Naming Simple Alkyl Chain Functional Groups

Fahrenheit 451 By George Orwell - 962 Words

Both George Orwell s novel 1984 and Eric Blair’s novel Fahrenheit 451 depict a dystopian society. This was a popular theme of the era since it was a time where the world was at war with a society that wanted complete control of the planet. That society being the totalitarian state of Nazi Germany, Italy and Japan. The settings that occur in both books depict that of what people could have experienced in the time period these books were published, something that readers for decades could relate to and learn a lesson from. Fahrenheit 451 is set in a futuristic century, where the protagonist Montag takes pride in his job as a book burner. The government orders all books are banned therefore they must be burned in prevention of use. Montag meets a young girl named Clarisse, and it opens his eyes to a perspective he had never seen before. One day, Montag returns home to his wife passed out due to a drug overdose, and he calls for a team of medics that come in and clean out her syst em with their advanced medical technologies. Montag’s boss criticizes Montag for his flirtation with rebellion of the rules and explains the reason behind their profession. Montag begins to have a â€Å"burning† interest in books and often reads from his secret stash of books he has hidden away. Montag decides the book most intriguing to him is the Bible, he sets it to the side to find a teacher, Faber, to help him read and memorize the indepth meaning of the text. As the story continues, Montag’s stash isShow MoreRelatedFahrenheit 451 By George Orwell1931 Words   |  8 Pagescertain freedoms were implemented into these novels which generated connections between these stories. In his novel, Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury describes a distant world in which the idea of censorship was exaggerated to such an extent that it was illegal for any literature to exist, and if found books are burned by the firemen. Similar to Bradbury’s society, 1984 by George Orwel l includes a corrupt government where members of the Party are under surveillance at all hours of the day, and the worstRead MoreGeorge Orwell And Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury1354 Words   |  6 Pagesalike in the ways everyone would think: but when you dig deeper you can see just how different they may be. Both Katharine and Mildred, two character from 1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, are ignorant women married to the main characters of the novels: Winston Smith, from 1984, and Guy Montag, from Fahrenheit 451. The women seem almost identical in going through their bland lives everyday talking to the relatives and listening to the telescreen, but in some ways they are polarRead MoreRay Bradbury s Fahrenheit 451 And George Orwell1669 Words   |  7 PagesAs said by George Orwell, â€Å"It is not possible for any thinking person to live in such a society as our own without wanting to change it,† (Orwell). This idea, under the category of knowledge, is reflected through two novels—Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 and George Orwell’s 1984—as people who spend time thinking are caught rebelling against the government’s power and face severe consequences. The protagonists, Montag and Winston, are both desperately searching for answers that pique their curiosityRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Fahrenheit 451 1092 Words   |  5 Pagesdystopian texts; 1984 and Fahrenheit 451. Orwell’s 1984 was committed to paper under the backdrop of the Stalinist totalitarian regime in the Soviet Union, where the freedom of thought had been abolished; which parallels the fascist sovereignty of 1984, governed under the omnipresent puppeteer, Big Brother. Intended to be a warning to humanity concerning the â€Å"poisons of totalitarianism† (Orwell) which denies individuals of basic rights. Similarly, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 was scribed during theRead MoreOppression By George Orwell And Fahrenheit 4512355 Words   |  10 Pagesachieved in 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 ‘If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face – forever’ O’Brien explains to Winston whilst torturing him near the end of Nineteen Eighty-Four. It is this sense of oppression which Orwell and Bradbury both portray in their novels. Oppression can be defined as the, ‘cruel or unjust use of power or authority’. In Nineteen Eighty-Four there is quite a clear sense of cruelness and totalitarianism, whereas in Fahrenheit 451 there is a lessRead MoreAnalysis Of Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury And 1984 By George Orwell1784 Words   |  8 PagesMENTALITY OF CONFORMITY The societies in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and 1984 by George Orwell clearly show the serious effects of conformity. Despite the lack of freedom to think independently, both societies maintain their general happiness. Conformity is the most common and most persuasive form of social influence. The matching of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are signs of conformity. It has become an unconscious, natural part of everyday life; however, it has been occurring for centuriesRead MoreGeorge Orwell s 1984 And Ray Bradbury s Fahrenheit 4511967 Words   |  8 Pages In a totalitarian government, the citizens have no say in how a country is controlled. There will be a few individuals who feel barricaded and want to liberate themselves from the oppressive government. In George Orwell’s 1984 and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 both main characters, Winston Smith and Guy Montag, want control over their lives but it is destroyed by the oppression of individual thinking under a totalitarian government. Two factors that help create control in their life are the relationshipsRead More1984 And Fahrenheit 4511505 Words   |  7 PagesIn the texts, 1984, by George Orwell, and Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the concepts of totalitarianism and censorship are addressed in various ways. Both texts are of dystopian fiction, set in post-nuclear war nations, although they are somewhat of a different nature. The concepts of totalitarianism and censorship are explored throughout the texts by addressing the issue of ‘knowledge is power’, the use and abuse of technology and the desensitising of society. Although these are mentioned inRead MoreThe Loss of Personal Freedoms in a Totalitarian Government Essays1810 Words   |  8 Pagesto choose their occupation. In fact, these citizens have no rights. They cannot speak freely, they do not enjoy any personal freedoms or privacy, and the media is aggressively censored. This is the world of George Orwell’s 1984 and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. The protagonist of Fahrenheit 451 is Guy Montag, and he is a fireman. His job is to destroy books completely by setting fire to them. Winston Smith is the main character in 1984, where he works as a civil servant in the lower class ruling partyRead MoreFahrenheit 451 Vs. 1984970 Words   |  4 PagesFahrenheit 451 vs. 1984 Ray Bradbury and George Orwell share a very similar theme in their two novels, Fahrenheit 451 and 1984. Winston Smith and Guy Montag work within an authoritarian organization, in which, they have opposing views of the authority. The novels are placed in a dystopian setting that the authority believes is a utopia. The dystopian fictions both have very similar predictions of the future. The predictions from these novels have not happened. However, it could be a short matter

