Problems With the New PSAT Your Questions, Answered

Problems With the New PSAT Your Questions, Answered SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The College Board had some issues with the new PSAT, including late score reports from their Fall 2015 test. Here, we’ll talk about whether these problems will affect you, and we’ll point you in the right direction if you still have issues getting your scores. PSAT scores are especially important to high school juniors who are hoping to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. If you're a high school junior, you’ll want to make sure you read our NMS score section - we’ll answer all your questions about National Merit Semifinalist cutoffs. Finally, we’ll talk a bit about what this means for theCollege Boardin general. This isn’t the first problem that they’ve had with their standardized tests in recent years - could this delay in score reports speak to more serious problems with the maker of the SAT? Read on to find out! Slow Score Reports: What Happened? As you may already know, students who took the October 2015 PSAT had to deal with delayed score reports. These late scores were most frustrating for high school juniors who were hoping to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. Here's what happened: Over 4 million students took the new PSATin fall 2015and were supposed to get their scores back by the end of 2015. It turns out that scores weren't officially released until January of 2016, about a month later than expected. At the time of release,many students and counselors who were trying to access the site reported that it was running very slowly, probably due to heavy traffic. All in all, it sounds like it was a pretty frustrating experience. Perhaps even more frustrating?It seems that students are still having trouble accessing their scores, even after their official release. OnJanuary 21, some test-takers were told that their scores were still "delayed," and it would be another 5-7 days before they'd have access to them. The College Board explained that additional delays were due to their new online score report system. They claim that scores are indeed available, but new protocols for actually accessing the scores are â€Å"confusing† students and counselors. If you're looking for solutions, you've come to the right place. How Does This Affect You, and What Should You Do About It? This score report delay affected high school students who took the PSAT in October of 2015. If you haven't already, you may be anxious to check your PSAT for a variety of reasons. Here, we'll break down common issues you might run into if you can't get your scores, in addition to the steps you can take to remedy these issues. Problem #1: the Lack of Access to Your Scores Is Frustrating A lack of access to your scores won't affect your scores in any way nor will it affect your eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship. We can’t help you feel better - you’re right to be frustrated! - but knowing that a delay won’t affect any important outcomes might ease some of your frustration. Problem #2: You Were Hoping to Get Score Feedback to Prep for the SAT If you’re still waiting for your scores, try taking a College Board SAT practice test. You’ll end up with a head start in SAT prep! Just rememberthat the College Board switched over to the redesigned SAT starting in March 2016 and make sure to take one of the newpractice tests. Problem #3: You Can't Figure Out If You Qualify for the National Merit Scholarship This delay won’t affect your eligibility for the scholarship, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re anxious to learn if you qualify. Remember, though, that it's impossible to know if you qualify before the NMSC sends out letters to semifinalists - score cutoffs change from year to year, so all cutoff parameters currently available are just estimates anyway. See our next section about steps to take to get your hands on your scores, and continue reading for more info about NMS score cutoffs. Here's everything you need to know to unlockaccess to that score report. What Can You Do to Get Your Scores? If you're still waiting for delayed PSAT scores, here are the steps you should take: Make sure you have your Access/ID Code for College Board's online score report system. If you don't have this code, you can call PSAT services at 866-433-7728. Some students reported logging into the score report system, only to see a prompt telling them that their scores were delayed or that there was no record of them taking a College Board test. If this happens to you,don’t panic. Either wait a couple of days and try again or call PSAT Services. If you aren't able to access your scores and need them ASAP for a particular reason, call PSAT services (see a pattern yet?) and ask if they can expedite them. Your high school guidance counselor is likely aware of these score issues, and may have more information about how they affect students at your particular school. If you have specific questions or concerns, make an appointment to check in with this counselor. What's the Deal With National Merit Scholarship Score Cutoffs? Now that you know what's going on with PSAT score delays, we can get to the juicy stuff: how can you figure out whether you qualify for the National Merit Scholarship? Just to make it clear again, delays in score reports will not affect whether you qualify for the NMS. In fact, semifinalists won’t be notified of their award status until early September 2016. Even though PSAT-takers won't get official notice of their scholarship status until later this year, you're probably wondering whether you can estimate your eligibility ahead of time. The bad news? Exact score cutoffs change from year to year. This year has been extra special because along with the SAT overhaul, there's been a total change in the PSAT as well - it's scored in a completely new way. The good news is that we've been keeping track of these changes and have come up with estimated score cutoffs for National Merit Scholarship eligibility. See ourestimated PSAT score cutoffs for each state, in addition to how they compare to the â€Å"old† PSAT scoring system cutoffs. What's Going on With the College Board? Should You Avoid the SAT? Hopefully, we’ve helped you plan how to get your hands on your scores, or at the very least, reassured you that you won’t experience any long-lasting consequences as a result of this delay.You may, however, be experiencing some bigger concerns about the maker of the PSAT and SAT after this fiasco. What does this delay say about the reliability of the College Board, if anything at all? First, you should know that the College Board is in the midst of a pretty significant transition -they moved from the SAT that most of you are probably most familiar with to a brandnew version of the test. January 2016 was the last month that the â€Å"old† SAT was administered. It makes sense that if there were to be technical glitches, they’d be happening now - when the College Board is switching over to a new test and new score report system. However,this transition doesn’t necessarily explain other recent issues that that the College Board has had, including: Dropping two sections of the 6/10/15 SAT test because of printing issues, leading to questions about the validity of students’ scores from that day Widespread cheating on the SATin countries where The College Board reuses previously administered tests, and cheating in the US due to a data breach Delays in reporting SAT scores to colleges, which led to issues for students who were hoping to make early application deadlines last fall So what do we think is going on? The College Board as a company might be experiencing general organizational, operational, and technical issues as they attempt to update themselves to stay relevant in the standardized testing business. These issues are major, yes, but they shouldn’t necessarily dissuade you from taking the SAT if it’s the right test for you. That being said, the new SAT is looking a lot more like the ACT than it used to - if you’re very concerned about technological issues and/or delays affecting your test or your scores, you might look into taking the ACT in addition to (or even in lieu of) the SAT. That doesn’t mean, however, that the ACT hasn’t had its fair share of issues and delays. Ultimately, here's our advice about the best approach to the SAT:take the test (or tests) that’s right for you. At a certain point, it seems that a degree of technological and organizational issues is unavoidable, but the College Board and the ACT do try to mitigate the effects their mistakes have on test takers. For example, during one of the last SAT crises (the printing issues in the 6/10/15 test), the College Board analyzed all viable options for responding, which included: A) Adjusting the curves on the exam B) Canceling all scores for the test C) Dropping the particular sections that were affected, and calculating scores based on students' performance on the other sections In this particular case, The College Board chose Option C - students didn't have to retake the test, and their scores weren't "docked" or otherwise affected. Each situation will be different, but in general, the College Board wants to make its test-takers happy - if students are suspicious of the SAT or think the College Board isn't reliable, fewer students will choose to take the test, and that's bad for business. What's Next? Chances are you're pretty interested in the National Merit Scholarship - perhaps you could use some more guidance when it comes to getting your hands on some of that college cash. Read about how to become a National Merit semifinalist and National Merit finalist. Check in on updated score cutoff estimates for the award. If you're looking for a one-stop read, you should definitely read our complete guide to the National Merit Scholarship competition and how to win it. Got your PSAT score, but not sure what to do with it? Check out our guide to understanding your PSAT score. Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

