The Invisible Man Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Invisible Man - Essay Example Bledsoe, a Black just like him, who he trusted fooled him, giving him falls hopes to which he has dedicated his life: â€Å"To Whom It May Concern: Keep This Nigger-Boy Running (33). Yet it is in his disillusionment that he begins to confront the lies he naively accepted, driving him to search and carve for his own name. He then worked against the system, he once believed. But again, he is betrayed. He begins to understand the opposing social forces that drive him to invisibility. So he receded from all these, living underground in a â€Å"hole in the basement† (7). He begins then to understand what is meant for an invisible man, like him, become visible. Yet with all these conflicting experiences, he is not still sure how to fathom his grandfather’s parting words to his father: â€Å"Live with your head in the lion’s mouth. I want you to overcome ‘em with yeses, undermine ‘em with grins, agree ‘em to death...† (14). Does it mean, remain invisible to become visible? Or does it mean to become what you are (become visible) whatever it takes? There are many possibilities.

International Students in America Essay Example for Free

International Students in America Essay Did you know that there were over six hundred and twenty thousand international students in the United States of America’s universities and colleges for the academic year 2007/08? This according to the Open Doors report by the Institute of International Education was a seven percent increase. According to the Mr. Goli Ameri, the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, the increase in enrolment was an indication that USA is still the premier destination for foreign students. â€Å"U.S. higher education is unparalleled in its vitality, quality, and diversity. The U.S. government joins the U.S. higher education community in a commitment to welcome international students to the United States† (Gardner and Witherell, par. 1) He stated that he had graduated in the United States as an international student and thus was in a better position to testify that â€Å"America’s universities not only accept and welcome international students warmly, but transform their lives (Gardner and Witherell par. 1). The United States department of state has expanded support to advice on US education by setting up centers around the world in order to help students gain access to American education. The number of the international students in the United States is double that of the United Kingdom (the second host). It was reported in the year 2007 that the international students in USA contributed about thirteen billion US dollars to the its economy through their living expenses and tuition charges (Ford p. 1) This research paper seeks to show the reasons why the United States of America is the most preferred destination for the international students. Statistics of the international students in USA According to the Open Doors 2008 report, India is the leading country that sends students to the United States with the figure increasing to ninety four thousand, five hundred and sixty three. The second sender was listed as China with eighty one thousand, one hundred and twenty one students in US. Those from South Korea took the third spot with sixty nine thousand, one hundred and twenty four students (which was an eleven percent increase). Though it showed a four percent slight drop, Japan was fought with thirty three thousand, nine hundred and seventy four students in US. Canada took the fifth spot with twenty nine thousand and fifty one students. Other countries with students in the United States are as follows: Taiwan 29,001 and Mexico, 14,837 (this was a seven percent increase). Saudi Arabian students in the United Stated increased to nine thousand eight hundred and seventy three, this being attributed to the scholarships that are being offered by their government in a program that was launched in 2005. The greatest increase (45%) was by students from Vietnamese students with eight thousand seven hundred and sixty nine students. Other international students in the United States universities and colleges came from Indonesia, 7692; Nigeria, 6,222 and Kenya with 5,838 students (which was an eight percent drop) (Gardner and Witherell par. 1-10). From the statistics above, it is clear that Asia accounted for the sixty one percent of all international students. Philippines recorded a twelve percent increase; Singapore, seven percent; Mongolia, thirteen percent; Hong Kong, seven percent. However the following Asian nations recorded a decline in the number of students they sent to US: Pakistan, one percent and Bangladesh, four percent. Others with the same trends include Israel, Palestinian Authority, Yemen and Lebanon (Gardner and Witherell par. 1-10). According to the same report, US Universities that had the highest number of international students, University of Southern California lead the pack with seven thousand one hundred and eighty nine of students. Other leading Universities included : New York University, 6404; Columbia University, 6297; University of Illinois, 5933; Purdue University (main campus), 5772; University of Michigan, 5748; University of Texas, 5550; Harvard University, 4948 and Boston University with 4789 international students in US (Gardner and Witherell). Reasons why USA is a preferred destination for International Students One may be keen to ask the question of why the nation has led other nations of the world such as Britain, Germany and France in enrolling international students. The United States has been reported to have a great wealth of initiatives and policies meant to lure international students into its educational system such as policies that include specific visa and work requirements. This is despite the drop in enrolment that was caused by the September 11 terrorist bombings of the United States. This is in contrast to the small number of students that the nation sends to the other nations. According to the statistics, only about forty five thousand American students study abroad, majority of them being in the United Kingdom and Canada (Cremonini et al, par.1). To maintain the lead in maintaining the number of foreign students who study in USA, the government and the higher education office has intensified its promotional efforts. They have done this by opening several centers in different countries that serve different regions of the world and reducing the Visa regulatory rules for the students (Cremonini ET all, par. Cremonini refers to the United States as the academic powerhouse meaning that it is academically attractive. He states that the attraction can be associated with civilization attraction which is a social contract pattern or a flow of people; a situation that explains why researchers and students tend to travel to countries and centers that are recognized and attractive. A zone civilization attraction is sometimes referred to as a zone of prestige. Academic attraction is also related to other concepts used to study higher education mobility. The concepts posit that many of the educational possibilities are in specific places of the world and that become the most popular destinations for international students (Cremonini ET all, par. 6).   Ann White, the director of China-Hong for the Institute of International Education stated that the United States is the preferred destination for the Hong Kong students because they associate US degrees with quality and prestige. She added that students from Hong Kong are drawn to lifelong rewards and values of study in the United States of America (Institute of International Education p.2). The other reason why for those students to prefer the US Universities and colleges is because they are in a better position to access information about higher education that is accurate and comprehensive as compared to other countries. There is an EducationUSA office in Hong Kong providing the needed information in addition to the increased level of activities by Universities and colleges from the USA to attract these students. The IIE often organize the annual US Higher Education Fair in Hong Kong and it was reported that in the year 2008, it attracted twenty five percent more attendees when compared with the previous year (Institute of International Education p. 2). The government has established a website with extensive databases of grants, scholarships and fellowships that are organized by Institute of International Education. The president and Chief Executive officer of IIE stated that the increased number of the international students in the US is as a result of the actions that are taken by the US government plus the Colleges and Universities to make sure that those students understand that they are welcome and that that their contribution to cultural and the environment is highly appreciated (Institute of International Education p. 2). The USA Department of State online newsletter has in it the reasons as to why US education is preferred. One is that U.S. colleges and universities are known to have resources, faculty and facilities of high quality. To maintain the standards on these institutions, accreditation systems are used. Secondly, the education system in US features several types of academic and social environments, institutions, degree programs, entry requirements, and subjects from where students can specialize. Thirdly, degrees in US have a wide range of tuition fees and living costs, in addition to the financial help that some colleges offer, this resulting into affordable education for many students. Finally, the Universities and colleges in the United States are flexible in offering courses that one can even study in one college for two years and then move to another for the next two years (Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs). Several Universities in US have come up with academic and social programs for the international students. The support program may be based on identifying the students at risk, analyzing their languages and cross- cultural needs, research their academic performance, assist in finding accommodation, monitoring their income and providing the exit support so that the students can be prepared to enter global labour markets. This is helpful as USA continues to compete for international students with other nations (Clendenin, par. 2-5). Conclusion From the research, it is clear that the United States of America is the largest destination for the international Students. However, this has not been achieved easily but through policies and activities by the government to attract many students to the nation. However, it is also clear that the nation is facing stiff competition from other nations such as Britain and Germany. With such programs that have been initiated to maintain the number of students, US will continue leading in this area.

Gender Inequality in Hollywood Essay -- stereotypes, media, gender ine

Stereotypes in our society are not uncommon. We come across them every day without realizing it. It is in our human nature to create expectations of the people around us, which could be based upon their ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or other factors. Stereotypes help us categorize a vast group of people that we may not know anything about, to think that they are smaller and less intimidating. I believe that the blame for these cookie-cutter patterns can lead directly back to the media in every sense of the word. Media is all around us, and affects our opinions and ability to think for ourselves. Whether it’s the latest box office hit or the headlining news, we are getting assumptions from every point of view, which makes it hard to form our own. But I personally think that the biggest influence of our time are in the cinematic arts. Movies have been a huge part of the American culture since the motion pictures were first invented. Since the late eighteenth century, families have been going to the movie theater to spend quality time together. But as the action packed western thrillers soon turned to risque dramas, the idea of Hollywood made filmed changed drastically. In the early nineteen fifties, when televisions were becoming quite popular in the average American home, it was considered provocative to broadcast a married couple sitting in bed together. But today it would be considered a G rated program if it didn’t at least imply sexeul interests. This topic can be traced back to the stereotypes of Hollywood’s employees and how they influence us today. From Actors to Actresses or even just the director’s assistant, everybody in Hollywood has an expectation from someone else. When people think about the q... ... a child's life than motherhood. The interpretation is up to the audience, and sexist or not there still hints in the story by common belief of Hollywood critics. Both these movies, although vastly different, are examples of implied male dominance. A term more commonly referred to is gender inequality, which sounds more staid but at the same time is also taken more seriously. Works Cited Castillo, Monica. "You Can Win an Oscar, but You Can't Win Respect." B Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. Gianoulus, Tina. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Vol. 4. Detroit [u.a.: St. James, 2000. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. "Roundtable: Five Casting Directors on Crazy Auditions and Industry Sexism." The Hollywood Reporter. THR Staff, n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2013. "Film Facts." WMM | RESOURCES | FILM FACTS. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.