Internet World Guide To One-To-One Web Marketing

Question: Describe about a Report on Internet World Guide To One-To-One Web Marketing? Answer: Elements of internet marketing Digital or internet marketing is referred to promotion or selling of a product and/or services to business and personal consumers by means of one or more means of electronic media. The introduction of internet has changed the face of marketing and has accelerated the scope of innovative promotion. Internet marketing shaped with the introduction of web 2.0 which is comparatively interactive, user centric, commercial and cooperative. Its introduction not only opened new avenues for marketing but also gave rise to social networking and online communication. Besides promotional and selling tools, internet marketing includes e-commerce and macro and micro environment of internet as its elements. E-commerce can be referred to the process of conducting business activities virtually using internet. E-commerce can include purchasing and selling of tangible and intangible commodities, fund transfer over electronic media and other business transactions. It is noteworthy that e-commerce can take place in the form of business to business, customer to customer, customer to business and business to customer. The primary benefits of e-commerce are non-stop accessibility and availability of service, speediness, wide choice regarding products and services and mass scale geographical access. The micro environment of internet essentially suggests that it has increase the competitiveness of the market and efficiency of suppliers. The number of rivals in the ecommerce industry is growing while that of middlemen is declining rapidly. Consumers are being provided several choices and their importance to suppliers have also multiplied significantly. From the perspective of macro environment it was observed that internet is essential for success of business as the proportion of internet users and online transactions is rising rapidly. By and large, it can be suggested that internet marketing is of significant importance because of its wide reach and scope, interactive platform, target oriented approach and immediacy. Adaptive and closed loop marketing are also considered as important aspects of internet marketing. Adaptive loop marketing focuses on the way marketers are changing with respect to internetworking and their efforts in terms of strategies in this process. On the other hand, closed loop marketing emphasises on a closed process that helps in improving effectiveness of marketing and sales. Internet marketing mix Internet marketing mix has been derived from the original concept of marketing mix, which is referred to a set of tactics and strategies that influence marketing decisions of an organisation. Marketing mix comprises 7 Ps, namely, Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People, Process and Physical evidence. Presently, these factors are being conveniently implemented in internet marketing by marketers such as eBay. Product: Services such as PayPal and Bill Me Later and various online applications and websites have enabled the company to sell various products and services to consumers through web interface. Place: Consumers have a variety of choices regarding purchasing, selling and obtaining other services at eBay. The company has a page where consumers basic queries are answered promptly. Additionally, the company has different pages for different countries in order to establish strong international presence. Price: Different internet based services at eBay are charged differently. The charges also differ for occasional and frequent sellers. EBay has adopted a pay per click pricing model where payment is done in proportionate to number of clicks done. Promotion: online promotion at eBay is done by means of various web pages where various discount coupons, promotional codes and bargains can be availed by consumers. Additional promotional measures include cash back on purchasing by means of PayPal and reward certificates. Moreover, eBay radio enables traders to have latest information regarding eBay rewards, offers and events. Process: Sellers need to list their products on eBay for an insertion fee and pay a final value fee on completion of the selling process. Consequently, the cost of sale for a seller on eBay comprises the insertion and final value fees. Additionally, the value also depends on the kind of listing such as fixed price and auction style. eBay also facilitates daily deals where interested parties can receive regular alerts. People: eBay has placed various eminent individuals as executives at various divisions so that business remains well managed. The company has also initiated a new buyer protection program where purchase and shipping cost of a buyer are covered. eBay has an effective feedback system through which buyers can communicate their experience and expectation. Physical evidence: eBay is headquartered at California and has international and national sites for establishing its market presence. The site has different tabs for products and services along with other information. Comparing internet marketing tools A number of marketing tools have been observed to be flexible enough for internet marketing. These tools have been contrasted and their role in business development has been discussed as follows: Email marketing: Marketing through email is referred as one of the direct methods of internet marketing where newsletters and offers are emailed to existing and potential customers to attract their attention. Email marketing is effective in acquiring new consumers, making repeat purchase and encouraging consumer loyalty. Search Engine Marketing: SEM is an important internet marketing where positioning of a website is done in such a manner that its consumer visibility increases on a search engine. The marketing process includes search engine optimization, keyword searching and various other search engine services. SEM is done essentially to improve traffic flow towards a particular organisations website and consequently, it is a competitive process. Word of mouth: Word of mouth or internet based referral marketing is another important e-tool where existing consumers generally refer products and services to potential consumers. Online referral is primarily done by means of micro blogging forums and social media. Referral marketing is adopted by marketers because it is considered significantly reliable among various potential consumers. Mobile advertising: the mobile market is growing rapidly and acting as a substitute of various digital devices. This trend has not been neglected by marketers and consequently, mobile advertising was introduced. Mobile advertisements are generally embedded with music video and games so that immediate attention can be attracted. Affiliate marketing: This marketing tool is one of the important e-tools and it helps in internet marketing as it coordinates with other e-marketing tools. In this marketing technique, affiliates are rewarded for every customer they bring in and every business that is generated in the process. Interactive order processing This process is referred as the cornerstone of e-commerce as it helps in delivering consumers authentic products, specific order and quick and easy services. In e-commerce, selection of right product and supplier are very important so that online presence of a firm is promoted. Most sellers try to create appropriate persona for their products by means of internet marketing so that consumer confidence is developed and gained. The idea behind interactive order processing is to ensure that consumer demands are met accurately and products and services add value to their necessities. The interactive processing not only serves consumers requirements but also that of the sellers. In online selling, the main requirement is to establish presence in the digital world as well as in the mind of consumers. The interactive processing aims at increasing product visibility and increasing brand awareness. Once consumer selects a particular product, the most important step therein is to check its availability in the stock. As stock availability is confirmed, the order is placed. For instance, at eBay products at displayed for a week and consumers can bid for the time being. During the purchasing process, consumers can make their payment by means PayPal, cheque and money order. Furthermore, consumers can access the delivery information in the website. Mechanics of search engine marketing Search engine marketing is referred to the promotion of an organisations website on various search engines for achieving maximum visibility on the search result page by means of significant advertising and search optimisation. In this context, search engine optimisation is an important aspect of SEM. SEO essentially affects the process of visibility of a web page on a search engine as an unpaid result. SEO is an important internet marketing strategy where optimisers determine the functionality of search engines and helps in promoting sites and their back links. Search optimisation functions in two ways: on-page and off-page. In on-page optimisation, certain factors such as meta (title and description) tags, keyword density and its placement and HTML code have direct impact on natural search outcomes and these factors are essentially controlled by the coder. Contrastingly, off-page optimisation is about uncontrollable factors that are beyond the limits of webpage such as link popularity, social bookmarking, page rank and social media. The other important aspects of SEM are pay per click, search analytics (determination of appearance of a website on search engine statistically) and web analytics (associated with determination of impact of a website on its user). Flight 001 delivers online retail experience by selling various travel products to consumers. The web and search analytics of the company suggests that the global corporation has very limited online exposure; consequently, consumers have limited knowledge of the site. Additionally, the site has limited number of back links and related sites suggesting poor on-page as well as off-page optimisation. Furthermore, the loading time for the site is fairly high and the site exhibits poor navigation links. It is recommended that the company should improve its title and description tags. Moreover, the navigation links require modification so that they appear on the left side of the panel (under header) instead of appearing on the body of the website. Opt-in email marketing newsletter In opt-in email marketing, newsletters, advertisements and other offers are sent to existing and potential consumers with or without their consent. Such mails are often referred as spam. Some organisations have adopted legal measures in this regard and send marketing newsletters only when subscribers have confirmed their identification. Newsletter with header Flight001 Newsletter newsletter@flight001.com from: Flight001 Newsletter to: xyz@abc.com date: day, date at time subject: Sign up for great discounts mailed-by: email.flight001.com signed-by: flight001.com Travelling made easy with Flight001. Sign up with us for discount coupons. Dear subscribers, We understand your love for travelling and to meet your requirements, our products are available at amazing discounts. Kindly sign in and update your information to avail the offers. Simply update your personalised Flight001 profile with your birthday and mailing address and allow us to fill in your mailbox with various goodies on your special days. Update your profile See you soon, The Flight001 Team Not interested? Unsubscribe instantly Best practices in online public relations Online public relation activities are essentially targeted towards various audiences, media and communities that primarily exist on internet by means of online channels. These channels include search engines, news search, discussion threads, blogs, forums and social networks. The online PR tools are presently as strong as the offline ones and consequently, marketers need to be very careful while implementing the same. Guidelines regarding best online practices at flight001.com are discussed as follows: Social Networking: the company need to have strong presence in the social media. Presence in websites such as Linked In, Twitter and Facebook will increase its exposure to greater number of potential users.Photo and video sharing: YouTube and Flicker can be considered effective for this purpose. The company can share various travel and shopping experiences by means of photos and videos while endorsing its products.Brand properties: Presently reputed organisations are adopting various brand properties such as mobile app, RSS feeds, company blog and forum for developing public relation. Such adoption can prove effective for Flight001. Use of new digital media communities Digital media communities have gained significant importance over the years as these are neither sales tactics nor campaigns. These communities are as real as an individual. The communities are essentially dependent on individuals and their viewpoints. Such communities have often been praised for being source of long term business growth strategy. However, the communities essentially need exclusive and reliable contents for growth. In this regard, it is noteworthy that online communities present a way to share individuals opinions and views regarding products. Studies suggest that online communities play an important role in increasing sales and retaining customers. Flight001 has its own website blog where various travel related information have been published by the company. However, the website does not have sufficient presence on social media such as Face Book. Additionally, the website does not have instant messaging and chat room services so that consumers can interact with customer care executives. Secondary market research The secondary research has been conducted to determine consumers online purchasing behavior of cosmetics. Current trends: According to studies, consumers tend to not only surf internet in home but also in office and school. Additionally, the surfing does not always involve work related activities. Internet has become a multipurpose utility domain and has influence the general lifestyle of consumers significantly. It has been gathered from different studies that more than 50 percent of individuals have bought one or more products online indicating that e-commerce has become one of the prominent features of the internet. Buying habits: the e-commerce facilities are not limited to general grocery products. It was determined from studies that in the United States about 60 percent of women purchase personal care and cosmetic products online. This trend is especially common in the US and Canada. It was also determined that online presence has helped cosmetic brands to reach consumers with greater ease. However, consumers are equally price sensitive like offline purchase. Preferences: it was determined that consumers are largely uninterested in coupon based selling. Instead, they exhibit great demand for personalized shopping experience. They are more inclined towards stores that are promoting products keeping in view consumer needs. The secondary market research also revealed that consumers purchase cosmetics driven by emotional needs instead of actual needs. Competition: growth in consumption has affected competition as well. Presently, the market is dominated by more than a few companies compared to the handful that initially captured the market. The industry is worth $20 billion and its major players include local as well as foreign players. The major players in this industry are Sephora, Burberry, L Brands, Sally Beauty Holdings and Estee Lauder. Most of these competitors are e-marketing their products using discount coupons, special discount, online beauty consultation support, social media and mobile app. Online questionnaire survey The paper has undertaken an online questionnaire survey using Survey Monkey in order to assess the consumer preference and support the facts that has been gathered by means of secondary research. Where do you shop from?Home Office Both What do you mainly purchase?Books Apparels Electronics every kind of goods and services Do you prefer bargaining on online websites?What is your frequency of online purchase?Daily Weekly Monthly Rarely Do you prefer receiving online promotional offers such as newsletters in email?Yes No The online survey revealed that consumers purchased mostly from home as well as office unless they have workplace restriction on visiting retail websites. Consumers also agreed that their purchasing behaviour is not limited to one kind of product only; instead, they avail all kinds of products and services online. Almost every consumer agreed that they enjoy bargaining online and they made their purchases mostly on weekly and monthly basis. Lastly, most consumers agreed that they prefer receive promotional offers by means of subscribed newsletters. Electronic customer relationship marketing Establishing customer relationship is essential for business growth and development. Every organisation is presently making effort to improve their customer relationship because customers can be considered as life blood of an organisation. For online retailers, eCRM has played an important role as it helps organisations to manage competition and retain valued customers. Various eCRM techniques are discussed as follows: Consumer facing applications: These interfaces or applications help consumers to have direct interaction with the company by means of one or multiple channels. Many organisations are adopting automated responding system where promotional e-mails are sent and basic queries are answered by the system and complaints are registered until human agents log in the system and resolve it. Besides consumers, such system are being developed and adopted for employees and vendors where they are automatically updated regarding consumer information, sales progress, sales call and inventory requirement and so on. Touching applications: In these applications, consumers essentially interact with pre-programmed system for resolving queries. In this regard, corporations are adopting the strategy of personalising web pages using personal accounts. Through this, consumers can see their previous transactions, products suitable for them (based on frequent purchases) and maintain their payment account safely. In addition, large number of companies are developing the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page where commonly asked questions have been answered for consumers. Online networking applications: At present, every organisation has back links to Facebook and Twitter. Consumers can log into the personalised web account using their existing Facebook and Twitter account. This helps firms to not only interact with the consumers in a public forum but also to show the number of friends and family members of the consumer engaged with the firm for building confidence and trust. Outline internet marketing plan Background activities (Pre-Planning assessment): Competition analysis, Demand analysis, External (PEST) analysis, consumer and supplier analysis, industry analysis, Forward and backward integration with various departments and cost analysis. The online marketing plan has been developed incorporating four Ps of marketing mix: Product strategy Product information: size, colour and brandQuality informationUsage tipsComplementary product offeringsOnline product comparisonCustomized products (as and when possible)Return and refund policyCompetitive pricingFree shipping above specific amountDifferent price for specific occasions (festivals and special days e.g. Labour day)Simple yet informational wireframecreation title and description tags (meta tags)Search engine optimisationBasic information of account holderPayment detailsPurchase details (present and history)Product suggestionsDevelopment of back links to popular social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Linked In and Twitter.Company blogRSS feedsDiscount couponsCorporate partnership for promoting back linksPay Per Click marketing such as Google AdWordsOnline chatting applicationMobile applicationOrder, query and feedback link and pageFAQ pageOffline customer support Pay per Click Campaign PPC marketing campaign is one of the vital online marketing strategies which involve using various search engines to promote a website in exchange of payment. In this marketing technique, companies pay search engines to generate clicks to its website instead of earning them in organic (unpaid; naturally) manner. PPC campaign can be observed commonly on various search engines such as Google and Yahoo where the sponsored ads are placed at the top and every time consumers click them the search engine firm gets paid. The cost is considered trivial if the technique is effective in attracting consumers. However, it is noteworthy that an online business will be benefited from this marketing technique only if consumers like the website and make purchases. Therefore, success of PPC campaign heavily depends on the corporation in terms of its services and user friendliness of its website interface. The main advantage of PPC advertising is that it gives complete control to the advertiser on campaign budget. The marketer can determine hereof the amount they are interested in investing weekly or daily basis. PPC campaign brings direct attention of the consumers to the website and the marketer has control to stop the promotion in case it is underperforming. On the negative side, the cost of the click depends on the competitors who bid for the keywords. A well-bidding keyword can be expensive and may require company to pay significant amount to earn top ad placement. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that all visitors will be potential purchasers. Reference List Allen, C., et al., Internet World Guide To One-To-One Web Marketing, New Jersey, John Wiley Sons, Inc., 1998. Bellman, S. Et al., Predictors of Online Buying Behaviour, https://www0.gsb.columbia.edu/mygsb/faculty/research/pubfiles/1168/predictors_of_online_buying_behavior.pdf, 1998, (accessed May 15, 2015). Coupey, E., Marketing and the Internet, New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 2001. Cravens, D. and N. F. Piercy, Strategic marketing, New York, McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2008. eBay, about us, https://www.ebay.com/, 2015, (accessed May 15, 2015). Ellis-Chadwick, F. and K. Johnston, Internet marketing: strategy, implementation and practice, New Jersey, Pearson Education, 2009. Flight 001, about us, https://www.flight001.com/, 1999, (accessed May 15, 2015). Hasslinger, A. Et al., consumer behaviour in online shopping, https://vanmarketing.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/digital-marketing-thuthuatmarketing-com.pdf, 2007, (accessed May 16, 2015). Kiang, M. Y., et al, "Marketing on the Internetwho can benefit from an online marketing approach?." Decision Support Systems, vol. 27, no. 4, 2000, pp. 383-393. Mohammed, R. Et al., Internet marketing: Building advantage in a networked economy, New York, McGraw-Hill, Inc., 2003. Ryan, D. and C. Jones, Understanding Digital Marketing: Marketing strategies for engaging the digital generation, https://vanmarketing.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/digital-marketing-thuthuatmarketing-com.pdf, 2012, (accessed May 16, 2015). Saylor Foundation, internet marketing, https://www.saylor.org/site/textbooks/eMarketing%20-%20The%20Essential%20Guide%20to%20Online%20Marketing.pdf, 2015, (accessed May 16, 2015). Wang, H. Et al., "Consumer privacy concerns about Internet marketing", Communications of the ACM vol. 41, no. 3, 1998, pp. 63-70.

