Research paper on Faith Wilding (An Artist) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

On Faith Wilding (An Artist) - Research Paper Example She is the frontrunner of cyber-feminism in the U.S., where cyber-feminism is relatively a new term that studies the relationship between technology and women. Her main focus is on improving the contribution of women in the field of biotechnology. Faith Wilding frequents the U.S. and Europe and her audio lectures are â€Å"broadcast by RIAS Berlin; WDR Cologne; and National Public Radio, USA† ("Faith Wilding"). Her list of publications include; â€Å"MEANING, Heresies, Ms. Magazine, The Power of Feminist Art† ("Faith Wilding"). She has also published many other magazines and books. The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded her â€Å"two individual media grants† ("Faith Wilding"). At present, â€Å"she is the faculty member at the School of Art Institute of Chicago and the MFA in Visual Art Program at Vermont College of the Union Institute and University† ("Faith Wilding"). Wilding has been very active the feminist art movement since her support for the founding of Feminist Art Program in California (Jones & Heathfield 253). This program proved to be a stepping stone for politicizing and theorizing the feminist art. She and her husband participated in antiwar movements during the 60s. This laid the foundation for her future feminist art endeavors. Her artwork tells the story how she observed the enforced patriarchy throughout her life. This context gives her the energy to express the prejudiced and biased social structure of the world. Wilding creates artwork based on feminist themes. Many of her artworks depict satire aimed at the patriarchal attitudes of the society. Her artwork themes have evolved with time. The 1970s is generally marked with highly politicized Anglo-American feminist art movements. Wildings early works certainly depict that era but as time progressed her artwork also evolved and modified incorporating other elements of the social injustice towards women. The politicized feminist art form generally criticized the

A Study on Roman Ampitheatres

A Study on Roman Ampitheatres Roman amphitheatres If one were to ask any person what first comes to mind when they think of Roman civilisation, most people would instantly respond with the Colosseum in Rome, or the Gladiatorial games. The Colosseum in Rome was a symbol of the power and wealth that Rome possessed at the height of her glory, and even today, the amphitheatre dominates the surrounding area, and draws the eye like nothing else. Roman amphitheatres became synonymous with the spread of roman culture throughout the empire, and as such are an excellent case for understanding the spread of roman engineering practices as well as colonization of new territories.[1] A roman amphitheatre is a large freestanding structure, often oval or circular, which was built by Romans, primarily for the purpose of entertainment.[2] Amphitheatres housed a variety of spectacles, such as gladiatorial games, or executions of prisoners. The roman ruling elite understood that in order to keep the populace happy and complacent, they needed to be provided with nourishment for both the body and for the mind. As such, those who belonged the roman ruling class, the equestrians, would often fund spectacles for roman citizens of lower classes to attend, and be entertained by.[3] The history: Some of the earliest Roman amphitheatres date to the republic period, however, the majority of the most well-known were built during the imperial period.[4] The word amphitheatre comes from the latin â€Å"amphitheatrum† meaning theatre in the round, which differentiates amphitheatres from traditional greek theatres, which were most often semi-circular.[5] The Roman amphitheatre as an architectural phenomenon is believed to have roots in the Greek theatre traditions, indeed, the two are quite similar to one another in multiple respects.[6] There has been some debate over how Roman amphitheatres came to be invented, with some scholars suggesting that they first appeared in the area of Campania, which was well-known for its displays of funeral games, and later for its gladiatorial schools.[7] Interestingly, it is possible that the Romans borrowed the idea of gladiatorial combat from the Campanians, and adapted it for Roman ideals. One should note, however, that it has also been suggested by certain scholars that the Roman style of stone amphitheatres originated in Rome’s Forum Romanum, where a temporary wooden structure may have been built to provide a setting for gladiatorial games.[8] This wooden structure took the shape of the forum, which happened to be oblong.[9] This idea of a wooden amphitheatre comes from Pliny, who stated that Gaius Scribonius Curio constructed two wooden theatres which were moved together to become an amphitheatre to house the gladiatorial combats for the funeral games of his father.[10] Additionally, there are also records which show that after the destruction of Rome’s first stone amphitheatre, Nero built a new one of wood.[11] Later, when the Romans began to build more permanent versions of this original structure, they kept the same basic shape, though it was changed to be more round, which would provide more equidistant views of the spectacles below. The first permanent amphitheatre is believed to be the one built at Pompeii, and is a very simple construction compared to later amphitheatres.[12] The first stone amphitheatre in Rome was built by Statilius Taurus, an associate of Augustus. Unfortunately, this amphitheatre was eventually destroyed, and, in AD57, Nero built a new, wooden, amphitheatre. This construction was incredibly short-lived, and was eventually destroyed as well.[13] Though Rome’s Flavian amphitheatre was built rather late, most colonies had their own amphitheatres at least one hundred and fifty years before the Flavian amphitheatre was constructed.[14] Archaeological evidence suggests that the roman stone amphitheatres built outside of Rome were largely constructed for those roman citizens who helped to colonize the area, and to help the spread of the idea of Romaness.[15] It has been suggested that the amphitheatre at Pompeii may have been constructed specifically for the purpose of entertaining Sulla’s military colonists who were stationed there.[16] The Colosseum is today the most widely known and recognised of the roman amphitheatres, and even at the height of Rome’s power it was no different. The Flavian amphitheatre, as the name suggests, was the centre-piece of the Flavian dynasty. In AD 69, Rome fought a short, but brutal civil war, with the end result of Vespasian and his sons, Titus and Domitian, in control of Rome. The two initial goals of any new regime in Rome were often the same: first, to establish legitimacy and authority, and secondly, to discredit their predecessors. The Flavians were able to do both in one fell swoop, with the construction of the amphitheatre.[17] Emperor Nero before them had appropriated public land for the construction of his personal pleasure palace, â€Å"the Golden House†or Domus Aurea, making the already unpopular emperor despised among the populace.[18] With the civil war which led to the Flavians acceding to power, Nero was overthrown, and nearly all traces of his reign were obliterated. In AD 106 his opulent palace followed suit by means of a fire, freeing the once-public land to be used again. The Flavians took this opportunity, and constructed a venue which could be used and enjoyed by the Roman populace, the largest stone amphitheatre in the Roman Empire.[19] Indeed, the Flavian amphitheatre was designed to impress. The Flavian amphitheatre was a spectacular feat of Roman engineering. The seating area or cavea of the amphitheatre featured five different levels of seating which were specific to different classes of the population. In order for spectators to end up in the correct seating tier, they needed to traverse multiple flights of increasingly narrow steps, with the senators and members of the equestrian class climbing either no, or very few steps, while women and slaves climbing the most, to reach the highest tier of seating.[20] The manner in which the staircases and corridors were constructed is an interesting one in that the corridors and staircases closest to the bottom of the amphitheatre are wide and spacious, but the closer to the top, the narrower the passages become. It has been postulated that this was an intentional design on the part of the architects, not only to allow the best support for the structure, but also as an inherent form of crowd control.[21] The wider passageways at the bottom allowed the members of the upper echelons of society to exit the amphitheatre in an expedient and prompt manner, while those of the lower classes were filtered through the narrow passageways, thereby taking a longer time to leave the amphitheatre, allowing the elites to pass unimpeded by those who were less important than they. The amphitheatre also made excellent use of the most modern innovations underground, in the two stories of corridors that formed the substructure of the building.[22] This maze of chambers and passageways contained an assortment of lifts and pulleys which would allow animals for fights, or gladiators, to enter the pit seemingly from thin air, adding a layer of mystery and showmanship to the spectacle, to further excite the audience.[23] There were also spaces in the substructure which housed cages for the animals, as well as measures for safety. Additionally, there were spaces for the gladiators, and also areas for the animals to run and exercise.[24] In his â€Å"On the Spectacles,† Martial states that the structure surpasses earlier wonders of antiquity. While the Colosseum may be one of the best known amphitheatres, there were a great deal of others which were of similar importance. One such amphitheatre is the amphitheatre at Pompeii, which is currently the oldest surviving amphitheatre in the world.[25] Amphitheatres were synonymous with the spread of the Roman Empire and culture, and this trend continued at Pompeii.[26] While Pompeii already had a greek-style theatre, once she became a Roman colony in 80BC, several wealthy local elites, Quinctius Valgus and Marcius Porcius funded the building of a new Roman Amphitheatre.[27] This early amphitheatre was quite simple compared to the highly-engineered flavian amphitheatre, and featured a hollow oval arena, which was encircled by earthen banks for seating.[28] As the amphitheatre at Pompeii was the first of its kind, the term amphitheatrum was not used when it was first built, and instead, the dedicatory inscription reads spectaculum, meaning spectacle.[29] The amphitheatres of Rome were, and still are, often viewed as the symbol for the expansion of the roman culture and empire, and by examining them we can begin to comprehend the fantastic innovations that roman engineers were able to create. From the earliest amphitheatre at Pompeii, to the largest at Rome, we can see the brilliance, as well as the wealth and power, of ancient Rome. Works Cited Bomgardner, D. (2002). The Story of the Roman Amphitheatre. New York: Routledge. Coleman, K. M. (2003). Euergetism in its Place, Where was the Amphitheatre in Augustan Rome? London: Routledge. Holleran, C. (2003). The Development of Public Entertainment Venues in Rome and Italy. London: Routledge. Kyle, D. G. (2007). Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing. Mueller, T. (2011). Unearthing the Colosseums secrets: a German archaeologist has deciphered the great stadiums complex stagecraft. Its underground labyrinth has just opened to visitors. Smithsonian, 26+. Welch, K. E. (1994). Amphitheatres in the Roman Republic: An archaeology of the Roman spectacle. New York. [1] (Welch, 1994) [2] (Welch, 1994), (Bomgardner, 2002) [3] (Coleman, 2003), (Holleran, 2003) [4] (Bomgardner, 2002), (Welch, 1994) [5] (Welch, 1994) [6] (Welch, 1994), (Kyle, 2007) [7] (Kyle, 2007) [8] (Kyle, 2007) [9] (Welch, 1994) [10] (Kyle, 2007) [11] (Kyle, 2007) [12] (Kyle, 2007), (Welch, 1994) [13] (Kyle, 2007) [14] (Coleman, 2003) [15] (Welch, 1994), (Coleman, 2003) [16] (Welch, 1994) [17] (Bomgardner, 2002) [18] (Bomgardner, 2002) [19] (Welch, 1994) [20] (Bomgardner, 2002) [21] (Bomgardner, 2002) [22] (Mueller, 2011) [23] (Mueller, 2011) [24] (Kyle, 2007) [25] (Welch, 1994) [26] (Holleran, 2003) [27] (Holleran, 2003), (Kyle, 2007) [28] (Kyle, 2007) [29] (Welch, 1994)

