Coal Industry in India Essay

The coal industry in India witnessed its inception in 1774. However, it took almost a century for this industry to rise above its infancy and proclaim its actual arrival around the second half of the 19th century. What followed was the story of remarkable growth albeit with its share of ups and downs down the line. The flipside of this account of prosperity has not, however, escaped the scrutiny of historians. The oppressive attitudes of the coal-producing lobby and the miners’ miserable conditions have time and again found their place in prevalent labour historiography. Intriguing themes, for instance, production relations, migration of labour, manipulation around the recruitment of labour, workers’ resistance movements and debates around women and child labour have further enriched the discourse. This project aims to add a new dimension to this ongoing debate. The prime objective of this study is to unearth the history of hygiene issues at workplaces in the coalfields of Raniganj and Jharia districts in eastern India and of hygiene in their adjacent regions in eastern India, 1901 and 1973. The expansion of the industry was not without its adverse effects on human as well as natural resources. This project thus, has as its focus the health of the miner as well as the health of the mineral, i.e. coal, with its attendant thrusts on industrial hygiene and mine technology. Going beyond the colonial time-frame, this study also attempts an investigation into miners’ working and living standards in the first quarter of postindependent India. Moreover, a parallel will be drawn between miners’ living conditions at collieries of eastern India and those of Natal in South Africa. It will be interesting to look into two diverse pictures in these different colonial settlements. As far as labour legislation and methods of mining are concerned, a comparative study with Britain is on the cards. The first research question that this study aims to address is the health of the miners. Engaged in hazardous underground mining activities, the miners were exposed to serious and fatal accidents. The collapse of roofs and the sides was the most common form of accidents. Next in importance were accidents in haulage routes and shafts as well as explosions. The pertinent question is what played the pivotal part in those cases of accidents: was it the miners’ lack of mining knowledge, was it the subordinate officials’ paucity of proper supervision or was it the lack of adequate attention of the mine-owners and mine-managers to the workers’ safety concerns? In his report of 1912, the Chief Inspector of Mines coined categories of accidents for example those due to misadventure, due to the fault of the deceased, due to the fault of the fellow workmen and due to the fault of the subordinate officials (sirdars). The newly-formed categories singled out â€Å"managerial fault† as a distinct category which consisted of accidents fewer in number in relation to others. The intention was clear. It was to hold the miner primarily responsible for his misfortunes. But the colliery owners and managers hardly provided them with the proper training in the mining principles. It was only in 1909 that a book on mining practices was proposed to be brought out in Bengali. This is not to forget that a large chunk of miners used to migrate from regions outside Bengal like the Central Provinces. The principal reason for ascribing responsibility to the miners was to not have to pay compensation in case of permanent disablement or death. The case was just the reverse in Britain. The scope of the Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1923 was broadened for the Indian coal miners only after independence. True, some of these accidents pointed to the responsibility of the miners like in cases of pillar-robbing or drinking while working, but even when managerial fault was indicated, the penalty was minimal. The management even failed on a number of occasions to report cases of serious and fatal accidents without delay. Besides, any attempt at protective labour legislation in the coal industry was hampered by fierce opposition from the coalproducing lobby consisting of both Europeans and Indians. Issues related to the regulation of involvement of women and children underground, maternity leave, restriction on hours of work etc. found stern protesters in the colliery-owners. The government was hardly in a position to frustrate the claims of their close collaborators. This story of the colonial government-capitalist class nexus will help us go beyond the traditional nationalist versus imperialist historiographical framework and highlight the complexities of the issues involved in the question of governmental legislation to ensure higher safety conditions in mines. Increasing number of accidents in Indian collieries was often ascribed to the prevalent methods of mining which were often termed as â€Å"faulty†. This brings us to the next crucial question i.e. the health of the mineral. The usual mining method that was followed in Indian coal mines was the bord and pillar system. Coal was cut into pillars but the co-existence of small pillars and large galleries augmented the risk of collapse as well as that of loss of significant amount of coal. We can draw a parallel with the standard method of mining in Britain which was called the panel system. I t was a system where isolation of workings was possible. Every outlet was hermetically sealed that left solid ribs of coal of varying thickness between panels which used to be cut into pillars and immediately extracted. This method was often recommended for the Indian situation. The relevant question in this context is the supposed shortcomings of the bord and pillar system. Was the panel system practicable in Indian conditions? Furthermore, Miners were often accused of improper ways in which they handled the cutting and extracting of coal. Here again the question of their lack of access to any kind of training becomes vital. Moreover, the never-ending demand for higher productivity often forced the workers to work in the abandoned part of mines, a practice that had its inevitable effects on both the health of the miners and that of the mineral. What was more surprising was most of the coal mines in Raniganj and Jharia were run without any proper plans of the mines. Frequently, both seams were worked simultaneously with the working of the one being above the working of the other. This caused the workings to be unstable resulting in loss of a huge quantity of coal. The practice of lease was such that the demarcation line between two neighbouring collieries often turned out to be indistinct. It was noticed that instead of leaving barriers untouched as intended, the work was continued up to or even over the boundary. A thin barrier was dangerous for it was liable to suddenly give way under water pressure. The question of exhaustion of coal and the need for its conservation leads us to the next important research problem i.e. the evolution of mine technology. Sand-stowing is one such safeguard that ensures safety in workplace as well as conservation of coal. The institution of the Coal Mines Stowing Board and the subsequent Coal Mines Safety (Stowing) Act of 1939 was, however, intended to guarantee only protection against accidents at mines. It was only after independence that adequate attention was paid to conservation of coal with the Coal Mines (Conservation and Safety) Act of 1952. The Coal Mines Stowing Board was replaced by the Coal Board in 1951 in an attempt to function more effectively during the period under review. On the other hand, the persistent problem with the safety management at Indian collieries was that none of the appliances, tools and materials required for combating fire, gas, or water in collieries was kept at any of the mines in the Raniganj and Jharia coal fields. A number of large collieries adopted safety lamps in place of naked lights to avoid the danger of explosion but they were not regularly examined before being taken into the workings. Mine owners or managers often failed to post notices specifying limit s of timber withdrawal for each seam or district of a seam or the maximum intervening distances between props or other roof supports at the working places. Even for winding purpose, makeshift appliances like haulage ropes were used in place of winding ropes on a number of occasions, thus inviting unfortunate consequences. The mine authority, nonetheless, had the miners to blame for their technological deficiencies. Even the Chief Inspector of Mines had some interesting and often contradictory remarks to make regarding the use of machinery by Indian miners. On the one hand he thought that the cheapness of Indian labour prevented use of machines while on the other he found comfort in the saying that, â€Å"Handling a miner’s tool was more of a matter of skill than was generally supposed†¦.and the Indian coal miner was clumsy with his weapons; but when doing work to which he and his forefathers had been accustomed [e.g. loading or carrying material] he was capable of showing good results.† But the fact that the Indian miner could be induced to abandon the tools of his forefathers was seen is most Indian collieries where English shovels were commonly used, and where the pointed crow bar was replaced by double pointed picks. Hence the question of availability of mine and safety technology, and more importantly, that of the proper application of technologies in possession turns out to be the critical imperatives. Even attempts at introduction of new technology often drew severe flak from various quarters. Coal commissioners were suggesting the extension of the boiler act to colliery districts. The steam boilers which were in use in collieries required the fitting of a second safety valve to all boilers, second one preferably to be of the lock-up type. The Indian Mining Association took up the matter and protested strongly against any such intervention. They were of the opinion that the danger of accident had been sufficiently minimized without the precaution. Furthermore, mere introduction of certain apparatus was not enough e.g. Jeffrey Company’s electric coal-cutter was introduced at some collieries. But it was not successful on account of difficulty of repair and removal of the machine. Moreover, mechanical coal cutters were more suited to Longwall method as in Britain than to the bord and pillar system that was adopted in Bengal. However, introduction of machinery like Welsh ovens for coking purposes in the Giridih coal field was hugely successful although the usual practice elsewhere was predominantly open ovens. Thus the issues involved in the adoption of mining technology is required to be studied in close association with the safety of the miner and the conservation of the mineral in order to get an overall picture of the question of industrial hygiene in the Raniganj and Jharia coal-fields. A study of occupational hazards is incomplete without an investigation into occupational diseases (for instance; Pneumoconiosis, ankylostomiasis, lungs’ diseases etc.) and diseases that affected the workers’ habitation. Our understanding of the question would be furthered by exploring the disease management policy of the mining authorities. Workers’ huts or â€Å"dhowrah† were not initially part of the colliery districts but later on became integral division of the districts. As far as workers’ housing arrangements were concerned, the official version of the â€Å"comfortable† brick hut was constantly clashing with the workers’ version of the â€Å"squalid† mud hut. The miners’ perception of hygiene and sanitation formed the principal subject matter of the official critique. True, the miners fell short on the counts of their health and hygiene standards, but the real problem lies with the alternative settlement that the nexus of colonial government and mine authorities provided. The one room tenement with common latrine facilities did not turn out to be a more hygienic alternative to the previous mud hut. Here, we can draw a parallel between the colli eries of Bengal and those of Natal in South Africa. A large number of Indian miners started migrating to Natal around the first decade of the 20th century because of better working and living conditions there. The question of health and hygiene standards of the adjacent colliery districts is worth exploring, too. Outbreak of diseases in the neighbourhood had its decisive effect on the workplace hygiene. A mere rumour of outbreak of Cholera in the vicinity used to result in widespread desertion of collieries and its surroundings by the miners, thus having disastrous effects on the production process. Hence, a detailed study on the connections between colliery hygiene of the areas under study and that of the wider region becomes essential. This connection was all the more evident in the post-independence period. The civil