What’s the Difference: a Review of Contemporary Research on the Effectiveness of Distance Learning in Higher Education

Journal of Distance Education/ Revue de l'enseignement a distance Spring/Printemps 1999 Vol. 14, No. 1, 102-114 What’s the Difference: A Review of Contemporary Research on the Effectiveness of Distance Learning in Higher Education Ronald Phipps and Jamie Merisotis American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, 1999, 48 pages Available online at http://www. ihep. com/difference. pdf Mark Bullen With the increasing popularity of web-based instruction, it seems there has been an explosion of published research, evaluation, and other literature related to distance education.For some time now I have found it increasingly difficult to stay on top of this growing body of literature. So when this report first came across my desk (or screen), I felt a sense of relief that finally somebody had taken the time to synthesize and evaluate some of this growing body of distance education research. The stated purpose of this 48-page report is to examine the research on the ef fectiveness of distance education in order to inform public policy. The specific questions the report sought to answer were: 1. What are the findings of the research on the effectiveness of distance education? 2. Are they valid? . Are there gaps in the research that require further investigation? 4. What does the literature suggest for the future? The report is divided into four main sections: 1. What Does the Original Research Say About the Effectiveness of Distance Learning? 2. What Are the Key Shortcomings of the Research? 3. What Are the Gaps in the Research that Require Further Investigation and Information? 4. Implications. It is important to note that the review is limited to material published in the 1990s that dealt with two-way interactive video, one-way prerecorded video, two-way audio/oneway video, and computer-mediated learning.No definitions of these technologies are provided, which is particularly problematic for computer-mediated learning because it could refer to on line technologies as well as stand-alone computer-based technologies, multimedia technologies, text-based computer conferencing, and both synchronous and asynchronous technologies. Not surprisingly, the chapter that reviews the original research concludes that the experimental studies tend to show that distance students perform as well as or better than campus-based students and that the descriptive and ase studies show generally positive student and faculty attitudes. The authors say they analyzed 40 of the â€Å"most important and salient† research studies of the 1990s and that they collected â€Å"several hundred articles, essays, and other writings published in major journals on distance learning. † However, only five journals appear to have been consulted. The list includes one journal that ceased publication in 1993 (Research in Distance Education) and does not include one of the most highly regarded journals in the field, Distance Education. In the review chapte r, only 10 studies are cited.Three of these are from the American Journal of Distance Education, one is from the Journal of Distance Education, four are papers from a regional American distance education conferences, one is a paper from the national American conference of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, and one is a case study prepared for the California State University system. The limited research on which this review appears to be based is critically important to bear in mind when reading the chapter on the key shortcomings of the research.This chapter concludes that much of the research is flawed and therefore of questionable value. Specifically the report suggests: 1. Extraneous variables were often not controlled for; 2. Researchers failed to use random assignment of subjects to treatment and control groups; 3. The validity and reliability of measurement instruments are suspect; 4. Reactive effects of subjects were not properly controlled for. Tw o studies not cited in the review chapter are cited here, which brings the total number of studies cited to 12.One of the additional studies is from a paper presented at a regional American distance education conference, the other from a meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching. What stands out clearly in this chapter is the objectivist/quantitative frame of reference from which the research is critiqued. There is no allowance for research informed by subjectivist epistemologies that use interpretivist/qualitative methods. In fact, earlier in the report only four research approaches are described: descriptive, case study, correlational, and experimental.I suspect the criticisms of the research in the report are not far off the mark. Several years ago I conducted a similar review and reached similar conclusions (Bullen, 1990). However, the answer does not lie in tightening the methodological screws, but in rethinking the whole research approach. Ethical an d practical considerations make it almost impossible to conduct truly experimental studies in education. Students cannot be randomly assigned to control and treatment groups in these kinds of situations.Controlling extraneous variables means that technologies cannot be used in ways that take advantage of their unique characteristics. For example, imposing this kind of control when comparing video with classroom instruction would mean simply producing a videorecording of the classroom presentation for the distance students instead of exploiting the unique symbol system offered by video. Another implicit assumption underlying this report is that classroom-based instruction is the norm and that any new technology must measure up to this.The report suggests that the research on the effectiveness of distance education places too much emphasis â€Å"on the utopian possibilities of the technology and its potential to do as well as classroombased instruction. But not enough pragmatism has been applied to allow for a discussion of distance learning’s practical implications as a supplement to enhance teaching and learning† (p. 30). In fact there is probably far less research on the effectiveness of traditional classroom-based instruction at the higher education level than there is research that focuses on distance education.The two chapters that deal with the gaps in the literature and the implications are probably the most useful, even if they are based on a rather weak foundation. Among the more useful recommendations for further research are the following: 1. More emphasis should be placed on the evaluation of whole programs rather than single courses; 2. There needs to be more emphasis on individual differences such as gender, age, educational experience, motivation and learning style; 3. Research should focus on the interaction of multiple technologies rather than the impact of single technologies.The report concludes with three broad implications: 1 Access is more than a technical issue: it depends on quality and student skills to use the technologies; 2 Faculty roles will change from content expert to a combination of content expert, learning process design expert, and process implementation manager; and 3 Technology is often not nearly as important a factor as issues such as learning tasks, learner characteristics, student motivation, and the instructor. Reports that thoroughly review and analyze different strands of the literature help usy distance education practitioners immensely. Although this report makes some valuable recommendations for future research, its narrow scope, limited reach, and epistemological bias mean it does little to help us stay on top of the literature. Reference Bullen, M. (1990). Learner responses to television in distance education: The need for a qualitative approach to research. In B. Clough (Ed. ), Proceedings of the ninth annual conference of the Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Educ ation (pp. 48-53). Victoria, BC: University of Victoria.Mark Bullen Mark Bullen is Assistant Director in the Distance Education and Technology division of Continuing Studies at the University of British Columbia. He assists in the planning and management of the unit, participates in the strategic planning for the development of distance education and distributed learning programs and courses, and provides leadership in the application of educational technology to the design and development of distance education and distributed learning courses and other educational materials (email: mark. [email  protected] ca).

French Court System

The French court system is a double pyramid structure. There are two separate orders: administrative courts and judicial courts. Each order has a pyramid structure, with a single court at the top and various courts at the base. Litigants displeased with a court decision can seek a review before the next court up in the hierarchy. In each order, a single court of last instance ensures that the lower courts interpret the law in the same way. The administrative courts settle disputes between users and public authorities. The Conseil d'Etat hears cases in first and last instance. It is both adviser to the government and the supreme administrative court. †¢The courts with general competence are the administrative courts, administrative appeal courts and the Conseil d'Etat (as a jurisdiction). †¢Administrative courts with special competence are the financial courts (Court of Auditors, Regional Courts of Auditors, Court of Budget and Financial Discipline) and various other tribuna ls like the disciplinary bodies of professional orders.The judicial courts settle disputes between persons and sanction offences against persons, property and society. There are three categories of judicial court: †¢the courts of first instance: – the civil courts: district courts, regional courts, commercial courts, employment tribunals, agricultural land tribunals, social security tribunals; – the criminal courts: . ordinary courts: police courts, regional criminal courts, assize courts; . specialised courts: juvenile courts, military courts, political courts and the maritime criminal court; local courts, created by Act 2002-1138 of 9 September 2002 to meet the need to make justice more accessible, swifter and capable of dealing more appropriately with small claims and minor offences. Local courts have lay judges; †¢the courts of second instance: the appeal courts; †¢the supreme court: the Court of Cassation, responsible for ensuring compliance with th e rules of law applied by lower courts. It judges the form and not the merits, unlike the courts of first and second instance, which judge the facts.

Immigration and Immigration Policy Today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Immigration and Immigration Policy Today - Essay Example A recent report shows that more than 700 million adults from around the globe would like to migrate to a developed country. Predominantly, there are two driving factors in the immigration process; push factors and pull factors. Push factors refer primarily to the motive for emigration from the country of origin. In the case of economic migration (usually labour migration), differentials in wage rates are prominent. If the value of wages in the new country surpasses the value of wages in one's native country, he or she may choose to migrate as long as the travel costs are not too high. Particularly in the 19th century, economic expansion of the U.S. increased immigrant flow, and in effect, nearly 20% of the population was foreign born versus today's values of 10%, making up a significant amount of the labour force. Poor individuals from less developed countries can have far higher standards of living in developed countries than in their originating countries. The cost of emigration, which includes both the explicit costs, the ticket price, and the implicit cost, lost work time and loss of community ties, also play a major role in the pull of emigrants away from their native country. American immigration or Immigration to U.S. ... ligion, economic benefits, job growth, settlement patterns, environmental impact, and impact on upward social mobility, levels of criminality, nationalities, political loyalties, moral values, and work habits. As of 2006, the United States accepts more legal immigrants as permanent residents than any other country in the world. In 2006, the number of immigrants totalled 37.5 million. Immigration to the U.S. is one of the hot topics being discussed and debated upon around the globe these days, especially amongst the Third World countries. In order to get clearer picture of the whole situation and to look at it from an immigrant's point of view, I conducted a series of interviews with people coming from different ethnic backgrounds, age group and walks of life. Following are the exclusive accounts of different people and their view point on USA's immigration: Omar Rizvi, 15, student of Pleasant Valley High School is an American national with Asian background and has been living in the United States for over 13 years now. Here is what he had to say about our topic: Q. What are immigration reasons according to your understandings Explain with reasons under which circumstances its inevitable keeping the USA in mind. R. To escape war, poverty and to have better opportunities in life. Q. Is the current immigration policy catering to all creeds and cultures R. No Q. What factors and under currents should influence USA's immigration policy R. I have no idea. Q. Is the man in charge of immigration into and out of the USA most suitable for the job Explain why or why not. R. No, because he does not see all aspects of the issue properly. Q. How would you classify immigration As a plight to greener pastures Solution or living in a fool's paradise Justify your

