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Saturday, August 31, 2019

Voice Command

Voice Command Reference October 2, 1997 Voice Command Set Technical Reference 3Com – U. S. Robotics 1 Voice Command Reference October 2, 1997 V 1. 0 V 2. 0 Revision information Initial Release for Sportster Vi modem Amended and updated version. Vi, Voice, Flash and MessagePlus Now covers following Sportster’s : 3Com – U. S. Robotics 2 Voice Command Reference October 2, 1997 1. Global Commands The AT commands in the following sections are global, meaning that they can be issued in any appropriate mode (i. e. , any #CLS setting). For consistency, the command set is divided into action commands and parameters (non-action commands). Those commands, which are action commands (i. e. , those that cause some change in the current operating behavior of the modem) are identified as such, and the remaining commands are parameters. 1. 1 ATA – Answering in Voice The answer action command works analogously to the way it works in Data and Fax Modes except for the following: 1. When configured for Voice Mode (#CLS=8), the modem enters Online Voice Command Mode immediately after going off-hook. When the#CLS=8 command is issued, the modem can be programmed to look for 1100 and 1300 Hz calling tones (see #VTD), thus eliminating the need to do so as part of A command processing. After the VCON message is issued, the modem re-enters Online Voice Command Mode while sending any incoming DTMF or Calling Tone indications to the DTE. After answering in Voice Mode (#CLS=8), the DTE, as part of its call discrimination processing, can decide to change the #CLS setting to attempt receiving a fax in Class 1, or to make a data connection. In such a case, the DTE commands the modem to proceed with the data or fax handshake via the A command even though the modem is already off-hook. 1. 1. 1 Parameters: Same as Data and Fax modes. . 1. 2 Result Codes: VCON Issued in Voice Mode (#CLS=8) immediately after going off-hook. 1. 2 ATD – Dial Command in Voice The dial action command works analogously to the way it works in Data or Fax modes. When in Voice Mode (#CLS=8): The modem attempts to determine when the remote has picked up the telephone line and once this determination has been made, the VCON message is sent to the DTE. This determination is initially made based up on ringback detection and disappearance. (See #VRA and #VRN commands. ). Once connected in Voice Mode, the modem immediately enters the command state and switches to Online Voice Command Mode that enables unsolicited reporting of DTMF and answer tones to the DTE. 1. 2. 1 Parameters: Same as Data and Fax modes. 1. 2. 2 Result Codes: VCON Issued in Voice Mode (#CLS=8) when the modem determines that the remote modem or handset has gone off-hook, or when returning to the Online Voice Command Mode. (See #VRA and #VRN. ) 3Com – U. S. Robotics 3 Voice Command Reference October 2, 1997 NO ANSWER Issued in Voice Mode (#CLS=8) when the modem determines that the remote has not picked up the line before the S7 timer expires. . 3 ATH – Hang Up in Voice This command works the same as in Data and Fax modes by hanging up (disconnecting) the telephone line. There are, however, some specific considerations when in Voice Mode: 1. The H command forces #CLS=0, but does not destroy any of the voice parameter settings such as #VBS, #VSP, etc. Therefore, if the DTE wishes to issue an H command and then pursue another voice call, it must issue a subsequent #CLS=8 command, but it needn’t reestablish the voice parameter settings again unless a change in the settings is desired. 2. The #BDR setting is forced back to 0, re-enabling autobaud. . If the #VLS setting is set to select a device which is not, or does not include the telephone line (such as a local handset or microphone), the H command deselects this device and reselects the normal default setting (#VLS =0). Normally, the DTE should not issue the H command while connected to a local device such as a handset, because merely selecting this device results in VCON. The normal sequence of terminating a session with such a device is to use the #VLS command to select the telephone line, which by definition makes sure it is on-hook. . 3. 1 Parameters: Same as Data and Fax modes. 1. 3. 2 Result Codes: Same as Data and Fax modes. 1. 4 ATZ – Reset from Voice Mode This command works the same as in Data and Fax modes. In addition, the Z command resets all voice related parameters to default states, forces the #BDR=0 condition (autobaud enabled), and forces the telephone line to be selected with the handset on-hook. No voice parameters are stored in NVRAM so the profile loaded does not affect the voice aspects of this command. 1. 4. 1 Parameters: Same as Data and Fax modes. 1. 4. 2 Result Codes: Same as Data and Fax modes. 1. 5 #BDR – Select Baud Rate (Turn off Autobaud) This command forces the modem to select a specific DTE/modem baud rate without further speed sensing on the interface. When a valid #BDR=n command is entered, the OK result code is sent at the current assumed speed. After the OK has been sent, the modem switches to the speed indicated by the #BDR=n command it has just received. When in Online Voice Command Mode and the #BDR setting is nonzero (no autobaud selected), the modem supports a full duplex DTE interface. This means that the DTE can enter commands at any time, even if the modem is in the process of sending a shielded code indicating DTMF detection to the DTE. When in Online Voice Command Mode and the #BDR setting is zero (autobaud selected), shielded code reporting to the DTE is disabled. [Note that when #BDR has been set nonzero, the modem employs the S30 Deadman Timer, and this timer starts at the point where #BDR is set nonzero. If this period 3Com – U. S. Robotics 4 Voice Command Reference October 2, 1997 xpires (nominally 60 seconds) with no activity on the DTE interface, the modem reverts to #BDR=0 and #CLS=0. ] 1. 5. 1 Parameters: n = 0 – 48 (New baud rate is n*2400 bps) Default: 0 1. 5. 2 Result Codes: OK ERROR 1. 5. 3 If n = 0 – 48. Otherwise. Command options: #BDR? Returns the current setting of the #BDR command as an ASCII decimal value in result code format. #BDR=? Returns a message indicating the speeds that are supported. #BDR=0 Enables autobaud dete ction on the DTE interface. #BDR=n Where 1

Friday, August 30, 2019

Nothing is Here Essay

Complete the Timeline of Early 20th Century American Literature by adding ONE literary title (short story, novel, or poem) and ONE influential event for that literary title for each of the decades listed. You will also need to explain how the two pieces are connected. You should be able to complete this as you read through the lesson, filling in events on your timeline, however you may also use outside sources if you would like. You should have a total of eight events on your timeline before submitting it to your instructor. Timeline of Early 20th Century American Literature 1900- (Novel/Poem) Ezra Pound lived outside the United States after 1908. He had, nevertheless, a profound influence on 20th-century writing in English, both as a practitioner of verse and as a patron and impresario of other writers 1910- (Poem) Frost memorably crafted the language of common speech into traditional poetic form, with epigrammatic effect. Poetry: A Magazine of Verse, founded by Harriet Monroe in Chicago in 1912 1920- (Poem) Eliot lived abroad most of his life, becoming a British subject in 1927 In 1922 appeared The Waste Land, the poem by which he first became famous. 1930- (Novel) The Cantos, the first installment of which appeared in 1926 and the latest in 1959 Their all connected by the mer fact all of these great  writers devoted time and money into such projects, even if  some wrote novels or poems they still wrote profoundly  excelling pieces in the writing industry.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Data Collection and analysis of data Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Data Collection and analysis of data - Essay Example by Canbaz et al (2002) the risk of having chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, coronary heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases and osteoporosis rises at the proportion of elderly people increases. It is also stated that chronic disease cause medical, social and psychological problems which limit the activities of elderly people in the community and decrease their quality of life. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that leads to elevated blood glucose and glycosuria which can be result in significant problems among older people who are often predisposed to skin trauma and malnourished (Dunning, 2005). According to Kennie (1993) diabetes mellitus is an extremely common condition in elderly people and it is estimated that the disease is prevalent among 18.7 percent of women between the ages of 65 to 74 years to 29.9 percent 65 to 85 years. It is further stated that over 98 percent of diabetes in the age group is of the Type II or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NID DM) variety. The medical fraternity has progressed over the preventive care provided to the elderly people with regard to diabetes mellitus; technology being used to screen the diabetes patient, there is conflicting evidence on the efficacy of treatment in reducing the progression is lacking for an elderly population. The preventive cares for the diabetes include strenuous sessions of medication which may reduce the incidence of microvascular complications, which is very rare among the elderly people. The preventive treatment includes insulin injections, change in life style, dietary habits, undesired levels of monitoring or supervision to ensure safe compliance and an increased risk of hypoglycaemia and other drug side effects. Apart from this the patient has to prevent himself from getting any injury as it may lead to further added complications to the treatment. In this age of development and globalization, when nations come together to discuss the implications of new diseases

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

An Outline for the Education in Kuwait Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