hospital of Dhanbad had a number of seats reserved for the colliers of Jharia mines. The mines used also to gain a great deal from the water supply scheme in the neighbourhood or for the purpose of supply of electricity. Systems of water supply, sewerage systems, sanitary measures, and disease policies in the adjacent areas undoubtedly had their impact on workplaces and the other way round. Furthermore, coal mining and its impact on the wider environment induced the government to formulate public health measures in tune with the necessities of the coal mining industry as well as with the requirements of the adjoining regions. These two linked and often conflicting aspects will be explored through the story of dilemmas, preferences, strategies and decision-making at the government level. Particular attention to the functioning and implementation of various safety measures at collieries in post-colonia l India forms the conclusive part of this project. Was the working and living conditions of the coal mine workers improved in any way in the immediate post-independence period? What was the status of labour legislation in relation to workers’ health and safety concerns? Apparently the colliers were better placed with the growing effectiveness of the Workmen’s Compensation Act. Women miners gained significantly from regular functioning of the Mines Maternity Benefit Act of 1941. Jharia and Raniganj Mines Boards of Health looked in better shape in postindependence years. Particular attention must be paid to the activities of the Coal Mines Labour Welfare Fund. Establishment and proper functioning of central and regional hospitals of Jharia and Raniganj were regulated under the auspices of this fund. Dispensary services like the one at Bhuli in Jharia improved a lot as well. We can also come across instances like spraying operations to prevent Malaria or B.C.G. vaccination to combat Tuberculosis or the setting up of the mo bile laboratory teams in the Jharia and Raniganj coalfields which point to improvement in the condition of health and hygiene in colliery districts. Working of the Coal Mines Pithead Bath Rules, 1946 and of the Mines Creche Rules, 1946 must be mentioned. Especially, provision of crà ¨ches demands particular attention in relation to women labour. They had a place for their children to be taken care of while they were busy working. Despite such favourable proceedings, miners’ wretchedness was far from being reduced. A remarkable increase in opencast mining with its associated dangers furthered the misery of the miners. Added to this were dissatisfactory mining conditions e.g. slaughter mining, violation of mine safety laws etc. The result was nationalization of Coking coal mines in 1972 and that of non-coking coal mines in 1973. Health and hygiene related themes in Indian coal mines during the colonial and postcolonial period have not found a substantial space in existing scholarship. The only work that stands out is an article by Colin Simmons (1976) where he devotes himself to the study of coal mines accidents, workplace safety and labour legislation. His other works are also of seminal importance particularly for the understanding of the nature of the labour force and ownership of colliery land. As to issues relating to practices of landleases and tenancy rights, the work of Dietmar Rothermund (year) is intriguing indeed. Rakhi Raychowdhury (1996), in her work on the women labour of eastern Indian coal mines, has a chapter devoted to matters concerning work schedule, rest and leave and accidents. While Dilip Simeon’s principal focus was production relations (1997) and labour movement (1999) in Jharia coalfields, he gave some attention to the safety concerns of Indian collieries. (1999). He even addressed the post-colonial situation. But a detailed study on industrial hygiene in relation to coalfields awaits scholarly attention. In the process of tracing the growth of coal industry in India, A.B. Ghosh(1977) referred to lists of accidents in coal mines and also to some examples of technological evolution but he made no attempt to derive a connection between accidents, safety issues and introduction of technology which this project intends to address. Deepika Basu’s (1993) occasional mention of health issues in coal and other mines is meant to broaden the understanding of the growth of the working class in India. Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt’s (2001) concern over water problems, sewerage systems etc. gives us a fair idea about the gradual process of urbanization in the Raniganj coalfields. She has also established a relation between growing mechanization of coal industry and decreasing importance of women labour. But the connection between mechanization and safety issues remains to be explored. It is a principal aim of this proposed project to analyze the same issues in the light of the themes of health and hygiene. In her case study on Kolar gold mines, Janaki Nair (1998) writes extensively on accident related issues in the work place and the process of sanitation outside the workplace, mainly in the workers residence. Nair, however, views these themes within the Foucauldian paradigm of â€Å"surveillance and resistance†. Anti-plague measures or sanitizing efforts of the mining authorities was, according to Nair, an intrusion into the private life of the mine workers. She saw in the sanitary zeal of the persons concerned an extension of the â€Å"barrack like discipline† (even though mines cannot be considered barrack like structures) of the workplace to the territory beyond. This project will attempt to move beyond such stereotypical formulations and instead attempt in-depth analyses of the questions raised that will be based on solid empirical research informed by an awareness of the theoretical issues involved. The work has been conceptualized in a manner that it will pull toge ther issues that have been dealt with in discrete, scattered contexts. As far as historical works on Indian public health system are concerned, we are familiar with a significant body of literature about public health systems of major cities like that of Calcutta (Kabita Ray, 1998), and of Bombay (Mridula Ramanna, 2002). A discussion on public health systems of industrially-rich regions is supposed to be first of its kind. Mark Harrison (1994) pioneered a comprehensive account of the system of public health in India starting from disease management in military garrisons to vaccination policies, preventive measures against plague in wider regions. The mining sector however has not featured in his work. Industrial hygiene and in this case, health and hygiene issues in collieries and in their adjoining regions is an unexplored arena. The proposed research aims to combine specifically two kinds of historiography within the span of its methodology. One is the historical literature on mines and the other is the historical accounts of science, medicine, techn ology, and of public health systems in India. While works on mines have overlooked aspects of hygiene and technology, the history of science, medicine and technology has yet to incorporate the industrial sector or industrial hygiene within its orbit. This endeavour, therefore, proposes to fill in the void in the existing historical literature by combining elements of both these fields of research. On another level, this discussion on industrial health and hygiene will seek to include within the scope of its analysis the role of extra-economic factors in the understanding of the working classes in India. Last but not least, a comparison with the coal mines of Britain and South Africa follows from the logic of the analysis of the factors affecting the Indian collieries which I have discussed before. In its attempt at juxtaposing global phenomena, this venture treads the path shown by Peter Alexander (2004). This research thus seeks to situate the post-colonial situation of eastern Indian coalfields within the global context. Such a work is also of relevance to current global concerns that seek to foreground the question of safeguarding the environment in the context of the global-capitalist hunt to maximize profits from commercial ventures. Primary Sources The Coal Mines Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1947/ Act No. 32 of 1947.Delhi. The Coal Mines Safety (Stowing) Rules. Delhi, 1939. East India Railway: the Coalfields of Bengal and Chota Nagpur Served by the East India Railway. Calcutta, 1926. First Report of the committee appointed to investigate the dangers arising from coal-dust in Indian Mines. Govt. of India, Department of Industries and Labour. Calcutta: 1924. (Simpson Committee). Indian Mines Act. By W.H.Pickerink and W.Graham, 1907. Papers Regarding Legislation for the Regulation and Sanitation of Mines in India. Govt. of India: Department of Revenue and Agriculture. Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Govt. Printing, 1896. Report of the Chief Inspector of Mines in India under the India Mines Act, VIII of 1901. Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Govt. Printing, (1901 onwards). Report o the Coalfield Committee. Calcutta: Govt. Printing, 1920. Report of the Coal Mining Committee. Delhi: Manager of Publicat ions, 1937. Report of the Indian Coal Committee, 1925. Reports on the Production and Consumption of Coal in India. Report on the Inspection of Mines in India. Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Govt. Printing, (1894-1900). Rules Framed by the Govt. of Bengal under Section 30 of the Indian Mines Act, 1923 (IV of 1923) applicable to Coal Mines and Mines other than Coal Mines, Corrected up to 30th June, 1940. Second Report of the committee appointed to investigate the dangers arising from coal-dust in Indian Mines. Govt. of India, Department of Industries and Labour. Calcutta: 1929. (Simpson Committee). Special Rules for Coal Mines under Section 21 of the Indian Mines Act, 1901 (VIII of 1901), 1918. Third and Final Report of the committee appointed to investigate the dangers arising from coal-dust in Indian Mines. Govt. of India, Department of Industries and Labour. Calcutta: 1932. Journals and Bulletins Bulletins of Indian Industries and Labour: ï‚ · ï‚ · Indian Factory Legislation: A Historical Survey. By A.G.Clow. 1926. Reduction of Hours of Work in Mines, 1932. Bulletins of the Department of Industries, Bengal: ï‚ · Catalogue of the Indian Manufacturers (compiled in the office of the DirectorGeneral of Commercial Intelligence), 1911. Secondary Sources Alexander, Peter and Halpern, Rick, ‘Introduction: Comparing Race and Labour in South Africa and the United States’ in Journal of Southern African Studies, Volume 30, Number 1, p. 5-18, March 2004. Alexander, Peter, ‘Race, Class Loyalty and the Structure of Capitalism: Coal Miners in Alabama and the Transvaal, 1918-1922’ in Journal of Southern African Studies, Volume 30, Number 1, p. 115-132, March 2004. Basu, Deepika, The Working Class in Bengal: Formative Years, Calcutta, 1993. Ghosh, A.B., Coal Industry in India: A Historical and Analytical Account, Calcutta, vol. 1, 1977 & vol. 2, 1990. Guha, B.P., Wage rates in the Indian coal mining industry, Priya, 1973. Harrison, Mark, Public Health in British India: Anglo-Indian Preventive Medicine 1859-1914, Cambridge, 1994. Lahiri-Dutt, Kuntala, Mining and Urbanization in the Raniganj coalbelt. Calcutta, 2001. Nair, Janaki, Mines and Millhands: Work Culture and Politics in Princely Mysore. New Delhi, 1998. Ramanna, Mridula, Western Medicine and Public Health in Colonial Bombay, 18451895. Hyderabad, 2002. Ray, Kabita, History of Public Health: Colonial Bengal, 1921-1947.Kolkata, 1998. Raychowdhury, Rakhi, Gender and Labour in India: the Kamins of Eastern Coalmines, 1900-1940. Kolkata, 1996. Rothermund, Dietmar, ‘Tenancy Legislation for Chota Nagpur: the Emphasis on Executive Protection’ in Zamindars, Mines and Peasants: Studies in the History of an Indian Coalfield and Its Rural Hinterland, edited by Dietmar Rothermund and D.C. Wadhwa. New Delhi, 1978. Simeon, Dilip, The Politics of Labour Under Late Colonialism. Workers, Unions and the State in Chota Nagpur, 1928-1939. New Delhi, 1995. ibid. ‘Coal and Colonialism: Productions Relations in an Indian coalfield, c. 18951947’ in â€Å"Peripheral† Labour? : Studies in the History of Partial Proletarianization, edited by Shahid Amin and Marcel van der Linden. Cambridge, 1997. ibid. ‘Work and Resistance in the Jharia Coalfield’ in Contributions to Indian Sociology, vol. 33, no. 1-2, p. 43-75. 1999. Simmons, Colin, ‘Working Conditions, Accidents and ‘Protective’ Labour Legislation in the Indian Coal Mining Industry in the Pre-Independence Period’ in Bengal Past and Present, pt.1 (N.K. Sinha Memorial Vol.), p. 185-200, 1976. ibid. ‘Recruiting and Organizing an Industrial Labour Force in Colonial India: the Case of the Coal Mining Industry c. 1880-1939’ in The Indian Economic and Social History Review, vol. xiii, no. 4, p. 455-485 , 1976.