Anna Quindlen Essay -- essays research papers

Rhetorical Analysis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Anna Quindlen describes in the essay â€Å"Abortion is too Complex to Feel one Way About† the different situation that we as a human race are put in everyday. She talks about the topic of abortion in a way that one feels they have had to make the decision of whether or not a person is pro-choice or pro-life. She uses references that are of different personal experiences in the essay that are vital to the audience. Quindlen is writing to state her point that one should never put their self in this situation because one should take the proper responsibility. In this paper you will read about the conflict with abortion and what Quindlen thinks about this issue. The author presents an interesting outlook on a volatile issue that has plagued or country for years. She appears to be voicing her opinion in an effort to bring reason and clarity to a confusing and emotional topic. To do this Quindlen uses personal experiences along with practical real life experiences. By using these different types of strategies Quindlen is able to achieve a greater influence over her audience.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The primary purpose portrayed through Quindlen’s writing is the complete and all-encompassing celebration of life. Quindlen is not supporting or denying a women’s right to choose whether or not she should have an abortion. Here we find a sole voice crying out to the masses. Those who have not been placed in such a predicament and are confronted with someone who has seen or experienced both sides of the issue and is seemingly trying to encourage these young people to think wisely about the main issue that is being confronted. Her primary purpose is proven to be true because of the strategies that she uses. Quindlen uses different strategies in her essay to try and persuade her audience. She uses her voice indirectly rather than directly when talking about the personal experience of abortion. At the beginning of the essay she talks about how she was a counselor in a college dormitory. And she says â€Å"it was always the look on their faces that told me first†(627). She has had so many girls come talk to her about the decision that they do not even have to say anything to her any more. With Quindlen being a freshman guidance counselor and witnessing what these girls are experiencing says this causes her to become pro-choic... ...e essay she says â€Å"but I don’t feel all one way about abortion anymore, and I don’t think it serves a just cause to pretend that many of us do†(629). This quote lets the reader identify with it being okay to feel conflicted about abortion. It seems that often people feel they have to choose sides in the abortion debate. However, Quindlen allows her audience to find comfort and acceptance and not really knowing what they would do if ever faced with this decision. She uses a balance of real life examples that she has experienced and witnessed. Most of her examples touch the reader deep down inside so that they are left feeling as if they were a fly on the wall when these things were going on. At the end of the day where has Quindlen left the issue? She leaves it seemingly where it should stay†¦in the heart of those affected by it. This is a personal issue that needs to be taken seriously according to Quindlen. After having lived through many different sides of this issue she appears to still have no one side that she is partial to. She is celebrating life however she shows great empathy and compassion for all who may make a decision to not go ahead with bringing a life into the world.

Is Proof Needed in Order for God to Exist

Is Proof Needed in Order for God to Exist At some point in life every person may question the existence of god. This could happen for a number of reasons. For example when we see bad things that occur around the world we may lose our faith or wonder why does god allow these things to happen? As humans we all have a natural instinct to find answers to things that we ourselves cannot explain or understand. Philosophers have spent a great amount of time trying to prove or disapprove the existence of god, but do we really need proof that god exist?This is a tough question to answer because there are people that would say yes and people that would say no. I myself have never questioned the existence of god due to the fact that I feel like the proof of his existence is all around us. In this paper I will discuss the two sides of this debut and which side makes the most valid argument for my personal beliefs. When you ask someone why they believe in something most likely it is because they have facts or some type of evidence as to why they believe what they do. If I say my dog bites and show you my arm with bite marks then you are more likely to believe that my statement is true.The same thoughts can be applied to the way some people believe and do not believe in god. Some people believe because they have faith in the bible and that something more powerful than any other force had to create all the living things on earth. Others believe that everything in that is on earth could have evolved through science and therefore none of the creations on earth are proof that god exist, these people are often referred to as atheist. When people think about an atheist they usually think that they worship the devil or are into some type of satanic worship, but this is not the case.Simply put atheists just do not believe in god and they believe that science played a part in the creation of the world and the things on it. The issue is why do we need proof that god exist and what typ e of proof is needed to prove his existence? Many people, including Christians, wonder what proof is there that God exist. Is there really any concrete evidence to prove that an all-powerful creator exists? Or are we all being blinded by our faith and believing in something that may or may not be real, just so that we have hope that life is better after death. It is hard to imagine something that has always xisted, because as human all we know is life and death. To understand something that never began and will never end is hard to wrap our brains around that concept. If a person oppose the possibility of there being a God, then any evidence presented can be rationalized or explained away. It is like if someone refuses to believe that people have seen ghost or spirits, then no amount of information is going to change their thinking. There are photographs of ghost and spirits, personal interviews from people who have encountered these beings, and even special equipment that can pick up various activities from these beings.Although this may be enough evidence for most people to some all this evidence would be worthless, because the person has already concluded that ghost or spirits do not exist. Of course many have tried to prove God's existence with rational arguments. Aquinas, Abelard, Anselm, Pascal, and Paley are a few that have attempted this. These approaches are of limited helpfulness, for though we can approach God with our reason and detect Him in nature, he cannot be fully grasped in this way. More importantly, these logical proofs for God's existence miss the point.What is the point? In my experience, most of those who doubt or deny God's existence do not do so because of firmly held philosophical convictions. They do so because of personal disappointment with God. Furthermore, I'm suggesting that many of those who now perceive themselves as doubting or denying God for philosophical reasons, got where they are because they became personally disillusio ned with God sometime in the past. To answer the question, ‘Does God Exist? ‘, a number of studies, articles, and research papers have been written.Two arguments that best attempt to prove the existence of God are the ontological argument by St. Anselm, and the cosmological argument by St. Thomas Aquinas. The second out of the five arguments provided in the cosmological argument is based on experience and efficient cause. The efficient cause makes something happen, i. e. cause and effect, and this are the premises for his argument. Aquinas argues that nothing in this world can originate on its own, and must have a first cause to create an intermediate cause, to create an ultimate cause and effect.Infinity makes it impossible to have a first efficient cause, but if there is no first cause, there would be no intermediate cause, and we would not exist. In the ontological argument, St Anselm provides an argument that is based on logic. In order to understand his argument you must first admit that, if there is a God, he is that than which nothing greater can be conceived. This is the premise for his argument. Without this premises his argument would fail. It must be agreed to, because it is a true statement. You do not have to believe in God in order to agree to these Premises.In agreeing to these first premises, St Anselm forces you to admit that God does exist in reality because his premises support his conclusion. St. Anselm's Theory is that if God is that which nothing greater can be conceived, the idea of God must exist, if only in the mind. To exist in reality is greater than existing in the mind. Therefore God, being that which nothing greater can be conceived must exist in reality. All his premises support his conclusion, creating a valid and sound argument proving that God must exist. St.Anselm’s first form of the argument is that God is â€Å"that than which none greater can be conceived†. This means that no one can think of anyt hing that is greater than God. The second idea is, it is greater to exist than not to exist. Next, St. Anselm describes two kinds of existence: existence in the mind, and existence in real. Existence in the reality is very easy to believe, if you can touch, see, smell, hear, or taste something, in reality it exists. Existence in mind is harder to understand for some, because many people only believe what they see. Finally, St. Anselm defined God as the greatest being possible.A being who fails to exist is less perfect than a being that exist. Therefore, God must exist, necessarily. If the greatest thing that we can conceive does not exist than we can still conceive the greatest thing that does exist, and that would be God. Philosophers, whether they are atheists, or believers have always been eager to discuss the existence of God. Some philosophers, such as St Anselm, and Rene Descartes, that formulated the ontological arguments attempt to prove God’s existence, believe that we have proven that God exist through our senses, logic, and experiences. Ontological† literally means talking about being and so in this case, that being is the existence or being of God. Ontological arguments all have ways to prove the existence of God. This argument is very important for religious believers, but has come under criticism from those who do not believe; because they say that it is flawed. Immanuel Kant feels that we will never have the answer to this question due to our human limitations, and reason. Every painting has a painter and for every book there is a writer. The same can be said about the creation of our world.Our world could not have just created itself. Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic Dominican monk, more clearly proves this point with the First Cause argument. In this argument he says that there is a cause for everything but there cannot be an infinite amount of causes. There could only be a first, the intermediate, and then the last cause. This argument is very true and if God did not exist as the uncaused first cause then nothing else would make sense. The first and second premise is true because based on experience things are made or moved and things don’t just appear out of thin air.The third premise is also true because at some point in time something had to be put in motion and there cannot just be an endless stream of causes. If God was taken out of the causes then we wouldn’t exist here today. Many still argue that neither one of these arguments prove Gods existence, because it is impossible for our reason to accept them. In Soren Kierkegaard’s argument, â€Å"Faith, not Logic is The Basis of Belief; he argues that it is impossible to prove Gods existence because it is beyond our reason as human beings to do so.Kierkegaard classifies the word God under the word unknown. It is impossible for reason to know the unknown, so it is impossible to know, or prove God exists. Kierkegaard also claims that reason on its own does not attempt to prove God exists, he claims that it would be foolish to do so. It would be foolish to do so because reason is from existence, not towards it. Therefore if God does not exist, it would be impossible to prove he does, and if God does exist, because of our worldly limitations, it would be impossible to justify it as truth.Kierkegaard claims that the only way to argue Gods existence would be to assume Gods existence before creating the argument. In having faith, you have knowledge on what God should be like in order to fill the Gap of the unknown with ideas about God. Having Faith would make reason understand God. Doubt exists in the believer and the non-believer because it is beyond our reason to determine the truth of God's existence. The Big Bang Theory generally refers to the idea that the universe has expanded from a hot and dense condition at some time in the past, and continues to expand to this day.My question is what put it there? Time could have not decided to one day say, â€Å"I think I’m going to create life in a thing called a universe. † And magically particles come out of nowhere, more and more build up until it’s screaming hot, and then BANG! Time begins and so does everything as we know it today. Something had to place it there. Something had to have planned out the whole process. Everything is too complex and precise to not have been created by an intelligent being. From beginning to present time billions of people from all around the world have believed and been convinced in the existence of a god.There are various forms of evidence displaying the belief of a god throughout history including biblical carvings, artistic creations, religious and political conflicts, traditions, architect and the creation of the bible itself. Could one say with any sense of confidence that the shared concept of the beliefs and actions of so many people living in different times with different realities be mistak en? It is extraordinary how despite the many different languages, customs, cultures, values, and lifestyles, the belief in God or a higher power is one of the few things that can unify all people.This is strong evidence contributing to mine and many others faith in the existence of God. The existence of god is something that has puzzled millions of people around the world. It tears families apart, and brings some together. There are a lot of arguments supporting the existence of god, but just as many denying the fact that he or it exists. Agnosticism is something that many people go by because it allows your mind to explore and assist you in deciding whether or not a deity exists. You need to find the answers within yourself because only you can determine what truth and reality is.Not all questions may be answered, but it will allow you to form a true and concise belief. You cannot depend on someone or something else to satisfy your questions. You only live once and must search for the knowledge you desire. Some people are destined to succeed, and others are determined to succeed. If you seek the truth, you will find it. Logan, I. (2007). Whatever Happened to Kant’s Ontological Argument?. Philosophy & Phenomenological Research, 74(2), 346-363. doi:10. 1111/j. 1933-1592. 2007. 00021. x McCarthy-Jones, S. (2011).Seeing the unseen, hearing the unsaid: hallucinations, psychology and St Thomas Aquinas. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 14(4), 353-369. doi:10. 1080/13674671003745870 Mikolajczak, M. (2004). Is there proof for the existence of God?. National Catholic Reporter, 40(43), 5a Morse, D. R. (2011, October). God's Existence: Proof. Journal of Spirituality & Paranormal Studies. p. 181. Schumacher, L. (2011). THE LOST LEGACY OF ANSELM'S ARGUMENT: RE-THINKING THE PURPOSE OF PROOFS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. Modern Theology, 27(1), 87-101. doi:10. 1111/j. 1468-0025. 2010. 01656. x

