The For A Family History Project Essay Example For Students

The For A Family History Project Essay â€Å"Huh. Never knew that.† Sitting at his computer a twelve year old version of myself looked intently at a computer screen. â€Å"This does explain the coat of arms Dad has hanging in the toilet though.† While researching for a family history project the young Tom ahd stumbled onto some surprising information. His last name, Drummond, is a historically Scottish name. â€Å"Always told I was English but whatever†.Originating in the highlands of Scotland the Drummond family has an extensive noble lineage. The current head of the family or clan holds the title of Earl of Perth and there is even a Scottish Queen somewhere back in the history. They were and still are a family with multiple castles, one even called Drummond Castle. â€Å"I should really verify this information with a non-Wikipedia â„ ¢ site. We will write a custom essay on The For A Family History Project specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now † In accordance with the his thoughts the boy went back to his initial Google â„ ¢ search and went clicked on some more reputable scholarly journals. â€Å"That clears that up then,† the new sites corroborating his previous research. A very interesting and exciting genealogy to work into†¦. â€Å"seems like a lot of trouble truthfully†. With this in mind he thought back to some of the more recent histories of the Drummond family he had been told. â€Å" I first met your father in a pub†¦ and he was drunk as a skunk. † â€Å"Thanks for sparing my innocent sensibilities there Mum† Continuing on unawares of her son’s traitorous thoughts my Mum thought back to a day many years ago. â€Å" I was working as a bartender in a pub called the Lost Dene. No idea even what that could mean, whenever I asked Thomas, the owner, â€Å"WAIT! was I named after a bar owner!?† â€Å"Noooo† the uncomfortable look on her face told a different story. â€Å" Anyway, moving on.he always dodged the question. The pub it. .y angry fiance. â€Å"You too really have no filter when it comes to your children do you?† As I said I don’t remember much but I apparently came to The Lost Dene already drunk, fell over the doorstop, face planted but got back up, and started asking your mother to marry me with various volumes and words. Your mother says I then went out back to throw up and never came back. She went out to check on me and found me passed out by the dustbins. Searching my pockets to preemptively steal my wallet and keys she found the ring I had gotten the last week. That is apparently the only reason she didn’t kill me, the ring implied I had thought about this while sober. She did leave me in the alley as punishment though.† â€Å" I really did not need to know any of that thank you† â€Å" Well now you do, any other questions?† â€Å".was I named after a bar owner?† â€Å"Nooooo†¦.† â€Å"Goddamn it.†

Free Essays on Pyrmamid Of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza The pyramid of Giza is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World to still exist and is the only one that has no arguments on its appearance, size, and shape. The Great pyramid is the oldest of all the wonders. It is located in the city of Giza, which was a necropolis of ancient Memphis, and is part of greater Cairo, Egypt, today. Not all three pyramids are considered as part of the Wonders. Only the Great Pyramid of Khufo is written as one of the seven wonders. The pyramid was built for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufo of the Fourth Dynasty around the year 2560 BC to serve as a tomb when he died. Pyramid building originated from the complex idea of a â€Å"mastaba† or platform that covered the pharaoh’s tomb. The Great Pyramid is believed to have built over a 20-year period. Although it is not known how the building blocks were placed, many theories have been proposed. One theory suggests the construction of a straight ramp was put in place and was adjusted as the building got higher. A second theory involves the blocks being placed using long levers with a short, angled foot. When it was built, the pyramid stood 481 ft. high and each side was 751 ft. wide at the base. Over the years, it has lost 30 ft. off its top. It was ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries. The Great Pyramid is made up of approx. 2 million blocks of stone, which weighed over 2 tons each. The great Pyramid of Giza is by far the most astonishing member of the Seven Wonders of the World. It has survived long and is made with such exact, precise measurements. The Pyramid has been measured, photographed, x-rayed, and studied more than any building in the world. Its existence really shows that the people of ancient Egypt were very hard working and extremely intelligent.... Free Essays on Pyrmamid Of Giza Free Essays on Pyrmamid Of Giza The Great Pyramid of Giza The pyramid of Giza is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World to still exist and is the only one that has no arguments on its appearance, size, and shape. The Great pyramid is the oldest of all the wonders. It is located in the city of Giza, which was a necropolis of ancient Memphis, and is part of greater Cairo, Egypt, today. Not all three pyramids are considered as part of the Wonders. Only the Great Pyramid of Khufo is written as one of the seven wonders. The pyramid was built for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufo of the Fourth Dynasty around the year 2560 BC to serve as a tomb when he died. Pyramid building originated from the complex idea of a â€Å"mastaba† or platform that covered the pharaoh’s tomb. The Great Pyramid is believed to have built over a 20-year period. Although it is not known how the building blocks were placed, many theories have been proposed. One theory suggests the construction of a straight ramp was put in place and was adjusted as the building got higher. A second theory involves the blocks being placed using long levers with a short, angled foot. When it was built, the pyramid stood 481 ft. high and each side was 751 ft. wide at the base. Over the years, it has lost 30 ft. off its top. It was ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries. The Great Pyramid is made up of approx. 2 million blocks of stone, which weighed over 2 tons each. The great Pyramid of Giza is by far the most astonishing member of the Seven Wonders of the World. It has survived long and is made with such exact, precise measurements. The Pyramid has been measured, photographed, x-rayed, and studied more than any building in the world. Its existence really shows that the people of ancient Egypt were very hard working and extremely intelligent....

