Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Mirabell and Millament Relationship Essay

In The Way of the World, his last comedy, Congreve seems to come to realise the importance for providing an ideal pair of man and woman, ideal in the sense that the pair could be taken for models in the life-style of the period. But this was almost impossible task, where the stage was occupied by men and women, sophisticated, immoral, regardless of the larger world around them, and preoccupied with the self-conceited rhetoric as an weapon to justify their immoral activities within a small and restricted area of social operation. Congreve could not avoid this, and for this, he had to pave his way through the society by presenting a plot which, though complicated enough for a resolution, aims at the ideal union between the hero and heroine—Mirabell and Millament. They emerge as the triumphant culmination of the representative characters of the whole period, of course not types, for they are real enough to be human. Congreve endowed his hero and heroine with all the qualities typical of the society, but towards the end the qualities, if negative, are employed as guards against the venoms of the society. At the beginning of the play, we find Mirabell shaping up a situation so that he can win the hands of Millament and her estate as well from Lady Wishfort who has the rein of power over them. In this Mirabell is perfect Machiavellian: conscious of his surroundings. He is not at all a man from chivalric romance. That he is a past master in the game of love, of course, in the sense of the period, that is, sexual relationship—is evident from his past affairs with Mrs. Fainall, from Mrs. Marwood’s fascination towards him and, one many suspect, from Lady Wishfort’s unconscious longing for him. Moreover, Mirabell has mastered rhetoric to encounter men and women around them. Consistent with the irresistible charm of Mirabell, Congreve built the character of Millament. She is the perfect model of the accomplished fine lady of high life, who arrives at the height of indifference to everything from the height of satisfaction. To her pleasure is as familiar as the air she draws; elegance worn as a part of her dress; wit the habitual language which she hears and speaks. She has nothing to fear from her own caprices, being the only law to herself. As to the affairs of love, she treats them with at once seriousness and difference. For instance, she exclaims to Mirabell: â€Å"Dear me, what is a lover that it can give? One makes lovers as fast as one pleases, and they live as long as one pleases, and they die as soon as one pleases; and if one pleases one makes more. † This, however, may be a case for Millament who is â€Å"standing at the threshold of maturity from girlhood†, as Norman N. Holland points out. But from her discussion of preconditions before entering into marriage with Mirabell, it is clear that she is intelligent and discrete enough to judge her situation. In the Proviso Scene we find Mirabell and Millament meeting together to arrange an agreement for their marriage. The scene is a pure comedy with brilliant display of wit by both of them, but, above all, provides instructions which have serious dimensions in the context of the society. On her part, Millament makes it clear that a lover’s (Mirabell’s) appeals and entreaties should not stop with the marriage ceremony. Therefore, she would like to be ‘solicited’ even after marriage. She next puts that â€Å"My dear liberty† should be preserved; â€Å"I’ll lye abed in a morning as long as I please†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Millament then informs that she would not like to be addressed by such names as â€Å"wife, spouse, my dear, joy, jewel, love, sweet-heart; and the rest of that nauseous can, in which men and their wives are so fulsomely familiar. † Moreover, they will continue to present a decorous appearance in public, and she will have free communication with others. In other words, after marriage they maintain certain distance and reserve between them. Mirabell’s conditions are quite different: they are frankly sexual in content, directed to his not being cuckolded or to her bedroom manners. â€Å"Just as Millament’s are developed femininely† as Norman N. Holland points out, â€Å"Mirabell’s are developed in a typically masculine way. † Each of Mirabell’s provisos begin with its item: first, the general principle, â€Å"that your Acquaintance be general†, then specific instructions, â€Å"no she-friend to screen her affairs†, no fop to take her to the theatre secretly, and an illustration of the forbidden behaviour, â€Å"to wheedle you a fop-scrambling to the play in a mask†. Nevertheless, Mirabell denounces the use of tight dresses during pregnancy by women, and he forbids the use of alcoholic drinks. The conditions are stated by both parties in a spirit of fun and gaiety, but the fact remained that both are striving to arrive at some kind of mutual understanding. While the Proviso Scene ensures the marriage of true minds, the possession of dowry with Millament remains the aim of Mirabell for the rest of the play. At the end of the play Mirabell and Millament through their own peculiar balance of wit and generosity of spirit, reduce the bumbling Witwood and mordant Fainall to the level of false wit. Thus Mirabell and Millament dramatise the true wit that is so carefully and symmetrically defined through opposition. On his part, Mirabell informs that, â€Å"†¦I like her with all her faults: nay, like her for her faults†¦They now to grown as familiar to me as my own frailties†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And Millament declares to Mrs. Fainall, â€Å"Well, if Mirabell should not make a good husband, I am a lost thing—for I find I love him violently. † These confidences do not prevent their own chances for honesty in marriage. The triumph of the play is in the emergence of lovers who through a balance of intense affection and cool self-knowledge achieve an equilibrium that frees them from the world’s power. As the title of the play The Way of the World suggests, they have assimilated the rational lucidity of sceptical rake so that they can use the world and reject its demands.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

The education in Britain and China

The Education in Britain and China Abstract: Education plays an important role all over the world. A highly developed nation depends on educated professionals and a skilled workforce. Education is an absolute necessity for economic and social development. UK and China, sharing different culture, have two typically different education systems. This essay pays more attention to the diversity of two education systems. Some similarities and differences can be found, which can be classified as the comparison in eastern and western education. Key Words: Education; Britain; China;Introduction: The education system of the I-JK is quite special and has an old history of evolution. It differs from that of China, but there are also some connections and differences between two countries. As for which one is better, it depends. Just as a coin has two sides, both are better than each other in some areas. Body: 1 . Education System Education is a vital concern throughout Britain. The Britain educat ion system is divided into early years, primary education, secondary education and tertiary education. While in China the public education is run by the Ministry of Education.All citizens must attend school for at least nine years. The government provides free primary education and secondary education for the teenagers. And there is also pre- school education, higher education and other educations. 1 Pre- school Education Up to age 5, children in Britain may have some pre-schooling in nursery schools, day care or play groups. The government has no obligation to provide such facilities, so many schools are private enterprise arrangement. The condition is similar in China. While the government also provides some financial support for parents in Britain, hat we don't have in China. Primary School In Britain, primary education is given for the students aging from 5 to 11. In this period, students learn to read and write. It is similar to the educational system in China. 3 Secondary Educ ation In Britain, students from 11 to 16 years old receive secondary education. They follow a general syllabus which leads to the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education). After passing this exam, there is a selection of subjects. Lessons are given together with assignments which need to be completed in order to pass this level. While in China, the aim of three-year middle education is to enter into a better high school.High school is essential for Chinese students to get into a better university. So it is necessary for Chinese students to study hard. 4 Higher Education After further studies in the I-JK, students can accept higher studies. There are about 90 universities, including the Open University, Oxford, and Cambridge, that were established in the 13th Century. Universities are funded indirectly by central government grants. They enjoy complete academic freedom, appoint their own staff, ecide what kind of students to admit, provide their own courses and award their ow n degrees.Admission is by selection, which is on the basis of A- level results, school reterences and an interview. Older students may quality tor admission through different examinations provided by fundamental courses of further education at colleges. Degrees are awarded after successful continuous work assessment and final examinations. The higher education in China is obviously different from I-JK. In China, it is commonly considered that public universities, especially those national universities are better than private ones, under great nfluence by the Soviet Union's higher education system.Universities in China generally select their students based on students' performances in the College Entrance Examinations; the entrance scores required by public universities are typically much higher than those of private ones. 2. Teaching Mode On the whole, we may use â€Å"flexibility' to describe British mode and â€Å"formality' to outline Chinese mode. This kind of mode is typical in the universities. In British, there is no fixed text books or bibliography, your texts are in the library and in every aspects of social life related to your specialty.The professor will choose his content of teaching in accordance with the latest trends and requirements of society. Apart from traditional classes and lectures, informal group work, presentation and manual practices also abound, which improve students' ability to pose new points as well as to analysis and solve practical problems. All of these make them more competitive in the Job market. In contrast, Chinese pattern of teaching is more systematic and rigorous, inheriting the legacy of feudal times. The majesty of teacher prevailing, few disciples dare to defer the supreme authority of their hierophant.This sort of manner ensures the accurate and effective inform of knowledge, while hampers the spirit of innovation. Despite new systems of appraisal of pupils imported from the west, exams still retains its dominant place in evaluating how a student is getting on. That is probably why Chinese â€Å"geniuses† sweep almost all the gold medals of ‘MO, but none manage to get a Nobel Prize in science technology. 3. Conclusion The British school children are not designed for the future to impart certain specialized knowledge, but the key to expand children's horizons, to develop good abits, for future acceptance of high level education.Children in the classroom learn what they want and how to learn. The class atmosphere is free with no unified regulations or formal syllabus, but with children's love to move, easy to transfer the characteristics of interest, whenever and wherever possible to replace the teaching content. In addition to simple reading, writing, calculating, music, dancing, painting, and handmade, they also carry out various activities whatever children like. â€Å"Open education† is the biggest characteristic of British school children. This kind of eaching method i s used in both group activities and individual activities.A flexible schedule and many self-education materials are used to cultivate children's independence and creativity. The Chinese education is a little bit different from Britain's. Children in China are a little more stressed than those in Britain. China's exam-oriented education is a huge burden for today's children. Designed to give the students hardly any time to breath, the Chinese education system is adept in teaching the children â€Å"summaries†, also teaching that it's perfectly acceptable not to uestion the status quo. (A Chinese Teacher's Perspective: China and the U.S. Education Systems Compared) In conclusion, the differences between Britain and China result from the culture differences. The western education puts emphasis on diversi ty, tree learning atmosphere and the lite principle ot playing, learning and growing. It is something that we lack and need to modestly study. While there is no strict core syst em in the content of the curriculum, happy growth reduces to follow one's own inclination. Each has its own merits. All we need to do is that†learn from ach other, take the essence and discard the dregs, and grow together.