How to Return Multiple Values From a Delphi Function

How to Return Multiple Values From a Delphi Function A most common construct in a Delphi application would be a procedure or a function. Known as routines, procedures or functions are statement blocks you call from different locations in a program. Simply put a procedure is a routine not returning a value while a function returns a value. A return value from a function is defined by the return type. In most cases you would write a function to return a single value that would be an integer, string, boolean or some other simple type, also return types could be an array, a string list, an instance of a custom object or alike. Note that even if your function returns a string list (a collection of strings) it still returns a single value: one instance of the string list. Further, Delphi routines can really have many faces: Routine, Method, Method Pointer, Event Delegate, Anonymous method... Can a Function Return Multiple Values? The first answer that comes to mind is no, simply because when we think of a function, we think of a single return value. Certainly, the answer to the above question is, however, yes. A function can return several values. Lets see how. Var Parameters How many values can the following function return, one or two? function PositiveReciprocal(const valueIn : integer; var valueOut : real): boolean; The function obviously returns a boolean value (true or false). How about the second parameter valueOut declared as a VAR (variable) parameter? Var parameters are passed to the function by reference meaning that if the function changes the value of the parameter- a variable in the calling block of code- the function will change the value of the variable used for the parameter. To see how the above works, heres the implementation: function PositiveReciprocal(const valueIn: integer; var valueOut: real): boolean;begin result : valueIn 0; if result then valueOut : 1 / valueIn;end; The valueIn is passed as a constant parameter- function cannot alter it, and it is treated as read-only. If valueIn or greater than zero, the valueOut parameter is assigned the reciprocal value of valueIn and the result of the function is true. If valueIn is 0 then the function returns false and valueOut is not altered in any way. Heres the usage: var b : boolean; r : real;begin r : 5; b : PositiveReciprocal(1, r); //here: // b true (since 1 0) // r 0.2 (1/5) r : 5; b : PositiveReciprocal(-1, r); //here: // b false (since -1 end; Therefore, the PositiveReciprocal actually can return 2 values! Using var parameters you can have a routine return more than one value. Out Parameters Theres another way to specify a by-reference parameter- using the out keyword, as in: function PositiveReciprocalOut(const valueIn: integer; out valueOut: real): boolean;begin result : valueIn 0; if result then valueOut : 1 / valueIn;end; The implementation of PositiveReciprocalOut is the same as in PositiveReciprocal, theres only one difference: the valueOut is an OUT parameter. With parameters declared as out, the initial value of the referenced variable valueOut is discarded. Heres the usage and the results: var b : boolean; r : real;begin r : 5; b : PositiveReciprocalOut(1, r); //here: // b true (since 1 0) // r 0.2 (1/5) r : 5; b : PositiveReciprocalOut(-1, r); //here: // b false (since -1 end; Note how in the second call the value of the local variable r is set to 0. The value of r was set to 5 before the function call but since the parameter in declared as out, when r reached the function the value was discarded and the default empty value was set for the parameter (0 for real type). As a result, you can safely send uninitialized variables for out parameters- something that you should not do with var parameters. Parameters are used to send something to the routine, except here with out parameters :), and therefore uninitialized variables (used for VAR parameters) could have weird values. Returning Records? The above implementations where a function would return more than one value are not nice. The function actually returns a single value, but also returns, better to say alters, the values of the var/out parameters. Because of this, you may very rarely want to use by-reference parameters. If more results from a function are required, you can have a function return a record type variable. Consider the following: type TLatitudeLongitude record Latitude: real; Longitude: real; end; and a hypothetical function: function WhereAmI(const townName : string) : TLatitudeLongitude; The function WhereAmI would return the Latitude and Longitude for a given town (city, area, ...). The implementation would be: function WhereAmI(const townName: string): TLatitudeLongitude;begin//use some service to locate townName, then assign function result: result.Latitude : 45.54; result.Longitude : 18.71;end; And here we have a function returning 2 real values. Ok, it does return 1 record, but this record has 2 fields. Note that you can have a very complex record mixing various types to be returned as a result of a function. Thats it. Therefore, yes, Delphi functions can return multiple values.

The Abortion Debate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

The Abortion Debate - Essay Example A number of views regarding the legality and moral value of abortion exist and there is much controversy in religious, social and ethnic terms. The abortion debate is not a new one and it exists since a very long time and there are opponents as well as proponents of this method in the United States with each one of them providing convincing arguments in favor of their stand. Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Abortion may not only serve the purpose of family planning, contraception or means of controlling population growth, but also a means of saving the life of a mother whose health is at risk. There are three main methods used for the purpose of abortion which include methods in which surgical instruments are introduced through the cervix into the uterus for the purpose of killing the child or the methods in which the fetus is killed by adminis tration of drugs and after the death of fetus, labor is induced which results in expulsion of the dead fetus and lastly the methods in which surgical intervention is used to cut open the uterus by abdominal surgery and finally fetus is removed (Willke, 1985). The debate for the abortion of fetuses initiated in the United States basically towards the second half of the twentieth century and a final decision with regard to this was taken in the year 1973 by the Supreme Court which legalized abortions in the country during the legal case of Roe v Wade. There are many reasons provided by the proponents of abortion to term it not only legal as well as ethical. The first and foremost argument provided is that every human being is born with the right to choose for himself what he considers correct for himself. This right is granted to all human beings in the constitution of the United States. Hence, it is argued that since every human being has the right to opt for what he wants, abortion is legalized for women because this decision is their personal right. They argue that preventing them and restraining them from abortions is actually snatching their constitutional rights of enjoying their free will. They also argue that women are living beings capable of taking their decisions. On the other hand, the fetus is not living and hence it is a part of the female body. Therefore it is their choice to opt for abortion and it cannot be questioned. The next argument provided by the proponents is that despite of the fact that abortion may be considered illegal, women would still opt for it. This is proved with regard of the evidence that is given of the countries where abortion is illegal. It is seen that even in these countries abortion is practiced. It is also a fact that the women in these countries opt for other means which are not safe because of the fact that these abortions are not conducted under medical practitioners. This leads to the loss of many precious lives whi ch could otherwise be avoided (Head). On the other hand, the opponents of abortion also have their views to present. They argue that at the moment that an embryo is implanted in the uterus, it has a life and a soul. They argue that the embryo if left has the capability of developing into a human being and hence to abort this fetus is a murder. They also argue that the fetus has developed a DNA sequence at the instant that it formed which upholds the fact that it living and