Obamacare and small business free essay sample

Many people have a lot of questions when it comes to the new healthcare reform law. First off Obamacare is formally called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is the healthcare reform law that was signed in 2010 and now many states have opened their health insurance marketplace exchanges as of October 1, 2013. This new healthcare reform law aims to increase the number of Americans that are covered by health insurance and also to decrease the cost of health care. Under this new law everyone in America will have to get health insurance of some form. Insurance companies can no longer deny people coverage because of a preexisting condition nor can than charge a higher premium if one has a pre-existing condition (Hamblin, 2013). Obamacare will also allow for young adults to remain on their parent’s policy until the age of 26. This will allow for many young adults to remain insured while they try to obtain a job that will provide adequate health coverage. Throughout this paper I will discuss the new health care reform law and how it affects small business. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed in 2010 but it does not feel as if much has changed, that is because the law will roll out changes in a ten year span. In 2014 a mandate will require all individuals to have â€Å"minimal essential health insurance coverage† (Hamblin, 2013). This has upset many people because many cannot simply afford healthcare due to the economy that we are currently in. Individuals may purchase health care coverage through federal or state exchanges that are being set up. To help people obtain health insurance those with moderate to low income are eligible to receive tax credits to help pay for the new health insurance. Many states are also expanding their state Medicaid programs. A chart that demonstrates each states decision on whether to move forward with the health insurance exchanges is provided below. The Pros of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act include that individual health care premiums will be reduced and the more than 33 to 44 million people who are uninsured or underinsured will gain coverage through the new state exchanges, Medicare or the newly expanded Medicaid in some states. For those who cannot afford to pay the health insurance premium could be eligible to use federal tax credits and subsidies to help save up to 60% of the current cost of health insurance premiums. This will make health insurance coverage affordable for up to 23 million Americans (Obamacare, 2013). Under the new health care reform law over 47 million women will have access to women’s services with no out of pocket costs for preventative and wellness services (Obamacare, 2013). The low-income individuals will have the opportunity of getting health insurance coverage through the state exchange, Medicare, or Medicaid; however some states have opted out of the Medicaid expansion in which some low-income individuals will not be eligible. Seniors and other individuals eligible for Medicare will see expanding benefits and coverage options; however there will be decreases in home health payments and hospital coverage as well. Obamacare will require businesses with over 50 full-time employees to provide affordable health insurance coverage to its employees however small businesses with 25 employees or less will receive federal tax credits to help offset the costs that a small business will face to encourage these businesses to provide health coverage to its employees (Obamacare, 2013). Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act businesses that have 50 or more full-time employees who work at least 30 hours per week, must provide its’ employees with healthcare coverage or they will face a penalty of $2,000 per employee. This will not only impact the business itself but will also impact the workers of small businesses because many businesses will decrease employee hours to have them remain under the 30 hours a week limit and they may also be hesitant in hiring additional employees in order to stay under the 50 full time employee limit (Davidson, 2013). The delay of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will allow for small businesses to increase employee hours as well as hire additional employees until 2015 when the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will take affect for businesses. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act may negatively impact some employees; if an employee has coverage through its employer the insurance premium must be less than 9. 5% of their income. For example if the employee premium is $3600 a year and the 20% share of the premium is $720 and the employee makes $45,000 a year; $45,000 x 9.5%= $4275 which is greater than $720. Therefore this coverage would be deemed affordable. However if this particular employee has a family of four the premium for the family would be an additional $7500 a year. In this case this individual would be eligible for tax credits to help afford the health insurance coverage if their employer did not provide health coverage (Lee, 2013). The delay of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will help and hurt people at the same time. The delay of the healthcare reform law does not change the January 2014 deadline that mandates all individuals to get health insurance coverage or tax credits to help pay for it. The delay pushes back the deadline that mandates small businesses that have more than 50 full-time employees to provide adequate health insurance coverage to its employees or face a penalty. The new deadline is now pushed back to January 2015. The delay of the law may affect some workers who were depending on this new mandate to get health coverage before the January 2014 deadline (Cass, Alonso-Zaldivar, 2013). An individual who is already insured whether that be through their employer, Medicare, Medicaid or a private insurer will not be affected by the delay. Those low-income individuals who would be eligible to receive Medicaid under the new expanded program will however have to wait an extra year (Cass,Alonso-Zaldivar, 2013). A chart that demonstrates which states have decided to expand their Medicaid program is provided below. In my opinion the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has many aspects that can be very concerning and overwhelming for a small business. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will at first have a big impact on small business financials because a business that has 50 plus full-time employees must provide health care coverage to its employees and this could be very costly for a business who may not have as many financial resources as a large company may have. This mandate may cause small businesses to decrease employee hours to less than 30 hours per week and also hinder the business from hiring additional employees as to not fall into the over 50 full-time employees category. A study that was done by Kaiser Family Foundation found that 16 percent of small businesses plan on terminating their healthcare plan after reform has been fully implemented whereas only 6 percent of larger companies plan on canceling their plans once the exchanges go online and individual mandates and employer penalties become effective (Klein, 2012). I think many companies have decided to cancel their existing plans because it would be more cost effective for them in the long run, now the cost of health insurance is completely on the employees shoulders. In some circumstances this could be more cost effective for the employee as I demonstrated earlier. At first I believe that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will be harmful to small business because it will require them to put out money that they may not have available to them in order to pay for employee health care coverage under this new mandate. However over time when everyone begins to adjust to the new healthcare reform law I think that healthcare costs will decrease and will ultimately save businesses money in the long run. However I believe that many small businesses that are on the verge of being over the 50 full-time employee will decrease employee hours and will hesitate before hiring any additional employees. This will not only affect the business but will also affect workers of those small businesses because if their hours are cut they will have to purchase health insurance through the exchange or see if they qualify for their state Medicaid program. Small businesses that have less than 25 employees will qualify for federal tax credits that will help with the cost of providing employees with healthcare coverage. The tax credits are meant to encourage small business that are not required to provided their employees with healthcare coverage to offer their employees healthcare coverage. If I were a small business owner I would fully corporate with the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act because if I employed over 50 people and did not provide healthcare coverage to my employees I would face a penalty of $2,000 per each worker. This would put me at $100,000 in penalties. To me it is worth paying the premium for each worker than facing the penalty, which may cost me more in the long run than paying the premium. I believe that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will initially hurt small businesses because they have to pay upfront the costs that are associated with providing healthcare coverage to its employees. However over time after everyone adjusts to the new mandates small businesses will save money in the long run and will benefit from the new healthcare reform law. I also believe that many workers as well as other individuals will benefit from the new law as well. Many will benefit from the expansion of Medicare and Medicaid as well as the new tax credits that will help people afford their healthcare premiums.