Monday, July 29, 2019

Emotional Intelligence of Managers and its Affects Article

Emotional Intelligence of Managers and its Affects - Article Example l characteristics important to understanding the psychological and emotional growth necessary for personal growth† (Shipper, Kincaid, Rotondo, & Hoffman IV, 2003, p. 171). A few of the articles have also brought out that managers and academicians are beginning to view the necessary improvements in organizational effectiveness by putting into practice emotional intelligence (George, 2000; Cross & Travaglione, 2003; Sosik & Megerian, 1999; Gabriel & Griffiths, 2002; Eicher, 2003). The articles have brought out the importance and relationship of EI of managers and the motivation of employees. Organizational leaders’ awareness of emotional intelligence is essential to future endeavors of continual motivation and productivity. Leaders have significant influence over the continued success of organizations, yet there is still not enough interest in the significance of recognizing emotions in organizations. The annotated bibliography provides articles, literature reviews as well as quantitative evidence of the importance of Emotional Intelligence. The articles that have been chosen for this paper are a wide variety and major contributors to the subject area. The research that has been conducted shows that the Emotional Intelligence can be consciously developed. Among the research groups, the treatment group has shown statistical significance of overall EI gain across each EI dimension, unlike the control group which seems to have shown no significant pre / post-test differences. The article is very significant in the current world where the EI training has developed to be a popular and lucrative field. However, the evidence on the conscious development of EI has been very vague. The study provides a clear empirical evidence for this topic. The research implications are much focused and discuss the role of Emotional Intelligence training in leadership development programs and fertile research directions for the training.  

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Nervous system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nervous system - Essay Example In connection to the practical with the central nervous system of maggots, it is significant to note that Maggots have one unique feature: that is they keep on recycling especially when it comes to their neurons. Equipped with a nervous system that helps them to crawl and feed, they change into intricate animals with sophisticated behaviors and sensory system such as flying and walking. Maggots lack motor neurons that can make the transition into adult. During metamorphosis, the neurons start to spread and seek out adult links. In order to understand the central nervous system of a maggot, it is significant to look at the role that hormones play in initiating these intricate behaviors required to molt. Eclosion hormone is an insect neurohormone that makes the larvae to initiate the intricate behaviors required to molt in that it assists in removing an exoskeleton in order to mobilize the needed changes in the entire central nervous system. The nervous system neurons expand from the n erve body. The dendrites and axons are tied together which help conduct and transmit signals. The neurons are categorized as either sensory, interneurons or motor (Brodal, 2010, p. 52). The sensory neurons help in sending information to the central nervous system from external and internal environment. Motor neurons assist in carrying information from the central nervous system to muscles, glands, and organs. Lastly, the interneuron spread signals between sensory and motor neurons. The nervous system of a man has motor neurons, unlike maggots that lack motor neurons thus making them unable to transition into adult. The practical conducted reveals that the Maggots have three major sensory receptors, which link with three major ganglia or collection of nerve tissue, which enable the larva to sense their environment and move to food sources. Maggots can respond to odor, temperature, moisture, and chemicals. These sensory organs allow maggots to be attached to or repelled from specific environments. Sensory organs are normally excitable cells that allow information transmission to occur (Sawin, Harris, Campos, & Sokolowski, 1994, p. 355). In connection to the nervous system, it comprises of the spinal cord, intricate network of neurons and the brain. This system is very important in that it helps in receiving, sending, and conceptualizing data from all parts of the body. Further, just like discovered in the practical, the nervous system reacts to transformation in the outside environment, and helps monitor and coordinate internal work of body organs. The spinal cord has nerves that assist in transmitting information from body organs and outside environment to the brain and directs data from the brain to the rest of the body. The spinal cord nerves are fiber like that travel in two distinct manners. Descending nerves carry data concerning the motor function from the brain to other body parts. The ascending nerves transmit data from the body to the brain (Brodal, 20 10, p. 89). In order to aid their movement, the maggot can respond to light since they have photoreceptors on their heads and can move towards light, known as positive photo taxis. First instar animals have negative photaxic responses and third instars are positive phototaxic in nature. The rate of

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Humancomputer interaction Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Humancomputer interaction - Assignment Example The mental model encompasses operations that work in just like the computer. Most of the computer interfaces developed for visually impaired individuals are designed for those who have not lost their sight completely. Many HCI use several other types of feedback such as haptic and tactile feedback system. However, these interfaces are normally supplemental to the visual communication. As such, it is essential to note that those who have not lost their sight completely will be in an enhanced position to access several computer applications based on the haptic and tactile system, Clifford (2008). When interacting with the computer, some of the critical movements very useful include movement aside (Fig. 1a), pressure (Fig. 1b), static contact (Fig. 1c) and encircle and follow object contour exploration procedures Individuals with no sight or with reduced sight use these model in an analogous way. A significant constituent of the ability to create cognitive models for features in the physical world is closely correlated to the sense of feeling or touching. Touching is the only sense that allows simultaneous input and output interaction with the computer in two directions. The usual interfaces for normal people use only one

Friday, July 26, 2019

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

Hoffman - Essay Example may be broadly defined as any articulate course of action either physical or otherwise, taken by a person or a group of persons who are dissatisfied by various issues in the society. The articulated course of action mostly aims at causing wreck and havoc to express dissatisfaction. However, terrorism is synonymous with leadership and politics where terrorists react violently in response to issues within government or leadership. Actions of terror qualify as terrorism whether the course action causes harm or not. The actions still qualify as terrorism whether the course of action was legitimate or not. Certainly, terrorism has changed dramatically with time. Terrorism was first taken positively as a medium of change from bad governance. It was seen as revolution and was synonymous with democracy and virtue (Hoffman 3). It then changed to â€Å"propaganda by deed† (Hoffman 5) whereby wholesome bloodshed targeted to specific groups or communities that failed to follow the conventional ways of terror perpetrators. It then changed to assassination and kidnapping of political leaders or their close relatives within the society who failed to address requirements and demands of extremist groups (Hoffman 11). Terrorism then changed to target of inanimate objects such as important, monumental, and valuable buildings. Terrorism also changed to religious based terror actions in response to unaddressed religious issues. However, a combination of these transitions has also been

Shimomura Crossing the Delaware Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Shimomura Crossing the Delaware - Essay Example In fact, the painting is a daring parody of the picture of Emanuel Leutze celebrating the historically significant event of the American Revolution. The original painting depicts crossing the Delaware on the Christmas night of 1776 led by George Washington. Conducting a little research on the background of the current painting, one is able to single out the key strategy deployed in it. The principal strategy the author uses is appropriation. Appropriation is understood as taking (involving) an already preexisting symbol, object or an artwork into the new one applying no or little transformation. Appropriation uses the images that already exist and considered in isolation from them in order to create a new concept behind them. â€Å"Shimomura Crossing the Delaware† complies with this definition as it is an ironical reconsideration of the already existing object (the work of art). The concept of the painting is altered by the author in order to create the strong allusion to racial and ethnic issues in a form of a parody or joke. The principal difference lies in the fact that Shimomura made Asians – namely, samurai - the main characters of the painting. In other words, this is an American historical painting vested in Japanese guise. This solution was dictated be the idea of illustrating the race issue and the problem of Japanese Americans’ place in American society. The picture created by Shimomura preserves the idea and composition, yet is a parody bearing a peculiar style of the painter.

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Theories of Power Transfer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Theories of Power Transfer - Essay Example Survival is the driving force, thus, states must develop their offensive capabilities to increase their power. As a reflection of this selfishness, and to ensure their own survival, states seek to develop their offensive capabilities, or their military power, so that they can take over the territories of other states to increase their relative power. This means that their power is relative, that is, in relation to the other states (Fozouni, 2008). In the international system, the principal actors are the sovereign states, where the independent influence of international organizations, sub-states or trans-state actors is dismissed. Nationalism is important, while the importance of sub-national groupings or transnational ideological of cultural groupings are diminished. This theory has several key assumptions. Neorealism is based primarily on the assumption that mankind is selfish and competitive. It is not benevolent, rather it is self-centered. Its fundamental assumption is that the international system is chaotic and anarchic. Since the state is the primary actor, there is no higher governing authority to which they bow to. States must muddle through in their relations with each other, with no higher authority that can impose or dictate on any one of them. That is, there is no such thing as a world government. Furthermore, it assumes that sovereign states are the primary actors and not international institutions, non-government organizations, or multinational corporations. According to this theory, every state is a rational actor who will always watch out for its own interest and ensure its security. In the pursuit of its own security, every state will do everything to build up its resources, so that more resources will mean more power for the s tate. Their level of power will determine their relations with other states, and this level of power is in turn determined by its military and economic capabilities. Also, states are inherently aggressive, always seeking to expand its territories. This territorial aggression is only tempered by other states. However, this build-up will trigger an increase in the opposing state's security, which will result in relative gains only (Thies, 2004). In terms of the European Union, this means that the Community itself, is merely a gathering of sovereign states - an international rather than supranational organization. Thus, the decision-making in terms of economic, monetary, political, and security matters is still in the sovereign states. Ultimate authority and power will remain with the member states. Thus, the Community is merely a reflection of the desires of the member states to cede or delegate authority, which they can easily recall or revoke. The primary reason that the Community appears to be integrated is because the member states feel that this will serve their interests best. Neorealists view the Community of the future as a loose integration of the member states who have agreed to surrender or pool their sovereignty. Neoliberalism As a response to neorealism, the neoliberalism was born. Some label this as Thatcherism (United Kingdom), Reaganomics (United States of America), Economic Rationalism (Australia), Rogernomics (New Zealand) or Manmohanomics (India). Neoliberalism describes a movement away from the state control. In its pure form, this theory centers on