Hardware Components Essay

There are several types of hardware storage devices invented and designed to facilitate encoded and retrieved data storage in computers. Some of the examples of these storage devices include the ff. : the hard disk, floppy disk, RAM, CD ROM, and tape. Furthermore, these storage devices together with hardware component of clock speed play their distinct roles to determine the speed and speed rate of a computer (MSD, 2006). Body First, introduced in 1956 and developed during 1973, by the IBM company, the hard disk, or â€Å"hard disk drive† as mentioned, is one example of a stable and reliable secondary hardware storage device that efficiently facilitates speed. It functions as some kind of an optimal and purposeful storeroom which saves accumulated and encoded numeric and digital data, and it is also appropriate for running application programs on spinning magnet-plated platters that is performed by execution and command by the user. Hard disk drives were created for personal computer usage. It has features like audio playing, video gaming, video recording, etc (MSD, 2006). Second, the role of hard disks in determining the speed of a computer is very significant because with the use of hard disk, it can makes the access of files easier and faster as it runs or rotates. The bigger the platters or dishes used by the hard disk to run, the faster its speed and the smaller the platters, the lower the capacity of the computer to run, work, or access files faster. The number of disks in a specific computer may vary at a minimum number of 3 disks to a maximum number of 5 running disks revolving 60 per second. Most hard disk drives make use of removable cartridges while some do not. Most people create back up from the files they saved from the disk since the recent hard disk is created with such a sensitive feature. It can store data from 20 M up to 40 M (MSD, 2006). Third, a floppy disk coming in two sizes: 5 ? and 3 ? inches, is a detachable or unfixed storage device which is already obsolete. It is secondary as compared to the huge capacity of hard disk when it comes to data storage memory. The uses of floppy disks though, become popular for it is much cheaper than the cost of a hard disk. Moreover, it is more convenient to carry floppy disks wherever you go and save data for the use of backup purposes. Moreover, floppy disks make use of the delicate, magnetic and bendable disk which is film-like in color and enclosed in a protective plastic shield or case. The roles of floppy disks portray no role in determining the speed of a computer—speed is determined by the Central Processing unit and its memory rather. For practical reasons, hard disks are favored over floppy disks especially when the cost of the first (hard disks) becomes more inexpensive than the latter. Further, floppy disks are really essentially slower and more sensitive than hard disk that is why it is more prone to damage (MSD, 2006). Fourth, random access memory (RAM) is the primarily appropriate for storage of data that occurs in the computer’s memory and is stored directly at the computer’s Central Processing Unit (CPU). The two types of RAM are the SRAM and the DRAM. SRAM stands for Static RAM and the latter meaning, Dynamic RAM (DRAM). With the use of RAM, user can program the CPU to read, write, and locate data. The role of RAM is to carry out and execute calculations at high speed which is made possible by the said feature of RAM or computer memory that operates random to locate items or applications in the computer system (MC, 2008). Fifth, with the use of compact disks, the CD-ROM operates and exemplifies the use of read-only memory for sharing and sending applications like music files, games, and other multimedia files and desktop applications. The capacity of CD-ROM when it comes to data storage is up to 650 M. Recently, CD-ROMs tend to be much cheaper than other storage devices. CD-ROM is appropriate for expansion of one’s personalized computer system. In addition, CD-ROM does not play a role in determining the speed of a computer. In fact, user retrieves data slower than any other available data computer storage device in the market if the computer is not supported by CD-ROM’s â€Å"data transfer speed (MSD, 2006). † Sixth, tape is a thin strip of plastic, magnetic coated device used mainly for recording and it is known to be appropriate for secondary data storage or backup. Moreover, this tape is most appropriate for the purpose of calculations or â€Å"personal computing. † There is a no role that a tape plays in order to determine speed in a particular computer; further, data access is slower than expected together with its inconvenience for the required retrieval of data in orderly and chronological manner (MSD, 2006). Lastly, clock speed—as measured in megahertz (MHz), is the â€Å"speed of the internal clock of microprocessor. † Clock speed is appropriate for functioning in operation in the internal processing of a computer. The clock speed plays an important role in determining the speed of a computer and it affects the overall performance of the computer (MSD, 2006). Conclusion Several types of hardware storage devices are invented for data storage in computers: the hard disk, floppy disk, RAM, CD ROM, and tape. All mediums except for the floppy disks, CD-ROM, and tape play a role in determining the speed of a computer. These devices except for the other three are hardware components that determine the speed and performance of a computer.

SLICK SALES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

SLICK SALES - Essay Example This paper will provide a theoretical analysis of three different centers that designed according to three different theories of justice. The first center that will be examined will be structured according to the Utilitarian theory of justice. Thus, this model fits the Utilitarian theory of justice in the following way: it provides opportunity to earn a lot to those who are able to benefit from it the most and it also advocated the necessity to take care of the staff in general. With this in mind, it is important to note that health insurance benefits will be provided for all employees since according to the Utilitarian concept, social welfare should be seen as a moral policy that should be implemented (Shaw, 2013). The Libertarian theory of justice advocated the notion that people should be held responsible for their success and failure, so the government or the company should not interfere into their affairs and only make sure that the conventional rules are not broken. According to the theory of Egalitarianism, every person should be treated equally and without any differences, regardless of one’s talent and ability. In spite of the fact that at first this seems as a perfect model, the number of people who are not satisfied with it will be at least two thirds. Indeed, those employees who will generate the money will be paid as much as those who will generate nothing. Since the model of payment should be regarded as the characteristic feature of each, it may be logical to analyze it first. Thus, the model that will be used in this center combined Reduced Flat Rate and Small Commission. As one can easily seen from the very name of it, the financial funds will be distributed in the following manner: all employees will receive a certain moderate amount of money, but they will also be able to increase with the help of bonuses. It should not come as a surprise that the Libertarian center will be organized in a completely different way.

Justice Opinion on Hollingsworth v. Perry Essay

Justice Opinion on Hollingsworth v. Perry - Essay Example In the year 2000, the state of California conceded Proposition 22, which became an initiative ruling reaffirming that understanding. Proposition 22 became invalidated by the Supreme Court which demanded that marriage should be redefined to involve homosexual couples (Eskridge 96). Some six months later, the citizens of California took on Proposition 8 that amended the Constitution of California stating that; only heterosexual marriage is valid and can be the only one recognized within California. Perry, et al sued this proposition claiming that it was violating the rights of equal protection under the 14th Amendment (Egan and Sherrill 203). Outcome In an outstanding, although conceivably transitory, victory for equality in marriage, a state appeal panel of the Court invalidated the infamous Proposition 8 of California, an initiative at the ballot that had overturned homosexual marriage within the state. The 9th Circuit made Romer v. Evans the controlling precedent. In a majority opin ion, it could be affirmed that, Proposition 8 plays no plausible, legitimate interest of the state and the only rationale of the initiative’s upholders would be to declare the immaterial worth of lesbians and gays as a category and could humiliate a disfavored class publicly (Eskridge 127). Of course, the proponents of Proposition 8 disputed that, the constitution has no marriage mention in any way thus; states are obligatory to characterize marriage within the 10th Amendment (Horne, Rostosky and Riggle 362). These proponents also uphold the view that customary marriage definition is rationally linked to the vital interest of the society in necessitating the distinctive procreative possibility of heterosexual relationship in enhanced, stable unions for the principles of procreating and bringing up the coming generations. However, the court argued that, Proposition eight was only trying to uphold anti-equality models in the state. The 9th Circuit majority affirmed that Proposi tion 8 undermined the equal protection clause within the United States’ Constitution (Eskridge 95). Syllabus The legal provisions being appealed in this case involve the 14th and 10th Amendments, the strict scrutiny test, and Proposition 8 that became passed by the California citizens. Under the 14th amendment of the U.S. constitution, the equal protection clause offers that any state whatsoever must not deny to any individual within its command the equal defense of the statute. The 10th Amendment signifies that, states have the authority to control marital matters. The federalism system dictates the powers of policing that the state must possess. In other words, the proponents of Proposition 8 signified that the constitution has no marriage mention in any way thus; states are obligatory to characterize marriage within the 10th Amendment (Lannutti 43). That is; in this docket of power, states have generally had jurisdiction to control marriage. Although, the opponents of Prop osition 8 declare that, the 10th Amendment must not be platform used to jeopardize the citizen’s right of equal protection as affirmed under the 14th Amendment. In the argument regarding the 14th Amendment, it became clarified if the states can amend their constitutions to recognize marriage as the union of one woman and one man and whether it violated the equal protection provision. In this case, Proposition 8 cannot withstand strict scrutiny. That is; the proponents fail to