Why US Public Schools Dont Have a Prayer

Why US Public Schools Dont Have a Prayer   Students at America’s public schools can still under certain specific conditions pray at school, but their opportunities to do so are dwindling fast. In 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Union Free School District No. 9 in Hyde Park, New York had violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution by directing the districts principals to cause the following prayer to be said aloud by each class in the presence of a teacher at the beginning of each school day: Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country. Since that landmark 1962 case of Engel v. Vitale, the Supreme Court has issued a series of rulings that may result in the elimination of organized observances of any religion from Americas public schools. The latest and perhaps most telling decision came on June 19, 2000 when the Court ruled 6-3, in the case of Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, that pre-kickoff prayers at high school football games violate the First Amendments Establishment Clause, typically known as requiring the separation of church and state.. The decision may also bring an end to the delivery of religious invocations at graduations and other ceremonies. School sponsorship of a religious message is impermissible because it (implies to) members of the audience who are non-adherents that they are outsiders, wrote Justice John Paul Stevens in the Court’s majority opinion. While the Courts decision on football prayers was not unexpected, and was in keeping with past decisions, its direct condemnation of school-sponsored prayer divided the Court and honestly angered the three dissenting Justices. Chief Justice William Rehnquist, along with Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, wrote that the majority opinion bristles with hostility to all things religious in public life. The 1962 Courts interpretation of the Establishment Clause (Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,) in Engle v. Vitale has since been upheld by both liberal and conservative Supreme Courts in six additional cases: 1963 ABINGTON SCHOOL DIST. v. SCHEMPP banned school-directed recital of the Lords Prayer and reading of Bible passages as part of devotional exercises in public schools.1980 STONE v. GRAHAM banned the posting of the the Ten Commandments on public school classroom walls.1985 WALLACE v. JAFFREE banned observance of daily moments of silence from public schools when students were encouraged to pray during the silent periods.1990 WESTSIDE COMMUNITY BOARD. OF EDUCATION. v. MERGENS held that schools must allow student prayer groups to organize and worship if other non-religious clubs are also permitted to meet on school property.1992 LEE v. WEISMAN outlawed prayers led by members of the clergy at public school graduation ceremonies.2000 SANTA FE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT v. DOE banned student-led pre-game prayers at public high school football games. But Students Can Still Pray, Sometimes Through their rulings, the court has also defined some times and conditions under which public school students may pray, or otherwise practice a religion. [A]t any time before, during or after the school-day, as long as your prayers do not interfere with other students.In meetings of organized prayer or worship groups, either informally or as a formal school organization IF other student clubs are also allowed at the school.Before eating a meal at school as long as the prayer does not disturb other students.In some states, student-led prayers or invocations are still delivered at graduations due to lower court rulings. However, the Supreme Courts ruling of June 19, 2000 may bring this practice to an end.Some states provide for a daily moment of silence to be observed as long as students are not encouraged to pray during the silent period. What Does Establishment of Religion Mean? Since 1962, the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that in Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, the Founding Fathers intended that no act of the government (including public schools) should favor any one religion over others. Thats hard to do, because once you mention God, Jesus, or anything even remotely Biblical, you have pushed the constitutional envelope by favoring one practice or form of religion over all others. It may very well be that the only way to not favor one religion over another is to not even mention any religion at all a path now being chosen by many public schools. Is the Supreme Court to Blame? Polls show that a majority of people disagree with the Supreme Courts religion-in-schools rulings. While its fine to disagree with them, it is not really fair to blame the Court for making them. The Supreme Court did not just sit down one day and say, Lets ban religion from public schools. Had the Supreme Court not been asked to interpret the Establishment Clause by private citizens, including some members of the Clergy, they never would have done so. The Lords Prayer would be recited and the Ten Commandments read in American classrooms just as they were before the Supreme Court and Engle v. Vitale changed it all in June 25, 1962. But, in America, you say, the majority rules. Like when the majority ruled that women could not vote or that black people should ride only in the back of the bus? Perhaps the most important job of the Supreme Court is to see to it that will of the majority is never unfairly or hurtfully forced on the minority. And, thats a good thing because you never know when the minority might be you. Where School-Sponsored Prayer is Required In England and Wales, the School Standards and Framework Act of 1998 requires that all students in state-run schools participate in a daily â€Å"act of collective worship,† which must be of â€Å"a broadly Christian character,† unless their parents request that they be excused from taking part. While religious schools are allowed to mold their act of worship to reflect the school’s specific religion, most religious schools in the United Kingdom are Christian. Despite the 1998 law, Her Majestys Chief Inspector of Schools recently reported that about 80% of secondary schools were not providing daily worship for all students. While England’s Department of Education has stressed that all schools must maintain religious prayer in schools in order to reflect the beliefs and traditions of the predominantly Christian country, a recent BBC study found that 64% of students do not take part in daily acts of worship or prayer. In addition, a 2011 BBC survey revealed that 60% of parents believed that the daily worship requirement of the School Standards and Framework Act should not be enforced at all.