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Bussiness operation system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Bussiness operation system - Essay Example With the passage of time, company made a huge progress and improved its business functions and processes. At the present, company has a large loyal customer base. Currently, Clean Brite Company is a leading supplier of cleaning products to UK industries with an annual turnover of ?30 million. In addition, Clean Brite Company is basically a supplier of cleaning products to a lot of different companies and commercial areas. Though, Clean Brite Company is not a product manufacturing business, however it only purchases them from companies those manufacture them. Additionally, CBC provides different grade cleaning products to a number of different sectors. Moreover, Clean Brite Company business is dealing with a large number of corporations including hotels, processing industries, hospitals and public organizations, catering organizations such as leisure centers and schools. With the evolution in business, CBS got a lot of new opportunities and issues. In this scenario, one of the major o pportunities business has got is in form of increase in customer reorganization and business market standing improvement. On the other hand, Clean Brite Company is facing problem in handling the information and data collected from different corporations. In this scenario, the existing system which was developed for these areas is not effectively dealing with these processes in a better way. Therefore this project is initiated to effectively manage the operations and processes of business for improving organizational performance. Rich Picture Given below is the Rich Picture for the system working. Here we can see that new digital business and order management is able to support a number of business stakeholders: Rich Picture Explanation Management The new technology based system at Clean Brite Company will offer an excellent support to management. The new technology based system will facilitate in business decision making and process management. In addition, this system will improve the standard of corporate business and operations management. Packaging The new technology based system will also offer an excellent support for the business packaging department. In case of a new order, the order will be dispatched to packaging department and packed for delivery. These all processes will be done automatically. Warehouse The technology based system at Clean Brite Company will also facilitate the warehouse department. In case of new order the business sales center will dispatch the order to warehouse department where it is checked to confirm the availability of order. In case of availability the order is dispatched to packaging department or otherwise sent the request to business supplier for delivery of order. Customer The customer will make use of the new online business management and sales system to access the business products. Customers will be able to order and pay through online business platform. Sales Business sales department for the Clean Brite Company wi ll have a complete technology based automated system that will automatically process the sales and business transaction for effective business management. The overall process of business transaction management will make use of automatic payments and funds transfer system that will be convenient to customer and business. Marketing The new online business online platform for Clean Brite Company will also serve as the business marketing platform. Shipping The new

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Social Policy (Group Work) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Social Policy (Group Work) - Essay Example l relationships are considered to be â€Å"connected to each other (Myers: 286).† This definition of a group clarifies its components: that it has to consist the elements of relationship, involved no. of individuals, and connection (4). Moreover, in order to be called a group, the involved members who participate in the activities should have the ff. characteristics: 1) interrelating and interacting with each other; 2) sharing same norms; 3) developing roles or shared set of roles; 4) developing the feeling of sense of belongingness; and lastly, 5) sharing a common goal (Douglas: 13). The aims of a group purports to help its members achieve the goals for each individual members: 1) to enhance individual’s functioning; 2) to enrich every individual’s life; 3) to ameliorate existing problems and to provide solutions for conflicts in the group, community or the organisation; for the ff. desired effects: 1) to produce social change and 2) to promote social justice (Myers: 591). To cite an example, the Parenting group is the best sample for explaining the purposive, basic parenting or leadership styles which are pivotal roles of parents in forming and shaping an individual. The parenting group works to induce change in the individual; however the Parenting group must be consisting of the following SMART characteristics: 1) Specific—a group that defines each members (parents) as the facilitator and leader of change and their children as the students or followers; 2) Measurable—that the parenting group helps its members specify the timeline n eeded and the tools required to achieve their goals; 3) Achievable—the parents making sure that the children’s goals are doable and feasible; 4) Relevant—that the parenting group makes sure that the goals of their child/ren are rational and reasonable; and lastly, 5) Timely—that the parents ensure that individual and group goals are not obsolete and rather, follows the current trend as demanded by time (Douglas:

Monday, July 22, 2019

Global and regional environmental Essay Example for Free

Global and regional environmental Essay People across the globe are being affected by global and regional environmental changes. The drastic environmental problems such ozone layer depletion and climate change are as a result of over consumption, unsustainable life styles and unhealthy patterns of development (Harris, 47). Environmental problems are likely to hit the marginalized and the poor first often with drastic consequences but latter they will also affect the privileged. Unless these environmental problems are curbed they are threatening to cause havoc to the life support systems and the ecosystems. This will therefore lead to an immense and unprecedented crisis for the whole humanity. To achieve sustainable development and the health of the environment it requires drastic changes in the current global order and formulation of the alternative ways of thinking. Within environmental movements there are huge wealth of experiences, ideas and visions of what an alternative environmental sustainable and people oriented societies can look like. Environmental destruction has always been part of the human history (Harris, 48). Throughout time the problems of the environment have been important factors affecting the health of people both at regional and global level. The pressure on the environment has increased enormously as a result of changing scales of the human society increases and development of the technology. This problem is fuelled by the runaway global economic systems which have created over consumption (unprecedented affluence) and enormous level of poverty. The environmental problems now threaten to cause irreversible harm to the ecosystems and increase inequalities on a global scale (Pickering Owen, 117). Some of the environmental problems are immediate local problems whose their causes can be known and their solutions be identified. On the other hand other environmental problems are incredibly complex and they are often complex to handle. Such environmental problems involve much uncertainty and affect the whole globe and are the result of combined human behavior. These problems are maintained and embedded on the societal structures (Harris, 50). Some critics argue that environmental problems are as a result of the present day population growth especially in the third world countries and natural resources depletion in the highly industrialized countries (Harris, 50). Alarmist argue that the explosive population growth in less developed countries and overexploitation of the non renewable resources by the highly industrialized countries are combining to produce sets of condition which cannot be sustained in the long-run by our finite world. The population problems of third world countries constitute an impediment to social economic development and can pose a threat to depletion of natural resources. However relatively low crude population densities in many third world countries with exception of some few areas they do not produce population pressure on the natural resources (Harris, 52). Most of the third worlds countries have an even population distribution and few urban centers are becoming overcrowded. High rates of population growth in third world countries is as a result of high and constant fertility that have possibilities of reducing mortality due to the improved health facilities. Because of high proportion of children and high patterns of fertility heavy dependence burden is produced within the populations in most third world countries. The heavy dependence implies large expenditures of provision of employment and education for the growing population (Pickering Owen, 134). Most bureaucrats, economists and political leaders in third world countries especially in Africa argue that third world countries in Africa have abundant resources which have not yet been tapped. They also argue that large area in Africa have not been inhabited and therefore the political question that population growth put pressure on the limited natural resources should not be taken seriously (Harris, 53). There is need for the political leaders, economist and bureaucrats to know the prospect of the third world countries in terms of the resources base that can absorb the population problems of the third world countries (Harris, 54). In comparison to other industrialized countries for example Europe nations the land under cultivation in third world African countries is three times higher per capita, the livestock per capita is two times higher, the grazing land per each unit of livestock is a bout seven times higher while the mineral resources out put of third worlds countries in Africa constitute one tenth of the mineral output of the whole world (Harris, 54). The primary energy resources of the third world countries are enormous which are comprised of natural gas and petroleum product coal and hydro power for example 32 percent of world hydro power which can be exploited, 12 percent of reserves of uranium and 60 percent of thorium reserves are found in Africa third world countries. Despite the abundant resources of the third world countries most countries in Africa are under developed (Harris, 57). It would be a weak argument to suggest that the high population growth in the third world countries is the root cause of their underdevelopment. However the high population growth of the third world countries is an important factor that impedes development. The rapid population growth constitutes pressure on the arable land. Several million hectares of land are being degraded in third world countries (Pickering Owen, 204). The degradation of land can be linked to population pressure and poverty, values and attitude of people weak tenure systems and land management and drought which often results in over exploitation of the natural resources such as the trees used for fuel wood, overgrazing deforestation and unsustainable agricultural activities. Degradation has decreased land productivity, increased desertification and causes loss of arable land in most third world countries (Pickering Owen, 206). As a result of degradation in the third world countries there is less food than can be produced in degraded lands and also the availability of biomass is greatly reduced. Land degradation also makes the ecosystems to be less resilient and increases chances of malnutrition and susceptibility of diseases in the local populations. Third world countries like china, Ethiopia, Brazil, Nepal, India and most African countries have caused much of environmental degradation. In recent time the respective government has began to introduce policies to minimize the extensive environmental degradation that their countries are facing (Pickering Owen, 213). The environmental policies have been developed soon after formation of and applying pressure by several activist groups in the field of environment. Initially before the activist groups applied pressure the governments in the third world countries did not see any needs to develop environmental policies. Environmental degradation is only the problem of the third world countries and most often thirds world countries have make do with what they owns and usually they compete with large populations (Pickering Owen, 208). Once a natural resource for example water is degraded it become of little use to the people. On the other hand western or industrialized countries have a higher standard of living than third world countries or less developed countries. In developed countries the communities have access to electricity, clean water, housing, employment, refrigeration, clothing, food, heating, hospital, schools, medicines, machinery, manufacturing, communication and road thus in the process they consume much of the resources (Pickering Owen, 209). The communities of the third world poor countries do not have access to these things and they rely on what they can hunt, gather or grow. People in the third world countries acquire other things if they have surplus produce to sell and therefore are disadvantaged to gain access to power supply, telecommunication, railways and roads thus becomes difficult to access the few schools hospitals etc and therefore third world countries are not degrading the environment as much as the developed nations (Pickering Owen, 210).