An Outline for the Education in Kuwait - Essay Example Secondly, it is more or less sure that the author of this paper was a second language speaker of English. This is because the word choice, the syntax as well as the run-on sentences need to be edited or revised by an editor to avoid any misunderstanding or confusion while reading the article. Reviewing by Each Chapter The first chapter of this paper focused on the background as well as the structure of the essay with the background concentrating on the team from Singapore and the timeline on which the team worked on. The main research question of the diagnostic study was hidden on page 6 as part of the ‘structure of the paper’. Proper writing procedures require that both the purpose of the study as well as the research questions be explicit to the reader and be stated clearly in the introduction section for better guidance. In chapter two, the researchers stated the outcomes as outlined in the document of Kuwait’s vision 2023. The target of the desired outcomes wa s clustered around the making of a complete ‘human’ product. Nevertheless, the seven desired outcomes were general, vague and the explanation of each outcome was shallow and limited to social aspects. Moreover, the researchers did not explain the rationale for stating those seven outcomes within the framework and scope of the study. The desired outcomes failed to have a properly framed link to the labour market and the economic side of the country. The seven outcomes did not state anything about decision-making, critical thinking and creativity, which are fundamental elements in a human product. The third chapter talked about the core pillars that support the education system and the conceptual framework of the diagnostic study within the country. The researchers needed to explain the objects for the eight pillars as the basis for supporting the education system. The team needed to explain the objects that made them choose each pillar with a cohesive definition as used within the study. In the pillars, the researchers failed to place performance management systems under the human resource policies as applied within Kuwait. Furthermore, the curriculum pillar as used on the fourteenth page did not have a clear definition and a teacher as was elaborated and explained in detail on pages 15 to 18 short compared it to the education. Conventional writing has it that the reader needs to know the theories behind the conceptual framework as used in any study. The conceptual framework should lay down assumptions,  principles and  rules, and then bind them together to produce a broad  concept, which is easily understandable by all readers. Due to the short explanation in the conceptual framework part, the whole essay from the study appears quite unclear. This chapter, therefore, requires to be holistically revised in order to make it the guidance and the lens to the entire essay. Even if this study was about diagnosing the system, the reader needs to co mprehend the rules behind using a quantitative and qualitative method, which are not clear as from the study. An analysis of the fourth chapter uses 2400 participants, which does not specify whether this figure was a sum to all the students, parents, teachers as well as the principle. The study needed to have a tabulation of the different categories of participants as well as give a clear picture of the all the participants.     Ã‚  

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

The love canal case Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The love canal case - Article Example By going through the case, under-examination, the first questions appears how the situation appeared at the first place. Since, toxic wastes had been buried in the trench, once specified for the canal by William J. Love, the Board and Education and the land developers must have not constructed anything on it, as their act not only destroyed the entire region, but also put hundreds of precious lives in grave jeopardy. Secondly, the governmental agencies also appear to be responsible for demolishing of houses, schools and other places built on the trench carrying fatal waste. Had they not allowed construction of the buildings at there, the area would have not witnessed spread of cancer and other diseases, along with occurrence of abnormal births in that region (Business Week, 32). Thus, the main problem is the (mis)appropriate allocation and use of the land without cleansing it for residential, educational and commercial purposes. However, since Occidental Petroleum Company had informe d about the presence of heavy toxic wastes buried while selling the land to the Niagara Falls Board of Education, in the wake of the latter’s threatening behavior, the Company did not have any responsibilities for the losses in men and material to be occurred for the future years to come. On the contrary, the Board of Education, land developers and governmental agencies are liable for the losses took place in the form of seepage and leakage of the toxic wastes. Thus, the loyalties certainly go to the Occidental Company, and the poor masses due to the very fact that the former agreed to pay heavy ransom for the loss it did not have any involvement or intention to get involved, while the latter suffered in the form of experiencing seepage, breakout of diseases, and demolishing of their residences and workplaces at large (Business Week, 33). Another important issue, appeared while

Monday, August 26, 2019

Architectural Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Architectural Design - Essay Example His designs, are Based on a predilection towards a polemical flow of opposition, interaction, and redefinition. The grid was the organizing principle of Eisenman's earlier work, a series of rectilinear box-like houses in which he investigated and articulated a variety of theoretical ideas, including the notion of deep structure, a proposition that there is a universal, underlying ordering device that is the natural and logical generator of a design. His theories on architecture pursue the emancipation and autonomy of the discipline and his work represents a continued attempt to liberate form from all meaning, a struggle that is at times difficult to understand. Eisenman focuses on liberating architectural form. The House II is a single family house with a flat roof and a having a form of a cube. House II of 10 numbered houses, designed for the family of Princeton professor Richard Falk, was constructed between 1960-1970 in Hardwick, Connecticut as the second house in a series of structures conceived on the basis of a square plan. For this house, Eisenman began to investigate a set of abstract formal propositions as a possible condition of an underlying structure and their initial transformations into a specific environment. Using all rectangular elements, a series of lines, planes, and volumes converge to create a complex spatial arrangement, resulting into a design proposal that exemplifies high amount of rectangularity. The term 'cardboard architecture' in relation to House II Around 1968, Peter Eisenman limited himself to a set of abstract formal propositions as a possible condition of an underlying structure and their initial transformation into a specific environment for the design of House II. The formal propositions are the line, the plane, and the volume. Whilst Eisenman uses a compositional diagonal, all the construction elements are rectangular. The house displays evocative, ambiguous and strongly formal language. Furthermore, the primarily orthogonal and rectangular language of the houses, suggest a welcome degree of complexity achieved through simple means. The house shows a simple geometry that extrudes the square to form a cube or rectangular box. The geometry of the house is made up of its stark horizontals and verticals and large expanses of glass. Every addition to the house after this will be inside this cube or box so that the form will always be the exterior skin of the house, decomposed or not. With the addition of an equal number of planes vertically and horizontally the house splits into sections. With the further addition of interior walls, varying in size, but with a distinct pattern and with the crossing of those planes with perpendicular planes to form a grid. Add a square grid of structural columns. Decompose the existing grid work and columns to form rooms with the addition of the interior walls, floors, and roofs. Punch out forms from exterior walls to make windows and punch out similar forms from interior and exterior walls to make doorways.This describes the simple design process followed by the designer which impart s the building a simple geometry which is made up of planes and lines converging at different points to form different geometries which essentially resemble the functions of a cardboard; not structurally but visibly. The works of these series of houses are hence

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Organizing and paying for American Eduction Essay

Organizing and paying for American Eduction - Essay Example If we talk about American educational structure, we observe that initial education involves kindergarten, nurseries, preschools, and day care centers. Then comes the primary education that consists of grades 1 to 7. Then, the middle education is offered which includes grades 4 to 8. After that, high schools include grades 8 to 12. After passing high schools, the student enters the University for higher education. A typical American school has a principal who runs the school primarily, an assistant principal, secretaries, coordinators, department heads, teachers, librarians, a physician in case of emergency, and canteen operators. The American Government arranges funds for its education sector through taxes which give enough revenue to run the institutions. The taxes include property tax, sales tax, income tax, and prize bonds. The government provides general funding which is equally distributed among all institutions; and, categorical funding which the provider provides for some part icular educational programs. However, it is a big challenge for the government to show to their public and local districts how properly the revenue obtained through taxes is spent on education because often local districts have to spend from their own pockets for the maintenance of institutions.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Computer Hardware Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Computer Hardware - Essay Example 1-4). Among the many hardware in personal computers the most important part for any PC is the memory part and this includes the RAM, or in other words, the Random access Memory. It is known as the random access memory as the user can access any cell of the memory if the rows and columns to the memory are well known to the user (David, Hennessy, and Ashenden, 2004, p. 33). RAM is the memory chip that has millions of small and minute integrated elector circuits on the chip and these are the circuits that are composed of transistors as well as capacitors. A memory cell is created in the Dynamic RAM by pairing the transistor and the capacitor. The storage unit of the memory cell is in bytes and it has been calculated that the memory cell has the capacity to store a byte of the data. During the manufacturing of the RAM memory cells are attached to the Ram in the form of the rows and the columns. The rows in this case are known as wordlines and the columns are known as bitlines. For the working of the Ram a charge is sent through the column which activates the attached transistor within a time period of nano seconds.

Personal and Professional Development Assignment - 7

Personal and Professional Development - Assignment Example From this study it is clear that  the most common approaches to self-managed learning include workshops, seminars and conferences, social networks, internet, and in-service trainings. It is possible to learn through seminars, conferences and workshops because people use these forums for expressing their experiences and finding new ways of making changes for the future. Seminars, workshops, and conferences are effective in self-managed learning because they provide participants with opportunities for presenting their knowledge about various aspects to other people, who also learn new things from them.This essay declares that social networks provide additional forums for self-managed learning. Social networks include Facebook, Twitter, and My Year Book. People spend time chatting with friends and learning new inventions and information from others through their posts. The internet contains several articles written by various authors and on a variety of subjects, including accounting, management, economics, and marketing. The internet provides the most convenient source of information; knowledge from the internet learners can be transfer and put to practical applications at their workplaces. In-service trainings constitutes learning programs organizations plan, develop and administer to their employees. These programs are effective in self-managed learning because they are provided by the organization that exactly understands its needs and skill requirements.   Ã‚  

Friday, August 23, 2019

My Experience of Volunteer at Various Organizations Essay

My Experience of Volunteer at Various Organizations - Essay Example Once I had collected enough books, I would pack these up in delivery boxes and send it out to the various prisons that are affiliated with our organization. I would also take the time to write letters to the inmates who were directly involved with the book program. I was almost like an unofficial librarian in a way since I had to match certain book types with certain inmates. This was one of the most rewarding activities in the volunteer program because I would receive letters from the inmates who were so happy to be beneficiaries of our program. Since some of them had no family or friends, the books that we sent them helped lighten their lonely mood. We volunteer in effect, became a part of their extended family in the outside world just because of the simple act of kindness that we did for them. I personally received letters from those inmates who wanted to spend their time in prison or in jail productively. They would ask me to find books that would truly widen their horizon and challenge their minds. Books like those specializing in Spanish, medicine, math, English, and other educational reading material. I was more than happy to help them find those books and get it to them. It made me feel like by doing this type of volunteer job with th e organization, I was truly making an impact in the inmate's lives and helping them to see that they had a future outside of prison if they wanted to. My other volunteer job was at the Melbourne Animal Shelter. The South Animal Care shelter to be precise helped keep the cats and dogs in a presentable manner for possible adoption. My job was to make sure the animals were bathed, their cages cleaned, and most importantly, I made sure that these animals were given their daily exercise by taking them for leisurely walks. It saddened me that I this animal shelter was a kill shelter. Meaning the animals that did not get adopted would be out to sleep.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Global Warming Issues Facing the U.S. Today Essay Example for Free