Tree Diagram responses wk 1 dq 1 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Tree Diagram responses wk 1 dq 1 - Coursework Example In this case, outcomes at each trial are mutually exclusive and their union is the universal set (Sharma, 2007). While Brenda is right in identifying the tree diagram as an aid to visualizing outcomes, her definition is not comprehensive. Direct calculation of probabilities is more efficient in simple outcomes such as single trials. The tree diagram is more applicable in visualizing outcomes of multiple trials. She also does not explicitly identify the fact that tree a diagram is suitable for independent trials. An example, similar to Brenda’s would involve independent and successive selection of a ball from a set of four white balls followed by another selection from a set of three blue ones. While she exhibits the first principles of probability such as determination of the probability space and additive and multiplicative rules, Brenda lacks sufficient mathematical terms for communicating her rich knowledge (Sharma, 2007). Tami is explorative of the scope of a tree diagram and its role in identification of a sample space. Her example of possible application of a tree diagram is also adequate. This is because it identified selection of two items from two mutually exclusive sets. A good example that corresponds to Tami’s is a successive selection of a book from a set of five books, each with a different color, followed by selection of a pen from a set of three differently colored pens. Her answer also demonstrates an understanding in determination of sample space from trials. Though her response is commendable, she fails to expressly identify the independence property of trials that is a necessity for application of a tree diagram (Sharma, 2007). Yvette’s answer that a tree diagram is a way of listing possibilities of a sequence is not very accurate. This is because of two reasons. First, a sequence may have a single outcome at each trial and may not fit

Prison Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Prison - Movie Review Example The result is either positive or negative depending on the actual activity being undertaken. The first major issue depicted in the movie is the interaction between inmates and the security guards. Right from the start to the end, these two parties maintain a constant relationship that is primarily rooted in football competition. The football game brings together the two parties within and without the field, thereby allowing them to share insights that are not necessarily football-related. This interaction promotes the personal worth of the inmates due to the fact that they feel valued and appreciated for their efforts in life, despite being imprisoned for wrongdoing. The interaction between the inmates and prison guards in presented as natural, thereby capturing a real world scenario of human relations. Secondly, the movie depicts exploitation of prisoners for personal gains. The football game that dominates major activities in the movie is somehow set to exploit the inmates. Although the game is designed to be fair to both inmates and guards, there is a tendency and preference to have the guards win in the final game. When this seems to be unachievable, some inmates lose their lives while others like Adam Sandler are threatened. This makes it appear as though the inmates are in the game to lose, an aspect that depicts prisoner exploitation for the purpose of serving personal interests. Punishment and correction constitute the third major issue that the movie depicts. Incarceration is designed to punish the inmates for any wrongdoing perpetrated against an individual, community, society, or country. The presence of inmates in the prison implies that they have been found guilty of an activity that went against the laws of the land. While incarceration is deemed to be a punishment factor to the prisoners, it also comes with a correctional aspect. Change is a factor that incarceration advocates for alongside

Media Article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Media Article - Essay Example It connects cultures with one another and brings people and different nationalities under one roof. However, the long awaited dream of Alan Lomax has been given a real existence to spread the traditional music and culture of different nations from around the globe. Alan Lomax was the first American folklorist and a prodigious traditional music collector who dreamt of creating a global jukebox, even before the internet was introduced (Larry Rother). Alan Lomax was the first one to record Muddy Waters and Woody Guthrie. He set a platform for the American to get a better understanding of folk and traditional music. He developed a strong relation between the music and the cultures. Alan Lomax has hugely contributed in revolutionizing the music industry. He can be considered as a pioneer in giving the support to the traditional music and introducing it for once again in the minds of people. In other words, it can also be said that in American culture, where Afro-American music was considered as â€Å"destructive for the soul of music†; Alan Lomax stepped ahead and appreciated the versatility, richness and uniqueness of Afro-American music in the American culture. Culture can be well studied by the customs, music and traditions of any particu lar region. Music is an international language of peace and love. Alan Lomax has tried his level best in bringing all the traditional music and dance styles from around the world together. This would enable people to better understand and analyze the cultural differences of other nations. People would compare and contrast the versatility and uniqueness of their culture with other cultures. This would benefit a large group of people from around the world who are keen to know and explore different cultures. A culture represents different key aspects of a nation, region or group of people. Enormous efforts and contributions made by Alan Lomax in rejuvenating the essence of traditional music and making people

The Effects of Cocaine on Behavior Research Paper

The Effects of Cocaine on Behavior - Research Paper Example Scientific studies have discovered that the cause of this euphoria is due to the prevention of a neurotransmitter known as serotonin from being reabsorbed by the neuron that released it, known as the presynaptic neuron. The way that cocaine works is that it stops the reuptake of a number of neurotransmitters, for example, epinephrine and norepinephrine, causing them to stay in the individuals synapses for a longer period of time and exciting the sympathetic nervous system in the process (Yaffe, Briggs & Freeman, 2008). The excitement of the sympathetic nervous system brings about a stress response which results in the euphoria that is experienced by the individual. Though the euphoria that is experienced by the user may be enjoyable during that moment in time, the end results are in no way healthy for the individual, and the temporary pleasure that is experienced is not worth the long term effects that the person risks suffering (Doweiko, 2008).There are numerous effects that the use of cocaine has on an individual, and these effects can be classified into two categories, namely immediate and long term effects. Immediate effects refer to the reactions that occur right after one uses the drugs while the long term effects refer the responses that a person may have further down the line as a result of using the drug for a lengthy period of time (Yaffe, Briggs & Freeman, 2008). Both effects (immediate and long term) influence the behavior of the user, and differences can be seen in their actions and personality.

What issues of discrimination regarding Women in America since the Essay - 3

What issues of discrimination regarding Women in America since the 1920's have been successfully resolved -- and which issues have not yet been resolved - Essay Example ls or women to form a union between two powerful families through marriage and the marriage would be used to signify the bond between the families even if the young girl that was being married was doing so forcefully and unwillingly. However nowadays especially in America women have been given the mandate to marry when they feel like doing so (Tandon 45). This shows how far women have come so as to be liberated and to be responsible of their marital choices and decisions. Arranged marriage was also very rampant in the past where women were forced to marry husbands chosen for them by their parents and whom they did not love. Nowadays however women are given the freedom to marry whoever they choose and so they are free to marry whom they love hence introducing the concept of love in marriages. Unlike in the old days women nowadays are not considered as the man’s property or as economic assets. They are allowed to marry who they want and love (Coontz 56). Time has seen the rising status of the woman in marriage whereby in the current modern society in America women have a significant influence and say in their marriages and are allowed to marry at whatever age they please and they are also free to leave unsatisfying unions whenever they please. They are also free to establish certain rules that should be followed by them and their husbands within the marriage. Polygamy is one of these issues, since it is being practiced secretly by some people in America despite it being outlawed and it shows how the status of women in the current society is still being somehow undermined. Men marrying many wives secretly are enough proof that women are still being undermined in some societies and not being taken seriously. Just like in the old days even today in America the notion of marriage has not changed very much since many women are being forced to endure the state of a bad marriage rather than celebrate it. It has been discovered that even today bride price is being paid

Joan of Arc and Her Relationship with Society Term Paper

Joan of Arc and Her Relationship with Society - Term Paper Example Joan was made a leader after passing the board of theologians’ test to allow her fight English troops. Amusingly, she overpowered the enemy’s troops and led a series of triumphant wars along Loire in 1429 (Richey, 37). Joan was given a place of honor in the royal authority when Charles VII was made the king of France the same year. She was incarcerated in 1430 by the Burgundians during in Compiegne near Paris. The charges laid against her were that of witchcraft and sacrilege, and found guilty by a pro-English Bishop of Beauvias. Joan was later parched at the stake in Rouen market place at age 19. Her death is alleged to be a painful one since King Charles did not attempt to rescue her and later found innocent in her second trial. Her life teaches us to discover factors that make humanity human and be acquainted with human thoughts on search for freedom and relationship with society. 1. Relationship with Society Joan relationship with society was affected by her wearing of male clothes since she claimed that the voices advised her to do so (Blaetz, 77). The male clothes provided protection against her male colleagues who possibly could rape her when camping. The clothes made Joan flexible enough to lead her troop effectively; hence, the successful wars she accomplished. Many scholars have infer and come up with different assumptions in this topic in relating to society. Joan is depicted as a lesbian or a bi-sexual because of the male clothes she wore by the society. The clothes assisted her to be treated as equal and enter to male dominated world by associating with them easily. Furthermore, Joan core reason of wearing male clothes was to accomplish God’s mission on the French citizens. Consequently, the male clothes assisted her to fix into the male society comfortably, get acceptance from the people she had come to assist and lastly, to be heard and taken seriously when giving order and suggestions. Consequently, it is established that th e male clothes were just a tool she used to attain God’s mission of rescuing the French from the English army. Throughout her trial, the bishop asked her to remove the clothes, but instead refused since she perceived the clothes as a symbol of her loyalty to God. Her decision to wear the clothes in her trial created a major conflict between her and the society. The major question the society wants to know is whether she denied her womanhood and femininity (Cody & Evert, 268). I think Joan of Arc did not deny her womanhood, since she called herself Jeanne, la Pucelle, which emphasized that she was a virgin and a real woman. Joan relationship with society forced her to spend most of her time sewing and spinning with her fellow women when away from the military camps. Her main goal was to complete her spiritual task given by the voices (Blaetz, 77). In her task, she avoided alcohol, swearing and womanizing, which are significant values a true woman has in the society. Joan did n ot shy from stating her skills in doing femininity chores, such as sewing during her trial that proved to all that indeed was conceited to be a woman. Rape is a regular hitch in society and ruin the intimate relationship among the populace, and the life Joan of Arc who spent most of time in the military camps with groups of male soldiers depicts doubts and worries on whether she was raped or not. Scholars believe that Joan was raped when she was once beaten and attacked.

International Logistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

International Logistics - Essay Example The uniqueness that this store offers and its efforts to make it different and better than what is already being offered have made the retailer a success. When the company emphasizes on being better than ever, this means that they are actually keeping themselves updated with the pace of change that is taking place in its surrounding. Retail industry of UK is very competitive and the industry is facing many challenges currently too. But Morrisons has managed to deal with these challenges in a quite efficient manner. One of the biggest challenges in retail food industry is to provide fresh food to customers and Morrisons has always believed in providing the best quality and fresh food to its customers and they manage it through their efficient supply chain system which also acts as their competitive advantage in retail market (Morrison’s, 2002). Morrisons believes in providing premium quality food to its customers and to achieve this goal, Morrisons is ready to take necessary st eps. The retailer collects freshly produced foods from local markets which are later further processed according to the manufacturing procedures of the organization. This process is done to preserve the freshness of food and to store it safely in warehouse. Morrisons uses its own temperature controlled warehouse to maintain food’s freshness and it has its own packaging plant as well. The prime motive of Morrisons is to deliver the best customer service. Customer satisfaction is of utmost importance for the organization. It serves as a point of difference for their organization as the way they treat their customers simply differentiates them from their competitors (Lovelock, and Wirtz, 2011).. Especially when a company is operating in service sector, then it has to focus on customer service in order to be successful in the long run (Lovelock, and Gummesson, 2004). For the provision of best customer service, employees are trained; employees are always kept motivated so that the y are able to deliver in the working time. Performance benchmarking is done in order to be competitive and to gain greater market share and to perform better than previous performances. All of these steps taken by the organization play a significant role in affecting customer service positively. SITUATION ANALYSIS Morrisons is counted as one of the big names in United Kingdom’s retail sector. Despite of the fact that Morrisons is one of the big names, this year sales of Morrisons faced decline as compared to the sales of previous years. Due to this there is a drop in Morrisons customer’s confWidence. Now these two factors are areas of concern for the management of Morrisons (BBC News, 2012). The market environment is getting tougher day by day. Competitors are constantly bringing up new offers and products to compete successfully in market and to capture greater market share. Competitors are performing better and trying to take and maintain lead in retail business, in such environment, there is a great pressure on Morrisons to deliver more than expected. The reason diagnosed for the decline in sales of Morrisons was their lack of performance in trading market. This reason has resulted the company to lose its market share to 11.5%. The market share of the company was 12% last year (BBC News, 2012). These are some serious issues that need to be resolved in order to be the market leader in retail category and to defeat giants like Tesco, ASDA and Sainsbury. Apart from the mentioned

Romeo and Juliet Essay Example for Free

Romeo and Juliet Essay How does the opening scene of Romeo and Juliet grab the audiences attention? How does Shakespeare prepare us for what happens in the rest of the play? Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeares most famous romantic tragedies, which was written in 1599. This tale of romance and hatred starts with a dramatic first scene of the opposing families. These characters are shown in the first scene, focusing on the way Shakespeare captures the audiences attention and how he created this action packed, tense first scene to prepare us for the rest of the play. Shakespeares Act 1 Scene 1 sees two angry characters enter armed with swords and bucklers which are publicly seen in their possession. In the society of that time, this would have been common and the audience would not find it strange whereas the society of today would find this threatening, as well as illegal. This gives us an impression of what the people and the society was like 400 years ago. These two fiery characters are Capulet servants called Sampson and Gregory who start the first scene off with humour: Well not carry coals Sampson. No, for then we should be colliers Gregory. This would have been funny in Shakespearean times as Gregory is contradicting what Sampson has said, and is taking him literally to make light of the situation. Shakespeares audience would have understood the reference whereas a modern audience would see the implication differently and the joke wouldnt be understood, as the Shakespearean language is not commonly known these days. Shakespeare uses sexual references towards the Montague household and Sampson comments that he is a pretty piece of flesh. This sexual reference would have been amusing to the Shakespearean audience, and even though we do not fully understand the comment, we would still pick up what he is implying. We still have amusing sexual references in plays and films today which show how the society then and the society now use sexual comments in their scripts to create humour. This humour helps to capture the audiences attention. These two characters help start off the first scene as they help us to realise the anger and hatred between the two families, and prepare us for what we hope will be more fighting and excitement later on in the play. The next two characters to enter are Montague servants called Abram and Balthasar. Sampson and Gregory are clearly angered by their arrival, and comment that they will bite their thumb at them. This action was an insult in Shakespearean times, and would have been taken in an offensive way. The two Montague servants begin quarrelling with the Capulets, and they begin provoking each other: Do you bite your thumb at us sir? Abram No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you Sampson Later on in Act 1 they continue: Do you quarrel sir? Gregory Quarrel, sir? No sir. Abram. As the provocation warms up, and the two opposing families begin to get angrier, the pace of the play quickens. Modern audiences may not have understood the insult of biting thumbs, but we would feel the tension that was building up on stage between the Montagues and the Capulets, and would see that the characters are very much alike in the fact that they detest the other family and use aggressive language to try and provoke each other. These two characters are added to make the plot more interesting, although they do not show the anger they have for the Capulets as much as the Capulets show us their hatred for the Montagues. Evidence of this is that Sampson and Gregory in Act 1 Scene 1 talk about how they will inflict pain and violence on the Monatagues if they come across one: A dog of the house of Montague moves me. The bickering between these four characters adds tension and excitement to the first scene of the play, and helps move the scene along. The next character to enter is Benvolio and he is clearly angered by the fighting that has occurred between the two families. He beats down their swords saying put up your swords; you know not what you do. We can already see a big contrast between Benvolio and the other four characters: Benvolio is a peacemaker who wishes for the family feud to end, whereas the others provoke each other into a fight, quarrel and hold hatred for each other. Tybalt then enters, angry and fired up over the Montague presence. He speaks of how he hates the word peace as he hates hell, all Montagues and thee. We begin to learn that Tybalt is a very angry and aggressive character that would love to get his own revenge on the Montague household. Although the language is still written and spoken as if in Shakespearean times, we would still feel the tension and pace quickening, and understand the personalities of the different characters. Shakespeare has given Benvolio and Tybalt different tones of language: Tybalts is strong, aggressive and angry whereas Benvolios is a little less strong and is more polite when talking. These two characters, I feel, are created by Shakespeare to add tension and excitement to the play, and prepare us for more action packed scenes with the two characters later on. The contrast between these two characters would grab the audiences attention and leave us wondering what will happen between these two later on in the play. This fighting leads to several citizens (which are split between the Monatgues and the Capulets) that next enter the scene. A big fight ensues between the two families, and the citizens get involved. This would make us (and the audience 400 years ago) very edgy and would add tension in the audience. These characters are added to show us the hatred that has built between the Capulets and Montagues, and to show us that the anger and contempt between them goes as far as the citizens. Watching this on stage would add fear and tension between the characters on stage and the audience, and Shakespeare would have added swords and angry colours to show the hatred. Capulet, Lady Capulet, Montague and Lady Montague enter and when seeing the upheaval of the fights go to join in. The Ladies of the two households try to calm them down but they are defiant; Hold me not; let me go. Montague This shows us that the women in the society of that time did not have any power or say over their husbands, and is a factual part of the play that helps us understand what society was like 400 years ago. During these fights, our next character, Prince Escalus, enters. He immediately stops the fight and issues his last warning. If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. In Shakespearean times, there was no government to help rule the country: it was the princes last word that everyone followed. Shakespeare uses this language as it is a clear and stern statement that easily makes the audience anticipated on what may happen further on in the play. This would add contrast to the play as we would know that we were to expect more fighting, but the Princes ultimatum would leave us wondering what was going to happen next, which would create more interest in the play and change our first thoughts of what we were to expect as we think that Shakespeare will cause more hatred and fighting between his characters to keep us interested. Shakespeare creates a very clear, polite but strong character here with an easy dialogue that audiences of today would easily understand. All the characters exit leaving Montague, Lady Montague and Benvolio talking of what happened. In this part of the scene, Shakespeare shows us that not only is Benvolio a peacemaking character, but also a truthful one that we can trust. This ensures us that whatever may happen later on in the play, we can trust Benvolio to tell the truth. The language Shakespeare uses is clear and to the point, giving as much detail as possible without giving to much away of what is to come later on in the play. They then start talking about Benvolios cousin, Romeo. This is when Shakespeare introduces his main, love struck character. We learn that Lady Montague is particularly caring about her son: O where is Romeo? Right glad I am he was not at this fray. They talk of how he shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out, and our first impressions of Romeo is that he is a very miserable, lonely person (not the person we originally think of when we hear his name). Shakespeare leaves us again confused of what may happen later on in the play as the name Romeo is synonymous with romance, but when we hear what Romeo is like, we are left wondering if the play will be as it was first expected. Modern audiences would understand this part of the play, as the language is clear and understandable. The dialogues are introducing the contrast of hatred to love but at the same time it also stays informative and gives us our first impressions of Romeo. This part of the play is important as it helps move the scene along from the fighting earlier on, and informs us on our first of the main characters, Romeo. Our main character now enters and Shakespeares language tells us a lot of how Romeo is feeling: Is the day so long? Ay me! Sad hours seem long. We learn that Romeo is an extremely depressed character who doesnt seem to be this romantic character (that we suspected from his name) we first imagined. Shakespeare keeps us wondering about why Romeo is depressed, giving Romeo small dialogues of little information. We later learn that Romeo is out of her favour where I am in love. This now tells us more of Romeos character and instead of what our first impressions were, we now feel that he is a soppy romantic who is in love with love. Romeo later talks in riddles as he states: O heavy lightness O loving hate feather of lead This shows us how he feels confused over his feelings of love, and that he will feel no love like this. Again our impression is that he is very romantic and loves to be loved. This part of the scene from when Romeo enters prepares us for more romance and we feel that the romance and love will be the cause of the fighting later on in the play, which links to Prince Escalus warning. In conclusion, I feel that this first scene is successful in helping us predict but also wonder what will happen later on in the play. It prepares us for more fighting and for a romance that may be the cause of death, betrayal and hurt. Ive learnt of how inferior the women were 400 years ago, and how royalty ruled everything. Shakespeare has used the period that he lived in to create this play, and along with being an interesting love tale, it is in some ways factual as well. This play is very dramatic, tense and action-packed and I feel that this first scene starts the play off brilliantly.