An Explication of Beowulf’s Monologue About His Past

Katie Taylor EH 215 Volf 4 February 2013 Beowulf’s Past Beowulf is an epic poem that is filled with episodes and digressions that provide a better understanding of the poem as a whole. In one of the episodes, Beowulf speaks of his past, and the reader can learn about his upbringing as a child and how it has affected him as an adult. This monologue also gives some information about King Hrethel and his sons. The main purpose of this anecdote, however, is to describe how and when Beowulf began his career of combat and fame.Within Beowulf’s monologue, the author utilizes alliterations and kenning to help the poem flow and to emphasize the strength and valor of Beowulf as an epic hero. One such example is the kenning used at the beginning of the episode. It reads, â€Å"Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, spoke†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (2425). Instead of the phrasing reading â€Å"Beowulf spoke,† this phrase adds vigor to the beginning. It reinforces the idea that Beowulf is seen as an extremely powerful hero that can take on anything that comes his way as opposed to â€Å"just Beowulf. If â€Å"son of Ecgtheow† were not used, Beowulf would seem almost boring compared to the magnificent, heroic image that comes to mind when this phrase is employed. Alliteration is also used to allow the poem to flow and also to provide an interesting element to otherwise bland sentences. â€Å"While I was in his ward he treated me no worse as a wean†¦Ã¢â‚¬  is referring to King Hrethel’s â€Å"adoption† of Beowulf after his father died (2432).The repetition of the W sound allows easy movement through the story that Beowulf tells, and it keeps the reader interested in what is being said. Another example of alliteration is the lines 2479-2480: â€Å"My own kith and kin avenged these evil events, as everybody knows†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Without any sound repetition, the reader would become bored with the story, but the author strategically places these examples of alliteration in the epic to provide more exciting details. Along with these rhetorical devices, this passage gives significant details bout Beowulf’s upbringing. The reader learns that Beowulf’s father Ecgtheow dies when Beowulf is only seven years old. King Hrethel takes him in, though, and treats him like one of his own sons. Later, the king’s oldest son Herebeald is accidentally killed by his younger brother Haethcyn. King Hrethel is so depressed that he lay down and dies from grief. Afterward, there is a battle between the Swedes and the Geats, in which Hrethel’s son Haethcyn, the new king, is killed in battle.Hygelac, the last son of Hrethel and now the new king of the Geats, gave Beowulf treasure and land for fighting alongside them. This battle seems to be one of the first that Beowulf participated in. He says, â€Å"I marched ahead of him [Hygelac], always there at the front of the line; and I shall fight like that for as long as I live†¦ † (2497-2499). After that first battle, Beowulf launched himself into a life of war and fame, constantly craving the recognition and treasures that came after a successful battle or killing.Beowulf’s monologue about his past allows readers into his mind so that they can understand why he fights the way he does and where he came from in the first place. Without this episode, the poem as a whole would suffer because there would be no back story to explain Beowulf’s desire to defeat monsters and achieve the fame that he thinks he deserves. Perhaps he is making up for the fact that his father died when he was so young: he is trying to live a life that would make his father proud that Beowulf was his son.

Free Essays on Technology 1962

Technology 1962 In 1962 technology was being further advanced by companies such as Bell Labs (now Lucent), IBM, General Electric, Digital Equipment, and by students at MIT and other colleges. These advances in technology would set the stage for items on the market today. 1962 saw the development of various advances in computer capabilities, communications, and electronics. Progress was also made in space exploration and manufacturing techniques. One of the more prominent advances in computer technology was the first use of virtual memory (VM). Ferranti’s Atlas computer was the first computer with the technology. VM contains twice as many addresses as main memory. A program using all virtual memory, therefore, would not be able to fit in main memory all at once. Nevertheless, the computer could execute such a program by copying into main memory those portions of the program needed at any given point during execution. To facilitate copying virtual memory into real memory, the operating system divides virtual memory into pages, each of which contains a fixed number of addresses. Each page is stored on a disk until it is needed. When the page is needed, the operating system copies it from disk to main memory, translating the virtual addresses i nto real addresses. Virtual memory is still used in today’s computers as witnessed by the error message you sometimes receive when your computer is running multiple programs. 1962 marked the development of various technological expanses in communication. Bell Labs would be in the forefront of most of the changes. In 1962 Bell labs designed and launched the Telstar I communications satellite. The launch of the Telstar allowed global telephony, data communications and television broadcasting. The phrase â€Å"live via satellite† was adopted due to the capabilities of the Telstar I. In 1962 Bell Labs made further progress with the introduction of the radio paging system at Seattle’... Free Essays on Technology 1962 Free Essays on Technology 1962 Technology 1962 In 1962 technology was being further advanced by companies such as Bell Labs (now Lucent), IBM, General Electric, Digital Equipment, and by students at MIT and other colleges. These advances in technology would set the stage for items on the market today. 1962 saw the development of various advances in computer capabilities, communications, and electronics. Progress was also made in space exploration and manufacturing techniques. One of the more prominent advances in computer technology was the first use of virtual memory (VM). Ferranti’s Atlas computer was the first computer with the technology. VM contains twice as many addresses as main memory. A program using all virtual memory, therefore, would not be able to fit in main memory all at once. Nevertheless, the computer could execute such a program by copying into main memory those portions of the program needed at any given point during execution. To facilitate copying virtual memory into real memory, the operating system divides virtual memory into pages, each of which contains a fixed number of addresses. Each page is stored on a disk until it is needed. When the page is needed, the operating system copies it from disk to main memory, translating the virtual addresses i nto real addresses. Virtual memory is still used in today’s computers as witnessed by the error message you sometimes receive when your computer is running multiple programs. 1962 marked the development of various technological expanses in communication. Bell Labs would be in the forefront of most of the changes. In 1962 Bell labs designed and launched the Telstar I communications satellite. The launch of the Telstar allowed global telephony, data communications and television broadcasting. The phrase â€Å"live via satellite† was adopted due to the capabilities of the Telstar I. In 1962 Bell Labs made further progress with the introduction of the radio paging system at Seattle’...

How Does SAT Essay Length Affect Your Score

How Does SAT Essay Length Affect Your Score SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips True or False: Since essay length is not mentioned in the SAT essay grading rubric, it doesn’t matter how much you write in your essay. Answer: True...but also false. Read on for an explanation of why and how the length of your SAT essay can affect your score. feature image credit: How long by Martin Abegglen, used under CC BY-SA 2.0/Cropped modified from original. Why Does Essay Length Matter? Why would you think that essay length even matters in the first place? As I said in the introduction, it's not as if the SAT essay rubric mentions essay length at all. Well, there's at least one good reason to think this: essay length is positively correlated with essay score. Ever since the essay was added to the SAT, current MIT research affiliate (and former director of the MIT undergraduate writing program) Les Perelman has been vocal about how the longer an essay is, the more likely it is to get a higher score. According to this 2005 New York Times article by Michael Winerip, Perelman analyzed the lengths and scores of 54 SAT-approved sample essays and found a nearly 90% correlation. The shortest essays (around 100 words) received the lowest possible score, 1 (or a combined score of 2 out of 12), while the longest essays (around 400 words), received the highest score, a 6 (or a combined score of 12 out of 12). Based on these findings, representatives of the CollegeBoard stated that they would be releasing shorter examples of higher-scoring essays. This controversy first erupted in early 2005, right after the new SAT essay was introduced. To see if there had been any changes since then, I did my own analysis of the essays in the CollegeBoard's essay scoring guide that were all written in response to the sample prompt. Take a look at what I found: Bonus graph reading practice for you in this, an article on essays. You're welcome. As you can see, as essay length (measured by word count in the graph above) increases, the score also increases. Just because longer essays tend to score better, however, doesn’t mean that you should just write the word â€Å"ideology† over and over again to fill up the page. The reason longer essays tend to score better is that students who write longer essays provide more support for their theses. If this is the essay prompt: "Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority," and all you write is the following: "It's important to question authority because sometimes authority stops you from doing things you want. Like getting a pony. I want a pony. I want a pony. I want a pony. I want a pony." for two pages, you'll still get a 0. Maybe a 1, if the grader is feeling generous and thinks that you made some attempt to write about the issue discussed in a prompt. For more on the thought process of essay grading, read our article about insights from real SAT essay graders. Similarly, if you try to drag out one example by writing larger than usual and restating the same facts and information over and over again, it won't automatically get you a higher score. In fact, you may lose points if either of your essay's graders think that your repeating of information leads to lack of coherence in your writing. In any case, unless you have extremely small handwriting, it’s very difficult to write an essay that presents a thesis and supports it with at least two specific examples in less than one page. Bad hair day by Brian Snelson, used under CC BY 2.0/Cropped from original. Seriously, though. Look at that face. Wouldn't you want a pony? So How Long Should Your Essay Be? Many factors go into determining essay length, which makes it difficult to give a blanket length recommendation. Here are the most important factors when it comes to length of your SAT essay: Vocabulary. Often, the more advanced vocab you use, the fewer words you’ll need to get the job done, which might result in a shorter essay. Handwriting size. Students with larger handwriting will naturally take up more space on the page than students with smaller handwriting. This doesn't necessarily mean students with larger handwriting have an advantage, however; in fact, students with larger handwriting tend to run into the issue of having filled two pages and not finished saying everything they needed or wanted to say. How fast you can write and think. If you need to take longer to plan out your essay, you might end up writing a shorter essay, simply because you don't have as much time to write. That doesn't necessarily mean that you'll do worse on the essay - since an organized essay with strong specific examples will score better than a disorganized one without specific examples - but it does mean that you might end up with less time to write out your ideas. How much time you leave yourself to write (vs. how much time you take to plan). This is something you need to figure out for yourself through practice and observation. Over the years, I've realized that I can write fairly quickly, which means that it's okay if I take a little more time to plan out my essay - I'll still be able to fill up those two pages. On the other hand, if you find that you're a slow writer, you might not be able to write enough unless you get very fast at planning your essay. In general, assuming about 150 words per handwritten page, you need to write at least a page and a half (1.5 pages) to get a 3 or above on your essay (or a combined score of 6 or above). You'll need at least that much space to say what you need to say and support it clearly with concrete examples. What’s Next? Want to find out more about how to write a good SAT essay? Watch us write a top-scoring essay step-by-step, then check out our tips on how to write a long SAT essay as well as our more general SAT essay tips. Discover the secrets to getting a perfect 12 on your SAT essay here. What if you're planning on taking the new SAT? Read our breakdown of the new SAT essay here. Want to get serious about improving your SAT score? We have the leading online SAT prep program that will raise your score by 160+ points, guaranteed. Exclusive to our program, we have an expert SAT instructor grade each of your SAT essays and give you customized feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial and sign up for free:

SAT Subject Test Dates 2016-2017

SAT Subject Test Dates 2016-2017 SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips At PrepScholar, we use the best data to inform you about what the testing schedule and registration deadlines will look like in the future.When choosing your test date and Subject Tests, there are multiple factors to consider and it is vital to plan ahead. You can see the SAT test dates for previous years to get an idea of when the tests normally take place and how long after the test dates scores tend to be released. In this article, I’ll give you the SAT Subject Test dates for 2016-2017 and explain what you should consider when picking your test date and Subject Tests. Test Dates for the 2016-2017 School Year SAT Subject Tests are offered on the same dates and in the same locations as the SAT, but there’s an additional test date in March for the SAT that isn’t offered for the SAT Subject Tests. Subject Test Dates These test dates are listed by the College Board, but they’re still subject to change. Not all of the tests are offered on every date- the language with listening tests are only offered in November. Subject Test October 1, 2016 November 5, 2016 December 3, 2016 January 21, 2017 May 6, 2017 June 3, 2017 Literature X X X X X X US History X X X X X X World History X X Mathematics Level 1 X X X X X X Mathematics Level 2 X X X X X X Biology E/M X X X X X X Chemistry X X X X X X Physics X X X X X X French X X X X X German X Spanish X X X X X Modern Hebrew X Italian X Latin X X French with Listening X German with Listening X Spanish with Listening X Chinese with Listening X Japanese with Listening X Korean with Listening X You can only take Korean in November. Registration Dates The registration deadlines and score release dates are projected by PrepScholar. Test Date Normal Registration Late Registration Score Release Oct 1, 2016 Sep 2, 2016 Sep 16, 2016 Oct 20, 2016 Nov 5, 2016 Oct 7, 2016 Oct 21, 2016 Nov 24, 2016 Dec 3, 2016 Nov 4, 2016 Nov 18, 2016 Dec 22, 2016 Jan 21, 2017 Dec 23, 2016 Jan 6, 2017 Feb 9, 2017 May 6, 2017 Apr 7, 2017 Apr 21, 2017 May 25, 2017 Jun 3, 2017 May 5, 2017 May 19, 2017 Jun 22, 2017 How Accurate Are the Tables Above? The test dates are the anticipated dates provided by the College Board, and the registration and score release dates are our estimations. Even though all the dates are likely to be correct, because the test dates are provided by the College Board, those dates may be somewhat more reliable. However, the test dates aren't confirmed yet. If any of the dates change, they’ll probably be a week earlier or later than the anticipated date. You can use these dates to help determine when you'll take your SAT Subject Tests. If you know your available options, you can select the date that works best with your schedule. Also, you can factor in the specific tests you're taking and the amount of time you need to prepare for the them. How to Choose Your Subject Tests? Here’s what you should consider when selecting your Subject Tests: What Do Your Colleges Require? Know the specific requirements of the colleges you’re applying to or intend to apply to. How many Subject Tests do they require? Are you applying to a school or program that requires you to take science and math? Are you applying to colleges that want to see your skill level in a range of subjects? Are you applying to test optional or flexible colleges that allow you to use Subject Tests in place of the SAT or ACT? If you have any questions about a school's policies, call the admissions office. What Are Your Best Subjects in School? Generally, you'll do the best on the tests related to your best subjects in school. If you thoroughly enjoy physics and you're excelling in your AP Physics class, you'll probably do well on the Physics Subject Test. Are You Fluent in Another Language? Many native speakers of other languages take the Subject Test in their first language, even if they’re not taking a class in that language. Often, this is an opportunity to get a high score and show off your multilingualism. However, make sure you review the content for the Subject Test even if you're fluent. I scored higher on my Spanish Subject Test than some of my friends who are native Spanish speakers because I was more familiar with Spanish grammar rules and written Spanish while they were much more adept at conversational Spanish. Finally, read our articles on SAT Subject Tests for more guidance and to help you study. How to Choose Your Test Dates Review this article on how to select SAT Subject Test dates. Also, keep in mind that you can take one, two, or three Subject Tests on a single test date. WhatIs Your Class Schedule? Generally, you want to take a givenSubject Test when you’re studying the highest level of that subject. For example,If you're taking AP US History in your junior year, you may want to take the US History Subject Test in May or June of that year right after you've spent a full year studying US History and preparing for the AP test. When Are Your College Deadlines? For most schools, the December test of your senior year will be the last time you can take the Subject Tests, and if you're applying early, the October test may be the last possible date for you. Familiarize yourself with your deadlines and give yourself an opportunity to retake the tests in case you don't get your target scores. What IsYour Personal Schedule? Make sure you give yourself time to study and avoid taking the test when you have possible conflicts. If your'e particularly busy with school and extracurricular activities in a certain month, you may want to avoid taking your Subject Tests then. What's Next? If you're preparing for your SAT Subject Tests, you may want to check out our study guides for World History, Chemistry, Literature, or Biology. You can view study guides for additional subjects in our Subject Test articles. Not sure how manySAT Subject Tests to take? Check out our guide to deciding. Finally, learn more about what is a good SAT Subject Test score. Need a little extra help prepping for your Subject Tests? We have the industry's leading SAT Subject Test prep programs (for all non-language Subject Tests). Built by Harvard grads and SAT Subject Test full or 99th %ile scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible. Learn more about our Subject Test products below:

European Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

European Law - Essay Example The European Union law is a set of treaties, law and court judgments. These operate alongside the legal systems of the member states of the European Union. It has a direct effect among within the member states of the European Union. When conflicts occur this law takes precedence over national laws. The primary source of the European law is the European Union treaties. These treaties are set on broad policy goals and establish institutions that can enact various types of legislations in order to achieve these goals. There are two types of legislative acts of the European Union, they are regulations and directives. Regulations become law when they come into force in member countries. They do not require any implementing measures and automatically overrides conflicting domestic provisions. The directives of the European Union require member states to achieve a certain result. Meanwhile it is left to the member countries how they are to be implemented. All the European Union legislations derive from the decisions that are taken at the European Union level. But the implementation largely occurs on the national level. Therefore the principle of uniformity is one of the central themes in the decisions made by the European court of justice. This court aims to ensure that the application and interpretation of the European Union laws does not differ between the member states (Application of EU law. 2010). The general principle of the law is found in almost every legal systems of Europe. Moreover the European court of justice has induced them into the legal orders to supplement all the written sources of the law and the treaties that are used as an aid for interpretation. The main principles of this law are protection of fundamental rights of citizens, principle of equality and discrimination, right of defense, principle of legal certainty, principle of

Leadership & Communication in Health Care Service Organizations Essay

Leadership & Communication in Health Care Service Organizations - Essay Example Without communication, an organization will not be able to function well. Eventually, this will lead to underachievement of organizational goals considering that the success of an organization is highly influenced by the entire communication process involved. It is in line with this that this paper includes the discussion about leadership, motivation and communication in an organization. The proponent tries to apply the information in line with leadership functions and activities of managers and their influence on the successful performance particularly in health services organizations. Thus, some theories, concepts and terms related with leadership are included based on their association with a successful performance and goal attainment of the health care service organizations. Leadership There are many existing theories about leadership and these primarily include great man, trait, contingency, situational, behavioral, participative, management, and relationship (Cherry par. 1-8). All of these theories have important contribution in understanding the success of health care service organizations. ... Thus, they usually end up differentiating their services and product offerings. However, the implementation of this specific approach is not going to be easy. In fact, this highly involves specific leadership approach depending on the type of strategies at hand. Great man theories assume that leadership is innate and that every great leader is born not made and that they will rise above others if it is necessary, while trait theories state that leadership traits are innate among leaders (Cherry par. 1-2). These theories are believed to be very applicable in an organization before but today the fierce competition existing between health service organizations would require competent leaders based on experience and other relevant qualifications. Thus, it is in this reason that in order to have effective leadership activity, a certain health service organization must necessarily understand other modern leadership concepts. Today’s leadership activity requires basic understanding o f both external and internal business environment. Thus, the remaining leadership theories are making sense on how exactly organizations are performing when it comes to their ability to apply the leadership concept. Contingency theories of leadership state that leader’s response to leadership is affected by factors in the environment such as leadership style, followers and situational aspects (Cherry par. 3). Thus, there are some health service organizations today that try to give more emphasis on enhancing leadership style and character development of their staffs. Situational theories state that leaders choose the best course of action in situations that requires decision making (Cherry par.4).