Importance of Value Management

Importance of Value Management The report aims at making the clients aware of the importance of a Value Management (VM) study in their project. It describes the process of the study step by step, the benefits of conducting the study at an early stage and relating the study to specific project issues. It gives a brief understanding of how the VM study works at different stages and a typical agenda provides a brief review of the same. Tools and techniques used in the study are also explained. Finally a short introduction to Value Engineering and the importance of its study at the appropriate time in the Project life cycle will be discussed. 1. Introduction The (Public Private Partnership) project is to be assessed through the value management study. As the project brief indicates a mixed use recreation and commercial centre, a gym, swimming pool, park, health spa, squash court, jogging and cycling tracks with features as leisure facilities and for commercial centre would include retail outlets, health clinics, cafes, offices to let, pharmacies and theatres. Benefits of such a PPP project are it reduces costs, transfer risks to the private partner, shortens the construction period, and has access to skills, experience and technology of the private sector. This project is to cater for the expatriate and local communities living in the suburbs who do not have assess to any leisure facilities. With this project people, especially children will be able to spend time outdoors and use other facilities rather than stay indoors watching television. It also allows people to use various health facilities and do their shopping in their locality i tself. Value management is a study that helps maximize the functional value of the project under study by managing its development right from the concept to its completion by accessing its value system. In a PPP project as there are two parties the government and the private sector there are varying value systems. The public sectors aim is to regulate, deliver services to people and achieve value for money; while the private sectors goal is profit. 2. Value Management Study Value Management (VM) studies are typically initiated for a number of reasons such as cost overrun of the project, communication problems, clients not satisfied with their approach to project management and finally clients who understand and believe that a VM study helps improving the value of the project. The benefits of VM exercise are the maximum when implemented at the start of the project, particularly if its applied during conceptual development and initial design stages. Some of the benefits may be improving project schedule, improving technical specifications, generating alternative ideas; identifying unnecessary expenditure; optimizing resources; eliminating redundant features and appreciation of whole of life cycle costs. The VM study can address specific issues of this PPP project such as a better Value for Money, obtaining provisions for better quality services, quicker delivery of the project and finally better utilization of the assets being put inot the project. 2.1 Orientation Phase The VM study can broadly be divided into three stages namely orientation phase, workshop phase and the implementation phase. During the orientation phase tasks such as coordination of works, gathering of data such as plan layouts, site conditions, project constraints, operational requirements. Also tasks such as scheduling VM study location, preparing the agenda and selecting the study team are done. If large team is selected, subdivide the members to form teams so that specific matters covered in detail. Selection of the team is done by the ACID test. Authorize include those who have authority to take decisions during the workshop. Consult include those without whose consultation the workshop may be suspended. Inform exclude those who have to be merely informed about the outcome of the workshop. Do include those who have to translate the outcome of the workshop into action. The study team comprises of the following: 1 certified value specialist 1 consultant project manager 1 contractors representative 1 quantity surveyor 1 architect with mixed use recreation centre experience 1 structural engineer 1 building service engineer 1 school teacher 1 health counselor It is advised to use a combination of members from the design team and outside in order to assure free thinking and unbiased recommendations. The value specialist will preside over the entire workshop to see that the study is carried out smoothly and as per the agenda. The consultant project manager and the contractors representative represent the client and the contractor, informs each of their value systems to the remaining members of the study team. The quantity surveyor advises about the quantities of items that would be required, while the architect would provide his opinion on what would be the perfect design for the project. The structural engineer looks into the requirement of the elemental units of the structure such as columns and beams so that the structure is stable whereas the building service engineer analyses the services that will be installed once the structure is ready. Besides professional a school teacher and health counselor are appointed into the team so that th ey can provide their perspective representing the local community. AGENDA TIME ACTIVITY Day 1 Pre workshop 16.00 Introduction Purpose of the VM workshop and its benefits 17.00 Gathering information such as project constraints, functional requirements, plan layouts and site conditions 19.00 Familiarizing the team with the agenda (job plan) 20.00 Dinner and getting to know members of the study team Day 2 Workshop phase 09.00 Introduction phase Quick review of collected information 09.30 Issues Analysis 10.45 Snacks break 11.00 Clients value system Identifying main values of the client 12.00 Preparing a strategic timeline for the project Stakeholder mapping 12.30 Familiarizing the study team with Function Analysis and FAST 13.00 Lunch break 14.00 Function Analysis 14.30 Sorting of functions needs and wants 15.00 FAST diagramming 17.00 Tea break 17.30 Review the FAST diagram 18..00 End of DAY 2 Day 3 Workshop phase 09.00 Creativity phase Brainstorming 11.00 Snacks break 11.20 Listing of ideas generated 12.00 Evaluation phase Crude filtering by weighted voting to reduce number of ideas Refined filtering green dots to select 8 ideas red dots to select 4 ideas. 13.30 Lunch break 14.30 Development phase Development of ideas selected in evaluation phase 15.30 Detailed analysis of TCQ time, cost, quality Life cycle costing 16.30 Tea break 16.50 Implementation of ideas and follow up plan 18.00 End of DAY 3 Day 4 Workshop phase 09.00 Reviewing the development of ideas 09.30 Action plan 10.00 Presenting importance of Value Engineering and its benefits 11.00 Presentation Recommendations to Management 11.30 Snacks and Goodbye 2.2 Workshop Phase The workshop commences by analyzing project understanding how client plans to own, generate and maintain the project and followed by issues analysis. Client Value system is then identified by considering values which are important to the client and performing paired comparison between the values as shown below. This helps identify which are the key values of the client. Stakeholder mapping (power to influence vs. interest) and Strategic Timeline are other tasks to be carried out. One of the main steps of the VM process is function analysis. Through function analysis project components are analyzed and compared to be able to achieve project objectives. The primary function and secondary functions are also identified. The primary function is essential for the achievement of stated objectives, whereas the secondary functions aid in providing the projects wants. Using FAST diagramming the functions of the system are identified. First functions are generated through brainstorming and then sorted such that the needs are at the topmost left and wants bottommost right. The functions are placed in such a way that we move to a lower level asking how? and move to a higher level asking why? Function analysis helps generate ideas that eventually result in recommendations.   The second phase of the workshop is Creativity phase. It is done by considering a function and contributing suggestions that answer the function through a list of creative ideas as well as identifying risks involved with them.  The team generates as many ideas as possible to provide the functions at a lower cost.  Judgment of the ideas is not permitted.  Most of the ideas are a result of the exercise done in the function analysis phase.  Ã‚  The next phase (evaluation) of the workshop involves screening ideas to more manageable numbers. The ideas and risks evaluated are graded on the basis of potential savings, time required to redesign and client acceptability. They are then ranked and the highest are selected by the team to be further reviewed by the members of the design team. During the development phase the ideas are converted into workable solutions after examining their technical feasibility and economic viability.  The risks that are assessed and weighted are also considered. They are entered into a risk register. The recommendations are prepared with a short brief to compare the original design with the suggested changes. At the end of the workshop a presentation is held to give recommendations and suggestions to the management. 2.3 Implementation Phase The implementation phase of the VM study includes submitting to the clients and the design team, the VM report containing recommendations developed during the workshop.  Ã‚  The design team may incorporate the recommendations suggested into their project design or reject them.  Along with the VM report a summary of the cost savings and redesign costs are also included.  The report may include KPI Key performance indicators, schedule of activities and a Risk register. 3. Value Engineering Value Engineering (VE) is the process of identifying and eliminating unnecessary cost during design and construction. VE studies should ideally be conducted at 35% design schematic design stage. While the early stages of design provide the most opportunities for affecting the value elements, it is advisable to consider VE at all stages of the project. Project constraints should be outlined prior to the VE, as it will help avoid making recommendations that are contrary to the clients design. The elements that are typically of interest during the VE study are (1) the basic structural elements positioning of columns and beams, optimizing loading effect on the foundation. (2) The architectural design, (3) Positioning of electrical and mechanical components such as lifts, escalators, HVAC systems,(4) the use of technology etc. The study team for the VE workshop may comprise of: 1 certified value specialist 1 project engineer 1 structural engineer 1 building service engineer 1 electrical engineer 1 mechanical engineer 1 quantity surveyor VE facilitator with a specific expertise in aspects of VE will lead the workshop in order to structure the process and to better the effectiveness of the program. The team members are selected depending on the subject to be evaluated, the structural engineer would look into the requirement of the elemental units of the structure such as columns and beams so that the structure is stable whereas the building service engineer analyses the services that will be installed once the structure is ready. The electrical and mechanical engineers analyze the installations of electrical equipment and machinery such as lifts, HVAC etc. The Project Engineer shall take part whenever design aspects of the project are reviewed. Supporting disciplines like quantity surveyor is involved to assess the quantities. The VE workshop provides improvement of value through the following: The current project design is assessed with the functions, checked for technical, cost optimization. Alternative ideas are evaluated to identify benefits and risks of changes to the alternative design. Key aspects of the design are evaluated so as to achieve Value for money; Effectiveness of each option is evaluated, in terms of : Cost to function ratio; Life cycle costing; OPEX vs. CAPEX balance; Analyzing buildability and overall performance of the project.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Original Aims of the European Community