Dissertation critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dissertation critique - Essay Example The research methodology is also not included in the introduction chapter to inform the reader about the approach adapted by the author to address the issue. The research study and findings have been included in the dissertation in the form of three main chapters. Each chapter revolves around one important factor of study; namely economical, political and cultural impacts. The hypotheses involving these three factors are stated in their respective chapters instead of discussing them in the ‘Introduction’ chapter. The first study involves the economic impacts of the integration of computer technology in out societies. The summary of the hypothesis that have been developed for the study on the basis of the economic factors are as follows; - Information and communication technologies (ICT) have a direct relationship with the foreign investments in the region; this hypothesis has been proved by the aid of some relevant literature and the reader gets convinced that there exists a direct casual relationship between the two factors. - The second hypothesis attempts to deduce a direct causal relationship between the different forms of government with the integration level of ICT. The author includes literature regarding the relationship between the form of government and the number of foreign investments in this hypothesis but does not address the relationship between the integration of ICT and the form of government in the society. This hypothesis is more related to politics than economics therefore it does not seem suitable for the analysis of economic impacts. The research methodology consisted of identification of the sample set of three high income countries. The research about the chosen sample countries’ GDP over the time period of 2001-2005 has been exhaustive. However, the research approach has not been specified i.e. the author does not mention if a deductive approach is

Til Death do us Part Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Til Death do us Part - Essay Example This couple has a healthy and happy marriage. It has not been without conflict, but it is still a successful relationship. According to the model, Martha and Robert have gone through various stages in their relationship. Due to the time period, they probably rushed through these stages much faster than they normally would have. Marriage normally takes place during the bonding stage, which is the final stage. However, Robert was sent away during their first year of marriage. This distance caused them to have to revisit some of the earlier stages. They stayed connected through letters, which allowed them to intensify their relationship. When Robert returned, it was difficult at first. They had to learn how to live together again. The births of their two children so closely together did not allow them to spend much time together. That postponed the integrating stage until their children were grown. It was then that they began spending more time together again. Finally, when Robert retired they were able to enter the bonding stage. Although this was also difficult at first, they found a way to make it work. That they can finish each other's thoughts, and can not imagine life without the other shows that they are truly in a successful relationship. Rudy and Bill's marriage also started out quickly. They were married after only a few meetings, and Bill was sent overseas soon after their marriage began. They probably never left the experimenting stage. It is during this stage that couples find out if they should stay together or not. Had they given this more time they probably would have decided to end the relationship. When Bill returned he was a stranger to both Rudy and their son. Rather than going through the development stages again as Robert and Martha did, they seemed to move to the termination stages. Both seemed to think in terms of "me" rather than "we." This is demonstrated when Bill said he wanted things done "his way" not hers. Rudy was unhappy and wished she could stay with her parents. Bill also began spending more time with his friends and going out after work, without Rudy. These are signs that they were differentiating. The next stage is circumscribing, when communication between the couple diminishes. Certain topics are avoided, for example, Bill's dance partners. Bill and Rudy, though living together, lived very separate lives. Rudy's was home with her children, while Bill's was out with his friends. Eventually they even moved into separate rooms in the house. This is representative of the avoiding stage. The final stage would be termination, but this relationship never reached this stage. Rudy believed that divorce was never an option, and her unhappiness not important. Bill does not seem to see a problem with their relationship. One theory that relates to this case study is Mary Anne Fitzpatrick's Marital Communication Theory. According to this theory, there are three types of couples in a marriage, the traditional type, independents, and separates. Couples can move among these types, but their communication styles will be reflected in their type of relationship. Robert and Martha seem to be traditional in their roles. They share a lot, and each person's role in the relationship is defined clearly. Rudy and Bill, on the other hand, are separates. They do not spend much time together, and live separate lives, even though they are still married. This is reflected in how they communicate. Neither seems to hear what the other is