Gender Equality and Environmental Sustainability in Uganda’s Water Sector

GENDER EQUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN UGANDA’S WATER SECTOR. By Nandala Mike([email  protected] com) 1. 0INTRODUCTION 1. 1Essence of Gender, Gender Equality and the Environment Gender refers to the different roles, rights and responsibilities of men and women and the relationships between them, their qualities, behaviours, and identities which are determined through the process of socialisation to define their relationships with each other and with their environment.Gender equality on the other hand is a principle that equates men and women before and under the law; men and women have equal dignity (worthiness); and have equal opportunities in economic, political, cultural and social life. It is upon this background that the relationships and rights enjoyed by men and women foster decision making and activities that in turn have been affected in both the management and sustainability of the environment. It has been observed that there is an undesirable imbalanc e that has existed between men and women resulting in inadequate performance of the letter of their roles.Often this has slowed down development initiatives leading to adverse effects on the environment. 1. 2 Significancy of Water in Social and Economic Development Water is a key strategic resource, vital for sustaining life, promoting development and maintaining the environment. Access to clean and safe water and improved sanitation facilities and practices are pre-requisites to a health/population and therefore have a direct impact on the quality of life and productivity of the population.Besides domestic water supply, water is also vital for: Livestock Water Supply, Industrial Water Supply, Hydropower generation, Agriculture, Marine Transport, Fisheries, Waste Discharge, Tourism, and Environmental Conservation. Water, therefore, significantly contributes to the national socio-economic development and also poverty eradication (UNWD, 2005) Water is thus an integral part of the natu ral resources protected under the Uganda Constitution. 1. 3Government Committement.Over the last two decades, government has committed itself to the implementation of public sector reforms meant to ensure sustainable development, through legislative and policy frameworks anchored on three key policies, namely: Decentralisation, Privatisation and Divestiture; and the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), These were intended to reduce the burden of the nation’s concern for income generating resources and practices. The PEAP was prepared in 1997 in a move to eradicate poverty as an overall national planning framework.It has since been revised through 2007/8 and based on five pillars, namely; (1) Economic management; (2) Enhancing production, competitiveness and incomes; (3) Security, conflict-resolution and disaster management; (4) Good governance and (5) Human development (PEAP 2004/5-2007/8) Water and sanitation are some of the central elements under pillar one intended to i mprove the quality of life of the poor through human development. The second pillar points out a strategy to foster production, incomes and competitiveness through water consumption and production.It also addresses actions to empower and strengthen women’s gender awareness and furthermore points out inadequacies aimed at capacity building in the application of skills, limited choice in the decisions about the nature of services received and needed by women, less efforts in community gender awareness campaigns, weaknesses among decision makers including support in supervision and monitoring thus leading to reasons for low gender responsiveness in the water sector. Which way forward?With this background, this Article addresses key policy and legal frame works in the water sector, gender and environmental impact assessment of water resources which have been developed and supported by various laws, sector performance, integration of gender into environment and sustainable develop ment, issues of particular concern, and recommendations. 2. 0Policy, Legal and Institutional Frameworks 2. 1Policy The policy objectives of the Government of Uganda for the Water and Sanitation sector are at two levels: first, the domestic consumption and secondly, water for production.At the domestic level, the objective is to provide sustainable safe water and hygienic sanitation facilities, within easy reach, based on management responsibility and ownership by users, to 77% of the population in rural areas and 100% in urban areas by year 2015. Concerning water for production, the aim is to promote development of water supply for agricultural production in order to modernise agriculture and mitigate effects of climatic variations on rain fed agriculture (MWLE, 1999).In essence, the overall policy objective is to manage and develop the water resources of Uganda in an integrated and sustainable manner, so as to secure and provide adequate quantity and quality of water for all social and economic needs of the present and future generations. The Government aims at full participation of all stakeholders with an 80-90% target for effective use and functionality of facilities. Other policy measures have also been put in place by the Environment and Natural Resources Sector Working Group which commissioned a study on the use of economic instruments for environmental management.Curbing water pollution was a key implementation factor for environmental sustainability. In 1998, the government introduced a water waste discharge fee ranging from 0 to 13 million Ugandan shillings ($0 to $7,000) in proportion to the biological oxygen demand load. The fees were meant to encourage investment in less polluting technologies. The legislation required that companies register for discharge permits before dumping industrial waste water. 2. 2Legal FrameworkThe major Instruments relevant to the Water Sector that provide the enabling legal framework for the water resources management and development in Uganda include: the Constitution, which provides the broad legal and policy framework within which all water sector legislation, policies and development plans are developed; the National Environment Act,(1995), it provides the framework for coordinated and sound management of the environment including environmental impact assessment of water resources related projects and setting water quality and effluent standards; the Local Government Act, which provides for the decentralisation of functions, powers, responsibilities and services to Local Governments; Uganda Water Action Plan (1995); the Water Resources Regulations and Waste Water Discharge Regulations (1998), providing for the regulation of water abstraction and waste water discharge through the use of permits; the National Water Policy (1999), indicating the policy framework for water resources management and development in Uganda. Other related legal policies include the National Gender Policy (1997) ; Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA) and ; Water and Sanitation Gender Strategy (2003-2008). The policies and legal framework outlined above, are forward-looking in intention, for socio-economic, development strategies of the Government of Uganda and have supported various reforms in the water sector which has enabled government, to put in good order and rationalise the country’s resource utilisation. The question is, are these policies fully implemented? What is the implementation stand at local government and community levels?There are challenges regarding definition of roles and responsibilities, capacity and coordination of men and women, as well as collaboration for improved performance especially at government and community levels (MWLE, 2005). There is also need to review some provisions of the laws to incorporate regulatory functions and allow equal participation of men and women, in the water sector. (1)Institutional and Implementation Framework The water sector i s structured at three distinct levels namely: (a) the national, (b) decentralised or local government level and (c) the micro or user level. (a)National level At the national level, a Ministry of Water, Lands and Environment (MWLE) was created in 1996 following Government restructuring of line Ministries.This institution is charged with overall responsibility for initiating national policies and setting national standards and priorities for water development and management. Two national institutions are under this Ministry: The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) and Directorate of Water Development (DWD). At implementation level, the Water and Sanitation Sector Working Group (WSSWG) which is under the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) provides policy and technical guidance for sector development in the country; approves all sector programmes, including work-plans and budgets. The sector comprises representatives from ; Development Partners and Non-Governmental Orga nisations and Government.The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), was established in 1972 with responsibility to deliver water supply and sewerage services in 15 urban centres serving 2. 1 million people. These centres are Entebbe, Kampala, Jinja /Njeru, Mbale, Tororo, Soroti, Gulu, Lira, Arua, Masaka, Mbarara, Fort Portal, Kasese, Bushenyi/Ishaka and Kabale. The Directorate of Water Development is the leading water sector agency responsible for policy guidance, setting standards, co-ordinating and monitoring, sector reporting, and undertaking sector relevant research and development. DWD is also responsible for managing water resources including provision of oversight and support services to the local governments and other water supply service providers. DWD, 1991-2001 ) Other national level institutions that play important roles in the Water and Sanitation sector include Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MFPED), responsible for the mobilisation and allocation of financial resources including co-ordination of donor inputs and the privatization process; Ministry of Health (MOH), for promotion of hygiene and household sanitation; Ministry of Education and Sports(MoE), charged with promotion of sanitation and hygiene education in schools; Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), responsible for planning, coordination and implementation of all agriculture development in the country including irrigation development, aquaculture, and livestock development ; Ministry of Gender and Social Development, which addresses gender responsive development and community mobilisation; and NGOs working in the sector. (b)District level The District and Local Government levels as a whole, are responsible for the provision and management of water and sanitation services in rural areas and urban areas outside the jurisdiction of NWSC, in liaison with DWD. Their functions, responsibilities and powers differ according to the degr ee of decentralization so far implemented for both rural and urban water. Planning, implementation and operational management of water and sanitation activities in major towns remain the function of NWSC. However, of 143 small towns with a population of 1. million, 66 have been gazette as water supply areas, 61 of these have operational piped water supplies and schemes, of which 57 are managed by private sector water operators. Planning and implementation for water supply systems in small towns is still centralized at national level (MWLE 2005). Operation and maintenance is decentralised to the urban authorities and private operators through public-private partnership arrangements. The district water offices operate within the overall framework of the district local councils. The district offices are staffed with a multi- skilled team, in planning, hygiene education and social aspects. The district water team reports to the Works and Technical/Services sub-committees of their respec tive local governments.At county level, technical officers have been posted to facilitate planning and supervision of construction works and overseeing maintenance of installed supplies. The communities are responsible for demanding for, planning, operating and maintaining water and sanitation facilities. (c)The Micro or User level At sub-county level, planning, implementation and operation and maintenance of the rural water and sanitation facilities are organised. These communities are also obliged to pay for urban water and sanitation services provided by NWSC and other service providers. Development of low-cost technology options such as springs, shallow wells, rainwater-harvesting tanks and school latrines are undertaken.The district water office and national level technical teams support the sub-counties to carry out water resources assessment to identify potential areas for water development and sanitation services. The sub-counties assess the demand for water and sanitation s ervices by the communities. This is based on population size and location and functionality of the existing facilities. At community level, the citizens are supposed to participate in the planning, financing, implementation, monitoring and control of community water and sanitation development. Communities submit requests/applications to the sub county for support towards water improvements. These are then forwarded to the district However, the level of community participation is less than the partnership, which it is meant to be.Women who are majority users of Water resources constitute only a handful of people, dominated by men in accessing and managing these resources. The initial programme design and implementation under many previous projects does not fully address gender equity participation. 3. 0Integration of gender into Environment and sustainable development in the water sector In order to avert the rapid degradation of the environment, Uganda developed a National Environme nt Action Plan (NEAP), 1995, that adapted a gender approach in planning the long-term investment of managing the natural resources in the country. The NEAP makes a strong commitment to addressing environment problems and to sustainable development in a comprehensive manner.The plan also argues for participatory approaches to environmental planning and the integration of gender analysis. The Uganda National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is charged with formulating national environment policies and providing guidance in the implementation, including environment impact assessment, and environment education and training in environment management. The main purpose of incorporating gender in the environment management policies was to enable men and women perform their duties in the best cost effective methods which will conserve the environment, accelerate sustainable development that would improve people’s way of living.To achieve the above objectives there was need to f ormulate activities, which would contribute to the integrated promotion of sustainable livelihoods and environmental protection, covering various sectoral interventions involving a range of actors, from decentralised or local government level to lower levels, that are essential at every stage especially at the grassroots levels in the rural areas with special emphasis on the disadvantaged groups like women and youths. 