Contrast Of Romeo And Juliet An West Side Story Essays -

Contrast Of Romeo And Juliet An West Side Story Contrast of Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story Essay submitted by Bob Garrard Three Hundred Fifty Years of Blind Love: A Contraposition of Shakespeare and Robbins' Romeo and Juliet Andy Warhol once said, They say that time changes things, but actually you have to change them yourself. Two hundred fifty years passed between the original Romeo and Juliet and the premiere of West Side Story on Broadway in 1957. However, time did not change the message of the story, simply the creators' unique visions evolved. Shakespeare's delivery of the timeless tale of desperate love in his classic Romeo and Juliet proves to only intensify through retelling and modern interpretation. Audiences cherish Romeo and Juliet as one of the most beloved plays of all time from the Elizabethan Age to the present. Romeo and Juliet have attained the role as the quintessential lovers, and the noun, a Romeo, is synonymous with lover. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is closely based on Arthur Brooke's tale, The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet. The language, attitudes, and customs detailed in the play are generally English, in spite of Brooke's original Italian setting. In 1949, choreographer Jerome Robbins decided to retell Brooke and Shakespeare's romantic tragedy using song and dance, elements of racism and nationalism, and a modern vernacular. Robbins called upon the musical talents of composer Leonard Bernstein and the words of Arthur Laurents for the script and book. The love story proved to have universal appeal throughout all artistic forms, as it had already been adjusted for opera and ballet. The contemporary adaptation of this timeless classic alters details and deepens the message of hatred, but maintains Brooke and Shakespeare's vision. The relationships between the characters, plot sequence, and theme of hatred in West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet intertwine resulting in two similar, yet varying versions of the most famous love story of all time. The relationships between the characters of West Side Story and Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet are reflective of their respective time periods and the original story. Maria and Juliet represent a slightly practical counterpart to both Tony's and Romeo's idealistic nature. Maria's brother Bernardo and Juliet's cousin Tybalt portray impulsively stubborn and violent characters who both die from wounds inflicted by the male lead. Lieutenant Schrank is similar to Prince Escalus, although Schrank is unfair in his treatment and attitude towards one gang- the Sharks. Anita and Nurse both take on the role as Juliet's confidant and trusted friend, often tampering with their roles as messengers. The mischievously tomboyish Anybodys, who desperately wants to be a Jet, would best fit into the role of Balthasar, since it was she who aided Tony in escaping after the rumble, as well as later informing the other Jets that Tony was being hunted. Finally, the character of Doc appears to fulfill the role of Friar Laurence because both possess somewhat of a peacekeeping nature. Doc attempts to get through to Tony by dramatically pleading, Why do you live like there's a war on? Why do you kill? (2.5). All of the characters are consistent to the heart and soul of the story as well as the slightly differing plots. West Side Story maintains Romeo and Juliet's intricate and exciting plot using appropriate adaptations to accommodate mid-twentieth-century pop culture. For instance, both artistic forms portray mutual disrespect between the parties. At the dawn of Romeo and Juliet, Capulet's cohorts harass Montague's. I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it, boasts Sampson (1.1.42-43). In the opening scene of West Side Story, several members of a Puerto Rican gang insult A-rab, a member of the opposing gang. It is here where Lieutenant Schrank becomes aware of the potential rumble. In Romeo and Juliet Escalus, Prince of Verona, threatens, If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace (1.1.103-104). In West Side Story, Schrank mediates in his own way when he declares, I got a hot surprise for you: you hoodlums don't own the streets(1.1). Later, another similarity takes place. Riff convinces Tony to attend the dance at the gym just as Benvolio persuades Romeo to attend the Capulets' masquerade. Tony confesses to Riff that he's reachin' out for something(1.2), just what, he doesn't know. Riff encourages Tony by proposing, Maybe what you're waitin' for'll be twitchin' at the dance! (1.2). Shakespeare and director Jerome Robbins choose to draw

Stasis Theory Definition, Use And Key Principles

Stasis Theory Definition, Use And Key Principles Statis Theory For Your Academic Success Some students think that the only goal of a writer is to create simple and readable content, remaining professional and academic. However, you should also provide reliability and accuracy of the mentioned information and the only way to achieve this is to understand the discussed subject. This means that you need to research as much as you can before working on the writing itself. Researching is a great way to learn new data, which is supported by evidence and can greatly improve your critical thinking. This leads us to the most common problem any student has to face: where to find information and how to process it. Luckily, there is a plan, which can help you along the way and it is called stasis theory. In this article, I will tell you what it is about and how to use it effectively in your writing. Definition Stasis theory is a rhetorical approach, which aims to determine the goal of a certain debate issue. It was introduced by Aristotle (or Hermagoras according to other sources) and was used by rhetoricians and philosophers since ancient times. These great minds defined key questions, which were first used in legal cases. Mentioned questions were used in a particular order because the answer on every question depended on the previous one. Stasis theory is very useful for writing essays, conducting research and working as a part of a team. When stasis theory is used, it aims to determine the following elements: Conjecture, i.e. facts; Meaning of the issue (its definition); Importance of the issue (its quality); Plan of actions (so-called policy). Remember, it is crucial to follow the proper order of the theory. However, to simplify the process you can divide every category into subcategories. Below is an example of how you can divide mentioned stages to get the maximum benefits out of the writing process. Fact Did anything happen? What was the cause of the event? Can the event be changed? For example, does climate change exist? What caused it? What can we do about it? Definition Nature of the problem; What sort of a problem it is? What parts make up the problem and how they interlink? For example, is climate change defined solely as global warming or it includes other issues? Quality Does it have a positive or a negative impact? How serious the problem is? What are its consequences and who is the most affected by the issue? What will happen if the problem is solved? For example, are changes in the ecosystem really harmful? Who is the most affected? Policy Should any actions be applied? What groups of people or individuals are involved in the process of solving the problem? What actions should be done? What should happen to resolve the issue? For example, is it necessary to find a solution to climate changes? Who should be involved? Research Stasis theory is a great solution for writers, who are willing to get maximum information on the studied subject. It is a key element of successful work, so you need to understand the theory’s basic principles not depending on the type of assignment you have. Stasis theory acts as a list of the most efficient analytical questions that help in collecting the most recent and relevant information. When you are working on the questions, you need to evaluate multiple sources: literature, interviews, databases, journals, polls and much more. Stasis approach helps not only to get access to the most accurate information on the research but also assists in exploring the issue even before shaping a thesis. For example, you are given a very challenging topic and you need to provide your own opinion and arguments. Before you shape your own ideas, you can apply all the stasis questions and explore the subject. This will help you to decide what side you are on and what your ideas on the matter are. In addition, stasis theory questions help in identifying gaps in your knowledge. If you can’t answer two or more questions, this means that you must conduct deeper research. Teamwork When you are asked to work as a part of a team, stasis approach helps to find common issues by starting a dialogue until the consensus is found. To provide an example, let us again return to the question of global warming and whether it is caused only by the harmful behavior of the planet’s inhabitants. While parts of the team may think that climate change was caused by people, others would disagree. Reaching a certain stasis means finding an idea or term, which everyone could agree with. Even though team members may have different opinion on whether climate changes were caused by people or not, all of them agree that those changes have a negative effect on Earth (fact), it leads to endangering of multiple species (fact) and of course everyone will agree that this problem influences us all (quality). In such a way a stasis will be reached in at least two categories (quality and fact) but they would still disagree on the definition (whether the problem is caused by people or by other issues) and the policy (what actions should be taken to solve the problem). Even if opinions differ, this theory helps to create and hold a dialogue and to write a strong paper. Without such a theory, members of the team would probably drown in arguments and would feel stressed about the assignment. You should remember that working in a team means that you should always use arguments and reach a consensus if members have different opinion. For example, you can make a list of different reasons why people should be blamed for global warming and also provide arguments why they shouldn’t. Let the reader decide whose side to choose. Many field experts name stasis theory a sort of research guideline. Simply by using its standard questions, you will be able to get maximum information on the matter, shape your own opinion and write an assignment, which will be filled with credible data. This theory is also of great use for teams because it helps to find common grounds and solve conflict situations. Remember, stasis theory is all about logic and thorough research of a given issue, so don’t waste your time and get started immediately.