Card Skimming Essay Example for Free

Card Skimming Essay Credit Card Fraud is one of the biggest threats to business establishments today. Originally, credit cards simply carried raised numbers that were transferred to a carbon copy with a card-swiping machine. The merchant simply accepted any card presented. Spending limits and printed lists of lost/stolen cards were ineffective in preventing fraud and other financial losses. Merchants were required to telephone a transaction authorization center to get pre-approval of the transaction. The volume of telephone traffic grew too great, and more automated authorization systems allowed faster, easier, and verified transactions. Magnetic stripes on the backs of these payment cards started to appear and that allowed computers to be used at both ends of the call. The raised letters and numbers on the plastic cards are now rarely used or even read. This then gave rise to â€Å"skimming† devices that could be used by some unscrupulous persons to electronically scan and save the information from many customers cards. Techniques such as skimming, in which criminals capture card information and personal-identification numbers, have existed for years, often on a small scale. A growing security concern with Skimming devices is the possible release of the user’s personal information or location to unauthorized parties. So, what is now needed is a way to increase the security of payment card use at merchant locations. Problem Statement Credit Card Fraud poses one of the greatest risks to businesses nowadays. As card business transactions increase, so too do frauds. According to the Jamaica Observer dated March 2010 â€Å"The National Commercial Bank (NCB) yesterday revealed that it lost more than J$100 million to credit card fraud last year, put merchants on guard against what it said was a rising problem†. Most cases of counterfeit fraud involve skimming. The fraudulent activity on a card affects everybody, i.e., the cardholder, the merchant, the acquirer as well as the issuer (bank). Several methods have been proposed in order to stop this. One such method adopted is a method of chips  built into the card adding a layer of protection. The good news is that technology for preventing credit card frauds is improving with the passage of time. Purpose Statement This paper will describe the development of a system to provide real time detection of fraud attempt so as to increase the security payment of credit cards use at merchant POS locations. Research Questions What is credit card fraud? What is skimming? How are cards skimmed and reproduced? What are the implications of credit card fraud? Can this type of fraud be prevented? If so, how can this type of fraud be prevented? Significance About J$245.1 million has been lost to credit card fraud in Jamaica for 2009 (Jamaica Observer). In 2010 Europe, which has faced a bigger problem than the U.S.A saw card-skimming attacks jump 24% in the first six months to 5,743, the largest six-month number since data gathering began in 2004, according to the European ATM Security Team, a non-profit group. Consumers face trouble trying to get fraudulent charges reversed, merchants lose the cost of the products sold have to pay chargeback fees and fear from the risk of having their merchant account closed and loss of reputation. The issuers and acquirers also have to make huge investments in preventing frauds by deploying sophisticated IT systems for detection of fraudulent transactions. They also face financial and product losses, fines, loss of reputation and possibly loss of license if not compliant to credit card standards. This research study could provide information on how to help maintain the cost of fraud and losses due to f raud and help to put this at a manageable level. It will help acquirers and issuers to equip themselves with a counterattack to possible threats and that can help protect the user and the merchant from fraud. Definition of Terms Credit Card Fraud is defined as when an individual uses another individuals’ credit card for personal reasons while the owner of the card and the card issuer are not aware of the fact that the card is being used. Card Skimming is a process where genuine data on a card’s magnetic stripe is electronically copied onto another. References List http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/NCB-puts-customers-on-credit-card-guard_7505969http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703688704575621122308129984http://quotes.wsj.com/IT

The Future of Computers :: Essays Papers Technology PC

The Future of Computers The computers of the future are expected to be smaller, faster and smarter. For the past 20 years, CPU performance has doubled about every 18 months. The PC will stay close to this pace for the next 10 years--a nearly 100-fold improvement in that time. The storage capacities of hard drives will continue to expand, they are currently growing at a rate of about 60 percent per year. Intel's Pentium II had only 7.5 million transistors. Within a few years, Intel processors should contain 50 million to 100 million transistors. In 5 years, computers will have 16 times the memory capacity they do now. "One big challenge is the time for the processor to acc-ess the memory. [One solution is that] the processor might be on the same chip as memo-ry. Every time you buy memory, you get a processor." Actual voice input will become a reality, but it may not be widely employed in offices because of privacy and environmental issues. Bill Gates predicts that within ten years, "every computer will have speech and linguistics built into it. Instead of typing or clicking, you'll tell your PC to launch this application or print that document. At the office, your e-mail message is just as likely to be a video clip. At home it probably means that your PC takes control of the lights, temperature, and appliances. When you have a prob-lem, software will look for conflicts, make sure drivers are up to date, when a fix is neces- sary, ask if you want to go online and get a patch. Later on, it will search for the medicine it needs with no intervention from you. Even later, software will watch what you are doing and step in when you're having trouble. In ten years there will be better input systems; handwriting, speech, visual recognition. As much as 90 percent of the operating-system co de will go to these new capabilities. Predictable hardware improvements and unpre-dictable software advances have been a signature of the personal computer industry, thisis simply supply and demand. Technologies That Will Change the World Digital Money-Disposable Money Cards, inspired by the success of prepaid phone cards. Web sites will be quick to accept the prepaid cards. Many items that have been free on the internet, such as downloads and plug-ins can be priced at fees of $1 or $2.

