits of a bountiful harvest are always well received, Germans never forget that, without the beneficial guiding force of nature, the harvest would not have gone as well. As one would expect, Erntedankfest, whenever it takes place, includes the usual community events of preachers’ homilies reminding listeners that, whatever their successes, they didn’t achieve it on their own, of colorful parades meandering through the city center, of the selection and crowning of a local beauty as harvest queen, and, of course, of lots of food, music, drink, dancing, and generally enthusiastic revelry. In some of the larger towns, fireworks displays are not uncommon.   Since Erntedankfest stems from both rural and religious roots, some other traditions should interest you. Churchgoers load freshly harvested crops such as fruits, vegetables, and their byproducts, e.g., bread, cheese, etc., as well as canned goods, into sturdy baskets, much like picnic baskets, and take them to their church in mid-morning. Following the Erntedankfest service, the preacher blesses the food and the parishioners  Mohnstriezel distribute it to the poor. Local craftsmen and craftswomen make large, colorful wreaths from wheat or maize to display on one’s door, and they also fashion crowns of various sizes to mount on buildings and to carry in their parades. In many towns and villages, children equipped with lanterns go from house to house in the evening (â€Å"der Laternenumzug†). After the public events, individual families gather at home to enjoy a celebratory meal, often one that has been influenced by American and Canadian traditions. Who hasn’t seen treacly American films of extended families traveling great distances to be together on Thanksgiving? Fortunately, this sentimental aspect of Thanksgiving hasn’t yet polluted German Erntedankfest. The most prominent North American influence and, to many people, particularly those who favor the turkey’s abundance of white meat, the most welcome influence is the growing preference for a roasted turkey (â€Å"der Truthahn†), rather than a roasted goose (â€Å"die Gans†). Turkeys are much leaner, and, consequently, somewhat drier, while a well roasted goose is certainly more savory. If the family cook knows what s/he’s doing, a good six-kilo goose is probably the tastier choice; however, geese have a lot of fat. That fat should be drained, saved, and used to pan-fry sliced potatoes a few days later, so be prepared. Some families have their own traditions and serve duck, rabbit, or roast (pork or beef) as the main course. I’ve even enjoyed a truly magnificent carp (a scale from which I still have in my wallet as protection against poverty). Many such meals feature the superb Mohnstriezel, a sweet braided bun originating in Austria, containing poppy seeds, almonds, lemon rind, raisins, etc. Regardless of the main dish, the side dishes, which are invariably regional, are always incredibly tasty and unique. The main thing to remember about Erntedankfest is that the food and the drink are merely the background. The Erntedankfest’s real stars are â€Å"die Gemà ¼tlichkeit, die Kameradschaft, und die Agape† (the cosiness, the camaraderie, and the agape [the love of God for man and of man for God]).