4. 0ISSUES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN 4. 1Equitable access to water supply Access to safe drinking water is a basic human right and essential for achieving gender equality and sustainable development. Most households, especially at community levels do not have adequate access to water and the children and especially women, walk long distances to fetch water for domestic use.Water near the home contribute significant improvements in nutrition and health. The carrying of water over long distances is a health hazard. During daily water collection, women and girls face the risk of rape and injuries from attacks. A major issue associated with poor water supply and sanitation is a case with the Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) camps, in Northern Uganda which involves high risks of sexual violence and abuses committed primarily against women and girls, a danger often caused by insufficient water supply and sanitation facilities within the camps which prompt movements to get water from far areas and at homes poor hygienic conditions.Over crowding, poor water pressure and broken water pumps accelerate the crisis (Diane Paul, 2006) Access to fresh water and sanitation therefore, does not only improve the health of a family, but it also provides an opportunity for girls to go to school, and for women to use their time more productively than in fetching water. Women in most cases are primarily responsible for the use and management of water resources, sanitation and health at the household level. Over the years, women have accumulated an impressive store of env ironmental wisdom, being the ones to find water, to educate children in hygiene matters and to understand the impact of poor sanitation on health and the environment.Very often the decision about location of water sources, types of water sources, and who will maintain the operation of the facilities are made without consulting women resulting in no-one taking responsibility. Men, who mainly dominate the operations and maintenance of facilities in the water sector often do not fully implement decisions and actions thus the need to involve more women. 4. 2Equitable access to land rights and water for productive use Equitable access to water for productive use empowers women and addresses the root causes of gender inequality. Lack of access (ownership) to land, is seen as an underlying cause of women’s limited access to water.In Uganda, women technically have little control and ownership on land under customary law in many of the Uganda ethnic societies statutory (national) law, there is, however, no discrimination. According to MFPED (2006), women own only 7% of the registered land in Uganda, a situation which affects gender mainstreaming in the Water sector, as women lack control over resources and therefore have limited decision making over issues like the silting of water sources, maintenance of broken pumps/taps/damaged bore holes/ water tanks and use of water for production. Land ownership is a precondition for access to water. Thus, land reforms that allocated legal land tenure to the heads of households or permanent agricultural workers (who are generally male) resulted in women losing any legal claim to water.There is need of water for a range of small scale economic enterprises, like: home gardens in peri-urban areas ; growing fruits; poultry farming; preparing food, (which are some times overlooked in agricultural statistics). Overall, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reports an increasing â€Å"feminisation of agriculture† due to wars, pandemics and the exodus of men seeking paid work in urban areas. Also mentioned is the fact that women are heads of an increasing number of rural households in the developing world and find themselves in the position of managing farm land and providing for their families alone, without legal rights to water and land. 4. 3Equity and Participation in the management of resources in the water sector The management of water resources has been mainly male dominated.Men occupy a bigger portion in careers and training in water management than do women. Social barriers tend to restrict women’s participation in public consultations that can influence policies on water at all levels of water management. This prevents women voices from being effectively heard, particularly with respect to their environmental concerns and also results to limited effectiveness of water, sanitation and hygiene promotion efforts . Usually it is men who make the decisions over water management and sanitation issues and yet it is women who are usually in greater need for sanitation privacy and responsible for water, sanitation and hygiene.It is worth noting that the process of formulating the Water and Sanitation Sub-Sector Strategy (2010/11-2014/15), which began in 2003-2008 (Water Sector Gender Strategy-WSGS,WSGS ), served as the first strategic framework for implementing Uganda’s National Gender Strategy within the powers of the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE). The WSGS I was developed in response to the various international commitments made by the Government of Uganda regarding gender equality and the National Gender Policy (1997). The strategy was aimed at developing and empowering approaches that would enhance gender equity, participation and access to and control of resources in the water sector.The strategy further put emphasis on both internal and external gender mainstreaming including building capacity for gender planning, monitoring and evaluation; strengthening the capacities of partners and executing bodies for mainstreaming; and committing adequate resources for gender related activities. This is an outstanding move with good intentions of formulating gender equity and participation but unless the Ministry of Water and Environment comprehensively and consistently puts focus on gender concerns, gender mainstreaming in the water sector will not penetrate deeply into matters of policy and legislation. 4. 4Issues on Sanitation Sanitation refers to the drainage and disposal of sewage. The need to dispose human excreta appropriately is an environmental and social concern in the country. Ignoring it posses adverse impacts on environment cost and on health.Lack of sanitation and poor hygiene are responsible for the transmission of diseases such as cholera, typhoid and other parasitic infections. These diseases have a big negative impact on the health and nutrition of communities especially the children. A focus on gender difference s is of particular importance with regard to sanitation facilities which needs the attention of women to play crucial roles in influencing the hygiene behaviours of children, and men too can serve as role models in sustaining changes in disposal habits. Hence the success and effective use of water and sanitation facilities largely depend on the involvement of both women and men in selecting the location and technology of such facilities, and taking responsibility for operation and maintenance.Sanitation concerns are mainly emphasized in urban and peri-urban centres and less priotised in the villages or lower communities/households. It is only under the urban and peri-urban strategies that water is directly linked to sanitation. The number of latrines at community level tend to be less as compared to size of the families needed to access them. Latrines are usually household initiatives sometimes rudimentary in nature. The water sector supply systems are relatively well developed and have mechanisms for delivery whenever necessary as compared to sanitation mostly at community level. There seems to be no well-developed mechanism for sanitation service delivery even at household level. Investment in water supply is highly priotised than sanitation.The reasons why sanitation prioritisation is not key in the water and sanitation sector is because of the difficulty of estimating the sanitation measures especially for rural sanitation where the latrines are merely rudimental with varying degrees of safety which makes it difficult to tag costs of improvements, rehabilitation or construction of such facilities including lack of political commitment to sanitation. It was therefore easy to omit household sanitation and concentrate on institutional sanitation (MWLE 2005). 5. 0Linkages OF GENDER EQUITY with PEAP Goals Gender mainstreaming and improved access to water supply has two potential benefits; improved service delivery and health. Gender equity in the sector offers better services in the management and maintenance while water-born diseases are important issues of the disease burden in Uganda.The sector goals are in line with PEAP goals as well as the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs). For example, the goals aim at the importance of gender in areas of agricultural production, legal discrimination and wood fuel, shortage of sustainable safe water supply and sanitation facilities, based on management responsibility and ownership by the users. It furthermore mentions inadequacies realised in the capacity to apply gender analysis skills, limited gender awareness among the communities, bureaucratic resistance in decision making and weak support in monitoring and supervision of sector activities as the reasons for low gender responsiveness. 6. 0Implementation ChallengesThe Poverty Eradication Action Plan identifies the importance of gender mainstreaming in all interventions which include policy planning, formulation, guiding public actions to eradic ate poverty and points out inadequacies in applying gender analysis skills, limited gender awareness among the communities, bureaucratic resistance among decision makers and weak support in supervision and monitoring. However, the importance of gender equity is not emphasised in the water and sanitation sector major implementation polices. Focus is targeted on poverty alleviation as an overall concern than gender. This limits coverage on gender issues and implementation. The insurgency in some northeast parts of the country and most especially northern Uganda, not only delays implementation, but also contributes to destruction of existing facilities. This contributes to delays in achieving the targets and the goals of the sector and PEAP.Community gender involvement, while it is a good input for environmental sustainability, remains difficult to attain. Attempts have been made to involve the men and women in planning ,maintenance of water and sanitation facilities . The methodologie s require a lot of skills and patience, qualities that are still lacking among the sub-county level civil servants. Women and the youth involvement remains limited as no major efforts have been made to involve them in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. 7. 0The way forward The paper has identified some challenges in transforming the water sector to achieve effective and sustainable services for both men and women.Issues concerning gender and their roles in development process and thus environment have not been given adequate attention by development planners. Women are now viewed as a useful resource to be integrated into development process, thus rendering the projects more efficient and successful. What is the way forward for Uganda to ensure that gender issues are mainstreamed in environment and development plans, projects and actions? 8. 0Issues to be addressed (1)Having water points nearer the homestead will reduce the distance women and girls have to walk, thu s allowing time for other activities, including training, childcare, growing food and income generation.The latter could include construction and management of water and sanitation facilities. (2)It is essential that both women and men be involved in decision making processes regarding the provision, location and technology of water and sanitation facilities in the community and household. (3)Government should also address perceived inequalities between women and men through reviewing laws and policies that discriminate against women and also urge Non Government Organisations(NGOs) and the private sector to champion women’s cause, which might increase women access to land and more decision-making powers. (4)Women groups should be accorded recognition as citizens, land holders and contributors to the development process.They need to have secure access to land and water for domestic use, in addition to productive use in farming including small scale industries. (5)Incorporate g ender analysis into all development plans, projects and actions, by encouraging the development of new skills and expertise within an Integrated Water Resources Management framework, linking social and gender aspects with the ecological, technical and economic dimensions of water management with special attention at community level. (6)The water sector should change the attitude of value system in favour of only men, and develop positive perceptions about women as competent professionals just like their male counterparts. 7)Capacity building for all women should be geared towards effective participation in local governances and sustainable development. Women politicians should be strengthened to enable them represent women interests regarding water and sanitation management and maintenance. (8)The water sector should fill all established posts equitably for better performance. It has been found that projects in which women and men have an equal say have a better chance for sustainab ility and success because they cater for the needs of every one. (9)The legislation on industrial water discharge permits be amended to require all companies / major water polluters to register for discharge permits. 10)A specific percentage of investment in water supply should be dedicated to promotion of sanitation and hygiene initiatives for the welfare of the users and protection of the environment. 9. 0Conclusion The water and sanitation sector has developed elaborate mechanisms and capacity at national, district and community levels for planning and managing sector activities which includes gender and environment issues to a large extent. However, in order to address strategic gender needs, there is a need to introduce fundamental changes in ideologies and power structures, behavioral attitudes, in government, organisations, companies and involve individuals both men and women.