Memento – Film Review

Memento is an extremely unique ‘film noir' drama directed by Christopher Nolan, famous for his recent re-birth of the Batman series and currently at the helm of the long awaited ‘The Dark Knight'. Most of his films are difficult to put into a set genre, as they often contain elements of drama, horror, mysteries and action all at the same time. Since his directorial debut 11 years ago, Nolan has been heavily praised as a ‘true visionary' and named ‘one of the greatest intelligent directors of all time' by multiple critics, as well as being renowned for his efficiency and perfectionism both whilst filming, and in the editing room. It is no surprise then, that the content and style of Memento is so different to any other mainstream movie you might see this year. The film follows Leonard Shelby (portrayed by Guy Pearce), a man whose wife died after being raped when two men broke into his home, violating her and leaving him with an injury that causes anterograde amnesia. However, only one of the assailants involved is caught and arrested, causing Leonard to become a vigilante and avenge his wife, using notes and tattoos to help him track down the villain who killed her. This is where Nolan shows his ability to play with film in order to change the audience's perception; because the main protagonist can only remember things that happened before the incident and about three or four minutes before the current time, the film is divided into many short scenes. These scenes are played in reverse order, so that the film begins with the ultimate act of revenge, and from then on back tracks through time to display every shocking detail about Leonard's condition and story. As if this wasn't complicated enough, not everything is as it seems, and small hints of this start to trickle through fractured memories from the very beginning. The film opens with a close-up shot of a flapping Polaroid photograph in somebody's hand of a body lying face down on a bloody floor, immediately grabbing the attention of the viewer and leaving us to watch in bewilderment as the image within the white frame slowly fades to blank. This intrigue is further developed when the photograph is pushed back into a camera which then flashes and we realize that this scene is being played to us in reverse. Then we finally see the face of the main character, appearing scarred and distressed behind the heavy camera before a quick cut to him returning the camera to his pocket. What follows is another close-up, this time a shot taken with the camera laying on its side (something rarely done in cinematography) of blood running across the floor, retreating back into the body that lies there; which cuts again to the shell of a bullet rolling slowly across the ground and yet speeding up, and then a quick transition to a pair of glasses lying upside-down and flecked with blood. Again we see Leonard, this time holding his arm above the ground, where a gun jumps into his hand from the ground below and he begins to point it in front of him. And then everything comes to life in a short burst, with the glasses bouncing and flying onto the face of the body, the shell of ammunition soaring back into the gun, spatters of blood diving from the walls into the back of the corpse's head, and a sudden flash of light from the weapon before showing the open mouthed scream of the man who appears to have just sprung to life. The scene ends abruptly, fading to black, with us throughout the entire short sequence hearing only ambient noise, a gunshot and the reversed yell for help from the man about to die. This is the only reversed scene in the film, although the scenes themselves run in reversed order with distinguishable grayscale scenes interweaved between them that explain Leonard's story further, which eventually fade into colour and continue the main narrative. The fades and transitions are so subtle that you probably wouldn't notice them unless you looked for them. The casting for the movie is brilliant, with every character having their own unique traits and purposes. There are only three principal characters that we see on screen for long periods of time, and this helps in building convincingly realistic characters, as the director has not had to juggle with many actors and actresses. It may take us a while to relate to the main character, as we first see him commit murder before we even hear him speak, but it's not long before we feel that we can be on his side. Leonard plays a complicated role, which is further complicated by both his condition and his actions that we don't always know about, but Guy Pearce fits the role majestically, and pulls off the frequent loss of memory with great finesse. Originally, Brad Pitt was considered for this role, but personally I'm glad he turned it down, as Pitt isn't known for roles like the disabled Leonard, and is instead renowned for anarchistic or secret agent-type parts, and although I would only want to praise his acting ability after seeing him in David Fincher's Fight Club, it may have been harder to take his character as seriously as Guy Pearce is able to bring the character to life. Joe Pantoliano stands out in his performance as Teddy, a police officer and seemingly the main character's friend, though Leonard has to be reminded of who he is every time they meet, as the director's first choice for this role he succeeds in showing his capabilities of feeling both pity and having to lie on screen at the same time, a great challenge for any actor. The costumes reflect the gritty and dark atmosphere of the movie, as everyone in the film is of average wealth, there are no extravagant items of clothing that would distract from the essential points of the film, without all the character's looking the same. Some costumes help for suspicion about the characters to accumulate, as is the purpose of Leonard's expensive suit, of which we find out how he obtained very late into the film. The setting of the film could be any American city, which helps to emphasize that it is the drama and characters that are important and not the locations. There is a typical cheap motel, an abandoned industrial park and a peaceful looking residential estate. These carefully selected locations and the places between them serve for the majority of the film's scenes, and as our familiarity with these places increases, we further realize how Leonard can't feel the same recognition. The soundtrack consists entirely of an original score composed by David Julyan, and sounds quite emotive even without the film alongside it. As with many independent films such as Donnie Darko, the soundtrack is used sparingly and is normally inserted at times of great distress or peril. It can't be denied that the background score suits the imagery of the film throughout and sympathizes with both upsetting and upbeat scenes at both ends of the movie. As indicated in the description of the opening scene, the editing in this film is particularly clever, showing the audience everything in the scene that they need to see, and yet restricting them until the end what they really should have known throughout. Quick cuts are often used, as well as choppy editing for mundane sequences such as Leonard taking a shower, which as well as protecting the actor's modesty speeds the sequence along tremendously well. The camera work for this same scene is also done very effectively. As we see through the eyes of the main character looking through the frosted glass of the shower, we see a dark shape approaching slowly as opposed to seeing an external view of the shower and the clear image of a man sneaking up, as would be done in most movies. Watching this film for the first time is like seeing a Rubik's cube assemble itself in front of your eyes, and it's not likely that every piece will fall into place until a second viewing at the least. This may not appeal to many casual film-viewers, as well as those who may not be intelligent enough to comprehend the plot, and people without the patience to think while watching a film. This may also be the place to be critical about this movie. Although it remains gripping and enthralling throughout, by the end you may be tired and perhaps even confused by all the information fit into just less than two hours. The pacing can also be a problem for people eager to find out what is really going on, with not much going on about three quarters of the way into the film except for scenes that set up what came before them. As the end of the story happens at the beginning of the movie, the end of the movie could be seen as anti-climatic, as it is only really the audience that really finds out what is going on, although it is likely that you'll be in so much of a shock at the twist revealed at the end and thinking about what has already happened that what happens next seems unimportant in comparison anyway. The movie is full of loving nods to other independent movies and isn't without its own dark, sometimes ironic sense of humour, which is injected at regular intervals and can help to push the film along. The film made an astonishingly large profit in both cinema and DVD sales, and continues to baffle even the sharpest critics today. It won no less than 40 different awards and was nominated for more than 30 on top of those, and currently has a place at #29 on the Internet Movie Database's top 250 films of all time, with over 180,000 voters from around the world. If you do get around to seeing this movie, it will be one that you want to see again, perhaps straight afterwards to fill in the clever blanks and notice the subtle allusions that the filmmakers have included to puzzle us the first time round. Whatever you make of it, and whether or not you understand it all at once, you'll probably find it hard to stop watching, and it's not a movie that you will soon forget.