Water needs in Urban Countries Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Water needs in Urban Countries - Assignment Example eptionally low precipitation rates annually and exceptionally high evapo-transpiration rate combined with overexploitation by the vast and ever increasing populations Johns (2008). Most of its water  resource  is in  underground  sinks and  little  surface water resources. Furthermore, a huge amount of these underground water resources  are contaminated  by minerals and oil fuels which are  plentiful  within the region, thus rendering the water not fit for consumption. This puts water resources as  particularly  crucial resources in the region, and  over time,  various organs and  individuals have been implementing conservation measures. These measures range from sustainable exploitation to the  search  of alternative water sources and waste water management. With the increasing rates of climate change,  population’s growth rates and conflict struggles for other resources the conservation measures have had little  impact  on the water shortages situation. This calls for an in-depth investigative  study  on the various issues surrounding water availability within the region. This includes the conduct of research within the region, capacity building initiatives among the populations, and the  employment  of  proper  results and recommendations implementation strategies. The people within the region must  get  to  understand  the importance of this commodity and the  employment  of various conservation strategies.  The social structure influencing rapid population growth also requires to be moderated such as by the introduction of birth control and the development of international understanding and regulations pertaining to shared water resources within the region.  The various nations within the reg ion and their people need to  agree  on a water management plan and regulations to  attain  sustainable development. Water needs within the region can only be met through a regional integrated water conservation and management  effort. Water shortages are evident in

Impact Statement Essay Example for Free

Impact Statement Essay NSTP was one big rollercoaster ride. Admittedly, I didn’t like it entirely because It has a lot of requirements for a non-credited subject. It was fine with me going to our designated area and cleaning the place, but it was not seem necessary for us to still have to submit certain papers/ documents and have this seminar sessions. Well that was what I initially felt. As I reflect on it, I realize that I did actually have fun in one way or another and I realized that NSTP served as an eye opener to us students, as we become aware of the things that sometimes we didn’t notice like having a family. I have learned the value of having a family who can provide their basic needs. Although we didn’t really have any interactions with the children in the orphanage, just by seeing them I realized the blessings that I have right now, that I’m indeed fortunate enough to have parents that support and provide my needs. My experience with this activity will be much cherished because this had taught me the importance of having a family. NSTP also taught me to give back to the community. I may not have the capability to effect one big change on society, but with one random act of kindness, society can slowly but surely change. For if one man performs an act of random kindness, and others follow, then the world will be on happier place to live in.

Love, Death and Transformation in Ginger Snaps Essay -- Film Movie Gi

Love, Death and Transformation in Ginger Snaps On the surface, Ginger Snaps can be easily dismissed by critics as a typical B-rated teen-turned-werewolf movie. What distinguishes this movie from other horror films, however, is its subversion of the traditional perspective of its genre. The transformation in the film is suffered by Ginger Fitzgerald, a sixteen-year-old girl. This lycanthropy coincides with Ginger's first menstrual period, making the subject matter metaphorical for the often fearful transition into the sexuality and identity formation of adulthood. Moreover, the relationship between Ginger and her sister Brigitte deteriorates in such a way that is also emblematic of the human psyche's conflicts. As their paths diverge in the film, each sister is confronted with the instincts of love and death or aggression; Eros and Thanatos in Freud's terms. The focus here will be to view these salient themes in Ginger Snaps through the lens of Freudian analysis. More specifically, this paper will analyze the psychical conflict du e to complications of the instinct toward love or aggression, as represented in the metaphorical transition into adolescence and the relationship between the two sisters. The Sisters Ginger and Brigitte Fitzgerald share a close relationship that becomes challenged as the narrative progresses. Ginger, who is a year older, is the more dominant, while Brigitte takes a more subordinate role. Both girls are late bloomers, and in Freudian terms, their outlooks and relationship with one another can be seen as the result of an extension of their latency periods. The girls do not deal well with their transition into adolescence—they recognize the budding sexuality of their peers and are th... ...emale sexuality or the "castration" undertones. Female viewers, on the other hand, could be angered by the characterization of female sexuality as being something monstrous and almost inhuman. This is the kind of response, however, that can bring into a dialogue contemporary society's prevailing notions of sexuality. BIBLIOGRAPHY Class Reader, Glossary. "Freud and the Literary Imagination." Compiled by Professor Richard Gray, 2006. Freud, Sigmund. The Ego and the Id. The Freud Reader. Ed. Peter Gay. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1989. Freud, Sigmund. Civilization and its Discontents. The Freud Reader. Ed. Peter Gay. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1989. Ginger Snaps. Dir. John Fawcett. Story: Karen Walton & John Fawcett. Perf. Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle. Lions Gate International, 2000. Love, Death and Transformation in Ginger Snaps Essay -- Film Movie Gi Love, Death and Transformation in Ginger Snaps On the surface, Ginger Snaps can be easily dismissed by critics as a typical B-rated teen-turned-werewolf movie. What distinguishes this movie from other horror films, however, is its subversion of the traditional perspective of its genre. The transformation in the film is suffered by Ginger Fitzgerald, a sixteen-year-old girl. This lycanthropy coincides with Ginger's first menstrual period, making the subject matter metaphorical for the often fearful transition into the sexuality and identity formation of adulthood. Moreover, the relationship between Ginger and her sister Brigitte deteriorates in such a way that is also emblematic of the human psyche's conflicts. As their paths diverge in the film, each sister is confronted with the instincts of love and death or aggression; Eros and Thanatos in Freud's terms. The focus here will be to view these salient themes in Ginger Snaps through the lens of Freudian analysis. More specifically, this paper will analyze the psychical conflict du e to complications of the instinct toward love or aggression, as represented in the metaphorical transition into adolescence and the relationship between the two sisters. The Sisters Ginger and Brigitte Fitzgerald share a close relationship that becomes challenged as the narrative progresses. Ginger, who is a year older, is the more dominant, while Brigitte takes a more subordinate role. Both girls are late bloomers, and in Freudian terms, their outlooks and relationship with one another can be seen as the result of an extension of their latency periods. The girls do not deal well with their transition into adolescence—they recognize the budding sexuality of their peers and are th... ...emale sexuality or the "castration" undertones. Female viewers, on the other hand, could be angered by the characterization of female sexuality as being something monstrous and almost inhuman. This is the kind of response, however, that can bring into a dialogue contemporary society's prevailing notions of sexuality. BIBLIOGRAPHY Class Reader, Glossary. "Freud and the Literary Imagination." Compiled by Professor Richard Gray, 2006. Freud, Sigmund. The Ego and the Id. The Freud Reader. Ed. Peter Gay. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1989. Freud, Sigmund. Civilization and its Discontents. The Freud Reader. Ed. Peter Gay. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1989. Ginger Snaps. Dir. John Fawcett. Story: Karen Walton & John Fawcett. Perf. Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle. Lions Gate International, 2000.