Sexuality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sexuality - Essay Example This does not mean that the Americans agree on which kind of sex education would be the best. Fifteen percent of the Americans believe that schools should only teach abstinence but not the use of condoms and other contraception. Forty-six percent believe that a better approach would be â€Å"abstinence-plus†. On the other hand, thirty-six percent believe abstinence is not the most important factor and sex education should focus on how to teach adolescents how to make responsible decisions concerning sex (Sex Education in America, 2004). Evangelical or born-again Christians differ in opinions in reference to this topic. Twelve percent said sex education should not be taught in schools while four percent were non-evangelicals. Forty nine percent of evangelicals and twenty-one percent non-evangelical think that government should fund abstinence-only programs instead of funding more comprehensive sex education (Sex Education in America, 2004). Bleakly, Hennessy &Fishbein (2006) examined the USA public ´s opinion on sex education in schools to find out their preferences aligned with those of policymakers and research scientists. They used a cross-sectional survey from July 2005 through January 2006. The researchers randomly selected a nationally representative sample of 1096 USA adults from 18 to 83 years. They used 3 different types of sex education in schools: Abstinence only, comprehensive sex education, and condom instruction. According to their findings, approximately eighty-two percent of the respondents support the programs that teach students abstinence and other methods to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) while 68.5% supported how to properly use condoms. The lowest percentage was obtained for the abstinence-only sex education with 36% supporting it and the highest level of opposition (approximately 50% across the 3 program options. Self-identified conservative, liberal, and moderate respondents supported the

Computer Science Term Paper (Follow up) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Computer Science Term Paper (Follow up) - Essay Example We live in a digital age. This means that information is stored in digital form on computers often hooked up to the internet. However, with the widespread evolution of information technology, information privacy has also been one of the most controversial issues society faces today. The implementation of protections for information can be viewed from the perspective of the computer scientist or of the user. One can see innovations in software and hardware coming everyday. This can give certain advantages and tools to hackers, spammers and other people. With the use of this, they become more dangerous to information privacy. Information privacy (security) is protected through encryptions, passwords, security update, and by other means. On the other hand, consumers and internet users accept end user license agreements (EULA) as an assurance. Therefore, any personal information protected from inappropriate use or any acts of deception. With the boom of commercial, personal (known as blogs), educational and service provider web sites, through the efforts of licensed and open source programs, various questions have been raised on the ethical implications of these innovations on information privacy. The prevalence of internet crimes related to information privacy has been increasing day by day. Moreover, because technology has been rapidly changing year by year, a long-term approach to internet privacy is still being developed. Nonetheless, an attempt to tackle such issue would not, in any way, resolve the problem. Instead, this paper will provide useful insight on the issue of information privacy, and hopefully as a starting point of future research. The concept of information privacy has been one of the most critical issues. It takes into serious consideration. Imagine a world without information privacy. Credit cardholders would have difficulty purchasing and exchanging vital

Ethical issues on end of life care Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethical issues on end of life care - Term Paper Example This paper discusses the ethical issues concerned with terminally ill patients. It is an important issue that must be discussed convincingly to make last days of the patients fulfilling. In the recent times, the ethical issues on end of life care have increasingly become much more important than being major concern for increasing Medicare bills or the inability of medicines to provide the palliative care that patients deserve in their last days of lives. The author has cited the case of Sara Monopoli, who was pregnant and at the last stages was diagnosed with metastatic cancer that is incurable. The exhaustive treatment that she underwent was testament to the deteriorating quality of her life. Apart from the huge Medicare expenses, the author rightly questions the efficacy of a system that deprives patients of the right to die in dignity and gives them hope when none exist. Author has referred Harvard Researcher, Nicholas Christakis who had interviewed doctors of nearly five hundred terminally ill patients as to how long they expected their patients to survive and then followed the progress of the patients. Sixty three percent over-estimated the time. It was revealed that though doctors were aware of the futility of medicines but they could not tell the same to the patients and made them undergo treatments which could, if at all, only slightly prolong their lives. They also knew that quality of lives of patients would be adversely impacted by the treatment but they went ahead just because the patients wanted them. Indeed, the doctors’ inability or deliberate intention to with-held the important issue that death is imminent and quality of life would be impacted is wrong. According to Act Utilitarian of Bentham, action which results in the happiness of one and all is a good act. ‘When choosing a course of action, one should always pick the one that will maximize happiness and minimize unhappiness for the greatest number of people’ (Bentham fro m Rosenstand p.176). While the doctors and surgeons knew that with incurable conditions, it was a long medical struggle with death being imminent, they did not try to discuss as to how one would wish to live last days. Interestingly Kant’s moral philosophy is a case in point as he asserts that people rationalize their actions according to what they deem as morally good (Schneewind, 1990). Hence, under the circumstances, it seems that doctors under medical oath, deemed it morally right to talk about death when it could be prolonged. The article has carried lot of research and shows that as against ordinary medicine’s goal of extending life, hospice and other palliative care hugely help terminally ill patients to have quality life that is cherished by family and facilitates peaceful death. Most importantly, the family and carers have less cases of depression after the death of the dear ones when they die in the hospital’s intensive care unit, burdened with technol ogy driven aids and devices. The Hospice makes effort to reduce pain at the last stages but just try to ensure that they have ‘fullest possible lives’ with their family and friends. As author asserts that death only comes once, hence, dignity in death must be observed or discussed with family and