Substitution and Income Effects of the Working Tax Credit on Labour Supply

Labour essay: Having considered the implications for the WTC, we can now analyse the effects of the policy on labour supply by determining the substitution and income effects. It’s clear that the effect of the working tax credit on work behaviour depends upon how much a worker is currently working. To analyse these effects we will only look at one type of individual; a lone parent in the labour force. This will simplify our analysis such that we can divide the diagram below into 3 sections and describe the effects separately. draw:frame} Figure 1: Diagram showing how the imposition of the WTC affects the individuals labour supply decision When the lone parent is either not working at all, or working less than 16 hours (Labelled A in the diagram), her current wage rate and therefore income is unaffected by the WTC. This is simply because they have not yet received any tax credit and therefore have no added incentives to work. However, if they work over16 hours, the programme wi ll raise their overall take home wage as they receive a lump sum payment, shown by the first vertical blue line. Therefore, at this low level of work, there is a very small, or 0, income effect, and a positive substitution effect, thus increasing the individual’s labour supply. These effects are the same as would be under an increase in the wage rate, shown diagrammatically in Figure 2. {draw:frame} Figure 2: Diagram showing the effects of a wage increase The movement around the original indifference curve from A to C is the substitution effect; this arises due the change in price of leisure relative to hours of work, holding utility as constant. As the wage rate has increased the opportunity cost of leisure opposed to work has risen. The substitution effect encourages the worker to decrease his hours of leisure. The movement from C to B donates the income effect illustrating the workers response to an increase in real income. Overall, the substitution effect dominates the income effect and therefore increases labour supply from L1 to L2. There is also the possibility that the income effect may overpower the substitution effect resulting in a decrease in the supply of labour. However, this depends on the position of the indifference curves, hence the worker’s preferences for work and leisure. On the other hand, it is unlikely at this low wage rate for the worker to choose leisure over the opportunity to earn a higher wage. Section ‘C’ of our WTC diagram shows the area at which an individual works more than 30 hours. The worker’s net income is now higher at this point, however the worker’s marginal wage is lower which is demonstrated by the gradient of the WTC line being shallower than gradient of the No WTC line. The Substitution and Income effects here are the same as would be with a decrease in wage. Both the Income and substitution effects work together to reduce the amount of labour; shown in Figure 3: {draw:frame} Figure 3: Diagram showing the effects of a wage decrease The substitution effect is shown by the movement around the old indifference curve, from A to C. The income effect is shown by the movement from A to B. Although the substitution effect is stronger, both effects work together to reduce the hours of work from L1 to L3. Lastly, section ‘B’ represents the area at which an individual works between 16 and 30 hours. Here, the effects of the WTC on labour supply are much more complex. Despite the gradient of the WTC line being the same as section C, this time there is the possibility of increasing work to above 30 hours and receiving the additional payment. This therefore results in lone parents bunching around the 16 and 30 hour marks in order to gain the greatest benefit from the WTC payment. Some will therefore substitute leisure for work and work longer hours to gain the additional bonus at 30 hours, whilst others will choose to forgo work for leisure and be content with the benefit of working over 16 hours.

Definition and Examples of Duality of Patterning

Definition and Examples of Duality of Patterning Duality of patterning is a characteristic of human language whereby speech can be analyzed on two levels: As made up of meaningless elements;  i.e., a limited inventory of sounds or phonemesAs made up of meaningful elements; i.e., a virtually limitless inventory of words  or morphemes  (also called  double articulation) Definition [D]uality of patterning, says  David Ludden, is what gives language such expressive power. Spoken languages are composed of a limited set of meaningless speech sounds that are combined according to rules to form meaningful words (The Psychology of Language: An Integrated Approach, 2016). The significance of duality of patterning as one of the 13 (later 16) design features of language was noted by American linguist Charles F. Hockett in 1960. Examples and Observations Human language is organized at two levels or layers simultaneously. This property is called duality (or double articulation). In speech production, we have a physical level at which we can produce individual sounds, like n, b and i. As individual sounds, none of these discrete forms has any intrinsic meaning. In a particular combination such as bin, we have another level producing a meaning that is different from the meaning of the combination in nib. So, at one level, we have distinct sounds, and, at another level, we have distinct meanings. This duality of levels is, in fact, one of the most economical features of human language because, with a limited set of discrete sounds, we are capable of producing a very large number of sound combinations (e.g. words) which are distinct in meaning.(George Yule, The Study of Language, 3rd ed. Cambridge University Press, 2006) Duality of Language and Animal Communication The level of sounds and syllables is the province of phonology, while that of meaningful elements is the province of grammar and semantics. Has this kind of duality any analog in animal communication systems?... The short answer to [that] question seems to be no.(Andrew Carstairs-McCarthy, The Origins of Complex Language: An Inquiry Into the Evolutionary Beginnings of Sentences, Syllables, and Truth. Oxford University Press, 1999) It is hard to find clear and uncontroversial examples of duality of patterning outside our own species. But let us say that we can find them- and there is evidence, from the way some animals like birds and dolphins manipulate melodies, that this might be true. This would mean that duality of patterning is a necessary condition for a communication system to be a human language, but that by itself it may not be enough. There is no human language without duality of patterning.(Daniel L. Everett, Language: The Cultural Tool. Random House, 2012) Hockett on Duality of Patterning [Charles] Hockett developed the phrase duality of patterning to express the fact that discrete units of language at one level (such as the level of sounds) can be combined to create different kinds of units at a different level (such as words)... According to Hockett, duality of patterning was probably the last feature to emerge in human language, and it was critical in separating human language from other kinds of primate communication...The most difficult bit to figure out is how and when duality of patterning could have emerged. How did individuals manage to isolate various bits of calls so that they could be endlessly combined into arbitrary symbols? Hockett thought that if two calls each had two distinct parts, then perhaps something in the blending process might alert individuals to the existence of discrete units. If you can combine breakfast and lunch into brunch, then does that alert you to the possibility that br is a distinct unit of sound that is combinable with other dis tinct units of sound? Solving this puzzle remains one of the thorniest of the problems in determining how language became possible.(Harriet Ottenheimer, The Anthropology of Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology. Wadsworth, 2009) The Structures of Phonology and Syntax The question of whether the structures of phonology and syntax are separate and distinct is relevant to the notion of duality of patterning... The division between meaningful and meaningless elements is less sharp than it appears, and the fact that words are composed of phonemes is arguably just a special case of the pervasive hierarchical structure that is present in language...Of all Hocketts design features, duality of patterning is the most misrepresented and misunderstood; in particular, it is frequently conflated with or linked to productivity (Fitch 2010). Hockett seems to have regarded duality of patterning as the single most important breakthrough in the evolution of language (Hockett 1973: 414), yet he himself was unsure whether to ascribe duality of patterning to the dance of the honeybee (Hackett 1958: 574).(D.R. Ladd, An Integrated View of Phonetics, Phonology, and Prosody. Language, Music, and the Brain: A Mysterious Relationship, ed. by Michael A. Arbib. MIT Press, 201 3)

How to Interject Using Bueno in Spanish

How to Interject Using Bueno in Spanish Bueno is one of the first adjectives that many people learn when studying Spanish. It can refer to almost anything that can be described as good, sometimes having specific meanings such as personable, kind and suitable. The word  bueno can function as an exclamation of emotion, too.   Bueno Used as an Interjection Although mostly used as a descriptor, bueno can also be used as an interjection, like an exclamatory emotional expression, often in the way, the words such as good, well and OK can be used in English. In some areas, native speakers use it frequently as an interjection, while in other regions bueno is used mostly as an adjective. Interjection Indicating Agreement   Bueno can be used as an interjection meaning, OK, sure or fine, as in agreeing with someone or something. Spanish Sentence English Translation Quisieras una taza de caf? [Response] Bueno. Would you like a cup of coffee? [Response] OK. Vamos a estudiar en la biblioteca. [Response] Bueno. Were going to study in the library. [Response] Sure. Creo que sera mejor ir al restaurante francs. [Response] Bueno, vayamos. I think itd be better to go to the French restaurant. [Response] Ok, fine, lets go. Interjection Indicating Sufficiency Bueno can be used as an interjection meaning thats good, or thats enough.   For example, if someone is pouring you a drink, you could say bueno  to indicate that you have received enough. Another interjection used to indicate thats enough, is basta ya. Bueno Used as a Filler Word Bueno can sometimes be inserted in speech to somewhat downplay the importance of what has been said or what will be said. When bueno  is used in this way, it can function like a   filler word.  The translation can vary considerably depending on context.   Spanish Sentence English Translation Bueno, lo que pas, pas. OK then, what happened, happened. Bueno, de todas formas ver qu pasa unas cuantas veces ms. Well, in any case Ill see what happens a few more times. Bueno, puede que s o puede que no. Yeah, maybe or maybe not. Bueno, pues, mira. Well, then, look. Greeting Answering a Telephone Bueno can be used as a greeting to answer the telephone, mostly in Mexico.   Other greetings are common in other countries like    ¿alà ³?,  diga,  dà ­game, and  sà ­.