Prior Knowledge Improves Reading Comprehension

Prior Knowledge Improves Reading Comprehension Using prior knowledge is an important part of reading comprehension for children with dyslexia. Students relate the written word to their previous experiences to make reading more personal, helping them to both understand and remember what they have read. Some experts believe that activating prior knowledge is the most important aspect of the reading experience. What is Prior Knowledge? When we talk about prior or previous knowledge, we refer to all of the experiences readers have had throughout their lives, including information they have learned elsewhere. This knowledge is used to bring the written word to life and to make it more relevant in the readers mind. Just as our understanding about the subject can lead to further understanding, misconceptions that we accept also add to our understanding, or misunderstanding as we read. Teaching Prior Knowledge A number of teaching interventions can be implemented in the classroom to help students effectively activate prior knowledge when reading: preteaching vocabulary, providing background knowledge and creating opportunities and a framework for students to continue building background knowledge. Pre-teaching Vocabulary In another article, we discussed the challenge of teaching students with dyslexia new vocabulary words. These students may have a larger oral vocabulary than their reading vocabulary and they may have a difficult time both sounding out new words and recognizing these words when reading. It is often helpful for teachers to introduce and review new vocabulary before beginning new reading assignments. As students become more familiar with the vocabulary and continue to build their vocabulary skills, not only does their reading fluency increase but so does their reading comprehension. In addition, as students learn and understand new vocabulary word, and relate these words to their personal knowledge of a subject, they can invoke that same knowledge as they read. Learning the vocabulary, therefore, helps students to use their personal experiences to relate to stories and information they read. Providing Background Knowledge When teaching math, teachers accept that a student continues to build upon previous knowledge and without this knowledge, they will have a much more difficult time understanding new mathematical concepts. In other subjects, such as social studies, this concept is not readily discussed, however, it is just as important. In order for a student to understand written material, no matter what the subject, a certain level of prior knowledge is needed. When students are first introduced to a new topic, they will have some level of prior knowledge. They may have a great deal of knowledge, some knowledge or very little knowledge. Before providing background knowledge, teachers must measure the level of prior knowledge in a specific topic. This can be accomplished by: Asking questions, beginning with general questions and slowly increasing the specificity of questionsWrite statements on the board based on what students have shared about the topicHave students complete a worksheet, without grading, to determine knowledge Once a teacher has gathered information on how much the students know, she can plan lessons to students further background knowledge. For example, when beginning a lesson on the Aztecs, questions on prior knowledge might revolve around types of homes, food, geography, beliefs, and accomplishments. Based on the information the teacher gathers, she can create a lesson to fill in the blanks, showing slides or pictures of homes, describing what types of food were available, what major accomplishments the Aztecs had. Any new vocabulary words in the lesson should be introduced to the students. This information should be given as an overview and as a precursor to the actual lesson. Once the review is completed, students can read the lesson, bringing in the background knowledge to give them a greater understanding of what they have read. Creating Opportunities and a Framework for Students to Continue Building Background Knowledge Guided reviews and introductions to new material, such as the previous example of the teacher providing an overview, before reading are extremely helpful in providing students with background information. But students must learn to find this type of information on their own. Teachers can help by giving students specific strategies for increasing background knowledge about a new topic: Reading summaries and conclusions of chapters in a textbookReading the end-of-chapter questions before reading the chapterReading the headings and subheadingsFor books, reading the back of the book for information on what the book is aboutOlder students can review cliff notes before reading the bookSkimming the book, reading the first line of each paragraph or reading the first paragraph of each chapterSkimming for unfamiliar words and learning definitions before readingReading short articles on the same topic As students learn how to find background information on a previously unknown topic, their confidence in their ability to understand this information increases and they can use this new knowledge to build and learn about additional topics.References: Increasing Comprehension by Activating Prior Knowledge, 1991, William L. Christen, Thomas J. Murphy, ERIC Clearinghouse on Reading and Communication Skills Prereading Strategies, Date Unknown, Karla Porter, M.Ed. Weber State University The Use of Prior Knowledge in Reading, 2006, Jason Rosenblatt, New York University