Global Warming Issues Facing the U.S. Today Essay Throughout history, the fastest increase rate in the average global temperature has been recorded during the past 50 years, and experts further believe that the trend is alarmingly accelerating. Global warming is a complex phenomenon, and its full-blown consequences are difficult to foresee ahead of time. Nevertheless, every year scientists gain more knowledge of how global warming is upsetting the planet, and many have the same opinion that definite outcomes are expected to take place if present trends persist. Unless Americans reduce global warming emissions, distressing and almost irreversible impact on the country, planet and its life will be greatly expected in the near future. United States Issues Air pollutants, particularly carbon dioxide that is accumulating in the atmosphere is condensing extensively, trapping the heat of the sun and causing the earth to warm up. Despite the fact that Americans make up merely 4 percent of the world’s inhabitants, yet through fossil-fuel burning, they generate roughly 25 percent of the worldwide carbon dioxide pollution, which is considerably the largest share of any nation (â€Å"Global Warming Basics†). In the United States, the largest sources of carbon dioxide are the coal-burning power plants, producing 2. 5 billion tons annually; while automobiles running throughout the country’s streets are the second largest source, producing almost 1. 5 billion tons each year (â€Å"Global Warming Basics†). In the United States, global warming is already causing damage in its numerous regions. In June 2006, a panel organized by the United States National Research Council, the leading science policy body of the country, expressed confidence that the planet is the hottest it has been in at least four centuries, and probably even the last 20 centuries (â€Å"Global Warming†). Snow buildup in the United States has declined by almost 60 percent and winter seasons have abridged in a number of regions of the Cascade Range in Washington and Oregon since the early 1950s (â€Å"Global Warming Basics†). Oregon, Arizona and Colorado suffered their most terrible wildlife seasons, and drought produced relentless dust storms in Kansas, Colorado and Montana, and floods caused hundreds of millions of dollars in destruction in North Dakota, Kansas, Colorado and Montana. All the same, by the last part of the century, global warming is expected to further elevate the typical temperatures of the United States to three to nine degrees, which is expected to affect more of the country’s species and wildlife that cannot endure warmer environments. Americans wellbeing is as well in jeopardy, as abnormal climate changes may bring about the spread of certain illnesses, a greater possibility of heat stroke, poor air quality, and the flooding of the country’s foremost cities. Conclusion America must take a leadership function in solving the global warming crisis. Technologies exist today that make power plants produce electricity from nonpolluting sources, cars burn less gas and run cleaner, and electricity consumption lower and more efficient. Americans can take the initial move in seriously campaigning for energy conservation and manufacturing of more efficient appliances, as well as increase their reliance on renewable energy sources such as geothermal, sun and wind. Currently, the challenge for the country is to be certain that these solutions are implemented. Unfortunately, while the technologies are present, the country’s political and corporate will to put them into extensive exploitation are waning. Without doubt, every Americans must demand for it if development and environmental sustainability are desired to be achieved. Works Cited â€Å"Global Warming. † 2008. Standford SOLAR Center. 16 March 2009 http://solar-center. stanford. edu/sun-on-earth/glob-warm. html. â€Å"Global Warming Basics. † 18 October 2005. Natural Resources Defense Council. 16 March 2009 http://www. nrdc. org/globalWarming/f101. asp.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

India occupies a strategic position

India occupies a strategic position India occupies a strategic position in Asia, looking across the seas to Arabia and Africa on the west and to Burma, Malaysia and the Indonesian Archipelago on the east. Geographically, the Himalayan ranges keeps India apart from the rest of Asia. Location India lies to the north of the equator between 8 4 and 37Â ° 6 north latitude and 68Â ° 7 and 97Â ° 25 east longitude. It is bounded on the south west by the Arabian Sea and on the south east by the Bay of Bengal. On the north, north east and North West lie the Himalayan ranges. Kanyakumari constitutes the southern tip of the Indian peninsula where it gets narrower and narrower, loses itself into the Indian Ocean. Neighbours India shares its political borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan on the west and Bangladesh and Burma on the east. The northern boundary is made up of the Sinkiang province of China, Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan. India is separated from Sri Lanka by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar. Physiographic regions The mainland comprises seven regions. (1) Northern Mountains including the Himalayas and the North Eastern mountain ranges, (2) The Indo Gangetic plain, (3) The Desert, (4) Central highlands and Peninsular plateau, (5) East Coast, (6) West Coast, (7) Bordering seas and islands. Languages in India The different states of India have different official languages, some of them not recognized by the central government. Some states have more then one official language. Bihar in east India has three official languages Hindi, Urdu and Bengali which are all recognized by the central government. INDIAN SOCIETY CULTURE Hierarchy The influences of Hinduism and the tradition of the caste system have created a culture that emphasizes established hierarchical relationships.Indians are always conscious of social order and their status relative to other people, be they family, friends, or strangers. All relationships involve hierarchies. In schools, teachers are called gurus and are viewed as the source of all knowledge. The patriarch, usually the father, is considered the leader of the family. The boss is seen as the source of ultimate responsibility in business. Every relationship has a clear- cut hierarchy that must be observed for the social order to be maintained. Political administration of India India is a democracy. Before its independence its future leaders chose the liberal democratic system as the administration system of India. On 26/01/1950, India declared itself as Republic. On this day the Constitution of India came into force. Today India is a federation of 28 states and 7 union territories and formally this federation is known as a Union. Nominally the head of the country is the President in whom all executive powers are vested, but the real administrator of the country is the Prime Minister. After the national elections are held the President calls the most suitable candidate to form a government, known as the central government. Normally this candidate is the head of the largest party in the parliament. In case the government resigns because of any reason, the President can call the other candidate to form the government. The President can also declare, according to government advice, on new elections and if necessary an emergency state. The President has the right to be updated about crucial government matters and other rights like giving amnesty to prisoners etc. According to the Constitution, elections are to be held once in every five years, unless the parliament dissolves earlier or on the other hand, emergency is declared and in such a case parliament can continue another year. The Indian Parliament consists of two houses. The Lower House called the Lok Sabha and the Upper House called the Rajya Sabha. In the national elections candidates are chosen for the Lower House. The candidates are elected in territorial constituencies. There are 543 territorial constituencies. Two members from the Anglo-Indian community are nominated to the Lower House by the President. The law, which obliges Government office to reserve 15% from the Scheduled Castes and 7% from the Scheduled Tribes, also exists in the Parliament. At least 22% of the Indian Parliament members belong to these two communities. In the past few years there is an attempt to oblige a law to allow about 33% women as Parliament members. The Upper House, Rajya Sabha, consists of up to 250 members. Of these members 230 are elected by state legislatures and about 15 are nominated by the President. Unlike the Lower House, the Upper House cannot be dissolved, but one third of its members resign every two years. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS IN INDIA International Business in India looks really lucrative and every passing day, it is coming up with only more possibilities. The growth in the international business sector in India is more than 7% annually. There is scope for more improvement if only the relations with the neighbouring countries are stabilized. The mind-blowing performance of the stock market in India has gathered all the more attention (in comparison to the other international bourses). India definitely stands as an opportune place to explore business possibilities, with its high-skilled manpower and budding middle class segment. With the diverse cultural setup, it is advisable not to formulate a uniform business strategy in India. Different parts of the country are well-known for its different traits. The eastern part of India is known as the Land of the intellectuals, whereas the southern part is known for its technology acumen. On the other hand, the western part is known as the commercial-capital of the country, with the northern part being the hub of political power. With such diversities in all the four segments of the country, international business opportunity in India is surely huge. Sectors having potential for International business in India Information Technology and Electronics Hardware. Telecommunication. Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology. RD. Banking, Financial Institutions and Insurance Pensions. Capital Market. Chemicals and Hydrocarbons. Infrastructure. Agriculture and Food Processing. Retailing. Logistics. Manufacturing. Power and Non-conventional Energy. Sectors like Health, Education, Housing, Resource Conservation Management Group, Water Resources, Environment, Rural Development, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) and Urban Development are still not tapped properly and thus the huge scope should be exploited. To foster the international business scenario in India, bodies like CII, FICCI and the various Chambers of Commerce, have a host of services like These bodies work closely with the Government and the different business promotion organizations to infuse more business development in India. They help to build strong relationships with the different international business organizations and the multinational corporations. These bodies help to identify the bilateral business co-operation potential and thereafter make apt policy recommendations to the different overseas Governments. With opportunities huge, the International Business trend in India is mind boggling. India International Business community along with the domestic business community is striving towards a steady path to be the Knowledge Capital of the world. It was evident till a few years back that India had a marginal role in the international affairs. The image was not bright enough to be the cynosure among the shining stars. The credit rating agencies had radically brought down the countrys ratings. But, as of now, after liberalization process and the concept of an open economy international business in India grew manifold. Future definitely has more to offer to the entire world INTRODUCTION OF SOMALIA: Somalia Geography Somalia, situated in the Horn of Africa, lies along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It is bounded by Djibouti in the northwest, Ethiopia in the west, and Kenya in the southwest. In area it is slightly smaller than Texas. Generally arid and barren, Somalia has two chief rivers, the Shebelle and the Juba. Government Between Jan. 1991 and Aug. 2000, Somalia had no working government. A fragile parliamentary government was formed in 2000, but it expired in 2003 without establishing control of the country. In 2004, a new transitional parliament was instituted and elected a president. History From the 7th to the 10th century, Arab and Persian trading posts were established along the coast of present-day Somalia. Nomadic tribes occupied the interior, occasionally pushing into Ethiopian territory. In the 16th century, Turkish rule extended to the northern coast, and the sultans of Zanzibar gained control in the south. After British occupation of Aden in 1839, the Somali coast became its source of food. The French established a coal-mining station in 1862 at the site of Djibouti, and the Italians planted a settlement in Eritrea. Egypt, which for a time claimed Turkish rights in the area, was succeeded by Britain. By 1920, a British and an Italian protectorate occupied what is now Somalia. The British ruled the entire area after 1941, with Italy returning in 1950 to serve as United Nations trustee for its former territory. By 1960, Britain and Italy granted independence to their respective sectors, enabling the two to join as the Republic of Somalia on July 1, 1960. Somalia broke diplomatic relations with Britain in 1963 when the British granted the Somali-populated Northern Frontier District of Kenya to the Republic of Kenya. On Oct. 15, 1969, President Abdi Rashid Ali Shermarke was assassinated and the army seized power. Maj. Gen. Mohamed Siad Barre, as president of a renamed Somali Democratic Republic, leaned heavily toward the USSR. In 1977, Somalia openly backed rebels in the easternmost area of Ethiopia, the Ogaden Desert, which had been seized by Ethiopia at the turn of the century. Somalia acknowledged defeat in an eight-month war against the Ethiopians that year, having lost much of its 32,000-man army and most of its tanks and planes. President Siad Barre fled the country in late Jan. 1991. His departure left Somalia in the hands of a number of clan-based guerrilla groups, none of which trust ed each other. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTION A number of hotels were built when a new deep-water port was opened in the capital Mogadishu with the help of the World Bank. However, tourism to Somalia is not encouraged. There are many historical cities, and in the south of Somalia the flora and fauna are particularly interesting, but until the security situation improves tourism is a risky matter not to be embarked upon lightly. MAIN IMPORT: Foodstuffs Chemicals Machinery Textiles And petroleum. MAIN EXPORTS: livestock Banana. Meat, Fish leather Wood. AIRPORT HARBOUR The international airport is at Mogadishu. Major towns are connected by Somali Airlines, the national carrier. Flights are often disrupted because of security concerns. The main harbours in Somalia are Mogadishu, Berbera and Kismayu. The port of Mogadishu now has modern shipping berths. BILATERAL RELATIONS INDIA AND SOMALIA Bilateral: India and Somalia enjoyed excellent political, economical and cultural relationship until the collapse of the previous regime in 1991. After over a decade of civil war, Somalia now has a Transitional National Government established in August 2000, which expressed its desire to re-establish all round and traditional relations, which existed between the two countries and peoples. Somalia attached great importance to Indo-Somali bilateral relations and has sought Indias help in training of disarmed militias, rehabilitation, modernization and equipment of the reactivated military and police camps, training of staff in human health sector and rehabilitation of public infrastructures. Diplomatic Links: Due to increasing civilian unrest and mutiny by a section of the remed forces, in early 1990s that resulted in widespread attacks on foreign nationals and their interests we were compelled to close our Mission in Mogadishu. Recent High level Meetings: EAM met the Somalian Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the Asian-African Summit on April 23, 2005. The Somalian Foreign Minister sought Indias assistance in diverse areas including reconstruction, education, fisheries and energy sector. Trade Relations: Trade relations with India continues through the private sectors. Trade Relations with others (as per 1994 estimate) Imports US$ 269 million chiefly petroleum products, foodstuff, construction material and machinery. Exports US$ 130 million Live Animals, Fish, Hides and Banana. ANALYSIS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. As we have compared the economic indicators of the countries India and Somalia it is observed that the status of Somalia is far better than India. The business opportunity is more in Somalia due to the available resources in the country and also the technology available there. CONCLUSION: Both the countries are very different from each other but still both the countries are trying to have good relations through the trade. Basically they are dealing in wood, steel and iron items and they are focusing over it infact they are having deal over the trade of all these products. If they continue to have good economic relations and they can make good growth. REFERENCE TO WEBSITES:- http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/somalia/ http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/somalia-INTERNATIONAL-TRADE.html http://www.ckc.mofcom.gov.cn/ciweb/kcc/info/Article.jsp?a_no=68941col_no=744 REFERENCE TO TABLES:- International Monetary Fund. International Financial Statistics Yearbook 1999.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Gender Differences in Mental Illness Experiences