The 9 Best Film Schools in the US

The 9 Best Film Schools in the US SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In the past few years, applying to film school has gotten extremely competitive: top schools likeUSC’s School of Cinematic Arts now boast lower admission rates than the Ivies. Simultaneously,the number of film programs has grown- rising from about 300 in 2006 to almost 400 in 2010. With so many programs available and so much competition for the top spots, where should you apply? In order to help you find the right school for you, I’ve compiled a list of the best film schools in the US, based on my experience as a film student and actress in LA. How Is "Film School" Defined for This List? I’m categorizing film school as a school where film is a priority.These schools are either conservatories or have specialized film schools within a larger university. As a graduate of USC’s film school, I know from experience that going to film school has many advantages.You’ll be surrounded by students and teachers who will inspire you, help you with your projects, and will likely be your future colleagues.Furthermore, you’ll be at a college that doesn’t view your passion as simply an extracurricular. All that being said, you can get a film degree from other universities.However, this list is for students who are 100% sure they want to study film and are looking to be surrounded by like-minded students. The Evaluation Criteria for the Best Film Schools You should never look at rankings as fact- not even those from trusted industry sources like The Hollywood Reporter.Instead, you should use these articles as a jumping off point for your own college research.Also, whenever looking at a ranking list, you should find out how the rankings were determined. Right now, I’ll explain how I came up with this very unscientific list of top film schools.I began by restricting my search to colleges that prioritize film by only offering arts degrees or by having a specialized film school within the larger institution. Then, I took the following three criteria into consideration: #1: Ranking. I used ranking lists from respected industry papers such as The Hollywood Reporter as a starting point for my research. #2: On and Off-Campus Extracurricular Opportunities. Success in the entertainment industry depends a lot on who you know. In order to get to know more people (beyond your classmates and teachers), you need to have the opportunity to intern with production companies, studios, agencies, management companies, post-houses, casting offices, etc. Also, it’s important to have opportunities to make films and showcase your work in order to get your name out there and to get feedback. Does the school provide opportunities to make and screen student films? #3: Notable Alumni. How many alumni have risen to the top of their field? If a lot have, it means the school likely provided them with the resources (aka connections) and/or skills needed to succeed. I split this list into two tiers rather than ranking each school, since specific rankings are typically not that meaningful. What separates the Tier 1 schools is that they have the best reputation, provide the most extracurricular opportunities and have the longest lists of notable alumni.While the Tier 2 schools are also good, they don’t have the same industry connections and don’t have as many notable alumni as the Tier 1 schools. Consider attending a school in the heart of Hollywood! Tier 1 Film Schools Tier 1 includes the very best film schools in the US - these are extremely prestigious programs with many successful alums. University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts I may be biased as an alum, but you’d be hard-pressed to find any ranking list that didn’t have USC near the top.The USC School of Cinematic Arts has more connections in the entertainment industry than all of the other schools combined (and a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in front of the school to prove it). USC's Los Angeles location helps make it a top film school. You're not just given internship opportunities: you also have opportunities to go to industry events (with students occasionally being offered free tickets to Hollywood premieres) and more potential to network with industry professionals. The School of Cinematic Arts is extremely selective, with only about 3% of applicants being admitted. There are separate undergraduate programs for animation, screenwriting, critical studies, media arts, interactive media, and film production. USC is arguably one of the more "practical" schools I'll discuss because it tries to prepare students for the changing medium (as it expands beyond typical movies to web series and virtual reality) by allowing students to take classeson new media. The list of notable alumni is incredibly long (George Lucas, Judd Apatow, Paul Feig, and many more), but even more impressive is thatbasically every Hollywood office I interned at employed at least one USC alum. The school provides access to great off-campus internships throughout the school year and summer at places such as NBCUniversal, Lionsgate, and Pixar.Additionally, there are many opportunities to screen your work. These opportunities include the prestigious USC First Look Film Festival, which is attended by many industry professionals. NYU Tisch I don’t know if NYU Tisch students heard this adage as well, but the saying in film circles goes, â€Å"If you want to make a living, go to USC; if you want to make art, go to NYU.† It has to do with Tisch's location: while L.A. is the center of commercial film and television, New York has become the center of independent filmmaking. Tisch's undergraduate program only offers three degrees: Film Television, Cinema Studies, and Dramatic Writing.NYUfocuseson churning out true auteurs who have strong visual storytelling skills, preparing themfor success in the independent filmmaking world. While NYU does have some famous alumni working in Hollywood such as Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee, it has a longer list of alumni working in the independent scene: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl), Joel Coen (Fargo), documentarian Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me), and experimental filmmaker George Von Steiner. Due to its New York location, NYU provides students with the opportunity to intern year-round at places such as Fox Searchlight, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Late Show With Stephen Colbert.Also, the school provides tons of opportunities to screen your work, including at the Manoogian Screenings (held at the Directors Guild Theater in Los Angeles). New York is another great place to be for film! AFI AFI is always near the top of any film school ranking list. A true film conservatory without the traditional college experience and general education requirements, AFI offers certificates to those without undergraduate degrees and MFAs to college grads. The programs at AFI are extremely specialized (more so than any other school on this list), allowing students to graduate with unique degrees in Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Producing, Production Design, and Screenwriting. AFI boasts an impressive list of alumni including Darren Aronofsky, David Lynch, and Terrence Malick.Its LA locale allows students to intern throughout the year.That being said, as a conservatory, AFI prioritizes helping students make films rather than helping them get internship opportunities.However, making and screening films is equally important to interning. By making and screening films,students can see how audiences respond to their work and get better at their craft. AFI students make TONS of films. For example, in the first year alone, Directing, Producing and Cinematography students have the opportunity to make three narrative projects. Editing students work on up to six projects, Production Design students work on up to four, and Screenwriting students write at least one of short film and start working on a feature screenplay.There are prestigious screening opportunities such as at the famous AFI Film Festival. Some schools still use old school cameras! Tier 2 Schools Tier 2 schools also offer topfilm programs, but they don’t have as many industry connections or as many notable alumni as the Tier 1 schools. UCLA As an alum of their rival school, it pains me to include them on this list, but UCLA’s film school is top notch andvery competitive, with only about 30 students admitted each year. UCLA is less specialized than the other schools on this list, only offering undergraduates a generalized Film, Television, and Digital Media degree.Students do pick concentrations within the degree, but not until spring of their junior year; concentrations include Film Production, Documentary, Screenwriting, Animation, Digital Media, or Cinema Media Studies. Just a few of UCLA's famous alumni include Francis Ford Coppola, Alexander Payne, and Rob Reiner.UCLA offers juniors and seniors the opportunity to intern year-round. Past students have interned at places such as NBCUniversal and Bad Robot. Chapman University Chapman’s film schoolgives studentsthe opportunity to specialize at the undergraduate level with unique degrees in Film Production, Digital Arts, Creative Producing, Television Writing, Screenwriting, New/Broadcast Journalism and Documentary.This makes Chapman a great option for high school students who know what niche of the film industry they would like to partake in before entering college. The school boasts a handful of notable alumni such as The Amazing Race producer Darren Bunkley, Masters of Sex editor Rebekah Parmer, and Dear White People director Justin Simien. Unlike other schools on this list, Chapman has its own production company, Chapman Filmed Entertainment, which gives students experience in making, marketing and distributing films. This is an incredible opportunity that most students don't get while in school; it allows them to learn the ins and outs of fundraising, marketing, and distribution in addition to production. Chapman offers some screening and internship opportunities though not as many as other schools.Its location in Orange County, about a 45-minute to two-hour drive to LA depending on traffic, makes it difficult to intern during the school year. Loyola Marymount University (LMU) LMU’s School of Film and Televisionallows students to get specialized degrees in Production, Animation, Screenwriting, Film Studies, or Recording Arts.It’s one of a handful of schools with the Recording Arts degree, making it a perfect choice for students who know they want to pursue careers as sound editors, sound mixers, or sound designers. It has some well-known alumni such as James Bond franchise producer Barbara Broccoli, The Simpsons producer David Mirkin, American Horror Story writer/producer James Wong, and Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence. LMUrecognizes the importance of internships and partners with big companies including Disney, Sony, NBCUniversal and Paramount to provide internships to about 100 LMU students each year. Most film schools provide you with top of the line equipment. Boston University Boston University’s Film Television Departmentonly offers more general Film TV or Cinema Media Studies degrees at the undergraduate level. However, BU provides students with a well-rounded degree offering courses inproduction (directing, editing, cinematography, sound design, short film production), film and television screenwriting, producing, management, and film studies. For students who are unsure about film school, BU is a great option because you don't officially declare your major until spring of your sophomore year, so you can test out film and pick another major if you don't like it. BU has a handful of famous alumni including Joe Roth, Howard Stern, and Nina Tassler.Recognizing its sub-optimal location andhow crucial LA connections are to future success, BU openedan LA campus that over 200 students visit each year.While in LA, BU students partake in internships at companies such as The Jim Henson Company. California Institute of the Arts CalArts is a conservatory that was founded in 1961 by Walt Disney and is well-known for producing A-list animators like John Lasseter. In addition to two animation degrees (Charaction Animation and Experimental Animation), however, CalArts also offers a Film and Video degree. Since CalArts is primarily lauded for its animation programs, the majority of its famous alumni (with the exception of Tim Burton) are animators:Frozen co-director Chris Buck, Big Hero 6 director Don Hall, and Inside Out director Pete Docter. The school's location about 45 minutes outside of LA makes it difficult to intern during the school year. However, CalArts does do its best to help students get credit for internships during the school year and summer. Emerson College Emerson has also recognized the importance of LA connections for students, opening a campus in Hollywood and hosting an annual Los Angeles-based film festival.Emerson is the only school in the country to offer a comedy arts degree, making it a great choice for students who want to work exclusively in comedy filmmaking. The school boasts some well-known alumni such as New Regency's Pam Abdy, DreamWorks' Holly Bario, Sony's Andrea Giannetti, Viacom's Doug Herzog.The school provides students with excellent screening opportunities such as at the Los Angeles Emerson Film Festival. Which of These TopFilm Schools Is the Best Choice for You? Just because, say, AFI is a highly reputable film school doesn't mean that you should automatically want to go there. It’s a tiny school with a very intense program, which may not be the best fit for all students. Here are some questions to ask when trying to pick which film school is right for you. Which Area Do You Want to Specialize In? So you’re interested in film - do you want to do animation or screenwriting? Directing or production design? Look into the programs and see what specialties are offered.For example, CalArts would be a better choice than AFI if you want to do animation since AFI doesn’t even offer an animation specialty. At this point, you might not know what you want to specialize in, and that’s okay.I had no idea which aspect of film I loved the most when I applied to film school.If you’re in this boat, you should apply to a program with a more generalized film production program (such as USC, UCLA, Emerson, BU, LMU, and NYU) that’ll allow you to experiment with different roles on set.You wouldn’t want to be accepted as aScreenwritingstudent at AFI, only to then realize you actually want to be a cinematographer. What Opportunities Are There Outside the Classroom? I touched on this above, but make sure you go to a school where the opportunities fit your interests.If you want to work as an agent, then USC, which provides internship experiences at agencies, would be a better fit than AFI.Extracurriculars are where you get your experience, so make sure you’ll be getting experience that aligns with your interests. What’s the School Like? Is it big or small? Is it a conservatory or is it at a large college?If you dread the idea of a big school, don’t go to a big school.If you’d dread being surrounded by a sea of students and going to USC football games, then you probably shouldn’t attend USC. If you get overwhelmed by intensity, then a conservatory like AFI may be a bad choice.AFI is famous for its "narrative workshops," during which students are required to sit silently as their peers harshly critique their projects.It’s scary, and has led to many students dropping out and fleeing to law school. Pick a school where you will feel comfortable and at home so that you can thrive. If this is the end goal,then film school is where you should go! What’s Next? Excited to attend one of the best film schools? Read our article on how to get into film school for tips on your application. Most of these schools require an ACT or SAT score with your application. Get help studying for these tests with our ultimate SAT study guide and study guides for ACT Reading, Writing, English, Math, and Science. Taking the ACT or SAT really soon? Check out our guide to cramming for the SATor our guide to cramming for the ACT. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The Next Industrial Revolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Next Industrial Revolution - Essay Example Realizing the current state of the environment, he has one consistent theme, ‘we need a new design’. He likens it to a building which was built in the past with no regard for its structural design, but in the present, buildings cannot be built without taking into consideration a lot of factors, one of which is the environment, because things have changed, and in most cases, for the worst. Sustainable design The challenge that William sought to meet was designing an economy that would be pedagogical in its design and maintenance. The Adam Joseph Lewis Centre For Environmental Studies is an example of such as it borrows its design concept from a tree which is self sustaining in its nature. The Adam Lewis Centre stands as the first of its kind because it sustains itself in every single activity; waste management to its own energy supply. The Herman Miller brand is another of its kind which relies on solar income to sustain the factory. It is called ‘The Green House Fa cility. It got the first ever ‘Good Design is Good Business’ Award from Business Week magazine. Even though it cost 15% more than a comparable building, energy cost decreased by 30% and performance rose dramatically. They produced twice as much with the same number of people. Over half of the employees maintained a 100% attendance record, which showed that it was a good working environment. Regulation-System Failure The majority of the companies despite heavily polluting the environment with their products and their waste, all hide behind the phrase, ‘it’s proprietary, it’s legal’. The current environmental laws do not stop pollution, they only slow it down. They do not realize that in their quest to achieve maximum profits in the shortest times; they are cutting short the lifespan of the environment, in effect shortening their lives. Companies that have embraced Sustainable Economy DESIGNTEX which is a leading designer and manufacturer of tex tiles for commercial interiors wanted to create a product both environmentally friendly and profitable. Its executive got in touch with William McDonough and Michael Braungart and decided to follow through with the company’s goal. The Swiss Chemical Giant CEBA-GEGY was convinced to work with them accepting that it was very risky. The McDonough Design Protocol tested 1600 dyes provided by CEDA-GEGY to determine whether they caused illnesses and found only 16 met the required standards. This was enough. They set out from day one with no compromise on aesthetics or performance. Profits increased, workers became contented and customers were satisfied. William went to Nike and asked them to incorporate sustainable design into their products. The question was whether Nike would take the financial risk after all the success they had had with their status quo. After intensive research, in May 2001, Nike introduced a new rubber sole free of harmful ingredients, which gelled with the c oncept of sustainable design. The new design also protects their workers’