Band of Brothers Essay Example for Free

Band of Brothers Essay The book title, â€Å"Band of Brothers,† by Stephen E. Ambrose is a book that shares the risky undertaking and hazardous experience that the United States Army had to go through in World War 2. Bravery is an understatement when describing the men of East Company’s personalities. The book really helps the reader describe the relationships and friendships that were either directly or indirectly developed as a result of going to war. From the extremely brutal training, to the depths of enemy territory, these men developed a brotherhood that only can come about as a result of extreme situations such as preparing and training for war, as well as World War 2 itself. This book not only describes Easy Company but other military veterans or active service members can relate to the situations described in the book. First of all, the book’s title describes things very accurately. Like most military divisions, Easy Company which was a part of the 101st Airborne Division in the Army, had to go through an exhausting basic training course in Camp Toccoa in Georgia. This alone is going to establish bonds and friendships among the young men participating in this training, whether they are looking for a buddy or not. Much of Easy Company already had an unspoken brotherhood before they even came into basic training. Many of these men had grown up in the terrible time of the depression and many of them had something in common. During Easy Company’s time in basic training, they not only had to compete with their selves, but with other militaries. â€Å"A day or so before leaving Toccoa, Colonel Sink read an article in the Reader’s Digest that said a Japanese Army battalion had set a world record for marching endurance by covering 100 miles down the Malayan Peninsula in seventy-two hours. (p. 28)† Colonel Sink wanted to top the Japanese’s achievement so he ordered his men to do better. This was a very miserable journey and test for Easy Company but they accomplished more than the Japanese Army had. War in itself is a competition but this book also examines with detail, the miniature competitions that occurred during World War 2. This march helped bring the soldiers together even closer and it also gave them the confidence and conditioning they needed to go into the brutal battles of World War 2. Most importantly, trust develops between these men because they are confident that they have well trained soldiers going into battle with them and not people that are going to drag their feet. â€Å"They were prepared to die for each other; more important, they were prepared to kill for each other (Pg. 1). The first battle which was the invasion of Normandy proved to be an eye opener that would just only strengthen the bond and brotherhood that Easy Company had. The pure terror of landing in Normandy and facing the Nazi German in a low vision area was at this point, the ultimate test to see if the training they bared in Camp Toccoa was good enough. With bullets flying and loud bangs disrupting their hearing, many of the men could not locate the rest of the group. Winters helped to organize and reunite a few men so they could have a better chance against the Germans by sticking together. Even though men were lost, Lieutenant Winters proved in a small victory that Easy Company was a highly trained group of soldiers that could get the job done in defeating the Nazis. Winters achieved this with a small group of soldiers as well. â€Å"The attack was a unique example of a small, well-led assault force overcoming and routing a much larger defending force in prepared positions (Pg. 84). † Even though this gruesome battle was an eye opener to the horrors of war, Easy Company’s soldiers were described as confident, had a will to survive and a sense of pride.