Gender Differences in Mental Illness Experiences Title: In what ways does gender shape the experience of mental illness? Introduction Women and mental health is a vast topic and we do not presume to cover all aspects of it within the confines of this essay. We will, however, explore a number of relevant themes in some detail by particular reference to peer reviewed literature on the subject. In doing so, we recognise the fact that it is vital to make a critical assessment of the literature as, in any branch of medically related work, it is vital to acquire a firm evidence base. (Berwick D 2005). Much of the literature that we have assessed for consideration amounts to little more than simple opinion on a subject, and as such, is only of use as an opinion rather than a fact that has been subject to proper scientific scrutiny. (Green Britten 1998). In this essay we take note of opinions but aim to present verifiable facts. We do know that mental illness in the UK is associated with a significant burden of both disability and morbidity in general, and this will vary with both the severity of the illness at any given time and also the nature of the illness itself. (Annandale, E1998). A number of studies have shown that, as a lifetime experience, nearly half of the population will suffer some kind of quantifiable psychological or psychiatric disorder. (Bayer, 1987) The actual incidence of morbidity is hard to assess accurately. Firstly because doctors tend to under-diagnose positive psychiatric morbidity and secondly because there is a general reluctance to seek medical help with this type of complaint. It has been suggested that only 40% of people with a significant mood, anxiety or substance misuse problem will actually seek help in the first year of the problem becoming apparent. (Boswell G Poland F 2004) In the context of this essay we should note that, in broad terms, the overall rates of psychiatric disorder are approximately equal in both men and women, but the significant differences between the sexes are found in the patterns of how the disorders manifest themselves. (Castle DJ et al 2001) It is also fair to comment that an examination of the literature seems to suggest that the morbidity which appears to be associated with mental disorders has been the subject of more attention and research than the actual determinants and mechanisms that appear to be significant in both the promotion of mental health, and protection against mental illness, together with those factors which appear to give a degree of resilience against stress and other adversities which are gender specific. ( Rogers Pilgrim 2002) Gender differences We do know that a number of psychiatric illnesses have different rates of presentation. Some, such as schizophrenia have gender differential modes of presentation and illness trajectory (Kornstein S Clayton A 2002). Just why should this be? A number of authors point to various features of gender difference that may account for this difference. Castle (et al 2001) spend a large proportion of their book differentiating the male and female brain in terms of the effect of testosterone on neurodevelopment. While this is undeniably a source of difference, it would appear that their argument rather falls apart when other authors point to the fact that the differences that we are considering here are actually better correlated with both gender and culture than actual biological sex. (Pattison 2001) Gender has much deeper socio-economic and cultural implications than simply a sexual consideration. It is gender that is one of the prime determinants of the differential power and status factors that influence the degree of control that both men and women have over their socio-economic situation and social position in their own cultural hierarchy. This, in turn, determines both their susceptibility, and indeed their exposure, to significant mental health risks. (Busfield J 1996) We have already alluded, in passing, to the differential incidence of various illnesses. We know that depression and anxiety related patterns of illness, together with those that have a significant element of somatosisation of their symptomatology, are more likely to occur in women than men with a ratio of about 3:1. Illnesses such as reactive (unipolar) depression is found to occur with double the frequency in women, when compared to men. This particular disease process is statistically the most common mental health problem that affects women, but it also tends to be more persistent in women both in terms of longevity of the episode and in frequency of relapse. (APA 1994) Gender differences are also apparent when it comes to a consideration of substance abuse, however it is usual to find the reverse ratio in most studies on the subject. Alcohol abuse and dependence will occur 2.5 times more frequently in men than women. It is not certain whether these changes are primarily cultural or biological, as they do vary to a degree between different cultures, but the sex difference is generally found. (Kraemer S 2000) Unlike the unipolar depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, like schizophrenia, has no differential rate of presentation although there are defined differences in the disease trajectory in terms of age at presentation, the frequency and nature of the first rank psychotic symptoms. This may have a bearing on the longer term sequelae such as social readjustment and long term disease process outcome. (Kaplan HI et al 1991) It is also a demonstrable fact that the degree of morbidity rises exponentially with multiple degrees of comorbidity. In studies on the subject, women outnumber men in this area as well. This consideration then begs the question, â€Å"just what are the gender specific different factors that determine mental health or the susceptibility to mental illness?† We have already suggested that many factors are not purely biological, and a number of different papers point to the fact that many of the triggers and stressor factors which can be associated with mental illness, are also gender specific. The gender based role in a particular society ( certainly in the UK), will produce different exposure to different stressors and negative life experiences. Equally it will give different exposure to the protective effect of a positive life experience. (Moynihan C 1998) We can cite specific examples in this regard. Women are frequently the domestic target of male-based violence. This factor is probably important in the fact that women have the highest incidence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).(Jewkes R 2002) There is still a gender gap in the earnings tables, both in total lifetime earnings and also in average earning levels. This implies that women tend to be less financially independent and more socio-economically deprived (on average) that males. In many societies this is also translated into lower social status that the male and this is often also associated with fewer social freedoms – all of which may be associated with an increasing psychological co-morbidity. (Gordon G et al 2001) There is also the consideration that in the majority of cultures, it is the woman who typically bears the major impact of care in the family, not only of the children, but also of the elderly relatives, and this frequently produces constant and unremitting levels of stress, which again, is recognised as a major trigger for psychological morbidity. (Davies TW 1994) All of these factors, when considered collectively, appear to exert a significant influence on the overall patterns of gender specific distribution of psychiatric morbidity in the community at large. These factors are generally exacerbated (and the gender differences accentuated), when there are sudden and unpredicted fluctuations in the general income level or the stability of the social strata.(Murray M 1995). We have already alluded to the fact that the rates of diagnosis by the healthcare professionals tend to underestimate the true incidence of psychiatric morbidity in the community. It is likely that the healthcare professional can also skew the results in a different way. We know, from a number of studies, that gender bias occurs in both the diagnosis and treatment of mental conditions. Doctors have been shown to be more likely to make a diagnosis of depression in women than in men even when the cohorts have been previously matched in terms of symptom severity and when the present with matched symptoms. Doctors are also statistically more likely to prescribe psychotropic medication for women than for men. (Bhui K et al 1995), Why should this be? Part of the reason is that women have demonstrably different patterns of presentation of psychological morbidity than men. Women are more likely to be open and to disclose their problems to a healthcare professional than a man. Women tend to disclose problems to a primary healthcare team professional (and therefore be treated in the community), whereas a man is statistically more likely to present to a secondary care specialist (which is possibly why men have a disproportionately high representation of inpatient care) (Boswell G Poland F 2004) This may be due to the general perception of the gender stereotype. It is more â€Å"socially acceptable† for a man to have an alcohol problem. Some would argue that Dean Martin made a career out of his drinking. Women are â€Å"expected† to be more emotionally labile than men, and the typical male stereotype is to be stoical and unflinching in the face of adversity. These patterns of behaviour in both the general public, as well as in the perceptions of healthcare professionals, go a long way towards perpetuating many of the gender inequalities that we have examined thus far. It is certainly possible that they may be responsible, at least in part, for the apparent varying susceptibility of the sexes to different illness patterns. (Bandarage A 1997) Conclusions In this essay we have considered some of the evidence that related to the gender differences in the presentation and trajectory of mental illness. We note that the WHO recognises many of these factors on a global scale and has put forward three factors that it considers to be protective in the development of mental morbidity (especially depression). In the light of our discussion above, it can be seen that, although the WHO addresses the points generally to the whole population, they, arguably, have a greater relevance for women than men, certainly in our current culture in the UK. Having sufficient autonomy to exercise some control in response to severe events. Access to some material resources that allow the possibility of making choices in the face of severe events. Psychological support from family, friends, or health providers is powerfully protective. (WHO1998) We have established that women represent the greatest element of morbidity in the overall consideration of both psychiatric and psychological pathology. This may a real finding, but we note that there is a considerable element of bias in the figures, both from the differential rates of presentation and also relative gender bias that appears to exist in the healthcare professionals in general. There is also additional bias in the fact that women have a longer life expectancy than men and therefore have more â€Å"life chances† to present with psychiatric morbidity, quite apart from the fact that the morbidity rates increase with advancing age, primarily associated with the dementias and various organic brain syndromes (Russell D 1995). On a world wide basis, women are more susceptible to the destabilising effect of war, economic instability and natural disasters which add to the burden of negative life experiences that are a prime risk factor for the development of mental illness. (Brown GW 1978). We have also identified the fact that the woman’s position in her particular culture or society is also a very significant factor in generating gender differences. There are gender differences in society and therefore it clearly comes as no surprise that these differences are reflected in the gender differences in health generally. The woman, in the majority of cultures is expected to assume a number of different roles (sometimes simultaneously), each with their own pressures. The unremitting role of the carer is common and clearly a cause of chronic stress. This can be both combined with, and exacerbated by, situations of comparative poverty which again magnifies the effect of all of the negative stressors which can mitigate towards mental ill-health. Other factors such as sexual abuse can also play a gender specific role in the aetiology of mental illness. In the words of Masson, (J.M. 1986) in his historical overview of the field of psychological disability: There is a positive relationship between the frequency and severity of such social factors and the frequency and severity of mental health problems in women. Severe life events that cause a sense of loss, inferiority, humiliation or entrapment can predict depression. Some authors point to the difficulty of communication of the patient with the healthcare professional. In areas where there are cultural or perceived socio-economic differences, it is accepted that this may be a significant factor (Platt, FW Gordon GH 1999). If difficulty of communication is a problem, the conscientious healthcare professional should endeavour to be aware of it and minimise it’s potential impact with strategies such as a translator or perhaps a more empathetic or understanding approach. One could hope that this would go some way to reducing the burden of disclosure from a patient who may already have a significant burden of psychological illness themselves. All in all, we can conclude that the whole area of gender, in relation to mental health problems, is both difficult, multifactorial and complex. A significant amount of work has been done in this field, but there is clearly scope for a great deal more. References Annandale, Ellen (1998) The Sociology of Health Medicine A Critical Introduction. Cambridge: Polity 1998 APA 1994 American Psychiatric Association. DSM-IV. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC: APA, 1994 Bandarage A 1997 Women, population and a global crisis London : Zed books 1997 Bayer, Ronald (1987) Homosexuality and American Psychiatry The Politics of Diagnosis. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. 1987 Berwick D 2005 Broadening the view of evidence-based medicine Qual. Saf. Health Care, Oct 2005; 14: 315 316. Boswell G Poland F 2004 Women’s minds, Women’s bodies London: Routledge ISBN 0333919696 Brown, George W. Tiril Harris (1978) The Social Origins of Depression A Study of Psychiatric Disorder in Women. New York: The Free Press. 1978 Brown, G.W., S.Davidson T.Harris (1977) Psychiatric Disorder in London and North Uist Social Science and Medicine 11: 367-377 Bhui K, Christie Y, Bhugra D. 1995 Essential elements in culturally sensitive psychiatric services. Int J Soc Psychiatry 1995;41:242-56 Busfield, Joan (1996) Men, Women and Madness Understanding Gender and Mental Disorder. London: Macmillan. 1996 Castle DJ, John McGrath, Jayashri Kulkarni (eds) 2001 Women and Schizophrenia Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0 521 78617 7 : 2001 Davies TW. 1994 Psychosocial factors and relapse of schizophrenia. BMJ 1994;309:353-4. Gordon G, Welbourn A. 2001 Stepping stones and men. Washington,DC: InterAgency Gender Working Group, 2001. Green J, Britten N. 1998 Qualitative research and evidence based medicine. BMJ 1998; 316: 1230-1233 Jewkes R 2002 Preventing domestic violence BMJ, Feb 2002; 324: 253 254 ; Kaplan HI, Sadcock BJ 1991 Synposis of Psychiatry, behavioural Sceinces Baltimore: Maryland Wilkins Wilkins 1991 Kornstein S Clayton A (eds) 2002 Womens Mental Health: A Comprehensive Textbook 2002 The Guilford Press, ISBN 1 57230 699 8 Kraemer S 2000 The fragile male BMJ, Dec 2000; 321: 1609 1612 ; Masson, J.M. (1986) A Dark Science. Women, Sexuality and Psychiatry in the Nineteenth Century. New York: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux. 1986 Moynihan C 1998 Theories in health care and research: Theories of masculinity BMJ, Oct 1998; 317: 1072 – 1075 Murray M.1995 Prevention of anxiety and depression in vulnerable groups. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1995 Pattison H 2001 Women and Schizophrenia †¢ Women and Mental Health BMJ, Jul 2001; 323: 114 ; Penfold, P. Susan Gillian A.Walker (1984) Women and the Psychiatric Paradox. Milton Keynes: Open University. 1984 Platt, FW Gordon GH 1999 Field Guide to the Difficult Patient Interview 1999 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, pp 250 ISBN 0 7817 2044 3 London: Macmillian Press 1999 Rogers A and David Pilgrim 2002 Mental Health and inequality London: Macmillan, ISBN 0333786572 : 2002 Russell, Denise (1995) Women, Madness and Medicine. Cambridge: Polity. 1995 Showalter, Elaine (1987) The Female Malady. Women, Madness and English Culture 1830-1980. London: Virago. 1987 Skultans, Vieda (1987) The Management of Mental Illness among Maharashtrian Families: A Case Study of a Mahanubhav Healing Temple. Man: Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 22(4):661-679 Szasz, Thomas S.(1971) The Manufacture of Madness. A Comparative Study of the Inquisition and the Mental Health Movement. London: Routledge. 1971 WHO 1998 World Health organisation 1998 The World Health Report Executive Summary   Geneva: World Health organisation 1998 ############################################################ 17.1.06 PDG Word count 2,813