APPLIED MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS Research Questions Paper

APPLIED MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS Questions - Research Paper Example c) Mathematical formulae for production system of The Village Inn Y1 a11 a12 a13 a14 X1 Y2 = a21 a22 a23 a24 x X2 Y3 a31 a32 a33 a34 X3 X4 It could be assumed that, Y1 = buttermilk pancakes Y2 = Skillets Y3 = Crepes Thus, X1 = Milk, X2 = Butter, X3 = Wheat and X4 = Eggs Lastly, aij are the weights that are associated with each input for the production of each item and, their values range between 0 and 1; i, j = 1 ... 4 d) According to the Law of Diminishing Returns, the productivity of a factor with other factors remaining unchanged tends to diminish over time. In the above example, if any of the components are added in excess of the rest, they cannot help in producing an extra unit of output, so that increase in quantity only diminishes its productivity. Answer to Question 2 a) A department store generally deals with a large number of items under a single roof and simultaneously has to employ a large number of salespersons. In this case, productivity of each employee implies the add itional number of commodities that the person is able to sale over time. In order to calculate the average productivity per employee thus, it is necessary to calculate the gross sales that the company made and divide it with the total number of transactions. b) Technical efficiency implies the efficiency with which inputs could be converted into output. Normally, the greater the volume of output that could be created with a given volume of input, higher is the efficiency of the concerned firm. In retail stores, this could be implies by the speed with which the sales are taking place. An ideal method to measure the same could be through estimating the number of days that a commodity stays in the inventory shelf. If the number of days is found to be higher than the average, technical efficiency of the company might be regarded as falling and vice-versa. Moreover, greater the technical efficiency is, lower is the per unit production cost incurred and greater is the profit generated. c) Economic efficiency is the extent to which the retail store can compromise their shelf space occupied by one commodity with that of another. In order to optimise the same, it is very important for them to be informed about the commodities which are highly demanded compared to those which are not. In case that they are able to make the substitution successfully, i.e., there is Pareto Optimality, the average cost of the company falls and its profit rises. Answer to Question 3 In the present case, the retired couple have to capture a part of the market that is largely served by the nearby chain restaurant. However, the difference between the two is that while the couple plans to establish a lunch-only restaurant, the nearby chain is a full-fledged one. Thus, the strategy that they must be adopting should be that like an oligopolistic market, where their strategies should be highly dependent upon the ones being adopted by the existing players of the industry. Four economic factors that they need to consider while determining their pricing strategy are – Firstly, the market is characterised by another major player who is already experiencing the advantage of being a first mover. Generally, in an oligopolistic