Should polygamy be made legal in the United States Essay

Should polygamy be made legal in the United States - Essay Example This enabled a division of labor. It also relieves the difficulty of child bearing. Few women in Zimbabwe desired to be a single wife in a marriage because of the numerous responsibilities customs and the larger society would give her (Zeitzen 2008). In contrast, Western societies has championed two conflicting principles of marriage’s purpose, one rooted in collective or joint principles, and the other rooted in personal satisfaction and companionship (Gordon 2002). This fusion of principles has generated laws that rigidly control sexual behavior in accordance to a monogamous definition of marriage. The United States, as such, bans polygamy (Zeitzen 2008). In my opinion, it should remain to be so. The success of polygamy depends on the culture which hosts it. For instance, as shown in the above discussion, in largely agricultural or labor-intensive societies such as Zimbabwe polygamy is more favorable than monogamy. But in a society like the United States, which is highly ind ustrialized or mechanized, monogamy is more acceptable than polygamy. Polygamy, in my opinion, should not be legalized. According to my research, some of the most compelling reasons for the prohibition of polygamy are the following: (1) Legalizing polygamy will further deprive women of some basic rights.

Statement of purpose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Statement of purpose - Essay Example Since then I have been interested in the field of business. I take pleasure in gaining knowledge of every aspect of the business world and I am highly eager to learn more and become an expert in the field of business and management. I believe that after completion of a graduation, the certification of post-graduation is essential as it prepares individuals towards achieving their goals in the ever-changing business environment1. During the tenure of my working in the company, I had participated in several presentations based on business related topics. Also my work involved marketing, coordination and booking activities. I also try to update my knowledge by reading business magazines and newspapers to have the knowledge on the current affairs in the business world. I truly enjoy leading and managing teams, a reason why I feel I would perform well in an organization if I am given a chance to lead others in the team. Back in my country, there is a huge competition among males and females for better job and education. My father had always supported me to pursue my career. The course of MBA would provide me with greater opportunities and exposure in the corporate world, and get to meet other managers and different customers, a work life that would make me strong and independent. I believe that the course of Master’s degree from an University abroad to my nation would not only help me to prepare myself further for my career but would also make me capable of managing work and life together being an independent woman having a strong personality which is the manner I always wanted to carry myself. Staying abroad and learning more on the field of business would make me eligible to be successful in my career and life and make my parents proud of me and make me feel special in my country. To end my statement of purpose I would like to present my wish to get certified for the post-graduation course in business and management from the College of Business

Promotion and Education Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Promotion and Education - Assignment Example he product’s cheaper rates in comparison to roaming devices as well as the fact that the device can be used for personal use, unlike most sources of wifi internet connections. Promotion will be done through use of a specifically designed promotional program. Marketing communication will be done prior to the launching of the product and after the product enters the market to ensure that customers are continuously reminded about it. The means of communication will be advertisements carried out on both social media and print media. Considering Inter-Fi will be a new product and in order to ensure there is fast spread of information about its presence in the market, a customer referral incentive program will be used to promote the product. Under the promotional program, current customers will earn discounts, free products as well as cash rewards depending on the number of new customers they refer to Vodafone retail stores for purchase of the product (Kumar 2008, p.234). Customers wishing to use the product will choose between buying the gadget at Vodafone retail stores and renting it from the same stores. Customers will also be able to purchase the gadget on hire purchase terms with an initial deposit of $100

Risk Management table Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Risk Management table - Essay Example This is due to the fact that, probability mainly defined the expected number of times that a particular impact can happen. Therefore, if the impact is high and the probability is also high, then the team ranked this as a top threat. Contrastingly, if both are low then that particular threat was ranked at the lowest level (Wheeler, 2011). The reasoning behind the mitigation steps for different types of threats is as stipulated below. If a threat affects the operations of a network device, then the mitigation steps shed light on protecting its data storage locations along with its network access layer. Secondly, if the threat is due to poor user practices, the mitigation steps focused on coming up with the proper policies on the use of organization resources. Lastly but certainly not the least, if a particular threat affected a whole system, then focus was laid on configuring the interconnection devices such as routers and switches (Wheeler,

Promotion and Education Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Promotion and Education - Assignment Example he product’s cheaper rates in comparison to roaming devices as well as the fact that the device can be used for personal use, unlike most sources of wifi internet connections. Promotion will be done through use of a specifically designed promotional program. Marketing communication will be done prior to the launching of the product and after the product enters the market to ensure that customers are continuously reminded about it. The means of communication will be advertisements carried out on both social media and print media. Considering Inter-Fi will be a new product and in order to ensure there is fast spread of information about its presence in the market, a customer referral incentive program will be used to promote the product. Under the promotional program, current customers will earn discounts, free products as well as cash rewards depending on the number of new customers they refer to Vodafone retail stores for purchase of the product (Kumar 2008, p.234). Customers wishing to use the product will choose between buying the gadget at Vodafone retail stores and renting it from the same stores. Customers will also be able to purchase the gadget on hire purchase terms with an initial deposit of $100

Stem Cell Research - The field of stem cell research Essay

Stem Cell Research - The field of stem cell research - Essay Example Many of the signals required to induce formation of specialized adult cells must be present in these tumors, but unlike embryos, tumors generate adult cell types in a hopelessly undirected manner. If a developing embryo is not to end up a mass of disorganized tissues, it must do more than generate adult cell types. Embryos must orchestrate and choreograph an elaborate stage production that gives rise to a functional organism. They must direct intricate cell movements that bring together populations of cells only to separate them again, mold and shape organs through the birth of some cells and the death of others, and build ever more elaborate interacting systems while destroying others that serve only transient, embryonic functions. Throughout the ceaseless building, moving, and remodeling of embryonic development, new cells with unique characteristics are constantly being generated and integrated into the overall structure of the developing embryo. Science has only the most rudimentary understanding of the nature of the blueprint that orders embryonic development. Yet, recent research has begun to illuminate both how specific adult cells are made as well as the central role of stem cells in this process. The term "stem cell" is a general one for any cell that has the ability to divide, generating two progeny (or "daughter cells"), one of which is destined to become something new and one of which replaces the original stem cell. In this sense, the term "stem" identifies these cells as the source or origin of other, more specialized cells. There are many stem cell populations in the body at different stages of development. For example, all of the cells of the brain arise from a neural stem cell population in which each cell produces one brain cell and another copy of itself every time it divides. The very earliest stem cells, the immediate descendants of the fertilized egg, are termed embryonic stem cells, to distinguish them from populations that arise later and can be found in specific tissues (such as neural stem cells). These early embryonic stem cells give rise to all the tissues in the body, and are therefore considered "totipotent" or capable of generating all things. Review of the Research While the existence of early embryonic stem cells has been appreciated for some time, the potential medical applications of these cells have only recently become apparent. More than a dozen years ago, scientists discovered that if the normal connections between the early cellular progeny of the fertilized egg were disrupted, the cells would fall apart into a single cell suspension that could be maintained in culture. These dissociated cells (or embryonic stem cell "lines") continue to divide indefinitely in culture. A single stem cell line can produce enormous numbers of cells very rapidly. For example, one small flask of cells that is maximally expanded will generate a quantity of stem cells roughly equivalent in weight to the entire human population of the earth in less than sixty days. Yet despite their rapid proliferation, embryonic stem cells in culture lose the coordinated activity that distinguishes embryonic development from the growth of a teratoma. In fact,