Monday, August 19, 2019

Revival of the Irish Culture Essay -- Essays Papers

Revival of the Irish Culture People of Irish decent share a pride in their national heritage perhaps unlike any other culture today. Many Irish homes are decorated with clovers, flags, and other Gaelic symbols even today. This enthusiasm for Irish culture has not always been around. In fact, this source of pride can be traced back to one cultural revival movement in Ireland during the 1800’s. During this time, the people of Ireland formed the Gaelic League to unify their country, and to give themselves a national identity of where they came from. Due to the persecution of the Catholic Church, the Great Potato Famine, and many forms of persecution from the British, Ireland needed a way to remember their rich cultural history. Many factors go into making a country transform into a nation. Eoin MacNeill, the first president of the Gaelic League, believed in this full heartedly. He believed that it took much more then simply political sovereignty to unify a country into a nation (Hachey and Hernon Jr. and McCaffrey 140). MacNeill knew that in order for Ireland to unify, they were going to need to have a rich cultural history. His solution to this lack of culture was the Gaelic League. MacNeill urged the people of Ireland to be proud of not only their language, but their art, literature, sports, and dance. Almost immediately the people of Ireland took to this new sense of cultural nationalism. The Irish began to believe that their language was not merely a way to communicate, but a way of cultural values and a way of life (Hachey and Hernon Jr. and McCaffrey 140). People from the urban middle class, who previously knew nothing of the Gaelic history, began joining the league in massive amounts of numbe rs. Soon, many... ...nal heritage. Although many argue that no other Irish cultural movements succeeded during this time period, the Gaelic League perhaps did enough for all of them. Today Irish are proud of who they were, and what they have become. Works Cited Castle, Gregory. Modernism and the Celtic Revival. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2001. Hachey, Thamas E., Joseph M. Hernon Jr., and Lawrence J. McCaffrey. The Irish Experience. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1989. Hepburn, A.C.. â€Å"Language, Religion and National Identity in Ireland since 1880.† Perspectives on European Politics & Society 02.2 (2001) Academic Search Premier Miller, David W. â€Å"Irish Catholicism and the Great Famine.† Journal of Social History 09.1 (Fall 1975) Academic Search Premier.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Blind Faith and False Belief: An Examination of the Development of The