Original Aims of the European Community This paper considers the original aims of the European Economic Community on its formation under the Treaty of Rome 1957 as a background to the transformation of the EEC into the European Community. A discussion of the subsequent development of the EC thereafter forms the main body of this work and the staged development of the EC through subsequent amending treaties provides the focus of the analysis offered. A brief historical survey of the European Economic Community The European Community of 2008 sees its origins in the six member European Economic Community formed by the ratification of the Treaty of Rome in 1957. The signatory member states were France, Germany, Italy and the Benelux states. It is submitted at the outset that the EEC was founded largely on fear. It is hard to appreciate from the perspective of 2008, exactly what motivated the founding fathers of the Treaty of Rome to pursue integration because the world has moved on, but in the 1950s the base motivation was manifest and pressing. The continent of Europe had endured two catastrophic World Wars in the space of one generation. War had ravaged each and every country of Europe, and in particular the founding member states. The architects of the Treaty of Rome, including Italian Prime Minister Antonio Segni, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman and French civil servant Jean Monnet, while undoubtedly harbouring in the back of their minds lofty notions of improving the economic and social conditions of European citizens, were above all preoccupied with the goal of reducing the chances of a third world war starting on the continent. As stated, this fear is difficult to understand in the context of the early twenty first century and this is a testament to the greatest achievement of the European Economic Community and its successor organisations. The political and economic worlds of the major European powers are now so inextricably linked and integrated within the European Union that the notion of armed conflict between those powers has become almost unthinkable. It is argued that this is precisely what Segni, Schuman and Monnet were striving for above all other considerations. All the architects of European integration had suffered great personal and family losses as a result of the two most appalling wars ever to be fought in the modern world. Their most important and profound legacy is that their grandchildren and great grandchildren have been spared a similar experience. The substance of the integrationist treaty that preceded the Treaty of Rome is certainly no coincidence. The European Coal and Steel Treaty was signed in 1951. Why? Because coal and steel were the two great industries of twentieth century war. On the same day as the Treaty of Rome was signed, EURATOM was also signed, and the European Atomic Energy Community was created in order to institute cooperation and joint research that would presumably avoid an imbalance and power and knowledge which could threaten an unthinkable atomic war in Europe. The preamble to the Treaty of Rome sets out a broad range of aims and objectives cast in terms of political, economic and social goals, but make no mistake, the raw, basic and original aim of the European Economic Community was the avoidance of future war in Europe. At a certain level, buried deep in the political and institutional foundations of the European Community since its foundation under the Treaty on European Union (popularly known as the Treaty of Maastricht), the overarching goal of the avoidance of conflict and preservation of harmony in Europe remains to this day. The fear that proved the overwhelming catalyst for European integration underwent a metamorphosis over the latter decades of the twentieth century. The fear of conflict between Western European powers was replaced by a fear of the threat from behind the Iron Curtain and the spectre of the Soviet Union. The desire to bind together and integrate more fully came to be fuelled by the challenge presented by the Soviet Bloc, and one of the reasons why the Soviet threat dissipated with the break up of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s was because the citizens of Eastern Europe looked at their counterparts in the West and became dissatisfied with their own lot in life. By the time of the break up of the Soviet Union, the fear that held the European Community together had changed again. Now the preoccupation was binding together for strength and protection against the rising â€Å"Tiger Economies† of Japan and the Pacific Rim. Today, the EC is concerned with maintaining and enhancing its position with an increasingly competitive global economy. ‘Fear therefore, in the form of pragmatic reactions to political and economic conditions around the world, has held the European Community together, and motivated to bind and integrate itself ever more closely, since the day the Treaty of Rome was signed on 25 March 1957. Seven years earlier on May 9 1950 Robert Schuman declared: Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements, which first create a de facto solidarity.† It is submitted that Schuman would be content with the European Union of 2008. It has bumped through various potholes and progress has not been either smooth or rapid, but it has fulfilled its original and overwhelmingly most important objective in exemplary fashion. Just to prove the thrust and theme of this introduction, the point that Schuman chose to make immediately following the above statement is reproduced below: The coming together of the nations of Europe requires the elimination of the age-old opposition of France and Germany. Any action taken must in the first place concern these two countries.† From the European Economic Community to the European Community Steiner succinctly describes the development of the European Community in her text, EU Law. The EEC enlarged in stages over the decades after its creation. The United Kingdom, Denmark and Ireland joined in 1973, Greece joined in 1981 and Spain and Portugal acceded to membership in 1986. Austria, Finland and Sweden joined in 1995. This was the size and state of the European Economic Community when it underwent transition to the European Community under the superstructure of the European Union in 1992. Ten further states, mainly from Central and Eastern Europe (including Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic) joined in 2004 and the last states to join were Bulgaria and Romania in 2007. In the 1980s there was consistent pressure to embark on moves towards deeper and closer integration in Europe. The signing of the Single European Act in 1986 saw the Community reform and improve its institutions and decision making processes with a view to supporting such deeper integration and in 1989 two intergovernmental conferences were held (under procedures established by the Single European Act) to consider the issues of political union and economic and monetary union respectively. These conferences resulted in a new treaty, the Treaty on European Union (The Maastricht Treaty), which was signed on 7 February 1992. The 1992 TEU introduced substantial reforms and amendments to the original EEC Treaty and created the legal and political entity of the European Union. Perhaps one of the most profound, but simple and easily overlooked changes instituted by the Maastricht Treaty, was the renaming of the ‘European Economic Community as the ‘European Community. This small change had massive implications. It signalled the Communitys intention to move on from its original exclusively economic boundaries and develop far reaching new competencies in other socio-economic, social, cultural and political spheres. Building on the EEC: The original aims of the new European Community With specific reference to the title to this work, the preamble to the Treaty on European Union sets out the basic aims and objectives of the European Community at the point of its creation. These aims, which are formally summarised as stated objectives in Article B of the TEU, include in particular: attachment to the principles of liberty, democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and of the rule of law† to deepen the solidarity between their peoples while respecting their history, their culture and their traditions† These fundamental objectives underpin the legal order and socio-political foundations of the European Union and have been articulated in EC law and in the judgments of the European Court of Justice in seminal cases such as C11/70 Internationale Handelsgesellschaft mbH v Einfuhrund Vorratsstellle fur Getreide und Futtermittel8 since the creation of the European Economic Community. The preamble to the 1992 Treaty also pledged: to enhance further the democratic and efficient functioning of the institutions so as to enable them better to carry out, within a single institutional framework, the tasks entrusted to them† It is clear that the architects of the nascent European Community realised that the modus operandi of the EC, its institutions and legal and political processes would need to be extensively reformed and refined, even beyond its new constitution, if it was to be capable of functioning effectively to administrate and govern a more deeply integrated union of states (which was anticipated to grow rapidly, and of course did grow rapidly, over the following years). The 1992 preamble also pledged: to achieve the strengthening and the convergence of their economies and to establish an economic and monetary union including, in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty, a single and stable currency† This objective sees the EC articulate its specific aims in regard to the economic integration of the member states and confirmation of the ECs intention to take this integration to a new and deeper level in the shape of monetary union and the creation of a single currency, the Euro, which has of course now been achieved. Other pledges stated in the TEU preamble include: to promote economic and social progress for their peoples, within the context of the accomplishment of the internal market and of reinforced cohesion and environmental protection, and to implement policies ensuring that advances in economic integration are accompanied by parallel progress in other fields† to establish a citizenship common to nationals of their countries† It is submitted that progress has been made on each of these aims to a greater or lesser extent. For example, the Single Market project has been assiduously protected and the concept of EU citizenship and the rights attached thereto have been advanced by the European Community and it has received cogent support in this regard from the European Court of Justice in proactive rulings that have put flesh on the bones, and in some purposive decisions a few more bones on the flesh, of EC law: see inter alia, C- 46 48/93 Brasserie du Pecheur SA v Germany and R v Secretary of State for Transport ex parte Factortame (and for comment see Contravening EC law: The liability of the Member State (1996)). As the Court of Justice held in Rudy Grzelczyk v Centre Public dAide Sociale dOttignes-Louvain-la-Neuve, the status of citizenship of the European Union: is destined to be the fundamental status of nationals of the member states, enabling those who find themselves in the same situation to enjoy t he same treatment in law irrespective of their nationality, subject to such exceptions as are expressly provided for†. Other pledges made by the European Community on its creation include commitments: to implement a common foreign and security policy including the eventual framing of a common defence policy, which might in time lead to a common defence, thereby reinforcing the European identity and its independence in order to promote peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world† to facilitate the free movement of persons, while ensuring the safety and security of their peoples, by including provisions on justice and home affairs in this Treaty† to continue the process of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, in which decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity† Again, some progress has been made on all these fronts, although advances on the CFSP have proved unsurprisingly controversial and difficult to achieve, certainly in comparison with development in the free movement of persons, which has grown from strength to strength after the marriage of the concepts of EC workers and EC persons within the unified legal status of EU citizen. Successive Treaties It is true to say that the EC lost momentum after the Treaty on European Union. The subsequent Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) and thereafter the Treaty of Nice (2001) added layers of reform designed to expedite progress towards the achievement of the ECs aims, but did so only in a piecemeal and relatively half-hearted fashion in comparison to the giant leap forward taken by the Maastricht Treaty and even in comparison to the advances of its predecessor the Single European Act. The Amsterdam Treaty made some innovative changes and improvements in the EU fields of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Justice and Home Affairs but its substantive amendments of the Treaty of Rome and EC law were lacklustre and minimalist. The Treaty of Nice was forced on the member states, reorganising and rationalising the EC/EU institutions to facilitate their more efficient administration and operation after the Unions contemplated enlargement to 27 member states, but the Nice Treaty fell short of achieving its full range of proposed substantive reforms of the Treaty of Rome because they proved too controversial. Political development became patchy, sporadic and hesitant as a Euro-sceptical agenda gained influence and support within Europe. This culminated in the rejection of the draft Constitutional Treaty in 2005. Although the integrationist lobby has since gained the upper hand again in the form of the Lisbon Treaty. This issue is discussed in more detail in the fol lowing section. The Development of the European Community: An Overview The European Community has come a long, long way since its beginnings as the European Economic Community, which saw the introduction of a common market and free movement of goods between six Western European states in the 1950s. In 1992, when the European Community was formed from the member states of the EEC and took its place under the superstructure implemented by the Treaty on European Union, various aims and objectives were set out and progress has been made in the intervening years towards the fulfilment of all of these aims to some extent. This progress has come in the form of the staged, incremental development of the Community by means of the Treaties that followed Maastricht. Many of the reforms introduced have been forced upon the Community by its growth from 15 largely homogenous Western European member states when the Community was created in 1992 to a sprawling organisation of 27 member states, including many from Eastern Europe by 2007. That is not to say the picture is entirely positive however, The Treaties of Amsterdam and Nice and now the Lisbon Treaty, have one thing in common and that is that none of them went as far or as deep as the integrationists within the Community wanted. The effect of this has been to slow the progress of convergence within Europe and such was inevitable given the strong Euro-sceptic lobby in various parts of the Community. One manifestation of this was the failure of the Constitutional Treaty, which was rejected by France in May 2005 at a national referendum by a 54.68 per cent majority, and by the Netherlands just days later by a 61.6 per cent majority. The United Kingdoms shadow Foreign Secretary of the day, the Conservative Dr Liam Fox, offered an unequivocal opinion as to the fate of the draft Constitutional Treaty: I may no longer practice medicine, but I can tell a corpse when I see one and this constitution is a case for the morgue if ever I saw one this is a dead constitution.† It is a testament to the commitment, drive and determination of those seeking the fulfilment of the European Communitys base objectives that Dr Foxs confident predictions ultimately turned out to be false. The Lisbon Treaty represents the reincarnation of the draft Constitutional Treaty in all but name, disposing only of peripheral matters such as the Union anthem and flag but retaining almost all the crucial institutional and legal process reforms in word for word, line by line form. Moreover, given that the European Community and its supporters are now wise to the folly of actually allowing national populations to decide on their own future (a lesson that UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is learning the hard way), it is submitted that the Lisbon Treaty will not meet the fate of its almost identical predecessor. The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty will constitute another significant step towards the achievement of the ECs goals. In addition to political reluctance to invest more and more power centrally in the European Community body, the expansion of the Community has itself acted as a brake on further and deeper integration, as new challenges and issues relating to the accession of so many disparate and in some cases fragile new member states have fallen to be confronted. The expanding membership of the EC has thus frustrated the aims of the most passionate integrationists. Time will tell whether this proves to be a temporary effect or a permanent obstacle to the goal of a federal United States of Europe, which is not so proudly or overtly promulgated in 2008 as it was in the early 1950s, but which has been reflected in the Treaty of Rome and the Treaty on European Union by direct implication if not express commitment. Concluding Comments In closing, it is appropriate to refer back to the title to this work, which asked for a critical analysis of the development of the European Community since its creation in 1992 in terms of the degree of achievement of its original aims. The fact is that the EC remains ‘work in progress. While progress has been certainly made almost across the board to a greater or lesser extent, the institution still falls short of the ultimate fulfilment of those objectives set out in the Treaty on European Union. This is unsurprising, given the sheer enormity of the task and the difficulties that have confronted integrationists have also proved entirely predictable. It remains to be seen whether the European Community will ever achieve the complete satisfaction of its ambitious agenda, but one thing is certain. The European Community continues to fulfil its first, most fundamental and overwhelmingly most important role and that is the preservation of peace and stability between its member states. For this reason and this reason alone, the European Community has proved a great success, despite its many detractors.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Identifying The Day We Were Dogs Essay -- Day We Were Dogs Essays