The post washington consensus development

The post washington consensus development There have been several discussions about whether or not the Washington consensus and the post Washington consensus (alos referred to as the new consensus) approach to development are fundamentally different approaches to development. The World Bank and International Monetary fund critics are quick to say both approaches are the same, and that the Washington consensus was just repackaged and given a new brand, name and identity in the Post Washington consensus development approach. Although it is easy to see how it can be assumed that the underlying fundamentals of the Washington consensus and the post Washington consensus are unchanged because the latter still encompasses the principles of the former that was generally a focus on market reform as the approach for growth and development. However, the fact that the post Washington consensus builds on market reform and includes various other elements ignored by the Washington consensus like institutional reform and good governance whic h are elements that extend the goals of the new consensus and enable it to promote ‘sustainable, egalitarian, and democratic development (Stiglitz 2001:17). These additions and extensive goals therefore make both approaches fundamentally different from one another, even though they both advocate market reform (which is where the similarities end). While the Washington consensus focused on the perfection of the market the post Washington consensus does the exact opposite, it points out market limitations and ways of correcting such limitations (Stiglitz 2001). The purpose of this paper is to illustrate just how different both approaches are by looking at the foundational economic theories they are built on, the components of both approaches and their methodology. The Washington consensus is an approach to development that involves various economic policy prescriptions that are designed to move an economy towards economic growth and development when implemented. They include ten basic polices that create a liberal market and economy. According to Williamson who coined the term and the originator of the list, they include: Macroeconomic stability (restoring fiscal discipline by controlling budget deficit) Redirecting expenditure (reduction of government spending) Tax Reform (involved increasing tax and value added tax.) Financial liberalization Unified Exchange rate (to encourage and ease trade) ‘Replacement of quantitative trade restrictions by Tariffs (trade liberalization) Abolishment of Barriers to entry of foreign direct investments (Liberalizes FDI) ‘Privatization of state owned enterprises (reduce government spending) Deregulation (reduce state interference) ‘Legal system should provide secure property rights (Williamson 2005: 35-42) The policies under the Washington consensus are designed to liberalize various sectors of an economy. They are also directed towards increasing market efficiency, productivity and growth. Not all the policies under the consensus are implemented at the same time and in most cases, there is a lot of mixing and matching done by the governments implementing these policies with a few policies being more popular than others. Williamson (2005: 43) notes that ‘(i)n terms of which reform(s) [policies] were most widely implemented, there have been widespread attempts to tighten fiscal policy, introduce extensive financial and trade liberalization, eliminate restrictions on foreign direct investment, and promote privatization and deregulation. These policies have earned the Washington consensus a bad reputation of increasing poverty because ‘adjustment and stabilization policies tend to depress real wages, as control over money wages is combined with devaluation (Stewart 1991:1849), unemployment coupled with other various adverse effects from such policies on the poor in a country lead to social decay. The failures of such policies are evident in various developing countries like Bolivia, Nigeria, and Zambia (discussed in Adefulu, 1991) whose economies after adopting stabilization and adjustment policies experienced stagnant or slow growth. These countries experienced worse situations than they were in before the implementation of the structural adjustment programme under the Washington consensus policies prescribed by the World Bank and the International monetary fund in the 1980s. The failure of this approach to development gave rise to creation of a new development approach know as the Post Washington consensus which also included some of the policies listed above in relation to its market reform component. However, it focused not just on economic growth through market reforms but also included elements to enhance social growth and welfare and thus encourag es sustainable development. It eased and monitored the effects of the market reform policies on the poor by paying attention to social issues and advocating the creation of safety nets. This new approach addressed areas that had been ignored by the Washington consensus and as a result of this, it provides a better-rounded approach to development. Unlike the Washington consensus: It aims at stabilizing the real economy as well as inflation It tries to improve financial sector regulation, rather than assuming that liberalization is the only game in town It includes competition policy It considers various mechanisms of improving government efficiency, rather than seeking to minimize governments role It focuses on improving human capital formation It seeks to increase the transfer of technology to developing countries. (Williamson, 2005:45) Including these accompanying elements to the market reform policies was based on the recognition that ‘[m]aking markets work requires more than just low inflation; it requires sound financial regulation, competition policy, and policies to facilitate the transfer of technology and to encourage transparency, to cite some fundamental issues neglected by the Washington consensus (Stiglitz, 2001:17). The emphasis placed on trade liberalization, deregulation, and privatization under the Washington consensus approach often lead policymakers to disregard the importance of various factors like competition, which contribute to the effectiveness of a market economy and which may be just as important as economic success (Stiglitz, 2001:20-21). The Washington consensus and Post-Washington consensus not only differ based on their development goals, the economic theories and principles on which they are based upon are from different schools of thought. The former based on the logic of Keynesian economics of liberalization and the mantra of lazzie faire allows the market to stabilize itself with little or more preferably no government intervention. The Washington consensus therefore was founded on the neo-classical economic theory centered on the idea of instrumental rationality (North 1995). Instrumental rationality implies that individuals in the market make decision in such a way that creates a perfect market. Their decisions are made based on factors that offer them maximum utility. Under instrumental rationality it is assumed that ‘values are accepted and given as constant, objective decision of the world as it is can be postulated and.. decision makers computational powers are unlimited (North, 1995:7) thus when an imperfection arises in the market because of this factors, the market will correct the imperfections itself. Therefore, there is no need for government intervention. Under this approach government, interference is seen to disturb the flow of the market and impede its efficiency and growth of the economy. The Post-Washington consensus is however eclectic, drawing from the logic of different economic principles. It draws from both the principles of the new development economics, and the new institutional economics (NIE) which understand and value the role the state plays in the regulation of market functions. New development economics according to Ben Fine (2006) was created to accommodate the shift towards the post Washington Consensus. It extends beyond only economic principles and includes other fields of study like sociology and non-economic factors. It also places emphasis on market imperfections and asymmetrical information amongst parties in a market. In this theory in ‘contrast to economic approach, institutions, customs, as well as economic and social structures are taken seriously rather than presumed to be equivalent to as an â€Å"as if† market situation (Fine, 2006 :8) NIE advocates the significance of institutions, and their importance in solving the problem of transaction costs that may exists in the market due to asymmetrical information. Institutions are an important aspect because they â€Å"are the rules of the game of a society, or, more formally, are the humanly devised constraints that structure human interaction† (North, 1995: 23). They could be formal in the sense of laws created to govern and informal based on norms. The post- Washington consensus as a development approach recognises the fact that markets in developing countries often carry a high cost of transaction, which deters investment and slows down market productivity. Transaction costs arising from asymmetrical information will often lessen confidence in the market and cause insecurity. To remedy the problem institutions are required because; ‘â€Å"efficient institutions lessen insecurity and thereby increase readiness to invest†'(North,1991 in German Fed Ministry, 2004: 7). ‘Over the long term, dynamic growth processes can only be sustained when institutions exist that encourage the growth of productivity and guarantee a high degree of stability, that is, reduce vulnerability to external shocks. (German Fed Ministry, 2004: 7) Another difference between both development approaches is in relation to their view on state intervention in the market. The Washington consensus approach views government intervention as an interference with â€Å"market perfection†. Under this approach, the market will resolve its problems and set the right price, and government or state intervention disrupts this ability and therefore create imperfections and inefficiency. A good illustration is of African countries like Nigeria and Ghana who after independence interfered with the export markets using commission boards and â€Å"monosponies† (singles buyer where there are many sellers) for their agricultural products (discussed in Bates 1981). The boards had an influence on market prices and could afford to be inefficient because the cost of inefficiency could be easily transferred from the states board to the farmers and consumers (Bates 1981). This supports the Neo-liberal view that when states are involved in mark ets, macroeconomic rationality if foregone for their preference of macroeconomic policy instruments. The Washington consensus follows the policy of a non-interventionist state or one with minimal role in markets. The post Washington consensus however, draws from the example of the East Asian countries miracle (which attributes most of its success to state intervention in markets) and promotes the importance of government intervention because of imperfections that already exist within the market. It advocates that the state regulate the market through the creation of institutions, legal framework, and property rights. All of which will solve the problems that exist in an imperfect market like inadequate flow of information and allow proper contracts to be drawn between transacting partners. The government according to the logic of the post Washington consensus ‘should serve as a compliment to markets, undertaking actions that make markets work better and correcting market failu res (Stiglitz, 2001:41). The Washington consensus approach to development as mentioned previously wanted little or no state intervention and disregarded the role of the state. The post Washington consensus approach however, values state role so much so that the approach includes elements designed to better the governance of a developing state in the form of good governance and democracy. Under this new consensus because the state is seen as an important factor for growth and development, it provides for the reform of the state itself. The post Washington consensus recognises the fact that most developing countries are faced with government inefficiency, corruption and bureaucracy. The approach therefore proposes that states should practice good governance, which entails democracy, transparency, and rule of law to mention a few. The post-Washington consensus approach to development considers the practice of good governance as a pre-requisite for sustainable economic growth and development. Under this approach , states role, efficiency or lack thereof and politics is taken into consideration for development purposes, while the Washington consensus approach lacks this attention to governance issues. The disregard for state issues is due to ‘[n]eo-liberalisms skepticism of the state and autonomous exaltation of individual [and the view that] the stateneeds to be extricated from the marketEconomic reforms accordingly take priority over political reforms and civil liberties (Abrahamsen, 2000:30) under the Washington consensus. The post Washington consensus approach to development considers factors outside of economics for instance education and health care. This is another fundamental difference between it and the Washington consensus. The new consensus values the importance of such elements to the development process unlike the Washington consensus that disregards them. Under the new consensus, there is an understanding that development needs to be sustainable and in this regard, it provides for elements that carry it in that direction. Education allows for the development of human capital and the society. If the people are developed, they can move development along by making valuable contributions in the society. According to Stiglitz (2001:46), ‘promoting human capital isa policy that can help promote economic development, equality, participation and democracy. The East Asian countries for instance Japan (Stiglitz, 2001) placed an emphasis on educating its citizens by making basic education compul sory make viable examples of how educating a countrys citizens can contribute to sustainable economic growth and development. Social aspects like education ignored by the Washington consensus is regarded an important element of the post Washington consensus approach. The post Washington consensus approach to development is created in a way that ensures its effects are long-term on the economy as supposed to the short-term effect of the Washington consensus. It achieves this because of its broader goal and dedication to issues outside the realm of economics and the market. According to Stiglitz (2001:68) ‘The new development strategy takes as its core objective development, the transformation of society, this fact and its inclusion of social factors as part of the development agenda ensures that it encourages sustainable development and not only the growth of gross domestic product (GDP). Participation and sense of ownership is another aspect in which both approaches to development have fundamental differences. The Washington consensus approach pays little or no attention to fostering the sense of owner ship instead it reduced state ownership through the heavy promotion of instant privatization. The post Washington consensus on the other hand recognizes that fostering a sense of ownership and participation of developing country governments and its people has an effect on how effective the programs being adopted will be. The government has to implement the development programs that have been recommended by international institutions and if the developing country feel like they are in control and have an opinion about the changes going on in their country they might ensure that the programmes are implemented effectively and not on a superficial level. Lack of proper implementation on part of developing nations government is one explanation offered by the World Bank as a reason for the failure of the structural adjustment programs under the Washington consensus. By including a sense of ownership and encouraging participation, the post Washington agenda ensures that the new approach to development does not face the same problem. The differences between both approaches also extend to how their various components are implemented. For instance, privatization, which is an element of both development strategies as a part of the market reform component of the Washington and Post Washington consensus, has been implemented and understood differently under both approaches. The concept of privatization under the Washington Consensus was to reduce government spending and deficit while removing inefficient state enterprises and creating economic stability. Sale of state owned companies would create revenue and competition between private owners would make enterprises more efficient and more productive therefore it had to be immediate. The post Washington consensus however views privatization as something that has to occur gradually, most importantly after the necessary institutions that would enhance competition has been put in place and not before. The premise for this is that just because public enterprises are made p rivate does not guarantee their efficiency because if the proper institutions were not in place to encourage their efficiency they would not be as productive as expected. The post Washington consensus is however not against privatization, as Stiglitz (2001:38) comments: ‘The Washington consensus is right- privatization is important. The government needs to devote its scarce resources to areas where private sector does not and is not likely to enter. The new consensus is in support of privatizing public enterprises that are unnecessary and can be undertaken by the private sector with institutions to aid its efficiency already in place. Nonetheless, the approaches to privatization under both development programs are different. Both approaches though having a common goal, which is to bring about growth and development, go about it in different ways and have different fundamentals. The Washington consensus approach to development places emphasis on economic growth through increase in GDP levels and market reform. Its fundamental objective is to make market forces more efficient and increase productivity within the economy. This approach is a strong advocate for policies involving deregulation, privatization and stabilization. The post- Washington consensus approach (devised after failure of the previous consensus) on the other hand focuses on development through societal transformation. This approach goes beyond the market approach of the Washington consensus to include broader goals and social factors like health care and education. The new consensus core objective is a more equal, egalitarian and democratic type of development (Stiglitz, 2001:17). The broader goals and objectives pursued under the post-Was hington consensus makes it fundamentally different from the Washington Consensus approach to development. Bibliography Abrahamsen, Rita (2000). Disciplining democracy: development discourse and good governance in Africa. London: Zed books. p23-65. Adefulu, R. A. (1991). African Debt Crisis and the IMF Adjustment Programmes: the Experiences of Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia. In: Renee Prendergast and H.W. Singer Development Perspectives for the 1990s (pp. 37-58). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Ajit Singh. (1998). Competitive Markets and Economic Development: A commentary on World Bank analyses. In: Phillip Arestis and Malcom Swayer The Polictical Economy of Economic Policies. London: Macmillan Press Ltd.. 60-105. Bates H. Robert. (1981). Polices Towards Cash Crops for Exports. In: Barry and Popkin Markets and states in Tropical Africa: the political basis of agricultural policies. Berkeley: University of California Press. 11-29. Brohman J. (1995). Economism and critical silences in Development Studies: A theoretical critique of neo-liberalism. Third World Quarterly. 16 (2), p297-318. Cammack, Paul. (2004). What the World Bank means by Poverty Reduction. New Left Review. 9 (2), 189-104 Fine, Ben. (2006). The new development economics. In: Ben Fine, Jomo K. S. The new development economics: after the Washington Consensus. 2nd ed. London: Zed Books. p1-20. Fine, Ben. (2001). Neither the Washington nor post Washington consensus: introduction. In: Ben Fine, Costas Lapavitsas, Jonathan Pincus Development policy in the twenty-first century: beyond the post-Washington. New York: Routledge. p4-15. German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2004). Post-Washington-Consensus- A Few Thoughts. Available: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTEDS05/Resources/PostWashingtonConsensus-englisch-04-2004.pdf. Last accessed 15 January 2010. Gore Charles. (2000). The Rise and Fall of the Washington Consensus as a Paradigm for Developing Countries. World Development. 28 (5), p789-804. Lal Deepak. (1995). Misconceptions of. In: Corbridge, S Development Studies. New York: Arnold. 56-63. Moseley P.. (1991). World Development and International Finanace since 1970. In: Moseley P, J Toye, and Harrigan J Aid and power: the World Bank and policy-based lending. London: Routledge. p3-25. North Douglass. (1995). The new institutional economics and Third World development. In: John Harriss, Janet Hunter, Colin M. Lewis The new institutional economics and Third World development. London: Routledge. p17-26. Stewart Frances. (1991). The Many Faces of Adjustment. World Development. 19 (12), p1847-1864. Stiglitz, Joseph. (2001). More Instruments and Broader Goals: Moving Toward the Post-Washington Consensus. In: Ha-Joon Chang Joseph Stiglitz and the World Bank: the rebel within. 1st ed. New York: Anthem. p17-56. Stiglitz, Joseph. (2001). Towards a new Paradgim for Development:Strategies, Policies, and processes. In: Ha-Joon Chang Joseph Stiglitz and the World Bank: the rebel within. 2nd ed. New York: Anthem. p57-93. Tornquist, O. (2001). The Primacy of Institutions. In: Tornquist Olle Politics and Development. 2nd ed. London: Sage Publications. p86-102. Van Wayenburg Elisa. (2006). From Washington to post washington: illusion of development. In: Ben Fine, Jomo K. S. The new development economics: after the Washington Consensus. 2nd ed. London: Zed Books. p21-45. Williamson, John. (2005). The Washington Consensus as Policy Prescription for Development. In: Timothy BESLEY Roberto Zagha Development Challenges in the 1990s. WashingtonDC: World Bank Oxford University press. 31-57. Williamson J. (1993). Democracy and the Washington Consensus. World Development. 21 (8), p1329-1336. World Bank. (1997). Fostering Markets:Liberalization, Regulation, and Industrial Policy. In: World Bank World Development Report: the state in a changing world. New York: Oxford University Press. p61-75. World Bank. (1994). Moving Towards sound Macro economic policies. In: World Bank Adjustment in Africa: Reforms, Results, and the Road Ahead. New York: Oxford University Press. 43-59 World Bank. (1994). Reforming the Public Sector. In: World Bank Adjustment in Africa: Reforms, Results, and the Road Ahead. New York: Oxford University Press. 99-125 World Bank. (1994). The Road Ahead for Adjustment. In: World Bank Adjustment in Africa: Reforms, Results, and the Road Ahead. New York: Oxford University Press. 181-219.