The Literature Review and Final Reflection Assignment

The Literature Review and Final Reflection - Assignment Example Moreover, literature review helps an individual to both increase statistical knowledge in his or her search area and also generate new ideas that are original, thus avoiding duplication of other researchers. Also, according to Dawidowicz (2010), the context within which a study is placed is influenced by how full or good the literature search was done. Literature review also justifies the relevance of the proposed research. A weak literature review can diminish the research proposal because it often treats research claims equivalently (Anderson, 2000). Development of the hypothesis or research questions relies too much on the understanding of the topic one intends to investigate, and this understanding comes from a good literature search. Therefore, a weak literature review diminishes the development of the research problem. A weak literature review does not show the originality of the research problem, which means it involves only summarized publications. Therefore, for the literature review to show originality of the research problem, it must give potential evidence that the research will be relevant and original to research results (Oliver, 2010). In the result and discussion section of the report, the findings of a researcher are compared with those of the literature. In the case of any differences, their existence and meaning are discussed in this section. Therefore, the literature review and research questions connect the discussion section to the introduction (Labaree, 2013). In this section also, statements about how the researcher’s findings reveal new gaps in the previous literature are discussed (Hart, 1998). Weaknesses in other literatures are also presented in this section, and ways of improving them are discussed. Therefore, literature review plays an important role in the discussion and result section of a research report. The most valuable task in the research process is

Material Durability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Material Durability - Essay Example The anode presents the species where corrosion takes place and a point from which electric current originates, whereas the cathode is the species to which the electric current flows without succumbing to corrosion. Electrolytes act as the current conduction media and include water, concrete among many others (Corrosion Doctors n.d., para.2). The metallic path is the means of connection that enables current flow between the anode and cathode thereby resulting in the completion of the circuit. In the general condition around the embedded steel cannot corrode due to an oxide layer, making it inactive and the concrete provides enough cover against corrosion. However, concrete cover suffers compromise under certain circumstances, which break down the surface oxide layer to expose the steel to corrosion forces. When it begins, the four corrosion elements activate and the structure falls to risks of weakness occasioned by wearing out of metal. Firstly, when the structure’s location comes to direct contact with salty moisture such as is often the case near seawater, the environment acts as a catalyst and accelerates corrosion. Salt is composed of sodium chloride and the contact of chloride ions with the steel results in corrosion. Coastal regions have a good number of reinforced concrete structures, which are in a constant threat of exposure to the moisture, through directly contact either with seawater or through humidity. Secondly, the reduction of the alkaline condition of the concrete around the steel creates the perfect condition for corrosion and pitting (Cadman 2012, para.1). The commonest route for this reduction of alkaline condition is carbonation of concrete, resulting in a neutral condition that supports corrosion. When compared to the impact of chloride environment on causation of corrosion, carbonation has a lower damage to the integrity

A Knowledge Management Framework for Expert Decision Making Essay

A Knowledge Management Framework for Expert Decision Making - Essay Example tructured analytics provides a repository of structured data in the form of presentable reports and charts which facilitates easy decision making .Off late organizations use variety of tools and methods to perform analysis on structured data as per their requirements in various fields like finance , supply chain management , forecasting etc Data is available for an organization from various unstructured sources like emails, web sites, news articles, government notices, pre existing company records etc. Though data available from these sources are useful they are haphazardly organized and hence it becomes very difficult for various stake holders to understand and take a well informed decision. In order to organize the available unorganized data organizations make use of Information Technology for data structuring which can be defined as ‘As a specialized format for organizing and storing data. General data structure types include the array, the file, the record, the table, the tree, and so on. Any data structure is designed to organize data to suit a specific purpose so that it can be accessed and worked with in appropriate ways. In computer programming, a data structure may be selected or designed to store data for the purpose of working on it with various algorithms’. Data once structured are used for creating reports and charts through IT applications / tools which mine the available structured data as per user’s requirement. These IT applications / tools are very user friendly and customizable. In modern day’s business, structured analytics is utilized in building domain specific tools which applies domain specific formulas and calculations over voluminous data which is either pre existing or acquired over runtime. Some of the prominent and generic analytics tools used are stock trend charts, web site hit ratio analytics, foreign exchange charts etc. These tools provide customized looks ups, charts, statistical forecasts, etc. The core development of

Creative Writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Creative Writing - Essay Example The comedy depended a great deal on the ability of the audience to ‘get’ the joke as laughter from the audience was always a sign during stage performances that the play was being well received. This element of external interaction was incorporated into the sit-com, but with the added benefit of being able to record the show first and then air it later. Thus, unexpected reactions from the audience could be cut out, errors in performance could be tried again and prompts for audience reaction weren’t as obvious. By combining these two approaches, the sit-com still maintains the illusion of being a live event in spite of the great degree of editing and production involved. This ability to edit and change has also introduced more meaning into the shows produced. Just as the comedies of stage and radio were reflections of their society, so have the sit-coms of the past several decades reflected the society that produce them but with the greater realization of preservat ion of performance and significance to audiences. In many ways, the sit-com of today has not changed a great deal in its structural format even as its reflection of society has altered and the level of meaning presented has deepened with greater understanding of the principles at work. Before one can look at individual sit-coms to see if they hold up to a common definition, it is helpful to have a definition and idea of development in place. Generally sit-coms, or situation comedies, are defined as a form of comedy that presents episodes of recurring characters as they interact within a common environment, facing some sort of complication and resolving it at the end with some form of happy ending. The sit-com has developed from a long history of stage performances intended to entertain the masses by featuring stories they were able to relate with while also poking gentle fun at the lifestyles of the wealthy. According to Lewisohn, precursors of the sitcom have existed since the time s of ancient Greece in the plays of Aristophanes, ancient Rome through Terence and Plautus and Sudraka in ancient India (2003). Generally speaking, sitcoms have several elements in common with one another that have been carried forward from these earlier plays, into the modern world through the early sitcoms such as I Love Lucy and preserved through to the present day with shows such as Married with Children and Friends. The first such element is the focus on comedy or entertainment. Every sitcom relies heavily on the basic building blocks of comedy including some, if not all, of the following: slapstick, satire, sarcasm, irony, pranks, sight gags, parody, comedy of errors, black comedy, romantic comedy, scatological humor or comedy of manners among other things. In keeping with this focus, sitcoms always end with a happy ending, or at least a resolution that returns everything back to the ‘normal’ situation for this group of people which has the effect of being humorou s to the audience. Sitcoms generally focus on a limited number of main characters who reappear week after week within the same general environment – generally it’s a family or a family-like group as they appear in their most accustomed living space. Although facing different issues each week, even the basic action from week to week is highly repetitive.

Exposure to Stereotypes Essay Example for Free

Exposure to Stereotypes Essay Exposures to Stereotypes The following paper will be an informative paper about stereotyping and exposure. Children are exposed to racism, cultural and gender stereotypes every day. This paper will explain why it is believed that movies, television series, children products smears children’s understanding of race, culture and gender and the messages that are being transpired. Examples will be given on the stereotypes. Strategies will also be given. Included in this paper will also include my thoughts and objectives. Stereotyping people has been happening for many centuries now. Early as in preschool is when most people begin being stereotyped. The saying, â€Å"Don’t judge a book by its cover,† never seems to work because people take one look at someone else and judge. They judge them by how they walk, what they wear, how they present themselves, and then they have already stereotyped the person before getting to know them. When turning on the television many children are being introduced to many different stereotypes. The Cosby Show comes to mind when I think about coming up as a child. I somehow thought that this was the typical African American family. I learn a lot from this series however. This show was still on at a time when African American shows were unheard of to stay on a television station. It showed a wealthy family a dad that was a lawyer and a mom who was a doctor dealt with 5 children that kept them busy with school and other common youth issues. When I realize that my family was not the same I was devastated because I thought that all African Americans should be somewhat like the Huxtables Family. Moving along, when I became a little older my teacher showed my class a viewing of the movie collection of â€Å"Roots†. I was horrified but what I had seen. I thought that all Caucasians were mean because of me being exposed to racism in such a horrific way. Time made me so much wiser; it showed me that you cannot assume that all people of a certain race in bad just because a few people of a certain race made a very bad choice in life. Crying and yelling at night for about a week is what this movie did for me at that time. I had dreams of me being wrongfully mistreated and whipped. My mom came into my room one particular night and we talked about the situation. She told me that what I had seen in that movie was wrong but that it happened in a time were people were dealing with hatred. Furthermore, it was then that I realized that the media, music, books, toys, peers, adults, and many more all have either a negative or a positive effect on children. I also object to children being exposed or introduced to certain racial aspects of life. It is understood that we cannot protect them from everything but we can make a great effort a point to intercept the negativity. References: York, S. (2003) Roots and wings: Affirming culture in early childhood programs [Revised Ed]. Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ 120528-002549 Ticket#.