He Garfunkeled Your Mother: a Psychoanalytic Reading of the Graduate

He Garfunkeled Your Mother: A Psychoanalytic Reading of The Graduate The 1967 film, The Graduate, staring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft contains a plethora of human idiosyncrasies that would be of the utmost interest to the psychoanalytic minds of both Freud and Lacan. For this reading, I will focus on the theories of both Freud and Lacan in accordance with textual evidence to prove that Benjamin Braddock never achieves happiness in the end of the film, but has only just prolonged his quest to fight a miserable human existence.The most glaring and obvious reading of this film focuses around the character of Mrs. Robinson. An obvious Oedipal Complex emerges as Ben and Mrs. Robinson begin an affair. As an older woman, who Ben never calls by her first name, Mrs. Robinson becomes a replacement mother for Ben. Ben’s jealousy for his father emerges as Ben begins to understand his father is not worried about his own future, though Ben himself is extremely unsure about what the fut ure holds for his life. In fact, Ben’s father has built a distinctly upper class and well kept home for Ben and his mother.Ben subconsciously senses that his father holds all the power within the family dynamic as the sole breadwinner for the household. Understanding this unstated father-son rivalry, it is predictable through a Freudian interpretation that Ben would ultimately have sex with Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father’s business partner. By doing, Ben can displace his Oedipal desires of wooing his mother to distract from his father’s power and wealth without actually committing incest, and therefore displace his father from a position of power.The focus on mother imagery does not stop there. Ben is often depicted in water in the form of his swimming pool, or staring into the water of his fish tank. Tyson tells us that the imagery of â€Å"dreams that involve water, especially immersion in water, might also be about our relationships with our mothersâ €  (Tyson 21). This explains why filmmakers chose to emerge Ben, in his phallic looking scuba suit, into his swimming pool. This symbolizes Ben’s emersion into the depths of his Oedipal Complex.At one point his parents push his head back under the water, thus illustrating that they are the ones who subconsciously pushing Ben into a state of dependence upon them. Though this backfires as he displaces the need for a mother or parental figure into his relationship with Mrs. Robinson. In this same scene one could conclude that this setting emphasizes Ben’s submersion into a conflict of the id, ego, and superego. Under the water, where there is no language or sound, like the Laconian Imaginary, Ben has to battle with his id, the pleasures he receives from sex with Mrs.Robinson, and his ego, deciding upon the rationality of his decisions. Once he emerges from the water and enters into the Symbolic, he is then again subject to the superego where he must decide if what he i s doing with Mrs. Robinson is right or wrong (Tyson 25). Ultimately, Ben continually chooses to avoid the situation and confrontation entirely and emerge himself and his thoughts in his pool or fish tank in order to repress any further emotional agitation (Tyson 15). The Freudian concept of fetishes is also highlighted throughout the film to serve as a constant reminder and protection to Ben.In the infamous scene between Ben and Mrs. Robinson in the Robinson’s living room, Mrs. Robinson has conveniently placed her legs up on the bar stool next to her. Her legs are spread just enough to seem inviting but not enough to reveal the fact that she has been â€Å"castrated† to Ben. There is even a series of dialogue that occurs as Mrs. Robinson sexily removes her stockings. What is most important about this scene, though, is that the line â€Å"Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me? † is delivered by Ben as the camera focuses on him through a frame made by Mrs.Rob inson’s leg, arched and positioned on a stool. By choosing to frame the most famous line from the movie this way filmmakers can ensure that Ben is still seen by viewers as innocent, protected from shame, and therefore likable, as he has not been subjected to the fact that Mrs. Robinson does not have a penis. Freud also suggests that the fetish is important because â€Å"it also saves the fetishist from becoming a homosexual, by endowing women with the characteristic which makes them tolerable sexual objects† (Freud 843).Benjamin can retain his absolute heterosexuality in the eyes of the viewer even though he is explicitly stating he does not want to have sex with this woman. His attention and focus on her legs informs the reader that he is still interested in her as a sexual being. Soon, though, this view of Ben as innocent is then shattered, as Mrs. Robinson appears to Ben in the next scene as completely nude. After seeing the naked female body, Benjamin is fully awar e that Mrs. Robinson has been castrated. He interjects, â€Å"Oh God,† â€Å"Let me out,† and â€Å"Jesus Christ,† in fear of what his has seen.The playful focus on Mrs. Robinson’s legs is gone and what remains serves as the glaring realization that Ben could be â€Å"castrated† by losing favor or power in his community if anyone found out that he had seen Mrs. Robinson naked. Benjamin eventually uses the premise of castration and phallus as power in an attempt manipulate Mrs. Robinson after their affair has been going on for some time. After deciding he has had enough meaningless sex, Ben asks Mrs. Robinson about her family including her daughter Elaine. Mrs.Robinson insinuates that Ben is not good enough for her daughter and then refuses to answer why he is not deemed good enough for Elaine. Ben then rips the sheet away from Mrs. Robinson’s naked body to reveal that he is still the only one in the room with a phallus and therefore should h old the power, as a way to force her to answer his question. Quickly, Mrs. Robinson covers her body to reclaim power within the situation. The scene escalates to Mrs. Robinson putting on her stockings again, playing Ben’s focus to her legs once more. Ben easily succumbs to her wiles giving back the power of an imaginary phallus to the older woman.This scene exemplifies Freud’s theory of castration anxiety, as the power in the room is switched back and forth between the person, male or female, who seems to be in possession of the phallus. Another possible, though more complicated, reading of the film emerges in a Lacanian analysis. Unlike Freud, who would argue that having a phallus is of the utmost importance, Lacan complicates the idea of power by questioning if it’s more important to have the Phallus or to be the Phallus. Mrs. Robinson perfectly highlights how important it is for women to be the Phallus. Mrs.Robinson wants to be desired by Ben, which is why sh e becomes so angry at the fact Ben takes her daughter on a date. Mrs. Robinson sees her own daughter’s youth and beauty as a threat to Ben’s attraction and affection. This younger woman is a roadblock to Mrs. Robinson being â€Å"the desire of the other† as Ben now wants someone young and single who poses an option of marriage that Mrs. Robinson does and can not (Palmer 1). In contrast, Ben does not desire to be the Phallus. Instead, he’s chasing pavements, in a sense, as his true desire, or ultimate Phallus, is being able to predict his own future.Though at one time he desired to be with Mrs. Robinson, his sense of desire changes as he realizes Mrs. Robinson cannot give him what he wants the way that Elaine can. Only Elaine, with her youth and ability to marry can be the only one who truly cannot give him what he wants, insight into his future which includes the possibility of a wife and children. Under this Lacanian analysis, it is almost impossible to distinguish whether it is more important to have the Phallus or to be the Phallus as both characters are left as equally unhappy. Mrs.Robinson is left feeling undesired as Benjamin literally fights tooth and nail to be with Elaine, and Benjamin is left still unknowing what the future holds for him. The film ends with Ben and Elaine running away from Elaine’s wedding to hop on a bus, take one last glance at what they left behind, and sit facing their future, starting blankly. A conventional reading of this film might conclude that the film has a â€Å"happy ending† since Benjamin ultimately ended up with the girl he had been chasing throughout the movie and therefore should be happy with achieving his goal. Freud and Lacan would both vehemently disagree with this reading.Freud would infer that since Ben continued to repress his feelings and act out his Oedipal Complex he has an obvious perversion that could only be solved or aided with deep and prolonged psychotherapy. Likewise, Lacan would conclude that Benjamin’s continuous pursuit of the Phallus is ultimately futile. Since Ben can never fully predict or understand his future, even when a life with Elaine is imminent, he will never be fulfilled or validated, as he will still have desires he can never realize. Only now, he has the added obligation of carrying Elaine along with him on his never-ending hunt for fulfillment.Works Cited The Graduate. Dir. Mike Nichols. Perf. Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft. Embassy Pictures, 1967. DVD. Leitch, Vincent B. â€Å"Fetishism. † The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2010. 841-45. Print. Palmer, Donald D. â€Å"The Real, the Imaginary, and the Symbolic. † Structuralism and Poststructuralism for Beginners. New York, NY: Writers and Readers, 1997. N. pag. Print. Tyson, Lois. â€Å"Psychoanalytic Criticism. † Critical Theory Today: A User-friendly Guide. New York: Routledge, 2006. 11-52. Print.