Identifying The Day We Were Dogs      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Whether or not "The Day We Were Dogs" (1993) is a magical realist story is questionable. Often stories are misidentified because of the closeness of literature such as magical realism, the fantastic, and the sublime. The story leaves a lot to one's imagination instead of presenting it in the text. Elena Garro blends two days and two completely different worlds together in this story. The magical elements depend on how one uses his or her imagination throughout this story. The girls could either be pretending to be dogs or they could have actually become dogs. If they are in fact real dogs, they are able to talk, and their dog Toni also talks. Also, magic numbers are used throughout the story. The main magical element is the blending of the two days. The story jumps back and forth between the two and never distinguishes between them. The realistic elements include Toni's actions. He shows how dogs spend their days lying under a tree and eating all day. Another realistic element depends on how one accepted the events that happened within the two parallel days. If the girls were not actually turned in to dogs but were just pretending, then this fact is another realistic element. Children often pretend they are animals, expecially dogs. In magical realism, "the text contains something we cannot explain according to the laws of the universe as we know them" (Faris 167) and the "descriptions detail a stong presence of the phenomenal world" (Faris 169). These quotes explain why one might think that this story is magical realism due to the two different worlds that are going on at the same time. Also, one "experience[s] the closeness or near-merging of two realms, two worlds" (Fari... ...l Realism: Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham; N.C.: Duke UP, 1995. 249-263. Garro, Elena. "The Day We Were Dogs." Latin American Writers: Thirty Stories. Ed. Gabriells Ibieta. New York, N.Y.: St. Martin's Press, Inc., 1993. 206-212. Faris, Wendy B. "Scherazade's Children: Magical Realism and Postmodern Fiction." Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham; N.C.: Duke UP, 1995. Sandner, David. "Romanticism and Transcendence in Nineteenth-Century Children's Fantasy Literature." The Fantastic Sublime. Westport, C.T.: Greenwood Press. 45-65, 142-147. Theim, Jon. "The Textualization of the Reader in Magical Realist Fiction." Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham; N.C.: Duke UP, 1995. 235-247.   

Friday, July 19, 2019

Lost Innocence in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne :: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, John Boyne

Evil can be glossed over by innocence but in the end subsumes it. This is vividly conveyed by John Boyne in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, a powerful narrative of lost innocence set in Nazi Germany. It all begins simply enough. Nine-year-old Bruno has to suddenly leave a familiar and beloved home where he could slide five floors down on a fine banister, and move with his parents and his twelve year old sister Gretel to a place called ‘Out With', where Father was going to be doing a very important job. ‘ The Fury' had dined with them the week before, and after that Bruno's father was given a brand new assignment, and as Bruno's mother told him, he would now have to wear a grander uniform than the one he had been wearing. So the family, with their entourage of staff and servants, leaves bustling Berlin. Sadly for Bruno, he has to also leave behind his three best friends, not to mention his beloved grandparents; he has to move far away to a much smaller, sequestered house with only Gretel (whom he thinks of as a Hopeless Case) for company. From his bedroom window, homesick Bruno can see groups of people in the distance, all in striped pyjamas moving about slowly behind a tall and endless wire fence. And because Bruno loves exploring, he soon sets out to find out more, although when he had asked his father who the people in the striped pyjamas were, his father had said that they were not people. The language and structure of this novel, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by the Irish writer John Boyne, labelled as young adult fiction in early editions, is deceptively simple. But this is definitely a book that adults must read; it is a fable set in living history that will jolt readers of all ages. Paradoxical While evil hiding among us is an ancient theme (as Agatha Christie once said), in this book evil is the base, glossed over by an innocence that is at one level redemptive, but at another level shocking. Bruno is the much loved child of a Nazi Commandant; but he is also an endearing little boy who adores his parents, is frustrated in typical sibling fashion with his pre-teen older sister, and in all aspects a solid little fellow; curious, full of energy and also trusting and innocent in a manner that sometimes seems a bit paradoxical for someone as intelligent as he is.