The Dramatic Tension Creations Of Shakesphere English Literature Essay

The Dramatic Tension Creations Of Shakesphere English Literature Essay Macbeth is a drama of great tragedy. Written by William Shakespeare in the Elizabethan era, the themes of the play relate to many instances of todays society, including: ambition, fate, deception and treachery. The play begins with three supernatural characters, known as the Witches, who confront the tragic hero Macbeth on his victorious return from the war between Scotland and Norway, alongside him is General Banquo. In the meeting between Macbeth and the Witches, they predict that Macbeth will become King, although never actually, stating the path he must undertake and how these events will occur (Act 1, scene 3). As the scene has been set for the play, the plot continues towards the dramatisation of how Macbeth will achieve this great power to Kill King Duncan of Scotland. Assisted by his wife Lady Macbeth, who plans the fine details of the murder with him, the act is carried out whilst the King is guest of the two characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Shakespeare wrote the play, in order for the audience to never see the murder, but succumb to the tension that is created by the reactions of the two characters after the deed has been committed. We read that Macbeth is panicked and afraid of the consequences, while Lady Macbeth remains calm, helping Macbeth to smear blood on the daggers onto the sleeping guards, which earlier she drugged, having physical proof that the murder was conducted by them (Act 2, scene 2). Quoted from the scene Whence is that knocking? How ist with me, when every noise appals me? Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?(1,2, 58-61), is eviden ce of this behaviour by the character Macbeth. After the murder, King Duncans sons, Malcolm and Donalbain flee from Scotland and Macbeth becomes King. As the play continues, it becomes more dark, sinister and psychological, with Lady Macbeth succumbing to madness, then suicide. Macbeth kills Banquo to stop his sons from becoming King, which was part of the original prophecy by the three Witches, and eventually Macbeth is killed by Macduff, who becomes King of Scotland in Macbeths place. Shakespeares Macbeth Throughout the play, Shakespeare manages to create dramatic tension from the very beginning, right up to the murder of King Duncan, and thereafter to the downfall of Macbeth. Shakespeare gradually builds up the tension in each scene and releases it at different stages, until finally the act of the murder takes place. The four main themes which are outlined in the play become apparent from the beginning, things arent what they seem, ambition, power and superstition. His use of dramatic irony, the supernatural and indecision by the leading characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, all combine to keep the audience on the edge of their seats throughout. Shakespeares talent was the ability to present a story with creative dramatisation of imagery and imagination. He knew how to entertain the audience with fast-paced plots, creative imagery and dramatic characters. Shakespeare uses several instances of irony in Macbeth to give the play more depth, continuation of the dramatisation and to also allow the audience to foreshadow events to come, without the characters knowing the actions theyll take and the consequences. A good example of dramatic irony is when Macbeth plans Duncans murder, along with Lady Macbeth, while still remaining loyal to the King.   This is dramatic irony, while Duncan isnt aware of Macbeths plans, while the audience does. A further example of dramatic irony is posed in act one, scene five, Macbeth says My dearest love, Duncan comes here tonight, with Lady Macbeths reply And, when goes hence?, Macbeth says To-morrow, as he purposes, with Lady Macbeths final reply O, never shall the morrow see (1,5, 57-60). Implying in this scene, that Macbeth will soon undertake the task of committing the murder. Shakespeare uses a simile within the scene to portray Macbeth to act as an innocent flower when King Duncan arrives, but underneath act as a serpent to achieve your ambition to become King of Scotland look like an innocent flower, but be the serpent undert. (1,5, 64-65). We will proceed no further in this business. (1,7, 31) Showing doubts that Macbeth doesnt want to go through with the act and still Macbeth continues to question the consequences later in scene 7, If we should fail? Lady Macbeth responds, We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking place, and well not fail. (1,7, 58-59). The Witches Throughout the play, the theme of the supernatural plays a major role. Shakespeare opens the play with a short opening , long enough to awaken the audiences curiosity, with three supernatural beings on a dark mysterious heath (Act 1, scene 1). The mood of the play is set, although the action and the introduction of the leading characters dont start until the next scene. Introducing the supernatural power of witchcraft into the play associates the drama with the dark arts, treachery and unnatural disturbances. Shakespeare uses powerful imagery to portray the witches as grossly unnatural in appearance (Act 1, scene 3), inflicting unnatural storms and disruption onto the world. The opening scene is particularly important in establishing the mood and atmosphere of the play for the audience. The weather portrays darkness, using a Pathetic fallacy, the supernatural environment of the heath, with severe weather of thunder and lighting, proclaimed by Macbeth So foul a day I have not seen. (1,3,38), the prophecy is presented to Macbeth and Banquo. The Witches use a rhyming technique throughout their speeches, referring to incantations of magical charms, another trait of the supernatural. Every detail of the scene opens the audiences imagination and portrays from the outset the common themes of human values, a world of darkness, sinister behaviour and treachery by the leading characters. The Witches are introduced by Shakespeare as three women in evil apparel, using dramatic imagery, who told Macbeth and his companion Banquo, of the prophecies that would be acted out in the play. The Witches set the tone of the play and foreshadow the plot of the story at the very beginning (fair and foul) right and wrong. The opening scene foreshadows a tragedy, which the story is based upon. Within Act 1 scene 3, the witches are characterised as being unnatural and non-human looking and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so. (1,3,45) and Banquo questions the witches Are ye fantastical? (1,3,53) and being of devil What, can the devil speak true? (1,3,108). Referring once again back to the supernatural theme and beings of darkness. Ambition and the plays main characters As a character Macbeth is the tragic hero of the play. Portrayed as a hero at the beginning of the play, helping to defeat the Norwegians and given the title the Thane of Cawdor by King Duncan, the plot of the play starts to unfold and Macbeth believes in the prophecy the witches set out (Act 1, scene 2). Macbeth is only given a new title as previously the Thane of Cawdor was killed due to committing treason. We discover Macbeths character to be strong willed, ambitious and greedy. Throughout the play the character changes and develops. In the beginning he is portrayed as a loyal soldier, willing to fight for his King, and country and as the play progresses he grows to become more ambitious to fulfil his destiny. However, Macbeth later in the play the character develops guilt for his crimes. With King Duncan travelling to Macbeths castle, in a soliloquy Macbeth urges darkness to cover the deed that he plans to commit Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires (1,4,50). Here Shakespeare completes the scene uses a Rhyming Couplet to portray the importance at the end and signify how Macbeth will commit the murder of King Duncan. The witches prophecy (Act 1, scene 3,line 48) 1st Witch All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! 2nd Witch All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! 3rd Witch All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter The prophecy proclaims the theme of ambition for the rest of the play, which is outlined by a metaphor in Banquos speech If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not. (1,3,58). Macbeth does try to question the Witches about their speech, however they fail to answer the questions and vanish from the scene, as Shakespeare uses dramatic imagery and conjures supernatural beings once more, Banquo says The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, and these are of them: whither they are vanished? (1,3,79). Both Macbeth and Banquo doubt the prophecy and feel following it will lead to the devil and dramatic consequences in the end, things arent always as they seem! Ambition to achieve kingship is through murder, which the play foreshadows as the destiny and Macbeth as the tragic hero. Lady Macbeth is first introduced in act 1 scene 5, first appearing as a ruthless, committed woman to strive for greater glory of her husband, Macbeth. The sudden arrival of the messenger after Lady Macbeth has read the letter from Macbeth in this scene, gives an excellent dramatic stroke for the play. This allows Lady Macbeth to think that the prophecy can be fulfilled this very night and satisfy her thirst for power. Upon the Kings arrival, Duncan is treated as an honorary guest of the house, whilst Macbeth and Lady Macbeth appear to be the perfect hosts, whilst all the while the audience know how the night will plan out for the characters and the foreshadow of King Duncans demise. Lady Macbeths passionate ambition and the drive of her husband, leads to the downfall of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth herself is characterised as very ambitious, but yet fears her husbands weaker nature Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be what thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature. (1,5,14). Lady Macbeth is the driving force throughout and controls all Macbeths fears, to eventually commit him to the deed of murder. Shakespeare cunningly uses the image of a Raven in this scene, which in ancient times was associated with the coming of death, and with this use of symbolism the audience continue to see what will happen in the play. In the play Lady Macbeth in her actions asks for the help of darkness and the supernatural for her and Macbeth to conduct the act of killing the King to fulfil the prophecy, she is determined throughout to push her husband to his greatest ambition and gain power for herself, Come, thick night. And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell. (1,5,49) Lady Macbeth has a stronger personality than her husband, having to convince Macbeth to fulfil the deed, she is very faithful towards him and wants to achieve the great honour that could be bestowed upon them, if they commit treason and kill King Duncan. Within act 2 scene 2 Lady Macbeths character shows a cruel and disrespectful side towards the Kings servants and again her ambition comes to life, she says, Give me the daggers.   The sleeping and the dead are but pictures. (2,2,51)   The tension increases dramatically when we see Lady Macbeth pacing about in a nervous but excited state, awaiting Macbeths return increases the tension dramatically. We see a gentler side to Lady Macbeth. She says that she would have killed Duncan herself, but the old man looked too much like her father Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had donet. (2,2,12). This statement relays the consequences of the actions that will take place later in the play. With Macbeth coming forward in the play with the Witches prophecy, Lady Macbeths character was the most ambitious to see it through to the end. Having to deal with her husbands weaknesses, not wanting to carry through the act of murder, the character concocting a plan in the end was successful. Although you can see how Shakespeare shows the characters in the lead up to the murder, with dramatic irony at a key point in the play when King Duncan arrives at Macbeths castle to visit his loyal soldier and celebrate victory on the battle field against the Norwegians. The irony here is pointed out that only the audience, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth know is the King will never leave and see another day of sun. After the deed of high treason is committed, Macbeths character is hysterical and extreme tension is obvious. Dramatic Imagery comes true from the characters soliloquy and we see the bloody daggers in Macbeths hands and both characters fear discovery. Macbeth was misled by the witches and by Lady Macbeths sway of passionate arguments drawn to the events in the play, without these elements his ambition to become King could have been suppressed and only imagined by the character. Macbeths Soliloquy (Act 1, scene 7 and Act 2 scene 1) Shakespeare uses two key soliloquys to portray the inner thoughts of the character Macbeth, writing in a poetic theme using rhyming language. Often the passage refers to strong use of imagery towards the themes of blood, the supernatural, darkness and death. Both passages shows how the character is feeling at this point, with doubts and guilt of the consequences prior to committing the murder of King Duncan. In Macbeths first soliloquy, the character questions what he is about to do and doubt is cast in his mind and questions the consequences, for Macbeth knows he will pay for the deed here on earth or in the afterlife. Macbeths speaks of Duncans kindness and generosity, but ambition is fraught within the soliloquy, realising that he will have to pay sooner or later but only vaulting ambition, which oerleaps itself, and falls on th other. (1,7, 27), that high leaping ambition can often be ones downfall. In his second soliloquy (Act 2, scene 1) Macbeth allies himself with witchcraft, murder and secrecy, left on his own, the characters imagination runs wild. Macbeth is torn, but the soliloquy in the play is the characters final preparation for the act of murder Thou marshallst me the way that I was going, and such an instrument I was to use! (2,1, 42). The main source of tension is of course Macbeths vision of the dagger, one sense is registering a dagger and the others arent Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come let me clutch thee. (2,1, 33-34). This is not made real to the audience and we are as bewildered by this dagger of the mind as Macbeth is. Using dramatic imagery, the dagger begins to bleed and the audience shares Macbeths fear and trepidation of what is to come, referring to witchcraft once more as it celebrates. Then we are disturbed by his final rhyming couplet which highlights Macbeths fatal decision, as he heads for Duncans bedroom stealthily. Conclusion Macbeth is a masterpiece by Shakespeare, showing how power, greed and ambition can change a character at a given point of opportunity, but questions what are the consequences of these actions that is analysed in the play, given that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both succumb to the guilt of the deeds committed. The play from the outset was controlled by the power of fate and the supernatural. However, we have to question what would have happened if Macbeth had followed a different path, after all he was related to the King and in line to royal succession? The main question to answer is, would Macbeth have actually committed the Murder if the prophecy was never told or if Lady Macbeth was not so hungry for power?

International Migration Essay -- social issues

International Migration In light of the fact that immigration is an important issue within Canadian society, it is not unusual to find that stories or reports that relate to this topic are always presented in the media. However, this is not only raises questions about what is reported but also about how the information is presented or reported. With this in mind, the purpose of this paper will be to select five articles, which ran from October 23rd, 2004 to November 10th, 2044, that deal with international migration issues in a Canadian context and to provide an analysis and critical evaluation of the articles. This will include an outline of the subject of each article, the newspaper’s treatment of the subject, the implication for public perceptions on the subject as well as a critique of the subject and its treatment. The first article that was selected is entitled â€Å"Gang leaders facing deportation† and it deals with the subjects of ordered to deport the gang leaders of the two rival gang Tamil street gangs and VVT, Sri Lanka, due to their large numbers of memberships in their organization. During the late 1990s, their offences had been encouraged daylight shootouts on highways and residential streets, which made the police, bristle with angers. Police and detectives believe that various crimes are relating to Sittampalam. The significance of the gangs’ crimes is to forbid the increasing of criminal retained, more than 40 men arrested by the police and immigration raid and they needed to wait for appeals on their orders or had their cases dismissed. Lawyer Barbara Jackman stated that there are some significant legal issues about whether Parliament is going to grasp street gangs in organized crime legislation. In Sittampalam’s own defense, he said that he cannot understand why he had been the target of shooting twice in 2001. The gang leaders were having betrayed on the crime organization, also they are not assigned as a citizen; therefore they were ordered to deport from Canada. However, his deportation had to determine on the immigration department official. The important thing is Parliament ordered the decision to the federal immigration court to ruling this case. (Shephard, 2003, p.B2) The result of this study is significant, particularly in light of the image that Canada and the Immigration and Refugee Board have in terms of racialism on imm... ...the issue of professionals coming to Canada and not being able to find work or become licensed is an increasingly important issue, years to years, it would appear that the media does not focus on the question why people would come to Canada without the understanding of existing procedures and processes. Third, at the current time, it is impossible to ignore the fact that international migration issues within a Canadian context have not only been shaped by the â€Å"stories†, the stories reflect our everyday lives. In this respect, international migration issues are often not only important but also often part of a complex dynamic. Bibliography Shephard, Michelle. â€Å"Gang leaders facing deportation,† Toronto Star. Saturday October 23, 2004, p. B2 Keung, Nicholas. â€Å"Immigrants need to get jobs faster, Sgro says,† Toronto Star. Friday October 29, 2004, p. A22 Keung, Nicholas. â€Å"International credentials? Forget the job,† Toronto Star. Thursday, November 4, 2004, p. A4 Ouzounian, Richard. â€Å"Actors superb as misused immigrants,† Toronto Star. Thursday, November 4, 2004, p. A27 Ferenc, Leslie. â€Å"Mother gives back despite hardship,† Toronto Star. Wednesday, November 10, 2004, p.A23