The positive social effects and negative social and physical effects of alcohol

This essay will review both the positive social effects and negative social and physical effects of alcohol. The debate over alcohol consumption in communities around the world has existed as long as there has been alcohol to drink. Alcohol has improved social functions; community economics through tourism and business and in moderation can enhance many situations in society. Alcohol has been one of the main problems of today’s generation. By contrast if over indulged and abused the same product can also harm societies, families, communities and do physical harm.Do people have drinking problems? Does a person love drinking? How does it make a person feel; good, bad, hyperactive, happy or sad? Are people addicted to drinking? Do people think that drinking is good or bad and what are the benefits of it? Alcohol has played an important role in our lives. Many people and especially teenagers drink a lot. They go to parties with their friends just to drink. They do not know what ar e its benefits and causes they are just going to drink and that drinking makes them feel good and look unique in front of their friends.They drink alcohol as if they are smoking cigarettes. In this essay I shall explain what the positives and negatives points are and also explain how alcohol is affecting our lives and the society. â€Å"Alcohol has played an important role in religion and adulation. Alcohol is a product that has provided a variety of functions for people. Historically, alcoholic beverages have served as sources of needed nutrients and have been widely used for their medicinal, antiseptic, and analgesic properties.The role of such beverages as thirst quenchers is obvious and they play an important role in enhancing the enjoyment and quality of life (David J. n. d. )†. Alcohol can facilitate relaxation, provide pleasure, enjoyment and increase the pleasure of eating and drinking. Alcohol has proven to be beneficial in several society settings. While drinking al cohol many people find it bringing enjoyment especially when drinking and dancing. Alcohol brings enjoyment, relaxing moments, hyperactive, and drinkers sometimes feel a little less than in control while drinking.By comparison some of the negative effects caused by alcohol is a person inability to control the amount a person drinking after starting, a person may have little if no control over the quantity a person drink, no matter how much a person try to limit a themselves from drinking it won’t happen. When a person tries to stop drinking some symptoms may occur to that person’s body after repeated exposure, these may include: racing heart, sweating, lack of proper sleep, inability to drive, anxiety, nausea and more dangerous problems.A person can put a person themselves in dangerous situation when a person drinks a lot this situation such as drinking and driving. Some people develop a lack of social ethics while drinking that their friends find it hard to tolerant. A person may can blackout and have a very bad hangover when a person drink a lot. Hangovers can cause a person to stop working, not concentrate on what a person have and should do. Drinking early or alone can also cause problems because there won’t be anyone to help that person should they falls ill. These are some other negative effects that drinking can lead to (About. om 2013). Underage boys and girls nowadays go out drinking with their friends but most of these children don’t know what problems can cause them later on if they get caught. In some countries in their laws drinking is not acceptable unless a person 21+, because at that age a person are mature enough to understand the causes of drinking and what problems it can lead a person to. For example in the United Arab Emirates, drinking is only acceptable to those who are 21+ and if a person get caught drinking a person get to go to jail and have problems with the law.Many children are arrested each year in the UAE on drinking infractions, 15 years old boys caught drinking in public parks and beaches along the Cornish, caught try to get into bars and drink and their lack of social considerations prevail and they are caught because think that drinking is good for their age and that they want to live their lives as adults. Children with this age do not understand the lasting effects alcohol can cause. The body of a 15 year old teenager cannot tolerate alcohol because it’s very strong and it can cause the stomach problems, blackout, hangovers and many other future mental and physical problems.In other countries it not against the law such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and many others it’s not against the law even if a teenager goes in to a bar to drink its fine they won’t have any problems because it is not against the laws. Some countries it’s against the laws and religion. â€Å"In many Muslim countries, including Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, a recent study by The Economist shows that alcohol might be an increasingly strong foe. Alcohol sales in the Middle East grew 72 percent between 2001 and 2011, despite the beverage being forbidden in Islam.While some Muslim scholars permit alcohol provided it is not made from grapes or dates, as those are specifically mentioned in the Quran, most do not. Many Muslims countries permit alcohol intake by tourists and non-Muslims, some countries make it legal for everyone and others enforce severe punishments; in Iran, for example, the sentence for Muslims caught imbibing is 80 lashes (Nuqudy 2012)†. These countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan drinking is against the laws and against the religion and its forbidden to drink alcohol and if anyone does they will be punished by the law.The question here was asked should Islam become more tolerant to alcohol. Well this quote explains the question; â€Å"The religion of Islam has long recognized the difference between the  "ideal† and the â€Å"reality†. The â€Å"ideal† is represented in the religious teachings in the Qur’an and the exemplary life of Muhammad (Sunna). The â€Å"reality† is the everyday life of countless Muslims over the last fourteen centuries who met the â€Å"ideal† to a greater or lesser degree, or not at all. There is no â€Å"original sin† in Islam and human beings fail to reach the â€Å"ideal† because of weakness and forgetfulness of Allah (God).Muslims, therefore, as per the examples cited in The Economist's article may well have consumed alcohol down through the centuries and may continue to do so in contemporary Muslim societies but this has nothing whatsoever to do with Islam, other than the fact that are engaged in a haram (forbidden) activity (Fairobserver 2013)†. Some countries follow only the law, rules and regulations and some countries follow their religion before there rules and regulations. However in all the countries drinking is forbidden in Ramadan and who is caught drinking in Ramadan will be punished by the laws of the country.In Quran it’s written â€Å"in surah 2, verse 219 of the Quran, it is stated that alcohol, like gambling, can have certain benefits, but â€Å"their sin is greater than their benefit. † In surah 5, verses 90 and 91, drinking is again