Benefits Of Using Halophytes Environmental Sciences Essay

Benefits Of Using Halophytes Environmental Sciences Essay The continual increase in world population, coupled with the expansion of salt affected lands into agricultural lands, places additional pressure on global agriculture to produce enough food to feed the growing population. Salt-tolerant plants, namely halophytes, provide a sensible alternative to increase productivity in saline lands where traditional crops such as wheat and canola are unproductive. Halophytes can also be used simultaneously for land rehabilitation. This review covers the physiology of halophytes that enable them to thrive in a salt-stressed environment as well as their uses in food production and phytoremediation of saline or contaminated lands. Introduction Global population is expected to increase by 2.6 billion over the next 40 years to 9.1 billion. In order to meet this growing demand for food and fiber, global agriculture is tasked to increase its productivity by more than 110 %. (FAO, 2005). Expanding cultivation into new areas is undesirable mainly due to the detrimental environmental impacts associated with it. The removal and disturbances of these previously uncultivated areas can have wide ranging and long-term consequences to the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems via deforestation and eutrophication etc. (Tilman, 1999). As such, improving crop productivity per unit area of existing cultivated land is critical to feed the growing population. However, due to land degradations of cultivated areas worldwide, agriculture is gradually being pushed to marginal and salt-affected lands. Globally, these saline lands cover an area of 831 million hectares, and spans all continents including Africa, Asia, Australasia as well as the Americ as (Rengasamy, 2006). In Western Australia alone, 6.5 million hectares of agricultural land are at risk of dryland salinity due to land degradation (ANRA, 2002), and traditional crops such as wheat and canola will then be unproductive to be farmed. Halophytes are plants capable of surviving and being productive in a saline environment. As such, halophytes can be grown in saline areas in which traditional crops falter, as well as in regions increasingly affected by dryland salinity. Although halophytes constitute a small percentage of the known plant population, they play a number of useful roles in the environment. The first part of this review focuses on the physiology of halophytes that allow them to succeed in a saline environment, and the second part discusses the potential uses of halophytes in increasing global food production, either directly as a food source or through their phytoremediatary capabilities. Halophytes are highly specialized and evolved plants capable of acquiring nutrients from a high salt environment in which glycophytes (salt-sensitive plants) are either unproductive or unable to survive. In this first part of the review, the physiology of halophytes, in particular ion compartmentation, production of organic solutes, salt glands and bladders, as well as leaf and shoot succulence is discussed. Physiology of Halophytes Ion compartmentation Intracellular cytosolic enzymes in both glycophytes and halophytes are equally sensitive to salt (Glenn and Brown, 1999). Under typical physiological conditions, high cytosolic K+/Na+ ratio is maintained (Tester and Davenport, 2003) to ensure normal cellular functions. The maintenance of this ratio in the plants cytosol is energy dependent, and is mediated by pathways for Na+ extrusion or by compartmentation of Na+ into the vacuole (Blumwald, 2000). Unlike glycophytes, halophytes have developed mechanisms to sequester excess Na+ into the vacuoles to avoid Na+ toxicity in the cytosol. The transport of Na+ into the vacuoles is mediated by cation/H+ antiporters driven by the electrochemical gradient of protons generated by the vacuolar H+ translocating enzymes such as H+-ATPase (Gaxiola et al., 2007). These transporters play an essential role in the sequestering Na+ ions into the vacuole or exclusion outside the cell of the halophytes, ultimately allowing them to tolerate much higher sa lt concentrations compared to the glycophytes. Production of compatible solutes Solute transport is a process regulated by environmental and endogenous signals. Environmental stresses such as salinity affects solute transport in plants and can cause changes in the partitioning of carbon and nitrogen. In addition to compartmentalizing extra salt in its vacuoles, halophytes can produce organic solutes. These osmotically active solutes are synthesized in order to maintain normal cellular functions in response to a drop in the osmotic potential within the plant (Glenn and Brown, 1999). Depending on the halophyte species, a variety of organic solutes ranging from proline, sucrose to pipecolatebetaine (Rhodes and Hanson, 1993) can be produced. Unlike inorganic solutes such as Na+, these compounds do not induce toxicity even at high concentrations (Ashraf and Foolad, 2007), and serves as a key adaptation to halophytes survival in a saline environment. Salt glands and bladders As an adaptation to saline environments, halophytes frequently have specialized structures designed for extruding salt from tissues. Salt glands and bladders play an important role in internal ion regulation by transporting ions away from the mesophyll cells to the leaf surfaces. Once deposited on the leaves, crystallization occurs and the salt crystals are washed or blown away. Salt glands Salt glands consist of several specialized cells and are located in the depressions of leaf epidermis. When grown in highly saline environments such as seawater, the excreted ions are typically Na+ and Cl-, and excretion increases with increased levels of salinity. Found in both halophytic monocotyledons and dicotyledons (Khan and Weber, 2006), these glands allow for massive amount of salt to be removed and are important organs for salt management. Salt bladders Salt bladders are derived from modified epidermal hairs and typically have a stalk cell and a bladder cell. Stalk cells serve as ion transporters from mesophyll cells to the bladder cells. As salts accumulate in the bladder cells, expansion occurs until they burst. The bursting action allows salt to be discharged on leaf surfaces. By accumulating salt in the bladder cells, ion toxicity is prevented from building up in the mesophyll cells and this constitutes an important mechanism for the protection of young leaves. This specialized organ is a common feature on the salt tolerant halophytes in the family Chenopodiaceae, and includes the saltbushes (Atriplex sp.) (Khan and Weber, 2006). Leaf and stem succulence Highly vacuolated and large cells resulting in fleshy or thick leaves and stems are a common feature in halophytes. Despite the poor understanding of the anatomical response leading to succulence, Na+ ions are believed to be responsible (Khan and Weber, 2006). Succulence is not confined to halophytes alone. Non-halophytic plants, such as the cotton, increase succulence when grown at a high salt concentration. Despite its succulence, plant growth is still impaired by high levels of salt. In contrast, the Atriplex spp., in conjunction with its salt bladders, utilizes succulence as additional storage for excess salts, and thus reduces ionic toxicity on the mesophyll cells. Saline agriculture Naturally salt-tolerant species are used in agriculture, mainly to provide forage, medicine, and aromatics (Qadir et al., 2008). In Australia, Barrett-Lennard (2002) identified 26 salt-tolerant plant species of potential economic value to agriculture. Examples of these useful halophytes include the potential oil-seed crops Kosteletzkya virginica, Salvadora persica, Salicornia bigelovii, and Batis maritime. Useful fodder crops include Atriplex spp., Distichlis palmeri and biofuels (Flowers et al. 2010). In addition, growing halophytic biofuel crops on saline agricultural land would help to counter concerns that the biofuel industry reduces the amount of land available for food production (Qadir et al., 2008). This second part of the review explores the potential uses of halophytes in the context of Australia in increasing food production directly as a food source or through their phytoremediatary capabilities in abiotic stress management. Saltland pastures Halophytes grown on saline agricultural land helps improve site productivity by providing ground cover to prevent erosion as well as increase the organic contents in saline soils. Atriplex species are now widely used throughout the Meditteranean areas, including Australia, for the purpose of rehabilitating saline land and to increase forage productivity. Saltland pastures provide fresh feed for the entire year, including the summer months in Australia. Furthermore, many studies have been done on halophyte species that can be used for fodder, in particular Atriplex nummularia, A. halimus and A. lentiformis (Choukr-Allah, 1997). These three species are now well established in the Meditteranean basin. When used in conjunction with deep-rooted perennials such as Eucalyptus occidentalis, halophytes can help to restore the hydrologic balance on areas affected by dryland salinity. This can potentially allow vast areas to be reclaimed (Barrett, 2000) and subsequently used to plant traditiona l crops such as wheat and barley. Halophytes as food sources Oilseed crops are grown for the oil contained in the seeds. Seeds of various halophyte species, such as Salicornia bigelovii, Haloxylon stocksii, and Halogeton glomeratus contain 70-80% of high quality and unsaturated edible oil (Ladeiro, 2012). A controversial species underutilized for its edible qualities is Diplotaxis tenuifolia (Rocket). Rocket is widely used in Europe where it is regarded as a delicacy. It is naturally adapted to Mediterranean-type climate, including saline and dry ecosystems. Rocket is able to compete strongly with other pasture plants and can reproduce via seeds and root fragments. Studies have shown that it is able to grow and reproduce at salinity levels of up to 300 mM NaCl, and can be grown at levels up to 100 mM NaCl without losing its nutritional values (Ladeiro, 1997). In Australia, however, rocket is regarded as an agricultural weed found mainly in poorer pastures in the Eyre Peninsular of South Australia and Victoria (DAFWA, 2007). Thus, if Rocket is to be used as a food source in Australia, proper containment strategies must be in placed to prevent it from spreading into unwanted areas. Halophytes in abiotic stress management Desalination of saline soil As dryland salinity increasingly affects huge areas of cultivated land, numerous physical, chemical and biological methods have been developed for reclaiming these saline soils (Shahid, 2002). Biological methods include crop rotation, inputs of organic manure as well as the use of salt-tolerant crops (Shahid, 2002). The ability of plants to accumulate huge amounts of salt is highly dependent on the capacity of their aboveground biomass (Rabhi et al., 2010). This ability is especially important in the drier regions of Australia where rainfed systems are used and rainfall events are not reliable enough to reduce the salt concentration in the rhizosphere (Shahid, 2002). Halophytes are the most important group of plants used in soil desalination due to its salt accumulating and salt-tolerant characteristics. High salt resistance, high aboveground biomass, and high degrees of economic utility (fuel, fiber, and oil seeds etc.) (Rabhi et al., 2010) are key requirements to assess a plants us efulness in desalination. Sesuvium portulacastrum is a naturally occurring halophyte species in western Australia. Most importantly, it is able to accumulate huge quantities of Na+ within its aboveground organs. In addition, Sesuvium portulacastrum has been used in other parts of the world for desalination of salt-affected lands (Patil et al., 2012) and should be studied further in the context of Australia for similar purposes. Phytoremediation In cultivated soils, contamination by heavy metals (i.e. Zn, CU, Cd, Fe, As, etc.) is a serious environmental problem. Throughout evolutionary history, plants have developed various detoxification mechanisms in response to allelochemicals produced by competing organisms. Thus, a biological method of rehabilitating contaminated lands utilize plants to decontaminate affected sites and is termed phytoremediation. Phytoremediation exploits the natural ability of plants to absorb, accumulate, storage and degradation of both organic and / or inorganic compounds. In this regard, halophytes show the most success in terms of adaptations to a variety of abiotic stresses including heavy metal stress. Mechanism of phytoremediation Physical removal and bioconversion of compounds by plants are termed phytoextraction and phytotransformation or phytodegradation respectively. Phytoextraction utilizes the plants ability to take up a range of chemical compounds through the root system, translocate them through the vascular tissues and eventually compartmentalizing these compounds in different organs such as leaves and stems. For a compound to be readily available to a plant, soil conditions e.g. clay content and pH play a crucial role. Incorporation of soil amendments e.g. lime has been shown to increase the availability of lead (Pb) and uranium (U) by more than 100-fold (Chen et al., 1998). Using this approach, successful remediation of agricultural soils contaminated with selenium (Se) in the US had been recorded (Eapen et al., 2006). Similarly, the Australian saltbush (Atriplex nummularia var. De Koch) has been successfully used in rehabilitating mercury-contaminated sites, with studies showing undetectable levels of mercury just 72 hours after plant introduction (Khondaker and Caldwell, 2003). The compartmentation of metals into the aerial organs of the plant allows for easy harvesting and can be processed to reclaim economically important metals or disposed off as hazardous waste in landfills. Phytochelatins (PCs) play a crucial role in phytodegradation and phytotransformation. PC production in plants is stimulated by the presence of heavy metals. PCs are metal-binding peptides and works by mobilizing heavy metal compounds in the cytosol and then sequestering PC metal complexes in the vacuoles of plant cells. Upon absorption of heavy metal compounds, PCs and enzymes such as e.g. oxygenase, peroxidases and reductases etc. are produced in large quantities. Degradation of these heavy metal compounds occurs and the biodegraded constituents are then converted into inert forms stored in the lignin or released as exudates (Watanabe, 1997). In phytotransformation, the absorbed heavy metal compounds are biochemically bonded by PCs and enzymes to cell tissues in inert forms where they are eventually compartmentalized (Watanabe, 1997). In Australia, great success in the use of native Halosarcia pergranulata to revegetate old mining areas has been recorded. Conclusion: Going into the future Sustainable agriculture is continuously threatened by the decreasing availability of freshwater and arable land. Global agriculture is pressured further by the demand for more food by the growing population. In addition, saline agriculture will be of particular importance to Mediterranean countries, including Australia, due to the widespread increase in soil degradation and unfavourable climatic conditions. With these issues, saline agriculture involving the use of halophytes plays a crucial emerging role. Halophytes have demonstrated their importance with is wide range of uses ranging from food production to phytoremediation of stressed environment. By growing and developing agriculture on marginal saline lands, halophytes can help augment the global sources of food, forage, medicine and plant-based chemicals for the growing population. By understanding the stress mechanisms in halophytes, the knowledge can be used in extracting valuable genes for transgenic manipulation in traditional crops.