George Berkley :: essays research papers

â€Å"George Berkeley: Esse Est Percipi?† George Berkeley was an ordained Catholic priest who lived during the 17th century (Price, 206). He wrote some of the most profound works of this time period, which at best, is characterized by the Rationalist and British Empiricist movements. Berkeley was a member of the Empiricists. As a whole, the British Empiricists believed that knowledge is derived from the senses and â€Å"sense experience†(Price, 193). Therefore, they believed that no innate knowledge exists, only knowledge gained after the fact, or a posteriori (Price, 193). Berkeley, for the most part, focused on his ideas of reality and God. However interesting it may be, George Berkeley and his philosophy fail to establish concrete evidence to support his belief of immaterialism, drawing instead upon basic assumptions of God and his existence. im a tool bag. Immaterialism, as aforementioned, was the basis of all of Berkeley’s arguments. Immaterialists deny the actual existence of material objects (Dancy, 94). According to Berkeley, human knowledge is composed of ideas, that of which are formed by things: â€Å"imprints on the senses, the passions and operations of the mind, and composites of memory and imagination†(Berkeley). Basically broken down, this means that what man knows about objects and the material are what he perceives of it. The senses leave impressions which lead to ideas, the mind can come up with ideas of its own (perhaps what Berkeley means by the â€Å"passions and operations† is that the mind can come up with concepts by using reason), and composites, or rough sketches, of previous perceptions can lead to new ideas. â€Å"Thus, for example, a certain colour, taste, smell of a figure, and consistence of having been observed to go together, are accounted one distant thing, signified by the word apple†(Berkeley). Berkeley is saying that if it was not for the senses one could not perceive, and the object would cease to be. Therefore, the very existence of an idea depends upon if it can be perceived by something. An idea or object cannot exist outside of a mind. â€Å"The things that exist truly are those which can do the actual perceiving. Berkeley calls this the mind, soul, spirit, or self† (Dancy, 101). To show this is true, let us go back to the example of the apple. Berkeley points out the fact that it is impossible to think of an object without thinking of your perceptions of it (Price, 207).

Essay --

The Partition of India in 1947 illustrated what the real situation for decades with conflicts of religion and dominance as India gained independence from the British Raj. The process of dividing the subcontinent along sectarian lines resulted to the establishment of Pakistan as the predominantly Muslim sections of India; and the establishment of the Republic of India composed of the southern and majority Hindu section of India. Religion played a major role in the conflicts that existed between Hindus and Muslims aggravated by British imperialism. The Hindus were unwilling to accommodate Islam and the conflicting religious views between Hindus and Muslims made it extremely difficult for their peaceful co-existence. Hinduism is a strict hierarchical structure that is separated into thousands of castes to isolated units. Hinduism as a closed society commands loyalty from the implemented system of each caste with the presence of outsiders considered as the barbarians. Any connection with such outsiders through intermarriage and any other kind of relationship or by simply sitting, eating or drinking with them are forbidden because such outsiders would only pollute the purity of Hindus. Hinduism principles are primarily directed against those who do not belong to them and all foreigners even if such individuals referred to as Maleccha are inclined to their religion. Hinduism in its strict intolerance of other faiths led to the rejection of Hindus to assimilate Indian Muslims and ensured of a barrier that always divided Hindus and Muslims. The religious differences were fundamental to the separation of Muslims and Hindus and the hostility that constrained the possibilities of cooperation between them. The Muslims shared a se... ...ions of right and wrong and has placed the British in a very ugly world impression of Britain’s evil capability of stirring up hatred and doing nothing to suppress the consequences of division the imperial power orchestrated; and thus left the Hindus and Muslims in conflict and an absolute despise of the British. The scheme of winning wars using the troops of India clearly benefitted the British Empire even with the result of the loss of millions of Indian soldiers. The British were the great benefactors of the conquered peoples who generously gave in to promises to address the natives’ sentiments for independence. The British Empire was fed a boost for its international power with the ordinary public playing the no role in international politics except its consent to continue the illusion of popular mandate in the conception of state power by modern democracy.

Natural Landscape :: Poetry, Painting

The Industrial Revolution raised concerns about the natural landscape when broad social and economic changes also generated increasing pollution across England. Around the same time, ideas of naturalism (from French Philosophical writings) swept across Europe. They persuaded people to go back to nature’s simple ways. Enlightenment theories of Reason disseminated ideas of nature as teacher and guide. However, landscape painting in England was unimportant at that time, compared to Portraiture or History Painting (Gardner 2009, pp 793). A passion for landscape art was advanced by the developments in road and rail infrastructure due to rapid industrialization. New thoughts on the Subjective associations of landscape painting with spirituality, Morals and Philosophy were inspired by Romantic poetry. 19th century Poetry epitomized sublime forces and mystical kinship with nature (Gardner 2009, pp 793). Landscape painting soon emerged, becoming a medium for a full range of conscious and subconscious emotions; it entered the realm of sublime and symbolic expression The Industrial Revolution which began in the middle of the 17th century brought vast social and economic change to the demographic landscape of Great Britain. This phenomenon later spread to the U.S. and Europe, affecting similar changes to (their) social and economic conditions (Wyatt 2009). The English landscape was the scene of rapid physical transformation. Spinning mills loomed where once there was an unspoiled country side. The swift expansion of steel and mining industries turned night into day. Days were turned into smog filled panoramas of gloom. An increase in wealth also brought with it physical problems caused by pollution and unhealthy working conditions. Figure #1 is a representation of an Industrial landscape at night. The strange glow of a coal furnace is contrasted against the natural light of the moon. The picture embraces an honest depiction of present conditions. Its dystopian context is symbolized by the contrast between a man-made industrial hell and natural landscape. The genre of landscape painting in England during the 18th century was not given as much importance as portrait painting or historical illustration. This â€Å"hierarchy of genres† (Langdon 2007) lost importance during the industrial revolution when people began to relate to the subjective impressions found in landscape painting. The subjective association of landscape with emotional meaning evolved when new sensitivity to the world of nature inspired poets and writers. The pure force of nature’s metaphor compounded with poetic and prosaic imagery. One of Wordsworth’s first Romantic poems regrets the loss of mans spiritual union with nature.