linked with gambling, and the passages state that Satan uses intoxicants to instill hatred between people and distract them from remembering God. Surah 4, verse 43 also states that it is forbidden to pray while intoxicated (Michael Brenner n. d. ). † In this part it clearly explains that their sins with be greater than their benefits and that drinking is against the religion and linking with gambling. Scientific arguments for prohibition include the links between alcohol abuse and liver disease, cancer and numerous other health problems. The social arguments include the lowering of inhibitions and all the problems that come with it such as domestic violence, the spread of disease and crime (Michael Brenner n. d. )†. As we have said in the paragraph above that Alcohol is illegal in more religiously conformist Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran, but it is legal in other Muslim-majority countries such as Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey.However, There are also benefits for women and men who devour a huge amount of alcohol which can include the following: â€Å"Lowers the risk of developing stomach ulcers, because alcohol may destroy Helicobacter pylori infection which causes ulcers, reduces the risk of a female developing heart disease, and leg pains, alcohol raises HDL (good) cholesterol levels which prevents plaques from forming and causing blood clots, possible bone protection, silicon which is found in beer, is associated with an improvement of bone density in males and females, lowers the risk of gallstones, reduces the risk of age-related cognitive decline a nd can reduce plaque build-ups which can lead to Alzheimer’s disease, reduces the risk of diabetes, lowers the risk of stroke, and reduces the risk of dying from a heart attack (Fenton 2009)†. These are great benefits of drinking for those women and men who consume larger amounts of alcohol. However drinking for old women and men can cause many bad consequences such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, high blood pressure and many other problems can be caused for heavy drinkers in this age. â€Å"Over the past ten years, liquor sales in the Middle East have shot up 72% compared to the average global rise of 30%.Statistics indicate a surprising but clear spike in alcohol consumption in the Muslim-dominated region. Between 2001 and 2011, liquor sales there shot up 72%, according to London-based market research company IWSR. This is an astonishing surge, considering that the average global rise during the same period was 30%. Sample these figures: In Abu Dhabi, liquor sales are growing 28% a year, according to the Financial Times (FT). An increase in alcohol purchases has also been noted in Qatar and Lebanon, not to mention ‘party central’ Dubai, which has comfortably returned to its pre-recession annual sales growth of 26%. Sales at the Dubai Airport alone, reports FT, touched a record $1. 4 billion in 2010 (Thomas White 2012)†. The United Arab Emirates, which includes â€Å"party capital of the Arabian Peninsula† Dubai, is returning to its 2006-2008 trend of 26 percent annual growth in booze sales, which dropped off during the 2009 recession. In Emirate city Abu Dhabi, sales are â€Å"growing at 28 per cent a year. † Dubai's airport alone registered a record $1. 4 billion in 2010 sales. Alcohol industry pros also project increases in Qatar and Lebanon. Karr also notes that much of the liquor imported to the Middle East ends up moving to black markets in countries where it is banned. â€Å"Industry insiders esti mate that more than a half of the alcohol sold to traders in these emirates ends up being smuggled into Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. In Saudi Arabia, a â€Å"standard bottle of whiskey† can go for $150. Still, that's better than China, where producers ask up to $2,700 for a fancy bottle of Scotch (Fisher 2011)†. If we count the millions or billions that these countries make out of drinking it won’t be enough because alcohol has become one of the very huge businesses that people can actually work on it and they will get money and be very rich. In Dubai some people deliver alcohol to homes, just call them anytime and tell them what drinks a person want, when and where and they shall delivers it to a person’s home. Rather than going to drink outside and paying more just call these people who deliver drinks and a person will get them on time.Other problems are students drinking alcohol before going to university and some actually drink in university which is a bad behavior and it is a huge problem because these students have no idea what they are causing themselves in many problems. â€Å"The call to consider reducing the legal drinking age from 21 to 18 could spur some valuable discussion, but alone won't solve the college student alcohol problem, According to University Dean of the IU School of Education Gerardo Gonzalez, an internationally recognized expert on alcohol and drug education. More than 100 college and university chancellors and presidents have signed a public statement stating that the current legal drinking age of 21 hasn't worked (NewInfo 2008)†.Teenagers and many boys and girls drink a lot and they think this will make them feel better but it won’t make them feel better forever. Alcohol has become one of the biggest successful businesses all over the world because people will never stop drinking, no matter how much a person does and how many laws there are in place. Drinking is illegal and forbidden in many countries due to the laws and religion and that each country and place differs from one another. In closing and to sum up this essay, the use of alcohol to enhance personal enjoyment and as a method of increasing community revenues make the age old custom of consumption traditionally and fundamentally accepted in many different societies.As such the debate over the use and misuse of alcohol has continued as has it’s stigma as both a sign of maturity and a problem for many sectors of society. Alcohol has effects the society and has affected us in many different ways. This paper has helped establish some of the many arguments for and against the consumption of alcohol; it is up to the reader to determine which side of the argument to champion. Bibliography About. com. 2013. http://adam. about. net/reports/Alcoholism. htm. David J. , Hanson, Ph. D. Alcohol Problems and Solutions. http://www2. potsdam. edu/hansondj/Controversies/1114796842. html. Fairobserver. 2013. http://www. fairobserver. com/article/should-islam-become-more-tolerant-alcohol. Fenton, Dana. Steady Health.December 18, 2009. http://www. steadyhealth. com/articles/Pros_and_Cons_of_Alcohol_Consumption_a1111. html. Fisher, Max. The Atlantic Wire. January 3, 2011. http://www. theatlanticwire. com/global/2011/01/why-are-middle-east-booze-sales-booming/18095/. Michael Brenner, Demand Media. Opposing Views. http://people. opposingviews. com/drinking-islam-3163. html. NewInfo. August 21, 2008. http://newsinfo. iu. edu/news/page/normal/8692. html. Nuqudy. August 19, 2012. http://english. nuqudy. com/Levant/Alcohol_Sales_Incre-2878. Thomas White. September 14, 2012. http://www. thomaswhite. com/explore-the-world/Postcard/2012/middle-east-alcohol-consumption. aspx.