Small and Medium Enterprises Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Small and Medium Enterprises - Essay Example OECD (2009) in one its recent reports states that SMEs happen to be key generators of employment and income while driving the innovation and growth potential. In the OCED area half of the labour force has been employed by the SMEs only. Figures of UK employment indicate that out of 4.7 million business establishments in UK 99.3 percent were small firms with about 50 employees, while only 0.6 percent firms were there with 50-249 employees. With globalisation, the management of SMEs have now started giving more thought towards the viability of the venture in the long-term before making strategic decisions for acquiring different types of resources. The global financial crisis has also impacted the functioning of this sector quite adversely, because they do not have the desired backup of resources, which is available to the larger enterprises. While on the one hand many multinational enterprises have started leveraging the economies of operation in different regions or countries the SME s are bound to look for ways to contain the damage within the limited areas of their operation. While it is believed that even under normal circumstances, SMEs require specific policies and programmes for their survival and growth, under the global financial crisis, it appears all the more crucial that they are in a position to find out a friendly government. While on the one hand the government wishes to have more investment from abroad, thus facilitating the MNCs entry into the country, on the other the safeguard of SMEs interests happens to be a major political issue in the country. Definition Though SMEs exist in good numbers everywhere around the globe, but there is no uniformity on the definition of SME because of practical considerations. Each country has different classifications of SMEs. Some countries define SMEs based on the number of employees, while others depend on the value of the assets. In general, the lower employment limit for a small enterprise is between five to ten workers and the upper limit is between 50 to 100 workers. Similarly the upper limit for a medium enterprise is usually set between 100 and 250 employees. However, it is difficult to adopt one definition of SMEs in all the countries, because the state of the SMEs also depends on the size of the markets or the economy in which they are operating. For example, a firm with 50 employees in the USA would be considered smaller (relative to the size of the U.S. economy) than a firm of this size in Bolivia. In UK, sections 382 and 465 of the Companies Act 2006 define SME based on the turnover and numbe r of employees1. A company with a turnover of not more than 3.26 million and not more than 50 employees is considered a small company and a company with turnover of not more than 25.9 million, with not more than 250 employees is termed as medium sized company. Importance of SMEs Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in a nation's economy. They are resources for innovation and they provide a wide base of employment. In addition, SMEs are the most essential sector for a healthy dynamic market economy. Chew

Comon Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Comon Law - Case Study Example The defendants were owners of Company making medicinal compounds used in the treatment of breathing ailments. They issued an advertisement claiming that they would offer ' 100 to anybody who could contract influenza after using their smoke balls and claimed that they had deposited '1000 in a bank as a token of their sincerity for their claims. (Lindley and Smith, 2004). The Company remonstrated that there was no contractual obligation between them and Mrs. Cargill, since she had not informed the Company of her acceptance of contract - testing and using the product. The Courts, comprising of Judges Lindley, Bowen, A. L. Smith L. JJ. held that the very fact of buying and using the product constituted acceptance and could be enforceable in a Court of Law. (Old Cases with Weird Facts Still Define our Law of Contract. 2006). 2. Terms of contract: The terms of the contract should be clear and understood by contracting parties. It should be lawful and not against public policy, and should not have "unusual hazards for the contracting party" (Contract Unenforceable Transactions) 3. Legal relationships The main objective of the parties to the contract is to enter into valid contractual obligations and create legal relationship. "The parties must intend that the offer and acceptance be binding upon them. There is a presumption operating in commercial contracts that the parties intend to create legal relations." (Contract Law). 3. Consideration: This is an important aspect of contractual law since without consideration the contract may be voidable at the option of the parties. The aspect of consideration has been the bedrock of many legal disputes but the landmark case of PepsiCo Co needs to be mentioned. In the case of Leonard v PepsiCo Inc. 88.F.Supp 2 d 116 (SD NY 1996) in which a young man sued the PepsiCo Company in an attempt to enforce an offer made through television commercial for redemption of 7,000,000 Pepsi Points for Harrier jet fighter aircraft. In this case decided in 1999, the Judge, Kimba Wood ruled that this case could not be enforced on three counts: A. PepsiCo's commercial been only an advertisement and did not constitute a valid offer to the world at large, or in other words there was no consideration flowing from the parties. It would be difficult to imagine that one could get a fighter jet aircraft for $ 7,000,000,when" the cost of a Harrier Jet is roughly $ 23 million dollars, a fact of which plaintiff was aware when he set out to gather the amount he believed necessary to accept the alleged offer." c. There was no communication between the alleged contracting parties which was enough to satisfy the Statute of Fraud, which the applicant had claimed from the company. (Leonard, 1999, p.10). Absence of consideration from both the contracting parties could be witnessed in cases of gifts, payments made for charitable purposes, etc., where there may not be mutual consideration 4. Capacity to enter into contracts: The parties entering into contract should have capacity to enter into it, like being of majority age, free from mental disabilities or under state of inebriation when entering into con