The purpose of this paper is to closely examine the effects of children with congenital profound visual impairment (CPVI) and a possible correlation to the delay in the development of theory of mind (ToM). Specifically, this paper will compare a study that investigated how visual cues affect the development of ToM to a similarly themed episode from the popular television show Xena: Warrior Princess. On the surface these two groups may appear to be an odd comparison, for children with CPVI and Xena seem like they have nothing in common. However, there is one episode in particular entitled â€Å"Blind Faith,† in which these two worlds collide in a unique and surprising way proving and interesting parallel and additional insight into how blindness may affect the development of the theory of mind. In the article entitled, â€Å"An investigation of first-order false belief understanding of children with congenital profound visual impairment,† a detailed look at the development of ToM was performed. Theory of mind (ToM) is defined â€Å"as the ability to impute mental states to others and to interpret and predict behavior in terms of those mental states† (Green 1). In order to examine ToM, the study performed a series of false belief tests. False belief can also be explained as misunderstanding which connected to false reasoning. In the case of the children in this study, the false belief would be if they can correctly identify how another person would respond to a specific task, if that person had limited information that the children were previously made privy too. These tests are important because, as they article explains; the testing false belief is the most direct way to access if a person has a fully developed theory of mind (Dennett c... ...ere is a correlation between blindness and a delay to the development ToM. Whether it’s Xena or children with congenital profound visual impairment it’s obvious that visual cues are significant when trying to interpret the actions of others. Xena, like the children in the study, was forced to rely on other senses to compensate for the lack of visual cues, which is important because without them children are at a disadvantage to understanding the greater world around them. Works Cited â€Å"Blind Faith.† Xena: Warrior Princess. Created by Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi. Perf. Lucy Lawless, Renee O’Connor. USA Network. April 17, 1997. Green, Sarah, Linda Pring, and John Swettenham. "An Investigation of First-order False Belief Understanding of Children with Congenital Profound Visual Impairment." British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 22.1 (2004): 1-17.

The Measure of Ones Life :: Personal Narrative Essay Example

The Measure of a One's Life The measure of one's life is in his or her deeds. The life of Whittier Crocket Witherspoon has been remarkable in its scope of accomplishment and influence. He's been an educator, a school principal and teacher and a political leader who's met with presidents and the political elite of our country. In 1987 Gov. Jim Hunt awarded him the Order of the Long Leaf Pine (North Carolina's highest civilian award) for a lifetime of service, and his house is a treasure trove of awards, mementos and photographs. Yet, for all the awards, all the accolades, Witherspoon seems most proud of the lives he has touched and the children who have gone on to successful careers and lives. "I am pleased to note that I have kids who have received their doctorates, and masters, and are nurses and teachers," he says. "A number are ministers. Many in this community." He came to the Albemarle area in 1955 as the principal of what was then the Sawyers Creek School, the school for blacks in a segregated Camden County school system. The U.S. Supreme Court had just ordered the desegregation of schools, and over the next 13 years, as the nation struggled with issues of racial hatred and division, the Marion Anderson School, as it was renamed in 1957, remained an island of calm in the storm. Although they were turbulent times, Witherspoon did not feel complex answers were needed. "I told (students) that when they stepped on that bus, they were mine," he says. "I told them they should love one another. I treated everybody the same. My school was run on love. L-O-V-E." It is a philosophy that comes from the pulpit of his father, a Methodist minister who traveled "all over," in the words of Witherspoon. "I have looked up most of all to my father, and I have tried to follow in his footsteps," he says. "He attempted to train us (Witherspoon and his three brothers), and looking back over the years, I see that he did very well." The lessons he learned were based on love and respect: to respect oneself, love others and love and respect this country. Witherspoon served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II, island hopping across forgotten atolls and nameless islands.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Mid-term Exercise

Vocabulary essayed- Manfred has attempted to find answers to his lack of happiness. He has tried to do good deeds and he has done wrong as well; yet neither has offered him answers. avail- Manfred is considering his life, both the good and the bad; however as he tries to figure out his purpose in life he cannot. Avail is to do well or to be of use. In Manfred’s case, all his searching is useless and has not rendered him any answers. Promethean- Byron uses the word promethean to express Manfred’s belief that he has lived as a creative and imaginative being much like the spirits, yet the spirits mock him as only human. Uncharnel- Lord Byron chose this word to describe Manfred’s raising of Astarte, Manfred’s love, from the dead. Charnel is a tomb or sometimes when used in literature suggests death. In this case, Byron used it as a description of awakening the dead. Anchorite- The abbot comes to Manfred, hoping to convince him to pray to God and not leave his fate in the hands of the spirits. He appeals to Manfred’s likeness to an anchorite, or a person living a life of prayer in solitude (can also be in a religious community); only Manfred spent his solitary life without prayer. Mediator- Manfred wants to deal with his earthly discretions directly with heaven. He tells the abbot that he will deal directly with heaven and has no desire for the abbot to intervene and explain his actions to ensure his entrance to heaven. Atonement- The abbot believed, as his religion expects, that atonement, asking for forgiveness for sins, is the only way of getting into heaven. Manfred on the other hand feels he should deal with his mistakes himself and be responsible for his own soul. Cataract- The abbot wants Manfred to reconsider his life and achievements, but Manfred compares his life to that of a cataract, or waterfall. He feels that all his hopes to achieve great things amounted to nothing and crashed like the water of a cataract. Averse- Manfred defended his choice to live in solitude to the abbot. He felt his life was unlike those of other men. He believed that his nature was to be alone unlike others who preferred the company of others. Colloquy- Manfred becomes annoyed by the abbot’s insistence of atonement before death. The conversation becomes intense and Manfred tells the abbot that the conversation is over. Plot a. The event which Manfred speaks of is the death of Astarte which he blames on himself and from that point on he does not care about his life and wants it only to be over. b. Manfred’s destiny according to the spirit is to â€Å"live† in purgatory. The spirit says, And on thy head I pour the vial Which doth devote thee to this trial; Nor to Slumber, nor to die, Shall be in thy destiny (I.i.261); The spirit warns Manfred that he will not sleep or die, but parish. c. After summoning the spirits, Manfred feels as though they are mocking him and this angers him. He feels that he would be a slave of the spirits should he agree with the witch and swear him obedience.   This is somewhat contradicting since he needs them to raise Astarte’s spirit. d. The witch seems sympathetic to Manfred’s sadness and wants to stop his pain but then asks for something in return as a sign of his sincerity; which he angrily refuses. While Manfred claimed to want the witch’s help he out right refuses to give any part of him in return for her help. During Manfred’s encounter with the witch, Manfred describes his total infatuation and love for his sister, Astarte. e. During Manfred’s encounter with the spirits, Nemesis was the one to summons Astarte from the dead. Nemesis mocks Manfred as with false pity. Nemesis by definition indicates a person who is an enemy or a force that inflicts injury. In Manfred, Nemesis is inflicting pain by bringing the spirit who despised Manfred to him; knowing how much he loved her. III. Themes a. Manfred describes human lives as being lived in many different orders. Some live long and simple lives whereas some live harsh, painful lives which cause them death before their time. Manfred professes to be a man who deserves an early death because of all he’s seen and done and all the pain he’s caused and received. Orders as seen in today’s standards have many connotations. Orders today can be seen as different groups of people in society. One example could pertain to religious groups, such as the Order of Saint Francis. People can live their lives in a particular order based on their moral and ethical beliefs. If one believes they have the potential the achieve greatness, they will live accordingly. In the contrary, if one feels life is meaningless they will not strive for more. b. The abbot’s sympathy towards Manfred allows the readers to understand Manfred’s complex reasoning for not wanting to abide by the religious orders required by the abbot’s religion. The play would have had a very different impact had the abbot been unsympathetic to Manfred. The whole story revolves around the choice Manfred makes to deal with heaven directly, rather than praying for forgiveness. Manfred feels that the abbot’s religion does not pertain to him. Had the abbot not been portrayed as a sympathetic man then the audience would not have seen Manfred defend his right to go to heaven without absolution. The abbot, begs Manfred to reconsider his choice to not ask for absolution; Abbot.  Ã‚  My pious brethren, the scared peasantry, Even thy own vassals, who do look on thee With most unquiet eyes. Thy life’s in peril. Man.  Ã‚  Take it. Abbot.  I come to save, and not destroy (III.I. 55-60). IV. Mini-Essays Byron uses two different narrative approaches in â€Å"Manfred† and â€Å"Beppo†. The differences in narration and tone portray two different types of love; forbidden and innocent. The following essay examines key differences between â€Å"Beppo† and â€Å"Manfred†. Two different types of narration are used in Byron’s â€Å"Manfred† and â€Å"Beppo†. In â€Å"Manfred†, Byron creates Manfred as a main character and uses first person narration to allow the reader to get a first hand experience of Manfred’s thoughts and emotions. The narrator in â€Å"Beppo† is not an actual main character. The narrator in â€Å"Beppo† has the advantage of seeing all the characters and their emotions. The narrator in â€Å"Beppo† also relates his own experiences with love in comparison to Byron’s characters. The narrator in â€Å"Beppo† has a more upbeat and positive tone about love and life than Manfred, as the narrator says; But they were young: Oh !  what without our youth Would love be ! What would youth be without love! Youth lends it joy, and sweetness, vigour, truth, Heart, soul, and all that seems as from above; (LV.). Manfred expresses sadness throughout his tale. Unlike the narrator in â€Å"Beppo†, Manfred tells of his own personal tragedy. For example, in Act I, Manfred tells of his life of sorrow and disappointment; But grief should be the instructor of the wise; Sorrow is knowledge: they who know the most Must mourn the deepest o’er the fatal truth, The Tree of Knowledge is not that of Life (I.I.10). The narrator in â€Å"Beppo† reminisces of past romantic experiences, passing his knowledge to the audience. He compares Laura’s love of Beppo and the Count to his own past experiences; and while he shares the joy and satisfaction of young love, he must have had his heart broken in the past because he also can sympathize with the disappointments of love. Manfred only briefly speaks of happiness, and that is while reminiscing of his time with Astarte. The love in which Manfred speaks of is a forbidden love; â€Å"I say ’tis blood—my blood! the pure warm stream/   Which ran in the veins of my fathers, and in ours/ When we were in our youth, and had one heart,/ And loved each other as we should not love†, (II. I. 28-31). Byron’s â€Å"Beppo† however, is based on a more innocent love. Perhaps the most obvious difference between the characters in Byron’s two stories is the personalities and psyche of the main characters. â€Å"Manfred† is a tale of pain and suffering; Manfred is obviously depressed and suicidal; he speaks often of his loneliness and impatience with life; wishing it was over. â€Å"Beppo† doesn’t focus on just one moment in time as a basis for the narrator’s emotions. The narrator is unbiased, he tells of both the good and the bad in love. Essay  Ã‚   b. In the stories â€Å"Manfred† by Byron and â€Å"Descent into the Maelstrom† there are very distinct main characters. The characters share some similar qualities which this essay will examine; as well as some of their differences and how each could be considered heroes. The two stories express tragic experiences as the cause for the main characters motives. Manfred’s tragedy was his own doing, by acting on the feelings he had for his sister, while the guide’s tragic experience was caused by nature. Both characters acted on their experience differently; while the guide used his tragic adventure as a learning experience in which he uses to inspire his company, Manfred dwells on his tragic experience, letting it run his life and eventually end it. Both characters Manfred and the guide; had aged before their time. Manfred felt it was his time to die, even though the Chamois hunter questions this. The hunter can’t understand why a man younger than himself would want to end his life. Manfred explains; â€Å"Think’st thou existence doth depend on time?/   It doth; but actions are our epochs: mine/   Have made my days and nights imperishable (II.I. 56-58)†. The guide considers himself to have aged dramatically from that tragic moment at sea, he tells his company; â€Å"You suppose me a very old man – but I am not. It took less than a single day to change these hairs from a jetty black to white, to weaken my limbs, and to unstring my nerves, so that I tremble at the least exertion, and am frightened at a shadow† (par.2). Both of the characters feel that they have vast amounts of life experience which is why they feel old. Their decisions are based on this feeling of being wise beyond their year. Manfred feels he has experienced too much hardship to go on, whereas the guide feels it has made him stronger, though still fearful. This can be seen as heroic for both men, it is seen more obvious in the guide; however Manfred has taken his future in his own hands and has not been persuaded by others. He knows what he did was wrong, and that his sister’s death can be blamed on him, so he does the only thing that seems right. Both characters were strong willed, however, Manfred was not aware of this; it was the spirit who recognized his strength. The guide likely new his strength from surviving such an ordeal as the Moskoe-strà ¶m; yet the guide used this inner strength as a way to inspire his guest. Both Manfred and the guide had a moment of peacefulness and acceptance; Manfred before he died and the guide right before he thought he was about to die. After being terrified the guide experiences a moment of acceptance; I began to reflect how magnificent a thing it was to die in such a manner, and how foolish it was in me to think of so paltry a consideration as my own individual life, in view of so wonderful a manifestation of God's power. I do believe that I blushed with shame when this idea crossed my mind. (par.37). Manfred has a moment of acceptance when the spirit comes for him; I knew, and know my hour is come, but not To render up my soul to such as thee: Away! I’ll die as I have lived—alone (III. IV. 104-106). Byron’s â€Å"Manfred† is a tale based on tragedy whereas Poe’s â€Å"Descent into the Maelstrom† is a story of strength and accomplishment. These two stories demonstrate the very different approaches one can take after a tragic event. Manfred chose to wallow in his pain and eventually puts an end to it, while the guide chose to live with a new outlook on life. Beppo http://readytogoebooks.com/LB-Bp48.htm A Descent into the Maelstrom http://www.online-literature.com/poe/26/ Byron, George G. N. Harvard Classics (vol.18) (part 6) Manfred. A Dramatic Poem. (1909). Retrieved Febru