Reasons Not to Call Someone Racist

Reasons Not to Call Someone Racist It may not always be a good idea to call someone a racist, since many people, including bigots themselves, dont have a clear grasp of what racism is. Instead, they think racism is something in which only extremists take part. This means that even if a person does something that screams textbook â€Å"racist† to you, the individual in question will very likely disagree, making your decision to identify him as such backfire. Fortunately, other strategies to deal with racism exist than dropping the R-word. Labeling another person racist sometimes simply doesn’t work. Labeling Others Begets Defensiveness If you’ve ever called someone racist be it a friend, family member or coworker recall the person’s reaction. Did your acquaintance accept the label without question or challenge this description? More than likely, the person tried to defend his or herself and explain away any suggestion that she’s racist. When people become defensive, it’s difficult to get them to understand why their behavior offended others. So, rather than calling someone a name that will probably produce a knee-jerk reaction in him, focus on his behavior and how it upset you. Explain that your feelings were hurt when the person made a sweeping generalization about Latinos and how similar statements have led others to mistreat the racial group. Some Who Are Called Racist Issue Meaningless Apologies When public figures say or do something that society deems racist, they often apologize shortly after the gaffe lands them in the headlines, but this has proven problematic. One never knows if these figures apologize because they understand why their behavior hurt others or due to pressure from civil rights groups and the embarrassment of misstepping racially in public. The same thing can happen between two ordinary people. Say an employee accuses a co-worker of being racist. The co-worker apologizes out of fear of being reported to supervisors, a lawsuit being filed or being judged by fellow staffers, not because she truly feels remorse for causing hurt. Others who apologize for racist behavior may do so with no real agenda. These individuals may apologize because they dislike confrontation and are truly mortified about having said or done something considered racist. They say â€Å"sorry† to silence the other party and quickly get the awkward episode behind them. In each case, those labeled â€Å"racist† give empty apologies, ultimately learning little about racism and the hurt it causes. Racism Has Different Meanings for Different People Your definition of racism may not be the same as another’s  so calling someone else racist may not yield the results you’re after. If the person you believe is racist only considers people in white supremacist groups worthy of the label, it’s unlikely that the two of you will see eye-to-eye. Given this, rather than concentrate on the term â€Å"racist,† instead concentrate on why the person’s words or actions hurt you. Explain why you take issue with the person who clutched her purse when a black youth passed by or who talked down to a Latino serviceman. It’s definitely not your job to get others to â€Å"see the light† about racism, but if you’ve taken the risk of calling someone â€Å"racist,† it’s likely important to you that the individual in question understands why you object to her behavior. Therefore, explain to her that you don’t like when people make assumptions about others based on race. That’s why you spoke out when she clutched her purse upon crossing paths with a black youth. To you, that signals racial prejudice and you hope that she can refrain from such hurtful behavior in the future. Racism Is a General Word Sometimes â€Å"racism† isn’t the best word to describe someone’s behavior because it isn’t specific enough. Rather than using a word such as â€Å"racist,† perhaps you want to point out to a friend that his behavior stereotyped Asian women or that the comment he made about undocumented immigrants was xenophobic. The more specific you are when criticizing people for being racially insensitive, the better chance you have of getting them to see what made their behavior offensive. The Term Is Overused in Certain Circles In some settings, such as colleges and universities, words such as â€Å"racism† are thrown around all the time. The result is that racism and other â€Å"isms† begin to lose their currency. It may not be particularly disturbing for someone who hears references to various â€Å"isms† daily to suddenly find himself on the receiving end of such a term. The individual may easily shrug the label off, noting that  at his college classmates call people racist all the time. It’s then easy for him to reason that you are overreacting by using the term in reference to him. In such situations, you’re far better off focusing on the guy’s behavior than on labeling it. Ask him questions, such as how he knows it’s true that all people of a certain group engage in a particular activity. Challenge him when he professes to know that one racial group is better than another in certain fields. Wrapping Up By focusing on words and actions instead of on labels, you may be able to get individuals who show racial insensitivity to rethink their behavior. By calling them racist, however, you’re much more likely to get an empty apology and defensive rationalizations, all while the person who offended you remains as clueless about racism as ever.