The writers presentation of conflict and power between men and women Essay Example for Free

The writers presentation of conflict and power between men and women Essay In Thomas Hardy’s â€Å"The Mayor of Casterbridge†, â€Å"Tess of the D’Urbervilles† and William Shakespeare’s â€Å"King Lear†, the writers portray the lives of women and men during their time. One could argue male characters are generally seen to be stronger and powerful than female characters in each of the texts. In â€Å"King Lear†, we are introduced to Lear’s three daughters, â€Å"the eldest† Goneril, â€Å"dearest† Regan and â€Å"more opulent† Cordelia. In the story, Lear is seen to break natural order by dividing the kingdom into three for each of his daughters. He orders them to â€Å"say doth love us most†, making Goneril speak first. Our reaction to Goneril’s speech is one of strong dislike, which is caused by her desire for power. The blend of power and femininity demonstrated in this speech from the Jacobean society is one of the main contributing factors to our disdain for Goneril. This is an idea which holds true today. It is interesting that for a male character this trait is not be so offensive. This is due to the gender differences and expectations in society. Similarly in the novel â€Å"The Mayor of Casterbridge†, we clearly see the treatment of women in Victorian society. The novel begins with Henchard auctioning off his wife to the highest bidder at Weydon Fair, â€Å"I’d sell mine this minute if anybody would buy her†, showing how in early nineteenth century England country women of this class, were viewed as nothing. They could be disposed of if their ‘owners’, namely their husbands or fathers, wished, â€Å"it has been done elsewhere†, illustrating just how common these auctions were. This is similar to â€Å"King Lear†, where Lear has the power to order his daughters to speak. Equally in the novel â€Å"Tess of the D’Urbervilles†, Hardy portrays the way in which men dominate women, presenting their greater control and power in society. Alec, for example, recognises how morally corrupt he is for seducing Tess for his own brief pleasure. This displays his power over her and his ability to take advantage of it. In reverse, Tess’ parents ask her to work in the D’Urbervilles and she refuses. When her mother asks why she replies, Id rather not tell you why, mother; indeed, I dont quite know why. This shows us how aware Tess is of the differences in gender. She tries to use her power, even though it does not do much good. â€Å"King Lear† is in the form of a play, where speech is a main aspect. Notably the daughters speeches to Lear, particularly those of Goneril and Regan, present authority and greed, â€Å"I am made of that self-mettle†¦Ã¢â‚¬  proving to Lear, Regan is â€Å"made† of gold or silver, as she begs Lear with her â€Å"highness’ love†. Proving to Lear she wants money and wealth, Cordelia on the other hand refuses, â€Å"Nothing, my lord.†, as well as mocking her sisters explaining how she loves her father â€Å"no more nor less†, presenting Cordelia to be a fair and reasonable character. Likewise in â€Å"The Mayor of Casterbridge†, Susan has no control over Henchard and his rash decision making, â€Å"dropping her eyes again, and saying nothing†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . The word â€Å"nothing† here is different to â€Å"King Lear†, as the meaning of nothing here means no hope or words to fight back. However in â€Å"King Lear†, the word â€Å"nothing† is used metaphorically as no money or no love. The word â€Å"nothing† is used in another sense in â€Å"Tess of the D’Urbervilles†, â€Å"look here; I won’t walk another inch with you if you say any jokes about him†, confirming Tess’ loyalty towards her father, she proves â€Å"nothing† in another meaning. Tess depicts how she will exclude herself from the group if they talk bad about her father, presenting female characters in the novel to be faithful and independent. â€Å"King Lear†, as a play, has no direct description of the settings and environment. Although we see the action taking place, we are also guided through the stage directions, â€Å"Sennet† meaning a ceremonial entrance as well as â€Å"one bearing a coronet†, presenting a formal mood to the act. We are also aware of the â€Å"attendants† who are involved in this large event. The female roles in this royal occasion are classified as the King’s daughters, giving them a higher status than other women in the time. Hardy begins the novel in the â€Å"late summer† with the â€Å"valleys and woods† and the â€Å"sight of several horses†. He displays how women have a connection to nature, â€Å"she becomes part and parcel of outdoor nature†, that men cannot share as they are more involved with business â€Å"than of the systematized religion taught their race at later date†. Hardy portrays how men are more linked with a â€Å"systematised† world and the development taking place in the Victorian time. Similarly, Hardy uses natural imagery in â€Å"Tess of the D’Urbervilles†, â€Å"a swallow†¦flew to and fro in quick curves above their heads†, presenting a strong symbolic image. Swallows were often the first to land on a ship that had been out to sea for long periods of time, which relates to the buyer of Henchard’s wife, Newson who was a sailor. Foreshadowing the future, Hardy relates the swallow to Susan. One of â€Å"King Lear’s† recurring themes focuses on sight, where Lear has a lack of insight, as we see â€Å"how full of changes his age is† suggesting he is too old and making bad decisions. Unlike the female characters such as Goneril and Regan where they have strong insight towards Lear’s actions, â€Å"he hath ever but slenderly known himself.†, this shows how generally male characters are have greater power over women however one could argue the female characters have a greater insight to the people and actions around them, such as Goneril and Regan recognising Lear’s doom. Similarly in â€Å"Tess of the D’Urbervilles†, Tess has a large amount of insight to the world around her, this may possibly be connected to the daughters of Lear. However, Tess’ misfortunes and fate create tragedy’s which eventually destroy her insight â€Å"Why it was that upon this beautiful feminine tissue†¦ been traced such a coarse pattern as it was doomed to receive†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . As Tess is raped, Hardy uses the word â€Å"doomed†, where one could suggest it is Tess’ â€Å"doom† or â€Å"fate† to be raped. The meaning of â€Å"doom† is slightly different to â€Å"King Lear† as we see Tess’ â€Å"doom† from the beginning whereas we see Lear’s by a gradual build up. Differently â€Å"The Mayor of Casterbridge†, the word â€Å"doomed† could be placed in another sense as one could say Henchard shares the same characteristics to Lear with his rash decision making and again his lack of insight, causing the village and the people who are around him to be â€Å"doomed†. However the female characters such as Susan can see clearer into Henchard’s wrong actions and goes with Newson the sailor, â€Å"I’ll try my luck elsewhere.† A justifiable opinion could be Susan’s â€Å"luck† is far from â€Å"doom† by going with Newson, as one visualises Henchard’s personality from the beginning of the novel. In â€Å"King Lear† one could argue Lear does not notice his own faults, â€Å"I am a man more sinned against than sinning† presenting Lear to self-pity himself as he displays himself to be the victim. However on the other hand Lear’s favouritism for Cordelia makes Goneril and Regan despise Lear â€Å"He always loved our sister most†¦Ã¢â‚¬  showing how Lear could possibly be â€Å"sinned against† by his daughters. This portrays how women who are more â€Å"opulent† have more chances of being liked. Similarly in â€Å"Tess of the D’Urbervilles†, â€Å"Tess was now carried along upon the wings of the hours, without the sense of a will.† As Hardy relates back to the theme of â€Å"time† in the novel, Tess has waits â€Å"passively† for the wedding to take place as it is not under her responsibility anymore. One could say Tess is â€Å"more sinned against† as Hardy uses another theme of fate and free will as a symbolism for Tess’ life. She uses her free will to choose or determine her own actions; however these actions she makes, seems like fate always brings her down. In comparison Henchard in â€Å"The Mayor of Casterbridge† could possibly be seen as â€Å"more sinned against† as well as â€Å"sinning†. Henchard had sold his wife displaying him â€Å"sinning†, however on the other hand one could possibly argue how it was not his fault as it was his fate and he cannot change his actions, making him â€Å"more sinned against†. This could create sympathy for Henchard although he has done wrong, where usually the sympathy is for the female characters. In â€Å"King Lear†, Shakespeare uses pathetic fallacy by using a storm in Act 3 to conclude Lear’s insightful decisions. The storm is presented as a microcosm of Lear’s madness, as he encourages the storm to continue he shouts â€Å"Blow winds and crack your cheeks!†. Lear personifies the wind as he asks the elements to destroy him, â€Å"his little world of man† as he sees no importance of man or nature after his death. This shows how the word â€Å"man† is the centre of importance and how the power of the storm is imagined to be originating from Lear, a male character. The â€Å"fretful elements† are metaphors for Goneril and Regan where Lear is contending with his family. Kent being disguised gives the knight â€Å"a ring† for Cordelia, being symbolic as the shape of a circle is seen with the â€Å"one bearing a coronet†. This could also be seen with Edmund using a dramatic device, holding a â€Å"letter†. This follows a theme of a cyclical story with the letter being passed around as well as the circular shape from the theme of fate and destiny. Likewise Hardy uses the Ring in â€Å"The Mayor of Casterbridge† to be a Roman amphitheatre, where he invites Susan to meet. Hardy uses this setting as there were ghosts of the past rumoured to be a wife and her husband, where a woman â€Å"murdered her husband was half-strangled and then burnt †¦ of ten thousand spectators.† The ghosts of the past were metaphors for Susan and Henchard, who both have the past haunting them. This shows how although the woman was seen to be powerful to be able to murder her own husband, men are still seen to be stronger as she was â€Å"half-strangled† and â€Å"burnt† for what she had done. In contrast â€Å"Tess of the D’Urbervilles† Hardy uses the past and compares it to the present â€Å"Phases of her childhood lurked in her aspect still.†, one could argue Hardy uses the past and the present similarly to Shakespeare and â€Å"Mayor of Casterbridge† as the circular shape is used not visually but literally. Hardy describes Tess as an image of femininity â€Å"As she walked along to-day, for all her bouncing handsome womanliness, you could sometimes see her twelfth year in her cheeks†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Similar to Lear with Cordelia’s looks being â€Å"opulent†, Hardy presents his female characters to be feminine and attractive. Hardy uses Tess’s appearance to be the only powerful aspect of her, similar to Cordelia in â€Å"King Lear†. The power which is usually seen in male characters could be seen as â€Å"defeated†, as in â€Å"King Lear†, Shakespeare uses hyperbole to make the event seem larger than it is as Lear tragically says to the storm â€Å"I stand your slave† where we see Lear as a â€Å"weak† and â€Å"poor† â€Å"old man†. Ironically Lear says â€Å"I will say nothing† which could suggest Lear thinking of Cordelia as well as continuing this theme of â€Å"nothing†. One could say Lear’s power has been destroyed from himself â€Å"sinning† and becoming â€Å"nothing†. Lear’s daughters had more power than Lear from Act 1 however it is seen clearer in Act 3. Similarly the idea of being a â€Å"slave† continues in â€Å"The Mayor or Casterbridge† where â€Å"His old feeling of supercilious pity for womankind in general was intensified†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Henchard is seen to be a tall and strong, male figure, as he tends to feel more dominant and controlling over women. Since women are physically weaker, he feels a â€Å"pity† for â€Å"womankind† because of their weakness. This could possibly be argued how women were portrayed as â€Å"slaves† as men have the physical and stereotypical power to rule against them. In contrast Tess in â€Å"Tess of the D’Urbervilles† could be seen as a â€Å"slave† to her own family, as she goes to work in the D’Urberville household to collect money for her family at home, â€Å"she ought to make her way with en, if she plays her trump card aright. And if he dont marry her afore he will after.. Tess’ mother sends Tess away for work, however she realises Alec’s love for Tess and hopes for marriage. One could suggest her mother wants her to be married to Alec for the money which could present Tess to be a â€Å"slave† in another meaning. However she includes â€Å"if she plays her trump card aright.†, which is ironic for Tess as it seems as if she has no â€Å"trump† card in her pack. In â€Å"King Lear†, Shakespeare relates grown men to compare with â€Å"babes† â€Å"†¦to shake all cares and business from our age; conferring them on younger strengths, while we unburthen’d crawl toward death†. It seems as if Lear is ready to retire, as he adopts the â€Å"royal we† making the event seem important. Shakespeare has displayed Lear as a â€Å"weak†, â€Å"old man†, however he gives another mental image of Lear â€Å"crawling toward death† like a baby. One could argue old age is similar to being a baby as it leaves you â€Å"weak† and powerless. Goneril and Regan’s distaste to Lear humiliates him as they say â€Å"O, sir, you are old†¦Ã¢â‚¬  showing how they as female characters have greater power and order over Lear. The image of a baby in seen in â€Å"Tess of the D’Urbervilles†, however it is used in another sense. Tess’ baby could be seen as a symbolic feature for Tess’ bad luck which Tess could not control. The baby could symbolise innocence like Tess as she has done nothing wrong however she is still punished by society, for an act she could not control. This is ironic as a baby could suggest new beginning, purity and usually visualised with a mother figure. In comparison a baby is presented in â€Å"The Mayor of Casterbridge†, where Elizabeth-Jane is the step daughter of Henchard, as the previous baby died, â€Å"the little one too – the more the merrier!† The baby could symbolise the past and change, as when she died another baby was born – Elizabeth- Jane which could suggest a new beginning. Hardy used Elizabeth-Jane’s hair colour to foreshadow the future how she was not Henchard’s legitimate daughter. As Hardy’s novels were in the form of serialisation the theme of â€Å"foreshadowing† became present in most of his novels. Differently in â€Å"King Lear† there is no mother figure for Lear’s daughters. Goneril and Regan are seen to be violent female characters in the play; it raises the question would they be more feminine and caring if they had a mother to look out for them? Women are seen to be able to nurture and care for their children whereas one could say Lear caused his own downfall by failing to provide a mother figure. As Lear says â€Å"Come on, my boy. How dost my boy? Art cold?† this is the first time Lear is aware of the suffering of others, and acts like a â€Å"mother figure† to the fool, however it is the wrong time. Similarly the absent role of a mother figure is seen in â€Å"The Mayor of Casterbridge†, as Susan dies Elizabeth- Jane is left with Henchard. Elizabeth –Jane begins to like Farfrae as she believes he seemed to feel exactly as she felt about life, presenting how although she has no mother figure to look out for her, her strong insight helps her to continue her life. As Susan left Henchard a letter explaining how Elizabeth-Jane was not his daughter, it seems as if he â€Å"disowned† her by making her leave his house. The mother figure was seen to have a responsibility which Henchard as a male could not adapt to although Elizabeth-Jane was seen to be a step daughter to him. Differently Hardy uses the mother figure in â€Å"Tess of the D’Urbervilles† however she is not present too often. We see her control Tess unlike in â€Å"King Lear† and â€Å"The Mayor of Casterbridge† where there is a father figure with no sense of control. Tess is made to go to the D’Urberville’s house by her mother, where one could say Tess’ misfortunes began. She could represent time as although she is seen to be uneducated she still believes in â€Å"old superstitions†, â€Å"Between the mother, with her fast- perishing lumber of superstitions, folk-lore†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Mrs Durbeyfield could also represent pre-industrial England with the â€Å"folk-lore† at that time. Both writers discuss the theme of women, however they are portrayed differently. â€Å"King Lear† focuses on women gaining power and having control over the male characters. The female characters in â€Å"The Mayor of Casterbridge† again have different roles, although this is mainly because the novel is set in the Victorian period where women’s roles were to take care of their husbands and children. Lastly â€Å"Tess of the D’Urbervilles† displays how male characters have a strong control over women, and how this affects their overall lives.