Leadership Audit Analysis Essay

This set of audits focus on the handwork and skills that a leader needs to possess. â€Å"A skill is the ability to use one’s knowledge to do something well. † These audits are important because a leader can have the right character, but not be competent enough to be a success in a specific position. In this second analysis Aubrey Malphurs in his book Being Leaders gives the reader seven audits to determine if they have the skill set that a Christian leader needs to be effective in the ministry. â€Å"Psalm 78:72 says that David led his people not only with ‘integrity of heart’ but also with ‘skillful hands. ’† Malphurs separates the skill audit into relational and task skills. â€Å"Relational skills are based on the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:36-39). † If leaders cannot effectively get along with people then they will severely hinder their ability to reach those in need. Malphurs says â€Å"task skills are based on the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20). † These are the abilities used in conveying the message the leader is trying to communicate. For a leader to succeed they must effectively learn to communicate to people in the proper manner. This set of audits also deals with the importance of knowing one’s leadership style and core values. A leader must know their own mindset and abilities to determine whether or not they will be a good fit in a leadership position at a certain locale. Although it is God who places leaders in a position; the prepared leader is the one with the potential to be most successful. A Relational Skills Audit Relational skills are of utmost importance for anyone in a leadership position especially for a pastor. If a leader is going to be effective they are going to have to learn to deal with people and work through people. The work of God is too great for one person to be able to handle it alone. People have said, â€Å"I like the ministry; it is just the people I do not like. † Ministry is more than just a job and it is more than handling materials. True ministry is all about reaching people and watching God work in and through them. While no one likes to discipline another person it is a necessary task a leader must take on. To be an effective disciplinarian a person needs at least two qualities. The first is a love for the truth and for what is right. If a person does not have a genuine love for what is right, they will be more apt to allow bad behavior to slide. As a leader I am passionate that there is a correct way and an incorrect way to behave based upon the Word of God. Secondly, there must be an authentic love for people. If a leader loves the people he is going to want what is best for their lives even if it involves confronting them about their problems. God has given me a love for both of these aspects as I deal with faculty and students every day in the position God has placed us in. I thoroughly enjoy empowering and encouraging other people whom I work with. I take great pleasure in trying to get other people to reach their full potential and to give them the materials to succeed. Many times I will purposely put someone in a position where they have to get out of their comfort zone so that they might be encouraged to see their potential for God. The biggest weakness in this audit would probably be networking. I am a person who likes to be given a job and left alone to do it. I do not always take the time to seek out others who can help me accomplish it. I am also a person who is somewhat an introvert so I feel like I am a bother to ask someone to help. I am sure they would help if I only took the time and effort to ask. The Task Skills Audit To be able to competently fulfill a task is a must for anyone who desires longevity in a leadership position. While God is not looking for ability but availability, he does expect the people he calls to perfect the talents they do possess. Jesus brought this point out so vividly in the Parable of the Talents in Matthew chapter twenty-five. The person who is perfecting their talent is a person whom people will notice. Solomon said, â€Å"Seest thou a man diligent in his business? e shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men† (Proverbs 22:29; KJV). The art of preaching is a task that I have worked hard on. When God first called me to preach I was so nervous that I would dry-heave when I got behind the pulpit. I struggled putting together an outline of more than one point. I have, with the help of the Lord, conquered my fear of standing before people and ministering passio nately, authoritatively, and illustratively. Recently I conducted a survey among students of the good qualities of preachers they listen to on a regular basis. One of my top qualities they pointed out was my preparedness. Time management is another one of my strong points. I have learned to reject the good in order to pursue the great. I work a full time job, take two college courses, and preach on Sunday nights; therefore, I have had to learn to prioritize my time to be as effective as I can in all areas. I have also learned how to schedule in relaxation time, lest I fall apart. Advertising is one of my weaker areas. I am not one to impose on someone else, so I have a hard time trying to push a product on anyone. I have learned in past business ventures that I am not a natural salesman. I need to start speaking up more for a â€Å"product† I believe in instead of just portraying it by my example and use of it. The Leadership Style Audit Leaders are the ones in front directing how an organization is being run. The fact is â€Å"that leaders are doers and what they do is influence. † â€Å"Every leader has a style of influence that has an impact on people, so it’s important that leaders correctly perceive how they influence their followers. † When I took this audit I found that I have an Analytical-Director leadership style. I have a desire for God’s work to be done in a quality way. When God created the world he stepped back and looked at it, and saw that it was very good (Gen. 1:31). I believe that Christians ought to have the best materials available and they should produce the best materials possible. As a leader I am also self-disciplined and a self-starter. I am one who sees a job that needs to be done and jumps in and sees that it is accomplished. My weakness would be that I do not enjoy someone looking over my shoulder. If I need help I will gladly seek someone out who has the ability to help me. I would also have to say that there are times when I am â€Å"cool, distant, and reserved. † My other strength is being a director. I not only like to challenge myself to do the best I can, but I enjoy challenging those around me to step up their efforts and do more for God. I am not afraid to change a policy or procedure if there is a better way to achieve something. I have learned not to make hasty decisions. In order to receive the best outcome I chart the best course to accomplish the task. There are times when I can be bossy, especially when I am stressed over a mountain of problems that are piling up at once. The Structure Audit Sensing the need of when to take on responsibility has always been a strength of mine. I am a person who likes to have a plan to see that tasks are finished. That plan will include a way to get the job done with plenty of time to spare. I do not enjoy work piling up and trying to complete a responsibility at the last moment. I know how to put a plan in place and delegate it out so that it is accomplished. When an organization has a combination of a centralized and a decentralized ministry structure it functions the best. I believe in having the best and brightest leaders at the top of the ministry organization. I do feel they should make the most of the decisions. I believe though that those who are closer to the situation are on the first line of defense. I think they should report to those in charge with major problems and what they feel is the best solution on key tasks. There should not be a lot of â€Å"red tape. † I believe they should work together to see that the task is accomplished in the best way with the leader on top making the final decision. I feel that power is best served when it is shared. If a leader has the right people around them then their span of control does not have to be as great. There should be teamwork on the top tiers of leadership where everyone is responsible for a certain portion of the work so that no one is bogged down by too many details and responsibilities. When a team member is bogged down they can become easily worn down. I do not feel that any certain person has ownership of a certain work. I do believe that there needs to be a strong sense of stewardship in the hearts of the leaders. They need to realize that they have a grave responsibility before God for his work. They also have a great accountability to the people who they serve to see that God’s work is carried out efficiently and effectively in the right manner. The Leader’s Core Value Audit The Leader’s Core Value Audit is important because a leader will only rise as high as his foundation will allow him. The taller the building; the deeper and stronger the foundation needs to be. It is my desire as a leader to have a solid core that God can use and build upon. The principle of fairness is very important to me. I grew up in a dysfunctional home and have witnessed firsthand what mistreatment consists of. I have seen the negative impact on a person and the suffering they have went through to serve God. I try to make sure that everyone feels welcomed and that they know that their part of the ministry is making an impact on the bigger picture. As a Christian leader I feel it is extremely important to know the Bible. It is the only book that is alive and changes the reader. It is the sword that God has given us to take the battle to the enemy and to defend the faith that has been delivered to the saints (Eph. 6; Jude 1). It is a command in the Word of God that for a minister to be approved he must know how to study and interpret the Word of God effectively (II Tim. 2:15). A person’s relationship with the Lord should be the number one priority in life; after that, it should be the leader’s family. Paul told Timothy in his search for leaders, â€Å"For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? † (I Tim. 3:5). If a leader fails in the mission of taking care of their family, which should be closest to their heart, why should the church trust them to have their best interest in mind? Cultural relevance is an area I can improve upon. I am effective in ministering to those I am familiar with and share a common background. I need to spend more time studying the cultures of other groups to devise ways to better communicate the gospel with them. The Ideal Circumstances Audit God has a certain place in the ministry for everyone. That is why he gave the church different gifts so it might be healthy and profitable. It is only when leaders find their God-given place that they can be used and profitable to their fullest extent. God has made each person with different preferences and the Ideal Circumstances Audit can help a person narrow their focus to a position where they can fit in more easily. My ideal setting would be in a church that is growing. I am passionate about growth. I do not enjoy being around ministries that are declining. It is my passion to see churches come alive in their outreach vision as well as in the spirituality of their services. When people come to church they should be able to have an anticipation that they are going to get fed from the Word of God. They should be excited about coming because there is going to be an atmosphere where the presence of God is going to be in the midst. I would like to pastor a medium size church that is about middle-aged. A church of this magnitude is big enough to make a noticeable impact on a community. It is also small enough where the pastor can have a personal relationship with his congregation. I would like to pastor a church where there is a combination of all ages. A good mixture of ages makes for a healthy church, because each has their own gifts. Children put smiles on people’s faces. Young people add life and energy to the services and outreach of a church. The middle-aged group provides the majority of the workers in the church. The older adults provide the stability and maturity that a church needs. It does not matter to me what the ethnicity of the members are. I do prefer a church located in the suburbs. This location allows a church to have outreaches in both the inner city and rural areas. The Pastor-Organization Fit Audit The Pastor-Organization Audit helps a pastor determine how close their views match the views of a congregation. The work of the ministry can be difficult under the best situations; therefore, it is important that a perspective leader know what they are getting themselves into before they commit to a position. While it is God who sends leaders to fulfill positions this audit serves to help the leader prepare a plan for success. In my current position the church’s doctrinal beliefs and mine correspond. This is an absolute must for any position I take in the ministry. It is hard to stay on the same page if there are doctrinal differences because you are looking through two different types of glasses. Malphurs points out that â€Å"it would be wise to explore the nonessentials of both the leader and the church. † The more the leader and the congregation know about each other the less chance there will be for conflict. I believe that it is important that the leader have the capabilities that the church is lacking. It can be very frustrating for a leader to feel like they are not contributing to the overall success of an organization. It is hard for a leader to put their whole self into something when they feel like someone else can do just as good of a job and that they are just one of many. There are times when there does not appear to be a perfect fit when it is still God’s will for a leader to be there. A church might have plateaued and grown comfortable and God desires for a certain type of leader to come in and infuse fresh vision and direction. I have also seen churches going through troubles where God sent the right leader there to correct the problem. In both of these situations there was not a perfect fit at first and some people resisted the change. In the end God had his way and the churches prospered. The best thing for a leader to do is make sure they know the voice and plan of God. Conclusion This set of leadership audit analysis has been eye-opening. I found out that my leadership style is analytical-director. This has clued me in on my strong areas that I can continue to shore up and my weak areas that I need to be more mindful of. I have received a greater desire to pass on the burdens of my heart and ministry into others. I want to see strong leadership become apparent in the lives of my students; however, I will not see this to the extent that I want unless I â€Å"sell† it to them with the same passion that the importance of leadership has on me. In order for me to see excellent leadership produced I ust be in front to show what proper leadership is by example. Children are produced by parents and portray their parent’s values and personalities. I want my students to produce what I have lived and help propel them to even greater heights. I have not always found myself in the ideal circumstances to be able to enforce what I thought was the best solution to a task at hand, but a good director is able to take a deep breath and submit to the final authority. If there have been repercussions in the outcome of that situation, I have learned to not act smug but help pick up the pieces. When I have been in the final authority position, I have been able to look back and learn from those times when I was a team member and keep those tragedies from reoccurring. I am trying harder learned to fit into the organization that I am presently in and be the team member I need to be to help the organization to run efficiently even when I disagree with certain decisions. I am learning to a greater degree when and how to address issues and when to remain silent when things are not handled properly. It is my desire to reach to be more, do more, and learn more so that I can be as complete of a leader as I can be.