The Odyssey Summary

'The Odyssey' Summary The Odyssey, Homers epic poem, is comprised of two distinct narratives. One narrative takes place in Ithaca, an island whose ruler, Odysseus, has been absent for twenty years. The other narrative is Odysseus’ own journey back home, which consists both of present-day narrations and recollections of his past adventures in lands inhabited by monsters and natural wonders. Books 1-4: Telemacheia The Odyssey begins with an introduction that presents the theme and the protagonist of the work, Odysseus, emphasizing the wrath of Poseidon towards him. The Gods decide that it’s time for Odysseus, who is being held captive by the nymph Calypso on the island of Ogygia, to come home. The Gods send Athena to Ithaca in disguise to speak with Odysseus son, Telemachus. Ithacas palace is occupied by 108 suitors all seeking to marry Penelope, who is Odysseus wife and Telemachus mother. The suitors constantly taunt and belittle Telemachus. The disguised Athena comforts a distressed Telemachus and tells him to go to Pylos and Sparta to learn of his father’s whereabouts from the kings Nestor and Menelaus. Aided by Athena, Telemachus leaves in secret, without telling his mother. This time, Athena is disguised as Mentor, Odysseus’ old friend. Once Telemachus reaches Pylos, he meets the king Nestor, who explains that he and Odysseus parted ways shortly after the end of the war. Telemachus learns about the disastrous homecoming of Agamemnon, who, upon his return from Troy, was killed by his wife and her lover. In Sparta, Telemachus learns from Menelaus’ wife Helen that Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, managed to get into Troy’s stronghold before it capitulated. Meanwhile in Ithaca, the suitors find out that Telemachus departed and decide to ambush him.   Books 5-8: At the Phaeacians’ Court Zeus sends his winged messenger Hermes to the island of Calypso to convince her to release her captive Odysseus, whom she wanted to make immortal. Calypso consents and provides assistance by helping Odysseus build a raft and telling him the way. Yet, as Odysseus approaches Scheria, the island of the Phaeacians, Poseidon catches a glimpse of him and destroys his raft with a storm. After swimming for three days, Odysseus makes it onto dry land, where he falls asleep under an oleander tree. He is found by Nausicaa (the princess of the Phaeacians), who invites him over to the palace and instructs him to ask her mother, queen Arete, for mercy. Odysseus arrives to the palace alone and behaves as he is told, without revealing his name. He is granted a ship to leave for Ithaca and is invited to join the Phaeacian’s feast as an equal. Odysseus stay culminates with the appearance of the bard Demodocus, who recounts two episodes of the Trojan War, interposed by the retelling of the love affair between Ares and Aphrodite. (Though not made explicit, Demodocus storytelling ostensibly moves Odysseus to recount his own journey, as Odysseus first-person narration begins in Book 9.) Books 9-12: Odysseus’ Wanderings Odysseus explains that his goal is to return home and begins to recount his previous voyages. He tells the following story: After a disastrous first venture in the land of the Cycones (the only population in The Odyssey that is also mentioned in historical sources), Odysseus and his companions found themselves in the land of the Lotus-eaters, who attemped to give them food that would have made them lose the will to get home. Next came the land of the Cyclops, where nature was bountiful and food was plenty. Odysseus and his men became trapped the cave of the cyclops Polyphemus. Odysseus escaped by using his cleverness to trick Polyphemus, then blinding him. With this act, Odysseus inspired Poseidons wrath, as Polyphemus was a son of Poseidon. Next, Odysseus and his fellow seafarers met Aeolus, the ruler of the winds. Aeolus gave Odysseus a goatskin containing all the winds except Zephyr, which would blow them towards Ithaca. Some of Odysseus companions believed the goatskin contained riches, so they opened it, which caused them to drift in the sea yet again. They reached the land of the cannibal-like Laestrygonians, where they lost some of their fleet when the Laestrygonians destroyed it with rocks. Next, they met the witch Circe on the island Aeaea. Circe turned all the men but Odysseus into pigs and took Odysseus as a lover for a year. She also told them to sail west to communicate with the dead, so Odysseus spoke with the prophet Tiresias, who told him not to let his companions eat the Sun’s cattle. Upon his return to Aeaea, Circe warned Odysseus against the sirens, who lure sailors with their deadly songs, and Scylla and Charybdis, a sea monster and a whirlpool. Tiresias’ warning went unheeded due to famine, and the sailors ended up eating the Sun’s cattle. As a consequence, Zeus brewed up a storm that caused all men but Odysseus to die. That’s when Odysseus arrived on the island of Ogygia, where Calypso kept him as a lover for seven years.   Books 13-19: Back to Ithaca After finishing his account, Odysseus receives even more gifts and riches from the Phaeacians. He is then transported back to Ithaca on a Phaeacian ship overnight. This enrages Poseidon, who turns the ship to stone once it’s almost back to Scheria, which in turn makes Alcinous swear that they will never help any other foreigner again. On the shore of Ithaca, Odysseus finds the goddess Athena, who is disguised as a young shepherd. Odysseus pretends to be a merchant from Crete. Soon, though, both Athena and Odysseus drop their disguises, and together they hide the riches given to Odysseus by the Phaeacians while plotting Odysseus’ revenge. Athena turns Odysseus into a beggar and then goes to Sparta to assist Telemachus in his return. Odysseus, in the beggar disguise, pays a visit to Eumaeus, his loyal swineherd who shows kindness and dignity to this apparent stranger. Odysseus tells Eumaeus and the other farmers that he is a former warrior and seafarer from Crete. Meanwhile, aided by Athena, Telemachus reaches Ithaca and pays his own visit to Eumaeus. Athena encourages Odysseus to reveal himself to his son. What follows is a tearful reunion and the plotting of the suitors’ downfall. Telemachus leaves for the palace, and soon Eumaeus and Odysseus-as-a-beggar follow suit. Once they arrive, suitor Antinous and goatherd Melanthius ridicule him. Odysseus-as-a-beggar tells Penelope that he met Odysseus during his previous travels. Tasked with washing the beggar’s feet, housekeeper Eurycleia recognizes him as Odysseus by detecting an old scar from his youth. Eurycleia tries to tell Penelope, but Athena prevents it. Books 18-24: The Slaying of the Suitors The following day, advised by Athena, Penelope announces an archery competition, cunningly promising that she will wed whoever wins. The weapon of choice is Odysseus’ bow, which means that he alone is strong enough to string it and shoot it through the dozen axe-heads. Predictably,  Odysseus wins the competition. Aided by Telemachus, Eumaeus, the cowherd Philoetius, and Athena, Odysseus kills the suitors. He and Telemachus also hang the twelve maids that Eurycleia identifies as having betrayed Penelope by engaging in sexual relations with the suitors. Then, finally, Odysseus reveals himself to Penelope, which she thinks is a ruse until he reveals that he knows that their marital bed is carved out of a live-in olive tree. The following day, he also reveals himself to his elderly father Laertes, who has been living in seclusion due to grief. Odysseus wins Laertes trust by describing an orchard that Laertes had previously given him.   The locals of Ithaca plan to avenge the killing of the suitors and the deaths of all of Odysseus’ sailors, and so follow Odysseus down the road. Once again, Athena comes to his aid, and justice is re-established in Ithaca.

Government, Market Forces and Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Essay

Government, Market Forces and Renewable Energy Systems (RES) - Essay Example To tackle this issue globally there have been recent researches in the line of climate change mitigation, use of renewable resources, and energy economics. Climate mitigation  relates to activities associated with the alleviation of the potentially harmful aftereffects of global warming by â€Å"implementing policies to reduce GHG emissions and enhance sinks† (Verbruggen, A., IPCC Glossary Working Group III, annex I, 818). The UN delineates climate mitigation as a form of â€Å"human intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases† (United Nations, Glossary of climate change acronyms, 2011).  Examples for mitigation include using renewable energy resources like wind or solar power, judicious use of fossil fuels in industries or for production of electric power, bettering building  insulation, afforestation  and increasing the number of other sinks that would displace larger amounts of  atmospheric carbon dioxide  from the atmosphe re (ibid). ... However, an April 2011 report shows that the atmospheric volume level of CO2 by itself is 393 ppm, while increasing at an average annual rate of 1-3 ppm (Direct Air Capture of CO2 with Chemicals, 2011, 4). Therefore, to avoid violating the target set at 2  °C target, the levels of CO2 in atmosphere must necessarily be stabilised as soon as possible, though it is unlikely that the set target would be achieved soon (Adam, World will not meet 2oC warming target, climate change experts agree, 2009). However, a majority of the nations consider mitigation strategies for greenhouse gas emissions as expensive, and there is a widespread debate regarding mitigation costs and the nature of costs-distribution of climate change mitigation, amongst the developed, the developing, and the underdeveloped nations. Ensuring climate change and energy supply security are the core concerns for a majority of the world’s policymakers aiming to frame a worldwide energy system that is sustainable in nature. 1 Climate Change To meet the EU target of keeping global temperature rise below 2oC, the volume of atmospheric CO2 equivalents must be kept within volume limits of 445 - 490 ppm, as expressed in the 2007 report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panelon Climate Change (IPCC, 2007). In 2005, greenhouse gas emission concentration had already reached CO2 equivalents of 450 ppm, owing to which IPCC had appraised in the report that greenhouse gas discharge must reach its highest level latest by 2015 (ibid). The report also suggested that greenhouse gas emissions must be decreased by 50–85% by 2050 (relative to the figures recorded in 2000), and the reductions made must be nearer to 85% to avoid