Character Analysis of Hugo’s Javert Essay

Hugo’s character Javert sees anyone who may have commit a crime as simple as the theft of a loaf of bread as a social malefactor, a blight on all of society, a prime evil who needs to be eliminated, removed from the general population, and a devil that can be neither reformed nor tamed. Javert is the true rationalist. Like Medieval philosophers, he believes that people will naturally resort to evil, and that these people can never be saved or reformed. Javert is the true rationalist because he believes the law is the highest authority, sees Jean Valjean as purely evil, and because he wholeheartedly believes in the infallibility of the law. Javert believes the law is the highest authority throughout Les Miserables. When his character is first described, Hugo states â€Å"It will be easily understood that Javert was the terror of all that class which the annual statistics of the Minister of Justice include under the heading: People without a fixed abode† (57). Javert believes that all of those that live in poverty are destined to be criminals because they are forced to live without being able to satisfy certain wants, and that people, who are naturally bad, will violate the law to satisfy themselves. Javert, quick to punish anyone of a low social status, is also quick to punish himself. When he falsely accuses Monsieur the Mayor of being a convict, he asks to be dismissed. To the Mayor, he says â€Å"I denounced you as a convict- you, a respectable man, a mayor, and a magistrate. This is a serious matter, very serious. I have committed an offense against authority† (69). He believes that he has violated the law and should therefore be punished for it, even though he has proved himself to be a worthy inspector and only is guilty of a minor infraction. He believes that any man, despite any previous or future actions, is inherently evil if he has ever done wrong, so Javert automatically condemns himself because he has commit a crime. Javert also believes that the word of the law always supercedes the word of a normal man. Champmathieu, who denied being Jean Valjean, was, in fact, not him, but Javert was positive that he was because the police had accused him of it. When Champmathieu proclaimed his innocence, Javert said of him â€Å"Champmathieu plays off astonished† because he believes that there is no shadow of a doubt  on whether this man is Jean Valjean. The police accused him of this, so they must be right. The police, because they are the envoy of the law, the supreme judge of character, must not be wrong, they are infallible in his eyes. Javert is a true rationalist because he believes that the law decides what kind of person you are, and the law is the highest authority, and that once judged by the law, a man cannot change. Javert is a rationalist because he believes that man is incapable of reform. Throughout the novel, Javert pursues Jean Valjean because he is a convict who is a danger to society. In M_ sur M_, Jean Valjean showed he was reformed by giving to his fellow man before taking for himself. In M_ sur M_, Jean Valjean made 600,000 francs, but not without giving 1,000,000 to the people of the town. Javert pursues him even though he proved himself to be good for the community. Javert is relentless in his pursuit because he firmly believes that a convict is incapable of reformation because he has shown himself to be a doer of evil, and someone who has done evil is inherently evil. When Jean Valjean saved Cosette from the Thenardiers, he showed that he was capable of love and that he was no longer bitter from years of incarceration. Nevertheless, Javert chases after him because he believes he is still a threat, because of his evil nature. Afterwards, Jean Valjean made it his life’s purpose to raise Cosette and give all his money to the poor, to better their circumstances. When Thenardier intended to kill Jean Valjean, Javert came not to stop a crime in process but to get Jean Valjean. Javert even pursued Jean Valjean after he had spared Javert’s life at the barricade. Even after the innumerable good, selfless deeds that Valjean performed Javert pursued him because he thought Valjean was still and would always be evil, because a man’s soul cannot change, is predestined to good or evil, love or violence. Javert shows he is a rationalist because he is blind to the fact that Valjean has reformed, because it is impossible for a man to do so. Javert shows he is a rationalist because he believes the law is infallible with all his soul. When saved by Valjean, Javert is confronted with a moral dilemma. He knew that he had to bring back Valjean or else he was in violation of his duty, and that if he were to let Valjean be free he would  be equally as evil. Hugo describes this predicament â€Å"Javert felt that something horrible was penetrating his soul, admiration for a convict† (336). Javert felt that he was becoming evil because he empathized with a purely evil man. As he empathized with Valjean, â€Å"all the axioms which had been the supports of his whole life crumbled away† (336). Javert was infected by a terrible disease, compassion. Compassion blinded his objectivity and was rendered an unworthy judge, now he was merely a wretch of a man, with a soul as black as Jean Valjean’s. Because in his mind, the mind of a true rationalist, there was only right and wrong, there were only two ways about this. He could either turn the evil man in or die for aiding and abetting the fugitive. Javert must do either the right, and prove himself true, or do wrong and prove himself evil. He must be either good or evil, because there is no such thing as a gray area, and no such thing as compassion, only seeds of evil in his soul. He was his own judge, jury, and executioner. He killed himself because he had failed before the eyes of the law, he failed to do right and was thus proven evil, and did not deserve to live. For this he was a rationalist. Javert represents the true rationalist in this novel because he believes the law is the highest judge of men. The law is the world’s guiding light and is always true. It is infallible, and the judge, a dispensary of the law, is the direct envoy of God. Jean Valjean is purely evil, and his attempts at repentance are only attempts to get out of trouble and to once again be assimilated into his surroundings, so he can once again do evil. Valjean is only a wolf, attempting to wear a sheep’s skin. His beliefs lead him to be so close minded that he is unable to deal with the fact that the law might be wrong. His mind is his own gallows, because he believes in the supreme power of the law. His rationalist beliefs are his noose, the ultimate cause of his death.