positive effects of gene altering essays

positive effects of gene altering essays The Positive Effects of Gene Altering Since the beginning of the human race, we have been looking. We have been looking for ways to make our lives healthier, more comfortable, and happier. In the beginning it was simple rocks, plants, and fires. As our technology advanced so did the comfort of our lives. The wheel, the cure to the plaque, and who can forget the remote control, were all tools that made it possible to improve the quality of life. What tool lies ahead in the future to promote our well being and happiness? Genetic engineering is that tool. Every living thing is made up of genes, and with the capability of altering these genes, the possibilities are endless. Everything from better quality produce to the prevention of cancer is a possibility with genetic engineering, and scientists are just now beginning to understand the complex gene patterns. If you can imagine a world free of diabetes, or male pattern baldness, and genetics has a major role. Genetic engineers might someday have the capabilities to remove these genes or even clone wanted genes, and in the end allowing us to live the healthy, comfortable, happier lives we seek. The numbers of positive outcomes from genetic engineering are inconceivable. Genetic engineering will lead to healthier, more comfortable, and better lives. Genetic engineering will improve every day produce and goods. For producers involved with living organisms as their products, genes play a major role in the quality of their products and amount of profit. If a farmer's cows are not as lean, or their corn is diseased, then the demand for their product is going to be less than the competition. That is where genetics comes in. It is possible, by altering certain genes, to create a leaner cow, or a disease resistant stalk of corn, and it is this fact that makes genetic engineering invaluable to the every day farmer. If their cattle is leaner, or their chickens are engineered to...

Pakistan History, Culture, Geography and Climate

Pakistan History, Culture, Geography and Climate The nation of Pakistan is still young, but human history in the area reaches back for tens of thousands of years. In recent history, Pakistan has been inextricably linked in the worlds view with the extremist movement of al Qaeda and with the Taliban, based in neighboring Afghanistan. The Pakistani government is in a delicate position, caught between various factions within the country, as well as policy pressures from without. Capital and Major Cities Capital: Islamabad, population 1,889,249 (2012 estimate) Major Cities: Karachi, population 24,205,339Lahore, population 10,052,000Faisalabad, population 4,052,871Rawalpindi, population 3,205,414Hyderabad, population 3,478,357All figures based on 2012 estimates. Pakistani Government Pakistan has a (somewhat fragile) parliamentary democracy. The President is the Head of State, while the Prime Minister is the Head of Government. Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif  and President Mamnoon Hussain were elected in 2013. Elections are held every five years and incumbents are eligible for reelection. Pakistans two-house Parliament (Majlis-e-Shura) is made up of a 100-member Senate and a 342-member National Assembly. The judicial system is a mix of secular and Islamic courts, including a Supreme Court, provincial courts, and Federal Sharia courts that administer Islamic law. Pakistans secular laws are based on British common law. All citizens over 18 years of age have the vote. Population of Pakistan Pakistans population estimate as of 2015 was 199,085,847, making it the sixth most populous nation on Earth. The largest ethnic group is the Punjabi, with 45 percent of the total population. Other groups include the Pashtun (or Pathan), 15.4 percent; Sindhi, 14.1 percent; Sariaki, 8.4 percent; Urdu, 7.6 percent; Balochi, 3.6 percent; and smaller groups making up the remaining 4.7 percent. The birth rate in Pakistan is relatively high, at 2.7 live births per woman, so the population is expanding rapidly. The literacy rate for adult women is only 46 percent, compared with 70 percent for men. Languages of Pakistan The official language of Pakistan is English, but the national language is Urdu (which is closely related to Hindi). Interestingly, Urdu is not spoken as a native language by any of Pakistans main ethnic groups and was chosen as a neutral option for communication among the various peoples of Pakistan. Punjabi is the native tongue of 48 percent of Pakistanis, with Sindhi at 12 percent, Siraiki at 10 percent, Pashtu at 8 percent, Balochi at 3 percent, and a handful of smaller language groups. Most Pakistan languages belong to the Indo-Aryan language family  and are written in a Perso-Arabic script. Religion in Pakistan An estimated 95-97 percent of Pakistanis are Muslim, with the remaining few percentage points made up of small groups of Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsi (Zoroastrians), Buddhists and followers of other faiths. About 85-90 percent of the Muslim population are Sunni Muslims, while 10-15 percent are Shia. Most Pakistani Sunnis belong to the Hanafi branch, or to the Ahle Hadith. Shia sects represented include the Ithna Asharia, the Bohra, and the Ismailis. Geography of Pakistan Pakistan lies at the collision point between the Indian and Asian tectonic plates. As a result, much of the country consists of rugged mountains. The area of Pakistan is 880,940 square km (340,133 square miles). The country shares borders with Afghanistan to the northwest, China to the north, India to the south and east, and Iran to the west. The border with India is subject to dispute, with both nations claiming the mountain regions of Kashmir and Jammu. Pakistans lowest point is its Indian Ocean coast, at sea level. The highest point is K2, the worlds second-tallest mountain, at 8,611 meters (28,251 feet). Climate of Pakistan With the exception of the temperate coastal region, most of Pakistan suffers from seasonal extremes of temperature. From June to September, Pakistan has its monsoon season, with warm weather and heavy rain in some areas. The temperatures drop significantly in December through February, while spring tends to be very warm and dry.   Of course, the Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountain ranges are snowbound for much of the year, due to their high altitudes. Temperatures even at lower elevations may drop below freezing during the winter, while summer highs of 40 °C (104 °F) are not uncommon. The record high is 55 °C (131 °F). Pakistani Economy Pakistan has great economic potential, but it has been hampered by internal political unrest, a lack of foreign investment, and its chronic state of conflict with India. As a result, the per capita GDP is only $5000, and 22 percent of Pakistanis live under the poverty line (2015 estimates). While GDP was growing at 6-8 percent between 2004 and 2007, that slowed to 3.5 percent from 2008 to 2013. Unemployment stands at just 6.5 percent, although that does not necessarily reflect the state of employment as many are underemployed. Pakistan exports labor, textiles, rice, and carpets. It imports oil, petroleum products, machinery, and steel. The Pakistani rupee trades at 101 rupees / $1 US (2015). History of Pakistan The nation of Pakistan is a modern creation, but people have been building great cities in the area for some 5,000 years. Five millennia ago, the Indus Valley Civilization created great urban centers at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, both of which are now in Pakistan. The Indus Valley people mixed with Aryans moving in from the north during the second millennium B.C. Combined, these peoples are called the Vedic Culture; they created the epic stories upon which Hinduism is founded. The lowlands of Pakistan were conquered by Darius the Great around 500 B.C. His Achaemenid Empire ruled the area for nearly 200 years. Alexander the Great destroyed the Achaemenids in 334 B.C., establishing Greek rule as far as the Punjab. After Alexanders death 12 years later, the empire was thrown into confusion as his generals divided up the satrapies; a local leader, Chandragupta Maurya, seized the opportunity to return the Punjab to local rule. Nonetheless, Greek and Persian culture continued to exert a strong influence on what is now Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Mauryan Empire later conquered most of South Asia; Chandraguptas grandson, Ashoka the Great, converted to Buddhism in the third century B.C. Another important religious development occurred in the 8th century A.D. when Muslim traders brought their new religion to the Sindh region. Islam became the state religion under the Ghaznavid Dynasty (997-1187 A.D.). A succession of Turkic/Afghan dynasties ruled the region through 1526 when the area was conquered by Babur, founder of the Mughal Empire. Babur was a descendant of Timur (Tamerlane), and his dynasty ruled most of South Asia until 1857 ​when the British took control. After the so-called Sepoy Rebellion of 1857, the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah II, was exiled to Burma by the British. Great Britain had been asserting ever-increasing control through the British East India Company since at least 1757. The British Raj, the time when South Asia fell under direct control by the UK government, lasted until 1947. Muslims in the north of British India, represented by the Muslim League and its leader, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, objected to joining the independent nation of India after World War II. As a result, the parties agreed to a Partition of India. Hindus and Sikhs would live in India proper, while Muslims got the new nation of Pakistan. Jinnah became the first leader of independent Pakistan. Originally, Pakistan consisted of two separate pieces; the eastern section later became the nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan developed nuclear weapons in the 1980s, confirmed by nuclear tests in 1998. Pakistan has been an ally of the United States in the war on terror. They opposed the Soviets during the Soviet-Afghan war but relations have improved.