Friday, August 16, 2019

Early Twentieth Century American Literature Essay

It is fascinating the sheer number of themes that a relatively short period of literature can bring up and deal with. This is most certainly the case with American literature as it turned the corner from the nineteenth to twentieth centuries. Diverse genres as poetry, such as Edwin Arlington Robinson’s Miniver Cheevy and My Papa’s Waltz by Theodore Roethke, and short stories from authors like Charlotte Perkins Gilman (The Yellow Wallpaper) and Flannery O’Connor (Good Country People) covered the range of topics from relationships between men and women and fathers and sons, to innocence lost and reality avoided. These works tested the social fabrics and existences of these topics, often finding new forms of expression for them. In many ways, then, it is difficult to ascertain or name this period for a specific movement. What is true is that it would appear from this gamut that the early nineteen hundreds in the United States had become absolutely pregnant with literary possibilities. Short stories would seem the easiest way for an author to get the point across regarding theme and context. The genre is long enough for simple analysis, yet short enough to avoid meandering far from intent. Gilman created a masterpiece of the just long enough variety. Within The Yellow Wallpaper the author takes on a primary theme from the early part of the twentieth century: the expected submissive status of women. Apart from the popularly identified issues of psychology found in the story, the chief concern of the author is in fact the treatment of women by their ‘superior’ gender. This theme is found over and again through examples like the freedom of the woman’s husband John to make every single one of the decisions regarding his wife, her care and her liberty. Incidentally, his wife is apparently suffering from post-partum depression (the textual evidence indicating the presence of their baby son) but yet again, in keeping with the theme, there is no willingness to offer quality compassion or care on the part of the man. Unwittingly, (hopefully, that is) he even worsens her conditions by removing the baby altogether from her life. He simply locks her up and patronizes her, assuring her that she will feel better any day – and especially if she doesn’t get involved in things that might grant her some level of independence, like writing. The theme, though treated throughout the narrative, is never quite resolved by story’s end. The wife is psychologically mad, and the husband does not realize that he is the cause. Even when faced with the plain existence of insanity upon his wife’s visage, he faints from the horror of it all, rather than from the revolting knowledge that he somehow may have been complicit. The Yellow Wallpaper is an allegory. This is plain and simple. The primary literary device continually reminds the reader that this story, though fictional, is still reality. Through the ongoing saga of the wife’s illness and treatment, it is seen the connection to daily life for all women of the time. The symbolism at points is quite clear. John locks his wife up and it takes some time for the reader to figure out quite why. It is precisely due to the fact that this is not the point. It is not important to find out the ‘why’ behind locking her up. It is allegorical. John is representative of males, and his wife’s incarceration is representative of the state they are kept by all the Johns of the world. The wife of the time was to have no say so in family finances, direction and management, and are to remain in the home, locked up and ready to serve. â€Å"I sometimes fancy that in my condition,† the wife muses, â€Å"if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus – but John says the very worst thing I can do is to think about my condition, and I confess it always makes me feel bad† (1684). The Yellow Wallpaper describes this feeling of both hopelessness and submissiveness well through its use of allegorical story. Similarly, the work exhibits one of the main beliefs, then, of its time. When this short story was printed, and received by the reading public, it represented the status quo of the Victorian era. Women were the homemakers. They had their place, and it sure wasn’t anywhere that would find them thinking independently. Most likely men did not see The Yellow Wallpaper for the allegory it was at all. This story would have been more of a realist bent than a social statement, to them. The belief in a woman’s submissive role was so prevalent that this story was interpreted more for its talk of mental disorders than for its social discourse. This, unfortunately, is what happens when a cultural belief is so pervasive. It is a safe bet that women did not see it in the same light. Writing by Gilman became a predecessor to the modern feminist movement, and provided a safe voice through literature for what would become an undercurrent yet to sweep the nation. Women, understood what the book was saying through its nuances about the current cultural belief, and cheered on the wife as she ‘creeped’ right on over John at story’s end (1694). The poem Miniver Cheevy is much different altogether. Rather than focusing on a specific social reality as did Gilman’s work, Robinson instead pointed out an escape from it. The idea of escape is the theme of this piece. As society began to drift away from the romantic notions of the past with its views of new adventures and discoveries, and toward a new, industrialized modern world, a more mundane existence crept over the country. Though there was more work, it was less creative. The new reality meant longer work hours in dreary conditions. There was less time and freedom for adventures and experiences during the busy and demanding work week. Even the colors and surroundings faded as factories and pollution began to grow. For free thinkers and romantics, this was not their time. More than a few would find themselves pining away for the more innocent and carefree past. Cheevy went even farther than this, choosing to attempt escape altogether, with perhaps the help of a drink or two. Although one could make the case for alliteration being the chief literary device the author uses, this finding is far too simplistic. Alliteration does make the poem structurally interesting and even more attractive when orally presented. But it does nothing regarding the meaning of the poem itself, and thus must be discarded as a mere tool. Because of its support in creating and maintaining the theme of the poem, the proper choice of important literary device is that of allusion. Much of the poem concerns itself with just exactly what it is that Cheevy sees in his head as he is escaping the doldrums of the modernized world. One entire stanza is, in fact, devoted to this usage. Miniver sighed for what was not, And dreamed, and rested from his labors; He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot, And Priam’s neighbors. (1898) Thebes, Camelot and the neighbors of Priam become the vision that Miniver is trying to get to, while escaping his work. Without alliteration, the poem succeeds in expressing its theme, but without allusion to these quasi-historical places and peoples, the theme of escape from reality fades. Fighting back against the growing industrialization of the time, with its blind machines and lack of personal ambition was a main concern of the times in which Robinson wrote. This particular poem exhibited its concern with the issue. The old era had passed, and Miniver Cheevy, like many real people, looked back with regret at what was no more. The newly arriving era must have looked bleak indeed. A sense of adventure was being lost; in its place came a safe predictability with its set routines and agendas. The more romantic of individuals were inclined to not take this sitting down. Cheevy became their role model. He performed his perfunctory, obligatory labor – and then he dreamed for better. He sought refuge from the present in the past. He dreamed of no longer being a cog in a machine, but a knight on a steed. It is the ultimate picture of this issue of 1900s America: escape from reality. Roethke’s poem My Papa’s Waltz takes issue with society, too. This work, however, takes as a theme the topic of father – child relationships. As The Yellow Wallpaper appears to demonize men in terms of how they treat women, My Papa’s Waltz appears to indict fathers in terms of how they treat children. It is important to note that neither work is stating that the abuses or neglects are the social norms, but they certainly make a sweeping statement that if they are not actually the norm, then they are certainly within the acceptable. To be more specific about the theme Roethke is exploring, it can be said that the poem is about the dynamics of the father – child relationship; not merely an accepted standard of near abuse, but of the love of the child for his father regardless. It is almost the love-hate relationship Robinson talks of in Miniver Cheevy. The metaphor of the waltz is how Roethke reaches the reader so easily. With very little time and few lines with which to elucidate a theme, the metaphor becomes one of the best options among literary devices. The waltz, an elegant, formalized, and patterned dance, is an unexpected symbol for what appears tantamount to acceptance of child abuse. Without the expression of the dance, then only abuse would be left. The interpretation of the poem would really suffer. When the reader experiences the fact that the son is describing a waltz, then