Bristoe Campaign in the American Civil War

Bristoe Campaign in the American Civil War Bristoe Campaign - Conflict Dates: The Bristoe Campaign was conducted between October 13 and November 7, 1863, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Armies Commanders: Union Major General George G. Meade76,000 men Confederate General Robert E. Lee45,000 men Bristoe Campaign - Background: In the wake of the Battle of Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia withdrew south into Virginia.   Slowly pursued by Major General George G. Meades Army of the Potomac, the Confederates established a position behind the Rapidan River.   That September, under pressure from Richmond, Lee dispatched Lieutenant General James Longstreets First Corps to reinforce General Braxton Braggs Army of Tennessee.   These troops proved critical to Braggs success at the Battle of Chickamauga later that month.   Made aware of Longstreets departure, Meade advanced to the Rappahannock River seeking to take advantage of Lees weakness.   On September 13, Meade pushed columns towards the Rapidan and won a minor victory at Culpeper Court House. Though Meade hoped to conduct a wide sweep against Lees flank, this operation was cancelled when he received orders to send Major General Oliver O. Howard and Henry Slocums XI and XII Corps west to aid Major General William S. Rosecrans beleaguered Army of the Cumberland.   Learning of this, Lee took the initiative and launched a turning movement to the west around Cedar Mountain.   Unwilling to do battle on ground not of his own choosing, Meade slowly withdrew northeast along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad (Map). Bristoe Campaign - Auburn: Screening the Confederate advance, Major General J.E.B. Stuarts cavalry encountered elements of Major General William H. Frenchs III Corps at Auburn on October 13.   Following a skirmish that afternoon, Stuarts men, along with support from Lieutenant General Richard Ewells Second Corps, engaged parts of Major General Gouverneur K. Warrens II Corps the next day.   Though inconclusive, it served both sides as Stuarts command escaped from a larger Union force and Warren was able to protect his wagon train.   Moving away from Auburn, II Corps made for Catletts Station on the railroad.   Eager to harry the enemy, Lee directed Lieutenant General A.P. Hills Third Corps to pursue Warren.    Bristoe Campaign - Bristoe Station: Racing forward without proper reconnaissance, Hill sought to strike the rearguard of Major General George Sykes V Corps near Bristoe Station.   Advancing on the afternoon of October 14, he failed to notice the presence of Warrens II Corps.   Spotting the approach of Hills lead division, commanded by Major General Henry Heth, the Union leader positioned part of his corps behind the Orange and Alexandria Railroad embankment.   These forces mauled the first two brigades sent forward by Heth.   Reinforcing his lines, Hill was unable to dislodge II Corps from its formidable position (Map).   Alerted to Ewells approach, Warren later withdrew north to Centreville.   As Meade re-concentrated his army around Centreville, Lees offensive drew to a close.   After skirmishing around Manassas and Centreville, the Army of Northern Virginia withdrew back to the Rappahannock.   On October 19, Stuart ambushed Union cavalry at Buckland Mills and pursued the defeated horsemen for five mi les in an engagement that became known as the Buckland Races. Bristoe Campaign - Rappahannock Station:            Having fallen back behind the Rappahannock, Lee elected to maintain one pontoon bridge across the river at Rappahannock Station.   This was protected on the north bank by two redoubts and supporting trenches, while Confederate artillery on south bank covered the entire area.   Under increasing pressure to take action from Union general-in-chief Major General Henry W. Halleck, Meade moved south in early November.   Assessing Lees dispositions, he directed Major General John Sedgwick to assault Rappahannock Station with his VI Corps while Frenchs III Corps struck downstream at Kellys Ford.   Once across, the two corps were to unite near Brandy Station. Attacking around noon, French succeeded breaking through the defenses at Kellys Ford and began crossing the river.   Responding, Lee moved to intercept III Corps in the hope that Rappahannock Station could hold until French was defeated.   Advancing at 3:00 PM, Sedgwick seized high ground near the Confederate defenses and emplaced artillery.   These guns pounded the lines held by part of Major General Jubal A. Earlys division.   As the afternoon passed, Sedgwick showed no signs of attacking.   This inaction led Lee to believe that Sedgwicks actions were a feint to cover Frenchs crossing at Kellys Ford.   At dusk, Lee was proven wrong when part of Sedgwicks command surged forward and penetrated the Confederate defenses.   In the assault, the bridgehead was secured and 1,600 men, the bulk of two brigades, captured (Map). Bristoe Campaign - Aftermath: Left in an indefensible position, Lee broke off his movement towards French and began retreating south.   Crossing the river in force, Meade gathered his army around Brandy Station as the campaign ended.   In the fighting during the Bristoe Campaign, the two sides incurred 4,815 casualties including the prisoners taken at Rappahannock Station.   Frustrated by the campaign, Lee had failed to bring Meade to battle or prevent the Union from reinforcing its armies in the West.   Under continued pressure from Washington to obtain a decisive result, Meade commenced planning his Mine Run Campaign which moved forward on November 27. Selected Sources Civil War Trust: Battle of Bristoe StationCWSAC Battle Summaries: Bristoe StationBristoe Station Campaign