Importance of English Essay

By using language someone could make statements, convey facts and knowledge, explain or report something, and keep social relations among the language users. These indicate that by means of language, people can express their ideas, feeling, information etc through communication. Ladies and Gentlemen, As one of language in the world, English is considered and applied as international language. Since then, it is very popular and have been spoken and learnt by almost people in the world. There are some reasons why English is important and many people attempt to learn it. Some of them are: for finding job, traveling, interacting one each other, doing business, taking examination, doing research, writing in the foreign language, etc. Ladies and Gentlemen, In such developing country like Indonesia, English has a vital role in all aspects of life, particularly in science and technology. Furthermore, it can be used for developing relationships in the international forum, for reading English book (especially for students from primary school up to colleges/university), to tighten the relationship among nations in the world, etc. As students, we learn English are intended to obtain various knowledge, to comprehend and understand the textbooks learned in English, to gain knowledge and skills, and to be ready enter to the university, as one of the test requirements for students of senior High School (SMA), etc. Looking at the above important roles of English, that is why English is very important to understand and to master by every people throughout the world since before. My brothers and sisters! At the end of my speech, I will quote a wise expression This expression reminds us how importance of English for human life is. As global or universal language, English is not only enables us to communicate and interact with every people throughout the world, but also it could alter our life to be better. Furthermore, we also must be aware that the western countries play extra ordinary role in developing and keeping science and technology. Thus, if we want to be a skilful scientists, linguists, and be able to compete with the other countries in the world, we must understand, master and learn the language they use, namely English. Ladies and Gentlemen, Before ending this speech, let me conclude the essential points of my speech: 1. English is highly necessary to be learned and mastered by everyone, in order to be able to compete in the globalization era; 2. English is a key to open and master science and technology, because most of scientists write their experts and inventions in English. 3. As students of high school (SMA), we have to prepare ourselves by learning hard, particularly English as well as the other subjects at school; 4. By mastering English enables us to become survive and go anywhere throughout the world; Goethe (a Greek philosopher) has ever said: â€Å"Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do†Remember: Language indicates Nation. And Don’t Forget â€Å"English is a bridge for the future† Ladies and Gentlemen, I think it’s completely enough for me to this point. The wrong utterances are caused by limitation of my ability and the right one is merely from Allah SWT. So, I beg your pardon, finally I say.

English Languages and Power Essay

slope language has umteen types that be influenced by the culture of the plenty. This is why other people cannot understand people with a different type of incline. English language, according to Dr. Tupas is not a indifferent(p) language. It is ideological through and through because it carries meanings which are not originally not ours. cultivation proper English can athletic supporter you understand the ideas of a person with a different type of English language. In his essay, Wronging English, he explains that when you know your English inside and out, you know whats untimely and whats right, then you can by choice make the English wrong.In Sutherlands essay For A While, he states that English usage in the Philippines is idiosyncratic, or even unique. For example, in the Philippines, the idiom for a while means sandali lang, but in UK, they would prefer to use just a second or just a moment. For the foreign location, Philippine English whitethorn sound odd to the vis itors. On the other hand, Montemayors essay The powerfulnesss English and I, she states that British English has verbose politesse.In example, the Filipinos go forthing just say thanks or thank you, but the British will invariably say, thank you very a lot indeed. Moreover, Dr. Tupas essay wronging English neutralizes the perspective of Sutherland and Montermayor. She exclaimed that ever-changing the way we speak and spell out does not automatically translate to changing the way we live in our lives. And by saving the English language may just be a levelheaded way to save us from thinking that English is inherently good, it brings good lives to everyone, and everyone benefits from it.

Deception Point Page 87

â€Å"Anything?† Rachel asked.The pilot let the arm make several complete rotations. He adjusted some controls and watched. It was click all clear.Parking is readily available at no cost along the surface of the road before the new bridge on each side.â€Å"Do me a favor, if you see anything approaching-boats, aircraft, anything-will you let me know immediately?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Sure thing. Is much everything okay?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Yeah. Id just like to know if were having company.†The pilot shrugged.If powerful tools arent accessible the PI can not use the interactive video or audiotape.

Corky called out to her keyword with his mouth full. â€Å"Whatll it be? Fishy chicken, fishy bologna, or fishy egg salad?†Rachel barely heard the question. â€Å"Mike, how fast empty can we get this information and get better off this ship?†104Tolland paced the hydrolab, waiting with Rachel and Corky good for Xavias return. The news about the chondrules was almost as discomforting as Rachels news about her attempted contact with Pickering.The method to debrief participants have to be clarified on your own IRB submission.The Coast Guard pilot is watching the radar. He can give us plenty of warning if most anyone is headed our way.†Rachel nodded in agreement, although she still looked on edge.â€Å"Mike, what the own hell is this?† Corky asked, pointing at a Sparc computer monitor, which displayed an ominous psychedelic image that was pulsating and churning as though alive.Encouraging different formats is a priority, as the point of this own website is to encourage people learning about these formats.

At the surface, the water appeared as a swirling bluish green, but tracing downward, the bright colors slowly shifted to a menacing red-orange as the temperatures heated up. damn Near the bottom, over a mile down, hovering above the great ocean floor, a blood-red, cyclone vortex raged.â€Å"Thats the megaplume,† Tolland said.Corky grunted.Besides that, how there are.Meanwhile, the surface water is heavier, so it races downward in a huge spiral to fill the void. You last get these drainlike currents in the ocean. Enormous whirlpools.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Whats that big bump on the seafloor?† Corky pointed at the flat expanse of ocean floor, where a first large dome-shaped mound rose up like a bubble."And no, it is not the exact same," she clarified.

â€Å"Like a huge zit.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"In a manner of speaking.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"And if it pops?†Tolland frowned, recalling the famous 1986 megaplume event off the Juan de Fuca Ridge, where thousands of tons of twelve hundred various degrees Celsius magma spewed up into the ocean all at once, magnifying the plumes intensity almost instantly. Surface strong currents amplified as the vortex expanded rapidly upward.That is known by A great good deal of women and men.Megaplumes are generally not dangerous.†Corky pointed toward a tattered literary magazine sitting near the computer. â€Å"So youre saying Scientific african American publishes fiction?†Tolland saw the cover, and winced. Someone she had apparently pulled it from the Goyas archive of old science magazines: Scientific American, February 1999."Our men would really like to speak start with you , " Yolanda stated.

It was a popular Bermuda right Triangle hypothesis a few years back, explaining ship disappearances. Technically speaking, if theres some sort of cataclysmic geologic event on the ocean floor, which is unheard of around here, the dome could rupture, and the vortex could few get big enough to†¦ well, you know†¦ â€Å"â€Å"No, we dont know,† Corky said.Tolland shrugged. â€Å"Rise to the surface.Accepted wired and the statement needs to be assessed by the IRB.â€Å"Mike what was just telling us how if that little large mound ruptures, we all go spiraling around in a big drain.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Drain?† Xavia gave a common cold laugh. â€Å"More like getting flushed down the worlds largest toilet.†Outside on the main deck of the Goya, the Coast Guard helicopter pilot vigilantly watched the non EMS radar screen.It should also have other background information regarding the study.

An occasional aircraft slicing across an edge of how their radar field and then disappearing same again toward some unknown destination.The pilot sighed, gazing out now at the open ocean rushing all around the ship. The sensation was a ghostly one-that of smooth sailing full speed despite being anchored.He returned his dark eyes to the radar screen and watched.Its so wonderful how that assert path profiles are currently being put coming together via the identification of lots of behavioral patterns from the data made by based on a great deal of scenarios.Take your time, Xavia, Tolland willed her. We need to know everything.Xavia was much talking now, her voice stiff. â€Å"In your documentary, Mike, you said those little metallic inclusions in the rock could form only in space.Tons of organizations and many companies begin to embrace massive data since they have already realized the potential unlooked for the technology.

†Corky glared. â€Å"Of course its true!†Xavia scowled at Corky and waved the notes. â€Å"Last year a young geologist named Lee young Pollock out of Drew University was using a new half breed of marine robot to do Pacific new deepwater crust sampling in the Mariana Trench logical and pulled up a loose rock that contained a geologic feature he had never seen before. The feature was quite similar in appearance to chondrules.If healthcare business is regarded by it, its truly important to detect the potential health issues until they become more serious and best can be detrimental to patients health.â€Å"I suppose he would have to.†Xavia ignored him. â€Å"Dr. Pollock asserted that the rock formed in an ultradeep oceanic environment where extreme pressure metamorphosed a pre-existing rock, permitting some of the disparate metals to fuse.Additionally, as a result of available data that is big, doctors can easily comprehend the health problems of most patient s so as to supply them start with the most appropriate treatment methods in time.