The Feminist Sentencing Law

The Feminist Sentencing Law Feminist Sentencing Law Outline and evaluate feminist critiques of sentencing policy A feminist discourse of criminology is a relatively recent development and is seemingly much needed in field which is dominated primarily by men, both in terms of law professionals and offenders. For this reason, it will first be necessary to outline briefly the general principles behind sentencing policy before progressing to a consideration of feminist critiques. This will first examine the critical standpoint taken towards women as offenders, viewing sentencing policy in the light of liberal feminism, ‘difference’ standpoints and finally in respect of postmodernist views. This will lead on to a brief discussion of critiques of sentencing policy in crimes in which women are victims rather than offenders, and an examination of the way in which this can be seen to endorse patriarchal structures in society. As a result of this, the essay will conclude that feminist critiques of sentencing have an important role to play in raising awareness of the dominance of male perspectives in criminology. The law is objective in the sense that there is no discrepancy in the definition of crime dependent on the sex of the perpetrator. There is, however, the possibility that gender has a bearing society’s perception of crime, which may in turn influence the sentencing procedure. Ashworth (2002) identifies the introduction of mandatory and minimum sentencing in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 as a significant restriction on judges’ discretion. However, judges still exercise a significant amount of discretionary power in determining the nature and length of sentences. This allows the full range of contributing factors to be taken into account, but also introduces the possibility of the sentence being affected by factors with no bearing on the deed in question. Sentencing may also be motivated by a number of different concerns. This variety of justifications for choosing a particular type of punishment over another is relevant to a discussion of feminist theory, as again it is subject to interpretation and discretion. In addition, some critics claim that certain approaches are particularly appropriate or inappropriate to women, or that there are significant differences in the way in which these theories are applied to the different sexes. A consideration of feminist critiques of sentencing policy must then take into account the motivation for respective sentences imposed on men and women as well as the nature and length of the sentences themselves in order to evaluate the validity of such perspectives. Gelsthorpe and Morris (1992) point out that although criminology is male-oriented, it does not deal with men and masculinity, but rather ‘deals with men without acknowledging this and hence creates theories about criminals without a conceptualisation of gender.’ (p.3-4). Bryson (1999) attributes this to the under-representation of women in the judiciary, highlighting it as a decisive factor in confirming the marginalisation of women’s experiences. The legal system is indeed dominated by male professionals, for example only 22% of police officers and 9% of high court judges are female (The Fawcett Society, 2007), confirming the likelihood of the law being treated in correspondence with dominant male interests. Some feminists would further Bryson’s position (Bryson, 1999) and argue that the law itself is based on a gendered process of moral reasoning and thus protects men in society. This is supported by Gilligan’s ideas juxtaposition of an ethic of responsibility (which determines women’s moral thinking) with the male ethic of rights (Gilligan, 1982 cited in Bryson, 1999). Feminist perspectives, therefore, play an important role in highlighting the extent to which male perspectives dominate models of sentencing and introducing the possibility of an alternative, female experience. Gelsthorpe draws attention to the absence of one, single homogenous feminist view, highlighting instead the existence of ‘differences and tensions’ (2002:511). All feminist approaches, however, find common ground in arguing against the traditional perception of courts showing a greater degree of leniency towards women than towards men. This is confirmed by statistical analysis, highlighting the fact that only a small percentage of known offenders are female (19% in 2002) and the lesser magnitude of crimes committed by women. Shoplifting is the most commonly occurring crime among women, followed by drug offences, theft and fraud (www.crimeinfo.org.uk). This, however, contrasts the fact that between 1995 and 2005, the imprisonment rate for women in England and Wales increased by 175% (compared to an increase of only 85% for men) (www.crimeinfo.org.uk). This alone suggests a greater readiness to sentence female offenders to imprisonment for less serious crimes. This is confirmed by the number of female offenders who have no previous convictions and who are sent to prison (over a third of the whole female prison population), which is more than double the proportion of men who are sent to prison for a first offence (www.crimeinfo.org.uk). This adds weight to feminist critiques of sentencing policy and stands in direct contradiction to the chivalrous viewpoint, whereby women are perceived to be treated more leniently because men do not consider them capable of being motivated by criminality and thus are reluct ant to treat them harshly. Feminist critiques oppose this idea of chivalry and introduce the concept of double deviance: not only are women deviant in the sense that the have committed a crime, but they have contravened society’s expectations of ‘normal’ feminine behaviour and are thus doubly stigmatised (Heidensohn, 1992). Therefore as well as being punished for their crimes, women are sanctioned for deviating from their perceived feminine role. Thus women have been historically portrayed in relation to ‘stereotypes based on their supposed biological and psychological nature.’ (Gelsthorpe, 2002:517). A liberal feminist perspective would attempt to combat this by demanding equal treatment for men and women and insisting that the same structural analyses of class, state control and policisation of deviance which came to be applied to male crime is extended to women (Gelsthorpe, 2005). The liberalist view of equality demands the insertion of women into such theories, and their equal treatment within the system, but the limitations of such a position quickly become clear. Smart dismisses such a liberal perspective as having ‘done so little to emancipate women’ (2003:76) and it is evident that while it causes women to be acknowledged within the field of criminology, it does little to challenge stereotypes of female behaviour. A simple demand for equality of treatment fails to acknowledge the fact that theories of women’s crime may demand a starting point distinct from that of male deviance (Gelsthorpe, 2002). Equality does not necessarily mean the same treatment for all, but could be applied to the need to consider theoretical perspectives in the same way, whilst acknowledging the fact that male and female notions of crime are rooted in different systems of behaviour. Naffine identifies this shortcoming in reinforcing the way which liberal feminism, although calling for a consideration of a female discourse of criminology, tends to leave the male dominated theories intact and does not demand that these be reconsidered in the light of feminist critiques (1997:36) This acknowledgement of difference is consistent with ‘difference’ theories of feminism, which call for a broader conceptualisation of the context of gender and power relations in order to consider female criminality. This approach goes beyond demanding that women be treated equally, arguing that it is inappropriate to apply certain forms of male criminology to women, and as such women should be treated differently within the criminal justice system. It focuses on how women’s ‘experiences’ are distinct from men’s, and the implications of this for sentencing policy. One widely-held belief of this theoretical standpoint is that the difference between male and female experience renders prison inappropriate for women, as it subjects them to further oppression on the basis of gender roles already present in society, and as such, alternative sentences should be prioritised. A variety of reasons are given by way of justification for this. Smart (1976) argues that the role which women are expected to adopt in prison reinforces the gendered perception of them in society, with tasks such as cooking, cleaning and sewing taking priority over the kind of vocational training which might benefit them to find employment on their release. This is compounded by the fact that women’s sentences are typically shorter than men’s. Statistics highlight that many more women are reminded in custody pending trial than men, and that less than half of these are actually sentenced to serving any time in prison. (www.crimeinfo.org.uk). Furthermore sentences tend to be shorter, for example nearly two-thirds (63%) of women sentenced to custody in 2005 were given a sentence of six months or less (The Fawcett Society, 2007). Proportionally then, more women tend to be imprisoned for shorter periods, long enough to disrupt their home life, but not long enough to allow them to develop strategies to readjust to life on the outside. Smart (1976) suggests that the reinforcement of dominant and patriarchal gender norms in prisons is based on the fact that a woman who is stereotypically passive and caring is not a criminal woman, and this is, therefore, another consequence, perhaps, of the double deviance view of female offenders. The claim for different treatment of men and women also endorses the societal status quo in its basis on women’s traditional role within the family. Statistics abound as to the number of women with child dependents taken into custody and the negative impact separation. Smart (1976) identifies this familial function as one of the reasons for which prison is an inappropriate sanction for female offenders, and attributes the increased hardships which women experience in prison as due, in part, to their greater need for family life and the consequences of enforced separation