Quotes on Funny Thoughts to Make You Smile

Quotes on Funny Thoughts to Make You Smile Have you ever had a funny thought pop into your brain? Maybe you put a couple of things together and realized it told a truth in a quirky way. Our brains often have a natural comedian deep inside and you might even make yourself laugh. Then when you stop and think about thinking, things start getting a little weird. Famous thinkers and witty people might seem to have more funny thoughts, but we have the benefit of only seeing their really good material. You might be inspired by a humorous remark, or hearing about an incident that causes you to giggle. Share your funny thoughts with others and see how you create a riot of laughter around you. If you need some help, read these funny thoughts of well-known people. Will Rogers Everything is funny, as long as its happening to somebody else.   Robert  Frost The brain a wonderful organ.  It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office. Charles Schulz Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, Where have I gone wrong? Then a voice says to me, This is going to take more than one night. Friedrich Nietzsche All things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not  truth. Miguel de Cervantes Sanity may be madness but the maddest of all is to see life as it is and not as it should be. Norm Papernick Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad. Ethel Barrymore You grow up the day you have your first real laugh - at yourself.   Reba McEntire To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funnybone.   Isaac Asimov People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. Abraham Lincoln No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar. Oscar Wilde The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius. The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing.   Victor Borge Santa Claus has the right idea - visit people only once a year. Edward Gibbon Beauty is an outward gift which is seldom despised, except by those to whom it has been refused. Quentin Crisp The trouble with children is that theyre not returnable. George Bernard Shaw Love is a gross exaggeration of the difference between one person and everybody else. Joe Namath Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was shut up. Mark Twain While the rest of the species is descended from apes, redheads are descended from cats. Ogden Nash Middle age is when youve met so many people that every new person you meet reminds you of someone else. The Cable Guy You know what the trouble about real life is? Theres no danger music.

Effective Customer Care for Business Success Coursework

Effective Customer Care for Business Success - Coursework Example This is the more reason that the customer care provider should be dynamic in dealing with different customers and must know how to handle each in a unique way. Communication, therefore, becomes vital in addressing each customer’s needs effectively. TASK 1: Developing a plan for the management of customer contact for EcoJET Airways (i) Identify three EcoJET target markets and briefly explain why you have identified each as a target market. A target market for a particular business is a group of customers who have a common relationship with each other. Some of the commonalities shared by such customer groups include but not limited to sharing similar demographic characteristics, residing or working in the same location, using the product/service for the same reason among others. For EcoJET Airways, one of the target markets may be identified as the business class travellers class of customers mainly because these customers travel for the same reason as part of carrying out busin ess activities between the three cities of Sydney-Melbourne-Brisbane or they could be classified as a target market because of the fact that they travel business class as a specific product/service offered by EcoJET Airways. These business travellers may also be staying in any of the three states, therefore, qualifying as a target market for the airline by virtue of common place of residence. The Airline provides various services to clients in this particular market including bus shuttle service from airport to CBD, Business travel lounge facilities, Use of mobile phone in-flight, In-screen entertainment with live access to major financial and business pay television channels (Lecture 1, p.18). Another market segment for EcoJET Airways are groups of customers flying across the three states at the same hours mainly 9am arrivals and between 5pm and 7pm departures. This is a perfect market niche for the airline because the customers use the air travel services at common times of day or night perhaps as a consequence of their work schedules or dictated by the hours of business around the three cities. Customers from the regional markets outside the three major cities could be another class of customers, which EcoJET Airways is trying to reach through the cooperative arrangement with Rural Express. This is a potential target market because the customers are non-city dwellers who wish to travel to either of the cities to carry out personal business, shopping, or for other different reasons. One of the airline’s policies is to promote sustainable air travel through minimization of emissions. Customers who subscribe to this, thus accepting to pay a carbon offset fee, may be classified as a target market for the firm; as opposed to another category which does not subscribe to the policy. (ii) Question TWO a. Skills which would benefit EcoJET staff in identifying and satisfying customer needs and expectations In identifying customer needs and expectations, commun ication is key and proper planning for it should involve carrying out adequate research about customer requirements ahead of meeting them, products or services on offer to suit needs identified and preparation for questions and clarifications. One of the ways communication can take place between the customer and promoter of the product/service is through non-verbal communication that involves the use of body language such as facial expressions, gestures, hands/ body movements, different