Communicating Effectively Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Communicating Effectively - Essay Example The prevalence of the doctrine in the country led to an increase in employment feuds owing to the shortfalls it presented. On the contrary, the doctrine also expedited the process of terminating contracts between employers and employees thus minimizing the duration both spend together especially in relationships that strain either party. This implies that the doctrine has a number of advantages and disadvantages to either party depending on the prevailing circumstances as the discussion below portrays. Key among the advantages of the employment and will doctrine is the fact that it enhances the process of resolving contract breaches. Contracts are legal agreements that bind both parties to specific terms and responsibilities. A breach refers to the inability of one party to remain faithful to the terms of the contract thereby causing either financial loses or inconveniences to the other party. Resolving contract breaches is always a detailed process characterized by hectic court cases. The employment at will doctrine, on the other hand, provides an aggrieved party the freedom to evaluate the nature of the breach and to terminate the agreement. Such terminations of agreement are easy and timely thus preventing any further inconveniences. Additionally, the employment at will doctrine provides the employers with the freedom to hire and fire employees at their peril. Such is a vital provision that employers use to enhance the profitability in their companies. The freedom to fire employees at will is among the most prudent ways of dealing with difficult employees. As such, the employer can fire an employee owing to his attitude and productivity. As such, the rest of the employees strive to enhance their productivity in order to earn the favor of the employer. This way, employers enhance the profitability of their ventures. The doctrine provides employees with a degree of flexibility in their places of work (Ford, Kerry and Richard 102). An

Child care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Child care - Essay Example Mother has a very important role in the nurturing of a child particularly in the pre-school age. A child starts to learn from the very first day of his/her life. In fact, much of the psychological development of a child happens in the very first year. Therefore, mothers should be very careful in their attitude with the child in the pre-school age. In the contemporary age, there is a growing trend among mothers to feed their babies with supplements. Many mothers prefer not to give their babies their own milk. Although there is considerable evidence and scientific research to show that artificial supplements are never nutritious enough to replace mother’s milk, yet there are several more factors that speak against such attitude of mothers. For example, when mothers feed their babies their own milk, it also lays basis for the development of a unique psychological relationship between the mother and the child in addition to the child’s health. This psychological relationshi p lasts throughout the life of both, and gains strength from the initial two years of mother-child feed relationship. Therefore, mothers should feed their children their own milk. Mothers commonly have trouble when the child becomes 2 years old because this is the age when mother’s milk has to be removed from the child’s diet plan. Mothers have a tough time saying â€Å"no† to their children when they ask for milk at that age. This requires display of extreme patience and determination on the part of mother along with the child. Mothers can say â€Å"no† to the demanding child and mean it by reading literature about child’s diet schedule. There is comprehensive information available regarding what type of diet should a child be given at a particular age. Frequently reading such digests helps a mother make up her mind and be practical on her plans. The attention mothers pay towards their children’s education in the kindergarten age lays foundations upon which the children build their academic career. The stronger the foundations, the stronger the career becomes. Children are introduced to the world of academics by their mothers. That is an age when they are least receptive towards academic load. In those days, mothers convince them to accept the load by singing nursery rhymes with them so that they feel at home doing school work. In order to facilitate the transition from pre-school age to kindergarten age, mothers should make use of moving image. Nursery rhymes on youtube are one of the best means to inculcate a liking for poems in children. Child care covers a wide range of subjects that include but are not limited to child’s education, sports, mannerism and behavior with adults and other children the age of child. Mothers lay the foundations for child’s psychological development in the pre-school age and academic career in the kindergarten age. Breastfeeding offers far more benefits that bottle-feeding the child (Lee). Therefore, mothers should resolve to breastfeed their child up to 2 years from birth. After the first 2 years when the child asks for breastmilk, mothers have to be determined and consistent in saying â€Å"no† to the child. In that phase, mothers can seek help from mothers’ digests that are frequently published. These digests offer

Explosions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Explosions - Essay Example The Imperial Sugar dust explosion occurred four years after the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB)  had conducted a study into the risks presented by dust explosions after three prior severe accidents in 2004. Unfortunately, all the recommendations the CSB made to the  Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had only been partially acted on e.g. the outdated methods and construction materials that added to the severity of the Port Wentworth fire could have been detected. On the other hand the BP Texas City Refinery disaster was the result of gross negligence on the part of its management and workers. Rigot (2007) clearly outlines the Baker Panel’s findings on the incident. BP’s US refineries did not comply with its own internal process safety standards, process safety leadership was lacking and the work environment encouraged procedural noncompliance (7-15). Southwest Industrial Gases and CAI Inc. may have not directly been culpable for their explosions b ecause of the difficulty to judge whether the causes were accidental or intentional. However, the Bastian Plating Company’s poisonous gas incident was unacceptable. The night-shift leader avoided all precautions. Secondly, it is unacceptable for a team leader in a chemical plant to unknowingly create hydrogen cyanide. With the level of expertise, technology and knowledge in the US, most industrial explosions are preventable. Rigot (2007) cites the major causes of explosion to be latent organizational weaknesses, lack of effective reporting and learning culture within organizations and focus on injury and illness statistics rather than on process safety by both organizations and OHSA. In conclusion, Davis and Hansen (2009) propose that companies need to perform consequence analyses for their facilities to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future

Child care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Child care - Essay Example Mother has a very important role in the nurturing of a child particularly in the pre-school age. A child starts to learn from the very first day of his/her life. In fact, much of the psychological development of a child happens in the very first year. Therefore, mothers should be very careful in their attitude with the child in the pre-school age. In the contemporary age, there is a growing trend among mothers to feed their babies with supplements. Many mothers prefer not to give their babies their own milk. Although there is considerable evidence and scientific research to show that artificial supplements are never nutritious enough to replace mother’s milk, yet there are several more factors that speak against such attitude of mothers. For example, when mothers feed their babies their own milk, it also lays basis for the development of a unique psychological relationship between the mother and the child in addition to the child’s health. This psychological relationshi p lasts throughout the life of both, and gains strength from the initial two years of mother-child feed relationship. Therefore, mothers should feed their children their own milk. Mothers commonly have trouble when the child becomes 2 years old because this is the age when mother’s milk has to be removed from the child’s diet plan. Mothers have a tough time saying â€Å"no† to their children when they ask for milk at that age. This requires display of extreme patience and determination on the part of mother along with the child. Mothers can say â€Å"no† to the demanding child and mean it by reading literature about child’s diet schedule. There is comprehensive information available regarding what type of diet should a child be given at a particular age. Frequently reading such digests helps a mother make up her mind and be practical on her plans. The attention mothers pay towards their children’s education in the kindergarten age lays foundations upon which the children build their academic career. The stronger the foundations, the stronger the career becomes. Children are introduced to the world of academics by their mothers. That is an age when they are least receptive towards academic load. In those days, mothers convince them to accept the load by singing nursery rhymes with them so that they feel at home doing school work. In order to facilitate the transition from pre-school age to kindergarten age, mothers should make use of moving image. Nursery rhymes on youtube are one of the best means to inculcate a liking for poems in children. Child care covers a wide range of subjects that include but are not limited to child’s education, sports, mannerism and behavior with adults and other children the age of child. Mothers lay the foundations for child’s psychological development in the pre-school age and academic career in the kindergarten age. Breastfeeding offers far more benefits that bottle-feeding the child (Lee). Therefore, mothers should resolve to breastfeed their child up to 2 years from birth. After the first 2 years when the child asks for breastmilk, mothers have to be determined and consistent in saying â€Å"no† to the child. In that phase, mothers can seek help from mothers’ digests that are frequently published. These digests offer

Early Post Partum Haemorrhage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Early Post Partum Haemorrhage - Essay Example She was having one of the most serious complications of pregnancy known as post-partum hemorrhage(PPH). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2006), hemorrhage, blood clot, high blood pressure, infection, stroke, amniotic fluid in the bloodstream and heart muscle disease are the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths which sums up to 2-3 pregnancy-related deaths each day. Although deaths due to pregnancy complications have dramatically declined during the period of 1900-1982, the number of cases has ceased to show any decrease since then, which raises so much concern for the women of child bearing age. Furthermore, there seem to be a link between a woman’s race, ethnicity, country of birth, and age and her risk of dying of pregnancy complications. For example, African American women are four times as prone to pregnancy-related deaths as white women, and that, women aged 35-39 are three times at greater risk than women aged 20-24 years old. The risk goes up to five times for a woman aged 40 and above. Post-partum hemorrhage accounts for a high 17% of m ortality in women, and a case such as this would require a nurse/midwife with the proper knowledge and skills to address the situation and save the mother from an otherwise life-threatening situation. This paper is aimed at exploring the guidelines in the management of early post-partum hemorrhage and the treatments available for such condition. A woman in labor undergoes three different stages. The first stage is dilatation. It begins with the period of true labor contractions and ends with when the cervix is fully dilated. The first stage is further divided into three phases: the latent, the active and the transition phases. A regularly perceived uterine contraction marks the beginning of the latent phase. It ends when the rapid dilation of the cervix begins. In the active phase of labor, the cervix dilates