suddenly things are different. The power of this literary device changes everything. One word expresses the love of the child that surpasses the fear. It describes a careful orchestration of the relationship that the child understands. Two lines of the poem are the most telling about this understanding, this participation in the horror/love relationship. â€Å"But I hung on like death: such waltzing was not easy† and â€Å"Then waltzed me off to bed still clinging to your shirt† (2321). So the boy talks of hanging on and clinging on. He desperately wants to be loved by, or at least near to, his familiar father. This despite the fact that he may or may not be being abused. What he does know is that if he just waltzes along, then in his mind and heart, at least, his father still loves him despite the neglect. The specific steps of the dance, its peculiar rhythm and rhyme ensures that all remains status quo in the household relationships. Above all else, this is what the child wants – a predictable father – son relationship. The 1940s belief described by the Roethke poem is that of what modern day readers would consider child abuse. There is clearly an awareness of society, as seen in the poem, that what goes on in the household between fathers and their children (and especially their sons) may not be right, proper or healthy. And yet, as the poem’s ambivalence shows, it was still an acceptable norm. Even the child appears to agree. His description of the surroundings makes it seem that he acknowledges that things aren’t what they should be. But he found an outlet for his expression, and a safe way to love his father. It became important for him to dance along to the proscribed steps to make sure that all was still right with the world. He knew that his father loved him, and he just wanted to stay close, even if close meant a beating just as soon as it might mean a kind word. The 1940s culture did experience this, but never specifically took it to task or clearly identified it as wrongdoing. The poem accurately conveys this by showing the waltz ending up with the child off to bed. In other words, this was an accepted part of the father – son relationship, and an accepted part of the family and social dynamic. A digression from these cultural concerns and themes in the turn of the century American literature comes from the rather lengthy short story Good Country People. This completely topical focused work by O’Connor is a complex treatment of a complicated theme. It wraps ambitious writing arms around the theme of innocence versus experience; a twist on the more commonly expressed good versus evil. This central motif is one of the possibilities that arise when two completely different sort of people come into relationship and interaction with each other. It asks whether this is a compatible notion, or a recipe for utter failure, disappointment or potential disaster. The theme also includes the abstract question of whether innocence is good, or experience bad. The central idea here spreads from one theme to be exposed as a hydra with its many faces, most of them unexpectedly frightening. Irony is the device that makes Good Country People work so magnificently. The title alone mocks its very characters that play such an important part in Joy’s life. That being said, the irony is absolutely all inclusive, to the point that the reader actively looks for it as the story goes along. It is a thoroughly instructive literary device that guides the reading of the story and allows clear understanding of both the theme and the plot. Even the names of the characters are ironical. Joy is not a joyful person. Manley is truly a physical man, but hidden behind a facade. The skillful use of irony doesn’t stop there. Consider the attitudes of the characters. The squabbling, gossiping and snippy women presented early in the narrative are perfect forms of this. Mrs. Hopewell doesn’t hope well for most anyone. Mrs. Freeman is not free at all from her self-righteousness. Together, they call themselves Good Country Women, something that is so farfetched that it is only hopeful that one finds it to be irony as opposed to outright falsehood. Beyond all this is, of course, the interaction between the two primary characters, Joy, who calls herself Hulga (going so far as to actually legally change her name) and Manley Pointer, the Bible salesman. The irony is that Joy is so self-satisfied, and so above all of the alleged good people that she removes herself from their realm. She is better than them and can see them for who they are. She deems herself a quality judge of that sort of people – namely, people who aren’t what they purport themselves to be. She should be ready then, to clearly and easily discern the false pretenses of Manley Pointer when he arrives. He is so simply not the Christian that he sells himself to be. It is fairly easy to see his plots, his salesmanship and his manipulations. Especially so when it comes to young Hulga. Yet she takes him for what he appears to be. Despite being an atheist and mocking the so called faith of the women, which she sees as hypocrisy, she is somehow blinded to the fact that the Bible salesman is selling snake oil. The scene between Manley and Hulga toward the end of the story tells it best: The boy was unscrewing the top of the flask. He stopped and pointed with a smile, to the deck of cards. It was not an ordinary deck but one with an obscene picture on the back of each card. â€Å"Take a swig,† he said, offering her the bottle first. He held it in front of her, but like one mesmerized, she did not move. Her voice when she spoke had an almost pleading sound. â€Å"Aren’t you,† she murmured, â€Å"aren’t you just good country people? † (2582) So Hulga, the former Joy, seems utterly surprised when she eventually comes to realize that he is not one of the good country people after all. He is not after men’s souls, but women’s bodies. After priding herself on her ability to recognize the hidden evils that hide behind smiles and Christian belief, she has let herself down by letting her guard down. Her naivete finally comes out and is exploited by worldliness. This repeated irony skillfully plays out the overall theme of innocence versus knowledge. The literary technique that had begun to come into vogue when Good Country People was being written was the school of ‘show, don’t tell. ’ This was O’Connor’s first stab into that realm. She used irony and situation to do all of the talking. Rather than laboriously describe persons’ attitudes and beliefs, she allows readers to eavesdrop on the action. This turns out to be much more realistic than earlier forms of realism and naturalism. Those genres depended upon minute details and descriptions of motivations and intents and did not lead readers astray, which would have been labeled patently unfair at the time. This new convention allows for more reader interaction, more familiarity with context as the reader is not being told exactly what to think. Showing theme and not telling theme lets the reader begin to interact more fully with the text and the story itself, leaving him to find more personal connections to the action, and filling in the thoughts and emotions between the lines. Ultimately it provides a much more complex and satisfactory experience for the reader’s interaction with the story. Since the publishing of O’Connor’s story, this technique has not only continued, but has become one of the hallmarks of ‘quality writing. ’ As such, it is taught exhaustively at the collegiate writing level, and no creative writing is well accepted if it violates this standard. O’Connor would be proud. The turning of the nineteenth to twentieth centuries unleashed a great freedom in American literature, both in subjects explored, and in devices and manners utilized. A multitude of themes were raised and dealt with, often with unexpected and clever methods, with their unexpected and clever results. Poetry from authors like Theodore Roethke and Edwin Arlington Robinson, and short stories from the likes of Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Flannery O’Connor began exploring the new topics of the culture as America began to turn toward modernization of both labor and of relationships. As new understandings evolved in these arenas, the remnants, too, received treatment in the literature. Some fashionable ideas were finally on their way out, seemingly, as The Yellow Wallpaper showed. And yet some would hold on, like the view of father – son relationships in My Papa’s Waltz. Old faiths and new hypocrisies were examined by O’Connor and others. And sometimes reality itself was discarded, as Roethke showed. The era of these authors was a time of moving on, looking forward and reminiscing back, all at once, and with many devices. ? Works Cited Gilman, Charlotte P. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper. † The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Shorter Seventh Edition. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008. 1684-95. O’Connor, Flannery. â€Å"Good Country People. † The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Shorter Seventh Edition. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008. 2569-83. Robinson, Edwin A. â€Å"Miniver Cheevy. † The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Shorter Seventh Edition. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008. 1898. Roethke, Theodore. â€Å"My Papa’s Waltz. † The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Shorter Seventh Edition. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008. 2321.