The Poetry of Emily Dickinson Essay example -- Personal Response Essay

Emily Dickinson has always been one of my favorite poets. I love her poems because of the pain and sorrow they contain to which I can easily relate. She often writes of funerals and death. I myself have watched too many friends die and have wondered why God would let this happen. At every funeral, some well meaning mourner would say--,"The Lord called him" or "She's with Jesus now." My gut reaction was always, "Bullshit." Then Emily Dickinson's poem "My Life Closed Twice Before its Close" would come to mind, especially the last two lines--,"Parting is all we know of Heaven and all we need of hell." More than anything I've ever heard those lines summarize the doubts I've had about an afterlife and the pain of those left behind. My friend Molly Moynahan, recently wrote a novel and titled it Parting is all We Know of Heaven. The book opens with Dickinson's poem in its entirety. It is the story of a young woman whose life is destroyed by grief following her sister's death. I too have been at the point where grief combined with my own stupidity (drugs and alcohol) almost destroyed my life. My best friend since childhood killed herself by eating 56 valium pills. Her suicide note said that she was too ashamed of herself to face her family anymore. Her parents didn't even bother to come to her funeral. We had to take up a collection in the bar to bury her. Two weeks later another good friend choked to death on his own vomit. His three year old daughter found him the next morning. I was overwhelmed with guilt when I realized I had been drinking with him the night before. To this day when I see his wife and children at the supermarket, I can't look them in the face. Within the next two months I lost three other friends t... ... we discussed in class the tradition among New England Puritans of looking in the face of the dead and reading their emotions to determine whether or not they were going to heaven. I've thought about this a lot since I've found God and I hope that it isn't true. Everyone I've known has died a horrible death. They were all cut down in the prime of their lives--face down in their own vomit, on the cold, dirty floor of a bathroom, decapitated in a car wreck, in a crowded AIDS ward in a city hospital. None of them had a chance to make their peace with God or with themselves for that matter. I'm sure none of them died looking content or peaceful but terrified and at best surprised. Therefore I would like to believe that hell is all that has gone on here in this life and that after the parting there is a heaven where those who suffered on earth are given a second chance. The Poetry of Emily Dickinson Essay example -- Personal Response Essay Emily Dickinson has always been one of my favorite poets. I love her poems because of the pain and sorrow they contain to which I can easily relate. She often writes of funerals and death. I myself have watched too many friends die and have wondered why God would let this happen. At every funeral, some well meaning mourner would say--,"The Lord called him" or "She's with Jesus now." My gut reaction was always, "Bullshit." Then Emily Dickinson's poem "My Life Closed Twice Before its Close" would come to mind, especially the last two lines--,"Parting is all we know of Heaven and all we need of hell." More than anything I've ever heard those lines summarize the doubts I've had about an afterlife and the pain of those left behind. My friend Molly Moynahan, recently wrote a novel and titled it Parting is all We Know of Heaven. The book opens with Dickinson's poem in its entirety. It is the story of a young woman whose life is destroyed by grief following her sister's death. I too have been at the point where grief combined with my own stupidity (drugs and alcohol) almost destroyed my life. My best friend since childhood killed herself by eating 56 valium pills. Her suicide note said that she was too ashamed of herself to face her family anymore. Her parents didn't even bother to come to her funeral. We had to take up a collection in the bar to bury her. Two weeks later another good friend choked to death on his own vomit. His three year old daughter found him the next morning. I was overwhelmed with guilt when I realized I had been drinking with him the night before. To this day when I see his wife and children at the supermarket, I can't look them in the face. Within the next two months I lost three other friends t... ... we discussed in class the tradition among New England Puritans of looking in the face of the dead and reading their emotions to determine whether or not they were going to heaven. I've thought about this a lot since I've found God and I hope that it isn't true. Everyone I've known has died a horrible death. They were all cut down in the prime of their lives--face down in their own vomit, on the cold, dirty floor of a bathroom, decapitated in a car wreck, in a crowded AIDS ward in a city hospital. None of them had a chance to make their peace with God or with themselves for that matter. I'm sure none of them died looking content or peaceful but terrified and at best surprised. Therefore I would like to believe that hell is all that has gone on here in this life and that after the parting there is a heaven where those who suffered on earth are given a second chance.

How The Web :: essays research papers

The internet is a great invention because it makes things a great deal easier for us nowadays. It is also helpful in many ways, especially, in the way of convenience. Rather than go somewhere to pay your bills, you can just do it online with a credit card. You can also check your bank statements and find out where you stand financially. These are example of good ways that the internet helps out in the world. I would have to agree with David Rothenberg when he says that the web is ruining student’s research papers. If I was a collage professor and I were to see that all of my student’s papers seemed so fake, I would be devastated. When the internet is abused to the point where it is used for just anything will affect the loss of originality, laziness, and students reading less.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  While students are in collage, they do many research papers on certain topics. Most of them dread doing these kinds of papers because the numbers of pages are high. They are also time consuming and that is a big issue to a student because we all have our own lives, most of us, as we know, never have much time to spend on just a paper. So, most of the students in college try to do the easiest thing, like resort to just the internet. There is a very important term that is used in college a lot, that term is called Plagiarism. If any student turns in a paper that is plagiarized, they are kicked out of that college and given a large fine. The internet plays a big role on this word. So many people are victims of plagiarism because they only use the internet and forget about using other sources like encyclopedias, books, and newspapers. Back then, it wasn’t a problem, but nowadays people just what to do things the easy way.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Secondly, since the internet is revolved around everything we do, students have now become lazy. Most of the world advertises that school assignments must be revolved around computers; even librarians say this as well. The more our technology develops in this world, the easier everything becomes. Nowadays, it’s about what makes your life easier and more convenient and I think there should be a change. On the internet there are so many short-cuts. Instead of reading carefully, and synthesizing, we do cut and paste, change the font size, and readjust the margins.

Conflict Theory and Crime Essay

Time magazine reports an alarming study, where the United Stated is imprisoning more offenders (violent and nonviolent) in prisons and jails than any other country in the world. It is useful to use conflict theory and structural functionalism to explain this practice and to break down the topic with these two schools to then begin building solutions to this crisis. The report done by the Pew Center urges states to stop the practice of putting non-violent offenders behind bars. The report also points to the spending done on corrections, which outweighs spending done on education. From a conflict theory standpoint, many â€Å"law and order† type states demonize low-level offenders, such as drug and alcohol users, and alienate them from society. These people are more likely to become â€Å"caught in the system† and commit low-level crimes (such as stealing to support a drug habit) to only re-enter jail or prison. Even though addiction is viewed as a disease, it is not treated as such, therein lies the structural functionalist perspective that the system of law is black and white. The system functions to exhibit to society what actions are allowable and which actions are criminal, from this perspective there are no nonviolent and violent offenders, only offenders. Both schools of thought are helpful in pointing out many of the interesting points in the article. According to the study, 1 in 100 Americans are in jails or prisons. Add to that number the disproportionate numbers of minorities incarcerated and from a conflict standpoint, one can see inequality in this number. One in thirty men ages 20-34 are behind bars while for African-American men, the number is 1 in 9. For women ages 35 to 39, 1 for every 355 Caucasian women are imprisoned while the figures for their African-American counterparts is 1 in 100. From the article, as well, it is shown that spending on schools is less than spending on corrections. From a conflict standpoint, it can be presupposed that schools in more violent areas could serve to help children, who may be susceptible to criminal activity, but since these schools are in â€Å"bad† neighborhoods they receive little help. Therefore, looking at poverty as inequality and the ignorance of education in lieu of incarceration spending is important, the study suggests. From a structural functionalist perspective, one can gather from reading the article, that many of the programs used today to get â€Å"tough on crime†, such as the three strikes law is putting more prisoners behind bars. From this perspective, one can see that the system of justice reacts to the public outcry for punishment for certain crimes and in turn react by enforcing stricter laws. The structure of law is something that changes due to the differences in the social value system. When a value held by Americans is threatened, for example when an ex-offender is released and commits a heinous murder on re-entry to society, the laws change to reflect the feelings of discourse. The system therefore, has changed to reflect an increasingly punitive society and another interesting note in the article is that the United States remains one of the leaders in nations, in relation to capital punishment. The structure of justice reflects the American structure of punishment and incarceration while the value of treatment and mediation is almost non-existent. In closing, the article â€Å"US Incarceration Rate Hits New High† is a look into the cost of conflict and the inadequate use of punishment in the system of justice. The sociological schools of conflict and structural functionalist theory are helpful in looking at these numbers in the current research to later apply it to ameliorating the problem, as many states are in a financial crisis with this problem. The Pew Center is urging the states, so burdened by high costs and high inmate population, to curtail the practice of incarcerating non-violent offenders. Hopefully further sociological studies will help this process further. References Crary D. (February 28th, 2008). â€Å"US Incarceration Rate Hits New High†. in Time Magazine. Available online http://www. time. com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1718266,00. html. Last accessed February 28th, 2008.

Has the Single Market project in Europe been a success?