Young Goodman Brown Essay Example for Free

Young Goodman Brown Essay The people living in the United States of America are some of the most liberated people in the world. The majority of the people living in this country are well aware of their religious freedom and human rights. It is therefore hard to imagine that more than 300 years ago, there was a group of people living in Massachusetts who could not tolerate others; especially those whose views are not in conformity to their own. The Puritans were both celebrated and reviled in history. But for Nathaniel Hawthorne the way they persecuted non-conformists made him loathe them. The only problem is that he is related to some of the most notorious figures of that era. He wrote a significant number of works to help him deal with his connection to this men and the Young Goodman Brown is one best example of how he tried to exorcise the demons of the past. The Author Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804. He was born in a place used to be called Salem, Massachusetts. His hometown was later renamed to Danvers, Massachusetts and probably for good reason. In 1692 there was a real witch hunt in this town. Suspected witches were hanged and burned. His ancestors were leading men of Salem. One of them was William Hathorne who settled in the colony in the early part of the 17th century and then went on to become one of Salem’s spiritual builders and made a significant contribution in creating a theocratic society (Meltzer, 10). William Hathorne held many offices including magistrate and as a military leader who forced the Indians out of their homeland. Later on Nathaniel Hawthorne will use some of his exploits and misdeeds as the background for his stories. In order to have some perspective, in the year that Nathaniel Hawthorne was born, it was also the same year that Thomas Jefferson was reelected president of the United States and about the same time when Lewis and Clark set out on an expedition to explore the West (Meltzer, 15). It means that when Hawthorne wrote Young Goodman Brown America was still a relatively young country and thus the lessons of the past are still fresh in the memories of many most especially those who came from the primary settlements such as in Massachusetts. For Nathaniel Hawthorne his darkest secret lies in the fact that his ancestors â€Å"†¦earned the reputation of chasing down the wicked like a bloodhound† (Meltzer, 12). The following best describes the situation in the Salem witch trials: While the witch-hunt craze lasted, men and women, young and old, were jailed, their property confiscated and they were forced to invent testimony against innocent others. The court’s central aim was to get a confession out of the accused. About fifty people gave in to the intense pressure and some were executed (Meltzer, 11). It will become apparent later on that Nathaniel Hawthorne made a realization; that he could do something about the dishonorable actions of his ancestors by becoming a writer. But as mentioned earlier American in the mid-19th century was not exactly a highly industrialized nation. This is bad news for an aspiring writer like Hawthorne because this means that it is extremely difficult to earn a decent living writing short stories and novels. He had a rough start as a writer. But then he found his niche, he found his own unique style and the rest is history. The Story The Young Goodman Brown is one of the more important works of Nathaniel Hawthorne and it is about the religious experience of a young man named Young Goodman Brown. The main character was married to a young woman named Faith and one day decided to take on a strange journey deep into the woods right after sunset. It is a curious time to start traveling to another town or to any particular location. It turns out that Young Goodman Brown was invited to attend a clandestine meeting in the darkest part of the woods. The story took a sudden turn when the highly religious Young Goodman Brown was discovered to be meeting with the devil incarnate (McCabe, par. 1). Hawthorne made a cryptic introduction of the devil when he wrote the following: But the only thing about him that could be fixed upon as remarkable was his staff, which bore the likeness of a great black snake. So curiously wrought, that it might almost be seen to twist and wiggle itself, like a living serpent. This, of course, must have been an ocular deception, assisted by the uncertain light. Hawthorne did not elaborate why the pious young man consented to a meeting with the devil. This difficulty is exacerbated by the declaration of Young Goodman Brown who said: We are a people of prayer, and good works, to boot, and abide no such wickedness. The abovementioned excerpt may help answer that question – Young Goodman Brown was deceived and did not realize at first that he was talking to Satan. But that is not the most interesting part of the story. The tale became more complicated when Young Goodman Brown saw the most highly respected people in Salem village taking part in the said devious meeting. The young man could not believe his eyes when he saw Goody Cloyse, Deacon Gookin, and the old minister of Salem. The confusion was made more intense by the presence of known sinners including the hated sorcerers from the heathen tribes. The religious people of his village spoke against their kind and yet all are gathered under the trees, seeming to enjoy each other’s company. It was also revealed to Young Goodman Brown that the prim and proper ladies in Salem village are guilty of either murder or unbridled lust. He was shocked to find out about the hypocrisy and the deception. But his life was about to be destroyed by what he saw next. In the beginning of the story Hawthorne made it clear that aside from religion Young Goodman Brown’s purpose in life is to love and cherish his wife, Faith. He was not only madly in love with his young and beautiful wife but he considered her as his anchor and helps him keep focus. At the climax of the story however, Young Goodman Brown saw his wife in the meeting and willingly participated in the demonic rituals. Needless to say, the young man was crushed and he would never recover. He went on to live for a long time. At his funeral he was survived by an older looking Faith, by his children and grandchildren. But he died a broken man full of gloom that his family never bothered to inscribe anything in his tombstone. It seems that it is best for him to die rather than live. The Context As they say it is all about context. The story can be interpreted different ways but the correct interpretation will have to have an understanding of the context. One critic provided the initial foray into the study of context when he wrote, â€Å"Despite Hawthorne’s reputation as a romancer who preferred to create a ‘neutral territory, somewhere between the real world and fairy-land’ †¦ he paid careful attention to historical settings for most of his literary works (Person, 16). Hawthorne based his story on historical facts but most importantly he based it on the actions of his ancestors. A deeper examination of his lineage will reveal that, â€Å"Puritanism and the history of early Massachusetts settlements – Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Salem – form one important context in which to understand Hawthorne’s writing† (Person, 16). It must be noted that Nathaniel Hawthorne’s great-great-great grandfather was William Hathorne. William Hawthorne was well known for ordering one Quaker woman – Ann Coleman – to be whipped while walking the streets of Salem. John Hathorne the son of William Hathorne was also made notorious by presiding in the equally infamous Salem witch trials in 1692. One should also note that the letter â€Å"w† is missing from the last names of the aforementioned ancestors. This could mean that the author was less than thrilled to be associated with these men. In fact, â€Å"†¦Hawthorne referred to each of these ancestors as a ‘bitter persecutor who possessed all the Puritanic traits both good and evil. Hawthorne felt haunted by these ancestors and took shame upon himself†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Person, 17). It can be said that Nathaniel Hawthorne had to rectify what was done in the past through his stories and novels. The link to the Salem witch trials and the plot of Young Goodman Brown can be seen in how Hawthorne used details from the trial and incorporated it into the story. The most important aspect of the Salem witch trial that Hawthorn used was encapsulated in a concept called â€Å"specter evidence† (Person, 18). This is the belief that people could give Satan permission to mimic them in a supernatural way and then using that likeness, the devil could then move freely within the community to tempt others. In Young Goodman Brown the concept of â€Å"spectral evidence† was used to the hilt. Critics assert that the people that Young Goodman Brown encountered are the specters of everyone he knew (Person, 18). Unfortunately, the young man believed the specter to be the real thing and as a result his life was turned upside down. The sense of gloom felt by Young Goodman Brown is but a reflection of what Hawthorne felt because what his ancestors did he could not forget, â€Å"It was a family bloodstain Nathaniel Hawthorne could never rid himself, of even after more than a hundred years had passed since those ancestors died† (Meltzer, 14). But he tried his best. The Intentions of the Author Based on the preceding discussion and based on a careful analysis of Young Goodman Brown it would appear that Hawthorne had at least three intentions when he began to write this piece of literature and these are listed as follows: 1. Hawthorne wanted to show that it is counterproductive to have legalistic communities; 2. Hawthorne wanted to show that religious bigotry accomplishes nothing of long lasting significance; 3. Hawthorne wanted to show that some of the religious people in the past are guilty of hypocrisy and if truth be told they deserved to be hanged and burned just like the suspected witches in the Salem witch trials; and finally 4. Hawthorne tried to demonstrate that suspicion can lead to distrust and paranoia. Nathaniel Hawthorne was able to accomplish all of the above by creating a great work of fiction. In this work of fiction he used the aforementioned concept called â€Å"spectral evidence† to make Young Goodman Brown believed that the people he saw were indeed acting on their own free will. It was an improbable story but worked well to develop the ideas of Hawthorne. It was the contrasting subplots; the first one shows a group of pious people living in Salem village, the second one shows the same group of people living a double life by being true worshippers of the devil. In Hawthorne’s storyline he was able to criticize and make fun of the religious order of yesteryears. He also made no qualms in exposing the excesses of the Puritans. He was also able to show that if people isolate themselves by persecuting others – especially the nonconformists – and driving them out of the community then they will lack the necessary feedback mechanism that will tell them they are living in excess. The tragedy of Young Goodman Brown is the lack of communication and the inability to reach out to others as shown by the behavior of the main character. Conclusion In Young Goodman Brown the story can only be understood by examining the historical background of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hawthorne’s ancestors participated in the violent persecution of those who failed to conform to the standards set forth by the Puritans. This means that those who disagree can leave anytime but for those who wanted to stay, they must learn to live by the rules. Those who will not conform will have to suffer by flogging, hanging, and burning. For Nathaniel Hawthorne building a highly legalistic society can backfire and instead of creating a harmonious community the byproduct is hypocrisy and secret sins. But most importantly if people isolate themselves then they are impeding progress in their spiritual journey. By erecting a facade of religiosity or by not opening up and reaching out to others, people will become paranoid and die with an unresolved inner turmoil. In the case of Young Goodman Brown he made a mistake of judging the specters as real and so he decided not to be in communion with his own people. There could also be another interpretation, that what he encountered were not specters and that what really happened is that he fell asleep and dreamt that he was in a demonic meeting attended by religious leaders and his wife. Irregardless of which one is truth, Young Goodman Brown could have fixed everything if only he reached out to his wife, to his pastor, to the elders of the church and initiated dialogue. But unfortunately Young Goodman Brown took the easy path and it is to build a high wall made out of pride and the erroneous thinking that he alone knew the truth. Works Cited Alkana, Joseph. The Social Self: Hawthorne, Howells, William James, and Nineteenth-Century Psychology. KY: The University Press of Kentucky, 1997. Demas, Corrine. Great American Short Stories. New York: Barnes Noble, Inc. , 2004. McCabe, Michael. Nathaniel Hawthorne: Young Goodman Brown. 27 July 1998 Florida Gulf Coast University. 26 October 2008 http://itech. fgcu. edu/faculty/wohlpart/alra/Hawthorne. htm. Meltzer, Milton. Nathaniel Hawthorne: A Biography. MN: Twenty-First Century Books, 2007.