Narmers Palette :: essays research papers

As Egypt grew and flourished to a powerful and rich nation, it left behind for today's historians, clues and artifacts of a once distinctive, well established and structured society. Proof of this is clearly depicted in king Narmer's Palette. This Palette shows historians the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, which signified the beginnings of a civilized era centred around the Nile. The unification of Egypt occurred around 3100 B.C., under the First Dynasty of Menes(3100-2850 B.C.). This age is commonly know as the Protodynastic era, which is known for the establishment of a firm political structure of the land which was unified in the hands of the king. The glorification of Lower and Upper Egypt uniting was portrayed in Narmer's Palette, which was found in the ancient southern capital of Hierakonpolis. The general function of Narmer's Palette was to commemorate a victory over his human foes. With Narmer's victory, the Palette also depicts his successful claim and conquest of all of Egypt, thus establishing unification of Lower and Upper Egypt under his rule. The dominant them however, is the victory of the god incarnate over the forces of evil and chaos. The Narmer Palette, while depicting several social aspects and tendencies of the Egyptian society, also reveals and emphasizes their structured positions within a hierarchy of command. Both sides of the Palette reveal, at the top, the name of king Narmer, which first documents, in the written history of Egypt, that we now are dealing with a civilized state. When the scribes wanted to write king Narmer's name, they placed a small fish called a 'nar' over a chisel, pronounced 'mer'. This combination of the words gave them 'Narmer'. The Palette also depicts king Narmer(probably the legendary Menes) wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt and the White Crown of Aphroditopolis, which represented Upper Egypt. Since Narmer had claimed victory over the northern king, thus becoming the first Pharaoh, the unification of Egypt was completed. The reverse of the Palette portrays Narmer clubbing a foeman. Narmer is then followed by his foot-washer, which should be noted is shown on a smaller scale and standing on a separate register line, as suited to his relative rank and position in Egypt's hierarchy. Narmer stands before the supreme sky-god Horus, of whom Narmer is also an incarnation, represented as a falcon with a human arm holding a papyrus thicket. On the obverse of this palette, Narmer inspects a battlefield near Buto, with several decapitated bodies of his foemen. Narmer is then preceded by his four standard-bearers and his priest. The middle register of this highly organized recording shows two long-

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Aj Davis Department Store Part B

AJ Davis Department Store Part B AJ Davis Department Store Introduction The following information will show whether or not the manager’s speculations are correct. He wants to know the following information: Is the average mean greater than $45,000? Does the true population proportion of customers who live in an urban area exceed 45%? Is the average number of years lived in the current home less than 8 years? Is the credit balance for suburban customers more than $3200? Hypothesis testing and confidence intervals for situations A-D are calculated. A.THE AVERAGE (MEAN) ANNUAL INCOME WAS LESS THAN $45,000. Solution: Step 1: Null Hypothesis: The average (mean) annual income was equal to $45,000. H_0: ? =45,0000 Step2: Alternate Hypothesis: The average (mean) annual was less than $50,000. H_a: ? 45 , a z-test for the mean will be used to test the given hypothesis. As for the alternative hypothesis, which is Ha:? 0. 45 and the given test is a one-tailed (upper-tailed) z-test. Step 4 : Critical Value and Rejection Region: The critical value for significance level is ? =0. 05. The upper tail z-test is 1. 45. Rejection Region: Reject H_0,if z-statistic>1. 645. Step 5: Assumptions: The sample size in this experiment is n 0. 4 95% Lower Sample X N Sample p Bound Z-Value P-Value 1 21 50 0. 420000 0. 305190 0. 29 0. 386 Step 7: Interpretation: According to the calculations, the p-value is 0. 386. This value is larger than the significance level of 0. 05. Therefore, we will not reject the null hypothesis. There is no sufficient evidence to support the claim that the true population proportion of customers who live in an urban area is greater than 40%.Based on the results provided by MINITAB below, the lower 95% confidence limit is 0. 28. Since 0. 42 is greater than the 95% lower confidence limit, hence, we cannot support the claim that the true population proportion of customers who live in an urban area is greater than 45%. Confidence Interval: Test and CI for One Pro portion Sample X N Sample p 95% CI 1 21 50 0. 420000 (0. 283195, 0. 556805) ? C. THE AVERAGE (MEAN) NUMBER OF YEARS LIVED IN THE CURRENT HOME IS LESS THAN 8 YEARS. Solution: Step 1: Null Hypothesis: The average (mean) number of years lived in the current home is equal to 8 years.H_0: ? =8 Step 2: Alternate Hypothesis: The average (mean) number of years lived in the current home is less than 8 years. H_a: ? 50 requires that the z-test for mean be used to test the given hypothesis. The alternative hypothesis is Ha:? 3200 Step 3: Test Statistic: z= Following the provided information, the Significance Level is ? =0. 05. The alternative hypothesis is Ha: ? >3200; therefore, the given test is a one-tailed (upper-tailed) z-test. Step 4: Critical Value and Rejection Region: The critical value for significance level ? =0. 5 for an upper-tailed z-test is given as 1. 645. Rejection Region: Reject H_0,if z-statistic>1. 645. Step 5: Assumptions: The sample size in this speculation is greater tha n 30, therefore, The Central Limit Theorem (CLT) will apply, and no assumptions need to be made. Step 6: Calculation of test statistic: One-Sample Z: Credit Balance ($) Test of mu = 3200 vs > 3200 The assumed standard deviation = 742. 365 95% Lower Variable N Mean StDev SE Mean Bound Z P Credit Balance ($) 15 4675 742 192 4360 1. 96 0. 025 Step 7: Interpretation:According to the above results from MINITAB, the p-value of 0. 038 is smaller than the significance level of 0. 05; consequently, the null hypothesis will be rejected. There is sufficient evidence to support the claim that the average (mean) credit balance for suburban customers is more than $3200. Based on the results from MINITAB, which are provided below, the significance level is 0. 05; therefore, there is sufficient evidence to support the claim that the average (mean) credit balance for suburban customers is more than $3200.MINITAB reveals that the 95% lower confidence limit is 4469; therefore, 3200 is smaller than the 95% lower confidence limit, which means that the claim can be supported regarding the average (mean) credit balance for suburban customers is more than $3200. Confidence Interval One-Sample Z The assumed standard deviation = 742. 365 N Mean SE Mean 95% CI 50 4675 105 (4469, 4881) Conclusion After performing hypothesis testing and confidence intervals on each speculation, we can conclude that from the sample of 50 customers from AJ DAVIS department store, the average (mean) annual income is less than $50,000.We can also conclude that the number of customers that live in urban areas are less than or equal to 40%. The average number of years their customers have lived in their current home is more than 13. Also, the average credit balance for suburban customers is more than $4300. The manager was correct about the speculations of the average income being less than $50,000 and a customers’ credit balance being more than $4,300. For AJ Davis department store to continue a great r elationship with their customers, it wise and imperative that they continue to perform analyses of this magnitude.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