from their children (p.140). To subscribe to such a view, however, neglects the possibility of men as primary caregivers for their children and creates a gendered perception of family life in which the role of the woman is perceived to be superior to that of the man. This reinforces stereotypical views of women and also risks advocating a two-tier perception of the female criminal justice system, in which women who are also mothers are given greater worth than those who are not. Psychological differences between women and men are also highlighted as a reason for varying prison experience of the two genders. The Fawcett society cites statistics on the prevalence of self harm, suicide attempts and other mental health issues in women prisoners as compared to men. Gelsthorpe (2002) attributes this to the systems of control which operate within prisons, locating the problem in the way in which women are treated in custody than the unsuitability of prison sentences for women per se. To highlight mental health issues as a reason for which women should not be imprisoned is in a sense to endorse a stereotype of women as weak and fragile and thus condone the very perceptions which feminists seek to destroy. Difference perspectives then create a paradox in that the argument for a different approach to women also endorses a structurally stereotyped view. Postmodern approaches move beyond this to acknowledge commonalities in male and female experiences of sentencing, and emphasise the importance of power structures extending beyond the division of men and women. Gelsthorpe (2002) rejects the idea of innate differences between men and women, believing instead that these differences are socially constructed. Wider considerations of the circumstances of crime are necessary, but these should focus on other forms of structural oppression in society. In accordance with this, Naffine (1997) denies the possibility of criminal women and claims that just as there is no homogenous explanation for why men commit crime, theories must look beyond gender to ideas of diversity and socio-economic status in attempting to explain criminal behaviour in both men and women (p.53). Gelsthorpe (2002) too supports this view in claiming that the question should be less about crime in relation to men and women, but the political process of criminology and the consideration of why certain acts have come to be defined as criminal, while others remain legal. These perspectives, therefore, situate feminist critiques in the wider context of a society in which gender is one of many factors giving rise to oppression and in which diverse structural forces operate across each other to shape perceptions and reactions to criminal deeds. This is reflected in general support for retributive justice, in which sentences are motivated by consideration of compensation for the victim and therefore often involve community focussed sentences. While this seems more fitting to the rehabilitative function which has been seen to be lacking in the imprisonment of women, feminist critics also raise concerns about the appropriateness of this approach to crimes where women have been victimised or oppressed. By the very fact that it takes place within a society and system heavily dominated by male concerns, such an approach can be seen to reinforce structures of oppression in terms of violent crimes against women. This essay could not be complete without acknowledging the body of feminist literature which argues for the oppression of women in society by the very fact that men are not sentenced severely enough for crimes which they commit against women. This approach draws attention to the inadequacy of laws themselves, coupled with a lack of enforcement and triviality of sentences imposed by ‘a largely ageing, male judiciary’ (Edwards, 1992:146). This then echoes Bryson’s point that the dominance of men in the legal profession means that sentencing can never truly reflect women’s interests. Feminist critiques appear clearer and more unified here than in terms of the sentencing of female offenders. Naffine argues that the sexual relations of men to women implied within the common understanding of rape reflect a culturally dominant male view (1997:104), thus women’s interests are not reflected in bringing perpetrators to justice. Chambers and Millar (1992) examine the process of rape trials and the way in which cross-examination typically tries to imply some amount of blame on the part of the woman for not resisting more strongly, thus perhaps having an effect on the sentencing procedure and encouraging less severe sentences. The very nature of rape as a private crime, often with no witnesses and only the word of the victim against that of the defendant means that conviction and sentencing are problematic at best, but this should not be used as justification for dismissing feminist critiques of sentencing, which make a valid point about the dominance of male perspectives and attitudes within the judiciary system. It is evident, therefore, that feminist critiques have filled a gap in terms of female perspectives in criminology, and they are significant for this very reason. It has emerged in the course of the discussion however, that it is more the way in which sentences endorse the societal status quo than the sentences themselves which seem to be inappropriate, although feminists are justified in highlighting the worrying trend towards the imprisonment of women. It is not, enough, however to insert women into pre-existing theories which deal with men: the prevalence of male attitudes in the criminal justice system means that oppressive attitudes need to be reviewed, not just in the light of women, but in the consideration of other oppressed minorities in society, in order to ensure a system which really is fair to all. References Ashworth, A. (2002) Sentencing, in M. Maguire et al. (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Criminology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.1105-1135 Bryson, V. (1999) Feminist Debates: Issues of theory and political practice. Basingstoke: Macmillan Chambers, G Millar, A (1992) Proving Sexual Assault: Prosecuting the offender or persecuting the victim? in P. Carlen and A. Worral (eds.) Gender, Crime and Justice. Milton Keynes; Philadelphia: Open University Press, pp.58-80 Crime Info (2007) Women, Gender and Crime [online] accessible at http://www.crimeinfo.org.uk /servlet/factsheetservlet?command=viewfactsheetfactsheetid=110category=factsheets [accessed 27th November 2007] Edwards, S. (1992) Violence against women: Feminism and the law in L. Gelsthorpe A. Morris (eds.) Feminist perspectives in criminology. Milton Keynes; Philadelphia: Open University Press, pp.145-159 Fawcett Society (2007) Women and the criminal justice system: The facts [online] accessible at http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=30. [accessed 27th November 2007] Gelsthorpe, L. (2002) Feminism and Criminology, in M. Maguire et al. (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Criminology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.511-533 Gelsthorpe, L. Morris, A. (1992) Introduction: Transforming and transgressing criminology, in L. Gelsthorpe A. Morris (eds.) Feminist perspectives in criminology. Milton Keynes; Philadelphia: Open University Press, pp.1-6 Heidensohn, F. (1992) Women and Crime: Questions for Criminology, in P. Carlen and A. Worral (eds.) Gender, Crime and Justice. Milton Keynes; Philadelphia: Open University Press, pp.16-27 Naffine, N. (1997) Feminism and Criminology. Cambridge: Polity Press Smart, C. (1976) Women, Crime and Criminology: A Feminist Critique. London: Routledge Smart, C (2003) Feminism and the Power of Law. London; New York: Routledge

Interview with a Barber Shop Owner Essays -- Business Management Inter

Have you ever wonder what it is like to be the owner of a barbershop? Well Raymond Jackson, owner and operator of Your Barbershop, is the one you should learn from. Not only do you get to work for yourself in this recession-resistant growth industry, you get to revive an American tradition while serving upscale clientele with your staff of professionally-trained employees, all with the support of the latest technology, proven operating philosophy, and an experienced management team at your disposal. In a two-hour interview, Mr. Jackson was asked a series of questions pertaining to his work atmosphere, personal goals, and personal thoughts about his establishment. This report will illustrate the necessities of running an established business. When asked, â€Å"What, in your own opinion, would make another successful in this position?† he said, â€Å"You need a lot of people skills.† He believes in order to run a barbershop; you need to be able to meet the needs of the customer. If the customer is not satisfied, you will lose their business. You must be patient. If not, the customer will not return for more service. It’s all about keeping the customer satisfied. This led him to the topic of supply and demand. Most of his profit is dependent on what the customer wants. For example, if the customers come in and want to purchase a bottle of water, you have to provide the water at their convenience. This will keep the customer satisfied and ensure their return for more business. Sometimes business gets slow. He feels the need to bring in more customers. To achieve this goal, he offers various incentives such as discounts. The discounts allow more people to come in and e... ... in its current state, and consumers directing more of their resources on fuel costs, have your business felt a slowdown? a. No, due to the fact that customers still tend to keep up their appearance 13. As a small business owner, how do you plan your budget for your business? a. By paying attention to the supply and demand of the customer i. He buys what is needed 14. What does your company do to retain existing customers? a. Consistency i. Keeping up with what the customers want 15. What is your number one source of new business and how do you get it? a. Siblings/families/friends i. Referrals ii. Growth of family 16. What is competition’s biggest advantage over you and how do you intend on fixing this problem? a. Advantage i. Technology 1. Computers 2. Accessories b. Intentions i. Add these things and more in the near future