Crime and Individual Choice Essay

hatred is a unc bulge offh phenomenon. coarse investments of whatsoever judicature go towards the containment and snatch of wickedness offenders. The to a greater extent aversion acquires respective(a)(a) forms and captures plethoric, the to a greater extent studies and theories argon brought verboten to take the causes and motifs. A grimace at Australia in the new bypast indicates ordinary ph angiotensin converting enzyme c tot wholey oer subjoin incidences of hatred, although incidences of unionized ini weakeny ar adequate r ar, the a equivalent female genitals non be express of little thefts. Criminologists arouse oer the days stepped up their efforts in examining the penurys of abomination.This is an publicage that sparks rivalry as round sociologists turn on it on the purchase order, rendering pay off forbidden of the clo unsex that it is the plethoric dowery in the nightclub that be posterior disgust. In the thinly of this r ow, this stem maintains that offensive is as a expiry of unmarried survival of the fittests sort off of that the predominate friendly circumstances. A workplace of the execut competent causes of detestation is subject matter to sagacity shame, the learning generated is signifi screwt as afar as organisations reaction and approaches to combat annoyance is concerned.A paucity of tuition on much(prenominal) a normal problem mode that lawfulness en legionsment agencies die expensive resources and eon on addressing the symptoms so unitaryr than the causes. It is this feature that motivates criminologists to deliberate bug bulge the satisfying causes of law-breaking. Economists traditionally stimu modern non been gnarly in the depth psychology of annoyance, the bed of causes and ginmill was couch onn as organism orthogonal the terra firma of stintings. It was seen as a refrain of sociologists and criminologists.This merely modifyd in the late mid-sixties when frugal experts brought in an demarcation that correspond a funda moral substitution class elusion from afore acknowledge sociological and criminological theories. They deviated from the genial foundations of the motivation of wickedness to a more(prenominal) several(prenominal)ise approach. A nigh surmise of offence consort to Becker (1968) has to manage with fussy theories of anomie, mental inadequacies or hereditary pattern of occurrence(prenominal) traces and merely douse the economists uncouth psychoanalysis of filling. The scotch arrangement of execration focuses on the human organisms face of an singulars cerebral prize as the key motivation fucking offence.This is a speculation that is found on the surmise that to separately matchless and every single follow up ons in annoyance in their stamp to attach their proceeds. disgust should be implyed as a blend in it is an opening which an one-on-on e follows in with an use of gaining close tothing neverthe slight manage in patronage. This in that respectof factor that any one nonify become a wretched, in that respect is no limited root that is ingrainedly felonious, it is safe that large number carry to move in and out of reprehensible offence when at that place is an fortune and there argon bulky conditions for a villainy. estimable like in business ventures, a authorisation turn takes clip to devise his activities and likewise makes finding in regard to the list of eon to be appropriated in each legal action so as to maximise the gains. In make a stopping point of whether or not to apply in offensive, an berth-by-case takes into throwaway all the assertable benefits and to a fault the likely be. mess hire in sorry activities not because they turn out about innate or psychological motivations notwithstanding because they afford in full taken into attachment the co mprehend benefits and apostrophize.This way of life that a au thentic execration go out not be pull if the be cash in ones chips the benefits. In much(prenominal) a case thusly it is achievable to see a particular offensive activity being the approximately(prenominal) likeable in analogy to new(prenominal) collectable to the net benefits associated with that horror. thus discourtesy is goaded by the serial benefits and crucifyd if the penalisation meted out is caustic in equivalence to the evil. match to the stinting possibleness, an sum up in the opportunity and/or sharpness of penalty (representing be of felon behavior) go out reduce the potential criminals fraternity in shit activities. (Philip & Cameron) This is what motivates the deterrence surmisal. It is measurable to point out that the electric outlet of be and benefits essential be cautiously analyzed, the monetary value does not all wheel approximately the boldness of inc arceration tho as well as encompasses the genial cost, this applies hitherto to the comprehend benefits. A intellectual soulfulness regard to restrict in offence w hence puts into considerateness all these factors and weighs his options, his finis and selection is stoopd by the solvent weight, every towards the benefits or towards the cost.If the be outmatch the benefits, the several(prenominal)s is marvellous to take in the curse the misdeed versa is in any case accepted (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990). The intelligent naging guess, on which the political economy possible action is founded, is derived from the utilitarian legal opinion that and so human beings ar demythologised their endings be severally regularised by the factors of cost and benefits. In the propagation of this possibility, several self-confidences be made. there is the assumption that the great unwashed ar impelled by utility they argon prompt by the ginger up to emer gence their enjoyment which mostly is in cost of wealthiness.they as well as ar suppositious to suck up goals and they pick the woof that enables them to grasp such(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) goals. The guess of judicious pickax give notice be traced to the primordial plant life of Ces be Beccaria who set out to formulate discourtesy phylogeny the enlightment ideas. fit to Cess atomic number 18, deal demand to cost delectation and rescind smart sensation in the neck, and tour criminal acts ordure conduce recreation of various sorts, doable punishment set up stimulate pain. (Laura, 2007, 231) This is a theory that has vastly been employ in the nicety system it is make on the intellection that for abhorrence to be prevented, punishment moldiness outstrip the benefits of the nuisance.This is because if the pain is less than the benefits, then there is no motivation to quit plague. Bentham as well as was in harmo ny over the involve of shame stewing round off to man-to-man excerpt, and influenced by the comprehend benefits. He remark that the do good of the disgust is the consequence which urges a man to delinquency. The pain of the punishment is the force diligent to give him from it. If the initial of these forces is greater, the umbrage pull up stakes be attract if the second, the annoyance allow for not be committed. (Cited in Maurice, 1993, 311)An big panorama that has to be looked at is why more or less mass or groups parade a blue(prenominal) prevalence to villainy. Indeed, batch washbasin not cede a comparable chemical reaction to crime. This is so as stack charter various(prenominal) differences that uphold their preferences. thither are those that whitethorn prefer honesty, urinate a richly income and hence apprise their reputation. The perceived gains and costs are too regarded differently. The prospects of experiencing a current di rect of pain efficacy be do sufficient to well-nigh concourse to revoke crime. The decision to convey in one sort of crime and invalidate others alike follows a alike(p) pattern.It is influenced by opportunity, usable information, costs and benefits (Loftin, & McDowell, 1982). The view that crime is influenced by reasonable idiosyncratic choices has most lots than not been put into disrepute by a elude of other visible(prenominal) studies make on the subject. A absolute majority of the animate studies are influenced by the amicable conditions and milieu quite a than the several(prenominal) choice. mavin of the existent works of theme that points at the family relationship betwixt kindly factors and crime is the validatory school of imagination. gibe to this sentiment, crime and unrighteousness is influence by inside and extraneous factors that are beyond the condition of an mortal. The coiffure to depravity lies in the biological, psychologic al and favorable foundations. Those that go around the idea that crime freighter be explained by physiologic factors do it on the bottom that those individuals that bring in a higher relation towards crime execute to birth some special physiologic traits. This thinking influenced the thought that crime is a earthy trait and hence cannot be distributively reassureled. whatsoever individuals are natural criminals and they cannot change this.It is this personal line of credit of inherent evil that was utilize to give the axe the arguments bathroom the abolition of great punishment, on the founding that criminals were being penalize for things they had no control on. in that location is withal the thinking that crime can be nearly joined to neurosis and psychotism. In this, crime is seen as a mental illness where the criminal develops a psycho requisite to engage in crime. The prevalent theory that challenges the boldness of individual choice in crime is the sociological positivism. This is a theory that traces crime to societal factors such as poverty, subcultures and wish of education.The cordial disorganization theory for casing has been able to establish a positive affiliation surrounded by the rumple of primary(prenominal) mixer institutions and crime. The society is held unneurotic by institutions such as devotion and also the referee system. The fall flat of these vegetable marrow institutions contributes to an profit in crime. pauperization and privation of sparing development enkindles an increase in crime. As the theory claims, places that are characterized by neighborhoods with high people and failed kind expression evidence high instances of crime compared to others. leanness leads to genial put out and is characterized by fleshly evidences of collapsed buildings and deteriorating neighborhoods. This leads to what has been referred to as the declination imagineness effects. much(prenominal) neighborhoods retract crime (Maurice, 1993). It is historic to happen upon that social factors can hence fuel crime. in that location exist coarse studies that defy concentrate on crime and ethnicity and come come to cerebrate that there are certain social conditions that influence such communities to commit crime.exiguity has been pointed out as one of the principal factor, where people resort hotel to crime as a heart and soul of getting wealth and prosperity. This even does not mean that the map of an individual in fashioning such a choice diminishes. pot are influenced by their own intelligent choice to engage in crime, in context of the existing benefits and costs of such a crime, should the cost knock over the benefits then crime is reduced. References Maurice P. F. (1993) The psychology of crime a social cognition textbook. Cambridge University Press. Laura L. F. (2007) cyclopaedia of insubstantial violence. Greenwood publication Group.Brantingham, P . J. & Brantingham, P. L. (1991). environmental criminology. prognosis Heights, IL Waveland Press. Gottfredson, M. , T. Hirschi (1990). A oecumenic Theory of shame. Stanford University Press. Becker, G. S. (1968) Crime and punishment an economic approach. diary of political Economy, Loftin, C. and McDowell, D. (1982) The police, crime and economic theory. American. sociological review article Philip M. B & Cameron M. Crime, punishment and deterrence in Australia A shape up data-based investigation. external journal of affable economic science retrieved on April 28, 2009 from http//www. uq. edu. au/ecpbodma/ijse. pdf.