A Doll’s House Study Guide Essay

figure out I Kevin Gao The setting is on Christmas Eve, in the Helmers Household. in that respect is the aspect of the contrasting temperature, in which inside the house it is warm, symbolic of credentials and safety, whereas outside it is harsh and cold, symbolic of the sure creative passageivity and how cruel it is. These details ar important in that they set the pegleg for the rest of the story. The people who live in the house be obviously truly(prenominal) well-off people. They beat m nonp beily, yet they argon frugal, non re eachy teeming. The title A Dolls House suggests that their foot is rattling decorative.There is a book human face, bonny China, and other neat fiddling ornaments. The parts ar tout ensemble exposit as robed in nice clo involvement. Nora has whole kinds of things on her the corresponding m unmatchabley and sweets. M wizardy is actually important in the play in that it stopms to directly influence the kind of invigorationstyle they live. Ive chance ond that the gifts are actually tacky, demo poor taste, and are very unnecessary and unavoidablenessless objects. In my opinion, nonwithstanding the rich people seem to be able to afford macaroons and other sweets. The macaroons are oddballistic of lavish modus vivendis, for people who establish time to kill.Nora Initially seems kindred a silly, naive woman, indicated by her playful attitude ( noniceable when she says things bid Pooh and Just a comminuted wee bit). Her appearance in Act 1 she is very pampered and spoiled by her husband, yet later she reveals her pretty rebellious side, bespeaking that she does non request to be treated as a lot(prenominal) by Torvald. I predict she go forth later develop a to a greater extent than independent lifestyle from Torvald. I notice that she is continuously asking for m whizy. Its as if she fates to do things by herself, with her give birth m cardinaly. Mrs. Linde is Noras childhood friend. Mrs. Linde is like Noras retard in that her life of p all everyplacety seems to emphasise Noras wealthy and privileged life. Nora isnt being honest to Torvald. She is obviously fraud to Torvald astir(predicate) eating the macaroons, and she is described as being rather uneasy. Nora adores her feature children, her around prized possessions. She essays herself as a in truth loving mother. Torvald delights in his maculation of place as a husband in the house. He believes that it is a mans job to protect and guide his married woman. Torvald treats her like a child, which was described as like her perplex would, and is name calling ( footling squirrel, flyspeck lark) is like he masking his function with tenderness, and that he sees her as a simpleton who pass on succumb to his bantering. He constantly reminds Nora not to be a saving spender. He does not see Nora as an equal, and his teasing, his referrals to her as a girl, and his uses of pithy phrases suggest that Torvald doesnt bespeak her sooner seriously. Krogstad is a lawyer who went to school with Torvald. He is es moveially the antagonist of the play. He was apply by Torvald, however he susceptibility lose his job.He constantly torments Nora with pecuniary issues he in one case loaned to her, but he blackmails her because he knows she forged her dads signature on their contract, plane though he also committed the aforementioned(prenominal) discourtesy. His actions arent characteristic of his good intentions and his benignity for her. dissimilar Torvald, who desires to manoeuver a shit measure for his birth selfish satisfaction, Krogstad wants that respect for the sake of his own family. Krogstad and Mrs. Linde employ to be lovers, but she remaining him because of his immoral behavior and because she cherished to link up nighone with more than than money.Dr. identify is one of Torvalds friends. localise seems to be ghost with talking more or less the diseased natures of all the people he is acquainted with, even himself. Nora and Torvald do not think very highly of Dr. rank and file he is just unimportant to them and everyone else. He does not identify very high in their thoughts, thusly the irony in his name. Act II The setting takes place on Christmas Day. The quadrangle around the tree is very messy, indicating that they had a Christmas celebration. The room and the tree have been up gunpoint of all signs of festivities.The costume is what Nora has to wear to the Stenborgs ball however it is in need of haunt. This is representative of how Torvald wants to prune Nora as one would dress a doll. The letter Torvald sent to Krogstad shows his complete narrow-mindedness, as he is not changing and as translateing as the other main characters. The maid manpower Nora Krogstads visitor card and tells her that Krogstad ordain not ply until he has speak with her some the issue. Krogstads letter is used to inform Torvald of the forgery committed by Nora.He uses this as blackmail for Nora to get a better position in the bank. Dr. Rank plays the piano in accompaniment, showing that he is tranquil the supporting character and unimportant, as in the first act. Again, at that place are recurrent aspects of the rich-family theme, with the champagne and the macaroons at the dinner party. Nora has been thinking about deviation her family, specifically, she is contemplating suicide. However, she is hesitant about doing so because she is hard put that her kids testament miss her, and she thinks it will be difficult for her kids to adapt to life without her.The terra firma she wants to commit suicide is because of her forgery crime on the contract for the money, but she wanted to do this because she knew it was a choice to render either Torvald, or her dying start out. Nora is shitless that if Torvald find outs about her crime, he will sacrifice himself and take all the deuced onto himself (a conjuration she has concocted i n her mind) and go to jail, which would be great but terrible at the same time this is the terrible thing she hopes and fears for. Nora does not persist with her request for Dr.Rank because she is disturbed by how he feels about her, as she has stated that in that location are some people one loves best, and others whom one would almost rather have as companions. Nora wants Christine to be her avow in case she goes mad over the crime she committed, or if something happens to her (presumably, her suicide) and her credit is dishonored. To make matters more complicated, Torvald had create verbally a letter notifying Krogstad of his dismissal. Nora tries to stop him by saying that Krogstad has power with the press to self-aggrandizing mouth Torvald.Thats when Torvald makes the connection surrounded by him and her father that she fears for Torvald as much as she used to fear for her father, but that he is, unlike her father, not in each legal trouble, which makes him safe from all threats. He tells Nora that he doesnt want to take back the dismissal letter, as it would show his weakness and that he is easily s meansed by his own wife. This shows his printing that a wife has no authority in a household or in trade he thinks she knows zip fastener of the business world and that her opinions have no real intent.This, in turn, shows that he does not know anything about his wife at all, which top executive whiz some to believe that their mating is postal code but a charade, an act without inwardness or purpose. However, it is his knowledge of her that Nora tries to use to her advantage. By calling herself little skylark and little squirrel, she is trying to manipulate him into doing what she wants. However, Torvalds insolence is persistent, as well as his stubbornness. He thinks that he must dismiss Krogstad to pro ache his own appearance of a slopped man who is not easily stifled.Also, in my, opinion, Torvalds view of social life has stemmed from his ve ry stubbornness. For example, he believes that Nora does things, like warning him of Krogstads power over the newspaper, simply because she loves him, as a typic wife would, and that he must show her that she has nothing to fear (this is that strong virile husband fantasy). Christine agrees to sustain Nora with her dress because she wants to help her make a good conception with Torvald.Christine, claiming her to be more mature and more experienced than Nora, tries to figure out some of Noras problems, specifically, to look out for Dr.Rank and to end her friendship with her Christine does not leave because she is suspicious of Nora, and she knows that she is hiding something from her. When Christine reappears, she tries to help Nora understand the fact that her marriage is not what she thinks it authentically is it is not perfect and she isnt unfeignedly content with it. Christine agrees to be Noras witness to testify that Nora did that whole act on her own, and that Torvald w as not connected to it at all.She agrees because she wants her to get over her endeavor to proceed Noras marriage she gives Nora the courage and reassurance. Krogstad is pretty much described as a nuisance to Torvald he is morally diseased to Torvald because he did not confess to his crime of forgery and that there was no justice done onto him. Torvald is repel with Krogstad because, since they used to be friends, he calls Torvald by his first name. Torvald would prefer if he showed him more respect as a superior.Krogstad is so desperate because he wants to gain as much respect as he can, and to achieve a high position in the bank, higher than Torvald. He does this in order to take care of his children. He threatens to use the forgery contract as blackmail to have influence over her and to make her get his job back. He says that he is willing to keep it all a secret as long as Torvald promotes him to a higher position. We rook the Dr. Rank is ill from syphilis, that he get it f rom his father (who was sexually overindulgent), and that he does not have much time left.This shows Ibsens tragically flawed philosophy that ethical motive are hereditary, for example, Noras naive belief set, that any action is accep confuse as long as it benefits her loved one also, another trait is that Noras father of all time made excuses, and later passed it shore to Nora. Dr. Rank confessed that he loves Nora. Nora is surprised because they have been best friends for a long time, and that she feels that his defense is basically a misinterpretation of her pump toward him.She does not continue with her request because she feels that he would think of it as exploiting his love for her, since he knows now that Nora will reject him. Unlike the other two, Dr. Rank is pretty much the help, as he states it. He has not changed much from the first act in that he is still nothing but a supporting character he remains unimportant in anyones thoughts. Krogstad, unlike Torvald, is worki ng for respect to support his family as well as establish an appearance/personality for him to others.Dr. Rank is not like Torvald in that he is tho one Nora feels she can render herself fully in front of, something she wouldnt dare try to do with Torvald. Act III The setting is in the Helmers household. There is dance music upstairs. The table is in the center of the room with a lamp burning on it, surrounded by chairs. The lamp is like Noras realization at first, there was nothing in the room, but as time went on, a sparkling grew in her mind, with its own ideas, independent from that of Torvalds.The dress is great, but it shows how possessive Torvald is of Nora, and the costume he dresses her in is from his own choosing, as one would do when dressing a doll. The letter box is like a cage no outer forces can penetrate it, and it holds Nora engrossed in the way that she is trapped by the letter inside the mailbox. The threshold archeological site at the end is like Nora has ultimately woken up and has realized that her life for the onetime(prenominal) 8 years has been an act, nothing more.She closes the door on Torvald, suggesting that she no longer wants Torvalds guidance that she needs to do things on her own from now on. Nora doesnt want to come back into the house because she will never be unders excessivelyd in her house. Torvald will never treat her like an independent woman, that she will always be a child. She leaves what she describes as a singulars house. Noras dance, the tarantella, is an Italian dance. Her leaping is so flustered, and it is constantly full of dubiety in the moves, which is like Noras character.The dance expresses the idea that an ugly truth, though it might be harmful, is the only way to mend Noras marriage with Torvald it is Noras terminal chance to be Torvalds little doll, to amuse and satisfy him. She says Never to see him again. Never Never. indicates that she is leaving Torvald and her children, because she stil l thinks that he will step in and take the blame, and she does not want him to do this. This is also shown in the phrase You shant save me, Torvald. After the second letter, Nora becomes frozen, all quiet and puzzled.Nora suddenly realizes the truth about their marriage that Torvald only cares about aesthetics, and that he would do anything for a seemingly happy marriage. The most wonderful thing it, to its fullest, a marriage that is not tied bolt down by any social bindings. What Nora wants is a marriage that is purely feeling, unconditional love, without responsibility or responsibility. Torvalds imaginings indicate that he is very self-protective, and that he is worried too much about what others think of him.His chemical reaction to the letter suggest that he does not care about Nora, but that he only cares about himself and whether or not his reputation will be sunk or not. These selfish reason are based on his desires for appearances also, he forgets that the only reason N ora committed the crime was to save him, which further underlines his selfishness. by He mentions Noras father as a way of saying that it is not his fault, it is Noras fathers fault, and ultimately, her fault as well, which is very different from what Nora thought he would do (to take the blame upon himself).He repeats the most wonderful thing of all because he has no idea what it is, showing how blind he is by his own fantasy of a real marriage. The story opens with Christine and Krogstad as a way to set the stage for the background story. From the phrases that the two exchange, it is obvious that they were once lovers, but that Christine left Krogstad for someone else with more money. It is also apparent that Christine often celestial latitude throwing him out of their home, and that she justifies it by saying that she had to take care of her own family and siblings. Deep down, she always wanted to stay with Krogstad.Christine is Noras torment in that Christines poor, cruel, and bitter lifestyle seems to underscore Noras lifestyle, and her actions, such as living prudently, underscores Noras wasteful and lavish lifestyle. The quote but now I am quite alone, my life so empty and I fell forsaken. There is not the least pleasure in working for oneself suggests that Christine wants to get back in concert with Krogstad. Krogstad and Christines relationship is like a foil to Nora and Torvalds marriage in that their broken and shipwrecked marriage underlines Nora and Torvalds flourishing and happy marriage.