The Selfish Gene Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

The Selfish Gene "We are survival machines—robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve selfish molecules known as genes." -- Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene (1). Can genes alone determine your DNA's place in the next generation? Are humans simply vessels for these genes? With his provoking work entitled The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins attempts to answer such questions as he proposes a shift in the evolutionary paradigm. Working through the metaphor of a "selfish gene", Dawkins constructs an evolutionary model using a gene as the fundamental unit of selection, opposed to the more commonly accepted belief of the species as the unit of selection. This "selfish gene", possessing a certain selfish emotional nature, acts as an independent entity fighting to ensure its replication in future generations, maximizing its number of descendents (2). Those successful in replicating have made the most of their given environment (1). For the interests of this paper, is it valid to assume that natural selection occurs at the level of DNA? Hence, what can be implied about genetic predispositions? For Dawkins, evolution of a species is dependent upon the transmittance of this information to the next generation; the individual species is irrelevant (2). This theory is a departure from Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, which concentrates on the species. Species, to Dawkins, are "survival machines" whose purpose is to host these genes, as species are mortals and fleeting, whereas genes are not (2). Is it valid to assume Dawkins position that humans are merely "robot vehicles"? This concept, alienating emotion, physical, and cultural growth from evolution, can be startling. By placing the importance of natural selec... ... , The opening pages of and selections from Dawkins work http://www.world-of-dawkins.com/Dawkins<br>/Work/Books/selfpage.htm 2)The Selfish Gene Theory, Explanatory site providing overview of theory http://bovination.com/cbs/selfishGene%20Theory.jsp 3) The Selfish Gene?" Reason in Revolt , Genetic issues and Dawkins discussed http://www.marxist.com/rircontents.asp Works Consulted 4) In Defense of Selfish Genes , Dawkins refute to claims made about his theory by Mary Midgely http://www.royalinstitutephilosophy.org/articles/dawkins_genes.htm 5) Selfish Genes and Social Darwinism , Counterarguments for Selfish Gene Theory http://www.royalinstitutephilosophy.org/articles/%20midgley_genes.htm 6) The Selfish Gene: The Underpinnings of Narcissism , Further discussion and implications on Selfish Gene Theory http://samvak.tripod.com/journal43.

“Visiting Hour” by Norman Maccaig

Rewrite – â€Å"Visiting Hour† The poem â€Å"Visiting Hour† was written by the Scottish poet Norman MacCaig. In the poem, MacCaig shows the central idea is loss and death. This central idea is achieved through the use of various techniques such as imagery, structure and narrative stance. The poem is about a visit MacCain makes to a dying relative in a hospital. Throughout the poem, MacCaig gives his thoughts and feeling to how he fails to cope with the situation. The poet also uses enjambment, metaphor and imagery at the beginning of the poem when MacCaig hints at the central idea. Vanishes heavenward†, with the use of enjambment the poet introduces the idea of death. The quotation emphases the theme of death and how MacCaig may not be able to speak to his loved one again. With the use of a metaphor and imagery, as the lift physically rises up, the mood of depression associates the journey to heaven. The â€Å"corpse† represents death. The person he is visiting could easily be a corpse. The poet is occupied of images of death and sees the patient in a negative way. Though not mentioning the word death, his mind automatically makes this assumption.At this point the reader just assumes the central idea is death. Repetition is used as the poet emphasises the central concern of his loved one but also of his admiration of the nurses. â€Å"So many deaths†¦. so many farewells† emphasises how â€Å"miraculous† the nurses seem to him and they are not overwhelmed by the emotion of grief unlike him. MacCaig uses structure as he first mentions the patient, â€Å"Ward 7. She lies†. The four word line immediately links the woman with the hospital. The non-sentence â€Å"Ward 7†³ draws attention to the reality of the situation the poet is in. In a white cave of forgetfulness†, though suggesting a white curtain around the bed, it creates the impression of emptiness. The vivid colours of â€Å"green and yellow† are not present. This suggests the patient's life slipping away and a fear from MacCaig that they will not remember him. A Metaphor is used once again as the poet recognises that while he can physically touch the patient, she is dying and he is alive. â€Å"And between her and me distance shrinks till there is none left but the distance of pain that neither she nor I can cross†, he has entered the hospital, found her ward and reached her bedside but cannot â€Å"touch† her.The central idea is made clear to the reader in the last stanza where the poet writes, â€Å"books the will not be read†. MacCaig notices the uselessness of the gifts brought for the patient. The patient's inability to eat the fruit or read the books reveals their lack of life. In conclusion, the poet achieves the central idea of death and loss by the use of metaphor, imagery, enjambment and structure. By using all of those techniques made the central idea is clear.

A Brief Look at the Origin of English Idioms

Idioms appear in every language and their meaning is often confusing. Because the meaning of the whole group of words taken together has little to do with the meanings of the words taken one by one. In order to understand a language, one must know what idioms in that language mean. If we want to figure out the meaning of an idiom literally, word by word, we will get befuddled as we have to know its â€Å"hidden meaning†. Most of the idioms do not coincide with their direct meanings but hundreds of years ago they actually did.If we search into the origin of the idioms, we can obtain a great deal of information about that nation’s culture, history and even policy. Idioms come from different sources, from the Bible to horse racing, from ancient fables to modern slang. Sometimes famous authors such as Homer, Geoffrey Chaucer, or William Shakespeare made them up to add spark to their writings. Some idioms came from Native-American customs and others from African-American spe ech. Several popular idioms began as folksy sayings used in particular regions of the country and spoken in local dialects.However, the name of the first author or speaker who used particular expressions is not often obvious. Some idioms go back in time to the ancient Greeks and Romans, thousands of years ago. For instance, Achilles’ heel- the meaning is the weakness, fault or vulnerable spot in one’s strong character. But the origin of this idiom goes back to the times when Greek poet Homer wrote his famous work â€Å"Iliad†. In the â€Å"Iliad† the famous story about the Trojan War Achilles was a great hero and warrior. However, he had one weak spot, the heel of one foot.When he was a baby, his mother wanted to be certain that her son could never be harmed, so he dipped little Achilles upside-down in the magical river Styx. Wherever the water touched his body, he became invulnerable. But since she was holding him by his heel, that part of him never got wet. Years later Achilles was killed in the Trojan War by the enemy who shot a poisoned arrow into his heel. Nowadays, this idiom is still used to show one’s weakness. For example, I like reading historical books, but science fiction is my Achilles’ heel.There is also another example of the idiom which originates from the most famous poem by English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge â€Å"The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner†, written in 1798. Albatross around your neck- the meaning is a very difficult burden you can’t get rid of. In the poem a young sailor shoots a large seabird called albatross. In those days that was considered very lucky. A lot of bad things happen to the ship, and the crew blames the young sailor. They hang the dead bird around his neck.From that time, this idiom is used to speak about a burden or a reminder of something you did that was wrong. Wherever I go, my sister follows me. She is an albatross around my neck. We can find a lot more exa mples of idioms which have very interesting origin and give us new information of that time customs. For instance, Wear your heart on your sleeve-the meaning is to show one’s emotions and feelings openly. William Shakespeare used this expression in his famous tragedy â€Å"Othello† around the year 1600. In those days, it was the custom for a young lady to tie a ribbon around the arm of her boyfriend.The boy then wore this favour on his sleeve, one of the visible parts of his clothing, to display the feelings of his heart for the entire world to see. Today, it is used not only to show love, but also another emotion too. Everyone in our office knows that Mel doesn’t get along with the boss, because he wears his heart on his sleeve. Another such example is, pull the wool over your eyes-the meaning is to fool, deceive, or trick someone. In 19th century Europe many men wore wigs made of wool. In British courts today, some lawyers and judges still wear them.If you pul led the wig over the person’s eyes, he or she couldn’t still see what was happening and could easily be tricked. It was said that if a clever lawyer fooled a judge, he was pulling the wool over the judge’s eyes. Now, we use this expression to describe any act of cheating or trickery. Jacob was trying to pull the wool over his mother’s eyes by saying he was working at the library with his friends. Some idioms have originated from political actions and their origin can give us information about certain historical events. For example, Read the riot-the meaning is to severely scold or warn someone.In 1714 the British Parliament passed what was called the Riot Act. It said if twelve or more people gathered â€Å"illegally, riotously, and tumultuously,† a magistrate could command them to break up and leave just by reading the opening words of the Riot Act. If they didn’t leave within an hour, they were guilty of breaking the law and were given a s evere punishment. As the years went by, â€Å"reading someone the riot act† came to mean warning a person in the strongest possible terms of severe punishment if he or she did not stop a certain activity.When students came to class unprepared, the teacher read her the riot act. Another example is Dime a dozen-the meaning is very common and inexpensive; easy to get and available anywhere. In 1786 US Congress officially named the ten-cent coin a â€Å"dime†. The dime soon became a popular coin. Millions were minted and everyone had them. Since they were so cheap and so common, the phrase â€Å"a dime a dozen† became a natural way to describe any everyday thing that was easy to get and of small value.And â€Å"dime† and â€Å"dozen† begin with the same letter, which makes the saying catchy through alliteration. I thought those books were rare, but they were a dime a dozen. All above mentioned examples show us that idioms teach us not only the language but also give us information about customs and traditions of a certain time. When we learn idioms, we should also take into consideration not only their meaning, but also their origin. Learning the origin of idioms will help us read and speak with new understanding.