Abstract The establishment of the EU’s single market was intended to create jobs and enhance prosperity. Since it was established in 1992, significant benefits have been made to the EU’s internal market and a lot of opportunities have been created. Despite this, many problems continue to exist and further changes are necessary if the objectives of the EU are to be fully realised (European Commission, 2012: 1). Introduction The idea behind the European Union’s (EU) single market was to treat the EU as one territory so that the free movement of people, goods, money and services could be achieved (Europa, 2012: 1). The single market was established by the EU to enhance competition and trade through a system of standardised laws that apply to all Member States (Barnard, 2002: 1). This improves efficiency and gives individuals more choice when it comes to providing and attaining goods and services. The overall quality of the goods and services is increased, which is economically beneficial. The Single European Act was enacted in 1986 to establish a single market and has since been considered one of the EU’s greatest achievements (Europa, 2012: 1). This led to the abolishment of internal border controls between EU countries in 1993 and is now accessible to millions of people across 27 Member States. Restrictions to trade have been removed and individuals now receive better standards of living. EU law comprises of treaties and legislative provisions, such as Directives and Regulations that aim to secure the free movement of goods, services, people, and capital. Despite this, Member States are still responsible for social welfare and taxation, yet the EU influences the policies of Member States (Europa, 2012: 1). The single market has been successful in allowing people and businesses to move freely within the European Economic Area (EEA) and has therefore transformed the way individuals live, work and travel (Mayes and Hart, 1994: 177). The progress that has been made towards the development of the EU’s single market will be identified in this study in order to determine the extent to which it has been a success. Barriers to the free movement of goods, services, people and capital The single market was intended to remove any barriers that restrict the free movement of goods, services, people and capital. A number of different policies have therefore been implemented that seek to remove any free movement restrictions (Mayes and Hart, 1994: 5). This has significantly impacted many organisations and industries within the internal market. However, unless EU policies are conformed to by all Member States it is unlikely that greater freedom will be attained within the EU. This is often at the expense of widely accepted practices; however this is considered necessary in achieving harmonisation. It therefore seems to be important that any barriers to trade are removed and that actions likely to impact sustainable development are eradicated. Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) (ex Article 81 EC) provides that; â€Å"all agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices which may aff ect trade between Member States and which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the internal market† shall be strictly prohibited. Any limitations that are placed upon the freedom to trade should therefore be prohibited so as to allow for the freedom of movement to be attained. Whether this is easy to establish in practice, is a debatable subject because although substantial improvements have been made in the 20 year history of the EU, it is clear that many obstacles still need to be overcome in guaranteeing a free market (Alam, 2007: 153). Single Market and Competition The establishment of the single market within the EU provides greater opportunities to businesses by providing them with access to the world’s largest trading bloc (Gov, 2013: 1). This enhances economic activity whilst also creating healthy competition through the stimulation of business and innovation. This leads to growth and job creation as export and trade will be increased Gov, 2013: 1). Not only does this have a beneficial impact upon the economy but it also increases productivity. Consumers also benefit from a single market as competition often leads to reduced costs for products and services. This was identified by Euromove when it was pointed out that competition is one of the main driving forces of an advanced modern economy as it â€Å"gives the consumer choice, it puts downward pressure on prices, it rewards innovation and it helps to create jobs (2009: 1). Nevertheless, in order to prevent unfairness and ensure that the single market is a level playing field, the EU has introduced various rules and principles that seek to create fair competition. Such principles impose a number of burdens upon businesses within the EU, although this is considered necessary in the proper functioning of the internal market. It was evidenced by Shuibhne that the establishment of the internal market created a different focus of competition law in terms of addressing the barriers to integration created by state intervention in the market and the problems that occurred as a result of the liberalisation processes of the 1990’s† (Shuibhne, 2006: 88). Whilst the legislative framework is now developed, on-going improvements continue to be made so that rules and regulations are being properly enforced and so that businesses and consumers understand the rules that exist within the internal market. This has been happening since the internal market was first established, so as to maintain an effective operation of the single market. Some of the improvements have included; improving and enforcing single market rules, reducing the regulatory burden imposed upon businesses, and the liberalisation of certain areas including; public procurement, public services and utilities (DTI, 2002: 1). In spite of these improvements, there are still many underlying weaknesses that exist in the single market which seems to suggest that it may not be as successful as originally anticipated in the internal market strategy. Some of these weaknesses have arisen as a result of; failures by Member States to implement some of the Directives (Kennedy, 2011: 108 ), a lack of co-operation that exists between Member States, or because of inadequate enforcement (Kennedy, 2011: 108). In 1999 the internal market strategy was put forward by the European Commission which set out the aims and objectives of the establishment of the internal market. Various measures were incorporated into this strategy which sought to guarantee the proper functioning of the single market. This strategy has since been reviewed on an annual basis, though it cannot be said that the internal market is complete. Therefore, despite the fact that many obstacles have already been removed by the EU, new challenges are continually being dealt with. It has been said that companies within the EU should take full advantage of the single market model since the free movement of capital, goods, services and labour would be realised more easily. Tax issues arising from cross-border mergers and acquisitions would effectively be minimised through economic integration. This was identified by Ilzkovitz et al; â€Å"the Internal Market is a powerful instrument to promote economic integration and to increase competition within the EU and it has been the source of large macro-economic benefits† (2007: 271). Arguably, it seems as though the main objective of the Single Market is to allow competition to be obtained through the ability to trade freely within the EU. In accordance with this, it would therefore be beneficial if EU Companies took full advantage of this market so as to avoid many issues that arise from various issues including the taxation issues that result from Merger and Acquisitions (M&A) deals. Hence M&A deals are struc tured in a way that results in harsh tax liabilities and since an asset-based deal will â€Å"typically expose the seller to two levels of taxation, corporate and personal and a stock-based transaction can be unattractive to a buyer given the tax treatment of fixed asset values† (Q Finance, 2010: 1). If a company only conducts business within the single market, then they will not be exposed to such harsh tax liabilities. This encourages competition which is imperative for the advancement of the economy. However, because there are certain restrictions that exist within the single market, companies often find it difficult to expand their business in the internal market. Thus, as argued by the European Commission; â€Å"national tax systems in the EU differ so much that it can be complicated and expensive for companies to expand in the single market† (European Commission, 2011: 1). Because of these problems, a number of proposals were put forward by the Commission to eliminate these absurdities including the introduction of a single set of tax rules, also known as a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB). This would make it a lot easier and cheaper for companies to do business within the EU and as identified by Goodall; â€Å"every year the CCCTB will save businesses across the EU ˆ700 million in reduced compliance costs, and ˆ1.3 billion through consolidation† (2011: 53). The current problems that emerge from companies entering into M&A dealings would be removed and harsh tax liabilities would be avoided. Long term administrative improvements would also be made for those companies operating in multiple member states (Drysdale, 2007: 66), which is welcoming for those companies wishing to save on taxation. The freedom of movement will be likely to be obtained more easily by the implementation of a CCCTB. This will certainly encourage competition within the single market and more companies would most likely enter into M&A deals as a result. Conversely, not all agree that the CCCTB is effective, however, and as a result of this many Member States have refused to support its implementation. It is felt that a CCCTB would be a â€Å"de facto infringement of their tax sovereignty should such a Directive be written into law† (Ernst and Young, 2011: 40). This provides an example of how Member States will not implement every Directive that exists under EU and signifies how greater co-operation is needed. In spite of this, there are many drawbacks that exist within a CCCTB and it is questionable whether the tax advantages of a CCCTB outweigh the drawbacks that would arise if it was implemented. In addition, it was confirmed by the Secretary to the Treasury, Justice Greening, that the draft directive to introduce a CCCTB does not comply with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality (Cave, 2011: 87). Furthermore, it is also unlikely that the government will agree to a proposal that might threaten or limit the UKâ €™s ability to shape its own tax policy (Cave, 2011: 87). In view of these assertions, it cannot be said that a CCCTB should be incorporated since it appears to be out of step with the principle of subsidiarity. This principle aimed to ensure that the EU only acted in instances where the proposed action could not be achieved by individual countries. Effectively, although there are many benefits of a CCCTB, there are also a significant amount of drawbacks that transpire and it seems as though the government ought to ensure that a CCCTB, if implemented, does not undermine competition, whilst also ensuring that extensive opportunities for tax avoidance are not created. It is arguable whether this can be achieved and it seems as though extra demands will in fact be placed upon corporate tax departments. Taxation Articles 25-31 and 39-60 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) lay down the fundamental freedoms that are relevant to tax law and thus facilitate free movement of goods, services, persons and capital within the European Economic Area (EEA). Accordingly, as argued by Sypris, the changes made by the implementation of the TFEU; â€Å"influence the internal market case law of the Court of Justice, which represents a significant threat to national labour laws and practices† (2008; 219). The ECJ held in Gschwind v Finanzamt Aachen-Aubenstadt (Case C-391/97) [1999] ECR I-5451, [2001] STC 331, ECJ that direct taxation is a matter which â€Å"falls within the competence of Member States,† however, that competence must be exercised in accordance with EU law (Lee, 2010: 1473). This demonstrates how Member States no longer have complete control of their own laws and that the fundamental freedoms, enshrined under the TFEU, must also be taken into considerati on. As noted by Lee; â€Å"ever since the treaties first came into force, the fundamental freedoms have been interpreted broadly, so as to strike down domestic legal rules incompatible with an internal market† (2010: 1474). This is also exemplified under Article 26 which states that; â€Å"the Union shall adopt measures with the aim of establishing or ensuring the functioning of the internal market, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaties.† Since the laws of all Member States must guarantee compliance with Treaty provisions, tax law will be affected. The ECJ’s decision in Cadbury Schweppes v Commissioners of the Inland Revenue Case C-196/04 [2006] 3 WLR 890 shows how EU law affects UK tax law. Here, it was held that the broad interpretation of the Controlled Foreign Companies (CFC) provisions were incompatible with EU law because of the restrictions that were being placed upon freedom of establishment under Article 56 of the TFEU (ex Article 49 EC). It was noted by the ECJ that â€Å"hindrance to freedom can only be justified on the ground of counteraction of tax avoidance if the legislation in question is specifically designed to exclude from a tax advantage wholly artificial arrangements aimed at circumventing national law.† Subsequent to this decision, significant amendments were made to the CFC rules under Schedule 16 of the Finance Act 2009 in order to ensure that EU law was being fully complied with. The Acceptable Distribution Policy (ADP) exemption was abolished and changes to the Income and Corporation Tax es Act 1988 (ICTA) were made by introducing a new section 751AA. This illustrates the importance of the single market and exemplified how UK tax law will be affected by the provisions contained in the EU. The same rules will also apply in relation to the other Member States, though not all agree that this is appropriate. Instead, it is argued that abuses of national law can be effectuated as a result of EU law provisions and that the legislation in question must not be used as a blanket method of justifying abuses such as tax avoidance† (Wellens, 2009: 1). In view of this, it is manifest that national courts are required to undertake a case by case approach when considering individual situations. Various harmonisation measures have been implemented by the EU to facilitate the integration into the single market, including; the merger directive, the parent/subsidiary directive and the interest and royalties directive. The Merger Directive was designed to facilitate mergers across European borders so that it would be easier for companies to engage in dealings, whilst also reducing the tax burden. This was intended to establish common rules governing the cross-border merger of companies within the EEA† (Cain, 2007: 2). It cannot be said that tax harmonisation has been created by the Directive (Bell, 2004: 1), which is again due to the relcuatnce of Member States to implement the Directive. Unless co-operation exists, the Directive cannot be fully utilised and tax harmonisation cannot be achieved. The Parent/Subsidiary Directive was designed to â€Å"grant cross-border transactions the same favourable treatment as is provided for equivalent purely domestic transactions† (Tiley, 2008: 34) and was to be applied to parent and subsidiary companies of Member States. Akin to the Merger Directive, the harmonisation of taxes was intended yet this does not appear to have been achieved as harmonisation is still lacking. Nevertheless, because companies within Member States are still being taxed on income that has been derived from substantial interests, the Directive is not being fully implemented which may be â€Å"contrary to the free movement of capital and freedom of establishment, as well as the Parent-Subsidiary Directive, because such income is as a rule exempt from taxation if derived by local parent companies† (Morgan, 2010: 18). Therefore, the extent to which these Directives are being utilised is debatable. The Interest and Royalties Directive intended to eliminate withholding tax obstacles in the area of cross-border interest and royalty payments within a group of companies (HM Revenue and Customs, 2003: 1). Under this Directive companie s are subjected to a reduced tax liability if their members dealt with each other within the EU. Nevertheless, because no single tax has been created it is questionable whether these Directives are in fact sufficient. Conclusion The establishment of the EU’s single market has brought about significant benefits for EU Member States. A large number of jobs have been created and the opportunities for individuals within the internal market have significantly increased. Regardless of this, the extent to which the objectives of the single market have been attained remains uncertain in light of the obstacles that transpire. It is often difficult to determine whether a free market is truly being achieved since there is a great deal of confliction that now exists. This can be seen in relation to the provisions contained in Article 101, which restrain the free flow of goods. This is clearly contrary the free movement provisions and the courts have been faced with much difficulty over the years as a result of this. 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